𝟙.𝟜: ℍ𝕠𝕡𝕖 𝕀𝕤 ℕ𝕠𝕥 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕠𝕒𝕝

—Narrator's perspective—

"I was born in Mystic Falls. Circa date, 1800's." Arabella started, heart was racing since this will be the first time she'll tell what happened. "My coven prioritised dark magic as their emblem and saviour? Kind of messed up if you ask me."

Hope frowned, looking over at the Vampire who was just getting started on her story. "So you already lied about everything since you came here?"

"I know I shouldn't have but, Caroline was insistent. But my name is Arabella Black, that was real. I go by Salvatore ever since I met Stefan decades ago." She said and sighed in frustration. "You can't exactly lay low if your name is the school's name."

"You know you could have told me since the start. I wouldn't judge you for it." Hope said seriously, looking over the vampire who shrugged sadly.

"You would if you'd known that who turned me." She looked at Hope, curiosity filled her eyes and gestured her to go on. "Marcel. Elijah was teaching him how to turn a human to vampire, which was me."

Hope sat properly straight and tilted her head sidewards to get a look of Arabella to make sure she isn't lying. "You knew my uncle?" There was something more she wanted to ask, as if Arabella could read minds, she nodded.

"I knew Elijah, Kol, Rebekah, Klaus." Arabella stated every single name that only made Hope looked so confused. "They took me in just like what they did to Marcel but when Mikael attacked New Orleans, Your father didn't want to leave me behind." In a whisper, she explained while looking over the book on her hand.

"You knew my dad?" Hope's voice screamed necessity to know everything, almost as if she was pleading.

"He was my bestfriend." She smiled softly, hand grazing over the picture she was looking at on the book. "One day I got a call from him when I was on the other side of the world, he told me goodbye." Arabella picked up the photograph, giving it to Hope who shakily took it.

Hope studied every detail, Klaus was having his sinister smile while having his arms around a much more immature looking Arabella who was laughing. It was a stolen picture but they looked so happy in that one.

"I didn't visit New Orleans after what happened to Hayley." She confessed, only shocking Hope even more. "I was mad at everything and especially to those group of vampires who killed her... I was in a small town near Virginia, many was conspiring against Klaus and you because of your breed. To take the edge off and distract myself, I went on a rampage killing all of them."

"By yourself?" Hope asked, didn't realise a pool of tears forminf in her eyes.

"By myself." She admitted, pulling another book from the shelf near her. This time, it was leather covered. "Stefan always did love writing on his journal. This one was the decade we met." Ara gave it to Hope who looked at her if she was sure.

They were in the Salvatore memorial library, Arabella had to practically beg for Hope not to do this but at some point, she was going to have to anyways.

"Why are you telling me all this? You could have said no." Hope asked, now feeling bad that she ever pushed Arabella to the brink of breaking.

"We have something in common." She answered, propping her elbow to the side of the chair and leaning her head to her hand for rest. "I hate liars and lying."

☘︎︎

"Given our recent influx on monsters, the Sheriff and I have decided we need to take drastic actions. Please give him your full attention." Alaric stepped back and let Matt step forward to speak.

"Like Dr. Saltzman was saying, Local girls Dana Lilien and Sasha stoteraux didn't come home last night. Dana sometimes skips town for a few days to party, but this is a first for Sasha."

Arabella gave the picture to Hope who was besides her, listening boredly to the humans on stage. It's been too long since she's seen Matt and the last time wasn't pretty seeing as he killed her intentionally.

"Thank you, Sheriff Donovan. Now while the knife is away with Dorian and things are quiet on his end, it won't hurt to assume to worst."

Hope leaned closely to Arabella to whisper, "Are you and sheriff Donovan friends too?" The question made the vampire look at her by the sudden ask of interest.

"Yes and no. He kind of killed me the last time we met." She whispered back and only left Hope more eagerly confused.

"Now, I'll need a few of you to volunteer to go to Mystic Falls High under the guise of an exchange program meant to improve relations between our schools, which unfortunately is necessary, given recent events. Now, I give your permission to compel them, to gather materials locator spells, because any information we can get will make all the difference."

Just as he finished, Lizzie stood up voluntarily, going in front of the students. "Well, I guess that I can set aside my differences with Dana for a day, because that is what heroes do. So, I volunteer as tribute."

Hope mustered up an eye roll making the girl besides her to hide a laugh. "She battles one gargoyle, and suddenly, she's mother Teresa." She sighed and Arabella chuckled lowly.

"I'm in." Kaleb stood up and so did Mg who volunteered themselves.

"We'd like to help." Hope pulled upwards Arabella who had no choice so she didn't complain and forced a smile to Alaric. They both know Alaric was still going to force her to keep an eye out for them.

☘︎︎

"Who are you, And what have you done with Hope Mikaelson." Alaric panted out while he and Hope were sparring.

