15. Chapter 15 Zara’s Passing

Chapter 15: Zara's Passing

EVELYN

I arrive at Alexei's house just after sunset, the sky painted orange and purple. The deputies at his door nod as I walk past, their presence a constant reminder of our precarious situation. Inside, Alexei is pacing the living room with a look of frustration on his face.

"Evelyn," he says, relief washing over his features as he sees me. "I was starting to worry."

"I'm here now," I reply, stepping closer for a hug. "We need to talk."

He nods, and we sit down on the couch. I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. "The council has given us two more weeks. They want us to find the shapeshifter."

Alexei's brow furrows. "A shapeshifter? Do you know who it is?"

I nod. "Her name is Cassandra. She was at the café, posing as a woman named Rachel. We confirmed it earlier."

He leans back, shock evident on his face. "Cassandra... I haven't heard that name in years. She disappeared before the great war, when Ana and I were teenagers."

"She's back now. And she's dangerous," I say, my voice steady. "I need you to tell me everything you remember about her."

Alexei runs a hand through his hair, his eyes distant as he recalls the past. "Cassandra was always different. Even among shapeshifters, she stood out. She was powerful, even as a child. We all thought she had a bright future, but then she just vanished. No one knew where she went or why."

"Do you remember anything specific about her? Anything that could help us find her?" I ask, leaning forward.

He thinks for a moment. "She had a temper. When she was angry, she could shift into anything, anyone. It made her unpredictable; dangerous. She also had a fascination with dark magic, even when it was forbidden."

"That matches what we've learned," I say, jotting down notes. "She's using her powers to create chaos and I believe she is responsible for all these murders."

Alexei looks at me, concern in his eyes. "When will this house arrest be lifted, Evelyn? I can't help if I'm stuck here."

"They're keeping you here to keep you safe," I reply. "If Cassandra wanted to kill you, she would have done it that night of the witch murders. That doesn't mean she can't come back to finish what she started."

He shakes his head. "Being cooped up in here isn't helping anyone. We need to find her before she does more damage. Let me out there with my powers, I can do more faster than anyone else."

"I know," I say softly. "But for now, we need to play it safe. I can't risk losing you or having her do something else and have you blamed. Then we'd be really out of time. Right now, the council knows exactly where you are. This keeps you in the clear of blame for other misdoings."

Alexei sighs, frustration clear on his face. "Alright. But promise me you'll be careful. Cassandra isn't someone to underestimate."

"I promise," I say, squeezing his hand. "We'll get through this."

We spend the next hour talking, going over every detail he can remember about Cassandra. His memories paint a picture of a volatile, dangerous being. It's clear that finding her won't be easy, but it's the best strategy we've got right now.

As I prepare to leave, Alexei stops me. "Evelyn, if you need me, call. I can't stand being here, doing nothing."

"I will," I promise. "Stay safe, Alexei."

He nods, and I head back out into the night, my mind racing with new information. The task ahead is daunting, but with every piece, we're getting closer.

Back at the department, I gather the team. Ana, Mark, Linda, and Teresa are waiting.

"Alexei gave us some valuable information about Cassandra," I say, filling them in on our conversation. "We need to use this to our advantage."

Ana nods. "We need to find her before she can do more harm."

"Agreed," Mark says. "I'll keep the surveillance on the café. If she shows up again, we'll be ready."

Linda chimes in. "I'll look into her movements since she arrived in town. Maybe there's a pattern to her movements we didn't see before."

"Good," I say, feeling a renewed sense of possibilities. "Let's meet back here tomorrow night with any updates."

As the team disperses, I can't help but feel the weight of the responsibility on my shoulders. Harmony Grove is counting on us, and failure isn't an option.

The night passes in a blur of research and phone calls. Every lead, every clue, brings us closer to finding Cassandra. But as dawn approaches, I know we still have a long way to go.

I drive to Zara's house, a sense of urgency thrumming through me. The streets of Harmony Grove are quiet, unaware of the supernatural turmoil beneath their surface. As I approach Zara's quaint home, I can't shake the feeling that she might have more answers. The last time we spoke, she was evasive but hinted at knowing more than she let on.

When I arrive, I notice an unfamiliar car parked outside. I knock on the door, and a young woman opens it. Her eyes are red from crying, and she looks at me with a mix of confusion and curiosity.

