A Different Breed ▻ Legacies [1]

10

In Dorian's classroom, all of his students, including Hope, Valerie, Josie, and Lizzie, sat in a circle, holding hands, "All right, gather together," He instructed, "Chain spells are about the fluid movement of energy from witch to witch." Dorian had a confused look on his face when he realized one of his students weren't there, "Where's Penelope Park?"

"Um, lady cramps, Mr. Williams," Lizzie informed her teacher as she looked up at him.

Dorian nodded his head in understanding, "Sorry I asked." He sighed, "A disharmonious group makes for an uneven flow."

As the group heard his words, all of the female students began to chuckle, except for Hope, who rolled her eyes.  A letter soon came flying through the air, which Dorian quickly grabbed.

"Uh oh, who's in trouble with the headmaster?" Josie commented sarcastically.

"Probably the same exact people who started a rumble with the local kids at a football game. This isn't The Outsiders, there's no need for one of those," Valerie retorted, earning a glare from Lizzie.

"'Lizzie Saltzman, Josie Saltzman, and babies make four," Dorian informed the group and both Josie and Lizzie's eyes darted over to Hope and Valerie, who were just as shocked as them.

Meanwhile later, the Saltzman twins, Hope, and Valerie all stood in the library with Alaric, "This makes no sense, Dad." Lizzie complained to her father, "Why are we being punished?"

"Because you started a brawl at a charity football game that risked exposing what we really do here," Alaric replied in an obvious tone.

"Well, you weren't mad last night," Lizzie remarked in a pouty voice.

"I was mad last night. My undying love for my daughters just happened to trump my rage," He replied, "I volunteered everyone in the game, so stop complaining. You're lucky that it's just community service and not actual jail time."

"Um, what do you mean?" Valerie asked, "I got way more than community service. I got my magic made dormant for a week in counting." She complained.

"Well, that was your mother's choice, not mine," Alaric replied before Lizzie butted in.

"Can I at least offer a rebuttal in my defense, if it pleases the court?" She asked.

Alaric sighed before gesturing for her to continue, "First of all, I was provoked. My response was totally proportional considering the level of abuse that I was forced to endure." Lizzie explained and both female hybrids couldn't help but laugh, "And secondly..." She trailed off, "If anyone should take the blame, it's Josie."

Josie's eyes widened as she stared at her sister in disbelief, "What?"

"I'm sorry. I totally cracked under cross, but if you had just let Kaleb catch the ball..." Lizzie started but was cut off as she and her sister began to argue.

"You'd still be in trouble." Alaric interrupted.

"But nice job throwing your sister under the bus," Hope commented in a sarcastic tone.

"Thank you, Hope," Josie thanked Hope, causing Lizzie's eyes to widen in shock.

"Speaking of, the bus leaves in ten minutes, and I expect all four of you to be on it, working together today, harmoniously and without drama. End of debate." Alaric explained.

"Val and I weren't even at the game, why are we being punished?" Hope asked confused.

Alaric nodded his head, "You two know what you did." He told the two girls, causing Lizzie to smirk at them.

"All right, now, go, all of you," Alaric clapped his hands together, "Come on."

As Josie and Lizzie listened to their father's orders, Hope and Valerie stayed in place, "Seriously?" Valerie asked him annoyed.

"What part of what I said needs translating?" He said to the two girls.

"We want to help you with research," Hope replied, "It'll help since Ophelia's outside school walls with Jeremy Gilbert, doing whatever you told her to do."

"Dorian has a master's degree in library science. I think the adults have it covered, even without Ophelia." Alaric assured them.

Valerie scoffed loudly, "That's not fair! You only play by the stupid grown-up rules when you don't need something from us." She complained to him.

"I am spinning right now, Val. And I can't drag the two of you or anyone any further into this until I figure out what's going on, okay?" He explained to them, "So right now, I need you to be two kids keeping a dragon-sized secret together today until I get some answers. Understand?"

Hope was about to speak up in argument when Valerie gripped onto her arm, "Yes, understood." She replied for both herself and Hope before dragging her along with her toward the bus.

_______

"So what did you do?" Lizzie asked Hope and Valerie as they all got off of the community service bus, "My dad never gets mad at the two of you. You're the prodigal daughters. Must have been juicy."

"Lizzie, you better shut up befo--" Valerie began to threaten Lizzie, her eyes glowing florescent yellow as she lifted up her hand, forgetting her magic was made dormant.

Hope glanced around to make sure no one saw Valerie's eyes before pulling the girl's hand back down, "Sorry, no time for girl talk," She replied, "Public service awaits us."

"All right, listen up," Dorian spoke up, "It's a beautiful day. You got options: litter, weeds, graffiti. Your choice." he explained as he held out one of the sticks used to pull up garbage to Kaleb, who gave him a weird look before finally taking it.

"Man, it's bad enough we get punished while the humans get a pass, but there ain't no way in hell I'm picking up their garbage," Kaleb explained as he tried to hand Lizzie the stick.

Lizzie lifted her hands up in surrender, "Uh, I don't do trash either--" She began to say until Hope suddenly came over.

"I love trash, as of this moment," Hope commented, taking the stick from Kaleb's hand, "Come on, Val."

"Perf. It suits you, Hope," Lizzie remarked and both Valerie and Hope turned to give her an annoyed look, "Looks like we're scrubbing paint today," She told her sister, only to have the conversation be interrupted.

"Or you could always join us," Valerie suddenly spoke up, a smile forming on her lips as Lizzie and Josie turned to her, "You're more than welcome to change Hope and I's duo into a trio, Josie."

Josie smiled as she turned to glance at her sister before back at Valerie, "You know what? I'd love to, Val. Count me in." She responded before walking over to the two girls, leaving Lizzie, who looked like she was fuming.

"Fine, daddy's girls," Lizzie snapped at them before turning to look at the rest of the group who were taking part in community service, "Anyone else?" She questioned and no one responded.

As everyone began their community service, Lizzie turned to MG, "Get the lead out, MG." She commented before beginning to walk away.

MG sighed, giving Josie an apologetic look before following after Lizzie. Valerie couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head, "Dude, he is so whipped." She commented before she started her community service just like everyone else was.