AN: Welcome to Frost Bite…Torran and Rose discover a whole lot more drama while heading to the Qualifiers. I'm changing what happens in Frostbite to a degree and what happened. Hope everyone likes it.
Chapter 14: Road Trip
Torran sighed as she finished getting ready in her dorm room, nervous about going to take her qualifier exam with Rose. She paced, as the purple crystal dangled as she talked to Davina. Her aunt listened as she brushed her hair.
"So, who is the guardian you're going to see?" Davina asked. "Don't know…Dimitri hasn't told us yet." Torran replied, making her smile. "You're nervous." Davina said. "A little…I'm just worried that I'm going to get what happened used against me." Torran said as there was a knock on the door.
"Tori…come on!" Rose called, making her sigh. "Go…before you're left." Davina smiled. "Okay…send my love…I'll call later." Torran smiled. "Okay…I'm going to bed." Davina laughed. "Okay before clothes disappear…bye Uncle Kol!" Torran smiled, making her smile more as she laughed.
The Harvest girl smiled as she disappeared, making Torran sigh as she left the room. She made sure she had her ring and necklace on that her mother gave her, making her feel more confident. Rose smiled at her as she adjusted her coat, making her grin.
"Such a Mikaelson." She teased, making her laugh. "Shut up." Torran laughed as they walked out and met Dimitri by the SUV that they were using.
"What took so long?" He asked, seeing how different the two were dressed. "I was talking to my aunt…sorry." Torran replied, making him nod. "Which?" He asked. "Davina…she was giving me the don't worry talk." Torran replied, making him smile.
"Like you need any cheering up." Rose teased, making her stick out her tongue. "Alright you two…come on." He said, making them smile. "So how far out is it?" Torran asked. "Five hours." Dimitri replied.
The two groaned as he chuckled at their reactions. He could not imagine their reactions to who was giving their qualifier exams.
"So, who is giving the test?" Rose asked. "Author Shoenberg." Dimitri told them, making them both gawk. "Pardon?" Torran coughed as she choked on her coffee. "He's a freaking legend." Rose squeaked. "And Art is very pleased with how far you both have come." Dimitri told them. "Bloody hell." Torran groaned, making him chuckle more.
After stopping at a diner and eating breakfast, they managed to arrive around noon. The house was a beautiful mansion style house with royal air to it. Torran put on her sunglasses as she stepped out of the SUV as her stiletto boots hit the ground. She sensed something about the house, but she could not pin point it.
"Beautiful house." Rose breathed, making them look at the house. "Sounds like something papa would build." Torran smiled, making her nod.
As they walked, both girls slipped on the icy driveway as Dimitri caught them, making them all frown.
"Haven't these people ever heard of salt?" Rose asked, as Dimitri steadied her. "Seri..ously!" Torran gasped, making him reach to her. "Easy…those might not have been the best to wear today." He teased, making her stick out her tongue.
She walked with them and suddenly caught the sight of something in the woods. A wolf with amber and red eyes. She gasped, seeing the rings and suddenly turned to Dimitri.
"I have a duffle in the car with a spare outift…that is not a normal wolf." She said. "Do not go after it Torran…I saw what you saw." Dimitri replied, knowing what she was upset about.
They headed into the house where the smell of blood hit Torran hard as she followed Dimitri and Rose into the house. Her eyes adjusted to the dark lighting as their eyes landed on the body on the floor, missing a throat. It was Arthur Shoenberg on the floor before them.
"Go to the car." Dimitri said, making them frown at the tone in his voice. "But." Rose replied, making Torran tug her sleeve. "Go…let's go." Torran replied, making her nod.
A half hour later, Torran and Rose watched a few SUVs roll up as several guardians stepped out. Dimitri talked with them for a few moments before coming over. Torran still sensed that wolf hanging around as the sun went down. Dimitri put his arm around her as she walked inside.
"What is it about the wolf?" He asked. "It had red rings around the amber eyes…that is not normal for any wolf." Torran replied. "How did you see that…never mind me asking." Dimitri replied.
The other guardians saw the shredded clothes. Torran frowned as she knelt down, finding a wallet. Inside was a picture, one that made her instantly drop it.
