Thank you to everyone continuing to take the time to read this story and a special thanks to all of you who reviewed and left comments last chapter! You encourage me to want to do more, it is very motivating for a writer. Short chapter, wish I could tell you things are going to be okay...cheers Dee
Chapter 21
"What'll ya have?" asked Kenzi proudly displaying an extensive collection of alcohol.
"A double of anything, no pop," sighed Danny sinking into the couch mentally exhausted. She had ran the gauntlet of emotions analyzing her relationship over and over searching for answers but none were forthcoming. Anger and sadness lingered but mostly she felt empty.
Kenzi handed the wolf a glass and sat next to her, "You want to talk about it?"
Danny shook her head.
"I'm sorry Dog," offered Kenzi affectionately draping her arm over her friend's shoulders.
Danny nodded silently sipping her drink still lost in thought.
The door swung open suddenly. Bo's strode into the living room heels clicking across the floor followed by Lauren. Her face was drained of color, the strain of the day evident in her features. She kept her eyes down, her body was tense with anticipation and her chest was rising and falling rapidly.
Danny jumped to her feet sliding her glass angrily across the table. "Seriously Kenz, were you just supposed to detain me?"
"Whoa, just calm down," advocated the succubus intercepting the furious wolf, pushing her way out of the living room. Danny's eyes were blazing revealing the depth of her suffering. "She just wants to at least explain."
"What could she possibly have to say?" snorted the wolf staring at the unusually dishevelled blonde, who was nervously waiting behind Bo.
"Maybe this was a mistake," whispered the doctor.
"Just give her a chance," urged Bo ignoring the human. Danny pulled out of Bo's grip but the succubus stayed between Danny and the door, encouraging the doctor to say what she came to say.
Lauren cautiously took a step toward the distraught woman, her swollen eyes filled with sadness, searching Danny features knowing the wolf was dying inside, because her eyes were a reflection of her own.
"I'm sorry Danny, I never meant to hurt you…"
Danny shook her head and turned away preferring to stare at the floor.
"From the moment we met I felt something awaken inside me. My heart beats faster when you are near, I feel things I have never felt before," continued Lauren ignoring the fact that Danny appeared very closed off. "I love you more than I ever thought I could love anyone."
Bo glanced around the room uncomfortably, her heart heavy listening to Lauren profess her love for the beautiful wolf. Kenzi poured a whisky straight up and handed it to Bo who downed the drink in one gulp.
"If you loved me, you wouldn't have done this to us," breathed Danny, her eyes dull, lifeless, clouded with grief trying desperately to not completely breakdown.
The distraught blonde took another step toward Danny, her hands shaking. "I have slept with The Morrigan, but... I was forced," confessed Lauren, the shame flooding her cheeks, as Kenzi's mouth dropped open.
"Raped?" scoffed Danny shaking her head. "I was there, did you forget that? You looked pretty cozy in your robe showing your 'guest' out."
"Danny, some time ago the Ash sold me to her, she can come and take what she wants anytime she wants," explained Lauren gently, her eyes pleading with Danny to believe what she was saying. Bo and Lauren could both see the rage rising in the wolf, first in her chest then igniting her now piercing auburn eyes.
"If you are being raped, forced against your will, you fight back Lauren. You looked just fine to me and the Morrigan seemed pretty happy on her way out. How can you possibly expect me to believe anything you say?" growled Danny, venom dripping from her words as she tried to push past the doctor.
"Wait!" Lauren grabbed Danny's wrist desperately. "I used to fight back, and I just got beaten, punished, freedoms revoked, and nothing changed, she still came for me."
Silence filled the room. Lauren lowered herself to the edge of the well worn arm chair and rested her elbows on her thighs clasping her hands. She was exhausted and tired of fighting for a life she could never have. Danny studied the woman, conflicted.
"I never wanted any of this," sighed the doctor, tears streaming down her cheeks. She cleared her throat and met the wolf's angry gaze. "All I have ever wanted was a life of my own, to live as I choose. I was naive to think I could have a life, fall in love... I selfishly allowed that to happen. I had no right to, I am not free, I can't give you what you deserve. I'm so sorry Danny." Years of suffering were etched in her features, the truth exposed, her expressive eyes revealing deep loss and suffering but more than that, she appeared resigned to her fate. To never love, never be loved, or happy.
Danny's heart was breaking, searching Lauren's beautiful brown eyes, understanding now, what she had mistakenly read as guilt, was shame. Danny swallowed hard, her mind trying to process under extreme emotional duress.
Bo watched helplessly, feeling the pain from both women and wishing she could do something, anything, to relieve the suffering. Her empathy was stretching beyond her normal limits, their pain reaching her soul.
Danny's chest was heaving with emotion, the taste of bile rising in her throat, as thoughts of The Morrigan raping Lauren flashed through her mind. For a moment her devastated auburn eyes met Lauren's, their love still smouldering, buried deep beneath the anguish. Lauren tilted her head to the side, recognizing the love in Danny's eyes, never needing Danny more than she did in that moment.
