Voisin hadn't been pleased that Kasim and Anna decided to act on their own accord by storming the International Headquarters and busting in on their press conference. Even worse, they had drug Leila and Samir along with them. Ryder and Rachel had returned back to relay everything about what happened to Marcus and Devan.
Because of Kasim and Anna's reckless actions, Voisin had been forced to enact his own plans much faster than anticipated. He needed Theresa and Charlotte rescued and had called in an old friend from retirement to aid in the mission. Jake Ryder was once a powerful force on the Taskforce and part of the elite 8 team before he almost lost his life in the attack that killed Kyle's father and left Theresa unwilling to use magic. Now, he had finally decided to return to the front lines inspired from Kyle's actions to save his friends.
Jake didn't come alone. He brought Emili Svartrop, a cousin to the Fitzgerald's and powerful Elemental wizard with him. Well, she ended up tagging along and was the one that helped push Jake out of hiding. She was a member of the Taskforce that had defaulted to the Resistance and Voisin was glad she had chosen their side. He wouldn't want any of his students going up against the young prodigy in battle. Derek was the only one that would be able to hold his own against her; she was that strong. She was also beautiful with long platinum blonde hair and dark blue eyes, a definite stark contrast to Jake who's once handsome body was burned down one half.
Derek hadn't been pleased that he had to team up with his cousin on a rescue mission. He was even more annoyed that Nikkolai would be accompanying them. Voisin couldn't allow Derek or Nikkolai to be unsupervised. Now that Brie had joined the ranks and worked well with both Wizards, he had to even be more careful. Those three young Wizards were the most reckless of the bunch. However, they were also some of the strongest and best suited for facing Ember Island. Voisin sent Jake Ryder along to supervise and make sure Derek didn't lose control.
Jake had brought a gift with him much to Voisin's annoyance. Of all the dragons he could have chosen, he decided to bring the one that had successfully flown the route to Ember Island before and the one who was already well acquainted with Derek. Since Jasmine had died, the dragon had been uncooperative and borderline deadly. Jake had arrived with the dragon thrashing about in its cage earlier that morning with Emili standing atop the cage, a defiant grin on her face as she woke the whole base up.
The dragon had immediately calmed down when she saw Derek, making Voisin have to let the boy attend the mission. They needed a dragon or way of flight to make way for the island, and it was better to have one already familiar with breaking through the island's protective wards.
Once Voisin had sent them off, he made preparations for the others in his group. He had ended up sending Dean and Ryder to report back to the Irish base and inform them of everything going on. Voisin suspected that Michael would attack their next in retaliation.
Now, he had Kenny, Rachel, and Jude remaining with them where he prepared to inform them of their own difficult and deadly mission. Voisin had noticed that ever since Rachel returned from her visit with the elves, she had resorted to her old habits from the sixth grade. She held a dog shaped keychain in her hands that she kept whispering to. Derek had been on edge ever since she returned.
Ryder had spoken to Voisin in private that night informing him that Kas had spoken to Rachel about her own little demon she had control over as a child. Voisin knew that with the demon's return, he could finally complete the most important mission of this war in his eyes.
Rachel was nervous as she stood next to Kenny, hugging the key chain to her chest as she studied Jude and Voisin before her. Jude was equally as uncomfortable as he nervously continued stealing glances Rachel's way. Kenny was the only one who didn't look surprised as he studied Voisin with wise eyes, ready to know what the plan was.
"Rachel, we have a separate mission for you and Niko," Voisin stated. Rachel's jaw dropped in surprise.Voisin sighed, knowing he really didn't cut her a break before throwing in a punch. He forgot sometimes that she was raised differently from the others and could be like a wild rabbit at times when nervous.
"Niko? I am not aware of any demons with that name," Jude said.
"His real name is Naberius," Rachel replied.
Jude's face drained of color as he glanced over at Voisin. Voisin already knew Niko's true identity. He had been well aware of each and every contract that Kasim had before his death. He also knew the truth behind how Rachel acquired her demon. She never sought to bind a contract with a demon. The demon just happened to appear to her as a child and help her keep from dying.
Jude turned to Voisin, nervously biting his lip. "And he willingly chose her?"
