Chapter 5
So many trees... like back home. "She's covered in blood. Who didn't see that coming? Like mother like daughter, right?"A female voice invaded foggy thoughts. Heavy eyes opened catching a glimpse of blonde hair. "Mama?" Her lips mumbled silently. Darkness returned blinding the sun from her face... she yearned to see the brightness of life again. Mama... the world didn't feel good right now. Incoherent thoughts merged together all at once screaming let me out, but it was useless. Lost in a corrupting darkness, she became a frightened child reaching out to be held and protected from the confusing shifts of a scary world... but her mother was far away. A single dot in the distant horizon...
"She's looking at us." The lump in his throat bounced up and down swallowing nervously. Sargent Damien Acis, a high ranking soldier for the Light, returned the dead stare shifting uneasily in the front seat of the moving SUV. "I'll keep my weapon drawn just in case." A thick layer of blood stained the black clothing donning the demon's body. Hazel eyes flickered up to the back windshield. Another black SUV followed behind them carrying Mason Marquise's dead corpse, the woman responsible lying limply against the door drenched in his blood, stared dully into the soldier's face before closing her eyes again. "She's trying to fight through the sedative." He whispered in amazement. "The tranquilizer was designed to take down a five hundred pound Under Fae and her eyes keep opening like she could use another dose."
"Don't worry about her." Tamsin could sense her second in command's fear. "She won't be able to fight the drug for long." She reassured knowing the strength of the Blood King's tranquilizer. The strongest poison was used to take the succubus down, although temporary, it made transporting the unaligned murderer a lot easier. With no opportunity to fight back, Bo behaved for once following orders instead of fighting them. The Valkyrie's knuckles turned white against the steering wheel. Mason was a good friend of hers, a beloved political figure to the Dark, avenging his death would be simple If the Morrigan's execution room replaced the Dal, Tamsin thought staring at the succubus through the review mirror.
Mama, the succubus internally cried out... the scent of blood overwhelming... suffocating.
And then gone.
"Woah." A heavy arm brushed against her black leather vest, glaring at the oblivious Light Fae soldier, Kenzi bit her tongue swallowing down several obscenities filling her head. Noticing the bustling excitement of the Dal, awoken by the chaos, Kenzi closed Taliesin's guest room door feeling the crazy atmosphere from all around. "Hey, Ash man." She greeted unexpectedly. Falling asleep on top of a suitcase, she was paying for it now. Shifting her head from side to side, attempting to get the kinks out, she ignored Hale's raised eye brow more concerned with the smothering body clutter than his suspicious stare.
"Long night?" Hale immediately shook his head dismissively. "It doesn't matter. I have bigger things to deal with right now." The Douche bag alarm sounded watching him attempt to walk away, she reached out grabbing his arm.
"This place is a mad house." Regarding her patiently, the heads of several Light guards turned in their direction. Hale nodded and they continued down the hall. Kenzie fought back an eye roll. A human hurting the Ash wasn't realistic, she released him before someone jumped her. "Dude, what's going on?"
"This morning Tamsin went out to investigate a Dark Fae murder with our Guard. They found Bo nearby in the woods and safely detained her." Her face lit up like a Christmas tree and fuck it, the whole suburban house. "This isn't good, Kenz." Buzz kill, she thought never liking a Debbie downer. "She killed the Morrigan's younger brother, Mason. She probably did the same to Dy-"
"Don't," she was through with maybes, nobody knew for sure. "The Morrigan is a mega bitch, I could only imagine what she'd be like with balls. No wonder Bo killed him." She couldn't resist. Hale sighed not finding the humor in the situation. She didn't either but couldn't filter her spoken thoughts, especially after a night of crazy drugs. "I won't let her come near Bo. The Morrigan has another thing coming if she thinks she can lay a hand on my best friend. I won't fight, I won't argue, I'll just hit dat bitch wit a bottle."
"Good to know." He smirked. "Now we can send some of these guys home. Sounds like you got security in check, lil mama."
Security. The Dal felt like an army base with the max capacity filled a hundred Fae ago. Today would be a bad day for a fire. Someone bumped into her again, her head snapped eying the weapon on his back. Black, big, automatic and deadly. Every Fae in the establishment stood armed, it felt like war. She didn't like it. "You guys aren't going to hurt Bo, right?" She stared down the hall watching Trick speak on the phone. His face pensive and strained. "You guys look ready for battle."
"We are." She looked into serious eyes. "A lot of Fae are going to demand justice for her crimes but we'll figure this out. Don't worry lil mama, just trust us."
And failure to 'figure it out' would result in her death. She smiled despite knowing the full extent of their plans. If an outside Fae was involved, she would be safe. If she murdered willfully, they would hand Bo over to the Dark, her life in the Morrigan's hands. She was human, unaligned like her best friend, Kenzie vowed to save her from Fae law at all costs. "I trust you, dude."
Fingers crossed behind her back, she followed Hale into the barroom. "Wait up." Stopping at the mouth of the hallway, she faced a shaggy haired wizard dodging soldiers to reach her. "I've never seen so many bodies crammed into a room like this." Taliesin reached up adjusting the long tie dye head band flowing down his back.
