"Hello? Hope?" The voice on the phone spoke again.
Charity and Lucas looked at each other. Charity didn't know what to say. She didn't know this person on the phone and she wasn't sure if they would believe her once she started to explain anything. Before Charity got to say something, the voice spoke again.
"Charity, sweetie? Is that you?"
"Y-you know my name?" Charity asked instantly.
"Of course. You and your brother are the only thing your mother ever talks about." The voice paused. "Is Lucas with you right now?"
"Y-yes. Are you Josie?"
The person on the other end of the phone gave a soft chuckle. "Yes, I'm Josie."
Charity gave a sigh of relief, before tensing up again. She had called Josie, but what exactly could Josie do for them?
"Charity, your mother should have told you to grab a backpack in the bushes. I need you to buy two bus tickets to Mystic Falls, Virginia, there should be plenty of money for that in the backpack. The bus ride is about 14 hours or so. Don't talk to anyone until you get to Mystic Falls. Once you get to the bus-stop in Mystic Falls call me again. I'll take you and your brother to the Salvatore Boarding School. You'll be safe here. I'll explain everything when you arrive, but now you have to hurry and do what I said. Good luck."
Before Charity could ask anymore questions Josie hung up. She looked at her brother, he was just as shocked and confused as she was. But there was nothing left to do but begin their journey to Mystic Falls.
_________________
Josie sighed as she hung up the phone. Those poor kids. Their whole worlds are about to come crashing down. I hope for their sake that Hope's okay. I should let dad know new students will be arriving tomorrow.
Josie got up from her room and walked through the school hallways. There were great memories made in this school, she grew up here. She only left it briefly when she went to college. Now her children were growing up here. And she, herself, taught a class, and was the school's counselor. Josie loved her father, and she loved that she was able to work at the school, but she feared her father was getting too old for the job as headmaster. She feared that if a fight broke out between the students and he tried to stop it, he would get injured. But Dr. Saltzman was stubborn, and wouldn't retire. Even now, when he's in his mid seventies.
Josie reached her father's office. She knocked on the door then walked in. He was still sitting at his desk, reading a book. He looked up and gave a small smile, but Josie didn't return the gesture. A worried expression took over Alaric's face as he put his book down and stood from his chair.
"We'll have two new students joining us tomorrow morning. They'll arrive a bit before noon."
"Why does it seem like there's something bad about that?" Alaric asked, growing more worried.
"The students' names are Charity and Lucas Mikaelson. They're-"
"Hope's children." Alaric cut in. "The emergency plan?"
"I haven't heard from Hope. Charity called me a few minutes ago. They should be on a bus here within the next half an hour." Josie's voice became unsteady as she spoke.
Alaric walked over to his daughter and wrapped her in a hug. "Hope will be okay. We'll here from her soon. I know it. And her children will arrive safely."
"Dad, I think Charity and Lucas should dorm with the twins. I think it'll be good for all of them."
Alaric nodded in agreement as he sat back down and lifted his book up. He began to flip through it, just as he has for the past 2 and a half decades.
"I'm surprised you still read that thing after Erin found it. You know the twins have pretty much accepted their fate. And reading that over and over again won't change anything." Josie said softly.
Alaric looked up at his daughter, shocked. "Have you given up on finding an alternative solution?"
"Of course not. It's just, you're 74 years old and you're still giving up your entire life to find a solution to a problem that's been around for centuries. I just don't want you to throw the rest of your life away." Josie spoke the last part in barely a whisper.
"I'll be fine, Josie. Now go tell the twins the news. They should prepare their rooms so that Charity and Lucas feel welcomed."
"Good night, dad." Josie turned and walked out the office. It did break her heart to know the twins didn't mind what their family's history had in store for them. But of course the twins only agreed to do it as a last resort, and they still had 7 years. Plenty of time, right?
Josie made her way to Erin's room and knocked. There was no answer. She opened the door and saw the bed empty. Maybe she's with Aiden. Josie then went to Aiden's room, but discovered, yet again, that it was empty. Oliver will know where they are. Josie made her way to her nephew's room. She knocked on the door once before it opened.
"Oh hi, aunt Josie."
"How's my favorite nephew?" Josie asked with a smile.
"I'm your only nephew." Oliver chuckled as he rolled his eyes.
The boy was pretty tall for his age. He was 12 years old, and 5'4. He had dirty blond hair, and light brown eyes. His aunt thought he was the perfect mix of his mother and father, he even had a hint of his grandfather in him. And sometimes, when he felt too vulnerable, he could be just as bitchy as Lizzie was, but Lizzie tried to teach him to be better, nicer, than she was around his age. Just like his mother, under all his coldness, there was actually a big heart, he just was too scared to show it all the time. Erin and Oliver were polar opposites, whereas Aiden was a perfect combo of both his sister and cousin.
"Are you looking for mom? I'm pretty sure she's in her office." Oliver asked quietly.
Josie chuckled, "Thank you, but I'm actually looking for the twins. Do you know where they are?"
