Hello, my lovely readers. Okay, so I forgot to answer guest reviews last week. Bad me, sorry! They're at the end. On with the show…
Chapter 20: Homecoming: Part II
Freddy
No one was really paying that much attention to Freddy. Sam kept his eyes out for his girl. Fanny and Todd were doing their thing. Jos and Sandy acted like no else was alive. Li danced with a bunch of guys, before taking off to help Hope and Jacob with their thing. Hope seemed to be riding a high that Freddy wanted to be a part of. The parents kept talking to each other, and looking suspicious. Freddy hoped they didn't have a clue what Hope was up to—otherwise her plan would fail, and with it—any chance of his meeting his dad.
He followed the others out, to check up on Hope and Jacob's plan. It seemed to be going well for them, but he had his own work to complete.
Backtracking to the school, Freddy's eyes scanned the parking lot. He sighed when his mom and Jeremy Gilbert got out of a car. They were far enough away to not see the circles, or the coven. Things were going to plan. "Mom! Mr. Gilbert!" Freddy cried, excitedly. "They went in there!" he pointed at the school, where students came in and out.
Jeremy looked to Gwen, his mouth was set in a firm line. "Let's go!" he told Gwen, and they marched toward the school, neither seeming to notice the salt circle as they walked right past it. Freddy blew out a breath, and then pulled out the bag in his pocket. He tossed the rest of the salt down, to complete the circle—trapping everyone inside the school—until Hope, or Jacob broke the spell. "Sorry, mom," Freddy muttered. "This is what I had to do." Turning around, he headed back to the coven and company. He hoped he was doing the right thing here.
Bonnie
Bonnie Bennett was beyond pissed. She wanted to go nuclear on Hope and Jacob. Why would they be so stupid? So impulsive? So…young? Didn't they know what their actions could cause? Did they care about the kind of hell they might visit upon everyone here?
Hope chanted, her eyes darkening as her hair flew in all directions. Her teeth were bared as she held onto Jacob's and Jos' hands. Nothing would stop the girl, except one of them deciding to simply step away from the circle. But Bonnie had seen her daughter. Her oldest baby left the dance, walking along the path of destruction, hand in hand with her girlfriend, and Bonnie knew, they were walking into something way over their heads.
Blue came pouring from the mouths of the four Originals present. Bonnie watched it fly toward them, and grasped the hands of the people to either side of her tighter. If Hope was correct—this thing would decimate them—if they did not kill it first. Bonnie felt her powers flowing outward, the old buzz of energy. She'd felt power like this before: Once, when she sent hellfire to kill Katherine Pierce and Stefan Salvatore, sending the Queen of Hell, back where she came from, and killing her friend.
"Hope," the swirling blue cloud became something else. A girl. She looked like she was little more than a teenager, or a twenty-something. Cracking her neck, she grinned at Hope. "I'm glad we're here, together, again." The Hollow grinned evilly at Hope, and then looked at the others. "Looks like your little plan to keep me separated isn't working out so well," she said to a man Bonnie didn't know.
The man glared at her. His eyes were dark. Bonnie could feel the power radiating from him. "This isn't goin' to go down like it did before. This time. You die."
The Hollow smiled and Bonnie felt a chill. Even Klaus Mikaelson did not make her feel this much dread. Hope was correct. This thing had to be stopped in its tracks. "Really? I think it's you, Vincent Griffith, who will die this time." Lifting a hand, she caused Vincent's body to rise off the ground. His teeth gritted together, before he let out a terrible scream of pain.
"Now!" Hope shouted. Jacob, Valerie, Li and Jos ran into the circle, grabbing The Hollow by her arms, and Jacob placed his hands over the sides of her head. The Hollow's eyes rolled up in her head, and she let a scream of her own, as the four siphoned magic from her. She struggled in their grasp. "How does it feel when someone takes your magic?" Hope shouted at The Hollow, a Klaus-like smirk on her face.
Klaus stood in his circle, looking like he wanted to spring forward and join the fight. Hayley stood beside Alaric, her feet planted into the grass, her eyes blazing with malice. Caroline watched the scene, feet from Klaus, while Rebekah, Kol and Elijah seemed to be waking up. Each of them sat up to watch the action.
After a long moment, the siphoners let go of The Hollow, who was on her knees, gasping in pain, her lips pulled back from her teeth. "You think that will defeat me?" she questioned Hope. "I will take your magic, and everyone else here's, too. Then I will kill your family, where they stand, and make you watch."
