Kol sighed as he killed the last vampire in the old bar just outside of Mystic Falls. Blood stained his hands as he sat in the backroom texting Sol.

'I'll text you in a minute, darling. Damon and Jeremy are here.'

'Be safe,'  She responded.

Kol stood up, hiding behind a door and he listened in to the two men's conversation, "Somethings not right."

"Looks like we're going to need to find new vampires," Damon groaned when the dead bodies came into sight. "What a waste."

"What the hell happened?" Jeremey asked, confused.

Kol smirks as he walks in behind them, "I confess. I did it."

"You. You were with Sol in Denver... You're Kol."

"Jeremy, I wish I could say it was lovely to see you again, however it is taking everything in me to not rip your head off of your shoulders after what you said to my darling." He glanced down at the blood that had been spilled all over the floor, "Sorry about the mess. Was a little crowded when I arrived, and I prefer more intimate gatherings. And we three need to have a little chat."

Damon glanced around the room, seeing no exit except the one behind the original and Jeremy continued to hold up the crossbow.

"Care for a drink?" Kol asked casually, holding out a half-empty bottle of bourbon.

"He's underage, and I don't like you. So let's just cut to it." Damon stated, moving in front of the youngest Gilbert.

"You know, my brother bragged about his plan to complete Jeremy's hunter's mark. It was easy enough to track down this lot. They were all hiding in the shadows... You know, killing young vampires is easy. Or old ones, for that matter."

"Why? What's it to you either way?"

"Because you fool, in your zeal to find the cure, you risk waking someone very dangerous."

Damon nods, "Oh... You must be talking about Silas."

"What do you know of him?"

"Nothing. Don't want to. Not our problem." Damon answered, a small smirk on his face.

"Isn't it? A few hundred years back I came across a group that worshipped Silas. His followers told me that he would rise again and when he did he would trigger the end of all time. You know, being an immortal you can see why I'm opposed to times ending. So I murdered all of them... And now, here you are, willing to risk raising him in your search for the cure. I can't exactly sit back and let that happen, can I?"

"And we're not going to back off the cure because you were told one to many scary bedtime stories, you idiot."

Kol scoffs, glancing at Jeremy, "Jeremy, I know you act like you hate your sister but I know you love her. You're a smart lad, trying to protect yourself. Won't you call off this imbecilic treasure hunt?"

"I'm not calling anything off. And Sol is dead to me."

Kol sighs, taking a step back as he sets down the bottle of bourbon. "Well, I could kill you. But then I'd have to deal with the hunter's curse... and Sol's rage. And I don't partially feel like having vervain in my shampoo for the next few decades so... Mm, better idea. I'll just rip off your arms."

Before Kol could get close enough to Jeremy, Damon grabbed him before throwing him into the next room. "Jeremy, run!"

Kol smirked as Damon threw measly punches at his face before grabbing onto the Salvatores neck, holding him in a choke hold before snapping his neck.

— — —

"Little brother. Just two days home and I'm told you've already gone and made a mess," Klaus complained over the phone, his voice filled with underlying anger.

"Come on, Nik. I was only having some fun."

"Those vampires were for my hunter."

"Well make some more. There's no shortage of people."

"Where's Damon Salvatore?"

Kol smiled, "I gave him a good and proper beating, just for old time's sake."

"Yes, well, you've had your fun. Now, let him go and come home. I believe Sol is waiting for you in the shower."

Kol's eyes widened at the new knowledge, "I'll be there in a moment."

He glanced back at Damon who had a stake in his stomach, "Alright. Take it out, come on now. I have places to be."

Damon groaned as he pulled the wooden chair leg out of his stomach, blood spilling onto the floor as he did so.

"Go home, Salvatore. And please, for your own sake, don't do anything stupid."

— — —

"Kol?" Sol asked softly as she walked into her and Kol's bedroom in only a towel.

"Yes, darling?" He answered, his voice equally as soft as he stared at her as though he was mesmerised by her beauty.

"I need to go back home and get some of my things. I can't keep wearing Bex's clothes."

"Are you sure you want to go back there? I can go. I can pack up your whole room in five minutes. No one will even know I was there."

"What if they try anything? Elena isn't thinking straight right now, her mind is jumbled by the idea of the cure."

"Here, If I don't come back in ten minutes, come and get me, alright? I'll be okay, darling. I'm an original, they can't kill me."

Sol breathed out, grabbing his hand before pulling him in for a hug, "I love you, Kol." 

He chuckled, placing a kiss on the crown of her head, "I love you more, Sol." 

