Echoes: A Lost Girl Fanfic
by: Skylark
Chapter 1: You're So Vahn
"BO!" I heard Kenzi's squeal over my hair dryer and my iTunes. Sighing I continued to tease my hair, trying to get it into that elusive updo. I was on the hunt tonight. Occasional visits from Lauren were not helping me at all, especially not when I knew she was only allowed to see me when she pleased Lachlan. God knows what he asked of her, but unfortunately I had to stay on The Ash's good side. Snatching the cord out of the wall I stared hard at the mirror. My love life really was tragic. What the hell kind of succubus was I?
"HEY." Kenzi appeared in the door frame, folding her tiny arms over her leather strapped chest.
"Yes?" I threw my towel over my shoulder.
"...you're a superhuman sex goddess who can woo people into bed just by breathing on them, and yet you taking fucking foreverrr to get ready!"
"You're no road racer yourself there Kenz." She raced in and shoved into me, pushing me with her hands in the small of my back and I tried to act natural.
"Let's just go okay? Lets go get drunk, and yell at Trick, and find you some fae hottie to mess up all that make-up you just put on."
"Okay." I knew it was bad when even Kenzi's scent was intoxicating. I loved her to death but she wasn't my kind of prey. Then again hungry animals have been known to eat strange things...
"Bo, focus." She snapped her fingers in front of my face as we came upon the car, and I tried to shake myself.
"...think Dyson'll be out tonight?" I couldn't stop myself from asking. It was pathetic but, I really did miss his furry assets. Kenzi answered me with a groan, smacking gently upside the head.
"Don't you dare-"
"Alright alright geez!" I kicked it into high gear and sped down to the Dal. My tiny human was right. My nights couldn't be about him anymore. And who was I kidding? They hadn't been for a very long time now. My hunger clawed at my stomach, burning all the way down to my thighs.
"...make sure you have your earplugs tonight." My statement came out a growl and Kenzi giggled.
"Aw yeah! Get it my big bad succubus motherf-"
"Oh shit." We were interrupted by pulling onto an unreasonably full street. The Dal may have been a way station, but it looked like there were way too many fae out tonight.
"Dude what the fuck? Doesn't Trick usually, you know, keep things on the QT out here?"
"Urgh where the hell are we gunna park?"
I screeched to a halt right in the middle of the street and ignored Kenzi's scream, running straight for a guy getting out his car.
"Hey! Hey," I jumped on him. "You don't really wanna park there do you?"
"Back off lady you got any idea how long it took me to get this spot-" I watched his eyes glaze over, and a silly smile cross his face.
"But I guess you can have it..."
"Thank you." He got back in his ride, and Kenzi did just what I expected her to do.
"Watch the merchandise!" I leaped back as she whipped into the newly vacated spot, with a million horns going off behind her.
"Wooo! Later bitches!" Kenzi grabbed me and ran past something I never thought I'd see, a line to get into the crusty old bar. I stumbled as we walked in, the smell of so many fae bodies mashed together was making me dizzy.
"Trick, what the hell is going on?" I asked just as Kenzi pounded on the bar for drinks. He was grinning from ear to ear, looking as delighted as I'd ever seen him.
"I'm not quite sure, but its nice." He slid us over a few beers and I tipped mine back, ready to feel it. The Dal always had weird energy, shifting with the shapes of whatever souls were inside, but tonight it was absolutely throbbing.
"Drink up." My bestie replaced my beer with an upgrade.
"I love you." Leaning my forehead against her shoulder I breathed in and she pushed me.
"You need some action girlie. Check out the ginger at 10:00." I turned around to look, and suddenly my appetite was replaced by wonder. The red-head Kenzi pointed out was walking through the packed bar unimpaired, and his uniform glowed with a golden aura. It was light blue and red, not any Clan colors I recognized. Trick stood with his arms outstretched, beckoning to the man.
"Old friend!"
"Hello, I hope I find you well?"
"Better now." Trick clapped him on the shoulder and turned to me. "I know that you keep up with currents events. Vahn, this is Bo."
