Interlude 3 – Past, Present, and Future

Warning: Yes, Nora can be a little crazy and the temptation was just too hard to resist. Hopefully, when you reach that point (can't miss it), you will find it as funny as I. If not… Well, too bad, cause I sure have no regret haha

Nora had lost track of how long she had been waiting sitting on a bench at the train station. The rain had long since washed away her makeup and the black wig was lying on the ground causing her short red hair to be in plain view. She looked like a widow who just buried her husband and a thick cloud of despair clung to her skin with no desire of ever letting go.

Somehow, she was cold in spite of the fire running through her veins and her hands were trembling.

Kol was gone. Again. And she was alone in New Orleans. Again.

Suddenly, a sob tore from her throat and she lifted her knees up to her chest. As she wrapped her arms around her legs and her soaked dress, tears started spilling down her cheeks.

The last train had left long ago and the station was now empty. On the platform, the only sounds came from the raindrops hitting the ground and the whimpers escaping from her mouth every now and then.

Why didn't she stop Kol before his obsession with that damn dagger got too strong? Why didn't she bring him out of New Orleans and far from his hypocrite siblings?

Why?!

Now it was too late and all she had were her regrets.

All of a sudden, footsteps and laughter rang out throughout the station and four men stepped on the platform. Nora gave them a blank stare before going back to look at the rails.

"So, Kol Mikaelson's male lover is actually a woman," one of the men snickered.

Just this simple sentence and Nora knew they were either Klaus or Elijah's lackeys.

A cold glint flashed in her gaze like the blade of a knife and she began to imagine their screams at the moment of their deaths.

"Or he could be cross-dressing."

"We should check," the one who spoke first laughed lewdly.

Nora didn't move but she lowered her head, her lips twitching. As expected of the Mikaelson brothers' lackeys, they were a bunch of uncultured morons. It made sense. Klaus loved feeling superior. Clever lackeys were something he didn't need.

The moment a hand touched her shoulder, she clasped the wrist and turned her head to look at the idiot in front of her. Small beady dark eyes, sunken cheeks, and a wanton grimace on his face. He truly looked like an idiot.

"No one ever told you it's improper to touch a woman without her consent?" she sneered.

The man and his 'friends' chortled and the hand on her shoulder tightened until her bone broke in a loud and disgusting crack. Still, Nora remained unfazed and simply lifted a brow at them.

"I see no lady here, just a little street rat," the tallest vampire mocked, dak veins flashing underneath his eyes.

"Yes, indeed," Nora agreed with a nod of her head, "a street rat… and rat food."

"Wha-?"

The fire startled them but it was already too late as the merciless flames started licking their flesh. Their screams rang out loudly but Nora ignored them and her gaze went back to the rails in front of her. Beads of sweat appeared on her forehead as using her own fire was quite tiring.

But she didn't care.

It was still raining. And she was still alone.

Rebekah and a well-prepared sheepish smile knocked on the door of Nora's apartment the next morning.

"Nora, something happened yesterday, and Kol-"

Nora's hand moved and slapped Rebekah before the redhead even realized it. Of course, the vampire could have stopped her but she didn't. The guilt on her face did nothing to soothe the anger burning madly in Nora's heart. On the contrary, Nora wanted nothing more than to tear with her nails the beautiful face in front of her and hurt her until the blond woman begged for mercy.

Nora brought her hand down and stepped to the side to let her sister-in-law in. Rebekah's eyes immediately landed on the vampire on a chair with vervain ropes keeping him in a sitting position.

Of the four men, he was the only one Nora left alive. Because he had been burned by the fire of a phoenix, his limbs didn't grow back and his arms and legs below the knees were now forever gone. His naked body was a nauseating mix of blisters and raw flesh.

As for his face… It was definitely not in a better state. His eyes were gone, leaving only two dark, bloody and empty sockets.

Nora walked to him and patted his wounded cheek playfully, giggling at the sounds of his whimper. How unfortunate that he couldn't speak anymore since his partly burned tongue was lying on the floor.

"Do you like my new friend, Bekie?" Nora asked, blowing on the man's cheek. "You should have seen him yesterday. He was so chatty."

"Nora, I-"

Nora cut her off. "See, he was ordered to keep a close eye on me with two of his friends when the fourth lackey of your beloved…" she pretended to hesitate on what word to use before the tone of her voice turned icy, "brother cam back, explaining all about how you exposed Kol's sinister plot and saved the day, or night,… and got my husband daggered. Supposedly, they were even ordered to kill me as well."

