Lauren and Nadia.
Lauren stood stone-faced. No words could come out of her mouth because they were all clashing together her in head. She looked at Nadia. She had an angry look that Lauren had never seen before. This was horrible. If Nadia knew about the Fae, she may as well have stayed asleep because her life as she knew it before she fell asleep would be over.
That's how Lauren had felt for five years. Like her life was over. Other than the countless hours she had spent in the labs and throne room, Lauren didn't have a life. It was all Fae this and Fae that. Nothing was her own. Nothing but Nadia and if Nadia knows about the Fae, she was no longer just on Lauren's list of current priorities. The Fae would be after her too.
She immediately tried to remember the time she had learned about the Fae and couldn't find a clue how Nadia knew about the Fae. Her overworked mind was tired and ready for answers.
"Nadia? You know about the Fae? Lauren asked softly.
"Yes. I know! Nadia snapped.
"How? Tell me how you know? Lauren asked.
"What difference does it make Lauren? I know! Nadia snapped trying to contain her anger. She was no doubt angry but didn't want to cause someone to run in on them. Namely the Succubus.
"Nadia. Sweetie. I need to know how you know about the Fae". Lauren said softly stepping towards Nadia with her palms up.
Nadia sighed hard. She didn't want to talk about this, she wanted to talk about why the Succubus woke her up and not Lauren but she had known Lauren for so long, that she knew she would not stop questioning her about it.
"We had been in the Congo for a few weeks. When you had gone to the medical tents, I had gone out walking alone. I took my camera in case I wanted to take some pictures. I had walked around most of the area. I saw a lot of people just hanging out and talking. Some of them were laughing and joking around. After some time I came across some angry voices. I slightly peeked my head into the tent and saw a man and woman arguing back and forth. The woman was much taller than him and looked menacing. She stood across from two men. One was black and the other was white. The woman had long dark hair. She had on black boots, leather skirt, jacket and her shirt was purple and black. After the black man got louder, she lunged for him. Taking his face into her hands, she pulled something blue from his mouth. Her hands kept flashing red like something was shooting out of them. The white man snuck up behind her and knocked her out with his fists. His hands had been wrapped in some kind of metal. While all of this was all going on, I had pulled my camera out and took a few pictures. I took my film to have it developed. When the pictures were ready, I asked the guy what the woman was and what she was doing. He told me she was a Succubus and that I had better leave it be.
When I left I found and asked two people what she was and who she was. Just in case the guy had been lying to me. They told me she was a Succubus, the blue stuff was something they called chi and her hands were sending pulses. They said she was Fae. I asked about the black man and they told me he was too but he had a lot of power in the area. They said he was the Ash and that I had better destroy the pictures if I knew what was good for me.
I didn't know what to do. I wanted to tell you but I thought you would think that I was crazy. I thought about it a lot. A few days later while you were out on your rounds again the black man I saw her pulling the blue stuff from came to me. He was with the white guy that knocked the woman out and an older gentleman.
They asked me to lay down and I refused telling them to get the hell out of our hut. The white man said that you wouldn't be back for hours, so I had nobody to help me or to scream for. After we went back and forth about it, the white guy's eyes changed into a yellowish color and his teeth changed. He put his hand around my throat and I struggled to break loose. While I was focused on that the older gentleman raised his hand and pointed it at me. He rambled off some crazy stuff and the next thing I knew the guy dropped me on to the cot. After a few minutes, I started shrieking and couldn't do anything to calm myself down. The guy that had his hand around my neck turned back to normal. They all stared down at me. I could hear and see but I couldn't move. I guess the black man was satisfied because he sent the white man out.
The black man said the guy was a loose cannon and could not be trusted much. So he ordered the older gentleman to curse him. He said he only wanted him to forget about what they had done to me but not about the Succubus that attacked them. He said when the guy ran out of our hut, he was on his way to find her. He asked the older gentleman how long I would be cursed and he said until the curse was broken. Once my curse was broken the white guy would remember everything that they did to me".
So to answer your question. I know Bo is a Succubus. I saw stints of blue about to come out of her mouth before I saw her hands turn red when she was waking me up. Red like that other woman I saw before. She never used her chi, just the red pulses". Nadia explained.
