Who: Alyssa and Kol What: chasing dinner Where: the feast Alyssa hosts When: the third night (Sept. 3rd) Warnings: violence/mentions of violence Status: g-doc/closed
Alyssa’s eyes glittered. She held a mallet in her hand and this time she could yell “Dinner is served!” Tonight she wore clothing which felt extremely her. Tomorrow, for the ball, she’d dress up even more. But tonight? The Red Queen would hunt her food, so no need to get her outfit too messy. Of course, she sported bruises still from her run-in with Kenny, but they’d eventually heal. Morpheus at least treated the wounds that required it.
Morpheus sat on her side, Ivory on the other side of him, happy to be invited to this feast. Alyssa missed the White Queen dearly at home. Tonight, though, the Red Queen noticed Kol and she looked forward to a little shared violence with the boy she considered a brother at this point in time.
Finally, a footman nodded. “Let. The. Feast. Begin!” Alyssa yelled, mallet in hand. She made her way to Kol first. “Are you ready to hunt food that wants to be hunted?” She teased the original vampire.
The entire scene was rather chaotic, even for Kol’s tastes, but he was nothing if not adaptable. Attending this feast was fascinating, particularly the concept of hunting one’s food and Kol was looking forward to doing just that. Giving into those primal urges, the predator raging within, was intoxicating, and Kol was eager to flash his fangs. Indulge in a little violence. Particularly with his little sister of sorts, Alyssa.
As Alyssa declared the hunt to begin, Kol watched those around him react to the words. Not surprising, they were all practically salivating as they took off, seeking out prey. Truly, Kol had never felt more at home. At least, when it came to the predator within whom lay dormant most days.
He turned his attention to the young woman approaching him and offered her a cheeky smile. “Of course, darling. I feel as if I’m at home here. Well, my inner predator feels as such.” He didn’t think Allison would approve too much, but at least he wasn’t hurting anyone back in Madison Valley. It was a small compromise for having the chance to give into his more violent urges.
Speaking of violence. Kol’s eyes narrowed as they caught sight of the bruises on Alyssa’s pale skin. The vampire reached out and gently touched one of the purple marks with a pale finger. “Someone roughing you up, love?”
Alyssa tried to hide the grimace of pain when Kol touched a bruise. It met with one of the bites from Kenny as well. She didn’t plan on mentioning the who, since Kenny had been under the influence of tum tums.
Morpheus, bloody Morpheus, walked over and wrapped an arm around Alyssa’s waist. “I suppose I should be grateful this one isn’t tearing you apart like that bloke, Kenny, love. I’m Morpheus, Alyssa’s husband.” He eyed Alyssa. “Should I be worried about all the men who seem to know you?”
She answered in a sing-song voice, “Less talk and more stalking our food, please!” At that moment one of the geese ripped off a leg and hit Kol in the head with it as it fell.
“Um, move, before we get trampled!” A lot of Netherlings currently held mallets in their hands, claws, whatever and wouldn’t hesitate to take down someone in their desire for food.
Giving Kol was experienced in giving pain as well as receiving it, Alyssa’s attempt did not fool the original vampire. Anger flashed in Kol’s chocolate brown eyes and he retracted his hand. He was about to ask who it was that had done it when a man walked over, slinging an arm around Alyssa’s waist, and giving Kol exactly the answer he needed. Kenny, hm? Well, Kol might just have to pay a visit to Kenny when he returned from Wonderland.
Though, Morpheus’s words earned him a smirk before Kol shook his head. “Alyssa’s like a sister to me, mate. She’s not someone I would tear apart.” Though, it was clear Kenny didn’t know such manners. Perhaps the original vampire would need to teach him some then. Mainly how to keep his hands to himself since he clearly didn’t know a thing about touching a woman properly.
The leg to the back of his head earned a growl from Kol and in a flash his hand was wrapped around the geese’s throat. With ease, he snapped it, letting the body fall at his feet with a thud. Delivering death was easy for Kol and he certainly didn’t fear those with their mallets. Still, the vampire was more interested in finding out about Kenny than ripping their heads off so he stepped aside.
He was sheath his fangs for the moment.
Alyssa saw the anger in Kol’s eyes, which remained the reason she wouldn’t out Kenny. Not when he hadn’t been of his right mind. After all, the Netherling had tried to hunt the Dormouse while on tum tum juice.
“He wasn’t in his right mind. Really. Kenny wouldn’t ordinarily hurt me, or I wouldn’t be friends with him.” She laughed at Kol’s response. While Alyssa knew they’d slept together, it had been the previous her and the memory felt like someone telling her thirdhand. Therefore, to the Netherling, it didn’t count. Besides, while she loved Kol, it was the way she loved Bex. Deeply, but unromantically. Morpheus looked at Kol again, friendlier this time. “I like you already. Not tearing apart my wife tends to make me friendlier.”
This time, Alyssa rolled her eyes.
When the Netherling creatures chasing the goose saw Kol’s reaction, some became angry, some became fearful, and some glared at their Red Queen. “Go chase the other geese. This one is claimed for me and mine.” They grumbled but acquiesced. Alyssa handed the other drumstick to Morpheus.
For the first time probably ever, Alyssa stared at Kol with actual concern. “You…haven’t killed any other creatures right? Deathspeak hasn’t been invoked?” Even the Red Queen couldn’t supersede any Deathspeak vows, not even for Kol. Original or not, she knew the rules of immortality didn’t work the same way here, especially not if a Deathspeak vow was made. One had to make good on the vow or forfeit one’s life.
