CHAPTER 6...part 1

(Out of Touch — Daryl Hall & John Oates)

   KARA BENNETT WAS A PRIVATE TUTOR. She taught children in either small groups or, by themselves in the comfort of their home. Considering how long she walked the earth, it was no surprise that the Bennett woman held a plethora of knowledge.

She mostly taught literature, from Pride and Prejudice to If you Give a Mouse a Cookie. She also taught the general courses, like Mathematics and Science. Her father, mother, and Ayanna all taught her the importance of knowledge, from survival to the supernatural, Kara had always been a very intelligent young woman.

The drive to the Marshall household was considerably short, seeing as they lived about 10-minutes from her own home. As she drove she blasted Harry Styles through the radio of her white, 1967 Mustang coupe. The wind flowing through her curls as 'Sunflower no. 6' began playing.

When she arrived at the forest surrounded home, she revved the loud engine, alerting every inhabitant of the home of the girls' arrival.

To say the Mikaelsons were confused by the noise would be an understatement, the area should've been remote, so how the hell was there an unexpected guest? Sure, it might've been their collective (more so Klaus') paranoia, but can you blame them?

"Calm down." Came the soothing voice of Hayley Marshall, her light steps echoing through the home, a high contrast to the quick-paced steps of a certain Hope Mikaelson who came bounding down the steps towards the door.

"It's just Hope's tutor, we can trust her." She said, sending a warm smile to her family before she made her way towards the front door that had already been swung open by the excited Mikaelson.

"A tutor?" Rebekah asked, hesitantly following behind Hayley, the others following in tow.

"Well, considering that Hope is the supernaturally known 'Miracle Mikaelson Baby', I don't think she'd be safe in a public school." Hayley deadpanned, a single eyebrow raised as she looked back at the family. "Her name is Kara Bennett. Said she's a vampire, won't say her age though."

When the rest of the family exited the home, she gestured towards a young woman, roughly around 5'4 or 5'5, her chestnut hair curled into long waves, her olive skin glowing against the ever-beating sun. She was beautiful, but that wasn't what made Elijah Mikaelson pause, no. What made him pause was how eerily similar she was to his Astrid. Not even to mention that the girls' name was Kara, just like his little girl. But no, it was simply impossible, his Kara would've already died eon's ago.

Hope was practically pulling the woman towards the house, talking animatedly as Kara nodded enthusiastically. They noticed the youngest Mikaelson point Kara towards her family, and as she turned to face them the storming tundra that resided in her grey irises began to storm as she stared into the eyes of her father. The raging seas clashed against the greys of her eyes as salted tears rushed past glossed eyes.

Elijah took a single step forward, reaching out to the daughter he so desperately wanted to hold in his grasp once again, to take her and run from the nightmares the last name Mikaelson brought, to live the rest of his eternity in peace and quiet with his little girl.

"Kar-" he began, but his daughter held up a single hand. "No." Her response was simple, coming out in haste. Her words moved almost as fast as she did, bounding towards the home as she bumped her shoulder against Elijah. Kara paused in the door, her eyes looking past the rigid form of her father. "Hey, Uncle Kol." She said, before swiftly turning about the heel of her foot, entering the home with Hope in her wake.

Everyone turned towards Kol, who stood with his hands held in surrender. "What? We were both on the outs with you lot. Had a bit of family bonding and kept in contact." He says with a shrug, loving the fact that he was the only one who knew of Kara's immortality.

"I have the righ-"

"You know, if you'd only pull your head out of your-"

"Enough!" Hayley yelled out, keeping her tone low enough as to not disrupt the inhabitants inside the home. "Now, would one of you please tell me why and how you all know Hope's tutor?" Her voice held the sternness of a scolding mother, her hands residing her hips, one cocked up higher than the other, eyebrow raised.

They couldn't help but to look guilty, minds filling to the brim with memories of the first second-generation Mikaelson born. They wished they could take young Kara with them when they fled, wanting nothing more than to selfishly wrap her into their every waiting arms (Elijah more than the others).

"She's my daughter." Elijah spoke bluntly, shaking hands hidden beneath the pockets of his extremely expensive suit. He awaited Hayley's judgment, as the Egyptians waited for Osiris'. Worry clouding his mind as unshed tears glossed over his eyes.

"But I thought-" She began, her once quirked brows furrowed in confusion.

"I still cannot procreate as Niklaus did." He answered, gesturing to his younger brother. "But, the same could not be said for my days as a human." He said, almost reminiscent.

Hayley's eyes widened, her sharp features holding that of shock. Elijah had a child? She found herself thinking, unable to comprehend that he was a father.

"Astri, was only able to bear one child before her life was stripped of her." Elijah spoke solemnly as his mind flashed back to his beautiful wife's body lying dead by the hand of Tatia Petrov. 

His eyes fought back burning tears, his mind straying to his now older daughter who stood in the kitchen with his niece. The same daughter that looked a perfect mix of Astrid and himself. Elijah, not wanting to speak on the touchy subject anymore, walked towards the entryway of the Mikaelson home, the rest of the family following suit.

