I know this chapter is suuuuuuuuper short and totally not what you were hoping for but i needed to post something after being gone for so long. definitely going to get another chap up next week, until then, i hope you enjoyed this one


Chapter 91

Klaus and Hope walked side by side down the busy Quarter sidewalk in complete silence. Klaus tried to make conversation with the girl as they left the Compound but she was intent on giving him one-word answers and so eventually, he'd given up. Still, even if she refused to talk to him, he knew there was one activity they could do together in complete silence and both enjoy.

"Here we are," said Klaus, standing in front of the movie theater marque. "Just in time for the next showing."

Hope followed her father's eyes to the title of the movie he wanted to see. "Kingston Blood Massacre II?" Her eyes widen with excitement and disbelief. "That's Rated R."

"Oh," Klaus cocked an eyebrow. "Too scary?"

"No," she said, puffing her chest out with pride. Of course she wasn't afraid, she wasn't afraid of anything. "It's just…mom never lets me watch Rated R movies."

Klaus chuckled at the thought. Hope was a Tribrid and a Mikaelson - she was bound to see far more grotesque things than CGI blood splatter.

"Yes, well," he started as he effortlessly compelled their way to the front of the line. "Your mum isn't here now, is she?"

Hope couldn't help but bounce with joy at the thought of seeing her first R-rated movie. All of the kids in her old school used to talk about all sorts of Horror films and Cult Comedy Classics that she wasn't allowed to see because of her mom's restriction but she couldn't be more grateful that her dad was much cooler about it.

Remembering her old school brought back the looming reality that she was in fact, probably never going to see many of her old friends again. Once she started boarding school, that would be that. Goodbye old school. Goodbye old friends. Goodbye comfy predictable old life in the Compound with her family in arm's reach at all times. When school started this year, she'll be starting all over again. This time without her mom.

"Hope."

Hope looked up from her pondering to see Klaus standing in the theater entrance, patiently waiting for her.

"You okay, sweetheart?" He asked as she strolled slowly over to him.

She shrugged, once again refusing to answer him.

Klaus sighed. "I know that I've been a bit single-minded these past few weeks. A lot's going on right now but I'm getting it all squared away so I will be all yours from now on."

She scoffed and muttered under her breath, "Until the next disaster happens."

"Hope," He suddenly stopped, and she turned to look him in the eyes. "You know that I love you, don't you?"

"Yeah," she shrugged again. "But...I bet you love Marcel more."

Klaus schooled his face to hide the shock he felt at her statement. "What makes you think that?"

Hope took a moment to think, unsure if she should continue for fear of hurting her father's feelings...or her owns if it turned out she was right.

"You're always with him," she mumbled. "And...you didn't force him to go to boarding school."

"You're right," he nodded, calmly. "I didn't send him to a boarding school. The thought never even crossed my mind. Because that's not what Marcellus needed as a boy. More than anything, he needed someone who would love him and treat him with respect and dignity. He needed someone he could trust to mean what he says and say what he means. You need guidance. You need to learn responsibility. You need to learn control, more than I can teach you, because you will someday be more powerful than even me, than anyone in this family. That is why we need an entire faculty of highly trained supernatural beings to teach you. You and Marcellus...are two very different people. And I love you both more than either of you could ever know. And it shows differently at times because at times you need to be loved differently. Do you understand?"

She nodded as tears welled in her eyes. "B-but...I don't want to go to boarding school. I want to stay home with you and mom. I-I promise I won't get in trouble at my old school again. I won't skip any more classes and-and I won't cheat on any tests and-"

"Hey now," Klaus knelt down and pulled the girl into his embrace. "This isn't a punishment. You're going to love the new school, I promise. All of your witch friends will be there, including Sebastian. And..." As the girl continued to cry against his shoulder, Klaus realized something. "This will be your first time living without your mom, won't it?"

Her lip trembled with such fervor she could only nod in the affirmative.

Squeezing her tighter in his arms, he said, "Okay. How about...I promise that either me or Hayley will come to visit you for lunch every day until you tell us to stop."

