This chapter is the ninth page of my Vampire Diaries forum: forum/The-Vampire-Diaries-My-Version/127310/

Pairings: N/A

Disclaimer: I do not own anything, but I am the main moderator/creator of the forum.

Some things have been edited and changed from the original story on the forum.

9:

Malice

"For this," Rebekah responded to Elijah, going for his heart with the dagger fast.

Elijah quickly grabbed her wrist and attempted to hold her back. He took out his own dagger and placed it against her heart. "Enough. Are we really going to dagger each other now?" This was getting beyond maddening that his family always had to end up fighting like this.

Rebekah held her dagger in place, not letting his words get to her. She couldn't afford to if she was going to protect Kol. But didn't daggering Elijah make her as bad as him? "I'm going to find the Cure and you're in the way. I don't want to be daggered by Nik again." She would at least try reasoning with him first. She doubted that Elijah would give Kol that privilege.

Elijah also kept his in place. He wasn't going to let her dagger him. He had to protect her and Kol. "Niklaus doesn't have any daggers, Rebekah. Kol doesn't want the Cure found. He stole all the daggers Klaus had. We're the only ones besides Kol with a dagger. Do you really think Kol won't dagger you if you continue the search, or worse? He has the White Oak Stake. Niklaus isn't the one to fear right now, Sister."

"How do you know that isn't what I want?" Rebekah asked softly. Dying was dying. Though yes, she would prefer to live out her life as a human before she did. "If you get involved we're screwed."

Elijah shook his head. Her words just made him even more determined. "It's your move, Rebekah. I don't want to hurt you. Especially not by daggering you." He didn't want to do that to her after everything Niklaus had done to her.

He could tell that Rebekah didn't want to dagger him either. Maybe she didn't want to cause the same pain that Niklaus had inflicted on her. "Stay out of this and I won't dagger you."

"I can't," Elijah automatically refused. "I have to protect you and Kol." He had failed to protect two younger siblings already, causing Henrik to be ripped apart, and Finn to be staked and burned.

"We can do it, Elijah," Rebekah told him, looking into his eyes.

Elijah got a plan as he looked into her eyes and made himself reluctantly nod after a moment. "Alright. I'll stay out of it," he told her, making sure not to give her his word.

Rebekah hugged him, moving her dagger aside as he moved his. "Thank you," she smiled.

Elijah paused when she smiled. He hadn't seen her do so in way too long. She needed more chances to do so, and not just one lifetime. He couldn't let her take that Cure. "I will be watching you both though. And Niklaus," he warned her.

Rebekah shoved her dagger into her boot. "Course."

Elijah put his dagger in his suit in an inside pocket. He sighed. "I will still be going to the party though. But I'll leave Kol alone." He still didn't give his word not to, but Rebekah didn't seem to notice and nodded.

Elijah started to walk off but paused. "Are you going?"

XXX

Kol parked his car and had to force himself to get out. Bonnie was not the one he wanted to take to this party, but asking Jeremy was out of the question. He went up to Bonnie's door and hesitantly rang the bell. Bonnie opened the door, wearing a dress and the necklace he gave her. Kol himself was wearing a dark suit.

He paused and smiled at the fact she was wearing the necklace, though she was unaware why he was smiling. "You look beautiful." She did but it didn't affect him. "This is for you." He handed her a single white rose. "Red roses were played out in my time."

Bonnie laughed at him, smiling. "Thanks. Let me go put it in some water." She retreated into the house to do just that, forgetting about the whole vampire-can't-get-in thing.

Kol stepped up to the threshold, feeling the barrier that prevented entry. He looked around at the doorjamb. This was going to be a problem if he ever wanted to kill her. "You couldn't find a way around this too, Mother?" he muttered underneath his breath. She could find a way around sunlight, but not this? He waited impatiently.

Bonnie came back and frowned. "Sorry. I forgot." She shook her head at how crazy this probably was "Let's go."

Kol noticed that she didn't invite him in and had to force himself not to hurt her. Jeremy would have been braver, cautious but still brave. Bonnie, despite being a powerful witch, was still nothing but a frightened schoolboy. He left the doorway and went back to the car, opening the passenger side door for her. Always manners. He blamed Esther.

Bonnie followed him with a smile. "Thanks," she said as she got in.

