Breathing ∞ Kol Mikaelson [1]

[64]

Fire, flames and blood... Her mother's blood. That was all Emma could see as she stood in the middle of her burning house. She could feel the heat, burning at her skin, leaving their mark as the fire edged closer and closer, ready to devour her.

She tried to move, tried to run and escape, but it was as if her feet were glued to the floor. She couldn't move. And she couldn't breathe. There was no way to escape it. There was only one way to make it faster. And as she thought of it, he appeared, standing in front of it, face morphed and fangs exposed, ready to rip into her.

And then she screamed.

Light flashed around her, and Emma could feel hands on her shoulders, gently squeezing until a voice finally reached through to her.

"You're safe, darling. You're safe."

It was only once the words registered did Emma realize she wasn't inside of the burning house. She wasn't soaked in blood. And her father was probably no where around. She was at Rebekah's, in the bedroom which she and Kol had shared only two nights ago.

And then she remembered the hands on her shoulders,slightly jumping away before she realized who they belonged to. Head turning, she met Kol's worried eyes. Sitting next to her on the bed, hands slowly moving away from her as he'd noticed her reaction to the touch.

Seeing him there, next to her, for a moment she'd thought she'd dreamt it all. That everything was just a terrible nightmare and the last trace of real life was her falling asleep in his arms. But then she noticed the smell hanging in the air.

The tinge of smoke which would not leave no matter how much time may have passed. And she knew it was her hope which made her think none of it was real. Because it was. Her father had found them... He'd attacked... Burned the house... Killed her mother... And then...

"No, no, no." Emma suddenly thought more, muttering to herself as her mind starting to run with panic; the last the two nights coming together through her mind. Remembering one important detail.

"Emma-" Kol's calming voice sounded again, thinking her panic was a consequence of fear. And in a way it was, but her mind was in so many places at once that what he believed brought it on wasn't the actual reason.

"Am I dead?" She asked, cutting him off, wide eyes looking over at him to try and find answers in his familiar face. "Did I die with your blood in my system?" She questioned fearfully.

Two nights ago she'd drank his blood after letting him feed on her. And then the next day her father had tried to kill her. Emma thought he'd succeeded. But if he did then there was only one explanation as to why she was here. And while everything that had happened made her rethink her willingness to die in her final moments, she wanted more than twenty-four hours to think about this decision. The decision of whether she wanted to avoid it so much that she'd accept becoming a vampire.

"No." Kol said, and instantly Emma felt herself calm. But she was obviously still confused. Thankfully, Kol continued. "Klaus and I found you in time. He fed you some of his blood to save you."

So she survived. And she was still human. Witch. Mortal. Whatever. That allowed her mind to focus on other things.

Her mother...

No. Not that. Not yet.

"He got away?" She questioned.

For a moment, Kol could only watch her as she refused to meet his eye. He wasn't sure what he was expecting would happen when she woke up. He was worried about it. But now, her current behaviour, it seemed to worry him even more. She seemed completely focused. Calm even.

And along with that worrying him, her question made him feel something heavy settle in his chest. And it only increased as he answered. "Yes." He was ready to apologize, to promise her that he'll find him and end this, however, before he could, she surprised him as she stood from the bed and headed for the door.

Entirely confused about what may be going through her mind, Kol rushed to stand in front of her. "Darling, what are you-?" He was about to question, searching for ways to make her calm down. Because while he'd been deceived before, he could now see she was far from it. She was on edge, looking like she was ready to run and never look back.

"I know the house is probably just a pile of rubble, but I need to check if anything is salvageable. Pack it up." Emma said. She couldn't really go on the move again with absolutely nothing. She also needed to find something else. Something she couldn't let get into the wrong hands. "I also need to check if my car's good. If it is, then I don't need transportation tickets." She listed off again, not listing the real reason as she went around him and opened the door to the bedroom.

"Emma, wait." This time Kol was more determined, taking hold of her hand and making her turn around to look at him before she had another chance to rush off, led by whatever dazed panic had taken hold of her mind. "I understand if you want to leave, I'll take you wherever you want me to. But you don't have to handle it all right now. You can take some time."

"I can't." She tried to shake her head and pull away, but he wasn't releasing her. Kol watched all the while he kept a hold of her, not wanting to scare her but also unwilling to just let her go and leave her to handle whatever was going on in her head on her own.

"You can." Kol said in a calming voice, brushing circles into her hand in an attempt to ground her. "I talked to the sheriff, she's keeping the media at bay. They're talking about the fire, but not mentioning the casualties yet. Klaus whisked Rebekah away to Italy for some secret task after he forced some witch to do a locator spell, your father's gone south. You can have a moment."

"I can't!" Emma snapped at him. All the things he listed just made her think of reasons why she needed to leave now, while she still had a chance.

She wouldn't waste a chance. An opportunity. Not when she nearly squandered the last one she was given. By her mother...

No. Not that. Not yet.

"Do you even know where you're going?" Kol questioned. If she wasn't about to relent on leaving as soon as she could, there was nothing he could do.

"I'll figure it out." Emma shook her head like it was no big deal. She'd just drive out of town, or get a bus ticket, and go wherever the road leads. She'll figure out her next step when she got to it.

"Let me figure it out." He finally said, making her brows furrow as she sent him a questioning look. "You get what you need to, and I'll organize everything else. I know I made a mistake last night, but please, trust me. I won't let anything happen to you again."

This time, hearing his words, Emma did allow herself to take a small pause as she finally grasped his hand back, sending him a soft look as she replied. "Last night wasn't your fault." She said gently, her hand going up to his face as she stepped closer. "I do trust you. Don't you ever doubt that."

Kol nodded his head in acceptance, but he didn't say anything, the doubts still there even though she tried to get them out. He failed last night. She might be willing to forgive it, but he couldn't. Emma then let go of his hand, wrapping her arms around his waist and letting herself feel safe for just a moment as his arms circled around her.

"Are you sure?" She asked quietly as they stood like that. "About coming with me?"

"I've never been more certain of anything in my life, darling." Kol pulled out of the hug so she could see the confident smile on his face. And for a moment, Emma took it in, letting his confidence about this fuel hers about everything else. And then she fully pulled out of his arms.

"Alright. But I do want to leave today." She repeated, for a moment, wondering whether he might just be stalling her in an attempt to get her to stay a bit longer. But, her suspicions were swayed once he nodded his head in understanding.

"Then best to get to it." He agreed and the two made their way out into the hall, about to head down the stairs and out of the house before Emma paused for a moment, one more piece of their conversation registering in her head.

"Kol, why does Klaus being away add to the reasons why I can take a moment?