Hey guys. I'm so sorry for this long and terrible absence. During the summer, I work very hard. I do a physical job that exhausts me and takes up all my time. I have very little free time. Luckily, today I'm better. I came back for a third chapter to my new story on Hope.
In this new chapter, Hope tries somehow to ensure that her presence doesn't change the events of The Vampire Diaries season 4. But she will quickly realize that it's not that simple.
Good reading.
Chapter 3: Meet my Mom
The sun rose, Hope woke up and rubbed her eyes. She yawned and stared at the ceiling with a sigh. She had been in the past for several days, at the Mikaelson Mansion in Mystic Falls. Hope still couldn't believe she was in a time before the months before she was born. And then there was her father, who didn't even know he had his daughter from the future with him. Even though she was happy to be able to spend time with her dad, she was terribly sad that she couldn't tell him the truth. Telling him that she was his daughter from the future, that she was an unwilling time traveler and that she was stuck in the past for an indefinite amount of time. But telling him even part of the truth would be too dangerous for her future. She knew she was taking a huge risk by staying by her father's side, but what other choice did she have? The damage was done. She didn't know how to go back to her time and she couldn't run away from Mystic Falls like that after being unmasked by her father. It would draw too much attention to her, and it could be catastrophic for her future. And she hoped that being at the Mansion with her father wouldn't make her future worse. If only she knew what to do.
She inhaled sharply and eventually got out of bed. The room Klaus put her in was very spacious. Wistfully, it reminded her of her room at the Abattoir in New Orleans. Despite the fact that she was in the past and her father had no knowledge of the ties that bound him to her, Hope felt perfectly at home. She wondered why she had never heard of this place in the future.
As she got up, she opened her wardrobe containing a multitude of clothes that her father had bought for her. Since that famous night when he had discovered her, Klaus had offered her a room, a bed and then clothes. They had stayed together for days getting to know each other. He had been very curious about her. And Hope gave him some answers without going into too much detail about the future, of course. He had asked her where she was from. She replied that she had been born in New Orleans, seeing no harm in talking about this detail. She had noticed that her father seemed to have tensed up a little at the mention of New Orleans, which was not surprising, given that he had lived there with his family for centuries and had even helped build it. Curiously, Klaus didn't ask about Hope's last name, which was comforting to her, not wanting to make up a lie. He was her father, and lying to him repelled her. He had asked her if she had any siblings. Hope replied that she had always been an only child. He also asked her about her powers, since when she had them. He had been impressed when she told him that she already had powers when she was a baby. She even told him that once she had stopped a car because she had sensed the danger. She even told him about her transformations into a wolf that helped her keep control over her magic. Which had completely captured his father's attention.
Then one day, Klaus went to ask Hope how her parents had reacted when they found out about her powers and what she was.
With emotion, Hope replied:
"They were there for me. They always stood by me. My father was there for me on the first full moon when I turned into a wolf for the first time. When I had all the bones in my body breaking, it was my father who helped me by giving me advice to make the transformation go well."
Klaus' expression darkened for a moment. Hope knew her father hadn't had a better experience in his early days as a werewolf with a father like Mikael and a mother like Esther.
"My father was also there, the first time I transformed. But not to help me. He was the first to claim that I was an abomination. The first time I killed someone was on a full moon night. I turned into a wolf, I didn't understand what was happening to me. One of my older brothers Elijah, the only one who was present that evening, he also didn't know what was happening to me. And I still remember my father making fun of me, calling me a beast. I was in so much pain, my bones breaking, I didn't know why, and my father just laughed at my misfortune. And he forced my mother to put this damn curse on me that suppressed my werewolf side for a thousand years. It's a good thing you had good parents. It is very rare to find, even nowadays."
Hope sighed in sadness. She knew the story perfectly. Even though she hadn't had the same life as her father, that didn't mean that everything was perfect for her either.
"Honestly, the older I got, the more the witches considered me an abomination. Fortunately, not all of them. My parents always stood by me, no matter what. After their death, I completely closed in on myself. I was sick of people sacrificing themselves for me. I was determined to remain a lonely soul. After… I ended up falling in love with a boy. His name is Landon. A survivor like me. Now that I'm with him, I can't imagine a life without him."
"I am very happy for you," her father had answered her with emotion. "Your parents and your Landon. It's very important to have the support of those close to you when things go wrong. I can't say the same for my family. After what Esther did to me. I lost Elena's blood which gave me hybrids. And my brothers abandoned me. I am so happy to have been able to meet someone like you. Do you have hobbies? Things you like to do, like all girls your age?"
Hope chuckled somewhat in amusement before replying:
"I'm not quite like other girls my age. Most of the time I paint. I have always loved painting. Ever since I learned to use a paintbrush, I have always enjoyed painting."
Knowing that Hope loved to paint had moved Klaus even more. For a moment, he hadn't said a word before he could reply:
"I happen to like to paint too. I do very much. It's an excellent outlet to free yourself from your frustrations. I have never met anyone who loves art as much as I do."
