The atmosphere in the dimly lit bar was tense, filled with the low murmur of conversation and the clinking of glasses. As Serena and Rebecca approached Jonas, who sat slouched in the corner booth, Serena's mind raced with a thousand thoughts. Could they trust him? What was his angle? Jonas had always been a wildcard—a man with shifting allegiances who played for whichever side benefited him the most. But he was also well-connected, and right now, they needed those connections more than ever.
Jonas leaned back in his seat as they approached, his sharp eyes flicking up to meet Serena's gaze. He had a thin, wiry frame, a scruffy beard, and the kind of smirk that made it clear he enjoyed being one step ahead of everyone else.
"Well, well," Jonas drawled as they slid into the booth across from him.
"If it isn't my two favorite artifact hunters. What brings you to this lovely little spot?"
"We need information," Serena said bluntly, not in the mood for games.
"About the Covenant."
Jonas raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "The Covenant, huh? Now, that's a name you don't hear too often. You must be in deeper trouble than usual to come to me for help."
Rebecca leaned forward, her expression serious. "This isn't a game, Jonas. We don't have time for your usual dance. The Covenant has our friend, and they're holding him as leverage. We need to know what they're really after."
Jonas regarded her for a moment, his eyes glinting with curiosity.
"Leverage, huh? That sounds like something the Covenant would do. Always playing the long game, those guys."
Serena's patience was wearing thin. She knew Jonas liked to stall and make people work for information, but they didn't have time for that.
"We're not here to trade stories, Jonas. We need specifics. What do you know about their plans?"
Jonas sighed dramatically, as if disappointed that they weren't in the mood for banter. "Fine, fine. Straight to business, then. The Covenant is an old organization, older than most people realize. They've been collecting and containing artifacts for centuries, and they're good at it—too good. But they don't just contain artifacts to keep them safe. They contain them to keep control."
Rebecca frowned. "Control of what, exactly?"
"Power," Jonas said simply, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Think about it. What do artifacts like the *Sangreal* and the *Crux Ignis* represent? Pure, untapped power. The Covenant has been gathering these relics for centuries because they believe whoever holds the keys to that power can shape the world. They're not just protecting the world from these artifacts—they're stockpiling them, building a collection that will give them control over global events."
Serena felt a cold knot of dread form in her stomach. It made sense in a twisted way. The Covenant wasn't just some shadowy organization dedicated to protecting humanity from dangerous artifacts—they were using those artifacts to control the future.
"So, they're playing both sides," Serena muttered.
"Claiming to protect the world, but really just positioning themselves to control it."
Jonas nodded. "Exactly. They're playing a long game, but they're patient. They don't need to make moves now—they're waiting for the right moment. And your little friend? If they're holding him, it's because they think they can use him to get to you or someone else."
Serena's heart sank. Alexander wasn't just leverage—they were planning to use him to manipulate her and Rebecca into giving them more. They'd never let him go unless they got exactly what they wanted.
"What about Adrian?" Rebecca asked.
"Does he have any ties to the Covenant?"
Jonas shrugged. "Adrian's always been more of a lone wolf. He's obsessed with collecting artifacts for himself, but he's never been on good terms with the Covenant. They think he's reckless, and he thinks they're too controlling. But if Adrian knew you were dealing with the Covenant, he'd definitely try to use that to his advantage."
Serena leaned back in her seat, her mind racing. The Covenant was worse than she'd imagined, and now, with Alexander caught in their web, they were trapped. They couldn't hand over the *Sangreal* or the *Crux Ignis*, but without some kind of leverage, they had no way of freeing Alexander—or stopping the Covenant from expanding their influence.
"We need a way to disrupt their plans," Serena said, her voice low and determined. "Something they don't see coming. If they're expecting us to play by their rules, we need to flip the script."
Jonas raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "And how do you plan to do that?"
Serena exchanged a look with Rebecca, the two of them silently reaching the same conclusion. They didn't have much time, and they couldn't afford to be cautious anymore.
"We're going to steal their power," Serena said, her eyes hard. "We're going to take the artifacts back before they can use them against us."
Jonas's eyes widened, a slow grin spreading across his face. "Now that's bold. You're talking about breaking into the Covenant's vault and stealing their most prized possessions."
Serena nodded. "If they want to play the long game, we'll cut them off at the source. We can't let them use the *Sangreal* or the *Crux Ignis*, and if we can take away their leverage, they'll lose control."
Rebecca leaned forward, her voice steady. "We're going to need your help, Jonas. You know the players, and you know how to get into places that are supposed to be impenetrable."
Jonas leaned back in his seat, his smirk returning. "Well, well. Looks like you're asking for the impossible. But, lucky for you, impossible is kind of my specialty."
Serena's heart raced, her pulse quickening as the pieces began to fall into place. They couldn't go through the front door. The Covenant had too much control, and they were too well-protected. But Jonas knew the back channels, the hidden paths. If anyone could help them pull off a heist this big, it was him.
"What's your price?" Serena asked, her voice cautious.
Jonas chuckled, his eyes gleaming. "Oh, you know me, Serena. I don't work for free. But let's just say I'm interested in evening the playing field. If you pull this off, I'll consider my debt paid. Besides, watching the Covenant get knocked down a few pegs sounds like fun."
Rebecca glanced at Serena, who gave a small nod. They didn't have time to haggle. They needed Jonas, and they needed him now.
"All right," Serena said, her voice firm. "Let's do this."
Jonas grinned. "I knew you'd come around."
Serena's mind was already racing ahead to the plan, to the steps they needed to take. Breaking into the Covenant's vault wasn't just risky—it was suicidal. But they didn't have a choice. If they wanted to save Alexander and stop the Covenant from controlling the future, they had to do the impossible.
They had to steal the world's most dangerous artifacts from the very people sworn to protect them.
And this time, failure wasn't an option.