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Taft's Compound
Stacey had been in a deep sleep for the last several hours. She was exhausted after keeping tabs on Lauren and Tamsin, the couple too busy basking in each other to notice her presence. She had almost been caught a time or two, her last visual of them together on the balcony. It infuriated her that after everything that they would find their way back to what they had lost. Stacey would just have to find a way to try to break them apart, believing she would find a way once she took Freyja's place.
She had followed Lauren throughout the years, even going so far to try to knock on her door in England, but she had never been able to make up it the steps. A barrier had been placed by the fairy she lived with that only allowed certain people to pass it. No matter though, she just focused that much more on seeing other things through. Once she stood in power, she thought that Lauren would see the error of her ways, killing her in her past life would be chalked up to nothing but a misunderstanding. It hadn't been her intention to kill Lauren, she wanted to keep her hidden away for awhile, but the words Lauren yelled at left her with no choice.
The Valkyrie looked around her room, a bunker several layers underground. Pictures of Lauren covered her walls along with a strip of hair she had cut after she had killed her. Next to it in a jar, lay the tongue she had removed from Ingrid. The old Valkyrie had seemed impervious for years until bit by bit, she was able to break her down. The removal of her wings had been a turning point.
She didn't care for Taft but he did serve as a means. Stacey had been able to stockpile funds he had paid her in exchange for finding rare Fae, and when she had collected enough she planned to do away with him. She would need to meet with Astrid soon to devise a plan. Walking over she picked up the strip of hair from Lauren, smiling as she remembered how it felt to touch her. Believing that Lauren protested more for Tamsin's sake then her own. The next moment a slice of fear tore through her, dropping the hair, she rushed to the elevator. As it ascended each level, the intensity of emotions hit her. She could feel that a Valkyrie had died and knew it in an instant, that Taft had messed up monumentally.
Lauren's wings continued to pound against the glass that housed her. The cracks beginning to give way. Her skeletal features following Taft as he stood before her, "Mmm..it's been a long time since I tasted fear so delicious," her head tilted in an eerie manner as licked her lips.
Taft laughed at her comment. He wasn't afraid, if anything he was excited to see what she could do. He had no worries of her escaping. She wouldn't be the first Fae to break their glass cage, but it was impressive that her wings were able to do it for her. All without breaking a sweat. He looked around as more of his soldiers surrounded her cell. "Oh and here I thought we were becoming friends, Lauren." Before he could say anything further, he heard his name being yelled by another Valkyrie.
Stacey burst into the room, continuing to make her way towards Taft, stopping dead in her tracks when she saw Lauren. "Lauren?" She took note of Ingrid, knowing instantly that she was dead and that Lauren had played a part. No doubt alerting Valhalla. Ingrid was supposed to have her memory wiped, possible false ones implanted before she died. "Do you have any idea what you've done?" The feeling of doom began to trickle it's way in, it's cold touch felt along her spine before settling into a sense of dread in the pit of her stomach.
"I do," Taft responded with a smile. "I was able to capture a Valkyrie all on my own, without your help or any Fae for that matter." Shoving his hands in his pockets he walked closer to Lauren, "I have such plans for you," his eyes raking over her form. "But first you'll need to calm down. No worries though, I have just the perfect thing." He noticed Stacey frozen in place, the fear evident on her features. This puzzled him for a moment, not understanding until he heard another crack in the glass cell. Lauren was now tracking Stacey.
"Stacey," Lauren called out, a twisted smile on her face, "I remember everything now." Her head tilted back as she started to laugh before once again fixing her gaze on the frightened Valkyrie. Lauren watched as Stacey started to walk backwards slowly. "No, don't go! I want you to stay-" she stopped speaking as she looked towards the ceiling, the sky lights darkened the outside lights for a few minutes as other Valkyries surrounded the compound. "Tamsin's here and she's so angry, more than I've ever known her to be." She once again looked towards Stacey, delighted in the fear radiating off of her.
Taft watched the exchange with rapt attention, only being diverted when both saw the darkening ceiling and heard Lauren's words. "How the hell did they find us?" His curiosity getting to him more than his need of safety. He had a backup plan that he would use in the next minutes, one that he only knew about.
