As time passed I started to take my position in the Emperor's Coven in stride. Or at least I tried. I wanted to make my mother proud. Even if in all truth there was nothing about the coven that I loved, I did love her.

I became used to using my artificial staff for magic and became well-versed in mostly healing magic while using it. My shield casting had also improved, as well, slowly but surely I was starting to resemble the kind of witch the Emperor's Coven required.

I was beginning to show the Boiling Isles what it meant and what it took to be the assistant to the Head of the Emperor's Coven. Sadly that was all they knew me by, however. Very few if none at all, knew that Lilith had been the one to raise me, or that she considered me, her daughter.

It made sense considering even those in the Emperor's Coven were forbidden to refer to me as such. The only viable connection I was allowed to have with Lilith was being her assistant. My mother didn't approve of this either but she couldn't do anything about it.

She still continued to refer to me as her daughter in secret. She always made sure I knew she loved me, even if the people around me continued to tell me otherwise...

~Etta Age 15~

Etta woke with a start hearing knocking at her door. She looked at the time and her heart sank she had slept in. She tumbled out of bed and crashed to the ground her wings flaring out of her back, startling her palisman Nyx from her slumber at her feet.

"Etta! Etta, are you okay? Please tell me you're ready! We need to get going, don't tell me you didn't forget the Covention was today," Lilith's voice came from the other side of the door.

"Yeah! I totally didn't forget! I'm just um straightening my cape." Etta lied as she scrambled up from the floor. She yanked off her pajamas and quickly changed into her clothes for the convention. She clipped her cape around her neck and checked to make sure her mask was still hanging from her belt at her hip. She grabbed her artificial staff leaning against her bed.

Nyx curled back up on the bed and stared at Etta with a very judgmental look on the cat's face as she began to clean herself. Etta stuck her tongue out at her Palisman. Before opening the door to her room.

Lilith was standing and she raised her eyebrow and said, "Looks like you're hair could also use some attention as well Etta. You slept in didn't you?" Lilith's voice soften when she said.

"Maybe..." Etta mumbled and she reached up with one hand and tugged at an out-of-place strand of hair. Lilith gently ushered Etta back into her room. Etta sat down in front of her vanity as Lilith picked up Etta's brush. She gently brushed her daughter's long hair.

"Are you nervous?" Lilith asked softly.

Etta shrugged and said, "A little it's been a while since I've had to stand in front of a lot of people. The last time was my coven initiation..."

Lilith gently squeezed Etta's shoulder reassuringly and said, "I'll be next to you the entire time,"

Etta nodded her head and Lilith smiled and placed the brush down. Etta got to her feet and both she and Lilith left her room. Nyx sat on Etta's bed having returned to sleeping peacefully.

They left the castle and Lilith used her staff to take off into the air. Etta's wings opened on her back, she launched herself into the air after her mother. She flew alongside her as they flew to the Covention. Once they landed they were escorted to a dressing room for Lilith to prepare to be introduced to the crowd.

Etta stood beside her mother, preparing for their entrance. Both had their bird-like masks on. Etta glanced at her mother beside her and saw her mother had the very appearance of prestige and elegance.

Etta took and deep breath as she heard, Bump's voice say, "And now, I'm pleased to introduce the esteemed leader of this coven and this year's mystery guest. You know her, you love her! Lilith!"

She heard the audience gasp and Lilith made a circle with her hand. Blue light enveloped both Lilith and Etta. In a blink of an eye, she was standing on a stage inside an auditorium. In front of many people. Etta looked up and saw the blue raven let out a screech as her mother lifted her arms and sent her mask and cape lift off of her. The audience applauded and cheered loudly.

"Thank you, all" Lilith addressed the crowd, and magically sent her cape and mask back into Principal Bump causing him to stumble out of view. "It wasn't easy for me to rise to the top. I also started from humble beginnings,"

"Like me?" a boy cried from the front row.

"Now I have the highest honor of enforcing the Emperor's will. So be more! The Emperor's Coven awaits you!" Lilith said She then spun creating the raven illusion again. It spread its wings before bursting into balls of light. Lilith posed with her arms out, smirking. She then gently placed her hand on Etta's shoulder. Etta looked up at her mother and saw she was smiling down at her proudly.

Once Lilith and Etta exited the auditorium. They were both surrounded by young witches from the looks of their clothes they appeared to be Hexside students. Lilith greeted them cordially and answered all of their questions.

