I own nothing but my own words.

Chapter 24: Some Things Are More Important Than Power

Maya was still shaking.

Josie brought her to the Salvatore School and led her to a study with comfortable couches and wood finishes. Josie also brought her a blanket and a bottle of water and was sitting next to her, clearly on edge, wondering what Maya would do next.

Maya didn't know what to do.

Her brother had just suffered unlike anything she had ever seen before to turn into a werewolf. She felt her stomach twist just thinking about it.

She sat up straight and clutched her mouth, looking around.

Josie quickly grabbed a waste basket and held it out for her.

Losing what little water she had swallowed, along with the cookie she ate before leaving the house, she didn't feel much better.

"Here," Josie handed her some tissues.

"Where is he?" Maya asked while shakily wiping her mouth.

"In the woods probably," Josie said. "He would've chased her. Kaleb will track them down."

"He had the gun?" Maya asked, suddenly afraid again.

"A tranquilizer," Josie hastened to say. "Just to knock him out so they can bring him back here."

"To the school?" Maya asked skeptically.

"We have facilities beneath the school designed to house the wolves on the full moon," Josie explained.

"So they'll take Ethan there?"

"Yes."

"How did this happen?" Maya asked. "Did someone bite him or scratch him?"

"It's a gene that he was born with," Josie said. "He must've triggered it since the last full moon."

"How do you trigger it?"

"You have to kill someone," Josie said.

"Ethan would never!" Maya reared back and clutched at the blanket around her shoulders.

"It doesn't have to be on purpose," Josie explained. "An accident where he's at fault does the same thing."

"But he didn't cause any accidents either," Maya denied.

Josie was pretty sure it had happened because of Dennis, which meant no one would remember the details because the Birds of Ares had returned to the pit and wiped all their memories clean.

"We'll find out from him for sure later," Josie said. "For now, just sit tight. My dad will let me know as soon as they get back."

Maya nodded. She curled up on the cushioned chair and rested her head on the arm.

She just wanted to see her brother and make sure he was okay.

"I'm here," Mac arrived, slamming through Alaric's study door without bothering to knock. She laid a bag on the desk. "A change of clothes for him. Now, tell me, where are my kids and what happened?"

"You might want to sit down for this," Alaric said.

"Where are my kids!?"

"They're downstairs," he said. "We had to put Ethan in one of the cells down there. Maya didn't want to leave him, so she's waiting outside of the cell for now. Josie is with her."

"Why is Ethan in a cell?" she asked. "Take me to them."

"Ethan's in a cell because he's not exactly himself," Alaric grimaced. "I know you're not too keen on the supernatural community, but I've a feeling that's about to change."

"What are you saying?" she asked.

"Have you ever killed someone in the line of duty?" he asked.

"On the force? No," she said.

"What about ever? Have you ever killed anyone?"

"In the EOD, I'm sure bombs I help set killed someone," she said. "What does this have to do with anything?"

"Your first husband, he was in the army?"

"Yes, he died on his first tour," she answered. "I'm pretty sure he killed someone too, if you must know."

"Tell me about him. Where was he from?"

"Ric, is this really the time?"

"Humor me."

"Louisiana," she said. "I met him while serving, he had just finished training, and we hit it off. He moved to Kansas to marry me before his tour began."

"Did he have a birthmark? On his shoulder?" Alaric asked. That would certainly explain why Ethan's first change had gone through so quickly. The only other wolf to change that fast the first time that he knew of was Hope.

"Yes, so does Ethan," she said. "A family trait is what Max said of his."

"Well, I have bad news and good news," Alaric said.

"If it means I can go see my kids, by all means tell me so we can get a move on," Mac said.

"Max carried the wolf gene, which means Ethan carries the wolf gene too," Alaric said. "And he triggered that gene some time this month which caused him to turn for the first time tonight as there's a full moon."

Mac collapsed in the seat Alaric had earlier insisted she sit in. "W-what?"

"The good news is Max was a member of the Crescent wolf pack which means Ethan is too. After his first full moon he can control his turns. He never has to turn again if he chooses not to."

Mac shook her head. "I don't understand any of this. How could Ethan be… you say Max…?"

"Unlike Ethan, Max probably knew, especially growing up in Louisiana—New Orleans, right?" Alaric asked. Since Ethan was the same age as Landon, then Ethan's father must've signed up for basic training immediately after Hayley married Jackson. He must've gone through basic training, gotten married himself, impregnated Mac, and started his first tour of duty in the four months before the next curse had befallen the Crescents.

Max probably spent most of his life surrounded by wolves. He would've been a child when the Crescents were cursed. Maybe his parents had activated their wolf genes and he grew up without them? It definitely wouldn't have been a normal childhood. And then if he had triggered his wolf, he would've been stuck as a wolf too since he was in the area when the spell was cast, turning human only on the full moon like the rest of his pack. When he finally had freedom from that curse and could control his changes, he left home as soon as possible to join the military knowing he didn't have to fear the change while on duty. That probably wasn't something he wanted to advertise to his new wife. The story was definitely incredible.

Mac nodded.

"The Crescents are different from any other pack. They can control their turns. However," Alaric continued, "they still have all the abilities that come with being a wolf in their human form. Speed, agility, healing, heightened senses. It takes some getting used to, especially in the human world, which is why I would suggest enrolling him in the Salvatore School. To be around others like him."

