April 1864

Prologue

There is a world hidden in the one we know. A world of the unexplainable full of magic and creatures only heard of in fairytales. Vampires, werewolves, witches...they're all real and all the stories are true. There are some out there who wish to bring chaos and misery down on the world. And there are some who which to live in peace with humans and creatures alike. The Bennett coven is a group of these type of people. The Bennett coven is made up of witches related by blood who are direct ancestors of the first witch to ever exist. Individually, they are powerful. Together, they are unstoppable. They survived every plague, every famine and every witch hunt. Today, they are fewer in number, but as powerful as ever. They are rich nobles residing in a new and fast growing town called Mystic Falls in Virginia. Everyone even royals know the Bennett family are witches and they getting invited from miles around to help the wealthy and the rich. Sometimes they'll even help the poor because of their kind hearts.

The current regent of the coven, Sheila Bennett, is passing down her legacy to her only granddaughter, Bonnie, who has shown more potential and possibly far more power than any Bennett witch ever…

Bennett Manor

Bonnie sits in front of the vanity table while Sheila is behind her fixing her hair for the party that was being thrown in her honor in a few hours. It was a big deal for a new Bennett witch to take the title of Regent. That meant a new witch whose good graces the people had to get into if they wanted to continue requesting the services of the coven, something Bonnie did not want to deal with. She wasn't someone who liked being told what to do or following certain guidelines. She didn't want to have to play the part a Regent must play. But she also didn't want to disappoint her Grams.

"I don't understand why you're stepping down," Bonnie grumbles, "I mean, you took over because your mother died and you don't look dead to me."

Sheila chuckles. "I'm old, child, and it takes a lot of time and energy to be Regent. Time and energy I no longer have the patience for."

"Then why didn't you choose another one of us. There's Lucy or her mom or Emily…"

"You don't think I know I had plenty of family to choose from?" Shelia pulls Bonnie's hair back pinning it to her head. She holds it in place with a bedazzled hair clip. She turns Bonnie around so she can look into her eyes. She smiles. "You look just like me when I had to take over as Regent. Scared and indecisive." She takes her face in her hands. "Yes, I had other women in our family I could have picked. But I made the right decision in choosing you. You're a leader, Bonnie. And much stronger than you think you are. You will protect our family and keep the balance we've been upholding."

Bonnie shakes her head. "But what if I don't? I don't know how to be a regent. What if I mess everything up?"

"There's no guidebook for being Regent. Each regent brings something different to the table, leads a different way than the last one before them. You will find your way, baby. I believe in you."

Bonnie smiles slightly as Sheila kisses her forehead. She wished she could trust in what her Grams was saying. She wished she could believe she could be a good regent, one that would drive her family and her people forward. But she just didn't see it. Bonnie had been raised by her grandmother. She never knew her father and her mother went MIA a few months after she was born and Bonnie had never met her. She had grown up seeing her Grams heal and help people and do what was necessary to protect her family and keep the world in balance, whatever was necessary. She had always seen her Grams has this knight without armor. How could she live up to that?

A knock comes from the door. It's Bonnie's cousin Emily already dressed for the party. She had been downstairs making sure the final arrangements were done, all put together by magic, of course. "Well, don't you look pretty?" Emily complimented upon seeing Bonnie, "Your friends Caroline and Elena are here to see you and help you get ready."

"Then I'll leave you to your friends," Shelia says walking towards Emily. She looks back at Bonnie. "Don't be nervous. You'll do fine." She walks with Emily out of the room.

As soon as they leave, Caroline and Elena enter. Caroline Forbes and Elena Gilbert were two wealthy daughters of the town sheriff and the town inventor respectfully. Their families were founders of the city of Mystic Falls, two of the first families to settle and make a life in the town. Bonnie had gotten to know them growing up and now they were best friends.

"Leave it to your Grams to know how to do your hair," Caroline comments examining Bonnie's updo, "She did pretty well."

"Witches aren't just good for potions and spells. We can do a lot, Caroline," Bonnie jokes.

"I know. I know. But it's up to me and Elena to pick out a dress for you. I know you're supposed to wear black, but that doesn't mean you have to look like you just walked out of a cemetery."

Bonnie looks at Elena. "She's in a frenzy?"

Elena takes a seat as Caroline starts looking through Bonnie's closet. "You should have heard her on the way over her. She's been like this all day. I think she's more excited about your party than you are."

"I can hear you," Caroline shouts, "And how often do we have parties in this town? Since we've moved here all anyone cares about is building this town and fixing it up. There's never anything fun. I'm going to take advantage of the opportunity."

"This party is not for you to take advantage of. It's celebrate Bonnie's new title."

Caroline turns towards them. "You know I love you, Bonnie, and you know I'm really proud of you for becoming the next Regent, but...you understand why I'm excited…right?"

