Mike and Veronica both held their breath, outside they could hear someone tapping the lockers nearby and the tapping was getting closer both of them looked at each other with worried faces until they felt their locker get tapped.
Contrary to the other lockers which let of a hollow sound theirs let of a dull one, then the worst happened, the locker door shifted and slowly began to open, light flooded in as it moved Mike protectively wrapped his hand around Veronica. Surprisingly the movement stopped and it was silent again, Mike and Veronica face each other confused looks then they heard a feminine voice.
"Hey there you cutie -"
Suddenly they could hear a low growl.
"Don't be afraid I won't hurt - ah! Don't bite! Bad dog! Wow hey !"
Mike and Veronica nodded at each other and on cue opened the locker door and lunged at the person, to their shock the lady performed a series of flips successfully evading them and Mike landed head first and Veronica fell on top of him, to Mike's shock she got off immediately after landing and lunged once again, Mike caught sight of a gleaming object in Veronica's hands and even without seeing fully something told Mike it was a knife, Veronica's face had a dangerous expression as she charged, the lady put both hands in front to guard but with a few jabs Veronica got through and in the final moment she stopped herself, the woman was pinned to the wall and Veronica had a centimeters away from her throat. This time Veronica looked surprised.
"Wow mistress, I'm impressed to see your skills haven't dulled since you left." The lady said in a weirdly calm voice.
"Maria?" Veronica asked in disbelief.
"Yes mistress."
"Oh my gosh, it really is you I'm so happy to see you!"
"Uhh mistress forgive me but I don't think holding a knife at my throat is a sign you're happy to see me."
"Oh sorry ." Veronica said withdrawing the blade and slipping it under her sleeve. She then hugged her shocking the maid but her expression softened and she hugged Veronica back and patted her head.
The sight warmed Mike's heart and a sigh escaped his lips but the maid shot him with a look that sent a chill down his spine.
"And who are you supposed to be." She asked narrowing her eyes.
"He's a friend, a very good friend of mine, he's name is Mike." Veronica explained.
"Mike meet Carla, she used to be my personal maid."
"Used to be?" Carla asked looking hurt. "So what have you replaced me?"
"No I just meant I don't need a maid anymore-"
Carla dropped to her knees dramatically.
"My services are no longer needed, what's the point of living."
"Hey hey hold on there's a lot to live for, you know live for yourself and do what you want, you don't need to serve me." Veronica said.
"Well then I'll use my freedom to serve you."
Carla said excitedly. Veronica facepalmed,
"That's not freedom." She said.
"Well it is my choice-"
Suddenly a deep voice interrupted them.
"Well well what do we have here." A burly man asked with a snicker. "Brother!"
"Aye!" another deep voice responded. "Come see what I found."
"What you found?" Carla asked. Soone the doorway was blocked by two men.
"Cooperate and we won't have to hurt ya." The other man said.
"Come on brother, you know that ain't true, boss made it clear we should rough her up a bit."
"Yeah well it's not like she'd cooperate in the first." He responded with a chuckle.
Carla suddenly stepped forward putting herself between the two men and Veronica.
"As long as I'm here my lady won't know the meaning of pain." She said as her eyes turned cold.
Both men raised an eyebrow and smirked while cracking their knuckles.
Meanwhile back in the restaurant Lucy sat dangling her necklace above Nike who lay on her back playfully trying to catch it. A waiter nervously walked up to her.
"Uhh miss pets aren't allowed -" he began.
"Emotional support animal!" She said looking annoyed.
"Yes but-"
Suddenly she stood up and stared him dead in the eyes, it felt like she was looking right into the depths of his soul.
"Emotional -support-animal." She repeated in a dangerously low tone.
"Y-yes ma'am."
"Good."
Lucy then sat down and continue playing with Nike while thinking to herself.
"Mike has some nerve standing me up like this, maybe I should try to look for him, I saw him in that room maybe I can check, what if he's in trouble."
Lucy got up and Nike followed, people moved out of her way the moment they felt her brooding aura, Lucy made her way to the staff rooms, her face was down cast, suddenly Nike grabbed her leg as if trying to stop her but Lucy was too frustrated to listen, she was already coming up with an earful she'd give Mike when she found him but she was snapped out of her daze when she hit something hard, she stumbled backward and ws about to fall when an arm wrapped around her waist saving her, she looked up only to see Veronica, she was about to say something when her vision cleared and she realise she was looking at a man with red hair, he glared at her in disdain and she returned his fiery gaze, the just glares at each other for a moment when suddenly the man's eyes softened and his face turned to one of fascination.
