Kendra opened the door to her townhouse using her shoulder to lean on the door to get it open. It was late at night and her form was sloppy as she swayed a little upon entering her foyer dragging her pack behind her.
She shut the door upon entering and locked it. She then disarmed her alarm system with her finger print and an 8 digit code.
She still had her fatigues on from the training and 'joint live exercises' as she flipped on her lights and exhaled deeply. She was really tired and beat. To make matters worse she went to her precinct to catch up on a couple emails. Well those couple of emails turned out to be the rest of the day.
She just got sucked into work and she was presently both physically and mentally exhausted. She was doing so much for the human side of the 69th, she literally had no time to address any Ash business. Lucky for Kendra, Tamsin texted her right after she left the mansion to hold off on any reporting concerning Lauren.
Kendra knew Tamsin did have her reasons for the terse text message, but surmised that she would have to catch up with her later for more clarity. Had this been anyone else sending the same request she would be more skeptical but she felt close to Tamsin although she was not the chatty type. She was a good listener or at least tolerated Kendra when she went on a tangent.
She just tossed her pack aside and went upstairs and strolled thought her living room enroute to her kitchen which led to the last set of stairs to get to her bed room. She noted something small was off about the room and as such, stopped abruptly and reached for the light switch with her left and while putting her other on her holstered Glock with her right.
She was trained for that type of response which may have been overkill considering she had a hi-tech alarm system with interior heat and motion detection which registered no issues upon entry and also did not text her any alerts.
Kendra quickly scanned the room and noted a small brown non-descript box on the mantel with a small envelope propped up on it. She approached the mantel cautiously and without picking it up or moving anything, read the font of the envelope. It had had her name in script on the front but also asked her to open the box first. It took her a second, but realized that it was Dyson's handwriting since she was so accustom to reading his scribbles on reports at the precinct.
She relaxed a little knowing that Dyson probably left this for her when he was here last.
What could it be?
She speedily opened the box as an astonished look washed over her face. Her right hand released the box top and let it fall onto the floor as it moved slowly to cover her partially opened mouth. Kendra never broke her stare at the item inside and took a couple slow purposeful steps to her leather love seat and sat down on one end.
Her jaw trembled and face contorted to a look of pain as she reached inside the box and lifted out a badge in a wallet with a broken lanyard.
"Eric?" She questioned softly as her finger explored the metal badge and her eyes became watery when she saw his picture and identification on the other flap.
This badge was his, Kendra realized looking at the wear patterns on the wallet and not a replica. She had also seen it on numerous occasions in her time with him.
At that moment, nothing mattered to her anymore since her mind shut the rest of the world out. She immediately kissed his picture and broke down and cried.
"Errrriiicccc!" She wailed coarsely pressing the wallet to her forehead bending over forward in her chair.
Kendra's tears dropped on the badge in a steady stream as she just kept repeating his name over and over for much of the hour through her sounds of sorrow.
Her grip on the wallet only got tighter when she transition to her side bringing the wallet in closer to her chest.
Her wails and crying only stopped when sheer exhaustion overtook her. In a rare instance, Kendra fell asleep and didn't dream. Eric, her fiancé, was finally home and with her at long last.
"So how bad is it?" Tamsin asked sitting at the edge of an exam table naked. Lauren was palpating her back and neck muscles from behind.
"Tamsin, you're going to need a couple of cortisone shots in concert with SEVERAL deep tissue massages." Lauren said never looking up from her clip board writing her diagnosis down. "You also should put your left arm in a sling to minimize movement while it is healing from its recent dislocation from what I gather."
"Swell" Tamsin said grinning while looking up at the ceiling.
"How… how long have you been dealing with this inflammation?" Lauren asked walking to front of the exam table and hesitantly shifting her gaze to Tamsin.
"I forgot … weeks, months…" Tamsin said nonchalantly waving it off.
"Do you have any tingling sensations in your extremities, like your arms, hands, and legs?" Lauren followed up professionally while palpating the lymph nodes on Tamsin's neck.
"Yep, all the time." Tamsin said scrunching her face. "But I'm a Valkyrie so this is NOTHING compared to all the other stuff"
"Tamsin, you're HUMAN," Lauren informed, "That tingling sensation is the start of possibly irreversible nerve damage. Your muscle groups are so inflamed they are pinching your nerves. I'm surprised you still have most of your full range of motion."
"Oppps," Tamsin said scrunching her face at the doctor, "and all along I thought it was the dandruff shampoo I was using." She just could not help but to deflect the doctor's comments with sarcasm. Bo was close to her but the Doc? No. Tamsin would fulfill her final task for Bo, but nothing said about letting her in close to her soul where Bo was.
"Tamsin," Lauren admonished with a serious tone and stare, "you don't understand the gravity of the situation. This could, if gone unchecked, cripple and paralyze your arms and limbs."
Tamsin didn't want to necessary repel the doctor either. She needed to get more information about what she was up to and know if she was right for her succubus. She loathed playing match maker, but if she needed Bo to be happy, then she had to do it. It was what love demanded of her and she followed her heart in this matter.
This was obviously a huge change for Tamsin. Logic only took you so far when dealing with a SUCCUBUS. A loving creature. Tamsin found out that the only way to get their relationship to work was to allow her heart to lead to a certain extent in the relationship department.
The only problem now was that her heart also led when she did not want it to, even when it flew in the face of everything logical. Feelings clouded her judgment and made her course of action more unclear. It made her second guess herself at times and she knew someday it would kill her.
For now though, what would kill her would probably not be her feelings but her life force wildling away. She felt, she knew rather she had weeks left due to her intimate relationship with death.
"Whatever," Tamsin replied looking away, "can I just get the shots over with and be done?"
Lauren of course knew Tamsin and took it in stride. She decided to ignore it and just move forward. Tamsin was Tamsin. Rash, harsh and abrasive. She didn't really expect much from her.
Immediately Tamsin found her relational and feeling side of her correct herself after seeing Lauren's face turn cold.
"I'm sorry doc. I haven't been myself lately." Tamsin let out tilting her head in a somewhat aloof manner. 'Gods darnit Bo. I hate this feelings crap. It's REALLY cramping my style' Tamsin mused kicking herself internally again.
A look of surprise came to Lauren's face since Tamsin said something totally unexpected. She said 'sorry' and meant it.
Lauren smiled back and just continued her work. "OK. Tamsin I'm going to give you some shots for the most inflamed areas, but I will need to give you a deep tissue massage to not only help with the effectiveness of the drug, but also to bring down the inflammation in surrounding regions."
Tamsin wanted to say something smart, but just resigned to a nod.
Lauren went to work on Tamsin bringing a set of 4 needles out. "This is going to sting a little," Lauren said not thinking who she was talking to before she started the course of injections.
Tamsin just huffed out a laugh but said nothing. It was the safest thing to do. There was only one problem however; the silence was now pretty uncomfortable. Tamsin wanted to breech the topic of Bo with her, but decided to not do so until Lauren proved herself loyal to her succubus.
Lauren felt tenseness in the air. Normally she would just talk about anything, but Tamsin was throwing her off. She wanted to stay silent but found herself asking, "So how is everyone else in the gang?" as she was behind Tamsin give her an injection into one of her muscle groups in her shoulder.
"The gang is just fineeee doc." Tamsin said but knew she needed to elaborate a little. "Kenzi is now Fae. She's a Kitsune."
"What?! How'd that happen?" Lauren asked surprised pausing before the next injection.
"Well, Massimo the druid gave her some potion which enhanced her natural abilities and poof. Kitsune. Now I, or anyone else, can't seem to stop her for whizzing around all over the place." Tamsin stated a little annoyed at the thought of Kenzi just bothering everyone but now more quickly.
