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Chapter 32: Deception
Shadow's POV
Time: 21:41
Standing on the ledge of a tall building is exhilarating. Looking down is staring death straight in its face. One push and you'll be a bloody, mangled heap of blood, guts and broken bones. Of course, that's if you don't have wings. You can defy death's pull with-
Okay, this mental poetry is disgustingly melodramatic. I'm sorry that I even thought that.
"Ghost!" I called, turning to look at him. "Are you done yet?"
"CAN YOU SHUT UP?" Ghost yelled. "I'M TRYING TO CONCENTRATE HERE." He was putting together the gun that I couldn't possibly know how to construct, it's not like I'm an expert or anything. No, never.
"Hurry," I said, knowing it would piss him off.
"YOU FUC-"he took a deep breath. "Since you know so much princess how about you do it?"
"I would love to. But, Jeb said you do it, so you do it," I said, doing a handstand. Ghost rolled his eyes and went back to concentrating on his work.
"How did you figure out Jeb anyways?" Ghost muttered.
"His disguise was terrible. I've seen him before on files from Itex," I lied, doing a cartwheel to get back on my feet.
"Huh," Ghost said, messing with a tiny part. "So then who is YOUR Head then? Who's the Head of the Angels?"
"Excuse me," I said, raising an eyebrow. Ghost put down a part and glared at me.
"You know what I'm talking about."
"My Head is Jeb," I said, smiling. Ghost gave me a level look and then went back to putting on the final part. If only he knew. But he's not ready.
I walked around the roof and spotted a camera. It was fairly hidden; the owners would have no reason for it either.
I remembered that time at Omega's birthday party where Jeb magically got shots of me and Hunter. I clenched my fists. So, Jeb was quite the little spy, wasn't he?
"Ghost," I called, keeping my tone neutral.
"What the flying fuck is it now?" he answered, frustrated.
"I found a camera. It could be Itex," I said, grabbing it and showing it to him. "Or if the news catches hold of it, we would be plastered everywhere."
Ghost nodded gravely. "Destroy it."
I threw it hard on the ground and smashed it with my boot. Don't trust me Jeb? You have very good reason.
"Okay, I'm done," Ghost said, standing up and stretching. "I'm going downstairs to Hunter now. Don't fuck this up Angel."
I glared at his retreating form. He makes doing this that much easier.
I scanned over the gun. Although it took him a while, he did put it together perfectly. Too bad.
Jeb knew I had the same exact model at home. He just wanted me to look incompetent in front of the others. I knew it like the back of my hand. I knew that if even the suppressor was incorrectly placed, it wouldn't fire.
I unscrewed the screw that was holding the 5 round magazine and stuffed it in the case, under the cleaning supplies.
All this time, Jeb has been 5 steps ahead of us. I stretched out my wings and practiced standing on my bad leg. Not anymore.
Outside POV
Time: 21:56
A large van was parked outside of a park. Fang was leaning against the side of it, staring at the ground. Right next to him was a large rifle case. A basketball flew towards him and he caught it with ease. The owner of the ball ran over.
"You, give it back," the owner said rudely. Fang glared darkly at him and the young owner felt intimidated. "Uh…um."
Fang shoved the ball over to him and looked away, like a hawk that suddenly became bored with its prey. The owner fell backwards since the ball caught him in the stomach. The owner scrambled up and ran away.
"Jeez Fang," Angel skipped towards Fang, her golden curls bouncing. "You didn't have to scare him so bad."
Fang shrugged, secretly amused.
Cassandra peaked out of the passenger window. "Angel, are you hungry?"
Angel shook her head. "No thank you Cass."
"How about you Fang?" Cass asked, glancing at Fang. He shook his head. Cass smiled kindly but then looked inside.
"Nudge! Ella! If you two are going to argue, take it outside. Some of us like to change in peace," Max commanded from inside. Two girls stepped out the van, dressed in matching short skirts and T-shirts.
