Meeting a Paragon
Two months have passed since the death of her boyfriend, Landon Kirby. A funeral took place with his closest friends who became his family. Hope Mikaelson visited his grave almost every day for a month as he was buried in the Mystic Falls cemetery but that was doing nothing to help her grieve. It only fueled her depressive state.
Eventually, her headmaster, Dr. Alaric Saltzman convinced her to move back home to New Orleans with her family. He thought being away from the place that took away her love would help her move on but all it did was put her in the place where she had her first heartbreak.
In the last month in New Orleans, Hope has been on edge. Her aunts and uncles have been walking on eggshells around her, scared to tip her over the edge in fear of her turning her humanity off. Unknown to them, Hope has already decided that she would never do that because of the promise she made to her father before he took his own life to protect her. She wanted to give her family a better legacy and turning her emotions off would not help that.
Her Aunt Rebekah has been the one to get on her nerves the most, though. Hope regrets how that conversation went. Actually, it was more of a one-sided argument with Rebekah trying to keep her head level and Hope losing her own, metaphorically of course. But it did nothing to help her move on from the deaths that seemed to follow her.
A week into being back in New Orleans, Hope found herself back at the lake where she first came with her father to give her mother a proper werewolf funeral. She remembers seeing the boat that was symbolically for her mother, though there was no body, go up in flames and move further down the lake. So deep in her reminiscence, she didn’t hear her Aunt approach.
“Hope.” She called out.
Hope made no movement to indicate she heard, still looking out towards the lake, but she replied nonetheless. “I’m fine.” She voiced, her voice devoid of emotion as she already knew how this was going to go.
“Hope.” Rebekah said with an edge to her voice, seeing the lie in her niece’s words.
“What?” Hope bit out, turning to glare at her aunt.
“Talk to me, please. Darling, we all just want to help you but you need to let us.” At her aunt’s words, anger flooded her, drowning out her other emotions. Her response was sharp and filled with hurt and rage.
“Help me? You want to help me?” Hope scoffed and let out a small laugh, her smile showing a hint of malice. “Last time I needed your help, you shipped me off to boarding school in Mystic Falls. When I was breaking after losing mom and dad, you all decided you couldn’t stand to help me so you left me and now you want to be there for me?” Her voice takes a dangerous edge towards the end of her words. Hope steps closer so she’s right in front of her aunt who looks as guilty as she feels but she doesn’t stop her verbal attack there. “You couldn’t even stand to look at me, could you? You see my eyes and all you see is your brother. My hair has you thinking of your best friend. All I am is a reminder of what you lost because of me and you hate it. That’s why you sent me to Mystic Falls isn’t it? And never bothered to visit?” Hope’s voice is discerningly calm as she speaks.
“We never blamed you for what happened, Hope. We were all grieving and didn’t know what to do or how to handle anything.” Rebekah tries to explain. “We did what we thought was best for you.” She argues weakly.
In an instant, Hope has her aunt pinned against a tree with her hands wrapped around her throat. Her nails bite into the flesh, drawing blood. All Hope sees is red. The death of her mother she still blames herself for, her father sacrificing himself for her, her uncle Elijah dying with him because he couldn’t live without his brother or her mother, and Landon slips into her view. The image of his lifeless body and his words ringing in her ears.
She’s brought back to reality as her aunt chokes, her airways constricted but what brings Hope to stop her actions is the amount of blood coating her hand. Her aunt’s blood. She’s hurting her family. With a gasp, Hope let’s go.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I di… I didn’t...I didn't mean to.” She cuts her broken apology off as she sees the blood on her hands and rubs at it profusely trying to get it off while chanting her apology to her aunt like a mantra.
Once Rebekah catches her breath, she takes her niece into her arms, reassuring her. Hope barely registers the words as the reality of what she has done, sinks in.
A week since that day, Hope made amends with her Aunt but still kept her family at arms-length. She finds herself at the tree near the lake where her father carved her mother’s name into. The weight of her emotions finally pushing her down as she lets herself properly cry in peace. Everything hit her in waves. The guilt of being the reason for her mother’s death. Her anger at herself for not being strong enough to take on the Hollow so her dad didn’t have to leave her for eight years and then die after finally reuniting. Her inner turmoil for blaming her uncle for her mothers death and never properly getting to know him before he died. And losing Landon because she chose the world, who did nothing but hurt her, over him.
In the midst of her heartache, the ground began to shake. She jumped at the rumble and attempted to calm down, thinking she had lost control of her magic again but a blinding white light made her halt in her actions and cover her eyes with the back of her hand. Once her eyes focused, she saw a figure emerge from the light, the white making the figure look ethereal. Hope could see the outline of a pure white robe with the hood pulled up so she couldn’t make out the face. In her guarded fashion, Hope immediately took a defensive stand in case the figure were to attack.
However, as the light began to fade, the figure pulled back their hood, Hope could make out that it was a blond-haired woman whose smile, alone, was able to make Hope drop her guard for a moment before it went back up. Aside from the hair, Hope could make out her sharp features, blue eyes, and naturally pursed lips. She was also able to note that underneath the woman’s robe was a white skin tight suit fit for a fighter.
The woman kept smiling at Hope, not saying anything so Hope took charge of the questioning. “Who the hell are you?” Hope started in a defensive manner.
The woman simply nodded before she began to speak. In a soft voice she explained, “My name is Sarah Lance and I’m a Paragon.” Hope’s face contorted to one of confusion and the woman let out a quiet laugh, noticing the change, before continuing. “I take it you’ve never heard of Paragons before?”
