Chapter 7
The front of the building was made up of glass. Strolling through the main hallway, each foot step echoed softly against white granite stone covering the floor surrounded by merging white walls, the sun casting a glow around anyone walking through, a shower of illuminating rays... darkness could never corrupt the beauty glowing in her fiance's eyes and smile as they walked submerged in the heat of the sun. Only an all consuming love could be felt under the greatest star of the galaxy, Bo wrapping her arms around one of her own whispering in her ear, my perfect angel, as they walked through a secure door requiring a thumb print to enter. Give me another tour of your office. Show me your new couch again...
She fought back a shudder remembering their many 'tours' of her office. By the time the door closed behind them, they were in each others arms making out on the couch like naughty teenagers under a strict parent's roof.
"Wow." A deep whisper from behind caused the memory to vanish along with the pleasant curl of her lips.
Lauren dreaded the idea of sitting in her office staring blankly at the couch she would have to get rid of soon.
"I've never been inside before," Damien continued in unseen amazement. "This is the nicest hospital I've ever seen."
"We have essential state of the art equipment needed to assess and treat most common and uncommon Fae illnesses and diseases." She smiled at a few of the staff members walking briskly past her, batting away more memories of Bo. "There is equipment and procedures done here far surpassing human technology and research. The Fae are hidden leaders in the medical world teaching years of advanced medicine undiscovered in the human world to their Fae students. It's just another secret kept from my kind."
Light Laboratories, a private clinic catering to the Fae, a place once considered a second home to the human doctor, bustled with activity as several Fae doctors in white lab coats assessed results, grabbed medical equipment, or just casually hung around in a down time chatting animatedly with the rest of the staff. The first floor housed a pharmacy, medical supplies, a staff lounge, individual offices for each of the ten doctors employed by the Light, and a fully equipped laboratory with adjourning radiology room. Unlike the front of the building, the back allowed no light from windows just artificial fluorescent bulbs supported on the ceiling to keep their affairs confidential from prying Dark eyes and curious humans.
"Lauren!" A shorter woman with dark hair and a olive complexion ran across the first wing unit almost knocking over a passing pharmacy technician and their delivery cart. "Sorry!" She casually called over her shoulder eager to give the blonde a big hug hello. "I've been so worried about you."
Abigail Kendall, a brilliant Fae scientist and doctor, stood 5'2 with brown eyes that could light up a room with radiating excitement. The normally bubbly Fae lacked the usual joy the unit found contagious on a daily basis assessing her from head to toe with concern. A dull moment didn't exist with Abigail around, she was the life of the party making everyone laugh with goofy antics and silly jokes despite the stressful medical situations surrounding the overworked staff. "I'm fine, but thank you for the concern... and hug."
The heart of a giant fully exposed in the worry pooling in the dark orbs convincing her own to well up with tears, Lauren looked away from her colleague and friend stepping out of the loose embrace. Making a scene on the first day back wasn't a welcomed idea, but there wasn't much preventing a complete mental break down at work. Maybe a brain procedure to wipe out plaguing memories would help, until then she barred her teeth and hoped for the best. "I'm here for you if you want to talk about anything or if you need a shoulder to cry on. We worked together years before-" She abruptly stopped speaking continuing a second later. "You're a dear friend to me and I wish to protect you from the Fae, they can be so cruel at times... if there's anything I can do to help please let me know."
"I will, thank you." A smile broke through the embarrassment and despair shaping her face. Invitations were sent out to every employee at Light Laboratories, a four story building worth of staff congratulating her and Bo graciously and often, conversations leading up to the wedding date revolved around her, Bo, the ceremony, rings, their families, friends, honeymoon- A churning in her stomach caused all color to drain from her face, Bo's inflicted illness or feeling completely foolish, she wasn't sure which produced the sudden need to reach out for the main desk to steady weak knees.
"We're fully staffed, let us handle things here while you go home and rest."
Rest, a foreign sensation her body was incapable of, blonde hair tickled pale cheeks as her head shook from side to side. "I have an appointment." She explained watching the hands of the clock tick mechanically. "Mr. Vandrere will be here soon for his vaccination."
"I'll give it to him." The other doctor offered sensing the extent of her illness. "You shouldn't be on your feet. I'm writing you a prescription for nausea and pain and then sending you home to sleep. Do you need a ride?"
"I'll see Mr. Vandrere first and then go home." Lauren had an apartment not a home. Her life lacked a home without Bo anything remotely close would be the small cell confining the succubus. "And my ride is harassing poor Caleb over there."
The shorter doctor turned her head puzzled by the words. A tall man with neat blonde hair and a five o'clock shadow walked in awe next to Caleb, a young X-ray technician pushing one of the portable machines across the unit. "Where did you find him?" The shock in her tone made the blonde doctor shift uneasily. "So handsome! He looks like a Hollywood actor."