Lauren was floored. Nadia had been cursed. None of the things she had tried in five years would have woken her up. She pretty much knew the rest because she knew who the black guy and white man were. She gritted her teeth. She wanted to run again but wanted to see the fallout. Now it made sense why the Ash was dead. And if the white man turns out to be who Lauren suspected him to be, he was a dead man walking.
Something flipped in Lauren. So what if he was a dead man walking. He had watched Lauren literally walk around dead for years. Years! And with Nadia awake he would remember the truth but likely wouldn't be telling anyone. Lauren found solace in knowing she was no longer alone. This man had bit off more than his shifter teeth could chew. If he wasn't dead by now, he would be soon.
"Oh snap out of it Lauren! Nadia snapped. She had watched Lauren stare at her for what felt like forever and hadn't said a word in response to all that she had just told her.
"I'm sorry? Lauren choked out. She must have missed what Nadia said just then.
"Why didn't you wake me up? Nadia asked.
"I tried Nadia! I tried for years and years. I tried everything that I could think of". Lauren said.
"Oh? Nadia asked.
"Nadia. I worked on it day and night. Sometimes never getting any sleep. Any reprieve. And had you told me about what you saw, we could have left before they cursed you". Lauren said softly looking at the woman in front of her.
Nadia took a few deep breaths. Just a few hours ago, she wasn't talking. She wasn't moving and she hadn't been for years. She knew Lauren was a brilliant Doctor and had plenty of time to wake her up. But she didn't. A stranger did.
"Nadia just give me a few more days. Then we can get out of here and then I can tell you everything". Lauren said softly.
"No". Nadia said.
"No? Lauren asked.
"The last time I went somewhere with you, I wound up sleeping for years. So no I'm not going anywhere else with you. Not even the bathroom". Nadia said walking off to relieve herself. It was more to get away from Lauren. Get some air. New perspective. Because right now she didn't like the Doctor very much.
Lauren took a few breaths of her own. She had a problem and it wasn't a scientific one. She needed to talk to Bo and how was she going to do that and keep an eye on Nadia at the same time? The woman had a right to be angry. Like Lauren had been for years when cure after cure had failed. Lauren wasn't dealing with medicine, she was dealing with a curse.
She mentally kicked herself for not thinking of it before. How did she not know it was a curse when nothing medical was working? She now understood why the Ash granted her access to all of his labs and resources after Nadia wouldn't wake up. He knew none of them would work and Lauren's Doctor mind would never allow her to walk away from a challenge. Be it Fae or Human. And that's what she did. Worked on treating Fae and humans for years, never curing the one that she wanted to.
A few hours had passed. Nadia avoided everything about Lauren. She finished off her cold pizza and beer and moved on to the hard liquor. Lauren never took her eyes off of her or left the room. When Nadia finally passed out, she had her chance. She only hoped she could find Bo and that she hadn't left.
Bo
I had spent the majority of my day calling and talking to people. Having them call me back when I couldn't reach them. I tried to stay away from the Toronto precincts as I am sure Dyson has asked them to wait and see if someone calls asking about me or Lauren. I have found one good cop that I knew from before. He said he would be willing to meet me. I piled on my Succubus charms making him think I was going to sleep with him. That's not what I wanted nor why I called.
I had him meet me a mile away from the compound. I dressed in my best and it seemed to work the minute he saw me. I had him bring as much Police equipment as he could telling him what I wanted it for. Once I was in his car, I gave up the act and leaned in to kiss him but turned my head as I planted my hands around his neck.
I smiled and said "The human authorities are looking for a Karen Beattie. You my dear are going to erase her files and name from all data bases.
"Karen...Beattie. Yes they have been looking for her for years". Bryan said.
"Yes. That's her. Now remove her from the data base". I said when he showed me Lauren's rap sheet picture.
We spent the next several hours as he did what he could do on his laptops and what he couldn't, he called in. It was quite impressive what he did in a matter of hours. I watched him type in her name on file after file removing it and her picture. Lauren is a beautiful woman but red hair is not her color. When he said he was done I asked him to type in her name again in every system he had showed me. I was never that trusting of Police officers or anyone in authority.
