Nice Town
"I feel like a third wheel." Cora confessed as she, Malia and Scott walked towards the cinema.
"You're not a third wheel, Cora." Scott responded.
"Then why do I feel like one?"
"Because you think you're one." Malia replied.
"I am one!"
"Fine." Malia said, and moved from between Cora and Scott and put Scott between Cora and herself. "We'll share Scott until we get back to the hotel."
TRANSITION
Nice Town Shopping Centre
"We're here!" Rebekah said once they entered a clothing store.
Though she usually compelled herself a few sales assistants, she decided against doing that this time.
"Who do we start with?" Lydia inquired.
"What do you mean?" Tara asked.
"The whole point of going shopping with friends is to help each other choose the best outfits." Lydia replied.
"Tara will be first, you will follow and I'll be last." Rebekah decided.
"In that case, what size are you, Tara?" Lydia asked.
TRANSITION
Missouri
Kimberley went to Rebekah's place and spent the night there, hoping that she would return but it seemed that wasn't happening even though everything was intact, making Kimberley think that Rebekah might know that she was after her and left with the witch she consulted.
She decided to call Klaus and... Just as the thought was forming, Kimberley's phone rang and she checked it to find that Klaus was calling.
"Have you found my sister?" Klaus asked in greeting after Kimberley answered his call.
"I lost her yesterday." Kimberly replied, and then explained.
"I don't know why I expected anything less and now that Rebekah has a witch, she'll be harder to find. Why the hell didn't I force Bonnie to locate her?"
"Rebekah killed Bonnie's friend." Kimberley supplied an answer.
"Shouldn't she be over that by now?"
"That's not how it works, Klaus. Look, I'm going to contact a few werewolves I know and see if they can help me find Rebekah."
"You do that. I don't like having Rebekah out and about alone."
TRANSITION
Nice Town Cinema
Cora, Malia and Scott chose to watch a random movie, which happened to be an action comedy movie, when they arrived at the cinema. However, since it was still early, there weren't many people there and the trio was fine with that.
Cora got to call Derek while Malia bought snacks and Scott bought the tickets. She was glad that Derek wasn't in the dark place she found him in when they first met after the house fire. He seemed lighter now, more his age and grounded.
Cora wished Boyd and Erica were still alive and Isaac was around to see how far their former alpha has come. She was really proud of her older brother. With that thought in mind, Cora focused on having a good time with Malia and Scott and forgetting everything else for the next few hours.
TRANSITION
Beacon Hills Nemeton
"They have what they want. We confirm that McCall Pack is part and Crown Royalty of New Beacon Pack. When we meet again, I hope we will be meeting our friends and not agents of cowards who will be listening to those recordings or else there won't be any relationship between us."
"Are you happy now?" Satomi Ito asked once the recording came to a stop.
She was asking the supernatural leaders, who included alphas of both werecoyote and werewolf packs, witch coven leaders, druids, banshee, a wendigo family leader and more, who wanted to know if McCall Pack was becoming power-hungry and a threat.
"How dare that boy call us cowards?" David, an alpha werewolf questioned, infuriated.
"He does have a point; we are cowards for doing what we did." Amor, a druid said, having been one of those who voted against using children to get their answers.
"Speak for yourself, druid."
"Many of us have never crossed paths with young McCall Pack and we prefer to keep our supernatural identities secret." Mike, the wendigo family leader, spoke in defense of their decision. "Talia understood this. What of Scott McCall? He goes around attacking cities and..."
"And saving our lives and our children's lives at the cost of his pack members, academic performance and well being." Mrs Finch, an alpha werewolf and teacher at Beacon Hills High, interrupted. "You seem to forget that he was the one who put a stop to Gerard Argent and the Beast, among other things.
He did what Talia and Deucalion couldn't do and retired the Argents and made sure hunters never come around Beacon Hills again."
"That's because he was sleeping around with that Argent girl." David responded.
"That Argent girl is the first known person to kill an oni and you're in her presence, show some respect." Regina, a medium, said hotly, and gained everyone's attention.
"What do you mean?" Satomi asked for clarification.
"The Nemeton. Allison Argent is part of it and she is at peace. And so is her fellow late pack member Mieczyslaw Stilinski, better known as Stiles." Regina replied. "I cannot speak with them, but their spirits have found their resting place."
