Chance

Thievery

We all stood around the museum blueprints that were laid on the floor. Yumi, the eagle guy, and I would be the main group breaking into the target building while a few pterodactyl-like monsters ('Taneths' I was told) would guard the outside from intruders of human or supernatural form.

"So we all know our roles?" Yumi questioned.

"Yes," the eagle guy screeched, "I will take out any nightguards that may be present after cutting the power in case any unexpected security measures are present."

"Then we fly in through the vents, locate the artifact, and leave like nothing is out of the ordinary. Right?" 

"Correct," Yumi replied. "We'll be in and out as fast as a lion pounces on his prey. If the Haven is to find out our plans I will call in reinforcement but I don't predict this to be a problem."

"If I may? How exactly would you do that?"

"Do you think this volume of creatures just appeared on their own? They were created from my royal blood with the help of a now-deceased warlock. They are all connected to me so anything I say goes without question or hesitation." 

I smiled, cause it seemed like Devin didn't know it all not for lack of trying to act as he does. If I let my mind run I saw Devin as this all-knowing magical being that could save people, float, and could beautifully handle a dagger. His supple skin was perfect with its perfect imperfections. He walked with the grace of someone much older than he was. I knew that I was doing what I thought was right, but I truly wished Devin could do it with me, be with me, be around me. I wish-

"What are you drooling about over there, Eric?" Yumi smirked.

"Just about how, um, how awesome this heist will be. I haven't done something like this in a very long time."

"So you've robbed a museum before?" The eagle creature squawked.

"Obviously no, I meant stolen something, you idiot." I retorted.

"Enough you two! Let's focus and get ready. We leave in five."

It was undeniably a grand museum. A work of art by anyone's standards creature or otherwise. There were roman-styled pillars in the front of the building with huge church doors. The doors themselves had two big knockers on them in the shape of aggressive lions. There were windows littering the whole building which were slightly tacky but eh. A gargantuan gargoyle stared at me from atop the roof as if it was spying on us and protecting the museum from attacks, huh, ironic. The icing on top of the cake were gargantuan statues of mythological gods petrified into whatever activity they were doing last.

"The humans claimed to have imagined all mythical creatures to life when really they just chose to blissfully forget about the truth," Yumi complained.

"They take and take and take and lie and today we take back." The eagle guy growled.

"Go do your job" Yumi threatened the murderous eagle man.

I rolled my eyes and silently waited for the signal to infiltrate the building. Yumi nodded, proceeding to change into a bat and fly towards the building. I followed closely behind as we had to squeeze through an air vent that was almost too small to go through. We were able to fly through most of the twists and turns and drops until we got to a particularly narrow path. At that point, we had to army crawl using our little talons across the vent. Our talons made little tinkling sounds as we tapped our way along.

Even though I could use my eyes, it was quite difficult in the dark as a bat so I had to embarrassingly switch to echolocation to keep up with my uncle. I could hear him snort condescendingly. So I swiped at his back to retaliate (with my sharp claw).
Yumi abruptly stopped at the end of the vent which meant we were there.

Both of us used our claw feet to un-attach the end and bring it into the narrow pathway we stood on. Below us was a beautiful scene where a brontosaurus skeleton reached its long neck almost all the way to the high vaulted ceiling. At its feet were minuscule dino egg replicas. The gigantic extinct creature was surrounded by a few more fossils and replicas, but what really interested me the most was what was right in front of us. The prize showcase which decorated the middle of the hall adorned a crown and scepter, bedazzled in jewels and precious stones. The scepter was something that appealed to me highly. A rubbery thwack to the face brought me back from the depths of my thoughts. We made our way to the ground, finally able to shift back.

"Do you need some glasses nephew? Seemed like you were having some trouble there." He sneered and then almost slipped on the slick marble floors.

"Need a cane there grandpa?" I fired back, to which I received a smile. It was strange because it seemed like genuine happiness.

Away from the tantalizing scepter, we scurried towards the hall of fossils. There were cameras everywhere which was unnerving however none of their red lights were blinking.

"Seems like that vermin did one thing right," I whispered.

"Somehow, let's just keep our wits about us though. Don't get too comfortable in case we receive unwanted visitors."

After a few more minutes of meandering, we found what we were looking for.

"Is this it?"

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

"Well, you made it seem like something huge that would wipe out humanity in the blink of an eye. This is more like a decoration."

"That jade statue is power unbeknownst to those who have kept it from me," Yumi commented with a murderous look.

"What does it do?" I asked.

"All in good time friend." He cooed. "Now silence, let me work."

Yumi scraped a hole in the glass case protecting the statue and pulled it out. The jade tree unexpectedly illuminated the hall we stood in. I could sense waves of dark power rolling off of the baseball-size thing. I don't know how the humans couldn't have noticed this, frankly, it was amazing.

"What do you say, kid, are you ready to rule the world?"