She's walking down the halls of the boarding house when she finally sees him.
It only takes her a second to realize that she wouldn't have to introduce herself to the previously unknown Salvatore brother. She remembered him being somewhat of a regular in the late nineteen twenties. Save the faint lines in his forehead in place of the manic glint in his eyes and blood dripping down his chin, he hasn't changed at all. He and Damon didn't favor the other at all but in the moment of coming face to face with them since the last she saw them, their reactions to her presence would make her think them to be twins.
"Stefan," Kisa smiles as she holds his wide eyed, slack jawed gaze. Her stride not stopping as opposed to the vampire that has stopped altogether. Deciding against awkward small talk she passes him and dips into the bedroom she claimed as her own leaving him standing alone in the hallway.
"Did I forget to mention that we have a guest?" Damon asks seeing the bewildered look on his brothers face as the younger Salvatore stares at the now closed door housing yet another apparent mutual friend of theirs.
"Yes," Stefan answers, shifting his gaze to Damon as the raven haired vampire closes in on him. Not buying that it was a slip on his brother's part for a second once Stefan sees the smirk on his face. "you did."
"Sorry," Damon offers with a shrug "It just kind of happened. And with you having your own little cabin in the woods—totally not feeding into the whole serial killer stereotype at all." he remarks sarcastically "I didn't think you'd mind all that much."
"Yeah, well with us being two over a century year old men and everyone knowing I'm not the one that needs a guardian. I thought it was time that I moved out." Stefan snarks not appreciating his brother's comment. To which Damon only snickers.
The sound of heels hitting the wood paneling grabs each Salvatore's attention and Stefan flits his eyes to look over Damon's shoulder. Watching as a familiar face struts out of his brother's room and he fights the urge to grab Damon and try to shake some sense into the elder Salvatore's head. It was strange how one would have felt as if he's been staked at the implication while another made his skin crawl with disgust.
"Hello, Handsome." Katherine Pierce smiles coming to a stop at Damon's side, extending her hand towards Stefan after giving him a thorough once over. Frowning when the former ripper only stares at her hand as if it's offended him before looking up to her face eyes narrowed. "I thought you said he was nice." She tries to fall into the act she has to keep up despite getting the feeling that she already blew her cover at her initial reaction to seeing her ex.
"Katherine, what the hell are you doing here?" Stefan's frown deepens when his ex blinks then turns to Damon "Either it's spelled so only the A team can see me. Or" she returns her whiskey hued eyes to Stefan "no one around here hates me as much as they claim to. I'll leave the two of you alone so you catch up." She states slipping her hand into Damon's pocket to grab the key to his car. Snapping the vampire's wrist when he tries to take them back. "You're not driving."
"Then we're not going." Damon counters, snatching his key from her hand.
"Okay," Katherine concedes after a brief stare down. She wasn't looking forward to another road trip with her bitter ex anyway, and she always did work better alone. Katherine was sure Bonnie would understand and relate to not wanting to spend time with Damon in an enclosed space for hours. Or at all. And it wasn't as if Damon stood a better chance in a case of "He said/She said" than she did. Sending a wink in Stefan's direction she twirls on her heel ready to go off on her own. But before she can even take a step she's yanked back by her hair, her prepared retaliation cut short by Damon swiftly snapping her neck. The blue eyed vampire not even bothering to attempt to prevent her tumble down the stairs.
Stefan sighs at his brother's actions. As much as he would have loved to do the same to their Sire at times, the recovering ripper was still disappointed that it only took so little for his brother to carry it out.
"I'll call you," Damon quickly puts a stop to the scolding before it can begin "in the meantime try to keep the houseguest busy until her boyfriend decides to grace us with his presence." He rolls his eyes, annoyed by the man's continued absence.
"Where are you going?"
"New Orleans," Damon answers over his shoulder as he starts his descent of the stairs.
"For what?"
"You spent the whole day with Bonnie and she didn't tell you anything?"
Stefan frowns wondering what Bonnie had to do with any of this but then Katherine's mention of a spell clicks.
"Don't bother trying to deny it. Her scent is all over you."
"I wasn't going to." Stefan replies and Damon stops on the landing, turning to face him, eyes narrowed at his response.
Damon opens his mouth but then stops remembering the vampire sprawled out on the first floor that could regain consciousness at any moment "Whatever, I'll tell you what I can over the phone."
