AN: Hey Everyone So we're onto chapter 19 and I just want to thank you all so much again for your support, honestly I would not have gotten this far without you! : ) Thank you to all who have favourited and followed and to everyone who has reviewed. I am so so sorry for the wait… so so sorry for the delay…I could give you excuses but it's so not acceptable...just know that I had an intense year at college but thankfully it is all over now! : )
To Mary VA: I am so so sorry for the wait. Thank you so much for reviewing…it honestly means a lot : ) . Awh thank you, I am really trying to make their relationship seem realistic and genuine so I am so glad that that is coming across. Don't worry, you will find out what happened to past Kara. I already have that written out but there is just a few more things to happen before I reveal what happened to her…;) Again I am so sorry for the wait…I honestly feel so bad about it but I am back now and updates should go faster. I hope you enjoy this next chapter…
To NatalieLynn: Thank you so much! I know it was a bit confusing and to be honest I was really just trying to find a way to write Anna in subtly…guess it wasn't that subtle lol! Yes, Pearl and Anna are already vampires and are friendly with Katherine…at least that's how the series went…: ) I know, I felt so bad killing Rosalyn but I felt it had to be done. The killer will be revealed…: ) I'm so sorry for the delay and I really hope you like this next chapter.
The New World
997AD
The day was still new, despite Kara being awake for over two hours now.
Her morning routine normally began with waking, washing and dressing, eating a small breakfast and then assisting her mother with the chores but today she had decided not to follow her normal habit. She couldn't face her family after what they had urged her to do last night. What she had berated herself ever since for agreeing to do.
Last night, after the encounter she had returned home to an empty house and had been grateful of the fact to have the quietness and stillness of the home to herself. She had fallen asleep immediately, fully clothed due to exhaustion and had not heard her parents or her brothers return. She knew that they had returned, however when she awoke the next morning to hear their snores echoing throughout their respective rooms.
She left early, unable to return to slumber after the initial weariness had left her. She had tried to put it out of her mind to try and get the last few hours of sleep both her mind and her body craved but was reminded of the incantation she had performed with every turn of her body or every deep breath she inhaled.
Taking her sword in a hilt, a dress, undergarments, bathing oil, shawl and comb from her trunk and packing a small lunch of bread, cheese and an apple she made for her sanctuary. A river-side grass-patch hidden by tall conifers not far from the woods that opened onto the back of her house. She and Kol had found the spot years ago when he had begun to teach her how to wield a sword.
It took her just under twenty minutes to reach the spot, the cool weather of the morning sun urging her forward. At present she would take being outside in the cool weather happily if it meant not having to be in her family's presence. She placed her lunch, which she had secured in a small piece of cloth down by a wide tree trunk that still had the rope that they had tied to it years ago wrapped around the bottom of it. They had wrapped it several times to create an extra layer atop of the bark of the tree trunk to protect it as they stuck it with their slightly blunted swords. Usually it would only be the first target for Kara's blade, the second being Kol's as they sparred.
She made for the river, removing the dress she had worn the day before and slept in before immersing herself in the cool torrent. She shut her eyes and lay her head back, floating without effort in the calm current of the water. She tried to imagine the pain and disgust she had felt yesterday wash away. That it would wash away from her as easily as dirt from skin. It was peaceful in this part of the village. No sound other than that of the birds, trees and flowing water filled her ears. It was moments like this that she treasured, no magic, no family, no worries. She ducked under the torrent, submerging her long blond hair so to wash it. Rising to the surface she took in a deep breath as she moved to the bank, picking up the small glass bottle of bathing oil and soothing it into her scalp and hair letting the perfumed scent overtake her. Such oil was made by a woman in the village whom had come from the old-world with the skill. She ducked into the depths again, rinsing the oil all the while enjoying the freedom and happiness she felt whist swimming in the cool water. Surfacing she made her way out of the water and onto the bank, air drying slightly before moisturising her skin in the oil and dressing. She felt almost new, almost like she didn't have this dark power inside of her. She put her long hair into a messy braid and just sat against a large tree in silence for a time before taking up her sword and moving towards the tree.
She didn't often practice without having Kol there but somehow she found the wielding of the sword therapeutic. She took comfort on the swish of the blade through the air. She moved to the protected tree trunk and began her assault. She recreated all of the slightly dramatic moves Kol had taught her, ducking and defending herself from an invisible enemy every now and then to make it more realistic. The rope was slightly frayed, from all of the times they had hit it but was still in good condition. Kara turned on her heal, vanquishing an invisible enemy behind her before turning to the trunk and striking hard. It reverberated through the hilt but she powered on. She had found the reverberations painful on her wrists when she had first begun training in the skill but had somehow become accustomed to it now. Now pain assaulted her from a different direction, from her mind.
It was almost out of nowhere that she felt it. The guilt about what had happened yesterday, what she had done, the disgrace and disgust she had felt in herself. She tried to hold it in, to concentrate on the moves Kol had taught her except she couldn't get their faces out of her head, Vilgard's, Destin's. She gulped trying to picture the cause of her feelings on her target. The darkness, her parents, Drake. Sometimes even herself succumbing to the power. She hit hard, and then harder and harder. She could feel the anger, the emotion bubbling up and surfacing. She could feel the reverberations in her elbows now but still continued. It was like the pressure and the stress were seeping out of her. Anger took over now and she threw the sword to the side, making it hit he grass with a thump as she attacked the trunk with her fists. She punched as hard as she could, imagining her assailant as the evil, dark energy that was preventing her from living her life, from being happy and whole. She tried to scream but it came out as more of a strangled sob. She paused, tears taking over as her body went limp. She sunk to the grass, her eyes shut and her damaged hands clinging to the rope around the tree trunk.
