Six Years Earlier
The woman with blonde hair in the white dress sighed deeply as she entered the huge library of the even huger house. She walked straight to the end table next to the armchair that sat before the fire and stifled a smile as she reached her desired object. The glass bottle that held all the bourbon they allowed in the house. She poured a small amount into a glass and took a sip.
"Indulging, are we?" an older woman spoke up from behind her. The glass slipped from her hands but practiced and powerful magic levitated it before it could spill it's contents.
"A bit." The older woman chuckled. "I fear, sister, it has been a long night. One that is best left forgotten."
"Maybe for you." The blonde haired woman gestured to an adjoining armchair and together, they sat down. "Upon our doorstep less than two hours ago stood a Mikaelson begging me to relieve her of a baby."
If Sister Joanna had been paying attention, she would have seen how the blonde haired woman's face drained of color. Her thoughts, however, were consumed with Hope and she was too busy smiling into the fire to notice anything, really.
"Where is the baby?" The suddenly coarse voice whispered. "And who do you intend to care for it?"
"She is upstairs with Gretchen." Joanna frowned at her companion. "I had hoped you would be able to take care of her. Her name is Hope, daughter of Hayley Marshall and Niklaus Mikaelson."
Erika pushed some of her blonde hair out of her eyes and straightened her white dress so Hayley's blood was no longer as visible. She sighed again and gave Joanna a pensive stare with her grey eyes before smiling.
"It would be an honor to teach the young witch."