*Disclaimer: I don't own TVD etc.*

Bonnie Bennett was nursing an awful headache with a cloth full of ice pressed against the back of her head. She had already taken four Advil tablets, but they hadn't kicked in yet. Her mother, Abby sat across from her at the kitchen table. She had given up on persuading Bonnie to have some of the herbal tea she had made. Her refusal had nothing to do with the tea and everything to do with the fact that she wanted nothing from Abby. Still, the worst thing about her headache was that her and Abby had not woken up until the next day. Waking up concussed and disoriented in a cave had to be the low point of her life and she was seriously considering moving from Mystic Falls permanently.

"Whatever was in that coffin packed quite a punch, huh?" Abby said a faint smile on her lips.

"Yeah," Bonnie agreed.

Maybe it was awful of her, but she couldn't help wondering when Abby was going to leave. She shouldn't be in the kitchen trying to make awkward small talk. Now that the coffin was open she should leave.

"When does your dad get back?" Abbey asked, she glanced toward the entrance.

"Soon, you should probably go," Bonnie replied not caring that she was being rude.

Not long after Abby left her cellphone rang. The caller ID showed it was Stefan and she didn't want to pick up, but if the Ripper version of Stefan was calling her, it was probably some new disaster.

"What?" she demanded in a harsh tone.

"Well good morning to you too, sunshine."

Ripper Stefan was too much like Damon for her to be comfortable with it.

"What do you want, Stefan?" she repeated in annoyance.

"Right to the chase, I like it."

"Yeah, well my head still hurts from yesterday and this morning I woke up in a cave so whatever it is, I am not in the mood."

"Funny you should mention yesterday…"

"Oh God, what is it?"

"Guess who was in the lockbox?"

"Just tell me," she groaned, clutching her head.

"It was Esther, the Original Witch."

"Wait – what? Like Klaus's mother? Didn't he kill her?" her headache was getting worse by the second.

"Apparently Ayanna preserved her body."

"Creepy," she muttered. The doorbell rang and Bonnie got up. "Well this is great, just great. So what does she want?" she asked as she shuffled toward the door.

"Get this, she wants to be a family again," Stefan told her as she opened the door. "And she's throwing a ball this evening."

Bonnie stared at the small manila envelope on her doorstep. She had a sinking feeling about its content. She picked it up, instead of answering Stefan. Bonnie Bennett was scrawled in elegant scripture against it.

"Bonnie?"

She ignored him and opened it. Skimming it, she realized to her horror it was an invitation.

"I just got my invite," Bonnie breathed. "There's something on the back, hold on. Bonnie, I believe we have much to discuss, Esther," she read aloud to the vampire on the other end of the line.

"She wants to meet both you and Elena then," Stefan said a calculating note had come into his voice.

"Elena's going?" Bonnie asked chewing on her bottom lip. She had a feeling both she and Elena should just stay in tonight.

"Assuming she can get past Damon."

"Right," she would have laughed except Damon's obsession with Elena was starting to get a little creepy. "Shit, I have to go dress shopping."

She hung up.

Then she took another couple of Advil because stress was making her headache approach epic proportions. Once that was done, she dug out her dad's credit card.

Bonnie didn't need shoes, which was lucky because she hated shoe shopping. It was just around noon by the time she found a dress. She decided to stop by the Grill for something to drink in the heat and to say hi to Matt.

One of the first things she saw was Elena and Caroline sitting at the table. They were chatting and Bonnie could not help feeling a little hurt.

"Hmm and here I thought you were the best friend," a chilly accented voice said right next to her ear.

Bonnie didn't even flinch, she was getting all too used to vampires sneaking up on her.

"At least I have friends, Rebekah," she answered shooting her a dirty look.

"Ouch, someone's feisty," Rebekah commented with a smirk. "But I'll let it go since you've been ditched."

Bonnie rolled her eyes as Rebekah strode off, blonde ponytail swishing behind her. The Original vampire was obviously on a mission, but she didn't know what kind. When Bonnie saw her approach Elena and Caroline, she decided it was time to follow knowing how Rebekah felt about Elena.

Bonnie caught up with her just in time to hear her telling Elena to get over herself. She sat down with her friends. She smiled and said 'hi', but they were too busy watching Rebekah to really notice. Once she saw her approach Matt, a chill ran down Bonnie's spine. She listened to Elena and Caroline chatter, but didn't join in. She'd already made up her mind to go and now she made it her mission to protect Matt. The Salvatores would be too worried about Elena to care about Matt and Caroline would need backup against an Original vampire. A sneaky little voice in the back of her mind whispered that Rebekah was right about one thing, not everything was about Elena.

