7 Chapter 6: Just a guess

Charity's heart jumped. She's alive, she's okay. Mom's okay.

The office was filled with silence as they all watched Lizzie. She talked on the phone briefly before hanging up. Not giving either child a chance to talk to their mother. Lizzie turned and faced everyone in the room.

"She's on her way here. She wanted to call earlier, but that was the first bus-stop that she could find a working payphone. She'll be here at 3. But Dad, she needs a vial of her blood, from the werewolf bite cures." Lizzie said, her gaze never left the two children with hopeful faces.

"Wait, uh, you keep vial's of our mom's blood? And why does she need blood?" Charity questioned, not understanding.

"Remember I told you your blood is the cure for werewolf bites, a trait you inherited from your mother. Another trait inherited from your mother is that your blood can be used to sire hybrids." Dr. Saltzman said calmly.

Charity was not following with what was, indirectly, being said. "Okay, what does that have to do with anything."

"It means that your mother died and is now in transition. And because she had activated her werewolf curse 23 years ago she died as an active werewolf. Meaning in order to complete the transition she has to drink blood, more specifically her blood, or blood from one of you two. But any other blood won't complete the transition and she'll die, for good." Josie explained.

"There's only one problem," Dr. Saltzman spoke softly, "We ran out of vials of Hope's blood three years ago."

"So then we'll take some blood from one of them. She only needs the tiniest amount to complete the transition." Lizzie said.

The adults looked at the children who nodded in response.

"If it means mom will get to live, then will do it." Charity said.

Lucas nodded, then looked at Charity. He got her attention then began to sign.

"What's he saying?" Rafael asked.

"He said we'll also donate extra blood so you guys can have to treat werewolf bites. That way if you ever need the cure, you'll have it."

Dr. Saltzman smiled. They're definitely heroes. Just like their parents.

"Thank you, both of you." Josie said.

Dr. Saltzman then got everyone in the room to pay attention to him. "So you two, will continue to go under the name Kenner at this school." He was speaking directly to the two children. "For your safety, only the people in this room will know your true identity."

"Dad, do you think the twins should know who they really are? I mean, they're going to be their roommates." Josie asked.

Dr. Saltzman shook his head. "No. Not even the twins. None of your children will know their true identities. Every student and staff member outside this room will get to know these two as Charity and Lucas Kenner. Not even your children should know they are Mikaelsons. For they're safety, everyone has to think the Mikaelsons are dead."

The adults nodded their heads.

"Fine by me, I don't have children." MG chuckled.

"We all know you think of Bryan Reid as your son. In the last six months, you've basically taken the kid under your wing. You treat him like a son." Lizzie laughed.

"Yeah, that kid is kinda like my son." MG smiled.

"Well, you guys should all head back to teach your next classes." Dr. Saltzman spoke to the adults. "But Josie, you stay here. Until the twins come to give these two the tour."

The three adults left the room, all giving the two children a kind smile on their way out. Dr. Saltzman looked through his desk, pulling out paper and a pen. He scribbled on it, then when he had finished, handed it to Josie. She held it in both hands, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. Within seconds the paper started to move. When Josie let go of the paper, it floated towards the door and slipped under, disappearing from site.

"One final note, if anyone asks what you two are, tell them you're witches. I will make a note for Lucas to take his Intro to Lycanthropy class, privately. I will discuss this with Mr. Waithe, so Lucas you will have two free periods a day, but you will report to Mr. Waithe's classroom before dinner everyday. This is for your safety, so no one becomes suspicious of your identity. If anyone asks why you go to his classroom you are to tell them he has asked you to help him with a task. That is it." Dr. Saltzman said, speaking directly to Lucas.

"Dr. Saltzman," Charity looked at Lucas before continuing, "Will not speaking affect his ability to do spells?"

Dr. Saltzman stared at empty space, clearly taking a moment to really think about it. After a few seconds he finally had an answer to give. "I'm not sure. Non-verbal spells are often harder to successfully cast. The more complex the spell, the more power is needed to cast it, and the harder it is to cast it, even if it's verbal. But my daughter," Dr. Saltzman motioned to Josie, "has convinced me that you and your brother are just as powerful as your mother, if not, more powerful. It may be really hard and take a lot of practice, but I believe if your brother really puts his mind and heart into his studies and practice, he will be able to do all his spells non-verbally with ease."

