Hello guys. Sorry for the long absence. I took over the writing of this story and thank you for your reviews.
Hope is now coming to the time of her conception. Klaus and Hayley meet again and our Tribrid will do everything so that nothing prevents their one-night stand to conceive Hope. A decisive moment that should not be missed.
Good reading!
Chapter 14: Tomorrow Never Dies
Hope was left speechless by what Stefan had just taught her. Her mom Hayley knew Katherine Pierce. And she had informed her about the Cure. She didn't expect this. What would she have to do? Her conception was close. And the fact that the Cure is in Katherine's possession added a new problem. Hope was certain that the former Petrova doppelgänger would try to use it as a weapon against her dad. And if she planned to attack him with, her mom would find herself involved in the course of events. Her dad was going to torture her to get her to talk about Katherine? They were supposed to have sex. Hope was shocked and desperate by this eventuality.
"Hope? Hope? Hello? Hope?"
Remembering that she was still in communication with Stefan Salvatore, she resumed the thread of her phone call. She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she had forgotten him.
"I'll call you back, Stefan."
And she hung up, wondering what she was going to have to do. She had to find a way for her parents to have their one-night stand and thus conceive her. Her whole existence depended on that night alone. And how to achieve this? How to avoid time incidents?
While she was lost in thought, her phone started ringing. Annoyed, she took it out, thinking that Stefan was calling her back. But it wasn't his name that was on the screen. It was Hayley's. Why did her mother call her?
Intrigued, she replied.
"Hello? Mo… uh… Hayley! Is everything all right?"
"Hope! I need your help!"
Her mother's voice was disturbing, which intrigued Hope because she was not afraid of anything.
"What's wrong?"
"I made a mistake. I made a deal with a vampire… Katherine Pierce… She promised me information about my family in exchange for what I knew about the Cure that you and Klaus were looking for. She's got it. And now that she has what she wants, I think she's trying to kill me. Hope, please, help me."
"Why do you say that?" said Hope, frowning.
"People are following me. I'm in danger. I need to talk to Klaus. And I'll tell you everything I know about Katherine."
"I'll go talk to him." Hope replied. "I'm promising you that I will help you, Mo… Hayley!"
"Thank you, Hope."
Hope hung up and went to her dad. Seeing the girl's serious look, Klaus raised his eyebrows.
"Something's bothering you, my littlest wolf?"
"I have news about the Cure." explained Hope when she stood in front of him.
Klaus remained intrigued.
"Really? What are this news?"
Hope told him in detail what she had just learned from Stefan and Hayley about the Cure and Katherine Pierce.
At the mention of the former Petrova doppelgänger, Klaus gloated.
"Katherina! I should have known she'd try something against me. This news may well lead me to her final death. After five hundred years, we are at the end of her life."
"Be careful." warns the Tribrid. "If Katherine has the Cure, she's probably planning to use it against you. Either she will try to shove it down your throat or my second hypothesis is that she intends to use it to force you to grant her freedom."
But Klaus just laughed to the great consternation of his daughter.
"Relax, I've nothing to fear from Katherina. And knowing her, she's not stupid enough to go for me head-on. Whatever she's up to with the Cure, I'm not scared about her."
"It could happen sooner than you think." Hope replied.
"What do you mean?"
"Hayley may know where Katherine is. And more, she's chased by a vampire who wants to kill her. It's probably Katherine trying to get rid of her. Now that she has the Cure, Hayley is no use to her. So, a less important person to eliminate."
Klaus reflected on Hope's assumptions and seemed delighted.
"So, you're suggesting that I use the lovely Hayley to get to Katherina easily. And once this brat is terminate, the Cure will fall into my hands. This is a good idea, Hope! I love you!"
"I have Hayley's number phone." says Hope flattered by her dad's compliment. "You might as well call her quickly before one of those vampires finds her."
"Hurry up. We've little time to waste!" replied Klaus, taking out his phone.
Hope gave him the number of her mother wolf. Klaus immediately dialed the number. A moment passed, and spoke in a soft but cynical voice.
"Hi love! Hope gave me your number. It's my understanding that you want to share your information about Katherina Petrova. That interests me. Tell me where you are and I'll come get you. I'm promising you I will protect you."
Hayley came out of a small store and headed for a truck stop parking lot. Until then, she had not been in any trouble since she separated from Katherine Pierce. She looked carefully around her as she walked between two trailers. Suddenly she heard the sound of something hitting metal. She stopped her walk and looked around. She heard the noise again, but behind her this time. She turned and saw a man standing between the two trailers. He ran to her, grabbed her by the throat and pressed her against the side of one of the trucks. Hayley began to choke and run out of air. The vampire threw her to the ground and looked at her, his lips rolled up into a growl. Before he can hurt Hayley any more, Hope appears from nowhere and holds her arm up.
"Ictus!"
Immediately, the vampire was pushed back away from Hayley. Hope gave him a hostile look, furious eyes.
"That was a big mistake!"
And she magically threw him away. And before the vampire could get up, Klaus appeared at full speed, grabbed him by his jacket and unveiled his fangs and Hybrid eyes in front of him.
"Have a care, mate. That's no way to treat a lady." he cried fiercely.
Klaus bit his neck. The vampire screamed in pain while the Original Hybrid continued to bite him. Then he stopped feeding on the vampire and threw it at one of the trucks. The vampire fell to the ground.
Hope rejoices in the vampire's misfortune. She intended to kill him for trying to murder her mother, but since her father had poisoned him with his venom, it was not necessary to kill him immediately. The deadly poison was going to do it. In twenty-four hours, he would cease to live.
Then she turned to her mother and came to help her get up.
"Hey, are you okay?" she asked her, moved to see her mother again in front of her.
"Hope, thank you for coming, and for bringing Klaus." Hayley says to her with gratitude.
"Well, you did say it was urgent." Klaus declared in a gloat tone as he joined them.
Hope seemed even more emotional to be with both of her parents.
Then the dying vampire disappeared in super-speed. But Klaus didn't care.
"Oh, don't worry about him, love. He'll never make it through tomorrow night."
"What if there are more?" Hayley remarked.
"You don't have to worry." said Hope always moved to talk to her mom. "We'll protect you."
"You were foolish enough to make a deal with Katerina Petrova." Klaus replied. "She used you to find the Cure and now you're nothing but a loose end. You'll be lucky if she lets you live."
"You said you would protect me." insisted Hayley.
"And Hope and I will." the Hybrid assured her in a gallant tone. "Just as soon as you tell me everything you know about Katerina."
"Deal. But not here."
"Alright. Let's go home." said Hope feeling strange talking about home when she was not yet born but close to being conceived.
My conception is so close. If my parents don't have sex soon, I will cease to exist. I can't afford to fail. I must live. Or Uncle Kol will be dead for nothing.
With great fear for her future, Hope followed both of her parents to her father's car.
The next day, Hayley was resting in the room where Klaus had set her up. Hope was excited to have both her parents under the same roof and at the same time anxious. She was aware that this is when her mother and father would spend time together so they could have their evening sex. Hope had to limit her time with her mother so as not to cause further time incidents. Otherwise, she would not be born.
Nervous, she came to bring a tray for lunch to her mother. Hayley was moved by Hope's gesture, but looked suspicious.
"What is this? A trick to get information on Katherine?" she assumed.
