"Authors note- Be prepared! A lot happens in this chapter so brace yourselves for that. And also this is a question for any Bamon fans who may be reading. If I were to write a bamon fanfiction sometime in the near future, would you consider reading it?*

*Chapter 21*

"Ah," a deep, unfamiliar voice filled the air and Bonnie felt her insides turn to ice. Markos stepped out of the tress, Liv following in his steps with glazed eyes. He was a rugged looking man; approaching his thirties it seemed. "Clearly you've been expecting me. Well that's good, I would hate to be one to show up without being expected. I believe introductions are in order. I, as you all should know by now, am Markos."

"Ah how lovely." Silas smirked. "I must say you're far younger than I had anticipated. See I had this image of you being a ghastly old man, resembling a corpse really. I mean you're still positively ghastly but better off. Perhaps, you've heard of me. I am Silas."

"I'm afraid I can't say I have."

"Oh I see," Silas looked mildly shocked. "Clearly I'm not the only who's been living under rocks for thousands of years."

The others had retreated to their positions, leaving only Markos, Silas, Bonnie, Kol and Liv in the area. Liv looked blank, drugged almost, as if she hadn't a clue of neither where she was nor what she was doing.

"Well…" Markos said, looking directly at Bonnie this time. "Shall we begin?"

"You cannot defeat me." Markos plainly said, looking at them all one by one. "Just give me the knife and I will let you be. Give me the knife and I will let you live."

"Go rot in hell," Bonnie snarled at him.

"Don't be so foolish, you idiotic child. You'll perish just like your friends if you do not do as I say."

"That wouldn't be entirely new to that," Silas said. "It's happened far too often now."

"You're making a big mistake," he said. The rising heat, made his skin glisten as sweat began to form on his forehead. "I am giving you a chance to amend your mistakes. Take it."

"Fuck. You." Bonnie said.

"Temper, temper. How quick you are with your tongue. Pity, you're quite the opposite of Emily I must say."

Bonnie halted.

"Emily?"

"Yes Emily. You're descendant if I'm not mistaken? Yes, I knew her very well for a time. It certainly was a shame what happened to her."

"Bonnie don't listen to him," Kol said firmly. "He's just trying to get under your skin."

And it was working.

"Surely you wish to live longer than she did don't you?" He saw Bonnie hesitate before smirking. "So much would be wasted. You could be so powerful Bonnie. So very powerful. You want power don't you? You thirst for it. Don't try and deny it. It's just who you are."

She looked at him dead in the eye before raising her voice and saying "Phasmatos Incendia."

And the whole place went up in flames.

Screams of people outside the area filled the air. Markos and Silas were throwing all they had at each other, yelling spells and doing all they possibly could to harm the other, and Bonnie was preoccupied with keeping Liv at bay and also targeting small but precise blows at Markos. Blood was pouring down from her nose and falling on the floor but she kept at it, chanting at the top of her voice, and dodging spells tossed at her.

"Ex Spiritum In Tacullum, En Terrum Incendium, Phasmatos Salves A Distum!" Silas yelled, as the flames rose higher and higher above their heads.

"Ar Sher Lana!" Bonnie targeted a sharp blow at Liv who doubled over in pain and fell on the cold ground, unconscious.

Bonnie recited another spell, just to make sure that she wouldn't wake anytime soon and joined Silas and Markos. Markos noticed her intrusion and before she knew it, a piece of glass from the broken window came hurtling towards Bonnie. Kol immediately ran forward before it reached her and deflected the shard as it grazed off of his arm and on to the floor. That allowed Bonnie to regain her breath, even if only for a second and she yelled out another spell, hitting Markos hard and fast. Markos cried out, and like Liv doubled over in agony. Silas saw the chance and sent another spell flying at Markos, weakening him further.

"Kol now," Bonnie screamed.

Kol flew forward, knife in hand. Before Markos could do so much as scream, Kol drove the knife through his chest and pulled it back out just as quickly and swiftly retreated, away from danger. Markos' lips formed a wide 'O' but no words came out, just an exhalation of air. Voice filled with venom, Bonnie looked at the man and began to chant.

