Bo's POV
Well I had a rough night. Not that I was without something to do as I had explored my new house. There are things that I do already love about it. Each room has a balcony with a lot of space for tables and to move around. The basement is huge. I have decided to keep my weapons in one of the empty rooms. In less than two months, I hope I am not here as much. I have to be realistic though. Things might not work out with Lauren at all. She might not even grant me a date.
That's something else to. We have only known the Dal as somewhere to have drinks and eat. I know she wouldn't want to go there. There are so many memories, that any moment could be an angry one for her. I am not sure I will set foot inside it anymore either, if ever again. There is nothing there but mom. I am sure she will sell it or burn it down if she finds it's not making much money.
I need to buy some furniture. A couple of couches and a dining room table. I am so used to eating off of tables and things that I had found on empty lots or in empty buildings. I had a little money saved up, so I guess I will be going shopping today.
Only Bruce knows where I live. He only knows on the condition that he not tell anyone. He was handy last night bringing my bed up in only two trips. It took me more than that just getting it into the clubhouse. A place with walls is going to be hard to get used to, but I am sure I can do it. Getting Lauren to say yes is going to be hard, but I am sure that I can do it. I just have to be smart about it.
We have never gone out unless you count the night at the Dal, when she was trying to help me find out if I could be out in public without draining people. I don't even know where I want to take her besides a movie. I could turn one of the bedrooms into a small movie theater. Get a few chairs and line them up. Now I am starting to get pumped. Getting motivated. I had been walking around with all of those thoughts in my head, when I should have been out in public getting stuff done. Time to shower and get out there.
The Dark Fae compound.
The Archivist had returned to the compound and made himself scarce. He had done one of the things that he had agreed to do, now he just needed to stay out of Evony's way. Namely out of her office. It was such a nice place he thought, but after today or tomorrow, it would never be the same again.
None of the Fae had ever been the same when Aife and Evony had been in the same room together. Both women were dangerous, and crazy if the occasion called for them to be. It was never a love/hate relationship. It was always a hate/hate relationship.
He had rarely saw a Succubus up close. Up until he saw Aife last night, the closest he had been in months was Bo at Evony's party. They weren't always the most calm creatures among the Fae. That's why it was nice to have a hiding spot, that the Morrigan wasn't aware of. Bullet proof. Shatter proof. No holes for anyone to suck his Chi. He had no idea what Aife would do exactly, but she looked pissed off enough that she would drain Evony on sight. He had alerted the guards that the Succubus may be stopping by, and they adjusted their schedules accordingly.
Evony had been hiding out in her bedroom. Lauren had pissed her off. The way she so easily dismissed her. It reminded her of how she used to dismiss Lauren, when she was a lowly Fae slave with the Light. But that Lauren was gone. The way she started a fire with her hands was impressive. The only powers Evony had was melting people. They burned a little but not so much as actual fire.
She needed Lauren to choose a side. It was like when Bo hit town. A new Fae in town was like a newborn. Someone to mold into doing things her way and if they didn't, she drop them off with friends like Vex. Like the time she actually told Vex she had a son, and dropped the baby off. Never naming him. Just having a guard put him in a picnic basket and placed it at Vex's doorstep. That was the last time that she had sex, without the man having twenty condoms attached. Fae or not she didn't want any more kids.
Walking to her office, she decided that she needed to find a way to get things back in order as they should have been. Opening the door, she found her chair had been turned around facing the gigantic picture of her. The picture had been altered. She had a long moustache and beard that hung down past her neck.
"What the fuck is going on here?! Evony screamed.
"What does it look like? I gave you a better look". Aife laughed spinning around in the chair.
"Fitzpatrick is no longer here to protect you, so if you don't get the hell out of my office, you will regret it". Evony snapped.
Aife laughed and it took her quite awhile to stop.
"What's so funny?! Evony snapped walking to her desk and dusting it off.
"I have never needed Trick's help to kick your ass, you and your melting powers have never harmed me". Aife laughed again.
"That's because you have never sat or stood still long enough for to it work. You've always ran". Evony laughed trying to catch Aife while she was sitting down.
"I bet if you ran, I could drain your chi before you even touched the doorknob". Aife laughed.
Evony closed her mouth at the threat, only opening it to speak again. "What the hell do you even want?
"It has come to my knowledge that Isabeau is still aligned with the Dark. I am here to ensure that her contract is burned into nothing". Aife explained.
Evony laughed. "No. As long as everyone thinks she's Dark, she will stay Dark".
"Bo's still a young Fae, but you are old enough to know that I don't play when it comes to my daughter". Aife snapped.
