I own nothing but my own words.


Chapter 3: Mine…


"Planning to make her look as trashy as you?" Alyssa said into her vanity mirror while watching Lizzie and Josie help Hope gather everything she needed to get ready for the dance.

Hope planned to get ready in the twins room so they could all help each other. Also, Lizzie had insisted.

"Talked to Jed lately?" Lizzie asked her sweetly, knowing the witch was referring to her.

Alyssa glared into the mirror but miraculously shut her mouth.

Hope looked back and forth between Lizzie and her roommate. What the…

Later, Lizzie mouthed at her.

Hope shrugged then grabbed her shoes and bag with undergarments.

Lizzie paused to look at a bouquet of roses sitting on Hope's nightstand.

"Roses for Valentine's, huh? He didn't want to give them to you in person?"

"Hmm?" Hope glanced up. "Oh, yeah, he had them delivered. He didn't think he'd have time to pick them up before the dance. I'm amazed he could even get away today. He has to leave immediately again tomorrow."

But, even with that, he insisted on coming to the dance with her. She had to smile. He always did everything he could to make her his priority.

"Is that everything?" Josie asked. She had the dress and a bag with hair products.

"Almost," Lizzie said, rooting through Hope's makeup. "Oooh," she picked up a lip gloss. "I bet this would look great on me."

Hope cleared her throat loudly.

"Right, right," she tossed that lip gloss and one more into her tote. "Let's go!"

"Finally," Alyssa grumbled, still glaring at Lizzie.

"Holding you up getting ready for your escort, are we?" Lizzie asked. "Oh, wait."

"Lizzie," Josie said under her breath, trying to encourage her to be nice.

"What?" the blonde asked.

"Let's go," Hope said, pushing Lizzie out the door.

"What was that all about?" Hope asked as they walked through the corridors. "What about Jed?"

"I can't believe you didn't hear," Lizzie laughed.

"She doesn't listen to gossip, unlike some people," Josie said with a pointed look at Lizzie.

"Word is," Lizzie said dramatically as she opened her bedroom door, "Alyssa and Jed got a little too close over winter break."

"As in…" Hope could read between the lines, especially since she was sexually active herself now.

"Uh huh," Lizzie nodded. "You know, Alyssa was stuck here and Jed was supposed to join his parents but they cancelled on him last minute."

"It's kind of sad," Josie said. "For both of them, I mean, not going home for the holidays?"

"Jed, yes," Lizzie said. "Alyssa though?"

"Yes, Josie," Hope said, eyeing Lizzie. "You're absolutely correct. It is sad. For the both of them."

"Anyway," Lizzie shrugged. "It was just that, a winter break fling, and now neither Alyssa nor Jed are speaking to each other. No one knows who broke up with whom. But they all know he's not following her around like he used to."

"That's too bad," Hope said.

"Too bad?" Lizzie asked. "It's perfect ammunition to get under her skin."

"We all know you're not a fan of Alyssa Chang," Hope rolled her eyes.

"And you are?" Lizzie asked. "How many more weeks do you have on your prison sentence?"

Hope shook her head. "I have to put up with her, but that sounds like heavy stuff." She didn't really know the details of Alyssa's personal life, but Hope knew that if she had slept with someone and things had ended badly she wouldn't be feeling too great about it. It was kind of a big deal. Or maybe that was just her?

"Yeah," Josie said. "You never really know what someone's going through."

"Gang up much?" Lizzie huffed. "Fine. I'll try to be nice… er. But if she starts, I will retaliate."

"We know, Lizzie," Hope said. "We know."


"Knock, knock," Jade said since the door was wide open.

"Hi, Jade," Wade said. His laptop booted up, he was editing together videos from his drone. It was part of his application for the film school he was applying to.

"You're not ready yet?" she asked.

She was all dolled up and ready, but she wanted to check on him before she went to find Josie. She loved the shades of magenta in her dress. Coupled with her hair color, it just made everything fun.

After defeating Malivore, she started hanging out with Wade whenever she got the chance—which seemed to be more and more since Josie had been spending a lot of time with Hope and Lizzie lately outside of school. Jade still got to see Josie at school since the both of them still went to Mystic Falls High along with Jed. They were allowed to go to the dance at the Salvatore School because all of them still lived there, and, well, Josie's parents owned the school.

She was curious about Wade ever since they teamed up with Josie and Rafael. As a person who struggled for years with her sexuality before she became a vampire, she recognized a kindred spirit immediately. The only difference being that Wade hadn't seemed interested in any gender. She didn't know if Wade understood what that meant, or if he even wanted to understand, but she wanted to be a friend to him in case he needed one. She was pretty sure he was on the ace spectrum though, and she wanted him to have someone to talk to about it.

Recently, in the midst of a discussion, he admitted doing some research based on things she talked about before, and he had a lot of questions. She was correct. He was ace.

In the end, he came to understand that there wasn't anything wrong with him just because he wasn't interested in romantic relationships or sex like nearly every other teenager at school. She was glad she got to be there for him and had even helped him find some online communities to help him find friends like himself—ones that weren't looking for anything romantic or sexual, just friendship and compatibility.

Now, though, she still wanted to maintain that friendship. She would take every friend she could get. She was very much into Josie, but her only other living friend had been Wendy—and Wendy transferred to a school on the West Coast as soon as Doctor Saltzman allowed her to. Wendy hadn't wanted to continue at the Salvatore school, not after being sent to prison for ten years and losing track of everyone she ever knew or had ever loved. Wendy thought Jade was crazy for staying, but Jade knew this was the best place for her.

Phone calls from Wendy had been fewer and fewer, and they all but stopped in recent weeks. She missed her.

"Not too interested in going," he shrugged.

"It'll be fun," she said. "Dancing, talking with your friends. Just because it's a Sweetheart Dance doesn't mean you need a date. Plenty of people are going without one."

"I really need to work on this," he said.

"Who am I going to hang out with in between when Josie's hanging with her friends?" she asked.

"Shouldn't she be focused on you all night?" he said.

She laughed, "She's allowed to have friends, just like me. And you're my friend, soooo?"

He sighed, "I guess I can go. There'll be cake right?"

"Cake, and brownies, and cookies, and all the sweet stuff, I'm sure," Jade said with a grin. "The best place for a fairy with a sweet tooth!"

"I'll see you there," he agreed.

"Great!" she said. "Don't be too late!"

She left the room and headed back to the girls dorms. On her way, she heard the communal phone ring. Hoping it would be Wendy even though she knew it probably wouldn't be, she headed to answer it since everyone else was too busy getting ready.


"I'm trying to imagine Clarke actually dancing," Lizzie laughed. "There is no way he's got moves like Kaleb and MG."

Even Hope had to laugh at that one. "He's much more of a traditionalist."

"What? Foxtrots and waltzes?" Lizzie laughed.

"Something like that," Hope shrugged. "I'll hope for lots of slow dances."

She stayed still as Josie pulled her hair back and then pulled down some tendrils to soften the effect.

"Hurry up, Josie," Lizzie said. "My hair isn't going to tame itself."

"Just a sec," Josie said.

"Welp," Jade said as she swept into the room. "I come baring bad news from the telephone waves."

"Phone?" Hope glanced at her in the mirror but didn't move her head. "It wasn't Ryan, was it?"

"Yep," Jade nodded. "His flight was rerouted due to a snowstorm so he didn't land until five minutes ago. He tried to call you, and then called the communal phone when you didn't answer. He still has to drive to Mystic Falls then get ready. He'll be more than fashionably late."

Hope looked around and, yep, she left her phone in her room. Seniors were the only ones allowed to have phones since they had off-campus privileges, but on-campus they had to keep them in their rooms. A rule instituted by Doctor Saltzman at the start of the new year after Headmaster "Vardemus" had done away with his no-cell phone rule to begin with.

Jade looked down at Josie still wearing slippers and a robe. "Your dress is cozy."

