His days were far more interesting now, even if he spent them stalking a Bennett witch who had a talent for doing impossible things. He still kept an eye on his siblings — not that many were roaming the world, since Nik had a dagger fetish.
Elijah's plans to kill Nik amused him. Elijah actually thought he could do it. Please. Noble Elijah couldn't kill Niklaus if the universe handed him a stake and a cheat code. He still felt guilty about helping Mother curse Nik and never helping him with Mikael.
The noble Elijah wants to avenge us, his dear siblings whose bodies were thrown into the sea… Spare me. I've heard more realistic things come out of Shakespeare's mouth.
He and Finn had never been part of the "Always and Forever" nonsense. They were nuisances. Finn with his suicidal martyr complex, and Kol with his delightful chaos. Elijah's plan was all about Rebekah anyway. Poor Bekah — loyal to Nik for centuries, only to end up daggered like the rest of them.
Family drama got old after a thousand years. That's why Kol preferred to stay away. They nagged him about his behavior, but never tried to understand it. So he played the role of the wild maniac — and grew to enjoy it.
"Are you coming to school?" the blonde vampire asked his impossible witch, who was finishing her food at the Grill.
"I took forever getting ready because Damon interrogated me about Tyler," Caroline continued. "Then I got to school and didn't even make it to math because Stefan asked me to come see you. So I at least have to go to science or my mom will kill me."
"Meh," Bonnie shrugged. "Let's be honest, Care — since the supernatural shit hit the fan, we go to school when we feel like it. I don't even have compulsion, but people don't care. They think I'm acting out because of Grams. My dad's never around, so it doesn't matter. Plus, I can pass the exams easily."
"Lucky you. I still have my mom, who knows about compulsion, so I can't even use that to get a jail‑free pass."
"My witch has the right idea, baby vampire," Kol said, even though they couldn't hear him. "What's the point of sitting still for hours listening to random information?"
"Lucky me," Bonnie smirked. "Now go or you'll miss science."
"Yeah, yeah." Caroline grabbed her bag. "What are you going to do? Help the Salvatores?"
"They can handle it. They didn't even need me. It's not my fault they're dumb and didn't think about GPS tracking."
Kol didn't know what GPS was, but he was certain she was mocking the annoying vampire brothers.
"I'm going home to train my newfound spying abilities," Bonnie said.
"You do that. Meanwhile, into prison I go," Caroline sighed, hugging her. "Call you later. Be careful."
"I always am."
Caroline laughed as she left.
"No, you're not, you impossible witch," Kol said fondly. "But careful is boring — and you are anything but boring."
He watched her sit cross‑legged on the living room floor, eyes closed. He sat in front of her, observing.
Her dark hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders. Her brow furrowed in concentration. She bit her lower lip — and his gaze lingered there.
Then she gasped.
Her expression emptied, becoming marble‑still. The emotions vanished from her face.
"Now where are you off to, little witch?" he murmured. "I'm not one to miss out on the fun."
Kol had seen enough magic to know she was entering the astral plane. How she did it so quickly — without spells or herbs — was another mystery. Young witches needed rituals. Older witches burned wormwood.
He added it to his mental list: The Very Long List of Impossible and Mind‑Boggling Things About Bonnie Bennett.
"She's astrally projecting to where the doppelganger is," a female voice said behind him.
He jumped. A century without company would do that.
"Who are you?" he growled.
"I'm Emily Bennett," she said with a polite smile that didn't reach her eyes. "One of Bonnie's teachers."
If Qetsiyah was terrifying, Emily was… dangerous. In a quieter way.
"If you're her teacher, why tell me where she is?"
"I know the mission my ancestor gave you," Emily said. "Even if you can't protect her physically from this side, your presence keeps other souls from interfering."
"Who would want to mess with her?"
"All the witches who died trying elemental rituals," Emily said. "They want to see where they failed. And the elementarists want to see her too. Normally fine — but too many souls crowding her is dangerous. And many ancestors dislike the attention she's getting from Qetsiyah."
"So basically, witches being jealous bitches."
Emily smirked. "An apt description. Now I'm sending you to her. She needs protection in the astral plane."
