Simple Joys | Hale [7.5] OPEN

The 'Mikael' Talk Part 2

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Warning: Mention of Mikael and abuse

Stella runs through the forest of Beacon Hills, tears streaming down her face. She plays the conversation over and over and over again in her head, wishing she had never said anything. Wishing she had never brought up her uncles or her grandfather.

The look on her mother's face was something Stella never wanted to see again. Stella had basically shattered in front of her parents, breaking their trust and hearts.

When her legs begin to burn and her breath begins to come out ragged, she pauses. She sinks onto a large tree stump, placing her head in her hands. She sobs uncontrollably.

The stump below her hums with power. The moment she feels it, she places her hands against it. In the blink of an eye, all of her sadness washes away into power. Her veins turn white as unknown strength courses through her.

A hand gently pries Stella's hands off of the Nemeton.

Stella gasps, blinking out of her trance. Kneeling before her is her mother.

Tears spring to her eyes once more. "Mommy, I'm so sorry," Stella whimpers. "I didn't mean it, I swear."

Lexi's soft expression only makes Stella feel worse. "I know, darling," Lexi whispers.

Opening her arms, Lexi silently invites Stella into her arms. Stella jumps off of the tree, falling into her mother's arms. She sobs against Lexi's shoulder. Lexi's hug tightens.

"Why don't we take a walk, Stella?" Lexi suggests, standing and offering her hand. Stella takes it, wiping away some tears.

"I want to tell you a story about that tree and my aunt Dahlia," Lexi says as they stroll through the forest. "Long before you were born, when your father and I met for the last time," This elicits a watery chuckle from Stella—she's always loved the different moments in which her parents met. "My Aunt Dahlia wanted to take your cousin Hope. Now, you know my family. No one gets taken."

Stella nods, her grip tightening around Lexi's hand. "Always and forever," Stella replies.

Lexi nods. "Always and forever. Dahlia was more powerful than all the witches in the world. She was a firstborn Mikaelson witch and had been siphoning power off of Aunt Freya for centuries. So, in order to defeat her, I visited that tree."

Stella looks back only to realize the tree is gone. Her mother had lured her away from the dangers of the Nemeton.

"I took power from it, and when Dahlia took that power, she took my vampirism with it. That tree is dangerous when its power gets a hold of you. Its power is...different, to say the least. It's the beacon that draws supernaturals to places like Beacon Hills. Do you understand why you should stay away?"

Stella nods. "Thank you for telling me the truth," she whispers as they come to a clearing.

The cliff edge is made of rock. The view is the entire city of Beacon Hills. Stella sits at the edge with her mother beside her. They face each other.

"Stella, I would like to tell you another story, if you would let me," Lexi says. "But first, I want to explain why we shield you from certain things."

Anger flares in Stella's gut, but she pushes it down. She nods slowly.

Lexi holds out her hands for Stella. The little witch slips her hands into her mother's, gripping tight.

"Your father and I grew up in very different ways. I made sure that Dad grew up happy and free. But I wasn't able to protect your grandma Talia when the time came. Your dad had to watch his entire family die, and he learned things no child should.

"I, on the other hand, grew up quickly. My childhood was not happy or safe. My family was constantly fighting for our safety. That was our number one priority. Everything else came second.

"For you, little witch, I have always wanted to keep you safe. New dangers lurk everywhere and my past is nothing if not tragic. I thought by keeping it from you and Teddy, I was protecting you. I now know I was wrong."

"Mom, I don't hate you," Stella says as she looks down. "I didn't mean it."

Lexi lets her lips stretch into a small smile. "I know, darling. You're too much like me."

"Dad says that," Stella chuckles, a tear slipping down her face.

"And he's right."

They sit in silence for a long moment. Then, Lexi inhales sharply, tears already prickling her eyes. "You said that I hate Mikael."

Stella snaps her head up. "But I—"

Lexi holds up a shaky hand. "Let me finish before I back out." Stella slouches, nodding. "Before, you said I hated Mikael. I do not hate him. I fear him." A tear falls down Lexi's cheek. "There has never been a moment of my life where I have not feared my father. He was violent, and angry, and terrifying.

"His punishments left your aunts, uncles, and I very broken. He would drag us off into the woods so we couldn't find each other easily. He made sure the parts of the forest he went to were different than what we knew.

"He would hurt us for everything we did: if we broke a plate, he would break our arms; if we burnt his food, he would choke us; if we talked out of turn, he would beat us bloody until we couldn't talk. Your Uncle Nik had the worst of it, but Kol and Rebekah would say differently."

"What would they say?" Stella asks. Each tear that falls down Lexi's face is another drop of guilt in Stella's gut.

Lexi lets out a small chuckle. "They would say I got the worst of it. I constantly spoke when I shouldn't have and took the blame for Nik. But he always got into trouble.

"Mikael was always this way, for as long as I can remember. He was always violent. He was always merciless. His anger always got the better of him. And that anger carried with him when he turned into a vampire. It fed his hatred when he found out Niklaus was not his son. It led him to chase my siblings and me for centuries.

"That is why I am terrified every time you are out of my sight. Mikael may be dead, but his legacy lasts. He has scarred me into paranoia and aggression. He isolated me from the people I loved, he tortured me, and he made me believe every vile word that came out of his mouth. He called me 'monster' and 'abomination.' And I believed him."

Lexi pauses, wiping her eyes. "I am broken, Stella. For that, I am sorry. But Mikael is the very thing I try to protect you from. I have not uttered his name since I found out that we were having Teddy. Promise me you will not go looking for any semblance of him— he deserves to be forgotten."

Stella nods, her resolve crumbling. "I'm sorry, Mommy," Stella cries. She leans forward, capturing Lexi in a tight hug. She sobs into Lexi as Lexi silently cares on Stella's shoulder.

Lexi rubs circles on Stella's back. She soothes her and begins to sing.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when the skies are grey. You never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away."

Thoughts?

Enjoy!

-L