"I'm wearing it under this," she explained with a smile. "I didn't want to get anything on it."

"Okay, Jos, that's it. It's your turn," Hope said. "Put a last pin in and then switch places with me. No rush for me to get glammed up now anyway."

"You do her hair," Lizzie said, standing. "I'll do makeup."

"Just go easy on the liner," Josie said, eyeing Lizzie.

"Relax," Lizzie said. "You'll look perfect."

"Not that she doesn't already," Hope added.

"Couldn't have said it better myself!" Jade said from behind them, winking at Josie in the mirror.

Josie blushed. "Guys, stop."

"I'm wondering if I should still bother going," Hope said. "I mean, isn't the airport like an hour away?" She knew he didn't have any control of the flights; it was just one of those things.

Lizzie scoffed. "If I can go alone, you can too. We'll make a grand entrance together."

"Girl power!" Hope said, laughing. "Okay, yes, Lizzie, I'll be your escort for the first half of the dance. But soons as my mans shows up—"

"You'll ditch me," Lizzie sighed dramatically, clutching at her heart. "My ego can take it, I swear."

"I bet," Hope said. "How about some curls?" she asked Josie, brandishing the curling iron.

"That'd be great," Josie said, smiling softly. She was looking forward to the dance a lot more knowing that she wouldn't have to spend the entire time making nice with Clarke. She could be with her sister and friend, and with Jade, and relax.

And it was nice having Hope and Lizzie focusing on her for once.


"Hello, cutie," Jade said with a grin as a slow song started and she pulled Josie into her arms.

Josie gladly went to her, smiling. "You've got moves," she said, referring to her dancing. "How did I not know that?"

"There's plenty about me you don't know yet, Josie Saltzman," Jade said with a wink.

"Tell me more," Josie teased.

"Well, if its moves you want to know more about…" Jade trailed off mischievously.

"I told Lizzie to go to the after party," Josie said with a knowing look. "Give us some alone time in my room later."

"I like the way you think," Jade said suggestively. "Alone time with you is a precious commodity lately"

Josie frowned. "Really? I didn't think… I mean, school?"

She, Jade, and Jed still went to Mystic Falls High since she put her magic away again after Malivore, taking it back only to sever the link to the seal before putting it away again. Jade still wanted to get used to being around humans, and Jed still kept an eye on them.

She kind of wished she was back at the Salvatore school because it made maintaining her relationships with Lizzie and Hope more difficult, but her father said she couldn't bounce back and forth between schools whenever she wanted. Also, having no magic made the supernatural school more dangerous for her. Jed was surprisingly okay with it too. One would think he would want to stick around to hang with Ethan, but he agreed immediately when her dad asked him to return.

"Not a lot of time alone there either, you know, because of class and Jed," Jade shrugged. "But it makes me look forward to tonight even more."

"What about next Friday too?" Josie asked, suddenly feeling bad because she realized Jade was right. At school, she did spend a lot of time with Jade but it was never really alone, and when she was 'home' she spent a lot of time with Lizzie and Hope. She couldn't remember the last time she and Jade had gone on an actual date. "We can go into town or just a picnic or anything really."

"It's a date," Jade said with a wink. "Surprise me."

The song changed and picked up in tempo again.

"I need a breather," Josie said. "Want some punch?"

"Sure," Jade said. "I'm gonna find Wade."

"I'll get the drinks and meet you there," Josie said.

"Okay!"

Despite Ryan running late—and still not arriving—Hope was having a great time!

The music was loud and pumping and for the most part she and Lizzie just danced around with everyone and each other, having a blast.

When a slow song started, they went to grab some punch while Jade led Josie onto the dance floor.

"I'm glad I decided to come anyway," Hope said, grabbing a drink from the table.

"There was no way I was letting you sit this one out!" Lizzie said loudly, grabbing her own drink.

"Brock's coming," Hope said, spying the wolf. "I think he's going to ask you to dance."

"Who?" Lizzie looked around. "Oh. Yeah, no."

"Isn't this still the year of yes?" Hope asked.

"That was last year," Lizzie said. "New year, new Lizzie."

"Could've fooled me," Hope said with a wink.

As he approached, Lizzie readied herself to deny the younger wolf a dance.

"Excuse me," he said.

She looked up and opened her mouth, but he beat her to it.

"I need to get to the punch bowl," he said, nodding between the two girls.

Hope snickered into her drink and moved out of the way.

Lizzie harrumphed. "Seriously?"

"Uh, yeah?" he said, confused.

"Don't you want to dance with me?" Lizzie said, annoyed.

"Well, sure," he said, face clearing and holding out a hand to her.

"I didn't mean…" Lizzie looked at Hope for help.

"Have fun, you two!" Hope said, giggling.

Lizzie sighed and took his hand. She totally walked into that.

"Just don't step on my feet," she said as they walked to the dance floor.

"No guarantees," he said with a laugh, turning to face her for the slow dance.

"Great," she said with a sigh.

Hope watched them walk away and then took the chance to look around. She kept going back to watching the doors, waiting for the moment Ryan finally appeared.

She had this feeling of being watched herself, so she looked around again until she made eye contact with Rafael and saw him smile with a nod before heading toward her.

She let out a breath. She knew what that meant. He was going to ask her to dance. Crap.

He was her friend, and she knew under normal circumstances she would have no problem dancing with him, but Lizzie had made things awkward for her. Ryan hadn't been too happy last week. While she knew she could dance with whomever she wanted to, she wasn't going to dance with Rafael. She didn't want Ryan to arrive and the first thing he saw was her dancing with Raf, even if it would only be as friends.

He was already feeling jealous, why make the situation worse? She knew how sensitive Ryan was.

As much as her being with him had helped repair a lot of the damage done by his father, she knew he still struggled with understanding how love and relationships worked even though he loved her completely. Sometimes she felt like he was waiting for her to find something wrong with him, to leave him because of it. That theory gained a lot of traction when he had told her his thoughts regarding his mother.

She loved Ryan, more than she ever thought possible. She had known since the first time they kissed that they were meant for each other, it just took a little while for her brain to listen to her heart. Now, loving him was as instinctive as breathing. She wasn't going anywhere. He was hers, and she was his, and, no matter what, they were going to remain each other's. Sometimes she wished he could be a part of her subconscious again just so he could feel her emotions and know once and for all exactly how much he meant to her.

Seeing Rafael drawing closer, she resolved to tell him 'no' if he asked to dance. She would rather he didn't ask though. She didn't want to make things too awkward between them, not when she still wanted to be friends with him.

Smiling hesitantly back at him, she clutched her drink slightly, hoping for a miracle, and then one came.

"Hey, Hope," Ethan said as the music picked up again.

He started reaching for a cup, but she grabbed his hand.

"Absolutely, I would love to dance!" She put her cup off to the side and pulled him along, waving to Rafael as she passed by.

"Okay…?" Ethan said, allowing her to tug him along. The dance was pretty much like any other school dance he had ever been to, except the decorations were a bit more magical. He didn't have a date, but he was having fun hanging with Jed and the other single wolves. He was more excited for the after party though. No chaperones and he heard things got a little crazier then.

"Trying to avoid hurting someone's feelings," she explained.

"Yeah, that's always inevitable," he deadpanned.

"Avoid it tonight, at least," she said.

"Raf?" he asked knowingly.

"How'd you know?" she asked, surprised.

"I'm not that oblivious," Ethan rolled his eyes. "He can't keep his eyes off you."

"It's not that bad," she hastened to defend him.

"Uh, yeah," Ethan nodded. "It is." It was getting to be borderline creepy actually. In fact, he wondered if he should say something to him, considering Hope was family.

"Being a hybrid isn't all it's cracked up to be," she said, excusing Rafael's actions once again. She knew once she activated her vampire side she would act a bit differently as well. Rafael just needed time to adjust, and she was the only one who could relate to him at all at the moment.

