𝟙.𝟙: 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕀𝕤 𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℙ𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝕎𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕐𝕠𝕦 ℝ𝕦𝕟

—Narrator's perspective—

Arabella pushed open the car door, shutting it behind her while she took in the cold breeze of air. They stopped by a church, a boy with curly hair was sitting on the bottom of the stairs to the entrance. She swore she could be dead by now if she's human because of Alaric's awful driving skills.

The boy looked up, seeing a familiar face and pulled his earphone off his ear, looking confused and shock to see the Auburn haired girl who wore the same expression when their eyes met.

"Landon." She said looking at him. And for a split second she forgot why they were here.

"Hope?"

Alaric and Arabella walked over the car, "You two know each other?" The man asked while hurriedly walking closer to the entrance. Ara had gripped the chains on her hand, bringing it along like it was a normal thing to do.

"Long story." Hope answered, never taking her eyes off the boy. But soon did when they heard a scream of pain inside and glass shattering. "Dr. Saltzman."

"Yeah, I'm on it." Ric spoke and walked up the stairs, with a crossbow on his hand. He tried opening the closed doors but no use when it's chained on. "Doors are locked."

Hope figured and put her hands up. "Dissera Portus." She spelled and it opened by itself earning an impressed look from the Vampire among them. Landon only backed away in shock.

"That is also a long story bud." Arabella gave him a pat on the shoulder before following Ric to get to a werewolf in transition. At first, Landon looked at her for too long because of her eyes but realised there was a much more urgent manner.

"You're gonna want to stay out here, Landon, trust me." Hope spoke quickly and walked past the acquaintance of his, followinf Arabella.

However, he dug his own grave when he followed them in curiosity and worri for his brother.

Arabella sighed when they were walking up to the Altar, a transitioning boy was already close to his wolf form and a very annoying priest that was waving his cross to the boy. "Not my idea of walking up the altar but sure." She joked in a breathless manner which caused Alaric to snicker.

"Shut down the exorcist, would you?" He told Hope who clicked her tongue and agreed.

"Silencio." She put one hand up, closing it into a fist making the priest lose its own mouth. "Ad sonum." She spelled once more and the three humans already passed out.

"I'm glad that spell is not used against me." Ara whispered to herself, remembering many encounters from many witch she pissed off.

Alaric gave her a sign to get ready and quick. She did and avoided Rafael's fangs as it might bite her, hammering down for the chains to hold and quickly clipped it before things get worse. She felt bad for the teenager seeing as he doesn't know what's going on and what he is. Pity later, more on defense first.

"Alright easy does it, easy does it." Alaric spoke and wore the metal collar around Rafael's neck. The three backed away and Arabella almost got bit if it wasn't for Hope pulling her back.

She sent her a thank you look, panting before looking at the wolf who's fur was deep black than anyone could have seen. Arabella sighed, looking over at the curly haired boy who was trying to figure all of this out to his own head.

☘︎︎

"How do you two know each other?" Alaric asked while he drove them back to Mystic Falls.

Arabella was too quick when she called for shotgun earning a displeased look from Hope but didn't bother on fighting when she sat down behind from where she was. Which only left Landon by the far left side and Rafael at the middle asleep.

"He used to serve me milkshakes at the Mystic Grill." Hope answered, looking over at Landon who did the same as well.

"Peanut butter Blast, Whipped cream on the bottom." He answered like it was normal. "We danced once."

Arabella had her chin propped down on her palm, elbow resting on the side while she looked out the window completely out of it. She couldn't even catch up to whatever was calling her before Alaric had to touch her shoulder.

"Your eyes." He coughed and gestured back to Landon who was asking why it was like that.

Arabella glanced over the boy, "Genetics." She answered simply before looking back to the front where they are almost getting close to the school.

"We'll explain everything. We're almost there." Ric said, then the school came at view.

Landon looked around him in confusion. The place is not very familiar to him. "Where are we going?"

"Somewhere safe." Alaric answered, pulling up the front of the school and parked professionally this time.

