Disclaimer: Lost Girl belongs to Showcase or SYFY and I am only playing in their universe.
A/N: Hey everyone – thanks for the follows, reads and reviews. Also thanks so much for the hints as to where to find the new season of Lost Girl on-line – much appreciated. Had a few questions as to when various characters are going to show up. This first section of the story is (hopefully –lol-) weaving the back stories of all our girls so they collide in a later chapter and then the story moves forward with them as a group. As for Lauren and Bo – this is a slow burn doccubus so please be patient. Just an FYI, I am looking to be posting on Saturdays and Wednesdays unless life gets in the way. Okay, so off we go….
Kenzi woke up in the very familiar surroundings of the shack Bo and she had called home for several years. She was in Bo's bedroom. With a quiet groan she tried to convince herself that what she had experienced was nothing more than a drunken hallucination or a nightmare. After squeezing her eyes shut for a moment and hoping for that particular form of the truth settle in, Kenzi gave up and accepted that for the last three months she had been under a spell of a master vampire. A spell which made her love a man…could she say she loved him? Her stomach tightened and for a moment she thought she might be sick. Shaking off the feelings of unease as fast as they appeared, Kenzi worked to harden her heart. Whoever Massimo was to her and whatever he had meant to her didn't matter, she made a vow to avenge his death and she was a woman of her word.
The smell of coffee and the mumble of voices drifted up from the kitchen. Kenzi showered quickly then dressed in a plain black T-shirt and fatigue pants from Bo's dresser. After knotting the back of the shirt and rolling the waist band to adjust the fit of the pants, Kenzi rummaged through more of her best friend's belonging and found a knife and sheath. Strapping it to her leg, she looked for her sword. It was not in the room. It would have to be located soon and fitted with a sheath as well. Walking around unarmed was no longer an option. Taking a deep breath she opened the door and walked back into reality.
"What vampires are we talking about Trick." said Hale. "The council informed me that the light fae have treaties of nonaggression with several swarms but …." the young Ash's words died on his lips as he turned with the rest to look a Kenzi. The group was populated with the usual suspects plus one, Tamsin. Trick, Dyson and Hale were on stools at the bar, the valkyrie was in the kitchen manning the coffee pot. No one said a word as the newcomer walked towards them. Hale opened his mouth to say something but he couldn't get any words out, no one could. The change in their friend was palatable.
Kenzi nodded to the group and walked in silence to the kitchen. Moving past the men, she pushed her way by Tamsin towards the liquor cabinet near the sink. "Hey Kenzi, maybe now's the time for coffee, huh?" Hale finally pushed words from his lips. She flatly ignored him as she grabbed two bottles. The bottle of vodka and whiskey were equally full as she weighed them out in her hands. Reaching to the side she picked up a shot glass and after a moment of decision she poured a shot of the whiskey. With a quick motion she downed the amber liquid and closed her eyes at the burn in her chest. She then grabbed the vodka bottle by the neck and smashed it over Tamsin's head. The valkyrie dropped dazed to the floor from the unexpected attack.
"Kenzi, what the hell? What are you doing?" yelled the group of men and they made to move toward Kenzi but stopped in their tracks at the sight of Kenzi's knife. It was at Tamsin's throat.
"Hale, I see your lips twitch and I cut her throat. You too Dyson, don't move a muscle. She is a valkyrie and tougher than just about everyone in this room." said Kenzi with a growl to her voice. Tamsin blinked and moved to sit up, her movements brought her neck into contact with Kenzi's blade. "The Wanderer sends his regards, bitch." said Kenzi. The blonde's eyes went wide with alarm. She continued, "Ya, I know about your deal with the devil. It got Massimo killed." Kenzi saw a flash of pain cross Tamsin's eyes. It was the only thing that kept Kenzi from slashing the woman's throat.
"What are you talking about Kenzi?" said Trick. "What deal?"
