Disclaimer: Lost Girl belongs to Showcase or SYFY and I am only playing in their universe.
A/N: Okay maybe I should have given you a little warning on the last chapter. Nahh. Thank you so much for the response to the story, all the reads, favs and follows. Huge thanks for the reviews. Love reading your thoughts on what is happening. Lots of questions as to the health of our girls and their friends, hope to answer those in this chapter and the next.
Alone at the front of the plane, Bo sat looking out the window while the Dyson and Kenzi talked quietly several seats back. The druid had worked her magic and between Peggy the travel agent and herself they were on a plane in less than an hour. There were only three of them on the flight. Hale stayed to keep the Dahl open, not so much for the bar but for the safe harbor it offered. Trick and Vex each had gone to their respective halls of power to wait to learn what exactly had attacked one of the most powerful fae either one of them had ever met. Tamsin had been torn wanting to travel back to the farm with the others but choosing to stay and wait at the shack.
Looking at the evening sky as it shot by with the speed of the plane, the succubus was running scenarios in her mind. Once again she had been only a few feet away from Lauren when she was taken from her. The first time it had been by a spell cast by the Wanderer that had placed Lauren in the clutches of a fae council bent on her destruction. This time she had been cut off from her lover by a friend. A friend that on her own should provide Lauren more safety than Bo ever could but the succubus knew that this was not the case. Hilde had told Bo she had to stay alive and that meant not being there during the attack. It meant that the hag felt she might not survive and in all likelihood that was a death sentence for Lauren and Bruce.
"We are approaching Mid-County airport." A metallically tinged voice sounded through the small craft. The plane was no more than a puddle jumper, but it had done the job and had it's small group of passengers at their destination in the timeframe promised. The voice continued, "They have a loaner truck waiting for you on the run way." There was no such thing as a rental car at the small rural airport.
Dyson and Kenzi looked to Bo who hadn't moved. "Bo Bo," said Kenzi cautiously stepping up and placing a hand on her best friend's shoulder. "Did you hear that?" The succubus had still not reacted to the announcement and the others were concerned that she had missed it, lost in her thoughts. Without a word Bo reached back and placed a soft hand on Kenzi's. Her touch burned with energy and the druid fought not to pull back. It was confirmation that the succubus had missed nothing and how hard she was fighting not to lose control.
The wheels of the craft touched down and as soon as the door was open everyone was on the move. A quick word of thanks to the pilot and the three jumped into the truck. Kenzi drove because the others would be departing fast if something came up. Again there was only silence from Bo as she looked forward with no expression. It was a fifteen minute ride following the speed limit to the edge of the farm. Kenzi made it in eight, pulling over at the property line, Dyson jumped out and immediately changed to his full wolf form. He dropped his nose to the ground and then let out a deep growl as he bounded off into the darkness.
They watched as he ran, Bo said quietly, "Get me to the farm Kenz, fast as you can." The druid did not need to be asked twice. Even in the darkness they could see devastation in the fields. The smell of smoke and something else so pungent it made Kenzi's eyes water as it lingered in the air. They rounded the drive and moved through the small woods to approach the house by the main road. Bo noticed that there were sections of trees that had been snapped in two, while others lay on their sides ripped from the Earth.
They stopped in front of what was left of the barn. It had been destroyed on one end and the older wooden planks lay in a tangled mess, burying whatever or whoever was inside. The snarl started deep in Bo's chest. It was worse than she imagined. The house was standing but the door was off the hinges and several of the windows had been broken out. Kenzi let out a cry and bolted from the truck as soon as it had rolled to a stop. Bo followed more slowly, with each step she took the blue chi energy she held within her began to encase her body. The long chi swords flared at the ready as they extended from her arms.
"Lauren! Hilde! Bruce!" Kenzi was yelling as she tore through the wreckage of the farm house. Someone or something had tossed the place. Furniture and the rest of their belongings lay broken and scattered. Flying back down the stairs, Kenzi's look caught between shock and fury, she shouted at the succubus's still form standing just inside the doorway, "There is no one here. God Bo where are they? They can't be…" the little druid could not bring herself to finish the statement. Bo cast out through the house for any signs of chi, there was none.
