I own nothing but my own words.
Chapter 27: We'll Make A Mikaelson Out Of You Yet
Long hours passed while he watched her sleep.
Lounging at one end of the couch with his legs stretched out, she had fallen asleep cuddled up against him, the side of her head resting against his stomach and her body lying between his legs.
What started out as sheer bliss waned the closer to morning it got and the more he tried to come up with an alternative to Plan B.
"And no one has to die," Alaric said.
Plan A was perfect. It was great. As long as everything fell into place, nothing should go wrong with Plan A and everything would be fine. Hope wouldn't die. Hell, even Landon wouldn't die. Not that Clarke minded either way about him—or anyone else—though it would make Hope happy. Except…
Slaying the beast requires a sacrifice…
The Sphinx hadn't been wrong yet, and that worried Clarke because according to him someone had to die. It couldn't be Hope. He refused to let it be Hope.
But the only alternative way to save her that he could think of left him wanting to tear something apart at the sheer unfairness of it all. If he couldn't think of anything else, if he couldn't think of some other way to save her…he was going to have to break a promise to her. The promise that he knew meant the most.
The promise to never leave her alone.
Was this his punishment for all the horrible things he had done in his life? To finally find absolute happiness only to have it ripped away by the very reason he had done those horrible things?
"Happy Thanksgiving!"
He looked up and saw Freya had entered the room, presumably to begin preparation for the day ahead as she gathered candle sticks.
Nodding, he looked back down at Hope, noting her gentle even breathing. She had said Freya knew they spent their nights together so finding Hope sleeping on him in the study probably wasn't such a great surprise.
"You too," he said softly.
Pausing to look at the two of them, Freya smiled at the sight the pair made. She had gotten to know her niece's beau better than the other siblings. She knew this wasn't some passing flight of fancy for Hope. Ryan was pretty much the real deal. Of course, Hope was still young yet but Freya had a feeling it didn't matter. She would be seeing a lot more of Ryan Clarke with her niece. And she was okay with that.
"You've got a lot to be thankful for this year," Freya said, still smiling softly.
"Yeah," he said, "I do." He clenched his eyes shut against the swelling anguish. He would spend all day trying to figure out another way; but, in the event he didn't, he would need something from Freya.
"You okay?" Freya asked, noting his mood change.
"Plan B," he said softly, keeping an eye on Hope to be sure she stayed sleeping during this.
Nodding, she understood immediately. "You have another plan?"
"I do…" he said, trailing off slightly. "But…she isn't going to like it. I don't like it."
"But she'll live?" Freya asked.
"She will," he confirmed.
"What do you need?" she asked.
"To meet with the four," he said. "And I need to do it when she doesn't know."
"Keeping things from her?" she asked, not surprised. Some people were willing to do anything to protect the ones they loved, no matter by what means.
"If she knows, she won't allow it," he said. "And then she'll die anyway."
"I'll give you some herbs later," she said. "It'll put her to sleep."
"I don't want to—" He didn't want to drug her.
"Wait for her to sleep," Freya interrupted, understanding. "It'll stop her from waking long enough for you to have your meeting."
Wincing, he nodded. "So, tonight?"
Freya nodded in return. "I'll arrange it."
He grew quiet, staring down at Hope.
"Do you need anything else, Ryan?"
"New linens?" he said with thinly veiled humor. "An annoying blonde gnat decided to crash with us last night."
Shaking her head, understanding now why the two were in the study, she agreed, "I'll see to it."
"Thank you," he said, looking up again. "For everything." He meant it. From the moment he had walked into the Mikaelson compound, she welcomed him. She accepted his position in Hope's life. There was no resistance, no distrust, and no threats. She clearly only wanted what was best for Hope, and he got the feeling she thought that he was. No one had ever given him an instant acceptance like she had, not even Hope, though he was sure it was Hope's regard for him that had influenced Freya's. Either way, he was grateful all the same.
"Try to relax and enjoy the holiday," she suggested. "Whatever happens tomorrow, happens. You've still got today."
He didn't want just today though. He wanted forever. Always and forever.
And if he couldn't come up with another way, he would never get it.
Lizzie fortified herself, took a deep breath, attempted to calm her mind, and then opened the door in a rush, breezing inside.
"MG!"
"Wha-what-what!?" MG jerked awake and nearly fell off the settee he had fallen asleep on. "What's going on? Heyyy?"
"Why are you sleeping over there?" she asked.
"Because I was waiting for you," he looked around in confusion. "I must've fallen asleep."
"Look," she said, "I don't want this to be awkward or weird, so I'm just going to say it. You're one of my best friends."
He smiled. "And you're one of mine."
"But that's all we are, okay?" she said. "Just friends." She stared him down expectantly.
"Yeah, okay," he nodded.
"That's all we'll ever be," she emphasized.
"Um, sure?" he said, hesitantly, a little disappointed but this wasn't anything new. He knew her; he knew she was on the verge of an episode last night. He had wondered if the kiss was due to that, especially when she didn't come back to the room. Now, he had his answer.
"Good," she said cheerfully. "So we can move on. I feel better already! Happy Thanksgiving, MG!"
"Happy Thanksgiving…" he trailed off as he watched her grab her travel bag and head to the bathroom presumably to get ready for the day.
Marcel thought he had a long road ahead with her.
He didn't know the half of it.
"I don't know about this, Ric," Mac said.
Alaric knew this wouldn't be an easy discussion. There was a big battle ahead and her family was becoming a large part of that battle. They needed Ethan in this fight and, yes, there was every chance he could be injured. But if Ethan didn't help, then it was almost certain Seylah would need to die. It wasn't an easy situation at all.
"I gotta help, Mom," Ethan said, carrying a large foil pan around the adults and stowing it in the back of his mom's vehicle in one of the big boxes that made stacking and carrying easier. "It's, like, my birthright."
"How did he get on board with this so fast?" she asked Alaric. Then to Ethan, "How did you get on board with this so fast?"
"You should've seen it yesterday, Mom," Ethan said. "These monsters just kept coming. The others, they were fighting them, and then I got cornered and I had to fight too. I saw it all on the video. Can you imagine if there was no stopping them? I'm part of this, whether I want to be or not. If I don't help, there's no telling where this thing will end. If it ever does." Also, he wasn't about to let Dennis' death be for nothing.
"I'll tell you where it ends if he doesn't help," Alaric said. "It ends with Seylah dying in Landon's place. Can you accept that?"
Mac sighed and shook her head.
Maya came out of the house, carrying a smaller foil pan, hands underneath to support it. "I think this one is more corn," she called out with an amused look.
"If he goes," Mac said to Alaric, "I'm going."
"Hey," Maya said, passing the pan off to Ethan to stow in the car. "I want to go to!"
"Absolutely not," Mac and Alaric said at the same time.
"Why not?" Maya asked, feeling put out.
"You're human," Alaric said. "This isn't a fight for humans."
"But Mom and Aunt Seylah are going," Maya argued. "You're going."
"We're also highly trained professionals," Mac said, putting her hands on her hips.
"So my entire family is going off to fight monsters and I'm just going to, what?" Maya asked. "Pig out on Thanksgiving leftovers at home all by myself?"
"Actually," Alaric said as he went to get into the passenger side of the vehicle, "I could use your help."
Mac climbed into the driver's side and the kids joined them in the backseat.
"Anything," Maya perked up.
Mac started the car and backed out.
"Caroline needs help with the kids," Alaric said, "since I'm taking a lot of the seniors with me."
"Babysitting duty?" Maya grumbled.
"Cheer up, sis," Ethan patted her arm. "I'm sure they'll adore you in no time."
"Not the point," Maya grumbled.
"Seylah's meeting us there, right?" Alaric asked.
"Yeah, she had to put some finishing touches on the pies," Mac said. "She's been baking and cooking pretty much nonstop since she got the call. I never knew she stressed baked so much. My oven has gotten quite the workout."
