Chapter 2: Monsters in the Dark

Notes: I can't remember all the dates for The Heretics, so just get that this is happening in the 1800s. ;)

PS There is a slight trigger warning. No actual sexual assault takes place, but the scene might be startling enough for some. Just a fair warning.

Also, my apologies for the atrocious grammar and spelling errors. I wrote this entire story, 50 pages straight, in one inspired all-nighter. Every time I go back to edit it, I keep missing things or sentences are worded in an odd manner, so I apologize. I have no beta! But I believe I've caught nearly everything.

Now, on with the show! :D

5 Years Later…

Chasing, crack, chasing, screams, woods….blood

"Uh!"

Nora jumped from her sleep, the nightmare startling her awake, sweat pouring down her body. She breathed quickly, trying to catch herself as she sat up and held her head. Another nightmare.

She finally slowed her breathing, and as she looked out the window of the log cabin they were staying in, she realized it must be the middle of the night. It had been some time since she had a nightmare, months at least, but sometimes they snuck up on her and haunted her dreams.

Nora gathered herself in the bed and let her legs dangle out from the covers. The necklace she wore began to glow as she used the magic stored inside of it to illuminate the room for her. She smiled, the trinket being a gift from Mary Louise.

She stood up and gathered her wits, walking quietly towards the door and heading out into the hallway. For a cabin in the middle of the woods of Austria, it was still quite large, and she was grateful her adopted mother, Lillian, had thought to ensure they all had rooms to sleep in. Sharing was not really a good idea for this bunch.

She tiptoed down the hall, her long legs reaching out step by step. She was 16 years old now, and was slowly growing into a woman. She bit the inside of her cheek, embarrassed that just this same day, she had teased and then fought with Mary Lou and said she was practically an adult. Now, here she was, sneaking into the blonde's room to be comforted.

When Mare and the rest of Nora's new and loving family came to save her, the nightmares had begun right from the first night. When they settled near a small town in Ireland, they were all given rooms. That first night though, Nora woke up to half her family at her bedside, confused as to why they were hovering. Lillian quietly explained her screams while she slept, and quickly after, Mary Louise volunteered to stay with Nora to comfort her until they subsided.

And so, each night for those first few months while Nora had nightmares of her past chase her in her subconscious, Mary Louise would be right next to her, holding her tight and attempting to chase them away.

At the time, the older blonde used magic, but the feisty Nora fast opposed such a notion, displeased with special treatment. Nora was the youngest and wanted to prove herself to her new family. Finally, Mary Louise came up with the idea that she would never change Nora's nightmares, but she would simply insert herself into the dreams, protecting Nora or showing her that she was strong enough to defeat them on her own.

For years they bunked together, Nora's nightmares lessening and lessening with time. Here or there, one would arise, and Nora, much like she was this evening, would wake and catch herself and then walk to Mary Lou's room to find solace.

As stubborn as Mary Louise could be, Nora was even worse. She felt the need to be tough, to be strong, because she had yet to achieve the siphoner capabilities of her relatives.

For years, they had promised to show Nora, when the time was right and her age appropriate, how to summon her own magic like the rest of them. And so, every day as she grew, she tried to be stronger, grow tougher, and show she was worthy like the rest of them. Mare constantly told her she just needed to be patient, the time would come, and that's why Nora felt so embarrassed as she opened the blonde's door, closing it gently behind her.

They were in another training session earlier in the daytime, and Nora finally exploded, telling Mary Lou she was old enough and strong enough to handle what the rest of the family had. She stormed off, refusing to speak with the blonde who had been like a mother, sister, essentially everything to her, since she was saved. Now, she was humbly walking silently towards the older woman's bed, watching her sleep and wondering if she was mad at her for her outburst.

Nora stood in the dark, watching the blonde sleep. She realized she had been rude for no reason, and bit her cheek. She sighed, realizing this should be her punishment for how stubborn and obstinate she had been lately. She lingered a moment more, but then let her eyes fall. She sighed again and began to turn to take herself back to her room.

She would have seen the door, but Mary Lou used her superhuman speed to stand in front of her. Nora's breath caught, her face blushing at being found out. Mary Lou stood before her, boring into her eyes. Though she had grown, she was still a few inches shorter then the blonde.

"Is everything alright?" she asked gently, Nora glancing away.

She hated moments like this, feeling like such a child when she was trying to show how strong she was. She stood silently.

Mary Louise watched her and felt a small smile crawl onto her face. She adored Nora, she had ever since the moment she first saw her fighting those men years ago. Mary Lou brought her in for a gentle hug, the 16-year-old nearly as tall as her now but her head still fitting perfectly under her chin, the light from the necklace going out between the two of them, shrouding them in darkness.

