A/N: Just because I have yet to mention it, this story is 20 chapters long. I know, the first long fic I've done in a while. Mostly because I wrote this ages ago. Also, if anyone has any other requests or ideas for What Could've Been feel free to let me know. I'm in the middle of writing some now, so don't think i haven't seen them. I just need a little time to work out a plot.
Chapter 9: Don't Test Me
Bo's Compound – Private Quarters
After coming up with their plan to bring Bo back, and also agreeing on the fact that they had to get her heart back from Kragen, Dyson thought it best to finally call it a night. They were running on fumes without any sleep. Joel needed to stay close so they offered him the Black Thorn's former guest quarters. His body had already been removed and the area wiped clean.
And it was better to have Joel close by in case they came up with a new plan and needed to fill him in.
Dyson walked Lauren bad to her quarters, and even stayed for a cup of tea. "Well, it's been a long day—scratch that. It's been a long week!" He laughed tiredly. "But it's better that we get some rest, and start fresh in the morning" he began walking to the door.
"Dyson?" Lauren stopped him from leaving by calling out his name. "I know this might be asking a lot, but would you mind staying here for the night, on the couch? I haven't lived alone in thirteen years. Being without her makes me feel, empty"
He understood that. "I get it. Of course, I'll stay. We've only got each other in this right?" They couldn't tell Kenzi or Dagny, and he hadn't heard from his son Mark since Bo got cursed. He mentioned something about travelling the world with Vex. Dyson hated to think about their relationship given his history with Vex, but his son was happy so that's what mattered.
She was thankful to him. "For now" she wasn't giving up hope that she'd get Bo back. "I'll grab you some sheets and two pillows. Be right back" she quickly ran upstairs.
While she was gone, Dyson removed his boots, his leather vest, and also his black undershirt. Which left him in a black tank top and his jeans, he didn't mind sleeping in them. He'd roughed it in much worse conditions. This was a piece of cake.
As soon as she returned with the sheets and pillows, he took them from her and began making his make shift bed on the couch. "I guess I'll see you in the morning then" he smiled.
"Yep" Lauren smiled back. "Goodnight Dyson"
He gave her a nod. "Goodnight" he watched her walk away, and could see how scared she was about sleeping alone. Who wouldn't be? She'd slept next to the same person for thirteen years, and now she was alone. No wonder she'd been avoiding it. "Lauren? If you need anything, I'm right here"
She really appreciated that. "I know" she made her way back upstairs.
Tartarus
Since there was no concept of time in this place, she began marking the days off on a wooden table with a knife she swiped from the kitchen. She was now on day fifty five by her tally, and she was feeling it now.
Bo was wide awake and she decided to do a little exploring. She was only here for a few hours on her first visit. She didn't have time to search around. Now she did, and she was curious. So she walked the halls, looking for something—anything, to occupy herself with.
She passed the kitchen, where Persephone was hard at work cooking either breakfast, lunch, or dinner. With no clock she had no idea. She offered to help, but Persephone was proud and stubborn. She saw Bo as a guest, and guests were meant to be waited on.
With that Bo left her to her cooking, and began searching again. She turned a corner, and heard the crackling of a fire in the distance. She saw the glow emit through the archway in front of her. A few more steps and a turn to the right, brought her to what looked like a library. Only it was massive.
Bo took steps towards the many bookcases in front of her, she figured the last she could do was read up on some thing. She wasn't much for reading for fun, but she did love a good erotica ever now and then. Though, she doubted she'd find one here. But it didn't hurt to look.
Just as she was reaching for one, she heard the keys of a piano behind her. She missed it on her way in because it was on the far right of the room, and she was looking in the opposite direction. "Do you ever take a break from that?" She turned around to see her Father sitting at the Piano.
"Not lately, why? Does my playing bother you?" He asked, smirking as he hit more keys.
It annoyed her like nothing else. "Very much. It's taking everything I have not to come over there and snap your fingers" Bo smirked back.
"What's stopping you?" He asked her. "It's just you and me here Bo. And given my weakened state it wouldn't be too difficult to pull off. I'll even hold my hands out for you" he stopped playing and held his hands out to her.