"Why did she even consider it Tamsin? It's not like anyone forced her to be Fae to join the gang." Lauren asked disposing of the last needle in the biohazard container.
Tamsin just answered without much thought and just said "Well when the Wanderer took Bo, Kenzi wanted pull her own weight so to speak. But it wasn't needed. Bo held her own against him and returned to us unscathed."
Lauren had gone back to the front of the exam table deep in thought but finally spoke. "Isn't the Wanderer also known as Odin, your boss?"
"WAS," Tamsin clarified. "He's Bo's father and well he had plans for her. He sent me to find her, which I did, but I couldn't go through with it. THAT'S how I became fallen doc. It was my punishment for disobedience. Annnnd I also left a good bit of change on the table too. Too bad for Odin though, taking away my powers only made me MORE awesome."
This was one part of the puzzle she didn't have before. She knew Tamsin was fallen, but had no idea what she did to deserve it. It surprised her that Tamsin went against her god to defend Bo. It put Tamsin in a new light. From what she read of Odin, his practices were not even considered questionable, they were morally wrong.
So Bo had the bloodline of a god was Lauren's next thought as she brought her hand up to her chin. It took a couple of seconds but Lauren realized too late that she was almost staring at Tamsin's naked lower body.
Tamsin knew that Lauren didn't mean to just take in her body but loved to make the most of it. Pushing the doc's buttons was her specialty. With that she cleared her throat which snapped the doc out of her trance looking away embarrassed.
Lauren had no idea what to say but 'sorry'.
Tamsin grinned mischievously and mentioned, "It's ok doc. This," Tamsin motioned to her body, "is some of the MANY reasons why EVERYONE falls for me." Tamsin really wanted to substitute 'everyone' for 'Bo' but unfortunately, she had to play nice.
Lauren just smiled at the joke which Tamsin turned back onto her and just mumbled incredulously, "Touché. Oh really now?"
"Yep," Tamsin said looking up in the air leaning back a little to toss her long blond locks back with both of her hands. Tamsin essentially struck a seductive pose. "Can ya' feel it now doc?" Tamsin teased.
"Ummm Ummmm yea." Lauren mumbled looking away as her cheeks got flush in embarrassment. Lauren did have to admit though that Tamsin did have a beautiful toned body now that Tamsin joked about it.
It struck Lauren as out of place that Tamsin did not pair up with anyone but her attitude and her coldness always was a great deterrent. Tamsin could have anyone she wanted if she just didn't have such a bitchy attitude Lauren concluded. That and Valkyries are trained not to feel.
"All right Tamsin. I have got to help get things ready for dinner this evening for everyone." Lauren said straightening up with a genuine smile.
"I'll give you a deep tissue massage later tonight, so why don't you get showered and make yourself at home. Ask Drake if you need anything. Dinner in an hour?" Lauren smiled.
Tamsin just nodded and Lauren left the room.
Tamsin just pulled the thin sheet she sat on and wrapped it loosely around her body which barely covered her top and bottom.
She just pick picked up her clothes in one hand and casually strolled to the door. Her other hand held the blanket securely to her body.
Tamsin knew Drake was probably outside and needed to see if he would respond to the carrot, although the stick always worked for Tamsin. As a matter of fact she always used the stick and never the carrot. So what changed?
That question vexed Tamsin when she stopped to analyze this situation.
Everything she did before responded to brute force and intimidation. Forcing them into giving whatever she wanted. But now, she found she was using another weapon she was not accustoming to using but was challenging never the less. This weapon was more subtle and required cunning. It required her to feel, use her womanly wiles, leverage her body with the art of seduction to get her enemies to just willing GIVE her what she needed beyond that of a roll in the hay. If it just was a roll in the hay, she just threw herself at them with tons of charm, which always worked.
Bo.
She had changed her yet again from the inside out. Tamsin without knowing it at first was now doing what Bo would do. Tamsin after all experienced firsthand that even brute force and strength was still susceptible to seduction. She had been taken down so many times by Bo in bed and even in conversation that she learned that her wiles could always be used first then her strength. It didn't quite work in the reverse.
She huffed out a laugh knowing that the 'carrot' did kind of work on Lauren since she loosened up a little.
"This is going to be fuuuunnn," Tamsin mentioned sarcastically to herself opening the door.
Sure enough Drake was there looking all formal, but his eye's briefly roamed.
"Hi. Drake, is it?" Tamsin asked innocently trying for the first time Bo's puppy dog eye look.
The inner Tamsin just felt like throwing up. Hopefully this guy would not get stuck to her and be annoying like Kenzi.
"Yes. Tamsin, I've heard and read a lot about you. Good to meet you in person." Drake mentioned with a smile.
'Uggg, SMALL TALK. *HATE IT*' Tamsin thought to herself keeping up her 'genuine' smile. How she just wanted to punch him right now or at the very least say something mean.
"Yea, um," Tamsin stammered letting her blanket slip a little lower to show more of her cleavage. She wracked her brain to get out a line that Bo would use but finally said "Can you show me to my room again? You got a really HUGE … place here."
Tamsin wanted to find the nearest place to flip her cookies right now. She could not believe she just said that and it was probably not even executed that well. Slapping the shit out of someone seemed so much better at this moment.
Drake just smiled and gestured down the hall. "Yea it can get confusing the first time around. This way," Drake said formally ushering Tamsin to walk ahead of him.
Tamsin for her part was just about to pass, but instead fed her arm around his as smooth as she could do it for a Valkyrie. 'HOW THE FRACK does Bo make it seem so natural' Tamsin thought to herself still trying to use her wiles.
When sex or beating the crap out of someone was not the end game, Tamsin knew she was in a foreign world; One that belonged to her succubus girlfriend, Bo.
This was all just too much for her so Tamsin just surmised to walk in silence as much as possible but made sure to ask Drake an open ended question to keep him talking.
"So Drake, how'd you end up here?" Tamsin asked holding loosely onto his arm not really caring, but it at least gave her intel on him to assess if she was barking up the right tree.
Drake walked with her down the hall in the gentlemanly manner and stated, "Well I worked various private security jobs mostly having to do with protecting contractors in Middle Eastern counties. I actually accrued a significant amount of combat time since I always was put near a red zone. I kind of got tired of just getting shot at all day, so I returned state side and a friend of mine told me this organization needed some help."
Tamsin began to feel more herself now that Drake was talking about something that was in her field. Tamsin just grinned. "Yea, tell me about it. I was a mercenary for hire when I didn't have orders from my god; WHICH was a lot of the time. Pay was good, get to go places…. Ohhh that was the life… Freedom."
Drake looked at her curiously and smiled. "What made you leave?" Drake asked leading her up the steps slowly.
Tamsin had no reason to lie, but maybe just be a little general about it. "I found someone who embodied a cause I believed in. No amount to gold, or the decree of my gods would sway me from their side."
Drake seemed to nod in understanding, "Yea, this was a shit assignment. The pay was good, but what Taft was doing, I could not stomach it and I saw tons of fucked up shit out there. I felt like I was the good guy, but in the end under Taft, I was just a tool." They had made it midway up the steps.
Tamsin found it the perfect time to try some of Bo's moves. She also needed to get the truth from him without the sugar coating and BS. She dropped her underwear back a couple steps and made it seem like an accident. Like a fly to the light, Drake stopped and went down a couple steps to pick it up.
Tamsin, who was a couple steps above him now, just turned to him cocking her leg out of the slit of her blanket knowing full well, the sheet was already short enough where he could see her field of dreams if he tried, but with her leg revealed like that, it was certain.
