Chapter 21: To search parties
Kol was pissed. Him and Matt had been playing video games for the last hour or so when he noticed an uncomfortable itch in the back of his neck. He wasn't sure what it but for some reason he called out to Jeremy.
Him and Matt had both looked at each other then jumped off the couch and started looking around the house. Matt had moved slowly checking the kitchen and library, while Kol used his speed to check the rest of the house. He had tried to use his hearing to find Jeremy's heart beat but the house was big enough that he would be able to hear it if the hunter was in certain rooms.
It didn't take long for them to figure out he was gone.
Matt swore and Kol pulled out his phone, he sent out a text to Jeremy and after a couple mintures of it going unanswered he sent a group text to his brothers and Caroline.
His phone had rung almost immediately after he hit send. He had been nervous when Elijah's name popped up that he handed the phone to Matt, Why get yelled at when you can let the human do it for you. Matt looked unimpressed and answered.
"Hey Elijah." Matt said looking pointedly at Kol.
"What does my brother mean, is Jeremy with us?" His brothers voice carried through the phone.
"We were all playing video games, then Jeremy said he wanted to draw. It was only a couple minutes ago we both realized we hadn't seen or heard him in a while." Kol was impressed Matt didn't seem scared of his brother. He should no fear just concern for Jeremy.
"He had complained about being copped up in the house." Klaus's said in the background.
"So, he snuck out." Matt cursed, "You guys want to swing by the grill and see if he is there? Me and Kol can check a couple other places. And Ill send Caroline to the cemetery." Kol raised his brow at the mention of the cemetery.
"Cemetery?" Klaus asked.
"He used to go there with a friend." Elijah's answered and Kol so Matt flinch.
"We will head to the bar." Elijah added after a second, "And Kol, you will answer your phone the next time." Then his brother hung up and Matt tossed him back his phone. Kol didn't miss the amused smile the human wore. And he bit back the threat he wanted to unleash on him.
It was about an hour later, after they had driven around and still hadn't found Jeremy that Kol got the young man on the phone.
"What?" He had pulled his head away from the phone at the angry in Jeremy's voice. Even Matt turned to look at the phone in surprise.
Swallowing his worry, "What the hell are you?" Kol yelled right back.
"Shopping." He had been expecting Jeremy to call him on being an ass not have him snap at him. It worried him more then Jeremy sneaking out. So, he softened his tone, "Jer?" He didn't ask If Jeremy was alright, because he wasn't to sure he knew how. He wanted to but 'Jer?' was the only word to come out. He hoped that Jeremy knew him well enough to hear the full question.
This time when Jeremy spoke he sound more like himself, "Sorry." And Kol felt some of his worry wash away. Not enough that he wouldn't bring this all up again once they were in the same room. He also didn't get an answer he wanted, so he closed his eyes and asked, "You okay?" Matt glanced at him but didn't say anything.
"I'm okay." Jeremy said and Kol wanted to believe him but there was still something missing in his friend's voice. He sighed, "Where did you take off too?"
"I went shopping. Needed some clothes and a few other things." Jeremy sounded a little annoyed but at least he was sounding more and more normal.
"Why not tell one of us?" Kol asked feeling hurt that Jeremy hadn't asked him to go with him.
"Kol, I just needed some time alone." That feeling doubled but he could hear the plea for him to understand. He didn't really but he was smart enough to know he was supposed to.
"Jer, I understand. But Mate, it's not safe for you to be alone. Just tell me where you are and I will come hang out." Kol hoped that Jeremy understood him. The idiot had gotten to go out but it was not smart for him to be alone, so now it was his turn to plea to be understanding.
A small ball of worry started growing when Jeremy didn't respond right away.
"Jer?" Kol heard what sounded like a door opening, and a feeling for foreboding washed over him, then he heard "Sorry. Have to go."
He cursed and throw his phone at the dash board.
"Did he just hang up on you?" Kol turned to glare at Matt. The human seemed to realize it was a dumb moment to speak and closed his mouth.
"Do you know anywhere else he might go?" Kol asked as they pulled up to a stop sign and Matt rolled the car to a stop.
"No. I called Ric and asked him. He said he would look around and a couple of places he could think of but he hasn't called me back yet." Matt thumped his hands on the steering wheel as he waited for the only other car on the street to turn. Then it was their turn, with a glance at Kol, Matt started driving again.
"Look man, I know we are worried about him. But Jer, is smart. He knows to avoid Elena and he is human so I don't think the witches care about him. Let's just head back to the house and wait for him there. I don't think forcing him back is going to help."
Every part of Kol wanted to growl at Matt and tell him that Jeremy was being stupid and that they should find him and force him back to the house where he would be safe but he also knew that the human had a point.
"Fine." He grumbled out.
Matt nodded his head and then turned the car around and started to head back to the house.
As they pulled in front of the house, Kol noticed more cars then there should have been. Both of his brother's SUV and Klaus car where pulled up in front of the house, then behind them was a small gray car, he was pretty sure belonged to Caroline. Matt's truck was next and besides it was another red car he didn't recognize. He looked at Matt and the back at the car.
"Ric." Matt said, as he pulled the SUV to a stop and turned off the engine.
Both of them got out and Kol slammed his door a little to hard, do to his frustration. Once he opened the front door he could hear someone yelling at someone else.
"You can't keep him looked up!" The man's voice echoed down the halls.
"We aren't keeping him locked up." Klaus's responded and Kol wondered how come his brother hadn't already killed or at least hurt the history teacher.
"You were keeping him in the house. He is young. The young don't take to being locked in one place to well. They need to get out. See their friends, interact with people, maybe do something stupid. Its what they do. No wonder he snuck off." Kol heard his brother growl. As him and Matt entered the room, he saw Elijah's hand on Nik's shoulder and he understood. The teacher wasn't hurt because Elijah like always was keeping calm.
Elijah pushed Klaus back, and stood in front of him. It wouldn't do much if Nik decided to attack the human but it might give Elijah enough time to react and keep the man alive.
"It was not our intention to keep him locked up. But with these witches attacking people like his friends and Elena determined to make him listen to her. We wanted to keep him safe." The human deflated and some of the tension in the room faded.
"I guess we will have to find away to keep him safe but let him still be young." The teacher said.
"Has anyone talked to him?" Caroline asked from where she sat in the armrest of one of the chairs, the chair itself was occupied by Tyler.
A chuckle broke out next to him, and Kol knew what Matt was going to say before the human spoke. He tried to turn around and glare at him, hopefully to shut him up but he moved to slow.
"He hung up on Kol." Matt said with a smile, "after," He human continued, " he told him he was okay." Kol watched as Matt looked at Elijah and Klaus when he said this. And he knew the human was trying to keep them all calm and telling them that Jeremy was okay. Would probably do that. For now.
Klaus's lips twitched, and Kol growled at him. He was about to tell his brother off when Elijah sighed and brought their attention to him.
"What else did he say?" Kol rolled his eyes, but told the room about his short conversation with Jeremy. He also told them that there had been something besides not getting out that was bother Jeremy but he didn't know what it was.
"So, what now?" Tyler asked, when Kol was finished.
"We wait." Ric answered.