Chapter One: Beg Your Pardon, You're Standing on My Love
"It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get."
-Confucius, Chinese philosopher, followers of his teachings wrote "Analects" post-mortem
-o0o-
Her boyfriend is standing over her best friend, watching the petite woman asleep on the couch with a weary look on his face. Sighing heavily, Stefan bends down to scoop Bonnie up, and disappears back into the bedroom with her. Caroline continues to pack their supplies and straighten up the kitchen table.
"She's dead to the world," Stefan announces as he reappears beside her a few minutes later. He presses a quick kiss to her mouth. "She must not be sleeping when we're not around."
Caroline waves at the table in front of them, indicating the piles of old books, stationery, and magical supplies strewn about.
"I believe you," she replies.
The older vampire smiles wryly and grabs a bag to take out to the car. With his help, the two immortals are packed quickly and Caroline goes to check on her sleeping friend.
Bonnie is indeed dead to the world and Caroline frowns at the dark bruises decorating the spaces below her eyes and the rail-thinness of her wrists. She makes a note to herself to make sure the leads they follow are closer to the cabin and to have Ric drop by with the girls more often. Bonnie alone was apparently a Bonnie that neglected her body's needs.
Stefan had arranged her so that she could easily clutch both the copy of The Call of the Wild she'd been holding when she first sat down on the couch and Ms. Cuddles. She hasn't moved at all apparently, so deep in sleep she was. Eyes again tracing the bones visible in Bonnie's hands, Caroline wonders if she has to threaten the other with an IV drip and an intervention to get her to start eating and sleeping properly again.
Listening closely to the steady heartbeat emanating from the bed's occupant, Caroline takes comfort in the sound when she bends down to drop a kiss to Bonnie's forehead.
Stefan is waiting in the car when she finally sidles into the passenger seat, cell phone clutched to her ear. Ric doesn't pick up, so Caroline leaves him a message, asking him to call her back with the girls and to check in with Bonnie to make sure the woman is making efforts to stay alive. He's been staying nearby for the summer, mostly so that the twins can spend time working on their magic with Bonnie; Caroline thinks it would be nice for him and the twins to see her while she's following the new lead.
"How's he doing?" Stefan asks her too casually after she hangs up. Caroline quirks a pale brow at him.
"Do you care?"
He chuckles. "Okay, then. How are Lizzie and Josie?"
A smile overtakes Caroline's face. "They're getting ready to start Kindergarten and Lizzie is already making friends with some of the other kids from preschool, which is great, but I'm a little worried Josie's going to be left behind because she's so much shyer than her sister."
Listening with a soft smile as Caroline speaks about her daughters, Stefan pulls onto the highway and drives toward North Carolina, where the latest 'Museum of Bodies' has been found.
Kevin jerks awake when the car stops with a sudden slam of the brakes and he turns to his sister with an angry glare.
"What the fuck, Zo? You can't just stop like that in the middle o-," he trails off when he notes the look of horror on her face and he turns to the windshield to see what has Zoey so enraptured.
He feels sick himself when he sees the naked man standing before their car, hand thrown up and hunched over like he could stop the vehicle if he tried. Kevin strongly doubts he could.
Caught in the headlights, the man's bare, mud-streaked body appears near skeletal. The man's stomach is so hollow that it's horrendously concave, indicating how deflated his internal organs must be. His joints are knobby and the portion of his spine that's visible is a rigid strip. The skin on his face is so sunken that his eyes seem almost like holes in the gap between the shaggy hair and long, mangy beard.
The abuses he must have suffered are apparent as well: angry, red scars stripe the spaces between his jutting ribs. His shoulders and chest are mottled with purple and yellow bruises and his hands and feet are mangled in a way that indicates that they were apparently broken and allowed to heal wrong. Being in his last year of medical school, the car passenger immediately goes into red-alert.
"Oh my god," Kevin says and goes to exit the car. His sister grabs him and yanks him away from the door handle.
"What are you doing?" she demands. "He could be dangerous!"
Kevin shoots her an incredulous look. "Really? Him?" he indicates the severely malnourished man barely managing to stand outside. "A small gust of wind could take him down. I think I'll be fine."
