A/N: Thank you for all the follows, faves and reviews! Please keep them coming! This is a slightly shorter chapter, but it leads into something else interesting before we get to the all-important Augustines on Trial. Extra points if you know the origin of the chapter title! Enjoy! Review!
Disclaimer: I do not own or operate "The Vampire Diaires."
Chapter 14: Walk Into Splintered Sunlight
"There's a woman who lives nearly to Ashville," Bonnie said the next morning. "She's an elderly witch, and I spoke to her last night. She wants to talk to you and Damon. I just called her because Minda said I should, just to kind of pay my respects, you know, and she said she wanted to talk to you both." Lindsey was up early, cooking breakfast, since she knew their guests were driving back to Virginia that day.
"I'll be glad to go see her, but don't you all need to get on the road?" Lindsey answered.
"This shouldn't take long. Besides, Caroline and Stefan said they wouldn't really be ready to leave after lunch, so we have some time."
Lindsey glanced at Damon. He was eating his bacon and eggs and glowered at the idea. "So who is this woman, anyway? Why do I need to meet another witch?"
"Not like you had big plans for today," his wife said. "And I've found that when you can, it's always better to be nice to people. If she wants to meet us, it's no skin off our collective noses. What's her name, Bonnie?"
"Norene Peebles. Do you know her?"
Lindsey shook her head. "No, doesn't ring a bell. Of course, Ashville's in St. Clair County, so that's a little out of my local territory. How did she know about us, anyway?" At Bonnie's wry smile, Lindsey chuckled. "O.K. She's a witch. I get it. Old and powerful, right?"
"Yeah, from what Minda tells me."
Lindsey turned a sharp eye on Damon. "Which means you need to be on your very best, most respectful behavior. Comprende?"
"Yeah, yeah. Don't piss off the old lady. Gotcha," he groused.
Lindsey narrowed her eyes at him. "I mean it, Damon. You were raised with excellent manners. You need to use them once in a while. I don't want to have to drag you home unconscious because she set your brain on fire or something, just because you had to run your mouth."
Damon sighed. "O.K. I heard you the first time. Be nice. Be charming. I've got this."
Bonnie pressed her lips together, hiding a smile. It still tickled her to watch those two. She ate her eggs and said nothing.
When the three got to Norene's house, they let Bonnie knock on the door. A couple of minutes later, the door opened, and a woman even shorter than Bonnie stood there. Lindsey didn't think she was five feet tall.
"Ms. Peebles? I'm Bonnie Bennett," Bonnie introduced herself. "These are my friends, Damon and Lindsey Salvatore."
"Well, well. Thank you for coming to see an old woman. All of you, come on in," she answered. Lindsey grinned as she watched her. The lady reminded her of her great-grandmother, who had also been a tiny woman, with a knot of silver hair on her head. Mrs. Peebles was just the African-American version.
"Sit down, children," she said, as she led them into her front room. Although it was like a hundred front rooms Lindsey had seen in her lifetime, there was something in the air. She had to assume it was the magic in the house. Damon felt it, too, and it gave him extra incentive to mind his manners.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Norene," Bonnie said.
"And you too, little girl. Not often I meet a young witch with your kind of power. Use it wisely."
"Yes, Ma'am," she answered.
Ruby's gaze turned to Lindsey and Damon. "And then, there's you two. You didn't bring death with you, like most vampires. Although you," she said, pointing to Damon, "are no stranger to it. You've raised some Cain in your time. But you didn't bring it into my house."
"He's improved a lot, Miss Norene," Lindsey said.
"I can see that." She got up and went to Damon. She picked up his daylight thunderbird. "Hmm," she muttered, and then touched Lindsey's hummingbird. "These were your gifts to each other."
"Yes, Ma'am," Damon answered. "Bonnie spelled them for us."
"Obviously. And you said the gifting words over them." Damon nodded and the woman continued, "Because they bring light with them. And you two are blood bonded. I've heard of it, but never met anyone who was. Vampires aren't common around here. Never have been. But this is your native soil going way far back, child." She was speaking to Lindsey now.
