The modern newsroom is sterile, seats empty, screens in the background show a stream of information on repeat. News anchor Gianna Carosi sits with impeccable posture but her eyes are tired, hollow. The feed stutters occasionally, its sound warping from interference. The logo of the ENN, the Emergency News Network glowing behind her as she addresses the camera. "Good evening dear viewers. This is emergency broadcast 17. I hope this transmission reaches you safe and well.” she swallows hard before continuing “Communication across central Europe remains disrupted , following coordinated attacks by entities belonging to the newly formed faction called The Crimson Concord” on the big screen behind her appears a map of Europe. bright red markers blink across France, Austria, Poland and now northern Italy

  “over the past seventy-two hours, at least seven major population Center experience a full collapse of civic authority. Reports and live footage from social media indicates that vampire covenants under the Crimson Concord have declared themselves independent from the Cabal, the Network and all worldly authorities.” Gianna turns to the side as the camera zooms out showing a second desk with the network Spokesperson Dr. Enzo Tadini sits. He shows a grim smile and wares black combat fatigues, underlining the seriousness of the situation. “Dr. Tadini. What do we know about the threat at this stage?” “the Concord seems to act as a independent military and political structure. Their leadership, calling themselves the Council of Blood, have split fully from the magical faction known as Cabal. They're working coordinated and commanding large forces on enhanced foot soldiers known as ghouls supported by so called lesser vampires. The more elite forces are made of full blood vampires” the man hesitates for a moment before he continues. “They are pushing in to northern Italy. As of this morning we lost contact to Genua and Venice.” Gianna swallows hard before composing her self “what happens to civilians in occupied city's?” she asks dreading the answer “the official statement from the concord claim that civilian population is gathered in secure campsites under marshal law to prevent unrest in the transition period.” “is this statement reliable?” the pause Dr. Tadini makes is telling. “We still try to confirm the status of the civilian population through neutral or network channels. So far without success.”

  Stolen novel; please report.

  The screen shows them talking but the audio is warped. Communication and high tec equipment become more effected by the mana with each day.

  “We apologies for the interference. Dr. Tadini. How is the network responding?” “Containment teams are deployed from Madrid, Marseilles, Berlin and Rome. We establish mobile sanctuaries for refugees under network protection” he breathes tiredly “we are stretched thin however. The concord engages us at several fronts while network forces are still working to clear proto-astral spaces and contain the transformation zones...”

  a voice calling from off screen, a hint of panic in it “sir we loosing the Milano feed” Giannas eyes flicker between Tadini and somewhere of screen “before we close... what message does the network have for the civilian population in effected areas?” Tadini looking at the camera. His gaze serious.

  “Stay hidden, stay moving, stay in the light.

  Don't answer voices calling from the dark.

  The help is coming... but the night belongs to them now”