"Tamsin found Bo in the woods." Kenzie explained taking her new friend's hand. "Everyone is freaking out." Hopping onto a bar stool, she urged Taliesin to do the same. "They'll be here any minute. I don't know about you but I can surely use a drink." Looking around, the Fae appeared to range from her age to Trick's age, but their true age was a mystery.
With the Blood King's attention adverted away from the liquor, Kenzie reached over the polished wood grabbing the neck of her favorite whiskey bottle. "Let that bitch kiss me," she stiffened at the loudly spoken words releasing the bottle in her hand. "I'll rip her fucking head off."
"I'll rip her head off and give myself a blow job with it."
"You sick fuck."
"Fae killing bitch deserves it. Just ask Dyson."
A group of five soldiers sat at the bar continuing their disrespectful banter. Parting lips threatened to stop them, "Ignore them, they're not worth wasting your breath on." Taliesin spoke before a word could escape. "The testosterone in the air is causing them to speak from their asses."
"I can smell it from here." Kenzie muttered sitting back down. The Light Fae Guard wore a white and black service coat with the 'Light Fae' symbol embroidered onto their chest and upper arm. Kenzie noticeably stuck out being human, wearing all black, and having no desire to harm the succubus. The group of Fae continued their obnoxious threats, one upping each other on how they would hurt Bo, most of it a disturbing mix of sex, torture, and dismemberment.
Bo wasn't safe here.
The guards spoke about executing her in their sober and drunken rants not saving her.
There was little heroism in the air. It felt more like warfare. The Light Fae National Guard were heavily armed with automatic weapons, some were old school standing with ancient Fae weapons, waiting anxiously for battle. Playing with the buckles on her corset, heart pulsating nervously like the rest of her body, blue eyes jumped from Fae to Fae recognizing most. A majority of the room hated Aife, cursing her name with every passion of their supernatural bodies. Bo's reputation alarmingly similar now; the many faces in the room expressed the same sourness when speaking of both mother and daughter. Unconsciously, Kenzie leaned closer to the tall body beside her feeling a comforting arm wrap around her. "I know this is scary, but we have great leaders. They won't let anything bad happen to Bo."
"I hope so." She leaned further into the wizard closing her eyes. Bo never wanted to become her birth mother... Kenzie, you have to promise me something. Sitting side by side at the Dal's legendary bar, a late night of drinking and dancing coming to an end, the succubus leaned close to Kenzie, tickling her ear with a softly spoken whisper. If I ever change for the worst you have to do whatever it takes to stop me. Although buzzing from whiskey, the succubus no longer smiled. I don't want to live as a monster, I don't want to lose you. I don't want to lose any of you. Trick, Hale, Dyson, Lauren- I couldn't imagine a life without my family. You guys mean so much to me, if I ever try to hurt-
Dude, that will never happen. The idea was unfathomable. You love us too much to hurt us, you're worrying too much Bo Bo. Have another drink."
I mean it, Kenz. If I ever become a monster you have to stop me. You have to find a way.
Okay. She agreed touching the succubus' arm lightly. I will stop you, but only if you down this next shot.
The smile returned. Deal.
"They're almost here." Blue eyes opened at the sound of the Blood King's authoritative voice. "We will dismiss a majority of you after she's safely detained." Thrown into a cage like an animal, Kenzie internally translated. "Others will be divided into groups of A and B. You will rotate shifts to protect the Dal and Bo while we continue investigating the death of Mason Marquise and the disappearance of Dyson Thornwood." With a nod to Hale, the room remained silent awaiting further direction from the Ash.
"I applaud everyone's hard work. These last few weeks have been long and grueling. It's rare when our Guard comes together to protect the Light and I couldn't be more proud. The bar will be closed to the public for anyone who would like to stay and drink on the house. Once again, thank you for your services. Bo will arrive unarmed and unconscious but we must remain alert. She's unpredictable right now-"
Sunlight arrived at the entrance of the Dal interrupting his speech, Trick and Hale turned with apprehension locking their mouths shut. Deadly weapons disappeared as Kenzie cleared a path though the stiff soldiers, shoving the powerful bodies aside, she stood frozen seeing the battered succubus for the first time in weeks. "Holy shit." Speaking below a whisper, her eyes frantically examined every inch of her best friend being dragged inside by two burly guards. Blood added to the mix of dark bruises disappearing into the collar of Bo's jacket, several violent gashes and tears embedded into her body and clothing- Kenzi was speechless.
Everyone was.
A tall soldier with blonde hair long enough to slightly curl at the end entered the Dal with his urgent steps stopping near Hale. He leaned over speaking silently near his ear with a noticeable disturbance pooling in his hazel eyes. "Where's Tamsin?" Hale asked the man whose heart was buried under a rainbow of badges pinned to his white coat.
"She left to assist with the cover up, sir." Sargent Damien Acis answered respectfully taking the hand offered to him by Hale.
"Your team did an excellent job. Well done, Sargent Acis."
"Anything for the Light." He responded with a quick head nod before turning all attention to the succubus held in place by two of his men, her head hanging low in shame only poison could force. The Blood King walked around them in one circle, tilting her bloody chin up, little expression coating the lines of his brow and lips as he silently examined her. Immune to the sight of the battered succubus, Trick stared blankly at the unconscious and fragile demon hiding any emotion from the room. "Hailey and Savanah please step forward." He suddenly called out. Two service women emerged from the crowd, Kenzie recognized them from the bar and internally cringed watching them approach her best friend. They hated Aife with a passion that spilled onto her daughter vocalizing their disgust openly at the bar on many occasions along with several other Light Fae soldiers. "Bo will remain sedated for the next twenty four hours. Clean her up and have her cell prepared."