The sound of the horn that had been haunting the succubus's thoughts suddenly trumpeted through the night air. On the ends of the last note was Dyson's howl, he was on the move. "Can you protect yourself?" Bo's two toned voice asked Kenzi. The girl reached down and grabbed a long piece of wood that used to be part of the coffee table. She nodded but there was fear in her eyes. Bo was caught on whether to leave, emotions a mess already having so many she loved missing. There was a soft yip from outside and the succubus turned to see the Enfield on fast approach. He jumped the steps and shook himself. Nudging his way inside, the foxlike creature stood beside the druid, it was a position of protection. "Thank you." Bo said to her furry friend and then, "Be careful." to Kenzi. Turning she ran to find the battle and those responsible for the likely death of her family.
Bo used the path that Lauren had taken her on only the night before and pushed chi to her limbs as she bounded through the woods. Allowing the swords to dissipate, the glowing staff appeared in their place and she used it vault over any obstacles too big for her to jump. She had just cleared the woods and was moving through a field when she caught sight of Dyson moving towards her fast. They angled and met as they plowed forward.
Breaking into a burnt out area beyond the fields, they looked across the expanse and saw three black horses charging out of the small canyon area. The smell of sulfur hit their noses and it was clear that they would be facing some type demon fae.
Within two strides Dyson had shifted to his manwolf form and was running next to Bo. "Ideas?" he said, his enlarged canines biting off the words as he spoke. With a sniff the wolf grimaced, "Two demon fae, Babaus by the smell. Their stench is masking what is traveling with them."
Indexing the long list of fae encounters she'd had, Bo remembered that the Babaus were demon assassins, humanoid creatures covered in tight leathery skin. Like redcaps that would flow with blood at the thought of battle, these creatures would be secrete a protective slime that burned like acid to the touch. Their only weapons were their long sharp claws. They preferred to work in teams and finish fights fast and dirty.
"Any idea what the Babaus are following into battle?" Bo yelled as she dodged a stump. A yodeling bellow answered that question. "Dwarf." The succubus and the wolf said at the same time. Watching the enemies approach the succubus and wolf could start to make out the telltale signs of the reclusive fae that rode in the lead. Powerful arms and legs sprouted from a well-muscled torso. While being short in stature dwarfs made up for any disadvantage that might cause with brains and bravery, their strength was the stuff of legend.
Bo cursed herself, dwarfs loved rocky areas. They worked stone to their will, there were some gifted enough among their species that could move between rocky areas as an Earth Folder would do. A dwarf could have established a pathway into the farm's little canyon and gone unnoticed for years.
"You take the dwarf down. Try to keep him alive if you can. I will kill the others." ordered Bo coldly. The dwarf was a strange fae to meet in battle. They were warriors but only when something of theirs was threatened. Bo wanted an explanation from him. There was really no choice but to kill the Babaus, they would never retreat from a fight. Nodding his agreement Dyson split away from Bo and they moved to meet their assigned foe.
Dyson shifted to his full wolf form and ran at the lead horse. The heavy set dwarf reached to the scabbard hanging from the side of saddle and pulled out a large club. Swinging the weapon above his head, he yelled out with the yodeling bellow. Dyson leapt as the dwarf swung down hard. In mid-air Dyson shifted to man-wolf and grabbed the club and arm that held it. Holding tight Dyson allowed his body to go with his momentum and felt his enemy lose his balance as his grip twisted the rider at an odd angle. With a startled yell the dwarf was pulled from his mount and crashed to the ground.
Without his weapon the dwarf pushed himself off the ground clenching his massive fists and looking a little ill at ease as Dyson snapping the club the fae had wielded over his knee and then bared his canines and growled deeply. "Easy there wolf, I've no fight with you and have no want to continue this further. Twas not my idea to be here but I was under orders to accompany those Babaus through the rocks. I got them here and have been true to my word. I am finished with this business."
"If my friend does not survive the Babaus attack you will be accompanying her to the afterlife, Dwarf." Said Dyson his voice laced with the feral tones of the wolf. The men turned to watch the fight and the shorter man let out a breath of relief as he saw the wolf's threat would not be fulfilled.
Bo needed something to vent her anger on. The Babaus would make excellent targets for her wrath. Watching the demon fae as they vaulted from their horses. Bo laughed quietly as the animals bolted away glad to be rid of the duo. "Where is the hag and babe?" Hissed the larger of the Babaus. "We will not be kept out of the chase. We serve the master well and earned our chance at the bounty. Give her to us, woman."
There were some answers in the demon's words but with Lauren being missing, words would not be enough. Bo's two toned voice sounded eerily calm, "The hag is gone. Do you know where she is?"
