Her dark brown curls bounced as each confident step she took brought her closer to the campus. For Elijah's sake, she had to find a cure. She had to save them all. Katarina kept her head up proudly without a care in the world as she entered the campus doors. She walked up to the front desk with a smile and sweetness that no other could even pretend to imitate.

"Is there a professor of genetics here by any chance?" She asked as she eyes up the pretty blonde with big blue eyes behind the desk. The name 'Natalie' was printed on her nametag.

"Professor McCloud would be." She smiled at Katarina with an outstandingly perfect smile.

"Perfect! Where can I find him, Natalie?" Katarina kept her gaze off of the girl's perfect neck and waited for an answer. Chances were that she was laced with something if this professor was who she was looking for.

"He'd be on the lower level in room 204B. Can't possibly miss it." Natalie's smile was nauseously contagious.

"Thank you so much Natalie. Your help has been very important." Katarina said smoothly, still avoiding the idea of having a snack. She walked away from the girl and began looking for an elevator to bring her down to the lower level. "I should have eaten before I came here."

She could smell the blood through the flesh of people around her. The pulsing veins stood out in every person's smoothly fleshed neck. Katarina shook her head at the realization of what was going on. She pulled out her phone and speed dialed Elijah. "He's here."

"Have you made contact with him?" Elijah's worried voice sounded on the other end of the line.

"Not yet, but I can feel something's not right here. I'm going to find him, Elijah, and bring him to you." She hung up before he could protest. She put her phone on silent, knowing full well that Elijah would be trying to call her back. He had good intentions, but she wasn't about ready to let him offer his overprotective skills on her right now.

She hopped on the first elevator that she saw and let it carry her down to the lower levels. Natalie had neglected to mention that the lower levels basically meant the furnace room. She wasn't quite sure how students weren't beyond nervous by the darkness of the room. In a way it was her element, but even she wasn't quite sure what she thought of the escape-free room.

"Professor McCloud?" She asked slowly as her voice bounced off the walls and echoed back her way. She skirted around a hot water heater. The smell of fresh blood nearly changed her form. She couldn't give herself away. She had to remain looking as human as possible; it was the only way for survival.

"In my office." He yelled out. His voice still only echoed through the room, but Katarina was able to use her skills to hone in on him.

Every step she took, she became weaker. Whatever this professor was using wasn't anything that she had ever encountered in person before. If it was this strong with her, she couldn't imagine what it was doing to the Mikaelson family if it had been put into their bloodstream. This could go beyond destroying a vampire civilization.

She could see a light at the end of the hallway. Something didn't feel right about the area, but she was too close to possibly finding the answer to walk away now. Besides, to walk away after just asking for him could set off red flags. There was no need to put suspicion in the air.

"I thought I heard someone calling for me. Come in, come in." Professor McCloud quickly invited Katarina in as soon as he saw her by the doorway to his office. The office was more spacious then was expected and there were a lot of random surgical tools. The feeling gave Katarina a chill down her spine. This was not a normal professor; there was no doubt about that.

Katarina made a quick note not to touch him in any way shape or form. She'd sooner say she was a germophobe versus risking getting the likes of him anywhere on her skin. Who knew what he had up his sleeve or smothered on his hands. "Professor McCloud, I am such a fan of your work. I think it's bordering on the verge of genius."

"Well thank you young lady. It's always a pleasure hearing a fellow fan. I don't believe that we've met before?" He eyed her up, but the pleasure of hearing how his achievements have impressed her was clearly catching his ego.

"Oh I am so sorry. My name is Kat." She smiled at him. There was no need to throw out her full name or change over to Katherine Pierce. He was smart. She could see that in his lively eyes. His dark hair was beginning to gray with many years under his belt. She guessed his age to be close to his mid-sixties. It was hard to be sure however.

"And what may I do for you Kat?" He asked her carefully. He seemed pleasured by seeing her there, but his eyes were definitely still calculating everything about her. He didn't look like he missed much about his guests.

"I was actually doing a paper for a different college that I attend about the genetics behind supernatural creatures. Obviously there's no proof that they exist and therefore the paper can't be factual, but with all of the work that you've done..." She let her sentence cut off.

"That is an interesting topic choice. I'm assuming that you just want my hypothetically opinion?" He asked cautiously.

"Anything that you can help me with would be so greatly appreciated. I feel that this is a whole new science that's being created and engineered. It could help humans out in so many different ways. And if there are really supernatural beings, well, I'd say that there's something more there for you to study." She smiled at him with a faked enthusiasm.

"I like how you think Kat."" He pointed at her as he stood from his chair. "The study of genetics and the supernatural opens up a whole new universe to us. It's beyond what we're capable of understanding still to this day."

"Are you saying Professor, that the supernatural exist?" Katarina pretended to be skeptical. What better way than to question him about what she is then to act like there wasn't a chance in a million years that the supernatural existed?

"Aren't you a fellow believer my dear?" He eyed her up cautiously, but his voice implied that there was no doubt about his belief. He began walking around his desk toward her.

"Are you?" Katarina stood her ground, but she wasn't about to let him get much closer to her. Distance was safety. She didn't know what kind of experiments he was up to or what he was capable of.

"Yes, we are. This is one of those scientific discoveries that can't be overlooked, but it is too much of a terrifying idea to promote to the public. Professor French had tried that and it's left him without a job. Thankfully I can still use his resources to my benefit. He's the real genius. All of my work has countered on what he had first discovered." He kept walking closer to her as his voice rambled on.

"Is this Professor French still someone that comes in to help with classes?" Katarina inquired while taking a step back. That sounded like the man that may have more of the answers that she wanted. She needed to find him.

"Not on school time of course, but he comes in to consult with me very often. In fact, you'll meet him today Miss Pierce." The Professor spoke clearly.

Katarina watched him carefully. He knew who she was. She assumed that meant that he knew what she was as well. That idea wasn't sitting well with her. Nothing about this place was sitting well with her. "How do you know my name, Professor?"

"Oh Katarina, you are a legend among us. Professor French has been waiting for us to get our hands on either an Original vampire or the equivalent of someone nearly as old. We have plans for you my dear." He smiled excitedly at her.