Chapter 14

Lady Savino

The heavy footsteps shook the door, and before they knew it, even Columbus couldn't help but stand back in shock. All focused their sights at the entrance, watching as the knob began to twist. The storm outside froze, just in time to welcome its new ruler.

It swung open, nearly ripping from its hinges, revealing a silhouette of a woman that forced Luna and her beloved family to shudder in their chairs. Columbus bowed in respect as the figure emerged into the giant hall, revealing a powerful force that couldn't be comprehended by mere mortal eyes. It stood tall, and grew taller and taller as the faint flames flickered it to life.

She was a giant, yet small. Fragile, yet strong. Beautiful, yet frightening. Her wondrous gown of pure white fluttered with every step she took, bearing no design other the figure that lurked behind. her arms, lanky for her size, folded against her chest, her eyes, those of the devil himself, glared at the family within the cage. All within tried their best to shrink, fearing the face of the judge that shall determine their fates.

Paleness defined her skin as anger burnt deep within their soul, her piercing glare stabbing deep into Luna's soul. Both gazes grabbed each other, and the rocker saw clearly a woman who was both young, and ancient all at once. No wrinkles against her ghostly appearance, but she couldn't deny the years that no doubt been experienced. She didn't get closer, but never took her eyes off, allowing her flowing white hair to flutter in the nonexistent wind.

Like the sounds of a beast shouting high from the mountaintops, the woman at last spoke underneath the moonlight. "Columbus?" She spoke so silently, yet powerful enough to shake the castle. The suit of armor looked up, visibly shaking in her presence. No time to speak; she was already making her mind up. "Leave," was all she commanded.

The man seemed confused. "W-What? But I thought-"

She stared him down. That's all it took. He bowed reluctantly one more time, before leaving them alone in the hall. With a huff, she turned her attention to the ceiling. Whatever lurked up there within the stained glass shuddered for a second, before it too suddenly departed, leaving behind only a quiet area hi above. Luna looked at it all so coldly; what twisted game did she just find herself in? She continued to shake against her bondage, but this only drew the monstrous lady towards her.

A few heavy gallops shook the floor that once held the dining table. She stood imposing before Luna, head grabbing at the rafters above, yet still short enough to make eye contact with the teen. No smile emerged on her face, but the scowl was no match compared to Abraham's. However, the piercing stare was enough to break her victim's spirit's down.

Oddly, it was neither that broke the silence. It actually came from a small girl trapped in her chair. Lana, fearing for her sister's life, quickly jumped in. "Hey, don't... don't be stupid! You can't mess with all of us!"

The lady froze, one eye looking back. Luna gulped, and shifted her head to look at her family. Even Rita and her husband had the same feeling: "G-Guys, don't!"

But they didn't listen, for Lori was next. "I don't know what you are or what's literally happening right now, but if you lay a finger against her, I swear..."

And then a giant chorus broke out, much to Luna's chagrin. "You're smelly! You stupid idiot!"

"I hate you! Why'd you kidnap us?"

"We'll never forgive you!"

The woman continued staring at Luna, before at last sighing. "Brings back memories, I have to say," she said, still using that guttural tone. Luna shook, closing her eyes out of fear.

"Look...," she began, "... whoever you are, let them go. I have a bad feeling this is between you and me. No reason to drag them in!"

The woman looked at her perplexed. "Hm, I see your point. At the same time..."

The family became silenced, as the woman suddenly procured something from her dress. A simple pistol, one that matched her: growing in size, yet small enough to fit in her pocket. Everyone went dead as she aimed the barrel straight at the captured Luna.

Rita's eyes grew watery. "You... you wouldn't..."

She would. A bullet rocked from its barrel, smashing hard against Luna's chest. The rocker screamed, but before she could feel pain, the liquid that kept her alive on the mountain poured from the woman's sleeve, clearing the bullet wound off.

That did nothing to keep her family calm. "No! You... you monster!" Luan begged, struggling to get out of her own chair.

This anger seemed to motivate the deranged woman, for another bullet shot, followed by another. Luna was being torn apart, but with each shot, more liquid, and she was back to normal, just with a hole in her shirt, one the cold enjoyed to stab. Her breathing was hoarse, body sadly getting used to grotesque injuries.

Lynn Jr. was ready to break out of her ropes. "You... You... what are you? What do you want from us, huh? Piece of crap!"

At last, the woman turned her attention to the family, still aiming that gun, forcing the youngest members of the family to cry. Even in pain, Luna jumped back in. "Don't you dare! This doesn't involve them!"

"Then what does it involve?"

Her words were powerful, and within them, the sound of melancholy resonated within the ancient dining hall. Luna glared at her, trying to regain her strength. "Who... are you?" she asked simply.

The woman looked to the floor, at last putting her pistol away. The family sighed in relief as their captor shook her head. "You really don't know me? Or the family I own?" Everyone shook their heads. More disappointment. "I wonder if I should be hurt, knowing the damage your family has caused to us over the years."

The Patriarch of the Louds tried his best to sound reasonable. "What? Look, we may have caused... okay, definitely caused plenty of chaos over our lifetimes, but never enough to anger a whole family!" His children looked up at him, dimming his confidence. "Well, not enough to actively hurt them!" Another stare. "Oh, come on! Back me up!"

The woman shook her head. It was hard to tell with the lack of lighting, but Luna saw a tear trailing down the woman's face. "Hm, those words... you really are the descendant of that wicked king."

Their father looked hurt. "W-Wicked?"

His fragile ego was saved by Lucy, of all people. "She is clearly delusional. A sad, sad woman, to kidnap all of us in our sleep. Sigh. You couldn't get Lincoln, though."

