A/N: Originally this was going to be the first chapter of Crimson Peak or part of it anyway. I decided to start with the morning after instead and I thought to put this as a flashback but I could never find the right place for it. I finally decided to just publish it as a mini story/prologue. It's going to be two maybe three parts. Let me know what you think and if you would like to read more.
Disclaimer: These characters are the property of LJ Smith and the CW.
"No, I'm not okay. I almost died. The shell of my best friend almost killed me. None of this is okay."
~Bonnie Bennett, 4x19
I. The Encounter
The moment Bonnie felt Elena's fangs on her neck something inside of her snapped. Her magic surfaced without a second thought. She felt angry and hurt. The dark power flowing though her veins urged her to lash out, to destroy the threat against her, and above all, it urged her to give in to the dark and all consuming force that was expression.
Bonnie didn't have the strength to fight it anymore. She was so tired. Prom was supposed to be about friends and making memories. It was a rite of passage but instead it had turned into a nightmare. She was so tired of fighting. She was so tired of the pain and the grief and the loneliness.
The grief over Jeremy's death, the dreams, the loss of control over her magic, the fear that without Shane she would be unable to contain the incredible power inside her and Silas pretending to be Jeremy and trying to manipulate her into doing his bidding. It was too much.
Her best friend trying to kill her was the last straw.
Whatever little bit of sanity, of control Bonnie had, it was broken the moment Elena viciously attacked her. In that moment, she felt the need not only to defend herself but to fight back, to attack, and destroy.
Expression took over.
Elena pulled away gasping and choking on Bonnie's blood as an invisible force attacked her without mercy. She vomited as Bonnie's magic forced the powerful witch blood out of her system.
Bonnie stood up. Her magic healed the wound on her neck almost immediately. She lifted her chin, twisted her hand, and proceeded to break Elena's bones.
Elena, her best friend had tried to kill her. Elena, the person she considered practically a sister had sunk her fangs into her neck and nearly drained her.
It's not her fault. She doesn't have her emotions, a part of her tried to excuse her friend's behavior. But she could still feel the pain on her neck, the fear of the surprise attack, and the anger, the hot, boiling anger that allowed expression to take hold of her mind.
Bonnie watched as Elena sunk to the ground in agony.
Bonnie heard the crushing sounds as her magic broke Elena's bones.
Bonnie enjoyed the sight of her best friend writhing in pain in front of her.
It was intoxicating. The power she felt swirling inside of her was unlike anything she had ever felt before.
Why hadn't she done this before? Why had she been so afraid?
Look at her, her mind whispered. Look how pathetic she is, how weak, she doesn't stand a chance against you. No one stands a chance against you.
Bonnie watched as blood oozed out of Elena's nose, as she cried out for Damon to help her.
Elena was in pain and Bonnie enjoyed the sight of it.
Kill her. End her. She hurt you. She deserves to die, expression whispered inside her head.
It would be so easy, Bonnie realized. It would be so easy to stop Elena's heart from pumping blood, it would be so easy to rip said organ out of her chest and end her miserable existence. How easy, how sweet it would be to set her brain on fire, to make it explode from the inside out, to suck the life and energy out of her.
Bonnie knew how to do it. She could do it with a snap of her fingers.
It was terrifying. Not the knowledge that she could do it, but the realization that she wanted to do it. Her fingers itched and her body practically swayed with the desire to kill.
It was that thought, that horrible realization that pulled her out of the dark cloud that had taken hold of her. It brought her consciousness back and allowed her to stop the magical attack on her friend. Not Stefan's or Damon's voice, not Elena's whimpers of pain.
It was Bonnie's own fear that pulled her back and prevented her from doing something she might regret later.
Bonnie walked away, a storm brewing inside of her.
While the Salvatore tended to Elena, Bonnie took off into the dark night.
She needed to escape. She needed to get away from there before she changed her mind and ended up killing her best friend and her boyfriends.
How she ended up at a bar on the outskirts of town, Bonnie didn't know and she didn't care. The neon sign on the dark side street bar beckoned her over and she followed the call without much thought.
Expression was alive inside her, itching to get out, and wanting to destroy anything and everyone in her path. Little currents of power radiated off her, swirling around her petite frame, engulfing her in an intoxicating bubble.
Bonnie's breathing was ragged as she walked towards the bar. She was walking in a trance, almost as if something was pulling her inside, calling her in.
