Chapter 7: Monroe's Plan Unfolds
Astoria’s streets bustled with life as Everett and Evanora made their way back to their lodging after another eventful day. The magical lamps lining the streets flickered with warm light, and witches and wizards passed by, some walking, others riding their broomsticks above. But while the city seemed peaceful on the surface, an insidious plot was already unfolding in the shadows.
Across town, in a dimly lit tavern near the outskirts of Astoria, a group of tourists huddled around a table, their faces partially obscured by dark cloaks. At the head of the table sat Monroe, a tall, imposing figure with sharp eyes that glowed with malice. His fingers drummed rhythmically on the wooden surface as he surveyed the group around him.
“We’ve waited long enough,” Monroe growled, his voice low and menacing.
“Astoria is ripe for the taking.”
One of his henchmen, a shifty man named Grimes, leaned in.
“The witches here are powerful, Monroe. But their defenses are lax. No one expects tourists to be a threat.”
Monroe smirked, his lips curling into a sinister grin.
“Exactly. That’s what makes this plan perfect. No one sees us coming.”
Across the room, a group of witches sat quietly, eyes downcast, their dark robes marking them as part of the escort witch service. They had recently joined Monroe’s sinister ranks, lured by promises of wealth and power. These witches, unlike Evanora, had abandoned any sense of morality and now worked for Monroe, helping him carry out his twisted scheme.
One of the witches, a woman with long, jet-black hair and piercing green eyes, looked up. Her name was Lilith, and she was Monroe’s most trusted accomplice.
“We’ve identified the targets,” Lilith said coldly.
“The young witches, the ones still learning. They’ll be easy to capture.”
Monroe’s grin widened.
“Good. The more souls we collect, the more power we’ll have. And once we harvest their magic, we can sell it to the highest bidder. Astoria will become our hunting ground.”
Lilith nodded, her expression emotionless. “The escort witches we’ve recruited will help. They can lure the younger witches into traps. No one will suspect them.”
Monroe leaned back in his chair, clearly pleased.
“Perfect. And once we have enough souls, we’ll sell them to those desperate for power—foreigners, criminals, anyone willing to pay the price. Astoria’s magic will be ours to control.”
As Monroe’s sinister plan continued to unfold, back in the heart of Astoria, Everett and Evanora were blissfully unaware of the danger lurking nearby. They strolled through the streets, laughing as they recounted the day’s mishaps.
“I can’t believe we fell into that enchanted fountain,” Everett chuckled, shaking his head. “I’m pretty sure that witch selling potions is going to ban us from her shop.”
Evanora laughed, though a bit nervously. “Yeah, maybe we should avoid that area for a while.”
As they walked, Evanora’s broomstick floated beside her, still behaving itself after the day’s earlier chaos. For now, everything seemed calm.
But unknown to them, they were being watched.
High above, a pair of dark-cloaked figures hovered on broomsticks, observing Everett and Evanora from the shadows. One of the figures leaned toward the other, his voice barely audible.
“Is that her?” the first figure asked.
The second figure nodded. “Yes. That’s Evanora, one of the new recruits. And that’s her tourist, the boy named Everett.”
The first figure sneered. “She’s clumsy and inexperienced. She’ll be easy to deal with.”
“Monroe will be pleased,” the second figure said. “We’ll keep an eye on them. When the time comes, we’ll strike.”
Back at the tavern, Monroe rose from his seat, the ominous tension in the room growing. “It’s time to begin,” he said darkly, his voice carrying a sense of finality. “Soon, we’ll have everything we need.”
Grimes nodded eagerly. “What about the witch escorts who haven’t joined us yet? There are still a few who remain loyal to Astoria.”
Monroe’s eyes gleamed with malice. “Leave them to me. They’ll either join us, or they’ll suffer the same fate as the witches we capture.”
Lilith smirked. “And the tourists? What about them?”
Monroe shrugged dismissively. “They’re just pawns. We’ll use them to help us blend in. As long as they don’t get in the way, they’re harmless.”
The group exchanged dark glances, their resolve solidifying. They had infiltrated Astoria under the guise of tourists, but their true goal was far more sinister. They would kidnap young witches, harvest their souls, and sell their magic for profit. The city’s defenses were weak, and no one suspected that an ordinary group of tourists could pose such a grave threat.
As Monroe’s plan set into motion, back in the heart of the city, Evanora and Everett finally arrived at their lodging. The cozy little inn was tucked away in a quiet alley, far from the bustling main streets. As they entered, the innkeeper, a kind elderly witch, greeted them with a warm smile.
“Welcome back, dears,” she said, her voice gentle. “I trust your day was eventful?”
Evanora nodded, though she still seemed a little on edge. “Eventful is one way to put it,” she said with a sheepish grin.
Everett chuckled. “You could say that.”
As they made their way to their room, Everett noticed that Evanora seemed unusually quiet. She had been her usual clumsy self throughout the day, but something was off. She hadn’t laughed as much, and there was a lingering sadness in her eyes.
“Hey,” Everett said softly as they reached their room. “Everything okay?”
Evanora hesitated for a moment, then sighed. “It’s just… those witches at the marketplace. The ones who made fun of me. I know I shouldn’t let it get to me, but…”
Everett frowned, remembering how the veteran witches had mocked Evanora earlier. “You don’t need to worry about them,” he said firmly. “You’re doing great. They’re just jealous because you’re brave enough to keep going, even when things don’t go perfectly.”
Evanora smiled weakly. “Thanks, Everett. I guess I just feel like I’m not good enough sometimes. Being a witch is hard, and I’m always messing up.”
Everett reached out and gently squeezed her hand. “Everyone messes up. That’s part of learning. But you’re one of the most determined people I’ve ever met. And besides, I wouldn’t want anyone else as my guide through Astoria.”
Evanora’s smile brightened a little, though her eyes still held a hint of uncertainty. “You really mean that?”
“Of course,” Everett said, his voice full of sincerity. “I’m having the time of my life with you, broom crashes and all.”
Evanora laughed softly, the weight lifting from her shoulders. “Thanks, Everett. That means a lot.”
As they settled into their room for the night, neither of them noticed the dark figure watching from the shadows just outside their window. The figure smirked, his eyes gleaming with malicious intent.
“They won’t see it coming,” the figure muttered under his breath before disappearing into the night.
Far away, at Monroe’s hideout, the evil leader stood by a map of Astoria, his fingers tracing over the locations he planned to strike. The time was drawing near, and soon, the city would fall into chaos.
“Prepare yourselves,” Monroe said to his followers, his voice filled with cold determination. “Astoria will be ours, and no witch or tourist will stand in our way.”
Little did Everett and Evanora know, the peaceful night would soon give way to a storm of dark magic and danger. Monroe’s plan was already in motion, and they were about to be swept up in a battle for the very soul of Astoria.