"Rainer is still her sponsor. It doesn't matter if the other one was a fraud. The real one is still out there somewhere, and if she can't find him, then her contract stays with mama". Evony winked.
Aife growled and the Morrigan went flying backwards at the sound. Evony knew she had worn the wrong shoes today. Before she could move, the Succubus had her hands around her neck.
"Where is the contract? The Succubus bristled.
"The...The Archivist has it". Evony groaned.
"Nice try bitch. If he had it, he would have brought it to me last night. Now where is the contract? Aife asked again as her arms turned red from the pulses she was sending into Evony.
"He...He what? That bastard works for me! How dare he go to you! Evony mumbled as she scratched at Aife's hands trying to loosen the grip she had on her.
"You know no man alive can resist my charms. You should also know I already have the contract. I just wanted you to know what it feels like to wet your pants". Aife laughed as she looked down and saw the Morrigan had wet herself in fear.
"What...What are you going to do to me? Evony choked out. With that, Aife dropped her to the ground.
"Nothing. I just came for the contract. Besides you're dead when Isabeau learns what you've done to the good Doctor". Aife grinned.
"What? I haven't done anything to Lauren. In case you're blind, she's still alive". Evony said trying to catch her breath.
Aife tsked and it pissed Evony off.
"I didn't do anything to her! Bo sees that". Evony snapped.
"Yes I am sure Bo sees that the good Doctor is alive. Man and I thought the Lich had a bitter end". Aife laughed.
"Now what are you talking about?! Evony snapped throwing her arms into the air.
"The bastard only put a blade to Lauren's neck. You knocked her out, chained her to a wall, leaving her hungry and dirty for days. Bo may know she's alive, but her Succubus don't know about her being unconscious, the chains and lack of food. Now I don't know how or if you have ever seen her in full Succubus. Honey, you're doomed and I want to be here when you bite the dust like you should have years ago. Bo needs practice kicking ass with her Succubus. And who better than yours". Aife explained in hysterics.
"How do you even know all of this? Evony asked. She hadn't seen Aife in years.
"Your Archivist keeps more than records, he keeps recordings and other notes". Aife laughed. Bo was going to be pissed. Aife had only learned all of this last night.
"Fucking bastard". Evony bristled.
"I will leave you now and go home. But not before I stop by to see Lauren, of course. She needs to know what else you have done". Aife said staring directly at Evony.
"I haven't done anything else! Evony screamed.
Aife walked forward with a camera and showed Evony the pictures. Evony froze in place, as Aife scrolled from one picture to the next. She knew she was screwed now.
"Yeah. That is Lauren's family. Or should I say, Karen's family. A family that you killed the same day that you captured Lauren. Lauren didn't even know she was an aunt. But you always were a baby killer. I should snap your neck now, but I will find much pleasure when either one of them does it". Aife said coolly. She never liked seeing dead kids. She didn't think Lauren would ever attack, her but she deserved to know about her family and she needed to be told immediately.
"Get out! Evony snapped.
"Do not leave town. Oh wait I will make sure of that". Aife said walking over to the Morrigan and pulsed her again.
Evony stood stunned. She thought she had covered up everything nicely. Now that Aife had proof, and she was under her thrall, she was stuck in the compound. A sitting Morrigan.
"Ohhh and I relieved LouAnn of her horseshit duties. She's an old friend, but you knew that right? Aife smiled as she made her way out of Evony's office.
"Archivist. Wherever the fuck you are! You are a dead son of a bitch! Evony screamed. Aife laughed as she walked across the foyer and out of the main doors.
The Dal
"I already told you, if you don't have money, you won't get any free drinks here. Aife was adamant about that". Mason said. He was new to the job, but an old Fae. One that knew Aife's reputation.
Kenzi dug into her pocket and pulled out a bill. She unfolded it and handed it to the bartender and pointed towards the Whiskey bottle behind him. He snorted.
"Ok that will get you two shots and then you must go. We don't allow loitering in here anymore either". Mason explained pouring two shots of Whiskey.
"Dude what the fuck is with his attitude? Kenzi asked.
"Kenz you know Aife will not play when it comes to making money. Nothing she gives is free. This is her bar now. Trick's generosity and rules are gone". Tamsin said.
"Ten bucks for two shots? Kenzi groaned.
"Well you spent all the money Bo gave you on clothes and shoes. You are not her human anymore. You have to learn to spend wisely and I have to go back to work at the cop shop. But with one eye, I will be lucky if they give me a desk job". Tamsin said.
Kenzi groaned again. All that she wanted was a nice distracting night out. She only thought of the Dal because it was familiar and hoped she could sway them into hooking her up like Trick used to. Nothing about this night was familiar though. She barely made it inside the building without people pointing and staring. That never happened once Bo had claimed her. Back then she could walk in like she owned the place. Now she barely could walk in without giant Ogres standing in front of her, asking what a human was doing there.
