Chapter Text
“ Please don't scare her off” Willa begs the coven. Unfortunately for her, Homecoming just so happened to line up with a coven dinner meaning Eddie would be forced to interact with not just Agatha and Rio, but the entire group. “I actually really like her”
“We're just gonna talk to her is all” Agatha shrugs “make sure she has good intentions. If she gets scared off that’s her problem”
Willa glares at Agatha. Good intentions her ass, they're all very aware of the succubus’ favorite modus operandi.
“Go finish getting ready” Lilia assures the teenager “I promise to keep them in check”
Willa dashes upstairs, desperate to finish her makeup before Eddie arrives. Jen had offered to help, but they have vastly different tastes. If anything, Rio’s makeup is the closest to what she's going for, but it turns out the cosmic entity just shapeshifts it on. Nothing to apply, nothing to teach. Much to her chagrin, she hears the doorbell ring.
Eddie isn’t quite sure what to expect when she arrives at Willa’s house. She’d explained that her family isn’t ‘normal’ and at first Eddie had taken that to mean that they’re all gay. That part is true yes, but the addition that they’re all actual witches with real magic took her a moment to adjust to. She’d met Ms. Calderu plenty of times, but she’d written off the woman knowing her name and place of birth as coincidence. The fact that her next door neighbor is an actual divination witch took some getting used to.
When Willa asked her to homecoming, Eddie then had to come to terms with the fact that Visions Academy is a school for the ‘gifted.’ Again, not gifted as in everyone gets top marks and is in an accelerated program to be the next Olivia Octavius, but ‘gifted’ as in everyone there is some kind of supernatural being. Willa included.
All in all, pretty cool, Eddie thinks, but now faced with the reality, she’s quite worried about putting her foot in her mouth. Ringing the doorbell, she’s greeted by Willa’s mom, Agatha.
“Hello Ms. Harkness” Eddie greets with a signature smile
“Oh pff” Agatha shakes her head “I’m not my mother, you can call me Agatha” She says with a smile “Come on in, Willa’s almost ready”
Eddie greets the group, nodding to Ms. Calderu and meeting Alice, Jen, and Rio. They sure look like a cool family, she thinks.
“So Eddie” Agatha starts, adjusting her posture “Tell me about yourself”
“Agatha, ask a less broad question, this isn’t a job interview.” Lilia chastises the younger witch
Agatha rolls her eyes “Hobbies? Interests?”
“I like fixing things. Pipes, drywall, cars. I’m trying to go to trade school after I get my GED. I box too”
“Very cool” Agatha smiles in a way that Eddie isn’t sure is genuine. She looks…mischievous “and the GED thing, too cool for school?”
“Agatha” Lilia’s tone borders on warning
“All good” Eddie laughs “I wasn’t expelled but I was…asked not to return?"
To Eddie’s surprise, Agatha’s face lights up, she looks like a kid on Christmas.
“ Very cool” she grins, much more genuinely “I’m afraid Willa’s a bit of a rule-follower, this one’s fault” She motions to Rio who only scoffs “It’s good you can balance her out”
“That's” Eddie does a double take “That’s not the response people usually have”
“I’m not a usual person” Agatha shrugs “What’d they get you for? Something interesting I hope”
“Agatha” This time Jen sounds exasperated with the woman
“What? She’s taking my kid to Homecoming, I have to ask”
“Mostly fighting” Eddie shrugs “Teenage boys being dumb and weird.”
Agatha looks mildly disappointed that it’s not something more interesting, but shrugs again in response. Alice on the other hand gives Eddie a nod of approval.
“How’s New Jersey compared to California?” Alice asks
“Cold” Eddie mimes a shiver “but nice. A lot quieter, especially here in Westview.”
“Yeah well, there’s a reason. A lot of weird shit goes on around here. Perks of being on a ley line”
“I’ve heard” Eddie nods, remembering Willa’s lecture on magic energies in the area
“Why Westview?” Rio finally speaks, her voice dry and stare intense
“My aunt.” Eddie shrugs “She was the closest family member”
“Are you a foster kid too?”
“No” Eddie shakes her head “It’s kind of a bummer”
“I’m a bummer kind of person” Rio says without blinking. Eddie can’t help but think how similar she and Willa are
“Mom died a few years ago, and my Dad and I are… not on speaking terms” Eddie shoves her hands in her pockets “I’m an emancipated minor. Packed everything up and drove here”
The energy in the room shifts, but not toward awkwardness like Eddie was expecting. Instead, the women in front of her immediately become less guarded. Each of them relax as the tone shifts away from an interrogation. They almost seem...protective of her in a way.
“I’m sure that took a lot of conviction” Jen says, almost staring into Eddie’s entire being
“Yeah well” Eddie toes the ground “You do what you have to right?”
Agatha gives a nod of approval before Rio cuts in
“What time does the dance end?”