"Did you have a nightmare?" Mary Lou asked, so quietly it could barely be heard.

Nora frowned into Mary Lou's chest, but nodded briefly in short. She hated showing her weakness to her incomparably strong family, and especially, to Mary Louise, whose opinion mattered more than any to her.

Mary Lou let her go, turning her towards her bed, Nora climbing in slowly. She felt Mare on the other side of the bed in the blink of the eye, climbing in as well. They settled under the covers, but Nora couldn't sleep. Her dreams haunted her, but not as much as her guilt from her outburst earlier in the day.

She turned to face away from Mary Louise, hoping it would settle her. It didn't take long for the older woman to wrap her arms around her, pulling her close.

"I've told you before we can hear your heartbeat my love…" she whispered.

Nora frowned again, frustrated at the super magical powers of her family, knowing Mary Lou could sense something was bothering her. She felt frustration, tears prickling at her eyes as she attempted to wipe them away.

Mary Louise knew better than to push Nora when she wasn't ready, and so she waited for the younger girl to speak. She knew it was hard for her, the family having kept their vampiric nature away from young Nora until the time was right to give her the choice to be turned. It wasn't too long before Mary Louise finally felt Nora relax, the brunette letting tension leave her as she snuggled back into her older counterpart's arms.

"I'm sorry for today," she whispered, causing Mary Lou to smile. She knew how frustrated Nora was, the younger girl feeling confident she was ready to gain "full siphoner power" as the family had coined it.

"It's okay darling, I understand."

"I just want access to magic as you all have… I know I'm young, but I'm strong too. You all know how strong I am."

Mary Lou pulled her flesh against her, trying to reassure her.

"I promise you, Nora, we recognize how strong you are. You are more than worthy, I swear to you. We just have to wait until you are a bit older."

Nora frowned again, resenting her youth in this moment.

"What does my age have to do with it? If I'm powerful and strong enough, my age should not make a difference."

"But it does. I just need you to trust me. We told you to wait until you were 18, and then everything would be explained,"

Nora frowned again. Growing into a teenager with hormones and an odd family on the move every few months, with crazy magic added in? It took its toll on a girl.

"I can hear your disapproval from here, darling."

Nora smiled, knowing Mary Lou's teasing tone all too well. Even though she was frustrated, there was one thing she knew for sure; she loved Mary Lou unconditionally, the woman being her protector and at her side ever since the night they met.

She loved Lily like a mother, Valerie, Beau and Malcolm like siblings, and even the ever odd and mischievous Julian for his father-like demeanor in her life. But Mary Louise was different. It was as if the blonde was her everything. She held a love for her she could still not put into words, an adoration and fondness she never wanted to end. She could live without the rest of her family if forced to, but deep down, she knew that losing Mary Lou was something she could not even dream of. She could not be without her.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you today… I didn't mean to," she whispered.

"I know. As combative as your stubborn side is, you know I wouldn't have you any other way."

Nora smiled wide for the first time this evening, wrapping Mary Lou's arms around her, feeling safe once again.

"Now, go to sleep darling. Everything is alright."

Nora felt her eyes get heavy, yawning and nodding in agreement. It wasn't long before she drifted off in the blonde's arms.

The next morning was a bright and sunny day, but Nora still felt off kilter. Even after she climbed into Mary Louise's bed, her nightmares returned. However, the terrors of her dreams were far different this time. She knew as she fell off that Mary Lou would be there for her, protecting her, but her dreams brought her back to the first night she met her family.

She remembered the details, the horrific details that she had long since forgotten. The smirk Mare wore as she cultivated the fear of men, the blood on her face and hands. She remembered the fear in her former coven leader's eyes as the blonde choked the life out of him. She remembered the blood, oh, the blood, just not on Mary Lou, but on all of her family members. Something was not right.

The blonde had tried to talk to her in the morning, but she felt off, and soon after breakfast and spell training, Nora requested she be left alone in her room for the day, feeling the need to be with herself.

Beau, Malcolm, Julian and Valerie had all headed into town and said their goodbyes as Mary Louise paced outside, the blonde glancing up at Nora's window every so often.

Lillian watched her second youngest daughter walk about in the grass, shaking her head with a smile. Nora was an oddity in the group, that was for certain, though Lillian also knew it was simply a matter of time before she was just like the rest of them.

Lily had found Malcolm, Valerie, Beau and then Mary Louise over travels, all of them siphoners in their twenties who had been neglected, abused and out casted by their covens for their abnormal state within the world of magic. Lillian felt a kinship with all of them, treating each one like her child, bestowing the gift of family to them, as she simultaneously turned them all and gave them the ultimate power in the world; immortality and the ability to use magic.