"Yes, Ma'am. My people have been here since before the Civil War."
Norene turned back to Damon. "And where are you from?"
While she had been nothing but civil, something about this old witch scared the crap out of Damon. He wasn't about to antagonize her. "Virginia, Ma'am. Near Charlottesville."
Norene sat back down in her rocking chair. "At my age, curiosity is my privilege, which is why I wanted to see you two. You know you've been bonded, at least a little, since the first time you tasted her blood, Damon."
"I thought that might be the case, Miss Norene," he answered.
Lindsey could hear the apprehension in his tone, and could feel it through the bond. She sent comfort to him. She wasn't afraid of Norene Peebles, although she respected her deeply.
Norene rocked back and forth for a moment. "It's a strong bond. That's because it was forged in the blood of your innocence, Lindsey, given freely. The bond can be formed without virginity, of course, but when the vampire is the human's first and only love, well, when the human turns, the bond is much stronger, much more potent."
Bonnie listened, wide-eyed. She had no idea Lindsey was a virgin when she and Damon got together, or that Damon was the only man Lindsey had ever loved. Wow. Knowing his history, she understood now why he and Lindsey worked together so well.
"You know a lot about the blood bond process, Miss Norene," Lindsey said.
"Well, it's my business to know things. Bonnie, child, strengthen those wards around Lindsey's house before you go today. And Lindsey, here's something I'm sure you didn't know. You did know that the longer vampires hang around, the stronger they get." Lindsey nodded. "Well, what you didn't know is that you being bonded to Damon, because it was in the blood of your innocence, his strength becomes your strength, and your gifts become his gifts."
"So you mean, physically, I'm as strong as he is?" Lindsey said, mouth agape. That had never occurred to her, and she'd never really tested it. She assumed she was on the same plane as any other new vampire.
"That's exactly what I mean, child. And as fast, and you have the little extras that he's learned over the last decades. Have to learn to use them yes, but you've got them now. And as for you," and she pointed at Damon again. "You find it easier these days to behave yourself, don't you?"
"Um, yes Ma'am," Damon answered warily, making Lindsey want to giggle. She kept a poker face, however.
"That's because of your sweet wife, here. She's made the decision to help people, to stay out of the darkness, and that makes it easier for you to do the same. But beware, Lindsey. Don't let Damon's past darkness infect you. You've been through great darkness just recently, not of your own making. Great trouble. He was a wild animal, Damon. You did well to put him down. But there's more trouble to come. Mind yourself, Lindsey. Stay in the light."
"I will, Miss Norene. Thank you for the reminder."
"You're welcome. And now Bonnie, keep learning, keep growing, be wise and be thoughtful. And come back to see me next time you're down this way." She stood and the others stood, too.
"I surely will do that, Miss Norene. Thank you," Bonnie said.
"Miss Norene, if you ever need something, Damon and I will be glad to help you - groceries, a ride somewhere, whatever - just let us know," Lindsey said.
The woman grinned at her. "That's very kind of you, Lindsey. Your Mama and Daddy raised you right. I do pretty well, but it's nice to know there's someone I can call." She patted Lindsey's hand, which Lindsey knew was a big deal. Witches normally didn't like physical contact with vampires. They walked to the door and Norene took Damon's hand. "Now you listen to me, you good-looking devil. You behave yourself and you take good care of Miss Lindsey. I know why she fell so hard for you, but you know you married up, boy. You know that."
"Yes, Ma'am, believe me. I know," he stammered.
"All right then. She raised you up to her level. Don't you drag her down. You behave."
Damon nodded. "I will, Ma'am."
"Safe travels back to Virginia, then. Take care," she said and they got in Lindsey's car and left.
As they drove back, Bonnie said, "Miss Norene spooked you, Damon." Her tone was amused.
"Damn right she did. She's a scary old lady," he said. "No way in hell would I cross her."
"Sometimes you have more sense than I give you credit for," Bonnie snarked.
"Oh shut up, Miss Witchiepoo Judgypants."
Lindsey snorted with laughter. "I swear Damon, sometimes you sound like a precocious third grader when you come up with names like that."
