This will be my last update for a little while. Tomorrow is moving day and probably no internet on my laptop for a week or so but I promise there will be an update as soon as the new house is internet-ed! Also, I apologise for the line breaks in this chapter, flashbacks are fun to write, less fun to publish.
And Happy 50th Chapter :D
Enjoy!
xx
"Stop fidgeting," Rose snapped, glaring at Henry before adjusting her black silk dress.
"We'll attack it in groups with a small clutch of us at the front."
"Are you sure it's a good idea to put all our best fighters together?"
"They're going to know that we've got security teams around anyway, maybe Kate's right."
"They wanted us to come," Rose said firmly. "So we'll come. We'll dress up and play nice and we'll get Helen back."
"But-"
"If two of us show up, they'll never even show their faces. We have to give them a prize worth risking it all for."
"You make us sound like cattle."
"To the slaughter," Rose confirmed. "Very much so, John."
"I hate this damn suit," Henry muttered, looking down at his shiny shoes.
"Trust me, the dress is no better," Kate grumbled, fiddling with the sapphire blue gossamer that floated down in clouds from her waist.
"Both of you shut it," Declan growled. "It's hard enough to hear the teams report without your complaints."
"Station at least four teams around the complex. And one more at the old Sanctuary site, just in case."
"Weapons?" Declan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Guns," Rose said, "lots of big guns."
"And perhaps something to take down abnormals," Abby put in tentatively. "In case we come across something... unkillable."
"I can get a strike team ready from Hollow Earth," Kate offered. "Something with a bit more of an edge. I know a few clans that would be more than willing to help."
"Good idea, Kate," Rose said kindly. "You too, Abigail."
"Tesla, you're late," Will said darkly, glaring at the other man as he came strolling into the room. Nikola, however ignored the taunt, his face the picture of grim determination.
"You look lovely, dear," he said somewhat sarcastically to Rose who was brushing back a loose curl absently, brow furrowed.
"You too," she muttered.
"Where's Druitt?" Kate asked.
"Parking the car," Nikola said nonchalantly, which, of course, was bull considering they'd all been transported there with the aid of John's abilities. Nikola adjusted Rose's gauzy shawl, pulling it up around her shoulders before he continued. "Something about wanting to perfect his parallel park."
"We need a code."
"Don't be so juvenile."
"It's not juvenile! What if they're listening in on us?"
At least three scoffs sounded, mostly from the monitors on the wall.
"Considering the technology they seem to possess, what's to say they can't just read our minds?"
"I still think we need a code," Henry said, shaking his head. "Nothing big, just... a way to make sure everyone and everything is running smoothly."
"I do wish John would hurry," Rose said smoothly, sounding sweetly distressed. "It's so cold and I can't bear to think of missing the speeches."
"Tonight is such a special occasion," Nikola agreed.
"I wonder if they'll have tea inside," John cut in as he approached, bending to press a kiss to Rose's cheek before bowing politely to Kate. "Shall we go in?"
"Once we're in, we stick together. They'll find us, I've no doubt we'll need to even try and find them."
"Won't you be able to track them down though? You know, with the whole mindreading thing?" Abby asked, stepping forward.
"We can't assume that it will work. Theoretically yes, I'll be able to find Helen and whoever is holding her captive but given the talents they've already displayed..."
"They'll have to move her though, yes? Maybe there will be a second..."
"It's very likely that there will be a second, Abby. But it doesn't do us any good to think on it. We have a plan, we stick to it." Rose frowned.
"I still think it's a dangerous plan," Will cut in.
"Get in, grab the girl, get out. What could be simpler?"
"I think Magnus would object to being called a 'girl'."
"Aren't the stars lovely?" Declan said as they approached the bustling steps that led to the grand building. "We haven't had a night this clear in ages."
See: visibility is good.
"Can you name any constellations?" John asked with a curious glance at the other man.
See: is she there?
"Not really, I mean, we learnt them at school but you know me and books..."
See: no sighting of Magnus yet.
"I'm sure with practice you'll improve," Rose said with a smile. "Perhaps I can show you sometime?"
See: check again.
"You and your superior intellect," Declan teased, shaking his head.
See: what do you know?
"Book learning was my specialty," Rose replied with a smile. "It's not my fault you and words don't always get along.
See: not enough to share yet.
"And once we're in and have been approached, how do we get Helen back?"
"We listen to them. There's something they want and they'll tell us exactly what it is."
"But what if it's you guys? What if they want a complete set? Or worse, what if this is all just a trap? It's too-"
"Will, what choice do we have?"
"We're walking into a trap!"
"And?"
"It's just... Can we really out play the players?"
