Chapter Eight: Mama (DAY SIX)
.
LAUREN'S POV
.
'Oedipus complex, a mental disorder in which a child, most often male has a sexual desire and attachment toward their mother with strong feelings of competition toward their second parent.
Obsession, a state of being completely taken over by a thought and/or desire. The person has little to no say in their behaviors that surround their actions in obtaining or keeping said object.
Maternal instinct, to protect one's offspring against any and all threats. To place said offspring above all else, even oneself. To love said offspring through any and all shortcomings, difficulties and/or dysfunctions.
Slave, doctor, surgeon, physiologist, profiler, activist, Queen of Fae, wife, and mother. Over my life I've worn the title of each at one time or another, often several at once. All of which have given me a very different and very unique prospective on the three terms. I know the world's definition and I know my own. Perhaps it is the overwhelming amount of experience I've gained through my long life or maybe it's something-else, but I've always known what Dani's been after. I knew where her games were leading us to-what motivated her actions that were always either perfectly random or perfectly calculated. To me it's been obvious for a long time-I just so happened to refuse to accept it.
I always found it funny in a sick, ironic kind of way how a person could see something, know something without a doubt, believe it with every fiber of their being-yet they could still refuse to accept it. Denial is such a beautiful thing, it can be addicting. It has been to me. It was so easy to deny the obvious, it always is.
The human condition is a curious thing though the irony there is I am no longer human yet the mechanics continue to work the same. I continue to have contradicting emotions, continue to lie to myself and deny the obvious. I continue to dance between the thin line of being a bad person who does good things and a good person who does bad things. I continue to have self-preservation and maternal instincts. Human or Fae is surprisingly the same and I can honestly say I know, I have not only been both, but lived as both. Whether living as a human slave or Fae Queen, the mechanics under everything else that changes remain the same.
I've watched Skylar and Bo and Kenzi and Ty waiting. I've watched Sean and Mila and Niko waiting. I've watched them all just waiting and wondering how long it would take for them to figure it out. Figure Dani out-figure myself out. All of the signs have always been there, but they've never bothered to connect the dots.
Even if they had figured it out, would they have said anything?
I doubt they did though, Dani has always been such an enigma. Once you figure out one side of her, she's already changed. She unfortunately inherited it from me. I was never a conceited person, even to this day I'm not. But I know without a doubt that no one has ever completely figured me out, never completely solved me and in that respect my daughter is my mirror image.
I look at her and I see more then my daughter, I see myself. I look at her and wonder if this is my fate, wonder if this is truly who I am. I look at her and see more than a soulless killer even though I know there is nothing more there. I look at this young girl, my daughter and can see more, see a grown woman who isn't my daughter. I see a counterpart to me, or rather a continuation. I look at her and I know the darkness I've spent years hiding, denying its continued existence—-I know it's still alive when I look at her. I look at her and see someone who knows parts of me that no one else does.
I look at her and see her for what she really is-a fallen angel. Something made with pure, untainted love born beautiful yet has fallen from grace. I look at her and see the pure evil, soulless monster she is -a perfect continuation of myself.'
.
Calmly I take two steps backward and five to my left putting a somewhat decent distance between myself and Skylar. My eyes running over every inch of Dani yet still refusing to meet her penetrating gaze. She really has become the spitting image of Bo, right down to the leather pants and size to small vest worn as a shirt. Correction, she looks like the woman I met all those years ago. The similarity manages to even extend to her mannerisms. The way she leans against the doorframe with that desire filled gaze screams Bo. My attention lingering on her lips as they curl into a smirk that's surprisingly her own. She raises her hand halfway and had a heavy beat not filled my ears that very exact second I would have thought it was a weapon.
To some degree, I wish it was.
.
((((-You want to estimate-The distance that it takes-To find a lover lover))))
.
Tossing the remote aside her hips seductively begin swaying back and forth to the beat. Swaying over to me. And I don't move-I can't. So I just watch her. Coming to within inches her hips continue to sway, but there is this moment of hesitation-it's only momentary.
Taking my silence as an invitation her fingertips fall onto my collarbone before allowing them to slip down the middle of my chest, over my stomach-moving across to my hips. In union her hands run over my hips to the very small of my back. Her fingers ever so slightly grazing the starting curve of my ass and that slight hesitation seems to return.
.
((((-You want to rectify-This mad look in my eyes-Then find your other lover-))))
.
She isn't sure.
Her hands running back up my body to their staring place. Smirk growing, she takes the material of my shirt between her thumbs and index fingers-very Bo-like. Subtly licking her lips she gives a gentle tug until the shirt is completely untucked.
.
((((-Come on let's rectify-This mad look in my eye-Come on yes let's discover-))))
.
Bending her knees, she sways down until her eyes are even with my hips. Her hands making quick work of the bottom four buttons, and since I never button the top two that only left her with two more to undo. Swaying back up for face me, a flick of her fingers and the remaining two are undone. Continuing with the beat of the song her arms drape themselves over my shoulders, hands moving into my hair.
She's waiting for something, I can see it in her eyes.