Soon after, she met Julian, and as the group traveled throughout Germany, France, and Spain, they made their way to England where news in the magical community of a mystical oddity had reached their ears. As soon as they heard the story of Nora and her coven, her family took action. Lillian would never let one of her siphoners be harmed.

So Nora was adopted into the fold, Mary Louise having found and saved her, bringing her back into the family. Lillian was happy, but knew that turning an 11-year-old would be a punishment. It would be smarter and safer to wait until Nora was in her twenties, in control of her magic, mature enough to handle bloodlust and also capable of choosing if an immortal life was what she really wanted. Lillian loved all her children, but she also let them each choose if the immortal life was for them. She would never make her children suffer more than they already had.

Lillian thought of all of this as she watched her middle daughter pace.

"My dear Mary Louise…" she thought to herself.

Lillian knew that all of her children considered her the matriarch and loved her as their mother, but she also knew since the first night they saved Nora that she and her blonde daughter had a bond unlike any other. As time went on, it only got stronger, Nora wanting nothing more than to spend time with Mary Louise, and Mary Louise the same.

Whenever they went into villages, Nora always took Mary Lou's hand, always feeling safe with her protector right nearby. Mary Lou would even let her wander and adventure, though Nora had no idea she was never out of earshot with the blonde's vampiric hearing.

The family had decided to keep the knowledge of other supernatural beings out of Nora's eyes until the time was right, vampires, werewolves, you name it, being the characters of fairytales and imaginations as far as the girl needed to be concerned.

Lillian was still surprised Nora had yet to figure it out, but she knew that for the brilliant girl, it was only a matter of time. And now, she watched her second oldest daughter pace outside, working herself into a basket of nerves. Lillian sighed.

Deep down, Lillian knew this would happen. She knew Mary Louise and Nora were going to be more than adopted sisters, more than family… she suspected all along since that first night. Nora and Mary Lou were meant to find one another. Mary Louise was in strict denial, however, refusing to admit her hubris was not only in the supernatural realm. And poor, young, Nora, still had no idea who she was growing into, oblivious to the fact that she was supposed to be wanting to spend all of her time with boys and not her Mary Lou.

Lillian finally gathered herself and made her way to the front of the cabin, heading outside to see her pacing daughter, arms crossed and making eye contact with her. Mary Lou turned but looked away quickly, waiting for her mother to approach before she spoke.

"She's being distant, she's never been like this before," the blonde began, continuously glancing at the cabin. Lillian just smiled at her antics.

"Is this what teenagers are like? I mean, by god, I'm a devilish fiend that rips out hearts, snaps necks and drinks blood, but I'm at least not this obstinate," she growled in frustration, glaring at Nora's window.

"My daughter, you must know that this is difficult for Nora. Hormones, her body changing, even her mind? It makes everything more difficult, and her past makes her fearful."

Mary Lou paused, her anger and impatience getting the better of her.

"What fear? We protect her everyday; I'm always here for her. What on earth could she possibly have to fear mother?" she said raising her voice, going back to her pacing.

"Abandonment."

The younger woman paused in her steps again, feeling the air fall out of her lungs. Lilly approached her and laid a hand on her shoulder, gently squeezing it.

"My darling, you must see things from Nora's young eyes," she began, looking up at the window herself.

"We were a family before we found and adopted her, even though we were all adopted as well. She knows she can't create her own magic, she knows she's younger than us, not as strong or fast, that she's different.

"The last time she was in a family that found her different? They tortured her. They abused her, neglected her, she was considered a freak."

Mary Lou took a deep breath and released, Lily's words hitting her in full force.

"And now, her body is going through changes, her emotions are heightened, her intelligence and consciousness is at a point where she can analyze her past with clarity… she's scared, my dear Mary Louise. She's scared, because the last thing this child could bear is being abandoned and harmed by the people who are supposed to love her, again."

Mary Louise didn't even realize she was crying until she felt the salty water reach her lips. She startled herself, wiping at her eyes as she gathered her wits. How foolish she had been to take Nora's actions so personally. She turned to Lillian, whose eyes only showed acceptance, and embraced her.

"My god, I am so grateful a wise woman like you adopted me," she said, chuckling into her mother's shoulder, Lillian chuckling as well.

"That's what mothers are for my darling. Everything will be okay, I promise you. This is just a difficult time for your beloved Nora."

Mare nodded into Lillian's shoulder, squeezing tight before letting go, wiping her eyes.

"I just love Nora so much, you know? I can't imagine my life without her now."

Lillian observed her daughter, smiling. She just wanted Mary Louise to be happy.

"I know. What you and Nora have is special Mary Louise… it's different than with the rest of us."

