The Original Heretic

xxii.

"so was it good?" i asked elena in the car, and she blushed.

"shut up."

"it was very." damon replied, and i fake gagged.

after a mostly silent car ride, we arrived at the house. i noticed kol's car parked in the street, and i smiled widely, saying nothing. after making jeremy stay in the car, we crept to the house. damon explained to elena who mary was as i cast a spell to light up the room.

the sight was sickening. a desiccated vampire hung from the wall by a stake through her heart, blood all down the front of her chest.

"mary." damon breathed, and the lights turned on all the way to reveal kol in the corner, holding a baseball bat.

"quite contrary." he smirked. "you know, you won't find out who sired her. i spoke to my brother, i know what you're trying to do. now, where were we?" like lightning, the bat swung through the air, knocking damon onto the ground.

"elena, run!" damon groaned, and she bolted for the door before kol stopped her.

"according to my brother, you're off limits. don't test me." he said, and i walked up to them.

"according to me as well. don't lay a hand on her." i challenged him. "please, kol."

reluctantly, he sighed, stepping back.

"i see i've hit a nerve. relax, darling, i won't hurt her."

"thank you." my stomach fluttered at how he called me darling, but i tried to ignore it. "now, why don't we leave this place for now? you and me?" i tried to steer him away, and he considered it.

"in a moment. but first-" he hit damon a few more times, and i quietly cast a protection spell on him, making sure he wasn't too injured. "i had to get that out of my system. okay, let's go now."

"go back to mystic falls, elena. make sure everyone is safe and alright. i'll see you soon, yeah?" she nodded, and we hugged quickly, before i walked out the door with kol.

———
it wasn't soon.

in fact, we didn't come back for a very, very long time. we spent about a month completely isolated from everyone in mystic falls, traveling through europe. during that month, we officially became a couple again, and i was the happiest i had been.

"i never knew there was such a connected witch community out here." i commented to kol as we walked around italy, hand in hand.

"yes, i was surprised too, back in the 1700's." he replied sarcastically, and i laughed.

my new phone started buzzing and i looked at the number, recognizing it as rebekah's. sighing, i hit ignore, only for it to start ringing again.

"you know, i've been perfectly happy for a month not talking to anyone besides kol and whoever we talk to here, why are you calling me? and how did you get my new number?" i asked immediately, causing kol to start listening.

"magic. and this is urgent. you've missed a hell of a lot, and we have a new threat. jeremy gilbert is a hunter. ask kol-" upon hearing those words, kol snatched the phone from me.

"what do you mean, hunter? he has the mark and everything?" he asked urgently.

"they want to find the cure. and there's some professor who's been teaching the witch, bonnie, special magic, and he apparently knows about the cure, and the legend of silas." kol's face paled, causing me to get scared. he never gets worried about anything, he just jokes around a lot.

"we'll be back in a few days." he said angrily.

"is there any way you can get here sooner, and find the professor? i have a few... hostages in the library at the school." rebekah asked.