REVIEW!

When we're young, we're taught the distinction between a hero and a villain.

"If you think I am going to leave you here-"

Good and evil.

"... You are a Mikaelson witch with a werewolf mother and an Original father. You are the ones that could finally unite all the factions. And that goes against everything that they believe in. They thrive on hatred, and you... you, my sweet girls, are their worst fear. Which means you both have to go. Yes, you have to go. You have to leave now. I love you. Now. Go!"

A savior and a lost cause.

'Mom..."

But what if the only real difference is who's telling the story?

"Mom, please! Don't do this! Do not leave this here! Please!"

And what if the ones who are telling the story are the ones dearly departed from us?

"MMMOOOOMMM! NOOO! NOOOOO! NOOOOOOOOOO-

In an attic dorm room located in Salvatore Boarding School for the Young Gifted, a teenage girl bolts right up fin her bed, narrowly escaping from her horrific nightmares, her figure shaking, breathing heavily her heart feeling as if it was going 90 miles a minute, beads of sweat dripped down her face and clasping a hand over her mouth to stop her anguish screams from erupting from her. She looked at the clock to see it was 2 in the morning. Quickly reaching under her stand, she pulled out an air freshener and quickly sprayed the room, try to eliminate the nonexistent smell of wilted flowers and burnt flesh from her nostrils. She began to do a series of breathing exercises, inhales and exhales, to calm her nerves.

Breath in...

Breath out...

Breath in...

Breath out...

In...

Out...

In...

Out...

Looking at the clock again, she turned and groaned into her pillow at the frustrating realization that she would once again lose a night of sleep.

BING!

A phone screen illuminated on a nightstand. She lifted her hand to pick it up and saw she had a text message.

I know you're awake. Hellmaster and Despair have flown the coop! You have time for a run. - A

The girl snorted. This is what happens when you happily invite your best friend to binge-watch Pretty Little Liars reruns and give her the idea to utilize it in her texts.

Thanks. Might need clothes though when I get back. Meet me at the Old Mill before school starts. Coffee too. Black as my soul. - B-Witch

Seeing as she didn't have anything else she could do until sunrise, she quickly changed out of her clothes to a warm dress and started to the window. Considering what if any normal person was about to do what she was, the probability of falling to their deaths would be quite high.

But she wasn't an ordinary person. Summoning her inner strength, she did her best to hold back a wince as the bones in her hand began to crack. After all those months of learning to deal with the pain (and being forced to admit it was a morbidly ironic version of self-harm), it wasn't a seamless transition from morphing her hands between humane and lupine. But when she opened her eyes, she was glad to see she had claws.

Using her strength and agility, she heaved herself out her window and dragged her claws against the wall, helping her to leap and climb all over the rooftop in impressive acts of parkour. Throughout the process, she began to transform and break all the bones in her body. It was immensely painful, but she was finding control. She was stronger, braver, and smarter. If she could bleed for a whole week once a month, this was nothing. Soon, she folded her body and did a grand leap off the edge of the school and exploded, destroying her dress as she landed on all four legs, no longer human but a large, beastly wolf-form that almost resembled gold under the moonlight sky.

Without looking back, she dashed off the premises and ran deep into the woods of Mystic Falls to burn off the energy from her nightmares and hoping the enhanced smell could rid her of the still faint, invisible scent of burning flesh.

My name is Harmony. Harmony Eve. I come from a long line of the villains in the tales you've heard about vampires, werewolves, witches, and everything in-between. The school behind these gates protects the secrets of people like me. It's a simple, but not so sad truth admitting you could kill someone with no way of defending themselves against something stronger or superior to you.

But humans are resilient. Given the chance, they can adapt to anything, which is a given compared to what my kind can say. I should know. I've been through a lot, seen a lot, FELT a lot and I had to get a thicker skin to get through every day of my life.

I'm not like a lot of the students at Salvatore, and I tried and now make it a point to never hide it again. If that makes me ruthless, so be it. A bitch? Never denied it. Merciful?...Good luck with that! I won't change anything to fit in someone's box, and Salvatore has been trying to do that since it was founded (what else do you expect from a school founded by a former vampire hunter!?)