"Yes, sir." Hailey and Savanah spoke in unison accepting the succubus from the other guards free of any emotion.
"I advise everyone stay away from the succubus unless ordered to do otherwise." Memories of Aife clouded Trick's eyes, watching his blood dragged through a crowd of rancorous soldiers, a feeling of deja vu settled uncomfortably in the back of the Blood King's mind. Punk steel toed boots began to follow- "Kenzi!" His voice stilled all movements but her eyes continued following her best friend. "You are not to see Bo without my permission. Is that understood?"
Kenzi hesitated before returning back to Taliesin's side hating the high secure atmosphere. The idea of Bo being controlled by something else didn't seem to cross anyone's mind anymore. Sympathy absent from the room, they planned to celebrate her detainment! Weeks of hard work, what about weeks of Bo suffering? What were they celebrating exactly? Bo being thrown into a cell? Hale and Trick started another speech emphasizing Bo's dangerous power and strength.
Kenzi felt sick and tripping balls all night had nothing to do with it.
The Fae continued their conversation failing to notice the door opening behind them.
Moth to a flame, a behavior called transverse orientation. The insect flies to maintain a distant point source of light similar to how explorers use the night stars to navigate through the night. Unable to distinguish artificial light from deadly flame, their senses incapable of associating heat with danger, many perish instantly. Watching her deadly flame lie unconscious in a tub of water and floating bubble suds, not even a submerged bath could kill the overwhelming heat signaling no alarm. Transverse orientation, she was able to navigate the halls of the Dal walking mindlessly towards her light.
Noticing the violent bruise on her neck, several large and small cuts and abrasions on her hands and face, she wondered how the light captivating her heart could also be so devastatingly dark. "I'll take over from here." Two heads turned, their surprised eyes ignored as she gazed down at the woman meant to be her wife. "Trick sent me." Her eyes traveled the length of the sleek body submerged in soapy water. "I need a clean outfit and her cell prepared with clean sheets and two pillows. There's a mattress already set up," kneeling down, her eyes became soft despite feeling poisoned by cut up hands. "Have everything ready for her."
"I'm sorry, Dr. Lewis but we can't leave you alone with her." The smaller of the two spoke, "She must be supervised by us at all times."
Logically, it would be wise to keep an automatic weapon nearby for protection from the out of control succubus. But nothing seemed logical anymore, including herself. Somehow, she reeked Fae and her hand lovingly held the culprit who changed her. "I was given permission to examine her alone by Trick." She lied. "She'll be unconscious for the next twenty four hours. She's harmless."
They glanced down at the tub and then back at her standing unsure and hesitant. "We will prepare her cell and then come right back with a clean outfit." One of them finally decided.
"Thank you." Her eyes lingered on the weapons on their backs as they turned to leave. "You don't have too many fans here, love."
Reaching into the warm water, her fingers wrapped around the rough surface of a scarring hand. "You're going to be uncomfortable for a little while." Ignoring the horrible crimes committed by the hand cradled in her own, she placed a lingering kiss on wet knuckles. "I'll figure this out. We'll figure everything out." The pain from mysterious illness lessened dramatically at the contact. "I don't know what you did to me but... but I can feel your presence." Her voice dropped to a whisper. A million thoughts running through her head, she stared strangely down at the reason for her illness. "Everything in my body yearns to be near you, yearns to hold you- Did you cast a spell on me? Were those your intentions? To make me love you as much as you love me..." Lauren gently released her hand brushing wet strands of hair from her beautiful face. "I never stopped."
Gazing down at the sleeping succubus, she felt silly all of a sudden focusing on the map of fresh battle wounds over the plains of wet flesh.
Love wasn't a priority for Bo right now.
Hailey and Savanah returned with a clean black shirt and gray sweat pants. The doctor stood out their way watching their hands handle her heart's desire feeling overprotective over the woman who changed her biological chemistry within seconds. Feeling the succubus through the many dividing walls, a sensation penetrating a cocktail of pain medication; the need to see her former fiance overcame all degree of illness luring her awake from sleep and forcing her body down the hallway in search of Bo. Was she poisoned? Cursed?
The two quiet women finished dressing the unconscious succubus. Watching the shackles click in place, Lauren revealed a syringe from the hidden pocket of her white lab coat interrupting their departure. "I need to collect a quick blood sample." They held Bo still while the needle entered, drank, and withdrew from her battered arm. Normally a band aid would follow but the circumstances were too abnormal for it to matter. Catching a glimpse of her beautiful face, the urge to kiss her goodbye came naturally.
Old habits die hard, she thought sadly watching the two women haul Bo away. A fantasy of napping with her former fiance played behind sick eyes. Instead of her succubus waking up to a friendly face, she would wake up alone and hurt with betrayal. "Please be patient with us, Bo." The clean scent in the air brought little comfort standing alone in the bathroom. "This will all be over soon."