Light tanned skin from hours in the sun, she guessed and his tall lean muscular build made him perfect heart throb material. "He's a soldier assigned to protect me." The explanation lacked any character, empty words leaving frowned lips. Unfortunately expressing how much she despised the Sargent wouldn't make him disappear. She attempted to sound casual avoiding anymore concerns or questions. Abigail didn't hesitate picking her brain apart unraveling the organ into an emotional disaster...
"What's he like?"
The flirty tone shifted the conversation in a unwelcome direction, a distinct edge laced her answer with annoyance. "I don't know."
"He looks nice," the shorter doctor turned her head regarding him again. "Tall, handsome, curious- he's cute." Threading on choppy waters didn't stop her from continuing, Abigail spoke forgetting the ring on her finger still portrayed an everlasting promise to never abandon the love depicted through the band of radiating gold. "You should get to know him."
"No." God himself couldn't take her love for Bo away. "My patient is here." She excused herself from the conversation grateful for the man in a five piece suit entering with a young exotic assistant. She refused to entertain the idea of being with someone else. Her eyes glanced over to where Caleb and Damien stood. The soldier looked up in time to meet a blank stare. He smiled attempting to break the ice in her eyes, she looked away focusing on her patient instead.
Weak eyes struggled against a well lit hallway, strong arms dragging her through a crowd of Light Fae soldiers, their many faces stoic or disgusted. Time merged into stale air becoming nothing to the starving prisoner. She didn't know the last time she fed or how many days were spent with the aggressive Under Fae next door. Seeing different parts of the Dal, a former hot spot for local Dark and Light Fae to get drunk and fuck, now hosted a busy army base she dreamed of fleeing. Weapons, deadly weapons attached to each snickering body wanting her dead went as far as the eyes could see. "Do it." She inaudibly dared one of the soldiers whose hand hovered near the weapon on his waist. "Kill me before I kill you." She managed a pleasant smile too weak to speak loud enough for anyone to hear. Her imagination went wild making up for the lack of words. The moment wasn't possible when deprived essential life needed to function, a blessing to the succubus cursed to spend everyday the same as before. Hungry and enraged, the passing seconds came and went taking sanity with them. The men and women dressed formally in all white wore each others blood in her mind, their pensive stares burning her skin; the succubus saw them lifeless and face down in fantasy instead of uniformly lined up against the wall.
Royalty was always such a pain. The red carpet and sounding trumpets were missing, a princess making her grand appearance to the public wanting her body burned on a stake. "You won't wait too long," she managed quietly staring unfocused and hazy at the suffocating crowd.
"Will she talk?" The floating sensation disappeared as her captors forced her to sit in a chair enveloping her much smaller frame.
"She's too weak to fight." A second voice answered.
"She can barely hold her head up," a third voice added. "So this is what happens when she can't slaughter humans... she kills herself instead."
"Tamsin!"
"What?" Nonchalantly addressing the Blood King, honesty was a bitch but the situation was too dire to beat around the bush. The Morrigan suffered everyday from the loss of her younger brother, the Valkyrie held little sympathy for the succubus withering away before their eyes. "She refuses to eat anything the soldiers bring her. What do you think she's doing? Fasting for lint?" A month of not feeding, eating, and drinking very little turned the once beautiful irresistible seductress into the walking dead herself. Near translucent skin hung desperately to the bones of her body, what little muscle remained was frail and weak, sunken cheeks and dark circles around her eyes portrayed more of a decomposing corpse than live being.
"Show a little respect," The residing Ash subtly demanded staring into the face of the Dark. "Being a smart ass isn't going to help anybody."
"Neither is she." The Valkyrie responded knowingly taking a sip of the latte in her hand. "The Morrigan purposes a trade. She releases Dyson when receiving Bo." The Ash and Blood King stared silently at the unconscious succubus. Learning of Dyson's predicament, both men shared the same conflicting thoughts saying very little out loud. The Ash's best friend and the Blood King's granddaughter; the Morrigan would end up with one of them permanently in her prison. "This is a no brainer guys. One of them is obviously guilty and the other is wrongly rotting away because succubitch over here can't keep her killer lips off-"
The words abruptly stopped at the sudden spark of dust leaving the palm of the Blood King's hand. The fine particles reached a sleeping face, sparkling granules instantly waking the demon aware for the first time in weeks. She blinked several times focusing dark eyes on the farthest wall. Tamsin and Hale watched fascinated by the magic transforming the reluctant killer into a compliant witness. "What happened the day you and Lauren planned to marry?" Time was running out for the succubus, on the verge of becoming the Morrigan's slave, Trick would have to solve the mystery behind her erratic behavior soon in order to save both her and Dyson. "What changed your mind?"