She was just so tired of it all. How she had wished and wished that that night had never happened. That her parents had decided not to do the incantation. They would still be witches but ones bound by nature, by law and rightfully so. She stabbed the sword into the grass and used it to hoist herself into a standing position once again. She had never felt so empty and emotionally drained before in her whole life. Wiping her tear-stained face with her hands she moved to gather her things but stopped when she saw it. The tree trunk she had been using for practice, one that had stood there for years was now burnt to a crisp. The wood had turned charcoal and the only two places that remained intact were where her hands hand been laying, clutching against the rope. Kara stood shocked for a moment before letting out a strangled sob. This is what she did, she destroyed things. Ruined things. She had set this tree trunk on fire and she hadn't even noticed she was doing it. She was dangerous and it scared her.
Aimlessly she began walking, sword secured at her hip but found herself, much to her dismay back in the village. She didn't want to be here, didn't want to be around her family today didn't want to be around anyone she had to pretend to smile for. She didn't feel like it. Luckily, none of her family or friends were in the centre of the village.
"Kara!" she heard a familiar voice call from behind her. She stopped walking but didn't turn to greet him. She needed to gather herself for a moment before the interaction began.
"Kara!" he asked finally reaching her and taking her arm to turn her to face him. It was Kol, she knew it had been by the sound of his voice. He was the one person that gave her any bit of happiness and she didn't want to eclipse his so she forced a smile. To her surprise it felt almost genuine but he seemed to see through it.
He cupped her cheek, not caring that they were in the middle of the village and looked in her eyes fiercely. He could tell she had been crying, he always could and the look of worry, of love on his face made her just want to cry into his chest, tell him everything. To have him console her and tell her that it would all be okay. She knew it wouldn't be but to hear him say it would mean that she might almost believe it.
"Hey, are you alright?"
He was looking at her so intensely that she thought for a moment that he might be trying to read her thoughts but she soon realised that that was just Kol caring about her.
She nodded slowly, not wanting him to remove his hand from her cheek. She loved his touch. It was warm and tender and said so much more to her than what words did.
"I'm fine"
He gave her a look that told her he didn't believe her.
"Truly" she smiled and surprisingly to her let out a light laugh "I'm just tired…family…things".
If it was possible this statement made him look even more worried but he pushed it away and instead went to wrap his arms around her.
Kara stepped back out of his reach looking at him with a mixture of surprise and amusement. She looked around making sure no one had noticed the almost gesture. Luckily for them people were too busy going about their daily duties to discern their behaviour.
Kol smirked, taking her hand gently, his thumb brushing her palm comfortingly as he did so and walked her over to just inside the tree-line where they would be hidden.
He wrapped his arms around her and she closed her eyes, slinking her arms around him. She just basked in his warmth, his scent wanting to stay in this position forever. The comfort and love he provided her was so overwhelming that she had to blink back the tears. He held her to his chest and began to lovingly stroke her still wet hair.
"This is dangerous" she sighed into his chest after a moment or two alluding to their position near the village centre. Kol said nothing but she could feel him nodding. He bent down to kiss her on the head before cupping her cheek and tilting her head towards his. She looked at him and she knew he could see the tears watering in her blue eyes.
"You don't need to tell me Kara" he began and she immediately felt a wave of guilt, of new guilt "Just promise me that you are alright, that you are safe".
She looked up at him, her chin resting on his chest. His eyes were portraying so much to her, love, worry, protectiveness, slight sadness.
"I promise" she tried to smile at him but a tear betrayed her and rolled down her cheek. He wiped it swiftly away with his thumb before capturing her lips in a searing kiss. She kissed him back, her lips tingling from the contact. Reluctantly he pulled away, both looking as though they wanted to continue.
"I have a surprise for you" he finally said leading her slowly through the woods.
"What?" she asked smiling slightly at his antics, following him, her arm extended in front of her with her hand clutched in his "What kind of surprise?"
He looked back at her with a smirk.
"If I told you what it was then it wouldn't be much of a surprise, would it?"
She couldn't help but smirk back at him, marvelling at the fact that he always found the perfect way to cheer her up.
"We do, however, need a horse" he continued. Kara only looked even more intrigued.
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Kol and Kara made it to his home in under ten minutes and she was somewhat thankful that none of his family were home.
"Where is everyone?" she asked glancing around her almost worried as Kol moved to the front door.
"Henrik is foraging with 'Bekah, Nik is chopping wood, Mother is helping Ayana and Father and Elijah took Finn into the deep woods to hunt for the day. He thought it best that he should be away from the village…with everything going on with the murder".
Kara nodded and swallowed as Kol turned back to the door and entered. Kara lingered at the doorframe, unsure what to do. Sure they had been friends for years before they had begun their new relationship but they had never been inside one another's homes, it just wasn't something that was done. It was a place only for family.
Kol smiled looking back at her.
"You can come in" he insisted watching Kara blush for a moment before she followed him through the threshold.
"So this is where you live" Kara observed looking over the home. It was a little larger than her house, more square than her more rectangular home.
Kol was busy getting food together but looked over to her with a smile.
"It's strange to think that this is the first time you have been in here"
Kara leaned against a wooden cabinet watching him.
"You've never been in my house either" she countered.
"True" Kol replied placing the food he had gathered in the middle of the table and moving to a side-table to gather a blanket that was folded on it. It was when Kara was watching him place the food into the blanket and tying it at the top that she realised that she hadn't eaten all morning. She had brought some food with her to the clearing but had left it abandoned there.
"Any reason why we are going to need such a feast?" she asked him with a glint in her eye.
He turned to her, holding the blanket and contents with one hand.
"All in good time my dear" he replied pecking her on the lips before moving back to the front door.
He descended the steps at the front of his house with Kara following closely behind.
The Mikaelson's had a total of four horses, each used mostly for hunting. Three were absent presently, being used by Kol's father, Finn and Elijah but one remained. He was large and of a charcoaled colour. Kara smiled warmly when she saw him.
