Chapter Text
“When we are young we are taught the distinction between a hero and villain, good and evil, a savior and a lost cause. But what if the only real difference is who’s telling the story? My name is Hope Mikaelson. I come from a long line in the tales you’ve heard about vampires, werewolves, and everything in between. The school behind these gates protects the secrets of people like me. And tonight under the light of the full moon we will be opening our doors to someone new.”
Two boys walked along an empty street. Street lamps lit their path. “Rafael, seriously, it’s not right.” said one chuckling.
Rafael shrugged, glancing towards the other boy, “It is what it is, Landon.”
Landon turned towards him exclaiming, “You’re not Catholic! You shouldn’t have to confess your sins!”
Rafael looked exasperated, “I tossed a lawnmower through the patio doors, bruh. If apologizing to God gets Hector and Maria off my back, so be it.
The boys walked into the church seeing Hector and Maria talking with the priest.
“Buenas tardes, Father Pietero.” Rafael said as he and Landon walked over to the priest.
“Buenas tardes, Rafael.” The priest replied, “Por favor, pray with me.”
Rafael turned slightly to Hector and Maria hesitant, before kneeling.
Hector looked over at Landon who was standing nearby, “Landon, you can leave now. It’s okay, we can take it from here.”
“I’m good Hector.” Land said reluctant to leave Rafael.
Maria moved from Hector’s side to Landon. “Landon, this is between your foster brother and God okay.” She tried to explain.
Rafael looked at Landon from his spot on the floor, “Hey, I got it bro okay, just wait outside.”
Landon gave him one last look before walking out with Maria and Hector following behind him.
Landon put his earbuds in sitting down on the church steps. Maria watched from inside the church as she and Hector chained the doors shut. Landon who now was doodling in a notebook was oblivious.
Back in the church the priest and Rafael were praying , the priest poured a liquid on his hands before drawing a cross with it on Rafael’s forehead.
“God, whose nature is ever merciful and forgiving.” The preset began in Latin, “Accept our prayer that this servant of yours DEPARTS.” He started to get louder and louder with every word holding a cross to Rafael.
Rafael, still on his knees, looked confused, “What’s going on here?” He asked.
The priest didn’t reply, still speaking, “Accept our prayer that this servant of yours departs.”
Rafael began to move from his kneeling position as Hector and Maria ran up trying to pull him back to the ground. “What are you doing?” He asked again.
“Then impious one, depart.” The priest said, still holding the cross up.
Rafael began to groan and cry out as his bones began cracking with his shift.
Hector and Maria let go as the priest began to talk louder. “Accursed one, DEPART DEMON.”
Rafael fell to the ground, his bones cracking louder, his head shot up showing off glowing yellow eyes as he bared his teeth.
Landon, still outside, looked up as a car skidded to a stop in front of the church. A teenage girl and an older man stepped out, making their way to the church doors. The girl paused in front of Landon looking at him before speaking.
“Landon?” She questioned.
He looked at her incredulously, “Hope?” He replied.
The older man walked up behind Hope, “You two know each other?”
Hope blinked, “Long story.” In the background Rafael yelled as glass shattered. “Dr, Saltzman-“
Landon stood up from his spot recognizing Rafael’s yell.
“Yeah, I’m on it.” Alaric said, his crossbow and duffel bag in hand, he made his way up the church steps and tried to open the doors. “Doors are locked.” He said backing up.
Hope held up her hands saying a spell “Dissera Portus!” The doors opened themselves, the chain falling off.
Landon’s eyes widened as he stood shocked by Hope.
“You’re going to want to stay out here, Landon, trust me.” Hope said as she and Alaric walked into the church.
Landon stood still for a second before following.
Rafael was on the floor, as the priest continued his chanting, Rafael’s eyes were glowing and his bones were breaking as he yelled out.
“Shut down the exorcist, would you?” Alaric told Hope as they walked up the aisle.
“Silencio” Hope said, making the priest mute as he reached up confused on why his voice was gone. Hope held up her hands saying another spell. “Ad somnum”
Instantly the cross fell from the priest’s hand as he, Hector, and Maria, all fell asleep at once.
Alaric gathered things from his duffel bag as Rafael pleaded for help, his hands growing claws as his bones snapped.
Hope began to help Alaric chain Rafael down.
“Oh my god.” Landon said softly.
Rafael continued to yell as Hope fitted him with a color and chains.
“Easy does it, easy does it.” Alaric told Hope.
Landon, Alaric, and Hope stood back when the yelling stopped as a black wolf took the place of Rafael yanking at the chains.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Early the next morning Landon, Rafael, Hope, and Alaric arrived back at the Salvatore School. It was here that they were greeted by two girls.
“Welcome to the Salvatore School” said the blonde, “We’re your tour guides.”
The second girl, who was a brunette, spoke, “I’m Josie.”
“I’m Lizzie.” added the blonde “Sisters.”
“Twins.” Josie clarified looking at Lizzie.
“Fraternal. Obvs.” Lizzie pointed out, causing Rafael to look at them suspiciously.
“Rafael, why don’t you go with the girls, while I talk to Landon.” Alaric said, sighing.
“Morning Hope.” Both girls said coming over to link their arms with Rafael.
“Morning girls.” Hope gave them a small smile.
“More like despair.” Lizzie said, making Josie laugh as they pulled a confused Rafael away.
“I heard that.” Hope called after them.
“No you didn’t.” Lizzie retorted, walking Rafael around the car.
“Didn’t have to.” Hope said.
Africa cut her off, “Everyone behave.”
Josie and Lizzie turned to face Alaric, “Love you dad.” they said in unison.
Alaric sighed again, “So” he smiled at Landon, “Let’s get started.” he motioned for Landon to follow him.
Landon, Hope, and Alaric walked into the school and were immediately surrounded by the sound of laughter and chatter.
“I’m curious, Landon.” Alaric said before calling after a student who was running through the halls, “Slow down- were you aware of us when you lived in Mystic Falls?”
Landon looked around taking everything in. “Uh, I knew Hope went to some fancy boarding school. People in town said it was for troubled rich kids. I see the rich part is true.” He stopped to watch a little girl levitate two books. “No one in town mentioned anyone in here could do that.”
Alaric opened up the door to his office. “No one in Mystic Falls knows much about us.” He took off his coat and hung it up. “We blend in enough, participate, contribute just enough, keeps people from asking too many questions.” Hope and Landon followed him in.
Alaric went to turn his chair but instead found a girl sitting in it asleep. Alaric had opened his mouth to reprimand the student but at the sight of her he sighed smiling softly before gently shaking her awake. “Lexie, Lexie.”
