by NAK Baldron
Be safe, Adaku transmitted.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Texas, Earth
Saturday, October 29th
At 1:00 AM Kandice woke up to Blake next to her poking her arm.
She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, and he leaned in.
"Lance said y'all needed to be up by one," he said. "I just woke him up. You two were out of it. I tried at twelve-thirty, but y'all didn't move."
Kandice yawned and tried to roll back over. Her whole body cried out. It needed more sleep. But the light turned on, and her blanket flew off. Lance and Blake were both standing in her room and turned around the instant the blanket hit the ground.
"Oh shit! Sorry," they said together.
"What the fuck?" she said.
"You weren't getting up," Lance said. "It's almost two."
They both stepped outside and closed the door.
Kandice was wide awake. She pulled out fresh clothes from her bag and put them on. If they didn't know she slept naked before, they did now.
That will be the last time they take the covers off a sleeping person.
Once dressed, she headed downstairs with Blake. Lance was already in the kitchen cleaning dishes. He'd made eggs, bacon, and biscuits. Kandice poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down at her plate. The food was great. It helped wake her up more than expected.
Blake and Lance looked over their notes on the computer plugged into the TV.
"Are we ready?" Kandice asked.
"Slava says the compound is at its lowest staff yet," Blake said.
"He must feel safe," Lance said. "It makes me a little worried. He's either overconfident, or there is something we've missed."
"Like what?" Kandice asked.
"I'm not sure," Lance said. "That's why I'm worried. There could be any number of things inside."
"What about the security system?"
Blake clicked over to a new image. "This is the phone line connected to the house. It will contact the security company."
He flipped to another image. "This is the main power line."
Another image showed the transformer outside the house. "If we blow this, the power will be out for his house, and probably the whole neighborhood. I suspect we'll have about twenty minutes."
"Is that long enough?" Kandice asked.
"Depends on if backup security shows up," Lance said.
"That's what we were talking about," Blake said. "I'm not sure if the security system will notify someone if the power goes out. Same thing if I cut the phone line."
"What do we do then?" she asked.
"That's the question," Lance said. "Regardless, we have to go in tomorrow. There's no more time. The Council is demanding action."
"Why don't we cut the phone and hit the power at the same time?" Kandice asked. "How long would it take for the security company to respond?"
"If they call the cops, maybe ten minutes," Blake said. "They'll try to contact the mayor first, but that could be worse if they reach his cell."
"We will have to coordinate the attack," Lance said. "Slava can act as backup support from the street by keeping cars away from the house for a little while."
Their plan had been to go in where Lance had found a weakness since the motion detectors would be off inside while the mayor was home. If they could, it was still the plan, but they needed to prepare for anything. They spent the next few hours going over all the photos Slava had taken.
Once the sun was up, they felt confident that the backup plan was sound. It was unlikely they would need to use it, but just in case, it was there. Kandice hoped that Blake wouldn't become anymore involved than he already was.
Lance and Blake packed to go to the local shooting range. Kandice and Lance were planning to infiltrate the compound, so Blake would have to shoot the transformer. Having never shot a gun before, he needed to practice first. If the plan went sideways, Blake would then have to cut the phone line, while Slava would do what he could to stop any cars from getting to the house.
When they left, Kandice spent the day binge-watching TV. It had been several weeks since the last time. Her favorite shows were nineties Sci-Fi. Something about the retro style was so appealing. That act of spacing out in front of the TV was like meditation.
* * *
The boys got back around 1:30 PM, and Blake wore a smirk on his face so large it looked like his lips would split.
"He's a natural," Lance said.
"It was amazing," Blake said. "At first, I wasn't hitting shit. But after I figured out how to adjust my scope, it went great."
"He'll do great. We're set."
Kandice looked at her phone. "We need to get ready for bed. We've got a long night ahead of us."
Lance smiled. "Agreed. We'll take our time getting ready when we wake up. I want to leave here by three."
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Amethyst Nation, Fencura
Dark clouds hung over the horizon while swirls of mist danced across the grassy field, shimmering rainbows in all directions. Shaya thought it almost as beautiful as the time she chased the giant sea turtles for weeks to find their nests. Each of them was outfitted with a wardrobe of apprentice clothes for all the variant weather conditions the Amethyst Nation encountered. The weather changed often enough to drive any person mad. In the morning it would be hot and dry, and by evening the courtyard could be flooded, while ice formed on the dorm roof.
Shaya wouldn't have imagined herself growing to hate water, but she'd never realized just how awful ice could be. She wondered how Ren had dealt with it growing up in the Pearl Nation, where it was said to be covered in snow for months at a time. Until arriving in the Amethyst Nation, she'd never seen frozen water fall from the sky, but Ren made it clear that it wasn't snow. Snow was as white as a pearl.
"Open your eyes," Nadia said.
The five of them sat on the grass field, legs crossed before them, hands resting palm up on their knees. They were expected to clear their mind of all thought, and only hear their own breathing, something Shaya had mastered as a young girl. As Kaito Tanken, she trained to learn self-mastery so that she might impose her will on others. Her mother and Master Takumi prepared her well.
