Secrecy (Hosie)

Part 98: Immortal

The worst betrayals always come from the ones we trust the most. That's something Aurora de Martel learned from Niklaus Mikaelson, a lesson she'd never forget.

Hope is no stranger to betrayal, as she is no stranger to vengeance. She, too, believes that in revenge, as in life, every action has an equal and opposite reaction--that the guilty are fated to fall.

The Tribrid puts the jacket of her tux on to finish off her look for the evening, looking into the mirror at her own reflection and taking a deep breath. Then, she hears a soft knock at her bedroom door. Her gaze shifts to the door, though she doesn't turn around to face it directly as she watches Freya lean against her door frame, wearing her own elegant gown, black silk in the body, black lace sleeves down her arms.

She purses her lips together, studying her niece. She hesitates before asking, "Are you sure about this?"

Hope sighs as she tears her eyes away from the reflection of her aunt, focusing instead on her tie as she reaches up to adjust it, "I don't have much of a choice."

"You do. There's always a choice."

"And Aurora made hers. She needs a devil to shoulder the blame for my father's rejection and betrayal. And she's made it clear that I'm the patsy. She's a threat, as are the other Triad minions."

Freya sighs as she leans her weight off the doorframe to enter the room, "But revenge--it could get messy."

Hope finally meets her aunt's gaze through the mirror, "I'm aware of that."

Freya stops only a couple of steps behind Hope, "You've been down this path of vengeance before, Hope. And I know you haven't forgotten how it tormented your conscience...I just want to make sure you're thinking it through. And Josie—"

Hope turns around, cutting off her aunt, "Josie will understand," she says with finality in her tone before turning to face the mirror again, "My main concern is that she stays far away from this ball, out of harm's way." Josie argued when Hope told her that she would be staying home with Caroline, Alaric, and Lizzie to watch over her, leaving four of the dozen roses unaccounted for, which relieves Hope a bit, lowers the stakes.

Freya sighs softly, placing a hand on Hope's shoulder to be sure she listens, "Just make sure whatever decisions you make tonight, think of what your child would think of you. You have a family to think about now."

With that, Freya gives Hope's shoulder a light squeeze before she turns and makes her way toward the door.

"Aunt Freya..." Hope's voice makes the blonde turn around to face her niece again, whose features soften, "You look beautiful."

Freya smiles softly at the compliment, relieved that Hope isn't angry with her. "Thank you, as do you. We'll be leaving shortly."

With that, Hope gives her one last nod, and Freya turns to exit the room.

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Hope takes a deep breath as she and her family--Rebekah, Freya, Kol, Marcel, Keelin, Davina, and Vincent-- stand before the doors of the venue for the ball, a stately residence, just outside of town. It reminds Hope of the Lockwood residence in Mystic Falls, with its towering columns and detailed architecture.

"Last chance to change your mind," Rebekah speaks as she steps up beside her niece, eyeing her considerately.

Hope shakes her head, "Let's end this. Tonight."

Rebekah purses her lips, nodding her head a single time before glancing to each side at the rest of the Mikaelson's, "Alright. Let the festivities begin."