All Roads Lead To Rome

All Roads Lead To Rome is the tenth chapter in the Wombles Eight.

Hermione turned off the TV. “We’ve been sitting here watching that screen for a few hours now.” She said, “We should go and find something to do in town that we can both enjoy.”  “Okay.” Said Harry, but was quickly interrupted by his phone ringing. His ringtone sounded very familiar to Hermione, but she decided not to ask where she’d heard it before, as it was probably just de ja vu. Harry answered the call in an annoyed tone, “Hello?”  “I need your help.” Came the reply. Harry recognised the voice immediately. “Draco?” he asked, confused. “How did you get this number?”  “I have a phonebook with you listed in it.”  “Oh. I… haven’t heard from you… in a while…”  “I know, but I had nobody else to turn to. This is urgent.”  “What do you need?”  “Meet me in Diagon Alley as soon as possible. Other wizards will get interested if they see me using a phone.” Draco ended the call.

When Harry got to Diagon Alley, he found Draco standing outside the entrance to Knockturn Alley. “Ah, you’re here.” Said Draco. “What are you doing?” asked Harry, “I was about to go and do something that I actually like doing. Ever since John Constantine showed up on my doorstep I haven’t had many chances for that.” “Whatever, don’t be so selfish, I wanted you to come here and I always get my way.” Said Draco ironically. Harry just stared at him, then Draco explained why they were there, “There’s a threat coming.”  “…Okay…And that threat is…?”  “I won’t tell you immediately, just for dramatic effect.” “Draco-“  “It’s something powerful.”  “Draco, just tell m-“  “Something very powerful. Something even more powerful than Grindelwald. Even more powerful than Voldemort. Even more powerful than Trigon the demon.”  Harry was getting impatient, but he just let Draco continue, as saying anything didn’t seem to help anyway. “And this threat is not only attacking wizards. Is not only attacking the country. Is not only attacking the continent. Is not only attacking this side of the equator. But is attacking the whole world. Wishing to become the God of the Earth. And this threat’s name is-“  Draco fell unconscious.

Harry looked around nervously. There was no-one else there. So either Draco had just fainted, or someone had managed to knock him out unnoticed.

Cathy had gone for a ride on her motorbike. She was just about to turn the corner when something sped past her very quickly, almost knocking her over. At first she thought it was The Flash, but when she looked up she saw another figure on a motorbike which had the exact opposite colours to hers. Cathy looked through the visor to this figure’s face. She didn’t recognise this woman, but her eyes reminded her of someone. But who?

The woman revved her engine and then raced toward Cathy at full speed. Cathy tried to turn around and get away, but the other woman’s bike was faster. Cathy screamed as she was knocked to the ground and her bike tossed along onto the other side of the road, crashing into a shop and starting a fire. Cathy’s mouth filled with blood as the other woman kicked her head while remaining perched on her bike. The mystery woman was about to run Cathy over, but after one last look at her eyes, Cathy forced herself up and ran away to Steed Industries in America. However, she had lost her balance and she accidentally ran through the window and collapsed in a closed road where there were a lot of colourful cars and people showing off. She struggled to her feet as the crowd noticed her. “You gonna race without a car?” said one of the people, looking a mixture of confused and stunned.

“Race?” repeated Cathy, spitting out blood, “What do you mean?”  “Oh, well look what we have here.” Said a muscular bald man walking up to her. “A little girl who got lost in the streets of the city. Well, now it’s your choice if you’re going to stay or not. But if you do, know one thing. You’re either with us or you’re not. Ride or die.”  “I’m not a little girl!” Cathy snapped, “I’m the Queen of England!”  The bald man smirked, “But you’ve got no authority here. So if you’ve come to arrest us-“ “I haven’t! I didn’t even mean to come here!”  “Well then, make your choice.”  “I don’t have a choice… I have to stay… I’m too injured to go anywhere else.” “Interesting. So tell me, Queenie- You know how to drive?”  Cathy looked exasperated and fainted. “I guess not.”  The bald man picked up Cathy and put her in the trunk of his car. Everyone looked shocked. “We can’t leave her lying in the road.” The bald man explained, “No doubt one of us would unintentionally kill her. And inside a car is as good a place as any.” The rest of the crowd fell silent, then the bald man walked up to his car door. “Let’s race!” he said, and got in.

“Where did Cathy go again?” asked Steed. “I don’t know, but she’s probably injured.” Replied Alderney. “Never mind, after all she is indestructible.” Said Steed, and he poured himself and Alderney some more drinks.

Mal’s motorbike hadn’t taken her where she wanted to go. She was instead in some kind of massive space which looked rather like it might be a luxury living-room in a giant haunted mansion. “Good morning, Mal my darling.” Purred a voice. Katy Perry walked in.

“What?” said Mal, incredibly confused. “I didn’t spell the bike to go here! I spelled it to go to the monarchy!”

“Ah.” Said Katy. “Well, unfortunately for you, I cast a spell to bring you to me. I suppose our timings must have clashed somehow.” She shrugged while smiling twistedly.

“What? Why?”

Katy shrugged again. “I felt like killing someone. And as the daughter of both Maleficent and Hades…you seemed like you’d be a pretty big deal.”

Katy pulled out a red-handled gold knife which was spattered in places with black blood. She whispered, “Good luck surviving this.” Right into Mal’s ear. Mal whimpered as the blade began to dig in to her torso, with magic to make it hurt even more than it would have done.

Outside the mansion, Clary, Jace and Isabelle had accidentally come across it while trying to find a way back home. They weren’t sure whether to go inside or not, so they just knocked to test out whether anyone responded. Nobody did, but Jace went in anyway so Clary and Isabelle followed him.

As they got further in, they saw quite a few ornaments which rather seemed to be stuffed big cats except that they were…blinking.

And then they heard screaming. They followed it and found Mal being tortured. Katy got up. Mal whimpered again and tried but failed to get up. “Who are you people?” hissed Katy, licking Mal’s blood off of her knife and getting her lips covered in it. It made it look as though she was wearing incredibly gothic lip gloss, as well making Mal, Clary, Jace and Isabelle all cringe in disgust.

Mal grabbed the dagger and stabbed Katy in the hand. It didn’t do all that much harm, but it distracted her enough.

Mal told the three Shadowhunters to get on her motorbike and then help her on. They did, and Mal repeated the spell – this time simply intending to go to the place where Evie was now staying in London. When they got there, Jace used his stele to heal her and then everybody demanded explanations from her.