WAR OF HEARTS ↠ KOL MIKAELSON [1]

1:12

[ THE RISE: CHAPTER TWELVE ]

Rhea had been certain that Esther was lying. She was sure the Original Witch wouldn't keep her end of the deal. But then Esther showed her the spell and the ingredients she planned to use. In that moment, Rhea hesitated. Maybe Esther was telling the truth after all.

That realization put Rhea in a tight spot. The body Esther wanted to use wasn't just anyone's. It was Camille, the blonde bartender Klaus had taken a liking to. Rhea didn't care about the bartender herself, but others did. Davina cared. Klaus certainly would. And if Klaus found out what Rhea was planning, he'd surely come for her. But this was about her brother, Ares—her family. Could she pass up the chance to bring him back?

Which is why she found herself at Rousseau's, knowing Camille would be there.

"We're closed," Camille said absently as Rhea walked through the door, not even bothering to look up. Rhea wondered if Cami was always this careless.

"That's too bad," Rhea replied, her voice smooth and casual. "I hear you've got the best whisky in town."

Cami froze, her head snapping up as soon as she recognized the voice. She backed away in fear, having seen a painting of Rhea during one of her meetings with Klaus. Between that and Klaus's warnings about the witch, Cami was right to be terrified.

"Cami, right?" Rhea smiled as she approached the blonde. "Klaus seems fond of you."

When she pulled out a bundle of herbs, Cami gasped.

"Funny," Rhea said with a smirk, "you look just like Caroline Forbes."

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By the time Rhea caught up with Davina the next day, her mind was buzzing with questions. She found her in the Mikaelson compound just as Marcel fell to the floor, temporarily dead. Klaus was choking on blood, moments away from joining him.

"Impressive," Rhea commented, drawing Davina's attention. The younger witch looked up, startled to see her friend.

"I thought Klaus had you," Davina said, confusion clear on her face. Had she done all this just to save her?

"Unfortunately, I've been battling another demon, not Niklaus." Rhea's tone was sharp, though a hint of exhaustion crept in. Her words also caught Kol's attention as he entered the courtyard, newly freed from the magic that had bound him.

"What exactly did you do to him?" Kol asked, postponing the question he really wanted to ask about Rhea's whereabouts.

Rhea's expression softened as she noticed Kol. Despite everything, seeing him made her heart lift. Ever since the ordeal with Esther and Camille, all she had wanted was for Kol to wrap his arms around her and make her feel safe again.

"I channeled dark objects through my blood to poison him," Davina said proudly, a faint smile tugging at Rhea's lips. The young witch had clearly been learning from her and Kol.