Knock! Knock!
"Come in." Alaric's voice echoed across his room.
At his permission, the door opened, revealing the tall figure of the young man Alaric was waiting for.
"You called for me, Dr. Saltzman?" John asked.
"Who else should I call when a dragon in my garden suddenly snores fire in its sleep?" Alaric asked, sarcasm leaking from his words.
"It did what?" John raised his brows.
"Let out a small cloud of fire that nearly burned a couple students passing by."
"Now, don't say that." John said. "I set up securities around it. No student could get near it, nor any harmful action could come from within the parameter I set around it."
"Well, said students disagree."
"Of course they disagree, they probably scared themselves with the abrupt action and are exaggerating." John said, not believing for a second his spells could possibly malfunction in such easy tasks.
Letting out a sigh, he continued. "Even still, I will take the dragon somewhere else, so everyone gets more comfortable. I know you are not in the best position right now."
Listening to the boy's words, Alaric looked at him differently. "Jeremy told you everything, hm?"
"I wonder why you didn't tell me."
"You already have plenty to deal with." Alaric replied in a very simple manner. "Believe me when I say I feel uncomfortable knowing I have to trust a student of mine to deal with such problems." He said, explaining his reason. "Letting me take care of these things makes me feel a little better."
"If you say so." John nodded, not intending to argue about it. "I won't complain about not having to deal with witches. From what I heard, they can be quite difficult to deal with."
"Surely they are." Alaric agreed, although with a not enthusiastic tone. "Think of someone who grew up listening, all their lives, they are servants of nature, and they must keep the supernatural world in order. What will they become?"
"Self-inflated." John bluntly replied. "They think they are more important, or at least their actions are of higher priority than anything if it's to preserve the 'order' they believe in."
"You just resumed most witches." Alaric smirked. "And it just gets worse. You know how?" He asked.
"Go on."
"Since they really have a certain connection to Nature, their actions are even more justified and reinforced as right in their minds." Alaric said, holding a sarcastic and mocking grin when he said that. "That's why even though they are the least… bestial of the three species, they hold the most atrocities. For them, any sin can be attributed to the greater good."
"Well, this just proves one thing." John declared as a reply to Alaric's explanation.
"What?"
"That all depends on our humanity." John said. "We depend on it to be violent, just as much as we depend on it to hold our most bloody urges." With an impassive expression, the young man explained his first words.
Alaric, hearing these words, lowered his eyes in a short contemplation. "You are not wrong." He said.
John walked around, approaching a certain bookshelf. "With all that said, what exactly can we expect from these witches?" He asked, eyeing a few books. "I am a little worried about their presence."
"Worried they might be an annoyance to you?"
"To me? No." John shook his head. "Worried for Hope? Surely I am. I know her relationship with witches in general is not the best."
"Then let me assure you that you have nothing to worry about." Alaric said, holding a serious tone of voice. "Hope's background, though proven troublesome when revealed to everyone in the school, wasn't enough to carry ill-feelings from the covens with members in the school."
"Are you sure of that?" John asked, turning his head a little to look at Alaric. "From what I know, it's common knowledge across the witch community about Hope and, you know, the omens about her bringing the downfall of all witches."
"Yes, it's common knowledge." Alaric agreed. "But you have to remember one thing, visions are open for interpretation. The same way there is a part of the witch community across the world who believes that Hope's existence would be the ultimate downfall of witches and wishes to end her life, there are many who interpret the same visions differently or saw different things." Alaric said, taking a short pause to catch his breath.
"Though a very small minority, mostly young witches, some believe in her as a force of nature that will bring change to the world for the better. Others just think nothing will happen because of a single girl's power. There are those that actually, actively hunting her for these possible futures is what will bring the downfall of the witches, since she is essentially immortal and has the back of the most powerful beings in the world. Another fact that scares a few somewhat smart ones from doing anything to her."
After all these words, the headmaster takes one more breath to recompose himself and continues. "In the end, all these visions could mean anything, and every witch who knows their know-how is aware that visions like these are open for interpretation. And because of that, you don't need to fear that every witch in the world wants Hope dead." Alaric finally ends his explanation, trying to see if his words brought any reassurance to John.
But Alaric noticed that all that comes from the boy is silence.