"Simple," Lauren explained, "I released Ingrid from her torment and she relayed your little operation here. Let's just say," Lauren tsked at Stacy," mom's pissed and you...will never know another moment of peace." Lauren laughed again as Stacey then turned around to run, only smacking into an enraged Tamsin.
Tamsin's fury over Lauren's torture was fueled even more by her guilt that she hadn't been there to protect her. To see how vulnerable Lauren had been, the pain in her voice, she was unsure if any of her lifetimes would allow her to forget. While Valkyries that participated in battles weren't the most sentimental type, at least with each other, there was never a sliver of mistrust. No matter if they disliked each other, Valkyries never had to worry about betrayal.
She flew even faster once the compound was in sight, noticing the swarm of Valkyries flying in from all directions. They killed the humans on the ground, a few using their wings to decapitate them. A few nodded to Tamsin as they surrounded the building, creating a straight path to the entrance as Tamsin landed, her wings still the inky black as they hung behind her.
One of Freyja's inner circle stepped forward. She explained that Ingrid had passed as well as the orders that were given to them. Tamsin couldn't help but laugh darkly at that statement. She didn't need any one's permission in this case but at least it gave her little to worry about afterwards. A few other Valkyries had gone inside to dispose of the rest of the humans, and to to determine the fate of the captured Fae. The rest outside formed a circle, wings out and swords at the ready.
As Tamsin made her way inside, she could feel Lauren. It had been ages since she felt Lauren basking in what was to come, not since their youth in battle when her mate had fought against the oppressing side. Feeling nothing as she chopped her way through a battlefield. Lauren was a kind soul, one of the most gentle that she had ever met, but at her heart she was very much a Valkyrie. One that had no problem dispensing justice in a brutal manner, if it so called for it.
All of the guards pointed their guns at Tamsin, waiting for Taft's orders to fire. Foolish humans. With one look, she doubted them all to sleep, including Taft. Tamsin watched as Stacey back peddled on her hands and feet at the foot of Lauren's cell.
With Tamsin so close Lauren felt a wave of power wash over her, the glass giving way as her wings beat against them a final time. The Valkyrie on the floor covered herself as the glass went flying. The atmosphere in the room coming to a standstill. The other Fae enclosed in their cells watched, knowing that the Valkyrie responsible for their capture was about to meet her fate.
"Stacey," Lauren cooed as she crouched down by her, moving Stacey's arm that blocked her face. "Do you remember when you asked me what was so special about Tamsin? Your filthy hands all over me as I begged you to stop, taking what never belonged to you. I made a promise to you." Lauren moved away to stand in front of Tamsin, reaching out to cup her face, "Tamsin, would you be a dear and show her what makes you so special? Rip her limb from limb, not only for me, but our child?" She nodded to the cart in front of her cell, the one that held the jar that contained their baby from decades ago. A new level of rage permeated the area, the fear from all living creatures palpable in the space, and to the Valkyries who stood guard outside.
"Anything for you," Tamsin answered as she kissed the inside of Lauren's palm.
They both looked at Stacey who had started to tremble in fear. It was obvious that she was weighing her options. Before she could make a move, the couple threw her a look that doubted her ability to move. She would be able to feel what was happening, but hopeless to fight against it. Much like Lauren had been.
"Wait," Bodil called as she entered the room. The wave of power had been enough for Freyja to send her down instantly, not wanting another disaster to happen, but to also personally escort Stacey to Tartarus. She noticed that Stacey almost seemed to sense relief, that maybe she would be spared. It was a wasted thought. "Do you mind taking this outside? We need to ascertain the level of Fae and it would be easier if we didn't have to work around you two."
Tamsin let out cold laugh, moving to grab Stacey by her hair as she dragged her out the door, "with pleasure. Are you coming, Lauren?"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Lauren walked over to Taft as she gripped him by the back of his shirt to pull him too. "Did you know," she asked in them mocked interest," that he had to have a frame specifically made for Ingrid's wings?" She heard the curse fall from both their lips, their rage apparent in the way they looked at him. "I told him that I would kill him, slowly. No need for you to have all the fun."
"I would really like to hunt those bastards down," Bodil snarled as she kicked him in the ribs, satisfied to hear the crunch that followed.
