A/N: Hello, my friends, and thank you again for reading my story. There will be sad moments but, please, don't be upset, I'm a BAMON fan forever and I enjoy fluff and... per aspera ad astra. Love you!

Chapter eleven

It will be a terrible storm, indeed... But wait, till we have a real one. And God save the King.

The nighttime was dying away and Derrick watched the dark sky. It was still dotted with stars but the heavy clouds were coming from the north. As always, the silent promise of the storm made Derrick smile. And it was exciting to be on a mission. The mission. He walked to the edge of the rooftop.

The game was on. His enemies were here. His allies were on their way. And the woman he was supposed to protect was close.

Derrick raised his hand, letting the flashes of lightning roll off his fingers. Funny. The sky was still black but there was a pale strip of light on the horizon.

She was lost in bliss. Damon's touch was so gentle, it felt so good, she simply couldn't get enough. What a pity she was half awake now.

Bonnie opened her eyes and exhaled. The sunshine coming through the window was bright and she was alone in the bed. Damon had gotten dressed already; he stood beside the table, with his back to her. Bonnie cleared her throat.

"Didn't I tell you not to mess with my dreams?"

Damon turned around and cast her a confused glance.

"What are you talking about?"

Bonnie was now fully awake, so she bit her tongue. Damon watched her from across the room and the realization dawned on him.

"Wait a moment," he grinned and approached the bed. "You had a dream about me?"

"No," Bonnie said, sitting up and leaning on the pillows. Damon sat down on the bed next to her.

"What kind of dream?"

"Forget it."

He embraced her, holding her tight to his chest.

"You will no longer dream about fairies and unicorns..." he said, a hint of irony in his voice.

"You like making fun of me," she deadpanned.

"I like making out with you," he kissed the tip of her nose. "But you know it, don't you?"

Bonnie lifted her head and gave him a long look. Damon smiled.

"Morning, lover."

She smiled back.

"Morning."

She got comfortable in his arms and her gaze fell on the bouquet on the table. A dozen blood-red roses.

"Wow."

Wow...

"Hm," Damon nuzzled her neck. "Thought I must show you the benefits of being my girlfriend. And the breakfast is ready, by the way."

"You're incredibly charming," Bonnie said a bit teasingly and kissed him.

"And you're amazing," he muttered.

He sounded dead serious and it made her feel slightly unnerved. She chuckled, intertwining their fingers together.

"Am I?" she asked lightly. "Why?"

"Because you are mine."

Damon pressed his face against her cheek and his lips touched her skin gently. Bonnie tensed up.

"Damon — "

"I know, I know. We hated each other, I was a jerk, and right now everything is so complicated..." he kissed her jawbone. "Honestly, I don't want to remember."

He pulled her against his chest and smiled down at her.

"You are mine."

"Whatever," Bonnie rolled her eyes. "I'm going to take a shower."

"Ok."

She was almost out of the room when she heard his voice.

"Last night... it was wonderful. Better than wonderful."

Bonnie smiled.

"Yes," she said quietly.

When the bathroom door closed behind her Damon smiled to himself and looked at the table. Coffee was hot, the breakfast was beautifully served. Bonnie better get used to it.

He wondered if he could take another shower right about now when he heard his phone ring.

Please, let it be anyone but Lucy.

Oh, it could be Lucy telling that all flights from Miami were cancelled. But when Damon saw the caller ID he frowned. After a moment of hesitation he picked up and said,

"Hello, Elena."

It was almost absurd how happy she felt. Yesterday she thought that the miracle would disappear with the first rays of sun, but nothing had changed. She felt amazing, so joyful and so... in love.

The less I think about it the better, she thought, wiping away mirror.

But the feeling made her want to twirl around the room. It had been ages since she felt this way. She raised her head to take another look in the mirror and suddenly it burst into pieces.

Bonnie yelped and jumped back.

What the hell?..

Could it be her magic? But she knew the answer immediately, no. It felt like something foreign. She looked at the shards and felt very scared. Bad luck or dark magic. Bonnie rubbed her eyes and took a calming breath.

"Out flew the web and floated wide;

The mirror crack'd from side to side;
'The curse is come upon me,' cried
The Lady of Shalott."

