Secrecy (Hosie)

Part 18: Muse

Cleo's story was a devastating one. Malivore had come into her village, threatening to destroy it if her grandmother wouldn't become the sculptor behind the monsters he would need to consume, since he had eaten his way through the world's supply ages ago. Cleo had sacrificed her own freedom to save her grandmother from that fate.

When the supernatural organization Triad became aware of their rogue mud man, they trapped his consciousness (including the consciousness of the beings within him) and the Muse inside the artifact that the separate human faction of Triad would later title "Project Pandora." It was said that only the being capable of destroying Malivore would be able to release them from the artifact, subsequently allowing his consciousness to rejoin his body that was dissolved into a mud pit, which Cleo was unaware of its location. The monsters who are managing to escape Malivore also want their freedom to be solidified. They are going after Hope for the same reason Cleo had. Hope has to die in order for them to be truly free.

Cleo is afraid. She's angry.

She has been a prisoner to this monster for centuries, and she wants him destroyed to ensure that she won't have to suffer at his hands ever again.

She tells Alaric how she put the pieces together that Hope was the Tribrid, how she figured out why the Oneiroi said Hope needed to die in order to destroy Malivore. That way she would trigger her vampire side. Her blood would be the combination of the three factions, like the blood of the original Triad— three supernaturals of the original bloodlines, it would be the loophole to magic that would undo the spell which created him.

Alaric could see that Cleo hurt Hope because she was consumed by her fear and hatred for Malivore.

Alaric doesn't know whether it would be a good idea to keep her at the school, considering her recent interaction with Hope, and he's sure his daughters would be skeptical too.

Alaric is now updating Hope on everything the Muse told him in his office. Cleo waits out in the hall, "It's your call to make, Hope. If you don't think she should stay, then I will respect that. But she has nowhere to go, no family to help her. She's been trapped for centuries with the monster who took her from her home...Even through her fear and hatred, she's assured me that she wouldn't ever try to make the decision for you to activate your vampire side. She knows it should be your decision to make."

Hope hasn't said much the whole time he's been updating her. She's still processing the fight earlier with Cleo and the one that followed with Alaric. She's ashamed that she let herself lose control. She's fought, her whole life, to not become the darkest parts of her father. She never wanted to be consumed by rage and vengeance. She's never struggled with black magic temptations before, but earlier, her fingertips had started to turn dark. If the memory of her father in combination with Josie's touch to her arm hadn't stopped her, Cleo would be dead. She feels guilty that for a split second, that's the revenge she sought.

She's worried though, that Cleo may reveal her identity if she stays at the school. That's the secret she's kept her whole life, that's what she's truly worried about, "I want to talk to her."

Alaric gives Hope a skeptical look before nodding his head. He walks out into the hall, entering the room once again with Cleo at his side, who takes a seat in a chair as Hope leans against Alaric's desk. Cleo looks just as ashamed as Hope feels, but Hope hides it better than Cleo does. "Hope, there are no words to express how sorry I am for allowing my fear and desire to rid myself of Malivore to push me to harm you. My freedom should not come at the cost of your life. I am sure we can find another way to defeat Malivore."

Hope sees the sadness and guilt in Cleo's eyes, and as much as she hates to admit it, she feels like she's staring at her own reflection from a few years ago—when her parents sacrificed each of their lives on separate occasions to save hers. She feels sorrow and guilt about the decision they made to put her life before their own. She doesn't want to relate to Cleo, but she does. She even feels that way about her living relatives, with the way they all spend their time and energy protecting her and allowing her to live a 'normal' life under the alias they created when she was born.

"I need to know you won't say anything...If my identity gets revealed—"

"I swear it on my own life. Your secret is safe with me."

Hope sighs, she believes Cleo. Even after all that's happened, she can't deny the similarity she feels between them. Ripped away from their homes. Being trapped in a false reality. Loss, anger, sadness.

Hope nods her head, "Okay." Alaric looks shocked at her response, as does Cleo.

"You are going to allow me to stay? Even after I tried to kill you?"

Before Hope gets the chance to respond, Josie enters the room, "No, she isn't. Hope, you can't be serious."

Josie gives Hope a look of disbelief, Alaric speaks up before Hope can, "Josette, how long were you listening?"

Josie crosses her arms and scoffs, looking at Cleo when she responds, "Apparently not long enough. What the hell did you say to brainwash them into letting you stay here."

"Jo, she won't do it again—"

"Oh really, Hope? Did she pinky swear?"

"I believe her, Jo. I trust that what she's saying is true."

Josie finally tears her gaze away from Cleo to look at Hope, her eyes softening a bit, "I don't trust her, Hope, not after what she did to you today—"

"Do you trust me?" Josie's mouth shuts. She does trust Hope. More than anyone, really. Hope walks over to her, caressing Josie's cheek with her hand, "You know I wouldn't be saying 'yes' if I thought she would hurt you, or anybody else for that matter. I know you're scared, so is she...so am I. But we can find a way to fix this monster problem together, and I think she can help us."

Josie searches Hope's eyes for any sign of uncertainty in her decision. She doesn't find any. Hope is sure she can trust Cleo when she says that she won't hurt her again.

Josie sighs, pulls Hope's hand from her cheek and squeezes it before she lets it fall to Hope's side. She walks over, leaning down once she gets in front of Cleo's seat to look her in the eyes. This is probably the most intimidating she's ever been in her life, "Just so we're clear, if you ever do anything to hurt her again, I'll kill you myself."

Hope and Alaric are equally shocked at the threat, Cleo doesn't see any sign in Josie's eyes that the threat is empty, so she nods, "I understand."

With that, Josie stands up straight and exits the room without another word, leaving the three of them in silence and shock.