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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍.
[𝟏𝟑]. 𝐋𝐄𝐓'𝐒 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐇
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄.
【 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 】
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❛ 𝘛𝘌𝘓𝘓 𝘔𝘌 𝘞𝘏𝘖'𝘚 𝘞𝘈𝘓𝘒𝘐𝘕𝘎
𝘈𝘙𝘖𝘜𝘕𝘋 𝘔𝘠 𝘏𝘌𝘈𝘋
𝘙𝘐𝘎𝘏𝘛 𝘕𝘖𝘞 ❜
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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐘-𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐊𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 Alaric and MG, coming to a halt before Hope, Lizzie, and unsurprisingly Landon, standing a few feet away from a statue with an oddly familiar face- MG's mom. A snort left Nathaniel at the sight of the phoenix, traces of the broken nose completely gone. That meant a vampire either fed him their blood or a witch had to do a healing spell. Either way, Nathaniel couldn't help but snort.

"How's the beak, birdboy?" Nathaniel deeply inhaled in a mocked tone.

"That is enough," Alaric's authoritative voice boomed. "Inside, Nathaniel. I said you're done, so you're done."

There was a slight pause and Nathaniel turned to Doctor Saltzman, eyes narrowing. The nephilim's stance gave the impression that Nathaniel was analyzing if he had heard his headmaster correctly, but everyone around the nephilim knew he had heard him just right. Nathaniel's standoffish attitude had everyone on edge.

That wasn't normal behavior in Nathaniel.

Never had the nephilim fought back against Alaric in the way he was in that moment. And maybe no one around him could notice, but Nathaniel felt himself being poisoned from the inside out. The nephilim's thoughts were processing differently and everything just seemed to not matter anymore.

Something was wrong.

"I'm sorry," Nathaniel chuckled darkly. "I don't think I heard you right."

Alaric inhaled. "Go cool down."

That's when Nathaniel stood before Alaric, pushing his chest against the headmaster's and looking him dead in the eyes. Gold flecks flushed over green and Doctor Saltzman could see some black swim in with the other two. Gray veins popped alongside white and that's when it clicked that something else was playing in Nathaniel's head.

Don't stand down.

"Make me."

Soft hands took a hold of his forearm, and the touch instantly screamed Hope. There was a weight in his chest being lifted and Nathaniel could see a red light beaming from the corner of his eye. Hope was using a calming spell, but the thing waltzing around Nathaniel's head wanted blood. It wouldn't allow calmness.

The nephilim only got clarity for a second.

"Help," Nathaniel stuttered out.

Then the nephilim turned cold again.

"Kind of lost him there for a second," Nathaniel chuckled out, popping his neck from side to side before sighing. "Now, let's finish what I left unattended, shall we?"

End it.

Nathaniel's pupils dilated as they turned gold, and with a brisk movement of his wrist, Landon's chin snapped upwards, the phoenix's neck cracking. Everyone slightly jumped as Landon fell to the floor and all Nathaniel could do was watch in amusement.

Lizzie's breath hitched. "Holy shit."

Nathaniel hummed.

"What are you?" Alaric inquired.

Nathaniel smiled in return. "We've been over this, Ric. Remember? Nephilim. Stronger, smarter, faster. You get the gist."

"Then who are you because you're not Nate."

"But I am," Nathaniel seemed to be taking everything as a joke and that made everyone nervous. "The darkest parts of him that is. And I can't even begin to tell you how good it is to finally be out and about."

That's when Nathaniel noticed Hope still holding onto his arm, and before the tribrid could grasp the situation fully, the nephilim was using telekinesis to throw her at a bush filled with roses. The only thing they heard was the sound of leaves crunching as Hope crashed, cutting herself with the thorns.

"Nate," Alaric tried carefully. "If this really is you, something is wrong- you need help."

"I'm amazing, Ric," Nathaniel cheered with a wicked grin as he saw Lizzie help Hope out of the bushes from the corner of his eye. "I've never felt this fucking great ever. You know, the end of the world just doesn't seem like a problem anymore... And now that I'm thinking about it, there are so many humans inside the school right now, it'd be a pity the place went up in flames, huh?"

Alaric gulped. "Think carefully."

"All I've ever been is careful," Nathaniel spat.

"I know you're angry-"

"You don't know the half of-" Nathaniel's features instantly softened and his whole demeanor fell. "...Ric, you need to tranquilize me right now," the nephilim said in a hurried tone, as if it pained him. "Something's wrong in my head- he keeps talking- I don't- I'm trying but he's moving something. I need to fight from the inside."

