14. Chapter 14 Cassandra

Chapter 14: Cassandra

EVELYN

The council chamber buzzes with energy as I step inside, the heavy wooden doors closing behind me. The room, filled with the scent of ancient parchment and incense, feels both welcoming and oppressive. I walk towards the podium, every eye in the room following my steps. The council members, seated in a semi-circle, radiate authority and centuries of accumulated wisdom.

Elder Thaddeus clears his throat, breaking the silence. "Evelyn, we are eager to hear your report. What news do you bring?"

I stand tall, my voice steady. "We believe we have identified the source of the recent murders. A shapeshifter may be involved."

A ripple of disbelief spreads through the council. Elder Miriam, her eyes sharp and skeptical, speaks up. "Shapeshifters are extinct, Evelyn. They were eradicated during the Great War."

I meet her gaze unflinchingly. "Not all of them. Zara is still alive, and she hinted that others might have survived as well."

The room falls silent, the council members exchanging uneasy glances. I take a deep breath and continue, "Elara's body is missing. We suspect someone is attempting to revive her powers and exact revenge."

Elder Thaddeus leans forward, his face grave. "If a shapeshifter has indeed survived, they pose a significant threat. You must find and stop them, Evelyn."

"I intend to," I reply firmly. "But I need assurances that Alexei will be protected. I can't pursue this lead effectively if I'm constantly worried about his safety."

There's a heavy pause before Elder Thaddeus nods. "You have our word. Alexei will be safe. We will give you two more weeks to find the killer."

A sigh of relief escapes me. "Thank you."

Karla steps forward, her presence calming amidst the tension. "Remember, Evelyn, the coven is always here to assist you. Shapeshifters are extremely dangerous. Don't hesitate to call upon us."

"I appreciate that, Karla," I say, hugging her briefly, glad we might be getting back on solid ground between us. "I might need your help sooner than later."

With the council's assurance, I feel a renewed sense of purpose. As I leave the chamber, the gravity of the situation weighs heavily on me. Two weeks to find a shapeshifter who has managed to stay hidden for centuries. Great, just great! But at least it's something.

Back at the department, I gather the task force in the briefing room. Mark, Linda, and Teresa sit around the table, their expressions serious and focused.

"We have two more weeks," I begin, "to find this shapeshifter. The council is giving us their full support, but we need to move quickly."

Mark nods, his brow furrowed. "What's our next move?"

"We need to track down any surviving shapeshifters," I reply. "Ana's sources in the Shadows might help. Linda, I want you to follow up with Ana. Teresa, continue digging into Elara's background. There might be clues we've missed."

"Got it," Teresa says, jotting down notes.

"Mark, your job is to ensure Alexei's safety. We can't afford any more surprises."

"Understood," Mark replies, determination in his eyes.

"Let's get to work," I say, my voice filled with resolve.

The team disperses, each member focused on their task. I return to my office, where the files on Elara are spread out across my desk. We're missing something, and I'm determined to find it.

The coffee shop is a haven of normalcy amidst the chaos of my life. I sink into a corner seat by the window, cradling my coffee cup, hoping the warmth will chase away my worries. The soft hum of conversations and the occasional clink of cutlery are soothing, contrasting with the tension that's been my constant companion.

I sip my coffee, letting the rich flavor calm my nerves. It's a brief escape, a moment to gather my thoughts. As I gaze out the window, I feel a prickling sensation, as if someone is watching me. I turn, and my eyes meet those of a woman seated a few tables away. She's staring directly at me.

Without hesitation, I grab my coffee and walk over to her table. "Mind if I join you?"

She smiles with a warm, welcoming expression. "Not at all. Please, sit."

I settle into the chair opposite her. "I'm Evelyn. Are you new in town?"

She nods. "Yes, I moved here about a month ago. I'm Rachel, a teacher."

"A teacher? That's wonderful. What do you teach?"

"Elementary school. I love working with kids. They have such an unfiltered view of the world."

We chat for a while, exchanging stories about our lives and the town. Rachel seems genuine, her laughter infectious. It's a relief to have a normal conversation, even if it's just for a little while.

Eventually, I glance at my watch and realize I need to get back to the department. "It was really nice meeting you, Rachel."