"A dream," the filters in her head disappeared as she spoke in a drug induced daze. "A voice told me not to." She paused confused by her own words and then continued lost involuntarily in memories. "Humans are entertainment and nothing more. We are above Light and we are above Dark dedicating your life to a human is unacceptable... you're immortal. We play with the minds of humans not declare our love for them."
"What is the name of the Fae who told you this?" Desperation cracking through the emotional barriers the Blood King wore often, he stood just as puzzled as Tamsin and Hale hanging onto his granddaughter's every word.
"I don't know." Another honest answer, Bo's eyes never left the wall lingering in the foggy drug forcing her cooperation.
"What else did he say?" Trick pressed further.
"Nothing." She answered feeling far away from the room. "His eyes turned red and... and he kissed me. I woke up... hungry."
The three Fae stood quietly in front of Bo staring at her glassy eyes with the same horrific conclusion coming to mind. "Are you fucking kidding me?" The Valkyrie exclaimed first feeling the wind knocked out of her. Hale and Trick continued staring at Bo, Tamsin waved her arms in a panic emphasizing her fear. "What does he want? Give him everything he demands."
"No," the Blood King refused never taking his eyes off his granddaughter. Unable to save his daughter, he wouldn't make the same mistake with Bo. "I have the upper hand when it comes to him. He knows what I'm capable of-"
"Are you stupid?!" The Valkyrie could accuse her ears of lying, Trick's words too ridiculous to believe. "You're going to get us all killed. Give him everything he wants!" She repeated a terror boiling in her eyes pleading for their resignation. "You can't fight him, you'll never win. You didn't learn your lesson the first time?"
"Stop now." The Ash demanded steering the conversation in a different direction. "You have no right to bring up the Blood King's past affairs."
"It's okay." Trick assured meeting Tamsin's hectic breathing. "I'm still alive, aren't I?"
"Yeah, but Aife's not." The king's posture slightly deflated as he stared away from the outspoken blonde. Hitting a sensitive spot, there wasn't time to dwell on the past. Too freaked out to feel bad for her comment, she continued as if never mentioning the Fae slaughtering princess. "He's toying with us, he's toying with all of us. We need to figure out what he wants and hand it over."
"He wants Bo." Trick spoke knowingly walking away from Hale and Tamsin to gaze at a painting hanging on the wall. "I won't give her up without a fight."
"He already has Bo!" She exclaimed staring at the body withering away. "She's no longer part of the good guys, sorry to be the bearer of bad news. She's killing humans and Fae without a care in the world. Has she asked anyone for help? No, in fact, she'd rather starve herself to death than accept change or hell, she won't even accept responsibility for her actions. She hasn't apologized to anyone... ANYONE. She needs to be executed for her crimes not saved from the monster who created her."
"Our suspicions of an outside source has been confirmed. He awoke something inside of her, something dark and powerful. She's the victim-"
"Yeah the Morrigan would love to hear that." Tamsin sarcastically spat. "I don't want anything to do with him. I formally resign from this assignment. I'm letting the Morrigan know to find someone else to watch Bo on her behalf because I know better than to stand in his way."
"I understand." Trick turned away from the painting facing the Valkyrie calmly. "Maybe one day you'll understand what it's like to protect your child at all cost. I couldn't protect my daughter and I'm not going to let him destroy my granddaughter. I'll keep her safe from him or die trying." The Blood King promised approaching the succubus lying limply in the chair. "You are dismissed Tamsin. Thank you for all of your help. I hope whoever the Morrigan assigns next is as cooperative as you."
An examination table wasn't necessary to suite her patient's needs. "Dr. Lewis welcome back." He greeted her with a routine half hug and kiss on the cheek entering her private office. "I've missed my favorite doctor. You know how much I hate dealing with the Fae." He joked attempting to sit on the couch.
"Not there," Lauren panicked stopping him mid squat. "I'm sorry." She apologized calming her tone. "That couch is faulty, please take this chair. It's far more stable and comfortable."
"Always looking out for my best interest, that's what I like about you Dr. Lewis." Strong fingers began unbuttoning two buttons on the abdomen of his suit jacket, "You care." Slipping off the expensive gray material, he unbuttoned the cuff of a white dress shirt. Rolling the sleeve up a well defined arm, he stopped all movement looking up to meet her eyes. "My apologies," he smiled widely exposing two rows of impressively white teeth. "Dr. Lewis Dennis now, how could I forget?"
"No." The syringe in hand nearly fell at hearing the name, her patient's confusion evident in the subtle tilt of his head. "It's just Lewis. I never- we never got married."
"Don't tell me Bo changed her mind." The soft nod of her head confirmed his assumption. "I'm sorry to hear that. She made the biggest mistake of her life. You're so wonderful, Dr. Lewis. How could anyone resist having you in their life forever?" His much stronger hand engulfed her fragile one, looking down at the ring glimmering in his grasp, rich brown eyes found hers again. "You're still wearing your ring, why?"
