The Mikaelson-Saltzman Myth - Second Season

“The little Singing Bunny was running around the school with her annoying big tuba making noise and dancing. The little Grumpy Bunny didn’t like the running. Or the dancing. Much less the singing. The Grumpy Bunny was about to go tell Singing to stop fooling around when-”

“But wait.” Pedro said and Alyssa fixed him a bored look for interrupting the story yet again.

“What?”

“Why doesn’t the Grumpy Bunny like the Singing Bunny? She looks funny.” Alyssa’s brother said and Alyssa rolled her eyes. Of course he would go right in the defense of the most annoying character of the story.

“I don’t know, Pedro. Maybe it is because Singing keeps flooding Grumpy’s house with letters?” Alyssa asked and Pedro gave Alyssa a look.

“Friendship letters, Alyssa. Singing wants Grumpy to be her friend, of course.” Pedro said and Alyssa sighed. This was a lost cause since the beginning. Pedro loved Cla- the Singing Bunny.

“I’ll tell you the rest of the story later, okay?” Alyssa said Pedro nodded pouting. He left Alyssa’s bedroom running to go annoy Lizzie about teaching him more magic tricks.

Clara, with her parent and uncle, and Josie would be at the house any time now. Alyssa didn’t feel much like socializing. She would rather watch movies just the four of them. When Alyssa was small, she didn’t think she would ever have someone to take care of her so she made sure to take care of Pedro so he wouldn’t feel the same way. But now it was like a lot of people wanted to take care of her and she felt overwhelmed sometimes. Hope kissed her head and tucked her in bed every night making sure to tell her she loved Alyssa. Lizzie was different, a little bit rude and just a little awkward; as if she didn’t know what to do with care just Alyssa didn’t know how to deal with the lots of people that gave her full unconditional love as soon as they met her. Even auntie Josie, that had moved to the city four months ago, would sometimes take Lizzie and Pedro to the movies or give them gifts and kiss them and just be an auntie, which Alyssa had found out it was a very nice person to have.

Then there were people outside family. Alyssa had found out that Hope and Lizzie had a lot of acquaintances. Just a couple of weeks after the Adoption Hearing, one of Lizzie’s patient, Aimee, had come visit her with her mom. Apparently, she attended Alyssa’s school but was one year ahead which made Alyssa happy because she already had to deal with Clara and she didn’t need another kid breathing on her neck. Aimee seemed very nice, though, and while Hope, Lizzie and Aimee’s mother, Kennedy, had entered the office to talk about Alyssa could only assume it was Lizzie being kidnapped, Alyssa really enjoyed her company. She was funny and stylish and really way less annoying than Clara. Alyssa was curious about why she was Lizzie’s patient since she seemed totally normal.

Another thing Alyssa was curious was what exactly had happened on Christmas. She knew something bad had happened because she had caught Lizzie or Hope and, sometimes, both crying and she knew that something had scared them badly. Alyssa herself had been very scared when the Woman tried to take her back. But Hope had sent Penelope to pick her up. Alyssa also wanted to ask why she hadn’t done it herself instead of sending someone but she knew that the Christmas was an off topic. When Pedro talked about the trip he had gone with Lizzie’s mom and the rest of the family, Hope and Lizzie both exchanged tense looks and Alyssa could practically feel Lizzie controlling her breath and Hope trying to look reassuring. Alyssa wanted to ask but she feared that she would ruin their happiness if she ever asked that.

A guy called Landon, that Alyssa and Pedro had met when they traveled to Alaska last year, also came to visit them. He was nice and his brother, Rafael, had told Hope and Lizzie that he had never expected them to have kids. Which was weird because Alyssa thought that Hope was born to be her mom and Lizzie was born exactly to be here and understand everything Alyssa was thinking without having to ask. She couldn’t think of anything happening differently. She didn’t want to.

“They’re almost here.” Lizzie said from the door and Alyssa sighed dramatically like she had seen Lizzie doing sometimes. Lizzie laughed and they started to walk to the stairs. Lizzie glanced at her. “You look like you’re walking to your execution.”

“I might as well die with Clara-induced brain bleeding.” Alyssa said and Lizzie bumped her lightly.

“I’m a doctor and I can affirm that that’s not a thing.” She said as they reached the living room and Josie came to hug her.

“I brought you a present.” She said and Hope grunted.

“The way you give them presents, they’ll be spoiled rotten.” Hope said and Alyssa smiled opening the box to find something that made her heart flutter. It was a journal with her name on it. It had little butterflies and an engraving. To my favorite niece, Alyssa Mikaelson. Alyssa opened her mouth and glanced at Hope and Lizzie before looking back at Josie.

“Thank you.” Alyssa said and her throat had a weird sensation. She felt like she should do something else, hug Josie or just smile brightly at her but the only thing she managed to give her was a thankful smile. Alyssa wasn’t a hugger; not that she didn’t like hugs. No, she loved when Hope hugged her or when Pedro came to sleep on her bed in the middle of the night and they cuddled together. But Alyssa didn’t know how to initiate hugs. If she were like Clara, she would give Josie the most charming smile she had ever seen, hug her and say some specifically emotional words that would make Josie’s heart melt. But Alyssa couldn’t do that so she just smiled a little wider trying not to look weird. “Thank you, Aunt Josie.”

“I hope you liked it.” She said and Alyssa nodded.

“I loved it.” And she had. They knew that she spent most of her time writing. She hadn’t told anyone what she wrote about, though. She guessed that they thought that she used to write things that happened to her. Like a journal. She supposed that they weren’t wrong at all. It just wasn’t quite like that. Alyssa noticed that Pedro was playing with Cookie but his eyes were on the other gift box that Aunt Josie had. Alyssa knew that he wouldn’t ask unless someone told him the gift was for him. He was polite and sweet, which Alyssa considered a miracle since the only person that he had met forever was Alyssa and Alyssa was anything but polite and sweet.

“And this is for you.” Aunt Josie said giving him the purple gift. He smiled that cute smile that he had since he was very small and that usually made Alyssa stop crying when she was little. Pedro always knew how cheer someone up.

“Can I open it?” He asked and Josie and Hope nodded. He opened it to find matching clothes for him and Cookie.

“Look, Cookie, auntie Jo bought us matching outfits.” Pedro said excited and looked at Hope begging for her to let him change. They went to the bathroom with Cookie jumping excited around them. As soon as they set foot in the living room again, the doorbell rang and Lizzie went to open the door.

“Pedro, look at my new puppy.” Clara burst inside as if she were Pedro’s age instead of a twelve years old. “Mom and dad let me adopt her last week.” Clara explained putting the tutu-dressed dog next to Cookie. The dogs started to play with each other and Pedro smiled.

“They’re already friends.” Pedro said and Clara nodded smiling. Alyssa frowned because Clara usually came directly for her throat as soon as she saw Alyssa. She was so caught up with Clara and Pedro playing with the dogs that she didn’t notice that the newcomers were talking to her. She gave them a smile and tried not to roll her eyes at Clara’s dad hugging her.

“Okay, now let me get the kitchen ready. Today you’ll have a mind-blowing culinary experience.” Clara’s uncle, Kaleb, said making his boyfriend, Jed, laugh and whisper something about mind-blowing that Alyssa didn’t quite get but that made Kym give him a pointed look. “I’ll cook us the best steak y’all will ever taste.” He said going to the kitchen followed by Hope. Lizzie, MG and Kym sat on the couch and started to talk while Josie smiled while texting on her phone. Lizzie had said that she was in love with someone and hadn’t introduced them to the family yet. Alyssa was also curious about who made Josie blush so much. Alyssa was a very curious person. The only one she guessed that was more curious than her was Lizzie, that was right now glancing at Josie with her own curious look.

“What’s your dog’s name?” Alyssa heard Pedro asking and she looked at Clara waiting for her response. Alyssa noticed that she smirked in that way that usually made Alyssa uncomfortable before looking at Alyssa for the first time since she had set foot in the house.

“Claryssa with a ‘y’.” She said and Alyssa heard Lizzie choking on her laugh. Alyssa looked at her with narrowed eyes before gazing at Clara with something she hoped it looked like a bored expression. “Did you get it?” Clara asked smiling in that infuriating way. “Clara and Alyssa. Claryssa.” She said slowly. Alyssa opened her mouth to say something cutting but there was this thing at the bottom of her stomach that she didn’t quite know how to describe but that made her not be rude to Clara and settle for an angry face. After Clara seemed to be satisfied with Alyssa’s response, she smiled. “Her name is Tilly. It was a joke.” She said rolling her eyes dramatically and finally walking to Alyssa. “Just a joke.” She said winking.

Yeah, Clara was totally irritating. So why did Alyssa feel like she wanted to laugh at her stupid joke?

Clara never did enjoy being annoying. She would usually do just about anything to make people happy around her. She had learned very soon that if you smiled and tilted your head just in the right way, people would fall in love and do things for you. It just happened. Clara was charming and people liked her immediately. She didn’t even have to try most of the times. She really liked when people smiled and she was responsible for it. When someone smiled at her, her heart would beat very fast. Clara liked the idea of having people around; people that would stick. She knew some people would come and go just like that one teacher she had when she was six that used to kiss the heads of all of her students when they arrived at school. Clara had loved that teacher but the next year, she wasn’t her teacher anymore. So she knew that some people would leave so she made sure that they would leave with a good memory of her. Clara liked being the best.

Her mom and dad spoiled her and her uncle and his boyfriend used to take Clara to amusement parks and win all the booth gifts for her. Teachers would give her a higher grade just because she was cute and students would want to be her friends because she was nice and funny and really clever. Clara loved the attention. Then there was Alyssa. When Clara first met her, Alyssa had smiled at her when Clara gave her a gift and Clara thought that maybe Alyssa would also like her and they would be friends. But Alyssa didn’t. That surprised Clara. Alyssa was difficult. Clara knew why. A lot of kids on foster care were like Alyssa; they were angry and emotional and super untrusting. Clara didn’t get it. How couldn’t they see that smiling and being nice would get them way more things than punching their way into detention like Alyssa had done last month when one of the boys tried to kiss her cheek? In Clara’s opinion, that boy had been really stupid. Alyssa’s face showed to everyone miles away that she hated people and anyone getting close would get kicked. Clara was the only one that could get close to her because Alyssa wasn’t actually that rude and Clara knew that she would be disarmed with a smile and a wink. The last one would usually make her roll her eyes and ignore Clara’s existence. But to the rest of the world; the school world; Alyssa was the big bad sixth grader that sat alone because she wanted to.

But Clara would persevere. That was this thing about herself. She was a deep believer in soulmates. Hope and Lizzie were clearly soulmates. Clara would watch them smiling at each other and holding hands and just touching each other all the time; which had been a little bit embarrassing when she accidentally walked in on them but cute anyway. They were romantic soulmates like the ones from books and movies and tv shows. Then there was her dad and her uncle. Clara’s mom used to say that some people are meant to meet and MG and Kaleb were friends since they were teenagers and they had attended a private school. They were roommates and they developed a friendship that went deeper than anything her mom had ever seen. They would talk to each other about everything and sleep on the couch playing videogames and even go on trips just the two of them. They were platonic soulmates, her mother had explained. Her mom and dad were clearly soulmates too so Clara was absolutely amazed by the idea that some people were lucky enough to have two soulmates. Lizzie also had two soulmates. Hope and her twin sister, Josie. Clara couldn’t wait to meet hers. Even though she was super romantic and enjoyed watching romance movies with uncle Kaleb and uncle Jed, she didn’t want her first soulmate to be romantic. She wanted it to be a friend like her dad had gotten Kaleb. The other thing was that Clara believed that it was Alyssa. She just had to make Alyssa see it too. Simple like that.

That was why when she made the joke and she noticed that Alyssa rolled her eyes and looked away trying not to laugh she knew that Alyssa was very close of being hers. Clara still remembered their first day of school together. Alyssa had gone to take the Placement Test and when the director had corrected her test and said that she had passed, Clara had been asked to give a tour of the school to Alyssa. Clara had volunteered just one week before that because she knew that Alyssa would go to the school soon. Clara knew that Alyssa had been annoyed by the way everyone smiled at Clara when she entered a room or walked past someone. Clara had taken her hand once and Alyssa almost burned Clara with her eyes.