"Don't get yourself killed." Stefan says as Damon tosses Katherine's dead weight over his shoulder.
"I'm touched,"
"Damon, I'm serious."
Damon stares at Stefan for a moment then nods, making a point of not looking at Stefan as he says,
"I guess I hope you don't get killed either."
-X-
Only one foot is in her bedroom when she hears the tone of voice that Bonnie just knows would have had her best friend's children damn near in the fetal position alone.
"Explain,"
Bonnie opens and closes her mouth several times, ultimately settling for walking over to where Caroline is seated on her bed and places the box directly in front her best friend. Motioning for her to open the lid to which the vampire does only after Bonnie finally meets her waiting stare. That has the witch feeling as if she's a child caught sneaking back into her home reeking of alcohol and other narcotics that their parent has surely tried at least once in their own teen years.
"It's called the Hand of Glory." Bonnie says when she sees the disgusted look on Caroline's face "Typically they are only able to be used once, but this one. All you need are these are really rare and hard to come by herb, infused in candles. Once you put the candles in the hand, you can speak to someone on the Other Side."
Caroline sits upright, her disapproval disappearing as it sinks in.
"And that place I told you I was trying to find." she waits until Caroline nods "He knew about it and showed me where it was."
"Oh," Caroline breathes.
"Yeah," Bonnie nods.
"Elena met Kisa." Caroline changes the subject, continuing before Bonnie can stop her "And saw Katherine."
"What?"
"She said she's not going to say anything but she still wants to talk to you."
The urge to laugh is present but she gets the feeling that Caroline would strongly suggest a psych evaluation. "Well I don't really have a choice but too. She can be compelled. All they have to do is snatch her necklace. Or threaten Jeremy, Stefan, Damon, you or Matt. Or just be around Elijah for more than a second." Bonnie adds snidely.
Caroline opens her mouth to defend their brunette friend and remind Bonnie that she's on that list as much as anyone else is but stops and nods knowing that wouldn't go over to well.
"And what happened to wanting the night of something that we would refuse to give you details about?"
"That was when I thought whatever you and Stefan were doing was leading to hot hate sex. Not watching you dance around each other for months until he decides to hell with it, first kiss and you all spread eag-"
"Caroline!" Bonnie shrieks.
"You asked," the blonde vampire defends herself "but I have to say I'm surprised you weren't pressed against the door. I'm not even into that kind of thing but if I came home with you after spending hours with you looking like this-"
"We're friends." Bonnie stresses, taking the box and placing it in her closet.
Caroline raises her eyebrows but chooses to not give Bonnie the chance to backtrack "So are me and Stefan but he only watched Twilight with me once. And that's only because I was sad. So I really doubt he'd sit through a three plus hour ballet for me. Tyler barely sat through Thirteen Going on Thirty with me and I'm sleeping with him."
"That actually sounds really good right now." Bonnie murmurs "The movie Caroline, God." Bonnie covers her face when Caroline looks her up and down despite seeing the teasing glint in her friend's eyes.
"I'm just saying, I didn't know vampire's could blush." Caroline shrugs missing the way Bonnie perks up at her observation. But before she can continue on with her ramblings, Bonnie's phone starts to ring and she quickly fishes it from her clutch. "Speak of the devil," Caroline grins, raising the phone to her ear before Bonnie can stop her "Bonnie's phone," Caroline answers reclining in Bonnie's bed making a point of ignoring the glare the witch is sending her way.
"...Hi Caroline,"
The blonde smiles knowing he's already put it together and is already preparing himself for their inevitable conversation. Looking over to Bonnie who is standing up with the dvd case in hand despite her arms folded over her chest.
With a wave of her hand Bonnie summons her phone from Caroline's grasp and casts a silencing spell to the blonde's dismay.
"She can't hear us," Bonnie says ignoring the pout on Caroline's face, going to sit at her vanity and remove her makeup.
"I don't think that really works for me."
"They haven't left yet?" Bonnie questions giving a look to Caroline who nods before stopping her spell.
"If you mean my brother and Katherine, they left a few minutes ago but left some company for me."
"Like familiar company or a new face?" The words are out before she can stop herself.
