"So, these are ancient runes. I've tried understanding what they mean, but I really can't find anything to compare them with." Landon looked defeated and, after researching in the library for hours to find any clues at all about the newest monster, was ready to call it a day and get some food.

"What kind of runes? I could send my aunts some pictures. Maybe they know how to read them. They probably learned writing with stuff like that." Although Hope seemed rather unimpressed, Landon's interest for history had just increased by about a trillion. "I still can't believe your aunts are vikings! You just say those things without realising how cool that is!" Hope looked up from her research and was also happy to be distracted. "You forget how cool it is when your family has collected enemies for centuries and centuries. But, to be honest, it was quite awesome to hear dad talk about Van Gogh or Picasso as casual friends."

"Wow! And those are just from the last 150 years or so! To imagine… Wait… You said the Mikaelsons were seen as villains mostly? "The great evil", right?" Suddenly, Hope lost the light-hearted expression and was again made aware of the weight of her past. "Yes, why?"

"Well… What about… Nazis?"

"Landon, are you asking me if my father was a Nazi?"

"No! Was he?"

"No. He wasn't. He hated Nazis like any self-respecting human. I think he might have massacred some. I don't know details, but after my mother died, I asked about it. Not enough to draw attention, but enough to scare anyone far away who would have known. And Uncle Elijah… He set up routes for people to flee. He helped smuggle people out."

"The way you talk about your uncle sounds so familiar. He is dead, right?"

"Yes. But we were very close. He was with my mother when I was a child." Landon already had a million follow-up questions ready, but Hope wanted to switch the topic. "He liked you. You met him, remember?" Landon thought for a bit. "He came with you to the café, right? I didn't really pay attention to him. I was too focused on you." A smile crossed his face. "But then, he left a huge tip! I remember thinking it was my lucky day and that he was probably a business man of sorts. Turns out that wasn't the most generous thing he did, I guess helping people flee from Nazis would be worth more than a couple hundred dollars. If I had known he was older than the crusades, I think I would have payed a lot more attention." Hope laughed. "You would have fainted. Same if I told you he was a vampire. Or that I'm a witch. Or that you were a phoenix." "True. But I probably would have had a million questions." "Then maybe it's good you didn't know. It was his idea, by the way. To get back at them. Your bullies. He wanted to coerce them. To jump off a bridge or something, I don't know. But I insisted on doing that myself." Landon paused.

"I am sorry. That I didn't get to know him further and that you won't be able to ask whatever questions you want."

"It's fine. I would have loved to have him with me growing up, but he chose to die alongside my father. He had lived long enough. And I know he's with my mom now, so it would be selfish of me to want him here. I already kept them apart for seven years before. Auntie Beks answered! Apparently, she can translate the runes, but we won't like what they say."

"Who would have thought?" Although he accepted that they were moving on, Landon went over to Hope and squeezed her hand while reading what was on her screen. She wiped away the single tear that had fallen from her eye and read aloud.