"You need more guards outside." The Ash was addressed coldly by the Valkyrie storming into his office. "You're unaligned friend has managed to piss off everyone I know and they're demanding justice." The succubus killed a Marquise, a royal family in the Dark Fae world, a wealthy family in the human world, Bo had to pay for stealing the life of a beloved Dark citizen. "She doesn't deserve to be here." Mourning overthrew the filters in her head, she spoke heavily with honesty feeling Bo's sword strapped to her back, the same one used to kill Mason would feel good in her own hand slicing through the neck of an unaligned murderer wrongfully protected by the Light.
"We appreciate your cooperation." Hale attempted to calm her down but his words wouldn't bring Mason back.
"Appreciate not blowing her head off." She mumbled angrily staring away from the Ash. "Attempting to keep her alive here is a waste of time and resources. The soldiers are always bragging about their fantasy succubus kill, I'd be doing the girl a favor by making it swift and quick. Your men talk about dragging on her torture for days."
"Are you saying we can't trust you?"
"You can't trust anyone. Light and Dark, we both agree she can't be trusted. Bo's an unaligned murderer. Protecting her is bad politics on top of morally wrong."
"She deserves a fair investigation. We don't know what's going on with her, nobody does. You and everyone else can assume all you want but Trick and I refuse to execute her unjustly."
"Bo is the Morrigan's prisoner." The Valkyrie reminded turning to face the Ash sitting calmly at his desk. "That's not your decision to make. Expect Dark soldiers at your door, Ash." She promised bitterly. "It's not a threat, just a warning." She wouldn't lead a lynch mob of Dark to the Dal but she wouldn't stop them either. Bo deserved to be ripped from the safety of the Dal and dragged violently through the streets by the ends of her hair. "Have you heard from Dyson?"
The Ash stiffened in his seat. "Not yet." He answered shortly looking away from the Valkyrie's venomous stare.
"Of course." She responded rolling her eyes. "He's probably dead too. Maybe she is your prisoner. You and the Morrigan might as well cut her in half and share the bitch. What a fucking mess." Turning away from the Light leader, departing without another word, she shook her head in disgust. "How many Fae have to die before she's found guilty of murder?"
"Mama..." They were real... this time Bo swore they were real. Her mother looked down at her walking closer. "They... they're here again." She felt sick but couldn't stop talking. Carefully kneeling down, the older woman gently touched the little girl's cheek.
"Shh, calm down. You're very weak right now. Relax, sweetheart. You're okay, just re-"
"No!" She couldn't relax. "Let me show you, they're out there! They're out there... it's not my imagination. I was playing outside and I saw them, Mama! I saw them! They're real! I saw them... they watch me everyday! Let me show- My hands... Mama?"
"Geez, what a fucking lunatic."
The familiar scent of the Dal cruelly replaced the light country air of her hometown. Brown eyes bounced around the room in a frenzy creating more havoc in her mind. Sitting in a scattered jigsaw puzzle forcing several disoriented pieces together in a panic, she felt the hand drop from her face, "May we have a second alone?" The country air disappeared along with Bo's mother revealing Lauren in the first clear puzzle piece. The doctor's voice was edgy and demanding, Bo wondered how it was the same person treating her so kindly seconds before. Imaginary bullets flying from her eyes, turning her head, the succubus met their target.
"I'm not allowed to leave this room. Those are my orders, sorry doc." Brown eyes became fixated on him refusing to move anywhere else. "You're handling a deadly Fae, there's no way I'm leaving you alone with her. Fuck, she was just crying for Aife! Do you realize how many Fae that bitch slaughtered?! She's lucky I don't come over there and shut her up myself-"
"Enough! You're upsetting her stop talking-"
"I'm upsetting her?! Who gives a fuck about her?! What about Dyson?! An entire race of Fae is upset he's dead while his fucking killer sits alive on a bed she doesn't deserve!"
Feeling heavy shackles dig into the skin of her wrists, a similar sensation felt around her ankles, Bo looked down noticing the restraints around her body for the first time. Unable to remember how they got there, the succubus looked to her right for answers. Lauren stared back quietly seemingly waiting for answers herself. Bo turned her head to the scowling man dressed in a white uniform. She recognized the Light Fae symbol embroidered onto his jacket, remembered the symbol earlier under a sea of tree tops... Tamsin... they surrounded and shot her...
Irrational thoughts, her hungry mind lost clarity to delusion. The soldier returned her stare with a lingering hand near the weapon on his waist. "Make him leave." She felt helpless against the insanity accompanying the urge to suck the life out of him. Hands bound, the blood rushed viciously through her veins manipulating the color of her eyes.
Was he the one? Her mind whispered, who threw me in here? Imagination and reality swirled together to paint a violent memory, seeing the smug smile on his face, she felt rough hands shove her sleeping body to the floor tasting a mouthful of bitter dirt while being shackled and bound by HIM. The beating of her heart drowned out the world roaring wildly in her ears, the sound of death consuming all rational thought.
Falling into a void of carnivorous desire, his youthful features faded to white until Bo saw nothing but a burst of life filling her blood.
