You will find in this chapter that I'm quite... behind on the times as one particular original once put it. The story up til now has taken place around the space between Break On Through and The Murder Of One. And that may have confused some of you. But yeah, we'll be moving forward today. :)
Disclaimer: Still don't own the Vampire Diaries. Nope.
He had turned up at her door, smirked, threatened and forced her to come with him. A little favor, he had said. Over my dead body, she had responded. And then his phone was out and he was showing her a picture of her father in a suit, talking business with some of his clients in a restaurant. Her father's stance was relaxed as he leaned towards his clients in a confident manner. He had no notion of the danger he had been in. The deranged sociopath had told her in a low, silky voice just what would happen to the man if she didn't help him out here. And love? I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.
She hadn't given him the satisfaction of driving her to his home. She'd rather die than voluntary allowing him in any position of power over her. (She did realize it was kind of hypocritical since he had just kidnapped her from her home.) He hadn't bothered waiting for her, saying pretty offhandedly that she knew what would happen if she wasn't present at his mansion in about, say twenty minutes? She had only glared at him. Lovely, cheers. She had been itching to throw something at him.
Her whole body had been shaking as she drove to his residence. She had allowed it to, knowing it'd be no time for freaking out when she arrived. She had seen the museum-like building from afar many times, but as she had approached it, she realized how the distance hadn't done it justice. It was truly grand. But then she had reminded herself of who its residents were, and her wonder had quickly turned into disgust. The lovely appearances were just another scheme, just another scream for attention.
A couple of hybrids had stopped her by the gate, demanding to know what one of her kind was doing here. They had clearly not been briefed by their master of her arrival. She had looked at them through narrowed eyes, telling them darkly to let her in. The hybrids had showed their fangs furiously and told her that she was in no place to come in here and order them around. They served Klaus and no one else. They had stalked towards her car menacingly, but just as Bonnie had begun to build the aneurysms in her head, the radio by the gate had crackled. Let her in, gentlemen. She's a guest. Bonnie had closed her eyes in foreboding and as the gates had closed with a clang behind her, she had never felt more afraid.
Klaus had met her at the steps with a toothy grin. "You have to forgive my negligence, love. It must have slipped my mind." His words had harbored no commiseration.
Bonnie knew it hadn't slipped his mind. He had simply been trying to scare her, trying to show her once again who really was in charge. Bonnie had scoffed. It'd take more than a couple of suicidal hybrids to scare her.
"Shall we?" Klaus had done a sweeping gesture towards the entrance. Bonnie had met his sparkling blue eyes momentarily before looking away. She had never seen more sinister eyes in her whole life. She had climbed the steps calmly and passed Klaus without throwing him a single look.
If she had thought the outside was impressive, it was nothing compared to the inside. This, Bonnie had thought, is probably the closest I'll ever come to a castle. Greek-inspired columns who supported the walls, adorned staircases in marble, expensive paintings that decorated the walls and invaluable antiques that were tastefully put together. Bonnie had taken it all in with an open mouth. It hadn't been before she felt Klaus presence behind her that she had seen that the columns and the staircases were probably never paid for, the paintings were missing from some museum in France and the antiques were most likely stolen. She had closed her mouth in repulsion.
"One of my better creations actually." Klaus had said, coming to stand beside her in what Bonnie had supposed was the hallway. He had looked around the space nonchalantly. "Not quite a fan of the railings, but I suppose they'll do." He had grinned at her expectantly, seeming to almost hope for some kind of compliment. Bonnie would have laughed if she had dared.
Klaus, the almighty, you-will-never-be-able-to-kill-me hybrid, aimed to please. In a sick, twisted and absolutely demented way he wanted to appeal to those around him. Bonnie didn't know what it was – daddy issues? Mommy issues? Both? But credit was obviously something he strove for. Well, he hadn't a snowball's chance in hell of getting any from her, Bonnie had thought furiously.
