𝟚.𝟙𝟝: 𝕃𝕚𝕗𝕖 𝕎𝕒𝕤 𝕊𝕠 𝕄𝕦𝕔𝕙 𝔼𝕒𝕤𝕚𝕖𝕣 𝕎𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕀 𝕆𝕟𝕝𝕪 ℂ𝕒𝕣𝕖𝕕 𝔸𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕄𝕪𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕗

-Narrator's perspective-

"I know you are all worried. Believe me, no one is more worried than I am. My daughter Josie is still missing. But even as I speak, we're doing everything we can to find her. Jed and the wolves are attempting to track her. Kaleb and the vampires have compelled local police for any help that they can provide. We will find her and bring her home." Alaric looked over his students as he gave the morning assembly. "That said, I just want to reiterate, under no circumstances should any of you approach her. While she is out family and friend, she is under the influence of black magic and... not herself. Your safety and Josie's is my top priority. I promise you I will get through to her and bring back the Josie we know and love safely. But first, we just have to find her."

A loud thud occured on the entrance on the top of the stairs. Everyone looked back, the doors opened and in entered Josie Saltzman with a new look. "I'm right here, dad." She greeted like it was no big deal and descended from the stairs using her magic.

"Well, don't look so shocked. Did you really think that I would miss my birthday?" She asked and turned to her sister who was just on her right. "Oh, I'm sorry, our birthday. So, what did I miss?"

Arabella exhaled, looking back to Ric who didn't know what to say or do at this point. Everyone didn't. So they just took off, every single one went their own ways including Arabella who walked around the school and made sure that Josie won't do anything drastic.

That was useless seeing as she has black magic and a squad of witches who are more than willing to back her up. Arabella even witnessed Josie almost siphoned Mg to desiccation.

"We need to talk to Dr. Saltzman." Hope spoke besides the blonde who also saw the entire thing go down. "Kaleb." She called, cocking her head to the side as a gesture to follow them.

He nodded and told Mg to be careful and not piss off Josie next time. The three, Hope, Arabella and Kaleb walked to get to the headmaster's office. Before they can get in, Kaleb told them to wait as they listen in on what's going on on the inside.

Hope opened the doors and they all came inside immediately. "So that's your plan? To lock Josie in the box?" Kaleb asked.

"Which you know she's fully capable of controlling, right?" Hope added, closing the door behind them and walked towards the desk.

"Professor Vardemus assured me she wouldn't be able to do that at thus difficulty level. Plus, the box will keep her safe until Caroline and I can figure out a way to help her permanently." He explained calmly.

"Yeah, but what if she hurts someone before you do? She just tried desiccating Mg." The male vampire argued back, completely against this plan.

"And that's a good sign, because she's fully capable of doing worse. If anything, I see that as proof that she can still be reached."

"Yeah, well, I looked in her freaky black eyes and I'm not so sure about that, Doc." He said once again, arguing the fact.

"Look, we want to help Josie, obviously, but we need to keep the school safe." Hope interrupted their debacle, looking over the human who was stubborn.

"And the only way we can do that is if we treat this like a monster problem." Kaleb added.

Alaric blankly said, "I just don't see it that way." The three in front of him looked at each other with a knowing look.

"Sorry, Ric." Arabella said wholeheartedly.

"Gonna have to sit this one out." Kaleb finished, both the vampires looked over the witch who waved her hand as the box opened.

Alaric got blinded with the light as his subconscious got pulled in the simulation. His figure dropped to the chair behind him, falling asleep immediately.

"Okay, now what's the plan?"

☘︎︎

"Okay, that settles it. My sister is definitely a monster." Lizzie whispered over the two who was sitting besides each other on the bleachers inside the gym. "Who else would decorate for out birthday party with black?" She asked, looking over to the witches that was setting everything up.

"Shouldn't you be in, like, witness protection or something?" Hope asked, fondling with Arabella's hands that was on her lap.

"If she still wants to kill me, The safest place I can be is right next to both of you." She smiled. "So spill. I wanna help you with whatever diabolical plan you're cooking up."

"Okay, fine but just, like, keep it down. I don't want her to know that we're up to anything." Hope whispered and the two looked away from each other.

Without the three knowing, Josie was all ready behind them. "Up to what, exactly?" The three looked away in complete surprise. "Come on guys, this is all so unnecessary. If you have something to ask me, go ahead. I don't bite."

