"So you're gonna be okay being alone with Bo?"
Kenzi stood giving Tamsin the most serious look she'd ever seen. The plane Vex chartered for them had just touched down in New Orleans. Tamsin thought it best her and Bo continue on their trip to find out who was trying to hurt the Valkyrie and let Kenzi and Stanley go back home.
"Your concern is sweet kid but I'll be fine. Bo and I have reached an understanding of sorts," Tamsin said glancing up at the succubus as she removed their bags from the plan.
Kenzi pulled her into a hug and began to ramble. "If things get weird, you know, call me. But not if they get kinky weird because that would be gross but you know dangerous weird. I mean I love her but don't trust her Tamsin. She's...different."
Tamsin chuckled. "What happened to she's just another side of Bo and she needs love too?"
Kenzi pulled back. "I know what I said but when it comes to you..."Kenzi paused then sighed. "I just think she might try to use your love for her against you. This Bo has a cold logic to how she behaves. Our Bo had it too but her sweetness balanced it out."
"You're observations never cease to amaze me Kenzi. You're much smarter than people give you credit for," Tamsin said rubbing her arm.
"Yeah well, you live on the street long enough you learn to present yourself as harmless so people will leave you alone. Just you know, be careful okay?"
"Okay," Tamsin said pulling her in for a hug again.
"Hmm, that's the second time you've voluntarily hugged me. You're getting soft Valkyrie," Kenzi yelled over her shoulder as she walked to the plane.
Tamsin laughed and watched Kenzi as she said goodbye to Bo. She knew the human was right. Despite letting her guard down the night before she needed to be careful with how close she let Bo get. Until things got resolved with her split personality the succubus would have to be kept at bay.
After finding a small bed and breakfast, Tamsin and Bo headed out to a local bar to see what they could find out about the orcs. On the Bayou bar and Grill was near the place they were staying so Tamsin figured it was as good a place as any to start.
"It's sweltering out here," Bo said lifting her hair into a pony tail with the hair band she bought earlier.
"It sure is. Hopefully we can find out some info quick," Tamsin said as they entered the place.
"Shouldn't we be going to a fae spot? I doubt humans are going to know anything about our assassins," Bo said shouting over the music.
"This is a fae spot. I used to come here all the time."
Bo grabbed Tamsin's arm and indicated for her to stop. "Did you live here or something? You've never mentioned it."
"Didn't seem relevant. But yeah, I lived here for like two years. The longest I stayed in any location. I loved the food and the atmosphere, the people."
"I see. I just always figured that you weren't anywhere for too long. More of a rolling stone," Bo said with a chuckle.
"Yeah I don't usually. But sometimes you're given a reason to stay," Tamsin replied softly.
Out of the corner of her eye the Valkyrie saw a familiar figure making her way over to where she and Bo were standing.
"Remy Babineaux, aren't you a sight for sore eyes."
"Oh my god Tamsin. It's been so long," Remy said as she squeezed their bodies together. "I should be saying the same thing to you. Look at you, haven't aged a day."
"Well I don't know about that," Tamsin said lifting up her limp hair. "But you, you look good as ever."
"You know me, always keeping myself together," Remy said doing a little twirl.
"Hello Remy, my name is Bo," the succubus said shoving her hand out.
"Forgive Sin, she was never one for manners. Pleasure to meet you Bo," Remy replied with a handshake.
"Sin?"
"Yes, that was my nickname for her. She was known to make a girl forget her genteel southern upbringing," Remy said with a wink at Tamsin.
"Is that so?" Bo said with an agitated look on her face.
Looking slightly uncomfortable, Tamsin stroked the back of her neck trying to explain the woman's presence. "Remy is an old friend of mine. She helped me out alot while I lived here. She's a police detective as well. Sergeant now right?"
"That's right, moving on up in the ranks. Shame you're not working here anymore, you'd be under me," Remy replied with a smirk.
Bo frowned at the remark and put on what was obviously a fake smile. "Must be nice running into an old friends. I'll let the two of you catch up, I'm going to get a drink from the bar."
"Bo," Tamsin said trying to grab the succubus back but she yanked her arm away.
"Oh dear, did I start something?" Remy asked with a mock innocent look on her face. "Since I already got you in trouble why don't you come out front with me while I have a smoke?"
"Yes! Still getting me in trouble after all these years Remy," Tamsin said following the other woman outside. "Not unlike that situation in Baton Rouge when we went on a mini vacation."
"Oh come on, the outfit that woman had on was awful. It's not my fault some people can't take constructive criticism."
Both women broke out into laughter at the memory of the ensuing drunken argument that took place after Remy's remark.
Out from under Bo's scrutiny Tamsin allowed her eyes to roam all over Remy's body and take her in fully. She was still shapely as ever, her vanity never allowing her to miss a workout. Her jet black hair was longer than the Valkyrie remembered and cascaded down her back like a waterfall. Her skin was still a beautiful golden hue courtesy of her mixed Native American and African American heritage and her eyes were still a cat like light brown that was hard to place on any color chart. Remy was shorter than her but always carried herself like a much taller woman. The Valkyrie had to admit, she was still breathtaking.
"I can tell you still like what you see," Remy said breaking the silence as she took a puff from her cigarette.
Tamsin laughed "I wasn't lying when I said you still look good.
Remy smiled and licked her lips. "Always the charmer Sin, it's what I loved about you. I've missed you, missed us."
"Things are different now Rem. I can't just roll into town and shack up with you like before."
"You mean because of her right?" Remy said pointing towards the bar.
Even after leaving New Orleans Tamsin would still find herself back in town visiting her former lover. Up until recently it had filled the void that seemed to follow her everywhere.