But this isn't completely about me. This is about inheritance, where anything left behind in Death gets passed onto another. And what gets passed on, everyone is affected.

Everyone.

Mystic Falls, Virginia

Salvatore Boarding School Property...

At the Old Mill...

Harmony's POV

"Morning, Darling" one of my best friends, Alyssa Chang, said jovially, eyeing my very naked figure as I arrived at the mill hours later. "Enjoy your evening run?"

I thought back. The full moon lighting my way through the woods, the dry earth beneath my paws, the stronger moonlight heightening my senses and...I winced as I looked down at my bloody neck. I gave chase to a deer and got a little too happy tearing it apart.

Hopefully, no one tracks it back here!

"Enjoy is one of many words to describe getting on all four," I smirked, taking a sip of the coffee she was holding. Ah, strong, delicious, and a real wake-up call for the day.

"Only you could find a sexual reference in turning into a mangy mutt," Alyssa stated as she handed me the bag. "Well, between you and Penelope."

"I'd use 'Doggystyle', but I'm pretty sure that was taken!" I laughed, opening the bag to see the promising contents of sneakers, sweatpants, and an illegally distributed white Salvatore hoodie.

"So," Alyssa started, "guess what I found out?"

I perked up. "Alaric is stepping down? Josie's finally grown a spine? Lizzie's finally managed to look like a blonde? Jed finally put on his big, boy pants and is finally becoming a good alpha!?"

"No, no, I wish, and you have a twisted sense of human if you think that'll ever happen without you knowing," Alyssa listed on her finger.

I shrugged. "Eh, that was asking too much, even for me, I'll admit."

"Now, I got the deets on where Hellmaster and Despair went," Alyssa started. "Hope had managed to track them down. Turns out they found a new student and are bringing him in today. My money's on a werewolf."

I stopped midway from putting the hoodie on. "Werewolf? You sure?"

Alyssa nodded. "Yeah, I know. As if this school needed ANOTHER anger-prone student to join the pack."

I groaned. "You're right. Plus it was a full moon last night. I ironically perfect that they hunt him down before the big transition. Why not before someone goes through the most traumatic thing they can experience after killing someone!"

"Yeah, and there's more," Alyssa continued. "So, I was going through Alaric's desk because they were apparently in a big hurry-"

"You got through Mr. Willaims and Alaric's magic security system?"

"He was subbing and even Pedro can get through it!"

...Touche.

"Anyways, so I was snooping when I heard someone coming to the office. So, being me, I cloaked myself, and there in all his glory, Mr. Willaims comes walking in on the phone and might as well tell me what I want to know," Alyssa states giddily.

"You know, you could have left a recording crystal ball instead of being so wreckless," I suggested.

"Would you have me any other way?" she smirked.

I smiled back, deviously. "Not a chance."

"Great! Now, apparently, his name is Rafael-

"Like the angry Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle?" I asked, unable to keep the shit-eating grin off my face.

Alyssa glared. "Don't interrupt me. Now shush! Now, his name is Rafal, he's a foster, up until last night he was living in Atlanta, his foster parents are Catholics, and he indeed changed last night. It was his first full moon," she said.

"But...?" I asked because recruiting students like that NEVER came with clean breaks.

Alyssa averted her eyes. "The guy has a foster brother, who saw the whole thing and is being brought with him."

Ugh! Seriously, can't those two do anything right!?

"Is it that hard to incapacitate all 'normal' parties?" I groaned in frustration as I put on my sneakers and took another sip of coffee. "It's bad enough we're hidden away like freaks, but they couldn't stop everyone involved from seeing something."

Then a realization hit me. "You know what? Maybe it's for the best. If they're close, his brother could tell them what triggered Rafael's curse and help him adjust."

Alyssa tilted her head. "You really think Alaric would want a human around the school?"

"Alright, let me see: There's him, our unfortunate headmaster who's a former vampire hunter. Mr. Dorian, who was basically introduced to our world when my father and Stefan Salvatore killed his family before somehow thinking it's okay to be a part of a school where the species the killed them reside, and...Oh, wait? There is none! That's two humans that work here and have been through traumatizing experiences that make them bias to us!" I exclaimed. "Nevermind we don't know how close the two are, even if they were, Alaric would claim it's 'for our safety' to compel the guy to leave his friend behind and forget the supernatural. Not to mention that'll backfire if he was in danger and his compelled-away memories liken him closer to death! And that's also forgetting werewolves can't be compelled and we get a pissed-off teenager who can't find who would be his only source of stability outside of this hellhole!"

