*edited*

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴, 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗼, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻. 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗹. 𝗔 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲.

𝗕𝘂𝘁, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗼'𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆? 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝘄𝗵𝗼'𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘃𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀, 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗞𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀, 𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗮𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗼𝗻. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄.

A peaceful darkness had settled on Mystic Falls. The full moon looming over the Salvatore School. Birds chirped in the forest, and insects trilled. Anxiously, Kelaya Jones pushed off of her bed pacing her room whilst she waited for her best friend, Hope Mikaelson to return.

The heartbeat of a visitor played in Laya's ears, the hybrid swiftly opening the door to greet the newcomer. MG stood in the doorway, fist still in the air as he was going to knock. "I wanted to check in on you." Laya smiled weakly before pulling the door open wider, so her friend could step in.

"That's okay, come in." The vampire gave a lighthearted grin before sitting down on Laya's bright yellow comforter. "Have you heard anything yet?" Laya shrugged pulling out her desk chair, and plopping down.

"Dorian said that it was best not to look in on her thoughts without knowing how, or why I can." MG made a face, "If you don't tell him, what's the worst that could happen?"

Laya let out a sigh at the question. Sure, MG was right, but it wasn't common that Laya would disrespect Dorian like that. "Okay, I'll do it." Laya's eyes fluttered shut as she concentrated on Hope's thoughts.

The hybrid's vision morphed into a new scenery, she sat next to Dr. Saltzman in his Jeep. Laya turned to the backseat where two boys sat, one asleep leaning against the window, and other spouting out questions. Laya's eyes peeled open, and her vision blurred for a brief moment.

"What's going on over there?" MG asked wondering what could possibly be taking Dr. Saltzman so long. "Looks like they got two boys instead of one." MG's eyebrows pulled together in a curious furrow. "I thought there was only one."

Once again, Laya shrugged, knowing just as much as MG did. The vampire's lips quirked upwards into a small smile, "I'm gonna get some shut eye." MG nodded, standing to his feet. "Thanks for checking on me."

"Sure thing, Laya. See you tomorrow." The hybrid waved to her friend one last time before MG left.

Laya leapt from her bed excited to see her friend, and meet the new students. Walking down the halls, Laya was greeted with smiles, and compliments. She had already made friends with most of the students she passed by.

Laya made her way to the front to find Josie, and Lizzie. "Girls," the twins spun around simultaneously with matching smiles. Laya's stomach grumbled in protest not happy she missed dinner last night. The hybrid ignored her body's needs, and readied herself with the twins as Dr. Saltzman's charcoal grey Jeep pulled into the driveway.

A boy with jet black curly haired got out first, the other slipping out tiredly as though he had recently woken up. "Welcome to the Salvatore school," Lizzie greeted. "We're your tour guides."

"I'm Josie."

"I'm Lizzie." Laya threw out her hand for the light skinned boy to shake, "And I'm hungry." The boys chuckled at Laya's joke, but Dr. Saltzman seemed unimpressed by the comment. "I'm Laya," the hybrid corrected straightening her posture under the criticizing gaze of her headmaster.

"Rafael, why don't you go ahead with the girls while I talk to Landon." The twins hooked their arms in Rafael's greeting Hope in unison, "Morning Hope."

"More like, Despair." Laya rolled her eyes at the backhanded comment, "I heard that."

"No, you didn't," Lizzie retorted. "Didn't have to."

"Everyone, behave." The twins spun around speaking simultaneously yet again, "Love you, Dad."

Laya stepped over to her best friend, "Morning, Hope." The hybrid greeted in a high pitch mocking tone. The tribrid smiled, "Morning, Laya." The two hugged before Laya hastily skipped after the twins, and Rafael. "Welcome to Hogwarts," Laya's words dripped with sarcasm, but it wasn't a joke that should be taken to lightly.

"everybody gets along with everybody here." Josie continued, "For the most part."

"Wolves are pretty cliquey. They like to hang with their own."

"In defiance of the school's commitment to inclusiveness." Josie added.

Laya let out a scoff, "The wolves are not cliquey. You can't blame them from wanting to stay out of the Salvatore School drama." The comment should've been a warning sign for Rafael, but he was more excited to meet another like him, "You're a werewolf?"