Amor was surprised by the revelation as it confirmed something her grandfather once claimed about nemeta and their sacrifices, but she kept quiet.
"That's impossible!" Sheya, a witch, commented, skeptical.
"Impossible or not, it is true." Regina responded, and then looked at David. "So watch your mouth. These kids have done more for Beacon Hills than you have in a long time."
"You know the cost of doing something for Beacon Hills, Regina. Look at the Hales." David said.
"Mmm, let me see." Regina complied. "Talia, like Hale Pack Alphas before her, continued to protect Beacon Hills until Kate Argent, probably at Gerard's command, destroyed Talia's Hale Pack by arson during an eclipsed full moon, killing most of the Hales.
A lot has happened since then but the last Hales left of Talia's Pack and family are werewolf royalty today and Malia Tate, said to be Peter's daughter with the Desert Wolf, is the Crown Princess Alpha of New Beacon Pack and currently Alpha of McCall Pack, the pack you covet most.
Peter Hale, the former Beast Alpha and Scott McCall's Alpha, is busy ruling Toulouse, a nemeton capital city in France, in New Beacon Pack's name and Derek Hale is the right-hand of the most powerful female and second most powerful member and leader in New Beacon Pack as Prince Gamma of New Beacon Pack.
And Talia's youngest child Cora Hale is in their inner circle as Princess Delta of New Beacon Pack. They've gone through a lot, with Peter disgracing all that his family stands for and Derek returning the favor, but the Hales are still standing are flying high.
Can the same be said about you and your pack, David? I don't think so, or else you wouldn't be looking for a reason to convince all of us that Scott McCall is getting power-hungry and will force us to kneel before his feet.
That boy is nothing like Deucalion and his Alpha Pack and you know it. He was betrayed like Deucalion was and he didn't go on a killing spree."
"Do you know why there hasn't been a hunter in Beacon Hills after McCall Pack shut the Dead-pool down?" David inquired, rhetorically. "My betas captured one of the hunters during their retreat and I found something from his mind that'll prove that Scott McCall is just like Deucalion.
That boy is not the rare true alpha you believe him to be; he's a demon wolf, just like Deucalion. Ask Satomi's beta Lorilee if you don't believe me. She saw Scott McCall's demon wolf form with her own eyes over a year ago."
All eyes turned to Satomi at that.
"Is it true, Satomi?" Mrs Finch asked. "Is Scott a demon wolf?"
"Before I answer, tell us everything, David. Surely there must be more to it than just what you say you saw from the hunter's mind." Satomi responded, calmly. "Someone you say is just like Deucalion wouldn't need to use their supposed demon wolf form to face hunters.
If you know Deucalion the Demon Wolf, you would know that as well as you know yourself. What would push someone like that to shift into their most powerful form?"
"What's important is that Scott McCall is a demon wolf. Everything else is not important." David replied.
"Every single detail is important when you accuse the alpha of the largest pack in history of what you're accusing Scott of, David." Amor said, but David didn't seem worth coming.
"Alright then, I'll fill in the details." Satomi decided. "We were in a warehouse where my pack and McCall Pack decided to make a stand and fight, but as the fight intensified, Scott made a strategic call for some of my pack to hide.
Lorilee got lost in the chaos and a hunter found her. That hunter was likely the one your betas caught because from Lori's memories, only two people saw what happened. That hunter pointed his gun on Lori and intended to shot her straight on the forehead.
Scott got there in time and prevented that from happening, but he was as enraged as I felt when I saw that memory; the memory Lori has to live with every day, the memory of someone who pointed a gun at a fourteen years old child with the intention of killing her for money."
"He gave in to the rage, didn't he?" Chitaksh, a gorgon, guessed.
"Yes. And released it all on Lori's would-be assassinator until he crossed a point that allowed him to evolve into a demon wolf." Satomi confirmed.
"There!" David exclaimed. "Your 'true alpha' is nothing but a demon wolf."
"I'm not done." Satomi said, flashing her alpha red eyes to warn David from interrupting her again. "Lori closed her eyes at that point, too terrified to keep on looking. An alpha's roar can inspire fear, but a demon wolf's can be a terrifying thing. Although Lori's eyes were closed, her ears were not.
