Author's Note: This story contains somewhat graphic depictions of violence, mentions of bl*od, and alcohol use. User discretion is advised.

P.S. This chapter is kind of a ride. Buckle up.

P.P.S Chapter 20 was recently updated with some real fluffy art so if you need a break after reading this, check it out or peep it on my IG @garseeyart 😁

——

"Where the fuck are our children, Odalia?" Alador sneered as exited his study, slamming the door behind him.

"Whatever do you mean, dear?" Odalia said flatly as she thumbed the pages of the book in her lap, offering not even a passing glance at her seemingly enraged husband. "The twins are staying at a friends house to prepare for exams. Something about a big illusions track test coming up."

"Is that so?" Alador growled as he approached his wife. "Then why the hell did one of my associates call just now saying they had spotted the twins in town yesterday with Amity?!"

"Oh did they now?" Odlia questioned, closing her book as she raised her head. "How disappointing. All this time we've given Lilith to find that wretched girl only for Edric and Emira to know her exact whereabouts. I should have known better than to trust the Clawthorne but no matter," Odalia hummed as she stood.

"How can you be so calm about this, Odalia?!" Alador yelled. "Do you know what will happen if word got out about, Amity? If she's with the twins that must mean she's told them everything by now. It was one thing for them to witness the last incident but for them to know everything, its unlikely that our threats and keeping them under lock and key will be enough to get them to keep their mouthes shut. Especially considering what you did to Emira's arm!"

"Alador," Odalia spoke, venom in her voice. "Do you really find me such a fool to think that I don't know that? However, the twins being seen out in public with Amity right now may the best possible thing to manage this little, situation, we have at hand. To those outside of us who know of Amity's... departure... I'm sure the children's day out looks to be nothing more than bonding time - a sign of a close, healthy family."

"And what of any plans they may come up with to retaliate?" Alador questioned as he thought about his wife's stipulations.

"We don't know for a fact that they are, dear," Odalia brushed the worry off. "I'd be surprised if our threats and the little lesson Emira learned wouldn't be enough to keep them at bay for now. Even so, it behoove of us to to figure out a course of action as to how to progress. Clearly Lilith Clawthorne cannot be counted on to return Amity and to be frank, I wouldn't be surprised if she knew more about our little situation than she is letting on what with her proximity to her sister and the human Amity is so clearly fond of. That being said, I think its time we had a chat with our friend to see what exactly she knows all of this. Wherever her mind may be, who's to say we can't convince her to talk?" Odalia sneered through a devilish grin before drawing a spell circle, an illusion of Lilith appearing in front the couple before the high ranking member of the emperor's coven drew one more circle, an abomination hand promptly grabbing the faux Lilith and proceeding to slam her to the ground.

"Perhaps you're right, my dear," spoke in agreement of his wife's plan. "In that case, I will have one of the servants summon Lilith now lest we let any more time pass on this."

"Perfect," Odalia spoke as she walked past her husband, planning the book she had been holding back on the book case behind him where it belonged. "Everything will work out just fine," the matriarch Blight hummed. "Even if we have to eliminate the problem entirely," she sneered, eyes locking onto a small family photo tucked away in the corner of the shelf.

——

"There's the two love birds! Welcome back!" Eda grinned as Amity and Luz entered through the door of the owl house, Amity's face turning bright red at the comment.

"Eda," Luz groaned through a half hearted frown, secretly pleased at how flustered Amity got at the older witch's teasing.

"I'm just messin' with yah, kid," Eda laughed as she smacked Luz's back with a snort. "But really, how was it? Looks like you two Picassos painted up some real nice stuff granted flowers aren't exactly my thing," Eda smirked, pointing to the wall behind her adorned with skulls, weapons, and her various wanted posters.

"It was..." Luz spoke excitedly before Amity interjected with a quiet hum.

"Simply amazing," the green haired girl smiled through a dream like gaze as she held the bouquet of sunflowers Luz had bought tight to her chest, recounting the emotions she felt in seeing the whole field of them Luz had prepared for her.

"Well hot damn, Luz," Eda smirked, "look at you making baby Blight melt like a popsicle in July."

