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"I don't remember everything," Maisie admitted, pressing a hand to her temple. "They did something to my mind. But I know I was their prisoner for as long as I can remember. Bartie helped me escape." She gestured to the bat, who bowed dramatically.

"Pleasure to formally make your acquaintance," Bartie said.

"My name is Bartholomew Wingrove Flittington III---though you can call me Bartie.

" He fluttered his wings importantly. "I was tasked with monitoring her, but I found I couldn't stomach Ronald's treatment of her.

Or his fashion sense, frankly. So, when he was distracted by his weekly fashion runway show---dreadful affair, really, all those sequins---I helped her slip away. "

"A fashion runway show?" Uma asked.

"Oh yes," Bartie sighed. "Every Wednesday night, Ronald forces his coven to sit through his 'Eternal Fashion Collection.

' Picture, if you will, a middle-aged vampire the color of pumpkin puree, modeling increasingly gaudy outfits while proclaiming himself a 'fashion genius.

' The horror of it all nearly turned me to stone. "

Listening nearby, Gloria cleared her throat. "As fascinating as the clothing choices of this 'Ronald' may be, shouldn't we be more concerned about the, um, vampire invasion?"

"If there is one," Murphy pointed out. "With all due respect, Miss, this sounds rather---"

"Insane?" Maisie supplied with a bitter smile. "I know how it sounds. But I've spent most of my life as Ronald's prisoner. I've seen what he's capable of. And he's coming. When the blood moon rises."

"Blood moon?" a chorus of voices repeated.

"Yes," Maisie nodded gravely. "Ronald will come with his coven. They're mostly newly turned and stupid, but dangerous in numbers. They'll try to take the town, starting with water from the falls."

With growing concern spreading through the pub, Honey, Roam, Uma, and Murphy huddled to plan. What began as humorous---an orange vampire called Ronald obsessed with fashion---now appeared menacing rather than amusing.

"Sweetheart," Roam whispered, gently grasping Honey's hand, "I'm aware she's probably your sister. However, we must explore every option."

"Probably? She is. And I can guess what's on your mind," Honey answered, keeping her eyes on her sister. "But something's wrong. Everything she's saying---it feels true, even the ridiculous parts. Maybe especially those."

Uma crossed her arms. "I agree with Honey. No one could make up something that absurd unless it was real."

"We should take her to Evangelina Coal," Murphy suggested. "If anyone can verify vampire involvement, it's her."

Maisie turned to address the growing crowd of patrons.

"When the blood moon rises," she announced, her voice carrying surprising authority despite her bedraggled appearance. "Ronald will come with his coven. They are actual vampires and very dangerous. They're coming to take over the town."

Curious townsfolk crowded the pub, and her words instantly provoked a response. Several witches began arguing about protective spells, while others demanded more information.

"How do we know you're telling the truth?" a skeptical warlock called out, his voice cutting through the growing din.

"She's my sister," Honey said firmly, returning to her side. "And we're going to hear her out."

Suddenly the pub's heavy oak door burst open, making a loud thud.

Dr. Clive Wimpleton entered, his wispy white hair standing on end, and his wire-rimmed spectacles askew.

Colin Scott, carrying a large leather-bound book, followed behind him, with Evangelina Coal, Cauldron Falls' resident expert on dark creatures, bringing up the rear.

"Roam! You need to see this," Clive announced, his voice cracking with excitement.

"It just flew into the bookshop," Colin added, holding up the book---a massive tome of Edgar Allan Poe's complete works. Pressed between the pages lay a bat. It was far larger than Bartie and clearly dead.

Evangelina, a striking witch---silver-streaked black hair, piercing eyes---moved forward with professional composure. "It flew directly into the bookshop's open door," she explained. "Most unusual behavior for a bat, especially one of this species. It's not native to our region."

Bartie fluttered down from Maisie's shoulder, hovering near the flattened corpse. "Frederick," he said sadly. "Always was a clumsy flyer. Sent as Ronald's advance scout, I'd wager."

"You know this bat?" Evangelina asked sharply, her attention snapping to Bartie.

Bartie nodded. "Part of Ronald's surveillance team. Terrible eyesight, even for a bat. Not surprised he met his end via literature."

"It just flew into the bookshop," Clive repeated, still shaken. "And he smashed it with the book."

"It was Poe, to be exact," Colin mused. "Seemed fitting, somehow."

Fear and excitement fueled a chaotic uproar at the pub, with voices blending together. Amid the chaos, Honey's gaze met Maisie's. "It's starting," she said grimly. "They're already watching us."

"How much time do we have?" Roam asked, his voice cutting through the noise.

Maisie glanced at the window, noticing the almost-full moon shining brightly. "Until the blood moon crests in the sky."

As if orchestrated for dramatic effect, the lights in the pub flickered momentarily, casting strange shadows across the worried faces of Cauldron Falls' residents.

"A spray tanned vampire with a comb-over?" someone whispered.

"Who'd believe such a thing?" answered another.

However, the presence of the dead bat, undeniable evidence of something strange, shifted the atmosphere from doubt to worried apprehension. In the magical town of Cauldron Falls, where the unexpected was commonplace, a vampiric invasion led by a self-absorbed fashionista now seemed plausible.