Disclaimer: not mine, borrowed and nurtured. A/N: Working hard to get these last chapters done. If you want more fics in this verse, I am taking requests for Legacies drabbles -just let me know which pairing/prompt(s). Thanks for your favs, follows & reviews.

ix

Don't adapt to the

energy in the room

influence the energy

in the room

- bloggerstudios

1994, The Prison World/The SBS House

"Ah, unconditional love. What do you wish, Miss Forbes-Salvatore?" The Necromancer asked.

Caroline stood with Stefan in the hallway, kissing him one last time, before she lost him forever. Her best friend, her soulmate, her prince... it seemed an eternity had passed. She missed him so much, but she could not disturb his well-earned peace, besides there was something more pressing that required her full attention. Something that had torn her from her daughter's arms.

"I wish for both my daughters to survive the Gemini merge. You've heard of it?"

She looked at the Supernatural being with determination, willing to accept anything he desired.

The Necromancer grinned, "I have. I will make it so, but beware when one manipulates time, there is always a price. The merge requires sacrifice, so when the time comes, one of your daughters will require you to make a choice, a choice that is neither uplifting nor rewarding."

Caroline put her hand out to shake his, feeling queasy, but what other choice was there.

"I accept," she whispered.

Whatever lay in store for her daughters, now rested in The Necromancer's bony hands.

Caroline dropped onto the couch, relieved to be handed a mug of steaming hot tea from Jade,

Wendy lit the fireplace with a wave of her hand, burying her head against Jade's shoulder.

They sat in silence, listening to the breeze pick up outside, the windowpanes even rattled.

Caroline held the mug between her palms, "I'm sorry for what Alaric did. He should never have punished you for losing control. When I turned, I killed someone. Stefan taught me how to control my urges, how to keep my face from becoming the monster I thought I was."

Caroline sipped her Sencha tea, continuing. "After my mother died, I did the worst possible thing I could think of, I switched off my humanity, and revelled in the snatch, eat, erase lifestyle. I was someone who lost control, not once, but twice; you were children, and I believe you've learnt from your mistakes, and that is why I want you to come back to school, to learn control."

Wendy reached for Caroline's hand, "You're a good mother to your daughters, and a good friend."

Caroline sighed, finishing her tea, "I'm afraid I'm going to lose one of them."

Jade sat up, a fire in her eyes, "Once the Necromancer makes a promise, he keeps it."

Flames flashed through Josie's mind, reminiscent of her past, a past she had kept hidden.

She wasn't the same Josie Saltzman, they had known.

The Hollow had changed her; she felt different, empty, like a conche shell.

She perused the photos of the Salvatores on the mantlepiece, photos of Stefan and his brother, Damon. The grimace on Damon's face represented a world he could not indulge in, scared of the limitations put upon him by his brother's expectations. The world was not a sign of hospitality like she had envisioned as a girl, but a reminder of everything she could not acquire whilst in her sister's shadow. Maybe this bitterness wasn't all hers, but fragments belonging to the Hollow's soul.

Any goodness that had resided in her, was gone, lost to another time.

She could have burned in that garage if it weren't for her mother's intervention. She could not escape her past, drowning in her own muffled screams. Endless nights of torture, covens burned, vampires desiccated, and that cold yet intimidating glow that never left her eyes. If darkness did consume her, it would be a welcomed with open arms.

Josie did not know how much time had passed before she took the ascendant from Hope and made sure all the pieces were in their correct places. They could not leave for another few hours, as the eclipse wasn't due yet. She did not feel like conversing about her near-death experience, nor did she feel like a conversation about where she had been, or what she had seen.

"I told you I'd come back for you," Hope beamed, sitting on the edge of Josie's armchair.

Josie busied herself with the ascendant, "Is Lizzie back yet?"

Hope's smile faltered, "No, she's still on her date."

Josie checked the time, "She has two hours."

Hope sighed, "Is everything okay, Jo? You seem… distracted."

