Bo sighed and smiled. "Aren't you two supposed to be guarding the staircase?".
"We are going to check on Lauren. To ensure that she eats breakfast". Megan walked up the stairs ahead of Vivian.
"Oh, Lauren has had her breakfast". Bo winked as she twirled a spatula from behind her back.
"Bullshit. It's too early. It has to be cooked for her". Vivian walked up and pushed Megan to the side.
Lauren cleared her throat and pushed the food tray against the wall outside of her bedroom. "See". Bo smiled and pointed.
"What did you do?". Vivian seethed.
"I took care of my love. I'm something to her that you will never be. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to collect her dirty dishes and get ready to decide what she'll have for lunch". Bo left the women stunned on the steps.
"Let's go". Megan pulled Vivian back down the stairs.
"That's shit. She treats Lauren like a tryst she can't wait to have again. The doctor deserves better than that. It's a game to her, not love". Vivian raged as she was pulled further and further down.
Hale and the Morrigan.
"What a shit mess Bo left on our hands". Hale shook his head.
"No shit. The Noble Families are pissed as hell". The Morrigan shook her head.
"How many left to be notified?". Hale asked.
"Twenty. Ten Light. Ten Dark". The Morrigan slammed her glasses and papers down on the table.
"Get some people on that. All we can do now is implement some laws preventing that unaligned Succubus from doing this again." Hale sat back in his seat.
"Then get that unaligned Blood King to finally get off of his lazy ass and choose a side. His days of playing both sides of the fence are and should be over". The Morrigan groaned.
"Bo's spoiled. She knows that blood line provides her some leeway and freedom to do whatever she wants. Some of these were powerful Fae. If she is angry about Lauren, she should have thought about that bullshit case she allowed Dyson to rope her into. Nelson wouldn't have gotten to her." Hale looked the woman in her eyes.
"The succubus need to step up their games too. Lauren can't be out there unprotected. Even if she is free, she is still a target because of her affiliation with that bitch succubus." The Morrigan folded her arms.
"I'll get word to them". Hale leaned forward and picked his phone up.
"Don't forget, Ash. They are never to touch her unless she instigates the touch." The Morrigan interrupted his conversation before he got far into it. Hale nodded and went back to his phone call.
The Dal
"Trick, Bo..". Dyson started immediately. Trick turned to the wolf and sprayed him with a sink hose. The water was cold and that's why Dyson needs it if he's about to start in on Bo again. "Trick! Stop it!". Dyson growled.
"Go dry yourself off, splash some water down your pants too. My granddaughter is not coming back anytime soon". Trick waved to the men's room. Dyson rolled his eyes and pulled at his hair. It was embarrassing what Trick had just done. Especially in front of people.
"Not a good morning?". Kenzi walked into the room.
"I'm not sure what he wants but when starts off saying Bo, it can't be good". Trick wiped his arms off with a clean towel.
"Is she really safe?". Kenzi asked.
"As far as I know, she is". Trick smiled at the woman. "This little nice girl, routine you have going on, has not gone unnoticed, Kenzi".
"Pancakes and sausage then". Kenzi patted the counter and watched the scenes around her. It was still so early but the bar was packed. She gets looks walking around without Bo. But what is new?
Lauren
She screamed as she threw her paperwork across her desk. She put her head in her hands and breathed. She had been careless. She had rushed her solution to resolve her paralysis. Having Bo's blood could be good but could be equally bad. The wolf must feel like this. It ties her to the woman when she's not even sure if she even wants Bo in her life.
Just when they were a couple and she thought they would actually get a good run at it. The trysts started. The lies started. If she was that ill why didn't she tell her doctor girlfriend? Like she wouldn't understand her need to feed. But no. She showed that weakness to Dyson and of course, he wasn't going to tell her no or tell her to talk to her doctor first. She imagined they would have fucked in her loft if that's where she revealed it to Dyson. Fine. A succubus needs to feed, but did she really need to feed with him? Always giving him hope that her relationship with the human wouldn't last and was a tryst just like every time she slept with him.
Bo can't help her nature. She can't help being a succubus. But she can help who she sleeps with. Who she allows to think they have a future with her. Who she allows to believe that Lauren is only good when she can help her with the same cases that left her to be attacked and eventually unable to walk.
The blonde yanked at her hair. She needs to get out. To get some air. To get away from this mess. She pulled her lab coat off and hung it up. She grabbed her keys and opened her bedroom door. She walked down the hall and towards the stairs. She walked down like a queen going to battle. "Don't follow me", was all she said to Megan and Vivian. Vivian hated it but laughed that she was leaving alone. That means Bo doesn't know she's piddling around for nothing up stairs.
"We can't". Megan spoke up.
"I know. We won't follow her but we will for damn sure make sure she's safe. Come on". Vivian pulled at the woman.
"If Bo was a true succubus, Lauren wouldn't need to be protected from cowardly ass fae that doesn't know who she is supposed to be. If she's Bo's love, that love should protect and coat her like an alarm system". Megan shook her head.