"Hello there" she cooed running her hand up and down his neck. She could tell already that he was sweet natured.
"This is Pauper" Kol said patting the horse lovingly before untying the loose rope he was tethered to "'Bekah named him" he clarified.
Kara smiled at his defence.
"Is he new? I've never seen him before" she asked feeding him some feed from the holder in front of him.
Kol nodded.
"We bought him a few months back from the Benson's, they breed horses and Father thought that we needed another one.
"He's handsome" Kara began still patting the horse.
"Should I be jealous?" Kol asked her jokingly, saddling the horse and securing the blanket with food to the side of it.
"Hmm" she purred picking up on the joking mood and moving around the horse to where Kol stood "I don't know it's too early to say, I mean Pauper and I have only just been introduced".
Kol smiled, elated to see Kara smiling happily for once.
"Well I could leave you two alone" Kol laughed making a spectacle of walking away.
Kara laughed and pulled him back, closing the distance between them until they were only a breath away from one another.
"Don't you dare" she smiled pulling on his tunic to lower his head to hers. She stood on her tip-toes and kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck and caressing the base of his hairline. He all but growled as he kissed her back, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. His hands trailed up, moving from her waste to her side, her lower back. He pushed her against a fence, a barrier preventing their horses from escaping.
"Sorry" he said pulling back with hooded eyes, afraid he had hurt her unintentionally in the moment.
"Don't be" she smiled at him, her eyes mimicking his. Her hands reaching up to cup his stubbly cheeks. His hands brushed the hair out of her face, one hand lightly trailing down her face to the base of her neck.
"I love you" he whispered, his eyes closing and his forehead lying against hers.
"I love you too" she replied.
He pecked her lips again and before they knew it they were in the middle of another scorching kiss.
"Woah!" another familiar voice exclaimed.
Kol and Kara pulled apart to see a shocked Rebekah staring at them whilst trying to shield Henrik's eyes from the scene.
She had a basket of wild fruit hanging over her arm, obviously from a successful foraging trip, Henrik struggled in Rebekah's grip, eventually breaking free and smiling knowingly at Kara and his older brother.
" 'Bekah" Kara greeted pulling slightly away from Kol and attempting to straighten her attire.
After the shock had subsided a brilliant smile appeared on Rebekah's face.
"Well well well" she exclaimed, Henrik rolling his eyes at her decision to gloat "How long, pray tell has this been going on?
Kol turned to Rebekah with a sigh.
"You mustn't tell anyone 'Bekah" Kol pleaded moving from Kara to closer to his siblings.
"Why ever not" Rebekah asked, now smiling. She put the basket of the picked fruit down outside the front door and ran towards Kara. Taking her in a fierce hug.
"This is brilliant; Kara is already like family. Everyone will be delighted".
She pulled back, beaming at her friend.
"They want to keep it a secret 'Bekah, because of Kara's family" Henrik added eliciting a smile from Kara and a nod from his brother. Rebekah turned to the younger boy.
"You knew about this and you didn't tell me?" Rebekah asked more surprised than angry "You little sod".
"Well now you know too 'Bekah and we're serious" Kol spoke "Not a word to anyone"
Rebekah sighed.
"Very well but I suggest you stop snogging in front of our house if wish your secret to remain a secret".
Kol nodded in agreement.
"We were just leaving anyway"
Kol mounted the horse before holding out a helping hand to assist Kara.
"Together?" Rebekah asked tauntingly, smiling at her jibes "Surely you would want Henrik and me to accompany you, to act as chaperones of course".
Henrik laughed at this also.
"Goodbye 'Bekah" Kol replied trying to finish her trail of thought.
He waited for Kara to secure her arms around his waist before urging the horse forward.
"Don't do anything unbecoming now" Rebekah called after them.
Kol and Kara travelled west, moving on the path up to highlands above the village.
"Are you going to give me a clue as to where we are going?" she asked him after a few minutes.
"Nope" Kol replied with a sly smile.
Kara let out a small laugh, tightening her arms around his waist.
"You're lucky that I trust you".
Kol smiled and attempted to glance back at her.
"It'll be worth it; I promise"
"It better be" she joked leaning her head on his back.
As they cleared the treeline twenty-five minutes later at full-trot, Kara could see the cliff-face come into view. She hadn't been up here in a long time. It was usually too far and dangerous to venture from the village on foot but she knew there was a lookout posted up here during the day in case any passing ships were spotted. It had breath taking views of the surrounding hills and beach down below. The beach both Kol's family and hers had landed on years ago.
"Wow" she exclaimed, the winds from the high altitude tousling her hair as she attempted to restrain the blonde strands threatening to block her view.
"I was thinking to myself that it had been a while since I had been up here and the same may be true for you" Kol began.
"You were right" Kara breathed enjoying the sea air mixed in with the intoxicating scent of the man she loved "I think I was a child the last time I ventured up here".
Kol dismounted, holding the reins to keep Pauper steady as he landed on the ground. He turned to Kara, grabbing her gently by the waist to assist in her descent. She skimmed his body on the way to the ground, she herself holding onto his shoulders for support. Kol cleared his throat, trying very hard to clear his head of the inappropriate thoughts that began to bombard his mind.
"There's more" he continued taking her hand in his, securing the horse by a tree and removing the blanket he had secured on the saddle earlier.
He turned a corner and moved to an area where many boulders and rocks littered the cliff-face. The grass was shorter in this area, making Kara think it was the perfect spot to lay down the blanket. Kol however ignored this idea and walked straight over to the area of grass surrounded by rocks, ideally placed to ease the high winds and also to prevent an unbalanced person from falling over. Before he laid the blanket he turned to her.
"Close your eyes" he smiled at her, standing in front of her to block her view from the horizon.
