"Sounds smart, so probably," another replied.
Tandy smiled tightly. They might question her terminology, but soon, when the falls water enhanced her abilities, no one would question her magic again. She'd make sure of it.
When the workers turned their attention elsewhere, Tandy quickly pulled a small vial of orange liquid from her purse. Sheglanced around furtively before applying a drop to the rope---then froze when she realized she was being extremely obvious, standing on tiptoes with a suspicious vial in hand.
She immediately pretended to be applying lip gloss, smacking her lips loudly. "Can't inspect crosses with dry lips! That's just Construction Inspection 101!" she announced to no one in particular.
A passing warlock gave her an odd look but continued on his way.
"This cross needs to fall exactly---" she muttered, then caught herself as a worker glanced her way. "I mean, this cross seems very sturdy! Tremendously sturdy! No chance of collapse!" She punctuated this with a high-pitched laugh that caused several birds to flee from nearby trees.
Archive Fever
The archives occupied the basement of the town's oldest building---a stone structure predating even the founding of the magical community. Unlike the modern witch structures above, the archives retained their ancient character: rough stone walls, narrow windows set high near the ceiling, and shelves upon shelves of magical records dating back centuries.
Evangelina descended the worn stone steps, her leather satchel slung over one shoulder. The archive door recognized her magical signature and swung open with a groan of ancient hinges.
"Still refusing to be oiled, I see," she murmured to the door, which creaked again as if in response.
Inside, the air was cool and dry, preserved by spells that had been maintained for generations. The Lights flickered to life as she entered, illuminating rows of shelves containing scrolls, books, and various magical storage devices unique to different eras.
Evangelina moved purposefully to the historical section, where records of supernatural encounters lived. But as she reached for the catalog, she paused. Something felt... off.
She turned slowly, surveying the room. Nothing seemed disturbed. The lights cast their usual warm glow, and the silence was the comfortable quiet of an empty library.
And yet...
"Hello?" she called, feeling slightly foolish. The archives were restricted. Only a handful of people in Cauldron Falls had access. Still, the prickling sensation on the back of her neck persisted---a warning system that had kept her alive through two centuries of studying dark creatures.
Shaking it off, Evangelina pulled several large tomes from the shelves and settled at an ancient oak table. She opened her notebook and searched.
"Vampire encounters, regional history," she muttered, flipping pages. "There must be something..."
The lights flickered briefly, causing her to look up with a frown. That wasn't normal---the preservation spells should prevent any magical fluctuations.
Again, that feeling of being watched. She casually reached into her satchel, fingers closing around a small vial of protection powder, while continuing to flip through the book before her.
"Found you," she whispered triumphantly as her eyes landed on an entry. "Vampire incursion, 1897..."
The lights flickered again; more pronounced this time. A soft sound---like fabric brushing against stone---came from somewhere to her left.
Evangelina didn't look up. "Whoever's there, I should warn you: I've specialized in dark creatures for near two centuries. Sneaking up on me would be inadvisable."
Silence answered her. The temperature in the ancient stone room plummeted twenty degrees as Evangelina inhaled. A familiar chill that always made her smile.
A translucent figure materialized near the tall shelves---an elderly woman in Victorian-era clothing, her pearl necklace catching the archive lights. Her presence filled the room with the comforting scent of lavender and old books.
"Oh, my stars," the ghost said with theatrical dismay, her voice like wind chimes in a gentle breeze. "I do hope I'm not interrupting anything important. Though judging by the magical research spread about, I'd say this session has proven quite educational."
Evangelina's brief startle melted into a warm smile. "Minerva! Perfect timing, as always. I was hoping you might appear---I could use your expertise." She gestured to the scattered tomes around her. The ghost's presence always brought clarity to complex supernatural threats.
"Though I must say, when my time comes to cross over, I do hope I'll have the chance to join you here among all these wonderful books. Imagine having eternity to read through the entire collection without interruption." Evangelina smiled.
"Really, dear Evangelina, such morbid thoughts," Minerva replied, though her expression was fond. "Though I must admit, the afterlife does have its perks---unlimited research time, no need for sleep, and the ability to eavesdrop on the most fascinating supernatural conversations." She smoothed her ethereal skirts with dignity. "Speaking of which, this Ronald fellow and his vampire schemes have provided quite the entertainment. Orange skin and a comb-over? In my day, vampires had more dignity."
Evangelina chuckled, settling back in her chair. "I take it you've been listening to the supernatural gossip network again?"
"Indeed, I have," Minerva nodded approvingly. "Familiars are the worst chatterboxes you can imagine. But this situation is more serious than Ronald's ridiculous appearance suggests."