"Not trick." replied Hope, embarrassed by placing the lunch tray on a coffee table. "I wanted to make you breakfast. I… I wanted to do this for you. I'm glad to see you, by the way. I missed you so much. And I want you to know that you're safe here. No chance of a vampire showing up here to kill you."
A long discomfort developed between the two women. Then Hope finally leaves the room without adding anything.
"Hope." called her mom.
The Tribrid stopped walking and turned to her mother.
"Me too, I'm glad to see you again." Hayley replied affectionately.
Hope appeared moved and struggled not to cry before her. Which had not escaped the wolf-woman.
"Why every time we're in the same room together, it looks like you're gonna cry? Is it the fact that I have your mom's face that makes you feel this way? Look, Hope, I'm really sorry about your mom. I'm sure you must miss her. But I'll never be her, even if I may look like her physically. I have many other priorities than becoming a parent right now. Maybe you should just get used to the idea that your mom is gone, and you have to move on without her, even if it's hard."
Hope looked away, but her tears were still. Her mother had just said something that touched her deeply. And she couldn't blame her, because part of her knew she was right. She had to go back to her future and prepare mentally to leave both of her parents living in this time for ever.
"You're right, Mo… Hayley! I'll get out of your hair. My mom's dead, and you're not her. You're so right!" she replied a little firmly without looking at her.
It was Hayley's turn to be touched. She didn't mean to hurt her like that.
"I'm sorry, Hope. I didn't mean to say it so badly. I'm sorry… Hope…"
But the Tribrid left the room running and slamming the door abruptly, under the sad look of her mom who regretted what she had just told her. She bowed her head shamefully.
Hope walked to the first room of the Mansion and burst into tears. Ironic. Her two parents were now under the same roof since she arrived here, and she felt even more miserable than before. And her fears about the future didn't make things right. If only she could be sure that her presence doesn't affect her birth in New Orleans, it would lessen the burden of protecting the future she carried.
Very soon, she dried her tears to head to her room, when her gaze was on someone crossing the alley to reach the entrance of the Mikaelson' Family Mansion. Damon Salvatore. What was he doing here? Talk to her father? Why? Hope couldn't understand the reasons for his coming to her father's mansion.
Nothing was to hinder the one-night stand of her parents. It was necessary at all costs to get Damon away.
Hope immediately joined the entrance. And Damon entered undisturbed. At the sight of the Tribrid, he made a face not amused.
"Miss Weird Witch. I hadn't missed you!" he greeted her with contempt.
"What are you doing here, Damon?" asked Hope ignoring the vampire's dismissive look.
"I'm coming to see Klaus." he announced with a strange enthusiasm.
"Why?"
Without paying attention to Hope, Damon made his way inside the Mansion. She hastily followed him.
"What do you want with him?" she insisted firmly.
"Sorry, but it's just him and me!" said the vampire despising. "Go play somewhere else, kid! This is a grown ups to chat!"
"Sorry, but uh… Klaus is busy! He cannot see you…" said Hope. "Come back tomorrow."
"I don't care! I must speak to him. And not tomorrow." Damon said while still walking.
"Seriously, you have nothing better to do? Shouldn't you be… Uh… with Elena, right now? I heard about her brother. Right now, your new girlfriend needs support and morale. You have to be there for her…"
"I don't care about your advice, Hope!" continued Damon always despising. "Move!"
Hope distanced the vampire and stood right in front of him, her eyes threatening.
"Don't make me use my powers on you! And you know I can do it!"
Remembering being tortured by the Tribrid, Damon gave the girl a neutral look. Then he whispered to her in a low voice with a sneaky look.
"If you attack me, I will shout out your little secret that you don't want to tell Klaus!"
Hope gave him a murderous look.
"You don't have to do that!" she screams. "I'll rip your vocal cords!"
"Try again, Hope!" replied Damon sneakily.
And before she could decide anything, her dad eventually joined them. He didn't seem more pleased than his daughter about the presence of the vampire Salvatore.
"Ah, what an unpleasant surprise. Damon Salvatore!"
"He came in." the Tribrid says to him in a hurry. "I was trying to get him out…"
"It's alright, Hope. Damon, I don't think I invited you to my house. So, I have no desire to speak with you. You know the way out. Get out of here before I kill you with my own hands." said Klaus with a hostile look.
Not intimidated by this threat, Damon only smiled at him. He came to him as if nothing had happened. Then the three of them entered the great hall.
"It's called Things You Suck At. Number one: Finding Katherine. Ever. Number two: covering up your secret phone conversations and those of your beloved and sweet witch with that little backstabber Hayley. Yeah, so, where is she? What does she know about Katherine?"
Hope understood that he had come to get new information about the Cure. But her dad wasn't very keen to meet his expectations. He replied with hostility:
"Hope and me should help you? After you lot killed my brother and imprisoned us in the Gilbert living room?"
Ignoring Klaus' hostility, Damon asserted himself even more:
"You might want to prioritize, Klaus. You have much bigger problems. Katherine has the Cure. My guess is she's gonna want to cram it down your throat. You help me find Katherine, I'll get the Cure, I'll give it to Elena, everybody wins. Just let me question Hayley about Katherine."
Hope stared at her father, wanting to anticipate his reaction. Although she was not a fan of Damon Salvatore, she still needed him alive for her future. But Klaus gave the young vampire a sneaky smile.
"Can't help you, mate. Hayley's off limits."
He sat down on a couch, while continuing to speak.
"Although, I did have a run in with a vampire who may know where Katerina is. Too bad for you, I bit halfway through his bloody neck. He probably won't have much time for chit-chat."
Realizing he was getting nothing from him, Damon eventually turned back to the exit to Hope's great relief.
Klaus noticed his daughter's trouble.
"Hope, are you okay?"
"I'm fine." she assured him with a confident air.
"I noticed you've been anxious since Hayley came back." he explained with a frown. "Do you care about her? Because she looks like your mother? If so, rest assured that I have no intention of harming her. She will enjoy a good time relaxing in our home. I swear you."
"I know you won't do anything to Hayley." Hope explained. "It's just… since I've been in your life, I don't feel like I've accomplished anything. I promised to help you get what you wanted. And it was a mess. The loss of Connor. The Cure in Katherine's hands and Kol's death… I feel… useless. As if I was a failure."
Moved, Klaus rose from the sofa and joined her with tender emotion.
"You're not a failure, my littlest wolf. And I'm more than happy that you came into my life. And I hope your time here will allow you to return home to your dear Landon. I'm sure he must miss you. As you know, my love life is far from difficult. The first person I had a real love relationship with abandoned me by calling me a monster. I can't tell you what happened to her now. Anyway, I'm glad you're here. In the last ten centuries, not once have I felt so close to someone as you are to me. Your presence has changed a lot in me. Although I admit that I am far from perfect, having you by my side is more than enough. You're the only true friend I've ever had in my long life, Hope."
Hope was moved by her father's words, and before she could say anything, he said again:
"And I assure you, you can tell me anything. I'm ready to hear it. I heard Damon talking about a secret you weren't telling me."
The Tribrid was paralyzed. Her blood was beating in her ears. She did everything to hide her wonder and her anguish. Given the circumstances, the last thing she needed was for her father to learn that her blood could cure werewolf toxin like his.
"You know, Damon. He tried to scare me." she justified by being frozen with terror.
But Klaus isn't satisfied with this answer. He tried to remain calm by being eager to know.
