"C'mon! Let's get out of here!" Aofie said as she headed out of the room. Lauren and Clio just looked at her.

"What are you? Stuck to the floor? Move!" Aoife ordered. Lauren and Clio quickly followed. Aoife led them outside the back of the club and found Crystal, Ryan, Reed, Julia and Bas Cibor all waiting.

"Milady!" Bas Cibor said as he quickly approached.

"I'm fine Cibor." Lauren assured.

"Who the heck is this?" Aofie said as she looked up at Bas Cibor.

"Who the heck are you?" Clio asked.

"This is Aoife. Bo's mother." Lauren informed. Clio's mouth dropped.

"Wait, you're Bo's other mother?" Crystal asked.

"Yes." Aoife replied.

"Wow! Now I know where Bo gets her great looks from." Crystal commented.

"You got that right!" Aoife replied.

"Aoife! What are you doing here? Where have you been?" Lauren asked.

"We don't have time for questions right now. We need to get clear of this place." Aofie replied.

"Aoife!" Lauren pleaded.

"I will answer all your questions in good time, but for now we've got to get out of here!" Aoife replied.

"My place is the closest. We can head there." Ryan said.

"Sounds like a plan." Aoife replied.


"Where have you been? The last we heard Trick said he encountered you in some back alley?" Lauren asked after they all arrived at Ryan's place. Desmond, Ryan's assistant had greeted them all and passed out drinks.

"Daddy and I had an exchange of words…so to speak…and then went our separate ways. I have been moving from place to place ever since." Aofie replied.

"Bo needs to know you're alive and okay." Lauren said.

"All in good time." Aoife replied.

"The time is now, Aoife!" Lauren shot back.

"Milady, we should return to the Presidium." Bas Cibor interjected.

"I'm fine!" Lauren replied irritated.

"Milady, you are the Companion to The Princess Royal. There is an appropriateness to these matters." Bas Cibor started.

"As I said before, there will be times like tonight that will happen. You need to understand that if you are going to continue to be my Bas." Lauren replied.

"Milady, this is entirely unorthodox! Your person was violated!" Bas Cibor continued.

"Cibor!" Lauren shot back. Bas Cibor straightened himself. Lauren shoulders slumped a bit.

"Besides, I knew I would be safe knowing you were nearby." Lauren assured. Bas Cibor took a deep breath.

"Yes, Milady." Bas Cibor replied.

"Who is this guy?" Aoife asked.

"He's my personal guard." Lauren replied.

"Out of a ton of guards. You should see the army back at the Clubhouse. No joke. Army." Crystal chimed in.

"I'm sure." Aoife replied.

"Aoife, Bo thinks about you all the time, worried about where you are." Lauren replied.

"Why? Because she's been Recognized as the next Sovereign?" Aoife asked sarcastically.

"Because you have four grandchildren that's why!" Lauren shot back. Aoife took in a deep breath.

"I heard. I can't believe she's a mother." Aoife said.

"Trust me, there are days she doesn't believe it either." Lauren replied.

"So what are they like?" Aoife asked.

"I hate to interrupt this little reunion but I need to ask what were you doing tonight at Club Fantasia?" Clio asked.

"I'll spill if you spill first." Aoife replied.

"I'm not sure we have that luxury." Clio said. Lauren exhaled.

"Recently, there's been a rash of purges in the County of both Fae and their claimed Humans. While we know some of them are driven by politics we came across information that the purges may be also be driven by interests intended to undermine the Transition Plan." Lauren offered.

"These other interests being some grand, ancient vendetta?" Aoife queried.

"Why? Do you know something? Clio answered.

"Maybe. If our somethings are the same things." Aoife said.

"What's going on, Aoife?" Lauren asked.

"Our mutual interest in the same mysterious somethings is why I'm in town. For Bo." Aoife replied.

"Go on." Lauren prompted.

"The re-emergence of the Presidium into Fae life here on this plane of existence has opened up some old wounds and resurrected old partnerships. I'm sure you're well-versed as to why some of Fae had left the Presidium led by my dearest daddy?" Aoife queried.

