(CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE :
HARD FEELINGS)

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STREAMS OF DAYLIGHT PIERCED through the glass windows of the Salvatore Boarding House, waking me from my slumber. I was curled up on the worn couch, a plaid blanket draped over my frame and a blood bag on the coffee table in front of me. Whimpering, I dragged my body upright to focus on what happened. Alaric tried to kill me. Stefan and Damon were unconscious at the high school. Kol was on the phone. Kol — was he a mirage or did he come to my rescue? I couldn't recall leaving the parking lot and any vampire could enter Damon's place. Either I was crazy or Kol Mikaelson saved my life.

I needed confirmation, I needed to thank him, but, when I reached into my pocket for my phone, I found it to be missing. It was still at the school. Just as I lost all hope of finding the answers I craved, a phone rung. In the parlour, attached to a winding cable, the Salvatores kept an old-style house phone. "Hello?" I picked up the device uncertainly, unsure of who would be ringing the brothers from anything other than their mobile in this century.

"He has Elena." Then, there was static on the other line, the white noise irritating my sensitive hearing. "Klaus has Elena at his mansion and he's taking her blood." They recapitulated when I failed to respond.

"Who is this?" I babbled.

Feet pounded against the ground on the other line, screams tarnishing the silent air. "Tyler." He unveiled. "I left a message on Stefan's phone, but he didn't answer. You got to get here fast, Lottie." The Lockwood exhorted, recognising my voice from the moment I picked up. In fairness, I barely interacted with the boy and would have struggled to pick out his face from the crowd if it weren't for the handful of photos I seen — courtesy of Caroline Forbes.

"Ah, the Calvary are otherwise...occupied." I acted coy about the whereabouts the two vampires.

"Lo—— st —— get —— now." The contact grew distorted, growling and whines audible above all. Clearly, Klaus had discovered his loyal hybrid to be spilling his wicked plans. And that made me run. Whether I cared for Tyler or not, the only person that was meant to die today was Alaric.

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Even with perk of vampire speed, I arrived too late at the Mikaelson Mansion. Luckily, Stefan and Damon received Tyler's memo after regaining consciousness. By the time I broke the lock on the door, my services were no longer needed. Yet again, Elena Gilbert was safe on the sidelines and the villain had been defeated. I thought they would stop at retrieving their damsel, but the brothers had other plans. Imagine my astonishment when I burst into the Originals' home to find Tyler restraining his sire and Stefan with his hand in Klaus' chest.

Once my incredulity fizzled, betrayal filled my bones. Damon didn't mention we were double-crossing Klaus, even if it was a given. "If somebody doesn't tell me what's happening, Klaus won't be the only one with a hand in his chest." I sneered. From first glance, it looked as if they were murdering the man, but that would involve their own death. Additionally, my association would not easily be forgiven by Kol.

Klaus — in spite of his rather fragile state — kept his usual aura of arrogance and righteousness. "Glad you could join the party, love." He strained his neck, providing me with his full attention. "I'm sure you will relish in my death." Discreetly, he clued me into the situation, confirming my wildest suspicions.

"We're desiccating you, not killing you." Damon rectified, scarcely focusing on the man as he was assisting an injured Elena. "Don't be complaining, we thought you would have desiccated by now. And trust me, it's more painful on my side." The man referred to the Hybrid's continuous grievances.

Accounting for everybody, I stepped beside Stefan. "Can I have a moment alone with him?" I requested, the initial shock of situation having subsided. "All I have to do is keep my hand in contact with his heart, right?" I punctured Klaus' chest, exchanging places with the elder vampire. In approval, he nodded, the people in the room filing out per my wishes.

Damon hesitated before shutting the door behind him. "Don't do anything stupid." He advised, being ushered away before he could say more.

"Klaus." I acknowledged, confident that the others had left me in peace. "You ruined my life, you've tried to hurt me and destroyed the lives of my friends time and time again. But, I'm still here. You killed me a century ago and I cane back stronger." His breath hitched as I increased the pressure on his heart, a stony grey creeping up his skin. "And, I will stand in this wretched place until you deservingly crumble at the hands of the brothers. I want the last thing you see to be my eyes, the eyes of the little girl that witnessed unimaginable tragedy in her lifetime because of your paranoia." I paused, needing to catch my breath. This pent up anger was being flushed out of my system after an eternity. "It was your paranoia that left you alone. It was your paranoia that carted your family around in casket all these years. It was your paranoia that cursed you, the invincible, almighty Hybrid." I patronised, the thumping of his heart becoming irregular.

