It had been a week since their excursion at the farmhouse and Beca was still a little rattled, but seemed to be engaging a little easier with their work. The report of 'Alice' and her possession of a spell that both realms had agreed to keep under lock and key had raised serious alarms with the Council but thus far no other sightings or reports matched the limited description they had been given by the honeymooners. It was frustrating, knowing that there was someone out there who was a hazard to magical and non-magical beings alike but there was little that could be done until she could be located.
They were wrapping up for the night, having enjoyed a very rare night of staying in their warm office rather than braving the freezing cold October air when Chloe's mobile began to ring. She frowned down at it, the caller ID surprising her.
"It's Ellie." She mumbled as she picked it up and answering, the team sharing befuddled looks as to why the newest member of the Conrad family would be calling this late, "Hey Ellie, what's up?"
Chloe straightened as Ellie's terrified voice filled her ear, "Okay, Ellie honey, I need you take a deep breath and slow down for me. What's going on?"
Aubrey frowned quizzically at Chloe who shook her head and brushed her off for a moment, listening intently to Ellie, "Alright. It's okay. Where are you? Uh huh. Ellie listen to me, I'm sending Aubrey, Stacie and Beca to you right now, you need to get your friends and find somewhere safe to hide until they get there okay? I want you stay on the phone with me until they're with you, I'm just going to step away for a sec so I can tell them what's going on, stay on the phone."
The three other members of Chloe's team had already gotten to their feet and started to pack their supplies the second Chloe had said she was sending them to help, and Aubrey turned to Chloe for the information they needed.
"Ellie and a group of kids from The Academy went out to explore the old, abandoned hospital about a mile away. There's something in there that keeps attacking them and they are not strong enough to take it down. One of her friends is really badly injured, they need our help."
Aubrey pinched the bridge of her nose as she sighed heavily, "Right. We're on our way, we'll be there as quick as we can."
"Ellie did you hear that?" Chloe asked, putting the phone on speaker.
"Y-yeah. Thank you. Please hurry!"
"Hang in there kid, we're coming." Beca reassured her, quickly out of the door behind Stacie and Aubrey.
"I can't believe this." Aubrey shook her head as she turned the key in the ignition, "How stupid can they be? That hospital is closed for a reason, they couldn't get rid of the damn thing! They've obviously done something to free it from its bonds, otherwise they wouldn't be hurt."
"You know what's in there?" Beca asked, sitting forward in her seat as they sped through the streets.
"Yeah. Well, what's rumoured to be in there anyway. It's been an urban legend since we were in The Academy." Stacie smirked a little, hand gently brushing over Aubrey's as it rested on the gear stick, "I'll be able to bind it into place again, you two just need to be ready to attack it and keep it busy whilst I do."
"Oh good. So I'm bait then?" Beca raised her eyebrow, smirking as Aubrey rolled her eyes at her fondly, some of her anger dissipating as she saw the familiar humorous twinkle had returned to Beca's eyes, albeit a little dimmer than before.
"Calm down shortstack, you'll be fine." Aubrey flashed Beca a grin in the rear view mirror.
"Yeah because that's not what they say in horror movies before someone comes to a grizzly end." Beca scoffed, "So what is it that we're fighting then?"
"A chimera." Stacie started to double check the potions in her bag as she spoke, "The ancient Greek kind, y'know the fire-breathing, head-of-a-lion-body-of-a-goat-snake-for-a-tail kind. No-one knows how it got into the hospital in the first place, some say a distressed relative smuggled it for revenge, some say it's a patient that was experimented on, but everyone agrees that it's fearsome and immortal. About fifty years ago the hospital closed down and a powerful witch bound it in iron to keep it from escaping and going on a rampage."
"Okay. Fire-breathing immortal snake-goat-lion. That's definitely a new one…" Beca mused with a nod, "So all we need to do is distract the hybrid flame-thrower long enough for you lock it up again?"
Aubrey snorted at Beca's cavalier attitude but took a little comfort in how much more humorous it sounded today, Stacie nodding in response to Beca's question.
"Yep, and try not to get your ass fried in the process." Stacie grinned.
"I think I can manage that." Beca nodded, "So why the hell have they gone chasing after this thing in the first place?"
"God knows." Aubrey growled, "But I swear if the chimera doesn't kill them, I might."
A few hours earlier…
Ellie dropped her bag at the foot of her bed, stretching out the knot in her back from carrying out around all day. Her roommate, Emily, was still out by the looks of things, probably still in class, and Ellie intended to take full advantage of that fact and have a nice long shower.
"Yo Ells!" A head stuck around her door and Ellie supressed a frustrated sigh as she forced a smile onto her face.
"What's up Jack?"
