Chapter 4
I sighed, leaning back in the cramped I.M.P van.
"Why are we in the Pride Ring again?" I asked.
"Stolas invited us to the Harvest Moon Festival," Blitzo replied, casually glancing at me.
"Why is this important?" I pressed.
"An annual harvest festival celebrating last year's bounty," Moxxie explained.
"And it hosts the Pain Games!" Millie chimed in.
"Which is…?" I inquired.
"A series of challenges to determine the toughest imp in the Wrath Ring," Millie continued.
"Oh… then why am I here? Even if I am masquerading as a sinner demon, I shouldn't be down here, right?" I questioned.
"Do you even care?" Blitzo shot back.
"No, just answer the damn question," I said.
"Technically, yes, you're not supposed to be down here, but you have the backing of a Goetia, so you're fine. Though, it's not like you'll need it," Blitzo explained.
"Fair enough."
The van rolled up to a ranch called Rough n' Tumbleweed Ranch, where Millie's family lived. As soon as we stopped, she bolted out to embrace her parents.
"Mama! Daddy!"
"Yeeeee-hawwww! How's my deadly little pumpkin spice doing?" Joe exclaimed, ruffling Millie's hair affectionately.
"I'm good, Pa! Thanks for letting us stay for the harvest jamboree," Millie beamed.
"It's no trouble. We know you aren't making as much since y'all went 'freelance,'" Lin added.
"Freelance pays fine, Ma! We're doin' fiiiiine!" Millie insisted, her tone turning serious.
She walked over to Moxxie, who was struggling to carry the luggage.
"Y'all remember my husband, Moxxie?" she introduced, shoving a nervous Moxxie in front of her parents.
They stared at him, clearly unimpressed.
"Hmph."
I couldn't help but chuckle. "They don't like him very much, do they?" I said to Luna, who stood next to me.
"Nope," she replied.
Moxxie tried to break the ice. "Greetings, Lin! Joe! How have you been, uh, with all the... flaming twisters and stuff around here?" He nervously extended his hand.
"We lost our old farm hand to one of them terrors last week," Joe replied, his expression grim.
"Oh, crumbs. I-I didn't mean to open that wound… sir," Moxxie stammered, laughing nervously.
"Hey, watch it! I'm the 'sir' here, bucko!" Blitzo interjected.
Millie beamed. "Oh yeah! Y'all haven't met my boss, Blitzo! And his hellhound! And our work colleague, Victor!"
"Just because I'm friends with Stolas doesn't mean I work with you," I said dryly.
"Yeah, she's my daughter!" Blitzo said, pulling Loona close.
"Only on paper," Loona muttered, pulling out her phone.
I patted Loona on the head. "There, there, Luna."
She growled, glaring up at me. "I'll bite your hand off."
"Do you think you're fast enough or strong enough to try?"
Luna's glare intensified. "Don't tempt me," she muttered, fangs showing slightly. Despite the threat, there was no real malice—just Luna being Luna.
Blitzo, meanwhile, was attempting to impress Millie's parents.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet the sperm and egg factory that popped out this little gem of an assassin," he said, playfully elbowing Millie. "You two raised a sturdy bitch!"
Joe chuckled. "That we did! So… Blitzo, is it? That's a fine name."
Blitzo and Joe shook hands, and Lin added, "It reminds me of war."
"Nothing like a little war to make a strong man!" Joe flexed his bicep.
"I like you people," Blitzo declared.
Moxxie chimed in, "Y'know, more battles were won by technological advances in warfare. I've researched the history of weaponry extensively, and it's inspiring how, for example, the progression of guns utilizing angelic technology has changed the landscape of Hell's combat…"
Millie made a "cut it out" motion with her hands as Joe crossed his arms.
"I mean… (in a deep, awkward voice) War fun!" Moxxie finished, clearly uncomfortable.
I sighed as I watched Moxxie dig himself deeper.
"Guns get the job done… but a man ain't nothin' if he can't tear the head off a hellish beast with his bare hands!" Joe proclaimed.
