Handsome Devil
Disclaimer: I don't own the Vampire Diaries or its characters. I only own my plot and my OC's.
Sorry for any errors and how long it took to update. Good news is I got a second job – something I've been needing for a while. Bad news is between my two jobs and college I have even less time to write.
None of my stories are abandoned though. I promise.
Kol's POV:
Two more nights have come and gone. It was Elijah's turn to patrol again. When I woke up this morning he was long gone. The lavish bathroom in my suite was filled with steam. I jerk the shower curtain aside and step out. Droplets slide down my body, soaking the fluffy mat. I shook my head and brunette locks flung water around before flopping back in place. A hand reaches for a thick towel, I rub it along the length of my body before tossing it carelessly in a corner.
Riiiing. Riiiiing. Riiing. Riiiing.
An irate huff escapes my lips at the noise. I pluck a smaller towel off the rod on the wall and use it to dry my hair. Without bothering to cover my nudity, I strut out of the bathroom at an unhurried pace. When I see Zorra's name flashing up at me, my muscles tense and I lock my jaw.
"Who the bloody hell is this?" I demand through my teeth, still using the other hand to dry my hair.
Bloodlust took hold of me with a vengeance. My first instinct was to believe Polly and Pamela were calling to antagonize me. After all, the ones responsible for Zorra's disappearance having her phone is a logical assumption to make.
"Please tell me Zorra is with you." The desperate voice of Crystal White took me off guard for a moment. Frankly, the only time she ever crossed my mind since meeting her was when Zorra brought her up.
"Are you just now noticing her absence?" I scoff, recovering from the surprise easily.
Good thing we weren't dependent on this harlot. I thought to myself, unable to help being annoyed on Zorra's behalf. I stop rubbing at my hair with the miniature towel and place it around my shoulders. She's been missing for 10 bloody days now, if you count today.
"Don't be ridiculous!" Crystal snapped, affronted. "I'm just now finding her phone. I would've called you sooner but I didn't have your number. I kicked myself for not getting it. I even have Jeremy's for Christ's sake and I've never even met him. Anyway, I'm getting off topic. When I couldn't get ahold of her for a few days, I stopped by. The door was locked, but I have a spare key so-"
"Crystal." I cut her off with forced patience. Somehow, rambling was far more endearing when Zorra did it. "The short version, if you please."
"The short version is I couldn't find her! I called her bosses and they said she was home sick! Which I obviously knew wasn't true, HAVING BEEN THERE! I even checked the parking for her apartment across the road. Guess what? HER CAR IS THERE! When I called Jeremy, he hadn't seen or heard from her either! Since that failed I called the police. That was over a fucking WEEK ago and still nothing. So please, Kol. Is she with you? I've been going crazy. Where on earth could she be?! You're my last hope. If I didn't know better I'd think Mother had her, but we both know that isn't possible. Not anymore."
If that was the short version, what would've been the long one? I'm thankful I won't have to find out.
"She's with me on a spur of the moment trip." I soothe her, making my voice as sweet as honey and saying the first lie that popped into my head. "We didn't mean to worry you."
There was a pause.
"Why didn't she call me on your phone?!" Crystal raged. "I've been tearing my hair out!"
"Sorry, darling. We've been rather busy." The touch of suggestion I put in my tone made it obvious what we were 'busy' doing.
"Busy." She repeated, unamused. "You've been sooo busy," Here she mocked my suggestive tone, "that you couldn't have given me a tiny heads-up message for A WEEK AND HALF?! Why did she leave her phone behind? She can't disappear like that and not contact me for so long! Zorra knows I worry."
"What part of spur of the moment didn't register?" I tease silkily. "I'm surprised I have MY phone."
"My sister wouldn't just up and disappear without telling me where she's going, not willingly."
Except she did exactly that when we had to chase down Nik after the body swap. A text here and there from Zorra was all it took to make her not worry. Crystal had no idea Zorra traveled through multiple states that week. It amused me how little this woman knows about what has actually been going on in her sisters' life recently.
I inwardly scolded myself for not thinking to look for Zorra's phone. I could've brought it with me and kept in contact with the sister via text.
"That was my fault." I put on a façade of sheepishness. "She didn't want to go at first, what with worrying about her bills, but I persuaded her. Try not to be too angry with Zorra, alright? Like I said, I've been keeping her busy. We were having a lot of fun until you called and rained on our parade. Zorra deserves a little enjoyment in her life, don't you think?"
"Jeremy said you were visiting your sister." A challenge could be heard in her southern twang.
So stubborn.
"I lied. He's rather clingy, you see. He would've wanted to come with. I couldn't have that could I?"
Crystal still wasn't satisfied. "Where are y'all at?"
"Currently?" I ask rhetorically. "New Mexico. We left Roswell yesterday and now are visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Not sure where we'll go after this, but that's half the fun. I've always enjoyed road trips."
"You can barely pay your sister's hospital bill, yet you can afford an extended trip to fuck knows where for fuck knows how long?"