As Lauren looked up she caught the flash of blue to her left and smiled. Dropping Taft for a moment she walked closer to the cell, taking in the beautiful yet traumatized brunette. "Bo's looking for you. How long have you been here?"
"I don't know," she whispered softly. He wanted my Bo, that creature," she spat out in Stacey's direction, "was going to help him capture her." She shook her head in a frantic manner as her eyes flashed blue again. It was apparent that she hadn't fed in some time. Her face had that gaunt look.
Lauren's heart twisted for a moment, remembering the emotion Bo felt that day in the Dal, and only being able to imagine what Taft had planned for the mother and daughter. "She's safe and looking for you. Bodil, why not take a few of the humans and lock them in with her. She looks rather hungry," she threw a wink at the Succubus before once again grabbing Taft. "Oh please have someone get Bo, and have her bring Kenzi. If anyone can hack the systems to track down illegal Fae/Human activity, it's her." Holding out her other hand for Tamsin to take, "Ready, love?"
The other Valkyries were only slightly surprised, more so Bodil. Tamsin knew though that she much as Lauren defended humans, her belief in them, that she held no sympathy for those that subjected others to cruelty, and those who allowed it to happen. She felt the same about Fae who mistreated humans. When the West was being won in the States, the darker blonde had heard a phrase "you ride with'em, you hang with'em" and that suited her just fine for the humans at the compound. There were no innocents here.
Tamsin merely smiled in response she took a hold of her hand, each dragging a body behind them to the yells and cheers of the Fae around them.
Kenzi clutched the arms around her tightly, excited to be flying in the dead of night. She looked over at Bo who seemed to hold the same sense of awe at what was taking place. There was no need for either of them to worry, no concern that the grip that protected them would fail.
After Kenzi had left the room, Bo had joined her with a bottle from Trick's top shelf, wrapping an arm around the young girl's shoulder as they sat in silence. Trying to forget the images they saw on screen. It was no surprise when they heard Tamsin's scream later, and the loud crash that followed. No less frightening either. They clutched their glasses tighter as they leaned into each other more. The one that occured several minutes later had the rest of the Fae scrambling to leave. Bo had panicked then, more so when she saw her grandfather pause in his actions of wiping down the bar, his face changing to a paler shade. She wanted to ask him but knew that it wasn't the time to do so. Everything grew eerily quiet in the silence afterwards. Eventually Hale and Dyson joined them for drinks, no one saying anything.
In all of her time with the Fae, Bo had never experienced the fear she felt off of the others. The exception being the fight between Lauren and Tamsin, but this was something different. Another half hour had past when two Valkyries entered the Dal, they immediately stood in front of the best friends. They explained their presence by telling Bo her mother had been found, and that Lauren requested Kenzi's hacker expertise. In was in that moment that relief flooded Kenzi, to know that Lauren was okay. She looked over at Bo, missing the exchange between the Valkyries who had picked up on the Goth's emotions. Bo was rearing to go at the news of Aiofe, grabbing her keys that lay on the table in front of them, but was told that their mode of transportation would be faster.
Bo's elation at her mother having been found was mixed with worry too. She remembered all too well Aiofe's mental instability the last time, and hoped that there was something she could do to help her. She grinned over at Kenzi, who looked very much like a kid on a thrill ride. Tamsin had never taken her flying and just as well, it would be one less thing to miss about her. The Succubus mused that she might always carry a soft spot for her, but she couldn't deny how happy it made her to see the darkness that had hung over Tamsin begin to evaporate with Lauren's return.
She thought it would be difficult to like Lauren, knowing her jealous nature, yet she was unable to find it in herself to muster that emotion. Lauren never made Bo feel as though she was insignificant to Tamsin, that it was some contest. Instead she told her that she understood Tamsin's draw to her, even apologizing for the hurt the Succubus experienced. After all the loss she went through, that's what truly amazed her about the Valkyrie. Lauren epitomized kindness, Lauren was...holding a man's head in the air? Bo narrowed her eyes as they approached the compound, outside in a caged area blood soaked the ground.