"The community really pulled through," Alaric said, smiling wistfully.
This was one of the reasons Mystic Falls was such a great place to live. Word had spread about the fire at the Salvatore School—no one knew it was due to a dragon, of course—and since they knew not all of the students went home for the holiday, the community had taken it upon themselves to make a couple extra side dishes for the kids. Alaric and the Sheriff had enlisted Ethan and Maya to help them pick up a lot of the stuff. Others were dropping off their dishes at the hotel the students were holed up at. Seylah had made plenty of pies, but she also prepared a couple turkeys, already carving them to make transport easier.
The teachers who lost their lives would be mourned as heroes for doing everything they could to get the remaining students out before perishing in the fire themselves. Again, the community would never know a dragon killed them while they tried to use their magic to protect the kids. All authorities involved would be compelled to believe this was an accidental fire that got out of control.
Caroline had arrived after the fighting had ended yesterday and immediately taken charge. She found a place for the kids and got the ball rolling on fixing the damage at the school. With any luck, it would be cleaned up enough for classes on Monday.
It was good to have her home.
Pulling into the parking lot of the local hotel—that had graciously offered them a discount since they were utilizing nearly every room—Mac parked and everyone got out to begin carrying everything in.
Seylah pulled in and parked at the same time, smiling a greeting.
"Food!" Caroline called out, exiting the building. "Great! These kids are starving and the continental breakfast left a lot to be desired."
"That's the mother of your kids?" Mac asked as an aside to Alaric.
"She's very young," Seylah followed up, glancing at the blonde.
"Forever seventeen," Caroline said loudly, smirking and flipping her hair over her shoulder teasingly.
"Surrogate," Alaric explained quickly.
"Ethan, right?" Caroline said seeing the boy. "Follow me, I'll show you where to put those."
Ethan had picked up one of the boxes with trays of food, so with a confused glance back at the adults, he followed the blonde inside wondering why he was suddenly taking directions from a teenager who appeared to be much older by the way she dressed. Didn't she just say she was seventeen?
"My daughter told me all about you," Caroline said, holding a door open for him to go through.
"Your daughter?" he asked, even more confused.
"Mom!" Josie exclaimed, coming to meet them. "The staff said to use the bigger meeting room. They'll help move everything we already set up in there."
"Josie?" Ethan knew this world he had walked into was a bit different, but he didn't understand at all how Josie's mother could be the same age as her daughter.
"Hi, Ethan," Josie said quickly. "We'll talk later. Thanks for being willing to help. We literally couldn't do it without you."
Seeing his confused expression, Caroline took pity on him. "Josie, why don't you show Ethan where to set this down?"
"Follow me, E," Josie said, walking away quickly while motioning for him.
"I'm here," Maya said, coming up with one of the trays. She couldn't carry an entire box. "Should I follow them too?"
"I'll take that," Caroline said, taking it from her. "You're Ethan's sister?"
"Maya," she said. "I do have a name."
Caroline smiled, appreciating her sass. "That you do. I'm Caroline."
"Oh," Maya said. "I'm supposed to be helping you or something."
"Kaleb!" Caroline called out.
Kaleb came out of nowhere. "Mrs. S?"
"Take this," she handed off the tray she had taken from Maya. "And can you help bring in the stuff from the cars?" Caroline asked.
"Yes, ma'am," Kaleb said and immediately left.
"Leave the carrying to the boys," Caroline said to Maya. "I need help setting the tables."
Maya followed her but kept glancing back at Kaleb. "Isn't that…a vampire?"
"Yes," Caroline replied. "He's one of our senior students. I believe he helped round up your brother and Jade on Ethan's first full moon."
"Are there…a lot of vampires here?" Maya asked, feeling suddenly timid.
"Some," Caroline said. "Fortunately most vamps are nice enough not to turn children, so they're all teenagers. The youngest is fifteen."
"They won't hurt me, will they?" Maya asked.
"Not if you don't give them a reason to," Caroline winked. "Relax. I'll protect you from the big bad vampires."
"Are you a wolf then?" Maya asked. "Or a witch?"
"Oh, no, the wolves and witches only wish they were as cool as me," Caroline said. "How about we start setting tables and I'll tell you all about vampires. Once you know more, maybe you'll change your mind about us."
"Us?" Maya said with a gulp.
Caroline handed over a pile of napkins. "Here you go! Chop, chop!"
From his vantage point near the kitchen, Ethan watched the Salvatore School's headmistress direct his sister in placing out napkins. "That's your mother?"
"Yep," Josie said, pulling the next pan out of the box to check its contents. "Ooo, stuffing!"
"And you're a witch?" he asked.
"For now," she said.
"What's that mean?" he asked.
"I had given up my powers," she said. "But I needed them to help yesterday. And I'll need them for tomorrow."
"I only just got my powers," he said, "but it's pretty cool. Why would you give up yours?"
"Not all magic is good," Josie explained. "Black magic is very bad, and it changes your heart. You find yourself doing things you never would've done otherwise."
"Did that happen to you?" he asked.
"Yes," she said, looking down to identify the next tray of food. "Mashed potatoes here. Gotta have those."
"Are you okay to have the magic back then?" he was concerned. She must've had a good reason to give it up. Should she have it back now?
"I'll be okay," she said. "I'll just get through tomorrow and then decide what to do next."
"Now that you have the magic back though, do you feel any different than you did without it?"
"Not really," she said. "But I need to be careful. I can be easily influenced to do things I shouldn't. It's my curse. Co-dependency and all."
"You couldn't have possibly done something that bad," Ethan insisted.
"If only you knew…" Josie glanced at him and his arm without him noticing. She was still the one who ruined his future because of Clarke influencing her. She could never forgive Clarke for what he had done, no matter if Hope and Lizzie could. And she sincerely hoped Ethan never learned the truth about her involvement in his injury.
"That's the last of it," Alaric said, carrying in a tray. Seylah and Mac followed behind him, carrying pies and bags of rolls.
"It's beginning to look a lot like Thanksgiving," Josie said. "Too bad Lizzie can't be here for it."
Freya's witchy work station was kind of small for a group of people, Clarke observed. Up in an area of the compound that must appear as a tower from the outside, supplies for all of Freya's more important spells were arranged throughout.
Davina and Hope had joined Freya to go over the spell to remove Malivore's consciousness. They were all three working together, intent on getting it just right to leave no margin for error.
"Bippidy, boppidy," Rebekah said, joining him in the doorway. "They've been at that for at least an hour. Are you really going to watch them all day?"
He just looked at her, not bothering to reply. He wasn't sure what tomorrow would bring, but his intention was to spend the entire day with Hope. If that meant standing by while she worked, so be it. He didn't need to explain any of that to Rebekah.
"Bugger that," she declared. "Follow me. I have something for you. Also, if you think you're wearing a pullover and t-shirt to the dinner table, you are sorely mistaken."
He shook his head and crossed his arms, "Freya said nothing fancy was required."
"That was before I arrived and decided if we must celebrate this preposterous holiday, we're doing it in style," she swept her arm out expectantly, her expression giving no room for disagreement. "Well?"
He hesitated, looking back at Hope who had overheard them.
"Go," Hope said, smiling sweetly at him. "We won't be done for a while."
Grumbling on the inside, he resigned himself to making this as fast as possible.
"Ladies," Rebekah said to the witches before following Clarke and then taking the lead.
"I've a tailor set up in the parlor," she said. "He's compelled, of course, so no need to get all grumpy. He won't remember a thing."
"Right," he said. This Mikaelson seemed to love to compel anyone and everyone to her whimsy. He didn't think he would ever grow used to that. He guessed he would have to though. If he had the time left.
A little while later found him standing with his arms spread while the tailor marked adjustments on one of the suit blazers in his collection that Rebekah had picked for Clarke.
