.Lower England, 1178.

I knew my father was going to be livid; he always was. This time, I was late and he would be growing restless. Every evening he would send for his alcohol and I always brought it back. I was a good daughter, never letting his obsession fog my affections towards him and my deceased mother. Apparently she had put up quite a fight to stay alive but I had ultimately won all of her energy. I reminded him of her.

The usual tavern with the barkeeper I had known my entire life and neighboring farmers drunk into the wind. But this particular night still gives me chills. It still puts a fire-breathing dragon into my abdomen and wildly it goes. I was at the bar, just about to put my order in, when the wooden door creaked open and about half of the room's inhabitants tensed, focusing on the newcomer. My back to him, simply not caring as I ordered. Kyle, a boy I had grown with, did not hear me and allowed his only attention to be on the arrival.

"You know an important face when you see it. Nicely done, for such a small village," The man's voice halted my every muscle. His luscious scent mixed with blood and boiled meat met my nose; I had no idea whether to smile or to be offended by the man's odor.

Upon turning around, all detail in my fiber jolted into a frenzy and I could not drag my grey orbs away from him.

I swear the air surrounding him glistened, the pure confidence aroused my innocence.

"No worries, children," His hair was a dark coco and I found myself dreaming of a day I could run my hands through it, "I'm not here to bite. Only to play."

His teeth were surprisingly crystal and straight.

A dark-skinned man behind him and to the left spoke softly to the group, "We're here to drink. And to drink only. Your corner of England won't be harmed."

"We believe it to be colorful, at best," What I later found out was, that man's sister said from the other side of the leader.

The ring-man strutted to the bar, a few feet from me and yet never looking over in my direction, "The 1100's seem to be the century for compromise, don't you think mate?"

Kyle nodded and slowly moved in front of the man, "What'll it be?"

The siblings chose a seat by the wall.

"Your finest," The brunette tapped his fingers on the counter, trying not to make it known that he could hear half of the taverns population fly out the door. I was not one of them.

"Here," Kyle said a few moments later.

The man's deep eyes traveled the room before skidding to a stop. On me. I wanted to stare back, to memorize his features and every curve of his beautiful existence. I truly did. But in the moment, my head darted to Kyle behind the counter. He was bringing me the usual and trying not to fidget. I could feel the man's eyes burning into me and I had absolutely no idea how to get out of such a situation.

I felt the man slip closer and his hand was ever so close to mine atop the counter. His voice held no persuasion or depression. It only projected admiration, at the time I thought this was for much different, temporary purposes. So as he spoke, I kept my eyes on the back wall, "Kol Mikaelson."

Kyle dropped off my order and scurried off.

"Pardon my boldness," Kol Mikaelson whispered, "You are entirely captivating."

I glanced at him, held his gaze, "That was not bold."

His lips slipped up at the corners and my dragon was back, "It could have been."

"Elira," I suddenly found myself telling him, "If you were shifting for a name. I'm Elira Robertson."

"A bit of a mouth full, isn't it?" His eyes traveled over my golden curls and I wondered if he was fantasizing, much like I was.

I decided turning to face him would help my courage to leave and finish my task quicker. I couldn't have been more idiotic.

"Do you mind if I ask why you're here alone, Miss Robertson?" His gentle touch moved a curl from my face.

I sucked in a breath at the contact but quickly let it go, "Elira. I'm out fetching something for my father."

"Then, I better not get in the way," Our eyes stayed locked and neither one of us moved.

"Perhaps he can wait a while," I let a playful smirk cross me lips.

His eyebrows raised, "I'm not opposed."

"I would think not."

Kol swigged his drink and distastefully slammed it on the counter, "Why don't we head out for a walk?"

"Into the forest with a mystery man who made the tavern scarce for business?" My eyebrows raised this time and I felt my hips shift as I put my weight solely on my left leg.

He chuckled, "Trust me, love, you are entirely safe."

"Is that before or after you rip into my throat and take my blood?" I let my knowledge out to dry.

Kol visibly stepped back, his head hung low, "You're observations are.. keen."

"We're surrounded by packs on all sides. This community has seen it's fair share of murder and war between the previously unknown. So no, I believe I'll be on my way and not take you up on that walk," I quickly snatched my fathers things and moved around him.

His footsteps weren't quiet, "And what if I don't act as foully as you've hypothesized? What shall you think of me then?"

I halted outside the door, the moonlight creating a layer of deception around us, "A vampire caring what a measly human thinks of them? I have seen wonders now."

"Have you? What exactly do you know of my kind, Elira?" His face inches from mine, I felt anything but threatened.

My feet stood strong in the dirt, "I do not see humanity rolling off you, in particular."

"Why is that?"

"You're a Mikaelson," More hidden knowledge out on my dirty sleeve.

Kol's welcoming features hardened, "You know much, Elira."

"Difficult not to when your brothers and sister rampaged through the surrounding villages looking for Niklaus' answers. I want nothing to do with you," I turned to walk away.

He trailed behind, "You're going to allow my siblings to shadow over every aspect of my presence? Would I not be pillaging alongside them if I believed in their daft crusade?"

My face widened and he knew he had me then, "I-"

His hand caressed my elbow ever-so-gently and stopped my stride, "I know one thing about you but also a bit more. Elira, you hold a fire full of thrill-seeking, audacious energy. I can see it clearly within your depths."

"Tilt your focus down; what more do you see?" My eyes squinted so I could gauge his reaction clearly and, again, found myself dreaming of a future day.

Kol's hand slowly trailed up my arm, to give me chills, "Acceptance that has yet to be concentrated."

I felt myself blink several times and wondered why his words had such an effect on me, "If I don't believe you?"

"You already do, darling."

He had a twinkle in his eye, begging me to give in and take his hand. To allow him to pull me towards the fire; it would be a slow burn.

"Elira, you can turn away from me now and go back to your drunk father. Do not lie and say that he doesn't hurt you, I can see the healing bruises on your wrists," He gently held my hands up between us, the alcohol already on the ground, and ran his fingers over the tainted skin, "Or you can go see wonders with me. Go into the night and never look back. Go down into forever with me."

My breath shook.

His angelic face taunted me.

"You don't know me."

"I could say the same to you and yet you are close to taking my offer."

Our eyes light a fire in that moment; I have no idea who lit it, or who blew in the oxygen, but I can honestly say that we both felt it.

"What shall we adventure towards?"

Kol let a soft smile show and it was my first glimpse at his soul, "More wonders."

I let my eyes trail down him, I had no inkling to who this man was or could be, and yet I let myself cave in.

"Lead the way," I returned his smile and we quickly left the alcohol encased in the mud. (v)