"Gorgeous." The man said unconsciously.
"What?!" Lucy shot back.
"Ah n-nothing." He replied awkwardly, he let her go and she straightened her clothes, she heard the man speak again.
"Sorry for bumping into you." He said.
She couldn't help giggling because she could tell he was trying to make his voice deeper than it was.
"Don't sweat it, I was the one in a hurry, now if you excuse me I'll be going." She said turning away but the man grabbed her hand.
Nike hissed at him and Lucy looked at him, surprised at his boldness.
"Listen I still feel bad for bumping into you, how about I treat you to lunch some time and we can get to know each other." He said.
"Uh no it's fine-" she began.
"Please I insist." He said while placing a card in her hand. After some thought she took and smiled.
"I'll take you up on that offer." She said as she left Nike was still hissing at him but the man just stood there in a daze.
"What a woman, wait I forgot to get her name." He said to himself.
"Hold on why did I come here ? Oh yeah right, Veronica, how have my men not caught her yet." He said as he also entered the staff rooms.
Meanwhile a few rooms away two men were being tossed around by a woman whose strength greatly surpassed her size, with a single step she closed the distance between her and one of the men, he immediately swung a heavy fist but she vanished, before he could react a fast kick met his chin and he was sent stumbling back, he felt his head spin but even with blurry vision he could see his brother recieve some jabs before falling limp and dropping to the ground beside him. He tried to get up but his back protested and all he could do was grunt and stretch out an arm at her.
"My lady let's leave quickly your brother will be here soon." The maid said in such a normal tone you wouldn't believe she just beat up two grown men.
"Sure." Veronica said. "Hey Mike come on."
"How long we'll we act like all this is normal?" He asked.
"I'll explain later for now we need to leave."
"Lucy." He said.
"What about Lucy?" She asked with frustration.
"I left her back in the restaurant."
"We'll get her along the way."
"Ok ."
"Mistress, I'll have you know that even if he comes with us your protection is the only one I'll guarantee." The maid said.
"Come on Carla, do me this one favour."
"I'm sorry mistress but-"
"He'll let you pet Chelsea for a whole day."
"Huh!" Both Mike and the maid responded accompanied by a bark from Chelsea who was as confused as Mike.
Carla on the other hand barely contained her excitement.
"Just to confirm, Chelsea is that puppy right." The maid asked.
"The one and only, just look at that golden fur, I know you love furry animals so what do you say, this is a once in lifetime chance."
"Once in a lifetime?!"
"Yes because if Mike here got injured or worse, killed then Chelsea will cry for the rest of her life hating you forever."
"That's bad."
"Very bad, so what do you say?"
"You've got yourself a deal."
"Ok let's go."
The three left the room Chelsea following closely behind Mike. They began to go through rooms carefully looking out for Veronica's brother.
Meanwhile he had just entered the room where Carla beat up both of his men. He looked at them in utter disappointment he then rubs his temples and sighed.
"Let me get this straight to grown men were beaten up by one woman, do you two even qualify as men?"
"Boss you don't get it, that maid, she's too fast and surprisingly strong -"
"Are those excuses I hear!"
"N-no sir."
"Look at this you're both armed and yet somehow you still lost?"
"She was one woman, our size and numbers already put her at a disadvantage so weapons weren't necessary... Or at least we thought so."
"How did I end up with not one but two poor excuses for men as bodyguards, give me the stunt gun, I'll take care off them."
With this he left his body guards following behind.
Meanwhile Mike, Veronica and the maid got out of the staff rooms but wwre immediately stopped by Lucy who glared at Mike, one foot angrily tapping the ground.
"What a pleasant surprise, my date is three timing." She said.
"Three timing?" Mike asked in surprise.
"Your date?" Veronica asked shooting mike with a suspicious look.
"I believe there are better times for us to address your affair-"
"This is not an affair, I'm not even cheating on anyone." Mike said innocently.
"Sure you not."Carla said with a voice full of sarcasm. " Let's go quickly."
" I expect a proper explanation and two dates as compensation."
Lucy said while pulling Mike's tie leaving him with no choice but to nod in agreement. She let him go and they headed out of the restaurant.
They soon ran out of the restaurant and the maid led them to a clothing store, inside she disappeared for a moment before returning with tow red wigs, she then handed one to Lucy.
"Can you run?" She asked the lady.
"Yeah I mean do you see me, this isn't a body you gain by sitting in a cat cafe all day."
She said flexing a bicep to emphasize but Veronica shot her a dirty look.