“Don’t take my hand.” Alyssa had shouted and some people had listened and come to see if Clara was fine. This part of being her was annoying; people would always come to her help even if she didn’t need it.

“That’s okay. We’re friends, see?” Clara said hugging Alyssa and trying to ignore how funny the other girl’s fake smile seemed. When they were alone again, Alyssa had patted her jaw and joked that it was hurting from having to fake-smile. It had been the first joke Alyssa had ever told in front of Clara. To be honest, Clara had started to believe that Alyssa didn’t know how to have fun but that day everything changed and Clara knew that Alyssa was just being purposely difficult which was great for Clara because she loved purposely difficult things. She just loved things in general.

She sat next to Alyssa on the floor and smiled at her and Alyssa just rolled her eyes. Clara noticed that she was holding a beautiful journal. It was silver and had a lot of butterflies and an engraving that Clara couldn’t read. When Alyssa noticed that Clara was curious, she begrudgingly showed her.

“Aunt Josie gave it to me.” Alyssa said and Clara tried not to be too excited that she was talking to her.

“It’s beautiful.” Clara said. She wouldn’t think that something as delicate as a floral journal with butterflies would fit Alyssa so well but she seemed to have loved the gift. Alyssa glanced at her before nodding.

“Tilly is a cute name for her.” Alyssa said pointing at Clara’s new puppy. Clara smirked.

“I liked Claryssa better.” She joked and Alyssa looked away shaking her head and, in Clara’s opinion, holding a smile. See? Already friends.

The afternoon had been amazing. Clara’s uncle was a great cook and he had indeed cooked the best steak everyone had ever eaten. They talked a lot and Alyssa even smiled at Clara one time or two. She sometimes did that; Clara didn’t know if she was laughing with Clara or at Clara but a smile was a smile and Clara wouldn’t be picky. When it was time to go home, Tilly had disappeared with Cookie and they started to look for her. Pedro said that they were probably upstairs so Clara went with him. She had never seen Alyssa’s bedroom and she was surprised to find it painted light yellow and soft colored throw pillows everywhere. Clara smiled when she thought about the irony of Alyssa’s bedroom. It was light and happy and spoke of someone that Alyssa wasn’t usually comfortable to show. Clara’s bedroom was also totally different of what people would expect of her. Her parents had been surprised when uncle Kaleb had helped Clara to style it the way she wanted.

“There you are.” Clara smiled when she found Tilly hidden behind one of the throw pillows. She smiled at her but she was a mischievous puppy so she ran away hitting a chair and making Clara fall to the floor. She tried grabbing something to prevent the fall but it didn’t work out and she fell on her face. When she stood up, she noticed that she had knocked down some books and journals that were piled on Alyssa’s study desk. She was picking up when Alyssa went to her room and found Clara with the journal on her hand. Clara saw the moment Alyssa got angry. Clara had seen Alyssa with journals like this one at school and she was always writing on it. Clara almost grunted knowing what was to come.

“I wasn’t snooping. It’s just that Tilly threw me down and I ended up bringing your things down with me and-” Clara said.

“Get out of my room.” Alyssa said quietly and Clara opened her mouth trying to apologize again but Alyssa didn’t let her. “Now, Clara.” And Clara didn’t like the way she said her name so she just looked away trying to hold her tears and ran down the stairs to Tilly that was already on her father’s lap.

“I’m ready to go.” Clara said smiling at her parents and at Alyssa’s family. She held down her tears until she was in her room where she could cry without bothering people. To think that the day had started perfectly. Then she stopped crying because this wasn’t her. She was someone that took matters into her own hands and in the end it didn't matter because Clara had a perfect plan to get Alyssa to be her friend.

“Snoop.” Alyssa mumbled while organizing the things that Clara had knocked down. Why did she have to get into her bedroom? She didn’t like people going through her stuff. When she was in foster care, people did it all the time. Mostly older kids that thought they could just mess with Alyssa without her kicking their asses. It had been the last straw when Jimmy had done that to Pedro. Pedro, who had spent a year collecting stickers just for Jimmy to steal it and glue it all over the house they were staying. Alyssa still remembered when she went to confront him and he ended up without two teeth and his shoes. Alyssa made a deal out of wearing the boy’s shoes when Rachel came to pick her and Pedro because the house they were staying at didn’t want them anymore. Alyssa had thought that it had been it, that after beating the boy to blood, they would finally send Pedro to the little kids’ place. Alyssa had heard that small kids without siblings used to get adopted very fast and Alyssa wanted Pedro to be adopted. Instead, though, their case worker, had taken them out of that placement and right to Lizzie’s office. Alyssa didn’t know then but it had been the most amazing thing it would happen in her life. Clara had probably been through the same thing at foster homes so why would she go through Alyssa’s things? Even if she hadn’t gone through it on purpose she shouldn’t have entered Alyssa’s bedroom without permission to begin with.

“Maybe she charmed everyone into not being assholes to her.” Alyssa hissed as she threw one of the throw pillows on her bed.

“Asshole is not a permitted word in the household.” Alyssa heard her mom saying from the door.

“Lizzie says it all the time.” Alyssa said back.

“Only for real assholes.” Hope said giving her a pointed look and Alyssa rolled her eyes.

“She entered my bedroom without permission.” Alyssa argued and Hope nodded.

“And that makes you sad, Alyssa?” Her mom asked. Alyssa rolled her eyes.

“I’m not sad.” She answered and Hope raised her eyebrows like she always did when she expected Alyssa, Pedro or Lizzie to tell the truth. “I’m not!”

“So what are you?” Hope asked patient.

“I’m angry at Clara.” Alyssa said. She didn’t want to talk about Clara. Thinking about her was one thing but talking about her? A nightmare.

“Why?” Hope asked surprised at Alyssa’s intense response. Of course she would be surprised; Clara was such a sweet kid and who in this world could be angry at her? Only a monster.

“She’s annoying. She keeps making the teachers pair us up for every assignment, she seats with me at lunch even though I told her multiples times that I don’t want her company and she keeps smiling.” Alyssa shouted and then groaned when she mentioned the smile. “The smile is the worst. It’s so infuriating. She makes me want to scream.”

“Wow. That’s a lot of emotions.” Hope said holding her laugh and Alyssa rolled her eyes again. “Also a little bit funny.”

“What’s funny about that?” Alyssa asked fed up.

“Well, let me tell you a story about the day I met Lizzie.”

“Why?” Alyssa asked because she knew some kind of lesson would be waiting at the end of the story and she didn’t feel like a being schooled on morals.

“Aren’t you not even a little curious about how we met?” Hope asked knowing that Alyssa was curious. Alyssa bit her lip and then sat on the bed.

“How?” She asked curious and Hope smiled triumphantly.

“Well, buckle up, kid…”

“No. I don’t need a partner.” Hope said to her supervisor. Hope should probably talk more respectfully with him since she was new here but she felt like she needed to send a clear message: Hope didn’t do partnership.

“It’s just one job because it’s a specially complicated mission and we need someone right away.” He said giving her a file. “You are new in age and in time here with us and that makes you perfect for the job.”

“What job?” Hope asked.

“It would be your first undercover work. I need you to infiltrate a place.” He said and when Hope was about to ask where, he smiled. “I can’t tell you anything else before you get the job. You’ve been with us for three months only, Mikaelson, but you fight better than our trained agents and you speak five languages which is not something that we overlook. The fact that you have a pleasing face and body was also considered when we chose you for this job.” He said and Hope gave him a look. It was true. Hope had started her training in fighting when she was seven and her parents asked what extracurricular activity she wanted to do. It became clear soon that Hope was born to be amazing in a ring. She also had a good mind for languages, not that she could attribute all that on her intellect; Hope had traveled all around the world with her parents growing up. She probably had houses in at least six countries. Her dad had lived a very expansive life and Hope, as his only child, had been more spoiled than a princess would have been. Her mother too had also spoiled Hope. Her mom, Hayley, had grown up without parents and in foster care so she gave Hope everything she wanted to have growing up. There was also genetics. If Hope had a pleasing face and body, like the supervisor had said, it wasn’t her doing at all.

“So this is a one time job?” Hope asked. “After I finish it, I can work alone, right?” She asked and he nodded.

“Yes. I chose you because the other person we’re pairing you with is kind of unorthodox and I know that you can handle it. Also, like I said, we had certain parameters to attend to when we chose you two.” He said reticent.

“Okay. I accept the job.” Hope said, merely a formality. It wasn’t like she could just deny doing something because that was her work.

“You’re going to work with Doctor Elizabeth Saltzman. She’s one of our best enhanced interrogators.” Meaning she tortured people. “She’s your age.” He continued making Hope frown. She was 22 and had just finished college and this agent she was being paired with was already a doctor and a torturer? That’s a resume.

“Okay, when am I going to meet her?” Hope asked and he looked at the clock in a weird way.

“Well, you’re going to meet her during the job. She’s already inside.” He said and then looked at his phone relieved before looking back at Hope. “The helicopter is here. Everything else you need to know about the mission is in the file.” He finished and Hope frowned.

“Is this an extraction work? Is she in trouble?” Hope asked.

“We don’t know.” He answered.

“The file only has a mostly redacted single page. What is this mission about?” Hope asked.

“I don’t really know. Three people knew about it. Saltzman and other two but both of them are dead. I have no idea if you’re going inside to help Saltzman or finish her if she’s a traitor or even what is she doing there yet. You’ll have to find out.” He said making Hope huff in frustration. She was getting in blind.

“Something else I need to know about her before I go?” It was also the first time Hope would get an important case. She had only worked assisting important cases or in basic ones till now.

“I don’t know her either except for what they talk about her.” He said and Hope narrowed her eyes. She had people talking about her?

“What do they say?” Hope asked and he scowled.

“That she’s a royal bitch.”

And with that wonderful description of her partner, Hope left his office going right to the rooftop. She was taken to a hotel and the agent that drove her there gave her a keycard saying that she would find everything she needed in the hotel room. Hope did not find everything she needed there. She actually found nothing but a lot of sensual clothes and bag full of sexual stuff that Hope had trouble thinking how it could be used in a healthy way. She was just going to look for a safe or something when she heard a knock on the door. She paused a little to look at the room for potential weapons before going to the door and opening it to find to guys so tall that Hope almost broke her neck looking up.

“You’re not ready yet?” One of them asked looking Hope up and down. Hope had only one second to connect the dots.

"Give me three minutes and I’ll be ready.” She said with a smile and then closed the door. She looked at the clothes and sighed. Fuck CIA. Her cover was a prostitute?

“Oh, you had to wear a costume?” Alyssa asked excited and Hope laughed laying on bed next to her daughter.

“Yes.”

“What did you wear?” Alyssa asked and Hope opened her mouth and then closed it laughing. “Let’s say a princess.” She said after thinking that telling Alyssa that she dressed in a see-trhough dress wouldn’t be peak parenting.

“That’s so cool. What happened next?” Alyssa asked and Hope thought about it.

“Well...”

The clothes Hope was wearing was very morally degrading. If those could be called clothes at all. It was mostly a see-through dress that covered the tiniest underwear Hope had ever used; or seen. She wouldn’t even think about it too much so she wouldn’t blush and ruin her cover as an experienced hooker. Her self-control was incredible when she didn’t punch on of the man that kept eating her with his eyes. This was a very CIA thing to send her in the dark and she turn out to have to be a hooker. How would she find agent Saltzman if she had to occupy her time pretending to be a prostitute to some disgusting man?

When Hope arrived at a mansion, she had already schooled perfectly all her reaction. Which was a good thing because she was really impressed. It was a royalty worthy house. Almost like it belonged to the Victorian England. Hope thought that maybe she would be taken inside by the back door that these kind of mansions usually had but she was received by the main door and the woman that received her gave her a warm smile before taking her upstairs and leaving her outside a door.

