Chapter 52

Damon Salvatore was already in a foul mood to begin with and Nora's sly insinuation didn't help. However, he seemed to be aware of his surroundings and somehow managed to hold back his anger. His back stiff and his jaw clenched, he glared at Kol and Nora and grabbed harshly Elena's wrist.

"Come with me," the dark-haired Salvatore vampire snapped at the doppelganger, then proceeded to drag her away like a rag doll.

As they walked away, Kol's eyes swept over the two figures and noticed a faint, still healing cut on the doppelganger's free hand. The light in his gaze flickered and he hummed softly under his breath.

Stefan, whose fangs had retracted when his older brother appeared, knitted his brows together for a short moment before a blank expression washed over his face. He gave them a sharp nod before following his brother and Elena.

"I don't think our adoptive granddaughter likes us, honey. Same for our grandsons-in-law."

Kol wrapped his arms around his wife's waist and let out a low chuckle, his breath brushing against Nora's ear. "To be fair, darling, I don't know whether they are our former sons-in-law or current grandsons-in-law."

Nora rested her forehead against his shoulder and filled her lungs with his scent. It was just a small action but it still brought a soft smile to his face. He tightened his grip on her.

"What a messed up family tree," she sighed. "Let's just forget they exist, then. It's not a big loss."

He ran one hand through her hair and whispered, "Tired?"

"Hmm… A little. We just came back and your mother doesn't even give us a break before she starts scheming."

Although she didn't say their names, Kol knew the presence of Niklaus and Elijah in the room didn't help. And if he were to be honest with himself, he felt the same. Every once in a while, he would find himself looking over his shoulder to make sure none of his siblings was trying to kill them.

He put a finger under her chin and lifted her head. "Tomorrow is a full moon. If Esther is planning something against us, it will be on tomorrow night. Let's kill her and then leave with Finn, alright?"

Nora nodded and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Don't forget you still owe me an island," she said with a smile.

"Don't worry, I remember it." He paused, then added in a slightly hoarse voice, "I remember every promise I made to you."

And how strange this was. They had been alive for centuries now and many memories were now encased in a thick fog. Yet, every promise he made to her seemed to be carved onto his heart, forever impossible to be forgotten.

He swallowed her answer with his lips, prying her mouth open and sucking on her tongue, enjoying the feelings coursing through his body. When her hands gripped the jacket of his tuxedo, he broke the kiss, took in a short breath, and pecked her lips one last time.

They were in an isolated part of the ballroom and nobody was looking in their direction. Yet the timing was wrong. Surrounded by enemies, including one crazy witch, being distracted was akin to courting death.

A knowing glint shone in Nora's eyes and she obediently took a step back, a yawn escaping her at the same time.

"Look at you, darling, yawning after a kiss," he teased her. "Do you really want me to take you to bed now?"

She stuck out her tongue at him and retorted, "Not my fault if you are more effective than a lullaby, Kol."

"Right, right, it's my bad," he said with a grin and took her hand to lead her towards the balcony to get some fresh air.

Outside, the sky was already dark and littered with stars. A bright, almost full moon was shining, its bright light dancing on Nora's skin.

Kol knew very well that he was biased but even so, looking at his wife almost took his breath away. He couldn't help but stay still for a few seconds and watched as Nora turned to him and broke into a wide, open, and bright smile. And maybe it was also contagious because he felt his lips curling up on their own just a beat later.

Leaning back against the railing, he threw his head back towards the sky and closed his eyes. Although he couldn't feel the cold, the breeze felt good on his skin. With no one around them, a weight he had previously failed to notice was lifted off his shoulders and his body relaxed a little.

"The day after tomorrow, I will go with you to resign," he opened his eyes again and informed Nora, breaking the peaceful silence. "It should be easier with a bit of compulsion."

"Thank you." She buried her face in his chest and murmured, "I love you."

"Say that again," he smiled.

"So greedy," she chuckled, lifting her head and smirking at him. Still, she didn't refuse his request. "I love you, Kol."

"I love you too. Even if you keep drooling on my shoulder in your sleep."

She retaliated by pinching his thigh. "I don't drool."

Before they could continue to banter, Rebekah joined them, her usual self-confidence all but gone when she faced their cold stares. She clearly wanted to beg for forgiveness or at least give them some unnecessary explanation about her betrayal. Yet, in the end, her resolve faltered and she ended up looking away.

