Chapter 6
"I can't!"
Bonnie's eyes pop open as she sits up in the middle of the bed; she's still in the rundown motel. Its disconcerting how she shares with him and he basks in her, as though there's no one else in the world, but she has engineered it that way. He was always encouraging; she also shaped that sentiment too. But why make Damon go on endlessly about her safety of late, in her own subconscious? She couldn't quell the inner weakness concerning Damon? The fake relationship she was carrying-on within her dreamscape, was an endless argument with herself. It hadn't lead to any decree as to why? Bonnie rubs her aching head. The next time she sees Caroline, she will tell her about the dreams because she's feeling wacky now. Entertaining an imaginary best friend, that dumped her, is beyond mentally unhealthy.
And what about Enzo? She mindlessly plays with ring on her index. He's become his own issue. Maybe she should let one enemy or another take her because she might be better off. She shakes herself to refocus and cast a location spell for Rayna. She clutches the satchel she just acquired, holds it close to her heart while murmuring a spell, then spills the aqua runes from within. A smile flickers on her face, she's got a location. Hesitantly, she picks up her cell to call Enzo.
Ric finishes his meeting with Alex St. John, Leader of The Armory. He informs her of the attack in Dallas, involving Rayna, some kids and Caroline. He simply told Alex, he knew this was about Bonnie and Stefan, and offered up his connections if it could be of help. She was suspicious of his curiosity, but the welfare of humans was under Armory purview, so he presents it as such. He was told of an investigation into an ancient power that could be a threat, and Bonnie could have a unique insight on how to deal with it. Unfortunately, Bonnie had been given the wrong impression. Stefan was of no interest. Alex wasn't sure what Rayna's deal was, but hazards a guess it wasn't good for Bonnie. She advises him to get the word to Miss Bennett; they need her help and they could deal with Rayna. Alex was adamant about no harm coming to Bonnie, and he wills himself to believe it. He sees a resolution to this mess.
Before Ric heads out the door, he arbitrarily teases about Enzo St. John potential relation due to the matching last names. Alex laughs, points out the obvious, he's a vampire. Ric thought he saw a hint of tension under the forced laugh, and still promises to see what he can do. He would contact her as soon as he could. Then things can go back as they were, before Rayna came in and dismantled his family. This was going to help Bonnie, in his way. He would tell Caroline the appropriate details when the time is right, and Stefan couldn't interfere. He even avoided informing her of Valerie's death thus far. He was simply being a good buffer. He kept faith that whatever Caroline was trying to do, it would be successful and they would be back together soon.
Skepticism strums through Alex's fingers. Alaric Saltzman appears at The Armory doors, petitioning to see her. He hadn't resemble a viable avenue to Bonnie before, but after Rayna's attack, who knows. But all the song and dance he presented was not about that. She could smell the disdain for the supernaturals wafting off him. Alaric's animosity would be easy to manipulate to her favor. She gave the barest outline for the need of the witch, selling the story of the protection of humankind; desperate Alaric gobbled it up. She would see how far this new line of probing got them. Rayna was getting too close. If she kills Bonnie, the vault would remain close forever.
The urgency to contact Enzo infuses her. Saltzman had glanced at their connection. The time for surprises had passed. Enzo needs to be pushed on the matter of Bonnie Bennett. His childish desire to gently guide Bonnie to their side had run its course. Luckily, Alex had a couple of backup plans to help Enzo be the winner of Bonnie's heart. There was a potion and Enzo's and Bonnie's rings. Those precious marriage rings, with one submitting to the other's dominance, would be used to control Bonnie when the time was right. She would be a worthy tool amongst The Armory ordinance. Alex laughs at the ease, at which the men in Bonnie's life betray her without shame. They believe in their good intentions, they jest the road to hell. God bless the desperation of men.
Thirty-five minutes ago, Stefan wiped the salve off his scar, and stepped under a lone light. In the heart of an abandoned industrial complex, he waits with Damon, for Rayna to appear. They left Caroline at a rented cottage. She was not too happy with this decision, but couldn't fight the argument of her being fodder to get to Stefan. She told them not to die. Stefan is grateful for any scrap of affection she tosses his way. His reveries are brought to a stop when Rayna appears.
