Chapter Three:
Tamsin's POV
Someone sat down next to her and she lifted her head to see Kenzi. The little goth looked concerned. "Hey momz. How ya been?" Kenzi smacks the back of the valkyries head. "Ow, what was that for?" she exclaims.
"That! Was for leaving for two months and lying about why you were gone. Bo-Bo just told me what happened. So, now you are going to share with me your side of the story. Come on, talk to momma kenz. Whats going on with you? You look and smell like you just drug yourself out of an alcohol filled dumpster." The thief pinched her nose and scrunched her face, showing her disgust at the blonde's appearance.
"Sorry momz. I didn't want to worry you. I needed to be by myself for a while."
"Did you have to drink like a fish?"
"Yep." Tamsin tilted her head back, downing another long gulp of vodka.
Kenzi looked towards the blonde, and gave her a serious look. "Tell me what is going on Tamsin." Tamsin sat up. Her head felt heavy and she felt disgusting. She didn't want Kenzi to see her like this, it is what she was trying to avoid when she left. That, and of course she wanted to avoid Bo; but she couldn't leave her completely thanks to the damn bond. She lifted the bottle back to her lips. Kenzi stopped her before she could take another drink. "Uh-Uh Valkyrie-lips, no way. I'm cutting you off; and you're soo grounded."
Tamsin chuckled at the thought of Kenzi grounding her. It was the first time she felt even the least bit of joy in such a long time it almost felt unnatural. She really did love the little goth like family since Kenzi raised her from her younger form. So she pushed the bottle across the bar away from her reach. "Aye Aye momz." Then she stood up from the bar and pulled Kenzi into a booth.
"I take it that Bo-" The blonde winced as she said the brunettes name, pain filled in her chest. "told you that I bonded with her. What else did she tell you?"
"That you kneeled and practically proposed or some shit and that it might kill you. What does it mean Tamsin?"-Kenzi
"It's not a proposal. It's bigger than that. The wings that I grew to save her at Mossimo's were the final sign of the bond. I knew it would happen the moment I didn't take her to the Wanderer. I cursed us. The bond makes me stronger in this life, my last life." Kenzi looked shocked as Tamsin told said this was her last life.
"So, like, you really could die; and not be reborn? No more baby Tam-Tam? Holy fuck ballz."
"Yeah; but it's ok. I want this to be my last life. The bond forming showed that I am supposed to fight for Bo. I am supposed to protect her, and this bond will make sure that I do; It will pull me towards her wherever I try to go. I can't get away from it."
"Wow that's some deep shiz."
"I may not be able to get away from it, but Bo can. For her to feel the bond she has to accept me as her protector and agree to be my warrior."
"What does this warrior stuff mean?"
"Well no matter what, in my eyes, she is my warrior. If she agrees to let me be her protector then we will be bound by our souls. We will be able to sense each other if either of us are in danger and be able to summon a greater power from the bond to protect each other. Since I have bonded I already feel more powerful; but without Bo accepting me, I also feel empty. I'm missing a part of my soul because I don't have hers to complete me."
"Okay, so you need Bo to accept you in order to 'complete you'. Aww that would almost be cute if you didn't look like she had run over your heart with a train… She hurt you when she said no didn't she." The Blonde made no move to answer her, but it was written all over her face. "Don't answer that, I can tell you are hurt. Bo said she didn't accept you because you said being your warrior would lead you to your death. You know as well as I do that Bo-Bo is very stubborn about her 'No one will ever die because of me again' rule."
"I don't even know if it is death that will put me at peace. All I know is that when a Valkyrie bonds with a warrior and the bond is accepted by both, that the Valkyrie will fight for that warrior in her last life. Both are granted an enhanced power and the warrior will lead the Valkyrie to peace."
"Aren't you at peace? I mean we aren't fighting any wars here…"
"No Kenzi, a Valkyrie's soul is never at peace. There is always another war, another battle, another master. The evils of this world are everywhere. A Valkyrie's life is filled with pain, torture, and war. We live for centuries fighting and being reborn, just to fight again. Our memories drown us in the past. The most sacred thing to a Valkyrie, the reason we fight to begin with, is peace. Not only for the outcome of battle, but for ourselves." The Valkyrie looked longingly at the bottle of alcohol in front of her, but decided against it for Kenzi's sake.
