𝟙.𝟙𝟝: 𝕀'𝕝𝕝 𝕋𝕖𝕝𝕝 𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝔸 𝕊𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪

—Narrator's perspective—

Both Arabella and Hope sat on the edge of the docks where the tribrid would spar with Alaric. The Vampire explained thoroughly on what the merge exactly is and how it will effect both Josie and Lizzie tragically. Hope took it well and made Arabella promise not to tell Alaric that his daughters are inches away from finding out. Why? They deserve to know the truth.

"That's surprising. Your subconscious is me." Arabella said, a grin on her face when Hope activated the crystal on the sunlight.

"Oh shut it." The tribrid said in a playful manner before turning back to an exact copy of Arabella. But before she can say a word again, she turned back to the real Arabella and sucked a tight air through her teeth. "This is my subconscious. I'm sorry but you need to leave."

Arabella frowned but not before nodding. "Fine fine. I was looking forward on asking duplicate me your deepest secrets." She whined making Hope laugh and peck her lips for a split second.

"You already know all them." She pointed out with a cheeky grin making the blonde roll her eyes and leaned forward to capture her lips once more.

Neither wanted to let go and pull away but someone cleared their throat behind Hope which made them pull away and look.

"Yes, hi. Still here." The subconscious part of Hope said, a smile on her face and crossed her arms.

"Your subconscious ruined a perfectly good mood of mine." Arabella rolled her eyes, planting a kiss on Hope's forehead before backing away completely. "I'll see you." She smiled genuinely before turning around to leave.

Hope had a faux smile on her face and crossed her arms, watching her girlfriend leave, her figure getting smaller and smaller until she was no longer to be seen. She exhaled with a wide smile, still staring at the trail back to the Salvatore school.

"You're whipped." The duplicate of Arabella snorted, looking at Hope who got flushed and glared.

"Shut up."

☘︎︎

"Lizzie, why am I here?" Arabella asked in a blank tone, watching the blonde pace left and right from where she was sitting down.

"Because, Ara, My dad is hiding a major huge secret and then Josie is pissed at me. Then, It dawned on me that my dad has a friend for years and would totally spill all his secrets to." She chirped up in a grin, looking at the Vampire who sighed. "See! You do know."

Arabella cleared her throat before speaking. "Even if I did, it's not my secret to tell. Go help Jo on researching the merge." She waved her hand.

"Did it miss your brain that I told you that she is pissed at me?" Lizzie spat making Arabella nod in a sarcastic way and look away. "Whatever it is, it can't be that bad, right?" She asked nervously, glancing at the Salvatore who avoided eye contact.

The action made Lizzie tense and their surroundings started to shake. "Hey, Hey." Arabella called and held her shoulders. "Calm down. Breathe, Lizzie." She called out but got pushed away with her magic and flew to a wall as she groaned.

"Damn it! I'm sorry, Ara." Lizzie apologised and helped her stand up, profoundly freaking out after what happened betweem her and Josie in the lounge.

"It's fine, really." She gave an assuring smile, fixing her shirt as it was wrinkled. "Look, It's not my place to tell. I don't know what to tell you to make it all better."

The siphoner whined but nonetheless, she nodded feeling a little guilt for pushing her across the room.

"I really think you need to talk to Ric. Or the very least make amends with Josie and help her find out. Either way, I need a break from all this." She sighed, walking away to leave the dorm room after being dragged in it in the first place. Arabella stopped when she just reached the doorframe, looking back to talk. "Oh and, don't blame your father when you do find out. He's been through much, okay?"

With that said, The girl wanted some time alone and walked her way to her car in the garage. Well, about to when she saw Rafael bump into a vampire and having their eye contact battle on who's superior.

Alaric was quick to notice and was just about to hold Rafael back but the moment he touched the werewolf, he got tossed across the room making Arabella drop her bag and went to Raf.

"Shut it." She held a finger to the Vampire who was about to talk back by her sudden appearance. "Either you stand down or I'll do something worth while." Arabella shifted her eyes to red, looking directly to Rafael who had no intention to do so.

All Rafael could see was blood and wanted to kill the vampire who insulted him. So much so that he couldn't see Arabella who looked so intimidating by everyone in the room, glaring at the wolf like she could rip him apart which she can.

Jed noticed and went to them, specifically an angered alpha of his. He held his arm firmly, "Hey! Hey, wolves, stand down!" He shouted in authority tone, looking at the rest of the pack that was backing up Raf.