"Mystery Inc's heading to the old hospital tonight to see if the chimera rumours are true. You in?"
Mystery Inc was the affectionate, albeit a little on the nose, nickname that had been devised for their group of friends. There was Ellie herself, Jack (a shapeshifter with a very lassie-faire attitude to his studies), Mica (a werewolf who seemed to spend more time high than he did studying), Louisa (also a werewolf and the living embodiment of the dumb blonde stereotype), and Stella (the second witch of their group and the only one that Ellie really liked). All four of them were two years older than Ellie, but had still seemingly wanted to pull her into their group. Ellie didn't know how she had found herself friends with these people but she had, and now that meant accompanying them on their various ridiculous excursions so she could prevent any of them getting hurt.
Ellie loved The Academy, make no mistake. It was amazing to be around other magical beings and to be taught about her powers alongside everything else she may need in life. The thing was, although academically at the same level as her peers, Ellie's practical skills and knowledge of Other Realm occurrences far surpassed that of her classmates thanks to the months she had spent with Vampire Hunters Incorporated whilst they battled with Gail. She had frequently slip up to the office when she couldn't sleep and leafed her way through many of Stacie's books, and sometimes Stacie or one of the other members of the Conrad clan would come and sit with her, teaching her techniques and spells that now put her lightyears ahead of everyone else.
Ellie had come to The Academy with a label; she was the Orphan Who Battled A Hundred Vampires (an exaggeration of course, but teenagers never really seemed to care about the cold hard facts) and she hated it. She hated that she was far ahead of everyone and that they knew why. She just wanted to learn about the Other Realm and her own powers in peace. Her new roommate had been a breath of fresh air honestly; Emily had no idea who she was or what had happened to her, and despite the nearly four year age gap between them, they had become fast friends.
Now however, Ellie had to face the prospect of yet another misguided adventure with the people who seemed to have adopted her into the friendship group before she knew what had happened. So-called friends that only kept her around because they were fascinated by the myth of her and her powers.
"You're kidding right?" Ellie frowned deeply, "That's stupid dangerous, especially if there is actually a chimera there. You don't stand a chance against it!"
"We will if you're there." Jake gave her an easy grin as Ellie sighed, "Aw c'mon Ells, where's the badass who fought a vampire army off with her bare hands?"
"I keep telling you, that's not what happened!" Ellie snapped, "But… I can't let you guys get yourselves killed."
"So you'll come?" Jake beamed.
"Yeah. Whatever." Ellie mumbled. So much for her nice long shower and her evening curled up with a book.
"Aces! Meet you outside Stella's room in ten?"
"Sure." Ellie forced a smile onto her face. It was going to be a very long night.
"Whoa…" Mica drawled, looking up at the huge hulking beast that easily dwarfed every one of the children stood in front of it, "Look at the size of that thing!"
"Right. We've seen it." Ellie frowned, "It's huge. Let's go back."
"You're kidding right?" Stella grinned, "Fun's only just begun El, we came for target practice!"
"What?!" Ellie spluttered, looking around at them incredulously, "You're joking right? You cannot think that's a good or safe idea!"
"Relax El, you're always so tightly wound." Stella slung her arm around Ellie's shoulder, "That thing is locked up tighter than a loony bin on the full moon, we'll be fine."
"I am so not sticking around for this!" Ellie threw her hands in the hair as she turned to leave, "This is suicide, you're going to get yourselves in so much trouble!"
"Live a little Ellie!" Louisa grinned, grabbing Ellie's wrists and twirling her, "Besides if we do run into trouble we're going to need your help. We all know you've fought scarier than this!"
Ellie sighed irritably as shook her head. They were stupid, she should never have come. But Louisa had a point. None of these dumbasses stood a chance on their own.
"Fine. But I am not using it for target practice, I'm not gonna be the one pissing it off until it breaks free and kills us all!"
"Suit yourself!" Stella shrugged, summoning a ball of energy in her hands. Ellie mused that it was far smaller and less powerful than the ones she could conjure, and briefly felt a little smug at that fact.
Ellie watched as the group took turns in using magic and potions on the beast that roared and thrashed ferociously at them. Her heart was pounding a mile a minute with every creak of the iron shackles and every attempted swipe of its huge, clawed paws. It was going to break loose, Ellie knew it was.
"Guys. Come on. That's enough." Ellie stepped forward, catching Stella's arm as she went to toss another energy ball at it, "I don't think those bindings will hold much longer, the more you piss it off the more it pulls at them."
"Just one more." Stella rolled her eyes, flicking her free hand in the beast's direction, "See, nothing to-"
The chimera roared louder than before and this time its thrashing paw came loose, snapping the enchanted iron. Its claws sank deep into Stella's side from the side of her neck all the way down to her foot and she shrieked in agony. Ellie acted quickly, sending a sharp bolt of lighting directly into the lion head's eye before scooping Stella into her arms.
