A/N: Well, hello, everyone… Oh crap, Bonnie is dead?! For real? I can't believe it. She lived unhappily and died young? And Jeremy was also killed? That poor character wasn't given a real chance of development, how could they... I'm freaking devastated. I'm one step away from turning this story into a death fic! Ugh. Now I know two things. I was right to drop this freak show. (Sorry, everyone, who watches and loves it. I'm utterly depressed.) And, TVD can screw you over even if you don't watch it. Guh, don't tell me anything about it anymore. Let's enjoy any wonderful alternative universe where Bonnie is alive, dammit!
Oh, and guys? Thank you for your reviews :)
Chapter twenty one
Now that she had come back home Bonnie couldn't understand why she didn't want to go there in the first place. Of course, she was alone there (her father was still in Paris) but there was nothing new about it. She had to admit that after being away from her friends she was slightly confused. She missed Mystic Falls but was almost scared to come back. How weird was that? Perhaps, that Negation spell messed with her head, after all. But right now she was more than happy to be home. It was pleasant to wake up in the familiar room, bathing in sunlight, and it was even better to hear a phone call and see Damon's name on the screen.
"Morning, little witch."
"Good morning," she smiled, sitting up in bed and running her hand through her tangled hair.
"Has your little servant brought you coffee in your deluxe suite?"
"Derrick is not my servant," Bonnie said firmly. "And... I'm not in the hotel. I'm at home."
She heard Damon chuckle softly.
"I guess I can congratulate myself. Unless he's with you right now."
"He's not."
"Your words warm my heart."
She smiled again and held her phone with both hands.
"We have things to do," Damon went on.
Bonnie leaned on her elbow.
"Picture me intrigued."
"Sorry, I can't. Too busy picturing you naked."
"Oh stop it," Bonnie waved it off. "What is it?"
"Your besties and my baby brother keep calling me and asking me questions. And as soon as they know your new number which only I know right now..."
He paused and Bonnie said solemnly,
"You took my phone when I was sleeping. I didn't give you my number."
"But you would, wouldn't you?"
"Elena and Care know my number now."
"Still, I was the first one."
She grinned. He sounded so content.
"Okay, I know where this conversation is heading," Bonnie said. "I know I was acting stupidly, hiding the truth from my friends. But this is going to end today. I will tell them."
"Be sure to tell them about us."
Bonnie flinched in horror.
"No way!" she exclaimed.
"Fine, I'll do it."
He said it casually but she could imagine him frowning.
"I will burn you!" Bonnie promised out of habit.
"You know I love how our relationship is mostly based on threats."
Bonnie scoffed but a note of impatience in Damon's voice made her soften her voice when she said,
"Damon, let's not be rash. Please? Everyone will simply be freaked out!"
"You're the one who sounds freaked out," Damon said. "Shall we go on another road trip? To Vegas, maybe?"
The witch closed her eyes. She. Loved. Him. Oh, it was so heartbreaking and funny at the same time. Didn't he realize she was head over heels in love with him? Why did he need any proof? Bonnie didn't trust herself to speak and heard Damon sigh.
"Okay. I'm not going to push it. You are a terrible actress, anyway, so everyone will put two and two together soon enough."
"Maybe, you're right," Bonnie said quietly.
Damon was silent for a moment and then said, amused,
"A sudden thought occurred to me."
"Hm?"
"I'm still not invited into your house."
"True…" Bonnie whispered.
"After all this time…"
"Well, you had no reason to be in my house," she reminded him.
"Now I do. I can move in with you."
Apparently, Damon Salvatore was strongly against taking things slowly.
"Nuh-uh," Bonnie said. "Dad will be back soon. He definitely wouldn't like it."
"I can sneak into your room."
The witch looked at her phone, puzzled.
"What a brilliant idea," she said ironically. "And an original one, my sparkling vampire. What is going on, Damon?"
"What do you mean?"
"Don't tell me, you're tired of chasing Elena and now want something simple for a change."
"Simple?" Damon scoffed. "You think you're simple? Don't flatter yourself."
"Am I wrong?" she asked, now genuinely curious.