Mary Lou smiled, her mother's words always making her feel better. It shocked her that she could feel so human when she could at other times feel so monstrous.

"Well" Mary Lou said, clapping her hands together. "I'm going to read and relax inside, I've worked myself into a tizzy."

"Are you sure you don't want to join me in town?"

"No, no. I'll feel better being nearby, I just need to calm myself down. Reading always does the trick."

Lillian nodded as Mary Louise smiled, heading back towards the cabin.

"Thank you again."

Lillian nodded. Before Mary Lou could make it to the porch, Lillian spoke out.

"And Mary Lou?"

The blonde paused and turned, smiling.

"Yes?"

"No matter what happens, I will always be your mother. I will always love you."

Mary Lou looked at her questioningly, and it was as if Lillian was looking through her, sensing something she had not quite settled on within herself. Mary Lou's unease caused a forced smile to reach her face, and Lillian simply turned and went on her way to town. Lillian would never have a problem with her daughters choosing to love who they were meant to love, even if the world said otherwise. She only hoped that they would be able to reckon with who they really were.

The sun was setting in the summer sky, and darkness was falling overhead. Mary Louise had spent the entire day on the sofa in their recreation room reading and attempting to clear her mind. She heard her family before she saw them, but the lot of them entered near at once, Valerie pushing Beau and making a joke while Malcolm watched on in glee, Julian and Lillian wrapped around each other, laughing loudly.

She smiled at them, Malcolm pausing in his step as the others went upstairs, checking on his sister.

"How goes the book my sister?" he asked, making Mary Lou smile.

"It's decent, quite calming actually. Dare I ask how the village was after your day out?"

Malcolm smirked.

"Well, we are leaving at the end of next week, so we may have had too much fun today," he replied.

Valerie and Beau zoomed down the stairs, the girl laughing.

"My god Malcolm, quit sugar coating it. We had far too good a time Mary Lou, I wish you had joined us," Valerie said with a smirk, Mary Lou's devilish grin in place. She always enjoyed a bloody outing with her siblings, especially Valerie, who was just as mischievous as she was.

"Not to worry, I still have time to make these people never forget me," Mary Lou said, her sultry tone causing the group to laugh.

A slam from upstairs caused the group to grow silent, Lillian down the stairs and in front of them in the blink of an eye.

"Mary Lou, where is Nora?"

The blonde's brow furrowed, standing slowly.

"She's upstairs, I can feel her…" she said, quickly throwing her book on the cushion and running upstairs herself in the blink of an eye.

Nora's door was thrown up and she gasped, Nora nowhere to be found. Mary Louise was speechless, how had the young girl gotten by her?

"She used a spell, but how?" Malcolm said, now standing behind her. The rest had come up to the room searching around, Julian climbing through the window.

"She's nowhere on the property or in the nearby woods. She must have left some time ago."

"But how could this be?" Lillian asked, Mary Louise wracking her brain.

"The necklace," she whispered.

Her family turned to her, but Lillian made eye contact with Julian, signaling for him and the rest of leave.

"Come everyone, we will begin searching," he said, kissing Lillian on the cheek as he left.

Lillian just watched her daughter, concern growing on her face as Mary Louise teared up. She turned to her mother in pain.

"I…that necklace I gave her years ago…" she began, Lillian gently holding her arms, giving her reassurance.

"I put magic in it so she could access it," Mary Lou said, Lillian connecting all the dots, and not understanding why.

"But why, Mary Louise?"

"Her nightmares," she replied, taking a breath and wiping her eyes. "Every night she couldn't sleep, there was some magic in the necklace so that she could use it to illuminate and walk to my room, rather than fumble around for a gas lamp... she must have added more into it without me realizing."

Lillian's eyes widened, but she understood, knowing of Nora's nightmares and frequent stay overs in the Mary Lou's room over the years.

"I-I never thought, I told her to only use it for that purpose… dammit, she must have placed her essence in the room so I wouldn't even notice her go…"

"It's okay, Mary Louise, I understand why you did it. Even I didn't think Nora would be so upset to runaway, but it's okay. We will find her."

She took her daughter's hand and they rushed outside to find Valerie on the ground with a map.

"I just did the locator spell, but it looks like you lessons are paying off too well my dear sister. She also used a cloaking spell, which is why you probably didn't hear her leave the house."

Mary Louise felt dread in the pit of her stomach. Did Nora hate her that much that she wanted to be rid of them all?

"Valerie, I want you to find Julian and the lot of you are to spread out in all direction opposite town. Mary Louise and I will head towards the village and try to locate her."

Valerie nodded, glancing at her sister before taking off.

"Come my darling, we haven't time to waste," Lillian said gently, taking off towards the village.

