"Never anything so intense..."

It was nearly midnight when Hope sat down on the edge of her bed, looking around her now empty room in brief astonishment. Most of her belongings were packed away in the cardboard moving boxes, especially including the leather-bound grimoires she kept tucked away under a few loose floorboards in her closet. These books had belonged to her Grandmother Esther, her Great Aunt Dahlia, and even a few that once belonged to Camille – one of her father's past loves who had requested Hope receive all her supernatural inventory before she tragically died.

Leaning back on her mattress she grazed her nimble fingers over the violet comforter, she'd pack that away into a box tomorrow morning. A sudden swarm of butterflies battled inside her stomach as she imagined how tomorrow would turn out. She'd be leaving in only a few short hours for an early start. Would there be an argument before she leaves, leaving her feeling as though she wouldn't be welcomed back home? Maybe they'd make her feel guilty enough that she'd decide to call the whole trip off. Despite her better judgment, she allowed the disturbing thoughts ease her into a troubled sleep.

Thump thump. Thump thump. Hope couldn't tell if it was her own heart beating erratically out of control or multiple heartbeats surrounding her in her dark, confined space. She twisted in bed, whipping her head to the side frantically in her sleep. A hand, no hands, touched her. First her shoulders, and then they glided down her waist, groping her body with an intense strength and passion. Almost as though it wasn't just her body the hands wanted to get ahold of, but her very soul. She began breathing heavier, almost panting as her body writhed under the pretense of the touch, as though it were happening. A dewy sweat sprouted over her hot to the touch skin. In an instant the hands turned to claws that dug deeply into her chest, tearing at her flesh, trying claw their way in to her heart. Hope let out a horrified gasp as she sat bolt upright, her hands clutching her chest protectively, making sure everything was still in its place. She'd had dreams like this before, where what she longed for tried to reach her heart, but she'd never dreamt of anything like that before. Never anything so intense.

Feeling hot and sticky, Hope ran a hand through her hair and glanced over at the clock. Almost six. An appropriate time to get up, she thought, primarily because she didn't want to risk entering that dream world again. Pushing back her hair and tying it into a high ponytail, she slipped off the bed and made her way to the bathroom, grabbing a plush towel on the way.

The water cascading down her body, which was tight with tension from the dream, felt more incredible than she would have thought possible. She took care to pamper her skin before stepping out and wrapping the towel around her petite body. The medicine cabinet mirror was too foggy to see herself until she reached forward and wiped away some of the moisture. She stared at her own dark eyes which were wide with interest, but not the courage she had been hoping for. She wasn't what you'd call naturally intimidating. No, she had a petite manner about her. At first glance anyway. Underneath the towel her body wasn't soft and subjected to bruising, she was toned with muscle that she'd gotten over the many training sessions with her family. Little did the world know, Hope Mikaelson was a fighter.

Getting dressed and packing the rest of the items she planned to take with her to California wasn't an issue, nor was lugging down her boxes into the back of her Black Nissan Rogue Crossover. The difficult part, as ironic and often said as it was, was saying goodbye. Hope knew it was going to be difficult, but she hadn't expected it to be quite so heartbreaking to see the proud, yet worried smile on her mother's face.

"Promise me you'll call as soon as you get there and if you have to stop along the way…" she and her mother embraced warmly, tears threatening to spill when she whispered, "Stay safe" in her ear.

"And you have your stay in order?" Elijah asked.

"Yes," Hope responded, "Everything is set with the realtor. All documents and paperwork are submitted and approved. All that's left is to move in" she hugged her uncle "And I know if I have questions you'll always answer my call."

"Always," Elijah said softly as he squeezed her back, a reassuring sign to her. Not that she'd mention it, but Elijah had always been her favorite uncle, and it was especially hard pulling away from him.

When all the goodbyes had been said Hope sat in the driver's seat of her car, her father holding onto the window frame as he spoke.

"If you, for any reason at all, need us we will be there so quickly you'll have whiplash for days"

Hope smiled, leave it to her dad to crack a joke of all times, but it pleased her. She knew he'd be alright here so long as their family supported each other. "I won't be gone forever, I'll be back before you know it" she smiled "With hopefully more interesting stories to tell than I can count" she grinned.

Klaus smiled crookedly and nodded slowly, chewing on his lower lip "I know, and we will be here waiting for you. Family-"

"Always and forever" she finished with a smile "Bye dad…I love you." He knew this, but she knew it was important, especially for him to hear it coming from her.

Klaus took her hand in his, letting her feel the strength of her protector "I love you, too, sweetheart" he leaned forward and kissed her forehead "Be careful."

With a nod, she smiled and put the car into gear. If she didn't press on the gas now she never would, so she eased up on the break as he stepped back and started down the street. Making her way through the traffic and onto the interstate ramp. She rolled down her window and let the wind whip her hair around, taking in the last whiff of the distinct New Orleans air. Her eyes set dead ahead, allowing her instincts to lead her towards whatever it was that called to her in Beacon Hills.