WAR OF HEARTS ↠ KOL MIKAELSON [1]

1:08

[THE RISE: CHAPTER EIGHT]

Rhea, Davina, and Kol trekked through the dense forest, searching desperately for Mikael. As they walked, Kol provided information about dark objects. Davina still harbored doubts about trusting him, but Rhea reassured her, "If he tries anything, I'll handle it."

"Bleeding power from a dark object is tricky," Kol said, glancing at Rhea, his hand itching to reach for hers but hesitating, fearing rejection. "It helps to know exactly what kind of object you're dealing with."

"The white oak stake," Rhea stated bluntly. Kol let out a short, patronizing laugh.

"You're joking, right? Draining the white oak stake?" He looked to Davina for confirmation, but her serious expression only deepened his disbelief. He turned back to Rhea. "You're out of your mind."

"It's a dark object, Kol. If we can't stop Mikael, we have to stop the stake from working. I promised Davina her friends wouldn't die, and I intend to keep that promise." The words cut Kol. Once, they had promised never to lie or betray each other. That bond was broken now, and Rhea's reminder of it stung.

Kol smirked, hiding his hurt. "Usually, I love it when you get ambitious, Rhea, but this? This is insane." Frustration flickered across Rhea's face, and she halted abruptly, grabbing Kol's arm to make him focus.

"Show me the spell, Kaleb." She caught herself, the old name slipping out, and quickly let go. The tension between them was thick enough to cut. "Kol, or whoever you are these days."

Two jabs in quick succession. Kol could feel each one like a slap. As much as he had changed, his pride still anchored him to who he had been.

Davina stepped in, trying to smooth things over. "Please, just show us."

Kol sighed. "The spell isn't the problem. It's the stake. It's too powerful. You can't just drain it. The best you can do is disable it for a short time."

He started walking toward his car. Davina exchanged a look with Rhea, raising an eyebrow.

"Is he always this cryptic?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Rhea said dryly.

They followed Kol to the car. "So do you have a better plan, or are you just going to keep arguing?" Davina demanded.

"And hand me the keys," Rhea added. Kol looked at her, amused.

"And what, you'll just drive around hoping to bump into him?"

Rhea rolled her eyes but had to suppress a smirk. "We prepared for this months ago. We can track Mikael."

Kol handed over the spell reluctantly, but held on to the keys. "It's your funeral, girls. But I'm still not letting you drive my car."

They piled in, and Kol took the wheel.

⸻

Not long after, they arrived at an abandoned building. Davina and Rhea rushed out, but before they could enter, Kol stopped them.

"Wait! We need to do this together."

Rhea glared at him. "We're strong enough without you."

Kol heard the unspoken "I" in her words. It was another blow to his ego, but it only steeled his resolve. He needed to earn her trust again.

"No, you're not. I know you don't trust me right now, Rhea, and that's fair. But you promised to protect Davina's friends. I can help you keep that promise." He took both of their hands in his own. "You need to trust me. Channel my power."

Davina glanced at Rhea, who gave a hesitant nod. Reluctantly, they agreed, starting to chant the spell he had taught them earlier.

Inside the building, Klaus had just been stabbed in the chest with the white oak stake. The spell took hold just in time, halting the stake's power. But holding the spell was a battle, the force of the stake draining them both.

"I can't hold it!" Rhea gasped, her voice frantic.

"Me neither," Davina admitted, her voice tight with strain.

Suddenly, Mikael appeared, fury blazing in his eyes. "Is this your doing, witches? Undo it! Return the power to that stake!" He moved toward them, but they kept chanting, their determination unwavering.

Rhea lifted her hand, sending a wave of pain through Mikael, momentarily stopping him. Kol lunged at his father, trying to protect them, but Mikael effortlessly flung him into a nearby fence.

Mikael turned to Rhea, throwing her against the wall. She hit the ground hard, consciousness slipping away as her last thought was a hope that Kol and Davina would be alright.

⸻

Rhea awoke a short time later, groggy but alive. Kol was already leading her outside, his hand gripping hers tightly as he pulled her toward the car.

"We have to wait for Davina," Rhea insisted. Kol sighed, reluctantly sitting on the hood of the car.

Rhea noticed a wound on his temple and stepped closer, inspecting it. Their proximity felt natural, comforting even.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly, her voice a balm to Kol's frayed nerves.

"A bit light-headed," he admitted. "Might have something to do with being thrown around by my dear old dad." Rhea laughed, and the sound warmed him. He tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. "Are you okay? You blacked out for a bit."

"I'm fine." She smiled, and for a moment, Kol's heart felt like it might stop altogether.

Davina appeared soon after, with a fuming Marcel in tow. "You're lucky to be alive!" Marcel barked at her. "What were you thinking?"

Both Rhea and Kol stifled laughter at his fatherly tone.

"We just saved Klaus, Marcel," Davina shot back, not in the mood for a lecture.

"Yeah? From the vampire hunter you two brought back!" Marcel's anger was now directed at Rhea, clearly blaming her.

Before things could escalate further, Kol stepped in. "Alright, enough!" He backtracked at Marcel's glare. "Or... maybe that's enough?"

Rhea nudged Kol with her elbow, trying to hide her laughter.

Marcel sighed. "Stay here. I'll deal with Klaus." He walked back toward the building.

Kol turned to Rhea. "We should leave. Klaus won't forgive you, Rhea. He never forgets a betrayal, even if you did help."

"I'm not afraid of him," Rhea replied.

Davina pulled the white oak stake from her jacket. "We're getting even with Klaus. Kol, you're going to help us." She tossed him the car keys.

Kol shook his head, climbing into the driver's seat with a smirk. "That woman is going to be the death of me," he muttered.

"I heard that!" Rhea called, grinning.

Of course, she did.

⸻