Song: In the end (Linkin Park)
“You’re telling me you married this girl after only a few days?”
“Unbelievable.”
“What the hell were you thinking?” Vi exclaimed.
Jinx sighed.
“Well, when two people love each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together—”
“Oh, don’t take me for an idiot,” Vi cut in, pinching her little sister’s cheek.
” Ow, Ow, Ow !
Vi !
»
Hope cleared her throat softly before extending her hand.
“Hope Mikaelson.
Nice to meet you.”
Vi stared at her hand as though it might bite her.
Then she shook it briefly.
The three women stood in silence as the elevator carried them upward.
“Am I really free?” Vi asked softly.
Jinx took her sister’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“You can do whatever you want.”
“Go back to the Undercity.”
“Live with us.”
“Take a ship to Bilgewater.”
“Climb Mount Targon.”
She looked at her sister.
“You’re free, Violet.”
Vi trembled as though she were fighting back tears.
Her eyes remained fixed on the numbers changing above the elevator doors.
As if, at any moment, guards might come to block their path.
Or worse…
as if she might wake up and find herself back inside that cell.
The doors opened.
They walked past the warden’s desk without stopping.
Jinx had thought Vi might hurl one final insult at the man as a parting gift.
But she simply stared straight ahead.
She only stopped when the sky finally came into view.
The sun would soon begin to set, but there was still enough daylight left for her to feel its final rays against her skin.
Jinx had to gently tug her by the arm to get her onto the transport car.
And as it slowly carried them away from the prison, Vi remained silent…
her head resting against her sister’s shoulder.
Jinx smiled softly and, with her free hand, took Hope’s.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice quiet enough that only a vampire could hear.
Hope tightened her grip and rested her head against her wife’s free shoulder.
⸻
Hope POV
The streets of the city had begun to clear.
But the tension was unmistakable in the faces of everyone they passed.
Piltover had been attacked.
Hope reached into her pocket dimension, pulled out a jacket, and tossed it toward Vi.
It hit her squarely in the face.
“What the—” Vi began indignantly.
“You’re drawing too much attention,” Hope said, gesturing toward the people watching Vi with suspicion…
or fear.
Some looked ready for a fight.
“They’re on edge.”
“The slightest spark…”
“The attack on the city is still too fresh.”
Hope glanced toward Vi.
“Do you know where you want to go?”
“We can rent you an apartment in the Undercity, or you can come stay with us.”
It was obvious from Jinx’s expression that she didn’t want to be separated from Vi.
But she also wanted to give her sister the freedom to make her own choices.
After all, it had been a very long time since Vi had truly been allowed to choose anything.
Vi hesitated.
“I…”
“No need to think about it,” Hope said, pointing toward the bridge they were about to cross.
A police barricade had been set up ahead.
Zaunites were being denied passage.
Anyone who tried to cross was immediately arrested.
“This is what they always do,” Vi said bitterly.
“And next, they’ll send their squads into the Undercity to find someone to blame.”
She shook her head.
“Anyway, I’d rather stay with you.”
“If the alternative is getting mixed up with Silco’s people again?”
“No thanks.”
Vi didn’t see the guilt that crossed Jinx’s face.
But Hope did.
There were many things she could do for her wife.
Having this conversation in her place was not one of them.
If necessary, Hope would be there afterward…
to help put the pieces back together.
“If you’ve made your choice, take my hand,” Hope said.
“Excuse me?” Vi replied incredulously.
Hope rolled her eyes.
“For the teleportation.”
“You’re a mage?!” Vi exclaimed.
“Yes, among other things.”
Hope glanced toward Jinx.
“But I’m not the only mage here.”
Vi looked confused.
Then she noticed the sheepish expression on Jinx’s face.
“My sister isn’t a ma—”
Before she could finish, Hope grabbed her hand and teleported them away.
When they reappeared, Vi’s eyes widened at the sight of the manor.
Then she threw up.
“That happens sometimes,” Hope said with a shrug, under her wife’s irritated stare.
“I swear, that wasn’t my fault.”
“That’s a fucking huge house,” Vi muttered.
Then she threw up again.
“I’ll make her some tea,” Hope finally said.
⸻
Earlier
Location: Piltover Council Chamber
A fist slammed violently against the table.
“The Chem-Barons have gone too far!” Hoskel exclaimed.
“We’re not even certain they were responsible,” Shoola replied.
“After all these years, why would they choose to act now?”
“What other explanation is there?”
“The new gemstone developed by Talis is missing.”
“Can’t you see they’re trying to provoke us?”
“Who knows what kind of weapons they could build with that gemstone?”
“We have to do something!” Hoskel insisted.
“Could they truly use that gemstone to create a weapon capable of threatening us?” Shoola asked, turning toward Talis.
Jayce had not taken the time to change his clothes…
or even shave since the previous night.
“If they find someone ingenious enough,” he replied grimly, “then anything is possible.”
A heavy silence settled over the chamber.
“They made an attempt on our lives and the lives of our citizens.”
“The theft of the gemstone leaves an unknown threat at our doorstep.”
“I propose a blockade of the Undercity.”
“Seal the city off and find those responsible,” Bolbok said.