She put on her best innocent face and then asked, "So why are you still here? A talented man like yourself can go anywhere."
Drake's eye's scanned the Valkyrie's luscious legs from toe all the way home but quickly meeting Tamsin's beautiful green eyes. He looked like he was in some sort of daze. Finally Drake mentioned, "Doctor Lauren Lewis was unlike Taft. She has ethical standards. She is doing things for the good of all human and Fae kind. She continued his research but was and still is on the run. The pay is almost nonexistent here, but some things are priceless. She needs me and the remaining security team that agreed to stay under me. The others just automatically left."
Tamsin patted herself on the back subconsciously. She got an honest answer. 'Bo would be so proud of me right now' Tamsin thought. Which kind of reminded her to stop showing so much flesh before Drake got the wrong idea. Last thing she needed was to cheat on her bonded partner.
'Great. Why do I feel like Bo and I are married already?' Tamsin thought offhanded.
That question was seemingly answered when a voice popped in her head, 'Because sis, you're bonded to Bo. Like it or not. You can't separate from a Valkyrie's bond.' Arin announced leaving the field she was practicing all sweaty and exhausted.
'Will you STOP that! BTW, found Lauren safe and sound. AND before you start flooding me with stuff, give me 5 minutes. I'm in the middle of something,' Tamsin thought back hurriedly in an agitated manner but made sure to hold Drake in her deep gaze.
"Oh, swell." Tamsin looked up scrunching her face. "I guess we have something in common then." Tamsin said with a click hooking her arm around Drake once again.
Tamsin was thankful that Drake was a gentleman and didn't do any moves on her. If that happened, Tamsin surmised that she would have to have an extremely honest and blunt conversation with him. Maybe even threaten his life in some way or another. As it stood now, she at least had some sort of ally in this place.
She took a much needed long bath and Tamsin noted that her muscle groups were not as sore now. Tamsin actually felt a lot better. Tamsin was tuning out everything for once and just relaxed as she sank deeper into the hot tub.
That peace was broken when a voice appeared in her head. 'Soooooooo you found Lauren… ANNNNDDD' Arin stated.
'Gods Arin, can't I get some peace?' Tamsin shot back to Arin. 'I'm in a nice hot bath, relaxing, found Lauren, now just get her and Bo together in a couple weeks… mix well, and bake for a couple days and BOOM. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.'
'Tamsin, doesn't that make you sad?' Arin asked innocently. 'You're giving away your bonded partner. You know this will hurt you right?'
'Sad? Since when do YOU talk about feelings?' Tamsin asked inquisitively huffing out a laugh..
'Well I allow myself to feel now sis. I only feel a small portion of your emotions and they are amazing. It's like I now see the world in color when I have been viewing it in black, white and shades of grey.' Arin commented back.
'Yea but you will be surprised how many dark colors there are.' Tamsin thought back exhaling submersing herself under the water and resurfacing again pulling her wet hair back.
'It is written that the bond was created so the any Valkyrie that executes it will live in excruciating pain if they choose an unfaithful partner. The partner does not feel this pain which makes it even worse. They will have no idea they are hurting their Valkyrie.' Arin thought while reading a book at her desk.
'Yea, and remember, I'm not a full Valkyrie.' Tamsin said knowing that Arin was probably right due to the dream she had.
'You ARE bonded to some degree since you knew Bo was in trouble.' Arin shot back.
'Yea.' Tamsin just said lifting a leg out of the water to wash it.
'Sis, I know what you plan to do. You think about it all the time. I've been trying to ignore it to give you space but … but… PLEASE there has to be another way.' Arin stopped reading from her book and looked up in the air not knowing how to talk to her older sister in a candid fashion especially over the link.
'GODS Arin. What has Bo done to you? You just said please.' Tamsin stopped what she was doing concentrating fully on Arin.
'No, it's not Bo… You're my twin sister. And… and….. I just found you again… we are the legendary sisters of light and dark finally reunited…. and now you're ready to move on … Once your gone, I … I'll miss … FUCK!' Arin thought over the link again but got up out of her desk to wipe her eyes dry. What her sister was putting herself through was noble, but it hurt never the less. Arin had taken for granted that there was always plenty of time to catch up but now, Tamsin had essentially finished her mission and was ready to go and she was ok with it.
Tamsin knew by the stuttering that Arin was in really bad shape. She was probably crying and had no one to talk to or hold her. Tamsin had Bo and she was there for her when she broke down briefly and it did help but now her sister needed her now more than anything else.
Tamsin quickly jumped out of the tub and slipped on a robe, not caring what she got wet and then grabbed her dagger which was right next to the tub for protection.
"Come on… come on.. hang in there Arin" Tamsin mumbled unscrewing the top of the hilt of the dagger. Then turned it upside down and 4 small blue gems with different markings came out and tumbled onto the granite bath steps leading to the tub.
Tamsin knelt down quickly sorted through them and found one, set it on the ground in the middle of the floor and screwed her dagger cap back on.
"PLEASE let this work." Tamsin mumbled to herself taking the butt of her dagger and slamming it down on the small clear blue gem.
The gem smashed on impact and a bright light emitted as a portal opened to Arin's room.
Tamsin saw Arin sitting on the edge of the bed just balling her eyes out and Tamsin immediately ran through.
Arin was in so much anguish and she never saw the light from the portal Tamsin created. She just could not stop crying. Before she knew it she felt her sister hug her. Arin looked away in an attempt to cover up but being held by her sister made her just cry more.
"I … I can't S.. STOP Tamsin," Arin wailed through her uneven breathing. "I can't believe … I'm so weak."
Tamsin knew the portal would close soon and she probably needed to stay with Lauren, so she pulled Arin to her feet. "No Arin, COWARDS ignore and run away from emotions like we are all taught to do. It takes a much stronger person to acknowledge their feelings and face them head on. You're stronger than you think. Come on we gotta get through this portal before it closes."
Tamsin walked through the portal again with her arm slug around Arin's waist partially supporting her. Arin's face remained buried on Tamsin's shoulder.
After a couple more seconds, the portal closed.
Tamsin brooded that it was good she was wearing a robe. At least she won't be soaking in her sister's tears.
Tamsin was never good at this crying game, but knew that Arin just had to cry it out. A lesson she learned from none other than her succubus girlfriend.
Tamsin just held her for a time until Arin began to calm down. "Hey, I know what will make you feel better." Tamsin stated turning on the warm water to the 2 person tub.
Arin just had nothing to say. She was so emotionally drained but felt better. Whatever Tamsin did recommend however, she was all ears. She had much more experience in emotions department after all.
"Come on. Bo told me this would help clam me, relax sore muscles, and lift the weight of the world off my shoulders. I didn't believe that Baby Fae Succubus until I tried it myself, but a bubble bath with the right combination of bath salts. AMAZING." Tamsin announced scrunching her face as Arin finally broke out of the hug.
"A bath will do ALL that?" Arin asked incredulously pointing at the tub filling with water while wiping the left over tears with her sleeve.
"Yup, come on sis. Just relax with me." Tamsin said standing up then taking off her robe and tossing it aside.
Arin still looked at her with serious reservations but then slowly started to take off her clothes as well. She knew she had to be back in Valhalla tomorrow but the here and now was the only thing that mattered.
In the end, it turned out that Bo was right.
The twins of light and dark where together once again. They exchanged small talk and no sooner were they laughing as they teased and reminisced about the good times.
"Gods Arin, even *I* hear the buzz about what we did in the Hall of Warriors. I bet Odin was pissed!" Tamsin huffed out a laugh with Arin sitting opposite of her.
"Yea, well he is just pissed because every time he visits the hall, people keep requesting for *US* to return." Arin grinned mischievously.