***

Hope was working on her mathematics when Kol approached Kara, the former wrapping her favorite uncle in a tight hug.

"I've missed you littlest witch!" He exclaimed, swinging the young woman about in joy. A loud laugh emitted from her mouth, attracting the others towards the dining area.

"Uncle Kol! Oh, you must visit me and Alek, he'll be ecstatic to see you again!" She said, the smile never leaving her features as she stared at the one person that cared to check on her.

"Speaking of Alek, how is he? Still giving you a difficult time?" Kol joked, unaware of the audience they accumulated. He enjoyed the company of his nieces' husband, the mans' humor and personality practically Kols' own.

"Alek is well, Alek." She says with a short laugh, her fathers' mind swarming with thoughts of who the mystery man could be. "Still the same man I met in 1503." Kara's lips found their way into a smile, as she remembered the first time she met the man who stole her heart.

***

1503︱florence, italy

Kara Mikaelson had just arrived in Florence only months prior, her compulsion giving her a home with the Medici family. She loved the art of the renaissance, people like Michelangelo and Da Vinci giving their pieces life with every stroke of fresco.

During the time Kara only wore the finest of silks, intricate designs accentuating her bodice flowing down to the skirts that pooled at her feet. The renaissance was a time of riches, and Kara had quite a lot from her years of travel. Her long brunette hair was styled with a golden headpiece, similar jewels adjourning her collar and arms, silked flats set on her feet. She looked like she was worth all the money of Florence, and by god, she knew that.

She never used her riches to boast. Yes, she used them as a means to climb up the hierarchy but, she would never pass up an opportunity to help another.

That is where we find Kara, giving to the less fortunate of Italy, giving starved children food and poor families money. That was when Aleksander Bennett first saw Kara Mikaelson, an ethereal glowing aligning her person as she gives to others.

He couldn't help the smirk that aligned his mouth as he sauntered to the Mikaelson girl, confidence radiating his aura.

"Ciao Angelo." He said, diverting the girls' attention from the small dog she was currently petting as it chewed the cut of meat she gave it.

Her brow raised as she studied the man who stood before her. His brunette curls laid unruly atop his head, his white teeth shining through an attractive smirk. He stood a few feet above her, maybe 5'10 or 6 foot even. His eyes were the most alluring blue, reminding her of the calming ocean Viareggio. His facial features were strong, sharp cheekbones and even sharper jawline.

She cleared her throat, sweeping her mind of all thoughts of the man before her.

"Angelo? Per favore risparmiami la teatralità." She said, a similar smirk finding its way onto her aristocratic features as she walked away.

"Un atteggiamento e bello? Mi piace." He said matching her fast paced steps with ease.

"Ah, a man leading with his cock, how surprising." She muttered under her breath as she tried to escape the fast stride of the Italian man.

"Mi Angelo, you wound me." He said, his smirk growing wider as she stopped walking, looking wide-eyed at the man that just spoke to her in English, his words coated in his honeyed accent.

"You speak English?" She asked, brows furrowed.

"Si, I used to live in England before my mother and father moved us to Italy." He said, enjoying the questioning of the girl before him.

"Forgive me for being rude Signor." She said, bowing her head in apology. "I haven't heard a word of English in many years."

"There is no need for apologies caro." He said as he lifted her head with his thumb and finger, tilting her head mere inches away from his own. "Though, I would accept your name." He said smoothly, his head tilting to meet her storm grey eyes.

She couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her lips as she smiled up at the man. "My name is Kara." She said, her hand outstretched for his own to shake.

"Well, hello Kara, I'm Aleksander."

***

"What's the hold up?" Kol asked, returning to the patio where his family now sat lounging. ", we rescued Nik, escaped mortal danger, why are we not on a private jet to Saint Tropez?" He enquired, fingers grasped against the glass of Orange juice Kara made him.

His inquiry was met with silence, thus causing him to snatch up Elijahs paper. One part for humor, the other spite for Kara. "You can catch up on the last five years when we're pn our way. I can assure you, you havent missed much." He continued, smirking at the exasperated look upon his older brothers features, much enjoying his effect on him.

"Circumstances have changed." He said, pointedly. "We will leave here soon enough."

"We have a niece to consider." Rebekah continued, looking annoyed by Kol's antics.

"Kol's right." Freya said, standing from her seated position. "We need to put an ocean between us and Marcel Gerard as soon as possible." She stated matter-of-factly, leaning next to her sister.

"We're not going anywhere today." Klaus said. "I want one day of peace with my daughter before we uproot her."

"Any delay is a risk." Freya fired back.

"One day" He spoke, desperation for his daughter clear. "We're in the middle of nowhere, the house is cloaked, we weren't followed and I'm not asking." The internalized rage began to sneak up on Klaus, angering coating his words like a lethal venom.

Before the conversation could escalate further, Hayley walked out, Hope in hand and Kara in tow. All words were silenced as Elijah and Klaus stared at their daughters, one in wonderment the other in sorrow.

