Safe Haven

by mysticfalls-originals

NIGHTMARES PART 2! "How season 6 should have been" through bonkai's eyes. this is a separate story from Nightmares that you can read as a standalone - only thing you need to know is they had more time alone in 1994 to fall for each other.

10. Chapter 10

"Read the introduction card."

"You read it."

"Stefan you're the victim which means you know all of the secrets and whodunits making you the mandatory host. See this envelope right here? This means I am now a potential suspect in the investigation and would be deemed a cheater if I did the Hosts job."

Stefan sat at the table staring over with a smile in the corner of his lips swiping the paper off the table and clearing his throat.

"Murder of A Millionaire in the Salvatore Manor; you may be an heir to the estate. All of your presences have been requested at Salvatore Manor for an evening filled with mystery and mayhem in order to solve the heinous murder of the late Rich A. Salvatore. Rich had his closest friends, family and confidants attending tonight for a big announcement but was unable to make it that far, the murderer taking his life between dinner and dessert and later discovered in his car. It is up to you to piece together and solve the crime while avoiding becoming the next victim. You guys got all of that? Okay, now for some of the background information; the envelopes you picked are your new identities-"

"And these little pink and blue stickers made it so there's no switching characters," Caroline stated.

"And each has a 'character breakdown' booklet letting you know details about your character, your relationship with the victim and how you should act. There will be specific actions, arguments, and various points that will need to be played out so you really need to take on your new role."

"I may have grabbed a few props to really hone in on the character which we will all be wearing."

"So this thing will be broken down into two stages; the first is getting in character and intermingling over drinks to feel each other out and the second is breaking off into an investigation of the house. You'll all have the option to check out rooms alone, with someone, or even in a group but be wary – getting too close to someone can result in your death. The assailant will have on a red sticker on one of their props and the point of the game is to investigate your surroundings, profile the suspects, avoid suspicion, and catch a killer. You can lie, manipulate, and persuade but you have to act out and follow what's written. Once there's enough information found you can make a public accusation where both parties argue their point – or has an alibi using one of the cards that'll be scattered throughout the rooms – and the rest of the group will vote on who they think did it. The chosen one will be eliminated and has to show if they are marked with the red sticker it'll will continue until they are found or succeeds in killing everyone else."

"How do we all meet up?" Elena asked.

"Oh!" Caroline pepped, "I found this App where you can send music and different sound effects like sirens and alarms, the weather, and animal noises to someone if they have the App too. I figured if we all download it then when someone thinks they know what happened they can send out whatever sound they like with the caption underneath of what room to go to. Kai I know you don't have a phone so I am going to use Stefan's, Bonnie will you mine, and you can use hers."

"Oh really," Bonnie let out in a laugh, knowing there was nothing important on it but hasn't even had it for a full 12 hours.

"Yes, and you can use mine; that way we're all slightly uncomfortable giving away and using someone else's phone," she smiled switching around everyone's as they all downloaded the App and added each other onto it.

Kai needed a little extra help keeping up with the rest but was the first to test it out, a flash coming up on Caroline's phone showing Bonnie's name at the top and a 'click to deny' button before a loud catcall whistle blew through the speaker. Damon's phone sounded next with a baby crying followed by a chicken noise playing from Jeremy's.

"Man I need one of these babies; I would use this App all the time."

"One of the main reasons why you won't be getting one," Bonnie stated and looked back at the envelope in her hands, "so can we check our new identities?"

"Go for it."

Tearing them open everyone pulled out a booklet and ID badge showing their new identity, Bonnie shaking her head through a bashful smile seeing Miss Scarlet looking back at her. Going around the table everyone held up their badges; Kai as Colonel Mustard, Caroline as Mrs. Peacock, Jeremy as Professor Plum, Elena as Mrs. White, and Damon as Mr. Green. Caroline darted into another room and appeared moments later holding a bunch of colored props handing out items to everyone that coincided with their character.

"A sexy maid's outfit?"

"I could have made you the old lady Mrs. White like in the game but I thought slutty sexy maid sounded so much better; it's just the front apron part so you can put it right over your dress."

"Check out this eyewear that I get to sport," Kai laughed sticking the one eye glass on his eye and cocking an eyebrow; the expression triggering Bonnie's laughter. "And I get this yellow tie, and belt holster thing that goes across my chest; sweet."

Bonnie looked over her own props of a flashy pearl necklace and bracelets along with sparkly earrings, a small red purse and deep red lipstick almost matching her dress perfectly. Caroline adjusted her blue peacock feather hat that looked like it was high fashion in the 20's, popped a long cigarette holder in her mouth and swung around a fluffy black scarf. Elena bopped around the table zipping up the apron over the front of her dress readjusting the small white cap and twirling around the feather duster. Smiling wide she watched Jeremy slide on a pair of glasses and purple bowtie looking charming over his plain white long sleeve and snorted at Damon rocking a green tie and matching fedora hat.

"Okay, I am liking this idea a lot more," Bonnie admitted laughing wholeheartedly as her eyes scanned her group of friends.

"See it's going to be great!" Caroline bounced, "and we haven't even gotten any drinks in us yet, everyone look over your booklets and get acquainted with your new self, I'll be right back."

The booklet was broken down into three different parts for the character; their background, personality, and secrets. Bonnie was surprised there wasn't more to know about Miss Scarlet other than she was the victim's current love interest and a model. The personality made the butterflies start fluttering around in her stomach as she went through how she was going to be able to play someone who is – seductive & charming, vibrant and doesn't let anyone see her real self, sexy & confident, manipulative with what emotions she shows; always planned and a true femme fatale. There was also two bullets in bold saying 'solve the mystery' and 'avoid suspicion' which she thought was almost ironic; here was Bonnie thinking all she had to do was get through dinner and now her along with Kai are going to be taking on completely new personalities and intermingling with everybody. Heading for the room on the opposite side of where Caroline had left Bonnie quickly checked her reflection in the full length mirror tucked in the corner, spreading the Divine Wine color across her lips along with her extravagant jewelry already feeling more in character.

"How do I look?" Kai's voice asked close behind her as she jumped and turned towards him, not hating the 'tough guy' look the black holster strap across his chest and belt was giving him.

"Like an old man in a yellow tie."

"This is the brightest item of clothing I've seen since I've been back; this generation really favors the bare minimum of colorful flare. But come on, this oracle? I look like a detective in the 20's."

"I was thinking Mr. Monopoly," Bonnie shrugged, "but yours works too."

"Mine works so much better," Kai said with a bright smile looking her over, "this is going to be fun."

"That's one word to describe it."

"What would you use?"

"Terrifying, nerve-wracking, a night I'll want to forget but really who can say."

"Miss Scarlet," Kai dropped his voice an octave lower stepping closer, "I think this will be a night you'll want to remember."

Bonnie breathed in to speak but the undertone seemed to be throwing her off more than the statement itself; together leaving her at a loss for words before snapping herself out of it and channeling her inner temptress – amplified by taking on personalities from various TV and movie characters. Gazing up into his relaxed stare she licked her lips drawing his eye-line down and smiled like she knew a scandalous secret about him, pushing her chest out an inch and tilting her chin to the side.

"Why do you say that, Colonel?"

Keeping his face void of emotion he put his hands in his back pockets mimicking her movements to puff out his chest and breathed in deep, "Do you really want to know?"

"I do."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," she uttered softly and he leaned in close not touching her but managing to make her feel like he was all over her.

"I'm psychic."

Fighting the urge to laugh and break character Bonnie stared into Kai's eyes and had to give him credit for not showing his boyish joking manner that he was just displaying; his look staying focused and intense making her heartrate pick up. Refusing to be the first one to back down she forced her mind to get back in the game and batted her lashes.

"Then why don't you tell me my future?"

"I could, but I think the surprise will be the best part."

"Mm, I'm not the type of girl who likes surprises," Bonnie let out with a pout and watched a flash of fire behind Kai's eyes before his cool exterior masked over.

"I find that hard to believe."

"Okay everyone – drinks, costumes, action!" Caroline yelled drawing Bonnie's eyes through the door to the next room as she put the flutes on a separate side table along with a large pitcher of sangria and glasses with straws and tiny umbrellas. "I would love to get acquainted with you all a little better; my name is Mrs. Peacock and I'm Rich's ex-wife. I know most of you through passing, some a little more while others are still a bit of a mystery. Please, feel free to drink and eat there's plenty to go around."

"That is very kind of you Mrs. Peacock, thank you," Jeremy said stepping past her grabbing a flute and finding his way back to her side, "My name is Professor Plum and I was Mr. Salvatore's psychiatrist. He was an outstanding gentleman who was taken down in the prime of his life; it is truly a shame."

"He was murdered, there's no sugar-coating it Professor. What we are looking at here is an act of a personal vendetta someone held, and they're in the room with us right now," Damon argued looking over to Bonnie before going back to his audience, "or in the next one."

