There was only so much a girl could take, Nova had learned. She was trying to get through a particularly difficult section on Bach's Partita Number Two, but could barely concentrate over the sound of whatever rock song Cadmus was playing in his room. Taking a deep breath, she placed her violin back into its case and stormed over to her cousin's room. Not bothering to knock, she swung the door open with a fierce scowl. "Some of us are trying to be productive, here."

Spinning around in his desk chair, Cadmus raised an eyebrow. "First of all, we clearly need to set some boundaries. I could have been in a considerable state of undress. Second, I'm trying to do homework. I couldn't focus with the funeral music."

Gritting her teeth, Nova sighed. "Fine, I'm going for a walk."

That didn't seem to make Cadmus feel better, which was odd considering she would have thought he wanted to be rid of her at the first opportunity. "Where?"

Shrugging, Nova bit on her lip. "The hospital? I can bring Veronica supper, she forgot hers this morning."

Her cousin looked torn, running a hand through his naturally messy hair. "You sure you don't want a drive?"

Unable to hide a smile, Nova shook her head. "It'll be good for me, I need to clear my head anyway."

"I'll pick you up though," he didn't seem like he was going to budge, so Nova nodded in agreement.

"Works for me, I'm not a fan of the dark anyway."

She was expecting him to tease her a little for the childish admission, but Cadmus just smiled a little, his eyes dark with an emotion Nova couldn't really pull apart. "Neither am I. Too many things come out at night."

Nova wasn't really sure what that was supposed to mean a little startle by the dark intensity in his eyes, mixed with an emotion she couldn't quite explain, but she took his word for it and saluted him as she backed out of his room. "I'll text you when I'm done, alright?"

"And when you get there!" Cadmus called after her, seeming stressed enough about it that she agreed. It wasn't even dark yet, and he was already acting like an overbearing parent. She dimly wondered what he would think about her doing something as daunting as going on a date.

Like that would ever happen.

Still, he seemed so earnest in wanting to make sure that she was safe that she agreed, grabbing the container of lasagna she'd made up for her aunt the previous night, her phone and and her little bag full of necessities before exiting the house, breathing in the crisp evening air with a welcome abandon.

She'd been telling the truth when she'd told Cadmus that she needed to think, but not because she was irritated by the sound of Thousand Foot Crutch screaming in the room opposite of hers. She needed to get rid of the darkness she felt creeping under her skin, to supress the well of emotion and negaitivy that threatened to overtake her.

Nova wanted to block out the mocking voices in her head that told her that she was well and truly alone.

She'd almost been able to ignore them, actually. It had been easy to forget how ostracized she was when Cadmus had been by her side the entire day, dragging her to his practice and arranging for his friends to sit with her during the tryouts. He'd walked her to and from all her classes, even sitting with her during lunch instead of his own friends, wanting to ask all about her classes and see how she was fitting in. He'd seemed so hopeful as he stared at her, and her heart melted a little.

How was she supposed to tell him that she was miserable when he looked at her like that? How did she explain the looks on every face in the music class when the teacher announced that she had transferred from such a famous institution like LaGuardia? How in a single moment, they had decided that she wasn't worth their time, that she was some sort of priss who thought she was better than every one of them because of her former school? It didn't get easier when their teacher announced all the instruments she could play, asking her to demonstrate for everyone. They had all stared at her with contempt, hating that she had the gall to be dedicated to the class.

How did she tell him that she sat at the back of every classroom and hoped that the teacher would forget that she was there? Or the pressure she felt in her chest when she saw a trio of girls walking down the halls, looking so close and carefree that it made her want to reach out and find the familiar warmth of Grace or Livvy? How did Nova explain the crushing loneliness she felt?

She couldn't.

Instead, she elaborated on the little truths, making the slight positives seem astronomical. Like how the music teacher had asked if she wanted to join senior band as an extracurricular when freshmen weren't even invited into the sophmore band, or the way that the guidance counsellor had praised her transcript. She couldn't tell him that LaGuardia accepted nothing short of perfection, and that if she couldn't achieve that standard she would never fulfill her mother's dreams for her.