"Whoa," Mac said, holding up a hand. "Wait. What does this have to do with killing someone?"

"If Josie's correct, we think Ethan was on the roof when Dennis was killed," Alaric said. "We think Ethan was somehow responsible for it."

"No way would my kid kill anyone," Mac immediately denied.

"An accident, I'm sure," he said. "When he changes back, I'll ask about it, but I'm also pretty sure he won't remember anything since no one can remember the birds or what happened during the attack."

"So you're saying Ethan accidentally killed his teammate, but doesn't remember it?" Mac took a shaky breath. "He's not going to take that too well."

"I imagine not."

Mac joined Maya and they both waited for Ethan to change back, Maya clutching hold of her mother.

Around dawn, the wolf had awoken and began to prowl the cell, looking for an escape, but he still didn't change.

"I thought your father said he'd change back before the sun rose," Mac said. "Why is he still a wolf?"

"I don't know…" Josie said, confused as she noted a number of other wolves who had already changed and been let out of their cells. "I'll get my dad."

Arriving to the cell with Josie in tow, Alaric tried to make heads or tails of the situation.

"All Crescents have to change at their first full moon, it's a rite-of-passage," Alaric began. "But maybe that's the only change required…maybe in order to change back, the wolf has to make it happen?"

"Ethan?" Mac approached the cell, crouching down to get his attention. "Ethan, honey, change back. Can you hear me?"

He prowled around in a circle before lying down on his haunches and resting his snout on top of his paws.

"Mom," Maya joined her at the cell. "What he went through, it was horrible. So much pain."

"Every bone in their bodies break to reform into the wolf," Alaric provided.

Mac gasped and tears rose to her eyes. My boy.

"I'm sure he's not too anxious to do that again," Maya said.

"I guess we'll just have to wait until he's ready," Alaric said.

"What if he's never ready?" Mac said.

"He will be," Alaric said, looking at the wolf. "Just give him time."

"I better go check on Jade," Josie said. "She'll be waking up soon too." Kaleb had to break her neck to subdue her. They had forced a werewolf cure down her throat, but she was still passed out the last time Josie looked in on her. They put her in a cell too, just in case her ripper was still active once she woke.

"Josie?" Maya whispered, coming over to her. "Can you do me a favor?"

"Yes?"

"Can you tell her I'm sorry, but this is too much?" Maya asked. "It was fun, but I can't be with her, not knowing what she is."

"Why don't you tell her yourself?" Josie asked, figuring if Jade was awake she probably just heard it anyway.

"I can't…be near her again," Maya replied, shuddering. "I don't want to talk to her ever again. Is that mean? I know it is. I'm just…not okay with it. She scares me."

Josie just nodded.

"I heard her," Jade said. "You don't have to repeat it."

She turned away and rubbed at her eyes.

"I'm sorry," Josie said.

"It's okay," Jade said. "It's not like we were serious or anything. It was fun while it lasted. It just hurts, you know? Being rejected for who you are. I've had way too much practice with that. You'd think it would've gotten easier."

"I'm sorry I couldn't do more to help you last night," Josie said. She picked up the keys and unlocked the cell. The ripper was definitely contained.

"It wasn't your fault," Jade said, sitting up with a sigh. "It was just one of those things. Luckily I didn't kill anyone. But I could've. And that… yeah, it's scary. Maya is right to be scared. I could've killed her. I could've killed you. I wouldn't be surprised if you ran away screaming either."

"I'm not going anywhere," Josie said, standing in the open cell door, waiting for her to leave.

"You're a really good friend," Jade said, smiling slightly. "Thank you."

Josie nodded. "Want to get some breakfast? There's some really nice bunny blood waiting for you. Might even be able to scrounge you up some pancakes?"

"Sounds great."

Clarke stared at the laptop screen he booted up with his hot spot, willing it to say something different, but nope.

"Crap."

"What?" Hope asked.

"I screwed up."

Knowing he didn't admit that lightly, she walked over to see what had him annoyed.

"I didn't think," he grumbled. "Thanksgiving is one week away, which means everyone will be flying. Flights are practically completely booked all next week out of Wyoming. I should've done this sooner." He had been pretty distracted by Hope but excuses weren't going to change the situation.

"You mean, we can't get to New Orleans by Thursday?" she asked, worried.

"No, we can," he said. "But they only have a single seat available on the flights with any availability. And the only day that has two flights with single seats is on Monday."

Four days from now.

"So you're saying…"

"We have to take separate flights," he huffed.

"Then we'll take separate flights," Hope said simply.

Shaking his head, he went back to typing. "I'll book them. Better start clearing up the weather so we can get down the mountain into Cheyenne without using magic."

"Okay."

"And we need to make your ID," he said, pausing with his fingers over the keyboard. "What name do you want to use?"

She thought about it, really having no idea, but went with, "Marsha Hale."

He raised an eyebrow. "How did you come up with that?"

"My mom's maiden name is Hayley Marshall," she shrugged. "A play on that."

"It definitely won't raise any flags," he said, entering the name. "You don't look like a Marsha."

"Do you know many Marshas?"

"None from this century."

"Then you pick it!"

"It's fine," he said, smirking as he wrote it in to book her flight.

"Where's the ID you want me to morph?" she asked.

"Here," he pulled out one of his old Triad keycards. "Might want to put the wig on first, just so you know what you look like with it. And the glasses."

"Can't I just use magic to change my hair?" she asked. "Why do I gotta wear a wig?"