Josie frowned, "I'm fine, just want everything to go as planned."

Hope took Josie's hands in hers. "She'll be here, Jo. We're going home today."

Josie wished she had the confidence to say what lingered in her heart, to confide in Hope like she used to do, but she was scared, and tired… tired of being the martyr. She struggled to keep the darkness away and locked eyes on The Necromancer, who raised his whiskey to his lips.

2029, The Salvatore Boarding House

MG sat beside Kaleb mid discussion about why Kym left after their first and only date.

"I thought we were getting along great," MG muttered.

Kaleb sighed, "Look, I told you not to get involved. My sister didn't leave because of you. She left for a scholarship in the Arts. It never would have worked out because you're still hung up on Lizzie."

MG flipped open his history textbook, "First Nia, now Kim. What's wrong with me?"

Kaleb frowned, "Nothing, you gotta decide what you want, and then commit. Just not my sister."

MG sighed, "I hear you."

Landon hurried into his seat, almost last to do so, and threw Rafael a significant look.

"Are you still skipping class to find your family?" he hissed, dumping his books on his desk.

Rafael nodded to Freya who waited in the hall, discussing matters with Kol and Davina.

"Yeah, Freya said the Malraux packed passed through New Orleans, I'll only be a few days."

Landon shook his head, "What about Hope? She's still stuck in the Prison World. What am I supposed to tell her when she comes home and finds you not here?"

Rafael rose from his seat, dragging his duffel over his shoulder, "Tell her I love her and to call me."

Landon sighed, then as an afterthought called out, "Bring me back a souvenir!"

Freya took Rafael's duffel bag and put it into her jeep.

"Ready? And don't worry about Hope, she'll find you if she needs you."

Rafael set his sights on the iron gates ahead, nervous to discover the truth about his roots.

"Yeah, I know, she's a Mikaelson witch," he smiled.

"That she is," Freya agreed, proud of her niece.

1994, Lockwood Manor

"Are you ready, Miss Elizabeth?" Sebastian opened the doors to the Lockwood Manor.

Lizzie couldn't believe she was with Sebastian after all this time. She couldn't believe her mother had consented to Sebastian 'showing her the world'. She wasn't stupid, the puffy sleeved dress made her look and feel like Cinderella – and Sebastian was her fairytale Prince. She knew it was corny, but she had grown up with Disney, and she needed something light-hearted after Alyssa trapped them in the Prison World. Maybe she needed one night to herself, was that too much to ask?

Lizzie hurried up the stairs to then glide down it, playing the part of a Miss Mystical falls debutant. Sebastian grinned, playing the part, and twirled her beneath his raised arm. Lizzie beamed as he brought her into the dining room which was completely empty except for a leather couch pushed to the back of the room. Lizzie held onto Sebastian's arm, as he spun her into the middle of the room.

"You look stunning, in fact, you are the prettiest lady in this room."

Lizzie smirked, as they bowed to each other.

"I'm the only lady in this room," she whispered.

Sebastian held his hands up to his face, and Lizzie mimicked him, she knew the dance by heart. He caught her round the middle, his intense stare made her heart flutter as if she were Elizabeth Bennett, and he were Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy.

"Sebastian, you skipped over the near-intimacy part," she tried to regain her pose.

It was her favourite part of the dance.

Sebastian chuckled, "Forgive me, but I prefer to be, more intimate…" Lizzie forgave him, but only because he remained a gentleman, rotating her on the spot. He dipped her, forcing a smile out of her. As he pulled her arm, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, lost in their fantasy.

"You know if I were not a gentleman, I'd have ravished you in the barn by now."

Lizzie blushed, and his hand dropped to her lower back, itching to undo her corset ribbons.

Her memories recalled their first time in her camaro, and she flushed crimson.

"My father would run you out of town with his rifle, he actually would," Lizzie said.

Sebastian brushed her hair from her face, his blue eyes unlocked another part of her soul.

"For you, I'd risk my life."