"Torran?" Dimitri frowned. "No…no freaking way…that is not her." Torran breathed, making them turn to her.
Rose took the picture from Dimitri and gasped, seeing Elijah and a very tiny Torran, probably minutes old. Torran was shaking as her eyes saw the figure lurking on the edge of the property. She looked at him with tears in her eyes.
"That is impossible…she died having you." Rose said, making the other guardians turn to them. "Well Rose…guess what…those freaks got a hold of her and…turned her into one of them." Torran replied, tears falling, "Now she helped kill a legend and half the Badica family, Rose. Including three babies, one of which is no older than HOPE!"
She swept from the room and out to the car. Her wolf nature was getting the better of her with the horrible news. Dimitri and Rose realized it was the breaking point for her.
"Was she saying that her mother is a strigoi?" Tamara, one of the guardians there asked. "Torran never met her mother…she died a couple hours after was born from hemorrhaging." Dimitri told her. "And in reality…she was turned?" She asked. "Yes…Torran spotted a wolf with amber eyes that were red ringed." He said, making her eyes widen. "That is not normal." She breathed.
A few minutes later, Torran came in with a stake that she found in the snow. Her blues eyes were red from crying as she passed it to Dimitri, making him frown. He looked at it and then realized that it broke the wards.
"That broke the wards." She said, making him nod. "Yes…are you alright?" He asked. "I have to be." She sniffed, making him nod.
After that, they left. Dimitri let her stay quiet as she stared out the window as the tears rolled down her eyes. Rose looked at him with concern as she looked at the picture she saved.
"Do you think she will be okay?" Rose asked softly, making him shrug. "I believe Torran's world has been rocked a great deal." Dimitri replied, making her frown.
Rose looked behind her to see Torran's sleeping figure. She hated that she was that upset about what was happening. The teen was shattered to find out what really happened.
When they arrived, Dimitri easily lifted Torran up and carried her to the dorm. Some of the other novices looked on, seeing the worried on the guardian's face.
Mason and Eddie frowned as they ran ahead to Torran's dorm room. Dimitri said nothing as Mason opened the door. They could clearly see the concern on guardian's face. Even more was the fearful sound in Torran's voice.
"Dimitri…can you stay?" Torran mumbled, making them frown. "I have to talk to Alberta and Kirova." He said, tucking a curl behind her ear, "Then I'll come back." "Do you think that…that she's going to come back?" She mumbled. "Oh Torran…don't think about that." He whispered, making her tear up. "My mom is strigoi…she was there…and she was taunting me the entire time…what says she isn't hiding outside the wards now?" Torran whimpered. "Oh no…look at me…you are safe…she isn't going to harm you…and she would have to get through all the guardians here, your pack and God helps your uncles and father." Dimitri replied, making her nod slowly.
Torran nodded slowly as she dozed off. Mason and Eddie looked worried as they looked at Torran. They had never seen her that way before and how much the new information shattered her.
"Will Torran be alright?" Mason asked. "I will stay with her tonight…she is upset about the discovery of her mother being turned." Dimitri told them, making them nod. "How did she know that…her mom is dead." Eddie asked. "She still is…but she is still a wolf and still can taunt Torran worse than anything else." He told them, "You boys should get some sleep."
They shared a look before going to their rooms. Dimitri was coming right back as Torran . They knew that she was going to be okay.
When he came back, Torran was staring out the window, her eyes yellow as she stared out the window at the far side of the campus. He looked out and saw the retreating figure of a wolf. He sighed, seeing her fear.
"Torran." He said, making her turn. "She's back…she's watching me." Torran replied, making him nod. "I know…come on…bed." He told her, making her nod as she turned away from the window with a sad look on her face.
He managed to get her to fall asleep as she laid against his chest. Torran was still tense as she slept, dreaming of her mother. Dimitri did all he could to keep her from having nightmares, but it didn't work. The whole night, he heard the whimpers from her.
The next day, Torran and Rose saw the practice dummies. They also saw Dimitri leaning against the wall, twirling a stake. Torran said nothing, still shaken from what she gone through the day before.
