Nakir Raphtale. The first son and next heir of the Eshea Hospital's Head of Directors. His father, Thanial Raphtale, is the head of the hospital and is also known as the stingiest angel of all. Given his position in society, Nakir bullies and abuses those below him letting his power get to his head. He ranks in the top ten of the third years at Sliding Academy.
Last year, when he was a second year, and I was a first year; Nakir would get close to the high wealth class first years in order to gain underlings to do his bidding so that he doesn't get his hands dirty. He was always next to me since I was the only child of the leader of the Winter Mafia, even going as far as asking my parents if he could court me. If I was by his side, he and his father would have access to the most powerful organization in the city. Basically, he is just like every other Underground leader who wants me for my power.
According to Michael, Nakir was also a part of the teenage spy operative. He wasn't partnered up with his fiancée for safety reasons, so he was already pissed off. When he found out that his fiancée's partner was just some random teenager with no standing in the Sky Council, he thought he could relax until he noticed that his fiancée and Michael were getting along well.
Nakir got jealous and feared that his fiancée would leave him for some nobody, so he did everything he could to get back at him. Michael returning to the base without his partner was the perfect set up to get him demoted to a fallen angel, and Nakir fully utilized it.
"He assumed that his fiancée is now either dead or impure, so he doesn't even care for her anymore," Michael adds, tossing the bags of mulch using sheer frustration. "He said that he has a new fiancée now, but it hasn't even been two weeks. They never bothered to even try and rescue her."
I lean against the door and stare emptily inside the shed. Michael had no power. He had no standing. He was essentially just some kid that the Sky Council could use for their own benefit. However, Michael just gave me the best card to play against Thanial Raphtale.
Thanial Raphtale's son, Nakir Raphtale, was a part of a secret operative that the city didn't know about. Regardless if Thanial knew about the operative or not, he is still responsible for his son's actions since Nakir is still a minor in the eyes of the school and city system. With this weight over his head, he could be easily pushed out of his seat as Head of Directors which will lower his standing as well as Nakir's. They will be known as the ones who disturbed the balance of power and might be ousted from the hospital. Thanial will do practically anything in order to keep his hands on all of the money that the hospital makes.
Blackmailing might not be one of my fortes, but it's going to have to be now. Plus, with this information, I could also cast judgment on the Sky Council and disband the teenage spy operative. Things like the operative need permission from the mayor and the city council since the Sky Council is only able to enjoy Eshea's weather thanks to the agreement that they made with the mayor.
"You don't have to worry about a thing anymore," I tell Michael as we walk over to the pantry room. "I have a plan to prove your innocence and get back at Nakir. I will explain more about it in detail when we finish."
A bit too eager, Michael dashes me through the rounds - with caution of course since I'm recovering - and has me complete my rounds in record time.
The three of us return to my room sooner than expected thanks to Michael. Isaac guides me over to my desk covered with a few stacks of documents which have been laid out by Delic for me to approve and sign, and Michael takes his seat across from me.
"Isaac, can you retrieve Delic and the twins for me please?" I ask as I begin to read over one of the documents.
"Of course, Lady Viola," Isaac responds, rushing to the door slamming it on his way out.
Once it is just Michael and I in the room, I set the document that I had finished reading down and quickly sign it.
"Michelangelo, fallen angel from the Sky District, what is it that you want from me?" I interrogate as I clasp my fingers together on the desk.
Stunned by the sudden questioning, Michael sits up in the chair and properly faces me. "Can you elaborate on what you mean by that question?"
"Those who wish for power or protection from the Winter Vessel always have a motive behind it whether it is a good one or not. What is your motive for using me?"
"I want to prove my innocence to the Sky Council like I have mentioned before," Michael replies, crossing his arms.
I lean over the desk staring deep into Michael's eyes. "With the information that you have now, is proving your innocence really all that you want?"
Michael shifts his gaze to the ground. His arms loosen from themselves and lay on the armrests. I can see the gears turning in his head. His mind knows that he has another motive. He is just wondering if it would be right for him to request it.