Rebekah staggered back, her face going pale and her eyes wide open.

"It wasn't like this! They weren't meant to kill you, or even touch you. Nora, sister, I swear I didn't have a choice!"

"You always have a choice!" Nora snapped and yelled in anger, her hand catching fire. "And you chose to betray the one brother who never hurt you! My husband is in a coffin and it's because of you!"

When her shouts stopped, it was like all her energy was gone and Nora crumpled on the floor pitifully. Her eyes welled up, tears blurring her sight.

"Tell me, Rebekah, what am I supposed to do now? I can't kill you. I can't kill Elijah. And I can't kill Klaus. No matter how much I want to kill you all… I can't. Because you are my husband's siblings. You destroyed him… but why can't I destroy you? It doesn't make sense."

Why couldn't they just leave Kol alone? Let him leave his own life, free and without the threat of the dagger?

"I'm really sorry, Nora. I never wanted this. I just…"

"Stop trying to be the victim here, Rebekah. We both know you are not one."

This time, Rebekah had been the judge, and Klaus and Elijah the executioners.

Nora turned around, not willing to look at Rebekah any longer.

"Take this thing," she said in a tired voice, pointing at the man she tortured. "Your brother better not send any more men to me or they would all end up like this. If they are lucky."

"You can't do that, Nora", Rebekah responded in a pleading voice, "Nik will hunt you down."

"As if he could."

Truth was, Nora wasn't a helpless woman terrified by Klaus or unable to use her powers anymore. Although she looked young, her bones were already several centuries old. The power she once feared was now under her control.

The only things stopping her from acting were Kol, and her parents and grandparents who would soon be born. And her own conscience that kept her from burning down the city.

She had no desire to leave New Orleans without Kol but it was the only thing she could do now. Otherwise, Klaus and Elijah might just get a taste of her fire.

Moreover, showing herself in front of Klaus was far too dangerous. She couldn't risk the lives of her grandparents and parents.

New Orleans, 1919.

Fire was destroying New Orleans and the flames were particularly eye-catching in the dark night. For the first time in five years, Nora was walking in the damn city, her body especially relaxed as she walked in the fire.

Having lived just outside New Orleans for five long years, it didn't take long for the news about the vampire - and vampire hunter - Mikael to reach her. Since the man was in New Orleans destroying everything that stood on his path, Nora couldn't resist the temptation and came as well with the hope of finding Kol's body amid the chaos.

In the end, though, she still came too late and the Mikaelsons were already gone.

The fire that touched the French Opera House was the most violent. Feeling a bit curious, Nora entered the building at a slow pace. The flames touched her but didn't hurt her. Even her dress and her long hair were left unscathed.

She walked through the open door of the main venue, her gaze briefly pausing on the burning gauze and bottles of alcohol. Mikael might be completely crazy but he still knew how to burn down a city.

"You! Come help me!"

When Nora saw Marcel bound by thick chains on the stage, she couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"I can't free myself," Marcel explained with a hint of despair.

"Interesting", Nora commented after she caught her breath, going down the alley to take a seat at the first row. She leaned on the armrest and rested her chin in her palm. "But tell me, Marcel, why should I help you?"

"You know who I am?"

Marcel stopped struggling and stared down at her with a bewildered expression. He frantically searched for a clue on her face and then gasped out, "You were with Kol five years ago."

"Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner! And here I thought Klaus' people were all stupid."

"You are Rebekah's friend! She will be devastated if I die here!"

The fire was becoming stronger and the flames were making their way through the room. Marcel started struggling again to no avail. Either he was too weak or the chains were imbued with magic.

"Rebekah?" Nora drawled. "Ah… you mean Bitchy Bekie… I'm not sure we are friends. Besides… How long have you known Bekie? Less than a century right? Well, sorry to tell you but she will find someone else in a year or two. Perhaps even less."

Anyway, why would she worry about someone who betrayed her husband?

"I can tell you where Kol is!" Marcel tried again, causing Nora's cold, hollow laugh to reverberate through the room. "And it will be easier for you to get out of here with my help."

"Damn, forget what I said. You really are a fucking moron. How can you know where Kol is when the Mikaelsons already left New Orleans?"

She waved her hand and fire curled around her arms like a snake. "As for your help, who said I needed it?"

She stood up and made her way up onto the stage, the blazing flames dancing sensually around her like a lover. When she reached the boy, she slapped the air and the flames surged up and leaped at Marcel only to stop an inch away.

The man froze, staring at Nora as if she was a monster.