"Hybrid actually, Witch-Wolf are one in the same for me." Rafael grinned, but Laya found herself to be a victim of the Saltzman twins annoyed stares. "Sorry, back to the tour." Rafael diverted his gaze back to the tour. "This is why we volunteered to be your tour guides. To give you a good witch welcome before your hairier brethren corrupt you."

This time, Laya chose to ignore the comment deciding it wasn't worth it to argue. The four stepped upon Dorian's doors, only cracked open enough for Laya to hear the lesson. "That's our librarian, Mr. Williams, he's subbing for our Chemistry of Magic teacher who accidentally incinerated himself last week in hellfire."

"Burned all the hair off of his body, but didn't leave a scar," Lizzie whispered to herself.
"B-T-Dubs, when Laya calls him Dorian, don't imitate her. She's the only kid that's allowed to do that because he's her 'mentor'." Lizzie emphasized the last word waving air quotes dramatically.

Dorian waved for Penelope Park to display the effects of misspeaking a love spell. "She who shall not be named."

"Talking about her gives her power," Josie warned. "Who are you talking about?" Rafael's speaking surprised Laya, he had been quiet for most of the tour. She couldn't deny, his voice was nice. "Josie's evil ex," Lizzie replied pulling Laya from her ridiculous thoughts.

Penelope smirked at Josie through the windows of the doors. "Phesmatos es lucas odoray." The glowing orb dancing across Penelope's palms exploded, a pungent aroma rapidly filling the room.

Along with many other students, Laya slapped her hand down over her nostrils in a futile attempt to block the smell. Lizzie groaned, "Come on. We'll show you the turret, it's where the seniors go to smoke."

"What to do they smoke, eye of newt?" Josie merely smirked, leaning into his ear, "Weed." The three headed past Laya, who lingered in the hallway. 'Hows the new boy?'

Laya's eyes fluttered open. Across from her, sat the mentioned Landon Kirby. 'He seems to be taking it well.'

Hope never responded, so Laya pushed on running to catch up with the others. After the turret, the girls took Rafael to the wickery field. "Alyssa Chang made a broom fly in Physics last year, but Rick Rogers fell thirty feel in practice, so real-life quidditch remains an allusive pipe dream."

"It's called wickery. My parents invented it when we were ten." Josie's vision fell on MG sitting in the crowd gathered on the bleachers. Laya followed the Saltzman twin over to her friend. "Yo," the vampire greeted the two girls as they sat on either side of him. "Giving up dibs on the new guy so quickly?"

Laya scoffed into her hands trying still not to start conflict by the foolish things the Salvatore students said. "It's not a competition," Laya reminded her friends. Josie nodded to herself, repeating the words in her head. "Plus, I'm still nursing a wounded soul."

MG hummed softly, "Penelope Park." Yet again, Josie nodded quietly. Laya sighed leaning into the vampire's side, "We don't mention her name anymore, remember?"

Josie gave Laya a weak smile, thanking her softly. "Sorry." Laya didn't know which teams were playing, but one of them scored. The students roared, Laya finding herself cheering with the rest of the students. "You think he'll go for her?" Laya's gaze fell on Rafael sitting by Lizzie. The werewolf seemed frustrated, but Laya didn't focus on his expression.

"Probably. They usually do. At least this one will have Laya watching after him since he's probably gonna be apart of her pack." Laya shrugged, a small smirk gracing her lips. "With Jed as alpha, he'll probably have to."

"Does he still like you?" Laya let slip an exasperated sigh before nodding, "Emilio says he threatened some wolf who planned on asking me out."

"Have you told my dad about it yet?" Laya shrugged, there was really nothing to tell Dr. Saltzman about. Sure, Jed had a strange obsession with her, but he hadn't actually done something wrong. "I'd feel bad snitching on him, 'cause we're still friends."

Josie gave a mischievous smirk, deviance dancing in her eyes, "With benefits I heard." Laya rolled her, a bitter scoff falling from her slightly parted lips. "Rumors are the world's cruel way of punishing me for ever dating him."

The others chuckled in unison. "Don't worry though, Jo. I'll watch out for the new boy," Laya promised. Josie's lips lifted upwards into a grin, MG taking part in the action not long after. Laya smiled back at them goofily, all three looking foolish.

"Uhhh, newbie protector." MG pointed to Rafael who stormed across the field away from them. "What the hell?" Laya jumped hurrying after the new boy.

