Kenzi
Kenzi barely slept the night before and was up off of the most uncomfortable bed, that she had slept on, in all of her entire life. Taking a few deep breaths, she tiptoed just a bit to see what she could see through the tiny door window.
To be quite frank, last night sucked. She kept thinking she was hearing something crawling across the floor. Whatever it was squeaked too. If that wasn't bad enough, she heard what sounded like a wounded animal or drunk Fae ranting about something for hours. Most of it was not in Russian or English, so she struggled to comprehend what was being said. She hated it.
She hates it even more at the present time. Hale hadn't been by. Her breakfast hadn't even been delivered yet. Considering how much she had drank the day before, she needed food. Wanted food. The bottled water she was given last night, did nothing to quench her dry mouth.
This was so not a room she wanted to spend another hour, day or night in. There was scribbling on the wall. Some of it was legible, some of it looked like something that Lauren would often ramble off awake, and asleep.
But why would Lauren have been in a dungeon? What had the rich, golden girl of the Light Fae did to end up there? No. No. It couldn't be Lauren. They would never put her down here. The rest of the writing was pretty much screw the Ash, and or Elders.
She had dressed in the clothes she had on the previous day. It sucked because she couldn't shower, and was freezing her ass off before she changed clothes. She had no choice. She was stuck there.
And the shit on the cheesiest pizza was that Bo hadn't called. The one guard that had passed by earlier that morning had stopped by only to say that Hale hadn't heard from the Succubus. Kenzi felt like a slave. A prisoner. Great. Just great.
Hale's office.
Hale was having a busy morning after a late night of the same thing he was doing right now, talking on the phone. The Elders wanted Kenzi's head, and they weren't settling for her ass in a dungeon.
Blackthorn was being a pain in Hale's. For the first time he was starting to regret accepting the Ash position. It was nothing like he imagined it to be. The Elders and Trick pretty much ran everything. But since Trick was gone, it was pretty much the Elders in his ear all the time. Aife. Lauren. Kenzi. In that order.
He didn't think any of them ever cared for the Ash position or who sat in that chair, so why hadn't they dropped their anger over Aife's bombs?
They were growing sick of Lauren and Bo's relationship, so why the anger at her being one of them now? That sent chills up and down Hale's spine the most. Either way he looked at it, three Succubus. Two he knew, and one that he didn't trust at all, Aife.
Kenzi wasn't on his list of immediate needs of protection. She had it made practically. She was allowed to go shopping, she had room and board. Not to mention lots of food and liquors at her fingertips. Then boom, she slapped the shit out of her luxuries.
He took a few good deep breaths. He was sure that Bo would know by now, if not soon. Then she could come and get her girl out of his hair. Not that he had much hair.
Slamming the receiver down. He had finally finished his latest phone call and sat back in his chair. He wished Trick had handled the Aife situation. Admitting he was Bo's grandfather, meant that he was Aife's father as well. Hale had no idea how he was going to handle the heir to Trick's, everything. But as the newly appointed Ash, Hale had inherited the problem of dealing with her, to the Elder's satisfaction, to Bo's.
Lauren was another one that he wasn't too sure of either. She was nice but likely pissed at the Fae too. He had seen her office. Her home. Other humans had better accommodations, and were never placed in any dungeon. Never made to wear a necklace. Never driven around like a piece of property, to ensure that she would be coming back.
The week that she hid at Bo's was one of the boldest moves she ever made. Lachlan knew where she was and had tried to give her a few days to change her mind, and come back. When the Elders demanded it, he went to give her a 24 hour notice. All of this was unknown to Hale until he read Lachlan's notes.
He jumped when he heard his door opening. He hadn't summoned anyone and didn't have a meeting scheduled until noon.
"Don't worry, I won't stay long. I just came by to give you something". A woman's voice said.
Hale sighed. "Val. What is it? I am really busy today".
"We know. Well he knows". Val sighed placing a small box on Hale's desk.
"He? He who? Hale asked. Not another Elder, or arch enemy of the Ash office. He hoped.
"Dad. He knows the Elders may be planning to kill you if you don't do their immediate bidding, so he wanted you to have this". Val said pushing the box closer to Hale and took a seat in front of him.
