Present
Kenzi and Dyson
Kenzi strained over Dyson's body to look at the Light Fae Compound. "Wow, that place looks scary."
"Wait here." He unbuckled his seatbelt.
"Whoa, Whoa, there. I didn't come all this way to wait in the car!" She mirrored his gesture with her seatbelt.
Dyson grabbed her hand. "Kenzi, we don't need you getting caught, also. Let me go and check it out."
Kenzi huffed and leaned back into her seat. "Ok. But if you're gone more than ten minutes I'm coming in there."
"Deal." He got out, quickly and quietly.
Dyson used his key to enter the compound it was mostly empty. He grabbed a case file and walked to the dungeon with a determined expression. He knew if you look like you belong somewhere no one usually questions it. So, he would just head down there like that's exactly where he was supposed to be.
He went down the stairs, when he finally made it down, he saw that two cell doors were open.
He cautiously walked into one of the cells.
"Dyson?" Bo choked out, as she helped Lauren off the bed.
XXXX
Bo walked into her house still glowing from her weekend with Lauren. She'd spent 48 hours soaking up every bit of her she could-but really it wasn't enough, it never seemed to be enough.
She noticed Aife standing at the kitchen table, looking livid.
"Have a seat." She ordered flatly.
The tension, in the room, was high, and Bo knew now wasn't the time to argue. So, she sat down without saying a word.
"Where have you been?"
"With Kenzi."
"Oh Bo, now isn't the time to lie. I'll ask you again, where have you been?"
"I told you…"
Aife tossed a pile of photos at her. Bo reached out and took one, her and Lauren kissing alone in Lauren's apartment.
Bo was silent.
"Want to answer again?" Aife eyes were furiously held on Bo.
"I love her." Bo answered, pushing the photos back at her mother.
"You're selfish."
Bo opened her mouth to respond, but Aife cut her off.
"You let your selfish desires put her, you and your family at risk."
"You know nothing about our relationship. She loves me."
"Of course she does, now, when you're both young, and it's easy. But what happens in 5 or 10 years when you need to start feeding more? One human is enough to sustain you now, but as your power increases so will your need to feed."
"Lauren's a scientist, she'll understand it's who I am." Bo crossed her arms and leaned back in the chair. Aife knew nothing about Lauren, and Bo would tell her that.
"Yes, but she's also a human woman with a human heart. How do you think she'll feel watching her frail human body decay while you remain beautiful and young?"
"I know what you're trying to do. Place doubt in my mind but it won't work. We're in love."
"You think I'm the bad guy? I'm simply telling you some hard truths. Things you don't want to hear, things you don't want to face."
"Where'd you get those pictures?" Bo gestured at the photos with a disgusted look on her face.
"What you think the Fae would allow their property to leave without making sure she was being monitored?"
Crystal, that bitch. Bo thought.
"You know what?" She narrowed her gaze at Bo, and Bo felt like she was shrinking under her stare. "I'm not going to stop this relationship. As you've clearly just demonstrated, this little relationship will implode all on it's own, without my help."
XXXX
Bo tossed and turned the entire night. She sighed as the alarm clock pulled her from the haze of sleep. She kept her eyes closed, willing herself to not think about her mother, about her words the day before.
She woke up groggy. Sporting a massive headache, despite her rapid Succubus healing abilities, that was probably more stress related than anything.
She made a dismayed sound as she threw the blankets off her and sat up. She turned off the alarm on her phone, sighing at the early hour.
She rubbed her face, trying to stimulate herself into awareness. She wasn't much of a morning person these days.
She stumbled through most her morning routine, showering, brushing her teeth, dressing. After she had finished, she stared at herself in the mirror examining the dark circles underneath her eyes.
She pulled her hair into a ponytail. Glancing back at her bed, she thought about how badly she wanted to crawl back beneath the blankets and not deal with Trick, her mother, with anything.
The large house was silent and peaceful when she shuffled into the kitchen, starting the coffee. She poured two cups, one with a generous amount of sugar and creamer. With coffee in hand, she headed to Kenzi's room, knocking twice before entering. Kenzi had an astonishing ability to ignore everything, especially Bo, in the early mornings. Kenzi, usually, didn't get up before noon.
Kenzi was sprawled across her bed, her head buried in her pillow. "Ugh, BoBo it's too early," she said without moving.
"Sorry, Kenz, I brought you coffee with extra sugar and cream."
With a sigh, she sat up. She waved Bo forward, "Gimme."
Bo handed her the hot coffee.
"AHHHHH." She exclaimed as she downed the coffee, "That's what mama needed."
Bo took a seat on the edge of her bed.
"Oh, what's wrong? You look like death."
"It's how I feel. I screwed up Kenz."
Tears started filling her eyes; she buried her face in her hands.
