Chapter 20: The Backstory

Amina reached up and touched the necklace that hung proudly around her neck for centuries. Her mother's talisman was the only thing she had left, well that wasn't entirely true. She was the spitting image of her mother from her long black wavy hair, green eyes and caramel skin. Then there was the magic that was passed down her line from generations to generations that ran through her veins.

Always one known to brag, Amina was proud of the fact that her last name carried enough power and weight that she could either save the world or destroy it, the latter was of course winning out.

Outside of her looks, power and the talisman Amina inherited her mother's hatred for men. Well, her mother didn't hate all men it was just this one in particular. Her mother was willing to give him the world and at the time she thought he was willing to do the same.

What was the problem?

The bastard wanted to give the world to someone who wasn't her mother. However, he did want to keep her mother around long enough to do all the work while another woman reaped the benefits.

Obviously, that didn't go over well. Her mother waited and bought herself some time to get her revenge, making them both pay.

Since losing her mother as a young woman Amina was forced to live with other family members who used her gifts for their own personal gain. So, she eventually left the village and roamed the world solo.

As she got older she encountered quite a few things. Some pleasant but most of them unpleasant. But she learned a long time ago not to trust anyone, especially men. In her mind they always wanted something and once they obtained it, they would throw you out like yesterday's trash.

She wasn't bitter, she was smart. She knew how to protect herself and after hearing how her mother got revenge by stripping the cheating bastard of his powers and buried him alive on this very island, not without turning him immortal of course. Amina became enamored with power.

She was so inspired that she turned herself immortal and came back to the island with one goal in mind and that was to make sure her mothers work wouldn't be in vein and so far, it wasn't.

But the dreams that started a year ago wouldn't stop.

There was someone from her line, a Bennett witch who would need Silas. So, she tried to stop it. Amina sent her men to kill the Bennett witch and anyone who got in the way, but they failed. She didn't expect a vampire to come in and save her with his blood.

She couldn't hide her disgust when she heard the news about a Bennett witch being a servant to a vampire. Even in this day of age, she found herself as disgusted as she was when it was ruled law for her people be servants to whites. In the supernatural world, it made it all the more disgraceful and to allow this was— She balled up her fist.

The last of her line wasn't worthy of the power and title as queen. The Bennett witch allowed the white men and women in her circle to use her and make a mockery of her name. Now, she wanted to awaken Silas?

She walked over to the tomb and stared at it. Her men failed, the first time. She wasn't going to fail the second time.

Damon rolled his eyes "You know it's getting a little nippy out here, care to invite me in?"

Hybrid eyes narrowed at the failed attempt of a joke "State your purpose. You have three seconds before I throw you out or kill you."

Damon grinned entering the house and turning to face the original "Let's cut to the chase then, you're old as crap which means you've traveled around the world and seen a lot of things, supernatural things. Which also means you've heard stories—"

Annoyance building Klaus said "Say whatever you need to—"

"The cure to vampirism have you heard of it?" Damon watched as a few emotions played on the hybrids face before returning to its familiar blank indifference "Of course you know about it."

Klaus walked over to the bar pouring himself a drink "Why so interested in the cure?"

Damon shrugged "I'm asking for a friend."

"A friend, now is she? I heard there was trouble in paradise from Rebekah, but I couldn't bring myself to care."

"You care now?"

"No."

Damon snorted "Now this cure—"

"Realizing too late that Elena was more useful as human than she is as a vampire?"

Damon heard the amusement "She was only useful when it came to making hybrids for you."

Klaus held up a drink "Exactly."

Damon narrowed his eyes but he remained silent

"Watching all of you run around like chickens with your heads cut after she was turned was one of the best things I've seen in quite some time. The lengths you went through to keep her alive, only to fail all the same."

Damon gritted his teeth "I'm glad we could entertain you," he drawled "now about that cure."

"The cure is unattainable."

Damon smirked "I believe that" he said walking further into the room "Because if it was your enemies would've used it against you by now."

Klaus removed the glass from his rose bud lips "Really? And how would they do that?"

Damon leveled Klaus with a look "Oh please, you know as much as I know that someone who hates you as much as I do would gladly shove that cure down your throat before ending your miserable life."

"You give my enemies too much credit and me not enough."

"I'm sure when you first found out about the cure you went on your own little treasure hunt in order to find it and destroy it, but you're missing come key ingredients and I want to know what it is."

Klaus laughed a little "and you think I'm going to be the one to tell you?"

Damon shrugged "Not without a little bit of incentive."

"Naturally, if I was to give you the keys to end my life I'll be a fool. If I did it for free it'll make me you."

Damon ignored that last crack and spoke on his first comment "We already know two of the three ways to take old yeller out back "Damon held up two fingers counting them off "The trusty white oak and a Bennett witch."

Klaus titled his head a little "and you no longer have either."

Damon and Klaus looked at each other. Damon wondered if Klaus knew about Bonnie's new status as hybrid.

Deciding not to rock the boat he said "Be that as it may. If you tell me what I need to get this cure, Elena can go back to being human."

Well this was new, Klaus thought.

"The mere fact that you're willing to hand over the love of your life is quite telling, at one point you would have taken matters into your own hands, more like making matters worse and Stefan or the witch would have to clean up your mess."

Damon's jaw ticked.

"No, this isn't about Elena, something's changed. The witch perhaps? She is also a vampire now, is she not?"

Damon's eyes narrowed "and if I said no."

Klaus grinned "It would only serve to amuse me. Besides this town is without a Bennett witch to keep things in order. How long do you think it will take for word to get out?"

Damon took a step forward "I would bite my tongue if I were you."

