Hey geminigurl89, as far as how old Artemis age actually is; all will be revealed in time. But I will tell you that I'm going to mix in some Christian theology. Arti is pretty ancient.
And thank you Kira Tsumi, I'm glad you're enjoying it.
We remained cuddling naked and on top of the sheets. "Can I ask you whom else you have spread these sweet thighs for in the centuries I've been gone?"
"Don't ask questions you know the answers to." I never slept with anyone other than Kol. Every time a man even looked at me, Kol killed him. When he was gone, I was too busy enjoying being me to bring a man into it. I know for a fact Kol had never slept with anyone else either. I killed the girls he had kissed, too, even though most of his romantic endeavors were his form of manipulation. "What is it?" I asked. His face had changed.
"Just a bit thirsty," he answered.
"Well, I am right here," I offered and we began repeating last night's events, this time while Kol fed from my neck. Afterwards I watched him processes what he had felt through me. Then his hands shot out and gripped my throat, choking me, collapsing my airways.
"You are the reason Klaus daggered me the last time," he snarled.
My vision was interrupted with black patches and I knew I would soon lose consciousness. It was no use trying to explain that was an accident. I had a plan to rid us of Mary-Alice, the witch he had seduced into helping him kill Klaus. Of course, I couldn't let Niklaus die, but I was acting solely out of jealously and never meant for Niklaus to find out.
1890s-New Orleans
"Let me buy the lovely lady a drink."
"Not tonight, Kol." I backed away from him.
He reached up and touched the back of my cheek with his hand. "I wasn't really asking."
I slapped his hand away and he smirked. The bartender placed two drinks in front of us. He had already bought me a drink. "You are insatiable."
Kol grabbed my arm, keeping me from leaving. "That's part of my charm."
"Remove your hand, or lose it," I spoke calmly, fully intent on at least breaking his arm.
Kol acquiesced and let me leave the bar.
When I woke, Kol was gone and there was sun out of the window. I put on jeans and a tshirt. It was morning so I must have healed and then fallen back asleep. I made my way into the kitchen to make coffee and then joined the others in the living room. I sat on a couch across from Kol and next to Nik as he sketched. While they both looked handsome in a tux, I much preferred the boys in these, 21st century plainclothes. Kol didn't acknowledge me when I sat down and I silently thanked Satan because I really didn't want to listen to his voice. Yet that silence was broken when Rebekah returned.
"Well, well, well, there's our girl." He rose to greet her.
"Out of my way, Kol," she said exasperated.
"Out all night! What a scandal," he continued. "I trust you did better than that commoner. Matt, was it?"
Her upper lip curled. "If you don't shut your mouth, the next thing to come out of it will be your teeth," she threatened.
I chuckled, glad that somebody was putting him back in his place and Niklaus was clearly too melancholy to do so.
"I'm bored," Kol flopped back down in his seat. And I saw flopped, but it was still graceful; another vampire perk. "Our sister is a strumpet, but at least she's having fun. I need entertainment." His eyes begged his older brother.
Apparently rolling around with me isn't fun. I scratched my nose with my middle finger, but Kol was still ignoring me.
"What are you waiting for? Go on, have at it," Niklaus responded, disinterested.
"It's no fun to go alone. Join me, Nik" he whined. "It's the least you can do after sticking a dagger in my heart."
I set down my coffee to prepare for an altercation. "Oh my god, are you five?"
Kol shot me a look, but said nothing.
"Alright," Niklaus agreed. "I didn't have nearly enough to drink last night with you trying to murder Rebekah's date and all."
"Good, leave us ladies in peace," I said.
"Oh, I'd hardly call you a lady," Kol returned.
I growled and pounced on him, pinning him to the ground and breaking his arm with a snap. "Don't test me."
I let him up and he planted a kiss on my lips. "You always let me believe you were a bottom," he announced making my cheeks burn.
I couldn't even say that we were a pendulum because both feelings of rage and lust occurred at once. I brought my coffee to the kitchen, dumped it in the sink, and poured myself some whiskey. I sat back down as Finn was passing through the room. "Where are you headed?" I asked.
"To meet Mother. Where are my siblings?" He asked, straightening his tie.
"Uh, Bekah is somewhere in the house. No idea about Eli, and Nik and Kol went for a drink," I listed them off, using my fingers to count.
He looked at the glass of whiskey in my hand. "Why are you not out drinking with them?"
I raised my eyebrows. "Are you encouraging the destruction of the bar?" it was as if he didn't notice that the only times Kol and I spoke we were arguing or he was being a genuine asshat.
He smiled. I had only known him for forty-eight hours, but it was the first time he didn't seem deadly serious. Then without a goodbye, he left.
"Arti!" Bekah called. "Elijah has a task for us."
No questions were asked. I picked up the whiskey bottle and left the house with her; anything to keep myself busy.
"Really?" she looked at the bottle.
"I'm trying really hard not to kill your brother."
The sun was beginning to set as it does so early in the winter when we met Elijah in the old cavern. He was guarding Elena Gilbert. Last night, Esther had linked all of the siblings together and Finn was going to kill himself and therefore kill them all. Elena was our leverage to get the Salvatores to take Esther out. Elijah filled us in on the situation. "If I don't call before 915. Kill her. I need to find Kol and Niklaus."
I looked at Elena and barred my fangs. I never cared for the Petrovas. This was going to be fun. I approached her, and she shrank away.
"Arti, you can't touch her," Bekah sighed.
"I'm not going to kill her!" I protested. "Just play a bit."
Bekah pulled me back and then dropped to the ground. Her skin was turning gray as it did when Niklaus put her in a coffin. I panicked, fearing Esther had succeed. Elena took my moment of weakness to run. I stood there for only a second longer before running after her. She ran, so that meant I could kill her. I followed her scent through the convoluted tunnels.
When I found her, I was blocked by a boundary spell. There were unlit candles all over place and I noticed some art above Elena's head. It seemed to talk about Niklaus's family, but I couldn't decipher most of it. "You're dead," I growled.
"Don't waste your energy, luv. Just because vampires can get in, doesn't mean she can't get out." Rebekah had healed and found us. She threw a liquid across the boundary, dousing Elena in what smelled strongly of gasoline.
"You deal with her," I decided. "I'm going to check on the boys."