She spoke the truth. Luna studied the group once more, and sure enough, saw no sign of her beloved brother. Columbus did remark that he couldn't be found, thanks to a certain doppelganger or something. How did they fail in capturing him? Knowing history, he's the one everyone wants to capture.

It seemed the woman realized that would be brought up, so she stepped in. "My devoted followers tried, but those fools were good at protecting him. It would seem that our plans are harmed by it, but in the end, I know he'll come."

Lola shook her head. "You want him too? What's with you people?" It sounded so kind-hearted, but then again, it was Lola Loud. "I'm literally right here! Why doesn't anyone want-"

A bullet shot against the bars, causing everyone to scream. The lady smiled. "I suppose I should thus introduce who I am, before I actually hit you this time?" Everyone felt dead already as she once more placed the pistol back in her pocket. "I am Lady Savino, leader of the Savino tribe in Italy. For generations, our families have been at war, and now that conflict shall end."

Luna shook her head. "What are you even on about? We never heard of you! And no matter what, you ain't getting Linc!"

She walked towards the rocker, her glare returning. "Shame, but knowing your ancestor, Luna, I suppose it makes sense you're that ugly in the head." What? "And tonight, things will end. Trust me. We couldn't get Lincoln, but I know those fools will bring him here, and we can begin the ceremony to at last birth the world anew."

"Oh no, not this crap again!" Luna bemoaned, biting hard against her tongue. "You're really trying to pull the same crap Abraham did? What, Lincoln's your little brother too? You need my blood?"

She smirked at her. "Abraham? That fool? Heh, what an idiot he was. He only acted out of self-gain. I act to bring this world to its new path of enlightenment!"

Luna shook her head. "Oh God. You're that delusional?" She tried to break free again, but to no avail. "Look, I don't know what happened in the past, but we aren't responsible! Dammit, those villagers... what did they do?"

This prompted Savino to laugh. "Heh, them? I need them for the ceremony. Besides, it's better to silence my enemies, no?"

The Louds weren't aware of what happened in the village, and quickly grew fearful. "You... what did you do to them?" Leni asked, shaken to her core.

"Don't worry about them. Don't worry about Angus, as I'm sure he's next in the topics, and don't worry about your dragon, either. There, are we satisfied?"

A sound of thunder rumbled outside. Luna nearly leapt free. "What you did to Angus... grrr, and what did you do to Lela?"

Indeed, the dragon of the Louds should have made itself known by now. It was a fierce protector of Loch Loud, and the moment danger comes up, it would've swept in and attacked. The mere fact that everything fell meant something must've gone wrong. If that's the case...

Savino smiled to them all, before pulling out a gem. The very gem that kept Lela in check, currently wrapped up in white hairs that obscured its purple glow. With a small grunt, she tossed it to the ground like it was nothing. Everyone gasped as it hopped, resting harshly against some hidden debris. Seeing it handled carelessly prompted Lily Loud to cry, holding her mother tight within the ropes.

Lana tried not to cry, choosing instead to grow mad. "How dare you! You ugly monster woman!"

Savino finally laughed, prompting them all to shrink once more. She didn't care to look at the family anymore, choosing to dedicate her entire focus on the poor rocker. Luna gulped as the terrible captor stood above her, before quickly grabbing at her neck. The young Loud struggled as she was being choked, and for the first time they truly saw the strength Savino packed. The chair was broken by her thrust.

Everyone cried out at once. "Luna!" It only made Savino smile brighter, showing off white hairs for teeth.

"How long I've waited to grab you like this, murderer! Abraham was a fool, but his little stint to find his false brother at last allowed us to find you. Poor, poor Luna. You're life is about to end, and best of all, your family will be in attendance!"

Luna struggled, feeling her vision blur. It was a powerful choke, but even she could tell Savino wasn't killing her this way. It was all for show. Lord help her, something worse was coming.

But before anything could be done, the evil woman grabbed something else from her dress. Luna recalled it well; it was the transceiver she wore back on the mountain, officially licensed for Doug's squad. How did this person obtain one? Guess it didn't matter, for it strapped itself around the rocker's wrist, once again calling her vital signs.

"This one, my dear, has a camera, and with it, your family will watch your demise."

Rita screamed from behind: "Let her go! Dammit, please!"

"Hm. So noisy. How I hate your family." She looked deep into Luna's injured face. "So, what do you have to say, before I cut your soul from your body? After all, we have until the moon grows for Linc to arrive, so take your time."

Time limit, huh? The same crap with the moon. She missed when things were normal. Even still, she had that time to stop this woman, huh? Whether Lincoln was actually coming or not, she wasn't going to rest until this Savino woman was gone.

And as such, she answered the only way she knew how: she spat on the woman's face. The Louds watched in shock as Savino wiped her nose down, before smiling back. "Just as expected from a murderer. Well, Then I must ask you to put on a show for your family!"

Before long, Savino's impressive grip thrusted Luna hard against the ground. The teen slammed against wood, finding it splintering a little too easily. Didn't take long for her to realize what was happening. Right where she was, a hidden trap door awaited. She was about to be dropped into God knows where. Even still, she glared up at her captor, who could only smile back.

"Have fun... murderer!"

Another slam, and the last thing Luna heard before falling was her family screaming in terror.

FROM: A local paper, origin unknown

"We have a theory on Project White Rabbit, the purported project dedicated to hunting down those with White Hair Syndrome. There are beliefs that the States made it, but others think Britain, or even the Soviets are responsible. Still, others pinpoint other possible origins, some that seem far too out-there to be real. Then again, this whole thing seems far-fetched from the beginning! After all, some believe there was a small war between two families of the past that had this issue: The Louds, and The Savino's. It's hard to say for sure, as many records have been lost, but we will update this as we progress folks..."