"Then I will. Where's Josie?" Hope asked, looking back to talk to her.

"I'm right here, silly." She answered back in a smooth tone.

"She means our Josie." Arabella said and Josie only looked at her with a hidden of amusement look.

"So you mean Weak Josie? She's gone- I thought I made that very clear. Thanks to you, selfish sissy." She hinted to Lizzie who sighed.

"You're right, okay? I was selfish." Josie only nodded, acting like every word got to her which it didn't. "If you just come back, I'll try and change."

Josie smiled. "You always try to change. And it never sticks. So, pass. Any other questions?" She asked the three.

"You said you came back here for a reason. Because deep down, you know that we can bring the good inside of you out." Hope stated.

"You're right. I do have a reason." Josie said and stood up, walking past in between Lizzie and Hope. "And now I have to ruin the surprise." She snapped her finger and turned around to watch how her twin reacted. Which was that Lizzie's mouth went agape.

"Merging isn't even possible. We're not 22." She said with slight fear even of the word itself.

Arabella could merely felt her fear cave in. This problem was something for her to worry in the next few years, not now.

"Yeah, see, it turns out that's just a guideline. Kind of like driving a car or smoking cigarettes. Nobody wants you to do it before you're old enough but you can." She smiled innocently. "So I'll see you three tonight? Finger foods at around 7:30-ish and then the Merge at 8:00. Oh, and don't be late, Lizzie, or else I will have to do something drastic."

"Jo you can't do this. Caroline has only started on finding a way for both of you not to do this." Arabella said and she wished she hadn't pressed Josie's buttons.

Josie hummed. "Come talk to me when you tell Hope what you were planning when we were stuck in the Prison world. Until then, ciao." She winked and left them alone to possibly argue.

"Plan? What was she talking about?" Hope asked, diverting her attention to her girlfriend who seemed on edge. When she looked as if she didn't want to talk, Hope asked again. "Arabella." She warned more seriously.

"It was stupid- and now, it's over." She excused but that didn't even faze Hope who gave her a warning look. Arabella sighed, knowing this conversation will come soon. "When Ric was planning to be the anchor to the Prison world, I told Josie to swap our places when the time was right."

Startled, Hope eyed her dangerously. "Dr. Saltzman told me that, that world was disintegrating when Josie made the doors. You were planning on dying?!" By now, students looked over them and started to whisper.

"What was I suppose to do, Hope? Alaric is one of my bestfriends- including Lizzie and Josie's father. I can't just stand there and watch him die." She whispered, tilting her head downwards to minimize her voice.

"Arabella, don't you realize what would happen if you did become the anchor- I would have lost you." Again, Hope was furious and had her full attention to the blonde who sighed.

"But I didn't. And I'm here." She defended, not missing how Hope narrowed her eyes to her, almost ready to hit her for almost sacrificing her life.

"You wouldn't be here if-"

"-Ladies, enough." Lizzie whispered, gesturing to the many eyes that was staring at their way. "Under different circumstances, I would back Ara here, but Hope's right." She gave a quick sympathetic look to the vampire who scoffed under her breath before looking away.

Arabella sighed, closing her eyes for a second before standing up and used her vampire speed to leave. She stopped by an empty hallway, holding onto a wall to steady herself. For once, she told herself that she's just being dramatic and pushed past every bad feeling she had.

With much strength she used, Arabella took in a breath before walking normally along the halls. Despite that wretching pain, she forcefully pushed it away like it was nothing.

☘︎︎

"You're gonna stop her, right? That's what you do, isn't it? Take out monsters?" Jed asked, looking back to the three who watched him lay a very dead Alyssa on the couch.

"Okay, man, come on, let's get you some air, all right?" Kaleb said in a soft tone, gesturing for the wolf to head out with him which they did.

Arabella exhaled, flopping down on the one chaired sofa before she heard Mg came inside the room.

"Lizzie's car is gone. She bolted." He informed.

"Great. What more disaster is to come?" The blonde vampire muttered under her breath, standing up to pour herself a drink which was hidden under a couch.

"I knew Josie was dangerous- I just didn't think that she was capable of something like this." Hope said in a defeated voice, looking over Alyssa.

Mg walked close to the dead witch. "It's my fault. If I could've just gotten through to her-"

"-Like I keep saying, there is no getting through to her." Kaleb said, interrupting their conversation.

"We are not giving up on Josie. The only way to protect the school is to bring her back." Hope looked back to him in a determined, subtle tone.

