*Disclaimer: I don't own TVD*
Bonnie stared at Esther. The older woman was completely serious.
"You want to kill them? They are your kids!"
A sick feeling overcame her. She agreed the Mikaelsons were horrible, but Esther was talking about murdering her children. Her own flesh and blood. There was something so indescribably wrong about it that it completely turned Bonnie's stomach.
"I am aware," Esther's face revealed pain, but she did her best to tamp down on it. The outcome was a coldly determined expression. "They are my children and that makes me responsible for their actions, especially when I am the one that turned them into monsters."
"I think I get it," Bonnie said and she was unable to keep the uncertainty from her voice.
"I am only asking you as a courtesy. Whether you like it or not I am channeling your family line in this magic."
"Okay," Bonnie nodded. The desire to be rid of Klaus and protect Elena overrode any moral qualms she had. "What's the plan?"
"With some help from your doppelganger friend, I will link all of my children as one during the champagne toast. Then on the full moon, my brave Finn will sacrifice himself. Once he is dead, they will die as well."
Now Bonnie was shocked to her core. "Finn is onboard with this?"
"Of course, he is. My Finn has never grown complacent with his existence the way my other children have."
"This is unbelievable, but if it will protect my friends, I'll help you."
"Thank you. Now please, rejoin the party and if Elijah asks you anything, we were simply discussing our mutual family history."
"Right."
A shudder ran down her spine at the way Esther's cold, assessing eyes appraised her.
Feeling as if her spine was trying to dislocate itself from the rest of her body, Bonnie stood. She said goodbye to Esther and walked down to the rejoin the party. Unfortunately, she did not make it there.
An arm shot out of a room and pulled her inside. Bonnie didn't even have time to scream before she saw it was Kol. He had pulled her into a study. She fixed her expression into a glower.
"What do you want?"
"I apologize on behalf of my brother," a cool, composed voice said.
Bonnie looked past Kol to see Elijah. That was a relief because that probably meant Kol wasn't going to try to kill her, but bad because Elijah was probably suspicious of Esther.
With good reason, a snarky little voice at the back of her mind, whispered.
"Great, now what do you want?" Bonnie said letting her irritation creep into her voice.
"We want to know what dear old mum is up to, naturally," Kol said with a sinister smile.
"How should I know? We talked about our family history," Bonnie said and to her amazement, her voice didn't tremble.
"Is that so?" something dark and wicked flashed in Kol's eyes. He leaned in and instinctively, she backed up against the wall. Next thing she knew, he had her pressed against it. He ran his nose along her neck.
"Stop that," Bonnie hissed as her cheeks burned.
"Tell me what you know, little witch. I can always spot a lie."
Somewhere as if through a hazy cloud, she heard Elijah say; "That's enough, brother."
Kol growled and ignored him.
Kol moved closer. She could feel the warmth of his body and his hard, taught muscles. She could feel the electric tingle of power emanating from him that was vampire and ancient. This was stronger than most of the vampires she had encountered except for the rest of the Mikaelsons. It knocked her off her game.
But only for a second. She got herself together and felt her magic course through her. She closed her eyes and Kol was hit by an aneurism. He groaned and clutched his head, but did not move away.
Elijah grabbed his arm and pulled him back. Bonnie exhaled and released Kol from the spell. With a smile, she realized she could hold the spell longer now that she was channeling the spirits instead of nature.
Kol growled and the look he sent her promised retribution. It made the hairs at the nape of her neck stand on end.
"Once again, I apologize on behalf of my brother."
"Whatever, Elijah. Just keep him away from me," Bonnie crossed her arms and glowered at them.
Elijah looked contrite, but Kol watched her with a smirk.
"I will however, I implore you to stop and think about your actions. Our mother proved over a millennia ago she is not to be trusted. If she has attempted to enlist you in something, you may want to rethink. She is as likely to turn on you as she is to turn on us."
"Yes, I assume that's where you get it from," Bonnie's glower deepened.
"That was…rash of me, I cannot tell you how sorry I am for any pain that has been inflicted upon you since that night."
That made Bonnie see red. Pain? Elijah was sorry for any pain that had been inflicted on her?
"Well that's just makes everything alright, doesn't it?"
Elijah cleared his throat and straightened his tie.
"Pity we can't compel witches," Kol said eyeing her darkly. "But rest assured, I'll still work out whatever it is you and mother are up to."
