"So, how do we do this? Do we need to keep my dad unconscious?" Hope asked, urgency in her voice. She shifted her weight from foot to foot, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.
"No," Caelum said calmly, his posture relaxed despite the tension in the air. "That would kill him. I have to pull the Hollow out—but it's going to cling to his soul to survive. If he's unconscious, I might drag his soul out with it."
Hope's jaw tightened, her gaze hardening as she processed his words. Her fingers dug into her palms, nails biting into her skin as she held back a wave of frustration. "So he needs to be awake," she realized, voice softening but still tense.
"Awake, and fighting the pull," Caelum confirmed, meeting her gaze with steady eyes. "But the pain will be unbearable. He'll lash out. You need to keep him restrained and—most importantly—make sure no one interrupts me."
Hope's breath hitched, and she took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling as she steadied herself. "I can do that. My family will help."
Caelum's eyes softened for a brief moment, and he took a slow step forward, locking eyes with her. His hands remained at his sides, but his posture was subtly defensive, his shoulders squared. "You might trust me," he said, voice low, "But they won't. You'll need to convince them to stand down."
Hope's lips pressed into a tight line. "Leave that to me," she said, determination flashing in her eyes. Her shoulders squared, and she lifted her chin slightly, a silent promise in her stance. "Let's go meet them."
-------------------------------------------
In the courtyard of the Abattoir, the Mikaelson siblings were scattered about.
Freya sat with a heavy tome in her lap, flipping pages with a growing frown as she scanned each word. Rebekah and Kol were in mid-argument, their bodies turned toward each other, hands gesturing wildly as Kol's voice rose in anger. Kol's posture was defensive, his back straight, while Rebekah leaned slightly forward, trying to hold her ground. Elijah stood beside Klaus, steadying him as Klaus came to, his hand brushing the back of his neck in discomfort.
Then came footsteps.
All eyes turned toward the sound.
"I've found a way to save Dad," Hope announced, striding into the courtyard with purpose, her posture resolute and her steps firm.
Freya's head snapped up, her brows furrowing. "Hope, I told you—there's not enough magic in the world to fix this."
"Good thing I'm not from this world, then," came a voice behind her, calm but confident. Caelum made his presence known, his posture upright, hands in his pockets, as he stepped forward.
In an instant, the Mikaelsons moved. They closed in protectively around Hope, stepping toward her with defensive postures—eyes flashing, hands tense at their sides. Klaus's jaw clenched, and his golden eyes glinted with distrust as he took a step toward Caelum. He stood tall, his body leaning slightly forward, ready to confront.
"Who the hell are you?" Klaus snarled, his voice thick with suspicion.
Caelum didn't flinch. He stood his ground, his eyes cool and steady. His hands remained in his pockets, but his stance was calm—almost too calm, considering the situation. "Caelum Morningstar," he said evenly. "And you must be Hope's dad. I saw your picture in her room."
Hope rushed forward, placing herself between them. She raised one hand in a calming gesture, her arms spread wide as she faced her father. Her fingers trembled slightly, but her gaze never wavered. "He's here to help you, Dad!" she said quickly, voice strained with emotion. "He's the only one with a solution that doesn't involve anyone dying."
Klaus's eyes narrowed, his body tensed, and his lips curled into a sneer. "And we're supposed to just believe that?" He took another step forward, closing the distance, his body radiating distrust. "That some stranger from God knows where can undo what centuries of magic couldn't? Where did he even come from?"
Hope's lips trembled, and she took a slow step back, trying to bridge the gap between father and stranger. "I summoned him," she said, her voice faltering slightly. "I picked up a flyer on the way home—some weird thing that said 'your deepest desire for a price.' I almost threw it out, thought it was just voodoo trash. But I was desperate. I'm not ready to lose you." Her hands fluttered helplessly, then tightened at her sides as tears welled in her eyes, the emotion raw on her face.
The Mikaelsons fell silent, shaken by her desperation. Even Kol's usual scowl faltered as he looked at her, his arms crossed tightly over his chest as though to keep his own emotions in check.
"You're ready to die. I understand." Caelum's voice was soft, and his eyes turned distant for a moment, but when he spoke again, his gaze met Klaus's—unwavering. His shoulders tensed slightly as if bracing for the weight of his own words. "But you have people who will mourn you if you pass. Something I didn't have. So please, let me help you, for them."
"I think you should let him."
A new voice cut through the tension like a breeze.
All eyes turned to the archway. Standing in the doorway was a woman with curly blonde hair, dressed sharply in a black blouse, blazer, and heels. She stood tall, but her expression was soft—resolute, yet filled with quiet emotion. She crossed her arms loosely in front of her, exuding confidence and care.
"Caroline," Klaus said softly, his body stiffening for a moment. His eyes softened, and something unspoken flickered across his face—a combination of surprise and a deeper, unspoken feeling.
"What are you doing here?" Klaus asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Caroline stepped further into the courtyard, her heels clicking sharply against the stone. She didn't hesitate as she met each of their gazes in turn, her eyes locking with Klaus's before she spoke. Her posture was open, but her gaze was firm—determined.
"I came to say goodbye," Caroline replied, her voice steady, but her lips pressed tightly together as if fighting back emotions. "But then I heard enough of your conversation to think... maybe I don't have to."
