Hope only made it halfway to the warehouse, before she had to stop, as the pain got to be too much. Picking herself up from the sidewalk, Hope continued running home, keeping her hand on her head as if to stop the pain. Hope, not surprised the door was unlocked and open, as if waiting for her, walked in slowly. Not seeing Marius anywhere, Hope walked slowly, to his office. Sensing something was really wrong, Hope looked towards Isabel's cage. The color drained from Hope's face, as she looked upon the empty cage. "He wouldn't….oh god, please" Hope said as she rushed over to the cage. "well, if it isn't Hope, I got a surprise for you" Marius's voice boomed as he grabbed her from behind and dragged her to the basement of the warehouse. Hope struggled against his hold at the sight of the room. Isabel was tied up, as a minion repeatedly whipped her back, ignoring her cries. Hope shed a tear at the sight of Todd, crying out for his mother and in pain as another minion lashed at him. Marius's laughter echoed throughout the room, at Hope's feeble attempts at trying to escape. Enjoying the show, Marius released his hold on Hope, in effort to see what would happen next although he had this show all planned out. Hope leapt from her spot at the door, and shouted Todd's name. Knowing Isabel's fear of losing another child, and her connection with Todd as her own little brother, Hope knew what to do. Hope jumped in front of the large minions whip, and shielded Todd's body from the lashing that came down on Hope's back instead. Rocking Todd back and forth, while ignoring the stinging pain in her back that grew worse, Hope pleaded with Marius to let them go, to take her instead. Marius had anticipated her reaction and already formed a proposition for her. "Well, this certainly has been entertaining, and since I have always been a compromising demon, I may have a proposition for you" Marius said, although already knowing what her answer would be. "Anything" Hope said, without hesitation, stroking Todd's back as she gasped at another blow to her back. "I thought that would be your answer, I propose a blood vow, in exchange for their lives, and freedom" Marius stated as if it was no big deal. Hope's eyes widened as she realized she had a decision to make. A blood vow was sacred in all mortal and immortal worlds. It would take away any freedom, Hope ever had, forcing her to do Marius's bidding for the rest of her life. She would become solely dependant on him, slowly going insane if away from him for too long, she would start seeing things, get sick until she was near him again. It would take any chance she ever had of escaping. Isabel, understanding the meaning of a blood vow, pleaded with Hope to say no, their lives were not worth condemning her to a life of slavery. Hope ignored the pleading, knowing nothing could give her more pain than taking the vow, but knowing Megan's family was free, was too high a price to let go of.
"I'll do it" Hope said, as Marius smiled insanely.
Later
As Angel stormed through the sewers, in a rush to get to Faith, he pondered on the desperation in Faith's voice. Knowing Faith would never show her true emotions unless in real trouble, Angel couldn't come up with a reason for the panic Faith held. And who was this she, Faith was worried about. Confused and worried, Angel climbed up the ladder leading to the outside world, and reassured himself that he would soon find out
Angel sat back in awe, as he listened to Faith tell him, about her life before she was a slayer, her search for her sister, and Hope's new appearance in her life. Making sure not to leave anything out, Faith told Angel everything Hope told her, and when she was finished, took a breath of relief.
"Faith, I didn't know. Why didn't you tell anyone about Hope" Angel asked, still in shock of Faith's confession. "I don't know, I was angry, Kakistos made me lose Hope of ever finding her. I guess, it made me more angry at the world, vamps especially. Even with working with them, with the mayor, made me more bitter. I don't know, but I'll I know is I gotta help her, ten years is too long. Can you help me" Faith asked as she looked to Angel for the help she knew she would need. Sighing, Angel said "I know Marius, came across him, in my Angelus days. Even soulless he made me cringe. He did things to his pets, Angelus would never have done, and Angelus did some pretty terrible things at the least. Listen, I can help you, I know his hideouts. I won't be easy, older vamps have crossed and didn't come out with a winning hand. We have to get you out of here though, are you willing to leave any possible redemption you might get here" Angel said but already knowing Faith's response. "Hell yeah, I wasn't lying, the food is crap, besides I can do better out there then, I ever can in here" Faith said as she stared in disgust at her orange jumpsuit, missing the feel of leather on her skin. "Here's the plan, we leave NOW" Angel shouted as the guards entered the room at the sound of yelling. Smirking, Faith tackled the upcoming guards, knocking the unconscious on the floor. Angel smacked a guard into the nearby wall, ignoring the pain in his shoulder from a misdirected bullet. Angel broke open the door and headed towards the sewers, in a rush, due to his hair smoking from the sun. As Faith climbed in after him, she couldn't help thinking how great it was to be back. That and hoping B never found out about this until Hope was safe.
Hope was shaking on the cold, hard metal table she was laying on. After, having his minions free Isabel and Todd, much to Isabel's dismay, Marius dragged Hope to a chamber, upstairs and tied her to a metal table in the middle of the room. Seeing the room full of the necessary ingredient for the blood vow, Hope knew he had been planning this for a while. As the minions started slicing the ritual symbols on her stomach, and forehead, Hope closed her eyes, and imagined herself far away, somewhere with Megan, a happy place. But the fear of her life altering decision, made Hope focus on the last time she saw Megan, alive.