Lexie shifted in the seat opening her eyes slightly, at the sight of Alaric she sat up suddenly. “I’m sorry Dr. Saltzman” she said, her words tumbling out in a hurried manner. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep, I woke up last night and Hope wasn’t back yet so I came here looking for you-“ she trailed off locking eyes with Landon. “Landon Kirby?” she whispered.
“Lexie?” Landon said back just as confused, “I thought you went to Mystic Falls?”
Alaric cut them off, “Wait Lexie, you know Landon?”
Lexie stood from her seat, “Landon and I went to school together a couple years ago before I left to come here.”
Landon nodded, ”Yeah, and during the summer I used to serve her and her boyfriend lunch at the Mystic Grill”
Lexie bit her lip looking down at the ground, Daniel was still a touchy subject for her, especially since he was the reason she was in Alaric’s office in the first place.
Hope noticed Lexie was getting uncomfortable so she made her way to Lexie’s side. She grabbed Lexie’s hand, squeezing it softly hoping to give some comfort to her friend.
Alaric glanced towards the girls before speaking. “Anyways, we’re a school for- special kids. The only people that need to know about us are on this property.”
Landon moved his attention from Lexie to Alaric, “What is there to know exactly?”
Alaric, Hope, and Lexie shared a knowing look, before Hope shrugged, motioning for Alaric to keep speaking. “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”
“You’re a school for magic?” Landon exclaimed.
Alaric sat down in the chair Lexie had previously been occupying as Landon sits in a nearby chair. Hope moved to the corner of the room pulling Lexie along with her, their hands still clasped. “We’re a school for the supernatural, which covers a lot of territory. Everyone here has something that makes them special in ways the outside world wouldn't understand.”
Landon looked at Lexie and Hope in disbelief, “So what are you two?”
Lexie tightened her hold on Hope's hand clearly not wanting to answer the question.
Hope took the cue and began to lead them out of the room, “We should get to class..”
“No!” Landon cut her off, Hope and Alaric looking surprised at his reaction. “No, sorry, I don’t mean to be a dick.” He pointed at Alaric, “But I don’t know you. And the though the image of you.” He looked at Hope, “Whammy-ing the priest is still fresh, I need you here. Just... tell me what all was in the church last night?”
“What do you think it was?” Hope asked.
“Well, as best as I can reason, either I’ve lost my mind, or werewolves are real.” Landon said, causing another silent look to be shared between the two girls and Alaric. Landon takes their silence as confirmation and begins to panic. “Th-this is beyond insane. How is that even possible?”
Alaric shrugged, “it’s a long story involving an ancient, vengeful witch and a bloodline curse. We cover all that in Origins of the Species, grade six.”
Landon scoffed, “In sixth grade at my school, we learned the state capitals.”
Lexie laughed, “That and all the presidents, I wasn’t even here for sixth grade. I had a lot of catching up to do when I did come. But states are taught here too.”
Alaric shuffled through some papers on his desk. “I have some questions about Rafael.”
“Like what?” Landon asked.
Alaric looked up at him, “Well, let’s start with who he killed recently.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back in the school hallway Josie and Lizzie were taking Rafael on a tour. “Everybody gets along here, for the most part.” Josie said.
“The wolves are pretty cliquey. They like to hang with their own.” Lizzie added.
“In defiance of the school's commitment to inclusiveness.” Josie smiled at Rafael.
“That is why we volunteered to be your tour guides-- to give you a good witch-welcome before your hairier brethren corrupt you.” Lizzie explained.
The trio stopped in front of a classroom. A man stood at the front of the classroom teaching students.
Josie leaned over to Rafael, “That's our librarian, Mr. Williams. He's subbing for our Chemistry of Magic teacher, who accidentally incinerated himself last week in hellfire”
Lizzie modded “Burned all the hair off his body, but didn't leave a scar.”
They paused to listen to Dorian who was speaking.
Dorian walked around the front of the classroom, “Now, this language has been carefully crafted over centuries. So, you may think you can play fast and loose with the syllables, but you'd be very wrong about that. Because otherwise, a love charm becomes a what?” He looked around the class before calling on a girl in the back, “Penelope, show us.”
Lizzie groaned as Penelope turned in her seat. “She who shall not be named.”
“Talking about her gives her power.“ Josie quietly said.
Rafael looked at the two confused, “Who are you talking about?”
“Josie’s evil ex.” Lizzie explained as Penelope turned to glance out the classroom window.
Penelope winked playfully at Josie noticing her.
Josie glared at her angrily knowing Penelope was trying to rile her up.
Penelope held up her hands preparing to cast the spell. “Phesmatos is lucas odoray.” A golden orb appears above her hands hovering for a second before it pops causing a large cloud of smoke to spill from it. Everyone in the class begins to cough and cover their mouths.
“That’s right.” Dorian said from the front, “A stink spell. Yes!”
Lizzie coughs and rolls her eyes before turning to Rafael, “Come on. We’ll show you the turret. It’s where all the seniors go to smoke.”
Rafael chuckled “What do they smoke? Eye of newt?”
Josie grinned, pulling him away. “Weed.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back in Alaric’s office Landon was pacing back and forth looking anxious. “Why would you ask me that?”
Alaric says calmly at his desk filing some papers. “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 cold-blooded killers into our program.”
“He’s not a killer!” Landon exclaimed.
Hope sighed, “We’re not trying-“
Landon cut her off, “He’s not a killer!” He emphasized.
“Well, I know a bit about his background. Neglectful birth parents, orphaned in adolescence, six foster homes in seven years, prone to fits of anger...” Alaric trailed off.
Landon glared at him, “Yeah, you could just as easily be reading my file. That's what it's like out there for people like him and me.”
“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 put in trying to ease his fears.
“But, if we take him in, we need to make sure he’s not a threat.” Alaric told him gently.
Lexie let go of Hope’s hand moving to Landon, “We won’t hurt you or Rafael.” she said, trying to comfort him.
Landon looked her in the eyes searching to see if she was being truthful. “His girlfriend.” He admitted quietly. “Last month, he was driving. There was a storm. He took a turn too fast. And then he started acting out. At first, I thought it was just grief. And then, maybe... maybe drugs, or something. And then, he threw a two-hundred-pound lawnmower fifty feet across the yard. That's when our foster parents called in the priest. I guess they thought he was possessed by the devil.”
Alaric nodded relieved by the story, “All of that is consistent with a newly-triggered wolf. It's normal. Thank you for that, Landon.”