XXX

Bonnie spun around in the mirror, she might be going stag, but at least she looked pretty. She could hear her dad downstairs pacing. She would have taken him as her plus one except this was vampire business and she didn't want him to get hurt. Otherwise, she would have loved to spend some time with him. He worked so much, she hardly saw him and spending non-witch time with him was always good. He just didn't get the witch-thing and trying to make him understand only confused and worried him more.

He was however, going to drive her. With one last glance in the mirror, Bonnie was off. Rudy was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, grinning.

"One picture," he said drawing Bonnie's attention to the camera in his hands.

"Dad," Bonnie complained, but she couldn't quite keep the smile from her face. It was cute when he did dad stuff, reminded her she had one normal parent. So she let him have his one picture, which turned into ten.

"You look beautiful, Bonnie."

"Dad, c'mon, we really don't need to get emotional about this dateless event. And we totally don't need to document it," she rolled her eyes, but a smile took the brunt off her words.

"Alright, let's go."

The Mikaelson mansion was well-lit and there were a lot of cars ahead of them. The car crawled forward as people got out one by one.

"At least I won't be the first one there," Bonnie joked.

"Hmm," Rudy replied tapping the steering wheel with his fingers. "These Mikaelson people are they –" he cleared his throat. "Witches?"

"No, they're vampires," she mumbled, hoping he would not hear her.

"Do you have to go?"

"Dad, you were fine like not even five minutes ago."

"I know but I just got thinking."

"I'll be OK, I'm mostly just going to make sure no one else gets hurt," Bonnie said in what she hoped was a reassuring voice.

"Yeah, but why is it your job? You're just a kid," Rudy fixed her with a piercing look.

"Because I can kill a vampire with one look," it was not true, but if it made her dad feel better.

They were next in line.

Rudy nodded. "Be careful," he said as they pulled up. "And I love you."

"I love you too, dad," Bonnie said genuinely moved.

The door was opened for her by a valet. Bonnie smiled at him and thanked him. She threw one last glance at the car her dad was driving away in. Then she began the climb up the stairs to the stately mansion. The doors were swung wide open and Bonnie walked straight into an entranceway with a soft glow to it. Any other nightstand any other home and she would have been floored. She would not mind living like this, but tonight she was all business. A man at the door took her shawl.

Bonnie made her way further into the house. It was nothing short of regal, an effect that was added to by the soft strings of classical musical playing and the waiters ghosting through the crowd, carrying trays of champagne flutes.

Bonnie was offered a champagne flute and accepted it. So she was here, she had a drink. Now what?

It made her wish she had a date, especially when she realized the only person, she knew was Damon. And she'd really rather not talk to him. Besides, even if she had wanted to it looked like he was riling up the mayor and a dark haired man she did not know. Of course, the mayor was too well-mannered to let it show, but her subtle hand gestures spoke volumes and it was Damon, of course he was pissing people off.

Not wanting to talk to Damon, Bonnie decided to wander. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Elena arrive. She also saw how Damon reacted, he was on the move in a heartbeat.

Typical.

The dark haired man with mayor Lockwood laughed and said something. Then he too was walking away.

Bonnie pretended to study a painting and sipped at the champagne. It was delicious light and bubbly. And probably cost more than her car.

"You must be the local witch," a male voice said uncomfortably close to her ear. The voice was smooth with a British accent.

Bonnie turned around slowly. She was not about to show him that he had unnerved him, but neither was she about to let him get too close. With ease, she took a step back. Her eyes narrowed as she studied him.

"And you must be another Mikaelson."

He cracked a charming smile. It was the sort of smile that lit up an entire room and Bonnie noticed how much taller than her, he was. The vampire towered over her, his build was lean yet clearly strong. That alone should have made him look older, but his face had a boyish charm coupled with hazel eyes and artfully messy brown hair that made him appear made a couple of years older than her at the most.

"I'm Kol Mikaelson."

"Bonnie Bennett, but you knew that already," she muttered when she saw how he smirked in response to her name.

What was it with the Mikaelsons and smirking? Was it like a family trait?

"I know. I knew several of your ancestors."

"Bully for you," Bonnie replied with a saccharine smile.

Determined to put some distance between herself and Kol she wandered off. Her eyes landed on each of the paintings in turn before she stopped in front of one that was all too familiar. It was a beautiful lily pond landscape painted in impressionist style. In the bottom right-hand corner it read Claude Monet in a scribbled messy signature.