"Tell that to Alyssa, Hope." He countered, holding onto a nearby chair as they talked.

"If we give up now, she'll have died for nothing. So we have to stick to the plan." She informed and looked to Mg behind her. "And you need to bring Lizzie back. She needs you, Mg. We all do."

Mg slightly nodded, feeling determined to bring the siphoner back to school and sped off to follow Lizzie to bring her back. Kaleb chuckled softly before going to the bookshelves.

"What are you doing?" Hope asked, looking to the boy who pulled a book and a door revealed itself, opening for a passage. Arabella did the same, walking to where Kaleb was.

"What you won't." He said and grabbed a weapon inside the room. "Putting together a plan B. In case you're wrong." He walked out with a crossbow making Arabella wonder if she should just take it before he hurts himself.

"I can't let you do that." The Mikaelson sighed, looking over the box on the desk.

"Yeah, and what are you gonna do to stop me, Hope?" He countered, a little too confident.

Arabella stepped away when Hope flickered her hand and the box opened. It blinded Kaleb as he was pulled in the simulation, body dropping to the floor.

"You sure you're up for this?" Arabella asked, pulling the crossbow and tossing it back inside the room then looked back to the Tribrid who nodded, determined. "I know there's nothing I can say to make you change your mind, so... best of luck." She sighed, turning to head to the exit but stopped when Hope called her.

"Bella." She sighed, walking close to the girl. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry for being mad earlier. If this doesn't work and goes sideways, I don't want us to be arguing."

"It'll work. Even though you have made some many ridiculous plans, they always work." Arabella said, earning a small smile to the girl's face. "We will talk after all this mess. I promise." She said, cupping both sides of Hope's cheek.

Hope nodded, staring in the eyes of the girl she loves. She didn't know how to tell Arabella that there was a chance she might now wake up. "I love you." She whispered.

"Yes, I know. I love you too." Arabella said, matching her smile before placing a kiss on the witch's forehead. It lasted for 5 seconds but it felt more than that when Hope held her wrist in a melting feeling. "You need to go and talk to Landon. I'll be cheering you on to the sidelines." She said, backing away and dropped her hands to her side.

"I'll see you later?" She asked, hopeful and longing look as their eyes met once again.

Arabella nodded, already walking to the other exit that will lead her to a much more faster route to the gym. "Always." She said and turned her heels, leaving the room with a satisfied look.

☘︎︎

People were whistling, cheering just outside the boxing arena. "Vampires, witches and werewolves. Children of all ages." The Necromancer pulled his hood off, revealing his face. "It's the event we've all been waiting for. The... Merge!" He announced and took the robe off.

"I thought that guy was dead." Jed said confusedly to the girl besides her who merely shrugged.

"Guy didn't want to stay dead, I guess." Arabella said, anticipation awaited in her stomach as she kept looking on the entrance fot Hope.

"In the crimson corner and robe, hailing from Mystic Falls, Virginia, the former Queen of Codependency, the reigning Sultan of Siphon, Josie Saltzman!" He pointed at the doors as it slammed open.

In entered Josie, all ready and confident of her new aura. Alongside of her was two figures who's faces was covered to the hood they were wearing. As they pulled it off, Alyssa Chang revealed herself to the crowd.

"Thought she was dead, too." The werewolf had a smile on his face when he saw the witch.

"And in the blue corner, the Queen of Mean, The Blonde Banshee, She Who Is About to Be Siphoned into Oblivion, your very own... Elizabeth Saltzman!" Again, he pointed at the door as the lights followed but no one entered the room.

People clapped, cheering for the blonde siphoner's name that was mentioned but no one came inside. Josie laughed, knowing this will happen and took the mic as the lights were normal again.

"Well, my selfish sister didn't show up. Who am I gonna kill? Should it be... vampires?" She looked over the group of the supernatural kind, all except Arabella was quivering in fear. "Maybe witches?" Josie turned to look at them, all backed away. "How about some werewolves?"

When she finished talking, the doors opened and Hope entered the room. She walked towards the boxing arena, doing a front flip as she landed on her knee, looking up to meet Josie's gaze. She slowly stood up. "Why not try all three?" Arabella secretly smiled, leaning over the ledge as she watched proudly of everything that will occur as the cheers immensely arise.

It all started with Josie firing a spell, out of anger that her sister didn't show up. Hope dodged it and rolled over to her side, also fired a spell of her own but Josie only siphoned it to use.

