A/N: This is a smaller chapter than I normally post, but its an important one. I hope you like it because it took me forever and I'm still not completely satisfied with it. Let me know what ya think. This chapter has been edited by my beta Casey.
"This is taking forever, Ellie!" Tyler said, his head falling against the back of his seat.
I rolled my eyes but kept them firmly placed on the rundown apartment building in front of us. "Listen, Tyler, you asked for my help. If you'd like, we can take the half-hour drive back to Mystic Falls, and you can continue being Tyler Lockwood: regular human teen," I said.
Tyler's head rolled to the side, and he huffed in impatience as he looked up at me. "I just thought murder would be, ya know, more action and less… stalker," he said, glancing at the building and cupping his hands around his eyes like a pair of binoculars.
With a chuckle, I adjusted my shirt, situating myself into a more comfortable position. As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. We had been parked in the lot across from a man named Steven Riley's apartment complex for about three hours — and he had still yet to show himself. A little over a week ago, I had broken into the Sheriff's department using Liz's key, to find us the perfect candidate for this little outing. Once I had made it inside, I found hacking into the state database hadn't been all that hard. Liz really did need to update her user information; her password was ridiculously easy. I planned to have Caroline mention password security to her mother; no one in law enforcement should be that easy to hack.
"Well, the next time I plan a murder, I'll make sure it's more fun for everyone involved, okay?" I said.
Tyler snorted, playing around with the straps of the black bag I had brought along. I wasn't sure how he wanted to do this, so I had packed a small variety of items for him to choose from. No matter how many times he chose to joke about this, I knew that it wouldn't be easy; no one's first kill was — even if the person they killed wasn't exactly a good one. I nudged his shoulder, grabbing the manilla folder from the dashboard, and waving it in front of his face.
"Wanna take a look at his file again? It might help if you keep the kind of man he is in mind," I said.
Tyler took the folder and inhaled deeply, releasing the breath in an abrupt rush, his shoulders sagging. A sudden heaviness permeated the air, and I looked away, my eyes finding the graffiti-covered building. I knew the man was in his apartment, we were just waiting for him to leave. The complex was a heavily trafficked area, and there was no way we could get in and out without being seen. This was going to be hard enough on Tyler. I didn't want to be forced to use magic on him so that he could get around without detection. It was easier to wait on the guy to come out, then we could follow him someplace else. I zipped up my jacket and scooted lower in my seat, nibbling on my thumbnail as I watched Tyler skim through the folder from the corner of my eye.
"God, this guy is awful," Tyler mumbled, reading through the man's list of felonies.
The guy I had chosen for us had been in and out of jail most of his life, easily avoiding serving long stints in prison by ratting out his fellow criminals. Lifting a page from the folder, Tyler took a deep breath — shaking his head.
"What kind of guy would be a part of a gang that forces kids to deal drugs, and then murders them when they want out?" Tyler gasped out, his face morphing into a disgusted frown.
"The exact type of guy we are looking for. We don't want to kill someone worthy of life," I said, nodding along as he read from the file, my stomach-churning.
"They were never able to prove his part in any of the murders, and he was a snitch, so he never served longer than five years," he said.
I glanced up at him, my eyes were watery and chest tense. This man definitely deserved what he had coming, and I felt zero pity for him. Tyler lowered the folder, snapping it shut with a gentle fluttering of pages and cleared his throat.
"If I have to kill someone, at least it's someone I know won't be missed," he quietly said, voice rough.
I brushed a few strands of errant hair behind my ear and licked my dry lips. "You're right, no one will miss him. What his death will do for you, will probably be the only bit of good he'll have ever done with his miserable life," I said, no doubt coloring my tone.
I watched with a hint of unease as Tyler tossed the folder back onto the dash, his eyes clouded with fear. This wasn't going to be easy for him, and I was afraid he was going to try and back out. That wasn't something I could allow. It wasn't because I wanted him to go through with it, actually I was sick to my stomach at the idea. I felt like I was forcing my friend to murder someone and become a supernatural being. It was all because he had made me promise that I wouldn't let him 'wuss out.' A promise I was now regretting.
Closing my eyes, I allowed myself a moment to come to terms with the fact that I may have to be the one that helps him pull the trigger, metaphorically, of course. Snapping my eyes open, I forced down the bubbling of my own fear and took Tyler's cold, clammy hand.
