Shit! Shit, shit, shit!
The gorgeous imp had just collapsed from exhaustion, but thanks Satan, his head had not hit the table. Stolas started fumbling about for Blitz's hellphone. He had to call Loona, and quick.
- I swear, Blitzo, if this is one of your stupid jokes…
Blitz didn't answer. His eyes were half-closed, his limp body sprawled on the floor, like some kind of demon ragdoll. Stolas tried to pull him into a sitting position. His head tipped towards his chest, his pointy tongue sliding out of his ajar mouth. The owl prince started to panic, and checked for a pulse.
Don't you even dare die on me, you bastard!
There it was. The feeble pounding of his throat's blood vessels against Stolas' fingers. The prince sighed. Now, all he had to do was to call for Loona. Right.
Stolas Frowned. Of course, the assassin would use a password on his hellphone. Six characters. It was probably a date. But what date could it be?
Focus, you stupid owl…
He first tried Blitz's birthdate, before hearing a blood-curdling screech from the phone. ACCESS DENIED. TWO ATTEMPTS LEFT.
Another date, another date… Loona's adoption date!
Another screech. ACCESS DENIED. ONE ATTEMPT LEFT.
Stolas started growling in frustration. Come on, come oooon… What could it-
His mind went blank. What if it weren't a date?
One last attempt. Stolas' talons felt sweaty against the hellphone screen.
S.
Satan, he did hope this worked.
T.
He heard a soft moan. Blitz's chest was rising and falling lightly.
O.
The imp was barely moving anymore.
L.
What if this was wrong? Worst of all, what if this was right?
A.
Come on, only a single letter, only a single try…
S.
Stolas closed his eyes, before pressing the "OK" button, and hearing a pleasant "ding!".
He couldn't believe that it had actually worked. After letting out a sigh of relief, he scrawled down Blitz's contact list, and found "LOONY TOONY" in his favourites. He gave it a prod.
He heard the feminine maniacal laugh used as a ringtone in Pentagram City. Barely five seconds later, he heard Loona's anxious voice answering the phone.
- Hello? Dad? Are you alright? I thought you were supposed to-
- Loona, dear, it's not your dad… It's Stolas. Blitz just fainted in my living room, and I'm afraid he might not be in great shape.
He heard the hellhound growling menacingly.
- Why would you care? Tex told me he paid you a visit with Verosika, but you sure took your time to call my dad back. Can you even guess how depressed he's been? He stopped following the M&M's, he's stopped watching horse movies, Satan, I even think the only thing he's feeding on are these gross chocolate protein bars!
Stolas gulped. So, Tex wasn't exaggerating? He pinched the skin between his eyebrows, frowning.
- Loona, this is neither the time or the place to discuss this. I'm putting your dad to bed and calling a doctor. Join me at the IMP building immediately, if you please. We are going to get at the bottom of this.
- Right.
Loona hung up abruptly. Stolas heaved what felt like the tenth sigh this evening, before carrying Blitz bride-like to one of the many guestrooms and lying him down on the comfy bed, before taking his boots and coat off. There was something beautiful about this strong, dangerous creature, so virulent, yet so fragile.
Stolas placed his hand upon Blitz's shoulder. He felt his skin stretched upon his bones. Shaking his head, he placed a kiss upon his forehead.
- You silly imp… What have you done to yourself?
Reaching for his own hellphone, he sent a quick message to the family physician, before calling one of his butlers.
- Pringles, please check on Mr Blitz until Dr Plague comes.
The small imp gave a small nod before pulling a chair to sit in front of Blitz.
Stolas took in a deep breath before opening a portal towards the IMP office. Now, to deal with Loona. Not that he disliked her, quite the contrary. After all, she had become one of Via's best friends. However, Stolas couldn't help but expect that one way or another, she would see him as the bad guy, and quite honestly, he didn't believe he deserved that.
Just after stepping through the portal, he heard Loona's paws scratching wildly the floor as she sprinted towards the office. Her read eyes were already flashing looks of hatred and disgust at Stolas, not unlike Stella's usual glare. She advanced menacingly towards him, foam appearing at the corner of her mouth, an aura of pure loathing seeping from every one of her pores. Stolas felt himself flinch, nearly forgetting he was a Goetic prince, and thus far stronger than she could ever fantom to be.
