I think Kol and Vanessa need a break from all the dramas. I also noticed that I had been too caught up with the events in TO and kind of abandoning sweet moments between this two. Thanks for the reviews! It really boosts my motivation and also I hope all of you are doing well in this pandemic!

Chapter 18: Le Grand Guignol

Nessie!" Elena yelled as her twin sister kept running faster and faster. The golden haired twin's laughed as she continued her way down the road. "I'm going to tell Dad!" Elena shouted as she halted in her steps. Vanessa turned around, waving Elena's Mr Teddy, pretending to throw him across the busy road with the moving cars. The seven-year-old brunette screamed in protest before she chased her twin once again. Vanessa laughed as she started running before glancing ahead and bumping into someone.

"What are you doing out here, child?" The older woman chastised them. The two twins halted in their steps and stopped their bickering immediately.

"We were just playing," they chorused innocently, batting their big eyes to the lady.

"Go back to your house," she said and the twins fell into fits of giggles.

"Whoever hugs mother first, is the favourite daughter!" Katerina, the brunette twin yelled.

"Not fair!" Cassandra shouted, picking up the hem of her dress as she chased her sister.

"Catch up, Cassie!"

"Vanessa love?" I looked up to see Kol standing at the bathroom door, looking concern. I can still hear Elena's giggles playing in my ear…or was it Katherine's? The memories were mixed up and I couldn't really tell. One second I was myself, and the next I was in Cassandra's body and mind. "Are you sure you are okay?" he asked as he entered, sitting down at the edge of the bathtub.

"Hmm," I responded, barely having the energy to open my mouth. Kol had given me some of his blood at the sanitarium, and I have fed from two blood bags when we got home, but it wasn't my physical strength that needed healing…but my mental and emotional states.

I recoiled as I felt his warm hand touched my cheek, remembering briefly how that same hand had strangled Cassandra's neck in the past. I had to literally shook my head to push her memories out of my mind, and returning to the present.

"It's gotten cold," he said. It took me a moment to realize he was talking about the water.

"I'm a vampire, Kol," I reminded him, trying to sound cheeky, but received no reaction from him. Now, it was my turn to get worried. "Hey," I called out, reaching for his face.

"I should've found you sooner," he said and I clicked my tongue.

"You did," I said.

"What was she trying to find?" Kol asked and I looked away, shrugging.

"I don't know. Cassandra's a five centuries old vampire. Her memories are a lot. Like hundreds of Terabyte," I told him.

"Hmm," he pondered.

"Are you wondering what a Terabyte is?" I teased him and he gave me a look but the corner of his lips did curl a bit.

"You will feel a bit disoriented, but it'll go away," he said, stroking my damp hair. "Do you need more blood?" he asked and I tilted my head to the side at his question, shaking my head.

"Kol, Klaus has Papa Tunde's blade in his chest, stabbed by Elijah. Rebekah is trying to flee the country with Marcel. And you worried if I am hungry?" I asked and he frowned.

"When will you realize that you are my one and only top priority?" I couldn't help but smiled hearing that. "I'd be damned if something like that happened to you again."

"Overprotective much?" I asked playfully, trying to remove that somber look he had on his face. He rolled his eyes at that question and he handed me a towel as I rose from the bathtub.

"No. Just insanely protective of you," he said, wrapping the towel around me, before kissing the top of my head, his lips lingering for a second, making me smiled.

"That's worse," I half-complained and he chuckled, following me as I exited the bathroom.

"Will you stop getting into trouble?" He asked and I gaped, turning around to hit him in the chest.

"Wasn't my fault that my boyfriend was kidnapped and thrown into some witch asylum," I said, getting dressed.

"Right. You did save me," he said and I turned around, grinning.

"I even did a bit of a spell. Righteous man's shield," I told him and he looked at me in disbelief before grinning ear to ear, looking very proud.

"You are amazing," he said, each word followed by a kiss on my face before finally kissing me hard. "Now rest," he said sternly.

"You don't kiss me like that and just leave," I protested and he laughed.

"You've been through a lot. And also, like you mentioned, I need to check up on Nik."

"Do you think they'll get through this?" I asked, genuinely concerned, and Kol shrugged. We both knew how unforgiving Klaus was.

"Nik is never the forgiving type, darling," he said, agreeing with my thought. "Elijah would like you to talk to Nik when you are feeling better," he added, enunciating the word when. I rolled my eyes as he further pointed to the bed, urging me to rest.

"So bossy, and we are not even having sex," I muttered under my breath and he tried to not laugh at my remark.

"Have some rest," he urged. He waited until I got under covers, to which I rolled my eyes at before he turned to leave. I sighed as my head fell on the soft pillow, the exhaustion took over my body and mind instantly. Through my heavy lids I saw Kol came by and I raised an eyebrow at him, wondering if he forgot something.