"Well not so much that sis," Tamsin clarified scrunching her face, "but apparently I hear Sir Wallace built a freaking huge shine to you. You riled him up so much he still has yet to come down."
"Well, if it is any consolation, YOU are there in that shine too." Arin commented washing her arm.
"Yea," Tamsin murmured huffing out a laugh while splashing Arin lightly with water by kicking one of her feet out of the water. "In the WAY WAY back, next to you doing a dance on the table."
Arin just rolled her eyes to the ceiling and responded, "Hey everyone there knows you are attached to a succubus so everyone just assumes they should go after someone that isn't. Besides, I'm not a prude like you."
Tamsin splashed her with some water and grinned, "Oh sis, you don't want to get into a 'your such a prude fight' with me. Besides WHO talked you through the Hall of Warriors incident?"
"Kill joy," Arin mumbled rolling her eyes.
There was a silence that hung in the air as the mood changed. Arin was the first to address it.
"If Bo cheats or gives her heart to someone else, you'll be the one in pain. I know that the bond was designed to punish a Valkyrie for giving her heart away foolishly. You have some sort of bond with Bo and I… I don't know if it is wise to test it." Arin stated in all seriousness.
Tamsin knew already by the way her heart felt connected to Bo's, the way it ached for her, they were bonded. The dream she had about it let her know, fallen or not, this was going to hurt.
"Arin, I have WEEKS left. I know this to be true. I hear death approaching, calling out my name, his shadow descending on me, pulling my soul away from this world." Tamsin stated looking away.
Arin bit the bottom of her lip and intently listened to her sister. She had no idea Tamsin had such little time left. For a Valkyrie, that amount of time was considered seconds to live. Her face contorted to pain briefly as Arin did her best to control her emotions.
Tamsin continued, "What good will it do me to only be in Bo's life for a couple weeks huh? My sudden departure will leave her heart broken. Also, I will go out a warrior. I refuse to be fawned over like an injured animal. Bo will get all clingy on me. That is just too degrading. With Lauren in the picture, that should soften the blow. It's the right thing to do for my succubus girlfriend."
Arin knew Tamsin's plan was sound but had to offer alternatives to extend her sister's life.
"Fall prostrate before Freya and ask to join her order. She may be able to grant your powers back and your lives." Arin said in a well-rehearsed manner.
Tamsin just rolled her eyes and said, "No. I bow to no gods now. Besides, I'm evil remember?" The mood turned somber as Tamsin leaded forward and put her hands lightly on top of both of Arin's shoulders.
"Arin, I know you won't understand, but when I gave my fealty to Bo, I felt EVERYTHING. I loved. But that also came with a price. I also experienced feelings like regret, remorse, and self-loathing. All the dark colors I was referring to. When I was away from Bo I relived all the evils that I did since I had time to think. It wasn't pleasant." Tamsin said softly and earnestly.
Tamsin paused and looked away for a moment before turning her gaze to Arin's green eyes. "It was bad enough that I was just following Odin's commands blindly without worrying about the moral consequences, then on top of that taking side jobs along the same lines. I felt so selfish, dirty and morally devoid. It was only more pronounced when I compared myself to Bo. She's so willing to overlook my evil doings but has no idea just how much baggage I do have. No one can forgive me because forgiveness doesn't erase all the hurt, pain and death I caused in my wake." Tamsin said softly.
Tamsin finally leaned forward a little more and whispered, "It has to end. No matter all good I do now, I won't be in the hall of warriors. Missing Valkyrie or not, *I* need to move on. I am just happy that I got to spend time with family. Be blessed enough that a Valkyrie as unworthy as myself can still be in Bo's arms if only for a fleeting instance."
Tears began to escape Arin's eyes again slowly. Arin didn't care since she felt she could be herself with her sister.
"What will I do when you leave? I wish I were half as strong as you." Arin said hugging Tamsin.
Tamsin knew that was probably hard for her to admit. Valkyries were training to never show weakness. She then whispered in into Arin's ear, "Be brave like you always have. Since YOU will carry the legacy of the missing Valkyrie forward. Lead the sisterhood by moving their hearts and they will all rally to you. Chronicle may good deeds and accomplishments and those words coming from the leader of all Valkyries will be embossed in the hearts and minds for all the generations to follow. When you do that Arin, I will *NEVER* leave any of you as I will be with all of you, for an eternity."
Arin just held Tamsin tighter thinking that she may disappear at any moment. She was asked to lead the entire sisterhood which 2 gods could barely do. It was almost an impossibility. But with new zeal Arin decided to do what it took to make it so. Her sister will live on. It struck Arin as out of place that Tamsin normally avoided these types of honest and deep discussions. As such, Tamsin always came off as shallow. Those statements alone moved her and dispelled it.
Arin was soaking in all that her sister just said but moved her heart when she heard Tamsin say confidently in the embrace, "We don't need to serve a god to get what we want Arin. We are all granted powers to be gods of our own destiny but most of us don't know why. Remind them and empower then. That is why the missing Valkyrie never died. You can't kill an idea."
They held that embrace for a couple minutes and finally relaxed again on opposite side of the tub in silence.
The weight of the world lifted off Arin's shoulders and it was in part due to the bath.
Tamsin finally gave up shielding her sister from the truth. She refused to allow her or any of the sisterhood to keep living a lie. If she was going to die a human, she would make sure she would be immortalized in the history books since the first draft of history was written by the victors.
Both knew their road ahead now and found solace and peace that it was made clear.
A knock was heard on Tamsin room door and Lauren's voice came through, "Tamsin? Is everything ok? I thought I heard someone crying?"
'Hey ya wanna punk the doc?' Tamsin quickly thought to Arin.
"You bet," Arin responded verbally with a click.
'This is gonna be fun.' Tamsin thought back with a maniacal grin.
"Yea Doc? Come on in." Tamsin announced then quickly dipping her head in the water and pulling her hair back.
Arin took a deep breath and went under right as Lauren rounded the corner.
Lauren just saw Tamsin in the tub washing her legs and arms in a bubble bath.
"Hey Tamsin, dinner is ready. Care to join us? We have Organic Caesar's Salad, MoGoGai Pan with Vegetarian fed cage free chicken and of course organic button mushrooms, and home-made well mansion made Amish apple pie." Lauren rattled off with a triumphant smirk somewhat proud of her feat.
Tamsin then asked hanging off the edge of the tub with curiosity scrunching her face, "Hey do you like do any cloning here 'cus I feel kind of weird."
Lauren almost laughed and shook her head but follow up, "No. Why do you ask?"
Tamsin smiled and thought, 'now Arin. 'cus doc, I feel like I'm beside myself'. As if on cue Arin surfaced beside Tamsin striking the same pose and both wet Valkyries said in unison, "'Cus doc, I feel like I'm beside myself."
Lauren's expression changed to shock as 2 exactly identical Valkyrie were now staring at her from the tub. My god! No one came in so was this an experiment gone wrong? Was there some growth agent in the drugs or water that caused Tamsin to spontaneously replicate?
Tamsin thought quickly to Arin 'Surround and corner nice and slowly'.
No sooner Tamsin and Arin got out of the tub naked and dripping water all over the place stalking like a cat towards Lauren.
"Uh … uhhh… Tamsin… uh.. we'll fix this I promise… j. .. just .. b … both of you come down to my lab to run a couple test… ok" Lauren stuttered out switching glances between the two but found out too late she was backed into a wall and had nowhere to go.
'Sis, let me drive for a bit.' Arin thought through the link to Tamsin.
The twins smiled mischievously right when they backed Lauren into a wall flanking her on both sides.
