"You have to come," Josie was saying to Elena as they walked out of school on Friday afternoon. "You too, Jer."

"You don't have to convince me," said Jeremy, smiling. "Party at the Mikaelsons' house with open bar? I'm there."

He spotted Anna in the parking lot.

"I'll see you guys later," he said.

"Don't forget you have to wear a costume!" exclaimed Josie.

"Anna and I are going shopping tomorrow before the party," said Jeremy as he walked away.

"See?" said Josie, turning to Elena. "Jeremy's in the Halloween spirit."

"It's bad enough that Klaus' hybrids follow me everywhere, I don't want to go to a party full of them at his house," said Elena, eyeing the four hybrids that were following Josie and Elena currently.

Josie sighed. She couldn't wait until Esther was gone, so they didn't have to bother with these bodyguards anymore. She didn't mind the hybrids as much as the complete strangers she'd had over the summer. At least she knew the hybrids.

"It'll be fun," said Josie, ignoring Elena's comment. "Don't you think you could use some fun?"

Elena sighed. "Maybe I'll make an appearance."

Josie smiled and gave her a hug.

"It's going to be great, Elena! Rebekah and I designed this whole haunted maze in the backyard and she had the caterers do a bunch of Halloween-themed food. Tasteful, not hokey of course."

"Is there anything Halloween-themed that's tasteful?" chimed in Bonnie, who'd just joined Josie and Elena.

Josie laughed. "Maybe not, but Rebekah said they'd try. You're coming too, right?" she asked Bonnie.

Elena linked her arm with Bonnie's. "If I'm going, you're going too, Bon."

"Do I have to wear a costume?" asked Bonnie, eyebrow raised.

"It's a Halloween party," answered Josie. "Of course you do!"

"Josie!" called a voice up ahead.

It was her friend, Bridget.

"I have to go," said Josie. "Bridge, Tracy, Colin and I are going to Richmond tonight for dinner and costume shopping. Rebekah's coming too."

"See you later, Jo," said Elena as Josie walked away.

Josie ran over to Bridget's car and hopped in with the rest of her friends.

They arrived at the giant costume store on the outskirts of Richmond an hour later.

"Isn't that a little cliché?" asked Rebekah.

Josie was holding up a vampire costume. The rest of her friends were in the accessories section, having already picked out their costumes. Rebekah was having a hard time deciding what to wear for her first modern Halloween.

"You could wear it ironically," laughed Josie. "I am."

She'd picked out a colorful fortune teller costume, though she was pretty sure real fortune tellers didn't have corsets so tight or skirts so short, but it was Halloween after all.

"I need something elegant and sexy," said Rebekah, going through the racks of clothes.

"You mean something that will drive Mason crazy?" smiled Josie.

"This isn't about him," frowned Rebekah.

Josie rolled her eyes. Yeah, right.

"How about this?" asked Josie.

"Sleeping Beauty?"

"It's accurate. Plus, what girl doesn't want to be a princess when they grow up?"

Rebekah shrugged. "I wanted to fight and be strong like my brothers. A warrior."

"Well, that's an idea."

"A warrior isn't sexy," said Rebekah, shaking her head.

Josie laughed. "They can make anything sexy."

She dragged Rebekah over to the historical costumes where they found a Viking warrior costume, complete with cape, sword and shield. The skirt was short enough to be sexy, but it was the tight leather bodice that really completed the look.

"You look amazing, Rebekah," said Josie, as Rebekah turned to look at herself in the mirror. "Every guy at the party will want to dance with you."

"And I shall dance with all of them," smiled Rebekah, clearly pleased with the costume.

"Let's hope Klaus is looking the other way then," said Josie, shaking her head.

Rebekah smirked. "He'll be looking in whatever direction you're standing, I'm sure."

Josie laughed. "Come on. Let's find the others. I'm starving."

Josie got to the Mikaelsons' the next day at noon to help Rebekah set up for the party. It was just past five and they were reviewing the haunted maze when Josie got a call from Caroline.

"Hello?" answered Josie.

It was odd for Caroline to be calling her.

"Hey, Josie."

"Caroline, what's up?"

"Did you know he was going to do it?"

