Chapter Eleven
On the Road
Meanwhile, Diablo had returned with Lilith to discuss where they were to head to next as well as discuss their guest and how to look after her.
Once they arrived back at their hideout they were greeted by Lamia, Samson, Rex, and Ravage.
"What news?" Lamia asked.
"The police will be on our trail soon." He said, "We better think about moving on."
"How do you know?" Rex asked in a worried tone.
Diablo gestured with his thumb to Lilith who walked over.
"My eyes don't lie." She said, "The humans are investigating, and it won't be long before they come looking here."
"I was right! Then we best get moving! Move on before they arrive in this area!" Rex said and he smirked looking at Samson "And luckily, we got the perfect transport to get us away from here!"
Diablo also smirked and looked over to the side of the hideout where there was a blue and green Van.
"Swiped from our last victims!" he said, "Very good idea it was to steal it!"
"For sure!" Ravage said, "Then we better get packing and load it up then get out of here!"
"Agreed!" Diablo said, "I'll speak of my thoughts whilst we're leaving the area!"
The Raven, Falcon, panther, Doberman, and Locust made their way downstairs where they found Chastity and Regan sitting next to the sleeping Pandora.
"How is she?" Lilith asked.
"Still sleeping." Chastity said then she saw the looks of her friend's faces "What's happening?"
"We need to get packed and quickly." Samson said, "It won't be long until the humans come looking here, so we best get moving!"
"And what about her?" Regan asked.
"Wake her up." Diablo said, "Let her know we're moving on."
Regan nodded and gently shook Pandora's shoulder.
"Hey! Hey! Wake up!" she whispered.
As the Vampire bat did that, Pandora stirred and opened her eyes.
"Huh? What?" she asked.
"Hey Sleeping Beauty?" Regan said with a small smile "Sleep well?"
"What?" Pandora asked as she rolled onto her back and rubbed her eyes "What's going on?"
"We're making arrangements to move on." Chastity said, "Bad people are after us."
"What?" Pandora asked again confused from being half asleep.
"Just get up!" Ravage said "We gotta go!"
"Gently!" Chastity scolded "the girls still weak!" she walked over to a pile of clothes before picking out a large black tee-shirt and some orange baggy trousers before getting some scissors and cutting a hole in the bottoms and handing them to Pandora.
"Here, put these on." She offered.
"Thanks." Pandora said before pulling on the tee-shirt and shorts threading her tail through the hole.
"I'll sort out some proper clothes for you later once we've gotten away." Chastity promised as the others hurried around to pack their belongings and started to get outside.
Regan helped Pandora as they left the house and outside to where the green and blue Van was parked.
Samson opened the back doors and at once, everyone threw in their belongings and piled inside whilst Rex got in the front and started the engine.
It was a large back area with a deep blue light and carpeted inside and there was more than enough room for the nine passengers and their belongings whilst the other two sat in the front to share the driving.
As Pandora got in, she narrowed her eyes curiously.
"How did you get this van?" she asked.
"Acquired it illegally." Diablo smirked giving Samson the thumbs up and he closed the door then got in the front with Rex.
"You stole it?" Pandora asked surprised.
"From our last victims." Ravage said as he settled down next to Chastity and Lamia.
"It'll help us get away quicker than attempting to fly or sneak in the back of a large passing vehicle." Diablo said.
"Everyone comfortable in the back there?" Samson called behind him and Ravage gave a thumbs up.
"Okay, ready to roll!" Rex said and the van started to drive off.
"It's a good thing Rex and Samson can drive." Lamia said as she looked over at the panther and Doberman, "I never learnt, wasn't allowed to."
"Neither did I." Chastity agreed, and Lilith nodded.
"Likewise." Ravage said.
"I wanted to learn." Seth said, "But where I was living, I didn't see the point since I took trams in San Francisco."
"Can't drive at all." Regan piped up "I'm too young."
"Maybe they'll give you lessons if you want to learn?" Diablo suggested gesturing to the Doberman and Panther.
"Maybe." Chastity said, "But in the meantime, we're all curious about our new friend here." She looked at Pandora who was sitting against the side of the van with her knees pulled up to her chest and her tail wrapped around her and looking rather lost.
The others agreed.
"Indeed yes, we are curious." Lilith said.
Diablo looked to the hybrid next to him.
"Now you've rested a little, can you remember anything at all?" he asked.
Pandora looked at her knees then at the raven.
"Not really no." she said in a small voice looking down at her knees "I still don't remember anything..."
That wasn't a lie, after Pandora had been given a chance to rest, dreams had invaded her mind.
At first there had been blackness, an inky blackness, but then growling and snarling had invaded her mind, an animalistic growl and a tribal face had appeared before her, at first it terrified her, and she wanted to back away from it, but in a way, she was sure she knew who it was, and why it was there.
But she hadn't the chance to learn more as Regan had woken her up.
"Your mind is still fuzzy hmm?" Diablo asked reaching out and brushing a hair out of Pandora's face.