I put a hand to my temple. Why, oh why, did we get stuck with Alaric and not Caroline?! I could deal with her!

Another thing just hit me. Didn't Alyssa just say the foster parents were Catholics?

Shit! I couldn't help but think for the worst.

Religion and Supernatural don't mix, especially a form of Christianity!

To be fair, I had met some religious humans who could handle the concept of the supernatural and some of the students here could find a balance of keeping their beliefs despite learning of the not-so-natural abilities (though some witches and vampires had a bit harder time than the rest). But there's them, and there's those who couldn't, which just translates for the worst (and I'm not even going to touch the topic of religious fanatics!)

I was so deep into my thoughts that when I looked at Alyssa, I realized she was giving me the side-eye, but all-around avoiding my gaze. And if she looked at me, she wasn't looking in my eyes. She's a bitch, a confident one at that, and has no problem saying shit to your face.

She's an honest bitch, like me.

So why couldn't she look at me?

I turned my head at her. "Aly, is there something you're not telling me?"

She winced. She never does that. Was it that bad?

"What? Do you already know who he killed or something? Is he a person of color?" I dug. I'm open-minded, but once one remembers that all it takes to trigger the curse is the act of killing a living, human being, you can't help but think of varying factors that can come into play and why someone was killed!

Accidently or purposely, "Hellmaster" Alaric never let in a werewolf that killed on purpose, which I hate! You don't know if death could be avoided or if it was done in self-defense! And even if it was murder, which could only be condoned to certain degrees, Alaric still wouldn't help them.

I should know. I'm still investigating the whereabouts of Diego Garcia, one-third of my personally-dubbed "80s Trio", who disappeared two months before I came to Salvatore!

And I only ask if this Rafael is POC because it wouldn't be the first, or last, proof of concept that someone triggers their curse because they were a victim of racism or worse, did acts of racism!

Nothing good comes from racists bastards! Or Nazis...

"Untie me, now!"

"I can't. Okay? Just do the binding spell, and you'll be fine."

"...Werewolves kill to trigger their curse. None of them are innocent...Hybrids are a perversion... They're just unnatural.."

"Henry's dead."

"They tore his heart out and strung him up outside Rousseau's."

"Your mother doesn't want to bind us... She wants to kill us."

"...only...armony...HARMONY!"

I jumped up, realizing I had fallen back into those memories again. I need to play my violin today at some point.

I gave Alyssa an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I spaced out again."

Alyssa eyed me worriedly, probably knowing that I didn't just space out and continued.

"I don't know his race, but that wasn't the issue," she said. "The thing I didn't want to tell you was that he transformed in the middle of an exorcism."

Hours later...

Salvatore Boarding School (sports field)

3rd POV

Werewolves are real.

That was the thought going through Rafael's mind as he was escorted by the twins, Lizzie and Josie Saltzman, to the sports field where the students are playing an intricate game. The witch players conjure rings and use their telekinesis to make them hover in the air while the vampires and werewolves use their superhuman physical attributes to score goals by throwing the ball through their rings.

"Whoa, move!" a player yelled on the field.

Half of the crowd watching the match are booing while the other half is cheering. The three walk toward the stands and explain the game to Rafael.

"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 explained, though Raphael detected a hint of bitterness at the name of the witch who almost recreated the fictional game.

But that's okay. Werewolves, witches, and vampires are real, and he's one of them. A werewolf. In a school for all three. He could handle the lack of the so-called "pipe dream" from Harry Potter.

He couldn't wait to tell Landon when he's done! But he kept his cool to not look so excited...

Which was easier when he learned just what he had done to deserve to come here.

"Their version is a little less violent than ours..." Lizzie continued as they sat to watch the game. He listened or at least pretended to be interested as he watched a glowing football be passed around a field and teenagers with more than normal strength shove each other around with little to no bruises.

