CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE:
❝︎Promise Me❞︎

"ATTENTION STUDENTS, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE MORNING ASSEMBLY." Alaric's voice echoed over the intercom. Harper didn't want to move from her bed, and although Hope enjoyed having her own room now that she'd been moved, she knew Harper needed her so for the meantime she was staying with Harper. Hope watched Harper, frowning deeply.

"Come on, Harp." Hope gently said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "We need to go."

"I don't want to go." Harper whispered. She's been non stop crying since it happened.

"I know." Hope nodded. "But you have to." Harper finally got out of bed and Hope interlocked their arms as they made their way towards the assembly. Hope glanced towards Landon and immediately turned away from him and led Harper to the assembly.

Alaric stood in front of all of the students. "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 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. That said, I just want to reiterate, under no circumstances should any of you approach her. While she is our 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 all know and love safely. But first, we just have to find her."

The sound of doors flying open made them all turn. Josie entered through the double doors at the top of the steps. "I'm right here, dad." Immediately Harper and Hope stood up. Josie floated over the stairs, landing on the floor safely. "Well, don't look so shocked. Did you really think that I would miss my birthday?" She looked at Lizzie, placing a hair behind her ear. "Oh, I'm sorry, our birthday." She turned back towards her dad. "So, what did I miss?"

The assembly was dismissed and as Josie walked around the school, using students to prepare for her birthday, Harper hid away in her room. She stayed in there all day, putting her nose in multiple books, trying a way to distract herself. She couldn't see Josie like this. A knock came at her door before it opened. It was Hope, she came in now without Harper's permission and Harper didn't hate her comfort so she let her.

"Josie's planning to merge with Lizzie tonight."

Harper closed her book immediately, looking at Hope with wide eyes. "What?"

"I have a plan. Lizzie has to win in order to make it work, she's talking to a witch that's supposed to help her. I didn't know if you wanted to be in it or not so I didn't really include you." Hope trailed off at the last part.

"And if Lizzie doesn't win?" Harper asked. "She'll die, Hope."

"Harp, it's the best plan we have."

"Well, it's a shit plan." Harper snapped, her eyes flashing yellow for a moment before she closed her eyes and leaned back against her bedframe. "Sorry."

Hope shook her head. "No, no it's okay. You're angry, and upset, and I get it. Don't apologize for your emotions." Hope took a seat beside of her, placing a hand over Harper's. "I know you care about her, and I know you love her, Harper, but we have to do something."

Harper nodded. "I know." She clenched her jaw and shook her head. "Hope, I just don't think everyone's going to make it out of this one."

"We'll be okay, Harper." Hope looked at her for a moment. "She won't hurt you."

"You don't know that."

"You're her weakness, Harp. Her kryptonite. She may be a villain right now, but Josie's still in there, and she wouldn't hurt you."

"Me being her weakness is a main reason for her to hurt me." Harper argued. "She wants to get me off the board. It's like a came of chess and I'm checkmate. She's one move away from killing me."

Hope shook her head. "I won't let her hurt you." Harper just looked at her. "Harp, you are my best friend, my closest friend here. You are basically a sister to me, okay? I don't know why I chose to get close to you, but we'll just call it fate. You make me a better person, Harper. Even in the stupid box you were still making me a better person. I will not lose you because of this. I don't care what it takes. I will do whatever I have to to keep you safe, even if I have to kill Josie to do that."

"You can't kill her." Tears immediately sprang to Harper's eyes at the thought. "Please, Hope. If it comes down to it, and you have to choose between me and her, choose her. Save her. Don't save me." Hope opened her mouth to protest and Harper grabbed her hand. "You have to promise me, Hope. Promise me you'll save her."

Hope didn't like it. The thought of choosing between Harper and Josie's lives haunted her mind, filling them with the worst nightmares imaginable. Harper would never forgive her, she knew that. But it was worth Harper being mad at her forever rather than watch her die. Hope clenched her jaw and finally nodded her head. "I promise."

"And if something happens, and I die. . ."

"Don't talk like that."

Harper cut her off. "If something happens and I die, don't try and bring me back. I'm already part wolf and witch, I don't need to take your title of being a tribrid too. I don't want that." Hope looked at her for a moment before pulling her into a hug. Harper closed her eyes and held her tightly. She hoped it didn't come down to that, but if it did, she found comfort in knowing Hope had promised her. When it came to Harper, Hope never broke her promises.

"I want in." Harper whispered.

"Harper, are you sure?"