Pressing herself against me, her hands slide back down to my shoulders slipping underneath the recently undone material. She pushes it gently off of my shoulders, down along my arms until finally letting it drop to the floor. Even though I'm wearing an undershirt, if it could be called that, it's cut low enough to earn that glimmer of hesitation once again.
"I found out how to be perfect for you my dear." She sings softly along with the music, her eyes finally coming to meet my own.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" I whisper as she leans back into me. "There is a line you're approaching Dani, one that you can never come back from."
I catch a glimpse of the smirk over her lips as she rhythmically turns her body against mine. Her fingers slipping between mine, guiding my hands up to her waist. A soft hum mimicking the words of the song, though now she adds a soft moan every couple of beats. After several seconds, gaining all the possible pleasure she can from this she guides us backward to the single wooden chair angled near the corner of the fourth window.
She guides me into the chair, pulling her hands free as she turns to face me. Keeping my gaze she reaches over me, pulling a roll of duct tape from the windowsill. Flashing me a smile she drapes one leg over my lap and then the other before gently lowering herself. Her eyes narrow, studying me, but I give her nothing with the exception of tilting my head back slightly not to get hit. Already knowing how this was going to go, I position my hands behind my back, comfortably holding them together. Moaning softly she leans against me, face buried into the curve of my neck as she wraps the tape around my wrists.
"I never figured you to be so-submissive." She leans back, letting the roll drop to the floor with a heavy thud. "Nothing to say?"
"I've never been one for dirty talk."
"Please, don't insult me. I'm not that inexperienced." She taps my knees. "Dirty talk is vulgar and describes what you want to do to someone. Talking about things of a suggestive manner without being explicit is merely flirtatious. Just a, form of foreplay." She tilts her head, narrowing her eyes ever so slightly-there's Bo again. "So come on, tell me."
"I had assumed you were planning on finding out yourself."
Her lips part through a smirk, whatever comment she had ready on the tip of her tongue-until my comment. Her tongue darts out wetting her lips, eyebrow rising as her eyes dance over my face, down my collarbone. She's still now, statuesque. She's hesitating, she's still not sure. She even looks like Bo when she hesitates. Images of Bo on her couch, so unsure of herself-of us.
"Or is this your way of telling me you plan to add stripper to your list of-talents."
"I still have my clothes on." She leans back just a little further so she isn't right on top of me.
"That seems like a personal problem." Head tilting to the left, keeping her gaze. "You will have to take care of it yourself though," Lazily I raises my arms the best I can. "My hands seem to be tied."
"It's such a shame," She cups my cheeks, leaning in until her forehead rests against mine. "You don't mean it." Leaning in just a bit more, her lips hovering over mine as her eyes close. "I really wish you did."
"Scared."
.
DANI'S POV
.
Did she just say that she thinks I'm scared?
Of what?
I feel every muscle within my body contract, eyes widening. Eyes moving over her face before coming right back to meet her gaze. Her-assumption is a dare. It's a challenge. A challenge from one alpha to another.
Oh, what it's like to have someone actually play back.
I'll admit, I'm a tad surprised. I never expected her to take it this far-to be willing to go further.
I knew without a doubt my predictable mother would follow me into this little game of cat and mouse. A deadly game which has left a hefty body total and a beautiful amount of collateral damage. I knew she would take the challenge and run with it until the very end. Until she won or lost-not matter what the cost. I know I could take this game to hell and back ten times over and my mother would never falter to play. But for the first time, here and now, staring into her eyes as she sits relaxed beneath me-I'm beginning to realize she may be willing to go further than I ever imagined.
.
'Could her desire to remain alpha be that great?
Could her desire to win be that great?
Could she be that beautifully twisted and dark without anyone knowing?
Oh, this is-exhilarating.'
.
"You think I'm scared?"
"Aren't you?" She challenges further, forcing herself to stiffen up pushing me down her lap. "Either, you don't actually want me Dani and I have just called your bluff, which let's face it," Her eyes run down my body and then back up. "Is a lie." This time she tightens her legs, arching them so I end up leaning forward, hands on her shoulders. "Or you are scared."
"I think you're the one who is scared." My grip tightens, leaning in further. "I think it's you who is bluffing."
"Then," Her tone is hard now, different. She leans up the best she can and shamefully on reflex my head tilts back. "Call my bluff Dani."
.
BO'S POV
.
"I'm praying this is a stall tactic otherwise our marriage has issues far bigger than trust." My eyes move over them, this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. It's not so much that Lauren isn't fighting, but that she seems so-relaxed. "Care to remove yourself from my wife?"
"Let me think about it." She smirks like she's won something. Sliding off of Lauren's legs as she runs her hands down her body. Once on her feet she takes three, no make that four steps back putting a decent distance between them. How considerate. "You okay Bo, you look a little pale."
"I knew duct tape was strong but strong enough to hold an ascended, hybrid, Queen of the Fae?" My eyes on Lauren though she refuses to look at me. "They should really put that shit on the package."
"Mother doesn't want to get free, she went into this willingly."
"Oh, I doubt that for sooo many reasons." Forcing my eyes from my wife to my daughter. Hard to think of them both that way at this very second. "The most valid reason given what I walked in on would be that Lauren really, really hates being tied up. She loves to use her hands. Take it from me champ, I know." Smirk only growing as I watch that smug smirk of hers vanish. "I gotta say, when we came in here I was expecting to fight my child not my wife's wannabe lover."