Klaus' smile had faded quickly as he had realized that she'd not open her mouth. He had sighed with a false tint of gravity to it. "Well, I suppose we better get down to business then." Bonnie had flinched as he had grasped her arm, leading her up the stairs. "My mother is quite the skilled sorceress I've noticed. Her blood-linking spell had my witches fumbling in the dark for a whole afternoon. Obviously they weren't trying very hard, so I convinced them to put in some effort. Some of them couldn't really handle the stress I'm afraid... I think some of them even kicked the bucket." He had thrown a cold smile over his shoulder. Bonnie's grip on her handbag had hardened.
"I have to say I was quite crossed for a moment, I'm not very keen to defeat, you see." He had drawled as he forcefully pulled her past countless of doors and through long corridors. "But then Rebekah reminded me that you know a little something about witchcraft as well."
He had lead her into a large room, as disgustingly beautiful as the rest of them, and stopped to smirk at her. "You'd do a little spell for me, wouldn't you?"
Bonnie had given him her most bone-chilling glare, which he had taken no offense to. "Brilliant."
After that he had showed her Esther's grimoire, once again reminding her of her father's well-being and then with a hasty look at his phone he had left. Bonnie had sunk down on the sofa tiredly. How was she supposed to get herself out of this one? The last thing she wanted was to release Klaus from the only thing that could finally make them get rid of him. But Klaus had already told her twice today what would happen if that spell wasn't carried out, and she had no doubts about him following through. Bonnie had buried her face in her hands, and she had in surprise noticed how they were shaking. She was freaking out, she had realized. She had immediately shrugged it off. She had no time for that.
She had released her handbag on the couch and opened the grimoire concentrated, inspecting the yellow pages. The pages had been filled with ancient scripts and drawings of old magical symbols, some of them familiar ones and others not so much. Bonnie had shuddered at the large number of dark magic spells the book contained. Esther had clearly held a fascination for the forbidden. Bonnie had browsed through the grimoire, trying not to even see the wicked spells that could make humans suffer immensely. Soon enough she had found the spell. The spell had been embellished with several crones. Bonnie knew what crones symbolized, her grams had used to remindher of them countless of times. Crones represents death, Bonnie. Always be cautious when a spell's surrounded by crones, they're nothing but bad news.
Bonnie had quivered and allowed her hands to start shaking again.
And without the slightest premonition he had rushed into the room again, demanding to know why she wasn't making any progress. Honestly, I think someone's not trying very hard. It had all been a threat. Bonnie had heard what had happened to the last witches who hadn't been trying very hard. Bonnie had tensed. This is the spell. I'm just not sure if I'm strong enough. And then had had approached her, wearing a expression of false conviction. Then you got to have a little more faith in yourself, Bonnie. But as Klaus had noticed Bonnie not buying any of his I-believe-in-you-crap, he had put his phone to his ear. Bonnie had been sure he had been faking it as he begun to chatter with one of his brothers lightly, right until he had showed her a video of Jeremy playing fetch with a little dog. Oh, isn't that just the most adorable thing you've ever seen?
And just like that it had been no doubts about what Bonnie had to do. She'd do it for her father and she'd do it for Jeremy.
She had moved the vase filled with roses from a table nearby, walking across the room to get a couple of candles from a shelf that she put on the table. She had felt Klaus positively reeking satisfaction from where he had been watching her in the doorway. Just to annoy him, she had lightened the candles one by one, knowing he knew she could light them all with one single look. He had grunted in annoyance but commented no further. Bonnie had started as an agonizing scream echoed in the house, jerking around to an amused looking Klaus.
What was that? She had asked terrified. Klaus had only smiled casually. I wouldn't let it bother you, love. She had not let him get away that easily. But it does bother me. A beat. You bother me. Klaus had feigned hurt, only fueling Bonnie as she continued. The way you use people to get what you want. It's not right. For a moment he had merely stared at her. As he spoke Bonnie had already begun to hope that maybe she had gotten through to him, only just a little. You're being emotional, Bonnie. I understand that thing's been rough for you. With your mother leaving... again.
And then she had stopped listening. She had felt stupid for even once believing that she could possibly ever touch something inside that original's heart. He had no heart. She had stood frozen as the original drew closer, a faked compassionate tone gracing his words. But as he had rambled on about her mother, Bonnie hadn't been able to ignore him. I could bring her back to you. If you want. I have people who can find people, I can bring her back to you.
