11. Chapter 11 The Shape of Deception

Chapter 11: The Shape of Deception

EVELYN

I stride into the courthouse, my heart pounding with a mix of anger and determination. The air is thick with tension as I push open the doors to the judge's chambers. The room falls silent, all eyes turning to me.

"Judge Thompson," I say, my voice firm, "we need to talk."

He looks up from his papers, his expression stern. "Sheriff Evelyn, again. This is highly irregular."

"So is keeping an innocent man locked up," I retort, stepping closer to his desk. "Either trial Alexei for the murders or let him go."

Judge Thompson sighs, leaning back in his chair. "Sheriff, you know as well as I do that Alexei's case is complicated. We can't just release him without—"

"Without what?" I cut in. "Without keeping him in solitary confinement and then suddenly moving him to general population where he was threatened and attacked?"

The judge's eyes narrow. "Alexei isn't innocent, Evelyn. The evidence—"

"What evidence?" I challenge, my voice rising. "Explain how the murders of those men happened while Alexei was locked up. He couldn't have done it."

The judge opens his mouth to speak, but I press on. "You have no proof that he's guilty, and now we have proof that he's being set up with evidence of him being driven to the murder scene. Keeping him in jail without a fair trial is unjust."

"Very well," he says slowly. "We'll release Alexei to his house under house arrest. Multiple sheriff deputies will watch over him every day. But he must adhere to strict conditions."

"Thank you," I reply, my voice softening. "You're making the right choice."

I hurry out before he changes his mind, my heart racing with relief. I drive straight to the prison, my mind focused on seeing Alexei free. When I pull up, he's already outside, looking bewildered. Judge Thompson probably gave the order before I left his office.

"Evelyn," he says, his face lighting up with a smile as he sees me in the car. He slides into the passenger seat, and I can see the disbelief in his eyes.

"I can't believe it," he murmurs.

"Believe it," I say, starting the car. "You're going home."

We drive in comfortable silence, the tension from the past days slowly easing. When we reach his house, I park and turn to him.

"There are conditions," I begin. "No visitors, and you're not allowed to leave the building. Deputies will be watching you every day."

Alexei nods. "I understand. Thank you, Evelyn."

I squeeze his hand. "I'll do everything I can to clear your name."

He nods again, his eyes filled with gratitude. I step out of the car and watch as he heads inside, relief washing over me. This isn't over, but at least he's safe for now.

I get back into the car, my mind already racing with the next steps. Instead of heading to the department, I decide to drive to Ana's place. She needs to know what's happening and how we're going to prove Alexei's innocence.

The drive is short, and soon, I'm knocking on Ana's door. She opens it, surprise flashing across her face.

"Evelyn, what's going on?" she asks, stepping aside to let me in.

I walk inside, taking a deep breath. "We need to talk about Alexei."

Ana nods, leading me to the living room. We sit down, and I start explaining everything—the attack in prison and the confrontation with the judge.

Ana listens intently, her face growing more serious with every word. When I finish, she leans back, a thoughtful look on her face.

"So, he's back under house arrest now?" she asks.

"Yes," I reply. "But we only have two days left to prove his innocence. We need to find more evidence."

Ana nods. "I'll help. Whatever it takes."

"Thank you," I say, feeling a surge of relief. "We'll start first thing in the morning."

As I leave Ana's place, the weight of the situation still feels dire, but with Ana's help, I feel a renewed sense of hope. We will clear Alexei's name, no matter what it takes.

Back in my car, I take a moment to gather my thoughts. The darkness outside mirrors the uncertainty of our situation, but I refuse to let doubt cloud my resolve. I start the engine and head home, ready to face whatever comes next. I change my mind at the last minute and head to the coven instead, thinking maybe Karla can help us regarding Alexei's memory. She might not be forthcoming, but I want to assume she will help me.

I push open the door to the Luminara Coven, the familiar scent of herbs and incense filling my nose. Karla is seated in the large conference area, at the head of a long table, surrounded by other members. Her eyes narrow as she sees me, but she nods for me to approach.

"Evelyn," she says, her tone cool. "What brings you here?"