With that, he grabs a blanket from the backseat and exits, ignoring Zoey's angry hiss. Approaching the man slowly, Kevin informs him gently that he has a blanket and he's going to put it around him. He doesn't want to spook the poor man; whatever he's been through, it's obvious he didn't do it to himself. The closer he gets, the more he is assaulted with the smell of rot and tepid swamp water. When he's finally able to wrap the man up in the blanket, he has to hold his breath. He can see the open, pus-filled wound on the man's side and the blackened skin around it makes the word 'gangrene' crop up in his mind.
The man seemed to shrink in upon himself when Kevin got first touched him, but once he makes an effort to clutch the blanket tighter with his mangled hands, Kevin pulls away to help him feel more comfortable. The student-doctor's heart hurts just looking at the man.
"Are you okay?" he asks. "Are you feeling pain anywhere? I can help you a little, but you really need to get to a hospital."
The man looks up at him, and Kevin feels a little unnerved being watched so closely by someone who appears to be the very image of death, but he forces himself to remain professional. Hollow-eyed and scary-looking or not, this person needs help. The man finally nods, and speaks in a soft, croaky voice.
"Hungry," he states and Kevin nods.
"You can't eat too much yet," he says apologetically. "You might get sick and the doctors need to be able to check you out. I have some fruit juice in the car, though, the liquid and sugar will help."
At the man's acquiescence, Kevin guides him to the car and scoots in the backseat next to him for safety. Ignoring Zoey's sour, bitchy glare, he tells her to take them to the nearest hospital. After she plugs in the coordinates and takes off, Kevin gets the man next to him a bottle of cranapple juice and has him sip it slowly until it's finished.
"Whe-?" the man starts. He licks his lips. "Wherur we?"
"Beaumont," Kevin answers. When the word rings no sign recognition, he clarifies. "Beaumont, Texas. We're around the swamplands."
"Texas," the man repeats. His voice is still soft and flat, but something about it makes Kevin think of someone in mourning.
"Yeah," he answers softly. "I'm Kevin and that angry snake is my twin, Zoey. What's your name?"
The man blinks watery, sunken eyes at him. He looks confused and contemplative and Kevin is patient, recalling that one of the symptoms of starvation is slowed mental facilities.
"I -," he pauses. "Twin sister, too," he finally says. Kevin blinks, a little surprised at where he took the conversation, but he pursued the line anyway.
"Oh yeah? Do you remember her name or where she is? Maybe we can contact her."
The man shook his head slowly. "She's dead. Whole family. My fault," it shocks Kevin when his whole face suddenly crumples like he's about to cry. "Sorry," he moans, hunching over.
"I'm sorry."
He repeats this, even as Kevin pats gentle, soothing circles on his back. The lamentations are said more strongly with each reiteration and the young physician doesn't think he's ever seen a more pitiful creature than the man before him. He pulls back when the man sits up and faces him with more energy than Kevin thought he had.
"I'm sorry," he repeats once more, this time in dry whisper. Fright overcomes Kevin when he sees the man's eyes turn red and the black veins that swarm up around them. Sharp, white teeth gleam in the man's mouth when he buries his bearded face in Kevin's neck, yanking his head back with sudden, monstrous strength. Pain erupts from the spot.
He's biting me, Kevin thinks. He must be really hungry.
The last thing he hears is the squeal of braking tires and Zoey's terrified screaming.
Bonnie is irritated when she wakes up the next morning to find that Stefan and Caroline went to North Carolina without her. She eats half a bowl of oatmeal after reading the blonde vampire's passive-aggressive note and tries to pass time by playing guitar, doing her best to ignore the call of research. The notes are flat and inharmonious, much like how she feels, but Bonnie can't bring herself to care enough to tune the instrument.
It's a pleasant surprise when Alaric comes by with Lizzie and Josie and a lunch that the four of them quickly settle down to eat. Afterwards, they play hide-n-seek in the woods behind the cabin and watch Disney movies until the girls pass out. Ric and Bonnie make dinner, sharing any new information they'd each found out about the vault in low tones. Bonnie feels trepidation when Ric starts talking about Hellmouths and the possibility that the vault might be one.
After dinner, the small family spends the night. Alaric takes the guest room and the girls insist on sleeping with Bonnie. Crowded in the bed by two tiny bodies, Bonnie is forced to push away her usual ennui and enjoy the sensation of peace her godchildren made her feel. She falls asleep easily for once and the night passes by tranquilly.
"Wake up," a childish voice says. "Auntie Bon, wake up."
