I feel really terrible for abandoning this. I reread the story from Playing with Fire and Dancing with Death and I just fell in love again with this story. I finished writing in two days can you believe it? I wasn't procrastinating, I had just been having quite a low mood phase. So sorry but please enjoy! And Merry Christmas xx Also did you see the solar eclipse?
Chapter 15: Like an Eclipse
"Kol! Vanessa!" The pounding on the door was accompanied with Klaus's yell of our names.
"There's a reason why I wanted to stay at a hotel," Kol mumbled as he snuggled against my hair.
"You're a baby," I said, stroking the back of his head and neck, earning a sweet smile from him.
"What?" I called out to Klaus.
"You should've just ignored him," Kol complained.
"Are you decent?" Klaus grumbled in annoyance before entering our room.
"Come on, Nik. You've caught me worse than this," Kol retorted, finally sitting up.
"I need to borrow my brother," Klaus said to me and I just shrugged. Dragging Kol out of the bed had never been an easy task.
"What for?" Kol groaned as he purposely plopped back down onto the bed, simply to annoy Klaus further.
"Now," Klaus growled and threw us our bathrobes and left the room with a huff. Kol chuckled in glee but got up nevertheless. I followed him outside the room to the balcony. The first thing that caught my eye was the sun; it was noon and we had slept in. The second thing was more horrifying. We zoomed downstairs to the courtyard, joining the crowd. There were two vampire corpses on the floor in the middle of the courtyard, dead, with a symbol carved on their foreheads.
"They weren't staked," I said and looked up to see Klaus giving me a 'you think' glare.
"I can see that," he growled and I rolled my eyes.
"This is sacrificial magic. It's bloody ancient," Kol said, gesturing to the symbols. "They absorbed the life force of the victims to gain more power.
"I'd like to know where they learned such magic," Elijah said calmly.
"Witches in New Orleans do not practice this kind of dark magic," Kol stated firmly, glancing at his brothers.
"No, that symbol…I recall it's a signature of a fool who once stood against us," Klaus said.
"You've encountered this kind of magic before? Where was I?" Kol asked, offended.
"Clearly, some upstart witch is salvaging old tricks," Elijah said, changing the topic.
"Was I daggered?" Kol asked, his darker tone was layered with a faux innocence.
"Let the past remains in the past, little brother. Get over it. We have more pressing matters at hands," Klaus said and Kol crossed his arms.
"Or maybe, the past doesn't like to remain in the past," Kol said pointedly and it dawned on me.
"You think it's the Harvest? It brought back different dead witches?" I asked and he grinned, looking proud.
"The only smart person in this room to catch up with me," Kol said. "Someone must have used the power of the Harvest and brought back whoever these witches are because, one thing for sure; this is an old magic trick."
"Well, who might the zombie witch be?" I asked, looking at Elijah and Klaus for answers.
"I've only seen one warlock to ever use this magic. Papa Tunde," Klaus spat.
"With justified motive to act revenge against us," Elijah added, and looked calmly at Klaus. "Thanks to Niklaus."
"We need to find him," Klaus said, unbothered. "Get dressed," he said to the both of us. Kol and I raised an eyebrow as we crossed our arms in synchronization, just to emphasize the point that neither of us like being instructed like police dogs.
"How are we supposed to find him if we don't know what he looks like?" Kol asked smartly, attempting to dodge his way out of this one.
"We'll split up," Elijah said and then came an awkward silence. Well, darling, that certainly backfired.
"I'll take Kol with me," Klaus said, saving the situation from becoming more awkward. "Get dressed," Klaus repeated.
"Order me around like a dog again, and my mood will turn murderous in five seconds," Kol said, but turning to head upstairs nevertheless.
"Good, that murderous attitude is what I need, lil brother," Klaus retorted and Kol laughed, giving Klaus the finger.
"You taught him that?" Klaus asked me. I only giggled, amused by how offended he was.
"I did not," I said defensively, still giggling and Klaus glared at me. I vamp sped up to our room before Klaus can snap back at me.
"Told you he'd be so offended with that middle finger trick," I said to Kol and he laughed, bringing me close for a kiss.
"You'll be fine with Elijah?" he asked and I leaned in to peck him on the lips.
"I hope that isn't jealousy?" I said, unable to contain my smirk and he rolled his eyes.
"I'm not jealous. I'm just…"
"Territorial?" I asked and he slapped my ass.
"Unfortunately," he said and I grinned, raising an eyebrow.