"Look what you did Nudge," Ella said, crossing her arms and looking away from Nudge.
"Me? You're the one that never shuts up!" Nudge said indignantly.
"That is utterly hilarious coming from you," Ella said, smirking.
"Enough," Fang cut in. Both of them closed their mouths immediately. The van door opened another girl stepped out, almost unrecognizable.
"Whoa Chris! You look different!" Ella exclaimed.
"Yeah, that's the point," Crystal said, tossing her hair. Nudge snickered and Ella glared at her.
"Is everyone ready?" Max's voice rang out from the back of the van.
"Everyone except you," Chris said, lounging on a park bench. Her normally curly light brown hair was now straight bleach blonde. She changed her eye color and made herself up to look completely different. "Do you need help in there?"
"No, I'm almost done," Max called. The van doors open and Max walked out. "I hate heels."
"You look GORG!" Nudge exclaimed. "You look so different with your hair so short and black, and the tattoos! MAX you're so badass, and leather has always looked good on you. You should become a model one day, you're tall and-"
"I hate to break it to you hun, but the wings on my back would pose a problem. Chris, I hate this outfit," Max said. The black wig was cut in a bob, framing Max's face. The leather halter top and pants made her look different.
"Max, you don't look like yourself. That's the point of this," Chris said, annoyed that her sense of fashion was being doubted.
"But heels?" Max insisted.
"Exactly, heels," Chris finished, focusing back on her nails.
Max sighed. "Okay guys, remember. Chris and I will be in the V.I.P. lounge. Nudge and Ella, no arguing while serving, understand? And Cass and Angel will stay out here." Chris, Nudge and Ella nodded, and walked towards the building.
"C'mon Angel, we need to stay in the parking lot," Cass said. Angel smiled sweetly and climbed into the back. They drove away, leaving Max and Fang alone.
"You know what you have to do," Max said, smiling at her right hand man. "Or do I have to go through it again, newbie."
Fang smirked. "No. But are you prepared in case?"
"In case what Fang? You're not going to fail. You're a great shot. Don't be stupid," Max said, the smile fading off of her face.
"You never know," Fang responded, shrugging. He leaned down and quickly kissed her. After a few sweet seconds, he pulled away and seemingly disappeared into the trees surrounding the park.
Max bit her lip. She didn't have a good feeling about this.
Max's POV
Time: 22:35
"This is Gem. I have a visual of the target at 12 o' clock. I'm going in Mother Bird. Over," Chris voice crackled to life in my ear. I was sitting in a lounge sofa, sipping on my drink, looking totally badass with the exception of my heels. It was pretty dark and the lights were dim. Music was pumping through the club in a brain numbing way.
"Roger that Gem. Oh, and stop calling me Mother Bird? Thanks. Max out," I said, hiding my mouth behind my drink.
"Securite, securite, securite. All stations, all stations, all stations," Nudge's voice came on. I immediately went on high alert. "This is Butterfly, Butterfly, Butterfly. There are two security guards, armed and considered dangerous, out."
"Gem, this is Max. Stay put, I'm going in. Out," I said. I stood up and managed to find Chris, who was leaning casually against the bar. "Where is he?"
Chris slightly moved her head in his direction. "I thought we practiced heels with you. You look like the Leaning Tower of Pisa."
"Thanks," I said drily. "I love compliments. Really, you're too kind." I looked in the direction she told me to and saw Michael Anderson fresh from a long day of killing innocent children. He was sitting on a lounge chair like he owned the place, drinking a martini. And next to him were two body guards that looked like they just stepped out of a Men In Black movie. How unoriginal.
"Hey girls, want a drink?" I heard the bartender say.
"No," I said, not even glancing at him.
"Maybe a so-" Chris said, starting to turn around. I grabbed her arm.
"No time. Let's go," I whispered. I put on my most people person smile and walked over. The bodyguards scanned over us and looked away.