"My girl, you said a mouthful". Vivian smacked Megan on the back.
Lauren let the fresh air smack her in the face. She lifted her head to the sun. She took a breath and started down the small walkway and followed the path. As a scientist, she is with her real family. Nature and everything it can and will create. Peace. Quiet. Nature calls. Everything that can relax her mind.
She sucked in a breath and let it go. Slowly, she walked looking at everything around her. Cars going down the street in the far distance. Trees and birds racing in the sky. She found a bench and took a seat.
Bo came out of her room and looked to the stairs. "Those bitches better not be with Lauren". She marched to the woman's room and found it was locked. She knocked for almost ten minutes before she realized if they are gone, Lauren must be gone too. She gritted her teeth and walked down the hall and down the stairs.
"She's safe". Vivian said as they watched Lauren. They stood far, far away and looked around at everything that the doctor looked at. She can't be attacked. Not out in the open like this.
Megan winced when her phone rang. "Shit, answer it!". Vivian whispered.
"Megan, Vivian won't like this. But we have put into action that you and she are never to touch Lauren affectionately unless the Doctor starts the contact". Hale spoke into his phone.
"Yes, sir. I understand". Megan rolled her eyes and hung up.
"What was that about?". Vivian asked.
"The Ash. He said we can't touch Lauren affectionately unless she starts the contact". Megan sighed. She knew what was about to come.
"Shit! Well, I will have to try another angle". The succubus smiled.
"Vivian. Don't screw around and get us thrown off of Lauren's detail". Megan slapped the woman on her arm.
"Oh, I won't. But silence your phone before it gets us busted". Vivian looked at the thing and watched as Megan set it on vibrate. They turned back to Lauren. She was reaching back and stretching her arms.
Lauren took another breath and stood. She has plenty of room to walk and be free. She pulled a bottle of water out of her backpack and took a few sips. She pocketed it again and looked towards the ground. She found an ant struggling. She jumped back thinking she must have stepped on it. She kneeled down to touch it. Her eyes went wild when she noticed it ran away on its own. She had healed it. Healed its distress.
It hit her as she found another bench. Bo's blood helped her heal something. The Succubus must have done this before too. She cried as she realized her body now held what she wished her human anatomy could have afforded her for so long. For every patient that died on the operating table. For every soldier that died on the battlefield. For everyone she thought she couldn't heal.
She looked at her hands and raised her head. Closing her eyes, as much as she cursed herself for screwing up and giving herself Bo's blood, she just ensured a better future as a doctor. Her real away from the bullshit when the world is being evil. When she's being tossed aside by that very succubus. Dyson had thrown his superiority in her face more than once. Tamsin used her relationship to hurt her too. Kenzi all but said Lauren wasn't good enough because she would die and leave Bo lonely. That's why she prefers her with the wolf. Even if she will never say it to or around Bo, her eyes say it. Even now. She smiled at them, likely screaming at each other to find the succubus and bring her home to the blood king, his wolf and her human.
Lauren doesn't have to go back to that doldrum life. She is out here. Here away from the Dal. Away from the compounds. The Light and Dark are here, but they don't own her. They have to bow to her. Obey her commands. She should have done this so long ago. When the Ash died at Aife's hands. Both succubus have led her life to where it is now. By one way or another.
She took some deeper breaths. She doesn't need to get ahead of herself. She doesn't need to jump into this blindly. She has done that for so many years. Like jumping into servitude with the Ash and ignoring the red flags. After the first two years, she should have known Nadia was dead. She wasn't waking up from anything Lauren had injected her with.
She calmed herself. She turned back to follow the same path back. She watched every step. She didn't want to crush another ant. She knows what that ant must feel like. Struggling after being stepped on. To be crushed under someone's boots, reign and superiority. She smiled knowing the healing feeling that it must feel. Knowing it's free to run, play and eat when it finds food. Anyone else walking these same paths may not have had this experience. They just press on. Not caring what they are stepping on. What they are killing. She watched every step. Every move. She only looked up to make sure she wasn't about to walk smack into someone. This was such a brilliant idea to get out and get some air. Some perspective. She smiled for the first time in a long time. She closed her eyes and felt small bubbles popping inside of her mouth.
"Look. Look at Lauren. She's glowing and smiling". Megan smiled herself. Finally, some sunshine in all of this.
"I can make her smile wider than that". Vivian smiled. It is good to see this woman smile. She looks well.
"Vivian. Don't. Don't ruin her mood". Megan shook her head.
"I have no intention of doing so." Vivian bit her lip. "We need to get out of here before she spots us".
"Go, quietly". Megan pushed the woman.
"Don't. Don't go!". Lauren screamed.
The women stopped and bowed their heads.
"There is no need for that. I actually need you to do something for me". Lauren walked upon them slowly.
"Name it". They smiled.
