It was early morning when Hope arrived back at the Salvatore School after a night in Atlanta, Georgia, with the headmaster to get Rafael, a newly triggered werewolf, on his first full moon. They found him in a church where he was being exorcised, and they managed to chain him before he completed his first transformation. Landon—Rafael's foster brother—came back with them, having seen what happened. They're greeted by two young women, one blonde and one brunette.
"Welcome to the Salvatore School!" the blonde said with a smile. "We're your tour guides."
"I'm Josie," the brunette chimed in.
"I'm Lizzie. Sisters"
"Twins"
"Fraternal. Obvs."
"Rafael, why don't you go ahead with the girls while I talk to Landon" said Alaric.
The twins wrap an arm around each of Rafael's as they guide him inside the school.
"Morning, Hope!" the twins say together.
"Morning, girls," Hope replies.
"She was more like despair before," Lizzie starts, "but after she brought her boyfriend here, she's been great."
Hope chuckles at her description, "Speaking of, are they back yet?"
"Nope. But Mom said they'll be back today." Josie replies, looking back at her as they start Rafael's tour while Hope, Landon, and Alaric go to the headmaster's office.
"No one in Mystic Falls knows much about us," Alaric says as they enter his office. "We blend in just enough. Participate, contribute just enough. Keeps people from asking too many questions."
"What is there to know about exactly?" Landon asks.
"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?"
"We are a school for the supernatural, which covers a lot of territory. Everyone here has something that makes them special in ways that the outside world... wouldn't understand."
"So what are you?" Landon asks Hope.
"I should get to class," She replies as she tries to dodge the question.
"No!" Landon interjects. "No. Sorry. I don't mean to be a dіck, but I don't know you," he adds as he looks at Alaric, "And though the image of you whammying a priest is still fresh, I need you here. Just tell me what all that was in the church last night."
"What did you think it was?" Hope asks.
"Well, as best as I can reason, either I've lost my mind or werewolves are real."
Alaric and Hope share a look.
"This is beyond insane!" Landon says in disbelief. "How is that even possible?"
"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." Alaric answers.
"In sixth grade at my school, we learned the state capitals."
"We teach that, too," Hope answers with a chuckle.
"Now, I have some questions about Rafael," Alaric says with a serious tone.
"Like what?" Landon asks.
"Well, let's start with who he killed recently."
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Meanwhile, Josie and Lizzie are taking Rafael on his tour.
"Everybody gets along with everybody here, for the most part," Josie starts.
"The wolves are pretty cliquey," Lizzie continues. "They like to hang with their own."
"In defiance of the school's commitment to inclusiveness."
"That is why we volunteered to be your tour guides. To give you a good witch welcome before your hairier brethren corrupt you."
"That is our librarian, Mr. Williams," Josie says, as she points towards the classroom. "He's subbing for our Chemistry of Magic teacher who accidentally incinerated himself last week in hellfire."
"Burned all the hair off his body, but didn't leave a scar." Lizzie chimes in.
As the ongoing class proceeded for a demonstration, the girl who was performing a spell looked through the door and winked at Josie, who smiled and waved her hand.
"She who shall not be named," Lizzie says in contempt.
"Her name's Penelope," Josie says. "She's my girlfriend."
"Ugh! We don't really get along. Come on, we'll show you the turret. It's where the seniors go to smoke."
"What do they smoke, eye of newt?" Rafael asks.
"Weed," Josie answers as they start walking away.
As they exited the building, a magic circle lit up, and out came two individuals: a silver-haired young man and a blonde woman.
"Whoa!" Rafael exclaims, wide-eyed as he takes a step back.
"Hey girls!" The blonde woman says as she approaches.
"Hi Mom!" the twins say as they hug her. "Morning, Caelum!"
"Morning, girls!" Caelum says with a smile. "So who's the new guy?"
"My name's Rafael," he introduces himself. "Just found out I'm a wolf last night."
"I'm Caelum," he replies, shaking Rafael's hand. "The one I came with is the Deputy Headmistress, Caroline."
