Frozen Heart Chapter 10.
Mickey and Ozzie traveled to the south, guided by the two mice. No matter what kind of land they went through they passed it with ease and the reached the dead territory less in a day.
"I still can't believe I do this." grumbled the Count to himself on the whole travel.
"Think about your kids." answered next to him Oswald.
"Don't tell me… I hate when they use those big puppy eyes, and beg…"
"Hey, they just not want to lose a 'friend', if we can call her that… I bet you would do the same if something happens with me."
"Of course! You're my best buddy!" Mickey answered.
"See? This is exactly the same." noted Ozzie.
"My lord, we're almost there." told them Bernard as he peeked out from Ozzie jacket's pocket.
Behind a hill they finally noticed the enormous castle. The two halted their horses and looked at the land in front of them.
"So this is that famous Queen's home." hummed the rabbit loud.
"Better if we continue on foot." said the Count and hopped down.
They sneaked closer to see the great bridge and the undead warriors guarding it. High in the sky goons and other kind of minions patrolled.
"What the heck are those creatures?" grimaced Mickey pointing at the guards.
"Zombies… how much I hate them." frowned Ozzie.
"We need to go inside somehow…"
"Let's just kick them in the ass. Teach them a lesson!" sounded a new voice from behind. Mickey and Ozzie rolled around ready for battle but they only found a small boy standing near.
"ZURITAN!" they shouted at the same time in surprise.
"What the heck are you doing here? And how…" Mickey just blabbed in confusion.
"I hid in the pack." pointed at the horses Zuritan.
"Get back home now!" hissed the Count.
"No way! I want to help you!" said back the boy. Ozzie needed to pull their ears to make them quiet.
"Shut up you two, or they will notice us." whispered the rabbit then turned to the kid "And what were you thinking Zuritan?"
"As I said, I want to help you." answered the kid.
"It's not a game!" barked Mickey angry.
"But it's too late to bring him back." told his friend Ozzie.
"Please let me come. I'm strong." stated Zuritan determinated.
"No you not!" frowned his father "You stay here with Bernard and Bianca while we not come back. It's an order! Let's go Ozzie."
"Man… your son is more troublesome than mines, and I have some of them…" noted Oswald as they left the others behind and went closer to the castle.
"And I have no clue from where he inherited it." huffed Mickey as he barely calmed just down "Let1s concentrate on our work. You take care about the zombies, I catch one of those flying minions. Maybe it can give us some information."
"Sure thing." nodded Ozzie.
He knelt in position, aiming his gun at the undead creatures and pulled the trigger. The missile hit the zombie right between the eyes. It shouted when holy water splashed onto its skeletal body and burnt its essence. Then a smaller explosion torn the body apart. The other guard followed it just a moment later.
"Nice shot, Ozzie." said Mickey, then he noticed a minion nearby who watched the zombies' 'death'.
It opened its mouth but had no time to alarm because suddenly dark claws of energy grabbed it's throat and pulled the creature to the ground.
"Eeeeeeh help, help! Intruders! Help!" tried to scream, but only some rattle left it's mouth.
"Shut up vermin!" a person appeared next to the minion, a black mouse.
"Wh… who are you… and what you want…? Please don't kill me!" whined the goon.
"How pathetic. You already scared it, Mick." sighed Ozzie as he just arrived.
"Better than nothing." answered Mickey then dragged the creature closer with his dark energy "Now listen, minion…"
"Where you keep Molly! Tell or I kill you!" barked a tiny voice and Zuritan jumped at the goon, tugging it's ears.
"Eeeeee little demon!" cried the creature "I tell, I tell, just stop it!"
"Zuritan! What I told you?" Mickey grabbed the boy harshly.
"Yeowch! But I helped. See… it will tell us where we find her." wiggled the young mouse.
Ozzie hid a snicker into his palms, as he watched them bickering.
"Now listen. If you just make trouble…" started the Count.
"I'll behave, just let me go with you." answered Zuritan.
"Oh dear… your mother will kill me if something happens with you." rubbed his eyes annoyed Mickey.
"Can we go guys?" interrupted their talk finally Ozzie.
"Pffff yeah, yeah…" sighed the Count and glanced back down at the minion.
"You heard well the kid. Lead us to the Huntress!"
