Chapter 3

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Without hesitation, the siblings sped toward their mansion, both knowing what their brother Nik would have done to their home. As they neared the familiar grounds, voices carried toward them, one unmistakably Klaus's:

"You will return my coffins, or you'll watch your brother burn," Niklaus growled.

"Alright, alright, I'll go fetch them," Damon replied, wary.

"Go with him," Klaus commanded Elijah, "and keep him honest, brother."

Kol exchanged a look with Rebekah. The silent communication between them was clear—Nik and Elijah, as usual, 

the drama, the posturing

Finn, their eldest brother, stood not far off, silent as ever. To Kol, he embodied the worst of their parents, Mikael and Esther—a true son of both, with all their flaws.

The conversation shifted as Klaus turned toward Elijah. "What are you doing?"

Elijah's tone was calm, measured. "Waiting for dessert, brother. I cannot, in good conscience, trust your vile promises any longer. Our siblings will be returned immediately. Of that, I'm certain."

Elijah dismissed Damon coolly. "Your services are no longer required, Mr. Salvatore."

Klaus growled, simmering with rage. "Shall we, then?"

Kol took that as his cue. With blinding speed, he grabbed a dagger, swiftly driving it into Klaus's midsection. Silence fell over the hall.

"Ah, Nik, how's life been treating you?" Kol asked, his voice light, but the tension thick in the room.

Damon and Stefan stood frozen, their eyes wide, witnessing the Original Hybrid casually stabbed by a man who seemed unfazed by any potential retaliation.

"Ah, Kol," Klaus rasped, mocking even as he recovered, "my dear brother, how was your nap?"

"Why, my bastard brother, you wouldn't know, would you? You've never been daggered. You've never felt the constant agony of a blade piercing your heart for centuries. But don't worry, Nik, I could arrange something similar for you," Kol said, his smile sharp as a blade.

In a flash, Kol was in front of the Salvatore brothers, who barely registered his movement. "Didn't my brother tell you your services were no longer required?" he asked, hands plunging into their chests, gripping their hearts.

"We'll go, we'll go!" Damon winced, his voice strained with pain.

Kol smirked. "Good." Then, with a swift tug, he pulled out one of each brother's lungs.

"Consider this compensation for crossing our family," I said coldly. "I will learn all about you soon enough. Rebekah's given me a glimpse, but I already know treachery when I see it. So, if I were you, I'd stay very still in this town. Leave, and wherever you go, let them know Kol Mikaelson is coming for you." I slapped their cheeks lightly with my bloodied hands. "Now, run along."

Turning back to Klaus, my smile widened. "So, my dear bastard brother, tell me. What should I punish you for first? The centuries of betrayal? Or your most recent crime of leaving our darling sister to face Mikael? Speak up, Nik. You know how I get when I'm questioning someone."

For once, Klaus—the monster who haunted the nightmares of others—looked ashamed. "Kol, I didn't want to leave Rebekah. By the time I returned, I heard Mikael was dead. I searched for her, but Mikael arrived before I could find her. And I killed him."

My expression didn't soften. "Did you preserve Mikael's ashes?"

"Yes."

"Good. A 1000 year old cursed Viking ashes could be useful." I said with a dismissive wave.

'There it is, the practical mind of the family,' Niklaus, Rebekah, and Elijah thought in unison.

Suddenly, the sound of whooshing air filled the room. Three daggers pierced their marks—Rebekah, Finn, and Elijah had all driven their daggers into Klaus.

As Klaus seethed, Rebekah spoke first, her voice laced with venom. "We're leaving you here, Nik. It's time we lived our own lives."

Klaus, ever the defiant child, hissed, "Then I will hunt you down. I am the Original Hybrid."

Elijah's response was a deadly whisper. "Then you'll be just like our father."

As they continue their drama, I search for a good bottle of rum. I find one, take a glass, fill it, pull up a chair, and sit next to Niklaus. I hand him the glass and take a sip from the bottle myself. The rum is good. I should think about adding blood to it soon.

"So, Nik, how does it feel to be reunited with your wolf after so long?" I ask, a smirk tugging at my lips. "Want to play fetch? Maybe we should grab a Salvatore vampire while you transform. Or better yet, why don't I pet you after you shift?"

Nik gives me a dry look and silently drinks. Classic.

Ha, that's why I love this family.

Bekah is staring at me like I've grown a second head. Elijah, as usual, looks equally unimpressed.

"Kol, what are you doing?" Elijah finally asks, his voice heavy with judgment.

I raise an eyebrow. "What am I doing? I'm drinking rum. Why don't you be a good brother, fetch me a blood bag, and grab yourself a glass while you're at it?"

Elijah sighs, clearly not amused. "No, I'm asking why you're not coming with us?

'Out of all of us here, the only one who doesn't want to be involved is Finn, and frankly, I didn't care for his opinion even when we were mortals. So why aren't you coming?'

I roll my eyes. Do these idiots really think I'll move at their command? Especially when I know we wouldn't even make it past the town's border before someone drags us back? The only one stubborn enough to stay gone is Finn, and even he would return eventually.

"Ah, Elijah," I say, leaning back in my chair, "you're going to stay behind and launch into another 'always and forever' speech anyway. It'll just be a boring walk. And besides..." I take another slow sip of rum.

'I'm staying because I'm waiting. For her. That's the only reason I'm still here.'

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