"We have a witch to kill," Kol said and I laughed. "Be careful?" he asked and I nodded, leaning in for a kiss.
"You too," I said, and Kol just gave me a wink as he exited the room.
"Hey, did Rebekah tell you where she was going?" Elijah asked as I walked downstairs towards him and Hayley.
"No, why?" I asked.
"She's not answering her calls," he said worriedly.
"You worried about whoever killed those daywalkers still being out there?" Hayley asked.
"Frankly, I'm worried that she had something to do with this," Elijah said and I frowned at his statement.
"Why would she do that?" I asked.
"She's very displeased with Niklaus, perhaps even conspiring with others," he said.
"Like whom?" Hayley asked.
"She's been with Thierry since he got out," I voiced out and Elijah's eyes landed on the vampire who was sitting by himself.
"Let's find out," he said as he marched toward Thierry. Oh, poor guy. "Thierry, is it?" Elijah asked and Thierry tried to hide his nervousness.
"That's right," he replied, glancing at me before returning his gaze to Elijah.
"My sister is rather fond of you. Strange, she's not typically drawn to unremarkable men. Would you care to explain your sudden magnetism?" Elijah asked.
"I don't know what you're-" Elijah cut him off by grabbing him by his throat, and held him against the wall.
"You can either tell me what you know, or I can distribute tiny pieces of you throughout the Quarter."
"She asked me to keep an eye out on witch stuff. I found something, and when I showed her, we were jumped by some guy. He desiccated her with his touch," he explained.
"That'd be our guy. Where was this?" I asked.
"Down at the docks, warehouse 57," he answered before looking at Elijah fearfully. "I was just doing what she asked. You cannot tell Klaus about this." Elijah replied by snapping Thierry's neck, which I had expected from him.
"I shall take that into consideration," he muttered.
"I'm coming with you," Hayley exclaimed worriedly and Elijah and I shared a glanced.
"No. Stay here. The compound is safe," Elijah replied firmly.
"Rebekah is in trouble. I'm going," she replied stubbornly.
"Hayley, he took out Rebekah. Stay here, please," I pleaded and she bit her lips, clearly not liking to be trapped inside while everyone else is putting themselves out in danger. "For her?" I added, glancing at her rounded stomach and she sighed.
"Be careful," she said and we nodded, and hurried to the docks.
"Rebekah!" Elijah exclaimed as we rushed towards her body. She was desiccated, as if she was daggered, with the same mark carved on her forehead. The circle of salt around her served as a barrier, prevented us from entering.
"It looks like she's daggered," I said.
"He is channeling her. She becomes a source of endless power for him because she cannot die," Elijah muttered and I glanced at him.
"Oh god, we need to break the link now," I said, fishing out my phone to call Kol.
"What is it?"
"There's only one reason for you to channel an Original vampire," I said. "To kill another Original."
"Kol!" I exclaimed in relief when I heard him picked up.
"We're quite busy right now, darling," came his voice.
"Boundary spell, how do we break it?" I asked directly.
"Not even a 'are you okay, love?' huh?" He asked with a chuckle.
"You will be okay once we get Tunde to stop channeling Rebekah, so how do we break a boundary spell?" I asked.
"Nessie darling, what exactly is a spell?"
"Kol really, I don't think we-you have enough time for a witch lesson right now."
"There are times when you have to do this on your own," he said.
"I hate him," I groaned to Elijah, as my mind raced. "This one seems complicated. Not just a circle of salt like your mother did, there're drawings and all."
"Do you remember that one time we were making our own dinner in Madrid?" Kol suddenly asked.
"Kol bloody Mikaelson!" I heard Klaus's voice in the background, followed by a smash of glasses.
"The one when we killed the maid or when you spoiled it by adding too much pepper?" I asked. "Oh," I said in realization and hanged up.
"We do not have time, Vanessa," Elijah said patiently and I rolled my eyes. Ignoring him, I bit my wrist, and let my blood dripped into the line of the boundary spell.
"You can spoil a witch's spell by adding another potent ingredient, ie doppelganger blood." I said, grinning at Elijah's stunned face.
"It worked," he said. We watched as the salt sizzled and burned, breaking the line. Elijah vamp sped into the circle and carried Rebekah out quickly. We watched in relief as her skin started turning normal.
"Let's get out of here," I said, and Elijah nodded, carrying Rebekah and we headed back home.
