Chapter 26
Luz POV:
Last night brought us the most glorious covering of snow I have ever seen. Waking up to blankets of white and trees dancing among the falling flakes was like waking up in a winter wonderland. The views in the Boiling Isles are beautiful as it is, but this morning they felt all the more glorious. This morning, it was so cold in the Owl House that I could see clouds made only from my breath. To warm up, Eda lit the fire in the living room, filling the house with warmth and only adding to the festive feel. So, I decided today is a day better than any to put up the Christmas tree.
I start at the base of the tree, wrapping a long line of fairy lights around the green branches, twirling them up and up until there is no wire left. Next, I take the silver tinsel Eda brought for me from the human world and begin to untangle the seemingly endless shiny material.
When Amity enters the room, I pretend not to notice. I say nothing as she sits on the sofa, watching me work. Silently, I wonder if she knows I’ve been avoiding her. I thought if I didn’t talk to her then I wouldn’t think about her. It didn’t work.
Since Christmas isn’t celebrated in the Boiling Isles, there isn’t much to decorate the tree with, but Eda’s pile of ‘human things’ looks like a good place to start. I settle for some clothes hangers, using the little hooks to balance them onto the tree. Eda has a few bracelets, which I loop onto each branch. I even use some wrappers, sticking them on as best I can with what little grip they have. The tree is lopsided, and a little odd, but I love it anyway. I always do.
I can’t help but feel sad at the Christmas cheer I have created. The holidays were always a little tradition mama and I would do together. All at once, I feel so guilty that she has to celebrate alone.
I move around to the other side of the tree, out of Amity’s direct line of sight, but I can still feel her eyes watching me. At one point, I swear her eyes find mine, because both of us snap our heads away quickly.
I stall as best as I can, pretending one ornament isn’t straight enough, or that I’d rather hang that dog collar a little higher, until I run out of excuses to hide from her.
She’s openly watching me now, arms hugging a pillow close to her chest. She looks tired, but certainly better than she has been. Her lips are a hard-pressed line, eyes moving over my creation with an array of emotions that I don’t try and decipher. If her thoughts resemble mine at all, it’s no question why the air feels so unbreathable. For a moment, we might be mistaken for a real family.
With no ornaments left to hang, I retreat from the tree, instead flopping down onto the sofa next to Amity to admire my masterpiece with a successful smile. I turn my head to look at her, opening my mouth to say something, but no words come out. I’m not sure what to say. I’m not sure if I should explain why I’ve been avoiding her. I’m not sure if I should tell her how I feel.
I don’t. Instead, she speaks first, her voice louder and more confident than expected. “What is that thing?” she asks me, her voice filled with more distaste than confusion.
I blink, suddenly remembering she has probably never seen one before. “It’s a christmas tree.” I tell her, my voice just as festive as the scenery around us.
“What’s it for?” she asks, not quite meeting my gaze.
That one stumps me. I don’t quite have an answer to her question, so I just laugh instead. “You want to help me with the most important part?”
She looks at me this time, instead of through me. Although she’s trying to hide it, I can see a glimmer of excitement in her eyes as she nods her head slowly. Taking her hand, I pull her up gently from the sofa. With a soft giggle, she follows, gripping onto my hand as I guide her towards the tree.
“Here,” I say, passing her a small lampshade I found among Eda’s things. “It goes on top of the tree.”
She frowns at me with confusion, but it’s only temporary, as she eventually shrugs and does as I say. On her tip-toes, she reaches out as far as she can, waving the object around as though luck would be on her side and she’d be able to reach. With a small huff, she turns back to me in defeat, her lips pressed into a pout.
Allowing myself to laugh a little, I spin her back around to face the tree by her shoulders. Then, my hands find her waist, gripping her hips. She lets out a strangled breath, squirming a little as I lift her into the air. I only hold her tighter, careful not to let her fall, as I watch her place the lamp shade atop the tree.
When she’s done, I lower her down slowly, never breaking contact with her hips. Even after her feet have found the floor, I can’t seem to let go of her waist. At first, I’m worried I am only making her uncomfortable, but when she leans back into me, my worries fade away. My head rests on her shoulder, her skin so close to me it’s torturous. Her smell fills my senses as I breathe in as much of her as my lungs will allow.
“Oh, wow,” I hear her whisper, “Christmas…”
I laugh a little as she turns to face me, her cheeks dusted pink. I expect her eyes to meet with mine, but instead they fall somewhere behind me. She pushes away from me so quickly, I am left stumbling backwards. Momentarily, I am left confused, until I turn to see what she was looking at. My eyes find Serena, standing in the corner of the room. She wears a practised frown and watchful eyes, and a death glare that is only meant for me.
Amity takes a step towards her to explain, reaching a hand out as her pale skin breaks out cherry red. Serena only turns away, throwing a pointed look over her shoulder as she disappears out of the room. Amity calls out her name, following her footsteps like a lost puppy.
And just like that, everything is back to normal. Whatever ‘normal’ is anymore.