Since classes continued the next day, everyone parted ways after agreeing to attend the party. Ron drove back to his house in Mystic Falls, still mulling over what he'd seen that afternoon.
Sprawled across his bed, he began studying the twelve sigils glowing faintly in his mind. Just as before, only three were active — the Horse, the Dog, and the Rabbit. The others remained dim, locked away from his reach.
Ron sighed helplessly. He'd never even watched The Vampire Diaries before landing here. Traditionally, vampires feared sunlight, crosses, holy water, and wooden stakes to the heart. But Stefan had walked under broad daylight without flinching. Clearly, vampires in this world were different, which meant those old rules might not apply at all.
What bothered him more were the nine dormant sigils — what sealed them, and how could he unlock their power?
No answer came to mind, so he decided to let it go for now. "Tomorrow," he muttered, "I'll just grab a few crosses — a necklace, a bracelet — can't hurt to have backups. And maybe hire a housekeeper. This place is way too big for one person."
He smirked. "Preferably one who can cook."
The next morning, Ron stopped by a store and bought a silver cross necklace and a bracelet, slipping them on. He'd planned to visit a domestic agency afterward but realized he'd be late for school, so he went straight there instead.
During History class, Mr. Tanner's usual barrage of questions made everyone squirm. Ron, knowing he was the new kid, didn't bother pretending — he simply laid his head on the desk, half-listening.
When Tanner turned to Elena, Stefan jumped in with a flawless answer, even correcting the teacher's mistake. The smug look on his face was impossible to miss.
Watching him, Ron finally understood: Stefan had lived long — probably from that very historical period, or even earlier.
After class, Ron stopped by the housekeeping agency to hire a live-in maid. He went through several options and eventually picked one. His requirements were simple:
Hardworking, since his house had two floors, eight rooms, and a large yard.
Good at cooking, because food was non-negotiable.
Not too old, since older people could be stubborn — and replacing one later would be a hassle.
It cost a bit more for a live-in maid, but Ron didn't care. The real reason was simple: he wanted someone to make breakfast before school. He even offered a bonus to attract the right candidate.
After comparing profiles, the agency finally settled on a woman who'd arrive later that day. They gave him her contact number and told him she'd call upon arrival.
Ron paid, then hit the supermarket for a massive grocery run. He stocked his fridge with meats, seafood, snacks, and drinks until it was full.
Satisfied, he flopped onto the couch to wait for the maid.
Around 12:30, the call came. The maid had arrived but wasn't sure if anyone was home. Ron opened the door to welcome her in.
She was a young white woman in her early twenties — far prettier than he'd expected for a housekeeper.
"Hi, I'm Ron Mills," he greeted, gesturing for her to sit.
"Hello, I'm Sarah," she replied politely, sitting across from him.
"So, Sarah — how's your cooking? You any good with comfort food?" Ron asked, his tone half-curious, half-hopeful.
"Um, not really," Sarah admitted quickly. "But I'm good with Western meals — burgers, hot dogs, steaks, pasta, that sort of thing." She hurried to explain; the pay for this job was excellent, and she didn't want to lose it.
Ron sighed. "Alright, no problem. I haven't eaten lunch yet anyway. How about you whip something up so I can try your cooking? There's plenty in the kitchen."
"Of course! Give me a few minutes." Sarah smiled and headed for the kitchen.
"Oh, and make enough for four or five people — I've got a big appetite," Ron called after her. "And if you pass the test, you can join me for meals later."
"Yes, boss," Sarah said lightly over her shoulder.
While she cooked, Ron lounged on the sofa, scrolling through his phone — searching everything he could about vampires. Nothing concrete came up. They were myths, nothing more than folklore. He switched tactics, checking local death and missing-person reports.
Few recent cases appeared — mostly old, censored stories of "wild animal attacks."
"Probably vampires," Ron muttered. "Or someone doesn't want people knowing."
Soon Sarah returned with lunch — seafood, steak, and sides, all fresh and hot. It wasn't Chinese, but it was good. Ron devoured it happily.
After eating, he officially hired Sarah, gave her a room on the first floor, a house key, and cash for groceries and essentials before retreating upstairs to rest.
By evening, he woke up, glanced at the time, and realized he'd have to skip dinner if he wanted to make the party on time. He changed quickly and drove to the site.
When he arrived, groups of students clustered around — chatting, laughing, kissing. Ron couldn't help but feel awkward. Back home, sixteen-year-olds acting like this would've been scandalous.
"Hey, you made it!" Caroline waved, walking toward him.
"Yeah, didn't want to be late," Ron smiled.
"Good! Stefan's not even here yet. Come on, let's grab a drink." She tugged him toward a makeshift bar.
Ron spotted Matt, Elena, and Bonnie nearby and waved before joining Caroline.
"Here — cheers," Caroline said, handing him a bottle of beer.
"Thanks. So… about my 'big feast' — did you bring it?" Ron teased, taking a sip.
Caroline laughed. "Of course! But it's early, so I just brought some snacks." She pushed a plate of chips and cookies toward him.
"Appreciate it," Ron said, munching contentedly. Not much, but better than nothing.
After a moment, Caroline leaned closer. "Have you been to the falls yet? The view at night is incredible. I could show you if you'd like."
Ron met her gaze — pretty, confident, blonde, and actually thoughtful enough to bring him food. "Sure," he said with a smile. "Lead the way."
They walked to the falls together. To Ron's surprise, it wasn't empty — couples whispered in the shadows, some already locked in deep kisses.
He looked away, scratching his head. "Well… you weren't kidding. The view is nice."
Above them, the stars glittered across the sky, the rushing sound of the waterfall blending into the rhythm of the night.