"Who are we talking about here?" Bonnie snickered.
Damon turned in the passenger seat to give Bonnie a cold stare. She stuck her tongue out at him.
"O.K., kids. Keep it up and I'm gonna have to put you both in a corner when we get home," Lindsey said.
Bonnie just laughed, while Damon subsided in the seat.
"Wonder why Miss Norene told you that you needed to strengthen the magic wards around the house?" Lindsey mused as Bonnie finished chanting at the final ward point.
"I'm not sure. They were holding well. You know your property is right along a ley line, don't you?"
Lindsey looked at Bonnie. "I've heard the term, but I didn't know exactly what it meant."
The witch shrugged. "It means different things to different people, and different traditions. Basically, it's a line of power. Some say the power comes from the line of sight with the moon or sun at one of the solstices, but this is a line of power from somewhere else. I can't quite pinpoint it. I do know the wards are just outside the actual property line. The spirits said they didn't need to be on the property itself."
"What else did they tell you?" Lindsey wasn't exactly a believer in all the magical arts, but she was still curious about Bonnie's answer.
"That whatever power feeds the ley line tolerates your daylight token and Damon's, but not much else in the way of magic."
"That's weird," Lindsey said.
Bonnie chuckled as they walked back. "Lindsey, you know I love you to pieces, and I can even say I love that aggravating, reckless, arrogant vampire you married. But this whole place is weird. Good weird. Very good weird. Every time I walk through the front door, it's like a peaceful hand settles on my shoulder. Damon's said the same thing. So have Stefan and Caroline. There's something restorative about the atmosphere. Don't ever sell this place."
"I won't. I always thought the house was just filled with love, which is why it has, I guess what you'd call good vibes."
"That's part of it," Bonnie answered, "But there's more. I have a feeling this land and everything on it was intentionally consecrated a long time ago. Maybe by your ancestors when they bought the land."
"None of my people were supernaturals, as far as I know," Lindsey said.
"No, they weren't. Now, you do come from a long line of what I'd call sensitives, meaning you're especially empathic or tuned in to what's going on around you, which is probably how that bond formed with Damon. You know, when I touch him now, I can feel your presence woven into his aura, and vice versa. Did he tell you I used his blood and your necklace as my locator spell?"
Lindsey shook her head. "I knew you did one, but I don't know anything about how they're done."
"Well, your necklace was bonded to you, and you to each other, and when we did the spell, I held my hand over his as his blood dropped on to your necklace and then dripped on the map. I could feel his love for you." She smiled at her friend.
Lindsey returned the smile. "You could? What was it like?"
Bonnie sighed. "Elemental. It was this raw, beautiful tidal wave."
"Wow. That's kind of what loving him is like, though. Wonder how you were able to do the spell since you said the ley line power doesn't like magic?"
"Remember, I called Minda and talked to her. She's a very powerful, wise witch. She said it was because the magic I did was beneficial, and was to right a wrong. Keeping the balance, in other words."
"Is that so? That's interesting." Lindsey cocked her head to one side, reminiscent of one of Damon's mannerisms.
"I thought so, too."
Lindsey stopped walking for a minute. "Now Bonnie, I'm not psychic."
She chuckled. "No, I know you're not. But you're sensitive, which means you pick up on things around you, and you're extremely intuitive naturally, and you probably honed it over the years as a reporter. You don't like crowds, do you?"
"Not particularly, but I thought it was made worse by being a vampire - you know, the smells and noise and all."
"That probably doesn't help by any means, but I'm betting you've never liked being in a big crowd."
Lindsey thought that over. "As a rule, no."
Bonnie smiled. "It's because you pick up on the energy of the crowd. It's kind of like you're an antenna."
Damon had put a swing underneath the maple tree and Lindsey seated herself and motioned Bonnie to sit, too. "And you say it's in my family?"
"Absolutely. Mostly through your dad's side. I can feel it every time I see the pictures of your dad's people. That adds to the power of the ley line. They all lived here, and there's something very powerful about unbroken family lines."
Lindsey laughed ruefully. "Well, I'd say it's broken now, because I turned."