Laya grabbed his shoulder pulling him back. Rafael scoffed exasperatedly ripping away. "Where are you going?" Laya tried for her best nice voice, but the attitude was annoying her. "What does it matter to you?"

"I don't know what happened, I was just trying to make sure you were okay." Rafael stopped so abruptly, Laya rammed into his back. "Sorry," Laya swiftly apologized, rubbing the back of her neck in an awkward manner. "You're looking for Landon, aren't you?"

Rafael nodded in reply giving Laya a weak smile. "I think I can get you to him." Rafael's eyes gleamed with excitement at the offer. "Really?" Laya nodded, her eyes fluttering shut. 'Hope.' The call resonated in Laya's mind. "Uhhh, whatcha doing?"

Laya blew out a sigh peering back at the boy in front of her. "Can I tell you a story while I wait for Hope to answer?" Rafael furry eyebrows scrunched together. "How?"

"Just come on," Laya retorted leading Rafael to a picnic table. 'What?' Laya stopped in her place, the question leaving the hybrid slightly light headed. 'I'm kinda busy right now.'

'Where's Landon?' Rafael watched curiously as Laya inhaled sharply, her eyes screwed shut. The hybrid's vision was overcome by Hope's current environment. "Why'd do you have to lock him in a cell?" Hope's voice came from Laya's lips, the hybrid entranced her Hope's four dimensional world. "It's a werewolf transition space," Dr. Saltzman corrected.

Laya used the information, and led Rafael to the basement heading for Landon. "So you never told me that cool story..." Laya let slip a huff shoving her hands in her pockets.

"Okay, last year was when I came to school. Well, I've known forever that I was a witch, but when I became a werewolf, I got scared. I ran. Not knowing what to do, like any dumb teenage girl, I became a waitress. I was heading out of the diner when, BAM, I get whacked in the head. So, I'm on the ground. When I open my eyes, an old blonde man and a pale girl bout my age are fighting a woman. So me, my first thought, is to get the hell out of there." Rafael chuckled at the statement, nodding for her to continue.

"Suddenly, this chick is talking in my mind. 'Please stay,' so me, scared crapless, shifted right there. It's my emotions━sometimes they jack with my transformations. In my wolf form, I murder the chick. Then I get ready to attack the other two, the pale chick's voice is back in my head again. 'Don't worry, it's okay'. Whatever she did, made me shift back. So, they took me to the school, and Hope is now my best friend."

It was silent before simultaneously the two wolfs started to laugh, "Wow. You are something else."

Slowly, the laughter began to fade, and silence was creeping over their walk. Laya wasn't a big fan of awkward quiet, "One fun fact about yourself." Rafael shrugged, "I like Spongebob." Laya gave the werewolf a teasing scoff, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is so much better."

"Is not," Rafael retaliated with a lighthearted grin. "Okay, now you."

"Umm, my name, Kelaya, means beautiful lady in Thai." Rafael made a strange look, "What?" The werewolf met her gaze when a complacent expression. "Nothing, anything else cool?"

Laya racked her brain searching for a fact that could be seen as interesting. "My fav color is yellow, and I can speak five languages." Rafael gasped, his eyes widening, "Five?" Laya let slip a girly giggle at the reaction. "I had a lot of free time when I was younger," the hybrid was quick to explain. "Well ..."

"Well, what?"

"Which languages?"

"English━obviously. Spanish, Thai, Greek, and Russian." Rafael paused his stare fixating on Laya melodramatically. "Wow," Laya chuckled ending the conversation there, so they could get to the basement.

The pair came upon the basement door, Laya did a scan of her surrounding environment looking for any stragglers. "Okay, he should be in one of the cells. I'm gonna stay up here, and keep watch." Raf nodded, glimpsing around before stepping down into the basement.

After what Laya assumed to be around thirty minutes, the door creaked open, and Rafael emerged from the darkness with a smile. "Thanks, Laya."

"Sure thing, Wolf Boy." Rafael walked ahead of Laya, the hybrid hanging back. Her eyes fluttered shut, 'Where are you?'

'My bedroom,' Laya smiled weekly, spots dancing around her vision. 'I'm coming'

'Okay' Once again, darkness fallen over Mystic Falls. Hope lay in her bed, swaddled in thick blankets, whilst she flipped through a small paperback book. Hope grabbed a notebook paper shoving it in her spot before closing the volume, and sitting up.

