From a Cradle to a Grave

Chapter 37

"They're here," Aurora said. She could not contain the excitement in her voice. They were here. Niklaus was here. Her greatest love, her greatest enemy. And that hybrid bitch Aurora didn't give a damn about. Aurora still hadn't made up her mind about whether she wanted Hayley dead. Her entire master plan had been based off of getting Hope to form a special bond with Hayley, so that a daughter's love for her mother would be the driving factor in getting Niklaus killed. But once the young Tribrid did manage to kill Niklaus... It was a matter that had been haunting Aurora for ages now.

'What then?'

Once Niklaus was dead, Aurora would have nothing left to live for, no purpose in her life. Beings like her, ancient beings with no family or friends to love or be loved by, were simply fueled by revenge. Punishing others for every little offense was the only way to keep going.

But Aurora had lived a long time now. She was one of the oldest vampires in the world. She'd had plenty of time to avenge herself for every little insult she had ever received. The last piece to knock off the chess board was Niklaus, and once that was done...

There were two options. Either she continued to live with the tribrid looking to her as a guiding figure, or she satisfied that one last bit of grudge within her- Jealousy, she believed it was called. She was jealous of Hayley, for even though Aurora loathed Niklaus, she still hated the idea of anyone being with him. If Aurora killed Hayley, she would have about ten seconds to feel absolute and utter happiness. Then Hope would most likely decapitate her.

"What to do, what to do..." Aurora whispered to herself. If she were to let Hayley live, then she would have to spend forever making sure Hope continued to believe Aurora's tale. Hayley would scream and shout that Klaus had never compelled her- A lie. That Klaus had never used her or abused her- Two more lies. Hope would be confused as to why Hayley was grieving for NIklaus, and Aurora would have to be there to insist that Hayley's mind had gone completely over the edge for the connection she had to her controller had been severed. 'That's how compulsion works, darling,' Aurora would say to her. 'Niklaus practically enslaved Hayley that she's completely forgotten how to think for herself after so long.'

"Aurora?" Hope said, staring up at the sky. A spot in the barrier spell had just given a shimmer.

"They're here," Aurora said. "You can do this, Hope. The world is counting on you."

Aurora slipped into one of the tombs, because she wouldn't be a de Martel if she didn't make a dramatic entrance every chance she got. Her vampire hearing picked up on the sound of footsteps... Footsteps coming to an abrupt stop. Niklaus and Hayley's breaths hitching.

"Hope," Hayley's voice cracked. Running footsteps. "Thank god you're okay." Her voice was muffled. Hayley was embracing Hope.

"Hi," Hope said. "I'm glad you're here. And that you're safe."

"Safe? Hope, I'm fine. I was more worried about you than- Why are you here? How are you here?"

"I know you're my mother."

Utter silence.

Hope cleared her throat. "I know you're my mother, that your name is Hayley Marshall and that you're a hybrid species of werewolf and vampire." Hope then turned to Niklaus. "I also know that you're my father, Klaus Mikaelson, the savage beast who's been dyeing rivers red since the beginning of time."

Aurora's heart swelled when she saw Klaus flinch. This was his worst nightmare come to life, wasn't it. Ever since he had found out about Hope, he'd probably been dreading that she would find out about who he was.

"How?" Hayley breathed.

"I've had someone inform me about every one of your exploits," Hope kept her eyes trained on Klaus. "Everything that you've done since one thousand years ago. All the people you've killed, everyone you've manipulated and tortured for the sake of your amusement..."