✔ The Way We Burn || Kol Mikaelson (Complete)

Chapter 6

1000 A. D.

Leaning against the trunk of an oak tree, Kol was chewing on a piece of straw absently. He was at the edge of the village and even from there he could see the agitation as people were running around like headless chickens. Men were trying to build a gigantic fire before the night came and women were making sure there was enough food to honor the goddess Frigga. Of course, a pig had already been chosen earlier by the Heads of families to be sacrificed when the moon hit its apex but it didn't stop the villagers from trying to win the favors of the queen of Asgard, wife of the god Odin.

The straw broke inside his mouth and he spat the pieces, slightly grimacing when one piece stuck to his tongue. He quickly glanced around to make sure nobody was looking at him and opened his mouth to remove it. Not that he truly cared if someone actually saw him. Unless the person was Rebekah, as she would have never let it go. And Henrik, because he rather liked his little brother thinking he was flawless.

Once he had dropped the offensive piece of straw on the ground, he ran a hand through his hair and sighed. Tatia and Nora were taking too much time. The brunette had insisted on helping Nora to dress and dye her hair so she could infiltrate the celebration. All the people were to wear a mask, so one more woman wouldn't be obvious. Especially when alcohol would make it difficult to count. Or to be aware of what was going on. Honestly, Kol had no doubt that by the end of the night, married women would be fulfilling their conjugal duty and pleasing their husbands to 'honor' the goddess of fertility while the rest of the village continued the celebration until dawn.

It wasn't the first time Nora sneaked into the village, nor would it be the last. And each time Tatia had offered her help to disguise their common friend, the two women had taken a very long time to get ready. Usually, it didn't bother him. Much. But Nora had only been back from her last travel - wanderings, really - for three days and he hadn't been able to spend much time with her.

She wasn't often away but when she was, she could be gone for a week or two, days spent exploring the lands with only a sword fastened to her hips. He had given her the weapon after sparing with her and making sure she could use it to defend herself. To his surprise, she could. Actually, he would even go so far as to say she was a quite good swordswoman. It didn't mean he liked having her away and alone, though. Especially when she still had difficulty to differentiate edible fruits from inedible ones.

More than once, he had wished he could go with her. Yet, he was stuck here as he couldn't leave his family unprotected. No matter how much he cared for the redhead, his family would always come first. Always. It was necessary, now more than ever, that he stayed in the village as just a month ago, Mikael had been a heartbeat away from killing Nik. Four inches left and his older brother would be dead. Even now, a whole month later, it was hard to realize he had been this close to lose his brother. He could barely sleep now. Most night was spent listening to his family breathing. His siblings, to be sure they were alive. His parents, to be sure Mikael wasn't awake, trying to kill Nik.

He was tired. So damn tired. And stressed. And so ready to leave that damn house and village. He just had to wait for Henrik to be old enough - and strong enough - to travel. He would ask his siblings to leave then, to find a new home, away from Mikael. They would never be afraid of the man again, he vowed. He would kill him himself if he had to, if it came to that. His magic would tear the man apart and his siblings would stop fearing the monster wearing their father's face.

A cracking noise startled him and Kol snapped his head to the side to look at where the sound had come from. There, a sneer distorted his face, Mikael stood. Was the man real? Kol thought about him for two minutes and he just appeared? Really? Couldn't Nora and Tatia do the same? He wouldn't be waiting then.