1:15 I'll Tell You A Story

I'll Tell You A Story

Part 3

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RECAP

"Eventually, the power corrupted them. Monsters became whoever they didn't like. Whoever they wanted to be forgotten. I thought revenge on my father would feel sweeter, but it didn't. So I returned myself to him. Inside Malivore, there was only darkness. I yelled, I screamed, but he would not answer me. He let me sit in silence, punishing me until... decades later, when suddenly he spit me out. I didn't know why till I found that picture of you." Clark pointed at the picture of Landon and Seylah, but Landon in her stomach. "And I saw a video of a knife that could only be unlocked by Malivore's blood. And I heard story of a woman who had emerged from the pit pregnant. As more humans were thrown in, he absorbed enough of their genetic material to be able to reproduce. When Triad betrayed your mother, our father had mercy on her and sent her back... carrying you. He sent me back to find you because only you are blood of his blood." Clark stopped, catching his breathe.

"And only you can set him free." Clark stated. Landon and you made eye contact as he said that.

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Hope sat down, placing the prism down as well, waiting for you to appear. As you did, you looked over at Hope and she looked over at you, not saying anything before sighing. "What I said before, about you being mad at me and you running off, I know that's not true. But... it hurts that your gone and that I can't find you." Hope paused, looking between your eyes.

"And, yeah, you know what, I hate it when people leave. I hate it." Hope admitted, shrugging her shoulders. "I thought I was over losing my parents, but I don't know, after the last couple of days and-and after seeing you lying there in the woods and holding Landons body, thinking that he was dead..." Hope trailed off, not wanting to talk about it.

Hope looked out to the lake before looking back at you. "Every time I lose someone, this, uh, voice in my head, it tells me, 'It's your fault.' That I shouldn't even technically exist, same with you if that's what you think." Hope continued, you nodding at the end bit. "That I'm a cosmic mistake." Hope breathed in and out. "Oh, I don't know." Hope trailed off, you looked down at your hands. "I guess I just wanted someone to think that I'm worth staying for. I'm sorry for accusing you, Kate. I want you back because I love you." Hope rambled.

You were shocked when you heard you say that so you were shocked and looked at her, side staring basically. You opened your mouth, covering it with your hand. "Oh. Wow." Hope says, shocked as well. You just laughed.

You looked out at the water then back to Hope. "You didn't mean to say that last part, did you?" You questioned.

Hope just stared at you. "No." Hope said, baffled by her own words.

Your smile grew. "Whoa! The first time you tell me you love me, and it's not even the real me?" You questioned, still surprised.

Hope laughed. "I'm kind of winging it here." Hope replied.

You looked away. "What?" You asked still surprised. "What?" You whispered as Hope laughed and you looked back at her. You sighed. "Come on, man." You looked back out to the lake while Hope laughed.

Hopes laughter died down as she looked over at you and you looked over at her. "H-How would she react to that, really?" Hope inquired.

"I mean, that was how she'd react." You smiled at Hope. "You know, she'd say something stupid to deflect from how vulnerable you made her feel, and then... well, she'd kiss you." You responded, pausing while you both stared into each other's eyes. "Probably." You whispered.

Hope smiled. "Probably." She repeated, laughing then sighing. You two sat in silence for a while, just staring at the Lake. Then you felt hope looking at you."you're quiet." She stated.

You looked over at her. "I'm waiting." You responded.

Hope searched your eyes. "Seriously? After all that?" You made a 'mm'hmm sound'. "I mean, wha-what else could I possibly have to say?" Hope questioned.

You looked between her eyes. "What you've been trying to tell yourself all day." Hope looked at you confused. But there was too much noise in your head, so you couldn't hear it." You stated. "I'm in trouble, Hope."

Hope looked shocked. "What?" She asked.

"You already know that's true. I mean, I went to the front of the school, but I didn't take my coat? Landon didn't take any camping gear." You started pointing out the obvious, Hope catching on. "Landon left clues in the voice mail that something wasn't right. He called Dr. Saltzman 'Ric.' He would never do that." You glanced out to the school, Hope looking away from your eye sight.

Hope caught on further now. "He said hi to... Jed."

You looked at Hope with a knowing face. "Last time he said 'hey' to Jed, he beat the crap out of him." You paused catching your breathe. "He was trying to tell you that something wasn't right."

Hopes face went to one of urgency. "What happened?" She questioned, worried.

You sighed. "Hope... for the last time, just listen." You stated. Hope knew what you were talking about and grabbed the prism, walking off to Ric's office

Once she grabbed Roman pulled him into the office she made him play the message from Landon. " 'Hey, Ric, sorry to take off like that, but I just needed a little time, so I'm going camping for a while.' " Landons voice played

Roman used his vamp hearing. "I can hear..." He trailed off.

" 'Hopefully, I can catch up on class work later.' " Landons message continued.

Roman spoke up. "...shoes on a tile floor. An air conditioner running. Someone tied up to a chair, wanting to escape.." Roman trailed off with the last bit, Hopes face turned to one of worry slightly.

" 'Tell Raf and Jed 'hi' for me.' " Landons voicemail was about done.

"Keycards being swiped." Roman finished.

Hope uncrossed her arms. "Mm, Triad. I mean, it has to be them. They've already tried to come for him once, doesn't explain Kate though." Hope stated.

Roman watched the girl as she looked as if she already had a plan. "What are you gonna do?" He questioned.

Hope sighed as she turned around. "I'm gonna go full Wonder Woman, that's what." Hope stated.

Roman tucked his hands in his pockets. "Do you need any help?" He asked.

Hope shook her head. "No. I've already got my Super Squad." Hope replied. "But thank you for everything." Hope was about to leave the room.

