Secrecy (Hosie)

Part 96: Aftermath

As air once again fills Hope's lungs, her heart finding a beat again, there's a harsh ringing in her ears, a burning sensation in her eyes as they witness the light illuminating the room.

The electrical buzzing, the air against her skin, the various pulses invading her mind at once, it's all overwhelming as she gasps awake and quickly sits up, now in transition, though the urge to feed isn't at the forefront quite yet.

Instead, she tries to focus on remembering how to breathe, the glimpse of her loved ones greeting her when her eyes open, just before closing again as they can't yet adjust to the light.

"Rebekah, turn out the—" Freya's words die out when the light bulbs explode suddenly, an obvious magical reaction from the full Tribrid.

The sound of the bulbs bursting strikes her eardrums harshly. She winces at the feeling, reaching up to her head to try and stop her growing headache.

So many things triggering each of her senses all at once puts her mind in overdrive, especially given how everything is heightened.

Freya and Rebekah are both trying to coach her through it, but her mind can't seem to focus on either of their voices. There's too much all at once.

Until a soft hand caresses her cheek, and an even softer voice finds her ears.

"Focus on me, baby," Josie whispers gently.

Hope instinctively leans into Josie's touch. Only, it feels different. She feels the sensation not only in her cheek, but the nerves throughout her entire body tingle at the simple touch.

Hope's previously anxious and unsteady breathing finally begins to even out. And when Hope is finally able to open her eyes, Josie's are met by Hope's usual golden hues, making the brunette wonder if they will look any different once Hope finally feeds and completes her transition.

"Thank you," Hope finally utters once she gathers herself enough to speak.

But, with Josie's wrist so close to her lips, Josie's pulse reaching her ears, the veins beneath Hope's eyes bulge and darken briefly, as the auburnette takes a shaky breath, suddenly so affected and entranced by the steady rhythm of Josie's heart.

She hadn't even noticed her name being called the first couple of times by her aunts, until it finally registers, and she tries to pull herself out of her trance to look at them.

Rebekah unnecessarily reminds her, "You need to feed, love."

Hope looks hesitant already. The last thing she wants to do is hurt anyone.

But Josie trusts her. Completely. So she removes her hand from Hope's cheek to take Hope's hand in her own, and she immediately offers, "Drink from me."

Even just those words have Hope's gums aching, her fangs ready to break through and comply. And again, the veins under her eyes grow dark.

Everyone else in the room, including Hope, seems hesitant. The last thing they need is for Hope to lose control and hurt Josie.

Freya assures the Tribrid, "I can stop you if you begin to lose control. Josie will be safe, I promise."

Hope takes a steadying breath, looking to Josie for confirmation, and when Josie offers her a reassuring smile, Hope nods, "Okay."

Rebekah suggests when she senses Josie's next question, "Go for the wrist. The neck will be too overwhelming for the first feed, especially when feeding from a loved one."

Josie nods in understanding before some sense of anticipation settles in her stomach, wonder how Hope's first feed will turn out. She squeezes Hope's hand, signaling for her to go ahead, so Hope complies and brings Josie's wrist close to her lips, veins darkening and fangs finally breaking through her gums. It sends a shiver down Josie's spine when Hope's fangs initially graze her skin. Even Josie senses the almost predatory tease to her skin, though it's very brief and unintentional.

Until finally, Josie feels the slight pinch feeling, Hope's fangs sinking into her wrist.

Hope tries to control herself, but from the first drop, she's addicted.

Josie watches as Hope's irises become a much brighter golden color on the outside and nearly red surrounding her dilating pupils, the white of her eyes darkening a bit like a bloodshot shadow.

And if not for the sudden rumbling and darkness coming from outside the window, Hope might've lost control. But the change in the weather makes her carefully pull away from Josie's wrist, as everyone else in the room turns their attention to the storm outside, an obvious effect of the birth of the true Tribrid, the completion of the greatest supernatural transition in history.

Except for Josie and Hope, whose eyes stay locked on each other, and Hope savors the taste of her fiancé on her tongue in an all new way.

She closes her eyes, taking a shaky breath to try and control herself, the desire to bite into Josie again becoming overwhelmingly strong.

She somehow manages to turn her attention toward the window, finally observing the weather change. The skies are dark, and there's a red hue to the clouds and lightening. It's clearly a supernatural storm.

"Wow," Caroline finally utters, speaking for everyone else in the room.

And with another deep breath from Hope, the rumbling becomes a little more faint, the storm becomes a little less dark, and the pounding in Hope's head becomes a little more bearable.

"Hey," Josie whispers to get Hope's attention, cupping her cheeks in her hands as Hope turns to meet her prideful gaze, "You did it. No pain and no mess," She reassures the Tribrid, knowing Hope was worried about hurting her.

And Hope's relief finally washes over her, seeing the loving and proud look in Josie's eyes.

I did it.

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"Are you sure you are ready for this, Hope?" Cleo asks as she hands the jar containing the last of the remaining Malivore mud to the Tribrid, now that they all have gathered outside, near the edge of the school grounds, after having given Hope some time to adjust to being outside for the first time since her transition.

Hope nods, noting just how far her friendship with Cleo has come, how drastically their dynamic has changed since Cleo first learned of her identity.
Cleo went from trying to kill her to free herself from Malivore to letting Hope take all the time she should need.

But Hope doesn't want to wait any longer. Now's the time to finally put all of this Malivore chaos behind them.

She wants to move forward with Josie, and she can't do that with this threat constantly exacerbating her paranoia.

With that in mind, she removes the spell she cast to protect the jar, and she opens the lid before setting the jar down.

She bites into her wrist to draw blood, before muttering a spell, creating an airborne stream of her own blood into the jar.

The mud immediately reacts to the blood of the Tribrid, the destruction of Malivore finally coming to pass within only a minute, something so long anticipated.

Hope lets out a sigh, along with her family members, Josie's parents, and the super squad, once the mud has completely disappeared,

"It's finally over."

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Any predictions for what happens next?

Hope thinks the war is over, but with 4 chapters to go...anything can happen ;)

Next Chapter: Summoned.