WAR OF HEARTS ↠ KOL MIKAELSON [1]

1:14

[THE RISE: CHAPTER FOURTEEN]

Rhea and Kol worked side by side over a large cauldron, chanting in unison as they dipped a straw poppet into its bubbling contents. Davina and Ares watched them from the sidelines, their voices hushed as they discussed the task. The two had an undeniable chemistry when it came to magic—making their spells more powerful when they worked together.

"It's done," Rhea said, her voice cutting through the chanting. "But it's not enough. This spell won't fully protect Cami's body from Esther's magic." She looked at Davina, Ares, and Marcel, who had just joined them. "We need more time."

Kol, ever the opportunist, turned to Rhea with a mischievous grin. "Well, love, I know a few ways to help distract you from all that worry," he said, raising an eyebrow.

Rhea rolled her eyes, but Ares smirked. "The tension in here is thick enough to cut with a knife," he remarked.

Davina laughed, and even Kol let out a chuckle. Marcel, however, was far from amused. His expression darkened as he glared at Kol.

"You can joke all you want, but I can just as easily lock you in a coffin like Finn if that's your preference," Marcel warned, his tone sharp.

Kol opened his mouth to retort, but Rhea stepped forward before things escalated. "I'd like to see you try," she said, her eyes locking with Marcel's. Her stance was protective, her body just slightly in front of Kol's. "This spell needs to cook without any more interruptions."

Marcel was undeterred. "Cami doesn't have time for your games. Thanks to your mistake, Esther can jump into Cami's body any minute now," he shot back, frustration boiling over.

Rhea's eyes narrowed at his accusation. "My mistake?" she echoed, her voice dangerously calm. "What I did brought my brother back from the dead. I'd call that a victory, Marcel. Cami was merely collateral damage."

Tension crackled between them as Marcel took a step closer, fists clenched. But before he could say anything else, Ares stepped in, hands raised in a placating gesture. "Alright, everyone calm down," he said, looking between his sister and Marcel. "We're all on the same side here."

Kol, always one to defuse with humor, chimed in, "Yeah, yeah, let's not get worked up. Esther's not going to jump into just anyone—she'll go for Rebekah first, and she's miles away. But I get it, Marcel. I'd be testy too if my ex was about to jump into my new ex."

He smirked as he searched for the right word. From behind them, Cami, having just entered the room, spoke up dryly. "Awkward?"

Ares chuckled and returned to his seat beside Davina, amused by the unfolding scene. "Kinky was more the word I was looking for," Kol quipped, grinning mischievously. "Do people still say that?"

Ares snorted. "Hell if I know. I've been dead for a couple hundred years; my vocabulary's rusty."

Kol laughed in agreement, both men sharing a moment of camaraderie. But Marcel, running low on patience, vamp-sped toward Kol and grabbed him by the collar. The light mood shifted in an instant.

Rhea was about to intervene when Cami stepped forward, placing a hand on Marcel's arm. "He'll have an easier time protecting me if he's still breathing," she said, her voice firm but calm.

Reluctantly, Marcel released Kol, shooting him a final warning glare before turning to leave with Cami. "Keep working," he ordered, his voice tight with frustration.

As soon as they were gone, Ares turned to Kol with a raised eyebrow. "What's with the animosity between you and Marcel?"

Kol shrugged, but his eyes flickered toward Rhea. "Eh, it gets old being the odd man out in my own family. Klaus, Elijah, Rebekah—they've always been a trio. But Marcel? There always seemed to be room for him at the table, never for me."

Though Kol's words were aimed at Ares, his gaze lingered on Rhea, as if afraid to look away. The fear of losing her, of being without her again, gnawed at him. He couldn't bear the thought of being separated from her.

Rhea, sensing his tension, turned to Davina. "You remember that diamond we showed you?" she asked.

Davina nodded, her curiosity piqued.

"Well, that was the small version," Rhea explained.

Kol picked up where she left off. "We need a much bigger one for the dagger spell. A hundred years ago, I had it in my hand—until Marcel ratted us out to Klaus. He probably still has it."

Ares threw his hands up in mock exasperation. "Hold on. What dagger spell? What have you two been up to while I've been out of the picture?"

Davina chuckled at his confusion, while Rhea smirked. "You remember how Klaus used to dagger you and leave you in a box for centuries?" she asked.

Ares nodded slowly, catching on.

"Well, we're close to making one that works on Klaus. Just need that diamond."

Ares grinned. "You devious pair. Alright, let's steal it back. Perfect time for some snooping—and to raid Klaus' liquor stash while we're at it."

"You're speaking my language, Ares Monroe," Rhea said, laughing.

Kol smiled too, though his eyes never left Rhea. Ares was the only one who had ever truly accepted their relationship, and seeing them together again, Kol felt a spark of hope.

The group began searching the compound room by room. As Davina rummaged through one of the dressers, she pulled out a framed photo. "Is this you?" she asked, holding it up for Kol to see.

Kol took the photo, a wave of nostalgia hitting him as he looked at the old image of himself with Klaus, Rebekah, Elijah, Marcel, and Rhea. "I was better looking back then," he joked, but his smile didn't quite reach his eyes.

Rhea glanced over, catching his tone. "You wish," she teased, chuckling.

Ares laughed along with his sister, glad to see her in lighter spirits. He hadn't seen her smile like this in ages, not since before everything went wrong.

Davina, ever curious, asked, "What about Rebekah? You haven't said much about her."

Rhea threw a cushion at her brother before he could answer. "She's still the same old Rebekah."

Kol grinned as memories of their past flooded back. "There was that one time, though—Christmas, 1914. She did us a solid."

Rhea raised an eyebrow. "I seem to recall the opposite," she muttered.

NEW ORLEANS: DECEMBER, 1914

The Mikaelsons were hosting a grand Christmas party, and Rebekah, dressed in a festive red gown, opened Klaus' bedroom door to find Kol and Rhea rummaging through his belongings.

"Pilfering before cocktails, are we?" Rebekah asked with a smirk, leaning against the doorway.

Kol and Rhea froze, relieved it was Rebekah and not Klaus. "Nik took something of ours," Kol explained, "we're just taking it back."

Rebekah raised an eyebrow, her smile turning wicked. "Well, I'll just tell him, then."

Rhea rushed forward, catching her arm. "Wait, Bekah," she pleaded. Rebekah paused, intrigued. Kol stepped up beside Rhea, nodding for her to explain.

"What if I told you we're close to finishing a dagger that could work on Klaus?" Rhea said.

Rebekah's eyes widened, skepticism quickly setting in. "Neither of you would dare."

Kol stepped in, his voice low. "Why not? He's done worse to us. And think about it—you'd get time with Marcel, free from his control."

Rebekah hesitated, clearly tempted by the idea. "You're serious."

"Haven't you earned the right to live out of his shadow?" Rhea pressed, her persuasive tone soft but insistent.

Rebekah stared at them, torn, but finally nodded. "Count me in. But you'd better hurry—and wipe that lipstick off, Kol. You two are like animals."