A/N: Sorry for the delay guys! I hope that this super long update makes up for it. Please review! There's an OC in this chapter. Let me know if you like her. And also her epic story. :)
Chapter 21 Magic and the Magi
Lauren quietly pulled into the driveway of the Dahl, thankful that Athena had let her drive in peace. She had used the temporary respite well. Thinking about how to stop Nyx, about the Koushang amulet, and the wicca who had originally cast the amulet.
She leaned back against the car seat, wondering how she was going to broach the subject of the Wicca to Trick. It was widely known in the Fae world that the Wicca despised the blood king. And that the blood king was absolutely terrified of her. Lauren wondered not for the first time, if she was doing the right thing, by pursuing a woman that even the Fae feared. What if this woman proved to be yet another threat? They really didn't need any more enemies right now.
Athena grumbled in her mind "Pshaaw! Don't tell me that you are afraid to pursue the course of true knowledge?"
Lauren thought back tiredly "What if the price is too high? I don't want to inadvertently make a new enemy."
Athena arrogantly replied "Do you know doctor, of the winged statue that graces my palm? In my statue in the Parthenon?"
Lauren quietly thought "Of course. That winged bird is victory"
Lauren could sense Athena's self-satisfaction "Correct! The bird of victory symbolises the absolute truth that I can never be defeated. Because knowledge and strategy is that one decisive factor, which wins all battles. Whether it was the might of the American nuclear arms against Japan, or the battle cannons of the Mughals against the bows and arrows of the Indians, knowledge always wins in the end. So do not worry. Go forth without hesitation. With me by your side, you have nothing to fear. Did we not together, defeat my irksome uncle, Hades?"
Smiling Lauren said "Yes we did, didn't we? Thank you for that."
Athena replied disgruntledly "Finally, you remember to thank me! None of my other hosts were ever this ungrateful"
Lauren grinned, amused by the sass of the Ancient "Careful Athena, or I may actually begin to like you."
Athena snorted "Like me. How could you not? You should adore me. Worship me"
Laughing Lauren replied "I think liking is as far as we are ever gonna get. Sorry Athena"
Athena smiled and said "You will change your tune, once I save your life yet again Dr. Lewis. We work well together. Do not forget, how I gave you the information you needed to defeat Hades."
Lauren leaned back and frowned "We do work well together, when we want the same thing. But what happens when we are at cross purposes, Athena?"
Growling Athena said "It is in your own best interest to ensure that never happens."
Shaking her head, Lauren thought "If you take away my will, you take away my ability to be creative. How can someone as wise as you, fail to understand that? Don't you see that by forcing me to do your bidding, you extinguish that very same spark, which drew you to me in the first place."
Athena remained silent. Then after a pause "Perhaps. But you will come to understand in time, that my purpose, is the purest of all. Because it is not biased by any emotion or self-interest. Which is why you must always serve me. But for now, it is time you talked to the blood king."
Lauren nodded "Try to keep out of my brain, so I can focus on what he is saying. We need to find a way to cooperate, if we are ever going to find a way to get through this."
Athena grunted and said "Alright. But I will be listening."
-xx—xx—xx—x-xx
Lauren walked into the Dahl, and was greeted by the very familiar sight of Trick polishing his shot glasses.
"Hi Trick! Thanks for meeting me" said Lauren smiling, as she made her way over to a bar stool.
Trick looked up and smiled in return "Well! If it isn't my favourite doctor! What can I do for you?"
Grinning, Lauren replied "I am actually investigating a lead for getting Nyx out of Bo."
Trick frowned and placed one hand on top of Lauren's folded hands on the counter "Dyson told me that you saved Bo and brought her back. Thanks Lauren."
Lauren shrugged and said "No need for thanks, Trick. I love her. You know that."
Trick smiled at her and said "Thank god you do! Now tell me what can I do for you?"
Lauren frowned, taken aback by Trick's approval. She asked hesitantly "Trick? I know that.. I didn't ask you the first time around, because I thought that you actually.." She frowned and bit her lip.
Concerned by Lauren's hesitance, Trick asked "What Lauren?"
Shaking her head, Lauren smiled thinly "Do you actually approve of our relationship, this time?
Trick swallowed and looked down "I know that I wasn't very accepting of your relationship before. But Bo loves you. And only you. And she has made that crystal clear to me"
Lauren felt her heart swell, as she imagined the succubus talking down to her grandfather, fighting for their relationship. She reminded herself to kiss Bo extra hard, the minute she saw her again.
Observing the dreamy smile on Lauren's face, Trick shook his head in amusement. Then grinning wickedly he asked "So I guess now is probably a good time to ask you..What are your intentions with my granddaughter?" He asked with a stern expression, gracing his ancient features.
Chuckling nervously, as Trick morphed from friendly bartender into the blood king in an instant, Lauren asked "Wow…I did not expect we would be discussing this today.."
Swallowing nervously, as a frown crossed Tricks face. Lauren replied "I love her too Trick. Just as much as she loves me."
Trick cocked his head and frowned at her "Do you intend to make a honest woman out of her?"
Athena grumbled somewhere in the recesses of Lauren's mind, reprimanding her for not discussing things more important things. Lauren replied back angrily "Not helping right NOW!"
Finding her determination, Lauren looked intently at Trick and said "I do. But I don't know if she's ready for that. Or if she will ever be. She is a succubus, Trick. I don't know if it's in their nature to be tied down."
Trick smiled sympathetically, reminded of his own wife. He covered Lauren's hand with his own and said "I remember having the same doubts that you do now, when I thought about asking Bo's grandmother to marry me. I know what you mean. Succubi are not known for settling down. But Bo takes after he grandmother. They both love deeply, and long for a chance at a normal life. You know…Ysabeau had already picked out baby names, even before I asked her to marry me. So don't worry Lauren. I have no doubt that she will say yes, if you ask."
