"Wait a minute, you're related to Bonnie Bennett?!"

I shook my head, expecting the shock to coming from them. Well, more specifically, Ric, Hope, and the twins. Rafael, however, was a little lost.

I got up from the bed with my box in tow, pushing last them and going back into the main area.

"Who's Bonnie Bennett?"

Ric back and forth from Rafael and me, "Bonnie Bennett is a very powerful witch, descendant to an ancient witch named Qetsiyah- one of the most powerful witches of all time- and-" Ric turned to me, doing all kinds of hand gestures. "You're telling me you're related?!"

"If I'm remembering the family tree correctly, Sheila Bennett had a sister. That sister had a daughter, who then had two children. Lucy and Blake. Blake Bennett is my dad, so that makes me Bonnie's... fourth cousin, twice removed, I think?" I never got those types of terms correct. The always confused me. "Basically she and I share the same great grandparents. That's the simplified version."

"And you can't do magic?" Lizzie scoffed. "What Bennett witch can't do magic?!"

"I'm still stuck on you being a Bennett relative in the first place," Hope glared at me, likely pisses I failed to share that information. To be fair, she never asked about him.

I shook my head. "Bitch later. We're not here to discuss my dead dad. We're here to figure out how I got into Malivore."

Alaric nodded stiffly, deciding not to push further on the topic. "Right, right. Well, whoever drugged you had to know you're a hybrid, or whatever. We know that part. Thing is, they also had to know about Malivore..."

"...and that there was a pit here," Hope finished. She scoffed in a sense that, well... it made sense. But I didn't know what the hell they were talking about. "Isn't there, like, only one person we know that was here? When we came here last year, who did we run into?"

Ric sighed internally. "Clarke."

The name piqued my interest because I'd recognized that name. It was said in Malivore, and mentioned a few times after I got to the Salvatore School. "Please tell me you're not taking about that guy I saw?" Of course they were, I already knew that answer. But I still hoped there was some other Clarke I don't know of.

"He was an agent at Triad Industries, an intelligence operation that's very much aware of supernatural existence. They keep it secret from the general population," Ric said.

"That's where I jumped into the pit with Ryan. It also is more likely where he threw you into." I stated at Hope blankly. She noticed and blinked a few times, confused. "What?"

"I'm sorry, you threw yourself into Malivore?!"

"I- yes, but what-"

"Are you fucking nuts?!" I growled.

"Hey!" Ric tired to cut in, but I ignored it.

"What good reason did you have to jump into that place?"

"Not that it's any of your concern, I was trying to destroy it!"

"By destroying yourself?!"

"It was the only way! It still is! The only way there is to destroy Malivore is to sacrifice the three things that created him- I'm all three-!"

"That doesn't mean shit to me!"

"Last I checked, Melori, do you get to make decisions for me. I do whatever's necessary to protect the people I care about. My reason for existing is to destroy Malivore. That's my purpose." I didn't realize she was stepping closer to me until she was face to face with me, shoving a finger at my chest angrily. "And for the last time, you are not responsible for me. So back. Off," she growled.

"Ladies!" Alaric separated the two of us, keeping us both at arm's length. "That's enough! We came here to back your story," he said to me. "Not fight over whatever this is."

"You let it happen," I mumbled.

Ric ignored my comment, but I know he heard me. "Let's focus on what we have going on here okay? Can we do that?"

"Yeah," Hope huffed.

"Whatever." I backed away from the group, going over the the pile of mail at the door. I picked up as many as I could and started flipping through them.

"Well that was... something," Lizzie sighed. "Anyway, do we have to find that golem prick now? I really don't want to be near that."

"Only he can explain what he was doing here," Ric said.

"Besides tossing the hybrid in the pit," Josie smarted.

I hummed to myself, flipping through the mail. All of it was a lot of useless stuff; medical care opportunities, local carnival coupons and all that. I was surprised to see that there were no bills to be paid. Even before I disappeared, I never had to worry about that. I'm guess Marcel paid the landlord a lot to keep me here with no issues. That, or he compelled him.

I tossed the mail I had in my hands to the side, picking up a new handful. As I did, I found one in which my address was handwritten. In cursive. I know very few people who would write a letter in cursive.

I went to see who it was from, but it didn't say. I glanced back to see if anyone was watching. They were caught up in their own little conversations. I quickly folded the letter and tucked it into my inner jacket pocket.

I wonder who's it from.

"...find him soon. Make him talk, see what he was doing exactly."

"Our dear friend the truth spell will help lots," Hope smirked. She looked at me, her expression slightly blank. "I'm tired. Know any hotels we can check into?"

