Prelude:
.
What have you done Lauren?
Tears fall down my cheeks almost as hard as the rain beats down atop the windshield. Heart crumbling within my chest, each breath drawn more excruciating than the last. Somewhere in the back of my mind I know all of the fancy words to explain away the pain, but now all I can do is try to remember to breathe. My hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles have turned white, skin on my palms raw but I hold on for dear life.
A soft cooing from the backseat pulling my attention. He smiles at me, wiggling in his seat as he waves his rattle. Broken smile making a brief appearance just long enough for a soft sob to escape. His little smile falters for a moment at the unfamiliar sound.
"It's okay baby." I lie in the way that seems to come so naturally to parents.
Reaching back, grabbing his little onzie covered foot just between my thumb and index finger. He laughs, but not the way he does when Bo does it. It's their thing. Free hand running through my damp hair. Single question on my mind as I unbuckle myself; what have you done?
Not bothering to turn the lights off nor the car, I jump out. He giggles softly as I pull the belt from him. I want so badly to smile the way I have every time before, but all I can do is scoop him up tightly into my arms. Running up the driveway, hand over his head doing the best I can to shelter him from the rain to no prevail.
The door opening as I reach the single step. She stands there as grand as ever. As judgmental as ever. Single hand holding the door as she looks me over with that permanently disappointed glare that I haven't missed one bit.
"An infant's immune system is near non-existent until twelve months."
"I am aware mother." My voice breaks, forcing my eyes to stay on her face.
"So it is not ignorance then, but deliberate stupidity that you chose to prance around in a thunder storm without a jacket or even proper clothes for this…boy?"
"This boy is Matty. Or Matthew." I sort of chuckle, stifling an unexpected sob. "I know how you hate informalities."
"Come." She orders more than invites as she steps aside to allow us in. "I'm sure you remember your brothers, Jacob and Lucas." Her eyes stay on me, but she gestures elegantly but purposelessly behind herself at them. They linger in the solon, drinks in hand trying to appear disinterested. "Your father is away on business."
"Stepfather."
"Ah yes, still as petulant as ever."
"Do you have a towel?"
"I beg your pardon."
"For my son. Do you have a towel or a throw or anything warm that I can wrap him in?"
"So it is yours then."
"He. And for all intents and purposes, yes."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning do you have something or not?" I snap, jaw clenched.
"Here." Jacob mutters out, thick, cream colored throw draped over his arms that he extends them toward me.
"For heavens' sake Karen, give him to your brother so we can discuss what you came here for."
"Please," I whisper, kissing Matty atop his head before hesitantly handing him off. "Be careful."
"Was that so hard?" She scoffs at me, waving me on in the most dismissive way possible as she leads me toward her office.
It's been nearly twenty years and nothing has changed. She's still as cold and as glamourous as I remember. Just like her house. I don't think a single thing has been added. Every carefully chosen statue and piece of artwork remains. Yet no family pictures. Not even of her precious re-do family. Same slightly off-white shade covering every inch of the walls.
"Shut the door. The throw on that chair you may use to dry yourself."
"Thank you."
"I have been meaning to throw it out anyway."
"Well," I can't help snorting as I pull it from the chair. "Thank you still."
"Would you like some?" She looks back at me, holding up a bottle of scotch. "Since you're not burdened with breastfeeding I can assume you still drink?"
"No."
"No?"
"No thank you."
"Please, I stopped expecting manners from you long ago. My slight curiosity was directed at the question of if you don't drink anymore. Or are you just refusing my olive branch?"
"I still drink mother and I'm not refusing your olive branch, I just don't want to drink."
"Well then," She shrugs the way she does, the way that is just enough to make you know what it is, but not enough to be considered a regular shrug. She always loved to teeter those lines. "I'll drink for the both of us." Pouring herself about four fingers worth, she walks over to the seat directly diagonal from me. "So Karen or should I call you Lauren?"
"I'd prefer Lauren, but—."
"Of course you would."
"I was going to say you could call me whatever you want."
"Whichever."
"Yes mother." I nod, tilting my head to the left squeezing the corner of the throw around my hair.
"Did you steal the boy?"
"No!" I laugh a snort. "Well, not technically anyway."
"Well I doubt you're pregnant."
"No."
"Drugs?"
"Of course not."
"Has the incident finally caught up to you?"
"No, I wouldn't come to you for that."
"Then what is it you would come to me for?" She takes a sip, staring through me. "Or shall I continue guessing?"
"I should check on Matty."
"Sit down." Her order catching me just as I began to move. Appeasing her, I do just that. Legs tightly pressed together, throw bunched into a ball in my lap. "The sky must be falling if you are here…Lauren. So, tell me why the sky is falling."
"To explain this, there are things I have to tell you. Things that are going to seem impossible. And believe me, I know that keeping an open mind is not one of your strong suits, but-."