For the slightest of seconds Bonnie had actually considered his words. He'd bring her mother back to her, he'd compel her to stay. Yes, Bonnie knew it was wrong, that she'd never truly get her mother back that way. But God, Bonnie missed her. Abby had left her, leaving only a small note behind where she barely even apologized. Bonnie wanted a mother. Yes, Bonnie had stared into Klaus twinkling blue eyes, and for the first time seen the possibilities.
Then he had smiled the most heinous smile. Or if you choose I could just bring parts of her back.
Instinctively she had raised her hand to slap him, only to have him stopping her in a heartbeat. She had seen red, she had turned her face away from him as he spoke on. She just couldn't stand looking at him. He was a monster in every sense of the word. He had brought her his siblings blood, the red liquids being contained in small bottles that seemed made for their purpose. Destroying her life. And then she had watched in horror as he bit himself with long, pointy teeth, his own blood pouring down from his hand.
Where do you want us? Slightly shaken she had taken the first thing her eyes had landed on. A glass. The dripping sound the blood had made as it hit the bottom had wailed in her ears.
The spell had been the most difficult thing she had ever done. The pressure of the magic around her had seemed like it wanted to tear her into tiny pieces. Her temples had throbbed painfully and her eyeballs had seemed to squeeze out of her eye sockets. The burning pain in her whole body had driven her insane. But as fast as the spell had been entered upon it had also been over, and as the spirits around her had disappeared with a hiss Bonnie had known she had succeeded. She had never felt more put out by an achievement before.
She had scarcely been conscious when Klaus had shortly afterward lead her downstairs, too exhausted to care anymore. Rebekah had met them in the hallway, surely saying something vicious like she always did, but Bonnie hadn't heard. The whole world had been one big roar to her. But as Rebekah moved away from them and allowed them to see what she had been hiding behind her, the roaring had stopped.
The first thing she had seen was the blood, how it had been left to dry on his body and how it was making horrifying patterns on the skin. The second thing she had seen was the wounds, they weren't fatal but damn the must have been painful. And the third thing she saw was him and with that mixed feelings had risen inside of her. Loyalty, disgust, anger, pity. She hadn't known what to feel or what to act upon. Oh my God.
Yeah, you have to excuse the mess. Apparently he hurt her feelings. Klaus had explained offhandedly, turning to her. At his voice Damon had moved, looking up just a little bit but Bonnie hadn't been sure if he actually could see them or hear them. Go on. Help him. Bonnie had looked at him confused. Surely he wouldn't let her. Save the man who turned your mother into a vampire. Damon's head had risen just a little bit more, and at that moment Bonnie had known that he did see them. He did see her. His baby blue eyes had pierced through her like knives. But she hadn't seen him. She hadn't seen Damon. She hadn't seen the man who had saved Elena multiple times or even the man who had helped her to find her mother. She had seen the man who tried to kill her all those years ago. She had seen the ruthless killer who snapped her mother's neck while she had been in the other room.
Just get me out of here. Damon's head had fallen back to its original position heavily. Very well. Klaus had radiated smugness. He had once again gotten his way. He had followed her to the door, his hand ever holding her arm roughly. He had stopped by the door and turned to her with a smirk.
"Well, this was a blast. I have to say I rather appreciate the efficiency our meetings bear."
Bonnie hadn't bothered to answer or to even throw him a glare. The tears had been on the verge of coming pouring down her cheeks, and all she had wanted was to get out of the bloody house and go home and forget this day ever had existed.
Still she had stood immobile on the porch as the doors had closed behind her. For a long while she hadn't moved an inch, just letting all the feelings rush through her at an incredible speed. God, I'm a horrible person, Bonnie had thought with a hysterical sob. She had left Damon to suffer in that hell. It shouldn't matter that he had deserved it, Bonnie Bennett didn't leave people with homicidal vampires. She had dried the tears from her cheeks angrily and searched her handbag for her phone.
