Twenty reviews! Oh thank you so much! I love you all! (And I'm sorry if you find my constant ranting regarding my reviews tyring, I just can't help myself).
Moving forward, Promises of Hope now has a poster! I did it myself (which, granted, means it's not exactly professional work, but I think it turned out alright). You can see it going to my homepage (through my profile) and it's there in my deviantart acount. I actually plan on making quite a bit of art for this story, and its sequel. Currently I'm planning a banner for the story, and a few wallpapers (based on certain parts of the story). I hope you like it, your commentary on both the art and this chapter are, as always, welcome.
On another topic, I would love it if you would suggest songs for the fanmix I'm creating. I, of course, have my own ideas, but would be delighted to hear yours as well. I'm planning on posting the list of songs and, if enough people ask me, even upload a folder with the songs myself somewhere.
Finally, regarding the chapter. For ILoveRomances, who wanted jealous Damon, you got it; for those who wanted more of Caro, here she is too; and for those who are dying to see some present-Bamon...hold your horses, I promise you its coming, not just yet, but I trust you'll like this chapter anyway (and I promise you, next chapter will bring you lots of Bamon!)Also, if you have access to Tracy Chapman's "The Promise" I would suggest you play it during this chapter (you'll know when exactly, when you reach the scene), I think it sets quite the mood for this chapter.
So yeah, that's for my notes this time. I'm sorry if they bore you, but they are necessary. On with the fic!
Chapter 10. The Last Dance
Bonnie stood before the full-mirror in the bedroom she had in Grams' home.
"You look absolutely beautiful." Caroline assured her from behind her.
The blonde cheerleader looked beautiful dressed in an off-white dress with long bell-like sleeves and a silvery sash; her stilettos were silver too and her hair was in a half bun, with the rest falling down straight.
Bonnie was in a white lace gown with a v-neck that allowed some cleavage to be seen, the sleeves were long, but pretty much transparent, allowing the embroidered design of flowers to be seen clearly against her caramel skin; on her feet she wore silver flats, along with a white and silver shawl. Her ebony hair was down, the thick silky curls framing her face beautifully. However, what truly seemed to call attention was the only piece of jewelry she was wearing: a delicate silver chain with a blue crescent moon hanging from it, the moon was actually made of lapislázuli, the young witch had found it along with the dress, which her grandmother had made for her, and she was almost sure she'd seen it before.
"Wow Bon!" Caroline squealed at her friend. "That necklace…where did you get it?"
"I actually don't remember." Bonnie answered honestly.
But even as she said it, something slipped to the front of her mind:
***Flashback***
She felt sad, oh so very sad, tears were falling down her cheeks in silence, and she was quite sure that if she were to try and talk her voice wouldn't come out.
She was sitting in her bed, wearing a nightgown despite the fact that it was well past noon. That didn't seem to matter, it was as if she couldn't conjure the strength to get up anyway.
Slowly, silently, the door of her bedroom opened and a figure stepped in; even with her back to the door she knew who had just entered; it was as if every fiber of her being recognized him, as if were very soul were calling to him, as if he were a part of her…
"I wanna be alone right now." She lied in a hoarse voice.
"No, you don't." He answered as he walked to her bed. "You can't lie to me Little Witch."
Slowly she sat up, drawing her knees to her chest, giving him permission to sit on the bed.
"Happy Birthday." He told her with a half-smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I brought you a present. I'm sure you're gonna like it."
"Are you gonna stay?" She asked him.
"You know I cannot do that, Little Witch." He answered in a sad, tired, tone.
"Then I don't want any presents." She snapped, turning her head away from him.
"You think I like this?" He questioned, distressed. "You think I enjoy knowing I have to leave you, perhaps forever?" he sighed and shook his head. "I don't. In fact, I downright hate it."
"Then don't do it!" She cried out, turning back to him. "Don't leave me, please."
"Oh…my Little Witch…" He whispered, leaning in her direction.
Before he could change his mind and pull back she was on him, straddling his waist, hands into his hair, she was kissing him as passionately as she could.
They remained like that for a while, kissing for all they were worth; clothes wrinkled and soaked with her tears, but neither cared. When they finally had to part so she could breathe he moved them until he was sitting against the bedpost, while she lay against his chest.