"What are you talking about?" asked Josie, confused.

Caroline let out an annoyed sigh.

"Tyler is a hybrid. Klaus turned him this morning."

"What?" exclaimed Josie. "Why?"

"Because Tyler is an idiot who asked him to!"

Josie couldn't believe it. She'd thought since she hadn't heard anything more about it these past few weeks, Tyler had decided against it. Apparently, not. She was a little hurt Klaus hadn't even told her he was going to do it.

"I'm sorry, Caroline. I didn't know. I tried to talk Tyler out of it."

"I know," sighed Caroline. "Crap, I have to go. My hybrid boyfriend just had a blood bag explode in his face."

Then she hung up.

"Excuse me, Rebekah," said Josie, heading toward the house.

She walked in and found Klaus in his office.

"When were you going to tell me you turned Tyler Lockwood?" asked Josie, coming into the room.

Klaus raised his eyebrows. "I wasn't aware you needed a heads-up on what I do with my hybrids."

"Tyler is a friend of mine," said Josie.

"If I recall, he's an ex-boyfriend, not a friend," said Klaus in a slightly heated tone.

"A person can be both," she argued. "Why would you turn him?"

"Tyler came to me. Who am I to deny him the benefits of being a hybrid?"

"Right," said Josie, sarcastically. "The great and merciful Klaus."

"You of all people should know I am capable of benevolence," he returned.

Josie scoffed. "You know what, it doesn't matter why you did it. The point is, you should have told me. Turning him was a colossal mistake. He won't make a good hybrid."

Josie remembered how, even though Tyler had been excited to be a hybrid at first, he had ended up hating Klaus and had been the impetus of getting all the hybrids unsired. He had made it his life's mission to kill Klaus, which resulted in him leaving Mystic Falls, threatening Hayley when she was pregnant, and worst of all, Klaus killing Carol Lockwood.

She didn't know if any of it would have happened if Klaus hadn't ordered Tyler to bite Caroline, but there was no way of knowing.

Klaus growled angrily at her blunt, negative words.

"Let me make one thing perfectly clear, love," he said heatedly. "I may appreciate your advice at times, just as I always appreciate the spot you warm in my bed. However, don't think for a second that either gives you permission to dictate how I run my affairs."

Josie scoffed, his anger fueling her own. "Of course you of all people think I'm trying to control you. You know best? Fine, do whatever the hell you want with your hybrids. See if I care."

Then she turned and stormed out of his office.

He was such a stubborn, prideful jerk. What would his pack have been without her influence? A bunch of hybrids who hated Klaus and had chosen the pain of turning over and over just to get away from him. She knew it wasn't completely all her doing, but his dismissive words hurt a lot. Clearly he didn't value her advice as much as she thought he did.

She took a deep breath when she reached the front door, trying to control her anger. She felt the telltale signs of tears starting to come and she blinked rapidly, willing them away.

"Josie?" called Rebekah, coming into the main foyer.

"Rebekah," she said, trying for a smile. "Look something's come up. Tonight…"

"You're coming to the party you helped organize and will have a bloody good time," finished Rebekah. "I don't care what my idiot brother did."

"You heard that?" asked Josie.

"No," said Rebekah, shaking her head. "But you're coming out of Nik's office looking as if you want to strangle someone. I can guess."

Josie clenched her jaw. "He's just so… ugh."

Rebekah smiled. "That's Nik… We're nearly finished setting up. Go home, get ready and come back. I promise you'll have a good time. Or you'll be so drunk you won't notice you're not."

Josie chuckled. She'd had a good time planning the party with Rebekah and would hate to miss out.

"Alright. But only because I want to see Mason's face when he sees you in your costume."

Rebekah rolled her eyes and shooed Josie out the door. Josie drove home and had dinner with Jeremy, Elena, Jenna and Alaric. Jenna and Alaric were not happy about the Halloween party that night, but didn't outright forbid the three siblings from going.

A few hours later, Josie headed over to the Mikaelsons' house with Elena and Jeremy. Josie had taken extra care with her hair and makeup that night, wanting to make sure that if she saw Klaus, she was looking her best. He hadn't texted or called at all since they'd fought in his office. Of course she hadn't either.

