Walking through the cold streets of Atlanta were Ruby, Rafael and their foster brother Landon Kirby. The trio were meeting their foster parents Maria and Hector at a church. Specifically, they'd requested for Rafael to meet them there, but Ruby and Landon weren't willing to leave their brother's side.

"Rafael! Seriously, it's not right." Landon spoke up, throwing his arms out in front of him as he spoke. "This does seem really strange." Ruby piped up, crossing her arms as she narrows her eyes at her twin.

"Guys.. It is what it is." Rafael responded to them, as he hoped they would drop this conversation, but he knew they wouldn't.

"Last time I heard, you're not Catholic... so why should you have to confess your sins?" Ruby asked as Landon motioned to the pink haired girl, "Exactly!" He backed her up.

"I tossed a lawnmower through the patio doors! If apologizing to God gets Hector and Maria off my back, so be it." Rafael decided as Landon and Ruby frowned and glanced at eachother.

Ruby could still remember the shattering sound of the glass, and the gasp that had escaped Maria's lips as the lawn mower had been thrown. It was certainly a strange occurrence, but Ruby wasn't sure that church would be the answer.

The trio reached the church at last, and entered the building only to meet Hector and Maria, alongside the priest, Father Pietro.

"Buenas tardes, Father Pietro." Rafael spoke to Pietro as the priest smiled back, "Buenas tardes, Rafael. Por favor, pray with me."

Hector turned to Ruby and Landon before saying with a stern smile, "You guys can leave now. It's okay, we can take it from here."

Ruby was quick to shake her head. "No. We're good, Hector. I'm staying with my twin." She decided, not budging on the idea. "Me too, we're not leaving Raf's side." Landon added, standing beside Ruby, though not as confidently.

Maria suddenly walked over to Landon and Ruby, before speaking to them in a softer voice. "Ruby, Landon, this is between your brother and God, okay?"

Rafael, sensing that Landon and Ruby weren't trusting this whole ordeal, turned to look at them. "Hey, I got it. Just wait outside." He smiled.

Ruby frowned again, as her arms fell to her side. She gave her twin one last glance, as his expression reassured her that he would be okay. "Fine." The Waithe reluctantly decided, before she turned to leave the church as Landon skeptically followed.

Once outside, Landon took a seat on the steps and began listening to music and writing in his journal as though Ruby wasn't even there.

The pink haired girl began to nervously pace around as her thoughts were still with Rafael. She wanted to talk to Landon about it, but decided not to bother him as he'd made it clear by wearing his earphones that he wanted to keep to himself.

Rafael's terrified screams could suddenly be heard from within the church, a sound Ruby wished she didn't know so well. Her face went pale before she rushed towards the door, hoping to get inside but realising that it had been locked.

"What's going on?" Landon asked, taking his earbuds out as he noticed his foster sister's distress. "I heard Rafael scream. We need to get inside." The Waithe spoke with panic before she balled her fists and slammed them on the door.

Suddenly a car came to a screeching half, in front of the church. Landon turned to look at it, but Ruby continued to bang on the door.

Alaric Saltzman and Hope Mikealson stepped out of the vehicle and approached the door, Alaric held a loaded crossbow in his arms. The Mikealson stopped suddenly as she glanced at Ruby and Landon before recognising the latter.

"Landon?" Hope blurted out, as this briefly caught Ruby's attention. "You two know eachother?" The Waithe asked, looking between them before she shook her head. "It doesn't even matter right now..." She trailed off before catching Hope, Landon and Alaric's attention as she spoke loudly. "I don't know what the fuck is going on in there but they locked us out, and I just heard my twin scream!"

Hope them looked to Alaric, "Dr Saltzman." She said. "Yeah, i'm on it." Alaric replied as he approached the locked door to try and open it.

Growing impatient due to her worry, Ruby spoke, "What part of we've been locked out didn't you guys understand?"

"Dissera portus!" Hope said, instead castinc a spell and ignoring the pink haired girl. The church doors then flew open, as Ruby and Landon both wore a look of surprise.

"You guys are gonna want to stay out here. Trust me." Hope piped up before she glanced at the raven haired boy, Ruby completely ignored them and stepped forward to enter the church, only for Hope to stop her. "You also."