"I hope I never find out," Ethan said.

"Same!" she said with a smile then promptly changed the subject. "So, how's Maya?"

"Good," Ethan said. "She starts that internship at the mayor's office on Monday after cheerleading practice. Mrs. Salvatore arranged it for her."

"I didn't know she was into that sort of thing." Hope was genuinely surprised. She didn't know Maya that well, but she was pretty sure she wasn't interested in anything like that.

"She isn't," he shrugged. "It's actually my after school dream job, but apparently since she's human and knows about supernaturals, she's exactly what Mayor Donovan wants for his team."

"I'm surprised Maya agreed to it," she said.

"I think she's feeling left out," he said. "I mean, she knows being one of us isn't all that fun, but with me and Landon here, she's just got Mom, Aunt Seylah, and Chad." He had to laugh to himself a little at that.

"Chad!" her eyes lit up. "How's he doing?" She hadn't gotten the chance to see him for a while, but the guy had grown on her.

"Good, good," he grinned. "You know he's a deputy now, right?"

"No way," she giggled imagining it.

"Mom isn't giving him much responsibility yet, mostly sending him out on the least dangerous things like going to local schools to talk about drugs, and I think he's helped rescue a couple of cats…?"

"That sounds like Chad," Hope smiled.

"Aunt Seylah is attempting to train him so he can become a bit more…"

"Tough?" she suggested. "Less Naïve?"

"Go with that," he laughed. "And, let's just say, no one is in any rush to put a gun in his hands."

"So he's less of a deputy, and more of a junior deputy, except older?" she asked.

"Shhh," Ethan hushed her jokingly. "Don't tell him that."

"I'm surprised he lasted a day," she said.

"Turns out everyone secretly loves him," he shrugged. "They don't want to break his poor little heart."

"That sounds like Chad too," Hope said. "Something about him just makes you want to protect him at all costs."

"You're not wrong," he laughed again. "I think the only one not feeling it is Landon, but who knows what's up with him. Maya knows him better than me."

Hope didn't respond to that. Landon wasn't really a sore spot for her, but she deliberately didn't talk about him with other people. When she had officially ended things with him, she told him she still wanted to be friends but, seeing that neither of them had really spoken to each other since, that didn't seem likely anytime soon.

"I think I saw Raf leave," Ethan said as the music picked up again, hooding his eyes and looking around. "So you're good. Besides, I really needed that drink before."

"Right," she insisted. "Go! I'm gonna find Lizzie until Ryan gets here."

"Don't forget," he called out while walking toward the drink table, "I still need to meet him."

"I won't!" she called back.

"Oh, hey, Josie," Ethan said as he reached for a drink, seeing her standing there doing the same.

"Ethan," Josie nodded. "Hey."

"You look great," Ethan said. He didn't know if it was appropriate to say that considering she wasn't his date, but she did look great in the pink dress she was wearing. He knew he shouldn't since she was dating Jade, but he still had a thing for her. He wasn't going to get a chance any time soon so he had decided to remain in the friend zone she had put him in. Friends were better than nothing. He really liked her.

"Thanks, you too," she smiled, picking up two drinks. "I gotta get back…" she nodded at her drinks.

"Right," Ethan nodded, backing away immediately. "Me too."

Josie nodded and walked away, breathing a sigh. She knew he wanted to be friends, so she was always polite to him, but she didn't see how she could in good conscious be real friends with him when she couldn't ever be completely honest with him. With him being at the Salvatore School now, she kept waiting for someone to remember his injury and point out that it wasn't natural…that it was supernatural. She wasn't sure how many people knew what she had done. She kept thinking he would find out one day, and she probably should tell him and get it over with.

But she couldn't bring herself to do it yet.

Landon was having severe flashbacks to the couple of dances he forced himself to go to when he attended the hell that was public high school. Back when he felt super awkward, no one cared if he was there or not, and he didn't feel like he belonged at all.

That was happening again.

From the moment he set foot in the Salvatore School, he felt like he was home. He knew it was the perfect place for Rafael, and he had done everything he could to stay too. Fortunately, it turned out he really was supernatural, so they let him. But one of the reasons he loved it so much was because of Hope. She was a bit of a tough nut to crack at first, but eventually she let her walls down and let him in.

Suddenly, his life was better than he ever thought possible. He had a home, a place in the world where he belonged, and a girlfriend. Things he had never thought were possible.

The months he had forgotten Hope, he knew something was off but he still knew he belonged there.

He lost all of that when Malivore took him over.

Yes, Malivore. He would never call him 'father.'

Losing Hope, the first person besides Raf who had ever loved him, had hurt. He knew he only had himself to blame. It was the world's dumbest idea to go on a 'break'. That was how he lost her. He tried to make her see reason by controlling her, and it hadn't worked. He had been a blind, stupid idiot. He would've fixed that mistake if only he had time. He thought he did have time. But, he hadn't.

Malivore cost him so much.

The time the beast spent taking over his body was enough for Clarke to weasel his way into Hope's affections. Though, what did it really say about his relationship with Hope if she could move on so quickly?

Maybe she had been so blinded by first love she didn't realize she wasn't meant to be with him in the first place?

For him though, he was pretty sure she was it. The one. He could still remember everything he felt while he was with Josie, back when he didn't remember Hope. His feelings for Josie paled considerably in comparison to how he felt about Hope.

How did he move on from that? That was the question he had been asking himself these past couple months.

He figured life would get back to normal eventually. He didn't need Hope to feel home at the Salvatore School…but something had changed. The friendships he built had changed. Everyone was glad he was alive and free, but that was about it. Josie, who had become his friend after they broke up, switched schools and was always hanging with Hope and Lizzie. He previously reached a sort of middle ground with Lizzie before she turned on him when he took a 'break' from Hope. Wade and Rafael were still his friends, but things with Rafael had been weird too since he became a hybrid. He now had another whole new aspect to his personality to control. Wolf and vampire. And then there was his preoccupation with Hope that Landon knew came from the sire bond.

He should probably be grateful Hope was with Clarke because he didn't know if he would be able to take it if Hope were with Rafael instead. At least with Clarke, he didn't have to be around for any of that. He could go for hours without thinking about Hope. And as much as Rafael was fighting his feelings, Landon could tell he wasn't holding himself back the same way as he had before.

Not that Landon could blame him. He knew firsthand how Hope made everyone around her feel special and important. It was easy to fall in love with her. He could probably name five people off the top of his head who would jump at the chance to be with Hope—his name being at the top.

The hard part was getting Hope to return those feelings. How Clarke had managed it, Landon would never know.

Rafael really didn't have a chance, not with Clarke around… no matter how long he stood staring at her just like he was doing now.

Landon gravitated toward Rafael after sitting with Wade for a bit; and, when he found him, it was obvious he only had eyes for Hope as she danced with her—and Landon's—cousin.

"Well, that's not awkward," Landon said, glancing at Hope but then looking away quickly.

"Hmm?" Rafael murmured, barely paying attention.

"What's the deal with you and Hope?" Landon asked out right to get his attention.

"Huh?" Rafael finally broke concentration. "Oh, nothing. She's seeing Clarke."

"Uh, yeah, but all you seem to be able to see is her," Landon said.

Rafael shook his head as if trying to clear it. He looked around and wondered how long he had been standing there ogling Hope. This was getting ridiculous. He couldn't put it off anymore. It was time to talk to Landon about what was going on.

"Just… follow me," he said, heading out to the hall, knowing Landon would follow.

Once they were away from the loud music, he turned to him.

"I don't know what's going on. I know as a hybrid I'm supposed to be loyal to her, that I'll look for her in case she needs me, but they didn't say it'd be like this."

"Like what?" Landon asked, concerned.

"All I think about is her," Rafael said. "I'm constantly drawn to her. And Clarke? It's crazy, but any mention of him gets me so angry. I can barely control it. As a wolf alone, I knew there was a lot of aggression and anger, but I was getting better at controlling it. Now though? It's ten times worse. How am I supposed to control that?"

