𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑
she's fire. but she won't burn you... she knows all too well how it feels to live with ashe

THE TRIO THAT was Hope, Scott, and Isaac found themselves seated in Argent's office at their apartment.

Chris Argent stood behind his desk, face contorting in pain as Allison attended to his wounds.

"What the hell happened to him?" MG groaned, annoyed that they're missing some pieces of the puzzle. But clearly the author likes leaving them clueless.

Hope was chewing on the inside of her cheek as she thought about what had happened just an hour ago. There was shadow ninja demons out to get her pack, and she didn't know how to protect her friends because her magic seemed to have no affect on them.

Freya hummed, tilting her head. "I have a feeling she'll figure it out."

Rebekah nodded in agreement, "she always somehow figures it out."

Chris' lips pursed, groaning through his teeth but remained silent as he thought back to the time he had his first confrontation with the same shadowy figures.

"Oh..." Klaus narrowed his eyes and tilted his head menacingly. "He knew about them but didn't warn anyone?"

Hayley rose one brow and pursed her lips, "hm."

They had emerged from the darkness, alluring firefly green color being the only thing breaking up the blackness that were their eyes. The creatures pulled long black swords from their chests, slaughtering everyone and everything in sight.

"There was something almost ritualistic about it — like it was looking right into his soul," Argent explained, wincing.

It was the exact same thing they did to Aiden, Lydia out on the balcony, Derek right outside the complex near his car, and Isaac the night prior in the Argents apartment.

"Damn," Kaleb whistled. "They're proficient."

"Dude," MG slapped at his arm.

"That's the same thing it did to me," Isaac announced, and Hope looked over at him.

Allison moved her eyes away from her father's wounds, briefly looking toward Isaac. "That's what it did to everyone."

"Not everyone," Scott spoke up. "They only came after the werewolves."

"And Lydia," Hope added, speaking up for the first time. "And before they disappeared, they were looking straight at me."

"Anyone with a connection to the supernatural," Chris informed, glancing at Hope in worry. He knows that she must be the next victim to be chosen for whatever reason they're here for.

Elena smiled softly. "Aw, he's worried."

"He's like her surrogate father, it's warranted," Bonnie commented and then winced, glancing quickly over in Klaus' direction. "Uh..." Hours ago, before they were teleported to this unknown room, she would never — in a million years — think she would feel sympathy for a Mikaelson, any of them, especially Klaus. But look where they are now.

They have all been in this room for like half a day at this point, and not once have they started a bloody fight. Sure, there has been disagreements, careful words and actions, but no one has been mauled.

And isn't that a miracle.

"Then who was the guy they went after in Japan?" Isaac inquired, stirring the conversation back into the direction of Chris Argent's experience in Japan.

"A kumicho," he replied immediately, like the entirety of the memory had been scarred into his memory for all eternity. Hope's own mind was still pulsating; not understanding who or what the creatures were looking for. "A yakuza boss. It was my first gun deal. I was only eighteen and it was supposed to be a simple exchange, except Gerard left out the minor detail of the buyers being yakuza. He wanted to see if I could adapt in the moment. Testing my ability to improvise."

"His dad is a piece of shit," Caroline couldn't help but spit out.

"Agreed," multiple people muttered in agreement.

"A gun deal at eighteen?" Jed shook his head. "Crazy stuff, man."

"Or your ability to survive," Allison offered, knowing that Gerard was all about survival while she rubbed a hydrogen peroxide soaked cottonball over the gash on her father's cheek.

But survival was Gerard's sole reason as to why he hunted supernatural creatures, and even in the end, was willing to become a werewolf to assure his survival through cancer.

Caroline pursed her lips, "I totally think that old man is gonna come back for revenge at some point."

"For sure," Bonnie nodded.

"The moment the sun went down it was like they just materialized out of the shadows," Argent continued, drifting into a memory lost in a time that once was."They had swords, not curved like katanas but straight, black steel — like ninjatos."

Hope sighed and ran a hand through her hair. She chewed on her bottom lip, "What did they want?"

"To get to the kumicho," Chris answered, "They cut down every living thing in their way."

Isaac's fingertips instinctively rubbed against the mark branded into his skin behind his ear. "Did they mark him like they did us?"

"So... what is the mark about?" Josie asked, tilting her head. "Does it mean they're safe or that they're targets?"

Elijah clicked his tongue and tilted his head side to side in thought. "I am willing to assume that it means they are safe," he paused, "for the moment."

Klaus inhaled deeply through his nose. Why does it seem that this pack of young teenagers can't catch a break?

Chris shook his head faintly, eyes casted down while he spoke: "Not exactly. After they had impaled their way through everyone else, they approached him. They didn't move to mark him; didn't stop to think. Their blades tore into him, eyes flashing a silver white as their blades pierced his stomach."

Kol hummed, sitting up straight and actually being pretty calm and thoughtful for the first time in a while.

"What was he?"

"I don't know," Argent said slowly, and Hope's shoulders slumping at his words. "But there might be someone who does. There were a few others who survive that night. One of them was a man named Katashi — they called him Silverfinger because of an unusual prosthetic, and it looked like he was getting ready to take them all on himself. I've known for a while Katashi was in the country. I spent yesterday tracking him down."

Isaac immediately gestured toward Chris' cut and bruised face, "Didn't look like he wanted to be found."

"Not particularly, no."

Scott leaned forward, pressing his elbows into his thighs, "You think he knows what they are? Or what they want?"

"Maybe," Argent replied, but nothing was set in stone.

There had been no actual way of knowing if Katashi knew what the shadowy figures were or what they were looking for, but it had been the only lead they had at that moment.

There was no telling what had arrived in Beacon Hills, and they knew that they were the ones to blames for returning power to the Nemeton.

"Oh shit," MG's eyes widened. "I forgot about that."

Allison's eyebrows furrowed, backing away from her father to lean against the bookshelf. "What if he doesn't want to talk?"

"What if he doesn't even remember you?" Hope asked, crossing her arms.

Everything she has encountered in this universe was like the monsters that escaped Malivore, but more dangerous and complicated.

Lizzie nodded in agreement, shivering at the thought of being in Beacon Hills at any given moment. "Glad I'm not there."

