A/N: Thank you to everyone who takes time to read this story, follow it, and add it to you favorites. I am thrilled that you guys are enjoying this story. I know Lauren is beyond cold to Bo but remember she was erased of ANY feelings for the succubus. No feelings whatsoever can make someone bitterly brutal. Doccubus is endgame so Bo will find a way to save the doctor. So far this whole story Lauren has always saved Bo now we get a chance to see the shoe on the other foot. Angst road ahead for BoLo just hang on for the ride. This chapter is mainly about how Lauren is to everyone else verses Bo (a lot of you had questions regarding that). For those that read Wide Awake I am starting the Fae Wars and give the seethe a little shout out in this chapter just for an inside joke. Keep up the reviews they are motivating. Thanks again and enjoy.
3 WEEKS LATER
Bo was sitting at the kitchen, elbows on the counter, hands formed into tight fists, and her head laid on her hands with her eyes closed. Her head was pounding from all the thinking she has been trying to do. It was beyond painful to see the person she loved more than she thought capable treat her like she was her worst enemy. Saying that it had been a rough three weeks would be a severe understatement. After she left the compound that day when Lauren was crueler then the succubus thought was possible, Bo went to Carpe Noctem. Vex wasn't there but it didn't stop the brunette from trying again. At that point she didn't tell her best friend what was going on. She just would sneak away and go after the Mesmer. On the third night she ran into Vex outside of his club. Bo tried to attack him letting him know she knew he was the one to kill Lou Ann's kids. He almost killed her but Kenzi followed her best friend with her new shifter boyfriend and saved her life. When the Mesmer saw the cavalry approach he let go of the succubus and took off. Kenzi let her know she was suspicious of her behavior and decided to follow her and was grateful she did.
They took her back to the medical facility with them since she had stabbed her own side under the Mesmer's control. That was when the petite goth first noticed the difference in the pothien. Lauren practically rolled her eyes at the wound on the succubus. The only good thing she did that day was force Bo to use her to heal. A fight that the brunette fiercely put up but in the end the fae doctor won. Kenzi didn't press the issue at the time knowing that something was happening between the two.
After Bo was healed from the dagger wound she went home and spent the next three days in bed. The tiny human became more and more insistent that she tell her what was going on. By the end of that first week Bo caved in. She finally sat down with Kenzi telling her that she couldn't tell her boyfriend what Bo was about to tell her. After drilling the human she told her about the letter, about the doctor being a double agent, about Nadia, everything about Lauren and Evony, and the things the pothien said to her a week ago. It actually left Kenzi at a loss for words which never happens. On the one side of things the human felt for the blonde fae understanding how painful it must have been to learn the people that you trusted for years were so quick to stab you in the back. The other side of that she couldn't help but feel angry at the words that were said to Bo.
Now there problem was that they couldn't tell Dyson, Hale or Trick. Instead during that second week Bo made amends with Kenzi's shifter boyfriend and with her grandfather. Somewhere in the middle of that week she told them that she hit a bumpy road with Lauren after the fae doctor told Bo she loved her. To be more accurate she made up a lie with Kenzi that they think the pothien was put under some sort of spell. Without telling the details of the old Ash's betrayal or the blonde fae being a double agent, Bo told them that the fae doctor told her about Nadia. The succubus asked if any of them met Nadia. They all remembered the human that the pothien once dated and all confirmed that they didn't think Lauren loved her but definitely cared deeply. They recalled how sad it was when the human fell ill and the countless hours the pothien put in the lab trying to cure her. It was Dyson who remembered that when Nadia finally did wake up Lauren pretty much kicked her to the curb. So they didn't think it was weird if that was what she was doing with Bo. Hale made a comment that maybe the fae doctor didn't want to fall in love and when she got close or did she pushed the person away. Trick, Dyson and Hale thought it had to be the reason since it was what happened with Nadia in their eyes, and now was happening with Bo.
It was beyond frustrating because the succubus knew that wasn't the reason. She knew that Lauren pushed Nadia away to protect her from the fae. Of course she couldn't tell the three fae men that. Only she and Kenzi knew the truth. But by the third week the three started to agree something was off with the pothien. To everyone else she acted like her normal self, composed, strong, and in control. When it came to Bo she was void of any emotions at all. The succubus and the tiny human felt a tremendous amount of relief when their friends saw this as well but again it caused the problem of why. There was no way she was going to betray the pothien's trust even if she was being evil.