She glared at him stubbornly before reluctantly complying, shutting her eyes and taking a deep breath. He took her hand, moving her forward, closer to the rocks and the side of the cliff.
"You better not push me off" she joked, laughing slightly as he tilted her head to control which direction she would be looking in when she opened her eyes.
"Alright" he said excited "You may open them".
She squinted open her eye-lids, adjusting to the light for a moment before looking eagerly at what Kol wanted to show her. She saw the horizon, the blue sea shimmering under the overcast sky, its waves hitting off of anything in its path, rocks, shore….
She stopped when she saw it, a little shocked.
"Is that a….ship?" she asked both in awe and excitement.
Kol nodded.
"I was speaking with the town elder this morning" Kol began smiling as he watched her watch the Viking Knarr, a ship designed specifically for Atlantic voyages "It was expected, Ayana predicted its arrival but two days ago".
Kara smiled at the prospect of new villagers with tales from the old world.
"They're friendly?" she asked as Kol wrapped his arms around her waist.
He nodded.
"Both Ayana and the council believe so, they came here with the same intentions as our parents, to live a better, safer life"
Kara nodded but sighed.
"Your parents maybe"
Kol moved her braid from laying on her shoulder to having it stream down her back before trailing kisses from her neck to the shoulder he just uncovered. It was both erotic and comforting and she couldn't help the goose-bumps that erupted on her skin.
"Do you want to go back?" he asked her "Be on the beach to greet them?"
Kara thought for a moment before shaking her head.
"Not just yet" she turned her head to look at him "I want to spend time with you".
He kissed her fully on the lips, tightening his hold on her midsection.
"Hungry?" he asked her after a beat. Looking in his eyes she pondered for a moment about which 'hunger' he meant. Either way the answer was yes but deciding he was referring to the food she replied.
"Famished" she answered remembering the food he had tied up in the blanket.
He released her, turning to the tied up package. Securing the food whilst he spread the blanket out in the sheltered area of ground. He knelt upon it and held his arm out for Kara to join. She smiled at his smirk but joined him on the blanket none the less. They sat with their backs to the large rocks, their eye-line gazing at both the edge of the woods and the large horizon of the ocean and picked at the small feast Kol laid in front of them.
"This bread is delicious" Kara spoke after a moment of silence, her taste buds appreciating a new flavour.
Kol smiled.
"'Bekah will be happy to hear that"
"She made this?" Kara asked astonished. She herself had never been that much of a good cook. Sure the food she prepared was never burnt but it never tasted this good either.
Kol nodded.
"She much prefers it to going foraging, she doesn't like the insects so recently Mother has decided to let her teach 'Rick so he can take over whilst she takes over the food".
Kara laughed.
'Typical 'Bekah' she thought remembering the times as children when she would run away from the boys chasing her with earthworms.
"Do you think she'll keep our secret?" Kara asked her mind suddenly going back to the moment when Rebekah discovered them.
"Absolutely" Kol replied "She has been routing for us for years, always trying to get me to officially court you. She saw my love for you long before I had even admitted it to myself"
Kara turned to him, caressing his stubbly face with the back of her hand.
"So it's her I should thank for this then?" she asked with a smile indicating to the two of them sitting there.
"Let us not give her too much acclaim here" Kol answered back unconsciously leaning into her touch.
Kara smiled. To her it was something of a miracle how Kol so often made her forget whatever was troubling her. She leant forward to the pile of food, plucked an apple from the choice and using her sword, sliced it in two giving one half to Kol while munching eagerly into her own.
"You are hungry" he spoke humorously nibbling at the side of his apple.
"I told you" she replied, momentarily ceasing her chewing long enough to give him a grin.
It was then he acknowledged the sword lying on the blanket.
"You went training today?" he asked curiously knowing that she would only ever carry her blunted sword when training.
Kara could feel the colour drain from her face. The memory of what had happened out there resurfaced and suddenly the apple was tasting more like ash in her mouth.
Kol took this the wrong way however and immediately began apologising.
"Kara don't worry, that place is as much yours as it is mine. You know you can use it any time. I prefer someone to be with you though in case of an accident but I know you are quite able". He tried to make her feel better by stroking her arm and giving her a trademark smile but all Kara could feel was her heart pounding in her chest. She had destroyed that place, she had let the darkness within her obliterate a spot she and Kol held dear. She swallowed hard and forced a smile. Kol wrapped his arm around her as he leant back against a flat rock comfortably pulling her to his chest so she could lye against him. She tried to let his scent engulf her, to calm her but it just wouldn't work. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes trying to push away the thoughts of her powers, of Destin, Vilgard, Drake, the evil within her that sought every day to emerge. That today had emerged. She pushed shuddering and unspeakable thoughts away, thoughts of 'What if Kol had been with her?' 'What if it had happened in the centre of the village?' 'What if she had hurt someone?'. She needed to calm herself. She thought instead of little things. The feeling of Kol's heart beating under her ear, the way the material of his tunic felt under her fingers, the sounds of seagulls and waves and the coolness of the fresh coastal air brushing her face and hair.
They were silent for minutes, comfortably laying in other's arms.
"When we are wed" Kol began, his voice rich with sleepiness "Then I promise we shall have moments like this one every single day". He clutched her closer and Kara felt her stomach flip, both excitedly and nervously at the prospect of the union.
She could tell he was falling into slumber because so was she.
"I wish we were already married" she mumbled into his chest.
"And why is that?" he asked almost suggestively in his tired state. She knew what he was getting at and whilst she longed to be one with him, to make love to him the way only wedded couples did the thought of being with him fully scared her somewhat. She couldn't pinpoint whether she was afraid of accidentally falling with-child with him or dooming him to a life of never having children or having a wife that owes a debt to a demon or even the new fear; losing control of her power and hurting him.
She peeled her closing eyes open and looked up at him, her chin on his chest and forcing a smile.
