(Bo's POV)
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There are moments I look at my life and I wonder if I can do this.
Sasha's words hang in the air.
I had been okay. Consumed with anger and confusion, but okay. And then there was a second of silence. Just a second after she had spoken where no one had said a word or moved, I don't even think we breathed. Collectively we just stopped. It was like if everything had just paused. And in that second, staring her down trying to put together the pieces of the night I feel myself beginning to fall apart. I'm staring her down, as she stares at me with this look that basically tells me that the fact my life is spinning out of control means nothing to her. What's more angering is she looks like she's in control. Not a care in the world. She's calm and cool and in control, and I don't think I'm any of those things. I don't think I am ever able to be all those things at once. And it pisses me off. Like actually pisses me off. And the more we stare at one another the more my dislike for her becomes a problem. And the more of a problem it becomes the more I hear Lauren's words stirring in the back of my mind. The more I think about how many times Lauren has deferred to her. The more I think about how she knows what Lauren's feeling better than I do, because apparently, she has this aura thing mastered and I am lucky if I can see anything beyond lust and danger.
And just when I think I have some sort of grip on the situation, from the corner of my eye, off to Sasha's right is Enobaria's limp body laid on a table. Her arms dangling over the sides. Her head nearly doing the same. An afterthought almost. She had been set down and left there sort of like she was on the street. Once upon a time one of the most important people to me now an afterthought. The closest thing I had to a mentor for years just gone. And I hadn't even managed to figure out my own feelings about her crazy erratic behavior as of late, but now she's gone, and I don't know how I feel about that. I don't know how I feel about any of it actually.
I bring my hands to my face, palms pressed against my eyes tightly as I try to push back the tears I feel sneaking up. Drawing in a deep breath, I hold it for a second before letting out a sigh. My hands moving up into my hair, pushing it back out of my face. "Is this supposed to be some sort of joke?"
"I suppose one could find a sense of levity in our peculiar situation," She sort of chuckles under her breath. "But no Bo, I am very serious."
"Only you people can get in this much trouble." Vex lets out.
"You cannot claim sanctuary." Trick follows.
"Oh no little king, I can. By original Fae law, any Fae regardless of their position may claim sanctuary. So, here I am."
"The only people you answer to are the Elders. There is no sanctuary from them."
"You're clearly not paying attention dog, it's from Syra."
"You want sanctuary from Syra?" I ask, trying to wrap my head around the situation. "You?"
"Yes." She lets out frustratedly, looking off to my right and I don't need to turn to know she is looking at Lauren. "Since you all seem to be a little dense, I will say this very slowly. I want to invoke sanctuary, from Syra. The homicidal, psychotic and sociopathic, although impeccably dressed party crasher who killed your friend." She stops, turning to Enobaria's body. "Speaking of."
Her words trail off and Dyson makes some comment, but I'm too wrapped up in watching her to make out what he says. It must be an insult cause she glances up, smirking before looking down at Enobaria. She reaches out, grabbing her jaw with enough force that her lips to part. Trick the first to protest, as I take a step forward. Ignoring us, she reverses the feeding process. Chi leaves past her lips into Enobaria's mouth. And as much as I can't stand the woman, I find myself in amazement. The flow is strong and piercing, brighter than any I have ever taken. Apart from her hand on Enobaria's jaw, she doesn't touch her. She is not even leaning over her, only tilting her head downward. There is such an ease to it, I can't help but to feel a little jealous.
When she stops, she doesn't let go of Enobaria's jaw, but looks up at us. Or maybe only me. In her very rude and short way she explains how a succubus can give life as well as take it. That we possess the power, each of us, given the right situation to bring about life. Not only succubi, but anyone depending on the way of death has a small window to be brought back. She is careful to note that it doesn't always work, but there is a good chance most of the time if you do it quickly enough. Apparently neck breaking is a fifty-fifty chance depending on how severe it was. Drowning is the easiest thing to bring a person back from, and decapitation or dismemberment is an obvious no-go. And then for whatever reason, she makes sure to make a point that it should never be attempted on someone who was burned alive. There is something about the way she says it, a sort of softening to her tone that if she was someone else, I might put a second of consideration into why she's so adamant about that.
