19. Chapter 19 - Like Vampire Bites

Chapter 19 - Like Vampire Bites

Evelyn

A s we pulled to a stop, the witches stepped out of their vehicle, their movements purposeful and silent. I hesitated for a moment, the collective grief enveloping me. But Karla turned back, a flicker of something in her eyes I couldn't decipher.

"Come," she said simply, her voice devoid of warmth but not unkind.

Taking a deep breath, I followed her, stepping out into the cool night air. This was uncharted territory, but I wouldn't let fear hold me back.

Sarah was taken to a room first. The room was dimly lit by flickering candles, casting long, dancing shadows on the walls. In the center, a large stone circle lay etched into the floor, runes and symbols carved into its surface.

The witches moved with a practiced grace, and their whispers are tinged with a language I can't understand. They laid Sarah's body gently on a raised platform in the center of the circle.

Karla approached the platform, her face pinched with sadness, and began a low, mournful chant. The other witches joined in, their voices weaving a melody that resonated deep within me.

They were trying to get her body to go home safely and her soul to be at peace. She deserved that, at least. I wonder what kind of horror she saw in her last moments.

I stood awkwardly at the edge of the room, feeling like an outsider intruding on a sacred ceremony. My eyes darted around, taking in the various objects scattered around the room – crystal balls, vials filled with shimmering liquids, and strange herbs hanging in bundles from the ceiling.

The chant reached a crescendo, and the witches fell silent. Karla stepped forward, her gaze fixed on Sarah's body. She raised her hand, palm facing down, and a soft, white light emanated from it. The light flowed over Sarah, bathing her in a gentle glow.

After a moment, Karla lowered her hand and her face contorted in surprise. She murmured a quick incantation under her breath and repeated the ritual. This time, the white light pulsed with an urgency, but when it faded, Karla's expression remained grim.

"There's something wrong," she finally said, her voice tight with worry.

The other witches crowded around, their faces etched with concern. Karla held out her hand, and a faint blue wisp of light shimmered above it.

"Her soul…" Karla began, her voice trembling slightly, "It's gone. Emptied."

A cold dread washed over me. Emptied? What did that even mean?

"But how?" one of the older witches asked, her voice thick with disbelief.

Karla shook her head, her eyes scanning the room frantically. "This can only be done by someone with dark and powerful magic. Someone with… sinister intentions."

My mind raced. The bite marks on Sarah's wrist… they looked suspiciously like vampire bites. But could there really be a vampire with sinister intentions and powers capable of sucking out life? The idea seemed absurd, outlandish even.

Karla's gaze met mine, a flicker of something unreadable passing through her eyes. "Evelyn," she started, her voice low and dangerous. "You have questions."

I swallowed hard. Accusing the leader of a powerful coven of harboring mythical creatures wasn't exactly on my to-do list, but the truth demanded to be spoken.

"Those puncture wounds on Sarah's wrist," I began cautiously, "they…"

"They looked like life was sucked through it, didn't they?" Karla finished my sentence, her lips curling into a sardonic smile. "We all have questions, Evelyn."

Her words hung heavy in the air, leaving a chilling silence in their wake. I knew there was more to this story, secrets buried beneath the surface. But with each step deeper into this investigation, the layers seemed to multiply, the answers further out of reach.

The ritual concluded with the burial of Sarah's body in a secluded graveyard behind the coven building. The ancient stones marked the resting place of countless witches, each whispering tales of the past. As the last clump of earth was patted over Sarah's grave, Karla placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Come," she said, her voice softer now. "Let's talk."

We walked away from the graveyard, the setting sun casting an orange glow across the clearing. The coven building, once intimidating, now held a strange sense of allure. Karla led me to a small, secluded garden tucked away behind the main building. The air here was fragrant with the scent of blooming roses, a stark contrast to the earthy musk within.

Karla gestured for me to sit on a weathered wooden bench, then took a seat beside me. For a moment, we sat in silence, the chirping crickets the only sound breaking the stillness. Finally, Karla spoke.

"You're curious about the bite marks," she stated, rather than asked.

I nodded, unable to meet her gaze. It felt like walking a tightrope, balancing between investigation and diplomacy.

"They look like…," I began, the word catching in my throat.

"Like vampire bites, you want to say?" Karla finished, her voice laced with a hint of concern.

"Yes, but I can't think of a single reason why a vampire would go on a killing spree, especially when their clan leader proposed the treaty first. Alexei's dreams have always been to create a community where we can all thrive successfully, and someone seems to be obsessed with bringing down his dreams." I admitted, and Karla nodded.

"I have no idea how long we can hold out, but every day we get convictions on why we shouldn't trust the treaty or Alexei. These women are your sisters, Evelyn. Moon witches just like you, do right by them and make home safe for them again. We don't want to lose the trust we have in you, but I don't know how long it will be until they reach their breaking point. Evelyn the coven depends on you. Sarah deserves justice. No witch deserves to have their soul taken from them. It is the worst thing that can happen to a witch.," she continued, and I nodded slowly. I reached over the bench and reached for Karla's hands.

I squeezed them to offer reassurance that I would find whoever did this to Sarah. It isn't just a promise, it is now my life goal.