She wanted to forget, to erase the past couple of hours, the last couple of months of her life actually. Drinking herself to oblivion seemed like a good idea.
The wind picked up.
The windshields of the cars in the parking lot cracked as she walked by. One of them shattered completely. Bonnie paid no attention to it. Her skin felt on fire and her legs moved on their own accord.
The pavement trembled and broke with each of her steps. Bonnie didn't even notice.
The door flung open before she even reached it.
The inside was dim and packed with people. A head or two turned in her direction as she stepped inside.
One man in particular undressed her with his eyes as she headed straight for the bar.
"Bourbon neat," Bonnie ordered.
The bulky and hairy bartender looked her up and down. "ID?" he asked in a gruff voice.
Bonnie pressed her lips together. Right, legally she wasn't allowed to drink. Damn it! so much for her plan to get drunk and forget all of her troubles. She should've gone home and grabbed her father's bottle of whiskey- the one he kept in his study-instead of coming here.
A chuckle to her right had her turning her head to the side. Her eyes widened in surprise when she spotted the figure slouched casually on a stool at the corner of the bar.
Klaus Mikaelson smirked as he pressed his glass to his mouth. He didn't turn to look at her and he didn't say anything. He didn't have to. The mocking grin on his lips was more than enough.
Bonnie closed her eyes. She considered turning around and getting the hell out of there. This was the last thing she needed or wanted. Out of all the people in Mystic Falls, she had to bump into him. Could this night get any worse? She thought angrily.
Her instincts alerted her to the powerful aura in close proximity and her magic pulsed, ready to attack if she so desired. It was so tempting. Setting him on fire seemed like a good idea. There was a part of her that wanted to let out all of her frustrations on him.
The bottles stacked behind the bartender shook as her magic flared.
That caught the hybrid's attention.
Klaus turned his head to stare at her, arching an eyebrow. The expression on his face was unreadable but his eyes narrowed.
If Bonnie's instincts were warning her of the predator sitting practically next to her, then Klaus's instincts no doubt warned him of the witch standing close by. Maybe he even felt the magic coming off her in waves.
Bonnie turned around and prepared to walk out of the bar. It was for the best, to get as far away from him as possible.
She took two steps before she stopped abruptly.
Why?
Why should I leave just because he's here? Bonnie thought angrily. Klaus didn't own the bar and she wasn't here for him. She was here because she wanted to drown her sorrows away. She was not going to let the hybrid's presence intimidate her or deviate her drinking plans. Fuck him!
Bonnie turned back towards the counter, a determined look on her face. If the hybrid decided to mess with her she would gladly break his bones in the same way she had with Elena. She had no patience for annoying vampires at the moment.
"No ID, no alcohol," the bartender said before Bonnie could open her mouth. He turned away ready to move to the other side of the bar, where a dark haired man was sitting.
Bonnie grabbed his arm unexpectedly, her fingers digging painfully into his sweaty skin. The man glared at her but the moment their eyes locked, her magic slipped inside his head.
Expression took hold of the man's conscience in a matter of seconds. It was so easy and Bonnie did it without even thinking. She simply acted, guided by the magic inside of her which wanted to fulfill her wish for a drink.
Bonnie had never done anything like this before, but the power she had floating inside her was incredible. It had no limits. What she wanted she would get. Expression would made sure of it. "Bring me a bottle of bourbon," she ordered.
The man nodded and proceeded to do as she commanded.
Her entire body tingled with happiness, with triumph. He was a puppet and she was pulling the strings and it felt amazing.
There was a twinge at the back of her mind, an alarm bell that went off and told her she was playing with fire. This isn't right, her mind whispered. Be careful Bonnie.
Bonnie ignored it.
The hybrid straightened in his seat, his eyes moving back and forth between the young witch and the bartender who did as he was told. He watched with curiosity as the bartender top off her glass and sat the bottle of bourbon in front of her.
Bonnie turned towards him. She met his eyes as she raised the glass toward her lips and gulped all of it down in one go. The liquid burned her throat and she welcomed it.
Klaus watched her, studying her face with a strange kind of intensity. It was almost as if he were seeing her for the first time. The corner of his lips twitched as he signaled the bartender for a refill of his drink. "What got your knickers in a twist, witch?"
"Go to hell," Bonnie snapped taking a seat on a stool.
Klaus chuckled. "Shouldn't you be enjoying prom with your friends?" something flashed across his eyes as he said it, a strange emotion that darkened his handsome features but it was replaced rather quickly.
