Children of mischief

Chapter 3. Lige's charade part 2

Milo P.O.V
As a measure of protection, Lige sent us to the temple with a car.
Mo called shotgun, staying in the front seat, leaving me and Brian in the back. I was reasting my chin on my palm, looking out the window. The mix of nature and city was so thight, you couldn't tell where one starts and where one ends. Moss, poison-ivy and other climbing plants were sprawling all over the white buildings. The trees were twice as big as them and their trunks just as thick, making it look like the aparmnent conplexes were build within them. Flowers and grass were growing everywhere on the ground, through cracked pavement and on the street. The air was always fresh and the scent of flowers was refreshing. Only if my city was this beautiful. I sighed, a sense of dread washing over me as I thought of my home-town and going back. Thing that would happen eventually, after the mission.
My hand moved to the rubber band on my left wrist, and started pulling on it. Mo said it would take my mind off of my worries. I have to say, my mind did stop going back to those dark thoughts ,once the pain started kicking in. Bri elbowed me."If you don't stop, you'll end up hurting yourself." I rolled my eyes and went back to looking out the window. Slowly, my eyelids became heavy, and before I knew it, I fell asleep for the next hour, until we reached the Temple.
"This is your stop." The driver said.
We got down in front of the pink, red and orange builiding.
The gates were made out of white marble, like the stairs. A woman in a white dress came atop of the stairs. Her silver hair was pulled in a bun, her blue icy gaze falling upon us with superiority. She smiled slightly and oppened her arms in a welcoming manner."Welcome!"
I bowed slightly. "High Priestess."
She came down to greet us. Lia gave me a side-eye before signaling us to go in the temple.
In the center of the temple was a six feet tall statue of a woman in a flowy dress,holding a dish in which a green fire was burning. She had long hair and smal delicate features. Vellona, Spirit of magic and mother of all Fair People.
Lia took a deep breath, then pulled my ears."You damned idiot! I thought you were dead! What in the Fire-Pits were the three of you thinking!?!"
I tried pulling away."Ow,ow,ow! Lia! I'm sorry,I'm sorry, ok?! It wasn't my idea, for Mae's sake!"
She gave me a death stare."And why did you go along with it?"
"OW! Why aren't you scholding Mo or Brian for this?!"
Mo and her cousin giggled. Lia sighed."I don't schold them, because I don't have higher expectations from them, but I hoped you had at least a drop of brain!"
"Hey!" Mo and Brian shouted.
"Fair enough." I shrugged. "So, are we cool now?"
"What do you mean 'fair enough'?! Mo seemed offended.
"Well,"Brian rubbed the back of his head,"We are kinda dumb every now and again."
Mo glared at him."Who's side are you on?"
Lia cleared her thorat."You said you had a reason on coming?"
Damn it, I almost forgot. "Y...Yeah! We do! Mo?" I looked at her.
"I need the Lady's councile." Mo said.
Lia nodded."Very well, follow me then.
"Not so fast!"
Everybody turned towards the Temple's window. A girl with white wings was standing in the frame. The sun was hitting on her back so it was practicly imposible to see her face, but we didn't need to see it to know who it was.