Etta felt a tug on her cape and saw a younger witch looking up at her and they said, "I want to be like you when I get older! How did you manage to get into the Emperor's Coven so young?"

Etta looked over at her mother who was busy signing autographs, and she said, "I had people that never gave up on me...It made me want to work harder and harder,"

The little witchlet eyes grew wide with joy when she heard that and she smiled widely. Just then Etta heard Lilith call out, "Sister?"

Etta's blood ran cold when she heard that and saw, Eda, attempting to sneak out of the covention doors. She had her wild mane of gray hair hidden in her hood, but it was no doubt, Eda.

Etta had no choice but to follow her mother as she approached Eda.

"It's been so long since I've seen you last!" She signed something and handed it to a boy, before turning back to Eda and sneering, "What are you wearing? You look like some sort of trash collector. Oh, right. You are."

"Oh, Lily. I just had to see the leader of the Emperor's Coven in action." She leaned down to talk to the students and whispered, "You know when we were kids, Lilith was so excited to see the Emperor's Coven, she peed a little."

The kids laughed causing Lilith to blush and she sheepishly, "That—That's all for today," she ushered the children off," She then turned to Eda. "You shouldn't even be here. You're a wanted criminal! Unless..." She gasped, "I don't believe it! You are here to join the Emperor's Coven!"Lilith's eyes lit up with happiness.

Eda chortled and said, "In your dreams,".

"You think being covenless makes you so much smarter than everyone else. But while you run from the law like a degenerate, I'm mentoring the next generation of powerful witch students into the world," Lilith said cooly.

"Well, I have a student. And I bet she could wipe the floor with any of your prissy little blue bloods," Eda sneered

Lilith stepped closer and said, "Is that a challenge?" She placed her hand on Etta's shoulder and pushed her toward Eda.

"Oh, it's a promise," Eda smirked she faltered when she saw Etta. Etta stared at Eda with bated breath. They both knew each other very well, however Lilith didn't know that.

"Who's the kid Lily? She looks a little young to be a coven scout," Eda sniffed feigning not recognizing Etta.

"This is my assistant Merletta, she's more than capable of taking on that student of yours," Lilith replied

Etta subtly shook her head no, while giving Eda a pleading look. Whoever Eda's student was she didn't want to fight them.

"I think It would be better if one of you're students fought mine, it seems it would be unfair to ask your kid to do so. Mom mentioned that you raised a kid. However I didn't know you've roped her into the Emperor's Coven as well," Eda said

Lilith's face twisted into a look of surprise hearing Eda knew that Etta was her's but before she could answer. A young girl popped up between Eda and Lilith, she had brown hair and brown eyes and was dressed in a purple and white hoodie.

"Eda, I need your help! I accidentally challenged Amity to a witch's duel, and I think she's going to kill me all the way dead!" She cried and slumped to the ground in a heap.

"Mmm, it seems your student has met one of my strongest protégé," She then knelt down beside Luz and said, "And look at those ears!"

Luz covered them, blushing. "Is she human?" Lilith asked and chuckled. Etta blinked in surprise and look down at the girl as well. "She's a Human..." She murmured softly. Her mother stood, "Where did you even find one of these?" She exclaimed and smirked as she said, "Okay, Edalyn," and traced a spell circle. Etta watched as around the building, Eda's wanted posters burned

"For one day, you won't have to hide from the law, because I want to see how good a teacher you really are," Lilith then walked away.

Etta looked down at the girl and Eda, apologetically and she reached down and gave the human girl an awkward pat on the shoulder. Before silently mouthing the words, "I'm sorry" to Eda. She straightened when she heard Lilith call out, "Come along Etta, we have much to prepare,"

Etta hurried after her mother. Not before glancing back at Eda and the girl on the ground. Eda slightly nodded her head to her the only indication that she had no hard feelings toward Etta.

Lilith sent Etta to find Amity. She spotted Amity getting food and hurried over to her and said, "Amity!" The green-haired witch greeted her with a hug. "Etta it's been too long," Amity said grinning.

"Yeah, sorry I haven't been able to see you as often. The coven's been keeping me on my toes," Etta replied sheepishly

"I can imagine I saw you on stage. You looked so uncomfortable up there,"

"You could tell, titans' sake I thought I was doing a good job hiding it," Etta laughed rubbing the back of her neck. Etta's expression then fell and she said, "Amity is it true you agreed to a witch's duel with... a human,"

Amity's expression turned to one of annoyance at the mention of the word human. "Her name is Luz, and she got me in trouble with Principle Bump at Hexside. Besides she's the one that challenged me,"

Etta sighed and said quietly "Are you actually going to fight her?"

