20. Chapter 20 What’s Next?

Chapter 20: What's Next?

EVELYN

Back at the department, the team gathers around Alexei, checking for marks or any signs of injury. He looks visibly shaken, and I can't help but keep asking him, "Are you alright?"

He meets my gaze, his eyes filled with concern. "Evelyn, Cassandra has too many dark forces in her. I suspect she's not working alone. She has allies, and we need to find whoever is helping her or giving her those powers."

I nod, absorbing his words. "Did you see anything that could help us identify her allies?"

Alexei shakes his head. "No, but she's definitely injured. The dagger used against her produced a wound that will take a while to heal."

"You've done enough, Alexei," I say firmly. "You can rest now. I'll handle it from here."

He gives me a weary smile. "Be careful, Evelyn. She's dangerous."

"I know," I reply.

The team carefully removes the recorder from Alexei's body. We gather around the audio equipment, anxious to hear what was captured. As the tape plays, the room fills with the tense conversation between Alexei and Cassandra. Her voice is filled with malice, and I can hear the pain in Alexei's responses.

"Make another copy," I instruct one of the deputies. "Remove any part of the conversation where supernatural elements are mentioned. We need to create an incriminating audio for Cassandra that we can use. It's time to start our own smear campaign, we will use the same press against her."

As the team works on the audio, I gather my thoughts. Cassandra's allies need to be identified, and we need to find a way to stop her. I can't let her continue to wreak havoc on Harmony Grove.

"Sheriff," one of the deputies calls out, "we've got the edited audio ready."

"Good," I reply, standing up. "Let's hear it."

The deputy plays the edited version, and I listen intently. It captures Cassandra's malice perfectly without mentioning anything supernatural. This will be useful.

"Make several copies," I instruct. "We need to distribute this strategically."

The deputy nods and gets to work. I turn back to Alexei, who's watching me with a mix of pride and concern.

"Get some rest," I tell him again. He looks like he needs it desperately, and I don't blame him for not wanting to take a rest. Cassandra is devolving fast, and we must stop her immediately. "We'll take it from here."

He nods, finally giving in to his exhaustion. I watch as he leaves the room, feeling a pang of worry. But I push it aside. There's work to be done.

I feel a flicker of hope. This is a start. We have a plan, and we're executing it. Now, we just need to stay focused and vigilant. I hope this forces her to do something drastic, but I have my doubts. She is wounded but we still need to find her before she returns for us all. I don't need a soothsayer to tell me that her return will be deadly.

I take a moment to step outside. The cool air helps clear my mind. I look up at the stars, feeling a mix of determination and resolve.

We will stop Cassandra. We will protect Harmony Grove. And we will do it together.

I head back inside, ready to continue the fight. There's no time to rest. Not until Cassandra is stopped for good.

I sit at my desk, eyes fixed on the screen as the recording uploads to the news outlet's server. Every second of Cassandra's malicious confession is captured, her voice dripping with hatred and vengeance. The story we're spinning is simple: Cassandra attacked Alexei in his home, making her the prime suspect in the recent murder cases.

We have a confession and will let the press do the rest. Public opinion would be swayed very soon, and everyone would see her for the devil she is. The disgusting accusations about me covering up for Alexei will stop, and I can finally focus on bringing her to justice.

Once the edited upload is complete, I take a deep breath and press send, sharing the link with every major media outlet in the region. The gears are set in motion. I can already envision the headlines: "Cassandra, Wanted for Attempted Murder and Murder, Bounty Placed."

My phone buzzes. It's a message from the news anchor confirming receipt. The news will break in minutes.

I step outside my office, the cool air a brief reprieve from the tension. The press conference is about to start, and I must be composed. Alexei stands nearby, talking with some deputies, his presence a steadying force.

"Ready?" he asks, joining me.

I nod. "As ready as I'll ever be."

We walk together to the front of the station, where a crowd of reporters waits, microphones and cameras aimed at us. The murmur of voices hushes as we step up to the podium. I clear my throat and begin.

"Good afternoon. As many of you know, there have been a recent series of events involving a woman named Cassandra. Today, we have evidence linking her directly to these crimes. Last night, she attacked Mayor Alexei in his home, confirming her as the main suspect in all the murder case we've been investigating."

There's a ripple of shock through the crowd. Cameras click, and hands shoot up with questions, but I hold up a hand to forestall them.

"We have released an audio recording of the incident, which you will find linked in the press release. Cassandra is now wanted, and a bounty has been placed on her head. We urge the public to come forward with any information on her whereabouts. This woman is very dangerous, so please do not approach her. We encourage everyone to say something if they see something."

More murmurs, more camera flashes. I signal the end of the statement, and the reporters erupt into questions. I answer a few, staying on script, emphasizing the danger Cassandra poses and the need for public cooperation.

After the conference, Alexei and I retreat to my office. He looks at me, a question in his eyes. "What's next?"