— — —

Kol sighed as he walked down the street of the Gilbert house, Sol's playlist playing in his ears only to be interrupted by his phone ringing.

"Jeremy Gilbert? What do you want?"

"Actually it's Elena Gilbert."

"What a treat," Kol answers sarcastically. "Yeah, I was just thinking of all the clever ways to break into your home but I'll settle for walking in the front door."

"I need to talk to you. In person."

Kol grins, "That's perfect actually. I need your help with something."

"Help? I want to call a truce with you. In the name of Silas."

"You want to talk about Silas?"

"I'll meet you wherever you want. I'll come to you."

Kol smiled, "Tell you what. How about I come to you?" He questioned as he walked up the stairs before knocking on the door earning a gasp from the girl.

"You want a truce? Open the door or I'll let myself in. Your big sister already invited me in. I'm waiting."

Elena stayed silent.

"Elena, I just want to talk. I'll be out of your hair in five minutes. I just need to get Sol's things and then I need you to look at something for me. That's all."

"Wouldn't I be kind of stupid to invite you in?"

"Love, I already said I was invited in. I could come in at any second and kill you, but I haven't."

Elena sighed before opening the door.

"You'd think being alive for over a thousand years would teach me some manners. Sol surely did. You know, I once didn't hold a door open for her and she punched me in the throat."

"That sounds like my sister."

Kol smiles, "Is she your sister though? I recall you and your brother saying she was dead to you." He sighs before walking inside, past Elena as he takes out his earbuds. "You know, the thing I love about the modern age is music any time you like. Sol made me a whole playlist of songs she loves... It's quite adorable if you ask me."

He glances over at her before walking into the kitchen, "So, I know you and your sister aren't on the greatest terms, however, I know you grew up together and you know what she likes." He stops as he pulls out two ring boxes, "Now, which one do you think she'd like best?"

"Engagement rings?" Elena questioned as she looked at the two rings that sat delicately in the boxes.

"When she comes back from the war, I will be proposing to her... I thought I'd ask you about the ring."

Elena's heart stopped for a moment. She hadn't realized how in love Kol was. "You really love her?"

"More than anything."

She stayed silent, observing the rings before pointing at the one in his left hand, "That one. The other is too flashy. She likes minimalism. Promise you'll take care of her."

"With my life. Your sister is the best thing to ever happen to me, Elena. If needed I would die for her."

"You said she was going back to war? How soon?"

"In a week. She was deployed to Iran. They needed the best so they brought in the best."

"You aren't happy that she's going back," Elena observed as she pulled out a bottle of gin.

"No, I'm proud of her. I just wish she didn't have to risk her life. But, I believe that she will be okay."

"And if she isn't? What if she... dies?"

"If your sister died Elena I would forever be in misery. The first thing I would do is ask for Niklaus to dagger me and throw me into the ocean. I cannot live without her, I refuse to."

"You'd risk everything for her?"

"I've lived long enough to know when I've met my person."

"I want you to leave my brother alone," Elena spoke up, changing the subject as she poured him a glass.

"Oh, I'm done with him. I had my fun and tomorrow I will be leaving town... hand me the ice, you're making it all wrong."

He takes a sip of his drink, the alcohol burning his throat. "So, are we going to talk about Silas or just jibber-jabber?"

Elena nods, gesturing to the living room, watching as he turns away. Kol smiled slightly, seeing a picture of Sol when she was a kid. She had her hair in pigtails and sat on her father's shoulders.

"She was cute, wasn't she?" Elena spoke from behind him.

"Mmm."

"No one else seems to think Silas exists. So why do you?"

"I used to run with some witches. Africa in the 14th century, Haiti in the 17th, and New Orleans in the 19th. They all knew about Silas and that he needed to stay buried. I actually hold witches in high esteem."

"Yeah, but why Silas? Why are you so afraid of him?"

"They said if Silas rises he'll unleash hell on earth. Now, since I'm planning a long life with your sister, you can see how that would be a problem."

— — —

"It seems odd that you'd be willing to give up something you want so much."

"I would do anything for my brother. He doesn't deserve any of this. And if what you're saying about Silas is true, what does it matter what I want if it puts everyone else in danger?"

"Well, this has been enlightening. Thanks for the drinks and the ring help. I'll just grab Sol's belongings and be out of your hair."

Kol sighed as he walked into Sol's old bedroom, leaving Elena downstairs. He grabbed a duffle bag from her closet before packing a few t-shirts only to hear the door open a moment later.

"He's upstairs," she whispered before a knock emitted from the door once again.

"That's Bonnie. She was right behind me."

