Present

Alone, in the dimly lit cell, Bo wanted to scream. Scream until it hurt. So much of the day darkness surrounded her; it was so dark that the dreariness around her began to close in, almost suffocating her. Darkness. Isolation. How long would it take her to go mad? Days? Weeks?

In the darkness, she hated the crackling noises around her, distant and indistinguishable, there was nothing to drown them out-only her thoughts. She was afraid that the repetitive voices inside her head might devour her whole.

Almost worse than the muddled sounds around her, though, was the dread that consumed her as she waited to find out her fate, as well as, Lauren's.

Lauren…

She filled her thoughts almost every second.

Bo walked the length of the cell. Pacing back and forth. Three days, that's how long she'd been there. Someone slipped food through the door three times a day, and they would not answer her questions no matter how many times she asked.

Where's Lauren?

What's happening out there?

How long are you keeping me here?

Can I speak to my grandfather?

Questions asked but never answered, more than the isolation, more than being held prisoner-it was the not knowing that pulled Bo apart piece by piece.

Scream. She wanted scream, to cry out. But who would hear her if she did?

Suddenly the iron door opened, and her grandfather walked in. Bright light entered the cell and just as quickly faded back to darkness, except for a small candle he carried.

Bo was confused and stunned, at first. Her grandfather was there, in the flesh not just in her dreams.

She struggled for composure and weakly took a few steps toward him.

"Trick," she gasped out in a hoarse voice, "What's going on?"

Her voice was so frail, so small, it sounded alien to her, like it wasn't her speaking at all.

"Have a seat, Ysabeau."

"Where's Lauren? How's Kenzi?" Bo began blurting out questions, panicked at the thought that he wasn't there or worse that he would not answer her questions.

Trick ignored her and gestured for her to sit.

She sighed and reluctantly took a seat. Not taking her eyes off him.

"Please, Trick, is Lauren ok? I can't think straight without knowing where she is." Bo was pleading as her eyes filled with tears.

Trick gave her a sympathetic glance then nodded toward the wall. "She's in the cell next to you."

Bo's head snapped in that direction, she'd stared at that wall for hours and Lauren had been on the other side the whole time. She got up and walked over, moving her fingers across it, lost in thought.

After several minutes of silence, Bo turned to Trick wiping the tears from her eyes. "Is she ok?" She asked softly. "Please, I need to know."

"I haven't seen her." He rubbed his eyes. Fatigue was getting the best of him, "But they have no reason to treat her poorly at this point. Have a seat."

Bo didn't move from that spot. She would not leave Lauren.

"Fine," He sighed, "I'm here to tell you that your trial will be in three days."

Bo turned back to the wall.

"Get some rest, you'll need it." He approached her solemnly and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I'm doing everything I can to help you. Be strong. You are strong, remember that."

When she didn't say anything, he walked quickly from the cell. The iron door slammed shut then the hums, the echoing murmurs became clear again, but this time she was faintly aware of the sound of her our heartbeat, beating in her ears.

Lauren was on the other side of this wall.

She clutched the wall and strained, listening, willing herself to hear something from Lauren, something from the other cell. She needed that, needed something tangible from Lauren, something to hold on it-to get her through the days and nights. Three days. Three more days, she affirmed to herself.

But Lauren was there, in a way, she was ok. She was close that she could hold on to-for now.

Shortly after that, she slumped down, leaning her head against the wall, imagining that Lauren was there on the other side, mirroring her position.

She closed in eyes tightly as her mind was flooded with flashes of memories-her and Lauren and how they had ended up in these adjacent cells, awaiting an uncertain fate.

XXXXX

Three years earlier.

Sixteen-year-old, Bo McCorrigan walked briskly through the woods. She was determined not to be late for dinner again. If she was, her mother and grandfather would lecture her for hours, and that was something she wanted to avoid today.

Her grandfather was coming over to talk to her about Fae politics. His lessons were like torture she could barely stay awake, none of this matter to her, anyway, she'd decided years ago to remain unaligned.

