A/N: I thought my obsession was slowly dwindling, but here I am. I really want to get back to my other story Jinx, but it's so hard to focus on both and work full-time. It's a bitch and a buzz kill when you barely have time to write, then you lose all your inspiration from being mentally exhausted...Also I have to admit that I have a partial weakness for two pairings that are mentioned in this chapter. It took some restraint so maybe I'll have to dedicate another fic to them for later, because I want this story to be BK faithful. Too bad TVD writers were a special breed of stupid.
FYI: There were a tone of typos towards the end, its fixed. I've added great details to satisfy the inner freaks. You know who you are.
The Bonds We Forge
The New Orleans air is thick and moist making her straight bob frizz, but her matte burgundy-violet lipstick and dark mascara made her beautiful face glow, black eye liner made her green eyes dazzle in the light, hazel brown skin glistening.
A night on the town with the former sociopath was not in her plans, but he managed to convince her after loads of rambling and puppy dog eyed glances. She so she declared to make it worth her while and his.
When she finally stepped out of the bathroom in a simplistic black low-cut flowing midi dress with a high split that showed ample thigh. The backless dress strings were crisscross and tied, revealing her smooth shoulders and elongated spine. The rest of the outfit paired with some modest flat gladiator sandals.
Kai forgot to close his mouth when she exited the bathroom. He was practically speechless at the mere sight of her. So much that he'd be willing to drop their ambiguous plans just to spend the night away cozying it up in bed keeping her all to himself. Anxious, buzzed, and horny, he had to make sure this played out well.
"What?!" Bonnie clamored loudly, looking down at her outfit.
Kai's palms turned sweaty as he sat on the mattress rubbings his palms against his jeans. "Nothing you just look…gorgeous," he smiled cheeky.
Bonnie's own cheeks flushed to pink from his nervous compliment. She playfully rolled her eyes and headed for the hotel door exit.
They trotted the night fall street, dancing their way thru the crowds of people. Kai leads as Bonnie follows close behind to ensure they wouldn't be separated by the drunk patrons holding their cups in hand, cheering and laughing amongst themselves.
The blocked off street is flooded with people wearing costume masks and party decor to fit the occasion of the voodoo fest. All sorts of colorful attire to fit the whimsical occasion. They bar hopped at least twice and watched a few live traditional New Orleans style jazz bands. On the way, they indulged in a few drinks. Just enough to get a light buzz going.
Kai peered over at Bonnie as they were crossing the street, he grabbed her hand to make her follow him. "If I am correct, this kind of feels like a date," his one eyebrow raises.
Bonnie looks down at their joined hands. "Okay, who are you right now. The last time you took me on a so called 'date', that didn't go so well," she answers.
"That's the past. This is now. And did I forget to mention you look fucking amazing in that dress," he couldn't hold back the sultry tempo in his voice.
"Kai Parker is trying to swoon me. Pff! I didn't take you for the boyfriend type," she says cautiously.
"I'm not!" He says. Her head darts to him. Kai glares at her with inviting eyes, "But only when I'm with you," he smiles.
She tells herself this can't be real. Any of it. It's too good to be true. He was so smooth at easing himself back into her life just when she thought about getting rid of him for good.
"Are you going to tell me what you were really doing earlier today," she says, eyeing his back closely as he led in front of her.
"I was getting shit faced," Kai simply states, looking over his shoulder while maneuvering thru the crowds of people.
"Don't lie to me," Bonnie says outright. "You were gone all day. You're keeping things from me. Maybe it will explain why all this weird stuff has been happening lately."
Her unequivocal question makes Kai come to a halt, he turns to face her head on. "Why? You don't trust me Bonster?"
Bonnie leers at him, moving eyes pressing for more answers, searching for something she could sense he was not telling her.
She lets the cat out of the bag. "First you leave for weeks without telling me, now we're here. To put it straight forward. No. I still don't trust you," she says cleanly.
Bonnie eyes him carefully, pupils moving and searching his own with deep suspicion. But he holds his cool position, not giving way because he was hard to read like that.
"Nothing for you to worry your pretty little head about. We're here to have fun remember, " he says lightly, head tilted justly to meet her wondrous gaze.
Bonnie senses his guard is up, it makes her remain cautious. Her silence is jarring, making Kai's jaw clinch, his back straight standing tall.
The street noise filtered in the background like static from a television as they square off in the crowd, passing people seem blissfully unaware of their tense stances.
A group of flamboyant female dancers dressed in revealing carnival-esk bralettes and bikini bottoms with ruffled feather headdresses on their crowns parade around them.
They both stubbornly refuse to break eye contact despite the ongoing celebration.
"What are you hiding?!" Bonnie grits in deep tone.
"We all have secrets Bon. Don't spoil the party," Kai proclaims coolly.
Over his shoulder, she catches the glimpse of a hooded figure. The silhouette of what looked to be a tall man dressed in a black hood, his face in hiding.
Bonnies eyes dart back to Kai, who seems oblivious at first. Then his expression changes to worry when he sees a dark figure looming overhead behind her short stature, just seven feet away.
Her breathing labors short upon seeing the siphon's dull expression. She feels a heat run thru her spine. She wants to use her magic but can't risk doing so in public with so many commoners.