- Dear, please, do calm down.
Loona threw her head backwards and let out a desperate howl.
- Don't you dare "Dear" me! Not when you where the reason my dad's in this fucking state in the first place! This is all your fault! YOURS, NOT HIS!
Stolas felt his four eyes filling with tears. He could see her point, but still could accept facing the facts.
- It takes two people to be in a relationship, Loona. I can't deny being partly responsible for what happened with your father, but in no way am I the only one to blame.
Loona started hiccupping convulsively. The fur beneath her eyes was getting wet, and she seemed too afflicted to scream anymore. Her knees and front paws dropped to the floor, and her muzzle trembled.
- The night he came back after your date at Ozzie's, he… He told me he'd die alone. He was afraid you'd leave… He loved you so much, and you… All you wanted was some kind of Hella Novela perfect lover, when you knew my dad could never offer you perfection. He hoped so hard it would work. He wanted it so hard to work…
- Then why wouldn't he talk? Great Satan, why do I have to guess everything? Why, why did he act like he was only in it for the grimoire, of for sex?
- Impish little plaything! That big red dick of yours! All you ever mentioned was sex, and yet you want him to believe you RESPECT him! You should take a long hard look at yourself before-
- I KNOW!
Stolas was shaking all over, gasping for air, his talons grabbing his feathers at the sides of his skull. He took a few seconds to calm down, but wasn't able to face Loona.
- I know… I know… I… Didn't want to believe it would be my fault. After my divorce, I wanted, I needed this to work so badly, and yet I wasn't able to show him I accepted him as he was. I wanted him to be the cause of our break up, and yet… I couldn't hide from the truth.
Loona watched the owl prince sobbing quietly, soundless hoots escaping from his beak. Then she remembered.
- Well speak about this another time. For now, we've got an office to raid.
Seizing Stolas by the collar, she led him towards the door, which she kicked, or rather bashed, open.
- And now, we search.
Stolas' first instinct was to open the fridge, where a dozen lunchboxes were piled up neatly. Each box had been meticulously dated and named for "Blitz-o", with a heart-shaped "o". Stolas wondered what it would've felt like if Stella acted so sweet, preparing lunchboxes for him and giving him cute pet names. He was brought back to reality by the dates on the boxes. Blitz hadn't eaten today's lunch, nor yesterday's, nor before-yesterday's. Stolas opened the boxes. The content looked delicious. Why would he skip so many tasty meals?
He opened the door of his personal office and switched on the lights. The answer must be in the dustbin. Last time he came, he had been revolted by the mountain of garbage piled up and spilling onto the floor. Ice-coffee cups, donuts boxes, Chinese take-away, and on rare occasions a lone apple core. However, this evening, the bin was quite empty and white. Stolas peered inside. But of course. Protein bar wrappers. Sweet enough to hold Blitz throughout the day, yet not what Stolas would call real food. He picked up a wrapper and showed it to Loona.
- Loona, dear, for how long has Blitz been eating these?
Loona looked at the wrapper blankly.
- What, you think someone might have tried to poison him with those?
Stolas held back a chuckle. Once an assassin, always an assassin.
- No, not at all, dear, but still, if he's had nothing else to eat, it might not be a good sign.
- Oh. He bought the box the day after Halloween.
Stolas heaved another sigh. That night would be back to haunt him till the end of his life. He opened the safe behind the desk, and voilà! There rested a big box of Choco-Protein Bars. The box was half full. Stolas found the nutrition facts written in minute light blue characters, along with some "Health Precautions". He rolled his eyes. If the company had any shred of honesty left, the first precaution would be not to buy their product in the first place.
He took out his phone and added up the numbers to check how many calories Blitz had consumed since they parted, before dividing the result by the number of days. He stared at the average. A very confused Loona noticed his state of chock and came closer.
- What, what does this mean? Are those good or not?
- It means, Loona, that Blitz has been starving himself for days.