"So how'd it go? You were gone a lot longer than usual tours." Laya blew out a tired sigh, plopping down on the end of the bed across from Hope.

With that, Laya explained everything that had happened to her best friend. Then, it was Hope's turn spilling about everything that happened when Laya wasn't there. "Laya, I love you with all of my heart, but I don't think you, and Rafael━" Laya cut the tribrid off with a nod. "I know."

Jed was an obsessive. Any possible threat to his obsession would end badly. Hope smiled sadly before pushing off the bed, and heading into her closet to change. "Where we going?"

"I'm going to visit Landon, you're not." Laya rolled her eyes standing to her feet, "Fine." Laya didn't know where she was going, wandering the halls aimlessly until her memory gave her the idea of the Saltzman's party.

Laya headed for the old mill behind the school, the party lifting her spirits. Music blasted through the woods, fairy lights lining the trees branches, and children laughing. Standing in the tree line, Josie latched onto a trunk siphoning the earthly magic, and chanting a spell.

Not long after, the infamous Landon Kirby was dragged across the field to in front of them. "Raf? What the hell, man?" The werewolf glanced back to Laya who gave him a reassuring nod. With the signal, Rafael bum rushed his friend in a bear hug.

"Y-You alright? They helped me get you out." Josie stepped forward, "Summoning spell. Did I bruise you? I'm really still working out the kinks." Laya's lips quirked upwards into a small smile, "Summoning spell?"

"Let's get you a drink, bro."

"Yeah, lets do." Before the pair could leave, Laya gripped onto Landon's arm pulling him back. "Where's Hope?"

"She said she wanted to get some sleep." Laya nodded leaving Rafael to lead the human into the party. Suddenly, partying didn't seem like such a good idea. Why did Laya want to come anyways? She wasn't a partier.

The hybrid inhaled slowly letting out a deep exhale, and bidding her farewell to Josie. She would talk to Dorian. Someone who could actually do something for her.

Laya brought her fist down on the mahogany door, four raps echoing through the library. "Come in." Laya pushed the door open finding a seat hastily. "Kely," Dorian greeted warmly.

Laya smiled sadly, the only other person who would call her that was Metias. "I see you've been hanging out with the new boy a lot." Laya slumped in her chair, the idea of Jed hurting Raf making her sick. "Unfortunately," the hybrid grumbled knowing well that people she liked were never greeted with a kind fate.

"Think about it like this, okay? Hope Mikaelson is willing to get close to a human boy she barely knows, and she doesn't talk to anyone other than you. If Hope can, why can't you?" Laya chuckled sarcastically.

"Do you not remember Metias? Dorian when my emotions get the better of me, I become dangerous. It's like, I can't control myself. After having to deal with the death of his girlfriend, I couldn't do that to him." Laya cringed when she realized what she said. "How do you know about that?"

"Hope told me." The older man blew out a sigh, "Of course she did."

"Loving someone isn't a bad thing, Kely." The hybrid simply smiled, "I couldn't love someone I just met."

"Oh, please. As soon as you met me, you were attached to my hip." Laya scoffed. "I was not!" Dorian chuckled at the hybrid's childish tone. "I'm gonna head to sleep." Laya nodded giving her mentor a hug before heading back to her room.

'He's trying to escape' The word's vibrated in Laya's brain. The hybrid leant onto the wall holding herself up. It was Landon. He was trying to leave. 'Where is he?'

'Back acres' When Laya found Hope, her snow white wolf inching towards a terrified Landon Kirby.

Laya was angry, she fell to the ground on her hands, and knees. Time slowed, claws stretched from her nails, teeth extending into fangs. The hybrid wouldn't even try the breathing exercises Dorian taught her. She didn't care to.

Once the hybrid fully shifted, her, and Hope launched themselves at Landon. The two wolf's darted after the human. Hope grabbed his legs pummeling him into the ground. Changing back, Hope grabbed Landon's jacket wrapping her naked body.

"ARE YOU CRAZY?!" Hope yelled. Laya backed away deciding Landon wasn't worth it. 'I'm gonna go' Hope gave her best friend a nod, and before she knew it, a jet black blot streaked through the woods.

Fortunately, no one noticed the wolf bounding through the halls. If they did, no one spoke a word on the subject. Laya made it to her dorm door. The hybrid shifted into her human form ripping the door open, and swiftly slamming it shut.