"What are we doing today?" Rose asked. "You'll start working with these." Dimitri replied, watching Torran's eyes, "Torran, I know you know where the heart it, but where is it Rose?"
Torran half smirked as she pulled out a pencil and tossed it mercilessly at the dummy's head and made it stick. Dimitri rolled his eyes at her as he chuckled, knowing she knew. Rose however, did not. Torran eyed her with amusement.
"Seriously?" Torran choked. "What…not all of us have witness their uncle and father rip hearts out." Rose retorted. "Never witnessed it." She grinned, making her stick out her tongue.
After practice, Dimitri checked on Torran, who looked out the window. She saw the figure waving at her. Then, disappear as if they were never there. She was getting annoyed as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Are you okay?" He frowned. "I can't change outside while she is around…do you think that the security center could hold me?" Torran asked. "I am not sure." He told her, "I will talk to Kirova and Alberta about it." He replied.
Later that morning, Rose saw her face as she sat down. Stan came over and tugged on her blazer sleeve, making her look up.
"I heard…I am sorry." He said. "…Thanks…I didn't know my mom…I know my father is going to freak when he hears through." She told him. "Do you need a day?" He asked. "No, I told Guardian Belikov that I need to not be in my dorm…she's been hovering outside the wards." Torran replied. "Okay." Stan said, "just tell me if you need a minute."
She nodded as he walked over to the front of the class. Mason saw her twirling her pen with magic to keep her mind off of wolf outside. They saw one of the guardians as Rose's mother. She turned to her friend as she stared.
They listened to the war stories the guardians told as they sat in class. Torran sensed another presence she knew and looked at the door. Her blue eyes lit up to see Hayley and Hope in her arms. She looked to Alto as he nodded, making her quickly rise and scoop the tot from her mother's arms and back to her seat.
When it came for Rose's mother to speak, Torran was confused by how strigoi knew their movements.
"Guardian Hathaway, is it possible that the strigoi could have had someone on the inside?" Torran asked. "I don't believe they would…Miss Mikaelson…we didn't give ourselves away." She told her. "Then is it possible one of them used to be a guardian. If you didn't give yourself away, then he had to know how we operate." She said, making her smile. "I don't believe so but he definitely did know how we operate." She told her.
Rose smirked as the older guardians nodded with approval at her question. She was a quick thinker.
After class, Torran had to give Hope back to Hayley. She smiled at her as Elijah approached. She felt better as Dimitri looked at them.
"I might have called last night." He told her. "Thank you." She told him.
"Are you sure it's her?" Elijah asked. "She left this…Torran asked me to keep it." Dimitri told him.
His eyes saw the picture and sighed. Only him and her mother knew of it. He had sent the others away.
"It's her." He frowned. "She's been taunting Torran. She is hovering just on the edge of the grounds." Dimitri told him. "I don't know how it was possible…I know her heart wasn't beating." Elijah said. "It must have been so faintly, even you didn't know." He said.
"Or she got blood from one somehow…How else would mama have the blood of a strigoi in her…we know at that time period; New Orleans was a battel zone…Even Marcel will tell you things were ugly. She must have thought she could protect me and instead, became a strigoi-wolf hybrid." Torran said, making them look at her.
Elijah saw the broken look in her eyes as he sighed, pulling her into his arms. She leaned into his chest, fighting the urge to break down and let out the anger and fear she was feeling. Rose's mother, Janine, saw the group talking as tears began to form. She wasn't able to hold them back much more as Elijah hushed her, telling her it was okay to let it out. She let out a broken sob as he held her. He knew she needed to know she was safe.
"I know darling…And I'm so sorry. I wish you didn't have to know Angela was this way. I wish you could have peace knowing she was watching over you from the other side and at peace." Elijah said, making her whimper. "She killed babies Hope's age, with no remorse…how can that thing be the woman who birthed me…who gave me a gift that I cherish…and now, she is the opposite of what I have been taught by our family, our pack…she's going to get to me somehow…I just know she will." Torran whimpered. "No…Angela will not get close to you; I can assure you of that." He said, pulling away to wipe the tears from her face. "How can you say that?" She sniffed. "Because you will not be alone." Elijah said.