Harper nodded. "If I can help her, I will."

Hope and Harper left the room, and as soon as they did Kaleb told them about Josie killing Alyssa. Now, Harper stood there with her arms crossed, Kaleb and Hope on either side of her. Jed laid Alyssa's body carefully on the sofa, looking at her for a moment before turning to look at them. "You're gonna stop her, right? That's what you do, isn't it? Take out monsters."

Kaleb stepped forwards. "Okay, man, come on, let's go get you some air, all right?"

Kaleb and Jed walked away and Harper and Hope stood there in silence. The door opened and MG barged in. "Lizzie's car is gone. She bolted." MG's eyes landed on Alyssa. "Is she―︎?"

"I knew Josie was dangerous, I just didn't think that she was capable of something like this." Hope answered.

MG approached Alyssa's body. "It's my fault. If I could've just gotten through to her. . ."

"Like I keep saying," Kaleb had come back in without them noticing, "there is no getting through to her."

"We are not giving up on Josie. The only way to protect the school is to bring her back."

"Tell that to Alyssa, Hope."

"If we give up now, she'll have died for nothing. So we have to stick to the plan." Hope turned to look at MG. "And you need to bring Lizzie back. She needs you, MG." Hope stood up from where she was sitting on the arm of one of the chairs. "We all do." MG looked at her for a moment before speeding out of the room. Kaleb chuckled in disbelief and started to walk away. "What are you doing?"

"What you won't." He pulled one of the books on the shelf, revealing a secret passage and then walked through it into the armory. He picked up a cross bow. "Putting together a plan B. In case you're wrong."

Hope glanced towards the box, the one she had used to send Alaric into a therapy world like Emma had done with them. "I can't let you do that."

"Yeah, and what are you gonna do to stop me, Hope?"

Hope held out her hand and with the flick of her fingers, the box opened and Kaleb went into it. The box closed and Harper turned to look at Hope in disbelief. "Hope."

"I made a promise." Hope told her. "And if putting him in that box helps me keep it, then I will." Harper softly sighed and nodded in understanding before walking out of the room. Night fell, the merge was creeping closer by the second. Usually she would just go to her room and read to pass the time, but she couldn't focus on anything. So, instead, she paced her room with a hand in her hair.

"It's party time, Stallions!" The Necromancer's voice echoed over the intercom making Harper stop in her tracks. "Report to the gym, or else." Harper looked up, letting out a deep breath before shaking off her nerves and making her way to the gym. All of the students were in there, Harper standing to the side away from all of them.

There was a boxing ring in the middle of the gym, a man in red hooded cloak standing there with a microphone in his hand. "Vampires, witches, and werewolves. Children of all ages." The Necromance pulled off the hood, revealing himself. "It's the event we've all been waiting for. Theeee Merge!" The students began to boo as he took off the cloak, swirling it in the air. "Yeah, you like the taste of cape? Eat that!" He threw the cloak into the crowd. "Yeah!" He went to the microphone. "In the crimson corner and robe, hailing from Mystic Falls, Virginia, the former Queen of codependency, the reigning Sultan of Siphon, Josie Saltzman!"

In the doorway, Josie walked through with two cloaked figures walking in front of her. Music played at her entrance, confetti canons going off and smoke. The hooded figures revealed themselves, and one of them was Alyssa. Harper stood up a little straighter. Josie entered the ring, joining the side of the Necromancer who grabbed the mic again. "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!" Students cheered but Lizzie didn't walk through.

Josie laughed before taking the mic. "Well, my selfish sister didn't show up. Who am I gonna kill? Should it be vampires? Maybe witches? How about some werewolves?" Her eyes landed on Harper and she smirked. "Or how about the hybrid."

The doors flew open and there Hope stood. She walked in, flipping into the ring and landing gracefully on one knee. She looked up at Josie and stood up. "Why not try all three?"

They began fighting, for a moment Josie was hit back into the corner before casting a spell. Hope casted one to keep herself protected by Josie was too strong and sent Hope on her back. Harper watched anxiously.

The Necromancer started counting but Hope sat up, asking how he was back. He told her that if he survived this he would tell her. Josie looked at her, bored. "This isn't any fun. You're not even fighting back."

"Neither are you." Hope argued. "I know that you're in there, Josie." Hope stood up.

"Give it up, Hope. What's it gonna take to get it through to your thick wolf skull that I am Josie now? Incendia!" She sent a fire blast and Hope rolled over it, the fire splintering one of the wooden poles holding the ring together.