"I don't suppose you could? Kenzi asked.
"Nope. I am broke and besides I don't have Blood King blood, my name is no good here". Tamsin smiled downing her only shot. It had been a long time since she actually worked for money. They didn't have bills to pay, but Kenzi was a human who would need food.
"Tamsin is this you now? A man laughed pointing to Kenzi.
"Back off dick. She's a friend of mine". Tamsin said.
"A human? Especially the human that was once claimed by the Succubus". He laughed stumbling backwards.
"How do you know that dickwad? Kenzi asked.
"Evony told me. She said you could always wax her floors if you want. Scrub the toilets when her human feeds shit themselves after she's fed from them". The man laughed.
"Scott that is enough. Now get lost". Tamsin said.
"You get lost and take that human out of here. She had it easier with the Succubus. I won't be the first or the last that taunts her". Scott stumbled making his way down towards the end of the bar to order another drink.
"Eww is that what Lauren had to do? Kenzi asked.
"At first it was until Evony saw what a brainiac she is. You better learn a new hobby or fall back on your old ones. Bo's not here to clean up your mess anymore. You might want to find a new hangout too. This one everyone will know of you or know you". Tamsin suggested. She wasn't Bo. She didn't have that kind of power or pull in the Fae world.
"Unless you want to claim her Tamsin, get that human out of here. She's upsetting my customers and I don't want to have to explain to Aife why there was a bar fight on my first day". Mason said after rushing over to them.
"Yeah Tamsin. Get that human out of here. This is Fae territory! Scott screamed from the other end of the bar and the women twitched when the voices grew louder.
A human in the Dal Riata?
She was unclaimed by the Succubus.
The shifter is dead and so is the old barkeep.
Get her out of here or we will carry her out.
She will pick your pockets, watch it boys.
I'll pick her bones if she comes near me!
Kenzi hung her head. She thought she wasn't about that life anymore but thanks to being unclaimed by Bo and Bo moving out. She didn't have the same contacts she once had when they were PI's. Now it was just her and the Valkyrie.
Lauren's POV
I had a great night and my day had started off well. I had not slept that well in a long time. I had read a lot of books last night and some of it was very helpful. I know I need to find a good Fae that deals with memories. But I will kill them dead if they try and take my memories too. That could leave me living like a vegetable.
I have to take a few steps back and research this more before I just trust someone. I am sure Aife knows plenty of Fae. The ones I can trust, the ones that will stab me in the back, not knowing that I will see it coming.
I decided to go shopping. I want something more comfortable in my sitting quarters, labs and bedroom. Poster beds are out. I am not Bo and don't need to be reminded of her. Or her trysts that play in my mind like a marathon. Not all of them were feeds. Some were done in anger. They were her toys, and didn't know it or cared to know.
This is going to be so weird. Shopping. Shopping for me. Shopping at nice stores, and not some discount store that the Fae only allowed me to pick a certain amount of outfits. Furniture shopping. Not just some cot, pillow and sheet. That's basically what my old bed looked like.
They only allowed me furniture downstairs, so that they would have a place to sit when they had to come over. Regular Fae had basic stuff. Elders had the money and powers of influence to get the nicer things. The only Elder that I saw that was really cheap was Evony. That's why she stole, or killed to get places to throw parties or to eat.
Sure I have a lot of money. But I don't want to use my powers like that. I know what it felt like from my time with the Light Fae. Evony had me tickled last night when she suggested that I needed to choose a side. I don't need them. I know about different types of Fae. I know what makes them weak, what makes them strong.
She must have forgotten that I had access to the Ash's library for years. There was not a single Fae that I didn't know about or one that I couldn't weaken, except for those that deal with memories.
Now that I have all of these powers. I am sure once word gets out more, they will test me. Probably the same ones that I treated for the tiniest of things.
I don't feel bad about charging people to be treated. If you treat one for free, everyone will be expecting it. I won't be used like that. I had to do it with them before, that stops now. I am my own bookkeeper. I will see who tried to cheat me, and they will be dealt with or fired. Whichever the situation calls for.
People that don't like the new me, will probably prefer the old me. The ,drop what I'm doing and help the same bastards that wished me dead or gone, me. No. This is my time. I deserve it. I have so much to do that I can't dawdle around.
I picked my sky blue convertible to drive today. It's only Sunday. My staff has the day off and it's nice outside. I dropped the top and sped away. Traffic was light, like I hoped it would be. I didn't expect to be gone long, as I have plans to fire up the grill for some steaks later. I had already picked out my wine for the night and everything else was already prepped.