"What do you think? You left me heart-broken, darling. Devastated. And now I'm turning into a major Bonnie Bennett stalker. Nothing is ever simple with you."
Bonnie was surprised and the most surprising thing was that he was so sad because she had disappeared. After all, it was him who left her to go to Elena without a second thought. But then again, there was nothing more stupid than torturing herself by thinking of the whole Damon and Elena thing.
"Bonnie?" Damon called her lazily. "Are you still there?"
"I'll see you today," she said absent-mindedly. "Will you come to the boarding house?"
"I suppose I will..."
"Okay," she smiled. "Bye, then."
She hung up and got out of bed. Clasping her hands together she came to the mirror and took a deep breath.
"Caroline, I need to tell you... I'm in love! With someone we both know... Okay, that was a horrible start. Care, you always said that dangerous guys are fascinating... No."
Bonnie wrinkled her forehead.
"When I got a chance to know Damon better... Oh, please."
She sighed and tried one more time.
"Elena, I..."
And she stopped.
"I knew it," she whispered. "Everyone will be freaked out!"
The clock was ticking loudly and Stanley did his best to ignore other noises, including Matthew's cold voice. As always, the Witchfinder General wasn't pleased.
"All I asked of you was to kill a vampire. How difficult could it be?"
Stanley leaned back in his chair, his face unreadable. Matthew glowered at him.
"Can you at least tell me what happened?"
He was clearly getting angrier, even his hands were shaking slightly. Stanley noticed it passionlessly. Then he shrugged and answered,
"Bonnie Bennett happened. And Will… John Gaule's son was with her."
"So they stopped you?"
"Not really."
Matthew narrowed his eyes.
"And what exactly is going on in your head?" he asked in his silkiest voice. "Have you forgotten already where your loyalty lies?"
Something dangerous flashed in Stanley's eyes but he smiled.
"My loyalty always was and always will be to me. I suppose we're clever enough and shouldn't play coy."
The Witchfinder General stared at him.
"Still arrogant, I see," he seethed. "I say, you haven't changed at all since the day I first saw you. Oh, and what a funny couple you were. You and that bold girlfriend of yours."
For a brief second Stanley closed his eyes. Matthew shrugged.
"John Gaule and his family… This tale of vendetta is ridiculous."
"And the witch-hunt makes so much sense," Stan said rather acidly.
"At least I didn't send my daughter to fight my enemies."
The color left Stanley's face. Hopkins watched him, a malicious glint in his eyes.
"John didn't send her," Stanley muttered.
"No?"
Stan looked away and Hopkins grabbed his shoulder.
"You think you can outsmart everyone?" he snarled. "You really think you can rule from the shadows and laugh at everything you see? My dear boy, I've lived longer than you. You think I can't recognize a bloody coward?"
Frowning, Stanley raised his head and looked at Matthew.
"You will do what I tell you to do!" Hopkins barked. "You will kill Damon Salvatore. And Bonnie Bennett. And Will Gaule. And your precious crippled girlfriend if I say so! Do you understand?"
Stanley's mouth twitched and suddenly he was laughing. His whole body was shaking and Matthew backed off, annoyed.
"Oh, this was bloody ridiculous," Stanley exclaimed, wiping off the tears. "You really think I didn't kill that bloodsucker because I saw Will's familiar face? And you've decided to give me a little pep talk like an evil guy you are?"
Matthew's face darkened. Stanley stood up and smirked.
"Damon Salvatore is fucking invincible!" he announced in amusement. "I couldn't hurt him! I don't know what it was. I mean I had hit him with an aneurism spell a year ago and he was crouching on the ground."
"So, this vampire…" Matthew said thoughtfully.
"Yes, somehow he's protected from the spells. But I will find a way to break through. And then I will kill him. And Bonnie Bennett. And Will. And if Margaret gets in the way..." he smirked. "Well, too bad."
Matthew took another cold look at Stanley and walked over to the window.
"You're dismissed," he said calmly.
Stanley smiled wickedly.
"If you say so," he said and walked out.
Bonnie was so sure that Damon had agreed to wait, she didn't realize he had never really promised her that. When she entered the boarding house where everyone was waiting for her, the arrogant vampire was the first person she saw.
