(Disclaimer: I do not own anything from The Vampire Diaries)
Chapter 26:
Damon stood in the Salvatore's living room area, holding a crystal glass. His lips smacking together, before the tip of his tongue peeked out to soothe over their chapped state. Cobalt blue eyes narrowed in thought, staring down into the amber liquid in the glass.
His mind was a mess, utter chaos, he had thought he was getting somewhere with Elena. He was so sure she was going to give him a chance now that she was no longer with Stefan. But the hopes of that happening were dashed away when the newest member of the Mikaelson family joined in on the supernatural fun that was raining and uprooting in dear little Mystic Falls.
Damon had been worried about how close Kol was getting to Elena, and he may have been irritated when Kol took Elena away during the Halloween Party. But if Damon were being honest, he couldn't hold it against Kol as he would have done the same exact thing if it weren't for a certain watchful Bennett Witch. Although, Damon still held some unease when it came to Kol. First reason being that Kol was a Mikaelson and Klaus' younger brother. Secondly, Kol was volatile and just as reckless and unhesitant to be the bad guy like Damon himself.
And as much as the others hated to admit it, Elena was becoming more carefree and just happy. Damon loved her. Even if those deep feelings were never reciprocated, he could shove that selfish part of himself to the side for her. Because Elena was his best friend and he truly wanted her to find the happiness that deserved. He clearly was becoming sappy and he really didn't want to stoop down to Stefan's level which routinely consisted of brooding exercises.
Damon wasn't exactly sure how close Elena and Kol were getting, but as long as she was consensual to it, he didn't have the right to protest. Complain about it, he would of course do though. But either of them would notice if Elena had been compelled.
A loud slam of the front door jostled him out of his inner musings, which was soon followed by a high pitched. "Damon!" The cause of the ruckus presented themselves as the blonde daughter of his good friend Sheriff Forbes. Caroline's eyes zeroed in on Damon immediately and her face seemed to conjuring all the words she so desperately wanted to spat out at him.
But Damon beat her to the punch, and drawled out, "Have you ever heard of knocking or waiting for someone to open the door to their house? And by god, actually speaking the magical words of 'come in'? Just because you're dead, doesn't mean manners is beneath you."
Caroline rolled her eyes, adjusting her arms into her signature barbie pose. "Where's Elena?" She questioned, ignoring what he had just said. Damon snorted, swallowing the rest of his drink.
"Under house arrest. Against her will, might I add!" He expressed, snarkily.
"Quit with the crap, Damon. Elena isn't at home and Bonnie doesn't know how that happened," Caroline informed him.
Damon raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "So, I'm the first suspect? Sorry…but really not sorry to disappoint you barbie, but I have no idea where Elena is and even if I did know. I wouldn't sell her out if she were safe. She's a big girl, she shouldn't be treated like a child and grounded by her supposed best friends."
"She killed people, Damon!" Caroline growled out with frustration.
"So? You killed people too. Bonnie has. Alaric has. Stefan has. Jeremy has… and I am finding it pointless to carry on," Damon rebutted.
"But she doesn't have control over drinking from the vein! Damon, you know she never wanted to be a vampire in the first place, and it is probably tearing her apart inside."
Damon looked her in the eye. "Yes, and holding her hostage in her own house isn't going to help her. She's a vampire now, regardless. She needs to learn; and she can't if you, Bonnie, and Stefan keep treating her like she's the same fragile human Elena. So, leave it Caroline. She'll come back home when she wants."
Caroline turned away, grumbling while Damon poured himself another drink.
"Have I ever told you how much I hate you," Damon announced, looking over at the smirking Original who he was sure returned the sentiment. Kol dropped down into the seat next to Damon's regular one at the bar. He tilted his head a bit as if thinking about it, before answering the Salvatore with mischief in his eyes.
"Not recently no. But that was due to Elena's influence."
Damon's attention snapped to Kol so fast, that he was sure his brain must have hit the front of his skull from the speed of his neck turning towards Kol. His eyes widened at the name of his best friend coming from Kol's mouth, his lips parting in surprise. It had been a long while since those three syllables had been spoken from the youngest Original brother, especially without some sort of distress or pain. The corner of Kol's mouth lifted a fraction and the action was immediately noticed by Damon.