The brunette tried going to talk to Evony a few times during that third week. The first two times the Morrigan's guards practically threw the succubus out on her ass. The third time proved to be success in seeing the dark fae leader but she lied through that fake smile denying that she had anything to do with the pothien's recent coldness. She wanted to rip her face off but kept her composure knowing if she did anything to the Morrigan the answer to helping the blonde fae could die with her.
All this brought Bo up to where she was now with everything. Sad that she wasn't able to save the pothien the way she did for her many times. Bo was happy that all her friends were working on possibilities even if they didn't know the full truth. And last she felt like a part of her was missing. Now sitting there at the counter her migraine was growing to the point where she was convinced her head might just pop off and she was hoping it would.
She heard the tapping of fingers and without lifting her head out of her hands she glanced in the direction. Knowing just by the finger tips she was able to see that it was her goth friend. "How can three weeks have gone by and I still am nowhere closer to getting anywhere?" Bo groaned out in a low tone.
Kenzi couldn't help but feel the pain her bestie was enduring. The tiny human even tried to keep things simple with Dyson for the time being. She didn't want Bo to see her happiness when she was suffering so much. At night she would sneak out and see Dyson making sure to be back in the morning before the succubus woke up. Most of the time now when she was with the wolf she would talk about the brunette but Dyson was always understanding knowing how close the two are. The tiny human wanted to make this better but was also at a loss. One night she met up with Dyson and Hale at the Dal instead of drinking and kicking back she got permission to go through his books to find an answer. She read so much about fae and curses at this point she was sure she knew them all. None fit the fae doctor though. For now she wanted to break her best friend out of her current funk. "You going to the fae ball tonight, a new Ash will be in the running." Kenzi was noticing that Bo was barely paying attention to her. Not one to give up easily she went on, "Hey maybe there will be some fae fairy godmother that will show up with the glass slipper to break the evil curse." This time Bo at least lifted her head out of her hands to give the tiny human a blank stare. "Listen Bo bo I'm not throwing in the towel just yet. Maybe the new Ash will know something about pothien's. Since humans can't go I am going to continue pouring over the books." Kenzi was being the most serious she has ever been since she met the succubus.
The brunette was thinking it over. The goth had some valid points maybe the new Ash would know something. If anything it was a chance to see the pothien again. Not that she hasn't seen her in the past three weeks because she has they just weren't the same. After the first week she helped save the fae world when some circus freak fae was trying to be the Ash. The fae doctor was involved because the skin one of the fae ate was some sort of map the blonde had to decode. She wasn't mean to Bo at the time but wasn't compassionate either. A week later Bo helped some dark fae that lied and said he was light fae at a nursing home of sorts. All the residents were under a spell and she ran into the pothien there as well who told her not to get herself mortally injured. The succubus took that as a hint that the doctor would be helping someone else that night. In three weeks she only needed Lauren to heal twice. The first time was after Vex made her stab herself and the second was when she stopped the Mongolian Death Worm. Both times were incredible as always and the second time the blonde fae stayed for some extra healing. In the middle of the night though she disappeared and didn't come back. That was when the succubus realized something she didn't before she stared up at Kenzi. "How do you know Lauren is going? It is not required."
The goth gave a sheepish look, "There I go putting my foot in my mouth again." Slamming her one hand on the counter she pointed to Bo, "Which for the record I would like to point out it's my own foot." She gave an involuntary shiver thinking back to the Aswang's soup. Feeling the glare that was burning into her from the succubus she quickly answered, "SheisgoingasHalesdate. Okay, I should go hit those books. Bye bye then."
The human grabbed her bag but was stopped by the brunette, "KENZI." It wasn't shouting just loud talking.