Lizzie crashed her lips against his, discarded his jacket, and pulled his shirt from his torso. Sebastian undid her corset which she was glad to be rid of. Her dress slipped off and she jumped into his arms where he carried her to the couch. She fell back against the leather pillows, receiving heated kisses. She melted against his touch, turning her head to lay kisses on his cheeks and neck.

"You knew that line would get you laid, didn't you?" Lizzie asked, shrewdly.

Sebastian's dark hair tickled her nose as he chuckled, his eyes sparkled. She was lost in them, picturing how she would have courted him, danced at balls, received gifts, and married him in front of the clock tower. He tucked her hair behind her ear, "I love you, Elizabeth."

Lizzie beamed, her heart beating rapidly as he sank himself inside her without a mutter of foreplay. She let ecstasy take her over, clutching him to her chest, lost in pure lust. Her toes curled around his waist, and with every plunge, she felt her orgasm build. She bit her bottom lip to stop herself from screaming, pausing only when Sebastian's guttural moan resided.

"We are alone, Elizabeth, make as much noise as you desire."

"Oh, we're not fucking done yet."

Lizzie pushed him up and climbed onto his lap, his hands gripped comfortably around her bum.

He grinned into her languid kisses; hands lost in her hair; deaf to the storm brewing outside.

2029, The Salvatore Boarding House

MG exchanged a pointed look with Kaleb as their history teacher wrote his name on the board - Mr Clarke, and retrieved several textbooks from his briefcase, which MG could read from his seat.

The Truth behind TROY

Medusa: A Feminist take

TRIAD: a modern twist on monsters.

He looked too young to be a teacher, MG thought.

"Looks pale, might be a vamp," Jed muttered from behind them.

"Or a monster," Kaleb speculated scanning his body language.

There was a slam of a textbook, that made them all jump. Alyssa glared at them.

"Or maybe you should all shut up. Some of us actually want to learn this semester."

MG frowned, "Some of us want our friends back."

Alyssa smirked, "Don't worry, MG, the Prison World is a dumpster fire, they'll be back by tonight."

"Pity your soul can't be saved," Landon barked, causing MG, Kaleb, and Jed to hoot with glee.

Mr Clarke cleared his throat, and looked straight at them, giving MG chills.

"If anyone's soul can't be saved, Mr Kirby, it would be a monster's not a human's. Alyssa is no more a monster than I. Who would like to tell me the story of Iago, Medusa or Zeus? The powerful figures in Greek mythologies are known not for what they represent, but for their wicked acts towards others. If we were to hear their stories from their own mouths, maybe we could understand their motives?"

"Humans are the worst kind of monsters, according to David Attenborough," Landon added, his eyes never left Alyssa's, even as she turned to face the board, copying down the pages to read.

"Perhaps you can write me a paper as to why you think so?"

"Give me five minutes," Landon said, "that's how long it'll take me to list Alyssa's faults."

"Shut up Landon," Alyssa snapped. "Remember, I might lose control."

Mr Clarke gave Alyssa a warning look, which made her extinguish the flames in her hand.

"Perhaps we should start the class with your definition of what evil is, Mr Kirby."

MG interrupted, "Alyssa is the epitome or something profoundly immoral and wicked."

Mr Clarke waded through the tables; his presence had an authority to it.

"And what is it that Miss Chang did to morally offend you both?"

Alyssa rolled her eyes, "I didn't do anything to them."

Landon frowned, "Uh, she sent our friends to the Prison World, and Miss Forbes-Salvatore."

Alyssa rolled her eyes, "I just gave them some time to be together, after all they sent my friends there first."

Mr Clarke was silent for a moment, "A Prison World, interesting. And how do they escape? Magic?"

"They have everything they need," Alyssa interrupted, "The ascendant and Bennett blood."

Mr Clarke nodded, "A real life tragedy," he mused. "But perhaps we can better direct our thoughts on the importance of heroes and heroines, and whichever mythical figure you relate to most. I want a 500-word piece on why you think so, to be finished by end of class."

