A/N: I am so, so, so terrible at this. I told myself I had to finish this before I started on anything else. I never expected it would take me this long. I'm also working on Drunk Tamsin so nobody freak out. So, here's the first half. Hopefully, it's a step up from the actual Yawning - I mean Dawning - from the show. Read. Review. Let me know!


There was a weight pressed heavily against her shoulders that even vodka could not alleviate. Tamsin had tried that this morning. She'd realized on her last sip that it wasn't just a simple discomfort that could be washed away. No. Something else gnawed deeper—had nested the very moment her chi had been ripped out of her. Almost as if Bo had taken more than just the core of her life force.

Foolishness, she resented, shaking away her thoughts. Feelings and foolishness. The symptoms that sprang forth from a devouring sickness—the weapon that could cut a valkyrie down in the heat of battle. Her valkyrie sisters had laughed at it. Or at least they tried to.

"Whatever happened to Kalaya?"

"She's gone. She was a foolish bitch." Acacia kept a stern face. The two valkyries sat scraping the excess blood off their swords with their still drenched crimson rags. "Don't ever do what she did. It's messy and it'll get you killed," the older woman warned.

The valkyrie she addressed gazed up from the task and threw her mentor a cocky grin. "I wouldn't know about that," she laughed.

Acacia looked over at her young companion, something like regret in her eyes. "You wouldn't know it until it was too late." She laid the sword down, wringing out the dirty cloth and watching as the blood dripped out. "We serve, first and foremost. Don't get too complacent."

The young valkyrie paused. "When do we ever have time for that bullshit anyway?"

Acacia flashed a pitiful look, but she did not answer.

Tamsin let out a slow breath, eyes gazing up to meet the dents and wooden grains of the Dal's entrance. In her own roundabout way, she had managed to crawl back here. It became an eternity of waffling, shifting anxiety between two legs and unclenching fists before she slowly pressed her palm against the rough surface of the door.

The realization was unyielding as it gripped her, and she allowed herself to flow with the current. Fighting it no longer—it felt freeing somehow. The knots in her shoulders loosened, her entire body now suddenly lighter than it'd been all week. Her lips twitched with a smile, and slowly she pushed the door open.

The Dal was unrecognizable in its emptiness. Strange. Tamsin had always associated it with the din of cracking pool balls and the alcohol-inspired festivity. But now the dimmed lights exuded a solemn air, matching the gravity of the ceremony.

She stepped past the threshold, the uncertainty that clung to her melting away as she advanced. They were completely unaware of her presence—she tread so lightly she might has well have been a shadow in their midst.

Stella's voice boomed from up ahead and Tamsin caught only the tail-end of it. "...The initiate refuses to choose a side. Be it witnessed that she assents to enter the Dawning unarmed."

Tamsin pushed forward a couple more steps, rousing the attention of the small human to her left. Icy blue eyes regarded her impatiently. "Late," Kenzi mouthed severely, though her features slowly crumbled when the apprehension took hold—the air was thick with it. Tamsin could see it dragging down each expression, dulling each gaze. It lingered even in her steps.

"I offer myself as Hand." Dyson's soothing baritone gave her heart a slight jump, igniting her approach. Of course you do, she thought bitterly. Where would Bo be without her furry shield?

Before she even knew what drove her, Tamsin brushed over to the wolf, alarmed with her own eagerness. She quickly flicked past the confusion spreading on Bo's expression and faced Dyson with a half-hearted grin. "No offense, wolf man, but I think she gets more juice from me." She turned her head—found purchase in a sea of hazel and felt temporarily lightheaded. "I also offer myself as Hand."

"This is unprecedented," Trick murmured up ahead, his voice nearly fading out.

Stella gave him a worried nudge. "Do they know—?"

"It has already been offered," the elder fae quickly caught her.

The transformation in the succubus was instantaneous. Those brown pools of warmth suddenly hardened with a frustration that seemed to have been building for a long time. "Someone better start talking." The slow burn exploded into an angry demand. "What's a Hand? What the hell is this?"

"An initiate has the right to select a Hand, or a companion for the journey." The calmness in Dyson's tone tried to compensate for the hostility hovering in the air.

"It's not like we're going camping!" Bo exclaimed, outraged. Her accusatory eyes darted to each face. Tamsin looked away when they sought her out, the uneasiness like a blanket.