Maneuvering past Kai she flowed confidently back into the room with her chin raised and held out her hand fingers down like she was showing off a ring as a greeting, "Miss Scarlet; charmed I'm sure. I've been seeing Rich now for almost a year and we were just about to take the next step, I just can't believe something like this could happen!"

"It's just so tragic," Elena sniffed, "one minute he's here and talking and everything is right in the world and the next he's just…"

Sobbing loudly she leaned into the closest person – being Damon – and let out fake painful sounds as held her close. Making her way over to the drinks Bonnie debated being fancy and taking the champagne as Miss Scarlet would have done but her pent-up nerves had her reaching for the pitcher of fruits and a variety of liquors, pouring a hefty amount and topping it off with a straw and mini umbrella before turning back to her audience.

"I am just so grateful to be around all of the people that my love thought so highly of, you were all truly important in his life."

"Miss Scarlet, it is no trouble," Jeremy soothed coming to her aid and laying his hand across hers, "what is most important is to surround yourself with comforting people who understand what you're going through."

Not wanting to fall out of character but feeling his stare on her Bonnie glanced over Jeremy's shoulder and found Kai, his face giving away nothing but his rigid posture apparent even from this distance. Tapping Jeremy's hand she whispered a 'thank you' and moved onto Caroline, watching out of the corner of her eye as Kai moved to Elena sniffing against Damon's shoulder and became her new focal point. Zoning in an out of the conversation Bonnie found herself more interested in what Kai was doing, his dark and brooding traits radiating off of him drawing in other's attention as well. Bonnie weaved in an out of conversations, her new personality starting to flow more fluently with each passing drink and found that she was even enjoying herself when Stefan rang a dinner bell.

"Stage two! It's time for the investigation; someone you have been getting to know and letting into your mind is a cold-blooded murderer and it's up to one of you to crack the case. There's ten potential rooms where the crime could have taken place; the library, kitchen, dining room, lounge/living room, ballroom and hall we're making one since we don't have two giant open rooms that have no real purpose, the billiard room, the study which we're considering my room, the conservatory that we made the porch since you won't find a sunroom here, and we added the master bedroom. They are all written in the back of your notebooks, along with the weapons and everyone's names. You can investigate rooms together or on your own; there are clues and cards hidden all over the rooms so it is up to you which tactic you think would be smarter."

"Miss Scarlet, would you like to accompany me to the library? I know Mr. Salvatore spent a lot of his time in there," Jeremy asked before Stefan had finished his sentence.

Pursing her lips with a look of disinterest Bonnie scanned the room curving the corner of her lips, "thank you Professor but I'm going to go solo on this one; someone murdered the man I love and I need to uncover every lead I find."

With all of their farewells Bonnie watched Damon and a sobbing Elena go off together, Caroline and Jeremy go their separate ways and stared at Kai with eyebrows raised as he moved down a hall to the left and turned out of sight. Rocking on her heels and contemplating which course of action she wanted to take, Bonnie crossed the room filling up another glass of sangria and making a small plate of pastries before taking a right out of the room and heading for the front porch.

Bonnie wasn't sure how long she was out there, the comfortable silence mixing with her buzzed lightheadedness brightening her state of mind and forgetting about her troubles momentarily breathing in the fresh night air. Balancing between eating the tiny delectable desserts and enjoying her carefree state of mind Bonnie twirled around moving across the concrete and tripped backwards over a crack falling into someone.

"That's an easy way to hurt yourself," Kai said in a voice of authority, "wouldn't want to lose both you and your husband in one night."

"He wasn't my husband," Bonnie corrected feeling his hands tighten for a fraction before standing her upright and spinning her back around, "but we were in love."

"I know, well I know he spent a frequent amount of money on you which I concluded was because you were a significant woman in his life. Being his lawyer gave me open access to his funds and how he managed his money; he seemed to distribute his spending's in almost a compulsive sort of way."

"Yeah Rich was a stickler for details, things had to be specifically how he wanted I guess I just got used to it. Almost as quickly I got used to him not being around," Bonnie sighed turning away and walking over to the brick wall where her drink sat.

"Where did he go?" Kai questioned closing the distance and hovering close behind.

"Everywhere," she laughed out a sad sound, "he had private jets and yachts at the ready to take him all around the world, millionaires are busy people after all."

"Sounds lonely," he murmured against her hair leaning his chest into her throwing her equilibrium off.

"I'm sure he kept himself busy," Bonnie said faraway not focusing on her words over the growing awareness of him against her as he brushed her hair away from the side of her face, turning her head meeting potent eyes.

"I wasn't talking about him."

Having Kai talk about her state of loneliness over a loved one from her past seemed to be an eerie 'fiction imitating reality' moment that she was struggling to fully take in on account of Kai's alternate personality. There was no playful undertone or toothy grin threatening to spread that Bonnie had gotten so used to she was fairly certain Kai didn't know how not to act that way but this situation was disproving her theory completely. Bonnie could feel his sexual and manly tension like he was intentionally putting it out there for everyone to pick up on and she would be lying if it wasn't drawing her in.

"Do I look like the kind of girl who gets lonely, Colonel?" Bonnie teased over her shoulder and Kai pressed his chest into her back pushing her down, left hand trailing down her arm and landing near her drink as he towered behind her.

"You look like the type that demands attention," he soothed against the back of her neck.

"You're right about that," Bonnie breathed as his other hand trailed up her leg stopping where her dress ended gripping the fabric.

"I can give it to you."

"Who says I want it from you?" Bonnie closed her eyes as the tipsy high mixed with her raging sexual low had her vision momentarily spinning when he thrust into her and a breathless gasp left her lips.

"I told you, I'm psychic."

"You're going to need to do better than that to impress me," Bonnie spoke softly, arching her back into him feeling triumphant when a noise grumbled in the back of his throat and stood at a sensually slow pace, turning to face him in the same fashion as his fingers played with her fishnets near the hem of her dress.

"Is that a challenge?"

"Do you need it to be?"

Kai raised an eyebrow as a hint of a smile threatened to show, Bonnie herself having the urge to wiggle around in jubilation over how sexual and confident she was acting. With the help of a little liquid courage and knowing it was all pretend Bonnie found herself wondering how far she could take this and felt an internal wager brewing over who would crack first.

"Oh things are always better when something's at stake, Miss Scarlet; makes the whole affair more rousing. Wouldn't you agree?"

"I too find it stimulating; there's something about the forbidden or unattainable that just seems so… tempting," Bonnie winked flashing a mischievous smile with a flip of her hair and strolled out of his invisible force-field, exhaling through her nose as this newfound power felt like an adrenaline rush coursing through her system.

Knowing she held the upper hand Bonnie made her way back over to where Kai stood, grabbing her drink and notebook and heading back to the door. Bonnie felt a little disappointed that she couldn't find any clues or cards in a place where the victim was last before being found in his car; her gut telling her she was on the right track. Stumbling slightly from her heels on the welcome mat Bonnie reached for the door catching her balance and looked over her shoulder to Kai now a foot away and making no attempt to help. Taking a step towards her Bonnie faced him dead on and inhaled slow as he inched his way closer resting his hand high on the doorframe near the porchlight.

"I was thinking you and I should partner up on this thing, solve it together."

"Sorry, I work alone."

"Maybe you can make an exception for me; I'll make it worth your while."

"And what makes you so certain?" Bonnie asked with disinterest looking away and held her breath when his hand slid up the siding getting dangerously close to her face before leaning back and holding up a card. Eager and wide eyed Bonnie stared at the card in the same hand Kai just had against the frame of the door giving him a side glance, "how did you see it up there?"

"I noticed it when I walked out," he responded with a stony expression, giving over the card as an offering which Bonnie greedily accepted, opening the small white card reading The Billiard Room in bold black cursive.

Opening her purse and sticking the card inside next to Caroline's cell phone she took a moment to scan through the notebook flipping past the pages of her personality to the "actions, arguments, and points to get across" page and one of the first bullet points read, 'Get closer to Colonel Mustard – lawyer who handled Rich Salvatore's Millions (motive).' Laughing out loud Bonnie looked back up to Kai shaking her head, making a mental note to bring this up to Caroline at some point in the night and tucked the notebook away.

"I may have use for you yet, Colonel Mustard; where do you think we should go next?"

"The master bedroom."

"What?" Bonnie let slip trying to imagine herself in this mindset with a happy buzz going back up to Damon's bedroom with Kai; a bad idea all around. "Oh, I can't – the pain is still too fresh to go and investigate our room as a potential crime scene. What about the dining room? He went missing around dinner, after all."

Kai nodded saying nothing, the silence signaling her to move and opened the door leading that way back to the dining room finding Jeremy consoling Elena at the table; her initial reaction to freeze and run in the other direction taking a back seat when they both looked up at them.

