first, HOW THE HELL ARE THERE 5.48k READS?! I swear every time I load up this app there's like, literally hundreds more new reads and then more votes which is REALLY making me beyond ecstatic!!!

I showed my friends and one of them- let's call him Sir Thicc Daddy Taco (his official nickname btw)- he claimed I would forget about them if I ever became famous HA

as if I'd ever forget that sexy name.

SECOND & FINAL: officially 20 chapter chapters and I feel... odd. but in a good way. it feels nice to brain dump an idea and forge it into an actual story that real people actually read and support. so, as a thank you, I give you ✨gay chemistry✨. because that's what I do, I give gay cause I am gay, and any form of gay is noice.

okay, I go now. enjoy :3

also, name the characters in the picture 🤔

IRONIC innit?

p.s. I promise there will be gay gay soon~

Twenty

It's rather safe to say Melori's mood didn't not get better after chatting with Hope earlier. Because it did, massively, regardless of the lingering anger she felt. Given the fact that she's a wolf, she always tries to not let anger get the best of her. Instead, she let her happiness show. And Mel was quite happy.

Since it was now the end of the day, class-wise, Mel went on to locate Davina for that special thing she's gonna do. It still scared the girl shitless, by the way, and she's absolutely, positively not looking forward to what that is.

She'd reserved the student study room where the fireplace is just for us. Why? No idea. But the fact that there's a fireplace in the room concerned her.

Davina was already there when she arrived, standing in front of the fire, staring at it. But even though her attention was clearly on the movement of the flames, she knew Mel was there. She motioned her closer to her, so Melori followed her command and stood next to her.

"Are you ready?"

"Excuse me when I say this, but hell fucking no, I'm not."

Davina let out an ugly laugh, throwing her head back as she did. "Oh, that's priceless."

"You're amused by my mental suffering? That's evil, D. That's just pure evil."

"I promise you got this."

"Got what, exactly? What am I supposed to be doing?"

Davina turned her entire body to face Mel. Her face held a devious expression that one would confuse for a potential killer witch. And in her eyes, the same thing showed, plus both fear and hope.

She's worried, but also not. That makes Melori worried. But definitely worried.

"You're gonna put out the fire before it gets out of hand."

"I'm gonna-?! What fire?!"

Just as I said it, Davina's figure literally disappeared right in front of her very eyes. It's almost impressive how she did that... Mel would appreciate it more if she didn't just say she has to put out a fire with magic... that she doesn't know how to control.

"Davina? Where did-"

The fire crackled loudly, growing larger and larger by the second until eventually, it snapped out towards the nearest flammable surface. I jumped back in an attempt to not get burned. Obviously, the way it acted wasn't natural, and I figured it was Davina that controlled it.

"You have to put it out, Mel."

Mel's head snapped toward the archway entrance where Davina stood with her arms crossed. She figured the one that was there a second ago must've been a decoy.

Very cool magic trick, Claire. But what the fu-

"I put a barrier spell up. Nothing can get in or out besides the fire, so you have to put it out using magic."

"This is nuts, you know I can't do it!"

"Clock's ticking, Mel."

The girl growled in frustration, ready to smash something inward. She knew that if she couldn't get the fire to stop, she was endangering the entirety of the school.

But surely Davina wouldn't let it get too out of hand, right?

"Time's up." Davina's open hand turned slightly to the side and just as she did so, the fire behind Mell spread to another piece of furniture. "It's never gonna happen if you don't try, damn it."

Melori shook her head in pure disbelief at the situation. As she turned around, she saw that the fire had risen so high that it practically reached the ceiling.

At this rate, it could really get out of control.

Multiple students and other teachers were rushing in from many directions to see what was happening. Many of them smelled the burning coming from the room so they had to investigate.

One of the other teachers tried entering the room but, of course, ended up faceplanting into the barrier.

"What the hell are you doing standing here while she's in there wi-"

"Teaching moment," Davina interrupted, not taking her eyes off the hybrid for even a second. "She'll put it out."

"I've heard the stories about you and your magic. You're way out of control, and for you to think a hybrid could put out a fire like that? And with what? Magic?" More and more people started gathering around, some panicking because the fire just continued to grow around Mel.