"Oh finally," he drawled, meeting her in the darkened hallway. "Our little witch has finally arrived," he announced, raising his voice.
Bonnie looked at him and he looked back mockingly, and something in his eyes told her that he was in no mood to play nice today. She narrowed her eyes. Damon glared at her and their silent communication was suddenly interrupted by Caroline.
"There you are," she said, hugging the witch. "What is going on, you made us so worried…"
Bonnie followed Caroline to the living-room where Stefan, Elena, Jeremy, Tyler and Matt were. Elena beamed and came to embrace Bonnie.
"Finally you're back," she said.
"Yeah…" Bonnie looked around and said. "Guys, I'm so sorry about that night, I really didn't want you to get involved."
"What are you talking about?" Caroline said. "They came to kill the vampires, they said so. You saved us."
Bonnie opened her mouth to talk when Damon finally entered the room. He looked extremely bored. The witch smiled weakly and sat down, while Damon was serving himself a drink.
"The truth is…" Bonnie started and Damon chuckled softly. Stefan looked at his brother, annoyed, but Damon stood with his back to them and didn't see that.
"What?" Caroline said.
"The witch-hunters," Bonnie said quickly, trying to ignore Damon. It was nearly impossible. "People who want to kill us are the witch-hunters."
She began explaining everything to her friends. Meanwhile, Damon finished his drink and poured another one. He turned to look at Bonnie and she was baffled when she saw him smiling. It was a little-witch-beware kind of smile.
"So the evil warlocks tried to kill you and Damon saved you?" Caroline said in disbelief. "Damon saved you? Really?"
Bonnie was ready to groan.
"Yes, yes, he did," she said. "Several times."
Elena grinned at Damon, her dark eyes were shining.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"Bonnie thanked me," he replied charmingly and looked at Bonnie challengingly. "Several times."
"And now they will try to kill us because they hate supernatural creatures!" Bonnie said loudly. Honestly. "So we must be ready to protect ourselves."
"I don't get it," Jeremy said slowly. "They are warlocks. Why would they want to kill you? You are just like them, right?"
"Well, if you consider her a raging psychopath, then yes," Damon said.
"What can we do?" Tyler asked.
"I must find a book," Bonnie said, again trying not to look at Damon.
"What book?" Caroline said, confused.
"Truthfully? I have no idea. Apparently, it's about the witch-hunt in seventeenth century."
"Oh…" Caroline muttered, disappointed. Bonnie spoke,
"My friend Margaret can see the future. And she had a vision about this book. She saw it in my hands and she knew that this book could help us to find a way to stop Hopkins."
"Bonnie, are you sure that this man is Matthew Hopkins?" Stefan asked, concerned. "I mean, how can he possibly be alive?"
"I am sure," Bonnie said.
"Have you seen him?" Stefan pressed.
"I haven't but I have no reason to doubt Margaret's words. She saw him."
Everyone looked confused, except for Damon who was frowning and looking into his glass. Bonnie sighed.
"It is him," she said quietly. "The man who tortured and murdered the witches almost four hundred years ago. The Gaules found me so I can help them. Derrick found me so he can help me. And, guys, I need your help as well."
"Say no more," Matt smiled and Tyler scowled at him.
"That means we have to read?" he raised his eyebrows.
His friends chuckled at his attitude and Bonnie nodded, grinning.
"Yep, please, help me find the book. It's the most important thing right now."
"I can check Dad's books," Jeremy said and Elena nodded.
"Good idea."
Bonnie exhaled and said slowly,
"Stefan, Damon, you wouldn't mind if I…"
"Sure," Stefan said, rising to his feet. "I'll help you."
"I think I can handle it better, brother," Damon smirked.
Stefan stopped in his tracks, he looked puzzled.
"How can we help?" Tyler said, mournfully.
"I'll go and buy us some coffee," Caroline said cheerfully and her boyfriend beamed at her.
"I'll help you," he said.
"Right, because coffee is so heavy," Damon drawled. He was already behind Bonnie's back. How that happened she didn't know. "By the way, we have coffee here but feel free to use lame excuses."
Matt cleared his throat while Caroline and Tyler were glowering at Damon.