Caroline smiles to herself knowing better than to say anything, unsure which she finds more entertaining, Bonnie's question or Stefan's response.
"You want the answer to that?"
"Looks like I got it anyway." Bonnie replies averting her eyes from Caroline when a look of surprise flashes across her features.
"Bon," Stefan sighs.
"It's not my business." Bonnie quickly cuts him off, wanting to get off of the phone as fast as she possibly can "Katherine is helping me with something in exchange for severing her from her sire line and assisting in an owed debt."
"Malvado isn't someone who's radar I want you to be on."
Mentally Bonnie acknowledges his point. The more she found out about Malvado the more wary and unsettled she became. Between the intel Seth and Richie sent her, Kisa letting her sift through her mind and memories of her sadistic Sire and the culebra's endeavours and ties that surprisingly led back to her own branch of the Supernatural community. She found taking him down to be harder than she thought but as she recently learned from going against the Originals, the more someone had to lose the greater your chance to make them suffer. As long as you were smart about it.
"Stefan, why are calling me?"
"Goodnight, Bonnie."
Bonnie meets Caroline's eyes in the mirror to see the blonde grinning ear to ear and she rolls her eyes but before she gets to respond she hears the sound signaling the end of the call as the deep tone his voice took hits her like a slap to the face.
"He's good,"
"More like corny," Bonnie waves her off, going to put the disc into the waiting slot after removing the last of her makeup, depositing the pile of wipes into the bin.
"Then why do sound like you just ran a marathon?" Caroline grins in spite of the death glare her question earns "He's trying, at least give him that."
"Two words," Bonnie retorts dryly making blue eyes roll.
"Free will. No compulsion. His penance." Caroline rattles off "Or did you mean He's Stefan?"
It's Bonnie's turn to roll her eyes at that part.
"I'm not saying Elena is the last thing on his mind but I really doubt that she's his motivation behind this."
"I was going to say his guilt."
"Or is it yours?" Caroline asks after staring at her, crossing her arms when Bonnie looks at her as if she has lost her mind "Your upset that Stefan is making the ice around your heart melt. That he is putting more effort into earning you than Elena is so you're using her as an excuse to justify his actions but after tonight it's not working so now you're blaming it all on his guilt because you feel guilty for giving him way more than you are giving Elena." she states matter of factly "Which you shouldn't at all."
"Except the only reason he's doing any of this is because he's trying to push her away because he doesn't think he's the best influence right now. As soon as he thinks he's good again. That's it. Back to save Elena, screw everyone else."
"So you think he's using you as a part of his twelve step program?"
"Basically,"
"If Elena had anything to do with this, don't you think Damon would be there to? And before you bring up the B plot," she raises her finger towards the witch when Bonnie opens her mouth "Damon would literally set himself on fire if Elena asked him to at this point. So I'm not convinced. Until you tell me that the past twelve plus hours consisted of nothing but Elena Gilbert without you being the one to bring her up. Elena doesn't have anything to do with what Stefan is doing. You said it yourself that that thing" she points towards Bonnie's closet "is hard to come by. Unless Elena specifically told him to look for it—and considering she knows just as much about it as I did before ten minutes ago—I really doubt it."
"I think you're afraid to let Stefan in because you still see him as Elena's. The more time you spend with him the less you'll be able to just let him go when she finally tugs on his leash. But the thing is, both of you have this annoying thing about you where the more time you spend with you the more important you make someone feel than they really are. So when we back off into the real world we feel like washed up reality tv stars. Why do you think Rebekah is hovering so much? Or Damon crowds your space when you don't look at him for more than two seconds? And before you try to wave me off, you never had to fight me or Elena over either of our attention."
"So you're supporting this because we're both good for an ego boost." Bonnie raises an eyebrow.
Caroline purses her lips realizing how that came out "No, I'm supporting it because you both need a "you" in your lives."
"Care,"
"With the exception of you and Stefan no one shows an ounce of interest to anyone or anything that is not in our bed unless they aren't around or our lives are in danger. I think it would be nice for you to have a friend."
"You are my-"
"Oh please," Caroline scoffs "I haven't been the best friend to you either. If I was then I would have dumped Stefan and dragged Elena up and down the track field by her hair until she agreed to leave them alone. Or set fire to the Mikaelson Mansion with everyone inside. But no, I cry on your shoulder about me and Tyler half the time."