Small hands jostle her shoulder, and Bonnie bites back her grin, pretending to sleep further. She can feel breaths on her cheek and she can just imagine the small face peering at hers curiously. The hands shake her again.
"She's 'sleep. Stop," Josie says.
"I wanna talk to her," Lizzie replies and Bonnie can tell it's her the hands are attached to. The more outgoing twin jostles her again. "Auntie Bon?"
Bonnie suddenly flips over, grabbing both the siblings with a mock roar and begins a tickle assault of epic proportions. Childish squeals of laughter fill her bedroom and Bonnie's own laughs join in. Unbeknownst to them all, the twins' father stands in the doorway with a grin, happy to see his daughters and their favorite aunt all glowing with joy. He announces himself when the twins tackle Bonnie and begin their own attack of tickles and swinging pillows.
"Well, I was going to ask who wanted French toast, but -" he gets interrupted by his dark-haired daughter leaping off the bed.
"French toast, French toast! C'mon, Auntie Bon!" Josie pulls on Bonnie's hand who follows her with a grin. Alaric picks up Lizzie and trails after the two.
Breakfast with two energy-filled little girls is loud, entertaining affair. When each sister is finally settled to a plate of her liking, Bonnie and Ric are finally able to sit down with some coffee and their own food-laden plates, listening to the girls chatter and trying to make sure they eat enough before running off.
Observing her nieces, Bonnie marvels at how lively they are and thinks about a time when it was certain they were no more. The thought process leads Bonnie to think of their mother - the biological one - and Bonnie finds herself watching Josie, who looks almost like a replica of the mother she was named for and will never meet. Unbidden, it occurs to Bonnie that Josie, looking so much like Jo with her chocolate hair and ocean eyes, also resembles a certain uncle of hers that she will also never meet. Bonnie has to shut the thought down quickly; she cannot bear to think of these sweet girls in relation to their maniacal uncle. Looking away from Josie, Bonnie observes Lizzie, who despite having Alaric's coloring, has a face exactly like Liv Parker's.
Saltzman may be their last name, but it appears the Parker genes are strong.
On that note…
"Who wants to practice magic?" Bonnie inquires, standing abruptly. Ric looks at her oddly.
"They're not done eating yet," he says it slowly, confused by Bonnie's declaration, despite the girls' loud pledges of interest.
Bonnie smiles at him, mildly chagrined. "You're right, sorry." She turns to the twins. "Finish up here and get dressed first, okay? After we're all ready, we'll go outside."
She winces softly at their disappointed faces - which she caused - and disappears to get dressed herself. Gathering candles and a bag of brightly colored craft feathers, Bonnie heads outside to enjoy the sun until the girls and their dad finally join her.
The lesson goes smoothly - fake feathers rain down and halo the adults - and Bonnie can feel the faint echo of her own magic, frustratingly blocked off the way it was, respond to the energy. Oddly enough, despite both twins being siphons, both could also practice magic. Bonnie theorizes that it has something to do with having Caroline as a surrogate or even with them being the miracle results of a strong spell, but there's no real knowledge as to where the girls draw their magic from.
The Saltzmans leave just before dusk, after the youngest two swear their magic use to secrecy and the patriarch hands Bonnie a parcel of books. Bonnie waves as Ric drives off and then heads back inside.
The sudden absence of noise is uninspiring, so Bonnie cleans up and heads to bed after taking a heady shot of bourbon. The night passes uninterrupted and the next day, Bonnie is finally able to give in to the urge to do some research. She looks up Hellmouths and tries to find any mention of them in the older texts and the books Ric left her.
Hours pass this way and Bonnie gets lost in translating ancient Latin. It's dark outside when a sharp knock sounds, startling her. Who the hell...? The late time and the isolation of the cabin make Bonnie wary of the sudden visit.
Checking her belt for the knife Stefan insisted she always keep with her, Bonnie makes her way to the front of the cabin. One hand on the knife's hilt behind her back and the other on the knob, she pulls the door open to see who was on the other side.
"Bonnie?" a low, familiar voice asks. Her heart nearly stops.
They're theorizing on where the rogue vampires could be now that it appears that this latest 'museum' has been abandoned. He had intended to wait them out so he could go catch up with his travel companion, but he's bored now and can no longer listen to this insipid conversation. Coming up behind the two vampires before him with a lazy swagger, he smiles when he sees which particular display has enthralled them.