"No you will not, they're going to send the students to a Moroi ski lodge." Dimitri told her. "Okay." She replied as he hugged her as well. "And I will be at your side, pulling you away from her should she come." Dimitri told her, making her smile softly.
"Me too…and your mom would be stupid to mess with you…you're a witch…you could melt her brain if you wanted." Rose said, making her laugh with tears.
"Your mother was one of the strigoi at the Badica house?" Janine asked. "Sadly…she left that picture behind…only her and my father know it exist." Torran replied, making her nod. "She is the one missing out, not many students can pick up on the fact of the strigoi was one of us at one point." Janine told her, making her smile softly.
Later that day, the group gathered around to see Christian's Aunt Tasha. Torran heard the nickname for him and curled her nose as Hayley chuckled, swatting her shoulder lightly. Elijah was with Hope, settling her. Hayley wanted to spend some time with the teen, being the only mother she really had then. Dimitri smiled when he saw the pair walking over.
"I was wondering if you two were coming." He smiled. "Yeah, fussy toddler." Hayley smiled, "I suppose you're the one that has been asked to manage the three heathens?" Hayley smiled, making him chuckle. "Roza is the only real trouble maker at times…Torran, I've learned when she's in a bad mood, its usually around a full moon." Dimitri smiled, "You must be Hayley, her stepmother." "I am…thank you for looking after them…oh, Mary and Jackson are flying out in the morning, we're going to pick them up in Missoula." Hayley told her, making Torran smile. "Meemaw is coming!" She grinned, making Rose and Lissa look up.
"Is she making gumbo or bringing it?" Rose asked, making Lissa and Torran laugh. "She said she would make you guys some while here." Hayley said, making them cheer. "Yes!" Rose and Torran grinned, high fiving.
"Gumbo…where are you from?" Tasha asked, making them look up. "New Orleans." Torran replied, making her nod. "That makes sense why Dimka said you were a Cajun…I was thinking where in the world is he talking about." She replied, making her nod. "Yeah…I'm half wolf so, my uncle coming is rare…he runs our pack and doesn't get much of a chance to travel." Torran replied, making her nod.
"So, if he's the alpha, does that make you a princess, technically?" Christian asked. "Yes, but do you see my ass wearing a crown…shut up…don't say a damn word." Torran said, making them smirk. "What?" Rose grinned. "That was my sweet 16…I'm entitled to that one time." She said, making Dimitri chuckle as Hayley showed him the picture of the gown.
"Beautiful." Dimitri smiled, "I remember when Klaus came when they went shopping for the dance…she was beautiful then, they all were." "Sounds like the big brother." She smiled, making him nod.
Torran looked up as her eyes turned, yellow, sensing the presence of Angela nearby. She stood and walked to wards, having enough of her games. Dimitri frowned as did the others as she spoke. She wasn't one to take people's crap and she wasn't going to start then. She wanted to know what her mother wanted from her.
"Why don't you come and talk instead of acting like a child and hiding in wolf form before I find moonstone and bind your sorry self!" She screamed, making them frown.
A moment later, a woman's cold laugh filled the woods. Dimitri tensed as Tasha and Christian jumped back. Rose pulled Lissa close behind her as Hayley stood beside Torran. She walked up to the wards, knowing she couldn't get through. Her blue eyes were cold and calculating as she sighed, taking in the teen's appearance. She looked at Hayley, an amused smirk on her face as the hybrid growled.
"I was wondering when you were finally going to break." She smirked, making her glare. "What the hell do you want with me!" Torran yelled, annoyed. "For you to join me, of course." She said, making her glare. "You psychotic bitch…That is never going to happen. You need to leave me alone." Torran told her. "You're going to join me one way or another…and Elijah won't be ablet to protect you." Angela said, making her look at her. "My father is older than you and stronger than you. Papa will always come for me." Torran hissed, making her laugh. "We'll see." She said, "Be on your guard, my little wolf princess, I'll get you when you least expect me to…and my friends will love to have you join them as well."
