40 | GRAVE OFFENSE

WARNING: you might need tissues for this chapter, depending on how quickly you cry.

After her slaughtering of the witches and warlocks, Khalia headed back home. She took a quick shower to get rid of the smell of blood – she had a long bath earlier so excessive scrubbing wasn’t necessary. She checked in on the cheeky pregnant werewolf – who was also apparently in love with her. (And didn’t that thought just heat her up with a soft, gooey warmth that left her with the desire to never stop smiling.)

Hayley was lying in bed, telling about her about the Other Side that was disintegrating – which made Khalia’s heart feel like it was being torn from her chest all over again as she thought about her twin brother, Hayley told her about her fight with Mikael, about how he badmouthed Klaus but the werewolf didn’t believe a single word out of his mouth, about how Elijah and Klaus was tormented in dreams with their father (which Khalia found a bit odd, because why was she spared?). Luckily she didn’t bring up her love declaration or Khalia’s confession of being afraid.

When Hayley fell asleep, Khalia tucked her blankets around her and finally left the werewolf’s room. The vampire fell into her own bed – more mentally exhausted than physically tired. Lulled by the sound of the two familiar heartbeats from next door, she was asleep within minutes of her head hitting the pillow.

Khalia opened her eyes, in her own room in the Compound right where she fell asleep, but found herself surrounded in a hue of blue that the vampire found incredibly odd. She got out of bed, walked out of her room and looked around. Then she remembered what Hayley told about Mikael hunting Elijah and Klaus in their dreams from the collapsing other side. Her whole body tensed tighter than a bowstring – if this was her turn and Mikael wanted a fight, he would get a fucking war.

A hand tapped her on the shoulder and she gripped it, speeding the attacker against wall of the hallway they were in. Her eyes widened when she noticed who it was – a pair of brown eyes that was exactly the same shade as hers, a cheeky smile that never failed to make her smile in return – it was someone she’d never thought she’d ever see again. Kol.

“Kol?” She whispered in disbelief, her voice coming out strangled. Her eyes burned and her throat tightened as she let go of her twin brother. Or rather, this vision of him. Because there was no way this could be real. Kol is dead. This was a dream. She had to be dreaming. That was the only possible explanation.

“Hello, Lia.” Dream-Kol smiled at her and Khalia couldn’t help but smile back even as her eyes blurred, warm tears falling down her cheeks.

“Well, this is most certainly the nicest dream I’ve had in a long time.” She let out a wet chuckle, not caring about her tears – not when she gets to see her twin again. In fact, she’d cry a river that will rival the Mississippi if necessary. Even if it was just a dream, she’d take anything. Kol wiped his sister’s cheeks. “I miss you.”

“It is not a dream.” He told her. Khalia’s heart stuttered in her chest. “And I miss you too. So much.”

“What do you mean?” The amount of wariness and hope was equally powerful, heart squeezing painfully in her chest.

“It’s really me.” Kol said with a gentle smile.

Khalia’s awed smile as she started realizing that this is real, that this is really Kol, her twin, was a sight to behold. “It’s really you?”

“It’s really me.” Kol nodded again.

At first Khalia thought she was going crazy, dreaming up some scenario that would make her happy. Then she remembered how Hayley described the other side. Looking around, the explanation matched perfectly. The blue-hue, the drop in temperature, the unnatural silence, the empty and dark feeling all around you. All of that faded away when she looked at her twin brother – warmth and happiness making her heart swell. “How?”

“We’re on the other side. I threatened a witch-” He pointedly ignored his sister’s huffed, ‘of course you did, classic Kol’ and continued explaining. “-into spelling my spirit to connect to yours once you fall asleep. I also threatened said witch to protect your mind from Mikael. Apparently, he’s been haunting our brother’s.”

“Yes, he nearly killed Hayley.” She scowled darkly at the thought, then realized Kol doesn’t know who she is. “She’s  . . . the mother of Nik’s child.”

“Yes, I know. I’ve been watching over you.”

That caught Khalia by surprise, causing her to gape at him. “You have?”

“Everyday.” Kol answered earnestly.