"Wife? HA! What a joke it is to hear you calling her that."
"Well as much as your sick little mind would like to rewrite history that is what she is. MY wife."
"Was she your wife when you were getting gangbanged by garbage for the past ten years? Is that your definition of wife? Someone to leave at home alone broken while you let vile whores do with you as they please? Is that really your definition of love?"
"Gangbanged by garbage?" I really can't help but to laugh, and oh does it piss her off. "Sorry, sorry." Waving my hands, giving my head a shake. "This is serious."
"Pathetic."
"You want to talk about pathetic Dani, let's talk about your definition of love. Butchering innocent people and calling it art while stalking from afar? Writing crappy albeit creepy pomes? Killing off the competition because let's face it, you're not good enough to win any other way."
"She wants me!"
"Even if we took away the little fact that you're her daughter, you're still a child. An inexperienced child prone to temper tantrums. Look at her track record sweetheart, grown and experienced succubi. Skylar-me. You just don't measure up-again."
"Not all succubi. Not all women." She growls through a clenched jaw, teeth grinding so hard I can hear them from here. My eyes drift to Lauren, what exactly does she mean not all women? Swallowing back the new wave of anger and betrayal I remember there is another matter at hand. "Shows how much attention you pay! You still don't see her! You never have!"
"And she never saw you."
That does the trick-just as expected.
I'm not sure if it's just one insult too many or one insult too far. Either way I can't say I really care anymore. I'm soaking wet and freezing from my little jog outside. I'm sore, tense, tried and starving and most currently my stomach is from what I just witnessed.
There are so many questions to be asked, to be processed, but I can't. Everything has to take a backseat to what is about to happen. Only problem is I'm not like Lauren. I'm not logical. I can't simply compartmentalize everything and deal with them as I pleased.
The way my body remains tense and heavy I know the day's events will affect how I fight. The way my stomach turns from hunger only making the disgusting smell of this shithole worse. My concern and more accurately fear, of Lauren is continuously struggling to take front and center in my already cluttered mind. And the fact that I was intending to fight my daughter but instead got my wife's jealous 'lover' threw me through another loop completely.
But none of that matters now, not even whatever it is that had set Dani off. All that matters now is that there is no going back.
.
DANI'S POV
.
'And she never saw you.'
Her words echo like a dozen church bells tolling in a tiny drum. Head spinning as the music drowns out. Oh, how stupid she is. I really, really wasn't planning on killing her tonight. This wasn't about her. She could have been running around for hours-safe. She could have made it through even this despite her rude interruption.
But now, now there's no going back.
Now she's kicked the hornets' nest a little too hard this time.
With five little words she's signed her death certificate. With five little words she's decided our fate. With five little words she's forced our game to come to an abrupt ending.
With her cruel, fictitious little words she's made it so it's only her and I now.
Let the games begin.
Taking the moment of surprise I lunge. Her hands hit my chest as she steps aside. And I go rolling across the floor. Well, that was-unexpected. Think she fractured a bone. It kind of tingles.
"Hope you got more than that if you plan on taking me on." She turns to face me, smirking as I start to push myself up. "Come on, show me what a big, bad killer you've become." Jumping up, smirk matching hers as I feel the fracture already healing. "Just tell me one little thing Danielle. Just one and I'll give you what you want. I'll give you the chance to kill me fair and square. We'll go blow for blow. We'll fight till one-maybe both of us is dead."
"Oh stop it, you're making me all tingly."
"I'll fight you without mercy, without restraint-I'll forget you're even my daughter."
"Haven't you already."
"Just one thing I have to know."
"Get on with it then." I wave her along.
"When?"
"When?" Chuckle escaping myself as my eyes run over stance. "Not why, but when?" Weight shifting from side to side on the balls of my feet.
"I already know why."
"Do you now?"
"Yeah Dani, I already know why. I know why you kill people. I know why you do it in the way you do. I know why you write your little letters and play your little games."
"Suddenly very informed."
"I even know why you want your mother."
"Just for the record Bo, that doesn't bother me." Oh no, I think I've disgusted her. Look at her little nose wrinkle, I think her age is beginning to show. "I know she's my mother."
"Yeah well, sick is sick."
"So, you want to know when." Perusing my lips, pretending I don't quite understand the question. "When-when-when? Well, I don't actually know."
"Liar."
"Excuse me?"
"What, you can torture and mutilate innocent women and children? People who can't defend themselves, but this-a simple question scares you? Yeah, real badass you are."
"Why does it matter?"
"Because it does."
"To who?"
"To me." She looks down for a second, thinking. "And to you."
"To me?" I can't help laughing. But she does have a look, one of those rare 'lightbulb moments'.
"Yes, to you. See, as much as you hate me. As much as you want to chain me up and spend hours playing artist, you need to win first. And this game, right here, with your mommy watching-you must impress her right? Show her you are the best." She snorts. "Well, you need me to play for that. Can't claim victory if I don't actually fight now can you?"
"Hm."