“Eleven” Eddie answers
“Have her back at Eleven-thirty” Rio says with an intensity that makes Eddie want to disappear into the floor. Agatha lightly slaps her shoulder
“Midnight”
Rio only glares at the other woman, shaking her head softly. “Eleven-forty-five”
“Will do!” Eddie tries to say without laughing
“I am also gonna ask for your phone number just in case of an emergency”
“Oh for sure” Eddie gives the intense woman her number
“And that’s Eddie…Chen?” Rio guesses
“Legally, it’s Brock” Eddie grimaces “still working on getting it changed”
“Gotcha” Rio nods, saving the contact “Let me go see what my kid is up to”
As Rio walks past Eddie, she feels a chill go down her spine. Something about her is so…mortifying.
“What’s up” Willa calls before Rio can even knock. Her spider-sense is getting better at picking up on the Green Witch.
“You almost ready?” Rio peeks her head in, smiling softly at her kid
“Just about” Willa smiles
“Hmm” Rio taps a finger to her chin “you’re missing something”
“I am?”
Rio curls her hand outward, producing a hellebore blossom in her palm. She weaves it into a black lace corsage before placing it on Willa’s wrist.
“Tradition goes out the window when it comes to us” Rio smiles, smoothing down Willa’s hair
“Thank you”
Rio grins again, handing Willa a matching boutonniere before leading the girl out of her room and down the stairs.
To Willa’s absolute delight, Eddie is laughing and conversing naturally with her found family. She descends the staircase, her small heels clicking on each step. Eddie turns to look up at her and looks absolutely star-struck.
“Woah” Eddie’s voice is soft, barely a whisper, but Willa hears it. Eddie stares at Willa with a look that can only be described as admiration, a blush washing over her face. Willa feels similarly entranced by Eddie’s sleek black blazer and sharp dress pants. The two look good . Willa approaches her date, pinning the boutonniere onto the lapel of Eddie’s blazer.
“Ready?” Willa asks, softly
“Oh no you don’t” Agatha smiles “I am going to take photos of you two” She cackles “C’mon by the stairs”
Willa begrudgingly poses with her date for photos. Agatha, of course, takes one with the flash on to be ‘purposefully awkward’ and then a few more with better lighting. Finally, the spirit witch relents and sends them out the door.
The homecoming dance is just as awful as Willa expected, but Eddie looks like she’s having a blast. Heads turn when people see who ‘the weird girl’ has brought to the homecoming dance. Of all the rumors floating around about Willa, she hopes this night will spawn a few good ones. The two manage to dance semi-awkwardly a few times, both laughing from the sheer absurdity of it all.
Finally, when the DJ blares another stupid airhorn, the two decide to leave early, unanimously realizing that dances are not for them. They end up on a trailhead with an impromptu picnic, staring at the stars.
Willa smiles as she sits next to Eddie. She watches her date as the other teenager watches the stars. The two are illuminated only by the moon and Eddie’s daytime running lights. She’s acutely aware that she’s being a little creepy, but she just can’t stop staring. A thought bubbles and claws its way to the surface, taking Willa by surprise.
“I’d like to kiss you” she blurts out, recoiling in embarrassment
Eddie turns to her with a goofy smile, face flushed. “R-really?”
“No nevermind” Willa says jokingly, forgetting how her voice sounds sometimes
“Oh”
“Fuck I mean” Willa sighs “That was a joke”
“Wanting to kiss me?”
“No the second-” Willa groans “Fuck it, come here”
Willa tugs Eddie forward by the front of her shirt, pressing her lips against the other girl’s. She feels Eddie smile into the kiss, breaking apart only to meet again.
Of course, Willa’s spider-sense just has to ruin her second ever kiss. Well, it’s not the spider-sense, rather the weird cosmic creature that ejects itself from the fabric of reality and attacks the two teenagers. Her world goes dark as she’s ripped away from Eddie, tangled and drowning in some sort of endless void. She reaches out but finds nothing to hold onto. She’s floating and entangled at the same time, suffocating in endless nothingness. Some last life-saving switch is flipped on and she feels her power bubble up, exploding outward in an arc of blue. The venom strike works, sending the inky blanket back, releasing her. Willa takes only a few moments to herself before rushing to Eddie.
“Eddie!” She checks the other teenager’s pulse, it’s strong, fast like she’s just run a marathon. “Are you okay?”
Eddie sits up with a groan, rubbing her face “I’m fine” she blinks quickly looking around “what happened?”
“I-” Willa looks around “Something attacked us. I might have accidentally hit you with a venom strike though”
“A what?”
“It’s… one of my powers”
“Oh right. I forget you can do stuff like that”
“Yeah.” Willa looks at Eddie with all the concern her eyes can muster before looking around “I think whatever it was left. Can you stand?”
“Yeah, gimme a mo” Eddie stands on shaky legs, helped by the smaller teenager. “I’m good”
“You should probably let Jen take a look at you” Willa grimaces “I don’t know what that thing was”
“I should be good to drive”
“Sorry”
“You don’t need to apologize” Eddie chuckles, starting her truck “I knew weird shit was gonna happen when I agreed to go out with you”
“You haven’t even seen the worst of it” Willa shakes her head “can we…do you wanna go on a make-up date next week?”
