𝟚.𝟝: 𝕊𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕨 𝔼𝕟𝕕𝕘𝕒𝕞𝕖

—Narrator's perspective—

Arabella turned the keys inside the ignition, switching it off and looked around her surroundings. She exhaled, placing her forehead on the wheel, arms blocking her face from anyone to see. Now, for a few more minutes, she sat properly and exited the car.

"Hey! You're here!" Mg greeted and rushed to hug the girl after many months. "Before you ask, can you see him?" He pointed besides him, looking like someone was there which basically someone is but only he can see.

Arabella snickered. "Are you going crazy? Do you want me to act insane with you? You dragged me out of my brother's presence just for you to act mad." She countered, crossing her arms while she leaned on the side of her car.

Then suddenly, Mg tripped forward but maintaing his posture and growled. "Boy if you don't—"

"—Mg!" Arabella snapped her fingers in front of him, frowning at the boy when she noticed he was acting genuine. "Who are you seeing?" She asked and this time, she meant it.

"Okay, so, Lizzie was seeing this dude Sebastian and I couldn't see him. When I told Lizzie he wasn't real, he is now following me around like a lunatic!" He explained, having someone to believe him.

"I quite like her spirit." Sebastian commented, a grin on his face when he saw Arabella. Something inside him click when he saw the girl, like he knew from the start they'll be good friends.

Mg snorted, "Back off Dude." He warned in a protective way but Sebastian ruffled his afro hair again and he pointed at him in warning.

"Mg. Still here." Arabella called, waving her hand while she looked at her friend in confusion. "Will you like, brush him off? It worked in american horror story." She suggested in a sly smirk and Mg snickered as well but shook his head, glaring at the girl for getting distracted.

"I already told Kaleb too. Blood woke him up— well, half wake 'cause he got in my head." He explained, becoming more and more sensible to the girl who was listening intently. "Kaleb and I moved the blood fountain and accidentally woke him."

Arabella exhaled, looking past the boy and saw many students carrying stuff. "Is there a party or something?" She asked, sidetracked.

"Oh yeah. It's the '80s themed decade dance— Boy!" Mg shouted again when Sebastian kept talking and talking about bringing him blood.

"Okay okay. Well, let me see him then?" She suggested and he nodded, leading them to go to the basement. "People are busy." Arabella pointed out, a few students greeting her which she just nod in return.

"Why did you even left?" Mg asked nonchalantly, avoiding at any cost on the people who tried to ask for help on setting up.

Arabella exhaled. "Personal reasons. Let's say I needed to protect Dr. Saltzman from himself and others." She explained as quickly as she could, rendering it as the truth by Mg who nodded againz

"Ara? What are you doing here?" Josie popped out of no where, stopping the two vampires in their tracks when they saw the siphoner in front of them.

"Reminiscing. And absolutely avoiding." She grinned, trying to walk past her but Josie gripped on her wrist. The blonde sighed, looking back to Mg for help but he looked flustered to even interrupt them.

"You know what? I'm-a get Kaleb. I'll meet you there, Ara." He quickly dashed through the halls before he can even see how Arabella glared at the back of his head, imagining that she was throwing daggers his way.

Arabella looked at the brunette with a much more softer look. Even if she's mad, she couldn't stay that mad. "Don't you have a dance to get ready to? Or prepare it, for that matter?" She asked, Josie letting go of her wrist but honestly didn't want to.

"I just wanted to say sorry. For you know what." She said genuinely, not wanting to have any bad blood between her and Arabella any longer. Summer without her was already torture enough.

"I don't think I'm the one you should be apologizing to, Josie." Arabella replied, looking at the girl and something was off on her. "You okay? You seem, restless."

Josie nodded, wondering if she should tell the blonde of her siphoning black magic on the sword. Then she decided, screw it. For days has she been thinking about the vampire and many more hours of her talking about Arabella to Lizzie. Never in her life has she seen the vampire intriguing until now. But what changed?

"I siphoned dark magic when we fought the Oni. Which at the time, you weren't there." She flat out pointed the obvious.