Chris stood from his chair, wrapping his hands around a wooden box with Japanese symbols carved into the opening. Spinning the container around, latch facing him, he spoke: "He'll remember this." He opened the box, unfolding a black cloth which revealed that shattered mask of one of the hooded creatures. "I know I didn't kill it — I'm not sure you can, but I slowed it down long enough for us to get out of there."

"What was behind the mask?" Scott asked as he picked up a piece of the mask.

"Darkness. Absolute darkness."

Hope pursed her lips. "It's like my magic had no affect whatsoever, so whatever they are, they're going to be hard to defeat." She straightened her shoulders. "It's a good thing I like challenges, then."

Freya snorted, "like parents, like daughter."

Hayley and Klaus shared smirks, glad that their daughter got their stubbornness to never back down, no matter how tough something seems to be.

Elijah looked between them and nodded. He wasn't about to step in between anything that is currently transferring between them. He knows that he has lost his chance, and he's not about to fight for something that he knows is broken. Unlike his siblings, he won't retort in a fit of jealousy. No, he would rather step back and find possible happiness somewhere else.

And it's about time Klaus has something worth being happy for.

HOPE WAS ON the back of Scott's motorbike, the wind blowing through her curled hair. She looked to the side upon hearing a revving noise, and noticed one of the twins on a motorcycle. She looked to the left and saw the other twin. Scott noticed the same thing and revved his bike and took off into the school parking lot.

Lizzie groaned. "Why are those two always just there lurking like weirdos?"

"For-real, dudes need to take a hint," Jen stated in agreement, slouching further into their shared beanbag, burritos all gone, now she was holding an ice cream sandwich.

Lizzie scrunched her nose up. "How are you able to eat so much?"

Jen grinned, eyes twinkling as she looked up at Lizzie. "A girls gotta have her secrets." Her lips smoothed out her a soft smile and held out another ice cream sandwich towards the blonde, "want one?"

Lizzie grinned and nodded, taking the treat from the tiny redhead, moving to lean back near her, shoulders grazing.

Ben couldn't help but smile at his younger sister, feeling happy for her, although something stung his heart. He kind of loathes the fact she could be all comfortable and possibly finding someone while he had been abandoned to the darkness for who knows how long. He lost the love of his life and now feels like an outsider.

Sighing, he shook his head and transformed his chair into a bean bag, letting his shoulders to loosen and not be so tense. It looks like no one is about to kill anyone, so he doesn't have to watch his back.

He hopes, deep down, that he will find joy in this huge black room just like his sister currently is.

Taking off their helmets, the duo looked back and forth at the twins in amusement.

"I'm sorry but they're so sibling coded," Lizzie stated with a chuckle, taking a bite out of her ice cream cake.

"You guys going to be doing this all day?" Scott asked, his lips tugging up at one corner of his mouth.

Ethan nodded. "All day."

"All night," Aiden added.

Scott sighed and shook his head. "Is this about being in my pack?"

Aiden rose a brow. "This is about you being the target of demonic ninjas." He then glanced at Hope who narrowed her eyes at him. "You're both targets."

Ethan sarcastically said, "You mean, the demonic ninjas that pulled swords out of their chests and completely kicked our asses?"

"Yeah! Those demonic ninjas," Aiden added, also sarcastically.

Hope couldn't help but grin. "Right now, you're both reminding me of another set of twins I know." She then got off the bike. "I don't need anyone to protect me. And neither does Scott."

Lizzie and Josie glanced to one another and grinned. It's nice to know that Hope can still connect certain things and attributes to things and people in her original universe.

Ethan gave her a deadpan stare. "They were looking right at you when the sun came up."

She nodded. "And they also disappeared. Chris thinks that they could just come out at night..."

"Since this is our first experience with demonic ninjas, we're thinking we should play it safe."

Aiden nodded in agreement with his brother. "All day."

Scott shared a look with Hope and sighed. "...And all night." He then gave them a look. "Okay, one thing first. I need to talk to Stiles and let him know everything that happened last night — without you."

Hope's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Stiles who she had made-out with at the party last night.

Caroline was smiling widely. "And now they can become a couple and then in the future have a wedding and then some kids, and—"

"Shut it," Klaus whirled around, eyes wide. "That's my teenaged daughter you're talking about. She's too young to have kids."

Caroline pouted. "I said in the future."

Klaus huffed, "no." And then he turned around in his seat to cross his arms, ignoring Hayley's snickers.

Caroline stuck her tongue out at Klaus and rolled her eyes. "Buzzkill."

That's when she realized that they haven't talked to one another since it happened and he got shocked out of his daze.

Caroline's eyes basically popped out of her as she sat up quickly. "WHAT?"

Bonnie winced at the volume but was just as confused.

"What the hell happened?" Elena asked, frowning. "He was so happy to be kissing her and now he hasn't said one word to her about it? That doesn't sound like the Stiles we all came to know."

Something about the whole situation felt a little off, but she brushed it off because everyone has been stressed out lately.

Davina frowned, "don't brush it off, the fuck."

Rebekah's eyes narrowed. "He better have a good explanation or else."

Marcel crossed his arms and tsked. "If not, he better grovel for her forgiveness."

Lizzie sat up and nodded, pointing at the man, licking lips to rid them of the chocolate from the ice cream cake. "He better be crying and throwing up on his knees for her forgiveness."

Elena winced, "I don't think she'll want him to be throwing up."

"It's a saying, auntie Lena," Lizzie stated and then gave an example, "I would be crying, screaming, throwing up for Sabrina Carpenter tickets right now." She then sighed dreamily. "I wish I had been old enough to go to her Short N Sweet tour because the things I would've gave to see a Juno position in person."

"A... what?" Caroline frowned.

Lizzie giggled at the confusion. "Her song Juno; You make me wanna make you fall in love. Oh, late at night, I'm thinking 'bout you, ah-ah. Wanna try out some freaky positions? Have you ever tried this one?" And when she sung that last part, she would do some freaky position that would've been down in bed. Totally iconic."

"Wow, wow," Alaric cringed and closed his eyes, sighing heavily. "Can we change the subject. Please."

Lizzie's laughter could be heard echoing as the scene on the screen continued playing.