Kai's peripherical vision catches sight of another onlooker, the reel starts to unfold right before him in realization that they are being watched and most importantly cornered by odd strangers.
"Kai what's going on?" Bonnie chides lowly, sensing that someone or something was watching her from behind.
He takes a minute to answer, letting it all sink in.
"Answer me!" She hastens with a light panic in her voice.
His head swivels back to see the other man behind him, face turning to every direction in a slow languid pace. "I don't know," he finally answers. It makes his adrenaline race in his chest like ripples of thunder.
Kai grabs Bonnie by the hand and pulls her in the opposite direction and away from the watchers. "Let's go. Now!" He commands in baritone.
He begins to forcefully shove his way thru the horde of party goers. When they don't move quick enough, he starts rudely pushing them out of his way. People whine and moan from the commotion as the couple ruckus in their path, practically knocking people over now.
Kai pushes her to get in front of him. "Go Bonnie!" He commands loudly, the bass in his voice shows that things are about to get ugly and he wasn't about to wait around for them to be caught in the aftermath.
When their path is clear, their pacing turns into sprinting. The three figures soon follow after, hot on their trail to keep up. They turn several street corners, passing two blocks or so.
They rush turning into an illuminated alley, a warlock from behind coming quick. Kai turns with his right hand extended, he sends a blast so hard that the man is sent flying backwards. His body flips several times like a rag doll as he is thrown into a metal dumpster.
"Not here! Not in public, we can't risk others seeing us!" Bonnie urges. The couple make it to a backdoor where she uses her magic to seer open the lock. They make way inside a dark storage room and shut the door behind them, then quickly barricading it. Kai uses a spell to seal the door shut for extra precaution, at least to give them some time to think.
They both sigh, taking long breaths from exhaustion. The door rumbles, their unknown followers violently pound on the other side. Their foes were attempting to push their way inside, but to no avail.
They escaped the back room and pass thru beaded curtains that enter into a quiet old antique shop. Vintage furniture pieces filled the room, old musky clothes filled the racks against the wall and assorted delicate trinkets were set on display behind glass showcase cabinets by the cash register.
The air conditioner hummed quietly thru the vents above, the circulation making the ceiling hung chimes ring softly. The store front windows are large, but covered mostly by dressed mannequins, heavy draped curtains blocked most of the view from the outside, making it difficult for anyone to see inside the little shop. Loud patrons still walked on the sidewalks of the street, unaware of the couple's lurking inside the quaint shop.
"We need a plan. We can't stay in here forever. They will find a way to get in," Bonnie says, hands anxiously rustling at her sides.
She glanced over at Kai who was peeking out curtains on the store front door window. His lack of response was causing her concern.
"Did you hear me?! I said we have to do something!" She reiterates to get his attention.
His back is still turned, he talks indirectly. "It wasn't supposed to happen like this. Fools!" He mutters to himself.
Her gut starts to churn, finger tips shaking and ready to release her magic. "Did you hear what I said?!" She urges. "We can't just trap ourselves in here forever. We have to fight back!"
"Shhh! Listen," he hushes her. Kai's head inquistively cocked to the side a bit.
Bonnie stood in place, letting the silence fill her. She peers at him with cinched eyes when they finally shared truistic glances. "There's no more banging on the door," she utters, her thoughts stirring just as his.
"Like they just stopped and left," Kai says, his body language is hard to decipher, clearly not shaken as he was before the chase.
He took small steps towards Bonnie, his calculating mind was at work. "You know what that means?" He asks.
Bonnie's mouth tightens, her form running rigid from his aloof demeanor. He reaches out to cup the side of her cheek, his touch making Bonnie jolt in place despite her feet holding its center. She searched his grey blue eyes for a spell as he did hers.
"What is it? Kai you're making me feel weird," the words slipped from her mouth with hesitance. His fingers were warm, stainless steel rings cold against her skin.
He keenly watched the rising frown upon her soft face, eyes moving and looking her up and down. He smiled slightly. The kind of charming smile he would give her just before something unfortunate was about to happen. She recognizes the gander of his remote expression in recollection of their lengthy imprisonment together.
He gently strokes her cheek with ambivalence, admiring her tenacious beauty to act when things went bad.
Kai leans forward, they met face to face. He's inches away from her lips. "Your gonna hate me for this," he whispers softly.
Her eyes widened quick at the sight of his cheeky grin. Before she could respond, Kai brought the tips of his index and middle finger to press against the top of her forehead.
Bonnie couldn't feel her limbs, she felt the urge to sleep. Her sedative eyes roll back within a flash and her knees go out from under her.
XXX
Her sights regain slowly, but everything is a blur. Her head feels heavy, like she had been sleeping for hours and the last thing she remembers was falling into the siphon's arms. His look was dismal, face stone cold.
She jerks to find her arms above her head restrained by rusted chains. Her legs practically exposed in her black split dress and she's wearing no shoes. She panics when she feels her ankles are cuffed and chained as well. Her vision isn't clear yet, but she hears the sound of whispering voices. She weakly lifts her head seeing double, her back is laying on something cold, hard, and flat. It's too dark to make out the faces that surround her.
Bonnie sighs, observing the contraption. She's laid on a stone bed fit for a body, its placed in the center of the dark room. She appears to be in an underground dungeon or basement. The walls are covered in crusted brown cement blocks, burning torches light up the circular style room. Her mind must believe this to be a dream for her surroundings look like something straight out of a medieval torture chamber.
