Immortal Dragon ON HOLD

Chapter XIII

Rhaella looked at her brother with confusion written clearly across her face. "I'm sorry, Kol," she said slowly. "But that doesn't ring any bells." She rubbed her temple slightly. "If you say I told you that... then I probably did. But what happened? Why can't I remember it?"

Kol frowned. "I don't know, Ella. But you went to speak with Mother... and now you can't remember anything you told me." He hesitated before continuing. "Do you want to look through my memories?"

Rhaella blinked. "Look through your memories?"

Kol nodded. "So, you can see exactly what you told me... and the conversation I overheard between you and Mother before that."

Rhaella thought about it for a moment. Then she nodded. "If you don't mind, little brother."

Kol smiled. "Of course I don't mind."

Rhaella gathered the few things she needed for the spell. Then the two of them quietly made their way to her hidden alcove. If Esther had already tampered with her memory once, Rhaella was not going to risk being overheard now. Once inside, Rhaella sealed the entrance with a small spell. Then she turned back toward Kol. "Are you ready?" she asked.

He nodded confidently. "Ready."

Rhaella placed her hands gently on either side of his head. "Now this may feel a little uncomfortable," she warned him. "I'll be probing through your memories."

Kol shrugged slightly. "I trust you." Rhaella gave him a small smile before closing her eyes. Then she began the spell. Magic pulsed softly between them.

A moment later. Kol's memories unfolded before her. She saw herself waking him accidentally that morning. Then the memory shifted. Kol walking back into the house. Stopping. Listening. Hidden behind the wall. Then the next memory played.

Rhaella watched the entire conversation between herself and Esther through Kol's eyes. The dream. Freya. The threat she made. The moment Finn arrived. Every word. Every detail. Once the memory ended, Rhaella pulled herself back out of Kol's mind.

She blinked slowly as the real world returned to focus. Then she sighed. "Mother gave me a potion," she said quietly. "It must have blocked the memory of the dream... and everything that happened after I spoke to her about it."

Kol tilted his head curiously. "Why is Mother so afraid of you telling Father about what happened?"

Rhaella exhaled slowly. "Because Father would be furious." She leaned back slightly against the stone wall. "When Freya and I were born... we were the lights of his world. He adored us. When Freya was taken... Father lost a piece of himself."

Kol frowned. "So Mother is afraid of what Father would do if he found out she lied."

Rhaella nodded. "Yes."

Kol leaned forward slightly. "So, what really happened?"

Rhaella was quiet for a moment. Then she took a deep breath. "We were children, Freya and I were five. Finn was four. Mother was pregnant with Elijah." She stared at the ground as she continued. "Finn, Freya and I were playing in the fields outside the village. Then Mother called us over. There was a woman standing beside her. We had never seen her before. Mother said she was her sister. Our Aunt Dahlia."

Kol's eyebrows rose slightly.

Rhaella continued. "I asked Mother what Dahlia was doing there. Dahlia crouched down to my level and told me she was collecting a debt. I didn't understand what she meant." Then Rhaella swallowed hard. "Then she stood up... and looked at Mother and she said two words. 'It's time'."

Kol remained completely silent.

Rhaella's voice trembled slightly now. "Mother nodded and she gently pushed Freya toward Dahlia." Kol's eyes widened. Rhaella blinked back tears. "Dahlia took her hand and she started walking away with her. Just like that." Rhaella took a breath before continuing.