"Just remember, no matter what happens, you won't be alone in this. I promise that it will all be okay in the end," I said
Tyler pulled his hand from mine and cleared his throat, casually wiping his eyes. "Yeah, thanks, El," he said.
Leaning forward, he pulled the black duffle bag into his lap, quickly unzipping it. The sound reverberated through the quiet car. A slow chill crawled up my spine, and my body shook against the sensation. He started to dig through the contents of the bag, his brows raised in surprise. I bit my lip, waiting with an uneasy stomach for his reaction as he lifted the first item from its depths. Tyler held the seven inch, silver bowie knife in his shaky hand, his eyes turning toward mine in shock. I smiled at him weakly, shrugging my shoulders. Dropping the blade back into the bag, he dug around again for a moment, before inhaling sharply as he pulled out my baby blue Glock 43. With a huff of breath, he lifted it into the air, twirling it around on his index finger with widened eyes. I scrunched up my face, wrinkling my nose in distaste, and gently took the gun — rechecking that the safety was still on out of habit.
"There is a suppressor in there too, that way we don't draw attention if we decide to use it," I said nonchalantly.
Tyler dug around until he found the silver metal cylinder and swallowed roughly. His face had been steadily paling as he pulled out each weapon, and I knew that he was neither ready for the gun nor the knife. For most, murder isn't easy regardless of the weapon, but a blade or gun makes things that much more personal. I wasn't sure he could handle getting his hands dirty. He would have to get up close to use the blade, and for the gun, he would have to point, aim, and then proceed to pull the trigger. So, those were not viable options. I handed Tyler the gun and watched as he shakily lowered it back into the duffle.
"Ty, I don't think a gun or blade is right for you, so why don't you look for the little wooden box I put in there?" I said, tapping the steering wheel with the tip of my red nail.
Tyler tilted his head and shrugged, tipping the bag and jostling the contents until he found the small dark oak box. Placing the duffle in the floorboard, he held out the box to me, his pale face lined with worry. I smiled at him as I took the box, sitting it between us as I lifted the lid. The dying sun shone brightly through the windshield, leaving enough light to allow the contents to be easily seen. Five small bottles were tucked safely in red velvet. Each bottle was labeled in an elegant black cursive script. Tyler lifted the first bottle to his face, squinting to read the label.
"Ricin?" he asked, brow furrowed.
I nodded, leaning closer. I very carefully took the white powder from his grasp, and lowered it back into the box, hiding a slight tremor. "One of the world's deadliest poisons, as are all the rest. Each bottle in the box holds a different and most definite death. When dosed with these, very few people ever realize what is happening to them until it's too late," I said, turning the other labels toward him so that he could read them.
Tyler bent closer to the box, his forehead wrinkled, and read each bottle. "Hemlock, Aconite, Belladonna, and Mandrake," he slowly read.
My fingertips caressed each bottle, green eyes trained on the deadly vials. "Most of them are older poisons, not widely used anymore, but I am still old at heart, and a witch to boot, so these will forever be my go-to's," I said, humming as I closed the box.
Tyler let out a rush of air through his teeth, a quite whistle leaving his lips. "Well, remind me to never piss you off. So you think this is what I should use then?" he said, gesturing to the box.
I leaned against my headrest, my hand placed atop the box. "Oh Ty, you know I don't need these poisons to kill anyone, and yes, I think this is the way to go. It will be easier this way," I gently said.
Tyler turned his head laughing, his eyes crinkling with mirth. He nodded, a slow acceptance covering his formerly tense shoulders. As my eyes turned to the building in front of us, I saw a familiar figure leaving the complex. I reached forward, pulling the folder from the dashboard, and flipped through the file until I found the man's photo.
"Tyler, look. I think that's him," I said, pointing at the dirty blond man that was nervously glancing at his surroundings as he placed a baseball cap on his head.
Tyler leaned forward, his eyes trained on the figure that was now headed away from the apartment complex. "Start the car, Elara. That's him," he said, tone hard.
I tossed the folder back onto the dash and started the car, pulling out of the lot. Tyler and I followed a few feet behind him as he walked down the sidewalk until finally, he stopped, casually glancing from side to side, before slipping down an alleyway. I pulled the car forward, parking beside the alley so that we could see what he had deemed worth a stop, and found him speaking to a young boy who couldn't have been older than fourteen.
"We should do something, El?" Tyler said.