"RUN!" She yelled, Mica, Louisa and Jake scrambling after her as the chimera continued to roar and snarl, making easy work of tearing itself from the rest of its bonds.
Stella's hand clutched at the wound at the side of her neck, blood pumping from the three other deep wounds on her body as she stared desperately up at Ellie for help. Ellie briefly considered using her speed power but dismissed it; it would mean leaving everyone else behind. Ellie ducked into a room to the left, the others following her in as she lay Stella on an old gurney, swallowing the lump in her throat.
"Jake, barricade that door shut. Louisa get my phone from my pocket and call Chloe, hold the phone to my ear so I can use my hands to try and heal Stella. Mica get a grip and help Jake."
Mica was sobbing in the corner as Jake pulled him sharply to his feet and dragged him to his aid. Louisa's shaking hands fumbled with Ellie's phone as she dialled the number, Ellie's concentration entirely on Stella as she held her hands over the worst points of injury.
"H-how do you know how to do that?" Louisa asked, "Non-verbal spells aren't taught until next year… that's two years ahead of where you are…"
"I had to learn in case someone got injured whilst we were trying to take down Gail and her army. Now call Chloe!" Ellie snapped, having no patience to try and explain this to any of them right now.
"Okay. Here it's ringing." Louisa held the phone up to Ellie's ear, Ellie praying silently that Chloe would pick up. She could heal some of these wounds, maybe enough to save Stella's life, but that would leave her with very little magic left, and she could hear the chimera padding up the corridor looking for them.
"Hey Ellie, what's up?"
"Chloe thank god! I need you, all of you, it's an emergency! There's this- this THING and… it's really bad. I don't have enough magic, it's freaking HUGE and immortal I think and-"
"Okay, Ellie honey, I need you take a deep breath and slow down for me. What's going on?"
Ellie did just that, closing her eyes for a moment before trying again, "We're being attacked Chloe. This beast, it's huge and we're not strong enough to take it on. There's five of us, but Stella is really badly hurt and it's going to take most of my magic to heal her enough to save her life. I don't know what to do…"
"Alright. It's okay. Where are you?"
"This abandoned hospital, it's like a mile away from The Academy."
"Uh huh. Ellie listen to me, I'm sending Aubrey, Stacie and Beca to you right now, you need to get your friends and find somewhere safe to hide until they get there okay? I want you stay on the phone with me until they're with you, I'm just going to step away for a sec so I can tell them what's going on, stay on the phone."
"Okay." Ellie mumbled, her stomach knotting as she saw Stella's rapid breathing starting to grow worse. Shit, was it not working? As Chloe conveyed the information to the rest of them, Ellie got Louisa to put the phone down and put it on speaker.
"Right. We're on our way, we'll be there as quick as we can."
Ellie let out a soft sigh of relief even as Aubrey's tone sounded clipped. They were coming.
"Ellie did you hear that?"
"Y-yeah. Thank you. Please hurry!" Ellie licked her dry lips as she heard the chimera draw closer. It was at the other end of the corridor from them, but she knew a beast of that size wouldn't need to make many steps to get to where they were hiding.
"Hang in there kid, we're coming."
Beca's words made the slightest bit of tension ease from Ellie's frame. They were coming.
"Ellie are you still there?"
"Yeah I'm here." Ellie nodded, feeling her relief start to blossom as Stella's wounds finally looked like they were starting to heal a little.
"What are your friends' powers, how can they help?"
"Um, Louisa and Mica are werewolves, Jake is a shapeshifter. Stella's a witch too but she's too badly hurt to help right now." Ellie reeled off, "I got Jake and Mica to barricade the door but I don't know how much that will help."
"That's great Ellie. It's really great. Am I on speaker?"
"Yeah. Yeah I needed my hands and I didn't want Louisa caught up with holding my phone if it came in here." Ellie nodded.
"Good thinking. Guys my name is Chloe, I work with Vampire Hunters Incorporated. My team are on their way to you right now, but I need you to be ready in case the beast comes in before they get to you. Do you know exactly what is?"
"It's a chimera. Ancient Greek mythological beast, I think Stacie has a book on it somewhere?" Ellie mused, her attention still focused on Stella whose wounds seemed to be healing at way too slow a pace.
"Okay, one sec, let me find it… got it."
Ellie could hear Chloe flicking through pages and the way she tried to stifle a gasp when she fell upon the right page. Oh god they were fucked weren't they?
"Louisa, Mica, can you change at will yet?"
"S-sometimes." Louisa stammered, hands shaking as Mica came and stood next to her, "We're not… we're only sixteen."
