CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO:
❝Sphinx❞︎

WHEN HOPE ASKED HER TO COME WATCH THE MALIVORE PORTAL WITH HER, HARPER DIDN'T HESITATE TO GO WITH HER. She knew how much Hope wanted to get out, especially with how things between her and Landon were, not to mention Josie who didn't even know where herself and Landon stood. The duo sat on the bench, Harper leaning her head on Hope's shoulder as she closed her eyes, keeping her ears alert if something were to appear.

     The sound of footsteps approaching made Harper lift her hand, smiling when she saw the twins making their way over to the duo. "Reporting for portal duty!" Lizzie smiled, sending the two a salute. Lizzie, noticing the surprised look that she was giving Josie, said, "I brought back up." After a moment, Hope sent the two a small smile.

     Lizzie and Josie sat down and there was nothing but silence. Hope was leaning closer towards Harper, her arms crossed over her chest as she tried to ignore Harper's encouraging words. The two friends shared a silent conversation with one another before Lizzie broke the silence. "So, this is . . . nice, right? Together again."

     "It's great." Hope nodded.

     "It's awesome." Josie mumbled.

     Lizzie exchanged looks with Harper. "I mean, for the two of you not to be talking to each other just because you're competing for the love of the same garden gnome. . ." Harper cracked a small smile at that. "I think we're more evolved than that as women."

     "Absolutely." Hope agreed.

     "Without a doubt." Josie nodded.

     "Good. Because, personally, I've never been better. My work paid off. My mind is sharp. All perceived mental break downs were a figment of my imagination fed by two manipulative vampires who will remain forever my enemies." Clearly Lizzie and Sebastian were doing great.

     "What's going on with Sebastian?" Hope decided to ask.

     "Headmaster Downton Abbey wants us to enroll him to keep him off the streets. But after deliberately letting me think I was unwell, I will not let that happen."

     "You should forgive MG." Josie suggested.  

     "Never."

     Josie turned to look at her. "He didn't want to hurt you."

     "He hid things from me. Zero stars."

     "He's not the only friend keeping secrets."

     Hope looked at her. "I didn't want to hurt you either."

     "Yeah, well, zero stars." Josie then turned to look at the crystal that Hope had been holding in her hands. "Is that what I think it is?"

     "Yeah." Hope then reached out, handing it to Josie. "Here. I don't need it anymore."

     Josie looked at her before grabbing it. "Thanks."

     Lizzie smiled. "Look at us. Clear hearts and minds. Letting the power of our intellect rule the day over our emotions. Moving forward with dignity and grace. This is the true definition of girl power." She pulled the group in for a side hug. "I'm proud of us."

     Harper quickly stood up. "Nope. I can't do this. I'm going to go see if Scarlett's around." And then she went to walk off only to stop when a man's voice appeared.

     "Greeting, witches." She turned to see a man sitting on the bench beside of the one she had been sitting on moments prior. Quickly the other three stood up, joining Harper's side. Lizzie moved to stand in front of them, crossing her arms over her chest.

     "Who the hell are you?"

     "An answer for an answer. There are two sisters. One gives birth to the other. And the other, in turn, gives birth to the first. Who are they?"

     "They're. . ."

     "Night and day." Josie cut Hope off. "The sisters are night and day."

     The creepily dressed man smiled. "Your reward for answering correctly is to know that you are in the presence of the master of the ancient lands." He stood up. "The all-holy ever divine sphinx." The four girls stared at him, unimpressed. "People are usually more impressed."

     Hope gave him a sarcastic smile. "It's been a long semester. Prohibere."  They paused when they saw a jogger run by them. Quickly the four all grabbed hands before saying in sync, "Invisique."

     "See? Girl power."

     Harper only groaned in response.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

     SHE HAD BEEN SITTING PEACEFULLY IN THE LIBRARY, LEGS PLACED OVER THE ARM OF THE CHAIR SHE WAS SITTING IN, A BOOK IN HER HANDS. A small smile was on her face as she read the words. The sound of approaching footsteps made her look up. Lizzie had her hands placed on her lips. "Harper. Get up. You have to see this."

     Harper frowned, closing the book and standing up. "See what exactly?"

     Lizzie dragged Harper to hers and Josie's shared bedroom where Josie was sitting. "Tell her."

     "I told you not to drag Harper into this." Josie sighed. Lizzie continued staring at her and finally Josie sighed. She showed Harper the hour glass that was to contain all the black magic she had used in order to create two Landon's.

     Harper ran a hand over her face. "There's two Landon's one of which we have to fill with Hope's blood so that it closes the portal? More importantly you're using black magic again?"

     "I'm doing what needs to be done to close the portal." Josie argued.

     "Just wait." Lizzie waved. "It gets better."

     "The second Landon will disintegrate once the lunar moon hits."

     "I leave you alone for five minutes and this happens?" Harper scoffed in disbelief. "I need a vacation." She sat on Lizzie's bed, rubbing her head. Harper pushed the hair out of her face and looked at Josie with nothing but pure worry on her face. Lizzie looked between the two before standing up and making her way out of the room. "Jo. . ."

"I know what you're going to say, Harp." Josie said before quickly standing up as if to prove her point. "Hope always makes the sacrifice and you always support her, but the one time I'm making the sacrifice you don't support me?"