"What?"

"Scoot over," he said and I couldn't hide my smile.

"I thought you're checking up on Klaus," I said as I moved a little, making some room for him on the bed.

"Eh, Nik can wait," he said as he pulled me close to him, making me smile even wider.

"Kol Mikaelson, what a sweetheart," I said teasingly and he gave me a playful glare.

"Shut up," he said, his cheeks turned slightly red. He turned my face to kiss me, before kissing my hair and wrapping me tighter in his arms. "What was it like?" he asked.

"It was like being inside her head and feeling all that myself. Like it was my own memories," I said. "It was your voice you know? That brought me back to my own head. And how your familiar touch feels against my skin," I murmured, feeling his hand stroked me gently. I slowly fell asleep, with the warmth and comfort that only he can provide.

"What's the human's doing here?" Kol asked as she found the blonde bartender in Nik's room with Elijah. Vanessa was fast asleep, twitching here and there but she would relax at his words or touch.

"She's the only person that might be able to calm our brother down," Elijah answered. "How's Vanessa?" he asked, noticing Kol's distraught.

"Do you think your ex has something against our family?" Kol asked. "The Petrova girl," he added quickly when Elijah seemed confused.

"Why do you ask?"

"When I was involved with the witches we made a couple of dark objects. One of them is to retrieve a memory from someone else," Kol explained briefly.

"Is that what they did to Vanessa?" He asked and Kol nodded. Elijah thought for a moment before shaking his head at any possibilities. Celeste had stuck around in New Orleans after her death. Hence it would be foolish to rule out any connection that Cassandra could be another form of attack towards Elijah and their family. "Cassandra does not hide anything from me," Elijah said and Kol raised his eyebrow.

"If you say so," he replied, slightly amused at how naïve his brother was when it comes to that Petrova girl. Kol had never liked the Petrova twins when he met them in England, and even when he lived for a while in New Orleans with Cassandra. He turned around to leave but was stopped by the bartender.

"Kol," Cami finally found the courage to interrupt. "Vanessa told me that you might have a way to help my uncle."

"Not now, darling," he said curtly, dismissing her. He heard Elijah consoled Cami after he left, saying that he will talk to him about the priest. Kol rolled his eyes. The only important thing for Elijah had always been their family. Nik and Rebekah at least. At least Kol didn't lie when he said whom his priorities were. The damn candles that Astrid and Mary-Alice created have dark side effects. He needed to make sure Vanessa is free from it first, then he'll deal with the war between Nik and Rebekah.

Rousseau's

"Why am I not surprised that you're able to find me?" Astrid said, upon seeing Kol approaching her table. "How's your girlfriend?"

"Give me one reason not to kill you right now," Kol seethed and she smiled.

"How else are you going to help your girlfriend then? There are no other witches that would help you," she said and Kol suppressed the low growl in his throat. He pulled up a chair and sat next to the witch. He heard the witch's heartbeats picked up slightly when he reached for a knife, twirling it between his fingers.

"Whatever bloody revenge you have on me, leave her out of this."

"If you are wondering about the disorientation and dissociation, it will only get worse from here. I kind of want you to see how it looks like, losing your mind slowly and painfully."

"So this is your petty revenge?" Kol asked, trying to keep his composure.

"This is anything but petty. I'm showing her my mercy. She will realize that nothing good ever comes up with involving yourself with Kol Mikaelson." Kol lashed out and stabbed her hand that was closest to him and she gasped in pain.

"You're going to kill me? In front of all this people?" Astrid asked, trying to by her some time and Kol laughed.

"You know that has never been a problem to me, darling," he said, as his vampire nature came forth. He could see a flicker of fear in Astrid's eyes. "I have no time for games. Tell me how I keep Vanessa's memories intact?"

"Celeste made it that she needs to reveal that one specific memory to your family. If she does that, then all is well. If she doesn't, then you can plan your farewell with her." Kol removed the knife from her hand and Astrid sighed, murmuring healing spell for the hole in her hand. She glanced at Kol and raised her eyebrow.

"A hundred years later and you remain the same. You still could not understand someone's heart," she said.

"I have no time for riddles," Kol said, standing up.

"Do you actually think that it'd be that easy?" Astrid called out as he was leaving. "I know your loyalty lies in your own neck, but I wonder about her. She seems very attached to your family. Even more so than you, that she wouldn't cause any hurt to them. Especially to Elijah." Kol had to remember to breathe. He knew that she was only pushing his buttons. But she served her purpose.

"A hundred years later and you remain the same," Kol said, smiling. "You still don't know when to shut up," he spat, before flashing towards her and ripping her heart out in less than a heartbeat. He let out a satisfying sigh, letting her fall down back to her seat, and dropping her heart onto the plate in front of her.

