The Fabled

by S. L. Gavyn

  He looked vaguely surprised. “Really?” He looked at me and tried for a smile. “That’s great.”

  “Yeah, but I don’t actually know when this shindig is supposed to take place.”

  “Oh, it’s two weeks from tomorrow. We’re mailing out invitations this week. Do you think Tristan will be able to make it?”

  “I’m sure he’ll make the time. Talking about him and time, I’ve got to go. It was good to see you again, Marcus. K, take care of yourself and try not to get kidnapped again.” I gave her a brief hug making sure to have skin to skin contact for a second. You never know when invisibility will come in handy.

  “Kidnapped?!” Marcus obviously didn’t know about the predicament she had been in.

  It didn’t surprise me that she didn’t call him in to act as her champion. He was more of the type of guy you’d call in if you needed a computer hacked instead of a wolf killed. I took his shock as my cue to get the heck out of dodge.

  “See ya.” I did a little wave and beat feet. K shot me a nasty look as I got in my car and drove through the portal.

  As I came out on the other side a thought hit me. Surely when Marcus told her of his friendship with Roman she told him how Roman hated her. And just as surely K refused to allow him to the wedding. Right? She wouldn’t ask me to be in her wedding knowing Roman would be there too. Knowing my intense hatred for that man. Right? Right. K was my friend and friends take their friends feelings into consideration. Although K was a little self-serving. I had better ask her before the wedding. I’m sure we’ll have to meet up to shop for bridesmaid dresses or something. I’ll just make sure he’s not going to be there so I don’t have to see him. That wouldn’t be good at all.

  I made it back to the council’s Texas office in just under an hour. It was good that the council had offices in every state. Although portals make moving around relatively quick it’s easier to stay on top of a case if you’re close to where the crimes are being committed.

  As I walked into the office me and Tristan were sharing he was sitting in front of the computer with his face practically touching the screen studying a map.

  “You’re going to go blind sitting that close to the screen.”

  He turned and looked at me, blinking a few times to get me into focus. “I was trying to find a pattern between the routes the missing Vamps took regularly.”

  “Did you find any similarities?” I took off my jacket and sat at the other desk in the room.

  “Not really. The only thing in common is that club.”

  “The one you got nothing from?”

  “Yeah. That’s the one. Tell me why you were with K.”

  I thought about telling him about the Were challenge but decided it wasn’t worth him worrying over. “She’s getting married in two weeks and wants me to be her maid of honor. She wanted me to meet her future husband.”

  “And you went in the middle of an investigation?”

  “She made it sound life or death. She knew I would come that way. You’ll be getting an invite soon.”

  “Great. I love weddings.”

  I rolled my eyes. He liked all the available women at weddings. And the free booze.

  “Anyway, tell me about the club.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Like I said, nothing.”

  “You got nothing because there was nothing or because no one wanted to tell you anything.”

  “Um, the later.”

  “The club owner?”

  He nodded.

  “The head of security?”

  Another nod.

  “The bouncers?”

  He shrugged. “One seemed friendly enough at the beginning but once the owner stonewalled me none of the others would talk.”

  “Did the one you talked to seem to know anything?”

  “He said he remembered Elena but didn’t remember if she came in the night she disappeared and didn’t remember seeing her with anyone.”

  “How big is this club?”

  He shrugged again. “I don’t know. Pretty big I guess. There was a line waiting for it to open by the time I left.”

  “A club like that would have surveillance. Did you ask for the tapes?”

  He looked at me like I was stupid for asking.

  “So let me get this right. You show up, tell them you’re with the council and investigating some disappearances and the owner, what, tells you to get lost?”

  “Not in so many words but yeah.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Well son. I guess we’ll just have to try again. You know what they say about perseverance. If that doesn’t work, I could always throw the owner around until he decides to see things our way.”

  He smiled. “I don’t know. I didn’t meet the owner but the chief of security. There’s something about her, I’m not sure what she is but whatever it is, she’s powerful.”

  I smiled back. “Good. I haven’t had any real power in a while and I’m hungry.” I stood up and grabbed my jacket. “They don’t call me the Thief for nothing.”

  I started for the door. “What was the owner’s name?”

  If he was a well-known criminal it would help me know how to handle him.

  Tristan looked at his notes. “Some guy named Alexander, Roman Alexander.”

  I stopped with my hand on the door knob. I knew it. Between the dreams and the walk down memory lane while dealing with K and then running into Marcus. I knew it was just a matter of time before the inevitable happened. Fuck. I really don’t want to see him again. In fact I would give almost anything to never have to see that man again.

  “Is something wrong?”

  “What? Oh, I was just thinking. I haven’t heard that name in a while.”

  “You know him?”

  “I used to. A long time ago.” I smiled at him. “Come on. Let’s go get reacquainted.”

  He nodded and I opened the door. To find Lucian standing on the other side. Why doesn’t it surprise me that he would want to talk to me before I go to see Roman again?

  “Father. What an unexpected surprise. We were just about to leave so if you’d like I could come by your house tomorrow.”