"Hi." I took his hand, drinking in his lithe soldier's body. I couldn't help holding on a little bit, and his grin turned loopy.
"So, Vahn, what brings you so very far from home?"
He cleared his throat, and turned his focus back to Trick.
"I'm here on behalf of the Council of the Elders and the members of the Higher Order." He pulled an envelope that glowed just like his clothing out of his pack and handed it to Trick, who turned gray.
"...what does the Higher Order want with me?"
Vahn laughed, revealing a crooked front tooth that gave him a naughty look. Swallowing a growl I tried to drown the sound effects with more alcohol.
"What anyone would ever want from you Trick, your company."
Now the bar-keep smiled, releasing a breath.
"Thank you, for coming all this way."
"My pleasure," He winked, and took a seat next to me. "Now what does a man have to do to get a drink around here?"
"Actually, I was wondering if maybe you'd want that To-Go?"
I never made it back to the house with messenger boy. We got into my car and I managed to pull into a different parking spot, but that was it. Ripping his shirt off I gasped at both his rock hard physique, and the gold dust that filled the air.
"How would you like to seriously get lucky?" He whispered and I shivered.
"What do you mean?"
"Let's just say if there's anything on your wish-list, you should go after it." Biting my neck he tried to pin me down.
"After I'm through with you of course."
I grinned, my power pulsing through me.
"You mean when I'm through with you."
Panting, I struggled to get my clothes back on, but I was fed, and happy. Golden boy didn't last very long, but he went hard. It would do.
"I've got to get back to...the Elders...but, do you have a phone number I could reach you at or something?"
I chuckled, and got ready to launch into my solo succubus routine, when he smiled at me. I reached for my phone, but held it tight at my side.
"I don't do booty calls." I managed and he only smiled wider. Speechless I handed my phone over to him.
"Give me a ring when you need a little pick-me-up."
"Will do." I replied through gritted teeth, snatching my phone back and zooming out of the car.
"See you later Bo." Vahn finished buttoning up his shirt and disappeared into the night.
Walking into the Dal I slipped back into my seat, glaring at Trick.
"...do you need someone to give you "the talk" Bo? 'Cause you seem to be forgetting the first rule." Dyson's scratchy voice was in my ear, and I jerked away involuntarily.
"And what's that wolf breath?"
"Be safe." Trick answered for him and I stared.
"Keeping secrets again guys?" I regretted the words as soon as they were out of my mouth, but they had the desired effect. Everyone shut up, and Kenzi handed me another drink.
After a few minutes of brooding I sat up straight.
"Alright alright, I'm an idiot. Everybody happy?" I announced, and looked around to find that the bar was mostly empty now.
"Okay, what is going on?"
"...Vahn is a Fortuna, a spirit of luck, and revelry. His presence inspires merriment and good fortune. Crowds will gather from miles away to be in the same room with one."
"Oh."
Trick wiped the bar a little too intensely.
"...and he is beholden to the Order."
"Well yeah now I know exactly what you're talking about. Thanks for clearing that up."
"Help me close up shop, and then we can talk."
"Ughh."
"You know, there are labor laws Trick." Kenzi complained but picked up a towel anyway while he gave last call.
Years of being an actual bartender plus my enhanced strength and speed made for a very quick close, and I was anxious to get my answers.
"Now tell me," I swung a chair around and hugged it. "What went on here tonight?"
"You mean before or after your little 'joyride'?" Hale punched Dyson in the arm, and he closed his stupid mouth.
"The uptick in sales you mean? Mostly a result of Vahn's presence, unfortunately."
"Soo what was Mr. Lucky Charms doing here? He gave you a little thingy." Kenzi popped open a bag of chips she'd gotten from who knows where, and I leaned closer to Trick.
"Yes, and that "thingy" happened to be..." Several seconds passed.
"And?" We all said at once and he sighed, sliding the envelope off his desk.
"...a personal invitation to the upcoming May Day Festivities."