"I can visit a public library…"
"Off you go," Damon smiled. "So, let's work together like good friends we are. After that, we can even have a movie night."
"Very funny," Caroline said dryly.
"You'll like it, Care," Damon said. "I'll choose something sappy. Like Autumn in New York. An Affair to remember. Oh, and Sex and the city will do just fine."
"Lead the way, Damon!" Bonnie practically bellowed.
He shrugged and left the room with Bonnie behind him. When they were in the study and finally stood face to face Bonnie glared at him and threw up her arms in exasperation. Damon didn't waste his time either. Before Bonnie get a chance to drop her arms he hugged her and his mouth covered hers.
Bonnie's eyes flew wide open, she tried to back off but Damon didn't let her. She couldn't even take another breath. Damon's hands slid down and Bonnie felt herself being lifted up. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Her heart skipped a beat and she found herself sitting on the table with her legs around Damon's waist. He leaned back and Bonnie quickly opened her mouth but the vampire smirked and shook his head. He pressed his finger to his lips and, when Bonnie frowned, touched his ear. She slowly exhaled.
Damn the vampire hearing.
Damon was obviously gloating now. But seeing him like this didn't make Bonnie annoyed as usual. She lifted her eyes to the ceiling but a smile formed at the corner of her mouth. Damon's hand ran up her spine. He pressed his mouth against her throat, placing quick hungry kisses on her skin. Bonnie buried her fingers in his hair, ready to moan with pleasure. It felt so good, so insanely good to be in his arms again, to know that he still wanted her. He raised his head and smiled and she smiled back before she could stop herself. He pulled her up for another kiss and she kissed him back. If she was lucky her friends wouldn't walk in and see her right now when Damon's tongue was in her mouth.
Suddenly Damon let her go and rolled his eyes. Bonnie blinked when he grabbed her waist, lifted her into the air easily as if she were a doll and put her down. Bonnie looked at him, confused.
"I thought I could help you after all," Stefan's voice sounded from the doorway.
That was close!
Bonnie stared at Damon, her heart was in her throat. Stefan walked in, looking at them.
"Is everything okay?"
"Everything is fucking perfect," Damon answered. He looked at the witch pointedly. "Shall we, Bon? Can I call you Bon?"
She smirked, regaining her breath.
"No, you will call me Bonnie. As in beautiful."
"Okay, beautiful," Damon waved his hand around. "Books are all around you, pick any you like."
Bonnie huffed, moving her hair out of her face. Then she froze. She really hoped Damon didn't give her a hickey. She shook her head and caught Stefan's puzzled look. Damon was standing near the bookshelf and whistling a song. Stefan turned his attention to his brother.
"Livin' la vida loca?" he asked in disbelief.
"I like the lyrics," Damon replied casually. "Her skin's the color mocha… Woke up in New York City…"
Bonnie scoffed.
"Is this some kind of inside joke?" Stefan asked, growing more confused.
"Damon likes Ricky Martin, yay!" Bonnie drawled sarcastically.
"Actually I don't," Damon said, handing a book to her. "I like Bon… Bon Jovi. Yeah, he's cool."
Stefan's forehead was now painfully furrowed.
"You like Bon Jovi?" he said. "Since when?"
"What is it?" Bonnie stared at the book Damon gave her. "It's Shakespeare!"
"I know."
Bonnie looked at the cover again.
"The Taming of the Shrew?" she read out loud.
"Classic," Damon said. "Oh. And here's Pride and Prejudice. Care to read, miss Bennett?"
"You're being annoying," Bonnie snapped, blushing.
Damon turned away, muttering,
"Not so did she talk to me in New York…"
Bonnie clicked her fingers and books showered down from the shelves right on Damon.
"Oh sorry!" she exclaimed when Damon turned to her, looking murderous. "Sorry, Damon, I messed up the spell."
He glared at her but smiled almost immediately.
"You and your spells…"
"Stop fighting!" Stefan said, exasperatedly.
Damon chuckled and Bonnie couldn't help but smile. He really was adorable… sometimes. She didn't mind it anymore; he could alert the media for all she cared. Let the whole world know that she loved him.
