As soon as Elizabeth left the house, slamming the front door with a level of finality that made the chandelier above the dining table tremble, Regina rose from the couch. Her perfectly manicured nails trembled slightly as she picked up her phone, her face set in stone.
She waited until the sound of the gate shutting reached her ears before dialing a number she hadn't used in a long time. The line rang once… twice… then a click.
"You've reached me," a male voice said.
"It's me," Regina said sharply, wasting no time. "I need you to find someone. My daughter, Ruby."
There was a pause on the other end. "Ruby? When last did you see her?"
"Three days ago," Regina snapped, her voice tight with irritation and urgency. "She's not in the city anymore. I'm sure of it. Start at all the travel counters. Bus stations, airports, private transport companies… everything. She must've left Zeden."