She felt bad about what she'd said, how she lost her temper. She probably shouldn't have told him so bluntly what a big mistake he'd made. She'd just been hurt he hadn't even told her he was going to turn Tyler. It wasn't some strange werewolf, it was Tyler. The fact that it hadn't even occurred to Klaus that was something she'd like to know hurt her more than she liked to admit.

When she stepped into the house, she couldn't help but smile. The place looked great. Josie had helped with a lot of the logistics, but Rebekah really had an eye for decorations.

Josie, Jeremy and Elena headed for the bar. After grabbing their drinks, Jeremy went in search of Anna, while Elena left to find Bonnie. Josie was about to find her own friends when she spotted Bridget coming up to her.

"You look hot!" exclaimed Bridget.

"You too," smiled Josie, looking at Bridget's devil costume.

"Colin told me these Black Magic shots aren't bad," said Bridget, handing Josie a glass.

Josie smiled. "Cheers!"

Then she and Bridget downed the shots together. It tasted like a grape-flavored vodka jello shot.

"Not bad," agreed Josie.

Bridget giggled and handed her another one. Bridget insisted they do one more round before they headed to the dance floor. Soon, Colin and Tracy joined them with another round and Josie was having fun, dancing with her friends. She tried not to look for Klaus, but found herself glancing around the room, even though she didn't see him.

She went to go get another round and ran into Rebekah, who looked absolutely gorgeous in her costume. Josie was with her when Mason walked in. The look on his face wasn't disappointing. He looked like he wanted to ravish Rebekah in the middle of the party.

Josie giggled and grabbed Rebekah's arm.

"Did you see the look on his face?" asked Josie, still laughing.

Everything seemed funny after four jello shots in an hour.

"You're totally winning the break-up!" Josie exclaimed.

Rebekah smiled sadly. "We're still broken up."

Josie rolled her eyes. "That's sober talk. Come on."

She dragged Rebekah to the bar where Josie had another shot and Rebekah had several. Then Rebekah charmed one of the waiters to follow her to the dance floor with another round for Josie's friends. They were all dancing and having a great time.

Josie looked up and saw Rebekah's face fall. When Josie followed Rebekah's gaze, she saw Mason dancing with one of the other hybrids, Jessica.

Josie's eyes narrowed. "He's just trying to make you jealous. You're so much prettier than she is."

At that moment, Elena walked up with Matt Donovan. Josie smiled, remembering how Rebekah and Matt had a thing. Hello, jealousy, Mason. Matt was cute in a boy-next-door kind of way.

"Can I talk to you about something?" Josie asked Elena. "Matt, can you keep Rebekah company for a minute?"

Rebekah rolled her eyes, but started dancing with Matt while Elena and Josie left the dance floor.

"What's up, Jo?" asked Elena, smiling.

Clearly Elena'd had a number of drinks as well.

"Oh, uh…" Josie tried to think of something. "Are you having a good time?"

"Yeah…" said Elena, laughing. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

"Have you heard from Damon or Stefan?"

Elena nodded. "Stefan says they're in Texas, looking for an old witch friend of his."

"Witch friend?"

"She owes him a favor apparently."

"And Damon's with him?"

At that, Elena rolled her eyes. "Yes."

Josie tilted her head. "What?"

Elena sighed dramatically. "It's just Damon. He's just… I guess I never noticed how hot and cold he can be."

Josie shrugged. "That's Damon. Nice one second, mean the next. I definitely don't miss the mood swings, even if Mystic Falls has been eerily calm these past two weeks."

"Yeah, I thought I would miss them more."

Elena looked shocked that she'd said that and clasped a hand over her mouth. Yep, Elena had definitely had a lot to drink.

"I didn't mean, uh…" she dissolved into nervous laughter.

"No worries, Elena," giggled Josie. "I won't tell anyone."

"Elena!" came a shout from the left. "There you are," said Caroline. "We're about to go through the haunted maze."

"You coming, Jo?" asked Elena as Caroline led her away.

Josie shook her head. "I'm going to find a bathroom."