She's fully vivid now, both fists balled and yanking at the tight chains keeping her bound. A man approaches, wearing a thick black cloak, his face is partially covered by a large hood. He tilts his head downward to get a good look at his captive beauty, observing her like she's put on display as a prize. To which Bonnie tilts her head as well hoping to recognize his face. She doesn't want to waste time talking. She opens the palms of her hands expecting the magic to pour from her body, but nothing happens.
She chants a one-word spell, there's pure silence. She looks onward to see several more individuals lurking, all dressed in dark hooded cloaks concealing their faces as well. Now she feels like she's taking full center as a side-show freak for some creepy cult gathering. They stand in the form of a circle surrounding her entirely.
"What is this!?" Bonnie shouts angrily considering that her powers are immobile.
The man standing over her takes his hood off. Bonnie's mouth gapes at the sight of Joshua Parker standing over her body. "No worries my dear. You play a large part in our plan. To serve the greater good," he says stoically.
"For weeks your coven has been stalking and trying to kill me. You realize that it's a crime for witches to murder other witches right!" Bonnie sneers.
Joshua holds a calm stature. "You have so much to learn. So unfortunate, that your cruel circumstances brought you to this fate here tonight," he offers in sympathy, more so feeling sorry for her as his voice inflects everything except remorse. "Your coven has broken the terms of our forty-year agreement. Your mother failed to keep her promise, now my son is loose in the world. Blood has to be spilled."
"My mother will have your head and everyone that's a part of this," Bonnie grinds her teeth.
Joshua huffs faintly. "Too bad she is no longer a practicing witch. That makes you vulnerable." He folds his arms to explain. "I am a not who you think I am, not as cruel as people make me out to be. But as a coven leader, I am obliged to protect what is mine. And you threaten that very existence. Especially with you freely co-mingling with my son. I truly offer my sincerest apologies that no one could protect you in all this drama."
Bonnie's head leans upward, eyes blaring with fire. "When Kai finds out about this, he will kill you," she grits thru her teeth.
Joshua's head cocks slowly to the side. His face implacable in response to her remark. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news. Seeing as how you and my eldest son have grown awfully close after such tragic events, but that is not the case."
Bonnie lulls, the hiatus makes her heart skip a beat. Pounding with fury and angst, a twisted pain forms in her chest. She wants to cover her ears and hear no more as she refuses to believe him.
Joshua leans on the edge of the plated stone bed, his head inching closer to meet her gaze. "This was his idea," he answers placidly, then pulls away to take steps backwards.
She can't grasp the concept, so she shakes her head in disagreement. To her disillusionment, it's not farfetched given Kai's recent unexplained disappearances. He was calculating and excellent at masking his emotions. Maybe he didn't change like he said he had.
"You're lying!" she sneers, tears swelling to the surface of her jittery eyes. This had to be a nightmare and she was waiting to wake up.
"I told you to stay away from him! I gave you warning, yet you took my words lightly," Joshua says, his voice is steady. He feels pity for her, but he does not let her frowning expression steer his thoughts astray.
"No!" she shouts. "I don't believe you," she says, biting her bottom lip, nose sniffling and arms still tugging at the confined chains.
"I know this may be hard for you to understand. Malachai cannot be trusted. Ever since he was a child, he has always been…troubled," he heeds his words carefully with strong conviction. "My wife died some years ago and I have adjusted to this life without her. I lost most of my children at the hands of my own flesh and blood. Nothing can undue that, but as a family we have to tie up loose ends. You being a Bennett witch is one of them. I can't have you jeopardizing our future for this could affect not only my coven, but other covens as well. There has been talk recently, prophet witches have been having visions. Visions that signify that your life in connection with my son could possibly unravel everything that I have worked for. Among other things as well. Ones you cannot imagine. I have dedicated my life to this coven. And I won't let my son, the same man who slaughter my own children, soil my efforts!" he exclaims proudly.
"I thought you hated Kai! You disowned him. It wouldn't make sense from him to agree to something like this. Kai would never let anything happen to me!" Bonnie proclaims with an ever so fading confidence. She didn't want to admit that even she was still uncertain given Kai's nature.
"Then you are ill-advised. You don't know Malachai like I do. I have seen him for what he truly is," Joshua states.
The destitute feelings start to sink in when Bonnie realizes she is alone. Her friends back in Mystic Falls come to mind, but the thought does little to comfort her. She could never truly rely on them when she needed them most in dire situations. It was always Elena that everyone sought to rescue, as if her life took priority over everyone else. She was always the damsel in distress.
Joshua reads her inquisitive body language. "No one knows you are here. Except my son," he says clearly.
The sound of feet shuffling behind Joshua makes Bonnie bob her head to see the man standing nearby. Tall and broad, he unveils his black cloaked hood to show his face while he approaches. The face to be none other than the siphon himself. He bared a cool expression, brows aligned straight, eyes narrowed on Bonnie laying before him.
"Kai please, what's happening!?" She calls for him with a shaky voice, her tone stricken with shock awaiting an explanation. Heart afflicting with a wretched ache she cannot describe, feeling a sting of betrayal she did not see coming. Maybe this was all a joke, she waited for him to show some form of expression, for his loyalty to her had been strong for months on end as they intimately grew close together. "Tell him, this is all a mistake! You can't be the one behind this!" she cries.
