A hooded figure made their way through the crowded gatherings at The Dal. Fae, both light and dark alike, gave lingering, curious looks wondering who the new comer was. They could sense something different, something powerful about the figure. But many did not know the feeling, what it meant, having never experienced it before.
The figure paid little mind to those in the bar. Instead, making their way to Trick where he stood at the bar humoring Kenzi. The man spared a glance but didn't take much notice as the figure now had their head tipped down, hands brought up to push the hood back. As the figure was revealed to be a young woman with amber red hair and porcelain skin, Trick's eyes widened with both surprise and worry. Kenzi instantly lost the barkeeper's attention.
"Lea, what are you doing here?" Trick asked, moving to stand in front of the revealed woman. The woman smiled warmly while taking a seat at one of the stools.
"You know why I'm here, Trick".
"Because of the new Ash? I know he's not everyone's favorite guy but he hasn't been doing that bad of a job," Trick said though he didn't believe the words coming from his mouth. He just didn't want any more trouble than he knew Lea's presence would bring.
"Speak for yourself, Trickster. The guy has been nothing but a class A jackass. I'm surprised Bo hasn't ripped his head off yet for how he's treated Dr. Hotpants," Kenzi commented before downing the shot she had just poured herself.
"Dr. Hotpants?" Lea questioned.
"Lauren, the human doctor the jackass owns," Kenzi answered and Trick watched as Lea's eyes flashed in anger at the girl's words. Instantly, Trick knew Lea was going to clash with more than just the Ash.
"What has Lauren done about her situation?" Lea asked, her full attention now on Kenzi.
"Ran to us, well Bo, her lady love".
"So, she's in good hands?"
Kenzi scoffs and gives Lea an incredulous look. "You kidding, Bo is not going to let the Ash anywhere near the Doc," Kenzi pauses and looks at the woman, "Who are you again?"
Lea just smiled before looking at Trick. "If you'll excuse me, I believe I need to go speak with the new Ash".
"Lea, he's the Ash, you can't just go barging in to see him," Trick tried to reason as he grabbed her arm, stopping her movements.
"You know I can, you know the rules of the light and dark don't apply to me. He broke my rule, the reason I let the old Ash stay in power for as long as I did." Lea pulled her arm free.
"Lea," Trick warns.
"They are the rules, Trick, he broke mine and now I will enact those rules".
"Will you kill him?"
"I have no plans to but I will if it comes to that. I've come back for Lauren, I won't let him continue to treat her as he has".
"What if he agrees to give her everything the old Ash did?"
"Doesn't matter, he is no longer the Ash". With that, Lea stood from her stool before making her way back through the crowd. And because she forewent covering herself with the hood again, those around her who realized who she was, moved quickly out of her way. Both Trick and Kenzi watched her leave.
"Okay, who the hell was that?" Kenzi questioned, turning back to Trick.
"That, that was Lea, or you may better know her as Leanan Sidhe," Trick answered, still looking at the door Lea had left through. There was a pass of silence between the two before Trick finally looked at Kenzi only to see a blank look on the girl's face. He sighed and leaned atop the bar.
"She is of the Sidhe clan. They are essentially the rulers of the fairies. Fairies are considered neither light nor dark and because of that they are allowed to claim power of either side whenever they wish. It does not matter if there is already someone in power. But it is rare for one of them to take power. As I said, they are neither and do not wish for conflict".
"Then why does it sound like she's about to take the new Ash's position? And what does that have to do with Lauren?"
"To answer your first question, she is going to take the new Ash's position, through killing him if she has too".
"I'm sure Bo would be happy to help with that," Kenzi quipped to which Trick shot her a disapproving look for. Kenzi pretended to look innocent and just shrugged.
"As for your second question, I really don't know what it has to do with Lauren. If she and the old Ash had an understanding regarding Lauren, I don't know about it. All I know is that Lea and Lauren knew each other at one point".
"This isn't going to turn out good, is it?" Kenzi asked.
"No, Kenzi, I'm afraid not". Kenzi nodded and then after a moment, held her empty shot glass up to Trick. He merely grinned in amusement and filled the glass.
Lachlan stepped into the viewing room to see Lea sitting in his chair. A mixture of shock and hesitation colored his features. There were very few things that worried him but seeing Leanan Sidhe before him, having requested his presence, caused him more than a little worry.
