Fight With Me

Chapter 26

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Lizzie's POV

Lizzie woke up on a cold floor, metal biting into her back.

The room was dim, lit only by a single flickering light overhead. Stone walls. Iron bars.

A cell.

Her heart slammed into her ribs.

"MOM!" she screamed, scrambling to her feet. "DAD!"

Footsteps hurried down the hall. The door slid open, and Caroline and Alaric rushed in, both already tense, already braced.

"I'm sorry," Lizzie blurted, the words tumbling out too fast. "I didn't mean it—I swear it won't happen again."

Alaric's jaw tightened. "Elizabeth, until we understand what's happening to you... this is where you're staying."

Lizzie's chest burned. "You're locking me up?"

"We need to keep everyone safe," he said firmly. "Including you."

Something inside her snapped.

Her skin flushed, heat rippling through her veins as the demon surged forward. Her eyes darkened, power crackling around her.

"NO," she roared. "I am not a monster you can cage."

"You don't have a choice," Alaric said, steady but unyielding.

Lizzie screamed in frustration as the door slammed shut.

⸻

Hope's POV

Back at the treehouse, I couldn't sit still.

I paced the floor, magic buzzing under my skin like static.

"I think you should at least talk to your aunts," Josie said gently. "They deserve a chance to explain."

"They don't deserve shit," I snapped. "God knows what else they've been hiding from me."

Josie went quiet.

Too quiet.

I stopped pacing and turned toward her. "What aren't you telling me?"

She sighed, shoulders slumping. "Hope... Rebekah tried to have your dad killed. Twice. Once she used Mikael. Another time, she was going to stake him herself. And Freya—she tried too."

The world tilted.

Almost everyone. Almost my entire family.

I didn't say another word. I grabbed the keys, slung Josie over my shoulder, and was out the door in seconds.

⸻

New Orleans – Compound

I barely parked before dragging Josie inside.

"Hope!" Freya said in relief. "Thank God—you scared us."

"Get everyone into the living room," I said coldly. "Now."

Once we were all there, I pulled Josie into my lap, arms locked around her like an anchor.

I pointed straight at Marcel. "Why did you kidnap my father and keep him away from me for years?"

"Hope, I—"

"No," I cut in. "Just answer."

"I wanted revenge," Marcel admitted. "And I was wrong."

I looked down at Josie. "Do you buy that?"

She hesitated. "Let him finish."

"Go on," I said flatly.

Davina scoffed. "Shouldn't this be family business?"

"That's why you're here for information only," I shot back.

Marcel swallowed. "I was scared of your father becoming king again. I thought I was protecting New Orleans."

"Funny," I said softly. "You forgot to mention Rebekah was ready to stake him."

His eyes flicked away.

I turned to her. "Care to explain?"

Rebekah's voice shook. "Yes. I tried. And I regret it every day."

"Good."

I faced Marcel again. "Six years. Do you understand what you took from me?"

"I do," he said quietly.

"FUCK YOUR APOLOGY!" My voice broke. "I just wanted a normal childhood!"

Freya stepped forward. "Hope, breathe."

"I'm done," I said, wiping my eyes. "Marcel and Davina—you're out. Until I decide otherwise."

Marcel nodded.

Davina laughed.

"Are you all really scared of her?" she sneered. "She's just a freak of nature. And look—she even found herself a freak girlfriend."

No one's POV

Hope and Josie stood together, hands linked.

Power flared.

Hope snapped her wrist.

Josie whispered a spell.

Davina screamed as flames consumed her.

"Any other questions?" Hope said calmly. "No? Bye."

They walked upstairs hand in hand.

⸻

Later

"I'm exhausted," Josie murmured.

"Come here," Hope said, pulling her onto the bed.

"I love you, Hope Mikaelson."

"I love you, Josie. Future Mikaelson."

Josie smiled and fell asleep.

⸻

Back in Mystic Falls

Lizzie screamed until her throat burned.

"LET ME OUT!"

"Elizabeth, stop yelling," Alaric warned.

"NOT UNTIL YOU OPEN THIS DOOR!"

"Not happening," he snapped, walking away.

Lizzie stood still.

Then smiled.

Her demon surged forward. Metal screamed as the door tore open.

Alarms blared.

"She escaped!" Caroline shouted.

Lizzie stepped into the night, eyes glowing.

"Time to kill them," she whispered.

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