Mare took a deep breath, her fists growing so tight she drew her own blood. She felt the murderous side of her come out, a rage she had not felt in years. She wasn't angry with Nora, of course not. She was feeling rage towards whoever would decide to harm the young and beautiful girl that she held so dear this night.

Nora felt proud of herself, sneaking out of the house, using both an essence and a cloaking spell to trick her dear Mary Lou as she escaped. She didn't want to hurt the woman she idolized, but having Mary Louise in the same house frustrated her. She didn't need her savior from years ago to hover so much; she was strong, smart and resourceful all on her own.

She made it to the village and walked around all day, knowing her cloaking spell worked wonders as she literally saw her family from afar and they didn't even notice her. She was happy to just explore the village, be around these people and know how strong she was. Screw her family for treating her like a child. This would show them she was more than worthy, age be damned.

Nora spent all day walking from shop to shop, observing all these normal people from afar. As night fell, she didn't have a care in the world, freely stepping into a tavern and having herself a meal and some wine, a beverage she was hardly allowed at home.

She felt at home sitting at the bar, venting to the bar maid about her family smothering her. She understood after four cups of wine why her family restricted her consumption, but she didn't care. She was on cloud nine, enjoying the night, enjoying the freedom, and feeling more powerful than ever.

After some time, she knew she should head back, feeling victorious as her family had probably been out searching for her and had yet to discover her. She paid her tab and left the bar, passing a table of men. She didn't take notice of their looks and grins as she went outside.

Nora breathed the fresh air and felt alive on her own and smiled big, until a frown reached her face. She had just made up with Mary Lou last night and had no desire to upset her. She had never seen the woman angry, only sad or disappointed, and of course, elated. But never had she seen the blonde lose her head and didn't want to cause such a reaction. She simply wanted her family to explain what they had been hiding. Ever since her dream the night before, she knew something was amiss.

Her family was keeping something from her, and she feared to think what it was. She wanted them to know she belonged, that she was more than strong enough, even smart enough to prove them wrong, and so she hoped when she made it back to the cabin, they would look at her with different eyes.

Nora turned down an alley, it's path leading towards the gate to the edge of town. It was quiet this evening, most people at the bar or tavern or the local theatre. She sighed as she walked.

"Ay, beautiful!"

She paused in her step, hearing the slurred words of a man echo from behind her. She sighed and rolled her eyes, annoyed that she would have to waste the magic in her necklace to knock them out. She turned around and saw three men walking towards her, all scruff and dirty.

"I think you should head back to the tavern gentlemen. You'll find nothing here," Nora said smugly, crossing her arms.

"Oooh!" some of the men said, making fun of the big guy who called out to her.

"Woah darling, I'm not trying to start anything! I just thought you'd like to spend some time with us," he replied, the lot getting closer.

Nora smiled as they neared and stood before her, her sass always on the tip of her tongue. She smiled cutely, tilting her head.

"I'd rather drown myself in donkey manure than spend another minute with any of you."

The man looked shocked, his face contorting in rage.

"You know what happens to filthy wenches like you, you with big mouths?" he replied, getting in her face.

"Oh, I do," she said, her hand reaching the necklace.

"Asamane," Nora whispered, her magic blowing the three back, knocking them out of breath.

"It's the same thing that happens to every group of men who think they can control a girl like me," she said, confidently approaching them, her other hand extended.

The men started screaming in pain, clutching their bodies as she made every nerve ending fire off in agony. Nora smiled.

"It's quite simple my dear gentlemen, nev-" DONK.

Nora fell to the ground, her magic ceasing, the world whirling before her. She felt sick, touched the back of her head, blood gushing out of it. She turned back and saw another man, seemingly drunk, holding a wooden plank in his hand. Someone had snuck up on her.

Nora grabbed her necklace once again, and grabbed at the man's neck. He quickly dropped the plank, clutching at his neck as Nora felt her rage bubble.

"What in the bloody hell?!" one whispered.

Nora's necklace glowed, and soon the man collapsed along with this throat, killing her attacker. Nora tried to lean up but felt sick, and she saw the three go to their companion.

"John? John!" one cried, trying to shake him awake.

They turned to her with murderous intent, but Nora reached her hand out once again, blowing them back.

Her breath was coming in gasps, the hit to the head really getting her, the wine not helping in the slightest. She was going to kill the every one of them, but as she reached out, she felt nothing. Her face contorted into one of confusion, making her look down at her necklace.

"Oh no," she thought, the light having dimmed, the small amount of magic in it having burnt out.

She looked back up in panic as the men gathered their wits. As one stood, he looked at her, wondering if another attack would happen, watching Nora try again and again, smiling as he realized it was to no avail.

