The Fabled

by S. L. Gavyn

  “Tristan! Let’s keep this professional, okay? There is no reason for you both to act like children.” Man, that was close. There were too many ears present for anyone to learn of our relationship.

  “Well, there is reason for him to act as a child. Primarily because he is one,” Roman added.

  Before Tristan could retaliate I turned on Roman. Using the last of the Werewolf magic I had taken from the alpha of Yukon I slammed Roman against the brick wall of the alleyway and held him there.

  “You will hold your tongue or you will not be allowed to participate in this investigation. Do you understand me?”

  He smiled at me and before I knew what was happening I was against the opposite wall and he was holding me there.

  “I believe it is me who is assisting you so show some respect. You will keep your boy away from me or I will show him what an ancient Vampere can do.”

  He released me and I shot daggers at him with my eyes. No, not really but if I had that ability, he would surely be dead by now. It has been a very long time since an opponent has gained the upper hand. Of course I could have just touched his skin with mine and been able to weaken him in a matter of seconds but then again he could have broken my neck in the time it took him to throw me against the wall.

  After a moment of us both staring at each other without either making a move I leaned in closer and whispered in his ear.

  “If you hurt him, I will hurt you and it will be much more than your heart that gets broken this time.”

  I stepped around him and walked on, leaving him there facing the brick wall.

  We got in our separate cars and I followed them to the corner where Charles lost the van. As I parked along the curb and got out I noticed a tall brick wall running along this side of the street. I looked to my right and saw it ran for at least a block. A look to my left showed it ran around the corner and for another block. That’s odd. I tried to look over the wall but this close I couldn’t see anything. I wonder if it was built to keep people in or out.

  “What do you know of this wall?” I asked no one in particular.

  “I believe it runs the perimeter of the asylum,” Roman told me.

  “Asylum?”

  “Yes. It is the Southeastern home for criminally ill Witches.”

  “Witches?” Okay, I know I was starting to sound like a parrot but I didn’t know this place even existed.

  “Yes.” Roman sounded like he was talking to a child.

  “No Wizards?”

  “No. This is a woman’s facility.”

  I nodded and continued on to the corner. My gut told me the wacked out Witches facility had something to do with our disappearing van. I knelt on the asphalt and sent my magic out. When I brought it back in I searched through for the van and after a second I saw it. I saw the van turn the corner and continue to turn directly into the wall on this side.

  I stood back up and walked over to the wall where the van had went through. I could feel the magic before I ever touched it. It was strong Witch magic. I pulled it into me until the spell broke revealing a large opening in the wall and a road leading up to the front entrance.

  “Holy fuck,” Charles said from behind me.

  I took a moment to store the magic I had absorbed while trying to get a read on the spellcaster. There was nothing I could determine though. Whoever set the spell made sure it couldn’t be traced back to them. Unless I absorbed magic from the Witch who placed this spell I wouldn’t be able to say who actually did it.

  I turned to Tristan. “Feel like visiting some wacky Witches?”

  He waved his hand. “After you.”

  I stepped through the opening and onto the road that led to the asylum. And instantly was transported through a portal. I looked around me and saw I was in a wheat field in apparently the middle of nowhere. Fuck. Illusions within illusions.

  A few seconds later Roman came through the portal. Judging by his body language he was ready for a fight. Tristan was right behind him with Carly on his heel. I gave everyone a moment to realize we had been duped.

  “So they created an illusion of a wall just to cover an illusion of a road that was covering a portal?” Tristan asked just to be clear.

  “That would be my assumption.”

  “Why?”

  “The first illusion was obvious. The second would lead someone to believe the spellcaster was at the asylum. Perhaps when the portal is closed the road is actually there.”

  “Or perhaps the spellcaster is at the asylum and wished us to be elsewhere,” Roman added.

  “True. So the van could have traveled that road and the portal was just a precautionary measure in the event the spell on the wall is broken.”

  Roman nodded.

  “So the van didn’t drive through a portal just to end up in a wheat field in the middle of nowhere?” Carly pondered.

  “No. There are no tire marks running through this field. It doesn’t look like anyone has been here in quite a while. Most likely the portal was set up with this destination as a default. If you know where you want to go it will take you there but if you don’t plan a destination it brings you here. Most portals are setup like that.” I turned to Tristan. “Let’s get back and check out the asylum.”

  “Did you see who placed the spell on the wall?” Roman asked.

  I shook my head. “I know their magic but I would have to experience it again to know whose it was.”

  “That spell was strong. I would prefer you not to experience one aimed at you by this Witch.”

  “Aw, how touching? You see that Sunny. The blood sucker’s worried about you,” Tristan said.

  Roman’s eyes narrowed. Before they could start arguing again I thought about where I wanted to go, grabbed Tristan’s hand and stepped back through the portal.

  We stepped back out next to Charles and his partners. He raised a brow at me. Then Roman and Carly followed. I held my hand out to Roman.

  “Roman, thank you for your assistance. We will likely be issuing a team to watch the club over the next few weeks. We’ll meet with our superiors and get back with you.”