Putting on a brave face, Bonnie rolled her eyes. She left in a huff.
XXX
Kol watched Bonnie go with a strange mixture of fury and arousal. She was something. He could have stood there watching her like a fool all night long except he felt Elijah's eyes boring holes into the back of his neck.
"Yes, brother?" Kol said keeping his tone of voice light and amused.
"Stay away from the Bennett witch. She has had enough hardship and no doubt mother's latest scheme will only bring her more trouble."
Kol was surprised at the softness in Elijah's voice.
"You know if I didn't know any better, I would say you care for the witch."
Elijah sighed. "I'm serious. We will deal with mother, but for the sake of Ayanna's memory, what do you say we try to keep her descendant out of this latest family drama?"
Kol turned around to study Elijah, who was watching Bonnie go with a pained expression. Excitement lit up his face as he realized what was going on.
"You feel guilty for almost killing her in the fight against Nik and then abandoning her. Leaving her and her insipid friends at the mercy of Nik's insane whims now that he is all powerful."
"Yes. It was not my finest moment."
"I'll say. The noble brother indeed," Kol snorted and rolled his eyes.
Whistling, he set out to find Rebekah. He wanted to know what she was doing on a date with a commoner. One that appeared by all measures to be nice of all things.
Rebekah was pacing the outskirts of the dancefloor as Bonnie danced with some peasant. Blonde hair, completely bland, yes, that was Rebekah's date.
"What's going on with and that commoner? You used to have taste, Bekah," Kol clucked his tongue.
"Do shut up, Kol or I'll knock your teeth out," Rebekah tossed her hair. Kol instantly recognized it as a practiced move, one that made her hair catch the light. "Besides, he's not just my date."
"Oh?"
"I can't kill him because of mother's rules, but I was hoping you might."
"Perhaps, but why him? He seems perfectly boring and in my experience that rarely inspires the urge to kill. Unless you are bored yourself, sister."
"No, Matt is fine. It's not about him. I can't get into trouble with mother and I was hoping you would help your baby sister out."
"Fine by me," Kol agreed with a wicked smile. "Just tell me when and where."
"I'll lure him outside and leave him by himself, when I do, you kill him."
"A tad unimaginative, but anything for you."
"Thank you. You've always been my favorite brother."
"Liar," Kol flashed her another smile before going to lie in wait for her and the peasant.
XXX
Kol hid in the woods. He watched the manor. The rare couple would stumble out for a moment of privacy before discovering it was too cold out for human trysts and go back inside. Not that the frost in the air bothered him, he could feel that the air was chilly, but it had no impact on him whatsoever. He supposed it was something like it must be for humans to stand near an open window.
Just as he was growing restless and began to pace around the nearby area, he heard Rebekah and her date approach. Just the thought of Rebekah dating that inconsequential human made him snort with laughter.
The boy was talking about his car and vampires compelling them or something. Kol crept nearer the edge of the woods and saw that the boy should indeed be ashamed. What sort of man drove that beat up old piece of junk? He was definitely not Rebekah's type. She loved to spend money, loads of it. Had for as long as he could remember.
Then he did something peculiar. He offered Rebekah his jacket.
Fool, didn't he know vampires did not get cold?
Kol had caught enough of his conversations throughout the night to know he knew about the supernatural.
Then something worse happened, Rebekah's expression grew worried and she rushed him inside.
Growling with irritation, Kol gave chase. He caught up to Rebekah in the reception hall. She lingered. No doubt, she knew he would be coming after her.
"Really, sister? I wait for you and you decide to spare one measly human all because he was nice to you?"
"He's a good guy, I can't go through with it."
"Why? Are you truly so starved for affection that you are willing to take his measly crumbs of kindness? That's pitiful and I had thought after a millennia you should be past it, sister."
"You don't understand anything, Kol."
"Come now, it's one commoner. I'll even find you a new one. Let's kill him together right now. Make a real spectacle of it."
"No and you stay away from him."
With that Rebekah strode off in a huff.
XXX
Bonnie and Elena discussed the plan with Esther under their breath. They stood on the outskirts of the dancefloor. Each of them held a champagne flute and they did their best to act as if they were whispering about boys. Still, a small voice at the back of her mind was telling her they weren't pulling it off.
"Esther just needs your blood?"
"Yeah, then she'll bind them and you and Abby will meet her on the full moon."