"Because I love her, that will never change."
"Does she feel the same way?"
"I don't know. We're very different now, she's a succubus and I'm human. I don't know how she feels anymore."
"It can be very difficult Dr. Lewis." He sympathized releasing her hand. "I'm so grateful to have you as my doctor, you've made living as an incubus in the human world far more manageable for me. The New York Stock Exchange can be very draining and requires a lot of my focus and will power, you make that possible and It's nice returning to a smaller city where I can sit back and relax. I do a lot of traveling Dr. Lewis and this is by far one of my favorite stops."
"I'm glad to hear that." She responded taken aback by the confession realizing she didn't know much about the incubus. Treating him for the last seven years, she met and created the vaccine for him long before anyone knew of Bo's whereabouts. He was handsome and wealthy; a true white collard business man with flawless brown hair neatly slicked back and sophisticated dark colored suit hiding a perfectly toned evenly tanned body. His monthly check ups were simple ending with a shot in the arm and casual departure, but as they grew to know each other, an interest in her personal life developed. He gave her an intimate perspective on what the succubus dealt with on a daily basis having answers to questions no other Fae or human could know.
A small alcohol wipe prepared the injection sight on his exposed arm. "Do you still give Bo the same formula?"
"I adjust it frequently, her body quickly develops defenses against it making the formula useless." The needle entered his flesh, "All versions of the vaccine are completely benign now. The production of a substance in her blood I believe is responsible for the sudden volatile change in her behavior has tripled since we first met. Every injection fails to control it, I don't know how to stop it."
Withdrawing the needle, a band aid quickly covered the small dot of erupting blood. "Your injection controls my desires, we've never had a problem."
"Your blood is very different from hers. Your body doesn't produce the substance found in her blood. I don't know what the determining factors are, there really isn't much known about it. I've gone with instinct on how to treat both of you and I've managed to luck out with our sessions. Bo is a different story."
"My guess would be genetics. I'm not a scientist but I know my parents. They were both angels in heaven. Long story short, my father was exiled down to earth and my mother refused to live without him and willingly left heaven to be with him. They were both killed much later but that's beside the point. I would imagine my blood is purer than Bo's, I've never met the succubus but from what you tell me; she can be a real handful. A demon isn't easy to deal with much less love. I should know, I am one!" Rolling down the sleeve of his shirt, he stood up removing the jacket from the back of the chair. "Unpredictable and crafty, dangerous and powerful, you should take a seat Dr. Lewis, you don't look too good."
"I'm fine."
"You're knuckles are white from holding onto that desk, I wouldn't want you to collapse and hurt yourself." With the help of the persuading incubus, she was urged to lie back on the couch. "You may be Fae now but a fall like that could still leave a nasty scar or bruise." His strong arms steadied her swaying frame, "We wouldn't want that now, would we?"
"No." With the help of the handsome incubus, she sat on the black leather couch lying back under the stare of a perfect face.
"Bo must be the reason you're no longer human," he chuckled shaking his head in amusement. "My, my, a handful is an understatement. How many times do you vomit a day?"
"At least three." She answered feeling her heart double in pace.
His hand reached out to the nearby bookshelf grabbing a picture frame. "You two are incredibly beautiful," he turned the frame showing Lauren a picture of her and Bo happily embracing into the camera. "My guess is the baby will have Bo's eyes with your remarkable brain."
"What are you talking about?" She quietly questioned looking away from the picture frame to find his handsome smile again.
He chuckled again standing from a kneeling position. "I'm honored to be the first to tell you Dr. Lewis," he ran a hand through his hair further slicking it back. "You're not Fae, the baby growing inside of you is."
"No, that can't-" His smile grew nodding his head. "How?"
"We don't reproduce like humans," he placed the picture back on a higher shelf. "The chances of that are slim to none. We are spiritual creatures taking the form of perfect man or woman in Bo's case. We can take life away, restore it if we choose, or fill a human or Fae with our chi creating new life." He paused a moment staring silently at her. " And we don't just pick anyone. You must be very special, Dr. Lewis. Reproducing can easily kill us," he shook his head in amazement. "Nine times out of ten, Lauren. She must really love you to sacrifice her own life," his eyes wandered down her body. "To give you a baby."
"No, that's not- that's not- I can't-" A sudden ringing in the doctor's pocket startled her but not the standing incubus. "Excuse me," she was unable to take her eyes off the nonchalant stare of the demon. "Dr. Lewis." Her voice trembled answering a call from Trick. "Are you still at Light Laboratories?" He asked sounding panicked.
"Yes."
"We need to see you right away."
"I'll be there."
"Great, hurry please."
"Bye."
