Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
✧･ﾟ: *✧･
Hope grudgingly opened her eyes, seeing Alaric sitting to her side, Iris sitting on the bed across from her. "Take it easy." Says Alaric. "The school's been evacuated, and you're in no shape to move. You'll be safe here."
"What's going on?" She asks.
Iris looks at Alaric, who stands up, crossbow in hand. "In a nutshell, Headmaster Vardemus was a trojan horse for Agent Clarke, and the sphinx doesn't want Landon for reasons no one can decipher, and Josie accidentally created a dark object of indeterminate power." He explains.
"I should help." Hope groans, beginning to sit up.
With a wave of her hand, Iris sends Hope back to the bed gently. "No." Her voice is demanding and low, shocking the three of them. Iris gulps, trying to ignore it. "You barely enough blood in your veins to breathe." She explains to her friend.
"Lie here and heal while I go and patrol the school. I'll be right back." Alaric says. "Iris will stay with you, just in case."
Iris sighs as Hope looks around the room, studying every Landon's put up since she's left. "Oh, hey." They both look over to see Ryan Clarke appear. "Miss me?"
"Clarke? How did you get in here?" Hope asks.
"My trusty ring. Creates illusions." He smirks. "I thought I'd camp out while your friends emptied out the school."
"Fluctus Inpulsa," Before Hope can finish, he wraps chains around her wrists.
He smiles. "Surprise. I found these in the school armory." He tells her. "Spelled shackles that neutralize a witch's power. Yet another of Ric's failsafes against supernaturals."
Iris sits up. "Too bad he doesn't have a second set." Her eyes grow black. "Mitt-" Before she can finish, Clarke pulls a second set, wrapping it around her wrists.
"Oh, Miss Iris, how I've missed our sweet banter." Clark chimes, leaning in a chair.
"Yeah, please, go ahead, make yourself comfortable." Hope grumbles. "And while you're at it, tell me what the hell you're doing here."
✧
"I burned through my monster food supply and I was still unstable." Clarke explains, wiping his skin. It reveals a layer of mud. "Once a mud man, always a mud man." He growls. "But not anymore. I have a new solution." His eyes land on Hope. "You. Why kill you when I can become a powerful Tribrid and stand up to my father once and for all?"