"Obviously, I want to prove myself to the Emperor's coven,"

"I see, well my mother wanted me to find you... so you can prepare with her for the duel," Etta said softly and she lowered her head. "I was kind of hoping you and I could hang out at the covention,"

"This duel shouldn't last long at all. Once I'm done we can hang out and catch up. I want to know everything you've been up to in the Emperor's Coven," Amity said with a smile.

Etta nodded silently she was concerned for Luz. She lead Amity to where her mother was waiting. Amity practiced her abomination magic and said summoned one, "Abomination. Rise,"

The abomination came up to Amity's shoulders as it rose from her spell circle on the ground with a groan. It twisted its head off and threw it. Hitting a baker's coven witch in the face. Etta flinched as she saw this. Trying to ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach.

After a few more minutes Lilith led the two back to the theater and said, Lilith, Amity, and Etta were standing on the dais, while Eda and Luz are standing opposite them on the ground.

"Beloved citizens, the Emperor's Coven proudly presents an impromptu demonstration of the sort of witch we seek every year. Introducing Amity Blight." Lilith announced to the crowd.

The Crowd cheered "Woo, Amity!"

"Versus..."

Eda stepped out of the way and proudly presented a very nervous Luz.

"...some human girl." Lilith finished

The Applause stopped and Etta heard scattered murmuring

"A human?"

"Humans can't do magic!"

"She's not Amity."

Lilith then gestured to Etta and said, "If any injuries happen, my assistant, Merletta here will heal them," Etta's wings twitched on her back nervously she hadn't been able to get them to retract ever since they had reentered the theater for the duel.

A bell rang and screamed. Luz, still nervous, and Amity confident, approached each other as the audience cheered. Amity cracked her knuckles. Luz waved.

Amity traced out a large spell circle. and said, "Abomination. Rise."

An abomination rose from the spell circle it towered over the two girls. Etta let out a gasp of surprise from beside Lilith. She had never seen Amity create an abomination of that size before.

Amity gasped surprised and said, "Whoa," then smirked and shouted at Luz, "Show me what you got, human!"

"I'm not good under pressure!" Luz screamed and started running away. The abomination groaned and twisted its head off and threw it at Luz.

"Whoa!" Luz screamed

The head just missed and Luz backed against the wall by the advancing abomination, its head regrew. She sunk to the ground in fear. Just as the abomination looked down a towering jet of fire erupted from the ground causing it to back way.

"How did you do that?" Amity demanded

"I, uh—" she did jazz hands and said, sheepishly "Magic?"

The abomination was steaming all of a sudden current of air strong enough to launch it and Amity into the air. She screamed as she was sent flying.

"Amity!" Etta shouted her wings flared and she resisted the urge to fly and catch her friend. Lilith placed her hand on Etta's shoulder a silent command for her to remain where she was.

Etta gritted her teeth as she watched the abomination land on its back and Amity landed, kneeling.

"I-I saw you that time! You didn't use your hands! What are you getting at?" Amity shouted angrily.

"Not dying!" Luz cried

The abomination sits up with a groan, then stomped toward Luz again. Luz screamed and ran.

Luz was running from the abomination another explosion happened sending Luz to the ground Amity advanced on Luz anger on her face.

"How are you doing that?" She demanded

"No, Amity, don't step any closer!" Luz cried out desperately.

"Why, Luz? What happens if I step closer?" Amity asked raising an eyebrow her tone suspicious.

All of a sudden a creature that Etta recognized landed flat on his back, in between Luz and Amity. Spikes burst from the ground, forcing Luz and Amity back several steps. Luckily from all the things King was wearing, he seemed to be unharmed.

"Mmm? I'm okay!" Kina called out.

"Spikes?" Luz shouted in disbelief to Eda. Eda gives her two thumbs up with a grin on her face. Etta ran from the dais and to Amity's side artifical staff in hand. Her mother walked after her.

"I knew it! You were cheating!" Amity shouted pointing her finger at Luz.

"Amity—No!" Luz said

Lilith kneeled down and touched the top of a shorter spike, it crumbled under her fingertip. She stood and said, "Oh, Eda. I do believe this means you lose!"

Eda groaned hearing that and Etta started healing the scraps on Amity's hands. "It wasn't my idea to cheat. And when I found out, I tried to stop it, but—" Luz tried to explain.

