Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Diaries in any shape or form. But I do own my OC.
Title: Stormdancer
Author: The Thousand Years Queen
Pairings: Klaus/OC.
Summary: To know Niklaus Mikaelson is to know Aliyah. It took everything she had to walk away from him. But she had no choice; she didn't want to hate him after loving him for a thousand years. But Niklaus always intended to take back what belonged to him, and that was her. She may run and she may hide, but he would find her. While fulfilling a promise she made a thousand years ago, she becomes involved in what she had run away from. Will she be strong enough to walk away again? Klaus/OC. Post 1X14 AU.
A/N: Okay, so, I thought I'd try my hand at writing a Vampire Diaries fanfiction. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy! This chapter doesn't have Klaus in it, except in flashbacks.
This will start in 1X14 Fool Me Once, right after Sheila Bennett's death.
Stormdancer
Chapter One
Homeward Bound
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and brought him into her chest, allowing him to rest his head on her collarbone. She reached down with one hand and tore a piece off the end of her dress, dipping the torn piece of cloth into a small bowl of water and then pressing it against his bloody lip, as gently as she possibly could.
"Does it still hurt?" She asked, worriedly.
He shook his head, defiantly, helping her press the cloth against his wound, preventing the blood form dripping down his shirt.
"You can go now, I'll be fine." He growled, averting his eyes from hers.
She glared at him, fiercely. "Do not treat me like a child. I mean to tend to your wounds and you will not stop me."
He sighed. She dipped the cloth into the water again and wrung out the residual water. She tugged on the hem of his shirt and pushed it up, revealing a well-defined stomach covered in a myriad of bruises of yellow and blue. She pressed the cool, damp cloth against each one of his bruises, hoping that she would attribute to a modicum of his relief.
He twisted the curls at the end of her hair and she looked up at him. His hand entwined itself in her jet black locks and tugged her up to meet him, his lips slanting over hers, gently, mindful of the sharp pain of his split lip.
She had been nursing a glass of scotch in one hand and flipping the pages of a novel in the other, when she received the call. She grabbed the phone, which was seated on the desk, reading the number and rolling her eyes, and pressed a button, raising it to her ear to talk.
"What is it?" She asked, impatiently.
"Sheila Bennett is dead."
"What?" Aliyah snapped, falling back into her chair in her shock. "How is that even possible?"
"The hospital is saying over-exertion, and her heart just finally gave out." The man on the other end of the phone said.
"Well, that definitely screws everything up, doesn't it?" She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Sheila has a granddaughter, doesn't she?"
"Yes, Bonnie Bennett."
Aliyah smiled. "It looks like I'm going home."
It was raining on the day of the funeral. Her black dress was tight around her thighs as she stepped onto the grass. There weren't many people, but she could see many of them surrounding a young girl of around sixteen, who was noticeably trembling. Aliyah ran her hand through her long dark curls.
She joined the back of the crowd, resolving not to try and speak to Bonnie until after everyone had left. She had no intention of putting herself through awkward questions from people she didn't care about. She sat through the funeral, listening into all of the different speeches about how strong-willed and kind and loving Sheila Bennett was. She smiled at some of the jokes and even laughed a few times.
Sheila Bennett. She remembered meeting the woman many years ago. Trying to explain that she meant her no harm and that she was simply there for guidance. It had been a difficult task and Sheila had never completely warmed up to her. She had accepted the fact that Aliyah would protect her, but they had never became actual friends. The divide between vampires and witches had destroyed any possible relationship she and Sheila may have been developed. She wondered whether she would be able to breach that divide with Bonnie, but she didn't have much hope for that. Witches were steadfast in their beliefs and even more so in their hatred for vampires.
It was an hour and a half before the service ended and Aliyah stood up alongside everyone when the time came to bury the body. Aliyah had no wish to see Sheila's corpse, but she went through the motions, grabbing a handful of dirt and dropping it over the casket, ignoring the confused whispers from behind her.
I'm sorry I wasn't there, Sheila. But I will protect your granddaughter, I promise. She is the last of my mother's line and she will have my protection and guidance, I swear.
Aliyah made her way to the back of the congregation and waited as every one expressed their condolences to a grieving Bonnie. As she moved closer, she stilled, noticing a certain person standing next to Bonnie, holding onto her hand as she offered comfort.
Tatia.
Katerina.
That isn't possible.
Well, fuck, I think I've just wandered into something bigger than I realised.
The girl had long, straight brown hair and pale skin, wide brown eyes. All exceptional features, but the only thing that drew Aliyah's gaze was the remarkable resemblance to two women who had already caused enough problems for Aliyah that she was intent on keeping her distance. Instead, she looked at the girl in the centre. Darker skin, brown curly hair, her eyes drawn and weary, tear tracks still on her face.
Now, this must be Bonnie.
It was still awhile before the two girls at Bonnie's side were willing to let her be alone, in fact the doppelganger looked very reluctant to leave Bonnie. Finally, they departed and Aliyah made her way to the gravestone, where Bonnie was standing.
"She truly was an amazing woman." Aliyah commented.
Bonnie spun around and stared at her, suspiciously. "Who are you?" She asked, sharply.
The woman was not too tall, just slightly taller than her. She had dark skin, not as dark as Bonnie's, but bronzer than usual. Her hair came in soft, thick curls down to the middle of her back, and her eyes were a dark chocolate brown, her lips pink against her toffee-coloured skin. She smiled, and the brightness of it made her seem younger than she really was.
Aliyah held her hands up in the 'surrender' position. "I'm not going to hurt you, Bonnie. I just wanted to be here for your grandmother's wake and I wanted to see you."
"Who are you?" Bonnie repeated, through gritted teeth, her eyes red.
Aliyah smiled. "My name is Aliyah Mikaelson and I'm here to help you."
"How can you possibly help me?" Bonnie scoffed.
"Well, I know you're a witch and I think you could benefit from my guidance." Aliyah shrugged.
Bonnie frowned. "Are you a witch?"
Aliyah grimaced. "Not really. Not anymore, at least."
"What do you mean?" Bonnie asked.
Aliyah sighed. She reached out and grasped Bonnie's hand. She bit her lip and watched as Bonnie flinched away, her eyebrows drawing into a thin line.
"You're a vampire." She snarled.
Aliyah nodded, hesitantly. "I am a vampire. But, I give you my word, Bonnie, that I will not hurt you. I have no intention of hurting you. The only reason I came to Mystic Falls was to meet you and pay my respects to your grandmother." She motioned out of the cemetery. "Can we walk?"
They moved out of the cemetery and down the road. Aliyah stopped at her car and looked at Bonnie.
"I could give you a lift to your house if you'd like. And we can talk." Aliyah said.
Bonnie looked nervous for a second.
Aliyah narrowed her eyes. "I don't break my word, darling." She smiled. "It would be awful if I did. I promise you, no harm will come to you at my hands."
Bonnie pursed her lips. "Okay, but if you try anything…" She began, warningly.
"Oh, I'm sure you could think of some awful spell to cast upon me." Aliyah grinned. She opened the passenger side of her car. "Now, get in."
"So, you're a vampire. Why do you want to protect me?" Bonnie asked, confused.
Aliyah and Bonnie were sitting on the swing in the porch.
"You know that a witch can't be a vampire, right? If a witch is turned into a vampire, he or she loses their powers." Aliyah explained. She inhaled. "Years ago, when I was human, I was a powerful witch. I was still in the middle of my training, but my innate power was very great. Anyways, I was turned into a vampire and I lost my powers, unfortunately. It was very hard for me to transition into being a vampire. My connection to the Earth was lost and I felt empty inside without the use of my magic." She bit her lip.
"Um, I still don't get why you're telling me this." Bonnie remarked, confused.