"Not this time. Can't pretend this a real kill. You're gonna have to actually work for this one."
"What do you know, despite the overwhelmingly popular belief, you do have a brain."
"I surprise even myself." She waits. Hate that this bitch is right, oh well. "Your move Dani."
"Long version or short?" Smirking, I take a step toward her. "I was sixteen."
"Gonna need more than that."
"Long version then huh, perv." And another teeny-tiny step. "The night of the Ancient Souls festival. You threw one of your temper tantrums, some exhibit reminded you too much of daddy."
"Wouldn't judge when it comes to parental issues." She takes a step to the right.
"You somehow tricked mother into makeup fucking as per the vicious cycle you forced the two of you into. And you were just too caught up to realize you didn't shut the door, once again forgetting you had children. I don't blame you, the only time you ever got her to touch you. I was up studying, busy trying to make sure to compete with Sean. I heard and I reached for my earphones, just a reaction, but something happened. Something inside of me awoke."
"Seriously? Are you really that stupid to believe that your inner succubus awakening was something-I mean it was weird moment, but still."
"I thought it was! Because let's face it, we are vile creatures and the more we fight it the worse we are. But then Koari took me, oh did she taken me, it was fine, great even but all I could think about that night. The sounds. How I felt. One word; exhilarating."
.
BO'S POV
.
'What's done is done, there is no changing the past.'
Maybe she really had been just a troubled girl who didn't get enough love and had the succubus within awake-at the most inopportune time. Maybe with all of that she just didn't feel safe to come to us, and Koari took advantage. Maybe there really was a chance once-a long time ago. Maybe it was only darkness in her and not evil.
Maybe thoughts like that are the remaining traces of acknowledging she is my daughter. Maybe she really just is pure evil and there is nothing that could have ever changed that. Maybe no matter any of the choice we made-we would have ended up here.
There are a million maybes-but only one thing is for sure.
She isn't my daughter.
This woman in front of me may look like me. May share memories with me. May even share my blood and DNA. But she's nothing more than another threat. Another obstacle. Just like Sasha or Akuma. A threat that has taken an interest in my wife. A threat that has taken people I love. A threat who has taken members of team good-guys-for God's sake look at Skylar.
"Thank you."
She shows a surprising speed, the same kind Lauren had showed in her office the other day. There's not time to react or even brace. The distance is closed, my only indication anything has even happen is the staggering pain from two left hooks to the jaw. Two right hooks to the cheekbone. A knee to the ribs knocking me off balance.
Stumbling backwards earning just enough distance to block the next three wild punches. The forth is enough to crack my forearm. The pop seems like catnip to her as she continues mercilessly. Kicking out, the heel of her boot digging into my knee sending me right down to the floor.
'Come on Bo, you're better than this.'
Pushing off with the balls of my feet, diving up. A back hand across the face sending me right back down. Smugness written all over her face as she stares down at me-pitying me. For all her bolster, she doesn't know me at all. She's a brawler because she's bat-shit and because it heals quickly. I was a brawler when healing didn't happen without a feed. I know pain. Pain is the easiest part of the fight honestly. Repeating the same attack with the same result twice more.
As overconfident as always she smiles back at Lauren. It's only for a split second but it's all I need. Instead of diving this time I hop up onto my feet, balled fist slamming right underneath her ribs. She spits blood all over my face and for a moment I feel hesitant. Luckily my body doesn't share the feeling. Free hand delivering a left hook so hard I think I broke a finger or two. Taking full advantage of the momentary stun, a spinning roundhouse kick to her chest sending her down with a heavy thud.
Reaching down, grabbing her by the shoulder pulling her up just enough to get a clear view of her face. Keeping my promise-no mercy. Already bloodied hand coming down across her face seven-eight-ten-twelve times before she's nothing other than dead weight.
"That's all you got?" I let her drop. "Big, bad, Boogey-Monster can't even last ten minutes?" Cold laugh echoing through the room. Bringing the bottom of my shoe into her ribs one-three-five times. Had I not heard a snap, I would have continued. "Get up! Fight me! You want my wife?! You want my life and everything that goes with it?! Then get up! Take it!"
Hiking my leg to deliver another kick she leaps up like a freight train. Her shoulder slamming into my stomach as we go flying through the air, stopping only when we hit the wall. Already decaying boards snapping like twigs under our weight. This time it's me who can't keep the blood from spitting out of my mouth.
Right knee up into her stomach twice before she jumps up. Jumping up myself, grabbing her bloodied face, grip slipping but it's enough to hold her at bay. Laughing at me she leans into the hold, reaching up and grabbing my own face. Unintentional groan of pain escaping as her fingernails dig into my skin, thumb pressing so hard against my cheekbone it's about to snap.
"Where's your fight?" She snarls, tightening her grip. "All those gangbangs didn't just make you loose," Her knee coming up into sensitive area hard enough my knees weaken. "They made you weak."
Screaming out in pain-in anger, reaching up and grabbing a fistful of hair followed with a rough pull. The new scream not from myself, but her. Dropping the small chunk of hair, going for another, she grabs hold of my neck. Her arm extends, undoubtedly with the intent to throw me. Too bad I already see her little game. Hands dropping to her waist, spinning us around and into the wall all in one swift motion.