"Who could believe anything you say?" Amity scowled she jerked her hands out from Etta's grasp and started stalking away.

However Eda's eyes narrowed and she stared after Amity, and said, "Wait just a sec, Miss Protégé,"

Lilith's eyes widen as Eda went after her and Eda lifted Amity's hair.

"Hey! What are you—" Amity shouted

Eda ripped something off of the back of Amity's neck, the abomination shrank until it was about the height of Amity's knee, it crumbled completely when its head crushed it. Eda held up what she had to the audience.

"A power glyph from the Construction Coven," She announced causing everyone to gasp

"Ah-ha! Yes, yes, yes-yes-yes! You cheated. Perfect, prissy Lilith cheated. Hot dang, I love coventions! La-la-la—" Eda sang and gloated

"I only did that because I knew you would cheat!" Lilith shouted Etta gaped at her mother in surprise.

"Still cheated! Welcome down to my level!" Eda sang

Amity was rubbing the back of her neck and stammered, "But... I didn't know!" She saw Luz approaching and ran off.

"Amity, wait!" Luz said

"Luz! Help me!" King cried

Etta hurried over and helped Luz free King, both of them ripping the shirts he was wearing in the process.

"My offerings!" King wailed

Luz patted King's head, and said, "You'll get more offerings, King,"

Luz then stuck her hand out to Etta and said, "Thanks for the help, um,"

"Etta and no problem," Etta replied and shook Luz's hand. The girl then ran off after Amity.

"Hey, wait for me!" King cried before following her. Etta watched them go and with a sigh turned back to see Eda doing some kind of dance.

"Knock it off. You're making a scene!" Lilith demanded

"You cheated. Hey, where's the Rhyming Coven? What rhymes with "cheated"?" Eda smirked

"Stop acting like a child!" Lilith screamed

"You were defeated, don't get heated, get your stank face treated," Eda chanted

"Rhyme one more thing. I dare you!" Lilith threatened

"Oh, it's okay, I'm done," Eda said and paused before smirking, "Because my rhymes are depleted!"

Lilith screeched, "That's it!"

She summoned her staff and it spun in a circle a blast of energy slammed into Eda throwing her through her spikes and into the wall behind the dais. The audience gasped. The cloud of Lilith's blue magic clears out. Eda, splayed against the wall, smirking, "There she is!"

"M-mom..." Etta said hesitantly barely loud enough for anyone other than Lilith to hear her. As she stood behind her mother.

Eda she summoned her own staff and attempted to spin it in a circle only for it to fly out of her hand and clatter on the ground. She picked it back up and sent a ray of energy at Lilith. Lilith grunted and sent one back.

"Witch's duel!" someone from the crowd screamed out.

"Get back Merletta now!" Lilith shouted as she moved in front of Etta and sent a ray of magic at Eda's. Lilith's blue magic and Eda's orange magic are evenly matched. They explode in white light. Etta stumbled backward and she couldn't bring herself to move.

Eda fired magic at Lilith and was spinning her staff to deflect them. Lilith was semi-aware that Etta was still standing behind her apparently rooted to the spot.

When Eda's attack stopped, she pushed her hand forward, her spell circle turning into a burst of magic.

Eda takes a few steps back, spinning her staff she drew a spell circle on the ground. She lifted her hand, creating a growing pillar of wood that splits Lilith's attack. The pillar bent, it was an owl face hooting lowly.

Lilith stared at it, then teleported away from its approaching beak. Stray magic entered the audience. They screamed and fled. Lilith drew a circle with her hand and a blue bubble surrounded Etta. Lilith made a gesture and the bubble flew to safety. "Hey!" Etta shouted

Lilith ignored Etta's shout of protest as two new owl faces extended from the large pillar. Eda drew four more spell circles on the opposite side. Lilith easily teleported away from all of their beaks, destroying one on the ground, then launching herself into the air and destroying three in the air with a grunt.

Eda smirked and spun her staff, creating an orange shield as Lilith slammed into with magic and her staff. The shield cracked but Eda's expression didn't change. Owlbert's eyes glowed and He flew into Lilith's face, interrupting her attack. He hoots and pulled her hair with his talons.

"Ow, ow, ow-ow-ow. Ow-ow-ow-ow-ow!" Lilith cried

Eda's shield fell and she said, "Say goodnight, sister,"

She spun her staff and smacked the butt of it into the wooden pillar. A large owl's face formed right next to Lilith, and with a hoot, it captured her in its beak. All fell silent.