Bonnie ignored him and refilled her own glass. She didn't want to talk to him, she didn't even want to see his face or hear his voice. She didn't want to deal with any vampires period.
Klaus seemed amused by her refusal to speak to him but he wisely didn't try to engage her in any conversation again.
Bonnie felt relieved. She hadn't come here to talk, she had come here to forget.
Despite the potent and dark aura of the hybrid sitting next to her, Bonnie ignored him and continued to drink quietly.
There was a moment where it looked like he was going to say something but he didn't, choosing to drink quietly instead.
For the next couple of minutes they both drank in silence. Each of them pretending the other didn't exist. It was a silent truce between two enemies to leave the other alone and continue to drink their sorrows and loneliness away.
Her skin prickled from time to time as he glanced in her direction from the corner of his eye but he didn't say anything and for that Bonnie was grateful. She could pretend he wasn't there.
A catchy song began playing and Bonnie stood up on an impulse. She took off her jacket and made her way to the dance floor.
Klaus's stormy blue eyes followed her every movement.
Bonnie closed her eyes and began to dance. She wanted to forget, to bury all the anger, the pain, and the confusion she had been feeling in the past few days. As she lost herself in the small crowd, dancing away all her troubles, she forgot about Jeremy, Silas, and Elena. She forgot about everything. It was a welcoming relief, to push all the turmoil inside of her and feel like a normal teenage girl for a couple of moments.
The dim atmosphere inside the bar, the alcohol in her system, and the magic sizzling inside her made her feel like she was flying. She was high on magic, pretty drunk, and completely submerged in the music. It was amazing. She hadn't realized how much she needed a moment like this until now.
Klaus's gaze slid over her body as he leaned back against the counter, drink in hand. His eyes moved over her flushed heart shape face, the parted glossy lips, the rise and fall of her chest, down to the tiny waist and the sensual swaying of her hips. There was something different about her, something that called out to him like a moth to a flame.
Her scent, her beauty, her magic, Klaus didn't know but he was entranced watching her.
He wasn't the only one who noticed the dark haired siren dancing in a fancy prom dress. No, there were many eyes glued to her caramel skin. Eyes that undressed her, that devoured her silhouette without shame. Hands that itched to touch, to possess, to mark that soft and delicate skin. She was like a beacon of light drawing everyone in.
One man in particular stood up and made his way towards her.
Bonnie continued dancing, completely oblivious to the attention she had attracted with her sensual movements. She simply let the beat of the music guide her body and she lost herself in it.
A gasped escaped her lips when strong hands grabbed her hips and pressed her back against a hard chest.
Her eyes snapped open and she stopped dancing.
The hybrid was still by the bar, reclining against the counter and watching her with those bright blue eyes of his. He lazily brought his glass to his lips, never taking his eyes off her. He seemed amused by the surprised look on her face.
For a moment she had been sure it was him.
An arm hooked around her waist and a hot breath tickled her ear.
Bonnie wrinkled her nose when the stench of sweat and alcohol invaded her senses as the man behind her pressed himself obscenely closer to her body. Her butt was pressed tightly against his crotch. She could feel how hard he was. He made her skin crawl. She pushed him away immediately.
Bonnie tried to walk away but he grabbed her and pulled her back against him.
"Come on baby, let's dance," he panted against her ear.
"Get off me!" Bonnie squirmed in his unwanted embrace.
"I can't help it baby, you're hot!" He placed a sloppy kiss on her neck.
Bonnie spun around and grabbed his wrist.
"Maybe we can-" the words died on his lips. His eyes went wide and his knees buckled as Bonnie's magic assaulted his body.
The man gasped, his big brown eyes nearly popping out of their sockets as his blood began to boil. "What-" he couldn't form a coherent sentence. He felt like he was on fire. "…is…this…"
"I guess I'm just hot," Bonnie glared at him. She could've stopped there but she didn't. She sent another wave of her power, this time stronger than the last.
The man cried out in pain and sweat began trickling down his skin. "Burn…" he was burning from the inside out. He looked up at her in desperation, pleading with his eyes for her to stop the horrible torture. She didn't.
The lights flickered on and off for a couple of seconds and the people around them began to notice that something was wrong with the guy prostrated at her feet.
A guy walking by with two drinks in his hands yelped when the glasses shattered unexpectedly, splashing his white shirt. "What the hell!"