He still couldn't believe all this was real! And couldn't believe what it took. It all happened a month ago when he lost Cassie. One minute they were on the road, then they were arguing, and then...he was waking up in a hospital with Landon sitting by his side to tell him the news. All he wanted to do was go back before everything went wrong. He wished he didn't fly off the handle, that he just got her home safely, and that-

"I heard about your girlfriend."

Rafael turned his head at the mention of Cassie by the blonde. He guessed news traveled fast for the supernatural, but not that fast! And not that personal. He's only been here for a few hours. Judging by the look on his face, Lizzie quickly realized how bad that sounded and anxiously tried to fix her mistake.

"Oh, I have spies everywhere," she explained quickly. "I'm nosy in that, like, charming way...?"

Rafael wasn't sure how to react to that, so he just nodded along.

"Thanks, I guess... "

Rafael was kinda hoping that the awkward silence would set in because he's not one to judge (even though he was beginning to think Lizzie had a screw loose), but Lizzie felt compelled to say more and before she could realize what she was about to do, she opened her mouth and said:

"On the plus side, we're all happy to know that you're single."

Rafael snapped his head towards her and Lizzie's jaw dropped, realizing she basically just said she's glad he killed his girlfriend and avoided his gaze to explain herself once more.

"Oh, God. That was my 'inside voice'. I am so sorry. Guys like you make me nervous."

Rafael was not sure whether he was supposed to feel confused or insulted. Maybe both.

He shook his head. "Guys like me?"

"You know... Hot... Angry..." she listed, trailing nervously

Please don't, please, don't finish that sentence with what I think you're about to-

"Damaged..." she whispered nervously.

...What. The. Hell!?

Rafael felt a surge of anger threatening to burst through him and he quickly became using the breathing techniques his track coach taught him at his old school to help him control his breathing for the tracks, and inadvertently, his temper. Because he was NOT going to hit a girl, especially the daughter of the guy who brought him here and apparent headmaster!

Breath in...

Breath out...

Breath in...

Breath out...

In...

Out...

In...

Out...

Rafael decided then and there to get out of there and find Landon. He wanted to be polite, but he needed to leave because the girl before him was either cray or off her meds (and he hoped it was the latter).

"Yeah, well... I've sort of made a point in my life of, uh, keeping clear of girls like you. So, I guess I'm gonna go find Landon," he said with a bit of finality as he got up from the bleachers as the crowd cheered.

He couldn't help but admit he could've not been so harsh, but what else was he supposed to say! He needed to find Landon, and preferably quickly because even he had to admit his best friend held a good portion of his self-control in his hands, and Rafael wouldn't have it any other way.

Rafael's POV

Man, where is he?

I asked for directions to the administration's office to see if Landon was still with Mr. Saltzman and the girl from before, but they were gone. So, I started asking around and nobody had seen him or anyone fitting his description.

I started walking around the campus, trying to catch his scent (something that definitely became apparent since becoming a wolf) but amongst so many students it got lost. Making my way outside the building to see if he was there when I bumped into someone and sent something crashing to the floor.

"Seriously!?" a girl glared at me as she picked up what he could guess was an instrument case from the floor. "I swear to God, you are paying for this if it broke!"

I raised my hands in defense. "Look, I'm sorry! I wasn't paying attention-"

"Clearly!"

I bit back my annoyance. I had my fair share of band geeks and a musical foster parent in the past to know enough that instruments are practically their babies. Plus, I was in the wrong.

I followed her to a nearby table where she opened her case to reveal, what even I had to admit, a beautiful brown violin with a bow. She took it out and started tuning and plucking the strings, doing a bit of tuning before looking at her bow and put the violin under her chin to play it.

She began to play a low note, keeping her fingers on the string as she moved the bow back and forth. It started rough, but I had to admit it: My jaw dropped as the sensuous tone come flowing through her and wafted throughout the room, capturing everyone's attention. It wrapped around me, pulling me into the mesmerizing harmony as she conveyed happiness, uncertainty, solemn, and something else I couldn't help but worded as anything else but loss.

It could've been my imagination, but it felt as if an unseen breeze flowed around hers as a small, but peaceful smile graced her face. I finally took in the girl as she played. The music was dark yet brilliant as the girl that played, her long, wavy dark hair moved with small brushes that I almost felt compelled to run my fingers through which brought out her striking hazel eyes and light, tan skin. Her light movements followed her with grace as she played through her haunting melody and enthralled me deep into my soul.