"Hey, uh..." Roman grabbed his bag and put it on his shoulder. "Ric said I should probably head back out into the field, and I was actually coming to find you and say goodbye earlier, but, uh, then I heard you on the dock." Hopes face was an expression Roman couldn't read. "Can't turn off my vamp hearing. I wasn't trying to spy or anything." Roman stated. Hope cleared her throat, looking down. "You're not a mistake, okay? The cosmos is lucky to have you. So is Kate. She'll figure that out." Roman stated.

Hope leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek before leaving.

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"There's really only one thing you have to decide. Will you help me?" They both sat across from each other.

Landon looked over at you, you obviously shaking your head but Landon turned back to Clark. "Help release Malivore and destroy the world?" Landon questioned.

Clark was quick to respond. "He's been alive for centuries. Was the world destroyed? Or was it balanced and safer without all these creatures running around?" Clark paused, watching Landons facial expressions. "Ask yourself... who's the real bad guy here? Our father was designed for a purpose. It's his programming. He can't control that." He had a point but it doesn't make what Malivore does right.

He continued. "But all the monsters he swallowed are still alive inside of him." Clark stated, moving for to lean on the table. "Did your friends keep any of them alive? Or did they just kill every creature they couldn't control?" Clark was trying to manipulate Landon, you cleared your throat, Clark looking at you and glaring. "Malivore can't hurt witches, werewolves, or vampires, remember? Your friends at the school... They aren't in any danger from him." Clark stated.

Landon looked between you and Clark. "But they are in danger from Triad. You know what goes on in this building? What kind of secret experiments they run in their mad scientist labs? They're finding a way to turn the pit into a weapon. They're chemically altering it so it can be used against the protected species. Ending supernaturals once and for all." He explained. "You want to save your friends? You have to stop Triad."

Landon didn't say anything so Clark continued. "Landon, no matter what they say at that school... you're not one of them. And you know that, too, don't you?" Now Clark was getting on your nerves. Landon was apart of the school, right? "I'm offering you a family who actually wants you. We can raise our father. And we can destroy Triad." Clark watched as Landon looked down at the artifacts. "What's it gonna be?" He questioned.

Landon looked back up. "Untie Kate and I'll say." Landon responded.

C.lark looked scared. "She kill me if I do that." Clark was hesitant to respond.

Landon sighed, clicking his younger. "Then no artifact." Landon responded.

Clark sighed, getting up and untying you and taking off the gag. To his surprise you didn't do anything to him and instead ran to Landon, hugging him. "I'm so sorry for keeping that secret from you. You deserved to know." You commented as he hugged your back.

Landon slightly smiled. "It's okay. you were just protecting me."

Clark sat back down, clearing his throat you and Landon leaving the hug. "Sorry to interrupt but I ask again: What's it gonna be?" He questioned.

Landon looked down at the artifacts. "You don't have to do this, Lan." You stated.

Landon didn't listen and instead responded. "This one." He pointed at the artifact that looked like a cup. Clark and Landon made eye contact while you sighed at how Landon just gave away the artifact to raise Malivore.

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Hope had just gotten dressed and was rushing as she bent down and grabbed some clothes. "I'm coming." A voice called from the door way.

Hope turned around, walking towards her bed and placing her clothes down. "Hello to you, too, uh, and, no, you're not." Hope stated.

Rafael sighed. "Look, last time you did this without me, it was a disaster." Rafael tried proving a point.

"Except I'm not gonna go alone this time." Hope looked up, pointing at her fingers. "I'm gonna draft the twins, MG, Kaleb. We're going before Dr. Saltzman comes back. It'll be like a Super Squad Assemble." Hope put on a questioning face. "I don't know. Is that a thing? I don't know. I'll ask MG." Hope then moved back to her drawer and grabbed some more clothes.

Rafael stayed quiet for like two seconds. "Yeah, I'll ask him myself." Rafael replied.

Hope sighed, walking back to her bed. "Raf, Dr. Saltzman told me about the side effects. I'm sorry, but I can't let you come." The auburn girl stated, throwing the shirt she just grabbed onto the bed. "How do you feel now?" hope asked, really quiet.

Rafael scoffed. "Like my brain's split down the middle." He sat down on the edge of the bed. "I keep having these flashes like I can't control myself, and..." Rafael trailed off.

Hope looked away before back to Raf. "That's why you're not coming on the mission." Hope then sat down on the bed as well. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Hope questioned calmly.

Rafael looked Hope in the eye before looking away. "You know why." He stated.

Hope sighed. "Raf..." She trailed off.

Rafael looked back up. "I don't know how to be around you, Hope. I don't want to feel this way, so I push it down, and that just makes the split in my brain worse, which makes it harder to hide. And the only person that I want to talk about it with is the only person I can't." Rafael lowered his head.

Hope sighed again. "Raf..." She called, Rafael looking back up. "you're a good brother. But for once, you need to put yourself first. Do what you need to get better." Hope then looked down, getting up and grabbing something. "If things get really bad..." She trailed off, sighing and pulling out a necklace, handing it to Rafael. "...use this." Hope stated.

Rafael looked up at Hope confused. "It's a long story, but, um, it was a gift from a family friend." She started. "But it's essentially like a reverse kyanite ring. When you use it, you can turn yourself at will. In your wolf mind, things are less complicated. You know that." Hope slightly smiled. "It'll buy you time to heal. Only catch is, um, you can't turn yourself back, so, if you do use it, all you have to do is come find me when you're ready to be yourself again."

Rafael nodded, lowering his head. "I am really glad I know you, Hope Mikaelson." Rafael smiled, causing Hope to laugh. "Now, go. Go save our boy and girl." Hope briefly nodded. "And don't let anything stop you." Rafael stated.

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A.N: Enjoy <3