Page 11

Sister, Sister (Finally!)

I n the waiting room, Honey paced nervously while Roam stood by the window, keeping watch on the street below.

"The town's going crazy," he observed. "Half of them preparing for a vampire apocalypse, the other half insisting it's all nonsense."

"Marty Tuey," Honey said with distaste. "Always trying to prove he's above 'old-fashioned' magic."

"And Tandy Keyes has been oddly visible today," Roam added. "I've seen her talking to just about everyone in town."

"Probably sees a business opportunity in the chaos," Honey said. "She's been desperate for sales."

The doorknob rattled, and Tiffany looked up from her nails. "Um, there's like, a ton of people outside. They all want consultations or protection amulets or something. Ms. Coal already said she won't be able to see anyone else today after your sister."

Roam peered out the window again. Sure enough, a line had formed outside the building, stretching halfway down the block.

"This is getting out of hand," he muttered.

The inner office door opened, and Evangelina emerged, looking troubled. Maisie followed, her expression dazed, with Bartie hovering protectively near her ear.

"Well?" Honey asked anxiously.

Evangelina glanced at the growing crowd outside her window and beckoned them all back into her private office, lowering her voice.

"Your sister has indeed been in contact with vampires.

There are magical traces consistent with their presence---" she paused, looking puzzled, "---but they're oddly. .. cosmetic."

"Cosmetic?" Roam asked.

"Yes. I found extensive traces of what appears to be a magical aerosol spray. When exposed to my diagnostic spells, it turned bright orange." Two centuries of studying dark creatures had taught her to read the subtlest signs of supernatural influence.

Maisie nodded, suddenly remembering. "The spray! They would douse me with it daily. Ronald's 'Vampire Essence Number Five'---he made it himself. Said it would mark me as his property."

"It's essentially supernatural hairspray," Evangelina continued, fighting back a smile. "With about as much actual power. Though it does create a traceable signature that vampires can follow."

"Like a really persistent perfume," Bartie added. "Quite nauseating, actually. Smells like rotting oranges mixed with excessive masculinity."

"What about the blood moon? The attack?" Honey pressed.

Evangelina's expression grew more serious. She moved to a tall bookshelf and pulled down an ancient leather-bound tome, its covers worn smooth by centuries of handling. She placed it on her desk, opening to a page with medieval illustrations of vampires performing rituals beneath a crimson moon.

"Blood moons aren't just pretty light shows," she explained, her voice taking on the measured cadence of a lecturer. "They create a unique arcane window---a period when the barriers between certain magical states become temporarily permeable."

She turned the page to reveal intricate diagrams of astronomical alignments.

"For vampires specifically, a blood moon amplifies their natural abilities and weakens their traditional vulnerabilities.

During a blood moon, they're stronger, faster, and more resistant to silver, garlic, and religious symbols all of which weaken them. Only a silver stake to the heart will actually kill them, or you must remove their heads with your bare hands.”

"That’s intensely scary stuff. Is that why Ronald is waiting for the blood moon?" Honey asked, studying the illustrations with growing concern.

"Partly," Evangelina confirmed. "But more critically, blood moons enable permanent territorial claims." Her finger traced a complex runic circle on the page.

"Magical creatures have been using blood moons for territorial rituals for millennia.

Werewolf packs, fairy courts, and yes, vampire covens---they all recognize the power of a blood moon for establishing claims that will endure beyond the celestial event itself. "

"So, if Ronald completes his ritual during the blood moon," Roam said slowly, "the vampire claim on Cauldron Falls wouldn't end when the blood moon passed."

"Precisely," Evangelina nodded gravely. "It would become permanent. And that's why the timing is so crucial. The exact moment when the blood moon reaches its apex---that's when the magical influence is strongest."

Maisie visibly trembled. "That's exactly what Ronald kept talking about. He was obsessed with the cresting of the moon."

"Combined with the falls' magical water," Evangelina continued, closing the book with a gentle thud, "Ronald could create a permanent vampire sanctuary that would be nearly impossible to dismantle once established.

The water would amplify the blood moon's effects, potentially allowing vampires to overcome their natural limitations indefinitely. "

Maisie twisted the silver chain around her neck nervously. "There's something else about the water that Ronald doesn't know---or at least, I don't think he knows."

Evangelina leaned forward, her centuries-old eyes sharpening with interest. "Go on."

"The falls water has to be freely given," Maisie explained, her voice growing more confident as she accessed a memory that had been clouded by Ronald's attempts at mind control.

"I overheard some of his followers arguing with him about it.

They had been researching magical waters and warned Ronald that trying to take the falls by force would render them useless. "

"Did Ronald listen?" Honey asked.

Maisie gave a bitter laugh. "Ronald never listens to anyone. He dismissed it as 'negative thinking' and told them to be more 'tremendous' in their attitude."

Evangelina rushed to her desk and returned with the Falls journal. "This aligns with what I've read about Cauldron Falls' founding magic. The original witches built in protections---safeguards against those who would steal the water's power."

She found the page she was looking for and nodded in satisfaction. "Here---Everett Falls' journal mentions it specifically: 'The waters respond to intention. Force diminishes their power; freely given, they unlock their full potential.'"