She must be a witch because she had me under a spell that I'd never want to break free from.

By the time she stopped, the room erupted in applause and I shook myself out of my reverie. Once again, what the hell just happened!?

"Alright, Rafael. You were just spared a serious trip to the music store," the goddess (wait? what!) said as she put her violin and bow back in the case.

I tried to wrap my head around what just happened.

"Um, excuse me. I don't think we officially met," I greeted, taking out my hand. "I'm Rafael Waithe. Though you seem to know that already. And um, uh, what was that you just played? Beethoven?"

She bursts out laughing and I couldn't help but think it looks good on her. Get a grip, dude! You just lost Cassie a month ago!

She was holding her sides but was now calming down and giggling a bit. "Wow, I guess you must not listen to classical music much or Louis Armstrong. That was "What A Wonderful World"."

I did a double-take.

"That was Louis Armstong? That was," Beautiful, "haunting!"

She raised an eyebrow and I saw a hint of mischief that I could definitely recognize whenever Landon decided to be my "wingman".

"I would hope so, considering I play that on my set in cemeteries," she states.

I frowned a bit. "You play in cemeteries?"

"Of course," she confirmed. "Not all the dead find peace in the next life. Some may never even rest properly. I make it my business to at least ensure they can feel settled at the very least. However, there are a few that can tolerate modern music if played right."

"You know, you must be a witch. Playing in cemeteries is the most cliche thing in the books," I commented. She flashed a smile at me.

"Wow, hours here and you can already catch that. Most people usually assume otherwise since I'm usually in the gym," she jest. I gave her a confused look with a hit of mortifying realization.

Please don't tell me I just stereotyped a witch!? I mean, I kinda did, but she let that fly and-

"Breath," she said as she raised a hand to my chest, "and cool it, Angry Ninja Turtle."

This time, I was the one laughing.

"Whooo! I should have seen that one coming," I admitted. "Grow up in a few foster homes and one was bound to make the connection."

"What? Next, you're gonna tell me you're birthday's on Halloween," she joked. I quickly turned my head and heard her gasped.

"Oh my god!" she exclaimed in realization. "And you call me a cliche! Do you go as a werewolf or mostly as a turtle?"

I smiled at her. "I have never gone as a ninja turtle! I avoid that costume department and that will now have to be the case with the werewolf costumes. Species appropriation, right?"

She let out a string of laughter that sounded harmonious coming from her.

"So, what's your name?" I asked, holding my hand out again to reintroduce myself for the second time. "You already know my name."

This time, she gave me a cheeky smile and shook it. "Well, Mutant Ninja Turtle, your can call me Harmony. Harmony Eve."

Wow, and I pretty much have been using her name to describe her the entire time. Who knew!

"So, I want to say it was nice meeting you, but I need to find my brother. I last saw him with Alaric-"

She raised her hand to stop me, her eyes now sharp and serious. "Your brother, or foster brother I assume, was last with Alaric?"

I frowned. "Yeah, but I can't find them anywhere. I caught his scent in his office, but I lost track of it."

"Did it lead outside towards the main gate?" she asked.

"No."

"But it's still inside the school?"

"Yeah, I guess," I stated, confused. What is she hinting at? Landon's on the campus?

She put her hands on my shoulders, gazing sternly into my eyes. "Rafel, lead me exactly to Alaric's office. Something's not right."

Harmony's POV

I swear on my violin and every soul whose death I've experienced, if Alaric did something stupid again, I will come for him and his daughters!

And it wouldn't be the first time either!

In hindsight, who knew I'd meet the newbie baby wolf on his first day? After potentially hurting Gia as well?

Nevermind, it was an accident and she's fine! And judging by the look on his face after I was done playing, I have a new fan.

And to be honest, I knew it was him because he still had that awestruck gaze the newer students get when they A) found out that magic and the supernatural are real and B) discover they are part of our world. I was right about him being a person of color too.