The young girl peered up at her father, ice blue eyes piercing through him as the words caught up in Klaus' throat, still unsure of how to proceed with 'fatherly love'. "Everybody" Hayley began, a soft smile inching towards her mouth. "Look whose finished."

Hope looked positively uncomfortable, unsure of how to react to new people, let alone her father, aunts and uncles. Each member stood hesitantly, as to not scare the young child, whilst Klaus looked absolutely petrified.

Regaining some confidence, he begins walking towards the young girl who quickly avoids eye contact. Muttering a small 'hello', eyes scanning everyone warily as Klaus says the same.

"Mom, can I take Kara to the garden?" She asked softly, only wanting to be around the older brunette. "Yeah, sure." Hayley responds, pushing her hair out of her face as Hope grabs for Karas hand, running her towards the secluded area.

Klaus, looking and feeling defeated turns towards Hayley, no words spoken as she pulls her lips into a fine line, shrugging as she looked towards the father of her child.

***

As Kara sat with Hope, she began to notice the similarities she held with her uncle. The same nose, same piercing blue eyes, the same love for art. She began to feel stupid for not noticing, for not realizing how close her father was.

The sheer concentration that painted her innocent features remindered her terribly of her uncle Nik, of how he would draw with her out in the forrest all those years agos. How he would bring her new mixed paints, "only the prettiest colours for you young one." he would say as she stared at the pigments in awe. She longed for those days, where her mother and father were still with her, where her family was still whole.

Before her train of thought could continue, she saw Klaus walking towards them. She merely smiled, knowing that this moment was only for the two to saw, as she stalked towards the home.

She waltzed in towards the kitchen, where she saw her Uncle Kol getting as...lunch time snack just as Rebekah walked in "oh," shw started, "here you are, wherever there is booze and boobs." She said as she began to fix herself a glass.

"I came in here to have a quiet bite alone thank you very much." He said, sitting on the the counter top.

"I'd hardly call whatever that was quiet Uncle Kol." Kara said, quirking a brow as she made her presence known. Kol smiled softly at his niece, a small chuckle escaping his blood stained lips, but before he could retort Rebekah spoke once again, a bottle of wine waiting to be uncorked in her hands.

"Well, go and be alone somewhere else because I have some thinking to do." As her aunt spoke she couldn't help the small smirk that began to play her features. ", and I would like to do it near expensive wine."

"After five years of being trapped in a house together, here we are." Kol retorted, peering at his sister from behind his latest victim. " Trapped, in a house, together."

"Well, at least this one doesnt have imaginary blood." Rebekah said, walking towards the bloodied blonde, biting into her wrist.

"Living in eachothers pockets for a thousand years. Paranoia, betrayal, violence, repeat." Kol said, his tone sarcastic as Kara stifled a laugh.

"Well, we're undead, so if it's normal you're after, I don't fancy your chances." Rebekah said, before peering down, looking to be deep in thought before saying, "And why the sudden melancholy? Did you expect to break out of the chambre de chasse and into a family cured of dysfunction?" Her tone, though dripping with mock, held genuine curiosity. Rebekah never really knew her elder brother, though, seeing as Kol was only ever in a coffin, she never thought anything of it.

"When we were in there," He began, hoping down from his place on that counter, " I felt like the world had stopped, but it didn't, it kept turning without Davina." He said, a certain softness lacing his words as Rebekah showed a look of understanding.

Kara was unsure of what to do, she was far to uncomfortable to even think of leaving, but she could hardly say anything. Sure, she knew of her uncles epic love, but that didn't mean that she would sit there and speak to her aunt and uncle as if she knew their exact emotions, to speak words that hold truth.

"She would have been 23 today." He continued, finding the taste in his mouth bitter as he thought of his witch, his girl. "And I wonder what she would've done with the time." He spoke with a soft smile, eyes twinking with a look that almost seemed foreign to his features.

"She would've made the world a better place." Anyone could tell that Kol was completely infatuated with Davina just by how he spoke of her, how his eyes shined at the very thought of seeing her, how his voice softened at the very sign of her. Though, all semblance of joy left him the moment he spoke again. "Meanwhile, right here, breathing, and what are we doing?" His arms crossed as he inquired his sister.

"Paranoia, betrayal, violence, repeat." Rebekah spoke, breathing out a sigh as she did so, a look of defeat crossing Kols face as he nodded.

He got up to leave, the room feeling thick with emotions he did not wish to discuss, but before he could get any further, a soft hand on his shoulder made him pause.

"I'm so sorry Uncle Kol." Kara said, unsure of how to approach the sensitive subject. Her lips pressed into a small line, forming a bitter smile, her arms unclosing his larger form into a hug. His shoulders sagged in defeat, a sigh escaping him.

"She would've loved you, Kar." He said, a somber smile pulling at his mouth as a tear escaped his bourbon eyes.
Kara could only nod, before Kol left, venturing towards a private quarter, wishing to be left alone.

KOREY SPEAKS !

we're gonna pretend that my Italian isn't absolutely abysmal