Aiden scoffed. "No!

"Yes." Scott glared. "And I don't want you listening in. No wolf-hearing."

Aiden tilted his head with a challenging look in his eyes. "How would you even know?"

Scott smirked. "I'm a True Alpha — you have no idea what I can do." He then walked away and Hope followed after him, snickering.

Klaus scoffed, "he would never know. He's bluffing."

Caroline snickered, "no dip, Sherlock."

SCOTT AND HOPE followed after Stiles who was frantic. He could barely look her in the eyes which made her feel a little self-conscious.

Caroline's eye twitched, and those closest to her winced and covered their ears. "EXCUSE ME?!" She stood up and stared at the screen with narrowed eyes. If this was a cartoon, she would be frothing at the mouth with steam blowing out her ears. "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT ABOUT?!"

For once, regarding his daughter, Klaus is on the same page as Caroline. He wants to reach into the screen and grab Stiles by his neck and shake him. "Do you see why I said no one deserves my daughter's attention?" He held out his hand to the screen, turning towards his family. "This is why!"

"-so, then, she starts talking about phosphors and the key having chemicals on it, right? And so that made me think of the chemistry closet and the fact that someone had to let Barrow in."

Stiles was struggling to properly annunciate his words the more anxious he grew as he tried to explain the theory that had been swirling around in his since last night.

"What... the fuck, dude," Kaleb muttered, mouth punched into a straight line. "What is his damn deal with this stupid key?"

MG shook his head, disappointed, "not him fumbling Hope Mikaelson of all people." He winced, turning to Landon, "sorry bro."

Landon sputtered, not knowing what to say.

The moment he had saw Scott and Hope in the hallway, he was immediately calling out for them to follow him into the chemistry classroom where Barrow had been hiding.

The only fault in his theory had been when his feet suddenly stopped at the sight of the clean chalkboard, no remnants of the proof that would convince them to believe that he had been the one who left Barrow the message to kill Kira.

There was complete silence.

"What?!" Lizzie screeched, standing up abruptly. "He left the note?"

"How?" MG asked.

"Why?" Josie frowned, staring at the screen with wide eyes.

Kol sat forward, rubbing his lips together as theories poured through his mind.

Klaus let out a quiet growl, narrowing his eyes. "HE PUT MY DAUGHTER IN HARMS WAY?!" He stood abruptly, not taking his eyes off of the screen, needing answers and needing them now.

Last night, apparently after noticing something so similar in the lettering, he took it upon himself to write out the exact same number beside the coded messages — replicating the exact same writing on the board.

"It's gone," Stiles muttered, his face falling in confusion just before he turned to face them. "Okay, okay...it doesn't matter though - it doesn't matter. I've still got the key."

The boy darted toward the chemical closet at the back of the chemistry room, almost bumping shoulders with his best friends in the process. His shaking fingers searched for the key, the entirety of his nervous system being set on edge as he grew more sleep deprived with each passing minute. But his search had been to no avail, finding no such key that had been on the key ring mere hours ago.

Bonnie frowned, "is he... hallucinating?"

Elena was so worried for the boy, knowing he would never intentionally putting those he cares for in harms way. There's no way.

"What the hell?" Stiles kept flipping through the keys. "I had it — I had it here. I had it here this morning; I swear to God, I had it this morning."

"The key you were talking about last night?" Scott asked quietly, worried for his best friend upon hearing how close to a breakdown he was.

"Yeah," Stiles confirmed, glancing up at Scott and Hope. "I showed you guys, right? Didn't I show you?"

Scott's eyes narrowed slightly, thinking back as he tried to remember, "No, you just told us about it. Neither of us actually saw it."

Hope sighed softly. "I only glanced at it last night. Though, I barely remember because—" she cut herself off because she was sure it wasn't the right time to bring up their moment.

"What is going on?" Jed asked, running a hand through his floppy brown hair, stressed and anxious over this whole key thing. Nothing is making sense.

That hadn't brought any comfort to Stiles, his face paling even further as he set out to prove that he had been the one who left Barrow the coded message on the chalkboard. "I was here a couple of hours ago," he spluttered out, hand tightening around the keys as he moved back to the chalkboard. "And the message left to Barrow spelling Kira's name was right there on the board in my handwriting, and I had the key to the chemistry closet."

Scott hadn't been as convinced as Stiles was, "So you unlocked the chemistry closet so Barrow could hide in it from the cops, and then you wrote him a message to kill Kira?"

"I know - I know - I know how it sounds," Stiles stuttered, his voice shaking just before his hand sunk deep into his pocket and made an attempt to pull out the folded up report he had found. "But look at this. This is the news report that came out about Barrow when they caught him, okay? About the shrapnel bomb that he used. See this? See what he did? He put nuts, bolts, and screws - and then he hid the bomb and the detonator in a box that he wrapped as a birthday present. What does that sound like to you?"

Scott's face softened in realization, "Coach. The joke we played on Coach."

"That was my idea, Scott," Stiles whispered, his voice barely audible as he tried to get the two werewolves to understand what he was trying to say. "You remember? That was my idea. That's no coincidence. It can't be."

Caroline wordlessly sat back down beside Bonnie, confused and worried. "What is going on?"

The Bennett witches frowned, shrugging, but said, "I don't know, but I think it's just the beginning."

Hope's lips parted, trying to form her though into words. "Stiles... we know you, you know you, and you would never hurt someone, let alone kill them. Therefore, why would you leave that message for Barrow to kill Kira?"

"It was here," Stiles mumbled, his hand tightening around the paper until it was just a crumpled-up ball as he stared at the clean chalkboard. "It was all here."

"Dude, are you feeling okay?" Scott asked, worried that Stiles wasn't getting enough sleep.

Something was wrong, Hope thought. She remembered seeing a flash of darkness in his eyes when he had glared at the girl that had kissed her. She remembered the slight tingle throughout her body that she had first thought was because she was horny, but now isn't so sure. It felt familiar. But, she couldn't quite put her finger on it. All she knows is that she had felt rage from him. And at that point, it exited her. But now it kinda scares her.

Klaus who had been listening intently to his daughters thoughts, cringed at the horny parts, but pushed past it as he was worried that his daughter was going to get hurt by the one person she trusts most out of everyone.