"I really don't want you to leave…" she whispered.
"I know." He whispered back. "And as much as I don't like leaving you either, you know I'm doing it for you, right? To protect you."
"I can protect myself." She pointed out. "I'm the most powerful Bennett witch ever."
"Not yet." He reminded her. "You will one day be the most powerful Bennett witch, but not yet, not until you reach your magical maturity. Right now you're powerful, yes, but not enough to go against her. We were lucky we both survived that last encounter…"
She noticed he was beginning to brood, and decided to better change the topic.
"Anyway, I would rather we talk about something different. You said you brought me a gift."
He extracted a rectangular black box with a silver bow from his jacket and handed it to her.
She opened it to find a thin and delicate silver chain that held a beautiful pendant, it had the form of a crescent moon, and was made out of a shiny blue stone…
"Lapis lazuli." He answered her silent question.
In a half-daze she directed her eyes to his ring, made with an identical stone.
"Yes, it's the same stone." She nodded. "It's what vampires use to be daywalkers. Actually, this particular ring, as well as the one my brother possess, were a gift from Emily."
"Really?" Bonnie was amazed.
"Yes." Damon nodded. "As the madness was taking place, she knew we would be turned, one way or another, so she gave us the rings. That was the last time I ever saw her."
"The necklace is beautiful…" She whispered, marveled.
Carefully she moved her hair to the side, signaling him to clasp the necklace.
"I know it's not exactly how we wanted to celebrate this but, Happy Birthday." He whispered, while depositing small kisses down her neck.
"There's something else I want." She whispered, biting back a moan.
She knew she was young, just fifteen, and that no matter how much she may want differently, he was too much of a gentleman to go any further than kisses and caresses with her.
"Don't worry." She spoke, when seeing his face fill with grief again. "I won't ask that again. I just want one thing: one more day with you. One last date, it's all I'm asking."
She knew, even before he answered, what he would say, he'd never been able to deny her anything, he just loved her too much.
***End of Flashback***
Bonnie was clasping the pendant tightly in her hand when she came back to reality, tears beginning to spill from the corners of her eyes.
"Oh Bonnie…" Caroline called out compassionately as she offered a Kleenex to her friend. "You just saw something again, didn't you? Something related to that necklace."
"He gave it to me." She answered softly. "It was the last gift he gave to me, the day of my fifteenth birthday…that was the last time I saw him…"
And while Caroline still couldn't understand what could make someone as wonderful as Bonnie love a 'man' like Damon, or how different Damon might have been once to have won her love; she didn't judge, she just tried her best to be there for her friend.
.-.
The dance started at eight, and would last till one in the morning. But Bonnie didn't care about that, it's not like she was planning on staying around for long anyway.
The most recent flashback had affected her enough that she found herself constantly fingering the pedant, seeking a reassurance only her Dark Angel could give her. That flash had showed her more than any before, had shown her a love so strong she was breaking into pieces at the loss of it. And for what she could recall, he was as broken as she was.
'But then if that's true, does that mean he's remembering too?' A part of her mind whispered. 'If so, why hasn't he come to me yet? He might have loved me years ago, but does he now?'
Even when she'd already resigned herself to her fate, a part of her still wanted to know the answer to that question, still wished for one last moment in his arms…
'Stop being so morose Bonnie, before Caro senses something.' She admonished herself.
Her blonde friend had changed so much in the past few days, since being informed by Grams that she was Sensitive. Caroline's talent had grown quickly; it was something like Empathy, except that she could not only sense feelings, but also intentions and Power.
The young witch was happy for her friend, she'd grown so much since her awful experience with Damon, and she finally had someone who seemed right for her: Matt Donovan. At times Bonnie wondered how he would take learning that the Supernatural existed; and if he stayed around Caroline he would most likely be finding out sooner or later. It worried her, that he might reject her if it happened to be too much; but in the end she decided that it would be as it was meant to be, there was nothing she could do to change that.
"Bonnie?"
It was the voice of a guy calling her name that made her react. There before her stood Tyler Lockwood in a stunning dark-grey suit, with a silky white tie, he looked truly dashing.