Lexie thanked Landon quietly before speaking to Hope and Alaric. “I’m going to try and find the twins.” She smiled at Hope before exiting the room.
Landon’s gaze followed her. “What happened to her? She was a lot different when I knew her. Talkative- she always had a smile on her face.”
Hope sighed, “It’s been a rough few years for her.” She grabbed Landon’s shoulders, “But you don’t need to worry about that now, everything is going to be okay, I promise.”
Alaric touched a button on the intercom, “We’re ready.”
The door opened and a young man came in, Alaric stood from his chair. “Landon Kirby, meet Milton Greasley.”
MG groaned “Come on, Dr. Saltzman.”
Africa nods “Right, MG. I’m sorry. Take it from a guy named Alaric- I get it. Landon, MG is my student aide.”
“He’s also a vampire.” Hope commented.
Landon rolled his eyes scoffing, “Of course he is, you know, got a school with a secret to keep, you’re kind of liberal with your information.”
Alaric smiled a clearly fake smile, “Well, we don't actually intend for you to remember any of it.”
MG placed his hand on Landon’s shoulders looking him in the eyes. “Forget everything you’ve seen or learned since last night. All you need to know is that your friend has found a home where he can live a better life. You'll miss him, but you know it's for the best.” he says, his eyes dilating as he tries to use compulsion on Landon.
Landon is quiet for a second before he snaps out of his daze and slaps MG’s hand from his shoulder. “Are you two out of your minds? How could I forget any of this?”
“MG, did you do it wrong?” Hope asks panicked.
MG looks at her offended, “No, I didn't do it wrong! It's the easiest vampire trick in the book.”
“Well it didn’t work.” Hope retorted.
Landon scoffed “Of course it didn’t work!” he attempts to move past MG and run out the door but MG uses his vampire speed to stop him and put him in a chokehold.
“Careful!” Alaric called.
MG puts enough pressure to knock Landon out before he starts to drag him from the office.
Alaric walked behind him with Hope “Get him to the cellar. This is not good! This is bad!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Landon wakes up on a cot in a cell. He quickly stands up immediately pulling at the bars as he starts to panic and hyperventilate before he’s pulled into a flashback.
Landon stands watching his foster parents fight.
“No!” His foster mother yells.
“Let me-“
“No!”
Landon is suddenly shoved into a closet.
“You sit here and think about it.” His foster father says closing the door behind him and locking it.
Landon pounds at the door “Please don’t lock me in here! Please!”
His flashback ends and Landon stands shaking, his breathing erratic.
Hope appears outside the bars, “Landon...”
Landon turns at the sound of her voice racing to the bars. “Hope! Can you get me out of here?l
Hope looks at him sympathetically and shakes her head upset. “Not yet. But you’re not a prisoner here, I promise.”
Landon looks at her like she’s crazy. “I’m in a witch dungeon!”
Hope smiles “It’s a werewolf transition space.”
“Super.” Landon comments sarcastically. “I’m not so good with, you know... small spaces.” He breathes in deeply trying to gain some control over his body.
“We won’t keep you long. No one expected you couldn’t be compelled.” Hope leaned against the bars.
“I don’t even know what that means!” Landon exclaimed.
“MG tried to erase your memories of this place, but it didn't work.” Hope was curious to what could be so different about Landon.
Landon laughed, pacing back and forth. “So now what? I'm a hostage? Where's Rafi?”
Hope watched him, “He’s fine. You’re fine too.” Nothing Landon doesn’t calm down, she continues on. “Look, compulsion doesn't work on people who take this herb called vervain. The town sheriff sometimes slips it into the coffee at the gas station we were at this morning. It takes about a day to pass through your system, but you just have to wait it out.”
“Sure. Yeah, no big deal. Yeah, I'll just sit here alone in the witch dungeon with my thoughts.” He scoffs before pausing, “Would you... I mean, could you... wait it out with me?” He asks softly.
Hope considers it for a moment before shaking her head. “I'm really sorry about all of this... But it was nice to see you again.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lizzie and Josie lead Rafael to the sports field, on the field the students are playing a game where rings are conjured and hover in the air while vampires and werewolves use their abilities to score goals by throwing the ball through the rings. Half the crowd are booing while half are cheering. The twins stop and let Rafael take it all in.
“Alyssa Chang made a broom fly in physics last year, but Rick Rogers fell thirty feet during practice, so real-life Quidditch remains an elusive pipe dream. It's called Wickery. My parents invented it when we were ten.” Lizzie says, trying to explain the game.
Josie and Lizzie split up, Rafael going to sit with Lizzie and Josie making her way to MG.
Lexie had been searching for the twins for a while before she walked to the sports field. Seeing Josie she made her way to sit next to her and MG.
Josie smiled seeing Lexie, she had missed the other girl’s friendship while she had been gone. “Hey”
Lexie smiled back “Hey Jo” she looked over to where Lizzie was. “Is that the new wolf?”
Josie nodded, “His name is Rafael.” She looked longingly at him.
MG noticed her look, “Giving up dibs on the new guy so quickly?”
Josie forced a fake smile, “It’s not competition. Plus, I’m still nursing a wounded soul.”
“Hmmm.. Penelope Park?” MG guesses.
“We don’t mention her name anymore, remember?” Josie says poking MG.
MG chuckled, “Sorry.”
Lexie, Josie, and MG looked over to where Lizzie and Rafael were sitting.
“Do you think he’ll go for her?” MG questions.
Josie sighs, “Probably. They usually do.”
Lexie watched them for another moment before turning to Josie and MG. “Not everyone has.” She says grinning.
Josie laughs, “You should be glad you refused my sister.”
Lexie shrugged, “I was a fifteen year old with a boyfriend, Lizzie is pretty but she wasn’t-“ she trailed off.
“I know.” Josie said softly, not many people had heard what happened but Josie wasn’t one of those people.
Lexie quieted, turning her attention to the game.
Everyone was silent for a couple minutes before MG poked them. “Hey look.”
On the other side of the stands Rafael was standing up walking away from a clearly upset Lizzie.
“Oh no.” Josie whispers under her breath, “I wonder what she did now.”
Lizzie stands from her seat, her face crumbling trying to hold back tears as she makes her way out of the stands and begins to walk towards the school.
Josie moves to follow, “I’d better find dad and tell him.” She waves goodbye to MG giving Lexie a quick hug. “Talk later?”
Lexie nods giving Josie a small smile, “Go get your dad. I’ll be okay, I’ll probably just go back to my room.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At the quarry Hope and Alaric are training.
“You didn’t have to lock him in the cellar,” Hope says, standing back from Alaric.