"The broad strokes, yes." Lauren replied.

"Then you know the fallout from that continued on this plane and eventually led to the Great Fae War." Aofie said.

"Okay." Julia prompted.

"You also know that during the war I led a rebellion against Trick to avenge the death of my mother, Isabeau, amongst other things." Aoife said.

"Yes." Lauren replied.

"What Trick may not have told you is that one of my partners in crime was Rainer." Aoife revealed. Lauren's eyes narrowed.

"But that's not really news. We all know Rainer was banished by Trick because he was rebellious during the War. The only newsworthy part is that you knew one another." Lauren said.

"Rainer being banished because he was rebellious is the Sunday school version, yes. But as with all things with Trick not the entire truth. Rainer was banished not simply because he was rebellious but because he possessed the Athenaeum." Aoife replied. Lauren's eyes narrowed again.

"I'm sorry, but what's the Athenaeum?" Crystal asked.

"It's a source by which all the Regnants, past and present, are connected." Lauren turned and answered Crystal then refocused back on Aoife. "But we also know of the Athenaeum."

"You do? How?" Aoife asked.

"That's a long, long story, trust me." Julia replied.

"Well, then you know of its power. A power that would have won the war for us." Aoife said.

"Wait, the Athenaeum is a book. A very large book, but a book nevertheless. How the heck would a book have helped your cause?" Ryan said.

"By itself, yes, the Athenaeum is nothing more than a paperweight, however, as Lauren said it a source by which all the Regnants are connected. What that means is that the powers of past Regnants are accessible to the present Queen, but not only that the power of Destiny itself." Aofie replied. Lauren's narrowed again.

"But you have the ability to change history. In your veins. Like Trick. How is that different?" Lauren asked.

"You don't understand. Trick, by way of his blood, can force events at a point in time, but as we all know that always comes with unforeseen consequences. That is why he rarely uses his blood because he cannot control the outcome. The Queen, being selected by Destiny itself to reign, can. Wielding the power of Destiny itself arms The Queen with the ability to shape and control the destiny of one or the destinies of billions, past, present or future, separately or all together with pitch perfect precision – and at will." Aoife replied. Everyone's eyes went wide.

"Judging by your reactions, you really didn't know of the Athenaeum's power after all." Aofie added scanning everyone. Everyone remained silent, still shell-shocked.

"That was one of the real reasons why Rainer was banished. He possessed the one power that could have defeated not only all of the Fae on this plane but all Fae on all planes of existence." Aoife finished.

"That is not good." Ryan said breaking the astonished silence.

"How does power like this exist?" Julia asked astonished.

"And just think Bo will wield such power one day." Crystal added as she looked at Lauren who was lost in thought.

"If you think I'm exaggerating just ask Trick what happened to some of opposition forces after the War of the Five Monarchs. Some were banished, some were destroyed, some were wiped from existence in history." Aoife said.

"Lauren are you okay?" Crystal asked.

"So let me get this straight: we have a Queen who can alter destinies at will and a Queen Consort who can destroy entire planes of existence with her mind." Lauren replied.

"About sums it up." Clio replied.

"Just checking." Lauren said. "And here I was worried about the odd purge here and there."

"Can you imagine if they ever got into a marital squabble?" Julia queried.

"I can't even think about it and I was close enough to The Queen Consort see what she could do first-hand." Clio replied.

"Luckily, they have a crazy, in love marriage or life would be a lot different for the lot of us." Ryan said.

"And that kind of power was just lying around here on this plane of existence in a room somewhere." Julia said while shaking her head.

"Wait, you used the past tense. Isn't it here?" Aofie asked.

"Not anymore. Their Majesties took it back to the Presidium after it was discovered." Julia replied.

"And it's now guarded over by the Monadori Sanctuary." Lauren said.

"The what?" Aoife asked.

"A highly devout, spiritual sect of the Presidium." Lauren replied.

"Obviously, none of what your cabal planned came to pass so what thwarted your plans?" Julia asked.