After a moment of contemplating, Michael looks up at me with fire in his eyes. "I want to get Nakir back for what he has done to me. I want him to pay for messing up my life."
"In other words, you want revenge?" I conclude straightening back up.
The look in Michael's eyes reminds me of how I looked when I made the same decision to get revenge for my family's death. I can empathize with his resolve which means I can fully utilize his frustration and anger to get him what he wants.
"If revenge is what can get me my blessing back, then revenge is what I want from you," Michael replies.
"Good. I like the strength you have in yourself to tell me what you want," I comment glancing over at my door opening. "It will be useful in my plan for you."
Delic, Isaac, and the twins enter my room filling it with their loud chatter as they approach my desk.
"Is there something wrong that you had Isaac come and fetch us?" Delic asks as he takes a spot next to me.
"It's about time that I do my part in the agreement that I have with Michael," I respond, propping my elbow up on the armrest to lay my head on my fist. "Michael has given me some extremely valuable information that can be used not only for his sake but also for dealing with Black Snow."
With everyone's undivided attention I relay the information that Michael told me earlier.
"I can see how this could help Michael, but how will this help in dealing with Black Snow?" Alex questions as he sits on the corner of my desk.
"I need another set of people who will be willing to join the Winter Mafia or at least temporarily aid us in our attempt to shut down Black Snow. They have been a constant problem for Winter Vessels since the war started, and I want to put a stop to it. Once I disband the teenage operative, there will be a bunch of teenagers with skills that I need just wandering around the Sky District. I can use their skills to save the kidnapped children and destroy Black Snow."
"So, have you thought of a plan on getting us started, Master?" Xander pries standing behind Michael.
"Of course, I do; otherwise, I wouldn't have wasted your time coming here," I respond. "First things first, Delic, send an invitation out to Thanial Raphtale inviting him and Nakir to a dinner meeting in a week's time. As much as I would like to call him now, I still do respect the order in the city, and calling him in while he has such a busy schedule will only disrupt the flow in the hospital. Plus, it will allow us to catch him off guard.
"In the days prior to the dinner, Michael will train alongside the twins and me. Isaac can join too if he so wishes. Nakir won't go down without a fight, so Michael needs to be ready in case that happens. Isaac's extra strength can come in handy for when we deal with Black Snow.
"Isaac, you will need to keep a close eye on Michael at school. He does well in holding in his temper, but since this will be a long week for him, he might blow up before the meeting causing an unnecessary set back.
"Xander, between classes, I'm going to need you to observe Nakir. Use Michael's or Isaac's shadow to enter the third-year building and explore as much as you can so that you can freely move around when you need to. Alex will stay by my side as my guard and help me around between classes since Xander won't be there.
"Michael, does Nakir know that you work for me?"
"Not yet, I was so focused on holding myself back the past two days that I didn't say anything to him," Michael replies.
"And I only whispered to Michael about not hurting your image in front of Nakir, so he didn't hear me," Isaac adds.
"Good, don't tell him. He doesn't associate himself with the lower-wealth classes, so you won't need to worry about your classmates telling him. Plus, I can send a notice to your class to keep them from telling anyone just in case.
"When it's time for the dinner meeting, Delic will be the only one in the room. I want to look as simple as possible in order to lower Thanial and Nakir's guard. The twins will wait outside the door in case an emergency arises. Michael and Isaac will be on standby. I will call for you when it is time to show yourself. You two are my biggest assets right now in this plan. Does everyone understand their roles in this operation?"
The five men stand up and face me. "Yes ma'am!"
"Good," I say as I resume my endless journey into the stack of papers. "There are three parts to my plan. This is just the first. If we manage to succeed in the dinner meeting, then the other two parts will fall into place nicely. After they do, then we can proceed with Black Snow's destruction. That is all. You can be dismissed."
Delic and the twins excuse themselves and leave the room to head for the kitchen. Michael and Isaac stay behind, remaining quiet for a good while.
"Why are you doing so much for me?" Michael asks, staring at my steady moving hands.
