The Fabled by S. L. Gavyn

could say
anything else.
    I met the sires at Mr. Ortega’s house in
Dallas. Like you would expect of a six hundred year old Vamp his
house was huge and screamed of understated wealth. He led me into a
sitting room where a younger looking dark haired woman sat on the
couch waiting for me.
    “You must be Ms. Rivero. I’m so sorry for
what has happened to your family and the council is doing
everything it can to find and return your child to you.”
    “I do thank you for that, Thief. Already you
have done more than our own leader in just meeting with me and
hearing my plea for Elena’s return.”
    I nodded to her while ignoring the name and
took a seat in the chair facing the couch as Mr. Ortega sat next to
Ms. Rivero. He put his arm around her shoulders and she leaned into
him for support.
    “I understand Elena frequented a club in Fort
Worth named,” I looked at my notes. “Eternal Darkness. Are you
familiar with it?”
    “I have never been there myself but many
other Fabled have been. Elena was supposed to meet her friend
Amanda there that night.”
    “And that was two weeks ago, correct?”
    She nodded. “Do you know anything else about
this club? Do you think someone there might have hurt her?”
    “I don’t know for sure. It is known to have
some pretty unsavory people there but the upper-class is also known
to frequent the club. I have heard the owner doesn’t allow
mistreatment of the customers but that doesn’t mean one didn’t
follow her on her way home.”
    “Yes, but you said she was supposed to meet
someone but didn’t show. Perhaps someone found her outside the
club. Is there anyone you know of that would possibly want to hurt
her?”
    Again she shook her head. “She was loved by
everyone.”
    “Did she have a boyfriend?”
    “No. She didn’t like men.”
    “Alright. A girlfriend then?”
    She shrugged. “There was someone she had met
and was interested in but we didn’t really have time to talk about
her before she was taken.”
    Tears started down her face and there was a
slight pink tint to them.
    “I’m sorry to have upset you Mrs. Rivero but
is there anything else you can tell me? Anything out of the
ordinary at all. The slightest thing might have the biggest
impact.”
    She took the time to dry her tears before
answering. “Other than this new love interest nothing had changed
recently.”
    “You don’t know where she met this
woman?”
    “No. I wish I would have found out more but I
didn’t expect…”
    She broke off on a sob so I looked at Mr.
Ortega.
    “Does anything regarding Elena’s
disappearance seem similar to Howard’s?”
    He shook his head. “Not really. Other than
the lack of anything that’s it. Howard was taken after work while
Elena was stolen at night in another town. Howard and Elena didn’t
even know each other. I didn’t meet Gina until six months ago.”
    “I see. I know this will sound personal but
are you two involved? I only ask because I wonder if it might have
something to do with why Elena was chosen.”
    “No. We are only friends.”
    “Alright. I think that will be all for now.”
I gave Ms. Rivero my card. “If you think of anything else, even
something small, give me a call. Again, I am sorry you, and
especially Elena, are being put through this.”
    She took my card then stood and through her
arms around me. I tried not to make skin to skin contact. The last
thing she needed right now was to have some of her magic stolen.
She looked barely able to stand up as it was. “Thank you. Knowing
you are on the case means so much. I know you will help us.” She
pulled back to look at me. “And, I know you will make those
bastards pay.”
    I smiled at her. “Oh yes. Once I finish with
them there will be nothing left.”
    “Make them suffer. As I have suffered and
like poor Oliver has suffered.” She turned back to look at Mr.
Ortega before turning back to me. “You will make them suffer.”
    I nodded. There were no words that would