Sucking in life menacingly from behind bars, feeding without limitations, Fae energy too fulfilling to save his worthless life, the thought of stopping never crossed her mind, it was forced by a pleading voice in her ear. "Please don't do this, you have to stop, Bo. You have to stop. This isn't you, please..." The sensation of her arm being touched barely registered, lingering on her face, she wanted to feed from the woman whose fingers fearlessly traced the outline of her jaw. "Stop it, Bo. Please, don't kill him..." But she became a slave to the softness of her voice. Biting down hard on her bottom lip to keep from changing her mind, the weight of her breaths drowned out the chaos as she fought to emerge from the darkness demanding the new energy entering the room.
"What's going-" The Blood King's voice abruptly stopped as his footsteps sped up. "Why did you do this?!" He demanded screaming at the top of his lungs. "ANSWER ME!" Bo's head swam in a heavy pool of darkness feeling the heavy military presence in the room. "You have nothing to say?! You give me a new mess to clean up and you have nothing to say?! Unbelievable."
"Than stop." The fire in her eyes burned a shade brighter glancing up. "I murdered Dark Fae not Light." The drained soldier met her gaze from across the room, standing under her stare. Visibly shaken and confused, his questioning stare asked 'why' before disappearing into the hallway with three other guards and Lauren helping him walk away. "You can't protect me from the Morrigan."
"There's something wrong with you." She focused on Trick dismissing the trauma painted on the young guard's face. Lacking a conscious to report the incident to, she felt nothing. "We're going to find a cure-"
"I'm not human." She interrupted raising her voice stopping his. "That's my problem, I'm not fucking human." A new energy entered the room familiar and delicious, captivating, warm and lovely. "Just ask Lauren." Blue eyes attacked the doctor, seeing the sick shade of gray painting her face, she ignored the misery in her eyes and continued. "Sweetheart, did you tell my grandfather how I broke into your home and maliciously violated you? Is that why I'm in this fucking cage?!"
"Are you listening to yourself?!"
"It's okay." Lauren briefly placed a hand on Trick's shoulder, her illness more evident to the succubus. So dedicated to the Light, she thought darkly knowing the extent of Lauren's illness. Functioning through such illness was hell, near impossible. Only someone as dedicated as her former lover could work feeling so sick. "I know you're upset, but you have to understand this is necessary for your safety." She was dressed for work wearing a white lab coat and gloves. What was so important to Lauren that she'd work through debilitating illness to stand on her feet for hours on end? Of course, her being thrown into a cage and treated like an animal was a special occasion. "I need to check your vitals."
Trick placed a hand behind Lauren's back, tilting his head towards the door. Brown eyes moved left and then right, examining their nervous faces. Come into my cage, she thought darkly challenging Lauren with taunting eyes, the doctor looked away following her grandfather outside of the room. She felt their lingering presence with a dark imagination painting their words... she wouldn't go down without a fight.
Lauren physically returned but was absent from the room. Bo knew the doctor well enough to see her attention buried deeply in thought. Unfocused fingers fiddled with the key until remembering the objective, Bo's eyes followed every mundane movement of the doctor's rising hand, noticing each quiet tremble. Visibly snapping out of her reverie, the doctor unlocked the door transforming into a professional. Lauren had a job to do, Bo wasn't stupid. This was her career. "What was that about?" Locked in a cage by loved ones, each word drenched in disgust, the bitterness in her tone had no affect on the blonde's composure.
"Trick pleaded I be safe and handed me the key." She met Bo's eyes, the connection strained and awkward. Lauren wanted to drop the burden of her gaze, observing a heartless monster, but stood captivated in a sea of memory instead. "No big deal."
"No guards? That's not very safe."
"You deserve confidentiality like any other patient." A failing promise spun round and round as the doctor played nervously with the white gold ring on her finger. A three stone diamond sitting beautifully at the top, Bo stared feeling her mouth go dry. "I need you to lie down." Lauren wrapped an arm around stiff shoulders pressing a hand flat against her abdomen. Awkwardly, Bo surrendered falling back onto the mattress in a daze. Bo it's so beautiful, I love you, I love you so much. Yes, I'll marry you. I love you so much, yes. Lauren's hands moved up to her temples rubbing them vigorously while standing on unsteady legs.
A deer in headlights was more capable of movement at the moment, "Come here." Bo found her voice ignoring the broken memory stuck on repeat. The doctor opened her eyes staring strangely down at her. "You look like hell, come here." Repeating herself more sternly, Lauren obliged kneeling down. Sitting up to meet her, a brief glimmer stilled Bo's movements, a humorless grin shaping her lips. "He pulled you outside to give you the necklace. The great Koushang," she mocked seeing the amulet used to defeat her mother hang around her former lover's neck. The charm kept anyone who wore it safe from the deadly kiss of a succubus. "Take it off." Lauren needed the effects of a succubus right now, even if they didn't trust each other. "I won't hurt you."
Once upon a time, Bo was able to love and trust the doctor unconditionally. Lauren felt the same way agreeing to marry her... those days were long gone mirrored in the hesitation flooding the doctor's eyes. Slowly, her arms rose to the back of her neck removing the amulet with a silent plea spilling from her eyes. Exchanging 'I love yous' everyday, It seemed so long ago... feeling the apprehension in the air, Lauren's lips trembled seeing a monster in the blue infecting brown eyes. A sudden intake of breath, her former lover shook nervously on the verge of backing out.
