I apologize for the delay. I am a one woman writing non machine. If I could come up with this stuff faster I promise I would. Enjoy it. ;-)
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Evony was tired, though not physically. She didn't know her body to possess that capability. The fatigue she was currently experiencing could be completely attributed to her mental state. She knew it would be much easier to just melt The Coven's power free and be on her way, but it didn't work that way AND they had created an alliance of sorts . . . Though after hours now listening to the trio of voices filtering through her bathrooms vents, chanting verses of an unknown language, Evony now had trouble remembering her end game. A light rap upon the door brought the dark leader out of her head and back into the present.
"Hey hey," a soft voice announced from a slight crack in the bathroom door.
She peered her head around to the door beckoning the woman in with a shift of her eyes and a slight tilt of her head.
"What is that noise?" Tasmin gently inquired.
Evony sighed as she sank further into the bath.
"Apparently a nightly ritual by our new house guests."
"Oh . . . It's-" she wasn't sure how to play this.
"Annoying as hell? I know, but we need them."
The Valkyrie smiled nervously. She was intrigued to learn the Morrigan's stance on The Coven and this was the most candid ground she'd been able to cover on the subject since she started this game. It put her more at ease to know that at least Evony wasn't enjoying their company. The 'dinner' she had just endured had been down right awkward. Now she waited on edge, unsure if Evony had put anymore of the pieces together.
"What's wrong? You seem tense."
The blonde froze for a moment as she tired to quickly analyze the dark woman's tone. She appeared calm enough and the question did not appear to be weighted. She couldn't believe The Coven hadn't rated her out for her undercover spying efforts! They only greeted her with an, "Ah we meet again." This told her that they didn't know shit Tasmin chastised herself for a moment, of course their powers were gone if they'd been silent in the world this entire time. That is what this whole thing was about.
"I didn't know you had encountered them as a child."
"The day Trick was crowned . . . Vex was there too."
"That I knew. He's been blubbering about it since the day I first met him."
"And he never told you I was with him?"
Evony's eyes seemed to appraise her while she shook her head no.
"Well I was there . . . Vex attributes it to making him dark."
Evony scoffed, "He's a fool. We are born dark." Tasmin disagreed completely but she nodded her head encouragingly. She had undergone four rebirths since she witnessing The Coven's greeting to Trick. No longer was she the small frightened child of the Finvarn clan, but a large part of her missed those carefree days. Not the frightened portion, but the innocence. With every passing decade the memories became more and more distant. She still knew they been the best years of her lives and she attributed that time, before Trick's granted insubordination forced her into the category of Dark, for the small presence of good in her heart. Without it she might have been as ignorant as Evony.
"Is this whole thing really -" Tasmin pressed just slightly. At the end of it all she can say she tired.
"Yes. I'm not asking you to kill her. I should be asking you to kill her but that's not how these things work."
"So I've got to get her to smell the flowers and that?"
"Releases a pheromone that increases vitally. Dark principles are founded in one's own desperate thirst for life."
The Valkyrie didn't like that at all. She couldn't think of a reason a why anything would want to be defined by desperation. She would have to inform Trick on the current status of The Coven and their efforts to influence the child to darkness.
"The water is still warm," Evony stated as an open invitation. She'd grown accustomed to Tasmin's company. Which, may have been a little out of character for her but she was just rolling with it. If she gave it too much thought she'd realize how out of step it had made her with the entire Twilight situation. Her focus had been split. Hell, she didn't even want to kill Vex anymore and hadn't had the time to even think about it. Then the Coven contacted her. To them the signs of the child spoke freedom and with their freedom she could have ultimate power. She just had to play her cards right. Power is all that matters. Power is the end game. Full dominion is the end game. She repeated over in her head as her girlfriend lowered herself carefully into the steaming bath. Tasmin had watched Evony's eyes glaze over before returning into focus with a noticeable glimmer.
"You have that maniacal look about you."
"That's ironic. . . I think I've been having the sanest thoughts I've had all year."
Tasmin came to rest her back against her girlfriend's chest. Well her fake girlfriend. Honestly, there were times were she could feel herself not faking. Who knew The Morrigan had such a sweet side? If only she didn't want the world to be dark they might have stood a fighting chance.