Lauren smiled softly at Trick "Thanks for your blessing, Trick"
Trick smiled fully at Lauren "Now. What is it that you wanted to talk to me about?"
Scratching nervously against the table top "Trick. Are you willing to do anything to save your granddaughter?"
Frowning at what he thought to be an unusually stupid question from the genius doctor, Trick said "Of course!"
Lauren looked at him pleadingly and said "Then, I need you to tell me everything you know about the wicca who cast the Koushang Amulet..the amulet that prevents Succubi from taking chi?"
Trick's face paled visibly. He set down the shot glass and looked back at Lauren fearfully "Lauren…The wicca you are asking about..Do you have any idea how much the Fae fear her?"
Lauren frowned and nodded "Yes, I do. But why do they fear her?"
Trick sighed and said "Why don't you tell me the reason you need to know about her, first?"
Lauren leaned forward, and captured Tricks wrist "Trick. Trust me. The less you know the better. Believe me when I say that she may be the only person, who has the answer to destroying Nyx, once and for all."
Trick peered into Lauren's honest eyes. He reached for the top shelf and poured down a shot of the high end stuff into two glasses. Sliding over one of them to Lauren, he said "The wicca you are talking about is the most powerful witch queen, known to have ever existed. She is a woman of powerful white magic, and really really dislikes the Fae."
Lauren interrupted trick and asked "But why?"
Trick looked hesitantly at Lauren and said in a voice filled with diplomacy "She is human."
Lauren leaned back surprised at this information "Aren't witches immortal?"
Shaking his head Trick said "She isn't a wicca technically. She belongs to a race of ultra-humans, called magi."
Lauren repeated "Mah-gai?"
Trick shook his head and said "Meh-jaay. The name represents a race capable of harnessing true magic. Unlike Wicca who channel the power of elemental Fae."
Lauren nodded, indicating that he continue. Trick sighed and said "Like the Fae control Canada, the Magi rule over the United States. Long ago when she first ascended to her throne, I brokered a deal with her to keep us out of each other's lands. She dislikes us far too much, to agree to anything beyond a simple truce. You see… she doesn't like the way we treat humans" he finished hesitantly with a shifty look in his eyes.
Lauren nodded stonily "I can't blame her for that Trick."
Trick looked away. She wondered why he looked suddenly guilty, when he had never before felt badly about her servitude to the Ash. Lauren gently prodded Trick "What did she do? Why are the Fae so afraid of her particularly?"
Trick looked at Lauren and said "The magi are simply humans with power. But this witch? She has somehow found the secret to immortality. There's no telling what she can or can't do!"
Lauren nodded, understanding immediately "The fae are afraid of her because you don't know the true extent of her powers." She thought to herself that the Fae were like big bullies. When confronted with a bigger threat, they retreated with their tail between their legs. Like the cowards that all bullies are inherently.
Trick continued hastily, trying to justify his cowardice "She came back from the dead, Lauren! And no one knows how!"
Smiling gently, Lauren asked "Has she ever harmed the Fae?"
Swallowing, Trick replied stubbornly "No she hasn't. Yet."
Shaking her head in disbelief, Lauren said "What happened exactly?"
Disgruntled by Lauren's nonverbal disapproval, Trick said "Her powers were so great that she defeated the darkest witch of all time. Sacrificing her life in order to do so. She dissolved into a pure burst of energy, hoping that the light of her spirit would overcome the darkness of the witch's magic."
Lauren interrupted "Wait. Light of her spirit? What does the even mean?"
Sighing Trick said "I don't know much about magic Lauren. The magi guard their secrets well. But this much I do know. Magic comes from the heart. The nobler you are, the whiter your magic. Similarly dark magic comes from hate and despair."
Lauren frowned, her mind racing with a billion possibilities, as she drew parallels between Nyx and the light that would be needed to defeat her. She wondered briefly if the Fae and Magi were more interconnected than either of them knew.
Oblivious to Lauren's inner monologue, Trick continued "The dark witch was defeated in an instant, when the wicca queen sacrificed her life." He frowned and gently seized Lauren's forearm asking for her attention. "As for the queen, everyone saw her body dissolve into a burst of white light. But then she came back, as naked as the day she was born. And no one knows how. Some say that the very universe conspired to bring her back to life."
Lauren listened spell bound. "What happened then?"
Trick sighed, disliking the admiration he saw on the doctor's face "The magi declared her their queen. She has taken on the mantle of protector of her realm, a sole guardian of the light. She has pledged to stand against the darkness that always threatens to overwhelm their kind."
A familiar snarky voice interrupted from behind Lauren "Even the Valkyrie know of her. They say that this world has never seen a greater hero"
Lauren looked over to see Tamsin stealing her shot glass. Answering the question in Lauren's arched eyebrows, Tamsin said "Magic is based on purity of the spirit. She is the most powerful practician of the white, and therefore the woman with the noblest heart."
Trick frowned at Lauren and said "But what do you want with her?"
Lauren leaned forward and said with an earnest expression "She is the caster of the Koushang Amulet. Do you know how she made it?"
Trick shook his head "No I don't. They say that one of her enemies was a powerful succubus. The Koushang was cast to protect her from a succubus who had been lusting after her. When the truce was signed, she passed it on to us as sign of good will. In return, we allowed her the freedom to dispose of the succubus, as she saw fit."
Lauren frowned at the callousness of this decision. How could anyone betray their own kind? She looked at Tamsin and asked her "Have you met her?"
Tamsin paused in the act of swallowing her shot. Downing the remainder in one hasty gulp, she set the glass down forcefully on the bar top. A strange haunted expression crossed the Valkyrie's face.