"Okay, what do you know? I don't like how you flip scripts so easily," Damon questioned, his blue eyes darkening with wariness.
Kol turned away from him, lifting two fingers in the air to gain the bartender's attention. Damon watched impatiently as Kol told the bartender what he wanted to drink, his hand clenching his own glass.
"You know you always seem to have some sort of alcoholic beverage in your hand," his unwelcome companion observed, sipping at the glass the bartender had just given him. Damon ignored the taunt.
"What do you know?" He repeated.
Kol sighed. "You're not much fun anymore."
"Oh, my apologies. I wasn't aware that I gave a damn," Damon replied, sarcastically.
"Mikael sent Elena back to the late 1800s when my family and I were reigning over the French Quarter in New Orleans," Kol told him.
This information seemed to fuel Damon's confusion even more, not understanding what Kol was saying. "Let me get this straight. Mikael sent Elena back in time, straight into your arms?" Damon slowly said aloud. Kol hummed and nodded. "This is getting ridiculous. Supernatural mixed together with Back to the Future. Let me guess Mikael is Biff… but that would make Elena Marty McFly. Oh! Whenever I see 'Lena again, that's going to be her new nickname!"
Kol delivered a 'what the hell are you talking about' look, causing Damon to chuckle. He hadn't felt this light or relieved in months. If Kol was being relaxed and had actually joked with him, then it meant that Elena was in good hands in their past.
"Yes, I agree with it being ridiculous. But what I remember from the past is changing, and a lot of it is good. Niklaus killed Mikael back in New Orleans this time, which changes a lot. I just don't know what will happen to us in the present. My previous memories of the old timeline is fading and reforming to the new one…" Kol tried to elaborate upon the subject.
Damon leaned back from the counter, stretching. He froze and slowly looked at Kol as he asked, "Will Elena fade from the time she was actually born and none of us meet her? Or what happens?"
"I don't know. I just don't know, mate. I guess we'll figure that out once we get there."
"I hate this."
"Reasonable."
"I hate you."
"Like I care. Elena loves me."
"I hate you even more now."
...
He stared at Elijah, if it weren't for his hand keeping his head up his mouth would have been gaping open in shock. They both decided it was really no hurry for them to find Elena, Marcel, and Rebekah as they wouldn't have made it to Mystic Falls yet. But this long carriage ride with his older brother was slowly driving him mad.
"Sometimes I wonder who is the actual big bad here. You with your morals or me with lack thereof," he finally spoke up, breaking the silence between them.
Elijah gave him a look, his dark eyes strained with a hint of irritation. "Obviously, you would be considered the bad one, Niklaus."
"Oh, dear brother! You do terrible things for a reason, at least there's redemption in that. I do bad things for the sake of my amusement. Although, part of it pertains to breaking the curse set upon me by mother," he laughed. "Really though. You're the one people should watch out for. I may be unpredictable, but your chivalry will give others a false sense of security."
Elijah sighed. "I would do anything for family. Anyone can relate to that."
He smirked widely at his brother, blue eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Which is why no one would be expecting you, until you have their heart in your hand."
"How did we get to discussing this?" Elijah questioned, wearily. He rubbed his forehead as if trying to brush a headache away.
Niklaus shrugged his shoulders. "I got bored. There's nothing really to do now that Mikael is gone. We left New Orleans for the time being, so we don't have to keep in command for a while. Besides we both haven't had a chat with one another, that didn't concern family matters or Mikael in quite a while…"
"…Or about your 'moon curse'," Elijah put in, his eyebrows cocking in amusement.
"Quiet!" He declared indignantly. His lips pulling themselves into a pout, causing his brother to chuckle at the spectacle. The expression also reminded Elijah of their younger brother, who abandoned them to run off ahead a few nights ago.
"Where do you think Kol ran off to?" He thought aloud. "I have some doubt that he caught up with Elena and the others."
"He's probably causing some mayhem on the way there. But I agree, I do not think he would hurry to meet up with them, as he has got some freedom now," Niklaus said as he tugged at the strings of his sleeve. He didn't seem concerned at the thought, but it wasn't surprising. They both couldn't always keep track of their youngest brother and keep him in line. Even with Elena here, it would be some time before Kol would fully submit to Elena's caring way. But to be fair, Kol had been on a short leash for quite awhile, which explained how antsy he was getting.
