11. We're Gonna Need A Spotlight

After hearing a ringing noise in the middle of the night, both Alec and Nova were forced by their friends to leave the comfort of their beds and go check on who was trying to steal the urn that Hope had done a protective spell around.

"Looks like Hope's trap worked" Nova yawned, as her and Alec met up with Alaric and Dorian.

"You couldn't put pants on before coming out?" Alec asked Alaric, who was only in his robe, as the group of four walked into the woods.

"Little early for snark, Alec" Alaric warned, "And you're talking about my pants, where's your shirt?".

"Who sleeps with a shirt on?" Alec retorted.

"So who wants to guess what famous monster we will be slaying tonight?" Nova asked, trying not to stare at Alec's back as she was walking behind him with Alaric.

"With our luck, it'll be Cthulhu" Alaric said.

Dorian held his hand out and stopped the group from walking forward, "False alarm" he said, once the sound of a horse reached his ears, "It's just a horse".

"Must've gotten out of the stables and wandered across the barrier spell" Alaric said, as their eyes landed on the back of a white horse.

"Slight problem with that Alaric, we don't have a white horse in the stables" Alec reminded, just as the horse turned around.

"Holy shit" a fascinated Nova whispered, "It's not a horse, it's a unicorn", immediately Dorian, Alaric and Alec raised their weapon to attack the unicorn, "Woah, hold it people!" Nova snapped, standing infront of the three men and stopping them from attacking the unicorn.

"Nova, don't get fooled by it's cuteness, that thing is nothing but a monster" Alec warned.

"Alec's right Nova, it's here to take the artefact" Dorian added.

"How can you seriously suggest that we kill a poor defenseless unicorn?!" Nova asked.

"We can't give monsters a pass just because they're cute" Alec snapped.

"Why not just leave it alone?" Nova suggested, "It's already trapped, it can't go anywhere, it's particularly harmless".

Alaric sighed, "Look, Nova's right, as long as we keep it alive, other creatures won't be coming for the urn, so we just stay alert and let it be".

"Alright, well, I'll be on alert back in bed" Dorian stated, walking back to the school with Alaric.

Alec looked at Nova and after a shook of his head, walked back to his room and Nova also followed, completely missing the slug that had fallen from the unicorn's ear and attached itself to Nova's shoe.

***

Next morning, an extremely happy and cheery Nova skipped over to where Alec and Asher were eating their breakfast, "Morning handsome and handsome".

"Did you just skip here?" a weirded out Alec asked Nova as she took a seat next to him.

"Yeap" Nova confirmed, she then snatched the croissant from Alec's hand, "Yum, carbs".

"Since when are you in such a good this early in the morning?" a confused Asher asked his ex-girlfriend.

Nova shrugged, "Guess I just woke up on the right side of the bed today".

"That's odd" Alec commented.

Nova let out a giggle and nudged Alec with her shoulder, "You are hilarious".

An extremely confused Alec looked at his brother, "She just giggled, since when does Nova St. John giggle?!".

"She giggles, she's just never giggled infront of you" an equally confused Asher said.

"Exactly!" Alec exclaimed, the two brothers turned and looked the St. John girl who was too busy eating her croissant to care about the look they were giving her.

"Please tell me you guys are excited for tonight" Mia said, walking over to the trio with an amused Hope and Jayden behind her.

"What's tonight?" a confused Alec asked.

"It's the school's annual talent show" Nova reminded.

"I'm pretty sure, in our group, you're the only whose excited about that stupid talent show" Jayden said, taking a seat next to Asher.

"But why?" Mia asked.

"Because no one in this school has an actual talent" Hope stated, taking a seat next to Nova.

"I'm excited" Nova announced.

"Thank you!" an excited Mia said, while Nova's other friends looked at her as if she's grown another head.

"Out of all of us here, you're the one who hates this talent show the most" a confused Jayden remembered.

Nova shrugged, "I just think we need a little fun in our life, this could be the perfect opportunity".

"Agreed!" Mia stated.

Before anyone could say anything, the announcement on the speakers caught their attention, "If I could have your attention" they heard Alaric say, "Last night we were able to capture a monster here on the grounds, we have everything under control, but given this potential danger, it is with a heavy heart that I must postpone the talent show, hopefully we will be able to reschedule this unique event at a later date, a much, much later date".