"Because we could escape on that ship and never have to worry about my family again" she answered.
Kol looked surprised but not in a bad way. He raised his eyebrows and looked down upon her face. She smiled at him again and reached up to caress a hand down his cheek.
"Don't worry, I know we never really could" she said, the moment of fantasy seeping away into the realism that she would never be able to run away from her powers, no matter where in the world they lived.
"Why not?" he asked after a pause. He had obviously spent the time thinking about it and decided that the positives outweighed the negatives.
"Kol we couldn't, you could never leave your family and I would never ask you too".
"Kara" Kol sighed "When are you going to learn that you are my family now, my future and I would do anything for you if it would make you happy".
Kara smiled, this time genuinely trying to push back the tears that pricked her eyes. She had been so scared, so stressed all day that it was so good just to hear him say that.
"I feel the same way about you" she replied looking up at him with sparkling eyes "But just because I am your family doesn't mean that you lose the other members. They love you and you need them as much as they need you".
Kol kissed the crown of her head.
"Just say the word and we'll leave" he spoke. He knew what she was saying and it was true, he was lucky to have the family he had, even if there was animosity between Nik and their father. He knew that neither of his parents would do to their children what her parents had done to them, and all in the name of power.
"I know" she replied snuggling back into his chest "And I love you even more for just saying that, but we can't run away. Not from dark magic, it's a part of me now. There's no running from it". Another pause and Kara could almost hear Kol in deep thought. She had almost fallen completely asleep when he spoke again, awaking her with a jolt.
"I'm going to suggest something so please don't dismiss it until you've given it some thought" Kol began tentatively moving his hand from around her shoulders to up and down her arm in comfort.
"Alright" Kara replied a little apprehensive. If Kol had to warn her about what he was about to say then she knew it might be something that she wouldn't like.
He took a deep breath.
"Why don't we tell Ayana or my mother or both"
Kara went to cut him off, shaking her head but Kol stopped her.
"Ah ah" he said "You said you wouldn't dismiss it".
This time Kara sighed and sat up to look at him.
"If we tell people Kol, they could get hurt. My family…" she paused a moment "They will stop at nothing to protect themselves even if they have to hurt people to do it".
Kol narrowed his eyes at her in contemplation.
"What do you mean?"
She stopped for a long moment, sitting up and away from her beloved. She wanted to tell him, to blurt out that her brother was a murderer and she herself had brainwashed a man into forgetting the moment of his cousin's death but she couldn't because she knew it would only make this crazy situation worse.
She shook her head.
"Nothing, just their magic, my magic is dangerous and it would be dangerous to get anyone else involved".
"But, they may know a spell, a potion or anything to unlink you from the curse" Kol pressed. All he wanted to do was to help her but he could tell she was scared. Telling other people was putting the power into their hands and she wasn't ready to do that yet.
"If a reversal spell wasn't in my family's grimoire then what makes you think it would be in yours or Ayana's?"
She was getting a little irritated now, she had explained all of this to him before so why couldn't he just leave it be? Kol on the other hand just yearned to help, lift this burden from her shoulders so for once in her life she could think happily about her future, about their future together.
"I'm not sure Kara" Kol began sitting up taller against the large boulders "Ayana has been to many places your family has not, she's met people, seen things" he stopped knowing his voice was rising.
"Do you not think it's worth the risk?"
Kara sighed.
"If people find out what my parents did" she paused looking from the ground to his waiting eyes "They'll be exiled, we all will. Or worse".
Kol reached over and took her hand.
"I would never let anyone exile you Kara" he began, his tone demoted to comforting now "You are my family. But…" he began. He knew what he was about to say next may hurt her but he felt she needed to ask herself the question.
"What if it was to be that your parents were exiled. What they did to you, to your brothers was just malevolent".
"But that is just the thing Kol" she responded defensively, unclear of the reasons why she felt the need to defend them "They did it for us, for their family. They didn't want us to be powerless".
Kol looked at her bemused.
"Kara they did it so that they would have power and you know that because you told me yourself".
She closed her eyes slowly, torn. She knew Kol was right. She had thought many times that if she just told Ayana then maybe she would be free from them, not entirely from the evil but from the association of it. But now that Kol was asking her to do the same thing she felt somewhat guilty. Despite her parents actions they still loved her in their own small way, even if it was because of her power and even though they had sold her chance at a normal life she loved them. They were her parents after all.
"I can't Kol, I'm sorry" she finalised standing up and moving closer to the cliffs edge. She looked as though she was watching the ship move closer to the beach but in fact her mind was racing.
'Did Kol really accept her the way she was or had he been waiting for a moment just like this to persuade her to ask Ayana for help?'
'Could she trust him not to tell Ayana himself?'
'Why was she feeling this loyalty to her family after what they had made her do, what they had turned her into?'
Kol himself stood up. His intuition was telling him, screaming at him that asking for help was the right thing to do.
"Kara" he began softly moving closer to her.
She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling suddenly cold and vulnerable. His voice usually comforted her but now it just caused tears to pool in her eyes.
"I'm sorry"
He was almost right behind her when he said it. She could almost hear the sorrow in his voice but it just made her feel worse.
"What I said was heartless" he continued "You feel a loyalty to them and after everything they have done that is so admirable, I shouldn't have expected anything less from you. But I think that right now you have to start thinking about yourself, about your brothers, not just about your future, our future but all of their futures"
Kara sighed, any anger or irritation she had been feeling about Kol dissipating in that moment.
She thought about Drake and wondered if he had been brought up in a normal household with normal parents then would he had felt the need to murder Vilgard, or have the nonchalant attitude he had when it comes to anything serious. The competitiveness he felt against his siblings, especially Kara herself.
She thought of Wade and wondered if he had had a normal upbringing then would he be so timid, so scared of anyone finding out their secret.