"Theoretically speaking, you could heal nearly anyone?" Lauren asks, curiosity dripping from her words. "From any injury?"
"Theoretically." She nods. "Although, passing chi is a delicate thing. We need it to live. Life to sustain life. It is what and who we are. No matter how small the amount we pass on, it is a piece of us. It creates a bond. As well, there is the chance of other side effects."
"Such as?"
"Do we really need a lesson?" Dyson asks.
"I actually want to hear this." I let out.
"There can be codependency to varying degrees. There can be the opposite in very rare cases, where the receiving individual ends up rejecting the succubi either temporarily or indefinitely. Legend even says life can be given that way. Although in my many years on this earth, I have never seen that one."
"Spontaneous, succubus pregnancy?" Kenz laughs. "Now I've heard it all."
"I can only confirm the first two. A human or fae, they can die from being drained of chi, but it is not entirely what they are. For a succubus, it is. Everything within us is encompassed within our chi and in turn everything within us is given life from our chi. We take and it becomes ours, but if we give, it is still our own. A piece of us within the other."
"Thus theoretically why a life could be created, given the right circumstances." Lauren lets out, fully in her doctor scientist mode, as she steps up closer looking between Sasha, Enobaria and me.
"Theoretically."
"That's a helluva thing." Kenz says.
"That bitch!" Enobaria yells as she bolts up, Sasha jerking her hand back. "I can't believe that-ugh!"
"Holy hell!" Vex yells himself.
"That is why we do not trust Syra." Sasha says flatly, taking several steps back from Enobaria.
"I have no idea what the hell is happening."
"I just brought your friend back, as a sign of goodwill."
"We're not friends—right now." I let out, taking two steps forward. My eyes running over Enobaria as she swings her legs over the table and lets her head hang. "Seriously what the hell is happening?"
"What's happening infant is that I am offering you the best deal you're ever going to get."
"You're asking us for sanctuary."
"Consider it more of a wartime peace treaty under an unfortunate name."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning that you and your friends here will not be able to take Syra alone."
"Neither can you, if you're here." Trick says.
"We are in a position to help each other little king. Neither of us wants what is coming."
"You want the same thing." Hale finally speaks, and suddenly I feel out of the loop again.
"No, what I wanted was unity and peace. She did too, at least I thought she did. It has become clear she has lost her mind." She looks at Lauren. "And now with Lykris' brother dead, Lauren's time is borrowed."
"What?"
"The other twin, the one Lauren left withering in pain at the bottom of the hole in the ground." Enobaria lets out weakly. Her hands cupping the back of her neck as she looks up at me. "He finally died. That's what this was about. Was supposed to be about."
"What does she want?" I ask.
"Genocide."
"Light. Dark. Human. Animal. Anyone or thing that does not bow to her way of thinking." Sasha follows up Enobaria's comment. "This started as a way to unite us, at least it did for me. I have doubts now whether it was ever about that for her."
"And what happens to all the humans?" Kenzi asks.
"Like with anything, we expected casualties. Although, for the most part we anticipated the majority would conform and turn."
"Project Gemini." Lauren says softly, looking away from my stare. "A transformation for those who wished it, either way."
"Two separate sides of a single embodiment." Sasha smiles at her. "When I heard your name for the project, I knew you had figured it out. I knew you would."
"How about we don't flirt with my girlfriend, huh?"
"There was to be peace. No more hiding for us. No more divide. And humans would be safe and benefit, given a new way of life."
"That is-I do not have words." Trick says, almost disgusted.
"Whether or not you support it is irrelevant. What is not is that Syra has delved into the dark fae traditions and teachings. Far beyond anything I have seen."
Vex laughs. "Not to state the obvious, but she is dark and we do tend to do that."
"Beyond your years creature, beyond even mine. I am speaking of traditions when the Light was the lesser of the three and the Elders did not yet exist."
