A very tired, messy-looking Octavia was now sitting near the window behind the driver, her eyes won't stop leaking, she was staring down at her phone with such a broken spirit.
Loona looked at her over her shoulder on the copilot's seat. The M&Ms were sitting by her side looking at her also dishearten.
-Does her majesty would like to be left off at some address? - asked Blitzo very sardonically, Loona growled at him -What? - he whispered.
-NO! - jumped Octavia nervously -Please…I…where…Where are you going? -
-Look, Princess! We are not going for Ice cream and cakes, we are on a very serious business trip so, can you please let me know where should I drop…- But Blitzo was interrupted as Loona finally whack him on the back of the head. He looked at her angry but she gave him an even angrier look. He went back to drive quietly. Loona sighted and then turned around to Octavia.
-What happened? - Loona asked her plainly.
Octavia looked at her phone again, her hands were fiddling with it.
-Miss Octavia, are you in need of help? - asked Moxxie.
Blitzo finally understood and looked at the princess through his rear-view mirror, she looked so worn out and destroyed. -That is more like it! - he said with a half-smile to himself.
-I…I just escaped from my grandfather and my mother…- finally broke Octavia. Everybody stared at her, even Blitzo.
-Hos this something to do with Stolas? - throw Blitzo plainly. Octavia's eyes open wide.
-Sir! - scolded Millie.
-I don't know…-cried Octavia. Everybody in the van looked at Blitzo annoyed.
-There, there…Why don't you tell us hon, we may be able to be of some help if we understand the situation- came Millie and patted her shoulder.
It took Octavia some time to gather her thoughts, after all, she was about to reveal all that she knew, all that she has been trying to protect.
This imp, this Blitzo, may be her only chance. She looked at the rear-view mirror and found Blitzo looking back at her, waiting. She took a deep breath.
-From the day of my father's disappearance…I have been talking to him…-
The car whooshed around and twirled to finally came to a complete stop at the side of the road. Everybody was looking in terror up front. Blitzo was looking very livid. He was staring blankly at the road, he was at his limit. Suddenly a vein on his head pops up.
-All this time YOU WERE TALKING TO YOUR LOST, DISAPPEARED, FATHER? - shouted Blitzo turning around at her with a murderous intention. Octavia looked like she was about to cry again. Loona jumps and restrains him.
-Honey! - called Millie -We do not understand what you are saying…Nobody has been able to locate your father…How were you able to talk to him? -
-I know…I should have said something but he sounded so…happy… I did not have the heart to drag him back to all this…- answered Octavia nervously.
-HAPPY? - interrupted Blitzo and Loona tried harder to restrain him. She gave an ok signal to Octavia to continue.
-He…He told me he would like to go on holiday, all that I needed to do to contact him was to call him – she looked at her phone trembling.
-Call him? How? - jumped Moxxie looking at her phone curiously. Millie pushed him off.
-Honey, we have been investigating your father for weeks now, his number is intervened, every call that comes in and out, you wouldn't be able to just freely talk to him without them knowing- explained Millie, Octavia's face fell even more.
-He would have been found by now- reflected Moxxie looking at Millie, they both looked at Octavia gravely.
-Do you think someone was trying to make a fool of me? - Octavia's voice was so raspy now. They all looked at each other not knowing how to respond. Maybe Octavia was been the prey of somebody, but whom?
-To what end? - finally broke Loona the silence. -It's been almost 3 weeks now. What would they be after? Wouldn't they have come up with ransom by now? We have heard nothing! Nobody has–
-Did they ever suggest anything to you or sound off to you somehow? - came Moxxie. There were so many thought going through Octavia's mind at that moment, she did not react, she was paralyzed with fear.
-Hon, did it ever sound to you suspicious or did it feel weird? - Millie took her hands and looked at her eyes with such worry. Octavia felt Millie's hands, she looked back at her.
-NO, no…he was so happy. I could swear I was talking to him- Octavia cover her face and cried.
Meanwhile, Blitzo had time to cool down. Loona's grip had loosened, she was wrapped up in Octavia's weird tale.
-Called him! - demanded Blitzo, everybody's eyes opened wide and looked at him.
-I can't…not now anyway. My mother…she wiretapped my phone! - pointed Octavia.
-Then use this- Blitzo scurried out of Loona's grip, he took out his phone and extended it to Octavia. She looked at it frightened.
-Call your father- said Blitzo impatiently.
Octavia looked around; it seems everybody has made up their minds. They all wanted Octavia to call Stolas.
-I CAN'T…- she explode it – I tried...I asked him to speak with Mother and Grandfather but he wouldn't. When Grandfather took the phone he shouted at me never to call him again…- explained Octavia with the most broken voice.
-Your grandfather asked you to never call your father? - asked Millie softly.