"Likewise, Evelyn. I hope we can chat again sometime."

I smile. "I'd like that."

I leave the café feeling a bit lighter. But as soon as I step into the department, reality crashes back in. I head straight to Mark's desk. "Mark, I need you to look into something for me."

He looks up from his computer, his brow furrowing. "What is it?"

"There's a new arrival in town, Rachel. I want you to check the town database for information about her. Where she works, where she lives, where she came from and when."

Mark nods, his fingers flying over the keyboard. I wait, tapping my foot impatiently. It feels like an eternity before he looks up, his expression serious.

"There's no Rachel in the database."

I freeze, a cold dread settling in my stomach. "Are you sure?"

He turns the monitor toward me, showing the empty search results. "Positive. No one by that name has moved here in the past few months or works here in town."

My mind races. Who is Rachel, really? And why did she lie about her identity?

I return to my office, my thoughts swirling. I can't shake the feeling that Rachel is connected to everything happening in Harmony Grove. But how? And why did she choose to talk to me, knowing I'm the Sheriff?

I spent the next few hours poring over the case files, my mind only half on the task. I kept replaying my conversation with Rachel, looking for any clue I might have missed. Her smile, her ease—it all seemed so genuine. But something about her is off, and now I can't ignore it.

As the day wears on, I decide to call Alexei. He needs to know about this. His voice is a comforting presence on the other end of the line.

"Alexei, I met someone today. Her name is Rachel, but she's not in the database."

"That's strange. What do you think it means?"

"I'm not sure yet. But I have Mark looking into it. We need to be cautious."

"Agreed. Just be careful, Evelyn."

"I will. You too."

As I hang up, my mind is already racing ahead. There's so much at stake, and any new player in town could either be a threat or an ally. I need to find out which one Rachel is.

Ana's living room feels like a war room. Papers are scattered across the coffee table, half-empty coffee cups balanced precariously on stacks of old books. The deputies—Mark, Linda, and Teresa—sit around, faces serious. Ana and I stand by the fireplace, the warmth doing little to ease the tension.

Ana sighs, rubbing her temples. "Still no luck with finding a personal item of Elara's. Without it, a locator spell is out of the question."

I nod. "Then we move on. We need to find the killer before they strike again."

Mark leans forward. "What's our next step?"

"I met someone at the café. She said her name is Rachel, but there's no record of her in the town database. She's new, but something felt off."

Ana frowns. "Can you describe her?"

I think back to the café. "She had mismatched eyes, very piercing. One brown, one blue."

Ana freezes, her face draining of all color. She hurries to a drawer, pulling out an old photo album from her younger years. Flipping through it quickly, she stops at a page and hands me the picture. "Look at this girl. Can you imagine her older?"

I study the photo, my breath catching. "That's her. That's Rachel."

Ana's voice is grim. "Her name is Cassandra. She was a shapeshifter. Vanished when we were teenagers, before the war. No one knew where she went."

The room goes silent. Teresa is the first to break it. "So, we are dealing with a shapeshifter. This confirms our theory."

Ana nods. "Cassandra is as brutal as any shapeshifter can get. If she's back, we need to brace ourselves."

Linda looks around, worry in her eyes. "How do we find her?"

I take a deep breath. "We start by tracking her movements. She's been spotted at the café. We set up surveillance, see if she returns. And we need to question anyone who might have interacted with her."

Mark stands. "I'll handle the surveillance. I'll get a team together to keep an eye on the café."

Teresa chimes in. "I'll talk to the locals, see if anyone knows anything about her."

Ana glances at me. "We need to be careful. Cassandra is dangerous. She could be watching us right now."

I nod. "We need to stay vigilant. Let's meet back here tomorrow night to review what we've found. In the meantime, if anyone sees her call me immediately"

The team disperses, each with their assigned tasks. Ana and I stay behind, the silence heavy between us.

"Do you think we can stop her?" Ana asks quietly.

"We don't have a choice if we're going to save Alexei and Harmony Grove," I say, half of a smile, both wistful and hopeful, slowly stretches my lips.

I leave Ana's place, my mind racing. The thought of Cassandra being back, a shapeshifter with a possible vendetta, chills me to the bone. But I can't let fear paralyze me. Too much is at stake.