Mo P.O.V

You know you're screwed when your girlfriend makes such a dramatic entrence.
She jumped from the window frame, now visible for all of us. And damn, did my heart skip a beat! Her silver hair was held back in a thight braid, her saphire eyes were burning with anger but that just made them more beautiful. She wore a dark blue sleevles turtlneck with black felt pants and black boots. Her bow and quiver filled with arrows hung over her back. Her wings had retracted as she took her human desguise.
She walked over to me with an angered gaze but all I could do was stare. I felt my face heat up when she came closer. "Hi...?"
She pushed me into the wall, and I felt the blade of her dagger against my throat. "Geez sunshine, missed ya too." I couldn't help but tease.
"You good for nothing,lying, and deciving slitha! I thought you were dead!" She shouted.
Damn, she really just called me a bitch in Vellonian. I don't know if I should be afraid or attracted...
"Mo..."Milo warned me in a stern tone, I forgot about the telepathy link again.
"What?!"I asked in a defencive manner. "Can you blame me?"
Yueliang groweld."You better have a good explanation and you better make it quick as hell."
"Yueliang," Lia spoke in a calm and somewhat cold tone,"they are under the sanctuary of Lady Vellona while in the temple, so please restrain yourself from harming Mo."
Yueliang sighed. "Fine.". She put the dagger back in it's sheath and glared back at me with a still-murederous glare."Now, explain."
"Ok, ok, I know what we did was unfair and bad, but I'm really sorry Yue. It was the only way to get off the radar for a while."
She smacked me over the head."A lil' heads up could be usefull next time."
I couldn't help but laugh. Milo and Brian looked at me like I was mad. "I missed you to, Yue."
Yueliang scoffed."I never said I missed you." She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest, but she still cracked a smile. I nudged my shoulder into hers."Awww,come oooonnn ,Yue! I know you missed me and my charming personality!"
The harpy scoffed again."You know, I was wondering why I haven't had headaches while you were gone, but now I'm starting to figure."
I gasped fakely offended."You hurt my feelings miss."
She smirked."Good."
Lia cleared her throat."As much as I love to see you two banter, I think Mo's forgeting why you're all here."
"Honestly!" Milo agreed and I side-eyed him.
I sighed and followed Lia to the room in the back of the altar. It was small, with just a tiny square window and some candels offering light. The candels were places on edges carved withing the walls and they had a green flame that didn't emmit heath, but was hotter than any other kind of fire. In the middle of the room was a low table that had a scroll spread on it. The writing was in the Language of the Ancient, language only known to Priests and Priestesses of the Spirits. Lia sat down on the floor at the table and signaled me to do so as well. I sat across from her, so I'd face her directly.
"So, what troubles you, Mo?" She asked me in a gentle voice and with a kind smile.
I sighed, if there was someone I knew I could open up to, it was Lia. "I have to assasinate someone tomorrow night, at an auction held at my step-dad's house".
Lia's expresion became weary."I can see where this is headed."
"O'Leary left unusal instructions and refueses to answer his Spiritsdamed phone. I'm...I'm worried."
Lia smiled at me kindly and put her hand over mine in a comforting way,like a mother trying to reasur her child. "Mo, it's ok to feel anxious. What kind of 'unusual' instructions did O'Leary leave you?"
"Any and all witnesses are to be killed, and if I somehow do leave a wittnes, then I have to shape-shift and hide in Maedian."
Lia looked into my eyes as if looking for something. I swear, no one could hold a secret from this woman.''This isn't everything that bothers you." It wasn't even a question, it was a statement.
"No," I sighed,"it isn't. He sent Corre, ours youngest member on a solo misson, now she went MIA, while she was on the line with me." I felt tears of frustration build up in my eyes and put pressure on my throat."If anything were to happen to her..."
"I understand your feeling, and I pray your friend is unharmed and safe. What elese is trubeling your soul?"
I hesited,but then decided Lia should know."For I while now I started getting weird dreams. I don't even know if they're dreams, to be frank."
Lia's brow furrowed."What kind of dreams?"
"First I'm on a beach, and mom appears. She's wearing her summer dress and straw hat. She tells me she's sorry and she never wished this for me. Then the dream shifts. I am running along the streets of the city, explosions and fire burst everywhere and the temple is in ruins."
Lia's expresion turned from confison to shock then concern in a matter of seconds. "The thing that unsettles me is that you remember your dream so well and that it's repeating itself. Mo, I think it's not a dream, but a vission."
I cursed under my breath,running my hand through my hair."This is bad,this is really, really, bad."
The Priestess put a firm hand on my shoulder."Mo, don't panic. At least now we know we need to prepeare the city for a sige."
I sighed and looked down."This day couldn't suck more."
Lia got up, and so did I. She came towards me and pulled me into a hug. My eyes widend in shock for a second, then I hugged her back, burring my face in her shoulder like a child would when their parent wakes them up from a nightmare and hugs them. "Thank you, Lia." I whispered. She thightened the hug before leting go. "I'm just happy to help you. And don't forget the Temple is always openned for you if you need a place to find some peace of mind." She smiled softly. I couldn't help return it, even though I lost my mother,Lia knew how to make me feel that motherly love.
We came out of the room, the others were waiting in front of the statue of Vellona. Yueliang leaned with her back to the wall, her arms crossed over chest. Milo and Brian were talking about something in hushed tones. They stoped talking when they saw us coming. Brian smiled."So, did everything go well?"
"Yeah, we're good to go."
"Hey." Yueliang grabed me by the arm."Try not dying for real this time."
I smirked and stole a kiss from her. "No promisses sunshine."
Her face went red."Why you-"
"Love you!" I smirked walking out.
Milo glanced at me."Do you seriously have a death wish?"
"Maybe, but it's worth it."
"Mae all-mighty!" My friend scoffed.
The car was waiting outside,I got on the passanger's seat and let myself fall in deep thought. Only the shaking of the car when it came to a halt got me out of that state. I took a deep breath and got out. Lige was prepearing the ballroom of the mansion in order to host the auction. I was starting to feel nervous. Any and all witnesses are to be killed. These words echoed in my head.
Brian put his hand on my shoulder."Mo? You ok bud?" I shook my head a bit to clear my thoughts."Yeah just..."
"Overthinking again?" Milo asked.
I nodded, then it hit me."Did you two hear everything I was thinking this whole time?!"
"No, we gave you your privacy." Milo reasured.
I rubbed the bridge of my nose and sighed. "I'll go get the tools ready, pray it'll end well."
Milo and Bri nodded in agreement and let me go to my room and get ready. I got out my daggers and throwing knifes, vials of poisons and the pair of shoes that had a hidden kinfe in their sole. I checked to see if I have enough room to concile a blade in them. Vellona help and guide me. I let out a deep breath, getting ready.