Arabella rubbed her eyes for a second when she got out, sending a smile to Josie and Lizzie's way when she saw them waiting by the front. Hope who noticed this looked at the three in question asking herself, do they know each other?

"Welcome to the Salvatore School. We're your your guides." Lizzie said to Rafael who just woken up, madly confused. The blonde one out of the twin was obviously gushing over the werewolf who's oblivious. "I'm Lizzie."

"I'm Josie." The Brunette smiled accordingly.

"Sisters."

"Twins." Jo looked over her sister.

"Fraternal. Obvs."

Alaric sighed out when he got to stretch his legs. "Rafael, why don't you go ahead with the girls, While I talk to Landon." He instructed, looking over him. The twins went on each side of Rafael, holding on his arm while he pulled him away slowly.

"Morning, Hope, Ara." The twins said in unison. The Vampire gave them a smile in return.

"Morning, girls." Hope sent a tight smile.

"More like despair." Lizzie said loud enough for the Tribrid to hear.

Hope shook her head, "I heard that." Lizzie was already walking away when she said 'No you didn't. "Didn't have to." Hope countered.

"Everyone behave." Alaric said in a stern voice and gave a knowing look to Ara.

"Love you dad!" Lizzie and Josie said together, looking back to see their father.

Alaric sighs and looks at Landon in a smile. "So let's get started." He pointed at the door, making all of them follow. Once they got inside, Arabella tried to leave. "Up up, You're not going anywhere." He pulled her arm making her huff and cross her arms. Honestly, she just wanted to sleep. "I'm curious, Landon, Were you aware of us when we lived in Mystic Falls?"

They walked down a two-step stairs to the lounge. Falling back was Landon who was looking around, seeing people running around and witches doing magic.

"Uh, I knew Hope went to some Fancy boarding school. People in town said it's for troubled rich kids. I see the rich part is true." He stopped and saw a child levitating two books with her powers. "Nobody in town mentioned anyone in here could do that."

Once they stepped inside Alaric's office, Arabella walked alongside with Hope which was which the last ones to get in and closed the doors behind them. They stayed back at the doors, watching Alaric and Landon.

"No one in Mystic Falls knows much about us. We blend in just enough." He explained, taking off his thin jacket and putting it over the hanger with the rest of his coats. "Participate, Contribute just enough. Keeps people from asking too many questions."

"What is there to know, exactly?" Landon asked, looking at the man with a neutral look on his face.

Alaric and Hope shared a look before he continued. "Well, I used to have a speech prepared, Carefully unpeeling the layers of mystical history, but it turns out most people have read Harry Potter and are actually cool with me skipping the tee-up." He pulled his chair backwards and sat down with a heavy sigh.

"You're a school for magic?" Landon asked in an obvious tone.

"We are a school for the supernatural, which covers a lot of territory. Everyone here has something that makes them special in ways that the outside world... wouldn't understand."

Landon turned his head and looked over Hope. "So, what are you?" He questioned. Hope looked uncomfortable and took a step back.

"We should get to class." She held onto Arabella's arm firmly, earning a concerned look from the girl from the sudden action and change of behaviour.

"No." Landon said a little loud but soon realised he raised his voice suddenly. "No. Sorry. I don't mean to be a dick but I don't know you, and though the image of you whammying a priest is still fresh, I need you both here. Just tell me what all that was in the church last night?"

Arabella felt bad for the boy, a human with no sense of what's going on. Must be a very exclusive thoughts running in his head now that he saw his brother transforming into a wolf.

"What do you think it was?" Hope asked and this time pulling Ara forward. The Vampire didn't mind seeing as she wanted to hear what Landon's feeling right now.

"Well, as best as I can reason, either I've lost my mind or werewolves are real." He said and his tone was still bland.

Ara smiled and looked down. No one else would have come to terms on what he witnessed back in the church. When Alaric and Hope shared a look again Landon shook his head and now freaking out.

"Th-This is beyond insane. How is that even possible?" Landon asked, looking at the headmaster.

"It's a long story, Involving an ancient, vengeful witch and a bloodline curse."