  He eyed my hand for a second before taking it, bringing it to his mouth and kissing it. “I look forward to hearing from you.”

  I took back my hand as quickly as possible. His actions had taken me by such surprise that I didn’t even think about taking some of his magic. When I turned for the car I saw that Tristan was giving Roman the stink eye. I patted his shoulder as I walked by and he finally stopped staring at Roman long enough to follow me.

  Chapter Ten

  “Wescueing Wacky Witches”

  We drove around to the front entrance of the asylum and I showed my ID to the guard at the gate. He allowed us in so I drove up the long driveway to the front doors. I waited for a moment after shutting off the car.

  “I need you to act like a professional during this case. I don’t know what your problem is with Roman but I want you to work on burying it. At least until after we’ve caught these killers.”

  “He’s a jerk. He’s been nothing but an asshole ever since before I actually even met him. And I don’t like the way he looks at you. You already have one guy who isn’t good enough for you. You don’t need two.”

  “He’s not Doyle and I’m not interested in Roman.”

  “No, but you sure used to be. Didn’t you?”

  “Mine and Roman’s relationship is in the past. Hell, I haven’t even seen him in almost fifty years.”

  “And now he’s back and I don’t think he’s going to stop trying to get with you.”

  “I fail to see where that is any of your concern. I’m a grown woman. I don’t need my son taking care of me.”

  “I see the effect he has on you. Lucian told me about your relationship and I don’t want him to hurt you again.”

  That explains his ill mood this morning.

  “See, that’s where you have it wrong. He didn’t break my heart. I broke both of ours. Like I said, that was a long time
ago and I have no intention of allowing myself to be drawn back into Roman Alexander.”

  “Is that why you told him we were involved?”

  “How did you…? I didn’t tell him we were involved. That’s just wrong on too many levels. He assumed we were involved because of our obvious concern for each other and I just didn’t correct his misassumption.”

  He laughed. “You talk more like Lucian every day.”

  “Hey, there’s no need for slander. How did you know?”

  He laughed again. “Alexander acts like a jealous ex, especially toward me. It wasn’t until you stopped me from telling him about our relationship that it dawned on me.”

  “Actually I didn’t want you to tell them about our relationship because I was trying to protect you. But, yes, I would prefer if you don’t set him straight.”

  “As long as you don’t want me to act like your boyfriend I’m cool. That just goes into intense therapy territory.”

  “I would prefer you to act like my partner and leave the personal stuff out of it. Which is what this conversation was supposed to be about.”

  “Yeah, yeah, I got it.” He was quiet for a second. “How old do you think Alexander is?”

  “I’m not completely sure but I do know that the name he was given at birth was not Roman. That was who he was. A Roman.”

  “Wasn’t there a Roman emperor named Alexander?”

  “You mean Alexander the Great? I don’t know if there’s a relation or if Roman’s surname was Alexander before he was turned. He could have chosen that name to go with Roman. Why don’t you ask him some time? I’m sure he wouldn’t mind sharing his life’s history with you.”

  “Ha, ha. You’re so damned funny. I thought we were going to beat some information out of some Witches.”

  “Son! You wound me. I would never hurt an innocent.”

  “Well, lucky for you all of these chicks are criminals so it isn’t likely you’ll be finding innocents.”

  “You sound more like me every day.”

  He shrugged in response.

  “In that case we had better get a move on.”

  We got out of the car and started for the front entrance.

  “You have some Vamp magic now, right?”

  I drew my brows together.

  “You stole some from Roman while he was planting one on your hand, didn’t you?”

  “Oh, yeah. You should know me well enough to know I don’t let opportunities pass me by.”

  I continued through the door. Hopefully he wouldn’t see through my lie.

  Inside I walked to the window and explained I was investigating the gaping hole in their wall and needed to verify no inmates have went missing. Hey, it seemed like the most plausible excuse. The woman at the desk thought I was joking for a fraction of a second until I raised one brow and she contacted the security guard on duty watching the surveillance cameras. He verified that there was indeed a hole in the wall and complete lockdown of the facility ensued. The clerk gave me and Tristan visitor’s passes and explained that the director would be with us momentarily.

  “You can wait in the atrium if you’d like,” she added when I explained how much I don’t like to be kept waiting.

  She pointed to a door at the end of the hall and I as I walked toward it I heard the lock buzz. I pulled the door open and just stood there for a second. If I didn’t know I was in a building I would think I was standing in the middle of a meadow with a waterfall to one side and sprites flying about gathering nectar from the flowers. I looked at the sky and felt a slight breeze as I watched the clouds float by. I could feel the sun’s warmth on my skin and it brought a drop of tranquility with it. Or perhaps that’s what the spell was designed to do. I walked to the stream splitting the meadow in two and looked into it. There were fish swimming around. I reached my hand into the water and it came out wet.

  “You’ll never catch them that way. I know I’ve tried.”

  I turned to see a young Witch with auburn hair and the most amazing hazel eyes. She looking at me with a smile.

  “Hello Thief. I’m Brennan.” She held out her hand to me.

