Isabeau
The Succubus pulled at her hair while she paced back and forth in her living room. Sometime during the night, she snuck out of Lauren's house and went home. Too many temptations were tempting her to cross the line. Not just sexually but crossing another line that she never wants to cross with Lauren.
She held the crying Doctor until the blonde fell asleep. With one touch, she could make Lauren forget all about Nadia. Make her forget all about her pain. With one touch, she could make Lauren hers and only hers. She could make it so that Lauren only remembers her. But she never wants that for the Doctor. She wants Lauren to be happy, healthy, and working again. Sure, her house is equipped for her to work at home. But she deserves to be out in public. Out in the world, helping people. Not forced into working within four walls and halls in the Light Fae compound.
She smiled thinking of Lauren helping a little child with scrapes and other bruising. She smiled just thinking of Lauren smiling again. She has not seen much of it since she met the woman. But she plans to make her smile again. Someday and every day after that. Watch her get up and shower for work. Watch her fall asleep from being tired. Being her body pillow when she cannot sleep through the night.
Taking two more steps she stopped and looked across the street. Was she being selfish leaving the Doctor alone? She had enough of wondering. She grabbed her car keys and pulled the door open.
Lauren.
The doctor sat in her kitchen in her robe with a huge cup of coffee in front of her. The house was empty, and she felt just as empty. She knew Isabeau was gone the minute she walked out of the house. She is too tired to seek her out. She barely knows the woman, so she has no idea where she would have gone. She is the most powerful Fae Lauren has ever been around. She could go anywhere. Do or be anything that she wants to be. Have anything or anyone that she wants.
Why would she want to attach herself to a grieving mess? The woman gritted her teeth. Years she spent trying to cure Nadia. When that damned Ash knew she could not possibly reverse what they had done to her. The love of her life was long gone, and Lauren had been trying to resurrect a dead corpse.
She pulled at her hair. Blonde locks fell against her ears. She wants to scream. She wants to cry again. But none of it would make her whole again. She does not just want to scream because of the pain. She wants to scream because she still feels humiliated. Walking among the Fae not knowing they were probably laughing at her ignorance. If she had been allowed to run tests on Nadia. Or even draw her blood, she might have figured it out on her own.
But no. Day in and day out, she went to the pod, talking to the dead. She threw the coffee cup across the way watching it splash against the wall and fall into the sink.
She felt embarrassed by that too. For years she had not let anything get to her like this. Nothing angered her but failing to wake her girlfriend up. She turned down Fae after Fae that had asked her out. They were probably in on it too. Nothing stays a secret in the Fae world. Nothing until Nadia.
She cleared her throat and stood to go clean up her mess. Being a scientist, she knew how to pick up broken glass without cutting herself. Which means she also knows how to throw it away properly. She gathered up as much as she could and tossed the mess into the trash can. Then she simply got rid of the trash can.
She went back inside and showered. She could get company at any minute. Just as she predicted, company was knocking at her door just as she emerged downstairs again.
The young brunette was looking at her feet. "Good afternoon."
"Hi." Lauren whispered.
"Can I come in? Isabeau finally raised her head.
"Of course,." Lauren stood back allowing the woman entrance. She could not exactly tell the woman no, given she is the reason Lauren has this house.
"How are you doing? Isabeau whispered as she turned back to the Doctor.
"I'm okay. Not great, but okay." Lauren replied as she gestured for the woman to sit.
Isabeau half smiled and took a seat. She looked around and inhaled. The place was still clean. If it was not, she was going to clean up for the woman. She had seen humans grieve. It breaks her heart. More so now that the woman that could someday have her entire heart is grieving too.
"Lauren, I think you should get out of here." Isabeau looked up.
"What? Leave? Like now? Lauren asked.
"This place will always remind you of her. Of your pain. You can't heal here." Isabeau never took her eyes off of the woman. From what she knows of the Doctor, so far, she knows she will not go easily.
"I'm healing." Lauren sighed.
"I've seen humans lose loved ones and bury them the next week. Your loved one has been gone years. You cannot heal overnight. I am not pushing you to go. I'm telling you to go. Get out of here. I will watch your house. Nobody will come in here and disturb your things. You have my word." Isabeau stayed staring at the woman. Lauren is beautiful. Even in pain, she is stunning.
Lauren sighed and started thinking. For years she has wanted to leave this world behind. But those plans included leaving with Nadia. No Fae had ever offered protection for her belongings. She did not even have much that belonged to her for years. Just the clothes she was given and a few books to read. Everything else belonged to the Ash. Even her manners hindered on his approval. When to stand. When to sit. When to sneeze. When to cough. When to sleep. When to wake up in the morning. Everything belonged to him.