Damon lowered his head, smiling when he heard his phone ring.
"I have to take it," he said when he saw Brian's name on the caller ID. "And I'll take it outside."
Both Stefan and Bonnie watched him leave the room. Stefan frowned again. Luckily, Bonnie thought, he was a vampire and couldn't actually get wrinkles. Then Stefan turned around and looked at the books on the floor. Bonnie flushed.
"Sorry," she said. "I'll put them back."
Damon was half a mile away from his house when he finally answered his phone.
"Tell me good news," he said instead of greeting.
"I've found out who he is."
"So?.."
"His name is Derrick McFly."
"McFly?" Damon repeated, flabbergasted. "Are you kidding me?"
"Would I dare?" Brian said, annoyed.
Damon rolled his eyes.
"Go on."
"He is from Salem and he comes from an old family of witches... If it makes sense for you."
"It makes perfect sense to me. He calls himself a protector of the witch — "
"Funny, that you've mentioned that. Because the most interesting thing about this Derrick guy is his contract with the Bennett family. He's supposed to protect Bonnie Bennett."
"What do you mean?" Damon asked slowly.
"I talked to his grandmother in Salem. She is half mad but whatever. She told me that many years ago a member of her family was saved by the Bennett witch. So his clan swore an oath to protect Bennett descendants. Now, Bonnie Bennett has some cousins but she's the only one true heir of that Salem witch."
"I know that," Damon said, suddenly annoyed. He liked Derrick less and less every second. Somehow, he always thought that Emily had made him the only legitimate protector of her family, although he never really cared about it. Until now.
"So that crazy grandmother told me that her darling Derrick was summoned to repay his family's debt. I know that sounds like bullshit. Witches and stuff…"
"Brian," Damon said slowly. "Keep investigating. There's something wrong about this noble knight. He's lying. I don't know what he's hiding but he's definitely hiding something."
"Ok, if you say so."
Damon hung up and began walking. If Derrick was bound by oath it made sense, but somehow it seemed doubtful. What was the catch? Damon didn't know. Derrick didn't seem slippery or evil for that matter, but he was… He was familiar. Something about him was familiar, but what? It was getting frustrating.
Damon had approached his house, when he saw Tyler and Caroline getting out of the car. Caroline was holding a take out coffee tray.
"How lovely," Damon smirked. "So the quickie was really quick then?"
"You're disgusting," Caroline said.
Damon bowed slightly but his smile vanished when Tyler's head snapped up.
"What was that?" the wolf boy said, alarmed.
"What?" Caroline asked in confusion.
Then both she and Damon heard it too.
"Don't…"
It was a whimper of pain.
"Bonnie," Caroline whispered and rushed forward.
Bonnie smiled when she saw the picture of Elena on the wall.
"She looks amazing."
Stefan grinned as well.
"Yes, we were celebrating our anniversary… I took this picture."
"Oh, this is so cute," Bonnie said in a low voice and Stefan chuckled. "Sorry, I just… It's great that you two can be so happy after everything you've been through."
"Bad things happen," Stefan said, picking a book from the shelf. "We have to deal with them…"
Bonnie gave him a slight nod but her eyes darkened. Stefan noticed it.
"If you need to talk to somebody…" he began.
"Thank you," she smiled.
He put the book down and came to her.
"There's something I need to give to you," Stefan said suddenly, reaching into his inside jacket pocket.
"I've called Tyler's mother," Elena said, walking in. "The Lockwoods have quite a library. What are you doing?"
Stefan sighed. Elena was behind his back when he turned around swiftly and pushed her hard. Bonnie gasped but before she could blink she saw Stefan's face inches from her own. A sudden piercing pain shot through her chest.
"Stefan, no!" she heard Elena's horrified scream.
Bonnie saw her friend lunge at Stefan but he hit her again, sending her crashing backwards into the wall. Elena crumpled to the floor, unconscious. Shock-stricken Bonnie raised her shaking hand. Again, Stefan was looking at her. There was a bloody knife in his hand.
"Stefan," she choked out.
