Morgana Nightshade stood in the dimly lit command room of her hideout near the bustling port district. The walls were lined with arcane sigils, and the air was thick with the scent of salt and magic. Outside, the area was heavily guarded by a mix of mages and Nightkin, each chosen for their loyalty and lethal skills. Among the Nightkin, there were vampires with their pale, almost translucent skin, werewolves in human form, and shadowy wraiths that flickered between visibility and invisibility.
Morgana's black eyes scanned a map laid out on the large wooden table in front of her. She was flanked by two of her most trusted subordinates: Selena Voss, a strikingly beautiful sorceress with fiery red hair and a penchant for fire magic, and Darius Darkwood, a hulking werewolf with a shaved head and dark, calculating eyes who specialized in strategy and physical combat. He was Lilith's cousin, and one of the few outsiders in on their plans.
Selena spoke first, her voice laced with confidence. "We've solidified our hold over Thorne's network. The mercenaries are loyal, and our operations are running smoothly. Our influence is growing."
Morgana nodded, her gaze unwavering. "Good. The Salvatores are on the defensive, but we must not underestimate them. They have already thwarted several of our operations."
Darius, his voice deep and resonant, added, "We also have to worry about the Outcasts; the recent attack on their base didn't go as planned. We need to be more strategic. The next move should be something they don't expect."
Morgana's lips curled into a slight smile. "Indeed. The Salvatores are powerful, but they are also predictable. They will retaliate, and when they do, we will be ready…as for the Outcasts, I already have someone working on it." she said.
Selena leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "What about the vampires and the Nightkin we've been turning? They have been drawing attention."
Morgana considered this. "They're still useful enough to be worth the risk. We need more cannon fodder if we are to survive in this business. We can't rely on mercenaries for everything."
Darius tapped the map with a finger, pointing to a series of interconnected circles representing the various factions within the Unveiled world. "We should locate more of the Salvatores' operations. Attack on multiple fronts, send them into disarray. Find and take out those who are allied with them. If the Salvatores lose their support, they will be significantly weakened."
Selena nodded, her expression turning serious. "And what about the Night Court? They've been keeping a close eye on our movements. If they decide to interfere, it could complicate things."
Morgana's smile faded slightly. "The Night Court is indeed a concern. Their power and influence cannot be ignored...however, they are very strict about following the Accords. If we don't go too far, they won't attack directly. We will deal with them if the time comes. For now, our focus must remain on the Outcasts."
"But the last information we got from Crowley said that Ravencroft was in contact with the Outcasts. That could spell trouble."
"Trouble?" Morgana said, raising an eyebrow. "Vampires working with Outcasts is about as ludicrous as them working with Hunters. They're more likely to kill each other and make our lives easier." she said with a smirk.
"Speaking of Hunters," Darius added nervously, "there's a chance of them getting involved with this, especially since we're operating in the human world."
"Scared, Darius?" Morgana scoffed. "Hunters aren't particularly powerful if you know how to deal with them. Besides, their obsession with working alone makes them rather weak. They'd never ally with criminals, mages or Outcasts. They pose no threat." she concluded.
Darius's voice was a low growl. "We need to be prepared for anything. They won't hesitate to act if they see us as a threat."
Morgana's eyes glittered. "We must keep the pressure on the Salvatores," she retorted . "They are resourceful, but they are also human. They have weaknesses. We will exploit every single one of them until they are nothing but a memory. When we solidify our operation, we can go after the Outcasts. They should take quite a while to recover anyway." she replied.
As she spoke, the room seemed to darken, the shadows deepening as if responding to her will. Outside, the guards continued their watch, unaware of what was about to happen to them. The port district hideout, with its strategic location and formidable defenses, was considered impenetrable. Morgana rarely left things to chance and liked to cover all her bases – as for her subordinates, they could always be replaced.
After about an hour had passed, and Morgana had outlined her strategy, a sudden, uncomfortable sensation washed over her. Her instincts prickled with unease, prompting her to glance upward, toward the skylight. Through the glass, she spotted two figures standing on the roof, their eyes glowing an ominous red in the dim light.
The first figure was tall and lean, with an air of confidence and grace. His posture had the markings of a seasoned fighter and his eyes were meticulously scanning the location. His attire was sharp and meticulously chosen, contrasting sharply with the gritty surroundings of the port district. In his hands, twin daggers gleamed in the moonlight.
Beside him stood another man, slightly shorter but no less imposing. His build was more robust, although his posture seemed too tense to hint at experience. He wore a similar black and red suit, and held a ridiculously long katana in his right hand. However, the most unsettling thing about him was his expression; it was almost gleeful, in a sinister way. His eyes were glued on Morgana, killing intent radiating from them; it made her feel nervous. She knew what those red eyes meant – and realized that her calculations were way off.
"We have company," she said, her voice cutting through the tension in the air. She pointed upwards, drawing Selena and Darius's attention to the skylight.
Darius growled lowly, his werewolf instincts kicking in. "Who are they? There's something wrong with their scent!" he said, alarmed.
Selena's eyes widened as she assessed the figures. The glowing red eyes and the infamous black and red attire stood out to her the most. "Outcasts." she mumbled.
"How?" Darryl asked. And what about the guards outside?"
Selena cast a quick incantation. "All dead." she replied as calmly as she could.
Morgana's gaze never left the skylight. "That fucking vampire did the unthinkable. Get ready." she hissed.
With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a barrier of protective magic around them. As the glowing-eyed men above shifted, preparing to descend, the room below bristled with tension, each of them readying themselves for an unavoidable battle.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WAITING FOR?" Morgana screamed at them.
In response, the two men jumped through the skylight, descending upon them under the gleaming moonlight through a rain of glass shards.
And so it began.