Taking a long inhale to recover his breath, Alaric continued his words. "These visions and omens, true or not, you can't forget there is an obstacle between Hope and any witch that wants to prevent it."
"The Mikaelsons?"
"Yes." Alaric nodded. "And I would like to add you as well."
"You think I would do for Hope what her family did to her?" John asked, his voice slightly lower than usual.
"You wouldn't?" Alaric questioned him, focusing on the boy's expression.
At the receiving end of the question, John went silent, thinking of what he knew about the atrocities Hope's family committed.
Directly or indirectly, maybe thousands have already died due to Hope's existence.
Vampires, werewolves, witches, from all over the world, and even humans. All dead.
And among these numbers, rested a death inflicted by John himself. A death that till this day of today, he sometimes thinks is illusory. That maybe it never happened.
For even though he remembers the heat of the blood over his hand and the sound of the vampire's heart slowly disappearing into oblivion, the action seems so distant in certain moments. As if it never held any weight taking someone's life.
But the weight is reminisced when John, at certain days ever since that event, opens his drawer and looks at two items.
A ring and a draw of a woman.
Every moment he looked at these two items, he remembered the truth of that night, that he killed someone. That he didn't even attempt a conversation with who he killed to preserve a life.
And what resulted from this? What came from days after days of spending minutes looking at an object?
For John, it was to remember a simple fact. He loves someone.
And for loving someone, he carries the fear of seeing who he cherishes hurt.
And a man who loves, who fears for their beloved, carries thoughts that normally are reserved for those who dwell in the darkness.
"Yeah…" With an equal tone, neither low nor high, John finally gives an answer to Alaric's question. "Yes, I would."
"Just as I thought." Alaric nodded, his words followed by a sigh and a certain silence that was broken by the man himself. "John, let me tell you something, as a man who lost a lot in life."
John frowned at these words, turning himself completely to face Alaric.
And he swore, that was the first time John saw that expression on Alaric.
"Normally, I condemn our students to follow what is the normalcy in the supernatural. Blood, death, vengeance, we say that we should always pursue the peaceful path, that we must not indulge in our most primal urges to violence." Staring into John's eyes, Alaric proceeded with his words. "However, if you think it's to protect those who you love, do what you must do. Because, in the end, when they are gone because of your leniency, you don't feel that mercy was worth it." He said with such a firm tone that anyone would immediately know that these words were more than only his thoughts, they were based on a real experience of his life.
And John, at the end of the silence he held during the time of Alaric's speech, asked what someone as curious as him would ask in his current situation.
"You had the opportunity, right?" He said. "To kill your bro-, Malachai Parker, right?"
"Yes, I had the opportunity to kill the psychotic motherfucker that was my brother-in-law." Alaric said, not running from the fact the boy tried to evade. "It was something she asked, you know? That I shouldn't kill him?"
"Josette?"
Hearing her name, Alaric let out a weak chuckle. "It's kind of strange hearing you call her that. Everyone knew her as Jo."
"Would you find it better if I referred to you as such during this conversation?"
"If you ever need to call her name again, I would appreciate it."
John silently nodded.
"I had him in my grip. Gun pointed at his head." Alaric said, recounting the story with gestures of his hands. "All I needed was to pull the trigger."
"But she stopped you."
"She did." Alaric nodded. "She said that instead of such a way, we could deal with him in a less violent way, and thus also prevent certain problems." He smirked, lowering his eyes. "Problems we certainly didn't prevent."
"And you think she would be fine with it?" John asked, using an even tone to not sound threatening or accusing. "You think she would be fine seeing you, someone she loved blow off the head of her brother?"
"You think she would hate me for this?" Alaric raised his eyes at him.
"No. She already intended to end him, killing him wouldn't be the reason she might or might not be fine with it." John explained his words. "But do you think she would be fine with it? Seeing someone she loves killing someone for you? I may not know her well, much less comparable to you…" The tone of the boy's words lowered, and his words were said with a tempo that each one of them seemed emphasized, but not at the same time. "I think she wouldn't like the idea of you carrying a weight that was meant to be hers."
Would Hope be okay with what I did? John asked himself.
"But aren't relationships about this?" Alaric raised his question. "About carrying your burdens together? You share the weight of life with each other?"
John nodded. "I think so."
"Then why do you think she would be mad at me?" Alaric asked.