"Ronald's plan has a fundamental flaw," Roam observed.

"One that his insider---whoever they are---either doesn't know about or is deliberately hiding from him," Evangelina agreed, her expression turning thoughtful. "This could be crucial to our defense."

She scribbled a note in her elegant handwriting: "Water must be freely given---potential strategy against vampire invasion."

"And what about my memories?" Maisie asked. "Why can't I remember everything clearly?"

"Ah, that's more complex," Evangelina said, consulting her notes. "It seems Ronald attempted vampire hypnosis on you repeatedly. The problem is, he's remarkably bad at it. Instead of creating clean memory blocks, he's created a sort of... mental static. Your memories are there, just scrambled."

"Like a badly tuned radio," Bartie offered helpfully.

"Exactly," Evangelina confirmed. "I also noticed something interesting. The constant exposure to vampire auras---even through that ridiculous spray---has given you some residual abilities. Can you sense when people are being dishonest?"

Maisie's eyes widened. "Yes! I thought I was imagining it. I can... smell when someone's lying. It's like they give off this sour odor."

"A useful skill," Evangelina noted. "Though probably not worth years of fashion shows and spray tan exposure."

"Definitely not," Maisie agreed.

"Then we need to prepare the town," Roam said decisively.

"Not so fast," Evangelina cautioned. "There's more I need to research. The Cauldron Falls Archives contain historical records of similar incidents. I should check them immediately."

"When will you know more?" Honey asked.

"Tonight," Evangelina replied. "Meanwhile, you should take Maisie somewhere safe to rest."

"FACTS & FIBS," Honey suggested. "It's protected by multiple wards."

Evangelina nodded approval. As they walked back into the front office, Evangelina cast a weary glance at the crowd of anxious townspeople outside her door.

"Tiffany, tell them I'll be conducting research and can't see anyone else today.

If they want protection, direct them to Gwen Lewis.

She's selling those crystal amulets at her wand shop.

They won't ward off vampires, but they'll make people feel better. "

Tiffany smirked and nodded, clearly used to delivering disappointing news to clients. She opened the front door. A cacophony of voices immediately flooded in, all demanding protection, information, or confirmation of their vampire theories.

"Ms. Coal isn't seeing anyone else today!" Tiffany announced loudly. "She's conducting critical research to protect the town!"

The crowd erupted in protests, but Tiffany stood firm, one hand on her hip, the other pointing back toward town.

"Gwen Lewis has protective crystal amulets.

Ms. Coal will make an announcement when she has concrete findings.

" Closing the door, Tiffany flipped a switch on the wall, that illuminated a ‘Closed’ sign in the window.

As the crowd reluctantly dispersed, Roam, Honey, and Maisie prepared to leave through a side door to avoid attention. Evangelina was gathering books and notes into a large leather satchel.

"I'll contact you as soon as I have more information," she promised. "Be careful. If there are vampires watching the town, they may have allies helping them."

"You mean someone here is working with them?" Honey asked, alarmed.

"It wouldn't be unprecedented," Evangelina confirmed. "Vampires often recruit locals with promises of power or wealth. Keep your eyes open for anyone behaving oddly."

As they prepared to part ways, there was a sharp knock at the side door. Roam motioned for everyone to stay back while he checked who it was.

"Ms. Coal?" called a falsely cheerful voice they all recognized. "It's Tandy Keyes! I see your office is closed, but I simply must speak with you about a private matter. It's quite urgent!"

Evangelina rolled her eyes. "That woman has been trying to sell me a larger consultation space for months." She moved toward the door but paused when Bartie suddenly fluttered in agitation.

"I don't like this," the bat whispered. "Something feels wrong."

Roam signaled for silence, then called through the door. "Ms. Keyes, Evangelina is very busy. Perhaps you could make an appointment."

There was a moment of silence, then Tandy's voice came again, noticeably less cheerful.

"Oh! Detective O'Reilly. I didn't realize you were here.

Yes, of course, an appointment. It's quite urgent and pertains to.

.. property vulnerabilities that Ronald might exploit.

I thought Ms. Coal might find it relevant to her research. "

Evangelina and Roam exchanged meaningful glances.

"I'm sure it can wait until tomorrow," Roam called back firmly.

"Very well." The distinctive click of her high heels retreated down the path.

“That was suspicious,” Honey said.

“Very,” Roam agreed. “I’ll look into exactly what Ms. Keyes has been up to today.”

As they opened the side door cautiously, Maisie suddenly stopped. “She’s lying,” she said quietly. The sour smell of deception was unmistakable now that her senses were clearing---Tandy reeked of it.

“What?” Honey asked.

“Tandy Keyes. When she said it could wait… I could smell it. She was lying.” Maisie looked surprised at her own ability. “That’s… kind of cool, actually.”

“Your first successful use of vampire detection,” Bartie said proudly. “Though technically, you’re smelling lies, not vampires.”

“Still counts,” Maisie said with a small smile---the first genuine since she arrived in Cauldron Falls.

As they left through the side exit, Evangelina watched them go with a thoughtful expression. She had her own suspicions about Tandy Keyes, and now she had research to conduct that might confirm them.