“I’d like that” Eddie smiles
During the ride home, Willa notices Eddie sweating. Despite it being October in New Jersey, she fiddles with the air in her truck.
“Is it hot in here?” The taller teenager mumbles, trying to cool herself off
“I’m freezing” Willa furrows her brows, becoming more concerned at how pale Eddie looks “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah I’m” She grips the steering wheel, taking deep breaths
“Do you want me to drive?”
Eddie looks over to Willa briefly, a panic setting in
“Yes”
By the time the two have swapped seats, Eddie is looking worse for wear. Out of the corner of her eye, Willa can see the girl clawing at the collar of her suit jacket, black veins starting to sprout up her neck. She needs to get home, now.
“Eddie, dial Jen please.”
Eddie fumbles with Willa’s phone, nodding quickly. She manages to get it unlocked and onto the contacts page. Willa holds her breath as the line rings. Thankfully, Jen answers.
“Hello?
“Hey Jen!” Willa tries not to sound panicked “Are you still at our house?”
“Yeah, we’re just about to head home.”
“Is everything okay?” Willa can hear Alice ask in the background
“Long story short, something attacked us. I’m fine but Eddie isn’t”
“What are her symptoms?”
“Sweaty, dizzy. She looks like she’s gonna pass out. And her veins are dark. It’s bad Jen”
“Meet me at my house” Jen says, clearly gathering her things “I’ll have the door unlocked when you get there and I’ll start on a general antidote”
“Drive safe!” Alice shouts before Jen hangs up
As much as Agatha had protested, Willa is glad at this moment that Jen decided to move into one of the houses down the street. Pulling into the driveway, she can see Alice and Jen outside the door. The three help get an incredibly limp Eddie out of the car and into Jen’s kitchen. It’s a disturbing amount like the first trial house, but there are more pressing matters.
“What happened?” Jen says, looking over the very sweaty teenager
“We were up on the trailhead and something just showed up” Willa motions with her hands “It wasn’t solid though. It was like…like fabric or tar or something. I couldn’t touch it, but it” Willa thinks “I couldn’t breathe. It’s like it was wrapped around my brain”
“How’d you escape?”
“Venom strike” Willa recounts “I was worried I hit Eddie, but this is different”
Jen ladles a bright orange liquid into Eddie’s mouth, supporting her head.
“I’ve never heard of what you’re describing” She sighs “You’ll need to ask Agatha to make sure, but this should help her for now”
Sure enough, Eddie stops shaking and lays still. Her breathing becomes even as she relaxes on the marble counter.
“If I had to guess” Jen continues “She probably picked up some cosmic poison from whatever that thing was. It should be out of her system by tomorrow but she’ll need to stay here so I can monitor her”
Willa nods, reaching out to caress Eddie’s shoulder, her touch gentle as if the other teen is made of glass. She sighs, turning to Alice and Jennifer.
“Is this going to keep happening?” she murmurs “Am I going to put everyone around me in danger?”
Alice and Jen share a look, silently corroborating their response.
“There isn’t a good answer, Willa” Alice starts “When you have magic, things follow you. That's why witches have covens. You need a group to deal with whatever might come your way.”
“You’re a protector in your own way” Jen continues “This was a freak accident. We’ve seen you throw buses and pull people from collapsing buildings.”
“Will she always be in danger, with me?” Willa almost sobs. “Is it better to cut her off now?”
“You don’t get to make that decision for her” Alice warns “She’s a fighter too”
“She’s so…human. What if I can’t protect her?”
“Those are questions for another day” Jen rests a hand on Willa’s shoulder “You both should rest. I’ll call her aunt.”
“There’s two beds in our guest room if you want to stay with her” Alice offers “She’ll probably be a little disoriented when she wakes up”
“Thank you” Willa sniffs
“Anytime kid” Alice ruffles the teenager’s hair “now help me move her, I may be the youngest but I’m still a senior citizen”
Rio stands at the outlook, brows furrowed. Her long cosmic cloak floats lazily behind her. She’d been summoned by a death. A life taken abruptly and violently usually called to her urgently. Yet here, on the trailhead overlooking Westview, there is no body. No soul to ferry. A text brings her out of her thoughts
WILL-UH
Willa: I'm staying at Alice and Jen's. I'm fine, Eddie got attacked by something :(
Rio: Glad you're okay
Rio: do you need a change of clothes?
Willa: Yes please :D
Arriving at Jen’s house, Rio brings Willa a change of clothes. She listens to Willa’s recount of the incident, raising a brow. Even she has never heard of this...thing. Curiosity gets the better of her and she peeks into the guest room where Eddie sleeps soundly. Rio has to stop herself from gasping.
Eddie now has two souls.
How curious.