Prologue:

Sunshine

"Come now, dear," Lauren looked up from the huddled position she was in, to see the Morrigan kneeling down in front of her, "There was no way to avoid this," she whispered softly, brushing a strand of blonde behind Lauren's ear. Lauren almost leant into the hand. It had been weeks since she had any kind of human contact and the gentle touch was enough for her to seek comfort within it.

For so long, she'd sat in the cold with her only solace being the warmth of her aching body. There was no bed, no blankets and no window; only the knowledge that she was alone, that she'd lost everything, even the warm glow of the sunshine. There was nothing for her.

"You promised," she said hoarsely. Evony frowned and stood back up as she turned and shut the door to the cell. Slowly, she walked back and stared down at the shrunken figure.

"Did I now?" she said, "tell me dear, what did I promise you?"

Oh, but I can give you things, the words echoed in Lauren's head, the voice smooth and promising, things she can never give you.

Bo.

Slowly, she tilted her head up, her brown eyes broken in the flickering lamp that the Morrigan had hung on the wall when she'd entered. The woman's smile was callous, empty of everything that Lauren had slowly began to see etched in what had remained of Evony. Now, there was nothing there but a cold, hard mask.

"You promised you'd take better care of me than the other humans," she began at last, answer swelling in her chest. "You promised me that if I didn't leave, I would be great." Loved.

"And you were," the Morrigan replied with a short laugh. There was nothing of Evony left. The woman had returned to her confident, sadistic, pleased self. She was, after all, the leader of the dark fae and her self-assured image in that moment, reflected it.

"You promised me Bo."

There it was, at the mention of the succubus, pain flooded the woman's face. "And have her you will," she said turning away. A pause followed the words and slowly the Morrigan lifted her head, a slow grin pooling over her features, "she arranged a meeting with me. It seems like she heard about your predicament," the Morrigan turned back, grinning and masked, "foolishly, she believed that she can still save you."

"Is she...?"

"Oh no dear, I said you could have her, didn't mean that I would let you see her." Reaching into the breast pocket of the tailored black coat, she pulled out a letter. "This one is all yours. I promise." Lauren shivered at the words.

The letter dropped to the floor, sealed and unopened. Lauren scrambled for it, tearing it open eagerly. Fingers shaking, she ran her eyes over the single line and felt her body go loose at the words.

I'm coming for you.

The Morrigan left after that and Lauren waited. But she didn't come.