AN: I do not own TVD or TO.

She had stared in shock at the body until he had lifted her and carried her from the room. She had remained catatonic. In a daze her fingers had traced the blood stains on her shift.

She had only been able to blink when he washed his hands and placed one of his clean shirts in her grasp. Her eyes were distant as she stared at the crisp linen.

He had tried talking to her but it was clear she couldn't hear him. He knew he couldn't leave her in the shift; it was drenched in sweat and covered in blood from where he had touched her.

He didn't think she heard him, but he still told her what he was doing. She didn't protest when he lifted the shift over her head. She didn't flinch away when he wiped the red marks from her shoulder, or when he fitted her arms into the sleeves of his shirt.

She hadn't moved at all until he had laid her down on the bed and moved to leave the room.

He had easily read the panic in her eyes when she grabbed his wrist. He didn't know what it was. She was very aware of the fact that he had killed her husband; anyone else would have screamed. Anyone else would have been petrified after seeing his true face, but she clung to him.

He had taken a seat on the floor beside the bed and held her hand until her eyes had drifted shut. He had remained there until he was certain she was sound asleep.

Kol tucked the blanket around her chin and listened to the shallow breaths. Unless startled awake she would sleep through the night.

He silently climbed to his feet before setting to work.

There was an added benefit to the swift death. There was very little blood on the floor. Kol had the room clean and the body wrapped in a sheet in under ten minutes. He couldn't remember the last time he had bothered covering his tracks… unless Elijah was nearby and insistent he left the bodies where they were.

He ensured all points of entry into the tavern were sealed before checking on her in his room. He listened to the slow beating of her heart for a moment before jumping from her room's open window.

Rebekah sighed contentedly before compelling the man to forget what had just happened. She waited until he was stumbling along the path before turning around to return to the estate she shared with her older brothers.

She paused and sniffed the air when she had gone half a mile. There was an unmistakable smell. A body was burning upwind of her. Her eyes narrowed to slits as she considered her options. The body couldn't have been more than a mile away; she could be there in moments. Surely Elijah and Nik wouldn't miss her.

Curiosity got the better of her. She took off at a flash only to pause a few feet inside the treeline of a small clearing. There was another smell beneath the blood and acrid smoke. It was someone she hadn't smelt in years.

"Kol?"

He stepped around the fire at the sound of her voice.

"Good evening, sister," his arms closed around her waist when she flung herself at him.

"You're back," she laughed. "Are you staying long? Elijah and Nik will be so happy to see you."

"I doubt that," Kol snickered. "Not after I left a trail of bodies across the continent. I'm not staying, Bekah. I had no intention of seeing any of you and I would appreciate it if our brothers remained unaware of this meeting."

"You won't even say hello?" Rebekah stepped back. Her hands fell to her hips as she leveled him with a stare.

"I have things to take care of," he shook his head and smiled.

"What are you doing out here?" Rebekah turned to the small bonfire. "It's not like you to cover your tracks."

"Didn't want them finding me," Kol shrugged. The lie fell easily from his tongue; it was half true anyway. "They would have if I'd left a body this close." He cursed himself for not considering how near the clearing was to his siblings home. He had only been concerned with disposing of the remains as far from Cadiz as possible while still giving him enough time to return before she woke.

"This is all of the time I'm going to get?" Rebekah pouted. "How long until I see you again?"

"You know me Rebekah," Kol smirked, "I check in at least twice a century."

When he returned through the open window four hours had passed. He flashed through the upper floor when he heard the shift in her heart and knelt by the bed.

He stilled her thrashing limbs and smoothed the damp strands of hair from her face.

"Shh, little witch," he murmured, "it's alright… you're alright."

He exhaled and rocked back on his knees when her heart rate slowed back to a peaceful rhythm.

"Not too far, ninita," Mama warned, "the water is too deep out there."

"Come on, mama," Lexa splashed through the water of the river. She stood on top of a smooth rock and spun around to reach back. "Come swim with me." Her dress weighed heavy around her ankles.

Mama smiled at Lexa before glancing over her shoulder to the man on the shore.

Lexa crossed her arms and tapped her tiny foot against the rock impatiently. She wanted to swim. A tiny shriek escaped her lips when she lost her balance on the rock.

Water crashed over her head. It filled her mouth. It burned her throat. It made her chest feel heavy. She waved her arms and kicked her feet wildly but she had lost any sense of direction; up was down and left was right, forwards and backwards meant nothing to her.