"Yes!" Alec, Asher and Jayden cheered.

"No!" Mia exclaimed.

"I think Alaric's being too dramatic" Nova said, "This is not the kind of response for a sweet innocent unicorn".

"A unicorn?!" an annoyed Mia asked, "This is Ric's reaction to a freaking unicorn?! Oh he is so dead!".

"And you just had to open your mouth" Hope told Nova, before rushing after Mia who had gone to confront Alaric about canceling the talent show because of a unicorn.

***

Nova, Asher and Alec were walking down the corridor, "Good news, friends" they heard Lizzie through the speaker, "The talent show is going on as previously scheduled".

"Ugh no" Alec protested.

"Is it just me or did Lizzie actually sound nice?" Asher asked.

"She's acting weird" Alec informed.

"She's not the only one" Asher said, gesturing towards Nova who was walking infront of them.

Nova suddenly stopped walking and faced the two brothers, "I think we should do a talent".

"I'm sorry what?" a shocked Alec asked.

"I know I hated this talent show before but I really want to show everyone what I can do, we can make our own faction" Nova said, "The hybrid and the two tribrid brothers".

"Yeah no" Asher said.

"Yeah I agree with Asher, you're on your own on this one" Alec said.

"If Asher doesn't want to do it, then fine, but you're participating in this" Nova told Alec.

"Hey, I'm not the one you dated, you can't tell me what to do" Alec snapped.

"Can't I?" Nova challenged, "If you don't participate in this talent show then I'll tell Asher what you're hiding from him".

Asher looked at his brother in confusion, "You're hiding something from me?".

Alec ignored his brother and instead glared at Nova, he knew she was talking about him having feelings for her, something Alec never wants Asher to know about, "Fine, I'll participate in this stupid talent show, just keep your mouth shut".

"You have my word" Nova smiled.

"I wish I never opened my mouth in the first place" Alec mumbled, before walking away from his brother and Nova.

"Wait Alec, what am I missing here?!" Asher asked.

"Nothing!" Alec yelled, before running away from his brother.

An extremely confused Asher looked Nova, "What's going on Nova?".

Nova shrugged her shoulders and gave Asher a innocent look, "I have no idea" she said, before turning around and skipping away from him.

"What the hell just happened?" Asher wondered.

***

"This is so much fun!" Nova laughed, sitting on the stairs with the other witches, "I don't know why I ever thought you guys were bitches".

Mia entered the auditorium and was immediately confused seeing Nova laughing with the witches she claimed were the worst of the worst, shaking her head, Mia walked over to Nova, "Hey, do you know where the stupid canes for the talent show are? Lizzie wants them".

Nova observed her best friend's facial expression, "You seem like you don't want to find the canes" she said, standing up from the stairs.

"It's not that" Mia said, "I love the talent show, I really do, I just hate doing the same thing every single year, but whatever, I can't argue with Lizzie, it will just create an issue I don't have the energy to deal with right now".

"Don't worry I'll keep my eyes peeled for your canes, but I think someone else has their eyes peeled for you" Nova said, looking behind Mia.

Mia looked behind her and saw Landon walking over to her, "Oh no, Jayden is so not going to like this" she mumbled, "Nova, hide me", Mia quickly went behind Nova and crouched behind her.

"Hi" a smiling Nova greeted Landon.

"Hey" an awkward Landon greeted, before turning to Mia who was still hiding behind Nova, "Here", Landon handed Mia a note, "Please read it in private".

Mia took the note from Landon's hand, "Sure" she said, giving Landon an awkward smile, she wasn't really planning on reading the note, she didn't want to give Jayden another reason to hate Landon.

Once Landon walked away from them, an excited Nova turned to Mia, "So what does the note say?" she asked, "Choose option A if you want to kiss or choose option B if you want me and Jayden to have a fight to the death for you?".

"Don't know, don't care" Mia stated, finally standing up.

"Hey, if you want my help in smiting him, I've got you, girl" Nova said.

"Okay, what is going on with you?" an extremely confused Mia asked, "Did you eat someone's happy pills?".