"You are part vampire now though, and vamps like to kill things, right?" Landon said. "It's, like, a thing?" Though most of the students at school had it under control… maybe Raf just needed more time?

"I don't know, man," Rafael said. "I just feel like something is wrong, but I don't know what. I guess…I'm thinking maybe I can't put it off any more. I need to get rid of the sire bond."

Landon winced. He knew it might come down to that eventually but he didn't want Raf to have to go through it.

"Maybe you should talk to Doctor Saltzman?" Landon suggested.

"Tell him I'm worried I'm going to get so angry I might kill someone?" Raf scoffed. "That'll go over well."

"That's the whole point though," Landon said. "Everyone here gets angry—or hungry—enough to kill. This school is supposed to help you learn control. Just because there aren't any other hybrids here doesn't mean they don't know how to help you. You know he'll help you."

"I'll think about it," Rafael said.

"What's there to think about?" Landon asked. "You need help, so ask."

"Getting rid of the sire bond should make these feelings go away," Rafael said. "It might be better to do that than try to learn to control them. I don't like the way it makes me feel."

"And I get that," Landon said. "But is it really better to go through all that pain?"

"Probably not," Rafael sighed. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I can learn to control it. And it's not like it happens all the time. I mean, Clarke's the only one that makes me feel like that and it's not like I have to see him."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that…" Landon said, seeing a late arrival to the dance down the hall.

Rafael turned to look and saw him too.

He tensed. "Seriously?"

"How about we get out of here?" Landon suggested, putting his arm around Raf's shoulders and turning him away from Clarke's direction.

"Yeah," Rafael nodded.

And maybe I can talk some sense into him, Landon thought. Rafael definitely needed to talk to Doctor Saltzman. He was pretty sure he would convince him by the end of the night.


"Hurry," Lizzie commanded, looking around, making sure no one was paying too much attention.

"Just a sec!" Hope said, squinting.

"It's just a tiny glamour spell, Hope," Lizzie looked heavenward. "Pretty sure the Queen of Malivore can manage that."

"Right," Hope said, teasing. "A tiny spell to cover all of that."

Lizzie glared. A pimple the size of Mount Everest decided to spring up on her face in the middle of the dance. Thankfully Hope pointed it out before she spent the rest of the evening with the giant blemish on display. She should have gone to the restroom to put the glamour on herself, but Hope had insisted she could do it.

"If I wanted to hear flippant remarks about the mountain size zit on my face, I'd have asked Alyssa," Lizzie said.

"Are you sure you don't want to pop it before I put the glamour on?" Hope looked at it, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm sure!" Lizzie hissed. "Glamour it!"

"Okay," Hope said, then waved her fingers.

She was pleased when Lizzie's face appeared unblemished and smooth as usual. Not that she was worried she couldn't do it; she had just been working on much bigger spells lately ever since Ryan had encouraged her to test the boundaries of her magic. The smaller spells required less magic, which meant a more miniscule level of control. She had to remember to tone the magic down when doing the smaller ones. She needed to find the proper balance for each type of spell—or she could accidentally glamour Lizzie's entire face.

"Perfect!" Hope said, pulling away.

"Thank God," Lizzie said, adjusting her hair. "And not a minute too soon, as Shrek has arrived."

"Shrek?" Hope asked, ever amused by Lizzie's tendency to compare their friends to random television characters.

"Well, the ogre does enjoy his mud baths," Lizzie said with a smirk.

Shaking her head, Hope looked to the doors and saw him. Her very own mud man. She grinned.

"My escort for the second half of the evening has arrived," Hope said, not even bothering to look at Lizzie while she spoke, she only had eyes for him.

He looked especially good in his suit tonight. He was wearing the tie she had specifically told him to wear to match her dress. His hair suggested he showered when he got home but hadn't done much more with it than let it air dry on the way. It was perfectly disheveled and she couldn't wait to run her fingers through it and make it even worse.

"That's what I just said," Lizzie said, exasperated.

"Later, Lizzie…" Hope murmured as she started across the room. "Fiona, out."

"Have fun," Lizzie said, looking around, trying to decide what to do with herself now. "I'll just… be… over here…"

"Or, you could be over here," MG said from behind her. "You know, dancing with me?"

Lizzie turned around and considered. "Maybe just one dance."

"Works for me," he grinned brightly at her.

"Where've you been anyway?" Lizzie asked, joining him on the dance floor.

"Around," he replied. "By the way, nice earrings. They look good on you."

"Duh," Lizzie tossed her hair back. "Even though I didn't mean for you to get them."

MG shrugged. "Didn't you though?"

He loved that she was wearing them. She had picked them out herself in New Orleans the week of Thanksgiving. Marcel insisted she wanted them and that he should buy them for her. He held off and eventually gave them to her for Christmas. He didn't give them in person though. Since the Saltzmans spent the holiday in New Orleans putting an end to the merge, he asked Josie to put the gift under their tree so Lizzie could open it Christmas morning. He knew she would remember. He also liked the idea that she would think about him Christmas morning.

He spent Christmas with his mother for the first time since he had been turned. Now that Clarke was 'reforming' Triad, and since she brought the company in to help in the aftermath of their battle with Malivore, he figured he owed her another chance. She was the only mother he had after all. Of course, he couldn't go home, not when his father still had to believe he was dead, but his mother had come to Mystic Falls and tried to make amends.

It was a start.

"Don't try to understand the inner workings of my broken mind, MG, you never will," Lizzie said.

"Don't be so sure," he said.

"You know, you really need to get over me," Lizzie said with a sigh.

"Oh, I have," MG insisted, knowing deep down that wasn't true, but he figured since she didn't see him as more than a friend—not yet anyway— it wouldn't hurt for him to explore other options in the meantime. He just hoped they didn't end quite as horribly as things had with Kym.

"Yeah, right," she didn't believe him.

"Even got a date next week," MG went on to say.

"And you didn't want to invite her here tonight?" Lizzie hoped he didn't notice that she missed a step when he said that.

"On Valentine's Day?" he laughed. "Not for a first date."

"Good point," she nodded. "I'm happy for you, MG."

"Thanks," he replied.

"You know what, you've inspired me," Lizzie declared.

"I have?" he asked.

"It's definitely time to put myself out there again," Lizzie said. "New year, new Lizzie, right?"

"I thought this was still the year of yes…" He didn't know whether to kick himself or not. He hadn't meant to jump start her into the dating world again, at least not without him. But thus was his luck.

"Catch up, MG!" she said. "Things are always changing." She took a deep breath and smiled. "This time for the better, I can just feel it."

"Riiight," he just went along with it.

There wasn't really any other option, was there?


"Fancy meeting you here," Hope said, approaching Clarke with a grin.

"That's my line," he said, smirking as he admired her from head to toe. Well, one thing about school dances he liked so far was the way her dress hugged all the right curves. The darker shade of red looked amazing on her.

"Not tonight, it isn't," she replied, reaching for his hand.

"Sorry I'm late," he said, raising his eyes to meet hers.

"I'm just glad you're here," she said, losing herself in his eyes for a moment.

"So…" he glanced around. "What's so special about school dances?"

Some fast music was playing, nothing like he ever attempted to dance to before, and he saw Kaleb and some of the other teens dancing like they had been taking hip hop dance lessons for years.

"I'm not doing that," he said immediately.

She giggled. "I'd love to see you try though."

"Keep dreaming," he said. "How about you just put this hand," he reached for her left hand, "right here." He placed her hand on his upper arm and put his hand at her waist. "And then I'll just hold onto this one," he took her right hand in his left and held their arms up in a proper dance form pose.

"I think I know this one," she teased.

"Well, this one I know was in your dreams at least," he said, reminding her of the first dream he ever shared with her.

"Ah, but the music doesn't quite match the dance," she said, even as she moved with him, knowing they looked hopelessly out of sync with everyone else.