"Heyyyy," Chris drawled, smiling flirtatiously at the sadistic scientist. "Can we join you big boy?" I resisted the strong urge to barf as he smiled back.
"Of course sweetums," he said grinning, showing annoyingly perfect teeth. "One on each side. I like keeping things even."
Calm down Maximum, I thought to myself as I sat down. Fang will shoot out his brains in a few minutes. And if he doesn't, I'll have the liberty of wiping the floor with his sexist butt.
"Do you own the club? You look like a celebrity," Chris continued, sounding like a valley girl. Ugh, I'd rather be being chased by Erasers right now. Yes, it's that bad.
"Oh yes, I'm the owner hun," he lied. Yuck. He turned to me and I wanted to punch him in the nose. "What's wrong babe, cat got your tongue?"
Chris glared at me and I tried to come up with a clever response. Then I realized: I'm not supposed to be clever! So what does a stupid girl do under pressure?
I managed to choke out a giggle. I need to start getting paid for this.
The guy smirked and I wanted to throw a brick at his face. "So you're the silent type? That's adorable." He turned back to Chris and I almost sighed with relief. Almost.
"Pan pan, pan pan, pan pan! All stations, all stations, all stations! This is Cinderella, Cinderella, Cinderella! My position is the bar. I have spotted Iggy from the Fallen and he's bartending. I require Butterfly's backup at once. I haven't spotted anyone else from the Fallen. Awaiting plan of action from Mothe-Max. Over," Ella practically hyperventilated in my ear.
Crap! I exchanged a look with Chris. She nodded ever so slightly at me and I scanned around the club. What could the Fallen want here?
"Let's danceeee," Chris drawled again. She pulled the guy up to the dance floor. I relaxed a little and the Man in Black with brown hair sighed angrily.
"This is boring," he said.
"Shut up," the blond one said. Well, someone isn't very cheery today. I pretended to drink from my cup and spoke into my microphone.
"Securite, Secu-Oh whatever. Ella, Nudge? Do not engage him unless he recognizes you. Repeat, do NOT engage. He's blind; use that to your advantage. Chris, get ready to move the target out into the room. Let's get this over with already. Out," I muttered quickly.
"Miss, are you okay?" the Man in black with brown hair said. "You're muttering."
Sticking to my routine, I giggled. He gave me a skeptical look and then sat down next to me. Perfect. Maybe my people person smile was too good. That and I always attract the weirdos.
"Is everything okay?" I heard Fang's calm voice crackle in my ear. I bit my cheek to prevent myself from answering automatically.
"This is Base to Fang. Everyone's okay. Stay in position. Don't charge off like Max does," Cass ordered. I wanted to retort with 'I do not charge off' but then Mr. Brown hair started talking.
"I like brunettes better then blondes," he said. Well then you're out of luck buddy, I thought, but smiled anyways.
"Vincent," I heard the blond one warn.
"So can I get your number? We can hang out after or tomorrow night," he continued, smiling arrogantly. What is with the males in this club tonight?
"Vincent!" the blonde one hissed, grabbing his arm.
"Oh for fuck's sake Hunter! Did you see me cockblocking you and Shadow this morning? Exactly. Fuck off," Vincent said, hitting off Hunter's arm.
Oh CRAP! Crap crap crap. Breathe Max. I can just walk out of here. No biggie. Wait, what was that about Hu-.
"This is base to Max; go to Chris right now. She's ready to move out with the target," Cass said quickly.
Hunter groaned and curled his hands into fists. "Ghost. I can kill you and make it look like an accident. Stick to the job."
"I'm going to Anderson now!" I said, trying to sound valley girl. I quickly got off the sofa and almost tripped while walking over to Chris.
"Hey there cutie," the jerk said.
"Oh Maxine!" Chris said sounding very bubbly. "Why don't we show this hunk our room?"
