KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours

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Avery Zain & Caden

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Location: Hideout – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Terrance, you piece of shit. Can you really not get a woman to look at you without having to kidnap her?” Every word Avery speaks is curt. Anger ripples over his body, only intensifying when Terry shoves a rag in Kimiko's mouth and blocks her from their view. Avery shifts his weight so he's facing Terry head on and stares him down, the full weight of being an alpha behind his gaze. Wolves less superior can never hold an alphas gaze and Avery wants to remind Terrence how little he means. Even if he is Levi's second.

”I've contacted Bran, Levi. Let her go and we'll let him know you cooperated.”

Levi glared at Caden, not breaking the staring contest. “I don't care. Bran needs to know what he allowed into our territory. Kitsune are powerful and also dangerous. She's not a part of the treaty.”

Chicago After Hours

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Avery Zain & Caden

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Location: Hideout – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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"Ready." Caden takes Nero's hand after closing up the SUV, and joins the others. He looks over Avery and hears Cassi's question.

"After. I can help him shift faster, but I want you on two feet for as long as we can have you," Caden said, noting Avery's eyes were already shifting back to yellow. "Alright, let's go say hello, shall we?"

Caden led the way inside with Nero's hand in his, forcing Nero to walk beside Caden. Cassiopeia walked in the middle with Avery last.

Avery was on edge, constantly looking around. He counted three wolves right away near the entrance. They were hiding, but they were hard to miss. Further in, there were ten wolves milling about. A TV was on and a few were watching that, some on computers like Nero said, and Levi stood in the middle, watching the group walk in.

Avery glared at him before shifting his attention to take in the room. In the far right corner, there sat a cage with a white-haired woman, and Terrance grinning maniacally next to the cage. They were tossing a ball up and down in the air. Avery let out an animalistic growl that echoed around the abandoned building.

"Levi. I'd like to say I'm disappointed, but I was expecting this. Are you really that hard up for money that you need to participate in human trafficking?"

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Hideout – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia could feel the warding in the building as soon as they walked in. They had definitely attempted to block this place from her vision. She could also feel her powers slightly dampened from whatever spellwork they used. Caden had never mentioned the pack having a witch on retainer, but they must have known someone. Someone who was powerful enough to restrain Cassi's powers. Thankfully, the sorcerer had many tricks up her sleeves.

Chicago After Hours

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Avery Zain & Caden

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Location: Driving —> Hideout – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Avery slows down as they approach the building, shutting everything off a few feet from the building. They coast to a stop and Avery sets the vehicle in park. He examines the building with a practiced eye, searching for all possible entrances and exits.

He growled at the mention of Terrance. ”Fucking prick. Should have done more than broke his nose,” Avery stated.

”I could restrain him and get the star ball.”

”No. I want a fair fight.”

”If Kiki's essence is damaged, she could be killed, Avery. Are you sure you can get him to give it up without damaging it?”

Avery shifts in his seat, pulling his shirt off and tosses it onto the dashboard. ”Yes,” he said before getting out of the car.

Cassi and Caden exchange looks before getting out of the vehicle. Caden opens up Nero's door and leads them to the boot of the SUV. He opens it and lifts the carpet to reveal an arsenal of weapons. He opens a box and pulls out the silver knives. Caden takes it upon himself to slip the knives into Nero's secret pockets.

”Try and leave most of the killing for Avery and I. Maiming is fine, make sure no one escapes. And don't kill Levi or Terrance. Avery wants Terry and Bran wants Levi alive,” Caden reminds Nero again, but it's also a reminder for Caden not to tear every wolf apart.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Hideout – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia watches Caden with Nero, listening to the conversation and something inside her breaks. Caden looked at her like that once, but not really. The intensity and passion was different. Cassi knew Caden would burn the world for her, but the way Caden looks at Nero makes her think Caden would go to Hell and back for them. That he would burn the world and remake it their image. It's intense and all consuming. Cassi forces herself to look away and watches Avery as he takes off his shoes and socks.

”Are you shifting now or before?”

Chicago After Hours

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Avery Zain & Caden

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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"Actually, I think she might be. Kiki is small and fast. If she was in her fox form when the wolves ambushed her, she should have been able to escape. The only reason why she might not have been able to could have been because they got a hold of her star, her essence sort of."

Cassiopeia lets loose a string of impressive curse words. "Then we have to try and find that as well," she said.