Elena had answered almost at once. Klaus has Damon. She had said as soon as she had Elena's attention. Klaus should be dead. Elena had stuttered worriedly. They should all be dead, we just killed Finn. At her words Bonnie had felt the hysteria pour over her like a cold shower. Klaus would have been dead if it wasn't for her. No Elena, he forced me to do a spell that unlinked all the siblings. He's still alive. She had never felt more horrible in her whole life as she heard them all sigh hopelessly. It was her fault Klaus wasn't dead. Okay, Bonnie. Where's Damon? Elena had asked. Another wave of guilt had poured down over her, she was truly horrible. At Klaus' mansion. It's bad, Elena. He kept threatening Jeremy and my mom. Her whole body had been shaking by then and she had barely been able to keep the tears at bay. She was so tired. She wanted to go home. Are you okay? Elena's words had echoed in her head. I don't know. She had said on the verge of tears. Because that was what Bonnie Bennett said, Bonnie Bennett didn't say that no she wasn't okay, or no she hadn't been okay in a long while. Bonnie Bennett was strong. Bonnie Bennett pulled through.
Only she wasn't strong. She didn't want this, she never did. I'm sorry I have to go... I just, I have to go.
Bonnie sank down against her car, her phone still in her hands. Her whole body was trembling and the world seeming to spin around her. The voices, the sounds, the feelings; every damn thing she had gone through that day, came together in that very moment. Klaus' wicked smirk danced before her eyes and his accented voice rang in her ears, taunting her. Is that all you can take, witch? I have to say I'm quite disappointed. Pictures of Damon's pained face as he hung in chains flashed in her mind. Visions of the godforsaken rooms had tormented her. They were all enough to pull her over the edge.
Tears streamed down her face and she sobbed hysterically. She had left him. She had left him to be tortured in a house full of hybrids. What the hell had happened to her? When had she become a cruel person? She huddled up against the car, not being able to see through the tears anymore. Was she evil? Was that how people like her ended up? Would she wake up one day and not care about human life anymore? Would she be able to kill people? Bonnie sobbed harder. She wanted sophomore year back. She wanted her grams.
She remembered suddenly when she had come home crying in first grade when the other kids had teased her for having no mom. Sheila had held her close and told her how her mother was very sick and wasn't able to come and visit Bonnie right now, because she could be infected. Bonnie had told her that she didn't care, she wanted her mom to come back anyway. Her grams had just told her that her mother loved her very much and so did she, wasn't that enough? Bonnie hadn't answered.
Now Bonnie wished she had. Sheila had been her real mom. Sheila had never left her, not even when Bonnie had thought she was crazy and wanted her put in a home. Sheila had been there for her every time she needed a mom. Sheila had cared. Abby had left her twice, Abby had never comforted her, Abby had never cared. She wanted Sheila, not Abby.
She hugged herself tightly and rocked from side to side slowly, trying to stop her panicked sobbing. She needed to get out of here. She wanted to go home.
She tried to stand, grabbing the rear-view mirrors as support. Her legs were still shaking wildly, but she forced them to obey. As she stood, she also saw him.
And all the hysteria was back.
He was standing a couple of meters away from her, watching her gravely. His hands were tucked into the pockets of his suit and his head was tilted. For a split second all they did was stare at each other. Then she woke up and she pulled the handle of the door violently, realizing after much too long that it was still locked.
Elijah took a hesitant step forward.
"Don't...!" Bonnie exclaimed hysterically, her words getting stuck in her throat. "Don't come near me!"
He stopped instantly. Bonnie met his eyes for a moment, before panic-stricken searching through her bag for her car keys. She looked at regular intervals up frantically to make sure he was still standing at the same place. When her hands finally grasped the keys she unlocked the doors to her car quickly.
"I'm deeply sorry."
Bonnie jerked. Once again her hands started shaking savagely and she felt another panic attack building. She couldn't deal with him now. She swiftly placed herself behind the wheel, slamming the door shut behind her.
When she looked up again, he was gone.
I can hear you all groaning. Seriously I can.
Yes, it's kind of a recap of The Murder Of One, and believe me, no one hates that more than me. But unfortunately it's an important part of the plot (yes, I do have a plot) so it had to be written. The first part of the story that was written in past perfect form was sort of meant to be Bonnie remembering what had happened to her through the day.
Yuuup... I think that's all...
Happy 'almost summer holiday'! :)