Ch.2: Memories

        It had been a few years since they'd lost both Elijah and Klaus. She hadn't moved since then, but she had gone to one of the few witches she trusted most. An old friend that would do anything for her, no matter what the price was. One of her true friends she'd never threaten or make her hate her one way or another. Unlike some other witches throughout the centuries. And so, she'd had her cloak Hope from anyone that wanted to harm her. In doing so, it had made it easier on her. They were both still dealing with the losses, but were a little better now. They were currently home in the living room. It was evening, and Hope sat on the couch with her, as she was finishing up her Bourbon shot glass for the night, warming up in front of the fireplace that Katherine had lit earlier. 

        "You've never told me your story. How did you know my family?" Hope wanted to know, as they sat on the couch together. 

        "Well, I guess if I'm going to raise you to be better than me and your dad, I should tell you the whole story. You're not exactly a scared little girl anymore. Not really," she replied, before finishing her drink for the evening, and setting it down on the coffee table that was in front of the couch. She figured a nine year old girl could take her story. "My story starts before I met your father and uncle. I didn't meet any of your aunts until later centuries. I didn't meet your Uncle Kol until he got undaggered. He attended a party, where I met him. For context, we ladies and girls didn't have a say in anything in my day. In the 1400's, we were just objects that could be told what to do and were expected to follow through. And girls were expected to marry whoever their father chose for them, no questions asked. My father was the biggest drunk in the village in Bulgaria, where I grew up. As a little girl, I loved and looked up to him, but even then, I didn't follow the rules. My father was kind of like your grandfather, but not as brutal. However, because my mother protected me from him in those moments, she was the one he would strike. When she couldn't protect me, I had a horse the stablehand bought me secretly. I'd take Prince to the woods and stay there until I was sure he wasn't angry anymore. When I was to get married to an upper class citizen, I was already in love with the stablehand. Nobody knew this. Then I started to show that I was pregnant. When my father found out, he fired him. Then, when Nadia was born, he took away as punishment to me. Then, the greatest punishment of all, he banished me from Bulgaria completely, disowning me as his daughter. And my mother, because of the times, had to do the same. She had no choice in the matter. Two years later, I found myself alone and in England, where I met Trevor. Trevor invited me to a ball, which ironically was for your father's birthday. That's where I met your Uncle Elijah and Klaus. I was his doppelganger that could have broken the spell that made his werewolf side dormant, but once I knew what he was, his intentions, and what would happen during the ritual to me, Trevor and Elijah helped me escape when Elijah couldn't persuade Klaus to spare my life. Trevor directed me to a cabin his friend Rose lived, and she tried to hand me over, so I did the only thing I thought was the right choice. I killed myself. Only I hadn't learned all of the details, so I was unaware until after that having vampire blood in my system would put me in transition. Once I figured that out, I completed the transitioned and fled. When I reached my village, I came upon the aftermath of the slaughter. I had come to seek my vengeance on my father, but I'm glad yours did it for me, so I wouldn't have to. When I found my mother though, it was heartbreaking. As I described before, I thought my life was over. And then the grief quickly turned into revenge. He was a monster. He killed my mother. I wanted him dead after that. During my search for how to do so though, I went in search of Nadia. When I figured out she must've still been in Bulgaria somewhere, I searched every village. I just couldn't find her. I guess I just had to wait a few centuries or so for her to find me, instead. So, you see, even before your father met me, I was always similar to him. And because he hunted me for over 500 years, I became a lot more like him than I wanted to admit. But I didn't know his story until centuries later. I was a foolish vampire though, when I was young. Throughout my centuries of being a vampire, I made enemies. I was young when I made a couple werewolf enemies and a witch, but the one thing I never did, minus this century with the Gilberts, was threaten a kid. Because of my mistakes as a vampire, your Uncle Elijah was always there to protect me, save me, and be my strength when I felt weak. And I was drawn to him before I became a vampire, so my love for him started before I even knew what existed. I met your Uncle Kol during one of the many parties your family loved to join throughout the world. The many centuries that I created enemies, a lot of them are because I ruined lives or I threatened them or someone they knew."

        "So, where's your daughter? Nadia you spoke of?" she wanted to know. 

