NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: Witch's Duel
Eda held a sly smile as she flew her magic staff over the town of Bonesborough.
It had been real tricky, but she managed to give the Emperor's guards the slip.
(thank titan that the Terror Worm mating season was still going on.)
The Owl Lady was now headed back to where she left Olivier.
Hopefully, he was an obedient boy, and stayed hidden as he was told..
However..as Eda was nearly the alley where she left her son.
she caught sight of something that nearly made her go into a state of panic.
In the crowd, she saw a figure that could only be her sister, Lilith.
And, she was facing none other than Olivier (who looked rather intimidated.)
As the memory of how she came to find Olivier as a baby flashed in her mind,
Eda dove down and made a B-Line straight towards her sister and adoptive son.
"tell me your name, little one." said Lilith, her voice soft, yet still cold.
"uh-Olivier." stuttered Olivier, nervous.
Lilith smiled. "My name is Lilith. Lilith Clawthorne-"
((*THUD!*))
Lilith quickly turned..and, gasped upon seeing the witch who stood before her.
"Edalyn?..is that really you?!" spoke Lilith, as if in disbelief.
Normally Eda would make some sarcastic remark to tease her sister.
However, all the Owl Witch could think about was Olivier's safety.
"MAMA!" exclaimed Olivier, who ran over to Eda. "You're okay!"
Lilith did a double take, her eyes wide in astonishment. "wait..YOU'RE his mother!?"
Eda puled Olivier close to her. "that is none of your concern, Lilith."
Olivier looked up at his mother, puzzled. "Mama..do you know this lady?" spoke Olivier, innocently.
There was a very long, uncomfortable silence.
"I did..ONCE." said Eda, finally. "Let's go home, Olivier."
"SISTER, WAIT!"
Eda froze, cursing under her breath.
..WHY did she have to say that in front of Olivier?!
"sister?" spoke Olivier, ever confused. "wait..She's your sister?!"
Eda didn't answer..so, Lilith kept speaking. "stop running, sister. let me help you."
Eda avoided eye contact with Lilith. "I know what you are going to say..and, my answer is still: NO."
Lilith scowled. "But, WHY!? wasn't joining the Emperor's Coven our childhood DREAM?!"
"More like "Delusions." answered Eda. "I've grown much wiser in my exile."
Lilith scowled angrily, annoyed that once again she was failing to get through to her sister.
However, her attention was directed back at the child standing near her sister's leg.
Just one look at his shiny eyes, one gold and one cyan, told her all she needed of his magical potential.
..and, she would NOT see it go to waste.
"I didn't know you had a child." spoke Lilith.
Eda glared at Lilith like a viper poised to strike.
"HI, AUNT LILY!" exclaimed Olivier, oblivious to the tense situation.
Lilith blushed at being addressed with that title. "um..he-hello. Olivier." said Lilith,
feeling awkward now that she knew the boy was her nephew. "it is quite pleasant to meet you."
Olivier smiled, then looked at his mother. "I like her, Mama. She seems nice."
"don't talk to her, Olivier." said Eda, sternly.
"Why?, isn't she family?" asked Olivier, confused.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean she can be trusted." said Eda.
"I learned a long time ago that her loyalty to the Emperor ALWAYS comes first."
Lilith scowled. "don't make me the villain here, Edalyn. Look, I'm sorry I wasn't there for you
when you needed me the most, but I am here for you NOW..PLEASE don't push me away."
Eda scowled. a small part of her wanted to listen..to give Lilith a chance.
as despite their differences, she was still her big sister. and, she kinda did miss her.
But, she also knew of what her sister did to Olivier's birth mother.
And, that no matter what, she would ALWAYS trust Emperor Belos, and obey him without question.
How could she trust her..when with but one word, she would easily turn against her.
"PLEASE, sister..Renounce your wild ways, and serve the emperor alongside me." plead Lilith.
"I give you my word, we will not only lift your curse..but, I will personally give your son the BEST education."
Eda snapped her gaze back to Lilith. "don't believe everything that bone head tells you, Lil.
I don't care what he does to me. but, as long as I still draw a breath..he will NEVER lay a hand on my son."