He took a step forward and she recoiled. The blood was gushing from her wound. She couldn't recognize the face of the vampire in front of her. The smell of her blood didn't seem to bother him in the slightest. His eyes were cold and he was so calm…
Bonnie stumbled and tried to grab the curtain but failed. Out the corner of her eye she saw Elena motionless on the floor and her heart turned over. She couldn't see her best friend's face.
Let her be okay, she prayed silently. Just let her be okay...
Suddenly she couldn't see anything but the younger Salvatore brother in front of her. He raised the knife again. Bonnie stopped breathing. She needed to stop him, now.
"Stefan, please…" she whispered, getting ready to use the spell. "It's me…"
He didn't listen. Bonnie narrowed her eyes when he grabbed her shoulder roughly.
Now.
"Ah. That won't do…"
Bonnie winced. There was the sound of ripping cloth and she felt Stefan being lifted off her. She could finally breathe but it didn't help her feel better. Her chest ached terribly and she touched the spot where it hurt the most. When she raised her hand she saw her fingers were stained with blood. The room became a blur.
"I've chosen the best time to pay you a visit."
She was lying on the floor, bleeding. Her best friend was knocked out.
"Stefan," Bonnie called. Unreasonably, she was still asking for help from Stefan, he was the only one who could protect Elena now.
"Don't worry. I know how to handle him."
Damn you.
The blood wouldn't stop, Stefan cut open her chest. Her heart would stop beating. But she couldn't die and let Elena and Stefan be alone with him.
"Don't move, Stefan. You will not lift a finger until I tell you otherwise."
He's compelling him, realized Bonnie. Everything was so horrible.
Damon...
With all her remaining strength, she opened her eyes and looked at Klaus. Her hand shot up in the air and even a magical spark rolled between her fingers but Klaus took her hand gently and clicked his tongue in a mock-scolding manner.
"Don't," she muttered.
Klaus began,
"Bonnie — "
"D-don't…" she exhaled and a second later the door burst open. Bonnie's hand fell. Klaus lifted his head to see Damon, Caroline and Tyler. Caroline gasped but Klaus' eyes were on Damon, who looked petrified. Then his eyes were blazing and… And suddenly Klaus had a very bad feeling about that.
Damon felt like someone had stabbed him. He saw Bonnie on the floor, there was a hole in her chest. And Klaus was kneeling before her. He took a step forward, and everything seemed to erupt around Damon, everything turned black and red, black as Klaus' rotten heart and red as Bonnie's blood and before Damon knew it he dashed forward.
Klaus wasn't quite ready so he was hit pretty badly but he was on his feet right away. With a lazy movement he threw Damon across the room.
"Trust me, it's not what it looks like…" he snapped. "You lovesick fool."
"You bastard," Caroline whispered furiously. She rushed over to Bonnie.
"I didn't touch her!" Klaus said, annoyed. "It was Stefan. He tried to cut her heart out with a ritual knife, no less. Is it a new hobby of his? Well, he was always a collector."
"What did you do to him?" Tyler asked, looking at frozen Stefan.
"I ordered him not to move," Klaus shrugged, casting a glance at white-faced Damon. "Don't you want to check on Elena?"
"Let Stefan go," Caroline demanded angrily. Damon stood stock-still and Tyler came to Elena. Klaus arched an eyebrow. Caroline snapped, "Didn't you hear me?"
"The moment I release him he will try to steal Bonnie's heart. And I don't mean it in a romantic kind of way."
"You're a liar," Caroline said. She was holding Bonnie's head to her chest. "Stefan would never hurt Bonnie."
"So little you know, beautiful," Klaus chuckled.
"Caroline, heal her," Damon said in a barely audible voice.
"I am — "
"Do it faster!" he shouted.
Klaus looked at him closely.
"Don't be an idiot," he said quietly. "You don't have to keep an eye on me. If I wanted to, I would have killed you all in a heartbeat."
Damon studied his face. Then, without a word, he moved and was by Bonnie's side. She looked completely lifeless. Damon held back from pushing Caroline away and giving Bonnie his own blood but he clutched the witch's hand. It was still warm. His hands were shaking. He willed himself to calm down. Caroline was watching. Klaus was watching.
