Someone Else Is Pulling at the Strings

Chapter 2 It Isn't Over

"Worried about Deamonne?" A smirk crossed Odalia's face, reaching for her gem. "He's fine. If you consider being a puppet 'fine' that is." The blond gulped nervously. He was relieved to know it wasn't Darius, but having confirmation that he's a puppet... He understood how the others must've felt. "That one he picked was Whispers."

"Raine...?" There were three Coven Heads he wanted to be spared from this pain–sure, he'd never wish such horrors upon anyone, but especially not Darius, Eber, and Raine. Why'd it have to be one of them? Why did it have to be Raine?

He hasn't spoken to them as much as he did with the other Coven Heads since they weren't one for long, but those few times they've talked Raine was actually very understanding and kind to him. Despite Hunter being the only one to meet Raine, the others shared his anger and worry. They've heard so much about them from Luz. They didn't deserve this...

So caught up in the worry, Hunter didn't react to Odalia's Spirit in time. It charged at him, but before he could do anything, it was hit by vines, keeping it away from him. First, he glanced at Willow, yet she shook her head. Only when he heard Camila speak up he realized whose vines those were.

"It's okay, bebé, I'll take care of this."

"Are you sure?" Hunter wondered, picking up on the shakiness of her voice and her panicked expression. Her trembling hand was holding out a plant glyph with the vines coming out of it, her other hand clenching the fanny pack.

"I can handle this," she reassured him. With a nod, Hunter jumped to the battle–or rather the defense–against the puppets while Camila reached inside the fanny pack for more glyphs.

Hearing the sounds of battle nearby, Eda headed towards it despite King's protests. Once they reached the end of the corridor they could see the kids. Eda stopped Owlbert from flying any further, observing the situation at first. The kids didn't fight back, they only tried their best to hold their fathers back, calling out to them and even crying.

Eda tightened her grip on the staff and glanced over at King. The Titan nodded determinedly.

Meanwhile, Camila was defending against Odalia's Spirit, activating random glyphs. It was pretty unpredictable, so that was a plus. An ice wall blocked its attacks, vines restrained it and fire tried to reach the witch.

"I would've expected more from the mother of the famous human Clawthorne," Odalia admitted. An angry frown formed on Camila's face as she reached for the bat, slapping a glyph onto it. "I'm sure the Collector and Belos will finally listen to me if I bring them these stupid kids."

"Stupid kids?!" The brunette let out a gasp and a murderous expression took over her face. "You will NOT speak of my children like that." She suddenly threw the bat at Odalia; it flew right through the Spirit and at the witch, hitting her in the face. It effectively broke her nose and knocked her unconscious as well as tied her up with the vines that activated thanks to the impact.

Camila walked up to her, picking up the bat.

"Asquerosa."

With tears in his eyes, Gus made tiny illusions of himself that plead with his dad to snap out, leaving himself once again unprotected, so once the abomination substance headed for him, Hunter snatched him out of the way while Amity held the goop back. Her whole body was shaking and sweating; she had to push against two grown-up witches after all. It was a miracle she was still able to stand.

Willow tried sneaking up on the parents to restrain them, but each time her papa's magic got in the way.

They had to distract them somehow... Thankfully someone else realized that too. Random balls of light suddenly flashed right in front of the puppets' eyes, temporarily blinding them. This was their chance!