“The bedroom. Take your time.” She said giving Hope a last warm smile. Hope took a deep breath before entering the bedroom and closing the door behind her. He was in the shower because Hope could hear the water. Should she go there? Stay here? Call him? She didn’t even know the name of this damned client. She was distracted thinking and she didn’t hear but when she looked at the door of the bedroom, a woman was there watching Hope closely.

“I-” Hope started, not knowing if she was at a lack of words because the woman in front of her was gorgeous, wet from the shower and wrapped in a towel that hang perfectly on her body, or if it was because Hope actually had no idea what to do because she didn’t even know what this mission was about. Probably the last. The woman raised one eyebrow amused at Hope.

“I honestly thought that they would send someone more…” She started looking Hope up and down. “…more experienced.”

“I am super experienced.” Hope said and then grimaced because she had sounded like a child when she said that. The blond laughed.

“I can see.” She said unbelieving, going to the bed and sitting on it. “Show me.” She asked and Hope looked around. Then it hit her that she hadn’t been called for a man but for the woman right in front of her. She didn’t know what was worse to be honest. What did she want her to show? Hope then swallowed her pride and tossed the see-through dress across the room and walked confidently to the woman ready to show something, anything for her to believe Hope’s cover. “Oh god, what the hell are you doing?” She asked interrupting Hope’s embarrassing try at being a hot experienced prostitute.

“I’m showing what I have.” Hope said trying to sound confident but the blond was biting her lip and looking away as if she wanted to laugh.

“I meant to show me what you have on me so I can be sure that you’re the agent they sent, honey. I noticed that you weren’t a prostitute the moment I saw you.” She said laughing and Hope felt herself blushing furiously.

“I’m not an agent.” Hope said knowing that although she had gotten it right, it could very much be a trap. The blond rolled her eyes.

“Okay. Whatever you say. I’m Elizabeth Saltzman. Can you at least tell me your name?” She asked in an infuriatingly condescending way. Hope wanted to punch her face and she seemed to know that because she smirked.

“Hope.”

“Okay, Hope, since you’re not an agent, do what you came here to do.” She said, smirking widening. “Continue to show what you were going to show me before.” She said laughing and that was it; Hope hated the woman. “Don’t be shy. Alexa, play my Sexual Desires playlist.” She said and Hope almost choked only making the woman laugh more. A sensual song filled the room and Hope sighed.

“Okay, you got me. I’m an agent but if you try to bust my cover, you’ll be unconscious in less than ten seconds.” Hope said walking fast to be next to her. She didn’t even flinch.

“Like I said, I’m Lizzie. You’re here to help me.” She said rolling her eyes.

“How can I be sure?”

“How can I be sure that you’re not someone that found out that I’m not a duchess and is trying to learn for whom I work for?” She asked and Hope sighed. They would have to trust each other.

“Okay. You’re Dr. Saltzman-”

“Don’t call me that.” The girl asked.

“Why? You’re a doctor.” Hope said.

“Call me Lizzie. It’s safer.” She said and Hope nodded.

“First of all, what mission is this? All the people that knew about it are dead and they sent me knowing less than nothing about it.” She said and Lizzie frowned.

“That’s why they stopped sending messages. They’re dead then?” Lizzie asked sighing. “What about the real duchess?” She asked and Hope shook her head.

“I have no idea of anything.” She answered.

“Well, I’m here because of duchess Mortimer. She’s a 25 years old girl that is being coerced into doing something she doesn’t want to. Her bodyguard was an ex-CIA so she pulled some strings and got two other agents to help her. Since almost anyone knows her real face, they sent me here to pretend to be her in the secret party she was invited tonight. I’ve been pretending to be her for a week.”

“And her people didn’t realized you were her?” Hope asked.

“They don’t know her. She lived in Scotland and almost never leaves. The only people that really know her are her two bodyguards. They’re probably protecting her right now if she’s not dead. The only thing people know about the secretive duchess is that she loves to fuck pretty women, she’s tall and blond. They sent me because I happen to check all the boxes.” Lizzie said and Hope nodded.

“What is she being coerced to do? It’s not like the CIA to waste agents in things like this.”

“Well, they wouldn’t but this case is special. She’s being intimidated into joining The Royal Circle.” Lizzie said smiling excited and Hope snorted.

“The Royal Circle like the secret society?” Hope asked unbelieving. She always thought that it was a myth. Lizzie nodded smiling brightly. The dreamy smile made wonders to make Hope more at ease around her.

“Yes, me too. I still actually think it is but I guess we’ll find out tonight.” Lizzie said. “Apparently both her mother and her grandfather were part of the society and they really like traditions. She said that she hadn’t problem with joining but she was scared to hell of the initiation that would happen today so her bodyguard; that is definitely in love with her on side note; asked us to take her place only for the initiation. Since all the members wear masks to protect their identities, it’s going to be quite easy to trick them all. The CIA accepted the deal because they’ve been wanting to have someone on the inside for years but this society is more mysterious than anything.” Lizzie finished.

“That makes sense. CIA never can just let things be.” Hope rolled her eyes just now realizing that she had held a whole conversation wearing only underwear. Lizzie probably noticed her blush because she smiled.

“There’s robes in my closet. Pick on and come back so we can talk about tonight.” She said and Hope did it. They talked about the night then. Hope would be Lizzie’s bodyguard. When Hope questioned how the people on the house would react, she said that she would tell them that Hope was her date to the party, after all rich people didn’t really have to explain why they did things.

Hope had quite enjoyed Lizzie’s presence. Sure, she was a little snarky and sarcastic. But Hope hadn’t seen anything too unorthodox like her supervisor had said. She actually had a very sensitive plan and a great mind to think ways out of potential problems. When the time to go to the party came, Hope was sure that this would work out amazingly and after the night was over, they would report back to the CIA what they discovered about the society and its member. Everything looked like it couldn’t go wrong but Hope wasn’t stupid so she would pay attention to anything and make sure to take Lizzie out of there. Lizzie was stunning dressed in diamonds and high heels. When they arrived at the party, the first thing Hope noticed was how just setting foot was the property was like traveling back to a past with balls, royalty and debauchery. Hope knew for sure that if they had a garden here, there would be people making out hidden from others. Although it was pretentious, Hope felt some kind of excitement to get to know something that she once considered a myth. When they were being admitted to the house, they informed that Lizzie would have to pass a fingerprint test to confirm she was really the duchess. Hope’s nervousness peaked but then Lizzie smiled and pressed her finger to the little machine and was accepted. Hope breathed out; she shouldn’t have been that nervous because Lizzie was a very sensitive agent and she had more time than Hope to prepare to every single adversity. Hope smiled, helped Lizzie in and again got amazed at how rich this place seemed. The people walking around laughing and drinking were probably the most rich and influential people in the world and here they were getting drunk, kissing people that weren’t their partners and probably plotting crimes. Hope noticed that Lizzie was watching the room as if she were looking for someone. Hope frowned and followed her gaze all cross the room until it locked in a man sitting with another man and a woman. Lizzie started to walk there.

“Where are you going?” Hope hissed and Lizzie ignored her. Hope looked again at Lizzie; the determined look and the sure walk. “Fuck. You lied to me, didn’t you?” Hope asked and Lizzie shrugged. “Damn. Why are we here for?” Hope asked just before they arrived where the man was.

“You two, bounce. I need to have a conversation with my old friend here.” Lizzie said at the two people accompanying the man. He frowned but nodded for the other two to leave. They were probably  hired people for the occasion because no one of the guests of this party would accept a command like that.

“What do you want? And who are you?” He asked. Lizzie looked at Hope and somehow Hope understood that Lizzie wanted her to sit on the other side of the man. They both sat with him. Hope was really ready for a lot of things but what Lizzie said next totally threw her off.

“We’re here to kill you.”  

“She said that you two were there to take him?”  Alyssa asked and Hope nodded.

“I’m pretty sure that’s not what I said.” Hope heard Lizzie saying and she looked at the door with a pointed look.

“Yes, it was.” Hope said and Alyssa looked between them with narrowed eyes. “Pedro?” Hope asked changing the subject because she wasn’t about to tell Alyssa that Lizzie had said that they were there to kill someone.

“Sleeping already.” Lizzie said looking at the time and making Hope realized it was already late.

“I’ll tell you the rest of the story tomorrow, Alyssa, because it’s late and you have school tomorrow.” Hope said and Alyssa grunted.

“That’s not fair. You left me on a cliffhanger.” Alyssa complained and Lizzie laughed.

“Let me tell you what happened next.” Lizzie said. “Your mom almost messed up my whole plan.” She said making Hope gasp.

“That’s not true at all and Alyssa will decide for herself tomorrow when I finish the story.” Hope said smug and kissed Alyssa’s head despite the complains. When she left the room, Lizzie laughed and Hope punched her. “Traitor.”

“I didn’t lie.” Lizzie said.

“You didn’t tell the whole truth either. I only almost messed up because I had no idea what the mission was about and you had lied to me.” Hope said and Lizzie shrugged.

“Still mad?” Lizzie asked annoying and Hope shook her head. How could she be annoyed since what really brought the two of them together was almost dying that day? 

"Dumbass." Hope said taking her hand as they entered their room.

"You love it."

Clara Greasley was annoying.

Alyssa glanced as the girl picked up her food and looked around with her eagle eyes. Alyssa grunted and looked away so Clara wouldn’t notice her. Pointless. Clara seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to Alyssa; she always managed to somehow be paired with her for an assignment, be on her team in PE or sit on her table in the cafeteria.

“Hello, Alyssa.” Clara said sitting in front of her as if Alyssa hadn’t been rude with her just yesterday. Alyssa ignored the frowns on the faces of the students from the other tables. They were surely trying to find a reason for Clara, the sweetest girl in school, to seat with Alyssa, the girl that punched two kids just last week.

“Hey.” Alyssa said begrudgingly. She would rather sit alone like she was doing before Clara transferred to her school; before Alyssa had to go jump for the next year in school. Since classes had begun, Alyssa had kept her distance, only talking to people when it was necessary. Since Clara, though, Alyssa had exchanged more words than she had ever exchanged in her whole school life. Yes, Clara was annoying like that. But Hope had begged Alyssa not to be rude to Clara and Alyssa didn’t want Hope to think that rude was her second nature so she was trying. She really was. She also didn’t feel like being a mean girl to Clara just because she was annoying. It wasn’t like people could control how they were born.

“I talked to my mom and dad and they let me sleep at your house today. Isn’t it cool? We can have a sleepover.” Clara said excited and Alyssa looked at her as if she were crazy. She had missed the part where Clara asked her if she wanted that. She had missed the whole conversation that probably happened only inside Clara’s dreamy crazy mind. Alyssa really tried but Clara made it so hard for her.

“I don’t want to sleepover with you.” Alyssa answered and not to her surprise, Clara tilted her head annoyingly slow.

“That’s rude. People usually dismiss others without being total jerks.” Clara pointed out and Alyssa rolled her eyes. There was also this thing about Clara; she just looked sweet.

“People usually get the first indirect before people have to be rude with them.” Alyssa said back and irritating as it looks, Clara smiled. She didn’t say anything else; just started to eat leaving Alyssa staring at her. There were three things Alyssa had learned about Clara in these four months they had been studying together.

#1- Clara was smart. Like super smart. She read every single book from every single subject. Sciences? She was the best. History? Could tell as if she had been there. Mathematics? She had three medals to prove just how good she was. She was also nice to people. If some student asked her help, she would teach them whatever they needed. She was also eager to help teachers, elderlies and adults in general. That made everyone love her. She became the school’s favorite within a week. And the thing about her that made people like her even more was that she wasn’t naturally gifted like some people are without having to put an effort to that; like Alyssa was sometimes; no, Clara had to work hard for her grades and everyone saw that and admired her for it. That she was adopted and had to work even harder before that was a plus and took them to the second thing Alyssa had learned about Clara.

