Fablehaven Oneshots

I'll be the cat (will you be the mouse?)

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Set prior to the main Fablehaven series
Vanessa is 20 / Sphinx ancient
⟢ Vanessa/Sphinx ⟣
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"I'm assuming your plan was as follows: coincidentally run into me at an establishment I frequent, seduce me, and try to parrot out all my secrets?"

"You don't seem too upset by it." Vanessa put her drink down, turned to him fully, and ended her next statement with a wink. "Generous enough to let me still try?"

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Patrons strode around the classy bar, men in their business casual and women in the shortest dress they could wear without being labeled trashy. Vanessa, at the bar, stood out with her leather jacket draped over one of her shoulders, hiding the red slip underneath. She swirled her glass of wine marred with red lipstick in her hand as she scanned the high-vaulted, gilded arena for her prey. The low lighting hid faces, but nonetheless, the flickers of the strobes bounced through the dusty cigarette smoke, allowing for a halo around silhouettes.

Vanessa took the last sip of her glass, coating her taste buds with the expensiveness of the aged Merlot. She placed it down with a clink just as a shadow sat down next to her. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the distinctive hairstyle of her mark and smiled under the cover of her blown-out cascade of hair.

"Would you like a refill?" the mysterious voice asked, the tone polite and unassuming.

Vanessa let her head turn, her hair falling to the side. She scanned him up and down, and let a smile grow on her face until she laughed a little. "Absolutely."

She would have done that little charade regardless of his appearance, but to her delight, his look deserved it. The Sphinx had his locs pulled into a low ponytail with a few hanging, gilded with gold. His white dress shirt clung to his physique quite nicely contrasted against his dark skin, and the angular cheekbones and piercing deep brown eyes prompted heat to rise in Vanessa, a slight blush dusting her cheeks.

"What's your name?" He asked.

"Elise," she said, an eyebrow raised. "And yours?"

"Michael. So," he paused to send the waiter for another Merlot as Vanessa smiled in thanks. "What kind of blix are you?"

Vanessa's face froze in her smile, the edges of it dipping. She conjured confusion, letting her head tilt. "Blix? Is that a..." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Is that a sex thing?"

He chuckled lowly. "Come on. Your canines are way too pointed. My servant spotted you tailing our car. You have your jacket draped over the shoulder the customary Society tattoo occupies."

Vanessa twisted her lips to the side. Her spoiled fun painted her face with bitterness. "Who are you?"

"You know."

"The Sphinx."

He nodded. "What's your purpose here?"

"I came here for a drink."

The Sphinx grinned. "I'll call your bluff."

"Fine. It won't do you any good." The waiter sped by, placing another glass of Merlot in front of her. Vanessa took it, swirling and smelling it before taking a sip. She felt the Sphinx's eyes watch her the entire time.

"I'm assuming your plan was as follows: coincidentally run into me at an establishment I frequent, seduce me, and try to parrot out all my secrets?"

"You don't seem too upset by it." Vanessa put her drink down and turned to him fully, her arms crossed—boosting her décolletage—not like she needed any help in that department. She ended her next statement with a wink. "Generous enough to let me still try?"