Marcel clicked his tongue and shook his head. If for some reason Stiles lays a hand on his sister, he will somehow find him through the universes and go all big brother mode on him.

"You look really tired," she stated, looking him up and down with soft eyes.

He turned away from the board, "Yeah, I'm fine. I just...haven't been sleeping, really."

"Stiles, why don't you go home?" Hope suggested. "Take a sick day or something." Maybe that was all he really needed. Hopefully that is all he needs.

Elena pursed her lips and shook her head, "yeah... I have a feeling that that won't help any..."

After Stiles had finally agreed to skip the rest of the day and go home, Scott and Hope found themselves exiting the chemistry classroom only to be instantly surrounded by Ethan and Aiden.

Hope pulled her phone out of her back pocket when it vibrated, reading the text message from Isaac saying that he was going to help the Argents track down Katashi.

"Did you tell him?" Aiden asked, gluing himself to Hope's side while she put away her phone.

"No," Scott breathed out. "He's got enough on his mind right now."

Hope rubbed her hands together, still worried about Stiles and will continue to worry about him until she knows that he is alright.

"Aww," Caroline cooed quietly, but her worry for the boy, and for his and Hope's relationship was out weighing her excitement over the cute moments.

"If they're coming for either of you in a few hours then so do you," Ethan pointed out.

Scott whirled around to face the twins. "What if it's not me?!"

Hope had a gut feeling. "I think it's me that they're after next. Did you see how they looked at me when I used my powers?"

Everyone who has grown to like Hope, especially her family, grew tense in worry.

"Or..." Scott trialed off as he turned around to see Kira making her way down the stairs. It seemed like she was walking in slow motion before she spotted him and smiled warmly.

Rebekah chuckled and scrunched her nose up, "is this some sort of romcom?"

Marcel snickered, "he's in love."

"Huh," Elena muttered, "kinda got the vibe that him and Isaac..."

"Me too!" Caroline sat up and pointed at her brunette best friend.

Bonnie frowned, "but him and Kira would be so cute together."

The blonde and brunette nodded in agreement.

Elena shrugged, "true. But also Isaac was Scott's anchor when they sacrificed themselves to save their parents, remember? That has to mean something."

The Bennett witch hummed, "you might be onto something."

Hope frowned and shook her head. Kira was too innocent, too nice. Even if she was supernatural, there was no way that they could be after her.

The shadow ninjas were probably after something powerful and tainted by darkness. And it didn't matter what anyone else said, it all pointed to her.

Hayley shook her head, "after everything we did, she still thinks she's broken and undeserving of love." Tears shone in her eyes as she glanced at her baby daddy, "Klaus, why did we think dying was the best option for her?"

Klaus wasn't sure if she was asking it rhetorically or not, but either way, he had no answer. This so called author is right; he should've allowed Elijah to take the hallow and die. He should've stayed behind, lived to raise and love his daughter.

Hope has been surrounded by darkness and death and pain even way before she was born. And whatever the Hollow did, it had only tainted her further. Darkness now not only surrounds her aura, but also her heart.

Freya shook her head, "that couldn't be further from the truth."

"She's the brightest star in our family," Rebekah mumbled, sniffling, wiping away a lone tear that slid down her cheek. "She's our hope, the only good thing any of us have done or been near since we were humans."

Marcel was frowning, "I wish I had known she was suffering so much."

Enzo couldn't help but relate to the small Mikaelson girl; he too feels like he is tainted and unlovable, that he will do nothing but hurt those he cares for no matter how hard he tries not to.

Sure, Hope was a little terrified that the hooded creatures were going to find something within her soul causing them to thrust their swords in her body. But, she thinks she deserves it.

Hayley choked back a sob. She knows that these inner thoughts of her daughters has been shown multiple times so far, but it's like a punch in the gut every time.

Lizzie shook her head in disbelief, "I get it, Hope can be a bitch sometimes and annoying, but she is the least selfish person in this room. There is no way something in her soul or whatever," she rolled her eyes, "is bad enough for some knockoff dementor wannabe to deem her killable."

"No literally," MG stated in agreement.

And she wouldn't have thought twice about dying if it meant that she would save her friends from facing the evil that was about to wreak havoc in Beacon Hills.

"THATS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT!" Lizzie shouted and stood up, pointing exaggeratedly at the screen. "Her soul is not tainted by darkness or whatever. What is this absolute bullshit? Does Hope really think she is so evil when she literally thinks shit like this?" She huffed loudly, stomped her foot, and plopped back down on the beanbag chair. "Absolutely ridiculous," she shook her head. "Stupid hero mentality."

IT HAD TAKEN a few minutes for Hope, Scott, and Kira to pull into the McCall's driveway after leaving a very angry Ethan and Aiden in the high school's parking lot. They knew that the twins needed to keep themselves out of the line-of-fire; they weren't going to do it willingly, so Scott and Hope had taken that choice away from them by simply pulling their sparkplugs out of one of their motorcycles, while Hope stole the other one.

Davina grinned. "I love that."

Kol was nodding and smirking in agreement, "I love being petty. Glad she took after me."

​The auburn haired witch followed after the teen Alpha and Kira into the house, shutting the door and locking it behind her. She closed her eyes and held her hands up to the doors, muttering a sealing spell, "Apné sà mene." It's to stop anyone from entering that means harm.

"Huh," Bonnie hummed, and then rose an impressed brow. "I need that."

Elena nodded in agreement, "the way that would solve so many problems."

Hope turned around to offer Kira a small smile.

The brunette was fidgeting nervously. "We're running out of time."

Klaus narrowed his eyes.

"I know," Scott agreed with a frown. "But Allison, her dad and Isaac are working on something that could help." He quickly made his way through the primary level of the house, making sure that all of the doors and windows were confidently and securely locked.

Lizzie rolled her eyes, "as if that'll keep the damn shadow people out of the house."

Hope rose a brow. "My spell will do better than simply locking the doors and windows, Scott."

Lizzie snorted, "exactly."

He sheepishly smiled at her. "I know. But it makes me feel better."

Caroline cooed, "he's so adorable!"