"Mother is going to give a little speech," she said with her eyes fixed on an empty spot next to Kol. "She wants the two of you to be there too."

When they didn't reply, she sighed tiredly and turned around, her small back giving off a sense of loneliness and sorrow. A beat later, she walked away and resumed her strong stance for the people in the ballroom.

The sight was not enough to warm Kol's heart. Curiously, Nora was the one who started wavering. Then again, she did have a few decades to come to terms with his sister's betrayal.

"Perhaps she does have a reason for doing what she did?"

"It doesn't matter," Kol stated coldly before asking in a softer voice, "feel better?"

Nora didn't insist and nodded. "Yes, don't worry. Shall we go see what the wicked witch wants?"

"Probably nothing good."

With their hands clasped together, Kol and Nora headed back into the ballroom and mingled with the crowd. Already, Esther was standing on the staircase with a full glass in her hand, watching from high up the people below.

Nora pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes at the witch, obviously displeased with what she saw.

"I'll bring you to do some shopping, tomorrow," she suddenly told him.

"As you wish, darling."

He didn't ask for the details, aware that she wanted it to be a surprise. A good one for him. And surely a very bad one for his mother.

To be honest, he wasn't sure how to deal with Esther. Should she stay alive, the curse would take care of her eventually. However, for her to be here right now meant she had the help and protection of the spirits from the Other Side. According to the laws of magic, she also had an anchor among the livings.

Hence she had the means to endanger them.

To kill her permanently, they had to figure out the identity of her anchor.

"No need to trouble ourselves, hon. For once, your siblings will do most of the work."

"You really think so?" he responded, doubtful. Since when was Nora willing to rely on Elijah and Niklaus?

"Of course," Nora smiled at him. "Elena is such a bad liar and, most importantly, the weak point of a lot of people."

Their eyes met and it suddenly dawned upon him - indeed, his siblings would do most of the work. Elijah who had such a high opinion of the little doppelganger had just been lied to. To protect his family, he would certainly have no qualms about threatening the girl to get what he needed.

And with the girl in his family's hands, Katerina's boy toys would naturally do their best to help them.

Kol let out a dark chuckle and grabbed two glasses of red-tinged champagne from the tray of a waiter. Handing over one to Nora, he smirked, "So you also noticed the girl was lying."

His wife, who was sniffing the glass, looked up.

"Please, have you seen her face? She would have looked better with her mouth full of toothpicks. No need for vampire hearing when you are facing such a bad little liar."

"At least she didn't laugh like you usually do," he couldn't help pointing out, and then snickered when she nudged him.

Because of his glass of champagne, a few drops spilled on his hand.

"Oops!" Nora blurted out sheepishly before licking his hand without feeling any shame. Then, pouting, she grumbled, "I expected better from someone who is so rich and arrogant like your brother."

He discreetly took a sip, a pleasant taste immediately filling his mouth.

"What are you talking about? It's delicious."

As expected of Niklaus, he really knew how to live well. It was a pity that Nora didn't seem to agree with him.

"Well, I think there is something seriously wrong with your taste buds. This is obviously cheap champagne."

He shrugged, not wanting to argue with her about such an insignificant matter. Whatever. He would just get her a cup of hot chocolate later.

"If you say so. I'll drink your glass too, then."

She considered the idea for a moment but ended up refusing. "Forget it, I'm a bit thirsty. Looks like the host forgot that some people like drinking water."

"I can find you a glass of water if you want," he offered softly, his gaze upon her tender and warm - and a little amused.

"Thanks, hon, but no. It's just one glass. I won't die, no matter how cheap the champagne is."

He hesitated a little and poked her cheek with a helpless expression. If she was going to drink it, why the need to complain about it?

A short high sound suddenly sounded as Esther lightly hit her glass with a knife. Following this, silence fell upon the room as everyone turned towards the staircase.

"Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen. Waiters are coming around with champagne. I invite you all to join me in raising a glass. It provides me with no greater joy than to see my family back together as one. I would like to thank you all for being part of this spectacular evening. Cheers!"

Everyone raised their glass. "Cheers!"

Kol didn't take long to empty his glass. Next to him, Nora did the same and grimaced in distaste.

