sleeping beauty [the originals]

lxi.

 The cool water of the hotel pool felt rejuvenating. After not being in the water for a while, Isla felt all her senses heighten. She could hear better, swim faster, see better, although the chlorine wasn't working for her vision quite as much as the salt water. She could definitely clear her head now. For about a couple of hours, Isla hung out in the pool, swimming laps or just floating on the surface. Even with her bracelet on her wrist, Isla still felt amazing.

She wasn't sure if it was just the water or if it was the great sex she had been having with Kai. It only had been one night, but it changed her whole worldview. She had never guessed that she could feel so good. As she swam around, she decided that she was going to pitch to Kai the idea of having sex in the pool.

Speaking of Kai, she really had to figure out what she was going to do. She had slept with a man who had killed his siblings and hurt some of her friends. She knew that it was only a matter of time before Damon found out, and she had no idea how he would take it. Not that he was any one to judge, given his dating history and his past general history.

The reaction she was most worried about was from Jo. She didn't really know Jo that well, but she didn't want to have to explain that not only was Jo's sociopathic brother back in town, but Isla was sleeping with him. Somewhere in her mind, the Mikaelson side of her was telling her to not care what anybody thinks about who she's seeing, but she wasn't entirely a Mikaelson.

Before she could think any further, her phone started to ring. Isla sighed. It looked like reflection time was over. She swam to the edge of the pool and pushed herself out. After drying herself off, she checked her phone. As soon as she saw the time at the corner of the screen, her eyes widened. She had been in the pool for six hours? Isla could have sworn it had only been three. Shaking the thought away, she answered the phone.

"Hello?" She asked, and was met with a frantic Damon Salvatore on the other end.

"Where are you? We have a problem." He was practically shrieking into the phone. Isla brought her hands to rub in between her eyes.

"What's the problem?"

"We were taken out of the prison world early because Kai showed up and took Liv's magic. I didn't even know he was back and now he's running loose in Mystic Falls. Oh yeah, and he burned the ascendant. Get your ass over here now." Isla was speechless. This was a problem indeed. Now it was not just her who knew Kai was back. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Okay. I'll be there in ten." She replied before hanging up the phone. She knew she needed to get there fast to minimize any damage that might come from Kai and Damon being in the same general area. And she figured that since Mystic Falls had no magic, she could get to him before Damon could.

True to her word, by the time ten minutes had passed, she was changed and had driven over to the Mystic Falls border. Damon and Elena were standing by the gate, looking past it into their hometown.

"Well, well, well, look who decided to show up." Damon announced. Isla shut the door to her car.

"Yeah, I'm here. I told you, ten minutes." She gestured to the border. "He's in there?" Elena nodded. Isla walked over to the border. "Okay. I'll try to find him." She was about to step over the line, but she could feel a hand clamp around her arm.

"Be careful." Elena advised. "I know you're a Mikaelson, but you have no idea what he's capable of." Isla willed her face not to move. She couldn't give any indication that she knew. She simply nodded before stepping into Mystic Falls.

As soon as she crossed into the town, everything felt different. She could no longer feel the rush of power from the water flowing through her veins. She felt weaker. But she couldn't dwell on that, not when she had a mission. Giving Damon and Elena one last look, she started walking into town.

After walking for two hours, Isla was ready to give up. But as she neared Tyler Lockwood's house, she had a feeling that there was something she should check in there. She walked up to the front door. Raising her hand, she knocked a few times before pushing the door open. Inside was Kai, holding a broken glass bottle to Tyler's throat. Both pairs of eyes were focused on her.

"What the hell is happening?" She asked incredulously. Kai simply smiled at her while Tyler looked both confused and unnerved to see her.

"What are you doing here?" Tyler asked, and Isla closed the door.

"I'm looking for him." She gestured to Kai, whose fingers were still clasped onto the bottle. Tyler looked from the blonde to Kai in confusion.

"Perfect timing, Isla." Kai announced. "I was just telling Tyler here about how I plan on saving his girlfriend's life. I'm guessing you two are friends." At the mention of her name, Tyler's eyebrows furrowed in shock.

"Wait a minute." He stammered. "You two know each other?" Kai chuckled, which made Isla tense up.

"Oh I would say we know each other pretty well, wouldn't you?" He looked directly at the blonde. Choosing to ignore the topic of the conversation, Isla changed the subject.

"How are you planning on saving Liv?" Kai grinned. He dropped the bottle, letting go of Tyler.

"It's a really simple plan. Here's how it's gonna go." Isla stood next to Tyler as Kai started to explain his plan.

"How do you two know each other?" Tyler whispered to her. Isla sighed.

"It's a long story. I'll tell you once he's finished talking."