Moaning loudly, the second Babaus cursed and hissed in disgust. Bo watched as his slimy skin oozed with his dismay. "Brother, one of the other teams had captured her we must continue the hunt. Catch up to them and take her for our own." He motioned towards a retreat route hopping in that direction with his impatience. "They are nothing to us. We should leave them."
"We have time. The master sent us last because he knows we are unstoppable. We also clean up the mess others leave behind." He looked a Bo as if she was one of those unattended to problems. "Let the others carry our burden for a while. I yearn for a kill to hone my skills." The large fae flashed black blades on the ends of his fingers. What was the threat of this little woman, by the smell of her a succubus no less, nothing more than a sex fae by all rights.
The succubus in Bo flared at the threat and her eyes flashed. She had held her power in, part of the management techniques she had been working on. Past the point of hiding, she smiled and the chi flowed. "I am no one's prey." The danger in her voice seared the night. The Babaus separated so she had one on either side. They would rush her had once and they came at her fast. The blazing chi blades appeared off her hands in moments as the chi armor flowed around her.
Lowering her shoulder she ducked the grab at her head, swinging quickly around she knocked the demon to the side. The blow to her hip she was unable to dodge so she fell. The acid slime smeared her armor and she felt the increased demand on her power to keep her safe, blocking the burn of the sticky ooze. Pulling her chi sword back she freed her hands and shoved the fae off hard. He lifted in to the air about two feet. Recalling her blade quickly she caught the demon on the way down, the blue blade sticking through his chest and out his back.
Squealing and hissing the demon shuttered as he lashed out with sharp claws that scraped off the chi energy that surrounded the succubus. He faded as the blade drank in the last of his chi and a lacing line of power decorated the hilt of the sword as he died. Bo would have examined it more closely but the second Babaus was on her. Stomping down to smash her face, Bo rolled and kicked out to block the attack.
The gaunt shape dove at her but Bo was too quick. Swinging her legs around quickly knocking her attacker to the ground. Allowing her motion to continue she rotated around and was able to get her feet under her. Seeing that his plan was failing the demon made a break for it. Crawling as fast as he could he regained his footing and then on long legs began to sprint towards the dark shadows of the canyon.
Bo, expecting the move called on his chi, the demon's chest bowed forward and then he fell to his knees as the flow of his live force left him in a strong blue stream. This woman was more powerful than he had ever imagined. From his knees he swung those long vicious claws towards his attacker but it was no use as he was fading quickly. The succubus approached and knocked a feeble claw strike away. Stopping her assault on his chi, she lowered herself to look into the black orbs that were the demon's eyes, "No one hunts my friends." Crossing her arms she called her blades and then pulled her arms open and sliced off his head as she moved the blades through his leathery neck. Placing her blade on the body, the chi that was left was absorbed and the history of the kill etched on the blade.
"Bo," yelled Dyson and she turned. Seeing that the dwarf was sitting next to the wolf and neither looked to be in any distress. She walked towards them trying to process what she had learned, the succubus did not drop her armor and her blades were glowing bright and dangerous by her side. "He is an innocent Bo. He is not a threat." Dyson called as he didn't detect any reduction in her power as she approached.
The blue in Bo's eyes pulsed and Dyson pushed the nervous dwarf behind him with a muttered warning not to do anything stupid. "Where is Lauren?" She said with ice in her voice, there was only silence in their reply. "I ask again. Where is Lauren?" this time she yelled and the double tone of her succubus power tickled at both men's chi. If there was not an answer soon she would drain each of them and move to the next victim till someone told her something she wanted to hear.
Swallowing hard, Bryan the dwarf, peeked out behind Dyson. "We were told only to retrieve or kill the hag. All others were to be dealt with as the teams saw fit. Whoever has the hag does not have this Lauren. You ask for truth, this is what I know." He stammered and then ducked back to protect himself.
"Try to sense her chi, Bo. The smell of those demon fae has blocked my nose." Said Dyson trying to give the succubus something constructive to do. She narrowed her eyes as if deciding what her next step would be but then closed her eyes and reached out for any sign of chi. Eyes flying open Bo gasped and took off running.
"Keep up Dwarf, she finds you alone she will kill you." Said Dyson as he pounded off after her. Only just keeping sight of Bo, the two man came over a small rise and saw the succubus vault over a fallen tree and rush to what looked like a mess of large tree roots and branches. There was a muted scream and then the staff the succubus's hand switched to an ax and she began to slam into the wood at incredible speeds.