Kai's mouth concocts into twist, his tongue rolling into the inside of his cheek. He stares at Bonnie with an unforgiving expression that makes her slowly unravel like tinfoil.
A single tear sheds, falling down the side of her cheek. She expects him to whisk her away in rescue, but his poised disposition makes her hurt wholly as he idly stands there in silence.
Her heart races. She tries to use her magic again. Her muscles flex, fists tight then fingers releasing empty traces of nihility. She groans in frustration. "Why are you just standing there?! Kai help me!" Bonnie cries with demand.
Joshua tsks at her, "Your magic won't work here. It is disable by our spelled barrier. So there is no use in trying to exhaust yourself."
Kai comes closer. "I'm sorry it has to be this way, but coven duties come first," he utters, his eyes lack the warmth she remembers.
"After everything, you lied to me! You set-up me up!? I trusted you!" Bonnie grits, full hot tears begin to stream from her eyes like waterfall.
"Trust is overrated Bon. We had fun while it lasted, I can admit that. I truly did, but this is business," Kai says, his baritone voice is impersonal. It feels forged to her, it still doesn't register in her head. He takes baby steps towards Bonnie, his hand cups the back of her lifted head to softly stroke her hair as they lock eyes. "To put it short, my father and I have come to an official agreement. Your life in exchange for me becoming the Gemini coven leader. I left out a few details on how the process works. I'm technically the "destined" leader after recent events. Jo doesn't practice magic anymore and even if she did, I think we all know what I am capable of. I'd win the merge as I did when Luke challenged me. It was only a matter of time. Surely you can understand," he emphasizes slowly. "In order for me to be sworn in, my father has to willingly hand over the title. I know the practice is pretty ancient," he motioned to their bleak surroundings.
Bonnie forces herself from bursting into wailing tears. She told herself not to be weak, not to allow him to think he won over on her again. The self-encouragement did little to alleviate her heartbreaking pain. She was mortified, having Kai reveal all of this in front of masked strangers who'd come together to witness her sacrificial death.
Kai sternly turns to his father, who appeared stone faced but nonetheless satisfied with his son's decision. "Didn't you always say coven comes first. Dad!" He leers at papa Parker with a forward tilted head, face smug and still clearly holding in years of resent. "Now give me what's mine. My rightful birthright!" Kai declared in deep voice.
Joshua took steps closer. "Watch it Malachai! If you break the terms of our agreement or put our coven in jeopardy. Need I say more…," he matched his son's masculine tone.
Kai smirks. "Her life for my role as leader as we agreed," he retorts with haste.
"You bastard!" Bonnie furiously yells at the siphon.
Joshua folds his arms once more. A brief silence falls upon them, dueling it out with Kai to once again contemplate his final decision, his eyes don't leave Kai for a second.
"The girl dies first," Joshua chides strongly.
Kai takes a step forward to his father. They are nearly chest to chest, exact in height and similar body build. The siphon's youthful appearance was opposite to that of his aged father.
"No," Kai simply says. "You swear me in first as the leader. Then I'll do the honors. After all, she is my charge," he challenges back.
Joshua contemplates for a brief period, holding malice eye contact with the eager siphon who was willing to prove himself only on his terms. He broke to stare at trembling Bonnie, then his grey eyes went back to his son.
"Agreed," he finally says.
Kai flashes a more than grateful smile, "Then its settled." His father does not return the gestured favor, he despises his son's dictator antics. Joshua nods as truss.
Kai turns back to Bonnie, he leans close planting his hands onto the cold stone. She doesn't back away, only lifts her chin high. Green-hazel eyes fixated hard on his, face frowned. "Don't worry, I won't make it hurt too bad," he chides. Then flashes her with his staple eye wink, he breaks into a sly smile.
Bonnie wants to spit in his face, punch his lights out, obliterate him with magic until he evaporates because Kai acts so nonchalant and smug about killing her. She doesn't understand, his smile appears genuine. She could never truly read his transcending facial expressions that often change so quickly.
Her eyes cinch at his, she peers into them with cold promising honesty. "Go to hell," she whispers.
XXX
He pushes off the cold stone which she laid upon, lulling eyes casted downward to swallow in his throat. His heart races a mile a minute, but he has never been so certain about anything up until this moment. He wants to reach out and peck her sweet lips, instead he is met with a cold shoulder and frown. He expected this and tells himself—I'm ready.
The coven officials, all in high rank surround Bonnie. They begin to chant in unison. The unnerving harmony makes the moment seem unreal. She told herself, this was not how she was supposed to die. To meet a fate so cruel, caste down by the hand of the man she swore to hate, then woefully fell in-love with. Without blinking, she laid with her head to rest staring at the dark stone wall ceiling. A large rusted chandelier hung above her, the candle flames flickered gingerly. Her cheeks still puffy and wet with tears.
A witch hands Joshua an engraved steel dagger. He meets his son face-to-face before slicing a gash into his open palm, while another servant witch before them holds a tattered silver plate to catch the dripping blood. The servant chants faintly, like the other officials, he too wears cloak. Except his is made of velvet, colored a deep crimson-red.