New Orleans, 1919

"Elijah? We are running late-" my sentences were halted as I saw him struggling in Mikael's chokehold.

"Cass!" He managed to choke out, before telling me to run. Running and surviving had been a natural instinct to me and Katerina. But I loved Elijah more than my own life. And saving and protecting Elijah had been an instinct to me now. I could hear Elijah's gasp of protest as I charged towards Mikael instead of turning away. I removed the hair pin that was holding my hair in an updo and used it to stab it deep into Mikael's neck. He released Elijah in an instant and I helped him up to his feet.

"Go!" Elijah urged and I shook my head at him.

"You know I never listen to you," I hissed, picking up a piece of wood that had broken off from their fight, preparing to use it as a weapon.

"My bastard son tortured you and your sister for centuries and you would defend him?" Mikael said, scoffing at me. It wasn't Niklaus that I was defending. My eyes widened in alarm when Mikael he pulled out the white oak stake from his jacket.

"Elijah…" I breathed, feeling dread filled me in completely, feeling fearful for him at the sight of the stake that could kill him. This was life and death.

"One last chance," Mikael warned, but Elijah attacked his father before he could finish his sentence. Mikael dodged his attack easily before slamming him into the wall. Finding my courage, I tried to stab my father-in-law in the heart but he backhanded me and forced me into a chokehold, snatching the little shard of wood that was in my hand.

"Your bastard brother, or your beloved wife. Choose, son!" Mikael screamed harshly, dragging me further from Elijah.

"Father, father, please!" Elijah begged, holding up his hands in surrender. "Please, let her go."

"Choose," Mikael said again and I desperately looked at my beloved.

"Elijah…" I pleaded softly, begging him to save me. I felt my heart shattered, seeing the dilemma in his eyes. Elijah would stand with Niklaus through hell and storm but I'd like to believe that he loved me just as much. He returned my gaze, with torment and torture apparent on his face.

Seeing his indecisiveness, something snapped in me and my survival instinct kicked in. My fangs lowered, quickly and roughly biting into Mikael's hand that was holding me. His grip on me loosened in surprise and I spun out of his grip. I saw Elijah flashed beside me, before seeing Mikael stabbed him in the heart with the wooden splinter that was in his hand.

"Heartbreaking isn't it?" Mikael asked, watching Elijah's desiccated body dropped onto the floor before glancing at me. "How he will always choose that bastard over everything, even over the love of his life."

"Please," I begged, as he stepped towards me, a cruel smile played on his lips.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. I'm not done with you yet," he said, stabbing me with the white oak stake in the stomach, before dragging me out of the room by my hair.

I awakened from my sleep, breathing heavily. I found my hand stroked my stomach gently, where Cassandra was stabbed by Mikael. My heart was beating rapidly, as if it was actually me on the receiving end. As if the memories were my own. I shrugged it off and went to get some blood bags before heading to the living room, following the sound of Klaus's voice. He was recounting the day Mikael came to New Orleans, which perhaps was what triggered that memory in me. I found him and surprisingly with Cami, the indestructible white oak stake that once belonged to Alaric was in his hand.

"What is that?" Cami asked.

"A white oak stake, my own special version. And, unlike my father's, this one cannot be destroyed," he answered Cami with a smirk. He zoomed out of the room before Cami can reply, but I was able to flash to the doorway, stopping him from escaping.

"Morning," I said, slightly smirking. I found his annoyance combined with his shocked face amusing.

"You're awake," he said dryly, making me smiled even wider.

"Someone's a bit grumpy today," I said before holding up the blood bag that was in my hand, and gesturing to the white oak stake as an exchange.

"Elijah said we shouldn't give Klaus blood-"

"No one in this house listens to Elijah, Cami," I said, before turning back to Klaus who was debating. I grinned when he grumpily handed the white oak stake over and snatched the blood bag. "Besides, you can never talk some sense into Klaus Mikaelson, let alone when he's hungry."

"Vanessa love, do you remember what you said to me after your brother and sister killed the love of your life?" Klaus cut me off and I shot him a glare. His smiled widened, showing his dimples before he resumed to sipping the blood bag.

"Yes, true, I wanted to tear them apart, limb from limb," I admitted calmly. "But I didn't," I added, seeing Cami's horrified face.

"Because we were trapped by that Bennett witch," Klaus cut me off. "Tell me, after that harsh betrayal by your own blood, if there was nothing to stop you, would you slaughter them mercilessly?"

"I know how painful it is when your own blood betrays you. Trust me," I said. "But if I had killed Jeremy or Elena, I'd dance on top of their mutilated bodies only for a moment. Do you think your own regret and guilt will not catch up with you?"

"She brought Mikael to New Orleans to kill me!" Klaus hissed, appearing in front of me in a flash. He looked more hurt than angry.