Whenever Bo mentioned remaining unaligned she was given disapproving glares and long speeches from her grandfather, but Bo just shrugged it off. It was her decision, after all, and her choice was to remain unaligned.

She scanned the wooded area looking for the trail, a short cut. She rushed off in the direction of the creek. It was a path she knew well, she'd grow up running through these woods.

Suddenly, she stopped, a blonde girl was off in the distance bent over, pulling plants from the ground. It was the strangest thing, and it intrigued her. The blonde wore thick black glasses, plastic gloves, a raincoat and a messy ponytail. She had small jars lined up around her, neatly labeled.

Bo silently watched the girl. She was oddly curious about what she was doing. The blonde was gathering up plants, examining them then quickly placing each in a separate jar. After a moment of watching her repeat these steps, Bo crept up slowly behind her.

"Hi," Bo said quietly. "What are you doing?" Bo asked talking soft, for some reason, she thought maybe whatever the blonde was doing was important and needed quiet.

"Research." The blonde answered without looking up. It was as if she'd had known she was being watched.

"What kind of research?"

"I'm collecting different plant samples for research. This area has a fascinating variety of living organisms. Many of which I've never seen before, like these, for example," she pointed to a leafy green plant, which looked like all the other plants as far as Bo could tell. "They resemble a very rare plant with healing properties, thought to be extinct but they are oodles of them growing in this area."

Bo wrinkled her nose. She knew nothing about plants but if something was strange about what was growing here, it was probably Fae related. But she didn't offer that information.

The blonde noticed Bo's confused look, "The discovery of these rare specimens is very stimulating and inspiring. Really it's very exciting."

Bo stared at her wide-eyed. Bo was a little worried about being tardy for dinner, but her curiosity about what the girl was going to say outweighed her concern about being late.

"Nature offers a generous supply of helpful plant life," the girl explained. Much like a teacher would when lecturing a class, but Bo didn't find it condescending she found she enjoyed hearing the blonde talk. "These exotic plants may have some hidden healing properties or health benefits, yet to be discovered."

Bo continued to stare at her with a confused and mesmerized expression. "Is this like a hobby for you or something? It seems like a lot of work."

"Generally speaking, yes, but my father used to say that learning takes dedication." She smirked at Bo, her eyes practically dancing, "That to acquire knowledge one must observe, reflect and experiment," she shrugged, took out a camera and starting taking photos of the plants.

"Yea, like I said sounds like a lot of work." Bo teased watching her carefully continue her work.

Lauren removed her plastic gloves and put them in her bag. "I'm compelled by the desire to learn and, for me, the best way to do that is to do fieldwork and experiments. But yes, this is a hobby for me, more or less."

"How old are you?"

Lauren's face flashed momentarily with confusion, "I'm 15 but I'm not exactly sure why my age should matter. Knowledge is for everyone, of any age."

Bo chuckled and leaned against a tree, not taking her eyes off her, "Has anyone ever told you, you're a little strange?"

Lauren shrugged.

"Well, I like strange," she said smirking, "I'm Bo."

"Lauren Lewis. It's nice to meet you," Lauren offered Bo, her hand. Bo swallowed her grin, it was such a formal greeting, this girl was definitely strange, fascinating and cute but strange. At the same time, Bo's phone vibrated, "You better be here in 5 minutes, young lady", a text from her mother.

"I have to go, " she looked up at Lauren, "Bye, Lauren. Hope your research goes well." She called over her shoulder as she walked away, smiling from ear to ear.

XXXXX

Bo rolled her eyes for the hundredth time since her grandfather began talking. Always the same lecture about the light and dark. Different sides of the same coin, if only they could see how alike they were, this divide would end. In the end, neither side sounded very appealing to Bo, picking a 'side' was only a way for a few to control the many.

"…that's why the Blood King-"

"Aren't you the Blood King," Bo interrupted.

"Let me get through this Ysabeau, please." He huffed in annoyance.

Bo shrugged, "Seems you're kind of biased with this story, being as you're the one who wrote the laws," she crossed her arms and stared at her grandfather, defiantly.

"Doesn't make what I'm saying any less true," he spat back.

