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[Color=AEECD5][b]Time:[/b][/color] Evening
[Color=AEECD5][b]Location:[/b][/color] Alleyway and then Alexei’s
[Color=AEECD5][b]Interaction with:[/b][/color] Vivian

“Brother Elias, has the lost sheep finally returned to the flock?” A voice asked as two men approached, one on each side of him. While the tone sounded friendly Eli knew better than to expect a warm welcome from these two.

“Did you really think you could come back here and we wouldn’t take notice?” The other voice on his right asked, this voice was harsh and honest. It lacked the forced warmth and veneer of beveloance that the other man liked to maintain.

Eli didn’t need to look at either man to know who they were, Levi and Isaac. Two of Father Xavier’s most zealous followers and their appearance was not a good sign for him. Ironic, as there was a time when he considered the two of them to be his closest friends. [Color=AEECD5]“Mac sold me out?”[/color] He asked, his surprise not well hidden. He tried to keep himself relaxed even as every instinct he had from hunting screamed danger. He took a long drag on his cigarette just on the off chance that it was one of his last but rationally he doubted Xavier would have him killed in the middle of the streets. At least not by those who were among his less expendable. 

“No, we’ve been keeping a close eye on you. Father Xavier really hates to lose a member of his congregation. By our accounts, you’ve been in town for a while now and every Sunday we don’t see you we start to ask questions.” Levi said. His friendly tone continued paired with a smile and hollow eyes. 

“We can’t help but wonder if you’ve lost your way.” Isaac added, shaking his head in mock disappointment.  

[Color=AEECD5]“It’s a small town, I think I can find my way just fine.”[/color] Eli said before taking another hit from his cigarette. The glib remark slipping out before he had a chance to think better of it. As soon as the words left his mouth he felt the cigarette being snatched from his lips and pressed into the side of his neck. As Levi casually flicked the remnants of the cigarette away Isaac sent a sharp hit to his ribs. [Color=AEECD5]“I’m due back at work, they’ll notice if I don’t get back soon.”[/color] Eli added, showing little reaction to the pain. Escalating this wouldn’t help, he could run but he had little doubt they’d find him again, it really was a small town. 

“Relax, we’re just here to talk. You work at Alexei’s, serving witches now. I gotta say Father Xavier found that bit very disturbing. Makes us all wonder where your loyalties lie. See I think no way Elias, of all people would, betray us to Satan’s minions. But Isaac here, well, he’s not sure. He thinks you must be in there conspiring with witches.” Levi continued with his tiring game of good cultist bad cultist. 

[Color=AEECD5]“They have no idea who I was, wouldn’t be welcomed there if they did.”[/color] Eli’s still wasn’t entirely sure what their endgame was but there wouldn’t be this much talking unless they wanted something. Did they just need some sort of proof he wasn’t actively working against them? They were by their own admission already watching him, he wasn’t sure what else he could offer to prove that. 

“Was? There are no former Holy Saviors save for those who have died in our holy crusade.” Eli much preferred the bluntness that came from Isaac. In truth it had been naive to hope that Xavier would just forget about him, and there was no question that if the choice was to return to Holy Saviors or death he’d pick the latter, it was better than living with the things they would ask of him. Maybe that was the reason he came back to Ember Grove, maybe he really did have a death wish.

“Isaac makes a point. You want to miss out on the meetings and chase the bloodsuckers, that's one thing, but we’ll need proof you haven’t forgotten where your loyalties lie. Next time you see us you’ll have names, information we can use, and we’ll be assured we can count on your loyalty. If not we will be happy to show you exactly how retirement works from our crusade.” Levi dropped his act, revealing the cold man that resided beneath it, with a smirk.

“See you soon, Elias.” Isaac added with a rough smack against his shoulder pushing him forward before the two men left. 

Eli headed in the other direction towards the one place in town that wanted something simple from him; manual labor in exchange for money. Why couldn’t the rest of Ember Grove just be that simple? Once he was back at Alexei’s he found things there a bit more out of control than usual but nothing unmanageable. The busted door was a new one but a problem that he was much happier to have than current ones that occupied his mind.

[Color=AEECD5]“Viv! What happened?”[/color] He asked as he spotted his co-worker on the phone with someone. [Color=AEECD5]“I’m gone for a minute and the place’s falling apart more than usual.”[/color] He added as he grabbed a broom and went to work cleaning up the shattered glass and bits of broken door up. Then he noticed that with Vivian on the phone the only one left working the bar was Jimmy and that kid had once asked him what was in a rum and coke. Eli sent Jimmy to finish cleaning up the door and to take out the trash while he grabbed drink orders hoping that Vivian was in the process of sorting out the door business. While he worked he also helped himself to a couple of shots because today was already a lot and last call was hours away.