"Yes, Caroline." Bonnie smiles feigning sweetness, "I know your excitement has nothing to do with the noble single bachelors you'll meet tonight and has all to do with me." Elena giggles making Bonnie elbow her in the arm.

Caroline scowls at them both. "Laugh at me all you want, but we're off the age where we should start thinking about finding men to court us for marriage. Elena, didn't your aunt just talk to you about this?"

Elena waves Caroline off. "Just because Jenna talked to me about it doesn't mean I'm listening to her. My mother told me I should get married for love, not for a status I already have."

Bonnie puts a hand on Elena's shoulder. Elena's parents had died in a carriage accident about a year ago. She and her younger brother Jeremey were now being taken care of by her mother's younger sister Jenna. Bonnie had been pretty close to Elena's parents especially her father who had always come around asking for help from Emily with his inventions. "I wish they could be here tonight."

"They are here. They would have loved knowing you're the next Regent."

"Would they have loved knowing that I have no clue how I'm going to do it?" Bonnie sighs heavily looking back and forth between her friends. "You know me. I spent most of my days walking through the gardens, climbing the trees or playing around with the two of you. I don't know how to lead my family. How am I supposed to live up to my Grams?"

Elena takes Bonnie's hands. "You know your grandmother. Something tells me she doesn't expect you to live up to her. Besides, someone who doesn't know what they're doing, that's willing to change the way things are done, I think that's what she wants or else she would have chosen one of your cousins."

Caroline nods. "You're going to be fine, Bonnie. You were born for this, literally." She goes back to looking in Bonnie's closet. She pulls out a black dress with a decorated bodice and a ruffled bottom. "And thanks to me, you will be the most fabulous Bennett witch to ever get named Regent."

Bonnie chuckles. "That's reassuring considering my Grandmother invited the entire town."

"The entire town? Including Gisuseppe Salvatore and his sons?" Caroline's interests were at a renewed peak.

Elena stands taking the dress from Caroline. "That's what 'entire town' means. Have you not given up your interest in Stefan Salvatore already?"

"Of course not. He's very handsome and a gentleman. Plus he's single. If I have anything to do with him, he'll be mine before midnight." She falls in her seat dramatically. "And what about you, Elena? I see the second glances his older brother Damon gives you when we walk passed them in town."

Elena looks down at the dress and not at Caroline with a slight smile on her face. "I don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about. Damon Salvatore has no interest in me."

"Caroline has a point, Elena," Bonnie chimes in, "I have seen him glancing your way."

Elena smiles and clears her throat. "Enough about that. We have a party to get you ready for. Come on."

Bonnie rolls her eyes and puts herself in the hands of her friends. It takes them a few hours to get Bonnie situated correctly into her dress and find the right makeup for her. But once they're all done, Bonnie looks like a regent worth waiting for. Elegant, graceful and powerful. She looks at herself in the mirror not believing the reflection staring back at her. She was really doing this. This was really her time to shine, to step up and prove she was worth something. She was terrified, but she couldn't let it show. Not in front of the party guests. While they had been getting ready, the dull roar of voices had grown to indicate the party was in full swing and waiting for her arrival.

"You look beautiful," came a voice from Bonnie's door. The three girls turned around to see Shelia dressed in black as well looking her picture perfect best for the party.

Bonnie smiles back at her. "You look beautiful too, Grams."

Sheila walks into the room looking at Caroline and Elena. "Do you mind if I have a word alone with my granddaughter? I'll only keep her a second."

"As you wish, Lady Bennett," Elena says curtseying slightly. Caroline does the same and they both leave to go join the party down the stairs.

Sheila turns her attention to Bonnie now. Her heart is bursting with joy at the sight of her granddaughter and the significance of this night. There was no doubt in her mind she had made the right choice. The Bennett line would be in good hands. "There's something I want to give you." She holds out what was in her hands to Bonnie.

Bonnie looks at it. It's a choker necklace designed with falling bead work. In the middle is a symbol Bonnie knew very well. "The Bennett crest."

"Every fully recognized Bennett witch should adorn the crest of the coven especially the regent. This was going to be your mother's, but...I never got a chance to give it to her. Now it's yours."

Bonnie turns around so Shelia can put the necklace around her neck. Shelis fastens it in place. Bonnie looks at herself in the mirror and touches the pendent. "I don't know what to say…"

"Don't say anything. You've made me proud everyday, Bonnie. I have no doubt you'll continue to do it in the future."

Bonnie hugs Sheila tightly closing her eyes and taking in her warmth and strength, something Bonnie had always depended on. Sheila hugs her as well rubbing her back lightly. Bonnie pulls away dabbing at her eyes so her makeup doesn't get ruined.

"It's time for you to go down and greet your guests," Sheila says taking Bonnie's hand. Bonnie takes a deep breath and walks out of her bedroom with her grandmother.