He shrugged. "It'll slow down eventually."

And, eventually, it did.

Hope had never spent an evening dancing with Ryan, but she was starting to think they should do it more often. They danced to their own beat, but they were completely in tune with each other: moving with him, holding onto him, staring into his eyes, and later—when the music slowed—resting her head on his chest while he held her close and swayed. Everything was absolutely perfect.

"Thank you for the roses," she murmured into his chest. "They've got a place of honor right next to my bed."

"You're welcome," he smiled down at her.

She looked up and caught the smile, returning it. "Are you sure you can't stick around tomorrow? We could hang out somewhere on campus? In the woods again?"

He started to explain but looked around. The music was too loud and if he spoke loud enough for her to hear, someone else might too. He knew he could tell her anything, he shared nearly everything with her, but his mission—his company—wasn't anyone else's business.

He shook his head, indicating his ear and the sound.

She understood immediately. "It is a little too loud to really talk. Want to go to my room? It'll be quiet and private?"

"Sure," he agreed immediately, perking up. The dance wasn't really his scene. He was glad they had settled on the dance floor in their own little corner ignoring everyone else, but otherwise he was really out of place.

"I need to introduce you to Ethan first," she said. "He's been wanting to meet you."

He nodded. "Let's go then."


Upon arriving to her room, she turned her back to him. "Will you help me with this?" indicating her zipper.

"Absolutely," his voice filled with suggestion.

"Calm down," she laughed. "I just don't want to wrinkle the dress."

He walked closer, and she practically melted when she felt his warm hands on her back as he pulled the zipper down.

She gripped the dress against her front as it loosened and turned back around.

"You sure?" he asked, grinning wickedly. "Pretty sure I can be of further assistance."

"Patience is a virtue," she winked, then walked away. "Sit."

"Never claimed to be very virtuous," he said, but he did as she bade, shrugging off his suit jacket and sitting on the side of the bed.

"So tell me why you can't stay to see me again tomorrow," she asked while she stepped out of the dress and hung it up.

Admiring the view, he said, "We're in the middle of a manhunt. We don't actually know the gender or species, though it can wield fire."

"Why do you have to get involved though?" She disappeared behind the partition, still talking. "Isn't that why you have so many field operatives?"

"It's one of our first cases outside of the government jobs, though they'd like us to put a stop to the problem as well," he explained. "The government knows our effectiveness, but if I want Triad to be a success outside of that, I gotta make sure we look good. In short, catching this one is very important."

"What is the monster doing?" she asked.

"Hurting our client financially," he said, reaching out to touch one of the roses he sent her. "That's all I can really say."

"Doesn't sound like a monster then," came her muffled reply.

"That's what I was thinking too," he said, spying a crystal sitting on the night stand beneath the roses. He picked it up and turned toward her.

"This brings back memories," he held up the clear prism.

She walked out from behind the screen wearing his old shirt and he smirked.

"And so does that."

She saw the prism and had to smile too. She didn't use it that much anymore, but after she returned to school and had to start sleeping without Ryan, she struggled a lot.

Tossing and turning most nights, she couldn't get any decent sleep because she missed him too much. She started using the prism to help her fall asleep and trick her mind into thinking he was there next to her. Of course, since he was no longer stuck in her subconscious it really was just her conjuring the image. But it worked somehow.

"You know," he said, looking her over. "It might be time for an upgrade."

"Never," she clutched at the shirt in mock horror. "It's finally as soft as I want it, it's comfy, and it makes me think of you."

"In that case…" he motioned to her. "Come here."

She walked over and sat next to him. "You know, I didn't bring you up here for nefarious reasons."

"No," he turned toward her and reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, wanting to touch her. "You brought me up here for some privacy. And lots of things happen in private."

"I suppose," she said, kissing his thumb when he rubbed it across her lips.

"Lots of things happen in private places too," he leaned forward and kissed her softly.

"Something tells me we're going to need a barrier spell," she murmured.

"Unless you want to teach your roommate a thing or two," he nodded at the door which he had locked behind him but that didn't mean anything in this school.

"Not even," she said, immediately pulling away to perform the spell. No one could open it or get in without her permission now. Fortunately, Alyssa usually went to any after parties, the one time she stayed up past her usual bed time.

"You were saying?" she turned back to him.

He leaned in to kiss her, pulling her close.

She returned the kiss, clutching at his shoulders, latching onto him in a bid to get as close as possible. It always, always, felt like she was coming home when she was with him. Nothing else ever felt so good or so right.

He leaned against her, and slowly lowered her down to the bed with him.

She clasped the back of his head, loving this angle even more, opening her mouth to him. He gladly swept his tongue inside, rubbing against hers, exploring.

She lost herself in the kisses, even as she reached up to work at his tie.

He tried to pull back to help her, but she stopped him with her words.

"Let me," she murmured.

Instead of finishing though, she nudged at his chest to get him to roll to his back. Then she moved to sit across his lap with her knees on either side of him resting on the bed. She reached down and worked the material to undo the knot in his tie. When she finished, she let it lay loosely around his neck as she started on the buttons on his shirt.

Not one to sit idly by, he reached up to work on the buttons of her pajama top too.

"Always buttons with you," she giggled as she undid each one.

"You know you like it," he said, eyes darkening as the material of her top opened, revealing her perfect chest to him.

"I do," she said, leaning down to kiss him as she continued with the buttons.

He groaned into her mouth as she ran her hands against his t-shirt covered chest when she finished. Finally pulling the tie off and sitting it on the bed next to them, she pushed the dress shirt off his shoulders, then leaned back to help him with tugging the t-shirt up and over his head.

She smiled when his hair became even more unruly after that.

She reached out and ran her fingers through the mess, just like she wanted to all evening. She went back to kissing him, but she kept her hands firmly entangled in his hair the entire time.

He ran his hands up her sides then back down and to her front, spanning his hand across her stomach.

She sucked in a breath and moaned, moving down so her mouth found his neck where she bit down gently.

He smiled softly. It was one of the things that most infuriated them about healing so quickly. No matter how many times they tried, the love bruises they gave each other never lasted long on either of them. But still, they did it anyway, if only to claim each other for the moment.

Pulling back, she decided she loved what she saw.

"Mine…" she whispered, making eye contact with him.

"Yours…" he agreed immediately. He would never disagree with her about that. He belonged to her completely.

She kissed her mark one more time before she began kissing down his chest, scooting back and stretching out as she descended. She traced each contour in his abs with her tongue, using her fingers to trace and pull at his nipples while her tongue worked below.

His stomach clenched as he breathed through the pleasure she was giving him. She definitely didn't hold anything back anymore.

Speaking of… he caught his breath when her fingers slid down to his waist.

She sat up again, straddling his knees now. She smirked at him as she undid his belt, released the clasp, and unthreaded it. She didn't bother pulling it out of the loops, she just let go and focused on undoing the button and pulling the zipper down.

He reached for the waistband and started pushing and lifting his hips, figuring that was what she wanted next. His legs were still half off the bed anyway. She only had to stand up for a moment to pull them the rest of the way off before climbing back up to straddle him again.

Then she reached and took him into her hands.

He groaned as she wrapped her hands around him and caressed him, sliding her hands up and down in unison.

His breathing became uneven as she kept moving one hand up and down while she used the thumb of the other to press on the tip, sliding back and forth, moving the foreskin.

He felt her shifting down his legs again, but he didn't pay any attention to what she was doing since everything felt so good. That was the only reason he wasn't prepared when she replaced her thumb with her tongue.

She had never done that before. He gasped and tried not to move but when her lips closed over top of him and then her mouth started to descend he couldn't help it. He didn't jerk, but he had to move a little. He somehow managed to control his hips enough to move them back and forth only slightly.