Brian P.O.V.

I could see Mo's nerves set on fire by this mission, and I felt bad for her. Even though she tried to hide it, it was plain as day for me. Hell, I could tell if something was wrong without even looking at her. When the auction began,Mo beckoned me to follow. We sat on the 12th row, having a clear sight of the room and the target. Me and Milo were going to cause a distraction while Mo took out the target, after Lige won the obsidian key. What could posibly go wrong, right? "Ugh,pray the Spirits it won't go downhill." Milo groaned, loosening his tie. I chuckled."Oh,c'mon,loosen up a little. Mo's got it." I smiled playfuly and nudged my shoulder into his. I sublte shade of dark red crept on his cheeks, maybe from the nerves, maybe from the heath of the crowded room.
The obsidian key was the 20th article on the list, and I almost fell asleep until they got to that. "Finally." Milo whispered. I had my hand on the smoke screen device needed for the distraction, ready to turn it on as soon as Mo gave the mark.
After Lige won the key, me and Milo let go of the orbs, triggering the smoke screen. Everyone freaked out and started running for the doors. I could see Mo, as she grabed the target by their head,muffled his mouth and slit his throat. Me and Milo headded out the back exit, meeting with Mo outside.
"All's set?" Mo asked. I nodded. "We were alone when you killed him."
"Good, I don't want to get moore blood on my hands than needed."
Milo sniffed the air."Hey, guys? Do ya'll smell something burning too?"
After a while, the smell hit me and my cousin too. I looked at Mo and I saw her eyes widen."The mansion."
As we looked over, we saw the house set aflame, then colaps. A lot of people were still in there, along with Alvin. I looked over to Mo, who realised that too, her eyes widend and made a step towards the mannor. Milo caught her by the arm.
"Don't be sorry, remember?"
Mo sighed. "Let's go,we have a long way to go to Maedian."
We nodded and headed out on the forest road.
Mo was awfully quiet,and that made me uneasy. I put my hand on her...their, they shapeshifted, shoudler. "Hey, you ok?"
"I'm fine." Mo snaped, making me take a step back.
"O...ok."
We continued our walk in silance, hiding when we heard footseps or any alarming sounds. Yuelaing scared the living soul out of us when she tagged along. After three days,we finnaly reached the gates of Maedian.
Milo took a deep breath."This is it."