Joshua squeezes his fist tight to let droplets of his blood spill into the plate. He concentrates to chant along with the others while handing over the dagger. Kai accepts it, then cuts the open palm of his own hand. Deep enough that he sighs, his voice chimes in to chant with the other witches. He repeats the same process, letting his own fluids join into the silverware until it's alloyed with his father's blood.
Joshua and Kai then join hands, their lock is tight, both grasp firmly at one another. The slotted gash stings, but Kai blocks the pain from his mind only to focus on the chant he practiced a thousand times until it slithered off his tongue with perfection.
Both the men make taut eye contact, before finally closing their eyes to focus on the transference. The witches begin to chant louder now as the two begin to cup hands atop one another.
Joshua's grip is robust, but Kai's grip is much stronger. The siphon sought to claim what was his. What he had been waiting to receive since childhood, it was his destiny.
The inside of his mind swirls as the magic from his father begins to freely flow into his blood stream. His knuckles turn red, intrusive veins budging in both forearms and neck with a tight jaw. He makes sure not to break their cryptic trance. He opens his eyes to a sea of white, his vision now clouded with clusters of light like he was being transported to another realm. He squeezes his father's hands harder. The somewhat painful experience is bearable, then his entire body starts to numb.
Bonnie peeks to see the men standing before each other at her very feet. She watches the imaginary gust of wild swarm between them.
Suddenly the two men's voices come to a halt whilst the other witches continue in their chant.
Joshua's eyes startle open, sclera's full of whitest grey, lids dull and heavy like his son.
The circulating wind dies down slowly. He takes in a deep breath, blinks a few times, feeling the grandeur power leaving his body. It makes him weak because Kai is draining the fruits of his magic.
"Malachai let go!" Joshua shouts in deep tone, his face goes pale for a bit. While Kai's eyes remain like stone, he releases his father's hands.
The witches fall silent now, they watch from the shadows of the dim room. They wait to see if the transition is successful.
Kai suddenly grips his father by the wrist with harsh force. Eyes still off-white and enigmatic. He swiftly slips the kept small metal device into Joshua's open palm, casting a wide grin on his face. His father tries to pull away but Kai siphons him quick making him wince and whine.
Kai locks Joshua's fingers to form a fist around the device. The same device he had been longing to acquire, spending restless nights to make sure its results were entirely accurate. His magic blinds Joshua's senses straight before he can act.
"Ouculus Lictorious," Kai utters before pushing his father away.
Joshua begins to fall backwards, before he can go any further his body is being sucked into a white void. The void is like a hole the size a millimeter, it warps and twists his body as if someone punctured a whole into a tight air space, sucking him up into it.
"Nooooo!" Joshua yells, his voice cut off when his physical form is vacuumed into a circle of light that blinds everyone in sight. Then he ceases to exist.
XXX
Kai's eyes regain their usual grey blue color, he takes in a huge breath of air after breaking the connection.
"Blasphemous!" The old servant witch chides. He unveils his hood to scold the siphon with cinching eyes.
Kai looks down at both his open palms to see specs of blue-black traces of light leave his fingertips. His mouth agape, chest heaving, but not from exhaustion. His warlock powers filled to the brim, he needs to release it just for the sheer fuck of it.
So he cast his hand outward to the servant witch standing at his side. The fellow witch levitates in mid-air for a bit, then his body comes racking to the ground face first. Then swoops back up until the servant is brought to his knees. The siphon's magic keeps him sterilized in place.
Kai turns to the other witches who dramatically sigh and gasp, they slowly back away. All of them are speechless in his presence. He grins feeling the warmth of his new-found powers. "Anyone else?!" He chimes with glee. His head turns to every witch in the room, their hoods remain over their heads. "No one?!" He utters with an artful smile.
A female witch pulls her hood down. She has deep brown eyes and her wavy short hair is a crisp sheer blonde, all the way to the roots. "What did you do?! It is against coven rules to break compliance!" She commands.
"Oh you mean that," Kai coyly points to the space where his father dissolved. "That my friend was a portal. You see as much as I am loyal to this coven, surely my father will understand that an eye-for-an eye is only the right thing to do," he broke into a cheery dark smile. "I created a personal prison world just for him. Like father, like son." Upon everyone's silence, he mockingly mimics their gasps. "What you're surprised?!...That I exacted my revenge?" he says in deep tone reflecting his now serious disposition.
Two or three witches murmur in the background, but their words are unclear. No one responds to him directly for they all seem flabbergasted by the cataclysmic events.
"If I am correct, the transition is complete. Which means I am your new coven leader now," says Kai, he circles the sterilized servant witch who is frozen in place. The siphon stops in his tracks, head cocked a bit. "Don't worry, this one's still alive. It will wear off in a few hours." He nods. "Your cooperation is required, if not"—He lifts both hands, fingers scrunched. Simultaneously, the room begins to tremor violently, particles of dust fall from the basement ceiling, and the dozen witches begin to shriek from the deafening earsplitting noise. The intensity affects every witch in the room with the exception of Bonnie. She flinches but finds she is unaffected by it.
Kai beams with a dark glimmer of light in his grey-blue eyes, the same expression he holds when he causes sheer chaos. Some of the witches stumble and fall to their feet, covering their ears with their hands to block out the intrusive ringing.
