CHAPTER 24: It's about to go down...

Celeste
My blood instantly boils when I hear Ty's announcement. This is Donnelly's men. I know it.
"Ty, it was just one unit from one location?" I ask just to make sure. That doesn't seem right.
"Yes, ma'am. We checked all the other perimeter alarms and the cameras. There was only the one breach."
"Daddy, if you were trying to invade a houseful of the most powerful paranormal beings alive, would you send one small contingent from one direction?"
"I see where you're coming from, Celeste, but the cameras don't lie. We would see them if there were more."
"Ty, I want you to go back to the cameras and monitor the rest of the perimeter. Come back and let us know when the next unit breaches the property. They may not be there now, but they will be. I feel like they will wait until they think no one is watching the cameras, in order to take us by surprise. Devan, you stay here for reinforcements."
"Yes, ma'am," they say in unison.
"I have a plan, Daddy."
"We don't have time to debate about what to do right now, so if you already have something, let's hear it."
"All right, everyone, listen up. Some of you are not going to like this plan, but we don't have time for a pissing contest, so you're just going to have to get over it. Now, council members, you need to remain on the porch during the entire operation. Daddy, I need you to veil the house so that even sound can't get through it."
"Wait a minute. Celeste, do not say what I think you're going to say!"
"Daddy, we don't have time for this! Just listen. Okay, Devan. Where's Devan?"
"Right here."
"Devan, when Ty comes back up, I need you two to stay with the council members on the porch. If the veil falls, you are to defend them with everything you've got. If they get past you, then you have me to deal with. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am. You can count on me."
"Good. Ajax, I need — " Just then, the door flies open again.
"Ty! I'm guessing the next breach has happened. Somewhere on the east side of the property."
"Yes, ma'am. You called it, and this unit looks to be twice the size."
"Great. That means I'm going to have to put twice as much power into it."
"Twice as much power into what, Celeste?" Randol steps forward, already looking worried.
"My song."
"Celeste, this is too dangerous!" Daddy joins in the hysteria.
"Listen, you have to trust me. I can do this, Daddy. You know I can. Between you and Mom, I am well equipped to handle situations like this. We don't have time to argue. In mere minutes, these guys will be at our front door. Now please listen to me!" Randol and Daddy give each other a quick look, then both nod in my direction. "As I was saying, Ajax, I will have a small group of the heirs with me out in front of the house, but I need them veiled from my song too. Can you do that?"
"You got it."
"Good. Camon, Ryu, when I raise my arms straight up Ajax is going to drop the veil over you guys. I need you to take to the air and find out where these guys came from. No way did they march in from ten miles away. There has to be multiple ops vehicles somewhere. Give me a three - mile scan around the perimeter. Figure out a way to signal us when you find the vehicles. I hear you both have an affinity for fire, so we will watch for that."
"On it," Ryu says with flames already dancing in his eyes.
"I don't breathe fire, but I can burn like one. Watch for my glow." Camon is already glowing at the edges of his body at this point.
"I need speed, good sense of smell, good hearing, and stealth under that veil too. Cerin, Chase, and Randol. This is where you come in. You guys have all those things. When that veil drops, get into the trees and make sure we have all those assholes rounded up. My song will be powerful enough to reach them all, but if someone were deaf or something, he wouldn't hear it." They nod, understanding, so I continue. "Daddy, when I point at you, I need you and Uncle Anthony to reinforce the rest of the veil except for a hole out front just small enough for Ty and Devan to fit through."
"Why?" Uncle Anthony's confusion is very apparent.
"When Camon and Ryu find the ops vehicles, I need them to come out and shift so they can howl out a message to the other shifters on the ground, telling them where Camon and Ryu are hovering, so that they know where to proceed to pick up the rest of our little party."
"All righty then. Guess you've thought of everything."
"I need a few council members to make sure the holding cells in the basement are ready for guests too. You will be veiled through this operation, so you will be safe inside. As for the remaining heirs, I need you under the veil at the house as well. Position yourselves 360 degrees around the porch, so that all sides have coverage. If all the other defenses fail and that veil falls, you are the last line of defense for not only our council members, but for our parents. I trust you need no further motivation to be on top of your game." Nods, snarls, growls, and hisses go around the room. Everyone knows what's at stake right now, and no one will let this go down the way CPE thinks it will.
"Celeste, this is a great plan, but what about you? Who will veil you? Ajax, Anthony, and I will all be behind our own, so we can't."
I give Daddy a small smirk. "I don't need a veil, Daddy. I am trying to get them to come to me, remember? Don't worry about me. You should be more worried about them. If I lose my temper, they may lose their heads."
"Okay, point taken, but please be careful, sweetheart. If anything happens to you out there, I may have to end the world in a fit of rage."
"Don't worry, Daddy. I have to make it back. There's someone I can't live without now." He gives me a knowing smile when I whisper this to him.
"Is everyone clear about their role in this? If not, this is your last chance to ask about it." I wait but no one speaks up. "Good. I know this is not ideal. Most of us are planners. We like to have time to prepare for things. Today, that is just not in the cards. Today, however, is a day to show Donnelly that it doesn't matter what he throws at us. We will rise to any challenge, and come out on top. Everyone stick to the plan and we will be fine. Any injuries during this, get to the infirmary immediately and I will meet you there. Ready?" Various expressions of acceptance come from the group. "All right, positions, everyone." With that everyone moves in unison like a well - oiled machine. My plan just might work.