Chapter Text
“It is a rule that once soulmates are both above the age of 18 the marks will appear. Don’t fear that you are forgotten if you don’t have a mark on that day, as why would everyone but you have one?” - Professor Vardemus, the magic of soulmates.
Josie has thought about the day for years. It would be hard not to. They had classes on it, studied it and everyone knew that once they were of age they would have that chance or have to wait.
But Josie felt it in her soul. She felt it deep down that once she turned 18 it would appear. It felt burning, hot on her skin as if someone had pressed a brand right on her. And maybe that’s what the marks were, a brand on the soul.
Josie had been told thousands of times, reminded by every person she knew that maybe her soulmate was younger than her, that maybe it wouldn’t appear right away. But they were wrong. She knew it, she couldn’t explain how she knew it but she did.
And shouldn’t they listen to her? It was her soulmate after all and god, Josie wanted them so badly. She’s had dreams day after day night after night even getting distracted in class sometimes thinking about finally having her person.
Of course she wasn’t obsessive, that would be weird but it’s hard not to be on edge and grasp at everything you can when you are waiting for your person. The one who’s supposed to be perfect for you down to every last drop and inch of them.
Lizzie thinks she’s crazy for it, not that her sister also isn’t doing the same thing. Josie smiled and rolled her eyes at that, she had a feeling Lizzie already knew her soulmate and couldn’t wait for her sister to realize who it was.
Which was soon. It was the day before their 18th birthday, the party was tonight where at midnight they should get the marks in front of everyone, that is if they would appear, which Josie was sure of.
Josie hated that fact.
Why did everyone have to see? The whole salvator school would be there. Everyone would be staring at her, looking at her and just waiting to know the name.
It should be intimate, it should be just her. In her room or wherever she’s comfortable waiting for that burn in her skin they were taught they would feel when it appears.
But Lizzie was dead set on everyone being there for when it happened so she could run and jump into the arms of her lover like some movie. Josie could only hope her sister doesn’t trip down the stairs in her haste to get to him.
Even though she knew Lizzies soulmate Josie didn’t know hers. She expects it to be a name of someone she doesn’t know. She’s never met someone before that she’s connected with deeply, not like how a soulmate connection should be.
She can see it now, her looking down over her body and reading a name she does not recognize but will love for eternity in every life. There was a thrill to that, but also this bubbling fear and nervousness she couldn’t quite shake off.
She shouldn’t be nervous. It would be perfect, should be perfect. But it was just so completely and entirely hard not to feel nervous when you were on the cusp of finding out who you were meant to be with.
Josie just had to focus on the party. She just had to focus on having fun and what she was supposed to be doing now, which was getting ready. She could hear Lizzie in the bathroom, her sister was blow drying her hair and after would probably ask Josie to help her.
Josie shook her hands out, trying to get the nerves to dissipate before looking herself up and down in their body length mirror.
She could do this. She looked over her skin, her arms, her wrists, her legs, her shoulder, any open expanse of skin that might have her soulmate's name after midnight.
This was the last time she would have this. The last time her body would be nameless and the last time she would go on without knowing her soulmate's name.
Josie shook her head. She forced her eyes on the dress she was wearing. It was a yellow dress that matched her skin complexion well, as Lizzie had gone on and on about.
Josie inhaled sharply, a stutter in her breath going over the fabric in her eyes. Her shoulders were bare, making her shiver looking at the loose straps that held the gown up.
“Stop staring at yourself and help me with my hair,” Lizzie says, slamming the bathroom door open quite loudly.
Josie jumped and flushed before turning around and going to the bed and sitting down right behind her sister. Lizzie handed her the brush and Josie began working through her hair.
“So, you thinking about who they might be?” Lizzie asks with a smirk. “I can already picture mine, handsome as ever of course.”
Josie snorted. She thought of MG and how perfect him and Lizzie have always clicked. The boy had always understood her, and Lizzie might be difficult sometimes but Josie knew she loved him.
