Chapter 14: A controllable rage?

Ethan woke with a start, his heart pounding and sweat beading on his forehead. The howl of the creature from his nightmare still echoed in his mind, its green eyes glowing like a specter that refused to go away. He sat up in bed, panting, the sheets tangled around him. The image of that colossal creature—huge claws, sharp teeth, and the guttural howl that seemed to rip at his soul—made a lump in his throat. He ran his hands over his face, trying to shake off the feeling of dread, but something inside him felt different, restless, as if it were about to explode.

He looked at his watch — 6:15 in the morning. The Salvatore School was silent, but Ethan knew he wouldn't be able to sleep again. His mind was spinning, and the weight of what he had done the night before—killing the dragon woman—felt more real than ever. He needed a moment to compose himself. He decided to take a shower, hoping the hot water would wash away not only the sweat but also the mess that was consuming him.

As the water poured down on him, Ethan closed his eyes, trying to organize his thoughts. But instead of clarity, anger returned, like a flame he couldn't put out. "What the hell is this?" he thought, slamming his hand hard against the shower wall. Yesterday, he was fine, or at least he could pretend to be. Today, he woke up like this, with an irritation burning inside him for no apparent reason. "Am I bipolar or what? What the hell is happening to me?" The questions piled up, and he had no answers. The adrenaline of the fight, the superhuman speed, the moment he plunged the knife into the dragon woman's heart—all of it seemed to echo in his mind, mixed with the nightmare.

He turned off the shower, the silence of the bathroom filling the space where the sound of the water had been. He wrapped a towel around himself and stepped out, the steam still rising around him. As he walked through the school hallways, lost in thought, an idea began to form. Could this shit—this strange feeling—be connected to what he'd done yesterday? The dragon woman's death had been necessary, but what if she'd triggered something inside him? Maybe that blow to her heart hadn't just been the end of her, but the beginning of something new, something dark that now grew in his chest.

Ethan stopped in the middle of the hallway, leaning against the wall. A chill ran down his spine, and for a brief moment, his fingers felt tingly, as if something was trying to make itself known. What if I'm not the same anymore? he thought, fear mixing with anger. He didn't understand what was happening, but one thing was certain: the dragon woman's death had changed something, and he needed to find out what it was before it consumed him completely.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, but the anger still burned, like embers that refused to go out. He needed a place to think, to center himself. He remembered a small garden at the back of the Salvatore School, a quiet place he had discovered by chance days ago. It was a hidden corner, surrounded by tall trees and a stone bench beneath a leafy tree, where the sound of birds and the rustling of leaves were the only sounds. It seemed like the perfect place to try to organize his thoughts.

Ethan pulled on light clothing—a gray T-shirt and sweatpants—and walked out into the garden, the cool morning air brushing his skin. He sat on the stone bench, crossing his legs and closing his eyes, breathing deeply. He'd learned to meditate years ago, a technique he used to deal with stress, and now it seemed like the only thing that could help him control the storm inside him.

As he meditated, Ethan tried to clear his mind, but his attention ended up returning to Hope. He saw her eyes, intense and full of determination, her delicate but strong face, her brown hair falling in natural waves. Thinking about her brought a strange sensation, as if a gentle breeze had extinguished the flame of anger. Suddenly, the weight in his chest disappeared, the irritation dissipating as if by magic. He opened his eyes, surprised, and asked himself: "Is she the answer to all this?" The anger he felt seemed contained as he thought about Hope, but why?

He stood there, thinking for a while longer, until he decided to get up. Two hours had passed, and the sun was already higher in the sky, bathing the garden in a golden light. His mind was calm, at peace, like it hadn't been since the confrontation with the dragon woman. But then, something new caught his attention. He smelled a scent—no, several different scents, that he had never noticed before. The fresh scent of eucalyptus from the surrounding trees invaded his nostrils, mixed with the faint touch of water in the distance, perhaps from a hidden stream. Sounds that had previously gone unnoticed were now clear and enveloping: the distant song of a bird, the rustling of leaves in the breeze, even the barely perceptible sound of footsteps in the school hallway.

