THE WAY WE WERE
CHAPTER ONE
Bonnie Bennett was listening to the rhythmic sound of the waves as they lapped at the shore. Slowly, the bubbles from the clear black water tickled her toes. She was lying on her back with her top off, feeling the way the night air licked at her mocha skin. Her breasts and stomach had goose bumps on them from the chill in the air. She loved the way this feeling of abandon felt. In her earlier life at Mystic Falls, she never would have laid on a beach half naked. She used to be so self-conscious, she mused. Of-course, this beach was deserted. It was midnight and a full moon. The Harvest Moon to be exact.
Her powers usually ebbed and flowed. "Just like the waves tonight", she whispered, to the night air. But the Harvest Moon is known to be the time of year that grants the most power for those willing to look for and harness it. She was ready.
Inhaling a breath and holding it for a moment, she blew it out to steady herself. She slowly rose to her feet and purposefully walked to the cliffs to the north of the island and started to mentally prepare herself for what she had to do.
She arrived at the most northern point on the island several minutes later. It was a long walk from the sandy beach. Earlier in the year, she had meticulously researched and found this island in Ireland. It was a magical place. The air reverberated with the power that lay just underneath the surface of the night. She needed this power tonight. The preparations had already been made today. The candles, matches, incense, bloodstone and dagger were all there were she had left them this morning. Waiting on her to begin.
As she sat about making her pentacle with the candles, her mind began to wander to the conversation she had with Alaric earlier this month. He had called from Mystic Falls in a panic. She had just laid down on her bed in her hotel room when he called. At first, she ignored his phone calls. She could feel in her soul that something was wrong, and she didn't want to return to that life. Her promise to Enzo was that she would travel and explore the world. And, she had done that for two years. But, to be honest, she missed the spiritual realm. She missed using her powers and she missed – more than anything – her friends back in Mystic Falls.
Finally, after the fifth time Alaric called, Bonnie answered.
She took a deep breath, "Hello", she whispered.
"Bonnie, Bonnie, is that you? Where have you been?" Alaric sounded troubled. His voice was shaking, and she could tell he had been crying.
Bonnie felt guilty that she had not answered the phone earlier. Her senses were on high alert now.
"I'm here, Alaric. What's wrong?" she demanded.
He paused for a moment. "I don't know how to tell you this. But, um, Damon and Elena were in a car wreck."
"Oh my God," she shrieked, "are they alright?"
"No," was all Alaric said in response.
"What do you mean," Bonnie was afraid to ask. "Did they…did they die?"
"I'm sorry, Bonnie," he continued. "I didn't want to bring you back into this life, but I thought you should know."
This wasn't supposed to happen this way. They were supposed to grow old and have babies and live a full human life. Bonnie began to sob.
"How did it happen?" she cried.
Alaric answered, "It had been raining and they were coming home from the Fall Festival in the town square. All the police know is they found their car on the side of the road. Alaric paused. He didn't know how he was going get the rest of the story out. It was too unbelievable.
"And," Bonnie prompted.
"And, they were found in their car with their hearts ripped out. The police are calling it an animal attack."
"Fuck," Bonnie cursed. This was too much. She feared this would happen. When the other-worldly creatures found out about Damon and Elena's humanity; they were going to feel it was the time to strike. Revenge is best served cold. And Damon had made a lot of enemies in his time on earth.
"What should I do – what do you need, Alaric?"
"Bonnie, that's not the worst of it."
What could be worse than this, she thought bewildered.
"My daughters – Lizzie and Josie – saw me upset. They thought they could help by…" and his voice trailed off.
"What, Alaric," Bonnie demanded.
"They cast a spell to return Damon and Elena back to the living."
"No," she breathed. This was dark magic. She knew first hand what it could do to you. She wondered how Lizzie and Josie knew how to perform this kind of magic. Of-course, being at the Salvatore Boarding School, they would be around many different people from many different back-grounds. They could have discovered the spell there.
"Are…are Damon and Elena with you?" she questioned.
"No, Bonnie. But, someone's been here, and it doesn't look good. A message was written on the mirror in Damon's bedroom – all it said was 'we're waiting for you.'
"Can you help, Bonnie – I didn't know who else to call. I've got to protect my daughters," he pleaded.
Bonnie plucked herself off the bed, she gathered her courage and answered, "Yes, I'll help you."
So, now, here she was. On the northern most point on the island of Cape Clear. She had everything ready. It was time.
She had grown in her powers so much that she almost didn't need to speak the spell. She mentally prepared herself for what she was born to do.
The candles flickered to life before her. She whispered her spell with purpose. The incense was lit as an offering and she took the dagger and steeled herself as she cut her palm. The crimson blood dripped on the bloodstone as she began to visualize Elena and Damon. A few moments were all it took.
"Hello, little witch."