AN: I do not own TVD or TO.

As promised Kol makes his first appearance here.

Again there is some potentially triggering material. it's located after she goes to sleep.

May 1702

It had been two years. Two years since she had married him. It had been nearly two years since she had sworn to never give him children. Emiliano was all pleasant smiles until they were behind closed doors.

After that first beating she had slipped from the tavern in the middle of the night. It had been a painful walk. Each step had sent jolts through her backside. Her thighs had trembled when she finally reached the small cabin in the darkest part of the woods. She knew she would be unlikely to ever make the trip again so she gathered as many of the herbs as she could and made the trek back to the small clearing. She had lifted the jade necklace from around her neck, the last present her mother had given her, and laid it under the light of the full moon. With the absence of a mortar and pestle she had ground the herbs between her palms until her skin was raw; the acacia left tiny cuts in her skin. She probably could have gotten away with one contraceptive herb but she was still reeling from her ordeal and used three: acacia, Queen Anne's lace, and rue. Blood had dripped from her nose when she was done, but it had worked; she had successfully imbued the properties of the herbs into the necklace.

She fingered the jade around her neck as the wine slowly filled the pitcher in her hand. So long as she wore the talisman she would not conceive a child. Lexa winced when she straightened up.

A certain mixture of herbs often kept Emiliano out of their bed in the evenings; slipped into his ale in the evening it would cause him to pass out before the fire. A whispered incantation would alter his memory of the evening to make him believe he had lain with his wife.

It was rare when he would approach her during the day, and when he did there was nothing she could do against his superior strength. She had learned that if she kept herself busy he left her alone though. It had been nearly a year since he had actually taken her.

While sharing a bed was a rare concern beatings came monthly. Perhaps she should have refrained from placing the false memory in his head; maybe that would have saved her from the pain. Although it was unlikely since he would strike her for moving too slowly at times. Every month when she bled he would rain down blows on her body. She found herself extremely grateful for her sleeping herbs those days.

Slowly she stepped back out into the tavern's main room. The bruises along her face had faded, but she was certain he had broken a rib; she had bled three days before.

Lexa kept her breathing shallow as she approached the table of regular evening patrons. She inhaled sharply when Emiliano's hand landed on the small of her back.

"They can wait," he breathed in her ear. "Do you see that man over there?" He nodded to a table along the wall.

Lexa didn't have to look to know that Emiliano was smiling softly. To anyone else in the room it would appear as though he were exchanging pleasantries with his wife. She followed his gaze and nodded; he still tightened his fingers around her arm.

"He is a young lord who has taken up lodgings with us for the foreseeable future," Emiliano whispered. "See that he is looked after first."

Lexa swallowed and nodded. She walked as slowly as she could when he released her arm and took shallow breaths. The short walk was used to rake her eyes over the man who would be staying in her home; it was rare when they would take on lodgers. Usually it was just her and Emiliano after the revelers had gone home; that was how she liked it. She didn't have to answer the question of why her husband slept in the sitting room.

He appeared to be around her age; at most she would have said he was a year or two older. He wore his brown hair long and tied back at the nape of his neck; a few strands had fallen loose around his face. His clothes were simple, but even from where she stood she could tell they were of the highest quality. He was sitting down now but she knew when he stood he would tower over her.

"Good evening, milord," Lexa bit her cheek when she poured the wine.

"You must be Senora Acosta," he glanced up from the leather bound book. "I'm surprised to find the lady of the house serving patrons," he did not miss the slight wince when she straightened up.

"It fills my days," she smiled tightly. Her green eyes widened when she met his dark brown ones. She could see exactly what he was in that brief moment. Not so young.

He saw her emerald eyes flicker with surprise; her hand tightened around the handle of the wine jug. A vein fluttered wildly in her neck. Her question surprised him.

"Is the title real?" Her eyes narrowed as her head tilted.

"I beg your pardon?" He saw her gaze shift to the blue stone on his finger. "What are you?" A playful smirk lifted the corner of his mouth.

"Just an inn-keepers wife," Lexa shrugged. She winced when the movement sent a stab of pain across her ribs.

"Oh I doubt that," he leaned back. "You're definitely human," his eyes flickered over her face.