"Hey man, are you okay?" another guy asked. He stopped dancing with his girlfriend as he took the scene next to them. He looked from the guy to Bonnie, a frown on his face.
Bonnie sent another wave of her power. Expression happily attacked the man and silenced any of his screams. Perhaps she could even break his bones, like she did with Elena. She rather liked doing that.
Blood trickled down the man's nose and his shirt and jeans got wet from all the sweat rolling off his body. He was melting right in front of her.
"That's enough sweetheart." A hand on her arm snapped Bonnie back to reality.
The moment Klaus touched her, an electric shock went through her system. It pulled her out her magic haze and she released the man immediately. He let out a sigh of relief.
Bonnie turned to the hybrid with surprise. She hadn't even sensed his approach. She looked at him before moving her gaze around the bar. There were a couple of people staring at her and at the man at her feet, who was shaking like a leaf.
She had nearly killed him.
Oh God! Bonnie thought. Once again expression had taken hold of her mind. She had nearly killed someone in a bar full with people. She looked around in panic not knowing what to do. What the hell was she doing?
Klaus turned to the man kneeling at her feet. "Forget this ever happened and get lost," he said in a calm voice. His compulsion took hold in no time.
The man nodded and scurried off away from them, he ran out of the bar as if his life depended on it.
"Everything is fine," Klaus turned the couple and gave them a dimpled smile. "Go back to dancing." The couple did as they were told.
Bonnie's entire body shook. She had attacked someone. She had been close to killing someone. Expression was a dangerous thing and she didn't know how to keep it in check. She felt like she was drowning in the power inside of her. Silas's warning about her inability to control it came back to haunt her.
You need me, Silas's voice whispered in her ear.
No, I don't.
So shaken was she by what had transpired that she didn't even protest when Klaus led her to a booth in the corner. She sat in stony silence, a bewildered look on her face as the hybrid walked away and came back with the bottle of bourbon she had ordered as well as their two glasses.
He took a seat across from her and proceeded to fill her glass. "Here you go, love."
Bonnie frowned when he slid the glass towards her. She looked down at it before staring at his face with confusion.
"You look like you need it."
"I'm fine," Bonnie snapped. No, she wasn't. She was shaking and her hands balled on the silky material of her gown. She needed to hold on to something. She needed to keep expression in check. She needed to contain the dark and sinister power inside of her before it decided to burn the bar to the ground.
The idea of burning the bar to the ground was really tempting.
That was the thing about expression, every time she used it, she felt like she was on top of the world. She felt like she could do anything. The rush she felt was addictive and intoxicating. She was high on unpredictable magic and that made for a lethal combination.
"It's just a drink love, it won't bite." Klaus murmured as he raised his own glass to his lips. He took a sip before setting the drink down, tilting his head to the side and watching her. There was that look again. A look Bonnie couldn't really describe. He didn't say anything, he simply waited for her to make a decision.
Bonnie bit her lip. She should walk away. She should get the hell away from this bar and never look back. She should go home and forget about tonight. That's what she should do, but she didn't. She was a mess, the magic inside of her was unpredictable, her boyfriend was dead, and her best friend had tried to kill her. Not to mention that she had nearly killed someone just a few minutes before.
Something was very wrong with her. She was spiraling out of control and she hated it.
There was a part of her that wanted to leave and yet, she didn't move a muscle. Bonnie knew what would happen if she were to go home now. She would feel miserable and guilty. She was tired of feeling like that. She didn't want to go home and think about Silas or Jeremy and cry her eyes out, again. More than anything she didn't want to be alone.
Bonnie was so tired of being alone. It hurt. She was tired of hurting.
"So, what's it going to be?" Klaus asked curiously. He no doubt could see the conflicting emotions on her face. "Are you leaving or staying?"
Bonnie met his gaze.
Klaus watched her, his face gave nothing away of his inner thoughts but his eyes, there was a hint of mischief and curiosity reflected in his eyes.
Bonnie didn't know why but she felt like he was daring her to stay.
Her hand reached out and she took the glass of bourbon with trembling fingers. Her body moved on its own volition, guided by some strange power.
Klaus grinned.
It's just a drink, Bonnie thought as the liquid went down her throat. Just one drink, nothing more.
She just needed to pull herself together.
Nothing bad ever happened from sharing a drink with one's enemy right?
Little did Bonnie know that was the beginning of something more, the moment that would change the course of their lives forever…