Disclaimer: ::checks:: nope this still doesn't belong to me.

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Chapter 8: The Plot Thickens

"Where is she?! Where's my baby?! Where's my little girl?!" Bethany screamed, pouncing on Jay, as he dozed in an armchair, beside Faith's bed. The sheets were on the floor, and there was a stain of blood on the mattress where her daughter had lain. Bethany pummeled Jay with her fists as Bartleby and Silent Bob raced into the room. "WHERE IS SHE, JAY?! HOW COULD YOU LET HER OUT OF YOUR SIGHT?!"

"I dunno," Jay cried, shrilly, trying to fend off her blows. "All I did was close my eyes for a few seconds, and then I don't know what the fuck happened! I heard her scream, but when I opened my eyes, she was gone!"

"I ASKED YOU TO WATCH HER! YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT HER, JAY!" cried Bethany, clawing at his face with her hands. "WHAT IF LEILITA HAS HER?! IF SHE KILLS MY GIRL, I SWEAR TO GOD I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!"

"Bethany, Bethany, stop!" Bartleby and Silent Bob grabbed her arms before she could inflict any more damage onto the startled stoner. "You'll fucking kill him!"

"He deserves it! He let my little girl die!" Bethany wailed, tearing away from Bob and Bartleby. "She's going to die because he took a fucking nap!"

"Let's think about this rationally," Bartleby said.

"RATIONALLY?! FUCK RATIONALE! WE HAVE TO FIND HER BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!" Bethany cried, angrily swiping the tears out of her eyes. "SHE'S ALL I HAVE! IF I LOSE HER, I HAVE NOTHING!"

Bartleby suddenly got an inspired look in his dark eyes, grabbing Silent Bob. "We can call on the Disciple and the Muse! Do you have a cel phone?"

Bob shook his head.

"I do." Jay pulled one out and Bob eyed it, and then his companion. "Whatcha lookin' at me for? I swiped it from that old hag that beat me with her fuckin' cane. Old bitch fuckin' had it comin' to her!"

Bartleby took the phone and dialed up Rufus and Serendipity's motel room.

* * *

"Rufus, why the hell did you rent a room with only one bed," complained the Muse, putting her hands on her hips. "I am NOT sleeping in that rat infested armchair."

Rufus raised an eyebrow at her, as he looked up at her from the bed. "Sorry, Dippy. Rats eat dead things."

"Rufus!" Serendipity grabbed the sheets, yanking them off of him. "You're the man! Let me have the bed!"

"Well, you sure as hell ain't no woman," snapped the testy Disciple, as he fluffed the lone pillow. "Go into my jacket. I think my cel's ringing."

Sighing, Serendipity turned from Rufus and began rifling through his clothes before locating the cel phone. "Hello?"

"Serendipity! It's Bartleby! We've got a major problem here!"

"I KNOW," she cried, glancing back at Rufus's sleeping form. "Rufus took the only bed!"

"NO," Bartleby interrupted. "Someone or SOMETHING has stolen Bethany's daughter, the Last Scion! Jay was supposed to be watching her, but fell asleep! We don't have any idea where she is, and the fucking Yugo's for shit. We're gonna need your car."

"Okay, okay, calm down. Do you have any idea who's behind this?" asked Serendipity.

"No."

Serendipity frowned at the catch in Bartleby's voice. "Bartleby, you're not being truthful with me. What is it? Come on, I need to know everything if you want me to help you."

He sighed. "Loki. Loki might be involved. He's seriously jeopardizing his chance with God right now, I can tell ya that." He faked a nervous laugh.

The Muse grabbed Rufus's sneaker off of the armchair and tossed it at his head. "Come on, Rufus! We're needed!"

"Hnuh? Jesus?" Rufus, mumbled, smacking his lips.

"Bartleby needs us, Rufus! Get your skinny ass out of bed, now!" cried the Muse, as she grabbed up his clothes in her arms and hurled them onto the foot of the bed. She turned her attention back to the cel phone. "Bartleby, we can be there in ten minutes."

He let out a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Serendipity. I'm going to try and find out who else is behind this..."

"I know you love him, but don't let that hinder your quest, okay? Bethany's daughter, and the fate of the world could depend on it." Serendipity bid Bartleby a farewell and tossed the cel phone at Rufus's head, which was still in contact with a pillow. "Come ON, Rufus! Get your ass in gear! Bethany's daughter, the Last Scion, was kidnapped! And Bartleby needs our help!"

Rufus sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Aw shit. That means Jay and Bob are gonna be there?" Serendipity nodded. "I'd rather not." He flopped back into bed.

"Bethany will be there. And I know you liked the quiet guy," Serendipity taunted, as she put on her jacket and picked up the keys to their rented car. "Come on Rufus, you don't want this girl's possible death on your head." She stood at the foot of the bed, as he slowly began to put on his clothes.

* * *

"Mom! I want my mommy!" cried Faith, biting at the hands which were restraining her. "MOMMY!"

"Shut up, you little brat!"

"Let me go! I want my mom!" Faith tugged at the arm around her shoulders, but it would not let go. "You're gonna regret this!"

The blonde man looked down at her. "I highly doubt that, you loudmouthed little brat. Now shut up. I won't hurt you... Yet."

Faith tried to bite down on the fleshy part of his forearm, but another hand clamped over her mouth.

"Seems like someone's getting a little insolent." Hazel eyes flecked with emerald and amber peered into Faith's. "I know many forms of medieval torture, Faith. Would you like to be my experiment?" The hand dropped from Faith's mouth.

"NO! I want my mom!" Faith cried, spitting into her captor's face. The two arms tightened around her shoulder and waist, and Faith struggled to fight her way out of his grip.

"For that, maybe I WILL show you my torture chamber." One long, clawlike fingernail beckoned to Faith and her abductor. "Bring her to my chamber, Loki."

The blonde nodded, blankly. "Yes, Leilita."

A dark haired man, little horns protruding from his forehead, peered over Loki's shoulder, rubbing the top of Faith's head. "There, there, Faith. It won't hurt a bit!" Azrael said, looking about as sincere as a used car salesman.

Faith looked at the other man, as the blonde pushed her toward the dark, dank chamber. "You're going to regret this, Azrael. You really will."