"My mother was a very powerful witch. She only had two children, my older brother and myself. My older brother was married years before me and he had children. You are descended from my mother through my brother's children." Aliyah said, quickly.
"So… we're related?" Bonnie stared at her.
"Yes, you are a direct descendent of my mother, Ayanna." Aliyah nodded. "When I became a vampire, my mother refused to speak to me, the unnaturalness of my vampirism being too much for her to accept. However, I was still her daughter and a part of her couldn't turn me away. So, we came to an agreement. She would protect me from any witch that would try and harm me, and in return, I would protect her line – my line, with my new abilities."
Bonnie nodded to herself. "So, that's why you're here. Because I'm your descendent." She narrowed her eyes. "But… my Grams… if you're supposed to protect my family… why did you…."
Aliyah looked away. "I know. It was my mistake. I believed that your grandmother would be safe. There was nothing in Mystic Falls for her to fear, I made sure years ago, and she was a powerful witch. She died of natural causes, there was no harm to protect her from."
Bonnie's brow furrowed. "She didn't die of natural causes."
Aliyah's eyes snapped to Bonnie's. She stood up. "What do you mean?" She asked, carefully.
"My Grams… she died trying to perform a spell. To release the vampires in the tomb underneath Fell's Church." Bonnie explained.
Aliyah frowned. "There were vampires trapped under Fell's Church? Why was your grandmother trying to break the spell? From what I can remember, she didn't exactly have a good opinion of vampires. She wouldn't have helped them get out of the tomb, she would have done her best to keep them inside."
Bonnie's shoulders slumped. "My friend, Elena, the brunette one with me at the funeral…"
Aliyah had the urge to roll her eyes, but forcefully stamped down on it.
Of course, it all comes down to a Petrova doppelganger. It always does.
"She's dating this vampire, Stefan Salvatore."
Aliyah's eyes widened, remembering the Ripper from the 1920s. "Did you say Stefan Salvatore? Oh, bloody hell, what have I walked into?" She moaned. She shifted and looked at Bonnie with a searching gaze. "Tell me, what does Stefan Salvatore have to do with this tomb of vampires?"
Bonnie shook his head. "Well, it's his brother, Damon, actually."
Aliyah ran a hand through her hair. "You've got to be kidding me. Damon's here, too?"
"How do you know the Salvatore brothers?" Bonnie asked, curiously and suspiciously.
She didn't know if she trusted the vampire in front of her. She was still a vampire and it went against everything inside her to even consider trusting her. Although, she remembered Aliyah taking her hand in hers, and that same sick feeling that she got when she had touched Stefan soon after meeting him hit her. However, the feeling felt different. Almost as if she knew that the woman in front of her wouldn't hurt her. She didn't even know why the woman would want to.
Bonnie wasn't a great witch, in fact, she had barely begun learning. If she wanted to use her powers, she would have come when her Grams was still alive. And she had given her word that she wouldn't hurt her. She did say that they were related somehow and she had made a promise a long time ago that she wouldn't hurt her family. But after her Grams had died because of Stefan and Damon, she didn't know what to believe.
She would wait and listen and see what the woman was up to.
"Um, Stefan, I met right after he was turned, here in Mystic Falls. I was looking for someone and I found him right after he turned. I was the one who explained how to complete the transition. And Damon… we met in the 1930s, it was a unique experience."
Bonnie grimaced. "You and Damon…?"
Aliyah's eyes widened. "No, oh, dear, no. That never happened between us and it will never happen." She sighed. "What did Damon want with the vampires in this tomb?"
"He was looking for Katherine."
Aliyah stilled. "Katherine Pierce… is here… in Mystic Falls?" She asked, slowly.
Bonnie raised an eyebrow. It was as if her doubt about this woman was just beneath the surface, waiting to rise every time the woman said something she struck her wrong. "You know everyone, don't you? How do you know everyone?"
How could she know Damon, Stefan and Katherine, yet be here for her?
"Well, I don't know you or Elena." Aliyah pointed out. Although, I know of Elena. "And when you're as old as I am, you tend to meet a lot of people. Stefan and Damon Salvatore are just two in a long line of people that I have met, and I don't know them all that well. I only knew Stefan for a couple of hours in 1864, before I left Mystic Falls. I was just there to see him through his transition. Damon… I was trying to help him control the hunger… Although, I don't suppose I did that as well as I could have. Probably should've stayed with him a bit longer." She mused, rubbing the back of her neck.
"And Katherine?" Bonnie asked, leaning back against the porch swing.
"I've known Katherine for a very long time." She smiled, wryly. "Long before she became Katherine." She muttered. She frowned. "So, Katherine was inside the tomb?"
She wasn't in Mystic Falls when I got here in 1864. She had already escaped. She probably knew we were coming for her and made a run for it.
"No." Bonnie shook her head. "That was the point. Apparently, back in 1864, both Stefan and Damon fell in love with Katherine. Stefan realised what a manipulative bitch she was after he turned into a vampire, but Damon…"
"…still held out hope that she had actual feelings for him." Aliyah finished and actually did roll her eyes that time.
Now, that sounds like a Petrova doppelganger.
Screwing with brothers since 972 AD.
"Wow," Aliyah laughed. "Katherine hasn't changed at all, has she? So, she wasn't in the tomb, but Damon thought she was. Why did your grandmother have to open the tomb? She was a witch, so are you, in fact, even if Stefan and Damon had forced you, you would've been able to stop them." She said, pointedly.
"Well…" Bonnie looked upset. The tears came to her eyes, her grandmother's death flashing through her eyes.
"Bonnie…" Aliyah sighed and took a seat next to Bonnie on the porch swing. "I know you don't trust me." Bonnie looked up at her with surprise, wondering how easily Aliyah was able to read her. "Darling, I've been around for a very long time. I can read people very well. And I can understand your scepticism. Can you imagine being a witch and then turned into a vampire?" Aliyah asked, sadly. "I was a servant of nature and then I was turned into something I should have despised beyond all belief." She commented, wistfully.
"How did you… deal with it?" Bonnie asked, awkwardly.
"I didn't… not at the beginning, at least." Aliyah said, simply.
"She hates me." She sobbed. "My own mother refuses to look me in the eye. She turned me away."
"She's your mother, love, she… just needs to deal with what's happened to us." He smoothed back her hair, as she cried into his stomach, lying in his lap.
"No," She sniffled and shook her head. "She will never forgive me for this. She cannot. And how could she? I can barely look at my own reflection without flinching. I cannot even feel the Earth anymore. How can I do this?
"You will because I am here. Because I will not let you fail. You are mine, my love. You know what I am like with what I consider is mine."
"I had this… connection… with the Earth and with nature and it was all stripped away from me when I was turned into a vampire." Aliyah grimaced. "As a human, I was always fierce about my family. My mother was everything to me. She was my mother, my father, my friend and my mentor. My brother left home when I was young to be with his wife and her family. I never really knew him really well. I remember visiting them when my sister-in-law had her children, your ancestors. But I wasn't very close to them, they lived in another village. But the promise I made to my mother was real. I have always tried to protect your family, Bonnie, to the best of my ability. I assume you know about Emily?" Aliyah asked.
Emily Bennett was someone that Aliyah remembered fondly. From the few times that she had spoken to the young witch, the woman seemed somewhat accepting of vampires, from her pseudo friendship with Katherine. Although, she had her misgivings about the extent of her acceptance of vampires. It was hard for a witch, especially one experienced with her marriage, to stop hating vampires.
Bonnie blinked. "Emily Bennett? The one who put the curse on the tomb?"
Aliyah nodded. "Apparently, she was getting less than appreciative advances from one of the men in Mystic Falls. As you can probably tell, she was treated with less than kindness while she was here in Mystic Falls." Aliyah resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
"Because of her skin colour?" Bonnie wondered out loud.
"Yes." Aliyah nodded. "Anyway, there was a man in Mystic Falls, I'm not completely certain of his name, it may have been George something, but he was interested in Emily and, in those times, if a man was interested in a woman of colour, he usually got what he wanted. He cornered her one day, and I was the one to pull him off her. I was only in Mystic Falls for a few days back in 1864. Just long enough to meet Emily and offer my protection, and search for Katherine, but she had already left by then." She mused. "There are certain men in the world who just don't have respect for women."
"You saved Emily from being raped?" Bonnie cross her arms over her chest. "Is that why I'm supposed to believe you? I'm sorry, but I thought I could trust Stefan and he and his brother just screwed me over and my Grams died for it. So, don't expect me to just believe you like that."
Aliyah raised an eyebrow. "I understand your misconceptions. I understand more than you can realise. I wouldn't trust me if I was in your position. But, all I'm asking is to give me some time to prove to you I can be trusted. I can help as much as I possibly can with your magic. I still remember quite a lot. I know you probably don't have a good opinion of vampires, Bonnie, and what you've just gone through has probably made it worse, but I have always had a healthy respect for witches."
Bonnie ran a hand through her hair and felt tears come to her eyes. "I just… I don't know what to do." She whispered, reluctantly.
"I know what that feels like." Aliyah said, grimly. "When I was turned into a vampire, it wasn't just me becoming this abnormal creature, but it was also me losing a part of my identity when I lost my powers. The man I love, he used to call me his 'little witch' when we were human. After we turned, it hurt me too much to be called that." She swallowed hard, remembering much more painful times. "Anyway, I'd really like it if you completed your story. But only if you can." She said the last name, hurriedly, as if she didn't want to offend Bonnie.
"Oh, yeah, well," Bonnie rubbed the back of her neck. "Well, we were chanting the spell that would open the tomb, but the seal that prevented vampires from coming was still up. Damon grabbed Elena and went inside the tomb. I tried to stop Stefan from going in after them, but he went anyway. I begged her to break the seal so that Stefan and Damon could get out. She seemed okay after we got home. But she said she was going to go and lie down…" Bonnie started breathing in and out, quickly, starting to hyperventilate.
Aliyah cursed under her breath and moved closer to Bonnie, placing both of her hands on Bonnie's shoulders. She shook her, slightly.
"Bonnie, I need you to focus on my voice. Block everything else out and listen to me. You're hyperventilating, and I need you to stop." Aliyah ordered, gently.
After a few moments, Bonnie's frantic breathing began to slow. "I used to feel so safe around her. My mother left me when I was a kid and my dad's never around. My Grams was always there."
Aliyah bit her lip and decided to go ahead with it. She reached out and wrapped her arms around Bonnie's shoulders, pulling the young girl into her chest. She let her sob into her chest, ignoring the growing dampness on her dress, and wondered when was the last time that the girl had been allowed to grieve her grandmother without having to hide behind masks.
"If you'd like, I could kill the Salvatore brothers for you." Aliyah offered.
Bonnie chuckled, wetly.
"No, I'm serious, say the word and I'll rip their hearts from their chests and deliver them to you." Aliyah declared, dramatically. "They messed with my descendants. For that crime alone, they should die." She growled, her eyes turning a deep red and the veins under her eyes briefly appearing before she was able to control herself.
Bonnie stared at her with awe and fear. "Wow, you are really are a vampire."
Aliyah smiled, a little sheepish that she had lost control of herself for a moment. "Yeah, did you think I was lying to you?"
"No, I just… your eyes..." Bonnie trailed off.
Aliyah touched the skin below her eyes. "Do they bother you?" She asked, curiously.
Bonnie shrugged. "They just remind me that you really are a vampire."
"I am, Bonnie. You shouldn't ever forget that." Aliyah said, seriously. "I am dangerous and I have killed before." She confessed.
Bonnie frowned and recoiled, moving a few inches away from her on the porch swing. "You have?"
"I am a vampire, darling, and when I was turned, my hunger was too much for me to handle, so I have drank from humans, and I did kill a few people when I was first starting out as a vampire."
"So, you drink from humans?" Bonnie asked, hotly.
Aliyah smiled, darkly. "There was a time when I was unconcerned from whom I drank. I have changed since then and become more… selective… in whose blood I drink. I don't relish the thought of killing innocent people to satisfy my bloodlust."
"So, what do you do?" Bonnie asked, quietly.
"From time to time, if I find myself in a more populated locality, I tend to raid blood banks and keep a storage of them. There isn't exactly a shortage of blood in this world, at least, not like there used to be. I never drink from anyone under the age of 21 and I try and stay away from women. With this new vampire craze that is sweeping the world, more and more women find the idea of roleplaying with a vampire enticing." Aliyah shrugged. "They're willing, so I see no need to deny them whatever kick they get out of it. Drinking blood from the vein doesn't always have to be painful, in fact, it can be quite pleasurable if done right, and I've had years to practice. But, my victims tend to be ones that asked for it."
"How could anyone ask for it?" Bonnie snapped. "You're still drinking blood from innocent people."
"I tend to go for those people who aren't innocent. Murderers, rapists, abusers, and on occasion, I have even drank the blood of vampires, before I killed them for some crime or another. Some men and women are quite hospitable. I never take more than a pint or two, I compel them to forget and I feed them my blood to heal them before I move on." Aliyah explained.
"But… you still drink blood from humans!" Bonnie snapped.
"I am a vampire." Aliyah said, pointedly. "I can probably say that a million times and you wouldn't understand. Do you feel guilty about all of the innocent animals that had to die while you eat a cheeseburger? It is in your nature to eat food, which includes meat, so you ignore the fact that dead animals led to your food. I don't kill humans for no reason. I drink blood from only those who are willing, and if they aren't willing, they deserved me to drink from them in the first place." Aliyah sighed.
"Bonnie, I could try and explain my motives to you till I was blue in the face and it wouldn't matter to you. I didn't come here to speak to you and get you to trust in vampires when you have no intention of doing so, and I don't blame you. I came here to pay my respects to your grandmother because I care about my family and you and your grandmother are my family. I also wanted to be there for you. I know what it's like to be lost and without guidance, to be faced with powers you didn't even know you had and having to adjust to them can be hard. I know it seems a bit presumptuous for me to start advising you, but I promise that you will be under my protection. I will not hurt you or your friends, although the Salvatores may bear the brunt of my anger if I have my way." She muttered the last part.
"You can't hurt Stefan." Bonnie said, quietly. "He's dating Elena. She'd be upset if something happen to him."
"I was just going to stake the two morons in the stomach. It would hurt, but they would heal and it would teach them not to use you as a personal power source. I understand that you're protective of your friend, but maybe you should start worrying about yourself instead of them right now." Aliyah said, gently. "You don't realise this and I don't want to get into too much, because the more you know, the more you will be in, but you and your friend, Elena, have walked into something much more bigger than you may have realised."
Bonnie frowned. "What do you mean?" She asked, tentatively.
Aliyah smiled and stood up, holding out her hand to Bonnie. "There are many stories I could tell you, Bonnie, and some day, I will, but not now. Now is the time to focus on you."
"My Grams was the only one to ever put me first." Bonnie confessed, reluctantly.
Aliyah nodded. "I'm not trying to take her place, but I promise that I will put you first. It's been a very long time since I've been around my family."
Aliyah smiled, sadly. And not just this family.
With a small, grateful look in her eyes, Bonnie reached out and took Aliyah's hand.
A/N: I thought it would be interesting for Bonnie to form a relationship with a vampire who didn't force her to do things or use her powers for their own purposes. I've seen a lot of OCs who are Elena's twin sister, or Caroline's younger sister. I've seen Tyler's little sister and distant relatives of the Salvatores, but none of Bonnie's relatives. I thought this might be interesting, an OC who puts Bonnie first.