Bonnie did not believe it.

Still trying to decide whether or not it was the real deal, Kol sauntered up next to her. He leaned down to whisper in her ear. His breath fanned along her neck and she blushed.

"Nik collects paintings. That's no fake, little witch."

"Did he steal it?" she inquired.

Kol snorted a laugh and leaned back.

Had she offended him? If so, good, she thought with satisfaction.

"I'm not certain," Kol said with a furrowed brow. "No, I think the Manet in his bedroom is stolen, but I am certain he purchased the Monet."

Bonnie quirked a brow. "You know your painters, I'll give you that."

"I've been alive for a long time. Tell me what's your favorite style?"

"I don't know. I like impressionism, but expressionism has a wildness that's unmatched," Bonnie cocked her head to the side and took a step back to look at the painting. "Then again, this is beautiful."

From further back, she could clearly see the flowers and the light that was reflected on the surface of the water. Monet had truly tried to capture the moment, back before cameras were a thing, obviously.

"Now, I'm the impressed one."

Bonnie glanced at Kol out of the corner of her eye only to see he was gazing at her with heat in his eyes. It made her more than a little uncomfortable like he was trying to get inside of her head.

She knew what Damon would say to that, she wasn't used to guys flirting with her. Which might well be the case, she was used to taking a backseat to Caroline and Elena.

Out of the corner of her eye, something caught her attention and thankfully saved her from having to reply. Elena was in the process of entering the ballroom with a Salvatore brother on each arm. Bonnie gaped, caught between amusement and the urge to roll her eyes.

What was going on with them? And why was Elena allowing herself to be caught between them like that?

Kol followed her gaze and emitted a low chuckle. "She might be more like Katerina than Elijah gives her credit for."

Bonnie's nostrils flared in anger. She might not approve, but Kol had absolutely no business badmouthing her best friend. "And what exactly would you know about Elena?"

"Nothing more than what Elijah has told me. That she is a compassionate and a saintly paragon of virtue. That she is everything Katerina is not and should be," the sarcasm of his tone was accentuated by his laughter. "Ah, those pesky doppelgangers wherever they go, drama invariably follows. Have you noticed?"

Now his gaze was curious, his brows knit together as he studied her studiously.

"I haven't," Bonnie sniffed. "As far as I can tell, the trouble always leads back to vampires."

Kol laughed and it was a happy open laugh that caught her off guard.

"Quite right you are, love."

Bonnie saw Matt talking to Rebekah inside. Finally, a friendly face and one that looked as uncomfortable as she felt.

"I see my friend. I should go."

Bonnie didn't bother to look back as she walked away. However, she could still feel Kol's eyes drilling holes into the back of her neck. It was an uncomfortable sensation that made the hairs at the nape of her neck stand on end.

Matt greeted her with a smile and Rebekah sized up her outfit. Her smile warmed and she actually looked friendly.

That must mean her outfit passed inspection. Bonnie looked down at her dress and was inclined to agree. It wasn't a bold dress by any means the way Rebekah's emerald green one was, but it was flattering and sophisticated.

Bonnie had used her father's credit card to buy it. Thanks to Rudy's workaholic ways they were never strapped for cash and for once she decided to splurge. It was a navy ballgown with a sweetheart neckline and no straps. The bodice hugged her curves before it flared out at the waist.

She had paired it with a pair of navy heels and white satin gloves that reached her elbow. Around her neck hung a pearl necklace with a blue stone at the center and she wore a pearl bracelet. Her hair hung down her back in ringlets, all of it except for her bangs pulled back by silver and pearl hair combs.

"You look very elegant, Bonnie," Rebekah said her eyes still friendly.

Bonnie blinked at her wondering if she was just trying to impress Matt, but deciding to go with it all the same. "Thank you, so do you."

"You both look – wow," Matt said with a self-deprecating laugh.

"You clean up pretty good yourself, Donovan," Bonnie told him with a wink.

A waiter passed by and Bonnie took a champagne flute from the tray. He smiled and if she had been Caroline she might have believed there was something a little extra in his smile. But she was not Caroline so she thought she was imagining things.

"I see you met my brother," Rebekah said smiling toward Kol, who was now back in conversation with Mayor Lockwood.

"Yeah, I did."

Bonnie looked between the two of them. Like Rebekah, Kol appeared young enough he could have easily blended in at their school, if he had been so inclined. Somehow though, seeing the darkness in his eyes as he caught her eye, she was relieved he wasn't at school.