"I have. Once."
Curious, Lauren leaned forward, and squeezed the Valkyrie's bicep reassuringly "What happened?"
Tamsin gulped and looked at Lauren with the same strange expression on her face. "I was sent to collect her soul. She saw me and told me that she was ready. She had done her duty and protected her people. But her only regret was that she would be saying goodbye to her homeland. Her people, she would meet again in time, in the after realms. But never again would she feel the sand of her country against her bare toes, smell the aroma of earth freshly wet from a summer rain, or see the unique orange of her country's sunrise. She is a true patriot. I think she would have shared a seat next to Freyja/Odin himself, if she had come with me."
Lauren looked at Trick who was grumpily setting glasses in their racks. She smiled inwardly, amused at the blood king's hurt ego, at the thought of someone who was obviously more admired than him. She addressed Tamsin "But she didn't go with you, did she?"
Tamsin shook her head "The memory of what happened next, haunts me to this day. I couldn't reach her. I saw a column of fire envelope her. The flames so intense, that it blinded me immediately. I couldn't see a thing. Then I felt an unknown force, more ancient than anything I have ever felt in all my lives, surround me and her. The next thing I know, she was gone. That thing, whatever it was, sent her back to the world of the living."
The three of them stood silently about the bar, looking at each other. Unwilling to voice the half superstitious and absurd thoughts in her head, Lauren cleared her throat and decided to be practical "So..What's her name?"
Trick said "She is known by many names. The Magi call her the Flaming torch. Because she was reborn from a pillar of flame. No one really dares call her by her real name anymore." Trick said self-righteously, almost as if the fact of her supposed aloofness alone, made her a villain.
Tamsin smirked at the Blood King and said "I bet only her friends know that. And she doesn't have too many of those, from what I can gather. The magi call her the queen mother. And respect and honor her far too much, for there to be any friendship."
Lauren nodded her head and asked "How do we meet her?"
Trick frowned and said "Are you sure you want to do this Lauren?"
Shrugging, Lauren said "I am a human Trick. She won't harm me if what you have said is true."
Frowning, Trick said "I will arrange a meeting." He turned around and abruptly left the bar.
Lauren looked at Tamsin, and said softly "I need your help."
Raising her eyebrows, Tamsin said "Why would I help you?"
Looking away, Lauren said gently "Because you are on Team Bo, whether or not you like it."
Tamsin slammed her glass down, and said "Not. Definitely not liking it. What do you want?"
Lauren held back her smile, and said "Be with me, when I meet this Magi. I need someone I can trust to have my back. I'm a little under the weather, today"
Cocking her head curiously Tamsin said "What are you not telling me Doc?"
Lauren swallowed wondering whether or not to tell the Valkyrie about the Athena situation. As of now the only people who knew were her, Bo and Dyson. Not wanting to be on the receiving end of the Valkyries pity, she said "Nothing you have to worry about."
Shrugging unconcernedly, Tamsin said "Whatever!"
Trick came back into the bar "She says she will meet you in your lab in half an hour."
Surprised by the speed at which the arrangements had been made, she asked "But how will she get here so soon? Isn't she in the US?"
Trick said ominously "She has her ways"
xxx-xxxx-xxxx
Lauren sat buckled into her seat, as Tamsin drove rashly, breaking every speed limit in the city. Athena was talking to her "This witch sounds interesting. Hmm…I wonder if she knows how to bottle chi? You must pry it from her..I know so many who have worked and failed at containing life's essence.."
And the images started again. Lauren sensed their arrival, and squeezed her eyes shut, desperately thinking about Bo. And their previous night together. And that did the trick.
Athena retreated grumpily "All right. All right. I was just trying to show you."
Lauren inhaled a much needed breath of air. "Next time, wait till I ask you."
Athena replied sneeringly "Now where's the fun in that?"
Tamsin looked at Lauren, smirking as she observed the Doctor had shut her eyes and was breathing deeply. "Relax Doc. I will get you there. But I am not gonna promise that I will get you there in one piece."
Refusing to rise to the Valkyrie's taunt, Lauren just gasped and said "Eyes on the road please."
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Thankful for the reprieve, Lauren picked up the phone, and smiled happily when she saw that it was Bo.
Picking up the call, Lauren exclaimed happily "Hi Bo!"
Chuckling at the enthusiastic greeting, Bo said "Hi babe! Just wanted to check up on you. Did you talk to Trick?
Lauren leaned back against the car seat, relaxing for the first time since she left the club house "Yep. I did. Me and Tamsin are following up some leads now. What are you up to?"
Bo replied "With Dyson now. On the way to my first lead."
Knowing that her girlfriend was finally going to talk about them to the wolf, and how sad and uncomfortable that experience was going to be, she said sympathetically "Ok."
Bo sighed, as she felt Lauren's understanding wash over her, despite Lauren having spoken only one word. She asked "How's Tamsin?" Wanting to hear more of her girlfriends voice, to ground her.
Lauren shrugged and said "Good. I am gonna meet my lead soon. I want you to be careful, ok?"
Bo smiled into the phone and said softly "Ok"
Sensing the smile in her girlfriend's voice, Lauren felt her mouth stretch into a soft smile "I love you. Don't ever forget that for even a minute. Hold on to your memory of last night if you have to. Don't let Nyx in"
Bo smiled and said "Ok. I suddenly find that I don't really mind having crazy granny in me, if it means I get to make more "memories" with you. Any chance, of seeing you soon, so we can get down to making more of those, by the way?"
Lauren chuckled and said "My My! Aren't we eager?"
Bo laughed and said "Eager is an understatement, babe."
The two women paused and smiled goofily, enjoying each other's presence through the phone.
Bo broke the silence and asked softly "Is Tamsin with you now?"