"No…" he gasped, a hand reaching out towards her. She continued chanting, not once breaking eye contact. His eyes grew wide and he looked at his raised hand which then fell to the ground, limp. He opened his mouth to scream, but too late. His body collapsed fully onto the ground, motionless.

Markos was dead.

But things were still far from over.

The group ran to Bonnie soon after they had finished with Markos to tell her that the travellers had gone.

"Took off so suddenly," Damon said. "As soon as he died, they all just gave up and left."

"Makes sense as he was their leader," Matt said, looking in shock at what remained of the Grill. The place had been burnt to crisp, as had the other smaller buildings near it. The fire had consumed everything, including the body of Markos. Stefan had taken the unconscious Liv and she was now safely locked away in the boot of his car.

"Shit," Bonnie said, looking up at the sky. Although it was already night, more and more darkness seemed to be coming down on them. Rain clouds filled the air and started to pour down on them.

"Alaric," Damon whispered, eyes wide as he stared into the distance. Surely enough, Alaric Saltzman had appeared with a look of distress on his face. But he wasn't the only one there. Someway behind him there was someone else as well. A woman. She was coming closer and closer.

"Holy Shit," Stefan gaped. "Lexi!"

"Miss me did you?" she smirked, but her eyes were serious.

A crack of lightning and a deafening sound of thunder shook the ground. They all looked up at the stormy sky which was getting darker by the second. The wind had picked up and was blowing hair into everyone's faces.

"Look Bonnie," Alaric said, urgently. " I hate to rush you but people have already started to disappear. They're all starting to get sucked in so please…"

"Of course," she nodded, understanding what he was saying.

She approached him and clasped both hands on his arms and closed her eyes as a sharp pain cursed through her as he passed on through. He let out a loud gasp as he passed on through and fell to his knees. Damon rushed over to him immediately. Bonnie then turned to Lexi and extended her arms towards her. Lexi gave her a weak smile and held out her hands for Bonnie to grab before they both closed their eyes. Bonnie could feel her body weaken significantly as Lexi passed on through. She took a shaky breath to steady herself.

"Forgetting someone aren't you?" Silas said, quirking an eyebrow before looking up and frowning. "As much as I wanted to die before, I think living suits me far better. So if you wouldn't mind." He approached her arrogantly and at that moment Kol looked at Bonnie in a silent agreement. Kol rushed forward again and knocked an unsuspecting Silas off his feet and Bonnie screamed another spell at him.

"What the-"Silas gasped, dazed momentarily and then his eyes bulged as he realised what was about to happen. "No…No you wouldn't…you wouldn't dare."

"Oh wouldn't I? Consider this payback for my father. Goodbye Silas."

Anger consumed him and he immediately got to his feet to charge back at her. But before he could reach her he was forced back by the wind that had begun to pick up even more, swirling around and around until-

"Bygones," Bonnie snarled at him.

"NO," he screeched as he got dragged away by the darkness.

"Bonnie," Kol said, approaching her but with a completely different intent than Silas or the others. They knew what was to happen now. Everyone did.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I love you all and I am so grateful. And I wish I had the time to say all that I wanted to."

"Bonnie please," Caroline sobbed. "Please."

"It's okay Care. You'll be okay. I promise."

"We love you Bon," Elena sniffed, tears streaming down her face. "So much."

"I know 'Lena. I love you all too."

"There must be a way," she said, her face contorted into distress. "There always is."

"Not this time, I'm afraid." She laughed but no humour laced the sound. She looked at Kol who kept his eyes fixed on the ground but there was no doubting the pain that was etched across his face.

And then she had a thought. A short, crazy realisation.

"Kol," she whispered before stepping forward and grabbing him.

"What are you doing?" he looked at her looking wildly confused.

"Bonnie," Jeremy said warningly, taking a cautious step forward but Matt kept him back.

"Thank you." She closed her eyes and pushed all the strength she had left into her hands which were now on his forearms.

"Bonnie perhaps this isn't-" But he didn't get to finish. Instead the wind was knocked out Kol as he passed through her and back into his life.

"Holy shit," Elena gasped. "Bonnie."