"Come on, Hope, it's been a while since I noticed you're not telling me everything. Or you're dodging my questions. I'm not stupid. In a thousand years, I have learned to separate the true from the false in many people. Having lived in fear of being found by my father, I learned to discern liars. Whatever secret you don't want to tell me, I'm able to hear it. You can tell me anything. You can trust me."
Again, Hope struggled to not burst into tears. She wanted so much to tell him the truth.
If only that fool Damon had said nothing! I still can't tell him that I'm his daughter! It's too early! I can't tell him my secret now! It's way too early! Not until Dad has slept with Mom! I'm still not conceived! If he now finds out that I am his daughter without being conceived, I could disappear from reality! Gone from time! My disappearance will destroy everything for which my family has struggled and sacrificed! And the death of Kol at the Gilbert' house will have been useless! If only it was so easy… Yes, Dad… I hide things from you… but I have a good reason to do it… How can I explain this?
For a while she was unable to speak. She did everything to contain herself, but the human gaze of her father moved her more and more. He was more like her future father than the evil Klaus, and she hated having to hide things from him.
"Hope, please say something…" he insisted gently.
Wanting to get things straight, she got up and said:
"Yes, you're right. There are things I haven't told you about me. And I ask for nothing better than to share everything with you. I wish I could tell you everything. More than you think."
Klaus was even more amazed and curious.
"So why don't you tell me? Is someone threatening you? Someone's stopping you? What makes you want to hide it from me? If someone is pressuring you to keep quiet, give me his name and I will kill him immediately. You can trust me. Is it Damon Salvatore who's blackmailing you?"
"This is not about Damon and nobody blackmail me!" Hope replied more and more saddened. "It's not that I won't, and this is not about trust. I trust you. The problem is… it's something I can't tell you. Not to you, not to anyone else. Because if I tell you my secret, it would have terrible consequences for me. And although I want to tell you everything, it's too dangerous for you. Telling you about me would be a huge risk that could either put me in danger or cause my death."
"If you are in danger, let me help you, please, Hope." pleaded Klaus who seemed concerned about the condition of his daughter. "I will protect you and I will never let you die. You have my word. Always and forever."
Hearing her dad tell her he would not let her die moved Hope even more, reminding her with sadness of the moment when her future father had decided to sacrifice himself in order to save her life. And she must have had a hard time controlling her sobbing.
"I know what you're capable of for me. I know you want to help me and I appreciate that. I like being with you, more than you can imagine. Even when we were locked in the Gilbert living room. Your company has done me a great deal of good. And I promise you will know everything. Very soon, I will tell you all about me. Just… not today. It's too early."
"And when will it be? Damon seemed to know something about you." her father pointed out to him with a frown.
"It's not so serious. A minor detail!" Hope replied calmly. "He was just trying to scare me, but I will not be intimidated by him. You don't have to worry about that. I don't care about Damon. He can't hurt me anyway, even if he wanted to. You must believe me when I say that it could kill me, I'm serious… If you want to look after me, you have to wait. I promise you that I will tell you everything about me. And I will keep my word. Always and forever."
Klaus wasn't satisfied, but he observed Hope's condition and noticed that she was agitated and anxious. Forcing her to reveal her secret would only harm her, and the last thing he wanted was to make her suffer, after she had spent three days confined in the Gilbert living room with him, after his little brother's death.
"Fine. I'll wait for the moment when you tell me everything. Meanwhile, if Damon causes you any problems, come to me and I'll make him regret his gesture."
"It's okay, don't worry about him. You need to focus on Hayley. She might have some information on Katherine. We need to find the Cure before she tries to get at you."
"You're right." approved her dad. "But we'll continue this discussion another day, Hope."
The Tribrid nodded and went outside, needing to let off steam as a werewolf.
She transformed into a wolf and went to the forest. She ran for a long time. And she finally takes on human form. She dressed and decided to settle in her quiet corner in the woods and talked with the Landon from her prism.
When the projection of Landon Kirby appeared, Hope was delighted.
"Hello Landon! You're even hotter than before! Is that an feeling?"
"I'm SimuLandon!" the false Landon exited. "I've always been a good-looking kid. Even the real Landon."
Hope laughs with.
"Well, you don't make a very credible Landon."
Both laughed for a moment with amusement. Then Hope resumed her upset look.
"What is it this time?" asked Landon.
"I finally reached the day of my conception. It's the night my parents are supposed to have sex." she explained anxiously. "I'm glad to see Mom and Dad with me at the Mansion. This is the first time that something like this has happened since I've been here. I couldn't be happier. But I have to keep my secret. Protecting the future is a burden that becomes hard to bear."
"We've already had this conversation, Hope." her boyfriend reminded her. "You know why you can't tell your dad. Especially today."
"Damon got me into trouble!" replied Hope severely. "I took a risk saving his life with my blood. I should have made it look like my father's blood, instead of exposing myself to Elena and the Salvatores."
"You think it would have been better?" said Landon. "If your dad had learned that Damon was hurt by Connor and he was cured with his blood when he wasn't in town at the time, what do you think would have happened? Wouldn't your dad have been curious to understand how his blood could save Damon?"
Hope thought for a moment and shook her head, frantic.
"He would never have believed the story of his blood set aside. He would have sought to discover how Damon was miraculously healed, which would have led him to reveal me to him."
"Exactly." said Landon. "Hope, I understand that this secret is hard to bear, but keep in mind that the slightest detail about the future could result in the total destruction of everything you know in your future time. You must not let your dad find out who you are."
"I know." Hope sighed leaning on the tree she was sitting in. "I managed to buy some time today, but it won't last long. Sooner or later, Dad will continue to question me, to force me to reveal myself. I thought I'd avoided his suspicions, but he knows I'm hiding things from him. It will be difficult to stay under the same roof as him for the next few days. By admitting that mom and dad are sleeping together tonight, allowing me to exist. Just thinking about it scares me."
Landon replied with sympathy:
"It's gonna be okay, Hope, things are slowly coming together. You managed to survive until then, despite the time incidents with Damon, Shane and your Uncle Kol. You're still here. There's a good chance you'll still be here tomorrow. If your parents spend the day together, there's no reason why they shouldn't have sex."
Hope made a grin at his words, which bothered Landon.
"Sorry, I didn't mean it that way. I know we're talking about your parents…"
"It's true." the Tribrid nodded. "Mom and Dad are having sex tonight. I only have to pray that my existence will not be erased by my presence here. Everything I did to get here… let Shane do his machiavellian plan, make Jeremy Gilbert a vampire hunter so he can kill my uncle, and then get killed by Katherine… If I'm not conceived tonight, all this will have been for nothing."
- Do not be so dramatic." says Landon. "You have to stay positive. Considering the worst is not going to help you. You must have faith in your parents. I'm sure everything will be fine. There's a part of you that believes it."
Hope sighed at the image of Landon. Then her phone started ringing, interrupting their conversation. With anguish, she took it out, then sighed with relief when she noticed that it was Stefan.
"Hey Stefan! What's wrong?"
"Hope, I need your help." the vampire explained. "It's Elena. We have a problem with her."
"She lost her brother, Stefan." Hope replied abruptly. "Give her time to grieve and she will return to you and her friends."
"You don't understand. Hope, it's more complicated than that. Elena turned off her emotions. She haven't humanity."
"What?" said the Tribrid in amazement. "What's happened?"
And Stefan told her everything in detail. Elena Gilbert turned off her humanity at the death of Jeremy, thus breaking the Damon' sirebond. Now, Elena felt nothing and was becoming dangerous for others. She had already biting people and threatened to kill high school students.
