"How are you feeling?" Gale asked as they entered the camps threshold and Hope could breathe a little easier.
She hated being out in the open while in such a weakened state. Despite the effects of the healing potion and her own quick healing, she could still feel the deep aches and pains from Auntie Ethel. It was a radiating pain, deep in her bones. Like an itch under the surface of her skin that she couldn't soothe.
"I'll feel better when that Hag's dead."
Eviscerated.
Hope ground her jaw in growing agitation.
God, it was hard holding back. At first it felt like a blessing. For once just being Hope and not The Tribrid, but now? Now she wanted to kick some ass and let a few heads roll — that was healthy, right?
Astarion snorted. "Uhm…you don't expect us to go back there, do you?"
"The girl disappeared," Hope said as she leaned down to untie her boot. "They likely wouldn't have gone far given it's her place of business. I imagine she'd be hidden somewhere secluded. Out of sight."
"And for good reason," Astarion rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "You have a good time walking back into the belly of the beast, because I for one won't be."
"Fine," Hope bit back without looking at him, "I'll go myself."
Gale interrupted now, "You cannot go yourself, least of all in your condition. You may be clever, but that does not mean you can handle this Hag. Especially not one of her stature. I can imagine she had been around for a very long time."
The last person Hope wanted to hear from was Lae'zel. She gritted her teeth as she sneered, "You wouldn't have come so close to death if you hadn't gone back in. We have a mission and that isn't saving whelps from their tragedies."
"Oh, shut the fuck up," Hope rebelled, standing with only one shoe on as she turned to Lae'zel.
Jaws dropped.
Astarion grinned.
Lae'zel curled her lip as she took a step forward, "Excuse me?"
"We must find the creche, the creche will save us. All you ever do is talk about how your people are the way of a cure and that we need to be 'cleansed'. You know who else talks like that? Cultists. Maybe if you stopped talking to us like we're the shit on your shoe we'd take you more seriously."
Hope didn't see the punch coming and couldn't brace herself for the way her head smacked against the ground with an audible crack. Everything spun, and for a moment, she didn't realize Lae'zel had a hand against her throat, closing off her windpipe.
Stars dazzled her vision as Lae'zel leaned down against her ear, "I can and will kill you without a second thought. I stand above you because you, as you say, are the shit on my shoe."
Blind rage coursed through Hope like hot iron as she slammed forward and connected with her forehead. Not with enough force to crack her skull, but plenty to force her away as she sent a swift kick into her gut.
"Is that all you can do?" Lae'zel snarled and snatched her socked ankle and with a viscous twist, her toes now pointed backward.
A scream ripped up Hope's throat as Lae'zel grabbed her by the hair, digging into her scalp hard enough it sent a trickle of blood down her forehead. Breathing heavily, she grabbed her wrist, envisioning herself slashing through her throat with her fangs.
"Let this be a lesson to you," Lae'zel sneered, "Do not start something you cannot finish."
The Githyanki warrior released the grip on her head and stalked away, but Hope just lay there. Silently stewing as Gale slowly approached, "Well, that cannot be comfortable…" He said gently, kneeling by her leg.
Shadowheart merely paused a fraction to glance her way before continuing on, arms crossed and brows furrowed as she returned to her tent.
"Well, that was very entertaining…" Astarion started.
Hope and Gale turned their heads and glared.
Astarion held his hands up in a shrug, "Well, it was. If it's any consolation, I don't think your words were wrong, but perhaps only said to the wrong person… and to think I thought you clever…" He smirked and returned to his tent.
A sudden pain jolted through her body, forcing out a cry of surprise. She quickly looked down to see Gale holding her righted foot.
"My apologies," he grimaced, "I thought it might be best to set things while you were distracted."
Hope groaned and put her hands over her face, trying to think through the sensation of torn muscles. It was a similar pain to phasing into her wolf form, something she hadn't done for a very long time.
"Thanks," she muttered.
"My pleasure."
Peeking through her fingers she frowned at him and he quickly backtracked, "I just mean… I'm glad I could help. As much as it pains me to say it, Astarion may be right. Best not pick a fight with someone who is of a people that have never been known for restraint. Though, I will say, she did show it to you today. It could have been much worse."
Another red bottle was then placed beside her as he offered a gentle smile, "Try to get some rest."
As the camp settled for the night and dusk turned to night, Hope found herself falling in and out of sleep. A dangerous dance that she knew would leave her feeling groggy in the morning.
Blinking her eyes open, Hope frowned as she was met with a purple sky and a deep voice. She sat up, heart racing as she turned in search of her companions to find…she was no longer in camp.
"You're asleep," the voice said and she met his blue gaze.
"What do you mean I'm asleep?"
His smile curved nicely with his sharp, half-elf features, and his hair was so black it was almost blue. Though he wasn't large, he was too distinguishable to have met him before and not remember. Wasn't the whole point of dreams being with people you've at least seen before?
"We are inside your head," he offered her a hand, but she clenched her jaw and slowly rose to her feet alone.
A low chuckle rumbled in his throat, almost appreciatively. "You may not know me, but I know you, Hope Mikaelson."
She froze, shoulder stiffening as she stared at him.
"How-"
"I'm in your head," he said gently, eyes holding the same warmth as his voice, "I know everything there is to know about you. Who you are…your abilities. Yes, I was most pleased to realize what abilities you possess. You could very well be the key."
"The key to what?"
"All of this." He gestured around the plain.
Hope looked in all directions, listening to the sound of battle cries somewhere in the far distance.
"You bring much promise to our cause."
Turning her gaze back on him she scowled, "Why the hell should I believe anything you say?"
He frowned, "Because I've already saved you once."
Her mind flashed back to the moment just before she hit the ground after the Nautiloid exploded. She should have been a mess to clean up on the beach, and yet she'd been relatively unscathed.
Hope curled her lip, "If you saved me…and all the others from the crash…why didn't you save Chloe?"
"She was not meant for a mission such as this. I had to choose, and I had to choose wisely. With you, your power…enhanced with your tadpole, we may be able to defeat the Absolute…"
Swallowing hard, Hope slowly shook her head. "I just want to go home."
"And you can," he smiled now, "But there is work to be done before that can happen…"
Another rallied cry caught his attention and he nodded. "I must go. Just know, Hope. The tadpole is a gift, not a burden. Use it well and it will offer you passage home."
"Where are you going?" She asked, suddenly panicked. She had too many questions for him to leave.
"I cannot hold the defenses long. Remember what I've said…"
Hope woke with a startled breath.