"This is a really stupid idea Tom!"
Tom frowned, glancing back at Yuriko. She wasn't wrong, this was a bad idea, but what option did they have?
After speaking with Malissa and Nat, the Harris siblings began to coordinate a plan of attack. It quickly became apparent that breaking into Casseus's office was a bad idea. Yuriko was known to the dark wizard, and chances were, so was Tom. A direct confrontation to read his mind was a virtual suicide mission. Still, the information they needed was vital.
This was how Tom and Yuriko now found themselves staking out New Horizon's parking garage. The plan was simple, if not extraordinarily risky. When Casseus approached his car at the end of the day, Tom would jump him, restrain him, and Yuriko would read his mind. After that she would erase his memory and they would have the information they needed. Still, the chances of it going smoothly were slim.
"We can make this work," he whispered. "I believe in you." Yuriko sighed, believe wasn't what was going to get then through this. Casseus was powerful, intelligent, to believe he could be so easily bested seemed unlikely. Could she pull this off?
"Here he comes."
Yuriko shook her doubts away, watched as Casseus now entered the garage. Dressed in an expensive business suit, the handsome wizard was all smiles, his silver hair resting pass his shoulders. They had one shot at this.
As Casseus looked to open the door to his car, Tom cast a spell. A thick chain now erupted from the ground, Casseus gasping in shock as it wrapped around his wrist. Before the wizard could utter a word, Tom summoned forth additional chains, completely wrapping his body in heavy iron. Now, all Casseus could do was strain against his bonds.
"Showtime." She whispered as she stepped from the shadows.
As Yuriko approached, a sinister scowl spread across the dark wizards face.
"Yuriko Harris," He said slowly, studying the young woman carefully. "You've grown. I take it your brother is the one who's restrained me?"
Yuriko slowed, not answering his question. She still needed to finish this, to get the information she needed. It didn't matter how much Casseus haunted her nightmares.
"You don't need to answer," Casseus continued. "I recognize his magic. Just as I know you are about to invade my mind with yours. You just need to be a bit closer."
At that statement, Yuriko stopped dead in her tracks. Was he expecting this?
"Yuki he's messing with your head!" Tom exclaimed.
"By all means take your brother's advice," Casseus stated. "He's always looked out for you after all."
"Tom, something's wrong." Yuriko said quickly, her fear slowly increasing.
"Yuriko you're okay I promise," Tom comforted. "I won't let him hurt you. I swear!"
Yuriko gulped, despite Tom's words, her instincts told her that things were not okay. It was almost like Casseus was expecting them; like he wanted this confrontation.
"I've always been fascinated by your family Yuriko," Casseus continued. "Both you and your brother. Father, Cole Harris. Mother, Kumiko Tozawa. Two normal humans giving birth to two VERY powerful wizards. Why was that?"
"Yuriko?" Tom questioned.
"It made me wonder," Casseus mused. "After all, none of your other family members have magic. Save three."
Yuriko and Tom now paled, the young woman instinctively taking a step back. "Kari, Aaron, and Haley Harris," Casseus grinned. "Your cousins. It struck me as odd that of all the second generation of Harris children, only you five possessed magic. I always wondered why...and then it hit me. Like a bolt of lightning!"
Tom now stepped forward, tightening the magical restraints around Casseus. The dark wizard grunted in pain for a moment, before a maniacal grin spread across his face.
"Cole Harris and Kumiko Tozawa," he said, her voice menacing. "Claudia Harris and Mika Tozawa. A common factor that has produced FIVE powerful wizards. What is it about combining those genetics that produces progeny with such superb mystical abilities?"
Casseus grunted, the chains around him exploding and melting away. Tom and Yuriko shielded their faces, watching the facade Casseus used fade away. The man's skin grayed and cracked, his perfectly groomed silver hair becoming wild as one of his eyes transformed into a pinpoint of burning, red, light.
"I so look forward to dissecting you," Casseus snarled. "Testing you, and finding what..makes..you..so....special!"
"Yuriko RUN!" Tom bellowed.
Yuriko watched in horror as her brother now began to cast a spell. Chains with hooks flew from the shadows, tearing into Casseus's flesh, the wizard summoning forth a series of blades that flew at Casseus like bullets. Finally, Tom summoned forth a wall of liquid metal, the wave speeding at the dark wizard, looking to crush him under its weight.
Casseus chuckled, casting a counter spell. Tom's spells were destroyed, melting away to nothing or splintered into pieces by the spear Casseus conjured into his hands. With a yell, he now fired off a spell of his own, sending Tom careening backwards.
"You have no idea what you're dealing with." he grinned beforerubbing his chin ruefully. "Ah yes, but I mustn't forget the youngest Harris child. Mason wasn't it? Maybe I should find out if he has any latent magic abilities too, I don't want him feeling left out."
Tom and Yuriko glared angrily at that remark.
"Oh, sorry did I strike a nerve on either of you? I certainly hope so." Casseus chuckled.
Seeing her brother wince in pain now snapped Yuriko out of her fear induced stupor. Scowling the young woman now glared at Casseus, tapping into her psychic abilities. Cars now began to shake within the garage, crashing into Casseus with a thud. The dark wizard now finding himself buried under a pile of wrecked cars; cars Yuriko now ignited with a simple spell.
The explosion sent the siblings sailing backwards, the pair grunting in pain.
"You okay?" Tom asked, holding his ribs. Yuriko nodded, the pair gazing at the burning wreckage.
"Do you think we got him?" Yuriko asked.
Tom furrowed his brow, already he could see something stirring with the flames. "No," he said flatly. Grabbing his sister's hand, he now pulled her to her feet. "We need to go. NOW!"
As Casseus now emerged from the flames, he could see the siblings sprinting off. A small chuckle now escaped his lips as he dusted himself off.
"Run," he whispered. "Find your family and when you do, I will come. It is only a matter of time before I finish the experiments I started years ago Yuriko Harris. This time, on the rest of your family."