Lilith scowled angrily. "why must you be so stubborn?!"
Eda smirked. "I dunno..WHY must you be so gullible?"
Lilith glared angrily. "okay..THAT'S IT!" With that, Lilith launched a blast of blue energy at Eda
(who pushed Olivier away, and took the shot in her chest.)
"MOM!" exclaimed Olivier, shocked.
Eda groaned. She wasn't hurt..just stunned. Lilith hadn't intended for the shot to be lethal in any way.
"I tried being civil about this." spoke Lilith, as she approached Eda.
"but, you've forced my hand, SISTER. I *will* help you..Even if I have to drag you away screaming."
Eda just smirked at this. "THERE'S the Lilith I remember."
Eda rose back up, and twirled her staff. creating multiple spell circles.
Lilith quickly twirled her own staff, encasing herself in a blue bubble as several golden yellow beams fired at her all at once.
"WITCH'S DUEL!" exclaimed a random bystander.
In no time at all, a large crowd gathered around to watch the fight unfold.
As multiple voices kept chanting "DUEL!, DUEL!, DUEL!", Olivier just stared. a shocked look on his face.
He had seen his mother fight before..But, this was somehow different.
This wasn't right. His mother and aunt SHOULDN'T be fighting like this.
They were Family..and, Families SHOULD get along.
SISTERS should get along.
As the duel progressed, Eda and Lilith gradually changed their tactics.
They were soon dueling like 'swordswomen', striking their staffs like wooden swords.
"This sure brings back old memories.." said Eda, with a grin. "You've gotten better since then."
Lilith grinned maliciously. "The perks of being in a Coven, SISTER."
"maybe..But, I'VE learned some things, too." said Eda.
Lilith scoffed at this. "What could you possibly know that I don't!?"
Eda chuckled. "MORE than you realize, SIS."
As the battle progressed, Olivier became more and more distressed.
"no..stop. Stop This!" exclaimed Olivier.
No one paid any attention to the boy.
(("FIGHT!, FIGHT!, FIGHT!, FIGHT!, FIGHT!")) chanted the crowd.
Olivier gripped his head. Feeling like he was getting a headache. "no..noooo..."
Finally, Olivier broke through the crowd and into the area where his mother and aunt were fighting.
His eyes then began to glow bright yellow and blue as something deep within him started to build up.
"sstooooop.." groaned Olivier, as if in pain.
Eda glanced over to Olivier, gasping as his eyes (and even hair) glow brighter. "Olivier?!"
As Lilith lunged for a surprise attack against the distracted Eda..Olivier couldn't hold it back anymore.
(("STOOOOP!)) shouted Olivier, who unleashed a massive burst of magical energy.
While the crowd was mostly unaffected by this blast, Eda and Lilith certainly were.
as once the energy wave hit them, their magic fizzled out like a pair of snuffed candles.
"What in-!?"
"Huh!?"
Eda looked to see Olivier levitating above the ground with his eyes and hair glowing bright.
However, he quickly passed out and collapsed right where he stood.
..Cancelling out whatever spell he apparently cast.
"OLIVIER!" called Eda, who rushed right over to the boy. "BABY!..ARE YOU OKAY!?"
Olivier didn't move. however, Eda sensed his living soul was still present within his body.
Lilith then slowly approached..and, also had a look of concern in her eyes.
"NOW do you see the dangers of using Wild Magic?!" spoke Lilith.
Eda scowled at her sister. "he needs proper training, sister. I can HELP, if you will only-"
Eda didn't let Lilith finish her sentence. She slammed her staff against the ground,
creating a blinding flash that forced Lilith (and, everyone else) to shield their eyes.
Once vision returned..Eda, and Olivier had vanished.
Lilith growled in her throat. Once again, her sister had escaped into the wild.
and, worse yet. She apparently now had a nephew who was being exposed to dangerous wild magic.
Lilith's resolve was now stronger than ever before. She HAD to succeed in her mission.
Not only to lift her sister's curse, but instruct her nephew the PROPER way to practice magic.
She had to..The magic she sensed in the young boy was unlike *anything* in all of the Boiling Isles.
[End of Part Three]