The black SUV pulled up slowly as if to not disturb the eerie calm surrounding the run down dilapidated building at the end of the dirt road. Quietly two young men and a blonde in her early sixties emerged from the vehicle all sporting trademark black suits and dark, dark sunglasses. The men drew weapons from their holsters as the trio approached the building keeping an eye out as they escorted the blonde to the entrance.
The Dahl
A lonely sign sat mounted on the brick exterior of the building as the only proof of what once occupied this run down space. The blonde motioned to the men to open the door and they did so with trepidation not sure what to expect. The stories surrounding this establishment were whispered around like common folklore and anyone within a hundred mile radius of the city knew the sinister things that had taken place here.
xxx
"Trick!"
Kenzi bound through the door looking for the Blood King with renewed vigor. Always a thorn in his side he knew if she was here instead of Lauren then things were getting a little out of hand. The elder Fae sighed in subtle annoyance as he looked at the young human with a mix of amusement and irritation. "Kenzi...what is it?"
The petite woman hopped up on an unoccupied stool and leaned over as if to share a big secret. She motioned for Trick to lean closer and she looked around suspiciously before dropping her voice in effort to deter the Fae around her from overhearing. "She's done it again."
Trick grunted in slight annoyance and shook his head as he reached under the bartop. He located the small box he was looking for and pulled it out slowly with a shake of his head. He looked at Kenzi with a frown and tapped the box containing the sacred vials lightly. "Please tell Lauren to be more careful this time. I had to barter with a rock gnome from the Himalayas for this. Do you know how difficult that is?"
Kenzi looked him up and down slowly as she took the box from Trick and couldn't hold back the smirk that crossed her features. "You mean you two couldn't see eye to eye?" She laughed and jumped down as she scampered off leaving Trick to roll his eyes and huff a little at being the expense of Kenzi's short joke.
"You think it's becoming a problem Trick?"
Dyson had overheard the exchange and leaned over the bar top with concern. Bo had been getting too strong for her own good and as much as he wanted to trust the human doctor he had his reservations. It had always been his preference to have Bo deal with the Elders or a more experienced Fae who could handle the young Succubus's temper and power. But, being stubborn Bo had adamantly refused and insisted she would be fine having Lauren help her with the medication and the quasi therapy needed to help her learn to harness her own powers.
"She's getting stronger. This is no secret. But from what I have seen...I think the treatments are helping."
Trick knew what Dyson's concerns were and as much as he didn't want to admit it he shared some of the same reservations. However, he knew his granddaughter and he knew no amount of demanding or reasoning would change Bo's mind. Bo wanted what she wanted and for the moment she wanted Lauren to be the one to help her through this stage of her development. He knew he had every right to step in and force Bo into doing things by the book so to speak but he'd also seen what happens when you try and do just that.
"We have to just wait and see for now Dyson. But if anything seems out of sorts I won't hesitate to have the Elders intervene."
Dyson exhaled loudly through his nose. "A human is helping the future leader of the Fae with her development in a world she is not a part of. Things are already out of sorts Trick."
Trick smiled and looked up at the shifter with a knowing squint of his eyes. "We wait and see Dyson. For now, that's all we can do."
Dyson nodded in acknowledgement of the Blood King's order but he stared at the door as if it held the answers to all of his questions. He didn't mind Kenzi and Lauren and the other humans coexisting with them as long as they didn't meddle in Fae business. That was where he drew the line and he knew it was just a matter of time before something would happen that would make Trick and the others realize he was right all along.
xxx
The heavy iron door creaked and moaned before banging open with a loud thud causing all three to jump in surprise. The taller of the two held his weapon out nervously as he pushed the door open further and took a few shuffled steps in. The air was thick and hard to inhale and he had to put his free hand up to his mouth in effort to filter the air filling his lungs.
"Don't touch anything. We're just here to recon."
The men nodded at her instruction and the three slowly made their way into the middle of the bar area. For the most part the interior was stripped down to the bare bones and there were only a few remnants of the tables and chairs that used to fill the large void in the middle of the room.
The years of bloodshed and fighting seemed to resonate throughout the room as the trio took in everything around them. The walls seemed to whisper secrets of many battles fought and lives lost but also there were subtle reminders of the good times this building saw and the once happy world that existed within its walls.
Along the far wall there were large gashes in the wall littered like battle scars as proof of the countless battles that had taken place in that space. In front of them the bar top was broken in multiple places and there were scratches on the surface from the splintering surface of the wood. The blonde approached the old wooden surface and ran her hand lightly across the dust that accumulated from years of sitting in its current state.
xxx
"What up doc."
