Page 48 of Shapeshifter's Vengeance

We head back to the department, the urgency of the situation driving us forward. The station buzzes with activity, deputies working tirelessly to track any leads on Cassandra’s whereabouts. I call a meeting in the conference room, the mood tense but focused.

“We have our orders from the council,” I begin. “We need to locate Cassandra and bring her in. She’s wounded and will be seeking a healer. We need to reach out to all our contacts and keep a close watch on any known practitioners of powerful magic.”

Deputy Martinez raises a hand. “What about surveillance on the borders? If she’s trying to leave town, we should know.”

“Good point,” I say. “We’ll increase patrols and set up checkpoints. No one leaves or enters without us knowing.”

Alexei stands beside me, his strength a reassuring balm for all of us. “We also need to ensure the safety of our community. Let’s keep a close eye on anyone who might be vulnerable to Cassandra’s influence,” he adds, his gaze turning thoughtful and pensive. I can sense the gears turning as he tries to predict all the dangers Cassandra could present and how to counteract each one.

The meeting concludes, and we set our plans into motion. I reach out to Karla, who’s already contacting her network of healers.

Alexei and I retreat to my office, where we can strategize in private. He sits across from me, his expression thoughtful.

“She’ll be desperate,” he says. “Desperate people make mistakes. We need to be ready to exploit any weakness.”

I nod. “Agreed. We’ll keep the pressure on. She can’t hide forever.”

Chapter 21: The Missing Dagger

ALEXEI

The sun is high as Evelyn and I set out for the Luminara Coven. The air is thick with anticipation, the stakes higher than ever. We haven't heard from Karla about the list of healers capable of curing Cassandra, and I am not at peace knowing that she could be out there getting the help she needs. Once she finds it, she could come back to strike at any moment, stronger than ever.

We arrive at the coven, and it doesn’t feel like everyone is out for my blood anymore. Part of me is grateful that they now know that I couldn’t have killed those elders, but another part of me feels sad that they would believe such a thing in the first place.

Karla greets us at the entrance, looking weary but resolute.Aren’t we all?

"Apologies for the delay," Karla says, ushering us inside. "I've been busy with coven duties. You know witch business is always time-consuming."

Evelyn gives her a reassuring smile. "We understand. But we need that list of healers as soon as possible."

Karla nods and leads us to a small room filled with ancient tomes and glowing crystals. We sit around a wooden table, the atmosphere tense yet focused. Karla spreads out several scrolls and begins compiling the list.

"These are the most powerful healers," Karla says, her finger tracing over the names. "They can save someone engulfed by dark magic like Cassandra."

“This is a lot of names for us to visit at once, and I’m sure she would have been fully healed before we even get to whoever is healing her.” Evelyn sighs and I reach for her hands under the table.

Karla pauses and looks up at me. "What kind of dagger was it? Do you remember? If I know the exact dagger, it can help narrow down this list even further."

I describe the dagger to her in detail, recalling its intricate engravings and how it pulsed with dark energy. Karla's eyes widen with shock. It looks like she knows the exact dagger I am talking about.

"Follow me," she says, her voice urgent.

We follow Karla down a narrow hallway to a secure room. She unlocks a heavy door, revealing a small chamber lined with shelves of magical artifacts. Karla points to an empty spot on one of the shelves.

"The dagger you described was confiscated and stored here. It's a deadly one, and it was supposed to be in our possession. I have no idea how it got out."

Evelyn and I exchange a glance. This confirms our theory—Cassandra isn't working alone.

"This is bad," Karla mutters, more to herself than to us. "I thought no witch would dare take the dagger."

Evelyn places a hand on Karla's shoulder. "Don't blame yourself. We need to focus on finding Cassandra and stopping her."

Karla nods, her resolve hardening. "I'll do my best to find it. Knowing the type of dagger narrows down our list of healers significantly."

We return to the table, and Karla strikes out more than half of the names. There are a few remaining names, but each one is a potential lead.

"We need to visit these healers," Evelyn says, her voice firm. "If Cassandra has sought their help, we need to know."

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