Geminus Fatum

Chapter 10

"Kenzi! I'm so sorry!"

Hale's sister pulled her into a hug.

Kenzi had received Val's text, asking if they could meet, and she'd gone along to the coffee shop to meet her. Val was already there waiting, and had stood up when she arrived.

Kenzi was surprised by the embrace. She'd felt such an outsider where Hale's family had been concerned. She wasn't sure they'd approved of his choice, although they had been polite enough at the funeral. Val had appeared to be the more accepting, a very different attitude from when they'd first met.

"I shouldn't have waited so long to see you." Val pulled back to look at her. "Are you okay?"

Kenzi nodded. "I'm fine." Val didn't look convinced. "Really, I'm fine."

They sat down opposite each other. A waitress approached and they both gave her their orders.

"It's so wonderful to have you back. What you did for Bo, the sacrifice you made..." Val reached across the table taking Kenzi's hand. "She's very lucky to have you as a friend."

"And I'm lucky to have her as mine. She did a lot to get me back. And the Fae are lucky to have her, especially as the Chosen One. What do they all really think about that?"

Val smiled. "Oh, you know. It's going to take some convincing for some of them, others are okay with it, and others will go with the flow. I think it's probably what's needed, someone strong enough to take charge for a change. Maybe that will stop all the infighting."

The waitress brought their coffees.

"You don't think that knowing who Bo's father is could be a problem?" Kenzi was trying to ascertain if Val had heard any indication from the clans since the meeting earlier; that Bo might pose more of a threat that could lead her into more conflict and danger.

"It was a shock, no doubt about that. Tales of the ancients have always been a fascination, not just for the human world. There have been rumours of their possible influence in the Fae world, but no real proof."

Kenzi licked the cappuccino froth from her lip.

Val hesitated a moment. "Apart from wanting to see you. I have some other news, to do with Hale."

Kenzi held the cup midway to her mouth.

"It's to do with his will," Val continued.

She lowered the cup back down, her hand shaking.

"I have the details here, along with some other documents, addressed to you only, and unopened. He left instructions in his will where these could be found and part of those instructions was that I was to personally deliver them to you and no-one else."

Val lifted up a small briefcase, passing it over.

Kenzi slowly nodded taking it from her.

"He loved you very much." Val said softly.

It was more than Kenzi could take. She started to tremble. She grabbed a napkin from the napkin holder, dabbing her eyes.

"I love him still," Kenzi blurted. Val moved to sit beside her. "He'd still be here, if I hadn't been so stupid."

"It wasn't your fault! Nobody blames you! Only you are doing that!" Val hugged her again. "If I know my brother, he wouldn't want you to feel responsible!"

"He doesn't. That's how wonderful he is!" Kenzi sobbed.

Val looked at her. "You've...seen him?"

Kenzi nodded and now Val's eyes filled with tears.

"Was he...okay?" Val asked tentatively.

"Yes, he's fine. He looked...sooo good!" Kenzi smiled and laughed a little. Val laughed too.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" Val said. "I'm so happy you got to see him and I'm so happy he's okay!"

This time Kenzi hugged Val. She was pleased to think that she had somehow given Hale's sister some peace of mind in knowing her brother was fine. She had been so caught up in her own grief, she had lost sight that she wasn't the only one to mourn his loss.

They sat and talked for some time after, and when they said goodbye, it was with promises that they would meet up regularly, and Kenzi found she liked that idea very much.

Bo tied the belt of her silk robe as she made her way to the kitchen. She yanked open the fridge door, looking for something very alcoholic. She was disappointed to find there wasn't anything strong enough as far as she was concerned; half a bottle of white wine, a few beers, some cokes. She surveyed the other bottles in the kitchen. Bourbon, Vodka, red wine. She figured if she mixed them all, then that might just be enough to drown out how she was feeling.

Instead she chose a slightly sensible option, grabbing a beer. It was only early afternoon, but what the hell. It was never too early for a beer.

She'd almost downed it in one, when there was a knock on the door. Kenzi had a key, so she knew it wasn't her. Bo contemplated not answering, but another louder rap, meant whoever it was, wasn't going away.

Irritated she made her way over, yanking it open.

"What?!" she said ferociously.

Lauren stood there, startled at the fierce welcome.

Bo froze for a moment, unsure what to say.

"Hi, Bo. Is Kenzi in?" Lauren smiled.

Bo thought Lauren looked tired. And although she was smiling, she wasn't really. It was a sad kind of smile.

She stopped herself from asking if she was okay. It was none of her business anyway, not anymore.

"No, Kenzi's out." Bo said flatly.

"Oh?" Lauren said. "I told her I'd come by. I just wanted to do a medical check up on her. I thought here would be better than the lab. I know she's not keen on hospitals. Perhaps she forgot."

"Yeah, she probably did. I'll tell her when she gets back."

"Thanks. And how are you? Everything okay?" Lauren asked

"Just peachy. Couldn't be better." Bo answered. She saw Lauren's expression drop, then felt arms circle her waist from behind.

"I wondered where you'd got to," Tamsin spoke seductively, kissing Bo's neck.

Tamsin stared at Lauren as she said it and Bo winced. She knew what Tamsin was doing and why. Tamsin placed her hand inside Bo's robe, against her chest. She grabbed it, to stop her stroking, squeezing it to let Tamsin know that enough was enough. Lauren was getting the message loud and clear.

Bo wasn't sure, but Lauren's body seemed to tense for a moment, and she noticed Lauren's hand grip her medical bag tighter.