Kol flashed her a crooked smile and raised his champagne flute in greeting. Hesitantly, Bonnie returned the gesture.

Rebekah's gaze turned knowing. "Careful with that one, Bon. He has a thing for witches."

"What kind of thing?" Bonnie asked with a raised eyebrow. A shiver ran down on her spine when she saw Kol was studying her from across the room. Mayor Lockwood was talking to him, but it did not look like he was listening. Judging by the bemused expression he wore, he was listening in on their conversation.

"Now that I'm not telling you," Rebekah replied evenly. Like her brother she was smirking at her.

Great, the psycho siblings, Bonnie thought exchanging looks with Matt.

XXX

Kol continued to circle the room making polite small talk. The whole time, he made certain he had the little witch in his line of sight the whole time. She was breathtaking, and he could feel the power coming from her.

More importantly, if his mother had invited her here personally, she was a part of whatever Esther was planning. The rest of them might trust their mother, but Kol did not. And judging by the tense expression Elijah wore, he didn't either.

Nik and Elijah announced it was time to open the ball with a dance. It was a rather more long-winded announcement than that, but he tuned them out. There was no doubt in his mind that it would be standard spiel they always gave at events such as this. Followed by a tune from one of the many years, in which Elijah and Nik had been thick as thieves.

Correction, he thought with an amused twist of his lips when Elijah had been Nik's lapdog.

Knowing their announcement was nearing the end, he began to move toward the Bennett witch. As he drew closer, he could see that was truly beautiful. Over the years, he had discovered genuinely beautiful women were rare.

Ones that had no idea how extraordinary they were, he had discovered were even rarer. Bonnie had no idea. That much was evident by the way she held herself as if she wanted to blend into the background. He wondered if she was trying to become invisible.

Kol wasn't about to let that happen.

He crept up behind Bonnie and he could tell she was aware of his presence. Her back stiffened and her shoulders rose. She turned her head to the side. Not enough to see him, but he knew she was trying to keep an eye on him without showing it. He smirked.

"May I have this dance?" he leaned down and whispered in her ear.

Bonnie turned around and glared at him. Her emerald eyes were hard as stone. "I don't think so."

"You have a date?" Kol raised an eyebrow.

Her eyes hardened further.

"I'll take that as a no," he replied with a cheery smile. "Allow me to offer my company in leu of whatever fool failed you this evening."

"I'm here to see your mother. Not for any other reason," Bonnie said raising her chin. In her eyes there was barely concealed hatred.

Kol thought maybe he was out of his mind like his siblings always accused him of, but he found that attractive. Over the centuries there were many that hated him, but few, who dared show it so openly. His smirk broadened as he realized Bonnie was powerful. It was a feeling he had, a finely tuned hunch that he had come to realize was a lingering remainder of his human years. He could always tell how powerful a witch or warlock was with some appraisal. And the little Bennett witch in front of him was more powerful than he had first assumed.

"That's not a no."

He could see the internal war going on behind her eyes before she sighed and agreed. A cheery smile parted his lips. Acting like the gentleman he most definitely was not, he held out the crook of his elbow for her to take.

When she slipped her arm through his, his smile broadened.

The first notes of a familiar tune made its way to them. This was ancient even by his family's standards.

"The last time I heard this song was back in the 14th century," Kol whispered to Bonnie.

She glanced up at him in surprise. "Right, you Mikaelsons are really old. I always forget."

"How is that possible?"

"Because Klaus has the maturity of a blueberry scone," she rolled her eyes.

Kol chuckled. "You don't like him, do you?"

"Like him?" she snorted as he led her onto the dancefloor. "I've tried to kill him. More than once."

"Now that makes me like you," he said. Excitement filled him at the mental image of Bonnie almost succeeding in killing Nik. What had started as an interest in a pretty face was starting to become something more. Damned vampire emotions, he would have to be careful to contain it. Otherwise, he might scare her off. Bonnie did not seem like the sort of girl, who was attracted to vampires. "Am I on your execution list?"

Kol swept Bonnie into his arms and moved around the dancefloor. She looked at him in surprise. Perhaps she hadn't thought he could dance? Then a pleasant expression settled over her features as if she was trying not to show how much she enjoyed dancing. But it was written across her face.

"I haven't decided yet," Bonnie said after a moment's pause. "Are you going to on any killing sprees?"

Kol chuckled. "Perhaps one teeny little one?"

As he suspected her gaze turned murderous. "Relax, little witch."