"HAAAA! He's right, Moxxie!" Blitzo laughed, then spoke in baby talk, "You got cute wittle baby hands like your baby dick!"
Blitzo reached for Moxxie's hand, trying to grab his crotch, but Moxxie slapped his arm away. "Refrain… sir."
"Speaking of strong hands, y'all should meet our newest help. Hey! Striker!" Joe called.
Black flaming hooves clopped rapidly as an imp in a cowboy hat rode a black hell horse with a fiery mane. The horse leapt over a fence, rearing up and roaring in front of us. Striker tipped his hat, a stalk of grass in his mouth.
"Well, howdy! You must be the famous Mildred!" he said, approaching Millie.
"Aw, thanks!" Millie laughed, flattered.
I immediately didn't like this guy, which was bad news. I turned to Luna. "Remind me to keep a close eye on Stolas."
Luna glanced at me skeptically. "Why? You think something's off with this guy?"
I nodded subtly, keeping my gaze on Striker as he charmed Millie's family. "I don't trust anyone who comes on that strong. It's a front for something. Plus, anyone who looks that slick is usually hiding a knife behind their back."
Luna sighed, clearly uninterested. "Whatever. I'll do it."
"What're y'all doin' so far away from Imp City?" Striker asked, flashing a charming grin. "Heh. The freelance work finally slowin' down?"
"Oh, no! Freelance isn't free!" Millie started, but then hesitated. "Never mind. We're just visitin' for the festival. The prince is our boss's boyyyyfrieeeend!"
I rolled my eyes at that statement. "Boyfriend" is not what I would call their relationship—at least from Blitzo's end. From what Stolas had told me, he was infatuated with Blitzo, but Blitzo? Not so much. The only reason I hadn't acted yet was that Blitzo hadn't genuinely hurt Stolas.
Blitzo chimed in, "Millie, I'm not above hitting a female in front of her daddy."
Striker's interest piqued. "Boss, huh...? Ohhh, so YOU'RE the bold imp starting his own killing biz?"
"Yeah, well, if you're good at somethin', you should capitalize," Blitzo replied, puffing his chest.
"Not many imps start businesses on their own. That's pretty impressive, sir," Striker said smoothly.
"Oh...! Yeah? It is—I-I guess? I guess it is, isn't it?" Blitzo replied, clearly flattered.
Striker's compliment inflated Blitzo's ego. I could practically see the gears turning in his head.
"I mean, it's not like any imp can do what I do. It takes real guts and… vision!" Blitzo added, puffing his chest further.
"Yeah, that's the truth. You gotta have somethin' special to thrive in this line of work," Striker replied.
Blitzo grinned, basking in the attention, while Moxxie stood awkwardly by.
I kept my eyes on Striker. Something about his demeanor felt rehearsed, as if he'd done this a million times before—charming people, earning their trust. The kind of person who knew how to manipulate a situation to his advantage. I made a mental note to stay alert around him.
As the group mingled, discussing the upcoming festival, I noticed Luna had already distanced herself, typing away on her phone again. I stepped closer to her. "You're still watching him, right?"
Without looking up, she replied, "Yeah, yeah. Got it. Just be ready to say 'I told you so.'"
I smirked. "Always am."
Just then, Striker approached me, probably sensing my distance from the group. "You seem a little outta place here, partner. What's your deal?"
I met his gaze, not giving anything away. "Don't mind me; just here to watch."
Striker raised an eyebrow, his smile thinning slightly. "Is that right?"
Before I could respond, Blitzo jumped in.
"Victor here's not one to chit-chat much, Striker. Real quiet type. But trust me, he can be as deadly as any of us when it comes down to it," Blitzo boasted.
I let Blitzo's comment slide, more interested in gauging Striker's reaction. His eyes flickered toward me for just a second longer than necessary before
he nodded, stepping back.
"Well, I'm sure we'll see just how deadly everyone is at the Pain Games," Striker said, tipping his hat as he turned back to Millie's parents.
"Remind me to kill him before we leave," I muttered to Luna.
"Right," she replied, already tapping away on her phone.
Chapter 4: End