She so badly wanted to make good on her threat. But that's exactly what it was. A threat. She would never act on it because that wasn't who she was. "Some other time, maybe"
He tutted, pulling his hands back. "See? I knew it. You're all talk. If I'd raised you-" he bowed his head, laughing at the thought. "Well, let's just say you wouldn't bother with a warning. I never did when I punished someone"
"And that's exactly why, I'm nothing like you" Bo told him proudly. "I threaten people to assert authority. Sometimes I've had to see those threats through. But other times, I haven't. Because People know if they respect me then I'll respect them in return. I know that concept is lost on you"
Jack hummed. "Respect?" He frowned. "Maybe that is a good strategy. Or maybe it's not. I mean, it can't have worked well for you. Given the fact you're stuck down here with me"
She folded her arms, he had her there. "You don't know what you're talking about, okay?"
"Oh, I think I do!" He got up off the stool, and approached her. "No doubt, you pissed off the wrong person in your efforts to change the ways of our wicked world. You think you can reach people with words of empowerment, but I'm guessing the person who killed you wasn't as receptive as the rest. Did you even fight back?"
It was something he'd been wondering. Since he was also defeated by Bo, he knew that she was strong. So, what was the difference here? "You come from a very dominant bloodline. Half God, and half Succubus. You mean to tell me that wasn't enough to save you?"
She turned her head away, unable to answer him. He had no idea she'd been cursed before she died, which was why he hadn't figured it out. And the last thing she wanted was for him to rub that failure in her face. "Why do you even care? It's not like it matters now, does it?"
He chuckled under his breath, "Hmm, hit a nerve I see. It's okay. If you don't want to talk about it, that's your choice. I just figured since you're here, you could fill me in on what you've been up to since you banished me. Maybe we could even—dare I say it? Bond?" He stood before her with a smile.
That just made her laugh. "Bond? You really think that's gonna happen?" She cleared her throat and stood closer to him, looking him dead in the eyes. "If you have any fantasies about you and I having some twisted Father/Daughter relationship, then you are greatly mistaken. You really think I could forgive you after what you did to me—to my family?"
"Family?" He frowned at her. "When will you learn Bo? Those people-they are not, nor will they ever be, your family. Blood, is what a family is made of. We are all that's left of our Clan. Oh, and let's not forget little Dagny? That's what Tamsin named her, isn't it?" He heard them all talking the other day.
She shoved him with her two hands, pushing him away. "You don't get to talk about her!" Her little sister was off limits to him. "She might be half of you, but she's got one thing going for her already"
"And what would that be?" He asked.
Bo got in his face, "Unlike me, she will never have to suffer through the horrible experience of knowing you! She's better off without you! She's better off without both of us!" She nudged his shoulder hard as she walked away from him.
He turned around, watching her storm off. For all her talk of being nothing like him, she certainly shared his temper. He also wasn't giving up hope that he'd meet Dagny one day. Anything was possible in their world. Maybe one day his strength would recharge enough for him to breakout of this Prison. And then he'd have her.
"We'll see" his mouth curled into a smirk.
Bo's Compound – Next Morning
Even with Dyson close by downstairs on the couch, Lauren's still found it incredibly difficult to sleep. She'd slept next to the same person for thirteen years. It's understandable that it would be hard. She managed to drop off eventually. Passed out, would be more accurate actually.
When she got up, she got changed quickly and walked downstairs to find Dyson already up and at the stove of all places. He couldn't even heat popcorn without burning it, was he really cooking? The odour was enough to make Lauren fear for her life. "What is that god awful stench?" She made a face, approaching the kitchen.
"I'm making eggs-" he looked at the pan he was holding, and noticed one major problem. "Correction, I'm burning eggs!" He turned the stove off and moved the pan to the side. "Sorry, I just wanted to help out"
Lauren laughed, but appreciated his thoughtfulness. "It's fine Dyson. Besides, I'm not hungry. I just wanna focus on what we have to do. Which is get Bo's heart back from Kragen, so Joel can revive her. We should really get going!"
"Lauren, I know you wanna get this done. And so do I, believe me. But we don't actually have a plan yet. And until we do, we won't be going anywhere. Joel still needs time to make the healing balm anyway. Just breathe, have some coffee and eat something" she went to protest but he shushed her. "I mean it. Even if it's a protein bar. Everyone thinks better on a full stomach"
She wasn't really behind that ideology. "Beg to differ. I've cracked major scientific equations on an empty stomach" he made eyes at her. "But if it'll shut you up, then fine!" She walked to the far end of the kitchen and opened a drawer. "Satisfied?" She held two granola bars.