Black, handsome, charismatic, and I had no doubt he had a temper on him. A nice newbie werewolf with his bearings is almost unheard of. Hell, I wasn't all there when I triggered my curse and many can vouch it was not a pretty sight! And that reminds me that I'm going to have to either put him under my sphere of protection or warn him about Jed. Definitely Jed.

When he told me his brother was missing, I immediately assumed MG had compelled the guy to forget everything and leave. Maybe expected he left a letter or something so the guy wouldn't wolf out and believe he was abandoned.

Not every werewolf here is an orphan. They have families they can go home to that are stable support systems. Rafael seems like the guy who can make friends but has an unstable support system. And maybe it's by chance, but the fact he was looking for his very human brother rather than seeking out other wolves definitely said so.

I can say the same but in the opposite sense.

But when Rafael said neither was in the office nor were there any indications that they left, that's what ticked me off that something was wrong.

When we got to the office, it surprises both of us to see a young man with an afro wearing a school uniform, Milton "MG" Greasley, in there, holding a pair of red earbuds in his hands and an alarmed look on his face.

"Look! This isn't what it-" he started towards us, but I stopped him

"GLACIO!" I shouted out, causing MG's body to freeze...literally. His body became encrusted with ice from his afro to the floor. Not what I was going for, but will do.

"What did you just do!" Rafael asked in shock, looking between me and the frozen body.

I waved my hand nonchalantly. "Don't worry, he's fine. Besides, I have a funny feeling we're about to find out soon enough."

I spied the red earphones in MG's hand and walked towards him to take them out of his frozen hands. They stick out and I know MG doesn't own a pair like this. He's a headphone guy, after all.

I turned to see Rafael waving a hand in front of MG's frozen figure.

"Can he see us?" he asked worriedly.

"Maybe, possibly," I said calmly, "I'll make sure he doesn't remember us and what I did."

"Why?" he turned to me.

"Oh, because I have a thin relationship with the vampires of this school as of two years ago and this would definitely cause problems. Mildly annoying ones, but still."

"What did you do to cause that?" he asked.

"I burnt a student alive for murdering my mother," I answered, unbothered.

Before Rafael could get a word in, I felt my vision go dark and my mind fold within itself...

Darkness, the one thing I learned to accept when I do this. Took a decade to get some control over it, control and to summon at will, but I got it.

Wasn't pretty or peaceful, though. But at least I could allow myself to locate more positive memories than everything else before.

Now, I just had to search. Using objects is a challenge because they could have been through numerous places and locating where in time can easily mean going further back than I intended. For example, my unfortunate excuse of a family has a mansion in Mystic Falls where I could have lived... if I hadn't accidentally walked into the room where I was conceived.

Safe to say I won't be going back there any time soon!

Focusing again, I thought of the three components: Alaric's office, Alaric, and these headphones. Thinking of that prick of a principal was less than ideal, but necessary.

Soon, I got a flash of images. From the dining room of a small house to the outside of a church (likely where the exorcism took place), the backseat of a car, and...

AHA! BINGO!

I found myself in the school, walking, no, it must be the brother Rafael was telling me about moving. Come on, focus, recenter and...

My surroundings swirled around me, and the best I could describe it was akin to a camera switching positions, and finally refocusing and being clear of my surroundings, I found myself watching everybody in 3rd POV from right where I was standing in the present.

Good job, ME!

...Or not, now that I know who the third party really is, as I eyed the auburn-haired girl standing in front of Alaric's door.

Hope Mikaelson.

I tried shaking off my growing irritation at just the sight of her, even if it was just a vision, and listen to the background.

"No one in Mystic Falls knows much about us. We blend in, just enough... Participate, contribute, just enough... Keeps people from asking too many questions," Alaric is explaining.

"What is there to know, exactly?" somebody else asks. I turned to see a young guy standing in front of me.

Short, curly black hair, green eyes, pale skin with sunken eyes from either sleep deprivation or unresolved trauma, and rocking an emo vibe in his dark clothes that I dig. This must be the brother.

I watched Alaric and Hope share a knowing look before Hope shrugs as if to say, "We might as well tell him."

"Well, I used to have a speech prepared," he continued, "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?" he asked incredulously. Trust me, it's more than magic but we thank the books and not the transphobic writer behind it.

