Vices and Maces

Chapter 24: Third Times the Charm, Obviously

Roman slowed the car down, parking on the side of the road. "Remember the plan?" he asked.

"Of course," Sal answered. "Attack from the outside, not inside."

"Take out anyone that sees you. I have a feeling that there are cameras, but I also have a feeling everyone is waiting by the basement for our attack. That's why I'm going in, to act as a distraction. You handle setting the bombs up, and when you're done, wait for me by the car. Leave through the ground to throw anyone off your trail."

Sal gave him a serious look. "Are you sure you can handle this on your own?"

"I'll be fine," Roman waved her off, "just try not to get caught. If you get overwhelmed, leave underground. And remember to hide the bombs in a thin layer of dirt."

"Yes dad," she sighed, leaving the car. "I think I can handle a few bombs. If you wanted a distraction you should have brought Thorn along."

"I'm not going to put my brother in danger. Besides, I can handle creating a distraction." Roman got out of the car, locking it. He tossed Sal the keys, who put them in her bag.

Roman had a bag at his hip, though it didn't have anything except a few rocks. It's a decoy, to not tip anyone off. Plus he could use it as a weapon if he really needed to.

Sal made a hole in the ground and they jumped in. They continued walking through the dirt, not wanting to leave a trail to their only mode of transportation. When Sal felt comfortable enough, she moved them up slowly. They both looked around for any guards before climbing out. They were still behind the treeline, so they should be fine for now.

While crouching, the two of them moved closer until the factory was in sight. Roman raised his hand to stop Sal, seeing several guards positioned outside.

"I'll take care of this, stay here," Roman told her.

Sal grabbed his arm before he could leave. "I'm not a little kid, in fact I have more experience than you."

Roman frowned as he watched her get down to the ground, looking through the leaves of a bush. The ground rumbled and all of the guards started shouting. Roman looked up to see them being grabbed by the dirt around them.

More guards came from the side and met the same fate. Sal made sure to cover their mouths so their shouts were muffled as they were moved closer together. All the commotion seemed to attract more and more guards, who only ended up becoming part of the dirt blob.

"Like moths to a flame," Sal laughed. She stood up and dusted off her hands. "Well I'm not gonna kill them, so I'll just leave them like that."

"Alright, I'll head inside and cause a distraction." Roman walked out of the treeline nonchalantly. "Make sure to blind them so they can't see where you put the bombs. Don't actually poke out their eyes, just cover them in dirt or something."

"Who do you think I am, Thorns?"

Roman rolled his eyes. "I can never be sure. Now if you excuse me, I'll be leaving. Good luck." He made his way to the front door.

~~~

"God this is so boring!" Janus complained, leaning his chair back.

"Then go to sleep," Virgil told him, checking camera after camera. "I'll wake you if anything happens."

"How do you even know if they're going to attack tonight?"

"I don't, I'm being cautious."

"Honestly I would be surprised if they attacked here again. It would be more likely that they would attack somewhere else just to throw us off their trail. If they attack here, then they're truly stupid." Janus paused for a moment as he remembered Thorn. "Actually they probably are stupid."

"Yup, they definitely are," Virgil agreed, standing up and walking away from his computer. "Cause they're here."

"What?!" Janus looked over to the camera, the chair legs hitting the ground with a loud smack.

He saw a bunch of the guards stuck in a dirt pile just outside the building. The camera changed and the front door was being opened, the door handle broken off and being tossed to the side by the fae they fought the night before.

Virgil grabbed his staff, having to tug it off of the ground since ice was already starting to grow around the floor. "It looks like that other fae is here, the ground fae." He walked back to his computer, clicking through different cameras. "Found her."

She was outside still, taking off the bag on her shoulder. The fae pulled out a bomb and kneeled down next to the building wall.

"Oh, looks like they're trying something new then," Janus commented.

"You go deal with her, I'll deal with the vampire."

"Are you sure you can handle it? He hurt you last time, your wrist is still bruised."

Virgil gave him a smile, holding his bo staff tightly. "Don't worry about me, I don't plan on losing this time."

Janus sighed, trying to calm his nerves. "You better not, or I'll hold it against you."

They both left the room, and Janus gave Virgil one last look as they went in different directions. He growled before shifting into a greyhound, dashing down the hallway. As soon as he reached a window, they shifted again, opening it while in his human form before changing into a bird.

Flying high into the sky, Janus looked around for the fairy. He circled the building, trying to catch a glimpse, but her wings were brown and it blended against the dirt. It didn't help that it was dark too.

However he was finally able to catch movement against the ground, and hot pink hair. Well that was helpful, thank you hair dye.

Janus dived down, shifting in the air, wings on his back. He grabbed his dagger from the sheath on his leg.

Sal saw the shadow in the corner of her eye and created a shield of dirt. The shifter broke through it, but it slowed him down enough for her to move out of the way.

"Well hello there," she greeted before raising her hands.

The dirt on both sides of Janus from where he landed rose high. He shifted into a snake and slithered out of the way before it grabbed him. Sal didn't let up, trying to grab him with the dirt, but he either slipped through or moved too fast to be caught.

Until finally he changed into a bird again and flew into the air. Sal stomped onto the ground and raised the dirt, throwing chunks at him. He dodged every one of them, and he was starting to feel a bit cocky until a shadow washed over him from behind.

He looked back just in time to see a wave of dirt was over him, grabbing him tightly. A crude fist formed from the dirt before Janus felt himself fall. He quickly shifted before he hit the ground, and as the dirt moved away from him, Sal saw an armadillo curled up.

It unrolled and changed into a wolf. The wolf dashed at her and she raised her hands, two dirt hands forming right behind her.