"Speak of the devil." The smile on his face grew. "I would love to meet Bo someday. She sounds like a wonderful succubus. Don't look so down, Dr. Lewis. You're going to make an excellent mother." He regarded her thoughtfully. "Your face looks pale, I'll show myself out and let you rest while you can. Have a good day, Dr. Lewis and thanks again for taking such good care of me. Your services are greatly appreciated. I'll leave my payment at the front desk. Good luck." With a final eye wink, he left her alone with the realization of a slowly growing belly.
"No," she couldn't bring new life into the world. Too shocked to- No, she refused to add anymore distress to a disastrous situation, she had to find Bo. The succubus had to fix this. They weren't in any position to raise a child, the thought made her stomach turn. Scampering to the nearest waste basket, the contents of her stomach came up.
Her second vomit of the day.
"Beth... Beth. We're worried about you." Coffee, the only sensation was the smell of coffee. The teenager promised to never drink again as slumped shoulders lifted her heavy head off the kitchen table. Breakfast was very uncomfortable, she thought meeting her mother's eyes with bloodshot ones. "You look sick, do you need to see the doctor again?" She shook her head no tired of doctor visits. The specialists couldn't figure out her illness. They had no idea what was wrong with her. Today she was feeling okay, just hung over.
"I don't feel well enough for church." She couldn't imagine a holy setting right now. At fifteen, she had made some older new friends, snuck out of the house on a Saturday night and spent hours doing nothing but smoking weed and drinking alcohol in a barn with the small group. Her mother got up from the table, she had no idea. Staring at the pepper and salt shaker, she tried to remember if she had a good time or not but couldn't recall much of anything. It felt good to feel normal for once, illness and overwhelming sexual desires disappeared with the help of drugs and alcohol.
"We're going to figure this out, honey." She jumped slightly at her mother's arms circling her neck from behind. "We'll find a doctor who will have the answers. We just have to keep praying for the right direction."
"Lord... Lord... please... help... please... fuck it." Something told her it was useless, something imaginary and real at the same time. Some little bitch. Lying on the floor, a roach on its back waiting to be crushed, her body shivered uncontrollably making it difficult to focus on the dead eyes. The little girl stood next to her not amused by her condition.
"It's too late for that now." Hearing the words, she felt helpless to respond through the pounding in her head. Reality and delusion merged in and out, was this another dream?
"Just kill me then." The idea of leaving the misery was blissful. "I can't do this..."
"You are a junkie to kill going through withdrawal." She shook her feverish head confused and bothered by the horrific words. "You deserve to suffer. How does it feel to know the pain of your mother?"
"My parents are farmers." She murmured with closed eyes, too weak to keep them open any longer. Focusing on the girl was near impossible. Sick and confused, she wanted to sleep but felt too miserable to escape the hell of a starving succubus. Restless and drenched in sweat from fever, every muscle quivered ferociously as if freezing cold.
"I am not wasting my time asking about the humans who failed to tame you. I am asking about the monster who birthed you."
"I don't know her pain... I don't know... I don't know who you're talking about." Her mother was a dedicated christian woman- Silly silly girl, you are delusional.
The intruding voice in her head suddenly lured closed eyes awake. The weakness behind sick iris' was gone. Examining the surrounding gray walls of the Dal, she didn't wonder for too long. The Nain Rouge reappeared motioning for her to stand up. The succubus silently obeyed staring strangely at the ghost as her legs urged her body off the floor. "You are no longer ill in my world."
"No restraints?" She questioned staring down at her hands and feet.
"I am not your grandfather. I do not fear you." Bo sharply looked away feeling the words like a slap to the face. "Hold your tears, you are not the first succubus to feel exiled and betrayed by dear loved ones."
The floor beneath her feet changed instantly from wooden floorboards to cold mud. Each breath appeared in a brief puff of cold smoke, her lips parted attempting to scream but nothing came out. Circling the small space, bars, another row of fucking bars surrounded her- Calm down, this is not YOUR prison. The words belonged to the visiting ghost haunting the succubus' world on a whim. Steadying her panicked gaze, her back found a wall of dirty bricks as she examined the empty cell. Freezing mud beneath her feet and a row of rusty bars and bricks painted the eerie scene, she felt trapped in a memory that didn't belong to her.
The silence was broken by a piercing scream.
Ysabeau, you were special from the beginning. The silhouette of a woman screaming entered the cell by the force of two large men. "You thought killing off the Fae would be easy, huh you pathetic harlot," The violent thud of a woman's body hitting the floor echoed loudly in the small space. Frozen against the wall, a strong force kept her from speaking or moving, she watched the bloody scene unfold without a choice. The men hovered over the prisoner's prone figure like giants towering over a small child. So much has been kept from you for good reason... or so everyone thought. Their fists and steel boots fell like asteroids upon the still form, an explosion of pain erupting from her helpless lips. Your mother endured beatings like these on a daily basis for years and years... until one day...