Arabella had yet to question why she keeps following Hope around and letting her drag her everywhere she goes.

"I never got to go to a real school. I've always wanted to know what it's like to be normal for a day instead of being a tribrid loner." They continued.

"Says the girl who dragged her roommate to watch her get beat." Alaric remarked and stole a glance to the Vampire sitting boredly and smiled at him irritated like.

Hope forced herself not to smile and asked a question instead. "So, what's your plan with Landon? Does he like, go here now?" The two stopped to take a minute and talk.

"Why? You still thinking about murdering him?" Alaric finished off and attacked Hope with the baton which she dodged quick.

"'Cause there's a knife that sat dormant for centuries that started attracting mythical creatures the day he took possession of it. I'd say there's a lot we need to learn about him." Hope did a cartwheel and panted.

"And then what we kick him to the curb?"

"Then we decide to do what's best for the people in this school." He replied.

"Any idea what to do with him while we search for missing mean girls?"

"As a matter of fact, yes." He answered.

Arabella stood up in a sigh, "Not to like interrupt you two but can I go? Somewhere I'd rather be is in the bottom of the ocean than to watch you two feud over a human."

"Oh and when will you tell me that my roommate is a century year old vampire who knows my entire family?" Hope asked, sparing a look to Arabella who awkwardly shifted in her feet.

Alaric looked at Hope in shock before turning to Arabella. "You told her?"

"And I have a search party to go to." She sighed and picked her bag from the ground, swinging it over to her shoulder before exiting the room.

She could hear Hope sigh but later on ignored it seeing as the tribrid had many things to know before she even knows her fully.

☘︎︎

"Girls are missing, so get your wedgie trauma in check or leave." Lizzie spat to Landon who just ruined her 'entrance' by accidentally bumping into her.

Arabella looked to her side, her arms crossed uncomfortably seeing as she was last here with Elena and Bonnie and the rest of her last friends.

"Okay, here's the deal. Landon, you talk to any of the people you still know from when you went here. Hope, you try to not deliberately alienate the entire student body while the rest of us save the world." Lizzie ordered which made Arabella knowingly sigh.

"This isn't a contest, Lizzie. Girls are actually missing." Arabella said giving her a look.

"You're right. It's a mission. for a hero and her league of... whatevers." She forced a smile and shuddered in cringe.

"Yeah. Screw that. I work alone." Then, Kaleb left to go what ever he does best in feeding on the local students of the school.

Lizzie turned to Arabella who was looking at the school. "Ara, I need your compulsion skills."

"Nope, she's going with me." Hope said defensively and held onto Arabella's arm before Lizzie can physically take her away.

"Ugh, Fine. Mg, would you like to be the Robin to my batwoman?" She asked excitedly.

"Actually, Batwoman doesn't have a Robin. She—" Before Mg can rant, Lizzie was already pulling him away telling him it was a metaphor.

Arabella rolled her eyes and shook her head in disappointment of their situation. "So, want to lead me where you may or may not studied here when my dad was still alive?" Hope asked which Arabella chuckled nodding and lead them to the entrance, leaving Landon to fend for himself.

Once they entered the school hallways, it was like any dramatic higschool opera show seeing a girl with unique color of eyes.

"We have nothing to go on if this generation of teenagers are like what I've last experienced." Arabella sighed, walking past a group of boys that was eyeing Hope besides her making her roll her eyes. "I take it back, we're screwed."

The Vampire didn't even notice Hope getting annoyingly frustrated by Landon who seemed to be not getting a hint of to stay away from them. "I'm sorry. Is the fact that I'm not openly hostile to you make it seem like we're back to being friends?" She stopped for a minute and continued to drag Arabella by her arm which the latter didn't mind.

"Uh, sorry. Just, I was going for effortlessly natural. But this is all just making me really nervous. Like the school and seeing connor and being with you—"

"—Shouldn't you be talking to anyone you know?" They stopped in the middle of the hallways with Arabella who was listening on their conversation.

"That's easier said than done. There is no way Dana's clique is talking to me unless you have a spell that will make me retroactively cool."

Hope looked at him with a tired look, "Well, We'll talk to them then."

"It's even worse for you. Not for Arabella since she literally has awesome genetics that makes her eyes look cool. Trust me, You have no idea how human high schools work."

Suddenly, three girls from out of no where approached them. "I'm sorry you two look traumatized. Is this loser bothering you?"

"He keeps insisting on selling us his mix tape." Arabella butted in and looked over to the curly haired boy with a sorry look.

The girl scoffed. "Gross. Well, we're going to lunch. You two hungry? We would love to get to know you." She said directly to Arabella, moreover admiring her eyes which made Hope frown and tightly hold onto her arm.

"Famished." Hope gave a look to Arabella while they followed the group of cheerleaders to whatever while still latching onto the Vampire's arm.