"Maybe."

"I think that's enough for today," Bo's mother, Aife, interjected, sensing an argument brewing.

"Fine." They both muttered together.

Bo got up and headed out the door.

XXXXX

Trick turned to Aife, "That girl is going to be an enormous problem. She's stubborn, disobedient, reckless-"

"She's a child, she'll understand all this better one day." Aife interrupted.

Trick rubbed his forehead, frowning, "I hope so because if she's to take my place as leader of our clan and becomes the Ash one day, gods help us if-"

"Give her time. Her powers haven't even come in yet. She's essentially human, at the moment, she understands very little about what it means to be truly Fae. As her power emerge so will her understanding."

"We'll see."

XXXXX

Bo walked in Kenzi's room and sank into her bed.

"What's wrong now, Gramps?" Kenzi asked turning from her computer.

Kenzi was Bo's best friend, and technically her claimed human. For Bo, that part was a means to an end. Kenzi was a runaway when she met her two years earlier, and Bo was instantly protective of her and she moved in shortly after.

At first, her mother had protested but Bo usually found a way to get what she wanted. She told her mother that having a human around would help her learn to blend in better. Aife agreed, after many weeks of Bo's pleading, but informed her that she would have to claim Kenzi, she would always be Bo's responsibility.

When Bo told Kenzi she was a succubus, her first reaction was a gasp, followed quickly by a shrug. Kenzi accepted Bo for who she was right from the start.

"Yea," Bo muttered, "Same lame speeches every time. Wish they would realize I don't want to choose a side, that I'm never going to choose a side. And I don't want it. I don't want to be the head of our clan or to become the Ash, or whatever else Trick has planned for me. I want to choose my future."

Kenzi sprang to her feet, "Let's go for a walk. Get away from all this Fae shit for a little while."

Bo often wondered if she deserved a friend like Kenzi, someone whose trust and loyalty never faltered, someone who was supportive no matter what and was always there, funny and helpful.

"That sounds perfect."

"Maybe you can buy me some dinner, that stuff your mom's chef made was…" she did a gagging gesture.

Bo chuckled at her friend, "Anything for my Kenz."

XXXXX

The next day, Bo was going for a walk, still annoyed about her conversation with her grandfather. He and Aife were always trying to control her decisions.

Do this, don't do that, think of the family…think of your future. It grew tiresome very quickly.

A block from her house, she noticed a moving truck in front of a large white house. She crossed the street to get a closer look. Lauren was sitting on a swing in the front yard, reading a book.

"Hey, Lauren." She called trying to get the blonde's attention.

Lauren glanced up puzzled then smiled as she realized it was Bo, her smile was genuine and very sweet, Bo found herself wanting to make Lauren smile always. "Hi." Lauren placed her Star Trek bookmark into her book and put it down.

"How did your fieldwork go?" Bo asked, smirking.

"Very well, thank you." She began pushing herself through the air, her blonde hair flowing behind her.

"That's good. What are you reading?" Bo asked nodding to the book lying on the ground.

"Moby Dick. 'There is a wisdom that is woe; but there is a woe that is madness.'" She said in an exaggeratedly dramatic voice.

"Huh?" She shifted her weight. Butterflies always seemed to assault her stomach around the blonde; she wasn't sure why, "I've never read it. So you read classic books for fun? And you perform experiments for fun?"

"Of course! We moved and traveled a lot while I was growing up." She continued pumping her legs to go higher through the air. "Reading and science have always been a constant in my life, even when my house, school and friends change, those things remain the same." She paused and stopped swinging, "I don't know, I can always count on science and literature making sense, even when nothing else does."

Before Bo could respond, a tall, blonde, young man walked out of the house. "Lo come inside and unpack your things." He eyed Bo suspiciously.

"Yes, Nick." Lauren answered. Then, quickly she slid off the swing, picking up her book.

Nick leaned against the doorframe watching the pair.

Bo gave him a nervous glance then turned to Lauren. "Right. Guess I'll see you around."

"Ok." She briefly nodded and gave Bo a half grin before walking up the yard into the house.