"So, no date tonight?" He asked her with an appreciate look.
"No, I decided to break protocol and come stag." She announced.
"Well, this will certainly make things a bit easier then." He decided, and extending his hand to her added. "Will you grant me this dance?"
Bonnie was about to tell him no and walk away from him, when a phrase came into her head:
"I might be wrong, but it's my understanding that in occasions as this, dancing's the norm…"
'If this is to be my last dance, why shouldn't I enjoy it as much as I possibly can?' she questioned herself. 'What the hell…'
And before Tyler could take it the wrong way, she took his hand in hers.
"It'll be my pleasure." She told him sweetly.
And so they began dancing, it wasn't a song that Bonnie could recognize, but that didn't really matter in that moment, she was just trying to enjoy herself for a few minutes.
And then the song changed, into one the young witch did recognize:
If you wait for me
Then I'll come for you
Although I've traveled far
I always hold a place for you in my heart
The young witch was thoroughly shocked the moment she heard the beginning of that song, she let go of Tyler and stepped away from him. It felt as if she had been burnt, by a fire that could actually hurt her; she shouldn't realized it had been a very bad idea.
"What's a bad idea?" Tyler asked, confused at the change in her mood.
"This, us…" She began, and then shook her head. "I'm sorry Tyler."
If you think of me
If you miss me once in awhile
Then I'll return to you
I'll return and fill that space in your heart
'This isn't right…not at all…' The hazel-eyed witch admonished herself as she hurried away. 'I should never have come here…I shouldn't have let Caroline persuade me…no…'
And as she took her shawl from a chair and hurriedly made her way to the gym's doors a flash went through her mind, it was fast, just an instant, but enough for it to be forever imprinted in her mind: the image of a couple dancing, to the rhythm of that same song.
"That's one song I shall never dance again." She promised herself. "Not without him."
Remembering
Your touch, your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way back to you
If you'll be waiting
Caroline noticed when Tyler was suddenly left alone in the middle of the dance floor, with Bonnie nowhere to be found, and at the same time, that new sense inside of her informed her it wasn't an accident, something was very wrong.
"Matt…" She called in a soft voice.
She was so comfortable in his arms, but she could feel it, she was needed someplace else.
Matt at times had trouble dealing with how much Caroline had changed, it was like she was a wholly different girl, one he liked, a lot. At first he feared she would be clingy and obnoxious, but that had never happened. Instead he'd found himself with a calm, at times shy and insecure young woman, who seemed so interested in him she at times wasn't even sure what to do.
The moment he heard her call his name softly he knew something had happened, she was no longer laying softly against him, instead she was tense, her brow creased in worry.
"What is it?" He asked in a low voice.
"Something's wrong with Bonnie." Caroline answered.
He followed her eyes to where Tyler was stalking away, he didn't seem to be in the best of moods; and Bonnie was nowhere to be found. Matt realized it then, without need to be told, what was going through his girlfriend's mind. He'd come to know Caroline pretty well, even a couple of weeks before they began dating, she knew that despite what others might think she cared a lot about her friends, and so he knew what she wanted to do right then.
"Go." He whispered to her, kissing her cheek lightly.
"Thank you." She whispered back, giving him a quick peck on the lips.
"I'll be waiting." He replied.
With that, she was gone, in search of her wayward friend.
If you dream of me
Like I dream of you
In a place that's warm and dark
In a place where I can feel the beating of your heart
Caroline caught up to Bonnie right as she was finally exiting the school building. She kept calling for her, but her friend either couldn't hear her or didn't want to, the blonde had a feeling she knew which one it was.
"Bonnie wait!" She cried for the umpteenth time, after nearly falling down.
Definitely a bad idea to try running in stilettos.
"I can't stay Caro." Bonnie finally stopped and turned to look back. "I shouldn't have even come, this was a bad idea, a very bad idea."
"But why?" Caroline questioned, half-dreading the answer.
"Why don't you find out yourself?" The witch inquired.
And just for a moment, she opened herself to her friend's new senses.
