Chapter 20

                                    

                                          
OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL GATE-NIGHT
[Lizzie and Hope are standing near gates. Mg is compelling Sasha.]
Lizzie: (to Hope) Was she bitten?
Hope: No.
MG: You're gonna be fine. There was a party in the woods. You and Dana had the time of your lives. But on the way home, you guys were attacked by a mountain lion. You survived and Dana didn't. There was nothing you could do.
Sasha: Dana's dead?
Lizzie: Just take it all away. Tell her not to feel anything.
"You acn't just take someone's emotions." Said Audrey.
"Tell that to your father." Said Damon.
"Well... then tell your brother that when he makes a deal, he should follow it and if he can't, then he shouldn't make a deal in first place." Said Audrey. Klaus kisses Audrey's head for defending him. Damon is about to answer, but Stefan nudges him and gives him pleading look to not answer. They don't need pissed off Mikaelsons right now.
Hope: You can't compel her not to grieve.
Lizzie: I'm helping her.
Hope: Tell her that it's gonna hurt. It always will. Tell her that some days will be harder than others... but eventually she'll remember the good times she had with Dana, too. Tell her to hold on to those, because it's the key to getting through this. [Lizzie looks at her sympatheticaly.]
Hayley hugs Hope to her chest. People look at Hope and Audrey empathetically.
SALVATORE SCHOOL-GYM-SAME TIME
[Audrey and her pack are playing the ball. Rafael enters the gym. Josie is with him.]
Josie: Are you sure that you want to do this?
Rafael: You saw how they treated me. I don't think going lone wolf's an option anymore. Do you?
Josie: Don't look at me. I'm a twin. I don't do anything solo.
Rafael: Look, after Cassie died, I thought Landon was the only pack that I'd ever have. I didn't think that I needed anyone else. Be honest with me.
Is this school, these people... keeping Landon here... Is it worth it?
"It is." Said Hope.
"For some people yes." Said Audrey.
Josie: This place is flawed. Every single person here is cursed in some way, whether it's blood or just life. Everyone has issues of their own that they're dealing with. But we're all in this together. Every single person here, we look out for each other. So, yeah. It's worth it. [Ball rolls to Rafael. Josie picks it up and hands it to Rafael.]
Rafael: Medicine ball. They play for keeps.
"It is perfect for someone with our strength." Said Audrey.
Audrey: You are late. 
Rafael: Yeah. So... how do we do this?
Audrey: Josie, leave.
Josie: But-
Audrey: It wasn't a question. This is wolf business and last time i checked you weren't one. [Josie looks at Rafael. Rafael nods at her reassuringly. Josie leaves.]
Audrey: So... Before joining i usually talk to wolf alone to hear their curse activating story, so i know it's safe to let them join the pack. [Rafael looks panicked.]
Audrey: But i know your story, so we can skip it. Unless you want to talk about it. In which case, i'm ready to listen. [Rafael nods hesistenly.]
Hayley and Klaus smile at her.
Audrey: If you have a problem, you can come to anyone of us in the pack, because in this pack we help each other and we protect each other.
"It should be like that in every pack." Smiled Hayley.
Audrey: I-- have heard about their rude attiude toward you, which i promise won't happen. You have to understand we, wolves, are very loyal and fierce. They were just trying to protect me, so don't hold a grudge against them.
Rafael: I get it. I would do the same for Landon.
Audrey: Pack isn't just a group, it's family. We will stand with you and we ask same from you. If you have a problem, you can always come to me. 
I'm the alpha, i'm the leader and you listen to me. You never disobey me, excpecially in public. If you have problem with what i do or say, you can talk to me privatly and we'll discuss it. About everything that is connected to pack, final decision is mine, But i'm not unreasonable dictator, I'll take in consideration your ideas and protests. Understood?
Hayley, Marcel, Freya, Elijah and Klaus look proud of Audrey and her leadership.
Rafael: Yes.
Audrey: Okay. Now you know the main rules. Last step is you kneel.
"What?" Asked Caroline.
"He has to prove, he accepts me as Alpha. Werewolves are pridefull, excpecially males. They always think they are the alphas. You have to show them who is in charge. This is for them to prove they accept i'm the one in charge, i'm the Alpha." Said Audrey. Klaus agreed with Audrey's reasoning. 
Rafael: What?
Audrey: You're gonna submit to your alpha, you take a knee. [Rafael looks hesistant.]