"Was the only answer I could think of at the moment to explain her actions." John answered, not wavering in his voice.
However, within his mind, though he believed in the answer he gave, there was still a question unprovided of an answer. A question surged by this conversation.
Would Hope accept what I did? I think she would. But… would she be fine with me hiding it from her? John asked himself. And honestly, though he was more inclined for the 'yes' than the 'no', the mere thought of her holding negative feelings for hiding it scared him.
Eyeing the young man, seeing he was a little contemplative, Alaric did his role as the adult and tried to lead the conversation in an attempt to help the young man. "Do you know why am I having this kind of talk with you, John?"
"Enlighten me."
"Because I know you worry for her." Alaric replied. "I care for Hope, almost like a daughter, maybe even as much. And God helps me if anything happens to her." With a certain hint of emotion sipping in his voice, Alaric's tone raised slightly. "But, if something happens to her, in your case, I will pray to all the gods in the world to help us."
"Pft, What are you saying, Dr. Saltzman?" John asked, a slight smirk forming in his lips, finding a little amusing how the man phrased his worry for Hope.
"Just telling you to make sure she is okay." Alaric said, his tone holding the same firmness. "To make sure you don't feel what I felt, and so as well to not bring hell upon this world."
A frown formed upon John's forehead when he listened to these words, catching how serious Alaric was.
"You think I would, what, kill aimlessly in grief of her?"
"No." Alaric shook his head. "But I don't want to imagine you losing someone who you love and seeking vengeance because of it."
"You say as if you are sure something is gonna happen." John narrowed his eyes.
"For Immortals, I lived nothing at all. But for mortals who dove into this world that we live, I am here for long enough to understand one simple thing." Alaric locked eyes with him, and his stare held a certain weight the young man had rarely seen before. "What is happening right now, it's only the prelude for something worse. It always is…" He ended with a mutter.
"Then what will you do? Are you inclined to temporarily close the school until everything is over?" John asked, not letting a single moment of silence pass after Alaric's words.
"If it's necessary, it will be done." He affirmed. "But the choice is not only mine to decide. That's why of the meeting tonight. Every member of the school staff will be here. If we believe in the safety to keep up the school activities, we continue. If not, then we can only suspend activities indefinitely." Alaric said with finality, declaring there weren't options beyond these two.
…
A silence hung in the room.
John stood there, his eyes low, in silence.
Alaric, looking up at him from his seat, expected some reaction from the boy.
However, the only reaction he got from him was the boy turning around and approaching the bookshelf he was taking a look at earlier.
Then, he grabbed a book and proceeded to take another. "I would like permission to have access to the school's archives." John said, his words easily traveling through the room.
"For what?"
"Knowledge, principally." John replied simply. "Also, to make sure of what you said, to ensure the safety of my loved ones."
"And how will you do that?"
"Something I've been thinking about for some time." John said. "Would you permit me to make changes in the school's barrier?"
"What changes?"
"Making it a real barrier instead of a simple veil to hide us." John replied. "I wouldn't change the spell, only modify it. Adding certain properties to it."
"And do you think you can do it?" Alaric asked.
"I've been playing with the idea since I have found the spell. I'm quite confident in making it."
"Need any help on my part?"
"No. I can do it on my own." John replied, putting the books under his arm.
"Then is there anything else you would want to say to me?" Alaric asked.
"I will do my best to take care of the situation." John declared.
"I know you will." Alaric nodded, having a warm smile on his lips. "Go on, do what you must do. I will also do my best to take care of things." He said, taking a keychain over the table. "Here, the keys for the archives. Dorian normally has a few copies in case you lose it, as unbelievable as it is to me." He held the keys in the air.
"Thanks." With a single thought from the young man, the keys flowed out of Alaric's hand. Floating into his right hand. "Till later, Dr. Saltzman." John said, nodding his head before heading to the door and departing from the room.
At the sound of the door clashing in closing, Alaric let out a sigh containing uncertain feelings.
I hope my words lead him to a better path than the one I walked. He thought.
Reaching his hand out, Alaric opened a drawer on his side and from it took out a small bottle of gin.
Slowly filling the crystal cup he had in the drawer as well, Alaric raised the cup. Only one for the day. He thought. "So I can make the best decisions." He tossed to himself before drinking everything in one gulp.
