Chapter 4

Hope's POV

"Tell me Hope, do you believe you're an open minded person" Professor Wolff asked.

"I mean I guess so Professor, but what does that have to do- "I started to ask before being cut off.

"Frist off, just call me Ingrid, professor makes me feel so old, and secondly the conversation we're about to have requires you to have a fully open mind about the world around you" she said.

I just looked at three of them with an uneasy expression, not really expecting what was about to happen.

"Hope let me start by asking you, what struck out to you the most about Damon Salvatore last night" Ingrid asked.

"His face" I automatically said remembering the red eyes and the veins, that scared me to my very core.

"What about his face stood out to you" she asked.

"His eyes they were red, with veins. He bite into my neck" I said as I automatically put my hand to side of my neck, where he bite me.

I looked up at the three of them with a fearful expression "What the hell is he, he can't be human."

Mandy and Jacob just looked at each other completely unsure of what to say next, however it was Ingrid that continued.

"Your right Hope he isn't human, but he once was before his death in 1864" Ingrid said carefully as if to examine my reaction.

Wait did she say his death in 1864, but that means he has to be over a 190 years old.

"T-that can't be, he would be over 190 years old" I managed to say, trying to comphrend what she was saying.

This time It was Mandy's turn to speak "Hope, there's no easy way to say this, but what you encountered tonight was a vampire. All those myths about Vampires, Werewolves, and Witches there all true."

I just looked at all of them like they were freaking crazy, there was no way vampire or any other supernatural creature could be real It's impossible.

"I know it might sound crazy, but it's true. Everyone in this room isn't completely human, Jacob's a werewolf, Ingrid and I are witches, as well as you" Mandy said.

"You people are crazy" I said immediately getting up, and running towards the door. However, the door would not budge.

"Hope Please just hear us out" I turned around and saw Jacob standing in front of me.

I shook my head not wanting to hear them out anymore "You people are nuts. You realize how crazy this all sounds, Vampires, Werewolves, and Witches, and now you guys are saying I'm one of them. Leave me alone."

"Then please enlighten us Hope, what possible explanation can you tell us about his face" Ingrid asked referring to the red eyes and his veins.

As I breathed in and out trying to calm myself, I found that I couldn't come up with anything at all.

"Hope, believe it or not you're an extremely powerful witch. Your biological family is descended from one of the most powerful witches that ever lived" Ingrid said catching my attention.

But how on earth did she know about my adoption.

"How the hell do you know that I'm adopted" I asked walking slowly back towards Ingrid, curious to how she knew.

"That's because I'm the one that placed you in the care of the Winters family 18 years ago." she said.

Her statement completely froze me in my tracks. I couldn't believe what I was hearing, she knows about my biological family. In all my 18 years of living, this was the first time, that I ever came close to learning about my biological family.

"You know my family" I asked still in shock.

Ingrid just shook her head and said "I'm afraid not personally, but I know enough"

"But you just said" I tried to say, before she interrupted me.

"Hope sit down let me tell you a story, one that begins before you were even born" Ingrid said pointing to the couch that I was just sitting on.

Reluctantly I did, because whatever crazy story she wants to tell me now, has something to do with my biological parents.

"You see Hope, New Orleans was built many centuries by the original family, the very first vampires to come into existence and all other vampires descend from them. Since its creation, it has become one of the biggest and diverse supernatural community around, and filled with many Vampires, Werewolves, and Witches. However, it wasn't long until fights broke out between them, trying to see which species was more fit to rule the city. Around 18 years ago an all-out war between the species took place, some turned against their own kind, it was a bloodshed that nearly destroyed New Orleans."

"It was the main reason why my parents moved us out of town when I was young" Mandy said.

"The effects though can still be felt through the supernatural community today" Jacob added in.

"What does this have to do with my birth parents" I asked just wanting her to get to the point.