As soon as Elena opened the door, Kol walked back inside. "I've considered your request for a truce. Request denied."

Elena quickly vamp sped her and Jeremy somewhere hidden, Kol sighing before pulling out his phone.

"Did you know that your darling blood bag and her brother are trying to kill me?" He questioned.

"What?" Klaus questioned on the other end, glancing at Sol who sat at the counter eating ice cream, periodically checking her phone to see if Kol had texted her.

"Don't pretend you're not in on it. Your obsession to find the cure clearly trumps any sibling loyalty you once felt."

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"Tell Sol I'm coming to get her. We're leaving as soon as I get there. Don't bother looking for us."

As he was about to walk out the door, an arrow shot through his leg, and a groan emitted from his lips.

Sol glanced over at the hybrid, "Who was that?"

"No one, love. Go back to eating."

Sol stared at him for a minute before nodding, "Actually, I think I'm just gonna go to the washroom. I'll be back in a minute."

The hybrid nodded before turning back to his phone not noticing the girl slip out of the house, taking his car keys with her.

Kol groaned as Elena shot three wooden bullets into his chest, though he retaliated by throwing a stake into her thigh.

He vamp sped down the halfway where Jeremy stood only to be held back by Elena. He grunted as he pulled a piece of wood from one of the chairs before stabbing it into her stomach.

Kol sighed as he glanced down at Jeremy, "Now, what am I going to do with you?"

Before Kol could do anything, Elena grabbed his arm, slashing a butcher's knife against his chest, and pushing him against one of the cabinets.

Sol looked at the house in confusion when she heard grunts of pain coming from inside. She quickly walked up the steps before hastily opening the door. She ran inside the kitchen only to be held back by Elena.

She stared at her sister in shock as Jeremy held a white oak stake against Kol's chest.

"Kol?" She whispered, her voice defeated.

"Close your eyes, darling-" Before he could say anything else, the stake was rammed into his heart, his skin turning grey as his body erupted into flames.

Sol let out a shaky breath as tears clouded her vision. It was a mass of flames filling the Gilbert kitchen. The kitchen she made birthday cakes in, the one where her mom taught her how to cook, the kitchen she grew up in.

Kol's body dropped down to the ground, his screams silencing as his heart stopped.

Elena continued to hold her sister back, ignoring the older woman's pleas. She ignored the tears that streamed down her face, the broken sobs that came from her lips as her heart beated at an unsteady rate.

"Kol! No, no. Let me go! Please, no. No, don't leave me. You said you wouldn't leave me," Sol sobbed out as Elena let her go, her body crawling over to her lover's now charred body.

She ignored the burning feeling when her hands came into contact with his face, "Kol? Come on, open your eyes. Please. Please don't leave me."

Elena stood by Jeremy as they watched their sister cry. "We did the right thing, right?" Jeremy asked.

Elena didn't answer.

The door opened once again. This time it was Nik. He stood there, tears in his eyes as he watched his best friend sob over his brother's body.

He clenched his jaw, tilting his head as he stared at Elena. "What did you do?"

"We- We didn't have a choice."

"That's not true. He didn't come here for that. I know that for a fact."

"You said you were going to put him down too!" Elena argued.

"I was going to make him suffer on my terms! I'm going to burn this house to the ground and then when you try to flee for your lives, I'll kill you both without blinking."

Jeremy stepped up, tearing his eyes away from Sol, "You kill us, you'll never get the cure. You'll never be able to make more hybrids."

"Do you really think I care for an instant about my bloody hybrids? I wanted the cures so I could destroy it. I would have killed you all the second we dug it up. Sol, love, come on outside..." He said the last sentence softer than the ones before.

Sol couldn't even look up, she didn't even hear what he said. She was numb as she stared at Kol, or what was left of him.

"Invite me in. I won't do anything, I give you my word. Just- Just let me take my sister home. She deserves that much after what she just witnessed."

Elena glanced at Jeremy before nodding.

"Come in," he whispered, the hybrid speeding inside, kneeling beside Sol, gently placing a hand on her shoulder, the girl flinching beneath his hand.

"Love? I'm going to take you home. Can you walk?"

She shook her head. "Please don't make me leave him, Nik."

"He's already gone, love. What's done is done."

When Sol didn't move he sighed, tugging at her chin, forcing her to look at him. "Go to sleep, Sol."

Without a choice, the girl fell asleep in his arms, her body still rigid as though she was still awake.

Klaus glanced down at his brother's body before picking the girl up bridal style and walking out of the house.

"You didn't deserve her. None of you did."