Someone Else Is Pulling at the Strings

Chapter 2 It Isn't Over

"Amity, now!" Willow called out to the pink-haired. The two girls took advantage of the situation, forming one big spell circle together. Abomination goop and vines surrounded the fathers and wrapped around them, preventing them from moving.

With a gasp for air, King hopped off the staff as he let out a loud "weh", landing in front of the kids with Eda. The older woman then glanced over her shoulder, checking if they were okay.

"They should be back to themselves in a few minutes," King said as he looked up at Eda, seeing her smile. He turned around, also facing the kids. "You're...really back." Well, he should have known that they'd find their way back eventually.

"Is that...?" Camila wondered, her eyes scanning the witch and her Titan son. These two were certainly strange, an old lady with messily cut hair full of feathers and an arm missing and her small scruffy skull-wearing dog dressed in a star-themed robe.

Hunter nodded gently at her, confirming her suspicion. She tilted her head, her lips curling into a smile. Both Eda and King actually noticed her and as soon as they did, Amity rushed over to Camila, took her hand, and led her over to the Clawthornes.

"Eda, King, I'd like you to meet Camila," the teen told them. King jumped on Eda's shoulder and the two glanced at one another; they very much recognized the woman from Luz's photos. "Camila, this is-"

"Eda the Owl Lady, the most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles," Camila said, "and the King of Demons, the son of the Boiling Isles. I have heard so much about you two." The Clawthornes grinned at each other softly, silently agreeing on what Luz could have said about them.

"That's nice and all, but where is Luz?" Eda asked urgently as she shook off the sudden optimism, "why isn't she with you? Don't tell me you left my kid with the Collector alone!"

"It's not like we wanted to," Willow told her, "he said it's between him and Luz."

"We know it's better to play by their rules," Gus added with a nod.

"They're right," King spoke up once he saw the grim expression on Eda's face, "as scary as the Collector might be, knowing Luz, she'll find a way through to him. I mean, she did with us." Hearing his words, Eda smiled. That's right... This was her kid they were talking about. "Meanwhile, we'll take care of things here. As your partner said, we need more witches."

"I know." Eda nodded, her cheeks blushing. "And Raine is not my partner. We haven't talked about dating yet!"

"You two literally agreed on a date."

"Wait, you've seen Raine?" Hunter suddenly asked, "are they okay? We've heard that Belos-"

"Puppeteered them? Yes, he did." Eda's lips formed nothing but a thin line, eyes tracing away from the kids. "They're fine now. But...he's got Lily. Raine's trying to confront him while the puppet Coven Heads are running around looking for me."

"Even Darius...?"

"Yep."

"Of course he got himself caught," a mocking chuckle sounded behind them. Recognizing the voice, Amity's head shot to its source, seeing the dads back to their normal selves. The kids rushed over to them, freeing them from the vine abomination restraints.

As Amity, Willow, and Gus reunited with their fathers Hunter's ears lowered and Camila placed her hand on his shoulder. He just gave her a soft smile. He was still happy to see his friends finally with their families. They had a lot to catch up on, but now they only talked about how much they missed each other and how proud the parents were of how well the kids did against them. The only other thing that was brought up was the unconscious Odalia before a panicked screech.