I lean against my desk, thinking. "We wait for her to make the next move. In the meantime, we need to unite the other supernaturals. We have to come together as one to put her in her place once and for all."

He nods, understanding the gravity. "We'll start reaching out to the covens and packs. We need all the help we can get."

My phone buzzes again, interrupting our conversation. It's a text from an unknown number: "If you think this is over, you're in for a rude awakening. You can live in the delusion as long as you want, at least until I'm ready to come for you again."

I show Alexei the message, and he frowns. "She's taunting us."

I chuckle, shaking my head. "She has no idea what she's up against." This time, I'll be ready to take her down.

Alexei and I return home. We know the real work has just begun but we're going to need our full strength and wits to overcome this challenge.

Night falls, and we sit silently, gathering strength for the battles ahead. My phone buzzes again, and another message from the unknown number comes through: "You think you can stop me? You're delusional."

I don't respond, but I show it to Alexei. "She's trying to get under our skin."

"She won't succeed," he says firmly. "We're stronger than she realizes."

I lean into him, drawing comfort from his presence. "We need to stay vigilant. She'll strike again, and if we're not ready, it will be deadly."

"We will be," he assures me. "We've faced worse."

Excited to get to bed, we settle under our covers but sleep eludes me. I focus on the plan, deepening my breathing to help me find the calm I need to drift off. We've set the stage, and now it's a waiting game. But I won't let Cassandra win. Not this time. Finally, with that thought in my mind, I succumb to sleep.

The council chamber is heavy with the scent of old wood and lingering incense. Alexei and I step inside, and the low murmur of the elders ceases as all eyes turn to us. The tension is palpable, each elder seated in an ornate chair, the weight of centuries of tradition hanging in the air.

"Sheriff Evelyn; Mayor Alexei," Elder Mordecai begins, his voice stern. "Explain why the public is more aware of the murderer than this council."

I take a deep breath, stepping forward. "We had to act swiftly to control the narrative. Cassandra posed an immediate threat, and we needed to alert the public for their safety."

Elder Liora narrows her eyes. "And you chose to inform them before us?"

I hold my ground. "It was a tactical decision. But I have brought the full tape of Cassandra's confession for your review."

I nod to one of the deputies, who set up the playback device. The room fills with Cassandra's voice, her vitriol and madness evident. The elders listen intently, shock and outrage flickering across their faces.

When the tape ends, silence falls over the room. Elder Mordecai's eyes are hard. "How did she escape, Sheriff, despite the many warriors present to capture her?"

Alexei steps in, his voice calm but firm. "She was wounded during the confrontation. We underestimated her and her dark magic though, and that is what enabled her to escape. It won't happen again."

Karla, seated among the council, interjects. "If she was wounded by the enchanted dagger, she'll need a powerful witch to heal her. Without one, she risks dying from the wound. She'll be seeking healers."

Elder Liora's gaze shifts to Karla. "Can you reach out to your network of healers?"

Karla nods. "I will. We need to know if anyone has been approached by Cassandra or someone on her behalf."

Elder Mordecai's eyes bore into Alexei. "Mayor, the council tasks you with finding Cassandra and bringing her to face us. If you fail, you will be held accountable for her crimes."

I am in shock by their choice of words, but Alexei nods. "I understand. We will find her."

The council meeting adjourns, and Alexei and I step outside, the tension easing slightly. I turn to him, concern in my eyes. "This is serious. We need to find her before she finds help."

Alexei nods. "We will. Let's regroup with Ana and the others and plan our next move."

We head back to the department, the urgency of the situation driving us forward. The station buzzes with activity, deputies working tirelessly to track any leads on Cassandra's whereabouts. I call a meeting in the conference room, the mood tense but focused.

"We have our orders from the council," I begin. "We need to locate Cassandra and bring her in. She's wounded and will be seeking a healer. We need to reach out to all our contacts and keep a close watch on any known practitioners of powerful magic."

Deputy Martinez raises a hand. "What about surveillance on the borders? If she's trying to leave town, we should know."

"Good point," I say. "We'll increase patrols and set up checkpoints. No one leaves or enters without us knowing."

Alexei stands beside me, his strength a reassuring balm for all of us. "We also need to ensure the safety of our community. Let's keep a close eye on anyone who might be vulnerable to Cassandra's influence," he adds, his gaze turning thoughtful and pensive. I can sense the gears turning as he tries to predict all the dangers Cassandra could present and how to counteract each one.

The meeting concludes, and we set our plans into motion. I reach out to Karla, who's already contacting her network of healers.

Alexei and I retreat to my office, where we can strategize in private. He sits across from me, his expression thoughtful.

"She'll be desperate," he says. "Desperate people make mistakes. We need to be ready to exploit any weakness."

I nod. "Agreed. We'll keep the pressure on. She can't hide forever."