"My father also loved painting," added Hope with emotion. "He loved that. I still remember when I painted with him. I was seven years old and we were painting together. It's one of the best memories I have with my dad. My mom was never a big fan of painting, but she did everything to ensure that I lacked nothing in my passion."
"I never thought it possible for parents to support the passions of their children." had replied her father. "My father hated everything I did, including my creativity. I don't think he had a creative mind except to hurt me. Of course, it was a different time."
"If you want, we could paint together?" Hope had offered him, remembering fondly the one and only time she had painted with her father.
"I must admit that it's tempting, Hope, I'd love to do that," Klaus had answered. "Right now I want to protect what's left of my hybrids and that even involves that traitorous Tyler Lockwood. Since I can't create any more because of my dear sister and the fact that Elena Gilbert has become a vampire now, I have to act to prevent my hybrids to be a dying breed."
Then the discussion turned to the Founders' Council. Hope had learned that the twelve Council members had perished at Pastor Young's farm. According to the press, the explosion that had killed the Council was due to a faulty gas line, yet Klaus had sources who had told him that it was the police's version for the media. The explosion had been caused from within. It was clearly not accidental.
"Do you know who might have done this?" Hope asked, pretending to be interested.
She knew it couldn't be her father. She would have noticed if he had. Then, he hadn't left his Mansion since Hope had appeared.
"No, I have no idea," Klaus replied, shrugging his shoulders. "It can't be the Salvatore Brothers. This attack doesn't match Damon, and I know Stefan's way of doing things when he's the ripper. He wouldn't have just blow 'em up."
"It's odd all the same. The Council was determined to hunt all supernatural beings out of town and they get blown up all of them soon after. A little too easy."
"I grant you, it's a little too easy. I wonder who orchestrated this."
Hope had an idea of what was happening right now. Twelve members of the Council were killed in this explosion. Twelve people sacrificed. Channeling the energy from a mass death is used in witchcraft to perform dark spells. It's called Expression.
"At least the positive is that I no longer have to worry about getting arrested by the police," Hope had retorted, shrugging her shoulders. "I had never before been chased by the police."
"Yes, and I'm impressed by the way you escaped," Klaus had told her with interest.
Hope had told him about her misadventure with Pastor Young, when she unmasked herself as a werewolf, and how she managed to escape.
"I didn't have to do much," Hope replied. "I just had to put the cops to sleep with a sleeping spell. I ran away while they were digging."
"Very subtle, although I would have killed them if I had been there," her father had replied, smiling sardonically.
Then, Klaus had told her in detail about everything that had happened to him before the Tribrid arrived in the past. His mother Esther who had used Alaric Saltzman to create an Original vampire hunter. Tyler's betrayal that led to Klaus' heartbeat stopping, and that in order to survive Alaric, Bonnie Bennett had put him into Tyler's body. Now Hope had her answer about her father not coming to Young's farm to rescue Rebekah.
Hope was grateful to have arrived long after that. She could never bear to see her father's body inert and decomposing. Then she had been shocked by what had happened to Alaric, because she had also learned that he had died, because Esther had bound him to Elena. And when Rebekah had her killed with vampire blood, it had caused Alaric's death. Hope couldn't understand how Alaric could still be alive in her future. It was clear that something must have happened in the future that justified his presence in her futuristic time. She hoped to see him alive again in her future. He was like a second father to her. She didn't want him to stay dead. And there was also Lizzie and Josie. Without Alaric, none of the twins would be born. Hope was going to have to make sure her presence in the past didn't erase the twins.
After getting dressed in her new clothes, she joined her father, wondering what they were going to do today. To her surprise, she saw her father fully dressed to go out.
"Are you going out somewhere?" she asked him.
Klaus nodded.
"As you know, there is a vampire hunter hanging around town. And he went after Tyler twice. And even if I can't stand that traitor, I don't want to lose my remaining Hybrids. Would you come with me to the Lockwoods?"
"Of course," Hope agreed. "I'm a powerful witch, I could help you catch this hunter. I'm used to wolves, vampires and witches."
"You impress me," admitted Klaus surprised. "You are braver than I thought. And given the enemies I have in town, I'd rather have my back."
And again, I haven't told you about Malivore's evil monsters.
Later, along with several hybrids, they arrived at Lockwood Mansion. Klaus had introduced himself to Mayor Lockwod as a bodyguard to ensure his son's safety. Although not reluctant, Carol Lockwood had resigned herself to letting them settle in the Mansion.
She brought her son home from the hospital. Tyler frowned at the sight of the hybrids stationed at his house.
"Who the hell are you two?"
"Tyler, it's okay," Carol assured him. "They're here for your protection"
"More deputies?"
"Not exactly," replied Klaus arriving in the entrance hall with Hope behind him.
Noticing with amazement the presence of the Original hybrid, Tyler then understood:
"They're Hybrids!"