Pulling back from his shoulder, she repeated, "E-every day? You swear?"

"Every day," he smirked. "I swear."

She ran her hands forcefully under her watery eyes. "O-okay then."

"So you'll give the new school a try?"

Returning to her normal, pouty self, she said, "I guess. Not like I got any other choice. I'll be all by myself at my old school without Sebastian or Tanya or..." she trailed off as she notices two boys standing at the concession staring into the glass candy case with wide eyes and drooling mouths. "Um...hold that thought, I'm gonna grab...some popcorn."

Klaus watched curiously as Hope suddenly ended their conversation for snacks.

Hope stood quietly in line behind the two boys, not sure of what to say to them without Sebastian by her side. Then, jumping into the deep end, she peeked over one of their shoulders and said, "Twizzlers. Good choice."

The two boys turned to see the blue-eyed girl in shock, neither of them hearing her sneak up from behind.

"Um, thanks," said the taller of the two, his brown cheeks turning red at the girl's compliment.

She blushed in return. "Um, y'know, they can put candy in your popcorn if you ask. It's pretty fun to reach into the bag in the dark theater and not know whether you'll get a piece of popcorn or an M&M."

"Really?" said the other boy, his loose, dark curls dancing above his eyes with excitement. Slapping his hand against the other boy's chest, he said, "See Raf, perks of being in the big city." Then, leaning over to the counter, he asked how much a small popcorn with M&Ms cost and blanched at the response.

The two boys looked at each other, a silent convo happening in the blink of an eye.

"Actually, I think we're good," he said, dark curls shading the shame in his eyes. "Just the Twizzlers."

"Just one bag of candy for an entire movie? Between the two of you?" She caught herself just before she could make a joke about it, finally noticing their shame. Obviously, that was all they could afford. "Um...what are you guys going to see anyway?"

Grateful for the change in conversation, the taller boy answered, "Got tickets for 'Elephants in a Nutshell'," then, looking over his shoulder to make sure no theater attendee was nearby, he continued, "But we're going to sneak into 'Kingston Blood Massacre II' before it starts."

"That's what I'm seeing!"

"Really?" Hope's face grew redder as he stared so intently at her. "Wanna sneak in with us?"

"Um, no, actually," Hope looked cautiously over to Klaus standing by the theater entrance, almost forgetting that he was there watching, most likely listening, to them. "I'm actually here with my dad."

The boys eyes followed hers to Klaus.

"He looks...intimidating."

Hope shrugged. "He's not that bad. I'm Hope, by the way."

He held his hand out to her, his gallant smile drawing her further in. "Rafael. This is my brother, Landon."

As their hands met, she suddenly felt a familiar scent from him that she'd ignorantly ignored before then. She could tell by the shocked look on his face that he could sense the same from her. She wondered if Klaus could tell even from where he stood.

"You two aren't from around here, are you?" she asked.

Rafael pulled his hand away from hers. "No. We're from…" he looked over at Landon. "Nowhere."

"Nowhere? You gotta be from somewhere, everyone's from somewhere."

Landon shrugged. "Originally, we're from Virginia. But…it's never really been home for either of us."

Hope cocked an eyebrow. "Virginia, huh? You wouldn't happen to be from…Mystic Falls, would you?"

Rafael shrugged. "Heard of it, never been there. Heard it's pretty boring."

Hope couldn't hide her relief. The last thing she wanted was any more Mystic Falls supes coming and ruining her life.

"How do you know about Mystic Falls?" asked Landon. "It's just…some small town in Virginia. Sometimes even I forget it exists."

Hope rolled her eyes as she glanced back at Klaus again. "My dad's girlfriend is from there." Then, turning back to Rafael, she said, "Just assumed you came here with her. For the school."

"School?" The two boys said in unison.

"Wait…you're not here for school?"

"Interesting." Hope froze at the sound of her father's voice singing above her head. Rafael and Landon both jumped at the man's sudden appearance, neither of them having seen him move from his place across the hall. "What is a pup like you doing in my city without my permission then?"

Rafael's jaw tightened in fear. "We're just…passing through."

