Yay! This next chapter is finally out! It's winter break so I'm updating as much as I can. Anyway, this chapter was hard to write and I'm really hoping it made sense because I kinda had way to many ideas and not enough ways to describe them.  I'm so excited to finally share this with you! Also, I have great news! I got an editor! readingfan136 is a good friend of mine and promised that she'll work hard to make the chapters mistake free and clearer. (She also just wanted a sneak peek at the chapter before everyone else.) 

-Sophie-

I open the door to see everyone at the entrance. Behind them, I can see Sandor spying at us suspiciously, but he doesn't come over. Edaline made him promise to leave me in her protection for a 'girls day.' It took a lot of convincing. I usher them in before speaking.

"We have to hurry. We left Grady a note explaining everything so he won't worry. But we can't let him wake up and read it before we leave," I tell them, opening the door. 

"Why's Sandor out on watch Sophie, why isn't he with you?" Della asks. 

"My mom convinced him to let her take care of me for the day. He doesn't know anything," I explain. 

"Good, Woltzer agreed to the same. Mainly because Biana's never gotten injured without him. Except..." Della says, trailing off at the end. 

"My mom still won't talk about Nightfall." Biana explains.

 I nod. Cadoc also understood and said once talking with Sandor yes, Sandor had been the challenge. He needed to grant permission to each bodyguard to leave us alone. Maruca, Marella and Linh all understand our fixation on the bodyguard issue. Like only about a month ago Linh had my old ogre bodyguard, but now he's focused on Glimmer. I get it, she's smart and prepared and whatnot. But it still disgusts me that Tam trusts her and not Keefe or something. LIKE SERIOUSLY, SHE WAS (MIGHT STILL BE) PART OF THE NEVERSEEN. I need to have a chat with Tam later about why he trusts her. I just want to understand why. 

 When we get to mom's office, we all sit down on the floor. 

"I like seeing us all in similar uniforms. Just us. We're our own team," Edaline says, "We don't really need to Black Swan to be organized."

Edaline looks at our tunics, the only thing different with each of us. Della's is cobalt blue, Linh's is sea green, Marella's is a faded orange, Maruca's is white, mine is red, Biana's is the same purple tunic from when we broke into Ravagog, and mom's is turquoise. Each of our colours matches us, and it really does make us seem like an actual team. 

"We are a team," Maruca says. 

"We are." I say, my eyes meeting Maruca's as I'm trying to form words to apologize for everything I've done to her. She just gets what I'm trying to say and nods. 

"Telepathic conversation going on there?" Marella asks us. 

"No, we didn't need one," Maruca says. She smiles at me, proving she accepted my apology. 

"Let's review the plan one last time before we leap to Foxfire." Edaline says. 

I swallow hard. I'm ready for this. Right? 

+++

Maruca

They attacked my cousin. They were behind my uncle's broken mind and deep sedation. THEY KILLED MY AUNT. I am done letting the Neverseen win. We review the plan one final time then light leap to the silver tower. 

"Shh," Della says when someone stumbles over a stair. 

"Hurry, let's go," Edaline says. 

We dart up the stairs behind Sophie, letting her lead the way because she knows where to go. Outside, the sun is starting to rise, Edaline tenses. Grady will be awake soon, we have to be at hideouts before he can come looking for us. We rush to the section of the tower where the hidden space is, the hall of mirrors, or whatever it's called, I didn't pay attention to that. We get to the small section. Della and I go first. 

"Good luck. Stay safe," Biana says. 

We fade into the light and arrive at the Neverseen's Paris hideout. 

[Biana]

Mom and Maruca are already at their destination. We need to hurry and get everyone to where they need to be. I never thought I would lead the way Sophie does. Except somehow, instead of her being in charge, I am. 

"Edaline, Marella. Time to go. Be careful."

 Edaline wraps Sophie in a tight hug. Marella whispers something to Linh. Then they disappear in the space and leap to the London hideout. Finally, just Sophie, Linh and I are left. 

"Remember, we're going to a hideout we've never visited, stay together, and stick to the plan. time to not get caught." I say. 

"We've got this." Sophie assures me, but her voice trembles. Linh takes my left hand, and Sophie takes my right. I give each of them a quick squeeze. I'm so grateful to be doing this with them. We need to make it home, I want to talk to Tam about what he said that day at the healing centre. I haven't seen him since. We quickly duck into the hidden space and leap to an unknown hideout.