24. Chapter 24 - A Dead Vampire

Chapter 24 - A Dead Vampire

Alexei

F ury simmered within me as I stood before the imposing coven gates, Karla's words echoing in the growing darkness. Outsiders. That's what we were to them, even with the fate of Harmony Grove hanging in the balance.

Frustration gnawed at me. I needed air, needed to clear my head. Climbing back into my car, leaving Evelyn with her witches. I sped away from the coven grounds, the town lights blurring into streaks of yellow as I drove. Eventually, I pulled over to a quiet park, the familiar scent of pine and damp earth washing over me.

Stepping out of the car, I stretched, my muscles tense with pent-up frustration. Maybe a walk would help. Pulling on my running shoes, I started jogging, the rhythmic pounding of my feet on the pavement a soothing counterpoint to the turmoil within.

As I rounded a corner, my phone vibrated in my pocket. Pulling it out, I saw Ana's name flash on the screen. A jolt of apprehension shot through me. Without breaking stride, I answered the call.

"Alexei," Ana's voice crackled with urgency, "we need you… right now!"

"Where are you?" I asked, quickening my pace.

"Old Mill," she gasped. "Another one… just like the others… a vampire… dead."

My blood ran cold. Another victim? It couldn't be… could it?

"Hold on," I said, pushing myself to run faster. "I'm on my way."

It felt like an eternity before I reached the Old Mill, a dilapidated structure that stood on the outskirts of town. Even from a distance, I could see the flashing lights of sheriff's cars, painting the night sky with an eerie red glow.

Ana was waiting for me near the police tape cordoning off the area. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with shock.

"It's Dimitri," she whispered, gesturing towards the figure lying sprawled on the ground.

Dimitri. A young vampire, one of the few youngsters I knew in Harmony Grove. He had always kept to himself.

As I approached the body, a wave of nausea washed over me. The sight was identical to the previous victims. Dimitri lay on his back, his face drained of color, two puncture marks gleaming on his pale wrist. There were no signs of a struggle, no defensive wounds.

My gaze darted towards the deputies milling around the scene. They moved with cautious curiosity, unaware of the true nature of the attacker.

"Have they touched anything?" I asked Ana in a hushed voice.

She shook her head. "I just got here myself. I called you right away."

Relief flooded me. "Good," I said, kneeling down beside the body. "We need to keep this scene clean until Evelyn arrives."

A young deputy, his face a mask of nervous curiosity, approached us. "Sir, are you related to the victim?" he asked.

"A… friend," I lied, forcing a smile. He probably just joined the force and he doesn't know me, and he is most likely human. More reason we need to keep quiet.

The deputy nodded, his gaze lingering on me for a moment too long. "Sheriff Thompson will be here soon," he said, his voice respectful. "She'll take it from here."

I stood up, a cold dread settling in my stomach. Another vampire, another victim killed in the same way. The feeling of helplessness was suffocating.

Hours seemed to crawl by as we waited for Evelyn. Finally, one of her deputies' patrol car pulled up, headlights slicing through the darkness.

She jumped out, her face etched with worry. As soon as she saw me, a flicker of relief crossed her features. Then, her gaze fell on Dimitri's lifeless body.

"Oh no," she breathed, a wave of sadness washing over her face.

Hurrying over, she crouched beside him, her eyes scanning the scene with a practiced efficiency. She spoke to the deputies, her voice calm and authoritative, but I saw the worry flickering in her eyes.

She stood up, turning to me and Ana. "We need to talk," she said, her voice grim.

Following her away from the prying eyes of the deputies, we found ourselves huddled beneath a sprawling oak tree. The moonlight cast an ethereal glow, highlighting the worry lines etched on Evelyn's face.

"Another, this time a vampire," I said, my voice low. "Killed the same way as Sarah and the others"

Evelyn nodded, her jaw clenched tight. "It's escalating," she said, her voice a mere whisper. "This creature… it's targeting vampires now too."

"Why?" I asked, frustration bubbling within me. "What is it trying to accomplish?" I asked, my voice tight with frustration.

Evelyn shook her head, her brow furrowed in thought. "I don't know, Alexei," she admitted. "But one thing is clear: this isn't some random act of violence. This is deliberate. A message."

"A message to who?" Ana chimed in, her voice sharp. "The coven? The vampires? The werewolves? Or maybe…" she trailed off, her eyes flickering towards me.

My breath hitched. "Maybe me?" I offered, a cold dread pooling in my stomach.

Evelyn's eyes met mine, her expression grave. "It's a possibility we can't ignore," she said. "If this creature wants to incite panic, to shatter the peace we've so carefully built… then targeting you would be the ultimate act of defiance."

A shiver ran down my spine. The treaty between the supernaturals in Harmony Grove was a fragile thing, built on trust. If this creature exposed our existence… the consequences could be catastrophic.

"We need to tell the coven," I said urgently. "We can't keep them in the dark any longer."

Evelyn hesitated. "They weren't exactly welcoming before," she said, a hint of bitterness in her voice.

"But they have the knowledge, the resources," Ana countered. "We can't fight this alone, not with this creature targeting both humans and all supernaturals."

Evelyn remained silent, the weight of the decision heavy on her shoulders. Finally, she let out a defeated sigh. "Alright," she said, her voice resigned. "I'll talk to Karla. But I can't guarantee they'll be receptive."

Relief washed over me. "It's worth a shot," I said, a flicker of hope sparking in my chest.

Exhaustion gnawed at me as I followed Evelyn through the crime scene tape. Dr. Ramirez, the portly medical examiner with a perpetually worried frown, zipped Dimitri's body into a black bag, his movements practiced yet respectful.

Evelyn directed the remaining deputies, her voice crisp and authoritative. But beneath the surface, I saw a deep sadness reflected in her eyes. We hadn't spoken much since my return from Mystic Vale, and a heavy silence hung between us. This whole thing was taking its toll on us, on our relationship too.

As the deputies cleared the scene, the medical examiner scurried away with Dimitri's body. Evelyn left in the patrol car, and I watched her go.

I turned around and made my way out of Old Mill too, it was time to head home.

"Alexei?" Ana's voice startled me. She had followed me, her face etched with concern.

"I… I just needed some time alone," I stammered, feeling a pang of guilt for leaving her abruptly.

She placed a hand on my arm, her touch a source of comfort. "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice gentle.

I looked into her eyes, the moonlight reflecting a deep well of concern. "Everything feels… out of control," I confessed. "Dimitri… the creature… the coven… Evelyn…"

My voice trailed off, the weight of the situation threatening to crush me. Ana's hand squeezed my arm tighter.

"You're not alone in this," she said, her voice firm. "We'll figure this out. All of us together."

Her words offered a flicker of hope. Maybe she was right. Maybe, together, with Evelyn, Ana, and the help of the coven, we could stop this creature and maintain the fragile peace in Harmony Grove.

"Thank you, Ana," I said, a grateful smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

"Let's get you home," she said, her smile mirroring mine. "You look like you could use some rest."

We walked to my car in comfortable silence. Dropping her off at her doorstep, I gave her a quick hug.

"We'll regroup tomorrow," I said, my voice stronger. "I need to recharge a bit."

Ana nodded, a determined glint in her eyes. "Get some sleep," she said. "We're going to need all our strength."

With a wave, I drove away. The exhaustion that had been gnawing at me now felt like a physical weight. All I wanted was to crawl into bed and forget everything.