p o w e r & c o n t r o l

“Please do. I need you to remain safe.” Tristan replied, speaking softly. “I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you. I must say I admire your bravery though. Aurora would too. She would appreciate the lengths you are willing to go… but even so, you are the only thing in this world keeping me within grasp of my sanity.”

“We’ve lost so many people,” Hayley reminded, though she did so gently. The numbers were growing and to let anyone else go without a fight was stupid in her eyes. Even if the idea was ridiculous. “I can handle myself, Tristan. Even if it’s not for a deal maybe I can get information.”

Tristan held her close, keeping his forehead gently against her’s. To hear her say those little words back to him was like music to his ears. It was akin to the most beautiful song he had ever heard. “I appreciate the sentiment, but I’d rather you keep yourself safe. We can find another way. There has to be another way.” 

“I won’t make any promises-” Hayley began to reason with a sigh. She was still sold that even if it didn’t pan out in a deal that it could provide crucial information. “But i’ll hold off for a minute.” A day or two honestly, but just so she could think about it again.

“You are not supposed to do anything. We are. As a team. We can work together. We will figure out what’s going on but not this way. I can’t let you be at risk. I have the Strix on it, Thomas is working day in and out. We will find a better way, alright?” Tristan’s hands found their way to her cheeks. “I can’t let you be doing anything reckless like this…. I… I love you Hayley Marshall.” He admitted before he even realized the words were rolling off his tongue. “I.. no, that’s right. I love you. I do. And so I can’t let you do anything like this. Please.” Those words meant volumes coming from a man like Tristan de Martel who seldom allowed that eight letter phrase to leave his lips.

“What if there’s not a better way?” she asked quietly, caught a little off guard if anything. They should have worked as a team, but in that meaning she wasn’t used to. The surprise wasn’t lost as Tristan caused her to still as he uttered three important words. “You...” She hadn’t expected to hear it and she wasn’t sure if it warmed her or scared her more. Anyone that loved her was cursed to death or sometimes something far worse. She felt cursed herself and yet hearing her own thoughts echoed from his mouth made the reality of it. “I trust you and I love you, but trusting you is bigger than love for me,” she admitted softly, leaning her forehead against his. “You’re miserable without her. I wanted to try something.”

“I can’t allow anything to happen to you. Don’t you understand?! If not for Hope alone then for me. I can’t lose you too Hayley. And I can’t have you just switching places with her. That’s only changing one problem for another.” Tristan reached out and held onto her hands. “I can not lose you. Do you not see how much you mean to me?..” 

“What am I supposed to do, Tristan?” Hayley pleaded. “You need her and so many other people need her. I feel useless sitting around hoping that something will turn up. You’re not losing me. You’re not losing anyone else.” She was trying to make sure of that. She was meant to protect her family and her friends and she had failed one.

“I’m wondering if you leaving me in the dark means you doing something stupid instead.” Tristan answered, looking back at her eyes. “Demons and getting them to do with you want only results in one thing and I can not allow you to have any part of that. I can not stand by and allow you to entangle yourself in any sort of deal. Do you understand me?” 

"It’snot stupid if it works,” Hayley reasoned. Still she knew the risks if it was accepted. She knew what it would mean for her future.  For why she may not even be able to be there for Hope. “I understand you perfectly but you’re not understanding me, Tristan. I am doing this for Aurora and for you. How long are we doing to dig for answers we don't get? Weeks? Months? Years? I can’t sit by hoping.”

“Who? What is his name?” Tristan asked. “Hi love.” He spoke back to the little one before he realized what Hayley was referring to. “Hope, dear,” He crouched down to her height. “Can you sit on my couch over there and watch the tv while I speak with your Mommy?” He asked her, reaching over for his tv remote to turn on a kid’s channel for her. 

“Depends on if telling you means you doing something stupid,” Hayley retorted, glancing at Hope who seemed to question the idea and looked to Hayley for the answer. “Go on, Hope.” With her mother’s approval she wandered over to climb up on the couch to sit, but whether it held her attention for long remained to be seen.

“Some more extreme that others?” Tristan asked. “Well now you’ve peaked my curiosity. What do you mean by that?” He looked down at the little girl who had grabbed hold of his dress pants. “Hello there little one.” He gave her a small smile.

