𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀
''You know you don't have to do anything,'' Alaric said gently. ''You don't have to be here when they arrive. I can handle the tour myself.''
Angelica didn't speak for a long time.
She sat on the couch in Alaric's office, her shoulders rigid, eyes unfocused. The file still sat open on the table, Hope Mikaelson's name staring back like it knew it had carved something in her chest.
Giving a hollow laugh, Angelica said, "Running now would look like I still care."
"You do still care."
She shot him a look. Not angry, but tired. ''Not like that. I buried this part of my life, Ric. Deep. I wasn't planning to expose it today.''
Alaric leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "You don't have to prove anything. Not to me. Not to him."
Looking down at her hands, she said, "I just want to be the woman my kids think I am. Strong and unshakable."
''You are.'' He said quietly. ''Even if your voice shakes. Even if you fall apart behind closed doors, you're still the strongest person I know.''
She swallowed hard, nodded and stood with a new air of confidence surrounding her. "Then I guess I'll be there when they arrive."
Alaric looked up at her with a smirk.
That was the Angelica he knew and loved.
When noon came around, the school was buzzing with anticipation. Most of the students didn't know what was happening. Alora and Jace included. Fortunately, the staff was aware.
The air was charged, like a storm cloud had parked itself over the campus and refused to move.
Looking over to Angelica one more time, Alaric said, "You ready.''
"As I'll ever be," Alaric lightly squeezed her shoulders as he noticed the cold expression on her face.
And then they arrived.
And it was like the air went still. The wind was no longer blowing, and the clouds darkened.
The black SUV pulled up slowly, humming quietly beneath the warm Virginia sun. The doors opened in unison like a scene from a perfectly rehearsed play.
Rebekah stepped out first, elegant, radiant, timeless. Then Elijah, in his ever-immaculate suit, his calm gaze sweeping the grounds like he'd never left.
And then Klaus.
He looked older, but no less dangerous. No less magnetic. The years had only deepened the weight in his eyes- the eyes that met Angelica's across the courtyard like no time had passed at all.
Her breath hitched. But she didn't flinch. Instead, she straightened her posture and the cold look in her eyes did nothing to make her look less intimidating.
''Miss Parker, Mister Saltzman,'' Elijah said with a knowing tone and a polite nod. ''Thank you for making time for us."
She smiled-tight, professional. "Of course. Let's begin the tour."
As Alaric stood beside her, he could already feel a disaster waiting to happen.
