LUST~NIKLAUS MIKAELSON(book 1)

chapter 20 between two worlds

After leaving Ayana’s hut, I felt like I was carrying the weight of the entire world on my shoulders. Every step I took felt heavy, like I was sinking into the earth with each moment. The twilight sky darkened, stars beginning to emerge, but I was oblivious to the beauty above. My mind was consumed with the thoughts of what I was about to lose, the future I would never have if I returned to my time.

I found myself wandering away from the village, away from everything and everyone. I needed space, somewhere to breathe, somewhere to fall apart without anyone watching. My chest tightened as I thought about Klaus—Nik—and the life we had just started to build together. Could I really leave him behind? Could I abandon the one person who had always been there, who had never judged me, who had loved me despite all our differences?

The thought of losing him, of leaving behind the love we had finally allowed ourselves to embrace, was too much to bear. My legs gave out beneath me, and I sank to the ground, the first sob tearing from my throat before I could stop it. The tears came hard and fast, and I let them, not even trying to hold back. The future, the past, everything was slipping away from me, and I was powerless to stop it.

I wasn’t sure how long I sat there, hunched over with my arms wrapped around myself, crying as if my heart was breaking. Because it was. How could I possibly leave Nik, the man I loved more than anything? How could I turn my back on him and our future, even if it meant saving the life of our child?

As I sobbed, I barely noticed the figure approaching until he was right beside me. A soft voice broke through my despair. “Bonnie?”

I looked up through tear-blurred eyes to see Kol standing there, his usual smirk replaced by a rare expression of concern. Of all the Mikaelsons, Kol was the one I least expected to see offering comfort, but here he was, kneeling beside me, his eyes searching mine for answers.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice softer than I’d ever heard it. “Why are you out here alone, crying?”

I quickly wiped at my eyes, trying to pull myself together. “It’s nothing, Kol,” I said, though my voice betrayed the depth of my emotions. “Just... needed some air.”

He didn’t buy it, of course, but to his credit, he didn’t push. Instead, he sat down beside me, close enough to offer comfort but far enough to give me space. “You know,” he began, his tone light, “for someone as strong as you, I never imagined I’d see you crying alone in the woods. What could possibly be so terrible that even you can’t face it?”

I managed a weak smile, appreciating his attempt to lighten the mood. “It’s just... everything. Sometimes it all gets too much.”

Kol nodded, leaning back on his hands as he gazed up at the sky. “Yeah, I get that. Life’s a bloody mess most of the time. But you, Bonnie... you’re not like the rest of us. You’re strong. Stronger than you know. Whatever it is, you’ll get through it.”

His words, unexpected as they were, brought a fresh wave of tears to my eyes. I quickly looked away, not wanting him to see me break down again. “Thank you, Kol,” I whispered, my voice trembling with emotion. “But I just... I need some time alone.”

He looked at me for a long moment, his eyes studying my face as if searching for the real reason behind my tears. Finally, he sighed and stood up, brushing off his pants. “Alright,” he said, though I could hear the reluctance in his voice. “But if you need anything, and I mean anything, don’t hesitate to ask. We’re family now, right?”

I nodded, forcing another smile. “Right.”

Kol hesitated for just a moment longer before giving me a small, reassuring smile and turning to leave. I watched him go, my heart aching with gratitude for his unexpected kindness. Once he was gone, the weight of everything I was facing came crashing down on me again, and I buried my face in my hands, trying to hold back the sobs that threatened to overwhelm me.