"As long as he does not find himself in some sort of trouble, I think we will be fine. And if he does, well I am sure once we get to Elena, she can take care of him," Elijah reasoned, closing his eyes and laying his head back.
"Oh ho, I want to see what Elena does if our dear little brother does get out of line, I am sure it would be a sight to see," Niklaus chuckled.
"I wonder what she would do to keep you in line. I don't think she has any quarrels of hurting you, like she would with Kol," He responded back. He peeked at look at the offended expression upon his brother's face before letting out a short laugh.
"She loves me! It wouldn't be that bad!"
"Sure, it wouldn't. You both are Original Vampires, so I think you can handle whatever torture she wants to throw your way."
"Why would she hurt me in the first place? We were discussing Kol," Niklaus queried, eyebrows pulling together in thought.
"Well, you get on my nerves and I can imagine you do the same to the lovely Elena, so I was just imagining the kind of damage she could do to you," Elijah surmised, leaving his brother with the same look of shock as before.
"See! This is why you would be the one to look out for!"
"Do you think they'll come straight to us or take their sweet time?" Elena mumbled from her spot in the glades of grass, twirling a dandelion between her fingers. Rebekah glanced over and took in the relaxed posture of her sister-in-law, smiling at how calming and pretty an image she painted.
"Knowing them, if they were in trouble, they could have found a way to get a warning out to us. But I highly doubt that they are in any danger at the moment. So, they are just probably taking their time. I mean I am not all that good at keeping track of the time as it goes by so slowly for me," Rebekah replied, laying back into the grass, but close enough to Elena that their feet were a hairs width away. The grass was soft beneath her and the stars above them had begun to peek out, winking at them. The light blue sky slowly bled into hues of pink and orange, then fading into a inky navy blue the further the sun sank over the horizon
"You're right. How long has it been since you first found me that first night right outside New Orleans?"
"Love, I honestly haven't the foggiest. It is not like I keep a diary or some sort of calendar upon my person."
Elena let out a sad sigh. "I wish I had my phone."
"A phone? That seems a bit of a nuisance. I mean to carry a bulky contraption around, and it wouldn't even work unless connected to whatever those blasted wires connect to. I truly wish that they improve on the phone," Rebekah responded earnestly, while Elena stifled a laugh.
Then a loud snort interrupted their solace, which was followed by a quieter snore. Both vampires lifted their heads up to find Marcel dead asleep against the tree where the horses were noiselessly grazing by.
"I feel awful," Rebekah began, nibbling at her bottom lip. "This has to be the first good rest he's gotten, without worrying about everything."
"I don't understand why he should worry over us, we can take care of ourselves. I feel like we should be the ones to worry over him. But then, I don't think he would like me if I became the overbearing older sister… Jeremy hadn't been fond of that…" Elena's gaze dropped to the ground as she drifted off.
"It's just how he was raised, and he is taking it very seriously since he is the only male. He doesn't want anything bad to happen to us. Don't forget on top of his own worrying, he has to worry about Nik, Elijah, and Kol."
"Well, Kol cannot and will not blame Marcel for anything bad happening to me. If we're being literally here, he should blame the Petrova blood, my ancestors. Being a doppelgänger isn't the least bit fun," Elena expressed with a grimace. "Having someone run around with the same body and face as you, it causes so many problems. Everyone has been fooled by Katherine posing as me. Although, now that I'm thinking about it, I think you and your brothers are the only ones who weren't fooled… or fooled for too long."
Rebekah pulled a face at the mention of Katherine, causing a smile to creep up on Elena's face. "Which one of my family wasn't fooled at all at Katherine's acting?" She questioned the doppelgänger, curiosity entering her eyes.
Elena sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Honestly? The only one who hadn't been fooled for a second had been Kol. And that was when Katherine had possessed my own body, and he still knew it wasn't me." She looked up to meet Rebekah's darkening gaze, a sad smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "No one else knew the difference, but Kol did. Not Damon. Not Stefan. Not Caroline. Not Bonnie. Not even my own brother knew!"
"How did he know?"
Elena paused, her face scrunched up. "I… I don't know. I used to feel just like a shadow of Katherine, because that's all Damon and Stefan could see or even Elijah or Klaus could see at first. I had told Kol that one time, and it was stupidly cheesy, but he told me that he would always see me." She laughed at the memory. Rebekah shuffled forward and reached out, taking her hand.