Nathaniel groaned before shaking his head.

"Get Freya!"

And then the nephilim gasped.

"Oh, he's quite the talker," Nathaniel chuckled and when Alaric tried to move, the nephilim caught him by his dress shirt, picking up the headmaster by the collar. "Now, where do you think you're going? We're just getting started."

That's when a syringe was pierced through Nathaniel's neck and the nephilim let Alaric go instantly to turn and- Jed? Jed was standing there and... Why was he holding the- Nathaniel's brows furrowed as the dizziness and confusion set in, betrayal began to instantly seep through the nephilim and nothing seemed to make any sense.

"Jed, what the hell?"

Jed shrugged. "Just following protocol."

What?

Then Nathaniel was out like a light.

When the nephilim came back to it he was sitting in a chair in an empty room. Everything around Nathaniel was pitch black, expect for the small light that reflected on the nephilim and the person siting across from him. Then, chills rang up Nathaniel's spine when he saw himself staring back at him.

"Now, Nate," his other self tsked with a mocking shake to his head. "Why can't you just let me help you?"

Nathaniel's eyes narrowed. "Why are you loose?"

His other self raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

"You're supposed to be packed away in the deepest parts of my brain, dumbass, but someone obviously unchained you," Nathaniel rolled his eyes and leaned forward. "Tell me who's walking around my head right now."

It hummed. "What's the fun in that?"

Nathaniel smirked and his other self began to suffocate, desperately searching for air. "I control things in here, you're part of me. Out there you're stronger because someone is pulling your strings, but right now, you're my bitch."

"Leave it alone."

Oh, how Nathaniel despised that voice.

"Lucifer."

"The one and only," Lucifer smirked as he walked himself into the light.

Nathaniel sighed, snapping his fingers to rid himself of his other self and Lucifer instinctively pulled the chair placed before Nathaniel and sat on it. It didn't matter how many times the nephilim came in contact with his maker, it always served to make him uncomfortable.

Not that Nathaniel was any close to showing it.

"How did you get in here again?"

Lucifer snorted. "Who says I ever left?"

Now that was something that made Nathaniel stop his train of thought. That could only mean Lucifer had been as quiet as he could as he roamed around Nathaniel's head and saw everything the nephilim saw. Every single trauma cooped up in his mind was now knowledge Lucifer had as well, and that wasn't any good for anyone but his father.

"You never turned to check if I was still in here. That's a bad ball play on your part, son," Lucifer chuckled, arms crossing over his chest.

Nathaniel's eyes narrowed. "Why now? You had so much time to do something."

Lucifer sighed, feigning sadness. "Heartbreak is a powerful thing. It leaves you vulnerable. Love is weakness, Nathaniel, I think it's time you learned that."

"So, you weren't strong enough to make a move until Hope broke my heart," Nathaniel stated, a mocking chuckle leaving him. "And this was your big move? That sucks, Lucy, I made an interception before you even got started."

"That's where you're wrong," Lucifer smiled wickedly and Nathaniel's smile faltered. "This is the start of the end, boy. All of you are playing my game now. And let me say, you're following it to a T."

Nathaniel huffed. "What?"

Lucifer chuckled. "Now, you can't expect me to be blurting out all my darkest secrets, can you?"

"You're not going to win."

"I told you, Nathaniel," Lucifer leaned forward. "I've seen this play out. It's all going to end at Malivore's doorstep. And trust me, Hope dying is going to be the least of your worries, son."

Nathaniel's heart skipped a beat.

"She's not dying."

Lucifer shrugged. "That all depends on you."

Nathaniel scoffed. "Stop trying to screw with my head. You're stuck in the cage. You're useless. The only reason you're here is because you're using my brain as a host. I'm not killing anyone and you're not escaping."

"You're in denial, boy-king."

And that was the last straw on Nathaniel's back.

"Get out of my head."

The light above them popped after Nathaniel's eyes turned gold and it left them in complete darkness.

Then, Nathaniel awoke with a gasp.

"Hold him down," Freya Mikaelson spoke.

The nephilim instantly searched around him with crazy eyes- the walls were painted with sigils, Nathaniel's wrists and ankles were bound in angel cuffs and standing with the nephilim in his own personalized cellar was Alaric, Freya, Kaleb and Rafael.

Nathaniel needed to brace himself.

"Lucifer's moving the strings," Nathaniel stated in a pained tone.

