The Last Sacrifice

The Sacrifice

The Mikaelsons walked into the courtyard where Hayley was already seated with Hope in the center of the runes. Upon seeing the siblings, Vincent began calling out orders, wanting to move quickly to get rid of the Hollow.

"Kol, if you would right there." Vincent directed, "Rebekah, perfect right there."

"What the hell are you doing here?" Rebekah asked as Marcel walked into the courtyard. She couldn't help but show her anger. "You've come to gloat?"

"No, I came to make sure that this works." Marcel said simply, while Elijah entered the circle.

"Elijah, I need you right there at the top." Vincent barely glanced at Elijah. However, it didn't matter, Elijah only looked at Hayley and Hope sitting in the center of the runes. Hayley stared back, wanting to say so much but knowing there wasn't enough time. "Klaus, right there for me please. And we are ready."

With all of the siblings in place, they were ready. Ready to be separated forever in order to save the little girl that lay unconscious in the center of them. There was a moment of silence as the siblings looked around their home, likely for the last time.

"I just want to say that what you guys are doing here today is gonna go a long way at setting things right in this city." Vincent began, wanting to express the gratitude he had for the family he despised, "The Hollow took everything away from me. It inspired nothing but suffering and torment. It's ruined families. It's gone after little kids. And yet here and now, despite all of our differences, and there are many, thank you."

There was another moment of silence. There was nothing else to do but begin the spell. Elijah focused on Hope, remembering why they needed to do this. After a thousand years, he would never see his siblings again. Elijah knew he would never be able to handle that. Yes, they had been separated before. Sometimes even for decades. But knowing that he could not protect them, that he failed them, it was too much for Elijah to handle.

"Freya." Vincent gestured for Freya to leave the circle to come stand beside him. They would need both of their power to extract the Hollow from Hope.

"Savage Mikaelsons heroically defeating a terrible evil. Maybe this will finally earn us our redemption." Rebekah looked to her older brothers hopefully. Rebekah, ever the hopeful Mikaelson, believing there was still redemption for them after all.

"Do any of us really believe that?" Klaus tried to summon some of his typical bravado, but he was unable to given the circumstances. Klaus looked to his older brother for reassurance. After all, Elijah had always been the one to believe their redemption was possible.

"Not for a second." Elijah stated, only taking his eyes off of Hayley and Hope for a second to glance at his brother. "It's a wonderful sentiment."

And with that, it was time to begin. Freya and Vincent grasped hands and knelt down on the outskirts of the rune circle.  

"Hayley, when I tell you to, I want you to take the manacles off. Hold onto Hope. Do not let her go. Everybody else, when this spell is over, you got to get away from each other and you have to stay away from Hope." Vincent gave his final directions.

Klaus and Elijah made eye contact, Klaus looking to his older brother for strength. Elijah looked at his siblings once more, knowing he had made the right decision. He would protect them at all costs. He looked to where Hayley was holding on to Hope, either too stunned to move or too focused on saving her child. Either way, Elijah knew he did not have the luxury of time to tell her everything he wished he had.