Prologue
Normandy, France, 1510
Kol dropped the body of a pretty wench on the floor, she had tasted delicious. There were bodies lying around the tavern, he had felt like having some fun tonight. He had blood all over his face and shirt, all he felt was euphoria. Carelessly he picked up a stein of ale and sat on the nearest chair. What a night. The tavern was dead quiet now; the only sound left was the wind howling outside. He leaned back on his seat and smiled, the predator in him was purring with delight.
That was what he was, what they all were, deadly predators, no matter what his brother thought. What predator would or should feel sympathy for its prey. Fortunately he have had a good sense to leave from England few months ago, Elijah's moral sermons had been annoying as hell. Yes, Kol was the first to admit that he was wicked, but why wouldn't he be? He had been alone ever since his mother had made them what they were; no one had truly cared for him.
Nik, Elijah and Rebekah had stayed together, Finn has had Sage and their father… Well, he has been too busy hunting his own children down like animals. Kol only had himself, but that didn't matter, he didn't need… His thoughts were cut off when he heard quiet footsteps from the door. His eyebrows furrowed when he saw the sleepy little girl, she was holding a doll. Fortunately she was too sleepy to pay attention to her surroundings, she was basically half asleep.
"I thought I told you to wait in the carriage," he stated, his tone was scolding. Why hadn't the damn driver stopped her from coming here, this was no place for her?
She blinked her big eyes and yawned.
"I had a nightmale," she muttered; despite of his efforts to teach her, she hadn't learned how to say the letter R.
"Alright," Kol sighed and patted his knee. "Come here. But I want you to keep your eyes on me, do not look around you."
He looked for a handkerchief from his pocket in order to clean his face, although the girl didn't care about blood. When he looked up, the girl had stopped next to a man's body; her little hand was reaching to touch it.
"No!" Kol shouted and zoomed next to the girl, he managed to scoop her up just in time. "No, no, no," he scolded. "How many times do I have to tell you, no touching dead things unless I say so? Do you remember what happened when you touched that dead horse? We lost a perfectly good driver."
She looked guilty and bowed her head. Kol sighed; he needed to remember that she was only 4-years-old.
"It's alright, darling," he said and touched her hair. "Hey, look at me."
She blinked few times before looking up.
"Was I bad?" she asked quietly.
He smiled and shook his head.
"No, my darling, you are not bad. You are a very special girl, my girl."
Clearly his words made her happy; she smiled widely while wrapping her arms around him.
"Special…"
"That's right," he confirmed and stroked her back. "Who do you love?"
"You," she muttered sleepily and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I love you."
He smiled and tapped her head; she would no doubt be a very useful tool. Raising a child was something he had never thought he would do, but in this case he was willing to make an exception. What would be a better way to make sure that she would be completely loyal to him? Perhaps he also wanted to make sure that she was safe, but that wasn't something he had any intention to admit.
"Good girl."
She was asleep in his arms when he carried her outside, her little body felt warm and her heart was beating steadily. Despite of what she was, she was still innocent. Unlike the humans, he would have never hurt her. She truly was a special girl. His special girl.