#2- She had a rocky adoption process. Her mother was an alcoholic and a drug addict that continuously neglected her daughter and would leave little Clara alone at home for days. Clara had been found by her soon-to-be social worker reading a book in her bedroom after having cooked her own food. She had been alone for two weeks. She was only seven. Then, a long process of going to foster places and then back to her mother begun. Three years and a half at it until MG and Kym found Clara. At first, they were supposed to be only another couple of foster parents that would give her a home until her mother had sobered up enough to take her home again. But the couple fell in love with the little sweet girl that loved to read and was always eager to help. They started the adoption process and after some troubles that Alyssa was still to know what, they finally had been able to adopt Alyssa in october. Throughout all these years of difficulty and heartbreak, Clara never stopped being the hopeful adorable little girl she was. Which made the third thing Alyssa had learned about Clara feel like a shock.

#3- It was all bullshit. Yes, Clara was sweet. And yes, she was amazingly nice. But she was also the slyest kid Alyssa had ever met. She could smile her way out of any trouble and get people to do whatever she wanted. Alyssa had never seen her do something bad but she had surely seen teachers giving her compliments or higher grades and students inviting her to their houses or giving her gifts. Not that Alyssa was paying close attention to what Clara did. It’s just that it was very difficult to ignore it since Clara’s family had become close friends with Alyssa’s family and they saw each other a lot out of school too.

Alyssa finished her lunch and managed to escape Clara for a few precious minutes when the bell rang and Alyssa had to go to her classroom. She closed her locker enjoying the fact that for some reason Clara wasn’t there talking Alyssa’s ears off when she noticed one of Clara’s charms from her favorite bracelet on the floor. Alyssa looked at the students rushing to their classrooms and then back at the little charm, a small pink book. She rolled her eyes and picked it up from the floor. Then she noticed another one a little more ahead, close to the bathroom door. It looked like Clara had snapped her bracelet. Alyssa rolled her eyes again asking herself why she cared that Clara would lose her charms. Her parents could surely buy her another ten to make up for the one lost. But Alyssa went to pick it up anyway. That’s when she heard a little sniffing from inside the bathroom. Alyssa told herself not to go check it; she knew it wasn’t for her to see or to know or to care. But Alyssa was always curious and being around Hope and Lizzie made her even more so. So she, like a stupid, went to check it. She found Clara crying. Both of them stilled when they saw each other. Alyssa wanted to run. She had no idea what to do with tears. Alyssa could count on her hands the amount of times she had cried. Fortunately for her, Clara seemed to enjoy this situation even less than Alyssa so she wiped away the tears and smiled like nothing had happened.

“You found my charms. I thought I had lost them.” She said going to Alyssa and picking up the charms from her open hand. Alyssa tried not to look stunned but it must have been pretty apparent because Clara’s smile faltered while she waited for Alyssa to say something that would help them out of this uncomfortable conversation.

“I didn’t know it was yours.” Alyssa said. Clara saw it as it was: a lie; a very poor one. She didn’t point it out, thanks the universe.

“It’s mine. Thank you.” Clara said smiling again like nothing weird had happened and left the bathroom. Alyssa went after her; they were already late for class. When they were about to get into their class, the corridor monitor called them.

“Girls, you should already be inside your classroom.” The woman said.

“So let us go.” Alyssa said rolling her eyes. The monitor, that already didn’t like Alyssa very much before, tilted her head.

“I will. But since it’s the third notice of this week, you’ll have detention later today. It’s a good thing you love group activities so much.” She said smirking and Alyssa took the note the woman was giving her and put it in her pocket. Another one to her collection. “Ms. Greasley, since you never got any notice you can go.” The monitor said smiling at Clara like every single person in the universe did.

“Actually, Mrs. Smith, I’ve heard that today the students in detention are going to clean the old rooms for the new extension of the school. Can I help? You know I love to participate.” Clara said in that sweet and way-too0excited way that made Alyssa want to vomit.

“Of course you can.” The monitor said softly. “I wished your good nature brushed on some students.” She said looking disdainfully at Alyssa. “You two can go.” She said and Alyssa entered her classroom, not before listening to Clara being disgusting again.

“I’ve heard that your daughter was accepted in five universities, Mrs. Smith. Congratulations.” Clara said and then followed Alyssa inside. Expectedly, the teacher paired them for today’s experiment. Yeah, there was no way Alyssa’s day could get worse.

It could get worse. As soon as the bell rang indicating the end of the next class, Alyssa went to the detention room. It was quite a known place to her. She had been sent here 14 times to Hope’s horror and Lizzie’s repressed amusement. It’s not like Alyssa liked to come here but she really didn’t know how to be likeable and apparently that was a pre-requisite to being in this stupid school. Everyone here was too nice. No bullies or mean comments like Alyssa had expected. In the first weeks, she had thought that they were only trying to lead her on; make her think they were friends just to mess with her when she believed but she had soon realized that no, they were really nice.

It had some exceptions, of course, but they were all dealt with seriousness despite being rich or belonging to an important family. The boys Alyssa had punched last week were mean and as soon as Alyssa explained to the principal that she had found them taking pictures of the girls in girl’s locker room and the principal found the pictures in their phones as proof, their parents had been called and they had been expelled from the school. Since Alyssa was acting in defense of her peers, as Clara had pointed out to the principal when she heard the news that Alyssa was about to get expelled for violence, she should be praised and not condemned for her actions even if they had been a little violent. She was disturbed as every young woman would be in a situation that shows the lack of respect that young men have for us, Clara had finished her speech and the principal had smiled at her and told her to join the debate team before looking back at Alyssa and saying she had one more chance. It hadn’t been the first time Clara had saved Alyssa’s ass and that only made Alyssa all the more annoyed. Fortunately, a note for getting late on class wasn’t a serious thing and Hope would understand.

When Alyssa arrived at the detention room, they assigned her to go help some students on the west wing where the new renovations would happen. Alyssa was about to go there when she heard someone running behind her and looked just to find Clara. She was sweaty and her cheeks had a reddish tone.

“Weren’t you supposed to be training right now?” Alyssa asked when Clara joined her.

“And risk losing the next hour of unadulterated bonding time with you?” Clara said, a dramatic hand to her heart. “I could never. I told coach that I would help in the renovations and she let me go.” Clara said winking and Alyssa rolled her eyes.

They walked to the west wing with Clara pestering Alyssa about how her soccer team would win the next game and how she had been kissing the ass of the coach so she would be the captain when the current captain left to high school. Alyssa didn’t know anything about sports but she didn’t think that the coach would choose a sixth grader to be the captain when she had a lot of boys and girls that probably also wanted to be captain and were on the team for more time than Clara. But Alyssa didn’t say anything because her single rule was not to engage in conversation.

“I couldn’t even take a shower scared that you would run away to the hills to avoid me.” Clara said looking disgusted at herself and Alyssa sighed again. It was annoying too that Clara loved to point out how rude Alyssa was. When they arrived at the west wing, there was only a teacher there and she gave Alyssa and Clara two notebooks and asked them to catalogue the books they found in the unused rooms. It was an easy task which was relieving. Alyssa survived halfway through it when she heard a commotion coming from one of the rooms at the end of the corridor. She looked at Clara and both of them walked there. When they peeked inside the room, it was empty and they both frowned before getting inside and looking around. It was an old library with lots of shelves filled with dusty books. Alyssa tried to turn on the lights but it wasn’t working. She was about to leave the room when she heard people coming from the corridor. Normally, she wouldn’t be alarmed because this was a school and people on the corridor was a normal occurrence but then she heard what they were saying.

“If you don’t shut you damned mouth, we are going to hurt you bad before killing you.” Someone said and Alyssa looked at Clara with widened eyes before taking her hand and hiding both of them behind a bookstand.

“Why are we hiding?” Clara asked, an instinctive whispered voice.

“Shh.” Alyssa said as three people entered the room. A boy and a girl that seemed from the north wing, high school, and someone between them that had the had covered with a black bag. Alyssa heard Clara gasping and she poked her to be silent. Alyssa watched as the boy did something in one of the bookshelves that made it open a little door that they went through.

“Now you’re part of the society.” Was the last thing Alyssa heard before they entered the door and it closed behind them. The girl stayed behind, though, as if guarding the door.

“Do you think they’ll hurt the kid with the head inside the bag?” Clara asked worried.

“Shhh.” Alyssa whispered to Clara.

“Don’t shush me. And stop poking my arm.” Clara demanded.

“Then stop talking. Do you want to get us killed?” Alyssa asked shaking her head in reprimand.

“Of course not. I can’t die. I’m only twelve and I didn’t even kiss a boy.” Clara whispered dramatically making Alyssa roll her eyes.

“That’s a very low expectation of life. Do you really need to kiss a boy before dying?” Alyssa asked and Clara tilted her head smiling innocently.

“Not necessarily a boy. The point is that I want to kiss someone before I die.”

“Then shut up.” Alyssa hissed ignoring her growing blush. Clara always did this.

“Have you ever kissed a boy?” Clara asked and then, as if she had just remembered another possibility, she added “or a girl, for that matter?” She smirked and Alyssa knew that the pause had been deliberately intent on making Alyssa blush more. Really, how could people think Clara was this innocent sweet girl? She was a little snake.

“You’re not at all what people think of you.” Alyssa said looking away.

“My greatest accomplishment.” Clara said proudly. When Alyssa glanced back at her, her stupid eyes, an impossible almost yellow color and too big for her face, were shining with something almost sad and Alyssa looked away quickly afraid that seeing too much would make Clara important. Alyssa didn’t want her to be important because the more important people she had, the more she could lose. She focused then on the girl guarding the secret passageway.

“Do you know her?” Alyssa asked knowing how Clara knew everyone and Clara did not disappoint.

“Yes. She’s Andi’s sister. She’s a high schooler, a sophomore. She’s in chess club and three advanced classes. She’s very sweet.” Clara said knowing way more than Alyssa expected.

“Except when she’s kidnapping people.” Alyssa pointed out and Clara frowned. “How do you know all that about her?” Alyssa asked her with a curious look and Clara blushed.

“Andi is really cute and he talks a lot about his sister. He’s also a striker with me in soccer so we talk a lot.” Clara explained and Alyssa nodded.

“And the other boy with her?”

“I don’t know him.” Clara answered. Alyssa was about to talk more when the secret door opened again and three boys left laughing.

“Come on, Nina.” One of the boys said. They all laughed leaving the room. “Let’s celebrate The Faction’s newest member.” Alyssa heard him speaking and the other cheering. She went to the door and watched them leaving the corridor.

“The Faction.” Clara repeated and Alyssa looked at her.

“What does that mean?”

“I’ve heard some rumors, of course.” Clara started and Alyssa looked at her impatient for her to elaborate. “The school was funded two hundred years ago and only elite student were sent here. It used to be a boarding school. As all old schools with rich people, it was said to have a secret society.” Alyssa was about to cut Clara out but then Clara pointed at where the hidden door was supposed to be. “You clearly saw a secret passage, Alyssa, so don’t dismiss the story. Some of the students talk about it. Mostly the ones that have been studying here for generations. The Madisons, the Whrites, the Evans’, etc. Have you noticed that they are usually gossiping about something on the corner?” Clara asked and Alyssa gave her a look that showed her that she hadn’t cared a little bit about them. “I only know this because Lilia Evans really loves to talk and she has a crush on me so she babbles a lot.” Clara said making Alyssa roll her eyes again. Clara’s ability to turn things back to her was incredible. “I have an idea.” Clara said taking Alyssa’s hand and walking back to the main building. Clara, then, took her to the camera room.

“How did you know it would be empty?” Alyssa asked and Clara smiled.

“I really pay attention to the gossips, Alyssa, and word is out that the security guy is in the north wing right now making out with the biology teacher.” Clara said and although it was deeply disturbing that Clara seemed to know everything happening inside the school, she smiled. Clara also smiled satisfied. “I don’t really know how to rewind the tapes to show us them taking the kid.” Clara said and Alyssa nodded. She went to the computer that was fortunately unlocked. Alyssa had seen Hope and Lizzie watching security videos a few times so she knew what she had to do.

“Are we committing a crime?” Clara asked watching from over her shoulder.

“Probably.” Alyssa answered finally finding the right camera. “Here.” She said. “Now we just have to go back, I don’t know, twenty minutes? And wait for them to enter the west wing. They probably only put the bag over that boy’s head when they got to the west wing where there was no teachers.” Alyssa said and Clara smiled at her.