"An offer has been made, Bo," Trick said. "If you accept, then you need to make a choice."

The resounding "No!" left them all cold.

"BoBo, maybe—"

"Kenzi, no." The decisive response disheartened the small human, who quickly abandoned the idea and fell back into an agitated silence. Her icy blue eyes shimmered with disappointment, latching on to the valkyrie for a brief second.

Tamsin saw the communicated desperation and took the cue. "Look." The word ensnared Bo like a whip. "You're too stubborn to choose a side, succulette." Tamsin's voice started off strangled at first, but each word that poured forth gave her renewed confidence to finish the sentence. "You're going to need all the help you can get."

"She's right." They all whirled towards the voice as Lauren stepped through the doorway and into the bar, her footsteps soft and tentative. It had taken them awhile to register that her presence had been missing at all. She strode forward with a tight smile, her eyes seeking out the succubus. "Any advantage that can be offered—I know Tamsin will keep you safe."

"Lauren—what?" Bo sputtered with uncertainty.

"What matters is that you make it out alive, Bo." The doctor's expression was strangely impassive, her mouth speaking the words though there was no conviction in her tone. "That's what we all want for you."

This unexpected plea from the most unlikely person gave them all pause. Bo took a step back, sucker-punched by the ambush, while the creases on Dyson's forehead deepened. He looked betrayed, slighted that he was passed over in Lauren's eyes. Brief flashes of canine gold pushed through when his gaze swept over Tamsin, a final observation to settle his doubts.

Tamsin wondered what had passed through his mind, though she knew he would be too noble to voice the resentment that traced the frown on his face. She tried to shrug it off, crossing her arms to fortify herself against the insecurity that spiked through, regardless. The floodgates that suddenly opened were unwelcoming and bothersome. More fucking foolishness, she scorned as she clenched her jaws and waited.

She watched Bo mull the decision over—could practically see the cogs rotating in her brain as her brown eyes lifted with determination.

Anxiously, Trick looked over and urged, "What is your choice, Bo?"

The succubus was resigned, beaten by logic…and perhaps something else. She glanced at Dyson, her appreciative eyes softening at the strength and protectiveness he offered her. The wolf appealed to her with a warm gaze, and it was clear—even to Tamsin—that he'd go to ends of the earth for her.

The valkyrie suddenly felt insignificant. She couldn't compete with that—the history they had. What was she anyway? A dark fae in sheep's clothing. I'm not one of them, her words came back to her. So what am I doing?

She wasn't ready when Bo's eyes finally rested on her. But when their sights locked, everything fell into place for the succubus. Her brown eyes shone brightly and whatever uncertainty had scrunched her brows finally relaxed with a simple, straightforward truth. A small curve at the corners of her lips signified the breakthrough. She was, at last, content with whatever answer she had sought. Her gaze remaining tethered to the valkyrie before her, Bo finally said, "I choose Tamsin."


It felt like nothing at first, just a slight bristle when the air changed as they stepped through the portal. Then the cold sank in—sank deep. The kind that seeped into your bones and poured outwards. It wasn't a natural chill—something nurtured by the snow and carried through by the breeze. Tamsin was familiar with the arctic weather, the cold that nipped relentlessly at delicate, exposed skin. This was nothing of the sort. The shivers that attacked them originated from an air that was devoid of life—that flowed only with death.

"Not exactly what I was expecting," Bo said, looking around warily. "This is the temple?" Though she scoffed with forced bravado, the trepidation in her tone rang out into the hollow space.

It wasn't anything resembling a building. It wasn't even a room—just a vast nothingness held in place by empty shadows that stretched in all directions. There was no beginning—no end. Forty feet ahead stood a rather ordinary wooden door. The details were somewhat fuzzy from the distance, as everything seemed to be swallowed up by the veil of darkness.

Seeing no comfort in the stillness, Bo turned to Tamsin.

The valkyrie offered a tight-lipped smile and opened her mouth to speak. But before her words could manifest into sound, the air in front of them rippled. There was an eerie hum accompanied with the sudden appearance of a wizened man dressed in a beige pinstripe suit.

"Shit!" They both jumped backwards, grasping onto each other. The touch of skin was a familiar thing, but now much more appreciated than ever. Brown eyes consulted green ones, the gratefulness behind them shining through.