"At that point in time I was the leader of Tremé Coven, when one of your parents' friends came to me with you in hand, asking that I find shelter for you until the war blew over, however your parents ended up dead before the war was finished. When that happened, I decided it was safer for you to be raised by non-supernatural parents, so you could have your best chance of a normal life" Ingrid explained. I felt my heart drop the moment she mentioned that my biological parents were dead. Truth be told I never had the desire to ever seek them out, because my real parents are Ashley and Mason Winters. They're everything a child could ever want for in a parent, caring, loving, and always put their child first before anything else. Still knowing that my birth parents are dead and I'll never have the chance of meeting them, if I ever changed my mind was a letdown. It did cross my mind that Ingrid could be lying to me, but something in my gut told me she was telling the truth, if only partial at that. Ingrid took my hands and made eye contact with me and said "You have extraordinary powers hope, but there also unstable and if left uncontrolled they can bring devastating consequences. I can help you control your powers Hope; you'll be one of the most powerful witches that ever lived." "Stop just stop" I said shaking my head before I got up off my seat for a second time. "Do you guys realize how crazy this all sounds, even if I did believe you, I don't want no part of this." I said as I made my way towards the door. "Hope Please" Jacob called out to me as I felt his hand grab my wrist. In that moment, it felt like all the anger I have hidden over the years has finally started to resurface. I quickly spun my head around and yelled "NO." However much to my surprise Jacob suddenly flew back and hit a wall, followed by the ground shaking violently causing me and everyone else to fall to the ground. After a few minutes the ground stopped shacking, and when I finally was able to lift myself up, I saw that the entire living room was completely torn apart. I kept breathing harder and harder, because I was afraid what Ingrid said about me is true. So I did, what I always do when I'm afraid or in danger, run. Normal POV Elijah Mikaelson came running into his brother's antique shop, where the rest of his family were minus Davina. "So it seems that earthquake just now wasn't my imagination, chaos is happening all over the streets" he said noticing his family's faces. "I've never felt such power before, whoever this person is, is more powerful than even Dahlia ever was" Freya stated with a hint of fear in her eyes. "She is right; this power is unlike anything I ever felt before" Kol stated. "So brother do you still want to carelessly wait things out or actually take action and end this threat before it even begins, because as much as I love bloodshed, it will save us the trouble of struggling later" Klaus asked in a sarcastic manner. Marcel then walked with a stoic look on his face "I got news. One of my informants spotted a young girl running out of Ingrid's place right after the earthquake ended somewhere towards the east end. He says she fits the description from what we were able to get out of Damon. Klaus smirked and said "Well that was a lot easier than I thought. Looks like our little witch friend isn't trying to be discrete." Marcel gave Klaus a disapproving look "Klaus for all we know, we might just be dealing with an inexperienced witch. There's no need kill a young girl over something she can't control. "Ah, but there's our problem. As Freya as already noted, this witch has immense powers that even surpass Dahlia's. One solution is that we train this witch to be our ultimate weapon against our enemies, but there's always that chance of betrayal. That's the one thing I really don't want to chance ever again, after the last time." As Klaus spoke, Elijah couldn't help but notice the unshed tears from his brother's eyes, and he knew he was remembering the situation that ended up losing Hope to them. "Brother why don't you let me go out and assess the situation with this witch" Elijah spoke hoping to appease both Klaus and Marcel. "And do what try to sweet talk your way into her heart and have her fall madly in love you as you did with Celeste. Wonderful idea brother and while we're at it, how about we just tell her all of our secrets on how to destroy us" Klaus said. "Brother I assure you, I will do whatever it means necessary to protect our family, but we can't have you going out and recklessly killing every witch in sight. If I deem this witch is a threat then I will take care of her, you have my word" Elijah said with confidence. Klaus on the other hand was still internally debating.

Hope's POV The only thing I could register in my mind was that I had to get out of this city as quickly as possible. Despite knowing that none of the buses were running at this hour, I ended up going to one of the station benches. I tried calling home, but no one answered and all I got was voicemail. "Mom, it's me. I'm c-coming home" however I couldn't finish before I ended up breaking down in tears over the past few hours. I barely registered that the wind was starting to pick up, because all I could think about was why this was happening to me. My whole life I've tried to be a good person that makes the right decisions, so why is it that ever since I've come to this city nothing but strange and terrible things have happened. I should have listened to my parents and went to Community College at least then I would be safe. "Excuse me" a voice called out, causing me to jump up and turn towards the voice. To my confusion there stood a man who appeared to be in his early to mid-twenties, with short brown hair and hazel eyes wearing a dress suit. He also had a strong jawline as well as high cheekbones. "Who are you" I asked with fear in my voice. "There's no need to fear I come in peace" he said talking a step forward, causing me to step back and put my hands up. However as soon as I did that what appeared to be an invisible force field appeared and stop the man from getting closer. I quickly look at my hands in horror, wondering what the hell I just did. "Oh my god" I whispered. "So you are the one that caused the earthquake" he stated more as a fact than a question. I looked at him and said "I don't know what's happening to me. I don't understand any of this." I wasn't sure what my expression was at the moment, but from the look on his face, I could tell he was confused by something I said or by me in general. "You are a witch are you not?" he asked me with curiosity in his voice. "I don't know, that's what Ingrid says that I am, but I'm not sure what to believe" I said. Automatically the thought of Damon comes into my mind. "Do you have red eyes and veins like Damon did" I blurted out not sure why I was asking him this. "You really have no idea do you" he asked surprised. I was starting to shake really bad, not sure what was going to happen to me now even though I felt like this man wasn't going to harm me at all. "What's your name" he asked. "Hope" I answered. The moment I said my name, he was taken a back, like he just saw a ghost or something. "HOPE" a voice that I recognized to be Ingrid's called out. However she stopped as soon as she noticed the man in front of me. The two just stared each other down until Ingrid broke eye contact and came over to me. "Are you alright" she whispered. I couldn't speak so I just nodded. Ingrid took my wrist and said "Come one Hope lets get out of here" As she lead me away, I could feel that man's eyes burning into the back of my head.

Ingrid's House Ingrid ended up bringing me back to her house, which was still a mess from earlier and this time both Mandy and Jacob were gone. I sat on the couch as she sat on the chair right across from me, in complete silence. I don't think either one of us knew what to say to each other. "So it's true all of it" I finally asked breaking the silence. "I know it's a lot to stomach in Hope and I can't blame you for being upset. This wasn't how I imagine us having this conversation. You must understand I want to help you Hope. Right now your powers are completely unstable and without proper control over them, it can cause great devastation. I can help you gain control over your powers Hope and make good use of them. There are many others of our kind including Mandy all around New Orleans, that will be valuable assets to you as you progress" Ingrid explained. "Alright I'll train with you or whatever you're going to do with me" I said finally realizing this new reality that is setting in for me. I really don't want to be a part of it at all, but I don't want to hurt anyone if my emotions end up getting the better of me. "I promise you Hope, it might all seem strange at first, but you'll learn very quickly about the supernatural" she said. "By the way that guy from earlier who was he was he a vampire" I asked thinking about that strange encounter and how he reacted when learning my name. "Elijah Mikaelson and yes he is, but he is a member of the original family, the very first vampires ever created" she informed me. How odd I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before.

Author's Note Well there's chapter 4 and I hoped everyone liked it. I apologize for the long hiatus and I have absolutely no excuse for it except for that school got in the way the last few months. Now that summer is here I'll be updating more often, so I hope this extra-long chapter makes up for it. So please continue to read and review.