There was a collective groan from the rest of the class.

MG exchanged an exasperated look with Kaleb, who pointed to a picture of Achilles, complete with an arrow which became Achilles downfall. MG couldn't focus his thoughts on one hero, let alone a mythical figure that he related to, he doodled Spiderman, Batman, and Ironman on the corner of his page, unwilling to write an opening sentence.

"Is there a problem, Mr Greasley?"

"No, Sir."

MG pretended to write, watching Mr Clarke return to his novel, Othello. Something about him was off. Mr Clarke drank his coffee which MG could have sworn was made from blood.

Who even was this guy?

1994, The Prison World

"More wine Miss Elizabeth?" Sebastian had opened a bottle of Pinot Noir '55.

Lizzie held up her glass, giggling when the wine slopped onto the floor.

"I feel like a duchess." she snuggled beside Sebastian, never wanting their date to end. "I could do this forever," she admitted, tipping the wine down the back of her throat.

Sebastian kissed Lizzie's head, "I don't regret it, any of it," he hummed.

"What, meeting me? Or desiccating in a box?" she quipped.

He shrugged, "Both, you saved me Elizabeth Saltzman."

Lizzie looked up into his appreciative eyes, "You're welcome."

"This may well be our last night together. Your family does not approve of me."

"Don't remind me. I don't want this to end," she whispered.

"It doesn't have to." Sebastian murmured, swinging his legs out from beneath them. Lizzie swallowed the last droplets of wine. "Allow me to turn you into a vampire… I promise I'll be gentle."

His eyes turned bloodshot, and his fangs elongated.

Lizzie smiled, wryly. "I would never drink vampire blood…"

His eyes lingered on the wineglass in her hand, "You already have…" he admitted.

Realisation dawned on her.

She felt like her lungs had been punctured, leaving her without air.

She held her hand to her chest, gripping the cushions, "You spiked my wine?"

The warmth in Lizzie's cheeks vanished; she could barely bring herself to look into his trickster eyes. Her future erased in a minute. She gripped his hands; thunder drowned her thumping heart beats. The storm was reminiscent of the night The Hollow was resurrected, the night she lost her Josie.

Lizzie was just a girl, one half of a twin, and if she died, she would remain sixteen forever…

"Is this not what you wanted, for us to be together, forever?"

Lizzie could not speak, her voice gone, processing his betrayal.

"Listen to me, I will not lose you again, Cassandra," her eyes widened. "Elizabeth, I meant Elizabeth!"

A sadness washed over her, almost taking her with it.

He never loved her, not really.

She broke from his grasp, "My name is Lizzie, and you can't decide how I should live my life. I don't want to be a vampire. I don't even know if I want kids, but you took that choice from me."

She realised with regret, that MG would have given her a choice, but now it was too late.

"I should have left you desiccating in that box," she snapped.

Sebastian offered her a dagger, as if knowing all along that this was the only way to end things.

"Then do it, make it right, and it will be like I never existed," he hissed.

She shook her head, unable to give him that wish.

"I have to find Josie and Hope," she pushed passed him, tears surging down her cheeks.

She pulled open the door to a sheriff's car and hotwired it like Bonnie had taught them. She fought a maddening desire to go back, to forgive him, she loved him… that's what made his betrayal so much worse. She had trusted him, believed him, to only discover he represented everything her parents had warned her about. Lizzie tried to siphon the vampire blood from her system – she didn't want to die, not like this.

2029 – New Orleans/The Compound

"Everything okay?" Freya asked after a few hours.

Rafael hadn't even noticed it was late afternoon. His fingers ran down journals filled with deceased names from packs decimated through the centuries: The Labonairs, The Crescents, The Dumas', The Ungers – all victims of Supernatural wars and The Hollow's revenge in the 90s. He hoped to find something that could link him to his mother.

"Freya, can you put the kettle on? We might be some time," Keelin suggested.

"Of course, love. Darjeeling okay?"

"Whatever takes your fancy."

