Sorry for the long wait, but this story has not exactly been on my top list, though I am dedicated to finishing it up this weekend, I am not making any promises.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! I HOPE I STILL HAVE IT AFTER ALL THIS TIME!

Please remember to review at the end! :)


The days seemed to pass swiftly for both Antonia and Kol, and with each passing day, Antonia fell harder for the man who would only come to her after her father left and would leave before her father would return.

She thought at one time it was strange, and even asked Kol why he didn't want to meet her father, but he only shook his head, and told her that he wanted to wait until the right time to meet him.

After a month of walks in the woods, the garden, or just staying in the cottage to talk, Antonia found herself hopelessly in love with him.

She had yet to voice her love, mainly because it was the first time she had ever felt that way about a man. Another reason was something about Kol made her hold her tongue. He was hiding something from her, and she wanted to know what it was, but she wasn't going to pressure him.

At least, not yet.

She stood up from her small garden, and sighed, as she stretched her back. She groaned, and wiped her forehead with the back of her long-sleeved covered arm. It was a long day and very tiring. She knew she wouldn't see him today, but still she never gave up hope.

It was part of their decision. He would not come around on Saturdays, for her father was more or less near home at the time.

It annoyed her to a degree how demanding and sometimes controlling Kol was. He told her at one time, to never venture in the woods after dark, and to always walk on the crowded roads. It seemed odd to her, and yes, she did not question him, but she could only take so much.

Walking back to the cottage, she hummed a small tune. It wasn't much, but she remembered it from when her mother used to sing to her when she was depressed.

She paused when she rounded the corner, and stopped. "Kol!" She replied, with happiness on her face.

He smiled as he pushed away from the wall. "I thought we could go for a short walk in the woods before your father comes home." He replied, answering her question before she asked.

She smiled, and bowed her head. "It's Saturday." She replied, moving past him into her cottage.

He smirked and bowed his head as he followed her. "I know its Saturday, Signora." He stated, watching her place a few flowers on the table. "I wanted to see you." He whispered, coming up behind her and whispered in her ear.

She tried to resist the urge to shiver, but she failed. Shaking her head, she moved away from him. "What makes you think that I want to see you?" She asked, turning to face him.

He smiled, and approached her. "Because I can see the light in your eyes, Toni." He whispered, seductively.

She shook her head. "That isn't light." She replied, folding her arms over her chest.

He smirked, and bowed his head. "Then what is it?" He asked, coming closer.

She swallowed, and stepped back, but he still came closer. "I can't." She whispered, shaking her head.

He reached forward, and touched her face with his right hand. "What is it, Toni?" He asked, leaning forward.

She inhaled deeply, and waited for contact. She moaned as his lips touched hers, and began to melt into his embrace.

Her hands grasped his upper arms, and her body pressed closer to his. All her doubts and fears began to be clouded over by the passion and love she felt for this strange man.

When he lifted his head, he stared down into her blue eyes, and smiled seductively.

She took deep breathes to calm her rapid beating heart, and gazed into his brown eyes. "What are hiding from me, Kol?" She asked, softly.

His eyes narrowed, and he gazed down at her. "What do you mean?" He asked, searching her eyes.

She sighed. "I sense you are hiding something, Kol." She began, placing her hands on his chest. "We've known each other for a little over a month, and I still sense that you are not being truthful with me." She added, watching his jaw taunt.

He stepped back, and headed towards the door. "I think this was a mistake." He whispered, opening the door.

She started after him. "What are you afraid of?" She asked, watching him stop at the doorway.

He bowed his head. "Myself." He whispered, not knowing why he said such a thing. He rushed out of the cottage without looking back, not realizing that someone was watching him leave, and seeing her stand at the door calling Kol's name.

~X~

Antonia sat at the table, and fiddled with the flowers she had brought in earlier from the garden. Her heart broke as she thought about the conversation from earlier. She had upset Kol, and she didn't know why.

The door opened, but she didn't hear until she heard someone's throat clear. She lifted her eyes, and smiled sadly.

"Hello, father." She whispered, lowering her eyes again.