"About that." She sucked air through her teeth, remembering what she's seen in her restless dreams. "Hope put me to sleep after I suggested I should put the Oni in me then use the sword to kill it, while it's in my body."

"What?" Josie asked in a concern tone but when she heard Hope's name, something inside her ignited. Like a flame that she didn't know was there. "As much as I don't like Hope, she had a good reason for putting you down."

Arabella nodded, not entirely hating the witch/ werewolf she's grown to like at times. If only she knew of the past, her falling madly in love with none other than Hope Mikaelson herself. Only now, she doesn't remember, he life is never and will never be the same without the Mikaelson Tribrid herself.

As the two were talking in the Salvatore School, they didn't know that a certain Mikaelson and Saltzman Siphoner was stuck in an endless loop of a game. With nothing left to discuss, Lizzie was begging Hope to tell Arabella the truth seeing as Josie told her that she was planning on making a move to the Blonde Vampire.

"Why don't you like Hope anyways?" Arabella asked, crossing her arms and completely forgotten all about Mg and his Sebastian problem in the cellar.

"Oh, nothing— It's stupid." She excused which only peaked Arabella's interest even further. She arched an eyebrow, waiting until Josie will talk more which she did, giving up. "There's something off, okay? About her, I mean."

"There's nothing off about her. She's actually pretty cool." Arabella shrugged, half lying since something is definitely wrong with Hope Marshall, as she knew her name is. "Moreover, You should stop being jealous." Again, Arabella smiled at Jo innocently before walking past her.

Josie, was to say the least, stunned and couldn't move for a good second. When she did, she turned around and didn't spot the blonde anymore making her huff and leave. She didn't got the chance to ask Arabella on the decade dance.

Then it hit Arabella, she was suppose to help Mg and that's where she headed originally, using her speed and didn't care for the wolves she bumped into. When she arrived, Kaleb looked like he just arrived while they pulled out a dusty coffin.

"Is that, I presume, Sebastian?" Arabella asked, walking their way with a simple smile. "Hey, Kaleb." She greeted and the boy said the same greetings.

"We're about to find out." Mg spoke up, pulling the top of the coffin and though and behold, Sebastian's rotting corpse.

Kaleb scoffed and nodded. "Yeah, he's real, all right. But damn. Dude smells worse than that blood fountain."

Arabella frowned, kneeling just besides the desiccated body of the century years old vampire. "Did he say something about fragile minded like yours?" She asked, standing up and looked at Mg who nodded. "Splendid."

Arabella sighed, biting into her wrist to draw blood out, making sure it dropped on the concrete floor instead of Sebastian. She opened her mind more, seeing Sebastian sitting on his coffin, a grin on his face.

"You are slowly starting to be my favourite among you three." He said with a smile, genuine but also held mischief which made Arabella laugh.

"Wait, I don't see him anymore." Mg said in realisation but soon realised too that Arabella was looking at the coffin in silence, probably listening to whatever Sebastian was saying.

"Sorry to bust your bubble, Sebastian, we can't just feed you blood. You were desiccated for a reason." Arabella said, crossing her arms when she saw the boy pout all hurtful like.

"Can you tell Milton that I can give him what he wants." Sebastian said, a grin escaped his lips and gestured to the vampire who was eyeing Arabella in question. "Elizabeth Saltzman, all to himself."

Arabella cleared her throat, resisting the urge to punch the vampire by simply telling her to send a message. "He says that if we bring him back, Sebastian will give Lizzie to... you." She looked at Mg, half surprised and half was contemplating.

"So what are we going to do now?" Kaleb spoke up, looking at the blonde who shrugged of what he said.

"Hold on hold on." Mg raised his hand up in surrender. "How about we ask Dr. Saltzman?" He hoped and the two visible Vampires exhale while Sebastian cackled, whom of which Arabella could only hear.

☘︎︎

"Let me get this straight, you don't know who this vampire is or how he got down there, just that he's been desiccated for some unknown reason, and he wants you three to wake him up." Ric pointed out, the three in front of him agreeing to his statement. "Uh, unless I'm missing something I would say... let him rot."