"Why?" he thought, confused. As he stood up, he took a step forward, and effortlessly, his body moved at an inhuman speed that no human could keep up with. He stopped abruptly, his heart racing again. The only logic to all of this was that by killing the dragon woman, he had released the werewolf curse within him. But why? Wasn't it said that the curse was only released when one killed a human being? The dragon woman wasn't human, so how could this have happened? Questions swirled in his mind, and he felt a mixture of fascination and fear.

Ethan took a deep breath, feeling the need to get away for a while. His mind was full, and the garden, although it had brought temporary peace, no longer seemed enough to contain the questions that were tormenting him. He decided that he needed some freedom, to feel the wind on his face to get his head straight. Getting on his bike and riding around seemed like the best idea at the moment.

He walked back to his dorm, swapping his sweatshirt for a black leather jacket, and grabbing his black sunglasses, pulling them on in one swift motion. His motorcycle, a shiny black Harley, was parked at the back of the school, where he kept it out of sight of prying eyes. He sat down, started the engine, and the deep rumble of the machine echoed across the courtyard, bringing him a sense of control he needed at that moment. As he walked out of the school, the wind was already beginning to ease the tension in his shoulders, though his mind was still spinning with thoughts of the curse and Hope.

As he passed through the main gates of the Salvatore School, Ethan noticed a black school bus parked across the street. A group of girls and boys were getting off the bus, laughing and chatting excitedly. They were on their way to a community service project, an activity organized by the school to help the local community—painting an orphanage, cleaning up a park, something like that. Ethan didn't pay much attention to the group—his mind was elsewhere, and all he wanted to do was clear his head. But the students recognized him immediately. Despite having only recently arrived at the Salvatore School, Ethan was already quite a famous face among the students. A few whispers started as he revved up his bike.

— Oh my God, look at Ethan on the bike! — said one of the girls, a girl with curly blonde hair, fanning her face exaggeratedly. — He's so hot!

— Seriously, he's from another world — commented another, craning her neck to get a better look at him. 

Hope didn't have to go to community service, but she decided to go along anyway. She wanted to do something useful, and her friend Josie Saltzman was going, so she figured, why not? Besides, getting away from school for a bit might help take her mind off the recent events. She was on the other side of the group, talking to Josie about the project and how they could use magic to speed up the painting of the orphanage without anyone noticing. But the sound of the motorcycle's engine caught her attention, and she turned her head, her eyes finding Ethan immediately. He was wearing sunglasses, his leather jacket molding to his body, his hair messy from the wind, his jaw clenched as he sped away. Her heart leapt in her chest, a rush of heat rising to her face without her being able to stop it. For a moment, she stood still, unable to look away, feeling something she couldn't name.

Josie noticed the change in Hope's expression and followed her gaze, seeing Ethan disappear around the bend in the road. Before she could comment, Josie's twin sister, Lizzie Saltzman, who was standing next to them, also noticed Ethan. With a mischievous smile, she crossed her arms and let out a loud comment.

— Wow, Ethan is so hot I want a piece of him all to myself — Lizzie said, her voice full of teasing and lust as she adjusted a lock of blonde hair. — I bet he knows how to make a girl have fun.

Hope turned to face Lizzie immediately, her eyes narrowing in an expression of irritation she couldn't hide. Her face, which was already slightly flushed because of Ethan, was now burning with a mixture of jealousy and discomfort. Lizzie noticed Hope's reaction right away and couldn't resist the opportunity to tease her. With a mocking smile, she tilted her head and raised an eyebrow.

"What's wrong, Hope? Are you jealous?" Lizzie asked, her tone clearly mocking, as she took a step closer, her eyes shining with mischief.

Hope opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat. She looked away, her blush deepening, and crossed her arms, trying to look nonchalant, but the irritation on her face was evident. Josie, who had been watching the interaction, gave Lizzie a gentle shove on the shoulder, frowning.