Removing the jacket, the tailor went off to make the adjustments as Rebekah had commanded it be done immediately. Fortunately the pants hadn't needed more than a slight adjustment to the hems.
"You said you had something for me?" he asked. Now that he was done with the suit—he had to admit, it was a nice one, she would spend a pretty penny on that—he was ready to get the rest of this interruption over with.
She regarded him silently from her seat.
He cursed inwardly. She wanted to talk. Great. All of these Mikaelsons had something to say to him. He wasn't surprised to know that Hope's family was very protective of her. The family's motto, their very promise to each other, reflected that protectiveness strongly. He just really wanted to get back to Hope and not be forced to suffer more threats from yet another one of Hope's family members.
"I discovered something yesterday that had me curious," Rebekah began.
"Go on," he said, trying to hide his impatience.
"You didn't tell Hope of your actions in Nebraska," she said. "Not that she cared when I told her, mind you. But I was curious as to why you kept it from her."
At least she didn't mind, he thought. He hadn't been able to stop himself, especially once he got started on the incubus. Knowing that she didn't care actually eased his mind. He knew he was far from perfect. Even with her being the new purpose in his life, he still had his own darkness to contend with. He had anger and jealousy, and even his own rage that came out when provoked enough.
"Why do you care?" he asked.
"Because you kept something from her," she said. "And I want to determine whether you had adequate enough reason before I give you my blessing or not."
"What makes you think we need your blessing?" He knew he was playing with fire, but he didn't care. No matter how much he wanted Hope's family to accept him, he didn't know her. He didn't have to explain himself.
"Ooh," Rebekah laughed. "Getting defensive. I must've touched a nerve. Too bad. Spill before I spill your guts out here and now." Her eyes flashed, daring him to test her.
Weighing his options, he finally decided to say something. He really wasn't in the mood to put himself back together, or feel the pain, if she made a bloody mess of him.
"She has a recurring nightmare. It's a memory from when she was a kid," he said. "Of her father tearing people apart. She's scared she'll be like him one day."
"And you didn't want her to know she was dating someone just like him," she stated.
He just stared at her. He had answered her question. He wasn't going to give any more.
"Let me clue you in," she said. "Her father was forced to stay away from her for the better part of her life."
"The Hollow," he replied, letting her know he was following along.
"Yes," Rebekah nodded. "A testy little bitch I'm glad is no longer a part of me…
"During the time he was away from her, he tracked down and destroyed anyone who could ever be perceived as a threat to her because of his past actions. And there were plenty. Anyone who may have decided to take a past grievance against him out on her, he slaughtered them all," she explained. "We all thought he'd gone insane, finally driven there by being forced to stay away from her. But he had a plan. He always had a plan. And this one was the ultimate plan to ensure her protection…
"And that's why you didn't tell her, isn't it?" she asked. "You wanted to protect her from the truth."
"Looks like I needn't have bothered," he said. "Also, she didn't ask." He would've told her if she had, he wasn't in the habit of lying to her.
"But the creatures were dead already," Rebekah said. "So why beat a dead horse? Overkill, wouldn't you say?"
"Look," his impatience showing as she drew attention to unsavory parts of his character. "I had to get her away, and I needed to get Triad off our backs. I did what needed to be done. End of story."
"What else would you be willing to do to protect her?" Rebekah asked.
"Anything," he said. "I would do anything to protect her."
"You don't have any powers though," Rebekah pointed out. "How could you hope to protect her?"
"I've done well enough so far, haven't I?" He was a heartbeat away from giving up on this particular family member.
"So you have," she nodded.
Rising, she went behind a counter and pulled out two long steel cases. "It's come to my attention you've been trying to get your hands on these. I don't really care for them, but if you feel they're necessary…"
Immediately lying one down on a counter and opening it, he smirked. "It'll come in handy, especially tomorrow." He began to assemble the gun parts in the case.
"You're not going to shoot that bloody thing in here, are you?" she watched him put it together.
"I'll find a safe spot for a target," he reassured her. New gun meant he needed to get used to it before he took it out in the field.
"See that you do," she nodded.
"You have it, by the way," she continued. "My blessing."
He continued with his assembly, but he smiled slightly, his only indication that he heard her.
"Oh, and there's one more gift," she said. "You'll find that later."
"Another weapon?" he asked.
"Not even remotely," she said.
Then it didn't require his attention at all right now.
"You might want to talk to Freya before you go off shooting on her property," Rebekah suggested. "No need to get her angry today, especially not with me for supplying it."
He finished the assembly and held it up, aiming at the wall to check the sight on the thing. "I'll do it. But she'll let me."
"You seem certain."
"She was the first to give her blessing," he shrugged. "She likes me."
"Oh, so now you have a favorite of us aunts?" she said disgruntled. "I'll have you know I'm the favored one in these parts."
"Did Hope say that?" he asked, unable to resist taunting her after she had given him such a hard time.
"Watch it," she glared.
He laughed. He liked this one too.
"Was it my imagination, or is something going on between Hope and Clarke?" Rafael asked. He didn't notice anything until Lizzie insinuated Hope would be a mess if something happened to Clarke. After that, he couldn't help but wonder.
Josie shrugged dismissively. "I don't think it was your imagination." She glanced at the time on her phone. "Where is Wade?"
"But she wouldn't do that to Landon…" Rafael said, frowning, ignoring her question. He wasn't Wade's keeper. Wade knew what time Josie wanted everyone there. Besides, Jade was late too.
"He broke up with her, remember?" Josie said, sighing and sitting back with a huff. When she told everyone to meet in the room she shared with her parents, she figured they would at least get there on time given that tomorrow was the big day.
"That was just supposed to be a break though," he pointed out.
"A break is a break," she said. "I don't know what to tell you."
He didn't like this. Relieved as he was that everyone was doing everything in their power to make sure Landon survived, was he really going to survive only to find that the girl he loved had moved on? With his brother?
Rafael was ashamed to admit that he wished he was the chosen brother, not Clarke. Of course, there was no context in which that would ever happen. He would never do that to Landon.
Clarke clearly didn't have the same regard as him.
But Hope, how could she go for him? She had always been about Landon, one hundred percent. Rafael knew Landon insisting on that 'break' was a bad thing, but maybe it was worse than he imagined. Maybe it devastated her more than either of them realized and sent her straight into Clarke's arms.
Hope had been on the run with Clarke for over a month. Rafael just thought that was out of necessity. He never thought anything more could come from it. Admittedly, he had been a bit distracted thinking there was no hope for Landon. Crap, he had forgotten about that dream too. Landon had overheard Lizzie and Hope talking about it. Even when they went camping, Landon had still been bringing it up and how Hope had said it didn't mean anything. Rafael knew his brother had been struggling even then to figure out what was going on with her as far as Clarke was concerned.
"Are you sure there's something going on?" Rafael asked, really hoping they had both read the situation wrong.
"No one has said anything to me for sure," Josie said. "But then, no one tells me anything anymore. All I can tell you is Lizzie wouldn't have said what she said if she didn't have good reason to."
Josie was struggling with feeling left out again. Hope had orchestrated a way for Lizzie to meet up with her and didn't bother inviting Josie along. She remembered how she felt when she was younger and she had developed that crush on Hope. This was why she made up that lie about Hope telling everyone about Lizzie's mental problems. She knew Lizzie would steal Hope away. She just didn't anticipate it happening in the reverse now that they were older. She didn't think Hope would steal Lizzie away. But she had. Just like Hope had stolen Landon away. Though, was Landon really ever Josie's to begin with?
Placing all the blame on Hope seemed to be so much easier than accepting the truth. That Landon chose to be with Hope over her. That Josie chose to give up her magic thereby making her useless in the fight against Malivore. That Lizzie chose to help Hope defeat Malivore because she felt like his rising was partially her fault.