"Eda!" Luz yelled through a fit of laughter as Amity's blush intensified, the dreamy look on her face unwavering.

"Ha!" Eda snorted. "sorry kid. Tomato Blight just makes the teasing so easy. But anyway, I want to hear all about your kids little date, disgustingly adorable details and all but first, LILY!" Eda shouted, attempting to summon her sister in the room. "THE KIDS ARE BACK. COME IN HERE. THEY WANT TO TELL US ABOUT THEIR DATE!"

"Want to?" Luz muttered under her breath, shooting Amity a small grin as she rolled her eyes.

"Do you have to yell, Edalyn?" Lilith groaned as she entered the room from one door over, smirking as she spotted Amity and Luz who had since moved to the couch, sitting and holding hands.

"Sheesh, do you have to sound so grumpy you old coot?" Eda teased.

"Old co... I'm barely two years older than you, Edalyn!" Lilith grumbled.

"I'm just messin' with yah, Lily," Eda laughed as she lightly elbowed Lilith in the side before shooting Luz and Amity a wink. "Now then, get comfy so the kids can spill the details."

"Alright, alright," Lilith sighed as she took a seat next to Amity, smiling lightly.

"So..." Eda smirked.

"Well, we spent about an hour walking to the surprise I had set up for Amity and it was great because we just spent time talking and enjoying the scenery together," Luz began recounting the details of the couples' date excitedly as Amity sat quietly nodding in agreement, a look of love on her face as she listened to her partner. "The walk alone was super relaxing but the best part was when we finally made our way out of the woods!"

"Oh yeah?" Eda asked in excitement.

"Yeah!" Luz exclaimed, stars in her eyes. "Because as soon as we exited the forrest, we got to this field where..." Luz explained before a ringing cut her off.

"Really, Lily?" Eda scowled as she turned to the source of the ringing.

"I'm so sorry," Lilith frowned as she looked down at her scroll, eyes slightly widening at the number. "You'll have to excuse me. I have to take this," Lilith said standing to exit the room. "Its work. I'll be back in just a few."

"See kids?" Eda smirked, "this is why you should never get a job. 'Be your own boss,' is what I always say because you know who doesn't get calls from work on the weekend? This gal," Eda said proudly, pointing her thumb at her chest.

"I'm so sorry," Lilith said, appearing in the room once more. "I have to step out for awhile."

"Seriously Lil? What? The Emperor got a pickle jar he can't open or something? Seems like that guy can't do anything by himself," Eda rolled her eyes.

"Yeah... something like that," Lilith sighed.

"Well, maybe we could finish telling the story when you get back?" Amity said, looking a Lilith hopefully.

"That would be great," Lilith said with a soft smile as she stared at the green haired girl, knots in her heart.

"Okay then!" Luz chimed as she gave Amity's hand a squeeze. "What do you day we head up stairs for a bit then? I don't know about you but I'm ready to change into pajamas."

"Okay," Amity giggled before turning to Lilith once more. "I hope work goes well," Amity smiled before her and Luz made their way out of the room.

"Me too..." Lilith mumbled as she watched the couple depart.

"Everything okay, Lily?" Eda asked when Amity and Luz were out of earshot.

"I... I'm not sure to be honest," Lilith sighed, "but once I figure it out, I will let you know."

"Cryptic," Eda said, raising an eyebrow as she watched Lilith make her way to the door. "Well, be careful Lily and try not to be out too late."

"Thank you, Edalyn. I will," the blue haired witch smiled before summoning her staff to depart.

——

"Lilith," Odalia said as the blue haired witch entered Alador's study, the brown haired witch behind his wife, pouring a drink for himself. "Thank you for joining us on such short notice. Please, take a seat."

"Of course," Lilith spoke flatly, "however I prefer to stand," the blue haired witch remarked.

"Please, don't be silly," Odalia sneered before drawing a small spell circle with her finger, a slight blast of energy hitting Lilith in the chest forcing her to fall in a chair situated behind her. "I insist..."

