Shadows Within

NINETEEN

Nineteen

Ethan

12:06AM. Are you up for a movie? I am thinking Kill Bill.

12:07AM. Can't right now. I am out of the town for a business, but I will be back by the evening today. Though, I do have a little something to do with her then too. So I am thinking around ten pm? Is that alright with you? We can watch the movie then.

12:08AM . Of course. I'll pick you up from your school?

12:11AM. How about we meet up by the bus stop?

12:13AM. That's fine by me.

12:15AM. Ethan, I have something very important to tell you. So, can we maybe talk before the movie?

12:16AM. Of course. Anything you want, Josie. So, I'll see you later?

12:17AM. You can count on it.

"Boyfriend?" It was Freya Mikaelson standing over her with a warm, teasing smile as she held a cup of soda towards her.

Josie bit into her lip hard, hesitating. "Maybe." She shrugged her shoulders. "It's complicated."

"Aren't they all?" Freya chuckled as she sat down across her at the table. "How's Nik?" Josie really didn't wish to talk about her future step father right now. After all, due to a very obvious reasons, he wouldn't approve of her seeking Freya's help here. He wouldn't appreciate Freya helping her, wouldn't even appreciate that Freya had let her in.

He was far too sensitive for someone who had ruled over the entire supernatural community with iron fist for whole centuries. The whole thing he did whenever Professor Valdemus was around her, eyeing him suspiciously, really got on her nerves. And just yesterday, he had willingly let Lizzie drag him around the shopping center, buying her everything from a pretty jewelry she could flaunt around the campus to a comfortable looking sweaters, because he was fully aware of the episode her twin sister recently had.

He was always looking after the two of them, which of course, was much more than her own father tried to do these past few years. And knowing what she did now about Hope Marshall right now, Josie was even more determined to cast the spell to return everyone's memories of Hope. Nik was a good father and he deserved to have his daughter back. "Look, Freya, I came here for a reason."

"So, you mean you didn't just come here to take a look at my son?"

"Of course I want to see little Elijah, Freya, but I need your help with this spell I am having a bit of difficulty casting."

"Can't one of your teachers help you with that, Josie?"

"An ancient Japanese black magic purge spell?"

"You should go home, Josie. Nik wouldn't want you messing around with such a spell."

"Freya, it's very important that I cast it successfully. It would help me — all of us to remember someone we al have forgotten. We have photos in our homes of someone we don't recognize. Feels like you should know them, but you don't?"

"Josie." Freya sounded as if she was giving in, ready to help her out with the spell. She just needed the final push in the right way.

"We've all forgotten people. It doesn't matter what I say. The spell that I need is the only way that you're gonna remember for yourself."

"Can I join?" Josie jumped in the surprise, gasping hard and almost fell down the floor, all thanks to her future step uncle. "That sounds like such a fun."

"Kol, how many times do I have to tell you to not do that? I will have a heart attack one of those days, I swear." By the looks of it, it happened very often.