Jared’s expression turned serious. “Right now, you need to imagine that we’re merely yards away from the building wherein Diane and Giles are waiting. Imagine I’ve just received confirmation from Evan that the marksmen are now out of the equation and the area is secure. Imagine that Denny and Stuart have each already scouted the perimeter and revealed that each side of the building is being guarded by three vampires. That would mean there’s no time to waste. But before we begin, Reuben needs to weaken some of your gifts.”

After Reuben had done so, Sam tipped her head in the direction of the ‘B and B’. “Let’s move, people.”

We all quickly scattered; each group heading in different directions in order to circle the building. Moving at vampire speed, Max, Stuart, and I followed Salem as he passed the first three streets, and then scurried down the fourth. He stopped at a particular ‘house’, urging us inside without a word. We then followed him to the back door, where he signalled for us to crouch.

Salem scanned the immediate area before turning to Stuart. “That ‘house’ opposite us is positioned at the rear of the ‘B and B’. I want you to check the house, see if it’s empty and safe to use for cover.”

Instantly, Stuart exploded into molecules and disappeared out of a window.

“You went the long way around to be sure that the three guards weren’t waiting inside another building,” Max then understood.

“Jared said that there were three guards covering the rear of the ‘B and B’. He didn’t say they would be in plain sight. I want to know exactly where they are before we chance getting closer.”

Good plan, I thought.

Mere seconds later, Stuart reformed in front of us. “One guard is in the house, like you suspected. He’s positioned on the first-floor balcony that faces the ‘B and B’. The other two guards are pacing outside the back door of the ‘B and B’.”

“Then we take out the guard on the balcony first,” said Max simply.

Salem held his hand up. “Wait. There’s something we need to consider.”

I frowned. “What?”

“If we take him out, the other two will clearly see it. They’ll know we’re close and they’ll be ready – might even alert the vampires inside.”

“And vice versa,” I noted, to which Salem nodded.

“Then we need to take them all out at the same time,” stated Stuart.

Salem nodded again. “It’s the only way to get inside undetected.”

“Me and Stuart could take out the two guards covering the door,” I proposed. “When he shreds into molecules, he can move as fast as me.”

“I could use my gift on them first,” offered Max. “That would stop them from alarming anyone – including the guy on the balcony.” He looked at Salem. “Then you’d be able to take him out at the same time.”

Salem’s eyes settled on me, clearly torn. He didn’t want to send me ahead of him, even though this was only a practice run – it went against his protective instincts.

“I can do this. You have to trust me.”

“I trust you.” It was an agreement of the plan.

Again, we travelled at vampire speed – silent and stealthy – as we entered the house. Salem darted up the stairs just as Max, Stuart, and I rushed out of the front door. Max paralysed the senses of the two guards, giving them no time to cry out before Stuart and I were behind them; our hands cradling their heads as if to snap their necks. I looked up at the balcony to see that the third guard was cradling his jaw, courtesy of a psychic slap from Salem.

It was obvious that the three guards wanted to loudly grumble and march off as they headed to the ‘dead zone’, but they resisted; knowing it wouldn’t be fair to give away our presence. The moment Salem joined us, he turned to Stuart. “You know what to do once we get inside.” Then he opened the door wide enough for us all to slip through. I exhaled a relieved breath when it didn’t creak.

In molecule form, Stuart entered first, quickly followed by Max. Salem signalled for me to go in before him, but he stayed close to me once the door was shut behind us. I could hear voices coming from another room, recognised them as belonging to another squad.

Suddenly, Stuart was once again before us. He held up two fingers, mouthed ‘kitchen’ and then ‘alert’. The three guys made a series of gestures I didn’t have a hope in hell of understanding, which had me feeling like I’d been ranked as unimportant. There was no way Salem was leaving me out of this. It wasn’t something he could afford to do on a real assignment, so there was no way I’d allow him to get away with it now.

I elbowed him, pointed at my chest, and then gave him a ‘what about me?’ look. He gestured for me to stay behind him. The bastard was protecting me, even during practice! I would have pressed him to involve me if Stuart and Max hadn’t chosen that moment to quietly advance toward the kitchen.

This wasn’t the time to argue, I reminded myself. But I’d definitely give Salem a verbal rollicking when the session was over.

In the kitchen, the boys attacked much the same as before: Max paralysed the guards’ senses, Salem gave one a psychic slap, and Stuart threatened to snap the neck of the other. Off the guards went to the ‘dead zone’. It might have all been very simple…if another guard hadn’t then began to creep up behind me. I heard him before I saw him; swiftly I twisted my upper body and rammed my elbow into his throat. Then I knocked him unconscious with a blow to the jaw. I caught him before he could hit the floor with a thud, carefully placing him on the ground.

Standing, I found Salem glaring at me…like it was all my fault and I’d asked the guard to try to attack me. He made some kind of signal with his hands that I didn’t understand. So I gave him a signal of my own: I flipped him off. Max was shaking with silent laughter, but Salem wasn’t at all amused. Noting that Stuart was missing, I gathered he’d shredded to check for other guards. When he reappeared a moment later, he put his thumb up.

Led by Stuart, we exited the kitchen and walked down a long hallway that I guessed would take us to the living room. We almost crashed into Paige, Imani, and Harvey when we reached a junction. I mouthed, ‘Reuben?’ Paige shook her head sadly, meaning he was in the ‘dead zone’. Crap. I then mouthed, ‘Guards?’ Paige slashed her throat with her hand, indicating the guards on her side had been taken care of. Good.