"Wow, nice view." Laya's nostrils flared at the voice. "Jed, what the hell?!" Laya ran for her closet closing herself in, so Jed wouldn't see. Laya pulled on a random pair of sweatpants, and an old Baylor sweatshirt.

When Laya pushed the door back open, Jed grinned. "I wanted to see what you knew about the new boy."

Laya gave an exasperated huff, "What? No, 'Hi, sorry for breaking into your bedroom'?" Jed merely smirked earning another perturbed huff from the hybrid. "His favorite TV show is Sponge Bob, he's been in six different foster homes in the past seven years. Compulsion didn't work on his human friend, so he'll be here tomorrow."

Jed head bobbed up, and down. "You can leave now." The sass brought a chuckle from Jed's lips. "I was actually hoping I could spend the night here tonight."

"Fine! But you sleep on that bed." Laya pointed to the sunshine yellow bed to the right of hers. Dr. Saltzman set her up with another bed for when Hope wanted to spend the night. The headmaster was simply Hope had made a friend.

"But I'm just drawing then going to bed." The alpha sighed pulling his shirt off, and tossing it into the woven dirty clothes basket.

A light knock came from Laya's door. The hybrid stood up, but Jed dashed for the door before she could even take another step. "Where's Laya?" Josie's voice resonated through the room. "We're pretty busy right now. But, if you need her, you can come back in like ten minutes."

It took a few seconds for the statement to click in Laya's head. The hybrid gagged pushing Jed out of her doorway, "Gross, Jed."

"Can we talk?" Laya nodded stepping out of her dorm, and closing the door knowing Jed could still hear them with his enhanced wolf hearing. "What's up, Jo?" Laya whispered. A single tear streamed down Josie's pale cheek.

"I caught MG making out with..." Laya understood wrapping the brunette in a gentle hug. "She who shall not be named." Still tucked in Laya's comforting hug, Josie nodded.

"I'm gonna kill him," ripping away, Josie shook her head. "You're supposed to be cheering me up, not getting revenge."

A sigh fell from Laya's lips. "Um, I was gonna draw, you wanna watch?" Josie nodded a small smile gracing her lips. "But, uh, why is Jed in your room?"

"I don't know. I didn't want to just be like, 'Nah, get outta here'. Don't worry, he'll stay in his bed." Josie mumbled something Laya couldn't quite decipher before exhaling sharply and entering the room.

On the bed opposite of Laya's, laid Jed sprawled out across the bright mustard yellow comforter shirtless as he flipped through channels on the tv. A present from Dorian for Laya's birthday.

Laya sent a mere glimpse Josie's way, and could tell she was uncomfortable. "Put this on," Laya instructed tossing a hoodie the werewolf's way.

"Actually, turn the tv off too. I need some quiet to concentrate."

Jed pulled a face, but did as told nonetheless. Pressing down on the remote, the television switched off. Laya simply smiled at the action before grabbing a pencil off of her dresser, and her sketchbook. The thing was years old. Laya was just waiting for it to be filled, but these days she never had enough time to sketch.

The hybrid plopped onto her bed not taking any time in getting comfortable, but Josie didn't seem to get the memo. When Laya looked up, Jo was still standing in the door way, awkwardness painting her expression.

Laya's lips quirked into a small smile as she patted the bedding that she wasn't sitting on waiting for Josie to come over. She did. Jo sat down, stretching her legs out across Laya's with a girly grin.

Laya watched the action intently before finally pulling open her sketchbook and eagerly flicking through the pages. Laya did a quick scan of her surroundings before deciding her inspiration would be the very witch sitting next to her.

The hybrid pushed her pencil onto the paper, and before she knew it, she was done.

Laya knew some of the true things that went down in Josie's head. The perfect twin, the perfect daughter, she was bound to have some issues, but she stayed beautiful to Laya. The picture pointed out the beauty of Josie's mind without even telling you.

Laya's vision lifted up to the Saltzman witch sitting next to her. "Wow." Josie stared at the sketch for a bit longer, "It's beautiful."

With the a simple swipe of her hand, Laya tore the page from her book. "And, now, it's yours."

"Really?" Josie questioned eagerly.

"Of course." Laya tugged her phone off of the charger checking the time only to be surprised. That sketch did not happen as fast as she thought it did. "Girl, you should get to bed."

