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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑.
[0𝟒]. 𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐎𝐀𝐋.
【 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐎𝐍𝐄 】
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❛ 𝘠𝘖𝘜'𝘓𝘓 𝘍𝘙𝘌𝘌 𝘠𝘖𝘜𝘙
𝘍𝘈𝘛𝘏𝘌𝘙, 𝘉𝘖𝘠𝘒𝘐𝘕𝘎 ❜
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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐈𝐙𝐙𝐈𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐙𝐌𝐀𝐍'𝐒 rival and her friend was the first thing Nathaniel and the Salvatore student body was made aware of that morning as everyone was gathered in the grand hall by Sheriff Donovan and Doctor Saltzman. The nephilim couldn't help but yawn at the urgency on Matt's part, because really, why was that their problem? If they had a meeting every single time some townie went missing, they would be having four a week and then it would be completely dropped once the humans resurfaced from their little bender.

"Now," Alaric's voice brought in everyone's attention. "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."

Nathaniel huffed with a roll of his eyes.

Alaric continued. "Which, unfortunately, is necessary, given recent events. I give you permission to compel them, to gather materials for locator spells, because any information we can get will make a difference."

Nathaniel raised his hand and was quickly called on by Matt. "If I were to help, does that mean Nephilim abilities are permitted?"

"If it furthers the investigation, I say why not," Matt responded, but it was obvious by Alaric's face that he wasn't too happy about it.

Alaric hummed, crossing his arms. "While I don't think it's wise to exert yourself at this time, it will be permitted shall you decide on going."

With a look of determination, Lizzie stood to her feet while buttoning up her blazer before turning to face everyone. "Well, I guess I can set aside my differences with Dana for a day... because that's what heroes do," she then turned to her father. "So, I volunteer as tribute."

"Okay, Katniss, you can sit down now," Nathaniel shook his head.

Hope rolled her eyes. "She battles one gargoyle, and suddenly she's Mother Teresa," she murmured under her breath, clearly exasperated by Lizzie's dramatics.

Nathaniel couldn't help but smirk as a snort abandoned him at Hope's remark. It brought in the tribrid's attention, who swiftly smiled proudly at herself for humoring the nephilim. A small look was exchanged between them before the smirk was off Nathaniel's face as he looked back at Alaric while Hope tried hiding her smile, knowing she was close to cracking the nephilim's hard exterior.

Then, Kaleb stood to his feet. "I'm in."

And MG followed him. "I'm in, too."

Surprisingly, Hope was up after them. "I'd like to help."

Nathaniel looked around and quietly groaned to himself before raising his hand instead of standing like everyone else. "I guess that makes us five."

The Salvatore School bus arrived before Mystic Falls High School a mere forty minutes after everyone was cleared for their undercover assignment, which Landon Kirby had somehow been selected to be apart of, much to Nathaniel's dismay. And as everyone descended from the bus- looking like a group of cons in a prison extraction from Nathaniel's point of view- all eyes were on them in seconds.

Nathaniel didn't mind them though, his main focus busy on Hope as she walked up beside Landon. It didn't matter how much Nathaniel Forbes was upset with Hope Mikaelson, the thought of her being near Wednesday didn't and would never sit well with him. So, with a nonchalant attitude, the nephilim walked up to the two, using his shoulder to push Landon out of the way to stand between them as the Salvatore students stood in a huddle.

"Okay, here's the deal," Lizzie spoke up, clasping her hands together. "Landon, you talk to any of the people you still know from when you were here. Hope you try to not deliberately alienate the entire student body while the rest of us save the world."

Nathaniel rolled his eyes. "Who made you boss?"

"Someone needs to take initiative," Lizzie mocked.

"And that someone isn't you, crazy-pants. Ric always leaves me in charge," Nathaniel snorted, looking over Lizzie who scoffed offendedly. "So, Scooby gang, we split up. MG you're with Lizzie, I take Hope and Kaleb you're stuck with Wednesday, capisci?"

"Yeah, screw that. I work alone," Kaleb scoffed before stalking off towards the school.

Nathaniel smiled unfazed once Kaleb was out of sight. "Well, that's a bummer," he paused, turning to Landon. "Wednesday, I guess you're on your own, stud. Let's go, Hope."