“You’re a good detective, Alyssa. All those Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie books did pay off.” Clara said in that annoyingly joking way and Alyssa gave her a look.

“My mom’s a detective. So is Lizzie.” Alyssa said looking at them camera waiting for the students to appear.

“Do they teach you how to be a detective?” Clara asked and Alyssa smiled softly.

“Lizzie does all the time. She teaches me everything. But Hope always scold us when she finds out that Lizzie is telling me, and I quote, things that an eleven years old shouldn’t know.” Alyssa finished laughing. When she noticed that Clara was laughing too, Alyssa’s laugh died and she looked away weirded out. Why was she telling Clara things?

“There they are.” Clara said pointing at the camera. “It’s Marlin.”

“Who’s Marlin?” Alyssa asked as they watched the boy and the girl put a bag over the head of the younger boy as the entered the west wing.

“Marlin is an eight grader. He’s in debate with me.” Clara said. “He didn’t seem like he was scared, though.” Clara pointed out and Alyssa agreed. It was like he knew where he was being taken and the black bag over his head was just something normal.

“I need to know more. I’ll ask him tomorrow.” Alyssa said and Clara’s eyes widened.

“Are you crazy? First of all, they won’t even answer to you if you start questioning their secret society. And second, what do you intend to do? Burst in there and punch people?” Clara asked.

“I want to make sure that that boy or other kids are not being hurt.” Alyssa said; not the real truth. She was actually curious and, as always, curiosity got the best of her.

“You’re going to get yourself into trouble and that’s the last thing you need.” Clara warned but she knew that Alyssa was stubborn so she just sighed. “I’ll help you.”

“I didn’t ask your help.” Alyssa said grimacing at how rude she had sounded but Clara didn’t seem to care.

“I also didn’t ask to help you. I informed you that I will be doing that so deal with it.” Clara said and Alyssa looked away because that was the Clara that only she knew. “Now let’s go before we get caught.” Clara said going to the door at the same moment it opened.

“What are you two doing in here?” The security said and Alyssa sighed. Hope would kill her if they called her telling that they got caught in here. Alyssa looked at Clara and noticed that she opened her backpack.

“I was here to give you this, mister Castro.” Clara said with a sweet voice. “I baked it myself just yesterday and I thought that you would like. I didn’t know you weren’t here. I was just leaving.” She finished adding three blinks more than necessary and a scarily wide smile.

“Oh, Clara. You’re really a sweetheart. Is it the same cinnamon bread you brought me that other time?” The man asked totally ignoring Alyssa’s presence.

“No, it’s something better. Tell me what you think of it tomorrow, okay? Bye.” Clara said taking Alyssa’s hand again and walking them out of there.

“Why do you always have excuses and elaborated plans and touching speeches?” Alyssa asked and Clara rolled her eyes.

“Because you’re always in trouble and I’m your knight in shining armor. And also, I really had made that cake to him. He’s a sweet old man without grandchildren. I sometimes like to bake him cakes.” Clara said, a light blush taking over her. “Now let’s go to your house. It’s almost time for your mom to pick us up.”

“My mom will pick you up?”

“Forgot that I’m going to sleep at your house?” Clara asked as if Alyssa were mental.

“I did not invite you.” Alyssa said slowly and Clara raised only one eyebrow. Alyssa stared at it trying to hide her surprise. She didn’t know how to do it and she always tried because Lizzie seemed really smug when she did and Alyssa wanted to look the same.

“Okay, then. But you won’t get to hear my idea. You know you only have a chance to succeed in learning anything about the society with my help.” Clara said and Alyssa sighed tiredly. She thought abut how Hope told her that both she and Lizzie didn’t know if they could trust each other as soon as they met but they had to at least try in order to do their job, which was, coincidentally, also a secret society. She looked at Clara’s smug face that already knew Alyssa’s answer and nodded.

“You can come.” Alyssa said and Clara smiled and this time wasn’t totally annoying.

“Clara will sleep with us tonight if that’s okay.” Alyssa told Lizzie when she came to pick her up. Apparently Hope had gotten busy at work. Pedro screeched like an animal when he heard Clara’s name. Lizzie looked at Alyssa weirdly before nodding.

“Do your parents know about it, Clara?” Lizzie asked and she nodded.

“Yes, but they told me to tell you or miss Mikaelson to call them and confirm it.” Clara said and Lizzie nodded. When they arrived home, Clara went to the shower because she was stinking like a wet animal, like she pointed out and Alyssa had finally a calm free time to sit and relax before the girl left the bathroom like a hurricane and started to tell Alyssa her what her plan was.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Lizzie asked entering the living room and watching Alyssa writing ferociously on her notebook. Alyssa looked up and her eyes widened as if she had been caught cheating on a test.

“Tracing my weekly plans to avoid her-who-shall-not-be-named.” Alyssa said and Lizzie rolled her eyes. Maybe giving those Harry Potter books weren’t the wise thing to do since Alyssa had been calling Clara that since she read it. Lizzie sat on the couch next to Alyssa.

“It looks like it’s not working that well because she’s singing in the shower.” Lizzie said and Alyssa grunted.

“She’s singing now?” Alyssa asked and Lizzie laughed. “Where’s Pedro?'

"I gave him a bath and now he’s eating in the kitchen. I came here to ask you if you want to eat something too or if you want to order pizza for your little, middle-of-the-week, sleepover.” Lizzie said and Alyssa sighed.

“I’ll ask Clara. Can I ask you something?” Alyssa asked and Lizzie nodded. “What happened when you two arrived at the party? Mom was telling me the story and I know she expected me to learn some lesson from it but it’s hard to learn something for a half story.” Alyssa tried and Lizzie looked at her unbelieving.

“You’re only asking me to tell you because you want the unredacted version.” Lizzie said with narrowed eyes and Alyssa smiled.

“Of course.” She said and Lizzie shook her head.

“Okay, let’s see. She stopped when I told the guy that we were there to kill him, right?” Lizzie said with a smirking face and Alyssa laughed. It wasn’t that at all what Hope had told her that Lizzie said but this version already seemed funnier.

“Yes, what happened next?”

“Well, next…”

Poor girl.

That was Lizzie’s first thought when she met Hope. It was clear that she wasn’t a prostitute at all. Lizzie knew that the person she was expecting wouldn’t be a real prostitute because the was the agreement that her superior had made with her; that in the day of the party, an undercover agent would be there to be Lizzie’s date. The undercover would be there to protect Lizzie and help here finish the mission. She just didn’t expect that they would send someone in the total dark like they had sent Hope. She knew nothing about the mission so Lizzie decided that it was best to keep a good part of it to herself. After all, judging by Hope’s experienced prostitute skills, she was a terrible liar and Lizzie didn’t need to blow her chance.

It was also the first time Lizzie worked undercover. She had just entered the CIA a few months ago but they had made her attend classes. As if someone needed classes to torture people, Lizzie rolled her eyes. And Lizzie didn’t really like torturing them; she had other ways to find out the truth. That was why they had sent her. Although they had more experienced people that could fit the description of the duchess, Lizzie had been the one that had more chances to succeed. Specially against the person they were going after.

“We’re here to kill you.” Lizzie said at the same time she injected him with a drug on his tight. He looked at her and opened his mouth to probably scream for help both Lizzie picked up his glass of whiskey and made him drink only stopping when he choked. He started to blink and Lizzie knew the drug was already taking effect. She noticed that Hope was looking at her angrily but she ignored. When the guy was dizzy and confused enough, she stood up and she and Hope took him upstairs to the bedrooms indicated to sexual activities. The guy was dizzy enough that it looked like he had been drinking a lot so no one questioned. Specially not when two beautiful women were accompanying him. When one of the helpers took them to an empty room, Lizzie threw the man on bed and started to look for something to tie him up.

“What the hell, Lizzie?” Hope asked making Lizzie grimace.

“That’s our mission.” Lizzie only said. “Mr. Sneaky here exchanged CIA information in order to join the Royal Circle. We’re here to find out why they even wanted the information to begin with.” Lizzie explained and Hope cursed under her breath.

“And you couldn’t have told me that before we arrived?” Hope hissed. Yes, Lizzie could have.

“No, I couldn’t.” Lizzie said, however, as she tied the man to the bed. “The drug will wear off in about fifteen minutes so I’ll fill you in, is that okay?” Lizzie asked and Hope nodded still angry.

“I didn’t tell you because I wasn’t sure you were trustworthy and it’s better if only one person knows all the information. I invented the part where the duchess needed an initiation; she actually was initiated when she was seventeen still in school. She just never attended one of their gatherings so they don’t really know her and since I’m wearing silicon fingers that imitate her fingerprint, they have no idea to know I’m not her.” Lizzie explained.

“So you’re here to torture him for information.” Hope said and Lizzie grimaced.

“I don’t do torture.” Lizzie said and Hope rolled her eyes.

“Enhanced investigation or whatever you like to call.” Hope said and Lizzie shook her head. Hope wouldn’t believe her without seeing it. When the drug wore off and the guy tried to free himself, Hope made sure to tie him up more firmly when Lizzie on the bed next to the man.

“I’m here for you to tell me what exacts information you sold and why.” Lizzie said softly taking the cloth she had put I side his mouth. “And don’t bother screaming. You know these bedrooms have acoustic isolation.”

“Let me go.” He said trying to free himself and Lizzie rolled her eyes and looked at Hope.

“Can you believed what he said? Let me go.” Lizzie mocked and Hope laughed slightly. “We just caught you. You know we won’t let you go. Not saying ‘let me go’ should be on the How To Be A Bad Guy 101 course.” Lizzie continued despite all the curses he was throwing at her.

“I’m an ex-torturer for CIA, bitch. There’s nothing you can do to make me talk.” He said and Lizzie rolled her eyes again.

“I have my methods.” Lizzie said.

“And what are they? I hope it involves my coc-” He was about to say when he stopped and started to cough. Hope had punched him on the stomach.

“Hope.” Lizzie shouted.

“He was being an asshole.” Hope said and Lizzie smiled.

“Do you think a baby punch like this will make me talk?” He said laughing and Hope was about to punch him again when Lizzie held her wrist and shook her head.

“That’s the thing. I don’t need you to talk at all.” Lizzie said for the first time throwing him off. She noticed that Hope was frowning too.

“What?” He asked and Lizzie smirked.

“You just have to stay right here tied up and I’ll find out everything I need.”

“Wait. Did you torture that guy?” Alyssa asked with huge eyes and Lizzie looked around as if Hope would appear out of smoke to scold her.

“Don’t say that word out loud.” Lizzie hissed. “And no, Alyssa, I just said like six sentences ago that I wouldn’t torture him. So I won’t.” Lizzie said and Alyssa smiled.

“So what did you do? Read his mind?” Alyssa asked sarcastic and Lizzie nodded.

“Pretty much like that.” Lizzie said smug.

“I don’t believe it.” Alyssa said making Lizzie laugh. As Lizzie was telling the story, Alyssa had came closer to her and now the girl was almost on her lap. Pedro was still sitting on the chair eating and drawing as Lizzie could see from the living room and this feeling felt amazing. She put her arm around Alyssa making the girl snuggle even more.

“If you let me finish, maybe you’ll believe it.” She said going back to the story.

“Was it the first time that you stole information to sell?” Lizzie asked watching the guy’s pupils for tells. “Yes, thank you for the information.” She said.

“I didn’t say anything.” He said and Lizzie smiled. He didn’t but he didn’t know that Lizzie actually already knew that it hadn’t been the first time. She just needed him to tell her the right things.

“Of course you did, your pupils dilatated which means that you were trying to hide something.” Lizzie said. “Now, next question. Was it to the same person every time?” She asked. This one she didn’t know the answer so she had to pay attention to his every move and find a tell. “Huh.” She said nodding and noticing that it made the guy anxious. “Another question.” Lizzie said breathing out slowly. Now was her time to bluff. “Since you sold the information to the same people, did they get interested in something in particular?” Lizzie asked noticing how the guy’s pupils dilatated even more. She relaxed; she hadn’t gotten it wrong.