-That does not make any sense- interjected Moxxie. -Is King Paymon against finding his own son? -
-IT WASN'T HIM! - finally shouted Octavia -Grandfather took the phone, he listened for a second or so, he was so scared or at least I think he was. I have never seemed him act that way. He shouted at me never to call that thing again…he never said not to call my father…he said that thing! He threw the phone away and ordered it to be destroyed– explained Octavia, at this point, she was just hugging herself trying to keep herself under control.
Blitzo quickly moved up, snatched Loona's phone from her back pocket, and put it in Octavia's hands – This phone should not be wiretapped, Loona has no reason to contact Stolas so it should not be in any tracking list related to your father. Just call him once, and ask him where he is. Will go to him- pleaded Blitzo.
-HEY! - tried Loona to protest. Blitzo raised his hand in a sign of silence, he did not even turn around to look at Loona. Loona remained quiet.
Octavia saw his determination. She grabbed the phone with trembling hands and dialed the number. Everybody held his breath as it started to ring. Octavia put it on speaker.
Click*
There was silence on the other side. Loona´s hair immediately stood up.
-Father? - asked Octavia timidly. For a few seconds, there was no answer. Octavia's heart was beating so fast.
-Octavia? - finally Stolas' voice came through.
-STOLAS! - shouted Blitzo taking Octavia's hands in his. Octavia was so relieved, she felt out of herself. That imp was able to hear her father's voice as well! She turned around to see the others, but there were no happy faces there. Millie and Moxxie were looking at them with such confused expressions and Loona…
-You son of a…great bastard where are you? - continued Blitzo sole focusing on the phone, he could not see what was coming.
-NO! - shouted Millie as her arm exploded in blood, she had tried to shield Octavia. Moxxie jumped to aid her but Loona overpowered them both and throw them to the back of the van.
Loona went straight at the phone. Octavia managed to push Blitzo away as Loona attacked the phone with her mouth. Her claws were out and she buried them deep on Blitzo's shoulder and Octavia's chest as she pushed them out of her way.
-Loona!- shouted Blitzo in horror, Octavia was pinned to the seat, and her head bounced hard on the side of the van rendering her unconscious. Loona's claws were breaking the skin, blood was starting to spill.
-What are you doing? - cried Blitzo. Loona looked at him, her eyes were out of it. Blitzo felt a chill, he has never seen her daughter like this. It was not her at all.
-Stop! – he shouted at Loona and gathering his courage hit her across her face making her spit the phone through the window. She tried to jump after it but Blitzo was able to restrain her on the copilot's seat.
-MAKE IT STOP, MAKE IT STOP- Loona's voice finally came out hauling, it was a painful howl for help. Blitzo felt so scared, his mind went blank and those painful memories from his childhood jumped in. His family screams in terror as everything became engulfed by fire. His mother…struggling as the fire trapped her…-
-Blitzo- he hears a whisper in his ear. He comes back to reality. He looked at the phone laying just outside of the van. He could hear it so clearly over Loonas howls, there was a hissing sound coming from that phone -Striker? - Blitzo mumbled.
-Make it stop! - kept pleading Loona as she struggled with Blitzo on top.
Moxxie gets off the van and picks up the phone. Blitzo follows his every movement. Moxxie listens for a few seconds. His eyes set on Blitzo. He lowers the phone in disappointment and hung up the call.
Loona stops struggling and felt limp. She was unconscious now. Blitzo and Moxxie fidn each other amiss.
Moxxie leaves the phone on the floor of the van and goes back to his wife. Millie was holding her husband's handkerchief against her wound at the back of the van. Moxie pulled the first aid out and got busy helping her. It was a nasty wound running all along her arm.
Blitzo looked at Loona's phone. He then went and sat defeated in the driver's seat. He looks up to the road. The elevators are just a few miles away.
-Sir, we need to turn around and take them to a hospital- came Moxxie sitting Millie by Octavia's side. He saw blood dripping on the floor and approached Octavia, as he opened her coat, he found Loona's claw had opened her skin. Millie saw it apprehensive.
Blitzo looked at his unconscious daughter. His own hands were trembling. Maybe this was truly over their heads.
-Blitz, come on! You know the two of us are superior to most of our kind…- came again Striker's words to Blitzo's mind. He tried to stop trembling grabbing his hand in each other – You have a purpose now but…- came now the memory of that shadow in the bathroom- Oh, dear! I wonder if there is even enough time to find Striker since he is dying as well-
-CRUMPS IN A BUCKET! - shouted Blitzo as he slammed on the wheel frustrated.
-Sir, let me and the girls here, I'll take them to the hospital, you two boys go after Striker- came Millie's voice decided.
-No!- protested Moxxi immediately.
-Dear! Do not worry, you know I have been through worse, this is just a scratched arm. I can handle myself. You two go after Striker and get answers! - She took her husband's face in her hand and looked at him straight in his eyes. Moxxie seemed to give up. They both looked at Blitzo who was giving them back such googly eyes. Moxxie was disgusted, and Millie giggled.
The sound of a helicopter filled the air follow very quickly by sirens. Within moments the place was swarming with the police.
