I woke on the porch of the safehouse, sunlight warming my face, the Bayou humming with life around me.
Davina was beside me, painting—always painting. She looked up when I stirred.
"You were gone for three days."
"Was I?"
"You didn't move. Didn't breathe. I was starting to think..." She trailed off, setting down her brush. "What happened?"
I sat up slowly, feeling the new power humming beneath my skin. Stage 4 was complete—I was stronger now than any Original, any being in this reality. But Stage 5 loomed, a choice I wasn't ready to make.
"I evolved," I said. "Further than I expected."
"Are you okay?"
"I'm more than okay." I looked at her—really looked, seeing the layers of her existence, the power she'd cultivated on her own, the future she was building. "I'm exactly where I need to be."
Davina studied me for a moment, then smiled.
"Good. Because Hope's been asking for you. She wants to practice the awareness exercises."
I laughed—genuine, uncomplicated. "Then we'd better not keep her waiting."
---
Hope was waiting in the clearing, sitting cross-legged in the spot I'd claimed for our lessons. She looked up when I arrived, her expression serious beyond her years.
"You were gone."
"I was. But I'm back now."
"Did you fight another monster?"
"No. I fought myself. It was harder."
Hope considered this. Then she nodded, accepting the explanation with the simple wisdom of children.
"Can we do the exercises now? The ones with the water?"
"We can do anything you want."
We sat together in the clearing, and I guided her through the same awareness practice we'd been doing for months. But now I could see what I hadn't before—the full scope of her power, the connections she was forming with the world around her, the potential she carried.
[Hope Mikaelson: Power analysis]
[Type: Hybrid (Original vampire + werewolf + witch)]
[Current capacity: GROWING]
[Potential: UNLIMITED]
[Threats: Multiple (dimensional predators, power hunters, those who would use her)]
[Protection: Active (Paradox, Mikaelson family, Crescent pack, Council)]
[Recommendation: Continue training. Build connections. Prepare for Stage 5.]
I pushed the System notifications aside and focused on the present. On the child who was learning to feel the water's pulse, the trees' patience, the animals' fear and hope and endless cycle of survival.
"You're doing well," I said when she opened her eyes. "Better than I expected."
"Really?"
"Really. You're going to be stronger than me someday. Stronger than anyone."
Hope's face lit up with a smile that could have powered the sun.
"Then I'll protect everyone. Like you do."
I reached out and ruffled her hair.
"That's the plan."
---