Josie's eyes widened at the numbers on the phone before hastily agreeing, and standing up. "Thank you, Laya." The hybrid merely nodded before asking, "You mind turning the lights off on your way out?"

Josie nodded switching off the lights, sending one last wave in Laya's direction before leaving the dorm.

"Jed?" Laya whisper yelled. "Jed?!"

In reply, Laya began to hear the werewolf's soft snores. Laya grinned, "Night, Wolf Boy."

With that, Laya pulled the comforter over her, and drifted off to sleep. She had nightmares before, but they were always worse than the last. Sometimes, they were nothing more than the memories of the terrible things that had she had seen. The terrible things she had done.

"Metias?" The boy's eyes were distant, cold. He tilted his head. "You were supposed to protect me. You promised to protect me." Grief made a threatening stomp up Laya's down, but she swallowed down the lump.

"I tried to." The calmness of her brother was eery enough to Laya out. Then, he smiled. Not a smile, a smirk, a malicious smirk. "You killed me. Just like you'll kill them."

"Laya?" The hybrid launched forward, eyes blazing a striking cerulean. "I'm sorry! You were gonna be late." At Jed's words, Laya took in her surroundings with a relieved sigh. It was going to be okay, she was okay.

The blue died down, and Jed huffed. "You okay?"

"I'm fine."

The moment of coldness swiftly came to a close, a toothless grin stretching across Laya's face. "You kind locking up my dorm?" Jed made a face, cocking a curious eyebrow, but nodded nonetheless. "Yeah, sure."

After getting dressed in her uniform, Laya headed to the parking lot to be there for Rafael as the werewolf bid his farewells to his best friend. Laya didn't know Landon. He seemed to be a nice (enough) human. Not a threat.

Laya stood by the front door waiting for her new friend to finish. She watched the two hug with a warm smile. Landon left, and when Rafael spun around, Laya could see the sadness swimming in his eyes. And, she hated it.

Skipping over to Rafael, Laya slung her arm around Raf's shoulder. "So... whatcha wanna do now?" Rafael simply shrugged. Truthfully, he didn't know why he asked Laya to come. He just did. It was probably the comforting smile. If Landon was going to leave, he would have to make new friends. Laya seemed like a pretty good start.

Laya huffed her eyebrows pulling in to a deep furrow as her mind worked rapidly pondering any good ideas. "What about breakfast? I'm starving."

Rafael chuckled, agreeing with the idea. After he woke up, it was straight to seeing Landon off.

The pair made it to the kitchen. Laya's failed attempt in making pancakes ended with Rafael baking them instead. They were delicious beyond that of any Laya could've ever tried.

They spent their time cheerfully speaking on any matter that popped in their head. Laya's small moment of bliss ended when the bell rung over the intercoms, and Dr. Saltzman's voice echoed through the halls of Salvatore School. "I need to speak with Kelaya Jones, and Hope Mikaelson please."

Laya internally groaned sharing an awkward glance with the boy sitting across from her. "I'm not saying he has favorites, but you two are definitely his favorites." Rafael's last words ending with a chuckle. "Well, it was nice talking. I'll see ya later."

"Bye, bye."

"How do you know it was him?" Laya was shocked. Dr. Saltzman explained to Hope, and Laya what Landon had done. "Ancient artifact goes missing along with too-good-to-be-true hapless human? You do the math, Hope."

"That would make him a liar, okay? I've known my fair share of those, and there was nothing about him—"

"Hope," Dr. Saltzman tried. "No, you don't understand. There's no way that the one time I choose to get close to someone, they turn out to be a liar. It's not possible, okay? I'm not that stupid." Laya's vision fell on the ground, her guilt keeping her quiet. Laya knew it wasn't fair, she knew Hope. Hope didn't deserve this.

"When he walked out that door, we compelled him to go home."

"So?"

"So, he didn't. It's the first place we checked. And if he didn't go home, that means his memory wasn't erased. He was just pretending that it was. If his mind can't be controlled by a supernatural being, then that means only one thing, that he is a supernatural being."

Dr. Saltzman left the pair by their lonesome. Slowly, Laya turned to her best friend. "Hope?" The tribrid stayed quiet, her vision set on the ghost of where Dr. Saltzman previously stood. "I'm sorry."