"And that's it," Bonnie said as her heart rate accelerated.
It all seemed to easy. A little blood in the champagne toast and one quick spell and poof no more Original vampires?
No way, it was too simple.
After the past two years in Mystic Falls there were two things Bonnie had learned. The first was that things never went to plan. The second was that even when things worked out they were never easy.
But if Esther wanted to make this play, that was fine. She would talk to Damon and Caroline. Together, they would come up with a good plan to make certain Esther's plan worked. Stefan would probably help if Damon could wrangle him into cooperating.
Elena waved at Stefan, a little flutter of her fingers as he swept past with Mayor Lockwood. Meanwhile, Bonnie saw to her surprise Caroline was dancing with Klaus. Klaus obviously looked thrilled. The thing that shocked Bonnie was how Caroline looked like she was actually enjoying herself.
"Do you see that?" Bonnie said nodding toward Caroline.
"Barf," Elena said grimacing.
A prickling sensation ran down Bonnie's spine. She turned to see, who was the cause of it and when she did, she discovered Kol. He was approaching from the other side of the ballroom. His eyes even at a distance blazed with determination.
That did not bode well.
Fear mounting, Bonnie turned on her heel and hurried away.
She made it as far as the exit toward what looked like an expansive library at the far end of the ballroom before he caught up to her. Kol put his hand lightly on her arm and spun her around to face him.
"Where are you off to in such a rush, Cinderella?" his dark eyes danced with amusement and darker, more wicked things.
"Away from you!" Bonnie hissed under her breath. She turned her face up to meet his intense stare. "Let go of me."
Kol's lips turned up in a smile. Irritatingly, she realized he found her amusing.
"Have I told you how beautiful you are?" his voice was light and teasing.
"Have I told you, I don't care what you think? And what do you even want, you psycho?"
"I want to ask you to dance with me."
"And you need the steel grip on my arm to do that, why?"
"Because I am certain if I let go, you will bolt off in the opposite direction as fast as those witchy, little legs of yours will go."
"Uh-huh, so take a hint and leave me alone."
Kol's smile if possible broadened even further.
Bonnie was just thinking about giving him another aneurism when the sound of silverware against a champagne glass cut through the noise of the music and people. Ignoring his grip on her arm, Bonnie started walking back into the ballroom.
The toast could not have come at a better time.
Kol tucked her arm properly through his and started escorting her toward the grand staircase. Bonnie tried to pull her arm away, but Kol's grip on her arm was vicelike. What at a distance looked like a casual, maybe even kind. His touch was deceptive.
"Tell me what my mother is planning, little witch."
"I don't know. Why don't you ask her?" Bonnie replied batting her lashes at him and smiling in a falsely sweet way.
"Because my mother is a dirty little liar," he replied in smooth tones.
"Well then I guess you know as much as I do."
"If she was plotting to say, I don't murder us all, you would tell us?"
"Thought Original vampires couldn't be killed."
"Don't play stupid with me, Bonnie. We both know you aren't. Just as we both know my brother told you and your little group of miscreants how we came to be vampires."
"Fine, your mother turned you using some kind of freaky doppelganger magic. That doesn't mean she knows how to undo it. That's some pretty potent magic."
"Well since I don't get that dance, the least you can do is give me an honest answer, little witch."
Bonnie glared up at him as they came to a stop in front of the grand staircase.
"I have told you everything, I can't help it if that's nothing," Bonnie said in a whisper.
Their arrival garnered a few curious looks. Mostly from Elijah and Caroline as well as Elena. Which Bonnie thought was rich because Klaus had his hand on Caroline's lower back and Elena was literally standing in the middle of Damon and Stefan. At a glance, Bonnie couldn't even tell, which brother she preferred anymore. Then upon closer inspection she was sickened to see, Elena was leaning towards Damon. She had her arm tucked through his and Damon was staring down at her even though Elena wasn't looking at him, she was talking to Stefan.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Esther stepped forward to the railing. "Welcome to our family home. And thank you for welcoming us into your town. I hope in time we can become a part of your community."
There was a smattering of polite applause. Mayor Lockwood had such a stiff smile plastered on her face that Bonnie was sure her cheeks had to hurt.
Kol leaned down to whisper in her ear. He had a wicked smile on his lips as if he were whispering sweet secrets or something completely inappropriate, but by now she was starting to work out his game. He was unpredictable, he went from flirting to interrogating. He was impulsive like Klaus, but if she had to guess, he was less power hungry.