"You're still alive." Only the hushed voice of a surprised man could be heard. "My succubus, you've endured so much. Feed from me and embrace the gift of vengeance upon all Fae. They have caused you such pain and despair. Accept the gift to destroy them all..." There wasn't a scene to accompany the script, only a brief darkness fading away seconds later. Standing in a gray room mimicking the Dal, the child stood across from her staring with a cold dead gaze.
"You told me... you told me my father was a mystery... to everyone." Free from illness, the power of his voice reverberated down each column of her spine. "But... but you saw them... you saw them together." With a clear mind, she understood his power, recognized his voice, hearing it once before... she felt sick again. "You lied to me!" The anger directed at the emotionless Fae had more of an impact on the lifeless walls. "Say something!" She demanded wanting answers from the unwavering child. "I'm tired of your bullshit!" It wasn't just the Nain Rouge, it was everyone in her life. "You show me all of this... you show me all of this shit... and now what, now what?!" The confusion from her youth resurfaced with the same tears falling from flickering eyes.
"I must be going now." Emotion failed to pool anywhere in her face or demeanor, her world felt cruel. "Until next time, Ysabeau." She was a mouse in a maze with a lion toying carelessly with her life for no other reason than to torture her, even when illness kept her body crippled on the floor in reality. The tears followed from the Nain Rouge's world back to the small cell burning her alive. Violent flames raged through her body killing everything good and beautiful inside. Distortion accompanied the tears trailing down hot skin, the screaming from the grotesque beast nearby only made the throbbing in her head worst.
"Just kill me..." She sobbed with what little energy was left. "Ta... Tamsin!" The Valkyrie wouldn't hesitate to end her life. She didn't care who took her misery away. Even the growling Under Fae seemed like a good candidate. "Anyone... anyone... anyone..." Trembling lips begged feeling the heat of her body boiling the blood circulating through feeble veins. The world was far away, a distant memory, she couldn't remember who she was or what was happening. Eyes weakly blinking revealed an angel, her beauty breath taking. "Wow." She was magnificent, truly the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.
"I have to get your fever down." Her voice was soft like the skin of her arms, one slipped underneath her neck, the other behind her back sitting her up against a soft body with ease. "You have to feed. You have to feed from me, Bo..." Her angel spoke gently caressing the side of her face with a single sweet finger.
"I can't." The whisper was inaudible and honest as the arms around her restrained body cradled her closer. It was hard to stay docked in the moment with the waves of her illness urging her mind to drift away. She didn't want to stray from the gentle caress now playing in her hair, massaging her scalp. "That feels so good." She managed a little louder straining to memorize every detail of the brown warmth gazing into her struggling eyes. They yearned for so much, she wanted so much to stay aware, alive. She wanted to speak, wanted to, wanted to kiss tasting her darling savior.
But it was too much, she was too soft, too kind, too comforting, too warm.
Bo's eyes surrendered to the lips lingering on her damp brow, she fell asleep with a smile momentarily escaping the hell raging through her dying frame.
"She has to move on." Video footage of the Dal's dungeon played on the portable tablet in his hands, Trick watched the doctor lovingly kiss and stroke his granddaughter's face imagining the sounds of each strangled breath leaving her body. "I- We can't keep torturing her with Bo." The human's appearance wasn't much different from the succubus, they both sat in near darkness decomposing together in his granddaughter's prison. "Lauren deserves a normal life, I won't allow this to continue. Not while we're dealing with her father."
"She won't leave." Hale commented standing near the Blood King's desk. "Look at her hand, chief. Lauren isn't going anywhere without force or magic."
"I agree." Damien watched the video over Trick's shoulder watching the doctor hold the demon closely against her. "Dr. Lewis is deeply in love with Bo, but maybe we can talk her into taking a break. Visiting her parents or another close relative, while she's away we can convince her of Bo's death." The Blood King looked away from the tablet focusing on the Sargent's serious eyes. "We have to protect Bo from her father and the Fae, we can't hide her with humans again but we can fake her death."
"The idea has crossed my mind before," the illusion of Bo's death would stop the Morrigan from sending assassins, destroy her father's hand from reaching out to her again, and free Lauren from the painful burden of loving a demon incapable of feeling the same way. "Kenzi will have to leave also, maybe to New York City with Taliesin." Damien and Hale returned his stare waiting for more details. "We'll allow Lauren to heal Bo as much as possible and then stage an emergency with her parents," Trick focused on Damien. "I'll give you the location of their home and leave it up to you, the more severe the better. Lauren isn't very close to them, but maybe the right accident will work," staring back down at the tablet in his hands, the Blood King continued watching the pain on Lauren's face deciding to intervene and grant the human a second chance at life, a happier normal one without his granddaughter's hurtful curse to harm her again. "We just need to figure out what to do with Bo."
