Okay, so I'm a piece of crap who can't keep a bloody promise.

I understand that, and I can understand if you no longer want to read my story because I take years to update. I won't blame you.

But.

It's about to get good.

Enjoy ;)

"Hope!" Her father snarled at her. She shrugged and feigned innocence. If Damon was going to blurt out her personal information, she was at least going to make sure it was right. The impeccably dressed man flashed next to her, to which she tried not to flinch.

"A necromancer?" He breathed. "I haven't met since I left New Orleans in the 1800's. Surely, you must be mistaken? Necromancers have been made scarce, thanks to the likes of jealous covens and my brother." She raised an eyebrow.

"Brother?"

"Niklaus." She nodded, she knew who this man was. She raised and stood almost toe to toe with the Original.

"Elijah Mikaelson, it is quite an honor to meet you." She held her hand out, and smiled as he looked confused, but complied to shaking her hand. She could feel the eyes of her father burning into the back of her head, so she let the man's hand go as she turned towards him.

"If I may ask, how do you know about me?"

"Yes, Hope. Please explain."

"Gladly, father dearest. Elijah has made quite the name for himself, protecting witches and covens over the span of his 1,000 years here on Earth. Still a vampire, one of the oldest, he is highly respected in the magical community." She felt the blush rise up her neck, but she had read about the great things he had contributed to the witches around the world. There were so many spells that he had helped certain great witches with, so many things she had hoped she could learn from him.

"Can we return to Gilbert 2.0's studies after we figure out a way to save Elena?" Damon called from the back of the room. She smiled at Elijah and sank back down into her chair. She waved a hand as if to say "continue if you will". Elijah explained as he pulled out a vial from his jacket pocket that the liquid could save Elena from being completely dead. In response to that, Elena eagerly took the vial from Elijah and drank it, her face turning sour after it was done.

"How can we be sure that this back-from-the-dead juice is gonna work, huh?" Damon asked, his tone clearly suggesting that he had no faith in the potion Elijah had given Elena.

"We can't." Elijah told him. Damon waited for the uproar, but none came. He scoffed as he stamped away from the room and up the stairs. Elena looked guilty and quickly followed him. Soon after, all three vampires in the room sped up the stairs. Elena came racing down the stairs, blood smeared around her mouth. Hope stood up quickly and wrapped her arms around her quivering sister, stroking her hair.

"Elena, what's wrong? Elena, sister, you're going to have to talk to me." Elena pulled away and looked at Hope with watery, fearful eyes. Hope deduced that Damon had fed her his blood, and Hope hugged her again. She heard a whoosh, then the bang of the door, and she could bet that it was Damon leaving. Elena pulled back and wiped the blood away from her mouth before sitting back down.

She watched as her father and the three vampires came down the stairs, frowns on all their faces.

"I'm sorry, Elena, but since Damon has forced his blood upon you, the magical properties of the potion have been canceled out. When Klaus kills you tonight, you will come back as a vampire in transition." Elena sobbed and ran from the room. Hope followed her out of the house and grabbed her before she could get in her car. She sagged against Hope, all of the fight leaving her body. Elena was tired of finding a way to fight, a way to survive. She didn't want to come back as a vampire, she wanted to stay human or die trying. She didn't want to live forever.

"Hope, I don't...I can't.." She couldn't get her words out over the sobs and Hope nodded and hugged her closer.

"I know Elena, I know. She closed her eyes and held still as she held her sister crying. She realized how easy it had become to use that term, sister, and how happy it made her now. Hope held Elena a few more moments before releasing her to look her in the eyes.

"Today will not be the last day we see each other, I promise." She whispered and felt a sense of pride run through her when Elena's chin lifted and the sparkling tears in her eyes dried. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Stefan jog down the steps and walk over to them. Hope let go of Elena and smiled as Stefan stopped in front of them.

"I want to take you somewhere." He said, a small smile on his face. Hope didn't want Elena to go anywhere but home with her so she could protect but Stefan insisted until Elena gave up and they both wondered off to the woods, hands entwined and shoulders brushing as they walked away from Hope, who whipped out her phone and dialed Marcus's number without looking.

"Hey babe, what's up? I'm about half an hour away from home."

"I love you, okay. I really do." She choked out, all of a sudden wishing he was here beside her so he could swallow her up in those long arms of his. She pinched the bridge of her nose and began pacing.

"Hope, hey, what's wrong?" She laughed and sniffed.

"Nothing, I just miss you that's all. Text me when you get home so I know you're safe." She said as she hung up, her hand falling from her face. She walked back into the house, hoping that her face didn't give away the emotional chaos she was feeling inside. She missed Marcus, but she wanted him out of harms way, and she wanted to save Elena but knew it was almost impossible. Hope wanted to punch the wall and set herself on fire all at the same time.

"They just left, Stefan's taking her somewhere they can talk and be alone." She announced as she rounded the corner. Bonnie stood up.

"We need to go to the witches' house, now." She passed Hope, her eyes shining with a determined fire. Hope respected Bonnie for that, and was grateful that Elena had a friend like her when she wasn't around. Everyone followed the witch out of the house, including her father.

"Hope, you're riding with me." He barked at her, already by his car door. She raised an eyebrow and continued to her own car, a ray of sunshine sparkling off the hood as if to say look at how fabulous I am, of course she's driving me.

"You can shove it, Jon." She opened the door and hopped in, peeling out of the driveway as soon as Bonnie backed out. She had no idea where this witch house is but she hoped that it was as helpful as it sounded. She drummed along to the Nirvana song blasting through her speakers, her tangled thoughts trying to untangle themselves.

They pulled up to an old decrepit mansion after fifteen minutes, the air heavy with despair and well, to Hope it felt like the ghosts she usually tried so hard to keep away from her mind. she raised her mental walls up higher than usual and made her way into the house. As soon as she took a step through the door, her head burst into pain and the voices descended.

Unnatural

Abomination

Destroy yourself

They circled her brain as sharp pokes of a needle, and she could do nothing but grit her teeth and work her walls back up. She was only barely aware of someone's hand on her back, whispering words of comfort in her ear. Finally, she was able to keep the voices of the dead witches at bay and stand up, the pounding in her head still there, but bearable now.

"Are you alright?" She sank back into her father, momentarily forgetting she was super pissed at him. She pushed away from him, awkwardly clearing her throat and rising to her feet. Elijah held out a handkerchief and pointed to his ear. Hope dabbed at the stream of blood she knew was there and continued walking through the house, down to where she could hear Jeremy and Bonnie talking.

So, the ritual goes down tonight, Hope meets Klaus, and maybe we can get the ball rolling on this Matt/Hope thing I'm trying to get going.

Why did I create Marcus again?

You'll find out next chapter;)

Please review and tell me how much you hate/love this story. Constructive criticism only please:)