Secrecy (Hosie)

Part 86: Fear

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"Hope, are you okay?"

Upon the disturbing flash of blue in her eyes, Hope had dissociated the entire time Josie was explaining what had happened with Cleo and Lizzie to the guys.

And, realizing Hope was being awfully quiet, standing in the doorway of the restroom, looking pale and a little dazed, Josie gets even more worried than before.

"I—" Hope feels herself panicking internally as she turns back to the mirror, seeing that her eyes are back to normal.

Her eyebrows furrow, her head spinning, her fear consuming her.

That one glimpse of that glowing blue shade was enough to send her back through a whirlwind of emotions, tragic memories, and relentless loss.

And the timing couldn't be coincidental.

Merely moments after both Cleo and Lizzie have some sort of breakdown.

And she wonders for a moment, Could I be causing all of this to happen?

"Hope, we'll figure this out, okay? Lizzie and Cleo will be fine, I'm sure of it."

Hope hadn't noticed that Josie came to her side in an instant, until her voice and gentle, comforting touch brings her out of her torturous thoughts and worries just enough to nod and follow Josie back into the room.

But her fears remain.

The guys and Josie start calling out ideas, trying to figure out what could be causing all of this, but Hope remains quiet, thinking she's the cause, the Hollow inside her.

That's what the Hollow does. It thrives on chaos, strengthened by pain, powered by mental manipulation.

"Hope? What do you think?"

She's broken out of her thoughts, but she's still overwhelmed by them,
"I don't know... Maybe I should call Freya, she might be able to help,"
Without waiting for a response, Hope grabs her phone and makes her way outside, dialing her aunt's phone number.

"Hope? Is everything alright, sweetheart?"

Hope goes on to explain what happened with Cleo and Lizzie, but she omits what she saw in her own reflection.

"I'll look through some grimoires and see what I can find. We need to figure out why this is happening, who or what is manipulating them."

And Hope's mind keeps telling her, It's me, I'm causing this...

"Thank you Aunt Freya..I love you, all of you."

"We love you too, dear. We'll find a way to fix this, like we always do."

Hope nods wearily, though her aunt can't see her.

But she doesn't nod because she's encouraged by her aunt's words.

She nods because she knows that her family will try to fix this, fix her, no matter the costs.

And she can't let that happen, not again.

Even if it takes her making the same sacrifice her father made a few years ago...

Her aunt bids her a good-bye, telling Hope that she'll call back the second she finds a possible solution.

A salt stream escapes Hope's eye, sliding down her cheek as she nods again, to herself this time.

"Bye Freya."

She ends the call, sighing as she leans against the railing, putting her head down as she contemplates all that's going on.

She senses Alaric before he's at her side moments later, having left the others in the hotel room to join Hope outside.

Hope feels his eyes on her from her side briefly as he also leans against the railing.

He takes a breath as he looks straight ahead, "I think I know why this is happening..."

"You do?" She's a little surprised that he figured it out so quickly. It must be obvious that the Hollow is back and affecting her.

He nods before slowly turning toward her, and the look in his eyes is one she doesn't quite recognize.

It's cold. Dark. Full of hate.

"You...Doesn't it always come back..to you," his words are just as cold, hitting her where it hurts.

And she takes his word as truth.

He continues on, tone nearly dripping with disgust and disdain, "You've got vampirism in your blood. You've got the Mikaelson name. And you are hungry for power, just like your father..."

He scoffs, shaking his head, as Hope can only lower her head, completely heartbroken, and completely unable to register the fact that Alaric is now under the influence of whatever has been targeting them tonight.

"Is that why you want to marry my daughter?"

Hope finally gazes back up toward Alaric, her eyebrows furrowed with confusion.

He clarifies, accusingly, "Because you know she is capable of stealing whatever power you want.. She is a siphoner after all..."

Hope shakes her head, "Dr. Saltzman—"

"You're a danger to her, Hope."

"No—"

He interrupts again, "Wherever you go, destruction and death follow. Look at all that's happened just tonight to the people you care about. Is that what you want for Josie, for the rest of her life?"

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Josie turns toward the hotel room door when it opens, seeing her dad entering, "Did you tell Hope that Lizzie and Cleo are awake and feeling better?"

Alaric pauses for a split second, furrowing his eyebrows, "I don't know...I can't remember..."

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To Be Continued...