Alaric scoffs as he swings at Hope “Where else was I gonna put him.” He swings his fist forward stopping inches away from Hope. “Block with your hand.”
Hope stares after him frustrated and slaps his hand away from her. “I got it.”
They circle around each other.
“If you had it I wouldn’t have to say it.” He swings at her only for Hope to dodge it and shove him away from her. She spins around to strike him in the shoulders but Alaric grabs her arms and spins her pinning her arm behind her back.
Hope stares forward annoyed before muttering and incanting, “Dimiterre.”
The spell causes Alaric to flip over her head before landing on his back in front of her. Hope uses her werewolf agility to front flip and land with her legs on both sides of Alaric pinning him to the dock.
“Cheater” Alaric mumbles.
Hope smirks “You should really let a vampire start doing my training. You're getting a little old for me to be breaking your human bones.”
“How dare you!” Alaric says letting Hope pull him up. “You and Landon have a thing or something?” He puts his hands up allowing Hope to punch them.
“I don’t have things.” Hope tenses at Alaric’s words.
Alaric looks at her exasperated, “Yes, I’m well aware of your quest to avoid all emotional intimacy.” He pauses before speaking again, “There was obviously something.”
They trade punches and kicks for a minute.
“I liked him.” Hope admits, “He was normal.”
Alaric grabs her fist looking her in the eyes, “Well, let’s keep him that way. We survive here because we follow the rules. We can’t get sloppy around it.”
Hope glares, “You’re the one that's always telling me I need to get out more!”
Alaric grabs his water bottle handing Hope hers, “I tell you that you need to stop locking yourself in your dorm room, binge-watching Cutthroat Kitchen. I don't tell you to go out and fraternize with the human locals.”
“You know, you can just be my headmaster. All this other stuff isn't in the job description.” Hope rolls her eyes.
“Attempt to make an actual friend here, and we could reevaluate this relationship.” Alaric goes to say more before they’re interrupted by Josie. “Dad? Clean-up on aisle L.”
Alaric sighs and walks away.
Josie comes to stand next to Hope. “I couldn’t help but overhear. You know he doesn’t mean that right? You have friends.”
Hope stares at her, “Yeah.” She says moving past Josie, “I have one.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lizzie stands in the school kitchen overwhelmed by what happened with Rafael. Plates shatter around her as she screams, telekinetically pulling the dishes from the cupboards shattering them before they even hit the ground. Listening to them smash she screams again knocking over more things before summoning a knife through the air hitting the door. She summons another as Alaric walks through the door calling her name, he stops suddenly as a knife flies towards his face stopping mid-air inches away.
Alaric takes a deep breath grabbing the knife.
Lizzie looks at him miserable and guilty about the mess she’s made. “Hi, Daddy.”
Even with his heart racing Alaric smiles warmly at her, “Hey, baby,”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hope enters her dorm sighing, she stops at the sight before her. Lexie is settled into her bed reading a book. “Hey.” Hope says placing her training gear on her own bed before sitting down next to Lexie. “Are you okay?”
Lexie looks up from her book, she places a bookmark in it and puts it on the nightstand. “I don’t know.” She says truthfully.
Hope pulls her close leaning her head on Lexie’s shoulder. “Another nightmare?” She guessed.
Lexie nods, “I woke up but you weren’t here, so I went to Dr. Saltzman’s office to see if you were there, then I waited but I guess I fell asleep.” She sighs contentedly sinking into Hope’s embrace.
“I’m sorry.” Hope apologizes. “We weren’t supposed to be gone so late, we had some trouble with the new wolf.”
“Rafael right? I saw Lizzie sitting with him earlier.”
“She said something, didn't she. Josie came for her dad earlier claiming a clean up.”
Lexie shrugged, “I guess, all I know is that Rafael stormed away from her and she walked away all sad and upset.”
“That girl is really something.” Hope mumbled under her breath.
“You should give her a chance. Hope, she’s not as bad as she seems.” Lexie had realized that Lizzie had changed some from when she had been close to the twins but it didn’t mean that nice Lizzie wasn’t somewhere in there.
“I’ve tried, besides.” Hope turned to her, “I’ve got all I need here.”
“What about Landon?” Lexie asked.
“I knew him a long time ago, we danced, it means nothing.”
“Nothing seems like something.” Lexie pointed out.
Hope nudged her, “What about you, he said you knew him too.”
“I did, before... We went to school together, had some classes together. He used to serve me food at the Mystic Grill with-“ Lexie trailed off.
“Daniel.” Hope finished quietly.
Lexie nodded unshed tears gathering, “Yeah.”
Hope smiled sadly at Lexie as a calming silence came over them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hours later Hope lies in her bed reading, Lexie had left about an hour before claiming Josie wanted her at a party. She closes her book and stands up restless before making her way down to the transitioning cells.
Landon was sitting on the floor as she appeared smiling at him tiredly. “Hey”
Landon looks up from his spot. “Hope.”
“Can’t sleep either?” She asks moving to sit down.
Landon nods, “Yeah... small spaces... You?”
Hope shrugged, “Sometimes I get restless.”
“Busy brain?” He asks.
Hope laughed, “Bust everything. My body has a lot going on inside it.”
“Which is an awesome segue into you telling me how you can move things with your mind.” Landon says.
Hope stares at him for a moment before changing the topic. “You ask a lot of questions.”
Landon scoffs, “Wouldn’t you?”
Hope thinks for a moment before noticing a smile appear on Landons face. “Why are you smiling?”
“I'm remembering the day we danced in the town square. The guy who used to mess with me in school finally got what was coming to him. I had a good day.” Landon smiles at her as they both think back to that day.
Landon stood nervously in front of Hope. “Do you maybe want to dance or something?”
Hope looked at him surprised, “You want me to dance with you?”
“Kind of living in the moment here.” Landon said before they began to slow dance.”
“Just like me to crush on the girl with the most baggage.” He smiles ruefully at her.
Hope goes to say something before remembering her earlier conversations with Alaric and then Lexie. She stands up, “I’m gonna try that sleep thing again.”
“You know you do that a lot.” Landon tells her.
“Do what?” Hope questions.
Landon fiddles with his hands, “Leave.”
Hope looks down at him, “I can be dangerous to people. It's better if I keep my distance.”
“Better for who.” Landon says, staring in front of him.
Hope sighs walking away. “Again with the questions.”
