An Ancient Power’s Revenge (Moonlight Mysteries #2)

27. Chapter 27 - The Nogitsune

Chapter 27 - The Nogitsune

Evelyn

T he world spun around me in a haze of confusion and fear as Alexei carried me into the Luminara coven. The other witches rushed towards us, their expressions a mixture of concern and alarm as they saw me in Alexei's arms.

Karla stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she took in the sight before her. "What happened?" she demanded, her voice sharp with urgency.

Alexei explained our harrowing experience in Mystic Vale, mentioning the visions that had left me in a state of shock. Karla listened intently, her brow furrowing with concern.

"It was her moon revelation," Karla said finally, her voice grave. "She saw something that tapped into our ancestral powers."

A sense of relief washed over me as the other witches gathered around, their hands reaching out to soothe my troubled soul. They began a ritual to ease my mind, their voices blending together in a soothing melody that washed over me like a gentle wave.

Slowly, the darkness that had consumed me began to lift, replaced by a sense of calm and clarity that settled over me like a warm blanket.

I opened my eyes to find Karla kneeling beside me, her expression filled with concern. "Evelyn, can you tell me what you saw?" she asked gently.

I nodded, the memories of my visions still fresh in my mind. "I saw a creature," I began, my voice trembling with the weight of my words. "It was dark and menacing, with fangs and red eyes."

Karla's eyes widened in shock, a chill running down her spine. "That's not possible," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

I frowned, confusion clouding my thoughts. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice tinged with apprehension.

Karla took a deep breath, her expression grave. "Evelyn, the variety of the killings... the werewolf, the witch, the vampire... it all makes sense now."

I felt a knot form in the pit of my stomach as I realized the gravity of her words. "You mean they were targeted because of what they are?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Karla nodded, her gaze steady. "Yes. And if what you saw is true, then we're all in deep trouble."

I swallowed hard, the weight of her words settling over me like a heavy cloak. "What do we do now?" I asked, my voice trembling with uncertainty.

Karla's expression hardened, her eyes flashing with determination. "We find this creature and stop it before it can harm anyone else. But first, we need to gather our forces and make a plan."

As the other witches gathered around us, their faces set with grim determination, I knew that the battle ahead would be like nothing we had ever faced before. But with Karla leading the way, I was filled with a sense of hope that together, we could overcome whatever darkness lay ahead.

The air crackled with tension as Alexei turned to Karla, his eyes filled with urgency. "What is this creature, Karla? And why are we in deep trouble?" he asked, his voice edged with concern.

Karla took a deep breath, her expression grave as she prepared to reveal the truth. "It's called a Nogitsune," she began, her voice heavy with dread. "A deadly spirit creature capable of killing every form of supernatural being. A Nogitsune is created by merging different souls of different supernaturals."

My heart sank at her words, the weight of the revelation settling over me like a dark cloud. "But how is that possible?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Karla shook her head, her eyes haunted with knowledge. "The killer is building it, using the souls of different supernaturals. But the foundation always has to be a banshee. A Nogitsune is created after a banshee has been made to succumb to dark forces. It also needed the talisman for it to be tamed, and other supernaturals’ souls to make the powers greater than usual."

A chill ran down my spine as I realized the implications of her words. "That's why the banshee in Mystic Vale was missing," I murmured, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place.

Karla nodded grimly. "Exactly. The killer has already taken her soul, and now they're close to completing the Nogitsune."

My mind raced with the gravity of our situation. "How do we defeat it?" I asked, my voice tinged with desperation.

Karla's expression softened, her gaze meeting mine with a mixture of sympathy and resolve. "We have to free the souls contained within it while ensuring that whoever is controlling it is distracted enough for us to disarm them."

I nodded, the weight of our task settling heavily on my shoulders. "And what about the talisman?" I asked, remembering the ominous object that had haunted my visions.

Karla's eyes darkened with concern. "I believe the Talisman has been reactivated making the Nogitsune viable," she admitted, her voice heavy with worry. "They're likely gearing up to attack now."

I felt a surge of fear grip my heart at her words, the realization of the danger that lurked just beyond the horizon striking me.

"We need to join forces," Karla said, her voice firm with determination. "We have to find out how to stop this killer, especially when we don't know their next move."

We nodded in agreement, knowing that together, we stood a chance against the darkness that threatened to consume us all.

With a plan in place, we disbanded, each of us preparing for the battle that lay ahead. Karla kissed my forehead, her touch imbued with a mixture of love and protection.

"Be careful, Evelyn," she said softly, her voice filled with maternal concern. "And take this." She chanted a spell into my ear, the words washing over me like a soothing balm.

"Thank you, Karla," I said, gratitude swelling within me as I prepared to face the darkness that awaited us.

As we drove back towards the town, the gravity of our situation weighed heavily on us both. Alexei glanced over at me, his eyes filled with concern.

"What's our next move, Evelyn?" he asked, his voice tense with anticipation.

I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts as I formulated a plan in my mind. "First, I need to head to my office and brief my team members," I replied, my voice steady with determination. "They need to know what we're facing, and I'll declare a curfew to ensure the safety of the humans."

Alexei nodded in agreement, his expression grave. "And what about the vampires? The curfew might upset them," he asked, his voice tinged with urgency.

I sighed, knowing that we needed all the help we could get if we were to stand a chance against the darkness that threatened to engulf us.

"You need to mobilize them, let them know the dangers ahead now and how they can be of help to the place they have known as their home all their lives." I said, my voice firm with resolve.

"And inform the supernatural council. We need all hands-on deck now. I also think we should inform the werewolves. They might have asked to be left alone but this concerns them too."

As we pulled up outside the Sheriff’s Department, I felt a sense of purpose wash over me. "Thank you, Alexei," I said softly, gratitude shining in my eyes.

He reached out, squeezing my hand in silent support. "Be careful, Evelyn," he said, his voice filled with concern.

With a nod, I stepped out of the car and headed inside, the weight of our mission heavy on my shoulders. As Alexei drove away, I knew that we were facing a battle unlike any other. But as long as we stood together, I was confident that we could overcome whatever challenges lay ahead, united in our determination to protect the town we called home.