It was an eternity before Bonnie finally opened her eyes. She frowned slightly, her gaze wandered around and she saw Damon. There was so much relief in her eyes.
"You're here," she said faintly.
"I'm here," he replied brokenly.
Then her eyes reflected panic.
"Klaus…" she whispered and her fingers in Damon's hand trembled. "Help Elena…"
"Sorry, what was that, love?" Klaus asked loudly. "You want me to help Elena?"
Bonnie froze, looking at the Original who smiled at her.
"I'm fine," Elena's voice sounded and Bonnie sighed in relief. Elena saw her friend and stood stricken. "Oh my God, Bonnie!"
Her eyes became huge before she turned to glare at Klaus.
"Stefan would never… You made him do it!"
Klaus looked at her calmly and said,
"No, I didn't."
Bonnie tried to rise but both Damon and Caroline held her.
"You compelled him," Elena seethed.
"I compelled him so he wouldn't kill your friend," Klaus smirked. "He will thank me later. I'm not sure you will."
"Get the hell out!" Elena was shaking with fury.
"Let me go," Bonnie frowned, trying to uncurl Damon's fingers.
"No," Damon and Caroline said in unison. Caroline looked at her friend worriedly. "Bonnie, you are hurt, don't move."
"I'm okay," Bonnie protested, trying to rise to her feet so she could go and stand by Elena's side.
The front door was shut loudly; Damon looked up, alarmed. Bonnie turned her head and saw Will enter the room.
"Hello..." he said slowly, watching the scene. "Um… The door was open."
"Do you walk through every open door?" Damon asked acidly.
"Will," Bonnie muttered.
Her warlock friend frowned when he saw her.
"Oh bugger…"
"Why are you here?" Bonnie said, finally rising to her feet.
"Derrick sensed that you're in danger and sent me to protect you," he explained grimly.
"I'm okay," Bonnie said. "Where is Derrick?"
"Temporarily unavailable... What the hell is going on? Was it Stanley?"
"I don't think so," Bonnie looked at Klaus, frowning.
Meanwhile, Will saw the knife that Stefan dropped on the floor. His face darkened as he picked the bloody object, inspecting it closely.
"Do you know what it is?" he asked Bonnie.
"Don't get on my nerves," she said weakly. "I'm nervous enough as it is."
"You should be," Will came closer to Stefan. "He's spellbound."
"Actually compelled," Bonnie said, glaring at Klaus.
"You're welcome," the Original snarled.
Will recoiled from Stefan and looked at Bonnie.
"Did you friend attack you?" he asked incredulously.
"He's probably being manipulated by someone," Klaus said leisurely.
"He's probably compelled," Bonnie said angrily.
Klaus looked right into her eyes.
"And why would I want to kill you?" he asked mildly.
"If it's a spell I can lift it," Will said. "Do you know the place where I can go all wild?"
"The witch's house," Bonnie said quietly. "I'll go with you."
"You are not going anywhere!" Caroline exclaimed. "You need to lay down."
"Caroline is right, Bonnie," Elena approached Bonnie. "I'll go. You have a rest."
She smiled.
"I would hug you but there's blood on your shirt so it's probably not a good idea…"
Still worried, Bonnie turned to look at Will. He nodded in understanding.
"Your friend will be okay."
"I'll go with you," Tyler said. "In case you need some help."
"Thanks," Will said. "So where's the place?"
Several minutes later Will, Tyler, Elena and Stefan left the boarding house. Caroline patted Bonnie's arm.
"Let's go upstairs…"
Bonnie didn't argue; her thoughts were racing. Caroline brought her one of Elena's shirts and Bonnie changed almost mechanically. She was in bed in the guest-room when Caroline said she'd go and get something to eat for Bonnie.
The witch didn't feel hungry at all but said nothing. She heard Caroline downstairs say loudly "Take care of her until I'm back." She was probably talking to Damon. Bonnie pushed the blankets away, her head was clear now. She wanted to talk to Damon. Her feet almost touched the floor when she saw Klaus in the doorway.
He walked in, smiling.
"Same decorations. Different roles."
"What are you still doing here?" Bonnie asked, watching him warily.
He took another step forward.
"I never properly thanked you. For saving my life."