He cocked his head to study her features and he analysed everything, he still couldn't shake the feeling that he had seen her before, or that she reminded him of someone.
He scooted a bit closer to her.
"How are you feeling?" he asked thinking about making some casual conversation with her.
"Drained." Pandora said, "I still feel rather exhausted, despite being asleep for a bit."
"Sorry we had to wake you so quickly kid." Ravage said, "But when we have to move, we go quickly."
"Where are we going anyway?" Pandora asked as she looked to the front seat.
"Not sure exactly." Diablo said in an honest tone, "But as far away as we can before those who investigated our activities find us."
Pandora blinked and looked at them all.
"Who are you guys exactly?" she asked, "What is it you do?"
Diablo blinked then he remembered that he hadn't told Pandora who they were.
"Ah yes, that is a fact we haven't spoken about ourselves."
"Are you sure you're awake enough?" Lilith asked in a concerned tone "As Chastity says, you still need to rest."
"I'll be fine." Pandora replied, "I would like to know."
"Well, if you feel well enough?" Diablo said, "Then we'll tell you."
Pandora looked at the Raven and she reached out a hand to stroke his wing and feel his silky feathers.
Diablo smiled as she did that.
"I wasn't born a mutant Raven you know." Diablo spoke, "I used to be human, in fact we all were." He gestured to the others before him.
"Really?" Pandora asked.
Diablo nodded.
"We are mutants, all mutated from the same source." He said, "I was on the brink of death when I was given this mutation, this form." He gestured to himself "It was to save my life, and at first I resented it, but I soon learnt that I could use it, I was given wings to fly, strength to fight and the ability to hide from my enemies."
Pandora was silent as she listened, and she cocked her head on one side.
"I learnt I could use my new body to strike at those who deserve to be punished." Diablo said "I realised I could do what I wished, and no law could stop me, for according to the government, I do not exist! None of us do!" he smirked "Because we are not human!"
The others agreed as Diablo spoke.
"I have to say, it's the best thing that's happened to me!" Ravage stated, "I wanted to mutate so I could escape!"
"It was hard for some of us." Lilith said as she looked at Seth who squeezed her hand "We didn't have a choice, but this mutation did save our lives."
Seth nodded in agreement.
"And because what we are," Diablo said "I decided to punish sinners, because the laws prevent such ones being punished, and I'm not talking criminals, but those who deserve to be given a shock treatment! Racists, homophobes, and many others." He flexed his claws "I along with my friends here who suffered due to such cruel people, we seek them out and punish them! We track them down and torture and attack them and expose their crimes!" he chuckled "And it's such fun to see them get knocked down a peg or two! In more ways than one!"
Ravage chuckled.
"I used to be part of a cult." He said as he looked at Pandora and he looked angry "I was born into it and forced to believe such disgusting things, racist and hate speech, as a child I followed it all, but as I grew up, I questioned it and was often beaten and bullied into submission, but I couldn't get away, but when Diablo came along and captured me for information on my cruel cult of a family, I was more than willing to give him information and I willingly joined him, both to escape and get revenge on the ones who were supposed to love me, but instead controlled me."
Pandora gasped as she listened.
"I did the same to my family." Lamia said, "I thought I had a loving family, but I was to be forced into marriage, I refused and tried to run away but they tracked me down and tried to kill me in an honour killing, but I was saved and mutated."
She flexed her hand and pulled off one of her gloves.
"I now run with the Disciples to punish those who abuse women, or family members in the name of so-called honour!"
"Disciples?" Pandora asked, "Is that what you call yourselves?"
"Of course!" Regan smirked "Disciples of Diablo! Rolls off the tongue nicely hmmm?"
Pandora nodded.
"I guess it does." She said softly.
"We all have a story to tell." Diablo said then stroked Pandora under the chin "But maybe that is for another time, when you are more awake?"
Pandora opened her mouth to speak yet she yawned.
"Okay..." she said, "I suppose I am still rather tired." She moved closer to Diablo and rested against him surprising the Raven a little.
"Thank you for rescuing me." She said softly "All of you..." she snuggled against Diablo and soon drifted off into a deep sleep.
Diablo looked at her snuggled against him and feeling her warmth he wrapped his wing and arm around her.
"We'll let her rest some more." He said looking at the others "Maybe she will regain her memory when she dreams."
"I don't see why we couldn't just take her back to Chicago." Lilith said, "What if there's someone there waiting for her?"
"But if she doesn't remember." Lamia said, "How will we know where to take her?"
Both girls were hushed by Diablo who had his taloned finger to his beak.
"Let her sleep, then we shall move forward." He said as he looked down at her still studying her features.
"I am sure there is something familiar about you." He thought to himself "Very familiar, yet I cannot be sure, not until you tell me."
He stroked Pandora's hair.
"But until then, you will be safe with us, I promise."
The Disciples have decided to move on, and with Pandora in tow, and she's learnt about them, or at least some of their pasts.
To read about the origins of the Disciples read my fanfic 'United by Fate' which can be found on my page.