"Do you buy my mother's little speech about peace?"
Bonnie raised an eyebrow. "You are insanely paranoid. Has anyone ever told you that before?"
"Actually, over the years I've found people rarely criticize me. I do believe that means I am as near perfect as anyone gets."
"Maybe it's fear?"
Esther said something about a toast and waiters coming around with champagne. That returned Bonnie's attention to her. Kol seeing her interest, looked between her and Esther. His eyes narrowed into slits.
Kol switched gears again, his smirk turned flirtatious. "Now that most definitely speaks highly of me."
Bonnie rolled her eyes.
The waiter came over and Bonnie was about to reach for a glass of champagne when Kol beat her to it. He took two glasses of champagne and passed one to her. She smiled tightly in thanks.
Esther was talking, but Bonnie didn't hear what she was saying. This was the first step in killing the Originals. It shouldn't bother Bonnie, she hated all of them. Even Kol, who sometimes was nice sent a cold chill down her spine just earlier. But Esther was their mother and Bonnie might not be an expert in mothers, still thanks to her Grams she had some idea. Enough of an idea that she knew it meant or was supposed to mean unconditional love.
So she listened to Esther talk while fog settled over her mind.
"Cheers!"
Bonnie raised her glass with the others. Because she could feel Kol's eyes on her, she took a sip. It was not what she wanted to do though because Elena's blood was in it, but with Kol there she had no other choice.
The champagne tasted bubbly and fresh. Not anything at all like blood. That was a relief and she sighed as she lowered her glass.
Kol was watching her through narrowed eyes, but she had seen him take a sip. One small win there.
Sort of.
Bonnie wasn't certain that counted as a win because she felt like the bad guy.
XXX
By the time his mother's phony toast was over, Kol was in a furious mood. The sort of angry that quickly turned lethal. To make matters worse, Bonnie had refused to tell him anything and she had disappeared.
How had she managed that?
Right, because Finn came over to talk. Finn talking? The idea was almost laughable yet here he was reminiscing about when they were children together. That made him more suspicious, no doubt whatever their mother was planning he was in on.
"Remember that time we went to the lake?" Finn asked with animated eyes. "We all snuck out even Henrik and went swimming."
Kol did remember. For a brief moment, he was tempted to smile then stifled it.
"That was a long time ago. We aren't children anymore, brother."
"I know. Sometimes, I forget how long ago it really was."
"That's what happens when Nik locks us up in boxes whenever he feels like it."
Feeling bitter, Kol had a sip of his champagne. He really needed something stronger.
"We weren't always like this. Remember that, little brother."
With that Finn walked away. Kol stared at him with a gnawing sense of unease. Something was going to happen.
Just as Kol was looking for something to take his mind off it that useless human Rebekah had lured here caught his eye. He wandered away from Rebekah, who was laughing with Elijah. It sounded like the human boy was looking for another girl.
Well that sealed his fate.
Kol itching to kill someone followed him.
The boy, stopped on the terrace to talk to Bonnie of all people.
His Bonnie.
What the hell was going on?
"Matt listen to me, I need you to talk to Damon. This is going to get hairy," Bonnie said in a low whisper. Her face was pinched and Matt looked pained as he reached for her wrist.
So Bonnie was conspiring against them. His suspicions had been correct all along and to make matters worse it looked like they might be more than friends. Betrayal he could deal with, he wasn't Nik, but sharing? That was not his cup of tea.
"Pray tell exactly what do you need to talk to the baby vampire about? And what is going to get hairy?" Kol growled.
They both jumped. Bonnie stared at him with wide eyes and Mutt looked at him sideways.
"I should go get Rebekah."
"Not so fast, Mutt," Kol flashed in front of him.
Bonnie tried to pull Mutt back, but he wouldn't budge. Instead, she settled for staring at him with hard eyes.
"What the hell do you want now, Kol?"
Kol smirked. He had no real idea what he wanted. Except to find out what his evil mother was plotting and he wanted Bonnie to stop lying to him. If she dropped this pretense of innocence it would make everything between them so much easier. But of course, she had labelled him as the bad guy. He could see it in her eyes.
What he did next was probably an overreaction, but he was losing his mind.
XXX
Bonnie was a little annoyed with Matt and at the same time she understood. If she wasn't a witch being cornered by an Original vampire would send her running too. Kol was staring at them with black eyes that had gone as hard as stone.