“They’re going to kill me if I tell.”

“Death is a better alternative to what the CIA has in store for you. You know what happens to traitors.” Hope said and Lizzie nodded.

“Let me cut you a deal. You tell me what I need to know and I let you go.” Lizzie said and Hope looked at her with wide eyes.

“What?” She asked but Lizzie ignored.

“I’ll give you an hour to disappear before sending people after you.” Lizzie said.

“How can I know you’re not lying?” He asked.

“Well, there’s no cellphones with the guests here to preserve the identity of the members which means that if you tell me what they stole, I’ll try to steal it back and it will give you time to run while I finish here. When I’m done and I leave this place, I’ll send people after you but if you’re clever enough, you’ll be long gone.” Lizzie said again ignoring the furious look Hope had on her face.

“The information they wanted was about new identities of people on the Witness Protection program.” He said and Lizzie frowned. That wasn’t what she expected them to be interested on at all.

“A deal’s a deal.” Lizzie said nodding to Hope to untie him and proceeding to help her.

“We’re really going to release him? Are you crazy?” Hope asked and Lizzie looked at her.

“Not most of the times.” She answered finishing untying the guy. “Don’t get funny on us. If you tell anyone that we’re here Hope here will kill you so fast that you won’t even have the time to a last thought.” Lizzie said smiling at Hope that was annoyed at Lizzie. The guy ran away from the bedroom. “Now we wait for him to tell someone we’re here.”

“What?” Hope asked and Lizzie laughed. “Oh no. You’re really crazy aren’t you?” Hope asked and Lizzie shook her head.

“Like I said, not most of the times. And why are you worried? You’re the extraction plan, right? They sent you because you would know how to, I don’t know, kill all of them and get us out alive.” Lizzie said and Hope looked away embarrassed. Lizzie frowned. “Right?” Lizzie asked again.

“It’s my first job ever. They just sent me here to make sure you weren’t going straw because the other two people working with you were dead. I sent them a message that you were alive and still on our side before we came to the party and-”

“Wait. You told them?” Lizzie asked grunting and Hope frowned.

“Of course I did. I sent them an encrypted message telling them what you told me; not that it was much.” Hope said.

“Why would you do that? My handlers are dead for a reason, Hope. There’s someone on the inside also selling information. That was why I let big dummy go. Because he’ll tell them. But if they already know…”

“They told our guy that we would be here.” Hope completed her thought.

“And he just played us and I let him go.” Lizzie hissed and Hope shrugged.

“In my defense, I told you not to let him go.” Hope said as people burst into the room with guns pointed at them. 

“Guns and secret agents? I love the story.” Clara said from the doorway of the living room and Alyssa jumped out of the couch.

“You finished your bath.” She said noticing that Clara was wearing a unicorn pajama with a rainbow glittery horn. Of course she would be wearing something like that.

“Yes.” Clara smiled and Alyssa looked at Lizzie.

“You can tell me the story later.” She told Lizzie.

“Oh no. I’m curious about it. What happened next?” Clara said annoying. “It looks like what happened to us earlier-” Clara started and Alyssa took her hand dragging her out of the living room.

“Shut up.” Alyssa hissed taking her upstairs only stopping to yell at Lizzie that they would love to eat pizza. “Now tell your idea.” Alyssa asked when she closed the door.

“Why don’t you tell Lizzie about what we saw?” Clara asked and Alyssa rolled her eyes.

“Do the girls in those Babysitters’ Club that you love to read tell their mothers everything that happens to them?” Alyssa asked and Clara shrugged.

“Point taken.” She said and then sighed. “Well, my plan is quite simple.”

“And what is it?” Alyssa asked.

“We’ll join the secret society.” Clara said with a smirk and Alyssa felt her eyes widening.

“What? That’s your genius plan? How are going to join it?” Alyssa asked. Clara smiled taking her phone from her backpack and showing it to Alyssa.

“I’m going to make a phone call. I have my contacts.” She said and Alyssa narrowed her eyes.

“You’re twelve. Your only contact should be your parents.” Alyssa pointed out sitting on her bed. Clara sat next her.

“You sounded like my parents right now.” She said rolling her eyes. “But fortunately for us, I have Lilia’s phone and I know exactly what to say.” Clara finished laughing and calling Lilia. Alyssa watched as Clara’s face reddened when Lilia picked up the phone. “Hi, Lilia. It’s Clara.” Clara said putting the call on speaker.

“Hey, Clara. I didn’t know you had my number. You never called me before- not that you have to call me. Only if you want to. Did-did you want to?” Lilia babbled and Alyssa looked away embarrassed for the girl. Alyssa felt herself blushing of second-hand embarrassment for the girl. She glanced at Clara and noticed that she was blushed too.

“I wanted to call you, yes. I was thinking about you right now.” Clara said with a sweet voice.

“You were?” Lilia asked and Alyssa rolled her eyes.

“Yes, I was remembering that time when you told me about the secret society of our school. You won’t believe it. My dad’s school also had a secret society and he was part of it.” Clara said excited and even though Alyssa didn’t know if it was true, Clara’s amazement made it seem true enough for Alyssa to get a little excited too. “He went to the Salvatore Boarding School and he said that there was three rival secret societies in there. They were names after mythological creatures. He was part of the Vampires. He said that he had a lot of fun with them. I got very jealous, you know? I wish the secret society of our school were true so I could be part of it too.” Clara said with a dreamy voice.

“You would like to be part of it?” Lilia asked and Clara laughed sweetly.

“Totally. Both my dad and my grandma were part of secret societies. Of course I would like to be part of one too. You know who my grandma is, don’t you?” Clara asked too casually to be casual. “The Secretary of Defense.” She finished in a whispered tone and Alyssa looked away not to laugh. Clara was a terrible person.

“If I were part of a secret society, I would tell you to talk to eight grade Madison. Not that it really exists but if it did, Madison would probably know how to help you. Maybe if you said to him that Factioneers can never be killed.”

“Thank you, Lilia.” Clara said with a genuine smile that Alyssa found it endearing. Clara smiled a lot but like Hope liked to say, the prettiest smiles are the ones that we display when we forget that there are people looking.

“By the way, congrats on striking the winner goal last game. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I was on the bleachers cheering.” Lilia said and Clara’s smile widened.

“How could I not notice you? You were screaming so loud that I thought that you would single-handed scare the visitors away and win us that match.” Clara said making Alyssa roll her eyes. “See you tomorrow, Lilia.” Clara finished the call and looked at Alyssa. “See? Having friends is the best.”

“Now you call this Madison boy and tell him we need a spot and that’s it? It seems like a very easy way to enter this supersecret society.” Alyssa said and Clara shrugged.

“It’s a secret society of kids, Alyssa, of course it would be easy. I bet that Marlin is all okay and happy to have joined them. Now let me call Madison anyway and do my part.” Clara said and of course she had Madison’s phone. When Alyssa narrowed her eye at her, Clara smiled. “He’s the captain of our team. That’s why I have his number.” The phone rang a few times until he picked up.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Mads, it’s Clara.”

“Clara, nice to talk to you. You didn’t stay till the end of training today. Is everything okay?” He asked.

“Yes. I was calling you to tell you that…” Clara looked at Alyssa and gave her an uncertain look. “…factioneers can never be killed.”

“Who told you this, Clara?” He asked after a few seconds of silence that Clara and Alyssa stared at each other anxiously.

“I can’t tell you, Mads, but they said you would know how to help me to get inside.” Clara said and Alyssa bit her lip not to laugh. She felt like in one of Hope and Lizzie’s stories.

“Yes, I do, but first you have to be worthy of it. I’ll email you a test and if you pass, maybe we can talk about it again.” Madison said hanging up. One minute after that, Clara’s phone ringed with an email.

“Wow, this is so exciting. It’s like we’re in a book. Or a movie. A spy movie.” Clara said laughing delighted and Alyssa laughed with her.

“A child spy movie.” Alyssa agreed laughing hard. They both threw themselves on the bed as Hope opened the door and frowned when she found them laughing together. Alyssa stood up fast. Laughing with Clara, that was new.

“Lizzie called me on my way back from work and I brought you two pizza.” She said holding the pizza box. “Hey, Clara.”

“Hey, miss Mikaelson.” Clara said all sweet and charming making Hope smile.

“Did you girl have a good day at school?” She asked.

“Yes, mom.” She answered as Clara nodded.

“That’s great. Do your homework before playing and no sleeping late, huh?” Hope said and Alyssa nodded. When Hope closed the door again leaving them, Alyssa looked at Clara.

“Show me the test.”

They read it over and over again. It was difficult; a riddle. They tried to solve it but it was hard. Alyssa loved riddles and enigmas but this was one getting on her nerves. Clara said that since she had done most of the hard work, now was time for Alyssa to do something, so she just picked up one of Alyssa’s books and laid on bed to read it. Sometimes, Alyssa would distract from the riddle by Clara laughing or gasping at the book and Alyssa thought how weird it was to have someone invading her room and yet not bothering her. It was a pleasant feeling and Alyssa smiled; maybe having Clara as a friend wasn't that bad of a thing. She tried to solve the riddle for one more hour but it was hard and Hope had come to the room to tell them to sleep because they would have school tomorrow so Alyssa just left it to solve the next day. She laid on bed on her side and watched as Clara, that would sleep on the mountain of pillows that she had aligned on the floor, fidgeted with her bracelet. Alyssa had noticed that she did that a lot. When she noticed that Alyssa was watching, she stopped playing with it.

“My mom gave it to me.” She said. Alyssa didn’t say anything; she didn’t know what to say. “My biological mother.” Clara explained surprising Alyssa. Alyssa knew a little about Clara’s story mostly because Clara was very honest and told people a lot about herself. “She gave me when I was ten. She told me that-”

“It’s late, Clara. It’s better if we sleep.” She said turning the other way. She heard Clara sighing.

“Goodnight, Alyssa.” She said after a few seconds.

“I have the answer.” Alyssa said excited running to Clara as soon as her math class finished. She didn’t like math very much so she had spent the whole class thinking about the riddle. Out of nowhere, triggered by a word that her teacher said, though, the answer came to Alyssa and she had to hold herself in her spot not to run out of her classroom and go pick up Clara on hers.

“You do?” Clara asked as excited as Alyssa.

“Yes, I don’t know how I didn’t notice before. It’s a mix of words from famous quotes of three books. Surprising and curiously, I had read all of them.” Alyssa said frowning. That part had been weird. If she hadn’t read all these books, she wouldn’t be able to solve the riddle. Clara, that didn’t like some of the books Alyssa did, wouldn’t be able to solve it.

“That’s super cool. What was the message of the riddle?” Clara asked and Alyssa picked up her notebook and showed her.

“The first one is…"

"I like an audience. I must confess. I am vain, you see. I am puffed up with conceit. I like to say “See how clever is HP.””

“HP stands to Hercule Poirot. They put only letters or else it would be too easy.” Alyssa explained. “I figured that since this quote is out of Death On The Nile, it meant a location.”

“The Nile, like in Africa?” Clara asked and Alyssa rolled her eyes impatient.

“The book, yes, but if we want something Nile related here, where would we go?” Alyssa asked turning Clara to the direction of the huge history poster on the wall.

“The miniature museum in the history classroom.” Clara exclaimed and Alyssa nodded. She took Clara’s hand and they both ran to the history classroom. They waited for the teacher to leave the room before getting inside. Alyssa went right for the part of the room with the Egypt buildings and screeched excited when she found an envelope with neat handwriting.

“That’s it.” Alyssa said opening the envelope. Inside, a card with only two words.

DO YOU

“Only two words?"

“We have to go to the other places. We’ll probably find more words.” Alyssa said opening again her notebook. “Look, the second quote is from another of my favorite books.”

“Romance and detective work won’t mix together.”

“And this one is from...” Clara asked.

“Nancy Drew.” Alyssa smiled triumphantly. “I thought that since the title of the book was the clue on the first quote, this one would be too, but I couldn’t think of anything in the school that represented The Bungalow Mystery so I thought about the quote itself and guess what?”

“What?” Clara indulged Alyssa.