Lauren said a hesitant yes, wondering what the succubus was up to.
Bo said gently "Give the phone to Tamsin for a minute, sweetie. I just need to quickly talk to her about something"
Lauren frowned and handed over the phone to Tamsin, saying a quick "she wants to talk to you". Rolling her eyes, at the disgustingly sweet conversation she had so not wanted to overhear, Tamsin barked out "What Succubus?"
Rubbing her forehead in frustration Bo said "Listen. If she spaces out for more than a few minutes, call me and hold the phone to her ear. Fail to do so, and I will kick your ass"
Frowning in concern, Tamsin said "Why? What's wrong?"
Bo's forehead furrowed, as she wondered how to respond to Tamsin's question "That's for her to tell you, when she's ready."
In an attempt to mask her concern, the Valkyrie said off-handedly "What makes you think I even care?"
Annoyed by her ex-partners snarky attitude, Bo replied angrily "Because we are family. And you and I were partners in crime. Plus we both love Kenzi. And she will totally kick your ass, if you don't take care of her Dr. Hot pants, even if it means coming back all the way from Spain!"
Grumbling, as thoughts of the diminutive gypsy put the fear of god in her, the Valkyrie replied "Fine."
Understanding the source of the Valkyrie's grumpy attitude, Bo continued in a much softer tone "Also because you are a good person, whether or not you wanna accept it. And I know that you do care about what happens to the doc. Even if you are a sore loser."
Tamsin hung up, disgruntled by the unwanted acuteness of the Succubus' remark.
Throwing the phone at the doctor, she replied with her snarky attitude, well in place "Your girlfriend is way too sappy"
Lauren looked at the phone to see Bo calling again. Picking up the call, she said one word, utterly confused and not really sure what to make of the end of the conversation she had heard "Bo?"
Bo said hastily "She hung up on me before I could say bye. I love you too babe. Always. Don't forget. I'll see you tonight?"
Lauren replied "Yea. I sure hope so."
Bo hummed in response and said "Ok. Bye hun."
Lauren smiled and said "Bye sweetie"
xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx
Lauren and Tamsin entered the Marquisse Research Clinic. It looked like nobody had been inside the lab, since Lauren's first fateful encounter with Athena. Strolling over to the reception, Tamsin hoisted herself, and sat on the desk, nonchalantly swinging her legs.
"Sooo…I take it you and the succubus, are back in the heavenly paradise of coupledom now?" asked Tamsin.
Grateful for a topic that kept her focus on Bo, as Athena grew more and more restless, Lauren said "We are together. Yes."
Rolling her eyes Tamsin said "Yea well..so how's that gonna work this time around? Are you gonna run away to do science with pyscho human doctors again? Or is she gonna go around sleeping with Dyson again?"
Scowling in annoyance, Lauren said "I have had enough of this! What is your problem with me anyway?"
Jumping from the desk, Tamsin made her way to the doctor, and entered her personal space "Just who do you think you are? I don't buy your goody two shoes attitude for even a second! Don't think I have forgotten that you ran away to work for Taft. Or that you joined the Dark. Or..wait for it..spy banged Bo!"
Swallowing her anger Lauren said with some difficulty "Do you really think that these questions haven't crossed Bo's mind, too? Do you really think she would be with me, if I had not satisfactorily addressed them?"
Tamsin narrowed her eyes and looked at Lauren. She turned and walked away. In a much softer voice she said "No."
Moving forwards, Lauren asked "So what is it then, really? Why do you dislike me so much?"
Tamsin whirled around "I don't understand the idea of you two, Okay?! How can you be human, and still want to be with a fae? How can you love her the way you do, and stomach the thought of her touching someone else? How can you, fancy yale graduate, fall for someone who's not even finished high school? I don't get it! You two are complete opposites..and yet.."
Lauren prodded gently "Yet..?"
Tamsin swallowed and sighed out "And yet you love each other. I don't understand it. Take me on the other hand…We are both fae. We are both powerful. We love wise cracks, and leather pants. Not to mention we both love kicking ass. So why? Why did she pick you and not me?"
Lauren said gently "Tamsin.."
Tamsin turned and got back up on the desk "I know alright. It's just hard to admit"
Lauren went to sit next to the Valkyrie "Love is inexplicable, and very rarely makes sense. I know that the two of us are opposites."
Sighing Tamsin looked at her knee and said "And that's why you two fit together."
Lauren shrugged and said "I think what you have with Bo is a bromance."
Lips twitching, at the colloquism spilling from the uptight doctor's lips, Tamsin said "Uh huh.."
She looked at Lauren out of the corner of her eye, and placed a hand on the Doctor's knee.
The Doctor chuckled, and in a call back moment, said "Ok..What's happening?"
The Valkyrie smiled and said "Thanks for ..whatever. And also sorry for… you know?" she looked earnestly at the Doctor.
The Doctor rolled her eyes and said "Its ok and you are welcome."
Tamsin looked at the clock "When do you suppose she'll get here?"
Lauren looked at the Valkyrie and said "You actually seem kinda excited to meet her."
The Valkyrie back-pedalled and said hastily "What? Me? No! No way.."
Lauren chuckled and said "Whatever..how do you think she'll get here so quickly, if she's in the US?"
Just as she finished the question, a bright light exploded in the center of the room, like a lightening flash. Both women flung their arms in front of their eyes to shield themselves from the intense light.
A low feminine voice sounded "Why, like this Doctor! This is how the Magi travel."