"Stop it, Lizzie," Josie said, her voice firm but a touch of amusement. "Leave Hope alone."

Lizzie just laughed, shrugging her shoulders as Hope took one last look in the direction Ethan had gone, her heart still racing. Ethan, oblivious to all of this, continued to speed down the road, the wind against his face finally starting to calm the storm in his mind, though the questions about the curse still burned in his chest.

After driving for some time along the winding roads surrounding Mystic Falls, Ethan felt he needed something more than just the wind to find peace. He remembered a nearby mountain, a place he had discovered on a map he had discovered from his early days in the region. It was a high point, with a view that stretched for miles, surrounded by tall trees and the soft sound of a stream running in the distance. Nature had always given him peace, a sense of connection he couldn't find anywhere else. He liked it there—the silence, the smell of wet earth, the birdsong. It was as if the world made sense there, even if only for a few moments.

Ethan turned off the main road, following a narrow trail that led to the base of the mountain. He parked the Harley in a safe corner and began to climb on foot, the rocky, steep terrain requiring caution but also helping him focus on the moment. The physical effort seemed to ease the tension he still carried in his chest, and when he finally reached the top, the scenery before him made him stop and take a deep breath. The sun was high, illuminating a lush green valley that stretched to the horizon, the treetops swaying gently in the wind. In the distance, he could see the outline of the city, but here, on top of the mountain, everything seemed small, almost insignificant.

He sat on a flat rock, his sunglasses still covering his eyes, and let his gaze wander over the landscape. The fresh air filled his lungs, and for the first time that day, he felt a welcome emptiness in his mind. Nature had that power over him—it calmed his anger, silenced his questions, if only temporarily. But as he stared out at the horizon, his mind kept returning to Hope, like an anchor he couldn't shake. Who was she to him, anyway? And what did this "curse" that now seemed to run through his veins mean?

Ethan took a deep breath, feeling a sense of unease growing inside him. The discovery of his superhuman speed in the garden still echoed in his mind, and he could no longer ignore what was happening. He needed to understand these "new" powers, test how far they could go. He stood up from the rock, his eyes shining with a mixture of curiosity and determination. He looked around, making sure he was alone, and then clenched his fist, feeling a strange energy pulsing through his muscles, as if something inside him was asking to be released.

Without thinking, he punched the air in front of him with all the strength he could muster. The impact was immediate—the air cracked with a loud sound, almost like distant thunder, and gusts of wind shot out from the sides, causing the leaves of the nearby trees to sway violently. Small twigs and rocks rolled across the ground, dragged along by the force of the air displacement. Ethan's eyes widened, his sunglasses nearly slipping off his face as he took a step back in disbelief. This was his strength now?

He stood there for a moment, his heart pounding, staring at the empty space in front of him where the wind still seemed to dissipate. He had always known he was strong, but this… this was something else entirely. It was as if the werewolf curse had awakened a part of him he had never known, a raw strength that both frightened and intrigued him.

Ethan spent some more time on the mountain, testing his new powers. He ran from one side to the other, feeling the superhuman speed that allowed him to cross great distances in a few seconds, almost as if he could fly. He tried to lift a large rock he found along the way, and to his surprise, he was able to lift it with ease, as if it weighed almost nothing. Each test left him more impressed—and more aware that something inside him had changed forever. He was no longer the same Ethan he had been before, and that frightened him as much as it fascinated him.

After a while of "practice," Ethan decided it was time to go back to school. He needed to think more clearly about all of this, and maybe talk to someone who could help him understand what was going on—Alaric, maybe, or even Hope, who seemed to know more about the supernatural world than he did. He carefully made his way down the mountain, got back on his Harley, and started the engine, the low rumble of the bike echoing through the silence of the trail. The wind against his face as he rode brought a sense of freedom, but his mind was still full of questions.