"We initially believed that in order to unlock the power of the Athenaeum we needed the Regnant, and so an attempt was made to…secure her person." Aoife replied.

"What?" Everyone nearly said in unison.

"Obviously, that didn't work out so we regrouped, and later learned that Athenaeum in it of itself was unnecessary, and that all we needed was its two keys that when put together form an amulet which would reveal a 'back door' to the power of the Athenaeum." Aofie replied.

"How?" Reed asked.

"We were told it acted as a sort of a beacon that could reveal the source of power of the Athenaeum." Aoife replied.

"Built-in redundancy. Smart." Ryan commented.

"Our forces had one half of the relic and were looking for the other one. We were nearly successful but were thwarted by Trick's forces, and the rest as they say is history."

"As they say." Clio repeated.

"But we now know both pieces are here on this plane of existence." Aoife replied.

"How do you know that?" Julia asked.

"Because Engelram was killed for it." Aoife replied.

"You mean the relic is this amulet?" Julia asked. Clio and Reed exchanged glances again.

"Relic?" Aoife repeated.

"That's what we call it, and I'm afraid that's lost as well." Lauren replied.

"It may not be lost after all." Aoife said.

"So is this the part where those two guys we were stalking tonight tie into all of this? That Orsen and the other braggart, what's his name?" Ryan asked.

"Chas Marerro." Reed answered.

"Yeah, him." Ryan said.

"Chas Marerro is my contact, and Orsen was the go-between." Aoife replied.

"What's your role in this?" Lauren asked.

"On the surface, acting as a broker. I had hoped to procure the Athenaeum. They were really interested in that." Aoife replied.

"Whom are they?" Reed asked.

"I can't say." Aoife replied.

"Aoife, do you have any idea of the forces you are playing with? And more so, how this impacts Bo?" Lauren asked.

"Do you think I'm stupid? That's why I'm here! I'm here to protect Bo by finding this relic so those same forces cannot it use to undermine Bo's future as Queen."

"So how does Orsen and Chas come into play?" Reed asked.

"Supposedly, Orsen knew where this relic was." Aoife replied.

"But you killed him tonight so how does that help?" Ryan asked.

"Because Orsen told me the location of the relic during one of his drunken binges." Aoife replied. That made Clio, Reed, and Julia perk up. "I was able to glamour his memory of that particular encounter so he couldn't remember what he told me."

"Where did he say it was located?" Clio asked.

"Ah! For me to know and you to find out." Aoife replied.

"He told me he was from upstate New York. A town called Oldhurst which is not too far from here, which makes it all the more curious he didn't know about the DRM when I asked him. All the Fae know of the DRM." Lauren said.

"He's probably one of those who was just clueless." Clio replied to deflect more speculation.

"Perhaps." Lauren said.

"Is Oldhurst the location he mentioned?" Clio asked Aoife.

"I cannot say." Aofie replied.

"This is important!" Clio shouted to wit she was met with a mixture of looks.

"Why is it so important to you?" Aoife asked eyes focused on Clio. Clio quickly scanned the group.

"I'm just a bit frustrated because this relic thing has caused nothing but drama of late." Clio replied.

"She's right about that." Julia jumped in to deflect attention from Clio. "Not the least of which the attack upon myself, Kenzi and The Queen by some giant ass ancient snake, and the fallout from that alone nearly caused our own plane of existence to be destroyed."

"It's crazy, I know. In any case, Orsen was a patsy. The real target is Chas. He knows who is involved in this conspiracy against The Queen. Now that I've left Orsen's dead body for all to see it won't take long for Chas to start shaking some trees." Aoife said. Reed stood up.

"I need to contact Tamsin." Reed said and then walked out of the room.

"So how did Rainer come by the Athenaeum during the war?" Ryan asked. Aoife inhaled slightly.

"Eulises Santiago." Aoife replied.

"Eulises Santiago of the Clan Zamora Eulises Santiago?" Ryan asked incredulous.

"One in the same." Aoife answered.

"Boy, when it rains it pours with that clan." Ryan quipped to a mix of chuckles and smiles.

