WAR OF HEARTS ↠ KOL MIKAELSON [UNDER EDITING]

1:11

[ THE RISE: CHAPTER ELEVEN ]

Here's an improved version of your scene:

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[ THE RISE: CHAPTER ELEVEN ]

Rhea reclined on a nearby futon, exhaustion finally pulling her into its grasp, while Davina busily gathered her belongings.

"It's late, I should go," Davina announced, her eyes flicking to Rhea, who was already half-asleep.

"I hope you're not planning on going back to Marcel's," Rhea murmured, her voice tinged with concern. "That would be a huge mistake."

"We lied to him about Kol," Davina replied with a sigh, "I'll probably just head to the attic."

Rhea shook her head and reached into her pocket, pulling out a set of keys. "You're not staying in that makeshift prison cell. Go to my apartment—no one would think to look for you there."

Davina's eyes softened as she took the keys, grateful. "Thank you," she said quietly. As she turned to leave, she paused by Kol's side, giving him a piercing look. "If you hurt her in any way, shape, or form, I will send you back to the hell you crawled out from."

Kol raised his brows, mildly amused but impressed by Davina's boldness. "Noted," he replied with a slight smirk.

Once Davina left, the room was heavy with silence. Kol moved closer to Rhea, settling down beside her on the futon.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice barely more than a whisper.

To anyone else, the apology would have seemed weak, but Rhea understood how difficult it was for Kol to admit his mistakes. She didn't look at him, keeping her gaze trained on the wall.

"You must've been lonely while I was gone," he continued, his tone sincere. "A witch needs a coven, even if it's just two."

Rhea's jaw tightened, still avoiding his gaze. "Kol... I don't even know what to think anymore. I was ready to kill Klaus for you—because it was his fault you died. Yet you've been here all this time." Her voice cracked slightly. "Do you have any idea how that makes me feel?"

Kol was silent for a moment, clearly grappling with her words. He was never good at handling his emotions, but Rhea needed him to be open now, more than ever.

"I just wanted to be with you again," he finally admitted. "I watched you every day. I saw you cry. I saw you fall apart. I saw you become a shell of who you were. And yes, I'm selfish. When I got the chance to come back, I took it without a second thought. I didn't care about the cost. I'm here now, and I'm not going to deny myself the chance to be with the one person who's always stood by me. No matter what I've done, you've been there. You, Rhea Monroe, are my safe haven. You're my light in the darkness."

Rhea blinked, taken aback. She had been expecting an apology—some acknowledgment of the pain he'd caused—but not this. Not a full confession of how much he needed her.

"When can we start working on the dagger?" she asked, her voice steady but her heart racing.

Kol knew she wasn't dismissing what he said. If anything, her question showed she'd accepted his words. And more importantly, she wasn't yelling at him.

He reached for her jacket and draped it over her like a blanket. "Soon," he said softly. "But we need to work on us first."

He wasn't just talking about magic. She knew that. He was talking about their relationship—the broken pieces they had to mend.

"You're going to forgive me, Rhea," Kol said, a mischievous glint returning to his eyes. "And you're going to love me again. I'm happy to let you pretend for a while that you don't already."

A smile tugged at the corners of Rhea's lips as she finally allowed her eyes to meet his. Slowly, sleep overtook her, and for the first time in a long while, she drifted into a deep, peaceful slumber.

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To say Rhea was confused when she woke up would be an understatement. Her memories from the previous night were hazy, but she vaguely recalled Kol taking her back to her apartment. Everything after that was a blur. Now, she found herself in some sort of tomb.

She quickly scanned the area—no restraints, no injuries. But something was definitely off.

"You've woken sooner than I anticipated," a familiar voice echoed from the shadows. A woman stepped into view, her presence unsettling Rhea instantly.

"Esther," Rhea muttered, dread curling in her gut.

Esther's smile was calculated, her eyes cold and assessing. "I always knew you were clever—just like your grandmother."

Rhea's heart raced as realization dawned. "Did... did Kol bring me here? To you?"

Esther's hands busied themselves with a stack of old spell scrolls, but she paused at Rhea's question. "Oh, no. Klaus has Kol and Finn at the moment."

Relief flooded Rhea's chest. She wasn't sure she could handle the idea of Kol willingly handing her over to his mother.

"So, what do you want from me?"

Esther's gaze flicked up from her work, her smile unwavering. "I don't want anything from you directly, Rhea. But I do want to offer you a deal."

Rhea crossed her arms, impatient. "And that is?"

Esther's smile grew sharper. "I've always admired you, Rhea. Your loyalty to my family—especially to Kol—has not gone unnoticed. You've been there for him when no one else was. I respect that."

Rhea scoffed, anger simmering beneath her calm façade. "He wasn't a 'troublemaker,' as you all call him, Esther. He was neglected by the people who were supposed to care for him. That's why he is the way he is. And even after everything, he's still a good person, whether you see it or not."

Esther's smile didn't waver, but a flicker of emotion crossed her eyes. "You're very passionate. I see why Kol loves you." She gestured to the table, where a piece of parchment lay. "This is a spell to prepare a body for a jump."

Rhea's eyes widened as she picked up the paper. "This is for Rebekah?"

"Yes," Esther replied. "Once I speak with her, I hope she'll agree to see things my way. But while I work on finding her, I need you to prepare the body. With Kol and Finn... unavailable, you're the only one capable of doing it."

Rhea narrowed her eyes. "And what could you possibly offer me to make me take this deal?"

Esther's expression darkened, her smile turning sadistic. "Do this for me, Rhea... and I will bring back your brother."