𝟙.𝟜: ℍ𝕠𝕡𝕖 𝕀𝕤 ℕ𝕠𝕥 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕠𝕒𝕝

—Narrator's perspective—

"He's not my boyfriend." Hope defended and slightly offended that Lizzie assumed that Landon and she were together. Arabella felt herself felt calmer when she heard it, wait but why?

"If we had something from it, we could do a tracking spell." Lizzie informed and all out of the blue, Landon came up to them with a tired expression from all the running.

He held his hand up, holding a skin. "Would its face work?" Arabella frowned at how he got it.

☘︎︎

The phone that Mg was carrying around started to ring. He gave it to Lizzie to handle while they continued to run towards where the spider was.

"I suck at lying." Lizze whined and turned her head besides her. "You're great at it." She gave the phone to Landon who non-knowingly grabbed it.

"You're his favourite." Landon passed the phone to Hope who also took it confused.

Hope gave it to Arabella besides her. "You're his bestfriend." She remarked and sent a teasing smile before hurrying off. Arabella clicked her tongue and gave it to Lizzie again.

"You're the hero." She shrugged and got a few distance away from Lizzie and having no choice but to answer the call and they all stopped to take a breath

"Hi, Daddy!" Lizzie was right at this one, she can't even sound happy on talking to Alaric.

"Hey, thought I'd call check in, see how things are going." Alaric spoke from the other line, besidess him is Matt Donovan who was listening as well.

"So good." She awkwardly said and Hope gave her a support nod.

"Really? Define 'good', Lizzie, Because I don't think that involves me tracking down Dana's body to the glove compartment." He spat angrily and looked at the skin.

Arabella frowned. "A glove compartment, really?" She whispered and everyone shrugged like it was no big deal.

"Was that Ara? Let me talk to her." He ordered which Lizzie gave the phone to the girl forcefully.

Arabella closed her eyes for a second before putting the phone against her ear. "You have impeccable timing, Ric." She said in a sarcastic way. "Don't worry, we cracked the case. It's a spider. But very huge one."

"A spider? I told you to keep an eye out while they search for Dana, not the monster itself." He said and sighed making Arabella roll her eyes. "Whatever they're thinking of doing, don't, okay? So just keep my daughter and students right where you are and tell me where to find you?"

Arabella looked over Hope and the others who was shaking their head and telling her no. Eventually, she gave in and sigh. "Your daughter is persistent, Ric. See you later and I better not see you-know-who in the school when we get back." She hung up and tossed the phone to Mg who caught it.

"You-know-who who?" Mg asked and Arabella shrugged before speeding away from them. Everyone soon followed with thoughts on why the Vampire looked so distressed.

It might be petty for Arabella to hold a grudge for so many years against Matt, but she definitely has no remorse. Since the start, the girl did everything to protect him against Damon's wrath but in the end, He ended up betraying Arabella for the most messed up reason.

"Oh what the hell is that..." She whispered when she saw the very large spider that turned its attention to her. Then her eyes landed on Josie and Raf who was stuck in a web. "Uh Hope!" Ara called and the witch came rushing to her way again.

"Go help Jo and Raf. I got this." She said and Arabella didn't waste a second to speed to the two.

Arabella immediately turned around when she saw Josie and Raf in a heated moment. "Are you seriously about to have sex when there's an actual arachnid lurking here?" She shouted and grabbed Rafael's arm, pulling him off the web. It took a while but she got him out.

Josie looked flustered and was about to explain why she's done it but got sidetracked. "Go and get Raf out. We got this." She said to Arabella who sighed and nodded in frustration of what she saw.

"We'll talk about this." Arabella pointed at her before grabbing Rafael and sped out of there, just outside the mill. "Were you really making out when there's a crisis?" She asked Raf who looked flustered.

"Nice." Mg chuckled and high fived Rafael when he brought down Sasha who was covered in webs. When they did, something exploded inside the mill which made them look at each other in worry.

