Like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum over having a toy taken from him, Renard was schemening to get revenge on Nick and Adalind for ruining his plans for power.
He was smart enough to know he could not go after them directly. And hiring someone had failed him already. What he felt he needed to do was convince someone who had just as much reason for being angry as him to take away Nick and Adalind's powers. Preventing them from interfering when he found another way to gain importance.
The only person Renard was sure had both the motivation and skill was Catherine Schade.
He knew the woman hated being rejected and had always despised the idea that one day her daughter would be desired more than her.
All it took was convincing the hexenbiest that if she turned herself into her daughter, she could steal the grimm's blood, cause him to lose his abilities and then force her daughter to drink the blood to kill the hexenbiest inside her.
It was strangely easier than Renard thought. All he had to do was sit back, relax and wait for things to finally work out in his favor.
GRIMM
Janet Singleton was her company's most successful agent. She had a talent for noticing every detail a person presented and using those details to figure out just what they would want in a home. Her boss had approached her to clean up a mess made by a recently fired coworker.
"Greg Jacobs has been let go and it looks as if he will lose his licence to sell." Janet's boss, Mr. Edwards explained. "It seems he sexually harassed a client. The woman just so happens to be one of the best lawyers working in the leading law firm in the city. I need you to show her we are a professional company who can get her the house she wants. And that one bad apple, that has since been removed, does not reflect on the estate firm as a whole."
Janet had never liked Greg. She knew he was a louse who assumed he was god's gift to women. It had only been a matter of time before someone took offence and had the ability to do something. Janet was just surprised it hadn't happened sooner.
The realtor was smiling brightly when she met with the new clients. Not only was that jerk Greg gone for good, but she was going to get the commission he lost out on for being a jerk.
As Janet greeted the couple at the door, she took note of every detail she could, in hopes it would let her know how best to sell them the house.
The blonde woman was dressed in an armani business jacket and matching skirt. Real diamonds adorned her ears. She carried herself with poise and confidence. The man she was with was dressed in jeans and a henley, obviously a more laid back sort. The badge he wore at his hip showed he made his living as a police officer. He seemed mostly at ease but there was a strength and power in him that was impossible to miss.
As they made their way up the porch steps, the man held out his hand to assist and protect, not that the woman needed it, she walked with grace and elegance, which the man noticed and appreciated, it was just instinct and his own feelings toward the lady that made his look out for her. Someone would have to be blind and stupid not to see the couple was very much in love.
Taking them through the house, she pointed out some things that impressed most people.
"Every room has hardwood floors, except the kitchen and bathrooms, those have ceramic tiling.
She led them through the kitchen so they could see there was a back porch and big backyard. "There is plenty of space, perfect for a cookout with family and friends."
"Oh Nick, you could have your whole precinct here!" The blonde exclaimed.
The man, Nick, looked around with a smile. "I probably wouldn't invite everybody, but it would be nice to have friends over for beer and burgers."
When Janet moved the tour upstairs and showed the couple the master suit, she knew she had really hooked them; if the looks on their faces were any indication when they saw the large bathtub.
Nick wrapped his arms around Adalind, and whispered something in her ear that made her giggle and blush.
"The plumbing and the electrical are completely up to date. The previous lady of the house enjoyed hot baths, for her arthritis. Which is why they moved to Florida. Since their kids are all grown up, they didn't need as big of a house."
Janet saw the interested look in Nick's eyes when she mentioned kids and added. "The area is ideal for raising a family. Short distance from school, away from a major street. And there are a large number of families with small children."
"Just so you know, three is my limit." Adalind said softly to Nick. "If you want any more babies, you'll have to have them yourself."
Nick chuckled. "Three sounds perfect to me."
Janet noticed Nick's thumb rub over the area of Adalind left hand finger where she was certain a ring would be placed soon.
GRIMM
While Nick and Adalind were looking at their new home, Nick's mother was investigating Adalind's.
After Adalind had told her about the shady behavior of her mother; like giving Nick a zaubertrank to make his loyalty shift, Kelly Burkhardt decided it was wise to keep an eye on Catherine Schade.
The she grimm spotted the hexenbiest going into Adalind's law firm. Following her in, she saw the blonde go into Adalind's office and pick at the desk chair, putting whatever she found in a plastic bag. She pocketed the item and quickly made her way out.
Kelly Burkhardt had always trusted her instincts. Adalind's mother was obviously up to something. The grimm could tell the hexenbiest had evil intentions.
GRIMM
"She took something from the backrest of your chair." Kelly told Adalind when the group got together a few hours later. "I followed her to a few shops. The clothes I saw her pick up didn't seem her style or size. In fact, there was a blue dress she bought that I am certain I saw you in."
Adalind gasped. "She wouldn't."
"Wouldn't what?" Nick asked as all eyes focused on Adalind.
"There's a potion that can shift a person's form to make them look like someone else. All you would need is a few strands of hair from that person. And if you wanted to pretend to be that person around those that know them, it's a good idea to dress like them."
"Your mother was there when I bought you the blue dress." Nick said in realization.
Adalind nodded. "So she would know."
"Know what?" Monroe asked.
Rosalee sighed, understanding. "Adalind's mother would know what to wear to seduce Nick if she transformed herself to look like Adalind."
Monroe's eyes widened. "Hair sheds. It was Adalind's hair her mom took from her desk chair."
"Your mother is a deeply desturbed individual." Wu remarked.
"For what purpose would she have for seducing Nick? Caroline asked. "To try to trick Adalind into thinking Nick would be unfaithful?"
"Or to try to take his powers away." Adalind said. "My mother pretends to be me and is able to administer a potion to block Nick's powers."