"I heard you were attacked," Klaus explained without showing the slightest concern to his very first hybrid. "I had hoped to leave Mystic Falls for good, but duty calls."
"Nice to know you care," Tyler replied sarcastically.
"I don't," the Original snapped, glaring furiously at Tyler. "I should have kill you for the little stunt you and your friends pulled… stopping my heart, leaving me in a coffin to rot."
Hope lowered her gaze, wanting to bottle up the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. The image of her father rotting in a coffin had chilled her. She did everything to keep calm.
Tyler hadn't yet paid attention to the new girl who accompanied his worst enemy and still continued to stare at Klaus with hostility.
"Yeah, well, you used my body as an escape hatch, then kissed my girlfriend, so maybe we're even."
But Klaus didn't give a damn and retorted coldly:
"Not even close. But you hybrids are a dying breed. I can't make more of you, and I won't have anyone taking liberties with the ones I have left."(He gestured at the hybrids around him.) "Consider them your new bodyguards."
As Klaus pulled away, Tyler finally noticed Hope's presence.
"And who are you? Aren't you a little young to be hanging out with him?"
The Tribrid just shrugged.
"My name is Hope. New witch."
"And very charming company," added Klaus with a sardonic air. "She is also there for your protection."
Tyler frowned, puzzled.
"Are you really with him?"
Hope smiled awkwardly, shrugging.
"Yup. I'm pleased to meet you."
She still had a hard time believing she was facing Tyler Lockwood, her father's very first hybrid.
"I feel that our company is going to be very pleasant," replied Klaus, amused by Tyler's reaction towards Hope.
The day passed without incident. The vampire hunter still hadn't shown up. Tyler was doing nothing more than being bored. Lying on a couch, he was juggling a soccer ball in his hands, when he was visited by someone other than Hybrids.
"So this is where you've been hiding, huh?" came a female voice behind him.
Startled, Tyler stood up from his couch, his expression brightening as he recognized the young woman who had just entered.
"Hayley?"
"Hey, Hey, Lockwoof!" exclaimed the young woman, jumping into Tyler's arms.
She took him in her arms, and then she slapped him on the chest.
"Ass! I thought Klaus kill you!"
Tyler nodded a little ashamed, retorting:
"I should have called."
"From your trailer park in Florida?" exclaimed Hayley sarcastically. "You liar! You're totally loaded. I chained you up all over the Appalachians. I talked you through every turn. I helped you break the sire bond. You could have told me your real story!"
"I didn't want anybody to follow me back." Tyler replied. "Werewolves weren't safe around Klaus, and you shouldn't be here either. His hybrids are all over this house and so is he. And he came with a witch. A young witch. Hope, I think. I do not know who she is. It's the first time I've seen her."
"I know," retorted Hayley. "One of Klaus' Hybrids is with a pack I ran with. He called me and told me that he was coming to protect a guy named Tyler, and I thought, 'What are the chances?' And he also mentioned that witch Hope. He couldn't tell me where she came from. Well, the least you could do is pour me some fancy, rich-people scotch."
"Sure. I'll give it to you right away."
For her part, Hope was bored. There wasn't much to do at Lockwood Mansion. Playing bodyguard for Tyler Lockwood was boring. Whoever this new hunter was, he certainly wasn't stupid enough to attempt another attack on Tyler. Besides, he had come to him hospital room last night to extract werewolf venom from him. If he had wanted to kill him, he could have done so in the hospital.
She was about to join her father when she heard a voice calling out to her. A voice she hadn't heard in a long time. Taken aback, Hope went to Richard Lockwood's old office and saw to her amazement her own mother Hayley Marshall in the company of one of her father's Hybrids.
"Mom… Mom…" murmured the shocked and saddened Tribrid.
She knew that was when her mother came to Mystic Falls, but she didn't know the exact date. She hadn't expected to see her that day at all. Seeing and interacting with her father from the past was already shocking, it was even more so seeing her mother as she remembered her. Her mother was there, a few feet from her and alive! For a moment, it was as if the time following her mother's death had never come. She had the impression of finding her mother as she remembered her.
Hayley greeted the Hybrid who left the office. Hope let him pass, saluting him briefly, then turned her gaze to the young woman.
Hayley spotted Hope and walked over to her.
"Hi! Let me guess, are you the young witch hanging out with Klaus?"
Hope gaped at the sight of her mother for a moment and began to swallow hard:
"Yeah… Yes, I… I'm the one hanging out with my… uh… with Klaus… Yes… yes, I am."
She had a hard time calling her father by his first name, not having the habit, but she knew she had to contain herself at all costs so as not to endanger her future.
Hayley frowned. She had clearly noticed that the girl in front of her was uncomfortable.
"Okay… I'm Hayley, the new wolf who just arrived."
Hope was stunned to see her own mother appear right in front of her, when she didn't even know she had her daughter from the future in front of her. Despite her emotions threatening to overwhelm her, Hope did everything to stay calm and natural.
