Note: I deleted the birthday chapter 'cause...I really don't know what I was doing XD

Duncan's POV

The tension in the room was incredible. Gangs, uniting under one roof to get rid of a demigod. 

Under my bloody roof. Out of everywhere we could of gone, it had to be my house.

And when I say uniting, it basically meant without killing one another.

"Alright, we all know who Ridgedog is" Rythian starts. There are murmurs of "Of course" and "Is he trying to say we're dumb?" but generally, everyone nods. 

"We need to get rid of him once and for all" he snaps, and this time, the agreement in the room rises in volume. The only one who didn't do anything was Tia, slouched on the sofa, arms folded, looking amused at the whole event for some reason. 

"Any ideas?"

The room goes silent as everyone looks at one another. If Ridge was here, he would of been laughing his butt off, eating popcorn in the back of the room.

"Let's dig a hole under his house and blow it up!" Simon laughs, and most people join in. 

"Hit it with a nuclear bomb!" I call out. This sparks off everyone else firing ideas into the room.

"Shoot him!"

"Stab him!"

"Skin him!"

"Hang him!"

Rythian grins at the ideas, seeming to like the idea. "We need to find out how to kill him. From rumours, knives and guns don't work. Now all we need to do, is find out what he is, and kill him."

Tia's POV

Meanwhile, I relax in the middle of the room as everyone discusses tactics, daydreaming and occasionally drinking some coffee.

They were all going to fail.

I hated the fact that they all thought this was going to be easy. That they were going to walk freely into his territory and kill him within a second and walk out without any retaliation.

Because even if we won this, and freed everyone, he would retaliate. Even if we failed, he would retaliate. Ridgedog was not a patient man, well, demigod, and if anyone even thought of trying to overpower him, he would teach them a very, very bad lesson. 

"You're all idiots" I sigh out loud when it was quieter and the room goes silent, looking at me.

"Oh yeah? What's your idea then?" Rythian snaps.

"Don't do anything" I reply, sipping coffee from my cup.

"Are you listening to yourself?" a girl, who looked like a slut and was sitting with the Team Crafted gang, snapped.

"None of you can do anything. Nothing will kill him, nothing will stop him. If you think violence is the way to do this, then none of you have learnt anything" I continue, shooting the slut girl a glare.

Some people in the room instantly begin to argue, but the intimidating detective waves his hand to silence them, looking surprisingly interested and not angry.

"You know Ridge more than any of us. What do you suggest we do?" he asks curiously.

I shuffle uncomfortably-I didn't like being the center of attention.

"Let me do it. I'll go in and distract him, and you lot sneak in and free everyone. I'll leave, and then we get the hell out of there. But I warn you, even if we do succeed, he'll come back at us." I warn them, gazing sadly at my now empty coffee cup.

Note: I ship Tia and coffee together. Coffia. Tiffee :D Tiffee sounds like a pokemon... :P

"How did you get Lomadia out?" Lewis asks in the silence that follows. Stiffening, I exchange a look with Lomadia and she meets my eye. A silent message-don't tell them the truth.

"I had something of his. I gave it him, in exchange for Hannah" I comment vaguely.

"You're lying" Rythian says simply. Damn-I forgot he's a detective.

We have a silent face off for a moment as I consider my answer.

"What happened between us..." I start, looking at Duncan for a split second, "...is my business alone. Let me do what needs to be done, and you will get Zoey back" I sigh, and relax in relief when he gets distracted by the thought of getting his partner back.

Everyone gets excited for the upcoming battle, even though I'm the one who will be doing the hard work. Taking my coffee cup in hand, I excuse myself from the room, going into the kitchen to refill it.

Footsteps follow me, but I pay no attention to them.

"Tia" Lomadia says quietly, and I grip the sideboard with my hands, looking down. 

"What?" I ask.

"You aren't going to tell them are you?" she asks.

I shake my head.

"What...what will you have to do now?" she whispers.

The question I had been dreading-what WAS I going to do? I kissed him. He liked it. He wanted me to come back. He put his arm around my waist. It was obvious where it was going, but...

"I don't know." I sigh, shaking as I look down. Would I really go as far to let him do what he wants with me if it meant everyone else gets their happy ending?

"Tia, you don't have to do this. There are other ways to get her back" she urges me, putting a hand on my shoulder. She was like a sister to me, and I don't object when she hugs me.

"I won't let him go too far. I'll...just distract him long enough to get them out. I can keep him talking, it doesn't have to come down to...that" I swallow, stiffening when Duncan steps into the room.

"Come down to what?" he asks softly, his eyes piercing me in the darkness of the kitchen.

"I-" I start, but he cuts me off. 

"No. No more crap, no more lies. Tell me what you did and tell me what you're going to do now." he snaps.

Silence fills the kitchen, apart from my loud, heavy breathing as I thought over my response. Oh fuck it, I thought, if I didn't tell him, Ridge would.