"Before we get into more detail about how my brother is a romantic deep within his black soul and can blackmail him for centuries to come, please explain from the top of how Katerina possessed your body. I want to watch out for it, because who knows what our future holds now," Rebekah said, her fingers intertwining with Elena's tightly.
Nodding, Elena replied with, "It started with Silas and the cure for vampirism."
"Why did she dye her hair?" She grimaced in distaste, lifting pieces of the red strands.
"Does it really matter?" A woman's voice answered through the cell phone. "Was there a point to this call?"
"I mean I can always get rid of the color, cut her…my hair and get it curly again," she continued on, relishing in the fact that her hair was now a healthy color and was not shedding.
"Katherine…"
Katherine paused, tsking. "Nah ah ah, my darling daughter. I am Elena Gilbert now. Which brings me to the real reason of this call. You need to help me keep up the appearance of Elena like telling me things of what Elena would do. It was different when I was posing as my selfish little doppelgänger for only short moments. But now I have to be kind and brilliant Elena 24/7 to fool everyone." Katherine groaned, looking at her fingernails. "A spa treatment seems to be in order."
"God forbid that being nice and caring would kill you," Nadia responded. "Now what do you need to know of Elena?"
"Hmm.. How would I go after Stefan without it being suspicious? I know she wasn't with Stefan, and as much as I would hate to admit it. Stefan still has feelings for Elena. Was she with Damon?" She asked her daughter.
"She wasn't with either brother, that I know of. Damon she was close with, but I don't think they were together. You would have to figure that out on your own. But at the moment you need to keep up the appearance of Elena with her friends and family, without raising suspicion."
"Ugh, they're so dreary and boring though. I haven't a clue how she's friends with any of them," Katherine grumbled.
"Well, you're the one who decided to possess her body, because Stefan likes this body more," Nadia retorted.
Katherine frowned. "We have the same exact bod-" she was interrupted by the dial tone that signaled that her daughter had hung up on her. She knew that Nadia would help her, but it didn't stop the knowledge that her daughter didn't like her pursuing Stefan Salvatore. And as they couldn't tell the difference between her and sweet little Elena before, it would be even harder for them to notice she wasn't…
"Elena, darling!" Someone called out, disrupting her thoughts. Katherine froze, closing her eyes and relaxed her body with a few deep breaths. She turned towards the voice with a smile placed upon her face, getting ready to greet them.
"Yes?" She began, but froze once more as she caught sight of a dashing dark haired young man with brown eyes and a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He reminded her a bit of Elijah, to be honest. A smaller and younger looking one. Katherine wracked her brain for some information on how to act with him, because she herself never seen him before.
He stopped before her, his eyes gleaming with a hint of relief. "Love, where have you been? You had me a bit worried. You even got 'Bekah up on her toes, biting on her perfectly manicured nails," he told her. Katherine took him in, and the name of the younger Original sister brought it together. This had to be Kol. She never met the younger brother, but she had heard of his ruthlessness. And now he was connected with Elena?
She cleared her throat. "I needed space away from everyone," she answered him with a strained smile, causing Kol to frown.
"Darling.. you know you can always come to me when you need to get away from everyone and everything. We can go on another long drive," he murmured, cupping her face between his hands, smoothing back some loose strands of her hair.
"I know, Kol. But with everything with Katherine, I just needed space," she said, placing one of her own hands over his. Her doe eyes met Kol's full on, and she caught the hint of sharp scrutiny in their dark depths. She mentally cursed that no one seemed to know of Elena's close relationship with the youngest Original brother, making her task even harder.
"I understand completely, love. But next time, answer your messages," He pressed, pulling back with a bright smile. Katherine let out a breath, relief flooding her.
"Of course," she smiled.
"Alright now. Let's go. Rebekah is at home and would surely want physical proof that you're… you," Kol announced, saying the last part with a glance back at her. His hand reached down for hers and pulled her along beside him. Katherine weighed the pros and cons on what would happen if she were to decline his offer, but decided to go along with him to find out more on how close her doppelgänger and him were.
"I think that would be best," she agreed.
