Disclaimer: It is with a heavy heart that I admit that the exclusive rights to Lost Girl (or any other show mentioned in this story like Rizzoli and Isles) aren't mine, nor will they ever be.
"You have failed me for the last time!" a commanding and bellowing voice boomed in her head.
Tamsin had no idea where she was, it was just dark, cold, and damp. She tried to speak, but nothing came out. But she knew who it was, it was Odin. She was supposed to deliver Bo to him and obviously failed, miserably. She, even with her mentor dead, still could not make herself do it. Her feelings, confusing as they were for Bo, got in the way at the end.
"I have every right to end your life right now." There was a pause in his voice and as if he was considering something. Tamsin knew all too well that he had something bigger and "better" in mind to teach her a lesson. Valkyrie's don't fear, but when it came to Odin and the way he mistreated those that disobeyed him, she was scared for once. She knew now that he was communicating to her via a telepathic link which is what united all Valkyries. Despite the fear, she tried her best to strengthen her mind so as not to let it show. "No, that would be too easy. As the Kitsune eloquently stated when you were unconscious. I will take everything from you so that you will live a cursed existence even long after your death."
His voice echoed as if in a cave as she felt herself getting weaker and falling. Despite that it was still cold, dark and damp in addition to feeling something like rain drops.
Tamsin was in a cloudy haze. She did not know where she was, but she knew she was upside down. She then heard Dyson yelling. "Wake up! We need to get out of here partner." He was lightly slapping her on her face.
As she came to, she realized she was cold and was losing blood being impaled by a steel beam from the door of her truck. The dampness and rain drops were her own. She was bleeding out.
Tamsin's eye slowly locked on to see the shifter had already climbed out of the now wrecked and upside down pickup truck and attempting to pull her to safety thourgh her broken windshield. Tamsin was relieved that he seemed ok.
Dyson surveyed the situation with a look of concern on his face, but his eyes snapped back to her, "Stay with me partner, that's it."
"Fuck! My truck." As Tamsin grasped the metal object, scrunching her face in agony bringing her left hand to her forehead "After all I've done for you, this is how you repay me?" she murmured rhetorically.
Tamsin grimaced in pain as she was feeling the effects to her truck plummeting down a cliff and being impaled in her abdomen by a beam.
"Tamsin, how bad is it?" the wolf looked at her worried staring at the beam.
Tamsin deadpanned to him, still upside down but hissed "What does it fucking look like?! And oh I feel like shit." Tilting her head to him, albeit upside down.
Dyson held a slight smirk, "It must not be that serious. Apparently it missed the most important part of you, your attitude."
"Girl's gotta flaunt it if she's got it." as an amused and aloof expression came across her face.
Dyson was trying to find the best way to free Tamsin but he started to sniff the air and in a rush of urgency blurted out "Gas! I am going to have to pull that out of you now before you become engulfed in a carbique!"
Tamsin was feeling the loss of blood was affecting her. She felt light-headed and wanted to sleep. "Whatever." She mumbled "just get it over with wolf."
Dyson changed into his wolf, his eyes a lite with determination, and grabbing the beam as he roared and grunted. The metal was creaking and groaning as he applied his strength. It took all his strength and then some as the beam slowly made its way out.
A spark could be heard and then popping sounds. Tamsin weakly unbuckled her seat belt and landed on the top of the tuck. She was too weak to get up even to crawl out. She smelled fire, she began to feel heat. "Dyson, wait first aid kit," as she reached in a glove compartment and it fell out. On cue, Dyson put his arm under her shoulders and pulled her to safety.
Exhausted, Dyson returned to his normal form. Both collapsed 50 meters from the car toward the road they came from as the truck was going up in flames. Tamsin, just tiredly staring her beloved truck and Dyson quickly opening the kit to at least put sterile pad on Tamsin's wound to stop it from bleeding. He knew Tamsin had taken quite a hit, but this was not like her, she seemed weaker than he expected.
As the fire consumed the car, Tamsin closed her eyes briefly and winced in pain, "Damn Succubus." She stated under her breath. "Fight." She said weakly but it was not only repeating Bo's request, but it was also for her. She then heard Dyson dialing someone frantically on his cell. He always seemed so controlled and his sense of urgency was noted by the her. She must be knocked up pretty bad she surmised.