Now she was presently being given her chance to do all of it on her own approval. Her own decisions and space to make them.
"How long can I be gone? Lauren asked.
Damn it What the fuck kind of thinking is that? "It is not like that Lauren. You can stay gone as long as you like. My offer has no expiration date." Isabeau wanted to scream. This is what the Fae had done to Lauren. Programmed her to think like she does. Seek permission while standing in her own house.
"I don't know." Lauren turned to look out the window.
Isabeau stood and approached the Doctor. "If you want, I will go with you, so you will know that it's okay to breathe without permission. That it is okay for you to get up when you want. Go where you want. I will escort you, but I won't hover over you." Isabeau spoke softly. She has been on the run for years. She knows how to get lost. Now she met a woman that has forgotten the skill or never knew how to hide. Hide from the people that shattered her life and world.
Lauren thought about that too. The woman is new in Toronto so the usual suspects would not miss her if she left town. She is related to Trick, and he barely knows her. She is related to Aife, and Lauren barely knows her. Taking off does sound wonderfully relaxing. But how could a busy mind like hers take time off? All she does is think. Think of Nadia. Think of waking her up. Think of what they would do once they were both free. "Get out." Lauren whispered.
"Okay." Isabeau turned to leave.
"No. Not you. I was talking to myself. I was caught up in my mind." Lauren shook her head.
"Oh." Isabeau turned back. "So, have you decided on what you want to do?
"I'll go. If you come with me." Lauren answered as she looked around the living room.
"My vehicle awaits." Isabeau gestured towards the door.
"Just like that? Lauren asked.
"Just like that. There is nothing keeping me here. Mom will understand and I couldn't care less about what anyone else thinks." Isabeau stepped towards the door and opened it.
Lauren gasped at what she saw. The sun was shining bright on a black convertible. The top was down, exposing red leather seats.
"I have air conditioning, so we won't stick to the seats." Isabeau smiled at the thought.
"What the hell, let's go." Lauren walked out, leaving her house as it was. There is nothing they could possibly steal that she could not get again.
The duo walked out and Isabeau helped Lauren into the car. She sent Aife a quick text and did not wait for a reply. She trusts her mother implicitly. Everything she asked for, would be followed to exact detail.
She started the car, and they were off. With no specific destination in mind, she planned to get the Doctor's mind off of her immediate past.
The Succubus suddenly stopped at a car lot. She looked around and turned to Lauren. "Pick one."
"I'm sorry, pick what? Lauren held up her hand.
"Pick your car." Isabeau said softly.
"What? Lauren scrunched her eyebrows.
"Pick any car from that lot or that one over there." Isabeau pointed.
"You're ditching me? Lauren asked.
"I'm not ditching you. But I just thought you would like your own wheels. Yes, we are going away together, but you do not have to ride with me. You can go in your own car. At your own speed. With your own plans. Listen to your own music." Isabeau pulled her keys from the ignition and climbed out of the car.
Once Lauren was certain the brunette was serious, she climbed out too. The women walked around both parking lots before Lauren picked her car. A 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer. "I'm a Doctor, I need lots of room for my medical equipment and other toys".
The Succubus eyes flashed brown and blue, respectively. The blonde seemed to light up as the salesman explained all of the features and Lauren climbed into the vehicle.
"We can go inside and finalize the sale." The salesman smiled. He climbed out and Isabeau stepped to him.
"We're a little short. Can we come back later? The woman smiled and rolled her tongue in her mouth as the man smiled back.
"Of, course. Come back whenever you have the time." The salesman smiled.
"Excellent." Isabeau smiled as she let go and climbed into Lauren's new car and the Doctor drove her back to her own car.
"So, where to? Isabeau lifted her sunglasses as she turned to Lauren.
"Just follow me." Lauren smiled as she pointed and sped away. She felt like shit when the vehicle kicked dust behind her in the Succubus direction.
"Dust washes off." Isabeau smiled as she followed at a spacious distance.
The Dal
"Super horseshit." Kenzi spat as she stormed into the Dal with Dyson hot on her heels.
"What is it now? Trick asked.
"We can't find anyone that can help us. That only leaves you, Trick." Dyson took a barstool.
"I told you no and I mean it. I do not know Isabeau yet. I can't get on her bad side." Trick shook his head. It is far too late for Aife, but he can save his granddaughter, if she will only let him.
"We know you too, Trick! We have been loyal to you for years. Hundreds of years in my case." Dyson fired back.
"Dyson." Trick sighed.
"We're just asking you to remove what she's done. Use more blood this time. That's all." Kenzi pleaded as softly as she could. Although she wished she knew a woman that could beat the crap out of that Succubus. But she knows male Fae. Until Dyson sleeps with her, he cannot influence her, one way or the other.