The only blame she could legitimately place on Hope was her choosing to be with Clarke knowing what he had done. Didn't their friendship mean more than some guy? Why couldn't Hope choose her for once?
Why couldn't anyone just choose her?
"I'm here!" Jade said, breezing into the room with a wide smile for Josie. "Sorry I'm late. Helping Caroline get the kids together."
"Why do you call her that?" Rafael asked. "Me and everyone else are supposed to call her Mrs. Salvatore."
"It's just what we called her in the prison world," Jade shrugged. "Habit."
"Oh," Rafael said then looked at Josie again. "So if no one said anything for sure, it might just be nothing, right?"
"Oh my God," Josie groaned. "Why do you care anyway? It's not like you're dating her."
"Dating who?" Jade asked, sitting on the bed across from Josie's desk seat.
"It can't be true, right? I thought she loved Landon," Rafael said, ignoring Jade's question.
"And I thought he loved me," Josie grumbled. "Love hurts, doesn't it?"
"You've got that right," Jade said just as Wade finally arrived.
"About time," Rafael said.
"You never loved Maya," Josie looked toward Jade, confused by her statement.
"Maya's hardly the only person I've ever dated," Jade said.
"But you didn't…" Josie's face grew concerned and a little worried.
"Love Kai?" Jade laughed. "Hell no! What about you, Wade," she said, changing the topic. "Any girl have your heart?"
Wade glumly looked at her, even less interested in answering her question than he was to be standing there. "No."
"Any guy?" Jade asked again, teasingly trying to draw him into their conversation.
"I haven't been interested in anyone like that," Wade said. "And I don't know why I'm here."
"We need you, Wade," Josie said, sitting up and forgetting about everything else for the time being.
"I don't know how it works," Wade said matter-of-factly.
"You figured something out," Josie said, "Or you wouldn't have floated that monster."
"So, you want him to float Malivore," Rafael said, putting the Hope drama away to focus on the task at hand. Josie had recruited the three of them to get Malivore to the battlefield tomorrow. He thought it was an impossible task, but Josie was very passionate about it.
"Yes," Josie nodded.
"All the way to Georgia," Jade said skeptically.
"And you think that he won't open any portals while he does this?" Rafael asked.
"When Wade floated the monster, it couldn't do anything," Josie said. "It just floated in this suspended animation. What we need to determine is if it was just physically, or mentally too."
"And if it doesn't work mentally?" Wade asked.
"Then, we're screwed," Josie said. "I'm hoping for a win here. It's about time we got a win."
"So how are we going to determine this?" Jade asked.
"Have him float us," Josie said.
"Guinea pigs," Rafael shook his head. "Not what I was expecting."
"So you want me to spray you guys with fairy dust?" Wade asked.
"Do Rafael first," Josie said.
"Me?" Rafael said then sighed. "Fine. Okay, Wade, let's go."
Wade screwed up his face and concentrated.
"He looks constipated," Jade whispered to Josie.
"Just watch," Josie said.
Wade's wings came out and a waterfall of dust flew in Rafael's face.
Rafael sneezed then waved his arm in front of his face. "I don't think its working."
"It is," Josie said. "Just not the way we hoped."
Rafael looked down and saw that he was hovering in the air.
"Whoa!"
He put his arms out to try to find a balance even though that was impossible. Instead of floating and being immobile, he started moving.
"Um, I think I'm flying." When he rose to the ceiling, he put his hands against it and pushed back down. Then he reached out with one arm and flew over the beds in the room.
"Well, Tinker Bell was a fairy, and she was able to get Wendy and her brothers to fly by sprinkling fairy dust on them," Jade pointed out. "Guess fairy dust really can make someone fly."
"But what about what happened yesterday?" Josie said. "How come the monster didn't have the same reaction?"
"Intention?" Jade suggested.
Josie nodded. "Wade, when you dusted the monster yesterday, what was different?"
"Well," Wade shifted. "It was strangling Rafael. I wanted to help."
"Try to do that again," Josie suggested. "But do it on Jade this time."
Jade shook her head. "Even if it works on me, no one will know if it blocks my powers. I'm a vampire; I can't open portals with my mind. He should try it on you."
Josie agreed, "I need to siphon something." She looked around.
"Here," Jade reached out her hand. "Siphon from me."
"Okay," Josie took Jade's hand and drew on her power. She let go and looked at Wade expectantly.
He screwed up his face again, concentrating while trying to remember how he responded at seeing his friend being hurt. Finally, he dusted Josie.
Josie immediately froze up. No movement could be discerned except her slowly rising out of her chair and heading toward the ceiling.
"Oooh, it worked!" Jade exclaimed. "Way to go, Wade!"
Wade nodded.
"Try to do magic, Josie," Jade called out. "Move a lamp or something!"
Nothing happened.
"I think it actually worked," Rafael said, amazed. "Though I'm still trying to figure out how to get down from here. Wade?"
"I don't know," Wade said. "But if you can move, you can probably make yourself land."
"Huh," Rafael thought about it before putting his arms down at his sides. His body turned as it descended, his feet aiming toward the floor. He landed and stood solidly. "It worked!"
"What about Josie?" Jade asked. "How long will the dust last?"
"We don't know," Rafael answered for Wade. "But I'm sure Josie would rather find out than for us to figure out a way to put her down. Right, Jos?"
He looked up at her, but, of course, she couldn't reply.
"I'll keep an eye on her until the dust wears off," Jade said.
"Maybe we should try to move her over so she's above one of the beds when she falls?" Rafael suggested.
Jade agreed, so Rafael held her up so they could push Josie over. "At least that worked, so we know we can move Malivore once Wade floats him."
"This is crazy," Wade said. "We've got to find Malivore in order to float him. And I've got to dust him before he can fly away."
"Well, if he flies away, you can just fly after him, right?" Jade asked. "You do have wings too."
"I haven't practiced using them," Wade said. "Landon mentioned I should once, but I'm not a fan of heights."
"Of course you're not," Rafael smiled.
"And where are we putting him once he's dusted? What if he floats away before we can put him somewhere? What about the monsters he'll send after us before I can float him? And what if the dust wears off before we get to Georgia?" Wade was nothing if not thorough with all the ways this plan could go wrong.
"Relax," Rafael said. "I'm sure Josie has that all figured out."
"What if it doesn't wear off for an entire day?" Wade asked.
"We'll just have to wait and see," Jade insisted.
"I'll be sure to tell her mom when we head down," Rafael said. "Just so she doesn't come in and freak seeing Josie like that."
"Looks like she was right," Jade looked up at Josie. "Imagine that."
"Yep," Rafael said. "Look at that, Wade, who knew you'd be so helpful in the fight against Malivore."
"Can I go now?" Wade asked. "Dinner will be ready soon. And one of the desserts is made with honey."
"Honey, yeah," Rafael said with a laugh. "Another one of your super powers."
"No," Wade denied. "That's just a fairy preference."
"I know, Wade," Rafael shook his head. "I know."
"You look beautiful," MG said grinning in awe, heart beating a little fast at seeing Lizzie in a long yellow gown with one shoulder sleeveless, the material scrunched in layers down to the waist.
"I know, right?" Lizzie said, posing after entering the study.
She paused momentarily when she saw that Rebekah had dressed him in a debonair black suit with yellow accents that suspiciously matched the color of her dress.
"You look pretty snazzy yourself," she said.
Why did she get the feeling everyone in this household was trying everything they could to show their support of her and MG as a couple? Hello, people! They weren't a couple.
"Not as snazzy as myself," Kol said, joining them. "But you'll pass inspection."
"Oh goodie," Lizzie said, rolling her eyes. "It's here."
"I'm wounded," Kol said, clutching at his heart. "And to think I came to help the two of you out with your little problem."
"We don't have a problem," Lizzie said, wondering if Kol, too, was going to get on the Mizzie train.