  He smiled at me. “Now would suit me daughter. I’m sure my grandson could wait in the car for a few minutes.” He looked at Tristan.

  “Uh, sure. I’ll meet you outside, mom. It was good to see you, grandfather.”

  “As it was a pleasure to see you son. I will meet with you on Tuesday for training, yes?”

  “Yes sir.”

  “Very good.” Lucian nodded toward the door and Tristan didn’t waste any time getting through it.

  My father turned to me and smiled. I walked back to my temporary desk and leaned against the front of it with my arms crossed.

  “Why do you act as though I am going to reprimand you?”

  “That’s not it. It’s because of where I’m about to go and who I’m about to see that I’m in an ill mood. The fact that you’re about to give me some advice I don’t really want is only adding to it.”

  His smile grew broader. “And here I thought I was the one with premonition.”

  I tried for a smile but couldn’t manage it. He walked to the only window in the room and looked out at the twilight.

  “Do you believe in destiny, daughter?”

  I thought about it before answering. “To an extent. I believe people are given limitations but it’s their choice what they do within those restrictions.”

  He nodded thoughtfully. “So you believe if a Human is born short he could never become a pro basketball player.”

  “Not exactly. I believe if he was born short with a will of iron he could become whatever he set his mind at. I’m saying fate would have him born short without the want to play basketball if that was not his destiny.”

  “Ah, so you believe fate dictates what you do and do not want.”

  “To an extent. I believe there are exceptions. Look at me for example.”

  He turned back toward me. “Yes, look at you. Do yo
u believe I defied fate to have you or it was because fate gave me the ability to create you that I did?”

  “You’re asking if I believe I was fated to become what I am. I would have to honestly say I don’t know. I don’t think anyone was supposed to have the ability I do. It defies the laws of magic. Even among the Fabled there are no exceptions yet, here I am. I belong nowhere. I am unlike any other. Because of this I am feared, hated. Is it a good thing that you made me?”

  “I believe so. Tristan as well.”

  “Yes, but who knows how his life could have turned out. It was likely he would be bounced around foster homes but I don’t think so. He was too special. Beautiful both outside and in. I believe someone else would have seen that too.”

  “So you think if you were not there to save him, someone else would have. You don’t really believe that do you?”

  “Maybe the super would have found him when he sobered up. Or another guest. Maybe he would have let himself out eventually. I don’t really know why we are having a conversation on what could have been. What is done is done and there is nothing anyone can do to change it.”

  Lucian smiled. “Exactly. Please don’t hurt the Vampere too badly. I believe he has suffered enough.”

  With that he came to me and kissed my forehead before leaving the room. Riddles and verbal manipulation. That was my father.

  Chapter Eight

  “Mixing business with pleasure”

  Eternal Darkness looked like any other club you’d see in any other city. It didn’t seem particularly dark and dreary like some of the more Goth or BDSM clubs. You would think with a name like Eternal Darkness all the décor would be black with burgundy trim and heavy fabrics like velvet. But from the outside it just looked like a red brick building with a large neon sign saying nothing more that the club name. If I didn’t know ahead of time that it was the club I was looking for, I could have passed it a hundred times and not given it a second look. The line outside the doors did kind of make it stand out though.

  “You stand in line. When you get to the entrance pay to get in like any clubby then come and find me.”

  Tristan’s eyes widened. “What? You’re going in alone?”

  “You think you’re the only one capable of handling yourself? I’m going incognito and I can’t exactly take you with me. You standing in line and paying to get in doesn’t give us away right off the bat.”

  “What if he won’t talk to us again?”

  I smiled. “Oh he’ll talk to me. One way or another.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Fine but I don’t like it.”

  “You don’t have to like it. And under no circumstance do you let it be known that you and I are related. Got me?”

  “Yeah, yeah I know the drill.”

  “Good. See you on the inside.”

  I got out of the car and started toward the entrance. When I got close to the bouncer I used the magic I had stolen from K to conceal myself from sight then used Marcus’ Vamp magic to quickly make my way inside. There was a spell on the entryway to prevent Fabled from doing exactly what I was but I absorbed the magic from it and continued into the club. It was as nonchalant inside as out. Minimalism would be the designer’s style of choice. The interior walls were brick like the outside with what looked like two large, wooden bars big enough to have several bartenders behind at once. One was toward the back and one in the front corner. Convenient for getting your booze right after entering then later when you’re dancing and thirsty again another bar is there ready and waiting to make your next drink.

  The club was already in full swing even though it was still early. I scanned the crowd quickly but didn’t really expect to find Roman in it. He will probably be in his office, wherever that is, or the VIP section, if there is one. I looked at the layout of the club again and saw a set of stairs leading up to a second floor. That would be where his office is. Then I saw a roped off section toward the back of the club. There’s my VIP. I decided to scan it first so I quickly maneuvered through the crowd. Which was easier said than done.