"Step back, missy," yelled the dwarf when the men caught up. Bryan ran around Dyson and bumped Bo out of the way. The succubus flared and she turned ready to rip the chi from whoever had interrupted her. The wolf stepped between the two and held up his hands in a plea to stop. Bo was only able to hold on because a horrible crack sounded and the succubus and wolf turned towards the dwarf. He had located a seam in the wooden case, wrapped his beefy hands around each side and with a mighty grunt he had pulled the material apart.
"Gods, what happened to him?" Winced Dyson as he rushed to Bruce's side. "Bo is his alive?" The body was discolored and swollen. The ogre was still, deathly still, and the wolf feared the worse for his friend.
Bo had tears running down her face but she shook her head, "I feel his chi, but it is low and slowly fading. We need to get to Kenzi fast. Grab him and let's pull him out.
"Better idea, my lady." Said Bryan and the dwarf let out long whistle. In seconds there was the sound of thundering hooves. The three horses came on the run, Bo had not noticed how large they were before. Grabbing ropes from two of the saddles the dwarf tied off the wooden case to each horse and then jumped up on the one to the left. "Please," he said and motioned to Bo to mount the second. She did with a quick boost from Dyson.
"Horses are not fond of wolves, I will run and alert Kenzi." In a flash the full wolf form of Dyson was on the run towards the house.
"Hold on to the mane, my lady." Said the dwarf seeing the succubus's unease on the large beast.
Turning to look at the man, "Bo, call me Bo. We head that way. If I fall off just keep going until you see a wreck of a farm house."
"Tis done, my lady," said the dwarf and he put gentle heals to his mount and the powerful beast stepped forward dragging the wooden case behind. Bo's horse instantly equalizing the load while the third horse moved to follow behind. Once the task was familiar to the horses they began to move out, first to a canter and then to a run. The wooden case moved behind them and Bo could only hope that they were not hurting the ogre more and that he could not feel the effects of the rough trip. The succubus did not dare tell the dwarf to slow up. She could fill the chi that was seeping from Bruce and there was not much time left.
The Enfield yipped and Kenzi came to alert as she stopped her clean up attempts and grabbed for her weapon again. The yip from the Enfield was an indication that whoever was approaching was known to him. Dyson's wolf broke through the edge of the woods. Kenzi felt the clamp on her heart loosen. He switched to human in a heartbeat, "There was some trouble but we are both okay. We found Bruce and he is in really bad shape. His body is swollen and discolored. If I had to guess I would say he was attacked with some type of poison or toxin." Looking back at the destroyed kitchen he winced, "Do you have anything to work with?" he asked fearing that there was nothing left for Kenzi to work her druid skills on.
"We have the cellar. The door is still intact so I don't think they looked down there." said Kenzi. "Start the fire pit for me please and I will get some water going. The pipes are working and water is running." They split to complete their duties. The druid had figured there would be injuries and had made use of her time by clearing paths, getting beds back in order and finding rags and towels to use. Kenzi also had Lauren's medical kit, it had been tossed around but had not been destroyed.
Handing Dyson a huge pot of water to put on the fire, Kenzi ran to the side of the house. The mound of dirt and ratty grass looked like nothing much but Kenzi grabbed at what looked like a broken shovel handle and turned it to a quarter of a turn. The top of the cellar pop up about two inches allowing Kenzi to wedge her fingers in and pulled open the hatch. Carefully she lowered herself down into Hilde's stash.
Pulling on the little string to the side, the light flickered on and the basement size room lit up to reveal shelves upon shelves of jars and dried plants. Holding her hands out, Kenzi thought of her need and then followed her instincts as she grabbed for ingredients.
Hands full of jars, Kenzi was about out the door when she stopped quickly. On the workbench by the door was a large jug labeled, Kenzi's Cure-all. It was placed as if it was something important and Kenzi had to bite her lip not to start crying at the loss of her friend and mentor. With her last two fingers she grabbed the jug and moved outside
Coming around the side of the house, Kenzi saw the approaching horses. Any other time the sight of Bo on a horse might have brought any number of comments from the druid but now was not the time. "Bring him close." ordered Kenzi and as she saw her good friend she almost fell to the ground in shock.