"Before two of the Wanderer's swarm killed Massimo, they shared how Tamsin here made a deal with a master vamp named the Wanderer to save her skin. He made her help him capture Bo." Kenzi bit out the words sharply. "What Tamsin doesn't know is that she is still doing the vampires dirty work. She is under a thrall."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Tamsin sputtered and tried to move again. This time Kenzi's blade drew blood. The blonde winced and stilled her motion.
"I wouldn't try that again." Said Kenzi and her eyes flashed with anger and then calmed. "Listen to me, vampires are no threat to you Tamsin. Do you understand that? The Wanderer and his swarm are no danger to you. They cannot hurt you. You didn't have to help him before and you don't have to do it now."
The valkyrie laughed, "Well of course…." Her words trailed off. She looked at the others in the room her face showed her doubt, and then the shock of her own thoughts hit her. The group watched as Tamsin began to shake. Kenzi ground her teeth together. At least the bastard had controlled her with love and lust. Tamsin had been controlled with fear by the looks of it.
Trick said quickly, "Tamsin, you are not in danger from any vampire no matter how strong. As a Valkyrie you are protected by Odin, he already has your allegiance." Hale and Dyson followed up with additional assurances. Tamsin began to cry in relief as the fear she had been living under for years now was broken. She then let out a strangled screamed in anger for how she had been used all this time.
Kenzi stood and wiped the woman's blood off her knife with a dish cloth. She reached down and helped Tamsin stand but then quickly walked away. She needed to put some space between her and the woman, while she walked she said, "With that settled, tell us how much information you shared with the vamp about Bo and tell us where the bastard is holed up."
Tamsin swallowed hard, "Is Massimo really dead?" she stepped back at the look Kenzi gave her. "I'm so sorry… he was a friend. He and I were…." Kenzi threw her knife and it shot by Tamsin's head, missing her by an inch or so. The sharp military grade blade stuck in the wall at the far end of the kitchen. Tamsin let out a shout and glared at Kenzi. She glared back and then dropped eye contact just in case Tamsin pulled the doubt powers out.
"What are you doing?" shouted Dyson and looked at Kenzi, really looked at her for the first time. A sadness hit him as the wolf saw the flatness of his friend's eyes. He realized just how badly Kenzi had been hurt. The vampire's thrall had ripped something from her soul. He recognized the look from his own experience. In a more controlled voice he said, "Tamsin has limited powers right now, you could have killed her." Kenzi looked at him and saw how he checked on the blonde. She shook her head at the obvious over protective actions of a man with feelings for a woman. "So Dyson had moved on and was hooked up with Tamsin," Kenzi thought, "gee that's great."
"I was refocusing our only lead. She needs to think about where Bo is being held by the Wanderer. Massimo, like Tamsin and me, were held under the spell of this vampire. When the swarm finished using the druid they killed him. He tried to keep them from taking me to help torture Bo. I am hoping that the Wanderer's attempt to kidnap me is a sign that he is just in the process of killing Bo and has not already finished the job. Tamsin here has been in contact with the master and needs to spill on his whereabouts if we are going to find him." Kenzi said as she poured herself a second shot of whiskey. "Well?" she finished and downed the alcohol in a quick motion. "Speak up blondie."
Tamsin opened her mouth then shut it. She opened her mouth again and still nothing. She sagged on to the nearest chair and began to cry. "I don't know. He would just appear out of nowhere. He was obsessed with the power in Bo's blood. He would threaten me and I would see these visions of …" she shuttered and Dyson moved to her. He had ice in a rag and placed it on her head were Kenzi had struck her. He brushed her hair from her face and whispered words of encouragement to the distraught fae.
Rolling her eyes Kenzi said, "When you come up with something be sure to let us know." She started walking out of the kitchen and Hale grabbed her arm. She stopped, looked at his hand, and then at his face. The siren's soft eyes were asking questions she did not want to answer but knew she had too. She stared at him till he released her arm. "Thank you for your help Hale. You saved my life and that is something I will never be able to repay. I appreciate everything you have done but I am in no shape to return any feeling you have for me. You need to move on and find someone who deserves you." She pulled back and her arm slipped from his grasp. "My van?" Kenzi asked Trick.