"What do you expect from me?" asked Hope, once Stefan had told her everything.
"I managed to neutralize Elena, but it won't last long." the vampire replied. "She's already gone after Caroline. I would need a little help to contain her if things went wrong."
Hope didn't know what to say. She had many other problems to solve than the miseries of Elena and her friends. Then, Landon talked her again.
"Go and join him. He needs you. You don't have to spend the day at your dad's. If you want your parents to be together for the night, the best thing you can do is leave them alone. The less you get involved with them, the better you'll be. You don't have to be near them. And if Elena has become dangerous, make sure she doesn't kill Caroline. She's Lizzie and Josie's mom."
"It will be an occupation." replied Hope.
"Hope, did you hear me?" asked Stefan on the phone.
"I'm still here." she replied. "Where is Elena?"
"I just took her to my house."
"I'm on my way." she assured him by turning off her phone.
She turned one last time to the projection of Landon.
"Keep doing what you have to do. And don't worry about what's gonna happen tonight. You'll get through this, Hope Mikaelson. You always get away with it. Even death has not stopped you. Time will not do it either."
"Thanks Landon." Hope replied with a comforted smile.
Then, she decided to leave the woods and go to the Salvatore Boarding House.
Meanwhile, Hayley was enjoying a good meal that Klaus gave her in the dining room. With a bottle of wine. He sat in front of her, staring at her, looking for a way to get her to talk.
"So, you're rested, you're fed… Tell me about Katerina."
But the wolf did not let himself be intimidated by him.
"Most men get their power kick from torture and intimidation. With you, it's drinks and fine dining. Is that what you did to get Hope with you?"
Klaus smiled at her.
"Well, in your case, I favor hospitality over unpleasantness, but I have been known to change my mind on a whim. Where is Katerina?"
"You seriously think I know?" retorted Hayley with a glimmer of defiance in her eyes.
"You tipped her off as to what we were up to and set her on a course to find the Cure." Klaus reminded her. "In return, she sent her lackey to snuff you out. Tell me, what did Katerina promise you?"
"I was in New Orleans trying to find information about my real parents." the wolf-woman said. "Katherine found me and told me she could help."
"An orphan?" says Klaus, intrigued. "Well, that does explain your charming bravado. Abandonment issues will do it every time."
"Sounds like you would know." remarked Hayley with curiosity. "Is that why you and Hope are so close? I know about her parents."
"Today, I like secrets." replied Klaus with a wild look. "I agreed to give Hope time to tell me all about her, but you won't get that favor. Katerina sent her lackey to kill you. I'm the only one that can protect you. I'm happy to do so, provided you cooperate."
Hayley continued her meal without answering anything.
Hope hurried to the Salvatore Boarding House, her future boarding school, provided that she was conceived.
She was welcomed by Stefan.
"Thank you for coming. Elena has become out of control. She bit someone and drank their blood in public."
"I will do everything to help Elena." Hope said. "But I'm not a vampire. And I'm not an expert on humanity switch for vampires."
"I know Hope." Stefan replied. "I only need you to contain Elena, so she doesn't commit the irreparable and we lose her permanently."
"With or without humanity, Elena's strong, Stefan." the Tribrid says to him. "She can take anything. She's been through a lot. She can get through this."
"No, she's never been in this situation before. I had my switch flipped in this town, too. And even long before, I was a ripper. I was having the time of my life when I first turned. I didn't start ripping people's heads off until 1912. The next thing I know, I was killing an entire village."
"It won't happen to Elena." Hope said. "And I know you and your brother will do anything to keep her from getting there."
After all, she knew that Elena Gilbert was going to be okay. She was doing very well with Damon in her future. Hope saw no point in interfering with her vampire madness, unless her loss of humanity made her want to kill her loved ones.
"I hope so." said Stefan unconvinced.
"Where is she?" she asked.
Stefan took her to Damon's room, where Elena in a cheerleader outfit slept peacefully on the bed.
"I vervained her." the vampire explained. "She should be waking up soon."
Immediately, Elena woke up in a shock, while Stefan beheld her leaning against the bed.
"What'd you do to me?" exclaimed the young cheerleader.
"Brought you home before you can cause any more trouble." Stefan simply replied. "And I've got backup."
Elena then noticed Hope with a brief glance. She didn't seem to care about her. The Tribrid observed Elena's behavior. She was no longer the compassionate high school student who fought for others. Hope realized she had another Elena in front of her. A Elena she didn't know and never saw. It was obvious that there is nothing human in Elena Gilbert at this time.
Slightly upset by the vampire's new attitude, Hope approached her slowly and spoke to her with sympathy and empathy.
"Hello, Elena. I'm glad to see you again. And I'm really sorry about Jeremy. I lost family members. I know what it's like to lose someone you love. If you want to talk about it, I can listen."
But Elena was not interested in what Hope told her. She just rolled her eyes and shook her head as if the Tribrid wasn't there.
"Blah blah, boohoo! My little brother is dead! I know it's sad! But it's life! We must move on. If you don't want to mourn your poor family, you should turn off your humanity!"
"I wish I could." Hope replied sarcastically. "Except I'm not a vampire."
"Too bad." replied Elena with indifference. "If you want, I can make you drink my blood, then kill you and make you a vampire. You turn off your emotions and so, the two poor orphans can have a blast like crazy! It will be so much fun!"
Hope was increasingly dismayed. She knew little about vampires having no humanity anymore. If she had been a vampire at the time of her parents' death, would she have turn herself off from her humanity so as not to suffer? And if she did, would she become like Elena? Cold and indifferent. Hope hoped she'd never find out.
Acting as if she was not affected, she stared at her coldly.
"I appreciate that, but I'm not interested."
"So bad." repeated Elena still impassive. "We would have had fun."
"Maybe." Hope growled in a sullen tone.
Then Elena turned to her ex-lover.
"Stefan, you really grounded me… because I dropped Caroline on her thick head?"
"No." replied Stefan. "Because you fed on someone... in public."
"So?" she replied always indifferent. "I was hungry."
She got up from the bed, and lowered her cheerleader skirt and began to untie her top. Embarrassed, Hope looked away while Stefan gazed at her with amusement.
"You're really gonna keep stripping in front of Hope and me? That's real mature." he replied sarcastically.
"I won't do that." Hope said without watching the female vampire undress.
"I'm done cheering, so I'm gonna change." justified Elena by turning away from her ex-lover.
Amused, Stefan continued:
"Sure. When in doubt, manipulate people with sex. You know, that's the same trick Katherine used to pull."
"Don't compare me to Katherine." replied Elena by putting on a tank top and pants.
Noticing that she was dressed, Hope stared at her again with a frown.
"You don't want to talk about Katherine because she killed your brother?" she assumed.
"No, I don't care." said Elena. "She's been running so long, she's afraid of her own shadow. I am not afraid of anything."
"Afraid of anything? Really?" said Hope amused, this time. "You sure about that? Your overconfidence could get you killed, Elena. Be careful."
"I got this, Hope. I really got this. I've shut it all off- all of it, including my feelings for Stefan."
She turned and faced her ex-lover who shook his head with sadness at what she had just said. Elena again replied with indifference while manipulating her phone:
"And don't get me wrong. I mean… I see you standing there, and you look good. I remember our sex, and it was good sex. I just don't feel anything about it anymore."
Hope was helpless. She wondered if she would speak of Landon in this way if she was without humanity.