Once I was satisfied I gave him a fake email address to send me documents stating that she was no longer a wanted woman. At least not by them. I left him and stopped to feed a few times before I returned to the compound. Sasha had let me in. The woman was being so nice I could have sworn she was hitting on me.
I made it to the room she said was available. It was nicer than the one I initially picked out. I showered, and put on some pajamas that I had picked up on the way back. Pulling my hair up I walked over to the couch and turned on the television. I was half asleep when I heard a knock at the door. I groaned and got up to answer.
"Lauren? What are you doing here? Bo asked softly.
"Sasha told me where you were. I know it's late but can I come in? Lauren asked shly. Bo looked tasty and wet from her fresh shower. Bo thought about it for a few seconds and opened the door, allowing the Doctor in. The ladies walked slowly to the couch and took seats far opposite of each other.
"So hows Nadia? Bo asked quietly.
"She's...ok". Lauren sighed.
"That's good right? Bo asked offering Lauren something to drink but she politely declined.
"Bo we have to talk". Lauren said.
"I get it Lauren. They were holding her over you". Bo said swallowing a tinge of jealousy. Of course Lauren had a gf. Just looking at the woman, it would be obvious to anyone that she would be someone's love.
"Bo I wanted to tell you...". Lauren started.
"And I wouldn't listen. I know and I'm sorry about that Lauren". Bo said turning her head away from Lauren long enough to stop a tear from falling.
When Lauren grew silent, Bo started up again. "So how long has it been?
"Five years..well almost five years". Lauren said staring straight ahead.
"Lauren I'm sorry. I'm sorry for running out and not allowing you to explain. I'm sorry they did this to you. It's not right or fair". Bo said.
"Thank you but that's not what's really important right now". Lauren said.
"I mean it Lauren". Bo said.
"I know and I'm sorry I didn't tell you straight out but it's not easy to tell someone how and why you've been on a leash for all of these years". Lauren said.
"I'm sorry about that too". Bo said. She remembered calling Lauren's necklace a dog collar.
"Thank you". Lauren said. She knew Bo pretty well at this point to know that telling her what she came to tell her would upset her greatly.
"So..what are you...? Bo started.
"Bo I have to tell you something else. A few things actually". Lauren said.
"It's ok Lauren. You can tell me". Bo said now turning her full attention to her.
"Nadia knows Bo. She knows a lot. I think your pulse gave her everything back. Her memories of me and a lot of other things". Lauren said.
"Like what? Bo asked.
"Like that she knows about the Fae and apparently a lot more". Lauren said.
"What?! How? Bo asked.
"I went to the congo on a research grant. Nadia was a photographer and my gf. As I was out in the tents helping to treat the injured and ill, Nadia went for a walk around the huts and stumbled upon one particular hut. She noticed three people. A woman with dark hair, a black man and a white man. The woman had tried to thrall the black man until the white man knocked her out from behind. The woman turned out to be a Succubus. The black man, I suspect was the Ash and the white man, was Dyson". Lauren explained.
"What?! Dyson? Dyson? Bo asked.
"Yes but I can only suspect him at this point without more proof. But the woman sounds like your mother". Lauren said.
Bo had to stop and think. She had been around the world. But had never attacked the man she knew to be the Ash. So it had to have been Aife or someone else.
"What happened? Bo asked angrily trying not to snap at Lauren.
"Nadia took their pictures and when she had them developed, they told her the three were all fae. A Succubus, The Ash and A shifter.
Bo shook her head. It kind of added up. Why Dyson said he had been expecting Saskia aka Aife to come for her. Why Aife bombed the compound and thralled Dyson. It also made sense why Dyson was so loyal to the Ash and everything he stood for. If her eyes could flash red they would have in her heightened state of anger.
"What else do you know about this? Bo asked.
"Dyson was there when the Ash and an older gentleman cursed Nadia. They cursed Dyson too but his curse would make him forget about them cursing Nadia, not about the Succubus attack. Once you lifted Nadia's curse, Dyson would remember them cursing Nadia". Lauren explained.
"Fuck! Bo snapped angrily getting to her feet to pace.