"So I don't know about you, Mutt, but I am over this little game of secrets. I'm especially over my sister's high school drama," Kol's smile changed to the point where it sent a chill down her spine. "Oh, Kol I want revenge on the mean girls from school, won't you please help me kill my date? If I do it I'll be in trouble with mother," he imitated a high girlish voice.
"Excuse me?" Bonnie demanded. She elbowed her way past Matt to glower at him.
Damn, Kol was tall. Really, tall. How had she not noticed before?
Right, because he hadn't looked at her like he was about to murder someone. Not even in the library earlier.
Stupid Original vampires.
Esther was right, they all needed to go.
"Run along, little witch. This doesn't concern you," Kol said never taking his eyes off Matt.
"Doesn't it? Matt is my friend and if you try to hurt him, I'm going to hurt you back."
"Bon, you might want to get out of here."
"And get who?" Bonnie said angrily. "Damon? Stefan? You think either of them have a chance in hell against Kol? Don't be stupid."
"Listen to him, Bon. I hold witches in high esteem and I'd rather not hurt you however, I will if you don't walk away."
"You walk away because I can't."
Kol cocked his head to the side to study her. "Peculiar. It's as if you didn't hear a word of my thinly veiled threat."
"Just walk away. I have spirit magic and you do not want to mess with me tonight. I almost killed your brother."
"I'm not Nik," Kol replied with an unimpressed expression. "Sorry."
Before Bonnie knew what hit her, she was soaring through the air. She hit the stone floor with a thud. The air exploded from her lungs and she rolled onto her side, coughing and sputtering in pain.
Matt's cries of pain pierced the air. Bonnie looked up in time to see Kol's hand around his wrist and his other hand around his neck.
"Stop!" Bonnie meant to shout the words, but it came out in a raspy whisper.
She squinted her eyes and tried to summon her magic to set Kol on fire.
"Sorry, darling. It's nothing personal. It's just you irritate me, you understand, don't you?" Kol said in a psychotic voice.
Bonnie was halfway to standing when Damon flashed into the room. He grabbed Kol by the shoulders and tossed him aside.
Matt clutched his wrist and swayed on his feet. In a flash, Bonnie forgot her pain. She was back on her feet and running towards him. She met him halfway and pushed him towards the staircase.
"Find Caroline or Stefan and get out of here!"
Matt stared at her and she gave him a shove. He stumbled, but did not budge.
Damon was trying to outrun Kol, but it wasn't working. One moment, he was dodging the Original and in the next, Damon was dangling in the air. Kol held him in one hand and threw him out of the window. Bonnie hurried to the window in time to see he had landed on his neck on the cement ground right by the main entrance. People screamed and ran away.
Kol was striding toward Matt.
"Now where were, Mutt?"
"Back off!" Bonnie shouted.
With her words, her magic came rushing out of her. It wasn't a conscious thought or a decision, one second Kol was standing there and in the next, he was soaring through the air. He hit the wall, it cracked around the floor. He slid to his feet before standing back up. A wicked smile graced his lips and his brown hair was unruly.
Not thinking, Bonnie took a step back.
"I warned you not to get on my bad side, little witch."
Kol ran at her at full vampire speed. She blinked and he was in front of her. His smile was dark and sardonic. He picked her up and tossed her across the room. She felt her head hit the wall and groaned.
In a flash, Kol was in front of her again. This time, he was kneeling in front of her on the floor. It took her a moment to process, why. Then it hit her, she was on the floor too.
Furiously, she didn't even think. She just started chanting. It was a spell she had read and memorized in one of her Grams' old grimoires last week. She wasn't even sure she could pull it off, but she was angry enough to risk it.
The spell was meant to make poison run through a person's veins. She wasn't certain it would work the same on a vampire, but she was willing to bet it was painful.
Within seconds black veins began to appear long Kol's skin.
"Stop the spell!"
Bonnie ignored him and kept chanting. Kol reached out and grabbed her hair by the nape of her neck. He tugged and her neck fell back. In an instant, he had torn the necklace she was wearing away. The pearls scattered around the marble floor. He bared his vampire fangs at her and she gasped.
The spell faltered and after a deep breath, she went back to chanting. Kol hesitated and groaned in pain.
