((Sorry it's a day late. Yesterday was crazy busy. Hope you have a good weekend!))

Under the cloak of a moonless night, Riven's scouting group materialized in the Wizarding World of the Mortal Realm. The dusky cobblestone streets lay bare and silent, untouched by the raucous laughter that typically filled the night air.

His stormy gaze scanned their surroundings, silver eyes flickering with electricity as he mentally prepared for the task at hand. He motioned for his team to blend into the shadows, their bodies disappearing within thin veils of darkness and faint wisps of smoke. Nyx's speciality helping to hide the entire team.

Beside him, Theron's dark blue eyes glinted with anticipation, electric blue sparks tracing his fingertips. Kiran stood tall and erect, fire swirling in his amber gaze, a wicked smirk played on his lips, promising destruction and mayhem; a warning to those who dared cross his path.

Zephyr's light footfalls whispered against the stone streets, her wings tucked close to her body, but ready to open and launch herself skyward at a moment's notice. Nyx shadowed Zephyr's footsteps, eyes flitting between the members of her scouting group, and the streets around them. Selene stood with her back to a wall, waiting for Riven's instructions.

Riven gave her a nod, his gaze shifting back to the unsettlingly empty streets of the Wizarding World. Even in the dead of night, the place should have been bustling with wizards, witches and magical beings. The absence of movement, the silence... it was unnerving.

With a quick hand motion, he signaled for Theron and Kiran to take point. Both Demons moved forward, their respective elemental energies crackling around them in anticipation. Theron's Storm Demon powers stirred the wind, sending a chill down their spines while Kiran's fire made the shadows dance ominously.

"Stay alert, and do not engage unless you have no choice." he commanded softly, his eyes meeting each of his team's in turn. They nodded, understanding laced in their gazes as they spread out silently.

Using her Earth Demon powers, Selene melded with the environment; her presence virtually undetectable unless one knew where to look. Similarly, Nyx slid into the deeper shadows, only her eyes visible as she manipulated them to help hide the scouting group.

Riven turned to Zephyr, her wings twitching in anticipation. "Stay close, and keep above," he instructed. Her nod was the only sign of acknowledgment as she unfurled her wings and launched herself into the sky, a silent silhouette against the starless night.

Riven moved forward with Theron and Kiran by his side, their presence sending ripples of energy through the air. The silence stretched on, their footfalls silent as they penetrated deeper into the heart of Diagon Alley.

The hair at the back of Riven's neck prickled up suddenly and he stopped dead in his tracks. A flicker of motion had caught his attention, something unnatural in its stealth that piqued Riven's interest. He raised his hand signaling Theron and Kiran to halt.

"Something is amiss," he murmured, his eyes narrowing as he studied the gloom ahead. Theron and Kiran fell back, their gazes scanning the shadows for any signs of movement.

In response to Riven's warning, Selene solidified her presence amongst the cobblestones, her senses alert and focused. She sensed a tremor in the earth, too slight to be a normal footfall. Nyx, in the deepest recesses of the night's shadows, felt the air shift subtly with an unfamiliar energy.

Riven signalled Zephyr with a nearly invisible flick of his hand. From her vantage point high above the streets, she scanned the sprawling metropolis stretched out beneath her. There it was - an almost imperceptible disturbance in the atmospheric pressure.

With a silent dive, Zephyr descended toward Riven and relayed her finding through hand gestures: three figures lurking in an alley up ahead, their energies distinct and unnatural.

"Vampires," Riven murmured, his eyes narrowing. His voice was barely a whisper, but the implication hung heavily in the air. In response to his discovery, Theron's energy crackled with renewed intensity around his fists while a more eager flame danced in Kiran's eyes.

Riven held up a hand to caution them. "We are here for information, not confrontation," he reminded them. His warning was met with reluctant nods as they fell back into formation. The time for battle was not yet upon them.

Zephyr launched herself back into the sky. From the shadows of the rooftops she monitored the vampires' movements, her keen gaze never leaving their forms. Her figure was an ethereal specter against the night sky as she communicated their locations and movements to Riven and his team from above.

The unusually deserted streets gave way to narrower alleyways draped in deeper shadows as they followed the vampires from a safe distance. Each Demon moved fluidly, their individual elemental powers complementing one another in the way only those who had worked together for years could. Finally the vampires stopped, and seemed to be having an argument between themselves. The scouting group moved close enough to listen, while still remaining as hidden as possible.

Riven signaled for Kiran and Theron to stay back while he advanced, treading carefully over the cobblestones that threatened to betray his presence with their ominous echo. The charged energy from his silver eyes seemed to dim as he slid into the shadows, inching closer to the conspiring vampires.

He caught snippets of conversation as he got as close as he dared. These three were arguing about following orders from someone they called Voldemort, and the Dark Lord. The ones who called him the Dark Lord were insistent that they do as they were told. Go to the Realm and learn it's weaknesses. The lone vampire who used Voldemort instead of the Dark Lord, was equally insistent they go to the Realm, but to escape the mad man as he called him.

Riven's heart pounded in his chest as the implications tumbled chaotic in his mind. Voldemort. Dark Lord. Refuge and invasion. His palms were slick with a cold sweat, and the taste of fear threatened to choke him. This wasn't just about relocation; this was an attempt to infiltrate the Realm, either by force or subterfuge.

Retreating back to the others, he relayed the information through barely audible whispers and urgent gestures.

A deafening silence followed Riven's relayed information. It was not the news they had wanted to hear. Their reactions mirrored his own dread, the fire in Kiran's eyes dimming with uncertainty, Theron's electricity crackling in silent frustration, Nyx's shadowy gaze flickering with worry while Zephyr's wings rustled nervously against her body.

Selene placed a calming hand on Riven's arm, her expression solid and unwavering despite the troubling news. "We need to take this back to the High Council," she murmured quietly.

Riven gave her a curt nod, his features hard. The weight of their discovery was heavy on him; the unwelcome shiver of fear crawling up his spine was undeniable.

His eyes flickered back to the vampire trio who continued to argue, their voices low but heated, oblivious to the observing eyes trained on them from the shadows. He tightened his hand into a fist, then swiftly let it go. There would be time for countermeasures and retaliation once they reported back.

"We go now," Riven commanded, his orders clipped and succinct as they quickly fell back into formation, retreating from the alleyway.

As Zephyr took flight, she cast one last glance down at the vampires before disappearing into the sea of stars above. Theron and Kiran trailed behind Riven with Nyx flanking their left, her darkness blending seamlessly with the night. Selene brought up the rear, her earthy presence a calm comfort amidst their departure.

They moved swiftly but silently through the streets, until they reached the area they had arrived in. Zephyr dropped down lightly, and stepped forward to clasp arms with the rest. Once the circle was formed, and everyone holding onto one another, Riven called Storm. With a loud CRACK! they were gone.