Julian stared at Stanley.

"What?" he barked.

"Nothing, my friend," Stan said, a malicious glint in his eyes. "Just quoting Tennyson."

"Oh, that's lovely," Julian said sharply. "Did you find her?"

"Yes."

They were in the car, watching the stormy sky. Julian was frowning all the time but Stanley looked freakishly calm. His gaze was fixed on the clouds as if he was waiting for something big to happen.

"Is the vampire with her?"

"I don't know but I hope so. It would be troublesome to look for him."

"Yeah..." Julian nodded. "I want to go to Scotland as soon as possible, you know. We must get ready for the fight with John Gaule and his son."

"His son and his daughter," Stan said idly.

Julian was surprised.

"He has a daughter?"

"Yes," Stanley smiled. "A cripple girl. Cassandra of our time."

"Oh... Premonitions?"

"Uh-huh," Stanley nodded. "But she's not really a fighting type."

Julian looked over at him.

"Do you know her?"

"No," Stan said immediately. "I don't know her."

"Bonnie, are you ok?"

Bonnie turned away from the broken mirror and opened the door. She saw Damon's worried face right in front of her.

"I heard a noise..." he said slowly.

"The mirror," she breathed out. "I broke it. Accidentally."

He frowned.

"You didn't hurt yourself?"

"No, I'm fine," she said, walking out of the bathroom.

She started to dry her hair with a towel, doing her best not to look nervous when she noticed that Damon was grim.

Bonnie looked at his tense face and asked, "What's the matter?"

Damon cast a glance at the phone he was holding.

"Elena called."

Bonnie looked at him questionably and he continued, "She said that something was going on in Mystic Falls."

"Is she ok?" Bonnie asked, straightening up and lowering the towel.

"Yes."

"What about the others, Caroline, Jere, Matt, Tyler?" she asked quickly. "And your brother?"

"Everyone is fine, apparently," he came to her and took her hand, squeezing her fingers.

"But something is wrong?"

"She told me it was not really a phone talk," Damon said, frowning. "She just said that she... that they needed me there."

Bonnie was looking at him and suddenly felt cold, like her blood was turning to ice. She averted her gaze, trying to get rid of the feeling.

"You think that..." she paused and went on in a calmer voice. "It has something to do with that warlock?"

"I don't know."

"But if it is... It's serious."

She waited for him to say something, to say anything, but Damon was silent. All he did was clutching at her hand and she couldn't bear the silence anymore. She lifted her head and said, "You must go. You have to make sure that... they are ok."

He stared at her and for a moment, for a brief heartbreaking moment she thought that he would shake his head. But then a slight hint of desperation appeared in his eyes. It was gone almost immediately and his face was calm again.

"Come with me," he said.

"No," she said at once, surprising even herself.

Damon looked at her, a slight frown between his brows.

Bonnie returned his gaze and not any muscle of her face twitched but she felt hollow. It was like her heart was breaking, but then again, she was used to the pain and she knew how to handle it.

"No," she said calmer. "You go. It's okay. It's Elena."

Damon promised Elena he would always be there for her. He promised Bonnie nothing.

"You need to go," she finished.

His eyes darkened and she didn't look away. She was still looking at him.

"Come with me," Damon said again. Bonnie shook her head.

"No, I'll stay here. I think it's... safer. And Lucy will soon be here."

His frown grew deeper. Bonnie concentrated on her breathing. She needed her heart to beat evenly. And still, a part of her didn't believe it was happening. She didn't want Damon to go but she knew the truth. If there was a slightest possibility that Elena was in danger Damon wouldn't stay away from her.

"Then wait for me here," he said. "I'll come back as fast as possible, you hear me? I'll come back for you."

Bonnie nodded but it wasn't enough for Damon. He took her face in his hands.

"Bonnie," he spoke up. "I promise I will be back. You understand me, don't you? Answer me."

"Of course, Damon," she said. "I understand."

He was still frowning and she forced a smile.

"Kiss me."

He grabbed her and kissed her roughly. She took the opportunity to close her eyes but it was really hard to fight back her tears.

'Stop being stupid!' she commanded herself. 'Elena could be in danger, it's not the time for petty jealousy.'

She silently wondered if she was even supposed to feel jealous. After all, Elena was Damon's epic love.

Damon let her go and she smiled again.

"Don't leave the hotel, okay?" he said huskily.

"Okay," she said.

He sighed impatiently.

"I don't like it. I don't like you being so obedient."

"Now, that's a surprise," she chuckled. He looked so worried and she touched his hand gently. "When Lucy is here I'll call you. Maybe, the next time you see me, you'll remember everything."

"For better or for worse..." Damon muttered.

Bonnie nodded, releasing his hand.

"Take care of Elena," she said and took a step back.

Damon thought grimly that he should have taken Bonnie with him, by force

if necessary. He didn't like the idea of leaving her alone. But something in her eyes stopped him from insisting. He felt like he was hurting her... and it was dumbfounding and frustrating.

Now she was probably angry. He secretly wanted her to tell him not to go. Then he could have stayed with her, without feeling remorse. But she acted like he had to go...

Damon sat in the driver's seat, gripping the steering wheel. His worry didn't fade away, and that was very disturbing. Lucy will be in New York tonight, he thought dimly. And there had been no attacks lately. Damon accelerated the car. He thought of Elena and suddenly a tiny derisive voice sounded in his head,

Old habits die hard.

He slammed on the brakes. Luckily, the traffic was slow. Damon pulled up sharply at the side of the road and turned off the engine. Then he pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed Elena's number.

"Damon?"

"What happened?" he demanded. "What exactly happened? Are you in danger?"

"Damon, wha — "

"You know, it doesn't matter," he clutched his phone. "I can't come to Mystic Falls now. You have to deal with whatever it is without me. Don't wait for me, Elena."

"Damon, you said you were coming," Elena's voice was worried but listening to her voice did no magic on him at all. He remembered Bonnie's face when she looked at him with such affection that was better than any words. He remembered her wrapping her arms around him. Suddenly he felt very sick as if the earth was opening up beneath his feet. "Where are you?"

"This shouldn't concern you. Just don't wait for me."

"Why? Why won't you come home?"

"There's a place I need to be right now. Bye."

He turned off the phone and felt better.

"Just a waste of time," he muttered to himself and put his sunglasses on.

Then he turned his car back.

After Damon left Bonnie sat on the bed for some time. Then she got dressed. After that she walked into the bathroom and picked up the pieces of the shattered mirror and threw them away.

She was alone in the room but felt even worse, like she was all alone in the whole world. She looked at the table, at the breakfast Damon made for her. She saw her favorite cinnamon rolls. Damon knew she liked them because she ate them nearly every morning and he kept teasing her because it wasn't dietish at all. She looked at the flowers he bought for her and she wanted to bury her face in the roses.

She didn't feel sorry. Not a bit. Last night was perfect and she felt so happy... As for Damon... She wanted him to feel loved because... he was loved.

Bonnie gripped the back of a chair.

Am I a coward?

She was afraid he would hurt her again. Because now he could hurt her worse than ever before.

Am I a traitor?

Elena was her best friend. How would she like the news?

I'm stupid.

The only thing she could do was to be honest. With herself and with Damon. After all, if she wasn't afraid to spend the night with him, she could as well tell him what she felt. Because the time they had spent together changed her and her feelings for him.

Bonnie sighed and heard the sound of the door creaking open. It made her flinch.

It couldn't be Damon...

The door opened wider and Bonnie stepped back. There were two men in front of her. A paralyzing terror flooded her because she had recognized her attacker.

Stanley gave her his brightest smile.

"Hello, little bird..."

The door was open. And before even he entered the room Damon knew that something had gone horribly wrong. But it still came out like a nasty surprise.

The table was tossed over. The shards of the broken vase were on the floor and the flowers were scattered. The carpet was bloodstained. And it was her blood, he knew it.

The room was empty and Damon slowed his pace. His boots crunched over broken glass. He was looking around, his jaw set.

She fought. She fought with all she had.

Someone took her away. There was her blood on the carpet but it didn't mean anything. If they wanted just to kill her he would have found her dead body here. But they took her away, so there was still a chance that she was alive.

His phone buzzed and Damon hit the dial button mechanically.

