Geminus Fatum
Chapter 14
"We've been over this! Many Times! Enough already!"
Bo stood abruptly, agitated. They were back to the same conversation, again!
It seemed the only thing that mattered. Not even the inauguration was given as much time, and Trick was doing his best to sort that out. He was trying to get the Council and clans to agree on the date. It meant Fae, worldwide, would be flying in for the occasion. A desirable venue was another matter, one that would suit both Light and Dark, and considering Bo was aligned to neither, it needed to be neutral. It also needed to have enough grandeur, to convey the importance. Bo's preference and suggestion had been the Dal and Trick had been mortified at the idea. She wasn't interested in all the pomp and circumstance, but Trick was. Nothing like this had ever happened to the Fae before, and the prophecy dictated that this occasion needed to be marked with as much spectacle as could be mustered. It bordered on the crowning of British Monarch.
They were all gathered at the Dal, at Evony's insistence this time.
"These ancient books and texts need to be studied properly. With our new combined efforts, and some scrolls found in the Dark archives, it doesn't hurt to be sure." Evony said. "I'm sure there's more to be found and I have my team working on it..."
"...but it still doesn't change anything!" Bo fingered the necklace at her neck; a natural, unconscious reaction. It calmed her to do so.
Evony and Kenzi quickly glanced at each other.
"What?" Bo questioned them.
"Sorry I'm late." Lauren strode into the bar, flustered. "Cabbitt birth caught us by surprise, a little earlier than expected."
"Don't worry. It's not like you've missed anything." Tamsin said, bored. "Bo's right, is there a point to all this? We got books and scrolls coming out the wahzoo, but it's pretty much the same shit."
Evony gave her a dismissive look. "Trick? If you wouldn't mind?"
Trick went to speak, but Bo beat him to it. "For the one thousandth time! The Queen, who will unite the Fae, will bring about peace, supported by warrior mate, descendants, blah, blah," she said, flippantly. "And who, according to the latest findings, will bring about the defeat of the Dark father!" she glared at Trick.
Bo had not taken this revelation too well; not so much what it inferred, but the fact that Trick had dropped this bombshell at the meeting a couple of weeks ago, without telling her first.
"Do we know how this is accomplished?" Evony asked.
Bo huffed. "Well, as yet, we haven't managed to find the book or scroll, entitled How To Kill a God! What we do have are centuries old books that might as well have been written by Shakespeare! If anybody can understand what that guy was on about half the time, we might have a chance of deciphering all this stuff a lot quicker!" she indicated all the books and scrolls scattered on the table.
"Once more unto the breach dear friends, once more!" Lauren spoke. "Or close up the wall with our English dead. In peace there's nothing so becomes a man, as modest stillness and humility. But when the blast of war blows in our ears, then imitate the action of the tiger. Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood, disguise fair nature with hard-favoured rage!"
All of them stared at her, as she lent enthusiasm to the speech. Nobody said anything.
"Shakespeare's Henry 5th, encouraging the troops before battle." Lauren quietly explained.
Bo nodded. "Thank you, Dr Lewis, I know we can always rely on you for our lack of cultural understanding. It seems Shakespeare had a pretty good idea of these matters. Perhaps he was Fae?" She tilted her head, smiling.
Lauren always had the knack of adding some geeky intellectual bent to a situation, whether it be medical or cultural, and not always necessarily important to the situation, but Bo knew it was one of the things she loved her for. Then she realised and corrected herself; had loved her for.
"It's a possibility he could have been. A very prolific play write for the time. Much the same as Mozart." Lauren answered. "And numerous others I can think of." She half smiled.
Despite the semi smile, Bo sensed something was troubling Lauren.
"Well, if this part of the prophecy is correct, then we need to find out why he has to be defeated and how." Kenzi said.
"Exactly!" Bo agreed. "It can only mean he finds a way through to this world again. We need to research about any other known hell portals, or any portals that might need permanently filling in!" She slumped down, heavily, onto a chair, rubbing her neck. She tried to ease the tension building across her shoulders. It felt like concrete.
"How are you feeling?" Lauren narrowed her eyes, looking at her, concerned.
"Tired."
"Take a break for a minute. Trick's den." Lauren stood beside her.
"I'm fine," Bo waved it off.
"It's not a suggestion. As your doctor, I'm telling you. The den now!" Lauren said more forcefully. She motioned with her eyes towards it.
Bo stared at her for a moment, noticing Lauren was holding her medical bag. There was a reason for Lauren's insistence, so she did as she was told.
"Let's take five, folks. Doctor's orders." Bo headed off with Lauren behind her.
In the den, Bo sat on the couch. "More sleeping pills?"
Lauren sat beside her, opening her med kit. "Did they help?"
"Yeah, a little."
"I can prescribe some more, if you want them?" Lauren reached into the bag.
"Is that what this is about? More sleeping pills? Jeez, you could have just said so, upstairs!" Bo went to get up, but Lauren gently held her in place.
"No it's not. This is about doctor patient confidentiality. I wasn't about to discuss this in front of everyone else," Lauren said sternly.
"Discuss what?"
Lauren sighed deeply. "That swab sample I took the other week? I ran some tests on it, just to make sure you didn't have that virus. Not a pleasant thing to get; violent vomiting, diarrhea, chills..." she saw Bo waiting for her to get to the point. "Anyway, there was no sign of it."
Bo raised her eye brows.