[John's PoV]
I didn't expect for the conversation to… escalate in such a way. To take this path.
I just wanted to know what happened with the dragon and learn a few things about the witches.
Everything else just happened. It just spiraled out.
Tsk. I could only sigh in small annoyance.
But taking a look at the books under my arm, I could divert my mind from that conversation, even if just a little. And thankfully, I had a lot of things to do to put that away for now.
"Ah, John." A voice called for me, from just around the turn in the hallway. "What were you doing in dad's office?"
"Hey, pretty." I greeted her, approaching for a friendly hug. "Just having a small talk with Dr. Saltzman. And you? How've you been doing?"
"I am as fine as I could be." She said, reciprocating the hug. "Trying to cope with the fact that the dragon in our backyard apparently tried to burn someone."
"And once again I will say, this is impossible with the spells I put around it." I declared. Surely, I don't even like the insinuation that my spells don't work properly.
"Well, I didn't see the incident, but Jed surely seemed freaked out recounting it." Josie's words were followed by a sweet laugh from her.
I could imagine it, Jed trying to appear badass by approaching the dragon and shitting himself in the process, then trying to make it look extremely dangerous.
Hm, he still didn't have his character development, right? Should I force it on him? Nah, let him be a dick for a little longer.
"How have you been? You know, since now besides a dragon we also have a forest spirit in our school."
"As I said, trying to cope." Despite her answer, she kept that sweet smile of hers. "And you? I mean, how are you dealing with everything considering you apparently are our first line of defense."
Hm, that's a way to call it.
"A little awed, actually. Obviously by how much I have been learning these past few days about everything." Was my outer answer.
A little bit responsible.
Honestly, I don't feel bothered by how things played out. But I feel responsible for the result of events.
I tried to prevent these events from unfolding, but it seemed my actions were enough.
Maybe I could have done more.
I could've just gone directly to the Triad and completely made sure to destroy Malivore.
Unfortunately, fear, beyond other reasons, was a great deterrence even for me.
My actions could have been recognized and triggered questions that depending on who asked, I would be annoyed or fearful to answer.
It was troublesome.
"Hm, I can see you thinking of things this way." She commented, taking a glimpse under my arm. "Dad let you take these books?"
"How else would I have them?"
"Fair enough." Josie nodded, taking a more close look at the books. "Never seen these books leave his office. He is usually pretty strict in keeping such a tight lock on them." She shifted her gaze to me. "So why did he let you take them?"
Taking a look at her curious eyes, I smirked. "Secret project for now."
"Come on, share it with me." She said, hitting my shoulder.
"You will probably see it soon, you just have to wait a little." I said, not stopping the smile forming in my lips. "Now, I have to go. I have a few things to take care of." I said, raising my hand to her head. "Take care, okay? Things are getting troublesome."
"Okay." She said, not dismissing me ruffling her hair.
Retreating my hand, I saw her quickly fixing her hair. "Then see you later?" I opened my arms.
"Hmh." She nodded, falling into the hug I proposed.
After a short moment, Josie let go of me. "Bye." She said, walking away, waving my way.
"Bye, Josie." And then, I walked on my way, leaving this section of the building.
And as my steps echoed through the corridors, I couldn't help but think how refreshing it is to talk to Josie.
I'm too fond of her when I think a little.
But can I be blamed? Her presence just eases the spirit with that sweet smile and puppy eyes.
Ah… certainly much better than having a serious talk with Dr. Saltzman.
It lights up the spirit.
Hm, mentioning someone who lights up my spirit.
"Did you talk with Dr. Saltzman?"
When I passed under the doorway to the main hall, Hope was leaning on the side, waiting for me.
"I did." I nodded. "False alarm. Just Jed pissing himself." I quickly added.
Listening to it, Hope's expression said she completely believed in it. "I can imagine that." She said, pushing herself from the wall and approaching me. "Then, what now?"
"I think it's time to have a talk with the dragon. By what I saw early and its apparent reaction to proximity, its mind should have recovered enough by now." I then took the keys into my hand, capturing her attention. "I also finally have access to the archives." I smiled.
"You seem like you just got a new toy."
"Well, I certainly gained a few things to play with. Besides the books, there are plenty of artifacts in the archives." I said, my smile widening slightly. "There certainly is going to be something there for me to have some fun."
"Just don't destroy the school."
"Relax… apparently, I am its first line of defense. Protecting it is my obligation." I said, feeling a quiet pride in it. Strange, but good.
Hope looked a little strange at me with these words, but soon after a smile bloomed in her lips. "You know, that if things really don't go well, you don't need to make sure the school keeps running because of me, right?" She leaned on me, letting me take her in my arms.
"Then what else would I do as your boyfriend?"
"Stay by my side." She replied. "I can deal with the rest later." She laced her arms around my neck.
"Sounds good." I leaned my head forward, letting our lips meet.
A brief kiss. A small act of affection.
And how I am awed by this is something still surprising to me sometimes.
"So, want to see me mind-diving?" I asked after we broke the kiss.
"Have you ever done that?" She raised a brow.
"No." I responded honestly, holding her hand as I prepared to resume my walk. "But if a newborn vampire can do that, I can as well." With these words said, I had already started walking away out of the hall, towards the backyards.
"Don't you think it would be better if you had someone there to help?" Hope said, not bothered as I dragged her with me. "I can call Aunt Rebekah here to help you."
Hm, an Original guiding me certainly would come in hand. It would help me a lot.
But I wonder if Alaric would like or not her presence in the school.
Well, I bet he won't try to kill her as soon as she appears. Jeremy held up, he can as well.
"I would appreciate it." I nodded.
With my confirmation, Hope quickly picked up her phone, starting to contact Rebekah.
Things seem to be aligning well. For now at least. I hope it continues like that.
Although I don't like it, I have to consider what Dr. Saltzman said.
The Prelude for something worse…
I hope the worse never comes.
[Road to Mystic Falls]
"We are near." Through the car, the only hearable sound was of the woman talking. Better if I call Milton now. I wonder how surprised he will be by receiving me.
"Madam." A new voice joined in.
"Yes, Laura?"
"We have a report from the Intelligence Unit." The woman named Laura replied. "Rebekah and Freya Mikaelson are at Mystic Falls."
With a swift motion of her arm, Laura handed her device to the back seat, keeping her sight forward.
"This is certainly an intriguing unfolding of events." Veronica commented. Eyes fixed on the screen ahead.
"Should we change our plans, Director?" Ryan, sitting in the driver's seat, asked.
"Our goal remains the same. With our advantage or not, we can't risk facing an Original." Veronica simply replied. "Just request a backup team to stay positioned in the outskirts of the town in case we must access their help to escape." She handed back the device.
"Team Bravo is not far. They are situated in North Carolina." Laura replied, pressing the screen of her device a few times. "They should be here in 8 hours if we request their presence."
"Do it." Veronica ordered.
"Understood, Director."
"Agent Ryan, keep up the speed. I'm slightly excited to meet my son."
"As you wish, Director." Ryan nodded, his facial expression with nothing but obedience on view.
But within his mind, different thoughts formed.
This mission is getting way far from the simplicity it should be. He thought, calmly and methodically. Now an Original and a Mikaelson Witch. And a possible demigod. Things are escalating quite fast… I must make sure we don't engage in any confrontation. With our forces, we wouldn't even be enough to fill the space of the teeth of that dragon. Severity crept under Ryan's eyes, hidden by the veil he built over the years.
"Hello, Milton? What do you think about receiving your mother over at your school?"
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Hello everyone. So... I am here to say a few things.
First, the reason there was no chapter last week. I got sick on last week. And from there on, things just worse. Like, I couldn't breath properly, literally. And I have asthma, so one thing teamed up with another and I got to spend this entire week on bed trying to get better. And during this time, I sincerely didn't have time to properly write or the mind to do it.
Second. The good part in all of it? I got to think how to progress on this part of the story, now I just need to write. I was a little blocked on how to build the in-between of where we are and how to get where I want. Thankfully, now I have a more detailed idea of the progress.
Third... Thank you for all your support. You have no idea how good it feels to answer your comments during this time I was sick. It helped me a lot. You guys even made we passed the 100-mark powerstones in the week of the last chapter. I am grateful for that.
Well, I think that's what I wanted to tell you all.
Ps: I don't know if the title fits the idea of this chapter. I think it makes sense, but I am not so sure. Give me your opinion about it.
Thank you for all your support and don't forget to give your powerstones. It helps me a lot. See you soon - Author.