"I don't take drugs" Nova stated, "I'm just having a really good day".

"At least one of us is happy" Mia said, as much as she was excited for the talent show, she didn't like that Lizzie had taken over her group.

"Okay, I've got to get to class but don't worry bunny, your day is eventually going to get so much better" Nova promised, pulling Mia into a tight hug and unknowingly infecting her with the same thing that she was infected with.

***

"Look whose here" Nova teased, sitting in class when Alec came and sat next to her.

"According to Emma, I can't skip anymore of this class otherwise she's going to complain to Care Bear" an annoyed Alec informed.

"And we don't want that" Nova laughed.

"No we don't" Alec confirmed, shuddering just thinking about Caroline's reaction to him skipping classes.

"Once you have your gel mixed, make a shallow cut on your volunteer" the teacher instructed.

"Trust me enough for this?" Nova teased, grabbing a small scalpel.

"Only a little bit" Alec said, Nova let out a small laugh before leaning forward and making a small cut on Alec's cheek, Alec tried his best not to let Nova let how much her closeness was affecting him, "This would have been much better for you if Asher was here, right?".

Nova shrugged, "I don't mind either of you, I just need a partner for this, can't afford to fail" she said, grabbing some of the gel on to her finger and applying it slowly on Alec's cheek that she had cut, "So, have you decided what you're gonna do?".

"Huh?" a slight dazed Alec asked.

"At the talent show" Nova said, "What are you gonna do?".

"Uncle Enzo taught me to juggle, probably that" Alec said after gathering himself.

"Juggle?" an amused Nova asked, "Come on, do something bold and spontaneous, do something totally unexpected, something Alec Salvatore like".

"Huh, well done, Nova" the teacher praised, seeing Nova's gel heal the cut on Alec's cheek.

"Thank you" Nova smiled at the teacher before turning to Alec, "I have to run, have to figure out what I'm going to be doing at this talent show".

"Yeah, go ahead" Alec whispered, as both him and Nova stood up from their seats.

"You know, I know me and Asher have broken up but it still feels nice to know that despite you two are still there for me" Nova said, she stepped forward and hugged Alec tightly, "I'm one lucky girl", Nova broke the hug and after giving Alec a huge smile, she walked away.

"I'm not sure you're the lucky one, I think it's us" Alec whispered to Nova's retreating figure.

***

Mia and Jayden were in the kitchen together, kneeling infront of the oven, "According to the recipe Care Bear sent, if the toothpick comes out with cake batter, it's not done" Mia said.

Jayden poked the cake they were baking with the toothpick, "Yeah, definitely not done" he said, when he pulling out the dirty toothpick.

"Then close the oven" Mia said, closing the oven and her and Jayden standing up from ground.

"You know, as much as I love this little secret cake baking date we have going on, I'm telling you know, decorating a cake is not the talent I'm going to be showcasing at the talent show" Jayden told his girlfriend.

"You refuse to show off your karate skills, or your salsa skills, and you just straight up refused to do ribbon dancing" Mia reminded.

"Mia, I'm the alpha, I can't be doing ribbon dancing" Jayden stated.

"You know, if you don't want to showcase your cake decorating skills then you can showcase your lyrics, you know the one you write in the book Uncle Nik gave you when you think no one's looking" Mia said.

"But of course you were looking" Jayden teased.

Mia shrugged, "I always look at you, but so do you".

"True" Jayden laughed, "And no, those lyrics are strictly for me, not gonna show them to people in a stupid talent show".

Mia shrugged her shoulders, "Suit yourself, but the cake decorating is going to have to be your talent, so cheer up, and start liking it".

Jayden looked at Mia and smiled seeing the huge smile on her face, he stepped closer to her and put his hands around her waist, "Has anyone told you that your smile is the most beautiful thing in this world?".

"No, but I won't mind if you do" Mia said, wrapping her arms around Jayden's neck and pulling him into a kiss, "You know, there is one thing that will make me even more happy".

"And what is that?" Jayden asked, kissing down the side of Mia's neck.

"Let's get rid of the urn" Mia said, suddenly causing Jayden to stop kissing her and look at her in shock.

"Mia, babe, I'm sorry to tell you, but that's a horrible idea" Jayden stated.