"Do you think Renard is putting her up to it?" Nick asked.
"Maybe."
"I think we need to get a new captain." Hank said.
"Preferably one who isn't trying to destroy the life of his detective." Monroe added.
Grimm
Knowing what their enemies were planning helped the group come up with a plan of their own.
The first priority was to come up with a signal that would let them know it was their friend in the room with them and not someone who had shifted to look like them.
The second priority was to make charms that would protect them from hexenbiest magic and prevent magic from being used to enter their homes.
While making the charms, Nick and Adalind talked about the house they saw that day.
They came to the understanding that it had everything they needed, plus a few delightful extras and it would be much safer for them to own their own house.
Nick imagined pinning Adalind on every surface of the place and making love to her until there wasn't a single inch of their home that didn't have the memory of their passion seeped into it.
Adalind was going to have to make a very large quantity of the potion that neutralized scents so they could have their friends over without awkwardness once they had christened every room in their home.
Grimm
Nick and Adalind called Janet and confirmed they wanted the house, adding that they wanted to move in as soon as possible. The realtor was ecstatic and promised to have the paperwork ready right away.
Within the week, Nick and Adalind were able to move into their new home. During that time, the gang had made sure neither Nick or Adalind was left alone, for fear that Catherine would find a way to hurt them.
They were all sure that Catherine would try to do something to Adalind, so that she could take her place and get to Nick.
Once Nick and Adalind officially gained possession of the house, Adalind placed protections all over the property, assuring that no threat could enter.
Grimm
Catherine was irate. She had not found a single opportunity to destroy the grimm.
In order to change into her daughter, she first needed to make sure Adalind would not be able to interrupt and reveal Catherine's deception.
Seducing Nick would be impossible if he knew she was not really Adalind.
But somehow, Adalind seemed to know there was a threat. Every time Catherine tried to slip something in her food to make her pass out, something prevented her from doing it. Every time Catherine tried to create a distraction to prevent Adalind from getting home to be with Nick, leaving Catherine the opportunity to seduce him, something would happen with Nick so that he would be late arriving home just like Adalind.
Now that they had a home in their name, Catherine could not step onto the property. Her daughter was much smarter and more powerful than she had given her credit for.
Grimm
Catherine Schade never noticed Kelly Burkhardt following her. She never noticed that every time she tried to stall or hinder Adalind from getting home to Nick, Kelly would call her son and warn him.
The matron grimm saw the matron hexenbiest put something in the delivery order for Adalind's work lunch and warned Adalind and her friends not to eat it.
Kelly could sense that Catherine was never going to stop trying to interfere with Nick and Adalind's lives and relationship. She realized she needed a more permanent solution to the issue.
Grimm
Sean and Catherine were so busy trying to take away Nick and Adalind's powers that they never stopped to consider two things.
One, that such threats would be anticipated and the right precautions made.
And two, that their friends were willing to do whatever it took to keep them safe. Including slipping a potion into their Captain's coffee or walking up to a powerful hexenbiest and spraying her with a potion that caused both beings to become very sleepy and willing to be taken to a warehouse where no one could see or hear them.
Grimm
When Sean came to, he found himself tied to a chair. He looked over and saw Catherine in the same state.
There was a woman dressed in black looking at them and holding a large knife.
He made an attempt to pull at his bindings, but it was useless, some spell had made it impossible to break them, even when he woged.
"So that's what a half royal half zauberbiest looks like."
Sean looked and saw a bearded man and recognized him as Nick's blutbad friend Monroe, who was standing next to a pretty female fuchsbau named Rosalee.
It didn't take a genius to understand that Nick's friends were the reason for his current state.
So the half royal was not surprised to see Nick and Adalind emerge, along with Sergeant Wu, detective Hank Griffin, and Adalind's coworkers, Caroline and Felicia.
The woman in black he did not recognize, and then Nick made the introductions.
"Captain, I want to introduce you to my mother."
Sean's eyes widened in shock. Nick's personal file said that both of his parents were dead.
"Kelly is a much better mother than you are." Adalind said to her Catherine. "She has been very protective of Nick, and of me. Even though she's a grimm, she accepts me because I make her son happy."
"You're the reason why my plans failed." Catherine practically growled at Kelly, who smiled and said,
"Not as stupid as I thought you were."
"Adalind and I would really like to start out life together. But we keep hitting roadblocks because two people won't get it through their heads that they can't control us." Nick said.
"So it's been decided that the only way to deal with the two of you is to take what you've been trying to take from us." Adalind continued, then leaned in and said with a voice dark and full of menace. "You hurt me. You betrayed me. You used me. And you couldn't let me be happy with the man I love. Always remember that your own selfishness has led you to this."
Kelly cut open her hand, then handed the knife to Nick who did the same. The men grabbed a hold of Sean's head, and Nick squeezed his fist over his mouth. The women were holding Catherine's head back so Kelly could squeeze her blood into her mouth.
Adalind held up her hands and said something in an ancient language even Sean did not know. Both her and Catherine convulsed in their seats. Searing pain racked their bodies, causing them to scream.
Everyone saw strange ghost-like things rise from the bound bodies and then disintegrate.
When Sean and Catherine had gone still and realized they felt much weaker, Adalind confirmed what they expected, though also adding something they did not.
"You're human now. And no spell will ever give you back your powers. I recited a spell to make sure of that."
"I suggest you both leave Portland." Nick said. "Go somewhere whatever enemies you've no doubt made will never suspect you to live." Then he lowered his voice and said with obvious threat. "Don't ever let me set eyes on either of you again, or I won't be so nice next time."