"Out front," said the barkeep and tossed her the keys. She grabbed them and moved out into the sunlight ignoring all the feelings shooting through her mind. Yanking the back door of the vehicle open, she found that Massimo's body had been removed and the van was basically just as it had been without the bedding. She forced her emotions down. Rifling the containers off to the side she found the GPS and cell phone she had taken from the vampire hit team. Holding them loosely she moved back to the house.
"Will she be okay?" said Dyson. He was looking at Tamsin but she was not the focus of the question. There was no answer to his question as Kenzi reentered the shack and drew everyone's attention. "What is that?" the wolf asked. He knew that Kenzi was not feeling anything now but her loss would be worse later. Her love had been taken just like he had experienced. It wasn't the work of a norn but whatever the vampire had done was just as damaging. With love out of her heart other emotions would fill the void, it pained him to think about it. He gave Tamsin's shoulder a gentle squeeze and moved to Kenzi.
"I took these off the vamps that tried to kill me." She showed them to Dyson. He nodded and took them from her. Moving to Bo's computer he rummaged through the various wires and then plugged in the GPS unit. Contacting the police station he opened a connection between computer running the device and the forensic unit. He also called in the cell phone number and had it traced. Kenzi sat not looking at anyone and no one was really looking at her or that is what she thought until a hand touched her shoulder. She was going to push it off but she looked up to find it was Trick. It was never a good idea to offend the blood king.
"Right, good, I own you one Ryan," said Dyson in his best cop voice. Turning to look at the group, "Road trip anyone?" The group jumped up as one. "The GPS takes us to a small town about thirty miles from here. Looks like this guy has always been in the area, which must be how he found Bo, Tamsin and Massimo. The cell call history also shows transmission bounces off that area's two cell towers. The hit men didn't bother to hide their tracks, bet they didn't think they needed to. I have their scent from Massimo's body and I will be able to track the smell of the swarm when we get close. One member of a swarm pretty much smells like any other member." Kenzi's body jerked at that statement but Trick held her shoulder tight to give her some reassurance. "I also will recognize Bo's scent when she is near," the wolf said as an afterthought.
"In one hour, Dyson, Kenzi and I will meet at the Dahl. Hale you will have to work at the Light Fae Compound. As the acting Ash, you must do something so this does not blow up into anything larger than a rescue attempt." said the blood king. The young Ash nodded and excused himself. He did not look at Kenzi as he left.
Turning Trick looked at Tamsin, "I believe you need to check in with Odin. Let him know what has happened. He will not be happy with you but he will be more upset that one under his protection was harmed by this master vampire." There was a look of panic in the valkyrie's eyes as she looked from Trick to Dyson. "If there is an issue tell Odin your safe and timely return will drop his debt count to me by two." The barkeep smiled a sly smile. "Tell him I will throw in one more if he breaks your ties with the dark fae okay?" he looked to Dyson and winked. "Kenzi, you are with me." Trick took her arm directed her towards the door. "You drive."
They arrived at the Dahl and Trick pulled Kenzi into his study. The man was scrambling around pulling out various scrolls and books at a frantic pace. "Where is my sword Trick?" asked Kenzi. She was making her own plans as the barkeep was running around. She had located her clothing in the van and switched out of Bo's clothes to her own, same statement, black on black. Kenzi did keep the knife and sheath.
"I have it." He said and turned to look at her. She was a taken back by the concern she saw in his eyes. "Kenzi, I don't have any idea of what has happened to you." She turned her head to hide the pain that flashed in her eyes. She would have to work on that. Trick cleared his throat and continued, "You have been changed. I am not going to say if it is a good or bad thing but you are different because of your experiences. I am sorry that we did not try to find you. Everyone here was under the impression that you and Bo had moved on due to your feeling towards the fae after your poor treatment by the dark fae and Bo's encounter with Taft." he shook his head.
"And Lauren leaving her?" said Kenzi. Trick's head snapped up. Kenzi said, "Lauren running out on Bo. That would be something to make Bo run off too."