"Oh, I don't know chickies," he said, frowning. Oh, I would drag him out kicking and screaming if I had to.
Instead I mock gasped. "Do you think he can't take us both?"
I guess I injured his male pride a little bit. "That's not it at all. I could take ten more of you," he said, narrowing his eyes.
Chris and I exchanged a look. God, this guy is a pig.
He continued. "It's just that I can't just cut the cord on my security guards."
"Yes you can! Come on!" Chris grabbed his arm and I grabbed the other. We dragged him into a hallway, a little too roughly. We couldn't let Fang have all the fun now, could we?
We located and stepped into the room. I wanted to firebomb it. It looks even sleazier in real life.
"Oh girls, I feel like we're all going to have a great night," he said, taking in the surroundings.
"Oh yes. We all are," I said, pushing him to the window. "Fang now!"
Silence.
"Fang? Now? Are you one of those chicks that are into the vampire shit?" the jerk continued. "True Blood lovers are the kinkiest. Vampire Diaries lovers like role playing more and I don't sleep with Twilighters, that would make me a pedophile!" He laughed. When he stopped, the whole room was thick with silence. A pit formed in my stomach from the lack of response from Fang.
"Fang?" I said into my microphone. "Cass, what's wrong with Fang? Is he taking a bathroom break or something?"
Hunter and Ghost burst into the room. "Put your hands up!" Hunter ordered. Chris slowly put her hands up but I ignored him.
"What's with the room?" Ghost said, taking off his shades and looking around.
Then quietly, I heard "Mayday. This is Fang. I am under attack. I require immediate assistance. I am abandoning the task at hand, it was a set up."
Outside POV
Time: 22:43
Fang was standing on the ledge of the building, watching the club. He wished to be in there with Max. He looked towards the window again. Nothing, no signal. Fang sighed and started fiddling with the sniper rifle. He was starting to get anxious. The guy might not be as harmless as Jeb tried to make him out to be, Fang thought. And why are the Fallen there?
Fang heard a barely audible crunch of boots on gravel.
Fang whirled around and saw Shadow, who was aiming her handgun straight at his head.
What the hell is she doing? Fang crossed his arms, unwilling to surrender. They were silent until Fang cocked his head to the side, beckoning for her to speak.
"Jeb ordered me to kill you," Shadow said, her hair tossing in the wind.
"Oh?" Fang said, with a daring note in his voice. He scanned the area around him. Maybe if he threw the sniper gun at her leg it'd give him-
"But I think my gun up there-" Shadow said, pointing up to the roof. "Isn't going to work tonight. A piece has gone mysteriously missing."
Fang's eyebrows went up.
"You're not going to shoot dear Michael. Instead, you're going to radio Max and say that I'm attacking you. I'll radio Hunter and say you've spotted me. We'll fight. Then we leave," Shadow listed, spinning her gun on a finger. "Kapeesh?"
"Why?" Fang asked. She jumped onto a dumpster and looked up, measuring the distance. Well, she doesn't trust me enough to show me her wings, Fang noted. She's afraid I might "brainwash" her with memories. Stupid.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend," Shadow said. She turned around with a devilish smirk on her face. "For now."
Fang grinned slightly. It was time to beat Jeb at his own game.
Hunter's POV
Time: 22:49
"Fang? What do you mean? FANG," the girl yelled into the microphone. I looked at her closely this time. I hadn't paid mind to her before and that was my mistake.
It was Max. Jeez I need to work on the whole recognizing your [potential?] sister thing.
"What is going on here? Are these the people that are after me?" the Anderson guy asked. Everyone ignored him.
"Hunter, my gun jammed!" I heard Shadow in my ear.
"What?" I exclaimed into the microphone.
"Oh GREAT did the Angel mess us up? I knew it!" Ghost spat, clutching the gun tighter. I glared at him. Would he mess up Shadow on purpose?
"The gun didn't fire," I hissed at him. His face paled.