"I'm sorry Stefan, but your time has come."
"Now, now Rayna, come on, let's catch up." Damon steps forward from the shadows surrounding barely lit pair.
"Damon? Can't be. That coward ran off years ago."
"Yeah, blah blah blah, I'm a bad boy. Enough catching up. I want the mark." Damon pronounces. Rayna pauses her stalking, bewildered by his request.
"Oh, do you?"
"I do."
"And why would I do that?"
"I deserve it."
"Your damn right you do. But you let your brother carry your burden all this time."
"Like I said, I'm a bad bad boy'
"What trickery is this?"
"No trick. You give me the mark and let Stefan go. That easy."
Damon taps Stefan and gestures to the floor. The brothers proceed to kneel before Rayna and her sword. Rayna shrugged her shoulders. She raises the sword, readying herself.
"Why not. Or maybe I'll just kill you both." she crackles.
"Will this keep you away from Bonnie now?"
Rayna pauses her movements, side-eyeing Damon.
"So that's why you're here? For her? Aren't you full of surprises."
"I'm the protector of the Bennett line."
"Bang up job your doing."
"Well I do try. So you kill witches? Equal opportunist now?"
"I truly don't enjoy hunting her. My magical benefactors and I are ashamed of this."
"Funny, doesn't come across like that. Care explaining."
"Blame the Armory for this. Always experimenting and concocting. They did something to me. They made Bonnie a threat to me and so many more. I truly have no control over this. She can't be allowed to open the vault. When I kill this Bennett, I will save the world. But the sacrifice will damn my shaman spirits and I for eternity for committing such blasphemy."
Rayna goes to lift the sword, only to put it down again when Damon palms his hand up.
"And if I could help with that?"
"You can't."
"Aw, come on. You don't know till you try."
"You're still dead."
"But will it get you off Bonnie's back?"
"It may. But how?"
"I'm not revealing my entire plan to you; common villain mistake. There's a chance I can fix this for you and it's better than being damned."
Rayna knows Damon is tricky. His Machiavellian tactics have caused her havoc and left her in awe, but he may have something. Bonnie was important enough because he never did show this level of involvement for his brother. She can clearly see his motivations it makes her decision a tad easier.
"Then let's exchange marks already!" she boasts.
Rayna proceeded to run the sword in reverse against Stefan skin. He could feel it unhook from his soul. Releasing him, like first time he got out of the safe. He collapses on his knees, trying to get some strength back. Rayna turns to Damon and runs the knife down his chest; it puffs and swells. It was done.
"If you double cross me Damon…" She whips her head to look at the other side of the complex, leaning into the new presence. Damon turns his head to his brother to see if he knew what the hell was going on. Stefan shrugs. "Things are about to get interesting boys. Now run! Run to her because hell is at your backs!"
Enzo watches as Bonnie is quiet in her own little bubble. Earlier, he tried to be gentle when he pointed out how she was easily out numbered during the meet with the druids. He was trying to get her to understand the unnecessary danger she was putting herself in. She'd been quiet since then. He wasn't scolding her. He was trying to shield her. As they came upon the complex, he can feel her magic tingle. She's rearing to fight. She finally stops taking the ring on and off her finger; he notices her new tick.
Enzo's reluctant to come here, but chooses to back Bonnie or be left out of the latest loop. Worst yet, he has horrible reception, so his text to Alex sits waiting on his cell for a functioning tower to access. As he pulls into the parking lot he notices a 1967 Pontiac GTO parked off to the side. The beautifully conditioned car makes him feel ill. The sound of Bonnie taking a couple of cleansing breaths as she steps out of the car brings him back. Enzo follows suits and as he closes his car door, a door on the side of the complex slams open. Vampires. They are flashing towards them and one of them is eerily familiar.
Bonnie turns to see an exit door is thrown open and two blurs are charging towards them. No, towards her. Bonnie could feel her heart pounding hard against her chest, drubbing out Enzo's shouts. Her magic inflames with anticipation, not fear. Then one of the two flashes stop right in front of her. Bonnie's mouth drops open. Shock. Gawking at the nerve of the man standing in front of her, all her little hairs stand on end. Where the fuck did he come from? She had heard from Caroline that Stefan was back, but this? The nerve of Damon was unreal.