Ruby shook her head, "Like hell I am." She spat, not meaning to sound so rude. Hope doesn't seem bothered as she replied, "Fine. I did warn you."

The four walked inside, finding Rafael on all fours on the floor, fighting the pain of his werewolf transformation while the priest was shouting at him in Latin.

Ruby, while confused as shit, found herself feeling more panicked and worried. Before she could voice her concerns Alaric called out to Hope, "Shut down the exorcist, would you?"

Hope nodded before shouting out, "Silencio!" Father Pietro's mouth then completely vanished, stopping him from speaking. Ruby's jaw dropped, "What the fuck?" She blurted out confusedly.

"Ad somnum!" Hope then yelled out, causing Father Pietro, Hector, and Maria to all suddenly fall unconscious, finding their way onto the floor.

Ruby then tore her eyes away from their bodies, and found herself moving towards Rafael without thinking of what danger her twin could put her in, despite the warnings Alaric kept throwing at her.

"Ruby.." Rafael choked out, struggling to speak as he looked up at his twin sister, in pain. "Please... help me..." He pleaded, as his pained tone was breaking Ruby's heart.

"Rafi.. I.. I don't know how to— "Ruby admitted helplessly, through tear filled eyes. Rafael's bones started to crack and bend unnaturally, as his transformation fully went underway.

Landon and Ruby, still in disbelief about everything they've seen thus far, look horrified. "My God..." Landon blurted, moving forward to try and pull Ruby back.

"Help me..." Rafael begged them, before his fingers lengthened into claws, his ears began to lengthen and become pointed, and his joints all popped out of their sockets as the Waithe transformed into his wolf form. Ruby then let out a gasp, as Rafael had fully transformed into a large wolf with black and dark brown fur and glowing gold eyes.

The wolf snarled at Ruby and Landon, as they both looked terrified, but the pink haired girl tried her best to remain calm. "Rafi... it's us, your siblings." She tried to speak calmly.

Hope and Alaric were quickly drilling carabiners into the floor, before attaching chains to all four of the hooks in a square.

Rafael's claws made deep scratches in the wood floor just as Alaric quickly fastened a reinforced collar around his neck. "Easy does it, easy does it..." Alaric insisted. Hope looked sympathetically at Rafael, remembering her own first painful transformation.

"Is he going to be okay?" Ruby finally asked. Hope then turned to the girl, offering her a weak smile, "Yeah. He will."

❤︎

Ruby found herself seated between her brothers, in the back of the car that Alaric and Hope had shown up to the church in. Rafael had his head leaning on Ruby's shoulder as he snored lightly.

The pink haired girl looked to Hope, who was sitting in the front seat, glancing out the window quietly, before she looked to Landon who was also sitting quietly. "How do you two know each other?" She asked, breaking the silence.

Hope turned to face Ruby. "He used to serve me milkshakes at the Mystic Grill." She explained. "Peanut Butter Blast, Whipped cream on the bottom." Landon spoke up anxiously, as Ruby smiled. "Sounds delicious.. though whip cream on the bottom is a little weird." She admitted, though she suddenly felt hungry.

Landon paused awkwardly for a moment before he added, "We danced once." Hope giggled, "We tried. And then you moved away."

"Then you made a door blow off its hinges with your brain?" Landon replied as Ruby added, "Uh yeah... feel like explaining that?"

"Oh, we'll explain everything. We're almost there." Alaric spoke up, from the driver seat. Ruby and Landon glanced at eachother, confusedly before they both asked in unison, "Where are we going?"

"Somewhere safe."

❤︎

The five finally arrived at the Salvatore school, where they were immediately greeted by Alaric's daughters, Josie and Lizzie, both of whom were wearing their school uniforms and looked happy to see them.

"Welcome to the Salvatore School. We're your tour guides." Lizzie Saltzman spoke up, with a big smile on her face. "I'm Josie." Josie Saltzman, the girl standing next to Lizzie, introduced herself.

"I'm Lizzie. Sisters." Lizzie added. "Twins." Josie intervened before Lizzie corrected her, "Fraternal, obvs." Ruby looked between the girls before she admitted, "I... wasn't going to ask."

A now awake Rafael exited the vehicle, looking dazed. "Rafael, why don't you go ahead with the girls while I talk to Ruby and Landon?" Alaric suggested.