As soon as Rebekah caught sight of Elena, her sky blue eyes lit up. She strode over, pushing Kol away from the brunette and hugged her, breathing in the familiar scent of her friend. But then she crinkled her nose, noticing how her scent seemed a bit off, it was her's but a different undertone to it.
"'Lena, you had me worried, love," she told her, pulling back. Doe brown eyes blinked at her almost owlishly, unsure. "Are you alright?" Rebekah asked, concerned.
Elena shook her head slightly, before smiling. "Yes, I am now. I've just felt a bit off since the thing with Katherine."
"Good thing that she's dead then," Kol replied with a toothy grin.
Ever since Kol had found her in the park earlier, he kept finding some sort of excuse to touch her. He had currently taken back her hand and tracing the back of it with his thumb. It seemed as if it were normal behavior for him, so it only made Katherine question more on Elena's relationship with the Original.
"Now as much as I adore you, dear sister. I would rather spend some alone time with Elena," Kol told Rebekah. She looked ready to protest, but was silenced when Kol gave her a look.
Rebekah glared at him. "You can have your fun now, but she's mine tomorrow," she sniffed, before striding away gracefully.
"It's been a while, darling. That dear Scooby gang of yours has been keeping you busy. I am feeling a bit neglected," Kol pouted at her, he had turned her around in front of him. Her eyes traced over his features, and she had to admit that this Original brother had his own appeal and could see how Elena could have become attracted, leaving the Salvatores in the dust. But again, it put a damper in her plans because she had to find a way to break things off with Kol, so she could go after Stefan. Which would not be easy.
She grinned slowly at him, raising a hand to trail her fingers over his jawline then cheekbones. "I'm sorry. It's been a mess."
"Yes, but when isn't anything dealing with the supernatural a mess," he mumbled into her hair, his hands coming up to cup her face, pulling it closer to his own. Her heart felt like it were in her throat. She actually didn't mind trying to kiss this brother to taste Kol's appeal for herself. Her and Elena did have similar tastes, and have been with the same men, so one more shouldn't hurt. His lips were so close to her own that all she had to do is lean forward just an inch in order to touch. She wanted to eliminate the little space between them, he seemed to be teasing her as every time she tried to get closer, he would pull back.
"Kol…" she grumbled out, her eyes slits as she stared at Kol's lips.
He chuckled. "So impatient, and so eager."
"Kiss me," Katherine demanded, threading her fingers through his hair and tried yanking him down to her level. His lips pulled into a smirk, leaning forward, but kept the space between their lips.
"I would… if you were Elena."
Kol sat laid back on the couch, his arms stretched out along the top of it and his legs propped up on the table in front of him. His eyes were closed, taking a moment to truly relax on his own. He was at peace finally, but forever long he had no idea. His answer came in the appearance of his little sister after slamming shut a door a mere moments later. He could sense that Rebekah stood right above him, but hadn't said a thing. Peeking up at her, he frowned, "May I help you? I know I am perfection. But staring at me and not saying a thing, isn't something I want to get used to."
She rolled her eyes. "How did you know?" She asked, tapping her fingers against her forearm impatiently.
He cocked an eyebrow in confusion. "That's quite broad. Could you possibly dwindle down that list?" He questioned.
"Another memory came up, and Elena was telling me about Silas and the cure. She also told me of how Katherine had possessed Elena by the use of Traveler magic. How did you know that it wasn't Elena? That it was Katherine in her body?" Rebekah pressed. Kol sat up, smoothing his hair back.
"Wouldn't have Elena told you how I knew?" He deflected.
"No, because Elena didn't know how you knew. It appears you knew right away, now the question is why you didn't tell me."
"Come on, 'Bekah it was obvious. She didn't know how to act around the both of us. I know Elena's mannerisms like the back of my hand. I kept touching her to see her responses, and they were… different. Her scent was off. And I know they look identical, but they're not the same. Elena's eyes are full of warmth, and Katherine's were guarded and secretive. I could always read Elena by her eyes. I just knew…" Kol went off, rubbing his face. "And besides, you figured it out not long after. Katherine had her friends fooled, but she didn't do a good job posing as Elena to us."
Rebekah nodded in agreement, letting Kol off the hook for now. "Another thing, brother dear. You really are a romantic deep inside that dark soul of yours."
Kol raised his gaze back up to his sister. "What did she tell you?"