"Why do you care what I do and who I kill?" continued Elena ignoring the Tribrid.
This time, Stefan was no longer amused or sarcastic. He looked at her in despair.
"Because it's my fault that you're like this. I brought this into your life. Look, I've killed hundreds of people, and I have to live with that, but I'm not gonna live with the people that you kill or what that'll do to you."
But Elena completely ignored Stefan, pretending not to hear him and looked at her phone which kept beeping. Annoyed, Stefan hastened to ask her:
"Who are you texting?"
But Elena stared at her ex-boyfriend annoyingly.
"Look at you. Your whole world revolves around me. Maybe you're the one that needs to turn it all off. You can always have Hope. You're great pals, aren't ya? Or lovers?"
Hope grimaced with disgust and replied coldly.
"That's not gonna happen! I still have a boyfriend."
"Oh, Klaus' witch has a boyfriend?" gloated Elena. "And why isn't he here? Klaus holds him hostage to blackmail you? You need to relax, sweety!"
"That is none of your business, Elena!" the Tribrid retorted severely. "Klaus isn't holding anyone hostage. And don't call me sweety!"
"Elena…" says Stefan trying to appease her.
But all three heard the front door creak, then several voices from below that became louder. People seemed to be coming into the house. And a lot of people.
"Stefan, did you bring other people?" asked Hope intrigued.
"I didn't." replied the confused vampire. (Intrigued, he looked at Elena.) "What is that?"
But she did not answer, acting as if she had done nothing.
As the music got louder and louder, Hope and Stefan discovered a crowd of high school students entering the Manor.
"What's going on?" asked Hope. "You threw a party at your house?"
"I didn't anything." Stefan replied.
Elena joined them both by adjusting her hair.
At first confused, Stefan then understood what his ex-girlfriend had just done with his phone.
"So that's what all this texting was about? You invited all these people over here?"
Satisfied, Elena smiled maliciously.
"You were trying to keep me from joining the party, so… I brought the party here!"
Frustrated, Stefan watched the young high school students party in his house with a whimper:
"Great. That's great."
Embarrassed, Hope turned to him, raising her voice to be heard, despite the loud music that was invading the house.
"I understand what you meant when you said it was serious! Elena's going crazy! I didn't think it was that bad. You want me to put all these people to sleep with a sleeping spell? They will think they have passed out from the alcohol."
"Wrong idea." said Stefan by speaking so loudly to be heard by Hope. "I'd rather not upset Elena if we spoil her party and she decides to kill someone. The best thing would be to keep an eye on her."
Hope stared at Elena who was busy having fun and laughing with the high school students she had invited.
"I feel that the evening is going to be long." she declared a little overwhelmed by events. "I was looking for a distraction, I was served."
Meanwhile, at the Mikaelson Mansion, after dinner, Klaus had invited Hayley to his art room where all his paintings were. With a glass in her hand, Hayley looked at the paintings with disinterest. She had never been passionate about art.
"Hate that." she says, pointing to a painting.
Then she started to flip the larger ones in a standing position.
"Too much. I don't get that."
Behind her, Klaus stepped into the room as if he was about to say something, but smiled amused and said no words. Hayley picked up smaller paintings and gave her opinion.
"Hmm… I don't care."
She threw away the first painting she found and looked at the other. She paused on a painting depicting a dark silhouette cutting out from a sky that was fading, standing near a bare tree.
"Hmm. This one. It doesn't make me wanna puke."
Klaus smiled at her, satisfied, then looked down.
"Why'd you paint it?" said Hayley with curiosity.
"Painting is a metaphor for control." explained the Original Hybrid. "Every choice is mine... the canvas, the color. As a child, I had neither a sense of the world nor my place in it, but art taught me that one's vision can be achieved with sheer force of will. The same is true of life, provided one refuses to let anything stand in one's way."
Hayley sniffed slightly and smiled. She looked at Klaus through her veiled eyes and, while speaking, leaned to speak near his ear as she passed in front of him.
"So this is your thing- show a girl a few mediocre paintings, whine about your childhood, and I swoon and spill all my dirty secrets? Is that how you got Hope with you?"
"I felt I had many charms, but… uh, regardless, I'm enjoying myself." Klaus replied simply.
"And you do whatever you enjoy…" added Hayley in a more hostile tone. "Up to and including hunting my friend Tyler for the next century."
"Oh, surely not the next century. Only until I kill him."
Klaus walked to a table to pour himself a glass of bourbon.
Hayley chuckled as she stared at him.
"You talk a good game but the truth is you let him go." she replied with amusement. "My guess: you know if you kill him, Caroline will hate you forever."
Klaus grabbed his glass and turned to face the female wolf.
"If I simply killed Tyler, my revenge would be over in a moment. Sentencing him to a lifetime of paranoia and fear- that's Tyler's true punishment. But come now. You never really thought there was a future for you two, did you?"
"I don't know." Hayley replied, shaking her head. "He might've left Caroline for me if I'd used the Cure to kill you."
As a response, Klaus burst out laughing before returning to her.
"You know, if Tyler has even half your resolve, he may actually make it through the year."
Hayley drank her glass, then shook her head.
"It doesn't take resolve. It takes allies." she said. "A network of people willing to do anything for you, including chase down loose ends to their death. That's how Katherine escaped you all this time."
At her words, the Original Hybrid approached her slowly and went into the heart of the matter.
"Perhaps you know the names of Katerina's special little helpers."
"Maybe I know one or two. Maybe I'll even tell you." she replied, drinking her glass with a mischievous look.
Satisfied again, Klaus smiles at her.
At the Salvatore Boarding House, the party was in full swing. All the invited high school students danced and drank while listening to loud music. Hope passed among the party people and noticed Elena dancing on a table, bottle in hand and laughing. Despite what happened to her, she seemed to have a good time.
Well determined to watch her, Hope stayed away from the party people without losing sight of the vampire Gilbert. Shortly after, Caroline appeared and mixed in with the party. Hope saw her.
"Caroline."
"Hope, what are you doing here?" asked the vampire Forbes joining her.
"Stefan called me to help Elena not make other victims." explained the Tribrid. "And she invited all these people to party here. No incidents so far. So, nothing to worry about."
"For the moment." replied Stefan who joined them. "It won't last. They'll either drink all the booze and get bored, or, ah, Damon'll come home and kill everyone."
"And you can't compel them to leave?" suggested Hope.
"The mayor put vervain in the water supply." replied Caroline. "Here we go. We can't compel anyone."
"I see, that's a problem." replied the embarrassed Tribrid, glancing at the party people.
"So what do we do?" asked Caroline.
"Pff, I don't know." replied Stefan shrugging his shoulders and drinking a bottle of alcohol. "Enjoy the party, keep Elena from butchering Grove Hills' cheerleading squad."
Caroline looked back at Elena who was still dancing on the table with a high school student. She laughed and had fun. She looked like an ordinary girl partying like a vampire with no emotions.
"She's having fun." Caroline remarked. "I mean, look at her. Yes, this is all very bad, but doesn't she make you just want to let go?"
"I'm too young to drink alcohol, and a bad dancer." Hope replied. "But nothing stops you from having fun. Even you, Stefan, need to have fun after what you've been through lately."
"You're right, Hope." said Stefan unconvinced. "Unfortunately I have this little problem… When I, uh, party too hard, I end up killing people."
Caroline came to reassure him.
