Chapter 26

“How are you doing, Cutie?” Chase’s voice came over the earpiece.

“Almost to the top.” Crissy answered.

I leaned out and looked around the corner of the building. I tried to see where she was climbing the old building but couldn’t see her. I checked behind me to see Gudrun and Detrick checking all around us.

“How did I get elected to sneak in from the basement?” Rafael asked. “These boards are almost impossible to remove silently.”

Someone chuckled. “I suggested it.” It was Emil.

“Really? Here I thought I outranked you.” Rafael said in a hushed voice.

“Perhaps.” Emil answered, “but I felt you were up for the task, little brother.”

Someone laughed softly, “now you’re feeling my pain, Emil.” It was Quinton.

“Speaking of pain, how did the meet and greet go?” That was Chase.

I turned to see Gudrun and Detrick again, the looks on their faces told me this was not what they expected to hear when we were moments from breaching the building.

“My mother-in-law adores me.” Emil said, enunciating each word. “Oh, and I invited her for dinner at the palace as soon as we resolve this Arwan thing.”

His mother-in-law?

“Wonderful.” Alona said. “Mitz and I were discussing the possibility of a formal dinner for extended family just this morning.”

I cringed, “Formal?” I hadn’t meant to say it out loud but now it was too late.

“I am not wearing anything poufy and no one is sticking a bow on my ass again.” Daxx growled.

I nodded but was able to keep my mouth closed, this time.

“I was thinking more of dressing for dinner, not a ball.” Alona said.

“I don’t know what that means.” Kara said.

Someone made a quiet noise. “Ditto.” It was Reagan. “Is that like a dress and brushing your hair or a gown and tiara?”

“Oh, I want to wear a tiara.” Crissy said. “I’m up.”

“We’ll have to open up the jewel vault.” Chase said. “How does it look, Cutie?”

“We have a jewel vault?” Alona whispered.

“Can we discuss this later?” That was Quinton.

“There’s five out behind the church, I can’t tell if they have weapons.” Crissy said.

“We see them.” That was Arius.

“Okay. Just a second.”

I looked around and nodded at the guards behind me. We’d be moving shortly.

“No one on the side by the graveyard.” Crissy reported.

“I’m good with that. I wasn’t going in there.” Paisley said.

“Our three elder warriors have the graveyard covered, Paisley.” Michael informed her.

“Good.”

“Everyone be careful of the floors; we don’t know what state they are in.” Bethany warned softly.

“You stay away from all windows and stairs.” Leone told her.

“No worries there.” Bethany answered, “I plan on standing in the door and blasting anyone that moves from there.”

“No one on the other side but Rafael and his team.” Crissy said.

“We see the front.” Michael told her.

“Stay up there, Cristy, inform us if anyone is coming toward the building.” Victor told her.

“Will do, Vic.” She said in a tone that didn’t hint at a bit of anxiousness.

“Reagan and I are in place.” Alona said, “our guards with us.”

“The watch wasn’t sure how many women were in there, but your only objective is to get them into the van.” Troy said.

“Gloves on until they’ve been checked over by the doctor, Rea.” Quinton said softly.

“I know the plan, Quint.” She replied sounding amused. “As soon as it’s clear, I check for portals.”

“We can get in now.” Rafael said. “Basement seems empty.”

“Hopefully you can get upstairs from there.” Kara said.

“I’ll find a way. You in place?” He responded.

“Yeah, I found a nice tree across the street.” She told him. “No one coming out the front will get far.”

I leaned around the building and looked at the only tree in the vicinity. I couldn’t see her but had to admit it was a perfect spot for her with her bow.

“Is Bart in the tree too?” Daxx asked.

Kara chuckled, “No, he’s helping keep an eye on the van.”

“Everyone ready? Here we go.” Arius said softly.

“Fight well, brothers.” Chase said.

“And if you can’t, we sisters have you covered, brothers.” Kara stated.

“Sing it, sister.” Paisley said with a chuckle.

I motioned to Gudrun and we made our way across the street. As we reached the end of the fence near the church, I spotted Emil and Arius crouching at the bottom of the stairs. Behind them were Paisley and Bethany. We hadn’t been able to find any recent schematics for the building, so we only had a rough plan once we were in the door. I glanced around, there was no one in sight, which was good because the witches of the temple were helping Romulus with the tablet, meaning none of us were cloaked.