On his way back to school, Ethan passed through downtown Mystic Falls, where the town was most bustling at this time of the afternoon. The narrow streets were full of people coming and going, and he spotted something that caught his eye. A group of students from the Salvatore School were gathered in a nearby square, clearly engaged in some kind of community service. He recognized a few faces from the bus he'd seen earlier. Lizzie Saltzman was there, chatting animatedly with two boys, gesturing with her hands as she laughed at something one of them said. Nearby, MG, the "quiet" and nice vampire Ethan had met a few times before, was on a small stepladder, scrubbing a storefront window with a rag to clean off some graffiti someone had written—a rude phrase written in purple ink that clearly didn't belong there.

Ethan slowed his bike, curious, and decided to stop for a moment. He parked his Harley on the sidewalk, got off the bike, and took off his sunglasses, hanging them on the collar of his leather jacket. Walking toward the group, he raised his hand in a casual wave, a slight smile breaking across his face as he tried to put aside, at least for a moment, the questions that were consuming him.

"Hey, guys, what's up?" he asked, his voice full of playfulness. "Are you doing community service now? You guys can't stop, can you?"

Lizzie turned her head immediately, her eyes shining when she saw him. She crossed her arms, a mischievous smile appearing on her lips as she answered.

— Look who showed up! The new kid — she said, her tone teasing but friendly. — And yes, we're doing community service. My father decided to punish everyone from one moment to the next for the mistakes made in a simple game. Can you believe that?

MG, who was still on the stepladder, turned his head to Ethan and gave a gentle smile, wiping his hands on the paint-stained cloth.

"Hey, Ethan!" he said, his voice calm. "I'm trying to clean up this graffiti before Alaric sees it and makes me write an essay on 'respecting public property.' Want to help?"

Ethan laughed, shaking his head. Before he could respond, however, a group of Mystic Falls High School teenagers—humans who attended the local school—approached the square, clearly attracted by the presence of the Salvatore School students. Among them was a confident, blond boy who seemed to be the leader of the group. He stopped a few feet away from Lizzie, a sarcastic smile on his face, and threw a question into the air.

"Hypothetical question," the blond boy said, crossing his arms. "Would it be bad if the people who did the graffiti came back at night and did another one?"

Lizzie turned to him, her eyes narrowing as she replied in her characteristic wry tone.

— Whoever it is, I hope they learn grammar before they attempt another masterpiece — she retorted, flipping her blond hair in a dramatic gesture, which drew laughter from MG and some other Salvatore students.

Hi mg, said the blonde girl who was next to the blonde boy.

"Hey Dana, how are you?" Mg replied in a somewhat calm tone. 

Ethan, still leaning against the Harley, watched everything with a mix of curiosity and caution. He didn't interfere, preferring to stay aside while the conversation continued. But the mood quickly changed when the same blond boy — "stumbled" into Lizzie with a glass of milkshake in his hand. Without warning, he threw the cold, viscous contents in her face, the liquid dripping down her hair and shirt.

Lizzie was completely shocked, her eyes wide as she wiped her face with her hands, the milkshake dripping onto the floor. The boy laughed, taking a step back, and the others started laughing too, clearly finding the situation amusing. Ethan frowned, feeling a wave of irritation rise within him. He knew that the students at the Salvatore school had strict rules against getting into fights with humans—Alaric always stressed that any incident could expose the supernatural community and bring trouble for everyone. But seeing Lizzie being humiliated like this made him act on instinct.

 Ethan had climbed back onto his Harley a few moments ago to sit down, then he swung off the Harley in one swift movement, his muscles tensing beneath his leather jacket. He walked over to the boy who had thrown the milkshake and effortlessly grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, lifting him off the ground as if he weighed less than a feather. The boy, who was of average height, hung suspended in the air, his legs dangling, his eyes wide with surprise and fear. Everyone around him—Salvatore students and Mystic Falls humans alike—was shocked, a tense silence filling the square. The boy's weight seemed insignificant to Ethan, and he felt the superhuman strength he had discovered on the mountain flowing through his arms.

