Echoes of Eternity - A Hope Mikaelson Story

Chapter Four: A Deck of Rising Memories

The next morning, Hope awakes with a strange heaviness in her limbs. Her eyes flutter open, and for a brief moment, she forgets where she is. The soft light filtering through the curtains, combined with the familiar scent of lavender and old books, reminds her that she is back in the Mikaelson compound. There's a fleeting sense of safety, but beneath the surface, something darker stirs within her.

She sits up slowly, rubbing her temples, trying to shake the remnants of strange dreams that cling to her mind like fog. Disjointed flashes of the previous night rush back—the illusion of her family, the temptation to use the Sphinx's watch. Her heart skips a beat as she remembers how dangerously close she came to succumbing to that trap.

Hope's gaze flicks to the clock. It's still early, and the house is silent, wrapped in the calm of the morning. She swings her legs over the side of the bed and pads barefoot to the window. The cool breeze carries the familiar scent of jasmine from the courtyard, and for a fleeting moment, everything seems peaceful. Yet, deep inside her, there's a weight—a reminder that she isn't alone in her thoughts.

As she stands at the window, gripping the sill, a deep sigh escapes her lips.

I have to leave, she tells herself, her mind clearing. I need to get to Headquarters.

Before she can dwell any further on the thought, with a burst of energy, the door to her bedroom flies open.

"Aunt Hope!"

Nik, Freya and Keelin's seven-year-old son, bounds into the room like a small whirlwind in his white silk pajamas. His face lights up with excitement, his dark curls bouncing with each step as he runs to her. His skin is a warm medium brown, his green eyes, sharp and bright like Freya's, filled with a sense of curiosity and joy that makes Hope smile.

Hope chuckles as Nik leaps onto her bed, bouncing on the mattress. "Aunt Hope! Why didn't you come back sooner?"

"Aunt Hope?" She laughs at the thought, but it's true—Nik calls her "Aunt," even though they're technically cousins. It's an amusing detail, but one she doesn't mind. He has always been mature for his age, wiser than any other child she has known. Freya and Keelin have raised him well, and though Vincent isn't considered his father, he's been a powerful mentor to the boy, guiding him in matters of magic and the supernatural world.

Hope reaches out, ruffling Nik's curls as he finally settles beside her. "I've missed you too, Nik. I've been busy."

Nik pouts, crossing his arms. "You're always busy. You missed my magic show last month! I learned a new spell. Vincent says I'm really good."

Hope smiles softly. "I'm sure you are. Maybe you can show me later?"

Nik's eyes brighten. "Promise?"

"Promise," she replies, before adding playfully, "But you have to behave. No jumping up and down on the bed."

Nik giggles, giving her a mischievous grin. "Okay, okay! But only if you come downstairs for breakfast."

Hope glances out the window, the sun climbing higher in the sky. She had planned to leave, but the thought of breakfast with family is too inviting to pass up.

"All right," she agrees. "Let's go."

As Hope descends the grand staircase, the familiar halls stir memories of her childhood. The stone walls, the ornate chandeliers, the echo of her footsteps—everything feels so grand, yet intimate. She can still recall running through these very halls as a child, her mother chasing after her with a smile on her face.

Nik bounces alongside her, his energy infectious. She watches him with quiet admiration, noting the way he is a perfect combination of Freya's calm intelligence and Keelin's fierce independence. There's also something of Vincent in his demeanor—a quiet wisdom that peeks through in the way he observes the world around him. Despite his age, Nik carries the weight of his family's legacy with surprising ease.