"Don't move." Softly blowing Fae energy into Lauren's lungs, the ecstasy she saw in her eyes became contagious. Fighting the shackles, her hands begged to touch the doctor wanting to ravish the woman feeding from her noisily. Forgetting the monster, Lauren's eager hands began to roam her neck, face and hair feeling her teasing lips comfort shaky ones. The doctor moaned into her mouth consuming all she had to offer. "They, they told me I smell Fae." She breathed shakily hiding her face in the demon's neck, tickling the skin there.
"You do." The words nearly moaned, Bo felt more and more aroused by each panting breath against her flesh.
"I feel incredible." Her head came up sounding uncomfortable. "Cured." She explained unable to make sense of anything. Confusion openly displayed on her face, Lauren opened and closed her mouth before finding her voice again. "Wha- Wha- Why- How- What did you do to me?"
Desire pooled heavily in the hungry stare of an aroused succubus, tying the doctor's tongue in many knots. A hundred fantasies played back to back in Bo's head, she had to think hard to remember the question. "I made your favorite wish come true."
Sex dripped from each syllable, Lauren added more distance between them looking away, growing angry in the blink of an eye. "I never wanted to be Fae." Seeing two guards walk in, the doctor was reminded of her duties. Noticing the change, a bitterness replaced arousal, the hands once teasing her body affectionately became cold and distant. "You healed incredibly fast." Clinical hands pressed around the wounded flesh feeling for abnormalities. "There's no sign of the tranquilizer puncturing your skin."
"Great, you can leave now."
"I was ordered to ask one more question." As a dedicated Light employee, she continued stoically. "What happened to Dyson?"
Dyson? The question took her off guard. "I have no idea." Their last encounter was a blur happening weeks ago. He should have been alive and well... Lauren's eyes fell to the ground contemplating something. The doubt was there when she looked back up. "I'm going to ask you again, Bo. Please be honest with me. Where's Dyson... or his body?"
Scooting into the far corner of the cell, eyes anywhere but on the doctor, her back hit the wall with an angry thump. "I'm not doing this." She was already convicted of a crime she didn't commit. Arguing her innocence with anyone, especially Lauren, would only make her snap. Leaning heavily against metal bars, she closed her eyes swallowing down an all consuming rage.
"Interrogation wasn't always your strong suit, Dr. Lewis." A new assaulting voice entered the room. Bo kept her eyes tightly shut feeling the darkness flow overwhelmingly through her veins. "I know how to get things out of people." Tamsin continued entering her cell without a care in the world. "I've worked closely under the Morrigan for centuries, dear. Things can be easy or things can get messy, I'll let you decide. Where's Dyson?"
"Fucking with me... yeah that does sound kind of messy." She mocked feeling her hands subtly tug at the shackles searching for a weakness. They were strong, but maybe she'd luck out free her hands and strangle the blonde tracing the outline of her jaw with a steel tip. The green in her eyes enjoyed every second of possessing her life in her hands... and how wonderful the feeling, Bo reflected wanting to feel the katana in her own hands again. There was nothing more satisfying than seeing the precious gift of life leave someone's eyes, Tamsin understood.
The Valkyrie was enjoying this.
"That's not what I meant." Staring up the length of her grandmother's sword, the smug smile seemed almost manic. "Last chance... where's Dyson?" Pressing harder into the sword, she dared the blade to pierce the artery in her neck, teasing its sharpened edge dangerously. She felt in control of her life again realizing the only escape from darkness came at the end of a sword. Trick and Lauren were rarely wrong... maybe there was something wrong with her and she could see the white gold glimmering out the corner of her eye go round and round...
"This is ridiculous." Lauren abruptly stood up taking the sword from the Valkyrie's hand. Only for a second did their eyes meet again, panic settled in the doctor's eyes, she didn't understand why. After everything, after 'killing Dyson', she'd expect her death to bring a peace of mind to her former lover. A fellow Light employee presumed dead by her hands, why was she stopping Tamsin? Bo preferred death over imprisonment by her own blood. "Do I need to clarify your orders," Lauren spoke harshly to Tamsin. "Because putting a sword to her throat isn't remotely close to relocating her."
"My orders come from a darker leader or did you forget who I work for? She's not very happy with Bo right now or me. I should have brought her straight to the Morrigan where she belongs, not this caring oasis. No one knows how to treat a PRISONER here. She might as well be in a five star resort." She directed her aggression towards Bo now. "You're lucky Trick sent Light Fae with me or you'd be dead- Not relocated." The Valkyrie spun around addressing the two men at the door. "Come on boys, lets show this bitch to her new cage."
"I'm sorry." Lauren apologized staring down at the floor holding her sword. The weapon seemed out of place in her hands with the ring standing out against it. Brown eyes followed the promise of forever, watching the white gold shine beautifully against her katana as Lauren walked away with falling tears. Rough hands grabbed Bo's shoulders, dragging her first out of memory and then out of the cell. The halls of the Dal were the same, only she was different. Tamsin walked nearby with a loaded gun in hand. Resisting her power was difficult feeling their hands on her body, putting them under the spell of a succubus-
She stopped dwelling on fantasy.
Being tranquilized once was enough bullshit for one day.
The basement door came into view. Lauren's apology made a lot more sense now. Forced down a flight of stairs, the guards handled her rougher than necessary in the dark room. Four large cells lined the basement wall, harshly thrown to the cement floor, her eyes flickered from brown to blue. "Was that for your buddy?" She questioned turning to face the guards and Tamsin. "Either you don't like him very much or you're human because that was way too pitiful to be Fae."
