I woke up early and hauled myself out of the house, trying to hit the woods before any of my annoying siblings could trail or Kate Bennet. I just wanted some damn peace, but of course, Kol was right on my heels. He's only eight, but he doesn't know when to shut up.
"Viktor, wait! How do you do that move with the sword?" he kept pestering, tripping over roots just to keep up. "Mikel says you just got to be strong, but you move different. Why do you hold the grip like that? Can you show me?"
I didn't even look back. I just kept walking faster, hoping he'd get the hint and get lost. He kept rambling on about footwork and balance, and I was about two seconds away from losing my temper. But right in the middle of his yapping, the air suddenly felt... weird.
It was like a heavy, buzzing pressure in my ears, the kind of feeling you get right before a massive lightning strike. Being a siphoner is a pain because I'm basically a human battery with no charge of my own, but I can feel magic in everyone else like a literal itch. And suddenly, Kol was itching like crazy.
I stopped dead and turned around. Kol was staring at some random patch of dirt, looking all intense and shaky. I reached out and shoved his shoulder a bit, and the second my skin hit his, it felt like a jolt of pure electricity. The magic humming inside him was huge. The little brat had finally awakened, and he didn't even know it yet.
I knew Esther would find out soon. I could practically feel her shadow looming over us already. I needed to use this—to get my hands on that power—before he understood what he was or before she got her hooks into him.
I gripped his shoulder hard, my fingers digging in as I felt that sweet, buzzing energy start to bleed into my palm. Kol looked up at me, blinking fast, his face pale and sweaty.
"Viktor? You okay?" he whispered, looking confused by the way I was staring at him.
I forced a jagged smirk onto my face, trying to look like the "big brother" for once. "Actually, Kol," I said, my voice dropping to a low, conspiratorial hum, "I changed my mind. I'm going to teach you real swordsmanship today. Somewhere deep in the woods where the others won't find us."
He beamed, his whole face lighting up with a mix of pride and excitement. He had no idea I was just using him as a power source, but he didn't need to know. As long as I kept him away from the house and Esther's prying eyes, I could siphon what I needed while keeping my new favorite "battery" right where I wanted him.
"Really?" he asked, standing a bit taller.
"Really," I muttered, steering him further into the shadows of the trees. "Just keep your mouth shut and do exactly what I say."
Gemini said I led Kol deeper into the thicket, away from the worn paths where our father or brothers might stumble upon us. The further we went, the more I could feel it—that frantic, golden hum of power radiating off him in waves. It was intoxicating. To a siphoner, being near an awakened witch is like standing next to a hearth after a lifetime in the snow.
"Alright, kid, listen up," I said, stopping in a small clearing. I didn't have a spare sword, so I handed him a heavy, straight branch I'd snapped off an oak. "You want to learn? You have to keep your focus. No more questions. Just feel the weight."
Kol gripped the wood, his knuckles white. He looked small, but the air around him was shimmering with that static-like energy. I stepped behind him, supposedly to adjust his stance, but really I just wanted to touch the source. As soon as my hand gripped his forearm to move it into position, the rush hit me. It wasn't like a gentle stream; it was a flood. I felt the magic drain from his skin into mine, cooling the constant, hollow ache in my chest.
"Viktor?" Kol whispered, his voice trembling a bit. "My arm feels... tingly. Like ants are crawling under my skin."
"That's just the adrenaline," I lied, my voice sounding smoother than usual as the power filled me. "Focus on the target. See that sapling? Imagine it's an enemy. Don't just swing with your arm—swing with everything you've got."
I kept my hand on his shoulder, siphoning just enough to feel strong but not enough to make him collapse. It was a delicate balance. If he fainted, I'd have to carry him back, and then Esther would start asking questions I couldn't answer.
For an hour, I pushed him. I made him swing until his breath came in ragged gasps. Every time he flagged, I'd offer a rare "Good job" or a correction, just to keep him motivated—and to keep the magic flowing. He was so desperate for my approval that he didn't even realize his "exhaustion" was more than just physical.
"You're doing better than klaus did at your age," I told him, which was a total lie, but it made his eyes light up.
As the sun began to climb higher, I knew we had to head back. I felt alive, my senses sharpened by the stolen energy. My mind was racing—if I could keep Kol under my wing,
"We're done for today," I said, finally letting go of his arm. The sudden loss of contact felt like a chill, but I hid it. "And remember: if you tell Esther or anyone else about our 'special' training, it stops. Got it?"
Kol nodded fast, wiping sweat from his forehead. "I won't tell, Viktor. I promise."
I looked at him—my little brother, my secret weapon—and felt a genuine, dark satisfaction.