Page 17 of Bewitched By the Wicked Witch
I placed my hands in my pockets, analyzing every store including the council building where I needed to report. That's when brown curls caught my eye as a chunky black cat followed behind Sage.
I stood frozen, staring after her retreating form as she carried a bag down the sidewalk, onto the street, then farther until she veered onto a path disappearing into the woods.
My heart pounded like a drum after seeing her, though only from behind, for the first time in years. I wanted to run after her, snatch her up and never let her go. But if I did, I might pass out right there. A common occurrence when certain parts of me became too happy. Just thinking of her, her lovely hair and warm brown skin, those electric blue eyes, made me hard, and that was never a good idea.
Not after whoever had cursed me. But that’s a story for another day.
I'd have to go slow, be cautious, and do my job. If there was a chance of making things right, I couldn't ruin it early on.
With a heavy heart, I turned away from Sage's retreating form and forced myself toward the council building. As much as I longed to chase after her, to pull her into my arms and apologize for everything, I knew I had work to do first. Sage wasn't likely to welcome me with open arms after how things had ended.
No, she was more likely to curse me, make good on her promise to turn me into a frog, warts and all. Apparently, she'd had a knack for it since childhood. My little toad curser.
The imposing stone structure loomed ahead, contrasting sharply with Old Hollows' quaint charm. I climbed the steps and pushed through heavy oak doors, steeling myself for bureaucracy and red tape.
Inside, a stern-faced receptionist greeted me with a raised eyebrow. "Can I help you?" Her tone implied she'd rather be doing anything else.
I flashed my Mage Agent badge. "Callum Renshaw. I have an appointment with High Councilman Reid Bishop."
She studied the badge before giving a curt nod. "Wait here." She disappeared down a hallway, leaving me alone in the musty foyer.
Minutes ticked by as I paced restlessly, my mind still reeling from glimpsing Sage. What was she doing, wandering into the woods like that? Could it relate to the missing girls?
The receptionist returned, her pinched face showing clear annoyance. "High Councilman Bishop will see you now. Follow me."
I trailed behind her down the narrow hallway, floorboards creaking beneath our feet. She led me to a heavy wooden door and rapped sharply.
"Enter," a gruff voice called from within.
The receptionist ushered me inside before quickly retreating. I stood in a dimly lit office, the walls of which were lined with bookshelves and strange magical artifacts. Behind a massive desk sat a middle-aged man with shrewd eyes and a well-groomed beard streaked with grey.
"Agent Renshaw, I presume?" High Councilman ReidBishop rose to shake my hand, his grip firm and cool. "I've been expecting you. Please, have a seat."
I settled into the chair across from him, leather squeaking slightly. "Thank you for meeting with me, Councilman. I'm here to investigate the recent disappearances of?—"
He held up a hand, cutting me off. "Yes, I'm aware of the situation. Terrible business, those poor girls. But I can assure you, the council is doing everything in its power to locate them."
Something about his tone made me pause. Too smooth, too rehearsed. Like he'd said those exact words many times before. I leaned forward.
"With all due respect, Councilman, the High Council has sent me to conduct an independent investigation. I'll need access to all requested files and free rein to conduct investigations and interviews with town inhabitants."
Reid Bishop stared at me intently, letting his power expand outward, heavy and thick in the air, a clear attempt to intimidate me.
I raised a brow and waited, completely unimpressed by his display. I could have risen to his challenge and unleashed my abilities, but true dominance lay in not needing to. The High Council had recruited me not for my looks, but for the raw energy that simmered beneath my skin. I smirked, letting one side of my lips rise as I leaned back, showing him he was the little fish in this room without even trying.
Best to leave him guessing at my capabilities.
Bishop scowled, then sighed. "You have permission."He studied me, and just as I prepared to leave, he held up a hand. "As long as you report everything you find to me."
I pulled out my badge and documentation, spreading them across Bishop's desk. "Let me clarify something for you, Councilman. The High Council operates on a federal level, we don't interfere with local governance unless specific conditions are met. Murder qualifies. Conspiracy across multiple communities qualifies. And obstruction of a federal investigation?" I smiled coldly. "That definitely qualifies.
"Your local council has every right to manage zoning laws, business licenses, and municipal disputes. But the moment someone starts kidnapping and killing people, especially in patterns suggesting organized activity, it becomes our jurisdiction. The founding treaties are very clear on this." I gathered my documents and stood. "I can't report my findings to you without my superiors' permission. You'll have to contact the main office for approval."
Bishop's jaw tightened. "You forget, Agent Renshaw, that Old Hollows operates under local council authority. The High Council doesn't meddle in our municipal decisions."
"That's true," I agreed calmly, "for local ordinances, zoning disputes, and minor infractions. But murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy?" I shook my head. "Those fall under High Council jurisdiction, especially when they involve multiple communities or threaten the broader magical population.
"Furthermore," I continued, enjoying how Bishop's confidence cracked. "Any attempt to interfere with aHigh Council investigation automatically escalates local authority to federal oversight. So I'd suggest you cooperate, Councilman, before this becomes a much bigger problem for you."