"How did he come about it?" Julia asked.

"From what I was told in the ensuing chaos of the War of the Five Monarchs. No one knew where it was or who had it until the Great Fae War when he presented it as a weapon we could use to win total supremacy. After the Great Fae War was over it was lost to us. Not sure how, though." Aoife replied.

"What happened to this Eulises Santiago?" Julia asked.

"After I escaped my imprisonment in the Dark Fae dungeons I learned that Eulises made a bargain with Trick for his life."

"Well, that was all very neat." Ryan said.

"It was. For a time. But Eulises failed to remember that he was dealing with the Blood King. Trick made a deal with him to further his own agenda in solidifying the blood laws. The Santiago name carried weight and influence regardless of the fact the Santiagos had sided with the rebellion. The rest of my cabal couldn't do that for him and we were dealt with post-haste. But once Eulises had served his purpose he too was dealt with."

"By Trick." Ryan said matter of factly.

"No. By Evony." Aofie corrected.

"Why Evony?" Julia asked.

"Because Eulises was the one who made the attempt to kidnap The Queen." Aoife replied.

"Boy, when the Fae plays with fire you do not screw around." Julia said.

"So you know about The Queen and Evony?" Aoife queried.

"Oh yes." Clio replied.

"No matter what happened between them after the War of Five Monarchs Evony was not going to have an attack upon The Queen go unavenged." Aoife said.

"You said one of the reasons Rainer was banished was because he had the Athenaeum. What was the other?" Lauren asked.

"You don't miss much do you?" Aoife replied.

"No she doesn't" Crystal answered.

"Respect. The other reason why Rainer was banished was because he was part of the posse who tried to kidnap the Queen along with Eulises after the War of the Five Monarchs. They thought his powers of foresight would provide an advantage, but they failed to account for Regent Saladin, whose Fae power is the ability to mimic other Fae powers. In the ensuing attack he was able to turn the tables on Eulises' attack. Eulises and Rainer escaped but word got out they were the culprits."

"You keep mentioning this War of the Five Monarchs. What is all that?" Crystal asked.

"Nearly 1500 years ago back at the Presidium there was a war between five Monarchs. This happened before the Great Fae War here on this plane of existence." Aofie replied.

"Now there are only four Monarchs, called Ranas who make up a ruling body called the Tetrarch comprised of four dynasties: The Prescotti Dynasty, The Regnant's Dynasty; the Tulach Dynasty where The Queen Consort is from; the LauDessar Dynasty from where Evony hails; and the Quedaerin Dynasty from where Trick hails." Lauren explained.

"Correct! However, the Quedaerin Dynasty is a reconstituted dynasty." Aoife added.

"Reconstituted?" Crystal asked.

"Meaning, before it was the Quedaerin Dynasty it was the Odhrain Dynasty." Aofie replied.

"Same with the Prescotti Dynasty, it was the Rahinotep Dynasty first from which Regnant Einiah, the Regnant prior to this one came from. After the war, it was reconstituted into the Prescotti Dynasty." Lauren said.

"During the War of the Five Monarchs, the Odhrain Dynasty decided align itself not with Regnant Einiah and the Rahinotep Dynasty, but with another." Aofie added.

"What was that one?" Crystal asked.

"The Kamucet Dynasty." Aoife replied.

"Say that again?" Julia asked.

"Kamucet Dynasty." Aofie repeated. Julia's eyes darted back and forth.

"Julia?" Lauren called. Julia was still focused.

"Julia? Are you all alright?" Lauren asked again.

"Yeah, I'm good. Never mind me." Julia replied "So what do we do now that we have kicked the hornet's nest?"

"That's easy. You need to draw this Chas to a place without prying eyes, but to a place where you can have eyes. Catch my meaning?" Crystal answered.

"I do! Great idea! And what better place than back to the scene of the crime." Clio said.

"To Club Fantasia?" Ryan asked.

"I'm tracking now. No, she means back to Engelram's Warehouse." Julia replied.

"And the hits just keep on coming." Ryan said.