"Can the magic be sensed if you change it? Once we leave?" he asked. "Because you won't be using magic once we leave, not for a while."

"I'm…not sure?" she said. "It'd be a glamour, so… but I am cloaked."

"Cloaking hasn't stopped the monsters from finding us," he pointed out.

"Fine. I'll wear the wig," she gave in. "Where'd you put it?"

"They are so going to know this is a wig," Hope said, staring in the bathroom mirror.

He had picked out a black bob with bangs. Bangs! She hadn't had bangs since she was ten—a fashion victim by her own hand.

"No, they aren't," he said, adjusting the area by her right ear. It didn't really matter because the fake hair fell over the ear in a straight line.

"We'll secure it better on Monday," he said. "For now, put the glasses on."

She did, making sure not to disturb the hair in the process. "Now I look like a Marsha."

"You look like you rebelled against the name before you decided to settle down as the proper librarian you were always meant to be," he commented.

"You're having way too much fun with this," she grumbled.

She picked up the Triad card, looked at his fake ID for Alex Bennington, and morphed her card to resemble the same information as him, being sure to add the code for corrective lenses and female.

He activated his ring and adjusted his appearance.

"Good, now make mine read 'William Benson'," he instructed. "And make my photo look like this."

"Who is that?" she asked.

"The name on the credit card I used," he said. "I don't know if Alex Bennington was compromised or not. I was saving that card for an emergency situation; I just didn't have an ID to go with it."

"Now you do," she handed his card back to him. "Now, help me get the bobby pins out of this thing."

"Hey E," Jed said, coming into the cell with a big juicy steak on a plate. He put the plate down on the ground and pushed it into the cell. "Lunch time!"

The wolf began to devour it, but kept looking up at Jed curiously.

"So, it's been two days and everyone's worried about you," Jed said. "Well, everyone being your family and the Js—including me…

"I'm really sorry I don't remember what happened on that roof," he continued. "If that's when you triggered your wolf gene I should've noticed. I would've noticed. Then this wouldn't have been a surprise to you."

Ethan stopped eating his lunch and came over to the bars, close to Jed.

"I know it hurts man, but its part of being a wolf," Jed said. "I don't get a choice. Every full moon I have to turn, just like I have to turn back when it's over. We all have to do it. Except for Crescents like you. All you have to do is turn back and you never have to turn again if you don't want to. So, what do you say? Just do it and get it over with?"

Ethan continued to stare at Jed, as if he was trying to tell him something.

"It's just not like you," Jed said. "You're not one to pussy out. No one holds it against you though. But still, just deal with the pain so you can move on."

The wolf let out something that would've resembled a sigh if he were human.

"You look really annoyed," Jed said frowning. "I didn't know it was possible for wolves to get annoyed, and I am one."

Ethan tapped at the cell door, showing his impatience.

"Look, I know you've never done this before, but…" Jed's eyes widened. "Is that the problem? You don't know how to turn back?" Ethan hadn't known anything going in, and if his Crescent blood didn't force him to change back, how would he even begin to know how to force himself to?

Ethan stopped tapping and sat at attention, his ears tall and waiting.

"Just, focus on your bones," Jed suggested. "Tell them to change? It always happens naturally for me. Hope would know about this more than me. Too bad we can't contact her."

The wolf gave him that curious look again.

"Yeah, Hope's a wolf. Among other things. A Crescent like you too," he said.

"But focus," Jed said again. "You have control. Tell your wolf it's time to retreat. Time for you to dominate again."

He waited and sure enough the change began.

Jed winced at the sound of bones cracking.

The wolf could withstand the pain much more than the human could, so the change happened with minimal howling.

Finally Ethan was sprawled on the floor in his birthday suit, breathing heavy and covered in sweat.

"Get dressed and I'll get Doctor Saltzman," Jed said.

"Jed," Ethan called out.

"Yo?"

"Thanks."

"No prob, bro," Jed said, happy to have helped.

"So, we only have three days left here?" Hope asked as she crawled into bed next to him that night.

"Yep," he replied, turning onto his side to watch her.

After the death of Fenrir, life had returned to the norm of fighting creatures throughout the day then turning in for the night. Malivore had been sending more than normal, but he wouldn't make the mistake of sending more than he could handle at once again. He had lost too many that way.

"Things will change again," she said, turning onto her side to stare at him too.

"Don't they always," he said.

"I like it here," she said.

"Me too," he reached up and traced her jaw line.

"Only got one other scar out of it," she said referring to the mark on her side left even after her wound from Fenrir had healed.

"You have another scar besides that one?" he asked, surprised.

"Here," she pointed to a spot on the side of her neck resting against the bed. "It's barely there, but I noticed it."

"What's it from?" he stroked his fingers down to that side of her neck, encouraging her to angle back so he could search for it.

"When MG nearly killed me," she said. "Don't tell him. He'll feel bad."

He'll feel bad? Clarke thought. Clarke felt bad.

"I never told you, I'm sorry I left you there."

"You didn't leave me," she said. "I told you to go."

"I screwed up," he insisted. "I should've stayed."

She noticed he did that a lot—being too hard on himself. He used to always worry about failing his father, maybe this was him worrying about failing her.

"If you had stayed, you wouldn't have gotten the warning from the Sphinx, and you might not have been able to save me from the bomb," she said. "You didn't screw anything up."

She reached out and stroked the backs of her middle and forefinger down the side of his face.