I shook my head, watching as Steven pushed the poor kid against the brick wall; his hands fisted in the boy's shirt. "We can't do anything here. We decided on the poison, and that has to be administered a certain way. Besides, even if we hadn't, we can't exactly kill him in front of someone," I said, placing a hand on Tyler's stiff arm.
My eyes traveled over my friend, I had to make sure he kept his cool. His hands were held in fists in front of him, his expression stern as he watched Steven yell at the kid — his face inches from the young boys. With one final threatening yell, he shoved the kid into the brick wall. The boy slid to the ground, a pained expression on his face. Steven leaned over and yanked something from his hand, pocketing it quickly. Bending down, he tossed a folded brown paper bag onto the boy's lap then, after speaking a few heated words, headed back toward the street.
I started the car and drove forward, my eyes darting from the rearview and back toward the road. I kept my speed slow; I didn't want to lose him. At the end of the street, I saw a local diner and pulled into the parking lot. I took the nearest spot and kept the car on as I waited for Steven to pass by us, but as luck would have it, he jogged right into the parking lot, entering the diner. I shut off the car, pulling the keys from the ignition, and grabbed the wooden box from beside me. Opening the lid, I grabbed the poison I knew had no known cure; Ricin. With a high enough dose, even if he went to the hospital, there would be nothing anyone would be able to do to help him. All Tyler had to do was a dump at least a tablespoon full in Steven's drink, and that would be that. It would take two to three days for the poison to end in death — then his curse would be activated. Glancing up at my pale and shaky friend, I handed him the glass vial of poison.
"This is it, Ty, I will distract him, and you dump this in his drink. That's all you have to do. I will make sure he drinks it, as long as you place the poison in his cup, it will count as your kill."
Tyler's throat bobbed as he nodded his head, his forehead was glistening with sweat. I felt terrible for the poor guy.
"I know you asked me to make sure you didn't back out, but…are you sure this is what you want?" I asked gently.
His eyes narrowed, and his grip on the small vial tightened. "This isn't just about me anymore. This guy has to go, for those kids," he snarled.
Lowering my head, I let out a small sigh. "Okay then, let's go. We have someone to murder," I said, attempting to joke, a hint of sadness to my tone.
I didn't feel any sympathy for the man whose life was about to be cut short, he deserved this, but I did feel sadness for my friend, whose life would never be the same. Tyler and I slipped out of the car, and I checked my reflection, making sure my hair and makeup were flawless. I needed to play the part of a flirt so that Tyler could do what needed to be done. I went ahead of Tyler, the jingle of the welcome bell alerting those in the diner of my arrival. A few curious patrons glanced up, staring at me with curiosity, and I tried to keep my blush down. I hated being the center of attention. I smiled, walking toward the back where I could see a man sitting at a booth by himself, hunched over a cup of coffee. I took a deep breath and sat at a booth in front of his, brushing my hair over one shoulder. I watched him from the corner of my eye, my ear picking up the jingle of the welcome bell as Tyler entered. I tapped on the table, the repetitive sound attracting the man's attention. He leaned back in his seat and lifted his coffee, taking a deep swig as his eyes ran over my form. I sent him a flirty smile, my head tilting to the side. My hair spilled over my shoulder, a waterfall of red, and I bit my lip flirtatiously. I sent Steven a wink as he lowered his cup to the table. His brow rose to his hairline, and I turned away from him, being sure not to oversell the whole thing. The waitress came to my table, giving me the excuse I needed to avoid the man in front of me, and I ordered a coke; my stomach was a mess of nerves. I casually scanned the diner as I brushed my hair away from my eyes, and finally found Tyler at the counter. His eyes skipped nervously between my table and the kitchen. I was grateful that he wanted to be sure I was safe, but I didn't want to give away that we knew each other. He had to keep it together. I felt my phone vibrate, and I ground my teeth together in frustration at the interruption. Reaching into my jacket pocket, I quickly removed it from its confines. Damon's name and picture blinked to life across the screen; his bright blue eyes made my stomach tumble uncomfortably. I rolled my eyes, quickly sending him to voicemail. I didn't have time for him.
I was trying to help Tyler murder someone for God's sake! I could only handle one person's drama at a time. I'm not Wonder Woman.
"Ex-boyfriend?" a voice to my left asked.
I only just kept a cringe from visibly showing on my face as I turned to greet our target. I reached deep down to find the Mikaelson within me and kept a smooth, cool expression on my face as I smiled up at the man beside me.