"Mrs. White," Bonnie said in a consoling voice walking over and rubbing the side of her face, "you have got to pull yourself together sweetheart, we are trying to figure out how this could have happened tonight and your crying isn't helping."

Scoffing a whiny screechy sound Elena shot out of her chair as her features turned crazed, "your carefree blasé attitude isn't helping either Miss Scarlet."

"I'm not blasé," Bonnie shrugged nonchalantly and caught Kai's smirk out of her peripheral.

"I think you did it!" Elena spewed catching Bonnie off-guard quick on her feet to turn the topic around.

"Why would I want to murder the man I loved? I'm still in shock over what's happened, I'm staying strong over this tragedy but you on the other hand," she tsk'd, "for Rich's maid you seem really torn up over this."

"I worked for Mr. Salvatore for years, he was a wonderful person who deserved more than what he settled for."

Bonnie turned her head slightly, corner of her lips curving at the insinuation and wanted to laugh over how much fun she was having, "I hope you don't mean me."

"I mean everything."

"And he would be better suited with the help?" Bonnie wondered and Elena broke character as her smile spread wider through her mouth opened in shock.

Laughing once and snorting Elena let out a high-pitched scoff, turning away with her hand out dramatically spewing words of nonsense and walking straight into Kai's chest. Bonnie kept her eyes on them as she made her way over to the table, making herself another glass of sangria and almost embarrassed that she was able to pick up on little details like Kai trailing his fingers across Elena's back in a soothing way or that he rarely broke eye-contact when he was in a conversation with someone. Jeremy came over trying to distract her with small talk but Bonnie's tipsy one-track mind seemed to be only focused on one thing – and it was not finding all of the clues to win the game.

Moving on to the dessert table Bonnie drowned out Jeremy while eavesdropping on the other couple in the room behind her; hearing Kai's quiet gravelly voice in hushed tones letting her know how close they were huddled together. Feeling the sway of two drinks within the hour Bonnie put down her glass and filled up a plate of little pastries, the three that she ate earlier doing nothing to quench her sweet tooth. Checking out the giant tier of cupcakes at the end Bonnie felt almost bad ruining it by taking one but she couldn't resist the top one coated in a dark red icing, lifting it and finding a small card underneath.

"Ha!" Bonnie exclaimed shimmying around opening the card which read 'lead pipe' and grabbed her drink spinning around to everyone in a grand gesture, "it seems my presence is needed elsewhere, goodbye gentlemen, Mrs. White."

Bonnie had no idea why but she was starting to really get into this game, wanting to investigate each and every room and find all of the clues to figure it out before anyone else could. The brooding yellow-tie-wearing distraction was definitely a problem for her tonight, but the worst of it all was that it was one of the few times Bonnie wasn't in any physical danger, just emotional. For whatever reason she kept picturing Kai and Elena in a tight embrace and the way he looked at her so focused on what she was saying; Bonnie had to wonder if that was part of his character or if that's just the way Kai converses with people.

"Hey," Kai hollered running down the hall to catch up with her, "why did you take off?"

"Well we don't want anyone knowing about our little secret, do we?" Bonnie hummed.

"Which secret would that be?"

"The only one we have; that we're working together."

"Oh right, can't have anyone figuring that out," he nodded once, his blank expression still showing the laced sarcasm underneath, "so where were you headed?"

"The ballroom."

"Why?"

"Big room, plenty of places to hide a clue where most people wouldn't think to look," she shrugged like it was no big deal but her tone said otherwise, giving him a last look before continuing down the hall.

"Huh," Kai commented, "fancy."

"I'll say," Bonnie breathed taking in the enormous room with flowing drapes covering a wall of windows and chandeliers overhead in a line down to the other side. Kicking off her shoes she twirled her way across half of the dance floor and stopped when music starting to fill the room, looking over at Kai pressing buttons on a remote. "I wouldn't expect a military man to know how to dance."

"Then shame on you."

Cocking an eyebrow she sipped her drink casually as Kai crossed the floor to her, taking the oracle off of his eye and sticking it in his pocket before putting out his hand to take.

"Colonel Mustard I don't think I've ever seen you without your oracle," Bonnie stated not comfortable with how much more attractive he looked in just the tie and holster.

"Only take it off when I think I'm going to break it."

With his hand still out for the taking Bonnie sucked in her bottom lip looking from his hand to his expressionless face and held up her drink showing she couldn't accept his hand. Without a second thought Kai grabbed the drink from her and finished the last half in two gulps.

"Hey!"

Sliding the purse off her shoulder he placed both on a side table and slid across the floor taking her hand in a twirl and gliding across the room. They started out playful, Bonnie's giggles and squeals spilling out as Kai moved effortlessly with the music leading her in every direction while she spun into his chest vibrating from laughter. As one song bled into the next there was a brief span of time where Bonnie drifted away from where she was, what was happening outside of this Murder Mystery game, and let herself enjoy one of the things she has missed most in the world.

"So how well can you dance, really?" Bonnie questioned.

"Why, do you want to battle?"

Bonnie smirked noting another moment Kai couldn't resist and temporarily broke character, but in his defense she was curious to see if Kai had any type of rhythm outside the basic moves. Running her hand up his shirt buttons she leaned backwards arching her back ready to plant her hand on the ground but Kai caught on quick and snaked his arm behind her back leaning down and touching foreheads before pulling her back up flush against him.

"No, I just want to see if you can keep up," Bonnie breathed with her forehead still resting against his.

"I can handle whatever you throw at me."

"Even the slow, intimate, lifting-girls-all-around-the-room-and-caressing-each-other dancing?"

"Even that."

If Kai was able to pull off any of those choreographed duet routines then 1: Bonnie was in trouble and 2: she was going to have to get to the bottom of who he learned them with. The cue of the new soft and sensual song triggered Bonnie's motivation swiveling around feeling his jeans against her thin dress; raising her right leg and leaning in the opposite direction towards the ground with her arms outstretched like a bird as Kai's arm wrapped around her stomach and put the other on her shoulder to keep her steady. Continuing with her body's fluid momentum Bonnie dropped her leg bending to move under his arm that was on her shoulder bringing her into Kai's left side and ran her hand across his upper back and around his neck bringing his face directly to hers.

Taking the lead Kai took two steps to the right and swung her into his movements with a small dip, spinning her around and lifting her over his right shoulder in the same movement taking her by utter shock. With one hand on the back of her left thigh and the other around her stomach Kai managed to give Bonnie the long awaited moment of feeling weightless as he spun in circles slowly lowering until she was back on her feet. Kai kept his arm around her as she jumped moving across the floor feeling like she was wearing moon shoes from Kai holding her weight and twirled out of his grasp giving them some distance before running back and leaping wrapping her legs around his torso. Gliding her hands around his neck and hair Kai tightened his hold on her back and leaned forward, Bonnie breathing out a sigh falling backwards and running her hands down his face and up over her stomach as she swayed from one side to the other. Bonnie could swear she felt a pang of euphoria as she closed her eyes drifting in mid-air feeling Kai's arm leisurely bringing her back up until there was no space between them.

"Where'd you learn that?" Bonnie murmured breathing heavily through closed lids.

"Military school."

Eyes darting open Bonnie had to come back down to Earth and recall what current role-playing game they were invested in. "You know for your sake, I really hope you're wrong."

"Yeah I didn't put much thought into that, I'm distracted."

Bonnie stared into Kai's dark gaze inches from her own, an unfamiliar sensation of being at ease in his presence jolting her nerves so fiercely her legs were shaking around him. Sliding her hand down his chest she moved back a fraction and could feel Kai's heart hammering from the adrenaline but wouldn't have been able to tell based off his coolheaded front; Bonnie's core twisting for the first time wanting to see that fire reflecting in his pupils. Time seemed to slow down almost swaying to the vibrations of the music and Bonnie couldn't decipher if that was just the sangria's making her night better or something else entirely.

Fisting Kai's shirt she tried holding onto her rationale; the set reasons and logical basis for why this course of action is not a path Bonnie should be strolling down when an obnoxious alarm started playing from inside Kai's pocket. A second later her purse started chiming across the room too far away to hear what the sound was but the abrupt change was enough to snap her out of her daze and unlocked her legs quickly scrambling off of him. Kai stared at her a moment longer and lazily reached into his jeans for his phone, holding it up between them as a smile spread wide.

"I swear Damon has a natural talent for this. Do you think he can sense when you're feeling a certain type of way… or is it just with me?" Kai sniggered and sobered, clearing his throat, "what I meant was – Mr. Green is requesting our presence in the library."

"You go on ahead I'll catch up with you in a minute."

"Is something wrong?"

"Not at all, I just need to gather my things."

"Do you not want the Professor to see us together?" he rumbled and Bonnie felt a wave of heat hit her blazing through her extremities, "do you have a thing for him?"