Nova didn't tell him about how everytime she touched her cello or violin, she expected to hear her father's voice, telling her how much she looked like her mother, or the pressure that appeared in her chest when she was painfully reminded that she would never hear that again.

She hadn't really been old enough to understand the concept of death when her mother had died. Only seven years old, she didn't know what a mugging was or why it meant that her mother wasn't coming home. All she knew was that she wasn't allowed to wear her pretty pink dresses for a long time after her dad told her that mommy wasn't coming back. All Nova wore for a month after that, was black.

Nova didn't have that youthful innocence anymore. She knew what a drive by shooting was, she knew that her father was dead. She knew that she had lost every connection to family she had. By the time she was even allowed her house, the smell of him, toasted marshmallows and pine, would be gone forever.

But she couldn't say any of that to Cadmus.

Once, her father had told her that she didn't have the potential to be cruel, that it wasn't in her nature. He said that Nova was a gentle soul, a white dove surrounded by thousands of crows. Now, all Nova could see in herself was a robin who had been left behind by the flock during the migration season.

Alone.

The walk to the hospital was a little longer than she had anticipated, but the burn in her legs was well recieved by her, liking how it grounded her to the goal she had set out for herself. Stopping by the front desk, she chewed on her bottom lip as the receptionist turned to her with a smile.

"Sorry to bother you," she said immediately. "I just wanted to know if anyone knew where Veronica Morales is? I'm her niece, just trying to bring her dinner... she forgot it."

The man grinned at her, noting the small box she was holding. "Ronnie's lucky that you remembered. She has an all nighter tonight."

Nova nodded a little bashfully. "I know... it's why I prepped it for her last night."

Gasping in mock horror, the receptionist checked a few papers before glancing up at her. "You cooked her a nice meal and then you had to bring it to her? Tell Cady I'm disappointed in him. What did you make?"

Glancing at the box that contained a container in hopes that it would insulate the meal, Nova smiled. "Lasagna, not super fancy."

The receptionist—Laurens, his nametag told her—laughed boisterously. "If that isn't fancy, I definitely want to know what you make on nights you're aiming to impress. I have to bring processed ham sandwiches for meals."

Frowning, Nova shrugged. "Get Veronica to tell me when your shifts overlap next, I'll pack you something." Laurens looked like he was about to argue, but she shook her head. "Do you know how unhealthy that is? I'd rather make you a warm meal once in a while than know you made yourself sick."

He smiled at her curiously, tilting his head. "Well, I'm certainly not going to argue with that logic. You ever thought of becoming a nurse?"

Nova felt her cheeks blush immediately, realizing how pushy she'd sounded. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean—"

Laurens laughed again, waving dismissively. "It's sweet, that you care about someone you met a whole three minues ago. I'll take you up on the offer, actually. Veronica's on the third floor, she should be in the break room. If you have any troubles, one of the nurses can help you up."

Smiling a little bashfully, Nova thanked him for the information and made her way to the elevator, humming a little to fill the silence. She didn't actually need help finding the break room, knocking hesitantly before poking her head in. "Aunt Veronica?"

The woman in question was examining a book at the long table in the center of the room, snapping it shut the moment she heard Nova's voice. Her eyebrows creased in confusion before she noticed the box in her niece's hands. "Oh, sweetie you didn't need to come all this way!"

Frowning a little, Nova took that as an invitation to enter and set the box down in front of the woman. Opening it to reveal the actual container holding the food, she smiled at the realization that it had actually worked to keep the lasagna warm. "You need to eat, you know. You're a nurse, you should know the reprecussions on the human body. I swear, you're just like—"

She cut herself off harshly, a lump forming in her throat that she couldn't quite swallow down as the rest of her sentence hung in the air. Like Dad, she'd been about to tell her aunt.

Veronica knew it too, and her face spasmed with such pain that it was hard to look at her. "I'm sorry," she said softly, making Nova wonder if she was talking about the lasagna or her dad. Whichever one it was, Nova couldn't quite face the topic yet. Instead, she gestured to the fork lying in the box with a small forced smile.