As the fight grew more intense, Arabella couldn't help but feel worried. Then again, she just had to step in in case Hope might get herself hurt. Everyone was cheering, completely satisfied with the fight.

"Lecutio Maxima!" Josie lunged her hand forward.

"Scutum!" Hope did the same, both of their powers and spells were countering each other.

With Josie's red, Hope's blue. However, there was only one person who held dark magic between them and she managed to push back Hope.

Arabella winced, fidgeting with her hands in nervousness as she watched this go on but can't do anything to stop or help it.

"This isn't fun. You're not even fighting back." Josie said in an annoyed tone, walking left and right.

"Neither are you. I know that you're in there, Josie." The Tribrid said, still on her one knee.

"Give it up, Hope. What's it gonna take to get it through to your thick wolf skull that I'm Josie now? Incendia!" She casted and a fire almost hit the girl but instead, it hit the corner and a sharp wood was there.

Hope used this as an opportunity and kicked the Siphoner backwards, Josie hit her back on the corner and almost fell. "You are not Josie. I know that you think she's weak, but I know the truth, She's strong. You're strong. No one could shoulder the burden that you carry. And you're always there for your friends when they need you. So, please, Jo, we really need you right now."

"Enough of this drivel. What are you waiting for? Kill the Tribrid." The Necromancer said, going to Jo who was still hanging onto the sides. When he said that, Arabella couldn't help but shift her eyes to red clenched her fist to a ball.

"Shut up. Everybody, shut up!" Jose yelled, closing her eyes as she felt something inside her fight. When the silence grew, Josie gasped as the real her caught a glimpse of Hope's worried look. "Hope?" She asked, more soft and herself than the one earlier.

"Jo, is that you?" Hope stood up, feeling the sense of hope that Josie came back.

Then, Josie exhaled and inhaled deeply as the dark side of her came back. She hummed and eyes rolled until it turned deep black. "Did you really think that you'd be the one that would bring out my good side? I don't even think she likes you. Ascendo." She hovered her hand up and Hope got lifted up the ground to the sharp wood behind her.

Arabella tried to get to the girl but Josie used her other hand and the vampire was slammed against the wall. She tried to get off the magic that was holding her but was no use. Fear covered her eyes when she could only watch what was happening.

"I guess your girlfriend will watch you die." Josie hummed, dropping both the spell to the two. Arabella couldn't even yell as she dropped to her knees, watched as Hope stopped in midair, inches away from the stake.

Lizzie was holding onto Mg's shoulder while her other hand was keeping Hope from falling. "I should have mentioned this earlier. But Black really isn't your color."

"You're late to your own funeral." Josie said, didn't care how Arabella came to get Hope down safely.

"No. I am right on time to kick your ass." She said confidently and people started to cheer for her.

"You almost gave me a heart attack." Ara exhaled, looking over to the Mikaelson who gave her a comforting smile.

"This stupid potion of yours is gonna work, right? Because it tasted like feet." Lizzie interrupted their little moment in a whisper.

"It will if you win." She assured wholeheartedly "Thanks for coming back."

"Like I had a choice. Dirty trick, sending Jiminy Cricket after me." She looked over the afro haired vampire who smiled.

"You would've done the right thing if I was here or not. Now siphon me. You got to be at full strength." He held his hand out, expecting for the blonde to hold it.

Instead, Lizzie cupped both of his cheeks and gave him a kiss as everyone cheered silently outside the box. Arabella internally smiled, diverting her gaze elsewhere to how proud she was. Hope didn't even held her smile and just nodded unbelievably.

When the two parted, Mg looked flustered and Lizzie was not even fazed. "Just to be clear, that was for you and not me. Just in case I lose." She turned around and Mg nodded, a smile peaked his face. "All right, Sister Satan. Let's dance, but I'm not getting my Merge on until I know that the rest of the school is safe."

With a snap of a finger, the doors opened. "Everyone out. Now." Josie ordered.

"You heard her. Let's go. Come on." Jed said in a loud voice, making sure everyone left the room.

"For the record, This huge act of selflessness fully cancels out all of my previous misdeeds." Lizzie shouted.

Arabella stood besides Hope who was besides Mg, all three who was in Lizzie's corner the entire time. When the door closed, it was time.

"Enough of this foreplay. It's time for the main event." The Necromancer handed Josie a knife.

"You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this." She pinched the blade on her palm, exhaling of the pain.