"You're welcome." She really wasn't. Kol closed her door, forcing himself not to slam it. He got in the driver's side and closed the door behind him. Starting the car, he drove to the Grill. Bonnie smiled as she looked out the window, thankfully remaining silent.

Kol parked at the Grill and paused before reluctantly asking, "Is something wrong?" He really didn't care. "You haven't said a word." Which he was thankful for as she was more boring than watching paint that never dried. He looked around the outside of the Grill cautiously before turning the car off. He didn't know when Elijah would strike tonight.

Bonnie smiled and nodded. "I'm fine."

Kol noticed she didn't get out of the car. She was obviously one of those I'm-a-woman-so-I'm-obviously-entitled bitches. He forced himself to smile back at her before getting out and closing his door, going around and opening her door. "I feel I should warn you…." He paused and stopped himself. He thought of something else to say quickly. "There's a chance my brother may try to dagger me tonight." She looked confused so he added, "I don't want you hurt in the crossfire."

Bonnie frowned. "Why would your brother try to dagger you?" she asked, trying not to dwell on his overprotectiveness of her. That seemed completely unnatural for what would be their first date.

Kol shrugged, not caring enough to keep up that particular charade. "How should I know?" He held out a hand to her reluctantly. "Shall we?" Manners, again.

Bonnie nodded, taking his hand. "I could always give him an aneurism."

Kol laughed at that. "Feel free to." That wouldn't work on an Original, but maybe it would make Elijah mad enough to break his no-killing-humans rule and kill her. He walked with her inside to find it packed. "Nik overdoes things."

Bonnie laughed, nodding. "I've noticed."

Kol smiled. He hadn't been talking to her but whatever. "Could I tempt you with that drink tonight?" Or are you going to be completely boring again like last time?

Bonnie laughed, nodding. "Sure."

Kol was actually surprised and took her over to the bar area. "What are you having?" he asked her, warming up a little.

Bonnie shrugged. "Surprise me."

With that, he became cold again. She obviously didn't drink at all. Kol ordered a rum-and-coke for her and Bourbon for himself. "What are you going to tell your friends?" he couldn't resist digging her. "Caroline will eventually see us here. Maybe even Elena."

Bonnie shrugged, not noticing the dig and leaned back against the bar. "It's just a date," she answered wryly. "Nothing serious. They'll get that. Maybe." She mumbled the last part underneath her breath.

Kol shrugged. Her friends were all idiots anyway, except Jeremy. "Well, they can't exactly judge you. Caroline's been spending time with Niklaus. And I'm still not precisely sure what's going on between Elijah and Elena." He handed her the rum-and-coke when their drinks came. "Try that."

Bonnie nodded, taking a sip. "Exactly."

Kol looked at her, deciding to cement himself as a good guy more. "We're not all bad, you know. My family. We're bad, but none of us are just that." He smiled. "You should have seen us when we were human."

Bonnie looked up at him, interested. "What was it like? When you were human, I mean."

Kol smiled, wishing he hadn't said that part. He hadn't wanted an entire conversation, and if he had, it wouldn't have been about his time as a human. But he forced himself to answer. "Fun. And risky, being some of the few humans living around werewolves. There were no paintings or bands or singers. If you wanted art or music you had to make it yourself. Entertainment was horseback riding and swimming. We didn't have TVs, but sometimes there would be... I suppose nowadays you'd call it plays." He hesitated. " I do miss it sometimes. Sword fighting with Elijah and Niklaus, hunting with Finn... teaching Henrik." He paused sadly at the mention of his little brother. "I even miss fighting with my parents." He smiled genuinely at that particular memory. "I was always in trouble. And then, of course, there was scaring off my sister's suitors." He smirked.

Bonnie nodded, sitting on a bar stool and smiling. "Why am I not surprised you were always in trouble?" she commented, laughing. "Or protecting your sister. That's sweet."

She would think so. But he'd always been a little sadistic and psychotic. That was what was heightened about him as a vampire. Kol shrugged, not telling her that part. "I was closest with Rebekah and Henrik. Elijah and Finn were always too busy trying to manage me. Niklaus actually got most of his bad habits from me. Mother hated it. The only one who could really manage me was my father." He took a gulp of his drink, not liking to talk about Mikael. Ever. "But he could manage all of us. We were afraid of him long before we became vampires. And with good reason." He spoke of his father bitterly.

He was liking this night less and less.