Landon sits dejectedly for a moment before standing as the cell door opens. He walks a few steps out, “Couldn’t stay away huh?” he says thinking Hope let him out. Seeing no one he frowns before he is grabbed by an invisible force and pulled away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Landon is pulled into the woods stopping after a wild ride. He stands to his feet dusting himself off, looking up he is shocked to see Rafael, Josie, and Lexie standing before him, behind them music is blasting as students dance to music and drink.
“Raf?” Landon asks. “What the hell man.”
The boys hug, relieved to have found each other.
“You -you all right? They helped me get you out.” Rafael motions to Josie who smiles shyly at Landon and Lexie who waves.
“Summoning spell, did I bruise you? I’m really still working out the kinks...” Josie says.
Landon looks shocked “Summoning spell?”
“Let's get you a drink, bro.” Rafael says steering Landon towards the party.
Josie laughs following behind them pulling Lexie along.
They enter the old mill, kids are partying, one girl even summons fire from the campfire. Penelope stands with her friends using telekinesis to do shots.
Rafael leads Landon to the other wolves. “Watch this, they teach it in P.E.” A wolf jumps up to the top landing before jumping down landing on their feet.
Rafael waves to another wolf as Landon looks surprised by how comfortable Rafael is. “You seem good, I was worried.”
Rafael pulls him forward, “I was talking to these wolf dudes back here. All that stuff I've been feeling? Everything that gets me into trouble? It's normal. I want you to meet them.”
“Uh, honestly? I think it’s best if I just take this opportunity to jump the fence and disappear.” Landon admits.
“I’ll go with you.” Rafael immediately says.
Landon sighs, “Raf, no.”
“Lan, it's you and me! So, whatever we do, we do it together.”
Landon pats him on the shoulder, “Yeah, we'll talk about it over a drink. Want anything?”
Rafael smiles, “I’m good.”
Landon walks away, pausing and waiting for Rafael to get distracted before running off.
Lexie watches Landon as he runs away, she nudges Josie, “I’m going to go after him, can you stay here and keep an eye on Rafael?”
Josie nods, giving Lexie a smile.
Lexie smiles back, turning to follow Landon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lizzie and Alaric sit in the twins' room cross-legged. Alaric strikes a bowl “Breathe.” He closes his eyes focusing on the sound as Lizzie rolls her eyes.
“Dad, this is lame.” She comments.
Alaric opens his eyes giving her a look. “You nearly gave me a tracheotomy with a bread knife. Humor me.” He strikes the bowl again. “Hmmm...”
Lizzie watches him for a moment before speaking up. “You know, I could just whip up a remedy with some herbs from the bio lab...”
“No! No. No magic. Your magic gets you into these states, and I want your mind to get you out of them.” He protests, closing his eyes again.
Lizzie looks down sadly. “Dad...?”
He opens his eyes looking at her.
Lizzie stares at him. “Do you think I’m broken?” She asks softly.
Alaric softens looking at her. “Of course not. I think your biological mother's crazy-ass witch ancestors left you with a legacy of darkness that you have to work through.”
“But Josie doesn’t have freak-outs.” Lizzie points out.
“Josie spends a lot of time worrying about other people's happiness. It's a supernatural phenomenon called codependency, and I'm pretty sure she got it from my side of the family.” He smiles.
Lizzie thinks for a moment, “I just... I don't ever want to hurt anybody.”
“I know that honey.” Alaric sighs. “That's why we opened this school-- to learn control. Which is why I'm here now to help, okay?”
“I'm surprised that you have time, what with all of the private training sessions you've been doing with Hope Mikaelson...” Lizzie trails off.
“Maybe if you made friends, we could do group training.”
“I've tried to be her friend-- when I was five, and when I was nine, and when I was thirteen. She never makes any effort.” Lizzie recounts all the times she’s made an effort that Hope brushes off.
“She has lost a lot, and you know that. She's just afraid to let herself care.” Alaric says.
Lizzie rolls her eyes. “Boo-hoo. Everyone in here has lost something. She doesn't hold the patent on it.”
Alaric tries to focus Lizzie on something else. “Breathe, breathe.”
Lizzie takes a deep breath and finally closes her eyes to meditate with her father. But someone knocks on the door interrupting them.
“Come in” Lizzie calls.
The door opens revealing Hope causing Lizzie to groan. “Speak of the actual devil...”
Hope ignores her talking to Alaric, “Sorry to bother... Um, I'm feeling kind of restless. I kind of need a release.”
“Uh, back acres. But stay away from the old mill-- the heathens are having a secret party I'm going to break up in ten minutes.” Alaric tells her.
Hope turns to head out, “Thanks.”
Lizzie looks at Alaric shocked, “I’m missing a party?” She exclaims.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back at the party Josie walks around with a drink in hand, she spots Penelope standing at a tree, the two girls stare at each other for a moment before Penelope walks away. Josie continues walking past MG talking about movie vampires before sitting down beside Rafael near the fire.
Rafael gives her a small smile. “Thanks for your help with Landon.”
Josie smiles back “Oh, yeah, of course!” Her smile fades as she changes the conversation to Lizzie. “I know that my sister kind of put her foot in it earlier...”
Rafael laughs.
“I just really wanted you to know that we really are sorry about what happened to you.” She finishes.
Rafael stares at her for a moment. “Thanks.”
There’s a moment of silence between them before he speaks again. “I had gotten a track scholarship to UVA. She was gonna follow me after graduation.” He sighs, “She was the best person I knew. I pretty much loved her in the way that they say only exists in movies.”
Josie looks down smiling sadly, hearing Rafael talk about his girlfriend reminded her of Penelope. “People who say that are the people who have never had their hearts crushed.”
Rafael looks at her, “You too?”
Josie sighs “On the regular. I care too much. It's kind of a problem.”
Rafael leans closer to her, “I don't think that's a problem at all.”
Josie stares at him for a moment before changing the conversation again. “You should give Lizzie a second chance. Lizzie is the best person that I know.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Landon walks slowly through the woods trying to find a road. He stops briefly to look around, hearing a growling sound from behind him he turns. A gray wolf with glowing red eyes walks out from behind a tree growling at him.
Landon runs in the opposite direction as the wolf chases after him, he runs as hard as he can and just when it seems like the wolf is going to attack him a blur pushes him out of the way as it gets tackled by the wolf now human. Landon rolls on the ground gaining his footing before getting up.
Standing in front of him are Lexie and Hope. Hope is wearing a baggy sweatshirt looking angrily at him while Lexie, who is now missing the sweatshirt he had seen her in minutes before is brushing dirt off her pants.
“Are you crazy?” Hope yelled at him. “I would have killed you had it not been for Lexie!”
