The Fabled (7 page)

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 make
her feel better. She wanted to know that whoever did this wouldn’t
get away with it and I gave my word I would do it. There was
nothing else to say. In her mind it was as good as done.

I had just pulled into my garage when a text
came through.

Vamp a dead end. TTY in AM.

It was from Tristan. Well, even though he
didn’t get any good information at least he was safe.

“
Zero to headless in 6.5 seconds”

I woke at six the next morning and went for a
jog. When I got back I saw I had three missed calls. Before I could
check to see who it was my phone was ringing again. It was K. She
was my only girl friend but we rarely spoke. I wasn’t really the
type to hang out with on the weekends and she knew that.

“Hey,” I answered.

“Sunny. Thank the Gods. I thought I was a
goner for good.”

“Whatcha need, K?”

“Well, I’m kind of in a pickle and was really
hoping you could help me out.”

“What kind of pickle are we talking?”

“Oh, definitely the sour kind. I’ve been
kidnapped by Weres.”

“What!? What do you mean kidnapped?”

“I’ve been abducted by the alpha of the local
pack. Technically he had his wolves take me but you know what I
mean.”

“Okay, so you need me to break you out of
wherever he’s keeping you?”

“Um, not exactly. See, he set up a challenge.
If I win the challenge then I’m free to go.”

“Alright. So what’s the challenge?”

“Fight his beta and kill him.”

“You’re so dead.”

She laughed. “I know I would be if I was the
one actually fighting but the alpha allowed me to pick a
champion.”

“Ah. Now I understand. The alpha wants you to
lose but doesn’t want you hurt. Let me guess. If your champion
loses, you have to mate him.”

“Please Sunny. I don’t really know anyone
else who is a sure bet.”

“Did you dump him? Is that what this is
about?”

“Actually I broke it off with Victor over a
month ago. It was the knowledge that I was engaged to someone else
that put him over the edge.”

This doesn’t surprise me. Well, the engaged
part kind of does but not that a man is going to such extremes to
win her. K was light elf and they were notoriously promiscuous. K
has left a line of scorned lovers behind her.

“When is this challenge to take place?” I
asked.

“How long until you can get here?”

I sighed.

Canada, the Great White North. Instead of
working on my murder investigation I was meeting with the alpha of
the Yukon Territory just outside of Whitehorse. He owned a huge
cabin and a bunch of land around it which was all wooded. Wolves
and their woods, that’s one thing the stories didn’t lie about. The
question was, what is K doing in Canada?

Luckily there was a portal in Whitehorse and
the alpha was kind enough to have a truck waiting for me and a
guide to take me to him. The guide only showed a moment of surprise
when I got out of my car. No doubt he was expecting some burly guy
with piercings and tats. Well I do have the piercings (in the usual
places) and one tat (not going where that one’s at). Only I was
five-six with a lean build. I had my hair french braided with the
tip of the braid touching the waist of my jeans. I didn’t bother to
dress fancy for this occasion. My typical t-shirt, jeans, and
leather jacket with functional boots was my attire for the day and
if anyone didn’t like it I could always kick their ass like I’m
going to kick the beta’s.

The ride to the cabin would take almost an
hour so I sat back and let my mind take me back. I really shouldn’t
be doing this for K. After all, she was the one who physically made
me immortal. Sure it was Roman who coerced her and it was Lucian’s
elixir to begin with but it was K who gave it to me all those years
ago. I can still remember the taste…

“Well, it took you long enough. I’ve been
waiting all morning for you.”

“Sorry. Have you met the therapist next door?
He is hot.”

“Oh, Dr. Alexander?”

“Yeah. Don’t you think it’s funny that he
looks like he could be the older brother of the guy from the club
last night and his name is Roman too?”

K shrugged. “I never thought about it before.
I usually just call him doc.”

“Well, you call him that. I’ll just call him
three shades of fine.”

