You can't put a butterfly in a jar
If the effort's too high no matter who you are

Lou Reed & Metallica – Iced Honey

Chapter 64

Butterfly under glass dome

The next morning

Kol certainly wasn't pleased when he paced back and forth in his room. Damn Rebekah and Elijah. They had made sure that Kol hadn't had a chance to even talk to Eva. And he had thought that Elijah had been overprotective before… Instinctively Kol touched his nose. He could have definitely taken another punch from Elijah if that was the only way to have a little private time with Eva. Of course she had always been cute, but now… Tasting her lips would be worth dozen punches. The only problem was that he needed to get past her "guards" first.

The whole thing was nothing but ridiculous, she wasn't a child. No, she wasn't. What would stop him from marching to her and simply claiming her lips? She wanted it, he knew that she did. It wasn't like they wouldn't have kissed before. He remembered the nights couple of decades ago when Elijah haven't been home. Poor Eva had been worried about him and missed Rebekah and Nik. Often she had sneaked into Kol's room and asked could she sleep in his bed. Of course he had always agreed, he had loved to feel her curled up against him.

Yet at the same time it had been bittersweet. She was the only woman he had ever loved and she had been right there, but there had always been the wall between them. Sure he had kissed her, but he wouldn't have done anything else, it had simply been wrong. Not anymore. Enough with this, he would simply march to Rebekah's room right now. Determinedly he stepped out into the hallway and headed to his sister's room. Before he reached it, he noticed Nik standing next to the window, he was staring outside. He didn't say anything or turn his head when Kol stepped next to him.

"What are you…"

Kol couldn't finish his sentence when he looked outside. Eva was in the garden, enjoying the morning sun. She was lying on the deck chair wearing nothing except Rebekah's red bikini and sunglasses. Sunbathing was something she had got used to in California and she loved it. She usually did that almost every morning, even if the weather wouldn't be very warm.

"Geez…" Kol muttered. She looked absolutely stunning. Then she picked up something out of the cooler. It was one of her blood popsicles. Dear lord… She licked it few times before starting to slowly suck it. That was no doubt the most erotic thing Kol had ever seen and he had no chance stopping his body from reacting.

"This is so wrong," he murmured. "This is…Eva."

"Tell me about it," Nik replied. "We should look away."

They were both quiet for a while, neither of them moved.

"You're not looking away," Kol muttered.

"Neither are you."

"What's so interesting?" Elijah's voice suddenly asked, making both of his brothers to almost jump.

"Nothing…"

Elijah's eyes narrowed when he saw Eva. No more than two seconds later he was in the garden next to the deck chair. He said something to Eva who took her sunglasses off and got into the sitting position. She looked more than embarrassed when Elijah took his jacket off and wrapped it around her. She said that she was sorry.

"They're teaching her to be ashamed of her body," Nik murmured tensely. "That's not right."

Kol definitely agreed.

"I think Elijah still sees her as a helpless little girl," he replied. "You didn't see how he was after the whole Chicago thing. All he wanted was to shield her from the world."

"Hmm. Butterfly under glass dome…"

"Yes, that sounds about right. He was more than protective towards her."

"She still doesn't belong to him the same way she belongs to me," Nik stated.

"She belongs to me," Kol argued.

"I don't think so. But right now I think it would be unwise of us to fight with each other."

Kol looked at him disbelievingly.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm simply suggesting a temporary truce. An alliance, if you will."

"What?"

Nik smiled.

"We both love her, yes, but right now neither of us is going to even get close to her. At least not without a chaperone."

"This is ridiculous," Kol snorted. "Can't you just dagger Elijah and Rebekah?"

"And make Eva hate me? I bet you would love that."

Kol shrugged, he really couldn't deny that he would indeed love that.

"No," Nik continued. "I'm not going to touch them. I think we both know how much Eva loves them."

"What then?" Kol snorted. "What do you think we should do?"

"Well… I have few ideas."

"Look at you," papa said smiling. "You are beautiful, sweetheart."

"Thank you," I replied and tried my best to smile.

The day had been very long and I didn't think I ever wanted to go shopping for clothes again. I knew that Rebekah meant well, but… It was selfish of me to complain, the clothes she had chosen for me weren't that bad. I was wearing a white blouse, a navy blue sweater and a very chaste plaid skirt. Rebekah had also taken me to a hair salon; my hair was in two French braids with a ribbon at the end of each. I really looked like a catholic school girl. Rebekah had even found me a heart-shaped necklace that had "Daddy's Girl" carved it in. She had thought that it was cute and I did like it, but… No, I needed to stop being ungrateful. This was important to papa and Rebekah.

"Did you have a good time today?" papa asked.

"Sure. Rebekah and I found plenty of clothes for me."

"That's good. You know I want you to be happy, sweetheart." He paused and kissed my forehead.

"But, we still need to talk."

I bowed my head, I couldn't answer his questions. But really, what had I expected? That he would simply forget the whole thing? If only I could tell him something… Unfortunately I couldn't. I had given them my word. It was the least I could do after everything they had done for me.

"I'm a little hungry," I muttered. "I think I'll go and get a blood bag."

"Sure, sweetheart, go ahead."

I went to the kitchen as fast as I could without using my vampire speed; I really needed a moment alone. That didn't happen, Klaus was Kol were in the kitchen. They both stared at me when I walked in.

"Well, well," Kol started grinning. "How was the Sunday school?"

"Shut up," I huffed.

"You know what would go great with that outfit?" Klaus asked innocently. "Chastity belt."

"Quit it," I demanded, but the corners of my mouth were twitching.

"He's right," Kol continued. "You better watch out, darling, you'll be on your way to the nunnery before you know it."

"Very funny," I snorted and walked over to the fridge. I startled when Klaus was suddenly standing behind me.

"Tell Rebekah that you want to sleep in your own room tonight," he whispered in my ear.

"What…"

"Just trust me, love. Do it."

"Eva?" Rebekah's voice called.

"I'm coming!"

I picked up a blood bag and turned around, Klaus had already moved away from me. He and Kol were both smiling at me. They were looking at me differently than before. Of course they were. Wasn't this what I had wanted? For so many nights I had slept next to them, hoping to look like a woman. Now I did, but all I felt was confusion.