"No, not necessarily. You turned, but didn't give up your humanity." She shook her head, and an odd expression crossed her face.
"What is it, Bonnie?"
"It's good, but it's like, oh gosh, that bond again. When you and Damon married, and you put his ring on his finger, I get the sense that in that moment, you both opened your hearts completely to each other. It was like you gifted him a little piece of your humanity. It makes sense, considering what Norene said. I said it was weird, but good weird. But Damon's behavior when he first got back to Mystic Falls is clearer now. He was fighting that bond the whole time, so he had to be Evil Damon to do it. I don't think he realized it, but that's what it was."
"I still don't understand why he wanted Katherine out of the tomb. Well, I do know. He told me he was hanging on to a 100-year-old memory and feeling and didn't want to let go."
"Makes sense," Bonnie answered. She looked toward the house. "It took Caroline twenty minutes to pack to come down here, but it takes her two hours to pack to go back. I don't understand."
Lindsey laughed. "It's Caroline."
"Yeah, I know. That explains everything."
Finally, Caroline was ready to go and Lindsey and Damon were on the front steps, saying their goodbyes. Lindsey's eyes moistened when Damon hugged Stefan. "Thank you, brother. Thank you."
Stefan just smiled, nodded and then hugged Lindsey. "Sis, I'm so glad you're all right. Somebody has to keep Damon in line."
Lindsey grinned at him. "I'm working on it." She kissed his cheek. "Love you, sweet brother."
"Love you too," he said, looking once more like the kid from 1864.
"Caroline, thank you for coming, too," Lindsey said as she embraced the blonde.
"Of course! I'm so thrilled you're OK. Or will be. Oh, you know what I mean," she huffed and then squeaked when Damon gathered her into a hug.
"Thanks, Blondie," he said. "Keep Saint Stefan on the straight and narrow."
"Will do," she chuckled and got in the car.
Lindsey hugged Bonnie. "Words can't express how much I owe you, Bonnie. Thank you. That sounds so hollow, but thank you from the bottom of my heart."
"Oh, you don't owe me anything. I'm so glad I was able to help. It's worth it to see you and Damon so happy. I do care about him, aggravating as he is."
"I know you do, and he cares about you," Lindsey replied.
"And he's standing right here," Damon snarked.
"Oh you," Bonnie said, embracing him.
Damon held her close and kissed her hair. "Bon-Bon, you ever need anything, call me. If I can do it, it's done. Anything. Promise. Thank you. Thank you for finding my wife and my mate. Thank you." He picked her up and kissed her forehead, then held her close again, her toes dangling nearly a foot off the ground.
"Damon, put Bonnie down. She's a grown woman, not a doll," Lindsey said, shaking her head.
With one more careful squeeze, he set her on her feet. "She is a doll. She's Bonnie, Kick Ass Witch of the East."
Bonnie stood on tiptoe and kissed Damon's cheek. "You're welcome, Damon."
"Drive safely, guys. Send us a text when you get home," Lindsey said as Bonnie went down the steps.
"We will," Bonnie answered and also got in the car.
Damon and Lindsey waved as they left and walked inside, arm in arm. Damon collapsed on the sofa and pulled Lindsey into his lap. "Do we dare hope we're back to what passes for normal with two happy vampires?" he said.
"I hope so. You heard Miss Norene say there was bigger trouble coming, though. I don't think I want to know what it is."
"Me either. I've had enough for a while. How far are you from a court date with the Augustine stuff?"
"Six months, probably. Maybe that's what she meant. It's been trouble, that's for sure."
"I know that's right," Damon sighed. "Trouble ahead, trouble behind… what song is that from, Miss Vampire Jukebox?"
"Casey Jones by the Grateful Dead," she answered and hummed the line for him.
"Figures. I knew you'd know it. So what's the trouble ahead?"
"Well, whatever it is, it can't get through the wards Bonnie put up. It's probably watching us right now, though," Lindsey sighed. It was from a distance, but Lindsey was right on both counts.
Well? Any guesses as to the trouble ahead? Let me know in your reviews!