Her limbs stopped moving as her eyes drifted shut. The cold that had drenched her senses disappeared to be replaced by warmth. If she hadn't known better she would have said she was sitting in front of the fire listening to Papa read.

Then there was a pressure under her arms. She sputtered and coughed and wrapped her arms tightly around Mama's neck.

Her body trembled beneath the heavy shawl Tia draped over her shoulders.

"Shh, ninita," Mama held her tight. "It's alright… you're alright."

Lexa's blond curls flew as she shook her head. Her glass green eyes regarded the river warily.

"No," she crossed her arms. "No mama. I don't want to." She vividly remembered the water closing over her head.

"Listen to me, 'Lexa," Mama picked her up, "everything is going to be just fine. Remember how much you love to swim."

"Giulia," Papa laid a hand on Mama's shoulder.

"No, Gabriel," Mama met his eyes. She shook her head before stepping into the river.

"Mama," Lexa shrieked. She wrapped her arms and legs around Mama's torso. "Mama, no!"

"Look," Mama stopped when the water was swirling around her waist.

"No," Lexa cried.

"Listen to me, ninita," Mama used one hand to lift her chin. "You can't be afraid forever. You have to try again."

"How?" Lexa whimpered.

"Let's start by dipping your toes," Mama smiled. "Come on 'Lexa." She patted her daughter's knee.

Lexa's arms shook as she clung to her Mama. Slowly she unwrapped one leg and felt the water lap around her toes. When nothing bad happened she slid her foot into the river. She held her breath when Mama bent her knees so the water twisted around Lexa's waist.

"Mama?"

"I've got you, ninita." She kissed the top of Lexa's head.

It had taken a good twenty minutes before Lexa let go and started to tread water. A triumphant smile spread over her mouth when her head remained above the surface of the river.

"Will you promise me something, ninita?"

Lexa nodded.

"Never ever let fear rule your life."

"Yes, mama."

Lexa's eyes fluttered open. She blinked against the morning light and rolled over to focus on the daisies on her bureau. She bolted up right when she was greeted by the sight of a leather bound book. She was in the guest room on the west side of the tavern; the light was that of the afternoon.

Slowly the events of the previous evening came back to her. She rolled her arm when she remembered the pain of her shoulder being torn from its socket. She took a deep breath when there was no pain. Involuntarily her body flinched. She had been expecting the searing pain.

When it didn't come she lifted her hand to her ribs. Her eyes dropped to the thick material of a man's shirt; it was soft under her fingers. When she stood it fell below her knees.

She experimentally bent her knees and elbows, rolled her neck and ankles and twisted her hips. She moved this way and that only to find her body free of pain. It had been years since she felt this good.

She hooked a finger beneath the chain around her neck and toyed with the jade as she tiptoed down the hall. She blinked when she found the bedchamber spotless. The blankets had been rearranged. A new vase of fresh daisies sat on her bureau. There was no sign anything horrific had ever transpired there. Was it all a dream?

Pushing up the sleeves of the shirt she slipped down the stairs. Her pace quickened when she found the bar room empty. The deadbolts were still in place over the door. She closed her eyes and concentrated. Bit by bit images came back to her: Emiliano forcing her into the mattress, the vampire, Kol, resetting her shoulder and healing her, and finally the dead body of her husband.

Try as she might she couldn't remember how she had ended up in the guest room in a clean shirt.

She jumped when he materialized in front of her. She covered her pounding heart with her hand and gasped.

"I'm sorry," he lifted his hands, palms out; "I did not intend to frighten you."

"Really?" She glared. "You didn't mean to frighten me? How do people usually react when you appear in front of them?"

Kol's eyes flickered over her tight jaw. "Typically they are more afraid then you." He smirked when her green eyes blazed. "Are you afraid of me, little witch?"

Lexa stepped back so she could relax her neck muscles. "No," she shook her head. "I am not afraid of you."

"You should be," Kol's smirk fell.

"Maybe," Lexa shrugged, "but I'm not. I think if you were going to hurt me you would have done it by now." Her memory finished filling in. He'd had plenty of opportunities the previous night; he could have raped her, he could have killed her, but he had cleaned her up and put her to bed. She could only assume he had cleaned her room.

"I'm not going to hurt you, little witch," Kol motioned for her to sit. He placed some food and a steaming mug of tea in front of her a moment later.

Lexa blinked at the food. She could smell the peppermint rising from the mug. "What do you want from me?" Her eyes lifted to his face.

"How about your name?" Kol slid into the seat across from her.

"That's it?" Lexa blinked. In her experience everyone always wanted something.