"What like my ship's going down kinda may day-"
"More like ships goin' up, if you know what I mean." Hale chimed in. I raised my eyebrows in the direction of our half-pint King.
"The May Day Festival is a celebration of life, and nature-"
"And going au naturale." Now it was Dyson's turn to punch Hale.
"The celebration is very important. Any fae who participate volunteer their time, and their appetites, to show reverence for the land, and all life that it supports."
"Their...appetites?"
"Fae may not feed during the festivities, or utilize their gifts."
"Where does the nekkid part come in?" Kenzi put her arms around my neck, and this time I could hold her without getting hungry.
"The Elders like to celebrate...in the old ways. During the ceremonies they may choose to attend...the way the gods intended."
"Well what about this 'Higher Order'? Who the hell are they?"
"The Higher Order, the Originals, the Ancients. They go by many names. They are the first of our kind to walk the earth. They are very old, and very, very powerful. They were created before there were rules, before humans were even a concern, and their powers refect that. We have gifts. Dyson has his wolf, Hale, you have your voice, but they are masters of many different techniques."
"How did I not know about these 'super fae' until now? Oh and by the way, Goldmember over there was not a 'master' of anything."
"Vahn isn't a member of the Order, he is owned by one."
"Fae slaves?!" I gasped, nearly falling out of my seat. Trick looked at me.
"It is an honor to serve under a member of the Order. You must be chosen."
"Oh really?" I scoffed and Dyson stepped up.
"Fae offer their servitude in exchange for knowledge, or promised riches or success." He ran a hand through his sexy, sexy hair.
"And its worth it. A few years of doing their bidding can translate into thousands of years of fae knowledge, and learning more than a few new tricks. Not to mention the connections, the networking..." Hale offered.
"Like I said, its an honor."
We sat in silence for a minute before Kenzi spoke up.
"Sooo are you allowed a plus one for this shindig or what?"
"Yeah Trick." I grinned, looking at him imploringly.
"Absolutely not. Its not safe."
"Come on!" Kenzi and I threw our hands up at the same time as Hale released a small chuckle.
"Trust me on this one Bo, its outta yo' league."
"Out of my league?"
"Fine, whatever, you guys are lame anyway." Kenz hopped out of my lap, grabbing her purse. I stood up but didn't move toward the doors like everyone else.
"LAAAAME!" Kenzi yelled at us as she left with Dyson and Hale on each arm, skipping out the doors into the alley.
"I know what you're gunna ask me Bo, and the answer is NO, so don't even bother."
"Listen, I just want to learn a little more about them. Simple recon. And I'll be on my bestest behavior I promise, Scouts honor."
"...lesser fae are not allowed."
"So I'm a lesser fae now?"
He frowned so deep it was a wonder he could reset his face.
"This is not a game Bo. Your powers are as nothing to them. And they wouldn't hesitate to kill you with an audience. And since you're unaffiliated, there'd be even less paperwork, so to speak."
"Trick please-"
"You would not be permitted to even talk in their presence, unless given express permission. The penalty for insolence at a gathering like this is death, as I have already warned you."
"So teach me! Show me the way O Great One." I bowed down to the roughly hewn wood and instead of answering me he disappeared into a particularly moldy bookshelf. When he popped back up like a Whack-a-Sage he tossed a skinny black tome at me. I'd seen enough fae lettering by now to comfortably read the title, and I groaned when it registered.
"Ye Olde Etiquette book eh?"
"Something like that. Its very important that you read this."
"Before you take me to this May Day thing?"
"You're cheating, and you know it Bo."
"Oh come off it its not like I knew what he was." But I couldn't help grinning as Trick rubbed at his eyes.
"I don't really have a choice, seeing as how its your lucky day and all. But only on the condition that you read what I gave you."
"I will commit it to memory then." Dropping the book into my purse I beamed, feeling more than a little shiny myself. This was going to be fun.
"Night Trick."
"Goodbye Bo."
a/n: chronologically this would be the middle of season 2, but I haven't seen the whole show yet so no spoilers please! R&r3