"I wouldn't say half of the time," Bonnie halfheartedly protests.
Caroline side eyes her.
"How is he by the way?"
"Still trying to convince me that Abby's villa isn't as nice as it looks."
-X-
He's surprised when the first thing she does upon regaining consciousness is grab a blood bag from the cooler in the backseat.
"Just drive, Damon." Katherine croaks out when she sees his lips part.
"You never told me what you're getting out of this."
Her only response is to raise the tube to her lips and place her feet on the dash.
"At least tell me why Bonnie went to you of all people for help."
"Did you always talk this much? I remember Stefan asking me questions, trying to get to know me. It was sweet, endearing. But you...I mainly remember just following me around. Watching me from a distance. Letting you think you were doing a good job. It's probably why your stalking is pathetic even as a vampire. So what is it, Damon? Do you want me to repeat what you heard between me and the witch so you know that it's really happening? Or would you rather that I lie to your face, like old times?"
Damon shifts in his seat, his grip on the wheel tightening to the point his knuckles go white when she takes it upon herself to continue without an answer.
"You're getting what you wanted. Bonnie wants out of Mystic Falls. When Bonnie leaves so will the others. And with Elena left with only you and Stefan as her choice of company—but its not like that's anything new for her lately—there will be no one around to talk some sense into her. To stop her from making the worst choice she could ever make. You finally get the girl. So congrats," Katherine mockingly raises her bloodbag to Damon in cheers.
-X-
She departs from her fellow cheerleaders with a smile and a wave, while she and Caroline make their way to their cars parked side by side. Each depositing the bags of their four hour shopping spree in preparation for their school's trip to Whitmore for the following day into the trunk of their cars. Exchanging a hug before going their separate ways. She slides behind the wheel and backs out of her five laps around the parking garage and an almost brawl with a stranger earned spot for taking two spaces due to her blonde friend getting cut off on the interstate.
Other than that it was a good day, filled with easy conversation having nothing to do with supernatural anything. Sales that even the most budget conscious or money to spare wouldn't pass up on. And shoes that were actually her size and didn't have to fight for the last pair.
So to finish her day she decided to hit up what became her favorite coffee spot and take the time to sit and enjoy the peace that usually came with it—aside from her last visit.
Needless to say she's far from pleased when instead of opening her eyes to see cute college boys walking down the block after savoring the taste of her first sip of her caramel frappe. She's forced to put all of her home training to use when she sees him takes a seat in front of her. Thanking the waiter as he sets a mug on the table just as he did her own a minute ago.
Her only response is to stare at her uninvited guest. Pretending to not notice the amusement in his eyes, she drops her gaze to the mug that is halfway to her waiting lips and nods her head silently before rising from her seat. Thinking it to be in her best interest to not drink it at all.
"It would be in your best interest to sit down, Miss Bennett." Elijah Mikaelson advises from his seat, looking up at the young witch expectantly. Calm as ever, a far cry from the last she saw of the Original vampire. And that was when he was in the company of his ruthless, impulsive hybrid of a little brother. Bonnie wonders what caused the change.
"He's a vampire, you can't go to prison for killing someone who is technically already dead." A voice pipes up when she considers putting an end to him right then and there. No that probably wouldn't hold in court. Especially taking physical factors into play. She dismisses her own potential defense for murder in broad daylight.
"As it would be in yours to not show your face in my presence and yet here we are." She replies continuing on her way.
Elijah chuckles at that and quickly follows her lead after placing a crisp hundred dollar bill under his cup after making eye contact with the young man currently in the middle of delivering another order.
"You condemn me for my actions yet do not do the same in regards to everyone else." Elijah says easily catching up to Bonnie "May I ask why?"
Bonnie turns to her adversary then drops her eyes down to the charm gleaming on his cufflinks and smiles. His newfound confidence making sense.
"I hope you found a Bennett to make those for you or it will only serve to do a number on your newly returned ego."
Elijah tenses when he feels the air change around them. Looking down to see the charms taking on a black tint from their original green hue as she makes her point and finds his hands going to pull at his tie on their own accord.
"A little known fact, witches will do whatever favor a vampire asks in payment for saving their lives but they know better than to cross another witch. Especially Bennetts, and from the lack of calling from that charm and the look in your eyes that witch was not from my bloodline." She smirks when she feels a bout of fear hit her.