She was expecting Scott to deliver the killing blow on the hunter but he didn't. Instead, Scott regained control in time, and a moment later, all our attackers received a message informing them that the Dead-pool was no more and they stopped.
This should tell you that the 'hunter' David caught was not a hunter but an assassin. Hunters don't really care about money; the money was a bonus to them. David said that his betas caught a hunter and he lied but that's not important.
What's important is that we all heard the recordings and we know that Scott could shift into a wolf form before he left for New Orleans and I have just confirmed that he has shifted into a demon wolf on one account.
Have any of you heard of an alpha with more than one alpha form? I don't recall Deucalion shifting into a wolf form. The question is; what now?"
"There is one more thing." Sheya replied, and earned everyone's attention, so, she continued. "Scott is no longer just a werewolf, he's also a vampire."
Silence reigned.
TRANSITION
Nice Town Shopping Centre
Lydia and Rebekah sent Tara to the dressing room after selecting a few test clothes for her and then looked around the clothing store while they waited for her. However, it didn't take long for Rebekah to ask a question she has been waiting to ask.
"Are Malia and Scott dating?" She asked casually.
"Yep." Lydia answered, still looking at the clothes and making a mental list of those she liked. "It's about time, if you ask me."
"Why is that?"
"They had been tiptoeing around each other for months and it was driving everyone crazy." Lydia replied, before she paused and gave a thoughtful expression. "But now that they're dating, I don't know which is worse; having Malia and Scott tiptoeing around each other or dating."
"Why would the latter scenario be worse?" Rebekah inquired, now focusing more on the conversation than clothes.
"If we stick around here long enough, you might find out. If last night was any indication, you'll likely find out soon enough."
"Then I don't think I need to wait." Rebekah responded, interested. "You might as well prepare me."
"Where is the fun in that?" Lydia replied, and then noted Rebekah's interest in the topic. "You seem interestingly interested in this topic."
"Do I?" Rebekah tried to play it off, but Lydia wasn't about to let it go.
"Yes. You do. A little too interested judging by the fact that I have your full attention." Lydia said, and began to add the pieces she had and arrived at a conclusion. "You met Scott separately from the rest of the pack when you two bumped into each other and Scott caught you.
And somewhere between falling and being caught, you liked what you saw and used your broken heels to make an opening for your next meeting, didn't you? You..."
"You're right, so you can stop." Rebekah interrupted, surprised by how easily Lydia put the pieces together, and walked to the seats outside Tara's dressing room and Lydia followed her. "My brother Nik always tells me I fall for every man who shows me a hint of affection and I guess he's right.
Scott might not have shown me even a hint of affection but in the short moment that he caught me and I looked into his warm eyes and he asked me if I was OK, I... Everything just disappeared and all that I could see was him. Somehow, I missed the fact that he's a werewolf and just saw Scott.
But he has a girlfriend and they seem great together and we're just crossing paths."
From the dressing room, Tara heard an untold story of unrequited love in what Rebekah said and the tone of her voice, hence she waited for Rebekah to finish. But instead of the confident young woman Rebekah has been since they met, Tara heard a lonely and vulnerable girl in her voice.
This was one of the reasons Tara didn't turn away people based on their species. She did what she did with the mentality of a doctor, that everyone's life was valuable and worth saving, regardless of who they are, but in her case, it wasn't about health.
"I'm sure you'll find someone you'll be in a great relationship with one day." Lydia said, not knowing what to say other than that since the boy Rebekah was speaking about was one of her best friends and dating other best friend.
"Maybe." Rebekah replied, but she wasn't sure for hundreds of years, betrayals and her brothers' interventions proved otherwise.
In the meantime she contemplated to compel Lydia to forget everything she said, her vulnerability, but decided against with the thought that if she wanted genuine friends, she had to be a genuine friend.
At that moment, Tara came out of the dressing room.
TRANSITION
Beacon Hills Nemeton
"Scott is a vampire?" Amor questioned, deadpan.
"Yes." Sheya answered confidently. "My son saw Scott compelling teachers and students at school after."
"I've heard rumors that Klaus is now a true hybrid and he has been building a pack." An alpha werewolf said.
"Who is Klaus?" Mike inquired.
"Someone you don't want to cross paths with." Regina responded.