Rebekah grinned, saying in a sing song voice, "Nothing to worry your pretty little head over."
"I am not sure how I should feel with this new information. Besides you already knew my soft side is opened only for Elena. And at least you admitted to me being pretty."
"Yes, but Elena told me you don't hold a candle to my beauty," she mocked, happily.
"I hope my past self tracks you three down, and takes Elena away from you," Kol grunted out, his lips forming into a pout.
"Yes, and I wonder why you haven't tracked us down yet. I hope your past self isn't doing something stupid again. But I'm sure if you are or were, Elena will surely straighten you out," Rebekah hummed out to him as she left the living room, leaving her brother to his thoughts.
"I would appreciate it if you would stop interrupting what little peace I do find to myself!" He yelled out from behind her.
"Oh, be quiet Kol! It hasn't been just about you for a long time. You relinquished that privilege when you married Elena and without telling any of us!"
"Well, at least she tells me I'm handsome!"
Rebekah rolled her eyes, shutting the front door loud enough so that Kol knew she was gone.
Pulling away, Katherine blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Kol's fingers wrapped around her thin wrist, a rumbling sound vibrating from his chest. "Quit with the act. You're not very good at it," he scoffed at her. There was a sudden energy in the room, it seemed to be coiling up in itself like a snake getting ready to strike, and Katherine was beginning to feel small. She hadn't felt that way since she realized she was going to be sacrificed by Klaus to break his curse.
"How would you know?" She questioned, anger beginning to build up.
Kol chuckled, throwing back his head in amusement. He then leveled a stare at her, his voice the opposite of gleeful. "You really think that your little charade could get past me. I have heard of you and to be honest, Katerina. I am not all that impressed."
"I'm not Katherine. I'm Elena!" She protested, part of her grew panicked because of how easily her future plans were falling through her fingers.
Kol rolled his eyes. "And why should I believe you?"
"Because Katherine is dead. She died! The cure not only made someone human, it-it made them age.. and not the aging where you get to live a long and normal human life either! You age like you were supposed to before being turned!" She quickly explained.
"I know Katherine is dead. Doesn't mean I believe you're who you say you are. I know Elena. You were so self absorbed in getting to the Salvatores, that you hadn't realized Elena isn't in a relationship with either of them. You probably just wagered a guess that she was with Damon, because of how close they are. And let's be clear, darling. Elena isn't you and I'm not one to be trifled with or played. So, you're going to tell me how you're in Elena's body and not in hell like you're supposed to be," Kol finished, throwing her onto the couch carelessly. Katherine let out a huff, blowing strands of her hair out of her face.
"There's no way I'm telling you anything," she refused, her expression melting away into a coldness that seemed off on Elena's face.
He laughed. "You're acting as if you have a choice, love. I can always torture it out of you."
"And hurt sweet little Elena?"
"But she isn't present now is she? You're in control of her body. So, you will be feeling all of the pain I inflict. And even then, she would have wanted me to try every mean there is to get you out of her life," he responded, unfazed by her comment.
Katherine's eyes widened, realizing how serious he was. Kol, she learned didn't make empty threats. But it made no sense to her, how could Elena have any sort of connection with the younger brother of Elijah and Klaus? No one seemed to know of the depth of their connection, besides Rebekah. None of Elena's friends seemed to know, or maybe they did and just thought them friends.
She narrowed her eyes at him skeptically. "Who are you to her?"
Kol smirked. "My fiancé. Though you did ruin my plans a bit. I was going to whisk Elena away from all the trouble in Mystic Falls and treat her to some much needed stress relief. And maybe elope," he shrugged, as he thought about it. Then he focused his attention on her, a frown making itself known. "But like Elena has told me before. You're always ruining everything."
"Damon?" His younger brother called out from his post at a desk, a leather bound journal opened in front of him. His oak green eyes focused intently on the pages, a pen grasped tightly in his hand. Damon leaned against the doorframe, taking in the visage his brother created, which seemed to be a great veil full go brooding.
"You called?" He drawled out lazily. Stefan's head snapped up, his lips parted in surprise. He then furrowed one eyebrow unsure of what to say next. "Now Saint Stefan. I know you can't go a day without being down in the dumps, but can you just lighten up some. You're really harshing my mellow here," Damon spouted. The expression he received in response caused him to grin in victory.