"It's okay. Just listen to me." Chloe's tone was gentle as she tried to reassure the terrified teens on the other end of the phone, "I need you try and change. You have more of a chance in your wolf form than you do now. Can you do that?"
"We'll try." Mica's voice was small as he and Louisa stepped back, trying desperately to calm themselves enough to focus on the task at hand.
"That's great. You can do this. Jake?"
"Yeah?" Jake was still by the door, throwing everything he could find up against it.
"What can you shift into that will help?"
"Uh… I don't know…" He mumbled, running his hands through his hair, "I- I can only partially shift on command, I don't think I can help-"
"Yes you can." Chloe insisted, "Can you shift your hands into claws?"
"Oh. Maybe, hang on." Jake looked down at his hands, willing them to shift as his eyes glowed purple, "Yeah… okay yeah. They're not- they're not the best but I guess that will do."
"Well done Jake, I knew you could do it. What about Mica and Louisa, how are they doing?"
"I'm trying!" Louisa sobbed, "I can't!"
"Louisa, take a deep breath. You need to calm yourself down okay? You won't be able to do anything whilst you're this upset."
"O-okay." Louisa tried to take deep breaths, watching as Mica started to slowly transform into his wolf form.
It wasn't a quick process like it was for adult werewolves, it was slow and painful as their bones adjusted to the traumatic breaking and reforming as they shifted their forms. Mica was panting and whimpering as he forced his body through the transformation and Ellie realised that by the time he changed he would be completely spent.
"Chloe, I don't think Louisa turning is a good idea. It's exhausting for them and I need them to be able to fight." Ellie bit her lip as she felt her magic drain from her, and as relieved as was that Stella was starting to heal, panic was welling inside her as she realised she probably wouldn't have any magic left at all by the time she was out of danger.
"Okay, good point. Do you guys have any potions or anything you can throw at it?"
"I- I think there's still some left." Louisa nodded, grateful that she picked up her bag when they ran.
"Brilliant. You guys are doing so well! They should be almost there, just hold on a little longer."
There was a snarling at the door as the chimera reached them, loud thudding at the door as its paws hammered at it. Ellie bit her lip hard, feeling her heart leap into her throat. They had to get here soon. The beast was going to get in here any second.
"Chloe it's here…" Ellie's voice wobbled as she swallowed hard, "I'm running out of magic and it's here."
"It's okay. You're okay. I just got a text from Beca, they're outside."
"I- if I don't make it out of this, will you tell Thea I'm sorry? That I know this was stupid, and I'm sorry and I only came to try and keep them safe." Ellie's hands were shaking as she heard the snarling chimera get more and more angry as it tried to get through, the barricade creaking as it got ready to give way. A claw burst through the barricade and Ellie could feel the room growing hotter as flames attempted to burn their way through the obstacles in the beast's path.
"I'm not going to need to. You can apologise yourself when you get home. They're almost there Ellie. You'll be okay."
"I texted Chloe, told her we're here." Beca shrugged on her shoulder holster as they got out of the car, pace fast as they headed straight into the hospital, "Hopefully she sees it and tells Ellie."
"Let's get this chimera under control again and rescue these kids." Aubrey gripped a long blade in her hand as she entered the hospital, following the sound of growling and snarling to where the chimera was trying to claw down the door.
"Jesus…" Beca breathed as she clapped eyes on it, "You never said it was as big as a fucking house!"
"I didn't know it was!" Stacie defended herself, "You'll be fine, just… make yourself look bigger than you are."
"It's not a bear Stacie!" Beca exclaimed with a roll of her eyes, "Fuck it. I feel like being small is finally about to pay off…"
With that, Beca launched herself at the chimera, claws extended and fangs bared as she landed on its back. The chimera screeched and tried to buck Beca off, Beca hanging on for dear life as dug her claws into its muscular shoulders.
"Snake tail Beca!" Aubrey yelled as she ducked out of the way of the column of fire shot in her direction from the beast's mouth, Beca rolling out of the way just in time as the snake launched itself towards her neck.
"Oh come on, that's cheating!" Beca groaned, "Multiple heads is such an unfair advantage…"
Stacie shook her head with an affectionate grin, casting on last look at her friends to make sure they were holding their own before delving into her bag for her spell book. She knelt on the ground with it in front of her, frowning a little as she looked back up at the chimera.
"Guys you need to drive it back a little. If I bind it in place here then the kids will be trapped too." Stacie watched as Beca wrestled with the snake tail still trying to attack her, Aubrey engaged with the huge swiping paw that was trying to take chunks out of her.
"Oh gee, why didn't you say so! I'm sure if we ask it nicely it'll scootch on back a little!" Beca rolled her eyes as Stacie chuckled, gesturing to Hunter who whistled and made a bee line for Aubrey's shoulder.