Hale looked at her for a long moment. He hadn't heard of any actual threats on his life, but was curious about the box. He hadn't seen his father in weeks and wondered what he could have sent by Val that he couldn't bring in person.
"He's away". Val said softly.
"And he wants me to have this? Hale sighed. He knew what it was. What it meant. He wasn't scared of anyone or anything, and didn't need it.
"Worn anywhere on your body, it will protect you from all harm. I have no need for it at the moment since I am pretty much out of all business of the Fae". Val explained.
"The Twig of Zamora. I get it". Hale smiled softly. That thing had gotten around his family members for years.
"Then my work here is done". Val said standing. She never liked the Light Fae compound. It looked too much like a hospital and she hated those things too.
"Thanks Val". Hale smiled at his sister. He loved her and vice versa, they just didn't say such things in public. Not even the compound.
"You're welcome". Val said over her shoulder as she walked out of his office.
Hale sat back and looked at the thing. He never needed it. Never held it before. But his father was right to send it to him with so much uncertainty within the Fae. Especially now that his biggest supporter, Trick, was gone.
Kenzi jumped from the rickety bed when she heard Hale's voice ordering the guard to open the door.
"It's about damn time boy, I am starving here! Kenzi snapped and regretted her outburst when she saw what he was holding.
"Good morning to you too Kenzi". Hale said putting the tray down on the small table nearest the bed.
"Have you heard from Bo? Kenzi asked.
"No I have not. But Aife should be home soon". Hale said wiping his hands on a napkin.
"Not the Succubus I need right now". Kenzi said taking a bite of her pancakes.
"Kenzi I don't know what to tell you. I don't think Bo will be coming home soon". Hale confided. It was true. When he spoke to Aife, she didn't sound like she was bringing her Succubus daughter or Dr. Lewis with her. And if Lauren wasn't coming, neither was Bo.
"Kenzi. I know you don't like or trust Lauren and Aife, but you need to learn to get along with them. With Trick gone, Bo will need her family, and that includes Lauren and her mother". Hale said seriously. Everyone that could hear or see knew about her hatred of the Doctor. With Lauren being Fae now, that would only heighten it.
"Why? Why does she always get what she wants? Always. She spybanged Bo and had a girlfriend the whole time! Kenzi snapped.
"I don't have time for this but I will get real with you. A spy would have been getting something from Bo and reporting it back to the Ash, since she was his charge. Lauren didn't do any of that. I am the new Ash. I read all of the previous Ash notes. He only said Lauren needed to distract Bo, he never said she had to sleep with her. They wanted each other
Second. Lauren had been trapped with the Fae for five years. Five. I am sure you have done a lot of your own free will for five years. Nothing Lauren has done until now was of her own free will in all of that time. Nadia was the result of her staying here, where she wasn't wanted and spat on, daily". Hale explained.
Kenzi squinted at him. She had nothing to say but then again yes she did. "She still gets everything she wants and doesn't deserve!
"We all get it and we all see it Kenzi. You're not mad about Lauren getting what she wants, you're mad about Bo wanting her. You didn't want Lauren being the other human in Bo's life. But chin up, Lauren's not a human anymore. So you have that distinction. Whatever Lauren has now, she's earned, and deserves it". Hale responded.
That last line hurt Kenzi. It stung. Bo would have been better off with Dyson. He could protect her. Sustain her, even when she was draining him. He could just sleep it off, and be ready for the next round or two. Trick, Dyson and Kenzi all thought that Lauren would die someday and Dyson would have his chance again. His path to Bo would be as clear as a blue sky.
"That's not true". Kenzi finally offered.
"You have never liked the women in Bo's life. But trust me when I say you better find a way to accept them because Bo does. Otherwise she wouldn't have fled Toronto so quickly with the both of them". Hale concluded.
"When can I call her? Kenzi asked.
"That brings me to my second reason for coming down here. I have found a phone for you to use from here but you have to remember Bo will be pissed off at you, for putting her in this position". Hale said handing Kenzi a new cell phone.
