"Hey listen," Sasha called. "Gloria's heading our way, they found Mr. and Mrs. Harris."
"What of the children," Akira asked.
"Only Mia," Sasha said. "I think they're heading our way too."
Ayami sighed, she had a feeling Mia would probably want to find Zack. Unfortunately it appeared Rexie couldn't keep her master from going. "Stupid imp," she grumbled.
"We still need to find Jackie and the others," Sasha exclaimed.
"Your friend can take of herself," Ayami scoffed. "Zacks only 11."
"Of course we have to find Zack," Sasha argued, stepping forward to glare at the succubus. "But I'm not just going to forget about Jackie. They took her too."
"I could care less about your friend," Ayami yelled. The wizard and succubus now found themselves nose to nose, each glaring angrily at the other. It was finally Akira that had to push the two apart.
"None of this helps find them," he growled. "We will not leave until all are free. Now keep quiet!" Sasha and Ayami went silent, casting menacing looks at one another. As the trio now crept down the darkened corridor they tried to gauge where they were.
The basement level was more open than the previous floors and much darker. The trio could see several rooms, mostly labs, along with some closed doors leading to adjacent rooms. The sound of a creature crying out in pain now caused the trio to stop in their tracks. Ayami's blood ran cold as she recognized the sound.
"Zack," she whispered. "Hes hurt!"
Akira raised his head, straining his ears so as to try and pinpoint the sound. "This way," he beckoned. "And hurry." Sasha a d Ayami complied, racing behind the kitsune as he now tried to find the source of the mournful cries. After only a few moments he paused in front of rather large metal door.
"In here," he stated.
Sasha was the first to act, concentrating she now activated the power of her Ring of Change. The raven haired teens fingers now began to extend, sharpening into a set of metallic claws. Thrusting her hands forward the teen now tore through the door like it was tissue. Entering the room they now gasped at what they saw.
Jackie was tied to a chair, barely conscious. A single agent now studying her as they whispered in her ear. On the back wall Zack was shackled, a pair of scientists sensing electrical shocks through the werewolf who howled in pain. The researchers now turned, shocked to see their interrogation/research interrupted.
"Eho are you? You cant be in here!"
Ayami roared, the succubus leaping forward at the two horrified researchers. Grasping the closest one to her Ayami now began to feed, sucking the very life force from his body. The researcher screamed, Sasha watching as the mans eyes became milky white, his body shriveling into a dried out husk as the succubus fed. Choking back bile, Sasha now sped towards the second research scientist.
Useing her ring, Sasha now concentrated on the wall behind her, hands now sprang forth, grasping the terrified scientist. Sasha watched as the scientist tried to free herself, the hands pulling her closer before pinning her to the wall. Sasha now caused the wall to become malleable, the body of the researcher sinking partially into the wall. As the spell finished the terrified scientist was effectively restrained, alive but unable to move.
As Sasha and Ayami struck, Akira quickly made his way to the agent. As the man drew his weapon, Akira used his magic instantly appearing in front of him. Grasping the mans weapon Akira snapped his arm at the elbow before slamming him into the wall.
"Monster," Akira hissed. "You would torture children?!?"
The agent winced, the pain in his arm causing him to whimper. "Where is the infant," Akira growled. "Talk, while you still have a jaw."
As Akira was interrogating the agent, Sasha quickly ran to Jackie as Ayami now attempted to free Zack. "Jackie," Sasha whispered. "Jackie? Jackie? Can you hear me?"
Ayami tore the restraints from Zacks arms, Zack collapsing to the floor as he whimpered in pain. "It will be okay Zack," she whispered as she held him close. "Your going to be okay now I promise."
"Sasha," Jackie muttered. "Sasha what are doing here?"
"Rescueing you duh," she countered. "Where the baby?"
"The silver haired man took her Ayami," Zack whimpered.
"Where," Akira growled, once more slamming the agent into the wall.
"Sasha," Jackie said softly. "Casseus, he took the baby to his office. He said something about taking her power. Something about Selene and testing the babies limits?"
"The lich," Akira gasped. "He intends to use the lich to drain the infants powers."
"So hes going to kill the baby," Ayami stated.
"Not just kill the child," Akira stated. "Take her power as his own. Yuriko is in terrible danger we must hurry."
"Gloria, Yuriko, can you hear me," Sasha called.
"I hear you Sasha," Gloria said. "We're almost there."
"Listen," Sasha exclaimed. Pausing she now turned to Jackie. "Jackie where's the baby?"
Jackie shrugged, causing Akira to scowl before grasping the agent by the throat and lifting them into the air. "If you value your life human tell us where they are?"
"Top floor," the agent wheezed. Akira nodded, knocking the agent out before dropping them to the floor. "Sasha, Ayami," he stated. "Get Jackie and Zack out of here. I will get the child."
"No chance," Sasha exclaimed.
"Your friends are in no condition for this fight," Akira bellowed. "Get them to safety. I swear upon my tails, I shall bring the child to safety."
"Hey listen," Ayami yelled. "I'm not leaving you by yourself. Zacks save now, your going to need my help."
"Why would you help demon," Akira asked, puzzled by Ayami's statement. Ayami squirmed, she didn't want to say why and was now scrambling to come up with an excuse. "Zack would never forgive me if I didnt try to save the kid. Besides Mia and Rexie are still out there. I'm not letting that imp show me up."
Akira sighed, conceding to Ayamis request. As Sasha now told Gloria what they were doing, Akira and Ayami now began the journey to the top floor, hoping they could rescue Yuriko in time.