Kenzi wrapped her arms tightly around Bo, "Tell me what happened."
Kenzi listened as Bo told her everything.
"Shit, Bo. I'm sorry. What happens now?"
"I don't know," Bo said, wiping her tears away. "I'm so afraid she'll send Lauren away forever."
Kenzi just sat holding her friend.
XXXX
Three days. Bo hadn't slept in three days. She was worn down, exhausted. Scared. Angry. Confused.
Bo's phone rang. It was Lauren. Her stomach dropped. Bo squeezed her eyes shut tightly and answered.
"Bo! You'll never believe what happened in my Chemistry class…"
She sounded so happy, Bo's body stiffened.
"Did you know Crystal was working for the Fae? For my mother."
"What, no of course not. What are talking about? I mean I knew…they got me the roommate, so I guess-"
Bo cut her off, her tone harsh. "What did you tell her about us?"
"Nothing! Tell me what's going on?" Her voice took on a completely different tone she was clearing getting upset.
"It's just…" Bo hesitated. "Stay clear of Crystal, she's working for my mother."
"Oh my god, I had no idea."
"I have a lot going on. I have to go." Bo felt the sting of tears behind her lids; she closed her eyes to hold off the tears.
"Bo…"
"I have to go."
There was a brief silence on the other end.
"Fine." There was an edge in Lauren's voice that Bo had never heard before.
Lauren hung up, and Bo's heart plummeted.
Bo sat looking at her phone, no longer fighting the tears. She cried until her eyes were sore and her face red and puffy. She was depleted, hollow. She let herself feel the nothingness, the emptiness.
She leaned down, burying her face in her pillow. And when she finally was able to let the exhaustion take her, she slept.
XXXX
Someone was knocking loudly on Bo's door. Bo felt around for her phone and squinted, the time was 6:00am.
Her throat tightened, and she walked quickly to answer it.
It was Trick.
"Get dressed."
She cleared her throat, she was nervous but tried to keep her voice steady to sound confident, "What's happening?"
"Just get dressed and meet me downstairs." He demanded, then walked off, leaving Bo standing at the door, baffled.
XXXX
Lauren was on her knees in the library with several large books around her, distractedly, flipping through the pages. She'd scheduled this time to do some research on the information on her father's flash drive. But she couldn't concentrate. She couldn't believe that Bo had spoken to her like that-Bo. Her stomach ached brutally at the memory.
Bo acted like it was her fault Crystal was spying on them. Bo had come to see her or had she forgotten?
Absentmindedly, she brushed her fingers across the mark on her shoulder.
XXXX
"What is it?" Bo demanded taking a seat. "I'm not in the mood for more bullshit."
Trick and Aife both stared Bo down.
"Well, this bullshit you're referring happens to be a plague."
Bo blinked a few times, trying to think through what her mother was saying. "Like the Black Plague?"
"Like a Fae Plague." Aife spat back.
Bo turned to Trick. She knew she'd get a better explanation out of him.
"It seems this war has taken a turn. Someone…"
"Evony," Aife interjected.
Trick sighed. "Lots of Fae are getting sick with a mystery disease. It seems deliberate."
Bo was still having a hard time understanding what they were saying. "How can you go from a few dead Fae to biological warfare. That seems crazy."
"Evony's wanted this war, for a long time. She was waiting." Aife lazily tapped her long fingers on the table.
"So, what now?" Bo asked Trick, ignoring Aife completely.
"Now, we get answers and protect our people."
XXXXX
Bo and Kenzi headed to Mrs. Dunn's house, the woman Bo had been trying to track down for months.
Bo hands nervously played with her phone. She'd been trying to call Lauren, to no avail. Lauren was not taking her calls, and Bo felt horrible.
But there was no more putting this off. She had to get answers about Nick. With this new development, she had to.
"Bo, do you think this is a good idea? I mean this Nick, could be like Norman Bates and Jack the Ripper or something." Kenzi was checking over her shoulders. She'd been doing that ever since Bo told her about going to visit Mrs. Dunn.
"I don't want some crazy pants after me."
"Relax, Kenz." Bo squeezed her shoulders. "We're only here to ask some questions. Nothing more."
They reached the door, and Bo checked her cell one more time for something from Lauren. Her heart sank, there was nothing. She sent out a quick: I'm sorry. I miss you, text like she had a hundred times.
They knocked.
Kenzi, Bo, and Mrs. Dunn sat in an uncomfortable silence in her kitchen.
After a really long wait, Mrs. Dunn spoke. "I'm sorry, girls, but why are you here again?"
"Did some freak attack you in a lab?" Kenzi blurted out, this was her first witness questioning, she was nervous.
Bo gave her a look, then turned to Mrs. Dunn and smiled. "Sorry about that." She patted Kenzi's shoulder. "My sisters off her meds, today." She paused. "We wanted to ask you some questions about Nick Lewis, who works in the Light Fae Labs."