"Great idea Hunter." Aubrey grinned, leaping backwards out the way of the swiping paw and extending her hands, "Hold on Beca!"
Beca grabbed hold of the snake tail and held tight as bolts of lightning flew from Aubrey's fingers and hit the chimera in the face. It roared in pain and fury, but backed away from Aubrey who kept up the onslaught. Beca yelped as the snake thrashed beneath her, almost flinging her loose but her claws dug in harder and once the beast had backed up far enough away from the door she dropped back onto its back, steadying herself as the snake eyed her hungrily.
"Hey, anyone know if the snake head can breathe fi-" Beca's question was cut off as it was answered, a column of fire hitting her left side. Beca cried out in pain and tumbled off the back of the chimera, hitting the floor with an 'oomph!'.
"Beca!" Aubrey went to run forward and help her but was forced backwards by a swiping paw that almost took her head clean off.
"M'good!" Beca grunted, dragging herself to her feet and clutching her side as she dodged out of the way of a stomping hoofed hind leg, "Anytime you feel like binding this thing would be great Stace!"
"I'm on it!" Stacie placed her hands flat on the floor, Hunter returning to her shoulder to make sure that she would have all the magic that she needed as she squared her shoulders, eyes glowing a bright green as she began to chant.
"Ancient Medusa hear my plea, let my powers meld with thee. Take this creature bound alone, seize its body turn it to stone."
Beca hissed as pain flared across her side, dodging yet another hoof headed for her, the spell only seeming to anger the beast more. Aubrey only just avoided a column of fire as the chimera managed to trap her against the wall between its two huge front paws. Beca was as quick to her aid as she could be, leaping onto its back again with a pained grunt and tugging hard at its mane so that its attention shifted to her long enough for Aubrey to duck and roll underneath it.
"Ancient Medusa hear my plea, let my powers meld with thee. Take this creature bound alone, seize its body turn it to stone."
Aubrey drove her blade deep into the back of the chimera's leg, the beast yowling in response and swiping back at her. This time Aubrey didn't move fast enough and the powerful blow swept her off her feet and sent her flying into the wall. She dropped to the floor with a pained cry having landed awkwardly on her right hand. Beca had been briefly distracted by her friend's distress and the snake tail had taken full advantage of it, fangs sinking into the side of her neck. Beca shrieked and thrashed in its grip, finding herself tossed through the air and landing heavily next to Aubrey.
"Ancient Medusa hear my plea, let my powers meld with thee. Take this creature bound alone, seize its body turn it to stone."
Panic flared in Stacie's chest as she watched Beca drag herself upright and stand protectively in front of the still winded and wincing Aubrey. She needed to go and help them, but if she did then there was no-one to bind the chimera. The spell was slowly taking effect, the beast's moves slowing, but if she stopped now then they she would have to start all over again and it might be too late for that.
"Hey! Big guy! Over here!" Ellie yelled, waving her arms in the air.
Beca and Aubrey's gaze snapped to Ellie who was stood just outside of the doorway of the room she and her friends had been hiding in. What the hell was she doing? Ellie was shaking slightly, exhausted from spending her magic but stood strong. At her sides were Mica, Louisa and Jake, Stella's life saved but far too weak to stand nevermind fight. This was their mess, they were going to fix it.
"C'mon asshole you know it's us that you want!" Ellie gloated. Her friends seemed less sure and brave than she was, but they still stood their ground.
The chimera growled as it rounded on them slowly, Beca and Aubrey forgotten as it paced towards them. Beca helped Aubrey to her feet as they set off after it, determined to keep the kids safe no matter the cost, but stuck behind the chimera as its huge form filled the corridor. The snake tail had noticed its pursuers and lashed out at them, it's fangs narrowly missing Aubrey's neck as Beca swung at it. Beca thanked her lucky stars that without a heartbeat she had no blood flow and the venom from its fangs couldn't spread through her body. There were very few occasions that she was grateful to be a vampire but this was certainly one of them.
Ellie ground her heels into the floor as the chimera reached them, bracing herself as she saw the flames building in the back of its throat. If she had to go out to this thing then she would at least go down fighting rather than cowering. Seeing the column fire start to shoot from its mouth, Ellie pushed her friends behind her and screwed her eyes shut, waiting for impact.
"Ancient Medusa hear my plea, let my powers meld with thee. Take this creature bound alone, seize its body turn it to stone."
The heat growing across her face suddenly disappeared and Ellie cautiously opened one eye. The chimera had turned to stone, it's last column of fire smothered in concrete just an inch from Ellie's face. Ellie let out the deep shuddering breath she didn't know she was holding and sank to her knees, adrenaline flooding from her system now that the danger was over and leaving her at the mercy of her exhaustion.