"I don't see how that's any of your concern," Bonnie dismissed unconcerned.

"It is," Kai growled low sending a vibration up her spine as he stepped forward towering over her, "I find it very disconcerting."

"Oh Colonel, so charming," Bonnie smiled with two quick pats against his chest, "see you in the library."

Looking over her every feature like he was about to devour her Bonnie fought the urge to do the same and stared him down until Kai pulled the oracle out of his pocket readjusting it over his and strode past her with the same strict and professional walk he was strutting earlier. She had to give herself at least a solid minute to gather her thoughts more than the items snatching the small purse off the table and hurried out of the room, making it halfway down the hall before she realized the shoes were still back there. Pivoting a full 360 Bonnie was taken aback finding Jeremy hot on her heels.

"Hello Miss Scarlett," he snickered moving in too close propelling Bonnie back a step which she played off as walking backwards and continued down the hallway, making it to the library in another minute or two.

"Well it's about time," Damon bellowed from down below near the couches, "if you two are done making us all wait there's a murder that we're trying to solve."

"You don't need to remind me, Mr. Green," Bonnie said in a brazen tone, descending the steps and slipping into Miss Scarlet's personality avoiding Kai's presence as she met Damon head on, "and who do you think is the deranged lunatic that did this to my sweet Rich?"

"Colonel Mustard," Damon sneered turning and pointing at Kai dramatically, his eyebrows turning down in doubt at the accusation as everyone looked to them.

"On what grounds?"

"On the grounds that you're a trained murderer, Colonel and that it would have come easiest to you."

"Both facts, but were also true before the dinner – or last week for that matter."

"So what's your accusation?" Bonnie questioned, feeling less than thrilled that Kai is the first potential person to be eliminated.

"I accuse Colonel Mustard of killing Mr. Salvatore in the library, with a gun."

"Ah, you almost got me Greeny, but if you paid a little closer attention you would have noticed I always carry a knife on my persons, not a gun. It's a simple mistake, assuming I would be strapped on account of my title. But let's spin this around a little, shall we? How did you say you knew the victim?"

"I'm his accountant."

"The money man," Kai nodded, "the one who dabbles in the funds and knows the ins and outs of his worth and savings. That's got to be a rush, seeing all of Mr. Salvatore's money piling up while yours is dwindling away faster than you can pay off the bookies… oh – was that not supposed to be common knowledge?"

Damon's character angry turned to his very real simmering rage as his eyes turned to slits gritting his teeth but not able to deny it meaning it must have been a character trait in his booklet. Looking around the room everyone stared between the two men skeptically, weighing out their options before the public vote took place.

"All in favor that Colonel Mustard is the killer," Stefan vocalized and Kai's eyes trailed over to her – and then next to her – smirking deviously when she kept her hand down while Jeremy raised his.

"And those in favor of Mr. Green," Elena's was the first hand in the air causing Caroline to break character and snort loudly when she couldn't hold in her laughter, lifting her hand as well followed by Bonnie.

"Alright Mr. Green, show us the mark of the killer," Stefan vocalized and Damon muttered a line of pent up incoherence flipping around his tie and showing the inside of his unmarked fedora. "Ooh, and the killer survives the first round."

"Not for long," Elena spoke up, "because I know who the real killer is - Mrs. Peacock also in the library with a knife."

"What?" Caroline breathed in harshly putting a hand to her chest, "I would never!"

"Oh no, ex-wife? Former lover and partner to his millions; I wonder where I got the idea from. Also I found this clue right here, which reads: Intellects, academics, & the enlightened find this to be their sanctuary which I believe means the library."

"I haven't talked to Rich in months or seen him for almost a year since moving on with my life. Although I'm not surprised to see that you haven't left his side Mrs. White."

"Cat fight," Kai whispered moving beside her and Bonnie had to do a double take checking Kai to her left and Jeremy to her right before stepping forward and touching both girls on the shoulders.

"Ladies, let's not be catty," Bonnie said in a 'pleasantly rude' voice making a face at Stefan to do his thing.

"Let's put it to a vote; all those in favor of Mrs. Peacock being the killer?"

Bonnie's hand was up immediately, looking over her shoulder at Kai with a hard stare; his head tilting before lifting his too.

"Are you serious?" Caroline uttered dumbfounded with everyone taking off her little blue peacock hat proving there's no red sticker on that or the scarf, "you all just killed off a grieving ex-wife over a slutty maid; heartless. Well I guess now it's down to four so you all need to step it up or you'll be the next innocent victim taken out during your prime."

"Wow," Kai chuckled walking over and placing the hat back on her head, "you were an outstanding Mrs. Peacock."

"Thank you Colonel Mustard, I thought so too," Caroline nodded simply and Bonnie noticed her expression shift mouth curving genuinely giving her the impression Kai gave Care one of his dashing smiles.

Everyone started getting back into their characters, Stefan and the eliminated victims filing out as the rest lingered.

"I think you made a mistake, Miss Scarlet," Jeremy said with a sad shake of his head, "I know Mrs. Peacock quite well and she would never hurt anyone."

"Oh people can surprise you," Kai said stepping into the conversation, "I've seen it happen once or twice myself."

"Colonel Mustard," Jeremy retorted giving Kai a once over, "you on the other hand I would say is definitely capable or murder."

"A+ for you, Professor; was it my military background that gave me away?"

"No, you just have one of those looks," grabbing Bonnie's arm Jeremy leaned into her ear not bothering to step away from Kai giving her the strong urge to close her eyes and pretend she wasn't here. "Want to stick around after this?"

Pushing him away with a hand to his chest Bonnie avoided Kai's tension and focused on Jeremy, going with her default rouse of the night.

"Professor Plum! How dare you, I am trying to figure out who murdered the man I love I have no room for interferences. Now if you don't mind I would like to get back to the investigation, unless there was something else?"

Jeremy's blank stare turned to Kai and stood tall taking on the typical macho exterior, Bonnie's eyes flickering over to Kai as well and felt a spike of distress witnessing the same violent undercurrent running through his features that she's seen on him before. Before overthinking it Bonnie squeezed in between them facing Jeremy and cocked an eyebrow, giving him one of her most steely expressions until he backed down. With a few parting words Elena hooked her arm around Jeremy and made their way out with Bonnie close behind, stopping on the steps noticing Kai wasn't with her. She had to give herself a full 45 second pep talk on how and why she should keep her head in the game, feet trudging down the steps and dragging her back until Bonnie was in front of him.

"You ready?"

"I don't know, I think Mrs. White may have been on to something with that clue," Kai murmured rubbing his chin in deep thought, "it does narrow down the potential murder scenes quite a bit."

"That's a good point," Bonnie agreed, strolling throughout the giant surroundings looking through small spaces scattered about as she went back up the steps rounding the corner checking the bookcases, "if I was a clue where would I be?"

"Hiding," Kai whispered on the back of her neck making her jump and stumble back into the books, "why, would you prefer it wide out in the open for the world to see?"

"Of course, it would make things much easier."

"Everyone would be able to see it for themselves and come up with their own conclusions not just left speculating in the dark."

"Exactly, it's real when it's right in front of you."

"Like you and the Doc," Kai said casually hitting Bonnie with her internal fear of where this was headed; the sexual temptress slowly disappearing as her heart beat quickened. "Everything is open and out there and no one has to wonder 'what's going on there?' since every sexy secret is discussed at the dinner table."

"But it's not-"

Kai stepped forward pushing his hand overhead with force swaying both her and the books from the momentum, "I'm curious more than anything, what first drew you in; the purple bow tie, the glasses, or how about those biceps? But between you and me I don't think a Professor should be doing steroids."

"That's not from steroids," Bonnie said replaying some fond workout memories they had together at the gym, in the woods, around the house; knowing exactly how much work and effort was put into it.

The sound of something deep in Kai's chest brought Bonnie's attention back to his and thought this was a time if any she could say she was witnessing someone 'losing their cool'. Kai's calm and collected exterior faded showing his true colors of fire and ice; his invisible force field demanding attention and simmering with darkness. Drawing his other hand up the books near her hip he leaned down getting eye-level looking intoxicating.

"How did he win you over this time; whisper sweet melodies in your ear while he laid you down gently? Or was all that pent-up energy from not seeing you enough to throw you against the wall and tear your clothes off. You said yourself that so much had happened this morning, apparently cementing that bond."

Bonnie's ears perked hearing her words playing back during her overwrought state of mind from being cramped in an elevator blended with the same phrase Jeremy used rolling off of Kai's tongue like he'd been waiting to say it. Fighting against her instincts Bonnie met his gaze seeing borderline blacked-out irises, from adrenaline or arousal she wasn't entirely sure.

"Are you sure it's curiosity Colonel, I almost sense jealousy coming off of you."