"We don't even know what he's doing down there in the first place."

"Neither do I. But it's safe to say that no one is desiccated for being too nice." Ric pointed out, giving a look to Arabella who was about to remark but backed down when she saw that look.

"Okay, but that doesn't mean he's guilty. And even if he is, what crimes equals that kind of time?" Kaleb asked, slightly up for a debate in the topic.

Alaric exhaled. "Hypothetically, the slaughter of a couple dozen villages." When he said that, Mg was always silent. "You're awfully quiet over there, Mg."

"I'm leaning on Kaleb's way on this one. Vamps before... non-vamps." He stuttered and Kaleb was about to remark about it but soon shut up.

"I know I'm not in charge here anymore. Now, if you want my vote, I say don't do anything till you know more about this guy."

"I vote for him to stay." Arabella said, contributing to the conversation which caused the boys to be surprised of what she said. "What? It's not like he's dumb enough to kill everyone in Mystic Falls.

Sebastian nodded eagerly, looking at the blonde who caught his eyes. In a friendly way, for that matter. "Like I told Milton, You are growing to me Arabella." He said.

When Kaleb suggested they should just talk to Sebastian before letting him run away with no worries, Mg stood up and left, having no patience to just sit and wait.

"To be honest, I'm surprised you'd even want my opinion. You know, after you guys voted me out." He hinted, looking at only Kaleb who he assumes was the one who voted him out.

Arabella was in the clear seeing as she never wanted the human to leave the Salvatore School. Alaric loved the school, he was there when it was first built, greeted the first of many students in person.

"Uh, look, uh... Confidential ballot and all... Me and Arabella are the only one's who voted for you to stay." He informed, leaving Ric and Arabella.

"Sorry, Ric..." She muttered, feeling guilt enough as it is before leaving as well.

Arabella sighed, looking around the school one last time before hopping inside her car. She didn't opened the engine right away, not knowing if she should stay and help Kaleb and Mg with their Sebastian situation.

She almost jerked in her seat when Sebastian's faulty accent and voice spoke besides her. "If you must, I would really like it if you feed me blood, Bella-Luna." He said, the girl almost rolling her eyes of the profound nickname.

"Not the first time someone called me that, Sebastian. What's your deal anyways?" She asked, looking at the boy who was looking around the car.

His eyes caught a photograph by the cupholder. He pointed at it, "I assume this is your brother?" Sebastian asked, not missing how Arabella exhaled and nodded.

"His name was Stefan. We're not blood related but we were by heart." She explained, her poor choice of words didn't miss the eldest Vampire.

"I'm sorry for your lost." This time, he wasn't playing any tricks or jokes to spite anyone who can see him. He felt her burden, the grief she held.

"Yeah, me too." She whispered, taking the photograph from where it was sitting. "Listen, I'll try to persuade Kaleb and Mg if they aren't letting you out. You seem like a nice guy, except the gruesome part."

Sebastian felt stunned, but didn't stop himself from speaking to not lower his guard. "Thank you, Bella-Luna. Truly." He said, the two smiled at each other. "It seems like your friend is summoning my presence. I will talk to you later. See you soon, Bella-Luna." With that said, he vanished.

On the other side of the school, Josie was still in search of Arabella, desperate but settled with Landon as her date. It didn't please her but still, she took the chance. Josie knew that the two of them had something going on, but still, she wanted to know if Arabella felt the same as what she is feeling. She then guessed that she got her answer when she couldn't find the blonde.

Arabella on the other hand, heard the loud music blasts inside. She sighed, grabbing Stefan's picture before exiting the car in peace. She slowly walking her way to the lake where Alaric would usually... her mind went blank. Why would Ric go here and say he'll spar. Alone? Perhaps.

Either way, she brushed away her weighing thoughts and sat on the edge of the docks. Arabella swung her legs, back and forth while she stare at the picture on her hand.

She closed her eyes, images of the girl in her dreams begin to appear again. Arabella sighed, feeling her chest tighten making her open it in worry, afraid she'll have another attack. Her heart picked up the pace, breathing unsteady.

