Shadows Within

ONE

Mystic Falls, Virginia

Monday

Hope Mikaelson was really tired. With everything that was going on with her dad — and by that she meant him refusing to speak to her, let alone go and see her for as long as she could remember — Hope desperately needed some time to herself, needed to calm down and just relax. But alas, when one was the daughter of a powerful supernatural being like Klaus Mikaelson, it was a really hard thing to come by. She has classmates to avoid. Studies to ace, because anything less than perfect simply wasn't acceptable for Hope. And most of all, she needed to find some way to convince her dad to go and actually see her. But maybe not tonight.

Tonight was going to be the night when she finally let herself be free and actually have fun for what felt like the first time in a very long time. And fun for Hope Mikaelson usually meant reading as much books as she possibly could in the local library before she run out of an energy because she was still, technically human and regardless of what her mother said, books were actually fun. Just because she couldn't read a book to save her life doesn't mean Hope was the same. In fact, Hope was very different from her mother in that regard, as Caroline would attest for her. She actually finished the books she started, instead of leaving them halfway because she couldn't force herself to read any further.

Hope Mikaelson suddenly stumbled on her feet towards the floor, having been so deeply lost in the thought that she wasn't actually paying any attention to where exactly she was going. Only, Hope didn't actually fall down, for a pair of very fine broad arms caught her by the waist before she could actually do any falling and suddenly, she found herself staring at pair of very fine, artistically beautiful set of dark eyes.

"Are you alright, Miss?" His voice was very mellow, his tone quite formal. He wore a very fine tailored dark suit which fit his body perfectly. And Hope realized with a start that she was still in his arms like a heroine of a romance drama and he was gazing at her questioningly, awaiting for her answer.

Now, Hope probably should have said something that sounded actually intelligent, as one would expect from a Mikaelson. But what came out of her mouth instead was, "You have very fine reflexes." She should hit herself in the face and bury herself under the ground so she couldn't face him afterward. Hope Mikaelson wasn't the type of a girl who lost her intelligence just because some really — stupidly attractive guy caught her in his arms like a fairytale princess. Repeat, Hope Mikaelson was definitely not that sort of a girl. Not at all.

Hope jumped to her feet suddenly, reaching to his shoulder to help herself to the ground as she bashingly stared at her feet, suddenly very embarrassed. "I mean, thank you."

There was a look of mischief in his dark eyes and Hope felt herself dying, "No, it's fine. Go on. I'd like to hear what a fine reflexes I have." Never mind. She would like to hit him in the face very much. Just because she made a fool out of herself in front of him didn't give him any right to act so bloody smug.

Hope rolled her eyes, crossing her arms across her chest and suddenly, remembering the books that her savior had failed to rescue, she jumped down to her knees, collecting them into her arms. Following her suit, he helped her with the books, a rather amused smirk on his face. "Miss, I don't mean to butt in, but are you quite certain you can finish all those books by today?"

Hope felt herself smirking despite herself, "Of course." She was a witch. There was a spell for that. But then again, it wasn't like she could use it here in the library. She would have to do it the old-fashioned way. "I mean, I am going to try to. It had been a long time since I actually sat down to read."

He nodded in an understanding. "Busy week?"

Hope sighed as she collected the books into her arms, including the ones that he had picked up from the ground for her. "Busy year." She stated. "I am Hope." She smiled, jumping to her feet once again.