My white tank top, blue jeans and tennis shoes are fitting just right.
When I pulled to my first red light, I took a few deep breaths. It was nice to be out and free. Nowhere to be. Not having to watch the time. I could have easily ordered online, but I like seeing things in person sometimes. Besides If I am looking for furniture. I need to see how comfortable everything is. If my butt likes it. You can't always read about those things.
Pulling into the first store, I drove around slowly looking for a parking spot. Not finding one close, I parked way out. Raising the top, I stepped out pulling my shades on. I walked a few inches and set the alarm. Smiling at the sound, I turned to walk towards the door. I thought traffic was light, this must be where everyone is, I laughed.
Walking in, the place was indeed packed with people. Surveying the area, I already knew Bo was close. I knew that before I came here, but so what. I won't dip and dodge out of places just because she's in the area. If they have what I'm interested in, I will buy it and move on.
This is what my life was about now. Moving on from the things I was used to. The things I felt like a robot doing. I looked at the signs and found one of the items that I was looking for and made my way to the back.
Shuffling through people, I felt their stares or glances. My hair does have a glow now. I tried washing it out, but it never worked, so it's a part of who I am now. Excusing myself past a large crowd that stopped just to stare, I saw a desk.
Walking over, I looked at the top, and walked around to get a better look. I am sure some were looking at my ass too. But I didn't care, as long as they don't touch it.
I like the desk but the chair behind it, was not to my liking. Getting up, I walked away from it and the worshipping crowd. I followed the next sign that I saw. It was practically on the other side of the store.
I sighed. The mattresses were nice but the headboards looked like they were from the 50s or something. Seemed like a wasted trip. But at least I got out of the house. But I know I won't be getting out of the store without seeing a Succubus in bed.
"Tired of your poster bed? Lauren asked clearing her throat.
Bo turned over and immediately blushed. She was not in the most fit for public position, as she tried out a new bed.
"Lauren. Hi. I didn't know you were here". Bo smiled softly. Lauren had changed perfumes from the smell of her.
"I was just leaving. Didn't find anything to my liking". Lauren answered already putting her shades on.
"I...I moved out of the clubhouse". Bo rambled as Lauren walked past her.
"That's nice". Lauren said softly over her shoulder. Bo hung her head. She had hoped that would soften Lauren a little bit. But she seemed more distant than she ever was.
Lauren's phone ringing was the only thing that stopped her in her tracks. "Dr. Lewis? She said softly into the phone.
"Damn girl, you never take a day off". Aife laughed.
"Sorry it's a old habit". Lauren laughed.
"Are you busy this afternoon or this evening? Aife laughed.
"Well I had planned on going home and prep for my little party of one tonight. What's up? Lauren asked.
"There is something I need to talk to you about, but if you want to wait until tomorrow, it can wait". Aife said softly.
"Well Bo is behind me, I can let her talk to you, if you need her". Lauren offered turning around to face Bo, who was staring worriedly.
"No it can wait. I will stop by tomorrow if that's ok? Aife asked. She wanted to be the one to tell Lauren. This was too important to leave up to Evony.
"You have me curious now, and I know I won't sleep, until I know what you know. So why don't you join me for steaks tonight. I will invite Bo too, so that it won't be all the way awkward". Lauren suggested.
"That actually works out better, because I have news for her too". Aife said softly.
"Ok I will see you at 6? Lauren asked. She wasn't sure things would be ready by then, because she wasn't sure if Bo had plans.
Aife looked at her watch and that gave them about five hours. "Works for me. Text me your address or I can ride with Isabeau".
"Ok that works. Bo knows where it is". Lauren said.
"Ok I will see the two of you tonight". Aife said.
"Ok bye". Lauren said.
"Lauren? What's going on? Bo asked softly stepping to the Doctor.
"Your mom said she has something to tell the both of us, so I invited her over for steaks. I told her I was going to ask you to come with her". Lauren explained.
"One thing I know about mom, is that she doesn't call anyone out of the blue. So it has to be important and I would love to come". Bo smiled.
"Ok but Bo please understand this is not a date". Lauren said.
"I get it". Bo said.
"Ok well I better get going, I have to prep more veggies, and marinate more meat". Lauren said turning to leave.
"Ok". Bo said softly following Lauren out. The Doctor's distance felt like a stake through the Succubus heart. She rushed out to her car, and jumped in. She needed to go home and pick out what to wear. It might not be a date, but it would be a night that she wanted to look her absolute best for.
TBC.
Aife tells Lauren and Bo about Evony's treachery.
Kenzi ponders applying for a job at the Dal.
The Doctor and young Succubus snap.