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Hope's bare feet squished into the plush runner rug, her stomach growling at the smell of warm bread creeping down the hallway. Entering the large dining room of the old mansion, she spotted the twins seated side by side with matching red dresses. Candles lined the length of the table, flickering an orange glow over plates of steaming food.
Katherine and Kai sat at the head of each end, both dressed as if this were an upscale restaurant rather than a leaky huge manor that smelled like old man breath. Hope was the only one in a long ivory nightgown, the material so thin and clingy that she might as well be wearing nothing at all.
Hope tentatively approached, ignoring the way their eyes roved down her body, and lowered herself into the remaining seat across from the twins. Her hair had been washed by a silent girl with vacant eyes, Hope could still smell the hint of otherworldly decay. Severed magic gave off a scent and she was the only wolf in history to be able to pick up on it. Her wolf knew immediately that the girl was once a witch but was now an underfed vampire.
Katherine lifted her glass of wine, sharply instructing the girls to do the same. Hope's glass shook in her grasp, whether from the chilly air or the shock of fear...she couldn't be sure.
Kai cleared his throat and stated, "I would like to take this moment to say what an honor it is to be a part of this...glorious day of new beginnings."
"I'll drink to that," Katherine agreed with a smirk. Hope wished she could access her magic, but the huge abandoned home had to be spelled. She could feel the twin's legs trembling beneath the table cloth.
"Now...eat up. We have such a long night ahead. You'll need your energy..." Glancing towards Hope he waggled his eyebrows suggestively, "especially you young lady."
She obeyed, knowing that whatever was in store might not include an offer to nourish her body again for a long time, if at all. The twins however, sat with their mouths clamped shut and eyes on their uncle. The man who murdered their mother- his own twin sister, chewed thoughtfully with his attention solely on Hope's trembling hands breaking apart her dinner roll.
"Say, Hope," he began, leaning on an elbow and gesturing with his fork, "how long has it been since you've seen your Uncle Kol? Does he...check in often?"
The chunk of bread paused at her lips, the question taking her off guard. Why would he be bringing up Kol right now? She realized it had been a while since Kol Facetimed or wrote. It hadn't even occurred to her how odd it was that he missed two of their regular phone chats this past month. She figured he and Davina were busy with moving to their property in Italy. Fear trickled down her spine as she slowly put the roll back down to her nearly emptied plate.
Kai smiled brightly, glancing towards his nieces. "I mean, I am just not getting the hang of this uncle thing and I'd really like to ask him for some pointers. Maybe you could give him a call...invite him over."
Hope narrowed her eyes and glanced towards Katherine who was running a finger lazily around her wine glass, lips curled in a knowing grin. Then, Kai's hands slapped down on the table and with faux surprise he exclaimed, "oh shoot, that's right! I already invited him..."
A voice, small and familiar, called from the doorway. "Hope..."
She spun around to see Uncle Kol, his tux covered in blood and eyes damp with old tears. Kai let out an exaggerated contented sigh.
"God I love weddings."
A/N: Mature audiences only moving forward. It gets dark. If anyone is concerned about triggers of the sexual nature, please PM me as I do not like to post exact trigger tags that give things away but will be happy to discuss anything in private that may concern you before moving forward. Thanks! :) Reviews and follows are so appreciated!