Lexie looked up from her brushing moving to Hope’s side, “You should be more careful when walking in the woods, especially at night.”
Landon stares at her. “Were you following me?”
Lexie shrugged, “Does it matter? If I hadn’t Hope would have ripped you apart, you’re lucky she recognized me or we both would be regretting it.”
“H-how did you do that?” Landon asked, “You weren’t anywhere near me.”
Lexie and Hope exchanged a look before Lexie spoke. “Let's just get you somewhere safe.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Landon stands in the school library admiring the display cases, he stops at an ancient looking knife for a moment before reaching out to open the case when he’s interrupted by Hope and Lexie walking unto the room. Hope has new clothes on and Lexie is again wearing her sweatshirt.
“Don’t touch that,” Hope orders as Landon immediately backs up.
“I didn't. I-I mean, I wasn't.” He says anxiously before changing the subject. “Where are we?”
Hope smiles, “Uh, the Stefan Salvatore Memorial Library. All the artifacts in here have a supernatural history.”
“Yet they’re kept in glass containers, so no one can touch them, it’s basically a museum for the supernatural.” Lexie comments.
Landon points to the knife in the case, “What’s the story on that one?”
Lexie shrugged. “No idea.”
“Your safest bet is not to touch it.” Hope says walking closer to him. “I'm sorry about earlier. You shouldn't have been out there.”
Landon laughed nervously, “Yeah... I'll file that under "The Things That Seem Really Obvious After The Fact." He stares at them for a moment.
“So, I guess this means you're a werewolf..” he said to Hope before turning to Lexie, “But what are you?”
“I’m a lot of things.” Hope clarified.
“I’m basically the dollar store version of her.” Lexie said.
Landon nodded, “Care to elaborate?”
Hope shook her head, “They're just going to make you forget tomorrow.”
“Come on. Humor me.” Landon begged.
Lexie and Hope shared another look before Hope nodded, “Okay.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the kitchen MG is looking through the cabinets as Penelope sits on the counter looking bored.
“This isn't much of an after-party, Penelope. There aren't any snacks. I need food-- I got the munchies.” MG turns to look through another cupboard when Penelope raises her foot, her boot blocking his way.
“I can help you with that.” Penelope tilts her head to the side brushing her hair off her neck.
MG blinks before moving away from her trying to avoid the temptation. “I’m okay. Uh, we’ll get in trouble.”
“I know.” Penelope says, watching him closely.
MG continues to walk away from her. She stares at him offended, “Seriously? I'm offering to rock your world right now.”
MG sighs, “Okay, well... For one, we're not supposed to. For two, last I checked, you were more into girls, and for three--“
Penelope rolls her eyes, interrupting him. “No one asked you to bring math into this conversation.” She tugged at the color of her shirt in invitation to him.
MG rolled his eyes back, “You know what I mean.”
Penelope stands from her spot and walks to him. “ For one, rules are meant to be broken. For two, I am an equal-opportunity evil temptress, and your binary assumptions about sexuality? They're dated.” She stands inches away from him, their faces almost touching. “And, for three... I don't really care what your three was. But, are you gonna suck me dry, or not?” Penelope again tilts her head offering her neck.
The veins around MG’s eyes begin to darken as he starts to make out with her, after a moment he pulls away, his teeth changing into fangs. Before he can bite her a voice startles him.
“MG?” He turns around where Josie stands watching the two of them. His eyes go back to normal as Josie walks away from them.
Penelope wipes her lip with her thumb smirking watching Josie leave.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back in the library Hope grabs a large book from the shelves and places it on the table in front of Landon. “The blood that runs through my veins isn't human. My dad was one of the Earth's Original Vampires.”
“Was?” Landon asks.
Lexie hits him softly warning him that this was a sensitive subject.
Hope nods, “Was. Turns out even immortal beings can find a way to die eventually.” She opened the book to a chapter letting Landon read the title.
“"Klaus Mikaelson: The Great Evil."”
Hope smiled, “He wasn’t very popular around here.”
Landon shrugged, “One of my foster dads used to burn us with his cigarettes. I guess evil is relative.”
Lexie looks down sadly as Hope continues her story. “My mother was a werewolf Alpha.”
“There’s that “was” again.” Landon comments
Hope sighed, “The people I care about have a tendency to die on me. I try not to get close to people anymore.”
Lexie made a small noise of protest.
Hope turned smiling at her. “I said try.”
Landon watched the two of them. “Yeah, I can see that.”
“Um, my grandmother was a witch. So, all of those things passed down, making me a--“ she’s cut off by Landon.
“A unicorn?” He says making the girls laugh.
“A hybrid of three different creatures. A tribrid. I can control when I turn, which is what I was doing tonight. I'm the only one of my kind.” Hope frowns at the declaration, it wasn’t easy knowing you’re one of a kind.
“See, unicorn.” Landon laughs.
Hope looks at him moving so they’re face to face, “Can I show you something? Earlier, you mentioned the jock that had messed with you the day we danced...” she reached up, placing her hands on each side of his face. Both of them are suddenly pulled into a flashback.
Landon stands working his shift at the Mystic Grill when several jocks begin to throw napkins at him as they laugh mocking him.
“That’s the guy” Landon muttered, his eyes closed. “You can just dial up one of my memories like that?”
“It’s not your memory- it’s mine” Hope says her eyes closed also.
The football team and cheerleaders are holding a car wash, Hope stands watching them annoyed, she holds her palms out flat chanting quickly under her breath “Glas oh li deltour, glas oh li deltour, glas oh li deltour...”
The water on the car of the main bully starts to freeze and Hope flicks her wrist causing the windows to shatter from the cold as the bully yells.
Landon and Hope open their eyes staring at each other before Hope looks away.
Landon turned to Lexie who was standing quietly beside them. “What about you?”
Lexie sighs, “I was a witch. A siphoner to be clear.” She placed her hand on the table feeling it’s magic flow through her as her hand glowed a soft red. “I didn’t have my own magic, siphoners take magic from other sources, including supernatural beings.”
Landon looked at her waiting for her to continue.
“I fell in love with the wrong person, you see..” she trailed off before starting again. “The coven I’m from doesn’t tend to like siphoners, besides the twins. So my parents hid me. When I met you I didn’t even know I had powers. But I learned that I was different not long after that.”
Lexie twisted the necklace around her neck staring off into space. “I met Daniel not long after, he was kind, sweet, and always listened to what I had to say. I fell hard. A few months of dating and I was enrolled here, that’s where I met Hope.” Lexie smiled at the girl next to her.