"I kissed him" I say simply, turning round quickly to click the kettle on, suddenly finding the water inside of it very interesting to stare at.

"Oh" was his reply.

Two arms go round my waist, and I stiffen, looking round. Duncan smiles at me, resting his head on my shoulder.

Wow, I thought, why was everyone trying it on with me today?

"I'm not angry, you know" he murmurs, his lips too close to my ear for comfort. This was weird. He'd never gotten this close before.

"Okay" I reply simply, grateful for when Rythian enters the kitchen.

"Alright, we've agreed to your plan. Come and tell us what we need to do" he tells me and I nod. shrugging Duncan off me.

Strolling back into the living room where everyone was waiting, I took the time to assess the situation. Lewis and Simon both looked slightly annoyed, but when Hannah reappeared in the doorway, Lewis visibly relaxed, stretching out his arms to bring his Lomadia back onto his lap, murmuring comforting words in her ear. Rythian was sat in the large red leather armchair in the corner, sat up, tapping his fingers impatiently against the cool leather. Duncan leaned against the wall behind me, bringing me to a stop with his hand. The Team Crafted gang had barely managed to fit into the small room, practically filling up the large white suite in the corner, dangling off the arms and climbing on the head. Nilesy and Minty were perched on the coffee table, and Sips and Sjin were sat on the floor. I loathed having rats in our home, and by the looks of it, they weren't enjoying it either.

"The plan?" Rythian says simply. Sighing, I hear the kettle click in the kitchen and remember I was supposed to be making a coffee. But everyone was waiting impatiently for me to talk, so I began.

"I'll go in and keep him distracted. As soon as I go in, wait for thirty seconds, and then go in. From that moment, you have at least five minutes to get in and out. There is a secret way in his garage to his office, but the main door leads you to two sets of stairs. The second set of stairs leads to a white door. The door can only be opened with magic, so Rythian you'll have to open it. Inside are hundreds of cages with people in. You'll want to bring something quiet that can unlock them all quickly. Get them all outside and tell them to run, and be quiet. I don't know where exactly Zoey is..." I stop, taking in a deep breath, before carrying on. 

"If possible, I'll ask him where she is, and I'll try and bargain with him. If you've already found her and he can't find her anywhere, I'll probably be taken a prisoner. Whatever you do, don't go back for me, and do not wait for me. As soon as you have everyone, run" I finish.

Everyone looks at each other for a moment, before nodding.

"Let's get going then" I sigh. It was late now, around 6 in the evening. Everyone got up, but Lomadia, Minty and the slut, who I found out was called Ashley, were told to remain here. They complained, of course, but they were ignored. Kim got to come with us, though she was nervous.

"What will Ridge do if he catches us all?" she asked fearfully as we set out via car to Ridge's house after I gave them the address.

"Then I'll have to get you all out" I say simply, as if it was going to be that easy.

"How?" she persisted.

I had no answer for that question.

Martyn and Toby, who had been severely ruffled after being attacked in the car, gave us some cars to use temporarily-to them, Ridge was just another customer, but it was help us, or get killed.

Pulling up in the woods around the mansion, it was beginning to get dark. Perfect to sneak away in. Most of us were wearing black, apart from Duncan, who had a practically luminous science coat on and refused to take the bloody thing off.

"Alright, listen up" Lewis whispers, taking control. "Let Tia go in first, and as soon as she enters the building, we wait thirty seconds and then go in through the main entrance, right?"

Everyone nods, and I take in a deep breath. He was never going to forgive me for this. After all the times he had saved my life, this was how I repay him.

Oh well, I thought, I'm gonna die eventually, might as well go out with a bang.

"Good luck Tia" someone whispers, I don't know who it is-someone from the Crafted gang. Sky stops me for a moment. 

"Thanks Tia. For...doing what you did" he whispers, and I nod. 

"It's fine" I repeat, before emerging from the forest, and walking casually towards his house.

Automatically, a security guard, walked towards me. He was wearing black and carried a very dangerous looking gun in his hand. 

"I'm sorry miss, you will have to leave the premises" he barks out in a husky voice.

"I'm expected" I reply, trying to dodge past, but he stands in front of me.

"Name?" he asks.

"Valleycat" I say instantly. He looks confused for a brief second, before switching on a small phone on his belt.

"Yes?" a smooth voice comes out of the speaker. Even with the crackling of the connection, his voice seemed to sooth the static.

"Someone called Valleycat wishes to enter the premises" he says loudly, eyeing me up with a sneer. In the corner of my eye, the curtains twitch, and I see him look down through the dim glow of a lamp in his office, a phone to his right ear. I see him smile, and the curtain twitches back to its place.

"Escort her to my office, please" came the reply, before the connection dropped.

The soldier-guard person seemed disappointed that I wasn't a threat, and gestured for me to follow with his head. Taking a deep breath, I follow him without looking back.

Looks like I would be having some coffee after all.

Note: When this book hits 1000 reads, I'm doing an O.C contest on here! WOOO spread the word! :D