Chapter 1.37

Orion returned to the gym, where he found Tyler, the hybrid, on the ground. After ensuring Tyler was stable and recovering, Orion left the scene and headed to the newly renovated witches' house. There, he met with the witches and conveyed his instructions.

"Listen carefully," Orion began, "Stefan Salvatore is going to come here with the coffins containing the Original family. When he arrives, let me know immediately." The witches nodded, understanding the importance of this task.

Additionally, Orion instructed them to cast a comprehensive illusion spell on the house, making it appear like before his renovations.

Orion had been postponing changing the deed to the witches' house to his name. He knew that he would have the perfect opportunity to execute his plan once Stefan stored the Original family's coffins there. Once the deed was signed, he would possess complete control over the property, making it impossible for any vampire to enter without his explicit permission.

Orion raised an eyebrow at Rebekah's sudden appearance at his door, his surprise evident. "What are you doing here?" he asked, feeling curious and skeptical.

Rebekah, with her luggage in tow, explained her situation. "Niklaus is out making more hybrids from the blood he took from the doppelganger witch, and I need a place to stay. So, are you going to invite me in?"

Orion maintained his composure and decided to set some ground rules. "Where are your manners, Rebekah?" he responded. "Can I stay with you until Niklaus comes back? I don't have a place to stay, and you're the only person I know in this godforsaken town. Stefan and I aren't on speaking terms," Rebekah added in a more polite tone.

Orion considered her request carefully and laid out his conditions. "Here are the house rules," he began. "No attacking anyone inside my house, especially Bonnie. No inviting randoms into my house. If you want to have fun, do it somewhere else. And lastly, no killing in my house. Feed away from my property, and if you kill someone, clean up after yourself."

Rebekah pondered the conditions, realizing they were relaxed. She agreed to the terms, understanding that they were fair. Orion then presented her with a contract to sign. Rebekah asked how she was supposed to sign it, and Orion instructed her. "You can sign it with blood. Just a few droplets on the parchment will do."

With that, Rebekah bit herself, placing a couple of droplets of blood onto the document to seal the contract. Orion nodded in approval, and she was welcomed into his home under these agreed-upon conditions.

Orion knew that having Rebekah and Bonnie in his house might be a recipe for tension, but he was determined to make it work. Convincing Bonnie to agree to this arrangement was challenging, as she had reservations about Rebekah staying with them. However, she eventually relented, on the condition that there would be strict rules in place and Rebekah wouldn't have free rein in the house.

With Bonnie's concerns addressed and the rules set, Orion led Rebekah to the second guest room, her temporary residence. The first guest room was already occupied by Cal.

During this time, he had also enrolled Cal at Mystic Falls High, with the intention of having him act as his eyes and ears in the school. Cal didn't object to this role, and it provided them with valuable information about what was happening in the town.

Moreover, Orion's relationship with Rebekah had grown into a close friendship. Over time, Bonnie realized that Rebekah was not Niklaus, and she hadn't personally wronged her. With time, the two women had formed a strong bond, akin to being two peas in a pod.

They often went out together to the mall and various places, and Cal occasionally joined them.

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A couple of weeks had passed, and Orion had been keeping an ear on Cal's chatter about the school's affairs. Everything went for the plot's sake; Stefan had been watching over Elena as Klaus's blood bag. Klaus came back, prompting Rebekah to leave; before she did, Orion got a strand of her hair and cast a spell so that she couldn't enter his house anymore.

Orion was surprised in his dreams, with Emily Bennett popping in to give him the lowdown. She told him the coffins were safe and sound, stashed away in the old witches' house.

Upon hearing this news, Orion felt a sense of relief and contentment. He thanked Emily for assistance and asked her to spread the word to the other witches. He made it clear that under no circumstances should anyone be allowed with or near the coffins or in the house, and if someone was, it was free reign for the witches to handle the situation as they saw fit. The safety and security of the coffins were of utmost importance.

Orion's day kicked off with a trip to the city hall. His mission: securing the witches' house deed under his name. The process wasn't without its bureaucratic hiccups, but eventually, he walked out with the sought-after deed. It was a decisive move; no vampire could enter the house.

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900 words

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