"Scott is not the kind to submit to anyone." Amor reminded everyone. "We all know his history with alphas who have tried to recruit him. Peter tried to recruit Scott after he turned him but he failed and he is not the only one."
"That is true but Klaus is a different kind of monster and New Orleans used to belong to him. What are the chances that Scott suddenly becomes King of New Orleans with Klaus' adoptive son?" The alpha voiced his suspicions.
"Who is this Klaus?!" Mike pressed.
"He's an original vampire-werewolf hybrid." David answered. "A myth."
"He's not a myth." Regina interrupted. "Klaus is as real as you and me and if you know what's good for you, you'll make sure that you never attract his attention."
"When did you hear the rumors?" Mrs Finch asked her fellow alpha.
"A few weeks ago. They were the hottest topic until New Beacon Pack began making rounds."
"The timing is off, then." Mrs Finch said to herself, and then revealed what she knew. "I can confirm what Sheya's son witnessed because I witnessed it too. Scott is no longer just a werewolf, he's a vampire-werewolf hybrid but not of Klaus' making.
Sometime after McCall Pack dealt with the Beast, I saw and heard Scott compelling human students and teachers on school grounds."
"Compelling them to do what?" Satomi finally added her voice.
"He was compelling them to forget his fight with the Beast at Beacon Hills High and everything they recently found out about the supernatural, including people they suspected to be supernatural and destroy any evidence they had." Mrs Finch answered, and then explained.
"There was a bit of unrest at the school following the Beast's attack during a game and some of the humans were showing hostility towards those they at least suspected to be supernatural.
I guess Scott decided to do something about it before things got out of hand and the supernatural was exposed and used his vampire abilities."
For once, David was at a loss for words, and so were his supporters.
"I suspect the Dread Doctors did something to Scott which ended with him becoming a vampire-werewolf hybrid." Mrs Finch continued.
"Why do you suspect that?" Chitaksh asked.
"Before Peter turned Scott, Scott was a severe asthmatic." Mrs Finch replied. "All that changed when he turned but his asthma made a return while the Dread Doctors were busy doing their experiments on humans Scott coined chimeras.
Scott had an asthma attack in my class when he was considering dropping AP Biology due to 'a scheduling thing'. He wasn't responsive until Liam used his connection with him and gave him an inhaler."
"You might be right." Lebohang, a banshee, said thoughtfully. "I felt Scott die on the night of the super full moon."
"What?" Sheya asked for everyone, shocked.
"Wait, wait, wait. I heard a piercing alpha roar that night." David recalled.
"But the Dread Doctors experimented only on humans." Regina reminded everyone.
"If that's so, where did they get the genetic material to make humans artificial supernaturals?" Mrs Finch questioned, and brought about silence for a few moments.
"If you're right, then Scott isn't a hybrid, he's a tribrid." Chitaksh realized.
"Scott McCall might not be power-hungry." David admitted. "But he sure does have terrifying power on his side."
"And he's fully embraced who he is by dealing a heavy blow to the vampires of New Orleans and their experimentation." Sheya added.
"This brings us to Satomi's question." Lebohang said, bringing the matter to a conclusion. "What now?"
"We pray and hope that we didn't anger the strongest alpha in the world." Amor replied.
"I have a better suggestion." Chitaksh responded.
"What is it?" Satomi asked.
"If you can't beat them, and many have tried but failed and did the same thing I'm suggesting, join them."
TRANSITION
Nice Town Cinema
Cora couldn't help but wonder why she thought going to the movies with a couple would work out as she returned from the bathroom to find Malia and Scott making out.
"Could you please ask your friends to keep it down?" A movie goer asked quietly.
"Why don't you do it yourself?" Cora inquired.
"Someone has already tried and... As you can see, and hear..."
Cora could guess what happened and pitied everyone in the room. She continued on her way and returned to her seat.
"That's enough, don't you think?" Cora asked, hoping to gain the two alphas' attentions.
"No, it's not." Malia answered between kisses. "I've waited months for this."
"Shh!" Someone hushed Malia for speaking without consideration for other people, and not a second later, the lights turned on and then flickered off and on.
Cora was glad that Scott was between her and Malia as this happened, knowing that it was Malia's doing. Luckily Scott got her under control by bringing her attention back to him with a long kiss.
