21. Chapter 21 The Missing Dagger

Chapter 21: The Missing Dagger

ALEXEI

The sun is high as Evelyn and I set out for the Luminara Coven. The air is thick with anticipation, the stakes higher than ever. We haven't heard from Karla about the list of healers capable of curing Cassandra, and I am not at peace knowing that she could be out there getting the help she needs. Once she finds it, she could come back to strike at any moment, stronger than ever.

We arrive at the coven, and it doesn't feel like everyone is out for my blood anymore. Part of me is grateful that they now know that I couldn't have killed those elders, but another part of me feels sad that they would believe such a thing in the first place.

Karla greets us at the entrance, looking weary but resolute. Aren't we all?

"Apologies for the delay," Karla says, ushering us inside. "I've been busy with coven duties. You know witch business is always time-consuming."

Evelyn gives her a reassuring smile. "We understand. But we need that list of healers as soon as possible."

Karla nods and leads us to a small room filled with ancient tomes and glowing crystals. We sit around a wooden table, the atmosphere tense yet focused. Karla spreads out several scrolls and begins compiling the list.

"These are the most powerful healers," Karla says, her finger tracing over the names. "They can save someone engulfed by dark magic like Cassandra."

"This is a lot of names for us to visit at once, and I'm sure she would have been fully healed before we even get to whoever is healing her." Evelyn sighs and I reach for her hands under the table.

Karla pauses and looks up at me. "What kind of dagger was it? Do you remember? If I know the exact dagger, it can help narrow down this list even further."

I describe the dagger to her in detail, recalling its intricate engravings and how it pulsed with dark energy. Karla's eyes widen with shock. It looks like she knows the exact dagger I am talking about.

"Follow me," she says, her voice urgent.

We follow Karla down a narrow hallway to a secure room. She unlocks a heavy door, revealing a small chamber lined with shelves of magical artifacts. Karla points to an empty spot on one of the shelves.

"The dagger you described was confiscated and stored here. It's a deadly one, and it was supposed to be in our possession. I have no idea how it got out."

Evelyn and I exchange a glance. This confirms our theory—Cassandra isn't working alone.

"This is bad," Karla mutters, more to herself than to us. "I thought no witch would dare take the dagger."

Evelyn places a hand on Karla's shoulder. "Don't blame yourself. We need to focus on finding Cassandra and stopping her."

Karla nods, her resolve hardening. "I'll do my best to find it. Knowing the type of dagger narrows down our list of healers significantly."

We return to the table, and Karla strikes out more than half of the names. There are a few remaining names, but each one is a potential lead.

"We need to visit these healers," Evelyn says, her voice firm. "If Cassandra has sought their help, we need to know."

I agree, and we thank Karla for her help before returning to the sheriff's department. The drive back is filled with a heavy silence, both of us lost in our thoughts. The reality of our situation is stark—Cassandra has powerful allies, and we need to uncover them quickly.

Back at the department, the atmosphere is charged with activity. Deputies are poring over maps and coordinating patrols. Evelyn and I head to the conference room where a few deputies are gathered.

"We've got a list of potential healers," Evelyn announces, placing the scroll on the table. "We need to visit each one and find out if they've seen Cassandra."

Deputy Martinez steps forward. "I'll coordinate the teams. We'll cover as much ground as possible."

Evelyn nods. "Good. And keep the pressure on. We can't let up."

As the deputies disperse to their tasks, Evelyn and I retreat to her office. She sinks into her chair, rubbing her temples.

"How are you holding up?" I ask, sitting across from her.

She looks up, her eyes tired but determined. "I'll be fine. We just need to stay ahead of Cassandra."

I reach across the desk and take her hand. "We'll get through this. Together."

She squeezes my hand, a small smile playing on her lips. "I know. And thank you for being here."

We mobilize different patrol teams, each taking a name on the list, and Evelyn and I get into my car to visit the last name on the list.

We are visiting an aged healer named Miranda, and I truly do not know how receptive she will be to us. Evelyn feels quite certain she will talk to us, therefore, I put my trust in her intuition.

Miranda's cottage is nestled in a secluded part of town, the air thick with the scent of herbs and flowers. She meets us at the door, her expression wary but cooperative. She definitely wasn't expecting us, and I look around to see if there is any hint that Cassandra was here.

"Thank you for meeting with us; my name is Sheriff Evelyn," Evelyn states, her tone respectful but urgent.

Miranda nods, ushering us inside. "I know you, and I know he's the mayor. But I'm not sure what brings both of you to my home."

"Thank you. We are visiting every healer to see if a woman matching this description has visited them. She was injured by a cursed dagger laced with dark magic and is very desperate. We need to find her before she kills more people."

I notice her reaction; she has definitely seen Cassandra, and her next words will determine if they are working together or not. I prepare myself for the worst.

She leads us to a small sitting area, and we sit around a low table. Miranda takes a deep breath before speaking.

"A woman matching that description came to me," she says. "She was desperate and wounded. She wanted my help, but I sensed the dark magic in her and refused. I haven't dabbled in that sort of magic since the war; I like to protect the energy around my space these days."

"Did she say anything about her plans or anything that sticks out?" I ask, leaning forward, hoping she has slipped up.

Miranda shakes her head. "No, but she was frantic. She wasn't even angry that I wasn't going to help her. She just told me she would move to the next person on her list. She was here yesterday, so, if you know any other healer willing to dabble in such magic, you need to find them fast. She's either getting her healing or preparing to take her last breath. "

Evelyn thanks Miranda for her help, and we leave the cottage with a renewed sense of purpose. This lead confirms that Cassandra is still on the move and dangerous.

