Bo's POV
Nadia? She wants to talk about Nadia? Now? I slammed my eyes shut. That coward ass Hades really did give her all of my memories. But goodness why that one? Why? What good could it do any of us? It was taking all of my will to block the Succubus from surfacing. Lauren would consider her a threat in her state of mind. Hell she's a threat to me in my state of mind. Anger. Rage. Guilt. All were guests in my head at the moment. "Everybody out! I screamed.
When I saw Lauren starting to turn to leave too, I gently grabbed her arm and she immediately snatched it away. "Don't". She snapped.
I didn't know where Kenzi and Trick went and I didn't care. They were probably snooping and I was sure Lauren wouldn't like the intrusion if they were. She has a right to be mad because she had been infiltrated too. By my father. By my memories. The betrayals. The conversations I had with people about her. This was not fair at all.
Nobody knew about Nadia but Lachlan and me. Not Dyson. Not even Kenzi. I had kept my word. I never told a soul. Yet here I am being questioned about it. As if I did something wrong.
I opened my mouth to answer and then closed it back again. What could I say? I knew why I did it but this Lauren sitting in front of me was not the understanding take an answer as it is Lauren. She looked angry. She had every right to be but I never thought this would come back. Not like this. Not this way I cried out.
I closed my eyes and cursed Hades again under my breath. Thanks to him Lauren was alive and thanks to him she now knew about Nadia. I am not sure if I can help Lauren with this. I am not sure if she can reach Lauren with this.
I closed my eyes again for the third time. This time I cursed Lachlan. He told me nobody else could know or it wouldn't work. But now it sucked because Lauren knows and Nadia has been long dead.
"Since you're not saying anything let me see if I can answer my own question. At the time Nadia was awake and back with me, you were seeing Ryan because neither Dyson and I were available, so once you dumped Ryan, you just had to have Dyson or me back. Since you didn't know Ciara that well or her powers Nadia was the easier mark to get rid of because she was human". Lauren snapped bitterly.
When the Succubus still didn't say a word Lauren knew she had hit on some truths if not all of them.
There it was. She may as well have stabbed me with my own blade and slowly dragged it from my head to my feet. I was still lost. How could I explain it? Everything Lauren had just said hit another nerve she didn't know I had.
"Lauren". Was all I could say.
I swallowed hard still struggling to talk. I could still feel the rage coming off of the Doctor who hadn't even blinked with her eyes locked on Me. Or I hadn't blinked. I don't know. I don't know this Lauren. Lauren looked as if she was about to leave and I had no idea when I would see her again. I opened my mouth again.
"Lauren. I didn't know about Nadia until Evony said something. She wanted me to help her with one of her clients named Jason. She had me thinking she was in love with him and needed someone that was unaligned to go out and find him. To bring him home safe. She hooked me into doing it by dangling your situation with Nadia over my head. Once she said in order to help you, I had to help Nadia. I jumped at the chance. I knew I wanted to help you. Help you get out from under the Light Fae's control. So the two of you could live your lives free and clear". Bo explained.
"But we weren't free because you watched me recommit to him and said nothing! Lauren snapped.
"Lauren". Bo said.
"Bo I heard you and that sounded so scripted. The same way you were trying to sell your destiny with Rainer on all of us". Lauren said. She had been sitting there and that's the best Bo could come up with? Sadly it was true. It sounded like Bo when she was trying to explain why she slept with Dyson to heal. Why they all had to leave the Dal after she picked Rainer even though it was Trick's bar. Lauren was the lucky one to be the last one she shoved out the door. No smiles. Just an angry face. The same angry face Lauren was sure her's resembled right now.
"Lauren I know you must be struggling with everything that has happened to you. Especially since you have my memories now too. But Lauren we have memories too.". Bo said pointing back and forth between them.
"Yeah I remember quite well that whipping sound my dog collar made you when picked it up only to throw it back on the floor. It may as well have been Nadia that you were picking up and throwing to the floor". Lauren said taking a shot of whiskey.
Bo knew then. This wasn't all of Hades doing. This was Lauren's anger and apparently years of it. She closed her eyes again. All she wanted to do was to free Lauren and somewhere along the way Lauren had lost sight of that or did she ever really see it if she thought that she meant so little to Bo that Bo would kill her gf as a means of getting another chance with the Doctor. She remembered the day she went to ask Lauren about Nadia.
Asking if there was anything the Garuda could have learned through Nadia. Nadia? Was that all Lauren thought Bo had stopped by for?
