"Thank you for telling me the story of your family, Kol" Abelia said.
The young Mikaelson pushed aside the bushes and gestured for the lady to walk into the woods. Abelia glanced up at Kol with a knowing, mischievous look on her face. She is ready to enter the dangerous part of the woods. Knowing that Kol is a strong vampire who can protect her, Abelia does not fear the contents inside the forest.
"You know I would tell you anything you ask of me." Kol said, grinning at the lady before turning away from her.
Abelia shook off the negative thoughts crawling in her head. She didn't want to think about this whole new concept Klaus spoke to her about that same morning. If she really will become a protector in the future, the whole family only wanted her company and safety for the sake of her abilities, not her qualities. If she kept thinking about it, Kol will eventually figure out her discomfort with his super vampire skills.
"You know," Kol started as they continued on into the forest, "I saw you scare your father in your balcony a while back."
The lady blinked a few times, clearly confused about what he was talking about until she finally figured out. Even before she was introduced to Elijah as his wife, she had argued with her father dealing with the matter of marriage. Her father tried to persuade her to be conservative like the other girls so suitors would come to her easier. Angry at her father, Abelia jumped over her balcony, gripping onto the top as it was the only leverage preventing her from falling to her death.
The tactic was successful in scaring her father into letting the subject go. It was something she was proud of. Of course it was something Kol would approve of.
"You saw me? But we have not met at the time. I don't understand."
Kol sighed, a look of uncertainty coating his features.
"I'm not sure how you would feel if I told you about my side of this incident."
"Please do tell, Lord Kol, I would very much appreciate it."
Kol did not want Abelia to think poorly of him. For some reason, her opinion of him has substance in his eyes. He also has no idea of how to react when she finds out the truth about her family's involvement with his family's issues.
"It was I who told Nik about the protector in this city." He confessed, holding out his hand for her to take.
Her silk covered arm linked around his as he escorted her around the forest. Birds flew past them but they were harmless, therefore, quickly ignored by the two. She dared glance up at the dashing vampire only to look away when she caught him staring back.
"I don't understand." She murmured.
"Well, I was roaming around the globe, away from the rest of my family. Our family had been scattered since the death of our mother, aside from Nik, Elijah, and Rebekah—they had remained together as far as I've known."
Abelia can identify a bit of sadness in the tone of his voice. For such a being with a trait like his, it is something she cannot get used to. She knew he hold his family dearest to him even if he wouldn't admit it or doesn't show it.
"A hunter has been after us, striving to end our existence. We had to protect ourselves. Our former protector had died but his son, he was unwilling to help us."
"I thought he just didn't want to scatter and migrate with your family." Abelia recalled Klaus telling her that.
Kol laughed at the comment, shaking his head furiously as he did so. The lady looked up at him with a small smile playing at her lips. She did not know what he was laughing about, but the sound of his laugh is pleasant to her ears.
"No Abelia, that's what Niklaus told you. The real story is, his son just didn't feel like protecting us was the right thing, so Nik killed him and all of his trackers. Well, I wasn't with them to watch the show, but I heard it was quite brutal."
Abelia stared at Kol with a look of horror on her face. Kol just talked about murder like it was something that satisfied him. As much of attraction as she felt for him, she cannot bring herself to think that this is right. Klaus kills someone for refusing to risk his own life to help others. This is something that shouldn't even happen. Kol is joking about this issue, instead of showing even the slightest bit of concern for the former protector.
"Love, don't fear us, we sure are predators, it is in our nature to enjoy the kill." Kol placed a free hand on her shoulder.
Abelia flinched, taking a step back.
"But I won't hurt you and neither will Klaus, do you know why?"
The lady met gaze with the brunette vampire, stepping back cautiously as he advanced toward her. At this moment, all of the trust she had in him are laid on the line. She wanted to fear him and back herself away from him, but her body wanted to step forward and disregard what he had said moments ago. She needed to fight against what her body wants.
"Because you want a tracker for future purposes?"
"Oh please, that is what Klaus want, but I'm different."
Abelia tilted her head.
"How are you any different than Klaus? You are both vampires, you want to hunt, you want to kill. After you are done with me, you will kill me."
