𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡, 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟖𝟎𝟐

"You know, I wouldn't have taken you for a chess player, Mr. Mikaelson," Juniper spoke as she lost for the second time that day.

She sat, legs crossed, on a chair as her fingers rearranged the pieces. They were in a small tavern, this one different from the one from all those nights before. It was one made to supply warm food and drinks for the travellers that came and went through the ocean-side town.

Kol grinned as he set his elbows on the small table, resting his chin in his palms as he stared at her, "Oh? Do I not seem sophisticated enough?"

She chuckled as she made her first move, "I was going to say not smart enough but that works too."

A laugh escaped his lips as he tilted his head down before meeting her eyes once more, "So harsh, my dearest June."

"Your dearest? Didn't know we were there yet," She teased as she knocked over one of his pieces and took its place with one of her own.

He grinned as he saw an opening, "Oh? And where are we?"

She scoffed as he won once more, "Clearly not playing chess ever again."

Kol chuckled, "Didn't take you for a sore loser, darling."

Juniper crossed her arms as she leaned back in her chair, "I'm not. I just don't like losing for hours on end."

He leaned forward as a smirk pulled at his lips, "Hate to break it to you, gorgeous, but that's the definition of a sore loser."

The Heartrender rolled her eyes before grabbing a cloth and throwing it at him. The fabric hit his face before it fell to the ground as he stared at her in mock shock.

"Harsh, love. That really hurt."

She rolled her eyes once more as she fought the smile that was threatening to appear on her face, "Shut up."

"I thought you liked my voice. If anything, I think I should talk more, don't you?"

"If you do I will find a muzzle."

He smirked, "Feel free. Though I don't think it would shut me up for long."

"And why is that?"

"Because if I'm wearing a muzzle, how are you going to kiss me?"

Juniper blushed slightly as a chuckle left her lips, "What a shame it would be for me not to kiss you."

"Most women tell me it's a pleasurable experience, especially when I'm between their thi-" Before he could continue, she slapped her hand against his mouth as she glanced around the room, "Kol! You can't say that in public."

He smirked against her hand as he stared at her with amused eyes, "Would you rather I show you?"

His voice was muffled but loud enough so only she could hear it. Her blush increased, the tips of her ears a shade of red that matched her dress.

"Shut up, Kol," She grumbled as she held her hand tightly to his face, "If I take my hand off will you be quiet?"

"I'll do whatever you want me to," He answered after licking her hand which caused her to pull away before wiping her palm against his shirt, "Gross."

A few of the other occupants glanced at them weirdly causing her blush to redden. She quickly grabbed his hand before they stood and walked out of the building.

He grinned as he walked a few paces behind her, footsteps fast as he tried to keep up with the embarrassed witch, "Come on, darling. You can slow down now."

His smirk never left his face as he gripped her hand and spun her to face him, stopping her from moving any further. His free hand came up and cupped her cheek as he stared into her blue eyes, "Would it be wrong of me to say I really want to kiss you right now?"

Juniper chuckled, "Yes. We hardly know each other, Kol."

"Well then why don't we get to know each other? What's your favourite colour?"

She grinned as she stared up at him, "My favourite colour? Oh that's stepping over the line, dear Kol."

He laughed as they began walking once more, "Seriously though. What's your favourite colour?"

"Red. What's yours?"

He stared into her crystal-like eyes as he replied, "Blue. What's your favourite thing in the world?"

"Waffles," She answered with a small chuckle.

"Waffles?" He repeated, "What are waffles?"

Juniper's footsteps quickly came to a stop as she faced him again, "You've never had a waffle?"

He shook his head.

"Oh, you haven't lived, Kol! Come!" She spoke as she grabbed his hand and quickly walked towards the town square, "This is going to be the best experience of your life."

— — —

Inside a small coffeehouse, Juniper watched as Kol bit into a waffle with excited eyes. She waited as he swallowed the delicacy before meeting her eyes again.

"You're a genius," She muttered as she watched him bite into it before doing it herself.

He chuckled softly as he asked, "Is this supposed to be sweet or savoury?"

"Yes," She answered, causing him to laugh.

The warm fire which sat beside them warmed their bodies as they ate what Juniper deemed to be a delicacy. The orange fire lit the room, leaving their faces glowing as they smiled at each other.