No other words were uttered as Hope and Nathaniel separated themselves from the group, making their way into the main hallway of the school. There was tension in the air, mainly because of the hostility between them after her trying to kill him- which Nathaniel had opted on calling it the incident- but there was something else underlining that tension. And Nathaniel knew exactly what it was, but he didn't want to acknowledge it.

The problem was, Hope did.

"Hey, Nate," Hope interrupted their silence.

Nathaniel hummed, seemingly uninterested with whatever she wanted to say. But deep down the nephilim did, anxiously, so much so that his heart skipped a beat.

Hope cleared her throat. "Are you still mad at me?"

That's when Nathaniel's eyes landed on her before he sarcastically scoffed. "Me? Mad? Oh, no, not at all. It's not like you tried to kill me- oh wait."

Hope sighed. "Okay... then why step in front of me when the gargoyle was going to stab me?"

Nathaniel went rigid. "It seemed chivalrous."

"Right," Hope scoffed, shaking her head. "You know I wasn't trying to kill you, right? It wasn't even my plan in the first place."

"Enlighten me, Hope. What was the plan?"

Hope breathed in heavily. "I knew Ric was going to use you to stop me when I was going to use that spell to kill Landon. And I remembered the nephilim spell in the grimoire. I swear, Nate. I was only going to use it to stop you for a minute but it was too strong and I couldn't control it. It took a lot in me to make it stop. I'm sorry."

Nathaniel looked her over. "Where's the spell now?"

"I burnt it."

"Sincere?" Nathaniel asked, eyes narrowed.

Hope nodded. "Sincere."

"Alright," Nathaniel paused for a second. "But for Alaric's sake. And this doesn't make us all buddy-buddy now."

Hope was surprised Nathaniel had forgiven her so quickly, but the truth was, Nathaniel had wanted to squash the beef soon after he got clarity on the whole situation. The nephilim would always be upset about the incident, but it was Hope, and it didn't matter what she did, Nathaniel would always want to forgive her. And the thought was crazy, because Nathaniel was growing fond of her lately. His annoyance towards her had started to fade and he couldn't connect it to anything she'd recently done.

Nathaniel didn't know what changed.

"I don't think I'll be of any help," Landon walked up to the two, breaking the small exchange.

Nathaniel huffed. "What do you mean, Wednesday?"

"Dana's clique isn't going to talk to me."

"Well, I'll talk to them, then," Hope stated.

Landon shook his head in disagreement. "It's even worse for you. Trust me. You have no idea how human high schools work. You're the new girl- might as well be radioactive."

Nathaniel snorted. "You underestimate the power and charisma of Hope Mikaelson."

Hope smiled at the statement before making a B-line towards Dana's group of friends. Nathaniel smirked proudly as he crossed his arms over his chest.

Landon Kirby would never understand the allure of the Mikaelson tribrid.

"Well," Nathaniel caught Landon's attention. "I guess I'm stuck with you for the time being. Try not to dull my shine, Wednesday."

Landon simply rolled his eyes as Nathaniel smirked and walked down the hall with the curly-haired boy on his trail. They treaded silently, turning corners and taking a look around for anything suspicious until Nathaniel's eyes landed on someone- or rather something across the hall. Its burnt features and black eyes set a scowl on Nathaniel's face. The nephilim was the only one who could see it, everyone else walked past it in oblivion.

Astral perception.

Nathaniel slightly nudged Landon. "Act natural."

"What?" Landon's eyebrows furrowed.

"Just walk and act natural," Nathaniel stated through gritted teeth.

That's when Nathaniel came to a stop before the demon, a tight smile making its way onto the nephilim's lips. Its hideous face was making it hard for Nathaniel to concentrate on solely one thing. And what the nephilim perceived was something completely different from Landon. From the curly-haired boy's point of view, it was a student. Blonde, tall and tough looking.

"Hey," Nathaniel greeted, his tone awfully cheery. "I'm Ricky and this is my friend Jake. We're new and we've been looking for homeroom. We sort of got lost. Think you can help us?"

The demon smirked. "You can't possibly think that would've worked, boyking."

Nathaniel snorted. "Guess not."

