The doors to the hall were thrown open, slamming so hard the school shook.
"Hey!" Hope Mikaelson yelled, hand outstretched. "Pick on someone your own size you antique!"
The mummy holding Josie by the throat turned its sightless head in apparent contemplation. Josie's eyes were wide, her gaze unbreaking. She shook her head, silently pleading with Hope.
Don't do this.
Really? That's the thanks I get for trying to save your life?
"Hope," Josie choked out, still struggling against the supernatural strength of the mummy.
"You need blood to come back to life," Hope said, dagger in hand. She lifted it, slicing deeply across the palm of her hand, a grimace flashing in her eyes. "I've got plenty. Put her down and come over here."
The mummy's voice echoed in Hope's head, bone-chilling and emotionless. "I have lived for thousands of years. I do not negotiate terms with a child."
"Not even with a child who's a tribrid?" Hope thought that if he'd had eyes, they would have been very wide.
"You're bluffing."
Her legs trembled. "I'm not. I'm all yours. Just put her down." Please.
"Hope, don't. Not for me. Don't do this," Josie gasped. I deserve to die after what I did.
Hope's eyes flashed. Shut up. Don't you dare say that. You had no control over what you were doing. I don't blame you.
Tears welled in Josie's eyes. I don't deserve you, Hope.
You don't. And I don't deserve any of my friends. I don't deserve happiness after all the terrible things I've done, but you—Hope took a step forward. You make me happy, Jose. I don't deserve you either, but I love you and I will not let you die.
"Put her down," Hope said. She put her hands up, dropping the dagger. Then, one leg at a time, fell to her knees. "You've fed on her magic already. She's useless to you now. Take me."
The mummy tilted his head. Then, he glanced back at Josie pressed up against the wall. "I accept." He took one last look at the girl before tossing her against the opposite wall.
Hope looked away, the sound of Josie's body thudding against the wood paining her. She couldn't see movement from the corner of her eye. She pushed her mind forward, trying to reach out to her.
Josie?
Nothing. No response, no pull. Just—emptiness.
"Now, child, we had an agreement," the mummy said, stalking towards her.
Hope couldn't keep upright any longer. She closed her eyes. No, she had to—she had to be strong for just a little longer. For Josie.
She looked up at the mummy. "I'm all yours," she said.
The mummy chuckled and Hope felt the reverberations of the laugh in the back of her mind. He snatched Hope up by the throat, heaving her into the air as if she truly were just a child. "Feelings make people so weak." Grabbing Hope's bleeding hand, he started absorbing her blood. He'd barely taken any before he stopped. He glanced down at his body wrapped in ancient rags, seemingly confused. "What have you done?"
Hope grinned. "I poisoned my blood."
"No," he said. Anger shook him, along with the death that would come swiftly. "No!"
Hope's blood was still being absorbed, and with every drop she gave, the paler she became. She could hardly keep her eyes open, both from the poison coursing through her and the lack of warmth in her limbs. She took the mummy's head between her hands and growled, "Go to hell," as she slammed her head into his.
He dropped her, stumbling backwards, and Hope hit the floor hard. She could only lay there as the mummy sank to his knees, slowly smoking and turning to dust. Then, the big room grew quite as if nothing had even happened.
Hope felt the remaining poison crawling towards her heart. She had minutes left, but all she could think about was Josie.
"Hope!"
Alaric and Lizzie rushed into the room, their footfalls heavy. Alaric came to her, a hand already on her shoulder. "We've got the antidote right here, don't worry."
"You're cutting it kind of close, don't you think?" Hope tried to laugh but she shivered instead.
"We had to give you enough time to transfer the blood to him," Lizzie said. As she spoke, she whipped her head around to Josie's motionless form. "Josie!" She went to her side, bent over her twin.
Alaric held Hope's head steady as he pulled out a syringe. "Hold still."
"N-not going to be a p-problem," Hope stuttered, chills racking her body.
Alaric quickly injected the antidote into Hope's neck.
Warmth ran through her body. All the numbing that had taken over was replaced by a searing pain, bright and sharp. Like fire spreading through her veins, Hope suddenly felt too much at once. She screamed, clutching Alaric's sleeve in her hand, her eyes clenched shut. Then, all the fiery pain mellowed. Sun shone on Hope's skin, and she felt as though she floated on clouds. She sunk into the heat and took its hand, letting it lead her into darkness.
….
Hope awoke to the same warmth, but this time it felt…softer. She opened her eyes, blinded by the sun falling across her bed. She squeezed her eyes shut and attempted to move, but every muscle felt heavy. When she at last managed to stay awake, she noticed Lizzie and MG talking in the doorway.
They stood close, MG's hand grazing Lizzie's. Whatever they were talking about seemed earnest, but MG smiled and Lizzie smiled back. Both were timid, and Hope thought it was cute, them still getting used to one another.
She glanced to her side where a small form slumped over the side of her bed, still sitting in a chair adjacent to it. Hope slid her hand over the sheet, touching the pale arm.
"Josie?"
Josie shot up, her eyes wild.
Hope noticed Lizzie and MG instantly at attention, but Hope lifted her eyebrows as if to tell them Can you give us a minute?
Lizzie smiled sadly, but nodded, pulling MG behind her.
"Hope! Thank God you're alright," Josie said, clenching Hope's hand in hers.
Hope chuckled, rolling her eyes. "I'm fine."
"How do you feel?"
She sounds tired, Hope decided. "Maybe you should get some rest."
"No. I've had enough rest. I—" Josie rubbed her thumb over the back of Hope's hand. "I just—I need…you."
Hope grazed a finger over Josie's purple throat, the bruises shaped like the mummy's giant hands. Josie grasped her hand, pressing Hope's palm into her cheek, sinking against her skin. Hope searched Josie's eyes, and while they were indeed tired, they also looked…relieved.
Her voice was barely more than a whisper. "You scared me."
"I'm sorry. I had faith in your dad, though. I knew he wouldn't let me die."
"You shouldn't have done that for me," Josie sighed, lacing her fingers with Hope's and pressing their hands to her forehead. "After what I did, I don't deserve your love."
"I forgave you, Josie."
"But I-I killed—"
Hope pulled Josie into her, kissing her chapped and cut lips. She didn't care what they felt like, she just wanted to be close to her, feel her, know that she was real and alive. Hope took a breath. "I wasn't going to lose you too."
"But I'm the one who took him away in the first place. You were perfect for one another and I—"
Hope cupped Josie's cheek. "Yes, I loved Landon. But I've been in love with you since 4th grade. You weren't in control of yourself when you went Dark. You had no idea what you were really doing." She shook Josie's head gently yet earnestly. "I forgive you, Josie Saltzman. I love you, now and forever."
She hadn't realized that Josie's face was wet, but the tears fell freely. She smiled, ever so slightly. "I love you too, Hope Mikaelson. I love you so much."