"I'm new in town too. I arrived here a few days ago. My name is Hope."
"Hope?" Hayley wondered with a smile. "It's a very pretty name. I really like."
"Oh really?" exclaimed Hope, making an effort not to cry with joy. "Do you like my name?"
"Yes, I like it," approved the smiling wolf woman. "I am pleased to meet you."
Hope came to shake hands with her own mother from the past.
"I'm very happy to see you too, Mo…uh, Hayley…"
Calling her own parents by their names took superhuman effort for the Tribrid. Hayley continued to smile sweetly at her.
"It's my pleasure, Hope. You know, for someone who hangs out with Klaus, you don't look evil."
Despite being around her father, Hope didn't want people to believe she was evil. And especially not her mother.
"I have my reasons for hanging out with Klaus, but I don't want to hurt anyone. Just don't talk about it too much around you."
"Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me. I'm very good at keeping secrets," Hayley assured her kindly.
"Thanks Hayley," Hope replied, finally managing not to blurt out her mother's name. "So… do you know Tyler Lockwood?"
"Yeah, he is a friend of mine," replied her mother. "I helped him break free from Klaus' sire bond. I learned that he almost died so I came to check on him."
"Do you know Klaus?" asked the Tribrid, frowning.
"Only by reputation," answered Hayley, shrugging her shoulders. "I've only heard rumors about him, but I haven't seen him in person yet. I know he is here. But he's not scare me. In fact, I'm not afraid of danger."
"You always want to take risks to help the people you love," Hope suggested saddened remembering her mother's temperament to help others.
"Yes, I am like that. And I feel like you're the same as me. Or am I mistaken?"
"No, no, you're right," agreed the Tribrid doing everything not to cry. "I'm like you!"
The more Hope talked with her mother, the harder it was for her to contain herself, and Hayley then noticed the girl's trouble.
"Hope, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Hope replied with a look that clearly showed that she wasn't fine.
"So… why are you looking at me like I'm a ghost?" Hayley wondered, frowning. "You look like you're going to cry."
Because you're my mom! I'm Hope, your daughter from the future. Klaus Mikaelson is my dad, but you're not in love with him... And in the future, you're both dead...
But she said none of those words. Instead, she replied:
"Because… Because you remind me of my mother. You have the exact same face as her. And when I see you, I feel like I see her as if she's come back from the dead. I miss my mom and you look so much like her."
Hayley looked shocked and upset seeing the girl's grief.
"Oh, I'm so sorry about your mom, Hope. I'm really sorry! I have no idea who my real parents are. I only have vague memories of them. Those who raised me kicked me out of their homes when I first turned. Since then, I have been looking for information on my biological family."
"I'm sure you'll find them eventually," Hope assured her, knowing that her mother's quest would eventually come to fruition.
"Your concern means a lot to me. You're a really good girl," Hayley told her kindly. "I'm sorry if I remind you of your mom."
"It's okay," assured Hope about to cry. "What I'm about to tell you is gonna sound weird, but if you come across a vampire woman named Greta, beware of her. She's crazy and dangerous. Be very careful with her."
Puzzled, Hayley nodded, looking at Hope like she was weird.
"Uh… okay, I'll be careful."
It was too much for Hope. She had to leave or she would break down in tears in front of her.
"Excuse me…"
And she hurriedly left the office, hiding her tears.
She took refuge in the Lockwood wine cellar. Once she was sure she was really alone, she ended up sobbing. Seeing her mother alive in the past with no knowledge that Hope was her daughter made the Tribrid unhappy. She hated this situation. She thought seeing her parents both alive in the past would make her happy, but it didn't. Klaus considered her a hybrid with no connection to him, and her mother had no knowledge of having a daughter from the future. She hated time travel. And she cursed Josie for sending her back in time with no way to get back into the future.
"Why did you do this to me, Jo?" muttered Hope between her sobs. "Why? I hate time travel! And all of this! Why did you do that, Jo? Why?"
She found herself in an time of the past without any of her friends by her side. Landon, Rafael, Lizzie, Josie or anyone else around her didn't exist in those days. And Alaric Saltzman was dead. Hope would give anything to be able to talk to him and get his advice. If she managed to get back to her time, would he see him alive again? During her time in the past, she would have to make sure that her presence didn't interfere with Alaric being alive in the future.
She cried for a moment, then finally pulled herself together. She had to get out of the cellar quickly. Klaus would eventually noticed her absence and be suspicious about her. Hope didn't want to arouse her father's curiosity about her any further. She dried her tears and left the wine cellar.
She walked through the rooms of Lockwood Mansion, nodding at the Hybrids she passed. She found her mother still in the office of the deceased former mayor of the city. Then she saw her father Klaus approaching her. Intrigued, Hope cast her camouflage spell: Invisique. Once she was invisible, she re-entered the office, making sure not to make any noise so as not to repeat the mistake when she arrived at Mikaelson Mansion. She realized that she was going to attend her parents' very first meeting. And the last time she had seen her two parents together in the same room was when she was seven years old.
