Teeth »ᴄɵᴍᴘᴌᴇтᴇ«

THIRTY-ONE

THIRTY-ONE

The day that followed was strange in the sense that it was normal. Or, as normal as you could have after everything that had happened. I still had yet to say those three words to Zane. I still had yet to speak to the headmaster about the Claw-Cutter's and my plan of attack on the Tri-Moon's to save Sierra.

Sierra. From what Rowan had said, I wasn't sure what we would find when we found her. But I knew we had too. She, and through her, Rowan, could die at any moment if they suddenly decided the risk of Rowan being with me was greater than their gifts. Rowan had explained that Sierra held a power over fire, even though she was a shield, and Rowan had a contrasting power over ice. Fire and ice. Gifts given through science to those that shouldn't wield it.

It wasn't until the following Saturday that I decided that it was now or never. Now or never to rescue Sierra. Finding the headmaster and his shield in his office with Zane, Rowan, Lucas, Ryan, and Taylor, I told them all of my plan. Zane was against it from the moment I first started to speak of it. Rowan had – while trying to hide it – cried in gratefulness that I was at least considering rescuing his sister. His twin whose life force was bound to his. The headmaster, however, only sat quietly.

"Val, no, it hasn't even been a week since you got back," Zane said, doing something he'd started doing a lot more often since I'd got back, he held me. Wrapped his arms around me tightly as though I would run or disappear if he didn't.

"I know," I replied, wrapping my own arms around his waist. "But if we don't rescue Sierra, they might kill her since we have Rowan. And if they kill her, Rowan dies with her. And if Rowan dies..." I let my silence speak for me because, honestly, I had no idea what would happen to me if one of my bonds died with my being a sabre.

I felt Zane grudgingly agree after a moment. "Fine, but we're sticking together."

Looking back over to the headmaster, I watched as he nodded. "All right, let me send a call out to those who might be able to help us."

"Don't forget the Claw-Cutter's."

"What?"

"Now that they know not all of us stand with the Tri-Moons, they might be willing to help us. Even if it's so that they can breach the Tri-Moon's Headquarters."

"You never said anything about breaching their Headquarters, Valerie."

"It's where they're keeping Sierra."

The headmaster shook his head. "If we want to breach the headquarters, then it will take days to plan a break in."

I shook my head. "No, thanks to Rowan, I know that building like the back of my hand."

The room turned to Rowan who shuffled on the spot for a moment at the sudden attention.

"Then I'll send my shield to find the leader of the Claw-Cutter's and suggest our plan while you draw out the layouts so that we can all see."

Nodding with a plan of action to save Sierra, I took the paper and pencil that was being held out in my direction while the headmasters shield left the room. It was the first time I'd seen the shield actually leave the headmaster apart for the times when he'd come to find me, but then, they'd still been in the same room.

It was an hour later that I finished up the drawings with Rowan adding things here and there, when the headmaster's shield returned with a woman that I recognised from before in tow. She was armed, but then considering my last encounter with her, I couldn't say that I blamed her. She paused when she entered the room, looking at me with a look of curiosity, get there was a small tinge of greed that made me growl at her.

"While we work together, I promise not to hurt any on this side of the battle," she said, raising her hands in a gesture of surrender.

Turning back to the map, I told the headmaster that the easiest way in would be through the front doors.

"Wouldn't that be the hardest?" the leader of the Claw-Cutter's asked, coming up to the table but keeping her distance.

Rowan shook his head from my side. "They have cages out back, that's where most of the security is on the ground floor."

"But that's also the area we have to reach to save Sierra," I said to them. "But if we go this way, we should have the least amount of problem getting there. Which will also mean that we'll save energy for that fight. But getting to this point will also mean that we'll be cornered because they can easily send more to follow us around."

"Then we'll leave through this door," the headmaster pointed out an exit at the end of the cages.

Rowan looked at me as I turned to him. "I don't know what's beyond that door," Rowan started. "But I've seen people coming in and out of it all the time. Once, I tried to get a job so that I could see what was on the other side, but they refused to give me anything."

"So if we go through this door, we will be blind?"

"Yes," Rowan replied sadly. "If anything, our best bet will be to leave the same way we came in after we've got Sierra who should be here." Rowan pointed to one of the cages that was almost tucked away in a corner.

"My men and I will cover you," the leader of the Claw-Cutter's said. "But the moment you're out of that building, your on your own."

The headmaster nodded. "We will leave at dawn. Prepare yourselves for a three hour ride."

   

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