"She'd need-"
"All the remaining decedents?" Sasha cuts Trick off. "Yes, she has them all, without myself of course."
"And Lykris' brother." Enobaria adds.
"Sorry, still needing Fae for Dummies over here." I wave unnecessarily, arms folding over my chest. "What's children of decedents?"
"Not what, who. They are pure fae. Children from the firsts of our kind. There were the firsts and they bred and bred and then those children at age bread and then they bred."
"Yeah, we got it. Lot of babies."
"Well, eventually there were enough of us. Firsts mixed with the youngest, and then there were mixing with humans. Fae and human now cannot produce fae children. The firsts could not produce with humans. However, the youngest could. Eventually evolution took it's course. The decedents are where all fae family trees come from. I personally never procreated. Syra on the other hand has quite the extensive family tree. Which also creates some concern because who some of her lineage is and what they are capable of."
"I feel like it's obligatory to ask at this point, so...who?"
"Well for starters, the keeper of Hel. Hades as you all would know him."
"Get the hell out of here."
"Greek Gods?" Kenz lets out, choking on her drink.
"There's also notably, Hestia and Devanos the Unbearable."
"Hades is from Syra's linage?" Trick asks, oddly concerned.
"Yes, does that mean something to you?"
"No. No. I just did not discover that."
"There is plenty you don't know. And to answer the human, yes Gods. That's what humans assigned the fae who walked around freely, unwilling to take to their new way of life out of view. It worked for them for a time, although, we all know how those stories ended."
"History lesson aside, why are you here?"
"I told you already. Syra has become erratic and bold. She has come into the compound several times recently stirring up trouble. She has killed light fae without hesitation. And has developed a certain fetish for human sport."
"I thought you light and dark guys needed consent for war or something?"
"War in a traditional sense, sure. When you plan on committing genocide, not so much."
"I see an easy fix, Lauren just doesn't complete the project and there we go."
"Syra will take Lauren and force her to finish it Bo." Enobaria lets out, pushing herself from the table. "You won't be able to do a damn thing to stop it. And neither with Sasha. Because, let's be honest, the real reason that pushed your decision to come here tonight was because you knew you couldn't protect Lauren alone."
"Careful child, I just gave you life-I can take it right back."
"Syra will take Lauren and give her to Hades, and you'll never get to her. You know that. The time for pretending is over with, Sasha."
"I do not intend to stop anything." Lauren says firmly, pulling everyone's attention. "Whether it buys me time or not, I am continuing Gemini because I believe in it. In the right hands, it could save lives."
"You are not God." Dyson snaps.
"Neither are you." She snaps right back. "You say who am I to make the decision, but who are you? An angry, jealous, man caught up in times of the past. Too hateful to see past your own shortcomings. You want to destroy this for the same reasons I want to create it. However, I know I am not the one to decide either because I am an angry, jealous woman caught up in ideas of what could be."
"I think, we all need a minute." I let out.
"Bo's right. Let's just take a break and have a drink." Hale says.
"Not the purple shit though." Kenz is quick to add.
"Does this mean teammates?" Sasha asks with a smirk.
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(Lauren's POV)
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"How are you feeling?" I ask, hesitantly stepping off the last step into Trick's living area.
"Like I had my neck snapped."
"That sounds accurate."
"Doesn't it?" She turns to face me, drink in hand. "Care for one?"
"No, thank you. After earlier I do not believe I will be having one for a while."
"Yeah." She laughs, taking a drink. "Sorry about that. She wanted chaos. The pair gets off on it. Easiest thing I could think of."
"That is rather interesting." I come to lean on the arm of the couch, hands folded in my lap. "I thought you chose the approach knowing I would piece it together."
"Piece what together exactly?"
"Everything."
"Me? Planning against Syra? Never." She laughs. "Well, now that the bitch snapped my neck, I might."
"So then to say that our conversation when you came to visit me was a veiled warning would be preposterous?"
"I'd say ridiculous, but you like your big words."
"And the way you spoke then was not because you were letting me know that Lykris was in the woods listening."