So this is what Caroline is so afraid of? interesting.

"Luckily for you. I've spoken to Caroline earlier and she seems concerned about her friend. I told her I would be willing to do anything I could to help."

Damon laughed "Still trying to get to Blondie's pants?"

Klaus eyes narrowed he sped towards Damon grabbing him by his throat before lifting him off the ground "As I was saying, I'm willing to share all that I know about this cure, for Caroline. But if I were you I wouldn't speak of her in that manner again are we clear?"

Damon gave a thumbs up and Klaus released him. Damon caught himself before he could hit the floor.

"You need three things to get the cure, a map, a sacrifice ritual of twelve of people and Jeremy Gilbert?"

Damon blinked at the grocery list but one thing stuck out more than the others "Jeremy Gilbert? Why the hell do we need him?"

"He's a part of a special brand of hunters known as the five. He's the only one who can see the map."

Damon's brow furrowed "How the hell do you know that?"

Grey eyes rolled "I tested him of course, he was able to see parts of a map on a hunter who's now dead. He was a part of the five."

Damon wondered if Elena knew about Klaus and Jeremy's little encounter, but then again he doubt it.

"So, if we kill twelve people then, what? What happens?"

"Jeremy would be able to see the map with the help of a Bennett Witch of course."

Damon didn't like the idea of Jeremy being anywhere near Bonnie, he already had Stefan to deal with, Jeremy was an all-around deal breaker. But he needed to get that cure, he was going to be the one to give Bonnie back her life.

"Fine, who do we need to kill?"

Klaus shrugged "It doesn't matter as long as it's twelve people."

Damon nodded a plan forming. He still had to meet Elena, but he wanted to see Bonnie first.

But before he left he needed to know one thing "What do you get out of helping me?"

Klaus smirked "The same thing you get, the girl."

Damon smirked back and sped off to see his girl.

Bonnie looked at Jeremy questionably. He showed up at her house unannounced almost thirty minutes ago, only staring and when she thought he was going to say something he would start pacing back and forth. He was starting to work her nerves.

"You know it would probably help if you just tell me why you're here?"

Jeremy stopped at hearing her voice, he really couldn't bring himself to look at her, but he did anyway "I know things have been difficult for you since turning. But, why didn't you just come to me Bonnie?"

Bonnie's eyes widen "Come to you for what?"

"I should've been the one there for you. You don't need him."

Bonnie laughed nervously not really sure where this was headed "Need who?"

"Stefan." He blurted out balling up his fist "You and Stefan make as much sense as you and Damon."

Now the jealousy and anger she was sensing from him was starting to make sense "Who told you?"

"Is that all you have to say?"

Bonnie folded her arms over her chest defensively "Yes, we're not together anymore Jeremy, so I don't owe you an explanation."

"Ouch."

Bonnie looked past Jeremy and saw Damon standing a few feet away grinning like a loon

"Don't let me interrupt." He said raising a brow at Jeremy's balled up fist "Something's bothering you Pocahontas?"

Bonnie shook her head "Damon, please can you just leave us alone for a second?"

Damon sped next to Bonnie "Nope, he's a vampire hunter Bonnie."

Jeremy narrowed his eyes "I would never hurt Bonnie."

Damon pursed his lips "The old Jeremy without a happy trigger finger wouldn't, but this Jeremy" he said stepping completely in front of Bonnie blocking her with his body "is someone who I'd kill if he tried."

Jeremy took a step forward and Bonnie thought now was the time to break this up.

"Guys, please. Jeremy can we talk later?"

Jeremy tore his eyes from Damon and just stared at the girl he once loved "No, just forget it." He said before getting into his car and speeding off.

Bonnie punched Damon in the arm "What the hell were you thinking?"

"OUCH." He said rubbing his arm.

"Jeremy may be little gilbert to you, but he's now a vampire hunter. He could've killed you."

Damon wanted to roll his eyes but something caught his attention "You're worried about me Bon Bon?"

Bonnie ran a hand through her hair "Unfortunately, yes." She said noticing he was standing closer than he was before "What are you doing?"

Damon shrugged "Getting closer to the view."

Bonnie raised a brow "Like what you see?"

Damon licked his lips after giving her a thorough once over. Bonnie was dressed in blue jean cut off shorts, a white tank top and a pair of socks. Her hair was left messy and wild.

Good thing vampires didn't get cold.

"Don't I always?"

Bonnie laughed "No, you're only into me because of Stefan."

Damon tilted his head a little "Who say's I'm into you?"

Bonnie looked at him for a little while and turned to leave "Forget it."

Damon grabbed her arm and pulled her fully against him "You want me to tell you that I hate seeing you with Stefan? Or that in some weird way I'm grateful that I lost you because I can finally admit and see how important you are to me?"

Bonnie swallowed but remained quiet as Damon continued.

He leaned in a little closer "Or that I'm going to find this cure to give you back the life you deserve, not Stefan, but me. I'm going to be the one to save you Bonnie."

"I don't need saving Damon." She whispered.

Damon eyes dropped to her cupid bow shaped lips "What do you need then?"

Before she could stop herself or question her decision Bonnie's lips were on Damon's.

AN: I know there wasn't much Bonnie, Stefan or Caroline in this chapter but I really wanted to get the stuff about the cure in and if you havent guessed yes Qetsiyah is her mother and now we know who tried to kill Bonnie and Bamon took that step we all knew was going to happen. Some will be happy and some won't but, hey, the story must go on. This is the last update of the year, but I might update fuck apologies again I haven't decided. Let me know what you think and of course Happy Holidays!