"Yes, after Kasim died he found Rachel. I figured it was just one of Kasim's lower level spirits that she had control over since I never sensed a presence. Of course, powerful creatures are able to completely mask their presence," Voisin explained. He wearily eyed Rachel's keychain. "However, upon further research, I discovered his true identity. Shortly after, she stopped using her demon."
Kenny glanced down at Rachel's stuffed keychain in interest. "Hmm, I always thought Rachel was one of the weaker ones."
"Hey!" Rachel glared up at Kenny.
"Yes, we worked to bury her past. If you ever read her files, you'd see a lot of missing holes," Voisin added. Kenny nodded as he stroked his chin in interest at the news.
"Is Niko the only reason you need me for this mission?" Rachel asked.
Voisin shook his head. "Actually, we need your abilities. This mission requires a necromancer."
Rachel's hazel eyes sparked in anger as she shook her head in protest. "My uncle is probably better qualified. I haven't practiced that craft since middle school."
"Even your uncle never accomplished what you have," Voisin replied.
"Is she really that powerful?" Kenny questioned.
"She kept her father's corpse under her control after her mom died until the day he was captured."
"No, I think you have it wrong," Rachel protested.
Voisin shook his head. He was right, Rachel just wasn't aware of the talent she possessed from a young age. The girl's mom had died when she was only three. Her father had already been dead before she was even born and wasn't captured until Rachel was eleven. Edward Domingo was a powerful Necromancer back in his prime and kept the truth that he was really dead for nearly a decade before the task force caught on to the truth. After his wife died, he moved Rachel down to the swamplands of Louisiana where he kept her isolated from all other human interaction.
It wasn't until Michael Noble acquired the man's ring shortly before Kas's death that the task force began to notice something off with Edward. It took three years worth of investigating before they finally were able to act and capture the man sending Rachel to live with her uncle, John Domingo. Voisin had been one of the ones to push for her to attend Blackwell's despite her curious upbringing. Most of the others had been opposed saying she should be detained as a risk.
They had every reason to be fearful. At three years old, she had begun to control her father's corpse. He had trained her in the art of necromancy as soon as she could talk. In the 6th grade, she would carry a collection of dead animals around everywhere that she would reanimate. Shortly after arriving at Blackwell's, they were finally able to break the girl's bad habit and help teach her how to interact with society and not just dead things. Rachel had been one of Voisin's more challenging students to work with next to Derek and Marcus.
Voisin reached out, supportively squeezing Rachel's shoulder. "Rachel, you have a gift, and we need you to use that gift to control you father."
"My father?" Rachel gasped.
"Your father is in the Arctic. Its the only way to keep him calm," Voisin admitted.
They had tried keeping the man on Emerald Island. He was too valuable to destroy with his knowledge of Necromancy. He had been the perfect research subject. However, they ended up having to move the man north after he almost destroyed the whole island.
Cold weather nullified corpses senses and made them move slower. They were like animals in that sense. Sticking one in the frozen tundra, they would still be dangerous, especially if they possessed magic, but they would also be easier to contain and run from.
"Sir, isn't it dangerous that he is still animated?" Kenny questioned.
"Very, but he's too valuable to destroy," Jude stated.
"I really hate the cold." Rachel sighed.
"Why am I accompanying you too? I haven't dabbled much in Necromancy,"Kenny added.
Voisin frowned as he glance dover at Kenny. "With my other two strong Elementals gone off to Ember Island, I could use your abilities. I know you are stronger than you look. Nikkolai told me everything."
Kenny grumbled, annoyed that the kid revealed that Kenny wasn't as weak as he let on. Voisin understood why Kenny put up a front. As a powerful wizard, he would have been viewed as a threat to Michael if he hadn't sided with him. Also, the man would have been urged to take up positions on either the Elders or Task force instead of being allowed to spend his days researching ancient texts like he had been these past three years.
"Spell-master Cleveland, if you were so strong, why'd you let yourself end up in a coma?" Rachel smirked.
Kenny leant down, evening out their height distance, his green eyes flashing with anger. "Because, I wasn't focused on protecting myself in the battle. I was more worried about making sure no more of your friends died."
Rachel instinctively flinched back, gulping at Kenny's confession. She chewed on her bottom lip as she turned back to Voisin. "What's the real reason you've suddenly decided to retrieve my father?"
Rachel didn't like how sinister Voisin looked with his lips curled up into a coy smirk. "Because, he is the only one that can steal back the ring."
~~~~~
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