Lovesick - Legacies (The Hunter Book 3)

Chapter 7 - 'I'm Not A Fucking Teacher.'

The students were gathered in the grand hall, where Alaric and Sheriff Matt Donovan were standing at the podium to update them on recent events.

"Given our recent influx of monsters, Sheriff Donovan and I have decided we need to take drastic action. Please give him your full attention." Alaric introduced. Matt took his place at the podium to address the students.

"Like Dr Saltzman was saying, local girls Dana Lilien and Sasha Stoteraux didn't come home last night." Matt said as photos of Dana and Sasha were passed throughout the aisles of students.

"Dana sometimes skips town for a few days to party, but this is a first for Sasha." Matt continued, jaw clenched with worry, before he stepped aside so Alaric could return to the podium.

"Thank you, Sheriff Donovan." Alaric started, "Now, while the knife is away with Dorian and things are quiet on his end, it won't hurt to assume the worst. If Dana and Sasha happened to be found by monsters."

Towards the middle of the hall, Wolfgang was seated next to Hope. The vampire turned to her before speaking, "Why do I have to be here? I'm not a damn student." Wolfgang asked, to which Hope shrugged.

"They might think it was you, Wolf." Hope explained, referencing Wolfgang's tendency to kill while feeding.

"First of all, I prefer to feed off of vampires. Second of all, if it was me, I would have told someone or left the body somewhere public. And, between me and you, I've been trying not to kill when I feed." Wolfgang stated in defense of himself. Hope gave him a look of admiration at his last few words before tuning back in to Alaric's speech.

"Now, I'll need a few of you to volunteer to go to Mystic Falls High under the guise of an exchange program meant to improve relations between our schools." Alaric briefly looked at Josie and Lizzie in the pews in front of him before moving on, "Which, unfortunately, is necessary, given recent events. Now, I give you permission to compel them, to gather materials for locator spells, because any information we can get will make a difference."

"Well, I guess that I can set aside my differences with Dana for a day because that is what heroes do." Lizzie exclaimed with a look of determination, standing to her feet and buttoning her blazer as she turned to face her fellow students, "So, I volunteer as tribute."

"She battles one gargoyle, and suddenly she's Mother Teresa." Hope muttered under her breath with an eye-roll, clearly exasperated by Lizzie's dramatics. Wolfgang smiled at her and laughed slightly.

"I'm in." Kaleb announced, standing to his feet to volunteer. MG, wanting to keep an eye on Kaleb, stood up as well, "I'm in, too."

"I'd like to help." Hope stated, standing to her feet to volunteer for the trip, surprising everyone. Wolfgang sighed and muttered a swear in German under his breath before standing.

"I guess that means I'm in too. As the responsible adult overseeing the whole thing." Wolfgang announced to the hall, before turning to Hope, his voice dropping several octaves, "You're lucky that you're pretty."

**********

"So, what's your plan with Landon? Does he, like, go here now?" Hope asked Alaric as Wolfgang entered the gym.

"Why? You still thinking about murdering him?" Alaric fired back. Wolfgang smirked before speaking.

"I'm down if she is." He stated, winking at Hope, much to Alaric's annoyance. Alaric took the opportunity and tried to catch her off-guard by swinging his left hand toward her head, only for Hope to pinch his stick between hers and shove it away from her.

"'Cause there's a knife that sat dormant for centuries that started attracting mythical creatures the day he took possession of it." Alaric continued as he tried to side-strike her, but Hope did a front-flip to dodge it, causing them to swap positions once again, so that Alaric was near Wolfgang, "I'd say there's a lot we need to learn about him."