"Big words. Got anything to back it up with? Because I do!" Hope retorted with a sneer. "Davina's got a little spell you might like. She once used it on my Uncle Finn. You can ask him all about it, but I doubt you're going to the same place as he did."
A short brunette stepped forward; holding up her hands. The Hollow let out a scream and pulled the top her dress back, staring at a mark that looked like a key forming above her breast. "What is this?" she demanded.
"No more body-jumping," Davina told her with a wicked smile. "Now, you're stuck in there," she waved a hand at The Hollow's corporeal form. "And, now, the grand finale!" Davina walked back to the circle as Jacob, Li and Jos returned to their places.
"Good-bye!" Hope called to The Hollow. She began to chant when The Hollow got to her feet. She grinned at Hope, blood running down from her nose and teeth.
"Yes! Good-bye, Hope!" The Hollow cried, sending the candles flying and sending Hope flying toward her as the coven dismantled. They looked at each other as The Hollow dragged Hope—on her knees—toward it. Hope choked, and clawed at the ground.
Jacob got to his feet first. "Hope!" he screamed, running toward her, only to be sent flying into Jos and Sandy. "Hope!" he screamed, again, as Hope kneeled before The Hollow, her own blood begin to flow. "Noooo!" Jacob howled, crawling forward, on hands and knees.
Hayley tried to get to Hope, but she went flying into Alaric.
Klaus let out a snarl from his salt circle; trying to free himself. Caroline went to help him, when she went flying; crashing into Kol's barrier.
Bonnie lifted her hands, but The Hollow turned on her; sending her flying into Davina and Vincent.
The man with Rebekah, came at The Hollow, and she snapped her fingers, snapping his neck, and sending him toppling to the ground. "Daddy!" a girl shrieked, coming at The Hollow, but she, too, went flying into the pile of witches.
"I could do this all day long," The Hollow told them. "You can take some of my magic, and I will still be stronger than all of you combined. And this," she sneered at Hope. "is how you die!"
Hayley
Hayley felt like she was in hell. What had Hope been thinking? Bringing this kind of chaos to Mystic Falls. This is what they ran from. She thought Hope was happy—that all she wanted was a normal life—far away from the supernatural chaos. How could she have been so stupid?
"HOPE!" Hayley screamed, tears running down her cheeks, as she watched her only child, about to die, at the knees of a monster. "HOPE!" she sobbed, crawling toward her daughter, fighting against the bitch who kept them apart. She could see Jacob trying, and failing, to get to Hope. He looked determined, but all the determination in the world meant nothing.
Klaus had begun to scream, pounding on the barrier that held him in place. It was Hope's birth, all over again. Another witch, after their baby, both of them unable to save her.
"HOPE!" Hayley screamed again as she struggled forward. "Fight her!"
Hope turned her head, to look at Hayley, who felt her world splintering apart. Blood ran down her daughters' face: from her eyes, mouth and ears. Tears coursed down her cheeks. Hayley could see her baby's mouth working, trying to make words. Nodding, Hayley cried. "I know, baby. I know. I love you, too!"
Hope turned her head. The Hollow's hand went down, and Hope's chest moved upward, her back arching in a manner that looked painful, and Hayley could hear her child's back break as Hope let out a scream that pierced the night.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Klaus howled, his fingers claws, his wolf-visage on full view as he howled.
"HOPE!" Hayley screamed again, tears nearly blinding her as Hope's arms snapped backward, her shoulders dislocating, her legs breaking. Every bone in her body was breaking apart. "El-I-JAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Hayley howled, into the night air. His head snapped in her direction, and Caroline's head moved upward, her blonde hair falling over her face. She moved so quickly that Hayley barely registered the moment that the blonde swept the salt to the left.
Elijah moved so quickly that Hayley stopped breathing. His hand ripped through The Hollow's chest. The Hollow looked confused as her eyes moved to Hayley, who grinned at her, feeling no sense of amusement, or happiness as The Hollow fell to the ground.
Elijah stood, The Hollow's heart in his hand. He, too, looked confused, his eyes on Hayley, when he dropped the heart, before picking Hope up off the ground. He carried her to Hayley; lying her down before her mother. Hayley did not see anything in his eyes. No love. No recognition. It was like they were strangers. Taking his bloodied hand, she looked into his eyes. "Thank you," she said, weeping. "Thank you."
