Enemy Fire | J. Saltzman - Legacies [3]

T W E N T Y - T W O

It's a strange feeling: to realize that someone is wrong. To realize that anger and hate are just distracting from the real issues lingering beneath the skin and waiting for the moment to strike and overwhelm. Stella has spent all night thinking about that anger as she sits in front of the lit fireplace, watching the flames flicker up and out.

After confronting MG, she hadn't been able to sleep. Saltzman had confiscated the ascendant while Stella locked herself in her room in the deep hours of the night. If anyone had tried to enter, she would not have let them; luckily, she was granted the small reprieve from human contact, even Josie's who must have slipped away before she returned.

Something simmers in her mind, like a dam about to rupture and destroy everything in its path. The air weighs heavily on her shoulders as she once again finds herself hesitating to go to the Super Squad meeting starting in a few minutes. She does not want to see anyone, let alone the person she knows will want to charge forward and defend themselves. Stella does not have the energy to deal with Mikaelson stubbornness today.

As she makes her way through the school, she keeps her head down until she catches sight of a sad boy sitting by himself in the library. Her heart twists with pity as she approaches, gently placing her hand on his shoulder. "Hey," she says as he jumps in surprise. "Sorry, I didn't mean to—"

"Stella." Mg stands up, his eyes wide. "I, um, I didn't think—"

She holds her hand out and bites her bottom lip. "I'm really sorry for what happened last night," she says. Her hands grip the straps of her bag as she rocks on her heels. "I just..."

"Wait, you're apologizing to me?" He asks. "I'm the one who lied. I-I thought you'd hate me. Everyone else does."

Shaking her head, Stella lets out a sigh. "I thought about it. A lot. You'd be surprised how much thinking happens when you can't sleep, but I...I can see why you did it. I'm not mad, really." He frowns. "Seriously. I just got scared, and I didn't know how to..." She motions with her hands as if to bring something out of her chest. "I didn't handle last night well, and I think you should know I'm not mad with you."

He stares at her for a moment before his shoulders finally relax. "Thank you," he says. "I appreciate it. I'm sorry too."

"Yeah, well, you should be." Taking a deep breath, Stella clenches her hands. "So, you heading to the meeting?"

"Meeting?"

"Squad meeting in like," she looks down at her phone. "Five minutes ago."

"I wasn't told." MG glances down.

Some of that dam begins to crack in her soul. Shifting her shoulders, Stella links her arm with MG's as a growl escapes her throat. "Well, then, maybe someone still needs to be yelled at."

She can tell MG is nervous as people watch the unlikely pair make their way to the Great Hall. The stares don't last long as Stella is quick to glare back and scare anyone else into moving away.

As they step into the hall, Stella detaches herself from MG as they approach the group, Hope's back facing them. As Hope speaks, Stella rolls her eyes, hating the anger that spikes in her chest when she sees her cousin. "Sorry, we're late," she says as Hope pauses.

As the group turns to them, Stella narrows her eyes at the remnants of the group: Alaric and Isaac stand off to the side while Wade, Jed, and Aaron face Hope. Lizzie sits at the corner, leaning over the large map on the table. "What's he doing here?" Stella asks, pointing to Aaron.

He scoffs as Lizzie says, "I have the same question."

"I have Excalibur. I earned a spot in your squad," Aaron replies, crossing her arms. "What are you doing here?"