"She's alright?" Hayley asked, upon Elijah appearing with the still unconscious Rebekah.
"She will be," Elijah calmed her and they looked at each other for a moment, before I decided to interrupt.
"She just needs blood," I said and Elijah did a double take at me when he realized I had a human with me.
"Vanessa," he chastised and I rolled my eyes in annoyance.
"You and your hypocrisy," I muttered under my breath. I slashed the human's neck and threw him onto Rebekah and headed outside without another word, leaving the two. Klaus and Kol appeared from the gates and I rushed towards them.
"You two look like shits," I said, and Kol just smiled.
"You alright?" He asked and I nodded, cradling his face as I checked for his injuries. Klaus shot us a glare as he huffed and puffed to his room.
"What did I do?" I asked, stunned by Klaus's cold demeanour.
"Nothing," he reassured, and smiled. "He's a bit sensitive right now."
"Seeing Tunde?" I asked and Kol placed his finger on his lips.
"Seeing Cami and Marcel. Come on," he nodded upstairs and I followed him. Once we were inside our room, he closed the door and lit up a bundle of sage.
"What now?" I asked, growing alarmed.
"Before we argue about what I'm going to say, just remember that I truly love you," Kol said, taking my hands and led me to sit on the edge of the bed. "Things are going to get bad. I want you to know that we can leave, if you want to."
"We've seen the world, we can revisit but you and I both know it will get dull for us once again."
"Yes, but I need to remind you, you are not stuck. Not like in Mystic Falls. You are not obligated to help Nik like you did with your sister," he said and I sighed.
"I know," I said, caressing his cheek. "But I want to."
"Good, because I had a change of heart," Kol said and I looked at him curiously.
"Why is that?"
"I hadn't wanted you involved with this war; of my families and our enemies because I do not want to lose you. But, I do know that you are more than capable to hold your own against any monsters," he said and laughed. "I think I'm being too sweet," he added and I laughed, hitting him in the arm.
"You know, in case you weren't with me when you well, on the Other Side…I did take care of myself for quite some time," I said.
"I know. I was there," he said and his lips curled up into a smile. "We're happy. That's bad."
"Don't jinx it," I scolded and tilted my head to the side. "Wanna take a shower together?" I asked and he grinned.
"Your wishes are my command, my queen," he said, unable to stop grinning as he kissed my hand and I giggled at his antics.
"Hayley?" I asked, finding Hayley sitting at the kitchen by herself. "It's 3 in the morning."
"I couldn't sleep," she said as she offered me some cookies.
"Wow, it's almost as if we're normal," I joked, taking one from her. She laughed for a while before falling silent once again. "You can talk to me if you want," I offered. "I happened to be a great listener when I was human, ie heightened understanding once I'm a vampire," I said lightly and she laughed.
"No, I just hate unable to do anything," she said
"It's not that you aren't capable of handling yourself," I said.
"It's because I'm pregnant," she said.
"Yes! You have two lives with you. We don't want anything to happen to either of you," I comforted her and she gave me a soft smile.
"I know. And I'd be damned if she's hurt, but I just can't stay here, not doing anything while the people I care about is in danger," she said thoughtfully, caressing her growing tummy. "Can you imagine when she's finally born?" Hayley asked, grinning. "I'm going to have to fend of the enemies with one arm."
"Yeah, as if Klaus would let any of our enemies near you or your daughter," I said, chuckling.
"Can I ask you something?" Hayley asked.
"That sounds serious. What's up?" I asked.
"Recently…I did something horrible."
"Digging up Elijah's old love's grave?" I said and she paled. "No, no, he didn't tell me. It's the house. Thin walls feat vampire hearing," I said and she breathed in relief. "Sorry," I added apologetically.
"I just don't understand why he wouldn't forgive me. It doesn't make sense. She's dead, and I'm here, in the present," Hayley confessed and brought her hands up to her face. "I probably shouldn't be talking to you about this. With your history and all-"
"Oh hey, that's a long time ago," I said and paused to think. Was it? It seemed ages ago. "Elijah is…I don't know, but he's really hung up with his past. He just couldn't let it go," I said, carefully choosing my words, knowing of Hayley's feeling for him. "I think he just loved too deeply and is afraid of feeling it again."
"Was that why you and him…aren't together?" she asked and I shrugged.
"We could never compete with the women in his memory, Hayley. Not until he lets go," I shrugged. "I fell for him hard, but he had always seen me as another chance for him to be with Cassandra again. And, I could never deal with that."