"Yeah. Shortcut's via the highway." I cocked my head down the hall. "I'm gonna go pack some old stuff," I said, grabbing my box to pack too.

~~~

Half an hour later, we were checked into a hotel suite, complete with a washer and dryer. That part was good for me since I had just packed a few outfits that desperately needed washing. I made sure that we got a suite with two rooms, and four beds overall, plus a living room area where the couch converted into another bed.

"Lizzie and I can share a bed," Josie suggested.

Alaric and Rafael shared a room, but of course had separate beds. Hope is going to sleep in the other bed where the twins will be.

"Where will you sleep?" Alaric asked. I pointed to the couch in the room, going over to it to place my bag down. "The couch? But-"

"I'm guessing you're all foreign to fold out sofa beds?" I smirked. I removed the cushions, grabbing the handle to the bed and pulled it out. I unfolded it completely until the whole thing was out flat. "I'll need someone's extra pillow, but..."

"Well that's super convenient."

"What time are we leaving?"

"Ten am should be fine," said Ric. "Sounds good to everyone?"

Everyone nodded and retreated to their rooms. Rafael came back and threw me two pillows to sleep on. I thanked him and went back to setting up bed for the night. I then decided to go ahead and begin washing the few clothes I rescued. And since I had nothing to do besides wait for them, I just flipped through the channels on the TV before settling on watching Law and Order for the better part of an hour.

No one really came back out of their rooms. I figured they were asleep so I left it be. I went to move my clothes to the dryer, trying not to make so much noise.

While that was going, I went over to my jacket on the side table by the couch. The letter was still in the pocket, so now that I was alone, I was able to actually read it. I turned on the lamp and sat on the bed, tearing open the wax-sealed envelope, then took out the (apparently) two sheets of paper. I glanced at them both and found that there were two different hand writings; the one that was on the envelope, plus another one that's almost recognizable. I'm sure I've seen these before, but I can't remember who's writing they were.

However, I was able to decipher who one of them belonged to by the way I was addressed.

Little Lone Wolf,

There was one person that called me that. Klaus. Why did he write to me?

If you've received this letter, it means the worst has happened. I'm no longer in this world. The Hollow was either too powerful to stop and it's killed everyone trying to stop it, or I've sacrificed myself for the safety of my daughter. Some would argue me being gone is what's best... No matter. I've lived longer than I probably should have.

What does matter, however, is Hope. The one thing in this wretched world that matters the most to me. She no longer has a father to look after her. And because I only plan to have this sent in case Hayley is no longer here... well, I guess it's quite obvious what I'm saying now.

Hope needs someone to look after her. To protect her. I'm aware that my siblings fill those requirements, however, I'm not exactly known to trust their actions, am I?

I laughed lightly at that statement. It is true. Klaus tended to not put much trust into certain Mikaelsons. It's strangely how they operated.

I have a favor to ask of you. I was hoping, perhaps, you could look after her. This world is lonely enough as it is. I can imagine what it's like being the only one of your kind. I don't want that type of loneliness in my daughter's heart. As my dying wish, Little Lone Wolf, take good care of Hope. If not for me, then do it for her.

I know you'll do a much better job than I ever could.

With love, Niklaus.

I didn't plan on crying today, but as you can imagine, I already have a few stray tears. I always appreciated Klaus for showing kindness to me that day. Him, Elijah, and Hayley. I just never expected him to have asked me to watch over his daughter.

Maybe he's caught me lurking around the compound a couple times.

That's a little embarrassing honestly.

I wiped my face and moved onto the next letter. I glanced down at the signature and found this one was from Hayley. But the letter itself looked much older than the one Klaus wrote. Maybe she wrote this when we were kids.

Mel B,

I hope you're doing okay. I'm guessing you figured that I'm dead now. So I won't say that bull crap about how ' I'm no longer in this world, ' yada, yada yada... However I died isn't important.

In case something did go horribly wrong, I just needed to ask you to watch over the pack. Whether it be as their beta, their alpha, whatever... I trust you to be there for them when they need you the most.

I quickly pieced together that this was after my parents died, and quite obviously before the pack was disbanded. Which reminds me that I need to ask around about that. No one ever told me exactly what happened to the Crescent Wolves.

Of course, I would love for you to protect Hope. A lot of people are aware of her power. A lot of people would do whatever it takes to either obtain it for themselves, or destroy it and therefore destroy Hope. And for God's sakes, make sure Klaus doesn't get on her nerves. And vice versa. I swear, that girl gets all her stubbornness from him. Maybe he'll get a taste of his own annoying medicine one day.

Overall, Mel, make sure she's safe. I hope it's not too much to ask, but there's not very many people I can trust these days.

Love, Hayley

"What's that?"

Hope's voice startled me, causing me to jump and almost drop one of the letters. I quickly gathered them both, plus the envelope and hid them away from her.

Of course she freaking snuck up on me. Of course she saw the letters. I just hoped she didn't see the handwritings well enough to recognize them.

"It's-it's nothing important."

"You hiding them makes it important," she sassed, crossing her arms. "Plus you're crying."

I quickly wiped my face with my shirt. "It's not important," I repeated. "You should be resting."

Sighing, Hope came to sit on the bed next to my feet. She's likely annoyed she didn't get what she wanted from me. "I couldn't sleep. Clearly you couldn't either."

I shake my mead slowly. "I've got too much on my mind right now."

"Me too." She shifted her position so that she was facing me now. I moved my feet to make room for her leg to rest. "About earlier-"

I rolled my eyes, "Stop that."

"What?"

"Apologizing. Stop apologizing, I don't want any of that, okay? It's not necessary."

Hope shook her head, "me being so bitchy wasn't necessary. I know you care for me for some reason, I just..."

"Hope, I shouldn't have yelled. It's simple at that, you have nothing to apologize for." I crisscrossed my legs, leaning against the back of the couch. "Is it really the only way to get rid of Malivore?"

Hope nodded, but I simply couldn't accept that answer. Especially not after those letters I just read.

"Listen to me very carefully, Princess. I don't give a damn what we have to do or how long it takes to find a better answer to destroying Malivore... I'll be damned if I let you try that shit again."

I watched her eyebrows raise in shock. She was readying herself to say something to counter that, but I quickly continued what I was saying.

"Don't even think about activating your vampire gene, because you're not throwing yourself in the pit again. We're definitely not throwing three people in there either, or bleeding them dry- whatever. My point is, we're going to find a much safer solution to this problem where no one gets hurt. But if it comes down to it, and what you say is true... it can't be you."

"What the hell are you saying, Melori?"

I sighed heavily. "I'm saying if we can't find a better way to kill Malivore, I will be sacrificed."