Avery pushed his foot on the gas pedal and the SUV flew through an intersection. Caden caught the flashing of a red light camera and sighed. Avery was normally a good driver. Maybe Costa would wave the speeding tickets.

"Yes. We will need to retrieve that first if we want any hope in getting Kiki out of there and alive."

Chicago After Hours

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Avery Zain & Caden

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Claws out and guns blazing sounds like a great plan to me,” Avery declared, taking the corner sharply.

Caden frowned at Avery. ”They're already going to be on edge and we definitely won't be getting out of there without a fight, but I would like to de-escalate the situation if I can while getting as much information out of Levi before we restrain him.”

Avery snarls in annoyance.

”Bran wants Levi alive, Avery. He's sending Charles. You know he will handle it the way he needs to, but we need to save face and give them the opportunity.”

"If you can distract the wolves, I can get Kiki out," Cassi chimed in.

Chicago After Hours

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Caden

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Location: Cassi's House– Chicago, IL
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Caden kissed Nero softly before pulling back. "You did brilliantly," he assured them before getting into the back with Cassiopeia.

Avery handed Nero the map with instructions on to tell them where to turn. Avery had the map pretty well memorized but he didn't want to take risks. He peeled away from Cassi's house and raced down the street.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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The SUV felt cramped to Cassiopeia. She cracked her back window open a bit to help her breathe better. Nero may have helped them but it seemed like to high of a price to pay. Now Caden sat beside her, looking over at her every few seconds.

"Cass..."

"Caden don't even start. I am here for Kiki. That's it. I'm not ready to talk to you. I don't want to talk to you, and I don't know when I'll want to talk if ever. Just drop it."

Cassiopeia heard Caden fidget in his seat, clearly having something he wanted to say, but not was not the time. Cassi had to concentrate. She didn't need her own emotions clouding her judgement when Kiki's life was on line. If Caden was right and Nero's vision any indication, they were trying to sell Kiki right now.

Chicago After Hours

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Caden

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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Caden helps Nero into the front seat, his grip tightens on Nero briefly when they reveal the conditions of Kimiko's capture. He glanced across to the driver seat where Avery sat, studying the map, and waiting to drive.

"Did you see the wolves? What they were doing maybe?" Caden asked Nero. Behind him, he felt the breeze of Cassi walking by and sliding into the backseat. He glanced behind Nero, seeing Cassi buckle herself in and stare out the window.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi's House– Chicago, IL
Skills: Channelling

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Cassiopeia doesn't see anything Nero does, she just feels a pull on her power while the two work together. And then nothing. Nero pulls away from Cassi and goes to the map half folded on the table.

Cassi moves away and goes to stand with Nic, gripping his hand like he's her life source. She watches Nero bustle about and find the location Kiki is in.

Cassi breathed out, glad it worked. Avery jumped up, grabbed the map, and circled the building. ”Let's go,” he says and makes a beeline for the door.

Everything moves quickly after that and Cass looks at Nic. ”I'll keep you posted. Keep yourself busy, but stay close. Depending on Kiki's condition, we'll come here and you can look her over.” Cass reaches up and kisses Nic deeply before she leaves.

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Caden

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Location: Cassi's House– Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden reaches out and wraps an arm around Nero when they find Kiki. ”Thank you,” he says for them all and kisses Nero's. He looks back and thanks Nic for breakfast before leading Nero to the door.

”Are you feeling okay? Did you see Kiki?” Caden asks this in hushed tones to avoid Avery overhearing.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi's House– Chicago, IL
Skills: Channelling

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Cassiopeia shuts their eyes before Nero's change. She doesn't want to see it or visualize that she's working with the demon who ordered the slaughter of her entire family. Instead, she chants Kiki's name and opens a path for Nero to draw on their power.

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Caden

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Location: Cassi's House– Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden watched anxiously while Nero and Cass combined their powers. He's seen Cassi do this plenty of times, has even given her some of his power before, but this is different.

Avery is watching, holding his breath, and praying that this works. It's almost been eight hours now since Kiki disappeared.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi's House– Chicago, IL
Skills: Channelling

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”Some of it is ritualistic, candles are often used as representation for things. Herbs, bones, plants, are often requirements for spells to work properly. And yes, we hold hands. Just start the spell and I'll do the rest,” Cassi tells Nero, clearly picking up on the fact that Nero knew close to nothing about their power.

Cassiopeia stared at Nero's hands, silently cursing Kimiko for getting herself in trouble. She grabs Nero's hands and holds them tightly. ”When you're ready,” she said.