"We wouldn't be here right now if anything had gone differently. And that would've been a shame."

He had to agree at that.

Her eyes changed, lighting up mischievously.

She reached down and took hold of one of his hands. "Know what else would've been a shame?" She brought his left hand up and rested it against her chest. "If you couldn't do this."

"A damn shame," he murmured, spreading his fingers out, ready to take thorough advantage of this latest development. His fingers brushed over her nipples through his shirt and her breath caught.

She slowly fell onto her back, making it easier for him, so he continued his exploration, making eye contact with her to gauge her reaction. Her eyes were heavy laden. She seemed to be enjoying it.

His fingers found the opening between two of the buttons and he had to ask, "May I?"

She nodded, so he slowly undid the buttons of a few, starting at the middle and moving upward. He didn't move the material out of the way; he just slid his fingers inside, keeping his eyes connected to hers as he took her bare breast in hand, stroking it and then rubbing the now hard nub between his thumb and forefinger.

She arched her back suddenly, and he smirked. He loved how responsive she was. He moved to repeat his movements with her other breast, it was only fair.

This time when she arched, the material fell apart. He waited to see her reaction, but she seemed fine with it, so he went back to the buttons, undoing the ones that were still intact.

The material fell open completely and his breath caught this time. She was absolutely beautiful.

"You're beautiful," he murmured.

She blushed but reached up for him.

He kissed her but left enough space in between them to continue exploring her chest. He loved touching her, feeling her smooth skin beneath his fingertips. He would never get enough of her.

But for tonight, that would have to be enough, because she soon drew back. He knew that look of hers by now. She had gone as far as she was ready to go, and it was time for sleep now.

He immediately withdrew and closed the shirt over her, shutting out the perfect vision of her chest. She started buttoning it back up quickly as he settled on his side of the bed.

She lay against him when she was done, but then pulled back. Grinning that mischievous grin again, she reached for the bottom of his shirt. "May I?"

Smirking, he nodded, and sat up a little to help her.

She tugged his shirt off, then laid back down against him. The only exploration she did was to run her hand down to his stomach and back up his side before she settled down, resting her head against him.

He stroked her back until she fell asleep.

"I need to call Lizzie."

"We told her next Thursday."

It was Saturday morning and Hope had one thing she couldn't put off any longer.

"Well, I need to talk to her sooner," she said. "Where's the phone?"

Sighing, Clarke got up and went to the garage to retrieve it. He kept it stowed there after he used the data for the hot spot to buy the airline tickets. It was turned off to preserve the battery. He turned it back on and handed it to her.

"Only because we're leaving soon," he said. "But be careful."

She quickly found the number and called.

"Hello!?"

"Pretend it's your mom," Hope said quickly.

"Mom! Hi!" Lizzie said with a little too much effort. "It's so good to hear from you! How are you!?"

"I need you to book a flight to see your mom in Europe," Hope said. "Leaving on Monday."

"Wow, that sounds so good, Mom, but, uh, it's so last minute and, uh, expensive," Lizzie said.

"I'll pay you back," Hope said immediately. "Not like I don't owe Ryan a fortune already."

Clarke looked up at that and shook his head at her.

She nodded back, disagreeing with him, and then turned away to focus on the phone call again.

"Who?" Lizzie asked.

"Oh, Clarke," Hope said, remembering that everyone else still called him that.

Continuing, she said, "Go to the airport, check-in and everything, then cloak yourself and leave before the flight takes off."

Clarke raised an eyebrow. It sounded like she was getting as paranoid as he was.

"Riiight," Lizzie said.

"I really can't wait to see you at home," Hope said with emphasis.

"You mean you want me to—Oh!" Lizzie finally got it. "Yeah, I can't wait to see you at home either, Mom, maybe next year you can spend Thanksgiving at home with us. But at least I'll be able to spend it with you this year."

"Bring my lucky paintbrush," Hope said.

"Uh, right, I'll get right on that…Mom," Lizzie said, totally confused.

Clarke looked at Hope. A paintbrush?… Long and thin… like the shape of lip gloss… or an arrow. Crap.

"Cross your heart and hope to die?" Hope said sing-song like.

"Signed, sealed, delivered," Lizzie got the message loud and clear.

She was to meet Hope at her home in New Orleans with a paintbrush and she wasn't allowed to tell anyone her plans. Got it.

"Be careful," Hope said.

"You too," Lizzie said.

"Well," Hope said, ending the call. "That went well."

Clarke took a deep breath. Then he released it. "He's alive."

"Who?"

"Landon," he said, not sure what he hated more. That Landon really was alive, or that he felt like he had to tell her before she removed the glamour to use the golden arrow to kill Malivore. "He's alive somewhere in our father. He's not dead."

Hope sat the phone down quietly, staring at it. "How do you know?"

"He's the one who told me our father had risen and taken him over. He was the one who told me you were in trouble," he admitted.

"How?" she asked.

"A dream maybe? I don't really know what it was," he said. "He didn't know anything else Malivore was up to, he just knew you were in trouble. So he warned me."

She nodded.

"He wanted me to kill him," he said. "I tried to find the arrow—the lip gloss—but you had already moved it. To a paintbrush apparently."

She nodded again, still staring down at the phone.

"Say something?" He was feeling a little nauseous, which wasn't a usual feeling for him. This must be his stomach's way of telling him to stop keeping things from her.