"We haven't agreed to anything yet," Elijah said cautiously, his posture slightly defensive, one hand resting on his hip as he looked at Caelum, eyes searching for any hint of manipulation. "These claims are outlandish. We don't know what angle this boy is playing."
Caroline stepped closer to Klaus, her gaze softer but still unyielding. She placed a hand gently on his arm before turning to face the others. Her shoulders squared, and her eyes flickered between them, showing a quiet strength.
"Then do it for Hope," she said. "You've all given up. But she hasn't. She's still fighting for you. Show her you're willing to do the same."
The silence that followed was thick, and the air around them seemed to hum with the weight of possibility. The siblings exchanged fleeting glances, but none spoke for a long moment. The tension was palpable, the moment stretched as they collectively held their breath.
"If we're going to do this, we have a lot of questions," Elijah spoke again, his voice low and careful, but his body language showed his willingness to hear them out.
"Ask away," Caelum said with a soft but firm voice. He had relaxed slightly, though his posture remained alert, ready for the next challenge.
"To start with, what are you? You certainly don't seem like any witch we know."
Caelum's gaze flickered downward briefly, his shoulders sagging as he exhaled, the playful facade slipping slightly. His eyes met Elijah's with a softness, a glint of something deeper. "Someone who's not supposed to exist. Someone who everyone wants to get rid of. Someone ready to fade away until I got summoned," he answered with a quiet, almost wistful voice.
"And why help us? What do you gain from this?"
A slight tension rippled through Caelum's body. His jaw tightened, his eyes distant as he spoke, but his tone was steady. "A chance to show that I can do something good. And to make up for not being able to save my own father."
"And how do we know you're not lying?" Kol asks with an edge in his voice. "You cook up a sob story and you expect us to just roll with it?"
"Look, before Hope summoned me, I was running away from my world. From a world that has no place for someone like me. I went into a crack in reality, leading to a void between dimensions. When I sent out the flyer that Hope used, I sent with it my last remaining hope of a place where I might find where I belong. When I closed my eyes in that void. I was ready to accept that I might never open them again." Caelum said as he let loose the guard he had on his emotions, tears running down his face. "You can threaten me all you want, kill me if you wish, and you will be doing me a favor."
The silence that followed was deafening. The raw emotions that Caelum showed had done something to make the Mikaelsons hesitate. Then Klaus stepped forward first, eyes still focused on him, trying to assess if he was telling the truth.
"If this goes wrong," he said, his voice carrying an edge of finality, "I'll be dying tonight anyway." His eyes met Hope's, and there was something almost tender in his gaze. "But if there's even the smallest chance this will work... I'll do it. For you, my littlest wolf."
Hope's breath caught in her throat. Her hand shot out to him, and before she even realized what she was doing, she wrapped her arms around him in a tight, desperate hug. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Klaus's arms came around her in return, and for a moment, the weight of their troubled family seemed to lift, just a little.
Caelum took a deep breath, wiping the stray tear from his face as he composed himself. The shift in the air was palpable now, the decision made. His voice was steady, but there was no mistaking the seriousness in it. "Alright. Here's the plan. I pull the Hollow out of you. You need to fight its pull on your soul while the others keep you restrained. The pain will make you want to lash out, but if you interrupt me, the hollow might escape."
Klaus's smirk returned, a sharp, knowing expression. "Then let's get this bloody parasite out of me."
--------------------------
As Klaus settled into position in the courtyard, his siblings gathered around him, preparing to restrain him. Hope and Caroline stood at the side, their eyes never leaving the scene unfolding before them.
Caelum's aura shifted, growing darker as his power began to manifest. His eyes—once a striking blend of grey and gold—flared into a crimson hue, and the air around him crackled with energy. Slowly, he extended his hand toward Klaus, and motes of blue light began to emerge from Klaus's body—the Hollow, trying to resist the pull.
Klaus gritted his teeth, his breath coming in labored gasps. "It... It's afraidof you," he managed to say, struggling to keep himself together as the pain intensified. His siblings kept him in place as his eyes glowed yellow.
"As it should be," Caelum said with quiet finality, his voice colder now. He opened his mouth, and his aura pulsed with dark energy as he began to consume the Hollow, pulling it from Klaus with a force that seemed to reverberate through the ground itself.
Caroline watched in disbelief, her voice shaky as she turned to Hope. "How is he doing this? He's not being possessed, but this isn't like anything we've seen before."
Hope's expression remained steady, though her heart raced. "He's a devil," she said, voice quiet but certain. "He said he can consume souls."
Caroline blinked, taking in the information, her gaze sharp. "You didn't think to mention that part?"
Hope shot her a small, almost sheepish glance. "Well, I didn't want to give them more reasons not to let him help."
The motes of blue light started to vanish as Caelum finished consuming the hollow. Then Klaus fell down in exhaustion. Hope rushes to him immediately.
Caelum, still feeling unsure about his future, unfurls his white feathered wings, glowing softly with an ethereal glow, and he takes flight, leaving the Mikaelsons and Caroline to relish the moment of having been rid of the Hollow. A single feather falling on Hope's shoulder was the only evidence of his presence.