Lights Flicker And Fade : Kol Mikaelson [3]

270: You Decided That I Was Worth Saving

AUGUST 2015

Hope Mikaelson whimpered as her eyes opened, balls of warmth blurred in her lashes, curtains blocking out any form of moonlight.

"Kapsei To Aima."

"Mum?"

"Kapsei To Aima."

As the whisper turned louder, she tugged her deep blue blanket tight, staring at each corner of the room.

"Kapsei To Aima."

Each time her eyes lingered, the walls seemed to bubble.

"Kapsei To Aima."

"Mum!"

She was only four-years-old, and she knew walls didn't bubble – walls were solids! Walls were meant to keep her safe! Walls were not meant to whisper, and pop, or swirl, the grey-white colour like rapids trying to hiss louder than the voice –

Spark.

The snap of red light burnt a symbol into each surface –

Fire erupting across the floor.

"MUM!"

"Kapsei To Aima."

Hope couldn't stop herself from screaming as the smell of smoke filled Hayley's nose. Her eyes had lulled shut, body pressed into a large chair in a cramped living room, head tilted just off to one-side. There was a low noise coming from a laptop as a movie she'd tried to watch kept playing, the heat hitting her body.

She jolted up.

Even in the living room, the hotel walls had crinkled up, symbols of power burnt into them, the floor exploding with more fire, battering her into the windows, instantly racing towards Hope's door. Hope. Hope. Her four-year-old daughter was sitting up as the floor turned to flames, more symbols across the window panes and doors – all a sickening grey, bumpy to touch – burning to touch.

"Hope," Hayley lunged, Hope reaching forward, only for the flames to jump as the ceiling crashed, "HOPE."

"What's happening?" She cried.

"I – " Hayley kicked the debris back, only for another arc of fire to whip around her ankles, dragging back towards the living room, "Sweetie – "

"Kapsei To Aima."

Hayley groaned, eyes sparking golden to push through the pain as her own nails felt like they were fighting her fingers. Driving down. Trying to draw blood, heat racing against every pore like it might be able to latch to her soul and ignite her too.

"Kapsei To Aima."

Hope went to run, only to be knocked back herself, head hitting the bedpost, creating a second scream - The only sound Hayley needed to be back on two-foot.

"Kapsei To Aima."

The debris slammed into her face, sending a column of fire back into the room, pinning her to the front door as the ceiling of the living room crumpled before her eyes. Swinging down. Roof tiles smacking into wood floors, reminding her of just how high up they were.

They were on the top floor of a burning building.

A fire that had started with them.

"Kapsei To Aima."