"I dunno . . . I think you would enjoy a world without sides." Evony moved the blondes hair off of her neck and brought her mouth so close to the Valkyrie's ear that her lips touched her with each word she spoke.
"Oh darling. You're right, you don't know at all."
XXXXX
"Honey come look!" Lauren's voice bounced to the front of the house from the back deck. Bo stood in the foyer with her arms deep in a box filled with ancient looking medical texts wondering how they ended up in a box labeled fragile.
"One sec hon I'm busy" she called out clearly distracted. It had been stressful keeping the builders on schedule. In her desperation to not have to prolong move in day she had to enthrall four of them in the last few weeks to work around the clock. The renovations where complete and she had moved them in without too much fuss. She thought she would take the day to unpack the kitchen, but she had ignorantly miscalculated the negative effect a few rouge boxes would have on her foyer's aesthetic appeal.
"Bo please." Lauren slid her arms upon Bo's waist but her protruding stomach made it difficult to to get an actual grip on her hips. Bo jumped at the unexpected contact. She didn't know how Lauren made it from the back to the front hall so quickly.
"I've never meet a pregnant woman so light on her feet."
Lauren rolled her eyes in jest. She found most of Bo's mania endearing because she knew it was only to please her.
"Come on, relax for one minute and relish in the fact that we are home owners. This place is all ours."
Lauren's optimistic ramblings didn't have much an affect on deterring Bo's attention.
"I can relax once this is all done. I figured we could use the storage shelf along the den to house your more dense medical books -"
"Please realize that you will not have this place unpacked before you leave tomorrow." Lauren wanted Bo to be realistic. The woman was clearly working herself up about unpacking to distract her from something bigger.
"I don't fucking understand what Trick wants from me." Bo slammed the book she had been holding down wishing it was instead her grandfather's face.
"Honey, don't be upset and please be careful that's from 1550 it like shouldn't even exist."
The brunette smirked from her lovers nerdness distracted momentarily before her exasperation over took her once again.
"Then you can't come because we've got to get on a plane? It's all a bunch of bullshit."
"At least it's only for a day."
"More like two days."
"I suppose you could look at it that way. One full day and two half days."
"Lauren-"
"And technically at 28 weeks I can fly. You don't want me to."
"You agreed with me."
"The twins do make everything more high risk."
"Sooo-"
"I'm not trying to challenge you. It just never shuts off" the doctor smirked while tapping her index finger against her temple.
Bo finally relented with her shoulders softening
"I don't want to leave you."
"I know. We've been sulking in the unfairness of it all week. Trick and his top secret missions to Montreal." He'd called on Wednesday asking for Bo to accompany him on a sensitive mission over the weekend. He pleaded for her assistance without actually telling her where they were going or what they would be doing.
"Are you sure you'll be okay with Kenz?"
Lauren nodded her head, "Of course."
"What do you two have planned?"
"Tomorrow will be simple. We will start with the nursery decorations and that is sure to take all night. Saturday I have a checkup, then foot massages, and dinner at that Brazilian steak house."
"Why wait till I leave to have all the fun?"
"Kenzi knows I'll annoy her talking about how I miss you all day so the strategy is to keep me busy."
"I wanted this move to be stress free."
" I has been for me."
"But the boxes"
"Are necessary. We did just move in. Yet somehow you manage to get our bed room together."
"I couldn't have the mattress on the floor and the nursery-"
"Will be finished in the 2 and 1/2 months it takes to finish incubating these munchkins."
"They need names."
"Dont pressure me alright? You want me to be stress free, but you are stressing me out." Lauren snapped and Bo instantly threw her hands up in peace.
"Im sorry. I only meant -" She had meant to get a rise out of Lauren and she knew it. She knew better than to push her on this subject.
"Dont fuss at me because you can't get your way. Ugh, just come with me before it's over."