Stefan rolled his eyes. "Obviously, you're taking taking Elena's disappearance lightly," his brother commented. Damon froze, irritation traveling up in spine in a vengeance, but he forced it down to respond back pleasantly.
"As well as I can knowing that Rebekah tells me the whereabouts of Elena, since we found out where the hell Mikael poofed her off to."
"Wait.." Stefan began, as he sat up, "… Rebekah tells you?"
Damon smirked. "Of course. I am Elena's best friend besides Klaus Barbie. We came to a truce, because I care about Elena and I've come to the realization that Elena is happy with the Originals. If you would get your head out of your ass, you wouldn't be as prickly as Edward Cullen when Bella goes see Jacob," he said.
"I still don't know why you read Twilight," Stefan stated.
"It passed the time," Damon defended. "And Elena is more special than that Bella chick, but you're still so whipped."
Stefan made a face. "So are you."
"Ah!" He clucked, raising one finger. "I never said I wasn't. But at least I have more control over it and I don't let it get in the way like you do."
"I just don't understand how complicating these past few years have been. I've gone through several journals!"
"Oh no! What a disaster, Bridget!"
"Would you quit with the references?" Stefan snapped, throwing the paper weight that was on the desk at him. Damon caught it, rolling his eyes.
"If I could, I would. But I can't, so I shan't!"
"Whatever, Damon. All I'm saying is what life would be like if we hadn't shown up in Mystic Falls. Would Elena have a better life?"
"Well, who knows? Klaus would have eventually found her. Her parents would still be dead. Her biological mother would still have come back a vampire. So, I am seeing it as the silver lining that she had at least supernatural friends to make it easier to get through. Besides without me in her life, it would be quite a dreary life," Damon finished, tossing and catching the paper weight from the air.
"I guess…" Stefan trailed off.
Damon sighed, facing him. "Look, we're passed that. There's no point dwelling on the past. We learned that the hard way with Katherine."
"And if that would've happened, Elena probably would have never lived to be with Kol… or either of us," Stefan put in.
"So, I see it as a good thing. But it's over and done with. Whatever happens in the past, whatever changes? I am positive Elena will still have Rebekah, Kol, Klaus, and Elijah. And to hell with it, she'll still have us. Don't worry, brother. If you were any more human, you would have gotten a hernia," Damon said. Stefan grimaced at the thought.
"But do you know what will happen to this future?"
"No. But Elena will be back with us in no time. She's somewhere, only time will tell, since Elena has to live through it first."
"When did you get so thoughtful?" Stefan smiled, leaning back in his chair, green eyes sparkling.
He let out a depressed groan. "I am… what? One hundred and sixty something, or hundred and seventy? I don't have a damn clue anymore. At least I still look as sexy as I did back then."
"Ugh! You and Kol both are obsessed with your looks!" A new voice interrupted, her face screwed up into a look of utter revulsion. Damon flinched slightly, not hearing her entrance until she was right behind him.
"Can I go one day without seeing any Originals?" He prayed with his hands clasped together, eyes staring skyward. "I was just recently paid a visit by Kol, and I don't very much care for the comparison, thank you," Damon snipped.
"Wait, Kol actually left the house? And he talked to you?" The blonde Original questioned, a surprised expression taking over.
Damon turned to look at her. "Yeah? What of it?"
Rebekah smiled bemused. "Elena probably told Kol about you then. Kol doesn't really elaborate on his alone time with Elena, but Kol seems to be putting more effort into talking to you. He knows you're her best friend. No offense, Stefan…" Rebekah added, casting a side glance at the younger Salvatore brother.
"None taken," Stefan responded, waving her off.
"I still hate him," Damon grumbled, causing both Rebekah and Stefan to laugh.
"You do not!"
"Maybe once upon a time, but in actuality you and Kol would be the best of friends," she stated.
"Just shut up. I will consider the thought of being friends, but I don't promise anything." Came the response.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Salvatore."
Damon threw his hands in the air. "You know what?! I give up! I can't wait until Elena is back. I can kidnap her and we can go off on an adventure. I need my Gilbert time."
"If it's Gilbert time you want, the only Gilbert time would be with Jeremy," Rebekah muttered beneath her breath.
Damon stopped, glancing her way. "Wait a minute.."