"I gotta go," blurted Danny suddenly, knowing she need to leave before her rage consumed her.
Lauren stepped in front of Danny, her sad eyes meeting the wolf's, knowing she would want to 'fix it.' "There's nothing you can do, please just let it go," begged the doctor, craving Danny's arms, just needing to be held.
Danny's eyes flashed, betraying her rage, her fangs already pressing through her gums. "I can't just let this go Lauren," growled the tormented wolf anxiously raking her fingers through her unruly locks. Her eyes were drawn to the doctor's, and her heart softened, wanting nothing more than to take away her pain and make things right but she couldn't right now. She abruptly turned and stormed toward the door.
"Damn it Danny, don't do this! " pleaded Lauren. "They will kill you." Panic echoed her voice while her eyes filled with salty tears watching the door close.
Lauren glanced over to Bo, "If she goes after the Morrigan..." Lauren swallowed, unable to finish, the words falling silent.
"Don't worry," assured Bo grabbing her jacket. Her eyes met Lauren's briefly before kissing her on the cheek. "I'll call you later."
"I'll be at home," advised the doctor solemnly, fear embracing her heart, her brow crinkled with worry knowing the Fae wouldn't hesitate to eliminate a threat.
"Oh good, is anyone else worried that we are relying on Bo to be the grown up?" cracked Kenzi reaching for the tequila and offering a glass to the doctor.
When Bo got to the street Danny had already disappeared. " Damn it," she breathed, pulling her ponytail tighter considering her options, The Morrigan or The Ash? She contemplated what she would do, knowing her and Danny were very similar when it came to their emotions. She jumped in the Chevy, slammed the car into drive and punched the gas.
Several minutes later, Bo slipped into the shadows avoiding being seen by The Morrigan's guards, scanning the grounds for Danny. Bo was starting to wonder if she had missed her, when she noticed a dark figure along the fence line. Just as Danny was about to leap over the fence Bo launched herself through the air knocking the wolf onto the grass.
"Bo, get out of my way," hissed Danny getting to her feet.
"I won't," refused Bo, cautiously inching closer despite the icy canine stare. "This is a suicide mission."
"I don't care," spat Danny climbing up the fence. The succubus jumped up wrapping her arms around Danny's waist prying the wolf from the structure. Bo grunted, the ground knocking the wind from her lungs as she fell with Danny landing on her chest. Danny scrambled to her feet while Bo stood up slowly holding her ribs.
"Back off Bo," warned Danny, her eyes predatory, her actions fuelled by the rage burning inside.
"Danny don't do this, if you kill the Morrigan they will kill you and you will have accomplished nothing," reasoned the succubus breathing heavily.
"I will have freed Lauren," argued Danny. "She deserves to be happy Bo, she has given so much and they just keep taking from her."
"She won't want to be free without you," replied Bo regretfully.
Danny thought about Bo's words, hoping that the blonde felt that strongly for her but knowing Lauren could never really be happy as long as she was tied to the Fae leaders. Danny wanted more than anything for Lauren to live a free life and she adeptly made another run for the fence.
Bo threw herself at Danny tackling her in mid air, bodies, limbs splayed everywhere, crashing to the grass again. Danny got up swinging and landed a hard right hand on Bo's ribs but the succubus managed a high leg kick that caught Danny in the chest. They exchanged several blows before Danny pinned Bo to the ground.
"I'm too strong for you," breathed Danny sitting on Bo, feeling the woman under her squirming to get free.
Lying on her back breathing hard, Bo submitted, "You will have to kill me before I let you get to the Morrigan and get yourself killed." Danny relaxed a little listening to Bo, wondering at what point their relationship had changed, and the succubus seized the opportunity to roll on top of the tormented wolf.
"Danny, I can't let you do this," advised Bo feeling genuine concern for the wolf, for her Sister.
"What am I supposed to do Bo?" whispered Danny, the pain and hurt consuming her eyes, sadness filling her heart.
"I don't know," admitted succubus "but for now, let's go home, you can stay with us tonight. Believe me Danny, I get it, I feel the same rage you do and I will get both The Morrigan and The Ash, but we need to find another way."
Bo felt Danny tense under her and noticed her eyes narrow to slits, the soft auburn glowing, "what is it?" whispered Bo, quickly scanning the area.
A deep male voice boomed from the bushes, "I see you girls are still trying to out do each other."
The women scrambled to their feet, Bo with her hand on a dagger slipped in the back of her pants and Danny unguarded.
"Who are you?" shouted Bo into the night.
"Trick told me you were looking for me and I followed you here," replied the man.
"Father?" asked Danny, taking a step toward the voice as Bo grabbed her wrist protectively, still wary of the stranger.
A tall well built man, early fifties, stepped through the bushes to the clearing, a shadow still cast across his face. "Show yourself," demanded Bo.
"Really Bo I would think you would have more respect for your Father than that," soothed the man staying out of the light. "We are very near the leader of the Dark Fae, it would be irresponsible to show myself. Cassy surely you know me?"