She saw the mess in Lauren's apartment. Empty bottles of wine and beer. Half eaten sandwiches, fruit and other edibles. She saw the tired eyes of the woman standing before her in her robe. She saw the dried and fresh tears even behind the beads of water from her fresh shower.
Bo cleared her throat. She was about to cry too. She was about to cry because here they were talking about Nadia of all people. The woman that begged Bo to kill her and she did. Lauren even begged her too. Was there another way to handle it? Bo had her own personal deomons to deal with about the situation.
"Lauren I woke her up to free you.." Bo started and stopped.
"I woke her up so you would be free. I didn't care if it cost me you, I wanted you to be happy". Bo mumbled. Her emotions were rising and she needed to stay strong because they needed to have this talk.
"Five years Bo. I worked on what I thought was a cure for her for five long years. There was nothing but me and Nadia. I literally slaved away in the lab and my only solace was going into Nadia's room and talking to her through her pod. Nadia was all the family I had. The only friend I had even if she couldn't talk back. I thought...you let me think Lachlan had freed her. That bastard didn't even tell me the truth but I thought at least you would have. Yes I have your memories but I can't tap into your thoughts back then". Lauren said standing up. She was tired of sitting.
"He said that I couldn't tell you Lauren. If I did lifting the curse would fail". Bo said.
"And you believed him? You may as well have tied the necklace tighter around my neck. I suspect if it hadn't been for the Garuda, Lachlan would still be alive playing games with my life like Ash after Ash that came before him". Lauren said.
"Lauren". Bo said.
"I get it. I get why you broke the curse. I understand. But to take her life made every bow, every curtsy, every disgusting thing I had to do for the Light Fae. Even things for Dyson. It turned it all to nothing because that's what I have now. Nothing! Lauren screamed. That stung the worst. Having to be treated like she was nothing by Dyson. Hale was not that much better but he treated her like a person and not property like Dyson made sure that she remembered she was. So why was Dyson's love life that much more important than Lauren's? Why had Bo killed the woman and person Lauren had loved and worked her ass off for, for years?
"Lauren I thought the Garuda had infected her. It was a tense moment and the both of you were begging me to kill her". Bo sighed. Even her Succubus was starting to get emotional. She remembered the Garuda and he was an evil bastard. Had Bo mistaken a ploy by Nadia to gain sympathy and affections from Lauren as the Garuda's evil?
"I did the Autopsy on Nadia, Bo. There was nothing wrong with her. Only the Naga Venom was strong enough to kill the Garuda not your blade. We...well I didn't see him come out of her body like he did when you injected Trick's body with the Venom. Yes I was begging you to kill her because I trusted that you knew what the Garuda was and I was still working on the serum to help her. I wasn't sure if the serum would even help her and now I will never know". Lauren snapped. This was getting them nowhere. She was really tired now. She wished she never knew Bo lifted the curse because it's cruel for her to have all of these doubts that Bo killed her just so it cleared the way to Lauren.
Bo didn't know what to do either. She wasn't standing that close to Lauren but felt her body heat and it was burning her skin. Lauren's anger was burning her brain. Lauren's lack of trust in her was burning her heart.
"Hey? What's going on? Kenzi came running up with Geraldine.
"Don't worry Kenzi. The bossy, territorial and controlling Doctor is leaving". Lauren said slamming her drink on the counter and turning to leave.
Bo watched her go. She had nothing to say. There was nothing she could do. Lauren didn't trust her anymore and as long as she has her memories, there would always be a penetrating distance between them.
"You told her that? Kenzi snapped. Since when did Bo tell people what Kenzi called them behind their backs.
"Not exactly". Bo said softly. It was true. Lauren heard it from Bo's mouth but not like Kenzi thought.
"Then how exactly did she find out? Kenzi asked.
"Lauren is different right now Kenzi, that is all I can tell you". Bo sighed. They all knew Lauren has freakish powers now but they didn't need to know the rest. That was one thing Bo would keep quiet about. And it is embarrassing too.
"Where is she going? Kenzi asked.
"I don't know". Bo said softly. She finally managed to get her Succubus to simmer down and she had to stay calm too.
"Well are you going after her? Kenzi asked. None of this was making sense. Bo was tight lipped and that was rare for the two of them but then again Bo hadn't been very reliable lately so whatever was going on between Bo and Lauren now looked like an even bigger mess in Kenzi's eyes.
"No I'm not". Bo said downing a shot of Whiskey. She savored the burn. It complemented the burning she still felt all over her.