Beca appeared quick as a flash by Stacie's side as she flitted over the chimera, Aubrey held against her side looking pale as she held her fractured wrist to her chest.
"I really hate it when you do that…" She mumbled, Beca rolling her eyes affectionately as she let Stacie take Aubrey into her hands and check over her injuries.
"Well excuse me for not wanting to leave you to scramble over the giant rock chimera with a fractured wrist!" Beca grumbled, Stacie smirking slightly as she quickly healed Aubrey's wrist.
"Your turn Beca, that burn isn't healing…" Stacie frowned, Beca shaking her head a little.
"It won't, burns are like the only thing that vampire healing doesn't cover, it's kind of annoying." Beca ran a hand through her hair as she looked down at the angry wound stretching down her left side, "But it can also wait. That spell took a lot out of you and there's still a kid in need of healing, right?"
Beca's question was directed at Ellie who looked up from she knelt, nodding softly, "I did what I could, but the wounds were really bad and I ran out of magic…"
Aubrey's attention had snapped to the group of sheepish and shaken teenagers, her anger at their stupidity igniting anew as her nostrils flared.
"Do you have any idea how lucky you are to be standing there right now?" She hissed, stepping purposefully towards with her eyes narrowed, "If we hadn't gotten here in time there would be nothing left of you! What the hell were you playing at?"
"W-we're sorry." Louisa stammered, feet shuffling awkwardly under Aubrey's intense glare, "We just wanted to see if it was real! And then Stella thought it would m-make good target practice, y'know since it couldn't get out-"
Louisa's explaination died on her tongue as Aubrey scoffed loudly, Stacie leaving her to berate them as she went to check on Stella.
"Target practice?! God you're even stupider than I thought! Why the hell would you think that was a good idea? You never ever mess with a creature, tied up or not, that you know you cannot take on. That is exactly how you end up dead!" Aubrey was shaking with anger as Beca stood behind her, face set in a hard expression.
"We thought it would be okay." Jake mumbled, eyes downcast, "Besides we had Ellie, she's-"
"She should know better than all of you how dangerous creatures from the Other Realm are." Aubrey's angry tone turned cold as she glared down at Ellie who had tears in her eyes, shoulders sagging a little, "I cannot believe how recklessly you've behaved tonight, I'm so disappointed in you."
Ellie's head dropped forward as she sniffed softly, tears rolling down her cheeks. She wished she hadn't come with them, but what would have happened if she hadn't?
"I'll be making sure the Dean punishes all of you very severely. This should never have happened. You not only put yourselves in danger but you put me and my team in danger too, and we got hurt saving you from your mess. Your friend almost died tonight. I cannot believe the arrogance and the sheer stupidity of the five of you. Go wait outside whilst we make sure Stella is okay and the chimera has been properly taken care of." Aubrey shook her head angrily whilst the teenagers filed out of the hospital in solemn silence. Beca gently caught Ellie's arm as she walked past her, making sure Aubrey was out of earshot before she turned to her.
"She was just really worried about you and it's manifesting as anger. Although she is also mad that you'd all be such dumbasses." Beca smiled softly, "Aubrey will probably say it herself when she's calmed down, but you did good tonight kid. You were really brave, you called for help, and you saved your friends. Sure, you guys shouldn't have been here, but you should be proud of yourself today. They wouldn't be here without you, and I'll talk to Aubrey and make sure she tells this Dean person that too."
Ellie sniffed as she gave Beca a watery smile, arms wrapping tightly around Beca's waist as the vampire hissed softly in pain, "Thank you. For coming and for saying that. I'm sorry you got hurt… oh god I'm making it worse aren't I?" Ellie pulled sharply away, biting her lip as Beca chuckled.
"It's fine, I'm okay. Now go on, wait outside with the other idiots before Posen yells at both of us." Beca grinned as Ellie nodded gratefully.
"Will you thank Chloe for me?" She asked.
"Yeah of course." Beca nodded, watching Ellie walk outside to join her friends. Her phone rang and she pulled it from her pocket, eyebrow quirking, "Speak of the devil… hey Chloe."
"Jesus Beca! I've been freaking out trying to call someone, ANYONE for the last ten minutes, and all you have for me is 'hey Chloe'?!"
"Dude breathe, everyone's okay!" Beca chuckled softly, "We were a little caught up turning a chimera to stone and not getting roasted."
"I'm sorry… the last thing I heard was Ellie telling me she had to do something and then the line went dead. I just- I panicked."
"I'm sorry. We are okay." Beca smiled softly as her hand began to absent mindedly play with the ring around her neck.
