Seeing Hope Caused Eleanor To Allow Herself To Breathe, Something She Was Still Getting Used To Doing.

the strength card // upright: inner strength, bravery, compassion, focus // reversed: self doubt, weakness, insecurity

i'll be right there, but you'll have to grab my throat and lift me in the air, if you need anyone. i'll stop my plans, but you'll have to tie me down and then break both my hands, if you need anyone. -- twenty one pilots jumpsuit

gabriela grew up knowing that a lot of inner strength was needed to push through the harder times of their life. being a foster child required a lot of bravery, something that she does her best to teach her children as they grow. their chosen family is the main focus for them and they will not allow anyone to just come and take it. something gabbi has always held too much of, especially for a demon, is compassion. only in her darkest time after becoming a demon, did she ever possess the ability to harm others.

but, with raymis back, there is a lot of self doubt in her good qualities. because it was them who saw her at her truly darkest moments. for her, it was a time of weakness, but it wasn't seen that way with raymis. power was always the end goal and an when filled with insecurity, gabbi can be lethal.

can gabriela keep her soul and family safe?

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eleanor wasn't sure where to go tonight, with nikolas remaining at arms length and her family so caught up in her return, it felt as if nothing was right. sure being back from the dead wasn't right or normal either, but to be treated like such a fragile piece of art, well it made the young woman anxious. the feeling never left her, it seemed once she crawled out of the grave, she was destined to feel out of place in the world. possibly because she didn't belong here anymore. none of it made sense, so she made her way to the outside area of the venue and took in a the fresh air. only coming back to reality when a voice filled the silence.

tilting her head to the other, she opened her eyes and furrowed her brows. trying to think what answer would be best. bolting felt like the best option. yet, her feet stayed planted on the ground. "honestly, i can't answer that. i want to leave this ball so badly. get away from everyone and just be, but i don't want to worry people anymore."

↷ open ╳ @inaducursehqstarters ↷ muse playing ╳ andrew salvatore ↷ location ╳ vaso bar and venue (bywater ) ↷ event ╳ enchanted evening masquerade

the redhead was still on edge after drinking from his father , damon . the limitation of blood was starting to get to him . he didn't want to feed on anyone else because he didn't want to hurt them , but that didn't changed the fact that his craving for the taste often danced on his tongue . however, andrew knew that his father would give him another hit before the night was done so he decided to think about something else for a change . " should we dance like we belong or ditch this place ? " andrew approached the other .

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gabriela had been on the hunt for a certain someone, ever since she kaya uttered his name at the bar. their heart pounding as they made their way through the crowd, trying to find anyone that radiated the dark energy raymis would at a party like this. this was exactly the place he'd feed off with delight. she wanted to give up, go find tyler and forget that he was even mentioned, but his name made her angry. it was a rage she couldn't bury no matter how hard she tried. when he spoke, it made her shoulders stiffen. he couldn't see it but the demon raised an eyebrow at the other, her lips curling in disgust. "you'd love that wouldn't you? to just kill some poor soul all for entertainment. i'm assuming you only spoke to kaya the way you did was because you were trying to get my attention."

↷ open ╳ @inaducursehqstarters ↷ muse playing ╳ raymis ↷ location ╳ vaso bar and venue (bywater ) ↷ event ╳ enchanted evening masquerade

nearly black hues scanned the venue as they mused of the fact that they were a devil in disguise . it was easy for the demon to move around the crowd as if they belonged . crowds formed around them wherever they stood , as he played on their human desires of pride , greed , lust , and envy , among other things . raymis was charming to the others but that illusion just hid his true face . what was underneath the mask and illusions , was that they were pure evil , but the fun kind of evil , they thought . " look , i double dog dare you to drink that whole chardonnay bottle . " granted it would probably kill the ready drunken person , with alcohol poison , but a win was a win , right ? he teased to themselves .