"I'll show you human." The guard stepped forward entering the cell with balled fists. Tamsin intervened grabbing his broad shoulders with both hands. "Don't be stupid." Urging him back outside the safe confines of her cell, the Valkyrie closed the door allowing her stare to linger. "We can't rough her up too much. The Morrigan wants her nice and fresh for the killing. Bye, dear. Have fun with your new bestie."
They walked away with bullshit bravado. Alone, Bo looked around the empty cell seeing a pillow and sheet lying on the cement floor. The Under Fae in the next cell greeted her growling and screaming. He ran in circles screaming and gargling like a lunatic. She found him to be more bearable than Tamsin, even as he stared her down. If eyes could kill, she thought looking away from the beast. Awkwardly dragging herself to the pillow and sheet in the corner, she struggled to cover herself with the thin material listening to the Under Fae bang his head against the bars separating them.
Laying her head on the cruel floor, she watched her new bestie gnaw violently on his own arm until her eyes surrendered to a pathetic attempt at sleep.
'The Quantitative Insights into the Structure and Molecular Mechanisms of DNA Mutagenesis', "How are you holding up?" An unsure voice asked followed by a nervous chuckle. "These people are brutal."
Placing the heavy book down, admiring the new glossy hard cover for the thousandth time that night, Bo turned her head meeting Kenzi's discomfort with a happy chuckle of her own. "Lauren's friends and colleagues are great." The declaration came freely after five glasses of expensive red wine. "Look at her, God she's so beautiful." Standing between a group of three men and two women, dressed beautifully in a ivory tailored gown hugging her body flawlessly with matching heels, she was undeniably the glowing star of the evening. "They're all raving and gushing over her new book. It's nominated for a bunch of sciency awards. I wish I could read the thing, I can't even understand the title."
"Yeah I never cared for science myself, my favorite class in school was gym," Kenzi stopped to take another sip of wine. "Only cause our pervy coach spent more time eye balling the slutty cheer bitches than watching me sneak off behind the school dumpsters to smoke pot. I totally belong with these people."
Held on the 12th floor rooftop of the NoMad hotel in New York City was Lauren Lewis' elaborate book launch party for the newly released, 'The Quantitative Insights into the Structure and Molecular Mechanisms of DNA Mutagenesis.' Wealthy and famous scientists from around the world filled the luxury party oozing intelligence and grace that mingled perfectly with just the rich business people Lauren also knew.
"So when are you popping the big question?"
Bo nearly choked on the red wine sliding down her tightening throat. "Sometime after her parents get here." She answered feeling her stomach knot both in excitement and strangely fear. "I've rehearsed my proposal a million times at home and now I can't remember a word of it." She took another sip of wine. "I can't even remember how to drop on one knee anymore I'm so nervous."
"You're stressing too hard Bo Bo, just stop thinking about it and everything will go smoothly." Kenzi patted the naked skin of her upper back expressing her support. "You're going to do fine, Lauren is going to love the ring, say yes and you'll be trotting over a threshold with your girl in no time." Watching a new flock of people walk over to Lauren, both girls watched the doctor light up with joy and hug everyone in a familiar fashion. "Geez, how does she know all these people? I only recognize a handful from Light Laboratories." There was at least a hundred people at the party and Kenzi never felt more like a wall flower in her entire life.
"A lot of these people are friends with her parents." Bo answered feeling every muscle stiffen in her body. "They're both successful over achieving scientists who I'm pretty sure Lauren is hugging now."
Kenzi gulped loudly patting Bo's naked shoulder again. "On that note, I'm gonna go find Trick and see how he's holding up."
Panic settled replacing the calm in her eyes, "You're going to leave me to meet the Fockers on my own?"
"The Fockers I can deal with, the Lewis', I'll pass on. From what Lauren says about them, I can feel them judging me from here and they don't even know I exist yet."
"They shouldn't be here." Bo half complained. "They called Lauren out of the blue one day asking about her book and she invited them out of guilt."
"Maybe they'll like you Bo Bo." Kenzi offered clinking her wine glass to her best friend's. "They're walking over here, good luck."
"Thanks friend." Downing the remaining wine in her glass, she turned around placing the empty glass on the expensive linen hiding the table.
"Bo," she had never been more terrified at the sound of her name. Standing up against the darkest Fae lord would have been easier to stomach than meeting Lauren's parents. "I would love to introduce you to the greatest scientists of all time." Of course, she saw it coming a mile away, knew exactly what she was getting herself into. Bo turned around with a charming smile fully intact.
"It'd be an honor to meet such brilliant minds." She answered awkwardly trying to erase the alcohol consumed earlier.
"Bo this is my father Professor Gerald Alan Lewis and my mother Doctor Danielle Carolyn Lewis," Lauren wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek. "Mother, Father this is my beautiful girlfriend Bo Dennis." The succubus forced a smile feeling the tension fill the once pleasant outside air.
"It's very nice to meet you both." Bp swallowed uncomfortably watching her parents share a disapproving look. "I can see where Lauren gets her brilliant mind and gorgeous looks from." Her Dad stood tall wearing an expensive suit with a full head of salt and pepper hair making his vibrant blue eyes stand out against his naturally olive toned skin. Her mother was just as beautiful standing with long dark brunette hair flowing passed her shoulders in many neat loose curls, standing in a expensive plum colored gown, her skin radiated with few wrinkles and just the right complexion of make up.