"Kol would never forgive you for doing this to his brother." He claimed, his sadistic laughter bouncing off the walls.

Pursing my lips, I refused to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. "I don't give a damn about him." I lied, thinking of how the two of us were finally on tolerable terms.

The last thing I saw was his lips curve at my comment as obsidian veins crawled up his face like an infestation. Within seconds, he was swallowed by a chalky coating and his body wilted. Removing my hand, a strange sense of loss blanketed me. Klaus Mikaelson may have been a problem, but at least he always gave me something to fight for.

Silenced overpowered the room, the four people who left entered once more. Damon tapped underneath his right eye, hinting for me to brush away the tears I failed to blink away. Quickly, I replaced my expression with one of disdain, an expert at pretending after one hundred and three years. I didn't mourn my killer, I mourned what I sacrificed with Kol Mikaelson. To think we had made progress...

"Well," Stefan muttered lowly. "We should get her home before the sun sets."

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PORTLAND, OREGON [1908]

On the edge of a rooftop, I watched the sky burn. An array of reds, oranges and yellows formed a dreamy palette, the different hues swirling into a watercolour painting. Their was a silk lining surrounding the rare cotton candy clouds that guarded the retreating sun. Amidst the bliss, it dawned that I was so accustomed to the demands of my parents that I had barely lived. Never had I left Portland or felt the joys of an honest friendship. Exulting, I relaxed, realising I was content for once in my spiralling life.

"I've never watched the sun set." Bowing my head, I grew timid upon my confession. In comparison to the well-travelled man next to me, my lack of life experiences made me feel inadequate in comparison.

"I've seen it many times." He tilted my chin upwards to meet his marble eyes. "But, there's something special about being with somebody for their first. And I want to be with you for all your firsts." Kol declared.

"You've already stole my first kiss." I reminded him. Thomas was too much of a gentleman to kiss me before I was ready.

Fondly, Kol thought back on the memory that was a mere few weeks ago. "People tend to find me rather irresistible, it will be done right next time we kiss." For pretences, he was cocky, but struggled to repress the urge to half-frown at his actions. He shouldn't have taken my first kiss. Since then, he had lost interest in playing any type of game with me and developed a great amount of respect instead. There was something refreshing about the lack of judgement he received, for once, he felt wanted. In the past, he found girls he toyed with craved the chase too. I, on the other hand, desired his company because he was somebody worth knowing.

"Next time?" I echoed with a raised brow.

Confidently, the man nodded. "Oh, I intend to be your first and last kiss." He decided. "I'll be with you for your first and last adventure and I'll be with you for your first and last sunset. I'll be here throughout it all because you, Charlotte Hatton, are going to be somebody great someday." Kol vowed, the sincerity in his words startling me as he daringly brushed his hand against mine.

Electric pulsed through my veins upon his icy touch and I recoiled, unsure of what I was feeling. "Isn't it the most beautiful thing?" I croaked out, diverting his attention away from me. "The sun set, that is." I added nervously, shifting in my place. Why was he staring at me?

"I don't know, darling." His gaze deepened, a smirk dancing on his full, luscious lips. "I've seen better." And for some unexplainable reason, Kol refused to tear his eyes away from me.

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Absentmindedly, I drummed my slender fingers along to the humdrum human music blasting out of the car stereo. I felt vacant, like the fire in my soul had been extinguished. Since Klaus was subdued, my mind had been clouded by a thick fog and my intakes of breath had turned robotic, rhythmic. For some unexplainable reason, I cared about the consequence my actions would have. Everybody will hate me when I leave Mystic Falls, the only person I was going to have to rely on was Kol. Then, my worst fear settled in at this realisation — I was turning into Klaus, destined to be alone by my own faults.

"Lottie, are you coming?" Damon clicked his fingers in front of my blank face. Lost in my thoughts, I failed to realise we were already parked outside the Gilbert Residence.

Plastering an artificial smile on my features, I clambered out of the vehicle and walked Elena to the door with the brothers. She huffed at our actions. "Huh, you three are really gonna walk me all the way to the door, aren't you?" Dejected and disheartened, the girl looked unimpressed by being closely watched.

I placed my hand on her shoulder. "Actually, I came up here to apologise about what I said the night of the Decade Dance." I swallowed my pride, concluding deliberately pushing my friends away was ludicrous. "And, I could guess Dumb & Dumber here would have a long lecture prepared for you so was going to wait inside. Damon's my ride home, I don't feel like walking home with a vengeful Original family on the loose." I clarified, glossing over the celebration I knew to be in her kitchen.