Unfortunately, there was a line for all the bathrooms on the first floor. She eyed the staircase, knowing there was a perfectly nice bathroom attached to Klaus' room.

She really had to pee. Well, screw him, her drunken mind thought. After everything she'd done for him, the least he owed her was a bathroom visit.

She went up the stairs, holding onto the railing to make sure she didn't take an ungraceful dive down, thinking maybe her last shot had been a mistake.

When she reached Klaus' room she was just about to open the door when she heard a female voice from inside, followed by Klaus'.

She blinked, shocked. She listened, trying to figure out who it was when she heard footsteps approaching from around the corner. She reacted without thought, opening the door opposite Klaus', throwing herself in and shutting the door behind her.

Looking around, she was in another bedroom. She wondered whose it was when the door opened and Kol came in.

"Kol," she said, backing up a few paces instinctually. That damn electricity was still there. "I thought you were still out of town."

"I've just returned," he said after he'd recovered from his own surprise at her presence. "If you wanted a tour of my bedroom, you needn't sneak in, darling. All you had to do was ask."

Josie laughed nervously. With all the alcohol she'd had, the electricity was a lot harder to ignore.

"I was looking for a bathroom," she said. "The ones downstairs are occupied."

"Nik's room is across the hall," said Kol, looking her up and down. "But you knew that. Bekah told me you two had a fight. Trouble in paradise, love?"

Josie crossed her arms. "Can I use your bathroom or not?"

Kol chuckled and gestured to a nearby door. "Help yourself."

Josie practically ran to the bathroom. A few minutes later she emerged to find Kol dressed in a priest costume. Josie rolled her eyes.

"You're not fooling anyone," she smirked as he looked at himself in the mirror.

"Oh?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

She blinked and he was suddenly hovering over her.

"All the same, I'd love to hear your confession," he said, smirking. "All the dirty thoughts you've had about me."

"What are you doing?" asked Josie, taking several steps back. "You know whatever's between us isn't natural. It's just a spell."

"Is it?" asked Kol, coming closer. "How do you know what you're feeling isn't real? Magic is just an extension of nature itself. It can bend, change, manipulate, but it can't create something from nothing."

Josie narrowed her eyes. Sounded like a lot of mumbo-jumbo.

"What does that even mean?" she asked.

"Are you attracted to me?" asked Kol, looking into her eyes.

That was a really unfair question. Kol was hot, how could any girl not be attracted to him? Every instinct she had was pulling her toward him. She really should not have had all those shots.

"I told you before, it's just a spell," said Josie finally.

Though she wasn't so sure anymore.

"You didn't answer the question," growled Kol.

Josie just looked at him in silence for several seconds. A thousands thoughts swirled in her head. Was this connection something other than magic? Was it something real? And if it was, should she explore it?

Klaus had some girl in his room. Would Klaus even care if she was here? He hadn't even bothered to look for her at the party. Hadn't bothered to call or text.

Still, her heart ached when she thought of Klaus. Even with her inhibitions lowered from the alcohol, her connection to Kol paled in comparison to her feelings for Klaus.

Josie bit her lip. "I think I should leave."

"Wait, don't go," said Kol, grabbing her arm as she tried to pass him to leave.

Josie gasped. Kol had never touched her before. It was like a jolt of electricity running up her arm from the place where he'd touched her. It set her senses on fire. From the shocked look on Kol's face he felt it too.

"What the hell?" she asked, trying to rip her arm away from him. "Let me go."

Kol eyes darkened. She saw his fangs extend and veins appear under his eyes.

"I can't," he said, pulling her toward him.

"Stop it!" exclaimed Josie, trying to push him away.

He just growled, tilted her head to the side and sank his fangs into her neck.

Her scream was muffled by his hand, but she kept trying to push him even as he held her firm. He let her go after several seconds and he caught her as she swayed.

She felt woozy as he scooped her up in his arms.

"Don't worry," he said, looking into her face tenderly. "I'll take care of you, darling. You and I are going to be together forever. Rest now."

She felt a breeze on her face and she knew they were traveling at vampire speed before she lost consciousness.