"Yea, I need an ambulance. Lock on my GPS location, Tamsin is hurt badly and is bleeding out." He looked away from Tamsin but then he erupted out in anger. "I DON'T CARE IF SHE IS DARK FAE! SHE IS MY PARTNER AND FRIEND. She is one of our own. Make it happen. NOW!" It was true they had rocky relationship at the start, but with all that, he had to admit, that she had grown on him. His relationship with her was out of mutual respect and Dyson was doing everything he could to save her. He still held the pad on her wound appling steady pressure while yelling at what she could only guess was a Light Fae medic.
Tamsin's eyelids felt heavy, her breathing becoming shallow. The word "friend" from Dyson caught her attention. She didn't even know that he cared that much about her. She made it her life goal to keep everyone at a distance, so she could just do her job and move on. It all changed when she started to hang out with Bo, the succubus. Even early on she could tell Bo was like her in the fact that they both thought the rules and authority were meant to be challenged. Well, Bo did always take it one step further as her lack of knowing the Fae rules sometimes made for unique outcomes to say the least. Even though she tried to hate Bo as her opinions more often than not clashed with Tamsin's, they still found a way to respect one another, at a distance. The succubus earned her respect after all they have been through during the year but more than that, being a Valkyrie meant being attracted to the strongest of Fae. Bo was that and so much more, she was just not using her powers to the fullest extent, just her darn ethics always made things more complicated than it needed to be.
The odd thing now was that she felt alone even though Dyson was with of front of her trying to stop the flow of blood. Then it hit her. The voices of all the Valkyrie's, the whispers that were always present in her mind which allowed them to talk to one another. It was gone. Singular and silent. She scrunched her face and tried to concentrate hard to establish some sort of connection. Anything. It was out of desperation. The voices were white noise to her unless she needed to focus on a specific voice and communicate. It gave her a sense of comfort almost like a lullaby even as she slept. The silence was deafening. Her sisterhood, although she was most of the time at odds with them, where still her family. Now she had to contemplate what it was to live and die alone and it scared her.
"OK, good." Dyson concluded the call and hanging up the phone and putting it back in his pocket. He looked back at his partner and could see on her face that she had flashes of fear for brief moments. It struck him odd that he never saw that expression before. He was just use to a head strong, cocky, and strong spirited person. Her eyes were also brimming with unfallen tears yet another shock for Dyson. "Tamsin, it's ok, you'll be just fine. Help will be here in a couple minutes. Just stay with me." He said gently with reassuring concern.
"Dyson." She looked at him with her wet eyes. I look of mourning and loss evident "I don't have my powers any more. I … I'm …." She could not get herself to say it. Being a Valkyrie was everything she knew; it defined her and made her who she was. She lived for centuries, and even though the world changed, she always felt solace that her sisters remained a constant part of her life. "a fallen Valkyrie…. Human." she spat out with distain. To her human was a 4 letter word. She hated how weak they were. She always looked down upon them with their limited life and limited, if any, abilities. They were under achievers after all, always majoring in the minor. You'd think that with a fixed and short life span they should achieve so much more. Now she had to confront the unfathomable, she was one of them and will probably die one of them. When a fallen Valkyrie dies, they do not go to Valhalla, they do down to an underworld, a sort of a living hell for the rest of eternity.
"No, that can't be" Dyson putting his hand lightly on her shoulders. "You just got the wind knocked out of you. You'll be fine in no time. If the docs can't do it, I am sure Trick can do something."
Tamsin was beginning to fade and close her eyes, she heard the ambulance arrive. Dyson shook her, "come on, stay awake."
Feeling herself fading fast, she needed to get something off her chest, "Odin, the guy I tried to run over, he is my boss and Bo's father. He is an all-powerful god who is after Bo and" she managed to huff out a weak laugh. "Damn him, he can do whatever he wants. That stupid stupid succubus. This is really the last time I do anything nice for her aga….." Tamsin pointed her index finger weakly at Dyson and then finally faded to unconsciousness right as the medics reached her.
The last thing Bo's remembered, the glass at Trick's bar shattering all around her. Smoke consumed her and then as she started to cough, but then the smoke cleared as soon as it came.
She started to blink and take in the room she was in. Sweeping the room, she was in some sort of high end but empty restaurant. Mahogany walls with ornate wall sconces a huge glass chandelier hung from the top. A little farther back there were marble steps that went to the mezzanine . It looked empty but there were a few people whom she assumed were working toward the back of the room. It was then her eyes locked onto what looked like a singular but stunning Valkyrie form, in full battle armor, shield mounted on her back and a sheathed sword and dagger by her side. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun. She descended the stairs and made her way striding confidently toward Bo. Her head tilted to one side briefly looking at Bo.