And before anything else could be said, Nathaniel used his enhanced strength to pull the demon from the collar of its button shirt into the bathroom behind it. Once they were out of the hallway, Nathaniel pressed the demon into the wall beside the large mirror. The nephilim heard Landon make his way into the bathroom as a few of the boys that were using the stalls quickly left the three alone once seeing the commotion.

"What the hell?" Landon exclaimed.

Nathaniel clenched his jaw. "I'm really curious as to why a low-level demon is running along these halls? And why a girl happens to be missing while you're here?"

The demon snorted. "I came to deliver a message, Clarence. And about the girl, that wasn't hell business. Low-level demons had nothing to do with that."

"Right," Nathaniel narrowed his eyes. "A message from who?"

"From us in name of the king."

Nathaniel scoffed. "Lucifer's in the cage."

The demon nodded. "He is, for now. We're working hard on getting him back in business."

"Good luck with that, sparky."

"Oh, we won't need it," the demon chuckled lightly. "There was wind of the devil's spawn not being at full capacity- and seeing you now, barely being able to hold me in place, I say Lucifer's right. You'll free your father, boyking. There are many more of us- loyal followers- and we'll just keep on coming."

Nathaniel chuckled, unfazed. "You can't interfere in God's plan, smartass. It's the reason why most of you never come in contact with me. I'm not an idiot," he paused. "I won't ever- ever dig my father out of the hole he's in, so you can go and tell him that."

The demon shook its head, smirking.

Nathaniel continued. "Or don't."

And with that, Nathaniel pressed his palm to its forehead, smiting the demon.

Seconds later Nathaniel had to sit himself on the ground as he heaved heavily, feeling drained. The smiting had sucked the juice out of him, but he couldn't bring himself to regret it when the smirk fell from the demon's face. Alaric was going to rip him a new one, Nathaniel was sure, but the nephilim didn't care. He was tired and satisfied.

"Are you okay?" Landon asked.

Nathaniel nodded. "I'm fine. Help me throw the vessel out so we can go find Hope."

It wasn't that much later before they dumped the body in the woods before finding Hope and everyone else gathered around one of the picnic tables near the parking-lot. And as Nathaniel got closer, he noticed the blonde girl surrounded by his peers. Dana. And she looked like absolute shit.

"Great," Nathaniel brought in everyone's attention. "Does nobody have a Goddamn phone? What happened?"

Hope sighed. "She was kidnapped outside of our school and woke up in a ditch."

Nathaniel nodded, putting his attention on Dana. "You remember anything else?"

Dana shook her head as she reached up with the intention of scratching the back of her neck, when suddenly her hand came upon the swollen and bruised site of what Nathaniel thought appeared to be a vampire bite right under her right ear. Immediately after Dana came in contact with it, she turned distressed.

"Oh, my God! What is that?"

"Uh-" Nathaniel faltered, looking around for help.

Lizzie cleared her throat. "It's... the mother of all hickeys. You're fine, Dana. You're just a- a little slutty."

Nathaniel couldn't help but snort.

Offended, Dana scoffed. "I don't even like any of you. I should be talking to the cops."

As that was said, Dana stood to her feet to walk away but Nathaniel quickly stood before her, towering over her small frame in order to stop her from walking.

"No can do, princess," Nathaniel hummed. "Little help, Hope?"

"Ad somnum."

And just like that, Dana collapsed on the ground.

Lizzie looked up at Kaleb, horrified. "So, you didn't kill her- you freaking turned her?"

Nathaniel's eyes quickly went to Lizzie. "Wait, what?"

"Dracula here was feeding on students," Lizzie announced.

Kaleb scoffed as he rolled his eyes. "I didn't turn her. You think I want to sit and listen to that for all eternity?"

"Funny," Nathaniel snarked as his nostrils flared at Kaleb. "You can't be feeding on humans, jackass."

Hope rolled her eyes as Kaleb was about to come back at Nathaniel. "We're getting off topic here. Someone turned her, which means we have a transitioning vampire on our hands."

Nathaniel looked Dana over before turning completely to Hope and the others. "I can't sense her yet. Which means she hasn't fed."

"What are we going to do with her?"

None of them had a clue.

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unedited.
ayee, demons and angels are
going to start making appearances!
here's a nathaniel w his nephilim face
manip i made for you guys, just in
case you were curious how i imagined
him in my head when i write him.