She thought of both Alistair and Brenna, the husband and wife-to-be and how their future was corrupted in darkness before they even had a chance to begin. They would never have children and if they did then Alistair's soul would forever be condemned to walk the underworld, just like their parents. The child in turn would pass on the curse, each joining their predecessor in the clutches of the demons. She needed time to think about this, about everything. It was an important decision to make and one not to be made lightly.
She turned to Kol and he almost recoiled seeing the tears in her eyes and knowing that he had been the one that had caused them.
"I've changed my mind" she said trying her upmost to keep her emotions in check.
"Not about that" she added straight away seeing Kol's expression "For that I need time but I think I shall go down to the beach, watch the ship come in"
Kol nodded over-enthusiastically.
"Alright" he said dashing to the blanket and discarded food "Give me a moment and we'll go".
"No" she replied causing him to look up from tidying the food away. He looked at her confused.
"I'll walk…by myself" she spoke stepping down from the cliff-face and moving slowly towards the path at the entrance of the woods.
"Kara, it's not safe" Kol emoted watching her leave with sad eyes. She almost couldn't bear to look at him.
She indicated to the sword at her hip.
"I have this and if something bad happens then I always have my magic"
She turned to leave once more but was stopped again by Kol's words.
"Kara please" he begged "Don't go. Be as angry as you want with me but please ride back with me"
Despite herself she gave him a small smile.
"I am not angry with you; I just need time to think about…everything"
She began walking again.
"Kara…" Kol tried again. He was worried for her, the woods were not a safe place especially on foot but she was determined and he knew she needed time to herself right now.
She turned to him.
"I'll meet you on the beach, I promise"
Reluctantly, Kol let her go. He was angry with himself. Never had he ever wanted to cause her hurt. He had always aimed to make her feel loved and treat her the way she deserved the way her parents had neglected to treat her all of her life. Regardless of his intentions, today he felt he had failed.
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~TVD~
Mystic Falls
1864
When Kara returned home she was surprised to see a worried Damon and Stefan waiting for her on the porch, Katherine shockingly absent from the scene.
"K!" Damon seemed to yell as soon as she got into earshot of him "What on earth were you thinking…are you alright?"
"I see news travels quickly in this town" she observed looking to both of her brothers and to the few servants who had gathered at the doorway.
"They too wanted to come fetch you but I dissuaded them" Giuseppe told her as they approached the front door "I assumed you wouldn't want the fuss".
Kara nodded now appreciating what her father had done for her. She knew he wanted her to tell him what was going on with her and in her mind she still hadn't decided what exactly it was that she was going to divulge to him.
"You assumed correctly, thank you" she spoke softly, her voice seemingly mimicking the soft tone she had adopted years ago when speaking to her father.
He just nodded, joining the boys on the top step.
"Leave your sister be won't you" he told them firmly ushering them back inside "Come tell me of your stories of the day". They obeyed but each looked back to her in turn wanting to ask as many questions as they could muster. She sighed. She was most definitely not in the mood for this. Thankfully Sally, hearing her silent plea came to her rescue.
"Miss I took the liberty of running you a bath, I thought it may help you to warm up".
Kara smiled at her loyal maid who had over the years become more than a maid more like a confidant, a friend.
"That is exactly what I need" Kara smiled at the woman "Thank you Sally".
She nodded with a smile, happy to have helped.
Kara alerted Ollie, the footman to tell her father where she was headed and made her way up to her room. The cloaks on top of her felt heavy and awkward as she slowly strolled up the staircase but as right now they were her only source of warmth she clutched onto them tightly. Now that the adrenalin of the day was gradually wearing off she felt her headache return with a vengeance along with seemingly aches in every moveable joint in her body. After what seem an age, she reached the door to her bedroom and sluggishly turned the knob to reveal a warm and cosy bedroom. The curtains were pulled shut darkening the room with gas lamps lit periodically around the boudoir. The fire was lit and blazing in the fireplace with an old-fashioned metal bath tub, filled to the brim with warm water sat in front of it. She silently sang her praises to Sally. She had thought of everything. The metal tub was one she usually used in bouts of ill health when she couldn't manage the journey to the main bathroom to wash and right now she really did not want to be out of this room. She also noticed her tonic, prescribed for her by Dr Marsh on her bed-side-table along with a cup of tea. She sighed relieved almost feeling safe, dropping the cloaks to the carpeted floor and toeing off her shoes. She pulled off her stockings, the heated floor near the fireplace feeling nice against her chilled feet and moved to the bathtub and open fire.
All she wanted to do was warm up, submerge herself in the warm water and feel more like herself. After she would try and deal about what to tell her father, what to do about Katherine. She had gone too far now, she had to know that. Know that there was no way that she could commit a murder and get away with it. Kara undressed and sat into the tub, a sigh of contentment escaping her lips as she lay back and allowed the water to reach her neck. She shut her eyes and lay her head back, wetting the strands and allowed the heated liquid to permeate throughout her body. She felt her aching joints loosen somewhat but her head continued to pound. Fishing the washcloth from the bottom of the tub she folded it in half and placed it over her eyes in an effort to pacify the banging in her head.
She didn't know how long she had been lying in there when a small knock sounded on the door and Sally entered.
"Sorry to disturb you Miss" she began fiddling with a small object in her hands while walking closer to where Kara lay soaking.
"That's alright Sally" Kara spoke hoarsely, the weariness she felt now catching up with her voice. She sat up in the tub and cleared her throat, trying to alleviate the sound of tiredness.
Sally handed her the object, which turned out to be a small note folded in half.
"Thank you" Kara responded taking the note in hand careful not to get the paper wet.
She watched Sally turn and leave before turning her attention to the note. She squinted, trying to read the black scratchy writing in the poor light of the room. She concluded it wasn't a penmanship she recognised but her heart leapt when she saw it was from Kol. It wasn't very long at all. Just a simple one-line message but one that made the blood pump around her body just a little bit faster.
