Klaus pov
"I don't know about this. Surely there's more to it," Rebecca calls from behind the changing room where she was helping Hope find new clothes.
"Aunty Rebecca it's what everyone's wearing on tik tok these days and-"
"Hope you look to old."
I smiled as I heard them argue back and forth. "Haven't seen you smile since you tried to kill Elena," Stefan quipped beside me. "Speaking of your murderous habits, we're all hoping they don't become an issue in Mystic falls again."
"I think you've forgotten yourself old friend. You better watch your tongue before I rip it out and feed it to you. I let you come today becuase you said you and your annoying group of friends had questions and I am gracious enough to answer. But do not forget that I am here with my daughter."
"Surely you're not going to allow this!" Rebecca huffed as she followed Hope who was wearing a pair of navy-blue leggings and a top that didn't cover her torso.
"Absolutely not sweetheart," I shook my head.
"Daddy please," she begged.
"How about something like you were maring yesterday. You like colour don't you."
"I like this more," she shook her head pleading.
"Fine," I sighed. "But it's up to your mother whether you're allowed to wear it or not."
She smiled then, and it lit up my world. Once she had turned to go back inside the changeroom I shot down the rest of the champaign in my glass. "Are we done?" I asked Rebecca. I wish more than anything I had tried harder to go with my other siblings to find suitable accommodation.
"And why are you so grumpy?" she sauntered over and stood behind my chair resting her hands on top.
"I needed one thing from you to give to a which to find out how to overthrow Marcel and as it is, you've lost it. The necklace. The one from our mother."
"I didn't lose it," she moves back to the changing room, "It's momentarily missing for 90 years."
I grumbled at her response. "Ready?" Hope asks bouncing over to sit on my lap. "Did you like them Stefan? We should get them all."
"I liked them." He smiled.
"Do you?" I asked compelling him.
"I wasn't watching," he replied robotically. "How-only originals can do that."
"Well with the DNA for it and a bit of magic it wasn't so hard to do."
"Nice one," I smiled proudly.
"Stefan didn't like them. I need to try more on," Hope frowned and followed to where Rebecca had already began to sort through clothes.
"Great," I rolled my eyes at Stefan. "Thanks for that."
"Your the one that created her," he put his hands up defensively.
"I heard that," Hope called from where she stood next to my sister.
Thankfully my phone started to ring. "One moment," I put my finger up to stefan who was about to berate me with another round of questions, so I left the store to answer.
Hope's pov
"So Nick just called," Aunty Rebecca told Stefan and I. "He had to go and talk to someone."
"Will he come back?" I tried not to sound too hopeful.
"He said he wouldn't be able to make the rest of the shopping but he said to get you anything you wanted and he was sor-"
"I don't want any of this stuff. Thanks Aunt Rebecca but I just want to go home," I sighed.
"But you loved it a moment ago."
I smiled embarrassed. "I don't like shopping. I just wanted to play with daddy for a bit."
The sad way she looked at me made me uncomfortable so I just covered up my hurt with a smile. "I'll wait in the car."
Rebecca's pov
"Okay," I respond as cheery as I could managed looking at my disappointed niece.
"Poor kid, having Klaus as a father," Stefan mutters.
"I take offence to that," I say neutrally and wrap my hand around his neck.
He coughs for a moment before asking, "But you still care about him. Why?"
"Well, I hated him for a long time. It was exhausting."
"You know, when I met you two, you were both on the run."
"Also exhausting."
"Who were you running from?""What do you mean?""Last night I saw you, there was a man looking for you. You both seemed afraid. I just...I wouldn't think Klaus would be afraid of anybody.""No one in this world is truly fearless, Stefan. Not even Niklaus.""Who was that man?""Why do you want to know," I bore into him. "No, no, no, I'm sorry. Just forget I asked. Okay?""Something's wrong. Your asking about Michael. Your planning something against us. I can sense it."
"Where's Klaus now?"
"I told you, he's gone to talk to someone."
"He can't be speaking to Elena becuase he has no use for her since she's a vampire," Stefan deliberates.
"On the contrary actually. My brothers got a use for her after all. Vampire doppelganger or human. Doesn't really matter for the moment.
Before he could answer his phone rang. "I suggest you answer that. You never know if someone needs your vaillant help in a life and death situation."
Hope's pov
Stefan took his own car back to the house. The rest of my family had chosen a property that was quote far into the woods and yet something as grand as the salvatore house. But when we arrived Aunty Becca didn't let me go through the front door and instead jump up with me to the 4th story to a large room, that would apparently become mine. "Stay up here for a little while sweetheart. Don't go downstairs yet."
Klaus pov
"You see Bonnie, in order for this spell to work, it requires a doppelganger and a necklace that is no longer in my sisters possession. She wants it back." Before the witch has time to respond. The door flies open and Damon marches in.
"Well, look who finally decided to show up to the party," Rebecca smiles"Where is she?""Elena? Ah, she's making a donation to a greater cause." Damon goes toward the the top of the stairs but I stop him with ease. "I'm afraid I can't let you interfere, mate.""You'll have to kill me," he seethes."Oh, I would love to kill you, but I made a pledge to your brother, and unlike him, I keep my word. Although, you know what, thinking about it now, he probably doesn't care that much anymore."