The explanation made Arabella snort quietly, hearing the story over and over again from the Mikaelson family when they turned her. If only she could turn back time. The girl smoothly walked around the room, seeing a picture of

Jo— Alaric's fiancée. She was there at the wedding but was too occupied on many shard of glass piercing in her skin.

Hope laughs. "We teach that, too."

"I have some questions about Rafael." Alaric started and pushed himself off to sit properly on the chair and leaned his figure on the desk. Arabella snapped her head to their direction, interested now.

"Like what?"

"Well, let's start with who he killed recently?" Alaric's question caught Landon off guard seeing as he only looked at the man in silence.

Arabella sighed, leaning her side on the desk behind Hope while she listened to their conversation. It was quite nice being here with Ric, she expected this year in the school would be a total bust but she expected wrong.

"Why would you ask me that?" Landon asked in a slight frustration.

"The werewolf gene lies dormant until the carrier takes a human life. If Rafael triggered his curse, It's... because he killed someone. And we don't accept coldblooded killers into our program." Alaric closed the book in front of him, looking at the boy in front of him.

Landon shook his head. "He's not a killer."

Arabella sighed and finally spoke, "Landon we're just—"

"—He's not... a killer." He now stood up in frustration of what the three were implying to his foster brother

"Well, I know a little bit about his background." Alaric sighed out before looking at the information down his desk, reading aloud. "Neglectful birth parents. Orphaned in adolescence. Six foster homes in Seven years. Prone to fits of anger."

Hope looked at Landon in pity, probably because he also has little experience of what Alaric was saying.

"Yeah, you could just as easily be reading my file— That's what it's like out there for people like him and me." He spat.

"Landon, I know this is a lot to take in right now, But we're only trying to help. I've been going here since I was seven. This is a safe place for people like Rafael, It's a home." Hope managed to calm him down, looking at him with much to calm his nerves down.

"But... if we take him in, We need to make sure that he is not a threat." Alaric finally said aloud, looking over Arabella who sent a sad shrug.

Landon turned around and breathed out a puff of air he didn't notice he was holding. "His girlfriend, Cassie. Last month. He was driving, there was a storm, he took a turn too fast. He started Acting out. At first I thought it was just grief. And then maybe, drugs or something and then he threw a 200-pound lawnmower 50 feet across the yard. That was when out foster parents called in the priest. I guess they thought he was possessed by the devil.

Alaric nodded, rubbing the back of his neck and closed the file. "All of that is... consistent with a newly triggered wolf. It's normal. Thank you for that, Landon. Oh." He looked over at Hope and Arabella who nodded to him.

Hope stepped forward and held his hand in comfort. "Everything's gonna be okay. I promise. Arabella." She called out to the girl who did the same and went face to face with Landon.

"I'm guessing you two haven't met. Landon Kirby, Arabella Sa— Black." He discreetly looked over the Vampire who gave him a glare from the almost slip up. "She will now be helping me at times like these."

Hope looked at the two when she noticed the shared looks of exchange. "She's also a Vampire." She informed Landon who sighed in knowing.

"Ofcourse she is. You know, for a school with a secret to keep, you're kind of liberal with your information." Landon looked at Alaric.

"Well, we don't actually intend for you to remember any of it."

Arabella took another step forward and held his shoulder in comfort. "Relax and forget everything you've seen or learned since last night. All you need to know is that Rafael found a home where he can live a better life. Sure you'll miss him but you know it's for the best." She finished and backed away, almost felt bad that she had to do this.

But that guilt override confusion when Landon looked at Alaric and Hope in anger. "Are you two out of your minds?! How could I forget any of this?"

"Ara did you do it wrong?" Hope asked in slight fear.

"Trust me, Hope, I've been doing this since I turned ofcourse I did it right." She said back

"Well, It didn't work." She spat in sarcasm

"Wow I didn't know that." Ara crossed her arms and looked at the girl, equally confused just as she is. Landon was trying to leave but she quickly noticed and went in front of him, holding the weak point of his nerves making him passed out silently.

Alaric rounded his deck, "Careful and let's get him to the cellar. This is not good. This is bad." He opened the door for the girl who pulled Landon's passed out figure out.

☘︎︎