Five

several days later...

"So let me get this straight..." Hope and I were in what was now our bedroom, answering each other's questions. I had questions about Malivore. She had questions about me. And currently she was listing all the monsters that were sent by Malivore.

I was bewildered with how much has happened for her these past few years. I paced the room, trying to wrap my head around everything. "You've faced a dragon, a spider thing-"

"An arachne-"

"-a freaking unicorn, a mummy, Cupid-"

"Technically his brother, Pothos..."

"-a gargoyle, a necromancer-"

"The Necromancer. He's a bit of an egotistical asshole..."

"I mean, you've been busy!" I chuckled, still just barely believing it myself. I always thought that the only supernaturals that existed were vampires, werewolves, and witches. Never did I even consider ancient mythologicals being real.

"It's a lot to believe, I know. I mean I can't even believe you exist." Hope smiled as she pulled her legs into a crisscross position on her bed. I decided to stop pacing the room and sat on my bed, opposite from the princess.

"I'm sensing there's a deeper meaning to that than me being the last hybrid..."

"Yeah." She looked down at her hands and began fiddling with her fingers. "It's been pretty lonely. Like, all my life...being what I am, I mean." Her blue eyes found mine, and she and I both maintained the contact. "You are as much of a tribrid as I am. It's in your blood. Sure, magic doesn't come to you as easily as it does me or the average witch. And sure you can't create other hybrids with your blood... But," she sighed. "For the first time I don't feel alone. Even if I wasn't before."

I nodded in understanding, knowing that feeling all too well.

"I don't know, am I making any sense?"

"You are. In fact, I understand perfectly."

She rolled her eyes. "Sure. Because you totally didn't know about me, 'the princess,'" she mocked.

In that moment I was beyond tempted to tell her about Mark and Mason, but I decided well against it. I trust Hope with my life, as I am trying my damnedest to get her to do the same with me, but I wasn't ready to trust anyone with my feelings. The only living person right now with that privilege is Marcel.

I bit my tongue, deciding to change the subject as the thought came to mind. "Do you think Dr. Ric would let me go to New Orleans? To see Marcel? Is-is there even a way to restore his memories of me...?"

"That depends on if you want him to remember..."

I shook my head slowly. "I don't know. I need to see him first."

Hope smiled lightly before hopping off her bed. She sat on the floor in the space between our beds, patting the spot in front of her. "Come sit."

"What are we doing?" I asked, sitting across from her.

"We're gonna see Marcel. Then you can decide if you want him to remember you..."

I nodded slowly. The princess before me held out her hands for me to take hold of. I didn't know the specifics of how I would see Marcel, or how this spell Hope would be casting even works.

"What do I do, Princess?"

Hope pursed her lips, eyeing me with almost no expression. "Just relax, close your eyes and concentrate." I followed the instructions as they were given. "Just think of him. Your days together, your nights. Just think of what he means to you. Find your connection to him."

It wasn't hard to do that. Since Marcel adopted me, there's always been a certain connection between us. He's been there for me at my lowest times, my best days, my worst. Even during the days where I was just... being. He never hurt me or made me feel small for any reason. And when I'd done something that disappointed him, he never stopped showing that he cared for me and my well being.

After briefly reminiscing on the years before dear ol' Malivore, I saw none other than Marcel Gerard himself. But this wasn't a memory. In fact, it was clear to me that this was a present-day occurrence. Marcel stood before what I could only guess was a crowd of vampires, likely those in which reside in New Orleans.

I couldn't hear what he was saying, but I just knew that by the look on his face and his body language, he was lecturing his vampire subjects about something.

"Do you know what he's talking about?"

I figured Hope could see what I was seeing as well, but I didn't answer. I wanted to see more before I made any decisions.

It wasn't but a few seconds before two vampires hurled a third one next to Marcel. Marcel had grabbed him by the shoulder and forced the vampire up to his feet. He then pulled a wooden dagger from the inside of his jacket, then plunged it into the vampire's stomach.

The other vampires in the room flinched at the sight, and some didn't dare look at the staked vampire before Marcel.

Before I could witness anything else, the image I saw quickly faded away as Hope tore her hands away from mine.

My eyes shot open to find Hope looking at me, brows furrowed, and lips pursed. "What was that?" She rolled her eyes. "I mean I know what that was but was that a normal occurrence?"

I shrugged lightly. "Marcel always kept me far from anything vampire related or overall dangerous. I snuck around a few times and saw something like that just once, but I honestly couldn't tell you how often it happened..."

Hope forced her hands between her thighs as she brought her knees close to her chest. "What was that one time you saw something like that?"

I smiled weakly, remembering the exact moment I witnessed Marcel publicly executing one of his inferiors. "The execution of the vampire behind the attacks on my village. And my family. After torturing him for two months..."

At that moment, the shock on Hope's face was as clear as day. Her mouth was slightly open, unknowing how to respond. The air grew tense and awkward. But regardless, I showed a (hopefully) convincing smile.

"Beneath his seemingly hard exterior, he's a kind man. A better man than most would be, even with being among the most powerful of a certain predatory species..." I tried- and failed- to not let my smile waver one bit, but realization hit me as soon as the next words came out of my mouth.

"... that's exactly why he can't remember me."

"I... w-wait what?" Hope stammered. It looked as if she was genuinely both concerned and confused. "Why don't you want him to remember?"

"Marcel's a good man. He doesn't deserve a lot of the things that happened to him, that probably will happen in the future." I held my head down. "You saw him. What he was doing. Chances are the vampires had gotten out of line... maybe hurt someone. Killed someone. That's enough stress on his shoulders without suddenly remembering a girl he called his daughter some odd years ago. I..." I looked back up at the princess who's almost as baffled as she was the first time I even called her such things.

"I simply can't imagine his face when he thinks he failed me."

"He won't-"

"He will. I know him, Hope. He'll blame himself for what happened to me if he remembers. And besides if his memories of me are restored, wouldn't everyone else's be?"

Hope nodded briefly.

"Then it's best not to have your aunt Freya kill him. Or any of your father's siblings for that matter."

"Why would they...?"

I smiled softly, hanging my head low. "He made a promise, Hope. Not only to your father and your mother, but to your entire family. Kol, Rebekah. Elijah, Freya. Keelin, Davina. All of them looked after me and protected me over the years."

"Why have I never heard of you, though?"

I shrugged, unknowing the correct answer to that. Or at least not the answer she may have been looking for. I only know what Marcel's told me.

I looked back up at Hope, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "I only know what Marcel repeatedly said to me. 'It's for your protection,' he said. 'I know the Mikaelsons all too well to know that people around them get caught up in their mess way too much, way too often.'"

Hope nodded in understanding. "That's fair enough. I just wish I knew I wasn't alone. Did you know about me?"

"Yeah. And I made attempts to see you multiple times. But I stopped myself because I didn't want to disappoint anyone." I sighed heavily, scratching at the back of my head.

"Something tells me you're not one that could ever disappoint."