Rafael paused on a photograph of his mother dislodged from an old journal.

Confusion washed over his face; he had left that picture on his desk at school.

Keelin tilted the photograph towards her with a fondness in her eyes.

"My sister, she died in Afghanistan, joined the army at sixteen."

He was unable to talk for some time, "We're related?"

Keelin sighed, "I had an inkling, but I had no idea you existed until Marcel told me about you."

Rafael returned to the obituary news clippings and found one for his mother, his hands shook as he read about her romance with a fellow soldier named Walt, giving her son up for adoption, and leaving behind an older sister. Her tragedy was, she never knew him, and vice-versa.

Rafael sat on the stool, a dreaded question falling from his lips. "How did she die?"

Keelin explained, "Helping civilians after a car bomb went off. She was my best friend growing up. After she died, I worked hard to get my hospital residency. I guess, in some twisted way, I wanted to continue her legacy. I found a witch who kept my werewolf gene malignant, then the Mikaelsons found me. Marcel told me Lucia spent time in New Orleans and left a baby in Father Kieran's care."

Keelin watched the pain etch across Rafael's face.

"But I was never adopted, I got passed around Foster families, until I met Landon. I never understood my violent outbursts, until Hope found me, and brought me to the Salvatore Boarding school, that's when I learnt control, and what it meant to be an Alpha. I have to tell Hope," Rafael pulled his leather jacket on, ready to leave New Orleans.

"Do you want me to call her?" Keelin asked.

Rafael shook his head, "No, she'll want to hear it from me in person."

Keelin nodded, and hugged him, "You're always welcome here."

Rafael nodded, and picked up his duffel bag, grateful for their kindness.

Freya nodded, "Marcel's offered to drive you back to Mystic Falls. He misses Hope."

Rafael paused, half deciding if he should run for a greyhound bus instead. He decided to grit his teeth and pray he'd make it to Mystic Falls in one piece. Rebekah took his arm and duffel and lead him to her convertible, where Marcel sat, singing 'Highway to Hell' by AC/DC.

"Don't touch the radio, and we'll be fine," he said, as Rafael climbed into the back seat.

Rafael wondered what Landon and Hope would say about his new identity.

1994, The Prison World

The Prison World was imploding, and they were at least half an hour out from the eclipse. Time was running out, and still Lizzie had not joined them. Josie stood in the middle of their circle, holding the ascendant, and Bonnie's blood in both hands – she was unusually calm, Hope thought.

The weather was like a monsoon that couldn't make up its mind. Rain lashed at Hope's eyelids, and the wind threw leaves across the clearing. Jade clutched Wendy's hand, battling the sideways rain.

"We can't leave without Sebastian, he's like a brother to us!" Wendy yelled.

Caroline vamped around the clearing trying to locate them. "I can't hear anything in this storm."

"I'll find them," Hope closed her eyes, using all her tribrid senses.

There was a siren, a police car siren sped towards them. Trust Lizzie to make an entrance.

"Look out," The greenhouse roof caved in from a fallen tree, glass burst from the windows.

Penelope created a protective bubble around them all. Wendy ignited a ball of fire in her hands, the glow of it provided some comfort and light. Jade squinted at the end of the road, where she spotted red and blue lights. Hope ran towards the siren, eager to get to Lizzie and Sebastian.

"HOPE, WAIT!" Penelope looked at Josie, her eyes black and demon-like.

Caroline gripped Josie's shoulders. "Josie, are you okay? What's happening?"

Josie fell to her knees, blood pooled from both nostrils, she was deaf to Caroline's worries.

Hope watched an electricity pole be struck by lightning, sending a rogue wire towards the car. Her yells were silenced by Lizzie's foot on the breaks which sent the car careening into a ditch. The second bolt of lighting and sparks from the wire set the nearby trees on fire. Hope held the flames back with both hands, confident she could douse the fire, but a violent gust of wind turned the fire into a raging inferno.

Lizzie opened her eyes, choking on grey smoke.