Audrey: If you don't kneel you don't join, because kneeling means you accept me as your leader. So what is it? Joining or leaving? [Rafael kneels. Audrey smiles.]
Audrey: You can stand up. [Rafael stands up.]
Audrey: Welcome to the pack, Rafael. [Audrey hugs Rafael, Surprised Rafael hugs back. Audrey lets go of him.]
"Why are you hugging him?!" Klaus narrowed his eyes at Rafael.
"They don't like Rafael because they are protective of me, so if i want them to accept him, i had to show that i forgave Rafael." Said Audrey.
"Smart." Said Freya.
[Jed gives Rafael a ball.]
Jed: It's your ball. [Rafael chuckles softly.]
SCHOOL'S GROUND-NIGHT
[Landon sits at the edge of floor, near water. Hope goes to him.]
Hope: So much for my plan to spend the day as a normal teenage girl. Did good back there.
Landon: Yeah. Felt nice to be part of the team... until you all accused me of being a monster.
"It was logical. He is the new one and after his appearance started everything." Said Marcel.
Hope: I'm sorry. It's just gonna take us some time before we can trust you again.
Landon: Yeah. I got that. Repeatedly. So let me lay this out for you all at once. I don't know why I was drawn to that Knife any more than I can explain why a supersized spider inhabited the body of a kid who used to bully me in high school. I don't know why creatures we've only read about in books are making cameos in Mystic Falls. I don't have an explanation for any of this. And let's be honest, neither do any of you. So as far as I can see, we're supposed to be in this together.
"Is it weird i still believe him? It just.. it feels like truth." Said Hayley.
[They don't notice Audrey, because they are busy talking.]
Landon: And this morning, all I wanted to be was sitting here. Part of all of this. Spending time with you. But all day long you ridiculed me, and then you hung me out to dry. When it mattered. You wanted to know what it's like to be normal? Congrats, Hope. You're officially normal.
Mikaelsons look murderous.
"Annoying bastard."murmured Audrey.
[Landon stands up to leave. Angry Audrey storms toward him, but Hope stands in front of Landon to protect him.]
Audrey: (to Landon) How dare you?! We had every bloody reason to not trust you. You lied, stole and used my sister's feelings for you and even if what you said is truth and you didn't mean to do any of that. You meant to do what you are doing right know! You meant to say those things, because you know it would hurt Hope. You are intentionally hurting my sister even through she apologiesed for something she shouldn't have. Yes, she shouldn't have, because you have absolutely no right or reason to blame Hope, because our mistrust to you is your own action's fault. You can't just keep lying and expect someone to trust you. You are just suspicious stanger who brough nothing but bad luck, danger and unknown creatures to us! Know your damn place! [Landon looks upset.]
"Go Audrey!" Cheered Klaus and Kol.
Hope: Audrey! You are going too far.
Audrey: So is he! He definetly has no right to talk to you like that! You deserve better than this. You deserve better than him. I don't know about you, but dad didn't raise me to take this treatment from anyone, excpecially not from some boy! 
Klaus looks proud of that.
[Hope's clearly touched by dad comment.]
Landon: I-- [Audrey tags at Hope's hand.]
Audrey: Come on, Hope! We have better things to do. [Hope leaves with Audrey. Upset Landon tries to chase Hope to explain himself, but Audrey's murderous glare makes him stop.]
Audrey smirk at that.
"You are enjoing this." Noficed Marcel.
"Of course i am. What's the point If you don't terrify people a little bit?" Said Audrey. Hayley shooks her head, slightly amused.
Hope: So.. are you stalking me now?
Audrey: I came because aunt Freya was asking you. You really should call them, you know? They are worried about you.
Hope: I--
Audrey: I know you blame yourself for our parents and uncle Elijah's death and that's why you don't want to face our family. [Hope looks away.]
"It's not your fault, Hope." Said Hayley.
"It isn't." Assured Klaus.
"It was our decision." Said Elijah.
Audrey: But it was not your fault. No one except youself blames you. They are just worried about you and miss you. It won't kill you to call them at least once a week or answer texts.
SALVATORE SCHOOL-LIZZIE AND JOSIE'S DORM-NIGHT
Alaric: I specifically asked you to wait.
Lizzie: I know, but...
Alaric: No buts. There are no buts, Lizzie. Okay, being a hero is not more important than being safe.
"Listen to your father!" Said Caroline.
Lizzie: I'm not a hero, Dad. The only reason I was trying to be is because that's how you're always treating Hope. Let's be honest. She's better at it than I'll ever be.