She looked towards the thief, her little momz. She forced a smile to her face, but the blonde was filled with sorrow. "Bo turning me down didn't just feel like rejection from a lover, my soul was ripped in two. My heart is full of feelings for her from the bond, but my soul is lost without hers. A fallen Valkyrie is nothing without a warrior. I have no purpose. No master can tame a fallen Valkyrie because she is pledged to her warrior; and she can't follow anyone else or even be away from that warrior. The further I am from her, the weaker I get. She literally has a part of my soul. I feel weak, I am half of myself; and it is killing me."
As she looked at Kenzi, she saw that tears were forming in the little goth's eyes. Kenzi picked the bottle of liquor from the table and poured two shots. She pushed one of the shots towards the blonde. They both downed the burning liquid. "I'm so sorry little T" Kenzi said. Her voice was still thick as she held back her tears. Then the thief picked up the bottle and handed it to Tamsin. She stood from the booth and began to walk away but Tamsin put an arm on her wrist. Kenzi turned to look her in the eyes.
"Don't tell Bo, ok?"
"What? Tamsin, not being with her is actually killing you. At least if she accepts the bond you will have a chance. Why wouldn't you want that?"
"Because I want" She paused a second. "No, I need her to accept me because it is me. Not just because she doesn't want me to die. I need to know she really wants me."
"You love her." It was a simple statement. Tamsin had never heard Kenzi sound so serious before. All the blonde could do is nod her head slightly, in agreement.
"Don't tell her that either."
"But Tamsin-"
The blonde cut her off by raising a hand.
"No buts. She can't know. I would rather die alone than have her accept me for the wrong reasons. Until then, I am going to drink and solve cases with Dyson. I'll be nearby though, it's not like I have a choice" She scoffed. She took a long drink from the bottle.
The door to Trick's lair opened and Dyson called the two over "Trick found something". They got up and followed the wolf. I hope this case is good. Tamsin thought, hoping for a decent distraction.
As they walked into the basement that had been converted into a lair, it looked as it always had. A red sofa sat in the middle of the room. Sconces hung from the wall lit by gas pipes. The fireplace was lit and it felt warm and homey, especially for a place that could double as a dungeon. Heck there was an actual dungeon down here through the large bolted metal door at the back of the room. That was where she had broken Bo out to go save Kenzi. Too bad we can't go back to those days. Damn feelings. Tamsin walked in and sat on the couch, a death grip on the bottle still in her hand. It was the only thing keeping her focus from Bo.
Bo's POV
Bo was looking over Trick's shoulder, but then she felt that feeling again. Just like when Tamsin walked into the bar. She knew the blonde was close. She looked up and watched the three walk down the stairs and into the lair. How do I keep feeling it when she's near? I didn't accept her bond, I shouldn't be affected should I? Tamsin sauntered over to the couch and laid out like she owned the place. Classic Tamsin, maybe she's actually fine. Maybe the bond went away because she stayed away; and now that she's back everything can go back to normal again. Maybe they could be friends.
"Hey Tamsin." She said. Trying to gauge the Valkyrie's reaction.
Tamsin's POV
She froze as she heard Bo address her. It was comforting to be near her, near her other half; but she still felt hurt by the succubus' rejection. I mean heck she was actually dying from it. She looked around the room; Trick and Dyson still didn't know what was going on and Bo didn't fully understand what she had done to Tamsin. She had to fake it, for their sake. She fought the weight that was laying heavily on her chest and forced herself to look at the succubus. Not quite meeting her eyes.
"Hello Bo." She had tried to say it with as little pain in her voice as she could muster; but she noticed that Kenzi passed her a look. Everyone else seemed unfazed by her response. Great, now the little goth would want another heart-to-heart later. Fan-fucking-tastic. Im dying and now I'm going to be verbally assaulted.
Kenzi's POV
Kenzi had noticed how the Valkyrie had forced down whatever pain she was hiding behind her greeting to Bo. She couldn't sit here and watch the blonde be tormented just from being near her best friend. She could only think of one solution to save her little-T from further pain. So she walked towards Bo and grabbed her hand.
"Come on Bo-Bo. I don't think we need this case. I'm sure the wolf and Tammy can handle it. I wanna go home and get shit faced tonight and save the world from robot hookers. We will find our own case tomorrow."
"Wait. Huh? I thought momma needed a new pair of kicks."
"Psh. Like I know what I want. Silly succubus, since when do you listen to me? Besides, we are the best detectives in town; someone is bound to come to us. Why should we be doing the leg work?"