“That’s kind of long don’t you think. Maybe
you could shorten it to TSF.”

“How about Dr. Fine.”

“Now that just sounds funny.”

“At least it doesn’t sound like a venereal
disease.”

“Maybe you should just stick with Roman. Come
on. I want to celebrate our success.”

“I thought we did that last night.”

“Come on, Sam. We need an inaugural drink in
our official office.”

“Okay, just nothing too strong. I’m still
hung over from last night.”

“Light weight.”

I laughed and had a seat at one of the chairs
opposite her desk. She walked over to her side table and pulled out
a bottle that looked older than me and held an amber liquid. So
much for it not being too strong. It looked like she was pulling
out the good stuff. I looked around the office. It spoke of
success. Everything was strategically placed to draw the eyes and
make you feel like the person who owned it knew what they were
doing and was very good at it. Whatever it was.

K brought our drinks over and motioned for me
to stand up with her. Once standing she handed me my drink then
held hers out for a toast.

“To us. May we be friends forever and succeed
in all our endeavors.”

I clinked my glass to hers and noticed mine
was a slightly pinker tint than hers. I figured it was a trick of
the light and drank the entire contents in one gulp just as K had
done. I managed to sit the glass on the desk as my head instantly
began to swim. I obviously missed because I heard the sound of
breaking glass before I too fell.

I don’t remember hitting the floor. As a
matter of fact I don’t remember much other than intense pain until
I finally woke lying on K’s couch in the office. I do remember some
voices. K’s and Roman’s. Hers sounded worried while his sounded
reassuring. I thought he was assuring her that I wasn’t seriously
injured but now I know he was assuring her the potion was working
and the extreme pain and convulsions were part of the changing
process. When I finally could open my eyes. Roman was the first
person I saw. He smiled at me soothingly.

“Hello Sunshine. Do you feel better?”

I tried to nod but my head felt like it might
explode.

“Try not to move too quickly. Karen tells me
you hit your head when you passed out.”

“I’m so sorry, Sam. I didn’t know you would
get hurt. I just wanted us to celebrate,” K still sounded
worried.

“S’kay,” I managed to get out.

“When you feel up to it, I will take you back
to your hotel room. You need to rest but I would prefer to keep an
eye on you. You had quite a nasty bump.”

I reached up to my head but Roman took my
hand.

“Don’t worry. We put some ice on it and the
swelling has went down now.”

“How…how long…”

“How long were you out?”

I nodded barely.

“Oh about ten minutes or so.”

And the swelling had already went down?

“Do you feel able to stand? I will take you
to the hotel so you can lie down.”

I slowly managed to sit up. K was hovering
nearby looking nervous. I tried to give her a reassuring smile.

“It’s alright, K. I’m feeling better
now.”

“Oh thank Gods. I was so worried,” she said
as she started to descend but Roman intervened.

“It’s alright Karen. I’ll take her back to
her place and stay with her.”

He turned back to me and held out his hand. I
took it and slowly rose.

He gave me a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry,
Sunshine. You’ll be safe with me.”

If only I had known then that he was the
reason for my condition. The elixir he made K give me changed me
that day. It’s weird when I think back to the days afterward. I
felt better than I had in years but I contributed that to my new
lover, the therapist. Having someone tell you you’re beautiful does
something to your self-esteem and can make an older woman feel
young. Or at least that’s how I convinced myself that nothing had
changed. Besides, who would complain because they feel younger? I
still looked the same when I checked my appearance in a mirror. It
was later explained by Lucian that Fabled can look any age and
because I believed I was forty-five I looked forty-five. It wasn’t
until almost five years later when I about cut my finger off on a
piece of broken glass and healed almost instantly that K finally
broke down and told me the truth about myself. To say I was pissed
that my entire life had been changed without my permission was an
understatement. I broke off my engagement to Roman and ended my
partnership with K. Both had betrayed me.