"Are you accusing me of not being fit because I own a cat cafe." She said.
"Hey I didn't mention any names you're putting words in my mouth." Lucy replied trying to sound innocent.
"You'll be shocked how fit I am-." Veronica begun only to be interrupted by Lucy who put a finger on her mouth.
I
"Sure you are."
Lucy said before placing the wig on her head and positioning it to make it similar to Veronica's hair. Carla did the same and the three each grabbed an outfit and began to change on the spot, Mike who was nervously looking out the window was shocked to see them changing in front of him, before he could stop it a surprised yell escaped his lips and the three women turned their heads suddenly aware of his existence.
Soon hangwires and other objects came flying at him as he ran, and escaped the store, accompanied by Chelsea and Nike, suddenly both pets snarled in one direction and Mike quickly turned to look and saw Veronica's brother who noticed him at the same time, behind him the body guards emerged meanwhile behind Mike the three ladies emerged and for a second both groups just stared at each other, at the same time the traffic lights where red and as if on cue the moment it turned grin all of them bolted, with a head start of a few meters the ladies at full speed each wearing identical clothing and red wigs.
Behind them the three men took chase but looked confused at the sight.
"Boss which one is Veronica."
"How am I supposed to know they all have red hair, no doubt this bwas Carla's plan, she's too smart for her own good sometimes, we'll just have to catch them all." he said.
Suddenly the Mike and the three women seperated, heading in opposite directions.
Cursing under his Veronica's brother ordered the guards to split as well, he chased one of the ladies and she turned into a park and he was in hot pursuit.
They ran past confused on lookers and equally confused pigeons, gradually the woman became slower, years of training gave Veronica's brother monstrous stamina so even though the lady had a good amount of endurance to sprint for so long it was a battle attrition, the type of battle he'd never lost, so slowly he caught up, at one point the last put both fingers in her mouth and let out a loud whistle, this left him confused.
"Was that a signal, too late Veronica, I've got you?"
He shouted as he tackled the lady and the two fell into a soft patch of grass next to a flowing stream.
The two struggled for a bit, the lady put up a good fight but ultimately lost, the red haired man used that moment to see her face and to his dismay it was none other than Lucy.
Both of them looked at each other, confusion written all over their faces but this was interrupted by the sound of fast approaching footsteps and heavy breathing, the man looked in the direction of the source but all he saw was a dark shadow and before he knew it he was shoved by a strong force that caused him to land right in the water, he quickly and clumsily rose to the surface flailing his arms and legs, he had many talents but swimming was not one of them, if anything changes the idea of being in water was one he hated from childhood.
By the time he dragged himself to the shore he saw Lucy disappearing in a distance, a dog at her heel.
"You're the best Brucey, good boy." She said to the German shepherd.
The two headed through an alleyway and disappeared into the darkness.
Meanwhile the two bodyguards were chasing their own Veronica and at the same time both disappeared around a corner only to suddenly reappear, at the same time both realised this was a trap, the women lured them to crossing corners because they knew the men wouldn't be able to change direction fast enough, or at least that's what they thought, suddenly both women leaped, flipping over both men while lending a quick jab at the side of their necks before landing on the ground.
Both men fell unconscious. The two ladies walked up to each other and high-fived each other. But their celebration was short lived. A raspy voice interrupted them, when they looked up they saw a man soaked head to toe.
"Ed." Veronica said.
"Veronica, no one has ever put me through as much trouble as you have today, you'll regret that." He said .
"Sorry Edward, but you'll need to catch me first." She said before running.
Edward pulled out a taser and took aim but water messed it up and it didn't shoot, with a sigh he took chase only to be tripped by the body of one of his bodyguards.
Without wasting a second he got two tasers and continued the chase, meanwhile Veronica and Carla made their way through a network of alleys only to bump into Mike while rounding a corner.
"Where's Lucy ?" He asked upon noticing her absence.
"Judging by how long it took the master to come after us I'd imagine her plan to lead him to the park worked." Carla explained.
"Hold on you're telling me he went to the park and back in such a short time.
"Trust me, for Edward that was slow, I think it was because somehow she got him to take a dip in the river."
"Did someone call my name!" A voice sounded as a tiny projectile made its way between the group.
"He's got a taser?" The maid shouted to before charging at him.
He shot two more times but she effortlessly weaved between them and tried to jab a pressure point at his neck but in a swift motion he hit her hand away then he used his other to grab her by the throat and pin her to the wall, he reached for his taaer but was forced to instead block an incoming kick from Veronica.
