"Hello darling." Kol grinned at me."How is the gang doing?"

"Why are you so interested?" I asked with a raised brow.

"It's my only form of entertainment."

"Well if you must know." I started "Elena's getting antsy because people keep warning her about Klaus, Elijah stabbed Damon in the neck with a pencil so now they don't trust him as much." I folded my arms, not that they did in the first place. "Oh! And my freaking uncle is my sister's dad."

"Why did Elijah stab Damon?" Kol asked, amused. 

"Because he was taunting him, apparently Elijah felt disrespected."

"Drama queen." Kol rolled his eyes, but they were glinting. "I'm sure your friends are preparing for my brother's arrival."

I nodded. "The witches are weirdly helping, they want Bonnie to kill him. They gave her a ton of magic to take him out." Everyone was preparing for his arrival.

"The amount of magic it would take to kill an Original would kill Bonnie before she even got close." He shook his head. "You need to convince her to leave him be. Don't trust the ancestor witches. They never help out of the kindness of their hearts." 

"How do you know?" I questioned.

"I've been alive a long time mon amour, I followed many covens and picked up a few things." He grabbed my hand, gently kissing it.

"I spoke with Elijah." A few weeks ago.

"Oh?"

"I know you said to stay away, but I am also very human and he got someone to invite him in my house."

"Darling, it's alright." He pulled me into his chest. "Just tell me you're safe."

"I am. I promise." I stepped back.

"What did Elijah say."

I relayed our earlier conversation. "He has a theory that we can see each other because you're daggered and we're soulmates."

"That makes sense, I can't complain. This is the next best thing to actually being with you." Kol smiled. "Has Niklaus caused trouble yet?"

"No. He hasn't even shown up yet. I'm dreading it, he's going to kill Elena and I can't even warn the group because I can't explain why Elijah is favoring me."

"And you're staying as far away as you can. Right."

"Of course." I laughed nervously.

His expression dropped, eyes narrowing. "What's going on in that pretty head of yours?"

I felt the familiar fogginess, awareness filtered through of my name being called. "Oh no, I'm waking up. Bye!"

...

"Miss Gilbert." My teacher stood over me, an annoyed expression on his face. "Can you tell me how to mix these two reactants?" He lifted an eyebrow.

"I don't know." I shrugged, cringing at how groggy my voice was.

"Maybe next time you won't sleep in my class." he turned back to teaching, dumb science teacher, he always had that monotone voice and he'd read from the even more boring textbook.

"Drew." The girl next to me leaned over her desk.

"What?" I whispered back, glancing wearily at the teacher.

"Are you going to the dance tonight?" I shrugged, Klaus' impending arrival seemed to be haunting us wherever we went, his minions were everywhere, wreaking whatever havoc they could.

Elena was more paranoid than ever.

"Not really."

"Oh come on. You have to go!"

"Do I know you?" I couldn't remember ever talking to this girl. Her eyes were glazed over, shit. I knew what was happening. The bell rang. "Oops, I guess I'll see you tomorrow." I quickly gathered my things and moved to history.

Ric was looking through his bag at his desk.

"We have an issue." I glanced at other students.

"What makes you say that?" He asked, something felt off about him. I just didn't know what.

"Just- um I think a girl in my class was compelled. She's never talked to me in all the years we've been to school together, and she seemed very insistent I go to the dance tonight."

"Maybe she was just looking to make a friend." Ric brushed it off "Doesn't mean she's been compelled."

Right, I was just freaked out by Klaus. There wasn't anything to worry about. I was seeing things that weren't there.

The bell rang again, signaling the start of class. Ric kept staring at me the entirety of the period.

On my way to the cafeteria, I was sped into an empty classroom by Elijah. "What are you doing here?!" I asked, if anyone from the gang caught wind that he was here, they'd panic and attack.

"Niklaus is in town." He lowered his voice. "He may target you." 

"I know Elijah. We had this chat. How do you know he's here though?"

"His witches have arrived. Be careful, dear sister. He is a dangerous vampire. Should he find you before I can find Kol.. it would be best if you would allow me to hide you."

"I'm not going to let you take me away from my sister when she's still in danger. I'd much rather face Klaus than leave her."

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "And you've kept your connection to Kol a secret, correct? We won't be able to hide the bond from Niklaus."

"Yeah, I've even been covering my birth mark, see." I showed him my wrist, I'd been getting good at using foundation and concealer. "But Elijah, you can't be here. The gang, they're already asking why you keep stalking me, you have to maintain your distance."

"I suppose I'll have to provide a distraction." He stuck his hands in his pockets. "What of the dance. I heard that girl."

I sat on a desk, of course he was listening. "I'm not going, Elena's trying to convince Stefan to let her go, Jenna's going with Ric and I think Jeremy is attending with Bonnie."

"You will be home alone?" His brow furrowed.

"I'll be fine Elijah. I practically chug vervain and I have this." I tugged a necklace out of my shirt, revealing a pendant carrying the toxic herb. "No one is compelling me to let them into the house."

"Perhaps I should guard you."

"No." I blurted. "Elijah, I need you looking for Kol. You said he'd protect me, then it'll be two originals against one. Plus if you're volunteering your services to guard anyone, I'd prefer it'd be Elena. She's the one he wants to sacrifice."

Elijah stared at me, his lips pursed. "Fine. I'll find Kol and provide an assist, should Elena need it."

"Thank you. Now you should go, I need to get to lunch before a search party is sent out."

...

I plopped down next to Stefan, stealing some of his food in the process. "I'm telling you, Klaus is here, Dana told me to save him a dance" Elena sighed.

"I agree with Elena." Bonnie said "She was definitely compelled."

The girl from earlier had been acting strange, surely Klaus would've sent someone after Elena and not me. He shouldn't even be aware of who I am.

And Ric said there was nothing to worry about.

"You're going to the dance, right?" Caroline asked me.

I shook my head "I'm not feeling well, I think I'd rather spend the night in."

"Why'd you eat some of my food if you were sick?" Stefan scooted his tray away from me.

"Please, like you can get sick." I rolled my eyes. "But it's not that kind of illness. More of a mental night. A lot happened in the last two months."

"I like that plan." Jeremy grinned across from me. "Is Damon staying with you?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. He's busy and Stefan is on Elena duty."

"I'll stay in with you." Caroline smiled at me. "We can have a girls night."

"Perfect." I turned to the rest of the group. "See, I've got my vampire buddy."

"You sure Elijah isn't your vampire chaperone?" Bonnie asked, an eyebrow raised.

"You sure you aren't more interested in your warlock friend." I don't know why I was so defensive about Elijah, but he had saved me and he was helping me find my soulmate.

Plus he was my Kol's brother. Which meant he was practically family, right?

"Alright, alright. Stop fighting." Jeremy glanced between us. "We shouldn't argue. It only benefits Klaus if we're split."

"Whatever. I'm just saying, comparatively, Elijah never tried to kill me."

"You bitch." Bonnie glared at me.

"If the shoe fits Bon Bon."

"Elijah hired Luca and his dad. So technically.." She set her hands against the table.

"No. His dad sided with Klaus. Elijah was just looking for Elena." I defended.

"And how would you know that."

"Elijah told me."

"And you believed him?" Bonnie shot back.

"You believed Luca."

"You're still talking to Elijah aren't you." She accused, the table went silent, well, more silent.

"So what if I am, at least I know who's side he's on." I got up. Where'd that come from?