"Odalia," Lilith winced as she moved to stand back up before several small abomination arms shooting up from the ground, grasping her arms and legs and preventing her from doing so. Spotting Alador finishing his drink, the blue haired witch turned her gaze to the man who met her with a blank stare. "Why am I here?" Lilith growled as she struggled against her restraints.

"It has been brought to our attention that young Amity was spotted out with the twins earlier yesterday," Alador said flatly as he approached his wife's side. "Do tell us, Lilith, how is it that two children managed to track down Amity before you could?"

"I... I don't know," Lilith stuttered, feigning ignorance. "Perhaps Amity asked them to meet? She does trust them, after all," the blue haired witch spoke as she attempted to regain her composure.

"Is that so..." Odalia muttered, "and how is it you know this?"

"Well blood or not, they are her siblings after all, and beside that, Amity always spoke fondly of them during our mentoring sessions to my recollection," Lilith stated matter of factly.

"I see," Odalia hummed as she made her way around the desk behind which she sat. "It would make sense that she would trust you with those thoughts, you being her mentor and all."

"Indeed." Lilith agreed.

"Thats... sweet," Odalia scoffed, "there is nothing like finding someone you feel safe confiding in... which makes me wonder, with all that trust between you two, did you know about her relations with your sister's pupil - the human?"

"I had no idea of the sort," Liliy said confidently, her eye contact with Odalia never wavering.

"Is that so?" Odalia hummed. "We're to believe she never mentioned a word of it?"

"That is correct."

"I see. Well thats good then because it would be a shame for a trusted friend such as yourself to lie to us, wouldn't it dear?" Odalia smiled as she turned to Alador.

"Indeed," the man spoke flatly, the smell of whisky on his breath making its way to Lilith's nose. "But fortunately, there are ways for us to confirm this as fact, isn't there my darling?"

"Why yes," Odalia said as she approached Lilith, tapping her finger on her chin. "Perhaps we should check for good measure, don't you think?"

"Save your energy, Odalia. I already told you what I know," Lilith spoke, confidence unwavering as she met Odalia's gaze.

Placing her finger under Lilith's chin with a cheshire smirk, Odalia moved her face towards Lilith's, her cheek lightly brushing the blue haired witch's as she moved her lips to her ear. "I certainly hope you have for your sake," Odalia whispered as she drew a small spell circle in the air, pulling string of memories that told otherwise from Lilith's mind as the blue haired witch squeezed her eyes shut in defeat.

"My, my," Odalia spoke as she watched Lilith's memories play out in front of her, listening to her children recount to the blue haired witch tales of their recent escapades with Eda and the human along with every instance of abuse suffered under Odalia and her husband. "Its a shame you chose to lie to us, Lily," Odalia sighed as she grabbed Lilith's face, forcing her into eye contact. "Not only did you know of Amity and the human but it seems you know of all of the lies our children have been spewing all over town."

"Lies?!" Lilith yelled as she pulled her face from Odalia's grasp. "You think you can pass off what you did to those children as lies? I saw what you did to Amity. You injured her so badly she could have died! And the twins... you manipulated them for years into thinking all of Amity's injuries were her own doing and Emira... I was with her when the healers placed her arm in a cast well over a week after you broke it and refused to let her be treated! How dare you try to pass that off as lies!" Lilith spat before a hand swiftly made contact with her cheek, knocking the glasses from her face.

"Oh Lily," Odalia smirked as she shook out her hand before bending to pick up Lilith's glasses. "You know, I always found you more attractive without these things," the green haired witch smirked as she crushed Lilith's glasses.

"The fuck do I care?" Lilith sneered.

"Language, Lily, language," Odalia chuckled as Lilith groaned, the grip of the abomination hands restraining her arms and legs tightening. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say that lowly sister of yours is rubbing off on you. Heaven knows that better not be the case with our kids."

"Don't you dare talk about my sister like that," Lilith sneered. "So what happens now then, huh?" Lilith remarked, gritting her teeth as another abomination hand made its way around her waist, tightening around her ribs. "You kill me, and then what? My family will come looking for me and..." Lilith huffed as the pressure on her ribs increased "and theres no way Edalyn will let the kids go back to you. You two..." Lilith groaned as the taste of blood began to grow in her mouth. "You'll never get away with this."