"Apparently, not long enough to think of something clever to say." Lizzie said, acting tough and she is tough. Especially when she remained her ground when Josie draw blood off her palm as well.

The two held hands, closing their eyes as the twins begin to chant in unison. "Sanguinem desimilus, Sanguinem generis fiantus." They continued to repeat as their surroundings became more and more intense.

"You really think she can win?" Mg asked without taking his eyes off the twins that was about to merge.

"If she can't, let's pray plan B works." Hope said, also watching the two as their eyeballs turn white.

Lights were breaking around them, losing control of the wind.

"Is she winning?" Again, Mg asked in worry, now looking at the two girls who seemed unsure.

"I don't know." Hope said honestly, nervous but still had faith that Lizzie will pull this off.

Then, Lizzie and Josie stopped chanting and their hands dropped to their side. Both of them fell backwards, bodies collapsed on opposite sides. The lights went out and Mg sped Hope to Josie, after doing the head dive, the three bolted.

"Get away from them." Alaric warned, walking towards them.

☘︎︎

"This morning, I told you we would all be okay, that we'd... get Josie back. I-I was wrong..." Alaric said in front of his many students.

Arabella couldn't even hear him, it was as if she lost her sense to hear a thing which confused her. With the original plan not working, they had to resort to plan B which placed Hope in danger. She didn't even get to say goodluck or talk to her before Hope went inside Josie's head. It all happened too fast for her liking.

The blonde vampire stared into oblivion, not knowing if she herself is acting or deeply emotional. Nonetheless, she was just upset that Josie is still gone and Hope went to wonderland.

"It won't be long now, if it worked." Mg said as the three entered the room, all looked at a once sleeping Lizzie who gasped awake and sat up from the couch.

"Oh, thank god." Ric sighed in relief, walking to his daughter and giving her a hug.

Lizzie exhaled, returning the hug and Mg jumped in to join them in victory.

"Hell of a plan." Kaleb said, looking over to Arabella who just stared to the three, still madly concerned for a certain Mikaelson. He frowned but didn't question is seeing as she had every right to be upset.

"You're alive, sweetheart. And that's all that matters right now." Ric assured when the blonde asked him what was going on.

"That means that I won, that-that I..." She shuddered in complete nervousness. Arabella shook her head, knowing full well who won the merge.

"Josie's fine. She thinks she won. But, uh, Hope had a plan B." He looked over the three, moreover Arabella to explain it but she shook her head, looking away.

Mg noticed and stepped in. "The potion she made wasn't just to keep your mind seperate from Jo's. It linked your life to Landon's temporarily. So when you died, he died, too. But since he's immortal, you came back when he did." He explained.

"Hope thinks we can get Josie back."

"How?" She asked, still confusd and out of the loop on Plan B.

"That's where your boy Mg came in the clutch." Kaleb added and Mg spread his arms wide and Alaric told him to calm down.

Mg laughed. "I helped hope do an old fashioned vampire head dive. That's why you had to go through with the merge. Hope needed Josie to be vulnerable. Josie's shields were down, so I sent Hope into Josie's mind. And then I juked her out of there before anyone knew what we were doing."

"Why didn't anyone tell me?" Lizzie asked.

"Hope couldn't risk Josie figuring out the plan when the two of your minds melded in the Merge." Her father, Ric, explained thoroughly.

"Plus, we knew you weren't gonna run away for real. Heroes save the day, even when it's hard, right?" Mg said and they all warmly smiled. Well, except Arabella who was still inside her own head, suffocating.

"So... Hope's in Josie's mind?" She asked.

"Yeah there's uh, more... to that." Kaleb said and looked over to Arabella who walked to the shelves.

The girl pulled a book back, opening the passage with the rest following her. When it opened, they all saw Hope asleep but was inside Josie's mind.

"Until everything works out, you can't be seen outside." Arabella informed, still had her eyes glued to the sleeping Tribrid in worry.

"The Necromancer's spying on us, so... we have to play to his camera." Ric added, all of them glancing at the Mikaelson.

Besides them all, Arabella clasped her hand on her eyes for a second before dropping it to her side. She exhaled, pushing past the people behind her as she left the room, couldn't handle on seeing Hope in this state. There were many risks and yet, many were running in her head.

As Mg was about to follow her, Alaric held his shoulder, preventing him to do so. "She needs time. Leave her be." He said, sighing when Arabella's footsteps were fading away.