Excited and hidden by her spell, she sat in a corner of the office and observed the exchange between her parents.
I witness the first meeting between my dad and my mom! Who has never wished to see their parents meet for the first time?
Klaus looked at the young woman curiously.
"You're a new face."
Hayley looked up at him, stunned at first, then spoke in a natural tone.
"And I take it from your accent you're an old one. Klaus."
Klaus walked back into the room, his hands behind his back.
"My reputation precedes me, hopefully not all bad."
"A little bad, mostly repulsive." retorted Hayley.
Klaus pretended not to have heard her and continued to stare at the young woman curiously.
"So you're a friend of Tyler's. That's strange. He's never mentioned you."
Then Hope noticed her father distracted, as if listening to a conversation going on in another room. The Tribrid, not having the developed hearing of a vampire, knew nothing of what he heard, but she assumed that it had something to do with Tyler.
When Klaus was done listening, he gloated quizzically.
"And I think I know why."
Quietly, Hope left the office to find Tyler. She saw him with Caroline Forbes. She realized that in addition to staying in the past, it meant making sure nothing happened to Caroline. She was Lizzie and Josie's mother in the future. Hope had to make sure she stayed alive so that her friends could exist in her future.
From what she understood, Caroline wanted to ask Tyler out on a date, but he had gently declined, letting her know that Klaus was here with his hybrids for his protection against the new hunter. But Hope suspected that Tyler was trying to manipulate her father. Curious, she wanted to get to the bottom of it.
Shortly after Caroline left, Hope became visible again and went to find her father. She found him in the mayor's office sitting behind the desk.
"Where were you?" Klaus asked noticing Hope.
"I went to look around the property. To make sure the hunter wouldn't try to enter here again. So far, nothing to report. And I don't think he's coming back anytime soon." replied Hope, wanting to conceal her turmoil at having seen her mother alive.
But she hid it quite badly, because Klaus had clearly noticed the look of sadness in the girl's eyes.
"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked her, worried.
"Why wouldn't I be okay?" asked the Tribrid, smiling naturally.
Klaus watched her carefully, which worried Hope, fearing she had betrayed herself again and put her future in danger.
"That look you have, I have it every time I feel hurt or betrayed. That struggle in your eyes… You're upset…" Klaus pointed out. "And I've the feeling that you cried. What's going on?"
Hope swallowed nervously before answering:
"It's that wolf. Hayley."
"Did she hurt you?" Klaus wondered with a protective and watchful air.
"No, no, no, she doesn't," Hope assured him. "It's just that she has the same face as my mom. When I saw her earlier, I had the feeling of seeing a ghost. She looks a lot like my mom. And it hurts me because I miss her. Physically, Hayley reminds me of my mother. That's why I needed to be alone for a while. I needed a moment to myself to clear my mind. But now I'm better. Next time, I promise to let you know."
Klaus nodded sympathetically. He had never shown empathy to anyone, but for Hope he made an exception. She had told him so much about her mother's kindness. The one Klaus didn't get from his mother. He sympathized sadly with the girl's grief.
"I'm sorry, Hope."
"I'm fine, I'm fine," resumed Hope wanting to remain neutral. "I'll not collapse. It's all right with me."
"Good," answered Klaus having all the same doubts.
Hope quickly decided to change the subject before her father became suspicious again.
"To get back to our vampire hunter, I don't think he's going to come back here. I don't know much about him, but he's certainly not stupid enough to try again to kill the mayor's son in his home after shooting him in front of witnesses. And if he really wanted to kill Tyler, he could have done it in the hospital last night. But all he did was extract his werewolf venom from him. He therefore knows that Tyler is not a real vampire and he must seek out vampires as targets."
Klaus seemed to consider Hope's words then nodded.
"Yes, you are absolutely right. It's obvious that Tyler isn't the target of this hunter. He has to target the vampires in this town."
That was when Tyler walked into the office. Klaus smirked again as he addressed him.
"She's quite fetching, that Hayley!"
"Where is she?" asked Tyler worriedly.
"Oh, she had to run, but don't worry. I had her take the back door so Caroline wouldn't see," Klaus replied, still amused with a sly look.
Tyler remained hostile in front of his enemy by retorting:
"Whatever you think you know…"
But Klaus still interrupted him with amusement:
"I don't know anything, but I've put together a pretty convincing picture. Why don't you tell me where my imagination deviates from reality? You went off to the Appalachians to break my sire bond. There, you met a pack of werewolves, begged them for help. Among them was a girl. She was gorgeous, with the same animal instincts as you. Emotions ran high. Inhibitions ran low…"
"Stop it!" Tyler exclaimed furiously.
But Klaus continued as if he hadn't been interrupted:
"Then, in a moment of weakness, the thick sexual tension became something much more real…"
"I said stop!"
"And Caroline has no idea," Klaus finished with amusement.