Tamsin looked at Kenzi. The Valkyrie's gratefulness practically screamed from the blonde. She even smiled and said "bitches be lazy." Then she turned her back on them and faced back towards Dyson. Kenzi grabbed Bo's arm and led her up the stairs to go home to the crack shack.
Tamsin's POV
"Um ok..." Bo mumbled as she was pulled from the room. Tamsin released the breath she had been holding, she hadn't even noticed she had stopped breathing at the sight of the succubus. Relieved to finally be alone with just her partner and Trick, she looked towards the Blood King. He was holding an old book that was bound in leather and had gold leaf pages. Fancy.
"So what's the story Blood King?"
"Well, from what I can find, this act was done by a human. The pentagram is used by human sorcerers to gain power. This human is someone who has been around the Fae. He, or she, knew that the five people murdered were Fae. I believe that since crushed acorn was used in the circle connecting the pentagram; that this person was summoning Fae powers for himself."
Tamsin turned to Dyson. "Do we know what kind of Fae the dead people were?"
"They were cut so badly that making an ID from their faces would be impossible. Whoever this person is, he is a sadistic son of a bitch. We are waiting on dental records from the Fae compound. Hale should call back soon."
Come to think of it. Tamsin handn't noticed Hale around since before she left. "Where has the Siren been anyways?"
"Since he stepped down as acting Ash." Dyson turned and glanced at Trick, the new acting Ash. Trick answered for him "He has been working at the Fae compound as body guard for elite Fae visitors."
"Ah, cool. Glad to see I'm not being replaced by your old partner."
Dyson looked at her. "Nobody could ever replace you partner."
Tamsin was touched. She had never had anybody who actually cared about her before. She knew other Valkyrie's but, well they were Valkyrie's, they aren't supposed to form attachments. Leave it to the happy sunshine gang to tear down her walls and make me all mushy and shit. Everyone in Asgard was right; love really will get you killed.
"So, this creep is making himself Fae. What does the Yew that was there do?"
Trick was looking through several books on his desk as fast as he could. He lifted his head for a brief moment to say "I haven't figured that out yet." Then he continued flipping through pages.
A few moments later Trick exclaimed "Aha!" The two detectives jumped slightly. Neither of them had ever heard the Blood King react to anything so excitedly before. "I found it. The Yew was there because the sorcerer had to bind the power of the dead Fae to an object." He leaned forward and pointed to an image on the page.
It was an old staff. Made of light colored wood, Yew Tamsin assumed. There was a red orb on the top of the staff and ornate carvings all the way down the shaft. The blonde's eyes widened in disbelief "That's the Gambanteinn staff! Holy shit, it's legendary. Very little is known about the staffs power, but it is from Norse mythology. It is said that Baldr, son of Odin, used the staff to control his father as a prank. He paid dearly once Odin regained control. Odin kept the powers of the staff secret and hid it away in Valhalla so that none would be tempted to control him again."
Trick and Dyson were mystified by the Valkyrie's words.
"I knew I felt power at the crime scene. If this staff is powerful enough to control Odin himself, then I fear what an idiot human might do with it. Trick, how can we find this sorcerer?"
"I don't have a single clue, I'm sorry Tamsin. All I know is that this sorcerer is going to have to sacrifice another powerful Fae to activate the power in the staff."
Tamsin looked down, thinking back to their time at the crime scene. "I felt the power at the crime scene, he was still there while we were there. Dyson, we need every photo taken at the crime scene as soon as possible. Maybe we got his face in one of the shots of the crowd."
"I'll see what I can do. I'll get the footage from the press as well. They had cameras everywhere throughout the day."
"Perfect. Let me know when you have it."
Trick walked around his desk and held his arms out wide. Almost like he was shooing them towards the door. "Well, I'll leave you guys to do all the hard work. I am afraid I'm going to have to show you both the door now. Stella is on her way over to do some research."
"uh-huh. 'Research'. Is that what they are calling it these days?" Tamsin said using her fingers to put air quotes around the word research. She gave her signature smirk. Man it felt good to be around these guys again. She almost felt better.
"Wow I didn't know a Blood King could blush." Dyson said teasingly. Tamsin put her arm around her partner's shoulders as they walked up the stairs together. She really had missed him.
"I need another drink wolf, you buyin'?" Tamsin asked as they walked into the noisy bar.
