Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters except Leilita and Faith, and I only sorta own Faith, since Bethany was pregnant at the end of Dogma... Kevin Smith owns the cool parts, I own the crummy parts...

Rated PG-13 just to be on the safe side

A/N: Sorry it's kinda short, I just figured it was a good line to end on...

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Chapter 9: The Escape

Bethany paced the living room, waiting for Rufus and Serendipity to arrive, her arms folded across her chest.

"Stop pacing. You're making me nervous," Bartleby sighed, from his seat on the couch that overlooked the street. "They'll be here, trust them."

She looked at him, the pain in her eyes shocking him. He hadn't seen such pain since...since he betrayed Loki. "My little girl is gone, Bartleby. She could be dead, for all we know."

He turned his gaze away from her pained black eyes. "She isn't dead," he insisted, even though he really didn't know. "I'd know if she was dead," he lied, "and I know she's not. Calm down." He put a hand on her arm.

Jerking away from him sharply, Bethany narrowed her dark eyes at him. "CALM DOWN?! THAT'S WHAT YOU TELL ME?! CALM DOWN?!"

"Bethany, this isn't helping," he said, softly, pulling her into his arms and hugging her, firmly. "We'll find Faith, I promise."

* * *

The blindfold from around Faith's eyes was removed and she blinked, disoriented, and unfamiliar with her surroundings.

"Where's my mom," she asked, tugging at the bonds which held her wrists and ankles.

"Your mother and her companions will be here shortly," replied Loki, the blonde fallen angel, the one that had been 'almost' nice to her.

"Where did Azrael and Leilita go," she asked, trying to twist out of his grip.

Loki loosened his grip on her arms and turned her around, kneeling in front ofg her. "Look, kid, I don't want to kill you, but that's what's going to happen. Leilita is going to kill you," he said, firmly.

"But why?" asked Faith, as she worked at unraveling the rope which held her arms behind her back.

Loki shrugged, letting down his guard. "Because you're the Last Scion."

Faith, using all of her strength, headbutted Loki in his teeth, sending him onto his back. Freeing her arms from the rope, she bent over to untie her ankles, as Loki slowly gathered his wits about him.

Holding a hand to his lip, he spluttered, "You'll regret that, you little brat. I was the one person who might have been able to save you." As he staggered to his feet and lurched after Faith, the small girl darted under his hands and ran blindly, searching for some way out of the dark cellar.

* * *

When Serendipity saw Bethany standing on the porch, she didn't even recognize her. She looked so different, so haggard and aged. "Bethany."

The bereaved mother looked up at the sounding of her name to see Serendipity and Rufus approaching her. "I'm glad you made it," she murmured. "Thanks, guys."

"How've you been holding up?" Rufus asked, putting an arm around her shoulders.

"Pretty badly," she sighed, leading them into the house and shutting the door behind her. "She's all I have. I can't let my baby die."

Serendipity and Rufus shared 'looks'. "Bethany, She wouldn't let Faith die," Serendipity said, touching her shoulder, gently.

Bethany looked up, into her friend's eyes. She knew which 'She' Serendipity was referring to. "And where is SHE in all of this? I'm quite aware of the fact that THIS is all under Her control."

Rufus stepped forward. "Beth, we know Faith isn't going to die."

"How can you be so sure," she asked. "What if they try to hurt her?"

Rufus shook his head. "They won't. She'll know what to do."

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TBC

Alex