"Ms. Sidhe, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Lachlan asked with his assumed charm.
"I think you know why I'm here, Lachlan," Lea replied with undisguised indifference. She was not impressed with the man standing before her.
"I'm afraid I don't, would you care to tell me?"
"What were you told when you became the new Ash, specifically in regards to Lauren?" Lea asked, watching the man closely. The recognition to her words was almost instantaneous as the color began to drain from Lachlan's face.
"Why do you care so much about her, he's just a human?" Lea stood and stepped down the couple steps till she was standing but a foot in front of the man. Her expression was cold, hard and Lachlan had to fight the urge to take a step back.
"Ash or not, you do not get to question my actions," Lea growled, her voice low. Her words were a warning to watch his step. She was in no mood to deal with this man, especially his arrogance.
"Now, you never answered my question, what were you told about Lauren?"
At first, he refused to answer. His pride and stubbornness refusing him from giving in. But as her eyes began to swirl black, showing her patients wearing thing with him, he relented.
"She was to be under my protection and not treated as the rest of the humans".
"Very good, see that wasn't so hard, was it?" Lea's words were a taunt and Lachlan had to clench his jaw from saying anything back. "Now, why am I here, Lachlan?"
"Again, I don't know, so why don't you tell me?" That arrogance broke the last of Lea's patients and before Lachlan could react, she had him about the neck. Her grip was strong enough that he brought his hands up, grabbing at hers in a useless attempt to get her to let go.
"I am tired of playing this little game with you, Lachlan. You broke my rule and now you have two options but either way, you are no longer the Ash. So, you can either be a man and quietly leave, never to come back. Or I will take the title when I take your life". Lea's grip tightened on Lachlan's throat as she threatened to take his life.
"These are not the old days anymore," Lachlan choked out as he continued to struggle against her hold. "I am the Ash now and you cannot threaten me. I do not care what the rules say".
"I thought you'd feel that way," Lea said calmly, an almost pleased smirk on her lips. Her hand free at her side slid beneath her cloak and behind her back to slowly withdraw the dagger she kept there.
Lauren continued to question why she had allowed Bo to talk her into coming along to The Dal. Even with it now closed, it was still extremely dangerous. Anyone could see her and tell Lachlan, which meant not only would she be punished but Bo and the others would as well. Something she would never forgive herself for.
"Hey," Bo uttered softly as she placed her hand on Lauren's arm, stopping them both. "You okay?"
"Bo, I still don't think this is a good idea," Lauren said feeling helpless.
"Nothing is going to happen," Bo reassured, turning completely to Lauren before bringing her free hand up to cup Lauren's cheek. "I won't let anything happen to you, I promise".
They stood there, staring at one another for a moment, an intimate closeness between the two. So many words wanted and needed to be said but neither had the courage to give voice to them.
"You two really need to just boink each other and get it over with. This tension is beginning to drive me crazy". The moment was broken by Kenzi and Bo could not help but roll her eyes as her hands dropped free of Lauren. Lauren, for her part, ducked her head and turned away from Bo.
"Really, Kenzi, boink?" Bo questioned as her and Lauren moved over to Kenzi and Trick. Kenzi simply shrugged like her words were no big deal.
"Oh, hey, Doc, met an old friend of yours earlier".
"What?" Both Lauren and Bo questioned at the same time, each looking at Trick. But before the man could answer, Kenzi spoke again.
"Some woman, don't remember her name, See, Seed".
"Sidhe," Trick supplied, interjecting.
"Yeah, that, she didn't seem too happy about how the new Ash has been treating you".
"Lea's back?" Lauren question Trick, surprise and something else laced her words, something Bo couldn't put her finger on. But it was something that made her stomach tie in an uncomfortable knot.
"She is".
"Why, I, did she say why she was back?"
"She said she came back for you. Something about the new Ash breaking her rule in regards to you," Trick said with apprehension, not sure how to take the information. Bo wasn't sure either and grabbed Lauren's arm, drawing her attention.
"Rule? Lauren, what is Trick talking about? Who is Lea?" Bo all but demanded.
"I'm sorry, Bo, I have to go".
"Go where?
"I'll tell you everything but not now. Please, Bo, I need to go". Lauren pulled her arm away with those words and left before she could be stopped. Bo could only watch in helplessness, feeling as if she were losing Lauren before things had been put right between them. Before she had truly even gotten Lauren back.