"You're not? Kenzi asked. She was shocked that Bo hadn't stormed after Lauren or thrown a fit yet.
"No I'm not. Did you see her just now? I'm the last person she wants, needs to see". Bo snapped. She was angry too. She was angry all of the years she had known Lauren had come down to this. And it hurt.
"But...". Kenzi started.
"Leave her alone Kenzi. Leave it alone". Bo said turning to leave. She wasn't going after Lauren but needed air. Lauren's words were suffocating her and she couldn't breathe them in again.
Kenzi watched the Succubus leave. Her walk was just as angry as Lauren's had been a few minutes ago. She didn't think Bo was going after her because Lauren would have had a good start by now. Dyson was likely locked away so there was no way for either of them to track the Doctor and they couldn't if they tried. Kenzi had never felt the Dal like this before. It felt empty and that wasn't because she was the only one standing there. The life in it was gone. She grabbed a bottle from behind the bar and headed downstairs.
Bo was sitting in her Camaro. She had grabbed a towel from the back seat and buried her face into it. She cried. She screamed. Angrily she flung it outside of the car and started it up. "Do not stall on me again". She said as she sped off.
Lauren's POV
I left the Dal angry. But not angry enough to cry. Nobody deserves my tears. They would win again if I cried. They all would. All of the Fae that I personally know and don't know. Bo. Kenzi. Dyson. Trick.
Everyone that had mocked me. Belittled me or spat on me. I actually thought Bo would have a lot more to say about Nadia. I get why it she broke the curse but killing her and leaving me with her body when she could have easily have brought her back wasn't lost on me. I hadn't forgotten that day. That week. The Light Fae Elders had ordered Nadia's body to be picked up but I wouldn't allow it. She laid there until I found the strength to pick her up. I don't even know where I found the strength but I picked her up off of that cold, hard floor and carried her to my makeshift lab.
I peeled her top off and saw Bo's blade imprint and that infuriated me. Wouldn't you know just as I did my phone rung displaying Bo's name on the caller ID. I shook my head. What did she want? She just left me here. I suspected she was already in bed with Dyson or someone trying to get those moments out of her mind. Who was here to help me try and get it out of mine? Nobody but Nadia's dead body.
I cleaned up her wound and proceeded with the Autopsy. When it was done I had all the answers I needed. There was nothing wrong with Nadia. Nothing. She was dead and for nothing. My five years? Wasted like the dead body that lay before me.
I screamed to the point I was sure the guards heard me but they would not be coming in. If they tried I would pull my gun out of my storage closet and just start firing. I know it wouldn't kill them but they would know not to come near my door again. That was my door. I earned it. I earned everything I had under that roof. But the necklace strapped around my neck. I didn't deserve that. I deserved to be free. Nadia deserved to be free and the Fae wouldn't be getting their hands on her again. I called a human funeral home and asked them to come and say they were sent by Fitzpatrick McCorrigan. Once they arrived I bent over to kiss Nadia goodbye and told them who her family was and where they were. They all agreed that they would take her to her family and I gave them what little money I had to cover some of the expenses.
Once they were gone, I made myself a sandwich, grabbed a bottle of wine, a box of Kleenex and sat there eating and drinking. I spent days like that. Pouring bottles and bottles of liquor down my throat. Finally I managed to fall asleep when Trick called. I rolled my eyes. What is it now? Was Bo at the Dal moping about me ignoring her calls? Sucks when that happens doesn't it? He said Hale had been hurt and the Doctor in me won out over my insistence that I didn't care. He's Fae can't any of them better than us humans heal or help him? I snapped. Then Bo finally came and well. I'm sure you saw what happened.
So here I am miles away since I pulled out of the Dal's parking lot. Kenzi had called but what the hell could she want? Me to help Bo? Me to help Trick after he'd written in his blood? Me to get that mangy, lying dog back to her so she could send him to comfort Bo? Yeah. I know what kind of comfort that would be. A lot of plugging in that has nothing to do with a lamp.
I honestly thought Kenzi and I had turned the corner on our...whatever the hell it is. Was. But thanks to Bo's memories she never gave a damn about me. She likely wanted to know where I was so she would know I wouldn't be standing in Dyson's way. Or Tamsin's. Anyone that wasn't Lauren Lewis was always on her menu for Bo.
I have to come out of this shit there is a greater threat out there. Just waiting to come back for me. That's another thing. Was Bo going to pretend she didn't hear him threaten to come back for me? Was she going to pretend he wasn't the reason she has dark powers? Was she going to pretend she wasn't scared of him or worried that could come back for either one of us whenever he damn well pleased.