"Hello Rafael," Caroline shakes his hand as well. "I'll leave my daughters to continue with your tour, I'll be taking a much-needed break."
"I'm going as well. Nice meeting you, Rafael!" Caelum says as he walks to the school. "See you later, girls."
"Bye Caelum!" the twins reply in sync.
"Hope's in dad's office," Josie adds.
"Thanks, Josie."
The girls then guide Rafael to proceed with the tour.
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Back at the Headmaster's Office
The door opens, and a silver-haired teen with mismatched eyes of gold and grey enters.
"Is this a bad time?" He says as he closes the door again.
"Caelum!" Hope says as she goes to give him a hug and a quick peck on the lips, then leans on him, keeping her arm around his waist as he wraps his arms around her shoulder.
"Not at all. We were just asking Landon some questions about Rafael" Alaric tells Caelum.
"The new wolf? I met him on the way. Seems like a nice guy," Caelum replies. "But still, who did he kill?" He asks as he looks at Landon.
"Why would you ask me that?" Landon replies.
"The werewolf gene doesn't activate unless the carrier has taken a human life," Alaric answers. "So if he triggered his curse, he killed someone."
"He's not a killer!" Landon growls as he defends his brother.
"We're not trying to…" Hope tries to speak, but Landon interrupts
"He's not a killer!"
"Well, I know a little bit about his background. Neglectful birth parents. Orphaned in adolescence. Six foster homes in seven years. Prone to fits of anger," says Alaric
"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," Hope says, trying to calm him down.
"Hey, we're not trying to say he's a cold-blooded killer, but he has killed someone recently. From what I've seen when I met him, I'm more inclined to believe it was either an accident or self-defense." Caelum steps in. "So help us understand, and as long as he didn't do it in cold blood, this school can be a home for him."
"His girlfriend, Cassie. Last month. He was driving, there was a storm. He took a turn too fast." Landon finally answers. "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 200-pound lawnmower 50 feet across the yard. That was when our foster parents called in the priest. I guess they thought he was possessed by the devil."
"Oh, please, I have better things to do." Caelum retorts.
"What?" Landon asks, confused.
"All of that is... consistent with a newly triggered wolf. It's normal. Thank you for that, Landon." Alaric cuts in.
"Everything's gonna be okay," Hope reassures Landon. "We're ready!"
The door opens, and another student comes in. A young man with an afro.
"Landon Kirby, Milton Greasly," Alaric says, introducing the new student.
"Come on, Dr. Saltzman."
"Right, MG. I'm sorry. Take it from a guy named Alaric. I get it." Alaric then turns back to Landon. "Landon, MG is my student aide."
"He's also a vampire," Hope adds.
"Of course he is," Landon says "You know, for a school with a secret to keep, you're kind of liberal with your information."
"Well, we don't actually intend for you to remember any of it."
"Wait, why exactly aren't we enrolling him as well?" Caelum asks.
"What do you mean?" Hope asks in return.
"He's not human."
"What do you mean I'm not human?" Landon asks confused.
"I am very sensitive to the aura of supernatural creatures. While I'm not quite sure what type you are, I am certain that you're not human." Caelum explains. Then he turns to Alaric and says, "Let's have your daughters confirm."
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As Josie and Lizzie, finish up their tour for Rafael by showing him a game of Wickery. Hope, Caelum, Alaric, and Landon approach them.
"Girls, can one of you come with us for a bit?" Alaric asks his daughters.
"Sure, Dad," Josie replies, leaving Rafael and Lizzie to sit and watch the game.
As they step away from the crowd, Josie asks, "So what's this about?"
"Just confirming something," Caelum replies.
As soon as they had enough distance, he asked her to siphon Landon. She was able to.
"Believe me now?" Caelum asks.
Suddenly, they see Lizzie run into the school upset, looking like she's about to have an episode. Alaric leaves Landon to Hope, Caelum, and Josie while he runs after Lizzie.