  I took it with a smile of my own. I made sure to take only a very small amount of her magic. She was young, probably no more than sixteen, but she was strong magically. I got several images with the magic I absorbed. A boy, perhaps a brother, his face was torn in pain. She was screaming with flames surrounding her then a woman was talking to her and then there was a sense of confusion. The last image seemed the most prominent meaning this was either her current condition, she had been in this state for some time or both.

  “Hello Brennan. I prefer Sunny and this is Tristan.”

  “Wow. You’re hot,” she told my son.

  “Uh, thanks. Nice to meet you Brennan,” Tristan said.

  “We don’t see many males around here. Only the guards and they look like donuts.”

  I must have looked confused because she felt obligated to explain.

  “You know, round and doughy with a slight glaze if they have to do any work.”

  I laughed but she seemed to sober.

  “I know why you’re here but you won’t get the answers you seek. She lies like a serpent. Don’t touch her. You won’t like it.”

  I moved closer to her. I don’t know why, maybe it was because she wasn’t scared of me like everyone else, but I felt drawn to her.

  “And, why are you here Brennan. Don’t bother lying. I will know.”

  She smiled. “I burned. I didn’t mean too. It built up until I couldn’t stop it.”

  “Others were hurt and you were brought here. Why?”

  She shrugged. “No one else wanted me. They give me pills I don’t like.”

  I nodded. “They’re blocking your magic. That’s not the way to help you. One day the pills won’t work anymore and you will burn again.”

  “I know. You could help me.”

  “That’s enough, Brennan. Move along and leave our guests alone.”

  A woman in a sharp business suit was walking toward us.

  “Yes Headmistress,” Brennan said before slinking away.

  I caught her eye before she left and nodded slightly. She smiled shyly before disappearing. She must have left the room but the illusion didn’t show any doorways.

  “I’m headmistress Beasley. What concern do you have with my facility?”

  “Headmistress, I’m Sunny Dubois with the council. We are investigating the disappearance of a Vampere in the area and the abductors used the hole in your wall to evade capture. Do you have any knowledge of this?”

  “Ms. Dubois, I did not know there was a hole in our wall until you informed us.”

  She said my name like it was sour on her tongue.

  “Pretty shabby job you’re doing here then. This is an institution for the criminally insane. Is it not? One would think you would know about a ten foot hole in the wall keeping the prisoners in.”

  “It is being investigated.” She was speaking with her jaws clinched. I’m sure someone used to being the boss of everyone didn’t like being told she wasn’t doing her job. I don’t really care though. I’ve never really been a social person and I really don’t like dealing with assholes. Headmistress Beasley was an asshole to the Nth degree.

  “This is a nice atrium you have here. I’ll admit I was taken by surprise upon entering.”

  “Yes, it helps to calm the patients.”

  “It must have taken quite a spell to create. Not to mention the magic used to keep it up. However do you manage?”

  “We have a very gifted team here that all work together to maintain the illusion.”

  “Did your team work together to create the illusion on the wall outside?”

  “I’m sure I don’t know what you are talking about.”

  “I’m sure you don’t. Tell me, are all the patients here convicted criminals?”

  “Most yes.”

  “Most but not all.”

  “There are a few excep
tions.”

  “Like extremely strong minors whose families are killed.”

  She laughed. “Don’t let Brennan fool you. That is her gift after all. She can make you see whatever she wishes. That was how she killed not only her family but every foster parent she was put with until finally arriving here.”

  “I thought her gift was fire magic.”

  “Again that is what she wanted you to believe. Why do you think she offered to touch you?”

  I laughed. This woman obviously didn’t know who she was dealing with. I leaned in closer. “I took her magic and it doesn’t lie. Do you really believe she is powerful enough to fool me? Here’s what I think. I think you know exactly how powerful that girl is and that is why you pulled strings to bring her here. This is how this is going to happen. I’m going to find out what is happening to these Vampere and if I find out you had something to do with it, I will make sure you spend the rest of your long life in a cell.”

  “Do you think I fear you, Thief? You are nothing without the magic of others.”

  I got right up close to her. “It’s funny you should say that because that’s exactly what I think about you. I can feel your magic, Witch, and I’ve gotta say, it’s not too impressive. Have you found a way to syphon off the magic of others? Is that how you created the illusion on the wall?” I pointed around us. “Is that how the atrium stays running?”

  “Get out of my facility.”

  “This is one of the council’s facilities, isn’t it? As an agent of the council I have every right to be here.”

  “No it is not. This is a privately owned mental institute and you are disturbing the patients.”

  “Oh, are you a patient now? It’s odd isn’t it? A privately owned mental hospital. Why would anyone want to fund an asylum? Especially, an asylum full of Witches. It does lead one to ponder.”

  “Well you can ponder elsewhere.”

  I smiled at her. I would love her to try to throw me out. But I wouldn’t make a scene since I was here on council business.

  “Very well, headmistress. I’ll be seeing you.”

  I turned and left the atrium which was easier said than done. I basically walked to where I thought we had entered and the door appeared before me when I was close enough. I walked back to the window and tossed my visitor’s pass into the tray before leaving the institution. The woman at the front desk watched me the whole way out. Probably making sure I don’t break anything on the way.