Davina didn't bat an eye at the supposedly hurtful words. She simply kept her yes forward to watch Melori attempt to concentrate. Davina cleared her throat and stepped only slightly closer to the barrier.

She shook her head slowly. "People like you underestimating and undermining someone so consistently is why the world is as messed up as it is today." She then turned her head slightly to eye the man. "Shut up and watch."

Even Jack, Hope, and the twins had come to see whatever was happening.

"I really hope you know what you're doing, Davina," Hope whispered.

"Trust me on this."

Regardless of the many students at the barrier anxiously watching the flames circle around Melori- plus the various whispers among them- she remained still, closed her eyes and focused everything into channeling whatever magic she had.

Mind, body, soul, willpower... Mel channeled all of it. She was able to block out most of the noise as she tried remembering what it was like in Malivore.

The desperation and dedication to getting out of that godforsaken place.

To one day meet her princess. To protect her.

To avenge her family.

Maybe, she thought, those were the driving forces that made her magic work. All she needed to do was focus... and remember those feelings.

As she extended both her hands to the side, it felt like something had gotten hold of them. Something familiar. Someone familiar, in each hand. It felt like when her parents, Lori and Blake, held her hands to let them know she'd always be with her.

It's safe to say they most definitely are.

Inhaling deeply, Melori turned her hands upward, feeling the warm rush of power extend to them from her very core. She opened her eyes to watch the scene unfold before her; every flame in the room slowly becoming encased in solid, crystallized ice, most in the perfect shape of the flame. If seconds ago, there wasn't a magic-induced fire about burn the entire room, the look of it would be beautiful. The ice was thick enough to contain the live flame but clear enough for it to still be seen.

And it happened not a second too late, too. If Mel had done it any later, the fire just five inches to her right would've gotten her.

"I told you could do it," Davina laughed excitedly.

Melori stood there, amazed while staring at the ice sculptures. Never has she ever felt this amazing. Alive. And this power was inside of her this whole time?

It's like she's been ripped off all her life!

"That was... amazing!! I mean, this is- oh... oh, what about the damage?"

Davina quickly let down the barrier and stepped into the room. She swung an arm over the girl's shoulders, then snapped her other fingers. Suddenly there were no fire-ice sculptures. No fire. No burn marks or destroyed books or chairs... Everything was normal. Almost as if it didn't happen. But it did.

"Fixed. And now you, little Blake, are a fully activated witch. Were-witch. Tribrid-to-be?"

"Still working on that, huh?"

"Yes. Also, there's like, two dozen people behind us and they saw everything, so..."

"Wait, what? Did you just out me to the entire school?!"

"No, like I said it's only two dozen."

"Two dozen people that will alert everyone in the school. They know I'm-"

"It's no big deal." Davina turned her head to look at Hope. Directly beside her was Jack, who was just as shocked as every other being at the archway. "Hope, I think you should escort her to your chambers."

Hope shrugged as nonchalantly as Davina was. "Sure, but next time you ask, don't make yourself sound like some overprotective 16th century ruler of a kingdom..."

"Oddly specific. Just take the ice queen to your room."

Hope rolled her eyes slightly but still stepped down to grab Mel's shoulder and lead her towards the exit. The crowd of absolutely shaken student and teachers alike parted slightly to make way for them. But given she didn't like all the attention, Melori simply kept her head down.

However, before Hope could make the turn in the direction of their dorm, Mel grabbed hold of the other tribrid's hand and sprinted out the front door. Someone must've opened it during the little show Davina put on for them.

It was their day to run anyway, so why not go about it now?

Melori continued to lead Hope through the woods, hopping over every fallen branch, tree, rock, leading the girl further and further into the woods in hopes to reach her new favorite spot in Mystic Falls.

It was this medium-high waterfall that flowed beautifully into this spring, and the water that fell down made the entrance to a small cave. That's where she always went to think.

"I may be a wolf but I'm not as agile as you, so can we please stop running?"

Mel slowed down to a stop, smiling widely. "Yeah. We're here anyway."

"Where's here?"

"See for yourself, Princess." She pushed Hope a little closer to the edge of the cliff, but not so much to the point where she was at the edge. Obviously.

"Oh wow... this is..."

