Thank you all for your patience! Life and Holidays have been keeping me crazy busy. Don't worry though, I think I still have another chapter in me after this one. As always, I appreciate your feedback and follows.
Stunned by the twisted turn of events, everyone stared at the doctor, who stood, swaying slightly, with the needle still in her arm. Nadia slumped over in her chair, moaning and murmuring.
Tears streamed down Bo's face, as she desperately tried to break free from her binds to get to Lauren, who was only a few feet away, just out of her reach. Her wrists were becoming raw and bruised, but she didn't care. Her lover had just injected herself for reasons she couldn't comprehend.
The Morrigan looked shocked, then disgusted. "Murder-suicide, Dr. Lewis? Juliet and Juliet? I thought you had more spine," she scoffed. "Did you miss that this is a fae virus? Meaning, it kills fae, not pathetic human waste? And here I thought you had some semblance of intelligence. Well, at least you've given me a chance to see the effects on humans. Who knows? I may be able to infect your human friends too, all thanks to you."
"Don't….thank me….yet," Lauren gasped. She braced herself against another surge of adrenaline that sent her pulse rocketing towards dangerous levels. Switching the vial of the Morrigan's virus for a vial of Bo's blood she had in her pocket had seemed like a good idea before she injected it into Nadia and herself. Theoretically the Succubus blood would create a bond with Bo, uniting the three of them, increasing their collective power and strength. Theoretically.
The reality wasn't looking so good. Before, when she accidentally pricked herself, she felt powerful, strong, and...well, horny. Now, with a thousand times more Succubus blood coursing through her bloodstream and ramping up her nervous system, Lauren wasn't sure she would survive it. The effects had taken hold immediately, and it took all her self control not to betray the physical changes as a startling explosion of energy now jolted through her. Her arms and legs vibrated uncomfortably, so intense and overwhelming that her human body was having a difficult time processing it.
As the Morrigan and Bo looked on, Lauren's legs buckled and she dropped down to her knees, her hands clenched into tight fists. The syringe fell out of her arm and skidded across the concrete floor with a clatter.
"Thoughtful of you doctor, but I didn't really want it back," the Morrigan observed as she glided an extra ten feet away from the needle.
"Lauren!" Bo's muffled scream echoed through the warehouse, and even though she was gagged she bit her lower lip hard enough to draw blood. She was despondent, whispering Lauren's name over and over through her bloody lips, as though saying it could keep the doctor alive.
Lauren's heart dropped when she saw how scared she had just made Bo. She struggled to stay focused as the fire in her veins became even more intense. She curled up on the cold concrete floor trying to find a position that would ease the pain, but she could find no relief. She felt like she'd grabbed onto a high voltage live wire and couldn't let go. Even through the pain, her scientific mind was trying to process everything that was anatomically happening, mentally taking note of her heart rate and breathing. Had she seriously underestimated her body's ability to assimilate the fae blood?
She was quickly slipping from doctor mode into full blown panic mode when the burning in her veins abruptly eased up, and just as suddenly, turned into a powerful and pleasant burst of energy. She let out a breath she had been holding as the tension in her tight muscles relaxed, and an overall sense of well being washed over her from head to toe.
She was feeling good-make that great.
Lauren flexed her hands and pushed herself back up onto her feet, and in two steps she was at Bo's side, pulling the gag from her mouth and staring into her wickedly blue eyes.
"Lauren, you're hot," Bo commented hoarsely as the doctor wiped the blood from her mouth.
Lauren grinned. "That's the first thing you have to say?"
"No, seriously, Lauren - you're, uh...glowing."
Lauren looked down at her hands; her fingers were glowing. The glow traveled up her arms to her chest. Holy shit.
The Morrigan shrugged. "I guess the virus only turns humans into light bulbs. That's fun. Eh, whatever, here's a better party trick - you get to die now. Bruce, tie up the disappointing doctor and put her next to the Lynx."
The large man immediately sprang into action at The Morrigan's orders.
Nadia's head snapped up. She easily broke the ties around her wrists and removed the gag from her mouth. "Bruce, I'd think twice about that," she warned the bodyguard, "unless you like having week-long headaches and missing out on that hockey game next Thursday. Trust me. I know." Nadia tapped her right temple and winked. Her clairvoyance was operational again and full force.
The Morrigan stared, open-mouthed.