She grinned to herself, knowing she surprised him. She didn't go down too far; she wasn't experienced with it at all. She just wanted to try. He always let her try anything she wanted and go only as far as she wanted. Judging by the sounds he was making, she was pretty sure he didn't mind that she couldn't go further.

She went as far as she was comfortable, and then slid her mouth back up, sliding her tongue up at the same time. When he became more frantic at that, clearly enjoying it, she decided to repeat it a few more times. She made sure to wrap her hands firmly around the part her mouth didn't reach, sliding them up along with her mouth too.

He gripped his hands in the comforter, but moved his head to look down at her, mesmerized by the sight of her pleasuring him.

"Not gonna last much longer," he managed to say, panting.

When she kept going despite his words, he struggled to sit up slightly and reached out to put a hand through her hair. He didn't want to stop her, not really, but…

"Hope…"

She glanced at him as she slid her mouth back up.

"Come here…" he said, biting his lip and struggling to maintain his control. He wanted to be inside of her. He had exactly one night with her since the birth control kicked in. He had been fantasizing about doing it again ever since. He wasn't sure how she intended this to end, but there was only one way he wanted it to.

She pulled off and he groaned, hoping she would hurry as he was so painfully hard.

He didn't have to tell her what to do next. She shrugged out of the open pajama top and thankfully wasn't wearing any panties, so she crawled back up to straddle him, easing herself down on top of him, moaning as he slid up inside of her.

She grabbed the tie and put it around the back of his neck again, then clutched either end of the material to pull him up to a sitting position. He wrapped his arms around her, clutching her close and hoped she started moving soon.

Instead, she moved to either side to stretch her legs out around him instead of sitting on her knees. With each movement, he moved inside of her, causing him to shift and jerk, "Hope…"

"Just wait…" she said, wrapping her legs behind his back. Then she gripped hold of his shoulders to pull herself up, he nearly slid out of her but at the last second she let go, dropping down suddenly.

He couldn't help crying out as she slammed down on top of him.

He couldn't take it. He needed more of that, and he needed it now. He couldn't resist shifting forward so he could brace his feet against the floor. His hands reached for her behind. She grabbed at his shoulders, helping him along as he pulled her up and let her drop down again. And then he did it again and again, jerking his hips up with each drop.

She couldn't do anything but clutch at him as the pleasure was too intense for her too.

He was losing control and wasn't sure if she was going to lose it along with him or not, but he would spend the rest of the night making it up to her if she didn't.

He clutched her hips and didn't bother raising her up anymore; he just pulled her firmly against him and jerked up into her over and over until he finally came with a shout.

Her answering scream was enough to let him know she gotten there too.

Damn.

"I think I like school dances," he panted into her ear when he could speak again.

She couldn't move, but he could feel her laughing into his shoulder.

"That was new," he said.

She pulled back and shrugged, blushing only slightly. "I thought you might like that."

"Oh, I did," he grinned.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Ryan," she said.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Hope," he replied.

He never celebrated any holidays before her, but he was going to make sure they celebrated each and every single one together from now on.

"Is this the part where we cuddle?" he asked.

"Well, yeah," she said. "You weren't going to leave me already, were you?"

"Never," he kissed her softly. "I'll stay as long as I can."

"At least until I fall asleep?" she asked.

"Even then," he said. "Better take the barrier down first."

"In that case," she said, looking around. "Cuddling under the covers."

"Just as soon as I can move," he said.

"I can see how that could be a problem," she laughed.


"Ever wonder how life would be different if we'd never come here?" Landon asked, leaning back in his chair.

He and Raf were still outside, enjoying the night. Sounds from the after party could be heard down the way by the old mill. Most people had either left the dance and went to the party, or were hanging in their rooms inside the building. He was hoping to broach the subject of talking to Doctor Saltzman again eventually, but for now, they were just relaxing.

"I mean, I wouldn't have activated that first artifact, so maybe Malivore never would've risen, right?" he continued.

"I figure it all would've happened eventually," Rafael said. "You just wouldn't have had a badass like Hope to back you up."

"True," Landon said. "Then maybe I would've been doomed for all of eternity being Malivore's puppet." He shuddered. "Thank God we came here."

"And me," Rafael said, grinning. "Thank me. I am, after all, the wolf that got their attention in the first place."

"Thank you, Raf," Landon laughed.

"Would you have changed any of it though?" Rafael asked. "I mean, knowing then what you know now?"

Landon let out a breath and made a face. "I probably wouldn't have broken up with Hope, if that's what you mean."

Rafael nodded. That wasn't really what he meant, but he figured that was the best answer he would get. Hope was still on Landon's mind about as much as she was on Raf's.

If he had one thing he would want to change, he would've liked to know Hope first. He knew that was probably a horribly disloyal thing to wish for, but it was true. He never would've let Hope go. He would've been the perfect boyfriend.

He could still be the perfect boyfriend for her, if she would just get rid of Clarke. He would love her the way she was meant to be loved, not some 'weekend boyfriend' who was too busy with his job to put her first. Rafael was there, every single day, and he could be there for her. He could take care of her. He could love her and hold her, and take her out without getting her in trouble with the school. If only she loved him. If only she belonged to him.

Clarke just needed to go away. Rafael would very much love to get rid of him. He was the only thing standing in the way of letting Rafael be the one to take care of her.

The anger was building again, but Rafael wasn't thinking about how wrong the feeling was, he was only thinking about all the ways that Clarke was ruining his chances with Hope.

The wind shifted and everything changed for a moment.

Rafael perked up. That was strange. He usually felt her, but this time he didn't feel her near.

But he could smell her.

"Hope…" he murmured to himself, turning away from Landon and looking for her.

But it wasn't Hope.

It was Clarke.

Clarke, who was leaving and heading to the parking lot.

Clarke, who looked completely disheveled, relaxed, and who was missing a tie.

Clarke, who smelled like Hope and it had to be for one reason, and one reason alone.

Rafael saw red.

"Raf?" Landon asked, hearing a growl and turning in time to see his brother stand up and stalk off toward… Clarke.

Shit.

"Raf! Stop!" He sprang out of his chair and tried to catch up with the hybrid, but it was pretty impossible. "Raf! Calm down! Come back!"

If anything, Rafael picked up speed.

"Clarke! Watch out!" Landon shouted despite everything. He couldn't just stand by and say nothing. Rafael was on the warpath. And he wouldn't be too happy when he came to his senses and realized what he had done, even if it was Clarke.

Clarke waited a little while after Hope fell asleep before he left. He didn't want to leave her, but he knew he wasn't allowed to stay the night, especially since she had a tattle-tale roommate. He also had a flight to catch early in the morning, so he would head home and work on his sketchpad story until he had to leave.

Or, he would have headed home if he hadn't heard someone shouting his name.

He turned around in time to see Landon open his wings and fly to catch up with the hybrid that was bearing down on Clarke.

Landon gripped Rafael around the waist and flew away with him.

Lizzie wasn't having that great of a time at the after party. Hope and Josie were off with their S-Os, and she was bored. Deciding it was time to leave, she walked outside in time to see Frodo flying away from Shrek carrying a struggling Raf. What in the world? She decided to investigate.

Clarke took a second to process everything. The hybrid had been coming after him with claws and teeth at the ready. Landon, for reasons unknown to Clarke, had actually decided to help him by getting him away…for now. He could see the fire wings in the distance, but he didn't know how long Landon would be able to hold onto a hybrid in attack mode.

Was this because Hope had changed him? And if Rafael had become an uncontrollable loose canon, did that mean Hope could be in danger too?

With that in mind, he raced to his car but instead of leaving, he grabbed his gun for protection and started back to the school, releasing the safety.

Landon flew in and landed next to Clarke. "I couldn't keep hold of him. I dropped him and he took off. I don't know where he is."

"What the hell is going on?" Clarke asked, looking around warily.

"It's the sire bond," Landon explained. "He can't control it. It's making him come after you."

"What about Hope?" Clarke asked. "Will he hurt Hope?"