  He was sitting at a booth closest to a closed off walkway that led to the stairs and, presumably, his office. There was another Vamp sitting opposite him so I easily sneaked past the bouncer guarding VIP and slid into the booth next to the Vamp while releasing the magic.

  “Hello Roman.”

  He was looking down at his cell phone and slowly raised his head to look at me. “Sunshine.” He has always called me that. Mostly because he didn’t like my real name.

  “Where the fuck did you come from?” the Vamp beside me said.

  I looked over at him and smiled then turned back to Roman. He looked like the Roman I first met in the bar all those years ago. Gone was the forty-something who wore slacks and dress shirts. He now looked to be in his twenties and wore dark jeans, a t-shirt with a rock band on it I had never heard of, a black leather jacket and boots made for stomping heads.

  “You’ve come a long way from psychology. Or are you still practicing?” I glanced again at the Vamp.

  “And look at you. You’re not exactly a book publisher anymore.”

  I smiled again.

  “Look sweetheart, I don’t know who you think you are but we were trying to conduct some business here so why don’t you wait until afterward to sell your wares. If you know what I mean.”

  “No, I don’t believe I do know what you mean.” I tried to give him a warning look not to explain but he didn’t look like the brightest bulb in the box.

  “You want me to get rid of her boss?”

  I turned to see who had spoken and saw a young woman standing next to the booth. Judging by her attire she was a part of the security team and judging by her species she would most definitely be the head of security. I looked back at Roman.

  “A Djinn. Roman, I’m impressed.” I reached forward to pat his arm that was lying on the table but he quickly pulled it into his lap. I refuse to allow that rebuke to faze me. I looked back at the young Djinn woman. “I’ve got to wonder what a Djinn would be doing in such a place acting as chief of security. Whatever could he have that would be so appealing to you?”

  She almost blushed before schooling her features and I knew exactly why she was there.

  “I know why I’m here. The question is what you are doing here?” she replied with a sneer.

  “I’m sorry how rude of me.” I held out my hand to her and she reached out to take it.

  “Sunny Dubois,” Roman said before she made contact.

  She instantly pulled her hand back. I heard a thump behind me and turned back to find the Vamp who had been sitting next to me picking himself up off the floor. Apparently he had fallen in his haste to get away. I laughed.

  Roman ignored the other Vamp. “I’ll handle her, Carly,” he said to the Djinn before turning back to me. “What are you doing here, Sunshine?”

  I caught Carly’s attention before she left. “Don’t go far. My partner will be questioning you and I expect you to be more cooperative this time.”

  She narrowed her eyes at me and I raised a brow. If she wanted to tussle I was up for it. There is a lot I can do with some Djinn magic. Instead of trying anything she turned and left.

  Roman looked irritated. “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “I’ve found six dead Vamps over the last three weeks and three more have disappeared within the last two. Do you know the one thing the missing Vamps have in common?”

  “I’m sure it has something to do with someone I know or else you wouldn’t be here.”

  “You’re damned straight. They all either frequented this club or were last seen here. Do you know anything about this?”

  He shook his head. “No. But I am interested to know why. If someone is killing my patrons, it is my responsibility to find out who it is and stop them.”

  “Wrong. That would be my job.”

  He smiled instead of arguing. “Perhaps we should continue this conversation in my office. There could be someone liste
ning.”

  I looked around to see the VIP section practically deserted but it wasn’t worth arguing about.

  “Whatever makes you more comfortable.”

  He slid out of the booth and motioned for me to precede him. As I stood up I saw Tristan enter VIP by flashing his badge to the bouncer and pointing in my direction. The bouncer looked at me and Roman then opened the rope for Tristan.

  “Seems everyone’s in as good a mood as they were last night.” He looked from me to Roman then back.

  “Tristan this is Roman Alexander, the club owner. Roman, Tristan Harris, my partner. Tristan, I’ve already met the head of security and she’s waiting for you to question her.” Harris was Tristan’s name when I found him and I intentionally kept all of his legal documents with that name so no one knew of our relation.

  “Alright.” Tristan gave Roman the once over and his face said he found him lacking. He turned back to me. “Are you going to be okay?”

  Did he know about mine and Roman’s past or was he just reading the animosity between us? I wouldn’t put it past Lucian to have told him.

  “I’ll be fine. Don’t take any crap from that Djinn. This is about missing people not a pissing contest.” I shot Roman a look and saw he was watching the exchange between me and Tristan closely. He finally met my eyes and realized what I was getting at.

  “You’ll have no problems from Carly. She has been advised to fully cooperate with you.”

  “It’s about damned time.” He looked at me again before leaving to find the Djinn.

  “You and your partner seem close.”

  “We are.” Our relationship was none of his business.

  “How long has he been your partner?”

  “About six months or so. You were going to tell me what you know in your office?”

  “I believe I said we would discuss the details of your investigation.”

  “You say tomato I say you’re going to tell me everything you know.”

  “I think that’s quite a difference but, after you.” Again he motioned me toward the stairs.

  I led the way up and found they ended into a door. Roman pulled out a set of keys and slid past me to unlock it.