Kira rubbed her hands together. "I don't want to sound pessimistic or anything, but you really think that's going to keep them out?"

"Actually, we have a kind of security system..." He continued to search every door and window to make sure everything was secure. "Things happened a couple of weeks ago — a lot of things — and we had my boss help make a few changes to the house."

"Your house? Do you work for a security company or something?"

Scott shook his head with furrowed brows. "No, he's a veterinarian."

"You had a vet put in your alarm?"

MG snickered.

"... she's new in this so she's got a right to be confused,"  Josie pointed out. "I feel for her."

Hope snorted. "It's something only a human can arm. That's why we're waiting on Mo—Melissa." She cleared her throat and looked away, hating herself at the slight slip up. Does this mean she's forgetting her own mother already? "And she'll be here soon," she added, hoping Scott didn't notice her slip up.

Hayley's heart clenched, but her lips pulled up into a soft smile. It hurt to hear her daughter almost call another woman 'mom', but if it was going to be anyone, she's glad it's Melissa. The McCall woman has done amazing with Hope, cared for her, loved her, and puts up with all the chaos, she deserves a spot in Hope's life, and if that spot is 'mom', then that's fine with Hayley.

Still, she reached out to grip Klaus' bicep and he laid his hand on hers for comfort, his own fears of his daughter calling another man 'dad' is approaching and he won't be able to handle it as elegantly.

Scott gave Kira a small smile upon seeing her worried look. "Don't worry. We're going to be okay."

Kira blew out a breath. "We or me?"

"All of us," Hope was determined to save everyone.

Kira looked around with a frown. "You didn't bring the twins here because you didn't want them to get hurt."

Scott stepped closer to her, looking her in the eyes. "I don't want anyone getting hurt."

"Ooh," Caroline squirmed in her seat as the two sweetest people ever interact.

"Then why did you bring me? If those things are coming after you, and anyone who gets in the way gets killed, then shouldn't I be somewhere else?"

Hope couldn't help but think she had a point. But, there was also a huge possibility that she was a target, meaning the three supernaturals that have yet to be targeted, was together. "We are not letting you get hurt," she said to comfort the girl.

"Smart," Ben commented, nodding, pausing when everyone turned to him in surprise that he has spoken up. "That way if something happens, they won't have to go searching for the other to save them. They're all in one place, easier for them to know what would be happening and when."

Others nodded in agreement.

Klaus hummed, eyeing the supernaturally beautiful man before facing the screen again.

Kira stepped back to look at the both of them. "And I don't want you getting hurt — especially because of me."

Scott's shoulders slumped a little. "It could be any of the three of us."

Kira looked down before sitting down on Scott's bed and pulling out a book. "I don't think so. Have you ever heard of something called a Kitsune?" She turned to a page that looked like a fox protecting another.

Suddenly Kol squealed which is something so unlike him that everyone whipped around quickly to stare at him with wide eyes.

"I knew it!" He shouted and then leaned back as if he didn't let out the girliest noise ever, placing an arm around his wife. "I fucking knew it."

Scott sat down beside her. "That looks like what happened to you at the power station."

She nodded. "When a Kitsune rubs its tails together, it can create fire or lightning. It's called foxfire." Scott pulled a face and she looked at him with wide eyes. "'..I don't have any tails."

"Stoppp she's so cute," Elena whispered to herself.

Scott nervously chuckled. "How'd you know what I was thinking?"

"Because Kitsune are also psychic. I can hear all of your thoughts." Scott looked worried at her words and Hope had to purse her lips to not burst out laughing.

"Really?" MG's eyes widened.

Kira leaned closer to him and whispered, "Just kidding!" Her smile disappeared as she looked toward the window. "The sun's setting..."

The sudden sound of a car pulling into the driveway made them all make their way down the stairs.

But, instead, they were greeted with the tall, lanky build of Agent McCall.

"Ugh!" Caroline groaned at the same time Lizzie went, "not this dingus."

Hope's eyes noticeably widened at the sight, Scott's body stiffening from beside her, and Kira looked concerned.

They all knew that Scott's father being there wasn't a good thing, like, at all.Especially when there were demonic ninjas coming after them.

Scott gaped, "What are you doing here?" Realization quickly morphed into confusion as he asked his father another question: "And why do you still have a key?" ​

Agent McCall feigned being taken aback, "Funny you mention keys," He tapped his fingers along the top of his laptop. "Because while I have a key to this house, I'm not exactly sure how you got a key to my office," he finished, opening the laptop to reveal a photo of Kira and Scott the night they had snuck into the police station to delete those supernatural photos of Kira off of her phone.

"Is he being serious right now?" Lizzie groaned. "I know he's FBI, but like shut up."

"You're preaching, sista," Kaleb said.

"Let me help you out here," McCall began, looking between the three of them. "This kind of thing usually begins with something along the lines of, It's not what you think, or, I can explain."

Scott and Hope's attention had been focused on the window, watching as the dingy sunlight quickly began to fade into pure darkness.

"Dad, let me help you out — you need to leave."

Hope nodded in agreement, "I second that motion."

Bonnie snorted which earned her some looks. "Sorry," she smiled sheepishly and shrugged, "it's the way her eyes are so wide while nodding.... It's comical."

Agent McCall surveyed the three teenagers, they were on high alert as nervousness practically radiated off of them while they tried to keep the current situation under wraps. He wasn't aware of the life-altering reality he had just stepped into, and all he could think about was the fact that they did something bad.

"God, can't he take a hint?" Caroline ran her hands down her face in frustration.

"I will, with a satisfactory explanation," Rafael retorted, narrowing his eyes at them.

They were running out of time, the moment that the sky was black, the hooded figures would return and they were more than willing to take down anyone who stood in their way.

"Go get a warrant."

"I don't need a warrant," McCall snapped. "I'm your father."

"No, you're a gene donor. I got my hair color from you," Scott interjected, growing frustrated with the fact that the older man was throwing the words "I'm your father" around like they were nothing. Agent Rafael McCall wasn't his father, not after he walked out on him and his mother, leaving Melissa to support their son on her own. "And that's all I got. So you're not allowed to play tough dad with me," he continued as Melissa finally made her way into the house.

"Hot daaamnn..." Kol whistled, impressed by the boy.