"Who was able to clear their mind? Show of hands."
Only Shaya and Goban raised their hand.
"Who remembered to bring their focus back to their breath when their minds wandered?"
The twins raised their hands.
"Ren? What happened?"
"Well . . ." He shifted his legs and leaned back, bracing himself with his left arm. "I wasn't thinking, so much as I was envisioning."
"You mean your mind wandered?"
"Yes."
"This will not do." Nadia shook her head. "For three weeks, you've been here practicing mental control every day. Do you think this is a child's game, to be taken lightly?"
"No!" Ren sat up straight. "Of course not. I—"
"I am not interested in your excuses. Let me try to say this in a way you can understand." Nadia stood over Ren, staring down at him. "Fail to control your mind while casting a spell, and you will die. Worse. You can end up killing those around you!" Nadia swung her arm in a circle pointing to Shaya and the others.
She walked back to the front. "Try again. Fifteen minutes starts," she closed her eyes—clapped her hands, "now!"
* * *
Rain pelted Shaya's face, and it felt like dots of fire, as the water was nearly frozen.
"Stop." Nadia stood before them snapping her fingers. "I cannot expect you to keep a clear mind with this rain. Return to the library and continue your studies, and know that there will be a team test soon. Each of you will be judged individually."
She didn't wait for them to stand before leaving in the opposite direction toward the tower. Shaya desperately wanted access to it, to discover what they were hiding from her. Every day she spent in the Amethyst Nation rather than back with Akio, was a lost opportunity to prepare for the Time of Daggers.
/> "Want to study together?" Goban asked, as he bundled himself inside a slate-colored hooded cloak.
"Sure." Shaya's thoughts were occupied with Nadia and the tower, and not focused on the young boy who'd become a tag along with her and Ren.
They passed through the doors of the apprentices' wing and Shaya sped up toward the stairs. "I have to go to my room first. I'll meet you in the library."
She could tell from Ren's face he wasn't happy to be left alone with Goban. The young boy could be annoying at times, but he meant well and probably missed his home even more so than she did. A little compassion in a place like this wouldn't get her killed.
Her room was quiet, with the other apprentices downstairs studying. The quiet lifted a weight from her shoulders. A trunk at the foot of her bed closest to the window stored her writing supplies: parchment, fountain pens, bottles of black and red ink, and a leather satchel to protect finished pages. Underneath the window, running the full length of the wall, was a wooden table. Long enough that if need be, four students could all sit together working.
Shaya stared out of her window, contemplating what to write, watching as black clouds moved closer to the floating island. A small stream of water wound its way through a trail of stones before falling off the edge of the city, creating a waterfall which in turn rained down on Fencura below. With a few pumps of the metal lever in her pen, she filled it with black ink, and began to write.
First Sworn Akio,
I trust this finds you well, and Clan Kaito's affairs are being looked after with care. The Amethyst Nation is even more impressive than we imagined. Though they guard their secrets well, I'm confident I'll learn what I need in short order. There is nothing I wouldn't do to advance through their ranks and earn my freedom once more. While this is a far cry from the Emperor's dungeons, it's a prison all the same. Ren's support has been invaluable, and I trust the two of you will hold to each other like brothers, not just clansmen.
We're left alone most of the time and only have contact with one of their members. I'm not sure when this will reach you. It would be of great comfort to me to know all is well with our holdings, and that the investigation progresses well. However, I've consigned myself to living in the dark. But with the knowledge that I left the only person in the world I trust—as much as myself—to look after my affairs.
Fight Well,
— Shaya
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Texas, Earth
Sunday, October 30th
At 3:20 AM Slava stopped the SUV. Kandice, Lance, and Blake hopped out, each with a pack. Slava drove off, and they made their way through the park. There was no one around, which Kandice found peaceful.
She pushed what they were about to do to the back of her mind, but only for a few moments. They hadn't seen many cops on their way down. Kandice figured since it was Sunday night, the drunks called it a night at 2:00 AM because of work in the morning.
The three of them walked as fast as they could without drawing attention to themselves. Lance had already said if the police showed up, he'd have no choice but to attack. Slava had a scanner online in the SUV and was listening for any activity—just in case.
"Domestic dispute on Barton Hills," Slava said. They heard him through their earpieces.
"They are coming from the east on Barton Springs," Slava said. "You are clear, but keep an eye out."
"Affirmative," Lance said.
At 3:38 AM—they were sitting on a hill—looking over into the mayor's house. Kandice tapped Lance on the shoulder and pointed. There was a third guard outside. Blake had taken out his rifle—a stock AR15 with an extra laser-guided sight—and aimed at the transformer to ensure he had a clear sight.
Slava parked about two minutes up the road with his lights off, ready to come get them at a moment's notice.
Aside from the lights in the yard, the house was dark. They couldn't see into the mayor's office, and his bedroom was out of sight, but with both his SUVs in the drive they knew he was home.
