Hidden Tethers {H. MIKAELSON}

10

Chapter Ten: New Year, New Me

Hope Andrea Mikaelson woke up with a grin brighter than the golden sun that was peeking through her curtains. She rolled over, staring up at the ceiling. For the first time since she was six, she was excited about school. Although she was a little sleepy, she rolled over again to where her phone was charging on the nightstand. She had four text messages, all from the same person: her mother.

Good morning, my sweet girl. I hope you have an amazing day at school today. Be sure to tell me all about it when you get back home.

Your father informed me that you would not be staying on campus which means I expect a first day picture!!

I'm sure you'll look beautiful.

You always do.

Hope smiled at her mother's antics. This stupid childhood tradition has always plagued every single first day of school ever since she began school when she was seven. Even when she was home school and moving across the country with her family, the first day that marked the beginning. Tu he tribrid would be forced to take a photo. However, she still smiled and texted her mother back, assuring her that the woman would get a photo as soon as she got dressed.

Placing her phone back on the charger and even though she already had the paper memorized, she looked at the schedule that she had made her home screen with a smile. The eldest tribrid never knew that she wanted to show her true name this badly, but there was something in her now that was screaming with joy at the sight. Her phone told her that it was a little past seven and she knew that her new school officially started a nine.

Since she had beat her alarm, she shut it off so it wouldn't ring and began to walk over to her enormous walk-in closet. As excited as she was, she couldn't bring herself to pick out an outfit, mainly because she didn't know the colors she would look good in.

"Hope?" A voice called from behind the freshly painted door. She smiled as she heard her father.

"Yes?"

The hybrid father of four knocked anyway before walking into his oldest daughter's room. "Good morning, Hope. I take it you slept well?"

Hope nodded. "I slept great," She yawned, and the hybrid gave her a pointed look. "Just a little sleepy but I'm fine."

"You should be," Klaus chuckled. "You and Miss Bennett stayed awake until nearly two in the morning."

Hope swore internally... Rule one of living with vampires: always use a privacy spell. "Sorry, Dad."

Klaus only nodded. "I just wanted to come in and check and make sure everything was alright. Not too nervous, right?"

Hope fought the urge to roll her eyes, and sat on her bed. They had been doing this all summer, and while Hope was excited that she was now starting to control her magic, she was sick of her father acting like she was a ticking time bomb. "I'm okay, dad. I promise."

The hybrid nodded again. He knew firsthand what could happen if Hope lost control. While Henrik had eventually gained control of his powers, for many years, he had been the one in the family that had to be watched out for. "If you say so... Do you remember the spell Henrik taught you?"

Hope closed her eyes and forced her hands to hover over each other. "Papilio Lux."

As the beautiful golden butterfly released its sparkles, it flew up in the air gaining height as it went. After letting out a smooth exhale, the butterfly disappeared and with that did anything that linger on her mind.