"No?" Kol asked. "Marcel mentioned our young MG might have a slight problem when it comes to human blood."
"Oh," Lizzie said.
"I'm working on it," MG said. "I'll learn to control it eventually."
"Why eventually though?" Kol asked. "Why not now?"
Before either of them could react, Kol rushed to Lizzie and pushed her head to the side, exposing her neck.
"What are you doing?" Lizzie said in a high pitched annoyed voice.
"You'll thank me later," Kol said before he cut a thin small line in the side of her neck with a fingernail.
"Ow!" She tried to pull away but couldn't. "If you get blood on this dress, I will end you."
"Look, MG," Kol said, deliberately putting her neck on even more display, leaning closer to her. "What are you feeling?"
MG had tensed, ready to attack Kol for hurting Lizzie, but the smell of the blood had swarmed his senses and he was suddenly tensing for another reason entirely.
"That's it," Kol said. "You want a taste, right? But you can't. Because it's Lizzie, right? Are you going to hold yourself back or hurt the girl you care oh-so-much about?"
MG was fighting with himself, there was barely any control left. He tried to hold on to it, growling at himself, but it was about to slip away.
"Oh for crying out loud," Lizzie said, finally having enough of being the damsel. "I'm supposed to respect my elders and all, but…" She reached out, grabbed hold of Kol's shoulder, and siphoned.
Kol immediately began to desiccate, the pressure he was applying to keep Lizzie in place weakened and she could finally stand up straight.
Which was the moment MG's control broke and he attempted to race at Lizzie to get to her blood. Fortunately, Marcel sped into the room and grabbed him from behind.
"You never learn, do you Kol?" Marcel said, shaking his head as wrestled with MG. "Next time, wait for me." He sighed. "You can let him go now," he said to Lizzie.
Lizzie let go of the vampire and glared at him as she took a step away.
"MG," she said, "Its okay. Just breathe. You can fight this. You don't need me to leave the room. You can calm down. Just breathe."
"Is that really what you say to him?" Kol asked, stepping away from her, wary.
"What?" Lizzie asked.
Marcel shook his head, and then leaned forward to speak into MG's ear firmly while gripping him tightly. "Don't breathe. Don't use your nose at all. Shut it off. Shut off all the senses. Don't smell, don't listen to the sound of her heartbeat. There is no blood. There is nothing. There's nothing you want that's enough to hurt her. You'd never hurt her."
MG heard the words through a blood haze. He focused on the words and felt for his breath. His chest was moving up and down erratically along with his breathing. He forced himself to hold his breath. And suddenly he found a bit of control. He focused on his hearing next, drowning out the sound of the rushing blood by remembering the sound of the flute the first—and only—time he had tried to play it. It had been terrible even to his own ears.
And suddenly the veins went away, and he was actually okay even though Lizzie was standing across from him with blood dribbling down her neck.
"Good," Marcel said, letting up on his grip. "If you breathe, you take it all in and it makes it even worse. It entices you. If you shut off the senses, you can handle it. Kol?" He looked up and nodded at the other vampire.
Kol reached out to Lizzie, "May I?"
Lizzie, seeing what the two of them were trying to do, decided giving her arm to Kol wasn't such a bad idea.
Kol escorted her toward MG, ready to yank her away if the ripper changed direction.
"Lean toward him," Kol said. "Put your neck right in his face."
Looking toward Marcel for confirmation, Lizzie finally did as instructed.
MG looked at her neck, but that's all he did. He turned off all his senses and he wasn't bothered at all.
He grinned and looked up at Marcel, then Lizzie. "Looks like I finally pass! Yes!"
Marcel let him go and Kol let go of Lizzie.
"You're welcome," Kol said, applying his handkerchief to Lizzie's neck.
"Did you get it on the dress?" she said, grabbing the square away from Kol and holding it to her neck herself.
"Not a drop!" he swore. "My sister would string me up for betraying fashion in such a manner."
"How does it look?" Lizzie asked MG, moving the handkerchief away.
"You can barely see it," MG said. Honestly, it was easy to see and Lizzie would hate knowing it was there. But MG was glad to see it. It meant he was finally on his way to controlling the one thing about himself that he couldn't stand. It was, by far, his favorite neck to look at too.
"Is dinner ready yet?" she asked, ready to move on with this evening.
"Let's go see."
When Hope walked into the dining room with Ryan by her side, she grinned, taking in everything. "Aunt Freya, this is beautiful! When did you have time to make all of this!?"
"Please," Freya laughed. "I only made some of Keelin's favorites." She smiled at her wife who gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before sitting down herself. "The rest was catered. Being around for hundreds of years does not a domestic goddess make."
The entire room shone with candles and holiday decorations in autumn colors. The dining room table was laden with so many different types of food, she had no idea how she would be able to try them all. "You outdid yourself either way."
She grasped Ryan's hand and led him over to the table, taking a spot next to Lizzie who had MG on her other side. Ryan took the seat on the other side of Hope, next to Freya at one head of the table. Nik, in his high chair, was between Freya and Keelin, across from Ryan. The seat across from Lizzie was vacant with Davina and Kol next across from MG and Rebekah, who sat beside him on that side of the table. Marcel sat at the other head of the table.
Leave it to Auntie Bex, everyone was dressed beautifully. Hope loved her navy blue chiffon cocktail dress with silver accents that matched the medium gray of Ryan's suit. His dress shirt and pocket square matched the dark blue of her dress. She saw that MG and Lizzie matched too. She giggled on the inside, wondering what Lizzie thought of that. Was Aunt Rebekah playing matchmaker?
"Thank you all for being here," Freya said, raising her glass. "Now, please enjoy!"
"What happened to your neck?" Hope whispered to Lizzie as everyone started serving themselves.
"Hope!" MG interrupted suddenly with a wide awkward grin to combat the glare Lizzie was giving him because he had downplayed her cut. "Guess what!? I finally passed!"
"Passed what?" Hope asked.
"The ripper test," MG grinned more naturally now.
"The only reason I haven't given your uncle an aneurysm yet," Lizzie muttered to Hope.
"You try to do something nice for someone," Kol said with a slant to his head.
"Careful with that," Keelin said with a knowing look. "Or next thing you know, someone's shooting targets off your balcony."
"With permission, of course," Clarke said, nodding at Freya.
"Sorry, sweetie," Freya said to her wife. "He had to break it in. Nik was perfectly safe, weren't you, sweet boy." She smoothed her hand over his little head and smiled when he gurgled up at her happily, chewing on a fistful of sweet potatoes.
"Not my chosen weapon," Hope said, cutting up a slice of turkey, "but he is good with it."
"Gets the job done," Clarke shrugged. "Took out a lot of monsters, especially during your coin toss."
"What's that now?" Rebekah leaned forward to look down the table at him to continue.
Clarke went on to explain while Hope looked around the table, happily taking in the faces of all of her loved ones paying attention as Ryan spoke.
Marcel laughed, "Klaus got that coin thing from me."
And on the conversation went, the family eating and laughing with Lizzie and MG fitting right in too.
At one point as Hope poked at more turkey on the platter to pick up and put on Ryan's plate, she leaned toward him and asked, "How are you liking this holiday?"
"Up there in my top two," he said with a smile that made his eyes squint at the corners in the cutest way.
"That's because he's not had a proper bonfire season yet," Rebekah called down to him.
"Family tradition," Hope explained to Clarke.
"You have a lot of those," he replied.
"Not really," she shook her head. "Nothing more than the usual ones. Oh, you haven't experience Thanksgiving until you've built a fort with your mashed potatoes at least once." She asked Lizzie to pass the gravy.
"A what?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Watch," she said and got to work.
Vincent finally arrived belatedly, coming in quickly. "My apologies," he gave Freya a quick kiss on the cheek in greeting, then the same to Keelin, patting Nik on the head.
"Good to see you home," he nodded across the table to Hope as he settled into the vacant seat.