-WHAT? What is this?- shouted Blitzo, they all looked wildly around.
-Release the princess!- They heard someone over a megaphone. – Come out with your hands over your head slowly- They ordered.
-If you two get caught no one is getting striker! - shouted Millie and run to the back of the van. At that moment fire was open against the van, and they all dropped to the floor.
-They are even shooting at the princess as well? - shouted Moxxie as he grabbed her by the handcuff and pulled her to the floor.
There was no time to think, Blitzo pulled Loona off the seat, get back into the driver's seat changed gears, and pressed the gas pedal all the way to the floor.
The van sprinted furiously as it makes its way through 2 police patrols that were parking at the front trying to block their escape way. The van passes them hitting both front fenders and making them flip. Blizto managed to keep the van steady as they break through. The helicopter was still on top of them.
Blitzo sits up and looks in the rearview mirror, a bunch of police cars were side by side coming at them they were also popping out from every corner.
Moxxie secured Loona and Octavia to the back seat. Millie pushed out the bag with weapons, and pass one to Blitzo and another to Moxxie who was now on the side of the copilot, he opened the window and started shooting. Octavia and Loona were tumbling on the seat like ragdolls. Millie open the side door and started to throw hand grenades.
It was a war zone. The I.M.P group was demonstrating they were no suckers. They were all experienced shooters and they were doing great use of the ammo available.
-SIR!- shouted Moxxie to call Blitzo's attention to bikers that were coming into the scene. Moxxie managed to connect a dead shoot at an incoming one that was getting too close, making it lose control and exploding into a bunch of patrols creating a blockage where many others got stuck. The blockage became so large that it looked for a moment like they were off the hook. More motorbikes came up the flames by jumping over the mess.
-The elevator goes in a few minutes if we can take it at least to the next floor…- shouted Blitzo. Millie and Moxxie looked at each other and agreed.
There was no doubt on Blitzo's mind. They will go to the elevators or die trying. It was their only choice at this point. It seems all the police force of the pride ring was after them now.
The building was just ahead. The van broke in all the way into the reception area. Blitzo pushed the van all the way in. Fortunately, the infrastructure was so big, the van fitted just fine. Blitzo just needed to keep his foot on the pedal, he literally swept open a way.
Security was triggered. The last leaving elevators were closing their door due to the emergency, and the place was being sealed. Whoever was still in the area will be sealed away.
Passengers were running in disarray. It became really difficult not to hit anybody who was just running amok. The windshield started to get muddy. Blitzo activated the wipers.
The news was already there. They were explaining that the van was carrying the kidnaped princess Octavia. Informed Killjoy. -Imps are getting away with the princess, most likely the same imps that got Prince Stolas-
-Millie gun! - shouted Blitzo. Millie turned around to find a barrier up ahead. She throws her machine gun at Blitzo, quickly goes to the back, and pulls out a lunch grenade. Moxxie goes to the back and helps her pull herself out of the van in order to aim at the barrier. They intertwined their tails.
-Keep it steady boss!- Shouted Millie as she took aim. Within seconds everything was on fire and catching on really fast. The van crosses the fire barrier pass to the one elevator Blizto had his eyes set on.
The van jumps in just in time and does a sharp turn. Blitzo sticks his tongue out as the doors closed. The M&Ms give the finger to the police that could only watch as the elevator was sealed away.
All the mayhem in the elevator's reception was quieted down. The elevator descended.
The passengers look in amazement at the damaged van, still smoking. Out it came three individuals looking wild and well-armed, passengers gathered at one side of the elevator. Some of them were taking photos.
The princess was indeed there, somebody pointed out. A crow was starting to form around the van.
-Hey! Get lost people- shouted Blitzo and shoot into the air.
At that moment the elevator came to a full stop and the lights went off.
-See what you do? Sir- complained Moxxie.
The doors were forced open. A bunch of imps came in all armed.
The Warth Ring was at war.
The reception was completely destroyed, a swarm of imps came in and quickly made prisoners of anybody who was not an imp born. The rest was recruited.
Blitzo, Millie, and Moxxie recognized Millie's father as he came into the elevator. He was riding a horse, he looked like he was in charge of this group. He looked at them and with a move of his head, a corridor was open for the van to get out.
As they passed the door Millie saw back at her father. They both saw each other.
-Sir! We need to go to my parent's house- Millie informed him.
-What?- answered Blitzo. -Mills what is going on?-
-Sir, nobody is following us- informed Moxxie, he was at the back door with a sniper gun covering their backs.
Blitzo looked in his rearview mirror, indeed nothing was coming after them.
Blitzo said nothing and headed to Millie's parent's house. The path of destruction was great, almost nothing was standing in the elevator's reception area. As they went out they found themselves in a devasted war zone. The volcanos had erupted, most of the floor was covered in lava, and the air was filled with dark smoke. It was so dark now, the only light was coming from the lava still erupting.
-What happened here?- dreaded Millie. Her hometown is in shambles.
It was quiet, very quiet.