"Just eat, will you?" she tried to chuckle, but it was so weak what she cringed.

Veronica nodded, apparently too afraid to insult her to argue about it any longer. "You aren't walking back home, are you? It's getting pretty dark out."

Nova shook her head, the smile turning a little more real. "Cadmus said he'll drive me back, I'm not a huge fan of the dark to be honest." She was careful not to say that Cadmus was driving her home, and if Veronica picked up on it, she didn't mention it. Home for Nova wasn't Beacon Hills, it was 1235 Woodrow Road, with the pool she and her friends enjoyed practically every summer afternoon, with the swings she'd played on since she was a kid. Her dad had always needed to replace the swingset every few years to adjust to her growth, but he'd never complained.

Her house had been obnoxiously large, according to a lot of people she knew. Five bedrooms for a two—previously three—person family. Nova had never thought so, though. One of the rooms had been changed into a library, another into her father's personal study. There was always a spare room for guests, so the house had never seemed too big to her, even when her mother had died.

But the nice three bedroom house in Beacon Hills with the small garden and cramped kitchen wasn't her home. She wasn't trying to be ungrateful, really... she was thankful that her aunt had taken her in when she had no real need to do so, but she wasn't sure that she'd ever see their home as her own.

Her aunt made a noise that could probably have been described as obscene if not for the fact that she wasn't doing anything but eating. "Oh my god, I take it all back. Thank you for having walked here, this is so good."

A small smile flitted across Nova's face, a warmth bubbling in her stomach. "Really?"

Veronica nodded quickly. "If you want to cook like you insisted on doing last night from now on, I will never stop you. My homemade meals are mostly frozen pizzas and macaroni and cheese."

Laughing softly, Nova shrugged. "Must be a family thing," she teased, forcing down the lump in her throat as it threatened to rise again. "Dad's cooking was terrible. I had to learn how so I could survive."

Veronica's expression turned fond. "Once when we were teenagers, your dad tried making me a birthday cake. I had just turned fourteen and our parents didn't think it was a big thing to celebrate, but Benji was so insistent on making it special. He tried so hard that I ate the entire thing... it was practically rock solid, and the icing was so wet, but he was so happy that I liked it."

Nova's breath hitched at the image her mind created, her father at seventeen desperately trying to make sure his little sister's birthday went well... it was hard to believe that, considering how much they seemed to hate each other while Nova was alive.

Veronica seemed to think she'd upset the girl, apologizing quickly, but Nova shook her head. "Thank you," she said quickly. "I... I don't really know a lot about him as a kid... it's nice to have, you know? Little things, memories."

Her aunt nodded again, her smile a little sad now. "The house, it was the one we grew up in... there might be some of his things in the attic, if you'd like to look later."

Nova didn't really know how to respond. There were no words that could properly describe what that meant to her, really. She hadn't brought a lot of things of her parent's with her when she moved, her mom's violin and cello she'd been playing since she could walk, her dad's law textbooks, and a few articles of clothes each, but aside from that... there wasn't much to remember them by that was tangible.

Veronica didn't need words though, still nodding. "This weekend, then," she decided. "If you have the time, we'll fo to the attic, okay? Now, go text Cadmus. You should get some rest in before school tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow," Nova said quietly, not really sure how to end the conversation once her aunt echoed the sentiment. Hesitating only a second, she exited the break room and walked down the hall, pulling her phone out as she went and sending her cousin a quick text telling her she was ready to go. She should have been paying better attention, and if a hand hadn't grabbed her she would have walked right into a wall.

Wheeling her arms for balance, Nova was totally prepared to either fight or thank her saviour but relaxed immediately when she saw the smiling face of Scott McCall looking down at her. "You okay?"

Nodding quickly, Nova slipped out of his grasp. "Yeah, I'm okay," she confirmed. "Sorry about that."

Scott waved her apology off, still smiling at her. "Just glad I caught you. We might be in a hospital, but I'd rather you not get hurt. You visiting your aunt? She works with my mom."