Kenzi froze at the thought. She hadn't thought about it like she was at the moment. Bo had been explicit in asking Kenzi to behave herself. If she comes back, it won't be when she was ready, but when she had been forced to do something, and by Kenzi of all people. Bo never liked being told what to do. "Shit".
"Not on my floors please. I may have to use this dungeon again, when you are finally released". Hale said.
"When do I get out? Kenzi asked.
"Whenever things settle down or Bo, and I convince them not to harm you, which brings me to my third reason for coming down here". Hale said.
"What? A third reason? Kenzi sighed. She thought for sure he had fixed her problem and was coming to release her.
"I am glad you are dressed. I want you to wear this on your person tonight when you will be allowed to walk around the compound for air". Hale said holding up the Twig Of Zamora.
"What is that? A stick? Kenzi asked.
"It's the Twig of Zamora. It protects the wearer from harm". Hale explained.
"What?! That's cool. Then I can leave and be protected". Kenzi said.
"Settle down Kenzi. You will be allowed to walk around the compound under heavy protection, but they will be there to protect you from being snatched. The Elders still want your ass, the Twig only protects you from bodily harm, not anyone grabbing you". Hale said.
"It's still cool though! I can go and do whatever I want, and not be harmed". Kenzi said.
"Kenzi settle down. I will want that back once you are released back to Bo, hopefully". Hale sighed.
"You giveth and you taketh away". Kenzi groaned.
"Hey I can take it away right now". Hale said.
"Ok. Ok. I will be careful with it, oh great one". Kenzi bowed.
"Finally. You are finally listening to me". Hale laughed.
"Shoo. I am about to call Bo and I am sure your Siren ears will pick up on the screaming about to take place up in here". Kenzi said waving the Ash out.
"Gladly". Hale said. He had a full day ahead of him and was relieved to be leaving the dungeons. They stunk more than he ever wanted to be witness to.
Aife
Aife had left Bo and Lauren to talk when she arrived back in her private quarters. She had called a small meeting of her best guards. The most trusted of the bunch.
"I don't care how you do it. I don't care who it is. I want someone planted on both sides. If you have to get someone that's already inside to flip then do it. I will be gone in a day or so and want things in motion before I get there". Aife ordered.
"Yes my Queen". Alfred and Karl said in unison.
"Very good and you are both dismissed". Aife smiled. She knew the minute that she set foot inside Toronto again, the Fae would be breathing down her neck. The Dark because they wanted her. Evony was pissed off about not being in on the action, and the Light because it was their territory that she bombed.
Evony never liked her, and it amused her to no end. She wasn't really the Morrigan, she was just a mouth piece for the Elders. An ass.
None of that mattered to Aife now. She didn't want to run one side or the other, she wanted to run all of them. But she would never lower herself to playing the grieving princess. Trick had never grieved over Isabeau. He never apologized or, grieved over what he had done to his own daughter. There was no love loss, literally.
She would be having the Dal scrubbed from top to bottom, but his lair was not to be touched. She would handle that part personally. The cages would be cleaned or cleared out. Trick was liable to have anything or anyone one in those things.
She needed to have a serious talk with Albert. To see what his plans regarding Lauren were. Once the Doctor did go back, they would want her ass too. But neither of them were about to stand around, and watch them try and take it.
Bo was pissed off about Kenzi but nowhere near ready to go home. She saw the anger turned sadness in the Succubus face when the situation settled in her mind. To go back now would be forcing her to do something, she wasn't emotionally ready to. No she had no idea what they would do or how they would do it. But whatever they do, it was going to be fun. A lot of fun, she giggled.
Bo and Kenzi.
Bo had been pacing back and forth. The one thing that was clear in her mind was that she wasn't ready to go back yet. Kenzi was forcing her hand, and it was pissing her off. It was like leaving your child with a babysitter, and even the babysitter couldn't control her.
This was her shot. Their shot. Lauren admitting that she had been considering leaving Bo was like a bucket of ice water being poured all over the Succubus. She was woke now. She was on alert. She was ready to do what she needed to do, to keep the woman she loved from walking away from her.
Bo pulled out her phone to make a phone call, when it started ringing.
"Hey Bo". Kenzi said shly.
