Legacies: The Mikaelson twins

9. Fury and the protective instincts of a brother

The next morning, the Salvatore School's towering gates loomed ahead as Alaric pulled the car into the gravel driveway. The day was bright, the sun warming the crisp air, and the world felt still, a stark contrast to the chaos of the past few days. As they stepped out of the car, they were greeted by two girls, both wearing the same school uniform, their hair styled similarly in neat braids. Yet, the way they carried themselves made it clear that they were distinct individuals.

"Welcome to the Salvatore School! We're your tour guides today," Lizzie said brightly, her voice bubbling with excitement as Liam followed suit and stepped out of the car.

Before anyone could respond, Alaric, looking utterly exhausted, waved them off. "Girls, I'm going to sleep. I drove all night. Bye, girls," he muttered, his words barely audible as he shuffled toward the building, already half-asleep before even making it inside.

"Bye, Dad," Lizzie and Josie called out in unison, their voices teasing but still filled with affection. The twins exchanged a knowing glance, sharing a brief, quiet moment before turning back to the new arrivals.

"I'm Josie," the brunette twin said, stepping forward with a warm smile.

"I'm Lizzie," the blonde twin chimed in, adding a playful flourish of her hand for emphasis.

"Twins," Josie added, her grin widening as she looked at her sister.

"Fraternal, obvs," Lizzie said, giving a wink that made it clear she was proud of the distinction.

Liam, still feeling a little out of place, glanced between the twins, unsure of how to respond. He wasn't great with small talk, especially with strangers who seemed so effortlessly confident. But before he could form a thought, Lizzie took charge.

"Follow us. We'll show you around the school," she said, her tone friendly but carrying the unmistakable authority of someone accustomed to leading the way. She began walking toward the main building, Josie close behind her. Liam hesitated for a moment but then followed, the quiet buzz of nervousness still nibbling at the edges of his composure.

Meanwhile, Alec and Hope, having decided to head inside, wandered toward the library. They had promised Penelope they'd find her, and Hope was eager to check in with her best friend after the whirlwind trip.

"Pen!" Hope called, her voice echoing through the quiet space as they entered the library.

Penelope looked up from the thick book she had been reading, her face lighting up with a smile. "Hope! Alec! How was your trip? Do we have a new student?"

"We do," Alec replied, a hint of quiet pride in his voice. "Alaric managed to convince him to come, while Hope and I went to a café."

"Saltzman actually managed to talk to him without the boy ripping himself to shreds?" Penelope asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

Alec smirked, clearly relishing the moment. "I kind of threatened him before Hope and I left for the café."

Pen chuckled, shaking her head. "Classic Alec. Always taking matters into his own hands."

Hope glanced at her friend, her expression shifting, the usual playful spark gone. "Where were you staying? You were gone for two nights," Penelope asked, her curiosity evident.

"We stayed in the compound for one night," Hope replied, her voice colder than she intended. "Though I'm pretty sure Alaric would've rather stayed on the streets."

Penelope's eyes widened. "Ouch. So, he's still being a pain about anything with the Mikaelson name, huh? Well, except for you two, of course."

Hope sighed heavily, the weight of her father's disdain pressing down on her. "Yeah, he is. And I'm getting tired of it."