Three years ago
"HOPE" Marius bellowed as he stormed over to where Hope and Megan were cleaning the floors. Megan gave Hope, a cautious look and tried to stay calm, as Hope rose to meet her master. Hope got on her knees, and bowed her head, as she had gotten used to over the years. Marius lifted her up by her arm, causing bruises and backhanded her to the floor and into an empty cage side. Megan rose to get up and help but was stopped by two minions giving her threatening glances. Hope pushed herself from the cage but was stopped when Marius yanked her by the hair and forced her to look into his red, gleaming eyes. "I heard you, you disappeared last night again. You have been making a regular retreat to the outside world. Pray tell, why you would want to leave our little happy home. I'm sick of your resistance to my authority, there is only one thing I can do to teach you a lesson, and nothing gives me more glee" Marius said as he snapped his clawed fingers together, signaling the two minions to grab Megan off from the soapy floor. Hope's eyes took a turn of fear, as she wondered what Marius planned on doing to Megan and if there was anything she could do to stop it. Megan's eyes took a turn of realization, and looked at Hope with, pain, grief, and pity. Hope was confused as Megan mouthed an I love you, and I'm sorry as the minions grabbed her arms still. "what…what are you doing" Hope said as Marius threw her to the floor, and three more minions came out and held her to the floor. One minion held her eyes open, causing Hope to start at the scene before her. Marius left Hope's feeble position and walked over to Megan. Megan didn't struggle as he caressed her cheek but simply spat in his face. Grinning, while wiping the spit from his face he grabbed her throat tightly and raised her above the floor. Hope shouted and let out some curses the other prisoners had taught her, making Marius laugh with glee. Taking his other hand, he dragged his claw across Megan's throat as if she was one of his lovers. Hope, now realizing Meg's life was at stake, struggled against the vampires hold and ignored there slaps of warning, causing a burning sensation on her cheeks. Megan's closed her eyes, just as Marius slit her throat in one swift motion, letting her body drop to the ground. Hope eyes widened, not believing Megan's death before her eyes, and was instantly released from the vampire's hold. Marius stepped back as Hope rushed over to Megan's fallen body. Hope turned Megan's cheek, and found herself staring into lifeless blue eyes. Hope let out an anguished cry, and let herself cry into Megan's torn shirt. Isabel's cry of grief, was too much for Hope as she let go of the cold body, and barreled towards Marius with a fury like no other. Marius let out a grunt, as Hope's body clashed with his, and attempted to block, Hopes punches that came a mile a minute. Hope's thin body, did little damage but Hope was too fueled on anger to stop. Marius simply picked her up and threw her back into her cage. Isabel was crying in her cage, shielding young Todd from the sight of his dead sister. Hope banged on her cage, hoping to break free and tear her master to pieces. Hope looked on as the minions who held her down, feasted on Megan's pale body. Slowly going into shock from grief, hope just froze, and stopped blinking entirely as she watched her best friends blood being drained before her eyes. Isabel, pushing down her own grief, tried to get Hope to look at her, or move, or something. Hope couldn't move if she wanted to, her shock paralyzing her.
For the next year, Hope was merely a shell of herself. Hope never fought against Marius's instruction, gave no inclination to being alive, her soul seemed withering away. Isabel always attempted to soothe Hope, knowing she blamed herself for everything. Hope ignored her, talking to her only when necessary, and barely slept at night, what with the constant nightmares haunting her. Hope changed for worse, becoming more cocky, not giving a care in the world as to who she killed at night, mocking the prisoners became a habit of hers. Marius beamed with pride at his creation whose was created from a simple killing he should have done a long time ago. As they moved from place to place, Hope became more cruel, even took to teasing Todd, the one she had grew to know as a brother. Isabel never lost hope that Megan would some how give Hope a message, something that would bring the old Hope back. After three years passed, she began to give up hope.
Then as if a miracle, Marius took his pets and minions to Los Angeles, where Hope heard her sister was currently in the state prison. At first, Hope refused to see her sister, much to Isabel's dismay. Though after the constant annoyance of Isabel's pleading, Hope was set on visiting her sister if only to shut Isabel up for five seconds. Just as Isabel suspected Hope's eyes started to show a twinkle of life again, which made Isabel's heart beat again. Hope started to end her teasing of the prisoners, often starting conversations with them. Hope even managed to laugh every once in awhile, with happiness, Isabel thought was long gone. Hope slowly came around, and apologized for her behavior to Isabel and Todd, eyes pleading for forgiveness, that Isabel had long ago given her. Although much better than before, Isabel knew that Hope didn't tell Faith of her secret life yet. After much guidance from Isabel, Hope left the warehouse to fully open up to Faith for the first time. As she listened to Todd tell her a story he had made up, Isabel couldn't get rid of the feeling that everything was going to change.
Now in the outside world, Isabel grabbed Todd's hand and crossed the busy street. Isabel had just returned from the salvation army and got them fully showered and clothed. The manager, noticing the appearance of Isabel and Todd gave her a business card. Saying that the boss of this business helped a lot of people like her, and was constantly bringing people to store for clothing, showers, food and other things. Now with a place to go, Isabel headed to a place called Angel Investigations, hoping the man named Angel would help Hope somehow, before the blood vow, cursed Hope and condemn her to a life with Marius.