"Y-yes… as you wish…" the goon nodded hurry and started hopping toward the main gate.
The group hurried through the bridge and quietly entered the castle's hall. They hid in the shadows and looked around. Fortunately the hall was empty.
"She will be downstairs." the minion pointed to the left, where stairs went deeper into the castle "Just follow the screams."
The Count frowned, but nodded and they headed that way. Suddenly the minion grinned and let out a loud, alarming scream.
"Intruders! Intruders in the castle!" in the next moment it's head was chopped by Mickey's sword, but it was too late.
"That cursed little bastard. I needed to kill at the first time…" fumed the mouse. They heard shouts and other noises from every way.
"Hurry guys!" yelled Ozzie and they rushed downstairs.
Meanwhile in the prison Gaston stopped the torture when the alarm sounded. He put down the whip and glanced at the ceiling.
"It seems we have guests" he said "Maybe your friends came to save you?" grinned and glanced at a nearby person.
It was Molly cuffed by the arms hanging in the middle of the room. Her clothes were torn and bled by many wounds the hits caused on her. She panted a little but glared back at the wicked human with blazing eyes.
"I not have any friends, you moron…" she hissed.
"I think the contrary. But… we will see…" said Gaston and turned to greet his guests.
A minute later the door slammed open and the group entered. They saw various kinds of torturing instruments all over the walls and the place made them grimace.
"What a place…" muttered Mickey.
"Welcome in the chamber of torture! We were waiting for you." Gaston appeared near them with a maleficent grin.
The Count and Ozzie stood in position, when they heard a thud and a moan. The human grimaced and with a mutter he collapsed down. He had a huge knife stabbed in the back.
"Tssss… you always forgot I'm much smarter than you think." frowned a female voice and they noticed Molly standing behind the body, throwing up a key and catching in mid-air. Then she raised her eyes at the group "And you? What are you doing here?"
"Molly!" from behind the adults a young person rushed to her.
"Z-Zuritan? What are you doing here?" surprised the cat as the kid hugged her waist.
"Heh, I came to save you of course!" he answered, then turned concerned "You bleeding! Maybe this mortal hurt you?" bared his fangs a little. In the next moment he got a little blow on the head "Ouch! Why was that for?"
"You stupid brat!" barked Molly furiously "What you were thinking and coming here? You want to die?" she then glared at the other two "And how you two be that stupid to carry the boy along with you?"
"What? We're not stupid!" shouted back Mickey "It was my son who hid and we accidentally brought him!"
Molly frowned and wiped away some blood from her cheek. She then noticed Zuritan lowering his head.
"So… you not happy I want to save you?" he muttered on a soft voice "For a while I thought you're dead… I was broken… But, when I heard you're still alive… I couldn't stay at home and wait!" sniffed the boy, nuzzling into her clothes.
The female startled a little by his talk. She felt that little crack deep in her chest again, but didn't care about it. She reached down and patted the mouse's head kindly.
"Hey, it's okay now, I'm here." said Molly caressing the young boy "I'm sorry if I made you worried. Hey. Are you crying?"
"N-no, of course not!" mumbled Zuritan and quickly cleared his face.
"Better, a proud vampire never show its emotions!" smirked at him Molly "Now you must go! I'll take care about the guards" she told Mickey and Ozzie.
"We not go without you!" stated Zuritan.
"I not want to bicker about…" they heard the alarm and the shouts even louder. "They will find us… Hurry, follow me!" grabbed the kid's hand and rushed outside the chamber. Mickey and Ozzie followed them.
On the way back they met with a bunch of goons and zombies. Oswald shot the undead warriors with his special missiles, while the Count and Molly slashed down the smaller minions. Through the chaos they finally reached the top of the stairs and they arrived into the huge room. They panted a little by the endless run.
"This… is not the way… we entered." noted Ozzie, leaning his hands on the knees.
"We're almost out…" muttered the female cat when suddenly all the exits closed with a rumble and they heard an evil voice.
"There's no escape from here, intruders!" the Evil Queen appeared near the throne, keeping her eyes at the group.
Molly hissed and stood between the Witch and the others.
"Seems you finally brought me what I wished for." said the Queen devilish "Better later than never. And now… Give it to me." reached out her claws, pointing at the Count "Give me the powerful heart of Mickey Dragul!"
To be continued…