The Young and Gifted

83. chances

Hope tried to listen to what Dorian was saying about the course he had set out for the wolves. She really did but these days she was just in her head. The peace and calm was comforting compared to when she was in the Legendarium. For a second she thought she had gotten attached to the deathly silence but she concluded that it was a way to cope with what happened. Not just with Landon or Stephanie but with all the chaos that ensued behind it.

Dorian blew the whistle and before she knew it, Hope was whizzing into the woods, already running further than the other wolves. She wasn't even sure what she was doing, all she could feel was the wind slapping and kissing her cheek, the bronzing sun baking her skin and the time flying past her. It was exhilarating Hope knew that it would be unfair to use her vampire speed so she stayed to her werewolf pace.

When the tank finally bottled out, she caught her breath and bent over her knees, planting her hands on them.

"Damn you run fast," Raf said as he caught up to her. "You sure you're not cheating?"

Hope sighed. "Sometimes I just want to let the wind take me. I don't care about the pain burning in my legs or my body. Just the small seconds I've been offered to just breathe, you know?"

"I understand. But when you turn into your wolf, it's much better," he advised. "Your senses are more connected to nature and you're more aware of your surroundings. Best feeling ever."

Before she could ask more, Raf had already run off and ahead.

*

Months kept whizzing by and no sign of any conflict. So far, the school was rolling steadily and by the time Valentines came around, Kaura found herself in the library.

After reading Bonnie's note all those months ago, she knew she had to make the effort to be good. And seeing Caroline miserably trudge down the halls brought an ache to her heart.

So she picked up the Legendarium. It instantly began to whisper sinfully at her touch and she opened to the first chapter, taking a short sharp breath. "Fides accersi."

A black puddle formed on the floor and Kaura watched as a figure rose from it. Clarke wasn't smiling at all when he emerged. "I've been summoned, master. I am at your mercy."

Kaura shut the book and crossed her arms. "This is your last chance. Don't break her heart." Clarke already knew what the teenager was referring to when she walked away.

*

Caroline was on the phone, talking to Elena and filling her up on how Stephanie was doing in classes and with friends like she had once done for Freya. She paced around the room, laughing at her best friends. She missed a lot and sometimes she wished she could go and see her and Damon but she had a duty to take care of the kids. 

As she moved around the room, she stopped in her tracks when a frame stood in the doorway. The cellphone dropped immediately, bouncing on the floor and her mouth was hung wide open.

"Caroline," Clarke said as he stepped into the room further. 

Immediately, she hissed and flitted to him. Caroline didn't hesitate to pin him on the wall, tightening her grip around his neck. "What are you doing here." More of a command, not a question. 

Clarke's eyes were wide with distress and he tried to pry her hand away from him but she was too strong--too angry. He knew that he could have used his supernatural abilities to handle the situation differently but that was not the point. "I've come to apologize--"

"The only way I'm going to forgive you is by seeing you suffer," she screamed and threw him across the room. Clarke collided against the wall, sliding to the floor. He rapidly picked himself up, arranging his suit.