"Tell me, Marcel, I'm curious. Seeing how Klaus treats his own brother, have you never thought, not even once, that he would betray you one day? Especially when you started lusting after your adoptive aunt? Quite the nasty affair, isn't it?"

"What are you?"

Nora reached her hand out with a mirthless smile and proceeded to undo Marcel's shirt, revealing his muscular chest. She laid her fingers on his skin and her hands slowly slid down his upper body. A loud scream tore Marcel's throat as the smell of burned skin spread through the air.

Nora only stopped once she reached his pants.

In the end, it would be funny to see Rebekah's face when she realized the man she loved and abandoned for Klaus' sake was still alive.

It might take decades before it happened but it would, one day. And she would be here, hopefully with Kol and a bag of popcorn, watching with greedy eyes how that relationship would destroy the family that hurt Kol so many times.

Nora stepped back to admire the masterpiece she carved on Marcel's chest, the latter glaring at her with anger and fear blending together in his eyes.

This scar on his skin was her personal revenge against Rebekah.

As for her revenge against the boy for helping Klaus steal the paragon diamond… Nora smirked before crouching down and burning on him a drawing of a tortoise with a 'Team Voldy x Dobby forever' board.

With such a body, he would find it hard to seduce someone else and cheat on Bitchy Bekie. It was just a pity that Nora wouldn't see his face at the release of Harry Potter in the future.

"No need to skin yourself, it won't work. You will have to wear these scars for the rest of your life."

Unless of course he was willing to cut off his whole belly but she doubted he would dare. And even then, she wasn't sure it would work.

With that said, she closed her fist and the flames rushed into her body. Then the fire was gone and the only proof it was ever there were the dark walls and the strong smell around them.

The opera house was still standing.

Nora walked away.

"Wait! Untie me!"

Without looking back, she waved her hand. "I already saved you from the fire. You can untie those chains yourself. Good luck with it!"

That night, New Orleans was an odd sight as people filled the streets going back and forth with buckets of water. When the fire burning down the Opera House went out, uncertainty washed over the crowd. How could such a blaze disappear in less than a second? Was it even possible? And what about the other buildings that were still on fire?

Whispers and rumors spread through the crowd like wildfire but Nora ignored them all and blended into the crowd. Her feet took her into a side alley as her brain decided this was a good moment to take a break.

She didn't know what to do. Kol was gone and Nora had no clue where Klaus went. The only thing certain was that Kol would spend a very long time in a coffin after what he did.

The idea of spending the next decades alone was haunting. Her only solace came from the knowledge that 2010 wasn't so far anymore. By then, Kol would be free and give blood to her young human self.

However, 2010 also meant the end of a circle. Then what? The unknown was as thrilling as it was terrifying.

Nora crouched down on the doorstep of a run-down house. From here, the screams and shouting could still be heard and when Nora looked up, the sky was tinged with the orange and red hues of the fire.

Nora could have helped the people and save New Orleans from the flames. But she didn't. New Orleans held nothing but dark memories to her and disappointment and sorrow and, more than anything, hatred and anger. She hated the city and selfishly wished for its people to share her pain.

"Kol…where are you, hon?"

"Kol… I miss you."

"Kol… I wish to see you."

In the end, she realized too late she lost control of her power for the first time in a very long time and let the flames consume her. Only ashes were left behind.

10th century.

The forest surrounding her felt oddly familiar. She had come here before, that much she knew. Yet, she couldn't remember no matter how much she racked her brain.

She took a step, inwardly marveling at the shoes at her feet. Somehow, she managed to keep all her clothes. Even her socks.

Kol was somewhere south. Or so she thought. The feeling was different though. As if there was a thin veil standing between their two souls.

Nevertheless, it was still Kol and Nora wanted desperately to see him again. Even just a glimpse from afar would be better than anything at this point.

She took a pocketknife out of her ankle boot and tore her dress so that it only reached her knees. Then she started running through the forest, pushing branches and the like away from her face. After a while, the sound of a child crying and men laughing reached her. Unease clawed at her heart and she ran forward, wishing she could be faster. Her mind didn't even try to think about why she was scared.

Nora burst into a camp of natives armed to the teeth. Behind them, a young boy was tied with a rope, tears and snot rolling down his face. Half of his face was a mess of bruises and blood from his busted lips. Small and thin, he was probably no more than five or six years old.

Nora was still for a fraction of seconds when she realized the identity of the child. Then, just as the people around her turned to her, she came back to her senses and yelled in broken Old Norse, "Close your eyes, Kol!"