"What the actual fuck did you do Kenzi?! Bo snapped.
"Bo listen it's not that bad ok". Kenzi sighed.
"From what we have been told, you smacked a couple of Elders. I asked you to sit your ass down and wait for me to come back! Bo snapped again.
"All I wanted him to do was to tell me when you were coming home. I had been begging him for days to tell me". Kenzi confessed.
"Kenzi. You are not five years old. You are a grown woman. A woman who has seen how the Fae works. It was silly, and dangerous of you to slap people that you don't even know! Bo snapped again.
"I know. I know. Hale is working to try, and smooth things over, and he gave me this cool ass Twig. Supposedly it will protect me from being physically harmed". Kenzi explained.
"Good. Use it and sit your ass down". Bo said angrily. Kenzi hadn't even apologized or noticed what position Bo was currently in.
"He said it won't stop anyone from taking me. So when are you coming back? Kenzi asked.
"I don't know yet". Bo sighed. She needed to calm down. Lauren had only gone to shower, she would be back soon. She wanted to join her, but was too angry to really enjoy it.
"Bo? You can't mean that, or stay there forever". Kenzi groaned.
"If you have the Twig like you claim, then you will be fine until I get back". Bo sighed. If Hale gave it to Kenzi it had to be pretty important. He was fond of Kenzi too, and would do everything in his power to protect her. Kenzi needed to learn how to listen to Bo, and there was no better time than right now for her to do so.
"But Bo. We haven't hung out in a long time. We haven't even had drinks". Kenzi groaned again. She didn't want to come off as clingy or whiny but she missed her friend.
"Kenzi nothing will be the same again. My life is different now. Lauren's life is different now. She was thinking of breaking up with me Kenzi. Before you start jumping up, and down about it, she didn't. We need to work on us and we can't do that by rushing back there". Bo explained.
"Bo if she was ready to leave you, then maybe you should have let her. She was going to leave you without even talking to you about it! Kenzi snapped.
"No Kenzi. You will not do that. You will not speak ill of Lauren or our relationship again". Bo bristled.
"But why was she going to leave you? Kenzi asked sitting down. This sounded juicy.
"That's private and no I won't be giving you the deets". Bo said looking around. Lauren was drying her hair. The way it was flowing in the air, spiked Bo's adoration of the woman.
"That's not cool". Kenzi said.
"I won't come back yet. Mom will be there in a few days. If you are nice, maybe she will help you. If not, stay put, and behave". Bo warned.
"So I'm just supposed to sit in this rat infested hole, and wait for you to make up your mind on when you're coming home? Kenzi snapped.
"Yes. If that's where Hale put you, then yes. I will speak to him but as far as the rest of it, settle down and wait". Bo said.
"Fine". Kenzi snapped hanging up. Something has to be wrong with Bo for her to basically pick her relationship over Kenzi. There was nobody close for her to ask. Hale was a cheeleader for them. Trick is dead. Dyson is dead. Kenzi had nobody else to confide in. She lifted her phone to call Tamsin.
Bo and Hale
"Hale". He answered.
"Tell me this Twig does what Kenzi said it does". Bo said quickly.
"Ahh so she told you. Yes Bo. I can assure you that the Twig of Zamora will protect her from harm and my guards will do their best to protect her from getting kidnapped". Hale explained.
"That's it? Bo asked.
"That's it. She will be allowed to walk around the compound under heavy security but that's all I have planned for her protection right now. Right now I am also busy trying to calm the Elders that she insulted down". Hale groaned.
"I am so sorry about that Hale. I thought when I asked her to behave that she actually would". Bo sighed.
"Sounds like you are not coming back yet. I told Kenzi I suspected that you weren't ready to yet, and I don't blame you. Now your mother is another story". Hale laughed.
"I know. I know. She's unpredictable but yeah, she's coming there in a few days". Bo said.
"I understand. I will do what I can for Kenzi, but it really is a mess Bo". Hale confessed.
"I would appreciate anything that you can do, and I will speak to mom before she comes". Bo said.
"Thank you". Hale laughed. He didn't fear Aife. Just what she would do.