With that, Angela vanished from sight. Torran screamed with frustration as she turned into wolf form before everyone could stop her. Hayley frowned as she took off running after Angela. Rose, Lissa and Christian frowned as Dimitri yelled out after her. The sound of her laughter filled the woods as she chased the woman deep into the woods. He cursed as he pulled out his walkie from his belt and called for Alberta.
Stan and Yuri, who were on watch that night came running over. Rose held Lissa as they heard a whimper of Torran, causing Hayley to turn forms and go chasing after her to protect her pup. Rose looked to Dimitri as he told her to get Elijah. She nodded, dragging Lissa with her to get him. Hayley came back a moment later, still in wolf form as Tasha went to her cabin to get her some clothes to burrow. Dimitri removed his duster and held it out to her as she changed forms.
"Damn it…so fucking much like Klaus!" Hayley yelled, frustrated. "She's been taken?" Dimitri frowned. "Yes…Son of a bitch!" She cried.
"Here, change in there." Tasha said, giving her the clothes. "Thank you." She replied.
A moment later, Elijah arrived as she came out of the cabin. He was alone as she teared up, making him frown as she wiped her eyes. He noticed one person was missing as Dimitri gave him the moonlight ring, crest ring and necklace Torran had been wearing. He looked at them and then the woods. Alberta came over as he pulled Hayley tightly to him, knowing why she was tearing up.
"She ran after Angela…she had gotten tired of her mind games and reacted." Dimitri said, making him close his eyes as a pained look crossed his face. "She was taken, wasn't she?" He frowned. "Yes…I'm so sorry, I never would have thought she would do that." He told him. "No…I do not blame you. Torran is a wolf. They feel things more deeply that we would. Its her connection to nature that pushes her to do so. I will call Freya. We need to get a locator spell set to find her." He replied, making him nod.
"All students will be evacuated." Alberta said, making Dimitri nod. "Roza and Lissa…they're going to be hysterical." He sighed. "I know…Lady Ozera, I would feel better if you were closer to the building…especially after what just happened." Alberta told her.
"Fine." She sighed, making her nod.
The next morning, when Mary and Jackson arrived, Freya was with them. She looked at Elijah, who stared out of over the woods as he held her locket. Mary saw the students being put on busses as Rose and Lissa remained with them. Mason and Eddie wanted to but Rose told them to go. Christian was as well as the witch noticed someone was missing.
"Elijah…Nik said there was an emergency." Freya said, making him turn. "Yes…Torran was taken last night by her mother." Elijah said, making Jackson and Mary whip around.
"WHAT!" He yelled, "Angela is dead…how is that possible?" "She had made a deal with a strigoi…thinking they would help your pack with Marcel, back when you were fighting." Elijah told him, "She discovered her mother was responsible for an attack on a royal family the other day when the girls went to take their qualifier interviews…she found this there…this was taken after I had asked everyone to leave." Elijah told him.
"What did Angela do?" Mary asked. "She took Torran…We don't know where but we know she is missing." Hayley said.
Meanwhile, Torran awoke in a bedroom. She frowned as her head throbbed, making her groan softly as she felt the soft silk of the pajamas she wore. She looked down and frowned, not remembering wearing them. She rose, looking in the mirror and saw the hug gash on her forehead from where her mother knocked her into the tree.
Then fear suddenly filled her as she realized that she wasn't at the academy anymore. Her blue eyes filled with fear as she looked to get out of the house through the windows. Only they were coated in wolfsbane. She wrenched her hands back as she cursed, the pain hurting as she turned to see the door opening. Angela had a brought her clothes and smirked.
"You can't get out that way." She told her, making her glare. "Where are we?" Torran frowned. "You're not going to get that either…here are some clothes…when you're presentable, you may come out for food." She said, making her frown.
Torran was unsure of what her mother wanted and just did as she asked. She knew that someway, somehow, she would make it out of that house. She just hoped that she would be safe from harm. She had to do whatever it took to survive and wait on help to come for her.
AN: I know that it's been a long time since I've posted but I am trying. I am super excited for the new VA tv show. Please remember to review.