Kara,
Please meet me outside your house at 7pm.
Kol
She knew she shouldn't. After all she should be recovering from today's ordeal, planning what to tell her father, figuring out a way to help the council, stop Katherine, mourn Rosalyn but for some reason she couldn't think of anything more pleasing right now than to spend time with Kol. Feeling a smile creep on her face for the second time today she experienced new found energy and after she finished washing she all but leapt from the bathtub. She had hours yet as it had only just past three but she didn't know how long this new found vitality would last.
She dressed in a light green dress, her favourite in trying to accentuate her curves and one she had found little occasion to wear. He hair was wet so she towel-dried the blond strands and brushed it through, styling it in a way that it would dry easily. Sitting at her dressing table she opened a drawer that she didn't open very often. One full of cosmetics and lotions popular in the large cities for painting one's face. They had hardly ever been used. Her father had bought her most with the assistance of Alice she presumed as presents when he returned from long weeks of visiting his second family. She donned her face, making sure to keep the colour and texture subtle and looked back at herself in the mirror. She smiled. Whilst she had always been sickly and frail there was no denying that Kara had an aesthetically pleasing face. 'Her mother's beauty' as some of the older maids would call it and with the application of the cosmetics, she found she almost looked normal, healthy. She pinched her cheeks in an attempted to rouge them and took a deep breath. In all of her self-preparation she had managed to have an idea about what to tell her father but she had no idea of how it was going to work. No matter how many times she told him the truth about what was going on in their house, the town, he just didn't believe her. So she was just going to have to show him, make it so he couldn't deny the existence of these beasts, these vampires anymore and make it so there was no question that Katherine Pierce was one of them.
Slipping on her shoes, green to match her dress with a moderate heal she made her way to her father's office. She was nervous but since Rosalyn had been murdered she had a new sense of determination. She paused outside the hard-wood door when she heard angry shouting. A moment later an angry Stefan stormed out and down the hallway followed by a smug looking Damon.
"Don't worry brother" she heard Damon say in a boastful tone "I'm sure I'll manage to keep her company that night". She was unsure what was said after that as both of her brothers fell out of earshot.
Kara took and deep breath and knocked at the door which still lay ajar from Damon clearly forgetting to close it.
"Yes enter" she heard her father echo, his tone harsh but defeatist.
She walked in slowly, she too leaving the door slightly ajar. Giuseppe didn't look up from his paperwork and she didn't know if she was waiting for him to. Deciding it would be better be plain with him she began.
"Father?" she asked him. Hearing her voice almost startled him, the realisation it was Kara standing before him and not some servant forced him to stand in greeting to her.
"Kara" he spoke "I didn't know it was you, I thought you were spending the day in bed recovering".
Kara nodded.
"I was but…" she paused and studied him, his mood, his stress, his demeanour "Do you have a moment? To talk?".
Giuseppe looked taken aback but nodded, indicating for her to sit in the chair across from his desk.
She complied, smoothing down the skirt of her dress as she sat.
They sat in silence for a moment before Giuseppe spoke.
"Kara I gave you until tomorrow, take this time to relax if you wish you have been through a great deal".
She shook her head.
"No" she said firmly, lifting her head and looking him in the eye "I want to tell you".
Giuseppe nodded moving from sitting behind his desk to leaning on it from the front.
"Alright. So tell me"
Kara sighed. He was not going to make this easy on her, she knew it.
"You don't believe me…" she said slowly "About Katherine?"
Giuseppe began to anger at these accusations once again.
"Kara you need to stop this. This jealousy has gotten out of control".
"I am not jealous of her father" Kara said in a tone equally that of her fathers "She is dangerous and right now she is deceiving this whole family and you don't see it".
"Really Kara?" Giuseppe argued "To what end? Marry Stefan, inherit the estate? Well correct me if I'm wrong but I do not think that Stefan would find any problem with that".
"Father you don't understand. She is not some poor innocent girl that just happened to meet you, come here and fall in love with Stefan. To her this is all some sick joke, a game. Tell me, why did you even invite her to come and live here?"
Giuseppe scoffed.
"Father!"
"She was homeless, had just lost her family. I felt sorry for her, wanted to help her" he responded albeit clearly trying to think very hard about what had happened that day.
Kara shrugged.
"A little out of character for you, wouldn't you say" she stated.
"Even I have a heart Kara" he responded.
"Yes father you do" she replied standing up from her chair now and moving closer to her father "You care a great deal about this family, about our reputation. So much so that you have hidden the fact for over a decade that you have a mistress and son whom I know you also love".
Giuseppe looked aghast at the knowledge Kara had but stayed silent. Kara continued.
"You didn't invite them to live with us?"
"They are a different story Kara. She was our servant for heaven's sake".
"And how do you know Katherine wasn't a servant? You knew she was from society straight away without asking anyone about her?"
"Well…just by looking at her you can tell…" he began to defend but Kara cut him off.
"My point is father is that you invited a stranger who could have been anyone into this house, to live with us and did not care about the gossip, the talk around the town. Giuseppe Salvatore who has spent years trying to build a strong reputation for the Salvatore name. Giuseppe Salvatore who did not speak to Damon for three months because he dropped out of university and soiled the Salvatore name. Giuseppe Salvatore that had blessed Stefan and Rosalyn's engagement long before they had ever even begun courting because her family was well liked".
Giuseppe sighed unable to fight with her argument.
"So I've changed a bit, it happens Kara" he brushed off.
"Not to you" Kara bit back.
A silence passed over them and she knew she was not going to go anywhere with this conversation.
"What if I could prove it to you?" she asked him.
"Prove what?" he asked still unclear about what exactly she had been insinuating.