"Hi, I'm Evelyn, the sheriff. I am here to see Zara," I say, trying to keep my voice gentle.

The woman nods slowly. "I'm sorry, but Zara passed away peacefully. We buried her already and the family has left for New Jersey."

A shock runs through me. "I'm so sorry for your loss. I didn't realize…"

The woman offers a small, sad smile. "Thank you. It was very sudden, but peaceful."

I take a breath, steadying myself. "Did Zara have any family here? Anyone I could speak to?"

She shakes her head. "No, I'm just a neighbor helping out. Zara's family took care of everything before leaving. They didn't leave any contact information; they said there was no need to keep in touch with Harmony Grove."

I try to hide my frustration. "Did Zara say anything before she passed? Anything unusual?"

The woman looks puzzled. "No, nothing that I know of. She was very quiet in her last days."

"Thank you for your time," I say, turning to leave. "If you think of anything, please contact me at the Sheriff's Department."

She nods, closing the door softly behind her. I walk back to my car, feeling the weight of this new development. Zara's sudden death feels too coincidental, too convenient. There was something she wasn't telling me, and now that secret is buried with her.

I get into my car and drive back to the department. My mind races with thoughts of Zara, her cryptic words, and the mystery of Cassandra. Once I arrive, I gather the team.

"Ana, Mark, Linda, Teresa," I call out, watching as they gather around. "Zara passed away within the last few days. Her family buried her today and left town."

The shock on their faces mirrors my own feelings. Ana speaks first. "That's...unexpected. Do you think it's related?"

"I don't believe in coincidences," I say. "We need to keep digging."

Mark frowns. "Did you get any contact information for her family?"

I shake my head. "No. The woman I spoke to said there was no reason for them to stay in touch."

Teresa sighs. "So, we're back to square one?"

"Not entirely," I say. "We still have the information Alexei gave us about Cassandra. We need to focus on tracking her down."

Ana nods. "I can try to reach out to some old contacts, see if anyone remembers anything useful about Cassandra."

"Good," I say. "Mark, keep an eye on the café. Linda, dig into any records we have on Zara. Teresa, stay on top of any new developments in town."

Everyone nods, dispersing to their tasks. I head to my office. I sit at my desk, pulling out the files we have on Cassandra. Her face, her name, everything about her is a puzzle we need to solve.

As I pour over the files, my phone rings. It's Alexei.

"Evelyn," he says, his voice a mix of concern and frustration. "Any updates?"

"Zara passed away," I tell him, hearing his sharp intake of breath. "Her family buried her and left town. We have no way to contact them."

"Damn," he mutters. "That's too convenient."

"I agree. But we still have leads. We're focusing on Cassandra."

"Good. Just be careful, Evelyn. Cassandra is dangerous."

"I know," I say softly. "I promise I'll be careful."

We talk a bit more about the case, exchanging theories and ideas. After we hang up, I feel a bit more focused, more determined. Alexei's trust in me fuels my resolve.

The day passes in a blur of research and coordination. I follow up on every lead, no matter how small. The team gathers again in my office.

"Ana, did you find anything?" I ask.

She nods. "I spoke to an old contact who remembered Cassandra. She was known for her temper and her ability to shift into anyone she wanted. It made her unpredictable and very dangerous."

"Any idea where she might be now?" Mark asks.

Ana shakes her head. "No one has seen her in years. Not since she vanished back when we were young."

"Linda, what about Zara's records?" I ask.

"Nothing unusual," Linda replies. "Her death was recorded as natural causes. But I did find something interesting. Zara had a visitor a day before she died. A woman matching Cassandra's description."

My heart races. "So, she was there. And now Zara is dead."

"That can't be a coincidence," Teresa says.

"Agreed," I say. "We need to find Cassandra. She's our best lead."

Mark speaks up. "What about the café? Should we keep watching it?"

"Yes," I reply. "But we need to expand our search. Cassandra could be anywhere."

The team nods, determined. We plan our next steps, each of us taking on new tasks and leads. As the meeting ends, I feel a sense of purpose. We're getting closer.

After everyone leaves, I sit alone in my office, my mind clouded with the thoughts of everything going on. The town is counting on us to solve this, to bring justice. And I won't let them down.

I take a deep breath, gathering my strength. Tomorrow is a new day, and we'll continue the fight. For Zara, for Alexei, for Harmony Grove. The hunt for Cassandra is on, and we won't stop until we find her.