“He is,” Josie agreed. “You’ll love him.”
“No shit,” Lizzie rolled her eyes. “They aren’t called soulmates for nothing Jo. Who do you think yours will be?”
Josie focused on braiding Lizzie's hair for a moment. “I don’t think I know them. I just haven’t felt a connection like I should.”
“Ugh, they better not live thousands of miles away. We can not have a long distance relationship that is way too difficult.”
Josie didn’t say anything, she didn’t need to. She hoped deep down they weren’t far away but that didn’t matter to her. She graduated this year anyway, so what was the fuss?
“Unless they live where mom is living right now. I think that could work. And the accents! Could you imagine,” Lizzie groaned.
“Are we talking about mine or yours?”
Lizzie paused. “Yours still. You like accents right? Who doesn’t! Dumb question, they’ll be so hot Jo you won’t know what hit you.”
Josie smiled. That bubble of happiness and excitement made its way back up inside of her. “I can’t wait to meet them. I can’t wait to see them and-“
“Make-“
“No-“
“Have-“
“No-“
Lizzie sighed dramatically at all her attempts being shot down. “Go on dates? Is that better?”
Josie rolled her eyes but gave a quick nod. “Yes, dates and romantic gestures and just…everything,” she sighed with a day dreaming look on her face. “It’s all right there just…waiting.”
“I’ll be fake gagging every step behind you!” Josie hit the back of Lizzies head with the hairbrush. “Ow! Hey, what was that for!”
“You know what that was for. Now be quiet and let me do your hair or we’re going to be late to our own party.”
Lizzie gasped. “That would be awful! Fashionably late is fine but not late late .”
Josie was thankful after that Lizzie took her advice and sat quietly in front of her. Josie had done Lizzie's hair what felt like and probably had been a thousand times before so it didn’t take her long to finish.
Once she was done Lizzie jumped up and went towards the small vanity sitting down and begging on her makeup. Josie watched her for a minute, she didn’t really know why but she just felt like doing it.
After what felt like too long Josie made her way into the bathroom to start her own hair. She plugged the iron in and set it down to wait for it to heat up.
The mirror was foggy, the bathroom was still wet from Lizzies shower forcing her to take a towel and wipe the floor and then to wipe the fov away from the glass.
Just focus on the party, Josie reminded herself. That’s all she needed and should focus on for now.
~
The party was in full swing. It had been decorated just the way Lizzie had imagined with Josie's help here and there. As soon as the twins arrived and were announced everyone cheered and their friends met them at the end of the stairs.
MG was first to Lizzie. She watched him take her hand and pull her to the dance floor with a smile on her face. Kaleb was near the two with Cleo, holding his girlfriend close and dancing with her.
“Care for a dance?” Jed asked from next to her. Josie looked at him, looked at his smile and then back at her sister and their friends.
“Why not, I have time to kill.” She took his hand and allowed herself to be pulled into the dance floor.
Josie quickly learned the punch bowl had already been spiked, that Dorian was off with her dad in his office working on something with her mom while a few teachers but not a lot were trying to chaperone the party.
She didn’t care, she was having fun. Laughing and dancing and making an idiot of herself with Jed as the boy did the same with some of his wolves backing him up.
He was sweet, sweeter than some might think but over the years Jed had really fallen into himself. Josie remembers how much of an asshole he was when he first arrived at the school, but now he was much better.
“I think I’m gonna get a drink,” Josie said. Her throat felt dry form singing along and she figured it had been at least an hour.
“Remember what I said about the punch!” Jed yelled after her as she left.
She rolled her eyes but her heart pumped fast and a face hurting smile was on her face. Being the birthday girl, Josie was immediately allowed to the front of the punch bowl line and poured a small cup.
She stepped off to the side saying thank you to whoever let her pass and leaned agaisnt the wall with a sigh. The first sip of her drink had her face scrunching up. Jed was right, she hadn’t doubted him but the liquid burned down her throat more then she thought it would.