"Come on, it'll be like a romantic road trip, imagine how much fun we will have together" Mia said, "Let's just grab the damn thing and let it take us wherever it wants".

"From what the necromancer told Ash, that thing is going to lead us straight to malivore" Jayden reminded, he placed a hand on Mia's cheek and looked at her in worry, "Are you okay?".

"Let's talk about that on the road" Mia insisted.

"No" Jayden said, his eyes suddenly landed on the oven that was starting to smoke, "Shit, the cake", Jayden quickly rushed and opened the oven up, letting all the smoke out, completely missing Mia's glowing green eyes, "Mia, turn on the vent!".

Mia nodded her head, she walked over to the switch to turn the vent on, but the moment she pressed the switch, she ended up shocking herself, causing her to let out a yell and slug to fall out of her ear and on to the table, "Oh my god, what the hell is that?!" a disgusted Mia said.

Jayden quickly grabbed a knife and stabbed the slug, once the slug was dead, a worried Jayden turned to his girlfriend, "I think I finally figured out why everyone is acting so positive today".

***

"Dorian!" Mia yelled, rushing over their teacher who was standing near the unicorn, with Jayden right beside her, "We need your help, I have no idea where Ric has gone and everyone else is acting really weird and a freaking slug just came out of my ear".

Dorian turned to face Jayden and Mia, "Did it look like this?" he asked, showing Mia and Jayden a jar that had  a dead slug in it.

"That's the one, well not exactly the one, but it looked the same" Jayden confirmed.

"This one tired getting into me" Dorian informed, "I was hoping it was the only one, I think our harmless friendly unicorn brought it onto school grounds to infect all of us.

Dorian, Jayden and Mia's attention went towards the unicorn that suddenly started going wild before falling to the ground in an almost dead state, "I'll be honest, that doesn't seem harmless to me" Mia admitted.

***

"Okay, we have no idea how long the unicorn was infected before it keeled over, so we should figure this out right now" Dorian said, as he, Mia and Jayden stood around a table together.

"I thought our theory was that only one monster comes for the urn at a time" Jayden pointed out.

"Except the unicorn wasn't the monster" Dorian stated, "It was just the host to this thing", Dorian gestured towards the jar that had the dead slug in it, "A parasite, it hitched a ride here in that Trojan horse, and it moved on to us, from what Mia describes, it sounds like it latches onto the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain associated with inhibitions".

"So I was drunk on slug?" Mia asked, "Gross".

"Since we have multiple slugs, it must replicate inside the host, and then lie in wait for the opportunity to effect someone else" Dorian concluded.

"Nova" Jayden suddenly remembered, "She is definitely infected, that will explain why she's been acting so weird all day".

"And she's been with my brothers the whole day, there's a possibility she's injected them as well" Mia said, she looked at Dorian, "How do we stop this thing?".

"That's the weirdest part" Dorian said, "There is no ancient legend of a creature like this".

"Before the slug came out of her, Mia was determined to take the urn somewhere" Jayden remembered, "I'm guessing malivore, maybe this is like a infection, you know the type you see in sci-fi movies, the more it spreads, the worse it gets".

"Stage one, it lowers your inhibitions, it makes you act out of character" Dorian realised, "Stage two, once you're susceptible to suggestion, you'll do whatever the slug wants".

"And then comes stage three" Jayden continued, "Death, just like the unicorn".

Mia grabbed the jar from the table and observed the slug inside, her eyes widening when she saw something, "Hold up guys, look at this, part of this dead slug look bioluminescent".

"Let me check that out" Dorian said, grabbing the jar from Mia's hand and shining a black light underneath it.

"Wow" Mia and Jayden whispered in fascination seeing the bioluminescent matter around the jar.

"You know what?" Dorian realised, "We can use these black lights to find anyone whose been infected".

"Then let's get to it" Jayden said, taking a black torch from Dorian's handing and passing the other over to Mia.

"We should really save Nova first, I really miss my best friend" Mia said, taking the torch from Jayden's hand.

"Agreed, it's very weird seeing her so being so optimistic" Jayden admitted.

Dorian nodded his head, "Then let's go find her".