"You don't have to be like anyone else. You are perfect as you are." Said Caroline to Lizzie, even through she knew Lizzie couldn't hear.
Alaric: Hope is not the goal. Hope is a cautionary tale. And the reasons I trust her are the last things I'd ever want the two of you to experience. That's why I founded this school. That's why there are rules. 
Josie: Well, the only reason why we're alive today is because we broke the rules. Today Hope and Audrey did a spell that saved us, a spell that we would have known if the school taught us offensive magic. And then Lizzie almost died yesterday because you didn't tell us to be on the lookout for monsters. The past couple of days have proven that you cannot protect us from everything. We have to start learning how to protect ourselves.
Alaric: Oh, God. Is this that moment they talk about when parents lose all control?
"His daughters are talking to him on such an important subject and it is his reaction? Really?!" Said Audrey.
Lizzie/Josie: Dad.
Alaric: (Sighs) All right, I will take it under consideration. Okay? Now... go to bed. [Alaric starts leave, but stops at door and looks back at them.]
Alaric: I love you. Sort of. [Lizzie smiles.]
Salvatores smile.
[Alaric leaves and closes door behind.]
Lizzie: Where did that come from?
Josie: I guess I felt like launching the revolution.
Caroline looks proud of Josie for standing up, which from what she has seen Josie doesn't do often.
SALVATORE SCHOOL- KITCHEN- NIGHT
Kaleb: You sold me out!
MG: Yeah, I know. Lizzie caught me lying, and I-I just crumbled.
Kaleb: What? Dude, you got to know
who you stand with. And it can't be with some girl who thinks she's too good to give you the time of day. Vamps before tramps, remember?
"My daughter isn't a tramp!" Glared Caroline. Damon and Stefan glared at Kaleb, too.
"Arse." Said Audrey.
MG: Yeah. (Inhales sharply) N-No. Look, I appreciate the rhyme, but don't disrespect her like that. 
Caroline smiled at him.
MG: We got enough monsters out here as it is. We cannot become one of them.
Kaleb: (Scoffs) You're a puppet, MG. The headmaster and his daughter's little puppet.
MG: No, I'm not.
Kaleb: No? Then it doesn't bother you that she bosses you around and you just take it, right? I mean, he makes you run all his errands, and you just take it. Even today. They couldn't even let the vamps out on our own.
"They couldn't defeat it." Defnded Hope.
Kaleb: They had to send the witches to keep an eye on us. Hell, they even make rules about how we're supposed to eat, but they don't tell us what they're actually feeding us. 
MG: There's blood bags in that refrigerator right there. 
Kaleb: But not human blood!
MG: What are you talking about?
Kaleb: (Scoffs) You know what, man?Ask yourself why you don't see many rabbits running around the yard around here.
"He isn't completly wrong, but he isn't right either." Said Marcel.
SALVATORE SCHOOL- CORRIDOR- NIGHT
Kaleb: Evening, Officer. Let me guess, you're here to give me a medal.
Matt: Actually, I'm here to ask you a few questions.
Kaleb: About what?
Matt: About why half the Mystic Falls cheerleading squad's wearing scarves around their necks.
Alaric: Walk away, Matt. I'll handle this.
Kaleb: Oh, don't pretend like you on my side when you the one who told him.
Question is: who told you? Lizzie? MG?
"Moron!" Said Audrey.
"Idiot." Said the most of the cinema.
Alaric: Actually, you just did. I've had my suspicions, but I could never confirm them.
Kaleb: So... what are you gonna do about it? 'Cause I know you ain't locking me up. [Kaleb vamps out and tries to attack Matt, but Alaric vervains him.]
Matt: I've been doing this too long, Ric. If your kids are a threat, I'll be coming for them.
"What happened to Matt?" Said Caroline.
Alaric: If you threaten my kids, Sheriff, I'll be the one coming for you.
"Very rare Alaric W." Said Audrey.
SALVATORE SCHOOL/COTTAGE-NIGHT
[Alaric and Dorian are talking on phone.]
Alaric: We had a visit from an ancient body-snatching spider today.
Dorian: Wow, that's an... interesting development. [There is a loud voice outside.]
"It's another creature, isn't it?" Asked Davina.
Dorian: Hang on a sec. [Dorian stands up to see where sound came from.]
Alaric: Listen, why don't you come home? We were wrong. Nothing's coming your way. [Dorian sees one of Malivore's creature enter his house.]
Dorian: Hold that thought.