"My safe spot. Where I go when I run."

"Is this you showing me your vulnerability?" Hope teased.

"Nah, I'll save that for another day. But..." Hope turned to see Mel smiling more than she's ever done. She smiled so much it even showed in her eyes. "Is this what you feel every day? With your magic, I mean. I never thought it would feel so warm...free, even. It's... just..."

Hope sat down some distance away from the water, letting her legs swing over the edge. Mel joined her instantly, still smiling.

"I have never seen you like this," Hope admitted.

"Like what?"

"All giddy and stuff. Like, sure you annoy me with your childish antics, and you smile a lot- or at least around me- but this is way different. You're not usually so happy."

Mel shrugged lightly. "Never had my magic unlocked until now... I mean seriously, I can do magic!"

"Yeah, like some sort of ice bender..."

"Oh, shut up. Everyone has their specialties and... mine could maybe be ice. Considering that's all that's worked for me so far."

"It's still something though." Hope took Mel's hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I'm proud of you. And I'm sure your parents would be, too. And mine, of course."

"Yeah," she chuckled. "Maybe Mark and Mason as well..."

Hope's eyebrows connected at the mention of two new people. She's never heard of them in Mel's stories. "Who are they?"

Mel hummed to herself while looking over the waterfall. She intentionally let the names slip, knowing Hope would be Hope, and ask about them. She also knew it was time she followed Davina's advice. Especially now that she has access to her birthright.

"I dragged you along with me for a reason. You know I don't usually run this early..."

"What is it?"

"Can I tell you something?"

"Yeah, of course, anything."

"Remember when I told you I lost my best friends too? In the massacre. It was the truth, of course, but... not the whole truth. What is the whole truth is that fact that they were actually... my brothers... Specifically, my triplet brothers."

It was fully expected that Hope freaked out at the moment. Sure, she was shocked, but not entirely freaked out. Instead of recoiling or getting upset, Hope cupped her other hand over Mel's.

"I was the second born, and Mark was the big brother, but I was responsible for them. Kept us together. I mean, we still got into some trouble, a lot but we never did anything separate and because of that, we had a bond that never went away. Even though we were five, we made a lot of memories that are still with me today. But the vampires came for the first time and the worst thing my little mind could imagine happened. I didn't exactly see the actual killing... but when I turned around, I saw them drop dead. I saw a stake in Mark's chest and Mason's head was turned way too far to the side."

"The first time?"

"Mhm. Second time, two weeks later, is when I lost my parents. When yours found me. That's the same night we saw each other at the compound."

"Yeah, I remember that night. Dad was holding you." Hope nodded. "But why are you telling me this- about your brothers?"

"Well, I can do magic now," she chuckled. "It's something we always talked about doing together. Our dad would teach us, and they got it but I didn't until now and... Davina says if I can talk about these things and open up about them, I can really harness my magic."

"Your ice magic."

"See now you're just teasing me, Princess."

"No, no I get it. She's right. And I'm glad you felt I was the one to talk to."

"Of course, you are. Who else will understand how it is being descendants of some of the most powerful beings in the world? Oh, that's right. Literally no one but you, so... here I am, spilling my deepest, most hurtful secret." Melori scratched at the back of her neck nervously, unknowing of how Hope would take all this new information.

"...I'm hoping they're proud of me too."

"I know they are." Hope laid her head on Melori's shoulder and hugged her arm, and Mel responded by resting her cheek on Hope's head. "You called us best friends earlier."

"Is that bad?"

"No. I just don't think I've been that close to anyone in a long time."

"Not even your literal boyfriend?"

"Not even. You're just... different, somehow." She lifted her head enough to look Mel in the eyes. Their faces were only a few inches away from one another that Hope could see a tiny freckle just below the girl's left eye. "I'm gonna make it my business to figure out why."

"You and your curiosity..."

"You're a mysterious person, can you really blame me?"

Mel smirked lightly before looking back over the waterfall. Hope put her head back down and did the same.

"Thanks for listening about my brothers, Princess, it means a lot."

"Thank you for sharing... Lori."

fun fact:

from everything up until the last word on this part, including my author's notes, you would have read about 44,323 words! that's a strange flex you can spring onto someone to be honest :)