She didn't bother trying to remember the language of the people around her to negotiate Kol's release. Instead, she directly raised her knife in front of her and jumped forward, slashing one person after another.

When she couldn't stab them, she would grab their arms and twist and break their bones. Her nails clawed at their eyes and her teeth bit them like a feral animal. With a wave of her hand, flames came into existence around Kol, forming a protective circle around him.

One native seized the opportunity to shoot an arrow at her. At the last moment, Nora lifted an arm to protect herself, and the tip of the arrow pierced through her flesh. Fortunately, it didn't pierce her bone and Nora pulled it out with a grunt. Grabbing an ax from a corpse, she threw it at the bowman who wasn't fast enough to avoid it.

By the time the fight stopped, the ground was filled with corpses and stained with blood.

The fire around Kol died and Nora quickly got onto her knees in front of him, her shaking hands untying Kol as fast as possible. The small child fell forward into Nora's warm and spread arms, the redhead using her sleeves to wipe off his face.

"You are safe now," she said in a tender voice, her arms holding the child in a comforting embrace. "They won't hurt you anymore."

The child was shaking in her arms but didn't look wary. Most likely because she just untied him. Or perhaps because he was still a little naïve.

"I will bring you back home."

He lifted his head, hope filling his dark eyes.

"Really? I can go back home?"

"Yes, really."

The sparkle in his eyes dimmed. "But the bad men said Father hurt them and now it was their turn to hurt Father."

Nora smiled sadly. It was true that Kol's people were violent but it was wrong to take revenge on a child. If the natives truly want to avenge their dead, they could just take their anger out on Mikael or the other heads of families from Kol's village.

Kol was innocent. Such a cute little angel face obviously was.

Nora gently pinched the tip of his nose.

"A good thing you aren't your father then. Let me tell you, they only wanted you because you look like a strong hero."

The sparkle was immediately back in full force and his small hands clung to her dress.

"Really? I look like a hero? Like one in the ancient tales?"

"Yes, yes, I swear it's true."

"How do you know? Is it because you are like them?" His eyes widened. "Are you a goddess? Is this why you are so pretty?"

The child was talking faster and faster and barely took time to breathe between his words. Hearing what he said, Nora had a hard time suppressing her laughter.

A goddess? Seriously? Who would have thought a young child could be such a flirt?

She carried him on her back and left the camp. If she remembered well, Kol's village was a few hours of walking away. However, people should be looking for him so she might encounter them earlier.

"When I'm big, I will marry you."

Nora snorted. "Don't you fear I will be an old woman by then?"

"No," the child responded immediately, "you are a goddess so you are immortal. I will marry only you when I'm bigger and it will be my turn to protect you."

Nora screamed in her mind. Damn it, Kol was so cute when he was young! He made her want to spoil him rotten.

"Well, since you want to protect me, you need to become stronger."

"But I don't want to be like Father," the child grumbled against her neck. "He is scary and likes to hit Nik. I don't want to hurt Nik."

"Why not learn magic then?"

"Like Mother? Mother doesn't hit Nik."

He remained silent for a moment and then asked somewhat shyly, "Will I be able to play with fire like you?"

"Who knows? Magic can do a lot."

She truly, completely, utterly loved her husband the way he was but human Kol was without a doubt the cutest version of Kol.

Strangely, the people looking for Kol were slow and Nora had already done the biggest part of the walk when she heard them from afar.

She hid behind a tree, put Kol on the ground, and crouched. "Kol, I need to leave you here. Your people are coming."

"Where are you going?"

She ruffled his hair. "Away to wait for you to grow old and marry me."

"Oh…"

"Don't be sad." She handed him her pocketknife. "See this? I'm giving it to you. It takes a long time and a lot of work to learn magic. Until then, this knife will protect you in my stead."

He cautiously took the knife as if it was a precious treasure.

"You will really wait for me?"

"Yes, I will," she nodded, the grin on her face so wide her cheeks ached, "until the end of Time."

For the first time in five years, Nora felt a sense of peace. Even when she watched Kol's little form disappear with his father, knowing he was too young to remember this day in the future, the feeling didn't disappear. On the contrary, it only grew stronger.

She would go back to the twentieth century and wait for Kol. Although she would have to go to another time at the year of her own birth, there were still quite a few decades before that.

She wouldn't stop looking for Kol.

And that's it, we are done with the past. It sure feels weird and this fic is probably the only one where readers want to go back to chapter 1 haha

See you next time for Kol's waking up in 2010