"A whore and a witch at that. I'll show you what happens to little girls that are disobedient!"

The man jumped on top of Nora, crushing her into the cobblestone. She tried to push and hit him off, but he smacked her face, making her cry out.

"You women, you're only good for one thing, and never forget it," he said, the booze pouring out of his skin, making Nora want to gag.

"No, no!" she screamed, him hitting her again, the pain making tears fill her eyes.

"Shut it!"

"Mary Lou!" Nora cried out, and the man's eyes grew in further rage, his fist pulling back to silence her for good.

Nora closed her eyes as he felt him twist to hit her.

The blow did not come.

She opened her eyes to see his opened and confused ones looking at her, his fist raised but slowly falling. It was then she saw the figure looming behind him. He slowly fell over to his side, and Nora watched in awe as she saw Mary Lou's hand slide out from his body, holding his still beating heart. She looked above and saw a look in her eyes she never thought she would see; rage.

She squeezed his heart into a pulp, the men behind her beginning to scream as they saw her. Mary Louise turned towards them, her eyes and face contorting as hunger burned in her throat.

"Demon! Demon!" one shouted, Mare at his throat in the blink of an eye, sucking the life out of him.

Nora watched in horror as the woman she admired went to town, literally sucking his blood from him. She saw the other drunk stumble back, attempting to run. Nora watched as Mary Lou finished, dropping the limp man on the ground. She raised her hand up and turned towards Nora, walking back to the girl. Mary Lou simply turned her wrist, and Nora could hear the snap of the man's neck as he ran away, turning just in time to see him collapse.

Nora looked back up into Mary Lou's eyes, having not felt fear like this in so long. She noticed her eyes, her face, and the fangs that protruded from her blood soaked mouth.

"M-Mare?" she whimpered, still feeling dazed, and it was all Mary Louise needed to pull her out of the raging bloodlust that overtook her.

She was breathing heavily but finally smelled a scent she hated to smell, that of Nora's blood, because it meant her girl was hurt. Her eyes and face quickly reverted and she went to her knees next to the girl, looking her over before checking her head.

"Dammit Nora," she whispered, rolling up one of her sleeves and biting her wrist, causing Nora to look at her incredulously.

"Drink from my wrist."

"B-But, it's your blood, Mary Lou, wh-"

"I said drink Nora, I will explain later," Mary Lou said, her gaze still angry.

Nora was frightened, but gently grabbed her arm, not liking the idea of drinking blood but listening all the same. She slowly sucked, the coppery substance, the taste not something she enjoyed. She nearly pulled back but Mary Lou wrapped a hand around her neck, gently keeping her in place a second longer before she finally released her.

She breathed deeply, still feeling dizzy as Mary Lou went to lift her.

"No, no!" Nora cried out, feeling confused, scared, betrayed.

Mary Louise stopped, and was about to speak when she felt Lily's presence, her mother joining at her side. Lily knew if Mary Louise witnessed something like this, there was no telling what she would do; her wrath used to come out to play whenever, but these days, it was only when Nora was hurt or involved that the blonde felt an unparalleled anger. Lily knew she would burn the entire village down if she could. She rubbed her daughter's shoulder.

"She's safe, it's okay."

"This is not okay! You knew?" Nora shouted at the pair, both of them turning towards her on the ground, the vampire blood having worked it's magic and healing her fractured skull.

Nora was breathing heavily, tears streaking down her face. She was angry, she felt betrayed and after everything she just experienced, she felt scared. Lillian looked down at her sadly. She went to reach Nora, but the girl scurried back frantically.

"No! Don't you touch me! What are you!?"

Lillian's face hardened, withdrawing her extended hand. She knew this was not how she wanted to speak with Nora about the truth of their existence, but she also knew if she pushed too hard, things would not work out. Lillian looked Nora in the eyes.

"Nora… I understand this is shocking for you."

"You understand nothing! I knew, I knew you were all keeping something from me! How could you?!"

Lillian understood the pain she felt, looking down at the cobblestones beneath them. She stood, looking at Nora sadly.

"I'm you mother Nora. I always will be, and this will always be your family. We were going to explain everything to you, but your mishap led us to this unfortunate circumstance," Lillian said sternly, Nora feeling slightly guilty for her actions earlier.

Lillian turned to Mary Louise.

"I'll gather everyone, clean up this mess, go through the town for witnesses, and handle the rest. Please take Nora home."

And with that, she was gone, bodies still on the street, the night dead silence except for the sound of Nora's breathing. Mary Louise turned to face Nora, her eyes hard and clearly hurting, but not filled with the rage Nora had witnessed previously.

"If you'll let me carry you, I can get us home that much quicker."

"Like hell I'll just go with you," Nora said, standing and leaning against the wall behind her.

