𝟙.𝟝: 𝕄𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕖

—Narrator's perspective—

Arabella jotted her pencil smoothly on the paper, eyes stayed glued to it while she wrote everthing that comes at mind. It's been too long since she's written in a journal which Stefan advised her to do since it helps him sometimes. She avoided it ever since Stefan died, afraid that she'll break down again and again. Thought Arabella thinks she's being dramatic and gave up, writing on the journal again.

Her legs was crossed over her leg, the journal on her lap while she comfortably wrote silently. She's been in Alaric's office since the minute he left, told her that she needs to help Hope on the supernatural test with Landon.

Arabella has yet to know if the boy should stay and hope that he belongs here. Nobody knows really what he is and why can't he be compelled. She also had to visit Kaleb down at the cellar, apologise multiple times of what Alaric did and planned on helping him get out.

"A journal? Really?" Hope questioned with a teasing smile before closing the door behind her. She sat down in front of Arabella who smiled while never taking her eyes off the parchment.

"Stefan makes wrong decisions but he gives great advice." She simply replied and continued to write, the only thing echoing in the room was how her pencil was smoothly running against the paper.

Hope seemed surprised but still, she shook it off. "How was it, anyways? You know, being friends with my dad and mom."

"It was great. Though, Hayley wanted to kill me the first time we met." She informed and finally looked up to Hope, feeling a weird sensation run down her spine when she did. "And your dad was... well, he's Klaus?" The uncertainty of her tone made Hope laugh and nod in understanding.

"Why did mom wanted to kill you?" The auburn haired girl asked in curiosity, all she ever felt since Arabella revealed who she was, was curiosity and wanted to get to know her more.

Before Arabella could answer her question, someone knocked on the door and opened it afterwards. He looked surprised to see Hope sitting there.

"What are you doing here?" Landon specifically said to Hope who turned around in an annoyed mood when she saw him.

"Dr. Saltzman wanted us to administer your tests, starting with some weird mystical blood analysis." Arabella informed and closed her notebook shut before standing up in a sigh.

Landon turned over to Hope. "No."

"Excuse me?" Hope raised her eyebrow and looked at him.

"No. These tests determine whether or not I get to stay at the school, right? There is no way I'm putting my future in your hands; you're biased." He finished and turned to Arabella for help.

"I'm not biased." The tribrid defended in an emotionless tone. "Besides, neither of us has a choice. Believe me, this is not how I would choose to spend my day either."

Landon sighed. "See? Biased." He turned to leave but Arabella stopped him.

"Last thing that you told me was that you wanted to find answers about who or what you are." Hope managed to convince him when he turned around again. "I want those answers, too. So let's just get through this."

"Fine fine." He sighed and placed his backpack down, sitting on the chair in front of the desk. "What happens if the blood thing-y fails?" He questioned nervously, pulling his sleeve up and resting his arm on the desk.

"Physical test. We go outside, test if you have speed, strength, so on, so forth." Arabella said and sat back down to the chair behind her. Her hand gripped on the pencil again, opening the journal while Hope drew blood.

Landon winced when the needle hit his skin. "And if I fail every single one?" He asked but they all know the answer to that.

"We'll send you a goodbye present? If that helps." Hope mocked and pulled the injection away, doing her thing. Arabella secretly smiled and looked down to hide it. Oh how her emotions will turn on her.

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Arabella jumped up the tree, swiftly holding onto a branch while she placed the ribbon on it. She buckled her knees when she hit the ground, dusting off her hands and looked at Landon. "I'm sure you can do it in under a minute."

When Landon looked at her in disbelief, Hope shrugged and clicked on the stopwatch, making Landon scurry under the branch and jumping up and down to grab it.

"You know he's going to fail everything, right?" Hope whispered to the vampire besides her who sighed, the two watching as he desperately tried to catch it.

"Give it time. He wants to stay." She replied, having her arms crossed all in while she horrifyingly watch Landon almost sprain his ankle.

When the stopwatch made its time, He stopped and looked disappointed. "Okay. Headstand, go." She pointed at the grass.

"What? You can't be serious." He complained but when Hope wasn't saying anything but instead stare into his soul, he walked over to the middle and tried to do it.

"You really don't like him, do you?" Arabella hummed in a question, them watching Landon try and fail to headstand.

"I hate liars." Hope reminded her and Landon finally did it. "Hold it for ten minutes." She informed and started the time again.

But ofcourse, he was struggling and grunted when his back hit the grass again, meaning he failed.

"I lied, yet, here we are?" Bella asked, looking over at Hope who cleared her throat and did the same.

"That's because I actually like you. Landon, pick up the log." Hope hurriedly walk to him from under the tree while she forced the human to pick the log up.

Arabella looked at her in shock, a small and hidden blush spread on her pale cheeks. She cleared her throat before following in pursuit and watched as Landon fail on his strength test.

"You can stop. You failed. You have no supernatural strength." Hope informed and crossed her arms. Landon could only pant as the sun's heat was warming up to him, sweat running down his temple.

"What's next?" He asked, hands on his knees while he tried to regain his strength.

"Next? You failed the vertical climb, the long jump, and you straight-up refused to swim across the lake." She remarked in a neutral voice.

Landon looked over to them. "Yeah, well, excuse the foster kid for never having swim lessons." He pushed himself up and walked over to the two girls. "Look, I might suck at-at... everything apparently. But I only have to pass one test to stay so I'm not giving up yet."

"How's it going?" Emma asked lightly when she arrived, the teenagers looking over to her.

"Landon was about to run sprints to the lake and back. With Bella here to company him." Hope clicked the stopwatch making Arabella look at her in fright. And Landon was already running.

"We established that I'm a vampire, Hope." She remarked which only gave the Mikaelson witch to glare at her. "Jesus..." Ara gave up and caught up with the human quickly, jogging lightly with having no choice since Hope was too fearful.

Emma watched the two disappear and back to Hope. "What are you testing for, exactly?" She chuckled.

"His ability to get away from me as quickly as possible. If he's gonna stay in this school, it's a must." She nodded and smiled innocently.

"And what of Arabella? She looked as if she didn't want to company Mr. Kirby." Emma hinted knowing there was something brewing between the two.

"Entertainment?" She stated and sounded like a question more than a statement. Hope saw a knowing look spread to Emma's face knowing full well what she just did.

Emma pushed past it quickly, "Did you run the lineage spell that I left you?"

"Yeah first thing. Zero magic in his bloodline." She answered.

Emma hummed in question. "Most humans have some trace of magical blood in their veins from a far-flung ancestor." She informed which only made Hope frown in confusion.

"So what does that mean?"

"We need to know more about Landon's past." Emma stated and like the powerful and smart witch she is, Hope had an idea.

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