She shrugged.

"Look at me, Hope," he said.

She did, but her eyes looked blank, giving nothing away.

"What are you thinking?"

"That it doesn't matter if he's dead or alive," she said. "I knew there was a possibility when I told Lizzie to bring it. Malivore still has to die. Your telling me this only lets me know I'll be killing the both of them. So… thanks?"

"Hope…" he reached out for her, but she stood up suddenly, wrapping her arms around her stomach.

"I need a few minutes," she mumbled. "Just… give me a minute."

She walked away quickly, seeking out a place she could be alone with her thoughts.

Settling upstairs into one of the twin beds in a vacant room, she stared at the ceiling.

She wasn't upset with Ryan for keeping the truth from her for so long. He had never come right out and lied to her, he just covered up the truth. She understood why.

The part that had her wrapping her arms around herself to brace for what was to come was the part that knew if Aunt Freya couldn't help her find a way to get Malivore out of Landon, she would be responsible for killing him along with his father.

She loved Landon. She really did.

But she was pretty sure she wanted to stay with Ryan, even when this was all over—even if Landon somehow survived.

But maybe that's because she hasn't seen Landon in so long. What did Lizzie say? Out of sight, out of mind? Maybe she convinced herself Ryan is who she should be with to make it easier for her if Landon really does have to die.

Was that being unfair to Ryan again? Probably. But, as he said before, he didn't care. Her being with him made him happy. She could see it in his every action, feel it in every kiss.

It made her happy too. She felt so at ease with him now, content in the knowledge that they both knew each other better than anyone else. He had become a presence in her life that she never wanted to lose.

She trusted him.

Did she love him?

She didn't know.

Hope joined him later that evening for dinner.

She didn't say much, but she didn't seem mad at him either. She made small talk and ate the burger he gave her but didn't once bring up the situation with Landon.

He didn't really want to talk about it either, but he would wait and see if she brought it up before she went to bed.

Tomorrow would be spent getting everything together and readying to leave. Their flights were early Monday morning so they would have to travel through the night to get there in time. There would be no time to talk about it tomorrow.

Settling into bed that night, she still didn't bring up the topic, but she did reach for him.

Thinking this would be one of those nights she just fell straight to sleep, he was surprised when she settled her hands on his shoulders, pushed him down into the mattress, and rose above him to meet his kiss.

Whatever her feelings, she wasn't holding back much that night. Her hands crept up under his shirt, feeling her way as her tongue danced with his.

He reached down to pull his shirt up and off, thinking he may forgo a shirt all the time if she wanted him to. As he pulled it off, she immediately brought her shirt up over her head too.

Not sure he would ever get used to that sight, he reached for her only to have her press herself against his bare chest. He groaned at the feeling, running his hands down her back. She went back to kissing him, so he ran his hands down to her sides, tracing his fingers along the side curves of her breasts.

She moved back but pulled at his shoulders, so he followed and rolled with her so he was on top of her now, or at least half of him was. His left leg had fallen between her thighs when they rolled. He hesitated then started to move his leg away. She reached up to hold onto his face.

"It's okay," she whispered.

Settling more firmly against her, he took control of her mouth again, even as his left hand came up to explore her breast. He knew he shouldn't for his own sake, but he moved his hips slightly against hers.

She didn't seem to mind as the kissing and heavy petting continued.

Eventually she grasped his hand and stilled.

He moved his leg back, readying to lay on his back so she could lay against him like she always did to sleep. Before he could, she turned away from him but scooted her back up against him.

Trying to reign himself in, he breathed soft kisses into her neck.

"Guess this means you're not mad at me."

She shook her head. "Earlier wasn't about you. I promise. We're okay."

Knowing she meant her thoughts had been about Landon was an instant mood killer for him, which was a good thing considering he would be forced to lay behind her all night reliving the past hour and trying not to embarrass himself otherwise.

"Goodnight, Hope," he murmured.

"Goodnight, Ryan," she murmured back.

Leaving Wyoming was bittersweet.

This was the first place he had ever felt wanted, the first place she had kissed him, the first place he had ever been truly happy.

And he was about to blow it all straight to hell.

They packed up the truck with a carry-on for each of them with a couple change of clothes. His had more since she would have things at her aunt's home. Everything else would have to be left behind, even his guns. He could always replace them, though he winced at the loss.

In the evening, before dusk fell, he used his ring to set the stage for their departure.

Giving the illusion that all was the same, he drove the both of them out of the garage. He stopped long enough for her to change the barrier around the house. No longer would it be designed to keep everything out. She created an opening at a doorway, and changed the barrier to keep everything in.

He used the ring to create an illusion of Hope going outside to fight a monster he created too. Then he made the illusion show Hope running back inside with the monster following behind.

It did its job, as other monsters suddenly came out of hiding and made their way into the house too.

He didn't know how long it would be before they found they couldn't get out. He hoped it trapped as many as possible before the dark object he activated inside went off.

A special kind of bomb that destroyed supernaturals. It would go off and the explosion would be contained inside the barrier where nothing could escape.

They had until then to get as far away as possible, so that's what they were going to do now that the trap was set.

"Time to go," he said.

She nodded but stared back at the house.

Driving invisible down the roadway, he was careful to avoid any patches of ice as they escaped down the mountain.

She had done well with taming the weather over the past four days. She was worried about changing it too suddenly. She didn't want to cause avalanches. Nothing treacherous got in their path though.