"Lizzie, follow the sound of my voice!"

Lizzie tried to climb out of the car, wincing when she noticed glass in her chest. Blood seeped from her cut eyebrow. Defeated Lizzie caught sight of Hope and sent her a tearful smile, unable to move.

"Lizzie, hold on! Just hold on!"

Hope fought against the storm, using the rainclouds to her advantage.

Something whooshed past her. Sebastian threw the car door away. Where he'd been this whole time, Hope didn't question him. She gasped, resting her hands on her knees, and looked up at the eclipse which had began to block the sun above. It was time to go home.

"Please don't let me die," Lizzie mumbled as Sebastian lifted her from her seat.

Hope bit into her wrist, but Sebastian kept walking.

"My hybrid blood can heal her injuries," Hope called out, puzzled by his actions. "Like I healed Josie."

"She already has vampire blood in her system, mine," Sebastian explained.

Hope dropped her wrist, confused.

After a beat, he admitted, "I thought it was what she wanted. I was mistaken."

Lizzie's head bounced against Sebastian's chest, her breathing shallow.

Hope stared at him; "But… if she dies, she'll become a heretic."

He grimaced, "Then I guess we better not let her die."

Hope failed to keep her insults to herself. "Stupid, stupid, stupid!"

Sebastian lay Lizzie on the grass in the middle of the circle, "I'm sorry."

Caroline bit into her wrist, but Hope explained, "Sebastian fed her his blood before the crash."

Sebastian stood back, his head hung in shame, as Wendy and Jade listened to his reasons.

"She's losing consciousness," Penelope noted, feeling Lizzie's pulse.

Wendy and Jade greeted Sebastian with hugs, "You were stupidly in love. We get it."

Josie planted her hands into the dirt, sucking magic from the earth, "We need an anchor."

Caroline squeezed Lizzie's hand and sent a frantic look to the Necromancer.

Sebastian dropped to his knees, "Allow me. I'll hold it up for as long as I can."

The wind was so cold against their soaked clothes, that Hope thought she might die of pneumonia.

The ball of fire Wendy had procured was diminishing in her hand, tears mixed with rain.

"Lizzie's dying, hurry Josie," Caroline pleaded. "Bonnie will know what to do."

Sebastian gritted his teeth, looking at Lizzie, "Tell her something a better man would say?"

Josie looked to the sky as the eclipse blocked out the surface of the sun, and in turn, one by one, Caroline, Lizzie, Penelope, Hope, Wendy, and Jade disappeared, returning to the present, leaving Sebastian to carry what was left of the Prison World on his shoulders.

Josie rose from the ground, turning to face the Necromancer, his smile gone.

"A sacrifice must be made," Josie's eyes flashed from black to white. "Be ready."

Sebastian's cries of agony echoed in her ears as she left the Prison World.

2029, The Lake/The Salvatore Boarding House

Hope sat on the bench by the lake, waiting for Rafael. The sun was warm, the sky was clear, and she tried to empty her mind from worrying about Lizzie or Josie. He had sounded strange on the phone, distant, but she had convinced herself it was only because he was in the car with Marcel and Rebekah and was most likely subjected to carpool karaoke.

"Hey," Rafael sat beside her, his shoulders touching hers. "How's Lizzie?"

Hope watched the sun's rays light up the surface of the lake.

A beat of silence passed before Hope realised, she hadn't answered.

"She's doing better, Jade and Wendy are with her."

Hope recalled how they had all appeared in the middle of the living room, with Lizzie fading.

Bonnie tried everything, even with Davina and Kol's assistance, but Sebastian's blood had taken effect. Lizzie transitioned within hours, waking to hear the news that her boyfriend would not be joining them, that his decision had ruined any chance of them being together, forever. He had tried to make amends, helping them to return home, but condemned himself to die.

Hope explained this all to Rafael, how it had been her idea to give Lizzie closure.

Lizzie found Sebastian shivering by the fireplace.

Tears welled into her eyes, "You don't have to die, like this."

