WAR OF HEARTS ↠ KOL MIKAELSON [1]

1:04

[ THE RISE: CHAPTER FOUR ]

Rhea and Davina were back in the attic after their encounter with Marcel and Elijah. Rhea was certain that, when all of this was over, if she never saw an attic again, it wouldn't be soon enough.

Davina busied herself studying Esther's grimoire alongside her own notes, while Rhea sat with her eyes closed, savoring the temporary peace.

She could feel Mikael's stare without even opening her eyes. "Stare all you want, but as long as we have this bracelet," she said, pointing to the one around her wrist—the one she had helped create, "we own you."

"You foolish girls," Mikael spat. "You imprison me here, refuse my help, all while that hybrid monstrosity roams free, preying on everyone you care about—what few remain."

Rhea and Davina were both tired of Mikael's rants. It was always the same: long, repetitive, and grating.

Rhea's phone beeped, interrupting the tirade. She glanced at it and saw a missed call and a text from Kaleb.

Can I make it up to you over dinner?

A small smile tugged at her lips as she showed the text to Davina. Understanding the unspoken question, Davina said, "You should go. But I'm still chaperoning."

Rhea laughed, running a hand through her hair. The idea of going to dinner with someone who wasn't Kol felt strange. It had been centuries since she'd spent time with anyone else.

⸻

Rhea sat across from Kaleb at a table in Rousseau's, getting to know him under the watchful eye of Davina, who sat at the bar, keeping a close but discreet watch on them.

"My family? Oh, they're insane. How about yours?" Kaleb asked with a smile.

Rhea shifted uncomfortably. "Never knew my father. My mother was...distant. She pretty much forgot about me once I was old enough to make my own decisions. I depended on my brother a lot...until he passed away." She kept her response vague, unwilling to dive into the painful details of why her mother had never truly cared for her.

"I'm sorry," Kaleb said softly, his expression sincere. "Mummy issues, huh? Bet she was a control freak."

Rhea nodded, and Kaleb chuckled. "Same with mine. She's the reason I stopped practicing magic for so long."

Rhea's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You're a witch?"

Kaleb smirked, leaning closer. "Don't look so surprised. I didn't just ask you out because you're possibly the most beautiful woman I've ever seen." His gaze locked onto hers, and for some reason, Rhea believed him. "No, we're kindred souls."

Her brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"I know your story, Rhea. Hell, everyone knows your story. Your grandmother—the witch who reworked the spell that started vampirism, making your family immortal? That's the kind of thing that gets around. But you...you didn't crumble under the weight of all the scrutiny. You stood tall and told anyone who called you an abomination to shove it." He paused, his eyes never leaving hers. "I'm like you. I don't care much for rules or authority. Your strength—it's something to be celebrated."

Rhea smiled, a genuine one this time. But before she could respond, Davina approached.

"Can I borrow you for a second?" she asked, glancing at Kaleb, who gave Rhea an understanding nod.

Davina quickly pulled her outside, showing her phone. "Marcel keeps calling."

Rhea sighed. "Answer it."

Davina bit her lip but did as told, holding the phone to her ear. "I never said I had it."

"The thing is, Elijah thinks you and Rhea do. Matter of fact, he's convinced," Marcel replied.

Rhea snatched the phone from Davina. "Let Elijah think whatever he wants."

"Rhea?" Marcel's voice shifted.

"Yes, Marcellus," Rhea replied, rolling her eyes. "Do you need us for anything other than accusing us of possessing a weapon we don't have?"

Marcel sighed. "Neither of you are safe. Anyone who's ever wanted to kill an Original will be coming after you."

"Let them try."

"Rhea, come on! Just tell me where you are. I thought we were friends."

"I'm at Rousseau's. Don't bother coming. I'm leaving now." She paused. "And Marcel? We were friends. But your loyalty to Klaus...that changes things."

She hung up and looked at Davina. "I'm sorry I dragged you away from your date," Davina said. "You should stay, enjoy your night."

"You sure?" Rhea asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, go have fun!" Davina insisted, grinning.

Rhea chuckled and waved her off before heading back inside. But something felt off. As she pushed through the crowd, confusion washed over her—people were leaving in droves.

"Kaleb, what's going on?" she asked when she found him.

"Some guy just announced they're closing for a private party," Kaleb said, annoyed that their date was being cut short.

But Rhea's unease only grew. "We need to leave. Now."

Before Kaleb could respond, a group of werewolves approached, menace clear in their eyes.

"And where do you think you're going, sweetheart?" one of them sneered.

Rhea's eyes narrowed. "Get out of our way. Or I'll make sure you never reproduce."

The men laughed, but before they could react further, Rhea whispered a spell, bringing the leader to his knees in agony.

Kaleb's eyes widened. "Can you do that to all of them?"

Rhea gulped. "Not all at once."

Before she could finish, the werewolf leader shoved her hard across the room. Kaleb tried to intervene, but he too was thrown against the wall, shattering bottles behind the bar.

The wolves closed in on Rhea, who frantically twisted her bracelet and began to chant. But one wolf grabbed her, slamming her against the bar and turning her head to bite her.

Suddenly, Mikael appeared, ripping the wolf away from her. "Get your filthy hands off her!" he bellowed, tearing through the werewolves with ease.

But in the chaos, Rhea lost her bracelet.

"Damn it!" she cursed, her eyes widening in panic as Mikael grinned, sensing his opportunity.

"Well, now...how the tables have turned," he said, fangs emerging as he lifted her off the floor. "I've waited so long for this."

Just as Mikael was about to strike, Elijah arrived, tackling him away from Rhea.

As the two fought, Rhea frantically searched for her bracelet, but she could barely move with her injured ankle. Marcel appeared, lifting her, but she stopped him.

"I need my bracelet! Without it, I can't control him!" she cried.

Marcel searched, finding the bracelet and tossing it to her. With shaky hands, she armed it and shouted, "Stop! Go back. Now!"

Mikael grimaced but obeyed, speeding out of the bar.

Davina rushed in, helping Rhea to her feet as the two Originals watched in shock.

"I told you," Rhea said to Elijah. "It's your turn to be afraid."

With Davina's help, she limped out of Rousseau's, leaving them behind.