Lizzie, still wiping the milkshake from her face, recovered enough to scream.

"Ethan, stop!" she said, her voice firm despite her shocked tone. "Even though that idiot deserves it, if my father finds out about this, I'll be in even worse trouble. Please, let him go!"

Ethan hesitated for a second, fixing the boy with a steady gaze. He knew Lizzie was right—Alaric, as the school principal, would not tolerate an incident like this, and the consequences could be serious, especially with humans involved. With a controlled movement, he threw the boy to the ground, not very hard, but enough to leave him dazed. The boy fell backward, groaning, as his friends rushed to help him.

"Get out of here," Ethan said, his voice low but full of authority, pointing at the Mystic Falls group. "Now."

The humans exchanged nervous glances and quickly retreated, the blond boy giving one last resentful look before they disappeared into the city streets. Ethan took a deep breath, trying to control the adrenaline still coursing through his veins, while the Salvatore students stared at him in silence.

Inside, Lizzie felt her heart race in a different way. She wiped the rest of the milkshake from her face, her eyes fixed on Ethan. He was gorgeous, strong in a way she had never imagined—the way he had lifted that boy with ease had left her impressed—and most of all, kind to her by stopping when she asked. What more could she want? Despite the milkshake dripping down her blouse, a subtle smile appeared on her lips as she thought about it, though she tried to hide it, maintaining her confident pose.

MG broke the silence, laughing nervously as he climbed down the steps.

— Man, Ethan, you're a tank! But seriously, thanks for that. Those guys were asking for a lesson — he said, throwing the paint-stained rag on the floor.

Suddenly, Lizzie made a decision. On one hand, she was happy—Ethan had stood up for her, and it made her feel a warmth in her chest that she hadn't expected. But on the other, anger washed over her, directed at her father, Alaric. All of this had happened because of his rules, which forced her to do community service and put herself in situations like this, vulnerable to provocations from idiotic humans. With her milkshake still dripping, she clenched her fists and marched away quickly, her firm steps echoing across the square as anger consumed her. Her blond hair swung with her movement, and she didn't look back, leaving a trail of frustration in the air.

Ethan stood there, still near Harley, next to MG and the two boys who had been with Lizzie earlier. He looked at them in surprise, his eyes widening as he tried to process her abrupt departure. MG shrugged, scratching his head, while the other boys exchanged confused looks.

"I think she's mad at Alaric again," MG muttered under his breath, as if he knew better than to broach the subject.

Ethan nodded slowly, still feeling the weight of the situation. He chatted for a few more minutes with MG and the boys, who told him how community service had been more tedious than they'd expected, but that at least they'd managed to clean up most of the graffiti. Ethan laughed at a few of MG's jokes, but his mind was still partially on the force he'd used and Lizzie's departure. After a while, he realized it was getting late—about 1:00 p.m.—and his stomach was growling with hunger. He hadn't eaten since morning, and the physical exertion of training on the mountain had only increased his appetite.

"I'm going, guys," he said, waving to MG and the other boy. "I'm hungry. See you at school."

He got on his Harley, started the engine, and the deep roar of the bike echoed through the square as he headed towards a restaurant he knew in the city. As he rode through the streets of Mystic Falls, the sound of the Harley drew attention, drawing glances from pedestrians and even some other students from the Salvatore School who were scattered around the city doing community service.

In a nearby park, Hope and Josie were picking up trash, both wearing gloves and carrying plastic bags full of cans, paper, and other debris. They had been assigned to clean up the area while other groups, like Lizzie's, took care of different tasks. Hope was distracted, her mind spinning with thoughts of Ethan. Ever since she had seen him that morning, something inside her had felt different. Her heart raced just thinking about him, and she didn't understand why this was happening. She had liked other boys before, but never like this. Ethan had just arrived at school, and yet, she felt an almost supernatural attraction, something that went beyond what she could explain. Her werewolf side seemed to react to him instinctively, as if he exerted an influence she couldn't ignore. She was really believing in this thing that imprinting could be real, and the idea made her even more confused. But deep down, she knew it was more than that. Ethan meant something to her that she couldn't yet understand.

