Title: The Siege
Authors: hbomba & lonejaguar
Rating: M
Summary: Taking place immediately after the events of 'Outlanders', The Siege continues the story of the Dark Queen and her Human lover as they navigate the castle's danger at every turn as Vex and Evony are on the loose and threatening to take over again.
Author's Notes: This is the third part of a trilogy. Please read 'In Our Bedroom After the War' + 'Outlanders' first. I promise you will enjoy it more if read altogether.
"Every lover is a soldier" - Ovid
"Destiny is a stubborn maiden. She likes herself just the way she is." - Ella Leya
"Kenzi, come in."
Oren's heart beat thudded in his ears and he began to sweat. The blood he could handle, he survived the war, after all. It was the fear of the unknown. If the Mesmer had done this, what would it do to him? He pulled the flashlight from his belt and walked toward the darkened corner of the dungeon. Sheer darkness awaited him around that corner, the kind that terror is born in. He swallowed. As Oren advanced on the darkness with his flashlight in one hand, his other tapping nervously on the butt of his gun-it was a nervous habit that calmed him slightly. A few more steps and a disturbing crunch echoed through the dungeon. Oren shone a light on his feet to reveal a pair of glasses, now underfoot.
"Shit." He lifted the radio to his lips again. "Kenzi, come in," he said, more urgently. He picked the glasses up and put them in his breast pocket, returning to his stance with his hand over his side arm and the flashlight poised and aimed at the darkness. He turned the corner.
"I don't want any trouble, folks," he called into the darkness. "Let's not make this harder than it has to be…" He stepped into the abyss. The lights had been shut off since the Queen had freed the prisoners of war and despite having to walk this beat for the past week, Oren couldn't help but feel chilled by the environment he found himself in. His flashlight swept the cells, scanning for the infamous duo. For some reason Oren always had a hard time turning his back on the last cell so he was walking backwards towards the light when he felt a hand on his shoulder. The shock nearly stopped his heart and he spun around, bumbling for his weapon.
"You rang?" Kenzi said, unable to disguise her smile even in the dark.
"Jesus, Kenzi!" Oren put a hand on his chest. "I could've shot you!"
"Yeah, I was pretty scared when I saw you walking backwards down the corridor." He looked at his shoes bashfully. "Any sign of the prisoners?" When Kenzi started walking toward the elevator, Oren followed eagerly.
He shook his head. "Floor is secure."
"Good," Kenzi said.
He produced the broken glasses from his pocket. "And I found these just over there," he pointed to the darkened portion of the dungeon.
Kenzi tapped on the elevator call button. "Good work." She said as the doors opened. "I need you to stay down here awhile longer while I brief the Queen." She stepped into the car and punched the penthouse button. The concern on her face was obvious, but she did her best to conceal it with a brief smirk. "Stay alert," she reminded him as the doors closed.
It was the last place on Earth he wanted to be but Oren supposed there were worse places in the world. After all, babysitting a pair of corpses was an easy assignment in the grand scheme of things. He just hoped the killer didn't come back for a visit.
Bo undressed her slowly, savoring every thread that she peeled away. Lauren was cocooned in Bo's embrace, There was so much emotion tied up in her movements. The way her eyes scanned the expanses of skin as she uncovered them, wetting her lips in anticipation but resisting actually touching her until the last article of clothing was discarded.
Lauren was her willing collaborator, removing Bo's clothes much less methodically than the Queen had taken hers. She also couldn't help but to capture Bo's throat in her mouth, nipping at that sweet spot near her ear before whispering, "My Queen…"
Bo's hands were instantly on her hips, lifting her in the air and laying her onto the bed like a precious object. She stood back, admiring momentarily, and covered Lauren with her body at last. With all that had transpired in the past few weeks, Lauren was still on edge. The discord between her and Bo had been difficult but they were finally as they were meant to be again. Together.
Lauren flinched. "Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Bo kissed her way along her collarbone.
Lauren put a hand on Bo's shoulder to still her. "The elevator. I swear, I just heard it."
"Let them come, we're busy."
"Bo…" Lauren smiled as she kissed along her neck.
And then a knock sounded in the bedroom. They could hear Kenzi clearing her throat through the door before Bo answered. "We're busy," she said, undeterred from her mission.
"Something terrible has happened." Kenzi said through the door. "I'm afraid it needs your immediate attention."
Bo dropped her head to Lauren's shoulder and grunted. "So much for peace and quiet," Lauren sighed.
They dressed in a hurry, Bo pulling an elegant sapphire kimono over her naked shoulders. She tied the sash in an instant and was out the door. Lauren slipped into her jeans and followed soon after, pulling a t-shirt over her head. Kenzi was just starting to speak when Lauren settled on the living room sofa.
"Tell me what you know," the Queen said almost immediately after sitting down.
"I received a radio call at midnight. Corporal Kershaw reported two men down and prisoners missing-"
"Prisoners missing?" Bo repeated. There were no other prisoners in the tombs so Lauren knew exactly who she meant.
Kenzi nodded carefully. "Vex and Evony are not accounted for."
"How is that even possible?" Bo got to her feet, outrage bubbling to the surface. "I want to see the scene."
Lauren took her wrist in her head before she was able to take a step. "It's not safe, Bo." She stood.
"If I may," Kenzi interjected. "If Vex and Evony are still in the castle, there's no telling what they'll do. Verns is on his way up to stay with you, until we can get this under control."