She couldn't stomach a huge meal, not like this.
"Immensely" he smiled. He wanted her taking care of herself, and not letting herself starve due to depression. Bo wouldn't want that, she'd want her to be okay. It was his job to ensure that.
A few minutes passed, during which time Dyson cleared away his burnt eggs and washed up. Let's face it, he was in Lauren's kitchen. Mess was not welcome. He found a box of cereal in the cupboard. "Really?" He looked at the box with a chuckle. "Boo Berry?" Wasn't this cereal for kids?
Looking at the box, Lauren smiled. "Bo's favourite. If she had her choice, she'd eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I should get a new box before she gets back" she knew that one was half empty.
Dyson was a little worried about her, and the way she said that. She was banking on this resurrection to work. Maybe it would. But he'd lived long enough to know that not everything goes the way it's planned. But instead of saying something that would no doubt upset her, he just gave a nod.
"Good idea" he put the box back, and grabbed the Cheerios instead.
With breakfast out of the way, they talked about various things they could try to find Kragen. "His kind are all nocturnal, so wherever he's hiding has to be somewhere with zero sunlight. Maybe a sheltered abandoned building?" She said.
"Or an impenetrable underground bunker?" He replied with a sigh. "There's a million places he could hold up until sunset" he scratched his beard, trying to think. "Wait! We captured two of his men after the exchange went south!"
He couldn't believe he forgot that. Then again, he'd been busy with other things. Grieving his best friend/former flame was a bit of a task.
"Great! Let's go talk to them!" She finished her cup of coffee, then grabbed her jacket and waited for Dyson to follow her out.
Holding Cells
It was another ten minutes before they got to the holding area. Bo had a renovation team clear things up down here after she became Queen. Before, it was a smelly old dungeon more fit for animals than people. It was also where Lauren was kept on a few occasions during her employment with the Light Fae.
Lauren remembered telling Bo how every time she disobeyed a direct order from the former Ash before Lachlan, that he would always place her in the same cell. And it was that cell, that made Lauren's stomach turn every time she passed it.
So, Bo did the sweetest thing. She had a team of people seal off that same cell, and told Lauren that if she was ever down here in the future that she could look at it and know that she wasn't a slave anymore. And that, that particular time was behind her. She could seal it up, just like the cell.
It was acts like that, that made Lauren love her even more.
Now when she passed the bricked-up cell, she just felt emptiness. Because Bo wasn't here. She couldn't stop looking at it.
"Lauren?"
She snapped out of her haze when Dyson called her name. It took a second for her to address him. "What?" She asked.
Dyson pointed the block of cells behind him. "Kragen's men are this way. Are you okay?"
"Fine!" Lauren assured him. "Let's get this over with. The sooner they talk, the sooner we'll find Kragen and get Bo's heart back" she walked on in front of him.
He wasn't buying that. But he had to move passed it for now. He led her to where the two men were being held. One had been injured pretty badly from the fight. He was laying on his cot, nursing his broken arm. The other prisoner was looking for another fight by the sight of him. He kept banging on the metal bars, goading Dyson to engage him.
"Sorry pal, but I'm a bit busy at the moment. But don't worry, we will settle this. And you won't be the one smiling when it ends. I can promise you that!" He growled through the bars, scaring him.
Not so tough now.
Lauren had a feeling they'd have a handful with the rowdy one, so she made a decision based on the most logical option available. "Him first" she pointed to the injured man. "Given his vulnerable state, he's more likely to give up information. I'll assess his wounds and find the most painful point of manipulation" if they had to break his other arm then they would.
Anything for Kragen's location.
Dyson unlocked the cell door, and held it open for her so she could enter. Once inside, he closed the door behind him. "Is he dead?" He noticed the man wasn't moving.
She walked over to the cot, and held her hand under his nose. She felt the warm air hit her palm as he breathed through his nose. "No" she took another look it his face, and he was in bad shape. "But without medical attention he won't last long"
"Good, maybe we can use that to our advantage" Dyson grabbed the man's injured arm, hearing him squeal. "I know, hurts don't it? Truth is, I can do a lot worse. But I won't, so long as you give us Kragen's location. What'd you say?"
The man coughed, "I don't know anything!" He cried in agony. "I swear. I was just hired as protection. Please, I need a Doctor!" He was in so much pain.