"Old news. That's all he is. Old news," I said, laughing with casual mirth.
I waved towards the empty seat in front of me, and the dirty blonde sat down, his coffee in hand.
Jackpot!
His brown eyes were sharp as he observed me. "Does he know that, doll?" he said, his yellowed teeth bared in a smile.
I kept my grimace at bay and rolled my eyes gently. "It feels like centuries since we had our little fling, and he has moved on since then. So...I'd say he does," I said.
The waitress interrupted our little chat and sat my coke down in front of me, pulling a straw from her black apron. She quickly glanced between my 'guest and me.' I noticed her hesitance and sent her away with an easy smile. She watched my expression closely as she walked away, and I tried to hide my annoyance. She would be on guard now. It was nice to know, yet another person was looking out for me, a young girl presumably all on her own, but it was less nice when I was in the middle of attempted murder.
I ripped open my straw, rolling the paper into a small ball and tossing it to the side. Sticking the straw into my drink, I stirred the beverage in small circles, eyes on my target.
"So, what brings a gal like you to this part of town?" Steven asked.
I took a sip of my drink and shrugged, leaning closer to him despite the sickness I felt inside.
"Maybe I'm looking for a little danger, a little…trouble?" I whispered.
Steven's lips curled as his eyes scanned my posture, the way I was leaning closer to him, my lashes fluttering temptingly. I was the very picture of a young girl who wanted to piss her parents off — and that's exactly the vibe I was trying to give off. Sadly, it was the type of girl he was used to seeing in his line of work. Many angry young girls have gotten lost in the world of gangs and drugs. I was playing the type he knew how to deal with; he wouldn't think anything of 'humoring' me. It was the perfect way to keep myself under the radar.
"You want trouble, girly? Are you sure you can handle it?" he said, leaning back in his seat, an arm draped over the back.
His eyes never leaving mine, he lifted his hips, all but humping the air — a cheeky smirk on his chapped lips. Pushing down my disgust, I cocked a brow and smiled brightly, winking at him. "Oh, I can handle it just fine," I said, giggling.
I allowed a blush to color my cheeks and bit my bottom lip. Steven finished his coffee, and I glanced over at the waitress, waving her over. As she distracted him, I leaned back, catching Tyler's attention. With a casual nod, I alerted him that it was time to put the plan in place. The waitress left, and I watched Steven add some sugar and milk to his coffee. I lifted my coke and drank as much of it as I could, while he was focused on his cup. When he finally looked up, I had consumed all but a small portion. I took a deep breath and prepared myself for what was about to happen. With strengthened resolve, I held my glass loosely in my grasp. I started talking animatedly about how much I just adored caffeine.
"I don't drink it very often, but I just love the buzz. God, it is just sooo great!" I said, my cup falling from my fingertips and landing on the table with a loud splash.
The ice rolled around the table, and my eyes narrowed, my nails glowing faintly. I flicked my fingers in his direction, and the ice skittered across the table, landing in his lap. I smiled briefly as he jumped from the table, a loud squeal falling from his lips.
"Shit. Damn. My balls!" He yelled, brushing the cold mess from his lap.
There was a hockey puck size damp spot on his jeans, and I danced an Irish jig on the inside.
Score!
"O. M. G. I am so sorry. How embarrassing. I'm such a klutz," I said, raising a hand to my forehead.
Steven glared at me, grabbing a few napkins and rubbing at his damp jeans. "Yeah, ya brat, you couldn't get more right," he hatefully said.
With a giant huff, he glanced toward the bathroom, and I held my breath.
"I gotta take care of this. Make sure someone comes and cleans this shit up," he said, picking up his coffee and sitting it on the other side of the table, away from the mess.
I watched him as he fled toward the men's room, pushing past a few people in his rush. Taking a breath, I glanced toward the counter; Tyler was speaking to the waitress, a sexy smile on his face. With a nod, she handed him a towel, faintly blushing. I kept my gaze fixed on him as he headed toward me, towel in hand. When he made it to the table, I took the dirty towel and started mopping up the mess.
"Okay, Tyler, it's time. We need to get this done," I whispered, leaning forward and grabbing the coffee.
I stood at the edge of the table, blocking our actions from view. Tyler took a tentative step, coming to stand beside me, his right hand clasped around the vial of poison.
"Elara… I don't think I can do this," he frantically said. I closed my eyes, my hands cold as my grip on the wet towel tightened. I looked over at Tyler's pale face, his whole body was stiff, and no matter how hard he fought them, I could see a few panicked tremors working their way past his rigid posture.