Lauren watched her. She had never seen Bo this angry. Not even after their night together.
"Bo this is all speculation but it makes sense". Lauren said.
"It makes damn sense! Bo snapped.
Lauren hung her head. She was getting tired and didn't know what else she could go but go back to their room.
"I am going back to our room. I just thought you should know about all of this and talk to your mom about it, if it was her like we suspect it was". Lauren said.
"What does Nadia think? Bo asked.
"She's angry as we both are. But she doesn't seem to want to have anything to do with me. She kept to herself most of the night and went to bed after a few rounds of heavy drinks". Lauren explained.
"Will you be safe with her? Feel safe with her? Bo asked.
"She's just sleeping Bo. I don't think she would ever raise a hand to me. And given her emotional state and liquor she consumed, she will be out all night". Lauren said.
"You didn't answer my questions Lauren". Bo said softly.
"I can take care of myself". Lauren said starting to get angry.
"That's not answering my question either but I will answer and say, you are not going back there tonight. There is a freshly made bed in there, that you can sleep on. I will take this couch". Bo said gently pounding on the cushions.
"Bo...". Lauren said.
"No Lauren. If you couldn't wake her up for five years. You don't know what they cursed her to be or to do. You're staying with me..on the bed..alone". Bo said.
"I said almost five years". Lauren said.
"Nice try Doctor Details. Now I have some new pajamas you can sleep in. They are in a bag on the bed. Go and put them on. I will make up the couch for myself". Bo said.
Lauren was tired and torn. On one hand Bo was right. Nadia woke up angry at her and apparently at everyone. She hadn't gotten around to what they cursed her with and what she would be when she woke up. For all she knew, Nadia could be Fae now but nothing in her blood work looked like her DNA had changed. Nadia was still a human and an angry one. She was also once a boxer. Two deadly combinations. Giving up Lauren went to dress as Bo gathered some pillows and blankets from one of the closets.
Bo was quick to make up the couch. She wanted to be done before Lauren came back out to try and give her another excuse to leave.
She walked back to the bedroom when she didn't hear any commotion. Lauren was fast asleep across the bed and her pajama top was pulled up half way. Biting her lip Bo went over and pulled the blankets over her. Once she was satisfied that she was comfortable Bo closed the door behind herself and went back to the couch. Pulling out a burner phone, she made a phone call.
"Isabeau? Aife answered.
"I know it's late...". Bo started.
"It's never too late for you sweetie. What's up? Aife laughed. Bo was so polite that it was almost sickening.
"We need to talk about Dyson, you and the Ash". Bo said.
"Mama already knows". Aife laughed.
"What you know? All of it? Bo asked.
"Down to the last snapshot". Aife laughed again.
"I'm taking care of Lauren now if you could...". Bo started.
"I am already taking care of Dyson". Aife laughed.
"Leave me some". Bo bristled.
"I am taking care of him slowly. He will die slower than molasses on a sweaty nipple. After they knocked me out and dragged me away. He kept coming to my cage and taunted me until I escaped. I imagine he wet himself then". Aife laughed.
"I will be home when Lauren decides what she wants to do. I don't think it will be good for her to stay here much longer". Bo said.
"Sweetie you can stay there for as long as you like. The place is secured and I have people there". Aife confessed.
"What? You sent people after me? I told everyone to back off! Bo snapped.
"Yeah well I didn't get that memo and you're welcome". Aife laughed. Bo's anger was adorable.
"Thanks". Bo said relenting. At least they would be safe enough to sleep.
"Sasha is one of my best. You let her know if you need anything and I mean anything! Aife said seriously.
"She's already hooking me up with stuff. I just thought she was attracted to me". Bo laughed.
"If she touches any of you in the wrong way, she knows I will kick her ass". Aife said seriously.
"Noted. Look I'm heading to bed. I will call you soon". Bo said.
"Ok. Relax Isabeau everything will work out". Aife said softly.
"I hope so. Bye mom". Bo said softly.
Bo was never one to need a lot of sleep but she had a long day ahead of her tomorrow and from the sounds of what Lauren told her, it could be a long night too. Closing her eyes, she waited for sleep.
TBC
Nadia confronts Bo
Aife taunts Dyson.