He nodded, and pulled out a chair to sit down. "We need to talk, daughter." He replied, in husky Italian.

She looked up, and waited. "Talk about what, papa?" She asked, lowering her eyes.

"We need to talk about the company you have been keeping for the past month." He stated, watching her still her movements.

She shrugged. "What company, papa?" She asked, standing up.

He watched her carefully. "Kol Mikaelson." He answered, harshly.

She paused at the window, and turned around. "How do you know about him?" She asked, her eyes widening.

He stared at her. "I've known for some time, daughter." He replied, standing up, and walked over to her. He gazed into her eyes with a hard fatherly glare, and spoke. "I'm only saying this because I love you, Antonia, but stay away from him." He stated, harshly.

Antonia narrowed her blue eyes, and folded her arms. "Why?" She asked, wanting to know.

Giuseppe folded his arms over his chest. "There doesn't have to be a why." He stated, glaring.

She nodded. "Yes, there has to be, papa." She demanded, stepping back from him.

He inhaled deeply. "Just stay away from him, Antonia, he and his family are dangerous, and I don't want you anywhere near them!" He shouted, glaring at her.

She shook his head. "I've known him for over a month, papa, and he has never once tried to hurt me." She shouted, her Italian voice breaking.

He shook his head. "It's only a matter of time, Antonia." He began, dropping his arms to reach forward to grab her by the arms. "I am your father, and I say stay away from him!" He shouted, watching her eyes fill with tears.

"I love him, papa!" She shouted back in English.

His eyes widened and his arms dropped to his sides. "No," He whispered, shaking his head. "You can't love that monster!" He shouted, in her face.

She let the tears fall down her face. "He is not a monster, papa. He is kind and caring, and he listens to me. He cares about my well-being, and looks after me." She reasoned, stretching the truth just a hair, but not by much.

He shook his head. "That monster will never care about anyone or anything!" He shouted, waving his arms around. "He is just using you to get what he wants!"

"And what does he want?!" She shouted back, more tears falling down her face.

He sighed and bit his tongue, and didn't answer for a moment. "What every man wants, Antonia." He stated, trying to remain calm.

She shook her head, and turned away from him. "I don't care, papa. I love him, and I know he cares for me." She stated, opening the door.

"Antonia!" He shouted, as she ran into the closing darkness. He ran to the door, but when he reached it, she had disappeared. Closing his eyes, he cursed himself for being foolish.

He should never have made the deal with the devil family. Never.

~XXX~

Antonia ran through the woods, her tears clouding her vision. She pushed past trees, and bushes, running as fast as she possibly could. She had to get away. She had to.

Her father, who she once thought of as being reasonable, was being unreasonable. She had thought that he would accept Kol and her feelings, but she had been wrong.

She ran until she could see the outline of what she knew to be the Mikaelson mansion in front of her, and she sighed in relief.

She slowed her run, until she was just walking, and walked through the bushes, but halted at the sight in front of her.

There stood Kol holding another woman, but it wasn't a romantic hold. No.

Her blue eyes widened as she realized what he was doing. His teeth were sunk into her neck, and blood was getting everywhere.

She stepped closer to him, and realized he heard her, for he opened his eyes, and the color of them made her pause for just a moment.

Instead of the soft brown she loved, his eyes were red and dark with veins underneath them.

Kol let go of the woman, and ignored the thump as she fell to the ground, still alive, but unconscious. He didn't say a word, only swallowed hard, as Antonia approached him with delicate steps.

He waited for her to run and scream, but she didn't.

Instead she just stood there, in front of him, tears falling down her face, the look of pain disappearing and being replaced with curiosity, and something else.

Something that Kol never thought he would see in any woman's face when she looked at him.

Love.


PLEASE NO HARSH COMMENTS! I know this wasn't the best chapter, but I wanted to put something up for this story.

Yes! Antonia knows! I'm happy about that! Anyone else?

I have planned out the rest of the story, and there are ten chapters left! I know a lot, but please bear with me! I've dedicated the rest of this weekend to get two or three more chapters up and wrapping it up really soon, because frankly, this story has been sitting on idle for too long!

Until Next Time...