Still quiet, Laya pulled Hope into a comforting hug. After the events of Landon's escape, Dr. Saltzman called a school meeting.

Laya sat next to Rafael, her knee bouncing up and down anxiously. "For ten years, we've gone undetected. Protecting you, protecting our secret has been our singular mission. Tonight I need your help to find Landon Kirby... before he exposes us all."

Rafael seemed to be just as anxious as she did. This was his best friend. It had to be hard for him.

Laya leant over into the wolf's ear, "I'm sorry." Rafael's lips quirked into a thin, fake smile. "I'll be okay." Laya knew he was lying, but she also understood she wasn't close to Raf. It wasn't her job to pry.

Once the meeting had ended, Laya headed out of the main hall starting her trek towards the dormitories. The walk was cut short by a scene much more interesting than the idea of sleep.

Josie whispered an incantation under her breath causing the tips of Penelope Park's hair to set aflame. Laya couldn't help herself, she laughed. It wasn't like the monster didn't deserve it.

"Josie!" Laya called running after her friend. The Saltzman twin stopped, whipping around. "What's up, Jo?"

Josie shrugged, almost as if she hadn't just lit her ex on fire. "I saw what you did." The Saltzman's face dropped. "I don't know what your talking about."

"You gotta work on those lying skills," Laya advised following her friend to her dorm. Once there, Josie began to pack away her books, getting ready to go to sleep. Laya sat on Jo's bed watching the witch dart around her room.

Abruptly, Hope stepped into Josie's dorm, "I need your help."

"Three more words to me than the annual average." The cheeky comment earned a chuckle from Laya. "Find someone else."

Laya let out a soft sigh, "Come on, Jo." Hope peaked out of the room scanning the halls before shutting her door. "This stuff with Landon is my fault. I can fix it. I know how to track him, but it involves using a dark magic."

Laya's eyes widened. Since when did Hope come to Josie Saltzman for help with black magic. Sure, she had asked Laya before, but it was a known fact Hope didn't get along well with the Saltzman twins.

"We're not aloud to use dark magic here, so..." Laya snorted. "Says the girl who just lit her ex on fire." Josie sent a harsh glare in the hybrid's direction. "Come on, Jo."

"Fine."

They made sure the door was locked, and began the preparation of the spell. The three girls sat Native American style in a circle, knees touching each other's.

Hope pulled out a mouse. "Sorry," she whispered. The hybrid held the animal in the box before twisting her hands. The quiet snap of its bones made Laya cringe whilst she read over the spell.

Josie lit candles before blowing out the match, and setting it on the ground next to them. Josie spread spices over the paper, and Hope pulled out the now dead mouse. Laya used a small blade to cut it open, and drizzled the mouse's blood over the already existing spell.

"Are you sure about this?" Josie inquired. "Absolutely."

The girls crossed their hands, and latched on to each other's. "Inveniet hostium et tenebrae." The trio repeated the words, focusing on the runaway human.

First came a flash of his his face. Landon looked frightened, but before Laya could see anything else, he disappeared. "Do you see anything?"

"Just flashes." There was a picture of bus that flickered through Laya's vision. Then, a sign, but it disappeared before Laya could read it.

"Come on, give me something," Hope pleaded.

"I got it. Route 29." Another sign passed by Laya giving her enough time to see what it said. "Near the state line." Landon pulled open his jacket peaking inside with a curious expression.

From his jacket came the knife, glowing brightly. "Is that the knife?"

"Yeah," Hope replied.

"What's it doing?" The blade phosphoresced brighter. "I have no idea."

The visions ended with nothing more than a bright white light emitting from the knife. That was it. It was done.

"Called in a favor with a buddy at State Patrol, asked him to lock down the scene till we got here. Local PD thinks it was a chemical spill." Sheriff Donavon explained to Laya, Hope, and Dr. Saltzman everything that he already knew.

"What's the actual story?" Alaric questioned. "I'll leave that to you to figure out."

"Alright. Thanks, sheriff."

Laya, and Hope shared an uneasy glimpse before simultaneously following Dr. Saltzman onto the bus. It was worse than Laya could've possibly imagined.

Every passenger on that bus was charred. The remains of the humans sat in their seats. Laya couldn't believe her eyes. Landon did this.

𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀. 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗮𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆, 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝗞𝗶𝗿𝗯𝘆, 𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴.

𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁, 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲'𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻, 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝘀.