Title: Lettered
Rating: M
Genre: AU/AH/Time-travel
Pairing(s): Bonnie/Klaus, Bonnie/Elijah, Klaus/Katherine (One-sided), Katherine/Elijah, Bonnie/Trevor (One-sided), Trevor/Katherine (One-sided), Matt/Elena, Damon/Lucy, Jeremy/Caroline, Stefan/Emily, Tyler/Rebekah, Kol/OC, etc.
Summary: Bonnie Bennett travels back in time once she convinces herself that she and her friends could've had a normal life if Katherine had been sacrificed when Klaus had planned. What she doesn't expect is for Klaus to be taken in by the mystery of her arrival and her behavior so much so that he is willing to seduce her in order to learn her secrets even if he has to use Elijah to do it. Loosely based on Cyrano de Bergerac. Klonnie/Bonlijah.
Warnings: Character Death, Violence, Time-travel, ect.
Authors Note: Slightly edited repost. Wattpad is being stupid so I am posting my fics here just in case more of my stories start to dissappear due to Wattpad glitches. That site is beginning to annoy me. Anyway this is very loosely based off of Cyrano and it is actually more drama than comedy based. Not sure what else to say about this one. I don't totally remember the 1492 canon so excuse me if I chop and screw it a little bit and fuck shit up. Ya'll know I have zero respect for canon any damn way so. So basically the premise Klaus wanting to seduce Bonnie and when he realizes his old tricks won't work then he gets Elijah to write Bonnie poems and letters basically seducing her by proxy and well then shit gets complicated. This is mostly canon through 3x15. Frankly I don't even remember the canon stuff with Rose and Trevor, but whatever, for the sake of this story Trevor is working for Klaus at least in the beginning. Please don't message me regarding other fics. Things will be reposted in due time. Thanks for reading.
Chapter One: In Want Of A Witch
Bonnie Bennett listened from where she was hidden as Caroline Forbes told Elena Gilbert that Bonnie loved her, while Bonnie tried to remember when her best friends had stopped actually being her best friends. Bonnie wasn't sure that she did love Elena anymore, and even if that love was still there, there was no way that it was as strong as it once had been. With all that Bonnie had done, given up, and loss for Elena's sake there was no way in hell that it could be. But Caroline had also said that Bonnie was always the one that ended up getting hurt, that at least Bonnie could agree with, though she hated the fact that she couldn't face Elena long enough to tell her that herself.
Bonnie had been hurt again but she really couldn't feel anything, not anymore. Even in knowing that her mother was in the next room going through the transition that would end in her becoming an abomination, the very thing that broke the balance that their kind had fought so hard to keep, Bonnie felt numb. Even with the tears that fell, she felt hollow. But this was Bonnie's fault as much as anyone else's because the problem was that Bonnie continuously spent her time serving the very things that she was meant to destroy; and now just as before someone that she loved was paying the price for her actions.
She wished that she could take it all back. That her Grams was still alive. That her mother had never abandon her for Elena's sake and been turned for the same reason. That she hadn't died for Elena's sake and been willing to give of herself over and over again until there was nothing left of the person that she once was for the same reason. She wished that she could feel because then perhaps she would scream, perhaps she wouldn't be hiding behind the wall like a coward unwilling to face the creator of her misery.
But had it really all been Elena? Not entirely. I had been in part her own choices, but those choices had been forced upon her. How many times did she have to bend to will of one vampire or another to help someone she loved or keep them all safe? Yes, that was who was at fault, vampires. They shouldn't have come, not to her town, not into her life. And why had they come? Elena. And so the cycle continued.
But there was another reason, another Petrova that could be held responsible. The Salvatore had returned not because of Elena, not entirely, Katherine had been their motivation though for different reasons. Even the Originals could be linked to the Petrova women. Klaus himself had been chasing after Katherine, though, had he been able to sacrifice her the first time he wouldn't have had to. Bonnie wished that he had, in spite of the fact that Katherine had been human at the time, because she knew what Katherine had become and because her death would have freed so many of so many losses and burdens.
If Katherine had died as a human then the Salvatore wouldn't exist as vampires. Klaus wouldn't have had a reason to come after her or sacrifice Elena. There would be no vampire to reveal Emily's true nature to get the witch burned at the stake. There would be no tomb to open in search of her that would kill Sheila Bennett. There would be no need for Bonnie to die fighting a possessed Alaric or to almost kill herself trying to kill Klaus. There would be no Damon to force his blood down Abby Bennett Wilson's throat and no Stefan to ignore Bonnie's pleas, as her mother was turned at the flip of a coin. But it wouldn't just be Bonnie's family that was safe from it all, and Bonnie let her mind stew on all of the possibilities, on the many lives that could be saved.
Bonnie's head snapped up. Suddenly she could no longer hear Elena appealing to Caroline to let her inside or Caroline appealing to Elena to understand. She could only hear the ringing in her ears and the epiphany that she had just reached being said over and over again like a mantra. Everything went back to the Petrova, to Elena, and to Katherine before that. But if Kathrine had been the one sacrificed, if she had been the one to die, it could have fixed everything.
Bonnie took one step forward and then another, her movements completely unconscious. She walked forward without even knowing where she was going; suddenly forgetting the mother who had left her that lay in the other room still not able to wake, along with everything else except the cycle her mind was moving in. Everything could be fixed and she had found the solution.
Tears blurred Bonnie's eyes as she moved forward but still she managed to make her way through the Forbes's house and out the back door. Her two best friends were too busy with discussing her to even notice her departure. Even though her mind was consumed by one thought, one need, Bonnie still managed to make her way through the streets of Mystic Falls; something inside guiding her to exactly where she needed to be in order to do exactly what needed to be done.
She barely noticed where she had ended up when she stopped in front of what had once been Sheila Bennett's house. She made her way up the walk and then ascended the steps. Flipping over the "welcome" mat; Bonnie retrieved the spare key hidden underneath it. Unlocking the door she walked inside; closing and locking the door behind her. Without a conscious thought a whispered spell left her lips that would allow her to work without being noticed or interrupted. Wiping the tears she hadn't even realized had been falling; Bonnie went for the stairs.
She could fix things. Not just for herself and her family but for everyone. Caroline could be human once more. Matt could have his sister back. Without Katherine would Elena even exist? Would it really be such a loss if she didn't? How many people had died in Elena's name already? How many more lives would be lost for her sake?
Bonnie made her way through the house and to the library. The room had long since become familiar to her; it housed her Grams' stores. Bonnie looked like a shell of a human as she made her way over to the book shelf in the far corner of the room; her movements stiff, her eyes glazed over. Her hands danced over each spine; her powers guiding her in her search. The spell she needed had to be there, she could find it if she concentrated, if she let her magic take the lead.
She wasn't sure if she could even go back in time; if the spirits would allow it. But she couldn't let her fear of the consequences restrict her, not this time, not in this. How many times had she helped others consequences be damned? That was what had brought her here. That was what had led her to this place. This desperation. This willingness to give anything, to do anything, to have her life back.
It didn't matter what had to be done. If she did manage to go back in time then she would gladly assist Klaus with the sacrifice. Gladly help him kill Katherine. And she would make sure the Petrova was dead; and Bonnie would be long gone before Klaus ever realized that he would need Katherine alive to build his army. And if she couldn't manage to assist Klaus then she would kill Katherine just to stop the bitch from existing in her time; from playing her games and creating the Salvatore, from being the key to all of their problems. It wouldn't matter that she was a human. Bonnie could never see Katherine as human. When she looked at her she would only see the lives that she would take and the people that she would damage. Whatever Bonnie had to do, the end result would be the same. She would be rid of Katherine and every vampire that had appeared because of her living on.
Bonnie's eyes alit with life as finally one of the books fell from the shelf. She watched the familiar sight of the pages flipping in rapid succession. When finally they stopped, she knelt down and picked up the book, careful not to lose the page.
"This is it," she whispered to herself. She studied the spell; memorizing it, every incantation, every needed element. She committed it all to memory, her senses heightened and in overdrive. The spell wasn't complicated given what it would do, but she was glad of it. She needed simple in her state. Her mind was blank outside of two things, the spell, and the need to make sure that Katherine was sacrificed in Elena's place. "I can fix it," her words rang out into the still silence, repeated like a mantra, "I can fix everything."
:::
England, 1492
Trevor paced the length of the servant's chamber that was attached to the guest chamber that Katerina Petrova inhabited. They were nice for servant's quarters, almost as nice as the living quarters that were designated for guest; though not nearly as extravagant as not to cause suspicion. There was a large bed. A hand woven carpet. A small used desk in the corner with ink, a pen, and stationary. A small fireplace that was rarely ever used or cleaned. A small wooden washtub in the corner. There was even a trunk full of silks and linens to make dresses; not the finest materials but surely more extravagant than one would need for cooking, cleaning, and dumping out a piss pot. But there was a reason that the Lord Niklaus had gone to such trouble, it had all been done by design. Lord Niklaus had a thing about witches, and those who were kept by him were taken care of even if they didn't hold the most exalted position within the household.
Niklaus had been rather clear about what he wanted. The lovely Lady Katerina had only been in his presence but a day and already he felt that she needed looking after. "What would become of a lady that is forced to go without a maid?" Niklaus had asked.
However, Niklaus didn't just want any maid; he wanted a witch, a powerful one. It wasn't the first time that he had made such a request and as with the others Trevor knew that it would lead to trouble. Trevor wasn't entirely sure of Niklaus's plan but he had heard enough to know that the same way that the lord had planned on seducing Lady Katerina, he planned on seducing the witch into assisting him with whatever he had planned, just as he had with the others. Two birds with one stone, a stone with deceptive charms and even more deceptive blue eyes.
But even with the promise of silk dresses, high pay, and exceedingly well accommodations no witch that Trevor had approached would go near Niklaus. None of them wanted to be his instrument, not when so many that had flocked to him before were now dead or addicted to black magic. He had seduced and entrapped one too many witch it seemed and the demon had made a name for himself.
However, stopping the search was not an option for Trevor, not if he valued his life. Even with his own growing fondness for Katerina, Trevor knew that defying Klaus would be the equivalent to signing his own death certificate. So he would worry about doing what Klaus had asked of him first and worry about what Klaus had planned later.
Trevor looked at the small fire that blazed in the hearth and then out the window at the storm that brewed outside. He would be forced to search even on a night such as this.
Sighing Trevor put on his cloak and left the room that he had prepared for the witch that had yet to be found.
:::
Bonnie stood in her back yard, ignoring the chill of the night air. She looked at the small antique, bejeweled hair comb, in her hand. The golden comb was worn and rusted, jewels and teeth missing in places. It had been found among Emily's belongings after she had been burned. It was one of the last possessions that the Bennett family had to remember her and yet she hadn't been the person to whom the comb belonged. The comb was not Emily's but Katherine's.
According to Emily's journal, the comb had been gifted to Katherine from Klaus. Katherine had kept the comb as a reminder to herself that she should never trust anyone, Emily had kept the comb for exactly the same reason after Katherine had revealed to the town that Emily had all but protected her from that she was a witch. While Katherine had escaped Klaus with her life, Emily had not been so lucky, and still Katherine had to gall to entrap Lucy years later. Lucy whose fear of Katherine had forced her to leave Bonnie's side when Bonnie had needed family and guidance the most. More and more reasons to hate Katherine were presenting themselves and Bonnie welcomed them.
Bonnie looked at the item in her other hand. It was a black talisman left to her by her Grams. She had opened it on her eighteenth birthday as instructed, though it had been the only present that she had received as no one else had even noticed the passing of the day. It hung from a silver chain, silver vines of vervain wrapped around the rectangular onyx stone. It was meant to help her hone her powers and protect her from danger. Bonnie put the necklace around her neck. It was the very first time that she had worn it. She couldn't bring herself to as opening the gift from her Grams had also reopened the wounds that her death had caused. She needed the necklace now however, just as she needed something rooted to the time in which Katherine inhabited, she needed something rooted to her own time as well in order to return. She would have to come home eventually, no matter what she changed by going back.
Bonnie looked down and it only took the mere inkling of a desire to light the black candles that were in a circle surrounding her. She clutched the comb in her hand until the teeth dug so far into the skin of her palm that she began to bleed, her mind focused on the incantation that she spoke. A mental image came to her unbidden. Klaus walking cobble stone streets, his hair longer but his smirk the same, blood staining the white shirt that he wore, his blue eyes in search of his next victim.
Bonnie continued to chant even as the image began to change. She didn't break her focus even as Elijah appeared behind her closed lids. She hadn't even spared the man a thought and yet there he was, sitting in a chair in front of a fire place, watching the storm that brewed outside.
Tears spilled from her eyes and down her cheeks. Blood smeared the palm that she still clutched the comb in. The talisman around her neck warmed, abuzz with her power. None of it mattered, and so still she chanted. Even as the images of Klaus and Elijah seemed to intersect; both appearing in her mind's eye at once. Klaus scuttled down an alleyway, and then Bonnie could hear her own voice whispering his name even as she continued her chanting.
She watched as Klaus looked around him a frown on his face. Then the images faded and there was only Elijah. Elijah closing his eyes, attempting to find some rest until his brother's return. Then there was Bonnie's voice again, this time whispering his name. Elijah's eyes popped opened and he sat up in the chair. As he began to look around this image too began to fade.
Bonnie opened her eyes and looked down at her hand just as she began to feel rain on her skin. The comb in her hand shone like new, even as her own necklace that she was scared might disappear as it didn't exist in the time that she was targeting, still hung from her neck. Bonnie began to feel dizzy her mind and body giving up at once. She closed her eyes and when the blackness came she welcomed it.
:::
England, 1492
Trevor sighed as he rode the carriage back the way he had come. Again he had tried and again he had failed. There were no shortage of lovely witches of all different backgrounds in England but none of them wanted anything to do with his master and so he was sure that he was as good as dead. Niklaus would return soon and when he did he would expect Trevor to deliver; and when Trevor didn't…he supposed that he could take Rose and he could run but how far would they get.
There was a jolt as the carriage came to a sudden stop. Trevor frowned, his patience nonexistent as the promise of Klaus' wrath had him on edge. When the coachman suddenly opened the door, drenched in rain and getting Trevor wet as well, he was close to draining the man dry. "What is it?" Trevor hissed.
The coachman sputtered, his brown eyes wide with fear. "There's a maiden," he said, his freckled cheeks flush, "In the road, sire."
Trevor blinked at him, wondering if the man had gone mad, or perhaps if he had been struck by lightning. "Excuse me," Trevor said.
"It is the truth sire," the coachman said, "She is quite indisposed sire."
Trevor frowned, before he pushed the man out of his way. "I suppose I had better have a look," he said.
The coachmen led him out to the front of the carriage and sure enough there was a maiden in the road. A naked and unconscious maiden. Her body was covered in mud, her hair sticking to her face in places. Even in the dark Trevor could see that she was the perfect specimen. Her legs, her hips, her breast. Trevor cleared his throat as he removed the cloak from around his shoulders. No matter the woman's position, or how she had come to be in middle of the road without a stitch of clothing, he knew that she should be afforded some respect and some modesty.
He knelt down before her and as he moved to cover her with his cloak he noticed the necklace that hung from her neck. It was an odd looking gem, wrapped in what he was sure was vervain. Carefully Trevor reached out and touched the necklace and wasn't as surprised as he should have been when it burned the tips of his fingers. A talisman, which meant either she was a witch or she had robbed one.
Trevor placed his cloak over her and froze when the woman began to stir. He watched closely as she shifted her eyes scrunching before they opened. He swallowed as she looked at him her stare fearful and suspicious. But they were also beautiful, her eyes. "I do not wish to harm you," Trevor said, trying not to let her gaze distract him.
Bonnie blinked at the man hovering over her. The pain in her head was intense and the chill was even worse. She realized that she didn't have on any clothes as she found the damp ground cold against her skin, twigs and rocks digging into the sensitive flesh. She could barely remember what she had done, and as she had no idea where she was she wasn't sure that it had actually worked.
Trevor watched as the woman attempted to move, her body denying her and staying limp. She looked worn and tired and he wanted more than anything to get her out of the rain, the wrath of Niklaus all but forgotten. "If you will allow me," he said gently as if speaking to a skittish horse that would throw him from its back at any moment, "I can assist you. Take you somewhere warm. Get you fed and clothed."
Bonnie considered her options. She was naked and alone in the middle of who the hell knew where. She had no money and as she didn't have the supplies for the spell she had no way to get home. What choice did she have really? "Please," she said, not able to articulate anything else through the wind and the rain.
Trevor nodded, ignoring the downpour as he reached out and took the girl into his arms. He was careful not to touch her skin as he lifted her off the ground. "Thank you," the girl whispered as she shivered violently against him. Trevor was certain as he heard the small catch in her voice that were she to ask him for anything else in that tone, he would be unable to deny her.
:::
Trevor watched the girl openly as she sat in front of the fire place drying her hair. She had not spoken much since their arrival to Niklaus' estate. There had been the slightest reaction when he had told her who he was and where they were and whom the home belonged to, a smirk and nod to herself, but little else since then.
They were in the servant chamber that he had been pacing in before he left. She had cleaned herself and she now wore one of the dresses that the last witch had left behind. Black silk with a golden belt at the waste. Only Niklaus would have the candor to have maids walking around in silk, it was a thing often joked about though not to the man's face.
"You claim you come from a land overseas but you will not tell me where," Trevor said as he sat down on the edge of the bed, now in dry clothes of his own, "You also claim not to know how you ended up in the predicament you were in when I found you. Is there anything that you can remember? Anything that you can tell me? A name perhaps?"
Bonnie stiffened as she looked at the flames. She was where she needed to be to do what she had come to accomplish, right in Klaus' lair, and yet, she wanted nothing more than to be home in her own bed. Now that she had sobered up she realized that her decision had been irrational but there was no going back now. She would have to stay at least until she could get the things that would allow her to go back; and in the meantime if she was able to do what she had come for all the better.
"My name is Bonnie," she said turning to him. She shifted uncomfortable in the dress that she wore, wiggling her toes in the shoes that didn't quite fit her feet. The rain had caused her hair to curl wildly and she had no idea how she would manage it in the place and the time that she was in.
"Bonnie?" Trevor asked, "I like it. The name is derived from the Scottish word meaning beautiful you know?"
Bonnie found herself smiling for the first time since her mother had gotten turned. Really, she hadn't smiled much before then.
"Does beautiful Bonnie have a last name?" He asked.
Bonnie frowned. She wasn't sure if she should tell him the truth. It wasn't as if she encountered him in her time and really since either Klaus or Katherine would be dead by the time she left, she would not encounter the others either, so she supposed it wouldn't matter. "Bennett," she said cautiously.
Trevor's eyes widened, he knew the name well. Trevor stood and walked across the room. He sat down next to Bonnie his eyes on the fire. "Does beautiful Bonnie happen to be a witch?" He asked. Bonnie stiffened beside him and he shook his head. "Not to worry," he said, "Given what I am and whom I serve; I am in no place to judge. Your secret is safe with me. It just so happens that my master is in need of a witch at the moment."
Bonnie turned to him then, her head cocked slightly to the side. "Klaus?" She asked.
Trevor nodded. "Though, if you are to work here then I suggest you refer to him as 'sire' or 'my lord'," he said. Bonnie raised a brow at him, her expression saying what her mouth did not. "I am assuming that you have no experience with servitude then," he said.
Bonnie let out a bitter laugh. She thought about being the Salvatore brothers' go to witch. "I do," she said, "Though, probably not in the way that you might think."
"Well," Trevor said, grinning at her, "Beautiful Bonnie I believe that I have a proposition for you that you will be quite unable to say no to." Another eyebrow raise, and Trevor chuckled. She was odd perhaps, but also entertaining. Much to his dismay and relief simultaneously she was also Niklaus' type. If she agreed to help him then he would be able to live which was good, and she would be staying which Trevor was beginning to think was even better.
:::
Niklaus Mikaelson had just returned from a night's kill. The drab weather had not hindered the thirst and so he had had no problem even in the storm to go out in search of blood. He had found it, in the form of a young barmaid that had mouse like features, brown hair, and two missing teeth. Not the prettiest of victims but she had been enough to satisfy his hunger. Normally he was more selective but he would have to get used to staying in, he needed to lay the ground work with Katerina, needed to keep her occupied; and more importantly he needed to keep her close. He needed the doppelganger in order to perform the sacrifice, there was no way around that.
Klaus pulled his dampened blood stained shirt over his head and tossed it into the flames of the large fire place that his room held. Keeping Katerina occupied was already easier than he had thought, even after her short time as their guest. A smile here, a pretty sentiment there, and she was putty in his hands. Eventually he might have to result to compulsion but he had no qualms with that. After all he would never claim to be the most virtuous of men. She was disposable, the same as everyone else outside of his family.
He removed the remainder of his soaked clothes and was in the middle of replacing them with dry ones when a knock came at the door. The door opened soon afterward, and even though Klaus had his back turned he knew that it was his brother. Only Elijah had the nerve to enter his chamber without any real warning or Klaus' consent.
Klaus turned and looked at his brother expectantly as Elijah entered the room and then shut the door behind him. Klaus fastened his trousers and then moved to put on a fresh shirt.
"I have news brother," Elijah said, unbothered by his brother's state of undress, "The servants are abuzz with chatter. It would seem that Trevor has brought a woman to the manor."
Klaus raised an eyebrow at this. Trevor was supposed to be finding him a witch, not hunting himself down a woman. "Seeing as he has yet to find me a witch," he said, not bothering to hide his displeasure, "I was under the assumption that he was adverse to the idea of interacting with the opposite sex." Klaus rolled his eyes when Elijah chuckled. "She must be quite a woman for Trevor to be willing to risk his life," he said, "Who is this woman? What manner of woman is she?"
Elijah raised a brow at the question, before he walked over to Niklaus' bed and sat down on the edge of it. "Well," Elijah said, his tone playful, "I may only go by what I have been told, brother. From what I have heard she is dangerous, mortally without meaning; exquisite, without imagining. The maid that helped her dress described her as Nature's own snare to allure manhood. The coachman described her as a white rose wherein love lies in ambush for natural prey. It is said even still that he who knows her smile has known a perfect thing. She creates grace in her own image, brings Heaven to earth in one movement of her hand-"
"Are you quite done brother?" Klaus asked with another roll of his eyes. Elijah was master at using a mess of flowery language that in the end amounted to nothing in Klaus' eyes. In this case it meant even less than it normally did as he was sure that Elijah was fabricating the news of the maiden to get a rise out of him.
Elijah didn't bother to hide his amusement. "Niklaus, really," he said, "If you wish to know about this maiden then you need only to request an audience with her. You are one of the lords of this house, are you not?"
Klaus nodded, calming instantly. He was already on edge, having heard a strange voice calling his name while on his hunting trip, a voice that he knew would haunt his dreams. To make matters worse he still could not find a witch that would work with him, even the few that he had attempted to force had chosen death as opposed to assisting him in unleashing his wolf. He was an abomination; and they wanted no part in what he was doing as he would upset the balance that they tried so hard to protect.
"If I send a servant to request her presence then Trevor will simply hide her or have her run and deny her presence at all when he is asked," Klaus said, "I believe that a surprise visit will be more effective. Do you know where he is keeping her?"
Elijah nodded. "Of course," he said. He stood from where he was sitting on the bed and motioned toward the door. "Shall we?"
Klaus slipped his shoes on is feet and nodded. "It is a shame that I changed my clothes," he said, "They're just going to get bloodied up again."
:::
Bonnie blinked at Trevor. Not only had she managed to get into Klaus' haunt without even trying but it seemed that she had gotten not just an ally (though she was still wary of him), but a job that would give her direct contact with Katherine as well. Perhaps she was where she was supposed to be after all. Still she wanted to leave as soon as possible, but at the same time she didn't want to be stuck acting as a servant in any way to another Petrova, least of all Katherine, whether she was human or not.
"The witches that I have approached thus far have been uncooperative," Trevor was saying as he scooted slightly closer to her as Bonnie held out her hands toward the fire in order to warm them, "They fear Niklaus, they see nothing but death and destruction when they look at the consequences of his actions and his desires."
"Of course they do," Bonnie shrugged, "He's a sociopath."
Trevor let out a surprised bark of laughter. "You know of him then," he said looking at Bonnie out of the corner of his eye.
Bonnie coughed, looking away. "I have heard a few things, yes," she said, rubbing her hands together.
"You remember what you heard of the Lord Niklaus but you do not remember how you came to be in the middle of the road in the nude?" He asked. His tone was skeptical but instead of answering his unasked question, Bonnie picked up the goblet that was sitting next to her on the floor taking a sip from it. "What exactly have you heard of the Lord Niklaus?" He asked curiously.
"You mean aside from the tantrums, murdering sprees, and complete disregard for human and supernatural life alike?" Bonnie asked seriously.
Trevor laughed again, shaking his head. "You are very brazen beautiful Bonnie," he said. Bonnie raised an eyebrow at him. "I find the fact rather entertaining myself," he continued, "I find it endlessly fascinating when a woman has soft lovely features and a forked tongue."
"So what's the problem?" Bonnie asked, choosing to ignore the complements to her appearance. She didn't have to censor herself in front of Trevor and she liked that. He didn't know her and therefore didn't expect anything of her. She didn't have to hold her tongue around him the way she had been doing with her friends. It was the reason that she had ended up doing so many things that she hadn't wanted to do, the reason that she had lost so much including herself.
"As I said," Trevor said, "I personally find it to be rather entertaining. However, there are those here that would tend to disagree. If you decide to take the position that I offered to you then you would of course be expected to behave as someone of your station would behave, especially when addressing Niklaus, his brother, the Lady Katerina, and any other guest that they might have you attend to."
Bonnie took another sip of the stale wine in her goblet. "So basically," she said, turning toward him once more, "What you're saying is that if I want to stay on here then I'll have to keep my head down and stay in my place."
Trevor winced at her tone. "I did not mean to offend you," he said seriously, placing a hand over the hand that was closest to him, "It is the same with all that are made to serve here and any other household. It is the way of things. One acts according to one's station be you a lord or a stable hand or anything in between."
Bonnie nodded. She knew that rang true, for this period of time in particular. However, she had spent so much time keeping her mouth shut and staying in her place she didn't think that she was capable of doing so anymore, not completely. Too much had happened, she had lost too much, had seen too much. But she was here to prevent it, to stop it from happening. To save her Grams. To save her mother. To free her line. If she had to take on the role of servant one more time to save the people that really mattered, the one's that should have mattered more than anyone, more than Elena and more than the vampires who took everything from her, her family, then she would. "I understand," she said.
"So does that mean that you want to undertake the position?" Trevor asked.
"If Lord Niklaus agrees of course," Bonnie said her tone sarcastic, though she had really decided to stay on. It wasn't as if she had anywhere else to go, so even if she changed her mind about ending Katherine or helping Klaus sacrifice her, then she could at the very least have somewhere to stay until she was able to get ahold of the ingredients that it would take to perform the spell that would allow her to return home. She didn't know anything about this place or this century, but she knew about Klaus, about Elijah, and about Katherine; she hated them but they were familiar and somewhat of a comfort as much as she hated to admit it.
"Well," Trevor said, invitingly, "If you ever need a reprieve from proper and expected behavior, I will make sure that you always know where to find me."
Bonnie could vaguely remember Elena mentioning a Trevor, he was more likable than she had let on. Then again, he wasn't holding her hostage. "I might just take you up on that," she said.
Trevor watched as Bonnie picked a fig from the plate of fruit that had been sent up to her from the kitchens. She popped it in her mouth and chewed it slowly, before sticking her fingers in her mouth one by one and sucking the juice from her fingers. As she licked her lips Trevor swallowed.
She was like no one he had ever met before. Her behavior wasn't constrained by the bounds of society. Not just her demeanor, but the way that she talked and the way that she moved. Everything about her screamed uncaring and untamed. Even the vampires of the house had to restrict their behavior to keep their secret from society, though Niklaus lived more dangerously than others. Then there was Katerina, who though rebellious, was purposefully so; she acted in a way that she wanted to be perceived as charming, and even in her rebellion she made sure to walk the line without crossing it. Trevor had not noticed that about Katerina, not until he had Bonnie to compare her to.
Bonnie had her own secret to keep from the world and an even lower station than most and yet, yet she spoke her mind and seemed to be the essence of genuine rebellion, for the time period they were in at least; as he didn't know her to be from any other. To Trevor, Bonnie was a breathing and living revolution. If he had gotten that impression in the few hours that he had spent in her presence, he wasn't sure what the others would think. Niklaus would likely be pleased, see her as a challenge. Her presence would likely save Trevor's life, but the more time that he spent in her company the less he wanted to expose her to Klaus. But she knew of him already, knew what he was capable of. He could tell by the way that she spoke of him, what he didn't know was where she had gotten that knowledge from.
Trevor opened his mouth to see if he could get any more information from Bonnie but closed it soon after as he heard a knock on the door. His head whipped around and as the door began to open without him so much as calling out he stood, pulling Bonnie up with him. There were only two people that would enter a room in the house without so much as a by your leave.
Bonnie glanced over at him, giving him a questioning look; but Trevor's eyes were on the door. "Lord Niklaus," he hissed into Bonnie's ear, before reluctantly stepping away from her. He had yet to explain Bonnie's presence to anyone as he had been more focused on helping her than offering her the position of Niklaus' new witch. It would not do well to be seen with her in such close confines, especially without having explained the situation.
Bonnie watched as the door opened and Klaus and Elijah entered, their eyes on Trevor. She took their moment of inattention to study them. Their hair was longer, their clothing befitting of the time, but there was not much change outside of that. Elijah still seemed to carry himself with a sense of refinement and Klaus still had the sense of arrogant entitlement that made Bonnie want to bring him to his knees just to prove a point. Seeing the two of them made her skin crawl and her power surge, wanting to come to the surface and do damage. Everything they had yet to do to her and the people that she cared about flashing before her eyes, before she shook it off as she remembered that she had come in order to stop it. She took a deep breath in order to calm herself.
"My lords," Trevor said giving a stiff bow, and gaining Bonnie's attention, "I was unaware of your return Lord Niklaus."
Niklaus gave Trevor as scathing look that made even Bonnie wince. "Is that why you did not seek me out in order to introduce me to your lovely maiden?" Still neither Klaus nor Elijah looked in Bonnie's direction. Bonnie didn't know whether to be relieved or offended that she was being talked about but ignored.
"My maiden?" Trevor asked, appearing confused. He knew however, that the servants talked as did the nobles. Klaus must have just gotten back as he was certain that he would waste no time in confronting him, especially if he thought that he was bedding some maiden instead of doing what had been asked of him. "You have been misinformed, sire," he said, smiling winningly at him, "However, you were right in one respect."
"What respect would that be?" Klaus asked, arching an eyebrow in Trevor's direction, his eyes still not straying to Bonnie.
"Had I been aware of your return I would have made introductions," he said. Klaus' accusatory look gave way to curiosity; he and Elijah shared a look as well, before Klaus turned back to Trevor. "You tasked me with the charge of finding you a servant for the Lady Katerina," Trevor said, "And as I have done that; of course I would have sought you out to ensure the maiden met with your approval had I known of your arrival much sooner, my lord."
Bonnie fought the urge to roll her eyes as Klaus finally seemed to take an interest in her. She looked down and studied her nails as his eyes fell on her. She didn't know what she would do if she looked him in the eyes. Already she wanted to put an end to him, something as little as hearing his voice making her cringe. He hadn't accessed his wolf yet, she knew the spell, and if she still had the power to do so Klaus would have been dead and on the ground already.
"My lords, this is Miss Bonnie Bennett," Trevor said, not missing the look of recognition that passed over both of the brothers faces at the knowledge of her last name, "Bonnie, Lord Niklaus and Lord Elijah."
A Bennett witch in my grasp I never thought I would see the day, Klaus thought. He had never thought he would see the day. None had gone near his family since Ayanna, and they were more wary than most. He had to wonder what one was doing in Europe, a part of him suspected that she had some sort of agenda. Whatever the reason, she was a rather lovely specimen, and he knew that he would enjoy getting it out of her. "Miss Bennett," he greeted, with a nod, "I apologize for my rudeness. Welcome to our home, you will be well taken care of in our care."
What a joke, Bonnie thought, resisting the urge to roll her eyes and bring up Greta being "well taken care of", before she died of course. It wasn't like he had brainwashed Greta yet, as she didn't exist. Bonnie jolted out of her thoughts, her eyes shooting up as Klaus took her hand. She watched, fighting the urge to pull her hand away, the moment surreal as Klaus placed a kiss on the back of it. She met his gaze head-on, which was probably considered to be inappropriate, not even just considering her supposed station but because of the fact that she was a woman; but Bonnie didn't care. He was looking at her oddly; she was used to a cold glare coming from him in her direction, not this, whatever it was.
Bonnie snatched her hand away but she didn't get much of a reprieve, as Elijah held out his hand a moment later. Bonnie bit her lip and tried not to wince as she placed her hand in his. It wasn't as bad as with Klaus, but still, Elijah was a part of all of this as well. He kissed her hand and offered her a welcoming smile that she wanted slap off his face. She wasn't Elena, she wasn't going to fall for that shit.
"It truly is a pleasure, Miss Bennett," Elijah said. He had always respected witches in the Bennett line above all others, they were powerful and strong, and it had been a Bennett witch that had tried to stop their ill fate at their mother's hands. It was an odd thing however, seeing one submitting themselves to servitude. From what he had seen of the line over the years, not only did they blaze their own paths but the steered clear of Originals.
As Elijah dropped her hand, Bonnie couldn't help but draw it into herself and cradle it against her, as if their lips had burned her skin. Bonnie frowned, shooting Trevor a sideways glare, as he poked her in the side. He gave her a pointed look in return and biting her lip to keep from saying something nasty that would likely get her killed, Bonnie grabbed the sides of her dress and gave a stiff bow. "Thank you, my lords," she muttered.
Both Klaus' and Elijah's eyes widened as they recognized her voice; a voice that they had both heard at different times during the night. Trevor mistook their shock at finding the identity of the maiden whose voice still rang in their ears, at the shock at Bonnie's disrespectful behavior. In his mind Trevor could already see his blood staining the walls.
"Trevor," Klaus said, his eyes now narrowed and on Bonnie, "Elijah, if you would please excuse us. I would like to have a word with Miss Bennett alone."
Trevor nodded quickly, and shot Bonnie an apologetic look before he disappeared from the room. Elijah hesitated, however, as he had questions of his own for the girl. But when Klaus turned to him, the meaning of his look quite clear, he knew that they would have to wait. He turned to leave but stopped at the last moment. "I do hope, Miss Bennett, that you find your accommodations to be favorable," he said, ignoring his brother's glare, "I will be sure to call on you personally tomorrow to ensure that you are happily settled."
Bonnie gave him a hesitant perplexed sort of smile. She doubted very much that they would be going to this much trouble over a servant if it were not for her powers. Still, there were worse positions she could be put in, so she supposed that in some respects she should be grateful. "Thank you, my lord," Bonnie said, at least making an attempt to sound sincere, "And if you would please…" She hesitated, not sure how she should put it that wouldn't make her sound as if she were from another time.
"Yes?" Elijah asked, looking rather interested in her next words. It was an odd thing how drawn he was to her, there had only been one other person that had pulled him in on sight and she had looked very much like the woman that was currently staying in the next room.
"I would prefer it," Bonnie stated, looking in between Klaus and Elijah, "If you were to address me as Bonnie." If they called her Miss Bennett, there was no way that she could continue to be civil to him. When she had been harassed and terrorized by Klaus; that was often what he called her. Though, the night of the sacrifice, the night of Elijah's betrayal, Elijah had called her Bonnie, so she supposed it didn't really matter.
"Of course, Bonnie," Elijah agreed, "It is a lovely name, it would make sense that you would want those around you to make use of it."
Bonnie found herself smiling genuinely in spite of herself. "Thank you, my lord," she said, for what seemed like the millionth time.
Elijah bowed his head slightly. "Good night, Bonnie," he said, only to hear her voice again when she returned the greeting.
"Good night, sire," Bonnie said, bowing in return, as she assumed it would be proper etiquette.
She watched Elijah go. Once the door had closed behind him, she turned back to Klaus. He was staring at her oddly again. "What is it?" she asked. He raised a brow at her addressing him informally and she sighed. "Sire," she tacked on for good measure.
Klaus hid his amusement at her ill manners well, likely because he was not amused by his brother's interest in her, so it was easy to cover up when he thought about Elijah. "Bonnie," he said, "May I call you Bonnie or is that honor reserved for my brother and Trevor?"