"You know in your heart that she doesn't want you hurt," I said gently and he looked away. "Klaus, I'm not protecting Rebekah," I said, turning his face so that he would look at me. "I'm protecting you from the pain and regret that you will surely feel if you kill her."

"Well, love, I'll deal with it later," he said. Apparently I knew Klaus more than both of us thought. I sensed the growl in his voice, knowing that was a sign that he was going to attack. I barely dodged him, as he reached for my throat, and stepped back from him, putting some distance.

"You know I can't let you leave," I said, fixing my stance, preparing for a fight, the white oak stake firm in my grip.

"Klaus, please," Cami pleaded. I almost forgot about the human with us.

"Cami sweetheart, you might want to go," Klaus said, smirking. I used his distraction to my advantage, hitting him in the head with the marble bust that was near me.

"Elijah would be furious," he said, nodding to the shattered pieces before charging towards me. Klaus was still weak from Papa Tunde's blade, but he was still stronger than me. Not to mention that I wasn't at my strongest too. I dodged his attacks rather than blocking them, knowing if he got a hold of me, his strength might overpower mine. At least he hasn't tried to bite me yet. "Be a good girl, love, and hand that over to me," he said motioning to the stake, and as if reading my mine, his eyes flashed amber.

"You know that's not fair," I complained, as the dark veins appeared underneath his eyes and his fangs lowered. I had prevented myself from using the white oak stake as a weapon, not wanting to accidentally hurt him. But now that I might accidentally get hurt…I twirled the stake in my hand, ready to use it.

Klaus let out a loud growl and as I moved away from his charge, he pulled my hair towards him, my back pressed against his chest. I heard him growled, about to sink his fangs into my neck and I cringed as I stabbed his side, not really wanting to do it. As quickly as the stake pierced his skin, I removed it and jammed it in his neck, or whatever part that I was able to reach. Klaus screamed, in pain and in anger, but his grip on me tightened again, as quickly as it loosened. I slammed my head back against his, trying to get out of his death grips. He grabbed my hand that was holding the stake and tugged on it. I heard my shoulder cracked, before feeling the burning pain of the stake in my stomach. I doubled over as I hissed in pain, and Klaus snatched the white oak stake from my hand.

"No hard feelings, sweetheart. I'll send your love to Rebekah." I heard Klaus said in victory, before feeling his hands at the side of my head, before hearing the crack of my bones.

"Vanessa," Kol said as he flashed over to her side. Her neck was snapped, no doubt it was Nik. The bartender had called him using Vanessa's phone and he had immediately gone home. Both her and Nik were gone, and he hadn't heard from Elijah throughout the day. He debated for a moment, seeing Vanessa's limp body.

He could easily force his way into her mind and take a glimpse of the memory, and she would be saved. But he would breach the trust she had for him and he couldn't have that either. But Astrid was right. Vanessa's loyalty for his family was undeniable. She had been the one that jumped on the plane to New Orleans. She had been the one that helped them stopped their mother. She had been the one that betrayed her siblings and side with the Mikaelsons.

"Hey," he said. His thought was interrupted when she gasped, waking up. Her tensed body relaxed instantly when she saw him by her side.

"Your brother is a bitch," she muttered begrudgingly, massaging the neck.

"How are you?" he asked.

"I'm fine. Just pissed," she said, getting up and he followed her.

"No, I meant have you got any episodes?" he asked.

"No," she lied and he rolled his eyes.

"I talked to Astrid. Celeste hijacked the candles so that this side effect will not disappear unless you revealed what you saw. If you don't, it will only get worse." Kol watched Vanessa took a sharp intake of breath before staring at him firmly.

"We need to find Klaus," she said.

"Do you not hear what I said?" Kol asked, his voice rising.

"That I'm going to lose my mind? I've gone through worse, Kol," she dismissed, pulling out her phone.

"Is it because this memory will hurt Elijah?" Kol asked, snatching her phone away so she would look at him. It came out more jealous than he had meant, but he didn't care. Vanessa just glared at him.

"If I tell you what I saw, Elijah won't be defending Rebekah from Klaus. Is that what you want? A dead sister?" she snapped and Kol took a deep breath, having to remind himself that Vanessa had gone through a lot, and so her screaming was justified.

"No, but I don't want to lose you," he said, much gentler and firmly now. The anger left her and she shut her eyes, almost in pain.

"We've literally gone through hell and back. We'll figure this out too," she said and to her surprise, he chuckled.

"You're one hell of a woman, love," he said. "I cannot force you, but when push comes to shove…"

Vanessa nodded in agreement. Her eyes squinted at the dried blood in his hand.

"Did you kill the witch?" she asked, taking his hand to inspect it and he nodded. "Didn't I tell you next time we do everything together?"

"My bad," he said, his eyes softened at her. "We can save my siblings together if you want."