The light was too bright and the room too busy for comfort. "Dear Morrigan, diary log number one, I must look one handsome devil today because everyone is staring at me." A video recorder in hand turned away from a tattooed face capturing the many confused faces surrounding the smiling entertainer. "Give the Morrigan your love everybody, she's been down lately and could use a bit of a lift. Speaking of, I'm looking for her brother's murderer. I believe she beheaded Mason Marquise, anyone know where I may find her? My video diary can't be complete without her-"
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" The small screen of the camera was slammed shut by an angry grasp.
"Hey," the dark haired man's arm came up influencing the doctor's hand to return the video camera. "I'm doing my job." A second body confronted the mesmer taking the blonde doctor's side. "Who the hell are you?" Vex was familiar with most Light faces, but this one was new. Chiseled jaw, light colored eyes and if he didn't look so pissed, he'd have a nice smile. "You got over Bo so quickly, Dr. Lewis. Seems like yesterday I got an invitation to your wedding and now here's this handsome fellow coming to your rescue."
"It's alright." Lauren turned her head speaking quietly to Damien. "Vex is always like this." The camera came alive filming the glaring doctor and wary soldier. "Shut it off, Light Laboratories has a strict filming policy. No pictures, videos or even sound recorders." Lifting a hand, she blocked the lens' sight of Light Fae clinic.
"Oh come on, why don't you two lovers kiss for the camera. Give the Morrigan something to gush about. Her old frigid heart can use a hope in romance and love again." Impulsively spinning around in place, he filmed the many doctors and nurses walking around, medical equipment and pharmacy carts. "Oohhh, now there's something interesting." Zooming in on the pharmaceutical deliveries, the many buckles of his boots sang loudly with each excited step. "Doctor I suddenly feel a sharp burning stabbing pain in my back, is there anything on that trolley that may ease it?"
"He's worst than a child." The new arrangement wasn't going to work. Lauren shifted uncomfortably watching the staff turn their heads to whisper to each other. A member of the Dark Fae in their medical facility, they stared uneasily at the darkly dressed mesmer wanting his intrusive hands and video camera thrown out of the building. Damien approached Vex sensing the staff's wishes. "He has permission to be here, just take the camera away." The blonde doctor reluctantly explained wanting Vex thrown out but ordered to put up with his presence. Taking Tamsin's place as the Morrigan's eyes on Bo, he was allowed all access to the succubus whenever and wherever she went.
"You guys are no fun." The mesmer complained handing the taller soldier his camera. "All work and no fun, I could never be Light. Now who is my succubus troublemaker bumping nasties with today?" He playfully asked walking backwards to stare at Lauren. "I see you've move on already, and what an excellent choice in rebound." Eying the soldier from head to toe, there wasn't a flaw to be found. "I couldn't have picked a finer one myself. Well done doctor."
"You have to be quiet when we enter Bo's room." Reaching around the darkly dressed mesmer, the blonde doctor hit the up arrow on the elevator. "I'm prohibiting any level of stimulation right now. She's very sick and needs rest."
"Why didn't I get the memo? Sounds like she could use a get well balloon and matching card. Maybe I could get the Morrigan to sign something inspiring like 'at least you still got a live head on your shoulders unlike my dead kid brother.'" Entering the elevator, Vex stood obnoxiously close to Lauren's assigned guardian. "We never got a proper introduction, Dr. Lewis can be so rude." He sent a smile her way that wasn't returned. "I'm curious to know what your new last name may potentially be. Dennis failed miserably and I never did fancy 'Lewis.'"
"I don't have time to entertain your childish behavior." The elevator doors opened and she stepped out at a quicker pace than the two men following behind. An unwelcome audience to watch her work, she wouldn't be surprised if one day Trick ordered the whole Light Fae society to watch her every move. How ridiculous, the last thing she needed was another intrusion in her life. A very annoying powerful intrusion, she thought hearing Vex's loud boots over the many silent machines in the private room. "Take a seat please." She ordered stopping to check several monitors and IV poles set up around the bed.
Shaking the black hair out of his eyes, Vex plopped down in the nearest chair crossing one leg over the other. Anything concerning Bo was rarely simple, not even lying sick in a hospital bed. Five chairs were set up on the opposite side of the room with five silent soldiers filling them. Shackled to the bed railing, confined indefinitely to the mattress, she slept with several tubes coming out of various places of her body and cold packs placed under her arms. A bottle hung upside down on one of the many IV poles slowly administering nourishment through a tube installed into her stomach. Vex shifted uneasily examining the woman once gorgeous and irresistible, now grotesquely thin and on the verge of death.
"May I have my camera back?" Vex managed to halfway whisper leaning over the chair next to his. "The Morrigan would love to see Bo look so pathetically ill. It may even put a smile on her mean face for once. Contribute to a good cause, she is in mourning. What do you say?"