"Look, I'm not going to force you to do this, no matter what I promised, but I want you to take a minute to remember why we are here. You wanted to do this because there is a part of you caged, Tyler. A part of you that you need to set free. Then, once we started this whole thing, it also became something we were doing to save those kids. Just try to remember that?"
The veins in Tyler's neck jumped at the mention of the kids, the ones who still had a chance. His chest rose heavily as he took a deep, shuddering breath. "I don't want to be a murderer. If that's what I become, then I am no better than him," he whispered.
I finished drying the table and shook my head, turning to stare him down. "I would never let you become like him. I can't stand here and tell you that you won't be a murderer because, by definition, you will be."
Tyler released an annoyed huff of breath, his expression one of shock. I smiled, patting his arm. When he made a move to speak, I raised my hand and continued.
"This is the choice you've made, the path you have decided to go down, and Tyler, as a werewolf, I also can't tell you that this will be the only time that you'll kill; cause it very well may not be. What I can tell you is that you will never be like him. For as long as I am able, I will be by your side, ensuring you stay as you are now Tyler Lockwood — my friend and an overall good man."
I reached out and took the hand that was still gripping onto the vial of poison. I slowly pried his pale fingers from the vial and pulled the cup of coffee closer to him. That was all I could do, anything else would be considered interference. Then Steven's death may not count as inherently Tylers doing. I took a quick glance behind us to make sure he was still in the bathroom and let out a relieved breath; our target was nowhere in sight. Moving away from the bathroom, my eyes took a quick scan of the diner to be sure we hadn't caught anyone's attention. When I found no one watching us, I turned back to Tyler.
"I know this isn't easy, but we have to finish this," I said.
Tyler's hand hovered over the cup, the vial still capped. "I-I can do this…right?" he asked, eyes searching mine.
I felt that same conflicted fear in my stomach and swallowed it down, nodding firmly. "You can do this," I said.
With a quick flick of his wrist, Tyler had uncapped the vial. I watched with bated breath as he held it over the cup, his handshaking. Tapping at the edge, he emptied the vial into the cup.
I swallowed deeply and handed him a spoon. "Stir it in," I commanded, voice firm.
Tyler clumsily took the spoon and stirred the coffee, the white substance disappeared from view as it was absorbed into the liquid. Tyler's breathing became ragged.
"It's done," I said as he pulled the spoon from the cup.
I grabbed it before he could lay it on the table and wiped it off with the towel. With a whispered spell, I cleaned the towel and handed it to Tyler.
"Okay, now I will handle the rest," I said.
With a shaky nod, he started back toward the waitress, his hand working the towel into knots. I watched his pale face squeeze its way into a smile as he approached the woman. The smile never reached his eyes, and I felt a weight fall into the pit of my stomach. I was starting to worry that Tyler wasn't really prepared for what was to come. I sat down, my shoulders rigid as I slid the coffee cup back to its original position, and waited for Steven's return. I rubbed circles on my forehead and watched as the waitress brought Tyler a soda. She tried to catch his attention, but his focus was on something clasped tightly in his fisted hand. I mentally kicked myself for allowing him to keep the empty vial. I sat my head on my right hand and kept my gaze on Tyler as I gently snapped my fingers. Suddenly he sat up straight, blinking in shock; his empty hand held out in front of him. He turned in his seat and looked at me, brows furrowed.
I smiled weakly. "Stop wallowing," I mouthed.
Tyler rolled his eyes, glancing down at his hands, before tucking them in his jacket pockets. A mumbled curse and the squeaking of old sneakers, had me sitting back in my seat, crossing my ankles. I stared at the cup in front of me, my fingers glowing faintly as I reheated the liquid. The booth shook as Steven tossed himself into his seat, slipping his fingers through the cup's handle.
"At least you had the waitress reheat my coffee," he said.
With a grin, I nodded. "Well, it's the least I could do. I'm so sorry," I said.
I impatiently watched as he held his coffee in his hands, never once taking a drink. I tapped the table, my annoyance leaking through my stoic resolve. I let off a quiet sigh and reminded myself to say calm. Finally, he lifted his cup and took a large swig. My eyes widened, and I sat back; it was done. Tyler would become a werewolf. What I had in the vial had been more than enough to ensure there would be no way to save Steven. Tyler used it all. There was no cure for such a large amount. My eyes followed the steady beating of his throat as he swallowed down the remainder of his coffee, finishing the cup in a matter of seconds.