---

of course she rolled her eyes at him, because no matter how many years the two had been together, elijah still expected her to run when danger was close. that wasn't the hybrids nature, well not anymore, hayley refused to run after giving birth to hope. knowing that to make her past right, she would have to push on through and set a good example. as the years passed, it became part of her personality, being the one who stood her ground in the face of adversity. she would do it proudly, even now.

something was inside of her husband, using him like a puppet to cause destruction, but why? as elijah spoke, it sent a shiver down her spine because it wasn't his voice. it wasn't the tone of anyone she'd heard before. furrowing her brows was her only response before being thrown into a brick building, her back slamming into the hard wall. taking a deep breath was all that could be done, because soon whatever this thing was, stood above her. "oh i'm sure you'll make me suffer, isn't that your types whole deal? make others suffer instead of looking inward?" her tone was filled with sass, unable to hold it back from how much anger that sparked in her chest. allowing her face to soften, she looked into his eyes, speaking to him and not whoever was inside of him. "you are stronger than this, elijah. i know you are."

Elijah wanted nothing more than to rip his own heart out, desiccate himself. Anything to prevent what was happening. But when she spoke, his heart rate ramped up so much higher. His fear spiked. He knew she was in danger, but he didn’t know what this was. He didn’t know how to control it. He only knew he had fleeting moments. Letting go of the innocent, the mere struggle it took to meet her eyes nearly gave everything over to whatever was lingering in his body. “Hayley…” his voice is dangerous, because it’s a plea. Begging her to take off running without saying the words.

But instantaneously his shoulders relax and eyes are burning with a brightness that is nowhere near the steady soft brown of Elijah’s. The free hand snaps to her while the other settles for her throat. “Kò sa a se pou mwen kounye a. And you…. You can’t save him.” The hand at her throat lifts her so easily, a hand that had just only the night before touched her with such assured gentile. “How does it feel… to know this body, these memories will all be erased? I like this body. It’s strong.” The voice doesn’t match the face, the hiss, the accent heavy in creole twang. “And if you try to remove me… I’ll destroy it.” With that Hayley is launched clear across the street into the building made of brick, but the being inhabiting Elijah is right back on top of her. “Shall I spare you the pain of watching? Or make you suffer? Decisions, decisions….”

---

the confession made her frown, but not because she was upset. there was just so much happening at once, for all of them and the demon couldn't stop any of it. "oh baby, that's a lot to deal with at once. how are you feeling?" gabriela was so grateful that tyler was there. even if he also changed, having her father there must've been a comfort to mariana. they'd seen tyler's change a few times, it took a few years before he felt comfortable enough. she would've waited forever because being there for that felt special. he allowed her into such a personal space and it made her love him even more. "if you want i can be there next time."

The young Mariana Lockwood decided to sit up a little as she listened to her mother. "I'm safe now, Momma, but there's something I need to tell you," she admitted, nervously fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. She wanted to confess to the older woman that she had turned, but she wasn't sure how her mother would react. “It's okay, Momma, really it is," Mariana said, trying to reassure herself as she braced for her mother's response. "I-I had to turn, I-I'm a werewolf. Papa saw me turn," she finally confessed, looking down, frightened of her mother's reaction.

---

she nodded her head at his statement, it was hard to be okay when people were being murder because they were supernatural. "you're right..." hayley trailed off, trying to think of any good news to tell andrew, but nothing came to mind. she was in the dark as everyone else. "no, honestly i don't have much information right now, but i'm trying to find out more." she knew the risks of having kids, but she also wanted to be a mother.. wanted to change the story, making sure the ending wasn't grim and violent like her past. "have you heard anything? i'll take anything even if it seems small."

" i guess that would depend on your definition of okay . " he sighed . andrew knew that he had the choice of becoming human again , by taking the cure but after the life he lived while he was human he was happy to leave that part of his life behind . yet , the thought of someone hurting his family and him being powerless to do anything about it didn't sit well for the redhead . " any news on what's going on with the killings ? "

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lisa frankenstein sentence starters

i think it’s really peaceful and quiet.