Abelia stopped moving when her back hit against a tree trunk. She breathed heavily and watched as Kol stepped closer to her, close enough for her to caress her face. The lady wanted nothing more than to push him away, but it wasn't her true desire.
"Abelia, I fancy you. That is why I would never hurt you or let anyone else hurt you."
The lady felt her whole body give in to the internal demands of her heart. She felt a bolt of excitement when she heard those words leave his mouth.
"How do I know you are not just saying that to get me to believe you?" she questioned, remaining a tough exterior.
Kol shrugged, smirking at the girl.
"I don't know, maybe because I stopped traveling about the universe to observe you. Of all the places in the world, I chose to stop in London the moment I saw you taunt your father with that little prank you've played on him. That moment, I knew that there is something here for me and it is you. My family ended up here because I wanted them to know that keeping you alive is useful for them, when in reality I just want to be here with you and ensure your safety."
"Kol…" Abelia trailed off.
"I told Klaus that your father is a protector and he will watch our backs in return for your ensured safety. That way, Klaus has his hands tied. He cannot hurt you unless he wants your father to exploit us and knowing Klaus, exploitation is the last thing he wants."
Abelia felt her whole body melt at the thought that Kol actually went through everything to protect her. He lied to his family, even if only partially, in order to ensure her safety. Even if her family would have been left alone if Kol didn't act upon his selfish desires, she trusts him even more than she did before and her affections for him have strengthened.
"I stopped traveling for you. Everything I do is for you, Abelia—even when I had to watch Elijah take your hand in marriage. I would do anything to protect you. You are more than a future protector to me, you are a part of me that I want to keep."
She identified the expression on Kol's face and the way he furrowed his eyebrows really got to her. He is being truthful to her and is not lying.
"Kol?"
"Yes, darling?"
"Can you kiss me?" she asked airily.
Smirking, the youngest Mikaelson brother pressed his body against her, pushing her into the tree trunk roughly before leaning closer to take her lips with his. Abelia immediately wrapped both arms around his neck, her lips moving in synchronization with his.
Kol broke away from the kiss and grinned at her.
"I fancy you, Abelia."
"So you are telling me that you pretended to fancy Abelia?" Klaus asked with a huge smirk.
Kol shrugged and grinned cockily, pacing around the room as he did so. He walked past Rebekah, who glanced at him wearily. She loved her brothers dearly but it still hurt her to think that women can be so easily deceived by a man's love, as she had once been in Abelia's position before.
"Well, Nik, what other way can we guarantee her trust in us? We do need her protection until Mikael is taken down." Kol said.
"We don't need her protection yet." Elijah stepped in, staring at his brothers in disapproval.
"Elijah, we will as soon as I kill that William Smith." Klaus said.
"Nik is right," Rebekah finally spoke, "the only way we can have Abelia's honest loyalty is if she is smitten with Kol."
Klaus grinned proudly at his siblings. Even if Elijah is against the morality of their plans and actions, he still wanted the family to be protected. Some sacrifices will have to be made in order to keep his family safe, even if it is painful for him to watch or do. Kol and Rebekah know what they have to do to make sure that they will have a protector for long enough until Mikael is killed.
"So we will turn her?" Klaus asked aloud, looking around his siblings for confirmation.
Kol stopped pacing and looked at the hybrid.
"I will turn her when the time is right, Nik."
"Very well, then we can have Abelia long enough for us to get rid of Mikael."
Rebekah stood up from her seat and approached Klaus.
"William Smith was not happy about his daughter's discovery of our kind and her kind."
Rebekah had, at Klaus's demand, escorted Abelia to her father's house before nightfall when she requested to have a serious conversation about the situation. Abelia was emotionally drained and William Smith was furious with Rebekah for even thinking about bringing his daughter back to the Mikaelson palace. A daughter's reassurance and a few threats later, Rebekah successfully brought the oldest Smith daughter back.
"I never liked Smith anyways. If I feel as if the time is right, I will drain every last drop of his blood, and trust me, I will enjoy it." Klaus said sadistically.
Kol chuckled as a response.
"I never, for a second, doubted your determination to achieve that task."