"You're insatiable." Scott said with a breathy whisper.
"So are you." Malia replied, matching his whisper.
"What are we going to do when you return home and I go to Davis?" Scott wondered, before an idea came to mind. "Kingmaker has private jets, right?"
"The only thing I know about Kingmaker is that Eve is running it." Malia answered, prompting Scott to consult Raven6, but before he could...
"That wouldn't work." Cora said, getting where Scott was going with his question. "You'll both have different schedules and a lot of work like assignments and stuff to do for you to travel each day or weekends even if you have private jets at your disposal.
You might manage for the first few days and maybe weeks but you'll be sacrificing your academic, mental and physical performance and sleep, and your downtime, to list a few things."
"Then what do you suggest?" Scott inquired, seeing what she meant.
"I'm not the one in a relationship." Cora responded.
"But you're our friend."
"Your friend who is not getting involved with your business." Cora replied, and then focused on the big screen. "How about we watch the movie we came here to watch?"
It was times like these Scott missed Stiles.
TRANSITION
Niklaus' Mansion/House
"Has the local gang found any leads on Mikael?" Klaus asked his betas.
"Nothing. Their best lead on him depended on Katherine but since she's dead, they don't know where to look." Hayley answered.
"Maybe it's time I point them in the last known place the old man was." Klaus responded, before they heard a car heading for the house.
It didn't take long once the car stopped for there to be a knock on the front door and Nate was a little surprised to find Stefan to be their visitor.
"What do you want?" Nate questioned.
"To speak with Klaus." Stefan replied.
"Let him in, love." Klaus said to Greta who was lying on a couch.
"Come in, Stefan Salvatore!" Greta invited Stefan in from the couch.
"Such rude manners." Klaus commented.
"I wonder why." Greta returned dryly, and got a chuckle out of Klaus and Mindy.
"What can I do for you, Stefan?" Klaus asked once Nate arrived in the seating room with Stefan.
"I'm ready to be your little servant." Stefan responded, while Nate sat down and he remained standing. "I just need you to... To help me flip the switch."
Beat.
"Do you mind repeating yourself?"
"I'm ready to be your servant." Stefan repeated after taking a deep breath. "I just need you to help me flip the switch. I'm not going to be at my best if I'm still thinking about Elena and the fact that your sister killed her."
"Your best?" Daniel asked, amused, before he adopted a cold demeanor. "Weren't you at your best when you failed to protect Greta and caused her to lose her magic?"
"Good question, mate." Klaus said. "We made a deal and you failed to keep your end of the deal. First, you failed to protect Greta, and then you took my sister and me for fools and lied to our faces while you drank my alcohol in my house!
What use are you now when you failed and lied to me when you were at your best?"
"Have you ever been in love, Klaus? Like really and truly in love with someone that you would do anything for them?" Stefan asked, eyes teary. "If you have any idea what that feels like then you would understand why I did what I did.
I was trying to protect the love of my life and save my brother. And the only way that I could do that was to..."
"Make a fool of me!" Klaus interrupted, although the face of the woman who has haunted his heart and mind crossed his mind; Aurora de Martel. "I can admire the reasons you did everything you did for those you love, aside from failing to protect my witch like I told you to.
What I can't do is give you what you want. I won't. Even if I did, the way you speak of your love for Elena... Something tells me you'll never be able to get rid of your feelings for her. Something tells me you'll never get over her no matter how much you try.
And something tells me your only purpose in life, after Rebekah killed Elena, is to avenge her death and that you will die if it means you'll get your revenge, otherwise you'll never give in to the little voice in your mind that's telling you to kill yourself.
With that said, the only way I would consider compelling you to 'flip the switch', is if you also willingly ask me to erase Elena's entire existence from this town's memory and yours and secure your undying loyalty for myself."
That horrified Stefan more than Elena's very death. He'd known that he wasn't going to get close to Klaus again without losing something, preferably some of his emotions that prevented him from being a complete monster, but to have Elena's entire existence erased... That was too much.
"It's OK. I understand that it's a huge decision to make, so take your time and think about it." Klaus said, and Stefan couldn't get out of the house fast enough.
No one blamed him, not Klaus, his betas or Greta because Klaus was asking for a lot out of Stefan and he knew it.
