Page 56 of Once Upon a Curse for True Love
“A lich, sir.An undead wizard who’s preserved his consciousness beyond death through forbidden magic.The forensics team isolated his blood on the hard drive used to kill Arcanet.”
King’s dark eyes narrowed.“Liches are mythical creatures, Malatesta.They don’t exist anymore.Haven’t for centuries.”
“With all due respect, sir, the one that tried to kill us in a stairwell at the preservation society didn’t get that memo.”Donatello leaned forward.“We both saw it.Felt it.The darkness he summoned wasn’t standard shadow magic—it was death energy.And the smell…” He shook his head, the rotting sweetness still lodged in his nostrils.“Ask Dr.Oakheart.She has the blood sample.”
“A lich,” King repeated, the word heavy as lead.“That’s a magical threat level alpha.I need to call the feds.”
“Sir—” Donatello protested, but King held up a hand.
“This isn’t up for debate.If we’re dealing with a lich, we need specialists.I’m calling in the Bureau of Magical Affairs.”He reached for his phone.“In the meantime, I want you to gather every scrap of evidence we have.And I mean everything—energy signatures, witness statements, historical precedents.One hour.”His voice hardened.“And Malatesta?If this turns out to be anything less than what you’re claiming, I’ll have your badge.”
“Understood, sir.”
As they exited the office, a weight settled across Donatello’s shoulders.He’d presented his case, and now the wheels were in motion—part of a machine that would take the investigation out of his hands.
“You okay?”Andromeda asked, her hand finding his as they walked down the hallway.
“Yeah,” he replied, even if the tightness in his chest suggested otherwise.“I hate bringing in the feds.They steamroll local investigations.”
“And bring in the big guns.We’re going to need them.”
“You’re right.”He slung an arm over her shoulder and guided her toward the evidence room.
For the next hour, they worked on building their case.Donatello pulled in Dr.Oakheart to analyze the residual magical signature on his jacket from the attack.Andromeda worked on a timeline of events, tracing connections between Arcanet’s planned data leak and Graves’s known movements.They handed everything to Riley, who passed it on to the feds.It was out of their hands now, and they went to wait in Donatello’s office.
The chief walked by less than an hour later with a dark expression.He flicked two fingers at them, beckoning them to follow him to a debriefing room.Inside, the furniture had been pushed against the walls to make space for a large table in the center.Digital monitors covered one wall, displaying maps of Salem with various locations highlighted.King walked to the head of the table and struck up a deep conversation with a woman in a charcoal pantsuit who Donatello recognized as the regional director of the Bureau of Magical Affairs.
More people poured in.Detectives from various departments, forensic specialists, and tactical officers in full gear.Sarah Michelle Callidora came in next, her dark bob swinging as she scanned the room.When she caught sight of them, her eyebrows shot up, and she made her way over.
“You two look like you’ve seen a ghost,” she said as a greeting, then paused, squinting at them.“Wait, did you actually see a ghost?”
“Worse,” Donatello replied.“A lich.”
Callidora’s eyes widened.“You’re joking.”
“Wish I was.”
She whistled low.“Explains the fed invasion.”Sarah Michelle glanced at Andromeda, and despite the impending half-zombie, dark wizard menace, an unrelated, silent exchange passed between the two witches—one that made Callidora smile ferally while Andromeda’s face flushed beetroot red.Donatello wasn’t sure what to fear more: the undead or Callidora’s smug delight.
Sarah Michelle’s gaze shifted to Donatello, taking in his repaired hair color.“Nice to see you’ve gone back to basics, detective.”
Before Donatello could respond, Riley called the room to attention.The buzz of conversation died down as every head turned toward the chief.
“Thank you all for responding,” King began, his deep voice carrying easily to every corner.“We are facing a situation unlike anything in this continent’s recent history.”He gestured to the displays behind him.“This morning, Detective Malatesta and consultant Andromeda Swan encountered what we believe to be a lich at the Salem Preservation Society.”
A murmur swept through the assembled officers.Donatello caught more than one skeptical glance thrown his way.
“For those of you unfamiliar with the classification,” King continued, “a lich is an undead wizard who has preserved their consciousness beyond natural death through forbidden necromantic rituals.They were thought to be extinct, with the last confirmed sighting over four hundred years ago.”
King nodded to a familiar face.“This is Professor Esme Blackwood from Salem University, head of the Necromancy Department.She’ll brief us on what we’re facing.”
“Thank you, Chief Inquisitor.”Professor Blackwood cleared her throat.“What I’m about to tell you isn’t taught in any standard magical curriculum.It’s knowledge reserved for researchers and specialists.”
She tapped a crystal on the table, and a three-dimensional projection appeared above it—a skeletal figure wreathed in dark energy, its eye sockets glowing with an eerie blue light.
“Liches represent the darkest branch of necromancy,” she explained.“Unlike standard reanimation, which produces mindless bodies, a lich retains its full intelligence, memories, and magical abilities.In fact, their power often increases after transformation because of their complete detachment from the limitations of mortal flesh.”
She gestured, and the projection shifted, showing the skeletal figure consuming a glowing orb.