____ says it’s a waste of time to try and fix a boy. it’s better to just accept a guy’s flaws.

i wish i was with you.

we killed two people! i could get the clink for life or the electric chair!

you have so much potential.

how will i ever repay you?

things have been moving fast, but i want that.

i know when something’s wrong.

i thought that was gonna last forever, but it didn’t, you know?

i’m okay. i’m fine. it’s okay. i’m good.

not until we bury the body.

i’m not crazy!

“time heals all wounds.” but that’s a lie. time is the wound. takes you further and further from that place when you were happy.

i want to take you somewhere that’s very meaningful to me.

you love me?

it’s okay. one step. right foot, left foot. hold my hand.

i don’t play with dolls anymore.

how about i drive, since you’re not feeling so good?

don’t tell ____ i said this, but it’s actually kind of nice not having her in town.

have you been here before?

not that kind of cure. it’s a band. they can’t make you better. i mean, they can, but… emotionally.

let’s find somewhere for you to sit for a bit, yeah?

you said sisters share.

this whole place gives me the creeps, okay?

you act like you’re happy for me and you care about me, but you’re not really happy for me.

i can never ever talk about it. for personal and legal reasons, and i also pinkyswore.

i knew. i always know. i’m an i.p. intuitive person.

thank you for being nice to me when no one else was.

what happened to your neck?

is it peaceful down there?

i don’t know why i’m talking so much. i haven’t said this many words in a row in forever.

you don’t think i should do it?

is that a rad new trend or something?

you want to be the smart one who likes cool stuff, and you don’t want your girlfriend to like cool stuff. do you know how uncool that is?!

i hate to say it, but you are either crazy or you’re just goddamned inconsiderate.

people are so afraid of death, ‘cause they don’t know when it’s gonna happen to them. it could be an axe murderer, could be the flu, but they don’t know and they hate that.

your boobs look great, by the way.

i don’t know what you’re talking about.

you fixed your bangs! you know, i wasn’t gonna say anything, they were such a mess… but you look amazing now!

i don’t think i’ve ever heard you talk this much.

how about an apology?

it just was never gonna work out between us.

i do wax rubbings of all the tombstones. i have a favorite.

how do you know my name?

i have to get, uh, dressed.

it doesn’t even hurt anymore.

why me? why must i feel so strongly?

you have no idea how scary this is!

let’s not jump to conclusions.

i mean, you don’t need one of those to be a man. it’s actually, like, the least important part, really.

it’s been a difficult day.

i don’t know how i was ever afraid of you.

i’m sorry if this is too much. i know it’s all so new.

i tell you everything.

it’s your fault we’re screwed!

i’m not afraid of death anymore.

i hate parties like this.

did you love her?

this is an active crime scene!

sorry, how do we know each other?

that was an accident.

i feel like i want to apologize for what may have happened last night.

i don’t want to die a virgin.

they’re just things that make you different.

i’m sorry. i don’t mean to be rude. i just didn’t get much sleep last night.

you’re being so dramatic.

i gotta go change my pad.

you’re a great person, ____. and i’m sorry i hurt you.

what do you think happened?

i swear, i would never do that to you.

why are you here?

um, that’s like a… it’s like a back massager.

i’m psychic. also, i think it’s gonna rain.

do you know what happens to people who act out?

that’s really weird, ____.

i love you.

who’s your favorite director of all time?

you should probably get up.

that does sound like the exact description of the hamburglar.

oh, come on. you’re not gonna tell me?

i wished i was in the ground, dead.

what is wrong with you?

you saved me.

just give it a chance.

after ____ died, everyone was in such a hurry to go back to normal. and they kept acting like i had a problem because i couldn’t stop missing her. started to feel like i was going crazy.

shit is transpiring, man.

oscar wilde said, “to define is to limit.”

oscar the grouch said, “scram.”

why didn’t you tell me?

we all have to spend more time together as a family. how can we brady if we don’t bunch?

i just don’t think anyone should be forgotten.

you know i’m usually pretty cool about things, right? but i have a bad feeling about this.

will you cover for me?

i tend to his grave and leave him flowers and… i talk to him sometimes.

you have everything! you couldn’t let me have this one thing?

is there pizza left?

i want to help you. i really do, but i don’t know how.

you don’t want to hold my hand?

i’m really sorry you got electrocuted.