"That would mean I'm envious of the maid's little brother Scarlet, and that's not the case. I want you to do something," Kai murmured as she looked over his serious expression having a hard time deciphering what was real vs. what they were still acting out, "close your eyes and imagine whose fingers you want to feel stroking your smooth skin, whose body you want up against yours making you tremble and shake pushing you until you almost can't take it. Who is it that gets inside your head when they're near you? The thrill and anticipation charging you with electricity until you can't see straight."

Bonnie obliged closing her eyes hoping it would help clear her mind but she unwillingly played right into his sexual goading; Kai's deep reverberations twisting her core, restlessly scratching at the bindings to prevent doing the same down his button-up. The more Kai spoke the faster her willpower drained away, thudding the back of her skull off the stacks in an attempt to shake the revolving thoughts loose and let some form of rationality flow through instead. Opening her eyes Kai inched in bending his elbows, Bonnie's senses too heightened to differentiate if it was him shaking or her and detected his jaw was locked tight; teeth clenched in what was most likely the only way he could force himself to stop talking.

Bonnie could feel the heat emitting through his clothes wafting over and pulling her in as the room seemed to get hazy around them; flashes of Kai's body connecting with every part of hers and driving her through her comfort zone onwards past the point of insanity briefly blinding her vision. Kai's unconcealed fervency was drawing off her energy and provoking something perverse inside, Bonnie's obstinate desire to act out in a reckless way spiking to an all-time high during their game of roleplay. Running her hands up from Kai's belt holster around his neck and into his hair Bonnie pressed her shoulders into the book stacks leaning her hips into his and looked at the ceiling trying to find a sign from above when a gold envelope sticking out of the books caught her attention.

"Ooh look!" Bonnie exclaimed pushing his arm out of the way and pulling over a chair for the extra height snatching the envelope out from between the bindings, the front reading Clue #2 in the same fancy cursive that looked like Stefan's handwriting. "It says 'this weapon is bringing the heat'… what does that mean?"

"Baseball term; can also mean packing heat which is a gun."

"Aha! Someone killed Mr. Salvatore possibly in the library with a gun."

"You solved the mystery."

"I'm getting there, I just need more information."

"I'd check the card in the fireplace then."

"What?" Bonnie looked over to the unlit fireplace and ran back down the steps moving a log finding a folded white card underneath, "why didn't you open it?"

"I thought I'd let you do the honors, you seem very invested."

Shimmying a happy dance and opening the card her joyful expression quickly turned sour as The Library was displayed in black writing.

"Oh come on! The card saying the library is in the library where the murder should have happened – who came up with that?"

"Someone with a sense of humor."

Muttering out a disgruntled noise Bonnie stormed back up the steps and straight out the door not bothering to wait for Kai in search of another room. Making their way through the hallways they made it back to the front door – with a quick pit stop at the bathroom - and turned sharply thinking of a new destination.

"Where to?"

"The kitchen."

"Why?"

"I'm thirsty," Bonnie shrugged and Kai chuckled in response, strolling into the room they both spent more time in than any other in 1994 and took a short timeout.

Rifling through the fridge and tossing a water bottle over to Kai he pulled her phone out of his back pocket tossing it behind him on the island and leaned back, Bonnie copying his stance against the cold metal.

"Can I ask you something Miss Scarlet?"

"By all means, doesn't mean I'll answer."

"How was the sex?" Kai asked casually making Bonnie choke on her gulp of water, "with Mr. Salvatore."

"Unmistakably not a question that deserves a response."

"Oh come on you can tell me, it was in this house, right? Perhaps up in the Master bedroom with the King-sized bed, and don't get me started on that shower," he whistled, "certainly big enough for two. Did he take you in his arms this morning treating you in all the right ways, or was your last time a quickie? Because it will be the last time."

Bonnie cocked her head, Kai's no-nonsense statement rubbing her the wrong way, "is that so?"

"It is."

"And if I say it's not?"

"Well he's a dead man, so," he shrugged unaffected and Bonnie did a double-take debating if Kai was referencing the fictional Mr. Salvatore or if he was still throwing out innuendos about Jeremy; more than likely it was both.

Kai popped the oracle off of his face sticking the small circle in his pocket and loosened his tie unhurriedly pulling the knot down low; the finished product looking positively erotic. It seemed that the harder Bonnie tried pushing away the more tempting and difficult Kai made things for her; his carnal allure captivating her in a dangerously provocative trance.

"I need to tell you about earlier," Bonnie revealed, mouth clamping when she heard her internal thoughts verbally spewing out of her, Kai looking her over skeptically.

"I already know."

"No, you don't."

"Well it's not too hard to assume."

"You know actually I have to ask you this because it has been bothering me all night; do you really think I did?"

"Did what?"

"What you're insinuating," she ground out.

"That you hooked up with Jeremy? That you came here became consumed with an all-out lust for your ex and let him ravage you?" Kai questioned unabashedly and smirked at her pursed lips, "I don't know, did you?"

"You really think I did," Bonnie scoffed, more than a little insulted and hurt seeing how she is not the type that sleeps around even if it's with a previous partner; the rapid rise of her blood pressure propelling her forward before Kai blocked her path.

"What do you expect? He said it."

"I don't know, maybe for you to not believe everything you hear and jump to conclusions and just…"

"What?"

"Nothing," she murmured shaking her head and trying with a sad endeavor to shove him backwards, his chest pushing back against her keeping them locked in place.

"And just what?" Kai asked again looking rigid all over, Bonnie's own tautness and apprehension simmering into a dark N' stormy cocktail.

"Think that little of me."

"…What?"

"I don't even know what you and I are… or aren't, and you think I'm going to jump into bed with someone else? You're an ass."

"I'm an ass," he smiled amused, "I don't think that's me in this scenario."

"It is when you're wrong – you really want to know? Jeremy kissed me; pushed me up against the wall with a longing I've never seen on him doing all right things, and you know what I felt? Nothing. No desire or sparks of electricity so screw you, Colonel I-think-I-know-everything-but-I'm-usually-always-wrong and ask me next time before assuming I'd just sleep around."

Kai ran his hand across her collarbone clasping the side of her neck leaning down and speaking low, "Jeremy still wants you and he thinks he has some type of claim over you since you dated, and he's misinformed. I can't tell him that, I can only watch him move in on you while you brush it off and I try not to fry his brain. There's only so much a man can take before he snaps or kills someone, and I'd like to think I'm pretty sane."

"You're not killing Jeremy."

"Then tell him you don't want him," Kai let out in a low grating voice, tightening his hold and lifting her chin with his thumb, "tell him the passion's gone, to keep his hands off of you, that there's a better version of him in town – I don't care, just get the point across that you aren't his."

"Or what?" Bonnie enticed, this demanding and controlling side of Kai provoking something within her.

"Or I will, and my way will be so much better."

"You wouldn't."

"I already have it planned out."

"I don't believe you," Bonnie lied and Kai's smile flashed calling her bluff, "okay I don't believe you would actually tell him."

"I'd rethink that."

"Don't tell him."

"Then you tell him."

"They can't know yet!"

"I don't care if your friends know; my only focus is on the one interested in you."

"But they'll find out! Jeremy will tell Elena who will go running to Caroline and-"

Kai bent his knees and wrapped his other arm around her waist pulling her up into his thrust, Bonnie's sentence getting cut off by a small gasp, "what do you want, Bon? To keep this going or stop now that you have judgy eyes watching? What's worse; hearing what the people who are supposed to care about you say about us, or missing out on how your body reacts with mine?"

If Kai had succeeded in anything tonight it was making Bonnie want him with an uncontrollable ferocity, her skin misting over as the unstoppable freight train of pheromones came barreling through her. Sensing the shift in the atmosphere he triggered a similar response in her, baring his teeth and gliding his hand down her neck and ribs under her dress grabbing a fistful of fishnets; leisurely lifting her almost bare thighs across his jeans feeling him stiff underneath. Heat coursed through her veins, working twice as hard to keep her breathing even as a moan threatened to break free and Bonnie couldn't tell if she was more turned on or mortified over the extent of how deeply her body was craving his touch. Feeling like her skin was alive and buzzing Bonnie leaned back angling herself against him better and grabbed the knot of his tie pulling him in close.

"I want you."

Bonnie didn't know how it happened but she was pretty certain she was the one who physically pulled Kai into her, devouring his groan and wrapping her legs around him feeling a vigorous slam into the fridge driving a grunt out of her throat as the lights flickered overhead. Bonnie could feel Kai's confined rage over the topic tingling on his lips and gripped his hair yanking his head back; the sweet little pecks down his throat a tease compared to gliding her way back up over his Adam's apple. Kai's pulse leaped against her tongue nibbling her way around the side and Bonnie could feel his tense arms closing in around her and hands flexing under her dress, a tell that he's debating between holding back or pushing past his point of control.