When Josie awoke, she was in a strange hotel room. She sat up and winced, feeling the still bleeding wounds on her neck. She remembered Kol had touched her and then bitten her and then…

She heard noises from the bathroom and got off the bed as quietly as she could. She'd nearly made it to the door when the bathroom door opened and she spun around.

"Kol!" she exclaimed. "Please…"

"It's alright," Kol cut in, speeding over to her. "I won't hurt you. I would never hurt you. I love you, Josie."

"I… What?" frowned Josie, thinking maybe she heard him wrong.

The connection she felt with him was the same as always, but clearly something had changed for him.

"I love you," he repeated. "You're my soulmate. Don't you see? That connection we've been feeling. It's because we're soulmates."

"Soulmates?" she said in disbelief.

"Yes, darling," he smiled, reaching up to touch her cheek.

"Don't," said Josie, ducking out of the way of his hand. "We have to go back."

"Why?" asked Kol. "All we need is each other."

Josie frowned. What the hell was going on?

"This isn't you, Kol. You don't love me and we are not soulmates. Something is making you say these things."

Kol's expression went from tender to furious in a matter of seconds.

"This is because of him, isn't it?" he shouted. "That's why you want to go back. To be with him!"

Josie's eyes widened at his anger. For the first time since she'd met him, she was scared of Kol. Who knows what he would do under the influence of some spell?

"This isn't about Klaus," she said, trying to keep her voice from trembling.

"It's always been him," Kol growled. "You keep denying what's between us because of him. I know magic. This isn't magic. I love you."

Josie wasn't sure what to say. She decided to try for logic and took a step back.

"How can you love me? You don't even know me."

Kol just stepped forward. "We're soulmates. Of course I love you. Don't you love me?"

Okay, logic wasn't going to work. Should she play along? Would he be able to tell she was lying?

Apparently, her hesitation lasted too long because he grabbed her arm. She winced at his rough grip and struggled uselessly against him.

"You bitch," he yelled, shaking her. "You never loved me. Too eager to spread your legs for that bastard. You will be mine. I'll make sure of that."

He growled and threw her on the bed.

At that moment, the door to the hotel room burst open to reveal Klaus and Elijah.

Klaus sped to Kol, picking him up and tossing him across the room.

"Have you lost your mind?" Klaus growled. "I told you to stay away from her."

Kol sprang to his feet. "You can't keep her from me. I love her."

"You… what?" Klaus said, anger momentarily forgotten in his surprise.

"Josie is mine," said Kol, taking advantage of Klaus' surprise to speed over to Josie.

Thankfully, Elijah intervened and grabbed Kol before he reached her. Klaus sped over and helped Elijah restrain Kol.

Josie staggered to her feet.

"What happened between you two?" asked Elijah, eyeing the wound on Josie's neck with concern.

Josie eyes widened. "Nothing. I mean, he bit me and then just went crazy. Where are we?"

"A room at a local inn," answered Elijah. "As you were taken against your will, your necklace prevented him from taking you beyond the city limits. Ms. Bennett was able to locate you easily."

"Right. Thanks," she said with a slight smile aimed at Klaus.

Klaus tilted his head in acknowledgement, though he had barely looked at her since he'd arrived.

"What are we going to do?" asked Josie. "Something's wrong with him."

"There's nothing wrong with me," growled Kol, trying to get away from Elijah and Klaus. "I just… I need Josie."

"You expect us to believe nothing happened between you two?" asked Klaus angrily. "We found your blood in Kol's room. Pray tell, what were you doing in there?"

"I was trying to find a bathroom," said Josie, defensively. "The ones downstairs were too crowded. And you had company in your room, so…"

Klaus narrowed his eyes. "How dare you accuse me…"

"Enough!" commanded Elijah. "What else happened? We require honesty, Josie."

Josie crossed her arms. "I am being honest. I used his bathroom and then he was being a jerk like always, so I went to leave and he grabbed my arm and then there was that stupid electricity again. But he wouldn't let me go and he bit me and then I passed out. When I woke up, I was here and he was going on about how we're in love and we're soulmates…"

"Soulmates?" interrupted Klaus with a frown. "He said you're soulmates?"