Mrs. Dunn stiffened and looked nervously around the room. "I don't know…what you mean?"
Bo squeezed her knee. "Please, you can tell us."
"It was nothing really." She played with her fingers. "I work, at the lab, as an assistant, and well Nick has a temper. You know, he likes things a certain way."
Bo and Kenzi both gave her a sympathetic smile. "Please go on."
"One day, I mixed up some samples and he well…got very upset…and slapped me across the face, and screamed at me."
Bo and Kenzi looked at her wide-eyed. "Did anyone do anything?" Kenzi asked.
Mrs. Dunn shook her head. "It's his lab, so…"
"Did you tell Trick?" Bo asked as gently as she could, keeping her voice low and calm.
Mrs. Dunn nodded her head. "He said I shouldn't have mixed up the samples, that it was my fault."
Mrs. Dunn put her head in her hands and cried. Bo and Kenzi comforted her by rubbing her back.
"Ok. Lauren's brother is probably crazy. That's for sure." Kenzi whispered to Bo as they left, Mrs. Dunn.
Bo nodded. "He's definitely got some issues."
Bo stared at her phone.
"I'm sure she'll call soon." Kenzi offered Bo a half-smile.
XXXX
She didn't. Bo didn't get any calls or texts from Lauren in a week. And now Bo sat at the Dal, drunk. She was most certainly drunk. Idiot. She was an idiot, playing right into Aife's hands. She let her mother get under her skin, to push her into a fight with Lauren.
"Please, babe, talk to me." Bo pleaded into the phone. She knew how pathetic she sounded, but she was drunk and didn't care.
She kept calling Lauren back just to listen to her voice message. Over and over, again. Yes, she was crossing into beyond pathetic land. But she didn't care.
XXXX
Lauren was studying, and her phone kept buzzing. She knew who it was, and she wasn't going to answer it. She was pissed off at Bo. She wasn't giving in, not yet.
Crystal had tried to explain that really she had no choice about spying on them. Lauren figured that was probably true. She knew better than most that humans don't have many options when it comes to the Fae.
So, she forgave her, but she didn't speak to her anymore. No point acting like they were friends. Crystal was her keeper and nothing else. The Fae controlled everything about her life-except-
She studied her phone, aching to talk to Bo. But she refused.
XXXX
"Ok, mama. That's enough." Kenzi took Bo's phone away and her drink.
"Kenz!" Bo drunkenly staggered out. "Gemme my phone."
"First, come with me." Kenzi was leading Bo out of the Dal.
Bo rolled her eyes but followed Kenzi.
They walked home, to help somber Bo up. It worked, a little.
When they got to the front door, there was a note taped to it.
Kenzi looked at Bo, confused. "What do you think that is?"
Bo laughed loudly. "That'll be from my secret admirer. He's a real charmer." She stumbled backward. "He writes me poems!" She laughed at herself.
Kenzi frowned at Bo and quickly ripped down the note. She read it.
"What's it say?" Bo asked, holding on to the doorframe to steady herself.
"It says: I see you. Soon." Kenzi wrinkled her nose.
Bo shrugged, "That's vague as fuck."
"Let's get you inside." Kenzi let Bo lean on her as the entered the house.
XXXX
Lauren was sleeping when there was a loud knock on her apartment door. She got up cautiously to answer it.
She peeked through the hole and saw Bruce standing there, looking uncomfortable.
She opened the door. "Bruce?"
He forced a smile at her. "I'm sorry, Lauren. But I'm here to take you home."
Lauren frowned and just looked at him.
"Trick doesn't want any…." He trailed off. "That's to say…all…"
"Slaves, property. You can say it. They want their property home." She said, her tone resigned.
He glanced down at his feet. "I'm sorry. But this war is turning dangerous…"
She interrupted him. "I'll be packed in five minutes."
XXXX
Bo was hung over. She felt terrible. She drank some herbal tea, but it didn't help. She checked her phone. Nothing.
Her head was cloudy, everything that was happening, recently, was hanging around her shrouding her in darkness, mudding her mind.
She decided to go for a walk. Maybe the fresh air would help make her feel better. Probably not, but it was worth a try.
Bo hated everything that was happening, what was she thinking picking a fight with Lauren.
She stepped out of the front door, and a whoosh of fresh, dry air hit her in the face. It felt good.
She hastily walked around the neighborhood. Smelling the fresh air, trying to clear her mind.
She froze when her eyes fell on a blonde sitting in front of the Lewis house. Lauren. Her entire body jolted with energy and excitement at the sight. She hesitated, not really sure what she would say to her.
She approached Lauren, who kept her head down reading. Bo's palms started to sweat. She felt anxious about what Lauren would say or do when they spoke.
