Jinn had been borne from the power of both creation and destruction, they were creatures of fire. This was, even now, the source of their power… the burning within. Still, demonic hosts were both strong  and quick, and Jinn did not seem to register the pain inflicted upon them. This made them all but immune to the psychological toll of being injured in combat. To make things worse, the host body was both tireless and resilient, wherein wounds inflicted upon them would cauterize almost immediately. Meaning, this would not be a savage throw down between 2 opposing forces, for even if this foundling group had more than rudimentary combat training, physical opposition would not be the most effective option against such a creature. Instead, Alester devised a plan that might allow them to steal back his beloved with minimal risk to the fledgling WyldCards. They would turn the creature’s very nature into a weakness. To this end, it was decided that the best course of action would be to use Leo to suppress the creature’s strength and magic, by quelling its fiery spirit. With this strategy, it was possible that they could secure victory without loss.

Leo and Liza’s abilities, above all others, would be crucial in the battle to come. They would need to strengthen their powers as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, Leo’s power was most effective if he could make contact with the target, but this would be to dangerous. Instead, he would be required to get as close to the Jinn as possible. With Liza’s ability to vanish, it would be possible to stand close enough to count the hairs on the creatures neck, if she could master it enough to include others. If Leo could get close enough to rapidly siphon the demons strength, or remain in its proximity for long enough, it was possible to diminish it to the point it could no longer block Alester’s power. This was the only way to allow Alester to create a path, from which they could retrieve the team and his beloved Helen.

Leo and Cleo had been instructed to spend every moment they could with one-another, to become as one. For the days to follow, they would do everything together… eating, combat training, bathing, and sleeping. They would spend every moment together, and for some reason it would seem to them like it had always been that way. whatever reservation they might of held towards other people did not seem to exist between them. At first they reasoned that they were doing what was necessary, to save Helen and protect the kids. Of course, the truth was that they did not fear each other, nor did they hold any desire to be dishonest with one another. They were both unburdened by the presence of someone with whom they could simply be. Their relationship developed naturally over the time that passed, though it might appear supernatural to others, it was simply unhindered by human shortcomings. With each day Leo grew ever stronger, his capacity for the the power swelling within him expanding, and with it his hunger for it would also grow. In time he would feel the need to be near Cleo for some portion of every day, this had been how it was for the other Lovers that Alester had known, short of that he might become a hunter of Jinn… an irresistible but dangerous prey for someone who feeds on the essential nature of fire. But that would be a long time from now, something to be addressed another day.

Likewise, Liza would have to practice extending her ability to vanish from the world around her, with Thomas’s help. She needed to acquire this ability if she hoped to be able to do her part. This was something she strongly desired, everyone was counting on her, and she was determined to be strong… to rescue Ms. Helen. Until she was ready Alester could not move forwards with the plan, and so he made sure she had every confidence to move forward. He made sure she was well cared for, and did not exhaust herself, or suffer the mental fatigue of the burden before her. Alester made diligent efforts to make sure that Liza only saw the proud and caring fatherly side of his demeanor, rather than the one growing evermore pensive at the passage of days… imagining Helen’s suffering. He knew it would not help to push the girl any harder than she could bear, instead choosing to encourage her, with the aide of Ms. Morr, to push herself.

Meanwhile, Ms. Morr was also assisting Ace, who had been assigned to reveiw the plan, and determine the best approach. They were to use there combined powers to predicting the possible outcomes, and ensure the desired results.  In addition they would have acces to the full resources of the WyldCards organization.

Of course, if things somehow managed to go south, even after all precautions had been taken, Alester wanted to make sure Brit and Iya were prepared to fight. Though he hoped it would not come to that, he also hoped that if it did their combine combat strength would be enough to push back The Jinn… at least long enough to allow everyone the chance to escape, with or without Helen. As such, Iya and Brit had been undergoing relentless combat training. Their sparring consumed the days to come, as Alester prepared various combat scenarios, to test their ability and resolve. This preparation would allow Iya to refine her skills, the summoning and control of her Shikigami. At the same time, it provided Brit with invaluable combat experience, as he tested his limits against Iya’s creatures. Though they might not be seasoned combatants Alester would grow to believe in them, to believe they might even have a chance at defeating the demon, should it come to that. The thought of such a confrontation reminded him to question what he was doing, putting these children in such danger to begin with, knowing that Helen would never have approved. Still what other choice did he have, he reasoned again.