Hope turned to explain the latest guest to Clarke just as Clarke noticed the new arrival give a nod to Marcel.
"Vincent is a family friend," Hope said. "He's also the head of the witch faction in New Orleans."
"You helped me with the lineage spell," Lizzie said, remembering.
"I did," Vincent nodded as he worked at filling his plate. "How'd that work out for you?"
Lizzie screwed up her face contemplating, "Well enough."
"I'm Ryan," Clarke told the man.
"Vincent," he nodded to Hope's friend.
"Why does everyone keep calling you Ryan?" Lizzie asked Clarke.
"Because they're special," was his smart-alecky reply. He was still ticked at her for interrupting things the previous night.
"Whatever, Clarke," Lizzie replied back with a roll of her eyes.
Eventually the meal came to an end and the dishes were cleared to make room for dessert.
Marcel looked around, waiting until everyone had been given a refill of their glass and had settled down again before he rose with glass in hand.
"I'd like to propose a toast," he said, holding his glass aloft.
Everyone picked up their own to raise with him.
"To family—the only reason to celebrate what my wife finds to be a most unwarranted holiday," he smiled lovingly down at her.
"The Mikaelsons have long been a part of New Orleans, helping to build it from a backwater penal colony into something truly amazing before being forced to leave long ago…
"But then, nearly twenty years ago, the Mikaelsons returned. And they became a right pain in my ass." He smiled and shook his head at that.
Everyone laughed.
"But they returned for one reason, and one reason alone. For their Hope."
Hope stared at him, trying to understand why he was giving a family history right now. She felt like something big was coming, but what?
"See, Klaus wanted to be king of the home his family had worked years before to build. He came back wanting to reclaim it all. He wanted a kingdom with an army strong enough to protect his heir. His desire to rule got a bit mixed up along the way when circumstances made him set that aside as his only priority became protecting his child…
"But I say all this because it is only fitting that, despite everything, his royal decree has come to pass." He looked pointedly at Hope.
"I've just received word from the final faction, the vampires," he nodded to Vincent who had been acting as liaison to the vampires in this. "And with that word, it is certain that the factions of New Orleans will unite to help defeat this new enemy of yours."
Hope's mouth dropped open. "What?"
"The kingdom will fight for his heir," he declared loudly. "Wherever Klaus is right now, I hope he knows his efforts weren't in vein."
Hope was clutching her glass, trying to understand what was happening. Were they all really going to…
"So raise your glass with me," Marcel said, smiling at the girl he could tell was quickly becoming overwhelmed. "To Klaus, to Hope, and to the loyalty that has spanned the generations."
Everyone else was smiling, Hope realized. The aunts and uncles had known this was coming. They must've all been working on it this week. But, why…
The toast went up and everyone was drinking, but Hope's hand wobbled, she was shaking too much. She was grateful when Ryan took it from her before she could spill it everywhere.
"What do you mean? How could they want to…" she didn't even know what she meant to ask.
"We've been listening," Kol said, leaning back. "We know this is no fight for a handful of high school students."
"Malivore can bring forth any number of monsters at any time," Freya said. "If you're to fail tomorrow, how much further could this go?"
"He can't control us," Keelin said, "But if it's his will, he could destroy us all. Wolves like me, vampires, witches."
"I killed so many of the vampires before," Hope said. "Why would they help?"
"You killed the ones loyal to Greta's cause," Marcel said. "Not all of them were about keeping the races pure. Not the ones loyal to Josh. Plus, vampires love any excuse to tear things apart."
"And you're a New Orleans witch," Vincent said. "There's no question the witches have your back."
"But the wolves…they must have a new alpha by now," Hope shook her head. "I thought once mom died, that was it. They were so angry over Henry."
"There are those who are still loyal to you, who will recognize you as their next alpha, honoring the Labonair blood line," Vincent explained. "The ones who weren't, they fell in line two nights ago when they all were given a vision. The same dream. Of the littlest wolf fighting and killing the biggest one."
"Fenrir," Hope whispered, suddenly remembering her own dream. He had known about this. He wanted Malivore destroyed as much as she did. He ensured that the wolves would fight.
"After that, none of them could deny your destiny," Marcel said. "They will follow you for now, and will continue to follow their interm alpha until the time that you're ready to take your rightful place as alpha and protector of the pack."
"But I don't know if I want to do that," Hope swallowed, feeling overwhelmed again. "What if I don't want to be alpha?"
"It's okay," Vincent assured her. "They know that's a possibility as well. It's there when you decide."
"This is too much," Hope sank back in her chair. "I haven't done anything to deserve this…"
"This is what your parents fought for," Marcel said. "A kingdom that would come out in droves to fight beside their princess."
"That," Rebekah added. "And always and forever."
"And I thought my legacy was epic," Lizzie said to Hope, but she reached to take her hand because she could tell her friend was getting emotional.
"I, for one, am stoked," MG said. "They're right. There's no telling how many monsters he could unleash at once. We all have our parts to play, but how well do you think Kaleb and Josie's team would fair against hundreds of monsters while giving you the time to do what needs to be done?"
Hope nodded.
"Perfect timing on your part, by the way," Vincent said. "Everyone was home for the holiday. Nothing like a gathering of people to make it easier to get the word out."
She shook her head with a bemused smile.
"Looks like stopping to listen to the Sphinx was a very good thing," Clarke murmured to her.
"So, my dearest little princess," Rebekah said. "What's the plan now?"
Hope gulped.
"So, you're saying we're going to have an army of witches, vampires, and werewolves to help us tomorrow?" Alaric asked through the video chat, feeling a huge weight lifting off his shoulders.
"Yes. Not to mention two original vampires and an upgraded original," Hope nodded. "So don't bring any of the students that don't need to come."
"You know at least Kaleb will be coming anyway," Josie said. "There's no way he's missing out."
"But they're right," Alaric said. "War is no place for kids."
"We need to find a way to protect the ones coming," Hope agreed, looking around at Lizzie and MG, and then to Josie. "At least the wolves and vamps. The witches won't fight hand to hand."
"Vamps can use the werewolf cures," MG spoke up.
Hope looked at him sharply, thinking it through. She looked at Doctor Saltzman. "Do you have enough?"
"Yes," he nodded. "MG, Kaleb, and Jade."
"So, how do we protect the wolves?" Hope asked.
No one had any idea until Alaric cleared his throat.
"What about… the same way?" he asked.
"Absolutely not!" Hope exclaimed.
Clarke looked at her, confused at the strength of her reaction. This evening had held a lot of revelations about her and where she came from. It made him realize she invoked this feeling of protectiveness in a great many people and not just him. But the reason she invoked such a response in those around her was because she was just as protective of them. She cared about everyone.
He didn't understand what a werewolf cure was, only that the Salvatore school seemed to hold the monopoly on them. He didn't know why MG would suggest its use to protect the vampires. But given Hope's reaction to its use on the werewolves, it must involve Hope somehow. Why did everything come back to Hope?
"I'm not sure there's another way," Alaric said. "I hate to say it, but…"
Hope closed her eyes tightly. "They have to know. They have to be told what will happen before they choose to take it."
"I'll see to it," Alaric said.
"Do you have enough for that?" Hope asked. "That's Jed, Ethan, and Rafael. So three more. Plus they'll need one for after, just in case. So you need nine total."
"I think so," he said. "I'll check."
"I'll make sure MG has his," she said.
"Mine hasn't worn off yet," MG said.
"And we're going to make sure it doesn't right in time for the battle," Lizzie interjected, agreeing with Hope.
"So, what's the plan for tomorrow now?" Josie asked.
"Everything with us is the same," Hope said. "Everyone else will meet us there. MG will send the exact location. Clarke gave him the coordinates of a good place to fight."
"Will there be civilians?" Alaric asked.
"I'm…not sure," Hope looked at Clarke.