"Don't be so naive, Lily, of course we will," Odalia sneered as she grabbed the blue haired witch's neck with an iron grip. "But, I have no plans to kill you... at least not now anyway," Odalia smirked. "You're more valuable to us alive than dead, you see. Isn't that right dear?" Odalia spoke as she turned to Alador.

"Indeed," the man spoke as he poured himself a second glass of liquor before taking a drink. "But let me make one thing clear," he said as he wiped his mouth. "Don't think that just because we have no intention of killing you now, we won't make you suffer. This is not an act of mercy; your lies will not go unpunished," he said as he nodded to Odalia who raised her hand to draw a spell circle, a large bout of energy forming in her hand. "After all, no one crosses the Blights."

Aiming her hand at the blue haired witch, Odalia shot a large blast of energy directly at her chest, the blue gem below her collarbone fracturing as Lilith choked back a scream. Feeling her eyes grow hazy, Lilith felt a feeling of warmth cross her torso as a metallic smell and taste met her nose and mouth. Feeling the abomination arms loosen around her arms, legs, and waist, Lilith coughed, red splattering out across the ground in front of her before she felt herself slump off the chair, the cold ground breaking her fall.

"What a waste," Odalia remarked as she stood over Lilith, using her shoe to position the blue haired witch's face to face up at her own. "Now then, whats say we get you to your chambers for the evening?" Odalia hummed as she stared into Lilith's unfocused eyes. "Alador, please see to it that Lily here is taken care of. Titan forbid she finds us to be bad hosts," Odalia smirked. "Now if you will excuse me, I have business to attend to."

——

"Lily still isn't back?" Luz yawned as she and Amity sat on the couch.

"No, kid," Eda sighed, a slight feeling of concern growing in her stomach as she recounted the look of worry on her sister's face before her departure. "No sign of her so far."

"Do you think shes okay?" Amity asked, a look of slight worry on her face as she met Eda's eyes.

"Yeah, she's probably fine," Eda remarked, trying to reassure the worried green haired girl. "She's probably just running a little later than she expected."

"Hm..." Amity thought for a moment, "well, alright then."

"What say we finish talking about your kids' date tomorrow. You two must be tuckered out by now."

"Yeah," Luz yawned as she stretched. "Thats a good idea. Come on, Amity. Let's head up to bed but Eda, if Lilith doesn't show up after awhile, please let us know, okay?"

"You got it kid," Eda smiled ruffling Luz's hair. "Now go get some rest!" Eda ordered as the Luz and Amity moved to head upstairs, older witch settling in on the couch to read as she waited up for her sister.

An hour and a half later, a quiet knock and Hooty's shrill voice startled Eda out of her slumber, the book she had attempted to read falling off her lap as she sprung up. "Who in the world," Eda grumbled groggily as she made her way to the door. "Lilith!" Eda yelled as she eyed the blue haired witch standing in the door way. "What the heck took you so long?"

"My apologies, Edalyn. I got a bit tied up," Lilith remarked with a smirk on her face.

"Well don't just stand there, get back inside. Some of us are trying to sleep."

"Is everything okay?" a small voice asked from the top of the stairs as the front door closed.

"Yeah, kid, everything's fine. Lily just got back."

"Oh!" Amity smiled as she made her way down the stairs to greet her mentor. "I'm glad your back. We were all getting a little worried there for a minute," the green haired girl smiled as she met Lilith's eyes.

"Oh, Amity," Lilith spoke has she laid a hand on the young witch's shoulder. "I assure you, I'm quiet alright. Now run along to bed."

"Alright," Amity hummed before awkwardly moving forward to hug the blue haired witch, a practice she had recently gotten in the habit of after watching Luz and Eda. "Have a good night."

"Oh I will, dear," Lilith smirked.

——

End Note: Ngl, this chapter was a lot to write but here we are, the beginning of the story's climax. I have a feeing the next few chapters will be increasingly intense but stick with me, there will be happier times on the horizon sooner or later.

Also, if you're enjoying this story, check out my other TOH fic, "Bad." Its way more obscure than this fic but I've heard its a good read nonetheless.