Hope looked shocked. So her father believed that something serious was going on between Tyler and Hayley, and he took great pleasure in bringing Caroline into the discussion. Hope knew there was nothing between her mother and Tyler, other than a friendship. However, she had the feeling that Tyler was planning something, because she found it strange that the hybrid did not seek to deny what her father said.
But before she could go any further, the phone in the mayor's office rang. And it was Klaus who picked up the phone before Tyler answered. He smirked as the name came up on the phone and answered as he returned to the mayor's office.
"Hello Damon!"
Damon? Damon Salvatore? Hope then wondered what her father had in mind.
Klaus always replied with amusement:
"Tyler's otherwise occupied making big decisions about honesty and what not. Is there anything I can do?" … (He began to look at Tyler with a neutral expression.) … "He wouldn't. (Then he began to gloat again.) I, however…"
He had a long talk with Damon on the phone, then he hung up. He turned to Hope.
"Would you like to go hunting for the vampire hunter?"
"I'm on it," Hope assured him with interest.
Hope waited patiently behind a shelf in the hospital' storage room. Her father was not far away. Hunter Connor would soon arrive. Jeremy Gilbert, Elena's brother had lured the emergency room hunter to set a trap for him. She waited for the right moment to intervene.
After a moment, she saw the hunter Connor enter the storage room. He moved forward cautiously, passing between the shelves. He seemed to have noticed Damon Salvatore's presence, because he stopped dead a few feet between two shelves.
"Is a hospital really the best place for a germophobe?" he asked in a neutral tone.
At that moment, Damon stepped out of the shadows and smirked at the hunter with a smirk on his lips.
"Did I say that I was a germophobe? Pfft. Sorry. I meant vampire."
Quick as lightning, Connor wanted to draw his weapon to shoot the vampire, but Hope appeared from his hiding place and tripped him which made him fall to the ground. Immediately, she pressed both hands on him to force him to stay on the ground.
"Stay down! Stay down!" she said with anger.
But Connor gave her a grim look.
"Well done, kid! But I'm tougher than you!"
Clearly, Connor had a military background, as he managed to tackle Hope, knocking her off balance and knocking her to the ground. He wanted to attack her again, but was hit in the arm by an arrow connected to a wire. Then a second arrow hit his other arm. He realized they were attached to two pipe bombs.
"Stings, doesn't it?" Damon said triumphantly and mischievously.
Connor was about to pick up his gun but Klaus kicked him away with his foot.
"Hello, mate!" he chanted with a grin at the hunter.
Hope stood up and waved her hands.
"Corpori Impetu!"
Immediately, Connor stopped moving as if an invisible force was blocking him.
"You're hanging on two bombs. I'm saving your life by keeping you from moving," Hope said with a smile of triumph.
"Good, Hope," congratulated Klaus delighted. "You are really efficient!"
"Thanks," Hope told him gratefully.
It was then that Damon eyed the Tribrid with a frown.
"Hey, who the hell are you?" he asked.
"My name is Hope," she replied to Damon with a neutral look. "I am a powerful witch."
"And a very great one," added Klaus still delighted.
"Are you with Klaus?" Damon exclaimed stunned.
"Why?" Klaus said amusedly. "You're surprised I have fans in witches?"
Damon shrugged and eyed Hope warily.
"Hope, huh? I think you're young enough to hang out with him. I'm even sure you're not old enough to drive yet. What the hell are you doing with him? What did he promise you?"
"Mind your own business!" Hope snapped.
"My dear Damon," replied Klaus still amused by the vampire's reaction to Hope. "You'd be surprised to find that some people simply choose to help me without asking for anything in return."
"Do you really expect me to believe that?" Damon exclaimed coldly.
"I don't care," the Original hybrid declared, turning to Connor. "Anyway, let's get back to our new friend."
"Tell this girl that she releasing me from her spell," Connor roared, staring at Hope with contempt.
"So you can blow your brains up?" wondered Hope.
"Yeah, I agree with her, for once," Damon said looking down at Connor. "Keep it up, buddy. We'll be scraping you off the ceiling."
"You three are gonna kill me anyway!" Connor snapped.
"Well, let's not be too hasty. I feel like we're just getting to know each other." Klaus replied pretending to be shocked.
"Start with the basics." Damon suggested ecstatically. "Where are you from? What do you know?" (He pulled a letter from his jacket.) "Maybe you can cue me in on this greater evil, because I've fought this guy." (He pointed to Klaus.) "And there's nothing more evil than that."
Apparently Damon had found a letter that Pastor Young had written for his daughter April, and in those words he spoke of a greater evil that was about to befall Mystic Falls. Hope was very curious to know what evil Young could be talking about. The only evil she knew were the Hollow that had decimated her family and the Malivore she was fighting in her future.
"Yeah, truth be told, I'm as evil as it gets." Klaus answered with evil pride and taking Young's letter from Damon.
"I'm not telling you anything!" Connor grumbled contemptuously.