There was no sign of the woman which made Kandice nervous. They'd never been able to confirm her movements at night—though Slava had tried several times. He never saw her come or go except while in the company of the mayor. Meaning they could only assume that she lived with him and would be inside.
All the outside guards were human, which would make it easy for Kandice and Lance to take them out—ideally without permanent harm.
They sat and waited.
Lance didn't want to move until 4:00 AM. He knew most of the police switched shifts at 5:30 AM to 6:00 AM, and he figured that by 4:00 AM they would all be parked somewhere and only respond if there was a call.
"Stay here," Lance said, when 4:01 AM came around. "When I give the signal, shoot the transformer. If I give the second signal, you need to cut the phone line."
Kandice took a breath and hoped it wouldn't come to that. Blake was too close to the house as it was. Without being able to shift he was defenseless.
"We shift only once we're over the wall," Lance said. "We'll have about fifteen minutes before we have to shift back. If we can, we take out the guards without shifting."
"No killing. Agreed?" she asked.
Lance and her had been arguing this point since day one of planning.
"We do what we must." He pulled out two tranquilizer guns and handed one to her.
Lance clicked on his walkie talkie, "We're moving out. Is it all clear?"
"Nothing on the scanner," Slava said.
"Affirmative."
"Good luck," Blake said, as they dropped their ropes down the small cliff and shimmied down.
They made their way down the road—staying in the shadows—and cut across, working their way back to the mayor's walls.
"Guards' position?" Lance asked over the walkie talkie.
"Far-right, clear," Blake said.
"Affirmative," Lance said.
Lance helped push Kandice up on the wall. The lights only lit up the interior of the property, not the outside perimeter. This left Kandice in the shadow of darkness. There was no moon out, which was precisely why Lance had picked this night for the attack.
Once she was secure on the wall, she offered her hand to Lance and helped pull him up as he climbed. They both lowered themselves over the other side and dropped the final three feet in silence.
When Kandice landed, her ankle twisted, and the pain was instant. It started off like ice running through her veins and ended with knives stabbing over and over.
"Twisted ankle," she whispered to Lance. "Give me a sec."
There wasn't time for this. They were here. She did her best to swallow the pain and push through it.
They hunkered down behind a bush while Kandice flexed and rotated her ankle trying to work out the pain. After a minute, she could stand again.
"Can you run?" Lance whispered.
"I've had worse. I'll be fine."
They moved forward and peered through the bush. One guard carried a larger gun.
"Left guards?" Lance asked over the walkie talkie.
"One in the far back," Blake said. "Second is looking at the far-right guard, near you."
"Affirmative," Lance said.
"You shoot the closest one, and I'll take out the other," Lance whispered to Kandice. "Then, we shift, and take out the last one."
"Okay," she said.
They each pulled out a seal and took aim. On the count of three, they both took their shot. The men wobbled for a second before dropping. Kandice and Lance slapped their seals onto their stomachs and charged, dropping their guns in the bushes.
Kandice's gloves ripped open and fell off as her hands grew and her claws developed.
In moments, they were across the yard, and turning the corner of the house to confront the last guard.
The guard tried to raise his gun, but before he could get it up Lance was on top of him and snapped his neck.
"No!" Kandice screamed. "You said no killing!"
"He had a gun,"
Lance said, brushing off her comment. "Follow me."
Kandice had no choice and followed Lance to the back of the house. They made their way up to the balcony of the room Lance had been in before.
He clicked the walkie talkie. "Now."
A second later, there was a loud pop and the lights in the yard blinked out.
"Fifteen minutes starts now," Slava said.
"Get in position," Lance said.
"Affirmative," Blake said.
Blake's job was to get over the wall and prepare to cut the phone line if the alarm sounded.
Kandice and Lance waited—staring through the window—hoping that no one was inside.
The seconds moved by and the three minutes it took Blake to get into position felt like an eternity.
"Ready," Blake said.
"Affirmative," Lance said.
Lance tried to lift the window, just in case it was unlocked.
It wasn't.
Kandice shattered the glass with her claws and did her best to clear the broken glass. Lance slipped through the open window, and opened the door so she could get in.
The room was pitch black. They brought flashlights in case of an emergency.
They stopped at the door leading out of the room and listened. There wasn't any noise coming from the other side. After opening the door with caution, they were standing on a walkway with stairs leading down and doors around the top. It resembled an old Victorian manor she'd seen in history films of the south.
"One of these is his room," Lance said.
They opened the first door and clicked on their flashlights. It was a bedroom, but it was empty.
He clicked off the light.
"Guest room," Kandice said.
When they walked to the second door. Kandice tapped Lance on the shoulder, pointing to the corner behind them above the stairs. There was a camera clear as day, with a blinking red light.
"Problem," Lance said over the walkie talkie. "We've got cameras, and they're on."
"There must be a backup power source," Blake said.
"Ten minutes," Slava said.
"We've got to take them out," Lance said over the walkie talkie.