Chapter 5

Hot chocolate and cookies

19 years earlier

Marcus crossed his arms as he looked at the tiny newborn. She was screaming.

"Not bad," a witch called Lyle stated. "One of our best works I would say."

"Yes…" Marcus murmured and looked at Janice, the witch who had just helped Dora giving birth. "Is it healthy?"

"Yes," Janice replied, she was just examining the screaming child. "It will serve it's purpose."

"Wonderful," Lyle hummed and glanced at Dora who was lying on the bed. "Do you want to hold it?"

"No," she replied, she sounded disgusted. "Keep that thing away from me."

"How very motherly of you," Lyle chuckled.

Dora gave him a cold glare.

"I'm not it's mother, I agreed to give birth to it for our cause. You have no idea how it was like to feel that thing growing inside me, so I suggest you keep your comments to yourself."

"I apologize," Lyle stated. "We are all thankful for your sacrifice."

Dora didn't reply to that, she turned her head away.

"So," Marcus said. "Why exactly am I here?"

"Well…" Lyle started. "We have a very special assignment for you." He paused and nodded towards the child. "We would like you to raise it. Her."

Marcus frowned.

"What?"

"You are by far our best interrogator, you can break anyone. What we want you to do is make her… shall we say obedient."

By interrogator Lyle meant torturer and it was true that Marcus was very good at what he did. He could break anyone and often he didn't even have to use physical violence. Psychological torture was many times much more efficient.

"As you know she has a very important purpose and someone needs to prepare her," Lyle continued. "Train her."

"I know nothing about children," Marcus stated.

"It makes no difference. All you have to do is make sure that she will obey your every command without hesitation."

Marcus pressed his lips together and looked at the girl. She looked like a normal human baby. Nothing could have been further from the truth. But Lyle had been right; she was one of their best works. Created only to fulfill one simple purpose.

"Alright," Marcus stated. "I'll take her."

"Good," Lyle replied. "What do you want to call her?"

"Why can't he just call it a vessel?" Dora snorted. "That's what that thing is."

"Yes, but if Marcus is going to raise her, I think she needs some kind of name."

"Brie," Marcus stated carelessly. "I think I'll call her Brie."

Lyle looked at him curiously.

"Why Brie?"

Marcus shrugged.

"My aunt had dog called Brie. Dumb creature, but extremely loyal and obedient."

"How fitting," Lyle chuckled. "Brie it is then."

I carried a tray across the hallway and took a deep breath before carefully knocking on Kol's door. I knew that he was in his room; I had seen him returning a while ago. Elijah had showed me my own room and said that I could make myself at home. However I wouldn't be able to leave the compound, Freya had cast some kind of spell. Once again Elijah had assured me that they weren't going to hurt me or my little one. I really wanted to believe him, but I couldn't count on that. I could only hope that Kol would give me a chance to explain myself.

"What?" his voice snapped from inside.

I swallowed before opening the door. Kol was standing in front of the window; his face was completely blank when he turned to look at me.

"Hi," I said, trying my best to smile. "I…I was hoping that we could talk. I brought you some hot chocolate."

He didn't say anything, he just stared at me. Cautiously I walked over to the small table and placed the tray onto it.

"I have my own recipe," I continued. "A little bit of chili, cream and melted chocolate. And a marshmallow."

He still didn't say anything as he walked over to me, but suddenly he smiled.

"A marshmallow you say?"

I nodded eagerly.

"Yes."

"And I see you brought me cookies too."

"Uh huh and pie. I didn't know what you like."

He was still smiling as he leaned towards me. I could smell the alcohol.

"How nice. Do you think that I could maybe ask just one tiny question?"

"Yes, of course."

His smile vanished; I flinched when he threw the tray against the wall.

"Are you out of your bloody mind?!" he shouted. "You think I want cookies from a deceitful little tramp?!"

I backed away as quickly as I could, fearing for my baby's safety. If he would hit my belly…

"I-I'm sorry," I stuttered. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to disturb you…"

"Get the hell out before I'll break your neck!"

I ran to the door as fast as I could and didn't stop before I was in my room. I was shaking and my eyes were watering up. He really hated me, there was no chance he would help me and my little one.

"Brie?" Elijah's voice said.

I startled, I hadn't heard him coming in.

"Are you alright?"

I turned away and tried to dry my eyes.

"Yeah, sure."

He didn't say anything and I thought he left. Suddenly a gentle hand touched my shoulder.

"It's alright," he said. "What's the matter? Do you have pain?"

I shook my head and let out a sob.

"No, I… I was hoping that I could talk to Kol, but he hates me."

"I'm sure he doesn't hate you…"

"He does and he has every right. I lied to him."

"Look," Elijah said and placed his hand on my shoulder. "This whole situation is quite… complicated. And unexpected. I think Kol needs some time to digest this."

"You really think so?"

"Yes."

I hesitated for a moment before looking at him.

"I… I know he has a temper and I was wondering… Could you maybe ask him… If he wants to punish me, could you ask him not to hurt my little one?"

Elijah pressed his lips together and placed his hands on my shoulders.

"Alright, Brie, I want you to listen to me. Kol won't hurt you or your child, I promise."

I looked at him for a moment and smiled.

"Really?"

"Yes. You don't have to be afraid, I promise to look after you."

Kol clenched his fists and stared at the mess on the wall. Hot chocolate and cookies. What the hell was wrong with that girl? Did she think that he was an idiot? Her act didn't fool him, not for a second. She wasn't innocent, far from it. Maybe she had been a virgin, but she certainly hadn't acted like one. She had practically thrown herself at him.

"Kol?" Rebekah's voice suddenly said.

"What?" he snorted.

"We need to talk."

He sighed and turned to look at his sister.

"About what?"

"About that girl." Rebekah paused and crossed her arms. "How could you ever sleep with her?"

"I'm asking myself the same question, believe me," he snorted.

Rebekah's eyes narrowed.

"I'm aware you're not exactly a nice guy, but I never thought you could take advantage of someone like that."

"What are you talking about; she's the one who threw herself at me…"

"You can't be that stupid," Rebekah snorted. "Didn't you honestly notice anything strange about her?"

"She's not the first woman who has begged me to take her to bed…"

"She's like a child for heaven's sake! Her father taught her what sex was by making her watch porn!"

For a moment Kol was speechless.

"She told you that?" he snorted after finding his voice again. "And you just believed her little sob stories?"

"Yes," Rebekah replied coolly. "That girl has been through some very disturbing things. You would see that if you would bother to use your eyes."

Kol didn't say anything as Rebekah marched to the door.

"Unfortunately for her, you happen to be the father of her child so please, try to pretend that you're not just a selfish asshole."

Kol gritted his teeth when Rebekah marched out. His sister was nothing but a fool if she actually believed that girl. That was what Kol kept saying to himself, but he had an unpleasant feeling. Was it possible that the girl wasn't acting? No, he refused to believe that. He was sick of this anyway; none of this was his problem. That thing growing inside the girl wasn't his problem.

He marched out and headed to the courtyard when he noticed the girl coming out of the kitchen. She was smiling and carrying a tray. He rolled his eyes; apparently she was a slow learner. But she wasn't heading to his door; she stopped in front of Elijah's door and knocked.

"Hi. I was wondering if you would like a cup of hot chocolate."

"That's very kind of you," Elijah said. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Thank you for being so nice to me."

Kol frowned, what the hell was this? Elijah closed the door after the girl entered his room with the tray. Apparently Elijah wasn't any smarter than Rebekah. It seemed that Kol would have to get the truth out of the girl himself.