Finn appeared behind him just as Kol was about to sink his teeth into her throat. He reached out and snapped Kol's neck.
Bonnie scrambled back and clutched her arms around her knees. She dropped the spell and her breath came out in ragged puffs. Kol was lying at her feet, he looked dead. Matt ran over and fell to his knees next to her. He clutched his wrist, held it tight to his chest.
"Matt," Bonnie sighed. "Are you okay?"
Matt shook his head. "Your brother is a psycho."
"I apologize on his behalf," Finn said clearing his throat awkwardly. "If you like, I can heal your wrist."
"No, thank you. I'd rather go to the emergency room than risk turning."
"That only happens if you die," Bonnie told him. She put her hand on his shoulder. "Take his blood. His family just tried to kill us, it's quite literally the least he can do."
"Untrue, I could have walked away," Finn replied with grim eyes. "However, unlike the rest of my siblings, I have spent a millennia fighting to maintain my better nature."
Matt eyed Bonnie skeptically. "Now that sounds too much like Elijah for my liking. Let's get out of here."
Finn glanced at Kol's crumpled form. "Yes, it's no doubt wise to be gone before Kol wakes. He won't be unconscious for long."
"Thanks for the rescue, Finn," Bonnie said with a shaky smile.
"Any time. Though I must say, I am impressed by how you handled Kol. Not many that can say they lasted more than a few minutes against him."
"Creepy," Bonnie muttered. "But thanks. I'll see you around. Come on, Matt. Let's get you to the emergency room."
"My car's parked out back."
"Oh, and one more thing," Bonnie turned around to look at Finn. "Keep Rebekah from trying to murder Matt again. With or without Kol's help."
Finn's expression grew stormy. "The two of them, like naughty children. I'll speak with mother, she will get them in line."
"Thank you for everything, Finn."
His lips tugged up at the corners and he nodded gravelly in return.
Bonnie tucked her arm through Matt's as they walked to his car. He leaned against her and his face was scrunched up in pain.
"I think it's broken."
"Oh, Matt," she sighed. "I am so sorry I couldn't stop him."
"You stopped him from killing me. Well you and Damon. Do you think we should get him out of here too?"
Just then they reached the main entrance. Damon was back on his feet and was shouting furiously at Elijah.
"Tell that lunatic to get a grip!"
"Damon, don't. It isn't Elijah's fault," Elena said pulling on his arm.
"You two might want to get out of here before Kol wakes up," Bonnie said as they passed them.
Damon turned his head and made crazy eyes at her.
Ugh, Bonnie was so sick of that. Didn't he have any other expressions?
Oh, wait he had the one where he made heart eyes at Elena, which was disgusting.
"Hey, you want me to heal that?" Damon asked nodding to Matt's hand.
Matt looked at him in disgust and shook his head.
The car wasn't far away, but it felt like an eternity. Her shoes didn't help. The heels kept sinking into the grass. By the time they stumbled to the car, she had to fish his keys out of his coat pocket. Then she helped him in, hopped in to the passenger seat and slipped her shoes off.
A bad feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. At the same time a cold finger ran down her spine and she had this overwhelming sense of urgency. They were running out of time.
The ignition roared to life and Bonnie sped off like their lives depended on it.
XXX
Kol woke with a stiff neck. He cracked it to the side. Finn was leaning against the wall.
"Brother ,what the bloody hell did you do that for?"
"Tattletale," Rebekah said, who was sulking in the corner.
If Kol had to guess, he assumed Finn had dragged her here against her will.
"I didn't tell him anything. It must have been the Bennett witch and her lapdog."
"He was my date," Rebekah huffed and crossed her arms.
"Sister dear, you wanted him dead. It's not my fault you can't make up your mind."
"Kol, this absurd and mother wishes to speak to you both regarding this issue."
"Does she know? Well you can tell her I don't want to discuss it. I'm not a child and I won't be treated like one."
Kol disappeared in a flash. He could hear that boy and Bonnie talking in the distance. With a quick run, he was outside in time to the see the taillights of the truck leaving. He contemplated going after them and ultimately decided against it.
XXX
To Bonnie's relief and Matt's they didn't have to wait more than a few minutes at the emergency room. Matt went into the examination room, but not before telling her he didn't have health insurance when she sat down to fill out his form.
Most of the basic information, she already knew by heart. Still, it was unpleasant. Especially, knowing he didn't have healthcare. Vampires and other insanity, she could deal with, but this was adult stuff.