"Doc, I also feel kind-a weird," Arin spoke pinching and loosely grabbing a hold of Lauren's blouse.
"Oh, You're …. You're experiencing symptoms," Lauren mentioned putting her hands up to stop the advance of the Valkyrie army. What the heck happened? This clearly was not a clone in the normal sense Lauren thought. The genesis of cloning technology was in its infancy. Even then, Lauren knew it took time to get a clone to an adult. A Fae power? No. Tamsin does not have any and Valkyries don't even possess something even close. Spells and magic? Maybe. But WHO would do such a thing?
Arin started to feed lines at Tamsin so that they could say things in unison which would throw anyone off.
Arin then glanced at her sister as she thought, 'I feel extremely horny.'
Tamsin eyes briefly showed signs of bewilderment, but barely went along as both said in unison the same line.
'WTF! No Arin…. NO WAY.' Tamsin thought immediately after saying it.
'Relax sister. You can only do this play *ONCE*. Take it for ALL that it's worth. Walk on the wild side,' Arin thought back.
"Wait," Lauren said trying nicely to push the 2 Valkyries back. "Let's go down stairs FIRST and then we can resume this Tamsin … and Tamsin." Lauren said more forcefully trying to get control of the situation.
"Oh lightlen up doc. Your nerdy talk is turning me on moooooore," Arin cooed as she started to unbutton the top of Lauren blouse.
Tamsin for her part began to untuck it from Lauren's professional pants attire. She had major issues with this however.
'FUCKING STOP Arin. This is NOT funny. I know I do a lot of wild and crazy shit but I will not sleep with the enemy!' Tamsin thought back to Arin.
'Oh lighten up and live a little sis. Don't worry, I like being a little evil every now and then. I promise this will not scar me for life ok?' Arin thought back moving onto the second button.
Tamsin the yanked and untucked the rest of Lauren's blouse out of her pants as Lauren put up only minor resistance but thought back with urgency 'No Arin. It is *I*… Yes. … *I* that will be scarred for the rest of this life AND then next bitch! SO STOP NOW or I will.'
"Uh Ladies. As you doctor, we can't be doing this." Lauren let out in disbelief as the Tamsin clones continued to disrobe her.
"What? Are you saying we aren't attractive?" Tamsin asked tiling her head to one side.
"No… No you .. BOTH of you are very attractive… but not now… maybe later." Lauren said desperately trying to bat away the many hands working on her shirt.
'Kill joy. I plan to get her strip her and then make her prance though the house naked BEFORE we give up the game. Ok? Does she have security or housekeeping here?' Arin asked.
'Yes' Tamsin thought back as she grinned briefly. 'OK I get it, so humiliate her and then parade her around her own place to make it WORSE. Well then, I AM game.' Tamsin thought back to Arin with a smile of satisfaction.
Tamsin felt better and then purred, "I ALWAYS wanted to see some of the many reasons Bo LOVES about you and why you are known as the hot doc to Kenzi."
With that, Arin and Tamsin peeled of Lauren's shirt resisting all the way but resistance was futile when both Valkyries started to plant light kisses all along the doctor's neck moving up to her ear.
"You're … ahhh … simulating my nerves receptor clusters along the epidermis of my neck … anndd.. my god! The pinna lobule (ear lobe)." Lauren said as pleasure overtook her features. Lauren was taken by total surprise at the talent that the 'Tamsins' had.
'Keep working on her Arin and I'll take care of her lower sections.' Tamsin communicated surreptitiously divesting Lauren of her pants, underwear and flats.
'K, you're up. OH SHIT! She wants it….. BAD…' Arin communicated quickly.
Before Tamsin knew it, she was looking at Lauren deeply kissing Arin and pulling her in. Tamsin was just about to relieve Lauren of her bra but Lauren did that hastily then yanking both her and Arin to the bed.
Lauren knew that she should not be doing this to her patient(s) but it was a long time since someone touched her in that way. She had needs after all and the Valkyries did show considerable talent.
'FUCK! Crap! THIS is your fault. I can't do this. I'm with Bo!' Tamsin yelled out over the link to Arin.
'How was *I* supposed to know she was a closet slut! If you can't take it just ID yourself and be done with it! I think I can handle a human solo.' Arin shot back as she was throwing on bed.
'Hello, the prude was with Bo, THE SUCCUBUS. The doc had to have some capacity to keep up with her,' Tamsin communicated back.
Tamsin resisted Lauren and to her own surprise Lauren must have done some wrestling at one point since she did a takedown move on her which landed her on the queen bed as well..
Both Tamsin and Arin were now on the bed just looking at Lauren crawl on the bed between then.
Tamsin was really conflicted now. She never even wanted Lauren to ever touch her. She loathed the fact at least subconsciously that Lauren would get HER bonded partner. Who was she kidding however, with the time she had left, what would hating Lauren accomplish? It would actually hinder her objectives since she knew that she would at least subconsciously sabotage the transition to Bo. She would however have to fess up what she did to Bo and hoped Bo understood. Sure Bo was a succubus, so under those circumstances, she would have an excuse for this, but Tamsin? No such thing. Tamsin knew that she had to stop it before it went too far.
Lauren started kissing Tamsin's taunt stomach as Arin got up and kneeled next to Lauren planning kisses down her back. Arin's hands snaked around the front and followed it up to and cupping Lauren's twins.
"Wow, now I know why Kenzi calls you the hot doc." Arin said in a purr.
For Tamsin this had to stop and stop now as Lauren's kissing started to move up.
"Relax," Lauren requested to the Valkyrie lying down who seemed a little stiff.
Lauren felt the muscular definition of the Valkyrie on the bed with her hands and her mouth as the other hand unconsciously felt the stomach of the Valkyrie besides her. Even though Lauren yearned for this release badly, her mind still operated in 'doctor' mode. The Valkyrie behind her had a firm stomach as well, but it was smooth with less muscle definition.
Things started to fall in place quickly for Lauren. She felt the shoulder muscles of the stiff Valkyrie and found the inflamed muscle groups she just treated while as she briefly kiss the kneeling Valkyrie, whose muscle groups were perfect. 'THEY AREN'T spontaneous clones of one another she already deduced. Magic would recreate even the affected muscle structures, so that meant they were REAL. They were IDENTIAL TWINS. Somehow the other twin got here.'
Lauren was still kissing Arin deeply as her mind thought about Valkyrie history. 'There was only 1 set of Valkyrie twins and Valhalla. The twins of light and dark. They went by the names of Arin and Thomasina before then. WAIT. TAMSIN could be a shortened version of Thomasina!' Lauren concluded breaking the kiss and looking at Tamsin.
Tamsin finally had to give up the game as she finally blurted out, "Doc. As much fun as this is, I can't do this. I'm …" She was cut off from saying 'I'm bonded to Bo.'
Lauren quickly backed up and shook the cob webs out of her head. "STOP. Both of you. You are the twins a light and dark! You.. You're Tamsin which probably the short form of Thomasina " Lauren pointed to Tamsin who just propped herself up on her elbows and smiled with a nod. "And you are Arin the younger sister with the light." Lauren stopped pointing and dropped her hand and just looked over to Arin.
"Pleased to meet you Doc. Lewis." Arin just bowed slightly.
'Crap she found out.' Arin thought to her sister.
'Yea, that was close. I ALMOST told her that I was bonded to Bo and THAT would make for SWELL conversations.' Tamsin thought back.
Lauren then covered up with her hands and looked down and laughed lightly, "You guys just punked me," Lauren admitted in defeat feeling really vulnerable.
