Ruby and Monica entered the school, finding Hope in the hallways. Hope offered her love a smile and Ruby forced a smile back, revealing her new fangs. She wasn't happy about completing her transition, but she was more unhappy about dying in a few hours and leaving those she loved behind, especially after they'd just gotten her back.

Hope embraced Ruby, and the werewolf hugged her back, before they separated. "Your brothers were looking for you." The Mikealson hummed. "I guess I better go find them." The newly turned hybrid responded. The pinkette kissed Hope's cheek before she started walking away, but not before also giving Monica a wave.

Monica waved back, before turning to Hope. "She really struggled." The vampire spoke, quietly. "But I'm going to help her, as much as I possibly can." Hope smiled sympathetically, "Thank you, Mon."

❤︎

Ruby knocked on the door to Landon and Rafael's dorm. She received no answers but heard something unusual coming from the bedroom. The Waithe pushed the door open, and blinked in surprise when she saw her twin doubled over, retching up a dark bloody liquid onto the carpet.

"Rafael!" Ruby blurted in shock, as Landon looked up to Ruby, a smear of black liquid on his hand. "We need to get Dr Saltzman!" Landon ordered. Ruby nodded as she made a beeline for her twin, while Landon left to grab Alaric.

Sometime later Ruby sat in a chair, outside Alaric's office. Her feet tapped nervously on the floor. She wanted to be inside the office with her twin, but he had asked that he could be alone. So instead the hybrid waited nervously outside.

"Ruby!" Monica and Lizzie callee out in unison, as they approached the rattled hybrid. "Has Ric come up with a solution yet?" The Montgomery asked, as Ruby shook her head sadly, as her eyes showed visible stress.

Lizzie's face fell. She understood just how terrified Ruby must be feeling, the Saltzman didn't know how she'd act if Josie was in Rafael's position right now.

The siphoner stepped forward and embraced Ruby as the pinkette hugged Lizzie back. "I'm sure Raf will pull through.. your brother is strong." Lizzie said, as Ruby stayed quiet, trying her best not to burst into tears.

Monica watched the pair hug, but stopped suddenly as she noticed Ruby's eyes change, as veins popped out from under them. Being so close to Lizzie, the hybrid could hear her blood pulsing through her veins. Ruby didn't realise that she was baring her fangs, and quickly and in a blur, Monica pulled Lizzie away from Ruby. With fear in both of their eyes, the couple looked up at the Waithe.

Realising what she'd nearly just done, Ruby covered her mouth in shock. "Oh my god.. Lizzie— I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to— I—"

Lizzie seemed a little shaken but settled quickly as Monica took the witch's hand in her own. "It's okay, you're new to being a vampire.. it can't be easy." Lizzie insisted. "It isn't... I hate it." Ruby confessed, as she removed her hand from her mouth. "Only a few months ago I was a dormant werewolf and now.. I'm not only a baby werewolf but half bloodsucker." She blurted out.

Monica tried to stifle a giggle, "Ouch." She retorted, before her expression softened, "I'm gonna help you through all of it.. the good and the bad." Monica said as she placed her hand on Ruby's shoulders. "I've got your back, Waithe." Ruby gave Monica a forced smile, but didn't seem convinced that she could get through it.. she felt like she was never going to control these impulses.. it was all so overwhelming and daunting.

The door to Alaric's office finally opened, and the headmaster stepped out. Ruby's eyes lit up, but the older Saltzman couldn't look her in the eye. "I wish I had better news." He began, "We don't have much time."

"Super Squad always saves the day. What do you need us to do?" MG asked, as he and Kaleb approached the group. "Anything we can."

"We should also make a plan for if... things don't go our way." Kaleb said as everyone looked at him. Ruby in particular, gave him a glare. "What? We got to be realistic about our odds here. Right?" Alaric sighed, "You leave the worst-case scenario up to me. In the meantime, just keep looking for loopholes." He said, before turning to Jed.

The groups voices grew quieter in Ruby's ears, as she approached the office to see her twin. "Rafi." The hybrid stammered as she approached the boy. "Ruby—" Rafael blurted as Ruby suddenly hugged him, just about taking the wind out of his lungs.

"Are you going to be okay?" Ruby asked as her voice was quite shaky. The girl pulled away as Rafael looked down at her, unsure of how to answer her question.. especially when he didn't know, himself.