"He needs you Kenz, do what you can." Said Bo as she had jumped off the horse fast, happy to be off the animal and ran to the druid's side.
Getting some oxygen back in her body, Kenzi held out the jug. "Get a mug of this in him if you can. This is going to sound really weird but I need a bunch of earth dug up."
"I'm on it little one." said the dwarf as he gracefully dismounted, "I'm Bryan, where do I dig?" Kenzi pointed to a spot. The shorter man smiled and then ran towards the barn to try to find a tool to complete the task.
"Do I want to know who he is right now?" asked Kenzi. Both Dyson and Bo shook heads no. "Dyson we need to make a mud bath and I need to get these mixed in with the dirt. We will need lots of water." The wolf nodded and moved off to solve the problem and Bryan came back he had located a shovel in the mess of the barn and began to dig.
"What can I do?" ask Bo looking a bit lost. Kenzi was about to say something when the sound of a phone ringing broke through the night. The women shared a look and Bo ran inside to grab the farm phone. They never used the thing as the friends and family depended on their cells but it still worked and now was on the fourth ring. "Hello," Bo said quickly.
"Oh hello, didn't think anyone was home again. Ah this is the sheriff's department. Is there a Bo Dennis around?" the woman's voice was friendly but business like.
"I'm Bo," said the succubus.
The shuffling of papers sounded and then the woman continued, "Yes, well you are the emergency contact for a Lauren Lewis. There was incident on the property earlier today. We stopped by the house but no one was home. We have Ms. Lewis in custody." Bo let out a small sob, she couldn't help it. "Oh ma'am it's nothing criminal." The voice over the phone said, "We took her in for her own good. In fact she is not at the station. The boys dropped her off at the emergency room."
"Is she hurt?" Snapped Bo fast.
There was a short silence, "Her life is not in danger, but the doctors can tell you the rest. It looks like she might have had some type of mental breakdown. We need someone to come to the hospital and sign some…"
"I will be there in fifteen minutes." Said Bo and she hung up. As she ran out the door all she said was, "Lauren." Then she was in the truck and gone.
xxxxXXXXxxxx
It was now early morning and the emergency room of the small hospital was empty. The traumas from the evening taken care of or admitted for further care. As Bo approached the desk she was happy to see a no nonsense woman manning the station. "Hi, I'm Bo Dennis. I received a call regarding Lauren Lewis," Bo said and did not miss the touch of sadness that crossed the woman's face.
"I will get the doctor straight away Ms. Dennis. You stay right here." The nurse was on the phone and seconds later, a young man in a lab coat was stepping up to meet her. "Let's talk in here first." The man motioned to a sitting room.
Seeing the impatience in Bo's eyes the man did not mince words, "Some type of attack happened to Ms. Lewis. Her body is full of contusions and various cuts and scrapes. She has burns on her hands and one shoulder. Officers were called to the scene when someone saw smoke coming from the area of property and no one answered the home phone to verify what it was."
"Tell me what you need to tell me. I want to see Lauren." Bo said hoping her voice sounded calm. By the look on the man face she had not succeeded.
"The officers found Ms. Lewis in the middle of a burn out field, she was naked and pawing at the ground. She was speaking all sorts of gibberish and was disoriented. When the officers tried to help her she said that she need to wait for the Earth to talk to her." Bo's eyes went wide, why wasn't Lauren able to call her nature fae?
Mistaking the look on the succubus's face for something else the doctor reassured her, "There were no drugs in her system and she was in no way sexually assaulted." The man paused, "But something did happen to her. We would like to have the county psychiatric ward take a look at her for a few days."
"No," said Bo flatly. "I would like to see her now."
The man pursed his lips, "She is sleeping now so I believe it would be in her best interest if we…" Bo reached out to touch the doctor's arm as her eyes flashed blue. In a few minutes they were moving down the hall to Lauren's room. It would be only a few minute more till a nurse met them with the discharge papers the doctor, on Bo's suggestion, had called for.
xxxxXXXXxxxx
The mud was thick and clammy to the touch. Kenzi had dumped in the ingredients that had called to her into the saturated soil. This was the tough part. Removing as much of the wood that encased Bruce as possible they needed to lower him into the bath. With Bryan on one end and Dyson on the other they heaved the big man up and then into the mud. Slowing they watched as the ogre's body sank into the dark wet mix. A board was placed under his head for support but Kenzi made sure to smear the mud over his face and head. The druid wanted every inch of the man covered in the earthy soup. She sat back on her heals, maybe it was her imagination but she thought Bruce's face looked more relaxed than before.