"Well, your sober coach is giving you the green light. I mean, come on. You are at a kegger full of hot girls, and you're single, and you're, well, you're you."
Stefan finally smiled with amusement and answers:
"So, what am I supposed to do, just grab some girl, throw her over my shoulder, take her out onto the dance floor?"
"Just take your own advice." said Caroline cheerfully. "Have fun, you know? We deserve a little bit of fun."
"I couldn't have said it better than she did." Hope added with a smile on her face.
"Okay." finally the vampire Salvatore nodded.
He leaned over and lifted Caroline's body over his shoulder.
"I didn't mean me!" said the latter in surprise, laughing on Stefan's shoulder.
Stefan continued to walk through the crowd of party people with Caroline on his shoulder. Hope gazed at them with amusement.
"The couples are starting to get together." she murmured joyfully, given that Stefan and Caroline were going to be together for some time in the future.
Meanwhile, Klaus continued to spend time with Hayley. Then his sister Rebekah came to give him news by phone. She had gone with Damon to get hold of the vampire sent by Katherine who attacked the wolf.
He hung up his phone and turned to Hayley.
"My sister informs me that your vampire assailant is dead, so you're safe and free to go. Or stay."
A moment passed before Hayley answered.
"I could be persuaded to stay, enjoy some of the good life. And maybe I could drum up a few more of Katherine's secrets and you could do something for me."
Klaus smiled at her, but didn't give her what she wanted.
"Oh, I'm sorry, love, but you'll never convince me to let Tyler go free."
"Well, then, I guess I'll never get my chance with Tyler any more than you'll get a shot with Caroline." replied Hayley, pretending to be upset.
With a torn look, Klaus turned around, while the female wolf spoke again.
"Do you wanna know why I like that painting?"
Klaus stopped and faced her, knowing that she was referring to the painting she had admired earlier.
"Well, perhaps it was because it allowed you to see into my deep, wounded soul, just as Hope did before you."
"I don't know what Hope sees in you." Hayley said as she walked towards him. "But to come back to this painting, "I saw how twisted it really is. And maybe I can relate."
She bit her lip.
Klaus eventually gets close to her. He seemed attracted to her, like someone in a trance.
"So what's it gonna be? Going? Or staying?"
Hayley approached him very gently and whispered in his ear.
"You like to be in control. You tell me."
Klaus put his hand on Hayley's cheek before grabbing her against him and she smiled. They kissed and Hayley pulled the Hybrid's shirt over his head. Klaus made her climb on the table at full speed and she tore her own shirt over his head. Klaus pushed her flat on the table, then lifted her up and kissed her in the neck while she gasped and moaned under him.
Elena was always dancing on a table, pouring alcohol into someone's mouth. Stefan and Caroline were dancing together, laughing and talking. Only Hope stayed away, watching the vampire's movements. Noticing that she was alone, Elena jumped off the table and approached her.
"Hope, have fun! Let yourself go! Don't be stubborn!" she says to her by the hands. "If Caroline and Stefan are having fun, there's no reason why you shouldn't."
But Hope walked away from her.
"I'd rather look. Partying is not my thing."
"You're not funny, sweety. I understand why you live in Klaus' house." replied Elena, pretending to be shocked.
"Anyway, it's nice to see you happy." said Hope in a calm tone.
"Nope. That would imply emotions, and I've already established those are useless." added the vampire Gilbert.
"If you say so." replied the Tribrid watching her dance with party people.
"You can't understand, Hope, you're not a vampire!"
Hope answered her with an unamused look.
"Very hilarious and mature for a vampire without humanity who is partying!"
Elena walked away laughing. Then, Sheriff Forbes entered the Salvatore Boarding House, passing between the party people. As soon as she saw Elena, she called her.
"What's going on in here?"
Elena sought an excuse and came to respond in a neutral tone.
"Just some underage drinking and drug use."
"Where's Stefan?" asked the Sheriff.
"He's actually busy flirting with your daughter. But I think he's a good rebound for her because of the whole Tyler thing."
Hope joined them discreetly.
"Sorry, Elena, but I think your little party's gonna be cut short."
"In your dreams!" replied firmly Elena. "The party has just begun."
"Oh no! That's enough! I'm shutting this down right now." said the Sheriff haughtily.
But before she could make a move, Elena grabbed her arm.
"Liz, please." moaning amused. "Why don't you just stay and have a drink?"
"Elena, take your hand off me!" she ordered the mother of Caroline firmly.
Fearing the female vampire was becoming a danger to the Sheriff of Mystic Falls, Hope intervened and cast a spell on Elena that pushed her away from Liz Forbes.
"Ler her go!" said Hope in a threatening tone.
But Elena was more amused than shocked.
"Is that supposed to scare me?" she chuckled.
"Yeah, you should be!" insisted the Tribrid taking a fierce tone. "If I wanted to, I could knock you out easily. Don't make me hurt you."
"Don't you still get it, Hope? I don't care! You can do what you want with me, I don't care!"
And at her words, she left the Boarding House in vampiric speed. Stefan and Caroline joined the entrance. Caroline came to her mother.
"Mom! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Liz reassured.
"What happened?" asked Stefan.
"Elena was about to hurt the Sheriff." Hope explained. "I intervened, but then she go away."
"What?" exclaimed Caroline, furious to learn that her best friend had just tried to hurt her mom.
Mad with rage, Caroline wanted to go outside, but Stefan kept her.
"Caroline, calm down."
"Calm down? I'm gonna wring her skinny little neck!"
Hope gently took her arm.
"Caroline, Elena's not in her right mind. She has become completely unpredictable. And she will not hesitate to cause harm to everything around her. Stay with your mom. Stefan and I are going to look for her."
"Agree." Stefan agreed. "We'll go get her. Caroline, stay close to your mother."
Hope and Stefan were tracking Elena in the woods of Mystic Falls. The forest was plunged in darkness. They could hardly see anything.
"What do you think she's going to do?" asked Hope as she looked around.
"I don't know about that. This is completely calculated. She drew all those people to the house, waited for an opportunity to distract us, and now she's free." replied the vampire.
"Stefan, she was about to hurt Caroline's mom." said the Tribrid to him. "She will not hesitate to hurt you. Nothing matters to her anymore."
"I know. Hope, you search the woods, I'll check the road." suggested Stefan. "If you see her, don't hesitate to neutralize her but without…"
"Without hurting her, don't worry." assured Hope going in a direction of the forest.
She walked for a long time in the forest, and finally felt a presence. Elena was hidden, but Hope knew she was close.
"Elena! I know you're here. You can't hide forever. I'm gonna get ya."
"So perseverant, our little were-witch!" laughed Elena appearing a few feet from her.
Wanting to reach her before neutralizing her, Hope spoke with sympathy.
"Elena, I'm not your enemy. I will not fight you. I don't want to harm you, but I will if you make me. Either you come with me from your own place and we go home together, or I knock you out."
But Elena kept on laughing, as if Hope was amusing her.
"You think you can scare me by acting the nice witch who wants to be my friend? You're with Klaus. You don't care about me! Leave me alone!"
"And let you hurt the ones you love? That's not gonna happen!" insisted Hope firmly.
"I don't care about Caroline and her mom! I don't care, Hope!" yelled Elena as if she wanted the whole town to hear her.
"Then, you leave me no choice." declared the Tribrid preparing to retaliate.
Elena roared like a vampire and rushed at Hope, but she managed to dodge her with her wolf speed. And she cast a spell on Elena who threw her to the ground, hitting her against a tree.