He could hear as her heart raced excitedly. Whether it was from him or the waffle he didn't care. The sound of her heart, the sound that told him she was alive, made him feel safer than he ever thought possible.

He couldn't tell if she was using her Grisha science to mess with his insides and make him feel as though he liked her. For years, he had heard stories of how charming Heartrenders could be.

That's why they were all killed. Except for her. The one that got away.

For years the Grisha had ruled the world. They were the strongest creatures to ever exist. That made them dangerous.

Wars began and in the late 1700s, the werewolves, vampires and even witches, banded together for the first and only time to kill them.

No one knew how Juniper Zenik got away, they just knew she did.

And now, with no Grisha left, with no one more powerful than her, she was the prey once again.

Her Heartrender powers were unmatched and as the years went by, if she continued to use her magic, she could kill any being on the planet with a single look.

That's exactly why his brother wanted her. Niklaus craved power and if he had her in his hold, he would be unstoppable. But Niklaus's paranoia always got in the way. Sure he may say he wants her for power but it was more than likely he wanted to kill her. 

He couldn't stand the thought of someone being stronger than him. 

Kol's heart ached. He was going to give the woman who loved waffles more than anything to his brother who would cage her for all the years to come, much like he had with his siblings, or leave her dead.

But it was her or him. Betrayal or a dagger.

"Kol?" Her voice brought him out of his thoughts.

His eyes looked up at her as she spoke again, "You alright, Kol?"

He nodded, "Yes. Sorry, just stuck in my thoughts."

Juniper grinned, "Waffle heaven, huh?"

He hid the sadness in his eyes as he chuckled, "Yeah. Waffle heaven."

— — —

'Kol,

Have you found my Heartrender? It's been three weeks. I will only give you two more before you come back home. Hurry up, brother. You are losing time.

Niklaus'

The Original sighed as he read the letter before shoving it in his pocket.

His eyes moved up and watched as the men dragged women towards large stakes and sighed. If they were going to kill women, they could have done it in much better ways.

He had only just arrived at the square moments before after taking Juniper home after their seventh date. Not that she believed they were dates.

Kol didn't know why he hadn't taken her to his brother yet. He had had so many opportunities. Like the time she drank so much cider she physically couldn't walk home. Or the time she tripped over a rock and fell on her face which promptly knocked her out.

Hell, even the first night he had met her face to face in the tavern. He could have so easily knocked her out as they walked down that dark alley and yet he didn't.

Why would he risk his future for a woman he barely knew?

Juniper Zenik was an anomaly in his life. One that he knew he had to get rid of. He just didn't know if he could.

He had only walked a few blocks away, planning on ways to tell Juniper who he was when he heard a scream. It was a scream like no other. It was her.

He didn't have time to think as he ran towards her home.

The first thing he noticed was the door which had been bashed in. He ran inside, broken glass crunching beneath his feet as he scoured every room for her.

But she was gone.

On her bed, the sheets were messy. He glanced down and saw a small silver medallion with a crown engraved in the center. It was the symbol the local witch hunters wore.

Shit, he thought to himself as he held the metal in his hand, crushing it in his grip as his eyes darkened.

Someone had taken her. Someone had hurt her. They would pay.

Ten Minutes Earlier

Her head was tilted down as she entered her home, trying her best to avoid her neighbour who conveniently was her landlord.

A smile was painted on her face as she pulled off her hat, unable to shake the expression. It wasn't until a knock came from her door.

She sighed. Kol was long gone so it wasn't him.

"Who is it?" She called out, slightly louder than her usual voice.

"June, you're late on payment," Her landlord spoke through the closed door.

She sighed once again before pulling the door open, revealing her face to the man.

The older man smiled, "Shall we settle up? Or shall I call in the local constabulary?"

Juniper chuckled softly as she stared at him, "Have a little patience."

She could feel as his heart raced in his chest as his posture slumped ever so slightly, "Of course," He whispered, "Is there anything else I can do to make your stay more enjoyable before you return to France?"

The Heartrender smiled as she shook her head, "That will be all, James. Have a lovely night."

As the man left, she retreated to her bedroom once again. She glanced down at the bag in the corner of her room and exhaled.