Lauren turned her head to see Tamsin saddle up to her with drink in hand. Tamsin reached across the bar shooting Trick an innocent smile as she grabbed the bottle of whiskey and refilled Lauren's glass. Lauren nodded her thanks and the two clinked glasses together lightly as they shared a small smile. Lauren nodded her glass slightly towards Tamsin before sipping from it and moaning as the amber liquid coated her throat.
"So, Tamsin, to what do i owe the pleasure? In need of a drinking buddy or is there a professional reason for your company?"
Tamsin smirked and refilled her empty glass. "Cutting to the chase, I like that doctor."
Lauren rolled her eyes and sipped her drink patiently waiting for Tamsin to go on. Tamsin slammed her second drink down and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "I need the 411 on your progress with super Succubus."
Lauren chuckled and turned slightly towards Tamsin. "The 411? Can you rephrase that in actual words please?"
Tamsin shook her head and tapped her fingers impatiently. "You know it's time for answers Lauren. We can only hold them off for so long. So either pony up the details or some much angrier, and much uglier Fae will come a knockin."
Lauren nodded and looked into her glass quietly. Five years ago, if you had told the human doctor that she would be sitting at a bar drinking with a couple hundred year old Valkyrie discussing the status of her on-again off-again Succubus girlfriend she would have probably considered you insane. But somehow this had become her world and the woman sitting next to her sharing a drink is as close to a friend that Lauren had in this strange, strange world.
"She's making steady progress Tamsin. The injections seem to be working and her ability to control the darkness within gets easier with each dose. There is a clear distinction between when she is on the shots and when she is not."
Tamsin smirked. "That good huh?"
Lauren blushed slightly as she cleared her throat and rolled her eyes in annoyance. "What I mean is her demeanor is far more controlled while on the shots than her baseline. I think with a little more work she will be at a point where everyone is comfortable."
Tamsin nodded and finished her third drink before standing up. "Thanks Doc. A pleasure as always."
She turned to leave but stopped when Lauren put her hand on her arm. "Tamsin…"
The Valkyrie turned around and looked at her with raised eyebrows. "Yeah?"
Lauren sighed and gave her a small smile. "Thanks."
Tamsin sort of grunted and nodded before gently pulling her arm away and walking out of the Dahl. Lauren watched her leave hoping what she was doing was for the best and that Bo knew what she was getting herself into. It was one thing to deceive their friends and Trick but it was a whole different level to deceive the entire Fae world. If this worked then Lauren would have done the impossible establishing her place in Fae history. And if it didn't...well Lauren wasn't sure what the outcome would be if it didn't.
xxx
The two men curiously looked on as the blonde seemed to be lost in thought as she stood in front of the bar top. They hadn't been briefed on exactly what the mission was, only that they were to escort the blonde on this trip. One nodded to the other as they continued to scour the room making sure they were in fact alone. Not knowing what they were getting into they hadn't exactly come prepared for the worst of the worst so they were hoping this would be a fast visit to the ruined building and they could be on their way soon.
The blonde ignored them as they shuffled their way nervously around the room and somewhere in the back of her head she knew she should have brought more than two recent graduates from the academy with her. Not wanting to delay her trip any further however she'd accepted the detail assigned to her and made her way as quickly as possible to the forgotten bar in the forgotten city on the forgotten side of the world.
Reaching into her pocket she pulled out the envelope she'd been holding in her jacket pocket. Gently taking out the contents she held the picture up to the bar and peered at it carefully. Given the angle the picture was taken at the blonde knew she was in the appropriate place. The background was different now as the Dahl sign was gone as were the rest of the decor that hung in the cozy little establishment. But that wasn't what had the blonde's attention. Holding the picture a little closer to her face she sighed as she looked at the photo she'd seen a million times.
The brunette smiling back at the camera was a mystery to her and the only clue she could go on was the mark on the surface of the bar just to the right of the figure. The blonde had stumbled on this picture years ago and it's haunted her like a nightmare ever since. She had no idea who this person was or why the picture was in a file that had come across her desk in her first year with the agency. She ran her finger over the picture as she had done a thousand times and hoped that by being in the exact spot the picture was taken that something would jump out at her.
A slight chill took over her body and she knew instinctively it was time to leave. "Let's go."
The two young men looked at her curiously as it hadn't seemed like she'd done anything since they'd gotten there. "What?"
The blonde sighed and made her way to the exit. "I said it's time to go. Move."
The two men looked at each other before nodding and looking at her obediently. As they walked past her out of the bar one of the two was heard mumbling. "Yes Doctor."
The blonde nodded and followed them out letting the hold iron door slam shut behind her. She knew this wouldn't be the last time she paid the bar a visit but for now it would have to do as she left with just as many questions as she arrived with. Today was not the day to solve the mystery but it gave her hope that she was on the path to putting together the puzzle that she'd been given.