"Awwwww" Tamsin teased crawling over uncrossing Lauren's arms across from her chest seeing the signs of embarrassment in her eyes and red cheeks. "As Arin said, NOW I know why you are known as the HOT DOC. Most likely MANY of the reasons why Bo went with you. Annnd I see 2 prominent reasons standing out right now. You cold doc? " Tamsin grinned innocently and asked rhetorically with a click.
"OK. Arin will join us for dinner please?" Lauren said covering up a little backing out of the bed.
"My pleasure Doctor hot stuff." Arin said also swinging her legs out of the bed.
Tamsin just rolled out of the bed landing on her feet as always.
"The pleasure is all mine," Lauren said formally as all moved to large open bathroom to get dressed.
Tamsin huffed out a laugh and rolled her eyes and then looked over the Lauren who was gathering her cloths and joked, "No doc, the PLEASURE was definitely ALL MINE."
It's didn't take long for them to get dressed and go down to the dinner area together.
Tamsin observed that half the security team was eating at the table with them. It looked like Lauren treated that like family. It was obvious that the other half was on patrol.
Drake walked in right as Tamsin and Arin were about to take a seat next to one another. Drake just stopped trying to add up what was happening.
"Hi Drake." Both Valkyries said in unison since Tamsin fed the line to Arin just moments before.
Lauren just spoke up at the head of the long table and said, "Everyone, please welcome our guests Tamsin, as most of you know already and her twin sister Arin." Lauren made sure to gesture to each so that they would not be confused with one another, but as luck would have it, they were wearing 2 totally different sets of clothing.
The rest of the night, Lauren, Tamsin, Arin and at times, visiting security teams would make conversation in the large open and ornate family room.
They all laughed and had a good time.
Arin valued the time with her sister. She never laughed so much with Tamsin and Lauren. As for Lauren, she seemed to be a good person. Arin noticed that Tamsin did her best to avoid hot topics like Bo and her relationships post Lauren, but was civil. That was new. Her sister was the bigger person or Fae, and would do everything she could to stay on mission.
Tamsin as much as she internally loathed the doctor for eventually taking her Bo, it just had to be done. Arin looked like she was getting along with the doctor well and that too was good. Arin would take her place, as morbid as that sounded but it gave Tamsin and sense of peace.
Lauren, besides being punked, found that Tamsin was actually pretty cool to hang out with so long as she was not wielding her impenetrable shield of bitchiness. Lauren, however, could not stop herself from thinking about the sisters of light and dark. Valkyrie history was filled with chronicles of both of their exploits and Tamsin had the lions share and it was not due to her good deeds. Lauren was trying her hardest to not let this revelation sideline what they had now, but it was hard not to. Arin? Lauren had no reservations about her. She was light Fae and her past was filled with only deeds of defending the just.
As the night came to a close, Lauren insisted that Arin stay for the night and take a room next to Tamsin.
Arin was quick to accept since she wanted to spend more time with her sister. She turned in a little early however due to the 'emotional stress' she experienced earlier. She bided both of the women good night and Drake was nice enough to show her to her room.
Lauren decided that rather than Tamsin get her massage in her lab, it was probably better to setup the massage table in Tamsin's room since it had a warmer feel and gave more privacy as opposed to her lab. In addition if Tamsin fell asleep during the session which happens more often than not, the bed was only a couple steps away.
Tamsin entered her room and Lauren stopped at the archway.
"Tamsin," Lauren stated formally, "please get undressed and get on the table face down. I'll return in a few minutes."
Lauren left the room and closed the door behind her.
Tamsin found it extremely uncomfortable that Lauren was giving her the deep tissue massage. It was one thing to be occasionally touched while getting looked at, but this was more intimate.
Too intimate.
In all of Tamsin's life times, sure she had plenty of sex, but no one was allowed to touch her beyond what was needed for her to peak.
Bo was different. Bo knew and touched every part of her and she allowed it to the point where Bo touched her soul.
Now Lauren was about to do something similar. It meant that not only did Tamsin have to fully trust her, but it had the problem of Lauren getting closer to her than she wanted. Lauren definitely did not have that rapport with her at this point and the gleaming fact that she was to take her succubus away.
Her love.
At this point, it would have been so much easier to allow Drake to do it, but it was not to be so.
Tamsin took a deep breath as she walked to the table and shed her clothing in a messy pile on an adjacent chair. She then lay face down in the table putting her head down into the padded cradle.
She felt even tenser during these moments of waiting that internally her body jumped slightly at the sound of the door smoothly opening. It was Lauren due to hearing her warm and soothing voice greet her. Tamsin also could see that Lauren had changed into loose fitting shorts and slippers.
Lauren entered in and immediately felt the air of tension and anxiety. This was probably one of the rare times that she saw Tamsin's discomfort probably pertaining to the current situation. Lauren knew that Tamsin was a Valkyrie warrior at heart and allowing someone to touch them in this manner was extremely humiliating. It was probably degrading enough that she had to admit to needing some help addressing her soreness earlier.
"Hey Tamsin." Lauren said approaching the table with towels and oils. She set aside the oils on a table and covered up Tamsin with several towels covering her buttocks lower back. Essentially any part of Tamsin she was not working on at the moment.
"I'm going to start with your upper back, neck and shoulders is that ok?" Lauren asked professionally.
"Do your worst doc," Tamsin stated in defeat.
Tamsin was greeted by warm oils and a very gentle touch all over her neck, shoulders and back. If this was a deep tissue massage, then something was wrong she concluded. There needed to be more force but she let Lauren do her thing.
At first Tamsin felt extremely nervous and self-conscious because Lauren and her never really got along. Just a couple months ago, she got a slap in the face. Now Lauren was going to succeed her and it did make Tamsin upset and even more uptight. Lauren's movements however did seem to calm her down; slowly lulled into calmness with her gentle ministrations.
Lauren took her time and found that after Tamsin relaxed, it was easier work on other sections of her back without Tamsin getting tensing up. In addition she was able to use more force to break apart the knots she encountered which were several.
She could tell Tamsin was nearing border line sleep and finally decided to ask questions about Bo. Sure Arin, Tamsin and her did talk about all the other members of the family, but one which she avoided and it seemed that Tamsin and Arin avoided as well as not devilling too deep into topics about Bo. Now that both Lauren and Tamsin were in a more relaxed state, it was time.
"I'm glad Bo made it back safe from the Wanderer. And of course, kicked some butt in Valhalla. But how has she been doing?" Lauren asked in a controlled and relaxing voice.
Tamsin was almost asleep, in sheer awe that Lauren was quite talented. She knew Lauren was really exerting herself since her knots were tight. Tamsin also knew that Lauren was wearing a tank top since she felt her use her elbows and every now and then could feel her entire length of her arm no her body.
Lauren's question threw her off. She just wanted to drift off to sleep, but this had to do with her succubus.
"Bo, she's fine. Doing cases with Kenzi, working with Dyson at the precinct. Same stuff." Tamsin said barely able to compose a sentence.
Lauren found it amiss that Tamsin's muscles tensed up on the response, as if nervous about something. Lauren just continued to massage her until the tension went away.
"Is she feeding?" Lauren asked out of concern.
"Yep. She feeds from human and Fae, light or dark. Oh yea, but no Dyson." Tamsin said collecting her thoughts before she slipped and said 'and she loves the taste of my Chi above all.'
"Why didn't she just settle down with Dyson or.. or another Fae that could satisfy her apatite?" Lauren followed up naturally.
Tamsin really just wanted to say 'Because she is with me stupid,' but compromised and said, "Kendra is with Dyson and Bo is worried sick about you." It was the truth, just not fully answering the question.
"Kendra and Dyson?" Lauren asked shaking her head trying to process it, "Kendra is human and Dyson's property. I'm surprised that Dyson just didn't move in on Bo."