"If that's the case we are going to need a lot of eyes because I'm sure this Chas will not come alone." Lauren said then turned to Bas Cibor.

"Bas Cibor?"

"Yes, Milady?"

"Now you can do your thing." Lauren said.

"Yes, Milady!" Bas Cibor replied then turned and left the room as Reed returned then went over and stood next to Clio.

"I should call Bo." Lauren said.

"Can you not? Not until we handle this first?" Aoife asked.

"It's because we need to handle this that I should call Bo." Lauren replied.

"I agree with Aoife. We should wait until we've learned more." Clio said.

"Isn't the Convocation about to start?" Crystal said.

"Yes." Lauren replied.

"I know Bo well enough that with you here and now Aoife here dealing with this she will drop whatever she's doing and come. The Presidium is already throwing a fit with you being here. If we draw her into this that will draw in The Queen, and the rats will scatter. It would be better for her to focus on the Convocation until at least we know more." Crystal asked.

"You're right. I just feel a bit hypocritical because I was just chastising Bo about keeping secrets." Lauren replied.

"Keeping secrets may be power for the course." Crystal said.

"I don't know. Their Majesties seem to not keep secrets from one another." Lauren replied.

"Haven't they been married forever, though? You and Bo will get there. Just not today. It's all good." Crystal assured.

"You're right." Lauren settled.

"We should get out of these clothes. I don't suppose you have some other clothes here that we could use?" Clio asked Ryan.

"Oh, I think I have some leftovers." Ryan said.

"I'm sure." Clio replied with a smile.

"Hey Desmond!" Ryan shouted. Desmond appeared.

"Please take these ladies to have a look at the leftover clothes we have stashed around here. They need to change out. I can handle Reed and the big guy when he comes back." Ryan said.

"Ladies, please. Follow me." Desmond directed. Crystal and Julia followed him but Aofie put a hand on Lauren's arm.

"Before we get going, can I ask what are they like? My grandchildren? I can't believe I actually have grandchildren." Aoife asked.

"I could show you some pictures if I had any on me." Lauren replied.

"I do!" Ryan chimed in. Everyone looked at him.

"Hey! One's my godson and namesake for Pete's sake! Of course, I've got pictures!"

"One of them is named after him?" Aoife asked incredulous.

"Yep!" Lauren replied. Aoife gave him a wary look. Ryan handed Lauren a tablet with the pictures already cued up. Lauren and Aoife sat back down.

"They are quads." Lauren said.

"Four at once?" Aoife asked surprised.

"We were not expecting quads, trust me." Lauren replied. "Ethan was born first. This is him." It was a picture of Ethan digging into the ground and making a pile of dirt on the one side.

"Handsome little guy. So who actually had them?" Aoife asked.

"I did." Lauren replied.

"This is Charlotte but we call her Char. She was born next." Lauren pointed out. It was a picture of Char sitting at a small desk attempting to write something.

"She's the spitting image of Bo." Aoife noted.

"Mary says that all the time." Lauren replied.

"Mary? Mary Dennis?" Aoife queried.

"Yes. The children are actually visiting with her as we speak." Lauren replied. Aoife nodded.

"This is Ryan. He was born third." It was a picture of Ryan climbing up behind his namesake Ryan on a small hill.

"My boy!" Ryan did a fist pump in the air.

"Was he the…?" Aofie replied.

"No. We went with another donor totally unattached to the group and who had the least genetic impact." Lauren replied.

"Good thinking." Aoife replied as she glanced at Ryan.

"But I would be lying if I didn't say that Ryan has picked up the same daredevil nature, and Char is always right there with him. Those two are as thick as thieves." Lauren added.

"And this is MaryAoife." The picture showed MaryAoife in the middle of a meadow field picking a flower, wearing a white dress and her blond, curly hair blown by the wind.

"Her name is MaryAoife?" Aofie said astonished.

"Her actual name is MaryAoife Tamsin but we call her MaryAoife. It was important to both Bo and I that her name reflected both yours and Mary's." Lauren replied.

