One Helluva Ride

Chapter 33: Saving Via

          "Loona, you've got Octavia's sinstagram, don't you?" Splice asked. Loona rolled her eyes, taking her phone from her pocket. "Yeah. Looks like she stopped by a coffee shop nearby." She replied, tapping onto Octavia's story. Splice tried to peek over Loona's shoulder. "Coffee? Really?" Splice wondered aloud as Loona began walking.

          Splice did their best to keep up with Loona, not wanting to be alone in this forsaken city. As they entered the coffee shop, Loona stepped up to the barista and ordered. "Wha- Loona!" Splice complained. She shrugged. "What? If I have to be in LA I'm at least gonna get some coffee." She said. Splice shook their head disapprovingly. "Fine... but we have to get a move on. Octavia could be anywhere."

          Loona got her coffee and the two were on their way again. "You know, Loona, it wouldn't kill you to be a little nicer," Splice noted. Loona spared a sideways glance at them. "Oh, shut up." She said. Splice frowned. "I don't mean it in a bad way. I get it, you're slow to warm up to people, but it's really difficult to get clients when you're all aggressive with them." They explained.

          Loona let out a deep sigh. Her gaze was fixated on the sidewalk. ".. I know. I'll work on it." She said softly. Splice offered a small smile in her direction. "Don't worry about it too much. I'll be here to help you." They comforted.

          This moment was quickly interrupted as a middle-aged man with a microphone stepped into Splice's face. "Hey there! I was wondering if I could interview you for a video I'm doing?" He asked. Splice cringed. "Uh..." They muttered.

          "Don't worry! It'll be quick." The guy said, putting his hand on Splice's shoulder. Splice let out a defeated huff. "You keep looking, Loona. I'll catch up." They said. Loona shrugged and walked off. The man grinned. "Great! Thank you so much." He snapped a few times, gesturing over another guy holding a phone.

          "Okay, we're rolling in three, two..." The cameraman started. Splice looked between the two confusedly. "Wait- what are we even doing?" They asked. The man with the microphone waved his hand dismissively. "It's for my video podcast. Just be yourself, don't worry about it." He answered. Before Splice could say anything else, the cameraman started the recording.

          "Hello everyone! I'm currently in the streets of downtown LA, where I've run into upcoming pop artist Splice." The man said, gesturing over to Splice. They offered a wave to the camera. "Splice here featured on an album by Verosika Mayday, which then toured across the U.S.! However, recent pictures have implied that there's more to this relationship than meets the eye~" He said.

          Splice turned to look at him. "Wait, what-" Before they could finish speaking, the guy fished his phone from his pocket. He showed his screen to Splice. On the device was a folder of pictures simply titled 'V.' This album was filled with suggestive pictures of Splice and Verosika. "Where the fuck did you find these?" Splice asked, staring down at the screen in horror. They'd never done anything with Verosika in their human form. These pictures had to be edited in some way.

          "My sources choose to remain anonymous." The guy said. "Are you denying the validity of these images? Are you saying that you and Verosika Mayday didn't have an intimate sexual relationship?" He questioned, shoving the little microphone toward Splice's face.

          "Verosika and I are just friends." Splice answered uncomfortably, a look of disgust illustrated on their face. The guy narrowed his eyes. "Uh-huh... And were you or were you not seen at Verosika's beach concert just a little while ago?" He asked. Splice sighed. "I am not sleeping with Verosika." They said firmly.

          The man frowned slightly. "Right. Well- my sources tell me that you were also seen just a little while ago with actor Brennon Ragers. Are you also going to deny that anything is going on between you and him?" He said.

          Splice stared at the guy dumbfounded for a moment. "Ew, no- there's absolutely nothing going on between Blit- Brennon and I." They replied, shuddering. The cameraman chuckled. "Mhm. And you definitely weren't seen carrying him like a princess." The middle-aged man said with a smug expression. Splice's hands balled into fists at their sides.

          "My sex life is none of your fucking business." Splice seethed. "Get all of this damn equipment out of my face." They stepped away, trying to refrain from attacking the nosy guys. The cameraman looked over, moving the phone to follow Splice. "That sounds like a confession!" He said somewhat teasingly.

          Instead of replying, Splice flipped them the bird and stormed off. "Stupid.. fuckin'.. assholes..." Splice muttered. They continued down the sidewalk, hoping to find Loona. What they found instead was a burning building. Walking away from said building was Blitzø and Stolas.

          "Wh- guys! What the shit happened here?" Splice asked as they ran over to the two. Blitzø let out a sad sigh. "Oh, nothing. Just my acting dreams being crushed for a second time." He replied. Splice rolled their eyes. "Loona's still looking for Octavia. I was with her, but some jackass podcaster stopped me to ask about my intimate life and we got separated." They explained.

          Stolas seemed disturbed. "I did a tour with Verosika. Now her crazy fuckin' fans won't leave me alone." Splice said. That didn't seem to ease Stolas' displeasure. "Hey, Blitzø, don't you have Loona's location on your phone?" They asked, turning toward the imp. Blitzø lit up. "Oh, yeah!" He replied, quickly taking out his phone. The screen showed that Loona was at a place called Not Topic.

          "Now, if we could just find where..." Before Blitzø could finish his question, a portal opened up. Loona and Octavia stepped out hand in hand. "Loona! Oh, Loona, my sweet baby girl. I'm so sorry! I'll never replace you, no matter what you–" Blitzø fawned, running over to his daughter. He was cut off as Loona kicked him in the balls. "You're good." She said.

          Stolas winced as he looked over at Blitzø. "Dad... I'm so sorry." Octavia said softly. Stolas reverted to his demon form, engulfing his daughter in a tight hug. "I'm just relieved you're okay! But, what would possess you to do such a thing? You know I haven't taught you spells like this yet." He replied, concernedly looking down at Octavia.

          "I just wanted to see the stars you promised," Octavia said. Stolas' brows furrowed. "The stars?" He gasped in realization. "Azathoth's tears! Oh, no. Oh, my dear sweet Via, I am so-" Octavia cut him off as she wrapped her arms around him. "I know, dad. It's okay, you're here now."

          Fireworks launched into the air from the remnants of the burning building. "The fuck is that?" Loona asked. Blitzø sighed mournfully. "My acting career." He answered. Octavia stared up at the sky in awe. "Look at that one! Did you see that one?" She asked, pointing up at the various fireworks excitedly. Stolas smiled softly, wrapping an arm around his daughter. Splice glanced over at the two of them. A sad smile graced their lips. Stolas noticed, gingerly wrapping his other arm around Splice. They tensed up, but relaxed into his touch.