"If this is your longwinded attempt in preparing me for the revelation that there is a species known as Fae, it's pointless."
"I…what?" I stare blankly at her, pretty sure my jaw has actually dropped. Unsure of what to say or even if I can form words, I just stare.
"I am a United States senator, do you really think I would be able to be as effective as I am without knowing something such as this? Knowledge is power and I have an abundance, which is why you're here after all, is it not?"
"I…yes. Well, no. I mean, it is but it isn't. I'm here because I need help yes, but it was, I mean it is for a human issue. Sort of."
"Lauren, there is a terror attack happening every other week. We're do for one any moment, at this rate of yours it will arrive before you arrive at the point. Then I will have to leave and we won't be able to continue this captivating conversation." She takes another sip. "It would be such a shame."
"My gir—partner has been arrested."
"Drugs?"
"What? No! Mother there is no drugs."
"Then?"
"Murder."
"Ah yes, much better."
"Mother," Fists clenching, breath held as I count to ten. Voice in the back of my mind reminding me that this is my last hope. "I made a choice. I made a choice and I didn't think about the consequences for once. I made a choice and it was selfish. And afterward I had made my peace with what was coming for me, but Bo, Bo is Bo."
"What is a Bo?"
"Bo. My girlfriend. The love of my life. The reason I am alive still, in more ways than one. Bo!" I say her name louder meaninglessly, as if that will make her get my point.
"Dear Lord, I know you chose an alternative lifestyle but couldn't you have at least chose someone with a normal name."
"Is this the point you're focusing on?"
"I am listening Lauren, you made a decision without thinking…again. This time instead of running form the consequences, your oddly named life partner is taking the fall. I am following."
"I wouldn't be here if I had any other option."
"My sway with the Fae is very limited Lauren."
"If it was Fae, I could have handled it on my own. We tried. Dyson and Vex have exhausted every avenue. The problem is that the…victim in question is human...now."
"Now?"
"He was Fae. He's always been Fae. But, suddenly his DNA is human."
"Impossible."
"Mother, believe me I know the facts. The Fae law was about to step in when these results came to light. They're washing their hands of this and ignoring the eccentricities of the situation. Bo is completely at the hands of a human justice system and that scares me more than anything. They denied her bail today. Dyson used every one of his police contacts, but we're stuck."
"This may be a bit obvious, but have you considered confessing yourself?"
"She won't let me." My eyes fall to her shoes, suddenly becoming a child again. "And if I did, the Fae would step in. They have a particular interest in me. And with this situation, the fate that would await me is something worse beyond death. Beyond imprisonment."
"This Bo loves you enough to accept life in prison, but you wouldn't accept the same. It does sound like a typical Karen predicament."
"You don't know me mother." I snap, earning the first true look of surprise I've ever seen written over her face. "I am here doing something I swore to God…to myself that I would never do. I am begging you of all people for help. You are the last bit of help left in this situation as much as it pains me to admit. Bo took the blame for me because that's who she is, a hero. MY hero. And I am allowing this because there…were avenues to explore. You are now my last. But if you tell me you won't help, then I will take my son to what family he has left. I will kiss him goodbye and tell him I love him for the last time. And then I will go and throw myself at the mercy of the Fae for her life. It wouldn't be the first time. I live for that woman. I would die for that woman. And I would suffer a fate worse than hell for that woman. I have never hesitated to do so before and this won't be the first time I do."
"Brava." She taps her hand against her glass, tears building in my eyes slowly dissipating at the…cruelty. "Meryl Streep would have some competition had you chosen another career choice."
"Y-you think this is an act?"
"Honestly, I'm unsure."
"It doesn't surprise me you don't recognize love when you see it." Standing up, I toss the throw at her feet. "It's impossible to recognize something you're incapable of."
"Sit down."
"No."
"Sit. Down. Karen."
Taking a deep breath, fists clenched so hard I'm surprised what's left of my nails hasn't punctured the skin. I want to tell her to go screw herself along with some other less than proper things. I want to storm out. But instead I seem to forget I'm a grown woman as I swallow what little is left of my pride. Obeying her command once again. I expect to see her gloat, but she just looks me over, fingertips tapping the glass.
"Mother, I need to leave if you won't help me."
"Explain to me what happened."
"I did, more or less. You know the important part."
"You've given me the cliff notes to the cliff notes. I desire the full story."
"Why?"
"Because it seems as though it would be a hell of a story." She smirks. "And because it's my price."
"Mother."
"Come now Lauren, tell me a story."
"We don't have time for this."
"That is my price."
"Well," My eyes shifting to the door. It's all for show, I know I'm defeated. "Where do you want me to begin?"
"The beginning would an appropriate place."
"Then, the beginning it is."