"You give me too much credit, I'm just a bitch really."
"My mistake." I nod, standing upright readying to venture back upstairs.
"Why did you come out like that?"
"Excuse me?"
"You came running out, toward us. The last image I have is of you moving forward."
"I read too much into the situation. I remembered the story of how you tried to," I trail off, not entirely sure how I can delicately describe her failed attempt at avenging her lover. "I remember when you used the tactic before. The oddities in our last conversation have never sat right with me. Nor the pieces I know of your last conversation with Bo. I had the preposterous idea that you had been trying to warn me all along of something. And if you had resorted to such a drastic measure, reminiscent of something only I of all people would know then perhaps you were in trouble of some kind."
"Sometimes that big brain of yours just overworks itself."
"It has been known to happen."
"I'm going to leave Lauren, in a few minutes. Slip out of here and never ever look back."
"I did not anticipate you helping us fight." I hesitate, however continue, nonetheless. "I do believe Bo though still believes there is a chance."
"Come with me."
"Excuse me?"
"Come with me. Away from here. Away from all of this mess. Be free."
"Enobaria-?"
"It doesn't have to be for long, I'm not proposing here. But you'll be safe. Away from this. You'll be free."
"Why do you want me to run so badly?"
"Why do you want to stay so badly?" She shakes her head, finishing off the liquid in her glass. "Syra will kill you. She will allow that deranged animal to have you, to pay for what you did. I was there Lauren, his brother suffered for so long. I have seen some fucked up shit and that was by far the most fucked up. His body healing around the blades until they were a part of him. Removing them and his body couldn't function. They will make you suffer and enjoy it."
"I know what I am risking."
"You don't."
"I do."
She repeats herself, this time harsher than before. "You don't."
"Because I am human?"
"Because you are in love. Because you are confused. Because you want to do the right thing. Because something inside of yourself is-"
"Is what?" I ask curiously, taking a step back away from the stairs toward her. My only response the shake of her head. "Is it wrong that I want to do the right thing?"
"Lauren, they will not be able to save you this time."
"Why do you think I believe anything else?"
"What?"
"I believe in this Enobaria. I believe in the change it could bring. I believe in Bo. And I might sound crazy, but I believe in Sasha as well."
She laughs, setting the glass down. "In Sasha?"
"Yes. I know that she can be a bit abrasive at times. I have no illusion of who she is or what she is-."
"I really don't think that's true."
"Why is this so baffling to you?"
"Because it means you are exactly who I thought you were."
"Is that bad or good?"
"Time will tell I guess." She smirks, shaking her head. "So that's it, decision made?"
"Yes, my decision is made."
"No changing your mind?"
"No."
She nods, making her way to me. Her voice lowers as she leans in and takes my hand. "Then a parting gift if you will," She squeezes my hand and had her stare not been as intense as it is I would have been concerned with the sudden tactile nature of her. "If you won't run, then don't be afraid to love her." Leaning in, she places a kiss on my cheek, the most vulnerability I have ever felt from her. "Thank you for trying."
"You could stay."
"Goodbye Lauren."
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(Bo's POV)
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She stands there staring over the edge of the roof, and it all feels like we've been here before. Standing here, hurt and broken and confused. Her arms are wrapped around her body to keep herself warm from the wind. Her fingers tapping her arms almost in rhythm. A few hours ago I would have snuck up behind her, wrap my arms around her and steal a kiss all without a thought. Now I find myself debating whether or not to stay. The fact she still hasn't noticed me doing nothing to assure me I should. But just as against better judgment my feet brought me up here, my voice finds a way to betray me as well.
"Hey."
"Hey." She says softly, turning around to face me.
"I thought I had the thing for roofs."
"I needed a moment; it has been a very long night."
"Not quite what I planned."
"You did not plan all of this?" Her eyebrow raises, and she almost manages a smirk.
"No, definitely didn't plan—any of this." I shake my head, looking away from her. "Enobaria left."
"I know. I saw her before she did."
"Oh." This time I laugh, overdramatically tossing my hands up. "Guess I don't need to be in the loop on anything around here."
