-/-/-/-/- 14 hours from Now, approx. 11:00 PM

They'd reluctantly agreed to hand in their wands. Then they'd taken a seat at a table…and stayed there, frozen and staring up at the stage as singer after bad singer stepped up to the microphone.

"Merlin," Jexter commented, nearly whining.

"Fuck," Mason offered.

They were silent for a moment, then Jexter said, "I don't want to do it. You do it."

Mason rounded on him. "Me? You're the one that roped me into helping you in the first place, and it's your son that's the cause of all of this. I think you should do it."

Their gazes locked for a long moment. Jexter ground his teeth. "Fine. I'll do it."

"Fine."

"Fine."

They both turned back to the stage. After a moment, Jexter continued, "After this guy finishes."

They watched as the next demon situated itself in front of the microphone.

"I think that's a she, actually," remarked Mason.

-/-/-/-/- 14 and a half hours from Now, approx. 11:30 PM

The two wizards flipped through the books of song names and titles. "Oh, how about this one?" Mason suggested, pointing out one of them.

Jexter looked at the song title and then gave Mason an incredulous look. "What, don't tell me it's true that grim reapers are all gay?"

Mason only looked confused. "Huh?"

-/-/-/-/- 14 hours and three-fourths from Now, approx. 11:45 PM

"Okay." Jexter said, taking several deep breaths. Up on stage, Lorne took the microphone from the last act and began to announce Jexter. "I'm going in."

"Good luck," Mason said, feeling very sympathetic for his cousin.

-/-/-/-/- 15 hours from Now, approx. 12:00 AM

Jexter sat down at the table on shaky legs. "Oh, God," he said, burying his head in his hands. "I don't want to do that ever again. Please tell me I don't have to do that again."

Lorne appeared at their table and sat down. "You won't have to, sweet cheeks. I've got a pretty good idea where your boy is at."

Mason hastily took out his map, which was completely spell-free, and spread it out on the table. "Can you-?" he began, but the green-skinned demon was already pointing to a place on the map.

"He's set up shop in a crypt in Garrens' Burrow Cemetery. I'd be careful if I were you two, a lot of newly risen vampires can be found there."

Mason and Jexter smiled, relieved, before reality caught up with them again. "Thank you-" Mason began as he looked up at Lorne, only to pause. Lorne had the same look of apprehension from earlier. "Is there something else?" Mason inquired.

Lorne winced. "Hurry," he said. "Ethan's going to perform the next Rite of the ritual, and this one's gonna be a big one. I'd rather not have to face the chaos that'll be the result, you know?"

Mason and Jexter exchanged grim looks. "Yeah, we know," Jexter said quietly.