Our weight far too much for the reminder of the wall, the two of us crashing right through. A scream of union escaping us both. A piece of wood ripping straight through not only my thigh but hers too. Dani's scream turning to a growl, hand slamming the ground next to my head holding herself up. Free hand coming down against my face like a sledgehammer.
'Pain is only temporary.'
After nine-or was it ten, I lost count. Actually I think I just lost consciousness for a few moments. One minute I'm being beaten and the next through blurred vision I'm watching her in the distance pulling the once shared piece of wood from her leg.
Coughing up another mouthful of blood, laying still as I let my vision clear. Attention drifting around the room, unable to focus. That is until I see the two things I had thought were boxes. Eyes narrowing, unwanted tears of pain slipping free.
They're coffins-eerily familiar coffins.
.
DANI'S POV
.
"That was-unpleasant." The piece of wood falls to the floor, should have taken it and shoved it through her heart. Look at this mess she's made! "I'm fine," I say softly, turning to mother who still hasn't moved. Interesting. "No need to worry."
"You've won."
"Have I?"
"You know you have, no let us leave."
"And go where?"
"Anywhere."
"Anywhere?" My eyebrow raises, limping back over to her. She looks up at me with this look, and I don't quite recognize it. Pride? Love? Affection?
"Yes, anywhere."
"You wouldn't just be trying to save her would you, I mean after all-she is your wife."
She's silent. Staring up at me. Searching for something. What is she searching for?
"If it was allowed we would have been divorced years ago."
What game is she playing?
"And Skylar? You'd just leave her here like this?" I glance back at my most recent finished piece.
"If I don't place Bo above you, do you think I'd place a pass time?"
She seems-genuine.
No. No. She's lying. This is a game.
But what if it isn't?
"Dani, you're hurt. Let me take care of you." Her gaze meets mine, drawing me in. "Come here, untie me and we can go. We can go anywhere you want, just you and me. How it always should have been." I find myself dropping to my knees before her, keeping her gaze the entire time. Its love, this look in her eyes. Finally. I knew she did. "We can be together. Forever. Just you and me."
"Bu-but I need to finish this."
"You have. Skylar will be dead in minutes if she isn't already. Bo won't make it, not much longer anyway. You've showed your brother who is better, who has always been better. You've showed the world." Her sweet words luring me in. Head dipping, bowing before her. "You have me."
"I-I do."
"You've already won."
"How sweet." Bo's voice pulls at my attention, but I can't free myself from my mother's embrace. "Is Lauren playing to role of mommy or lover this time?"
"Looks like," Sighing my words, holding my mother's gaze once more as I stand. Pulling a blade from my ankle holster. One useful thing Bo did teach us. "I'm going to have to finish this after all."
"So touching."
"Why won't you just fucking die already?!"
"Now, now. Keep that kinda language up and I'm gonna have to get the soap."
"Think it's a little late for parenting Bo, even my idiot brother agrees on that one."
"Better late than never, after all, seems like I'm the only one left to do any."
"Jealous?"
"Of you?" She snorts, spitting out blood. "Sweetie, it's taken you ten years of torment and bondage to even get her shirt off. Ooo, you see some shoulders." Using the back of her hand, she wipes blood form her mouth laughing at me. "It wasn't even a month before I had her in my bed."
"Shut up!"
"But you-have you tasted her yet? Fucked her? Heard her moan your name? Hell, even got a little kiss yet?" She smirks, looking down at my art who is moving ever so slightly. "Come to think of it, you're the only-living person in here who doesn't know what that feels like."
"I'm going to rip your heart out!"
.
BO'S POV
.
"Then do it!"
She lunges through the air, my hands grabbing her sides ready to throw her. She's ready. The blade slammed down into my shoulder, hilt hitting my bone. Sense of aim thrown as she winds up shattering a window. Hands on the frame keeping gravity from doing its job. Ignoring the pain, I find myself in front of her. Her knees digging into my stomach as I reach out, hands wrapping around her throat.
'Finish it Bo! Now!'
I hesitate. It's just for a second. I can't even explain why. I was so ready. Maybe I just needed a moment before killing my own child. Maybe I wanted to test a theory. Maybe I wanted to see if Lauren would stop me. The list of maybes could go on forever.
Quickly paying the price for my hesitation, Dani gets her hand on the handle. Twisting the blade, her other hand grabs hold of my arm pulling us forward and on reaction I lean my weight back. Both of us tumbling back into the room. Smiling she pulls back her hand ready to end this-without hesitation.
Without thought, in one motion I have my hand on her wrist, sliding to the side as I guide the blade up into her stomach.
She drops to her knees, blade still in my hand. Her eyes meeting mine with shock. Her bloodied features softening to a point I don't recognize anymore. Blade raising, calculating just how much force it'll take to finish this. A mixture of disgust and pain ripping through my body.
My eyes staring into hers and suddenly she's not a killer. She's four-on Kenz's lap at the pool. She's six-dressed as a blue power ranger. She's seven-sick in bed. She's three-sitting on Hale's hospital bed drawing him pictures. She's eight-singing in the bathtub. She's nine-wrestling with her brother. She's seven months-saying mama. She's five minutes old-in my arms.