Rebekah's eyes widened. "I didn't know he had it in him." She grinned, "proud of him."

Klaus grinned to himself, wishing that his younger self had stood up to his own father. Sadly... still to this day, the little boy in him is still terrified of Mikael, and probably always will be.

"Hey," Melissa greeted, standing beside her tall ex-husband. "What's going on?"

Agent McCall's eyes never wandered from the three teenagers, "Maybe one of you should explain."

Hope grew tense and her eyes narrowed as everyone's attention fell on the darkness that was slowly encasing the room as the sun began to disappear completely from the powder-orange sky, leaving them all to stare at each other.

One of the shadow creatures materialized directly in the McCall living room.

"Oh?" Bonnie tilted her head. "But... the spell?"

Freya hummed, "they must not actually mean any harm."

"But..." Josie trialed off.

"How?" Hope mumbled, surprise they got past her spell. She then prepared herself, her steely eyes staying on the figure, ready to fight if necessary. Nobody moved for a little while, though, knowing it would get worse before getting better.

​However, the person that made the first move had been the only soul in the room that had no idea on what was happening.

"Ugh!" Caroline groaned.

Damon tsked, "dumbass."

"For once," Kol held up his pointer finger, "I agree with the Salvatore." He made a 'bleh' face and shuttered, "someone stake me, I never thought I would say that."

Agent McCall's voice ringing loudly through the cold and silent room: "Who the hell is this?"

"Agh," Lizzie groaned, covering her face with her hands, "second hand embarrassment is so bad right now."

When Scott saw his father beginning to advance on the misty figure, he panicked. "Dad, no! Dad, wait!"

Hope reeled back, those exact words taking her back to when she had ran toward her father and uncle just as they impaled each other with the White Oak. Her vision began to turn a little blurry, the flashback making her heart clench and burn.

"What?!" Klaus sat up quickly. "She..." his eyes were wide and he was gripping his chair tightly, it creaking and snapping under his strength. "She saw that?"

Elijah swallowed, looking down in guilt, he should've never allowed his brother to go through with it when he had a daughter to look after.

Hayley was silently crying, grabbing Klaus and pulling him into a hug as he stared unblinkingly at the screen with tears streaming down his face.

And before anyone could blink, a sword had been used on Rafael's body, and he fell to the floor in shock.

"Oop!" MG exclaimed and squealed, jumping back in shock.

"Damn," Kaleb hissed through his teeth.

Melissa had been the first one to get to Scott's father, her jog turning into a run as she dropped to her knees in front of her ex-husband, hands quickly pressing themselves against his bleeding shoulder.

Hope was the second one on the ground, the two women doing their best to slow the bleeding — in just a matter of seconds, blood had already began to form a thick coat over their hands.

"Okay. Okay," Hope murmured over and over again, still trying to cleanse her mind of the terrible flashback that had hit her hard. "Think. Think." She took in a deep breath and held her hands over together, fingers interlocked like she was about to give CPR, but she didn't apply any pressure. She shook away any thoughts that wasn't about the wound, and forced herself to focus. "Vulnera Sanentur." She kept repeating the words over and over again until the wound stopped bleeding and she could feel the wound slowly start to stitch itself together.

Lizzie tilted her head, "Harry Potter spell?"

"She... made a fictional spell... work?" Bonnie asked in awe.

Freya looked smug as she said, "my niece is very smart. She used to make up her own spells when she was younger."

Even Kol looked smug, "I helped with some of them."

Hayley fondly smiled over at Kol, "you and her used to stay up all night to finish spells or potions." She then playfully scolded, "it got hard to wake her up in the morning because of those late night calls."

Kol grinned, winking at her. "I'm not the favorite uncle for no reason."

Though, before the wound could fully close up, the front door went flying open, giving Hope and Melissa a hint that they needed to move Agent McCall out of the line of fire.

"Damn!" Jed exclaimed loudly, "so much is happening so fast!"

While the two drug Scott's father into the hallway, their eyes glanced up to see who had broken through the door.

Hope's breath got caught in her throat when she realized that it had been Derek, the Beta baring his fangs at the hooded figure. His arrival had given Scott enough time to complete his transition, a single roar fell from his mouth as he advanced toward the misty ninja.

"Okaaaay," Lizzie said with a grin.

Rebekah fanned herself.

Klaus pulled himself out of his depression spiral once he realized that his daughter saw him disintegrate into nothing but ashes, and turned to scowl at his sister, "Bekah..."

The youngest blonde Mikaelson shrugged, "what? He's hot."

That was when the tribrid rose to her feet, wanting to help the two as much as she could, and allowed her golden eyes to shine through the darkness. She did all she could for Rafael for now, Melissa could easily do the rest.

Marcel frowned, tilting his head, "why is she not giving him her blood?"

"See, that's what I'm wondering," Rebekah said with pursed lips.

"I think it's because she has a fear of turning someone, even accidentally," Lizzie spoke up, shrugging when others gave her curious stares. "Well, to be fair, she sired this one boy and yeah... well she stopped selling her blood, and—"

"She sold her blood?!" Caroline shouted in surprise.

Lizzie nodded, "yeah. Don't know why though."

Hayley swallowed, squeezing Klaus' arm. "It was so she could try to find her dad." She shot him a small smile when he gave her a tearful look. "She was willing to scrounge the whole world for him if needed."

"Mom," Scott shouted, nearly crashing into Hope as she moved to stand behind him. "The ash!"

Melissa quickly realized that she needed to be the one to put up the Mountain Ash barrier, scrambling away from her ex-husband.

While she did that, the tribrid turned around to see that another hooded figure had emerged from the darkness, standing directly behind her.

"Oh shit!"

Everyone sat up, tense, ready to either see the best fight ever or see her get cut down by a sword.

They all knew it would be the former, but it still had them tensing in their seats.

​Before the misty ninja could do anything to her, the sound of glass shattering echoed loudly through the house, and to her right were the twins.

"Oh? Okay!" Kaleb commented and the way it sounded had Lizzie snickering.

The demonic figure whirled around to face the two werewolves as they released a loud snarling growl.

"Mom, now!" Scott yelled just as Hope joined in with Derek fighting off one of the demonic ninja's, pushing it out of the house.