Hope stood up and kicked her in the chest, rolling backwards and standing up perfectly. "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 burdens that you carry. And you're always there for your friends when they need you. So, please, Jo, we really need you."

"Enough of this drivel!" The Necromancer yelled. He kneeled beside Josie. "What are you waiting for? Kill the tribrid."

"Shut up." Josie closed her eyes. "Everybody, shut up!" She looked at Hope and her eyes widened. "Hope?"

Hope stood up. "Jo, is that you?"

Josie's eyes rolled back and then dark Josie took over again. She stood up. "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 sent Hope flying in the air, hovering over the broken wooden pole. "So, any last words for your tombstone?"

"I know you're in there, Josie. Fight." Josie hummed and and dropped Hope but she stopped inches above the wood.

"I should have mentioned this earlier." Lizzie's voice entered the room. "But black really isn't your color."

Josie looked at her sister. "You're late to your own funeral."

"No. I am right on time to kick your ass." Lizzie glanced towards Harper and Harper walked over to her, the two girls and MG entering the ring. Harper stood beside Hope, checking to make sure she was alright. "This stupid potion of yours is gonna work, right? Because it tasted like feet."

"It will if you win." Hope nodded. "Thanks for coming back."

"Like I had a choice. Dirty trick, sending Jiminy Cricket after me." Lizzie looked at MG.

"You would've done the right thing if I was here or not. Now siphon me. You got to be at full strength." Lizzie grabbed him before pressing her lips to his, siphoning him as she did so. Harper and Hope exchanged looks.

Lizzie pulled away and held up a finger. "Just to be clear, that was for you and not me. Just in case I lose." She turned away and MG nodded, smiling. "Alright, Sister Satan. Let's dance. But I'm not getting my merge on until I know that the rest of the school is safe."

Josie smirked before snapping her fingers, the door opening. "Everyone out. Now."

"You heard her." Jed called. "Let's go. Come on."

As they filed out Lizzie called, "For the record, this huge act of selflessness fully cancels out all of my previous misdeeds."

Once everyone was gone, the Necromancer stood between the two sisters. "Enough of this foreplay. It's time for the main event." He held out his hand and a knife was in.

Josie picked up the knife. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this." She sliced her hand.

"Apparently not long enough to think of something clever to say." Lizzie held out her hand and Josie sliced it.

They put there hands together and in sync they chanted, "Sanguinem desimilus, sanguinem generis fiantus." They repeated the phrase over and over.

"You really think she can win this?" MG asked Hope.

"If she can't, let's pray plan B works."

Everything around them was flying. The lights exploded and both of the sisters eyes turned white. Suddenly, when the room turned dark, they both let go of each others hands and both of them fell backwards, unconscious. Hope, Harper, and MG left the room. Harper was shaken. The way Josie's attention had immediately turned to her told her everything she needed to know. The next morning, Alaric requested everyone to come to an assembly.

He stood there behind his podium. "This morning, I told you that we would all be okay, that we'd. . . get Josie back. I-I was wrong. Because the Josie that we loved is gone. So is Lizzie." He looked down as grief took over him. They had Lizzie in another room, laying on one of the couches with MG watching over her. They hoped it had worked. Alaric was saying all of this because of the spy that roamed their halls. As the assembly was dismissed, Alaric, Harper and Kaleb went into the room where Lizzie was.

Hope's Plan B had worked. She had linked Lizzie's life to Landon so that when Lizzie died, Landon did too, but since Landon was immortal, Lizzie was alive and well, but Josie thought she was dead. Hope had delved into Josie's mind during the merge, and now her unconscious body was hidden away. Harper was standing in the room with them, not listening to a word that had been said. Lizzie looked at Harper and knew how much she was hurting.

"Harper," Lizzie softly said, making Harper blink and look at her. "It's gonna be okay."

"Is it?" Harper asked. "My girlfriend is currently being possessed by black magic and my best friend is currently inside of said girlfriend's mind trying to set her free. Something bad is going to happen, Lizzie."

"Harper, you don't know that."

"I do." Harper stood up straight. "I have a feel for these things." Harper pushed herself off the wall and walked out of the room. Lizzie just watched her go and sighed. Harper was truly alone in this. Josie and Hope were her two closest people, the ones she really talked to. Lizzie was supposed to be dead so she couldn't even comfort her like she wanted to. Harper didn't deserve this. She'd been through so much already and Lizzie had a feeling that this could be her breaking point.