Then, Roman sped to them and looked at the vampires. "Enough!" He shouted directly to the Vampire who looked between Roman and Arabella who was much more powerful than them. It took a second but they backed down, scattering.

"Ric." Arabella sighed and walked towards him, helping him stand up. He thanked her and his gaze went to Rafael who was about to help him too but Ric stepped back. "Raf, please go." She pleaded coldly, not bothering to look at him.

Rafael apologised, looking at the girl more specifically but it's not like she would know that. He looked back and people were murmuring around him, making Raf run away.

"Arabella." A voice called her from behind and she darted her eyes at the call. "Can we, um, talk?" Roman asked in anticipation, hoping she would.

Arabella cleared her throat, looking at Ric if he was all right and he nodded. She turned around back to the vampire. "Make it quick. Come on." She said and they walked through the halls, heading to the memorial library, Leaving Ric with Emma to handle.

"I just wanted to apologise." He started and kept up with Arabella who already entered the library in silence, them stopping by a window with the view of outside, moon already showed its form in the dark sky. "I didn't mean to... hurt anyone. I know it's not an excuse but I was a kid. I didn't know any better."

"I know." She exhaled, closing her eyes for a minute before looking back at him. "But you have to understand here, Roman. Everytime I see you, all I see is the reason why Hayley is not with her daughter right now. But, I was too focused on vengeance that I never saw how Hope forgave you. You have my forgiveness but not fully."

Roman nodded, taking it rather than leaving the forgiveness. "You love her, don't you?" He asked, gesturing to Hope. She nodded in a small smile. "I'm glad she has someone to count on."

"I know we don't know each other and all but, when you saw Hayley go, was it traumatising?" She asked, eyes holding a sense that he would see. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

"No no, it's fine." Roman assured and pulled on the strap of his bag for it not to fall. "I'm not gonna lie, it wasn't pretty. I keep getting occuring nightmares of what happened."

"Did you... You know, ever moved on?" Arabella asked, hesitation. She wanted to know how can one even move past such a huge traumatic experience.

Roman sensed it making him frown. "Did something happened to you?" Concern and curiosity laced his voice in many ways.

"You can say I died by werewolf toxin. Nobody was there to soothe my hallucinations." She replied shortly, a pinch of pain in her chest which she ignored.

"Well to answer your question, it will be difficult to move on from it. Honestly? I myself hasn't yet. I'm still coping. But I know you can get through it." He gave a genuine smile. "You know, when you spared my life that night, It was a wake up call for me."

"How so?" She chuckled a bit, remembering what happened. Let's say it conducted with Arabella gripping his throat against a brick wall, her nails digging in his skin. It was a horrible night for Roman but he got lucky when she let him live.

"I have no idea. But, it made me come back to the Salvatore school and helped around on recruiting students for Dr. Saltzman." He shrugged. "I'm glad you forgave me, Arabella."

She nodded. "Ofcourse. I think Hayley's ghost will haunt me if I don't." Arabella joked which made them both laugh.

"Hey, look. If you ever need help anytime, you can call me." Roman offered and his eyes landed on the entrance of the library. "I'm sure Dr. Saltzman can give you my contact. Nice talking to you, Arabella." He gave her a look of gesture to look at the door before leaving himself.

Arabella didn't took note of his gesture and watched him leave, seeing Hope lean on the door looking at her. Hope smiled at Roman who passed by, her gaze turning to the blonde and hold an even wide smile.

The girl walked towards her only for Hope to pull her by her shirt and kiss her longingly. Students gave them a look and some were even jealous for Hope or for Arabella. Neither seemed to notice even when they seperated.

"What was that for?" Arabella frowned. "Not that I didn't mind but why? Something happened?" She asked further while they walk in the hallways.

"Oh nothing." She said cheerfully and informed Arabella they should go to Ric's office.

When they arrived, it was empty so they decided to wait until he arrived. Hope sitting on the desk while Arabella rummage through the book shelves. She found a peculiar book and took it, opening and when she did, a photo slipped downwards making her bent down and took it.

Her eyes scanned the picture, a small smile escaped her lips. It was Alaric's bachelor party which Arabella visited for only a minute since she had her focus on Jo Laughlin that night. Good thing she did or else Lily Salvatore would just as much kill her that night.