"What do you mean?" Stefan finished.
Rebekah looked up, sky blue eyes widened like a deer in headlights. "What?" She asked, innocently.
"What do you know that we don't?" Damon's tone broke for no argument.
Rebekah sighed, a hand coming to her forehead as if berating herself, before facing both brothers.
"Elena is not a Gilbert anymore?"
"Go on."
"Kol and Elena are married."
…
"Are you quite done?" Kol replied in a bored tone. He made it to a tavern, and had decided to stop there for a drink. Alcohol or blood. It made no difference to him at the moment. And the woman before him was beginning to grate on his nerves. She had tried to drape across him, and he would have let her if it was a time before Elena. But since Elena was in his life, the thought of the woman displeased him. The woman looked affronted at the lack of interest he was showing.
"No. Until you begin to start paying attention to what I have just said."
Kol spared her a thinly veiled glance of contempt. "What you have said or intend to say is unimportant to me. Why can't you leave me be? I just want a good mug of mead before the nights out, without interruption."
She leaned in, pressing her bosom against his arm, thin lips stretching into a conniving grin. "I know a place where there will be no interruption, My Lord. And I am much more entertaining than mead," she simpered, eyes narrowed in a way that reminded him of a cat. He grabbed ahold of her arm, her expression lightening up considerably as he stood, dropping a few coins on his table. On his way out with her, he lifted his cup and drained it of its contents, nodding to her to show him the way when he was finished. Her grin widened in victory, as she moved him alongside her, tossing a smug glance at the other women who held obvious disdain and jealousy in their wake.
As soon as the woman showed Kol into her room, she practically pounced upon him, trying to seal their lips together, albeit fruitlessly. She had expected Kol to keep her up in his arms as soon as she had leaped into them, but he had let her drop to the ground after she struggled to keep her arms around his shoulders. She huffed, some anger growing beneath the layer of lust as she glared up at him.
"What was that for?" She demanded.
"What are you even doing?" He countered, strolling around her room, taking in the many trinkets and photos.
"I thought you wanted.."
"You thought wrong," he interrupted. He was quite testy today after not having a good meal without interruption, and from what he discovered earlier that day before arriving into town. He had come across a house with some horses grazing about, their stables open. Kol had checked the small house and discovered it vacant, but that wasn't what captured his attention. It was the faint scent of his little sister, then of Marcel. He thought it was just the trick of his mind, until Elena's scent wafted to his nose, embracing him with some warmth and relief. But skeptical as to why the three would stop here, if they had a carriage. Further inspection of the property led him to the stables where an old man had his neck mangled, not drained, and he reeked of decay already. The body had Rebekah's familiar smell all over it, and it couldn't have been more than a couple weeks old. He was glad the drunkard was dead, laying in the manure of his horses, but he had been in a irritable mood ever since. And the woman's badgering didn't make it any better.
His attention was brought to the present when said woman touched his face, causing him to draw back, not liking the clammy sweaty feel of her skin. "You are not to touch me," he ground out.
She was startled for a fraction of a second before a sly smile slid across her lips, and her eyes became hooded. Kol internally grimaced as he noticed the change in her demeanor, his thoughts playing with the notion of either draining her of her blood or strewing her body parts and innards all over the room.
"Are you going to touch me, My Lord?" She purred.
Kol quirked an eyebrow at her, before a shark like grin crossed his mouth, eyes glinting down upon her darkly. He began to stalk towards her causing her to step back involuntarily at the change in his attitude, before she let a confident and satisfied light enter her face. As she was thinking she was finally going to get what she wanted.
"Well, darling. The only way to kill you is to touch you," he explained to her, cruelty crawling into his expression and enjoyment curling up in his stomach at the sudden fear that seeped into her gaze. Before she could part her lips to let out any sort of sound, Kol lunged at her jugular and tore it out. Blood poured down like a waterfall, soaking into the fabric of her revealing dress. Her eyes opened wider until there was more white than iris as she gargled, the crimson of her blood coming out of her mouth. Kol stood back, admiring his work.
He laughed. "Well, love, you were right. You are much more entertaining than mead."
A/N:
I'm giving whoever is reading this a chance to send me a PM or review to suggest a scene/idea to incorporate into the next chapter. Or if they want me to write a one-shot for them. All you have to do is ask.
Until then...