I slam Damon against the banister and flash my hybrid teeth.
"Don't you want to know about your friend Mikael?" Bonnie shouts capturing my full attention."What do you know about Mikael?" Elijah shouts "Just that he knows you're here," Bonnie says smugly."You're bluffing," Cole shakes his head."Katherine and I found him. Consider it our leverage," Damon chokes out under my hand.
"I'll kill you-"
"Klaus!" Hayley shouts as she storms through the door, and pushed me off Damon.
"Bloody hell," I look to the sky.
"Hope care's about these people. Stop."
"These people," I spit, "Are the reason that my father now has the opportunity to kill Hope!"
"What," Bonnie stutters. "No he said he would kill you and your siblings and then leave us."
"My father is hell bent on destroying myself, Nicklaus especially as he is a hybrid," my brother omits is a voice that is too calm for the current situation. "However, I fear that hope carries his jeans along with that of our mothers, upon his arrival, her death will be sought as well."
Hope's pov
It had been fifteen minutes since my aunt told me to wait in my room. But it was scary up here, and the lights weren't turning on and its dark. Taking a deep breath I run from my room scared of nothing and yet everything. I run down the stairs looking over my shoulder for anything that may get me.
"Sweetheart," dad soothes as I run into him. He picks me up and I hug him tightly.
"It's really dark upstairs." I whimper into his shoulder. "The lights weren't turning on and I got scared. Where's mom?"
"Here sweet girl," my mom coos and reaches out to take me from dad. "Why don't we go upstairs and I'll stay with you tonight?"
I nod my head and hug her tightly. It was then that I realised there was Stefan, Bonie, Enzo, Damon. "Oh hi," I smile shyly.
"Hello Hope," Bonnie says with a smile, but she sounds sad.
"Where's Caroline and Elena?"
"Your dads playing hide and seek with them, and won't tell us where they are."
"I can find them for you!" I smile jumping out of moms arms.
"That's okay sweetheart, they're close to finding them."
"We would really appreciate the help," Damon smiles and holds out his hand for me.
"Hope come here," Dad calls and holds out his arm. I reroute from Damon and smile up at dad and he smiles back. "I need you to go upstair and go to bed with your mother. It's late and you need sleep."
"Are you su-"
"Bedtime sweetheart," he said warmly but with absolute conviction laced through his tone.
--
The next morning, everyone had already left. They all left me here by myself while I was still sleeping. I have my first school dance tonight and I never asked for it to be special, but when it was just mom and I, she made everything I did a big deal. I don't want to seem selfish. But where are they?
I decide to just get change and walk to school, since apparently nobody's going to drive me. But I made it halfway down the driveway before I met everyone who was walking towards me covered in red paint and dirt. "Hope!" Mom shouted and ran towards me.
"Where were you all this morning," I try to say without my lip quivering.
"Darling we're all incredibly sorry we didn't make it back before you woke up," Aunty Rebecca walked towards me, but they all she, like the others smell terrible.
"Why do you smell like blood?" I whimper.
"Its paint sweetheart," dad smiles. "We tried to make paint from the wild flowers but we used the wrong ones that are a bit smelly aren't they?"
I nod losing my worry.
"Why don't you come back inside and your uncle Elijah and I can give you a ride to school?"
"Okay," I smile.
--
"Dad this school dance is tonight," I interject casually.
"Your seven. Why are they throwing a school dance?" he grumbles.
"Its at the boarding school mom wants to send me and Anna too."
"Anna and I," Uncle Elijah corrected from the passenger seat calmly. "Perhaps a change in education is wise."
"She's seven," Dad huffs.
"So can I go?"
"I'm not sure-" he starts to say.
"Please," I beg. "I promise I'll be good and everyone's parents are going too, so you and mom and Uncle Elijah, Cole, Rebecca and Freya can come."
"Alright."
Klaus pov
The school had done well for themself. Abundant in opulent and even ostentatious decorations. From where I walked a path with Stefan I had a clear line of sight on Hope and her friends. She was enjoying herself and that's what mattered.
"Quite the spectacle. And you think Mikaels going to come to someplace this festive?" He said too tamely for such a vile topic.
"I've been planning my father's death for 1000 years, granted in no version of it would it be at my daughters first dance, but you get the idea," I said sadistically.
"So why now? Tired of running?" he mocked.
"Aside from the fact that your witch forced my hand, I have a daughter that matters more than anything now. Her health and happiness is all that matter to me. Mikael is the one person who will screw that up. Now I need to reunite and heal my family."
"The family you cart around in caskets?"
"Oh they've all been on their best behaviour recently. Only Fin has pissed me off enough to find himself on the other end of my blade. There are teenagers here?" I add bemused as they fumble around with red cups.
"It's an every grade mixer," Stefan adds nonchalantly.
"Well I see the elected 'Mixer Queen' still walks among the living. So Rebecca musn't be here yet," I half joke.