"Sure thing partner, just let me call the station to pull all of the crime scene footage."Dyson walked outside to make the call away from the loud bar.
Tamsin walked behind the bar and grabbed another bottle, Blood King's liquor or not, she needed a drink. She grabbed the oldest looking bottle of whiskey she could find on the top off. She wanted to kick yet another night of drinking off with some really good shit, and she definitely found it. Whatever she grabbed was like she was drinking liquid candy.
Dyson's POV
Dyson came back inside. "The unies at the station said they would have the footage together for us in the morning. It looks like we've got all night partner. So, are you going to tell me what's going on or not? You look like you've been rolling through shit for the last two months and the way you stiffed up when you saw Bo downstairs was weird. What happened Tamsin?"
Dyson had been wondering what could have gone on between the two to ruffle the Valkyrie's feathers. Her entire species is known for their ability to hide their feelings. For someone he knew had incredible strength, the partner that sat in front of him looked completely defeated. Now was his chance for answers. He looked at the Valkyrie and the bottle that she had grabbed from the top shelf. He knew that the reason Trick always said for them to not grab the top-shelf liquor wasn't because of the price of the liquor but because the stuff on the top shelf had magical properties.
Luckily for him the bottle that Tamsin had grabbed was laced with lotus oil. It is sweet to taste and forces away the drinker's inhibitions. Making them more forthcoming when asked questions. It also makes them drowsy after a short amount of time.
"I dunno Dyson… I just dunno anything anymore. This life is fucked up… It wasn't supposed to be this way. She was supposed to say Yes… but No, no, no." Tamsin slurred, she kept losing her focus mid sentence and drifting, she turned to face Dyson. Hehe looks like the drinks have kicked in. Tamsin was waving her finger in front of his nose like an angry school teacher.
"Who was supposed to say yes, and to what?" He asked her.
"Bo, of course… she was supposed to say yes…" Her voice trailed away again. Dyson snapped his fingers in front of her to bring her attention back. "To the bond, to my bond… no, no, no." She put a hand on either side of her head and shook it. Then she set her head on the bar with her head turned towards Dyson tears in her eyes.
"A bond, What's that?" He had never seen his partner so distraught. Whatever this bond was, it was tearing her apart at the seams. "Can it be stopped?"
"Nope, too late… Damn wings. It's my last fuckin' life Dyson. What am I supposed to do?" She appeared to have sobered up for a moment. "She didn't accept the bond, and now I am half of myself…. Well, the least I can do is go out with a bang." She grabbed the bottle and tilted her head back, letting an unending flow of liquid wash down her throat, emptying the bottle. She let out a huge burp then let her head fall to the bar, she was out like a light.
Damn Tamsin, What have you gotten yourself into. He shook his head. He had heard of a Valkyrie's bond before, only in passing. He knew that it was sacred and it granted both parties strength. It could take many different forms. Tamsin wasn't looking so strong right now though, she looked half dead. Something must be wrong because Bo didn't accept it.
He would ask Trick tomorrow about what was happening to Tamsin. He was worried about her. He stood and scooped the Valkyrie into his arms. She seemed so weak, so small. He looked at her. She was like an annoying younger sister to him. He had liked her straight from the start. He even laughed when he thought about how she wrecked his computer with coffee and how she was a total smartass. He even liked her when she was trying to imprison his would-be girlfriend.
Bo… I wonder how she is wrapped up in this. He should be jealous, he thought. Tamsin must have strong feelings for Bo to start a bond with her. Looking down at the girl in his arms, he didn't feel jealous at all. He loved Tamsin, not in the same way he loved Bo; but he couldn't be with the brunette anyways. She was dark now, and things were still a little awkward between them since their last romp between the sheets where Bo wouldn't even look at him. Things with the brunette didn't feel the same; she had slipped away from him. The love he had felt for her seemed empty now.
If he had to see Bo with anyone, He could handle it being Tamsin. He had seen how hard the Valkyrie would fight for her. Right now it seemed she was fighting herself for Bo's sake. He just didn't know why.
He carried the sleeping blonde to one of the rooms that Trick kept for patrons that were too far gone to get home. He laid her down on a couch and brushed a blonde strand of hair away from her face. She looked so peaceful while she slept. He couldn't help but sit there and watch her, he wanted to stay and keep her safe. He didn't even notice himself drifting off beside her.