"We're gonna go somewhere fun." Rafael suddenly said, as Ruby raised an eyebrow. "What? Where?" She asked. "It's a surprise." Rafael grinned.

Meanwhile outside, the group were still conversing. "Plus, we gave Raf an elixir that links him to the lunar cycle. It's a Band-Aid, but it will hold off his symptoms until the morning." Lizzie explained, as Monica gently squeezed her hand. "When he drops dead." Kaleb stated before adding "I said that out loud. I am so—"

"My point is, if anyone can find a way to save him, it's us." Lizzie cut in, eyeing Kaleb.

The door to Alaric's office flew open, as Hope stood in the doorway. "There's only one problem with that. Rafael took off, with Ruby. They're gone."

❤︎

After an unsuccessful attempt at a camping trip, Monica dragged the Waithe twins and Landon back to the Salvatore school. The group were quiet the whole time, as Monica drove them back. Finally reaching the front of the school, Monica parked the car and the trio got out of the backseat.

Now inside, Monica approached Jordan and Lizzie who were examining a tuning fork. "So Hope wants to use Clarke's Freaky Friday tuning fork to put Raf's consciousness in someone else's body?" Jordan asked as Lizzie nodded. "Look, I know it's not ideal, okay? But if we modify and reforge the Trident, then a siphon like me can use it to transfer energy instead of consciousness."

"Well...well, wait, wait. What kind of energy? And into who?" Ruby demanded, feeling a wave of nervousness rush through her body. "Well, my first choice was Jed, but unfortunately, it has to be... phoenix energy." Lizzie said, before her eyes dart to Landon.

"Phoenix? So what does that mean for Landon?" Monica asked. "I'm guessing it means I become human." The Kirby boy realised. Ruby gave the boy a sympathetic look but knew if it had to come to saving Rafael's life, he'd do it in a heartbeat.

The group walked to the gymnasium, where Hope had set up a magical circle. Ruby and Hope shared a smile before Lizzie ordered the boys around, "Moppet, you are here. Raf, there. And Ruby, Hope, Jordan and Monica... you're all moral support, so don't screw it up." She ordered. Monica tried to stifle a laugh.

Rafael and Landon shared a quick hug before they stood in their rightful places. They gave one last knowing look to Ruby, as she watched them carefully.

Jordan looked confusedly at Lizzie, who placed her hands on Landon's shoulders, but doesn't seem to be siphoning. "Babe.. You can start now." Monica spoke up as Lizzie sighed, "I did start, but nothing's happening."

"What do you mean?" Ruby suddenly asked, looking to Lizzie for answers. "There isn't any magic in the moppet to siphon." The Saltzman confessed. "What? I don't understand." Hope questioned as everyone glanced between Lizzie and Landon, waiting for some sort of explanation or answer to what is going on.

"She means I'm not a phoenix anymore. It makes sense. The golden arrow felled the phoenix, just like the prophecy said." Landon explained, as Ruby felt her heart sink, "Wait. But you were brought back." She managed to say. Landon turned to his foster sister, who was visibly upset, "As a human, but the phoenix part of me died, leaving me one final, mortal life. I should have known. I can feel it. I feel... different."

Ruby shook her head, "I.. I can't believe that this is happening." She stammered as she took a step back. The only way they could save her twin, wasn't going to work. Rafael was going to die.

"We'll run more tests. Maybe there's something we missed." Monica declared as she looked to her worried best friend. "I can go outside and try to fly." Landon suggested, but Hope deadpanned him, "How? By jumping off a roof and hoping you sprout wings before you break your neck?" She asked sarcastically.

"This is ridiculous! Can you.. use my vampire energy? I don't want it!" Ruby blurted out, "Take anything from me I don't care.. we need to save Rafael!" The Waithe girls cried out, as everyone fell silent. "Ruby—" Jordan began to speak up but was cut off by Rafael.

"No! I don't want to waste another second fighting a losing battle." The werewolf decided. "I want to make the most of whatever little time that I have left. Just want to be with... with my family and my friends. I want to go out on my own terms."

Ruby felt a wave of dizziness wash over her, as she couldn't believe what was happening. "Ruby?" Hope asked, noticing the girl stagger. Without another word, the hybrid was suddenly a blur as she super sped out of the room. "Ruby!!" Hope called out before she left to go after her.

Everyone looked through the doorway that Ruby and Hope exited through, feeling terrible for both of the Waithe's.