"Let's not be delusional," Bonnie said coldly. "I wasn't saving you."
"No… You were saving your mother and your friends. And Damon, of course."
She felt her skin crawl and the cold fear washing over her. Bonnie didn't like at all the way Klaus said Damon's name.
"Poor little thing," Klaus muttered softly.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Don't you know?"
She blinked, her face was still calm. Klaus shrugged.
"I'm here because I want to help you to take down Matthew Hopkins."
"Have I heard you right?" she asked mildly. "Great Klaus is afraid of the witch-hunter?"
"What can you understand, you yesterday teenager?" he said patronizingly.
"I think I can understand a lot," Bonnie said indignantly, "I feel like my life is directed by Joss Whedon!"
He rolled his eyes but went on,
"After he deals with your kind… He will be after my family."
"Oh, and it's such a shame."
"I can help you."
"I don't need your help."
"You want to do everything by yourself?"
"No. I just don't want your help. I have my friends."
"Right. Your friends. How could I forget about them."
Bonnie narrowed her eyes and Klaus said,
"Your friends were doing fine without you. Your dearest friend Damon turned your mother, need I remind you? Don't be so clingy."
"And still I will trust him and not you."
"Why?"
"Because I hate you," Bonnie scoffed.
"You poor girl," Klaus whispered. "He will never treat you the way he treats Elena."
"Oh, I know that."
A sneer touched the corners of Klaus' mouth.
"What if one day Elena decides she actually wants Damon?" he said quietly. "After all, she has such a big heart. What if she outgrows her love for Stefan? Who do you think Damon would choose?"
"Beats me," Bonnie said, carefree. "But tell you what. If Elena wants Damon I'm not going to be in the way of the true love. So in the moment of my heartbreak let me find you and cry on your chest. Deal?"
Klaus looked at her grimly, and she smirked.
"You're an idiot if you think that I will trust you," she muttered.
"And you're an idiot if you think he cares about you."
"Are you projecting your own feelings?" Damon's voice sounded. Bonnie saw him walk in and her face brightened. "Just because no one gives a fuck about you?"
Klaus turned around.
"Bonnie, when you realize they don't actually care, give me a call. I will find you."
"Sure," she said dryly. "Number 1-800-I-AM-A-PSYCHOPAT is on my speed dial."
Klaus left without another word. Damon watched him go, then he came to Bonnie.
"Get back into bed," he said calmly.
She frowned but did as she was told. Damon looked really angry and there was no need to upset him more. When she was under the blanket he finally smiled.
"Well, thank you for choosing me."
"Trust me, when it comes down to a choice between you and Klaus, it will always be you, Damon."
They stared at each other and she sighed.
"You look horrible."
"Look who's talking."
She put her hand on his and Damon forced another smile.
"Stefan is going to be fine," she said, squeezing his hand. "I promise."
"I don't care about him," Damon said, running his knuckles along her jaw.
"Of course, you do," she closed her eyes. "Your hands are cold."
He snorted to himself.
"You certainly couldn't come up with something better than bleeding in front of me."
She smiled guiltily. Damon looked at her closely and said,
"That's enough, really. Let's tell them everything."
"We did," she muttered.
"Everything, Bonnie."
She opened her eyes and looked at him doubtfully.
"What?"
"You've heard me."
Her face was thoughtful for a split second. Then she smiled.
"Okay."
His face cleared.
"You're mine," he whispered.
"You can bet I am."
His phone suddenly buzzed. Damon saw a new text and frowned.
"Who was that?" Bonnie asked.
"Nobody," he said and put his phone back in his pocket. Bonnie looked at him and he smirked. "Now close your beautiful eyes and try to get some sleep."
She smiled sleepily.
"I have beautiful eyes?"
"You have beautiful everything. Sleep."
She finally closed her eyes but her smile didn't disappear.
"Make me dream about you."
"Oh, I see. Blood loss makes you sappy."
But if she wanted to distract him, it had worked. Damon smiled despite himself and touched her face gently. She was sleeping already. Damon listened to her quiet breathing; his face grew serious again.
One of the most powerful witches ever… And still so fragile. So very mortal.
TBC