***

Mia, Dorian and Jayden entered the dark common room, they shined their black lights on the ground where they found a lot of signs of the slugs.

"This is why sci-fi is my least favorite genre" Mia said, following the trail of the slugs that led them right towards auditorium where the talent show was happening.

"We need a way to de-slug whosever infected, fast" Dorian stated.

"Electricity" Mia suddenly remembered, "Shock! When I touched the switch to the kitchen vent, I got shocked, that's what made the slug come out".

"So what I'm hearing is that we have to electrocute every single student while at the same hoping we don't kill them" Jayden said.

"If we don't, they're dead anyway, I'm gonna call Ric" Dorian said, walking out the auditorium.

Mia and Jayden looked towards the stage where they saw Alec. "My name is Alec Salvatore, and I have a few words I'd like to say".

"Oh no" Mia whispered.

"It's going to be fine" Jayden assured.

"I sure hope so" Mia said, glancing at the audience where she saw Nova and Asher sitting together.

"Yet I have not become, your center of attraction", Alec looked right at Nova, making her look at him with her eyes wide, "Though you've got the place of my all affection, how hard I've tried, but you do not recognise".

"Is this a poem about one sided love?" a confused Jayden asked.

"Yeah but why is Alec saying it?" Mia asked.

"That's not the question, the question to be asking is who did he write this for?" Jayden wondered.

"My destiny maybe hopelessness, now I realise, at your heart's door, why did I knock? I have wounded my head against the rock, from my side maybe cupid forgets to throw, but I'm bathing in blood by your side's arrow, I have to see, how many times do you ignore? I still waiting outside, when you slammed the door, as one-sided love, my tenderness will be known, during conversation, if you do not mind the tone, I cannot accuse you for the betrayal crime, cause you've never shown the affection at any time, but I know you are not innocent as you seem to be", Alec looked at his brother who was sitting next to Nova, giving him a confused look, "If I was him, you would never refuse me", Alec looked back at Nova, "I am accepting the truth, how can be grown our romance, I am just penniless lover, without any bank balance, you have achieved now a days, miss world's crown, but one day you'll search me in this whole town, you will realise when days will be passed by, when no one could love you, as much as I".

Mia and Jayden followed Alec's eyeline, and their eyes widen in shock, "Jay!" a shocked Mia whispered, her hand grabbing Jayden's arm, "He's looking at Nova".

"Wait, Alec loves Nova?" an equally shocked Jayden asked, "When the hell did this happen?".

"I have no idea" Mia said, "He always made us think he hated her".

"Oh no" Jayden whispered, suddenly realising something, "He only made us think that because he didn't want to come between Asher and Nova, he didn't want Asher to hate him or to put Nova in a awkward position".

"And now both those things are going to happen" Mia realised, looking at Nova and Asher who were both looking at Alec in shock, though Nova already knew, now Asher also knew the truth.

Alec, who was still standing on stage, his eyes suddenly started glowing green, "And why is that artefact here?" he continued, "Monsters coming, people running, ask for answers, always nothing", suddenly everyone stood up from their seats, "I say we get rid of it!".

"You heard him, let's go!".

"Every single one of them is infected!" Mia pointed out.

"Yeap" Jayden confirmed.

"Okay, we need to run" Mia realised, as everyone started rushing towards them.

"Yeap, let's go!" Jayden yelled, grabbing Mia's hand and the two quickly running out the auditorium, once they were out, both Jayden and Mia turned around, while holding hands, Mia siphoned a little bit of magic from Jayden, the two then combined their magic to seal the auditorium door shut.

"This should temporarily hold these people back" Mia said, "Let's go!".

***

Jayden and Mia walked over to Dorian, "We sealed the doors with a spell but it won't last forever" Mia warned.

"Alright" Dorian said, "These chains should help us until we come up with a better solution, I'll get the doors downstairs".

"The plus side, everyone infected is one place" Mia said, as Jayden grabbed the chains from Dorian and then Dorian walked downstairs.

"What are you two doing out here?".

Mia and Jayden turned around and came face to face with Lizzie, Jayden looked at his girlfriend, "Way to jinx it, Mia".