She called her dad and he said he would be right there.
It felt like forever before Rudy arrived. It only took a minute to fill her dad in on the vampire drama and that Matt didn't have insurance.
"Sometimes, I think his mother ought to be in jail. I'll pay for it."
"Thanks, dad."
Matt came out of the examination room. Her dad went to pay the bill and she went over to Matt.
"How are you doing?"
"Been better, but it's just a sprain."
"That's good, right?"
"I guess. I'm so sick of freaking vampires, you know?"
"I so know."
Bonnie gave him a hug.
"That's taken care of," Rudy said joining them. "I handled it, Matt. Now let's get you home."
"Mr. Hopkins – I –" Matt looked completely stunned.
"Anything to keep you kids out of more vampire trouble. Just stay away from them from now on."
"Now that I agree on wholeheartedly, but hell I'm just glad Bonnie was there. I guess I owe both of you now. Thank you."
"It's a parent thing, Matt," Rudy said with a shrug. "And Bonnie for the love of God stay out of anymore vampire nonsense. Before it kills you."
"I know, dad, but as the resident witch I kind of have to make sure the Original vampires aren't out killing all of the neighbors."
"Nope, no way. That is not happening," Rudy replied with a stern look.
"With all due respect Mr. Hopkins if Bonnie wasn't there tonight, I'd be dead. Actually, if Bonnie wasn't the kickass hero type, a whole lot of people would be dead by now."
Rudy stared at her in shock.
"It's what I do."
Bonnie crossed her arms. She was not comfortable with all the attention on her and she didn't like Matt's praise. She wasn't a hero, she just wanted to help her friends. Not a whole lot else mattered to her.
"Look, it's late. We can talk about this in the morning," Rudy said after a long pause.
His unlined face showed marks of weariness for the first time, Bonnie could remember. Suddenly, she felt bad for herself, Matt and her dad.
"Yeah, let's just go home."
XXX
Bonnie took a long shower when she got home. She soaked in the hot water, letting it wash away all of the crap of the night.
Elena and her vampire drama.
Kol and all his craziness.
Esther and her homicidal tendencies.
By the time she stepped out into her bedroom in a fresh pair of PJ's, she felt clean. Almost healed. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt this good.
Of course, something had to happen to ruin that. Her bedroom window was open, which was not how she had left it. Then a black box caught her eye.
Bonnie approached it cautiously, she was ready to strike out with her magic at any second. Just in case, whoever had left it there was still lurking.
When she got closer, she saw it was a black velvet jewelry box with a manila envelope underneath. With shaky hands she opened the case. Inside, was a beautiful pearl necklace. It was similar to the one she had worn to the party tonight, but not quite the same. In the middle of the pearls, there was a large square emerald stone. The string of pearls was layered with three rows of them. It looked heavy and it was breathtaking.
Less nervous and more curious, she opened the envelope. She had a sneaky suspicion, who it was from already, she read the note.
Dear Bonnie,
I apologize for my behavior earlier this evening. I hope you will accept this gift as a replacement for the one I destroyed. It's almost as beautiful as you. You may not believe me however, I did enjoy your company a great deal and would like to see you again. Assuming you are willing to give me a second chance? Whatever you may think of me, do not trust my mother. She is bad news, and I should know.
I'm the original bad boy.
That actually made her laugh. The original bad boy? Seriously, who did this guy think he was? Then Bonnie got to the last part of the note.
Yours,
Kol Mikaelson.
Yours? Yours?
Groaning, Bonnie curled up the note and tossed it in the trash can.
"If you're creeping around the way vamps like to do Kol then I want you to hear me now, stay the hell away from me."
Bonnie slammed the window shut. she put the case with the necklace down on her dresser, she was keeping it only because he had ruined her real one.
A shadow moved along the street. She caught a glimpse from her window. Suspicion flaring up inside of her, she saw that it was Kol walking away from her house.
Good, now he might leave her alone and then she wouldn't have to deal with his insanity anymore. If she could just hang in there for a few more days, all of this Original drama would be over with one way or another in a few days.
Happy holidays Kennett shippers! Thank you so much to everyone, who read, followed, faved and reviewed the first chapter. I'm happy to see the Kennett fam is still out there. Let me know what you thought about this chapter. What do we think of Bonnie and Kol so far? It got pretty crazy, right?
Izzy