I later forgave K. She had explained that she
owed Roman big time for some previous debt and when he met me that
night in the club he decided to call in. She didn’t even know what
the elixir was but she knew Roman was taken with me so she was
pretty sure it wouldn’t kill me. After apologizing a billion times
I figured I would forgive her. I couldn’t honestly say I wouldn’t
do the same thing in a similar situation. But what Roman did was
unforgivable. My father later told me, when I met him for the first
time, that he had warned Roman before giving him the elixir to make
sure the Human he gave it to consented. It was my choice and he
took it from me. Because of him I had to watch my children grow old
while I stayed the same. Lucian eventually convinced me to fake my
death and move on and it was my career as an agent of the council
and later my relationship with Tristan that would give my life
meaning again. But after everything I had to go through I don’t
think I have it in me to ever forgive Roman Alexander. There was
just too much pain caused by him. Too much regret. Too much
heartbreak.

We finally reached the cabin and I didn’t
waste any time jumping down from the truck and heading inside. It
was butt ass cold outside and I wanted to get this over with as
quickly as possible so I could get back to Texas and catch my
killer.

I was led to a large room with a huge circle
drawn in the middle of the floor and nothing else. K ran toward me
as I entered the door but was stopped short by a couple of burly
Weres.

“Check her for weapons,” the largest man in
the room said.

He was obviously the alpha. I could tell not
just because of his size but because of the sheer authority he
exuded throughout the room. Without question one of the Weres came
forward. I held my arms out to the sides and allowed him to frisk
me.

“I did not expect the elf’s champion to be so
attractive. Perhaps I can convince my alpha to keep you when you
lose,” he said in my ear as he patted my backside.

“That won’t be happening. If you’re finished,
I would appreciate you removing your hands from my ass cheeks.”

There was a round of laughter through the
wolves. I’m sure they would fist bump their brother if it wouldn’t
upset the alpha. There had to be at least thirty or more wolves in
the large room lining the walls. The Were moved away and the alpha
came closer to inspect me. After a moment he turned to look at
K.

“This girl is your champion? I thought you
wanted to be released.”

There was more snickering among the
wolves.

“She’s going to kick your wolf’s ass then
I’ll be released.”

He looked back at me with one brow raised. I
smiled at him.

“Perhaps introductions are in order.” I
reached out my hand to shake his. He hesitated for a moment before
taking mine. My smile widened just slightly.

“I am Victor Romansky, alpha of the Yukon
Territory pack and you, little pet?”

“Sunny Dubois.”

He dropped my hand. Smart alpha. Every
conversation died as soon as my name was spoken. Only whispers
remained. “Thief, the Thief, It’s the Thief.” The silence drew on
for a faction of a minute until at once all the wolves broke into
speech. Mostly bets were being made. Some, who had obviously
already placed their bets, were trying to change them while others
wanted to place new ones. Apparently my odds had just went up.
During the commotion the wolves barring K got distracted and she
used the opportunity to come to my side. I had used the brief
contact with the alpha to take some of his magic. Not much. Just
enough to last me a few seconds but I don’t plan on this fight
lasting very long. So if I play my cards right a few seconds will
be more than enough. Especially if I have some Elf magic added
in.

K practically knocked me over when she
reached me. Her hug was fierce for such a small person.

“Oh Sunny, I’m so glad you’re here. I mean, I
knew you would come but I worried you wouldn’t. I should have known
you would never abandon me. You’re the best friend ever.”

“Calm down woman. You’re killing me
here.”

She finally released me. “I’m sorry. I’m just
really glad you came.”

“Of course I came. You think I have friends
coming out of the woodwork?” I leaned in close. “It’s not easy
being the Thief you know.”

I thought she might cry. “I’m so sorry. You
know I mean that, don’t you? I never meant to make you this
way.”

I waved her apology off. “You didn’t make me
anything. My father’s potion did. Besides, life’s not too bad. You
will give me your hand though, won’t you?”