Charity nodded, then gave her brother a smile. He smiled in return to both Dr. Saltzman and his sister. After a second of thinking to himself, he also smiled at Josie, because she was the one who convinced Dr. Saltzman that they were, possibly, more powerful than their mother. The room grew silent as they all sat and waited. But what they were waiting for the two siblings had no clue. Then there was a knock on the door, and a second later two students walked in, a boy and a girl.

"Aiden, Erin, these are the new students. Charity and Lucas Kenner." Josie turned to Charity and Lucas, then motioned to the two students. "These are my children." She then turned back towards her children, and motioned to Charity and Lucas. "They're both witches, meaning you'll have the possibility of having several classes together. They are also your new roommates."

The boy smiled. "Welcome to Salvatore School. We'll be your tour guides. I'm Aiden."

"I'm Erin." The girl spoke.

"Siblings." Aiden spoke again.

"Twins." Erin smiled.

"Fraternal, obviously." Aiden chuckled as he looked from Charity to Lucas, then to his twin.

Lucas smiled at their little spiel. Charity gave a soft chuckle. "Did you guys practice that?"

Aiden looked at her, a smirk plastered on his face as though their secret had been discovered. "All morning."

"It's the first time we actually got it right, without laughing throughout the whole thing, I mean." Erin added.

Aiden turned his attention to Dr. Saltzman. "Well, are we good to give them the rest of the tour? The one that goes outside of your office, grandpa?"

"Yes, you're all set." Dr. Saltzman chuckled. "It's 11:30 so after the tour, please, sit with them at lunch. After lunch take them to your rooms so they can get settled."

The twins nodded their heads, then turned to leave the office. Charity and Lucas grabbed their bags then followed after the twins. Ten minutes into the tour, Aiden and Lucas ended up several feet ahead of the two girls, Aiden talking to Lucas, and Lucas nodding in return. Aiden looked to be a little taller than average. He looked to be about 5'6, an inch taller than his sister, Erin. The boy had brown hair and piercing blue eyes. His eyes were just like his grandfather's. His muscles on his arms and legs seemed pretty defined, and Charity couldn't help but think that he definitely had abs.

"You're checking out my brother." Erin giggled.

Charity coughed as she choked on air. The question had caught her off guard, she almost forgot to breathe. "No. I'm not." She managed to spit out.

"It's okay, I know my brother is attractive. A lot of the girls here swoon over him. And so do some of the guys." Erin laughed.

"No, I swear. I'm not checking him out. I just found it interesting how you guys look barely anything alike. You just have the same small features, like your noses, and chins, eye shape. But everything else is completely different." Charity reassured the girl.

"Oh, yeah. He looks more like mom. I take after my biological father, with my ginger hair, green eyes, and freckles." Erin said.

"Biological father? Did you parents split?" Charity asked, not meaning to be too nosy.

"No. Not exactly." Erin paused in front of a classroom. "That's my aunt, Lizzie. She's our Chemistry of Magic teacher. We also do spell lab with her." She said as she looked inside the class.

They began walking again, in silence. Awkward silence. A few minutes later, Erin spoke, surprising Charity. "My mom and biological father got into a car accident before they knew she was pregnant. When she woke up in the hospital, my grandfather had to tell her my biological father didn't survive. Later in the hospital, the doctors told her she was pregnant, and that it was a miracle that my brother and I survived the crash."

"I'm sorry. I know what it's like to lose a parent before you even know them. It's not fun." Charity said, trying her best to apologize for bringing up such a sore topic.

"Yeah, sometimes I wonder what he's like. But I'm thankful for my dad, and couldn't ask for a better one." Erin said, the corners of her mouth lifting up slightly.

"You have a step-dad?' Charity asked, scrunching up her face as she thought. Ugh, I have to stop being so nosy.

Erin chuckled. "If you're worried about being nosy or asking too many questions it's fine. You're just trying to get to know me."

"How did you-"

"Just a guess." Erin smiled. "Technically speaking, yes, he is my step-dad. Biologically speaking, he's also my uncle. But he's been around my whole life that I just consider him my dad. He was there for my mom after the crash and during the pregnancy. A little before Aiden and I were born my dad and mom started dating. Then when Aiden and I were three, they got married. He's always been there. But he's not around as often. He goes out on a lot of recruitment missions, to enroll new students. He's only gone for a week or two though. Then he comes back home and spends the next week with me, Aiden and mom. Then he's off again for another week or two. It's the same cycle all year long, except for summer. He gets to stay with us the majority of the summer. So it's not bad." The ginger gave a soft chuckle. "If it weren't for Aiden being my twin, I would think I was adopted."