"Find ants. Or any wounded animal that you can. Bring them to my lab, immediately". Lauren smiled.
"An ant farm?". Megan asked.
"Something that's wounded. Don't wound it yourself. Just find something struggling". Lauren replied.
"Let's go, Megan!". Vivian smiled.
The doctor watched them run off. She could have gone herself but she needs to get her bearings and get her lab set up. She sighed and walked into the house.
"Where have you been?", greeted her.
"Bo. I went for a walk". Lauren replied as she walked to a small bathroom to freshen up.
"I felt it. I know you weren't far". Bo jumped up and walked down the rest of the stairs.
"Don't treat me like that, Bo. Don't treat me like the Ash. Unless you think that bullshit is still okay". Lauren turned around hard.
"It is not like that Lauren. You were just hooked up to tubes only days ago. I just want to make sure that you're okay". Bo frowned.
"I'm fine". Lauren half smiled and walked past the woman. The succubus watched her walk to her lab and heard the door close behind her. She found a chair and sat to wait. Lauren will come out when she's ready to. At least this way, Bo knows where the woman is. Unless she has a secret exit.
She tapped her foot patiently waiting for some sign that she could come in. Something that would tell her that she's welcome in the doctor's presence again. If ever, she frowned.
After thirty minutes she stood when she heard something at the door. "What the hell is this?!". Bo screamed.
"The doctor wants something wounded. Your mother just gave us a very good guinea pig". Vivian laughed as they dragged a wounded Dyson inside.
"What the hell happened to him?". Bo asked.
"I did. That bastard needs to learn to respect women. Especially McCorrigan women". Aife laughed as she popped her lips.
"Dr. Lewis". Megan knocked on her door and waited for it to be opened.
"Take him outside. I won't have him stinking up the place". Lauren pointed and walked behind them as they carried the wolf outside.
The blonde walked past Bo and an amused Aife. "I've got to see this". The old succubus laughed as she followed the doctor.
"This is not you, Lauren. It's not. You're a healer. Not a fighter. Not a killer". Bo spoke softly. She wasn't sure what had happened to Dyson but helping him would hinder whatever Lauren is about to do.
Thump, followed by laughter surrounded the small group. "Busted your balls, I hope". Aife laughed.
Lauren stalked Dyson. She looked over his wounds until she found his focal point of distress. She smiled and bent down.
"Lauren, don't kill him! That's not you!". Bo screamed.
The Doctor looked up at Bo and smiled. She put her hand over his wound and felt it light up. The wolf coughed and opened his eyes. "Who's your daddy, bitch?". Lauren smiled.
"What the hell?". Bo gasped.
"You saved him, again. But this time, it was by my hand". Lauren smiled as she stood.
"Lauren". Bo stepped forward.
"Your blood. I can heal people and things". Lauren kicked Dyson in his chest and walked away from the group.
"I'll get a dog pound on the way". Aife laughed as she pulled her phone out.
The three succubus ran after Lauren. As fast as they ran, they couldn't get to her fast enough.
When she stopped, they stopped too.
"Lauren?". Vivian called out.
"We are going to train. Are you game?". Lauren asked.
"Oh, you know I am". Vivian smiled and popped her knuckles.
"Me too". Megan stepped forward.
"Me three". Bo stepped in front of the other succubus.
"Not you Bo, I need competition". Lauren moved Bo out of the way with her hands but never physically touched her.
"Ouch, Bo. That had to hurt". Vivian laughed. "She wasn't enough for you but you're too much for her".
"Shut up!". Bo snapped.
"Scream at my girls again, and you can go home with your dog". Lauren seethed.
"Lauren, let's just get started". Megan spoke softly.
"You're right Meg, let's get it started." Lauren walked into the middle of the field and stood in the middle as the women circled her.
"Go!". Lauren screamed and the women lunged at her. Vivian was the first to go backwards as the Doctor pushed her to the ground.
"I'm okay, keep coming, sweetie". Vivian winked as she stood and went for the doctor again.
Megan tried to kick Lauren, but the doctor jumped over her leg and punched her dead in the mouth. "It'll heal".
Lauren pulled her hair up and they went at it again. Bo stood shaking her head. She didn't like it, but what could she do? They hadn't actually landed a single punch on Lauren. So there was that.
Snap. That sound was loud and sounded crunchy. "Who was it?". Lauren asked.
"Me. Ugh". Vivian fell in pain.
Lauren slowly walked over and put her hand on the woman's leg. "Better?".
"Good as new, doc". Vivian smiled and winked.
"I will kill you". Bo seethed.
"No, you won't." Lauren turned back to Bo.
"Not you, Lauren. Her". Bo pointed.
"Again, you won't. We are going out ladies. We're going out to celebrate my new found discovery. Let's go home, get changed and blow up this city". Lauren smiled.
"Of her own free will, she came to me. By her own hand, she touched me. She healed me. Score one for the succubus, Vivian". Vivian smiled at Bo. "Coming Lauren!".
TBC