“Everything was perfect in my life for a while.” Her smile fell. “But nothing stays perfect forever. I was home for the summer with my family when it happened. I had snuck Daniel into my room, something seemed different- it felt like he was pulling away. I woke up the next morning with an unquenchable thirst. Daniel was gone so I headed downstairs-“
Lexie gulped, this part was always the hardest. “It turns out Daniel was sent from my coven- to kill me.” She saw Landon begin to open his mouth but she shushed him. “Daniel slaughtered my family before killing himself. Of course that seems lucky right? He didn’t have the chance to kill me. Or so I thought.”
Lexie flipped some pages in the book turning to a section called “Witch Vampire Hybrids”
“Witch Vampire Hybrids” she explained, “Are siphon witches that die with vampire blood in their system, most witches would die and stay dead, but my DNA isn’t like that. The reason I was hungry was because I was craving blood.” Lexie faced Landon. “Daniel didn’t spare me, Daniel killed me knowing I would wake up a Hybrid.” She sighed, “That's my story.”
Landon looked at her shocked, “So you’re dead?”
Lexie sent a pleading look to Hope, she didn’t want to talk about her family anymore.
“Um, we shouldn't be in here after curfew. We should get you back before anyone knows that you're gone.” Hope cut in.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Josie opened the door to her and Lizzie’s room and quietly came in before closing the door.
Lizzie who was laying with her eyes closed on the bed sat up. “Hey Jo..”
Josie sighed moving to lay next to her twin on her bed. “I just saw MG with his tongue down you-know-who’s throat.”
Lizzie gasped disgusted, “Gross! He should know better than to make out with the Dark Lord. Bad friend move.”
“Yeah...” Josie said quietly.
“Just forget about her. Focus on somebody new. A good crush will even you out.” Lizzie patted Josie on the shoulder as Josie smiled thinking about Rafael. “I'm setting my sights on Rafael... If he ever speaks to me again after I was such a freak show.”
Lizzie cuddles up to Josie, putting her head on her sister's shoulder, never noticing the look of disappointment on her twin's face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hope, Lexie, and Landon walk down into the cellar, Landon sighs as they get closer to the doors.
“Do I really have to do this?” He says reluctant to go into the cell.
“It’s only for tonight, tomorrow you’ll go home.” Lexie says.
“But what-“ Landon stops to face the girls. “What if I don’t want to leave. If I don’t want to forget...”
Hoped sighs, “Everyone forgets Landon, for the safety of all the people here, we have to be a secret, no one can know about us.”
Landon starts pacing back and forth, “I wouldn’t tell, I promise. I-I just need to make sure Rafael is okay.”
“Rafael will be fine, he’s perfect for this school, he’ll fit right in.” Lexie tries to comfort him a little bit.
“Please.” Landon pleads again, “Don’t make me forget.”
Hope shook her head, “It’s not debatable Landon.” Hope would never admit it but a part of her knew she was going to miss him.
“Give me your hand.” Lexie says, offering her hand to Landon.
Landon looks confused but complies.
Lexie turns offering her other hand to Hope who gives her a smile before taking both Lexie’s hand and Landon’s other hand.
“Begun preitori speculo...” Lexie says under her breath.
Landon and Hope both look up as the ceiling fades away revealing the night sky.
Lexie smiles at Landon squeezing his hand, “I thought that might help you sleep.” She lets go of Hope and Landon’s hands. “I’ll let you two have a moment alone.” Lexie walks out the door waiting on the other side.
Landon and Hope stare at each other for a moment unsure of what to do.
“Is this the part where you run?” Landon questions grinning.
Hope chuckles getting the joke, “Yeah, I know”
Landon’s grin fades, “Am I really not going to remember any of this?”
Hope sighs sadly, “Probably not... no...” she admits.
Hope turns to leave the cell before Landon musters up the courage, “Well, in that case...” he pulls her close to him, kissing her.
Hope leaned into the kiss, her eyes fluttering shut before reality hit her and she pulled back, “Landon- we can’t-“ She stepped back away from him closing the cell door behind her locking it. “I’m sorry.”
Hope hurried out of the room passing by Lexie who was standing at the door to the cellar, ignoring her Hope made her way to their room.
Lexie quickly followed Hope closing the door to their room behind them
“Are you okay?” She asked Hope who was standing in the middle of their room facing away from her.
Hope turned to Lexie, tears running down her face. “I’m sorry. I-i.”
Lexie rushed over to her friend pulling her close, “What happened?” She murmured, leading Hope to her bed sitting them down.
“He kissed me.” Hope admitted quietly.
“Oh.” Lexie whispered. “And what did you do?”
Hope faced her, “I told him we can’t do that...”
Lexie sighed maneuvering to lay on the bed motioning for Hope to lay next to her. “Because he’s our prisoner?”
Hope moved next to her staring at the ceiling, “He’s not even going to remember this tomorrow, it’s no use. And I-“ her voice broke.
Lexie turned to lay on her side pulling Hope into a mirroring position staring into Hope’s eyes. “And?”
Hope bit her lip, “And maybe I’m not meant for love- maybe-“
“Stop.” Lexie commanded, “You, Hope Mikaelson will find love.”
Hope stared back at her, “People I love tend to die on me.” She said quietly.
“That doesn’t mean you should shut yourself off from trying to find love.” Lexie reached out brushing a piece of Hope’s hair behind her ear.
“But what if-“ Hope trailed off leaning into Lexie’s touch.
“Maybe” Lexie whispered, their faces were inches apart. “Maybe they’re closer than you think.”
Hope glanced down at Lexie’s lips, they were so close and she- she could feel herself leaning in.
“Stop.” Lexie grabbed Hope’s face, stopping it from connecting with her own, her thumb brushed against Hope’s cheek. “I don’t want to be some supernatural rebound.”
“What if I don’t want you to be a rebound?” Hope whispered into the silence of the room.
Lexie sat up pushing herself off the bed standing up. “We can’t do this Hope- I-I won’t. We could never be together.” She moved to the end of the bed gathering some clothes. “I’m staying with the twins.”
“Don’t leave me.” Hope pleaded sitting up.
Lexie gave her one last longing look, “You don’t deserve someone as broken as I am.” She took a deep breath in fighting back tears as she walked to the door before she could open it she was turned and pushed against the wall.
Hope stared at her with glowing eyes before she leaned in. “You’ve never been broken to me.” She whispered before kissing Lexie.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hope watched through a window as Landon hugged Rafael before walking away, she smiled sadly, she knew he was going to a better place now.