"Had enough?!" he grins. The room stopped shaking. The witches begin to revive and gain their bearings when it's all over.
Kai picks up the fallen dagger, he storms towards Bonnie. She jerks in her chains, but keeps her head lifted, chin jutted high awaiting an uncertain fate.
He stops to stare down at her. Kai's expression fades into a clever smile. Unhurried, he leisurely places the dagger beneath his black cloak, into his pants pocket. Magic seers from his digits, making her chained restraints break.
"You really thought I would kill the person I care about the most?" Kai utters.
Bonnie is breathless, she releases a long hard sigh to sit up. Immediately Kai reaches under her legs, hands wrap around her back to swoop her up and into his arms. He forthrightly brings her upper body close until she is held tight against his chest. The blunt force act so strong she does not push him away or deny his touch, it disarms her to feel secure. So she drapes her arms around his neck to hug him back. Their gazes held one another for a few seconds, Bonnie scowls at him tensely and he is not the least bit surprised. He only flashes her a cute wink in return.
Kai turns with her in arms to face all the witches. "Anyone from this coven who such as lays a hand on her or any from the Bennett family will have to answer to me!" he commands with threat.
Silence had stricken the room, not a peep from any of the witches in protest.
Bonnie wants to say something, the emotional distresses brings her to the brink of traumatize all over again. The thought of Kai leaving her side made her heart want to implode into a million pieces. Despite being livid, she just let him continue to cradle her bridal style.
"Get me out of here now," she utters. And he did just that, her head crotched and against his neck. His familiar scent was masculine, hands gripping her tight like she was his personal belonging as he walked them towards the exit basement stairwell.
Then something started to happen, making him stop in accord. He turned to see all the official witches taking bows. The whole lot of them began to kneel with their heads cast down at the exit of his presence.
He was partly shocked himself as was Bonnie because only coven members did this to the leader as a sign of respect. However, Kai was not dumb enough to believe that they still didn't trust him or even hated him for his declaration to break traditional ceremonial code. He knew the witches would still gossip and conspire behind his back. With the sale of him now being the Gemini coven leader, they understood that the fate of their lives would solely be in his hands. If he were to die, so would they. He took haste to exit anyway, ignoring their signal of obedience.
XXX
Kai carried her up a set of stone stairs, which led through a hidden pantry door. They reached an abandoned store front shop. When they were finally alone, Bonnie put up a fight pounding at his chest declaring him to put her down.
"Let me go! Now!" She yells.
Kai set her down with haste, still with a smug smile on his face even though she fought. "Surprise!" He says.
"You insensitive….!" She wanted to swear every word at him but couldn't find the right choice. "You used me as bait!" she shouts while shoving his chest, feeling the sudden urge to slap him silly and into the next life.
"It was the only way I could get the coven and my father to agree. I don't expect you to understand," he says rubbing his forehead.
"Oh I understand! The man I just saw back there used violence to get what he wants. You tricked them out of fear. You're horrible if you think that's how the world works!" She argues with indifference.
Kai took a bold step towards Bonnie, his chest meeting hers. "No you don't understand!" He called in baritone voice. "If you haven't realized it by now. I had no choice. This is who I am! I don't run away from my problems unlike some people. I have a duty to fulfill so I can protect myself and you! I did this so we can be safe!"
Bonnie took a step back from his overwhelming outburst, she weighs his words carefully for they held some truth although his plan was not practical and well against her moral code. She didn't allow herself to be the lesser because she was just as head strong.
"So what! What if your plan didn't work out as you perfectly planned. I could have been killed!" She loudens back to match his tone.
Kai stops to take a breather. His hands placed at the base of his hips to remain cool. "I wouldn't let that happen. Not in this life and you know it. You need to trust me when I say I care about you too much to let anything happen to you."
There was that word again. Care. He cared for her, she thought. But did he love her? She asked herself. Or was this all a ploy for him to use her to get what he wanted the most. To be coven leader.
There was no doubt in Bonnie's mind that she was madly in-love with Kai Parker, but loving him unconditionally was a whole other story she had yet to think about.
Bonnie stormed away without uttering a single word, but Kai hastily caught her by the wrist making her body come smashing into his chest. He peers at her with blazing conjure. One that made her knees weak because he was so self-assured foreseeing a future with her by his side.
His fingers strongly clutched the bottom of her chin to bring her mouth close to his lips. He looked down upon her not letting his height give up, he made her reach him this time. His eyes searched her green hazel ones, moving back and forth as if he were seeing into her awe-seeking soul. "If you don't want me, then leave," he says decisively.
Bonnie releases faint breathe, she wants to edge forward just an inch, so they can fall into a well needed kiss. The act itself making her feel completely submissive if she were to allow him to put their lives in his hands. The smart half of her wants to blow him away from her body using her magic.
She brushes his hand away, her expression is a blank canvas. She takes a few seconds to stand before him without answering. "If you want me, then earn it," She says with resolute. Just like that, she left.
XXX
She held her satchel bag in hand, small enough to house a few outfits and basic necessities. She placed it to roll onto the ground as she walked thru the airport terminal. The sign above her head illuminated flight and landing times. Her ticket flight destination was departure from Louisiana and arrival to Virginia. She was back in her home state and not exactly feeling thrilled about it.