"Welcome to the temple." The ancient man's voice boomed with a strength that was rather deceptive of his looks.

"You need to drop that habit, old man," Tamsin scowled, her tone full of resentment and hinting at a history.

The man settled his eyes on the blonde, the recognition lifting the wrinkles on his face. "So, you've come back, valkyrie."

"It's been ages." Tamsin was shocked at his keen memory. "How could you even remember?"

"I never forget a face." He smiled mysteriously. "And I'll never forget that temper."

Bo watched the exchange in confusion before asking, "Who are you?"

"I am the gatekeeper," he answered, briefly casting his attention to Bo. "I see you've selected a companion." His eyes flicked back to Tamsin with an understanding that eluded the succubus. "You must know of the consequences."

"Consequences? What is he—?"

Tamsin quickly diffused the comment."He's just trying to confuse you. Can you hurry this up?" she prodded, the uneasiness of their surroundings prickling her skin. "Wave your hand—start the initiation."

"As you wish." The old man conceded with a bowed head. He gave the both of them one last sweep of his eyes. "May your destiny be of your own choosing. Good luck, succubus." There was a shimmer and he faded into the air—vanished as suddenly as he appeared.

"And may the odds be ever in your favor," Tamsin muttered sardonically.

"What?"

"Nothing. Let's hurry this up and get the hell out of here." Tamsin clamped a warm hand around Bo's wrist and tugged her forward in the direction of the door. There was no resistance on the succubus's end—it was a customary thing by now.

They managed a couple steps, pulling through with an anxiousness that peaked when the air around them hissed and bristled with danger. Tamsin halted and turned her body in all directions, cautious green eyes seeking out the unseen threat.

Bo fidgeted beside her, equally alarmed. "I guess it's not gonna be as easy as just getting to the door."

Tamsin flashed a smile. "It never is." Her steps picked up with urgency again. "Come on, hotshot— move it or lose it."

The succubus trailed closely behind the valkyrie, the pounding of their boots against the cold floor keeping her in a steady rhythm. Her steps died when a dashing shadow tackled her to the ground. With a yelp, Bo rolled into the collision, the hard surface kneading into her bones. She locked her arms, holding the snarling creature off. Its saliva dripped hotly against her skin as she struggled, the panic jolting her heart. She fought—twisted and squirmed to maintain distance from its eager teeth.

There was a yell—several audible grunts accompanied with the loud smacking of fists. Tamsin was fighting the creatures off as they swarmed in from all around them—the underfae. They poured in in a relentless wave, their numbers seemingly infinite. Bo chanced an opening. She used her left forearm to stave the creature off at the throat. Then she drove her right fist into its temple. Upon impact, it drooped to the side and she threw it off her. She quickly pounced to her feet—her thoughts falling to the only thing important to her in the moment. Bo looked to the valkyrie.

Tamsin had lost count of how many necks she had snapped—how many limbs she had violently crushed. The sickening cracks that resounded with each well-placed strike built into some kind of terrible symphony. She smiled in spite of herself—in spite of their situation. It was exhilarating, her nerves buzzing with adrenaline. There was the sound of quick footsteps to her right and she realized that Bo was beside her. Despite the odds, they were ready to face anything.

They flowed together through the dizzying battle—the dodges and sidesteps instinctive. Their punches and kicks were driven with prejudice, the violence unending. Overwhelming. If they continued the dance, they'd be forced to fend off the threat forever.

"They're gonna keep coming," Tamsin breathed heavily. She cocked her head towards the door. "Go," she said to Bo. "I'll hold them off."

Bo was grimly unresponsive. It wasn't an option for her. "No, I'm not leaving without you."

"You're not getting rid of me that easy, sweetheart," the valkyrie smirked. "If I'm not mistaken you need to get that thing open first." When she noticed the succubus still contemplating, she quickly added, "I'll be right behind you."

"If that's a lie, I swear—"

"You'll what?" Tamsin challenged with a cocky grin.

"I'll kick your valkyrie ass."

Tamsin quickly delivered an uppercut to an oncoming underfae and then turned back to Bo. "You can try," she said in between breaths.

Bo smiled uneasily. The swelling in her heart was almost painful. Her eyes lingered for a few more seconds—drawn to Tamsin's strength, her vitality as she quickly finished off an underfae with a vicious kick to the head. She looked powerful. Marvelous.