"How dare you, thinking you can just drag me wherever. What the hell was that Mary Lou? What are you, what are all of you? What have you been keeping from me?" Nora yelled, Mary Lou's jaw clenching.

"Nora… I will explain everything if you would please let me take you home."

"I want to stay here."

"They have to clean up the village to cover our tracks."

"I'm not going with you," Nora said, tears at her eyes, her paranoia of abandonment, her fear of betrayal, all rising to make her feel worse.

Mary Louise wracked her brain, trying to think of how to comfort Nora. She looked around at the ground, scanning over the bodies, the damage, trying to think of something when she saw Nora's necklace, the necklace she had given her, lying on the ground. Mare used magic to slowly levitate the necklace towards her, trying to keep Nora calm, Nora watching her every move.

"I'll explain what we are, what we all are, when we go home," she said, encompassing the necklace in her hands, it glowing within them.

"I'm putting enough magic in this so you could kill me and still have plenty left to spare," she said, glancing up at Nora as she did so.

"There's a plank of wood behind me," she said, using her magic to levitate it to Nora, it breaking apart as it drifted until a long stake hovered before her, which Nora took slowly.

The glowing stopped and Mary Louise sent the necklace to Nora as well, the younger girl taking it, looking at the woman who was her everything, seeing her sad and weary face.

"I'll explain everything, but what you first need to know is that all you need to do in order to kill me is to drive that through my heart," Mare said, looking Nora dead in the eyes, the girl gasping.

"If you don't trust me that much, then you have the power of magic and the tool to kill me. Now, please, may we go home so I can explain? It's too risky out here."

Nora held each item in her hand, observing Mary Lou. She trusted this woman with her life, and while Nora was frazzled and angry, she knew the blonde better than anybody. All she could see in her gaze was sadness, defeat. Nora was angry, yes, but she knew just what she had known the first day they met; Mary Louise would never harm her.

Nora looked at the wooden stake and let it drop, making Mary Lou look at her curiously, Nora already clasping the necklace back in place. She looked at Mary Louise, still showing her anger.

"Let's go," she said, slowly walking to Mary Lou, awkwardly pausing before wrapping her arms over her shoulders, signaling to the woman she could go at top speed to get them back. The blonde caught on quickly, and within minutes they were miles outside the village back in the woods and in the clearing that was their home.

Mary Louise stopped abruptly, gently placing Nora down and giving her room, trying to keep the situation calm. Nora was now the one pacing in the front yard, trying to wrap her mind around everything.

"The nightmare I had last night… it was a flashback, to the night we first met," Nora said, fiddling with her hands as she walked back and forth, her blonde counterpart folding her arms and watching her.

"And when I woke up, I remembered that you didn't just save me that night. I remembered…" Nora stopped suddenly, looking up at her.

"I remembered all of the blood…" she said, Mare clenching her jaw.

"You, all of you, were covered in it," she whispered, trying to understand.

She resumed her pacing, Mary Louise waiting patiently as she gathered her thoughts.

"Your eyes, your fangs… you drained a man of blood, I saw it. What the hell are you Mary Louise?"

"A vampire."

Nora froze, turning back to look at her shocked.

"A vampire? As in blood sucking, undead, according to you all, fictional, vampires?"

"Yes, well, almost," she replied, looking away.

Nora walked right up to her, pointing at her and poking her chest.

"Explain," she said, her eyes furious.

Mary Lou looked into them, and while she wouldn't dare smile at Nora now, knowing it would further enrage her, she smiled internally at her stubborn girl, always ready to fight even when faced with terrible monsters.

"You know everyone's story, Valerie, Malcolm, Beau and myself being banished from our covens for our siphon nature."

"Yes?"

"Lilly and Julian… they are vampires, they were vampires when they found us."

"You all walk in the daylight-"

"We have rings with infused magic that protect us from the sun."

Nora looked down at her counterpart's hand, taking in the ring she often played with when she was younger and Mary Lou entertained her.

"We could use constant magic but it's easier to just have an object. If I lose it, I could still use my magic to protect me. Julian and Lillian need the rings though."

"Why?"

"Because they were not siphoners when they were turned, simply humans. After Lillian adopted us, we decided we wanted to turn too. Witches, who are not an abomination like us, cannot use magic if they are turned into vampires. They are shunned from nature," Mary Lou said, looking up at the stars.

"Siphoners, well, we don't have our own magic, we simply have the ability to channel it from supernatural beings, objects, places, etc. And so, we are the loophole. As vampires, we still have our siphoning capabilities and can use our immortal, supernatural form as an infinite source of magic, making us a hybrid of both witch and vampire."

Nora watched Mary Lou, whose eyes fell back to look into hers.

