"I can't let you do that." Jeremy Gilbert frantically packed, somehow he'd gotten news that Elena was in danger. Apparently I hadn't been as thorough as I initially thought. "You're staying in Denver."

He huffed a laugh. "What? You gonna stop me?"

"You think I want to babysit your ass?"

"The deal was that you followed me. I'm going back to Mystic Falls."

"Let's remember who's there besides your family. Dangerous Original vampires ringing any bells?" I moved to block him from leaving. "Your friends trusted me to protect you because Tyler trusts me. I'm not about to destroy that because you're a little homesick."

"Fine." He dropped the bag, instead picking up a bat. "I'm going to the cages."

That had been suspiciously quick.

"I'm coming."

"Baseball is the one thing I have that you haven't invaded." His shoulders dropped.

"And what kind of guardian would I be if I didn't see you doing what you love. Maybe I can meet this Kol guy you've been talking about."

He scowled, but relented, walking past me.

The only reason I let him go the batting cages alone was because it was across the street from where we lived. I'd hear if he called for help. It didn't hurt that his school wasn't too far away either.

I followed him down the stairs.

We didn't live in the fanciest place, but it was nice enough, on the Salvatore dime of course. It was part of the deal.

Jeremy let us in, grudgingly holding the gate open for me. He nodded somewhere ahead of us and waved. "There he is."

A brunette approached, a bat slung across his shoulder. "Jeremy, come to lose again?" Kol's eyes briefly flicked over to me. "Who's this lovely creature?"

A British accent in the middle of Denver? "I'm Maverick, Jeremy's cousin." I held out a hand.

Instead of shaking it, he pressed a kiss to my knuckles. "I think Jeremy should go first, so I could have a... chat with Lady Maverick."

Something was off about this guy.

"Yeah, that seems like a great idea." And it wasn't just because he had an accent. There was a familiarity in the way he walked and talked that bothered me.

Where had I seen it?

Jeremy glanced between us in confusion. "Okay."

As soon as he was far enough away, Kol moved to the assorted bats leaned against the wall. He wasn't exactly doing anything threatening.

Sure the old fashioned way he talks was a little weird, but that wasn't really any reason to be suspicious.

Be a normal person Maverick.

You're just being paranoid.

I turned my back to him, crossing my arms as I watched Jeremy set up the ball machine. That's when I became very aware that Kol had come up behind me without my notice, uncomfortably close.

"Don't react, lest I need to rip out that pretty throat of yours."

"Who are you?" When Jeremy looked back, I offered a reassuring smile.

"I know you're Nik's pet hybrid." My gut twisted uneasily. "He wasn't pleased when you skipped town."

"I'm doing what I told him I was going to do." I hated how my hands trembled at the very thought of Klaus.

How did one of his lackeys even find us? Had he known where we were all along?!

Kol hummed. "You'll have to convince him of that."

"He's not here is he?"

"No, no, nothing like that. He's far to busy to be here himself, though he did send me in his stead. Do what I say and you'll make it to my brother in one piece."

Brother?!

He was an Original.

An Original was here, and I'd turned my back toward him.

"You can't hurt Jeremy." Gods, I couldn't breathe.

Now he was nearly speaking in my ear. "And why is that."

"I've been working on getting in their group. This was my test, after this, they'll trust me and I can do what I promised." I needed to calm down, my heart was race. "Unless there's something else I can do for the Mikaelsons."

Kol was quiet, it made me nervous. "Niklaus told me you were clever. Perhaps I'll keep you as one of my playthings, ditch the doppelgänger's brother."

"Is this a test? To see if I'll betray Klaus?" Gods, I hope it's a test. I couldn't handle another Mikaelson's interest. I still had nightmares about that night. When Klaus hunted me down.

The words 'I own you.' constantly flitted around in my head.

He hummed again. "As far as you know."

A chill went down my spine. "So what happens now? You drag us back to Mystic Falls?" Klaus fucking scared me and I wasn't excited to be his informant.

"Not quite, Darling. Nik doesn't want the baby Gilbert to come home yet, should he need the leverage." I could see him smirk out of the corner of my eye. "Originally all I had to do was befriend the little runt, but now..."

I needed to get word to the Salvatores. Preferably without tipping off Kol. "Okay fine, whatever. Just don't hurt him."

His knuckles brushed up the length of my arm. "I'm certain there's a little word you're missing." My stomach dropped, twisting in dread.

"Please." The word fell out of my mouth in a whisper.

The last ball from Jeremy's set shot out at him, and Kol took a step away from me.

I couldn't help but let out a breath.

Fuck.

How the hell was I supposed to get us both out alive?!

What if I just ran? Left Jeremy in the dust? I'd be lying if the idea wasn't the least bit appealing.

As Kol was choosing his bat, I typed out a text to Jeremy, trying to maintain that I wasn't doing it.
Just as I was about to send it, my phone was ripped out of my hand.

"Kol's an Original. We need to leave." His eyes flicked up at me and I knew we were so fucked.

"Wait. I'm sorry." He ignored it, advancing toward me until my back hit the metal fence. "Please, I won't do it again."

"Be a good girl and I won't tell Nik about this little... indiscretion."

Gods, he was just like his brother.

I nodded quickly, desperately trying to control my breathing. Though it was useless, even if I could, he'd still hear my heart.

Kol tutted. "Use your words."

"I'll be good, I swear."

"Already?! Get a room." Jeremy groaned. "Kol you can't flirt with everyone you know."

The Original backed away again, a sheepish grin on his face, like he hadn't just been threatening me. "You've got me, Mate. Your cousin is hot."

I cleared my throat. "It's getting late and Jeremy has school in the morning. We need to get going."

Kol nodded, though when he looked at me, his eyes were dark, filled with the promise of violence. "Of course."