"Lauren Lewis is a traitor to the fae. We do not speak of her." Snapped Trick and Kenzi looked at the man like he was crazy. He growled, "Of course you would not know, if the vampire had you focused on Massimo than nothing else would… anyway…Lauren helped Taft murder almost a hundred fae. Abusing her position as a fae healer and doctor, Lauren tried to kill Dyson and made Taft a hybrid human fae. Of course Dyson denies it all but he was under the effects of her medical attacks at the time and …"
Kenzi held up her hand, "Trick pardon me but this is Lauren Lewis we are talking about?" the man nodded with a grim look on his face. Kenzi said, "Lauren Lewis, two time savor of the fae, lover of your granddaughter and friend to us all Lauren Lewis." Trick pursed his lips and opened his mouth. Kenzi held up a hand, "Okay Trick we are going to agree to disagree on this until I learn more because it all sounds like bullshit to me." Trick frowned. Kenzi continued, "We focus on Bo now, deal."
"Deal," said Trick with a touch of anger in his voice. He reached around and grabbed Kenzi's sword from his desk. She reached for it but he said, "I would like to make a trade, your sword for one in my collection."
"No," said Kenzi flatly and she held her hand out. The barkeep ignored her as he kept a hold of her sword and moved to a series of thin drawers. He waved a hand in front of the third one down then pulled it open. Kenzi watched as he reached in and pulled a sword from the red satin lining. It was a samurai sword with a strange looking grip. With a quick shove he placed Kenzi's blade in the open area and pushed the drawer closed. It clicked as it slid shut and locked.
Holding the blade out, Trick looked it over and then did a series of moves that Kenzi recognized from her training. Trick smiled, "It's a good trade." he handed the blade to Kenzi and she frowned at him as she took the sword. "The handle is inlaid with obsidian and milky quartz." Taking hold of the grip she spun the weapon and found it well balanced. She thought of how she and Massimo had worked together to make her feel confident in her ability to protect herself. Kenzi would not let their hard work go to waste.
"I did not agree to a trade Trick." Kenzi's voice was low. "The blade is beautiful but it is not mine." Trick held up a hand to take the sword back. Kenzi handed it over. The barkeep smiled as he gripped the handle and then raised the metal of the blade to his lips. Whispering he said, "Sol." The blade began to glow with a golden hue just off its metal surface. Kenzi could feel heat radiating off the metal. He whispered, "Luna" and the blade dimmed to regular steel. Stepping forward he handed the sword back to Kenzi. She repeated the words and the actions she had seen the barkeep do. Much to Trick's delight the blade responded, Kenzi did have to ask but she knew he questioned if it would work in the hands of human. She fought the pride she felt at being able to wield a fae weapon. Massimo had said she was enough on her own… but that was all vampire lies now wasn't it… or was it?
"Do you accept my offer of trade?" asked Trick. Kenzi nodded being pulled from her train of thought and back to the business at hand. "Good now grip the handle as if you would for battle." Kenzi did. Trick said, "Hold it till I say it is okay to release." Doing as she was told, Trick whispered something to the sword. Kenzi let out a small sound of surprise as the grip shifted to fit her hand. When Trick was satisfied he nodded to the girl to ease her hold on the weapon. He looked a Kenzi and said, "This is a gift from me to you as payment for your part in trying to free my granddaughter." Kenzi opened her mouth but Trick held up a hand. "Girl, do not thank me. This is an old weapon from an old war. It would lose respect for you for such a breech in manners. As you two do battle together it will be more understanding of your modern ways. Until then mind your behavior when using the blade."
"It is made to kill vampires isn't it?" Kenzi said. "The light was like the grenade Massimo had me use." Trick looked at her in alarm. "Never mind." She mumbled. There was a sound in the main bar and they both knew that the others had arrived. The two walked out and they saw Hale and Dyson standing at the bar. Kenzi nodded a curt greeting and said, "We take the van." She turned to Trick and smiled as he handed her a back sheath for the sword. She put it on and the leather snaked into place on her body. Kenzi moved the sword over her shoulder and the blade was immediately pulled to the protective leather. Kenzi tried several quick pulls of the weapon and was very pleased. With a twist of her body the sheath slid off her person and she held it up, "Very nice." was all she said and then walked out the door.
