Chapter 9

Pay the price

"Am I losing my mind?"

That was the question Selena had been thinking about a lot. It's been a week since the fire that had killed Fitz and fourteen other people. Everyone was talking about it. There was all kind of rumors. It had been arson. According to some sources the victims had been dead before the fire had started. The most popular theory was some kind of crime war or vendetta or something like that. Selene hadn't heard a word from Kol after he had left her the third rose and that creepy note. She sometimes thought that maybe she had just imagined everything.

Maybe she was losing her mind. It could run in the family. Maybe she would end up to a mental hospital like Jason. She really wished there would be someone she could talk to. For some reason she couldn't talk to Derek. He had been so relieved, like a huge burden would have been lifted from his shoulders. They would have to move as soon as possible since they no longer owned their house but that didn't bother Derek. He had already found an apartment and he said that Selene would be welcome to live with him until she would find her own place. They had already started to pack. Selene didn't really think that she would miss their house. There were a lot of bad memories there. Her family was safe, that was all that mattered. That nightmare with Fitz was finally over. Selene sighed before she entered the diner. It was time to start another day at work.

"Good morning", Selene said.

"Good morning ma'am", Arnie said smiling. "Sit anywhere, the waitress will be right there."

"Sorry?" Selene asked confused.

"I said please sit anywhere you like, the waitress will be right there."

Was this some kind of joke? But Arnie never joked.

"Very funny", Selene said trying to smile.

She was heading to her locker when Arnie stopped her.

"Excuse me ma'am but that area is for personnel only."

Was he still continuing the joke?

"This is funny Arnie but I think I should…"

"Have we met?" Arnie asked looking confused.

"Is this about my sick day last week? I'm sorry, but I really was sick…"

"What are you talking about?" Arnie looked suspicious.

"Last week when I called in sick, I really was sick. I'm sorry if that caused you trouble…"

"Listen lady, I have no idea what you're talking about. I've never even see you before."

"But… Are you firing me?"

"Am I talking gibberish or something, I've never see you before in my life!"

Selene was stunned. She couldn't understand what was going on.

"Good morning my sweet Selene", a familiar voice said.

Shivers went down Selene's spine when she turned. Kol was standing there smiling charmingly.

"Is she a friend of yours?" Arnie asked.

"Yes, don't mind her, she just have a strange sense of humor. Isn't that right darling?"

Selene couldn't say anything. She was just trying to understand what was happening.

"Come on then, let's have some breakfast."

Kol took Selene's hand and led her to a table.

"What… What's going on?" Selene managed to ask.

"What do you mean darling?" Kol asked pretending to be surprised.

Selene looked at him and Arnie who had returned to the counter.

"Oh, you mean your boss, or should I say ex-boss. He has no idea who you are. Nobody here has."

Selene was staring at him disbelievingly.

"How… Why…"

"Well, I just thought I should give you a little sample of what I can do", Kol said smiling. "Impressive isn't it?"

Selene was shocked. This couldn't be happening.

"You… made them forget me?"

"Yes, I could do the same to your brothers…"

"No! No please don't."

Selene was suddenly terrified. The thought of her brothers forgetting her was… She didn't even know how to describe it. Kol was still smiling that cold, false-gentle smile of his.

"There's no need to be upset sweetheart, I just thought that might be easier for you."

"What do you mean?" she asked, although she didn't really want to hear the answer.

Kol looked like a lion that had just cornered his prey. There was no way out.

"We made a deal sweet Selene. I did my part and now it's your turn."

Selene swallowed.

"What do you want?" she asked as calmly as she could.

Kol's smile turned into a smirk.

"A new toy", he said clearly enjoying the whole situation. "And that my dear, would be you."

Selene felt like she couldn't breathe. She prayed that this was just another nightmare.

"You can drive, can't you?" Kol asked casually.

Selene managed to nod.

"Good, I haven't learned that yet. We'll leave tonight."

"What? Where?"

"Oh, I don't know, I'm just bored with this place already. And you know there are so many places to see, people to kill et cetera."

Selene couldn't really hear the last part. All she heard was that he wanted her to leave her family.

"No I can't…"

"You can't? Are you telling me that you want to break our deal?" Kol asked smiling.

"No, no, I just… Please… I can't leave…"

"Yes you can and you will. Unless of course, you want to upset me, in which case I should warn you, that's not a pretty sight."

Selene tried desperately to think something to say. Some way to make him change his mind. There was no way. She had brought this on herself. She deserved everything she would get.

"Tonight?" she managed to say.

"Yes, I'm not completely heartless you know. I thought you might want to say goodbye to your brothers."

"Thank you", Selene said emotionlessly. "I'm not going to see them again, am I?"

It was more a statement than a question. Kol smiled.

"You are a smart girl my sweet Selene. I think we're going to have a lot of fun together."

Selene didn't say anything. There was just nothing left to say.