Swiveling Kai took a few steps over to the island sitting Bonnie on top and tore the fishnets in half roughly away from her thighs taking her thin laced panties with them; her startled gasp igniting to a loud sharp screech in his ear when his belt holster hit the floor and he drove into her as every lightbulb in the chandeliers overhead simultaneously exploded. Giving her no warning or moment to breathe Kai murmured Latin against her lips grinding into her and Bonnie fought to get closer scooting to the edge of the counter and ripping his shirt open with surprising ease. Scratching her nails up his bare chest and pulling off the tie Kai lifted her into a thrust with such force her vision blurred and the fridge doors flew open.

"Kai – the room," Bonnie panted.

"You're fine, the shield's up," he answered back huskily running his hands up her stomach and chest, yanking the flimsy sleeves down her arms and out of the way in one swift move followed by her long strands of pearls.

"But… the room," she moaned as Kai's lips encased her nipple and bit down, kneading the other as Bonnie gripped the roots of his hair to keep from falling backwards, "it's going to get destroyed."

"Mm."

"People will notice!"

Making his way back up her chest and neck Kai kicked the fridge door closed and grumbled out another sentence in Latin landing in front of her with eyes so dark that the sensual look alone had her aching for him. Kai brought his face inches from her, his ragged breathing puffing against her skin dragging his nails down her sides and around her legs crossing them behind his back and lifted her off the counter pulling her into his every plunge. Bonnie looked around seeing nothing flying around the room and her hands slid back planting firmly against the black marble as Kai leaned over propelling her into him with deep drives making her thighs shake.

Pushing his forehead into the crook of her neck sweat misted over Bonnie's skin listening to Kai's low and raspy sounds, never seeming to be self-conscious or abashed when his gratification reverberated off the walls. Kai's noises always seemed to find a way to shoot straight down into Bonnie's core setting her over the edge, his deep threatening sounds grinding out her name being one of her single greatest joys. Bonnie dropped her head back as his rumblings sent a charge through her system, her overzealousness resulting in a string of broken words each booming more than the next and she could sense the effect it was starting to have on Kai as his hands sizzled against her skin.

Yanking Bonnie off the counter Kai spun her around pushing the dress farther up and ripping the fishnets down – a little ticked off he didn't just do that to begin with – and trailed soft kisses up her spine making Bonnie feel unhinged by the time he pressed his teeth into one of her weak spots where her shoulder and neck meet. Bonnie lulled back onto his left shoulder and Kai tilted her head to his, angling himself and catching her with her defenses down as what started out as a simple brush of their lips became impassioned leaving her flustered and gasping for air as everything swayed around her. Heaving forward to steady herself Kai pushed his chest into her back laying them flat across the marble and Bonnie could feel him stiff between her cheeks.

"I've thought about bending you over this counter during many late night dinners," Kai hummed under her ear, "more times than you can imagine."

Countless meals they've had together in this house – this room – played at lightning speed, Bonnie's skin tingling at the thought of him picturing them doing exactly this during any of those times. As her lust-induced mind filtered through possible scenarios Kai has imagined for them since she knows for a fact he has played them out before, Bonnie felt his magic charged fingertips sinking into her skin as he leaned back sweeping them down her back stopping at the curve of her ass.

Bonnie could feel the knot twisting her insides as her hips moved at their own discretion lifting onto her toes to line him up and Kai sank into her in one quick movement, the guttural noise going down his chest flowing into her as her nails clawed across the cold marble. Kai ran his hand across her skin buzzling with electricity and grabbed a fistful of hair, pulling with just enough pressure to arch her back taking him to the root and hitting a tender spot. Bonnie's body temperature rose exponentially as Kai powered into her, his groans and burning words of fervor gusting inches from her ear drowning out everything around her as the flush of heat spread.

A loud ambulance siren jolted Bonnie back into Kai and noticed it was coming from the phone next to her; Caroline's playing music inside the purse across the room on the table. Bonnie reached over with a shaking hand but Kai was quicker and swiped the phone sticking it in his chest pocket and pulled her into him snaking his arm around her stomach.

"Kai – they're calling us – we have to go," Bonnie got out in short, quick breaths over Kai's constant movements and he bent his knees driving forward in response.

"We're not going anywhere."

"We have to finish."

"Exactly."

"The game."

"Later – besides I already know who did it. We have more urgent matters, wouldn't you say?" Kai persuaded stroking deep inside and massaging her breasts, pinching down the same moment he rocked into her causing a loud cry of pleasure to escape her lips.

The sound of echoes and distant chatter brought Bonnie crashing back down to reality in an instant; her hyperawareness kicking in and pivoting halfway to clamp her hand over Kai's heavy breathing. Multiple voices drew in and the current state of euphoria she was residing in was quickly spiraling into Defcon 1 as she let go of his mouth to swat against his chest and hands.

"They're coming, get off of me!" Bonnie raced through and felt Kai grip her tighter.

"They won't see you."

"They'll see both of us."

"I'll let you in on a secret," he murmured brushing his fingers over her clit making her arch into him, "we're invisible."

"You cloaked us?" Bonnie got out after regaining her thoughts, "when?"

"After dinner, we've been cloaked the entire time aside from the few altercations with people," Kai revealed chuckling.

"Why?"

"In case the game got too real."

"You mean in case you decided to kill Jeremy?" Bonnie scoffed out a sound that turned into a grunt as he thrust forward.

"That was the main one, the other was in hopes I got Miss Scarlet alone," he said hoarsely against her neck keeping up his agonizingly commanding pace weakening her skittish attempts at stopping.

Looking out the kitchen door into the dining room Bonnie couldn't see any shadows threatening to pop out but could still hear their voices making her believe they were in the room right after; the longue.

"I think they're in the living room."

"Doesn't that make you hot; knowing people are so close and could walk in at any second. They can't see us but you still feel sexually charged by the naughty foreplay of it all."

"No… it doesn't," Bonnie stated, never thinking of the topic before right now.

"Really? I am just thinking about it; I hope it's your blonde friend," Kai mentioned gruffly through a smile, a jagged noise slipping out when Bonnie slammed back into him.

"I will kill you."

Kai's light laughter vibrated through her core tingling out her fingers and toes, one of his hands trailing down past her naval as the other turned her chin slanting his lips over hers and pulling her into a lavishly wet kiss. Bonnie's insides warmed at the contrast of the tenderness of his kisses vs. the sexual animalistic side that manages to bring out the same hidden minx in herself that only Kai can invoke.

"They're getting closer," Kai whispered against her lips picking up his pace, the adrenaline of being caught in this scandalous predicament almost pushing her over the edge when she faintly heard Caroline's phone and a man's voice from ten feet in front of her.

"I told you I heard her phone," Jeremy said passing the room to the table where the purse is while glancing at the ceiling, "what happened to the lights?"

A startled shriek escaped Bonnie's throat before clamping her hand down in fear they would hear and flailed her arms and body backwards into Kai trying to break the connection but he held her still with a vise grip.

"Peculiar," Elena noted flipping the switch back and forth, "she's got to be around here somewhere."

"With Kai," Jeremy said in a disgusting tone and Kai chuckled low against her neck moving slowly leaving soft kisses on her skin.

"Professor."

"Colonel Mustard," Jeremy corrected with a roll of his eyes, "that older stoic creep who is without a doubt the real killer."

"I wouldn't be so sure, Miss Scarlet is very mysterious she could be keeping him close to frame him."

"Then why doesn't she have her purse? Something's wrong, he's up to something."

"Like what?"

"I don't know, but I think he took her and he could be off somewhere hurting her."

"Am I hurting you?" Kai breathed on a particularly masterful stroke making her break out in goosebumps and Bonnie had to fight through the shock of pleasure pressing her hands into his stomach trying to push him away. Wrapping her hands back around her front Kai lifted her off the ground and took a couple steps to the left around the island landing them face-to-face with Jeremy and Elena at the table. Kai brought her wrists around her back and crossed them with one hand grabbing her shoulder with the other and thrusting forward. "Do you really want me to stop, Miss Scarlet? We've come along all this way, and you're so close…"

Bonnie's vision blurred at the impact, her whimpers of protest escalating to pants of encouragement that she was completely unaware was within her; Miss Scarlet making another unexpected appearance. Through heavy lids she could see Elena leaving the room as Jeremy hovered near her purse and Bonnie dropped her head to block him out only to be tugged aggressively by the hair bringing her eye-line directly to him, unable to move or look away.

"Did he ever make you feel like this?" Kai uttered huskily, "with that want and need you can't stay away from – that you can't get enough of. Does looking at him still turn you on? Lingering thoughts of his fingers running over you and your body pressed up against his. Do you still want him?"