"Show me your face Father," replied Danny, feeling pressure from Bo's fingers on her wrist.
"Fine," agreed the man, "but then we need to leave this place and go some where more secure."
He stepped out from the shadows, the silver in his salt and pepper hair shining in the moon light, his jaw rugged and strong. He was the man from the picture, from Danny's memories. Bo dropped Danny's wrist in awe, seeing her father for the first time since she was 12 years old.
Danny moved quickly wrapping her arms around the man's waist while he tenderly pulled her in. She breathed in his familiar scent of peppermint and leather and her mind swirled back to a time when she was only eight. "I can't believe it's really you," mused the wolf, her eyes filled with the wonder of a small child.
Bo took a couple steps closer, hesitant and not feeling the same comfort as Danny toward a man that was her biological father. She was suspicious and nervous feeling like she was meeting the man for the very first time.
"Hello Bo," greeted Meallan. "You've grown into a stunning young woman, even more beautiful than I remember." Bo smiled briefly, struggling to remember, her heart trying to feel something, anything.
Danny reached for Bo's hand, her fingers slipping between the succubus', "It's okay," she encouraged, knowing Bo had wanted this for so long but now that it was here she was unnerved. Bo smiled, glancing down at her hand, feeling a kindness that she didn't deserve, before looking up at the wolf. Danny met her gaze, her incredible auburn eyes filled with warmth and support, "Go ahead."
The beautiful dark haired women took an unsteady step toward O'Brien her heart hammering, moving slowly toward her Father. O'Brien stared at his Daughter pride swelling in his chest for the amazing young woman before him. He waited for her but eventually he took two quick strides and threw his arms around her hugging her tight. "I've missed you," he whispered burying his face in her neck line. Bo wrapped her hands around his waist hesitantly, desperately wanting to love him and feel loved but he felt like a stranger. She pulled back, her eyes studying his face, feeling empty.
"Why are you here Father?" asked Danny, breaking the awkward silence.
"I have been watching you both for some time, the time is very near for you both to accept your destiny. You both have a large part to play in history but we cannot discuss this here. It is very dangerous for any of us to be out here especially so close to the Dark Fae compound," explained Meallan solemnly.
"What are you doing here anyway? It wouldn't happen to have anything to do with blonde human doctor and The Morrigan would it?" asked the dark featured man.
"How do you know that?" demanded Bo defensively.
"It doesn't really matter," uttered the man waving his arm around. "What really matters is that the two of you don't draw attention to yourselves over a human." Bo frowned and Danny shifted her weight uncomfortably.
"What?" asked the man curiously studying his Daughters.
Bo stepped closer to the man, her fists clenching, while Danny's jaw tightened feeling a slow burn forming in her chest.
"You are both Artair, Fae royalty, and I will not have you worrying about humans, and I certainly don't want you putting them before your duty and responsibility," continued the Fae Elder.
"You need to just ….." Bo started before Danny stepped in front of her pulling her slightly behind her.
"What my Sister means is, Kenzi and Lauren have saved our lives on more than one occasion," explained Danny dipping her chin obstinately. "They are part of our family and have both been here for us when no one else gave a crap, including you."
Bo wrapped her fingers through Danny's and squeezed her hand, pride swelling in her chest, witnessing Danny standing up to this powerful man.
"With all due respect Sir, don't come here and ask us to turn our backs on them, because that isn't going to happen," finished the wolf, her eyes softening.
There was silence for a few minutes while the man contemplated what his Daughter had so passionately expressed. "Okay," agreed O'Brien reluctantly, amusement spreading across his lips.
"I will contact you when the time is upon us," advised the man turning to go.
"Wait," called Bo. "Tell us what is going on, what's going to happen, what we should be doing."
The man hesitated for a moment, closed his eyes, silently sending a mental message to his Daughters. Bo's head jerked up surprise evident on her face and looked over at Danny who also had a look of amazement on her face.
"Did you hear that?" asked Bo.
"Yes," replied the wolf as a second message arrived in her mind, "Don't discuss here."
The man smiled and disappeared into the night.
"Come on let's get out of here," suggested Danny.
Bo grabbed the wolf's sleeve. Danny stopped, her magnetic eyes meeting Bo's dark intense stare. "What you did was really nice, but how did you know what I needed?"
"You remember when you punched me and cut your hand on my teeth?" asked Danny. Bo smiled sheepishly, remembering the blood.. Danny nodded, watching the realization that she could "feel" Bo, wash over the succubus' face, confusion turning to horror.
"Yeah," sighed Danny, having had the pleasure of 'feeling' Bo's lust for Lauren on several occasions since then, "it isn't much fun for me either."
XXX
Lauren's heart skipped, the doorbell slicing the silence. The beautiful blonde hurried to the door, it was late, but she was hoping it was Bo with some news or better yet, Danny. She pulled open the door a little, anticipation turning to dread, her eyes staring at The Morrigan standing on her step with two of her goons. "Hello my dear, you don't seem happy to see me, that's disappointing," hissed the woman...