"Oh, okay." She agreed, staring at me as if she could see past my immaculate facade.

There was a beat before I slid past the woman, the house extremely familiar to me. In this house, many significant events had occurred: Emily Bennett had possessed Bonnie in front of Caroline, Elena and I, Katherine had sliced John Gilbert's fingers clean off and Damon had killed Jeremy in these very hallways. Brushing my fingertips against the wallpaper, I reflected on my memories in this house as I found my way to the kitchen. Expectantly, my friends were waiting in the kitchen and I joined them, standing beside my favourite blonde vampire.

"What are you guys doing here?" Elena entered the kitchen about ten minutes after me, her brows strung together in confusion.

Caroline Forbes was never absent of pep as Miss Mystic Falls and the Head Cheerleader for the Timberwolves. Due to that, she planned the entire party and took the lead in introducing it. "Welcome to our victory party!" Caroline exclaimed, the perkiness in her tone unmistakeable. Sometimes, I questioned how that girl managed to consistently be a ray of sunshine.

Elena and I shared an identical expression of scepticism. "What victory?" She squeaked, wondering if the vampire knew that the town's real threat was still on the loose. "We failed, Alaric's still out there." The Doppelgänger admitted, dubious as to if this party was justified.

"We know, but we've been trying to get rid of Klaus forever and Caroline convinced us to enjoy it for a night." Bonnie piped up from where she was pouring drinks.

"You know, to be honest, I'm a little pissed none of you let me help you take down original brother number two." Matt contributed to the conversation. Although, I found my stomach being knotted at the thought of another one being taken down. It was almost like I empathised with the Mikaelson family.

I grabbed a tequila shot from the side, pouring it down my throat, needing to feel the burn, needing to feel something. "You're the Scooby Gang, not the Suicide Squad." I prompted Matt bitterly. "It was a fluke, we wouldn't have succeeded if it were any other day." I pointed out pessimistically.

"Woah, chill, Lottie." Jeremy soothed. "We survived Klaus, fluke or not. We should celebrate, he's gone and we'll never have to worry about him again." He countered, analysing me carefully. Similar to Elena, he looked at me like he could see underneath my perfected layers of porcelain. The siblings knew grief and sadness well, easily spotting the signs I demonstrated.

"Yeah, I need to chill." I breathed, clutching my head when it began to spin. "I need some air, guys. Here's to our freedom from Klaus." In a brief summary, I said my piece and excused myself by sprinting out of the house. In case of an Original emergency, Jeremy tossed me his mobile, which I caught without turning around. Simply, I made a beeline for the door. On impact, the cool air refreshed me and collided with my body, bringing me to my knees at the roadside curb.

In the past, I would have made untellable sacrifices to be free of the burden known as Klaus Mikaelson. In the present, I found myself unsatisfied by my wish come true, the price of his death unworthy. No man would lie in his dying moments — not even somebody as notorious as Klaus — and that meant it was plausible I could lose Kol for my part in his brother's desiccation. I didn't need a man to be happy, I didn't need Kol, but I never strayed far from my hopeless romantic roots over the years. Lately, it dawned on me on how good Elena had it — two men unconditionally loving her until the end of time. I missed being loved. In a romantic way, that was. I wanted to feel skin to skin contact again, the heat and passion of kissing, I wanted to devour every inch of somebody until my broken pieces fell back together. Was it wrong to want to be unbroken?

In a haze, I stared down at Jeremy's phone in my hand. He gave it me for an emergency and I did forget to thank Kol with the Elena situation. To me, being impolite could be considered an emergency. From his time in Denver, I found the contact I wanted in Jeremy's phone, composing the message at least twelve times before sending one I approved of. 'Thank you' felt insufficient and lacklustre when scaled against saving my life, so I got more creative.

TO: KOL

I miss you.

FROM: LOTTIE

MESSAGE FAILED TO SEND

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A.N: This chapter was full of development for Lottie and her feelings, which I enjoyed. Her & Kol are still a long way off happening but the prospect of losing him is scaring her into acting on what she's been denying. But, if Klaus is alive and kicking, she could very well close off again. You have to feel for her, right? She's so strong but got her heart out to not be alone like Klaus for the rest of her life.

What did you think of The Originals Season 5 premiere? Can you spot the sneaky Klaroline reference in this chapter?