Always and Forever: a new life.

Klaus.

Hope Mikaelson was officially over it. She sat cross-legged on the hardwood floor of Alaric’s apartment, her arms tied behind her back and her patience long gone.

Across from her, Katherine Pierce—still unconscious—was sprawled out like a rejected extra from a bad 2010s TV show The Vampire Diaries: Nap Time Edition.

Guarding Katherine’s limp body was a male witch who looked like he moonlighted as a fitness influencer. Seriously, who even needed biceps that big to cast spells?

Hope sighed, staring at the witch, who was casually flipping through a magazine, completely unfazed by her irritation. “So, do you kidnap teenagers usually, or is this like a side hustle?”

The witch looked up, unimpressed. “Do you always have a snarky comment, or is this just a cry for help?”

“Oh, it’s not a cry for help,” Hope shot back, with a chuckle. “It’s more like an expression of disbelief at how many psychos seem to think I have ‘kidnap me’ stamped on my forehead.”

She gestured around dramatically without hands, sarcastically.

“Case in point—this is, what, the third time this week? Do I get a free smoothie after the tenth, or do you people offer frequent flyer miles?”

The witch smirked and set down his magazine. “Maybe you should consider being less...kidnappable.”

Hope’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe you should consider a new hobby. You know, one that doesn't include kidnapping. What’s your deal anyway? Not enough cauldrons for you to bench press? How did you even end up working for Klaus.” She tried to pry.

“Keep it up, kid,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “I’m supposed to keep you here until someone gives me further instructions, but I’ve got no problem silencing your tongue out for the sake of my sanity.”

“Great.” She'd throw her hands up if she could. “This is pathetic. At least pretend to be a scary villain or something!”

“Hey, I’m just doing what I'm told,” the witch said with a shrug.

“He wanted Katherine for what she did, You were there, he said get both, I don’t ask questions.” He jerked a thumb toward Katherine’s unconscious form. “Frankly, she was more annoying than you.”

“Could be worse, for you though” the witch said, smirking again. “I could be a vampire.”

“Oh, please,” Hope groaned boredly. “At least vampires are straightforward. They kidnap you, they monologue, and then they either kill you or lose because they're one trick idiots. You? You’re just sitting there reading Muscle Monthly and making me babysit Katherine.”

“Well, you’re clearly not doing a great job at that,” the witch deadpanned, gesturing to Katherine’s still-unconscious state.

He wasn't worng.

Hope glared at him, then at Katherine. “Wake up, Katherine! If I have to suffer through this nonsense, so do you!”

Katherine, true to form, remained limp on the floor like a diva, completely unbothered by the chaos around her. Hope sighed, dropping her head back against the wall. “Unbelievable. You’d think someone who’s survived centuries would be harder to knock out.”

Katherine didn’t move, leaving Hope to roll her eyes, sitting alone in her own apartment building waiting for her dad to inevitability turn up.

This wasn’t how her Tuesday was supposed to go.

Hope didn’t know what she shold do. She could just leave..? Who could stop her anyway, although outside all the mystic falls gang would be clammering for her help. She could stay, see her dad again, even if it is in another man's body. See him, kill innocent people and torture countless more. No. She had no good choices.