"Why— why now, even?" She asked herself, taking in deep breaths, then exhale again. Arabella looked down to her hand, seeing the picture of Stefan with a wide smile managed to make her calm.

The Salvatore Vampire stood up, picking up a few rocks on the side and then tossing it to the shallow waters, skipping the rocks eagerly. She swung her arms back and forth, letting the relief of being calmer take over her edge.

There was one thing she didn't have and that was peace. All she wanted was to get rid of the curse, die in peace but not even god can give her that.

"Arabella Luna Salvatore!"

She reluctantly looked back, seeing Lizzie all dressed. Arabella sighed, looking back to the lake in boredom. "If you want to know it I agree with your fashion sense, I suggest you leave if you don't want to get hurt." Arabella joked, tossing the stone across the lake once more.

Hope smiled, warming up to how the sarcastic remark fit perfectly to Her Bella's choice of words. "You go ahead. She's been through a lot so ease up on her." Lizzie whispered, taking one last look at the Vampire blonde who didn't heard it, focused too much on clearing her head.

The Mikaelson's heart picked up, hearing Lizzie's retreating footsteps. She thought about on telling the girl she loves of what happened between them in the past, still hesitant and stood her ground.

What if she hates me? The Bella she knows is not the one who is there, standing on the docks. The Vampire changed, but not for the better. Something died inside her the minute she forgotten everything about Hope Mikaelson. What if she wants to keep their distance? Not want to see her ever again?

All these thoughts sat inside her head, sometimes running wildly every hour of everyday. A burden she will yet to carry if she doesn't spend another minute with Arabella.

"Don't want to company me, Hope?" Arabella asked, turning her figure to the girl who was standing still, frozen in place.

"I— uh..." Hope's throat went dry, not knowing if she should. Instead of expecting Arabella to push her away, the blonde pierced her shining purple eyes her way.

"Well?" She asked again, sitting down on the edge of the docks, wanting answers from the Tribrid once again.

Hope's lips formed a small smile, heartbeat decreasing its pace when she stepped forward, then another foot forward, then another. She exhaled, holding her hands together when she sat besides Arabella.

First, Arabella glanced at her side, meeting Hope's eyes so longingly. "Didn't expect for you to join the decade dance."

"Long story." Hope said simply, chuckling soon afterwards after the day she had. Arabella smiled, pleased to hear the laugh escape Hope's lips.

"Uh, Listen," Arabella cleared her throat, seeing a nervous state across the Mikaelson's eyes. "Over the summer, I keep getting glimpses of a girl. When I wake up from my dream, I don't remember her very well. Not even remember her face." She confessed, Hope intently listening. "Re-occuring nightmares. But then again, seeing the girl made me more calm and sane than I could ever feel. I haven't met her but... something clicked inside me. Something completed me."

Hope exhaled shakily which the other didn't notice, thank god. She didn't know what to say. Hope wasn't dumb nor daft, she knew very well it is her that was Arabella talking about.

"I have no fucking idea why I told you." Arabella nervously laughed, looking down the picture in embarrassment. Hope intently smiled at the girl's behaviour all of the sudden.

"You shouldn't really curse out loud. It doesn't suit you." Hope said honestly, remembering how she would scold her girlfriend if she could even cuss out a single word.

Arabella smiled and shook her head. "I'll keep that in mind." She replied back, feeling cared for.

"Can you tell me about this girl?" Hope asked, not wantung to push her buttons evens further but still, Arabella complied with no hesitation.

"It might sound crazy but whenever you're here with me, I feel like I'm in that dream again." She confessed, a weight on her shoulders lifted when she ripped it out of her chest. Hope didn't faze, looking at the blonde lovingly. "Hope, you are confusing yet you make feel like this."

The two stayed silent, with each others presence to keep them company. It wasn't an awkward and tortured silence and instead, a peaceful one that Arabella yearned for. She felt at peace, not the death kind, but the kind that will warm her heart.

☘︎︎