"How long does he stay in there?" ask Dyson.
Kenzi shrugged, "Until we see some improvement, or until we think of something else to try." She gently patted some more mud on Bruce's ears and then turned to look at the dwarf. "Thank you for your help, Bryan." The fae blushed at the words.
"I don't deserve thanks my lady, I was part of the problem." He said roughly sound thoroughly ashamed of himself.
"It's Kenzi and can you tell us what the hell happened here?" she asked as she sat down near her patient.
"It's not a what but a who behind this." Said the dwarf. His stomach chose that time to rumble. It was a slight bit of humor into the bleak situation. "Can I use some of your fire there to make us some dinner? I will tell you about it as we eat. I am afraid it is a bit of a tale."
"Our supplies have been…" Kenzi started to explain. Bryan held up a hand and then whistled a high and then low pitch, one of the horses trotted over and the fae pulled several pouches out of the saddle bags. Tossing them directly into the fire he moved to cover them in the coals. Kenzi was intrigued as she saw they didn't burn with the contact of the glowing material.
"I expected to be on the road for months not days." He said. "The meat and potatoes will be reheated in about few minutes." The smell of the meal had already begun to waft through the air.
While the others had been talking, Dyson located some chairs that were still okay to sit on and propped them near the fire pit which was close to the mud bath. He also had scrounged around and found something for them to eat on, two plates and a lid, then he dug up some forks and knives from an overturned drawer.
Sitting in silence for several minutes, the dwarf finally said, "I worked for the Grand Lord. He is a first fae and rules a fae realm called the open land. For humans it is what you call the wilderness."
"Grand Lord?" Dyson questioned then he said, "Do you mean Abelard the Grand?"
Sitting up quickly, Kenzi said, "That is Hilde's father. I thought he was dead or something."
The dwarf winced then muttered, "No the fae is not dead but he is certainly something alright. The withered old goat rules the open land with an iron fist. Most modern fae…" he looked at Kenzi not really being able to place what she was, not fae but not human either. She acted like a healer so he just went with that. "Or their companions would not know he exists as he refused to accept the human expansion or modern times in general. Those of us not willing to live with in the cities under an Ash or a Morgan fall under the open lands and therefore under his rule.
"Hilde never said anything about…" Kenzi said and the dwarf got a small smile on his face. Catching on the druid added, "She didn't accept his rule, did she?" The dwarf nodded to let the druid know she was right.
"She is the only fae that could. Hildegard the Sorrow rebels at everything her father does. He punished her and she'd come back stronger each time." The dwarf looked into the flames and sighed, "The Grand Lord and his court established the light fae and dark fae societies we know today. They also started labeling fae as either upper or under fae. As time passed and change occurred we of the old fae variety saw the limits that we had been put under fighting amongst ourselves with these new titles and the Grand Lord was pushed out of power because of his narrow views. Hilde, as you call her, had left in disgust years before hand when we all turned our backs on her ideas. She warned us all about this type of separation. Upper fae, under fae, dark fae, light fae, she wanted no part of it." Said Bryan as he moved forward to fish out the pouches of food from the fire.
"As a species we faltered with all our infighting and humans spread like weeds." Looking at Kenzi quickly he said, "No offence." Dyson had to stifle a laugh as Kenzi fought to be civil. "Humans moved in and took over everything. Having the greater numbers forcing the fae stay to the fringes. The Grand Lord not wanting to take any responsibility for the perceived downfall of the fae, he focused on those that stood against him."
"His daughter would be top of that list." Said Dyson. The venison and wild potatoes were tasty and the group dug in, Dyson praying that Kenzi would not ask what she was eating. "She was off the radar for a long time." Seeing the dwarf's confusion he restated, "Hilde was hidden from her father for some time."
"Yes, but then she appeared a year ago, at the side of a human turned fae no less. The old man couldn't get enough information. The word came to us that she was forming a new realm and that was bad but then the signs came that she was with child." The dwarf speared his last potato and then shook it and the fork that held the morsel at his dining companions. "That pushed the old bugger off his rocker."
"How did he know she was pregnant?" said Kenzi thinking how they all had just found out a day ago.