"Josie, that's not fair."

"How? How is it not fair? You follow her around like a lost puppy, Harper. It's pathetic."

Harper stood up, ignoring the pain that shot through her heart at Josie's harshness. "Unlike you, Hope doesn't use black magic. She doesn't do things that will turn her into something she's not." Harper looked Josie up and down with a sneer. "It seems like it's already working on you." She quickly walked past Josie, arms crossed over her chest in anger.

"See. You're taking her side."

Harper spun on her heel. "Screw you, Josie. It's not my damn fault that I care about you." She paused, shaking her head. "I guess it is. I should've stayed secluded. Maybe I wouldn't have to watch someone I love do something so stupid that they don't even care about what it's doing to them or the people around them." Without saying anything else Harper quickly stormed out of the room, leaving Josie to stand there with her lips slightly parted.

Harper made her way to her room instead of going to Hope's like she usually would. She knew that the girl was giving the fake Landon her blood and Harper didn't want to bother her. She entered her room, throwing her hand out as the door slammed closed with silent magic. She flopped down on her bed, turning on her back to look up at the ceiling and forcing away the tears that so desperately wanted to surface. She turned on her side, eyes coming in contact with the bracelet Josie had given her. She reached forwards, taking it off the nightstand and messing with it in her hands. Her intrusive thoughts were telling her to burn it from anger, but the sentimental and stronger part of her was telling her to put it on and hold it close―︎she had a bad feeling forming in her stomach, and she didn't like it all.

She wasn't sure when she had fallen asleep, but her eyes slowly peeled open when a knock sounded on her door. She frowned, groaning in annoyance and turning on her other side, hoping to avoid whoever it was. The door opened and she sighed, opening one eye and slowly pushing herself up into a sitting position when she saw who it was. Harper didn't realize everything that she slept through.

Headmaster Vardemus was revealed to be Agent Clarke who was after Hope, Hope was chained with special cuffs that took her magic causing her to use trickery to escape before making it outside where Clarke found her, almost cut her with the dark object that would've put his subconscious into her only for fake Landon to save Hope's ass, cut himself with the object before the lunar moon hit sending them both to their deaths.

Harper stared at Josie who stood in the doorway, not wanting to come in fully if she wasn't welcome. Harper didn't say anything and Josie took that as her cue to step in further. She closed the door. Harper could tell she'd been crying and even though that anger still burned, her caring side took over and her face softened.

"Jo. . ." Harper slowly stood up from the bed, ready to give her a hug.

"Wait." Josie shook her head stopping Harper in her tracks. Harper frowned in confusion. Josie looked at her before her eyes fell on the bracelet that had her initial on it wrapped around Harper's wrist. She smiled a small smile, glancing at the matching one that was on her own. She'd never taken it off, not once. "Landon left."

"I'm so sorry, Josie." Harper softly whispered.

Josie smiled. "Hope and I made up." Her hand messed wit her bracelet. "I'm sorry about what I said earlier. You were right. That wasn't fair. I was just mad about everything. I should've listened to you. I'm sorry."

"Jo, you don't have to apologize to me."

"You're so nice." Josie shook her head, admiration in her eyes. "No matter how cruel someone is to you, kindness always takes over. And I love that about you. I love the way your smile lights up an entire room, the way your laugh is so contagious it makes everyone around you laugh as well. Part of me wishes that you were mad at me, that you were yelling at me for how stupid I was, but the other part of me is thankful that you're not because if you were I wouldn't get to say this." Josie took a deep breath. "Harper, I―︎"

"Josie, don't say something you're going to regret." Harper softly cut her off, shaking her head. "You just got out of a relationship with Landon. You need time to think―︎"

"No, I've waited too long. I had so many chances and I've screwed them all up, I can't screw this up too." Josie stepped forwards, grabbing Harpers hands. Josie met Harper's eyes, fear filling her stomach because she'd never felt such whiplash emotions before. She didn't know how she could go from loving one person to the next, but what she did know was that she loved Harper far before she'd ever loved Landon or even Penelope for that matter. She hated that it had taken her so long to come to terms to that, but this was her chance. "Harper, I love you. You don't have to say it back, but I needed to tell you because everything's happening all at once and I knew if I didn't do it now I would never have the guts to do it again."

Harper's heart beat rapidly in her chest. Her eyes widened when Josie said the words out loud. The words were stuck in her throat. She loved Josie, she knew that, but she was in such shock that her brain wasn't processing fast enough for her to spit them out as well. So instead she opted to pull Josie closer and press her lips against hers. Josie kissed her back with such want that it took Harper's breath away. Her stomach did flips, smile pulling on her lips as she continued to kiss her. The two pulled away, catching their breaths and smiling at one another.

Harper pressed her forehead against Josie's. "You have no idea how long I've waited to hear you say that."

"You have no idea how long I've waited to say that." Josie replied.

Harper looked up and met Josie's eyes and smile on her lips. "You think Lizzie would mind if you stayed in here for the night?"

Josie smiled back. "I think she can handle one night without me."

In the hall Hope and Lizzie stood there, Hope repeating everything that was happening to Lizzie. The two girls shared smiles with one another before giving each other silent fist bumps, walking away from the room in order to let the two girls have their privacy.