"That bad, uh?"

Although he teased her, he couldn't help but notice a few people around them looking at their glass in puzzlement. Not a lot, but it was enough for Kol to feel that something was amiss.

"Yes, that bad," Nora deadpanned.

It was odd. Between the two of them, Kol tended to be the one picky with his food and drink. His human days when he happily ate roasted squirrels and drank water directly from the river were long gone, washed away by centuries of being the top of the food chain and the human society. He had everything he wanted. And everything he didn't want.

So why would he like something Nora deemed cheap and bad? Their biggest difference had always been about blood, not drink.

Kol froze, feeling as if he had been struck down by lightning. He cast a cold glance at his wife. "I need to find Niklaus. Wait for me here. If you need me, just shout my name or burn down this damn place."

"Kol?"

"Wait here," he repeated and turned around, his back stiff.

Kol had no problem admitting he was sometimes overprotective of his wife. In fact, it was no secret. Everyone who knew Kol and Nora was aware of this fact. Also, triggering this particular feeling always meant someone was going to die. Painfully.

He quickly found Niklaus who was once again with the pretty blond young vampire called Caroline.

"Niklaus, there is something I need to ask," Kol said as soon as he reached them, not giving a second glance at the tense teenager next to his brother.

Niklaus lifted a brow. "Good for you. I also have a few questions for you. Like, when exactly did you get married? Rebekah refuses to tell me a single thing."

"How odd. And here I was under the impression that she was used to reporting my actions to you," he retorted in an icy voice.

"Now, now, no need to hate our dear little sister," Niklaus laughed happily as if everything was fine in the world and Kol didn't look like he was planning to murder him. "To be fair, I threatened her a little to get the truth out of her back then."

His brother's reply didn't change anything to Kol as, right now, he simply didn't give a damn about Rebekah's pitiful life.

"Where did you get the champagne?"

"Do I look like a waiter, Kol?" Niklaus drawled, his smile slowly vanishing. "What, did you find it so delicious that you wish for another glass?"

"Did you spiked the champagne with blood?" he hissed angrily, his fangs aching to be released.

"What are you talking about, Kol?"

Niklaus' expression made it seem as if his brother didn't understand his query. Seeing this, Kol wanted nothing more than to unleash his rage and destroyed his brother's face.

"The champagne," he gritted out with hatred. "Did you spike it?"

"Why would I even do that?"

"Oh, I don't know, you tell me," Kol sneered. "Doesn't it come from your own stacks?"

Niklaus scoffed. "You're ridiculous, Kol. I didn't even want to come today and you think I know where the champagne comes from? Mother took care of it, just go ask her if you wish to know. Seriously, Kol, blood in the champagne? Are you sure it's not your own wishful thinking? If you're that thirsty, just take a bite out of your little wife and find some dumb human lat-"

Before he could finish his sentence, Kol's hand reached out and wrapped around his throat, squeezing tightly.

Caroline gasped out, shocked to see the big bad hybrid in such a position. Unfortunately, the moment didn't last long and Niklaus shoved Kol away violently, drawing the attention of several people. He straightened his clothes and glared at Kol.

"Don't test me, Kol."

"Then don't ever speak about my wife like that again." He paused, his fist clenched and his blood boiling with rage. "Tell Elijah to forget whatever plans he made. There is no need for him to do anything."

Their mother? Blood in the champagne after meeting a lousy doppelganger?

He gnashed his teeth and a dull pain spread through his jaw. Every cell of his body was telling him to go upstairs and rip Esther apart. Then, when the spirits from the Other Side brought her back to life, he would do it again until even magic was unable to knit her broken, bloody limbs back together.

He couldn't care less about what she was trying to do when she laced the champagne with blood and let everyone in the room drink it. His only concern was Nora. How dare Esther make his wife drink something unclean without her consent?!

Little theater:

Everybody: What?! Esther laced the champagne with blood? She's obviously planning something! We need to stop her immediately!

Kol: How dare you make my wife drink this?! I'm going to kill you!

So, if you're wondering, yes I changed the amount of blood Esther needed from Elena because using a drop of blood for that amount of champagne seemed a bit ridiculous to me.

Anyway, this chapter was the last part of the ball. See you next time, guys ;)