Rafael’s team was coming from the basement, which should bring him out at the back of the church. He was to force any found in the back to move to the front. Emil’s team was taking the main floor. My guards and I, along with Daxx and Autumn, were to get to the second story and clear the upper loft area.

Emil glanced at me, giving me an ‘are you ready’ look. I nodded. No fancy words were necessary. I knew my training and after the day I’d had, was more than happy to be doing it right now. Fighting I knew, other aspects of my life, not so much.

“The ones out back have been dispatched.” Victor announced.

“Found the way up.” Rafael said in a hushed voice.

Arius nodded to Emil and they moved slowly up the stairs.

My guards and I moved to follow the princesses into the building. Normally I’d gripe at them going first, but after seeing what they could do, I was okay with being the last one in.

~

In the few seconds it took for me to cross the threshold, chaos was unleashed inside. People scattering in all directions. Our teams chasing them down.

“Stairs on either side of entrance.” Paisley said in a hurry.

I didn’t pause to watch what was happening. Turning left I ran toward the stairs.

“We’ve got the right.” Daxx said abruptly. “Time of worship is over, boys.”

I smirked, then sobered quickly as we went up the stairs. “Steps missing on the left.” I said to let anyone that may follow us know. It slowed me down more than I would have liked to get my short legs to reach over the gaps. With the landing in view, I grabbed the rail and leapt over the last step.

Autumn and Daxx weren’t in sight yet, so they must still be taking out those on the stairs.

I looked around quickly. Aside from a few seats near the balcony, there was a door at the back—and about eight guys blocking the path that way. “There’s a room up here.”

“No women yet down here.” Bethany said.

“Two more doors to check.” Paisley said.

“Rea, need you to check the basement. There’s a door here below the stairs.” Rafael sounded like he was fighting as he spoke.

“Take Bart and Derian and go check it out.” Alona said, “we have here covered.”

“All clear up here.” Crissy reported.

With Detrick on one side and Gudrun on the other, I advanced further into the loft area. I knew they had me covered, so I did a fast inventory to see what was lying around that I could use to our advantage. The men blocking the door had that all too familiar cocksure expression on their faces. “Time for distraction.” I said quietly to let the men with me know what was going to happen.

“Be up there in a sec.” Autumn said.

I glanced at a plaque coated in cobwebs hanging on the wall behind the men, as they were walking slowly toward us. It hit the floor and the men jolted, spinning to see the source of the noise. While they were looking, I looked over at the other wall. There was nothing but a bottle sitting on the floor. I focused and lifted it, hoping they were still staring on the plaque. A second later I flung it against the wall.

As they the men backed toward each other in the center of the room, warily looking all around them, Daxx and her team came up the stairs.

I nodded to myself. I liked these odds better.

“Let’s clear a path so we can look in that room.” I said softly.

“No portal by this door.” Reagan reported. “I’m moving to look upstairs.”

“There has to be one somewhere for this to be on Arwan’s tablet.” Alona said quietly.

“Two approaching from the left.” Crissy said.

“I see them.” Kara answered.

“Can you hit them from there?” Rafael sounded winded.

“Yeah.” Kara’s tone indicated pure focus.

Gudrun and Detrick stepped in front of me to take on the men that had decided it was in their best interest to break from their little huddle. I stepped to the side and advanced on the next one heading this way. I chanced a glance at the princesses up here, I couldn’t help it, that was ingrained in my training. Autumn and Daxx had Arwan’s soldiers well in hand.

I ducked as the man coming at me swung with his sword. Judging by the way he swung, he was a novice at using a large, bladed weapon. His stance didn’t cover his swing radius. He had classic tells and made a snarling expression that warned me that he was going to take another swing. Thankful for the gloves I wore, I grabbed my own blade and blocked his weapon with my whole sword. The shock registered on his face. With a quick, you bore me expression, I lifted my own blade away from my hand and caught his in the motion. It hit the floor, much to his surprise.

I nodded my head once as if to say, that’s right this little woman just out did you.

With a roar of a wounded animal he lunged for me, his big hands outstretched. I feinted to the right, then stepped left and swept his legs out from underneath him. He went down, bouncing off the railing on the way to the floor. I heard the wood crack and made a note to avoid going near it. Stepping over him, I put the tip of my blade against his throat. “Need a port box.” I said.

“On it.” Daxx appeared beside me and vanquished the man to the cells without ceremony. “We need to get to that door.”