She's my daughter again.
"W—why?" My voice breaks, stray tears falling down my cheeks. "Why?" Looking away, eyes lingering on the coffins.
"Go ahead Bo. Go look-you know you want to. You need to." Her muffled voice, I can hear it. I can hear it, but I don't actually hear it. Swallowing back the lump in my throat I stare them down. This little voice in the back of my mind telling me I already know. Eyes shifting back to Dani who can barely keep herself up now.
Curiosity getting the better of me, or maybe its overconfidence. Small, pained steps away from her back to this little 'room'. Narrow eyes running over the lids. There's just something so familiar about them. The way the wood is cut. The design. The crests carved into the top.
"It doesn't even matter anymore. Kill me. Ship me off. None of it matters. I already won."
"Who is in these?" I whisper, voice breaking. "Who is in these?!" My eyes move back to her. Heart breaking. I need her to say it. I need that last little reason. That reason to push me over the edge. She isn't my daughter anymore. She's isn't even a woman. She's a monster.
"I'm forever a part of you now. Both of you. There's no escaping me anymore. You can't pretend I don't exist. Not anymore. So kill me Bo. Kill your daughter. Do it! You know you want to. Feel that release. The joy that rushes through you as the watch the life drain from my eyes."
"It's them isn't it?!" Shaky hand resting on the coffin closest. I know, open the lid and I know for sure. The inner stitching would tell me. Far tradition for the upper class. But I can't. I can't. I can't. "Is it them?!"
"Every time you look into the mirror, you'll see me. Every time you enjoy a kill, you'll feel me right there with you. There's no escaping me. The things I've done, those images are forever in your mind. The things you've heard! The things you've seen! The things I've made you do. What I've made you become! You'll never be free of me!"
"O-oh." It's a whimper. It's all that comes out as I struggle to hold open the lid. Eyes moving over Dyson's name woven into the top lining. "Oh."
"The family is almost all together." She laughs. "Aunt Kenz was supposed to be here for the reveal of that, but you as always ruin everything."
'It's all over.'
An ocean of emotion washing over me, limping backward as the casket slams shut. Congratulations Dani, you are nothing to me anymore. Limping toward her, eyes falling on Skylar-she might still make it, but I have to finish this quickly. Attention shifting to Lauren who sits there. She sits there, eyes on Dani like she's enthralled. Reaching out, grabbing her by the shoulder as I raise the blade. I'm not a coward. The times I've stabbed someone in the back are rare and not by choice. And this is Dani, she won't be one of the exceptions.
Spinning her around, the blade falling from my hand. Eyes widening as I feel fresh blood coat my lips. Looking down, eyes narrowing in on the thick shard of glass ticking our just beneath my ribs. Swallowing back some of the blood, trying to figure out what just happened. And then it hits me. Chuckling to myself at the cleverness behind it. I was too angry-too caught up in my feelings that I didn't see it. The exact moment I was pulling her back to face me, she was pulling the shard out of herself. I went to stab her giving her the perfect moment of opportunity.
Dropping to my knees, Dani cups my cheek with this cold smile on her lips. That sense of vulnerability and fear that made me hesitate gone. Snort escaping me the best it can. I was played. She was never beaten to the point of defeat. She was never scared. She was never worried. She's been three steps the whole time.
'Lauren's daughter to the core.'
"How does it feel?" She whispers, forehead resting against mine. Her palm resting over the shard. "To lose?" She pushes it in the rest of the way as she stands with such ease it's like she hadn't been hurt at all. "To be played?" Her foot finding a home atop my wound, slamming me to the floor. "To find out you're not as good as you think?" Pressing down harder, her eyes meeting mine. "Does it hurt?"
'Can this really be how it all ends-Can I really have failed?'
"You need a reality check if you really think that second grade, karate class for beginners bullshit was gonna do anything to me-an Ascended Fae." Keeping her smirk, using the back of her hand to wipe the blood from her eyes. "You would have done better bringing my brother, at least it would have been a fight."
"Go to hell."
"Why would I go to hell when I can reign here?"
"You're delusional."
"Actually, I think you're the delusional one-Ma." Her hands go onto her hips, a whole new confidence to her demeanor. It's amazing how different she is now from the girl from just a few moments ago. She's so calm and collected. So sure of herself and everything she's doing. An aura of victory radiating off of her. "You still don't see it do you?"
"I see you're sick." There's a thousand other things I want to yell at her, but clutching my stomach I can't even manage to roll over.
"I'm a God. No, I am beyond a God! Beyond God and the Devil himself. Let God have this so called heaven and let the Devil have this so called hell. I will take this world. The proven world, the real world. Call me God for I decide when you die, call me Devil for I decide how you pay for you sins."
"You're insane." I can't help coughing out another mouthful of blood, managing to roll onto my back. I know she can see I'm scared. There's no point in trying to hide it now, and for the first time, it all feels real. I feel like all those poor souls she had taken, just another victim.
"Sanity like beauty is in the eye of beholder." She glances over her shoulder at Lauren, her hands now folded in her lap.