The light slowly died down, and Lauren felt her eyes re-acclimate to the light in the lab.
xx—x-x-xx-xx
Standing in the center of the lab was an exquisite woman. She had beautiful dark skin, like the color of the smoothest milk chocolate, or like the rich fertile sand, one observes on a river bank. Her eyes were a beautiful light green. The same color that one sees on the underside of leaves, made translucent by the penetration of rays of sunlight. Her mouth was wide and generous, and her lips a rosy red that reminded Lauren of the color of volcanic rock. Lauren fleetingly wondered if the spirit of the earth had somehow been embodied in the shape of the woman, standing in front of her. The generosity of the dips and curves on her body reminded Lauren of the limitless bounty of the earth's valleys and rivers. But there was an underlying strength in her form, just like the unyielding stubbornness of earth. In contrast to her intimidating beauty, was her unintimidating stature. She would have barely reached Tamsin's shoulder. Yet she was not exactly short either. She would have been about Kenzi's height if the gypsy was standing without her heels.
Lauren found herself unconsciously standing straight, with respect for the woman in front of her. The features of the noble face in front of her, were unquestionably aristocratic. By her side, she felt Tamsin shivering slightly. She reached out and placed a steadying hand on the Valkyries forearm.
Tamsin bowed deeply and said "Your highness."
The magi queen let out a breathy laugh that reminded Lauren of a quiet breeze rustling through the heavy leaves of an old tree. "Come now Valkyrie. There is no need for protocol between old friends."
Tamsin stood up straight and looked admiringly at the woman "As you wish."
The woman smiled gently at Tamsin and turned her gaze to Lauren. She smiled fully at Lauren revealing dimples on either side, which looked as deep and curved as whorls on tree bark.
"I understand that you wanted to see me, Dr. Lewis. How may I help you?"
Taken aback by the sheer beauty in front of her, Lauren sputtered and said "It's about your amulet..i mean well..it's no longer your amulet now is it?..it's ours..no! That's not what I meant!..what I mean is.."
The woman cocked her head and smiled incredulously at the Doctor. Chuckling in amusement, she asked "Aah yes.. I remember.. the Koushang amulet. What about it?"
Athena sounded in her head "Get it together. Talk to her more. I am curious."
Lauren nodded stupidly, and took a deep breath trying to compose herself. "Your highness, I need your help to understand it. Because I believe that might help me find a way to stop Nyx."
She saw the woman straighten up abruptly. The kindness in her eyes replaced with steely resolve and command. She said one quiet word, which rang with authority and power "Nyx?"
Vying for the queen's attention, Tamsin nodded, in a manner that almost looked compulsive. "Yes. That's right!"
Softening her stance, on seeing Lauren's frightened eyes, the woman asked gently "What would you like to know?"
Lauren smiled tentatively and said "Anything and everything, your highness. But perhaps you could start by telling me, if you know of a way to bottle chi."
The woman cocked her head and said "Ahh..i see..you believe that chi will be sufficient to defeat Nyx. Am I right?"
Frowning Lauren nodded in mute agreement. The witch nodded seriously, and said "I am afraid you are wrong there, Doctor."
Lauren looked aghast at this piece of news and said "But..but Nyx is darkness/death…what we will need to counteract that is.. light/life..in other words.. chi!" Lauren exclaimed, her voice growing stronger as she neared the end of her sentence.
The queen smiled in delight at Lauren "How wonderful! Your hypothesis regarding the nature of Nyx's energy is truly remarkable Doctor! Not many Fae understand the true nature of energy."
Taken aback Lauren said "But you do? Understand energy, that is.."
Chuckling lightly, the queen replied "Indeed! Magic is about energy, Lauren..i hope you don't mind me calling you that.."
Lauren shook her head rapidly, enthusiastically conveying her denial, vehemently. The queen continued looking amused "Yes well..you see.. Magic is about channelling energy. And the magi use words and objects as symbols and receptacles, to guide that energy."
Lauren looked in utter fascination at the queen. "That is truly remarkable! I wonder if the magi are more related to the fae than they know? I wonder where exactly, the split occurred in evolution that led to the divergence in our species."
The queen smiled at Lauren. "Perhaps I can help you with that. You see, the Fae aren't all that different from Magi. Because the Fae are essentially creatures born of magic. But unlike magi, they cannot perform magic beyond the function they were born to. They can only manipulate one kind of energy. For instance, a succubus can only manipulate sexual chi. Z can only manipulate lightening. Just as Trick uses his blood as a symbol to subtly alter the energy flow of the universe towards an outcome. You see the Fae are like a collection of mp3 players, dvd players, or walkie talkies. Each Fae can only do one thing.
Smiling in delight at this new piece of information, Lauren continued "But a magi can do many things?"
The queen nodded "Precisely. We are like the laptops or tablets of your generation, that can play music, videos, and make calls all at the same time. Each magi can do any and all the things that would require the united efforts of many Fae. Because the magi alone, among all the races that walk this earth, have the ability to harness the cosmic energy that permeates and pervades the universe. Using words and objects, we interact with that energy, and shape it to do whatever needs be done. But all magic requires a symbol. Whether it is a word or an object, a symbol is needed to function as a conduit for this cosmic energy."
Lauren continued and said "So the Koushang amulet..is a symbol?"
The magi queen nodded in affirmation.
Lauren swallowed nervously and asked "How did it come to be?"
The magi queen cocked her head, and studied Lauren intently. Lauren felt herself drowning in the green of the queen's eyes. They were truly exquisite. As gentle and harmless as the green of leaves, and yet just as unfathomable and mysterious.
Satisfied with what she saw in the doctor, the magi queen smiled kindly at Lauren. "Doctor. I do not wish to withhold information that could help you defeat Nyx. But understand, that what I am about to tell you, can never be repeated beyond these walls."
Lauren nodded determinedly "You have my word, your highness."
Tamsin piped up "And mine."