Angel Investigations
The Angel crew were currently researching everything they could about Marius after Angel and Faith told them what was happening, when the front doors burst open. Angel putting his left hand on a nearby ax, he looked at the intruders. Sighing, Angel lowered his axe at the sight of a woman with a little boy clinging to her like a lifeline. "I'm sorry but where closed right now, can you come back another" Angel managed to get out before look of desperation in her eyes, made his soul weep. "I'm sorry but it's an emergency, my name's Isabel and I fear a girl I have come to know as my daughter is in grave danger." the woman said as she came closer to the gang. Faith's eyes narrowed as she tried to remember where she heard that name from. Suddenly standing up, Faith spoke. "Isabel,….Isabel and Todd" Faith questioned, hoping it was them. "You must be Faith, she spoke a lot about you, both when she was younger and older" Isabel said, sizing up Faith, though accepting her as the real deal. They both shared the same facial expressions, and both looked as if they done things they didn't expect to be forgiven for. After quick introductions, and getting Todd some crackers, Isabel told them of Hope's sacrifice and the upcoming blood vow. After seeing Angel's eyes darken at the mention of a blood vow and after everyone's confirmation that he was a souled vampire to keep her from running away, Isabel trusted him to explain to the others as she put Todd on the leather couch and rocked him to sleep.
After she was sure Todd was asleep, knowing they were finally safe, but panicking on the inside due to the lack of Hope's presence, she walked over to the gangs heated discussion of what to do next. "Isabel, can you lead us to Marius, we need to get Hope out of there as soon as possible" Angel asked although knowing Isabel would do anything for Hope just by seeing the love in her eyes. After Isabel's nod for confirmation, Angel, Faith, Wesley, Fred, and Gunn loaded up with weapons from the case. Cordelia volunteered to watch over Todd, so Isabel could lead the way. Grasping the sword tightly in her arm, and with reassurance from Angel's hand on he shoulder, Faith made an inner promise to get her out of the hell she was living in for ten years.
Quickly disposing of the four vampire minions guarding the outside door, Angel and the rest of the gang charged in, ready for what was to come. Seeing no vampires, in the room yet, Gunn and Wesley cut off the locks on the cages while Fred, led them to freedom outside. Angel, sniffing the air, nodded grimly, confirming the scent of blood through the air. With grim determination, Faith and Angel kicked the door leading to a stairway, and ran down them with superhuman speed. They were both unprepared for the sight before them. Marius was sitting on a metal table, smiling in a way of greeting to the newcomers. Vampires surrounded him, waiting for him to signal them for the kill. Marius held a signal for them to stop their attempts at inching forward in search for new blood spilled. "well, if it isn't the slayer, come to rescue your sister, are ya" Marius said all the while smirking. "Where is she" Faith shouted, gripping her sword tightly. Marius simply jumped of the table and pointed with a talon to the corner of the room. There huddled with her knees to he chest, was Hope. Hope had large symbols carved into her flesh, as did Marius and was rocking back and forth, mutter to herself. Marius went over to Hope, and Faith watched in horror as he held his hand out to Hope and watched Hope grab it without fear. After Marius lifted her up effortlessly, he brought her up in an protective embrace, as if sheltering her from Faith and Angel. Hope merely clung to Marius as if a baby to a mother, and looked at Angel and Faith with no recognition. Angel, knowing what happened, could not come up with any words to describe his torment at seeing the blood vow in its prime. Knowing there was nothing they could do, Angel could only settle for the knowledge that they had to get Hope out of there even if it meant it would be harder take care of her than to get out of here. "YOU BASTARD" Faith said as she charged towards Marius, but was distracted but the vamps crowding around her and Angel. Fighting profusely, Faith and Angel worked as a team to annihilate all the vampires. Soon Gunn and Wesley, briefly explaining Isabel's position outside the building before going to work on staking the demons, joined them. Faith was bottled fury, as she spared no mercy to those she brought death to. Marius, snarling at the obvious depletion of his minions, grabbed Hope and attempted to climb the stairs. Isabel stood in his way, crossing her arms, no way allowing him to take Hope without killing her first. Just as Marius made the motion to knock Isabel out of his way, the sword sticking out of his rib cage distracted him. Turning around, just in time to allow Isabel to take the struggling Hope into her arms, and to the outside. Clearly angry at the absence of Hope in his arms, Marius growled at his attacker as he pulled the sword from his stomach with difficulty. Faith didn't give him the chance to make a deadly move as she pushed him back, unto the hard stairs. Seeing his minions gone, and the other mortals and what looked like Angelus, Marius knew Hope would be back for him, he retreated back and left the building, keeping to the shadows, knowing dawn would soon come. Faith made a move to climb the stairs to catch up, when Angel pulled her back and told her that they would get him, but Hope was their first concern for now. Nodding, they climbed the heavy stairs, sore from the vicious fighting they endured and mentally preparing for the days ahead.