Arriving at the airport early the next morning, he parked in long term parking. He activated his ring to change his appearance and then helped get her wig on, securing it with pins.

"Ouch," she complained when he stabbed one into her ear.

"It's almost done," he said. "Just don't touch anything once I'm done and it'll stay in place."

They took the shuttle to the airport and went through the security check point.

She held her breath as the security officer looked over her ticket and identification, but all seemed well when he just marked the ticket and moved her along through.

She was to take the first flight out, but arrive last because there was a layover. He would take the second flight but arrive first and wait for her.

"I'm nervous," she said. She hadn't been away from Ryan in a month. Now she was about to take a flight without him and an untold number of things could go wrong.

"Don't do magic and you'll be fine," he said.

"You better be fine too," she insisted.

"Relax," he said. "I have my ring. Even if something goes wrong, you changed the cloaking spell so you could find me."

An announcement rang out overhead, indicating it was time for her flight to board. She turned back to him. "Everything is going to be fine."

He nodded.

She reached up on tiptoe, tracing the backsides of her middle and forefingers down the side of his face like always. He leaned into her touch and bent down to her.

She kissed him hard, pulling him to her as tightly as she could.

And then she was walking away and boarding the plane.

He went to his own gate to wait, resisting tapping his foot against the floor too much.

Finally, he boarded his own flight.

For once, the entire plan went without a hitch.

He arrived in New Orleans by five in the evening, waiting another two hours for her to arrive.

He met her at her gate and the relief on her face probably rivaled his own.

She ran into his arms and sighed, "At least something went right this trip."

She pulled back with a grin, already starting to pull the bobby pins out.

"Time to go home!"

The only flight Lizzie could find on Monday left late in the night. She made arrangements to catch a Lyft to the Roanoke Blacksburg Airport. Her ticket granted her a flight from Roanoke with a layover at Dulles, before heading on through to Heathrow.

She had emailed her mother in her and Josie's old 'twin speak'. She figured by the time any Triad agent deciphered that gibberish, she would already be on her way to New Orleans and they wouldn't find her. She wanted her mother to know of her 'flight' since that was the story she was telling everyone—that she was flying in to London to see her mother.

Josie wanted to come along until she used that same 'twin speak' to let her know she wasn't really going there, but she couldn't say where she was going. Josie wasn't happy to hear that, of course, but there was no help for it.

Mom had tons of questions and was worried. She told her mother she was going to see Hope, that everything would be okay and—since Clarke was there—she might actually finally get the merge information they needed so Mom could stop searching and come home.

She went through the motions of checking-in at the airport. She even checked one bag of luggage full of linens. She waited patiently for her turn at the security check point, and then she took her shoes off to put on the conveyer belt along with her purse. She went through security, got wanded, and then grabbed her bag and shoes again, putting the later on. She went to the bathroom, found an empty stall, and performed the spell to cloak herself. She pulled a scarf out and wrapped it around her head, blocking out her shock of blonde hair.

Then she walked out and quickly found the exit.

Waiting on the sidewalk outside of Arrivals, she kept an eye out for a familiar vehicle.

When her car pulled in front of her with the top down and a familiar face grinning at her, she couldn't help but grin back as she walked around to the driver's side.

"Where're we going?" MG asked.

She opened the door and shooed him over.

"I'll let you know when we get there. Now, scoot!"

Hope didn't say she couldn't bring anyone with her, just not to tell them. No way was she driving all the way to New Orleans by herself.

Fortunately MG was always up for a crazy last minute scheme, and she had cloaked him before she even left for the airport.

"Into the great unknown then," MG said, nodding as he moved over into the passenger seat.

"I'm Han Solo," she said, referring to the comic book he just referenced. "You can be the Chewy one."

"Chewbacca," he corrected her.

"Whatever," she said, putting the car into drive.

"You know, the fact that you know about a single Star Wars Tales comic says—"

"MG!" she cut him off. "Focus. We're road tripping, not discussing my knowledge of nerdy things. Clearly I've been hanging around you too much."

"If you say so," he gave her one of his sweet smiles.

She ignored him and switched lanes.

"Thanks for inviting me along," he said.

"Thanks for coming," she said. She felt better having him with her.

He always came through.

"Aunt Freya!"

Clarke watched as Hope ran to hug the thin tall blonde woman waiting for them in the courtyard. He followed behind silently, taking her and their setting in.

"Hope," Freya hugged her tightly, smiling a kiss into her hair. "You had us so worried."

"You got my message?" Hope said, wondering if somehow the fire message hadn't been sent properly. She had been low on magic at that point.

"I did," Freya said, pulling back to take in her appearance. "And I got the one your friend, Lizzie, gave me too. I believe that one came from him." She nodded to the man standing behind her niece.

"And you are?" she asked.

"Aunt Freya," Hope said, turning to include Ryan and introduce him. "This is Cl—"

"Ryan," Clarke interrupted her, holding out his hand to Freya. "Ryan Clarke. Some call me Clarke, but you can call me Ryan."

"Ryan," Freya nodded and shook his hand.

Hope smiled, pleased. The only people he wanted to call him Ryan were the people he cared about, which was why she was going to introduce him as Clarke. But he cared about her aunt, probably because she was important to her.

"That was some message you sent," Freya said to Clarke. "Thankfully they never identified her or I would've had to put together a fake funeral."

"Funeral?" Hope asked, confused.