"Fine," he huffed. Being bossed around by Bennett witches was becoming a theme.
Emily pushed him lightly — and he vanished.
He reappeared in an abandoned house. Bonnie stood beside him, translucent, watching the scene like a movie.
The doppelganger. Rose. Trevor. A reunion of idiots.
Trevor panicked. Rose tried to soothe him. Bonnie provided commentary like a snarky sports announcer.
Kol added his own commentary, unheard by anyone but himself.
"Oh look, the traitor duo," Bonnie muttered. "This is going to be a disaster."
"You have no idea," Kol said. "These two couldn't plan their way out of a paper bag."
Then Elijah arrived.
Kol groaned. "Elijah, really? I'm not sure if these idiots are brave or stupid."
"Damn," Bonnie said, circling Elijah. "That's some good hair. Classy vampire in a suit."
Kol gaped.
"No. Don't look at him like that."
This witch was under his protection. Elijah had nothing to do with it.
Bonnie continued circling Elijah like she was judging a runway model.
"Fancy vampire with OCD," she muttered.
Kol snorted. "Accurate."
Elijah and Rose talked. Bonnie and Kol provided synchronized commentary — except neither knew the other existed.
When Rose revealed she had the doppelganger, Elijah's interest sharpened.
Bonnie rolled her eyes. "Silver tongue indeed. Vikings worshipped Loki — god of lies. I'll have to tread carefully."
Kol puffed up slightly. "I prayed to Loki. Best god of all."
Elijah demanded to see the girl. Rose led him to Elena.
Elijah sniffed her neck.
"Creepy," Bonnie muttered. "But she's holding up better than I remembered."
Kol froze.
Remembered?
Not saw.
Not foresaw.
Remembered.
Time travel? Impossible.
But she was impossible.
He added it to the list.
Elijah compelled Elena. She revealed the moonstone was in the tomb.
Bonnie smirked. "Good to know everything is going according to plan."
Kol raised a brow. Her plan? Interesting.
Glass shattered upstairs. Elijah went hunting. The Salvatores attacked. Elijah desiccated.
Bonnie sighed. "Pathetic. I expected better from a thousand‑year‑old vampire. Who am I kidding? No, I didn't."
Kol laughed. "She's right, brother. That was embarrassing."
Bonnie leaned over Elijah's desiccated body. "So much for dramatic flair. That was boring."
Kol slung an arm over her shoulder — out of habit. "Darling, it's like you take the words right out of my mouth."
She froze. Looked around.
"Weird. I swear I felt someone here."
Kol held still — metaphorically — but she blinked out of the astral plane before he could try again.
He sighed and followed her back to Mystic Falls.
Night was the only boring time. She slept. He wandered her attic, reading whatever grimoires she left open.
Tonight she'd left boundary spells out.
"You know you shouldn't read Bennett grimoires without permission," Emily said behind him.
He didn't jump this time. Much.
"You scared me half to death."
"I'm a ghost," Emily said cheerfully. "But so are you."
"Blame your descendant. I've been picking up this generation's speech."
"What do you want, Kol Mikaelson?"
"My brother will show up soon. Niklaus will follow. He'll bring my coffin."
"And?"
"You're in contact with Bonnie. Tell her to find my body and remove the dagger."
Emily raised a brow. "Why should I? She doesn't know about Qetsiyah's deal."
"You want me to protect her. I can't do that from this side. My siblings kill witches who aren't useful. Bonnie won't work for free. They won't like that."
Emily considered this.
"And how do I know you'll protect her?"
"She knows the future. Her life is boring — like watching a movie after hearing all the spoilers. She wants a thrill. And who is more unpredictable than me?" Kol smirked. "Besides, I'm not stupid. Better to anger my siblings than the woman who turned her cheating fiancé into stone for two thousand years."
Emily hummed. "I'll think about it. But I'll only bring it up if she mentions you or the coffins. Qetsiyah doesn't want her knowing yet. Meanwhile, stay by her side. Don't let other witches influence her dreams."
"Very well."
Emily vanished.
Kol stood alone — but with a spark of hope.
If witches could influence dreams…
Why couldn't vampires?
He smirked.
Time to plan an escape.