A loud ringing woke me up causing me to groan as I hurried outside scanning the corridor for any evidence of Hope. Dr. Saltzman rushed up with Dorian and Hope. "Sounds like the trap worked," a hint of sarcasm laced Hope's words, but I was to droopy to respond.

Dorian handed Hope and I swords in case of the need of them. We made our way outside doing our best to be quick, but we were all obviously exhausted. "I know this is important, but you couldn't have put on pants first?" a light laugh escaped my lips glancing momentarily at Dr. Saltzman. "Little early for snark, Hope."

"Any guesses on what famous monster from Finland we get to slay today?" Dr. Saltzman scoffed "With our luck, it'll be Cthulhu," Dorian stuck his hand out in front of me so I stopped. A pearly white horse neighed most likely trying to find a way out of its confinements. "False alarm. It's just a horse," we stepped closer but all I could see was it's butt the way it was standing. "Must've gotten out of the stables and wandered across the barrier spell," I stopped remembering a key fact in this circumstance. "Except we don't have a white horse," I stated.

It slowly turned around revealing its horn perfectly placed in the middle of its head. I gaped at the thing in front of us. "Of course it's unicorn," it tried to get closer to us, and Dorian and Dr. Saltzman both readied their weapons. Hope and I simultaneously jumped in front of the unicorn. "Hey, Wait!"

"Girls, its a monster. It's here to take the artifact," Dorian chided pointing at the white pony behind us. "Your not seriously suggesting we kill a unicorn," I exclaimed. "I'm suggesting we don't give it a pass because it's cute," I rolled my eyes. "Can't we just leave it alone?" Hope questioned turning to it momentarily. "It's trapped, it's not going anywhere. It's harmless," Dr. Saltzman and Dorian shared an uneasy glance before caving it. "The girls are 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 sighed shaking his head before turning around and walking away. Dr. Saltzman followed soon after leaving Hope and I standing there silently. "Anything you wanna talk about?" I asked trying to relieve some of the awkward tension "No, you?" I shook my head no. I know I should probably tell my best friend when something's wrong, right? Well, I'm a little special and that gets me in a lot of trouble.

When she fell back asleep.

"So I hear you've been having nightmares," Dorian mused causing me to sigh and pull away from his chest. "It's really nothing you have to worry about, I promise," he sent me that look. That You-know-I-Love-you-Like-a-daughter-So-tell-me-look. I huffed sitting down. "They're different every time. Sometimes it's Jed and Rafael, sometimes Metias and Marcel. Either way, every time it gets worse," the door slammed open and confused I stood up gaping at it.

No one was there. I turned back to Dorian to make a comment about the strange occurrence, but when I did M.G. had him pinned to the ground. "Dorian!" I cried out. He looked to me with no fear and no pain "It's okay," I watched horrified as M.G. bit out Dorian's neck. I tried so hard to move, but I couldn't. My vision was a blurry mess, but I knew what happened. I knew Dorian was dead. And I didn't do anything.

The next day.

An itch came from my ear causing me to sit up scratching it. I decided to actually stay up since technically I'm already up. I pulled on a Salvatore school shirt with a plaid skirt and doc martens. I did my best not to think about the dream. As the all wise Dory once said, Just keep swimming. Or in my case; just keep walking, and stop thinking. I stepped into the lounge where Rafael, Landon, and Hope we're sitting. It felt difficult being near Raf after our little movie night and Jed being back. "Mmm. Sweet, sweet carbs," a little confused I kept my pace over to them while Hope picked a piece off of her kolache and popped it in her mouth. "Somebody's in a really good mood," I said sitting down across from them. Rafael sent me a greeting smile, but Hope's was so much bigger.

"Hmm. Just woke up on the right side of the bed I guess. I see you did too girl, you looking good," I smiled at her grabbing a kolache for myself. "Thanks." Lizzie and Josie stepped up with their arms entwined "Good morning...Rafael," he barely spared her a glance faking a smile and he glanced one last time at me before actually turning to the blonde girl. "Hi... Uh how was your-your trip?" A soft laugh escaped my lips while Rafael stumbled over his own words.

"Excellent. Thank you-" not Lizzie, but Josie replied "And welcome back, Landon." I turned to the curly haired boy who's face held a complacent smile. "Didn't you vote me out?" I laughed before nodding and turning back to the Saltzman girls. "That's all in the past. Now, is everyone as excited as I am about tonight." I shook my head honestly (which was no.)