Alaric sits down behind his desk, and the boy takes the cue to sit down in the chair across from him.

"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," he states and I could just roll my eyes if I could. Understatement of the millennia!

The boy, still not believing what is happening, looks over at Hope, who has been standing quietly in the corner.

"So, what are you?" he asks her. But rather than answering the question, Hope tries to make her escape.

"I should get to class..."

And there goes Hope, running from her problems!

"No."

I snapped my head towards the guy, seeing a bit of desperation and recognition in his eyes. Wait? Did they know each other!?

I tried to wrack my brain around, thinking of any normal teenagers in Mystic Falls I might have met and...Oh!

Landon Kirby! That's his name! I remember briefly hearing it when Hope was talking to Elijah the night I transformed into a wolf for the first time! I also briefly recall Hope looking mopey when he moved away.

This guy, Landon Kirby, the human, was within walking distance of two immortal vampires and danced with a tribrid on the same night and gets a (then untriggered) werewolf for a foster brother for two years?

Okay, nothing about that sentence sounds right and I don't like it!

Alaric and Hope look surprised by this reaction.

"No. Sorry, I don't mean to be a dick, but I don't know you-"Landon points to Alaric before he continues, "-and though the image of you whammy-ing a priest is still fresh, I need you here."

Take away the impeding shitty material I now have to throw on Hope, I'm impressed by Landon's balls.

Landon pauses for a moment to compose his thoughts before sighing deeply, "Just... tell me what all that was in the church last night?"

"What do you think it was?" she asked.

"Well... as best as I can reason, either I've lost my mind, or werewolves are real," Lander expressed, understanding exactly what he saw.

Alaric and Hope share another silent look, as though they're surprised that Landon figured it out so quickly, while I'd scoff if I could. Hello!? Clearly you forget that there's no shortage of media for the supernatural genre. Just be glad he didn't ask why his brother was on two legs instead of four!

But apparently, I spoke too soon as I took in Landon taking in their expressions as confirmation as he begins to panic.

"Th-this is beyond insane!" He stutters as he shook his head in denial. "How is that even possible?"

Alaric shrugs. "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."

Yeah and I'm watching Hope fail to mention she's the descendant of said witch, but that's okay. Let's not freak him out any further. Let's not let him think he's standing before royalty or something.

"In sixth grade at my school, we learned the state capitals," he scoffed.

Hope chuckles good-naturedly and I couldn't help but do the same. I'm liking this guy.

"We teach that, too," she joked. Yes, we must pass as normal students and take normal classes to go to normal colleges, unfortunately.

Alaric turns the conversation back to the task at hand. Prick.

"I have some questions about Rafael."

Landon looks confused by this statement.

"Like what?" he asked, confused.

"Well, let's start with who he killed recently," Alaric stated. Sonofva- Oh my god, Alaric, you can't just ask people who their foster brother may or may not have accidentally killed!

Landon's eyes widen in alarm.

Oh boy.

Landon looks anxious and offended by the headmaster's line of questioning.

"Why would you ask me that?" he asked, distraught. I don't blame him.

"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 said coldly. I wanted to scream at him.

Dude, your best friend, a former vampire, is a "reformed" rapist and serial killer in his own right! You have zero room to judge! And one of his victims carried your pathetic-ass daughters! Then again, you also let into your school the children of the man who killed your ex-wife and your girlfriend, whom you named your oldest after!

"He's not a killer," Landon stated.

Hope sighs. "We're not trying-"

Landon cuts her off as he shot up from his seat. Oooh, now this is interesting.

"He's not a killer!" he proclaimed.

"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 listed.

Alaric, you're stereotyping. Shut it, now!

I could see the brewing anger threatening to rise even though he lowered his head. "Yeah, you could just as easily be reading my file. That's what it's like out there for people like him and me."

Hope must have seen what I'm seeing (Landon's anxiety and anger only getting worse) because she finally speaks up to try to ease his fears.

"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 emphasized.

Like you know what a home is.

Alaric decided to get things back on track to continue. "But, if we take him in, we need to make sure he's not a threat."

It takes a few minutes, Landon turning away as closes his eyes to compose himself and sighs, taking a moment to think before he speaks.