“It doesn’t matter, love. He still laid a hand on you and I wouldn’t be much of a friend if I wasn’t concerned.” No, Kol was mostly angry. He didn’t like people hurting those he cared for, particularly those he considered family. Yes, Kol had slept with Alyssa, but it had technically been different versions of themselves. Kol was in the body of Kaleb, a witch from New Orleans, and Alyssa had been a previous version of the one standing before him now. Things had changed and he no longer saw her as a conquest, but more of a sister. Morpheus had nothing to fear from Kol.
“I’m sure me not hitting on her makes you ecstatic,” Kol countered smoothly. “But no, I have no intentions of hurting Alyssa. Ever.” Normally, he would have come up with some flirtatious comment, but, in his mind, Alyssa was off limits. Besides, her eye roll spoke volumes about what she thought of her husband’s comment.
The glares from the geese didn’t frighten Kol. He’d been chased by angry mobs before and slaughtered them all. What did make him uneasy was the look of concern on Alyssa’s face. No, surprisingly, Kol hadn’t killed anything else in Wonderland yet. He hadn’t the chance to and from how Alyssa was talking, it sounded like that was a good thing.
“I have no bloody idea what Deathspeak is, love, but no, I haven’t killed anything else.”
“I like him. He has a loyalty and a violent streak you rarely find outside here.” Morpheus commented.
Alyssa hadn’t realized, until Kol responded, the breath she held. When he said no, she relaxed considerably. Even Morpheus took on a look of concern at the mention of Deathspeek.
“Obviously food at a feast doesn’t count. But in Wonderland, if a creature is killed, the last words spoken, Deathspeak, can put the murderer in a debt. A vow where, if unfulfilled, will forfeit the murderer’s life. You can ask my husband all about it.” The last part took on sharp edges of ice. After all, Alyssa’s becoming the Red Queen had been a trick played by Morpheus to fulfill a Death Speak vow. While she wouldn’t trade her life here for anything, or her crown, it didn’t change the how of things.
Morpheus shrugged “I prefer my head attached to my shoulders.” Alyssa sighed.
At Morpheus’s words, a smirk crossed Kol’s handsome features. “I’ll take the compliment, mate. And possibly Kenny’s head once I’m back home.” He didn’t particularly care what Morpheus happened to think about him, but given Alyssa was married to him, he didn’t exactly want to end up on the man’s bad side either. Not like they would see one another again anyway. Not like him and Kenny. Now that would be fun. He’d put the bloke through the same torture that he’d inflicted upon Alyssa. Maybe more so.
While Alyssa and Morpheus were clearly scared of it, Kol wasn’t sure if he should be given he was immortal. However, he also wasn’t stupid. Wonderland played by different rules than their world. His immortality might not matter in the face of this world’s magic. It was one way to keep Kol’s reckless nature in check. At least, outside of this feast.
“I don’t particularly wish to know more than what was just said, darling. I won’t kill while I’m here, outside of this feast, but if I am attacked, I shall fight back.” There were plenty of ways to almost kill someone without going through with the deed after all. At Morpheus’s response about keeping his head, Kol chuckled, brown eyes flashing towards him with amusement clear in the depths.
“Don’t worry, mate. I much prefer mine the same way.”
“Kol. Please don’t. I promise Kenny had no idea what he was doing. He apologized. I forgave him.” Morpheus’s eys, of course, glittered at the original vampire’s words. Alyssa made a mental note to try and warn Kenny. At least he wouldn’t stay dead, but she thought of Kenny as a friend.
“I wouldn’t expect you to not defend yourself, darling.” Sometimes Alyssa subconsciously picked up Bex’s speech habits. The Red Queen hugged Kol tightly. She knew why he wanted to hurt Kenny, and while she didn’t condone it, the Wonderland part of her lived by different rules. Rules that dictated nobody hurt a queen. In fact, Kenny should be tried before a court, but if he died here Alyssa couldn’t guarantee he’d return to life. Anymore than she knew if her surrogate brother would.
Truthfully, Alyssa understood perfectly why Morpheus killed Red. It all stemmed from Alice. The real Alice.
“You haven’t lost your head yet, dearest.” Alyssa leaned over and gently kissed the boy she’d loved forever.
“Enough talk. I need to bash a goose’s head please.”
Alyssa was begging him not to hurt Kenny. The sentence reminded him of something Rebekah would say whenever Klaus threatened to kill a boy she cared about. Her voice tugged at Kol’s dead heart and he sighed. Kenny deserved nothing less than the beating he put Alyssa through, but maybe Kol could show mercy just this once. Particularly because Alyssa claimed he was not in his right mind when he hurt her.
“I make no promises, love, but I’ll take your words under advisement,” Kol replied carefully. The original vampire did notice the dangerous glint in Morpheus’s eyes. Obviously, Alyssa’s husband was on Kol’s side when it came to Kenny. If anything, the man had more of a reason to hurt Kenny than Kol did.
Alyssa’s arms wrapped around him in a tight hug and Kol returned it gently. “I know you wouldn’t, Little Butterfly.” His lips briefly brushed the top of her head in a kiss before he pulled back from the hug. He may have despised the Dome for making him fall in love with Lydia, but he couldn’t be upset that their little trip to the Renaissance brought him closer to Alyssa.
The original vampire watched Alyssa press a reassuring kiss to her husband’s cheek. Idly, he wondered if she could ever find someone she could love even a fraction of that in Madison Valley. At least, she had a little time with him now.
At Alyssa’s words, a devilish smirk appeared on Kol’s face and his chocolate brown eyes darkened. “Yes, let’s partake in a little violence. I am itching to kill something.” Especially since killing Kenny wasn’t on the menu.