DUALITY

Chapter 24: A Glimpse of the Past

AN: Just in case any of you might be confused, this chapter is solely flashbacks. Also, I 100% forgot to speak on this in the all you need to know chapter, but this book is race-blind as I really do not want to get into all that in my first fic. Later, perhaps, but defo not my first.

Enjoyyy! <3

———

Kol had found a quiet corner with Rowena. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong.

"Rowena, what is it? You seem... troubled," Kol said, his voice soft with concern.

Rowena looked into his eyes, her own holding a mixture of apprehension and fear. "Kol, I say this because I once cared for you. Refrain from going to the cave later today... or ever."

Kol's brow furrowed. "Why? You cannot just tell me to not do something without giving me a reason, Rowena." He came closer. "And why do you look so frightened?"

Rowena shook her head. "A group of immensely dangerous people want to control the power of the ancient runes, and they'll stop at nothing to achieve it."

Kol took her hands in his. "Then we need to stop them. Together."

Rowena's grip tightened. "We cannot." She looked away, loosening her grip. "And you must not go to the cave."

"I—I cannot—" Kol shook his head. "I need explanations."

Rowena shook her head. "Do not go, Kol! Promise me."

Kol's gaze hardened. "No." He subsequently walked away, remembering how she deceived him in their past encounters and not paying her mind any longer. "You should go however, it is what you are best at," he told her without looking behind.

He closed the door then, eyeing his brother with a beautiful lady, ready to make some trouble.
As Kol and Rowena had been conversing, so were Rebekah and Isolde in the balcony.

Rebekah approached Isolde, her eyes sharp with curiosity. "You said you were a historian. It is quite intriguing. What did you say brought you here?" She eyed Isolde in slight suspicion.

Isolde smiled politely, but her eyes were cold. "For now, I'm simply here to observe what is an unprecedented event in magic history, Lady Rebekah. I have no interest in causing trouble."

Rebekah wasn't convinced. "Observation isn't the same as participation. You seemed rather close to a certain warlock earlier."

Isolde's smile didn't falter. "Magnus and I have a shared history. We were merely catching up. Surely you understand the value of old friendships."

Rebekah's eyes narrowed, but she nodded her head.  So his name was Magnus, she thought to herself. Rebekah did not know why, but her intuition seemed to oppose the 'historian'.

"So... what did you want to discuss in more detail?" Isolde asked Rebekah after she had said nothing.

Rebekah nodded. "Right... uh so you claim to be a historian. What do you know about runes?" she asked.

Isolde's face perked up and Rebekah could have sworn she saw her lips curl into a slight smirk. "What type of runes?"

Elsewhere, Klaus and Magnus conversed in a secluded part of the Mikaelson estate.

Magnus turned, his expression guarded. "So what did Monsieur Mikaelson want to discuss?"

Klaus didn't mince words. "I know you and your coven are powerful. It certainly would not cause harm to have you as an ally.."