I turned to see Autumn, Woods and Tim working to draw four of the men away from it. Daxx sidestepped and dispatched the man Detrick and Gudrun were standing over.

“Go.” Detrick said, “we’ve got your back.”

Gudrun lifted his sword without comment and motioned with his head for Daxx and I to head toward the door.

One of the men broke off from the others and came charging toward us. He ducked around Detrick and flew past Daxx. Gudrun spun, trying to catch him as he went past, but the man avoided that too. I braced myself, ready to move in whatever direction he chose.

He didn’t attempt to go around me or even avoid me, he barreled right into me and sent us both airborne into the fragile railing. I heard the cracking of wood and used my free hand to grab for whatever it could contact.

“Got her.” I heard Paisley in the earpiece.

“Don’t let go Kinsley.” Bethany said.

I looked up to see I was holding the railing that wasn’t attached to anything. Paisley must have stopped my fall.

“Bust that door.” Daxx said.

I kept my breathing even, focused on my grip of the aged wood.

“I’m going to hold the rail there.” Paisley said slowly, “on my say, let go of it.”

“We’re beneath you.” Arius said. “We’ll catch you.”

“Okay.” I dug deep for that trust they instilled into us during training. Truth be told, I was struggling to access it right now. I didn’t dare look down, so I had no idea how far I was falling.

“Let go of your sword.” Emil said in an even tone.

I hadn’t even realized I was still holding it. I was just focused on not moving. I didn’t know if Paisley was holding me or the rail and didn’t want break whatever focus she had. “Releasing it now.” I warned them. I didn’t hear it hit the floor, so someone must have caught it. That was a small comfort, if they could catch that, then a body should be easy, right?

“Four women up here.” Daxx said. “Autumn just dealt with the last jerk.”

“Found the portal.” Reagan reported.

Objective completed. I felt better for that.

“On three, Kinsley.” Bethany said softly.

I nodded, not knowing if I’d find my voice if I tried to use it.

“One.” Bethany said in a hushed tone.

I did notice there wasn’t another sound coming through the earpiece.

“Two.”

I closed my eyes and waited for the count.

“Three.”

I opened my hand and crossed both arms over my chest. The weightlessness only lasted a breath of time before I landed in someone’s arms. The air left my body in one soft whoosh. I heard the railing hit the floor with a loud, cracking sound. I opened my eyes to see Emil looking down at me as he held me against his chest.

“You really have to stop dangling from things.” He said lightly. His expression did not match his tone at all.

I remembered the roller coaster. “I didn’t expect to be tackled.”

He leaned over and set me on the floor.

With my feet touched down, I finally took a deep breath. Glancing over I nodded my thanks to Paisley. She smiled in return. Arius stepped over and held out my sword. “Thanks.” I lifted it from his hand and twisted to put it in the case. My arm griped with the movement. Of course, I cursed silently, it had to be the same arm that’s barely recovered from the last injury.

Looking up from the floor, I watched Autumn and Daxx come down the stairs with four scared women sticking close together. Seeing them made the aches I was going to suffer worth it.

“Porting Romulus here to shut down this portal.” Quinton said abruptly.

“I’m getting down now.” Kara stated.

“Cristy, port down now.” Victor said.

We all exited the church behind the women.

Michael was looking at his phone. “There’s only one car left at the factory. Small cube vans arrived after the last worked left.” He glanced over to Troy.

Troy nodded, “we need to keep a team here to keep watch for any late arrivals for the next day or two.”

Rafael watched Kara walk over then pulled out his phone. “I’ll get Ira to bring a team.” He turned and looked back in the building. “They can just camp out inside, now that the portal is closed.”

Leone appeared beside me. He held up his hand and then tossed a paper bag at Rafael. “Here’s your lunch.” With a hard look, he turned to Bethany. “I’m porting over to the factory, you come over with Rafael.” He ported out.

Rafael grinned at Michael.

“How’d we do with the layout of the factory?” Chase asked.

“It’s rough.” Michael told him. “We know the building layout, but not how the plant inside is set up.”

Chase nodded and turned to his twin. “I’ll get the rest of the guards for that.”

Troy nodded, “Set them up around the outskirts to be a net when we breach.”

Chase turned to watch Alona as the van pulled away. As if she knew, she glanced over her shoulder and nodded to him. “I’ll come with you.”

“See you there.” Michael and Autumn ported.

I blew out a breath and nodded to Gudrun. He opened his porter when I touched his arm.