Chapter III
The Ash was waiting for Lauren at the other end of the long gallery.
Lauren felt -as she always did when she met The Ash- her palms moist and her throat dry.
"I have troubling reports about your lack of progress with the Librarian virus"
His deep voice rolled over every word like a boulder over Lauren.
"I… "
The Ash lifted his open hand.
"I am sure I don't have to stress the gravity of the situation, as I am sure I don't have to tell you how troubling it is that are using your resources to help someone who refuses allegiance"
Lauren couldn't lift her eyes from the stone floor.
"I assure you that…" Her voice was so weak that she doubted she had said the words aloud.
"You led me to believe that your getting close to the little succubus was in the name of the Light Fae"
The Ash stopped walking and turned around to face Lauren. She still couldn't bring herself to meet his intense gaze.
"An emotional attachment to the succubus is not to be accepted."
Kenzi was sitting at the kitchen table, surrounded by sweets and pastries of all shape, sizes and flavor.
Bo entered the kitchen, her face lit up by a radiant smile.
"Hmmm munchies, goodie. You're such a bad influence". She planted a quick, light kiss on Kenzi's forehead and started rummaging the open packets.
"Oh yes. I heard how hungry you were last night. And the night before.. And the night before last… Way to go, girl" Kenzi swallowed, took another bite of a jelly doughnut. "I've been thinking. You definitely must teach me how to do that energy sucking thing. Healing sounds good. Almost as good as sleep"
"I am not that noisy, am I?"
"Oh no. Quiet as drunken Godzilla"
She finished the doughnut and started searching for her next sugary victim.
"Speaking of hungry, how long it's been since you got one of Dr. Hotpant's shots?"
"A while. But who needs them, with pub full of willing Fae at my disposal"
But Bo knew she needed them. Even Dyson had asked her the same question. So far, no harm had come out of her sexual escapades, but Dyson was getting concerned – apart from jealous. Even she knew she would eventually run into the wrong Fae, possibly risking Kenzi in the process.
Bo walked in the lab and was greeted by a tall, elderly man in a white coat.
"Hey. I was looking for..."
"…Lauren, I guess. She's not here. I'm Dr. Hutchins. Quite pleased to make your acquaintance" He came forward to meet her, his right hand extended.
"Oh. When will she be back?"
"Couldn't tell you, dear. I'm running the lab during her absence"
"That means she's not coming back today?"
"Not likely. How can I help you?"
"Now that you mention it" Bo got close to the old doctor. "I've got a pain here…" She pointed at her side. "Here, let me show you…" She held his hand, placed it on her side and let her energy flow. "So, where did you say Lauren was?"
"Oh dear, I'm afraid that it doesn't work on me. I'm a neutered Fae, you see... And as I said, she's not here"
Bo smiled sheepishly. "Okay then, please tell her that…"
"… Bo was here. I'll do that"
Bo found it most irritating his habit of finishing her sentences. He smelt Fae, sounded Fae, and what happened to Lauren?
The pub was full, although it was still early on a Friday evening. She nodded playfully at a both Fae woman and a guy close by, both of whom had being her playmates lately, and kept on walking towards the bar.
Kenzi was already there, talking to Dyson.
"Your drinks are so well behaved. They've standing there in a row waiting for their master" Kenzi pointed at a few shot glasses next to her.
Dyson had the sweet, charmer engine full on. He tried to start a conversation, but Bo's eyes kept scanning the room.
"Have you lost something?" said Dyson
"Someone, I'd say" Kenzi added
Bo shook her head, but kept looking.
After a while she thought Lauren wouldn't come, and she realized she had no idea where to go and look for her.
"So, Dyson, who's the old English bat in a white coat at Lauren's lab?"
"Dr. Hutchins? Quite an institution in the Light Fae world... He retired when Lauren came on board"
"He's unretired now. He's taken over Lauren. He wouldn't say for how long, tho. So where's Lauren?"
Dyson looked over her shoulder and lifted his eyebrows. "Behind you, getting a drink"
Bo turned around but Dyson put his hand over her forearm.
"Leave it, Bo"
"Oh please dad, just a little bit?" She smiled, grabbed her drink and went over to Lauren.
"Hey you. Went to the lab"
Lauren took her drink and started walking towards the far end of the pub without even looking at her.
Bo tried to stop her, but Lauren kept on walking.
"I shouldn't be talking to you- at least not in public. But I have something for you", Lauren mumbled.
