Chapter 29
Fay blinked her eyes, wondering where she was. Was she sleeping? Her body felt strange. Weightless. Was this a dream? The colors she was seeing made her smile. They were pretty. She moved her hand and felt someone licking her face. Barking. Bruno. She petted the dog and looked at the ceiling that was covered with bright colors.
The mattress under her back felt soft like a cloud. Suddenly she felt scared. Where was she? Slowly she managed to get into a sitting position. This was her room. How had she ended up here? She couldn't remember. Her legs felt weird and she almost collapsed when she tried to stand up. She touched the hem of the white nightgown she was wearing. Again, she felt scared. She couldn't remember undressing or going to bed. Lucien. She needed to find Lucien.
"Bruno, where is Lucien?" she asked.
The dog wagged his tail and followed her as she walked out of the room with shaky legs.
"My lady!" a maid called. "Are you..."
"Lucien," Fay murmured.
"He is in the parlor, my lady."
Fay headed there, trying not to fall. Her whole body was shaking now, she couldn't understand what was happening to her.
"Fay!"
She was so grateful to hear Lucien's voice that she almost burst into tears.
"Hey, hey, come here, my love."
She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck as he carried her to the sofa.
"You need to drink..."
"Allow me."
Fay froze as she heard the familiar voice. Kol. He was here.
"You stay away from her..." Lucien started angrily.
"I am only trying to help," Kol cut in. "I am after all her sire."
Fay looked up and saw Kol biting his wrist.
"Here," he said. "Drink."
She was too hungry to even be afraid, she took his wrist without hesitation. His blood tasted different than anything else she had ever tasted. She drank greedily until he pulled his wrist away.
"Good girl," he hummed. "Are you feeling better?"
She blinked and looked at Lucien. He was tense, but he still smiled at her.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"I can't remember," she murmured. "The colors... There were so many of them. I can't remember."
"It's alright," he assured and pulled her into his embrace. "You are safe, I promise."
That made her feel better, she knew that he never broke his promises.
"Was I bad?"
"No, no, you were not. I am just happy you are feeling better."
The thing inside of her had swallowed her again. Sometimes it made her forget things. She hated it and she felt ashamed for causing Lucien distress.
"I am sorry..."
"Don't be," he cut in. "Everything is fine, my love."
She buried her face in his shoulder and settled there until she suddenly remembered something. Kol. Slowly she raised her head and looked at him. He was sitting on the armchair, observing her and Lucien.
"Hello, Fay," he greeted her smiling.
She looked at Lucien.
"Yes, he insisted of staying until he can ask you a question," Lucien stated tensely.
"What question?" she asked, looking at Kol.
"Actually, I would like to have a word with you in private..."
"No!" Lucien snapped. "If you think for a second that I would..."
"I only want to talk to her. I won't hurt her, I give you my word."
"How reliable..."
"I never break my word," Kol cut in. "Anyone can tell you that."
"It's alright, my darling," Fay hummed softly. "I can talk to him."
She wanted to make sure that Lucien wouldn't get hurt. He always took care of her and she wanted to take care of him. Her sweet Lucien.
"Are you sure?" Lucien asked tensely.
She nodded.
"Fine. But I won't go far and I want you to call me immediately if you need me."
She nodded again and kissed him.
"My valiant knight."
"My beautiful lady," he replied and touched her cheek before standing up. "I won't be far."
"So..." Kol started after Lucien had left the room. "It has been a while."
Fay didn't say anything, she just looked at him.
"I... Lucien told me what happened. I want you to know that if I would have known, I would have stopped it. I am sorry."
Fay still didn't say anything, she had no words. She didn't know what to think or how to feel.
"How are you feeling?" Kol asked after a moment of silence.
"I don't know," she murmured.
"You know you do not have to be afraid of me? I am not going to hurt you."
"But you want something from me," she stated.
"Yes," he replied. "I want to know that you are with Lucien willingly."
"I am here."
"Yes, but I want to be sure that he is not forcing you into anything."
Fay looked at him in the eyes for so long that he looked away.
"I am aware that I didn't treat you the way you would have deserved," he murmured. "I was selfish and childish. There are not many things I regret, but what happened between you and me is one of those things. I never wanted to cause you harm."
"Your sister said I was bad," she replied after a moment of silence. "Bad, bad, bad girl."
"You were not," Kol stated tensely. "You did nothing wrong, I was the one who... I thought that I was helping you and after my blood turned you... Well, I saw you as mine. I was hoping I finally had a loyal companion. I thought that since Elijah already had his "always and forever" with Nik and Rebekah, he didn't deserve you as well."
"Bad," she murmured. "I tried not to be."
"You never were. The fault was mine."
He paused and stood up.
"May I come closer?"
She nodded.
"Thank you. I never meant for any of this to happen. Nik, Aurora, Rebekah... I truly am sorry."
"So am I," Fay murmured. "I hate the thing inside of me."
"What thing?"
"The dark hole that tries to swallow me."
Kol didn't reply, he took a seat beside her.
"Lucien is always kind to me," she said after a moment of silence. "I am ashamed of causing him distress."
"I doubt that he minds," Kol murmured. "He seems to worship you."
"My king," she hummed smiling.
"Are you happy with him?"
She nodded.
"I am."
"Good... That's good."
She looked at him.
"Are you happy?"
"No," he murmured. "I can't say that I would be."
"I can help."
She picked up Bruno who was sleeping at her feet and placed him on Kol's lap.
"No, no, I don't really..." Kol started when Bruno licked his face. "Alright... Settle down, dog."
Fay laughed and petted Bruno.
"Good boy."
"Thank you," Kol stated after Bruno hopped on the floor.
"You are welcome."