Page 3 of Shapeshifter's Vengeance

"Don’t worry; you’ll be a part of it sooner than you think. You’ll meet amazing people who make it worth it." I reply, thinking of Evelyn. "What do you do, Rachel?"

"I'm a teacher," she says. "I'll be starting at the elementary school next week."

"That's wonderful," I say genuinely. "We need good teachers here."

"Thanks," she says, blushing slightly. "I'm looking forward to it."

The bartender brings us another round, and I glance around the bar again. The usual crowd is here, but there's a sense of ease tonight. I allow myself to relax just a bit. Maybe the informant was wrong about everything.

"So, what do you do?" Rachel asks, breaking the comfortable silence.

"I'm the mayor," I say, watching her reaction. I didn’t intend to let that slip, but I did anyway. She would have found out sooner or later.

Her eyes widen slightly. "Really? That's impressive."

"It’s a great job," I say with a shrug. "But it keeps me busy."

"I can imagine," she says. "Especially in a town like this."

"Yes, especially here," I agree, thinking of all the secrets I guard.

"Thank you again for stepping in earlier," she says, her expression earnest. "I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't scared them away."

"It's nothing. It is my duty to keep everyone safe here," I say, dismissing it with a wave. "I'm glad I could help."

"Still, I appreciate it," she says, finishing her drink. "I guess I picked the right bar tonight."

I smile. "It seems you did."

She checks her watch and sighs. "I should probably get going. Big day tomorrow."

"Of course," I say, standing up with her. "It was nice meeting you, Rachel."

"You too, Alexei," she says, shaking my hand again. "I'm sure I'll see you around."

"I'm sure you will," I reply, watching as she heads out the door.

I stay a while longer, finishing my drink and observing the crowd. Eventually, I give up waiting for the target and decide to head home. I start walking back to my car. I insert the keys, and in a split second, I feel something hit me hard at the back of my head. I didn’t get a chance to react before everything turned pitch dark.

I wake up to darkness. The air is thick with an iron scent, sharp and metallic. I blink, trying to focus. My head pounds with a relentless pulse, and my limbs feel heavy as if weighted down. Slowly, the room stops moving, and everything starts getting clearer. My heart halts as I take in the scene before me.

Bodies. Six bodies.

Older witches from the Luminara Coven lie sprawled on the floor around me, their eyes staring blankly, their throats slashed. Blood pools beneath them, dark and sticky. Panic flares in my chest, a cold, gripping fear that tightens my throat. How did I get here? What happened?

I push myself up, my hands slipping on the slick floor. My clothes are soaked with blood, but I can tell none of it is mine. I look around frantically, trying to piece together the fragments of my memory. Nothing comes. My mind is a blank, a dark void where the previous night's events should be.

I need to think. I need to remember.

Taking a deep breath, I force myself to calm down. I close my eyes, trying to recall any detail, any clue that might explain this nightmare. Flashes of images come to me: laughter, music, a drink at the bar. But then, darkness. A sudden blackout, and then... nothing.

What have I done?

A chill runs down my spine. I can't stay here. I need help. I need Evelyn.

My hands tremble as I fumble for my phone. Thankfully, it’s still in my pocket. I dial Evelyn's number, my heart pounding with each ring. She answers on the third ring, her voice groggy with sleep.

"Alexei? What's wrong?" her voice groggy, like I was disrupting her sleep.

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