Being a hybrid I technically get to choose who I side with. But Dorian said it would be better for me to side with the witches, because I side with the wolves for anything. Although, I told him I don't really care he told Dr. Saltzman to put me with the witches do I end up doing so some dumb dance routine with a few song lines at rarity.

"What's tonight?" my eyes flickered back up to Landon, but Hope just laughed before responding, "The school's annual talent show. All the factions compete. You know, the witches performance wouldn't be the same without you two," I sent Hope a confused glance before turning back to the twins. "Thank you." She chuckled and I smiled a little happy by Hope being so happy.

Wind chimes rung from the intercom and Dr. Saltzman's voice echoed through the rooms. "If I could have your attention. 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'll be able to reschedule this... unique event... at a later date."

He stopped before adding, "A much, much later date." I smirked at the twins wanting Dr. Saltzman to have to bare the "awful" show. "It's kind of overkill really, I told your dad that a unicorn barely counts as a monster." Both of their gazes were fixated on me, before they stormed off making me laugh. Hope, oblivious to what just happened laughed with me with a bright smile.
After a while the musical chime played through the intercom once more. "Good news, friends. The talent show is going on as previously scheduled." Landon slung his hand around Rafael's buff neck. Rafael ripped it off with a big grin. "So... Lizzie's acting weird," I laughed before nodding."She's not the only one," Rafael pointed up ahead where Hope was leading and I nodded peering at the girl walking ahead. No laugh, I'm a little more concerned about my best friend than Lizzie Saltzman no offense.

"Babe," Hope turned to us "We should do a talent," I laughed before nodding at Landon. "You So should," I egged her on in a somewhat reckless mood. "What?" Landon was staring at Hope, shock looming over his face. "Uh, you and me?" Fortunately, Lizzie taught me the choreography to the dance they had planned before their trip to Europe. "I never wanted to before cause I would've had to do it alone," her eyes flickered to mine "But now I have you. And we make up our own faction. The tribrid and you," I turned to Rafael making a gagging motion while they hugged.

"Yeah, all right, yeah. Team other."

They started to kiss and I glanced at Rafael sensing his uneasiness. I pulled him away from the two. "I don't know why, but Hope's mind is blocked off, which means you have a few extra days mister," I told him. Talking about the dream.

"Hey, has Jed bothered you at all," I shook my head at him even though I've technically been avoiding him at all costs. He smiled and stopped turning around to me. "Well this is me," he moved his head towards the classroom and I nodded standing there awkwardly. He pulled me into a hug and I could feel my cheeks warm up just by his smell. I pulled away first and he smiled at me walking into the classroom. He left me there standing alone until another boy showed up.

You know the saying that's goes, 'Think of the devil and he shall appear' it literally happened. I turned around ready to walk back to my glass but someone's hand latched onto my wrist spinning me around. I turned to him completely taken back by the person standing in front of me. Raven black hair, soft, beautiful brown eyes-Wait What he hurt my friends I shouldn't still be thinking about him like this. "What?" I questioned sounding a little meaner than I intended too.

"I wanted to talk to you," I laughed coldly "About What?" I sneered. His entire features seemed sad and filled with guilt. Maybe, I may just want it to be guilt. He stared at me seemingly boring into my soul and I didn't like it. I broke the gaze first glancing around the corridor. "Would you believe me if I said I was sorry?" I faked a scoff and turned around ready to storm off, but he grabbed my dang wrist again. This time he didn't need to spin me around I whipped around myself, and angrily. "Jed you hurt Landon, my friend, okay? You think I'm just gonna forgive you for that? Especially after..." I stopped not wanting to admit the affect he had on me, but he seemed to notice.

"I know, Laya. I let my pride get in the way of protecting the pack, and-and being with you,okay? Because I friggin go out of my mind when I see you Rafael. And I didn't realize how really important you were to me till you were gone," he paused. I hadn't realized I was crying until my vision became blurry. "I treated you like a jerk, and that was wrong, bu-but I wanted to see if you were willing to start over-" he stuck out his hands. "As friends."

I gulped before nodding and letting my hand be enveloped in his. Some might call me weak, a push over, but I don't consider forgiving people to be weak. I'll admit sometimes things don't turn out well for me, but I knew Jed since the day i got here. I got closer to him faster than I got closer to Hope (probably because she's kind of difficult.) I didn't want to loose him, so I agreed and he smiled wiping away some of my tears.

"So you wanna go somewhere? To like talk?" I laughed before nodding and pulling him out to the lake. "You come here a lot?" I shrugged in response. "Sort of. Dorian and I used to train up here until all the stupid monsters started to come. Most of the time I come at night though," he nodded sitting down next to me dangling his feet over the water like me.

