Page 43 of An Ancient Power's Revenge

As Evelyn hung up the phone, tears welled up in her eyes. “It was the poison,” she choked out, her voice thick with emotion. “She didn’t make it.”

Grief and anger warred within me. This creature… it didn’t just attack, it stole lives. Innocent lives.

“We need to get to the coven,” Evelyn declared, her voice hardening with resolve. “They need to know what’s happening.”

We rushed out of the building, a renewed sense of urgency propelling us forward.

The coven grounds materialized in the distance, the imposing stone building shrouded in the fading light of dusk. As Evelyn approached the iron gates, they swung open silently. She strode forward, but Karla, the coven leader, materialized in front of me, blocking my path.

"Sheriff Evelyn," Karla said, her voice cold and unyielding. "You are welcome. Mayor Alexei, you are not."

Frustration bubbled within me. "Karla, this is serious," I argued. "We have information, information that could be crucial in stopping this creature."

Karla's gaze remained impassive. "The coven will deal with this," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "You, Mayor Alexei, have already done enough by bringing this situation to our attention."

Anger burned in my throat, but I knew arguing wouldn't help. With a defeated sigh, I watched as Evelyn disappeared into thedarkness of the coven building, the heavy wooden doors closing behind her.

Left alone in the gathering darkness, a chilling realization dawned on me. We were no closer to stopping this creature. In fact, the coven's hostility only served to complicate matters further. We were outsiders, and they weren't about to share their secrets, not readily.

Chapter 24 - A Dead Vampire

Alexei

Fury simmered within me as I stood before the imposing coven gates, Karla's words echoing in the growing darkness. Outsiders. That's what we were to them, even with the fate of Harmony Grove hanging in the balance.

Frustration gnawed at me. I needed air, needed to clear my head. Climbing back into my car, leaving Evelyn with her witches. I sped away from the coven grounds, the town lights blurring into streaks of yellow as I drove. Eventually, I pulled over to a quiet park, the familiar scent of pine and damp earth washing over me.

Stepping out of the car, I stretched, my muscles tense with pent-up frustration. Maybe a walk would help. Pulling on my running shoes, I started jogging, the rhythmic pounding of myfeet on the pavement a soothing counterpoint to the turmoil within.

As I rounded a corner, my phone vibrated in my pocket. Pulling it out, I saw Ana's name flash on the screen. A jolt of apprehension shot through me. Without breaking stride, I answered the call.

"Alexei," Ana's voice crackled with urgency, "we need you… right now!"

"Where are you?" I asked, quickening my pace.

"Old Mill," she gasped. "Another one… just like the others… a vampire… dead."

My blood ran cold. Another victim? It couldn't be… could it?

"Hold on," I said, pushing myself to run faster. "I'm on my way."

It felt like an eternity before I reached the Old Mill, a dilapidated structure that stood on the outskirts of town. Even from a distance, I could see the flashing lights of sheriff’s cars, painting the night sky with an eerie red glow.

Ana was waiting for me near the police tape cordoning off the area. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with shock.

"It's Dimitri," she whispered, gesturing towards the figure lying sprawled on the ground.

Dimitri. A young vampire, one of the few youngsters I knew in Harmony Grove. He had always kept to himself.

As I approached the body, a wave of nausea washed over me. The sight was identical to the previous victims. Dimitri lay on his back, his face drained of color, two puncture marks gleaming on his pale wrist. There were no signs of a struggle, no defensive wounds.

My gaze darted towards the deputies milling around the scene. They moved with cautious curiosity, unaware of the true nature of the attacker.

"Have they touched anything?" I asked Ana in a hushed voice.

She shook her head. "I just got here myself. I called you right away."

Relief flooded me. "Good," I said, kneeling down beside the body. "We need to keep this scene clean until Evelyn arrives."

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