"That's impossible. She must not know how to use it. I put it together correctly," Ghost insisted, keeping the gun trained on Crystal.
"I know how to- Fang is attack-" Shadow cut out.
"Shadow? Shadow, report NOW. Shadow?" I called. No response.
Max glared at us and then at Mr. Anderson. "Abort mission, it was a set up."
"What?" Chris said. "We can't abort mission now!"
"Don't question me!" Max snapped. "Let's go!"
Chris stared at her incredulously. Max shoved the guy out of the way and jumped straight out the window.
"Ghost, keep an eye on her," I said, following Max to the window. I held the microphone on my sleeve up to my face. "Iggy, ditch the bar and go to the park that we told you, Gazzy should be waiting there."
"Aye aye captain," Iggy answered. I took off my jacket, jumped out of the window, snapped out my wings and followed her form. It was oddly foggy tonight.
Max landed on the building under where Shadow supposed to be. I felt my stomach drop to my feet. I quickened my flight and landed on the roof.
Fang and Shadow were fighting. But why?
"It's okay Jeb. I guess I know now based on your reaction…" I remembered her saying earlier.
She knew. But how did she figure out Jeb's identity and that Fang was the sniper tonight?
She's making it very hard for me to trust her.
"Fang! Shadow! Enough!" Max yelled, rushing forward. "What the HELL is going on?" Fang shoved Shadow towards me and I grabbed her. She was breathing heavily, her nose was bloody, her eye was black, and she was out for Fang's blood.
"He's going to kill an innocent man!" Shadow yelled, struggling out of my grip.
"No," Fang growled. I could see scratches along his cheek and his lip was bleeding.
"We were sent to kill the guy who had tested on us. You remember our funky wings? They're his fault," Max explained, her voice cold. "He's far from innocent."
"We were told he was innocent," I interrupted. "We were sent to protect him."
"And once again we're against each other," Shadow hissed, glaring at Fang. "Isn't that just a big FUCKING coincidence?"
"You just can't stop running from the truth can you? Does it scare you?" Fang sneered. I sighed. I wasn't in the mood for this tonight.
"Okay you two, enough," I said.
"Yeah, stop it before we have to put you two in time out corners. Let's just go," Max said. But they ignored us.
"Running from what truth? The truth of Itex?" Shadow exclaimed.
"I don't work for Itex," Fang growled, clenching his fists.
"If it barks like an Eraser..." Shadow trailed off, smirking. Oh no.
Fang's eyes darkened and he lunged at her, shoving her to the ground. Shadow tried jackknifing to her feet but her weakened leg caused her to lean off balance on her right side. Instinctively, she spread out her left wing, helping her stumble up right and steady herself.
Fang froze, his eyes widening slightly. Which means in Fang language: 'Gee whiz I'm amazed!' I followed his line of sight to…Shadow's wing?
I got that weird feeling again like if I was remembering something but squashed it. It was fake, it was fake, it was fake. It was faker than Pamela Anderson's boobs. Fake.
"You son of a-" Shadow said, rushing forward to punch him. I expected him to attack. Instead Fang let out his wings and Shadow's fist stopped, inches away from his face.
Everything went into a standstill.
"Earth to Fang and Shadow?" Max said slowly. Fang snapped his wings back into his back and Shadow's hand fell to her side.
"Hello? Guys?" I said loudly. Again they didn't move. I felt irritated at the lack of response. What the hell is going on?
"Hunter?" Lies' voice crackled in my ear.
"Yeah?"
"Have you not seen the Erasers flooding the building? Get the hell out of there now!" Lies shouted.
"What!" I yelled.
"There are no-" I could see Max shouting at her sleeve.
But before I could even think of making a smart remark, Erasers flooded in from the staircase that led to ground level. I turned around to start running off the roof. Unfortunately, I wasn't fast enough. The Erasers grabbed us, and one swung a steel pole at my head.
Then I blacked out.
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