Nova grinned, putting that information away for later. "Yeah, she forgot her supper. You?"

Scott shook his head, his smile dimming slightly. "No, I brought Liam here after tryouts."

Right, the accident. "You stayed?" she asked, a bigger thought occuring to her. "That must have been, what, three or four hours?" Scott blushed, and her grin widened. "You're a good guy, Scott, I'm happy Cadmus has a friend like you."

His blush deepened as he tried to wave the compliment off, but his phone rang and he excused himself quickly.

Nova hovered for a moment, practically jumping out of her skin when someone cleared their throat next to her. "Are you a friend of Liam's?"

Glancing over, she saw a kind looking doctor smiling at her with a curious expression on his face. Realizing that she must have been right outside Liam's door, she rubbed the back of her neck. "Um, we don't really know each other well, but he's on the team with my cousin, and uh, I was visiting my aunt... is he okay?"

The doctor's smile softened a little as she stammered over her words. "He's waiting for an xray, but I'm confident he'll be fine. Would you like to keep him company?"

Oh jeez, Nova was caught between blushing and running for the hills, and the slightly hopeful glance on the man's face. "Sure," she found herself saying before she could think it through. "I'm waiting for my cousin to pick me up, so if I'm allowed...?"

"Of course,' the doctor assured her, knocking on the open door of the room they were standing outside. "Liam, you up for a quick visitor?"

"Um, sure?" Liam sounded so confused it almost made Nova laugh. "Thanks, Dad."

The doctor nodded to Nova before heading down the hall, leaving her to brace herself and slowly enter the room. She clearly wasn't what Liam had been expecting, but he smiled a little when he saw how nervous she must have seemed. "Nova, right? You're in a few of my classes."

Was she? Nova had been so focused on staying inconspicuous that she hadn't really paid attention to her classmates. "Yeah," she confirmed, walking a little closer when Liam indicated for her to stop hovering in the doorway. "I was at the tryouts, and since I was here anyway, I thought I'd check in on you. If that's okay?"

Her voice had risen to a squeak, and Liam openly laughed. "Yeah," he confirmed. "It's totally okay... I appreciate it actually." His head tilted slightly before his eyes widened in further recognition. "You're Cadmus' cousin, aren't you? I don't think he likes me very much."

Laughing a little, Nova sat down in the chair by the bed. "To be fair, Cadmus is almost as awkward as I am, and he's a little protective of his friends."

Liam nodded, his lips twitching up a little again. "I don't think you're too awkward," he assured her, making Nova blush and raise an eyebrow.

"I almost combusted trying to have a coherent conversation with your... doctor?"

"Dad," Liam corrected. "Well, stepdad, but he's more of a father than my sperm donor ever was."

Nodding, Nova didn't poke at the subject. "He seems really nice," she said instead.

Liam smiled freely then, looking fond as he nodded. "He's the best," he agreed. "What about you? Your parents, I mean."

Biting her lip, Nova smiled tightly. "They were amazing."

Liam's eyes widened, clearly noticing the were part of that statement. "Oh," he whispered. "I'm so sorry."

"Don't be," Nova assured him. "I lost my mom when I was little, and my dad... nineteen days ago. I moved here from New York to live with my aunt and Cadmus."

Liam didn't seem to know how to handle that comment, but Nova brushed right by it, reaching into her little essentials bag and pulling out an Aero bar. "Please tell me you aren't a heathen who thinks these are pointless."

The boy's lips twitched in amusement again. "Anyone who didn't just let those melt in their mouth to feel the bubbles isn't even human."

"Exactly!" Nova agreed, moving to sit beside him on the hospital bed and breaking the chocolate bar in half before opening it, handing one part to Liam before breaking off a square and quickly popping it into her mouth. Liam seemed surprised by the offer, but readily accepted it, grinning a little as he noticed she didn't chew on the chocolate.

They sat like that for a few minutes like that, eating their chocolate in a companionable silence. A shrill scream broke that tranquility, and they both exchanged slightly panicked glances.

"Stay here," Nova said softly, moving to stand, but Liam grabbed her wrist.

"No way, help me up."