Lauren knelt down in front of him. "Right here!" She held her hand up. "And as a Doctor I took an oath to protect all life. So, I can help you. But in order for me to do that, you've gotta be willing to play ball"
"Play ball?" The man frowned, gasping.
She nodded. "You scratch my back, I scratch yours. All I want is Kragen's location. Give it to us, and I swear on my life that I will help you"
He breathed, "I only ever met him at one place. It's an old Farmhouse a few miles from here. Off route ten. It's the only one out there so you can't miss it. Kragen hides in the storm cellar under the old barn during the day. The house had too many cracks, the light always found a way in"
"Thank you. What's your name?" She asked.
"Orson" he replied.
She smiled at him. "You've been very helpful Orson. Which's why I'm gonna make good on my promise to help you" she looked at Dyson. "Get him escorted up to the Clinic. Keep him restrained while he's examined, and then get him treated"
Dyson couldn't understand why she was doing this. "Why waste good resources for this piece of shit? He works for the enemy!"
She held up a hand. "Regardless, I took an oath. First rule, is do no harm. He's already in agony. I'm not gonna add to it. He gave us information, so now we're gonna ease his pain" she'd made the decision.
"And then what? We just let him go? After what he helped Kragen do?" Dyson couldn't get behind that.
But Lauren never said anything about letting him go. "No. He gets treated, and once he's well enough; he'll be transferred to the tombs with every other Fae fugitive in this city. I believe in fair treatment, but I don't believe in a free pass" if she let him go, what message would that send?
It would make them look weak, and also make them an easy target for other enemies.
Which was why Dyson was glad to hear that from her. She was acting like a Queen. And they needed that in Bo's absence. "Okay, I'll take him to the Clinic and then we'll assemble a team to check out the tip. Meet me in the Courtyard in ten" he grabbed Orson's other arm and dragged him out of the cage.
They were close.
Tartarus – Kitchen
Of all the rooms Bo wondered in, she realised what she was missing. Booze. She needed a stiff drink to process everything that had happened. So, she found her way back to the kitchen and asked Persephone where she could find the good stuff. Bo followed her hand as she pointed to a large mahogany cabinet in the far corner.
She opened it and found all sorts of treats. "So, I'm guessing all this comes express from our Valkyrie neighbours?" She reached for a bottle of whiskey. It was the Scottish kind. Her favourite.
"Some, not all" Persephone said, as she continued preparing dinner. She had to keep herself busy. "Most of the bottom shelf is from Valhalla. But everything above has been there since before I arrived thousands of years ago. I never asked how he got it"
"Don't ask, don't tell huh?" Bo was starting to get the feeling it was that kind of place down here. She grabbed a glass and began pouring herself a drink. She sat at the kitchen island, and watched Persephone roll pastry. "So, is this what you do everyday? Cook to pass the time?"
Persephone gave a shrug as she sprinkled flour over the rolled pastry. "Pretty much. If I don't keep myself busy doing this, I'll just drive myself crazy with boredom. Besides, it's not that bad. There's something about cooking that's therapeutic"
That made Bo laugh. "I wouldn't go that far. But I guess if it gives you some kind of peace, then you should do what you love" she sipped her drink.
"Exactly. Do you cook?" Persephone asked.
Bo nearly choked on her drink. "God, no!" She wiped her mouth. "No, that's not my area. I tried it once, but I ended up setting fire to the kitchen wall. Yeah, that was not a good day" she thought of it. All that smoke. "I came into the world with zero culinary potential, whatsoever. And I accept that"
"What about your Partner?" Persephone asked. "Lauren? Does she cook?"
Nodding, Bo topped her glass up. "Like a five-star chef!" She was proud to say that. "There isn't anything she can't cook. I honestly don't know how she does it. Her beautiful brain can do anything—" she paused, revealing sadness. "I miss her so much"
Persephone felt bad for bringing her up now. She watched Bo continue to drink glass after glass. "Drinking will only numb your pain for a short time" she told her. "It won't take it away. Trust me, I know"
"Well, it's all I got right now" Bo cleared her throat as she wiped a stray tear. "To feeling numb!" She raised her glass with a painful smile. She put the glass down, and immediately felt a presence behind her. "Sorry, no douchebags allowed"
Jack chuckled as he stood in the doorway. "Ouch! Gotta say, that one left a sting!" He tapped his chest. He looked at the state his daughter was in, it wasn't pretty. "Is this what's become of you Bo?" He approached the island. "Searching for a fix at the bottom of a glass?"