"But there were signs of something else. Something...not good," Lauren steeled herself before continuing. "The cells showed signs of very slow degradation; decay."
"And that's not good because...?" Bo prompted.
"Because it means the cells are dying. You're dying..." Lauren's voice weakened. "But, I've developed a kind of antidote. I can slow it down." Lauren produced two syringes and a small vial of liquid.
"I want to take a blood sample now, and give you this, and then I will take another blood sample in a couple of days to compare."
Lauren wiped Bo's arm with antiseptic, ready to take the blood.
"What's causing it?" Bo asked.
"I've researched all of the Fae medical journals, for instances of this happening to a succubus. But then you're not a typical succubus."
"So could it be due to my blood, inherited from Trick? Or something from my father?"
Lauren placed a cotton pad from where she had taken the blood, and bent Bo's arm to hold it in place. Then she injected the serum in her other arm.
"I don't know." Lauren didn't look at her.
"Can you fix it?" Bo knew Lauren was hesitant.
Lauren finally looked at her. "No. Because I don't know, medically, what's causing it."
"Okay," Bo said slowly.
"In fact, I don't think it's anything medical that is causing it,"
Bo frowned. "Then what is?"
"When you were in Valhalla, what, exactly, did Brunhilde say?"
Bo wasn't sure of the relevance, but Lauren wouldn't ask, if it wasn't important.
"Obviously, I needed to replace a soul in exchange for Kenzi, but there was no time frame for it and it didn't appear it needed to be my soul. There would be consequences, not for Kenzi or Hale, but more for me, over the choices I made..."
"That's what she said? consequences?" Lauren's eyes widened.
"What are you thinking?" Bo asked.
"I think it's why I can't cure it. It's not medical. There's an imbalance in Valhalla, and you caused it. It's a consequence of that choice and it's affecting you! The longer the imbalance remains, so will your condition."
"So the only way to stop it, is to give back a soul?"
"Yes. If I thought it would be that easy, I've got a couple of terminal cases at the clinic. But Kenzi's sacrifice was special, and it was made for you. I suspect the circumstances would have to be the same. Someone is going to have to die, again, for you."
The weight of the realisation hung in the room, like dark foreboding thunder clouds.
"Shit!" Bo mumbled, rubbing her eyes. "I can never get it right!" She thumped the arm of the couch in frustration.
"Hey," Lauren soothed. "You did the right thing with Kenzi."
"I know, but why is there always something else? Why can't this shit stop!"
Lauren put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We'll figure it out. The serum will give us time. I'll keep monitoring you."
Bo huffed. "I'm not concerned about me. Its knowing what has to happen in order for it to stop!" she took a deep calming breath. "I don't want the others to know," she looked directly at Lauren.
"I'm obliged, under doctor/patient privilege, not to discuss your medical history with anyone, without your permission."
Bo nodded.
"Although they may start to notice regular visits to the clinic? They're your friends, Bo, they're worried and concerned already. And you wanted transparency...maybe knowing will help find a way..."
NO!" Bo said vehemently, shaking her head against the idea. She stood up. "I know that's what I wanted, but this is different. There isn't one of them who would think twice about sacrificing themselves for my sake! I can't let that happen, not again!"
Bo paced. "I'll figure it out myself!" She half laughed. "I got Trick pushing the council and clans to agree on my inauguration date," she quote signed. "And he's constantly nagging about me choosing a mate! It's obvious who his choice is, and he's made that clear to Dyson, like I have no choice in the matter! So now I have Dyson and Tamsin, trying, not too subtly, to get my attention,"
Bo's talk with Tamsin hadn't turned into the volatile encounter she had expected. It had been emotional, and she'd apologised for misleading her, explaining there could be no relationship; emphasising that she valued their friendship above anything else. Tamsin had taken it rather well. Nothing of a sexual nature had happened since, but Lauren's comment had given Tamsin enough hope to think otherwise. And like Dyson, she had time on her side; Trick had given Dyson the same hope.
The comment jarred Lauren. "Nice to have choices." She murmured.
"It's like being a prize that one of them has to win!" Bo added. "I'll choose who and when, when I'm good and ready!" She had no idea who it would ever be. But she knew it would be neither of them. There would only have been one person, anyway.
"All that, and now this...consequence as well!" Bo threw up her arms in defeat. "Being Fae ain't all it's cracked up to be! It's more like a curse!"
Lauren stood before her. "Curse or not, be thankful for it. If you'd been human, the best prognosis I could have given you, would have been six months." She placed her hand against Bo's cheek. "As you are, I can keep you alive longer. So, I for one, am grateful you are Fae." Tears welled up in her eyes.
Bo was struck by Lauren's obvious emotion, and, again, confused by it. She looked both happy, yet sad; that something was being left unspoken. Was this happening again, just like before in the den? What was this strange dance they seemed intent on being involved with, just moving around each other, avoiding any real contact? Bo wanted to ask.
"Whichever one you do choose, they will be very lucky." Lauren said softly.
Bo was caught out by the comment, and when she realised who Lauren was referring to, it was too late. She went to touch Lauren's hand at her cheek, to explain that Lauren had misunderstood, but Lauren swiftly withdrew her hand.
Lauren turned away, picked up her medical bag, and quickly wiped at her face. She cleared her throat.
"Don't forget to come by the clinic," she said, taking the steps two at a time as she left.
Bo stood, stunned. Then realised she hadn't partly said, what she should have.
"Thank you," Bo mumbled, instinctively touching the arm injected with the serum.