Legends ⤛ Legacies ⤜

Just because I'm strong enough to handle pain does not mean I deserve it

Deyanira was used to pain by now. She was so used to it that she didn't think pain could shake her to her core anymore. She should've known better. She should have known that pain takes many different forms. Maybe she was numb to some pain, to the kind that made her scream in agony. But she was not used to the other kind, the kind that leaves you silent in shock. That leaves you staring at a wall, wondering how you could physically feel a knife in your heart when there was no knife at all; even when you know that pain, it still has the power to make you fall to your knees.

For a moment, Deyanira had thought the worst part of someone leaving was that you would never see them again, but now she knew that it was the moment when they came back that hurt the most. Because every heart yearns for the pain to stop, no matter how many times the brain has told it that pain is eternal. 

🔥🔥🔥

"Given our recent influx of monsters, the Sheriff and I have decided we need to take drastic action. Please give him your full attention." Dr. Saltzman instructed them as Sheriff Donavon approached the podium at the front of the room.

"Like Dr. Saltzman was saying, local girls Dana Lilien and Sasha Stoteraux didn't come home last night." A picture of the girls was being passed around. "Dana sometimes skips town for a few days to party, but this is a first for Sasha."

"Thank you, Sheriff Donavon." Dr. Saltzman took his place at the front of the room. "Now, while the knife is away with Dorian and things are quiet on his end, it won't hurt to assume the worst." The headmaster continued to drone on, and at this point, Deya was trying to keep her composure as she felt Rafael's eyes on the back of her head. She had been doing her best to avoid him, but it was proving a difficult task. "Now, I'll need a few of you to volunteer to go to Mystic Falls High under the guise of an exchange program meant to improve relationships between our schools, which, unfortunately, is necessary, given recent events. Now, I give you permission to compel them to gather materials for locator spells because any information we can get will make all the difference." 

"Well," Lizzie began, rising from her seat in the front row and moving to stand at the front. "I guess that I can set aside my differences with Dana for a day because that is what heroes do. So... I volunteer as tribute."

"She battles one gargoyle, and suddenly she's Mother Theresa," Hope whispered to Deya. 

"I was getting more Katniss Everdeen vibes, if you know what I mean," Deya whispered back. Hope and Deya shared a little smile as MG and Kaleb both rose from their seats to volunteer. 

"I'd like to help," Hope said as well, surprising everybody. 

"Me, too." Deya offered; she figured it was the easiest way to avoid her brothers.

🔥🔥🔥 

Deya felt like she could finally breathe as they all exited the bus and stepped into the courtyard of Mystic Falls High. Deya had spent the whole time on the bus trying to avoid eye contact with Landon.

"Girls are missing, so get your wedgie trauma in check or leave." Deya heard Lizzie tell Landon.

"He's fine now; let it go," Deya told the blonde, which earned her a glare from Lizzie, which she took in her stride, and a grateful look from Landon, which she tried her best to ignore.

"Okay, here's the deal," Lizzie said, beginning to hand out orders. "Landon, you talk to any of the people you still know from when you went here." Landon opened his mouth to say something, but Lizzie did not give him the chance. "Hope, you try to not deliberately alienate the entire student body while the rest of us save the world."

"This isn't a contest, Lizzie." Hope argued.

"You're right. It's a mission. For a hero and her league of... whatevers."