"Lauren."
"Don't you dare say her name! You don't get to say her name!" The outburst scaring me into submission. My head falling back onto the floor, chuckling softly to myself in awe of what's happened. How far these events have derailed.
"Danielle." Lauren calls her like a master calls its dog. Instantly she calms, turning away from me watching Lauren stand. "You need to run and you need to do it now."
"What?"
"They're coming, they're near. You need to go."
"Let them come!" Her arms raise from her sides, as if she was challenging Lauren. "They can't touch me! Let them try and I'll rip them limb from limb!"
"Dani."
"I won't let them keep us apart. We'll rip them apart together!"
"Don't you get it yet?" I laugh, bringing her attention back down to me. "Her love for you is nothing more than a mother has for her child."
"You don't know her! You never did and you don't know us!" That uncontrollable rage rushing right back, her fists clenching as she starts back toward me.
'I was wrong, this is it.'
"Danielle." Lauren calls her again, but this time it's not so effective. She comes up behind her, hand on Dani's arm finally causing her to turn around. Lauren's hands running up Dani's arms until they're at her neck. The hold is tight enough to be dominate, yet still soft enough to be considered loving. Leaning in, forehead resting against hers, eyes drifting closed together. The sight turning my stomach. "Listen to me baby," I could be wrong on account of the blood loss and tears, but I could swear Lauren's lips graze hers. "You need to go now." And again. "Please." Dani grabs her head, pressing her lips so hard against Lauren's it must hurt-them both. My head turning in disgust.
"Okay." It's a gentle whisper I almost miss. "Just as soon as I kill her."
Like a sucker I turn my head back needing to see Lauren say-do something. But there's nothing there. No anger. No disgust. No hurt. No pain. No concern. No love. No worry. There's just nothing there. Dani's smiling growing as she bends down, picking up the blade I had dropped.
I watch her nearing me one predatory step after the next until she's above me. The glare off of the blade catching my attention. Even if there was no other reason, the smirk on her face was enough to want to slap her. Tired of spitting out blood, I swallow this time. Head falling to the left, eyes back on the coffins. Dyson and Hale. What was the point? What game did she have for them? Does she really have no emotion left other than hate?
Letting my head fall back to the right, eyes meeting Dani's. I'm ready. Let's do this. I refuse to look away, if she's going to kill me then she's going to have to face me. She's going to have to look me in the eyes as she does it. Taking a painful breath as I watch her raise the blade.
Nothing.
I can't help jerking, eyes squeezing shut as blood splatters over my face. Eyes fluttering open, looking up in horror, in shock as Dani's features twist in a heartbreaking mixture of pure agony and betrayal. Lauren's face coming into focus from behind her, one hand wrapped around Dani's neck. Blood filled gargles filling the air as Lauren guides them back four steps. Lauren's lips pressed against her ear as tears fall from them both.
"I love you my baby. I love you so much." Her whimpering words nearly drowned out by Dani's moan of pain. "Shhhh. It'll only hurt for a moment." Lauren places a lingering kiss to Dani's cheek. "I love you. It's all okay. I love you."
Even after everything I can't help the tears that run down my cheeks as I watch helplessly. I watch as the life slowly drains from my daughter's eye. I watch the many emotions that come over her face until there's nothing but heartbreak and fear. I watch as my wife's own heartbreaks in this very same moment. My own heart breaking and I can't even say why anymore.
Lauren kisses up her cheek through the tears until her lips are on her ear again. I know she's whispering something, but I can't hear it. My eyes widening as the next surprise of this night happens. Dani's limp body flies through the air, crashing through a window.
"Are you okay?" Lauren's words sound so distorted. "Bo, are you okay?" Turning to face her, she reaches out to touch me and I jerk away the best I can.
"Do. Not. Touch. Me. Lauren."
"Bo." She tries again.
"Do not fucking touch me Lauren."
"I couldn't stand to finish it myself, I let gravity finish the job. Can you really fault me for that?"
"It has nothing to do with that."
"You need help." She drops to her knees, trying to touch me as blood pour from my lips. Completely ignoring my words. She doesn't even seem like she's here.
"Don't touch me. You make me sick." The disgust behind my words being drowned out by my groan of pain. "Did you fuck her? Did you fuck our child? You touched her like-you let her-—touch you. Please God tell me you didn't."
"Let me help you." She growls, pulling my arm back forcibly to see the wound.
"Lauren."
"No, I didn't fuck our child." Her eyes meet mine. "Happy now?"
"Ha-happy?"
"Stop fighting me."
"I saw you Lauren!"
"You saw what?" Her tone hardens, an odd sense of calm. "Bo, you've lost a lot of blood. You've taken a beating worse than you have in years. Multiple blows to the head combined with severe emotional trauma. How can you be sure of anything you saw?"
"Seriously-" Words swallowed in a scream of pain, her fingers digging into the wound with such force the thought that she's trying to kill me crosses my mind. I try to move, but my body goes numb. And then it's all over. Slowly feeling coming back, the pain far from gone but subsiding. Eyes opening back up to find Lauren looking at the shard.
"You'll need several feedings or four-hardy feedings to repair the damage."
"I don't kill to feed."