“Well, we know the demon’s name that did it and if a demon was the cause...” Hayley trailed off wondering he would catch the drift of what she had in mind to do. Hope managed a shy ‘hi’ as she glanced up at Tristan.

He raised an eyebrow at her demands, his thoughts going back to his texts with Katherine. Was the hybrid really stupid enough to try this? “And what makes you think I am willing to accept your deal?” The hybrid was of no importance to him. And her soul certainly wasn’t worth more than Aurora was dead. 

“I don’t know if you will,” Hayley admitted. “But I can try can’t I? That’s how this works? I offer you whatever you want for this to work and you can give me the answer?” She was willing to bargain up to a point. She wanted this to work despite what it may cost her in the long run. “Aurora means a lot to a lot of people.”

“She did?” Tristan had yet to hear of that. But if anything, a birth was better than a death. “I know we will. I’ve spent the whole morning doing research and doing whatever I can to move things forward.” Tristan replied. 

“Yeah a boy and a girl. Kieran and Kenna. They’re adorable and doing well. So is Freya.” She was excited to watch them grow and to see Freya in her new role as a parent. Of course too for Hope to interact with them. “Understandable. I’ve been digging into some leads too. Some more extreme than other’s.” She smiled at Hope who had wandered nearer and grabbed Tristan’s pant leg.

Dante could feel the summoning ritual tugging at his blackened essence. He focused on that feeling, not allowing it to take him just yet. He honed in on the location of the ritual, an air of annoyance hung around him when it was revealed that the ritual was coming from Mystic Falls. What made it curious to him, however, was that the ritual was being done by a demon. 

That was enough for him to show up, appearing behind the hybrid. He didn’t recognize her and frankly, he didn’t care to who she was. “Don’t beat yourself up too much. Khalyla can be a bitch,” he said, announcing his presence to her. 

Hayley whirled around at the sound of a new voice. She didn’t know his face, but whoever he was she hoped he could make a better way for her than the last. “Yeah well she wasn’t useful,” she responded, arms folded. “I want my friend back. Aurora. I’m willing to make a deal.” She knew the consequences of such a thing, and she knew it was a risk, but it was one she was willing to take. For Aurora and for anyone else that was missing her right now. They had no other options at the moment. No lead. It was better than doing nothing.

“I…. am managing.” Tristan nodded slowly. “It’s still a lot to process and the Strix haven’t gotten very much information yet. But I’m trying not to lose faith that something might change. I’m working on it but… it’s taking time. What about you? And Miss Hope here?” 

“Managing is better than not at least.” Everyone was managing lately she felt like. One foot in front of the other. “No one’s giving up, Tristan. However long it takes we’ll get her back.” She set Hope down knowing she wouldn’t wander much yet. “I’m alright. Freya’s had her twins so I’ve been spending time with them. Hope’s not sure what to think.”

It was late and late enough that Hope was sleeping and she could creep out of the house hopefully undetected. The hybrid stood waiting as minutes ticked by. The encounter was nothing like she wanted and she was growing desperate.

“I’m offering you my soul for Aurora’s life!” She reminded again, the desperation stirring up anger that the demon was refusing her. “That’s not something I can do,” she explained.  “Then what good are you?”

Hayley turned her back, not caring if it was finished or whatever formalities were involved. She wasn’t going to help and if that was the case there was no point in wasting more time standing there.

“I said I couldn’t. Not that someone else can’t.”

She stopped short of a step, turning around to respond but that too was pointless. The demon had begun to summon else, and a part of Hayley wondered if it was just a set up. The woman didn’t give a clue in her expression as he vanished from sight and left the hybrid in the dark waiting. Waiting for what she couldn’t say.

“And what a lovely bit of company it is.” Tristan gave a small smile when he turned and saw the both of them. “Hello.” He had spent the morning searching for ways to return his sister to the land of the living and could take a small break for the time being. “How are you both?” 

“Doing as well as can be expected. Hope seems to be in a good mood today.” Always better than a grumpy toddler she thought as she approached Tristan with Hope in her arms. “How are you?” it was still a loaded question, but she was gentle in tone while asking.

“Well, Hope and I figured you could use some company,” Hayley said in greeting. Maybe Hope would help distract and cheer up Tristan for a bit. Her daughter’s company did that for her, and it’d be a short visit. She kept in the back of her mind Klaus’ one golden rule, but under the circumstances the hybrid felt like it could be neglected.