"For what it's worth, I think she did not say goodbye to you because she cares."
"Cares?"
"Sometimes the pain is unmanageable, especially for those of us who do not know how to process it."
"Is that what I have to look forward to from you?"
"I have no intention of leaving Bo."
"Not really the impression I got."
"Do you want to discuss this?"
"No." I snap, folding my arms over my chest as I watch her come closer. "I really don't."
"Then we pretend it never happened?"
"Yeah, sure." I shrug. "I guess."
"Is that heathy?"
"Is anything about us healthy?"
She turns just enough so that I can only she the side of her face. "I thought we were doing well."
"Yeah, me too Lauren."
"It was wrong of you do ask that."
"Yeah, it's my fault. It's always my fault."
"You figured out something was wrong, and you took advantage of the situation. If you wanted to know something, you could have asked."
"Cause you're an open book?"
"I have tried."
"Two words babe. Project Gemini?"
"I've spoken with you about my work."
"Bullshit. I would remember a project to turn humans fae."
She looks at me again, only nodding. "We both were wrong."
"Bad decisions, our specialty."
"You asked me if-"
"I said I don't want to talk about it." I look over my shoulder at the door.
"I would be lying if I said that it would not be easier to be with someone who could be with only me. Who had control over themselves. Who knew who they were. Who did not have to sacrifice pieces of themselves to be with me. Who had more of an understanding of pieces of myself."
"Wow."
"And it would be lying if you said it wouldn't be easier to be with someone who you could feed from. Who enjoyed more of the things you do. Who was not emotionally unavailable most of the time. Who was free."
"That's unfair."
"It is the truth, and Bo, the truth is very rarely fair." She draws in a deep breath. "You asked me if I thought that a relationship with her would be a better fit, and it would. And a relationship between you and—him would be a better fit."
"Wow. Okay. Yeah. Beginning to think the running away would be better."
"You did not ask me if I loved her, I do not. You did not ask me if I wanted to be with her, I do not. You did not ask me if I love you, I do. You did not ask me if I want to be with you, I do. You asked me if I thought that it would be a better fit, and it would, however that does not mean that is what I want or need."
"How am I supposed to believe that?"
"The same way I believe the same is true for you and him."
"You can't just keep tossing him in my face Lauren. It's not the same."
"You do not want to play the same-game, because you will lose every time Bo."
"She is better than me—in every way." my voice breaks, surprisingly saying this aloud. "How am I supposed to compete."
"There is no competition." She says, quickly closing the distance between us. "No one could ever compare to you."
"You said it yourself," I push her hands away, taking a step back. "I can't control myself. I don't know who I am, in more ways than one. She's older. She's settled. A little crazy, but who isn't."
"You will learn to control yourself, and you will figure out who you are."
"I love you so much and I just, I feel like every time I feel comfortable in that, something happens and you—slip further away from me."
"I'm right here."
"Are you?" I ask, forcing myself to meet her eyes. My heart aching at the sight of tears threatening to fall. "Lauren."
"A better fit only means easier," Her hands cup my cheeks, a tear slipping down her cheek. "Not right."
"D-don't leave."
She shakes her head, leaning in a kissing my lips several times. The taste of her tears, of mine own fresh on our lips. "You either."
"I'm sorry I took advantage of the situation." I whisper through a sniffle, leaning back a little as her hands fall from my face.
"I'm sorry I hurt you."
"It's okay, I heal fast." I force smirk, the joke not really as cute as sounded in my head. She only gives me this forced smile.
"What do you want to do?"
"Well, what I wanted to do was be a normal couple with my friends and then spend the rest of the night making love. What I want to do is get very drunk, cry for a while until I pass out in your arms. But, what I am going to do is put on my big girl pants, go downstairs and try to figure out what the hell I have to stop Syra."
"Okay."
"Okay."
I reach my hand out to her, as she takes it our fingers intertwine tightly, and I find myself both frightened and assured all at the same time.
There are moments I look at my life and I know I can do this.