The magi strode gracefully to a window. "Long ago, many eons before you were born, in a village far away from this place, lived two young girls. They did everything together. They played together. Studied together. Laughed and cried together. For you see, there were best friends. As inseparable as sunlight is from the sun, or breath from life. One could simply not exist without the other. So entwined were they, in their love for each other."
Lauren smiled at the back of the magi queen, as the images of the woman evoked a deep sense of love, within her own heart.
The queen paused as if she were lost in a pleasant train of her own memories. She continued in a voice as quiet as the rustling of grass "Time passed, and the two girls grew up to be two exceedingly beautiful women. The first woman was gorgeous. The beauty of her face so captivating, that men would sigh inadvertently, when they beheld her. The other woman's beauty, however, was of a different sort. It was more alluring..more sensuous..men would look at her, and want her desperately."
The magi queen, turned to look at the captivated faces of the two women in front of her. She smiled gently and continued "But despite all the new suitors in their lives, the two women remained wrapped in each other, happy to be in their own little world. Between them persisted a perfect accord. A perfect selfless friendship. They both knew the foibles and foolishness of worshipping beauty, and paid no heed to it. Instead they both prized their love for each other, above anything else. As more time passed, their love for each other deepened naturally, until it became clear one day that they no longer saw each other as just friends. Therefore it came to pass, that one fateful night, with the stars as their witnesses, the two women finally consummated their love, on the forest floor. And thus, it began…"
The magi queen became quiet. Her eyes locked far away in the distance, her face drawn into an unmoving mask. Almost afraid to interrupt, Lauren asked "What happened?"
Sighing as if from an ancient worry, the magi queen continued "The second woman found that a hunger had been ignited within her, that day. A hunger that gnawed its way to the surface, demanding the attention that only her lover could give. That day an insatiable lust awoke within the woman. She would pass the streets, and the faces of the men she had no trouble ignoring before suddenly became alluring. The work weary and callused fingers of those men became attractive. Almost as attractive as the gentle and soft hands of her lover. But it was not the arms of those men she wanted around her at night when she finally surrendered to sleep, but those of her lover. And it was not their smiles she craved, but those of her lover."
Completely engrossed, Tamsin looked at the witch, and prompted impatiently "And?"
The magi chuckled "In those days, not much was known about the Fae. We only knew of them as the creatures of our night terrors. The woman knew there was something wrong with her. She suspected that perhaps she was one of the monsters that the old women warned children about. Unbearably burdened with her lust filled thoughts for people who were not the only woman she had ever loved, she set out trying to find an explanation for her condition. Her lover noticed. Where the nights had once been filled with nothing but their love for each other, now the nights became increasingly lonely…. Then one night as they were making love, the eyes of the woman flashed a brilliant electric blue. Her lover noticed that the blue was lighter than the usual dark blue eyes she loved to lose herself in. This lighter blue was incandescent, like candle flame at its hottest. That was the day the woman broke down and cried for the first time. She revealed to her lover her that she knew now without a doubt, that she was a succubus."
Lauren's lips turned down in sympathy, while Tamsin gasped in surprise. Smiling at their reactions, the magi woman continued "But the lover was no ordinary woman herself. She was the village healer. A practician of those arts, which would one day be called white magic."
Tamsin and Lauren gasped, as realization dawned on them. Tamsin spluttered "Wait..that was you?"
The magi woman laughed "Allow me some grounds for plausible deniability. Shall I continue?"
Both Fae nodded fervently. Shaking her head in amusement, the magi woman turned to face the window again. "So afraid was the succubus of draining the magi, when they were lost in their passion for each other, that she refused to even be in her best friend's presence. The magi cast the Koushang amulet that day, as protection to ease the mind of her succubus. But the amulet had always meant more to both of them. For it was given first, as a token of love by the succubus to the magi. It represented a promise, that they would one day find a way to face all the ages of this world, together. No matter how dark of a path, the succubus would have to follow for the time being. It was a promise that the succubus, would always come back to her human lover."
Lauren chuckled at the phrase "human lover" reminded of Hecuba all over again. The magi looked at her questioningly. Lauren shook her head, not wanting to interrupt the story and said "What happened next?"
The magi shrugged and said "Eventually, unable to bear no longer, the need to cheat on the love of her life, the succubus ran away. Leaving behind her human lover. The magi was distraught. She spent many long years trying to find her love. After years and years of fruitless search, she finally gave up, and focused instead on becoming the most powerful magi she could. For darkness had risen again. And there were not many, willing to stand up to it. And so it was that one night, on the eve of the final battle between the light and dark, many years after they had parted, that the succubus finally returned to her. Fully satiated and unafraid of harming her human lover"
Tamsin asked in a child-like voice "Did she take her back?"
The magi smiled and shook her head "No. She did not. When the succubus left, the magi felt that her heart had been ripped apart from her. Understand that, since childhood the magi had never been parted from her succubus. When the succubus left, the magi did not know how to function and live for a long time, without seeing the beloved face of her best friend and lover. She had spent many years, learning to live with that hole, that emptiness in her chest. World-weary as she was, she did not want to remember what it felt like to feel that all-consuming love again. The succubus understood, and left, giving her lover one last smile filled with aching tenderness. The magi lay alone in her bed that night, trying in vain to supress the memories, which that smile rekindled."
Tamsin interrupted and said "But they got back together right? I mean c'mon! They were meant for each other!"
