Always and Forever: a new life.

The Devil and the Damned.

The next day, Hope’s footsteps echoed against the pavement as she made her way to the Grill, her mind swirling with thoughts of new revelations. Yesterday she had successfully evaded running into any more trouble and managed to keep a low profile, so that was half a victory for her. Currently she was on the phone with Caroline who was passionately ranting about everything Hope had missed yesterday.

“…Matt is still not talking to me, by the way, he came to my house when Tyler was here, now he thinks something is happening between us. I can’t believe so much happened in one day. Like, everything just happened at once, and it was so freaking overwhelming.”
Hope paused in her tracks, curiosity piqued. “Why, what else happened?” That was Caroline’s cue to launch into a rapid-fire recounting of the events of the previous day, her words tumbling out in a rushed, one long stream of nerves.

“So, Tyler’s a wreck after the Mason bombshell dropped on him, also now this ‘Jules’ is looking for his uncle? What if Tyler finds out how Mason died? And with the full moon tonight? He’s freaking out, Hope, me too, to be honest.” She rambled on.

“Don’t panic, first transformation are rough for all werewolves from what I know, but he’ll survive it. As for Mason, where is he?” “Dead, in his truck on the highway.” Hope sighed, “Just stay safe, Care. You don’t know what that woman is up to, she could be dangerous.”

“Yeah, I will, I promise.. Oh and there’s more.”  Caroline added,

“Elena’s on this crazy suicide mission, thinking it’s the only way to protect everyone. Did you hear about that?” Hope’s brow furrowed in concern, a knot forming in the pit of her stomach at the mention of Elena’s dangerous plan. “That sounds risky. Someone needs to talk some sense into her.”

Caroline sighed, the weight of the situation evident in her voice. “I know, but she’s determined. She’s trapped in her own home though, for now, thanks to Damon and Bonnie.” Hope nodded, her mind racing with the implications of Caroline’s words. “And what about Stefan? Any news on their end?”

Caroline’s voice grew more grim as she continued. “Bonnie, Damon, and Stefan tried to steal the moonstone from Katherine, but now Stefan’s trapped in the tomb with her. It’s a mess, Hope. I don’t know how we’re going to untangle all of this.” She could picture Caroline rubbing her face in exhaustion, Hope smiled softly.

“What do you think is going to happen with Elijah now?” she asked hesitantly, Hope didn’t know how to answer.
“I mean, he’s alive. When Damon rescued Elena from Rose’s friends apartment they saw him there. Do you think he’s also the one who killed him? Their informant guy, Slater..”

Hope’s heart sank at Caroline’s words, pain stinging in her heart, quickly followed by guilt as a sense of helplessness washed over her like a tidal wave. She steadied her voice “We’ll figure it out, Caroline. We always do.”
With a heavy sigh, Caroline agreed, the weight of their shared burden hanging heavy in the air between them. “Yeah, we always do.”

With a quick swipe of her finger, she ended the call, her hands trembling as she took a strangled breath. Leaning against the brick wall, Hope slowly slid down, her feet giving way under the weight of the news. Slater was dead. Caroline’s words echoed in her mind, a damning reminder of her own culpability. Elijah had killed him, and Hope knew it was bound to happen. She knew it before she approached Slater. Despite it, she went to him, she used him to fulfil her own needs, selfishly.

Guilt consumed her, nausea churned in her gut, bile rising in her throat as she fought to keep her composure.  ‘It’s your fault,’ her mind whispered, a relentless mantra that echoed in her ears.

Tears still streamed down her cheeks unchecked as she buried her face in her hands. She had known, hadn’t she?  She could have saved him, she could have told him, she choose not to. She called him a friend and yet this is how she treated him. The weight of the future was breaking her. She was carrying secrets that could alter the course of these peoples lives, yet the responsibility of choosing when and how to intervene weighed heavily upon her soul. Each decision felt like playing god, wielding power over the fates of those she claimed to love. One wrong move and they could all be dead, her dad could die, her friends may never be born, she might never be born. She had to stay out of it and do nothing. Or else she was Dammed.