Kenzi was about to say something to Bo, stopping when she took in her friend's shocked expression. Turning to look, she saw that Tamsin and Lauren were in a fenced area, covered in blood, body parts strewn about the cage as the Valkyries around them cheered them on as Lauren triumphantly held a head above her for all to see. As they came to a smooth landing, the duo were too shocked to move. The gleam in the couple's eyes threw them, truly not recognizing all they had come to know about them.
"Succubus," Quinn,the one who had flown Bo, pulled her out of the scene around her, "I will take you to your mother. She had been starved but Lauren had her take a few humans to feed." She saw Bo's face blanch at that, quickly looking to Kenzi who looked like she was ready to run. "I know your fondness for humans, and yours is under no threat. Freyja ordered all humans involved to be killed. The only good enemy is a dead one. I assure you their minds are twisted enough that they are beyond saving." With that she turned on her heel, expecting Bo to follow.
"She's safe, I'll be with her at all times, least Lauren parade my head around too." Hilda barked out a laugh as she placed a hand on Kenzi's shoulder to lead her to Taft's office.
Bo only left once she saw Kenzi nod to urge her on, "Go see your mom, Bo. You've spent too many sleepless nights worrying about her. I'll be fine. Besides it's time to work my magic," throwing a wink her way as she wiggled her fingers, her mind already focusing on the task at hand.
Outside
After Lauren dropped Taft's head, she turned to look at Tamsin, smiling at the carnage that lay before them. "I think this was an important couple building exercise," she teased her mate who laughed in response.
"Well, the couple that slays together..." Tamsin moved as she wrapped her arms around her, laughing yet again as Lauren smacked her warning her not to finish that sentence. Turning serious for a moment, "I saw what she did to you, I'm only sorry that I can't kill her more than once, but at least she suffered." Seeing her mate's confused look, she gave a brief version of events of from the nervous Fae at the diner to Kenzi who had slipped her phone under Lauren's pillow before she was knocked out. Sporting a black eye until Bo's chi not only brought her back, but healed her too. She felt Lauren's anger knowing that the Goth could have been hurt worse, feeling even more justified at the humans who met their fate.
"I don't like that you saw what happened, Tamsin. I think I would lose my mind if I had to watch you go through that."
"I know," she whispered softly, "I don't think it's any secret that you're stronger than I am. Whatever you need, to help you work through those memories," Tamsin leaned forward to place the softest of kisses on her forehead, "just tell me."
Lauren knew that nightmares were a possibility, now that her mind remembered the horrors, but she also knew she wouldn't be alone to fight them. They would have plenty of time to sort through them. Plus, they had their baby to focus on too. A light at the end of a decades long tunnel. "There is one thing, well make that two, that I need from you. The sooner the better."
"Anything," Tamsin breathed, focusing her energy on whatever Lauren needed.
"A nice long shower and food," she moved one of her hands that had been behind Tamsin to her stomach, "now that I'm eating for two." She watched with amusement as Tamsin's expression changed from concern to one of her eye rolls, smiling as they strolled hand int hand towards the building.
Kenzi continued to tap furiously on the keyboard. It was easier to focus on the screen than the artifacts around the room. She thought she knew sick and twisted, but Taft exceeded even her darkest nightmares. Bo had met up with Kenzi in the office, she had lulled her mother into a light sleep. It was obvious that Aiofe, having been locked up yet again, was traumatized by the events of the last few years. The younger Succubus saw how the older one struggled to keep a grip on reality, and vowed silently to help her through it. Quinn stayed by the door, a weary eye on the Fae women as the human continued to unlock all the encrypted data.
As she got to the last file set, the Fae Taft had on payroll, she found a hidden file. He had a special folder labeled Valkyries, as she clicked on it, pictures of Astrid and Stacey accompanied them along with one other profile, one that matched the Valkyrie guarding the door. As Kenzi lifted her eyes from the screen, she met Quinn's who smiled back at her. She knew.
Picking up on the tension, Hilda looked over at Kenzi. She had been perusing the shelves, when the out of place emotion hit her. As she made her way towards the desk, her mouth opened in a silent scream, looking down she was horrified to find the end of Quinn's sword through her chest.
Just when you thought it was safe, lol. One last chapter to go that should be posted in a few days. Thanks again for reading!