The magi smiled fully, her laugh crinkling the edges of her eyes. "Wanting to protect her human lover, the succubus kept close to the magi the next day, during the battle. The magi had no trouble voicing just how annoyingly close the succubus was! And then one silent poisoned arrow sailed through the air. Intending to find its target in the magi. But the succubus intervened, pushing her love out of the way. The arrow struck her instead, the poison at once entering her veins. As the magi lay weeping across the body of her prone lover, she scolded the succubus for being away for so long. She wished desperately that she could have done more to find her, all those years ago. The succubus merely smiled and said "But I was right behind you." Telling the magi that she had falsely planted leads and watched the magi from a distance, as she investigated them. Unknown to the magi, the succubus had followed her, all those years, and protected her from afar. For the succubus could never bear to be fully parted from her childhood love. Because even if the succubus could not give her body to the magi alone, the heart of the succubus had always been wholly, the exclusive property of the magi, since their childhood. And that heart had never strayed, not even once. With one last dying breath, the succubus whispered her eternal love for the magi, and closed her eyes."
Lauren let out a soft sob. Tamsin looked at the Magi, with wide eyes and mouth agape. The magi smiled thinly and continued "The magi screamed in despair and madness. Sensing the approach of the dark queen, and unwilling to live any longer in a world without her love, the magi made her final bid to win the war. She would not abandon her people. But she could live no longer without her love, either. She sacrificed herself. An ancient spell was invoked on the battle ground, to expel all the positive energy within her. The dark queen was vanquished on the spot."
Tamsin interrupted and said "Then you met me, right?
The magi smiled and nodded "Yes Valkyrie."
Lauren asked "What happened to your lover?"
The magi looked away, her eyes filling with tenderness "The burst of my energy did not only kill the dark queen, but it also gave life to my succubus. For you see it was pure undistilled chi." She turned to look Lauren straight into her eyes "Pure chi that rose from the purest of emotions. Love."
With the weight of an anvil striking, Lauren understood the message hidden in the magi's eyes. She nodded in understanding.
The magi continued "You must understand the nature of Nyx's energy if you truly wish to defeat her. Nyx represents the darkness of chaos, which causes pure destruction, not just death. The chi you must bottle cannot just be life essence. You must balance her pure destructive energy, with the kind of pure energy that creates. You must bottle chi that springs from true love. Because it is love alone that has the power to create. Whether it is a child, or a beautiful painting, or a poem, all beautiful things that move the heart in this world, are all labours of love."
Impatient with all this talk of love, Athena rose to the forefront "Ask her how she spelled the amulet." Lauren winced at the sudden invasion. The magi looked at her curiously, with concern "Are you alright?"
Smiling reassuringly, Lauren asked "The Koushang amulet. Do you think you could modify the amulet to contain..pure chi?" she asked emphasising the word pure, to let the magi know that she understood.
The magi laughed, green eyes sparkling like water in a pond "I cannot, because it has already been used as a different symbol. But I can place a new spell on a new object. Do you have any token of love, upon your person?"
Lauren comically raised her hand to cover her mouth, before rushing out. She yelled back "Yes! Wait a minute. I just have to find it!"
The magi looked at Tamsin in amusement "Your friend is adorable."
Tamsin shrugged ad grinned like a fan-girl at the magi.
Lauren rushed back with a bunch of objects in tow, mumbling "I want you to spell multiple objects, so I will have spares ready, in case something goes wrong, you know."
The magi nodded graciously "Of course Dr. Lewis."
The magi took the objects and placed them by the window. Raising her arms towards the sun, she made a sweeping motion and pointed at the ornaments "Sakthi! Uyir! Kaadhal! Unmai!"
The objects glowed softly, like embers. Taking the objects to the doctor, she whispered so that only Lauren could hear "You must now fill these with love. I gather you have understood what needs to be done?"
Lauren nodded. The magi smiled in approval "Very good."
Athena interrupted "What must be done?"
Tamsin disgruntled at having the story interrupted said "So the succubus and the magi lived happily ever after right?"
The magi nodded. "When I was reborn, I swore to protect my people and my country. My spirit was bound to my people, to the very earth of my country. As long as I remain their guardian, their collective energy will sustain me. And I use this energy to feed my succubus. She has been true to me, in every sense of the word, ever since. She has never wanted another in all these long years. Ours is a very satisfying, very human, and very monogamous, relationship."
Lauren smiled happily at the magi. It was good to know that some succubus, somewhere had a happy ending. The magi pleased at the purity of Lauren's heart, smiled back affectionately. Feeling bold, by the friendliness of the magi's smile Lauren said "I notice that you never mentioned who sent you back, your highness. Who brought you back to life?"
Athena burst through Lauren's mind, impatient at not having her question answered, like magma rushing out of a volcano "What? What must be done?"
The magi reached out to steady Lauren, as the Doctor's hand flew to her forehead. "Are you ill, doctor?" she asked urgently.
Restless at being kept dormant for so long, Athena shredded Lauren's control, in an instant. Lauren opened her eyes and they glowed a pure molten gold. The voice of Athena rang through "I am Athena. Goddess of wisdom. What must Lauren do for the amulet to contain pure chi? Tell me at once!"
Perturbed, the magi queen said "Release her, and perhaps I will tell you."
Lauren wrestled for control, thinking about how it felt when Bo ran her hands over her naked form, as she kissed her into deliriousness. Athena retreated furious at being defeated. Panting heavily as beads of sweat dropped from her forehead, Lauren doubled over and gasped "Sorry about that."
Tamsin was at her side, placing a soothing hand on the Doctor's back "Shit dude! Why didn't you tell me about Athena?"
Lauren gasped out "Wasn't your burden to bear"
Scoffing Tamsin said "Yeah, but since when has that ever bothered any of you, of the happy sunshine gang? And more importantly when has it ever stopped me from saving your sorry asses?"
The magi held up a hand to stop Tamsin. Looking at Lauren with worry etched into the tight lines around her lips "Dr. Lewis. I may not be Fae. But I do know quite a lot about you. I suggest that you use your marvellous powers of compartmentalization to shut Athena out."