"No," Landon said quickly. "I think it's just you. You really should leave."

"What even set him off?" Clarke asked. It wasn't like he had spoken to him or done anything to incite him.

"I have no idea!" Landon raised his hands in the air in a shrug. "When you left the building, he thought you were Hope at first, I think? When he realized it was you, he went nuts."

Clarke shook his head. That didn't make any sense. Why would anyone think he was Hope?

He brought the gun up more steadily, looking around as he made his way back to the parking lot. If Hope wasn't in danger, then he probably should try to get out of there.

"You can't shoot him!" Landon yelped at him, seeing the gun.

"He's a hybrid," Clarke said, not sparing him a glance. "He'll live."

Clarke continued, "How far away did you drop him?"

"Not that far…" Landon squinted, looking around in the dark like he could see any better than Clarke. "I'm surprised he's not here yet."

Naturally that meant he really was there—he had turned completely into a wolf so his fur blended completely with the darkness—and he chose that moment to come racing with a howl, heading straight for Clarke.

Lizzie, seeing what was happening as she approached, siphoned from her necklace before jumping between Clarke and Rafael, holding up a hand and shouting, "Somnum!"

Clarke saw immediately that whatever spell Lizzie used did not work and Rafael was about to claw at Lizzie with the death claws he was aiming for Clarke with.

He dropped the gun to grab her from behind around the waist and tugged her away, spinning so his back was to Rafael. Which meant Rafael got a direct hit.

Hollering out at the pain, he pushed Lizzie forward and tried to get away himself.

"Run!" he yelled at her.

Landon grabbed at Rafael again, wings flying out so the wingspan could help weigh him down until Clarke and Lizzie could get out of the way.

Seeing Lizzie run to the left, Clarke ran to the right, cursing that he didn't have time to try to find the gun. He should've never dropped it, but it was either that or watch the blonde get clawed to death.

There was no way he was going to outrun a hybrid, just like there was no way Landon was going to be able to hold onto a hybrid in wolf form. He tried to circle back to get to the gun, but Rafael broke free and went straight for Clarke again.

Wincing, knowing he had nowhere else to go, Clarke braced himself and just instinctively yelled for help inside his mind.

A wide rectangular pillar of earth suddenly shot up out of the ground in front of him, making him jump back and sprawl on the ground. The force of the movement prompted Landon, who was chasing after Rafael, to fling back on the ground too. Rafael ended up running headfirst into it, causing him to bounce back with a whimpering howl, completely dazed, nearly knocking himself out.

Clarke stared at the pillar in shock, even as he scrambled to get back on his feet. Rafael was down for the moment, but he wasn't out yet. What Clarke needed was someone to put Rafael down for more than a few moments.

Remembering Lizzie, knowing that meant a certain vampire had to be nearby, he immediately called out, "MG!"

The vampire actually appeared in a rush of speed, looking around confused.

"Break his neck!" Clarke said, indicating the wolf.

"But—" MG didn't understand.

"Do it!" Landon said, struggling to stand up quickly. "Raf doesn't have control!"

MG nodded, sped to the wolf, wrapped his arms around the neck as best he could, and twisted and yanked. The wolf collapsed finally. MG was honestly surprised he was able to do that. The hybrid must've really been out of it because there was no way a vampire who survived on bunny blood would've been able to take out a hybrid otherwise—even if that hybrid survived on bunny blood too.

Clarke and Landon breathed heavily, relieved it was over.

Lizzie walked back up, staring at the strange pillar of earth.

"Good thing you were wearing your ring," she said to Clarke. "You can put a stop to that illusion now though."

Clarke glanced at his left hand where his ring definitely was not. He hadn't used the ring. He wasn't sure if what happened was his mother or him, but it definitely wasn't an illusion. He would figure that part out later. For now, he was ticked.

"Jumping in front of a charging wolf," Clarke said, glaring at her, still feeling the marks on his back though they would heal…eventually. "Not your wisest choice."

"That sleeping spell should've worked," Lizzie said, frowning at her hand. "My magic…" she shook her head. "I don't know what happened."

"Maybe you're broken?" Clarke asked, still glaring.

"Hey, now," MG interrupted. "What's your problem, man? We just helped you."

"Phoenix," Clarke said, pointing at Landon. "Vampire," he pointed at MG. "Mud Man," he pointed at himself.

"Hybrid," Lizzie finished, pointing at Rafael. "What's your point?"

"WITCH!" he pointed at her. "We're immortal. You aren't! I already had to save your ass once. I could've shot you! Next time, do the smart thing and stay out of my way!"

"I was trying to save your ass, creep," Lizzie replied defensively, but she was feeling pretty stupid now that he put it that way.

"He's right, Lizzie," MG said quietly. "You could've been killed."

She looked at MG in disbelief. Was he really agreeing with Clarke?

"Um… heyyy?" Landon interrupted, noting that more trouble was brewing in the form of Lizzie Saltzman's anger, "how long will he be out?" He looked down at Rafael lying in the grass.

"Right," MG nodded. "Landon, get Doctor Saltzman. I'll take Rafael to a cell."

"I'll get Hope," Clarke said. "She'll want to know something's wrong with the sire bond."

"I'll get Hope," Lizzie said, glaring at him again. "You… deal with this," she indicated the ground, "or whatever. You shouldn't be in the dorm rooms anyway."

"Could've fooled me," he said.

"Go frolic in the mud or something," she snapped at him. "Or better yet, just go home."

"Clarke!" MG said. "Help me with him. Lizzie, go get Hope."

"Fine!" she said with a huff before stalking away.

Clarke shook his head. This night had definitely took a turn for the worse.

And it wasn't over yet.


"Landon, why didn't you guys come to me immediately?" Alaric asked, staring at the wolf still passed out in the jail cell.

"I only found out about it tonight, and I kept trying to convince him to talk to you about controlling it," Landon said. "He didn't want to learn how to control it; he just wanted to get rid of it. He kept talking about breaking the bond."

"Either way, you guys should've come to me. He should've come to me," Alaric said, shaking his head. He thought Rafael knew better than that. "As far as I knew, everything was fine."

"Why did he lose control like that?" Hope asked, concerned.

She had been dragged out of bed by Lizzie. She tossed on some sweats and pushed her hair up into the world's messiest bun, that was all she had time for as she stumbled out the door to check on Ryan and figure out what was wrong with Raf.

She continued, "None of the other hybrids ever acted this way before."

"I don't know," Alaric said. "Have you sired many hybrids?"

"Just Henry…and the ones my dad made," she said. "But they're either dead like Henry or… honestly, I have no idea what dad did with them. I just know they don't bother me or follow me around."

"Raf has definitely been following you around," Lizzie said. "He couldn't take his eyes off of you at the dance."

Hope winced. "I thought he was just adjusting."

"Obviously it's more than that," Clarke said, not happy about any of this.

Alaric turned away from the wolf to talk to Hope but stopped when he saw her in sweats standing next to Lizzie who was still in her dance outfit. Then he took in Clarke's equally rumpled state.

"You look comfy," he said derisively to Clarke.

Clarke raised an eyebrow at him.

"Well," Alaric said, looking heavenward and turning back to Rafael. "I think it's safe to say I know what set him off."

"What?" Landon asked.

Alaric shook his head, looking heavenward. "I'll tell you when you're older."

"I think he's waking up," Lizzie said, seeing the wolf start to move.

"Okay, everyone out except for Landon," Alaric said, motioning to the door.

"But—" Hope started.

"He's about to change, and I'm sure he won't appreciate all these spectators getting a glimpse of The Full Monty," Alaric said, waving his arm to the door again. "I'll talk with him and update you guys when I'm done."

Hope sighed and followed Lizzie and Ryan out the door.

Catching a glimpse of the tears in the material on Ryan's back, she winced. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Just grand," Lizzie said.

"I meant Ryan," Hope said. "You know, the one who was actually injured."

