Lights Flicker And Fade : Kol Mikaelson [3]

250: Alone With Everyone

MJ knew her dad could tell something was up, and that it wasn't the 'I'm somehow magically pregnant' type of up, but her thoughts could wait until after the celebrations. Food was just starting to be served when her phone buzzed. She was expecting a text from Kol asking to be let in but instead found a request to come outside.

It felt like a trap.

And yet, her boyfriend was pacing across the lawn, blood down his face, eyes like he was going out of his mind.

"Kol?" MJ instantly vamped to his side, "What happened?"

"Finn."

She didn't quite follow, Kol pulling back from her touch to turn.

Each rub of his eyes sped up his breathing, the cold air sharp and anything but comforting. His coat had been chucked on the lawn, giving no indication of how long he'd just been out there, trying to figure out what to do. No sign of how long the red had been drying on his face.

"That magic you sensed," His words snappy, "Power in our family line?"

Her face turned slack.

"The missing Nexus Vorti?"

The entire rushed journey there had been spent trying to figure out what had happened.

"He brought himself back from the dead – or Freya did – or, or – "

"He's back?"

Kol finally slowed.

Taking in her wide eyes, heartbeat so loud in his ear.

Rapidly syncing with his.

So clear –

So many sounds just beyond her –

The streetlamps of the colourful road were a harsh white, the light of the corridor behind the open front door creating a cut of gold on the path, MJ's feet drifting to its edges on instinct. Tiny specs of light in every window almost mimicked the stars in a way she might have wished to paint if her entire world didn't feel on the brink of collapse.

"You saw him?"

Kol only managed one nod, "MJ – "

"Are you two...?" Ryan paused in the doorway.

Kol couldn't turn fast enough, the night not hiding the staining down his chin.

"...What's happened?"

"Um," MJ shut her eyes briefly, "I think we might need to skip dinner."

"That's not an explanation."

"Baba – "

"MJ," Kol was desperately wiping at his face, "It's fine."

Ryan raised an eyebrow.

"Well, it's not fine – in fact, it is so terribly far from fine," His clean-up attempt turned violent, "I mean, it's only the man who held me a minute away from dying – "

"And pause."

Ryan's step out of the house caused Kol to freeze again.

Thump-thump.

"Kol," His tone was stern as he picked the jacket up, folding it over his arm, "Come inside."

Thump-thump.

"Clean yourself up," He continued, "We can get you a blood bag if that'd help?"

Thump-thump.

"Yeah, no," MJ could read Kol, "We really need to go."