Bo stood in there for a several seconds lost in thought. She did want to see her again very soon, those butterflies still faintly dancing in her stomach.

XXXX

"Ysabeau, we need to talk. We have important guests coming over." Aife said through her door.

Bo sighed, "Be down in a minute."

Several minutes later, Bo walked down to find her mother.

"Bo, really? Did you have to take your time getting down here?"

Bo ignored her and didn't respond.

"Fine. Tonight we will be meeting with the Lewis siblings, they belong to the Light Fae, now."

Hearing the Lewis name made Bo perked up. Lauren?

"It's a very complicated situation. Their father, Henry, was once part of the Light Fae but because of his unfortunate decisions left many years ago."

Something went slightly wrong in her stomach. This couldn't be good.

Aife saw Bo begin to speak but continued as to not be interrupted. "He is dead now and his children along with their mother will be under the protection of the Light Fae."

Bo was slightly stunned hearing this, "But why?"

Aife scoffed, not answering Bo's question.

"Why would they need protection?" Bo repeated her question, determined to get an answer.

"As I said, Bo, it's a very complicated situation. Henry decided to reproduce with a human woman. Then run. And now that he is dead, we must keep an eye on his children-for our protection. It's not safe to let these humans live free while being aware of our existence."

Bo sighed bitterly. She hated the way her mother spoke about humans. But decided against causing an argument before Lauren arrived.

Aife ignored Bo's sigh, "You know the one rule we must follow, above all else, hide our existence. It's how the Fae have survived for centuries. Now stop asking so many questions. They'll be here shortly."

XXXXX

Lauren and her brother, Nick, sat quietly at the large kitchen table while Trick gave one of his long speeches about the Light Fae.

Bo was shocked they allowed her to remain and listen. Usually, they kept the important stuff from her. She guessed it was a test, of some kind, about her maturity level.

Bo wondered, not for the first time, if the Light Fae had anything to do with Henry's death.

Nick sat, awkwardly, next to Lauren listening to Trick, his eyes downcast not meeting anyone's eyes.

But Bo kept her eyes on Lauren, most of the time, who would steal glances at Bo from time to time. Even though they had just meant, she wanted to shield Lauren from all this, wanted to protect her, it was primal, confusing but felt right.

This meeting, Bo discovered, was basically to outline Nick and Lauren's place within the Fae world. He would work as a scientist in a Light Fae lab while Lauren would continue her education and go to Bo's school starting in a few months.

Both had to agree not to speak about the Fae, or the agreement was off-or worst. Trick allowed that threat to linger, undefined.

Trick asked Bo to take Lauren on a tour of the estate while he talked privately with Nick. Bo was more than happy to get the chance to be alone with Lauren.

They walked silently, side by side for a while. Bo wondered how something could feel so completely awkward but completely perfect, simultaneously.

"I'm sorry to hear about your father," Bo said cautiously, not sure if she should bring up that subject.

Lauren gave Bo a small smile. "Your home is very lovely, Bo."

Bo took that as a hint that Lauren didn't want to discuss her father.

"Thanks. Although it's much too large for my tastes, I'd prefer to live somewhere small, cozy, comfortable."

"That sounds nice," Lauren said wistfully.

Bo led Lauren out onto the back porch. Bo didn't know what to say and decided to wait and let Lauren steer the conversation.

When Lauren continued to remain silent, Bo tried another subject.

"So your family is full of scientists, huh?"

"Yes. My father was a doctor and Nick is a scientist. Nick is very smart. He graduated high school at 13."

"Wow. You must feel a lot of pressure to follow in their footsteps."

She couldn't tell if she was making Lauren uncomfortable or not.

Lauren didn't answer. She just stared up at the sky.

Bo frantically tried to think of something to say, she feared she was making a tangled mess of everything. Lauren was so quiet, and that was very different than the Lauren she'd met previously.

After a while, Lauren spoke again, "Bo, can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"It's personal."

"Anything, really. Go ahead."

"What type of Fae are you?"

Bo let out a snort. "That's not that personal. I'm a succubus."

