Chapter Twenty-Three:

I blinked suddenly when Jeremy had me shoved to the side; he wasn't sure who to protect me from. Damon still dead at our feet. I had accidently stepped on him. Kol had seen it and smirked.

"What do you want?" Stefan snarled, he was already in front of Jeremy and I. Caroline came to stand beside me, but Jeremy must have given her a look. She backed up, moving to stand beside Elena. I mouthed a quick 'sorry' and she mouthed 'it's ok'. Jeremy had yet to tell me when he had almost killed Caroline.

I watched as Kol's eyes were on me, he tilted his head in thought.

"Well?" Stefan demanded.

Kol ignored him, it was like he enjoyed watching people get worked up.

"Kol." I said. He sighed.

"Well, I was minding my own business, until Nik blabbered on about hunters and Gilberts."

"Klaus knows?" Elena asked. she sounded worried, I glanced at her, her eyes were flicking between Damon and Kol. Kol didn't answer. I rose a brow at him, and he sighed again.

"Yes." Kol didn't bother to even look at my sister. Jeremy was tense, I could feel this darkness creeping inside him. I went to take his hand, but he pulled away. My face crumpled a little. He never pulled away from me. I turned to see Kol glare at Jeremy for a second before his brown eyes returned to me.

"Why are you here Kol?" I asked. he didn't seem to be answering anyone else.

"I gave you my word that no harm would come to you. I am just ensuring that happens."

"From Klaus?" I guessed.

"Do you know anyone else paranoid enough, darling?"

I shook my head and he just smiled.

"I also don't come alone."

"Rebekah?" I asked a little hopeful. He shook his head before Elijah stepped out. I beamed up at him. "Elijah!" I sang happily.

Kol scowled at me. Elijah cut off the next words that were about to come out of his mouth.

"Hello Jordan. Hello everyone. What have I missed?" He asked, looking around at everyone. I grinned.

"Have you got time?"

After talking with Kol and Elijah about certain things, they seemed to give each other a look before turning back to us. Jeremy refused to let me touch him, it hurt, the rejection from him. I had sat down on the couch. Stefan had dragged Damon's body out of the room. Elena was sitting on the other couch, giving me a glare from time to time. I guess me siphoning her boyfriend made her mad. It also didn't help that I was now telling Elijah and Kol about what was wrong with me. Jeremy had sat on the table, still close enough to be able to protect me but far enough that I couldn't reach him and Siphon the darkness away. I fished my phone out, seeing a message from Kol.

We need to talk…alone. I may break my word if you brother's hand twitches for a stake.

I snorted. Catching a few eyes my way.

"Just thinking how pissed Damon is gonna be when he wakes."

Caroline snorted as did Stefan. Elena glared at me. Elijah looked confused and Kol grinned. I sent a quick text back.

Do you know how hard it will be to get away from everyone?

I had my phone hidden and tuned out the voices in the room. I looked up and occasionally made a few sounds of agreement when I heard Caroline. It was best to agree with what Caroline said, mainly because she wasn't mad at me.

I am sure you can manage.

I sent Kol a glare who gave me a shrug. He had been more involved in the conversation of the room. Only answering his brother and no one else. I furrowed my brows. Did he think we were beneath him?

Are you mad with me?

I rolled my eyes. I got to my feet, Jeremy standing a second later.

"I need the bathroom, geez, calm down."

He made a move to follow me. I glared and shook my head.

"I can't control it." he gritted out.

I grabbed his arm, the orange glow between us. I heard groans as Kol started to pick things up and break them, Elijah scowling at him.

"I need a few." I whispered to him. he nodded and then sat down. I turned to Elena who had also gotten up. I shook my head at her, she gave me a nod and mouthed to be careful. I nodded and made my way upstairs.

I ran the taps as I quickly used the bathroom, feeling self-conscious that there were too many vampires in the house that would hear me going toilet. After I finished. I splashed water on my face. As I wiped my face, I looked up and felt a hand clasp over my mouth. Kol had snuck into the bathroom, he scowled at me.

"Do you want everyone to hear us?" I shook my head, his hand still over my mouth. He let go.

"How are you up here?"

"Everyone is busy talking about Klaus. I grew bored."

"Bored about Klaus?" I cocked my head to the side.

"Yes. It grows rather tedious when you have lived with it for over a thousand years."

"I bet." I nodded at him.

"Are you mad with me?" he asked.

I gave him a look before scrunching my face.

"What makes you think that?"

"I can hear your heartbeat. I can tell when you are angry, and I heard the distinct pulsing…" I clapped my hand over his mouth.

"Don't need that much information, Kol."

I kept my hand over his mouth, his brow arched and I sighed.

"You were only answering your brother and no one else. I was thinking you thought of us as beneath you."

He pulled my hand away from his mouth, keeping in his own.

"You are." he answered. I flinched, feeling this pain explode in my heart. "Well, they are. I respect you as I respect Bonnie."

"You do?" I asked.

"I have respect for witches. I hold them in high regard."

"I am not a witch though…" I argued, trailing off.

"Technically you are. It's not that I respect. It's the honesty. The innocence. The way you Siphon off darkness." He held up our hands and I saw a red glow. I pulled my hand back quickly.

"What do you mean, darkness?" I questioned.

"Magic is both light and dark. Vampire, it's dark magic that created us. You can siphon it off."

I nodded, encouraging him to continue.

"The side effects from the Gilbert ring, darkness. Its someone disturbing the natural order of things. Like a vampire."

"But I hurt Elena and Bonnie."

"It could come down to control. Your emotions are all over the place. The stronger the emotion, the more it hurts. Like with Damon. He tried to hurt Jeremy, you acted quickly, Siphoning him of his life. Him being a vampire, he just regenerates."

I nodded, it sounded like Kol had down research.

"Have you been researching?" I asked.

"I have free time. I thought it would be interesting and I was right." He shrugged.

"What else do you know?"

"That, darling, will have to wait. I can hear Elijah having trouble keeping everyone's attention."

"Elijah is in on this?"

"He may have pointed me in the right direction. He figured out the why on his own."

"How?" I asked.

"I fancy you. Naturally he knew it would be you."

Before I could reply to his little confession, he was out the bathroom, leaving me with my mouth hanging open.