"And thus, we are more powerful than either witches or vampires or werewolves-"

"Wait, there are werewolves too?" Nora asked, beginning to pace again, completely blown away.

"Yes, but we've never encountered one. However, we know that a werewolf bite is toxic to vampires, but because the bite is a form of magic, we can siphon it and ensure the bite does not kill us."

Nora froze and looked back at Mary Louise, more relaxed but still confused, still feeling betrayed.

"Why would you all keep this from me?" she whispered, not allowing herself to cry.

Mary Louise's face fell with her arms, walking slowly to Nora, taking her hands gently.

"We have always intended to tell you, but we wanted to wait until you were 18 and could make a decision for yourself, to see if you wanted to remain a siphoner or take part in this immortal life with the rest of us," she said, smiling gently, searching Nora's eyes.

"Lillian would never force this on anybody, we all willingly became vampires. We just wanted you to enjoy your life with us before having to deal with all of this… having to deal with what we really are…"

Mare drifted off, looking at the ground. She had always been fearful of the day Nora would be told the truth, fearful she would reject her, reject all of them. Nora watched as Mary Lou's face hardened, seeing the sadness fill her eyes again. The blonde felt her heart tearing when the younger girl tore her hands away, but quickly felt shock when those same arms threw themselves around her, pulling her in close. Nora squeezed her tightly, Mary Lou encircling her waste and pulling her flesh against her.

"I'm so sorry we kept this from you, my love. It was never to hurt you, only to give you some semblance of the life you deserve, some normalcy before things changed."

"You should have known, I would want to become a vampire with all of you. It's not even a question."

Mary Louise smiled, but lightly pulled Nora from her, the pair meeting eyes.

"None of us were turned until our twenties, outside of Julian and Lillian who were turned in their thirties. You will also have to wait until your twenties, it's the best age and it still gives you some time to enjoy your youth."

Nora rolled her eyes, pulling away.

"Fine. At 20, I'm changing."

"25," Mary Louise replied with a smirk, making Nora huff.

"You said twenties, 20 is twenties."

"25, Nora."

"We'll compromise. 22."

"23."

Nora threw her arms out exasperated.

"22 is half."

"Technically 22.5…"

"Which has 22 in it."

"Which rounded up, is 23, my darling," Mary Louise said smiling, Nora crossing her arms and looking elsewhere, annoyed she would have to wait so long to come into her full power.

"This is ridiculous," she said, making Mary Lou drag her closer, pulling her in again and holding her tightly, despite her protests.

"Just be patient, my dear Nora. We're not going anywhere, and as long as you wish to remain with us, neither are you," she whispered in her ear, Nora shivering at the feeling.

Nora continued to pout and refused to look.

"Fine, but I'm not happy about it."

"Well, I wasn't happy about you getting drunk at a tavern and getting into a street brawl, but it looks like we will both have to compromise and adapt."

Nora blushed, having completely forgotten the terror that happened earlier this evening.

"Here I was trying to prove how strong I could be, all for nothing…"

Mary Louise just tugged her closer, Nora finally relenting and going back to hugging her again.

"You are incredibly strong and resourceful, and believe me, when you become a vampire, you'll be formidable. It's not a matter of you, darling, it's simply a matter of time."

Nora took a deep breath and nodded, squeezing the blonde, letting time fade away.

"Thank you, for saving me," she eventually whispered, making Mary Louise smile.

"I'll always be there for you, but for god's sake, please be more careful. If anything had happened to you tonight, I would have…"

Mary Louise couldn't finish her sentence, her mind flashing back to earlier, her rage palpable. If she only had more time, she would have shown each of those men what a true monster looked like, but it seemed she wouldn't get the chance.

"I'm exhausted… can we just go lay down?" Nora asked.

Mary Louise pulled back, brushing hair out of the girl's face. She smiled.

"Of course," she replied, taking Nora's hand and walking back towards the cabin.

Nora smiled, her mind still reeling and her feelings still all over the place, but at least relieved that her family loved and trusted her. She touched her necklace as she walked, glancing at Mary Lou with a smile. They reached the front door, and Mare opened it for her, chuckling.

"What's so funny?"

"Ohh, I'm just imagining how the family is going to punish you after this little escape routine," she replied, Nora turning and gulping.

"What do you mean?"

Mary Lou chuckled, kissing Nora on the cheek before ushering her to bed.

"You stressed and worried your entire family of vampire and vampire/witch hybrids. I can only imagine the pranks the lot will pull on you, especially now that they know you know," she said with a smirk, that smirk of confidence Nora loved to see.

The younger girl groaned as she flopped on her bed, Mare jumping over to join the girl, laughing all the while.