"Enjoying the display?" he asks amicably, hands behind his back. He glances at the dinner table they stand before and the dismembered individuals seated around it. "Damon was particularly inspired with this one. I think he called it 'A Family: Torn Apart.'"
The two whirl around to face him, surprised, and he tsks at them in disappointment.
"What kind of vampires are you, being snuck up on so easily? Pitiful."
"Enzo," Caroline breathes out. She goes to take a step forward, but pauses when he shows his hands and the crossbow they wield.
"Yes, darling?" he inquires. She swallows hard and decides to be brave; she takes another small step in his direction.
Almost immediately, Stefan cries out and crumples, the vervain-soaked stake now pinning his hand to his thigh the reason for his fall. Distracted by this, Caroline isn't ready to fight Enzo off when he discards the crossbow and grabs her neck, snapping it with sharp twist. Her body falls with a muted thud, but Enzo is already watching Stefan with friendly smile.
"You two," he announces. "Are absolutely dreadful at this vampire thing."
He makes his way over to the dinner table display, aware of Stefan watching him closely as he daintily plucks a carving knife from the mother's severed hand. Whistling a happy tune, he walks back over to Stefan and rests the knife against his neck. He only just knicks the edge of the other's throat when the Salvatore speaks up.
"Bonnie can't sleep at night," he states and Enzo pauses to listen. "She doesn't sleep and she doesn't eat properly because she always looking for ways to bring you home."
Stefan turns his head just the slightest to meet the other vampire's gaze, hoping to see something of the man who deeply loves his friend.
"She just wants you to come home, Enzo."
Enzo isn't sure what the other sees on his face; maybe it's exactly what he was hoping for. Because Enzo does feel it, the longing for the girl who made him feel like a real person for the first time in long stretch of years and sadness that she isn't faring well. However, the feeling is not enough to combat the corrupting force that resides within him now. And it certainly isn't enough to stop him from ramming the knife in Stefan Salvatore's neck and leaving him to bleed out.
It's dark when he finally pulls up to the lonely cabin. He squints at it in disdain, unsure if this is really where Bonnie Bennett resides. But the burning feeling in his chest he's felt for the past three days dissipates and the powerful, slithery voice in his head - the voice of a dragon, Kai thinks - is quiet, so she must be near.
Stepping out of the stolen car, Kai pauses when he catches the scent burnt flesh and sulfur in the air. He reaches inside the car to grab the canister of black salt he made on his way here, more alert now than before. The Heretic grimaces at his scruffy reflection when he shuts the door. He's grateful that the ingestion of so much blood put an end to his Crypt Keeper look, but once he informs Bonnie of his mission and gets her somewhere safe, he's going to have to shave and shower away the grime of the past three years.
Three years. It seemed both too long and too brief an interim to account for what he went through. He could barely believe it when he saw the date on Kevin's phone.
He winces internally at the thought of the kind man he killed and hopes that by now his family has been informed of the tragic car accident he and his twin were in. He hopes they'll somehow manage to get past the loss of two family members.
Yet another family he's destroyed. The weight of his sins is heavy, but Kai knows he must bear it.
The front door is already open when he gets there; pushing it open, Kai peers inside, alarm spiking when he sees the trashed room.
Foregoing common courtesy, he quickly siphons away the magic that keeps him from entering and storms the room. The brimstone smell from before is stronger inside and Kai bares his teeth in an unconscious snarl. He listens closely, but the cabin is dead silent. It's not a comforting idiom, but he tries to tell himself that he would know if she was dead. He was far too in tune with her life force now to be fooled.
Besides, he tells himself, they can't kill her. She's the last Bennett. They need her alive.
Studying the room, he takes note of the trashed guitar and scattered papers. Bending down he reaches for a notebook, recognizing Bonnie's neat handwriting. He reads the notes and is impressed to find that she's been looking into Hellmouths - hopefully that would make what he had to tell her easier to digest.
The familiar scent of her blood catches his attention and he follows a trail of the droplets to the bathroom. The door is ruined, splintered and completely snapped open down the middle. It looks like someone went Jack Nicholson on it. Turning away from the pile of matchsticks, he steps inside where a broken window beckons him.
Picking up a bloody shard from the sill, he brings it to his face and delicately licks at it. The taste of Bennett blood, precious and rare, coats his tongue, followed closely by the bitter taste of nefaria sanguis. Kai growls out loud in anger.
"I'm going to fucking kill you," he vows, just before a loud feminine scream shatters the air.