"I'd also like to know you're alright," Kol leaned back, "but I'll start with your name."

There was a pregnant pause before she reached for the mug. "Alexandria Ricci."

Kol made no comment on what he could only assume was her maiden name. He couldn't blame her for wanting to distance herself from the man. "Is that what people call you? Alexandria? It's a bit of a mouthful, Elskling."

"My family called me 'Lexa," she closed her eyes and sipped the tea.

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance," Kol smiled, "Lexa."

"It's not going to work," Lexa crossed her arms. She glared at the line of salt.

"Well not with that attitude," Kol smirked.

It had been three weeks since he'd killed Emiliano Acosta. In that time he had learned several things. One, Lexa held no attachment to the man. Two, she was a powerful witch who had lacked any proper tutelage; everything she had done was a variant of a healing spell. And three, she was a very stubborn woman.

"Tell me," Kol changed the subject, "why did your aunt not teach you this? It's one of the earliest I learned."

"You were a warlock?" Lexa's eyes widened.

Kol caught the scent of lavender when she ran her fingers through her hair; it seemed to always cling to her.

"I was," he smiled sadly. "Let me tell you it was utterly devastating being cut off from nature when I transitioned."

"You didn't have to turn," Lexa shook her head.

"I didn't get much say in the matter," Kol frowned at the memory. He had barely been able to sit up when his father had forced the girl's blood down his throat.

"You miss it terribly," Lexa placed her hands on the table.

"I do," Kol nodded. He mirrored Lexa's action and leaned closer. "Now the closest I get to magic is spending time with witches."

"I'm sorry."

"You're apologizing to me?" Kol gaped.

Lexa shrugged. "I am," she murmured. "I may not know many spells, but I do know that I'd be heartbroken if I woke up one day and had no magic. I can only imagine how you felt."

"I can't even begin to imagine how you've felt," Kol's eyes flashed when he remembered her body pinned down.

"I honestly," she chewed her lip, "was beginning to feel somewhat safe again."

"How could you have possibly been feeling safe?" Kol tilted his head.

"He hadn't touched me in over a year," she admitted.

"I saw the broken ribs Lexa," his eyes narrowed.

"I said he hadn't touched me," Lexa snapped. "I didn't say he hadn't beaten me. That happened at least once a month." She blinked back tears when she remembered the way he had kicked her.

Kol was around the table in an instant. His hand settled on her shoulder; after what he knew she had endured it was still a shock that she did not recoil from his touch.

"I forgot the herbs," she whispered. "I fell asleep and forgot the herbs."

"What herbs, little witch?" Kol watched her reach beneath the work table. His eyes widened when he saw the remnants of the powder that would have sent the man into a deep sleep; enough of it might have killed him. "You put him to sleep every night?"

She nodded. "He hadn't set foot in that room in a year," her voice was low. "I altered his memories of the evening so he was none the wiser."

"You can alter a memory, but you can't ignite a line of salt?" Kol snickered.

"Are you mocking me?" Lexa couldn't stop the small smile.

"It did get you to laugh," Kol grinned. "And laughter is the best medicine."

"I'm not sick," Lexa laughed.

Kol couldn't shake the feeling that her laughter was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard.

"Are you going to tell me?" He stepped back and nodded to the salt when her laughter died. "Why didn't your aunt teach you?"

"She wanted to," Lexa sighed. "What's the incantation again?" She turned back to the salt a second later. "Phasmatus ignitium dos ex salvo…"

Kol's head snapped around when the fire started. Typically it took a few rounds of the incantation to start a spark, but she had done it in one.

"I thought you said it wouldn't work?" His eyebrows shot up.

"I had no reason to think it would."

Kol smothered the fire with a cloth and ran his eyes over her flushed face. Number four, she was more powerful than she knew.

She stood outside the door and clutched her doll to her chest. Tia was arguing with Papa again.

Tia and Papa always argued. Without Mama to stand between them their voices had easily reached her in her bed.

"She has so much potential."

Lexa peeked through the keyhole. She saw Tia's rings gesturing wildly in the light from the fire.

"She should be learning all that she can now," Tia hissed, "it's easier when they're young."

"No," Papa snapped. "I don't want her anywhere near it. It's dangerous Sylvie. What you do is dangerous. Three accusations is all it takes… three!"

"Walking down the path is dangerous," Tia shouted. Her shoes stomped over the oak floors. "Swimming is dangerous. Everything is dangerous."

"I'll not have my daughter burned at the stake." Papa shouted.

Lexa heard the sob tear through his throat. "She's all I have left, Sylvie."

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