'Ummmm cus I, well the alcohol made me move in fast? Heck, the bed wasn't even cold yet when I sacked and plundered her sacred temple,' Tamsin thought smugly to herself.
"You should see Bo." Tamsin groaned out as Lauren used her elbow to break up a inflamed muscle group along her back.
"I… I really can't," Lauren mentioned softly moving to the next section on her back, "Bo probably hasn't forgiven me for breaking up with her. That and I'd bring her into the middle of this Taft debacle. Bo's got enough on her plate."
Lauren stopped herself for a moment wondering why she was talking to Tamsin like she was a friend. It was unavoidable since Tamsin seemed to be listening to her and answering her questions without deflecting them. This was new.
Tamsin finally decided to give Lauren a piece of the puzzle she had been missing this whole time. "Bo has never stopped searching for you. She was about to go against the wishes of Hale as well as all Fae laws to search human only regions to find you. She sent me to do that instead since I am human at the moment and as such have no real affiliation to light or dark in my fallen state."
Lauren in the middle if massaging Tamsin thought deeply about this new information. Bo sent Tamsin to find her.
TAMSIN.
The very last person Lauren would have expected. WHY? Bo had plenty of options which included looking herself. Then there was Kenzi and Dyson to name a few to work in the Fae only areas. Also Fae laws? Since when did Kenzi, Bo and Dyson not break them if the situation warranted it? Also if Tamsin was being truthful, WHY did she disobey her god, abandon everything she knew and take this task up on Bo's behalf. Tamsin should be groveling for her powers back but she seemed ok without them.
Was Tamsin leading Bo on and had something more insidious? Looking at past performance, this was not beyond Tamsin, but why did she have to lose her powers? What that part of the act too?
That led to one more inconceivable alternative, one which Lauren need to know an answer to.
"Why did you do all this for Bo? I.. I mean you became human when the Wanderer took away your powers and then you took up this task to find me to bring me back to my Bo. You could have walked away from finding me, or you could have just gone through with turning Bo over to her father," Lauren asked as calmly as possible.
Lauren knew she was in trouble the moment, like a cat, Tamsin swiftly and abruptly rolled to her side to stare her down.
Tamsin, before she knew it was so enraged at Lauren's comments, that she just got up on her side to give Lauren the death glare. In her mind, no one questioned her loyalty to HER succubus EVER. Also within that split second her mind already went through many of the ways to kill Lauren in hand to hand.
KILL.
It was in Tamsin's nature. Her feelings just amplified that need to get rid of Lauren, but her oath to Bo barely kept her in line.
Tamsin shuddered slightly as the tell-tale signs of an adrenaline dump rushed through her system. She could tell Lauren was scared since she started to back up. She gave Bo EVERYTHING. Tamsin slowly counted to 10 in her head as Lauren told her she was sorry and to calm down with her hands up in a defensive manner.
Those 10 seconds saved Lauren's life.
Tamsin then spat out with her clenched teeth just short of yelling, "BECAUSE *I* gave Bo my blood oath to find you and keep you safe. *I* ALSO GAVE HER MY FEALTY! I will NEVER serve a god again but I WILL serve Bo, the goddess of the new order!"
Tamsin paused trying to keep her anger in check but continued trying her hardest not to spill the beans about the bond, but continued and pointed her index finger sharply at her target. "You're so fucking lucky I did not kill you just now! It would just be too easy which is the disappointing part! I have NO IDEA what Bo sees in you but here I am STUCK with a test tube hugging, book worm, and pathetic excuses of a HUMAN doctor. *I* SWORE to Bo to defend you with my life! *MY LAST AND FINAL LIFE* you stupid bitch! I hope you are worth it!"
Tamsin then jumped up off the table and yelled at the top of her lungs in pure rage as Drake entered the room assessing the situation, "FUCKING Leave me KAREN! You're nothing but a TRAITOR for romancing Bo while keeping Nadia on ice! NOW LEAVE ME before I do something RASH!"
Drake was smart enough to put himself between Tamsin and the Doctor. He looked hesitant on what to do but kept his wits about him and chose to not draw his sidearm or shotgun which would only escalate tensions.
"Nooowwwww!" Tamsin yelled angrily but it was also laced with pain as tears began to flow from her eyes unbeknownst to Tamsin. It hurt Tamsin that she was about to reunite someone that was possibly unworthy to be with her succubus.
Arin at the tail end of this entered the room right when Tamsin started to advance on Drake and Lauren in active retreat yelling obscenities in ancient Valkyrie. Arin put Tamsin and a bear hug and pushed the incensed Valkyrie back. "Go!" was all she ordered to Drake and Lauren to do and they left quickly.
Arin was surprised how much strength Tamsin had as a human. Tamsin didn't even have her rune necklace on at the time. Tamsin still could intimidate and strike fear the hearts of her enemies. If she were a full Valkyrie, like she concluded before, nothing in this world or the next would be able to stop her.
Arin just held Tamsin tightly to calm her. She heard what Tamsin yelled and could feel and tell how much Bo meant to her sister. Bo was her world now and she would not settle for anyone or anything less. If Tamsin was to put her life down for Bo, it had to be worth more than what she saw of Lauren now.
Tamsin need to be held by Bo right at this very moment because she was emotional distraught. Bo always had the answer when feelings were involved. Not only was her life coming to an end quickly, but she would not be able to move on if Lauren wasn't that one for Bo.
Arin sat with Tamsin on the bed and held her. There was nothing to say over the link or otherwise. It was just a bad deal all around. She noticed that although Tamsin was shedding tears, her breathing remained calm. Tamsin was much stronger than she knew Arin concluded. This would have ended much differently a couple months ago. Tamsin was no longer just a Valkyrie, she had ascended beyond her species. Fallen or not, she was impressive. For the depths of emotions she now felt, Tamsin still remained in control.
Heightened emotional states for a Valkyrie amplified their powers but it was both good and bad. It cut like a double edged sword. It would give a Valkyrie more strength and power in battle, but also had the side effect of second guessing themselves and that led to a Valkyrie's demise. The best Valkyries learned to feel to a very small degree to perform better, but it was a fine balancing act. Tamsin acted like a Valkyrie but had her emotions on full the whole time. There was no such thing for any Valkyrie in Valhalla.
Arin had issues restraining Tamsin's forward march toward Lauren earlier since Tamsin was in full kill mode in addition to being distraught.
It was late and Arin tucked her exhausted sister into bed and slept vigilantly beside her.
Kendra's eyes batted open knowing full well what just happened.
It was early morning and the sun was about to rise.
She got up and double checked to make sure she still had Eric's badge in her arms and she did.
Kendra needed a shower. She felt gross and crying only made her feel worse.
She finally found the energy to get up and read the card that Dyson wrote her.
She remained standing at the mantel as she opened the card which read.
'Kendra,
Eric lost his badge 3 years ago while pursuing and fighting a doppelganger that roamed into his jurisdiction. You and I were both on that assignment if you remember.
In any case, I found his badge a couple months later while working on a separate item in that same region. When I called Eric about it, he told me to hold onto it and that he will pick it up later.
Well despite meeting several times afterwards, I just never got around to it and Eric never asked since he had a new badge already. It just sat in one of my junk draws until now.
I can only assume that the reason why your mantel doesn't display his badge is because his current badge went to his parents. This badge you have now however has been with Eric most of his career.
Eric would have wanted me to give this to you.
I realize that it is no consolation or a substitute for Eric but I hope this will give you the peace you yearn for.
Eric lived an amazing life and you only complimented him. You added refinement into everything he did and when the 2 of you were together, nothing could stop either of you.