To her surprise Hale joined Dyson in the van instead of Trick. Seeing her looking at him in the mirror, Hale smiled and said, "You had the ogre return my family's heirloom to me when you didn't have to. I claim the need to clear a debt to my family name as reason enough to risk my life. If I die in battle my family cannot be held responsible for me leaving my post as Ash."
"Good to know." Said Kenzi. Hale was letting her know that he had heard her loud and clear. He didn't want anything left between them. It was also plain to see he wanted to help get Bo back. Kenzi sighed, "Anyone have a plan?"
"Find Bo, kill the Wanderer and go home." said Dyson.
Kenzi made the correction, "Kill the Wanderer and the rest of the swarm, and then go home."
"Nope, not the plan," said Dyson. "This swarm has an old treaty with the fae. The Wanderer is the one in charge and he will have to pay for his attack on Bo. His swarm is under his total control. When we kill him they will travel elsewhere to find a new master. They leave our territory and it is over for us.
Kenzi had no words to respond. He couldn't mean that, could he? Finally being able to speak without yelling, Kenzi asked, "So we are just going to let a bunch of blood sucking killers loose on others?" The two men looked at each other but did not respond. "Don't you think we should just take them down now? Save, oh I don't know, a few innocent lives in the process."
"It is not how it is done." said Hale with the sound of an Ash in training. "The fae and vampires have a troubled history. We have fought wars against each other and there are still tensions between the two groups. The wars were bloody and hurtful to both sides, an agreement was reached between our peoples that only the masters would be held responsible in disputes. The swarm is not touched, the members of the houses of fae are left alone as well. The underlings can follow orders but are not killed if caught."
"That is why you are really here. You're the Ash, leader of the light fae, you are the one that dies here if we lose." Kenzi was stunned. "You are going one on one with the Wanderer?"
"Well…no," said Hale losing the noble tone and going back to the more recognizable Hale they all knew and loved. "Sometimes the encounters between our groups are more …messy." Dyson let out a snort of laughter. Kenzi shot harsh looks at the both of them.
"As long as he is present if things get… messy," Dyson eyed Hale when he used his terminology. "At least it looks like there was an attempt on our side to follow the rules." said Dyson in a matter of fact voice. He then looked at Hale and then to Kenzi, "The only one not covered by any protection here is you, Kenzi." Hale groaned at Dyson with a 'man we talked about this' sound and looked out the window to avoid this part of the conversation.
Kenzi looked confused, Dyson continued, "Where there are rules about how we can do battle, you are human and only considered …" now it was Dyson's turn to hunt for words. "Your species is not covered in the fae/vampire accords and codes of conduct."
"Go ahead and say it Dyson, I've seen the movies and lived with the fae. Humans are the food." she said flatly. "That is why the fae don't give a shit if a swarm of vampires are pushed out of a territory. They are just going to feed on humans somewhere else. Leaves more munchies for the local fae right?"
"I have never hidden fae nature or prejudice from you or … Lauren, or any other human that knows of the fae. Humans do serve as food to many of the fae, in one way or another. Even Bo needs…" Kenzi whirled and stopped the words on Dyson's lips.
"Bo," said Kenzi, "Bo overcame her nature and has worked very hard to make up for the things in her past. Damn it Dyson, really." At least the wolf had the decency to look away. Kenzi was thinking and caught a glimpse of her new sword. She said, "Okay so humans do not have protections in your little treaty so that means we don't have to live by any rules either." Both men looked at her. "Right, I get it, so I can run my little ass into the vampire's lair, do my worst without any repercussions on the fae and if I get killed no one really cares or gets in trouble. I should have known there was more behind my new toy than gratitude." To herself Kenzi said, "Got to love the fae knack for half-truths."