Bo was happy to see Tamsin and had so many questions for her. She didn't know why but she quickly strode to her and started to close the gap faster than expected. The Valkeryie stopped dead in her tracks and put her left palm forward forcefully and her right hand reached for the hilt of her sword but did not draw it. "Bo Den… " was all she was able to say before Bo circumvented her left arm and embraced her.
"God, you're ok." Bo confessed hugging her even tighter. Bo knew the risk Tamsin was taking by disobeying her boss's orders and was thankful to have her as one of the gang. "Is Dyson ok?" She began to pull back and she noticed something was off. The Valkyrie seemed stiff and she felt a small hesitant pat on her back which meant in Valkyrie language "you can get off me now". Bo also began to pick up on the fact that she was about to draw her sword when she approached a couple moments ago.
"Dyson Wolfbane of the 39th precinct was involved in a car accident but is fine." The Valkyrie stated factually. Now backing off from Bo's personal space quickly and efficiently, she dropped both her hands to stand at attention and her right hand released the hold on the handle of a dagger which was still sheathed as well. Bo could only surmise that she swapped weapon choices while they were hugging.
They both stood there and had looks of confusion on their face. Which was followed by an awkward silence between the two.
"Tamsin, is what's going on?" Bo questioned as she started to move her right hand on rest on her own dagger. Hurting Tamsin is the last thing she wanted to do, but given the fact that Tamsin was about to filet her on a simple hug made her more wary never the less.
"Bo Dennis, the unaligned succubus, you are in Valhalla by the invitation of Odin, your father. I am Arin, daughter of Freya, 15th order, 12th division, 3rd unit." Arin stated in a formal manner without any emotions. She encountered succubi and incubi before and knew they were lust driven and power hungry species. They would do anything in the persuit sexual pleasure. This normally meant that they would break laws wantonly for it and hence all of their kind were aligned with the dark. This obviously made Bo different since she was unaligned, but if she did have an alignment, she was actually more aligned to the light. She quickly scanned Bo's form and she was wearing tight leather pants, leather vest and a cotton tank. Her hair was pulled back to reveal her soft and expressive features. Even though she had some battle damage, Tamsin was correct, from a physical perspective, she was still very attractive.
What the heck, Bo thought, she looks, walks, talks and has the same mannerisms as Tamsin. She even gives me the up and down stare like her as well. How can this be? Are all Valkyries that similar? How does she even know about Dyson's whereabouts even?
"Tamsin, 4th order, 1st division and 8th unit was my twin sister. It was common to get us confused even amongst the sisterhood." Arin elaborated a moment later.
"Wha…. Tamsin never told me she had a twin sister. Wait" Bo shook her head trying to wrap her head around the new information, putting her left hand on her forehead but keeping her right hand on her dagger hilt. "Was?" she dropped her left hand now looking confused and staring at Arin expectantly.
"Tamsin was killed following the car accident after Dyson rescued her." Arin bluntly stated. She saw that Bo was getting both confused and distraught. She also knew that Tamsin did communicate via the link to her in detail about what a pain in the rear she was but had a lot of respect and fondness for the succubus. "I'm …. Sorry….. she must have meant a lot to you." Arin continued still in a rigid posture.
"What?" Bo questioned and still confused. "I just saw her like less than an hour ago!" she started to raise her voice. She could not believe what she was hearing. "She's here right? In Valhalla some where for some rebirth ritual or whatever?" in a frustrated tone grasping for straws.
Arin hesitated and was getting a little nervous but did not show it. She heard that the succubus was powerful as it was and being the daughter of Odin, that made it more so. It also was not her decision or story to tell. But Valkyries were not one to sugar coat and lie either. "She's not, her soul is not in Valhalla. Odin made sure that she would be gone forever for her disobedience."
Bo's anger started to surface and she immediately barked out "So what, you are ok with this and are just ecstatic to be Odin's tool! What type of fucked up place is this!" Bo felt a pang of regret as just within moments of telling Tamsin to fight, sent her to her death probably at the hands of Odin and his Valkyrie cronies without any chance to continue her existence.
Arin quickly retaliated and back-handed Bo with all her strength to her torso sending her flying across the room, barely missing the now surrounding but curious Valkyries and into a mahogany wall with a loud thud. Bo's dagger clinked away under a table as she was in the process of drawing it when Arin's fist was in flight.