“Romance and Detective work do mix together. There’s a whole section in the library about Detective Romance.” Alyssa said delighted and again, they both ran to the library. Alyssa knew well the disposition of the sections in the library so she went right for the detective romances. She looked at all shelves until she found it sticking out of a book. Another envelope. She opened it.

WANT TO BE

“What does it say?” Clara asked taking the card from Alyssa. “Do you want to be…? Be what?”

“I guess we’ll find out in the last card.” She smirked again opening her notebook and reading out loud the last quote.

“Ambition had a price and that price was friendship.”

Alyssa said and Clara’s eyes widened. “I know this one. It’s from Artemis Fowl. I’ve read it too.” Clara said and Alyssa nodded.

“Yes, I just don’t know to where this clue takes us.” Alyssa said frowning.

“Well, you said the first one was about the title and the second was about the quote. What if this one is about the person in the book that said that?” Clara offered. “I just don’t remember who said it.” Fortunately, Alyssa did.

“Cudgeon said it. I hate him so much. But what does it mean?” Alyssa’s frown deepened. “He’s a traitor and a- wait. A traitor. That’s it.” Alyssa said picking up her stuff and again running away with Clara behind her.

“That’s it what?”

“A traitor.”

“I’m not following.” Clara panted after her.

“Remember that stupid Shakespeare play we had to read last month?”

“Julius Caesar?” Clara asked and Alyssa nodded.

“Julius Caesar is betrayed by…”

“Brutus.” Clara completed and Alyssa nodded.

“The teacher tried to get all the students to enroll in the play so I think the next clue will be in the theater classroom.” Alyssa finished as they arrived there. “Help me look for it.” She said and started to search. After a couple of minutes, Clara called her.

“Here.” She said pointing at an envelope in the pocked of one of the clothes. Alyssa opened it and smiled. This feeling of completing a task was exhilarating. She opened it to find two more words.

MY FRIEND

“What?” She shouted frowning. “That doesn’t make any sense. What does it mean?” Alyssa asked looking at Clara that was suspiciously silent. Alyssa narrowed her eyes at her. “What does this mean?”

“Do you?” Clara asked

"What?"

"Do you want to be my friend?" Clara said and Alyssa shook her head in disbelief.

“You did all this?” She asked and Clara nodded. "The secret door?"

"It's actually quite known. You would know if you payed attention to the gossips. It was found during the renovations of the west wing."

"I can't believe that you lied to me." Alyssa shouted.

“I thought that you would like it. You liked it!” Clara exclaimed.

“To be made fool of?” Alyssa asked noticed that she had screamed making Clara flinch.

“No, to play a game and have fun.” Clara whispered but Alyssa was angry. “I knew you liked these things. I chose your favorite books and read them to make a surprise for you. I asked some people to help me. I thought that you would have fun. I thought that you were having fun.” Clara said. Alyssa looked away embarrassed. Clara planned all of this and Alyssa fell for it like a fool.

“Why would you do this? Just to be my friend? Why can’t you just accept that I don’t like you and move on?” Alyssa knew she wasn’t being fair as she was saying the words but right now she was so angry that she didn’t care. “Why are you like this?” She asked giving Clara a disgusted look that made Clara look away. When she looked back at Alyssa, Alyssa noticed that she was angry too.

“You wanna know why I’m like this? Kids like you?” She said looking Alyssa up and down. “They get nothing but hate and enemies from where we come from.” Clara said with an angry but at the same time sad tone. “Kids like me? We smile our ways into getting more food for dinner or charm people into giving us an extra pair of clothes. We have to learn how to play people to get what we need. You should have learned that because you’re clever too. I mean, at least I thought you were.” Clara said and it made Alyssa even more angry because that’s what happened to her when she got frustrated: she got angry and she had no idea what to do so she often lashed out.

“Why do you think you can tell me what I am or what I’m not? You pretend to be things to everyone and then go to cry in the bathroom alone. You lie and create elaborated schemes to make people like you. You keep this stupid bracelet…” Alyssa said looking at the thing with disgust. “Why would you even want keep it? Your biological mother gave you away so why do you cling to something if she left you in the first opportunity she had?” Alyssa said knowing that she had said the worst thing possible when Clara’s eyes filled with tears and she looked away; not confident like she used to be nor with any pretense of anything.

“You can’t tell me that my mother didn’t love me just because yours didn’t love you not even a little bit.” Clara shouted walking to Alyssa with an angry face. Alyssa almost stepped backwards. “You have no idea what happened.” And Alyssa should’ve been quiet; should’ve just turned around and walked away and that would be it; they would never talk to each other again. But Alyssa once punched a boy until someone had to take her from over him, she also kept a secret for more than four years about the real story behind how she had gone to adoption, she was also the same girl that kicked the balls of Hope and Lizzie’s asshole of an ex-coworker when he was saying shit about them so Alyssa didn’t really know when to control herself.

“I have a pretty good idea, after all you’re not with her now but with a brand new mommy and daddy.” She said.

“Because my mom died.” Clara shouted making Alyssa flinch. “She was sick. She could barely take care of herself. She got pregnant of me when she was sixteen and her parents kicked her out of the house. She got depressed and started to drink. She had no help but she always told me stories and she always watched soccer games with me. She loved me and she showed it every time she was okay. When she wasn’t she left me alone because she didn’t want me to see her like that. She loved me. She bought me this bracelet with the last money she earned before she died. But you wouldn’t know how to appreciate it because you like to destroy every good thing you have. Congratulations. You destroyed your chance to be my friend.” Clara said turning around and leaving the room crying. Alyssa bit her lip not to cry. She picked up her backpack and her books and ran to the entrance hoping that Hope or Lizzie would be there already. They were and as soon as Alyssa entered the car, she started to cry.

“She said bad things to me.” Alyssa whispered when they got home and Hope took her hand. They were in Alyssa’s bedroom and Hope was on the bed with Alyssa next to her.

“I’m so sorry.”

“I said bad things too.” Alyssa said and Hope nodded.

“You know, Alyssa, sometimes, when with important people; people we really care and love… sometimes you just tell them you’re sorry.”

“But everything I said to her is true.” Alyssa explained herself even though Hope didn’t demand an explanation. She crossed her arms to show her point. “I just wished she stopped looking at me like I broke her heart or something.”

“Have you stopped to think that maybe you did?” Hope asked and Alyssa looked away. She knew she had, but it didn’t make it any less the truth. It also didn’t erase the fact that Clara had fooled her.

“Have you stopped to think that maybe she broke mine too?” Alyssa whispered and Hope kissed her head. She nodded.

“I don’t suppose Lizzie finished to tell you the rest of the story, right?” Hope asked and Alyssa shook her head.

“Clara interrupted her when she was going to tell me what happened when you two got ambushed by a lot of guys with guns.” Alyssa said and Hope smiled softly.

“Do you want to hear the rest of the story?” Hope asked and Alyssa nodded.

“Okay.”

“Now we are going to die. Thank you very much.” Lizzie said and Hope gave her an angry look.

“Really? You’re blaming me when you made us come here without telling me the whole plan?” Hope asked. “Are you really one of the bests? Because I’m having trouble to believe that right now.” Hope said looking pointedly at the ropes restraining both her hands and feet.

“I am the best.” Lizzie said and Hope snorted. They stayed silent until a woman entered the room. She was blond and about the same age as they were. Hope guessed that she was the real duchess. Great, another double-crossing.

“Yep, so 'the best' that you got tricked by your informant. Not being tricked is like, Spy 101.” Hope snorted and Lizzie gave her a bored look.

“No, it isn’t. Spy 101 is swallowing things so people don’t know where you hid it.” Lizzie said and Hope snorted again. That was why they sent Hope to deal with her; older agents probably knew Lizzie and wanted nothing more than distance. That was why she was called a bitch.

“Stop the bitchy banter, girls.” The duchess said looking at them proud of herself.

“What I don’t get is what you win by kidnapping us. You were the one that came to us to begin with.” Lizzie said.

“Well, sweetheart, that was all part of my plan. You see, I wanted to know who was the CIA spy between us and you led me right to them.” The duchess said. Hope watched it in disbelief. They had been so fucking tricked. It was lying from all corners. Curiously, though, Lizzie’s surprised face didn't look surprised enough. Hope frowned.

“So he wasn’t the traitor?” Lizzie asked and the duchess laughed.

“You were saying that she was the clever one?” The duchess asked Hope laughing and Hope sighed.

“That was what they told me. I’m starting to doubt it, though.” She said making the duchess laugh more.

“Ah, this is so funny. I’m almost sad that I have to kill you.” She sad shaking her head.

“So he was clean all this time.” Lizzie frowned. “He was actually spying this secret society for the CIA and not selling secrets.” Lizzie finished.

“Oh, he did sell us some but I guess that those were approved by the CIA so he could get our trust. Now that we know who he is; you see, we have a lot of ex-CIA that try to sell us information; we’ll torture him a bit to know what he told about us and then kill him.” She finished very proud with herself. Lizzie nodded.

“Good to know.” She said and Hope frowned.

“Is it though? You’re about to die.” The duchess said and Lizzie smiled and looked directly at Hope.

“I don’t think so.” And it was her clue. How Lizzie had noticed that Hope had freed herself and was just pretending to be tied up was a mystery to Hope. Why she trusted that Hope could get them out of there was another mystery altogether. There were at least 10 guards outside this door and the duchess with her gun seemed lethal enough. But Hope wouldn’t be the one to die without trying to survive so she jumped on the duchess, picking up her gun and knocking on her head. She passed out. At the sound of fighting, three guards entered the room and Hope knocked them down fast. More were coming and Hope again thanked her parents for letting her start her fight training when she was seven because or else she would die. She noticed with the corner of her eye that Lizzie had also freed herself and was now searching the duchess’ unconscious body. After the guards stopped coming, Hope looked at Lizzie.

“I’m totally going to kill you.”

“If we survive.” Lizzie said looking at a cellphone that she had probably found with the duchess. “Now let’s go, we have to save him.” Lizzie said showing Hope a video of the guy they had drugged earlier being tortured. They hid from the new guards coming and escaped. Lizzie walked with confidence which meant that she knew what she was doing. “I studied the blueprints of this house so I know where they’re keeping him.”

“You knew all along, didn't you?” Hope asked and Lizzie nodded.

“Some things.” She said as they entered a door and Hope had to knock down three more guards. “You’re really good. I was fearing that we would be dead in less then three minutes.” Lizzie joked and Hope looked at her in disbelief. How could she joke like this? “Here.” She said pointing at the door. Hope opened it, taking down the torturer that was hurting the guy.

“What do we do now?” Hope asked and Lizzie made a face.

“Well, I didn’t really think we would survive this long.” She said and Hope gave her a face. “But there’s a window here so we could jump.” Lizzie said opening the window.

“It’s the second floor.” Hope pointed out.

“Yeah. So we should throw him first.” Lizzie said helping Hope to take the wounded agent to the window.

“If this is the CIA’s idea of recovering their assets, I don’t ever want to be extracted again.” The guy said and Hope frowned.

“All of this was an extraction plan?” She asked and Lizzie nodded.

“Yes, we just needed to be sure that he was really loyal before you could do your part and save our asses.” Lizzie said and Hope had so many things to say about that statement but she kept quiet because they needed to survive right now. The guy jumped, then Lizzie and then Hope. Hope noticed that Lizzie twisted her ankle in the jump, a clear sign that she wasn’t prepared at all for this kind of mission. Hope guessed that she couldn’t fight one single guy to save her life. Hope grunted. What a mess. They hid in the gardens from the other guards looking for them but there was a forest close to the house and once they reached it, it was easy to get away. After walking till they got signal, Lizzie took a phone from her dress and made a phone call to a trusted agent to come pick them up. When Hope looked at the phone questioningly, Lizzie smiled. “I took from one of the guards that you beat to bloody soup.” She said and Hope shook her head. What a fucking crazy mess.

“You’re crazy. I hope I never have to see you again after this.” Hope said and for some reason, it seemed like a foreshadowing of some kind. Their ride got there in less than thirty minutes and they were finally safe in the office two hours later.