Nodding, Elijah got to his feet and then he was gone. Hayley felt her heart breaking all over again as she touched Hope's cheek. She saw no sign of life in her daughter. Her eyes turned upward to Klaus, who had collapsed to his knees—his human features on display—tears in his eyes as he titled his head to the side. Their eyes met as Hayley shook her head.
Klaus let out a howl, his head falling to his chest as tears ran down his cheeks. "NooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Caroline
Getting to her feet, Caroline moved to Klaus' circle, she brushed the salt aside and took him in her arms as he wept. He buried his face in her shirt. His body shook with the force of his grief for his daughter. "Hope," he cried, miserably. She saw the humanity. She saw so much pain as he shook in her arms. She knew what would come after. He would turn his back on the world. He would lose himself.
"Klaus," Caroline cried, "Klaus, I'm so sorry. I'm so, so, so, sorry," Caroline murmured. Her own tears mixing with his. She saw Hope when she first came to the school.
~0~
"Hi, Caroline," Hayley said, shouldering a bag, and looking at the little-red haired girl next to her, as they entered the school.
Caroline walked over to them, and knelt down before the child, who looked around the school. Her eyes were wide and shy. "Hi, I'm Caroline Forbes-Salvatore. I hear that you've come to join us," she greeted the girl.
The girl looked up at Hayley, and then at Caroline. "Yes," she said seriously.
"Good. Let me show you around," Caroline said. She held out a hand and Hayley nodded at Hope, who took Caroline's hand. Caroline led Hope through the school, pointing things out to the solemn child.
"You're as pretty as the pictures my dad makes of you," Hope said and Caroline's eyebrows rose, a nervous giggle escaped her lips.
"I am?" Caroline replied.
"Yes," Hope nodded, a smile on her face as she looked up at Caroline. "He loves you."
Caroline nodded. "I know." She continued down the hallway, feeling her heart pounding just a little bit harder as she showed the girl the rest of the school before returning to Hayley, and they went outside, so Hope could meet some of the other kids. Hope seemed happy as a group of girls—her age took her by the hand—and pulled her into their group.
~0~
Klaus pulled back to look at Caroline. "I can't go on without her," he told Caroline.
"I know," Caroline said, pressing her forehead, to his and feeling her heart breaking for him. "I know. I love you," she whispered, pressing her lips to his. "I love you, Klaus Mikaelson."
"Do not pity me, Caroline," Klaus muttered as he looked back at Hope.
"I don't. I love you," Caroline mumbled, wiping away tears. "Come on." She stood up, and held out a hand to him.
Shaking his head, Klaus seemed unable to move as he looked to his daughter's limp and broken body. "I cannot," he said quietly.
Jacob had moved to Hayley's side, his face pressed to Hope's cheek. Caroline heard his words over the chaos. "Come back, love. Come back to me, Hope Mikaelson. Come back. Hope, do not leave me alone in this world. Do not leave!" Jacob moaned, his nose pressed against Hope's cheek as he cried.
Li and Jos made their way over to Hope's side. They held each other, crying as Alaric came to wrap his arms around Hayley, who sobbed angrily. The other Mikaelson children gathered, with their parents, moving in a circle, to kneel near Hope's body. Sam held Rebekah's daughter as the girl pounded the earth with both hands. "No! No! We just met. No! This is not it! Hope, please, come back! Please!"
Rebekah cried, in the embrace of the man Caroline thought must be her boyfriend. The Original sister's body shook, and she could not stand up as she jerked against the man's grip. He, too, was crying, and they fell to their knees.
Kol stood apart from the others, his head in his hands as the Davina person pressed her face into his shoulder.
Klaus' other sister, stood, her hands balled into fists, as the man she's come with shook his head, his own fists balled. "This is not right. This is not right at all," he was saying to either the sister or to himself.
Damon and Elena were holding each other. Freddy sat in the grass, his eyes glassy. Todd's face was buried in the grass as he cried, and screamed, Fanny by his side, tears running down her cheeks as she watched them.
Sandy broke from her mother, and little brother to join Jos, wrapping her arms around the twins who pulled her closer. Jos buried her face in Sandy's shoulder, and Li took Sandy's hand.
"Come back," Jacob whimpered. "Hope! You can hear me! Come back!"
A loud crack broke their grief, and Caroline thought she must have heard wrong. Then another, and another, in quick succession. Crack, crack, crack, went Hope's bones. "AHHHHhhhhhhh!" the girl whined, and then she let out a long breath, her chest rising and falling.
"Hope!" multiple people shouted at the same time.