After a final shove, the figure had been pushed out and Melissa didn't hesitate before moving up from her crouched position and running toward the door.

The jar of Mountain Ash was thrown to the floor, all of the movements around them seemed to slow as they waited for the line to form across the doorway.

Once the barrier was completed, the creature stationed itself just outside of the door, not being able to take a single step forward.

"We need that mountain ash stuff, it would be so helpful," Bonnie commented and the others nodded in agreement.

"The way I could keep anyone out while I'm ravishing my girl—"

Damon was cut off by Elena gasping in astonishment and shouting, "Damon!", Bonnie slapping him on the back of the head, Caroline covering her ears and shouting, "lalala!" At the top of her long, and Alaric groaning in disgust.

Rebekah shook her head and stared at Elena as if asking 'this is the one you chose?'.

Hope took in a deep breath and watched as Scott helped his mother carry his father up the stairs into his room. It would be easier now that the two humans are out of the way of danger.

The others made their way into the kitchen, leaving them to sulk in their solitude as they huddled around the island. Hope went to run her hands through her hair, but stopped when she realized that they were still covered in Agent McCall's blood.

Aiden pursed his lips tightly, "That Kira girl, what is she?" ​

"She's a kitsune, idiot," a deep voice interrupted them, making all three teens turn around to face Derek as he walked into the room. "The next time you're around her, use your eyes. You'll see it all around her. The younger ones give off an aura — she hasn't learned how to conceal it yet. She probably doesn't know what kind she is, either."

Rebekah grinned, "smart and hot."

Kira looked over at him in surprise, her mouth gaped.

There was a distinct look on Derek's face, one that Hope could decipher just by glancing at him out of the corner of her eyes. He was wary of the twins; unconvinced by their desire to help. He wasn't one to trust outsiders easily.

"Good," Klaus nodded. "I don't trust them either."

"I wasn't planning on hurting Kira," Aiden defended, eyes burning holes into Derek's back while the elder Hale stared at the demonic figure just outside the doorway.

"Not yet." ​

"Why do you think we're here, Derek?' Aiden demanded and Hope rose a brow at him, still reeling from the flashback and the fact that the creatures got past her spell.

Does that mean that they're not really here to harm them? Because that's the only way anyone could get past the boundary.

"Food for thought," Jed mumbled, tossing some mini m&m's into his mouth.

"For a study group?" Aiden continued sarcastically. "We're here to protect Hope and Scott."

"They don't need to be protected by the likes of you," Klaus grumbled.

"Klaus, shouldn't you be happy that our little girl has more protection than we thought was possible?" Hayley countered with an amused expression. She can't find herself to be really annoyed with him because after all these years, it was nice to be in the presence of all the family and not be fighting.

"We're trying to fight for them," Ethan added.

"I'm sure you are," Derek spoke warily, sarcasm evident in his tone. "I'm sure you'd kill for them." He continued, slowly turning to face them. "But are you willing to die for them?"

Jed nodded, "he's asking the real questions here."

There had been a fine line between Derek and the rest of the pack, and Ethan and Aiden. They knew that the twins weren't willing to give up their lives for Scott and Hope — but for Derek and the others, it was an entirely different story.

"Oh?" Lizzie's voice cracked.

"That's actually... kind of sweet..." Elena trailed off with a small smile. Dying isn't nice, but the fact that they're willing to do so for those they love is a big deal.

Enzo swallowed thickly, feeling his chest ache. He once thought him and Damon were willing to die for one another, but...

Ethan and Aiden were only willing to fight for the two Alphas because they were without a pack, if they hadn't been Omegas they wouldn't have given to shits about protecting Hope and Scott. Even though the True Alpha and the tribrid would put their lives on the line for them — they weren't sure if they would do the same.

"Damn, that is..." Kol shook his head.

"Bonkers," Jen supplied, throwing her hand up and doing an an upside down peace sign with her fingers.

Hope glanced up when the floor beneath her rumbled, the brunette's head whirling around to see that the misty figure just outside the house was trying to break the barrier with its sword constructed of steel.

Josie jumped back as a loud thud noise was heard as they clashed their sword with the invisible barrier.

The Mountain Ash barrier glowed a bright blue with each strike; Hope's heart began to pound rhythmically in her chest.

This meant bad news for them.

"No fuck," Kaleb retorted.

The three teens moved closer, watching warily as they made their way to stand beside Derek and Hope.

They watched as it repeatedly slapped its blade against the barrier, the hue surrounding it growing brighter with every attempt.

"What are they doing?" Scott asked as he came barreling into the kitchen.

"Testing for weaknesses," Hope responded. ​

Suddenly, another misty figured accompanied the other in its own attempt to break down the Mountain Ash barrier. The force of both of their swords slamming against the invisible shield caused the house to rumble as a large glass bowl went soaring off the counter, shattering as it came in contact with the floor.

The McCall house continued to quake at the force of their blows, all six of them glancing around; none of them knowing if the barrier was going to hold for much longer, and they didn't even want to begin to think about what would happened if it didn't.

Josie was chewing on her bottom lip as she spoke quietly, "honestly that is kind of scary."

Multiple people nodded in agreement.

After several more attempts, they ceased their powerful blows before placing the tips of their swords side-by-side and trying to penetrate through the barrier. A small hole began to form in the hued barrier, the steel blades pushing through with shocking ease. The figure on the left removed its blade before replacing it with its hand, succeeding at enlarging the hole.

"Guys," Ethan called out, his eyes never wandering from the doorway. "We have a problem."​

Lizzie blinked once, twice, thrice, and once again for a dramatic effect. "... was he not watching the whole time with the group or what?"

It was silent for a second, and then Kol was snorting.

"No, seriously, what the hell?" Kaleb agreed with Lizzie on Ethan's dumbness.

It had only taken a few seconds for Scott and Hope to move away from the group, making their way into the living room as Scott hastily began to dial Allison's number before placing it against his ear. Chris Argent, herself, and Isaac all went to track down Katashi in hopes of gaining some sort of information that could help the teens defend themselves against the demonic ninjas.

"Allison, please tell me that you have something," Scott wasted no time, panicked. "They're here — they're trying to get in, and it looks like they're gonna be able to do it."