There was something else that Bo couldn't describe, but she let it simmer until it came to her. Quickly, she picked up her feet and ran towards the door. Its rather ordinary frame expanded into view. And then she saw the bizarre contraption attached to it—all the knobs and dials mocking her with their intricacy.

Shit.

"It's a puzzle!" she yelled to Tamsin behind her. "I don't know what to do with this!"

The valkyrie backed away from the fray in a hurry, glancing quickly at the obstacle. Wary eyes kept the approaching underfae in her peripheral vision at all times. She saw the frustration in Bo's features, the tension in her brows. "It's your dawning. You're the only one who can get it open!"

"But how?!" Bo exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. "Tell me something!" The succubus ran a frustrated hand through her hair, eyes darting quickly between the door and the creatures threatening to tear them apart. It wouldn't end like this—it couldn't.

"You're smart. You're fast. And you're a hell of a lot cuter than they are."

And then Bo was finally anchored.

The adrenaline shooting through her, she turned towards the door and maneuvered against the puzzle. It felt innate somehow—her hands knowing where to push and what knob to turn. The snarls from the surrounding underfae intensified, adding to the percussion in her chest. But the more feverishly she worked, the more muted everything else became until all she heard was the blood rushing in her ears. All she felt was the pounding against her ribcage, the slickness of sweat in her palms.

There was a final click when the door swung out.

"It's open! Tamsin!" She whirled around expecting cool green eyes to greet her with relief. But the exhilaration of triumph was premature—shot down in mid-leap when her eyes fell onto the horror before her.

The muted sounds weren't a result of her mind being poured into the task of solving the puzzle. As Bo gazed out into a sea of unconscious underfae, she noticed the crumpled blonde form lying a few feet ahead of her. It was dead silent—that eerie stillness that had unnerved her before was now more pronounced than ever.

No. Her mind went to a dark place, fearing the worst. No, no, no.

It had happened all too quickly. Tamsin had bought her time. She had cast her doubt—but to what extent? What have you done, Tamsin?

Before Bo knew it, her body flew towards the valkyrie, sinking into the cold floor. She cradled Tamsin's neck, nested her within the crook of her arm before she ripped out a frantic cry. "Wake up, babe You've gotta wake up!"

Slowly, the snarls began to surface—a new wave rushing in. A small groan escaped Tamsin's lips as her eyelids fluttered weakly. She exhaled sharply, tried to pull through to the voice calling to her but the exhaustion pushed down on her like a weight. "Just leave," she whispered hoarsely before she drifted back into the darkness.

"Like hell I am!" Bo tugged at the blonde with urgency. The fear drove her—the fear of losing so much more than just her humanity when the growls heightened in volume. The underfae were coming, but they couldn't have her.

With a surge of strength, Bo lifted Tamsin up—gathered the vulnerability into her arms and tore down the path towards the door standing ajar. Run. Just run. She thought she felt a claw swiping at the back of her head as a panic shot down her spine. The howls and the thudding footsteps behind her were too close for comfort.

The slam of the door immediately silenced everything—the vicious sounds, her thoughts. Only the thunderous pounding of her heart dared to bleed through to the stillness. Then Tamsin coughed and Bo suddenly collapsed with all the weight in her arms.

Her kneecaps dug into hard stone as she looked around taking in the change of scenery. Enclosed between the stone walls of the narrow corridor, it was a far cry from the vast emptiness they had just escaped.

Bo laid Tamsin against the wall, noting the pallor in her face. She sat back, allowing herself to breathe. Then she waited.

It might have been an eternity, but it didn't seem too long before the valkyrie shuddered awake. The moment those green eyes focused on her, Bo felt safe again.

"We're not dead, are we?" asked Tamsin shakily.

Bo laughed. "No. But the next time you pull something like that again, give me a warning first." They both rose in sync from the ground as Tamsin chuckled to herself. "What the hell happened back there?"

Tamsin pressed a palm against the wall to steady herself. "When I go full valkyrie, I tend to black out."

"Is that a normal thing?"

"No. It's an 'end of the life cycle' kind of thing."