"Damon, where are you now?" Stefan's voice sounded. "What is happening, Elena said — "

The phone smashed against the wall, bursting to pieces. Damon stared forward emotionlessly, and his eyes turned icy-blue. His face looked like it was carved out of marble.

"Bad news?"

Damon turned around slowly. He saw a blond man, who stood, lounging against the doorframe.

"Thank you for saving me the trouble," he said pleasantly. "I really didn't like the idea of looking for you while Stan is playing with the witch."

Damon's face darkened.

"Where's she?" he asked quietly.

"Honestly, I don't know. Where she can be found. Pardon me, what I mean is where her body can be found."

The black veins began to show beneath Damon's skin. He took a step forward.

"We can do it the easy way or we can do it the hard way..."

Julian shook his head.

"That's where you're wrong, Damon Salvatore."

The door slammed closed behind the warlock.

"There's only the hard way," Julian said.

Six hours later

I am too late.

Red roses on the floor. A black dress on the chair. The room was a complete mess.

I can't feel her presence. I can't locate her. Damn.

And there was magic done here, the walls were screaming it. Still, there was impossible to trace Bonnie or Damon or anyone else.

Lucy cursed and heard a noise behind her. She turned around swiftly and saw a black-haired man who was standing in front of her, his face suspicious. Lucy reacted quickly, she raised her hand to shove the stranger into the wall but he snapped his fingers and her spell died away.

"Who are you?" she asked, feeling the heat in her fingers. She would hit him with a fireball if she had to.

The stranger smiled, looking at her inquiringly.

"You're a witch," he said softly.

"Ten points to Gryffindor," Lucy snapped. "Now, answer my question."

"I'm Will," he said evenly. "William Gaule."

"Ok, William. What are you doing here?"

"I'm looking for Bonnie Bennett," he answered and added in a hushed voice. "And enjoying the interrogation, I suppose."

Lucy narrowed her eyes.

"Why are you looking for Bonnie?"

"Why do you care?"

"Because if you want to harm her, I'll — "

She paused because the heat in her fingers disappeared. She felt weird like she was a butterfly who was trapped in amber. William smiled.

"I put a binding spell on you right when you attacked me. It's funny that you hadn't noticed it."

Lucy didn't say anything. All she needed was a minute and she would break the spell. After that she would show this cheeky bastard that she was being soft.

William raised his arms in defeat.

"Look, I'm not going to hurt you..." he stopped when his phone rang. "Oh, kindly excuse me..."

He answered the phone and heard Margaret's voice, unusually worried,

"He's there. The angel is there."

"Hello, Margaret," Will said pointedly. "Who the bloody hell is the angel?"

He looked at Lucy quickly.

"You mean someone as beautiful as an angel?"

"I mean Bonnie's protector. I had a vision. He was surrounded by lightning bolts and he was pretty handsome."

"Her protector is here?" Will asked, growing serious. "So, she is safe?"

Lucy frowned, confused. She had already lifted Will's spell but didn't hurry to attack him.

"You have to find him, he's waiting for you."

"I will. We'll be in London soon."

"I know... Like Daddy says, now all of the chess pieces were placed on the board."

"Yes, that's something he would say," Will drawled. "Thank you. Bye, sis."

Will hung up and looked at Lucy.

"I mean no harm to Bonnie," he said seriously. "Or you. Actually I came here to protect her. Would you please tell me your name?"

"It's Lucy Bennett," Lucy said, still suspicions. Will looked surprised.

"Are you her sister?"

"Her cousin."

"I see. Good. Will you help me to protect her?"

"Why do you want to protect her?" she asked, watching his every move.

"Because my enemy is hunting her."

"And that would be?.."

"Matthew Hopkins."

It was Lucy's turn to look surprised. Her eyes widened in shock.

"The... The Witchfinder General?" she whispered.

Will nodded and she frowned deeply.

"So, it's true then. He is alive."

"As much as he can be," Will said darkly.

"But how do you want to stop him?" Lucy asked, puzzled.

"The old way. I intend to duel him."

"What?" she exclaimed. "Are you mad?"

"I am not mad, my dear," Will bowed his head with a smile. "I am British."

TBC