Lauren grabbed Bo's hand as she dragged her past the kitchen and out through the living room to a set of french doors that opened out to the deck. The sight before them was truly breath taking. The lake was so large that they couldn't discern where it ended and the sky began. The sun laid upon the horizon, it appeared to be disappearing into the water. Lauren pressed her arms up against the railing of the deck, perching up on her tip toes as if the small addition in height could help give her the leverage to peer down upon the skyline more in depth. The pink glow emanating from the sky seemed to bathe their view in a brilliant warmth but with every passing second the glow turned more cool. Ending in a subtle blue hue as the sun disappeared completely.
"I needed that" Bo brought her hand to lay atop Lauren's on the railing "We should get a wicker set for out here."
"I thought a hammock would be nice in the corner"
They stood there in awe of nature's beautiful wonders. Neither believing that this sunset would be available to them for the years to come.
"I love you"
The small declaration tore the blondes eyes away from the scene and to her lovers eyes.
"And I'm sorry I've been so grumpy."
"Oh honey I forgive you. You haven't been that bad."
Lauren watched as Bo unconsciously licked at her lips. The brunette had been so worked up that they hadn't had a chance to even properly make out in their new home. The doctor decided to waist no more time and leaned in to nibble on Bo's lower lip. Bo played with her a bit before she invited her inside slowing the kiss down with the appearance of her tongue. Loosing herself in the familiar warmth and curve to her lover's mouth. She pulled back only slightly while both of them still breathed the same breath.
"Come back into the house with me now. I'm sure you are hungry."
"You know I'm actually full from yesterday night." They had yet to christine this home but made sure to bless the loft before they officially departed.
"I meant real food." The blonde smiled brightly.
"Right. I am starving. Please nothing crazy. I've gotta be up early honey so go easy on me."
"Alrighty . . . soo no chicken liver?"
Bo fixed her fiancee with a look of sheer horror. Even if she did not personally eat it, she'd be able to taste it coming off of Lauren later. She had been spoiled with the pure taste of a vegetarian for so long that she now cursed herself now for spending the better part of their relationship silently wishing Lauren would one day forgo the tofu for an actual chicken nugget. The raw meat thing had taken her completely by surprise and for that she still blamed Trick. Lauren's chi was amazing, but the heavy metals from the extra blood coursing through her veins was not as welcomed.
"You turned white! Baby, I was only joking! You know I've made a vitamin supplement for that."
XXXXXX
"Okay Thai oor Mexican?"
"Neither."
"Alright . . .There's Italian?"
"Meh."
"Jamaican?"
"Mmm . . . no"
"Indian?"
"Hmm I think something like that could be satisfying, but not Indian . . ." Lauren sat along the window seat of her sitting room
Kenzi was stumped for a moment. She laid out across a pallet of pillows tossed beneath the window seat in the sitting room that Lauren was currently occupying contemplating the Indian but not Indian options.
"I don't know . . . Ethiopian?"
The suggestion grabbed the doctor's attention immediately.
"Actually, that sounds amazing."
"Seriously? That one stuck?" The goth had to pat herself on the back for discerning that food craving. "No Ethiopian place is delivering to your massive secluded lake front property though."
"We'll have a courier pick it up."
" A courier? Right why didn't I think of that?" Kenzi couldn't check the sarcasm. "Did you two just become rich over night?"
Lauren tossed another pillow at the small woman's head who in turn shield herself dramatically.
"Your ring keeps blinding me woman! I knew you were holding out on us but Bo? What the fuck right?"
"She's full of surprises. Biological and otherwise. I know she couldn't have done so well with this without your insight. So thank you."
"You left great clues so you were easy! Now I'm a little miffed, I am out here playing interior decorator for the twins and you haven't asked for wedding planning help from me at all."
"I haven't set a date! Bo was stressed enough with the move I didn't think we could handle a wedding reception."
" It does sound kind of messy. I'm no longer offended." Kenzi popped up into a proper seated position.
" You're a crazy person." Lauren teased "I'd love to be able to fit into a gown again"
"You'll be back down to sample size in no time."
"I haven't been able to see my feet in over a month."
Kenzi peeled her eyes away from color blocks to appraise her friend's feet. They didn't even seem swollen and they were painted a lovely shade of peach.
"I can see how that would be stressful. But trust me they are still beautiful. Snaps to your manicurist."