"Strength. Glowing. Clairvoyance. Interesting effects of your virus, hmm?" Lauren commented.
Bo's eyes seemed to spark with cerulean fire when she snapped the ties that had been holding her in place. "Interesting is one word for it," she laughed.
In one swift movement, Bo picked up her chair and forcefully flung it fifteen feet directly into Bruce's head before he was even aware of what was happening. The chair splintered into toothpick-sized pieces, and the large man fell hard to the concrete floor.
Bo shrugged and joined Lauren, facing the Morrigan.
"Now who's hot?" Lauren whispered. She kissed the Succubus fiercely, forgetting for a moment that they were still technically in mortal danger.
Bo smiled, running her thumb across Lauren's cheekbone. "I'm just really glad you're not dead."
"Why aren't you dead?!" The Morrigan regained the power of speech with a furious shriek. "What the hell is this?"
"What is this? You've misjudged the alignment of loyalties here," Bo snapped back. She set her intense eyes on the Dark Fae, walking towards her with clear intentions.
"Bring it, Succubitch. Come a little closer and let's see whose touch packs more punch," the Morrigan taunted. She squared off confidently, and when Bo came within reach, the Dark Fae leader triumphantly pressed a single finger to the back of Bo's hand.
Then she pressed harder.
Her scornful expression turned to shock as she grabbed the Succubus by the wrist. Bo stood there, clearly bored and completely unaffected.
"Can I punch her now?" Bo asked Lauren.
"Why aren't you melting?!" The Morrigan wailed in frustration.
Lauren knew the reason, but she saw no reason to reveal that the Succubus and her thrall were too strong, thanks to the shared blood bond. The Morrigan, sensing the power in the room had now shifted, was now taking small steps backwards. "Now, ladies, let's be reasonable. We can talk about this without wrinkling designer dresses and ruining fresh manicures," she offered.
The Succubus rolled her eyes and grabbed the Dark Fae around the neck.
"Wait! Stop!" Lauren yelled out. She pulled a stainless steel vial out of her pocket and held it up in the air. "I still have the virus!"
The Morrigan's eyes grew bigger as she began to put all the pieces together. A moment of fear washed across her face as she pondered the doctor's possible intentions for the virus.
Lauren collected herself, contemplating her next words carefully. She was not used to having the upper hand when it came to fae matters, but she was feeling extremely confident.
"I'm so tempted to inject you, but being the scientist I am, there's no way I can dispose of it...or you...that easily. No, I think I'll keep it for the special moment I tell the Fae Council about what you tried to do today."
The Morrigan's right eye started to twitch.
"Actually, considering how you directly rebelled against the Blood Laws, it's doubtful that they'll keep you as leader of the Dark," the doctor continued. "More than likely you're looking at years in a Fae prison and a tragically unflattering jumpsuit. There is a bright side, though. You'll have plenty of time to think about how you were outsmarted by a human."
Lauren nodded to Bo. The Succubus sucked just enough chi from The Morrigan until she collapsed, her glossy lips frozen in a smile.
"That was satisfying." Lauren let out a sigh of relief.
"I can think of something more satisfying." Bo grabbed the doctor's hands and pulled her in for a kiss.
"Ahem." Nadia cleared her throat, interrupting their brief moment. "I don't know how you did it, Lauren, but thank you. I owe you my life. Again."
Nadia smiled for the first time in what felt like forever.
Lauren gave her a hug. She wanted to say something, but she couldn't find the words. They embraced and looked at each other until it became awkward.
Lauren looked down at the floor.
Nadia finally broke the silence. "I will take care of this." She motioned to The Morrigan and Bruce still lying on the floor. "You two go ahead. I just called The Ash, and he's sending help. I'll fill him in on everything that happened. That should buy you a few days off at least."
Lauren gave her another hug, a final closure that she never thought in a million years she would get a chance to have. "Goodbye, Nadia."
Lauren turned to Bo, closing the distance between them. The air surrounding them was electric, the sexual tension palpable. Her heart pounded at the thought of finally being alone with her again. "Are you ready, Succubus?"
"I've never been more ready, Doctor," Bo answered eagerly, grabbing hold of Lauren's hand. "Do you realize you're doing that glow thing again?"
"Just wait 'til you see the rest of me." Lauren bit her bottom lip and grinned.
