She floated closer to Evangelina's research. "Ronald's plan has a fundamental flaw that even his inside accomplice doesn't seem to understand.”
She floated closer to Evangelina's research materials. "What you must understand about the falls water is this: it doesn't just need to be freely given---it responds to the giver's true intentions. The water has a consciousness of sorts, and it judges the heart of whoever channels it."
"What do you mean?" Evangelina asked, setting down her pen.
"The water becomes whatever the giver truly desires in their heart," Minerva explained. "If someone offers it with genuine protective intent, it becomes a shield against evil. But if offered with deception, malice, or selfish intent..." The ghost's smile turned sharp. "Well, let's just say it becomes quite hostile to the intended recipients."
Evangelina's eyes widened with understanding. "So, if someone were pretending to help vampires but actually hoping they'd be harmed..."
"The water would sense that true intent and act accordingly," Minerva confirmed. "It's quite elegant, really. The original witches who blessed these falls were remarkably clever."
"This changes everything about how we defend the town," Evangelina murmured, making rapid notes.
"Indeed. And there's something else you should know," Minerva continued, her expression growing serious. "There's betrayal coming from within Cauldron Falls. Someone is working with Ronald---someone desperate enough to believe his promises of wealth and power."
"Who?" Evangelina asked sharply.
"That, I'm afraid, you'll need to discover for yourself. But watch for someone with access to town defenses, someone struggling financially, someone who feels overlooked or undervalued." Minerva began to fade slightly. "The living and the dead can work together, you know. I've been watching Cauldron Falls for nearly two centuries---there are always threats, and they often come from where you least expect them."
"Will you help us?" Evangelina asked.
"I'm bound to these archives, but I can share what I observe. And remember---sometimes the best weapon against darkness is simply knowing the truth about someone's heart, and the true nature of the magic you're protecting."
With that, the ghost began to fade, her final words echoing in the cold air: "When the blood moon rises, trust in the falls' wisdom and remember---the water will know the truth even when people lie. Use that knowledge well."
The temperature returned to normal as Minerva vanished, leaving Evangelina alone with her research and a crucial new understanding of how the falls' magic truly works. She immediately began writing notes about the water's responsiveness to true intent---information that would prove vital in the coming battle for Cauldron Falls.
Down Goes the Cross
Tandy moved through town, her elegant blue suit and gold jewelry drawing attention while her strange behavior attracted confused stares. She reached into her purse, her fingers closing around Ronald's vial of anti-magic formula. She needed to ensure the cross was properly sabotaged before Evangelina crossed the town square again. One "accident," and her biggest obstacle would be eliminated.
Fortunately, the town was distracted. In the square, Marty's protest had grown, his followers waving signs proclaiming "VAMPIRES = FAKE NEWS" and "FACT-CHECK YOUR FEARS!" Directly opposite, Gwen Lewis and her traditional faction brandished garlic bundles and chanted protection spells. The two groups faced each other with growing animosity, the massive cross standing between them.
Tandy circled back to the cross, pretending to casually examine the crowd while edging closer to the northern support rope. When she thought no one was watching, she pulled out the vial and reached for the rope.
"Ms. Keyes," a stern voice called. "What are you doing?"
Tandy whirled to find Mrs. Wilson watching her with suspicion, the elderly witch's eyes flicking from Tandy's hand to the rope and back again.
"Mrs. Wilson!" Tandy exclaimed, quickly hiding the vial behind her back. "What a pleasant surprise! Lovely weather for a protest, isn't it? Or a counter-protest? Or just standing here admiring this impressively large religious symbol?"
"You didn't answer my question," Mrs. Wilson said, her voice cutting through Tandy's babbling. "What are you doing with that cross?"
"Cross? What cross? Oh, this cross!" Tandy laughed nervously. "Just checking the stability. Did I mention I used to work in construction? These support ropes seem concerning. Very concerning. Deeply concerning."
Mrs. Wilson's expression remained skeptical. "Is that so? Then perhaps you should inform someone rather than poking around alone."
This was an unexpected complication. Tandy needed to divert the old woman's attention before she noticed the orange liquid in the vial.
"You know, Mrs. Wilson, has anyone ever told you that you have the most discerning eye for structural integrity? You should have been an architect! Or a bridge inspector! Or a professional rope quality assessor!"
Mrs. Wilson's eyes narrowed further. "Tandy Keyes, I've known you since you were a child who couldn't light a candle without setting her own pigtails on fire. Your manipulation techniques haven't improved since then."
Tandy gasped in indignation. "Manipulation? Me? I'm just a simple real estate witch who happens to know an awful lot about structural failure points! Completely normal!"
Before Mrs. Wilson could respond, a commotion erupted at the edge of the square. Dr. Clive Wimpleton had arrived, hiswispy white hair standing on end, clutching a large leather-bound book with something flattened between its pages.
"Another bat!" he announced to the gathered crowd. "Found this one trying to enter my home!"