"His girlfriend," Landon reveals, turning to face the two people in the room at the time, "Cassie. 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," Landon expressed in a mocking tone. Making it obvious he thinks this entire situation is crazy.

Alaric nods, seemingly relieved by this story. I am too now that we know it was a pure accident, but that's still tragic! Could show a bit more empathy!

(But then again, I'm mostly apathetic, so I'm being a hypocrite.)

"All of that is consistent with a newly-triggered wolf. It's normal. Thank you for that, Landon," he said with a tone of finality I didn't like.

I caught Alaric and Hope once again share a silent look, and Hope seems unhappy about what is about to come next. She steps in to try to mitigate any resistance on Landon's part.

Yep, this was not gonna be good.

"Everything's gonna be okay, I promise," she advised.

And the last time you said that, my mother burned to death!

Alaric touches a button on the intercom.

"We're ready."

I turned to see the door opens, and MG walks in and I can begin to finally understand what happened (and I hope it wasn't what I think it is). Alaric stands to make introductions.

"Landon Kirby, Milton Greasley," he introduced.

MG immediately groans. "Come on, Dr. Saltzman."

Alaric nods and retracts his comment, "Right. MG. I'm sorry. Take it from a guy named Alaric- I get it."

And listening is a girl who needs to be eighteen to change her surname.

Alaric once again turns back to address Landon. "Landon, MG is my student aide."

"He's also a vampire," Hope added. I scoffed.

Landon rolls his eyes and scoffs. Great minds think alike!

"Of course he is," he mocked.

After a moment, Landon looks over at Alaric.

"You know, for a school with a secret to keep, you're kind of liberal with your information," Landon commented. Oh, honey, what made you think you'd be allowed to remember this?

Alaric smiles fakely at Landon and I want to punch it off his face.

"Well, we don't actually intend for you to remember any of it," he revealed. And this is the treachery people become famous for!

MG quickly places a hand on Landon's shoulder and looks him in the eyes, his irises dilating and contracting as he attempts to use compulsion to take his memories of the school.

"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," MG compelled.

The compulsion seems to do what it was intended to do for a brief moment before Landon snaps out of it and slaps MG's hand off his shoulder, looking around at the three incredulously.

What what!? Talk about plot twists! My, my, you are interesting, Mr. Landon Kirby!

"Are you two out of your minds? How could I forget any of this?" he exclaims.

I watched with amusement as Alaric, Hope, and MG immediately begin to panic.

"MG, did you do it wrong?" Hope asked quickly.

"No, I didn't do it wrong! It's the easiest vampire trick in the book," MG said, clearly offended by her institution.

"Well, it didn't work!" Way to state the obvious! Really!

Landon scoffed. "Of course it didn't work!"

Landon turns to rush out of the office, forcing MG to rush between Landon and the door at vampire speed and grab him in a choke-hold. FUCK!

MG uses just enough vampire strength to get Landon to pass out from oxygen deprivation before beginning to drag him out of the office

"Careful!" Alaric warned as he moved from his desk to open the door.

"Get him to the cellar. This is not good! This is bad!" Alaric mutters as MG drags the unconscious guy out the door and watches to see if anyone is around.

And I just look at Hope...who does nothing.

I came back to the realm of the living and found Rafael staring down at me, worriedly. I raised my head up and prayed that any gods or goddesses that heard her please for the fucked up situation Hope and Alaric got in.

"Harmony, what happened? You were just standing there and then your eyes turned white and I've seen way too many TV shows to know that either you went blind or you had some type of vision? Did you have a vision? Or you some sort of psychic? Did you see what happened to my brother? His name is Landon if it helps..." he rambled through each question.

I just looked at him as he continued and I found myself thinking over what I just saw and concluded three things:

1. I am surrounded by idiots.

2. I need to graduate as fast as I can to get away from these idiots.

and 3. As much of a dramatic bitch I am, I'm also an honest bitch. And there is no way I'm keeping this a secret when someone's loved one is on the line!

Realizing there was also no way this day was going to end without a pissed-off wolf, I decided to be calm and faced the situation head-on.

Looking Rafel in the eyes expressed just how serious the situation really is with as many emotions as I can.

"No, Rafael," I proclaimed. "Everything is not okay. Landon's in trouble"