"Well, I can see you're...busy. Sorry to disturb you. Please let Kenzi know I came by." Lauren turned away from them.

Tamsin let go of Bo, kicking the door shut. "Now, that wasn't so hard was it?"

Bo didn't answer. "I'm gonna take a shower." She hoped Tamsin didn't see it as an invite to join her.

She hurried upstairs, her stomach in knots. As she looked at the bed, she wanted to cry. This had been a mistake. It hadn't helped at all. She had gotten out of bed, leaving Tamsin without saying a word. She was in desperate need of something to drink, to wash away the memory. But the whole time Lauren had been standing in front of her, all she could think about was what had happened upstairs, and all she wanted to do was beg Lauren for another chance. But that seemed futile. Lauren didn't appear to be affected at all by the knowledge of what she and Tamsin had not long been engaged in.

Bo finally tore her gaze away from the tangled bed sheets, closing her eyes. Lauren's face flashed before her. She stumbled quickly to the toilet, and vomited.

Lauren was grateful to be back at her apartment. She closed the door, leaning against it for a moment. She inhaled deeply, before pushing herself away. Wearily she dropped her medical bag by her desk, removed her jacket, leaving it across the desk chair.

She flopped down on her couch to remove her shoes, rubbing her forehead, feeling the beginnings of a headache; she closed her eyes, but that didn't help. Bo naked, except for a silk dressing gown, was all she could see. The image was marred when Tamsin showed up, her hands all over Bo.

Lauren sat up with a start. The evening would only be improved, medically, she concluded, by copious amounts of alcohol.

She was reaching for the bottle of wine, when someone knocked on the door.

Groaning, "Oh please, not now," she hoped they would go away. A louder bash against the door and she knew that was hopeless.

Opening the door, she found Evony waiting.

"Hi, Lauren" Evony said cheerily. She waved a bottle of wine. "I thought it's been a while since we've had a cosy chat!" She didn't wait to be invited in.

Lauren watched her fetch two wine glasses, resigning herself to the fact her evening would be spent discussing Evony's needs, issues, and her restoration.

Lauren took the full glass of wine Evony gave her as she sat back down on the couch.

"So, how are things progressing?" Evony asked.

"Slowly," Lauren took a long gulp of the wine.

"You don't say." Evony eyed her. "Interesting news today about Bo. That's some family secret."

Lauren looked at her.

"I assume from the escapade to rescue Kenzi, you knew who he was?"

Lauren nodded.

"That's some loyalty you have in keeping it quiet. It's to be commended really."

Lauren decided it was time to end the small talk. "Why are you here?"

Evony put her glass down on the coffee table. "Okay I'll get straight to the point. Do you mind telling me what that was all about in the lab the other week, with Bo?"

Lauren sighed heavily. "Nothing."

"Look, I don't mind that I was obviously there to give Bo a certain impression. I don't care about hurting her feelings, but I'm curious as to why you felt the need to."

Lauren flinched at the comment. She knew that is exactly what had happened, and she had seen by Bo's reaction that it had had the desired effect. She hadn't slept properly since and she'd lost count of the times she picked up the phone to dial Bo's number, only managing to stop herself at the last minute. The excuse of visiting Kenzi at home, had given her the ideal opportunity to see Bo, to see how she was doing. It appeared she was in fact, doing just fine. She didn't blame Tamsin; maybe that had only been a question of time.

"Lauren?" Evony pushed. "It's pretty obvious you're suffering in some way. You look like shit to be blunt; you're distracted, distant. I'm not quite an expert on human feelings yet, although I'm getting a clearer understanding since my current condition. I can do without the mood swings, menstrual cramps, and body odour, but those human feelings are something else. They can be so overwhelming, so powerful, yet so wonderful too. Why are you so intent on denying yourself what you obviously feel for Bo?"

Lauren felt tears start to prick her eyes. An almost human feeling Evony was worse, than when she was Fae.

"You had your reasons for doing what you did to me, but you have to believe I'm not the enemy. I offered a genuine hand of friendship, and you chose to bite it."

Lauren stared at her, not quite believing the Dark Leader appeared so resigned to that fact.

"I don't know what your ultimate goal is, if you ever had one. But that offer of friendship is still there. Whatever choice you made over Bo, I believe you're going to regret it."

Lauren gulped down the lump in her throat, drinking quickly from her wine glass.

"It's not that simple. It's complicated. It always is with the Fae," she answered. "Just when I think it'll be okay, just when I think I've worked it out, something comes along to mess it up. I try so damn hard to make it work. I try so hard to keep her from harm. It's all for her."

Evony frowned.

Lauren smiled. "I know this doesn't make sense. Hell, half the time it doesn't even to me!"

"Well, I've nothing better to do this evening. Perhaps I can help make sense of it?" Evony raised her glass.

"It really doesn't matter anymore. It's too late now." She murmured. She didn't want to think or talk about Bo. She wasn't sure she could without falling apart.

"Then I guess drinking is the order of the night. Here's to drowning sorrows." Evony smiled, clinking her glass to Lauren's.

"I'll drink to that!" Lauren took another large sip of wine.

When Lauren woke up, she was on the couch, covered with a small blanket. She gingerly sat up, the room swaying. She waited for it to wear off, before attempting to move again. On the coffee table were four empty bottles of red wine. She moaned. Then she noticed one of the bottles had a rolled up piece of paper sticking out of it.

She removed it to read the note.

Trust me. I won't tell anybody. E

"Crap!" she groaned. She buried her head in her hands as the room swayed again, wondering if she'd make it to the bathroom in time to throw up.