Bo poured from the bottle again. "Screw you" She didn't have anything to say to him.
"I don't think that'll be necessary. But I am curious to know how the lovely Lauren is doing" he heard them talking about her. "She was the only one who showed me any form of kindness during my visit. Is she well?"
How many times had he reminded her of that now?
She wasn't going to entertain this. "I've already made it perfectly clear, that you are not to talk to me about anyone in my family. Especially not Lauren. Hearing her name come out of your mouth, makes me really angry. So, why don't you just shut up and leave me alone?!"
"Ooh, that sounded very hostile Bo" He tutted. "Honestly, I'm a little concerned. Maybe you aren't weathering this storm as well you'd hoped. What do you think Persephone?" He asked her. "How long will it be until she loses her mind?"
"Perhaps you should respect her desire to be left alone" Persephone came to Bo's defence and spoke back to her Husband. Which was something she didn't normally do. But seeing Bo be so brave, inspired her to be the same.
He looked at her. "Excuse me?" He watched her become silent. "Maybe you should just stick to what you're good at, Wife!"
Bo had enough, she got up from her stool and shoved him in the chest hard. "Watch how you talk to her!" She was sick of this alpha male shit. "Maybe you haven't noticed, but there's two of us and one of you"
He squared off with her, while his Wife cowered away behind her. "It seems so" he said. "But you forget Bo, this's my realm. Persephone is my Wife. And I will do as I please regarding both!"
"You touch her, and you're gonna have me to deal with!" Bo yelled in his face. "I will happily spend the rest of my shitty afterlife, making you miserable. In fact, I'm rather looking forward to it" she revealed a vindictive smile.
That was the best idea she'd had all day.
"Eternity is a long time Bo. Are you sure you want to spend it feuding with me? All for what?" He nodded to Persephone. "For her?
"You bet your ass I do!" She replied. "You might wanna skedaddle before I take this bottle of delicious scotch and shatter it over your pompous head" she picked up the bottle.
Jack decided to retreat this time. "I suppose it is best you girls stay in the kitchen" he looked around the room, then back at them with a smirk. "It is after all, a woman's place" he let the nastiness drip from his words.
Bo kept her strong 'don't mess with me' stare until he decided to turn around and leave. But all that did was save them a few more hours without having to look at him.
They still had the rest of their endless afterlife. "I know I've made mistakes in my life" she looked at the bottle in her hands. "But was I such a terrible person that I'm fated to spend eternity with that demon?" She had to wonder.
In all the years after finding out who and what she was, she tried to make up for the ten years she spent killing people in order to survive. She thought she'd done enough to save her from this kind of fate.
"The fact that you're here has nothing do with the kind of person you are Bo" Persephone said. "You and I, we're the same. My Mother sold me to Jack like I was piece of unwanted jewellery. Our Parents sealed our fate. It's nothing we did. We're good people. And it's always the good who suffer" she always believed that.
Bo got so angry hearing that. How was this fair? They were good people and still they got the short end of the stick. It angered her so much she launched the bottle of scotch at the wall in front of her. The remainder of the liquid spilled over the floor as the bottle shattered. It felt good for a second, but her rage returned.
Nothing would help it. It was just going to get worse. Bo feared hat one day she'd end up like her evil Father. Having been so broken down by this miserable setting. How could she fight this? Was there even any point?
"I'm sorry" she apologised for the mess.
Persephone wiped her hands in her apron, then grabbed supplies to clean the mess. "It's fine. You were bound to cut loose sooner or later. Anger gets the best of all of us" she began cleaning.
"It also shapes us" Bo whispered. "I'm gonna lose my mind down here. And that's exactly what he wants. He wants me to break!" She held her head, breathing. "I don't cope well without Lauren. She was always my anchor"
After tidying the mess, Persephone set it aside and grabbed Bo's hands. "It's hard, I know. But, you cannot let him win Bo. You may think he already has because you're here, but he hasn't. The day you let him into your head, is the day he wins. Fight it!" She told her. "Be angry, but don't bury it. Channel it into something constructive"
Suddenly, Bo had an idea. She knew she wasn't getting out of this place. But that didn't mean she had to live by her Father's rules. No. She would take Persephone's advice, and channel her rage. Her Father would feel the full weight of it.
And by the time she was done, he'd be wishing for death.