---

No longer a danger to herself or others She made up her mind and laced up her shoes Yelled down the hall, but nobody answered So she walked outside without an excuse She can do anything she wants to She can do whatever she wants to do She could go home, but she's not going to

---

a hybrid's hearing was both a gift and curse, especially when you're a mother who kids inherit your own loud remarks. this time she wasn't hearing something that would scar her or cause an eye roll, this sound caused panic and fear to rise in her chest, instantly using superhuman speed to the source. what she saw broke her heart, elijah stood there but there was something else, something inside him that made his actions and heart different. the change was too easy to recognize, if there was someone she knew all too well it was her husband. the two had grown in their marriage to become people who cared so deeply for each others happiness and peace, even when the world refused to give it to them. so to see this scene unfold, it caused the hybrids heart to break, yet she had no time to process any of it, because there was an innocent in danger.

taking a deep breath, she walked over towards her husband, because he was still there, fighting so desperately to stay in control. "elijah, i need you to let them go." hayley's voice stayed calm, trying to only speak to him and not whatever was possessing his body. walking closer behind elijah, she placed her fingers on his wrist, feeling his pulse and how it raced, when her eyes met his, the clear desperation caused tears to well in her eyes. "you are going to let this person go and we are going to figure out what is going on. we won't let this win okay?"

The narrow alleyways of New Orleans were drenched in shadows, the night air thick with humidity. Elijah wandered them, but not as himself. His eyes glowed with an unnatural blue hue. From a distance, someone followed, carefully. Elijah halted abruptly, his senses sharpened by the Hollow's malevolent power. He could feel the presence behind him. Inadu stirred with interest, its attention now fully on the pursuer. A twisted smile crept across Elijah's face as the Hollow spoke through him in a low, mocking tone. “Yon lòt malere ki vle mouri," it hissed in Creole, the words laced with dark amusement. “Ann ba li yon leson."

Without warning, Elijah turned, his movements fluid and predatory. The follower froze, their heart racing. The Hollow's voice, dripping with malice, echoed through the alley. "Ou kouri dèyè m'," Elijah taunted in Creole, the words carrying an edge of sadistic delight. "Kounye a ou pral soufri."

Elijah moved with inhuman speed, closing the gap between them in an instant. The follower barely had time to react before dark energy crackled around Elijah's hands, ready to strike. But deep within, Elijah fought against the Hollow's control, his willpower straining against the dark force. “Run," he managed to whisper, his voice breaking through momentarily, filled with urgency and desperation. “Get away!”

@inaducursehqstarters

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there was a shift in the mood once gabriela realized it was maddison, a smile grew on her face before nodding at the comment. "you're right, but you know i can't resist them. i think that's why your dad is setting up that tomato garden in the yard." the b&b was doing well these days, which was helpful now that a lot of her kids were either about to leave or already had. giving her daughter a sweet smile, she nodded. "yeah, yeah i'm fine just didn't sleep to well last night. once this coffee hits i'll be good as new." she smirked before taking another sip of her drink while looking around the rest of the farmers market. "want to help me finish shopping? i think one of those pastry stands you like is here today."

Maddison's smile brightened at the sound of her mother's familiar voice. "I believe we have plenty at home, mom. Someone else can have it," she responded, gently placing the fruit back on the table with care. Looking up at her mother with affection, Maddison leaned towards the stall, her concern evident in her voice, "Are you okay, ma?" she inquired, arching an eyebrow inquisitively. The genuine care and attentiveness in Maddison's gesture reflected the strong bond and empathy she shared with her mother, embodying a sense of compassion and consideration in their interactions.

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