"Oh." She paused briefly. "Succubi are very rare, correct?"

"Indeed. My mother is the only other succubus I've ever known."

Bo was about to speak again when Nick stepped outside. "Lo, it's time to go."

She nodded and gave Bo that beautifully genuine smile, "Bye, Bo."

XXXXX

Nick put his arm around Lauren as they walked home. "Are you ok? I know that was a little bizarre."

"I'm fine. What did Mr. McCorrigan want to talk to you about?"

"You know, the usual. Mostly a rundown of what my responsibilities are in the lab. Day to day expectations, security."

"Oh."

Lauren was quiet again.

"Everything's going to be alright, Lo. I will make sure you're protected."

"I'm not afraid of them, Nick."

He stopped and looked right into Lauren's eyes, his eyes blazing with something, undefined, "You should be. You can't trust them-any of them. Remember that."

XXXXX

Over the next few weeks, Bo would walk by Lauren's house almost every day hoping to catch her outside but she missed her every time. Bo couldn't see into the house. She thought if she stood there long enough, Lauren would look out the window, she never did.

So today she decided enough was enough and to knock on the door.

She knocked three times and stood nervously at the door. Before Bo could knock a fourth time the door opened, a woman, with dark circles under her eyes holding a glass answered.

The woman slouched and didn't say anything. She just stood, staring and waiting.

Bo shifted her weight and looked down, "Um…Hi, I'm Bo, Lauren's friend. Is she here?"

The woman laughed, "Lauren has a friend?" Bo looked around uncomfortably. "Come in, come in, she's upstairs." She sighed and abruptly pushed the door open only wide enough for Bo to enter. "Take off your shoes first, Nick will have a fit if you bring in any filth."

Bo watched as Lauren's mom stumble onto the couch. Now she understood why she didn't join Lauren and Nick at the meeting. Clearly she was in no state to discuss important matters. "Lauren's room is the second door on the left," she mumbled taking a long drink from her glass.

Bo hastily scanned the house as she removed her shoes. It was large and very clean, perfect, immaculate. She hurried up the stairs as quick as possible. The woman made her uneasy for some reason.

She knocked on Lauren's door, "Lauren. It's Bo can I come in?" She whispered through the door.

Lauren opened the door, her eyes dancing with excitement, "Bo, I'm so happy to see you, come in," she beamed. "What brings you by?"

Bo walked into Lauren's room and looked around. It was very clean, like the rest of the house, with everything in its place. There was a giant oak bookshelf filled with books, a small desk with a laptop, in the corner was a small lab with a microscope, lots of plants everywhere and jars filled with different things. It was exactly how she pictured Lauren Lewis' room. It was inviting, warm, made her feel relaxed and safe, unlike the downstairs, which was uncomfortably cold and sterile.

"What are you doing today?"

"I'm planning on going to the space and science museum. I'm taking the bus downtown."

"Alone?"

She nodded, "Wouldn't be the first time."

Suddenly they heard Lauren's name being called from downstairs, her face hardened, and she gave Bo a stiff smile. "I'll be right back, stay here." She walked briskly from the room.

Bo sat on Lauren's bed waiting for her to return but after 10 minutes she decided to go see if Lauren needed help.

She walked down the stairs quietly and stopped. Lauren stood in front of her mother cleaning a cut on her forehead. She watched as the woman swatted Lauren's hand away several times.

"Mother, you know, I must clean this cut before applying the bandage. You don't want to get an infection." She said, her tone with a slight edge.

Bo's stomach dropped, watching the interaction made her feel uncomfortable like she was intruding on some secret.

After a moment, Lauren looked up as if she sensed they were being watched. Her eyes round with distress. "She fell, I'm just cleaning her up. I'll be back up soon."

Bo nodded uneasily and drew back, her heart beating fast in her chest. She again felt an intense desire to protect Lauren, from this, from everything.

"I'm fine, leave me alone, I wanna sleep." Bo heard the woman slur as she walked back up the stairs.

When Lauren returned she didn't mention what had happened downstairs, that was when Bo first learned that there were certain things that Lauren Lewis would not discuss.