Page 42 of An Ancient Power's Revenge

"The town," I explained, a sense of hopelessness washing over me. "It's deserted. Elena said everyone left after the creature's attack. It's like a ghost town."

A heavy silence descended upon us again, broken only by the ticking of the clock on the wall. We were back to square one, with more questions than answers.

Suddenly, a flicker of realization crossed Ana's face. "Wait a minute," she said, her voice gaining a hint of excitement. "There's something you didn't tell me."

"What's that?" I asked, catching her sudden shift in mood.

"The banshee," she said, her eyes gleaming with an idea. "You said she disappeared months ago, right?"

"Yes," I replied, unsure where she was going with this.

"What if she isn't truly gone?" Ana continued, her voice filled with a newfound urgency. "What if she was in hiding, honing her skills, learning to control her power?"

A spark of possibility ignited within me. "But why would she attack humans and supernaturals?" I argued. "Banshees are supposed to be harbingers of death, not active killers."

"Perhaps she's become something more," Ana countered, a steely glint in her eyes. "A creature fueled by vengeance, fueled by grief. The coven wouldn't know about such a transformation, would they?"

I considered her words, a seed of doubt taking root in my mind. Could it be possible? Could the creature we were chasing be a twisted version of the banshee, a creature driven by an unknown darkness?

"We can't rule it out," I conceded, a knot of unease twisting in my gut.

Ana nodded, a grim smile playing on her lips. "Then there's only one thing left to do. We need to talk to Evelyn. Now."

Recognizing the urgency in her voice, I agreed. Together, we rushed out of the office, determined to share our new theory with Evelyn.

The frantic energy from Ana propelled us through the Sheriff’s Department, finally coming to a halt in front of Evelyn's officedoor. My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of urgency and apprehension swirling within me.

Bursting through the door without knocking, we found Evelyn hunched over a desk, a stack of papers scattered before her. She looked up, surprise flickering across her face as she saw us.

"Alexei! Ana! Thank goodness you’re alright?" she exclaimed, her voice laced with concern as she rose from her chair and walked over to pull me into a tight hug.

"We need to talk to you," I said, my voice breathless. "It's about the attacks, about the creature."

Evelyn's brow furrowed. "What did you find in Mystic Vale?” she asked, her gaze flitting between us.

I launched into my explanation, recounting the details of my meeting with Elena, the deserted town, and the chilling theory Ana had proposed. As I spoke, Evelyn listened intently, her expression growing grimmer with each passing word.

When I finished, a heavy silence descended upon the room. Finally, Evelyn sighed, a deep, weary sigh that spoke volumes.

“So, the plain banshee theory is out,” she said, her voice low.

“It seems that way,” I replied, a knot of unease twisting in my stomach.

“And this creature,” Evelyn continued, her eyes narrowed, “it drains life, poisons its victims… sounds an awful lot like a vampire, wouldn’t you say?”

My breath hitched. “You think… a rogue vampire?” I stammered, a cold dread washing over me.

Evelyn nodded grimly. “It’s a possibility we can’t ignore. The treaty with the council is fragile as it is, and some vampires… well, some never accepted the terms.”

“But why attack humans and supernaturals alike?” I questioned, the logic eluding me.

“Maybe they’re trying to send a message,” Ana suggested, her voice sharp. “A message of defiance, a reminder of their power.”

Evelyn’s eyes darted to the window, a flicker of something akin to fear crossing her face. Then, her phone rang, shattering the tense silence. She answered it immediately, her expression turning grave as she listened.

“Rayne?” she repeated, the name a whisper on her lips. “She’s… passed away?”

Shock ripped through me. Another witch is gone? Just like that?

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