Kenzi was quiet for a moment as she ignored the two fae expressing how they would not let her get killed and how bad they would feel if anything happened to her. "Fine," Kenzi said a little louder than necessary breaking into the stream of words, "I am in this to get Bo back so this works for me." Reaching forward she hit the radio and the three traveled the rest of the way to the vampire's lair listening to a crappy classic rock station.
Dyson held up a hand as they pulled the van down the fourth dirt road on the left hand side of the road. He rolled down the window and was scanning the area. The old Kenzi might have been making cracks about dogs and windows but she was itching to find this vampire. They were two days past the hit on Kenzi and Massimo. If the master vampire didn't know something was up then all the horror movie research she had done was for not.
"We've found the area." said Dyson and he pointed to the west. They followed the road and then pulled off to the side of the road when they saw a good sized home in the distance. The dwelling butted up to a hill side and was more than likely a front for a large cavern that had been carved deep into the land formation.
It was the middle of the day but to Kenzi's dismay she learned that it was sunlight and not time of day or holy relics that affected the vampire health. "We learned in the wars that vampires never really need to sleep. It is just a matter of managing their energy. If they are feeding well then they are good to go all the time. If they are between meals then they go into the "death" state to manage their energy until it is a good time to look for something to feed on. Humans are less able to protect themselves in the dark. As for holy items, it is rumored that most humans do not hold enough faith in their hearts to make the power work for them. You have to be damn near a saint to make it work as the movies show it."
Kenzi looked down at the large Goth style cross she had worn and then at Dyson but he just looked straight ahead. She tucked the necklace into her shirt and said, "Okay, how are we going to get in?"
"We play the formal rules card and they will walk us right into see the master." said Hale.
"and," said Kenzi
"And we set terms for the duel," said Hale.
"and," said Kenzi
"And Dyson is set as my champion and the Wanderer will choose his." Said Hale
"and," said Kenzi knowing they were not telling her the bad part.
"And as we do that, you will be given to the swarm to hold with their slaves for safe keeping. Do what you can with the thralls to get away and find Bo." said Dyson dryly. "We need you to do this before I kill the Wanderer if you can. The swarm will go crazy when the master vampire dies and some of the smarter ones will want a snack for the road. It will not be a secret that the master wanted Bo's blood. They will go for her first and then you as the freshest food. We will negotiate your safe passage as part of our entry requirements. If there are problems, then we insist that you keep your weapons on you."
The thralls, the words made Kenzi's skin crawl since she had first-hand experience with the mind altering effects of a thrall. The idea came to her that she might be able to free some the people she met from the vampire's control. Kenzi didn't mention this because the two fae men would have just told her no and spouted more nonsense about the rules. She was getting more than a little tired of being told what she could and couldn't do. They drove closer to the house and parked in plain sight. Dyson called Trick and let him know what was happening then tossed the cell under his seat.
The threesome got out of the van. Kenzi stopped and acted like she was tying her shoe. She grabbed some of the dark soil and rubbed into the hilt of the sword. Where was a pinch and she pulled her hand away to see a small blood blister. Trick had told her to mind her manners with the weapon. It was still a surprise when the thing expressed it's displease at her actions. She looked at the sword, "Really, do you think they will not inspect you. You looked way too nice, too clean. Now you are in disguise. Just a dirty old sword." Dyson and Hale looked at her, she rolled her eyes. She stood and the three were on their way again.
As they approached the door and it opened automatically. "Oh good." said Kenzi and Dyson let out a quiet laugh. Stopping before they entered, Hale stepped up, "To the master of the swarm, I have a grievance with you. You have taken a family member without permission and must be held accountable for your actions." The door remained open, the vampire was not arguing the point. "My champion will be allowed in as is without fear of lasting harm." The door remained open. "My concubine will be allowed to keep her dignity with no tribute and stay amongst your thrall." The door slammed shut. Hale growled, "My concubine will be allowed to keep her dignity with no tribute and stay amongst your thrall until satisfaction is reached between us and then she will make tribute as needed." The door opened and Hale smiled in triumph as he walked inside followed by a surly Dyson and a stunned Kenzi.