"No." Damien answered holding the camera tighter in his hands. "No pictures or videos allowed." He repeated the doctor's words from earlier. "Now either keep your mouth shut or leave, no stimulation of any kind is allowed."
Vex fought back a long series of giggles. "Do you honestly believe Lauren hasn't stimulated Bo recently?" He glanced over at the sleeping succubus covered in a light blue hospital gown. "On a day she's missing her knickers?"
The room erupted in a strained fit of laughter dying away seconds later. Lauren focused solely on the computer mounted in a secluded corner of the room drowning everyone else out. Typing notes on Bo's high fever, delusions, seizures, dehydration and malnutrition, with the help of tube feeding and the necessary IV fluids and drugs, the beginning of her recovery would be on the right track with her cooperation. Tired eyes strayed away from the LED screen. The succubus surrendered to the drugs sleeping peacefully in bed, unable to fight the machines connected to her feverish body, life inevitably flourishing once again; Lauren wondered how long she'd allow it to bloom before killing it once again. Nine times out of ten, Lauren. She must really love you to sacrifice her own life to give you a baby.
Love had nothing to do with it. The doctor's subconscious whispered unable to believe love would be the foundation of her pregnancy. The muscles grew taunt under tight skin wanting to shake the succubus awake. I made your favorite wish come true... Bo was trying to kill herself that night, but not before leaving her a widow with a goodbye present. A present that occasionally lingered in the back of her thoughts from time to time, threading different scenarios into her imagination. Bo and her standing over a white maple baby crib cooing at their child staring up at them with big brown curious eyes. Becoming a toddler, Bo would teach their two year old how to ride a tricycle and she would teach them the alphabet and periodic table.
But only in fantasy did the images bring a doting smile to her face.
Avoiding all mirrors, unable to touch her abdomen, her hand refused to gently caress the new life and her eyes refused to see its growing progress- Bo had to remove the life created inside of her. There wouldn't be a white maple oak crib or tricycle or alphabet- The child would inherit the hate harbored by both Light and Dark indefinitely for Aife and now Bo. Their child wouldn't be accepted or protected by the Fae, they would despise their baby like they did Bo, wanting the child sentenced to death like their mother and grandmother. There's no hope for you, she spoke internally addressing the embryo for the first and last time. I'm so sorry but I can't bring you into this world. You'll never know a day of peace with the Fae demanding your death. I love you too much to put you through that hell, at least you will know peace wherever I may send you. My precious little spirit, I will prevent your torment the best way I know possible. Please forgive me and take my everlasting love for you wherever you may go.
Little light found its way into Bo's room, each tear droplet trailing painfully down the doctor's face highlighted by the computer monitor was lost to the many guests in the room; she watched the whispered chatter among Light and Dark. The soldiers and Vex fought against their rising voices feeling no concern for the sick succubus. Secretly hoping the turn for the worst, an inconvenience to the men and women assigned to watch her, the Fae had loving families they itched to return to and preferred the succubus dead over alive. Years of paranoia finally ending the moment her steady heartbeat flat lines, the unaligned succubus would be no more and the Fae would find peace in her death, a question of her loyalty never spoken of again.
Lauren approached the bedside wanting to take the succubus' hand but left it untouched unable to risk waking her. She slept quietly and soundly, the pain from earlier absent from her feverish skin. The doctor's eyes scanned the equipment providing her comfort, keeping her body nourished and alive, a necessary requirement for life the succubus abandoned in captivity. Refusing to eat anything, she drank little water and defiantly kept her mouth and eyes closed focusing solely on her own demise. Bo didn't want the life the doctor preserved on a whim. Lying feverishly in her cell, deprived of nutrients and refusing to heal naturally as a succubus, death was inevitable without Lauren's interference. With the help of Trick and Hale, she was transported to Light Laboratories in a subtle emergency vehicle only recognizable by Light Fae. It's her father, Lauren. He came to her in a dream the day of your wedding. Trick mentioned before they could leave the Dal. He's behind everything. She's the victim. We have to save her.
I'll do the best I can, Lauren promised in a daze sitting with Bo in the vehicle. The news of her pregnancy almost reaching Trick's ears, she changed her mind last minute bidding him goodbye instead. The Blood King wouldn't accept his great grandchild, sealing the unborn child's fate immediately with an arrangement for its demise, she wasn't ready for the necessary operation. Bo's health and safety came first, relying on the succubus to reverse her pregnancy, she vowed to work around the clock to break Bo's fever, clear her delusional head, and discuss the fate of their unborn child.
My guess is the baby will have Bo's eyes with your remarkable brain, she shook the thought away turning away from the sleeping demon. Losing herself in her work, she went back to the computer typing furiously with a blurring vision of tears.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Much appreciate for feedback and sorry for mistakes! =)