"You're not," she accused. She thought of the vervain store she had in the kitchen; she wasn't sure why she continued to grind the flowers and put them in her drinks. He was the first vampire she had seen in nearly three years.

"How do you know that?" His eyes flickered to the ring.

"Sometimes I know things," she smirked.

"And what do you know?"

Lexa considered him. Her eyes flickered from his bright eyes to the cocky smirk on his lips. She probably should have been afraid, but she wasn't. She could tell by looking at him that he was fully capable of extreme acts of violence, that he had committed some recently, but she also knew he would not harm her; though she didn't know why.

Her green gaze snapped back to his dark eyes when he repeated the question.

"What do you know?"

"I know you're older than you look," she murmured. Her head tilted to the side as he lifted the glass to his mouth. "I know you're avoiding some people… family," she saw his eyes widen.

"A witch," he whispered, "How have you not been burnt at the stake?"

"I keep my nature secret," she shrugged.

"You've just revealed it to me," he cocked a heavy eyebrow.

"Somehow," her voice dropped until it was little more than a breath of air between them, "I don't think the vampire will turn me over to the village elders." Lexa saw amusement dance in his eyes. "You haven't answered my question yet: is the title real?"

"Yes," he leaned back in his chair, "Lord Kol Mikaelson."

"Has anyone ever told you that you're a terrible liar?" Lexa arched a golden eyebrow.

"Has anyone ever told you that you're cheeky?" Kol tilted his head. "That tongue must get you into all kinds of trouble." He chuckled and shook his head. "The title is very real I assure you, although it was not awarded by birth."

"That's what I thought," her eyes darkened when she caught the narrow gaze of Emiliano. "I have to go. Just… please don't kill the patrons."

Kol sat back in his chair and watched her path. His eyes narrowed when he saw the limp in her gait; he hadn't noticed that when she'd approached him.

Lexa nibbled on her lip. She could barely keep her eyes open. Her features contorted as she ground the Valerian root with the lavender. A gasp escaped her lips when Emiliano stepped into the storeroom where she was working. She hastily stashed the herbs beneath the worktable and swiped her trembling hand across her brow.

She blinked slowly and stepped back out of his way. She wrung a rag out and started wiping down the smooth wood. She could hear him pouring a mug of ale behind her back; she would have to put the herbs in the next drink.

"Make sure the linens have been changed," he muttered. "Only the best for our finest patron," his eyes flashed when he caught her gaze.

"Right away," Lexa nodded. She dropped the rag glad for an excuse to get far away from him. She just made out the harsh insult when she hurried passed him: "barren perra."

Her shoes clicked on the narrow stairs as she moved as quickly as she could upwards.

"Senora," Kol crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame. He had just enough time to take in her backside before she stood with the pile of linens. Dark circles ringed her eyes. "I do hope you're about to retire."

"Excuse me?" Lexa tilted her head back. She had been right; he towered above her. Oddly enough she didn't find the height disconcerting, but she knew others did.

"You're exhausted," Kol nodded to her eyes. He could see her arms shaking.

"That's rather rude," she suppressed her yawn.

"I do apologize," he grinned. "I meant no offence. I'm merely concerned for your well-being. I would hate for you to suffer from insomnia."

"That won't be a problem," Lexa tried to roll her eyes but found they were too sore to move; much like the rest of her body. "Good night, milord," she stepped around him, "you'll forgive me if I don't curtsy."

"Goodnight, little witch," Kol chuckled and watched her disappear into a room down the hall.

He had known the woman less than six hours and he found himself fascinated by her. She was clever and feisty, beautiful and sad, fearless and yet afraid. He stood there in the threshold for several moments just listening. He heard the unmistakable sound of heavy fabric falling to the floor before a slim body climbed between the sheets of the bed.

Lexa yawned and tore off the laces holding her corset closed. She drew in a greedy lungful of air and winced when it sent searing pain across her ribs.

Normally she would have folded the fabric and laid it neatly in the chest, but it was all she could do to climb into the bed. Her eyes were closed before her head hit the pillow.