Arabella's hand were on her hips while they stare at the three witches who just got out of the mill, orange goo covering them from head to toe. It somehow made her stiffle a laughter and look away.

"Very funny." Lizzie scoffed.

☘︎︎

Arabella stood in front of the shelves full of ancient books, her breath hitched once she saw the familiar leathered cover journal which always haunted her whenever she would go. All she ever did was ignore it but every time she would, her thoughts would always go to it.

"Something caught your eye?"

She turned around and saw Hope walking up to her. Hair was still damp as she just took a shower. Ara sighed and shrugged, taking the book from the shelf and showed it to her.

"I killed my parents..." She confessed, Hope looked at her in shock by the sudden revelation. "I found out that they were going to sacrifice my life for more power. And I didn't want to die knowing they stole my magic too." Bella sat down on the couch, fondling with the leather of a journal.

For the first time, she had no problem on telling people what happened. The Vampire could care less if people judge her for being the girl who killed her own parents. But then again, the bloodlust and heightened emotion of rage drove herself to it.

"Sometimes..." Ara started and looked at Hope who was already besides her. "...Not all family sticks together." She shrugged and looked back down to the journal on her hands. "My mother was selfish, sure. But the woman is smart and powerful enough to create a curse that defied every laws of nature."

"A curse?" Hope asked skeptic, yes she was concerned on what Bella might be feeling right now but she couldn't help but ask.

She nodded sadly, "Story for another day but what I'm trying to say is, Hope." Arabella stood back up, placing the journal back to its proper place before she turned her heels and looked at the witch. "You're lucky for having your parents. They would have loved to see you grow up rightfully so." Before Hope could even talk, Arabella turned around and left the room with a heavy heart.

She was in no position to feel so lousy and act like she knows it all but, Hope was looking too distressed about wanting to be normal that she didn't even see that she already is. A loving family who will do anything to protect her, that was what everybody wanted that was normal.

"Arabella." Matt called when he saw her, walking in the lounge and just by the exit.

"I'd suggest you leave before I deliever your heart to the precinct." She sing-songed and gave him a strict look, crossing her arms when she stood in front of the fireplace.

"It's been years, Ara. Can't you put it past us?" He asked in a cold tone which only angered the blonde vampire who scoffed.

"You are delusional if you think I'm just going to forgive and forget everything." She pointed and walked towards him in warning. "God, I was so stupid to believe that you were just an 'innocent' human." Arabella emphasised in the sense of irony.

Matt sighed. "I thought you killed my fiancée, Ara. When Stefan and you came to visit Mystic Falls that day, There was no other evidence!"

"You fucking drove a stake in my heart!" She shouted finally. "I never, in a million years would have told anyone about my curse! I was forced to when suddenly, I woke up with a wooden stake in my chest. You killed me."

"But you didn't die." He argued which he looked so dumb to Arabella who laughed manically.

"Is that your defense? That I didn't die?!" She shouted and now was inches away from him that made him pull his gun out his holster and pointed it at her.

Alaric came rushing to them. "Matt! This is a school!" He harshly whispered and looked over to see who he's pointing the gun at. Arabella put her hand up to Alaric while having her eyes dead set on the sheriff.

"If you pull that trigger, Donovan, I'll make sure your townies starts to disappear one by one." She threatened and Matt was gripping on the handle to tight. "I know you want to shoot me so go."

"Okay enough." Alaric whispered again and pulled the gun downwards. "Sheriff you should leave before something happens." He warned and Matt looked at the Vampire who's eyes were glowing. He put his gun back to his holster and left, the door slammed loudly.

Arabella clenched her fist tightly, nails was digging in her palm. There was no amount of words that will explain her anger right now.

"Ara—"

Alaric called but the Vampire was already gone for the night. He sighed and looked at the end of the hall, Hope was standing there.

☘︎︎