As we drive back to the department, Evelyn turns to me. "We need to tighten our net. Increase patrols and surveillance. She can't hide forever."

I nod in agreement. "And we need to keep pressing the council for more resources. This isn't just about us anymore. It's about protecting everyone in Harmony Grove."

When we return to the department, the team is already in high gear, following up on Miranda's lead and coordinating the increased patrols. Some of the patrol officers already returned, reporting that nobody else had seen her.

As the night deepens, Evelyn and I take a moment to step outside, the cool air a welcome respite from the tension inside. She leans against me, and I wrap my arm around her shoulders.

"We'll find her," I say, my voice steady.

"I know," she replies, her voice soft but firm. "And when we do, we'll make sure she can't hurt anyone else."

Back inside the department, Evelyn and I regroup in the briefing room. The energy is tense. Everyone is focused on the task at hand. Evelyn, ever the strategist, brings up a critical point.

"We know Cassandra won't return to her house," Evelyn says, pacing in front of the team. "It's too risky for her. But we need to search the place and see if we can find anything that will help our cause."

I nod, agreeing with her logic. "It's worth a shot. She might have left something behind in her rush."

Ana, my sister, stands by the door, her expression serious. "I'll join you. We need all the eyes we can get."

We head out, and the drive to Cassandra's house is silent but charged with anticipation. The place looks untouched from the outside, but as we step in, it's clear she left in a hurry. Drawers were left half-open, and papers are scattered everywhere.

"Let's get to work," Evelyn says, diving into the search.

We split up, each tackling a different area of the house. I start in the living room, sifting through piles of papers and books. Evelyn heads upstairs while Ana checks the kitchen.

Time ticks by, and the more we search, the more frustrated I get. It feels like a wild goose chase. When I'm about to give up, Evelyn's voice calls out from upstairs.

"Alexei! Ana! Come here; I found something!"

We rush to the bedroom, finding Evelyn sitting on the bed with a journal in her hands. She flips through it, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"Her last entry was three weeks ago," Evelyn says, showing us the pages. "She mentions a friend, but there's no name."

Ana peers over her shoulder. "An accomplice?"

"Possibly," Evelyn replies. "But there are no other pointers to who it might be."

I think for a moment, then glance around the room. "We should take the journal. There might be more clues we haven't seen yet."

Evelyn nods and tucks the journal under her arm. As we prepare to leave, I notice a piece of clothing draped over a chair. I pick it up, the fabric soft in my hands.

"What do you plan to do with that?" Evelyn asks, curious.

I look at her, an idea forming. "I want Karla to try a locator spell with it. If Cassandra left a trace of her essence, it might help us find her."

Evelyn shrugs. "It's worth a try."

We leave Cassandra's house with the journal and clothing, our only leads. Back at the department, Karla is waiting for us. She has been searching for the dagger without luck. I can see the weariness from her long, unsuccessful day on her face and it motivates me even more to find Cassandra and end the reign of confusion and fear she has had over this town since the first murders.

We exchange greetings, and Evelyn fills her in on our progress. I hand her the piece of clothing and tell her about the locator spell I want her to try.

"I'll need some time to prepare," Karla says, taking the clothing. "But if there's any trace of Cassandra's essence on this, I'll find it."

Evelyn shows Karla the journal. "Meanwhile, we'll go through this and see if we missed anything."

Karla nods and heads back to the coven while Evelyn and I return to her office. We sit down at her desk, the journal open between us. We scrutinize every word page by page, looking for hidden meanings or clues.

Evelyn sighs, rubbing her temples. "This friend of hers... it has to be someone we know. Someone with enough power to help her."

I agree, my mind racing with possibilities. "And if they have the dagger, they're more dangerous than we thought. Something tells me they can even help with the healer part if they were able to help her get such a dagger from the coven unnoticed."

The call comes just before dawn. Another body has been found, and Evelyn and I rush to the scene. I park the car, and we step out into the clearing where the body lies, surrounded by our team and a few onlookers.

Evelyn takes the lead, moving swiftly towards the body. I follow, noting the grim expressions on our colleagues' faces. The victim, a young woman, lies on the ground with the dagger firmly planted in her chest. The sight makes cold blood run through me.

"Evelyn," I say, gesturing towards the dagger. "This has to be the missing dagger Karla mentioned."

She nods, already calling Karla. "We need you here, now. Another body has been found. Yes, the dagger is here too."

Karla arrives swiftly; her expression is as grim as the rest of ours. She kneels beside the body, examining the dagger closely. Her eyes widen as she confirms our suspicions. She pauses for a moment, turning and poking around the body, and she sighs.

"This is the missing dagger," Karla says, her voice tense. "But... it wasn't the cause of death. It was placed here post-mortem. They are trying to throw us off or something."

Evelyn frowns. "Then how did she die?"

Karla's face darkens. "Her soul has been taken. I suspect it was used as part of the healing process for Cassandra."

A murmur of shock ripples through the team. Evelyn's eyes narrow, and she asks the question on everyone's mind. "Do you know anyone capable of such an act, Karla?"

Karla shakes her head. "No, but I'll make some inquiries."

Evelyn and I exchange a glance, then we step away to discuss the situation privately. On our way back to the car, Evelyn's voice is low and serious.

"I don't think Karla is telling us everything she knows."

I nod, considering her words. "We should be cautious, but we can't afford to alienate her. Let's wait it out, see what she comes up with. We need her on our side."

Evelyn sighs, clearly frustrated. "You're right. We can't afford to lose her help now."

As we drive back to the department, the weight of our situation presses down on me. Cassandra is more dangerous than we ever imagined, and now there's the possibility that she isn't working alone. We need to be smart and strategic.