Lizzie scoffed. "Right."

"Already healed," Clarke replied.

"Good," Hope said, sliding her arms around his waist and resting her head on his chest. "I can't believe Raf lost control like that. I hope Doctor Saltzman figures out what's wrong."

"Yeah, especially before someone else gets hurt," Clarke said, deliberately glaring at Lizzie.

"You know what?" Lizzie said. "I'm out." She stalked off, ticked. Why was it that every time Clarke brought up what she had done, she just felt even more stupid?

"What's wrong with her?" Hope asked.

"She's pissed at me," Clarke said.

"What else is new?" Hope rolled her eyes.

"New? Well, I'm not sure…" Clarke said, "But remember my mother said I was more powerful than I knew?"

"Yeah?"

"Pretty sure I discovered what she meant tonight," he said. "At least one aspect of it."

"How?" she pulled back and looked up at him.

"I made the earth move?" he said. "Maybe? It could've been her, but I don't think it was. When I head out, I'll try to put it back. I figure if it really was me, it'll move."

"Made… the earth move?" she asked, eyes widening. "Isn't that something she should've told you before now?"

He shrugged. "Seems this was something else I had to figure out on my own."

"I guess it's more fun that way?" she said.

"She must think so."

Time wore on but eventually Doctor Saltzman came out to join them.

"What's happening?" Hope asked. "How is he?"

"He's calmer now," Alaric said. "He's upset he lost control though. He didn't want to hurt anyone."

"I knew that," Hope said. She knew Rafael wouldn't ever deliberately hurt someone.

"Starting tomorrow, he's going to work on breaking the sire bond," Alaric continued. "And he's going to work with Emma to help him gain some control until that happens."

"Can I do anything?" Hope asked.

He shook his head. "No. In fact, I think it'll be best for him if you stay away from him as much as possible. No more sparring either. He's going to try to stay away from you. Also…" He looked at Clarke.

"What?" Clarke asked.

"I can't have you come on campus anymore," Alaric said.

"But how—" Clarke started to argue.

"She's only got one more week before she has her off-campus privileges back," the headmaster interrupted. "Then just make sure she obeys the rules and there won't be a problem. But, I can't have you here. You can't even pick her up. She has to come to you."

Clarke frowned.

"The students of this school come here for help, to learn to control their powers," Alaric explained. "Rafael is a student here. Being near you is what set him off. I can't have you messing with the rehabilitation of one of the students, especially when you're not a student here."

Hope nodded. "I understand."

Clarke wanted to argue, but how could he when Hope had agreed so readily.

"Hopefully he can break the sire bond quickly, and everything will go back to normal," Alaric sighed. That was wishful thinking on his part. He knew what lay ahead for the boy. It wasn't going to be pretty.

"Can I see him just once more though?" Hope asked.

"Not a good idea," Alaric said.

"The sire bond, he has to obey me, right?" she asked. "I want to tell him not to hurt anyone, not even Ryan. He'll have to obey."

Alaric nodded.

"You can tell him to stay away from you too," Clarke asked Hope, "can't you?"

Hope looked at Doctor Saltzman.

"You can try," Alaric agreed. "I'm not sure how effective it will be given the strength of the bond. But anything's possible."

"Why do you sound so uncertain?" Clarke asked.

"Because, as hard as it may be to believe," Alaric said, "I don't actually know many hybrids, so I don't know enough about the sire bond. Fortunately, Caroline knows more."

Why did Clarke not find any of that reassuring?


"Mom?" Lizzie tapped on her bedroom door, hoping she was awake.

She could've gone back to her room, but she knew Josie and Jade were probably still in there. And so much had happened that night, she just really wanted her mom.

"Come in."

Lizzie opened the door and closed it behind her, heading to her mother who was sitting up in bed.

"What's wrong, honey?"

"Tonight just really sucked."

"Come here," Caroline motioned for her to join her.

Lizzie sat next to her and leaned her head on her shoulder.

"What happened?"

"Rafael attacked Clarke and I tried to help, but the spell didn't work so Clarke had to save me. Then he got all mean, and just made me feel so stupid for trying to help. Even worse, MG agreed with him!"

"Wanting to protect someone you care about doesn't always play out the way we intend it to."

"Care?" Lizzie scoffed. "I don't care about Clarke."

"I wasn't talking about you," Caroline said pointedly.

"Who then?"

"Clarke," Caroline said simply. "Or, Ryan, rather. I still don't know why everyone keeps calling him by his last name."

"Clarke doesn't care about me either," Lizzie said.

"So, you're telling me that Clarke saved you tonight, but he doesn't care at all?" Caroline asked.

"I…" Lizzie saw the flaw in that reasoning, but still. "Then why was he a complete jerk afterwards?"

"You mean, after you nearly got yourself killed he yelled at you for not being more careful?"

"Yes," Lizzie seethed. "He rubbed it in my face that everyone else involved was immortal, so I should've stayed away since I'm not. I told him the spell should've worked, that I didn't know why it hadn't, and he said I must be broken."

Caroline winced. Not the best choice of words to use with Lizzie, but she was pretty sure that wasn't what he meant. "He got mad because he was worried about you," she said. "He didn't want you to get hurt."

"He has a funny way of showing it," Lizzie grumbled, not sure if she believed it.

"That's just it," Caroline said. "From everything I know about him, he's not used to showing it. Aside from Hope, can you name one other person he actually likes? Has he or Hope ever mentioned any of his friends?"

"Who would want to be friends with him?" Lizzie said.

"Exactly," Caroline said. "He doesn't have any. Not to say he actually wants any, he seems perfectly happy with just having Hope. But you're the only other person he's ever actively tried to help in any way."

"If you mean covering the seal, he only did that because I saved him first," Lizzie said.

"But you didn't do anything to make him save you tonight," Caroline said. "And he did it anyway."

"So what exactly are you saying?"

"To do as your friend said and be more careful please," Caroline emphasized, grateful, once again, to Ryan for protecting her girls.

"Psh, friend," Lizzie said, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, right."

"Now, is that all that happened, or is something else bothering you?" Caroline asked, knowing there had to be more to get Lizzie to come to her.

"Besides MG agreeing with Clarke—and did you know he has a date next week? A first date he said, but really?"

Caroline smiled to herself. One of these days Lizzie would figure out her feelings for MG and, on that day, the boy would probably faint in disbelief.

"Anyway, he didn't have to agree," she mumbled. "But I've decided I need to start dating again too. Sebastian was a very important lesson, but there are other, much more attractive fish in the sea. Not fish even. I don't want a fish. A seahorse. They're pretty."

"They are," Caroline agreed.

"The mother of all zits popped up on my face during the dance too," Lizzie continued. "It's like, my stress formed stress on top of my other stress and decided to reveal itself in the middle of the dance floor for all to see!...

"Fortunately, Hope was there to put a glamour on it. I hope it's still working," she held her hand up to her face suddenly. "I guess it doesn't matter now anyway since I'm here, and you obviously don't care about my zit, unless you do?" She looked at her mother. "Oh my God, is it so big and hideous that it disgusts you? Maybe Hope was right and I should've popped it before she put the glamour on it."

"I don't see anything," Caroline hastened to reassure her.

"And then there's Raf, of course," Lizzie circled back to one of the main problems.

"You said he attacked Ryan?" Caroline remembered.

"Something with the sire bond and losing control?" Lizzie said. "I don't really understand all of it; I just figured since Raf has a thing for Hope, he got all jealous when he saw Clarke tonight."

"I knew a sired hybrid once. Dated him even," Caroline said. "He couldn't help what he did when his sire told him what to do. He had no control so he worked to gain control of the situation by breaking the sire bond."

"That's what Raf decided to do, I think," Lizzie said. "Work to break the bond."

"Good," Caroline said, patting her daughter's arm. "He's going to be okay. Everything is going to be okay. You'll see."

"I hope you're right," Lizzie sighed.


To be continued…