“Spiked?” Josie turned to Landon coming next to her with his hair ruffled and a grimace on his own face.
“Jed’s warning didn’t do it justice.” He laughed, taking a sip of his own drink and making a face as if he bit into a lemon.
“Jeez, what did they put in this thing?” He pulled the cup back and stared at it.
“The whole bottle?”
“Wouldn’t put it past them. Wolves need so much to get drunk.” Josie nodded in agreement, she could see them doing it for themselves. “So how’s the night going? Since you're the birthday girl and all.”
“Good,” she answered him. “Danced a bit with Jed and the wolves but other than that…nothing really.” Her eyes flickered around the room for a quick moment.
“You got two hours,” Landon said, answering her thoughts. “I know you’ve always been dead set that it’ll appear but…mine didn’t. You should prepare for that.”
Her hand gripped her cup tighter. “I don’t have to.”
“Josie,” Landon sighed. “I don’t want you to be sad when you don’t get it.”
“You don’t know I won’t get it.” She took a gulp of her drink, ignoring the sting.
“You don’t know that you will.”
“Landon, don’t be a downer,” Josie let out. She probably shouldn’t have but it had only been a minute and he was getting on her nerves.
“I’m sorry, I’m just- I know how I felt.” He looked at her for a prolonged moment and she wished she could just snap her fingers and disappear.
“I’m not you,” Josie says slowly, “and I know what to expect.”
“Right.” He nodded. “I’ll…talk to you later then? I’m gonna go find Raf.”
“Yeah, later.” She wouldn’t but she said it and watched him disappear into the crown anyway.
Two hours, she echoed his words in her head. Two hours till she knew.
Josie downed her small cup quickly before rushing back to the dance floor to forget everything.
Josie wasn’t one for the spotlight but being in the middle of her friends dancing with her sister gave her something she needed right now. Lizzie laughed loudly and the group cheered them on.
The song playing was some pop song with a heavy beat. Everyone in the room was either dancing or singing along or both.
Josie could feel the alcohol work its way through her, loosening her up the smallest bit and when she was handed more by Lizzie she didn’t think twice before drinking more.
Kaleb and MG started a dance battle, the vampires went wild as the two went back and forth not knowing who to cheer for. MG eventually won, turning around to, you guessed it, Lizzie, and leaping right into her arms.
Josie thinks he would have kissed her if they were drunk enough.
Two hours passed in the blink of an eye. Josie felt tired but exhilarated all at once from the dancing. The music had cut, gaining all attention to the front of the room where her parents were.
She gulped. Hopefully her parents wouldn’t notice how drunk everyone was, but her mother was a vampire so she could probably smell the alcohol if that was possible.
“As we near midnight I would like to say a few words for my lovely daughters.” The crowd cheered and Josie blushed, bringing her hands up to cover her face. “You girls are smart and beautiful in every way. Whether it’s revealed tonight, or tomorrow, or in a few years from now you will be loved and adored by those around you. I know that the universe put you in great hands, as a father I can trust that.”
Alaric sniffled and fought back tears before shoving the microphone into Caroline’s hands. Dorian patted his back awkwardly.
Josie clasped her hands infront of herself squeezing them tight. Her mother smiled and Josie felt way more captivated by her then their dad, maybe because she was always away.
“My girls,” she sighed thoughtfully and lovingly. “You're going to be adults and I couldn’t be more proud of you and what you have become. Smart, brave, and loving. As your father said before, I know the universe put you both into great hands. I know you’ve waited your whole lives for this moment but, it’s so much more than just soulmates. You are going to be 18, you did it and you’ll graduate and I’m just so proud of everything you’ve accomplished.”
Lizzie wrapped her arms around Josie and Josie leaned into her. Josie wiped her own tears away and blew a kiss to her mother up on the stage.
Caroline looked down at her watch, quickly wiping a tear from under her eye. “We’re on the minute mark folks! Girls why don’t you get to the stairs where you planned?”