Hope
"Mom?" Hope mumbled, her hand going to her head. "Ow," she groaned. "Did I fall asleep?"
"Baby girl!" Hayley cried, pulling her into an embrace. "Oh, baby!"
Hope felt odd as she looked around her to see people were crying. Some started laughing. "Hope!" Jacob cried, moving forward, and knocking her onto her back.
Hope gasped when his lips crushed hers. "I love you!" Jacob told her, with a grin before he leapt to his feet and jerked her upward. "My girl lives!" he shouted to everyone, picking her up, and spinning her around.
"Hope," her father's voice made her head spin.
Hope turned to find her father, outside of the circle of salt. Caroline pressed her lips to his cheek. "Go get her," she ordered him.
Breaking from Jacob—Hope ran to her father—leaping into his arms. "Dad!" she cried. "Dad!" Finally, their nightmare was over.
"Hope, a promise is a promise," Jacob's words made her pull back, to look at her dad. "I've got to go help him with something. But we have so much time now. Just so much to talk about. And to do! Dad, I am so happy!" Grinning, she ran back to Jacob's side. "Okay, people, we have one more, little spell to perform," she told them.
"To do what?" Bonnie demanded.
"To drop the veil," Jacob stated. "To reunite with those who were taken from us too soon."
"What?" Damon's eyebrows scrunched together.
"You're with me, or you're against me," Jacob replied. "We don't really need all of you for this one. I have enough power. We just need three." Snapping his fingers, every one of the vampires dropped to the ground, and then he lifted a hand, sending the witches and humans to sleep. "Artemis, if you will?"
Artemis stepped over to them. "When you're ready," she said, smiling at Hope and taking her hand. Jacob took Hope's and Artemis' hands in his, before he began to chant.
Hope looked to the sky and closed her eyes. She felt the power moving through them. It felt like liquid fire poured through her veins, and she wanted more. Chanting louder, she hear thunder crack the ground and wind howl around them, but they did not stop. Blood began to trickle down her face. And they did stop. Voices screamed from a hundred directions, in protest. And they did stop.
Then silence filled the air. Hope's eyes opened, and she looked around herself. People. So many people were standing in the field; looking confused. "Where are we?" a woman said.
"I don't know," a man told her.
"Dad?" Freddy cried, and Hope looked to him as he stood up.
Hope's eyes moved back to a man, who stood, ten feet away from her. "DAD!" Freddy ran across the field, and his father opened his arms. Feeling tears prick at her eyelids, Hope looked to Jacob, who looked over the faces of the people, worry etching his features.
"Where is he?" Jacob whispered. He looked to his uncle and Aunt. Shoulders beginning to rise and fall; Jacob let out a scream. "WHERE IS HE?" his voice cut through the chatter.
"At the boarding house," Caroline's voice caused Hope and Jacob to turn around. Jacob looked to Damon, who nodded.
Hope took Jacob's hand, and then they were gone. She felt the night air flying past them as Jacob sped through the town. He stopped at the door of the boarding house. His body shook a little. Valerie appeared beside them, her hand went to his shoulder. "Jake," she said quietly.
Jacob looked uncertain. Hope did not think she'd ever seen Jacob look uncertain, about anything. It was a new look on him. "It's okay. We're here," she said, squeezing his hand.
Looking at Hope, Jacob nodded before he lifted his hand, and knocked on the door.
After a long moment, the door opened, and Stefan Salvatore stood in front of them. Jacob's breath came out in a long hiss. "Dad?" he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Stefan stared at Jacob, like someone had hit him in the gut, but then he jerked Jacob into a hug. "It's okay, Jake. It's okay, son."
Hope felt tears running down her cheeks as Jacob's body shook in his father's embrace. She'd never seen Jacob cry about anything, either. It looked like there were a lot of things she didn't know about her new boyfriend.
"Jacob, you have to close it," Stefan said quietly, and Jacob pulled back, his head shaking.
"No!" Jacob replied. His expression became stubborn, and Hope saw the little boy in the man. "No. I won't. You can't make me close it. I just got you back."
"Jacob," Stefan cried when Jacob suddenly whooshed off into the night.
Stefan, Hope and Valerie stared at each other. None of them had a clue what to do now.
Thank you for reading, faving, following and reviewing!
Day Day: Thank you for all of the lovely reviews. Can you believe that there are only two more chapters before the finale and sequel?
Haylijah01: Thank you! I hope that you enjoyed the last chapter as well!
Peace,
J