"Oh is that Chloe?" Beca looked up as Stacie and Aubrey headed back towards her, Stella in Aubrey's arms looking as white as sheet and with several mean looking scars down her side, but otherwise okay.
"Yeah, hang on Chlo I'm gonna put you on speaker." Beca moved the phone from her ear.
"Chloe can you get the burn salve from my supplies upstairs? Beca's going to come back to the office whilst we take the kids to The Academy and she's got a nasty burn wound across her left side. I'll heal it properly when I get back, but we'll probably be at The Academy for a while. Oh, and an anti-venom as well, just to be on the safe side." Stacie tossed the keys for the car to Beca as she spoke.
"You said you were okay!"
"I am!" Beca insisted, shooting Stacie a look, "It's not that bad, you'll see."
"Yeah right! That's why it needs a salve AND an anti-venom!"
"Look, I'll be back in an hour, you can see for yourself how not bad it is." Beca rolled her eyes, bidding Chloe goodbye and hanging up before she could say anything else, "Are you guys going to be okay getting back to The Academy if I take the car?"
"Yeah, we'll use the transportation potions to get us as far as the gate and then we'll walk in, otherwise the protection spells around the place will blow us to smithereens." Stacie nodded.
"Alright then. I'd better get back before Chloe implodes." Beca chuckled, "Hey, Aubrey?"
"Yeah?"
"Go easy on Ellie okay? She was an idiot tonight just like the rest of them, but she also saved their asses." Beca raised an eyebrow, Aubrey sighing heavily.
"I know. I know, I just… after everything she's been through-"
"She should know better. Agreed." Beca smirked, "But like I said, she also saved them."
"She didn't want to come." Stella mumbled, everyone's attention turning to her, "And then she tried to make us go home more than once. She only came and stayed because she thought we might need her if things went wrong… and then they did and she- she saved my life…"
Beca smiled softly at Stella as she swallowed hard, "Sounds like the Ellie we know. A little reckless but with a big heart."
"Yeah." Aubrey nodded, "I'll talk to the Dean about it all, we'll figure something out."
"I'll see you guys at home."
There was a soft knock at Ellie's door as she sniffled, Emily sat next to her trying to sooth her as she held her close, hands encased in thick leather gloves as she was petrified of touching anyone in case what happened to Tom happened to them. Ellie, along with her friends, had spent the last four hours being reamed out by various faculty members and the Dean before being told to go to her dorm and wait to find out what her punishment would be. There had been talk of suspension, even expulsion, and Ellie had never been more mortified with herself. But worst of all she'd let down the people who had taken her in when she had nowhere to go. Thea had been as angry with her as Aubrey had (maybe even more so) and Ellie hated that she'd disappointed both of them.
"Come in." Emily lifted her head, smiling softly at Aubrey as she entered.
"Can I have a word with Ellie in private Em?" Aubrey was no longer angry, her smile kind as Emily nodded, giving Ellie's shoulder a gentle squeeze as she got up.
"I'll be back in a bit." She reassured her, Ellie swallowing the lump in her throat as she kept her eyes on the floor.
"Hey." Aubrey sat next to Ellie as the door to her dorm room shut, "I'm sorry for getting so mad at you. I shouldn't have gotten that angry."
"You were right." Ellie sniffed again, voice hoarse, "It was stupid. And now I've let everyone down and Thea's not going to want me around anymore and I'll have no-one-"
"No." Aubrey shook her head, wrapping her arm around Ellie's shoulders and pulling her in close, "Don't be ridiculous. Of course Thea still wants you around, she was just scared that's all. We all were. We're kind of fond of you y'know?"
Ellie cried softly into Aubrey's shoulder, arms wrapping around her waist as Aubrey held a little tighter, shushing her gently.
"I-I didn't really want to go…" Ellie mumbled through her tears, "I just knew those idiots were going to do something stupid and get hurt if I didn't, I just wanted to make sure that didn't happen…"
"I know." Aubrey sighed softly, "And so does the Dean and Thea. I made sure they did. You were really brave Ellie, monumentally stupid but also really brave. You did exactly what you should have when you realised you were all in danger and it saved all of your lives. I'm so proud of you for that."
Ellie sniffled, "Really?"
"Really." Aubrey nodded, "Just promise me you'll never be that reckless again."
"I promise." Ellie whispered, sitting up a little as she wiped at her cheeks with the back of her hand, "I just… I wish they saw me like you did."
"As a hero?" Aubrey frowned.
"No. God no." Ellie sighed, shaking her head, "As a reckless idiot with a lot to learn. They think because of the whole thing with Gail that I'm this kind of… urban legend, the orphan who took on a vampire army and won… and I'm not, I'm just… I'm just a kid trying to make any of this make sense. Just like they are."