When he set the empty cup down, I tilted my head, examining him. The final step required getting him back to his apartment. I planned to trap him inside so that the poison could do its job. It would take at least thirty-six hours for the Ricin to finally kill him, and I would prefer those hours to be spent somewhere without interfering Doctors. Not that they would be able to save him, but they could make his death much more comfortable, which wasn't something I thought this man particularly deserved. Not to mention all the questions that would be raised if he came into the ER with a blatant case of poisoning. I didn't want him alive and able to finger us.
I brushed my hair over my shoulder and leaned forward. "Why don't we get outta here?" I said.
A wicked gleam shone in his eyes as he smiled at me. "Sure thing girly. I think I can make this a fun night. I have plenty of party favors at home," he said.
I stood, dropping a few bills to pay for my coke, and wrapped my jacket around me as I started toward the entrance, my heels clicking against the tiled floor. Tyler turned in his seat, watching me pass by with deep fear in his eyes. I looked away as I felt a hand press against my lower back. I made my way to the front of the diner and pushed open the door, the welcome bell jingling above my head. I could see Tyler's reflection staring at me in the glass, his hands gripping the counter tightly. I was forced to ignore him. He knew what needed to be done. I had warned him that, for this half of the plan, I would have to be alone. It wasn't like I was some helpless girl, I could take care of myself. The cool night air hit me in the face, and I folded my arms against my chest. Steven came to stand beside me, and I looked into his prematurely wrinkled face.
"You ready to have some fun?" he said, yellowed teeth shining. I felt my magic flowing deep within me, a searing burn beneath my skin, and nodded. There was nothing this dying man could throw at me that I couldn't handle.
"Are you?" I asked, smirking.
I stood outside the rundown apartment complex, my foot tapping against the pavement as I rolled my neck from side to side. I could feel a bruise forming, and I winced, rubbing at it gently. Before I had gotten the chance to get the jump on Steven, he had gotten one on me. He had grabbed me by the neck and slammed me into the wall. It seemed he not only liked to attack innocent children but women too. I was beyond happy we had chosen him. His upper hand had not lasted long, as I had used my magic to shove him into the bathroom, locking him inside.
No one would be able to hear him, nor would he be able to escape. It would serve as his prison until the poison took effect. At the sound of a purring engine, I lifted my head, my bruised neck protesting at the sudden movement. I released a deep sigh as I saw my car pulling up next to the curb. I zipped up my jacket, effectively hiding my neck as I got into the car quickly.
"How did it go? Are you okay? Is he dead? I don't feel any different," Tyler said, swiftly turning toward me and holding out his arms.
He glanced down at his body in confusion. I took a breath, blinking rapidly at his quick questioning. I raised my hands, giggling at his frantic display.
"Whoa doggy, slow down. Give me a moment to breathe, I'm exhausted," I said, sitting back in my seat.
The cool leather felt nice against my aching muscles. Tyler's cheeks heated, and he nodded, putting the car in drive and starting forward. The warm air pouring in from the heater lulled me into a soothing calm, and I turned toward Tyler, finally ready to explain what had happened.
"I trapped him in his bathroom as planned. He won't be able to get out, and no one will be able to hear him. He will be in there until the poison kills him. Once he dies, my spell will disappear, and we will be in the clear. No one will know how he came into contact with such a large amount of Ricin, and I made sure there was no way to link us to what happened," I said.
Tyler's eyes widened, and his cheeks expanded as he let out a rush of air. "Seriously? How could it be that easy?" he asked.
I smiled, laying my head on the cold window. "Because I have been planning this for a while now. I made sure to cross every T and dot every I."
Tyler led us out onto the highway, and I closed my eyes with relief. For the most part, it was over. Tyler would get his wish; he would become a werewolf.
"So, he is still alive then? How long until… he's not?" Tyler asked, stumbling over his words.
I opened my eyes and sighed, smiling at his red face. "Tyler, it's not that easy. The poison we used takes time. It'll take two or three days, but believe me, you'll know when your curse activates. There will be no doubt."
Tyler's fingers flexed around the steering wheel, and he nodded. "Okay."
I laid my head back on the window and watched the sunset, the colors shifting beautifully in the pale sky. I closed my eyes and happily added another checkmark to my mental checklist.