The roar of the Harley pulled her out of her thoughts. Hope looked up, and there he was, riding down the street next to the park. The wind ruffled his hair as he rode the bike with a naturalness that made her catch her breath. Her heart raced again, and she felt heat rise to her face. She was almost pulling her hair out in confusion. Why did he affect her so much?

Josie, who was a few steps ahead, noticed the change in Hope's expression and followed her gaze, spotting Ethan on the bike. A playful smile appeared on her lips as she approached Hope, nudging her lightly with her elbow.

"So, Hope, tell me something," Josie began, her tone light and teasing. "You really like the new boy, huh?"

Hope turned to face Josie quickly, the blush on her cheeks growing even more evident. She shook her head vehemently, trying to appear indifferent, and bent down to pick up a piece of paper from the floor with the trash can in her hands. "No, of course not!" she replied, her voice a little louder than necessary. "I barely know him, Josie." But, distracted by her denial, the sharp tip of the can tongs slipped and went through her own foot. Hope let out a high-pitched cry of pain, dropping the can tongs and holding her injured foot with her hands. "Ouch! Josie, help me! Get it out of here, please!" she begged, her voice cracking. "I'll heal myself, just get it out!"

Josie's eyes widened, dropping her trash bag and rushing over to help. She carefully pulled the tongs from Hope's foot, wincing as she watched blood trickle out for a moment before the skin began to rapidly close back up thanks to Hope's regeneration. "Oh my God, Hope, pay attention!" Josie said, laughing nervously as she tossed the tongs aside. "Are you okay now?"

Hope nodded, still breathing heavily, but with a slight smile of embarrassment. — Okay, okay… I just got distracted, you know? — she murmured, trying to ignore the heat she still felt in her face at the thought of Ethan.

But both Hope and Josie knew it was a lie. Hope couldn't hide the way her eyes lit up whenever Ethan was around, and Josie, who knew Hope better than anyone, could feel the energy she exuded. It was more than just an attraction—it was something deep, almost instinctive.

Josie laughed, shaking her head as she tossed a plastic cup into the bag. Ahead of Hope, she let her mind wander as she continued to pick up trash. Josie liked Hope, more than just as a friend. She'd had feelings for her for a while now, an attraction she'd never had the courage to admit. But she also knew Hope didn't see her the same way, and honestly, that was fine with Josie. As long as Hope was happy, she didn't need anything else. Still, as she thought that, she glanced back at Ethan, who was already disappearing into the distance on his Harley.

Josie had to admit: the new boy was hot. She had probably never seen anyone as handsome as him. Those eyes of his were incredible—one as blue as the sky, the other as green as grass. There was a symbolism behind it that she found fascinating: two different sides, heaven and earth, united in one being. She laughed to herself, shaking her head. What am I thinking? If she kept thinking like that, even she would have a crush on Ethan. But deep down, she knew Hope's heart was already elsewhere, and that was enough for her.

Meanwhile, Ethan was heading towards the restaurant, oblivious to the impact he was having on Hope and Josie. He parked the Harley in front of a small diner with a sign that said "Mystic Grill." The smell of burgers and fries made him smile as he walked in, ready to finally satisfy his hunger. But in the back of his mind, questions about his transformation and the feelings Hope awakened in him continued to burn, waiting for answers he didn't yet have.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hey guys, the author is speaking here. I know I'm writing a little slowly, but I have several problems that I'm solving. I also get home tired every day and I almost don't have time to write. I'm really enjoying writing this fanfic. I thank everyone who comments and leaves some power stones. If possible, also leave your reviews of the fanfic so that it reaches more people who like the TVD and Legacies universe. 

If anyone wants to support me on Patreon, it will be a great help ~~~~

patreon.com/souls3636