Khalia suddenly remembered what Hayley told her about the Other Side. About how Mikael was able to come through. And it was probably how Kol could come to see her as well, even if he had to threaten a witch into helping him. “So, I hear the Other Side is collapsing.” Her voice cracked as she spoke, bottom lip trembling almost violently.

Sadness welled up in his eyes, the male Original nodding his head slowly. “It is.”

"Okay, okay, okay,” Khalia breathed in, nodded as she paced a little, rubbing a hand through her hair. “I'll leave right now. I can be in Mystic Falls by the morning."

Kol’s eyes widened at that. That was not what he wanted to happen. "No, no, you can't. You need to stay here, with Hayley. I'll figure it out by myself."

"Kol-"

"Lia, listen to me," He grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her just enough to get her attention. "I have been watching over you since the moment I died. I saw you dying inside without me. I have watched you get drunk, destroy everything within a two mile radius and kill more humans than I thought possible. I have watched you meet that werewolf girl, watched how she brought you back to life and how you started to love her."

"I don't love Hayley. I like her, yes, but I don’t love her." Khalia objected immediately, her wildly beating heart and heated cheeks contradicting her statement.

Kol smirked, but it faded when he noticed the fear in his twin sister's eyes. The same fear he knew she had just before he died, when she felt his terror through their bond. His heart ached, knowing that their bond was broken forever. "I'm not saying in which way you love her, but anyone paying close enough attention can see just how much you care about her."

"Yes, I care about her, but it doesn't matter. She is fine. Nik and Elijah can protect her. You on the other hand, you're not fine. You're dead, Kol." Khalia couldn’t stress the point of her argument more, voice breaking again as she spoke her last sentence.

"I know." He nodded, sadness spreading through his whole being. "And if I can't come back, and you loose me again, you will fall apart all over again. I don’t want that for you." Kol Mikaelson is a selfish man, he’d be the first to admit it, but his sister, his twin, his best friend, is the one person in the world who he can be selfless for.

"Kol . . ." Her voice was thick with tears and emotions, her chest feeling tight and her eyes blurring.

He gave her a cheerless smile, but the words he spoke were sincere. "Lia, my twin, I love you. So much. And if I don't make it back, always remember that. And don't you dare to ever forget me."

"I could never." She swore, a sob ripping out of her throat without her permission.

Kol stepped forward and wrapped his arms tightly around his twin sister. Some irrational and silly part of him - the part of him that loved Khalia more than anything in this world - hoped that if he hugged her tightly enough, all of her broken pieces would fuse together and all of her pain would disappear.

“Promise me you won’t go to Mystic Falls.” Kol demanded, knowing his sister would otherwise leave the second she wakes up.

Khalia wanted to strangle her twin, but the tightness of her chest and her blurry eyes took all of the fight out of her. “I promise.”

She laid her head on his shoulder as tears began dripping down her cheeks, faster than before,  as she properly cried for Kol for the first time since he died. Figures. She would only be able to let herself breakdown in front of the person that she lost. Khalia fisted his jacket in her fists tightly, unwilling to let go of him and wanting to the moment to last as long as possible.

"I love you, too, Kol." The brunette girl whispered, her voice hoarse and filled with pain, but there was undeniable and unending love her voice that Kol easily heard. If they never get to see each other again, she wants him to be sure of at least that.

They stood there in the silence, hugging and content to just be with each other. When Kol pulled away, neither of them knew how much times passed. The concept of time worked differently on the Other Side. He gave her a sad smile. “I have to go.”

Khalia’s eyes became frantic as she lunged for her brother, hugging him tightly and fiercely. “No. Please, I’m begging you, don’t leave me again.”

Kol swallowed past his own tears that started to roll down his cheeks without his permission, wrapping his arms tightly around his sister. “I love you, Lia.”

“No.” Khalia shook her head against his chest as it became harder and harder for her to breathe properly.

“Never forget that.” Was his last words to her, and then he was gone.

“NO!” Khalia screamed herself awake. “NOOOOOOOO!” Fat, ugly tears rolled down her cheeks. “KOL!” She sat up in her bed, looking around frantically.