Caroline almost collapsed from the overload of Power and emotion: distress, fear, longing, love, hopelessness… By the time she steadied herself Bonnie was nowhere to be found. And yet, as she recovered her composure she realized something else, something her new Sense had let her know, something she didn't believe her friend planned on her finding out.
"Oh Lord…" Caroline drowned her own cry with her hands. "I need to find help, someone, anyone…Stefan and Elena!"
Suddenly nothing else mattered: not the dance, or her attire, or how long it had taken her to get ready, not even the fact that she'd left her boyfriend waiting; the only thing that mattered in that moment was that her best friend needed her, urgently. With a quick motion she kicked off her stilettos and ran back inside the school.
Remembering
Your touch, your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way back to you
If you'll be waiting
Damon watched the proceedings from a window, in his crow form; and while the crow's eyes didn't allow him to see things in color, it was enough for him to realize just how beautiful his Little Witch looked that night.
When he saw her arrive alone he'd considered arriving and offering himself as her escort; surely if she was remembering she wouldn't have any objection to this, and if she didn't…she would try to 'persuade' her, without any compulsion, of course.
Satisfied with his plan he went into the shadows and shifted into his more human form; and yet, before he could actually step out of the shadows, someone else was already asking the beautiful hazel-eyed girl…no, young woman to a dance.
"Don't you dare…" he growled lowly. "Don't you dare lay your filthy hands on her, mutt."
But it was useless, he was already leading her to the dance floor.
'You cannot dance with him, Little Witch…' he hissed mentally, barely controlling himself from going on a rampage. 'Whether you may remember it or not, you're mine."
And right then the song ended and another began, one he identified right away.
"This cannot be happening…" he nearly moaned.
He turned to the couples dancing, seriously beginning to calculate how long it would take him to tear the stupid boy from his Little Witch, maybe even deprive him of his hands for laying them on her in the first place; when suddenly he noticed something else: a figure in white lace leaving the gymnasium in a state of serious agitation.
'That was her…' he thought, half-dazed. 'She left…she didn't dace with him…not this song.'
The beginning of a smile appeared on Damon's face, this was the closest to happiness he had felt in a very long time…
'Now if I can only get her to dance with me…' Then his mission would be done.
I've longed for you
And I have desired
To see your face your smile
To be with you wherever you are
Elena had to blink a few times to fully register the image her blonde friend presented in that moment: her hair slightly tousled, her feat bare, sash a bit out of place and a corner of her dress muddy, all in all, definitely not the norm for one Caroline Forbes.
"Caroline, what happened to you?" She asked.
Even if Elena hadn't really talked that much to Caroline recently, she still considered the blonde one of her best friends, and seeing her in her current state was worrying.
"I'm fine, just fine." Caroline began talking in a rush. "It's not me you should be worrying about right now but Bonnie."
"Bonnie?" Stefan seemed quite confused. "Why?"
"What happened to Bonnie?" Elena questioned at the same time.
"I know you guys really have no idea, but things have been kind 'a hectic the past few weeks." Caroline continued her tirade, barely taking time to breathe. "And it's not just because of what recently happened to Grams either. A lot of stuff has been going on lately, and most is a little too long and way too complicated to actually explain it to you right now; besides, they're not really my secrets to tell."
"Secret?" Suddenly Stefan got a bad feeling.
"What kind of secret would Bonnie keep from us, from me?" Elena really didn't get it.
"What kind of secrets don't we keep?" Caroline retorted, with a tint of sarcasm. "There are all kinds of secrets, like secrets of family, of Power, of blood…"
Stefan's body froze in place, even without it having been said straight out, and he'd a feeling Caroline had done that on purpose, he'd a pretty good idea of what she meant.
"Yes, I know the truth of you Salvatores." Caroline nodded, brushing it aside as if it weren't actually important. "And the hows and whys and whos aren't really important right now. I also know about Bonnie, and I know she's going to do something really, really stupid any moment now. Something that's likely to get her killed."
"What?" Elena was in a frenzy right away. "What's she gonna do? Why…"
"Stop the train." Caroline interrupted her. "I don't actually know the answer to most of the questions you will ask. What I do know is that her magic is a wreck right now, that she refuses to actually do what Grams suggested for her to get that under control (I don't actually know what it is specifically); and that she's right now on her way to doing some kind of ritual which she believes will save us all, while most likely getting her killed in the process."