“Thank you, agent Mikaelson and agent Saltzman.” The vice-director of the CIA told them later. “Your work was excellent. You managed to find out the real guilty, clear the head of one of our agents and steal information from them.” He said smiling at Lizzie. When Lizzie noticed that Hope was curious, she said.

“When I took her phone to find where they were keeping him, I plugged a pen drive and downloaded all the information.” She said and Hope shook her head. Of course she did.

“As for you, agent Mikaelson, your extraction work was perfect. You dealt with more people than most of our agents can deal single-handed. Congratulations. And thank you again for saving my good friend Sebastian.” The vice-director said referencing to the agent she and Lizzie had saved. “Because of your amazing work together, I have a proposition for you two. If you accept to work as partners from now on, you’ll have freedom to choose your next missions. It’s what every single agent wants and I’m offering it to two newbies.” And it was a great opportunity, one that Hope only hoped to get after years and years of working with them. She glanced at Lizzie. “What do you say? What about partnering up? You can try and if it doesn’t work, you part ways and never see each other again.” He said mirroring Hope’s words and Hope looked at Lizzie. She seemed to be a walking trouble. Too confident, too smart and too pretty. She could probably take on the world. Or die trying if her skills to get into trouble were an indication. Hope huffed internally. She would probably be dead within a week if she hadn’t anyone to take care of her. Hope looked at her boss. It was probably why they were offering this partnership. They were giving Hope a lot of liberty to pick missions and make her own calls but they were also sticking her to Lizzie, a task that probably no one wanted to deal with but that was too important to die and Hope was their best shot at keeping alive.

“Are you okay with it?” Hope asked and Lizzie, for the first time, looked at her surprised. She probably thought that Hope would decline the offer.

“If you can keep up with me.” Lizzie said and Hope snorted.

“We’re a team then. What’s our next job?” Hope asked making their boss smile satisfied. He gave them a pile of files to choose from and when they left his office, Lizzie smiled brightly.

“Start from the red file at the end. Red means Europe. I always wanted to travel to Europe.” Lizzie said and Hope rolled her eyes.

“If you promise that you won’t get us killed.” Hope started and then. “Or almost killed.” She added for good measure and Lizzie smiled.

“I can promise to try.” Lizzie said and Hope sighed. It was something.

“And no more crazy last moment decisions.” Hope said and Lizzie gave her a look that indicated that last-moment-decisions was her middle name.

“You should be happy that at least we didn’t die.” Lizzie said and Hope grunted.

“Oh God. Why do I feel like I’m going to hear this a lot from now on?” She asked making Lizzie laugh and although Hope was really annoyed at it and she had no idea what the future was keeping for them, she also laughed. It would be an adventure.

“I loved it.” Alyssa exclaimed when Hope finished telling her the story.

“Ah, Lizzie. Always with too elaborated plans and weird ideas and her skill to piss off people.” Hope said laughing and shaking her head. “I used to find it so annoying.” Hope said and Alyssa looked away. It was as if Hope knew exactly what Alyssa had been through, as if she knew exactly why she was mad at Clara.

"Do you still get annoyed sometimes?” Alyssa asked and Hope smiled.

“I love Lizzie and I learned to trust her. Do you think you can learn how to trust Clara?” Hope asked and Alyssa looked away.

“But we’re not-” Alyssa started and then she snorted. “Clara and I are nothing like you and Lizzie. We’re not-” Alyssa tried again and Hope raised her eyebrows. Alyssa sighed. “You and Lizzie love each other.” And then, to make sure Hope got it. “Romantically.” Alyssa said embarrassed.

“But we’re also best friends. We trust each other the most in the world and this has nothing to do with the fact that we love each other in a romantic way.” Hope said and Alyssa looked at her suspiciously. “It’s good to have someone that understands you and is willing to be with you despite of you flaws.” Then Hope seemed to think about it. “No, not despite of it. Because of your flaws. Sometimes this person can be someone of your family. Have you noticed how MG and Kaleb are always together and love each other and talk to each other like there’s no one else in the room?” Hope asked and Alyssa nodded because she had noticed that about Clara’s dad and uncle. “It also can be the love of your life like it is for me and Lizzie. But it also can be a friend; someone that even though it seems like you’re nothing alike, you find ways to love and respect each other.”

“But Clara is not my friend.” Alyssa said looking away.

“So what are you waiting to make her? For what I’ve seen, she’s fierce enough to match you. I mean, I’m sure there’s things you like about her.” Hope said. There were things Alyssa liked about her even if she tried to convince herself that there were more things that she didn’t like.

“I suppose that she’s really clever and has saved me from detention a lot of times.” Alyssa said and Hope frowned.

“I don’t even wanna know.” She joked making Alyssa laugh.

“I guess that she’s also really funny.” She said and Hope nodded

“Lizzie told me about the Claryssa joke.” Hope said making Alyssa laugh.

“She also manages to rock in dresses and t-shirts and sneakers. I look like china doll when I wear dresses.”

“You don’t.” Hope said laughing.

“She also skates which is cool.” Alyssa continued. “And she thinks that everyone has a crush on her which is so funny because she’s only twelve.” Alyssa finished laughing.

“See? That’s a lot of things you like about her. Why don’t you tell her then?” Hope said kissing Alyssa. Alyssa bit her lip thinking and then looked at her mom.

“Can I go to her house?” Alyssa asked and Hope smiled.

“I’ll take you there.” Alyssa watched as Hope went to talk to Lizzie that was sitting on the floor of the living room playing with Cookie and Pedro. Hope immediately leaned on Lizzie; both of them appeared to be always trying to be as close as they possibly could. Alyssa noticed when Hope’s hand took Lizzie’s and a million of secrets were shared. Secrets Alyssa would never know; secrets of theirs only. She thought about what Hope had told her; that having someone that know every little part of you makes you feel the happiest in the world.

When Hope, Lizzie and Pedro walked her to Clara’s house, Clara’s uncle opened the door and told Alyssa that Clara was in her treehouse. Alyssa looked at Clara sitting alone in the treehouse for a few seconds. Alyssa’s internal fight was strong as she willed herself to both stay where she was and go talk to Clara. Not to Alyssa’s surprise, the later won.

“Can I sit here?” Alyssa asked and Clara looked at her blankly.

“Yes, you can.” She shrugged politely, always so polite. Alyssa was surprised by herself when she heard the words she said next.

“I’m sorry.” Alyssa said and Clara looked. “I want do to be your friend.” Alyssa watched as Clara tilted her head.

“Do you?” She asked. “I wouldn’t have guessed that by the way you act.” Clara delivered and Alyssa looked away.

“I know. I really destroy things very quickly.” She said heard Clara sighing.

“I didn’t mean that. I was just so angry at you for saying what you said.” Clara said with a soft voice. There she was being nice even after Alyssa had been really terrible to her. Alyssa guessed that it was her personality; that she liked so much to please people that she just ignored what she was feeling.

“You deserved to be angry at me. I had no right to tell you that, especially not after not wanting to hear the story about your mom that you wanted to tell. I was mean and I’m sorry for that.” She said and Clara nodded. But Alyssa wasn’t satisfied; she wanted a friend and now was her time to make an effort. “I really want to be your friend. If…” Alyssa started and Clara narrowed her eyes at her.

“There’s an if? You treated me like a savage last time we talked and you’re coming to me with if's?” Clara said in that way that Alyssa found it extremely annoying. No, maybe annoying wasn’t the right word. Alyssa was actually happy that Clara wasn’t being nice; she was still angry and Alyssa liked that Clara didn’t try to pretend she wasn’t.

“When Hop- when my mom adopted us, she gave us these little pocket notebooks. She had one and I’ve noticed that she usually draws on hers. Her drawings are very pretty. Lizzie also has one, she uses it to write down what she would like to do people she doesn’t like.” Alyssa said smiling. “One day I saw her writing down kick someone’s throat for cursing Hope. That made me laugh. Pedro uses his mostly for drawing those stick people that we never guess what they’re doing.” Alyssa said and Clara frowned.

“Why are you chattering, Alyssa? You hate to do that.” Clara said and Alyssa gulped.

“I don’t. I just never know what to talk about.” Alyssa said embarrassed. “Anyway, when I don’t know what to talk, I just write. That’s what I use my notebooks and journals for.” Alyssa whispered. She took the notebook from her pocket and held it to Clara. “That’s what I always do. I write.” Alyssa repeated when Clara said nothing. She looked at the notebook and then at Alyssa looking for permission. Alyssa nodded and Clara took it and started to read. After she read and read and read and Alyssa forced herself to stay still and not run away, Clara finally looked at her with the smallest of the smiles.

“You write stories.” She said and Alyssa nodded. Clara smiled a little wider then and started to read. After some time that Alyssa had to hold herself in place so she wouldn’t take the notebook from Clara and run away, Clara looked at Alyssa. “It’s amazing.”

“Thank you.” Alyssa said looking away blushing.

“I’m totally the annoying bunny that disturbs everyone’s peace of mind with her singing, right?” She asked sighing dramatically, a little more cheered up, and Alyssa laughed.

“What gave it away?” She asked and Clara rolled her eyes.

“I don’t know if it was the sullen-faced bunny that resembled you a lot and walked around with cotton inside their ears or the fact that the singing bunny’s eyes are the same color as mine.” Clara said smiling.

“Just a coincidence.” Alyssa said and then “You didn’t finish.” She added taking the notebook and opening on the last page for Clara to read. Which of course, being annoying like she was, she read it out loud making Alyssa blush.

“Soon enough, she realized that while Singing was the most annoying creature she had ever met, she was also her best friend and she would do everything for her to be happy. Because that’s what friends do.” Clara finished and smiled that bright smile that made Alyssa… happy. “I love happy endings.”

“Do you want to be my friend?” Alyssa asked and Clara smirked.

“I thought this whole story’s point was to tell me you realized that we’re already friends.” She said clever and as Alyssa watched Clara’s dad and uncle running across the garden laughing and then at Hope and Lizzie, intertwined hands, talking to Kym, Alyssa thought that yes; people that are meant to be friends always find ways to make the friendship happen.

“Yes, we are. And if you want to tell me, I would really like to hear your story.” Alyssa said watching as Clara’s face turned a little sad.

“Not today.” She said and Alyssa took her hand.

“That’s okay. Friends can wait.”

Next chapter in a totally not this long story with only one not so much elaborated crime that will not make me want to pull my hair while writing

"Josette, when are you finally going to introduce us to this woman?" Lizzie asked infuriated. It had been six months of Josie laughing and blushing at her phone. Six months of Lizzie trying to find out something, anything about this mysterious woman that Josie was keeping a secret.

"Now is not the time, Lizzie. We're in the middle of work. Tell her that, Hope." Josie said but Hope only shook her head.

"You know well that I'm not stupid enough to get in between. And I'm also curious about her. Pedro told me that she looked really pretty and that you laughed when she kissed you." Hope said making Josie blush. 

"Yeah, sister. There's also the fact that our kid met her before me. That's so unfair." Lizzie pouted.

"You'll get to meet her soon." Josie promised and Lizzie sighed. Then a movement caught her attention.

"I think that's our guy." She said pointing at the place. Hope made a sign of silence and went after the person. Josie and Lizzie followed her. Hope was faster than any human being was allowed to be so the next second, the person was on the ground with Hope over them.

"What the hell, Mikaelson." Lizzie heard the person saying and Lizzie grunted. She knew that voice well. Hope pulled her mask revealing the face that always made Lizzie want to throw a tantrum.

"Park."

"Saltzman." Penelope said looking at her angry. "Let me go." She said shaking off Hope and standing up.

"Wait, how do you three know each other?" Josie asked and Lizzie frowned turning to her sister to explain. Then she noticed that Josie's face was pale. She looked at Penelope and noticed that she had the same surprised face. Oh no. No no no no no. Hope, not noticing what Lizzie saw, answered Josie's question.

"We met Penelope a few years ago during a mission."

"Saltzman's your sister?" Penelope asked with a pained voice and Josie nodded.

"Wait, what's happening?" Hope asked and Lizzie grunted.

"Well, I think we just met the girlfriend."