"He made it look like you two had died in Nebraska," Freya said. "Lizzie explained it was to get a government organization off your tail?"

"Oh," Hope nodded. "Yeah." She didn't think much about Nebraska thankfully. She was too busy focusing on fighting. Plus, Ryan had distracted her.

"Sounds like we have a lot to catch up on," Freya said pointedly.

"How much time you got?" Hope asked with a laugh.

"So, Kai Parker told Doctor Saltzman to move his bones outside of the cemetery and burn them so that no one could raise him again?" Freya asked. "And he believed that?"

"Uh, yes?" Hope said.

Freya leaned back in her chair, continuing to rock the swing holding her son who had gotten fussy while she was catching up with Hope and Ryan. Nik had fallen back to sleep, soothed by the movement and the sound of their voices. Keelin was working late at the clinic that night.

Freya shook her head, "What are they teaching at that school? Kai just wanted his remains moved to get out from under that necromancer's control. He tricked him into helping him."

"At least he's dead either way," Hope said, smiling with relief. "And no one has any plans to raise him ever again."

Freya shook her head. "Go on."

The story came out much faster than it had taken to live it. Hope spoke for the most part, just laying out the facts of the creatures without going into too much detail about how she felt about everything. Clarke only spoke up when Hope couldn't remember something.

"Wait," Freya held up a hand. "The monsters found you every time you used magic?"

Hope nodded. "Took us long enough to figure it out."

"But how did Malivore know you were using magic? You're not connected to him at all."

Hope shrugged. "I don't really know… he knew when I used magic when I was in Malivore. I guess I just assumed that was why?"

Freya looked thoughtful. "Since you've been on the run, have you ever done magic and nothing showed up?"

Hope thought about it. "Once…no twice. When Triad attacked Ryan," she said. "But the demons found us at the motel later that night, and since they only attacked when their victims sleep we just assumed that was why they didn't attack earlier. They had to wait."

"But they were working together," Freya said, "So they could've been sent together after one of those times of using magic…"

"What are you getting at?" Clarke asked.

"Explain to me those two times," Freya told Hope.

"I… killed the Triad agent with magic from down the alley since I couldn't reach them in time when she was attacking Ryan," Hope admitted, hoping her aunt wouldn't be angry with her. "Nothing showed up."

"And the other time?"

"I was in a mood after leaving the diner by myself and used magic to kick a can because I wanted a monster to show up so I could kill it," Hope said, giving an apologetic look to Ryan. "Sorry."

Freya sat back. "That's why."

"What?" Hope asked.

"Malivore can't just randomly sense when you do magic," Freya said. "He can only sense when you do magic near his son. Near Ryan."

Clarke looked up with alarm. "You mean he can track me?"

Freya shook her head. "I don't think so. I think he can only sense where you are when she uses magic because it hurts him, and he's able to pinpoint the location from that. But he probably feels the link even if he can't tell where you're at."

"If I'm linked to him, I need to leave," he said, immediately standing. He didn't want to leave Hope, but he couldn't put her or her family in danger.

"Ryan, no!" Hope insisted, reaching to grab his hand. "Aunt Freya!"

"I can help," Freya said. "I can unlink the two of you, but I'm not sure that will give your location away or not."

"Is there another option?" Hope asked.

Freya looked pensive. "I can cloak the link to Ryan, but Malivore might take action if he can't feel it anymore. If he's torturing witches for information, he might start attacking them to make them search for him…

"I can try one thing I haven't done since you were a child, and it didn't work very well, but I think it'll be okay this time," she said.

"What are you going to do?" Hope asked.

"Ryan's a golem, so why not replicate the link and transfer it to another golem—or a doll, and I'll have it sent away," she said. "I'll cloak the link to Ryan at the same time so Malivore doesn't notice any disruption."

"Why didn't it work when I was a child?" Hope asked, looking for any flaws in the plan.

"Because the golem didn't have a heartbeat, and the witch tracking you would've noticed. Malivore isn't a witch. He won't notice," Freya explained.

"Do it," Clarke insisted.

"Watch him," Freya said to Hope, indicating the baby, as she got up to get her supplies.

Hope moved to Freya's vacated seat and started rocking Nik.

"I know you're kicking yourself," Hope said. "But you didn't screw up again. You couldn't have known."

"I should've though," Clarke said, angry with himself.

"Stop," Hope said. "We needed to kill the monsters, and he could've unleashed them on Mystic Falls if he couldn't track me somehow."

She had a point, but it didn't make it better. He helped his father find her. Malivore used him and she could've been killed.

He really hated his father.

The spell had gone down easily enough and Freya called someone to pick up the golem and drive out of town with it.

They continued to talk, filling her in until she was completely caught up and Freya and Hope were both yawning.

"It's getting late, time for me to put him down," Freya said. "Hope, go ahead to your room. I'll show Ryan to his."

Hope's mouth dropped open. "Um—"

"Hope?" Freya gave her a look.

Hope closed her mouth and nodded. She gave him an apologetic look.

"It could be dangerous," he tried. "Letting her sleep alone."

Freya shook her head and gave a firm polite smile. "This place has wards and barriers all over it. It's the safest place in New Orleans from monsters and things that go bump in the night. My son and my niece are safe to sleep here undisturbed."

Knowing there was nothing he could do, he nodded and looked at Hope too, just as apologetically.