“Are we truly going to arrest every Chem-Baron?” Mel countered.
“You know as well as I do that they are a necessary evil when it comes to maintaining stability in the Undercity.”
“Besides, why would they threaten the very trade that keeps them in power?”
“You all know that without them, the city would descend into chaos.”
Mel remained composed.
“I propose a blockade of the Undercity, but not a mass deployment of Enforcers into the city.”
“We all know how easily that kind of operation can spiral out of control.”
“Do we truly want a massacre on our hands?”
“Let the Sheriff conduct the investigation.”
“This will be his final chance to prove that he deserves his position.”
“If he fails…”
“…the Enforcers will move into the Undercity and restore order.”
“That won’t be enough to reassure the people of Piltover.”
“They’re terrified,” Heimerdinger said, speaking for the first time since the meeting had begun.
“If we could build more powerful weapons using Hextech—” Hoskel began.
“Absolutely not!”
“Hextech will never be used to create weapons!”
“When will you understand that manipulating the Arcane is dangerous?” Heimerdinger exclaimed.
“Professor, it was only a suggestion,” Mel said, attempting to calm him.
“What if we put our Man of Progress forward?”
“With Jayce’s popularity, the people would have someone to rally behind.”
“He could give speeches.”
“Visit grieving families.”
“Offer them reassurance,” Mel continued.
“Isn’t that our role?” Cassandra asked.
“Then let’s make Talis one of us.”
“After everything he has accomplished, he has more than earned a seat at this table.”
Mel looked around the chamber.
“I call for a vote.”
And beneath Jayce’s incredulous stare, the Council voted to appoint him as a Councilor.
“There is something else we need to discuss,” Cassandra said.
Mel nodded, signaling for her to continue.
“The Mikaelsons.”
“Is this invention truly so revolutionary?” Heimerdinger asked curiously.
He had not attended the ball the previous evening.
“Instant communication, regardless of distance.”
“That is what they’re promising.”
“I need to see this marvelous invention!” Heimerdinger exclaimed.
“This invention could revolutionize the world as we know it,” Cassandra said.
“But we are not exactly in its inventor’s good graces.”
“She comes from the Undercity.”
“Hardly surprising,” Hoskel remarked.
“It goes far beyond that.”
“After all, one of us imprisoned her sister for seven years,” Cassandra replied.
⸻
A few minutes later, the Councilors exchanged shocked looks.
“They destroyed my apartment?!” Jayce exclaimed.
“And started the greatest revolution Piltover has ever known,” someone replied.
A laugh suddenly echoed through the chamber.
“Professor Heimerdinger!” Jayce protested.
“Oh, come now, my boy.”
“Science is built on experimentation.”
“On the unexpected.”
“And many great researchers owe at least part of their success to luck.”
Heimerdinger’s expression grew more serious.
“All of this is the result of our negligence.”
“Of our abandonment of the Undercity.”
“Have the Mikaelsons not already offered us the opportunity to cooperate on this project?”
“They are merely asking us to take responsibility for the Undercity.”
“So let us invest in their venture…”
“…and see what they manage to accomplish.”
Heimerdinger smiled.
“I must admit, I am rather eager to see the results myself.”
Jinx POV
She watched her sister carefully as Vi devoured the food Hope had prepared.
She had to be on her tenth beignet by now.
Her wife had retreated to her studio to paint.
An excuse, really.
A way to give the two sisters some privacy.
“You sure about all this?” Vi asked around a mouthful of food.
“About what?”
“Hope.”
“Your marriage.”
“All this fucking luxury,” she added before licking the sugar from her fingers.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
Jinx paused.
“You know, I never believed in all those stories about romance.”
“Your heart racing.”
“Feeling like nothing else exists around you.”
“I thought they were just fairy tales people told Zaunite children to make them forget the misery they were living in.”
Her expression softened.
“But I live that every day now.”
“She loves me.”
“Supports me.”
“Protects me.”
“She accepts me exactly as I am.”
“And I accept her exactly as she is.”
“Okay,” Vi said.
“Okay?” Jinx repeated, surprised.
“Okay.”
Vi smiled.
“That’s all I ever wanted for you, Powder.”
“For you to be happy.”
Jinx felt tears sting her eyes.
She wanted to throw her arms around her sister.
But if she did…
she knew she wouldn’t have the courage to continue this conversation.
She took a deep breath.
“Powder?”
“No one’s called me that in a long time.”
“What?” Vi asked, confused.
“You’re the only one who still calls me Powder.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I killed them, Vi.”
“For years, I saw their faces.”
“I heard their whispers, blaming me for their deaths.”
“I was losing my mind.”
“Powder, it was an accident.”
“It was always an accident,” Vi said, pain filling her voice.
“I killed them, Vi.”
“And I became what Mylo always called me.”
“A jinx.”
Jinx struggled to continue.
“Jinx is my name now.”
“Powder was innocent.”
“She dreamed of helping her sister and her brothers with her inventions.”
“But Vi…”
“Powder died.”
“And a monster took her place.”
She felt the tenderness Hope was sending through their bond.
Jinx sent her own love back.
