Fright Night

Descending gracefully to the ground, the vampire approached Marcus and Jane with an air of calm assurance. Sensing their defensive stance, he raised a hand in a gesture of peace.

"I come in peace," he declared, his voice smooth and authoritative. "I'm not here to fight. I've been tracking a disturbance in this area, and it led me here." he stated.

Marcus and Jane exchanged cautious glances, unsure of the stranger's intentions. Marcus stepped forward; his posture still guarded. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice firm but measured.

The vampire offered a faint smile, revealing sharp fangs that glinted in the dim light. "My name is Elias," he replied. "I'm a sentinel of the Night Council, tasked with maintaining order among our kind."

Jane eyed him skeptically, her hand instinctively inching towards her weapon. "And what do you want with us?" she demanded, her voice tinged with suspicion.

Elias's expression remained impassive as he met Jane's gaze. "I seek information about the recent disturbances in this area," he explained. "There have been reports of unauthorized vampire activity, and I'm here to investigate."

Marcus and Jane exchanged a glance, silently weighing their options. While they remained wary of Elias's true motives, they recognized the potential value of an alliance with someone like him.

After a moment of tense silence, Marcus nodded in reluctant acceptance. "Very well," he conceded. "We'll share what information we have. But be warned, Elias—we'll be keeping a close eye on you."

Elias nods in acknowledgment, his demeanor calm and composed. "Of course," he replied. "I expect nothing less from someone of your caliber, Marcus Winchester."

Marcus flinched at the sound of his name leaving the vampire's lips. He appeared to be very well connected. Suddenly, he remembered Kento's report from the Thorne assassination; the description of the vampire who owned The Underworld seemed to match Elias very closely. This make Marcus more weary but, at the same time, more comfortable trading information; The Underworld had a stellar reputation in the Velied communities (aside from banning Outcasts) and he knew that the Night Council were very strict about following the Accords. Elias seemed to notice the recognition in Marcus' eyes but he didn't react to it - if anything, he seemed slightly amused.

With this mutual understanding lingering between them, Marcus, Jane, and Elias began to exchange details about the recent disturbances.

"We have been tracking an organization of mages, mostly sorcerers, who not only know of us, but tried abducting one of our own." Marcus said.

"I see," Elias responded. "I caught wind of someone circulating mercenary contracts specifically to Nightkin in one of my establishments." he concluded.

Jane listened intently, her eyes flickering between Marcus and Elias. "What kind of contracts?" she interjected, her tone sharp with curiosity.

Elias's gaze shifted to Jane, his eyes piercing. "Assassinations, thefts, and other unsavory tasks," he replied evenly. "It seems someone is pulling the strings, orchestrating chaos from behind the scenes; almost as if they're trying to lure all of us out." he stated.

"This seems connected to our problem," Marcus replied. "Who was circulating the contracts?" he asked Elias.

"A minor criminal organization which mostly engaged in fixing and cover up, until now. It was led by Peter Thorne - a name that should be familiar to you." he replied with a bit of sharpness in his voice.

"Elias," Marcus responded, his voice measured. "We've heard of Peter Thorne." he said with a straight face. "We are also very sure that he's dead." he emphasized, the implication heavy in his voice.

Elias nodded, his expression grave. "Yes, indeed," he replied. "Thorne's connections ran deep, but now a new player has emerged to fill the void."

"Who's the new player?" Jane interjected, earning a sideways look from Marcus.

"Her name is Morgana Nightshade," he replied. "She's a sorceress with a taste for unsavory pleasures, known for acting behind the scenes. Not the kind that gets her hands dirty."

Marcus nodded thoughtfully, absorbing the information. "We'll look into it," he said, his voice resolute. "Thank you for sharing, Elias...and for saving me." he added.

The vampire inclined his head in acknowledgment. "Vampires in this city are my responsibility and I take that seriously. Just remember, Marcus, in this game, trust is a commodity in short supply, and you have already violated mine." he added.

"What do you mean?" Marcus asked cautiously.

"Tell Kento Salvatore that I know what he did. He needs to come see me and atone." he said.

"Jane Winchester," he continued before Marcus got a chance to reply. "You should have stayed away from Nightkin; I'm afraid that it's too late now. I sincerely hope you survive what is to come." he said with sincere sympathy in his voice.

With those cryptic words hanging in the air, Elias turned and leapt in the air, flying away at an incredible speed, leaving Marcus and Jane to ponder the implications of his warnings.

As Jane grappled with the aftermath of her encounter with the vampire, an unsettling sensation gnawed at her insides. It was as if the fabric of reality itself had been warped; each step she took felt heavier, and she felt disoriented.

Then, amidst the ambient sounds of the city, a sudden noise pierced through the haze of her thoughts - a sharp, unmistakable shattering of glass. Instinctively, Jane's senses sharpened, but before she could make sense of it, a wave of disconnection washed over her, like being caught in the throes of a disorienting dream.

In that moment, an overwhelming surge of aether surged through her veins, electrifying every fiber of her being. With a final, desperate gasp, Jane's consciousness succumbed to the overwhelming torrent, and she fell to the ground.

"JANE!" Marcus shouted, panicking. He rushed and picked her up in his arms. Activating his communication device he signaled Shift.

"Jane collapsed. It looks like what we feared...a Reality Break. Get the chamber ready and recall everyone!" he ordered.

"I'm on it!" Shift replied, quickly disconnecting. Marcus, carrying Jane, quickly made his way back to the base. In the distance, without Marcus noticing, a small, green creature with horns, pointy ears and a thin tail that ended on a small spike was following them. It was an Imp, the weakest type of demon.

Elsewhere, in an underground chamber, Xander Crowley was standing on a magic circle engraved on the floor. His eyes had turned into an eerie pupilless black and a smile adorned his face; they took the bait.

He had finally found the Outcasts.