"Mom!" Etta cried out in a panic as she beat on the bubble's wall with her fist.

She watched as Owlbert landed back on Eda's staff. She smiled at him, then looked concerned when she saw a flaming hole in the new owl tube's side. Lilith appeared directly behind her one of her hands covered in flaming blue fire.

"Enough of this," Lilith said

Eda gasps and she was thrown into the wall with a scream, leaving a crater. Lilith smirked and spins her staff, ready to continue the duel.

"Lily, wait. The curse," Eda said getting up she was holding her arm

Lilith stopped spinning her staff and gathering magic as her palisman disappeared. Etta couldn't make out what Eda and Lilith were saying exactly from inside her bubble. But she could tell they were talking.

"Look at me. Look at my face. The curse is worsening and I can't keep up with it. I don't know how much time I have left," Eda said softly

Lilith approached Eda and said quietly, "I'll admit I was surprised when I first saw you today,"

"I just had to see my sister for... possibly the last time," Eda admitted

"Eda, I—" Lilith started to say softly.

She screamed as a bag of Hex Mix was thrown in her face. She stared at it as it hit the ground. Lilith growled.

Eda ran for the exit. well, shouting over her shoulder, "It's been fun, but let's call it a draw!"

"Argh!" Lilith screamed in rage.

Etta was still trapped in the bubble in the corner of the room and she beat on it, "Mom! Let me out!" Lilith sighed and started to walk toward Etta to let her out. Only for her to fall to the ground on her face. She looked down and saw, her shoelaces tied together, and let out a scream of rage.

Etta sighed and leaned back against the bubble realizing she was going to be inside it for a little while longer.

When Lilith finally reached Etta and dismissed the bubble spell. Etta caught her mother before she faceplanted again on the ground.

"Are you okay Mom? You're not hurt are you?" Etta asked concerned.

"I'm fine, help me to the dressing room please," Lilith said through gritted teeth.

Etta placed her mother's arm around her shoulders to help her mother as they made their way to the dressing room. Once Etta pushed the door open Lilith tried to enter on her own only to trip and fall. She grunted and stood up muttering under her breath," You make it so hard to want to help you, Edalyn,"

A compact mirror on the counter opened, showing the insignia of the Emperor's Coven. Lilith gasped and quickly pushed Etta behind her shielding her from view, knowing who would be on the mirror.

"Lilith, I see you let The Owl Lady get the best of your temper. Just remember what Emperor Belos has promised to you," Kikimora said as she appeared in the mirror's glass.

Lilith nodded and said, "I will capture her, ma'am. You have my word,"

"Very good," Kikimora said

Kikimora faded from the mirror, allowing Lilith's reflection to appear.

"Your days are numbered, Edalyn," she said gravely as she stared at her own reflection. As Etta stepped out behind her Lilith saw a concerned look on Etta's face in the mirror, "What did Emperor Belos promise you, Mother..." Etta whispered softly.

Lilith didn't meet her daughter's eyes and instead, she turned around and, gently kissed Etta on the forehead and said, "It's nothing to worry about, feel free to continue to explore the covention I'll join you after I've rested in here for a little while,"

Etta was silent and she lowered her head to the ground. Lilith gently brushed some hair out of Etta's face and said, "You didn't get hurt did you, Etta? I bubbled you in the hopes you'd be protected from being in the crossfire..."

"I'm okay," Etta said quietly, and she began to heal an abrasion on the back of her mother's hand, using her artificial staff.

"Now that you've witnessed my sister first hand do you understand why I didn't want you to meet her? She's a wild witch and a criminal that has no respect for the coven system,"

"And you promised to capture her..." Etta said she couldn't keep her voice from trembling, a mixture of emotions turned inside her. She had always known that was her mother's goal but seeing it confirmed right in front of her, made her feel sick.

Lilith seemed to notice Etta's response and she sighed and gently touched the side of Etta's face with her hand comfortingly, "I know you don't understand. There are details I've been keeping from you, but please Etta understand when I tell you to stay away from my sister...it's for your own safety..."

Etta met her mother's eyes a look of pleading was in them. "I-I understand," Etta said softly lowering her gaze. Lilith pulled her daughter into a hug.

Meanwhile, Etta stared past her mother at her reflection a very guilty expression painted all over her face. She had no intention of actually staying away from the Owl Lady of the Boiling Isles.

Etta hugged her mother back tightly hoping she wouldn't be able to tell the guilt that was eating away at her heart.