My human eyes never noticed it before but my back from the dead eyes can now recognize that he didn't just send Tamsin for Bo. He sent her for me too. It pisses him off that I can control by his own words His Succubus. It all makes sense why Tamsin told me about the kiss but never once disturbed Bo and Dyson's relationship. He needed her to be focused on her Fae powers and not her humanity. Hell didn't the Leviathan tell her "You wear humanity like a shield? She wasn't talking about Kenzi. She was talking about me!
But what would I know? I just played games with the prophecy book trying to come between Bo and Rainer. I slept under Evony's roof to piss Bo off. I went hungry for days putting my life on the line with the very Fae that wouldn't hesitate to use me as an all you can eat buffet.
Fuck it. I sped up once again disregarding the red stop lights. I could sense when a car was close. I didn't need turn signals or flashing lights for that. I was on my way and I doubt if I would be going back anytime soon. I have work to do. Real work. I can't sit around drinking free beer and liquor. I can't sit around in a dungeon waiting on the Succubus to try and rescue me. I have to rescue myself and I will. He's coming for me? No I'm coming for him. Dark King? I'm coming after your sour candy ass.
The Dark Fae compound.
Evony had made it back to her office after having to stop many times to clean up her face. She had burst out into tears of laughter knowing what Lauren had done to Dyson and she wouldn't be doing anything in her power to reverse it. It was delicious. The Dark had obviously taught the Doctor something and it was damn sexy too.
When she heard an explosion behind her, she knew who it was.
"Are you here for the wolf or the Doctor? I won't give you either". Evony laughed.
"What did you do to her? Bo snapped.
"Her? The Doctor or the wolf? I'm always confuses by which her you mean". Evony laughed.
"What. Did. You. Do. To. Lauren? Bo snapped again. It was taking everything she had not to snap Evony's neck.
"Sweetie as much as I would love to gloat and take responsibility for the Doctor's current state. Even I can't do that". Evony said slowly. Enunciating every word like the Succubus did.
"Who did? Bo asked slowly walking towards the Morrigan.
"How she ever fell for you is beyond me. The person that did it is in this mirror". Evony laughed holding the mirror in Bo's face.
"I didn't touch Lauren. Try again". Bo said.
"Try again? Isn't that what you want? To try again with the Doctor but she's not having it? Evony laughed clapping her now free hands.
"Tell me what you did and I can fix it". Bo snapped approaching the Morrigan again.
"Fix it? Fix what? There is nothing on Lauren Lewis that needs to be fixed. You're just upset because she no longer needs your protection. Your body". Evony laughed. She really would have to thank the Doctor later for all of these moments of amusement she she was currently enjoying. She didn't need to touch the Succubus to land blow after blow.
"Whatever happened to her, happened here". Bo said pointing towards the Dark Fae grounds.
"I don't have time for this so allow me to lay it out for you. Lauren stayed with the dark to create a serum that would turn me human and make me vulnerable to you. Just like she doctored Taft for your puppy love. She did all of it for you. Sadly. Though right now I don't think she could care less about you or the wolf and that's a good thing. She's standing on her own two feet with the help of your father of course. She doesn't need your protection or your body and it's pissing you off". Evony laughed. She knew Lauren's powers were Hades signature mark. And the fact that he gave him to Lauren was scrumptious too.
"Who took her out to the field to be murdered? Bo asked. She hadn't forgotten where she found Lauren's dead body.
"Now that I don't know. You will have to resurrect Rainer and ask him. Isn't that what you do? Bring back the dead? Everyone but Hale and Lauren". Evony smirked letting Lauren's name drip from her mouth. She knew that one would sting more than her other shots.
"Fuck you". Bo said closing her eyes as she started her mass Chi suck. She stopped when she felt like she had pulled enough to drain the Morrigan.
Bo opened her eyes to a laughing Morrigan showing her the Koushang around her neck.
"How? How did you? I tasted some Chi too among the black smoke choking her! Bo coughed. The last time she saw that Koushang, Lauren had it.
"We all have them. Well almost all of us". Evony laughed waving for the guards behind Bo to come in.
"She's right. We all have one". Bruce said showing his Koushang.
Bo turned around and her mouth dropped wide open.
"If you bring him back, you will never get Lauren back. So do it. I dare you". Evony laughed pointing towards her security cameras aimed directly at Dyson's dead body dropping to the floor after Bruce and Steven had released him.
TBC