She shifted slightly when the bed dipped. Her eyes remained closed however until the blanket was torn off her body. The cold air jolted her awake.

Her stomach heaved when the heavy smell of ale reached her nose.

"Emiliano," she swallowed and scooted as far back as she could. For a moment she thought she was dreaming, but then she remembered the herbs still on the worktable in the storeroom. "Emiliano," her voice turned pleading.

Lexa scrambled out of the bed and backed into the wall. Her eyes darted around frantically. As if from underwater she heard the glass vase shatter when he bumped into the table. His boots crushed the daisy petals underfoot as he advanced.

"Please…" she felt a sob threatening to tear through her throat. Lexa made a desperate attempt to get away from him.

Emiliano reached out and grabbed her elbow. He pulled forcibly on her arm while pushing her face down onto the bed.

She felt it when her arm shifted. Muscle, cartilage and tissue tore as the shoulder was pulled from the socket. Lexa's scream was muffled by the mattress.

"Emiliano."

His eyes snapped open. He was certain he had heard distress in the small voice; the voice that had been full of laughter earlier that day.

"Please…"

Kol sat up. He propped himself up on the heels of his palms and listened. It wasn't his business what went on in his host's marriage bed. He couldn't understand why his stomach twisted at the sound of her voice. He didn't know why his blood boiled when he thought of her being harmed.

The scream was what drew him from the room. After seven hundred years he was proficient in interpreting the emotions behind screams. Hers was filled with terror and pain. Before the sound had died in her throat Kol had burst through the door.

Seconds was all it took for him to understand the image. Emiliano Acosta had his screaming wife pinned to the bed. Her arm was bent at an unnatural angle over her back. His other hand was lifting her shift.

Without thinking Kol was across the room. He pinned the man to the wall by his throat and plunged his hand through the soft flesh of his chest. He took little delight in the man's screams before dropping him to the floor.

Kol blinked down at the body and squeezed the heart in his hand. He dropped the organ and watched it role off the man's chest with a wet sound.

He smelt the fear when he took a deep breath and turned around. He knelt beside her on the floor and pulled the edges of her shift back down.

Lexa sobbed. The pain that had been present at first had now faded to something more manageable. Her body trembled when she felt hands pulling her down to kneel on the floor. Has he changed his mind? She vividly remembered the first time he had forced her to her knees.

Lexa flinched when a strong hand grasped her injured shoulder. She shrieked loudly and tried to pull away, but stopped when the movement burned through her arm.

"Please…" she sobbed. Her eyes snapped open when she heard his soothing voice.

"Relax, little witch," Kol soothed, "he can't hurt you now." A growl rumbled through his throat when he saw the dark bruises across her ribs through the gauzy shift. He instantly regretted killing the man so quickly.

Lexa peered through her tears. The salty tears left tracks down her cheeks and distorted the dark veins under his eyes.

"I need you to hold very still," Kol reached for her arm again. "Your shoulder is dislocated."

"It doesn't hurt that much," Lexa shook her head. "I think its fine." Her features contorted when she tried to move it. "I'll just never move it again."

"Elskling," Kol tipped up her chin. "I can reset it, and heal you. It will hurt, but you'll be perfectly fine soon." His eyes darted to the body. "Physically at least."

Lexa followed his gaze. She couldn't quite describe the emotion she felt when she saw him; a cross between relief and grief. She bit down on her lip before meeting Kol's eyes and nodding.

Warmth spread through her when he took her arm. He rotated it a few times before popping it back into place.

"Dios mio," Lexa gasped. She squeezed her eyes shut and felt fresh tears leak from the corner of her eyes; they clung to her lashes. "I think it's worse now." She whispered.

"It will be better soon," Kol promised. He sat back on his knees and bit into his wrist before offering it to her.

Lexa's eyes grew round when she saw the bloody wrist in front of her face. She lifted her gaze to his face.

"It will heal you," Kol flexed his wrist to keep the wound from closing.

Lexa hesitated. She had never heard of vampires healing people. Wasn't that her job? How did it work? A million questions raced through her head. Was he lying to her? Was he going to kill her?

No, Lexa realized. She met his eyes and nodded.

Sometimes she just knew things, and she knew she could trust him.

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