"I left you messages," Bo said, keeping her tone quiet and soft.
Lauren didn't look up. "Uh, huh."
Bo hugged her body and waited for Lauren to say something else.
She didn't.
"Why are you here? Don't you have class?" Bo decided to ask, Lauren, obviously, wasn't going to offer any information on her own.
Lauren didn't answer.
Frantically, Bo tried to think through what could have happened, why Lauren was home. The war? Aife? Trick?
She, finally, decided to sit next to Lauren, and just wait until Lauren was ready to talk.
After sitting in silence, Bo rested her head on Lauren's shoulder. Her eyes traveled up to Lauren's face, and she saw tears falling down her cheek. Bo gently brushed her thumb against the skin wiping the tears away.
"They just came and collected me, like I was property." Lauren offered after more silence. "I was a fool to think I could have…anything."
"What am I going to do, now?" Lauren said to Bo, but mostly to herself. "Who am I now?"
Bo put her arm, firmly, around Lauren's shoulder. She wanted to say so much-but what could she say? So, she sat there holding Lauren while she cried.
After an hour of holding each other, Lauren smiled at Bo. "I should go inside." She stood up, shaking the grass and dirt off her clothes.
Bo frowned and matched her movements. Lauren started up the lawn. Bo closed the distance between them. She grabbed Lauren's face and pulled her into a kiss, Lauren's arms wrapped around Bo's body. At first, the kiss was cautious and unhurried, and slowly and gradually it grew more passionate, more demanding. At the same time, they moved closer, pushing the front of their bodies together, hard.
They tangled their bodies, lips, and arms together, for too long, too long to be out in public being together that way. Lauren pushed back, resting their foreheads together. "Bo, we can't do this out here. Someone might see."
Bo nodded but drew Lauren back into a kiss.
XXXX
Nick felt good. So much was going well, his plans were perfection. Right on schedule. Now, Lauren was home, and he was driving home to see her. It felt great to get out of the lab early. He could breathe, if only temporarily.
He stopped the car, in the middle of the street, when he saw them-together in front of his house. He watched, as their lips were together, their bodies clutched together.
The horror. That succubus was all over his sister.
He could have killed her right there, both of them.
Lauren was dead, the Lauren he knew. She was no longer his sister that was clear.
Imposter. Fake. She was nothing to him, now. She was as dumb of a creature as this succubus. She would suffer along with the rest of them-she wanted to lay with the Fae-oh, she would-forever.
She belonged to this creature now. He couldn't save her body, but he could save her soul.
He, hastily, spun the car around and headed in the other direction.
He had a new plan.
XXXX
That night, Lauren was in the kitchen making herself dinner.
Nick watched her, butterflies fluttering deeply in his stomach. Excitement. Edginess. Maybe a little sadness, a little.
She looked so different now, standing there. She looked alien, nothing like what he remembered.
Their eyes met when she looked up from her food. At that moment, Lauren frowned. "Nick?" She asked, her tone unsure.
He waited, let her stew, let her mind wander.
"Nick? What are you doing?" She asked, this time her tone was annoyed.
He moved closer-slowly.
When he reached his last step, he stared her down.
She backed away or at least tried to.
He reached out and snatched her face. Her expression was painted with horror at the contact. She tried to struggle away, futilely. He was too strong.
He pulled her closer so that their faces were almost touching. "I see you, slut." He hissed, spitting into her face.
"Nick, what the hell?" She again, tried to get away.
He shoved her back. She fell into the kitchen table. Finally, crashing into the floor.
He approached with a fierce expression. He hovered over her. "I know what you are now."
He kicked her side. She hunched over, gasping loudly.
He leaned, threateningly, into her, smiling broad.
XXXX
The next morning, Bo stood at her mirror deciding on an outfit.
She heard that familiar tapping. She smiled, Lauren.
She opened the curtains, and her smile fell, immediately when she saw Lauren's bruised face.
"Lauren," She cried, "Who?" She stopped herself, she knew who, Lauren didn't have to say.
She helped Lauren climb through the window and eased her onto the bed.
"I don't know what happened, Nick," She wiped the tears from her eyes, "He just snapped." She buried her face into Bo's body. Bo, tightly, held her body close to her.
Every pore of Bo's body trembled with fiery. A hot rage rushed through every part of her.
Bo gently laid Lauren back. She kissed her forehead. "Lauren, try to get some sleep." She whispered into her ear.
Lauren closed her eyes and nodded.
Bo stood up fast, resolute, in what she needed to do.
"Bo, where are going?" Lauren asked, opening her eyes halfway.
"I'm going to see your brother." She said, intensely, as she grabbed the baseball bat from the corner.
She slammed the door, carrying the bat over her shoulder, her eyes ablaze.