As for yourself, you were and still are the definition of courage and perseverance.
I have yet to meet a human that is your equal and you far outpace most Fae even with their powers. You belong with us and that I think is your higher calling. To show us Fae that in the span of a single human life, in the confines of a human body, is a woman that lives and is fully alive with spirit that can outshine us all.
A prince once told me long ago something I really didn't understand at first. He said there was a funny thing about limits. When we finally archive them, we then find out we can still go a little further.
Kendra, you impose limits on yourself in terms of your life span here but you have shown me time and time again otherwise in everything else including relationships. You are living proof that the prince's sage advice held true and still does to this day.
Cerberus has only one heart and it beats inside of you now stronger than ever. We should never allow our fate to be completely dependent on another to be given and taken at a whim. No one should hold that power of you or anyone else. What happened when Eric was taken from you was that it awakened and unlocked Cerberus' full power.
You and you alone control it Kendra and not the other way around. Be careful how you wield your 'Fae' powers.
I need you to stay Kendra.
Yours truly,
Dyson'
This was a rare moment for Kendra. Dyson never told or wrote her something this moving before. On one hand she now had more closure concerning Eric and on the other Dyson, although being a pain in her ass on assignments was her secret admirer. They would just clash at work but that is how they were able to get along so well after work. They respected one another as equals.
They were in a relationship of sorts and Dyson wanted more commitment.
STAY.
That word stuck out at Kendra since it meant several things.
Stay with the Fae.
Stay with the gang.
Stay with Dyson.
Stay in a committed relationship with him.
All this was mind boggling and Kendra for the first time in a long time needed to talk to someone who was not Dyson about this quandary she was in. It all centered about commitment on both sides.
Tamsin.
She was always there for her and listened most of the time but never gave a real opinion on her relationship with Dyson. Kendra needed her now so she departed for Lauren's compound and left Mike in charge.
The 2 hour long drive felt much shorter since her mind kept re-reading Dyson's note over and over.
She just drove up the fire road and as she thought several of the security teams advanced on her before she made it fully up the hilly path. Upson recognizing her, they just waved her in.
Upon parking her car, she saw Tamsin in a field to the right of the mansion wielding 2 short staffs and practicing movements with them in a fluid manner.
Kendra got out of her truck and approached. Tamsin looked free and more mobile than before.
"Hey." Kendra said letting her presence be known.
The Valkyrie stopped what she was doing and put her staffs down and approached Kendra with a smile and greeted "Captain Shaw."
WAIT, Kendra noted that Tamsin just calls her Captain, Cap, or Kendra but never Captain Shaw. Also this Valkyrie did not wear a rune necklace.
"Arin?" Kendra said cocking her head to the side in question. Kendra already heard about Bo's misidentification incident and was keen not to repeat it.
"Sister. Good to see you again." Arin stated holding onto Kendra shoulders and putting her forehead on Kendra's.
This action was totally unexpected. She read that this was a greeting for Valkyries and not for humans but hesitantly brought her arms to rest briefly on Arin's shoulders as well.
They broke quickly and Kendra had a burning question.
"Arin, why did you greet me like a Valkyrie? I'm human." Kendra asked.
Arin just smiled knowing that Tamsin didn't tell her. "Kendra, Tamsin has been calling you a sister via the link for weeks now. Sure Valkyries are a pretty closed off culture, but it doesn't preclude us from giving honorary titles. From what Tamsin said about you, you are the closest thing to a sister in this world she has since I am stuck in Valhalla most of the time. That makes you my sister as well."
"Oh. Well then I am honored. Thanks for explaining that to me Arin. By the way where is Tamsin?" Kendra asked.
Kendra was flattered that she just was not talking Tamsin to death and Tamsin really did value their friendship.
"She's still sleeping. She had a really rough night since Lauren rubbed her the wrong way." Arin said formally.
"In what way?" Kendra asked out of curiosity.
"You might want to ask Tamsin. I'm sure she will be happy to see you." Arin stated with a click.
Kendra found her way to Tamsin room since Arin gave her directions. She knocked lightly and entered the room.
Tamsin was just lying there with her blood shot eyes open staring into nothingness.
"Captain," Tamsin mumbled glancing at Kendra. Tamsin was confused. She thought that Kendra was supposed to meet her next week but just let that fact go.
Kendra noticed that Tamsin looked dejected, depressed and she had been crying for a long time.
"Hey Tamsin," Kendra greeted approaching her bed cautiously with a smile.
Tamsin slowly sat up in the bed a covering herself up with the thin sheet.
"What's new?" Kendra asked to see if Tamsin would fill her in on what happened within the span of a day.
"I fucked up." Tamsin confessed looking away.
"Oh yea, we all do that every now and then." Kendra assured her taking a seat on the bed.
"I *ALMOST* killed Lauren last night," Tamsin confessed defeated.
Kendra knew the pressure she was under so she just asked, "But you didn't. So is the doctor ok?"
"Yea, I just yelled her out of my room. Lucky for her Drake and Arin were there to help whisk the doctor away." Tamsin droned on putting her hand to cover her face.
"Oh, so Doctor Lewis only has a bruised ego? Then I am sure she deserved it." Kendra smiled and put her arm around her briefly to reassure her.
"She questioned my loyalty to Bo. She insinuated that I had ulterior motives. Annnnnnnd I just blew up on her. I was just soooo mad that the traitorous doctor would dare call me that. All this coming from a doctor that kept a girlfriend on standby while going steady with Bo. Hump!" Tamsin said talking to her propped up knees in distain.
"Tamsin, you have a tough road to follow and I wanted to let you know that you are still doing it well." Kendra said. She knew deep down she was seeking absolution from Bo but could not get it right now.
"Bo will forgive you. She loves you Tamsin. I am sure she will understand." Kendra shook her with her hand lightly.
"Yea," Tamsin said rolling her eyes, "Like that will happen. As soon as the 'PERFECT' Lauren opens her mouth I will be guilty as charged. Her rap sheet is not nearly as long as mine just taking into account only 1 of my lifetimes."
"She is BONDED to YOU in some fashion. Bo worries about you and asks about you every time I see her when you're away. She forgives everyone period but loves you. Bo probably knows all the sacrifices you are doing for her and will always give you the benefit of the doubt. Hasn't she proven that to you by now?" Kendra rattled off.
Tamsin knew Kendra was right. Bo was HER SUCCUBUS. It did make her feel better but now she had to apologize to Lauren which was going to be tougher.
"Thanks Kendra." Tamsin said as she cracked a smile for the first time since the incident.
"Sisters right?" Kendra said rhetorically finally seeing Tamsin's face light up looking directly at her.
Kendra brought her into the standard Valkyrie greeting and Tamsin giggled.
"Arin didn't tell you that now we have to vie for dominance?" Tamsin grinned.
Both laughed in spurts and fits for most of the hour that followed.
Tamsin felt lucky to have 2 people she could consider sisters beyond the sisterhood. They were there for her and they were her family.
What of Kendra needing to talk to Tamsin for more clarity on Dyson? It could wait.
Lauren was in her lab oblivious to what was going on upstairs. She preferred the peace of her work, but Tamsin's statements last night kept bothering her. Everything was pointing away from Tamsin willfully misleading Bo and her but pointed to something more disturbing.
Lauren brooded that Tamsin was telling the truth. She disobeyed her god and accepted the punishment, gave Bo a blood oath, and then her fealty. What would make her do that? Why was Tamsin so radically different from months ago?
WHY?
Lauren put down her blue test tubes in the holder and turned around to lean on the table. She took off her safety goggles looking up in the air deep in thought and mumbled to herself in disbelief.
"Oh my god! NO….. It couldn't be!"