"I won one of those scratch off lottery tickets, I'll have you know." My tone conveyed I was offended at her question of my character. As I continued on, I decided to ramble more than was strictly necessary to mock Crystal's babbling explanation from before. Childish? Perhaps, but I didn't give a damn. "A good one too. I got really lucky, massive winnings. Hence the reason for the spur of the moment trip. To make it last, we've been sleeping in cheap motels and the car I borrowed from my mate for the occasion. Which frees up the money for whatever attraction strikes our fancy. Honestly, that little bit planning was the only forethought I did. It's times like these I regret selling my own car. Motorcycles aren't exactly practical for extended road trips. Imagine it, riding on a motorcycle for days on end with very little cargo space to boot. Just between you and me though, I was half-tempted to use it just to see Zorra's reaction. She can be deliciously feisty when she wants to, can she not? Anyway, I'm getting off topic aren't I? I'm truly sorry we worried you, darling. That wasn't our intention."
There was another pause. Longer this time.
"Put her on."
I was nowhere near in the mood to deal with this, but I resisted the urge to let out an exasperated noise and continued to placate her. "She's sleeping."
"Wake her up."
"Can't do that, I'm afraid. Zorra needs to rest."
"I swear if you make a single comment about wearing her out-" Crystal warned me.
I cut her off with a snort. "I don't remember you being nearly this much of a buzz-kill when we met."
"Your sister dropping off the face of the earth without a word will do that to a person." She responded flatly. "Funny how that works."
"I already said sorry." I tell her in faux remorse. "How many more times do I need to say it? We made a mistake and got carried away. It hardly like you've never done the same thing."
"Have her call me." Crystal demanded in a no-nonsense fashion. It seems she finally believed me, now that's she interrogated me to her hearts content. "Tell her she's in BIG trouble."
"Will do. Talk to the police, yes? Tell them she's fine."
One less nuisance to worry about smoothing over. Nobody needs human law enforcement ruffling feathers and making a big deal about this.
"Yes." She huffed. "I'm serious, Kol. Have her call me or I'll hunt you both down."
"I will. Bye now." I hung up, not intimidated in the slightest by her threat.
I'm not sure how much longer it will be until I get Zorra back. Crystal will mostly likely have to settle for texts from her 'sister' instead of a phone call. This situation has me riled up enough, without adding her constantly blowing up my phone and jumping down my throat on top of it. I have more important things than Crystal White to be concerned with.
Like dismembering Yesenia and her niece.
I understand they are being watched closely. Pamela didn't trust them and she's clearly the leader of that duo. I get that. Really I do. Yet after nearly a week they couldn't send at least a small text or magically transported note? A quick estimate on the amount of time that's going to pass before we hear anything of importance. How long does it take to win enough trust to have two seconds alone? Especially since they already had Polly on their side.
It's absurd.
My phone beeped with a text. I nearly shattered it when I saw who was messaging me.
BoringTwit: Hey. How's your sister? Haven't heard from you in a few days. Hope everything is okay.
Me: She's dreadful. I'll be here a while.
I changed into jeans and a short-sleeved top. When my phone beeped with another text my jaw tightened in annoyance. I didn't bother reading it or replying.
As I started toward the door I paused mid-motion. In between steps something appeared in my pocket. I could feel it digging into my thigh. Finally, I inwardly huffed. My fingers brushed against paper when I dipped them into my pocket. In messy scrawl read the words:
Tomorrow. Be in the forest at 7:15 am. I'll only have 10 minutes.
Instead of making me less restless, the opposite happens. I pace the length of my suite like a caged animal. My thoughts spun with ideas on what might be revealed. As well as preparing possible courses of action for Yesenia and Yolanda to take. 10 minutes isn't very long at all. Will they be silent for another prolonged period of time afterward? Leaving me unable to contribute again. Useless as a fish flopping around on land. I loathe having to depend on them so completely. If they value their lives they better not fail me.
Tomorrow is Rebekah's turn to patrol, but there's no way I'm waiting around to hear second hand information. I'm going to speak to whichever one sent the note. Rebekah's feelings on the matter be damned. She can go as well. Elijah can too for all the fucks I give. One things for certain though. I will NOT be left behind.
"She's late." I snarled the next morning as I paced. My dark eyes were locked on the empty-looking parking lot I could see through the trees.
"Only by a minute" Elijah attempted to pacify while Rebekah ignored me. "Be patient. She'll show."
He says that like we have an abundance of time at our disposal. We don't. Only 10 minutes to hear what she has to say and plan accordingly before she has to go back inside.
I sent him a cold look. "That's one less minute she'll have to speak with us."
A heartbeat appeared, capturing my attention. My head snaps to see Yolanda making her way to the tree line. When she's safely in the cover of the forest, we move toward her. Her heart jumps nervously when she sees my expression.
"Speak, witch." I demand.
She frowns, annoyance shining through her nerves. "I'm taking a risk talking to you right now. You should be thankful I didn't wait another few weeks."
"Be thankful I don't rip your throat out for your cheek" I reply flatly.
Elijah put a restraining hand on my shoulder. I shook it off. "Ignore him, he's been very temperamental as of late. We are very thankful for what you're doing, Ms. Hazeldine. What information do you have for us?"
"Our phones were confiscated." She says first, shifting on her feet.