***

"Have you two gone crazy?!" an annoyed Lizzie asked once Mia and Jayden finished chaining her up and shoving her on to a chair.

"Relax we're doing this for your own good" Mia said, "A mind controlling parasite has infected you, that will explain why you've been so nice all day".

"That is not why I have been-- hey!" Lizzie protested, as Jayden used his black light to search for any signs of the slug on Lizzie.

"I don't see any slug trails on her" Jayden informed.

"What are you freaks talking a--ow!" Lizzie cried.

"What the hell just happened?" a confused Jayden wondered.

"Unchain me, and maybe I will tell you, you thrift store hobbit" Lizzie snapped, letting out a gasp of pain.

"Yeah, she's definitely not infected" Jayden realised.

"Then why the hell are you acting so weird?" Mia asked Lizzie.

"I'm not acting weird, I'm turning over a new leaf, with this" Lizzie gestured to the bracelet she was wearing, "I spelled it to zap me whenever I said anything mean, and in increasing voltage, worst idea ever".

"Actually no" Jayden said, "For the first time in your life, you actually had a good idea, that's why there's no slug in you, because you've been zapping yourself continuously".

"Then why are you wandering the halls instead of being at the talent show with everyone else?" Mia asked.

"I was looking for Josie, she's been acting weird all day and then she just bailed on the performance" Lizzie said.

"Infected?" Mia asked Jayden.

"Definitely infected" Jayden confirmed, knowing no matter how much Josie hated Lizzie's performance idea, she wouldn't leave her sister in the dust.

"Okay, we need to find Josie, now!" Mia realised.

***

Jayden and Mia had to split, Jayden went to help Emma with her plan to electorate all the students while Mia rushed to stop Josie from grabbing the urn, Mia managed to arrive just in time to see both Josie and Penelope walking towards the urn.

"Not so fast!" Mia called out, grabbing the attention of the two witches, immediately Penelope tried to use her magic to attack Mia, but Mia quickly used the magic she siphoned from Jayden to push shove Penelope through a wall.

Josie glared at Mia, "You shouldn't have done that" she said, starting to create a fireball with the magic she siphoned.

Suddenly Lizzie appeared behind her sister and grabbed her hand, "Jo! Don't" she said, siphoning the magic away from her sister, "This isn't you".

"You don't even know the real me!" Josie snapped, trying to get out of Lizzie's grip to attack Mia.

"Answer one question while you're saying how you really feel" Lizzie said, "Am I a good sister?".

"Are you kidding me?" Josie asked, shoving Lizzie away from her, "You're a terrible sister".

Suddenly Josie screamed in pain due to the bracelet that Lizzie had managed to sneak on her wrist, the minute the slug came out Josie's ear, Mia stepped on it.

"Lizzie" Josie cried, remembering all the horrible things she said to her sister, "Lizzie, I'm so sorry".

Lizzie didn't say anything just stepped forward and pulled her sister into a tight hug, while a smiling Mia watched on.

***

After all the slugs were pulled out of everyone and killed, Asher rushed to go find his brother, "Alec!" he called out, running over to his brother, who was trying to run away from him.

"Dammit" Alec mumbled realising he had no where else to go hide.

"We need to talk" Asher stated, finally catching up to his brother.

"No we don't" Alec said, turning around and facing his brother, "Whatever I said, whatever I did, it was because of that parasite in me".

Asher opened his mouth to say something but before he could, Alaric's voice interrupted him through the speaker, "Attention students, given the incredibly odd and distressing day we've all had, I'm thinking we could all use a little pick me up, like a talent show redo".

Once the announcement was done, Asher turned to Alec, "So, just to clarify, I didn't come between you and Nova?".

"In order for someone to come between us, Nova had to be mine in the first place, she was never mine, she has always been yours Ash, you don't realise but you are one lucky son of a bitch" Alec said, before walking away from his brother, who had no idea what to do with this new information he had just gotten and hoping this wouldn't effect his relationship with his brother.

***

Presenting 1x11 of Broken Hearted!

How was the chapter?

Thoughts on Nova blackmailing Alec to make him participate in the talent show?

Thoughts on everyone getting infected by the parasite?

Thoughts on Alec's poem?

Thoughts on the small talk between Alec and Asher about Nova?