"So let me see if I understand…" I commented, resting my head on the passenger seat as the SUV cut through traffic. "You're telling me there's a school where a bunch of 'supernatural' young people study and learn to control their own powers?"
"That's right, kid," Alaric replied, keeping his hands firmly on the steering wheel and his eyes on the road. "But it's much more than that. The Salvatore Mansion shelters young people who are lost. People who are trying to do the right thing, and our job is to provide the necessary support for these young people."
I gave a weak laugh, overflowing with mockery. "Dude, you just described Hogwarts. You're kidding me, right, man?"
Alaric chuckled briefly, shaking his head. "Hahaha, yeah, I know. It really does sound like a Harry Potter story, but I can assure you that everything I said is true. Everyone is searching for meaning in life. After spending years living without purpose, losing people who had accompanied me on my journey, I decided, along with others, to give it a purpose: to help those most in need of knowledge."
I lowered my gaze for a moment, absorbing his tone and his story.
"Okay… all of this sounds interesting, to say the least," I leaned forward, turning my face toward him. "Now let's talk about the elephant in the room: do you know what the hell I am?"
Alaric took a few seconds to answer, measuring his words. "About that, Ethan… from everything your mother described to me, I'd say you're a werewolf. But… a completely different kind. What you do is very different from the ones I know. We'll have to figure out together exactly what we're dealing with."
"Damn... so I'm weird even to the 'weirdos'?" I let out a laugh devoid of any humor. "I'm really screwed. It's all that degenerate of a father of mine's fault. I just want to see his face just once in my life so I can give him a good punch."
"Your father…" Alaric slowed as he approached an intersection and glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. "Tell me, Ethan, do you know who he is?"
No. I've never seen him in person. Only from a photo or two that my mother took in her youth, at a dojo. That's the only way I know him, through her stories.
"I understand." Alaric turned his gaze back to the road. "I know someone who knew your father. And I'm not talking about your mother."
My back straightened up in the seat at that very moment. — What? Seriously? Tell me about him, man. I need to know where that bastard is!
"It was many years ago," he explained. "He was a 'friend' of my wife, Caroline. He lived in Mystic Falls for a while, made friends with the people there. At the time I was teaching there, but I barely got close to him. All I know is that he was quite a different kind of guy, according to Caroline."
I frowned, piecing things together quickly in my head. "Let me guess... that degenerate slept with your wife?"
Alaric cleared his throat, looking slightly uncomfortable having to admit that to a fourteen-year-old boy. "Yeah... putting it that way, they really did date for a while back then. But they were young, Ethan. You'll understand this sort of thing in a while."
I gave a small, provocative, mocking smile. "You mean I don't know what it's like to be with a woman?"
"What, are you going to tell me you're the school stud?" Alaric retorted with a mocking smile.
— What? No! I mean… I already… ah, forget it, man.
I swallowed hard and turned my face toward the window. Shit. The truth is, I'd never kissed a girl in my life. But what difference did it make? With my life turned upside down, the last thing on my mind was girls.
"Listen, Ethan," Alaric's voice became serious again. "I know it's hard to understand all of this at once. No one in their right mind would take a bombshell like this lightly. But I know you can handle it. After all, you've spent almost your entire life dealing with these 'powers'."
"Well... it's not all that strange," I murmured, staring at my own knuckles. "I mean, I have this strength and these things that set me apart from others, but in the end, I'm still just me. I haven't killed anyone. And I've never turned into a Twilight-style werewolf... which, by the way, are pretty cool. But I prefer the Van Helsing style. I think it's much more stylish than turning into some kind of mutt."
Alaric chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Hahaha, then you're going to be quite disappointed, kid."
In the following minutes inside the car, Alaric took the opportunity to explain more details about how the Salvatore Boarding School worked, about the rules and the profile of the students who lived there. When the SUV finally pulled up to the curb in front of my house, my mother was already standing at the front door, waiting for us with her arms crossed and a worried look on her face.
I got out of the car with my usual grumpy face. I adjusted my backpack on my shoulder and walked towards the balcony.
"Ethan…" she began, taking a step toward me, her voice faltering. "I know you must be furious with me for dragging you into all this. But know that I'm doing this for your own good. My heart breaks every time I see you getting into trouble because you can't control this rage you keep inside."
The hard tone on my face crumbled instantly. I lowered my head and gave a slight nod.
— I know, Mom. I'm not mad at you. If there's anyone to blame for all this mess, it's that guy…
She stepped forward, drawing closer tenderly. "Ethan… listen. Your father may not have been the best man in the world, but you didn't know him like I did. I don't know what happened to him, and I still wonder about it to this day… but I need to honor the last and best memory he left me: you, my son."
I clenched my teeth silently. Alaric remained leaning against the car a few meters away, just listening to everything without interfering.
"Mr. Saltzman already explained everything to you properly, didn't he?" my mother continued, staring deep into my eyes. "What have you decided? I would never force you to go somewhere you don't want to go. I know very well that you would run away if I did that. But know this, Ethan: this is a place that can help you with the questions I can't answer… and to control your anger and your powers."
I let out a heavy sigh, staring at the floor before looking at her. "I know, Mom. At first I thought it was just nonsense. But after hearing this guy… something tells me I'll find my answers about everything there."
A sad but relieved smile appeared on her face. "I'm happy about that, son. And sad too… Unfortunately, I have my work here and I can't go with you, but know that I will visit you whenever I can."
— The place is a bit far, but it's okay. I know how to manage, Mom.
She just smiled weakly, looking at me as if she understands how quickly children grow up and are forced to face the world.
At that moment, Alaric approached and spoke with her about the final details of the transfer. He asked her to go to my current school the next day to retrieve my transcript and the necessary documents. My mother agreed, saying she would call the administration first thing in the morning to get everything ready, even though she knew the paperwork wouldn't be ready until the afternoon of the following day.
That would be my final roof for a while. An entire night passed as I stared at my bedroom ceiling, torn between the past and the uncertain. The next day, my mother went to the school, signed the transfer papers, and brought the envelope with my papers.
My bags were already packed. It was time to go.