*[INT. OLD TAVERN – NIGHT]*
*The tavern is dim, rustic, and brimming with chatter. A bard strums lazily in the corner. The smell of ale and roasted meat fills the air. Modeus sits at a shadowed table in the back, hood off, dark cloak draped over the chair, calmly eating a skewer of grilled meat with unnerving poise. A slight smirk dances on his lips.*
*Suddenly, the door creaks open. Wind rushes in, followed by a soaked and agitated MIA CONSTANTINE. She scans the room like a hound on a trail. Her eyes lock on him.*
*MIA (muttering):*
*"Oh for the love of salt and sage, not again..."*
*She storms over and drops into the seat across from him with a dramatic sigh. Modeus doesn't look up immediately. He finishes chewing.*
*MODEUS (without looking up):*
*"You followed me. Again."*
*MIA:*
*"No, I just love rainy walks and stalking suspicious strangers who radiate murder energy. My favorite hobby."*
*Modeus finally looks up, his eyes glowing faintly with restrained power, but his expression is soft. Amused.*
*MODEUS:*
*"Murder energy? That's hurtful. I was going for mysterious and oddly charming."*
*MIA (deadpan):**"Okay, vampire, demon, eldritch weirdo—whatever you are, just keep your sniffing to yourself."*
*He chuckles softly, genuinely entertained.*
*MODEUS:*
*"You're sharp. Most mortals run or scream. But you... you're delightfully confrontational."*
*MIA:*
*"I don't scream. I stab."
*MODEUS:*
*"Ah. My kind of woman."*
*Mia stands abruptly, clearly not amused anymore.*
*MIA:*
*"Enjoy your ribs, mystery creep. But hear this—I'll find out what you are. And when I do, you'll wish you stayed in... wherever the hell you crawled out from."*
*She storms off, brushing shoulders with a drunk as she exits. Modeus watches her go, then calmly sips his drink. He leans back, letting out a low sigh.*
*MODEUS (softly, to himself):*
*"And here I thought this realm was going to be boring..."*
*The tavern continues buzzing as we fade out.*
---
*[INT. CONSTANTINE FAMILY HEADQUARTERS – WAR ROOM – NIGHT]*
*A gothic, candle-lit hall. Walls lined with relics, tomes, and weaponry. Around the roundtable, several Constantine members whisper and exchange glances. JOHAN CONSTANTINE (the father) stands at the head, arms folded. MIA bursts in through the heavy door, soaked from the rain and still visibly frustrated.*
*MIRSHA (the mother):*
*"Mia... you look like a drowned banshee. Did you find him?"*
*MIA (slamming a damp satchel on the table):*
*"Yes... and no."*
*JOHAN (narrowing his eyes):*
*"Speak clearly, girl."*
*MIA (paces):*
*"He's calm. Too calm. Like a walking black hole in a suit. He sat at a bar like he owned the world and ate meat like it was the last thing on Earth. I confronted him—he played dumb... or maybe he really doesn't care. I don't know."*
*UNCLE DESMOND (tech sect):*
*"Did he reveal anything about his origin? Aura scan? Pattern trace?"*
*MIA:*
*"Nothing. He's clean, Desmond. That's what's disturbing. No ripple trails, no residual energy leaks, even his damn chair at the bar was magically scrubbed. I only caught his presence by sheer instinct. My tracker flared for a second, then flatlined again."*
*YARA (combat unit lead):**"So what you're saying is, you got close... and let him walk away?"*
*MIA (snapping):*
*"Oh, I'm sorry. Would you have preferred I stab the literal walking apocalypse in a public bar full of civilians?"*
*JOHAN (raising a hand):*
*"Enough. She did well."*
*Everyone quiets. Johan walks to the table, places both hands on an old worn map with rune markings pulsing softly.*
*JOHAN:*
*"Whatever this being is... he's beyond anything we've faced. Mia's read was right—his aura alone fried our main tower. I don't think he's here for war, but even amusement in a creature like that could be catastrophic."*
*MIRSHA:*
*"So what's the next move?"*
*JOHAN (looks at Mia):*
*"We stay on him. Mia, you're back on tail duty. Stay subtle, report everything. No contact unless necessary."*
*MIA (sits down, still dripping):*
*"If I'm playing babysitter, I better get hazard pay. And coffee. Lots of it."*
*Everyone chuckles faintly. Tension breaks for a moment.*
*DESMOND (grinning):*
*"Welcome to the haunted babysitting club."*
*JOHAN:*
*"Keep your blades sharp, your spirits grounded. This isn't a ghost or ghoul. This… is something forgotten by time."*