(With their shoes)

We sat in silence neither of us wanting to say anything. "I feel like some things are better left unsaid but-" I cut him off not wanting to know what he was gonna say. "It's called tacenda." "What?" "Tacenda. It means things better left unsaid;matters to be left in silence," he seemed confused but still nodded. "Is that your subtle way of saying shut up," I laughed before shrugging "I'm still deciding," he rolled his eyes teasingly and I smiled.

Our fingers brushed against each other shocking me. "Ow, Jed," something flew out of my ear and I gasped. It was a slug. I stared at in horror as it slowly creeped along. Jed's fist came in contact with it squashing it under his hand. I could hear the bell ring from the school "Crap," I muttered standing up "Rafael's gonna help me with Magical chemistry then I'll take this to Dorian okay?" he nodded standing up with me following him. "Um Thanks for you know um forgiving me," I laughed pulling him into a hug. "Anytime wolf boy."

"Hey," I glanced up and smiled at the sight of Rafael. "Hey. Thank you for coming," he smiled at me sitting down. "Anything to avoid the wolves talking about that stupid talent show," I laughed with him nodding "Apparently deciding what we do is a... alpha thing," I nodded "Hmm."

"Once you have your gel mixed make a shallow cut on your volunteer," I picked up the small blade "Do you trust me?" I asked with a small smile. "Kind of," he replied with a hint of hesitance in his voice. I pushed the blade gently into his cheek gently. I hadn't noticed him staring at me as I laughed "Deep question time," I told him and he nodded as I pulled the knife away. "How do you feel about me?" He paused catching his breath while I dabbed my finger in the gel.

"I like you," he chuckled "Like a lot." "But..." he paused as I placed my finger gently against his cheek. "You Like Hope." He nodded. You shouldn't like me," I muttered rubbing it in. "And why is that?" I sighed "I told Jed I forgave him," his breath hitched and I gulped. "Are you mad at me?" he shook his head "Absolutely not," I smiled at the sight of the disappeared cut. "Promise me," I stuck my pinky out warily. He wrapped his pinky in mine when the teacher walked up.

"Huh. Well done. Laya," I smiled brightly at her "Thank you Ms. Featherwood," she nodded walking away.  "Well I hate to bolt but I have to talk to Dorian he nodded while
I stood up grabbing my backpack and slinging it on my back.  He nodded like he understood "Hey and don't worry about Jed," I didn't really like his tone of voice but I nodded anyways with a fake smile. 

I walked out of the room and outside where I am sure Dorian was "interrogating" the unicorn. I hurried outside when I noticed the same creepy crawlie climbing up the back of his leg. "Morietur," I mumbled grabbing the thing and it exploded. Green goo filled the inside of my palm and I gagged. Dorian held out mason jar where I dropped the bug in. "Ugh. That's gross."

"Dorian this thing flew out of my ear but it didn't change anything for me I think Hope might have it too because she's been acting weird lately," he turned to me "Weird how?" I laughed "She's actually been nicer," he nodded like he understood and I plopped down on the ground wrapping my legs in a criss-cross-applesauce.

"Mr.Williams we need your help," Hope glanced at me. "Dr. Saltzman's been MIA, and this creepy slug came out of my-" "Ear?" I asked and she nodded. Dorian turned to the two "Did it look like this?" Dorian held up the mason jar. "Yep, exactly like that."

"This one tried getting into me luckily Laya was here cause she had one too. We were hoping they were the only ones. I think our harmless friend the unicorn brought it onto school grounds to infect all of us," the unicorn jumped up before falling back to the ground. It's knees buckled and he laid back down fully silver blood staining the ground around it. Dorian slowly turned around to it and I stood up.

"See? Harmless."

"Okay we have no idea how long the unicorn was infected before it kneeled over so we should figure this out right now." I nodded. Hope, Landon, Dorian, and I were all standing around the table. "I thought only one monster comes for the urn at a time," I sighed leaning forward "Except the unicorn wasn't the monster. It was just the host to this thing," I cringed at the sight of the mason jar "It's a parasite. It hitched a ride in that Trojan horse, and then it moved on to us." Dorian nodded.

"From What Hope describes it sounds like it latches onto be prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain associated with inhibitions."

"So I was slug drunk?"

"Wait but why didn't it affect Laya then? I mean she seems fine," Dorian nodded at Landon "Well I forgave someone that I did my best to avoid so..." Landon didn't seem to understand but he nodded. That was the only logical explanation I could think of as to why I forgave Jed today. "Since we have multiple slugs, it must replicate inside the host, and the lie in wait for the opportunity to affect someone else."