"I don't think I could deal with that either," she said.
"I don't know. Do you think he's worth it?" I asked.
"He's a good man," she said.
"But?" I asked, sensing a 'but'.
"I'd be tired of waiting too. To wait for him to see what matters is in the present," she said.
"I don't know. Patience is part of it, I guess," I said.
"I regret being dragged into this family. Everything is oh-so complicated," Hayley complained, muttering under her breath.
"One day you'll get used to it," I said, laughing slightly.
"I can never get used to your boyfriend," she countered and I laughed even harder.
"I thought he's been only kind to you? I told him to behave himself," I said.
"Just from the stories that I heard. And to see a rather different side of him…when he's with you," Hayley said and I was unable to hide my smile.
"It took a lot of patience and time for us to get here you know? It didn't happen overnight," I told her. "The fighting, the disagreement, his ego, my stubbornness," I said chuckling. "I can't tell you what to do, but I saw the way he looks at you," I said. "Maybe you just need to give him some time. He'll eventually realize it."
"I don't know. Like you said, competing with the women in his past is exhausting. I read his thoughts…in his journal. His feelings for Celeste was…I don't know. I don't know if he'll love me like he loved her," she said and sighed. "I'm sorry, it's like really late now. Thanks anyway," she said weakly and bade me goodnight.
I couldn't really tell Hayley the truth as she was deeply in love with Elijah. I couldn't be with Elijah because he was a hypocrite. He acted noble when he had committed atrocious acts like his brothers, he lied about holding his family above all when he had let Kol being daggered when it was inconvenient for him, he denied his feelings to me and now he's being a coward with Hayley. I sighed, and leaned back to the chair when I noticed his scent.
"Please tell me you didn't hear that," I said in embarrassment.
"What?" Kol asked innocently. "I came down to find you, it's not my fault that you talk loud." He pulled up a chair and sat across me. "Besides, my ego prevents me from admitting it," he added and I covered my face.
"I'm sorry," I said sincerely, hoping I didn't offend him to lead him running off again.
"No, you were right, you know? It took a lot to get here."
"We did go through a lot didn't we?" I asked and he gave me a soft smile.
"And we are going to go through a lot more after this," he said and I offered him the cookies that Hayley had opened. He looked at me in absurd but decided to take one nonetheless.
"Have you ever been in love?" I asked him suddenly. He looked at me for a moment, studying my face to see if I was teasing him or being serious.
"Where did that come from?" he asked.
"I've always wondered what it's like. To love someone so deeply and greatly and then, having to move on. I couldn't do it when you were killed. Part of me were always scared about that happening to us," I said.
"I wouldn't know, Vanessa," he said truthfully. I had always liked the way my name rolled off his tongue. He had rarely use it, always calling me with pet names and whatnot. But when he did, it sounded different. It sounded lovely. He used my name in rare occasion, when he was being serious, and opening up. "I had always ended my relationship before it can go beyond serious."
"I'm flattered," I joked and he laughed.
"That does not help me winning you back, does it?" he asked. I raised my eyebrow.
"Win me back?" I asked and he shook his head.
"I hurt you," he said. "Multiple times."
"I forgive you, Kol," I said, reaching to squeeze his hand and he smiled.
"I know. But I also know what it feels like to be hurt by those that I love and trust," he said and his eyes looked at the parlour unconsciously.
"I think the reason why your relationship is always strained with Nik and all of them, is because you held yourself back. You do not want to be betrayed again, and you can't be betrayed by those whom you don't trust," I said carefully, word by word. "That's why you held back from completely loving them again."
"Sometimes it scares me the way you understand me so well," he said and I rolled my eyes.
"That'd be 50 dollars per session," I joked and he laughed.
"Come on, tomorrow might be a busy day," he said and I nodded, taking his hand as he led me upstairs.
We slept peacefully, despite the incoming attack against us. I had been distracted. If I hadn't had a deep, meaningful late night conversation with Kol, I might have noticed something that night.
I hope you liked it. Less action, but more conversation and relationship-building. Some of you commented on Kol's behaviour of leaving Nessie but you need to understand. He was dead for several months and came back. While Nessie had been without her humanity and had been living without Kol. When they got together again they picked up where they left off, ignoring the damage caused by Jeremy/Elena murdering Kol.
Relationship takes effort and patience to make it work, and that's what Kolessa is trying to do. Next chapter, WITCH DRAMA!