Lauren gave her a wry smile "I have tried. It's not working all that great so far."
Wrapping a warm hand around Lauren's bicep, the magi helped Lauren into a chair. The queen squeezed the firm arm under her grasp, comfortingly "It is perhaps because you undervalue yourself, that you have been unsuccessful so far."
Shrugging her shoulders, Lauren straightened up. She muttered "I'm not all that great"
Frowning, the magi interrupted gently "If the stories I have heard about you are true, then I know for a fact that you have proved time and again, that it is foolish to underestimate you. To the Ash, to Evony, and to Hades himself. Do not make the same mistake of undervaluing yourself. If you will not trust your judgement, then at least trust Athena's. She herself, has chosen you as the best mind of this age."
Lauren smiled tearily at the kind words coming from a stranger's mouth. The magi smiled back and said "You managed to gain an upper hand even though you were completely out of your league with the Fae, Doctor. It takes an extraordinary person to be human, and still manage to bring the fae world crashing down to its knees". Lauren looked at the floor in embarrassment. The magi smiled and placed a hand on Lauren's shoulder, waiting for Lauren to look back up. Peering intently into the doctor's eyes, she continued "So Lauren, do not ever forget to value yourself. Love yourself. And always prize your thoughts above all else. Including Athena."
Smiling gratefully, Lauren said "I think of Bo usually. That does the trick."
The magi laughed "The unaligned succubus is your paramour? Well well, doctor! You are becoming more and more interesting by the second. It looks like our lives have strange parallels. We were both humans, mere mortals, destined to fall in love with the immortal succubi."
The doctor looked at the magi queen in front of her. In many aspects she was just like Bo. She radiated an instant warmth and kindness that, drew people to her. The magi queen was cheerful, and clearly a beloved leader to her own people. She was also definitely, not hard on the eyes. Lauren suppressed a traitorous thought that the Magi queen was perhaps even more attractive than Bo.
Acknowledging Lauren's admiration, the magi queen smiled. "Do not make the mistake of falling for me Lauren. I can only be your friend." Then grinning mischievously at Lauren, the magi continued with a sudden twinkle in her eyes "And that truly is a shame. But alas! I am a very VERY taken woman!"
Lauren laughed and nodded "I know. So am I."
The magi queen continued "We both know that we were meant to be with the partners we have already chosen. Nevertheless, I am 100% Team Lauren. If ever you need a friend, do not hesitate to call. The palace of the Flaming Torch, the queen of the magi, is always open to you."
Lauren smiled and nodded. The magi queen gave her one last smile, before turning to walk to the center of the room.
"Your highness. I will be your friend. But only on one condition."
The queen paused and frowned in confusion "And what is that?"
Lauren replied smiling "That you tell me your name."
The queen laughed "My name is Akira. In an ancient tongue, the word means "graceful strength""
Nodding her head, Lauren said "It suits you. Also can I ask, why does Trick hate you so much? You seem lovely."
A mischievous light shone in Akira's eyes "Well. He is grumpy, because I tricked him."
Tamsin deadpanned "You tricked Trick?"
Akira winced slightly at the bad joke "Yes. He did not know that the succubus whose life I had bargained for, was the love of my life. He also did not approve that the reason why I did not agree to anything beyond a truce, was because the Fae refused to treat the humans under their care, with dignity. Especially one human. A doctor of the light Fae. I told Trick, that the day the Light made an example of setting their human doctor free, as a token of finally letting go of their bigotry, would be the day our two races could finally come together."
Lauren looked at Akira in frank admiration "You wanted to secure my freedom?"
Akira met her gaze levelly and said "Indeed. I cannot stand bigotry, in any form. Besides I was also once human, like you."
Lauren gulped and said "Thank you. That is more kindness than I have ever received in a very very long time. I can see why your people love you so much. You are truly very kind."
Akira blushed and looked down.
Lauren felt her heart melt at the sight of the most powerful magi, blushing from a simple heart felt compliment. She continued gently "I also understand why Trick looked so guilty now, when he spoke about you. One last question."
Akira tilted her head and smiled indulgently "Yes?"
Lauren smiled mischievously and concentrated on Akira "As my friend, feel free to tell me, the identity of the person who brought you back to life… To serve as guardian? Who sent you back to this world, Akira?"
Athena rumbled ominously in her mind, threatening to wrest her control. Lauren thought furiously of Bo. Cycling quickly through every single memory, every touch, and every kiss. Furious at being bested Athena retreated once again.
Akira smiled slowly and impishly. She looked as adorable, as a little child trying to charm its way out of being caught with their hands in the cookie jar. "Allow me to retain at least some of my mystery Lauren. Besides who knows? Perhaps one day you will find out for yourself."
Chuckling benignly, Lauren said "I am not a hero like you, Akira."
Smiling softly Akira said "But you are Lauren. In many ways you remind me of my Succubus, Nik. She has the same strength that you have."
Lauren looked at her questioningly.
Akira's smile widened into an affectionate one "You have the kind of strength that moves a person to do what is right, even if it goes unacknowledged. The kind of determination to stand up for people, even if those people despise you and torment you, like the Fae have done to you. And you have the kind of selfless love that is unafraid to fight with the people you love, to ensure their safety. Even if it means, losing the person you love, and with them, your only chance at happiness."
Taken aback by Akira's words, Lauren looked at her dumbfounded.
Winking at her, Akira said "Well, I really must get going. Empires don't rule themselves you know! May good fortune always be yours, Lauren. I will be watching over you. Until we meet again." Akira spun and disappeared in a flash of light.
Tamsin looked at Lauren and rolled her eyes. "Close your mouth doc, or you're totally gonna swallow another fly. First you make the succubus fall for you, and now the magi queen? I mean c'mon! What are you? A chick magnet?"