Bonnie couldn't even think straight, let alone answer an interrogation when she felt like she was on fire. Hoping that ignoring his question sufficed as an answer Bonnie let out a harsh noise when Kai let go of her wrists throwing her right leg on top of the island and pounded into her. Through the haze she could still see Jeremy's silhouette and something pinged in the back of her mind with clarity that Bonnie didn't want Jeremy's gentle hands caressing her and making love to her, she needed more. She wanted someone she could argue with; as stubborn and demanding as her who was passionate and maybe even a little dangerous. Bonnie needed to have someone in her life that she could relate to and not feel judged, or different, or ashamed of what she has been through and how it has changed her - and she used to think Jeremy was that man.

"Is little Gilbert the right one for you? Are you still looking for your Prince Charming, or ready for something darker?"

Kai's deep rumblings vibrated throughout her entire body, his dominant tone a contrast against what Bonnie suspects might be a shadow of doubt in his mind; coaxing the truth out of her to know for himself. Giving her ass a sharp 'slap' Bonnie curved into him and his left hand slid out of her hair and around her neck, pulling her into his face looking into eyes so dilated there was almost no icy blue visible. The mixture of his seductive stare and lack of oxygen was making her head spin, the rhythmic slapping of his body pumping into hers pushing her over the precipice as her limbs started to shake in warning. Reaching up to grip his wrist Kai's hand tightened around her throat and Bonnie's other trailed down to the one digging into her hip; Kai interlocking their fingers and pressing them both above her pelvis and squeezing as shocks of magic shot through her fingertips flooding her system. Bonnie felt alive with electricity, her skin sizzling to the touch that sparked an insatiable craving of wanting to feel this way every day.

"No one can make me feel like this," Bonnie moaned out as her instincts took over spilling out words with no control over them, "there's no one else."

Hearing her own words out loud was Bonnie's undoing; the undisclosed confession coming out as a revelation to her closeminded stubbornness when it came to Kai, still in this moment not wanting to believe what she was saying. Grating out his name roughly Kai ran his tongue over her bottom lip swallowing her scream as he rode out her orgasm and followed letting out his own tantalizing sounds into her mouth that had Bonnie aching for more. Breathing in each other's pants Kai soothed her trembling; kissing her softly and she pried open her heavy lids seeing him staring back at her.

"Did anyone ever tell you it's weird to look at someone while you're kissing them?" Bonnie puffed against his lips causing a smile to break out.

"No."

"It's weird."

"I like watching you," Kai rasped and she shivered in response, clamping down in the crook of her neck making her giggle and squirm away.

Bonnie shot her head back towards the table and breathed out a long sigh of relief not seeing Jeremy still standing ten feet unaware or worse – staring at the both of them through horrified eyes if the cloaking spell didn't hold up. Bonnie couldn't fully process what had just happened, the whole thing seeming like a foggy dream-like state where she couldn't have been held accounted for her rash decisions. Running her hand over her mouth as fragments of the last few minutes started replaying in a new heightened lucidity Kai stepped back and spun her around, nibbling his way up her stomach and chest and kissing her with purpose; Bonnie's scattered thoughts of panic entrapped under a blanket of hindrance as Kai eased her back down.

"I can't go out there."

"Sure you can."

"No, I don't see that happening."

"We wouldn't want them to think I have you hostage somewhere doing something to you," Kai grinned with eyebrows raised.

"I don't care; they'll know anyway Caroline will see it all over my face before I even make it into the room. She probably already knows!"

Kai's candid laughter did nothing to appease the tight knot in her stomach, the worry tipping over to hysteria with each passing thought until Kai pulled her face in front of his with his hands resting on the sides of her neck.

"You worry too much; if you make it obvious, they'll know," he shrugged, "so just be your usual confident sexy self Miss Scarlet and you'll be fine. It's not like you haven't been keeping dirty secrets from them already, what's a few more?"

Kai's impeccable way of words and twisting them accordingly to agree with his point of view was genuinely impressive; even now with her inclination wanting to argue against his every point couldn't deny the appeal of his suggestion. Looking over Kai's ruffled appearance she was pleased with herself that she was the one that unraveled him; the edgy look he was sporting with his dark eyes, flushed face, tense posture, and shirt torn open with a red scratch going down his stomach.

"When did that happen?"

"When you were trying to push me away, probably – but it's okay, I like you marking me," Kai said provocatively and winked, laughing when she made a disgruntled face and Bonnie nudged him backwards hopping off the counter to readjust her dress and scooping the pearls off the floor.

"I can't believe you just tore these in half," Bonnie murmured pulling up the fishnets and checking the damage of the decent-size rip.

"You mean these?" Kai grinned holding up her shredded lace panties and stuck them in his pocket, Bonnie feeling exposed and petrified of the type of woman she's becoming.

"Is it noticeable?" she asked in a small voice, pulling the hem of her dress down repeatedly in hopes it was long enough to not give anything away.

"I think your safe," Kai smirked buttoning up his shirt, reaching for the belt holster putting it back in place and taking the oracle out of his pocket as Bonnie checked him head to toe and watched him struggle to knot the tie, swatting his hands out of the way to tie it.

"I would have expected you to know how to do this by now."

"I didn't wear too many ties in my eternal paradise," Kai smirked and hummed when she glided her hands through his hair, "what'cha doin'?"

"I'm making sure you don't have sex hair," Bonnie stated in a factual tone that had his face lighting up with humor.

"What does sex hair look like?"

"Chaotic and all over the place and a dead giveaway you were up to no good."

"Hey Bon?"

"Yeah?"

"You have sex hair."

Yanking her hands out of his hair she instantly went to her own; matting it down and pampering within thirty seconds to tame it back to its original look. Running back over to the little red purse Bonnie grabbed the lipstick inside and slid it on quickly falling back in step with her surroundings and the part she's supposed to be playing and let the mask slide back on, looking over at Kai with a raised chin as she headed for the door.

"You ready, Colonel?"

"Lead the way, Scarlet."

Bonnie propelled herself forward before losing her nerve as her heart beat faster with each step she took closing the distance to the muffled voices and stopped dead in her tracks a step away from the door, Kai almost barreling into her.

"Kai…"

"I'm right behind you," he leaned down whispering and to her surprise the comment did seem to alleviate some of the anxiety.

"Do you have a thing for being fashionably late, Miss Scarlet?" Elena asked failing miserably at trying to hold a straight face, eyes darting behind her to Kai and back.

"A lady always arrives fashionably late, Mrs. White; builds up the anticipation."

"What about you, Colonel Mustard?" Jeremy asked stepping closer.

"A gentleman assists a lady in whatever needs she asks of him," Kai smiled walking around Bonnie as a flush of heat crept up her neck.

"And what would those be?" he murmured showing a cold flash of hatred over exaggerating his posture, everyone's eyes moving between Bonnie and Kai.

"Assistance to the restrooms; there is a murderer on the loose after all."

"Why didn't you have your purse?" Jeremy asked looking around Kai.

"She left it in the kitchen, we were investigating – not the murder room by the way."

"I know because we're in the room," Elena spoke up, taking the attention off the two men squaring off, "and in my hand is the final Clue that tells us exactly who was behind this heinous crime! It reads 'Be cautious of the ones you hold dear, they are the ones you truly should fear' which narrows it down to only one; Miss Scarlet!"

"Me?" Bonnie spewed in a prickly undertone, "if I'm not mistaken that narrows it down to two, Mrs. White – as you were just as close to Rich as I was… if not closer."

"Excuse me?"

"Let's take a moment to dissect that clue, shall we," Bonnie said crossing the room and snatching the piece of paper out of Elena's hand, "'the ones you hold dear', why I don't think there's anyone who fancied him more, working for him for all of these years and forming that tightknit bond. If I'm not mistaken you were brought up in many conversations revolved around your afterhours indiscretions spent in the house with him; unfortunately for you I'm not as scatterbrained as Mrs. Peacock was."

"Hey!" Caroline perked throwing her hands out.

"What Mrs. Peacock never picked up on while she was married to Mr. Salvatore was the affair you two were having that started back up again while he and I were together."

"How could you!" Caroline shrieked playfully, grabbing Stefan's lapels and pulling him close for dramatic effect.

Bonnie looked between their obvious progression in intimacy since getting whisked away to 1994 and over to Elena who was also watching their lighthearted banter and wondered what could be going through her mind. Elena had been well aware of their development towards a relationship but she had also had the love of her life to occupy any nagging thoughts that could have arisen; now she unknowingly had to look at things through a new perspective.

"So I think it is actually you Mrs. White, but why don't we leave our fate up to Professor Plum and Colonel Mustard," Bonnie vocalized drawing everyone's attention back in and thought it was almost comical that her fate in the game was in the hands of Jeremy and Kai.

"All in favor of Mrs. White?" Stefan voiced.

Jeremy's hand shot straight in the air, the smug smile sliding in place looking over at Elena's agape shock and turned back to Kai, hands still down, staring at her. Bonnie widened her eyes for him to raise his too and he cocked an eyebrow, smiling out of the corner of his mouth before following her command.