"It's possible," he said. "Depends how wide the fighting expands."
"We've got to make sure no one else gets hurt," Hope told him.
"I'll handle it," he said.
"Okay, so," Hope turned back. "I don't want any humans on the field."
"But—" Alaric started to argue.
"None," Hope said sternly. "Instead, I'll have a witch project you onto the field. You can help in identifying the creatures so they can kill them easier. Is Dorian coming?"
"Yes," Alaric said. "He wouldn't let any of us go without him. Especially not Emma."
"Good, so he can do the same," she said.
"Seylah and Mac are coming too," he said.
"We've got an extra sniper rifle here," Hope said. "Think one of them can help Ryan with that?"
Alaric nodded. "I'm sure Mac has one lying around too."
"Josie, are you sure you can get Malivore there?"
"Already on it," Josie said. "The plan is in place, just gotta find him come morning."
"What's the map show now?" Hope asked.
Josie reached over and opened the map toward the screen.
There were lights everywhere covering Mystic Falls.
"Why does he have that many released right now?" Hope mumbled to herself.
As they watched, all of the lights disappeared except one.
"Huh."
Then suddenly all the lights appeared again.
With a deepening dread, she realized, "He's just sending them out and back in."
The lights disappeared once more save one.
Moments later, they came back.
"Guess it's a good thing we have that army," MG squeaked.
"It's like he's bench pressing them," Lizzie said.
"Each time they return to the pit he's getting stronger," Clarke said.
Hope closed her eyes.
"I hope we're ready," she said. "I hope I didn't forget anything."
"Hey," Lizzie touched her arm. "You're not in this alone. We've got this."
"Thanks," Hope gave Lizzie a grateful smile.
"Now that this meeting is over," Clarke said, "I need your phone." He reached out to MG.
"Oh…kay," MG pulled his phone out, unlocked it, and handed it over.
Scrolling through, Clarke found the number he was looking for and pressed the call button.
"Who are you calling?" MG asked.
Clarke glanced up but didn't reply.
"Milton! Happy Thanksgiving, baby! It's so good to hear from you!"
"Veronica," Clarke said, shaking his head at the irony. "Agent Clarke here… former."
"Why do you have my son's phone?!"
"I need a favor…"
If Triad's purpose was to protect humans from things that go bump in the night, they could very well clear the area of all human life so no one got hurt.
Of course, he had just confirmed to them that he was, in fact, alive.
But who knew how long that would last anyway?
Finally returning to their room that night, Clarke listened as Hope ran off at the mouth. She wasn't usually this vocal, but she was a complete and total mess of nerves.
"I just feel so overwhelmed," she said, running her hands through her hair before turning around. "Unzip me?"
Tonight would be about holding her and calming her down, he could already tell. And he was just as happy to be doing that as anything else they did. Just being in her presence was enough for him.
He pulled the zipper down and watched as she flitted around the room, taking the dress off, hanging it up, and then looking through the dresser.
"Where's my shirt?" she said. "I thought I put it right here? Didn't I? When I came up from the couch I…" she trailed off as she went to the bathroom.
He gently removed his own outfit, being careful to hang the suit jacket and pants up. He took off his tie and dress shirt. He pulled out a change of clothes.
He knew he had to meet with everyone else in about an hour. While Hope was setting up the video chat, he had whispered a time to Freya for later.
Freya had already put the herbs he would need in the bedside table drawer when she changed the sheets earlier. He wondered if she had noticed the foil packets when she opened the drawer. He probably should've just changed the sheets himself but he had been spending time with Hope.
He put a pair of loose pants on, ones he used for sleeping in since he couldn't sleep the way he really wanted with Hope yet.
"It's not in there," she came back, her face flushed. "I don't know where it could be."
"Freya changed the sheets earlier," he said, sitting on the bottom edge of the bed to give her space to pace. "Maybe she tossed it in the wash then too."
She stopped and bit her lip. "If she did, I better get it back."
"I've got other shirts," he smirked and nodded at the dresser and closet. "Have your pick."
Grumbling, she went to where she had brought in a small collection of her own things. "I'll just wear this," she pulled out a camisole and loose shorts.
"Works for me," he tilted his head, wondering if she was going to completely change in front of him.
"I'll be back," she said, then went to the bathroom to change.
Of course, he grinned to himself. Maybe one day…maybe.
She came back out, changed, but her nerves were rising to the surface again. "Its just knowing that the entire city is looking to me, backing me, and any of them could die! Because of me." Panic shone on her face.
"No," Clarke shook his head. "It's because they have a cause worth fighting for."
"And what if everything goes wrong with the first plan?" Hope said, continuing her pacing, worry painted across her face. "If it does, and we have to use the golden arrow, then…"
She stopped and looked up suddenly. "I should already be a vampire."
"No," he said firmly.
She nodded and resumed pacing. "I should activate my vamp side tonight just in case. Just so I can be ready."
"I said no," he said louder. "You're not dying right now. I won't allow it."
"Why not?" she turned on him.
"Freya told me what could happen if you do," he said.
"Oh that?" Hope said. "Mom and Freya meant well, but I don't think I'll stop being a witch if I become a vampire too. I'm a tribrid. I'm meant to be all three."
"No, not that…" Clarke hadn't even known that was a possibility, but that would be just as bad.
"Ohh," Hope's eyes widened. "That. That doesn't matter. I don't want to have kids."
"Don't take the option for granted," he said. "Some can't, no matter what we do."
"I'm sorry," she said softly. "But if things go wrong tomorrow, taking that chance may be the only option."
"Then make the choice if something goes wrong," he said. "Don't do it now." Especially since he was already going to make the choice for her. She wouldn't have to make that choice, not tomorrow anyway.
"Why does it matter so much to you whether I become a vampire or not?" she asked, suddenly remembering her last conversation with Landon about her becoming one. "If I become a vampire, will that change your mind about me?"
"Of course not," he scoffed. "I'll love you no matter what you become or what you do. I'm never changing my mind about you."
"Wait…" Hope walked up close to the bed, looking down at him sitting there. "You love me?"
Somewhere between being in her subconscious and spending so much time with her, he had learned to love. He felt the same way about her that she felt about every person she loved, even more so. He knew it despite never having felt it before.
He loved her.
"You should know," he said, staring up at her. "You taught me how."
"And here you only taught me to drive," she grinned down at him.
"I could teach you so much more," he replied suggestively.
"So go ahead," she said, leaning down to wrap her arms around his neck while she moved to place her knees up on the bed on either side of him. She was so short she didn't have to lean down far.
He kissed her and ran his hands up her back. He pulled away after a moment though, "Just to be clear, no dying tonight, right?"
"Right," she nodded, and went back to kissing him.
Nodding, he reached around to grasp her behind before he stood up, holding her against him.
She squealed into his mouth and he turned around. He crawled with her up on the bed, lying her down and pressing down on top of her gently.
She didn't want gentle though. She wrapped her legs around him and tugged him close, and then she rolled them over so she was on top of him. He only let her have control for a moment, before he rolled them back over, grinding himself down against her.
She rubbed her tongue against his, mimicking the motion of his hips, and he groaned.
Her hands came up to grab at his hair, tugging him close before she pushed up to roll on top of him again. He reached his hands down to the bottom of her camisole and started tugging it up. She let him, leaning forward so he could tug it over her head.
Tossing the clothing to the side, he slid his hands back down her body until he found her breasts. Holding them from beneath, he pressed up, caressing the undersides.
She reached down to his stomach and started to trace her fingers along his waistband, moaning.
When her fingertips dipped below the band, he rolled her over to her back again and paused to stare down at her.
"I want to," she said, running her fingers down his stomach to his waistband again. "I'm ready."
Not tonight, he wanted to yell. Any night but tonight. He had to meet with everyone in twenty minutes. There was no way he was going to be able to give Hope a proper first time and get to that meeting. Hell, he wouldn't want to leave her when they were done anyway.