Lexie stood a few feet behind Hope, she knew that the kiss was only because of Landon leaving. She wasn’t lovable anyways. Hope deserved someone great.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile Alaric entered the library to talk with Dorian who had found the display case that Landon was staring at the previous night smashed with the knife gone.
“What’s wrong?” Alaric asked.
Dorian shrugged, “The alarm didn’t trigger. I don’t know why.”
Alaric sighed, “What was it?”
“A knife.” Dorian answered, “Dated circa the 12th century. Supernatural origins unknown.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later that day Alaric met with Hope in the school's backyard. To tell her what had happened. Hope crossed her arms clearly not believing him.
“How do you know it was him?” She asked.
Alaric scoffed, of course Hope would be naive about the boy she liked. “Ancient artifact goes missing, along with too-good-to-be-true hapless human? You do the math, Hope.”
Hope shook her head. “That would make him a liar, okay? I've known my fair share of those, and there was nothing about him--“
Alaric interrupted her, “Hope--“
“No!” She cut him off. “You don't understand. There's no way that the one time that I choose to get close to someone, they turn out to be a liar. It's not possible, okay? I'm not that stupid!”
“When he walked out that door, we compelled him to go home.” Alaric sighed.
Hope glared at him, “So?”
“So, he didn't. It's the first place we checked! And if he didn't go home, that means his memory wasn't erased! He was just pretending that it was.... If his mind can't be controlled by a supernatural being, then that only means one thing-- that he is a supernatural being.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Landon sits in a bus heading out of Mystic Falls. His hood is pulled over his head to blend in. His notebook and a pen sit on his lap. He looks around making sure no one is looking before pulling the knife from his inner jacket pocket.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alaric gathered all the students together in the assembly hall. “For ten years.” He begins. “We’ve gone undetected. Protecting you, protecting our secret, has been our singular mission. Tonight, I need your help to find Landon Kirby... before he exposes us all.”
The students start to talk amongst themselves as Rafael frowns at the news.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After assembly Josie starts to head back to her dorm when MG sees her and runs to catch up with her.
“Jo....” he trails off.
Josie scowled at him before continuing to her dorm.
“Hold on!” MG begs, he runs in front of her to stop her. “I'm sorry, all right? I'm an ass. You-know-who, she puts those sex herbs in her weed, and I had a momentary lapse in judgement.”
Josie frowns at his words. “Why does everyone find her so special?”
MG scoffed, “She's not special. She’s just... available.” MG leans forwards pulling Josie into a hug. “Come here. Don't hate me, okay?” MG pills away squeezing her arm comfortingly before walking away.
Watching him Josie is suddenly distracted by the sound of laughter, seeing Penelope laughing with her friends Josie begins to scowl again. Tired of how Penelope has been making her feel she holds her hand up discreetly whispering an incantation. “Ignalusa”
Suddenly Penelope’s jacket sleeve catches on fire and she begins yelling for help while trying to put out the flames. “Ahhh! Ahhh! Put it out!”
A nearby witch pulls off her jacket and uses it to put out the fire while Josie turns to walk away in the opposite direction not noticing Hope watching her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Josie was in her room straightening up when Hope appeared in the doorway.
“I need your help.” Hope said.
Josie looked at Hope rolling her eyes. “Three words more than your annual average. Find someone else. Why don’t you just ask Lexie to help you?”
Hope ignored her walking in and shutting the door behind her.
Josie sits down on her bed with a book, refusing to look at Hope.
“This stuff with Landon is my fault. I can fix it. I know how to track him, but it involves using dark magic...” Hope confesses.
Josie looked up at Hope, “Well, we're not allowed to use dark magic here, so...”
“Says the girl who just lit her ex on fire.” Hope retorts.
Josie’s eyes widen in alarm. “Are you blackmailing me?”
Hope shakes her head quickly, “No! I’m just... looking for a kindred spirit in revenge.”
Minutes later the girls are kneeling on the floor preparing the spell. An open spellbook lays on the floor between them. Josie strikes a match and begins lighting candles as Hope reaches into a cardboard box and pulls a rat out. She looks at the rat guiltily. “Sorry.” She whispers before squeezing the rat with both hands snapping its spine killing it.
Josie begins to spread crushed herbs all over the pages as Hope cuts open the rat allowing its blood to drip onto the herbs and pages. Josie looks at Hope in concern. “Are you sure about this?”
Hope nods, “Absolutely.”
The girls cross their wrists grabbing each other’s hands. Josie siphons some magic from Hope before they begin to chant. “Inveniet hostium et tenebrae. Inveniet hostium et tenebrae. Inveniet hostium et tenebrae.” Their eyes are closed as they try to make sense of the scene before them as wind blows the papers all around the room, in their vision Landon can be seen half asleep on the bus before the scene disappears.
“Do you see anything?” Josie asks Hope.
Hope shakes her head, “Just flashes.”
The bus flashes continue but it gives nothing away.
“Inveniet hostium et tenebrae. Inveniet hostium et tenebrae. Inveniet hostium et tenebrae.“ Hope chants again slightly frustrated.
More flashes of the bus appear before they get a picture of a highway sign.
“I got it. Route 29.” Josie says.
“Near the state lime” Hope says in agreement with Josie.
The vision suddenly shows Landon pulling the knife from his jacket pocket looking at it.
“Is that the knife?” Josie asks.
“Yeah.” Hope said hating the fact that she had trusted Landon before.
The knife’s blade suddenly began to glow bright red as Landon looks confused, squeezing his eyes shut to avoid being blinded by the light.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hope, Lexie, and Alaric, stand in front of Sheriff Matt Donovan, behind them the bus is surrounded by police tape.
“Called in a favor with a buddy at State Patrol, asked him to lock down the scene 'til we got here. Local PD thinks it was a chemical spill.” Matt says.
Hope, Lexie, and Alaric stare at the bus which looks like it exploded in shock.
“What’s the actual story?” Alaric asks.
Matt looks at the trio grimly, “I’ll leave that to you to figure out.”
Alaric nods, “All right. Thanks, Sheriff.”
The three begin to walk towards the bus heading up the stairs to see what’s inside.
As they walk inside Hope begins to monologue to herself. “Funny how life works. After years of pushing people away, I opened my heart to Landon Kirby, the human in the wrong place at the right time who just needed a place to belong.”
All three stand horrified at the sight before them, all the passengers on the bus are burned to a crisp, now resembling mummified corpses. The only one missing is Landon. Hope stares at the bodies anger burning in her eyes as the monologue continues. “Turns out, Landon isn't the hero of my story at all. But, when I hunt him down, I'm gonna be the villain of his.”