I finalize the document I'm on and set it aside for Isaac to place into an envelope. "The revenge you seek is similar to mine. You want redemption. You want those who did you wrong to pay for their crimes. You want to be free from the never-ending questions of 'Maybe if I did this' or 'I could have done that' that haunt you when you close your eyes. Everything you are feeling is what I felt nine months ago and still continue to feel into this day.
"I'm not doing this just for you, though. I'm doing it to further my development to reach my goal and get my own revenge. Didn't I tell you before? My kindness derives from my hatred. Just about everything I do is for the sake of my goal. I'm a selfish person. Aren't I?"
"I don't think that you are selfish," Isaac answers from behind me. "Even if you are, isn't it okay to be selfish sometimes to get what you want?"
I turn around to look at Isaac. "Have you been selfish to get what you want before?"
"Of course, I have!" Isaac replies, smiling like an idiot. "During my time with Black Snow, all I have ever wanted was to be free from them and escape into a comfortable life. When I met you, I knew that I wanted to stay here, so I did everything I could just so that I could see your face every day. Becoming your aide was just my selfish desire to always stand next to and be needed by you."
"Then? What is your selfish desire?" I ask, glancing back over at Michael.
"I... I don't actually know... yet," Michael mumbles, avoiding my eyes.
I spin back around and start my document signing again. "Well, I guess you don't need to always have one," I yawn, trying to keep my eyes open after reading over so many excruciatingly boring documents.
"Maybe you need to lay down and rest, Lady Viola," Isaac suggests tugging a bit on my arm. "You are still recovering, right? You mustn't try to quickly return to your normal schedule before your body is ready."
"If a break is what Master needs, then maybe a nice dinner with her faithful aides will do the trick," Xander announces as he walks in with the cart carrying dinner.
Isaac grabs my hand and warmly smiles at me. "Should we take a break then?"
I drop my pen and resign myself from my desk. Isaac and I walk over to the long chair with Michael following closely behind, and we take our seats while Delic and the twins set out the food.
"I just realized this, but why don't we ever eat in the dining room?" Michael asks, plopping himself onto the long chair across from Isaac and me.
"It may be remodeled, but it still holds too many memories for me," I respond as I watch the food be placed in front of me. "I let the workers use the dining room as it can hold almost all of them in it, so it's not like it's an empty room just for decoration."
Michael doesn't ask any further. He knows it's not his place to delve too much into someone's family without knowing the sensitivity of the subject. For me, though, he probably already knows how extremely thin the subject of my family is.
The six of us dive into our dinners and fill my room with our voices. However, with all things, it comes to an end, so Delic and the twins clear the table. Michael takes me to the bathroom to change my clothes into my sleeping gown. He doesn't seem fazed anymore despite only doing this for a few days.
"Is there something you want to say?" I comment, noticing Michael's distant eyes.
"I have a request, but I don't know if it's my place to request it," Michael whispers as he removes my shirt.
"Serving goes both ways for a Master and her servants. I don't mind fulfilling your request as long as it's within my power to do so," I assure him as I pet the top of his head.
Michael gazes up at me with his tearful eyes which shocked me for a minute. "Do you mind if I hug you?"
I wipe an emerging tear from Michael's eye. Well, aren't our roles reversed now compared to before? "Sure," I softly answer with open arms.
Quickly yet gently, Michael wraps his arms around my naked body burying his face into my bare chest. It's quiet, but I can hear Michael's faint sniffs. The tears wet my chest with every drop.
We stay like that for a few minutes until the bathroom door swings open.
"Michael, what's taking so long to dre-" Alex freezes just as enters the bathroom.
"Alex, is that angel still-" Xander peeks over Alex's shoulder and stops in his tracks.
The twins are speechless as they examine the image in front of them. Michael raises his head from my chest and looks over at the source of the sudden noise.
"Oi! What do you think you're doing to her?!" the twins yell as they grab Michael's collar and drag him out of the bathroom.
"Let me go! I didn't do anything to her!" Michael shouts trying to wiggle himself out of the twins' grasps.
I couldn't help but laugh at the guys' obvious jealousy. Those two really must not like it when other guys get too close.