Even knowing it was probably rude to do so, Bonnie walked across room and retook her seat in front of the fireplace. "I am here to serve you so you can address me however you wish," Bonnie said, staring at the flames, and pausing just enough to irritate him before she added, "My lord."
Klaus didn't hesitate to sit down beside her, closer than even Trevor had sat only a few moments earlier. He looked back at Bonnie unfazed when she gave him a questioning look. "Is there another reason that you are here, Bonnie?" He asked.
Bonnie shrugged, uncomfortable as her shoulder brushed against his as she did so. "I have nowhere else to go, my lord," she said. It wasn't a lie. She couldn't leave if she didn't obtain what she needed for the spell, whether she decided to go through with her plan or not.
"And where are you from, love?" Klaus asked, a few strands of hair falling into his face as he leaned toward her.
Bonnie, turned her head to face him, surprised at how close he had gotten to her when she did so. "Love?" she asked, "That is an odd way to address one's servant, Klaus." She very deliberately skipped the honorific and addressed him by name.
He leaned closer, so close that Bonnie thought that he might try to kiss her, which would mean that she would be killing him much sooner than she originally thought. He bypassed her mouth, in favor of leaning over to speak into her ear. "Odd I believe," he whispered, his lips brushing her skin as he did so, "Is addressing one's master by name."
Bonnie just managed not to push him away from her. Instead she stood, putting as much space in between them as possible. "I am from a very bad place," she said, "But I am beginning to think that this one is much worse."
Niklaus stood as well, watching her with open interest. She was an odd creature. Most women would be scrambling to get closer to him by now. Even witches. He had hoped to pry her secrets out of her in their solitude. To discover why she was there. If she knew the history between their families. Why he had heard her voice so clearly while he had been out preying on the public. It was clear however, that she wouldn't make this easy for him.
"I apologize," he tried, sounding sincere, "I did not mean to upset or offend."
Bonnie let out a humorless laugh. "Oh but you did," she said. She had only been half listening to Trevor tell her about the witches that Klaus had bedded in order to gain their favor, acquiescence, and to maintain their loyalty, perhaps she should have listened. "Or maybe," she accused, "You wanted to get under my skin. Whatever the case, let's get something clear, shall we?"
Niklaus blinked a moment, wondering if anyone had ever spoken to him that way, as if he were a petulant child; before he nodded and came to the conclusion that no, no they had not. He wondered where Trevor had found such a woman, he had never encountered the like in mortal or witch. It was clear that she was familiar with him in the way that she looked at him; so in speaking to him in such a manner she was either very brave or very stupid. Still he gave her the signal to continue because he wanted to see where this would go.
"If I decide to take on a position in your house hold," Bonnie said, stepping forward, until she was the one invading his personal space, "You may use me for labor because I will allow it. You may even take advantage of my power, when and how I see fit." Her eyes met his and she looked at him more fiercely than she had, even when he was threatening the lives of the people she once cared about more than her own life. "What you will not have, ever, is access to my body and my bed. Are we clear, my lord?"
She realized that she might have been provoking him. That he could take her by force, or rather he could try before she put him on his ass. This was a different time, and Trevor had warned about staying in her place. But she wasn't going to allow him to take what he wanted from her, without fighting back. She had lost the will to fight in her time and she would be damned if she made the same mistake in this one.
He didn't bother denying that he aimed to bed her. While his actions had not been overt, his intentions had been clear to her nonetheless. "Very clear, Bonnie," he stated, "And being an amiable master, I will respect your wishes, on one condition."
"Which is?" Bonnie asked. She wasn't sure why he was letting her get away with addressing him so informally. Perhaps, because she was not technically under his employ yet.
"If there is ever a time," he said, "That you change your mind, I would like to be the first to hear of it." It wasn't as if he had any objections to bedding her, in fact, her behavior made him want to have that kind of power over her even more. It wasn't just because she was beautiful, or because he was suspicious of her, or because he desired her body almost as much as he desired her power; no, it was simply because Niklaus had always been a man that wanted exactly what he could not have.
Bonnie laughed at him then. "You have a deal," she said, "But please don't expect to hear that from me, ever." Klaus raised a brow at her and she rolled her eyes. "My lord," she added.
"You must be tired," he supposed, "I should allow you some rest. Tomorrow, you will be introduced into the household and you will meet your mistress. I may wish to see you for a time as well, I like to know who is under my employ, and I plan on getting to know you very well, Bonnie."
Good luck with that, Bonnie thought. Outwardly, she decided to play nice in hopes that he would leave her alone. "As you are my lord and master," she said, sweetly, "If you wish to see me, you need only to request my presence."
Her tone and demeanor seemed to have undergone a complete turnaround, but he was not fooled. Klaus smirked. Ordinarily he may have been put off by her behavior, but it had been so long since someone had challenged him. "Do you mock me, Miss Bennett?"
"Goodnight, sire," Bonnie said, pointedly, choosing not to answer him.
"Goodnight, Bonnie," he nodded. He turned to go, looking back one more time, before he departed. He smiled as he shut the door behind him. His plan may have been serious, seducing the Lady Katerina may have been a chore, and perhaps the sacrifice would take much longer than he thought, but it seemed that there was still some fun to be had. Miss Bonnie Bennett would make sure of it.