"Supernaturals do not just 'pass through' New Orleans'.

"W-wait," Landon stammered. "Do you…know what Raf is?"

Hope sighed. "Yeah. We're wolves too. Kinda. Mostly." Turning back to Klaus, she asked, "Can you…give us a sec?"

"I don't think so, sweetheart." Klaus placed his hand on Hope's shoulder and slowly guided her behind him. "Go wait for me in the theater."

"But dad-"

"I said 'go', Hope."

The boom of her father's voice sent both a shiver down her spine and anger boiling in her veins. Still, she knew better than to test him. Chancing one last sorrowful glance at Rafael and Landon, she trudged over to the theater without another word.

Looming over Rafael and Landon, Klaus said, "You two have found yourself in a bit of a predicament. You see, we have laws here. All wolves in New Orleans must be a part of the Crescent pack or have my expressed permission to be here. You fail on both counts."

Rafael bit his trembling lip. He was still new at this 'werewolf' thing but he could sense Klaus's power as clearly as he could see him. The man was stronger than any of the random wolves he'd been dodging since he activated his curse a few days ago.

Placing his heavy hand against Rafael's neck, Klaus said, in a deep guttural growl, "Before I rip you in half, I want to know how you were able to sneak so far into my city without being noticed."

Before Rafael could answer, the hairs on the back of Klaus's neck rose, signaling impending danger.

Landon's hand was halfway in his pocket before Klaus hand his free hand wrapped tightly around the boy's forearm.

Glaring into the boy's eyes, Klaus said, "You leave that knife where it is or I will use it on you." Landon's entire body seized with fear. Everything but his hand, still firmly gripping the pocketknife concealed in his jeans. As if reading the boy's mind, Klaus continued, "If you think that I'm above killing children, you obviously have never heard the name 'Klaus Mikaelson'."

"Let him go," Rafael demanded.

Klaus cut his eyes back at the boy, growing in irritation. Still, as much as the two teenagers irked him, he knew a theater lobby was not the place to commit double homicide. At least, not while Hope was waiting for him.

Releasing both boys, he brushed the wrinkles from his shirt and said, "You two are quite brave. Or stupid. I haven't decided yet."

"Oh yeah," said Landon, his breath still shaky with fear. "Well…put your hands on my brother again…and we'll see just how stupid I can get."

Klaus cut his eyes at the boy, losing patience with him with every second.

Stepping between Klaus and Landon, Rafael said, "You want us gone? Fine, we're gone."

"No," Klaus sighed. "You're not. Not until I find the lazy sentry that let you slip into my city undetected.

The boys stiffened as Klaus suddenly vamped behind them, wrapping his arms around their shoulders as he walked through the crowd of ignorant movie patrons.

"Wh-what are you going to do to us?" asked Landon, his voice barely above a whisper.

Klaus said nothing as he guided them into the theater Hope was waiting for him in. Her eyes lit with glee at seeing Klaus hugging Rafael, assuming it meant that they were friends now.

"My daughter has had a rough weekend," Klaus said into the boys' ears as they stook the stairs to the top of the theater one agonizingly slow step at a time. "And I am trying to put her in a good mood so I can't possibly abandon her here while I take care of the two of you."

Neither boy fought against Klaus's strength as he pushed them into the seats directly in front of Hope.

Then, leaning down to their ears, he whispered, "Sit here until the end of the movie. Move, and I will swiftly remove your heads from your shoulders."

Klaus sat back in his seat beside Hope with a glint of joy in his eyes as he looked at her, as if he hadn't just threatened the lives of two teenagers.

"Ready to be scared?" he asked, taking a handful of popcorn from her bucket.

She snuggled in closer to him, holding the popcorn so they could both eat from it. "I'm not scared of anything."


so, i dont necessarily ship Hope x Rafael, but I also don't ship Hope x Landon. For now, she's crushing on Raf. These kids are gonna go through 4 years of high school together so I'm gonna shuffle their partners around like square dancers lol. I'm trying to get better at writing romantic relationships so if you have any pairings you'd like to see during the course of this story, review with it and i'll work it in.