"That Katherine has been brain washing you"
"Kara will you please stop this" he said standing and becoming irate. He turned to her holding up is thumb and his forefinger leaving little space between them.
"You are this close from having me send for a doctor from Hardcrest Metal asylum, you sound insane".
Kara stood close to her father.
"Do one thing for me and you have my word that if I am wrong I will never bring it up again".
Giuseppe paused for a moment, thinking about this and in the end decided to pacify his daughter.
"Very well, do what?"
Kara smiled victoriously before walking briskly out of the office and into the empty dining room, pouring him a small glass of bourbon and turning back to the hallway again.
"A little early for that, wouldn't you agree?" he spoke lightly watching as he daughter went to a cupboard under the stairs, where she had hidden the vervain and plucked out a vial a clear liquid.
"What is that?" he asked curiously as he observed her pour it into the drink.
"Vervain" she responded "I procured it at the apothecary"
She handed him the mixed drink to which he looked at unsure.
"It won't hurt you" she told him fighting the urge to roll her eyes.
'Why would he think she would try and hurt him?' she vaguely wondered to herself.
When he still didn't drink it she scoffed at him before taking it from him and gulping down a large sip. She cringed at the burn of the alcohol but was otherwise unaffected. She handed it back to him to which he this time complied and drank it down in one swift move.
"And this is supposed to do what?" he asked her after swallowing the amber liquid, twirling the empty tumbler in his hand.
She smiled at him.
"It will show you the truth" she responded.
"Really?" he asked sceptically analysing the remnants at the bottom of the glass "I don't feel any different".
Kara sighed.
"Just wait alright. Wait until you hear something, see something unusual. This time she won't be able to wipe your mind"
Giuseppe nodded but Kara could tell he was only trying to appease her.
"Alright. Is there anything else?" he asked with slight vexation in his voice moving away and back towards his office.
Kara thought for a moment before something occurred to her. Almost shocked at her own failure to mention it earlier the next sentence came fast and sharp
"Yes actually, whatever you do, whatever you see you must do exactly what she says or else she will know that you are immune to her enchantment".
Giuseppe gave her a startled look of upset.
"You mean to say that if she tells me to give her a thousand dollars then I must?"
Kara nodded.
"I highly doubt that she would be so crass as to ask for money but yes, that is the general idea".
"Kara" Giuseppe sighed running a hand through his greying hair. He seemed to be debating the decision of whether to continue to go along with her plan or not. He was agitated, clearly uncomfortable with his daughters behaviour.
"Fine" he finally spoke looking at her with both anger and worry "I will play along with your little folly tonight but tomorrow first thing I am bringing you to the best psychiatrist this state has to offer".
Kara looked at him, shock clearly written on her face.
"Father I am not crazy" she said firmly.
Giuseppe took her by the shoulders and looked at her with more love and compassion than he had in years, not since Georgianna had been alive.
"No, no of course you're not but you have been through so much. First with seeing your Mother die and now with Rosalyn…It's my fault really I should have sought to get you help sooner".
Kara shrugged off her father's hands and glared at him, perhaps a little more harshly then she had initially intended.
"You will be eating your words by tomorrow, trust me"
She stormed off, putting power into her stride and posture. This wasn't weakness, wasn't insanity and she had to try and get that across to him.
"Kara!" her father called after her "Kara!"
Instead of turning back she walked straight out the front door.
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~TVD~
Tahlia stood at the door to his bedroom and watched as Noah paced the carpet, searching every nook and cranny for a means to escape. She could tell that he knew she was there yet still insisted on this charade.
"This is tiresome for me and I am not the one wearing the carpet down" she spoke leaning against the doorframe and folding her arms.
"Unless you have come to tell me that my sister and I have been freed then I do not want to hear anything that you have to say" he replied not even bothering to look at her, instead choosing to examine the window lock further.
"Come now" she said entering the room and sitting on a chair near the bed "I thought we were becoming friends, I unshackled you and everything".
Noah turned to her.
"Are you still working for that vampire?"
"By that vampire I am assuming you mean Kol, if so then yes I am" she stood up and moved closer to him "and my answer will always be yes I am"
Noah scoffed and turned back to the window, using the short, bleeding nails on his hands to try and pry open the locks.
"Are you sure you want to do that?" Tahlia asked moving closer to the window and peering out "I mean; you get it open great but you still have a three story drop there. That could get… messy"
Noah stopped and looked at her.
"What would you have me do? Sit here and wait? Be a good boy and be compliant in the face of my kidnapper and likely murderer. No thanks" he spat the last words at her and looked at her in disgust.
"Your sister has been more than helpful" Tahlia began, for the first time looking up at him as she spoke "She has found Kara, saved her, there is no reason for Kol to kill you. Not unless you make him mad that is. Trying to escape will surely make him mad".
"What do you suggest I do?" he asked her. For the first time she saw the emotion in his eyes and she suddenly thought of his predicament from his point of view. Generations of his family had been preyed on and stalked by Kol and he had been brought up to fear him, to hate him, to run from him. It must have been neutering for him to be trapped in the lair of the man he had been taught to fear and not being able to do anything about it.
Tahlia looked him up and down and smiled.
"Get dressed, clean yourself up and you may join your sister for dinner".
Noah looked at her in confused shock. He hadn't seen Natalie since they had arrived here and despite their assurances that she was fine and performing her job well it would still be a great relief to see her. By the time his train of thought had finished he could see that Tahlia was already by the door.
"Just like that?" he asked her trying to figure out what motive she must have to suddenly be nice to him.
Tahlia shrugged.
"Dinners at eight and there are clothes in the wardrobe". She gave him a sweet smile.
"I'll see you there"
So after a long wait that was chapter 19. I hope you liked it and again….I am so sorry for the wait. Chapter twenty is already started. Thank you so much for reading and sticking with the story! : ) xxx