Hope, now more annoyed at the woman, replied, “Should I have?”
“I guess not, seeing as we are more so legends in very few universes so not known by…”
“Wait, wait, wait, wait.” Hope interrupted. “Did you say universes? As in, there’s more than one?”
Amused, Sarah continued. “Yes Hope, I did. As I was saying, we are not known by many people but I promise you, I mean you no harm.”
Hope, not one to trust after what had happened with her first crush, Roman, continued to question the woman, not letting any emotions peek through her eyes. “How did you know my name?”
“I know your name because I was sent here to help you, Hope.” The Paragon tried.
This piqued Hope’s curiosity. “Why? By who?”
The Paragon smiled and began to explain. “As I said before, I am a Paragon and one of seven. We are all people who have led different lives but have one thing in common.” She walked forward, her hands clasped in front of her as she continued to explain. “We all perfectly embody one of the seven Paragon traits: hope, destiny, honor, love, courage, truth, and humanity.”
“Which one are you?” Hope eyed the woman as she stalked forward calmly, which unnerved Hope even more.
“I am the Paragon of Destiny. It’s my job to lead people to where they are meant to go which is why I am here. You, Hope Mikaelson, have done all you needed to do here and now it is time to go to the place where you were truly meant to be to find your own peace.” Sarah knew it was going to be difficult to convince the young tribrid so she opted for the calm approach rather than whisking the child away to another universe and answering questions later. Sarah always had a plan and if she was going to help the child before her, then subtlety was the key.
“And where is that? Isn’t this where I belong, with my family? I mean, yeah, my life is a shitshow but still, my family is here and you want me to believe a stranger who showed up in a random flash of light and is claiming to be the one who is going to bring me peace? Yeah, that doesn’t sound sketchy at all.” Hope folded her arms below her chest and raised an eyebrow at the woman before her, unamused and sarcasm bleeding into her words towards the end.
“I know it is hard to believe Hope, but you have to trust me. Yes, I know you have a life here but what kind of life is it really? All your aunts and uncles are happily married and have their own lives to deal with. Your friends at your school don’t need saving anymore with Malivore gone and they are all living semi-normal lives as supernatural teenagers. The factions in New Orleans are finally in agreement and are living peacefully amongst each other. The war with the vampires and werewolves has died down and the witches are free to perform magic at their leisure as long as it isn’t hurting anyone. And where does that leave you? Where is your place in their lives?” As Sarah is finishing off her rant, Hope is tearing up at the realization that she has no place here. Not in Mystic Falls and certainly not in New Orleans. Her own life feels over and it's barely even begun. Sensing that Hope is not going to speak up anytime soon, lost in her thoughts, Sarah adds, “I was sent here for a reason, Hope.” She walks closer to the young girl, looking into her eyes. Hope’s are uncertain while Sarah’s are overflowing with trust and understanding. “If you let me, I can take you where you belong so you can live out the life you were meant to live, away from all the heartbreak of this place.”
Hope contemplates what she’s learned and already knows. She decides that the woman before her is right. She has no place in her world anymore. Everyone she loves is either dead or has moved on with their lives. However, maybe her grief is clouding her judgment and because of that she agrees to what the Paragon is offering; a chance to find peace.
“I’ll go with you to whatever universe you believe I’ll be happy and can move on from this but I have one question.” Sarah nods for Hope to continue. “What will happen to everyone here? Won’t they get worried when I don’t come home and try to find me?”
Sarah is quick to ease her worries. “Anyone who knows you in this world will be under the impression that you are simply living your own life and are happy to be left alone. They won’t forget you but they also will never seek you out for anything. To them, you’ll be a fond memory.”
Hope contemplates what she has been told and it’s oddly freeing. She doesn’t have to live with the guilt of feeling like she’s abandoning her family or the pain of feeling like a burden to them.
Hope gestures to the woman. “Okay, I’m ready. Do I need to take anything with me for where we’re going?” Sarah smiles, knowingly. “If you would like some keepsakes, pictures, family heirlooms to remember this world, that would be okay. But as for packing any bags that won't be necessary because we aren’t just going to another universe, but a different time. So any of the stuff you have now will not help you fit in there.”
The tribrid rolls her eyes at the last part. “When have I ever fit in?” Then realization at the words kicked in. “Wait…a different time? What year? Oh, please don’t be before showers and plumbing were invented.” Hope silently prays as the Paragon laughs at the young tribrid’s worries.
"I can summon personal stuff for you if you'd like?" Hope nods and asks for the album of pictures she has of her friends and family that's under her bed and the prism she uses to talk to her subconscious. She has a feeling she'll need it.
“How are we getting there?” Hope inquires, zipping up her brown, worn crossbody bag.
“Simply grab onto my hand and it will transport you there. Word of warning, though, I will not be with you when you arrive in your destined universe.”
“What? Why not? How am I meant to navigate through a universe I don’t know?” Hope starts to inwardly panic at the thought of being in a new world all by herself, not that she trusts the Paragon but it would help to have someone there.
To ease her fears, Sarah calmly states, “You will make it through on your own, Hope. It is where you were meant to be and whoever said finding your destiny was going to be easy? You’ll have to work for it and trust yourself. Now grab my hand and let your new adventure begin.”
Hope hesitates before grabbing the Paragon’s hand. As their hands clasp together, Hope is pulled into the bright light she saw when the cloaked figure first appeared. It's all she can see for what feels like forever but the Paragon's magic encompasses Hope's body in warmth in that endless light before everything goes black. Darkness is familiar to the tribrid and in that darkness Hope feels like she's coming home.