happiness is a butterfly

chapter 9

Maybe it's out of curiosity but she decided to take another walk the following night

To clear her mind she told herself

Or maybe eager to put her worries to rest

That wasn't her uncle, it can't be

Cigarette smell wafted on the night breeze

The storm had finally died but it didn't ease Hope's crippling anxiety

The rustling sounds of leaves startled her as it grew louder ,closer

A pair of shiny shoes peeked from the shadows

With a trembling voice she called out

"Wh..- who's there ?"

She caught a glimpse of the same familiar silhouette, Last thing she remembers before falling unconscious was a gentle voice hushing her

***

Hayley too grew restless, this is the second time in a row that hope goes for a late night walk uncaring about the freezing weather

Her face stoic and movements a bit jumpy

She's having her regular coffee-blood mix when she feels Klaus's hands gently squeeze her shoulders

They still haven't talked about whatever transpired between them last night

Choosing to act casual instead, as if relationship- altering confessions weren't exchanged

Like he didn't fuck her bains out in this same kitchen

He laughed and she looked at him with partial confusion

" If anyone told me ten years ago that I'd ravage you again in our new home's kitchen i would have laughed in his face and thought him mad" 

She shrugged, hope's strange behavior lately slipping off of her mind

" Does that mean you had hopes for us before that?"

He grabbed the chair beside her taking a seat

" Perhaps i did "

She offered him her glass but the disgusted grimace he made got her smiling

" Blood bags aren't cutting it for me anymore"

" Trust me I get it, maybe we can go for a little hunt later "

He looked up at her slightly grinning

" Giving up your precious morals already? Am i that bad of an influence "

She took a sip of her cup hiding her smile

" Don't Flatter yourself, i just... Need to blow off some steam "

" Something on your mind Little wolf "

God she missed that stupid nickname, she had always felt special whenever he called her by it

And he rarely made her feel special، but whenever he did it forced her to question everything

" It's just this thing with hope, she seems ... Distant the last couple of days and when i brought it up she just brushed it off "

He sighed

" She's a teenager, the only one of her kind at that
She's bound to feel... Different and alone "

She looked at him with somewhat of an empathy

" Is that how you used to feel ?"

He looked away shrugging

" It's how I still feel، it got a bit better when you transitioned"

The revelation shocked her a little, it was definitely unexpected

" God it was horrible at first! But You never told me that... That it made you feel less lonely"

Their eyes met and she felt that same electric feeling she gets anytime he stared at her for too long or whenever his hand would linger on her shoulder for too long

" What difference would it have made had i told you?"

She evaded his piercing gaze

" I don't know, believe it or not some of us actually care about you, i would've drawn some .... Comfort knowing i wasn't so useless to you "

At that he laughed

" You're anything but useless to me Hayley, a royal pain in the arse very often but not-"

She cut him off, loudly getting out of her chair

" Okay i was having a rare nice moment with you let's not ruin it "

There goes his obnoxious smile anytime he annoys the living shit out of her

" I'll talk to hope if it eases your mind "

He found her adorable with one hand around her waist in a defensive posture

" What makes you think she'll open up to you over me "

" Because i happen to know how to talk to children plus I've had plenty of practice with her mother"

She yelled ducking her head out of the fridge

" You're so close to sleeping in the yard!"

She went through another blood bag, smiling

Feeling grateful for the sense of normalcy they were starting to gain

Yet she couldn't help the knot in the pit of her stomach

Maybe it's just that she's not used to being actually happy for long

At least that's what she hopes for

***

Hope woke up to find herself chained in a moldy room

Panic bloomed in her chest and she struggled to breathe

The door suddenly swung open and a middle aged woman walked in confidently, her tone warning

" Those chains are spelled to prevent any witch from practicing magic so don't waste your breath "

Hope rose to her feet , determined to look strong no matter how desperate she felt

Her parents will undoubtedly notice her absence and come looking for her

Of that she was sure

" And who are y-"

Her eyes widened and she found herself at a loss for words when her uncle stepped inside

It's him without a single doubt, except he wasn't dressed in his casual elegant suit

No he wore jeans and a bloodied shirt, his hair slightly messy with few strands of hair almost touching his eyes

A strange sight for sure

" Uncle Elijah?"

Her voice came out a whisper

The dumbfounded look on his face pained her and before she could argue more she felt the sting of a needle at her neck pulling her to sleep

His arms were still holding her unconscious body before he laid her gently on the floor redirecting his attention back to the older witch instead

" Here's the girl as promised, give me back my wife"

She hovered above them, her voice spiked with malice

" All in good time mister Mikaelson "

She reached for the doorknob when his worried tone caught her attention

" What do you plan on doing with her?"

With a grin invisible to him she replied

" Establish a new age "