Watching Lauren finally walk out of the bathroom Bo ended the call.
"Good morning". Bo smiled.
"Nice try Bo but I know you". Lauren laughed.
"What? I don't even get a good morning? Bo winked.
"Good morning Bo". Lauren said softly.
Bo watched the Doctor hurry over to her closet and knew what it meant.
"Lauren. Please don't". Bo said.
"Bo you have no idea what those dungeons are like. Rats, dirty walls, floors. Almost no air other than what comes through the small door window". Lauren explained.
"Kenzi will be fine Lauren. Hale lets her out to get some air. She has the Twig of Zamora, and I know he won't let her starve". Bo smiled softly drinking some coffee.
"Bo I was in one of those things once. I know what it's like". Lauren confessed. The doctor was impressed that Hale gave Kenzi the Twig of Zamora. She read up on it years ago when she first met Hale.
Bo cringed. Ryan had told her about that but she had thought that he was bullshitting about it. He never liked humans, Kenzi or Lauren. Even without being Bo's thrall, he was still a dick. She cringed again thinking and knowing what she had to do next.
"I know Lauren and I am so sorry about that. Ryan told me about that. I didn't think it was true because Trick had told me before I met Ryan that Lachlan treated you better than the previous Ash". Bo said bracing herself for a fight and putting her cup down.
"You knew and did nothing about it? Lauren asked.
"By the time I found out, you were already out and gone off with Nadia". Bo frowned. She hated thinking of Lauren in that situation. Knowing nobody was there for her. Nobody to look out for her, like Hale was doing with Kenzi. There was nothing she could do about it now other than controlling her Succubus and assuring Lauren that she was really committed to them.
"Oh". Lauren said moving away from the closet and her bags.
"Yeah. Oh". Bo said softly.
"So what did you want to do today? Lauren asked.
"Why don't we go out for breakfast. I know mom has the buffet but that's all we have been having lately, and I want to get some air since it's nice out again". Bo said looking out the window and didn't find a single cloud in the sky.
"Ok. Then go, and get ready". Lauren laughed. Bo was still in her Kimono.
"Oh right". Bo laughed. She was so comfortable she had forgotten she hadn't dressed yet.
Once Lauren heard the water turn on, she slumped down into her chair as she started to pour over her book. She was still learning how to cast spells. All of it seemed out of date to her, since her staff did whatever she commanded. Bo was right. They shouldn't go back yet. They still had issues to mend, and Lauren wanted to be stronger before she returned and faced whatever the Fae was going to throw at her. She needed to practice more. Wanted to practice more. She was certain Albert would support her in whatever she wanted to do.
Lauren smiled when an idea struck. Jumping up, she quickly grabbed her staff, and headed into the bathroom.
Opening the glass door, she stood back. First admiring Bo's back side, and then she lifted her staff.
"Clean". Lauren laughed and watched as Bo's hands scrubbed her body with the towel. The Doctor's eyes flashed blue when Bo's hands reached her lower body.
"Lauren...". Bo groaned in embarrassment.
"Wash your hair". Lauren laughed again as Bo's hands dropped the towel, and grabbed her shampoo.
"Lauren. Really? This is embarrassing". Bo laughed as her hands tickled her head.
"Rinse! Lauren commanded, and watched as the shower heads splashed water all over Bo. Even the ones that weren't in use came to life.
Lauren laughed as Bo's eyes flashed blue as she stepped out of the shower.
"Dry! Lauren said holding her staff up one last time, and watched and Bo was suddenly dry. Even her hair.
Bo's eyes returned to normal as she was slowly stalking the Doctor. Lauren laughed because Bo was still fully naked.
"I think I will go down, and see Albert while you get dressed". Lauren laughed. And with that, the Doctor was out the door.
Bo grinned. "Oh Doctor. How dare you use your witchcraft on me again. It is long past time that you, and I go powers for powers". She laughed.
TBC.
Lauren and Bo enjoy another day out together.
Aife finally returns to Toronto and angers both sides.
Aife mocks the Light Fae by releasing Kenzi.
Some of you have asked when Albert will show his powers. He will when Lauren and Bo return to Toronto to face the Fae.