"Maybe. Hopefully. If not, we'll go down fighting. Our focus will be finding Helen, everything else is secondary at this stage."
"Bu-"
"They won't want a public scene, it's why they invited us to the damn party in the first place. This way, neither of us can use proper weapons. It's a mind game."
"So then how do we find Helen?"
"We don't. We let her find her way to us."
"Declan!"
"Oh, Sarah," Declan said uncomfortably to the aging woman hobbling towards their little group.
"Oh, and poor William too. It's wonderful to see you both again, I was distraught after what happened."
The two boys shared an uncomfortable look before their eyes darted to Rose.
"This is Sarah Jameson," Will said by way of introduction. "She was one of our biggest backers in the past few years."
"Lovely to meet you," Rose said smoothly.
"You too, dear. Would you mind if I steal your boys for just a moment? I've got a few people who are just dying to meet them."
Rose cocked her head and smiled.
"Certainly, we'll catch up with you later."
See: no resin in the walls.
"So once we find her and come up with a brilliant plan on the spot to get her away from them, how do we get out?" Will asked, crossing his arms.
The room fell silent.
"This is what I'm saying about gaps in the plan," he muttered shaking his head.
"How do you expect us to plan for it?" Rose asked softly, voice dangerously low. "How are we supposed to make sense of all this? We don't know what we'll be facing Will, we haven't a damn clue!"
"So then why are we doing it?" he half yelled back.
"Because we have no choice!"
Again silence fell for a long moment.
"She's right, we have to get Helen back."
"They're torturing her, Will. I saw it, I saw what they're doing to her. She's nothing more than a valuable asset to them, one they can continue to pick apart until there is nothing left of value for them. And they will, they'll keep her and use her without regard to the woman beneath it all. Which will leave nothing left to rescue."
"Care for a dance?" Nikola asked, offering a hand to Rose as she sipped a glass of champagne. "We can't let that ravish dress go to waste."
She smiled and accepted his hand, offering her glass to Kate.
The two glided across the ballroom, taking a place in the middle of the floor before beginning to twirl around elegantly to the classical music.
"Show off," Henry muttered, shaking his head and Druitt smiled slightly.
"They always used to love showing us up on the dance floor. No one can move like Rosie."
The genuine fondness in his tone made the others take a little step back, Kate even cocking her head as she regarded him.
"Helen always said there wasn't a creature alive who understood music like Rose does. Look, even now she's leading Tesla around."
Kate and Henry shared a look, now understanding.
"Make sure you talk of Helen freely. Choke up if you want but don't skirt around the issue."
"Why?" Henry asked.
"Because this is a public event as well. We have to keep up appearances which means pretending like she really is dead."
"I still don't ge-"
"Because it makes us a target, Blondie," Tesla half snarled. "For both sympathy and a questioning gaze or two. If all eyes are on us, they can't snatch away any of our number. We have to make a scene."
"Do you think they would?"
"I don't know what to think."
"Rose says Declan says the security teams have seen nothing," John breathed against Kate's ear as he mimed brushing a kiss to her cheek before taking her hand. "Dance with me?"
She grimaced at him but allowed herself to be led out onto the floor. Druitt, it seemed was an accomplished dancer and twirled her about with ease.
"You're dress is quite lovely," he said, apparently being sincere. "The colour is quite vivid."
"Rose told me to wear it," she admitted.
"Boys, go dig out your best tux. Kate, there's a dress in the cupboard for you."
"A dress?"
"It's a ball, what else would you wear?"
"But a dress?"
"Yes a dress. It's blue, you'll look stunning, trust me."
"Well what are you wearing?"
"A dress. One that shall be far harder to fight in than yours."
"Do you really think it'll come to that?"
"Let's just say I'm wearing black for a reason."
"Uh, what's that?"
There was a pause.
"Because black won't show the blood."
"William looks uncomfortable," John said, looking over Kate's head.
"Probably because he can't stand that dirty old woman. She's always feeling him up."
"And Helen let that happen?"
"I always got the impression that she thought it was kinda cute."
"This looks like something else though. The Brit is talking into his wrist again."
"What? Let me see!"
He spun them neatly, giving Kate a clear view of their dark expressions.
"Something's up."
"Don't jump to conclusions. I'm sure Rose will let us know if anything happens."
"So what do we do once we finally find Magnus? How will you let us all know?"
"Oh, you'll know, Will. I promise you that."
Suddenly the music stopped, a soft shriek sounding as all the dancing couples halted, turning to face something at the centre of the room. Kate and John pushed their way through the crowd until they reached the cause of the commotion.
It was Rose, slumped elegantly in Nikola's arms.
"A little help?" the vampire asked uneasily, shifting her limp body in his arms.