"Oh my God…" Elena was in shock. "Why would she…? What is she even planning to do?"
"The tomb." Suddenly Stefan understood it. "You heard how worried she was about the possibility of the others getting out. I tried to convince her it would all be fine, but either she doesn't believe me, or her stubborn nature is getting the best of her."
"But, if her powers are growing, wouldn't she be better able to actually take care of that now?" Elena questioned.
"Not unless her powers had grown exponentially in the past few weeks." Stefan answered. "And if they did I would be more worried even, about the spell possibly backfiring…" he turned his head back to Caroline sharply. "That's why you came to us, isn't it?"
"I told you Bonnie's gonna get killed if someone doesn't help her." Was Caroline's answer. "She's powerful believe me, too powerful."
"Oh Lord…" Whatever went through Stefan's mind in that moment wasn't good.
"What?" Elena didn't like the look of her boyfriend's eyes in that moment.
"Come on." He told her suddenly. "We gotta get to Bonnie before it's too late."
'Before it's too late…' Those were like magic words for Elena, as she pushed aside everything and anything and rushed after her boyfriend, the silvery gossamer cape-cloth of her dress held tightly in her hand so it wouldn't get trapped into something or someone.
They were so focused on getting to Bonnie neither of them even stopped to ask Caroline exactly how she knew so much.
'I've already lost too many people…' she thought as she got rushed after Stefan as fast as her feet could carry her. 'I'm not loosing you too Bonnie…it's a promise…'
Remembering
Your touch, your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way back to you
Please say you'll be waiting
Caroline took a deep breath as she came back to reality; she'd been about to slip back out of the gymnasium when suddenly she'd gone in some kind of trance; it had taken her a second to realize Grams was reaching for her and actually pay attention to the message.
"You could be a bit gentler next time, Grams…" She mumbled under her breath.
And then she made her way to the back exit of the gymnasium, ignoring the confused and shocked looks many of the attendants were giving her; she had far more important things to think about than what some petty teenagers might be thinking of her at the moment.
Ignoring her shoes on the sidewalk, as she'd a mission to carry out, Caroline went into the small part of the forest that could be found in the outskirts of the school; she walked far enough into it that she could still see the lights from the dance without actually be seen by those attending it, and then turned to the treetops.
"Damon!" She called, trying to focus what little Power she had into both her voice and mind.
It took a few seconds, but finally the mentioned vampire stood a few feet before her.
"Well, well, Caroline Forbes, I must admit I wasn't expecting to see you…" He said in a very theatrical tone. "Especially not after the harsh way in which you broke up with me…"
"Enough with the theatrics Damon." She interrupted him. "We both know I never broke up with you, we were never really a couple in fact. All I was to you was a toy."
Damon's eyes narrowed, he didn't like where this was going.
"But that's neither here nor there." She continued. "What's important right now is Bonnie."
"Bonnie?" That defiantly called his attention.
"You care about her, don't you?" She smiled slightly. "You don't actually need to answer."
Damon cocked his eyebrow, obviously getting impatient.
"Very well." Caroline nodded. "I don't actually know why this is so important, I was told to give you a message. It is: 'The Little Witch needs her Dark Angel…' Don't ask me what it means cause I don't know and…"
And nothing, Damon was gone already.
Together again
It would feel so good to be
In your arms
Where all my journeys end
If you can make a promise
If it's one that you can keep
I vow to come for you
If you wait for me
Caroline stood in the same spot for a few seconds, half-listening as the beautiful slow song reached an end, silently praying for things to go right with her friends.
"Spirits…please hear my plea, help those who need you tonight." She wasn't even sure where those words came from, she just spoke them.
"Caroline?" She heard someone call her.
It was Matt, apparently she'd taken long enough already.
"Is everything alright?" He questioned, noticing the state of her appearance.
"Just fine Matt." She assured him.
Matt, bless him, didn't ask any more questions, just handed Caroline her shoes and then guided his girlfriend back inside.
'Just fine…' Caroline repeated in her mind. 'I hope…'
And say you'll hold
A place for me
In your heart.