"Which is why you haven't used them to message us sooner." Elijah nodded in understanding, glancing at me pointedly.
My lips pulled up into a sneer. Piss off.
"The only place that doesn't have cameras is the bathroom. Which we weren't allowed to use alone until yesterday." She continues. "Unfortunately someone still stands guard outside. If we stay in there too long I'm sure they'll come inside to see what the holdup is."
"Who all is involved in this?" Rebekah asked.
"What are you supposed to be accomplishing at the moment?" Elijah inquired at the same time. "Surely they are fully aware of where you are."
"Save your questions until she's told us everything." I snap at them. "All the interruptions waste time."
Rebekah went to snarl something at me, but Elijah spoke before she could.
"You're right. Please continue, Ms. Hazeldine." He waved a hand for her to do just that.
"My loyalty is being tested." Yolanda informs. "Someone is watching from the window. In a few minutes they'll come outside. Then you'll have to leave. I'd go into details, but that'll take away from the time I could spend telling you what you really want to know."
She pauses and raises her brows. Elijah waves his hand again, agreeing she should move on. Yolanda tells us about the magical families involved and which ones of each were inside. The cloaked building is a renovated hospital. Inside of it, the previously mentioned warlocks and witches observe 'the games'- as she called it.
I clenched my jaw. Suppressing the urge to demand 'what games?!' as I forced myself to listen to her without interrupting. Unfortunately it was here she paused. My hands balled into fists. Don't kill her. Don't kill her. You need her, Kol. Don't rip her limb from limb.
"Yolanda." I growl after another few beats of silence.
I haven't waited all this time for her to get cold feet. She's going to tell me what the bloody hell is going on. Even if I have to beat it out of her.
Her hazel eyes flickered between all of us. "Don't shoot the messenger, alright? None of this is my fault."
That didn't help with my mood.
"Of course not." Elijah soothed. After she continued to remain silent he went on to say, "You have my word."
That loosened her tongue.
She pulled a folded piece of paper out of her pocket and held it out. I quickly reach for it. There were two stick figures in an intricate design. More stick figures encircled them. Their little stick arms were spread out and connected in a fashion that suggested they were all holding hands. Runic designs lead from each person to the two in the middle.
I drew my eyes away from it so I could devote my full attention to Yolanda, silently promising to study it later.
Nik and Zorra were previously linked physically, mentally, and emotionally. Which we already knew. Now however, they were trapped inside their own minds. Information that was gathered from studying both of their memories in detail were now being used against them. Nik had so many they all worked together to get through them as fast as possible. That's what happened the first few days Zorra and Nik were missing. Then - using various types of mental and connective magic - 'games' were set into place. During the last three days all those inside have been a witness to what they entailed. They are also planning to watch them for many days to come. She used Mikael and Nik's biological father as examples, explaining how they were using certain weaknesses against them.
I bristled visibly and my scowl deepened the further she went on. Rebekah faired similarly. Elijah hid his reaction to the news.
"If Zorra dies during the games, Klaus goes with her." Yolanda was saying now. "Which is exactly what they want to happen, but not too soon. They want to humiliate Klaus first. Obviously while Zorra will ACTUALLY die, Klaus will only be physically weakened by her death. His powerful hybrid body will see to that. Mentally though…"
She trailed off.
"Mentally?" Elijah prompted, trying to remain polite. The strain that took was heard in his voice.
"Klaus will suffer complete loss of his cerebrum." She grimaced, clearly not enjoying being the one to tell us. "Which is the largest part of the brain. It's responsible for thought and action. Brain death is a way of putting it. Physically he'll be fine, but mentally Klaus Mikaelson will be gone and won't come back."
Another heartbeat appeared. When a male called for Yolanda and started toward the tree line, her eyes widen in panic.
"You have to leave." She whispered urgently, turning on her heels and moving to meet him.
Elijah stepped in front of me when I started toward her unthinkingly. All I knew was that I was infuriated and unsatisfied. How could she drop that news on us and expect us to just LEAVE? I wanted more information and to tell her how to proceed. I also wanted to rip them all into little pieces.
My older brother frowned and shook his head. It took a second for me to see reason and think past the red haze that settled over my thoughts. I seethed but understood forcing my way toward them was unwise. So I followed Rebekah and disappeared in a blur of motion.
"Buggering bollocks." I growled, fangs bared, when we all arrived at Elijah's suite.
Burning rage hissed through my body like deathly poison, demanding release in the form of violence. Fury exuded from my body in ferocious waves. My foot kicked at the bed, sending it crashing into the opposite wall.
I wasn't only pissed about what Zorra was going through. That was there too, but thinking about all the information they now had at their disposal made me murderous. Not just Nik's weaknesses. All of ours. If I was even considering letting them live that would've changed. None of the witches and warlocks in there can be allowed to live. They now know far too much. The only ones I was going to keep alive were Yolanda and Yesenia. In light of the new information presented to us, they'll perish along with the rest after helping us stop this. They'll find out too much about my family and our weaknesses to be allowed to live.
Polly and Pamela's deaths will be the most painful out of them all. I'll see to it personally.