"I have mastered vampires, Elena!" she threatened with fury. "You think you're the first one who wants to kill me? Remember, I trained Jeremy to kill vampires! Jeremy, do you remember him? Your brother! Jeremy, your hunter brother who had to kill vampires in order to find the Cure that would make you human. Unless your loss of emotion has caused you to lose your memory? Do you remember your dead brother or don't you care about him?"
Elena stood up and roared, like a wild animal at the mention of her brother.
"Will you shut up, you little Klaus' minion?"
"Make me shut up if you can, Petrova Doppelgänger!" the sarcastic Hope challenge. "You think you're special? You are nothing, Elena! And you never were!"
Elena wanted to jump on her, but Hope cast a spell.
"Ad somnum."
Immediately, the vampire collapsed to the ground, immobilized by the sleeping spell. Hope knelt down next to her.
"I'm sorry about what's happening to you, Elena. You're gonna be in pain for a while, but you'll be fine. You will see all your loved ones. When I leave, I will never see my parents who are still alive in this time."
Hope stayed close to her, until Stefan came to get her.
Later, the party had ended at the Salvatore's. All that was left were cups and empty bottles of alcohol. Hope joined Stefan and Caroline discussing Elena.
"So how do we get her back?" asked Caroline with dismay. "Or what if we can't? Why would she choose to turn her emotions back on? She's an orphan. She just lost her brother. Her life sucks! Stefan. Hope. Why would she come back to us?"
"Despite what she has become, the Elena you know is still there." Hope said with sympathy. She isn't doing so good, but she's still there. Don't let go. She wouldn't abandon you if you, guys, were in her shoes. So don't turn your back on her."
"Hope's right." Stefan nodded. "Elena didn't give up on me, even when I was at my worst, so we can't give up on her."
Caroline smiled at them, although she seems unconvinced.
Klaus and Hayley were both in bed, with the blanket to hide their naked bodies. They had just had a good time together.
"That was not bad, little wolf." said Klaus amused.
Hayley was serious.
"Klaus, I may not be able to convince you to leave Tyler alone. However, you could do something for me. It's about Hope. Promise me you won't hurt her."
"Do you care for her?" said Klaus, frowning.
"From the moment I met her, I felt something connecting us both. I can't explain it. I feel close to her. I don't know why. And I don't want anything to happen to her. She cares about you, you know. And she thinks you're a good guy, despite what you've done. So be nice to her."
Klaus remained curious.
"Hope told you about me? She told me you had her mother's face. And she also told me that she had passed away. I guess she's making a transfer."
"I don't think so. It's something else." Hayley suggested pensive. "And I'm sure she considers me as her mom. I wanted to know more, but she didn't want to tell me anything. She refuses to talk about it because she thinks it would put her in danger."
"She told me the same thing." replied the suspicious Original Hybrid. "I saw her eyes. There was a lot of sadness. And the fear. As if something was frightening her. But she did not want to tell me more. And she promised me that she would tell me everything."
"Then don't rush her and continue to be nice to her." Hayley says. "I don't want her to suffer because of you."
"I don't want to make Hope suffer. I would rather die than cause her harm."
Hayley sighed with relief.
"Thank you."
Klaus came to rub his back, and touched a strange mark on Hayley's back. A mark that had the shape of a crescent moon.
"That mark. I've seen it before."
"Yeah. It's a birthmark. People have those." replied Hayley nonchalantly.
"In my considerable lifetime, I've only seen that mark on a handful of others." Klaus replied puzzled. "All from the same bloodline… a werewolf clan that once thrived throughout much of what we now call Louisiana. And I also saw it on Hope."
This time, Hayley seemed stunned.
"What? Hope has that mark too?"
Klaus nodded his head.
"The night I met her, I saw this same mark in the same place on her."
The night he had seen Hope transform, before she covered her body, he could see the crescent moon mark on top of her back.
Suspicious, Hayley gave him a hostile look.
"Don't lie to me… not about this."
"I wouldn't dare." Klaus replied amused. "Matters of family are sacred."
"If Hope has this mark, it means she is related to my pack, to my biological family." says Hayley stunned. "But it doesn't make any sense. If she's a witch, how could she have that on her?"
"Have no idea." replied Klaus puzzled. "In my long life, I have never met anyone like Hope. I never heard of her until I met her. And I find it curious that I never knew anything about her, given her age. I cannot believe that a witch like her could go unnoticed without me knowing. It's a mystery I'm trying to uncover."
"Tell me more about this mark." says Hayley with determination.
Hope didn't see the night. She had not slept at all, fearing her existence the next day. She knew her parents had slept together. She had seen light in her father's room, and her mother was not in the room where she was staying. So they had spent time together. Now, did their one-night stand concept her? She must have known.
Early in the morning, taking advantage of her father's sleep, Hope ran into the woods looking for a quiet spot. She took out the prism of her uncle Kol to bring out Landon Kirby.
"Hi, Hope. What's matter this time?"
"This is it, Landon, here we are!" exclaimed Hope completely excited. "My parents had their one-time thing. It finally happened. Everything I did to get here, it led to that. Now, I need to know if my mom is pregnant of me. I have to check this."
"Hope, the fact that you're still here in these woods and talking to me, who I am a projection of your subconscious, proves that your mom's pregnancy is there. Otherwise, you would have been gone. So, it must have worked."
"Yeah, but I still want to make sure of it." said Hope as she took out the ingredients from her purse.
She had pulled out some hair that she had wrapped in a handkerchief and a bottle containing her blood.
"My blood's the same as my dad's, and I took hairs from my mom's that were on her comb. With this, I will be able to determine my mom's pregnancy and find out if I am her baby."
She laid her ingredients on the forest floor, then cast a spell. A moment passed, and its ingredients mixed, to Hope's great joy.
"My Mom's pregnant! And it's me! I'm her baby! It worked! My presence didn't altered my birth. I have nothing to fear now. One less worry for my burden."
"I'm relieved for you that your mom is pregnant, but don't forget that nothing should happen to your mom during her pregnancy period." Landon reminded her.
"It's okay. Mom leaves Mystic Falls for New Orleans." replied Hope satisfied.
Suddenly, a thought came to disturb Hope's happiness.
"Mom! She's leaving Mystic Falls today, and probably won't be back until my father finds out about the pregnancy! So, it's possible that I won't see her again before I leave."
"So what? What are you going to do?" asked Landon.
"I must say goodbye!" said Hope, putting her things away, then took the prism and ran out of the woods.
Hayley left Mystic Falls to go on the road to New Orleans. She was more than determined to discover her roots in the city of Louisiana. She stopped to fill up at a gas station near Mystic Falls. She had just finished her gas when someone called.
"Hayley! Hayley! Hayley! Hayley!"
She raised her head to see Hope running at full speed towards her. It seemed to have travelled for miles.
"Hope, what are you doing here?" asked Hayley in amazement.
The Tribrid stopped right in front of her mom while blowing.
"I had to... I had to talk to you. I wanted to talk to you before you go to New Orleans." Hope replied.
"Hope, if this is about what I said to you yesterday, I was stupid. I shouldn't have talked to you like that…"
"No, that's not the point. I may never see you again… so I'll tell you everything."
Intrigued, Hayley crossed her arms and stared at her with curiosity.
"You gonna explain to me why you're wearing the same mark I'm wearing?"
"What mark?" said Hope.
