Their Raven

Chapter 10

Kol Mikaelson walked briskly through the fog-shrouded streets of a quiet English village, his thoughts racing as he navigated the narrow lanes.  It had been decades since he last visited this place, a small town nestled in the English countryside, where magic whispered through the ancient stone walls. His destination was a quaint, ivy-covered cottage at the edge of the village–a place he hasn't seen since 1910.

As he approached the cottage, the familiar scent of herbs and damp earth filled the air, stirring memories of an old friend. Marcelline Duval had been one of the few witches Kol trusted during his travels through Europe. Now, more than a century later, he hoped her lineage could offer the answers he needed.

Kol knocked on the wooden door, the sound echoing in the still night. After a moment, it creaked open, revealing a young woman with striking dark eyes and a cautious expression.

"Can I help you?" She asked, her tone wary.

Kol offered a disarming smile. "The names Kol, I'm looking for a descendant of Marcelline Duval. I believe she once lived here."

The woman's eyes flickered with recognition at the mention of her ancestor's name "I'm Isolde Duval," she replied slowly. "Mercelline was my great-great-grandmother. How do you know about her?"

Kol's smile softened, though his urgency was clear. "Mercelline and I were... close. I need your help. Someone I care about is in grave danger, and Mercelline's knowledge might be the only thing that can save him."

Isolde hesitated, her gaze sweeping over Kol, weighing his words. Finally, she stepped aside, gesturing for him to enter. "You're be my first vampire visitor, I guess you can come in."

The cottage's interior was warm and filled with the comforting scent of herbs and old parchment. Shelves lined the walls, crammed with jars, books and, and magical artifacts with family photos here and there. Isolde led Kol to a cozy sitting area by the hearth, where she motioned for him to sit.

"What kind of danger are we talking about?" Isolde asked, her eyes sharp with curiosity.

Kol leaned forward, his expression serious. " A rare and deadly curse. My friend has been afflicted by a mix of herbs that's slowly draining his life. But there's something unusual–he's a vampire. A spell like this shouldn't work on him, which means something, or someone, is involved to make it possible"

Isolde's brows furrowed in thought. She rose from her seat, moving to a nearby bookshelf. After a moment of searching, she pulled out an old, emerald leather-bound grimoire. The book was worn with age, its pages yellowed and fragile.

"This is my family's grimoire," she explained, setting it down on the table. "It contains centuries of knowledge passed down through generations. If the spell you're describing is in here, we'll find it."

Kol watched as she carefully flipped through the pages, her fingers brushing over ancient runes and handwritten notes. Finally, she stopped on a page, her expression darkening."

"Here," she said, pointing to the text. "This spell was created by Helga Caldwell, it killed witches slowly, stripping them of their magic before draining their life force entirely. It's old magic, dangerous and outlawed centuries ago. But the fact that it's affecting a vampire... it's highly unusual."

Kol's eyes narrowed as he read the page. "Can it be undone?"

Isolde nodded slowly unsure. "Yes, for a witch but the reversal is complex. It requires rare ingredients and a powerful ritual. More than one witch would usually be needed to perform it. And if this spell is affecting a vampire, it's likely that someone powerful modified it."

Kol straightened, determination gleaming in his eyes. "Tell me what I need, and I'll get it."

Isolde hesitated, then began jotting down a list of ingredients on a scrap bit of paper. "Some of these are extremely rare and expensive, even in magical circles. You'll need to be resourceful. And Kol... if someone modified this spell, they'll know how to counter any attempt to break it. You need to be careful."

Kol took the list, scanning it quickly. "Consider it done and darling I'm always careful."

As he stood to leave, isolde's gaze softened. "Kol, magic like this–it comes with a cost. Be sure you're ready to pay it."

Kol met her eyes, his voice steady. I'll pay whatever it takes to save him."

With the list in hand, Kol stepped back out into the foggy night, his mind already racing with plans. The stakes were higher than he'd initially thought, and time was running out but Kol Mikaelson wasn't one to back down from a challenge.

The search for the ingredients–and the race to uncover who was really behind this deadly curse–had begun.

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I don't know how to feel about this chapter. Let me know what you think and I hope you at least enjoy it x