She hadn't really wanted to investigate on her own anyway, so she readily offered Liam her hand and timidly slipped a hand around his waist while he slipped his arm around her shoulder, both of them slowly moving toward the hallway.

Liam looked around, raising his voice to call out: "Hey! Anyone hear that?"

Nova was about to suggest that they go back into the room when something moved in the corner of her vision. Looking to her right, she wasn't able to stop the scream from passing through her lips at the sight she was met with.

A boy, no a beast, was staring at the two of them and she felt Liam gasp as he followed her gaze to see what had panicked her so badly. The figure had glowing white eyes and a mouth full of razor sharp teeth. It's jaw was covered in blood, and its shirt wasn't doing much better.

It snarled, and Nova felt Liam's grip on her waist tighten as it advanced on them. "Run," he advised, but Nova couldn't have moved if she wanted to, the creature leaping forward and sinking it's needle-like nails into her arm. It tore Liam and her apart, keeping a firm grip on each of them.

"Walk," it ordered, dragging them forward toward a flight of stairs. Nova's legs were wobbling in terror with every step, but she kept going, too afraid of the alternative to argue. Liam's breathing was laboured, and she wanted to beg the thing to let him go, but if she drew attention to his injury, she was worried the monster would use those teeth against the boy.

They trudged up the stairs until they made it to the roof. The cold air bit at Nova's skin, making her shudder a little as it dragged them closer and closer to the edge of the roof.

She was going to die.

The thought was so prominent in her mind that it was all she could think about, even as the door slammed back open to reveal... Scott.

But it wasn't Scott, not quite. It wore Scott's jacket, had Scott's hair, but it had glowing red eyes.

The monster jerked the two teenagers even closer to the edge with a snarl. "Get back!"

Scott's voice answered him, making Nova realize with a jolt that it actually was the kind boy her cousin had a crush on.
Don't! You don't need to do this. Whatever it is—whatever you are—we can help you."

The monster shook his head."No, you can't!"

Scott edged forward. "Let me help you."

Their captor scarled a little. "Wendigos don't need help-- we need food!"

It's grip on Nova tightened heavily before snapping out with a strength that alarmed her. She barely even realized what the movement of the arm meant until it let go, sending her freefalling through the air.

Nova didn't feel the panic one would expect to experience after being thrown off a building, it was almost like she was watching it happen safely on top of the hospital. She didn't even have time to scream before her body hit the ground, a sickening crunch echoing through the night. It was somehow louder than the sound of Scott and Sean fighting for their lives, than the shrill scream Liam had let out as he had to witness such a horrendous event. She couldn't see anything like she had while she was falling, it was all just noise. She'd read somewhere that the brain had seven minutes of brain activity even after death... was this it?

If Nova had been alive, she would have smelled the smoke closing in around her body, she would have seen the flames enveloping her and overtaking her body. But Nova wasn't alive. She didn't feel it as her body burned and burned, didn't hear the panicked yelling from the roof of the hospital.

If Nova had been alive, she would have seen the familar figure running toward her with a blanket, dashing straight into the inferno she was in the heart of. She would have heard the chanting of her name as someone begged her to come back.

If Nova was alive...

And suddenly, she was. Her eyes snapped open as her lungs filled again with a devastating pain, every inch of her body screaming in protest. She dimly saw flames dying off her skin before her eyes rolled back into her head, the darkness claiming her once again.

If Nova had been awake, she would have realized it was her cousin who wrapped her in the blanket and lifted her with ease, looking up at the roof and the shocked red eyes of Scott McCall. She would have seen his slitted eyes that glowed orange as they shifted to Liam as though saying, you deal with your problem, and I'll deal with mine.

But Nova wasn't awake, so she didn't see or hear any of this. She wasn't even able to see the seared pavement, shaped like a small girl.

A/N

And here's another chapter! I really like this one!! I like exploring Nova's relationship with her aunt and her inner thoughts that I couldn't address while in Cadmus' point of view. Also, we're now officially in the real plot of the story! This chapter is longer than the others, but I like that as well to be honest.