"Thank you!" Aoife said. Lauren smiled.

"She's blonde." Aoife noted.

"Yes! The only influence I've seem to have had!" Lauren said with pride.

"I'm sure your influence goes deeper than that. What's she like? Is she a rebel like her dear old granny here?"

"Well they are almost two now, and at that age children can be stubborn to include MaryAoife, but she's the most reflective. She's always contemplating something, observing something, admiring something." Lauren replied.

"She sounds like a budding philosopher." Aoife replied as her eyes welled up.

"Perhaps." Lauren said then she had a thought. "You know, when this is all over I will be going back to Mary's for a day or two. You could come with me and meet both Mary Dennis and your grandchildren."

"Let's…take it one step at a time, shall we? I'm still pretty much a trainwreck. I need some time to get myself together first." Aoife replied.

"It would be great for Bo to see you too." Lauren said.

"That applies doubly to Bo, especially now she's the next Queen." Aoife replied.

"Running from us all is not the answer Aoife. You can still be part of lives. We want you to be part of our lives." Lauren said.

"There's still Trick." Aoife replied.

"That can be managed without you two…crossing paths." Lauren said delicately.

"Boy, Bo is really lucky to have you." Aoife replied.

"She is!" Lauren said with her usual deadpan humor. Aoife smiled.

Then Clio's phone rang. She looked at the Caller ID. It was Tamsin. She answered it.

"Hey! Hold on a second!" Clio said into the phone.

"Need to step away and take this." Clio said to everyone then stepped out of the room. Clio saw a side room across the hall, stepped inside and closed the door behind her.

"Hey! What's up?" Clio said.

"So Reed filled me in on everything to include Aoife's re-emergence. What the hell?" Tamsin said.

"You know it." Clio replied.

"Well, things are in motion. Agent Iriliam notified me that Agent Marrero notified him one of his 'sources' was killed and he wants to investigate." Tamsin said.

"Aoife was right. Chas is reacting quickly." Clio replied. "Can I ask a question?"

"Sure."

"Back in the day, do you remember anything about the rest of the rebels Aoife worked with, including Rainer and Eulises Santiago?" Clio asked.

"After being reborn seven more times? I'm surprised I remember my own name. If anyone would know it would be Trick." Tamsin replied. "So what's next?"

"It seems we're headed back to the scene of the crime." Clio replied.

"To Club Fantasia?" Tamsin asked.

"To Engelram's Warehouse." Clio replied.

"I see what you're doing. I will drop a breadcrumb to draw him there, and I'll alert the Catalog Team to stay clear. Don't need to lose another team." Tamsin said.

"No doubt!" Clio replied.

"Do you need back up?" Tamsin asked.

"I think we shall have plenty." Clio replied.

"Make sure everyone stays safe." Tamsin said.

"Tamsin, you realize what could happen. We are dealing with some slim shady Agents." Clio warned.

"Just make sure whatever happens is something I can explain away later, but keep the smoke screen up where our little side cabal is concerned." Tamsin replied.

"It's getting crazy close." Clio replied.

"I have every confidence you handle it." Tamsin replied.

"Gee, thanks!"

"We need to solve this Chas business before the morning Agency Brief or else it will draw in Dyson, Stasio and Evony so keep me updated." Tamsin replied.

"Will do!" Clio said then Tamsin ended the call on her end. Clio returned to the room to find Julia changed and waiting for her.

"So what's next?" Julia asked.

"I was just speaking with Tamsin. Chas has heard. We need to move fast." Clio replied.

"Now that it's just the two of us I now know what Engelram was trying to say to us when he was choking on his own blood. He was trying to say Kamucet!" Julia said.

"Are you sure?" Clio asked.

"As the sun rises and sets. I don't have quite all the pieces in place but I think the answer may be right in front of us, but I need Reed and Tamsin to do me a favor."

"What's that?" Clio asked.

"I need all the information they can muster on this War of the Five Monarchs. There's something there and in plain sight that ties all of this together. I don't think this is about acquiring ancient powers. I think they are looking for something." Julia said.