"I need to talk to you about Raf. Both of you." Alaric came busting in the doors and Arabella placed the book back and included the picture. She walked towards Hope.

"I have to say something first. Arabella told me about the merge." She said suddenly making the blonde taken aback and forgot all about it.

"I'm sorry I was suppose to warn you— I-I got sidetracked." She explained to Ric who sighed in frustration.

"Josie's pretty much figured it out, and, uh, Lizzie is spiralling. So, either you do it or I will, but it's time to tell them the truth." Hope spoke more further.

Arabella closed her eyes for a split second, slumping behind the desk in defeat. She exhaled deeply. "She's right. It's time, Ric." She said to the man who looked as if he gave up too.

"Okay..." He gave in, looking at the vampire in a pleading look. "I can't do this alone."

Arabella nodded, "I'll help." She glanced at Hope who gave them a thankful looks.

☘︎︎

"There's something you both need to know." Ric started, looking back to Arabella for help which she spoke up.

"It's about the merge..." She informed, the looks on the twins faces which screamed relief and yet nervousness.

Alaric told them to sit down, it was going to be a while. With the siphoner twins on Lizzie's bed, The other two on the opposite.

"When twins are born in the Gemini Coven, They are bound to merge their power as one." Ric started smoothly, a flashback of his worried with his last love, Jo, came back.

"When the merge is complete, Only one will remain." Alaric tried to sugarcoat it but all the twins could hear was utter death.

"So, one of us is gonna have to kill the other one?" Josie asked to make sure, her twin only looking at her in sadness.

"More like absorb. When Gemini twins turn 22, The merge will determine who will lead the coven." Their father informed sadly.

Arabella looked at him before speaking. "Only one will survive. Caroline was trying to find a solution. That's why she was always travelling and I would help her find a way— another way." She informed.

"But if there's no one left from the Gemini Coven—" Lizzie started but got abruptly interrupted.

"—No, it goes deeper than that. It's a curse, right? A curse on the Gemini twins?" Josie asked, specifically to Arabella who looked down in guilt.

She closed her eyes and answered her question. "Yeah. It's a curse." Arabella informed, upset that she heard Josie's voice break.

"I know I should have told you sooner. I just didn't know when. When do you... Tell your children something like that? I mean, could you handle that news at six? 11?" He sniffled and tried to hold himself together. "When exactly is the right time to tell your children that you... that you don't know if you'll be able to protect them? I mean, when I... When I look at you sometimes, I still see you as little girls. Riding your bikes for the first time. Learning to walk. Dancing on my feet. When I look at you, I see all of that. So I was never ready to tell you. I'm still not."

Arabella rubbed his shoulder in comfort, his tears broke down and he thanked her silently. She took a sharp breath, looking at the two in sorry for keeping it all a secret.

☘︎︎

"Hey, Ric, sorry to take off like that, But I just need a little time, So I'm going camping for a while."

Arabella squinted her eyes to hear better. "I hear footsteps, An Air conditioner on, A keycard being swiped." She said and looked at Hope who scoffed.

"Mm, Triad. I mean, it has to be them. They've already tried to come for him once." She sighed in frustration and faced a window.

"Well what do you propose we do?" Arabella asked but she already knew the answer when Hope turned to look at her with that look.

"We still have our super squad, right?" She chirped up but looked past Arabella to see Roman with a bag sling on his shoulder. "Hey. You're about to leave?" Hope asked and he nodded.

"Ric said I should probably head back out into the field, and I was actually coming to find you and say goodbye to the both of you earlier. But, uh, then I heard you on the dock." He informed earning a confused look from Arabella who turned to the tribrid. "Can't turn off my vamp hearing. I wasn't trying to spy or anything. You're not a mistake. The cosmos is lucky to have you." He smiled. "Uh, This is my cue to leave. Bye guys." Roman nodded at the two of them when they bid goodbyes.

Arabella turned to Hope in question. "What's this about the docks?" She asked and Hope wrapped her arm around her neck.

"You made me realise that Landon is in danger. More like my subconscious but, you know what I mean." She shrugged and Arabella smiled and nodded.

"I love you. Like Roman said, You will never be a mistake. Not in any supervillain's story, not even in any hero's. Because you know what? You are the best thing that happened to me, Hope Mikaelson." Arabella whispered, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Hope hugged her tight and not wanting to let go.

☘︎︎