Lizzie was dragging her up the stairs. The crowd parted for them and soon they were at the top looking down at all the students.
This was it, Josie thought. This was the moment. She could feel it. Maybe it was the alcohol but she swore her skin was already burning.
She looked at her sister, watched Lizzie nervously look at everyone. “You’ll be ok,” Josie whispered and squeezed her hand.
“You think?”
“Of course, and I’m right here. Whatever happens, whoever it is, I know everything will be alright.” Josie let her eyes stray to MG at the bottom of the stairs.
Her eyes locked with him and she smiled. He gave her the most nervous grin she’s ever seen back but she knew, oh Josie knew for sure it would be him.
“You’ll be ok,” Lizzie repeated to her. “We’re in this together.”
“Always,” Josie mumbled.
She took a shuddering breath. Her eyes scanned the people one more time. She met her mother and fathers eyes, her dad was still half crying but gave her what she thinks was supposed to be a reassuring thumbs up. Her mom squeezed herself tighter as if she was trying to hug herself.
“I love you,” Josie whispered staring at her.
Caroline heard it and Josie watched her lips whisper it back even if she couldn’t hear her. It felt like a warm blanket, something calm and weighted to keep her grounded.
“Ten,” Caroline started.
“Nine,” everyone joined in.
“Eight.” Lizzie squeezed her hand much tighter.
“Seven.” Josie closed her eyes, she couldn’t look.
“Six.” Josie felt a prickle, a waver, something wash over her like a quick hot spell that quickly turned into feeling like a bucket of cold water drenched over her.
“Five.” Her collarbone burned.
“Four.” Her collarbone ached, the skin starting to feel red and itchy.
“Three.” Josie inhaled sharply, she heard Lizzie do the same.
“Two.” The crowd was background noise to the feeling.
“One.”
Her skin ached as if a brand had been stuck right onto her collarbone. White hot fire straight from the depths of hell that almost had her stumble.
Lizzie held onto her hand tighter, Josie did the same and a few seconds later, what felt like an eternity the pain began to sizzle away.
“Oh my god.” The gasp didn’t come from Lizzie, but Josie knew.
Her eyes snapped open then, she looked down the stairs and saw MG staring at his wrist with his mouth gaped open.
Josie turned just in time to watch her sister open her eyes and look down at her own wrist. Josie followed her eyesight and beamed. ‘Milton Greasley’ was written clear across her wrist.
Lizzie practically jumped down the stairs. For a vampire MG barely had enough time to catch her before she was in his arms gripping his face and pulling him into a suffocating kiss.
All eyes watched the moment, Josie’s heart fluttered and eventually the two pulled away.
“Jo-“ Lizzies voice came to a halting stop. “Oh my god.”
The room began to gasp. Everyone started to whisper and Josie's hand instinctively went to her collarbone where she still felt it burning.
She didn’t know why, but her stomach dropped. The looks, they meant something. Josie didn’t know what but they meant something.
Before she could process it herself Josie turned around and bolted.
She stumbled through the halls and up to her and Lizzie's room. It took her what could have been five minutes or less, she doesn’t know, wasn’t counting, just focusing on needing to see it.
The door slammed so hard when she opened it stuff fell off the shelves. She went right for the bathroom and came to a screeching stop in front of the mirror.
There, Inked black across her collarbone was a name she never ever thought she would see on her body.
Hope Mikaelson.
Hope Mikaelson, as in the heir of the Mikaelsons. The tribrid. The literal princess of the supernatural world.
Josie's vision blurred, and like a snap of someone’s fingers she dropped to the ground everything going black.
~
“It has to be a mistake,” a voice hissed.
“Alaric, you know it’s not and you said you knew the universe would put them in the right hands.”
“Well it’s wrong!”
“Lower your voice,” Caroline scolded him. “The universe is never-“
“She is not ending up with…with her. I won’t allow it, I won’t allow this.”