"I'm not naive Tamsin. I know what you and I had wasn't some great love affair but it was real and it was good. You at least owed me a phone call to let me know what was going on."
Tamsin nodded and put her hands up. "You're right, I should have but you know me. It's always been easier to just make a clean break from things. I am sorry though, you were...special to me."
Remy dropped her cigarette down and stepped on it. She took Tamsin's hands in hers and pulled her until they were hugging again.
Remy pulled back and gave her a questioning look. "Something's wrong, you smell different. Like..."
"Death? I'm dying Remy, my cycle is coming to an end."
"Oh my god no. What does that mean? Will you be reborn? Is that even possible for a rogue Valkyrie?" Remy said pulling her back in.
"I honestly don't know. I think I will get to be reborn again but as far as how and where, it's a mystery."
"Oh Sin, my poor baby. I could turn you if you like, make you like me," Remy said, sadness in her voice.
Tamsin laughed, "That's sweet but being a shape shifter isn't really my thing. Besides, I thought you had to be born as one?"
"There is a way to turn others but it's a brutal and painful process. Not many make it through the change but you're strong, I know you could. But it's not for everyone, that's just the selfish side of me talking," Remy said releasing Tamsin from her grip. "You didn't come here to catch up though did you? What's going on?"
"There's a hit out on me, a group of orcs. I was told that their kingdom lies here somewhere in the Bayou."
"A hit out on you? I always thought you managed to avoid that kind of nonsense."
"Yeah well, I've had the misfortune of ending up in the sights of someone very powerful and now it seems it's come to this."
"Hmmm, orcs. You must be referring to the DuBois clan. They're goblins but sometimes people use the term interchangeably. If there is something shady going in this city, they're often behind it or a part of it."
"If you know this, why can't the police bring them down?"
"They're a tight knit group and extremely hard to infiltrate. It doesn't help that their leader Augustine plays the role of upstanding citizen very well. He's on the city council, a member of several task forces aiding citizens. He's helping old ladies cross the street... you get where I'm going."
Tamsin laughed, "Be that as it may, how is it possible that a goblin could exist among the humans without being noticed?"
"Not all of them look as you would expect. Through breeding with humans and sometimes other fae close to humans they've managed to make most of their kind appear as such. Have you come across any?"
"Oh yeah, I've got the marks on my neck to prove it," Tamsin said with a grimace.
"Well you probably noticed that they are huge. Goblins of legend were usually dwarf sized. These bastards are growing up to 7 feet now. Got to give it to whoever in their group figured out how to do it."
"I fought one who just looked like a large muscled man but the others had an odd hue to their skin. Red eyes and sharp teeth."
"Usually they send out those guys when they want something to be done in the most brutal manner possible. Those are the ones in the clan who are pure, full goblin, which means stronger, aggressive and almost unbeatable. How did you manage to fight them off?"
"Well, my girlfriend is kind of a bad ass," Tamsin said with a chuckle.
"You're not so bad yourself if I remember correctly," Remy said taking a step closer. "You always knew how to tame me."
Tamsin let her hand drift near Remy's and briefly linked fingers. "You still know how to make me blush too."
Remy reached out her hand and cupped Tamsin's cheek. "I'll do whatever I can to help, you know that."
"Oh I'm sorry, am I interrupting?"
"Bo," Tamsin said jumping back, forcing Remy to drop her hand. "Everything's cool."
"Oh is it Sin?" Bo spit out the name like it tasted bad. "I was trying to be polite but it's obvious some people mistook that for being stupid."
Remy laughed and waved Bo off. "She's yours, I have no claim on her."
"Oh I'm aware of that but you seem awfully comfortable feeling her up out here," Bo said taking a menacing step towards the other woman.
"You need to back off," Remy said no longer smiling. "Sin, I suggest you get your girlfriend under control."
"She doesn't need to get me under control, I'm not a dog," Bo said clenching her fists.
"No you're not but you have no idea what I am. Don't make me show you," Remy replied, a low growl emanating from her throat.
Tamsin noticed a small crowd forming of patrons from the bar. She could tell some were eager to see a girl fight happen.
"Okay you two, enough, "Tamsin said getting in between them and pointing at the road. "Bo can you please wait for me over there."
"Are you serious? "
"Damn it Isabeau, she's going to help us. Now is not the time to mark your territory."
"Whatever," Bo said walking away but not before giving Remy another nasty look.
"Wow, you've got yourself quite the firecracker right there," Remy said with a smirk. "If she wasn't acting so angry I'd invite both of you back to my place."
"Well you were antagonizing her with all the touchy feely stuff."
Remy laughed, "Well it's not like you were stopping me. Seems you may have gotten the reaction you were looking for Sin."
Tamsin ignored the remark, "Find out what you can for me. I'll give you a call tomorrow."
"Okay, you've still got my number," Remy said extra loud so Bo could hear as she headed back to the bar.
Tamsin shook her head and began walking over to where Bo was waiting. Was Remy right, did she want Bo to be jealous? She had to admit, it was a nice change for once being the one so obviously desired. Having her girlfriend know that she too had options when it came to romantic partners. These thoughts all flew away when she reached Bo and realized she was going to have to deal with one pissed off succubus.
As promised my hiatus is over and I'm very stoked to get back to this story. Some chapters ago I asked for people to give their opinions on what they'd like to see happen in the story. I'm attempting to hit some of the things that were suggested in the reviews. Thanks to those who shared their thoughts. I already know what direction I'm heading in the story but I'd still love to hear what people are thinking. Is the story working, not working. Do you want more romance, maybe more fighting, perhaps more scenes with certain characters,etc. I've also decided to start naming the chapters because why not (I should have from the beginning). As always thanks for reading, another chapter will be up later this week! - Girlblue