        "She died from a hybrid bite. There's this hybrid that your father, after he used my doppelganger to break the spell, created. Tyler. I first met him when he was an untriggered werewolf. Then not too long after he triggered it with a little help from myself, your dad rolled into town. After he turned Tyler into a hybrid, Tyler was the most loyal one to Klaus. Then he turned on him, because he cared too much for this one vampiress. He broke the sire bond that connected him to Klaus. Anyways, Nadia's gone, because Tyler bit her. And Nadia didn't want me giving anything up to save her, so I chose the same path as Elijah. I honored her wish. For once in my life, I was selfless."

        "I'm sorry for what happened to Nadia," Hope sympathized. Then she added, "My dad never said much about my family. What do you know of our history? Everyone's always so secretive." 

        "Well, Hope, there's a reason for that. Like myself, sometimes worst than myself, they don't trust people much. Your Aunt Rebekah trusted someone once, and it turned out that he was using her to kill your entire family. Alexander was his name back then. Elijah's never trusted anyone other than family and the doppelganger your Uncle Elijah and father both loved when they were human. Some things about your family's past died with them, but most of it I know. I know that your grandfather, Mikael, wasn't always vicious and ruthless towards his family. He was a good person until he believed your grandmother's lie. Esther lied about your Aunt Freya dying while he was off on a viking trip. Esther couldn't have children, so she turned to your Aunt Dahlia so she could. The sacrifice was the first born of every generation, and when Esther turned everyone into vampires, she didn't uphold that bargain. That lie she told Mikael ruined him, because Freya was the apple of his eye. When Freya was returned to him, it made him a better person. Then your Aunt Dahlia woke up and came for her to get her back, and he sacrificed his life for her, and so that Klaus could save you as well from her. But Esther was the one that willingly died for them all in the end. In the end, she was selfless. She couldn't bare to watch the last of her children die. After all of that, your Aunt Freya was finally free to live her life as she wished. But, whatever anyone ever says about your dad, he wasn't always a monster. There was a time when he wasn't. He was a scared little boy trying to survive his step father's unprovoked anger. And Mikael saw him as weak. He also hated werewolves, so knowing that he was born a werewolf brought more hatred to Mikael. Throughout what he went through as a human though, he and Elijah shared loved for Tatia. She loved them both, as well, as Elijah always put it. She just didn't seem to want to choose between them. And when she saw the aftermath of Klaus' first transformation, she wanted nothing to do with them. I don't know what happened to her after that. Elijah always said that Esther killed her to make them into vampires, but I guess we'll never know the truth. I was around Elijah and Klaus a lot more than the rest of your family, so I don't really know anything about your Uncle Finn or your Uncle Kol's past life. Kol's like me. He doesn't like to dwell on the past. But even though I loved Elijah, Kol and I had a few flings, so we got to know each other that way. I didn't get the chance to meet your Aunt Rebekah, due to me running from your father, until it was revealed that the cure existed."

        "What are we supposed to do now? They've always called me the Hope of this family, but I don't know what that's supposed to mean. There's so much horrible past," she replied, once Kat had told her everything she knew. 

        "We go one day at a time, and your family is correct. You are the Hope of your family. You're going to be better than your dad and myself. You're going to make the Mikaelson name, someday, represent something more pleasant. For now, you just have to learn and grow. Like I have. After I was reunited with Nadia, I did my best to change into a better person. I thought I was going to die alone as a human, but with you, I'm not alone anymore." Kat then added, "You better go to bed. I think that's enough storytelling for tonight."

        Hope did as she was asked, and went to bed. 

        The next day, Kat was alone in the house, while Hope was at school. She was taking this time to be on her own. She knew it had only been a few years, but she'd never get over Elijah. She was sure he'd probably found peace, but she wasn't too certain about Klaus. She was keeping some of the magic she knew to herself. She was more than willing to try and bring them back. She knew what she was doing. Or would once she found the correct way to do it without messing with the balance, but she wouldn't tell Hope yet that she knew more than one way to bring someone back from the dead. She was afraid that Hope would do something dangerous if Hope knew of such things. Her other secret was that Freya had given Katherine the Mikaelson grimoire for safe keeping. Freya trusted her, and always would. And she was glad to have someone that would trust her without question, and that she could trust as well. And she was sure despite being unhappy once she found out, Freya would understand. Kat had had the worst life imaginable for many centuries. Considering she blew it with Damon a few years ago, after Elijah, she had no one to connect with. And Elijah would always be her connection. For now though, she'd concentrate on Klaus, because she needed to figure out a way to have him back without also resurrecting the Hollow. She knew it could take years to figure that out, so she was starting now.