Chapter 2
Davina’s fingers drummed lightly against the edge of the table as she stared at the swirling incense smoke, her mind clouded with a vague unease that she couldn’t shake. The sensation had started earlier that day, when she had been meditating alone in their new home in New Orleans. It had hit her like a ripple in a still pond; small at first, but growing larger, more intense with each passing moment. A vision, yes, but not one with any clear edges. The images were fractured, like shards of glass scattered on the floor, and they weren’t making any sense.
The one thing she knew for sure, though, was the feeling that something, someone, was in danger. Not just any danger, but something more ominous. It felt like the shadow of an impending storm, one that could tear apart everything they had worked for.
Her brow furrowed as she shook the thoughts from her head. She couldn’t let it linger. She had to speak to Kol about it, to see if he had been having similar feelings. As his wife, she had grown accustomed to the way his mind worked; calculating, quick, and often a little too preoccupied with their precarious situation. They were always one step away from disaster. But this felt different. It felt like more than just family drama. Something much darker was on the horizon, and Davina’s gut told her it was tied to the danger she had been sensing.
She rose from her seat and made her way through the house, the sound of her footsteps echoing off the wooden floors. She found Kol sitting at the bar, his eyes lost in thought, a glass of blood in hand. He glanced up as she entered, a tight smile on his lips that didn’t reach his eyes.
“You look troubled,” Kol said, his voice soft but tinged with the exhaustion of someone who had spent too many hours brooding.
“I’m not sure what it is,” Davina confessed, taking a seat next to him. “But something’s coming. I can feel it. I’ve been having flashes, bits and pieces, visions, I guess, but they don’t make sense. There’s a growing darkness… and it’s got something to do with Hope. I know it. I can feel her at the center of it.”
Kol’s gaze hardened at the mention of his niece’s name. He’d always been protective of Hope, even if their relationship had been distant at times. His family had become fractured; Klaus hiding in the bayou, Freya lost in her own search for answers, and the rest of the Mikaelsons scattered across the globe. Kol had been trying to hold it together, but it felt like the weight of their disarray was pulling them all into an inevitable collapse.
“I’ve been feeling it too,” Kol said, his tone low. “There’s something in the air, something that’s been building for weeks. And with the Mikaelsons scattered the way we are…” He trailed off, shaking his head as if he couldn’t even finish the thought. “We’re vulnerable, Davina. We can’t fight whatever’s coming unless we’re together. And that’s not even a possibility right now.”
“I know,” she replied softly. “But what if it’s already too late for that? What if we can’t wait for Klaus to come back or for Freya to figure out whatever’s going on? What if the danger’s already here?”
Kol stood up abruptly, pacing the length of the room, his frustration palpable. “If we don’t get to the bottom of this soon, everything we’ve fought for could be gone. I can feel it.” He ran a hand through his hair, clearly agitated. “There’s no one left to rely on. Not the way we need.”
Davina thought back to a conversation she’d had with Marcel just a few days ago. He had warned her about a dangerous new group of vampires; a faction of extremists who were preaching about purging the world of hybrids, witches, and anything they deemed ‘impure.’ It was a chilling thought, but it made sense. She had heard rumors of their growing influence in the supernatural community, and if what she was sensing was tied to them, then they could be the source of the dark vision that had taken root in her mind.
“Marcel’s heard whispers,” Davina said, her voice low. “About a group, vampires who want to wipe out everything they consider to be ‘impure.’ Hybrids, witches, you name it. If this is about them, then we’re already too late to avoid the worst of it.”
Kol’s eyes darkened, his jaw tightening at the mention of the group. The idea of something like that gaining traction sent a cold shiver down his spine. He’d never been one to play by the rules, but this, this was something entirely different. It wasn’t just about power or control. This was pure, dangerous fanaticism.
“We need help,” Kol said suddenly, his voice snapping with urgency. “Not from the family, but from someone outside of it. Someone who can make a real difference.”
Davina raised an eyebrow. “Who, exactly? Not many people are willing to lend a hand to a Mikaelson, let alone one with your… reputation.”
Kol smirked, though the expression didn’t reach his eyes. “Well, that’s true. And I’m not exactly known for my charm in the supernatural community.”
His gaze drifted across the room, his mind clearly ticking over possibilities. Then, his eyes lit up. “I know someone.”
Davina looked at him, intrigued but cautious. “Who?”
“A vampire,” Kol muttered, more to himself than to Davina. “A girl I met in New York a couple of months ago. She was feisty, stubborn, and not exactly in control of her powers at the time. But there was something about her. Something different.” Kol turned to face Davina. “I sired her. She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s got potential; more than she realises.”
“You want to bring a fledgling vampire into this mess?” Davina asked, raising an eyebrow. “That’s going to be a lot of work, Kol. You’ve seen how difficult it is to train new vampires. And this girl… she’s not going to be easy to control.”
“I’m not worried about control,” Kol replied with a smirk. “I’m worried about using her to our advantage. She’s raw, and that’s what we need. She can be the weapon we need to take down this faction. She doesn’t even know it yet, but she’s going to be key to our survival.”
Davina exhaled, her gaze flicking to the darkened window. “You really think she’ll be willing to help? I mean, what makes you think she’ll even show up in New Orleans?”
Kol’s lips curved into a grin, the familiar glint of mischief in his eyes. “I’m counting on it. But for that to happen, we need to establish a connection. Something magical. I’ll need you to reach out to her.”
Davina hesitated, feeling the weight of Kol’s request settle over her. Establishing a magical link like that wouldn’t be easy. It would require finesse, and the girl would have to be receptive to it, even if she had no idea what she was being called to. But Davina knew that, like everything else in this chaotic world, they didn’t have the luxury of time.
She nodded slowly, a quiet determination settling in. “I’ll do it. But you know this isn’t going to be simple, right? It’ll take time to form the connection, and there’s no guarantee she’ll come to New Orleans.”
Kol’s expression softened just a little, though his mind was already racing ahead. “She will. She has no choice. And when she gets here, I’ll train her to be everything we need.” His voice lowered to a near whisper, his eyes flashing with a dangerous resolve. “She’ll be the key to our victory.”
The storm that had been gathering in the distance now felt much closer, its thunder rumbling through the room. The danger was real, and Kol knew they had no choice but to prepare for whatever was coming. And if that meant trusting an untested vampire, so be it. He had no intention of losing his family, not when the stakes were this high.
As Davina began to prepare the spell to reach out to the girl, Kol could only hope that his hunch was right. They were running out of time. And soon, the fight for New Orleans, and for their very survival, would begin.