Quickly, firm hands gripped the valkyrie's shoulders. "What the hell does that mean?" Bo asked, forcing her gaze onto Tamsin's evasive eyes. She had found something there for a brief second, a shimmering sadness in those green pools. But before she could see more, it was cut off—Tamsin looked away.

"Don't worry your pretty little head about it," the valkyrie smirked. "I'll be fine—I'm kind of a cat with nine lives." She pushed down the corridor, following the trail of torches that lit the way.

Though Bo was relieved to see the vigor returning to Tamsin's steps, her words were of little reassurance. "Okay, that doesn't exactly fill me with a lot confidence," the succubus said, following closely behind. "You care to elaborate?"

"No." Tamsin's voice bounced back against the walls. Her shoulders were stiff as she walked but they slowly dropped as she continued on. Without turning to address Bo, she offered a pittance, hoping it was enough. "It just sucks to get old, okay?"

At this, Bo was curious—the need to know tugging at her more and more. "And how old are you?"

The valkyrie stopped, exhaled sharply, and looked over her shoulder. "Asking a woman her age—rude, don't you think?"

"You opened that can of worms, babe. Not me." Bo caught up to Tamsin and faced her, watching the valkyrie take pause as she pondered the question herself. It looked like an answer she had never considered before.

Finally, Tamsin settled on a smile. "Two millennia—give or take a couple centuries," she said, blinking several times. "Who really keeps count anymore once you're past a thousand?"

"I'll let you know when I get there." Bo chuckled as they both shared the smile. "Although you're really giving a girl a run for her money—looking that good when you're an old woman."

"Watch it," Tamsin replied immediately, though the amusement in her tone was more prominent than the sneer on her lips. Bo couldn't help but smile again, casting brief glances at the blonde as they continued the trek down the corridor. The silence settled in, but it was a comfortable—almost enjoyable—moment of quietude. Her thoughts rested until the corridor widened and pushed them into a strangely garnished room.

The first thing that Tamsin noticed was the smell—a faint albeit lifting aroma. It wasn't heavy, but it was recognizable.

"It smells nice," Bo said, surveying the room and taking in the ancient décor and rustic furniture.

Tamsin's eyes fell onto the gauzy white drapes hanging from the canopied bed in the corner. There were candles everywhere. Dozens of them lined the perimeter of the room, the quivering flames scattered across every immediate surface.

And then from the shadows of some unseen doorway, a figured stepped out. Female. Graceful.

"Lauren," Bo breathed, her eyes glued to the doctor as she approached. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to help you, Bo." There was a strange, low growl to Lauren's voice but the succubus was too bewildered to notice. She gravitated towards the doctor in an odd manner—her feet shuffling absentmindedly in one direction as if she were entranced. Controlled.

"Bo, that's not Lauren!" Tamsin yelled, pulling the succubus back with a swift tug of her wrist.

Lauren cast her eyes angrily to the valkyrie. "Bo, you're not looking too well," she said, her voice suddenly turning soft. "I think it would do you some good to feed, honey."

Bo paused, considering the suggestion. "You're right. I'm so hungry right now." She spun on her heels and her lips curled upwards.

"What?" Tamsin released her grip on the succubus' wrist, the cold sweat washing over her.

"I'm so hungry, Tamsin, " Bo reiterated, her eyes turning a predatory blue as they fixed on the valkyrie.

"Whoa, there." As the succubus continued to advance, Tamsin stumbled backwards, the space between them shrinking. "Back the hell off, succubus."

"You're looking so delicious right now." Bo's eyes glowed brighter and she charged.

The breath was knocked out of Tamsin when the succubus grabbed her by the collars and shoved her into the nearby wall. With parted lips, Bo leaned in, mouth hovering just above hers. And Tamsin knew the feeling that would soon consume her. She knew – but it was the last thing on her mind. The horror of being sucked dry felt like only a minor discomfort when her eyes drifted to Lauren in the background.

She saw the change.

A blood red hue washed out the brown in the doctor's eyes. Her mouth elongated into a snout, teeth sprouting into sharp fangs. Her fingers curled into pointed claws and suddenly the thing standing in the room with them was no longer Lauren. It had its eyes set on the succubus and Tamsin could see it all. She saw its gigantic form looming behind Bo's back.

She saw it even though Bo couldn't. And she wished to hell she could cry out when the blue wisp of her own chi was ripped out of her core.