Last night's episode was one of the best episodes of the vampire diaries I have ever, ever seen… which is actually kind of weird, because none of my favorite characters were on it. Remember, This DOESN'T follow anything from episode 3. It goes in its own direction after 4x02.

(The title for this chapter is a lyric from the appropriately-named Bjork song, "Hunter". ) Enjoy!

Chapter 8: How Scandinavian of Me

Blaze pinned her brown wig down and tugged on it lightly. Nice and tight. She'd also traded in her coat for a large purse, shaded in her eyebrows, and donned some dark sunglasses. Eying herself in the mirror she grinned. Heels, form-fitting dress… her own mother wouldn't have recognized her. Well, if she'd known her mother…

The purse was bulky, but at least no one recognized her. She especially hoped he wouldn't recognize her. She rubbed the vervain lotion on her neck and hands and stepped out the door in the late afternoon sun.

Connor had successfully captured a three of Klaus's hybrids, but the Original still eluded him. But at least Connor had learned that Klaus and Rebekah had two brothers. He knew Blaze was faster and had unmatched reflexes, due to her years of training as a youth, so the task fell to her to go after the oldest brother, while Connor went after Klaus's remaining hybrids.

Elijah Mikaelson. Blaze shivered at the sight of him. Man, he was handsome. But he was also a vampire… a vampire who had humiliated her. He leaned casually against a street lamp as if to mock her. But he wouldn't mock her tonight.

Elijah detected a presence behind him and stood at the ready, but the brunette who swept by him so seductively caught him by surprise. The woman's walk exuded such confidence, her hair bounced playfully, and her clothes hugged her curves just right. She had undeniable sex appeal that would have cracked a lesser man, but the Elijah averted his gaze with ease, though he couldn't help the slight, smug grin that escaped his lips.

Blaze lingered for several seconds, then cursed beneath her breath, knowing she'd have to try a different approach. Elijah was already walking away.

Blaze proceeded to hurriedly trade her heels for running shoes. Fortunately she had shorts on beneath the dress, so that wouldn't be an issue.

Suddenly a very human, and very drunk, man tugged on her sleeve. "Say there, princess, how 'bout you take something else off."

Blaze scoffed as she turned to face him. "You're kidding, right?" This man was out of his mind if he thought he could best her.

The man chuckled darkly. "I never kid, honey."

She couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Let me give you a warning, pal. Leave me alone, or I'll castrate you."

"Oh, ho… I like 'em fiery." He stepped closer, and Blaze tensed to strike.

But before she could teach the dirtbag a lesson, someone appeared by her side.

"I believe she asked you to leave." Elijah stood by her side with such daunting authority that it made Blaze shiver.

"It's none of your business, mister." The drunk leered at the Original.

"I said… leave." The vampire leaned into the drunk's eyes, compelling him.

Abruptly the vagrant turned and staggered away.

Blaze bit her lip, unsure of what to do to this gentlemanly vampire. "I didn't need your help."

"A simple thank you would suffice." He appraised her carefully and leaned against the street lamp once again.

"You… you shouldn't have done that." Her resolve weakened.

"And why not?" he calmly shrugged.

"I just… you just…" Shoot. She couldn't even think straight. "You weren't supposed to be so…" Perfect, her mind whispered. Ugh, this was all wrong. He'd tried to save her. How could she hurt him now? "I mean… Thank you," she trailed off uncertainly.

"Forgive me, you may have been able to handle such an abject human being on your own, but it's not in my nature to allow a young woman to be harassed."

It took Blaze several seconds to recover. Why did her target have to be so chivalrous?

"Please, allow me to escort you somewhere less… abhorrent ." He held out his hand to her.

Blaze's mouth fell open. She should take his hand, she knew that. But something held her back. "I'm sorry, but," she looked down at her hands and pulled away unexpectedly. "I can't touch you."

"And why is that?" His eyes narrowed slightly.

"Because…" Because what? Because he's a nice vampire who helped you out? Because he's handsome as heck? Vampires are vampires. Come on, Blaze… She struggled with the emotions that tore inside her, but she just couldn't find the will to hurt him.

She removed her sunglasses, and Elijah's eyes suddenly flickered with recognition. He knew.

"Because my hands are covered in vervain," she surrendered with a sigh.