"Owwwwwww" Bo groaned from her sitting position. If her head was not spinning so much she would have been tempted to find her dagger and fight on. Then of course the next thought in her head was how could she fight someone that looked and acted like the Tamsin she cared about?
With that Arin took a couple purposeful strides toward Bo point her left index finger at Bo seething with anger. "You think that I don't mourn her loss!?" Arin yelled at the top of her lungs drawing her sword at the Succubus getting up wearily. "She's my TWIN sister you stupid bitch! We've trained, lived and fought for centuries together. We have always been in contact with one another via our telepathic link and I don't hear her anymore. I missed her the moment she went silent!" There was brief silence as she was thinking what to say next. "All this rebirth shit, was not my fucking call that was your dad's!" Huffing out of classic Tamsin type laugh, "That bitch takes orders from no one. She seems to think that her sisterhood, me, and gods like Freya and Odin are just giving her suggestions and advice but she took suggestions from you like a fucking decree from god all mighty." She concluded her tirade.
"I'm sorry." Bo let out with a sigh rubbing her chest. "I guess I deserved that."
"She thought you were perfect. And I have been trying to wrap my head around that and the fact that she actually followed you."
"No I am not perfect, far from it." Bo emphatically stated starting to walk toward Arin. Bo stopped in front of Arin within arm's length. Arin still with her sword in hand looked at her trying to gauge Bo.
Arin then continued "Hell, she was even dumb enough disobey Odin. Either she saw something in you or you fucking thralled her with one of your succubus tricks." Bo shook her head vehemently at the latter part, but Arin was unconvinced.
Arin staring Bo down asked "If you are not prefect, DID YOU ENTHRALL MY SISTER to do your bidding?"
"NO!" Bo spat out insulted. "I never used my powers on her. As a matter of fact I have no thralls. She made the choice to follow me on her own terms. I am actually surprised she went along given the fact she was always such a bitch."
Arin still unconvinced raised her voice "This does not make any sense! Why would Tamsin disobey her gods, defy people she has known for hundreds and possibly thousands of years to choke on a toothless second rank succubus and her human circus act that she knew for less than a year!?"
"I DON'T KNOW! I DON'T FUCKIN' KNOW!" Bo yelled back. "I cared about Tamsin very much, granted we had a very rough start, she was actually one of the good ones." Realizing that she should not be yelling at an armed an agitated Valkyrie, Bo calmed down by taking a deep breath, "Look, I don't have all the answers and if I could ask Tamsin, I would. Can we…. Can we just put away our weapons and talk this through?" Bo asked bringing right hand slowly to Arin shoulder.
Arin backed off quickly still in a fighting stance, then Bo realized that Arin was probably trying to prevent herself from being enthralled in any way.
"I'm just a 'toothless' succubus and I am not going to use my powers on you." Bo brought both her hands up to re-assure her.
With that Arin considered it for a moment and quickly let out in a huff, "Fine. But I hate talking." Looking to her right and then putting her sword back into her sheath.
'She is so like Tamsin' Bo thought as that expression and mannerism was dead on. It made her heart constrict with in pain as it occurred to her how much she did care for her. Bo just erroraneously assumed that Tamsin was indestructible as she always made herself out to be. Tears started to form in her eyes and her voice cracking slightly "I'm sorry, I .. I just miss her soo much already." She shielded her eyes from Arin with her head turning away slightly trying to hold back her sobs. Arin also just reminded her so much of her fallen friend. "First Dyson, now Tamsin. I am just doing what I think is right and instead I am walking death to all those I get close to." Bo barely got out through her uneven and hitched breathing.
Arin stared at her and found it odd that the Succubus was on a rollercoaster ride of emotions ever since she arrived and she had no idea how Tamsin or anyone for that matter ever dealt with a person so emotional charged. Now she at least knew that deep down, Bo did care for Tamsin too and it was not one way like Arin or even Bo believed. Bo and Tamsin probably did not express it to each other Arin quickly deduced. It did somewhat answer her question she posed to Bo earlier as you normally don't enthrall those you truely care about. They just stood there in sight of all the surrounding Valkyries. Emotions were never a Valkyrie's strong point so much so the surrounding crowd started to back up and some even surried away as if Bo was releasing some sort of magical weapon against everyone in the room. Arin was at a total loss for words as she could truly feel Bo's pain at the loss of Tamsin. Against her better judgment, Arin hesitantly approached Bo, then willfully overriding all of her instincts and training, brought her in for a hug. The last thing this place needed was an emotionally unstable but very powerful succubus she justified logically in the back of her mind.