Oliver thought for a minute. "Last time I talked to them, they were heading to the small dock by the lake to train."
"Don't you usually train with them?"
"Still nursing the concussion Aiden gave me with the stick last week. Plus I had a lot of work that I just finished." Oliver smiles.
"Right, thank you. And sorry about that concussion. Definitely need to be more careful with those sticks." Josie chuckled, she kissed her nephew on the forehead. "Goodnight, Ollie"
Oliver said goodnight to his aunt as he closed his bedroom door. Josie turned and walked down the stairs and headed out the school towards the small dock. As she got closer she could hear the clashing of sticks against each other. It was already dark out and she could see the glow of lanterns. She leaned against a tree as she watched the twins train. Doing this brought back memories of when she once watched her father and Hope train, before telling him aisle L needed a cleanup.
Aiden got distracted when he saw his mother, earning a hit straight to the face, accidentally of course. He groaned in pain as he bent down holding his hands over his mouth and nose. "Erin you little-"
"Silencio" Josie muttered, "I think you may want to reconsider the next words that were about to leave your mouth, mister."
Aiden groaned and stood up straight, as his mother walked closer onto the dock by the twins, blood trickling down from his nose and mouth. Josie examined his wounds then stepped away. Aiden gave his sister a frustrated look as she gave him a towel for the blood.
Josie chuckled, quietly, "Ad normalis."
"Next time you might want to stay a bit more focused, knucklehead." Erin giggled.
Aiden rolled his eyes at his sister, then turned to his mother. "What's up mom? You usually don't watch us train."
"I need you guys to clean up your rooms, and prepare half of it for your new roommates that will be arriving tomorrow morning."
"Can we know who these roommates are?" Erin asked, curiosity written all over her face.
Josie took a deep breath, "My friend's children."
Aiden was confused, like really confused. "But mom, we know all your friends' children. All your friends work here, all their children go here, and they all have roommates."
Josie sighed, "Not all of them, Aiden." Aiden furrowed his eyebrows and tried to think. A millisecond later Erin let out a small gasp. He looked at her, more confused than ever.
"Hope Mikaelson and Landon Kirby? That's who you're talking about, right? They're alive, aren't they? And they have kids?" Erin questioned, "Which means their child also survived that night. And then they had another child at some point in time. I'm right, aren't I?"
Josie had to fight the urge to smile. She didn't answer Erin's questions, or tell her she was indeed correct. She forced a pained expression on her face before turning to walk away. I hate lying to them. But I promised Hope. When the time came, no one but everyone who was a part of super squad knew, as well as dad, of course. I promised Hope I would protect her children, so I can't tell my children who they really are.
Josie was a few feet away, heading back towards the school when her daughter barely spoke in a whisper. "Mom, I'm sorry if I've upset you. I just thought-"
"It's okay. Just pack up and take a shower, start fixing up your rooms, you're both excused from classes tomorrow, only so you can continue preparing your rooms. Also you're giving them the tour tomorrow. Goodnight, love you guys."
Josie turned and left the twins as they began to pack their gear. Once they're mother was far out of sight Aiden turned to his sister. He smiled but she didn't return the gesture.
"What's on your mind?" Aiden asked.
Erin looked at her brother and gave him a small smile. "Nothing, come on we have to head inside, we've got work to do."
While the twins headed to do what they were told, hundreds of miles away, two siblings, a brother and a sister, sat on a bus. Lucas was laying his head on Charity's lap as she stroked his hair gently, soothing him to sleep. She clutched at her necklace with her free hand. She couldn't help but think about everything that was considered fantasy and fiction. Lucas had always mocked her for her fascination in myths and legends. Her mother always grew worried when she read books after books about werewolves and vampires and witches. About monsters and whatnot. And now she knew why. Mom's hiding something, she's not who she says she is.
Charity moved her gaze to look outside the window. Thoughts about all the fictional stories she's ever read crossed her mind: Harry Potter, the shadowhunters, Percy Jackson, Twilight. All the research she's done on myths and legends. All the reading she's done on vampires, werewolves and witches. On other creatures like mermaids and dragons, phoenixes.
Is it- could they all exist? No. She shook the thought from her head. She told herself she was being irrational and stupid. But then she thought of her mother's books, the writing seemed foreign, but familiar. The words, phrases.. incantations, a voice in her head whispered. Charity shook her head again. It's impossible, it's fiction, it's all fiction.
She leaned her head against the window. She looked at the moon and tried to push out all the events from that day out of her head. It's all just a bad dream. Against her better judgement she fell asleep, her head against the window, Lucas' head on her lap, her arm on his side. Both children were asleep on the bus that would take them to their new lives.
______
It was a little after 10:30 in the morning. Josie had just gotten the call from Charity. Before leaving for the bus station, Josie had checked up on the twins to ensure they completed the task of preparing their rooms for their soon-to-be new roommates. The twins were both getting ready for the day ahead. Josie was just about to leave Erin's room when a question was asked.