"We are soulmates," said Kol, still struggling against Klaus and Elijah. "I love…"

Elijah clamped a hand over Kol's mouth, unable to snap his neck due to the sibling link.

"Oh, dear," said Elijah, shaking his head.

"What?" asked Josie.

Oh god, this wasn't really a thing was it? Kol couldn't be her soulmate. That was crazy.

"It has been centuries, Niklaus," said Elijah. "You don't think it could be possible…"

"It would explain his behavior," said Klaus.

Elijah shook his head. "But not hers."

"Perhaps it's different with a vampire," offered Klaus.

"If he drank her blood…" said Elijah.

"Okay, will someone explain to me what's going on?" asked Josie.

"I believe we've seen this before," said Klaus, turning to her. "My siblings and I were in Italy, not 100 years after we'd been made vampires when we came across a local Duke and his lovely young bride. Now this Duke was getting on in years and his young wife-to-be seemed quite repulsed by him, while he was disinterested in her.

'And yet, when we saw them the next day, after their wedding night, they seemed to be quite smitten with each other. Going on about their love and how they were soulmates.

'We stayed in their castle for a fortnight, but were forced to leave when the Duke's behavior became erratic, violent. He accused Elijah of having an affair with his young wife, obviously false, and proceeded to try and kill Elijah. Repeatedly. Even compulsion couldn't seem to control his behavior.

'We all thought it an odd affair until we learned that the local healer had blessed the couple with an everlasting bond the night of their wedding."

"Bond?" asked Josie.

Klaus nodded. "No doubt this healer had good intentions, but she failed to read the fine print on the spell. It was the Soulmate Curse."

"Curse?" repeated Josie. "Being a soulmate is a curse?"

Elijah smiled bitterly. "Nature will always fight back. Something as pure as love cannot be twisted or faked. So love becomes obsession. Passion becomes violence."

"You think Kol and I have been cursed?"

"The symptoms fit," said Klaus.

"But why don't I feel that way?" asked Josie.

Klaus looked at the wound on her neck.

"If I remember correctly, the soulmate bond is sealed on the wedding night," he said.

Josie's eyes narrowed. "I told you before nothing happened between us."

"He drank your blood, love. I would guess that was enough for his part."

"Oh," said Josie, biting her lip. "How do we reverse it?"

"We'll need a witch," Klaus answered. "And a Grimoire with the spell."

"Let me guess, you have one?" asked Josie.

Klaus smirked. "I'm a collector."

In the end, reversing the curse was pretty anti-climactic. Klaus, Josie, Elijah and Kol went back to the Mikaelson house. Bonnie said some things in Latin, sprinkled a few herbs and that weird electricity feeling Josie felt around Kol vanished.

Kol didn't say anything once the spell was reversed, just immediately disappeared from the house. It was probably harder on him than it was on Josie, she hadn't felt any feelings of love or obsession, just that odd electricity feeling.

"How are you feeling?" asked Jeremy, as they cleaned up the spell's aftermath.

Bonnie, Josie, Jeremy and Elena were in the sitting room they'd used to reverse the curse.

"Fine," said Josie. "Thank you, Bonnie."

Bonnie smiled. "No problem. I can't believe someone would use that spell, especially on a vampire with their heightened emotions."

"Well Esther wanted a distraction," said Josie, shaking her head.

"This family is crazy," said Jeremy, rolling his eyes.

Josie nodded. He wasn't wrong.

"I'm tired," said Elena when they were finished. "You guys ready to go?"

"I could use a ride," said Bonnie.

"I'm staying," said Jeremy. "It's only 12.30."

"What about you, Jo?" asked Elena.

Josie looked at Klaus, who was having a conversation with Elijah in the next room. Klaus paused and looked at her.

"Uh…" Josie said, unsure what to do.

She wanted to talk to Klaus, to apologize, but wasn't sure what he wanted. He'd had a girl in his room tonight after all and she wasn't sure he believed her when she said nothing had happened with Kol.

Her phone beeped and she quickly pulled it out. It was a message from Klaus.

'Stay. We should talk,' it said, somewhat ominously.

If it was bad news, she'd rather just get it over with.

"I think I'll stick around for a while," said Josie. "I'll see you guys later."