The Dark Ember

Hope's Full Moon

I woke up in the car and said "Uh where are we going?" Hope said "Back to school apparently." We got to school and Hope, Elijah, and I went to the Stefan Salvatore library. I sat on a table as Elijah said "The diary of Stefan Salvatore." Hope said, "We're not supposed to touch it, but I practically have the whole thing memorized, though not as good as Emmy does." I said "And spoiler alert, dad is the villain and your the evil henchman." Elijah said, "From one very biased perspective." Hope said, "Yeah well, we, uh, got a second opinion The mystic falls files by Alaric Saltzman, Volume one." I said, "In every story, dad is the big bad wolf." Hope gasped and took my waiting hand so I could take half her pain as Elijah said "Hope what is it?" she said "Im fine, thanks Em." 

I nodded as Elijah said, "Well, Davina said she gave you some pills for the discomfort." Hope said, "Yeah but you know what would make me feel better, is us spending the day with like, anyone else." Elijah said "Lets get out of here, i know a place in town. Does a disturbingly decadent burger. Lets do that." Hope said "Im not hungry." Elijah said "Fine. You can have a milkshake." he drove us to town and we sat at a table outside the Mystic Grill. Hope said, "If your gonna tell us, that our dad has a heart of gold this is probably the worst spot, considering that there's a plaque inside near the dartboard for some woman he killed in a moonstone ritual." Elijah said "Take a look at that store front across the street with the charcoal awning. Piece of land used to be our home. i still remember the smell of berries, he painted a lot in those days. It's also the first time I smelled blood. You see, when Mikael found Niklaus fashioning a paintbrush from a small branch, he took that branch... He struck my brother across the face."

I said "What did you do?" He said "Niklaus begged me to run away with him, but I told him that I would never leave Rebekah and Kol at the mercy of Mikael. So we stayed. And of course it was a mistake. We should've run away together, but... your father couldn't go alone. But I did swear to him I would protect him from that very day." Landon walked over and said "Peanutbutter blast whipped cream on the bottom, and an oreo blast with a think of snickers and a cherry on top, just how you girls like it." he handed us our milkshakes Hope and I said "Thanks, Landon." Hope said "Uh this is our uncle." Landon said, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Marshall, so Hopefully you haven't been around much lately." She said "Oh yeah, there's been stuff back at home." Landon said "Oh well I was hoping you'd be back, you're from New Orleans right? I've always wanted to go. Its home to some of the greatest musicians of all time." Boys were throwing Ice so I said "You should go, no matter where you are, there's always someone playing a Louis Armstrong song somewhere." 

Elijah caught an ice cube and Landon said "Actually there's music in the square tonight. I mean, they do it all the time but tonight there's this kind of bluesy vibe and I thought maybe if you wanted..." Hope said "Oh Landon i... i cant tonight i have a thing." He said "Right, yeah. I should probably pick up an extra shift anyway." Hope said "No thanks though for asking and for our milkshakes." he walked away and I giggled Elijah said "The full moon doesn't crest until later, you could've gone with him. Why didn't you?" I looked down as she grabbed my hand and said "Because I'm gonna be dead soon." Elijah said "How did you know?" Hope said "Every witch in our family locked in the bell tower all week. Creepy black veins all over my body. Ember trying to take my place. And it hurts, you know? How long do i have?" Elijah said, "In your condition, we don't believe that you'll be strong enough to handle the full moon."

I said, "We can still use this spell." I pulled the paper out of my pocket and Hope snatched it saying "No, you're not dying in my place. Whats not to handle? Its only every bone in my body breaking all at once. Em did it and so can i." Elijah said "You listen to me, your father is searching for a cure, even as we speak. We will not allow anything to happen to you, or you to take her place. Do you both understand?" Hope said "Elijah, it might be all for the best anyway." Elijah said "Why would you say that? What is with you two and death?" Elijah said "You know how to drive Hope?" She said, "Mom and Declan taught me a little in the old truck, but Emmy is better than me." Elijah said "I think its time you drive a Bentley." I said, "I'll pass, you two go have fun and I'm gonna head back to school and see Kaleb." Elijah said "Ember..." Hope said, "It's no use, she likes him, you cant talk her out of it, and I won't let her stay by my side when I die." 