The human threw her bag back down still not meeting her best friend's eyes. "Shit balls you make things into shituations. Hale asked Lauren to go with him since they knew each other since Dinosaurs walked the earth and all that shit. Sorry Bo but it is only you that she is being Dr. Freeze to," she really didn't want to get into this conversation. She knew that hearing it only devastated the brunette more. "I was thinking you could go as Dyson's date. Keep an eye on my man make sure he is being a good wolf or no treats for him." Kenzi was trying to lighten the suddenly tense mood.
The words stung the succubus but she was getting used to it. Lauren was being herself to everyone else just Bo got the Dr. Freeze side of the pothien. This was on her mind so much lately that going over it again made it feel like the walls were closing in on her. "I will think about it Kenz. I just need to get out for a bit." She snatched her car keys and whipped open the front door slamming into some lady. "Shit, I'm sorry."
The woman was dirty but had a pretty face. There was a sudden flash of hope on her face, "Are you the unaligned succubus?"
Bo couldn't help but think some fae newspaper went out to the light and dark introducing her to their society. Taking in this fae's appearance she knew whatever this one needed Bo would end up helping with. "Yes I am and who are you?"
"My name is Sabine, I am the stag for tonight," she put her hand out to shake the succubus's.
Kenzi was standing at the door and met the brunette's utter confused gaze. The goth sat Sabine on the couch while Bo got her a glass of water. "Sabine what is a stag," the succubus was still learning all things fae.
Sabine took a sip of the water giving both ladies a soft smile. "Tonight I will be the one that is sacrificed for the Selection Games. All the Ash's that are in the running will hunt me. The first to kill me becomes the new Ash."
"Oh how nice the fae have their own version of the Hunger Games," the goth was not hiding the distaste she had for some of the shit the fae did. "Well may the odds be ever in your favor." She glared over at the brunette not too thrilled at hearing this new piece of news.
The succubus was sitting next to the stag on the couch. Her face showed how awful she thought this ceremony was. "Sabine I will do all I can to sneak you out of here and protect you."
The stag started to laugh. "No you both misunderstand. I volunteered to be the stag. I have no problem with dying. I want you to find the love of my life. I think something terrible might have happened to him. I fell in love with a Dark Fae and since I am Light we were caught and I was put in prison. I need to know what happened to Hamish, to know what that bitch Evony might have done to him. If you find him please tell him I never stopped loving him."
When the stag began telling her story the goth observed her best friends body movements and facial expressions. It was like hitting bull's eye for Bo right now. Hearing Evony be called a bitch was an understatement. The whole forbidden Light and Dark with how Sabine was punished. The tiny human new that Bo was picturing Lauren being caught. This could be the pothien's future.
It was the exact thing the succubus needed to hear for motivation. She took Sabine's hands in hers. "We will find Hamish. I will make sure he gets to see you and I will not let you die. Please trust me."
It was the knock on the door that broke the serious feel in the air around them. Kenzi ran over answering it seeing her boyfriend standing there with some other light fae guards and Hale. "Hi babe so nice to stop over with your friends."
Dyson shook his head instantly knowing that the stag had to be there. "How did I know," he couldn't help but grin at the tiny human he was dating. "You know we have to take her Kenz."
Kenzi tried to make herself seem as wide as she could stretching out her legs and arms, "Take who, Bo, you can't she is unaligned and all that stuff."
The shifter towered over his girlfriend and gazed over at the succubus sitting with the stag. He nodded with his head in the direction of the two. The goth glanced over her shoulder, "That is an illusion, ta-da."
The wolf lifted up the human moving her out of the way as the guards came in. He gave her an apologetic glance before going over to them. Kenzi shouted towards him, "You mister better wolf out because that bed is going to be very cold tonight."
Sabine was the one who spoke for the shifter, "It is okay, and I said what I have to. Thank you both." She gave the warmest smile for someone who just volunteered to die.
The brunette got up behind them catching Dyson before he left. "I will go with you tonight. Can you stay for a few minutes so we can go over the details?" She was trying to get him there alone to let him know there plan. The guards and Hale let him know it was fine as they proceeded to leave. "We need you to run for Ash if that is possible." Bo blurted it out as soon as the others disappeared from her house.
"No it's not possible. The only ones that could enter this late in the game would have to be someone from one of the royal families," he tried not to meet their eyes after promising Kenzi to never lie to her again.
