Deep Rooted

Chapter Two: Scattered Seeds

For so long the depth of loneliness was all she knew but when she discovered the gentle flame of growing love, the hectic life of the Fae got in the way. The only solution presented was the capture of a certain human that might just be the key to unlocking secrets of past, present and possibly future disasters, both human and Fae alike.

"Lauren, it's supposed to be the last time, after this, I'm done."

She looked dubious, worrying her lip between her teeth. "I don't know if I can believe that."

Instead of answering, I pulled her into me, feeling the warmth of her body spread throughout my own. She remained still for a moment before reacting to me, bunching up my shirt in her hands and holding me in place. Her lips found their way to my neck, brushing light as a feather against my skin, up to my ear.

"Come back to me," she whispered. Her arms wound around my neck, keeping our bodies flush against one another. I felt the soft pound of her heart beat against my chest and closed my eyes, willing the moment to forever be in my heart.

"Always," I murmured, nuzzling her hair. She smelled like fresh spring rain and pine with a hint of peppermint.

I felt her nod, running her nose up and down the length of my neck as she let out a small sigh. I knew where her mind flashed back to, the instant tension that started from her arms, growing and spreading, I recognized it. She was thinking of her.

"I'll be okay," I reassured her. I rubbed her back gently, kneading the muscles I felt, coaxing her to unwind.

"I won't lose you, Valkyrie," she stated, pressing her ear to my heart. "I can't. Not again."

...

"I can't go back, can I?" I asked a little dejectedly. The scoff and eye roll I got in response confirmed as much.

"Not unless you want to put off clearing your precious little doctor's good name sometime soon."

"She's innocent and we both know it," I grumbled. "It shouldn't be that difficult. You're the Morrigan, if you of all people attest to her innocence, they'll have enough proof. Everyone knows how much you hate her."

"When ever is it that simple? You know how it is." Her lips were pursed as she sat back down, leaning her elbows on the desk and resting her chin on her hands.

"What about the Ash? I still can't believe he'd be such a dick and do that to his own," I complained, knowing full well how easy the decision must have actually been.

When it came down to it, the positions of such leadership was all political, just as it was with humans. The newest Ash was no exception and I knew he wouldn't bat an eyelash to imprison Lauren if it meant gaining more respect from the Fae he was supposed to lead. It wasn't fucking fair.

"He'd fuck a gargoyle if it meant making the council and his subjects feel better," Evony sneered. It was no secret she detested the newest member of Fae leadership with a passion.

"What's up with you and him anyway?" I asked. As always, her walls erected and face hardened, doing their best to keep me and anyone else out.

"Careful, Blondie, I just might accuse you of caring." Apparently sarcasm was everyone's go-to when it concerned feelings and truth.

"Whatever, I don't care unless it does something to screw my girlfriend over," I snapped. "If you do anything to risk her, I won't hesitate to let loose and do whatever it takes to keep her safe."

"I haven't seen you this fired up since… well, let's not bring up how long we've known each other, shall we?" She smirked and straightened out the front of her button up, looking at me for a moment before turning her attention to her desk. "If that's all, I suggest you start looking for that loose end."

"I can't go back to the precinct," I told her. "I need access to files, so that means I need access to your Blue Room."

"Fine, Aura can take you." With that she completely ignored me, opened her laptop and began to type away with furious strokes to her keyboard.

Not a second later her office doors opened and in walked the most notorious Empusa ginger the Fae world had yet to know. The knockoff succubus eyed me for a moment then turned around and strut away, adding an unnecessary amount of sway to her hips. The bitch.

"Come along, Tammy," she giggled, her accent giving her words a somewhat musical quality.

Biting the inside of my cheek I strode along behind her, clenching and unclenching my fists while I tried not to punch the back of her head. Her stupid red curls weren't helping.

"Stop being such a bore, Redeemer." She turned her head, flashing a bright smile before looking ahead again.

"Ugh, Redeemer, really? We talk about this every time I have to deal with you, Aura."

"And yet I always surprise you with it," she said, the smile as obvious as day. Her energy was always so annoying, too upbeat and perky with an underlying current that unsettled me.

"Not surprised, just annoyed." She shrugged. "Just take me to the Blue Room, yeah?"

"Someone is feeling extra uptight today, eh?" Her laughter was soft and light, something I was sure she used to lure her victims in.

"I'm just not in any mood to have my patience tested, Aura, if you knew you'd understand."

"Oh honey, we all know what- or rather who this is about. Your human playmate and her brother are the biggest news. Some are even claiming you had something to do with the criminal's escape, but that's surely some horrendous rumor, isn't it?" She stopped then and faced me, her bright green eyes practically glowing as she watched me.

"The only one I cared about was Lauren who was being attacked."

"I thought so, you Valkyrja have too much honor to do such a thing." She nodded and made a grand sweeping gesture toward her right. "Through those doors, you'll find yourself with what you seek. Now, I'm off to take care of… personal matters."

"Don't do anything stupid, I don't want to end up being the one to clean your mess up again."

"Until next time, Tamsin!" Some people seriously needed to get beat up more often, preferably with a bunch of blows to the head.

"Knockoff succubus," I muttered, pushing my way through the double doors into the Blue Room. "Oh fuck no." Sitting inside the room were three people I could have gone the rest of my lives never seeing again.

"Well, looky what the wonder vaj brought us, boys," the leader cackled.

"I'm a girl you little fuck," his second-in-command griped.

"I thought the unaligned was the wonder vaj, Arthur," the third clueless companion murmured.

"You have a point there, boy, but that one's gone and the one here is a different kind of wonder. She doesn't suck chi, she bites," Arthur shuddered. "Imagine that going to town on y-"

"Enough. What the fuck are you three stooges doing here?" I demanded, crossing my arms and glaring.

"That's original isn't it, Lori?" He turned to his right, grinning goofily at the woman sat beside him.

"Quite." Lori kept her focus on me, never once breaking away, she stood up and mimicked my stance. "We're here to fix your fuck up with the humans." Her voice was sharp as steel and nearly as cold as her grey eyes.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" My words carried an echo of her harshness but was void of the hateful undertone. She always excelled in being a huge bitch.

"You know exactly what it means, little sister." We glared at one another, a silent challenge hanging in the air between us and charging the room with our animosity.

"Well, isn't that a wonderful sight? If I were anyone else I'd bloody swear you two were twins."

"Fuck off, Art," Lori seethed, turning her burning gaze to him. "My power might not harm another Valkyrie but it sure as hell could fuck you up."

"You are not a Valkyrie… not anymore." I took a deep breath and steadied myself, calming the raging fire that felt all consuming. "You left and stripped yourself of the title a long time ago."

"Still hurt I chose freedom over you, sis?" Her laughter was mocking, a shadow of the once wondrous sound that would fill our room so many lifetimes ago.

"No, because it all lead me to Lauren," I answered. Even simply saying her name helped soothe my anger, but the ache of being away from her flared.

"I really hate to break it to you but that little human bitch is sentenced to die, Tamsin, and we're going to be her executioners."

Without conscious thought, I leapt at her and wrapped my hands around her throat, growling savagely as I attempted to choke the life out of the only family I once truly loved.

A/N: Thank you guys so much for the reviews, favorites and follows! I hope this chapter was up to par :)

My guest reviewers, I'm glad you like it! Lazytown2000, I was so happy to see your review! Pachecoissa123, I got you! Lbw8lrrh, thanks so much! Nerdrific79, so cool to see another familiar name! SincereDeceit, love the name and glad to provide!