"Ooh tough luck sexy maid, let's see that red sticker!"

"Well good luck trying to find it," Elena huffed pulling off her small maid's hat and flipping it over revealing no mark, doing the same to the feather duster and inside of the apron.

"And it seems the killer has made it to the Final 3," Stefan remarked, "time for an all-out battle to see whodunit; the one outvoted will be eliminated and the person with the best arguments and reasoning will win."

"It's Colonel Mustard!" Jeremy declared, "It couldn't be more evident."

"This again?"

"Yes, because the killer – you – still hasn't been eliminated. You were his lawyer; you handled all of his millions and knew exactly how much he was worth. You were someone he was very close with, and you're a trained killer."

"There's always that," Kai nodded, "but there's just one problem."

"What's that?"

"I'm not Miss Scarlet," he smiled turning his eyes on her, "miss greedy over here was spending her time with me to get close to the money and seemed more interested about finding clues than feeling sad. And she knew about Mr. Salvatore's affair with the maid which would just piss anyone off. Then there's that pesky little detail that a week before he had made revisions to his will; lowering Miss Scarlet's funds and raising Mrs. White's. But hey maybe you're right, it could have been me."

"It was you," Jeremy argued stubbornly.

"It was definitely you," Bonnie agreed, "I didn't do anything. My vote for the killer is Colonel Mustard – Professor?"

"Absolutely," Jeremy beamed and Kai flashed the same cheeky grin, popping the oracle out of his eye and taking off his belt first followed by the tie at what Bonnie could only describe a sensual pace, flipping it over to show no red sticker.

"You almost survived the night Professor," Stefan laughed, "but you probably should have listened to the Colonel. Now that you're the only survivor left Miss Scarlet had no choice but to eliminate you from the equation as well, making the murderer of Mr. Salvatore the lone survivor.

"Yes," Bonnie cheered hands raised taking a victory lap for her flawless acting and deceptive arguments swaying everyone's suspicion away from her. Flipping open her small purse a large red sticker was plastered on the inside, "I fooled you, and I fooled you –"

"Can't fool me," Kai smiled when she turned towards him and mimicked his mock-sweet grin.

"Too bad you're not better at convincing your point."

Winking and continuing on to the rest of her friends Bonnie felt triumphant over everything she has accomplished and experienced during this roleplay-real life game of Clue. Caroline walked over to her giggling in content and thrust a small drink in her and Kai's hands.

"I would suggest taking that in one sip, it's strong."

Staring down at the dark liquid Bonnie took a deep breath and swallowed the warm liquor in one gulp as it burned down her throat, her vision swaying almost immediately.

"What is that?"

"Some century'ish year old scotch," Caroline laughed and refilled it again halfway, "and that's all you get or else you won't remember the night."

"You should give me another full one then," Bonnie nodded and Caroline snorted grabbing two more glasses for her and Elena as they all cheered.

"So Kai, did you crack the whole mystery or just who did it?"

"Oh I know the whole thing."

"Let's just see about that," Caroline gleamed grabbing the envelope from Stefan and opening it, "what's your final verdict?"

Kai tapped the side of the glass with his index finger finishing the rest of it before answering, "Miss Scarlet, in the study, with a candlestick."

"You're right!" Caroline gusted through her astonishment.

"When did you figure it out?" Bonnie wondered since Kai never gave away any inkling that he was even playing the game let alone solving it.

"Some time in the library," he shrugged, "since it wasn't the library it was the study, and Miss Scarlet seemed the type that would kill in a moment of passion grabbing whatever was closest not coming prepared with a gun hidden in that dress."

"When did you know it was me?"

"I always knew it was you."

"Liar."

Kai did another dismissive gesture, smirking and sauntering away as Bonnie continued talking to Caroline. Feeling a nice wave of mellowness wash over her she plopped down on the couch scanning the room when she caught sight of Jeremy standing within Kai's vicinity and could tell from Jer's aggressive hand gestures he was trying to argue whatever he was saying. Kai's face stayed composed giving nothing away but Bonnie knew better, his hands shoved into his front pockets a tell he's restraining himself. Blinking slowly her eyes froze open when both guys turned their heads focusing their attention on her, Jeremy being the first to walk towards her.

"Oh no," Bonnie mumbled struggling to stand back up and tripped over the couch leg trying to move around it.

"You okay?" Jeremy asked next to her ear catching her fall and her hysteric state of mind mixed with the sudden wooziness had her cackling uncomfortably.

"I think I'm feeling the surge of power from being the victorious killer," Bonnie smiled straightening herself and stepping backwards walking in the other direction to keep moving.

"So did you think more about staying here tonight?"

"I-" she hesitated, never giving it a second thought after she brushed it off earlier before getting preoccupied in other arrangements, "I still need a little space from this house before I can start spending the night. Besides these drinks really just snuck up on me."

"Are you sure? I know it's the same house but you're safe now," he reassured, "and there's plenty of rooms for you to fall asleep in."

"Maybe another time," Bonnie smiled and chatted for another few minutes, giving him a hug goodbye when Kai's voice sounded near the doorway.

"Well I'm going to head out," Kai stretched his arms wide, "Bon, always a pleasure. Bon's friends… ehh."

Bonnie's mouth opened to question where he was going but didn't want to raise suspicion in the crowded look, glaring in his direction as he winked and darted out of view heading out the front door. Feeling distracted she weaved through the rest of her friends starting her round of goodbyes and ended with Caroline handing her back her phone.

"Thanks for letting me borrow this."

"No problem, not like you needed it much anyway – having your phone in Kai's pocket five feet away," Caroline suggested with a wiggle of her eyebrows.

"You were the one that made one of my tasks to stick by Colonel Mustard; what are the odds of that, huh?"

"I know right, I couldn't have planned it if I tried… which I did," she laughed "but it was a 1 in 3 odds you'd both get the right people."

"Why?"

"So I can hear all about it later."

"Hear about what?"

"The whole night; Kai thanked me for a memorable night when he came over to say goodbye. Your excuses so far have been that the days blend together and it was always the same thing of staying at the house, so now you have a new memory to gossip over with me later."

"Is that why –"Bonnie thought out loud, "is that what this whole night was about?"

"How angry will you be if I say yes?" Caroline asked with a fake-innocent pout before squeezing Bonnie tight, "but you have to admit it was a fun night!"

"I guess," Bonnie murmured into Caroline's embrace, "but that's just because you know how to throw awesome parties."

"You are right about that! But there will definitely be another girl's night happening soon."

"But you're here you already know what happened," Bonnie tried counteracting.

"Not everything," she hummed and eased up on her grip leaning back, "we'll save that for another time. Do you have everything you need?"

"Y-"she started looking over her appearance, "no, I kicked the heels off they were starting to hurt."

"Mhm."

"They were! I love you, I'll text you when I'm home."

"Love you too!"

Making her way down the hallways in half a daze she strolled into the ballroom finding Kai in the corner messing with the music.

"What are you doing in here? I thought you left."

"I walked out the front door, not at all the same," he smiled, "you should know better than most there's more than one way into this boarding house."

"So you didn't have somewhere else you needed to be?" Bonnie asked casually walking to her shoes and scooped them up with her fingers, heading back for the door.

"Where else would I need to be?"

"I don't know, wherever you were earlier," she suggested turning down the hall with Kai in step.

"No, that can wait for now."

"Where did you go?"

"I'll tell you all about it when I'm seated comfortably – preferably lying down."

"When are you going to find your own place? You know part of being in the real world is finding a home and paying to live in it."

"Isn't sleeping on a friend's couch still acceptable?"

"Not really."

"This generation," he tsk'd, "what happened to you guys?"

"Generations of bad decisions led us here," Bonnie joked and turned down the final hallway leading to the front door, "I can't just walk out the front door with you."

"Relax, I'm going," he said through a wide smile, "I'll meet you at the car in a minute."

Bonnie breathed through the hazy blur that was forming like a cloud over her vision, running her hand along the side of the wall as each step brought her closer to the dark secret she was dancing with. Once she was caught up in the moment Bonnie realized things that she could never admit out loud – most she wasn't even fully aware of – started spilling out of her lips putting the whole private affair in the spotlight for Kai to see. Even though her mind and body was being drawn to Kai there was still a part of her that was convinced whatever feelings he thought he felt was superficial at best, and therefore nothing could develop and grow into anything between them. Bonnie was trying hard not to send mixed signals but it felt like she was going through bouts of split personality where Miss Scarlet goes with her heart and desires and Bonnie Bennett goes with her head and rational thought. Wrapping her hand around the handle she glanced back at her friends all talking and laughing and inhaled a moment of content, enjoying the night of dinner and games with the people she has longed to see for months on end and turned the knob slipping out the door before anyone spotted her.