"Please tell me she's at least a dental hygienist, Doctor Lewis." Doctor Danielle Lewis commented with disdain emphasizing her daughter's high ranking medical position. "I did not fail to notice a lack of title in her introduction."
"I don't fall in love with titles, mother." Lauren responded with a distinct edge in her tone. "I love her very much and the only title necessary to love me is girlfriend."
"You're so brilliant Lauren, Professor Darren Stevens Jr. has yet to find a suitable wife why don't give him a call-"
Bo's eyes widened at her father's suggestion feeling the urge to touch both of the highly judgmental rich snobs and force them to like her. "I'm not interested in Professor Darren Stevens Jr. or any of your other friends. I'm madly in love with the woman currently in my arms and nothing or no one will ever change that. I'm sorry Bo," she turned remorseful eyes to meet her subtly astonished ones. "This was a bad idea. I never should have invited them here-"
"No, Lauren I'm glad they're here." Bo kissed her lips softly ignoring her scowling parents departing footsteps. "This a big night for you," she reminded kissing her softly again. "Hale, Kenzi, Trick, even Dyson came to support you tonight," looking around the party, Bo noticed several pairs of eyes on them and sighed deeply unsure of what to say or do next.
"You look terrified," Lauren reached up touching her face lovingly. "What's wrong?" Her heart stopped along with time as she gazed into the softness of her girlfriend's eyes, willing to spend an eternity gazing into their loving depths. Weeks spent rehearsing this very moment went flying out the window as the party disappeared around them, leaving Bo alone with Lauren on top of a beautiful city with her love's favorite classical music playing the background.
"Your parents are right," Bo smiled at the confusion tilting her love's beautiful lips. "You do deserve someone with a better title." Lauren opened her mouth ready to disagree but the succubus kissed her again before she could utter a word. "You make me the happiest woman in the world and I've never imagined doing anything like this before I met you, but nothing will make me happier than to express my love for you in front of our friends and family." Holding Lauren's now trembling hand, Bo dropped down to one knee kissing her girlfriend's knuckles before retrieving a small wooden box from her shoulder clutch purse. "It'd be the greatest honor to spend the rest of my life as Bo Dennis Lewis and to spend every day waking up with you and falling asleep with you and just loving you everyday with all of my heart and soul, Doctor Lauren Carolyn Lewis will you please marry me?" Opening the small wooden box, Lauren gasped at the ring shaking her head yes too choked up with tears to speak right away.
"Bo it's so beautiful, I love you, I love you so much. Yes, I'll marry you." The succubus smiled slipping the white gold ring onto her fiance's finger with tears springing to her own eyes. "I love you so much, yes." Lauren repeated embracing her lovingly and sealing the proposal with a deep kiss cheered on by their many applauding friends and family.
"I love you too," Bo murmured breaking away from their kiss. "My fiance," she kissed her again with smiling lips. "And soon my wife." They kissed again at the softly murmured words forgetting the party entirely. The rest of the night was spent in each other's arms, showing off Lauren's ring, and accepting many hugs and congratulations from their closest friends and family.
"This is Sargent Damien Acis." Transitioning from small lens to open doorway, there was a delay in brown eyes adjusting from microorganism to tall male organism. Short blonde hair, gentle eyes more green than brown, and a bit of stubble shading his jaw made him seem less innocent. Several colorful badges glimmered dully in the dark room, a high ranking Light soldier, he stepped in time with Trick walker deeper into the Dal's small lab room. "He'll be assigned to watch and protect you from any signs of danger."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Dr. Lewis." His voice was comfortable matching friendly eyes convincingly as he offered a strong hand to shake. A giant compared to the Blood King, her initial reaction was to fall for the gentle Fae, accept his role as her protector, and allow him all access to her fragile human life.
"Thank you for the offer but I decline." The tall warrior lowered his arm while the Blood King crossed his. She knew better than to trust her initial reaction. Being the commander of a military base, Trick immediately shook his head 'no' giving her no say in his command.
"Things are too uncertain right now and I'm not putting anymore lives at risk. Sargent Acis will keep you out of harms way if the unthinkable were to happen."
A personal protector, his smile half way tilted onto his lips. "I understand and respect your need for focus and concentration. Don't think of me as a distraction, I'll blend in with the walls and you'll forget I'm in the room. I'm just here in case things get out of hand." A small nod followed the explanation, Lauren looked down with a nod of her own. Years with the Light, the Dal was full of soldiers, to be assigned a personal one was ridiculous but arguing with Trick was pointless; glancing up, the Blood King's unwavering stare wouldn't budge. The doctor kept secrets from them once failing to notify the Ash when Bo dropped into her apartment and now... her eyes moved back to the Sargent's. "I have work to finish." She had her own personal spy to ensure it never happens again.
A/N: Sorry for the delay, I started a new job and unfortunately work a lot of over time not leaving me a whole lot of free time in between everything else in life. I do enjoy writing and I'm going to make it a point to finish this story even if it takes forever. Haha, I love the show and thanks for feedback and sorry for mistakes!