Page 15 of An Ancient Power's Revenge

The other witches joined in, their voices harmonizing with Karla's, creating a symphony of enchantment that resonated through the night. Each symbol on the ground pulsated with a soft glow, responding to the magical currents invoked by the coven.

As I watched, a sense of hope and anticipation welled within me. It was as if the air held its breath, waiting for the ritual to unveil the hidden truths we sought. The moonlight seemed to dance with the rhythm of Karla's words, creating a celestial ballet that echoed the urgency of our quest.

Karla's movements became more intricate, her hands tracing patterns in the air. The symbols on the ground glowed brighter, their luminescence intertwining with the energy she was conjuring.

But then, Karla's chanting faltered, her brow furrowing in concentration. The energy in the clearing shifted, an unsettling undercurrent.

"What's happening?" Alexei asked, his eyes narrowing with concern.

Karla stopped abruptly, her expression turning grave. "I... I can't trace it. The talisman's trail has been masked. It’s alive, I can feel the pulse, but I can’t place it."

"Try forging a connection, maybe you’d be able to find it then," I urged. I desperately hoped she was able to. We needed to get things under control.

Karla stopped abruptly, her expression turning grave. "I... I can't forge a connection to it. The talisman's trail has been masked and they are teasing me. It's a technique only accomplished by a banshee."

A banshee. The word echoed in my mind, sending a shiver down my spine. They were known for concealing magical signatures, making them elusive and formidable.

"A banshee? How do we track something that's been masked by a banshee?" Alexei's frustration was palpable.

Karla sighed, her eyes reflecting the weight of our predicament. "Banshees are skilled at hiding magical imprints. It's a rare ability, and not many beings possess it. We'll need to find a banshee to help us unravel this."

Alexei ran a hand through his hair. I could tell he was frustrated and wished there was a way for me to help him, but I knew there wasn't.

“Can you try tracing it again? Maybe this time you will get a connection?" Alexei asked, frustration evident in his voice.

Karla sighed, "Whoever has the talisman knows exactly what to do with it, and they know it’s being searched for. They let me find it on purpose before making it unable to be traced. I wish there was a better way to put this. The only other person that can help is a banshee and they were last heard of in Mystic Vale. Nobody has visited that town in years."

I could feel the defeat deep through my bones. There should be something that could be done. This is getting out of hand, and we need to stop it before things get worse.

“Whoever has the talisman is either a Banshee, a powerful witch, or someone with enough powers to wipe out the rest of us. The air is dark and sinister; they aren’t joking with us,” another elder spoke up for the first time since we started the ritual, and we all froze.

What the hell?!

Chapter 9 - Another Dead Body

Alexei

The morning sun cast long shadows across my office as I sat hunched over the security footage from the peace treaty, scrutinizing every frame for a clue, a hint, anything that might unravel the mystery surrounding Mark's death and the missing talisman.

The room was quiet, except for the computer's subtle hum. The air held a weight of anticipation as if the answers we sought lingered just beyond our grasp.

I scanned the footage again, searching for anomalies or signs of unusual behavior. The supernatural community had gathered in Harmony Grove for the peace treaty, yet darkness had lurked somewhere within that congregation's life, claiming the werewolf alpha's life.

As my eyes fixated on a particular frame, my phone buzzed on the desk. I reached for it, recognizing Marie's number from the Sheriff’s Department. Her crisp and efficient voice cut through the quiet of the room.

"Mayor, sir, we've got a murder on our hands. A dead body was found at the supermarket just now. The Sheriff and others have already gone to investigate the scene. I sent the address to your phone."

My heart sank. Another death, another murder to solve in such a short time.

“Thanks, Marie.” I muttered before ending the call. Without hesitation, I grabbed my coat and rushed to my car to prepare to drive downtown. Evelyn needs all the help she can get right now in solving the murders. We have to find the killer before things get further out of control.

When I arrived at the supermarket, I found Evelyn and her team already at work, examining the crime scene. The air in the room was tense, with a palpable sense of urgency in the atmosphere.

Evelyn looked up as I entered, her expression a mix of disappointment and subtle anger. "Alexei, another one. It's getting worse."

I nodded, a knot tightening in my stomach. "Tell me what we know."

She gestured toward the victim, a lifeless form on a stretcher. "Scratches on both arms, blood on the knuckles. Looks like the victim put up a fight. We ran a preliminary blood test on the knuckles, but there's no match in the system."

---