Kaleb held onto Nathaniel's wrists while Rafael held onto his ankles. And just as Freya began to chant, Nathaniel groaned, his back lifting from the bed he laid on. Hot white pain shot up his spine and stopped at his throat. Then, Nathaniel began to laugh hysterically. The nephilim's head fought back against Freya.

"This won't hold me here" Nathaniel continued to laugh, slightly gasping afterwards. "You know this, Ric. I'm too fucking strong for my own good."

But Freya continued to chant and Nathaniel stilled. That's the moment the witch stopped and silence overtook them. But it didn't last long, it never did. In seconds, Nathaniel let out a pained scream as red veins popped all over his body before seeping back into his skin. A power surge made everyone slightly lose their balance.

"Nate?" Alaric softly spoke.

Nathaniel's breathing was heavy.

And Kaleb and Rafael let him go.

"Come on, kid," Alaric tried again.

And Nathaniel's eyes shot open.

"How do you feel?" Freya asked.

"He's gone," Nathaniel spoke in a groggy voice.

Everyone couldn't help but sigh in relief.

It them around two minutes to fully untie Nathaniel from his bound and another five in the nephilim making his way towards his room for some needed rest. The occurrences of the day had officially wiped Nathaniel out and the nephilim didn't want to know anything for the next couple of weeks.

As Nathaniel laid tucked in his bed, looking at the ceiling and overthinking as usual; the nephilim heard the door to his dorm room creak as someone pushed it open. It didn't take long before Nathaniel's eyes fell on the perpetrator and-

Hope.

"Can I-?"

Nathaniel just nodded and scooted over.

Hope sighed softly, closing the door behind her and Nathaniel lifted the comforter so the tribrid could lay herself beside him. And she did. The nephilim buried his nose in her hair and Hope wrapped her arms around Nathaniel's middle. Both intertwined their legs and laid in complete silence, content.

"I'm so sorry."

Nathaniel nodded. "I know."

"You have every right to feel how you feel," Hope validated just above a whisper. "I screwed up big time because I was focusing on the wrong things and being a complete asshole. I understand your anger and your frustration. I am so, so sorry."

"I don't know if you're ready for me, Hope."

Hope sighed shakily.

Nonetheless, Nathaniel continued. "I care about you- fuck, I'm in love with you. But you've got your feelings mixed up. You need to figure yourself out so you can stop hurting me. That's why I let you go."

Hope nodded. "I know."

"It doesn't mean I don't care about you anymore or that I'll stop loving you any time soon," Nathaniel added, kissing Hope's forehead. "Do you and I'll do me. If things need to be for us, they will be."

"I'm going to fight for you, Nate."

Nathaniel hummed. "And it's your right. But you can't expect me to do the same. It's your turn, Hope."

And Hope understood.

"How was the pageant?" Nathaniel asked.

That served to change the direction of the conversation.

And Hope sighed. "Roman escorted me. I won."

"Congratulations," Nathaniel stated, his heart aching in his chest. "Guess that's the first win for Salvatore, huh? You made history."

"I guess," Hope agreed before making a slight pause. "How do you feel? You know, after the whole severing connections with the devil thing. Ric said it was harder than last time."

Nathaniel pursed his lips. "I'm fine. Tired."

Hope looked up at him. "You want to sleep?"

And honestly- no. The scenario of Hope dying kept playing in Nathaniel's head, because by the way it was said, it made the nephilim uneasy. The tone made it seem inevitable, and the person- being- that said it was Lucifer himself. There had to be some truth to it.

Without uttering a word, Nathaniel looked into Hope's eyes and went in for a kiss. When their lips met, Nathaniel placed his hand on Hope's left cheek and the tribrid mirrored his action in surprise.

Even though it was an intimate thing, Hope knew it didn't change any part of what Nathaniel had just said. The nephilim hadn't changed his mind, he wanted comfort. And Hope would provide that because she needed the same thing in return.

And that's when pieces of clothing started disappearing as the tribrid and the nephilim lost themselves in each other.

▆▆▆▆▆▆ ★ ▆▆▆▆▆▆

unedited.
there are 2 to 3 chapters left
of this book before season 1
is done with it,,,,
and i toLD YA'LL NOT TO TRUST
ANYONE AND YA'LL WERE HYPING
UP JED SO MUCH LMAOOO
JOKES ON YOUUUUU
i don't even know if ya'll are
ready for the ending i have planned
since the literal BEGINNING of
this book lmao, i never changed it