I take a deep breath, stepping forward. "I need your help, Karla. Alexei's been remembering fragments of that night. I believe you can help him regain his full memory."

Karla leans back, crossing her arms. "And why should I help him?"

"Because deep down, you know he's innocent," I say, meeting her gaze. "He couldn't have killed those men and the witches."

A murmur spreads through the room. Karla raises a hand, silencing it. "Innocent or not, he's still dangerous. You're asking me to go against the council."

"You're not going against them," I argue. "You're seeking the truth. Isn't that what we all want?"

Karla stands, pacing slowly. "And what if the truth condemns him, Evelyn? What then?"

"It won't," I insist. "He didn't do this. Please, Karla. Help me."

Karla stops, facing me. "You always were stubborn," she mutters. We lock eyes, and I can see the internal battle she's fighting. "Fine. I'll come by later tonight. But this doesn't mean I'm on your side."

"Thank you," I say, relief flooding through me. "That's all I ask."

She turns to leave, but I hesitate. "Karla, do you think the others will ever trust me?"

She pauses, her expression softening slightly. "I doubt it, Evelyn. You haven't given them a reason to think you're for them, even if you are part of us."

"I hope they don't hate me," I say quietly.

Karla sighs. "It's not about hate. It's about trust. You need to show them where your loyalties lie."

"I understand," I reply. "Thank you for agreeing to help."

Karla nods, a faint smile on her lips. "We'll meet later tonight. Be prepared."

As I leave the coven hall, I feel a mix of hope and anxiety. I drive back to Alexei's house, my mind racing. I need this to work. We need to clear his name.

The evening drags on at Alexei's house, and we wait anxiously for Karla to arrive. Alexei sits across from me, his face drawn with worry.

"Do you think she'll come?" he asks.

"She will," I say, trying to sound more confident than I feel. "She knows you're innocent."

He nods, but I can see the doubt in his eyes. The minutes tick by slowly, each one a reminder of how much is at stake.

Finally, there's a knock at the door. I rush to open it, and Karla steps inside, a bag slung over her shoulder.

"Let's get this over with," she says, her voice firm.

We gather in the living room, and Karla begins to set up, drawing symbols on the floor with chalk and lighting candles. Alexei watches her, a mix of hope and fear in his eyes.

"Sit here," Karla instructs, pointing to a spot in the center of the symbols. Alexei obeys, and she places her hands on his temples, closing her eyes.

"Relax, Alexei," she murmurs. "Let your mind open. Let the memories flow."

I watch in silence, my heart pounding. Minutes pass, and I can see Alexei's face tense with concentration.

"I see...flashes," he says, his voice strained. "But it's not clear. There's something blocking it."

Karla frowns, her brow furrowing. "There's dark magic at play here as I stated before," she mutters. "Something very strong."

"Can you break it?" I ask, desperation creeping into my voice.

"I'm trying," she replies, her voice tight with concentration. "But it's not easy."

She chants softly, her hands glowing with a faint light. Alexei's eyes close, and his breathing slows. The room feels charged with an odd energy, the air thick with tension.

Suddenly, Alexei gasps, his eyes flying open. "I remember...a figure. A shadowy figure. We were talking."

"What else?" Karla prompts, her voice urgent.

"That's all," he says, frustration evident in his voice. "It's all a blur just a shadowy figure."

Karla sighs, stepping back. "It's something, at least. But there's still a block. Someone doesn't want him to remember."

"Thank you," I say to Karla, my voice filled with gratitude. "This helps. It's a start."

Karla nods, packing up her things. "I'll look into it more. But be careful, Evelyn. This is dangerous magic we're dealing with."

"I know," I reply. "And I appreciate your help."

As Karla leaves, I turn to Alexei, who looks exhausted but relieved.

"It's a lead," I say, trying to sound hopeful. "We can work with this."

He nods, a faint smile on his lips. "Thank you, Evelyn. For believing in me."

"Always," I reply, taking his hand.

We sit in silence for a moment, the weight of the situation settling over us. But there's a glimmer of hope now, a chance to uncover the truth. And I cling to that hope, determined to clear Alexei's name and protect our town from the dark forces at play.