Chapter 1
Mia licks her lower lip while driving a truck, thinking about where to go. She rubbed her chin with one hand while the other mauvered the steering wheel.
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay with us?” Hayley, who was sitting beside her, asked with concern.
They both were driving away from New Orleans after Marcel had bit all of the Mikaelson siblings with his venom and kept Klaus captive. Mia became an Upgraded Hybrid when she stole half of the dose of the serum from Marcel after learning about his plans and asked Freya for help. Freya helped her to turn herself in to The Beast. Mia had hoped to have saved the Mikaelsons, but she arrived late due to the transition. Which led to their current state.
“I can’t risk you and Hope being tracked while I look for the ingredients. So, this is for the best.” Mia relaxed her shoulders and turned to Hayley with a smile, “Don’t worry, I am The Beast now. Who’s gonna try to beat me down?”
Hayley sighed at her friend, who never seemed to fear anything. “Okay, fine, but where are you thinking of staying? We all are cloaked, so we can’t do locator spells or anything like that.”
Mia parted her lips to speak, but right before she could, her phone rang. “One second.” She picked up her phone after pulling the truck to the curbside. “Hello? Who is this?”
“Mia...”
Mia’s eyes widened, “D-Dad?”
Hayley looked at her with shock. She had never heard anything about Mia’s past or family before. All she knew was that Klaus had been with Mia for years since she was fourteen or fifteen years of age. She assumed that Mia was an orphan like her, too.
“It’s really you... Thank god, you’re alive.”
Mia weakly smiled, tears pooling in her eyes, hearing the one gentle, caring voice she missed for six long years. “Dad...”
“Mia... C-come home... Please...”She could clearly hear her father choking on words while he tried to keep himself composed. After all, Charles was not that great at expressing his feelings.
Mia glanced up at Hayley, wordlessly and subconsciously, asking for permission. “You should go,” Hayley whispered with a soft smile.
Mia smiled small before her eyes glanced at the sleeping baby Hope. She was reminded of what she had promised to Klaus.
"Promise me. That you will protect my daughter at all cost.” Klaus asked for the promise when he felt utterly helpless and heartbroken.
“I promise.”
That promise was the only thing she could offer him for his peace of mind before he handed himself off to Marcel.
“Mia, please come home... Just once... I want to see you before I die.”
“Die? What do you mean?” Fear creeped up the fearless Mia. “Why are you talking about dying?!”
“Because I don’t have much time... I have cancer.”
“What...” Mia took a shaky breath. “I am coming home. Don’t you worry. Stay in bed and rest. I will be home soon. Wait for me.”
“I will, always.”
Her lips trembled as she cuts the call and starts the truck and drives faster within the speed limit.
“He will be fine, and you can turn him if the situation gets worse.” Hayley tried to console Mia, who became pale by the minute.
“No, I can’t do that without his permission. Honestly, I don’t want to drag him into this world. Especially when he saves people. Being a vampire is not for him. I can’t be selfish enough to see him miserable.”
Mia couldn’t understand what she should do. Keep the promise she made to her saviour, her older brother like friend? Or run home to her dying father?
“You know that Hope is my daughter too, right?”
Mia looked at Hayley, confused, “Of course, I do.”
“Then? Do you think I am not enough to protect my own daughter?” Hayley raised a brow.
“No! Not at all! You are enough—”
“Then, why are you hesitating to go home? If it’s because of Klaus’ promise, trust me, he will want you to go home too. After all, you are going home after so many years.”
Mia pressed her lips into a fine line. “How about this? You and Hope come with me to Forks?”
“I can’t do that, I told Mary we would be at the house she arranged, and she already got the house ready for us. And you should focus on your dad for now. Without having to worry about us.” Hayley smiled wide, “Make memories and have a good time with him and be by him.”
Mia smiled, “Thank you.”