"You act as if you are better than the rest of your kind. Especially in comparison to your siblings. In the short time that I've known you, you've done nothing but prove that you're no better than them. To me you are worse. You double cross with a smile on your face and that smug look in your eyes and yet people still think of you as the noble one. That is why I cannot stand the sight of you. But the fact that my distaste of you bothers you this much gives me pleasure you will never be able to fathom."
"If you have plans on approaching my father in retaliation for my disrespect," her voice drips with sarcasm "I would strongly suggest that you give it your best shot. He has never been big on restraint." she warns him and starts to turn on her heel to leave but stops and turns to face him once again "By any chance does the Brotherhood of the Five mean anything to you?" Bonnie smiles when she spots the surprise in his eyes before it's gone just as fast as it came "My mother made sure he made them look like puppies in comparison to the ones that came before my father before she took off to put Mikael down. I gave him an added boost and altered the curse that came with the Brotherhood's death before he took off again. And he's been just dying to get his hands on the man behind his wife's fall from grace. So you have fun with that." Bonnie smiles adjusting his tie before leaving him alone on the corner.
-X-
"Her father is part of the five."
Klaus looks up mid stroke of the paintbrush in his hand to his brother that has nearly knocked the doors to his study off of their hinges, noting the panic in his eyes. Then to Kol who has his fangs hovered over a pretty little blonde's neck just as thrown by the announcement as he.
"The five?" Kol frowns turning from Elijah to Klaus "I thought you made them an extinct species."
"Well apparently the girl's mother took it upon herself to fix that." Elijah states, eyes still crazed from the latest development.
"Then why haven't they come for us again?" Kol questions.
Klaus wants to gloat that it was smart of them to not do so after what came of the first batch but then a thought occurs to him.
"Bonnie?" Klaus looks at his older brother for confirmation. A smile pulling at his lips when Elijah nods while Kol outright laughs.
"Full of surprises." their younger brother comments "Care to tell us how you came about this information Lijah?"
The elder's only response is to chuck the cuff links at Kol's face who catches them just before they make contact with his eyes. Eyebrows raising at the black hue and lack of magick coming from them.
"I told you, I have to be the one to get them for you."
"Hate to say it but little Brother here is right." Klaus interjects "If we're going to get a witch to go against their own kind...you're not the Mikaelson to pull it off."
"That is not the point."
"Right," Klaus nods "It's that you were ignorant enough to provoke a Bennett witch on a warpath. When she made it clear that you should stay away from her. Has Mother gotten you to replace dear Finn?" He taunts Elijah, smirking when the vampire has his painting in shreds and his own paintbrush pressed to his neck in the next breath.
"We do not have time for this, Niklaus." Elijah growls into the hybrid's face, eyes lost in red.
"Says the one who tried to intimidate someone that had you a sobbing pathetic mess at her feet." Klaus retorts, shrugging himself out of his brother's vice.
"Didn't you kidnap her after she almost killed you?" Kol points out Klaus' own past treatment.
"Unlike our big brother, I had leverage and emotional instability to play off. Bonnie has made it all to clear that she has no attachments. Not exactly the type of witch that you intimidate. That's the one that you bed."
"And you think you can do that?" Kol snorts. Leave it to his brother to think himself capable of pulling off even the most impossible of feats.
"Not without time that I don't have." Is the answer on the tip of his tongue but he'd be on his literal deathbed before he ever admitted it. Between his blatant terrorism on the ones she insisted on protecting and caring about despite never once showing him what they ever did to earn such devotion from her and his constant pursuit of the blonde vampire. Not to mention his brother's actions serving to do nothing but push her closer to the edge. It would take more than his usual effort to even get Bonnie to look his way at this point. So instead he says,
"If I had saw what she would manage to reduce us to then we wouldn't be in this mess. She'd be at my side. Her friends would be dead. As would Mother and the rest of you if I even hinted that I no longer desired your company. Well except for Bekah." Klaus acknowledges getting the feeling that if given enough time to just be, the two would probably trade turns on pulling on his strings "But in light of recent events," he makes a point of looking at Elijah "I know someone who might."