He was impressed by the amount of power it carried, he was forced to not only let Carla go but to move back a few meters, his hand felt numb from pain.
"My bone isn't broken? Someone been neglecting their training." He said.
"I don't want to hurt you Ed, go home now and I'll pretend this never happened." Veronica said.
"Was that a threat? " He asked in amusement.
"I'm the rightful heir of the Esposito house and as long as you live you're a threat to my position."
"I already cut ties with that family, I won't try to take anything from you."
"Well unfortunately this is how the Espositos have handled things, tell me why do you think we have no uncles or aunts, dad eliminated them all and so did grand dad and the heir before him. It's the Esposito way, mercy is weakness."
"It doesn't have to be that way, listen Ed, I don't want to kill you, that's the reason I left the mansion in the first place."
Edward's fists clenched as memories flooded his mind.
"Mercy is weakness, I'll show you that you should have finished it and killed me that day."
"Brother we don't need to -"
Suddenly he appeared right in front of her, fist inches away from her face.
"Oh but we do, this ends now!"
He shouted successfully landing a hit, to his surprise it wasn't Veronica he hit, it was Mike who had taken the full brunt of the punch. His cheek swelled and hurt but he maintained composure.
Edward stared at his fist in surprise, then back at Mike, then back at his fist.
"no normal human can take a full punch from me and and still stand afterwards ?" He thought to himself.
meanwhile Chelsea who was growling suddenly looked astonished when a pop-up screen appeared in front of her.
[Skill hero's protection is currently protecting the ultimate weapon]
"Ultimate weapon? Who? Or rather what? Mike? No he isn't a weapon, what's going on, what exactly is my skill protecting if not Mike,I want it to protect him not this weapon." Chelsea thought to herself while cautiously looking around.
"Hey what's wrong." Nike asked the worried Chelsea.
"I regained a skill from my previous world, I used it to protect my allies and such but for some reason it's protecting the ultimate weapon."
"Ultimate weapon, maybe it's referring to that taser thing that Edward guy is using."
"But why?"
"Don't ask me, it's your skill you should know -"
"Uhh Nike, something's wrong."
"Wrong?"
"With Veronica, she doesn't smell right, she smells.... Scary."
"Scary?"
The two pets turned their gaze to Veronica who'd just grabbed Edward's hand, her face made it obvious she was lost in thought.
"Oh no this is not good, I'm starting to see red again, oh god please no don't let me take a life... Again."
Carla noticed the hostility in time to stop Veronica who'd just slipped a knife out of her sleeve and raised it in the air, Carla held that hand, Mike also noticed something was wrong Veronica wore a blank expression.
"Hey !? Hey snap out of it! Veronica!"
"H-huh." She said finally.
Her grip on Edward's hand loosened and he wasted no time pulling away and moving back rubbing his wrist, he grit his teeth in anger.
"I hoped I wouldn't have to resort to this."
He said while using aiming at Mike with the taser, he took the shot but Carla shielded Mike, electricity ran through her body stunning her, in that moment of distraction Veronica barely dodged one of the projectiles from Edward's taser she quickly charged at him, but he snapped, Veronica stopped and looked back only to see Mike being dragged into a car by one of Edward's guards, by the time she turned to face Edward he was already in his car split between chasing Mike or Edward she stood paralysed, and this was enough time for Edward to leave her with a few parting words.
"See you soon dear sister, I doubt you forgot the way home."
With that he sped off and the car with Mike did the same. Chelsea and Nike took chase immediately but unfortunately they were no match for a car's speed. And it wasn't long before they lost sight of the car entirely. At that very moment Lucy appeared accompanied by Bruce.
Chelsea and Nike led her to Veronica who was an absolute mess. Tears ran down her cheeks while Carla who had barely recovered feeling in her arms comforted her.
"It's all my fault they took him, I shouldn't have dragged him into this." She said.
"Mistress we'll get him back, we need a plan." Carla said.
"But what if they kill him the moment he arrives, you know how my dad is."
"We just need to hurry."
Suddenly Lucy stepped right in front of them.
"Where's Mike?" She asked.
"He's gone they took him, I let them take him, I couldn't make my mind." Veronica said.
"Then what are we doing here, why aren't we on that road driving at Mach speed to save him?"
"They are already gone, nothing we do will change anything."
"Says who?" Lucy asked defiantly.
"Says me, you don't know my family -"
"Then it's a good thing I don't listen to you, I'm going are you coming or not?"
"Hold on let's stop by my cafe there are a few things I need to take care off."
"Don't tell me you want to go to your cats."
