Hope-

The constant chatter coming from Lizzy Saltzman, Kol had tuned out to; not long after the blonde bombshell had taken his arm, intent on leading him to Alaric, her Fathers office.
But he hadn't banked on her waiting outside Alaric's office door for him, or that she would pick up where she had left off!
He wondered how much she'd been able to hear, but suffice to say, it didn't take him long to conclude it couldn't have been much from the way she immediately tried to loop her arm around his once again.
 
It made Kol smile. She still had no idea who he was.  Or how dangerous. It made him wonder how she would feel when she found out.  Would she still be overly receptive, or would she suddenly be compelled by repulsion, like so many others he had met over the years?
She was so absorbed in him, she hadn't even noticed her Father or the fact that he'd gone on ahead, he could have been leading her virtually anywhere and the girl wouldn't have noticed, at least not until it was too late. No wonder they had been having so many problems in the school. If most of the students were like Lizzie,  ready to ignore all of their warning senses for a smile; An arm to hold onto... Then they were indeed doomed, and maybe getting Hope out of there would be the best and only option.
 
"Tell me, Lizzie, you're a Witch. Well, aren't you're sense's telling you to run... Repulsing you, by being this close to me yet?" He had to ask. He couldn't help himself. Stopping, Kol turned to look down at Lizzie's face, noticing first a moment of confusion and then....recognition... There it was!  Her instincts, the warning bells that she was close to danger. A vampire! One she didn't know or should trust.
"Shall we call that your first lesson?" Kol couldn't help but smirk, though he had to give her points for being fiery, acting tough as she declared, 'that it didn't phase her. That some of her closest friends were vampires.'
 
"Ahh, but not like me, love!"
 
He'd barely got the words out of his mouth when the sound of hurried footsteps upon the staircase drew his attention.  He'd of known them anywhere. He'd of known that scent. It was one he'd never forget! One he'd happily die trying to protect!
Impulsively Kol turned and stepped forward to greet his niece, as she welcomed him.
 
 “Lizzie—this is my uncle Kol…which I’m sure you’ve gathered,” She laughed.
 
“Uncle Kol—I’m so happy to have you here for the day,”
 
Kol couldn't help it! He had to sneak a sideways glance at Lizzie's face as he reached out to pull Hope into his embrace. And it was worth every moment of her endless chatter he'd endured!
 
Grinning he turned to look down on Hope's face.
"There's no place I'd rather be! Look at you, 'my favourite little niece' all grown up!" Kol frowned and lifted his hand to brush it tenderly across Hope's cheek. "I have missed you so much! Though I think there is a possibility that you may get sick of me." He continued breaking into a grin. "It seems I'm staying for longer than a day! At least until the Necromancer is caught! I am the substitute teacher for Witchcraft!"
 
Gently Kol released Hope from his hug as he continued, "Aunty Freya, thought I'd be better able to help, less destructible- or possibly more expendable shall we say.." He shrugged and continued. "So how about you? What say you show me to my room. Then you can tell me everything that's been happening here while you help me unpack?" 
Gently Kol draped his arm around Hopes shoulders as they headed back towards the large ornate staircase that led up from the main hall: to the sleeping quarters in the Salvatore's School for the young and gifted.
 
There was much they had to discuss, but first Kol needed to know everything that had been happening, not the half-truths and played down scenarios,  he was sure Alaric had told him within his office.

He needed to know exactly what they were up against!