"Oh!" Damon exclaimed, pretending to be shocked.
"You think if you kill me, it's gonna be over? There's another waiting to take my place!" Connor continued with a menacing look.
Klaus pretended to be shocked with amusement as he stowed Young's letter in his jacket, while Damon continued indifferently:
"See, this is what I like to hear… Vague threats, ominous prophecies, disappearing tattoos…"
At the vampire's last sentence, Klaus immediately stopped gloating and looked puzzled as he looked at Connor.
"What do you mean, 'tattoos'?"
"Don't bother." replied Damon still indifferent. "You can't see the damn thing."
Klaus eyed Connor curiously with interest this time.
"Hope, cancel your spell," he ordered, still staring the hunter straight in the eyes.
"Why?" wondered the Tribrid dumbfounded.
Even Damon was surprised by this request.
"Do it, I'll explain," Klaus replied still staring at Connor.
Hope complied without protest by canceling her spell which froze the hunter.
Klaus had lowered himself completely to be at the height of Connor who was still on the ground.
"There's more to him than meets the eye, isn't there?" he said softly.
Taking advantage of having regained his mobility, Connor hastened to pull out a stake to impale Klaus, but the latter was faster than him and grabbed his arm.
"Nice try," replied the Hybrid, gloating again. "But I'm faster than your average vampire."
He twisted her arm and took the stake from her. Hope then noticed a disturbing fact about the stake.
"Hey look! There's a weird symbol engraved on the stake," she pointed out to her father.
Klaus looked at the stake and looked intrigued as he gazed at the symbol of the stake.
"I saw this symbol a very long time ago. Our hunter is one of the Five."
"The Five?" wondered Hope doubtfully.
"The what?" Damon asked confused, but no one paid attention.
"I'm faster than the average hunter." Connor said with a menacing look.
Damon rushed outside in vampire speed. Connor pulled on the two cables, thus causing the explosion, but Hope knew how to react by casting a spell that stopped the explosion in its tracks.
"Nice work, my littlest wolf," congratulated Klaus delighted. "But we must go quickly. And our hunter friend must come with us. I need you to keep him from escaping."
"I'll do it," Hope assured her enthusiastically.
Shortly after leaving the hospital, Klaus locked the hunter Connor in his car. Hope had cast a spell on him to immobilize him, preventing him from running away. Once the hunter was trapped in the car, Hope wanted to question her father.
"Forgive my curiosity, but what's so special about this guy?"
Klaus seemed delighted with the curiosity of the Tribride and began to answer him:
"This hunter is part of a group of vampire hunters that I met several centuries ago. This man is the first one I've seen in all this time. And he has a secret that I still have to decipher, but I'm convinced I can do it with your help. Thanks, Hope. And you impressed me in the hospital. Your fighting skills are very advanced for someone your age."
"I learned to fight, I had a good mentor for that," Hope answered thinking of Alaric and her training sessions with him. "I don't want to be a damsel in distress. I want to be able to defend myself."
"So you're a survivor," Klaus admitted proudly. "You impress me. I'm happy to have met you. Considering what's happened to me recently, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me."
Oh, you have no idea…
Hope smiled fondly at her father, appreciating the compliments he was giving her. Then she remembered what had happened in the hospital storeroom.
"Earlier, you mentioned the Five in front of Damon and the hunter. You mean the Brotherhood of Five?"
Klaus raised his eyebrows curiously.
"Do you know the Five?"
Hope knew about the Brotherhood of Five, but was unaware that her father had any connection to them. She shrugged her shoulders, replying:
"I've vaguely heard of it. But I don't know much about them except that they are supernatural vampire hunters and very good at killing vampires. And that's all I know."
"I'll tell you more about it later," Klaus assured her, putting his hand on the Tribrid's shoulder.
Then he started looking at his phone.
"Something wrong with your hybrids?" Hope asked him.
"No, it's my old friend Stefan who sends me nine messages," Klaus replied with disdain. "He wants me to come see him urgently at his house. He must be very desperate given the number of messages he sends me. What can he want from me now?"
"Do you intend to go see him?" asked the puzzled Tribrid. "It must be serious for him to want you at his home."
"Yes, I'll go and see if I really want to help him." replied Klaus getting into his car.
Some time later, they arrived at the Salvatore Boarding House. Hope was then able to discover the House before it became a Boarding School. Looking inside the House, she couldn't help but compare it to the Boarding School she knew in her future. Everything was the same, and yet so different. Strangely, she imagined finding Landon, Lizzie, Josie, Kaleb, Jed, M.G. or Alaric Saltzman. But she saw none of these people.
She didn't let it show and followed her father as he made his way through the house to Stefan's room.
When they arrived, they found Stefan completely panicked, then Elena Gilbert sick lying on the bed. Hope recognized Elena's pale face as werewolf poisoning. Probably due to Connor extracting the venom from Tyler.
At the sight of Klaus, Stefan joined him relieved. He didn't notice Hope walking with him.