"No I have something else in mind, something you'll like."
"Now you're speaking my language." Lucy said failing to hide her curiosity.
Meanwhile Mike found himself with his hands tied behind his back.
"Where are you taking me?!"
"Shut your mouth and wait, I'm already in a bad mood make it any worse and you'll find yourself in the river."
He said as he drove over a bridge. Mike sat back slowly cutting his bindings with a pocket knife he stole from one of the guards.
An hour later the car came to a stop, when he got out Mike found himself in front of a mansion. The guards dragged him inside. Soon they were approached by an old man with an eye patch and a scar across his face, the man was cursing to himself.
"That damn grizzly, by the Esposito name I will kill it does it think it can take my eye for free think again."
The man finally noticed Edward and his guards and he looked surprised.
"You're alive? Don't tell me you actually managed to get rid of your sister."
"Not yet, father but I will soon."
"You'd better, I will not let a woman be the heir to the Esposito name, it's unheard of and as my son I refuse to let you be the first failure."
"I won't fail you father."
"Don't forget those words, because if she shows you mercy again then I'll end you personally, anyway what is this plan of yours?"
"I'll lure her here then deal with her."
"How will you lure her here?"
"With that man."
"What man?"
"That - huh where did he go?!"
The body guards were shocked they were too focused on the Don to realise Mike escaped. Edward turned to his father .
"I'll find him, I'll sort everything out."
"Sure." He said in a dangerous tone then he left.
He then turned to his guards.
"What are you two standing here for? Go find him!"
"Yes sir!"
Meanwhile Mike made his around the mansion, he grew frustrated because he couldn't find an exit, it was like the mansion went on forever.
Suddenly he felt his attention get drawn to a particular room, no matter what it was like it called to him. Overtime he relented and entered, at the center was a strange crystal that pulsed with strange energy, he walked up to crystal and touched it, the crystal took on a purple glow and energy circled his hand, suddenly he heard a voice behind him.
"Don't move, I'm armed, put your hands in the air where I can see them."
Mike obeyed.
"Who sent you?"
"I wasn't sent, if anything I was dragged here against my will."
"You seem legit- wait the crystal reacted to you? I've never seen it take that color."
The person finally came into Mike's view and to his surprise it was only child.
"She's a child?! She looks like she's ten or eleven." Mike thought to himself.
"Actually I'm twelve." She corrected.
"What how did you-?"
"Mind reading, all the Espositos awaken a special talent, mine just so happened to intelligence and mind reading."
"But Edward said something about killing all his siblings."
"Oh I'm not old enough to participate in the culling, if I participated now I'd be a sitting duck, but by the time I'm done with my device I'll be strong enough to even become the heir to the Esposito house, in fact I'd be the heir to the world, all will bow before me."
"What makes you think so." Mike asked .
"Simple I'm making a machine that can create anything I can think of, it can already create small objects but I don't have a strong enough link to pull out big stuff like Veronica."
"What do you mean?"
"This crystal is not of this world yet we Espositos can pull stuff from that world, Veronica was something else, she pulled out a grizzly bear and between you and me she's as dangerous as one, you should see her when she's out for blood, even dad fears her."
"Wait living things can come out of it?"
"Yeah recently an owl came through, don't know where it went though, I wonder what you will pull out though, you must be an Esposito for the crystal to react."
"Aha I found you!" A booming voice rang out.
It belonged to one of Edward's guards.
"Sorry fellas but this man is my plaything now, if brother wants him let him talk it over with mom."
"Yes... Boss won't be happy."
"Well it's not like we can refuse."
They whispered as they left.
Meanwhile back at Veronica's cafe she led Carla and Lucy to her room, she then removed a picture frame revealing a lock, after putting in a passkey her wardrobe began to spin revealing a secret room.
"Woah this is like a sci-fi movie." Lucy exclaimed.
Inside the room was a bunch of weapons. A smirk tugged at Lucy's lips.
Meanwhile Nike recieved distressing news.
"It's midnight, she was kidnapped, I heard something about a demon lord but that's all ." Silver said.
"Who kidnapped her." Nike asked.
"I don't know, midnight was there one second and the next she was gone, I didn't even hear anything but I did find a feather which leads me to suspect it was a bird but it seemed too quiet."
"Hmmm a bird known for being quiet as it flies?.... "(Gasps) " I got it, I think midnight was kidnapped by an owl."
"You've got quite the sharp mind, demon lord."
All cats turned their attention to the voice and there it was, hanging upside down from a branch, the owl.
"If you wish to see midnight, I suggest you follow me."