(Michael's POV)

After what Adam had told him, one too many things clicked into place. He would have never thought the hybrid would have been capable of murder, but that fact that Mike and Brendon would no longer walk into the mansion only confirmed what had been an unlikely reality.

Michael knew there had to be a way to talk her out of whatever she was planning to do to the rest of them, but whatever he was going to do he needed to figure it out quick, before she killed someone else, which, thinking back, probably meant he was next.

"William?" Michael asked, standing in the doorway of the former's office, who was pacing, phone pressed to his ear.

Upon hearing his name, he hung up and set the phone down on his desk, inviting the blonde in.

"What is it, Michael? About the phone call, they had me on hold anyways, it wasn't important."

He nodded, shifting on his feet, "Look, I know this is going to sound really odd…but, it's about Adeline. With your permission, I'd like to talk to her." He started, pulling out the chair that was in front of William's desk.

The elder Dandie motioned for him to sit, "And why would you need my permission, Michael?" he asked, rising an eyebrow.

"It's a little unconventional, but we both know Adeline's the most comfortable with you, you're the one she trusts the most. I'd like to talk to her about the ghosts she's been seeing and why she went after Mike and Brendon, but I'm afraid if I talk to her while I'm me, she'll just shut me out and turn me away."

"Whereas if you were me," William said, before Michael continued.

"She wouldn't turn away; you're the one person she can't bring herself to hurt. I'm asking you to allow me to use my abilities to assume your form for the night, like we did when we captured the vampire-human hybrid and I joined their group for a while," Michael explained.

William only looked at him, but said nothing, as though he was contemplating the plan.

"It sounds like it would run smooth enough, but what if she figures out that you're not me?"

"Well, I figured I'd just leave before she could hurt me, or you could come in and calm her down, convince her it was another hallucination of hers, now that she's refusing to drink the sleepytime tea and she's been so paranoid as of late," he suggested.

"Hm." William almost shrugged; somehow this actually sounded like a good idea, and then nodded, "Very well. I'll remain in here, if you think she's noticing your little game, resort to telepathy and I'll step in. I should warn you, her moods – she's liable to change on a dime. And the door's locked, you're going to have to break the seal she's put on it."

"Seal?"

"Seems her paranoia has driven her to research old wiccan techniques, trying to keeping the ghosts from visiting her. But you're a curse breaker, it should be no problem."

Michael nodded, "So…it's okay? This whole plan of mine?"

"It is. Go now, before she wakes and wanders the halls like she's been doing." William urged, and with a sigh, Michael walked out of his office.

Closing his eyes and clearing his mind, he thought of William, intent on making the plan work. Walking down the hall towards the room William and Adeline shared, he smiled a bit at the small amount of energy radiating from the door.

Reaching for the doorknob, he whispered, "Alohomara."

Turning it with ease, he slipped into the dark room, surprised to find Adeline somewhat awake.

She turned from her side to face the doorway, blinking slowly, yawning.

"W-William? Baby, it's la-"

Michael inwardly breathed a sigh of relief – the transformation had worked. Walking further into the room and heading to the side of the bed opposite hers, he smiled, reached out a hand to lightly ruffle her hair before slipping out of his clothes, noticing the light whistle of approval that had left the hybrid as he pulled on sweatpants.

"I know. Just finished up some last minute work, that's all. Sorry if I woke you."

She smiled, rolling her eyes.

"I wasn't really asleep…you know I wait for you, always." She lifted a hand to set it against his cheek, and Michael almost flinched at how gentle she was.

"And you know what?" she whispered, her other hand patting the bed beside her, motioning for him to lie down.

He did, not surprised when she turned to curl into him, laughing softly at something.

"Hm?" he asked, brushing a patch of stubborn curls out of her face as he leaned in to kiss her forehead.

"There were no ghosts tonight." She admitted, almost with child-like amazement. He smiled, his arms wrapping around her, "And why was that?"

She grinned, "I think it's because they know I've killed Mike and Brendon. They're happy with me. If I do what they want, they can't torment me and tell me I'm a bad girl."

"Why would they call you a bad girl, darling?"

She froze.

"I..If I say I'm not going to do something. Like, I tried to say I wasn't going to kill Michael, I'd leave him alone, but they –" she fell quiet.

"C'mon, you can tell me," he pressed, one hand going under her chin, making her look at him. To his surprise, she blinked and kissed him, hard enough to where he was beginning to understand just why William was always trying to stay in his office – he didn't want to get caught up in her.

"When they're angry…baby, I'm miserable…they tell me all sorts of things, like how bad I am and nobody'll love me, and you're going- one day you're going to to turn around and leave me or hurt me and…"

Michael was stunned, at how much her thinking had been compromised by these 'ghosts'.

"I'd never…ever. You know that." He assured, but she only shook her head.

"Yesterday. My arm…you bit me. I broke down in front of you, and you just-"

"Love, maybe if you had some time alone you'd feel better. Without me around." He started.

"NO! No! Baby, I- the valerian…you went hunting for a night and I tried to kill myself…you can't leave me. You can't!" she protested shakily, bottom lip trembling as though she was on the edge of tears.

"Then I will not."

"But- I mean, if we were to go see A- you know, I think you're right, maybe I do need so time alone." She agreed, suddenly calm.

Michael knew she was talking about going to see the friend that had startled Adam so badly. Having known what he wanted to know, he smiled, leaning in to kiss her, figuring he'd lay with her until she slipped back asleep and then sneak out of the room.

Adeline closed her eyes as William kissed her, but this – something wasn't right, he was gentle – too gentle compared to what she was used to from him. And then, somehow – her lycan side picked up a different smell, slightly different than William's usual scent. Her hand reaching over until it rested on his chest, and then, over his heart, she dug her nails in, wanting to draw blood, knowing this wasn't her William.

Michael felt her nails the minute she played the frightened cat card, and immediately sent a telepathic warning to William before he broke the kiss and got up, slipping into the shadows as the girl began to cry out in confusion and fear, only to have the real William come in seconds later, allowing Michael to slip out of the room.