Hope is Not the Goal

After Dana and Sasha are reported missing, Alaric sends some students undercover to Mystic Falls High to gather intel. Looking to prove his worth with his knowledge of the school, Landon accompanies them to Hope's annoyance. Alaric and Matt discover Dana's body, but it disappears when they look away. MG reveals fellow vampire student Kaleb has been feeding on Dana and other humans, making the others suspect Kaleb is responsible for the girls' disappearance, which Kaleb denies. Dana emerges from the woods and is met by the Salvatore students, she begins puking violently and ultimately dies. Josie helps Rafael calm down after being harassed by the werewolf pack. They discover Sasha trapped in a web which they get trapped in as well. Josie frees them by siphoning magic from Rafael's kiss. Josie, Hope, and Lizzie fight the shape-shifting arachne together and Josie encourages Alaric to add offensive magic to the curriculum. Rafael is accepted into the pack and Matt confronts Kaleb about him feeding on humans, but Alaric decides to handle it internally. Alaric calls his associate Dorian to tell him it is safe to return with the knife, but Dorian is confronted by another creature.

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