"The crescent moon. I have exactly the same and Klaus told me that this mark is carried by a clan of werewolves who are in Louisiana. How can you have this mark on you, if you're a witch without being a wolf?"
"Because I'm a witch and a werewolf." replied Hope. "And more than that, I am a Tribrid. A cross between witch, werewolf and vampire. I am all three at once."
Hayley appeared confused and surprised.
"A Tribrid? What is this?"
"I'm the only one of my kind, and if I have that mark, it's because I'm your daughter, Mom."
"Oh please, not again, I'm not your mom Hope!" exclaimed Hayley annoyed. "I may look like her but…"
"You don't have my mom's face! You don't look like my mom! You are my mom! And I'm from the future!"
This time, Hayley stared at Hope, wondering if she had heard.
"I'm sorry, what? What did you said?"
"I come from the future." Hope explained. "But it wasn't meant to be. It was not supposed to happen. I shouldn't be here."
"Hope, what are you talking about?" asked her mother increasingly confused and surprised.
"Time travel. I'm from the future. I was trying to help a friend who was corrupted by dark magic and... she sent me here in this time. In a time when I wasn't yet born."
"Time travel?" said Hayley with wide eyes. "This is real?"
"My name's Hope Mikaelson. I'm Klaus' daughter and you. You're my mom. And last night, you slept together and that led to my conception. I cast a spell this morning. You are pregnant. This is me. I am the result of your one night stand. You and Klaus are my parents. I'm your daughter."
Hope burst into tears at her last sentence in front of her mom who was frozen in stupor.
"Am I really your mom? And is Klaus your dad?" she exclaimed in shock. "But… but… hey, wait a minute, it's impossible! Klaus is a vampire! And vampires cannot procreate! It's true! I can't be pregnant, Hope! It can't be!"
"Klaus... dad's not just a vampire. He's a hybrid. Half vampire, half werewolf. He was born a werewolf, and the magic that turned him into a vampire also created a loophole. A balance in nature. I was born through that loophole. You and Dad conceived me last night."
Hayley looked at her, assimilating what she had just learned. Then she whispered:
"You got that mark because you're my daughter?"
"Mom, you're part of the pack of Crescent wolves that reside in New Orleans. That's where I was born. Or I'll be born."
Hope was moved to finally reveal the truth to her mother. But the latter shook her head, not wanting to listen to anything more.
"It's impossible! Time travel doesn't exist! None of this is real! You… you're completely insane! I'm not pregnant! You are wrong! I can't be your mom! I can't be!"
She was about to get back in her car, but Hope stood before her and took her arm with a look of despair.
"Mom, please, you have to believe me! I swear it's true! I have no reason to lie to you! I told you we were the same! Because we're family! Mom, I love you!"
"Don't call me that! Get off my arm, Hope! I'm not your Mom! You're out of your mind! Let go of me!" said Hayley, struggling to get away from her daughter.
"Mom! I love you! And I am really your daughter! I understand that it sounds completely crazy, but I swear it's the truth."
With tears in her eyes, Hope told her some childhood memories with her mom, like games in the forest. Trips where they were together. The stories that Hayley told her when she was little. The car rides.
With all these memories, Hayley looked at Hope with a troubled look. She no longer seemed to consider her as a deranged girl. She seemed deeply moved. As if she was going to start crying.
While Hope, with tears in her eyes, came to take her in her arms.
"You've no idea how much I wanted to tell you about it… ever since we met at Tyler's, and even after that… it was hard for me not to be able to tell you. It caused me pain. I wanted to tell you so much. Tell you that I'm your daughter from the future. And I wanted to spend time with you and Dad. 'Cause in my future, you don't exist anymore. You both sacrificed yourselves for me."
Stunned and moved, Hayley slowly withdrew from Hope's embrace and looked at her with eyes of sadness.
"Why did you wait so long to tell me? Why tell me now?" she asked with a broken voice. "You told me you couldn't tell me. That it was dangerous. Why now? What has changed?"
"I couldn't tell you without causing a danger that could make me disappear from reality." Hope explained, sobbing. "I come from the future. I'm not supposed to be here. And my existence depended on you having a one-night stand with Dad. Until you slept together, I was likely not to exist at all. I don't know how time travel works, but I was scared that by changing the past, it would also change my life. Everything I've done so far, the Quest for the Cure, Dad's Hybrids… All of this, I had to make sure that the events of the past didn't altered with my existence. That's why I couldn't tell you. I had no choice. But now that you are pregnant, I have the certainty of being able to exist."
Hayley gently laid her hand on her stomach, assimilating with stupor the probability of being pregnant. She remained frozen in amazement without uttering a single word. It was as if she didn't know what to say anymore. She continued to look at Hope with emotion.
Then she withdrew from her daughter's arm, suppressing her tears.
"No… No! I… I can't do that… I can't… I can't…" she stammered.
She looked away, as if she didn't want to look at Hope. The latter approached her slowly, always sobbing.
"Mom, I'm sorry… Mom, I…"
Hayley raised her hand without looking her.
"Stop it, Hope! Stop! Don't call me Mom, please! I can't… I can't be your mom! I… I… I'm not ready for… I have to find out who my parents are before becoming your mom…"
And she made the way to her car without turning a single glance at her daughter who ran after her with sadness and despair.
"Mom! Maybe I won't see you again after that! I wanted to say goodbye! Wait, please! Please, wait!"
Finally, Hayley turned to her, looking sad.
"Stop, Hope, please! If you really are my daughter and love me, I need you to leave me alone! Let me go, Hope! I'm sorry… I need space… Please, leave me…"
Hope burst into tears trying to reach her mom who had just gotten in her car. As she closed her door, Hope clung to it and begged her with dismay.
"Mom… I may never see you again… I wanted to spend time with you… Let me say goodbye…"
"Hope, leave me alone, please!" says her mother, more sad than angry. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, Hope!"
And she slammed her door and started her car, ignoring the calls and tears of Hope. The Tribrid could only watch her mom's car leave Virginia, leaving her at the gas station totally overwhelmed by sadness. She wanted to say goodbye to her mom, but she had only managed to get her out.
"Goodbye, Mom. Always and forever."
And she burst into tears in the middle of the gas station.
While driving, Hayley was assimilating what she had just discovered. Hope was her daughter from the future? Assuming that time travel was real. Thoughts were running through her mind about Hope. Her first meeting with her at the Tyler Mansion. The girl was emotional in her presence. She believed her when she told her that she looked like her dead mom. And yet, Hayley had felt a connection to Hope. Is it maternal instinct? With Hope's revelations, it made sense. But she still couldn't believe it. It was inconceivable.
She was driving out of Virginia after passing the sign indicating that she was leaving the area. Unable to go further, she stopped her car. She put her head on the wheel and burst into tears. Part of her wanted to believe that Hope was her daughter and that she was really pregnant right now, and another part couldn't accept time travel as something real. Or even to think that a monster like Klaus was capable of becoming a father. It was impossible. How could it be real? She and Klaus really were Hope's parents? It seemed so unlikely.
Saddened and disoriented, Hayley sobbed in her car, not knowing what she should believe or think of what was true about it.
Thanks for reading and reviewing.
Finally, Hope has reached a milestone. Her mother is now pregnant. And this chapter ended in a moving scene. You can rest assured that this will not be the last time we see Hope and Hayley.
In the next chapter, Hope will face the consequences of participating in the Quest for the Cure.