As much as he wanted to kick himself for it, he had to reach down and grab her hands to stop her.
"Stop," he said, shaking his head at himself. "No."
She looked up at him in absolute confusion. "But…why?"
Her eyes widened suddenly. "Oh my God, Lizzie was right, you can't! I'm so sorry!"
"What?" He drew back, completely unprepared for a mention of the she-beast. What had she said now?
"It's okay," she said, attempting to soothe him. "We can just keep doing what we've been doing. I like that."
He shook his head, trying to understand what was happening. He expected confusion. He just hadn't expected to be the one confused. "What did Lizzie say now?"
"You weren't…um," she looked around, flushing, "Pushing for sex. So, Lizzie suggested that…you couldn't." She looked away, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable with this conversation.
He had to look away too, he was on the verge of laughing suddenly and he didn't want her to think he was laughing at her. What the hell did she think he had been pressing against her all week? Thinking about all the times he had rinsed his desire for her down the drain of his morning shower, he shook his head. If only she knew.
"I promise," he began when he was finally able to speak without the possibility of laughing. "There's nothing wrong in that department. When we finally have sex, we'll both be enjoying every minute of it. But we aren't doing it tonight."
"Why not?" she asked.
Because I'm about to keep something from you, something that could end with me not being here tomorrow, or any day after that. Something that could make you regret having your first time with me.
"Too much is going on," he said. "You shouldn't rush into this. I don't want you to do something you'll regret."
"I could never regret you," she said.
"I've been inside your head, remember?" he said. "I know you regret your first kiss. I don't want you to regret your first time. We'll do it when the battle is over. When you don't have so much to worry about."
If I survive.
"Okay," she said, but she didn't sound convinced at all.
He moved off of her and went to his side of the bed, pulling the blanket back. "Come here."
She went up and slid underneath the sheets too. She pressed into his side, resting her head on his chest.
"You'll get through tomorrow," he said, kissing the top of her head.
"We will," she mumbled, still disappointed but enjoying the feel of his arms around her. "Together."
He didn't reply to that.
He waited, glancing at the clock, biting his lip when he saw it was the time he had told Freya. He couldn't leave yet, not until she fell asleep. He wasn't going to blow those herbs in her face while she was awake. She would know, for one, but it would feel even more like drugging her. He needed to wait until she slept so he was just helping her stay asleep.
As he sat waiting, he suddenly realized there was a new addition to his room.
A painting was hanging above the dresser.
It depicted him and Hope yesterday in the market, a private moment between the two of them, where she was looking up at him as he stared down at her. They shared the same look of adoration on their faces for each other.
Rebekah's final gift, then.
It was perfect.
He hated what he was about to do but he had to do it.
Anything, he had told Rebekah.
He would do anything to protect her.
"So, where is he?" Josie asked, annoyed.
"I don't know?" Lizzie said looking around.
"He'll be here," Freya said.
"Meeting without Hope?" Rafael said through the video chat screen. "Isn't that kind of not cool?"
"He has his reasons," Freya said. She glanced at her siblings to make sure they understood that too. She needn't have worried.
"Which are?" Lizzie asked.
"He'll explain when he gets here," Freya said. She figured Ryan must've had some trouble getting Hope to sleep if he were taking this long.
"Sorry I'm late," Clarke said, finally making his way into the room.
Freya stifled her laugh, as did her siblings. He definitely had some trouble putting Hope to sleep. He probably should've looked in a mirror and fixed his hair before he came downstairs though. What he had been doing was apparent to everyone who saw him.
He looked around, "I thought it was just supposed to be the four."
"Don't whisper in a house full of vampires if you don't want to be heard," Freya said, indicating her siblings.
"And Ethan already went home," Josie said. "Rafael wanted in on this especially if it's something you're keeping from Hope."
"She's asleep then?" Freya asked.
"When I left, she was," Clarke nodded at her.
Rafael didn't need anymore confirmation than that. Hope was sleeping with Clarke. He clenched his fists beneath the desk.
Clarke explained his plan quickly.
"I mean, we could just do that instead of the first plan," Josie said.
"No," Lizzie glared at her. "We won't. We aren't losing anyone if we can help it."
"I'll get the twins what they need," Freya said. "Just in case."
"Make sure it's exactly the same," Clarke said. "The spell using black magic too."
"No!" Lizzie nearly growled at him. "We're not doing black magic. Earth magic only!"
"It won't be enough," Clarke argued. "It's not strong enough."
"Clarke, look around you," Lizzie swept a hand out. "Mother nature created all of this. Earth magic is strong. Black magic is why we're dealing with all of this mess. We're using earth magic this time, and that's final."
"Fine," he said, tightlipped.
"Thank you!" she exclaimed.
"It's your fault if this doesn't work," he said.
"Just remember whose idea it was when it does," she snapped back.
"It all depends on if someone can distract her," Clarke said.
"I'll do it," Rafael said, glaring at him through the screen.
"Are you sure?" Clarke asked.
"You think you're the only one who cares about her?" Rafael said, voice giving away his anger.
Clarke stared at him through the screen. He remembered Hope's memories of this wolf. He knew she felt bad for him, that he had struggled with having feelings for her to the point that he turned away from her and hurt her when she just needed a friend. Clarke had never considered the wolf a threat, especially since his loyalty was to Landon. Was this anger for Landon or for himself? Either way, it didn't matter as long as he could complete the task.
"If it's the difference between Hope's life or yours, I'll be making sure Hope comes out alive," Rafael said. "I'll provide the distraction needed to get it done. You can believe that."
"Right," Clarke stared at him. He could definitely count this as one of Hope's friends he wasn't ever going to win over. Just like Josie. Not that he cared. It was just important to know who his enemies were.
"And no one can tell her," Clarke looked at Lizzie.
"Why are you looking at me?" she said, voice going up an octave.
"You have trouble keeping secrets," MG said to her.
"Look," she sighed. "I have officially done everything possible to make sure no one dies tomorrow. I still maintain that our first plan is the best one. We'll get it done, and no one has to die. No need to worry about the second plan at all."
"Are we done now?" Josie asked. "We have to get up before dawn tomorrow if we're going to capture Malivore and get him to the battlefield in time."
Clarke nodded at Freya.
"Goodnight," Freya said, clicking the button to turn off the screen.
"You know, if it goes that route... I never would've pegged you the hero," Lizzie said to Clarke, shaking her head.
"I'm not…" he trailed off, staring ahead sight unseen. "I'll just do anything to protect her. She's my family."
Marcel came up behind him and grasped his shoulders, giving him an encouraging squeeze.
"We'll make a Mikaelson out of you yet."
It figured. He had finally found love, the woman for him, and a family he wanted to be a part of who wanted him in return.
He was so close to the final Sphinx prophecy.
The royal dowry is always and forever.
But he was almost certain, now more than ever, that the dowry wasn't meant for him.
Chad whispered, "How long do you think it's been?"
"Who knows?" Evelyn replied.
"I sure hope Hail Mary time gets here soon," Chad whispered again. "Lizzie made it seem like it was going to happen any day now."
"I'm sure she'll be here soon," Evelyn said, not really sure of anything since she didn't know any of these people. She was just holding out hope that something would happen to get her out of this place. She was tired of running and being chased. Nearly dying was not something she wished to continue doing every day.
"I sure hope she's got someone strong enough to carry it though," Chad whispered, looking across the way. He and Evelyn were sprawled on their stomachs, taking lying low to the extreme.
"At least we found it," Evelyn said.
"You'd think there'd be some monsters protecting it or something?" Chad said.
"Maybe he can't control them in here," Evelyn suggested. "Who would want to help him out anyway?"
"True."
He stretched and wiggled.
"I just wish she would hurry up," he said.
"I'm sure she'll be here soon... any day now."
To be continued…