Bonnie tried to imagine facing her friends who'd have several questions as to what happened while she was away and most importantly why she came back alone. To her dismay, she knew she'd have to come up with a valid explanation or maybe just tell the truth for once. She was wholly embarrassed that it all had back-fired in her face.
Her cell phone rang indicating her ride was there when she arrived at the pickup terminal. The car pulled up. Elena exited the vehicle with an elated smile on her face upon seeing her best friend was safe and back home in one piece. Bonnie threw her bag into the trunk without so much as a word.
"Bon I'm so glad you're okay! You were gone for a week!" Elena says before taking her friend into her arms. Bonnie barely reciprocates the warm hug in return.
Elena sensed her changed and sullen demeanor. "What's wrong?! What happened?" She says softly.
Bonnie shrugs her shoulders hopelessly. "Can you just take me home. Please. I just want to be alone."
They got into the car and rode in an awkward silence. The elephant in the room so to say, as Elena didn't dare to speak his name. She knew this was bad, so she didn't press the issue as Bonnie dazingly stared out the window watching the forest trees pass by.
When Bonnie entered her quiet homestead, Elena insisted on staying for a bit to make her something to eat. She protested modestly.
"Are you sure you want me to leave?! I could call Caroline and we can have a girl's night-in. We could totally stay up late and watch bad romance movies and gorge ourselves with pizza and popcorn," Elena tries to be cheerful about it, taking Bonnie's hands into hers waving them in side-to-side motion in effort to lift her dark mood.
Her stomach churns at the words "romance". It was the last notion she was wanted to think about. "No, I'll be fine. Just tell everyone I'm okay," Bonnie insists with a condensed yet sad smile.
When Elena left, she felt worse.
Bonnie drew a hot bath to ease the tension in her body. She refused to take any phone calls and only answered texts with one liner responses.
The only person she'd rather hear from had not reached out to her, and that was Kai. It pissed her off that he distanced himself from her after all that he caused, but she was also angry for forcing herself to leave after he profoundly expressed his feelings in open.
She told herself not to sink so low, his bullshit was knee-deep and she was tired of being caught in the eye of the storm. It hurt the most when she expected him to follow after her. It didn't help that she gave him no notification that she intended to go back home. Maybe rightfully so, he was doing this to protect his own pride.
Instead of over analyzing it like she did with everything, she wanted to become numb. So she grabbed the open bottle of red wine that sat on the floor next to the bathtub and drank until it was half empty while she sat in the water filled tub. The bitter sweet taste was her toxic guilty pleasure. She stares at the miniature talisman necklace that was sitting on the pile of her clothes at top the closed toilet seat lid. It was useless, she thought. Maybe it had no real power.
Then she fully submerged herself into the bath water, holding breath for as long as she could.
XXX
Bonnie lays on the couch curled up in a fuzzy warm blanket. She watches boring midnight television, flipping thru channels until she came across an old film, Island in the Sun. Harry Bellefonte's deep tanned skin, handsome face and raspy deep voice made it all the easier to watch.
The doorbell chimed making her jump with startle. She sighed thinking who had the nerve to visit her at such a late hour.
She lazily left the couch to open the door. If it was a masked murderer, she wouldn't care because they were going to suffer her wrath for disturbing her brooding period.
Her mouth fell agape when the younger Salvatore brother was standing on the porch at her front doorstep, his shoulders perched and hands in both coat pockets.
"Stefan," she chimes with surprise. "Why are you here?!"
His calm stance was mixed with curiosity and concern. "Bonnie I heard you were back. I wanted to see if you were okay," he says.
"Better than ever," Bonnie says by default.
"Can I come in?" he offers kindly as he leans against the door's threshold. "Seems like you could use some company."
"I think I can manage just fine. Beside I don't think that's a good idea," she says, but her sulking body language is transparent.
"You really shouldn't be alone right now," Stefan was persistent and sure of himself.
"I don't know…It's kinda late," she says with skepticism. She was wearing a long sleeve shirt tapered off the shoulder and some cotton skin-tight grey leggings.
"Bon I know you well enough to know that when you say you're okay, you're not. And I really don't think you should be alone right now," Stefan rationalized with candor, being the perfect sympathetic friend.
Bonnie looks downward for a bit to contemplate. The night air had a chill, so she folds her arms tightly together. After a few seconds of debating, she nodded for him to come inside.
Stefan follows her into the living room where Bonnie again took her place on the couch, her legs folded beneath her as she sat.
"You have good taste in movies," he says, directing his attention to the television. Its soft light illuminated the dark living room.
Bonnie shrugs quietly. "Well it helps…I never took you for one to like romantic dramas."
Stefan smiles modestly, it makes him appear hellishly handsome and even she couldn't deny that. "Then you must not know me very well. I'm somewhat of a film junkie. I was once obsessed and enamored by the classical genre for quite some time," he offers with a sweet smile while taking off his coat, adorning a simply fitted t-shirt and dark jeans. He seated himself next her on the long couch.
"Funny, I always took you for an avid book reader instead," Bonnie lightly smiles back.
"You are correct on that one. I mean have you seen my study?! I can house three libraries," he went on with charm.