"Make the call, Greta." Klaus told Greta, referring to having the deeds to the house changing hands so that Stefan wouldn't be able to enter the house again unless invited once again. "Stefan has a new plan and I want to know it."
TRANSITION
Nice Town Cinema
"I'm never going to the movies with you two ever again." Cora declared as she and her companions left the movie theater after watching three movies, ice cream cups and spoons in hand.
"Why not?" Malia asked. "We had a great time."
"You had a great time. Too much of a great time with all the kissing and..."
"If the problem is the kissing, you could just ask." Malia interrupted, and Cora and Scott almost broke their neck due to the speed with which they looked at Malia in response and Scott had a flashback of Bonnie and Caroline just after the last lacrosse game in Mystic Falls. "What?"
Scott was saved from saying anything by his phone vibrating with an incoming call and didn't miss the chance to avoid saying anything by answering it without looking checking the caller ID, and almost spilled his ice cream.
"Scott." Alan greeted.
"Hey, Doc!" Scott returned the greeting, voice a little high.
"Are you alright?" Alan asked.
"Totally! Is everything OK?"
"Yes. (Pause) But there have been some developments and there's someone who would like to speak with you about them. Are you available?"
"Uh..."
"No. We're not available if there's trouble in Beacon Hills." Malia replied. "Jordan and Argent can handle it."
"Malia. I'm sure they can but this requires your attention." Alan responded.
"What is it?" Scott asked, sending Alan's serious tone.
"Hello, Scott." Satomi greeted, and Scott halted, causing Cora and Malia to stop as well.
"Satomi?"
"Yes. There are some things we need to discuss concerning Beacon Hills."
"Is something wrong? How did the meeting go?"
"That's exactly what we need to speak about." Satomi said. "The meeting. And a few more things."
"Could you please call back in five minutes? We're not in an ideal location to speak." Scott replied, and Satomi acknowledged before they ended the call.
"This is why we take every chance we get to have a great time." Malia told Cora, pointing at Scott's phone. "It's only been a day since we left New Orleans and there's already 'some things we need to discuss concerning Beacon Hills'."
Cora pitied the two, seeing what Malia meant as they picked up their pace; for both eating their ice cream and walking faster to get to their suite.
TRANSITION
Malcolm's House
Malcolm couldn't help but be amused by the fact that his former coven, Gemini Coven, was going to get a rude awakening for its prejudice against his kind as he waited for an important phone call, feet resting on the coffee table and a movie playing on the television.
Abominations, Gemini Coven called siphon witches; witches born without magic of their own. Well, that was incorrect. Siphon witches were born with magic, just not the common kind. It was the magic of siphoning magic and it was quite useful.
Well, when you have a magic source to siphon from but Gemini Cover wasn't interested in understanding new things and as a result families that were part of the sub-racist witch coven disowned their children born as siphon witches.
Malcolm found it ironic that people who were led by a leader who literally stole his or her twin's magic, life-force and characteristics, called those born with the ability to steal magic abominations. He didn't get how they weren't aware of their hypocrisy.
Siphon witches were probably nature's way of providing them with a better alternative but they shunned it for their inhumane practice which resulted in people like Malachai Parker.
And when people like Kai acted out, they were seen as monsters to be imprisoned for all eternity in the Prison Worlds.
Ah, the Prison Worlds. Malcolm had to admit that Gemini Coven and Bennett Coven created something extraordinary, and yet cruel and sadistic and managed to be seen as good guys. Good guy, bad guy or gray; didn't really matter though.
The disowned and oppressed were going to turn things around, but they needed to release the imprisoned vampire-witch hybrids and vampire who led them, collectively known as the Heretics and soon, they would be released.
As that last thought crossed Malcolm's mind, his phone rang and he answered it.
"Finally." He said. "Have you found it, Lorenzo?"
"I didn't." Lorenzo St. John, a vampire, answered. "Lucas and Olivia Parker did and they have a deal for us for the 1903 Ascendant, the spell needed to use it and Bennett blood."
"Then all that we need now is a celestial event." Malcolm said.
"All we need is a celestial event and a full moon will do." Lorenzo responded. "But Olivia said that Joshua is working on a new ascendant. We'll wait and see who it is meant for and then act accordingly.
For now, get me up-to-date. What's new in Mystic Falls and how is the son of the love of my life?"