A few days of staking out the O'Toole home allowed Casseus to gain an idea of the woman and her daughters movements. The dark wizard able to gain an idea of their schedules, their habits, and their mannerisms. This was how Casseus knew he would have at least 30 minutes to investigate the O'Tooles home as he watched Ann depart. Approaching the backdoor, Casseus now began to summon forth his magic in order to break into Ann and Stephanie's house.
"How's the investigation going Casseus?"
Casseus turned, recognizing the voice of his young companion. "Rick," he replied in a low voice. "Shouldn't you be in school?" Rick chuckled, approaching the dark wizard as he peered over his shoulder. "Free period," he stated. "And besides wanted to see what you've been up to? You've been awfully quiet since we came to the past."
"And you've drawn far more attention than was necessary," Casseus retorted. "Your attack on the Catalyst exposed one of our sleeper agents and strengthened his ties with the wizards of this time period." Rick shrugged as Casseus now opened the backdoor, the pair now entering the kitchen of the O'Toole house. "A necessary action," he said. "We were able to gather information on Chenoa and Travis. We both know the Boss wanted to know what they were capable of."
"More like you wanted to know," Casseus scoffed. "Your obsession with those two will be your undoing."
Rick frowned as the pair now began to search the kitchen. The attack on the Catalyst had divided opinios within the Normal. Some saw it as reckless, especially after Charlie squad was eliminated and captured. Others saw the attack as a way of gauging the strength of the enemy. In the end all that mattered was the Boss approved of Ricks operation. The teenage wizard now watched as Casseus opened the fridge, his eyes lingering on a bushel of apples. "Is this really the time to grab a snack?"
"This is no snack," Casseus stated. "These are Idunn apples. You are familiar with them aren't you?"
"Of course I know!"
"Then you know what they can do," Casseus added. "And who they belong too." Casseus now grabbed a single apple, stuffing it into his coat pocket before closing the fridge. "So why take one," Rick asked. "Are you trying to appease that woman you work for?"
"Caitlin means absolutely nothing to me," Casseus replied. "That woman's pettiness knows no bounds. Her and her friend are a means to an end. When I'm finished with them I'll dispose of them. Perhaps with the very apples they so desire." Making his way through the rest of the downstairs, Casseus now deployed nano cameras. The cameras, much like most of the technology the Normal had, came with them from the future. Enhanced by the goblin Remy that was under the Bosses control. "Follow me upstairs."
Ruck nodded, the pair of dark wizards climbing the staircase to Ann and Stephanie's bedrooms. As the pair made their way down the hall, Casseus paused in front of a locked door. Something was behind it, the dark wizard could sense it. Useing his magic, he now opened the door as the pair gazed at what Ann was hiding.
"Battle suits?"
"Yes Rick it appears so," Casseus replied. "It appears that some of them did survive." As Casseus now gazed at the mechanized suits he helped design, Rick studied them closely. "Impressive," the teen stated. "Even by future standards these would be top notch. How were they able to design these 80 years in the past?"
"Because I helped in its manufacturing."
Rick paused, casting Casseus a surprised look. "I knew you were smart I just didn't realize you were this smart." Casseus took a deep breath, admiring his creations as he thought back to those times.
Despite Villars defeat, Casseus and the others regrouped, his previous masters final act allowed several supernatural realms to bleed into the human world. It allowed Casseus to gain access to government allies and powerful businessmen. Everything was proceeding as planned, until Ann and the accursed kitsune Akira interfered. "So shall we destroy them," Rick asked.
"We are trying to not alert them of our presence Rick," Casseus countered. "Any damage done to these suits will alert them to our presence. The suits remain unharmed for now." Exiting the room, Casseus now planted several more cameras before examining Ann and Stephanie's rooms.
"So all you plan on doing is spying on them," Rick asked. "That's what Caitlin wants for now," Casseus replied. "Information she could use as blackmail against Ann O'Toole and her daughter. I'll provide that and leave the cameras. With luck we'll be able to learn of the wizards movements in secret."
"And how long do you think that will take," Rick asked. "Considering what the Boss has planned."
"You mean the vampire Civil War?"
"And your old master," Rick added. Casseus paused, this bit of information he was new to the dark wizard. "What of Vilaar?"
"The Boss is trying to resurrect him," Rick stated. "He's trying to pinpoint Fukushu's location to retrieve Villars soul gem. After that, we'll have one hell of a soldier on our side."
"If he can control him," Casseus countered. "As powerful as the Boss is, Villar is something none have seen before. For now Miros resurrection and a vampiric civil war should be our focus."
"If you say so," Rick shrugged as the pair began to leave. "All I know is I can't wait to see the look on the Catalyst and his friends faces when they find out what we have planned for then."