Bo growled and pulled her hand away. "You can't expect me to hide away until this blows over."
"She's right," Lauren said. "Your safety is more important than keeping up appearances." Lauren grabbed her jacket off the back of the wingback chair.
Bo took a step after her. "Wait, where are you going?"
"I need to find out how the guards were killed." Lauren touched Bo's shoulder. "We can't rule out the possibility of a third man in our midst."
"Your safety is important, too." Bo pointed out. "Your coronation is in two weeks."
Kenzi's eyes widened. "Your coronation?" she whispered to Lauren.
"I've been… busy." She cleared her throat. "Besides, rumor has it you have a few things you haven't shared with me either."
Kenzi looked at her shoes. "It's too early to tell." She smiled and then shook her head. The Queen was staring at the pair impatiently. "I'll keep an eye on her." Kenzi said, clearing her throat. "She'll be safe."
Bo exchanged a worried glance with Lauren before wiping her expression clean and smiling effusively. "Very well. Don't be long." She reached for Lauren's hand and held it in hers for a long moment "Be careful," she said quietly as she walked past her to the bedroom. "I'll be in my room."
The elevator dinged and Kenzi swiftly trained her gun on the elevator door. When Verns stepped into the penthouse, she relaxed and holstered her weapon. Verns was a older man, age unspecified, but then you never could tell with Fae. Someone had told her he once had great power, but no one had seen it in years. Everyone assumed it had fallen dormant. Grizzled and grouchy, he was the most eccentric soldier to ever hold a post in the kingdom. It was no coincidence that the post he held was the one farthest from the contact of the population: the city's Eastern gates, where Dyson was now posted.
Kenzi briefed Verns who grunted in the affirmative and sipped from his extra large coffee mug before sitting on the Queen's couch. Kenzi craned her neck around the corner, rolling her eyes. "Look alive, Verns."
When the elevator opened onto the grisly scene once again, Kenzi was more ready for it this time. Lauren was not as prepared, but as Kenzi expected, her reaction was one of subdued curiosity. Lauren had only worked with Jarvis and Johns peripherally so the shock was probably not what Kenzi had felt, despite giving them their annual physicals mere weeks before their deaths.
"Give us a moment, please," Lauren directed.
Oren nodded and stepped to the far end of the dungeon, near her old cell. She paused at that, her mind flooding. So many memories wound up in such a terrible place and now this. She shook her head slightly, focusing her thoughts on the scene in front of her. "From the position of the bodies, my first impression is Johns was attacked at the cell, from behind initially." She rolled the bodies onto their backs to inspect their wounds and immediately noticed something missing. "Wait a second, Jarvis was blind as a bat. There's no way he could've done this without his glasses on. Were his glasses found?" Lauren asked, turning back to Kenzi.
Kenzi shined a light towards the darkened corner of the dungeon. "Over there."
Lauren furrowed her brow. "I suppose someone could've thrown them."
"So he's the victim?" Kenzi asked.
"Yes and no." She got to her feet. "Because Jarvis over here also has defensive wounds. "
"So they killed each other." Lauren nodded. "But why?" She looked at Lauren's serious expression.
"I need to talk to Bo." Lauren called the elevator and turned back to Kenzi. "Detain Kershaw. Get the bodies to the morgue, I'll do a further work-up after I've spoken with the Queen."
"Oren didn't do this, Lauren," Kenzi said urgently as Lauren stepped into the elevator car.
"I'm sorry, Kenzi. But I have to cover our bases." She pressed a button and the elevator doors slid shut. Lauren sighed.
Her mind raced. It couldn't be and if it was, this was all her fault. She had thought they could contain them, make them embrace humanity, reform. So reform would be a bit much to ask for at this stage, but Lauren certainly wasn't anticipating a bloody escape. Especially so soon after she had shown them kindness. The elevator dinged and the doors opened. Lauren stared down the barrel of a gun.
"Stand down, Verns," the Queen ordered and he holstered his weapon. Lauren exited the car and was immediately besieged by Bo. "You've been downstairs?" she asked, leading her to the sofa. "What happened?"
Lauren nodded, crossing her arms. "Jarvis and Johns appear to have killed one another with their issued combat knives."
"Why would they do that?" Bo asked as she sat in front of the coffee set on the table in front of her. She poured Lauren a cup.
Lauren swallowed, unsure she wanted to sit down. "There is a possibility that my serum was not permanent."
The Queen grew rigid, her gaze frozen on the carafe halfway back to the tray. "Vex?" Lauren nodded and looked away. "How did this happen?"
"It's hard to say what went wrong," she said. "It's science, there are variables." She shrugged, still not meeting the Queen's eyes. "Maybe I didn't get the dose right."
The teaspoons rattled as the carafe finally made it back to the table. "I trusted you with this, Lauren."
Lauren straightened at her tone and lifted her eyes to meet Bo's. "And I did my best," she said emphatically, crossing her arms. "Who was I going to test it on? You?" She sighed and turned toward the floor to ceiling windows. "It's not like there was a line-up around the castle of people wanting to give up their Fae." Staring out at the city below, still in partial ruin, she felt the cost of the war weighing on her once again. "Back to the drawing board." She nodded more for her own sake than for Bo's.
"I'm relieved to hear you say that."
"It's my mess, I'll clean it up." Lauren strode back to the elevator and pushed at the button. She sighed again and turned toward Bo again. "We haven't heard the last of them, have we?"
"You have no idea."