“So what? You want to tell Klaus you are forbidding his daughter from her soulmate?”
A beat of silence.
“She would hurt her, Caroline. There is a reason that girl never came to this school.”
“She never came here because you didn’t want her here and they didn’t want to send her here after all. The universe isn’t wrong, this is it Alaric. This is who is perfect for our daughter.”
“I don’t- I’m not doing this.”
Josie listened to the door slamming shut. “I know you're awake.” Her mom speaking directly to her made her heart clench.
“I’m sorry,” Josie whispered immediately as she opened her eyes. She took notice of her surroundings, she was in the infirmary.
“You haven't done anything wrong,” Caroline said. She sat down on the edge of the bed and took her daughter's hands. “And for what it’s worth, I’ve met Hope before, she seems like a lovely girl. Sure, her family has their fair share of problems and bad deeds but…they are good.”
Josie thought that over in her head. “Klaus you…liked him right?” Josie bridged upon the topic gently.
Her mother blushed while looking away. “You could say that.” Her thumb gently moved up and down Josie’s hand. “Our soulmates are long gone, you know, but he…was something.” Josie watched a painful smile come across her face, maybe even wistful.
“Dad he…”
“Your father will get over himself. He’s always been way too quick to judge. This is right.” Caroline leaned forward and tapped Josie's collarbone. “This is never wrong. You will love them like you have loved no one else before.”
Josie felt tears well in her eyes. She wanted to. She wanted that love so badly. She’s read and seen so many things about the Mikaelsons and that made her nervous, but her whole life she’s been nothing but intrigued by what could be considered the royalty of the supernatural world.
And somehow, Josie was a part of that. She didn’t know how, she didn’t understand it but she was the tribrids soulmate. She was Hope's soulmate.
Josie didn’t even know her yet but that put a smile on her face. Just her name ringing in her head had her buzzing underneath her skin.
“What happens next?” Josie asks.
Caroline sighed. “I don’t know honey, but I promise you we’ll all be here. Are you scared?”
Josie thought about it. Scared would have to mean she didn’t want it. That she didn’t want Hope and rejected the idea. Scared would have to mean that she feared Hope, feared the Mikaelsons but…she didn’t.
“No,” she said confidently, “I’m not scared of them.”
Her mom watched her for a moment, probably trying to see if she was lying or not but after a while a soft smile broke out on her face. “That’s good. You have nothing to be scared about. The universe when it comes to this, it really is never wrong. Imagine this, you have been through thousands of lifetimes and universes and no matter who you are, what you do, what you are, this is your half. This is your love that follows you everywhere. You’ve done this before, you know that, and it’ll all be ok just as it was every single other time.”
“Mom,” Josie whispers, as her lip wobbles. “I’ve wanted this for so long.”
“I know, I know.” Caroline brushed her hair back and cupped her cheek. “It’s ok to cry, come here, come cry.”
Caroline pulled her right into a hug and Josie couldn’t pull back. She cried. She cried hard and loud and it ached deep inside of her chest. She held on tighter, tried to listen to her mom's heartbeat to calm her down but all she could do was let it all out.
Caroline squeezed her tighter and rubbed her back. When Josie was done she leaned over grabbing a glass of water Josie hadn’t even noticed.
Josie sipped from it only now realizing how dry her throat felt and how her head hurt. “What time is it?” She asked.
“Eight in the morning. Lizzie would be here but we sent her off to sleep.”
“Is she…ok? God, I ruined-“
“You didn’t ruin anything,” Caroline cut her off. “Your sister is beyond happy about who she’s with, if a little nervous but happy about it. She was just worried that you fainted.”
Josie didn’t believe that. She heard what Lizzie had said. She heard everyone gasp and stare at her as if something was deeply wrong.
“Mom everyone…they…” Josie didn’t even know how to say it. “They all looked at me like-“
“Who are you?”
“What?” Josie looked up confused.
“Who are you?” Her mom repeated with some force.