Something she caught instantly, "Who is the royal you know?" She poked him in the chest as she asked the question.
Not wanting to even try to hide it he told them it was Hale. Kenzi didn't hide how impressed she was, "Damn wrong cop, story of my life." She glanced at Dyson seeing him raise an eyebrow at her she corrected what she said. "Kidding," throwing her hands up innocently, "Totally totally kidding." She gave him a quick kiss. "Now go talk to that partner of yours and help me out. After all you owe me for the lying game you decided to play."
When the shifter finally gave into his human girlfriend he told her that he would call after speaking to Hale. He made it clear that he wouldn't be able to promise anything but she let him know she had confidence in him. Basically letting him know in not so many words that he had no option but to get the siren to agree no matter what it took. After he left the two went on their mission to find Hamish.
HOURS LATER THAT NIGHT
Bo was wearing an elegant gown for the evening. It was red and tight with a strap over the one shoulder. Dyson was wearing a black jacket, black button down shirt with black pants. Trick had on a traditional suit. Hale was wearing one with some color to it representing the color for his spot in the running for Ash. Kenzi already asked Dyson to discuss their plan with the pothien and she agreed to it. The succubus made a promise to herself that she wouldn't try to find the fae doctor that night. Actually making sure she wouldn't run into her instead. Her new plan was to avoid her as much as possible.
It was short lived when the brunette took a champagne flute from a server that was passing by. After she took it she turned around and the pothien was right in front of her. She was wearing a strapless royal blue dress that hugged her body like a glove and was completely backless. The succubus literally stopped breathing at the sight of the pothien. "Sorry," she went to move around her but the blonde fae stepped in front of her.
"You look nice Bo. I haven't heard from you, does this mean you learned how to stop getting yourself killed?" The blonde fae knew she has been heartless when it came to the succubus lately but couldn't understand why. It was like when she thought of Bo her whole heart and mind emptied of emotion. There was literally nothing there like a giant black hole. Which in turn would cause her to lash out on the brunette whenever she pushed her buttons. As Kenzi so graciously put it the pothien had verbal diarrhea when it came to Bo. She wasn't thrilled with the comparison but it was accurate. When Bo did something stupid or foolish or pushed too hard the switch inside Lauren would flip causing her to snap.
The brunette was stunned. This was the first time in three weeks that she was actually trying to engage in a conversation. "Takes putting your life on the line a few times to get it right but I think I am catching on. You look breathtaking." It was the only word that came to Bo's mind considering Lauren took her breath away. Right now her heart was beating like thunder. For the first time in a long time she felt nervous. Not knowing if she would say the wrong thing to end this and not wanting to.
"I always knew you were a fast learner although I am sure tonight's little escapade has you written all over it," the pothien smiled. She didn't have to force the smile it just happened. When she tried to think of why it was blank. Completely void of any emotions when it came to Bo. Almost like it was empty space literally nothing, no feeling or emotion at all. The fae doctor was friends with Dyson, Trick and Hale. Plus Kenzi meant a lot to her so for them she promised herself she would try with the succubus. At least try to keep from snapping. With that in mind she did what she told herself she would, "Bo about that night in the compound I am sorry with how I told you. I was trying to protect you. He could kill you easily."
It was the last thing the brunette wanted to rehash. "As I recall you said you would let him." It was impossible to erase the glare in the blonde's eyes as she barked out the remark. That was the lowest blow anyone ever said to the succubus. It was made worse coming from Lauren.
The fae doctor was ashamed at her behavior that day. It was not in her to be evil. She knew it was no excuse but chalked it up to the stress of the day. Bo catching her at Evony's finding out her secret, having to make sure Aifie didn't kill Trick's granddaughter, and the compound getting attacked. Then Bo was pushing and pushing about feelings Lauren was completely positive she didn't feel. But the brunette wouldn't let up and all it came crashing down at once making her lash out. Again inexcusable and did feel bad that she hurt the person close to everyone the pothien cared about. "I didn't mean that. There are no words I can say that will correct or fix what I said. Please know that it was an awful thing to say and I am aware of that. I am truly deeply sorry for it Bo." Knowing it was time to close this conversation she smiled, "Keep up the good track record, I guess I will see you later when we save Sabine," she winked at Bo before walking away.