"I don't know what you do anymore, do I? A couple of breaks, blood loss, you know the rest. Nothing too serious now. If the shard had stayed in much longer you would have started to heal around it the best you could, that would have caused damage."
"Lauren."
"I crossed a lot of lines when I slipped into that place. Crossed further than you know, further than you ever will know. I crossed further than I want to admit to even myself. And there were lines I had been prepared to cross even further, but that?"
"I saw-."
"You saw a disturbed girl having a manic episode. And you can believe me or not, but having sex with Danielle was not a line I was ever prepare to cross." She holds my stare, silent. I honestly don't know her anymore. "I need to check on Skylar."
"What are you hiding?" I grab her arm the best I can, stopping her from crawling away.
The question like so many of mine goes unanswered, my eardrum popping at the whirl of helicopter blades. Turning away from the windows on reflex as blinding lights come pouring through the windows.
.
"You are safe now. Stay where you are. We are coming in."
.
They repeat it over and over again, exactly six times before Lauren's personal S.W.A.T. team comes pouring in, complete with Denzel rushing to Lauren's aid. All else falling second priority for them as always. Not the pile of bodies in the corner or the coffins in the back of the room. Not their Secretary of Defense who lays bleeding to death just inches away. And not even me, the wife of their beloved Queen.
I have to laugh to myself through the pain, just laying here in defeat. All of these people swarming to get to her. Lauren hadn't even been hit once. She hadn't even really been insulted. But here she was, being flocked to while the rest of the world crumbled. There's a sense of irony to it all, at least I think there is.
Continuing to laugh to myself, sure I'm somewhat delirious I just stare up at the ceiling waiting for someone to remember I'm here.
Suddenly I'm beginning to remember why I ran away.
I really don't know how long I lay here for, slipping in and out of consciousness. Lauren being ushered away, without a second glance at me. Skylar is carried out-good, maybe there's still hope. I don't know what the point of no return is for a succubus-I probably should, but I don't.
At some point I feel them-someone lifting me up. Two paramedics dropping to their knees in front of me, and three guards who mumble something about how it would be an honor to die for the wife of the Queen.
Honestly-at this moment-fuck the Queen and her whole twisted kingdom.
It takes every shred left of control I have not to kill them-and just about everything they have to keep me somewhat alive. After a while I manage to get onto my feet, anger is a great motivator. As I make my way back through the halls, down the stairs I take a little from everyone I pass. They say nothing, either not fully realizing or they just don't. After all, I am the Queen's wife-when did that become what I am, someone's wife?
Weakly I limp from the entrance out into the world. Four helicopters continuing to circle the sea far enough out to be heard, but not enough to kill my ears. Ten to twelve standard issued SUVs scattered around with all its occupants running around like chickens with their heads cut off. There is still two ambulances to the left, lights flashing but sirens silent. Undoubtedly the one carrying Skylar had taken off long ago. One was probably for myself and the third I'm not exactly sure but it might be for the first of my feeds-don't think I took THAT much. To my far right, right next to a small attachment to the building catching my attention is the three lines of body bags.
"Not even half of them." Denzel says, walking up beside me.
"You have a total yet?"
"Fifteen over there, the vans already pulled away another fifteen. They're still pulling them out, and then there's the matter or the various mismatched body parts. They're saying we won't know for a few days. Highest death toll from a serial killer I've ever known." He looks back from the bodies to me. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-."
"You didn't."
"For what it's worth, I'm glad you made it, Honorary Ambassador." He taps my arm, it's nice to think someone is happy I didn't die. Even if it is only a little bit.
"Can I see her or did they take her away already?"
"Right over there." He points out in front of us, about fifty feet or so where Lauren stands, staring out at the water.
"No, not her. I meant-Danielle. Is her body still here or have they taken it?"
"They didn't-they didn't inform you?" He looks at me scared and I feel my body tense. "Her body hasn't been found yet. We assume it's in the water, hence the chopters and boats." His attention drifting to the muffled voice from his walkie. "Don't worry, we'll find the body." He gives me this polite smile, hand on my shoulder as he maneuvers past me back into the building.
Of course.
"Clever." I say coming up behind her.
"She's dead Bo, let it go."
"Then where is she?"
"Out in the water somewhere, they'll find her."
"Right."
"My hand went through her back. Ripped through her skin, muscles and bone. I heard it and more importantly I felt it. I wrapped my hand around her heart and felt it slow with every beat, until there was none. And then I threw her out of the window on the highest floor, through a window while already having suffered devastating damage at your hand. She flew out into the water Bo." Pausing she finally looks at me. "She is dead."
"Can you be sure?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"I just explained to you how Bo. There were no tricks, you watched as I did it. You watched as she died."
"As you said, I had lost a lot of blood."
"I threw her too hard and she landed in the water that is all. I'm sorry, but by morning they will have pulled her body. We can bury here and be done once and for all."
"Done, just as simple as that? Bury her and we move on like nothing?"
"I don't know, for all of my talents and abilities, I still can't see the future."
"I don't trust you."
"And I don't trust you, but you would be amazed at how little you actually need trust for."
I go to say something, but honestly, what's left to say at this point?