He pulled her closer. He was amazed, she felt perfect in his arms. She was small and had wonderful curves. He loved witches and Bennett's were some of the most powerful ones in existence. He could smell the fragrance of her perfume, vanilla and something sweet. Underneath that he could smell her blood, it made his heart pound and he could feel his fangs begin to elongate. A moment of concentration was all he needed to regain control of himself.

Almost flashing fangs like a baby vampire? What was he doing?

He needed to get ahold of himself. He was not such a fool, he was going to come undone over one little witch. No matter how tempting she was in every regard.

Luckily or perhaps irritatingly, it was time to change partners and his brother Finn swept Bonnie into his arms. Kol scarcely noticed his new partner, his eyes were trained on Bonnie and he was actively listening to her conversation with Finn.

"I am Finn Mikaelson."

"I know, who you are," Bonnie said in an irritated voice.

Kol grinned. It sounded to him as if he had aggravated the witch and now his brother was paying the price.

She was feisty.

"Very well, straight to the chase then," Finn said with trained ease.

That made Kol smirk. Finn loathed rudeness.

"It's why I'm here," Bonnie said.

Kol noted that she spoke without apology. He rather liked her spirit.

"Mother would like to speak with you alone."
The pair left the dancefloor. Kol waited a few seconds before leaving. He made his excuses to his dance partner and left her dazed on the floor. In a flash, he went after Finn and Bonnie.

Kol followed them to his mother's chambers. When Finn left, he hid inside a nearby room. He listened to make certain Finn was gone. Then he approached the double-doors of his mother's chambers.

He stood there straining his hearing until he realized there was no use. His mother, who was by all means, a capable witch had cast a spell. When they were alive, Esther had never been able to measure up to her mentor Ayanna. However, Kol was disappointed to learn, she still remembered her old spells. He had hoped she might not have come back with her magic, but of course if she was here to cause trouble like he suspected, then she would never have returned without it.

But how had she done it?

He was willing to bet his fortune Ayanna had a hand in this even from this other side.

Making up his mind, he went to find Elijah about this bad feeling he had.

XXX

Bonnie followed Finn into stunning living quarters. The room was elegantly decorated in muted colors. Esther was seated on a leather couch. Like her children, she was attractive with a shoulder length sharp cut. She smiled pleasantly at Bonnie and she could have sworn she saw warmth in her eyes. It was a look another girl might have called maternal, but Bonnie couldn't be sure. It did remind her of the looks her Grams used to give her and that was a depressing thought that Bonnie shook it off.

"Please, have a seat," Esther said. She nodded to Finn, who left.

"Thanks for knocking me out," Bonnie grumbled as the rubbed the back of her head.

Esther grimaced. "I apologize for leaving in such a terrible manner however, I needed to reunite with my family in private."

"You know what else works? Telling us that. My mother and I would have understood."

"I wasn't certain. I have a long history with your ancestor, Ayanna. She taught me everything I know about witchcraft."

Esther nodded to the sage that was burning on the table.

"Spell?"

"For privacy. As long as the sage burns, no one will be able to eavesdrop on our conversation."

"To be honest, I'm a little disappointed. We were hoping to –"

"Find someone to help you kill Niklaus," Esther cut in. "That's why I am here. Ayanna magically preserved my body and thanks to your spell I am back to undo the harm I have unleashed upon the world."

Bonnie felt doubt fill her.

"You mean you children? But you're the one that turned them in the first place, why would you help destroy them?"

"Because what I did to protect my children was shortsighted and wrong. They would have been better off if I allowed them to live and die as humans, but I was blinded by grief. Now I must set it right."

"But why now?"

"You found my body and I saw an opportunity."

"Uh-huh," Bonnie eyed her suspiciously.

"I can see that you don't trust me," Esther pursed her lips and studied her before sighing. "My punishment on the other side was to feel the torment my children inflicted on others for over a thousand years. Believe me when I say they must be stopped."

Bonnie watched her for a while. She tried to get a sense of Esther's intentions.

Finally, she spoke. "I believe you."

"Good. I am channeling the power of the Bennett line. Together, we will kill my children. Can I count on you?"

Bonnie stared back at her in surprise. She had expected Klaus's death, but Esther wanted to murder all of her children?

Thanks for reading! Let me know what you thought in a review. They give me life! What do we think about Bonnie and Kol's little interactions so far? Also did we like the little buffy quote I threw in? I'm fireismyelement97 on tumblr.

Happy holidays!

Izzy