Klaus appeared in her doorway first, looking like he was yelled awake as well. His eyes widened at the tears on his sister’s face. The Hybrid as only seen is sister cry once before in their immortal life. And that was a year ago when Kol died. He sped to her bedside, taking a hesitant seat next to her. “What is it, Khalia?”

Elijah and Hayley arrived in her room next, both of them freezing when they took in Khalia’s appearance. They both stood in the doorway, wanting desperately to enter the room, to get closer to the female vampire, but neither of them knew what the hell they would say to her. Elijah has never his sister cry before and Hayley has never seen the Original with so much emotion on her face before. Not even when she opened up about Kol.

“I-it’s Kol. I saw him. On the Other Side.” Her words were a broken whisper, chest heaving so terribly that she was near to hyperventilating.

No one spoke again. Klaus pulled his sister into a hug, he didn’t know what else to do, that she easily accepted – which just proved to all of them how off kilter and emotional the vampire girl currently was.

All three of them – Klaus, Hayley and Elijah – silently wondered the same thing. Is it possible for someone to ever recover from the loss of a twin that was by your side for a thousand years?

***

After she fell back asleep again, the trio made a vow to never speak of what they witnessed that night unless Khalia was the one to breach the subject. And if none of the three got much sleep – listening for any sound of distress or what might be a nightmare, coming from Khalia’s room, then no one would ever know.

Next morning when she finally woke up, Khalia didn’t want to get up. She just wanted to lie in her bed for the rest of eternity – that urge was as big as the one to go to Mystic Falls. But no, that wouldn’t do. Kol wouldn’t want that for her. And besides, she made a threat to the witches last night. One she wouldn’t be able to fulfill if she wastes away.

With a deep sigh and a heavy heart, the female Original got out of her bed. She got dressed and trudged downstairs, heading in the direction where she heard two familiar and soothing heartbeats coming from. Khalia came across Genevieve on her way to wherever Hayley was, and the witch opened her mouth to start a conversation with the vampire, but quickly shut it again and scurried out of Khalia’s way when the Demon Mikaelson fixed her with a death glare.

“Why did I run into your witch bitch on my way here?” Khalia asks as she enters the living room where Klaus and Hayley were. Klaus was sketching and Hayley was sitting in a cross legged position, doing what looks like breathing exercises. Probably for the baby somehow – and even with all of her extensive research and reading, Khalia didn’t get how it helped, but also didn’t question it.

Khalia’s gaze strayed to the alcohol table in the room, memories of what happened last night flashing in her mind and suddenly the alcohol looked very much appealing. Those two heartbeats that she never quite tuned out after entering the room, echoed in her ears. She looked at Hayley, who’s eyes were closed as she breathed in and out, causing a soft smile to spread on Khalia’s lips. This time, the vampire didn’t brush off the fluttering in her stomach as nothing. She now knew it was because she likes Hayley in a romantic manner.

The option of sitting down next to the werewolf, basking her in calming presence suddenly looked much more appealing than all of the alcohol combined. She took a seat on the couch opposite Hayley, discreetly looking at the pregnant girl. While Khalia was scared out of her wits and not sure what to do about her feelings (which, in retrospection, she should have realized the moment she wanted to kiss Hayley, promised Hayley she wouldn’t get a girlfriend or decided that nothing could ever happen between them, because she doesn’t think those kinds of thoughts about just anyone or everyone), Hayley was already in love with her and she really didn’t want to hurt the werewolf. Not even unintentionally. Unfortunately, the vampire didn’t see a scenario where no one got hurt.

Klaus quirked an eyebrow, “Looks like your gratitude towards her has run out.”

“The fact that she is still alive, is gratitude enough, but now I have to tolerate her presence in my home?” Khalia all but snarled in frustration, giving her brother a nasty glare. Hayley sneaked a peak as she opened her eyes, nearly laughing at the expression of extreme distaste on her vampire’s face.

