For Good | Hale- TO/TW [8]

2 | Old Tricks

"Hope!" Stella yells as she races up the stairs. "You won't believe what I—" She skids to a stop at the threshold to the study.

Hope springs away from the vampire boy, running a hand through her hair as she stands. "Stella, hey."

A smirk settles on Stella's lips. The same smirk Lexi has. "So, you must be Roman."

The vampire waves awkwardly. "That's me."

"Stella, I can explain—" Hope starts.

"It's totally fine," Stella says. "I'll just go out and find someone for myself."

Hope frowns. "What about Carter?"

Before Stella can reply, a shout echoes through the compound. "Hope!"

Stella's eyes widen. "Is that—?"

Hope spins around to face Roman. "You have to go. He will literally wear your spine as a necklace. Leave."

Roman's eyes flicker from the doorway back to Hope before he runs out of the compound. Hope sighs as she turns to face Stella.

"Tell me it isn't true," Klaus demands as he pushes past Stella. The Hale girl stares at her uncle, shock written into her expression. He doesn't notice her. "What have you done with your mother?"

Hope's expression hardens.

"Hang on, what happened?" Stella demands. Klaus spins around as if he just noticed her. "Hope kidnapped Hayley and Laura? Why would you— What is happening?!"

Klaus runs his eyes up and down, focusing on her face. Her eyes are like her mother's: full of life and energy. Her expression is Lexi's as well, but her hair is entirely Derek's.

"Stella!" Derek's voice slices through the silence of the compound. Stella doesn't react.

As Derek's footsteps approach, Klaus says, "Go with your father. This isn't a conversation for you."

"Like hell!" She yells. Her eyes land on Hope. "What did you do?"

"I knew it would take something big to bring the family together," Hope responds, her expression void of emotion.

Derek appears behind Stella, his eyes landing on Klaus and Hope. "Stella, we need to go. Now." When he grabs her arm, she rips it from his grasp.

"So you had your little hybrid slave attack my aunts?" Stella demands.

"Henry just did the heavy lifting," Hope says. Her hands clench into fists. "And 'attack' is a really strong word. Mom and Laura are fine. In really nice coffins, sleeping. I cloaked them in a sleeping spell that I wrote myself."

"Oh, well, in that case, I've never been prouder," Klaus snaps.

"Where are they?" Derek asks.

Hope shakes her head. "You're just gonna disappear again if I tell you."

"Hope, you are in danger when we're in proximity," Klaus reminds her. "I know you feel that. The dark magic inside us manifests itself in ugly ways. We could be putting others in danger, too." He glances behind him. Derek pulls Stella closer to him. "The whole city, even."

"I don't care," she says.

"This is not a debate, Hope!" Klaus exclaims. Stella jumps, grabbing her father's arm. "The little girl I knew would have never dreamed up a scheme like this."

"Well, sorry to disappoint you, but that little girl hadn't read your memoirs," Hope snaps. "You compelled Cami O'Connell to write your story. About a guy who used to put his family members in coffins and use them as leverage."