Hope slowly stood, grasped her travel bag, and made her way to her room. She wasn't much for PDA so she wasn't going to kiss him in front of her aunt. She would just have to see him in the morning...

Freya stood, and he followed her lead.

"I'll show you to Elijah's old room," she said, picking Nik up and laying him against her shoulder. He adjusted easily. "It's been turned into a guest room. Very comfortable and the linens are fresh. Changed them this morning even though I didn't anticipate seeing either of you for a couple more days."

"Thank you," he nodded, following her up the stairs.

She nodded in reply.

As they reached the second level and she continued on to the room, she began to speak.

"This golden arrow, it will kill Landon," she confirmed.

He nodded.

"And the only other way we know for sure to destroy Malivore is Hope?" she asked.

"Yes," he said.

"So, everyone's asking her to choose between someone she cares about and her own life…and they think she'll choose hers?"

He swallowed, knowing she had a point, but still… "I think she will. Arrangements have been made to put the arrow in her hands." And it was impossible for her to gain access to the pit at the moment anyway.

"Holding it and using it are two different things," Freya pointed out.

They came to a stop outside a door he assumed was where he would stay that night.

"Keep an eye on her," she said, knowing he would do as she asked. He clearly cared a great deal for her niece. "She'll have to activate her vampire side if she goes that route."

"Maybe only some blood would be needed," he insisted.

"Even so…I warn you about letting that happen," she said gravely.

He didn't understand. He knew Hope didn't want to be a vampire, not yet anyway. And he wasn't too thrilled about the dying part, but if it would mean she would live forever with him... And then there was the power.

"More power is a good thing," he said.

"Some things are more important than power," she said, looking down at the child sleeping peacefully on her shoulder, she smiled at him and rubbed his back gently. She looked back up at Clarke. "You should know that."

Clarke finally understood what she was saying, and his stomach clenched knowing that was the one thing he would never be able to give Hope.

He nodded.

"Let me know if you need anything," she said. "Goodnight."

Entering the room, he placed his bag on a table and rubbed at his face.

Tonight had yielded many revelations that he wasn't too comfortable with. To be the reason the monsters had been able to follow Hope, that he had put her in danger without even knowing it... Thankfully Freya had figured it out and Hope could use her magic again, though he was sure she would still be wary.

Then there was the other part. Freya was asking him to make sure Hope didn't decide to sacrifice herself for them all, including Landon. She was also asking him to protect a future for Hope, a part of that future that he couldn't have a hand in.

She didn't have to ask. He would do anything for Hope.

As he got ready for bed, he wasn't surprised when there was a light tap at his door.

Answering it, there she was in her favorite pajama top and shorts, smiling up at him.

Reaching for her, she came into his arms gladly, standing on tiptoe to meet his kiss. He closed the door behind her and led her over to the bed, pulling his shirt off as he went.

She sat on the edge, scooted back, and started unbuttoning her shirt.

He climbed in next to her and took over, loosening each button from its hole and kissing down her chest as each one revealed more skin.

Kissing his way down to her stomach, the shirt fell away, baring her chest to him. He pulled it the rest of the way off. She clutched at his shoulders as he traced his tongue back up the path he just kissed. Then he rubbed his thumbs across each breast.

Bending to mouth at one while caressing the other, he forgot all about his worries and focused on pleasuring her until she put a stop to it like she always did.

He never minded. He knew eventually they would get there. He was glad they still kept things above the waist though. He didn't know how much control he could maintain once things progressed below, especially if he couldn't take her. He wouldn't do anything she didn't want, but it would be pure torture for him.

Finally, she drew back, her face a mess of pleasure, lips bruised kissed, and put an end to things. He lay down next to her, drawing her close.

She reached up with her middle and forefinger, sliding the backs of those fingers down the side of his face. "Sleep with me tonight?"

He hesitated. He knew Freya said the compound was well protected, but he had watched over Hope while she slept every night since they started this journey. He didn't know if he wanted to leave anything to chance… Except this was a big step for her. She must really feel safe. One day she would have to sleep without him watching over her, and maybe it would be better to have a test run to see if demons chased her into her dreams. And he was curious if he would dream while sleeping with her.

"Okay," he agreed, running his fingers through her hair.

She lay against his chest until she fell asleep.

He closed his eyes and followed her into the darkness.

The vision, like a dream, drifted away as soon as the boy closed the door.

"Thank you, Freya!" Hayley exclaimed, raising her hands.

"Am I missing something?" Klaus asked.

"She's a tribrid, Klaus, the first of her kind," she explained. "We don't know enough. We don't even know if she'll just become a hybrid once she activates her vampire side. The only vampire that's ever been able to keep their witch powers is a heretic. She's not a siphon."

"What does that have to do with…"

"Freya and I used to discuss this. If she loses her magic, becomes just a hybrid, she might not be able to have kids," Hayley explained.

"I could," Klaus scoffed.

"I couldn't once I was turned. I didn't even ovulate," Hayley said. "She may be fine; the point is we don't know."

"Does she know this?" Klaus asked.

"Yes," Hayley nodded. "I never kept anything from her, not even this possibility."

"So she's willing to…"

"She doesn't think she's supposed to exist," she said. "What do you think her thoughts are on her own children?"

Klaus frowned.

"Which is why Freya telling Ryan to watch out for her is so important," Hayley said.

"You sure do put a lot of faith in that boy," Klaus noted.

"You should too. He's the only one who can save her from herself."

To be continued…