The succubus did the first thing she could think of pulling out her phone and calling Kenzi. She gave the fast summary of what happened. The goth huffed into the phone, "Good glad you are getting your Lauren on. Let me tell you when Trick gets back I am asking him about a seethe. I just read this whole thing about these fae goddess and I don't want to EVER come across one. We will all die and there is a chance I would push Dyson down a flight of stairs to crawl onto top of her because they are always female. Supposedly they are a myth thankfully cause no one wants to see this chicka getting down and dirty with the ladies. Or in this case one irresistible lady. But then again I thought succubus's were and look who I am talking to."
Bo couldn't help but laugh at her friend, "Well unless a seethe can help me with Lauren its useless information to me but good to know you are trying out the bisexual thing. Keep your options open." She hung up the phone as the hunt was about to begin.
NEXT DAY
The night went well for the succubus. Hale didn't win as the Ash but it was okay they found Hamish, he came, and Lauren saved Sabine. They were able to have conversations and not fight. Things were starting to show a ray of sunlight in the darkness the succubus was living in. She was going over the nights events with Kenzi when there was a knock on the door. Answering it she met Bianca who needed to hire Bo for her boss who turned out to be Evony. "You can tell Evony I hope whoever screwed her over comes back as a body bomb and takes the bitch down. Oh and she can kiss my ass," she slammed the door in her assistant's face not giving a shit.
The two didn't know what the Morrigan was up to but didn't want to play that dangerous game. They went to leave and Vex was leaning against the doorframe. He quickly made the succubus start choking herself. "Listen my little crumpet I didn't come here to play nasty. I want your help and will release you if you play nice." He slowly released his grip on Bo.
"Why the hell would I help you?" The brunette was coughing as she asked him. When she finally stopped she rubbed her throat.
"Because I will tell you what happened to your precious pothien. But only you two no one else and only if you help." The Mesmer didn't care if he was going behind the dark fae leaders back. He was pretty sure she was having him hung out to dry with that incriminating picture being painted on a city wall. A picture the fae elders might not be so appreciative of.
Kenzi stood next to Bo. The succubus and her friend both crossed their arms over their chest trying to give an intimating stance. "Okay you have my attention," that was all Bo needed to hear.
"Drop the Charlie's Angels and we can get down to business." The dark fae waltzed into their house and told them all about the painting. He explained how he thought Evony might have a role in it and Bo let him know about Bianca. Vex told her it would be wise to see the Morrigan it would give her the chance to hear Evony's side. The brunette agreed to everything after all how could she not. With that the three left but Bo had Kenzi wait in the car when she went to see the Morrigan.
When she came back she explained everything to the goth who had connections in the graffiti world. It didn't shock Bo anymore the things the human knew. Thanks to Kenzi they were able to find Jason but he tried to kill them. Vex followed them and almost had the kid kill himself till the brunette got in the way and Kenzi came to her rescue almost cutting off a part of the Mesmer he would definitely miss. She told him she would pull a Lorena Bobbit on his ass which made him let go of Bo fast.
After he backed off they continued their investigation which led to Bo discovering it was Bianca that was doing it not Evony. She went and saved Vex's ass but before she would give him the information she wanted answers. "I have shown that I can be trusted. I could have not saved your sorry ass as revenge for Lou Ann but I didn't I saved you so talk."
"Fine love but as I said just you and the food you keep company with." He put on a robe, "Your doctor feels nothing for you because Evony had her compel herself to forget all feelings for you. Tough break on that one. Regular riot it is considering she did it to save you from your mum and now you two can't even celebrate."
Kenzi kept her eyes on Bo. The succubus started shaking. "How do I undo a pothien's compulsion?" She was having a hard time keeping herself standing.
"You can't. Once a pothien compels you it is like they rewrite your brain. Not so peachy for the unaligned sex machine. Harsh reality on that one," the Mesmer had a very small amount of sympathy to his voice.
Bo didn't know what happened one minute she was standing there the next she felt her knees crash onto the floor as Kenzi wrapped her arms around the brunette's upper body as she fell into her.