She had stayed too long. Normally she only stayed a week or two before leaving. It had been four.

But he was there. Every time she thought to leave, he filled her thoughts. He was like a goddamn plague.

She pulled the case up to her bed before filling it with the little clothing she owned. She folded her dresses as neatly as possible before going to zip it up only for a loud bang to come from her door once again.

She frowned as she turned around only to see three large men at the door of her bedroom.

"If you need the room..." She trailed off with a small smile, hiding her partial nerves.

"Witch," One of them shouted before falling to his knees in pain. The men grunted as she raised her hands and squeezed their airways shut. They stared at her, eyes bulging, as they clawed at their necks.

Just as they were about to go unconscious a rope wrapped around her wrist and pulled her down to the hard floor. She groaned as she felt a man hold her down by her shoulders.

She sat up, hitting her head harshly against his causing him to fall off her. She got up quickly, glancing down and seeing her arms were restrained by the rope wrapped around her.

She was quickly tackled against a wall. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes as he held her by her neck.

"A woman who fights," He praised as her body went limp in his hold.

Present Time

Kol ran toward the square again only to see her limp body being dragged towards a stake. He watched as they tied her body to the wood, her head swaying slightly as he heard her heartbeat fasten.

He pushed past men and women as the witch hunters lit the branches surrounding her. He didn't even care as he ripped into the man's throat, leaving him dead before moving to the next.

Civilians screamed as they ran in all directions.

He dropped the last body, blood smeared along his face as his eyes met hers. She stared at him with an unreadable expression as the fire inched closer toward her.

He ran to the backside of her where the fire had yet to spread before his hands quickly worked at the ropes.

She chuckled as his hands fiddled with the ropes, "I know I said I wanted to die when I was still young and hot but, uh, me burning to death really defeats the point of an open casket."

"I'm going as fast as I can, darling. And you're not dying. I won't let you."

His fingers untied the last bit of rope before he grabbed her body and pulled her away from the fire.

They landed on the cobblestone road, her on top of him as the flames lit their faces. She stared down at his bloody face, "Could've told me you were a vampire."

"Could've told me you were a witch," He spoke back, not letting on that he knew her true secret.

She chuckled before she rolled off his body and lay beside him as they watched the fire grow, "We should probably take care of the townspeople. They all saw your little show."

He smirked as he turned his head to look at her, "Are you giving me permission to kill them?"

Juniper rolled her eyes as she sat up, gently slapping his chest, "I meant compelling them. If a whole town died it'd be suspicious."

Kol laughed as he sat up, "You sound like my brother."

"Oh? Didn't know your brother had an extremely attractive Ravkan accent."

Another laugh escaped his lips as he stood. His hand came down to her, "Just so we're clear," He started as he pulled her up, "No rampages?"

"No rampages."

He frowned, "What about a little murder? Just a little," He spoke as he held up his fingers, inching them towards each other as he smiled at her. 

She chuckled, "Just a little. Only the ones who deserve it. I'll put out the fire."

He nodded as he walked away, stopping a few feet when he noticed the fire was already out. She had used her magic, "That's so unfair," He muttered.

"I call it efficient. Now hurry up, my half of the job is already done, little vampire."

He scoffed playfully before speeding off. Juniper thought he resembled a child who stomped away from their mother after being told 'no.'

Ten minutes later, he had come back, slightly happier as more blood dripped onto his shirt. Juniper sighed, "You didn't kill them all, did you?"

He smirked as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and led her out of the square, "Only a few... maybe 50."

She slapped his arm, "Kol!"

"Don't worry, darling. I compelled the rest. No one will notice they're gone."

To be completely honest, he thought about killing every single one of them for hurting her. The thought ran through his mind multiple times as he compelled them.

It wasn't until he saw one of the men who tied her to the stake that he lashed out. He couldn't stop himself from tearing into the man's throat.

But for some odd, annoying reason, he wanted to please her. So he didn't kill everyone in sight, he didn't set the town on fire and he didn't make a scene big enough for Mikael to notice.

Instead, it looked like a normal night. No one would remember the possible existence of witches, nor Juniper Zenik. Kol had made sure of it.

He wasn't going to let another person hurt her.

He just never knew it would be him who would hurt her most.