"I have no idea. I thought she was coming with Matt."
"Oh be honest now Stefan," I say lightly infuring anything but, "where's my sister?"
"I said," he takes a step closer to me, "I have no idea."
--
"What are you talking about?" Tyler asks me"I want you to look around. There is Bonnie, there is Elena and Matt and there's your pretty little ex-girlfriend Caroline. Epic dance was wrecked tonight and who came through with the party? You did. What a pal. But who are all these other people here?""I have no idea. I've never seen half these people in my life," he laughs."That's because I've invited a few dozen friends of my own. That's my friend Mindy...picked her up along the way in Kansas. Did you know that there's an entire bloodline of werewolves in the heartland? That's Tony from North Dakota and let's not forget the Seattle contingent."Are those people all hybrids?" he stumbled over his wordsI smiled proudly at the hate this will bring about from my father, "Well, they also love a good party. And they, like you, were sired by me. They wish to serve their master. So if anyone should so much as make a move against me, they may feel obligated to retaliate. You're free to warn your friends."
I walk away back to the hill where I can keep a watchful eye over Hope, keeping in mind to hear the conversation between Tyler and Carloint to pursue.
"What are you up to with Klaus?" he asks brashly
"Uh - nothing," she laughs jokingly. "He is on to you, Caroline. Whatever you all think you're about to pull off- he's two steps ahead of you!" "Okay, I don't know what you're talking about," she says growing agitated."You're lying to me," he growls and I can tell from the sound of flesh on flesh hes grabbed her arm."You know, actually, I'm not. I don't know anything. But even if I did, I wouldn't tell you about it, because you are sired to team Klaus now. And you can't be trusted. So can we please just go back to the party now?"
Third person pov
"You have a visitor," Mindy, one of Klaus' hybrids announces."Well, tell my visitor I'm on the brink of victory here," I add distracted as I attempt to shot a ping pong ball into my final discarded red cup. "He said his name is Mikael," she follows.
Klaus looks disappointed, although it is simply a facade for the worry he feels for Hope. He throws the ping pong ball into a cup and turns to Mindy. "Then we mustn't keep him waiting. Move everyone out back. I'm gonna have a little chat with my dad. Tony, you know what to do. I have eyes on Hope now, but I want more. Put three more guys on her."
Klaus goes to the front door, Mikael is at the doorway. "Hello, Niklaus.
"Hello, Mikael. Why don't you come in? Oh, that's right. I forgot you can't."
"Or you can come outside if you want.""Or I could watch my hybrids tear you limb from limb."
A group of hybrids gather behind Mikael on the lawn.
"They can't kill me," Mikael smiles smugly."True. But it'll make a hell of a party game. All I have to do is rub these two fingers together and they'll pounce.""The big bad wolf. You haven't changed. Still hiding behind your playthings like a coward. You only forget. They may be sired by you, but they're still part vampire. And they can be compelled by me."
Mindy walks up behind Mikael and pushes Hope to Mikael.
"Come out and face me, Niklaus. Or she dies." "Go ahead. Kill her," Klaus says indifferently. But nonchalance was anything but what he was feeling. He knew that if he showed his hand and her value to his life, Mikael would get want he wanted from Klaus and kill Hope anyway, simply becuase it would hurt his son, and her lianage and biological connection to him. "Daddy," she whimpers which nearly has him coming undone. "If she dies, this lot will be last of your abominations. So, I have no hesitation.""I don't need her. I just need to be rid of you.""To what end, Niklaus? So you can live forever, with no one at your side? Nobody cares about you anymore, boy! What do you have other than those whose loyalty you forced? No one. No one.
Klaus's eyes start tearing.
"I'm calling your bluff, father. Kill her.""Come outside and face me, you little coward. And I won't have to.""My whole life you've underestimated me. If you kill her you lose your leverage. So go ahead. Go on. Kill her. Come on, old man. Kill her. Kill her!!!"
Mikael laughs.
"Your impulse, Niklaus. It has and will forever be the one thing that keeps you from truly being great."
Mikael stabs Hope with a dagger and pulls it out. She falls to the floor. Mikael laughs as Klaus looks on shocked. Damon rushes up behind Klaus, twists him around and stabs the White Oak Tree dagger into his stomach. Damon is about to stake Klaus, when Stefan knocks him off of Klaus and holds him down. The stake is on the floor.
"What are you doing?!" Damon shouts as his brother mounts on top of him.
Klaus takes the stake jumps at Mikael and drives it through Mikael's heart; he bursts into flames and dies.
"What the hell did you do?" Damon seethes at Stefan"Hope," Klaus cradled her on the ground.
"She's going to wake up Klaus," Hayley says behind Klaus.
Sure enough she's got the Gilbert ring on her finger. "She's supernatural," Klaus shakes his head.
"If so she'll wake a vampire. If the ring works becuase she is still part human, then she'll wake up."
"She probably hates me," he said pulling her closer to his chest as he stood with her in his arms. "I told Mikael I didn't care. I told him to kill her."
"And if you didn't he would have killed her even sooner," Elijah says walking up behind me."