"Okay, okay listen," Allison commanded, and Hope shuffled closer. "They're Japanese demons. They're called the Oni. They're looking for someone possessed — someone with a dark spirit attached to them. Okay, they won't hurt you." She continued, "They know you're supernatural but once they do this check, once they realize that you're not carrying with you this dark spirit, then they won't hurt you, I promise. All they're looking for is the Nogitsune."

Kol's eyes widened.

Enzo was the one that noticed his look. "What is it, mate?"

"The Nogitsune is well known for causing strife and choas," the chaotic Mikaelson boy said.

"Oh," Rebekah clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth. "So... you in another form."

"Rebekah," Kol sighed with an eye roll, "I'm being serious. He's hard to defeat. He literally thrives off of chaos, hungers for it."

It got eerily silent as everyone took that information in.

Katherine hummed, placing her hands on her lap, raising her brows, wanting to see this so called Nogitsune for herself. Maybe she will have a chaos partner to ruin lives soon.

Hope's blue eyes glanced toward Scott, a conflicted expression on his face as he shoved his phone into the depths of his pocket.

Kira stepped into the room, her eyes wide and tearful. "I'm right, aren't I?" She asked breathlessly. "They're looking for me. Scott, you — all of you need to leave before I get one of you killed."

"It's not her," Josie shook her head, "no way."

​Scott bowed his head, placing his hands firmly on her biceps. "They're looking for a dark spirit, and I know it's not you — it can't be you."

​"Hope, Scott, we're going to have to do something," Derek spoke up, his eyes watching the Oni intently as they continued to push and prod their way through the barrier.

Just as those words left his mouth, the barrier seemingly shattered in front of them, shiny blue ripples dancing across it as the misty figure took its first step into the house.

Ethan, Aiden, and Derek were all ready to go ahead and advance on the creature, Kira's entire body stiffening at the sight before her.

"Don't do anything," Scott instructed suddenly and Hope turned to him quickly before realizing what he was doing.

"What?" Klaus growled out. "Don't just stand there!"

"He's the alpha, Nik," Hayley told him, "he knows what he is doing."

Aiden blinked several times, "Is he serious?"

The three advancing Oni's released snarls that sounded like some sort of series of sinister clicking, their empty eyes locked on Hope, Scott, and Kira as they continued to approach them.

Scott, being bold, took a step forward, making sure that he kept the girls behind him. "I said don't do anything," he repeated in complete seriousness. He glanced back toward Kira. offering her his left hand. "Trust me." ​

Kira swallowed hard, allowing her fingers to intertwine with his, gripping them tightly. He slowly tugged her forward, stationing her beside him as she silently allowed herself to surrender to the demonic figures before her despite what she knew.

"I know this is all serious stuff," Caroline spoke quietly, "but this is so cute." Her best friends nodded in agreement.

The three of them took slow steps forward, leaving themselves vulnerable to the misty creatures in front of them.

The Oni knew then that it was time, stepping forward until they were a mere foot away from the three teens.

And without warning, the Oni in front of them extended their arms, their hands clasping around the side of their necks.​

Hope's body stilled, her eyes being forced to stare into the dark abyss of her captor - she felt as though an infinite darkness had consumed her entire being.

Everyone tensed, ready for something to snap, for another fight to break out, something.

The eyes that had once been the color of coal. turned a bright yellow, a sickly hue that reminded her too much of fireflies. Her brain felt like it was splitting in half as the Oni calculated her and dug into her head, peering into each and every dark crevasse in her mind.

But beside her, the Oni had finished with Scott, his body crumbling to the floor. He was on the floor convulsing with hypothermia as the three werewolves came to his aid. And then Kira was next.

Her body grew clammy, and her head felt like exploding as the intensity increased. It felt something similar to the Hollow which had been burning throughout her body, demanding to be released.

"No...." Klaus sat up, eyes wide as he stared at the screen. Hayley stood up with him, breath stalled in her chest.

Elijah swallowed, "... can't be."

She could faintly see black veins crawling up her body as the Oni cocked its head to the side, firefly-like eyes burning brighter as it tried to fight its way into the tributes head.

A Hellfire blue color started to protrude from her, covering her body almost protectively. She could feel the fear lap at her heart as she recognized the color that had once been attached to the Hollow. But, she knew it was gone and could never come back. Not only was the Hollow transferred into her father, he had killed himself to ensure it would never go back to her. And let's not forget that she's in a completely different universe, so it was unable to find her if it did come back.

Everyone's breathes were held.

Kol narrowed his eyes and tilted his head, watching as the blue flames lapped at his niece almost protectively. If it is the Hollow, it wasn't causing harm. If anything, it looks like it's protecting her.

So what was this?

Was this magic, this power, hidden deep within her somehow? Was it just now finding its way to the surface because of the Oni's presence?

"Hold on," Lizzie said suddenly, holding her finger up in the air, moving forward, shuffling as Jen almost fell against her from moving quickly. "Does this mean she's going to be even more powerful?"

Bonnie's eyes widened, "what would that even entail?"

No one had an answer.

Hope Mikaelson's powers were already strong, stronger than multiple witches combined, and to add whatever that is to the mix... she will be unstoppable.

She didn't know and she wasn't sure if she wanted to find out.

Suddenly, the blue waves disappeared, sinked back into her skin, and then Hope could feel her eyes roll back before she ungraciously fell to the floor.

Derek had been quick to reach out and catch her before she collided against the floor. He smoothed her hair out of her face and then reached behind her ear to feel the same backward five that was behind his own ear.

She was safe. She wasn't evil like she thought.

But, someone, out there, was.

"Dun dun dun..." MG muttered to himself as everyone stared at the screen, letting out the breathes they didn't even know they were holding.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓'𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆

— daaamnnn.... 10k words...

— I AM SO SORRY FOR THE WAIT !!! i have been working on so many other stories in my drafts. there are two im very excited to work on/to show you guys; one is a true blood/nancy drew crossover and the others is a teen wolf/marauders crossover

— good news, at least we are FINALLY in the void!stiles era and the mikaelsons are about to see a side of stiles they will both hate and love, ARE YOU EXCITED ?!?!?