It was as if a flood of emotions were let loose as Bo's tears fell quickly down her face with only sounds of despair coming from her lips. Bo clung onto Arin tightly as if letting go meant losing Tamsin. They remained in that embrace for what seemed like an eternity. But eventually, Bo broke the embrace and took a moment to compose herself. Bo was just about to look for her dagger, but another Valkyrie approached her and gave it to her without a word. Bo nodded to her and she departed quickly and efficiently. Arin followed suit made herself look presentable again even though it looked like it rained on her right shoulder. They were alone again as the other Valkyries had left.
Bo was the first to break the awkward silence. "Thanks Arin for ..… for that. So why am I here?"
"As I was trying to tell when I first greeted you," Arin straightened up at attention again "Bo Dennis, daughter of Odin, your father requests your presence for dinner at this time." Arin then loosened up with very slight smirk, "Well I hope Odin assumes and takes into account VST."
"VST?" Bo looked at her inquisitively.
"Oh baby Fae. It stands for Valkyrie Standard Time. It means the time you have to arrive, plus one minute for every pint, shot, or can of alcoholic sustenance you had that day." Arin glibly stated with a sarcastic Tamsin like smirk.
"Oh," Bo smiled for the first time upon hearing the news, "In that case, I guess I had 15 or more".
"All right succulette, this is the part where I lead and you follow, ok?" Arin smiled and walked off strongly.
Bo laughed, the sarcasm was so like Tamsin and at least she lived on in someone else. They walked up to the mezzanine level and shared comfortable silence. They came to a large ornate floor to ceiling double door with 2 other Valkyries flanking it. They were standing guard in full battle armor and swords, but also in addition, they had their helmets and gold plated tipped spears. They stood ready to open the doors to the main dining chamber.
"OK, we're here. Daddy is expecting you. Later!" Arin waved tentatively and turned around to walk away. She then felt Bo quickly grab her arm.
"Wait" Bo hastely brought up and then realized that Arin was looking at where Bo placed her hand with a raised eyebrow. "You're not waiting for me?" She asked gingerly removing her hand from Arin.
"I got people to see, things to do succubus. They are also called orders where you come from." Arin stated matter of factly scrunching her face. Arin was confused on why she wanted her to stay. They did, after all, just only meet 20 minutes ago. "Someone else will be by to escort you back to your plane of existence." She elaborated in an attempt to comfort Bo.
"Can you just stay and wait for me?" Bo started to plead. "Please." She added.
Arin was taken aback by the way she asked with those puppy dog eyes. Please was not in the succubi vocabulary normally. They just took what they wanted with their power. And still yet, Bo had not used her powers on her, or tried to. Bo may have been telling the truth about never enthralling anyone. "I don't report into you succubus." Arin quickly spat out. Why was she so attached to her?
"Stop being such a bitch and quit arguing with me! Just do this for me Tamsin." Bo blurted out. "Uh …. Arin".
There was that awkward silence again and Arin just lifted up one of her eye brows inquisitively. Bo knew that she needed to speak up first to clarify her slip up.
"It's just that… I miss her… a lot …. ok." Bo looked pensive trying to find the right words to say next. "If you are truly Tamsin's sister, you also know that, despite all her faults, she was fiercely loyal to her friends no matter the cost. I need someone that can trust especially in this strange place." Bo taking a moment to survey the surroundings feeling uneasy. "You also may be the only link I have to her now and I don't want to lose that either." She truthfully confessed.
"Damn Succubi and their emotions." Arin exhaled defeated. She closed her eyes briefly. She locked onto Freya's voice and communicated via the link. 'Arin from 15,12,3. Request to standby at Odin's main hall then escort Bo Dennis back to her plane.' A heart beat later, Freya's voice returned 'OK. Be careful with this particular succubus. She must be more powerful than we imaged since she managed to corrupt your sister, one of Odin's best warriors.' Arin took a moment to process this then her eyes snapped open and Bo was still looking at her waiting for an answer. "Fine, I'll stay, but you owe me some drinks later." She smirked.
Bo looked at Arin inquisitively while she closed her eyes. 'She must be talking to someone in to get permission to stay. So that is how Valkyries talk to one another' Bo thought. Funny Tamsin never did that but then of course Tamsin never asked for permission from anyone. "Deal." Bo concluded with a genuine smile. With that, the large double doors to the dining area opened and Bo proceeded to walk confidently in alone.