𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔗𝔴𝔦𝔫𝔰

Chapter 65

"Hello. I'm Deputy Agent Clarke. I apologize for the inconvenience. I see you're from Richmond?" I heard a man say to Alaric. "Uh, Roanoke." Alaric answered. "I'm just checking in with everyone  sooner we get everyone proper medical attention, sooner you can go see that giant ball of yarn." Clarke told him. "Well, we, uh, don't need any attention, but thank you." Alaric told him. "So you came in from Raleigh on a road trip with your family?" Clarke asked. "Roanoke." Ric stated. "Roanoke. Sorry. You ever been to Kansas?" Clarke stated. "Kansas?" I whispered. I shot a glance over to Hope who's heart I heard jump for a split second before returning to it's normal beat. "Hey, who is that guy?" Josie asked Hope. "This creep we met in Kansas while you were in Europe." Hope answered refusing to make eye contact with me. "Why were you in Kansas? Oh, wait, let me guess, it involved you insinuating yourself into a situation where only you could be the hero." Lizzie announced. "As a matter of fact, yeah." Hope answered. "I swear to God, you will do anything to get attention." Lizzie complained. "Said the narcissist." Hope shot back. "Said the...other narcissist." Lizzie countered. "Okay, guys, can we please just stop?" Josie asked. "Okay, fine. You know what? Maybe I was jealous. Maybe I wanted what you had. A simple day with my family. I lost half of my stuff in that damn fire, including the only painting I had of my mom. Why would I do that to myself?" I snapped before getting to my feet and storming off.

I walked over to a table near Dr. Saltzman and the Deputy Agent. "So if there's nothing else..." I heard Alaric say. "Actually, uh, I was hoping we could talk privately. You, your daughter, uh, Jessica, was it?" Clarke told him. "I don't think we have anything more to discuss." Alaric stated. "I could think of a few things. Mystic Falls, maybe? Or perhaps your school for supernatural children." Clarke voiced. My head snapped up before making my way towards Dr. S. "Dad...is something wrong?" I asked standing next to him. "Uh...no." He stated. "Dad? I was under the impression you had a daughter." Clarke told him. "Yeah. My sister. It's called Human Biology. Learn it." I snarled with a glare. "Derek. Go get your sister, Jessica." Alaric said with a fake smile looking over my shoulder at Hope.  I turned around and made eye contact with Hope. She got to her feet and walked over.

"I work for an organization that keeps monsters and things that go bump in the night from public view. I thought I recognized you and Jessica..." Clarke started. "It's Hope, actually. And this is my brother Stiles." Hope said. "I wasn't sure if it was a coincidence, so we searched your van. We know you're Alaric Saltzman, headmaster of the Salvatore School. We know a lot about it. You have a terrific reputation." Clarke stated. "Leave the school out of this." Ric told him. "Look, I applaud your school's mission. If you do your job right, makes mine easier." Clarke stated. "So why are we still here?" I asked. "Well, i have an entire town that needs to forget what they've seen today. You know, usually it's convincing a farmer in Nebraska he didn't see a chimera, you know, or a few ice fishermen in Minnesota that it wasn't a yeti that ate their best friend. This is an entire town. It's different. We could Use the assistance of a vampire. I noticed the daylight ring on your daughter's boyfriend..." Clarke explained. "Oh, he's not their...Never mind." Ric stated. "Why not call it a freak swarm of bugs? Why erase it from memory?" Hope asked. "Because someone may recognize them from what they are." Clarke said. "Harbingers." I whispered. "Of what?" Hope asked. "Seriously? This is obviously the work of a mummy." He answered. "I told you." Alaric said looking down at Hope. "One of our drivers survived an attack by the river. He's been tracking the mummy ever since. He's still on the outskirts of town, but he's heading our direction. We're a cleanup organization. Okay, we're not equipped to go to battle with a mummy. So...wil you help?" Clarke explained. "Cut him off at the pass and keep all these people safe?" He asked. "Oh, these are kids..." Alaric pointed out. "Kids with magic, in a town full of innocents without it." Clarke countered. "We'd be happy to help." I said. "I'm gonna need my weapons." Ric told him. "Of course. Gather what you need. Round up your friends. My team can help you with anything else." He said before leaving. "I'll go get the others." I said before walking off.