(Hope's POV on the Other Side)

I stood up and looked around i heard mom say "Hope?" I said "Mom." and ran to hug her Mom said "What happened? Why are you here? Where is Emmy?" I said, "I was sick, Mom there's so much that I have to tell you." Mom said "You shouldn't be here, it's not your time, please tell me your sister is ok. Where is Emmy?" I said "It's ok, she is fine, I mean she keeps trying to die in my place, but she is fine. I wanna be here, I wanna be here with you." mom said "No, you have to go back. I need you to fight this, Hope wake up." I heard dad shouting "Hope! Hope!" mom said "You... you have to go back to your dad and your sister." i said "Mom I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry for everything that happened and i cant forgive myself." mom said "Well too bad... because i forgive you. I forgive you, Hope. And I know that you're scared, and I know that you are sad, and that's ok. What happened this year was about hatred and ugliness that was born long before you and your sister and long before me. I need you to fight this Hope, wake up." I said, "But I want to be here, I don't want to leave you here alone."

Mom said "Hope I'm not alone. Listen." I heard talking "Come with me." I followed mom to a fire pit and she said "Look. Jackson's here, my parents, grandma Mary. Im not dead because of you, I'm at peace because of you and your sister. You don't want to leave me alone here, but by staying you are leaving your sister alone there. Hope you were born before she was, she has never lived without you, and you were only without her for 10 minutes. Do you remember how terrified you were when you couldn't get into the bathroom? Imagine how she feels right now. I guarantee its the same way." I said "If i go back, am i ever gonna see you again? Is Emmy?" mom said "Not for a very, very, long time. So you and your sister better have good stories, okay? Make art, use your voice, have adventures, and have at least one totally epic love. And be every bit of yourself because the very best of me is in both you and her." I said, "I love you mom, and I think Em has her eyes set on a vampire in our class named Kaleb." 

Mom said "I love you too. I love you and your sister more than words can say. Always and forever." I was crying as I hugged mom "I don't want to let go." she pulled away and said, "I need you to do something for me, tell Elijah I'm waiting for that dance, and tell your sister to ask out the vampire named Kaleb and to remember no matter what your father does, he does love her as much as he does you." I gasped and saw dad.

(Ember's POV)

Elijah told me that dad wanted to walk the town with me and Hope so I said goodbye to Kaleb and went to town with dad and Hope. Dad said "Look, I know it's not an ideal evening but the timing is right. Once your mid-transformation the Saltzman girls will be able to siphon the magic out of you." Hope said "Are you sure about this?" dad said "Yeah. I'll dispose of the magic later. Tonight is about you." she said, "I'll be right back." I went to follow her but dad said "Ember, stay for a moment please." Hope looked at me so i nodded and she walked to Elijah. 

He said "I know i messed up a lot when it came to you, i wasn't there when you needed me. I was afraid id screw you up if i was around but i guess i made it worse with you by not being there. I know what your feeling, your feeling like i love Hope more, like the whole family does. You feel like your disposable, like you should be the one to die rather than her, you feel our lives would be better without you in it. But Em that is so not the case. I love you and Hope equally, and you are not disposable, you may be a twin but you are the only Emberlyn Rebekah Mikaelson in the world and that makes you special. You dying even in the place of your sister would make our lives worse, not better because we love you so very much and just as we cant fathom Hope dying, we cant fathom you dying either. Hope gave me the letters you stole from your mother, but baby I don't think less of you because of what your mother wrote. I hold myself responsible because you only hurt yourself in those ways. After all, I neglected you and made you feel worthless and for that, I will forever be held responsible. I am sorry I missed your first transformation, you will always be my baby girl, you and Hope no matter how old you both get you will always be mine and your mother's Baby Girls." 

He pulled me into a hug and so I hugged him back, Kaleb showed up and held his hand out for me, and said "Can I have this dance, Em?" I smiled at him and glanced at my father who nodded once and I set my hand in Kalebs as I said "Id love to." Dad said "Behave Ember." I said "No promises." Kaleb spun me around until we were next to Hope and Landon as we danced the night away and laughed and smiled and had a blast until we were forced back to school for the full moon. Kaleb said "Is this your first shift?" I said "No, only Hopes. My dad wasn't around for mine, he was with Hope. I wont shift this full moon." He said, "Well I had fun, I hope to do it again." He dropped me off at Hope and I's room.