"When I came to The Academy I had a label on me too." Aubrey took Ellie's hand in hers, squeezing it softly as she sighed, "I was The Posen Heir, the next in a long line of vampire hunters, abilities way beyond my classmates because I was born into the right family, and I hated that. I wanted to be judged on my own merits, not on who my family was. So I put my head down and I worked my ass off proving that I wasn't just another Posen, I was Aubrey and I kicked ass on my own terms." She nudged Ellie gently with her shoulder as Ellie giggled.
"I know it sucks that they're judging you based on the worst time in your life. I know you want to put this whole Gail thing behind you, believe me I know that feeling. But it takes time Ellie, and until then you just have to grit your teeth and get on with it. Because you're going to be amazing, all of these other kids will be begging to be associated with your name when you get out in the field. You were dealt a shitty hand and lost your mom, and I can't even begin to imagine how that feels, or how much worse it gets when people talk about that awful, terrifying time like it was a good thing that it happened to you. But you are more than that one experience, and the important people in your life, Thea and Sam, Mike and Tony, me and the rest of VHI, Emily even… we all know that. You just have to show everyone else until they pay attention."
"Thanks Aubrey." Ellie smiled softly, "So um… what are they doing to punish me?"
"Well, I had a long discussion with the Dean and Thea about that." Aubrey moved Ellie's hair from her eyes, "We decided that for the foreseeable future all of your extra-curricular time would be spent inside a classroom. You'll be taking extra lessons, learning advanced techniques, everything you need to put you in the graduating class next year."
"What?" Ellie frowned softly, back straightening "That- that doesn't sound like a punishment…"
"Oh no it definitely is." Aubrey couldn't help the smirk that crept onto her lips as she tried to keep her face serious, "You're going to hate being cooped up and learning whilst everyone else is running around, aren't you?"
"Um… yes?" Ellie raised her eyebrow as she answered hesitantly. She was going to love that, what was Aubrey talking about?
"It has to look like you're being punished on the surface." Aubrey lowered her voice even though there was no-one around to hear them, "Ellie keeping you behind with the other kids your age is driving you insane, I can see that. You're practical skills, your Other Realm knowledge, it far exceeds everyone elses, and you proved that tonight. None of us want to punish you for that, we want you to succeed."
"I- I don't know what to say…" Ellie whispered, grinning as Aubrey gave her hands a soft squeeze.
"You have lost your weekend pass privileges for the next three months like everyone else, you won't be allowed to leave The Academy unless it's to go home for the holidays or just to visit. You were still an idiot for going in the first place." Aubrey raised her eyebrow as Ellie nodded, a little crestfallen but understanding completely. She'd been looking forward to going Christmas shopping with Emily.
"And when you do graduate, until you turn eighteen you will work for me, sort of like an apprenticeship. I will be keeping an eye on you and your progress, and making sure you don't pull any more stunts like this. You'll get on the job training that the rest of your classmates can only dream of, but only if you behave and don't do anything as reckless and as stupid as messing with a chimera ever again." Aubrey's expression had turned serious as she made sure that Ellie knew she wasn't messing around.
"I won't, I swear I won't!" Ellie promised, excitement making her eyes bright, "You guys will really train me?"
"Yes." Aubrey nodded, grinning at Ellie's enthusiasm, "But after you graduate. You're getting an education first, hunting Other Realm creatures second. Do you understand?"
"Yeah." Ellie nodded, "Thank you Aubrey. Thank you so much."
"You're welcome." Aubrey smiled softly, getting to her feet, "Now get some rest, you've had a very long night. I got you a day off from your classes tomorrow to recover, no arguments."
"Okay." Ellie nodded, watching as Aubrey went to leave, "Aubrey?"
"Yeah?" Aubrey turned back to Ellie with a soft smile.
"Um… thanks. Not just for tonight, but for everything since- since my mom died. I don't know what would have happened to me if you hadn't taken me in that night." There were tears in the corner of Ellie's eyes, Aubrey feeling her own emotions swell to the surface as she saw the sincerity in Ellie's eyes.
"You never have to thank me for that." She shook her head, "You came to us for help, I would never have turned you away. You're a good kid Ellie, I'm proud to say that I know you. We all are."
Ellie nodded a little, too overcome with emotions to try and say anything in response. She was really lucky to have Aubrey and Vampire Hunters Incorporated on her side. Aubrey stepped back into the room for a moment and pressed a soft kiss to Ellie's forehead, wiping the tear from her cheek.
"I'll see you soon Ellie. Take care of yourself."
"You too." Ellie beamed, "Seriously. Be careful out there, please?"
"We will." Aubrey promised her, "You're stuck with us for a long time yet."