“Josie Saltzman?” Josie said.
“That’s right. And you are strong and the most brilliant witch here. You, Josie, are amazing in every way there is, same as your sister. Who cares what others think, they don’t matter.”
“But-“
“Josie,” Caroline hardened her gaze. “She will be good for you and you will be happy, that’s what matters.”
“But-“
“She’s awake!” Lizzies voice came screeching into the infirmary. In a second, blonde hair was right in her face and Josie let out a strangled noise from the right hug.
“Lizzie,” Josie coughed.
“Are you ok? Oh my god, I thought you died! I mean, I knew you didn’t but I was so worried!” Lizzie pulled back and cupped Josie's face in her hands. “Are you ok?”
“I’m fine,” Josie said. “Are you? I’m sorry if I-“
“You're sorry?” Lizzie almost yelled. “You have Hope freakin Mikaelsons name tattooed on your collarbone!”
Josie winced.
“Lizzie,” Caroline tried to start gently.
“I had to process MG but you have to process the fact your basically royalty! Oh- oh my god, am I royalty?” Lizzies eyes widened. “Am I a princess now?”
“W-What?”
“Princess in law!” Lizzie yelled louder before she was pulling Josie in for a tighter hug. “The wedding is going to be so big! I can see it now and-“
“Honey, why don’t we let your sister breathe? Remember?” Caroline cut Lizzie off and gently pulled back on her shoulder.
“Oh right, sorry. Are you ok? Are you hurt? Does it still hurt?” Lizzie’s fingers were pressing right up agaisnt her collarbone and Josie was quickly swatting them away.
“Don’t prob at me.”
“I’m not probing.”
“Yes you are. And no, I don’t think that makes you a princess. And please don’t talk about my wedding we don’t even know…” Josie trailed off, her eyes widening, “we don’t even know if they’ll like me.”
Lizzie laughed with her head falling back. “If they’ll like you? Aren’t you supposed to be the smart one? She’s your soulmate.”
“Dad doesn’t accept it,” Josie says bluntly. “If he doesn’t there’s a chance that her family won’t like that it…it’s me. I’m not anything special, Lizzie. Sure we’re siphon witches but away form that how do I compare to a tribrid? To what that family is?”
“Dad doesn’t accept it?” Lizzie said, completely ignoring everything else. “How- he said the universe put us in the right hands! He is such a fucking-“
“Lizzie!” Caroline scolds.
“Hypocrite! How can he go back on his word? Just like that? Ugh, before midnight it’s you’re so smart, you're so beautiful, you're getting who you are meant to be with blah blah blah and he just disregards everything over some little feud.”
“Well-“ Caroline tried to start.
“Dads scared. He thinks she’s gonna hurt me.” Josie looked down at her hands in her lap. “I-I don’t know her but she…she’s supposed to be my soulmate and I’m not scared of them.”
“You shouldn’t be,” Lizzie replied. “Dad is just a bitch.”
“Lizzie, can we not call your father a bitch right now?”
Lizzie waved their mother off. “Mom, this is our day and he’s ruining eveyrthing,” the blonde says.
“I know,” Caroline starts, “but it won’t be like this forever. Your dad will come around and once he sees that Hope and her family are ok nothing will go wrong.”
“Her whole…family?” Josie asks slowly. “Didnt…you also have-“
“You know!” Caroline springs up from the bed. “I think I should go get you two breakfast. How’s waffles? I can run into that breakfast place in town you girls both like. I’ll be back in a few!” In a blink of an eye Caroline was out of the room.
“That’s one way to avoid a conversation,” Lizzie grumbled. “Guess it's just you and me, Jo. I have so much to tell you about MG.”
Josie sighed just happy that she didn’t have to talk about herself anymore. “Tell away.” The twins moved to lay down next to each other on the bed and Josie tried her best to listen to her sisters rambling.
Hope Mikaelson was her soulmate, she thought.
Josie smiled, feeling a fluttering in her stomach.