"I'm good on the gory details, thank you." I chuckled softly "How do we stop it?" Landon asked. "That's the weirdest part, Laya and I couldn't find any ancient legends about a creature like this." Landon made a confused face. "Invasion of the Body Snatchers? The faculty? I say again, Wrath of Kahn? Sci-fi is our modern day myths. Meaning they could have been inspired by something, right? In those movies, it's all about mind control. Before the slug popped out, Hope wanted to take the urn someplace. I'm guessing Malivore."

"So, it's like an infection. It gets worse as it spreads. Stage one, it-it lowers your inhibitions. It makes you act out of character. Stage two, once you're susceptible to suggestion, you'll do whatever the slug wants." Landon intercepted "Till stage three. You go the way of the unicorn." Hope looked back down at the mason jar in her hands.

"Did you see this? Parts of thing look bioluminescent." Dorian searches for something in his bag"Let me check that out." He took it from Hope and shined a purple light flashlight on the bottom of it so the goo lit up bright green. "Whoa," Hope, Landon, and I said simultaneously.

Dorian leaned over to Landon making me kind of jealous "See That?" He moved the flashlight to the side so he could see a long glowing strip on Hope's face making me gag once more. "I don't want to know, do I?" I shook my head "Nope. Nope." "Probably not," Landon agreed. "You know what? We can use lights to find anyone who's been infected." Dorian pulled more flashlights out his bag handing them to us.

(Before the talent show)
Rafael's p.o.v.

I searched the entire school for one person. I planned to find him and when I did I was angry. I slammed him against the wall with as much force as I could put into the hit. Doing so he put a dent in the wall. "Stay away from her Jed!" I yelled. He looked confused "Who?" he questioned. "Laya! Stay away from Laya!" Anger seemed to form in his eyes as he pushed me off of him.

"You don't get to control what I do just because your my alpha," I was seething now "Well you seemed to think that's how it worked when you were Laya's alpha. You think I don't how you treated her? You think I don't know?" I yelled. "It's different now," his face seemed to drop "I know what I did, but that's not gonna change how I feel about anything so back off," I rolled my eyes "You think it's all better now? Just because she forgive you? You know it's not gonna change how she little she trusts you now. Or the fact that she's still scared of you so maybe you should just stay away from her," I chided.

"Whatever," he pulled away from me and turned around storming off. I could feel my eyes try to change from anger and I squeezed them shut concentrating on not changing. I don't know why I was so angry

Laya's p.o.v.

We walked through the school shining our lights on everything we could. Seeing random lines made by the slugs all over the place. "This is why I hate sci-fi," I chuckled softly at Hope. After scanning the lounge. We walked into the room where the talent show was to be held. "We need a way to deslug whosever infected, fast." I turned back to Dorian. "When I touched the switch to kitchen vent, it shocked me, and that's when the slug popped out," I nodded "Same thing for me sort of. Jed shocked me and it popped out," Dorian nodded this time.

"Great,  so we just have to find a way to electrocute very student in the school without killing them," Landon muttered sarcasm lacing his words. "If we don't, they're dying anyway," Hope retorted. "I'm gonna call Ric," he sighed walking away. We all turned back around. "My name is Rafael, and my talent is spoken word poetry," the crowd erupted into choruses of snaps .

"Oh no, he promised he wouldn't do this again." Confused I turned back to the stage. Rafael held his hand out for the crowd to stop and sat down. He exhaled and the bass player strummed the instrument.

Stillness.
  A light breaks inside.
Unity.
And division.
Tension.

"Suddenly I remember why I didn't want to be in the talent show," I laughed at Hope before nodding "Honestly."

All these wolves staring at me,
waiting for the answer.

Jed used to tell me he had problems about that too. Before he because cocky about it.

Expectation is a cancer.
Oh, you can't, sir?
Then who will?

  He noticed us and held out his hand for he bass player to stop.

Two brother brought up together.
Then ones left behind because he's no longer needed.
Violence inside of me.
Inside, I'm, I'm bleeding.

I gulped and Hope didn't act like she noticed while she stared at him. "What's he talking about?"

And I can't believe what I'm feeling.
  Since the moment you danced with me.
Buried so deep,
Rising up,
Enchanting me.
And it won't go away.

I knew he wasn't talking about me. He was talking about Hope. That's the real Rafael. And to be honest it kind of stung.

And I was never jealous of anything that you had until today.

He squeezed his eyes shut and I bit deep into the inside of my cheek nervously, and a little bit angry.