Kol only rolls his eyes and sinks his fangs into the waiting blonde knowing that this was yet another of the countless times that he wouldn't be in on one of their plans. The way his brothers seemed to just have entire conversations with glances always left him feeling like more of an outsider he had always felt. Aside from Finn—who he never really talked to much to begin with—he was the only one to trigger his witch gene. Unlike the rest of their siblings he understood why his older brother loathed being what they were forced into. Though for different reasons. While he grew to like vampirism, holding on to his first nature through spending time with those who hadn't had their gifts ripped from their hands. Finn hated everything they had become. At the time he didn't understand but once he came across others fallen from grace. He just realized that they all handled it differently.
Though it never made him even think to undagger his brother. He would never say it but he understood Finn's reasoning for turning his back on them. Especially paired with Finn's sharing of being trapped in his mind for eight decades. How his eldest brother hadn't killed them all in a blind rage with his bare hands still astounded him.
Between his thoughts of the past and the blood spilling down his throat. He finds it to be a bit hypocritical on his part for being upset about yet another exclusion since he wasn't exactly keeping them in the loop on his siding with the witch and little sister. But it doesn't stop him from tossing the now lifeless body of his meal at their feet to remind them of his presence.
"Must you be so-"
Klaus watches as Elijah collapses to the floor in a heap then back up to Kol, taking a step back once he sees the wild look in his eyes. One thousand years and hybrid status aside it still made him uneasy. Between his little brother—even when on his best behaviour—and sister when she lost control of her emotions. He wasn't sure who he feared most and with his safety measures no longer being in play, Klaus knew he had to tread lightly.
"It's nothing personal." Klaus attempts to assure his younger brother, hands raised in surrender.
"It never is." Kol grins showing off blood stained teeth before quickly doing the same to Klaus as he did to Elijah.
"A bit much," Bonnie says walking into the room as if it were her own home making Kol jump clearly surprised at her presence. She looks at the youngest Mikaelson brother after spotting the other two lying on the floor along with the lifeless body of a nameless woman, wondering when she became so numb to death. Wasn't this supposed to throw her off or at least spark some reaction? With a deep breath she walks over to Klaus and Elijah, taking a pair of scissors to each of their heads. Dropping locks of their hair into clear plastic bags before taking a syringe to their necks, filling two jars nearly to the brim. Finishing it off with taking strands of werewolf venom from Klaus' canines. Being as though they were all in agreement to this in the first place she didn't see the point in them not being up and aware be the waste of a trip. And not having to speak with either of them was a definite bonus.
"If I asked would you tell me why you need this from us?" Kol questions thinking back to the time where she took the same from Rebekah and himself, though unlike his older brothers, they were conscious.
"If you think I have plans to side with your mother, or to kill all of you myself, the answer is no. With your death comes the death of thousands. Hard to keep a lid on the supernatural community with vampires dropping dead all over the world."
"But Finn,"
"Sage only turned a handful and kept them close. The ones that dared to go against her were done in their last breath. Finn's line died here."
"And you know this how?"
"The Bennett coven stretches throughout the world. Between the living and those on the Other Side, our alliances with other covens and select members of the community, there's not much that I don't know. We didn't last this long by being so self assured on our power alone. No offense." She adds remembering his heritage.
"I won't be apart of my family's death, Bonnie." Kol reiterates.
Bonnie only stares at him, figuring that this was to ease his guilt more than anything else, afterwards going to her bag and retrieving a wooden box. Extending it to Kol for him to take. Watching as he tentatively pops the lid.
"The golden dagger and white oak ash as we agreed." she says watching his eyes light up and she turns to grab her bag "I only care for what is in my best interest and the well-being of your family isn't anywhere near that. I don't expect you to be apart of your family's death. Going by history and its tendency to repeat itself, I know better than to ask. As long as they don't make attempts on my life, I will do the same. If you're that concerned for Elijah just make sure he doesn't push his luck again."
"Or what?" Kol frowns.
"Or what?" Bonnie repeats through a laugh "Why is everything a threat to you people? I am not your enemy Kol, me speaking to you is proof of that alone. I could have you on your knees pleading for me to stop without lifting a hand. I could have daggered you and worn your face. Or just take your will away, as your family is so fond of doing."
"I can't help but notice kill wasn't on that list."
"Do you want it to be?" Bonnie looks at him watching uncertainty creep into his eyes.