CHAPTER NINETEEN:
MAKES ME FEEL SAFE

SHE DIDN'T OWN A DRESS. She didn't own clothes besides that extra pair she had brought with her that was left in her car. So how the hell was she supposed to go to a dance when she had nothing to wear? Lilianna sat on her bed, a small frown on her face as she stared at herself through the mirror. She watched the veins appear under her eyes as her irises turned black with hunger. She swallowed thickly, forcing the veins to retreat as she grabbed the blood bag that had been stored in her room, boredly sinking her teeth into it as she tried to figure out what it was that she was going to do.

The sound of knocking on her door made her stop. She looked up towards her door, slowly removing the blood bag from her teeth before putting it to the side. She wiped her mouth with her hand, licking the blood from her fingers before pushing her dark hair back from her face. Lilianna forced herself up from the bed as she made her way towards her door. She couldn't help herself when she listened, listening to the other person's heart beat and it didn't take her long to realize it was someone other than Hope.

She pulled open her bedroom door, eyebrows furrowing when she saw Josie standing there with a wide smile plastered on her face. "Uh. . . hello. Josie, right?" Josie nodded. "Alright. Well, what can I do for you, Josie?"

"More like what can I do for you?" Josie replied. Lilianna stared at her before stepping to the side and allowing Josie into the room. She closed the door behind her before turning to face Josie who immediately headed towards the closest only to stop in surprise when the closet was empty. She frowned, turning to look at her. "No clothes?" Lilianna shook her head. "Not a dress. Make up. Anything? You've been here for almost two weeks now." She huffed in frustration. "Well, I guess you're just going to have to come with me."

"Can I finish this first?" Lilianna questioned, holding up the blood bag as she started to drink from it once more. Josie nodded uncomfortably, turning away as she scanned Lilianna's room. The hunter couldn't believe how quickly she had adapted to becoming a vampire. She thought it would've been hard, but according to Hope she had better restraint than any new born vampire she'd ever met. She finished the blood bag before tossing it in the trashcan placed beside of the bed before turning to Josie and clearing her throat. "After you."

The two teenagers made their way down the hall, taking a few twists and turns until they finally came across Josie's room which was shared with her twin sister, Lizzie. The blonde Saltzman twin looked up and simply raised an eyebrow at the sight of Josie bringing Lilianna into the room. She didn't question it, and instead finished getting ready for the dance that was taking place in an hour. They didn't have a lot of time and Josie knew that though it seemed that Lilianna hadn't really noticed.

"I don't know if you remember her, but that's my sister, Lizzie." Josie introduced, nodding her head towards Lizzie before turning back towards her closest and pushing her way through it as she tried to find a dress for Lilianna to wear. Josie kept glancing back at her with each dress she grasped, a frown of disapproval always falling on her face before she went to the next one. Lilianna sat there awkwardly on Josie's bed, her arms crossed over her chest.

Lizzie decided to make conversation. "So, you're the one that's somehow managed to make Hope Mikaelson have human emotions."

"Lizzie!" Josie sighed.

Lilianna shrugged. "I guess? I don't. . . I don't really know how to answer that."

"Ignore her." Josie apologized.

"I was just curious." Lizzie hummed. She stood up, making her way over towards Lilianna, a white dress covering her body. "Hunter turned vampire. How ironic. What's it like? The desire to hunt everyone around you with your arrows but at the same time rip their throats out with your teeth?"

"Lizzie!"

"Sorry." Lizzie apologized with a roll of her eyes. "Just not sure if we can trust you right yet. You may be supernatural, but you're still a hunter. And you're probably even a better one now. I'm just testing you, that's all."

"It's alright." Lilianna nodded her head. "You have every right to be suspicious of me."

"I'm surprised Hope trusted you as easily as she did."

"Me too." Josie couldn't help but agree. "Why did she trust you so quickly?"

"How should I know?" Lilianna mumbled. "All I know is that she's the one that found me practically dead. . .she saved my life. Twice. I owe her everything. We've just had this bond, I guess? It's weird. I don't know why I trust her as much as I do, or why she trusts me just as much. But I feel comfortable around her. She makes me feel safe."

Josie smiled widely at Lilianna's words. "I never thought Hope would find someone for her. She's truly stubborn. Has been since we were little. But, I'm glad she found you, Lilianna. I'm sorry you had to become a vampire, but maybe it was for the better."

Lilianna scoffed. "Sure. I'll just never age again. I'll never grow old. Have grey hair. Have children of my own. I'm stuck at this age forever. And that. . . that sucks." She swallowed thickly, forcing away thought of what could have been before offering Josie a small smile. She shrugged her shoulder before saying, "I've always been told yellow or black looks good on me."

Josie pursed her lips for a moment, turning back towards her closet before motioning for Lilianna to stand up. She did so and Josie grabbed a gorgeous black dress before holding it up to her. A smile spread across her face and she nodded. "Perfect."