And why is that artifact here?
Monsters coming, people running.
Ask for answers, always nothing.

People started to stand up.

I say we get rid of it.

His eyes glowed bright green and he pointed at us. All the others in the room turned to us with bright green eyes as well. "So they're all infected? Okay." I stood there still a little frozen by Rafael's words. "Yeah, I'm not gonna wait around to find out." We ran through the doors and I turned around "Vessera portus," I held my hands in the air and the doors slammed shut locking the kids in. "That should hold the pod people in for now. Let's go."

"I sealed the doors with a spell, but it won't hold forever," I informed. "All right. These chains should help until we come up with a better solution," he handed them to Hope and we nodded. "Laya and I will get the doors downstairs," I nodded following after him. It's probably better for there to be one witch with one human." I heard Landon try to reassure his girlfriend.

When I turned back to Dorian he was already gone. I sighed running down the stairs looking for the older man. "Stop. Stop. Your all getting detention." I couldn't suppress the small smile creeping into my face. "Dorian? Dorian?" I called finding him holding the doors back "Stand back." Dorian pulled away from the door and I stepped up. "Vessera Portus." I held my hands out when yelling the spell and the chains wrapped around the handles of the doors tightened locking in place.

"Dorian? Kelaya?" I turned to the sound of Dr. Saltzman's voice watching as he ran over with Emma quick on his tail. "I'm so glad your okay." I smiled at Dorian remembering him telling me about Emma, but Dr. Saltzman must not have gotten the memo. "I'm flattered." Emma hurried over to Dorian pecking him on the lips and pulling him into a hug.

Emma pulled away first turning back to Dr. Saltzman and I. "I may have found a solution to our slug problem." She started to explain the plan. "Aximander dust. It was favored by the witches of the Roman Empire. It conducts electricity through anything it touches. Think of it as chain lighting. All you need is a spark." The three turned to me and with a proud smile I crouched down next to the power "Lecutio." I whispered causing the powder to ignite into blue lighting flowing through the line.

I watched disgusted as slugs flew out of kids ears and kids horrified stomping on them.

I was happily wandering around the halls filled with kids who couldn't help, but talk about the slugs when the chimes rang over the intercom. "Attention, students. Given the incredibly odd and distressing day we've all had, I'm thinking we could use a little pick-me-up, like a talent show redo." The halls erupted into applause while I just groaned. Hope walked up to me with a big grin. "You really hate it that bad?" I laughed shaking my head.

She pulled me into a hug. Resting her chin above my shoulder she whispered "I'm really sorry we haven't been able to talk lately." I laughed shaking my head once again "It's really fine, Hope."

"So, to make it up to you. I figured..."

"Sleepover?"

"Sleepover!"

It was no lie, when it came to my friends, sleepovers were literally the best thing ever to me. Whether or not we stay up until like six a.m. because it's totally worth it.

The talent show turned out amazing. The vamps did a sit-in protest and that was kind of lame, but the wolves did juggling, and the Witches (with me[!]) did such a new outstanding performance that we won, again. It kind of went by in a blur.

Rafael walked up to me after the show with a small smile. "Hey there stranger." He chuckled softly and I sighed grabbing his arms and pulling him into my embrace. When I pushed away he leaned his forehead on mine causing my entire body to erupt into butterflies. He squeezed his eyes shut, but his smile never left. "What was that for?" I laughed softly at the boy who just barely opened his eyes "You looked like you needed a hug."

It got awkwardly silent while he stared down at me, like he was trying to peer into my soul. Then it happened. Not fully, not long, but it was so absolutely amazing. His face leaned down a little closer to me "Raf." I whispered, but he didn't answer. His lips were so close to mine. I probably should've pulled away, he was in love with Hope, but when his lips grazed over mine I couldn't move.

He slowly pulled away still staring down at me with his small smile "Kelaya Jones, you are the only thing at this school keeping me sane."

"He sang to you?"

"He definitely sang to me, and he was actually really good." I stepped out of Hope's bathroom and she was already lying down on her bed. "Aww, my precious baby is all grown up," she laughed a teasing shine gleaming brightly in her eyes "Shush... What about you and Raf? How'd that turn out?" I walked over to the bed across from Hope plopping down into it. "He kissed me. Well-he kind of kisses, but it was more like he might've just gotten to close to my face-and-and got at this point I don't even know anymore."

Hope giggled softly patting the spot on the bed next to her and I jumped up hurrying over to lie down next to her. I let my head rest on her chest her heartbeat slowly calming me. "We're hopeless aren't we?" Hope laughed, but I could feel her nod.

"Completely."