Page 44 of An Ancient Power's Revenge

A young deputy, his face a mask of nervous curiosity, approached us. "Sir, are you related to the victim?" he asked.

"A… friend," I lied, forcing a smile. He probably just joined the force and he doesn’t know me, and he is most likely human. More reason we need to keep quiet.

The deputy nodded, his gaze lingering on me for a moment too long. "Sheriff Thompson will be here soon," he said, his voice respectful. "She'll take it from here."

I stood up, a cold dread settling in my stomach. Another vampire, another victim killed in the same way. The feeling of helplessness was suffocating.

Hours seemed to crawl by as we waited for Evelyn. Finally, one of her deputies’ patrol car pulled up, headlights slicing through the darkness.

She jumped out, her face etched with worry. As soon as she saw me, a flicker of relief crossed her features. Then, her gaze fell on Dimitri's lifeless body.

"Oh no," she breathed, a wave of sadness washing over her face.

Hurrying over, she crouched beside him, her eyes scanning the scene with a practiced efficiency. She spoke to the deputies, her voice calm and authoritative, but I saw the worry flickering in her eyes.

She stood up, turning to me and Ana. "We need to talk," she said, her voice grim.

Following her away from the prying eyes of the deputies, we found ourselves huddled beneath a sprawling oak tree. The moonlight cast an ethereal glow, highlighting the worry lines etched on Evelyn's face.

"Another, this time a vampire," I said, my voice low. "Killed the same way as Sarah and the others"

Evelyn nodded, her jaw clenched tight. "It's escalating," she said, her voice a mere whisper. "This creature… it's targeting vampires now too."

"Why?" I asked, frustration bubbling within me. "What is it trying to accomplish?" I asked, my voice tight with frustration.

Evelyn shook her head, her brow furrowed in thought. "I don't know, Alexei," she admitted. "But one thing is clear: this isn't some random act of violence. This is deliberate. A message."

"A message to who?" Ana chimed in, her voice sharp. "The coven? The vampires? The werewolves? Or maybe…" she trailed off, her eyes flickering towards me.

My breath hitched. "Maybe me?" I offered, a cold dread pooling in my stomach.

Evelyn's eyes met mine, her expression grave. "It's a possibility we can't ignore," she said. "If this creature wants to incite panic, to shatter the peace we've so carefully built… then targeting you would be the ultimate act of defiance."

A shiver ran down my spine. The treaty between the supernaturals in Harmony Grove was a fragile thing, built on trust. If this creature exposed our existence… the consequences could be catastrophic.

"We need to tell the coven," I said urgently. "We can't keep them in the dark any longer."

Evelyn hesitated. "They weren't exactly welcoming before," she said, a hint of bitterness in her voice.

"But they have the knowledge, the resources," Ana countered. "We can't fight this alone, not with this creature targeting both humans and all supernaturals."

Evelyn remained silent, the weight of the decision heavy on her shoulders. Finally, she let out a defeated sigh. "Alright," shesaid, her voice resigned. "I'll talk to Karla. But I can't guarantee they'll be receptive."

Relief washed over me. "It's worth a shot," I said, a flicker of hope sparking in my chest.

Exhaustion gnawed at me as I followed Evelyn through the crime scene tape. Dr. Ramirez, the portly medical examiner with a perpetually worried frown, zipped Dimitri's body into a black bag, his movements practiced yet respectful.

Evelyn directed the remaining deputies, her voice crisp and authoritative. But beneath the surface, I saw a deep sadness reflected in her eyes. We hadn't spoken much since my return from Mystic Vale, and a heavy silence hung between us. This whole thing was taking its toll on us, on our relationship too.

As the deputies cleared the scene, the medical examiner scurried away with Dimitri's body. Evelyn left in the patrol car, and I watched her go.

I turned around and made my way out of Old Mill too, it was time to head home.

"Alexei?" Ana's voice startled me. She had followed me, her face etched with concern.

"I… I just needed some time alone," I stammered, feeling a pang of guilt for leaving her abruptly.

She placed a hand on my arm, her touch a source of comfort. "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice gentle.

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