Trick paced back and forth. They both had good arguments. He has known Dyson for over a thousand years. They have fought side bye side and even fought each other. Kenzi is a human. A human it took the old barkeep a long time to come to tolerate. His trust in her took longer than that. He walked back and forth for a good long while before he stopped. There has to be a better way than using his blood. There are always severe consequences.
"Come on Trick. Now, before Aife returns." Dyson looked around. The old Succubus makes him more nervous than any foe he has faced before. She is crazy. Unstable and uncontrollable.
"Don't. Do not speak her name! Kenzi screamed. "It's like screaming Beetle Juice." That woman sends chills down Kenzi's spine. Even when she is not around. There is something deadly about the way she walks. The way she just shows up out of nowhere.
"We'll protect you Kenzi." Dyson rubbed her back. But he was still scratching his beard for answers. Something to reverse what Isabeau has done.
"I tried writing in my blood to help you. It did not work. Even my blood can't remove what my granddaughter has done." Trick took a seat.
"Then call in the Elders. This is important. This is embarrassing." Dyson growled.
"No Elder will care that you lost your arousal capabilities, Dyson." Trick looked up at the wolf.
Kenzi sulked from her seat. This sucks like nothing that has ever sucked before. The three of them had a nice little familial relationship going on before those Succubus blew into town. This is their town. They live by their rules. Trick is powerful and that has protected her a Dyson on many occasions. Now, Isabeau is a special threat that they cannot outmaneuver. Outsmart. This is all on Trick though. He should have said he had a crazy ass daughter out there on the loose. Did he really think she would not have a child of her own? Isabeau did not look as smart as she is proving to be. "There is one thing he can do." She looked at the bickering men.
"What's that? Dyson asked.
"The same thing he did to Aife. Give Isabeau to the Dark and for her freedom, she must reverse her mess on us." Kenzi suggested.
"Are you out of your fucking mind?! Aife screamed. Her voice shook the building and broke a few bottles.
"Call sanctuary for Kenzi, Trick! Dyson screamed.
"He doesn't have the balls to do that". Aife seethed.
"Go down into Trick's lair, Kenzi. Now! Dyson shoved her towards the stairs, and she did not say another word.
The old Succubus watched her go before speaking again. "You can call off the bullshit. Isabeau will not be returning here. She is not interested in any of this shit. She was only here to meet this little bastard. You will never see my daughter by her own doing again".
"Aife. I need to know my granddaughter." Trick looked up at her.
"She doesn't need to know you. She does not need anything from you. You do not deserve her presence. You do not deserve her time or attention. How does it feel daddy? How does it feel to know that yet another Succubus with your blood wants nothing to do with you? Aie stared hard.
"Where is she? Dyson growled.
"That's none of your business dog. Do not go sniffing around for her either. She is long gone.". Aife turned on her heel and walked out. "Banish that little bitch downstairs, Trick. Or Isabeau will hear about her threat, and you will all be dead before morning".
"Did she mean that? Dyson looked down at Trick.
"Aife never says anything that she doesn't mean. If Isabeau hears of Kenzi wanting her imprisoned, she'll kill her". Trick rubbed his shoulder. It did not hurt, but he had to do something to get that chill running up his spine to go away.
Isabeau and Lauren.
The women had driven for hours before finally settling on a hotel for the night. A five star one. Isabeau will not have Lauren sleeping in a rat's nest. She inspected everything about the lobby and the hotel staff. Then she followed the bellhop and Lauren to her room.
"Are you sure you will be comfortable here? Isabeau asked.
"It looks comfortable. I am sure." Lauren replied as they carried a few of her bags in. Isabeau had splurged on new clothes for the Doctor. Lauren had the same outfits for years. The same dull boring colors.
"I'll be just down the hall. Get some sleep." Isabeau grabbed one of her own bags and hoisted it over her shoulder. She wanted a nice hot shower. A cold one would probably be better. Understandably so, since she was feeling dirty from her thoughts of Lauren.
When Aife suggested a road trip, she never thought it would lead to the Doctor. But everything about the woman is a must know for the Succubus. But the most important thing she knows about her right now is that right now is not the right time to make her move. She can go slow. When she learns the meaning of slow. Everything she has ever wanted has been hers at the snap of her fingers. But she does not want a relationship like that. She wants to earn it. To deserve it. But first Lauren deserves to grieve at her own speed and on her own timetable. Then they can both see if they want a relationship. She smiled imagining Lauren falling asleep in her room. On lush pillows and just as comfortable mattress.
"I've waited my whole life for you." The Succubus spoke softly after settling into her bed.
TBC.