“She is only helping me with the rings.” Klaus attempted to placate her, trying to reassure her that it was only temporary. Going by the look on her face, he wasn’t succeeding. He tried changing the subject instead, “How was your beauty sleep, sister?”

Khalia’s eyes narrowed a little, but she allowed the change of topic in their conversation. Talking or seeing the red-head this early was not her idea of the ideal morning conversation or sight to behold. She scoffed at his question, “Have you seen me? I don’t need beauty sleep.”

“And I thought Klaus has a big ego.” Hayley mumbled to herself, but the two supernatural’s heard her perfectly.

Khalia turned to her, a spark of mischief entering her eyes. “Am I wrong, sweetheart?”

“Nope.” Hayley all but squeaked, shaking her head with a little more vigor than what was necessary. She was still amazed that the vampire didn’t tease, laugh at or reject her love confession. Sure, she didn’t accept it either but being given an honest explanation was something the werewolf appreciated. Even if her heart longed for more.

Klaus’ brows furrowed ever so slightly as he studied his sister. “Then why are you so fond of doing it?”

“Besides killing, it’s the most fun hobby I’ve ever had.” Khalia answered honestly, her easy going manner nearly sent Klaus into rolling his eyes. The Demon Mikaelson was secretly relieved that neither one of the two mentioned what happened the previous night. She really didn’t want to talk about it and was glad they didn’t ask anything of her.

Elijah choose that moment to enter the room, his expression something short of thunderous.

Khalia rose a perfect brow at him, “Oi! What’s with the look? Did you misplace your favorite suit or something?”

“Khalia, I am in no mood for you right now.” Elijah snapped, glaring heatedly at his sister. Her eyes narrowed, her back straightened and she sat upright as she returned his glare – Khalia didn’t do anything wrong today (not yet anyways) and did not deserve this treatment from her brother and wouldn’t take it either.

Klaus decided to intervene before Elijah got his neck snapped. “Elijah, how about you tell us what ruffled your feathers?”

“My feathers, as you so kindly put it, has been ruffled because I’ve been putting out fires for the better part of the morning.” And here he turned his glare back to his sister. Khalia’s glare faded, her shoulders sagged a little as two-and-two quickly became four in the corners of her mind.

“What happened?” Klaus asked as Hayley frowned in confusion, but Khalia already had some idea it had to do with her visit to their cemetery last night.

She almost winced at the accusatory look on her brother’s face. “Our dearest sister over here, decided to kill not one or two, but eleven witches last night.”

“What?” Hayley’s eyes were wide. When did Khalia get the chance? Was it when she left after Hayley’s confession? Or after she came back to her room later on and sat with her until she fell asleep? Or was it after she fell asleep?

Elijah glared at his sister once more and Khalia took it. “You can not just slaughter witches as you please.”

Khalia crossed her arms, the need to defend herself rising as she pouted petulantly. “I gave them a perfectly clear warning. And, might I add, a way to put a stop to it, which you have to admit is rather gracious of me. It’s not my fault they're not taking it.”

Klaus gave her an amused look. “What grave offense did they cause you this time? Other than breathing, that is.”

Khalia pulled a face as she stared at her brother. “Are you daft or suffering from dementia? They attacked my sweetheart, dumbass.”

Hearing the reason why Khalia launched an attack on the witches, left Hayley with a smile so bright it could be used to power New Orleans for years to come. The warmth in her chest made her feel close to ecstatic as the love she felt for her vampire grew its roots deeper into her heart and soul.

“Right, of course, and the only punishment fit for such a horrendous crime, is certain death.” Elijah’s sarcasm flew over Khalia’s head completely in the heat of the moment.

The female Mikaelson nodded enthusiastically, thrusting her hands to her eldest brother. “Yes! See, Nik? Even Elijah gets it.”

Her two brother’s barely restrained themselves from face palming.

***

AUTHOR’S NOTE

I've been planning on having Kol visit Khalia from the other side since I started this story. For those who wanted it to happen, I hope it was good.

okay, but i am so excited to write kol&khalia season2, haylia season2, klaus&khalia season 2. oh man, it’s going to be a busy season, but it is going to be so much fun.

-Mixie