"I'll be waiting for you at my house"
Bo realized she was about to finish the bottle of wine when she heard the knock on the door.
Lauren was looking over her shoulder but Bo saw that there was nobody around.
"Wine?"
Lauren nodded, and sat on the couch.
"What's going on?"
"The Ash told me not to come" Lauren smiled, but she was frowning.
"That's a first" Bo downed her drink and opened another bottle she had ready.
"You say it was all about trust, Bo. I need to trust you now. I don't know where else to turn"
"I'm listening"
"The Ash thinks my… hm… attachment to you is affecting my work- and even my feity…" She closed her burning eyes. "He thinks I crossed a line I shouldn't have. With you. He thinks I had trouble making progress with the Librarian Virus because I've been helping you instead"
"But I haven't seen you for…"
Lauren smiled and nodded. "You don't get to explain things to The Ash. You listen. You obey. That's how it goes"
"No, it doesn't"
"Bo, you don't understand how it is. I wish you'd hear my out. There is so much you need to know, to learn. If you had chosen a side, then you'll have access to all the answers you seek"
Bo rolled her eyes and sat up, her face tense. "So that's why you're here"
Lauren put a hand on her arm. "The Ash wants to use me as to spy on you. If he cannot control you, he believes that if he knows all about you, you're much less of a risk. You are a risk to the Fae, Bo, whether you like it or not"
Bo shook her head. "I can't believe you come to my house and bring The Ash with. Again. How do you dare?"
"Bo, The Ash forbade me to work on you, and even to see you. He thinks… he knows…" Lauren looked down at her glass and took a long, deep breath
"He knows I have… hm... feelings for you, and they are affecting me more that it's… wise. He now thinks I'm not being useful to him being so close to you."
"What?" Bo left the glass on the table and leant towards Lauren.
"This is what I should have said to you that night. That's really why I kissed you." Lauren looked at Bo for the first time, her lips forcing a smile, her eyes misted. "That's why I couldn't lie to you then… He did tell me to come over, to stall you. He even hinted I should seduce you. But I didn't do because of what he said. I…" She took a deep a breath and sat up. "He's right, my judgment is clouded".
She left the glass on the table. "I must go. If he finds out I'm here…"
"What? If he finds out, what?" Bo's defiance was fueled by the clashing of feelings and thoughts smashed over Lauren's confession.
"I shouldn't have come. I shouldn't have put you in this position" She opened her bag and took out a small box.
"I brought you your shots. I heard that you are… well… that your hunger levels have risen quite a bit, and wanted you to have them. I'll try and make more, but it's going to take time"
Lauren got up but Bo stopped her
"Stay. Please"
"It's too dangerous. Too risky. For both of us"
"Tell him that you came to say goodbye. Or whatever"
"It's not that simple"
"I hate him. I hate Fae rules. It's not fair"
"Bo, please"
"Don't Bo please me. First, he forces you to spy on me, now he forces you not to see me" Bo held Lauren's necklace. "Does he really own you?"
Lauren shook her head. "It's not like that. But there are rules"
"Rules are meant to be broken"
"Rules can be bent, but you have to know them. And you don't, Bo"
Bo looked at Lauren's eyes and she could have lost herself in them - they were so full of emotion, fear, worry… Her sincerity was obvious and painful and she felt – in a way- responsible, for taking from Lauren what she needed, when she needed, without stopping to think of the consequences.
But above all, she knew now that the connection was real – and strong enough to defy The Ash…
Lauren averted her gaze, but Bo gently lifted the doctor's chin.
"I must go, Bo"
"But do you want to go?"
Lauren looked her her. No words were required for an answer.
Bo reached out and softly kissed Lauren's lips, feeling their warmth, her breath becoming shorter and quicker.
Lauren broke the kiss. "You know I trust you but…"
"I'm not hungry, Lauren. Let me, please. The last thing I want to do right now is hurt you…"
Bo opened her eyes and saw Lauren, sleeping peacefully with her face leaning on her shoulder, her soft hand covering her breasts, her amazing skin glowing in the darkness of her bed.
She controlled the temptation of caressing Lauren's soft hair, her smooth warm skin, her lips. Bo felt the impulse to try and take control of the situation, but she knew that this one wasn't going to be a physical fight: she needed the manual, she had to learn the rules so she could beat them.
Bo caressed Lauren's skin softly and closed her eyes, and sighed.
The world could wait for a while.