Sebastian turned his attention to her, "You're okay, that's all I wanted."

Lizzie let tears drip from her face, "I'm a heretic. It feels weird... but I forgive you."

Sebastian choked on tears, wiping them from his face, "I don't deserve your forgiveness."

Lizzie rolled her eyes to the ceiling, "Well I'm giving it to you, no backsies."

Sebastian looked scared, as the room began to shake. "You best be off. It won't be long now."

Lizzie looked at Hope, "You need to find Malivore, you need to save yourself."

Sebastian smiled, "You're going to find love again, and it will be better than what we had."

Lizzie couldn't stop crying, her emotions heightened, she couldn't say goodbye.

"Never," Lizzie whispered, as the Prison World fell.

Hope wrapped her arms around a heartbroken Lizzie, whilst Josie handed her a blood bag.

"You need to feed."

"And Josie?" Rafael asked softly.

Hope sighed, "I don't know, she got us home, but she's different, hollow."

Rafael stared at the starlings gliding through the cloudless sky.

Hope turned to him, "What did you find out? About your family?"

Rafael sighed, "It's complicated." He paused. "Hope, we can't be a couple."

Hope stared at him, the lake could have washed her away, she wanted it to.

Rafael said hurriedly, "It's not that I don't care for you Hope, I do, but-"

Hope struggled with the words, her heart heavy, "You just don't love me. I get it."

Rafael sighed, leaning on his knees, "No, you don't. We can't be a couple because Keelin, is my mother's sister, which means you and I are … cousins. Marcel knew my dad, Walt – he lives in Jackson. Rebekah and Marcel took me to see him, he wants me to stay with him."

Hope blinked, the abundance of new information too much for her brain.

She took some time to understand the magnitude of his news and took his hand in hers.

"Wow, that's really great, Raf," she smiled. "Thank you for telling me the truth."

Rafael sighed, leaning back into the chair, "Just because we're family, doesn't mean I don't love you, besides, being with me was always a distraction," he hinted. "It was always Josie."

Hope opened, then closed her mouth, "How did you know?"

Rafael wrapped a comforting arm around her, "The way you look at her, it's a dead giveaway."

Hope wrinkled her nose, "Have you told Landon? Where is Landon?"

Rafael nodded, and looked back towards the school, "Detention, something about an essay."

Clarke read over the pile of short essays on his desk. His task was well received.

Medusa. Achilles. Hector. Zeus. Hera. Eris, Poseidon.

Landon scrubbed the tables clean of graffiti, his attitude the reason he was there, not the fact that his essay, which he'd titled Malivore, and had been anything less than well written. He had written the truth, the truth as he remembered it. How his mother had worked at Triad Industries, how she had escaped Malivore, pregnant; and how he was the child of Malivore. How he had had a brother, who was crafted in his father's image, but for some reason, Landon could not remember his face.

Like he could not remember the past he had with Hope, who was now Rafael's cousin.

His family tree was more fucked up than the Mikaelson's, he thought.

"I'm getting the door, when I am back, we will discuss your essay."

"Great, I look forward to it," Landon grumbled, wishing he were anywhere else.

Mr Clarke's footsteps echoed down the hall.

Landon looked out the window to see a man wearing a tweed jacket, khaki pants, and a bow tie. He listened to the exchange of polite conversation, hoping for clues as to who this man was.

"I'm afraid I've forgotten who I am, and why I'm here, but I was given this card."

Mr Clarke took the card and studied it; Landon could not read it from where he stood.

"You must be the new janitor, Bob, I'll show you to your rooms."

Landon caught a glimpse of the man's unshaven face as he passed, his eyes a sunken blue.

A/N: Thoughts, theories, predictions? I thoroughly enjoyed writing those Sizzie scenes only to then destroy them, and myself. Same goes for Hafael, who I love so much, but this story always had a different endgame. Press review and send me your thoughts. I hope you all have a great nye & ny, and I hope 2021 is a better one for us all x