"Rayna's behind us. We have to go Lil' bird."
Damon could feel the tingle of Bonnie's magic in the air, indicating she is pissed. He wants to explain, but he needs her in his protected embrace more. With no time for pleasantries, he scoops up Bonnie and places her in the GTO, almost leaving Stefan.
Enzo curses hard enough to draw a bloody tear. As he gets back into his car and starts it, Rayna steps out of the exit door. Its time to run. As he guns after the fleeing GTO, he plots all the ways to kill Damon Salvatore.
Bonnie feels her anger sloshing about, yearning to erupt. She wants to scorch everything, starting with the jackass beside her, a blister blazing brand, memorable for eternity. Stefan reaches from the back, smearing something onto Damon's chest, mentioning how they will meet up with Caroline later. She really can't pay attention to either idiot right now. Her magic wants to get swept away in her rage and strike out. Her indignation was further fueled by the semblance of relief her magic feels at Damon's return; the duality of feelings is driving her mad. She can't reconcile this, she can't move on from Damon. How does she stop the tumbling, and get some footing in her personal life. The shock is wearing off, as the sensations of a gravel road bumping her along, awakening feelings of rejection, alienation, mostly betrayal. As soon as the car stops, Bonnie dashes out of the car, getting away from the inevitable torment.
Damon took stock of Bonnie, silent as stone beside him. He noticed a ring on her finger. He suspects its Enzo's mark. That's going to be fixed promptly. Bonnie has no idea the depth he will go to save her this time. There would be no alternatives or distractions. She was going to survive this, and not die. When he stopped the car at a group of cottages, Bonnie bolted out. She had not looked his way once since he popped up before her. He watches as she walks away, and knows by the tensing of her upper shoulders, she's trying to reign in, instead of pop off. But this is their jam, so he spits in the face of common sense, and goes after her, ignoring the screeching car coming to a stop behind him.
Stefan sees Enzo coming in fast. He tries to intervene, but Enzo doesn't eat Bambi. Enzo drinks human blood and it shows, as he tosses Stefan through a tree trunk, impaling him on some blunted branches. Enzo flashes over to Damon and shoves him away from Bonnie. Damon shoves Enzo back. The blurring zooms back and forth, as Stefan attempts to untangle himself from the embedded branches. Bonnie has had enough of the scuffle behind her. She puts them all down with a mega aneurysm, leaving them twisting on the ground. After a few minutes, Bonnie stops the aneurysm, goes into the nearest open cottage, and slams the door shut behind her.
The car swerves, scraping on rims. A single angry pulse scrambles Nori's vision as she fights to keep the car from flipping. Esha braces her limbs on the dash, door and passenger seat, with one left for her aching head.
"Don't die, don't die." Esha chants.
"Are you kidding me? We are eternal." Nori shakes her head and settles the car as the agony from pulse fades. "Bonnie is not happy."
"No, no, that trooper is not happy."
Sirens and lights imbued the interior of their car. Nori chants a little spell making car slip into the invisible. An officer passes, swiveling all directions in the front seat, wondering what exactly he saw.
"Has this happen before?" Esha presses.
"No."
Esha is overwrought with questions but she knows its best to be gentle with Nori right now. Bonnie's presence was melding with theirs's, invigorating the dogfight. To Esha, it was incidental that Bonnie was the one. Wishes have fallen through before, hopes were dashed, but she wasn't going to let anyone take their baby sister this time. To assume her fighting spirit was nonexistent, was a mistake. She preferred not to fight after years on the battlefield herself. But this divergence pushed for radical action.
"Go faster." Esha stresses.
Nori steps on the gas leaving the confused trooper in their dust. Though her sister hasn't said it, Esha has shown with every action a presumption that Bonnie is their rebuffed sister. There was no point in denying the tenuous connection hypnotizes her as well. They need to get to little sister, ahead of as many dire calamities as possible. Nori hoped that this Lucy woman had some answers.