Bonnie chuckles lightly, "Maybe I can browse your library and you can let me borrow a few books one day. Elena and Caroline tease me because sometimes I prefer cozying up with a book and a cup of coffee on a Friday night rather than going out."
"That can be arranged. I'll have to make a few suggestions first. Pierre et Luce?" he says with a raised eyebrow.
"Not familiar with it," she replies.
"It's an excellent read if you're into old-style revolution…very poignant love story," he continues. "It's about two lovers in an organized French resistance against the regime during wartime."
Bonnie wistfully smiles, she's intrigued. She listens to him summarize the story and talk about some of his other favorite literature reads. She wonders why her and Stefan never spent as much time together when in fact they had much in common. More so than her relationship with the older snarky Salvatore brother who seemed to do nothing but grind her gears.
Stefan did wonders at distracting her mind with his mild conversation, mostly trivial things about himself which put her at ease. Although, it still was not enough to block out her troubling thoughts.
Their talk fell to a comfortable silence as his arm rested on the top of the couch's back. "Where is Kai?" Stefan finally asked, his voice changed to solid tone as he stared ahead without taking his eyes off the television.
Bonnie shook her head briefly. "I don't know. And I think I don't care," she says dryly.
Stefan's body turns to face her fully. "But I think you do care. It's okay to care Bonnie. You don't have to put on this tough facade all the time. You are human and it's okay to feel," his words of wisdom reach deep.
So deep that it made tears well up in her eyes, she sniffled to hold them back from falling. In seconds, she was unraveling before him and couldn't stop the inevitable.
"I don't know, I just..." her voice became shaky as her sadness surfaced in tenfold.
Immediately before she could break down, Stefan shooshed her lightly and reached out to pull Bonnie into his open arms. She willingly fell into his hard chest, then suddenly the tears flowed down her cheeks and she sobbed lightly with her head laid into the crock of his neck.
Stefan hushed her once again, his hold was strong, but not overbearing. The hug was just enough to make her feel secure and safe in the confines of his arms. His digits smoothed the back of her hair in the form of soft petting. "It's going to be okay. Shhhh," he whispers gently.
Bonnie's arms wrapped around his upper body, hands cupping his muscled back until her fingertips reached to grapple at his broad shoulders. She moaned lightly as Stefan's nose nuzzled into her washed, now dry hair. It smelled of fresh lavender. He told himself to just console her enough to divert her mind. If he could compel her to forget, he would do just that if she wasn't immune to his vampire powers. She didn't want to let go, imagining what it would feel like if Kai were to hold her like this.
She cried some more, her sobs lessen when Stefan took her chin into the fore fingers of his thumb and index finger, impetuously tilting her head upwards to make her eyes meet his gaze. His beautiful grey eyes were soft and sincere, pupils expanding. His deep voice firm with assurance reaching her core. It made her to feel like loose dough in his hearty hands.
No wonder Elena was so head over heels for the younger Salvatore. Bonnie thought Elena was a damn fool to let someone like him go to waste for the likes of Damon because Stefan was clearly the real thing, nothing short of being a man.
He edged her chin close to his face with his head levelled to match her position, he inclined forward to sweetly kiss the top of her forehead. She wasn't expecting this at all. The kiss was a gentle and warm gesture. One she hadn't experienced in a long time.
His thumb keenly rubs the bottom of her chin while his other arm wrapped around her back, his hand massaging the dip of her spine to soothe. Hardly romantic, but if she were not so emotionally invested in another man's heart, she'd easily mistaken Stefan's swooning ways for foreign terrain as a means of seduction. Bonnie swears this could easily turn to into something else real quick if she allowed it.
However, Stefan was the perfect gentleman. He was old fashioned and naturally protective. His strong morals would not sway him to take advantage of a down trodden woman at such a time when she was most vulnerable.
His caring gesture was like the time he consoled her after the death of Grams. No one but him comforted her like that. She could only think of Matt, who had a really good sensitive side and a mean cuddle.
"It's going to be okay," Stefan says firmly, his head slowly nods at her with his words. "Okay?" he waits for her to discreetly nod back.
Bonnie pulls away to wipe her wet eyes clean, using the back of her white long sleeve shirt which stretched past her hands. She sniffles again, her voice rumbled. "Can you just hold me Stefan?" She asks innocently.
He nods accordingly in agreement. "Yes of course. Lay on me for as long as you need to," he commands in gentile tone.
"At least until I fall asleep. I want you here. Please," Bonnie pleads softly while wrapping her arms around him.
Stefan obliged as Bonnie moved even closer, legs now crossed and draped over his thighs. She laid her head into his hard chest while her hands cup his lower waist. His masculine scent reminded her of Kai, it made her pheromones ignite something wild. If only Kai were the one to hold her like that and not Stefan, she thought.
But she pushed the thought of the siphon out of her mind as Stefan languidly stroked the small hairs on the nape of her neck. It made her lull into the start of a peaceful sleep, his other hand rested to cup her thigh, but it didn't move. His neck massage did wonders to her achy body making all her muscles lose tension.
Bonnie listens to the sound of his soft breathing, the rise of his chest gave way as if she were motioning on a boat at calm sea. Meanwhile the beautiful and stunning Dorothy Dandridge sparked scandalous conversation with Harry Belafonte on a sunset beach cascaded in mystical warm colors in the sky.