Vi was crying.
She didn’t understand what Jinx had just told her.
“You’ll always be Powder.”
“Powder is Powder.”
“That’s the name our parents gave you.”
“You’re not a jinx.”
“You’re not a monster!”
“I am a monster, Vi.”
“If you’d chosen to go straight back to the Undercity, you would’ve understood soon enough.”
“Down there, I’m feared.”
“And hated.”
“They know me as Jinx…”
“Silco’s crazy daughter,” she finally said.
“No, no, no, no…” Vi began muttering over and over again.
“Tell me he forced you.”
“That monster forced you to work for him!”
“Powder!”
Jinx shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“He got inside your head.”
“I refuse to believe you could have lived with him!” Vi shouted as she began pacing back and forth.
“He was there when I had no one.”
“He was there all those years.”
“He raised me—”
“Vander raised you!”
“Vander!”
“The father who died protecting us from him!”
“Powder, how could you?!” Vi screamed before slamming her fist into the wall.
Cracks spread across it.
“Vi, I love Vander.”
“I will always love Vander.”
“And I will never forget what Silco did.”
“But for seven years, that man raised me.”
“He was there to pull me out of the abyss when no one else was.”
“When you weren’t there.”
“I thought you’d abandoned me!”
“For years, I wondered if I was so horrible that even you couldn’t bear to stay.”
“So yes, I lived with Silco.”
“Yes, I loved him.”
“And he loved me like a fa—”
Jinx fell silent when she saw Vi’s raised hand, poised to slap her.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
Klaus’s voice was cold as he firmly caught Vi by the wrist.
“You—”
“Ah.
I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced.”
Klaus smiled without warmth.
“I’m Klaus Mikaelson.”
“Her father-in-law.”
“And the only reason my daughter hasn’t killed you yet.”
He tilted his head toward the figure standing in the doorway.
Vi looked at Hope.
Her fangs were bared.
Her eyes glowed yellow.
Then Vi looked back at Jinx.
“You even chose a monster for a wife,” Vi said mockingly.
“Don’t talk about Hope like that,” Jinx snapped.
She was willing to endure her sister’s anger.
But she would not allow Vi to insult her wife.
“You know what kept me going all those years in that prison?”
“The thought that I’d find you again.”
“That I’d protect you.”
“And now I find out my sister sided with the monster who ruined our lives.”
“No…”
“He isn’t the one who ruined our lives.”
“You did.”
“You blew up that building.”
“You brought the Enforcers down on us.”
“You killed—”
Before Vi could drive the knife any deeper into the wound, she disappeared.
And Hope vanished with her.
⸻
Hope POV
Hope reappeared in a street in Zaun.
Night had already fallen.
Vi collapsed to the ground and vomited.
Hope crouched in front of her.
“You see, I’ve been patient.”
“I knew she wanted to tell you the truth.”
“I knew she hoped you might forgive her for her mistakes.”
“But I know people like you.”
“Inflexible.”
“Entrenched in what you believe.”
“People like that don’t change.”
“And when they do, they usually need a good kick in the ass before they finally see the light.”
Hope’s expression hardened.
“For my wife’s sake, I hope you can change.”
“I hope you’ll eventually understand that she was an eleven-year-old child.”
“Alone.”
“A child who had accidentally caused the deaths of the people she loved.”
“A child who believed she’d been abandoned by the sister she worshipped.”
“I didn’t abandon her!” Vi shouted.
“Oh, I know.”
“But whether you like it or not, that’s how she saw it.”
“Then one day, someone tells her it was all a lie.”
“That her sister had been in prison all along.”
“And what does she do?”
“She immediately starts looking for a way to free you.”
“Even though she knew you might hurt her.”
Hope stared down at Vi.
“A few moments ago, I stopped you from saying the words that would have completely broken her.”
“Words that might have destroyed your relationship beyond repair.”
“I did that for her.”
Vi looked at her with guilt.
But the expression quickly disappeared beneath her stubborn glare.
“I know all those years in prison did terrible things to you.”
“That’s the only reason I’m not strangling you for the damage you just did to Jinx.”
“Her name is Powder,” Vi insisted.
“Jinx is the name she chose.”
Hope tossed a pouch at her.
“There’s enough money in there for you to live comfortably in the Undercity.”
“Silco doesn’t know you’re alive.”
“But Jinx will soon make it very clear to him that, for the sake of his health, he shouldn’t touch you.”
“Take the time to get back on your feet.”
“And one day, if you truly love your sister, you’ll want to see her again.”
“When that day comes, I’ll let you.”
Hope’s gaze turned cold.
“But understand one thing, Vi.”
“This is your only chance.”
Then Hope disappeared.
⸻
When she reappeared at the manor, only her father remained in the kitchen.
“She’s in your bedroom,” he said simply.
Hope rushed upstairs.
Her heart broke at the sight of her wife lying on their bed, sobbing.
She immediately took Jinx into her arms.
“It hurts.”
“It hurts, Hope.”
“Why does it hurt so much?” Jinx sobbed.
And throughout the night, her cries tore through the silence.
For the first time, Hope wondered whether she would be able to repair what had just been broken.