"The royals used to place spells on their children when they were born to tell the parents of threats to the throne as the children grew. A grandchild would not come with such warnings so they added something to inform the rulers of pregnancy." Said Dyson.
Laughing Kenzi said, "Cut down on the fooling around too." She cut her outburst off at the look the two men exchanged.
"Yes," said the dwarf without a smile, "Unwanted pregnancy is a death sentence to the child and many times the mother. The royals of old hold no value for offspring unless they could be used as members of court or warriors for their campaigns. Being immortal will do that to you. You are the ruler until you're killed or forced out. There is no need for a bloodline if you don't plan to die."
"How did you end up riding with two demon fae?" asked Dyson.
"To make the hunt for his daughter more enjoyable, the Grand Lord placed a bounty on his daughter and her child's head, dead good, prisoner better." Kenzi and Dyson shuddered at that news, "The men of his court jumped at the chance for glory. Needing a fast pathway I was called to create a rock run, canyon to canyon, between our lands." Dyson growled and the dwarf turned his gaze elsewhere.
"I worked the grounds around the castle and stables. In the Grand Lord's eyes I am an upper fae but lower class. As his men formed into teams, two came forward that no one would ride with. He owed a debt to the under fae demons and by allowing their requested to ride for the bounty, his debt was negated. Not wanting to sully any of his court members he called on me as I knew the pathway between our lands. I told him I would but would be set free of his service when my duty was fulfilled."
"You're a free man now?" Kenzi asked.
"I'm an out of work man now." He corrected. "But in a sense free too. I can't go back." The dwarf did not sound particularly upset about that fact.
"Do you have any idea of where Hilde is?" ask Dyson. His sense of smell had returned and he could not detect the hag at all. There were things newly dead on the property but the odor was muted as if they were buried, in the morning he would investigate more. There had been a parade of fae through the area. Again given time he would sort out just what had been here.
"No," said the dwarf. "We were the last group out. The Grand Lord did not want the Babaus to stand a chance of winning. The man sent his best hunters out first." He motioned toward the mud bath and Bruce, "That is the work of one of them, a swarm demon, he was teamed with a pyrofae and an insect shifter call Wasp. If they have …."
"They don't have our friend." said Dyson. "They are all dead on the property." Kenzi swung to look at Dyson, swallowing hard. At the dwarf's description Dyson was able to place the smells he had detected.
"I almost wish they had her." Said Bryan. "The second team out was much less…" the dwarf could not think of a word that would not alarm his new friends. "The leader of that team is the Grand Lord's son and he is much like his father." Both Dyson and Kenzi stared at the man. Hilde never mentioned her family so they would not have known of a brother but if he was anything like their friend he was incredibly powerful. As if reading their minds, Bryan added, "He is not like his sister, he has a single terrible power that he can use on one fae at a time. His father uses his talents as an enforcer and executioner." The faces of the others told him he might have shared too much.
xxxxXXXXxxxx
A cry caught in Bo's throat as the doctor opened the door and led her into Lauren's room. The doctor's body was tethered the bed by padded straps and she looked to be fighting sleep. Lips pulled tight as she moaned and rolled her head slowly. Like Bo had been told there were bruises and evidence of the battle Lauren had been in but the pain that radiated off her lover was palatable. None of that was as shocking as the aura that surrounded Lauren. Gone were the ripples of yellow, green and blue, the muted pale white was all that was left. It screamed human and nothing more.
With a touch to man's face next to her, Bo flexed her succubus powers and said, "You need to go check on that paperwork doc." The doctor nodded dumbly and left the room. The succubus walked and started to release the straps. Immediately legs and arms began to flail around as Lauren fought the monsters of her memories. Bo pulsed Lauren letting some of the love she felt for her transfer and produce a calming effect. There was a wheel chair in the room and Bo used it to move Lauren out of the room. The emergency room doctor was walking back, she motioned for the paperwork and signed the release papers.
"Would it be okay if I called you?" He asked hopefully, eyes slightly unfocused. The nurse at the desk shot him a strange look. Bo did not answer as she moved out the door with Lauren. Placing her gently in the cab of the truck, Bo rolled the wheelchair back to the breeze way and then ran to the driver's side and got in. Pulling the doctor to her, Bo wrapped an arm around Lauren as she drove to the farm.
"I love you Baby. Everything is going to be fine." Bo whispered to Lauren as she kissed the top of her head. With some relief the succubus felt her lover relax and meld to her body with a soft cry of relief.