"You came."
"I did," Klaus declared with a disapproving look. "And for future reference, one voice-mail is just as effective as nine."
Klaus noticed Elena's weak state.
"What's wrong, love?"
"She has werewolf venom in her system." explained Stefan. "You know you're the only one that can heal her, Klaus. Please!"
Not the only one. I do too. I could heal Elena with my blood.
Hope looked at Elena with concern. If it were up to her, she would have already given her blood to Elena to heal her. But there was her father, and she couldn't do that in front of him. And Elena Gilbert wasn't supposed to die. Klaus had made it clear to her that since Elena had become a vampire, because of that he could no longer use her blood to create hybrids, he no longer had any interest in the former Doppelgänger. She prayed that her father would agree to heal her. Because if Elena died, then Hope's future would be completely gone.
Dad, please, save Elena! I beg you! Without Elena, my future will doomed! Come on, Dad!
Klaus gloating, amused in front of Stefan, retorting:
"And what would you have done if I were no longer here? Hmm? If you and your friends had succeeded in ridding the world of me? Let's play that game for a moment, shall we?…"
Knowing that Klaus would demand something in exchange for a favor, Stefan hastened to ask him. For Elena, he was ready to do anything to save her. Even if it meant making a pact with Klaus.
"Whatever you want from me…"
"I don't want anything from you!" Klaus replied, staring at his old friend with contempt.
Then he turned away from him to go see Elena in bed.
"Her, on the other hand…"
He sat down on the bed next to Elena.
"If you had told me a few hours ago, I wouldn't have cared a lick about her dying. But as it turns out…"
He bit his wrist and poured his blood on Elena.
"You may be of use to me after all," Klaus replied with a smirk.
And he made her drink his blood much to Hope's relief. Relieved, she placed her hand over her heart. Her future was safe. For the moment. She hoped so. She gave an encouraging smile.
"She'll be okay," she assured him.
Stefan then noticed Hope's presence and seemed intrigued.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Hope. I am the new witch. And… I'm with Klaus."
Stefan looked at Klaus who was healing Elena with his blood and stared at Hope curiously.
"What are you doing with him? Why are you hanging out with him? He threatened your family to force you to work for him?"
"He's not forcing anything on me," replied Hope, outraged at the thought of being forced to be with her father. "I have my reasons for wanting to be with him, and that's up to me. I can't tell you anything more. Enjoy your time with Elena and be there for her."
Later that evening, Klaus had taken the hunter home. He was grateful to Hope that she cast a spell that prevented him from moving. Having someone like Hope served him well. He had had witches by his side before, but Hope was not like the others. He was glad to have her with him all the time. He hoped to find out more about her. But for now, he was interested in Connor.
The hunter glared at Klaus still with contempt:
"You saved me? You and the girl?"
"Congratulations." chanted Klaus with a sneer on his lips. "You just became worth more to me alive than dead."
Then remembering what he had told him in the hospital, Connor asked him:
"What... what did you mean when you said I was one of the Five?"
At this question, Klaus stared at the Hunter with wide eyes, intrigued.
"You don't know your own history? Well, let's just say it's made you the most well protected vampire hunter in town."
In the room where she was staying at the Mikaelson Mansion, Hope had found Pastor Young's letter for his daughter in her father's belongings. Intrigued, she began to read it:
Dear April,
I'm sorry for what you're going through. What I did was a necessary sacrifice, and I'm afraid it's only the first of many more sacrifices to come. There's always been an evil that spread through Mystic Falls, but now a greater one is coming. My death is but the first in the war ahead. I will see you again when we all find our salvation.
Until then, I love you.
Dad.
Reading this letter, Hope couldn't help but think that Pastor Young would have deliberately blown up his house with the other Council members with him.
Pastor Young was determined to kill all supernatural beings out of Mystic Falls, and then he decides to kill himself by blowing up his house with the other Founders? Why would he have done that?
Hope thought it through, she couldn't see what could have pushed the Pastor to commit suicide like this. Unless someone made him do it. Twelve people had been killed. Twelve. That's no random number. Hope was certain that this massacre was a sign linked to dark magic.
A greater evil will coming in Mystic Falls? What evil? The Hollow? The Malivore? I'm out of my time. What kind of evil could appear now?
Then Hope remembered that she wasn't supposed to be here. She had to find a way to get back to her time before her presence in the past caused more damage that could worsen her future. Today, she had interacted with her mother. She was happy about it, although she was sad not to have been able to reveal to her that she was her daughter from the future. And her father's curiosity about her worried her. She knew she couldn't dodge his questions any longer. She had to quickly figure out how to get back to the future.
What would Mr. Saltzman do if he were me?
Finally, this chapter is closed. I hope I have successfully met Hope and Hayley. Hope realizes that staying in the past while hiding her true identity is much harder than she thought.
She only has some vague information about what is going on at the time she is. And she fears changing too much in the past.
See you soon for a new chapter.