"You don't look like your dad? I mean, I get you don't have his DNA, but there must be some resemblance. I mean, technically speaking, he is your biological uncle." Charity asked.

Erin shook her head. "There is some resemblance, but like Aiden, it's only the small features. Dad doesn't look anything like my biological father. He actually looks a lot like Aiden. With his brown hair and blue eyes. And like Aiden he also has freckles that run from one cheek, to the bridge of his nose, to the other cheek. Honestly, no one would know Aiden wasn't dad's biological son unless they were told."

"You have the same freckles though." Charity said, smiling at the ginger haired girl.

"Yeah," the girl said, smiling in return.

The two were now outside. Erin sat down on a bleacher facing a field and Charity followed. There was a group of students on the field.

"Wickery tryouts." Erin said. "It's a sport my grandparents invented. It's kind of like quidditch, just no flying around on broomsticks, and there are no quaffles, bludgers, or golden snitches. Actually, it's kind of like a mix of football and quidditch, if I think about it. The ball is pretty much a football, but instead of scoring a touchdown, the goal is to get the ball through the other team's goal, which is a magically created hoop. The sport also uses a lot of our supernatural abilities. Like the witches can use levitation, the werewolves and vampires can use their strength and agility. But my grandparent's version is a bit less violent than ours."

"Sounds like fun." Charity said.

"Looks like some of the witches are trying to get our brothers to join in on the fun." Erin chuckled.

"What?"

"Don't worry, Aiden's smarter than that to agree. See, he's already walking back towards the school with Lucas. Probably to continue the tour." Erin pointed off in the direction of the school, then turned back towards Charity. "You should try out for one of the Wickery teams, I think you'd be good at it."

Charity was taken back by the suggestion and stumbled on her words. "Uh, n-no thanks. I-I'm more of a-"

"Cheerleader?"

"How did you-"

Erin cut Charity off again. "Know? Another guess." Erin smiled before getting up. "But you're definitely playing football with us when we have to play against the townies. As well as your brother." Erin turned to head back towards the school. Charity followed.

"You want me and my brother to play football? Maybe I can get Lucas to play, but I already told you, I'm-"

"More of a cheerleader and would rather watch and cheer from the stands. Or join the cheerleading squad if there is one? Which there is." Erin causally stated, as she continued showing Charity around.

Charity just blinked at Erin. "Just another guess." The ginger said, smiling.

Soon enough they finished the tour and the two girls got along quite well. They met Aiden and Lucas in the dining hall and ate their lunch. Then separated once again to go to their rooms. Charity found clothes in the dresser Erin said was for her. The shirts all had the Salvatore School logo. Erin had mentioned to Charity that, during class hours, there was a school uniform that had to be worn, but at the same time many of the students' uniforms varied from one another.

Erin did mention that most students stuck to some form of the school uniform. Whether it's wearing the plaid skirts, or the blue sweater. Most students wore blue, red, and or yellow in their uniform. But Charity was glad to know that she could create her own look with her uniform, as long as her top held the Salvatore family insignia 'S' on the right.

There was also a very soft, white, cotton robe with the insignia 's' on the right and towels with the 's' laid out on Charity's bed when she first entered. Next to them, a small white plastic bin with a handle. The bin had two small sections. One containing contents for showers, and the other containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a hairbrush. She knew she would like this school. They were very generous with making sure the students had what they needed to get through the day.

It was 3:30 and Charity was laying on her bed writing in her journal when there was a knock on the door. Erin had answered it. When she opened the door, standing in the doorway was Josie Saltzman-Thompson, and behind her, Lucas.

"Hey, mom." Erin smiled at her mother, then caught sight of the green eyed boy standing behind her and smiled at him as well. "Do you need Charity?"

Charity looked up from her journal as she heard her name. She saw Josie and Lucas, and stood up from her bed. "Mrs. Saltzman-Thompson, is everything okay?"

Josie smiled, "Please Charity, unless we're in a classroom call me Josie. And when we are in a classroom, you can call me one or the other, not both last names. I find it makes it easier for the students and is less time consuming. And everything is fine, I just need you and Lucas to come down to the office with me. It's about what we discussed earlier."

Charity nodded her head in understanding. She put her journal on her nightstand and walked towards the doorway. Telling Erin she'd see her later. She followed Josie towards Dr. Saltzman's office, walking alongside Lucas. Once they entered the office the first thing either child saw was the middle aged, auburn haired, light blue eyed woman. The same light blue eyes Charity had.