"I see," Elijah took a cautious step back. "There's more to you than meets the eye... Blaze."

Blaze's heart skipped a beat at the caressing way he spoke her name, but she recovered quickly. "You've got to get out of here," she whispered urgently. "If Connor finds out I let you go… I'm dead."

Elijah discerned the real sense of fear in her voice and was gone in a flash.

Shoot. Elijah had completely ruined everything. No… She'd done that herself. She let him get under her skin, and then he had to be so 'noble' and defend her honor. Ugh. There was no way she could touch him now; her heart wouldn't allow it.

Blaze woke early the next morning, feeling restless. Her apparent attraction to Elijah didn't sit well with her. In fact, it made her angry. Why did she have to like a vampire? The more she dwelled on it, the more the rage built up inside her. The adrenaline made for quite the effective workout regimen, but it did nothing for her mood. She wanted to kill something.

She succeeded in channeling some of her rage by running through the woods, but after two miles she slowed along the borders of the Lockwood property. Blaze had thought she'd seen something near the forest, but it disappeared when she blinked. If it had been a vampire they surely would have scattered by now. Or would they?

Blaze grinned to herself and pretended to trip. The vampire might just take the bait. While bent over she cut her shin on a rock, gasping for good measure.

Moments later a roguish, accented voice echoed behind her. "That's a nasty fall, sweetheart."

Blaze turned to face an attractive young man with a leering smirk and a mischievous gaze to match. "I'm fine." She pulled herself to her feet steadily.

"Well, perhaps, I should have a look, just to be safe." He edged forward, grin widening. "What's your name, love?"

"Blaze Harris." She tugged at the sleeve of her windbreaker nervously.

"Blaze." He cocked an eyebrow. "Quite distinctive."

"It's a nickname I've had since I was twelve," she strained.

"You know, I do believe I've heard of you," He grinned exaggeratedly. "You're the one who set a man on fire; am I right, darling?"

"Yes," Blaze narrowed her eyes and smiled. "What about you? A handsome guy like you must have a name." As if she didn't already know.

"Kol Mikaelson," he smirked, buying into her cheap flattery.

Mikaelson. It was all the confirmation she needed. "You know, Kol, I still start fires from time to time," she edged closer to him, preparing to strike.

"Do you now?" Kol took a measured step toward her. "Well, Blaze, how would you like to make some sparks fly with me?"

Blaze was staggered for a moment, caught off guard at his blatant attempt at seduction, but raising an eyebrow she managed to keep up the banter. "I only start fires with the most… deserving of specimens."

"Lucky for you, sweetheart, I'm quite the rare specimen," Kol was only a few inches away.

"I know." The smile faded into a glare, as she pulled back the sleeve of her coat.

Before Kol could react, flames sprayed from the tubing along her forearm. Soon the Original was covered in the blaze. He stumbled backwards, shouting out in agony for a several seconds, until finally there was silence.

Blaze knew the Original wasn't dead, so she quickly readied her palm with a stake. Sure enough, Kol rose seconds later from the ground in a rage that could have compared easily with her own. "You know, sweetheart," his eyes were filled with unfeeling hatred, "that was one of my favorite suits. I'm quite put out now."

The stake was still hidden in her hand, and Blaze clutched it for dear life.

"It's a shame really." Kol took painstakingly slow steps toward Blaze, as if to taunt her further. "You and I could have had so much more fun than this. But now…"

He shot forward and grabbed her neck, preparing to snap it, but the vervain from her lotion seeped into his palm, and he withdrew his hand reflexively from the pain.

She took the stake in her hand, and, before Kol had time to recover from the vervain, Blaze gutted him in the heart.

The veins in his skin darkened, and his skin turned gray, but Blaze wasn't taking any chances. With no ropes or syringes to aid her, she turned and ran like hell 'til she reached her house.

Blaze cursed under her breath again. She was zero for two in the Original brothers department; Connor was not going to be happy.

Blaze has some serious aggression issues. Too bad she was in a windbreaker and not her trench coat… otherwise Kol would have been TOAST! I haven't written the next chapter yet (Today was an angry day… much like Blaze, lol), so we'll see what happens tomorrow. Hope you liked this chapter! Please Review!

-Viola