"Oh thank you Kenzi." Lauren graciously accepted the complement before returning her attention to dinner. She knew of a great Ethiopian place in Amherst that was about 45 minutes out. She dialed the courier first and then called in the food. Veggie Sambusas, Doro Wat, Lamb tips, lentils, chickpeas and tomato salad.
"Okay that should take no more than two hours. I've got snacks in the mean time."
Kenzie wasn't sure when she started staring but she had been studying Lauren's hair against the sunlight streaming through the bay window for the entire time she'd been on the phone. Something about the woman seemed tantalizing. She had a nagging urge to lick the doctor's face.
"Did you and Bo not?-"
"What?"
"You look like a snack to me right now."
"Oh!" Lauren blushed. "Oh no we didn't before she left . . . I was tired and then she was tired and I just couldn't get her to feed. . . it's only three days exactly tomorrow so I did think it was necessary-"
She studied the doctor briefly.
"It's not that intense. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't loosing it."
Lauren stood silent for a moment not sure what to say until Kenzi changed the subject.
"Okay back to swatches! Now I am partial to the mint green with cream accents." Kenzi angled the samples together for Lauren to compare.
"I love it, but we can't chose until Bo gets back."
"She'd love it and not even know why. We are the masterminds behind this." she pointed her index finger between the two of them.
"God I miss her." Lauren added briefly looking up from her lap top.
"You two are so lame!"
"Whatever."
"Well I haven't seen my man for more than a few hours at a time in over 3 months. So I have no sympathy."
"Hale has been extremely busy-"
"Fulling his new duties as The Ash, please I've heard that excuse enough for this life time."
"And I've had your best friend preoccupied . . ." Lauren added with an apologetic tone.
"More than preoccupied! You've sequestered her to your Malibu styled beach house! Vex left me!"
"Im sorry Kenz. You know you are always welcomed here. Bo said you were already playing house with Hale."
"Playing house? How can I play with a man that's never there?"
"Would you want to stay with us?"
"Well no . . . I'd miss him too much." Lauren's suspicions had been confirmed Kenzi was head over heels in love with Hale. She thought they were the most adorable couple ever, next to she and Bo of course. A sneaky smile spread across the blonde's face.
"I knew you liked him more than you were letting on! You are crazy in love."
"Okay okay try not to exaggerate things. I-" Kenzi's cheeks were bright red by this point.
"It's okay, you don't have to explain anything to me."
"Thank you for being here with me. I was not looking forward to spending the first weekend out here alone."
"I wouldn't have missed it for the world" they sat in a comfortable silence for a moment. Each pondering different things before Kenzi's mind came back to the reason for her visit.
"Do we even know why Trick kidnaped her yet?"
"His secrecy is tiresome, but he is her grandfather. He only said that it was a imperative that she accompany him to Montreal."
"Super creepy. He's been up to something mann I'm telling ya."
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Bo's temper flared as she took in her surroundings. They had just pulled into a half empty parking lot attached to a run down looking pub.
"Trick. I swear to God if you brought me out here for fish and chips I will-"
"I did not come here for food. This pub has been around for nearly 200 years the owner is an old friend."
"So why couldn't YOU visit YOUR friend ALONE?"
"I want to preface this with an apology. It is never out of spite that I withhold information."
Bo waited in silence wondering what life shattering bomb he was currently lighting.
"I have a feeling this is going to piss me off."
"We've come here so that I can properly educate you on The Twilight."
"Please not Vampires."
"Since I was a child the elders spoke of a time where the Fae would be divided. The division would only end under the child of one they referred to as The Queen and the birth of the child would decide the next balance of the Fae."
"So we are back to the curse."
"Lauren is The Queen that is the curse. I was the one to implement the division of the Fae. I fulfilled that prophecy. It was the only way I could trap a group of warlocks hell bent on world domination through mainpulation. I couldn't kill them because they are not really alive. The birth of your twins has the potential to unleash their power back into the world.
Oh shit.
"This is a lot of shit at once. I need you to start at the beginning."
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Did you know that reviews are a natures cure to writers block? Help me out here people for chap 11. ;) xo glitz