"Mom," Erin fumbled with the hem of her skirt, "you never told me I was wrong, about my theory of who the new students' parents are. Was it because I upset you?"
Josie looked at her daughter, lovingly. "Oh sweetie,"Josie took a deep breath before continuing. "You could never upset me. I didn't answer your question because I wish you were correct." Josie sighed internally, she was lying to her daughter yet again. "But the Mikaelsons are dead. They have been for nearly 15 years. I wish they were here. I wish their child could have at least survived. I wish they could have had another child, and all grow as a happy family. But that terrible night, Hope and Landon Mikaelson died as heros. And sadly, their child died, when this very wing, as well as the rest of the school, went up in flames."
Erin looked at her mother with sad eyes. "Mom, how is that Aiden and I survived that night? We were only a month in age, and the Mikaelson child was 6 months older than us. Wouldn't the Mikaelson child have a better chance of survival than us?"
Josie gave a weak smile. Erin was too clever and Josie had to think of another lie, and fast. "You and Aiden were lucky that your father could get to you in time. The Mikaelson child was in the room at the very end of this wing. The fires were horrific and piles of debris made it difficult to get to the end of the wing." Josie stopped for a moment hoping her story was believable. "T-they didn't get to the child in time." Josie added, making her voice break to make it sound more convincing.
Erin stared at the floor. Josie was about to leave the room when she decided to ask one final question. "So, these children, you said you were friends with their parents. Have I ever met them?"
Josie looked at Erin in the eye and smiled. "No, their uhm. Their parents are old friends of mine from college. But I should get going now, it's been a few minutes and they're waiting."
Josie left the room without another word. Erin got up from her bed and walked over to her mirror, making sure her uniform was just right. She's lying. Mom never talks about any old supernatural friends from college. All her friends from college are human, and they all think this place is a school for rich kids. Erin looked at the photo of her mother hanging on her mirror. She touched it gently, oh mom, why are you lying? What are you hiding?
________
"Shouldn't you two youngsters be in school?"
Charity and Lucas were sitting on a bench. A kind woman in a red skirt and dark blue shirt was walking towards them. She had brown hair and chocolate brown eyes, and the kindest smile the two had seen in hours.
"Are you Josie?" Charity asked quietly.
"That's me. Josette Saltzman-Thompson. But most of the kids just call me Mrs. Saltzman, Mrs. Saltzman-Thomas, Mrs. Thompson, or Josie. And you two are Charity and Lucas Mikaelson I presume."
Lucas nodded and stuck out his hand for her to shake, but before either child knew what was happening Josie embraced them in a hug. When she let go she beckoned them to follow her to her van. The children put their bags in the back seat while they sat in the middle row. But once seated Josie didn't drive the car, she just turned to face them.
"You've grown, Charity. Last time I saw you, you were 7 months old. Your mother has sent pictures of both of you, but you both look so much different in person. You look just like your father, Lucas." Lucas gave Josie a small smile, then she turned to Charity. "And you, I see a lot of your father in you, but you've got your mother's eyes, and a touch of your mother's features, Charity." Charity's face was blank, Lucas seemed happy about Josies comparison. Before we head to the school, I need to ask some questions." She paused briefly again, then continued. "The first one being, I need to know what surname you two used at your previous school. If it was Mikaelson, I think we should pick a different surname for the students to get to know you by.
Charity looked at Lucas, both equally confused. She looked back at Josie, then asked, "Why?" instead of answering.
"Because we need to protect your true identities. No one can know who you are."
"Mom had us registered under the surname Kenner. Our birth certificate says Mikaelson, but all our files say Kenner. She said it was our father's last name. But why can't we use our surname given at birth?" Charity asked, really confused on why their entire lives they had used a different last name at school.
"Because your last name is written in our books. It's taught to the students. Everyone thinks the Mikaelsons are dead. And if you show up, with the last name Mikaelson, everyone will know what you are. Who you are. No one even knows your brother exists, but students at the school know that Hope Mikaelson had a child. They also know, or think they know, that Hope Mikaelson and her child died 15 years ago. Everyone thinks that you're dead. And it should stay that way until it is safe for the both of you."
"I don't understand, safe from what?" Question after question ran through her head. Why is our last name written in the books at their school? What did she mean by "what you are"? Why does everyone think my family is dead? How do they even know we existed?
Josie put her foot on the pedal and began driving the car. She stayed quiet for a few minutes, causing Charity and Lucas to think she wouldn't answer the question. But then, she spoke softly. "Safe from the terrible people who want you dead." Josie sighed, glancing at the siblings through the mirror. "I'll explain once we get to the safety of the school. After your tour, and after you've settled into your rooms and get cleaned up. I promise. We'll be home soon."
Lucas shifted uncomfortably in his seat at the sound of the word home. This place they were heading to was not their home. It was not his home. He didn't even have a home any more. He took his phone from his pocket and stared at it. Still no messages from mom. He was beginning to lose hope.