The twins each linked their arms with Rafael's and lead him toward the school, before he could even answer. Before they could properly leave, they sarcastically greeted Hope. "Morning, Hope." They said in unison. Hope rolled her eyes before responding in a fake-nice tone of voice. "Morning, girls."

"More like despair." Lizzie mumbled. "I heard that." Hope admitted, eyeing the pair. "No, you didn't." Lizzie declared, "Didn't have to." Hope responded as though it was obvious. Alaric just groaned, "Everyone, behave."

"Love you, Dad." Josie and Lizzie said before they disappeared with Rafael. Ruby watched the twins leave with her own twin, wondering why they were giving him some tour but not herself or Landon.

As the trio walked away, Alaric turned his full attention to Landon and Ruby, "So... Let's get started!"

❤︎

Ruby and Landon followed Alaric and Hope into the school, the duo looked around in amazement at what they were seeing.

"I'm curious Landon, were you aware of us when you lived in Mystic Falls?" Alaric asked. "I knew Hope went to some fancy boarding school. People in town said it was for troubled rich kids." Landon trailed off. "It seems like the rich part is true." Ruby chimed in, continuing to look around.

"Nobody in town mentioned anyone here could do that!" The Kirby added, pointing to a girl who was making an object float in the air. Ruby spotted the girl, and her eyes widened at the sight.

The group continued to walk, and at last made it to Alaric's office  "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 explained to the pair. "What is there to know, exactly?" Ruby asked, crossing her arms. "If my twin is potentially going to this school, I'd like to know everything about it."

"Wait a minute.. you're twins with Rafael?" Hope asked, wondering if Ruby also had the werewolf gene... it wouldn't make sense for Rafael to have it but not his twin sister. "Yeah, I am." Ruby answered, looking to Hope.

Hope opened her mouth to say something but was cut off by Alaric, who started to talk about the school. "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." He began. "You're a school for magic?" Landon asked, as Ruby stayed quiet, clearly knowing the answer was yes.

Alaric took a seat as his desk before he explained, "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, who had sunk into a chair across from Alaric, was still not believing what was happening. Ruby was leaning on the chair that Landon was seated in, trying to process this.

Ruby then glanced over at Hope, who was standing quietly in the corner. "So, what are you?" She asked curiously. Hope looked to the pinkette, but seemed uncomfortable about answering her question. "I should get to class..." She decided, turning to head towards the door.

Landon frowned and blurtes out suddenly, "No!" Causing Alaric, Hope and Ruby to look surprised by this reaction.

"No. Sorry, I don't mean to be a dick, but I don't know you—" Landon said, turning back to Alaric for a moment. "—and though the image of you whammy-ing a priest is still fresh, I need you here." He insisted.

Ruby just blinked in surprise before forcing a cough, as a reminder to her foster brother that she is also there.. in this very same mess.. right beside him.

Ruby then stood upright, no longer leaning on Landon's chair, before she turned to Hope. "What happened in that church last night?" She demanded. "What do you think it was?" Hope instead asked.

"To be honest I think I might be hallucinating or something ." Ruby trailed off. "Or maybe this is all a dream and I'm really just laying peacefully in my bed." The Waithe continued, as Hope just let out a nervous chuckle, as Ruby was in for a surprise.

"Well..." Landon spoke up, catching their attention. "As best as I can reason, either I've lost my mind, or werewolves are real." He declared.

Alaric and Hope shared a look, seeming surprised that Landon figured it out so quickly. Landon and Ruby took their expressions as confirmation and both begin to panic. "Wait.. seriously!?" Ruby asked, with a nervous and humourless laugh. "Th.. this is beyond insane. How is that even possible?" Landon asked.

"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 explained to the foster siblings. "In sixth grade at my school, we learned the state capitals." Ruby responded, causing Hope to chuckle. "We teach that, too." Hope's expression then softened.

"Obviously you guys would have learnt last night that Rafael is a werewolf." Hope began. "I wouldn't mind betting that you are too." The tribrid added, as she looked to to Ruby. The pink haired girl blinked in surprise, "Me?!" She blurted, seeing lost for words.

"Well.. You and Raf are twins.." Landon stated the obvious, in an awkward manner. Ruby then frowned, "So you're telling me I'm part dog as well?"

"It's highly possible." Alaric piped up, catching their attention again. "If you don't mind, I'd like to get you tested for the gene." He added, facing Ruby. The girl didn't really know what to say, it was a lot to process.

"I have some questions about Rafael." Alaric continued. "Like what?" Ruby and Landon asked at once. "Well, let's start with who he killed recently." The headmaster suggested, causing the foster siblings to both grow defensive.

"Are you fucking serious?!" Ruby snapped, visibly annoyed. "Why would you ask us that?" Landon blurted. "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." Alaric explained, before he turns to Ruby, "I also think it's highly likely that you could be a werewolf that hasn't triggered their curse yet, considering your twin brother carries the werewolf gene."

Ruby shook her head in disgust, more focusing on the first part of what Alaric had said. "Rafi is not a killer!" She growled. Hope sighed, "We're not trying—" Landon then cut her off by also saying, "He's not a killer!"

"Well," Alaric began. "I know a bit about his background. Neglectful birth parents, orphaned in adolescence, six foster homes in seven years, prone to fits of anger..." He trailed off. "Yeah, you could just as easily be reading my file!" Landon admitted, getting angry and anxious by this conversation. "That's what it's like out there for people like Rafi and us." Ruby added, speaking sternly as she frowned at Alaric and Hope.

Seeing Landon's anxiety and Ruby's anger only getting worse, Hope spoke up hoping to calm them. "Landon, Ruby, 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." She said with a weak smile. "But, if we take him in, we need to make sure he's not a threat." Alaric concluded.

Ruby glanced down at Landon, who closed his eyes and sighed. "His girlfriend. 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." The boy explained to them. "And then, he threw a two-hundred-pound lawnmower fifty feet across the yard. That's when our foster parents called in the priest." Ruby filled in the gaps.

"I guess they thought he was possessed by the devil." Landon added. Alaric nodded, seemingly relieved that Rafael wasn't a cold blooded killer. "All of that is consistent with a newly-triggered wolf. It's normal. Thank you for that, both of you." Alaric then touched a button on the intercom, and spoke "We're ready."

The office door opened, and Milton Greasley stepped inside. Alaric got to his feet to make introductions. "Landon Kirby, Ruby Waithe.. this is Milton Greasley." Alaric introduced them. MG immediately groaned, "Come on, Dr. Saltzman."

"Right. MG. I'm sorry. Take it from a guy named Alaric— I get it." Alaric admitted apologetically. "Landon, Ruby, MG is my student aid. He's also a vampire." Landon rolled his eyes while Ruby deadpanned them, "Of course he is."

"Hope. Do you mind showing Ruby around?" Alaric then asked the tribrid, before turning to Ruby. "We'll run some tests on you shortly." He added. Hope had been expecting to go to class, though she nodded.

"What about Landon?" Ruby asked, not wanting to leave the office until she knew. "Landon will be okay." Hope responded, putting her hand on Ruby's shoulder. The Waithe gave Hope a look before the girl retracted her hand, and the pair exited the office.

❤︎

"I have to admit.. this place looks awesome." Ruby spoke, looking around with a wide smile. Hope couldn't help but smile, feeling like the girl seemed completely different now.. more laidback that her mind was off of Rafael and Landon.

"I feel like this place is way out of my league." She laughed. "Well.. even if you're a werewolf that hasn't triggered their curse, you'll have a place here with your brother. Hopefully by keeping you here, you'll be prevented to trigger your curse." Hope explained as Ruby offered an awkward smile, but it faltered as she asked "Where is Rafi?"

She's already back to worrying about her brothers.

"He is being lead around by the Saltzman twins. If we put two and two together earlier and realised you could be a werewolf too, we probably would have sent you with them." The Mikealson responded.

Ruby shrugged, before smiling to Hope. "I think I got luckier having you as my tour guide." She suddenly said, as Hope blinked in surprise, before she slightly blushed. "Those twins seemed a bit over the top." Ruby added. Hope decided not to get into her own drama with the twins, as tempted as she was.

"What's going to happen to Landon, Hope?" Ruby then asked, remaining persistent.

Hope sighed, before she looked to Ruby weakly. "I... don't know. But he's going to be okay." She insisted, as Ruby didn't look fully convinced. "I'll make sure of it." Hope added, before offering Ruby a smile. Ruby then smiled weakly back, hoping she could believe Hope.