"I had to," she gasped, breathing hard, beads of sweat trickling down. "I'm sorry but I had to."

And then she fell.

Caroline, Elena, Matt and Kol rushed to her side instantly whilst Jeremy stood there in shock over what had just happened.

"Bonnie, I love you," Elena cried. "You know that right? I know I haven't been the greatest of friends in the past couple of months but I do. You're one of my best friends and I am so, so glad to have you in my life."

"I know Lena," she said, voice weak with emotion. "I love you too and I am so glad I got the chance to see you happy."

"I'm going to miss you Bonnie," Caroline was sobbing so much, that Klaus had to come over and lend a comforting hand. "Our talks and our trips to the mall and I'm just going to miss having my best friend around all the time. Please don't leave. Please don't go."

"I don't have a choice Care," she said. "I wish I did, I really do."

"Hey Judgy," Damon said, coming and crouching beside her. His eyes burning through. "Thank you. For everything." She nodded and held his hand briefly.

"Bonnie," Kol said, hesitating slightly before carrying on. "I realise that this may be unexpected coming from me, however, I cannot begin to thank you enough for all that you have done for me. In the last few months you have helped me in so many more ways than you know. Even if I didn't deserve your help. Thank you for trusting me."

"You're a good person Kol," she smiled at her as her heart welled up. "You just don't know it yet."

A bright light from overhead unexpectedly blinded them all. The darkness had begun to settle down and a bright light was now approaching them-approaching Bonnie.

"No," Caroline screamed. "NO, no please, Bonnie please. Not now. Bonnie don't go."

"Caroline," Elena cried, holding her firmly but her hands were shaking. "Control yourself please. For Bonnie."

"Please," she gasped, before all her words were lost.

"Caroline please," Bonnie said for herself as well as Caroline. "We'll be okay. You're with me now and that's all I could ever ask for."

Kol looked at them all and then back at Bonnie and felt a burning fire begin to form in his heart. This wouldn't do. He couldn't leave things like this. Not now that he knew what it was to give everything up for someone and see the kind of compassion that he never had before.

"Bonnie," he whispered and she looked at him and smiled.

That was all it took. That small, sweet smile of hers. Ignoring everyone around them, he knelt forward and grabbed the side of her face and kissed her with such a passion that she felt her heart jump into her throat. Though startled for a moment, she brought her hand up to his and responded with all she had left.

No one said a word.

Kol held on until the light had dawned on them and even then he refused to let go. He wanted to savour every little last moment they had left. Closer and closer it came and they all sat and watched it approach, tears pooling on the concrete.

"Kol," Bonnie said, starting to de-tangle herself from his arms but he only held on tighter. "Kol please."

"No."

"I need to go. I have only a couple of seconds left." Reluctantly he let her get up but he refused to let go of her hand. Bonnie approached each and every person there, including Rebekah and Klaus and hugged them to thank them for their help. And then it was time to leave.

The light was drawing too close and was only couple of metres away from them.

Kol pulled her close to him and held on desperately. Elena and Caroline were both around her and holding on to each of her hands. Jeremy and Matt stood close but didn't touch as to not overcrowd her. One step closer. And then another. One more.

And then it was there.

A blinding light filled their eyes as it consumed them in a whirlwind of silence. Seconds passed by and Bonnie didn't know where she was and if the others were still there. There was only silence and light and she felt oddly numb. One second passed. Two seconds. 3. 4. 5.

Then the light began to fade. Her surroundings became clearer. Night time. Woods. Concrete. Burnt buildings…

Holy shit.

Holy shit!

"Bonnie!" Caroline screamed, throwing her arms around her friend.

"What the…what just happened?" Bonnie asked, dazed.

"I don't know," Caroline said, half laughing, half crying. " Oh my God. You're here. Oh my god you're still here."

"Did you do something," Elena asked, getting excited. "I can't believe this."

"I didn't do anything…I was just hanging on to you and Caroline and Kol…" she looked to Kol. He smiled and held out his hand and in that hand there was a small object. It looked like a small, green rock.

"What…"

"You're Grams gave this to me when I talked to her before. She said that it links the human world and the other side and it could potentially keep you here. I would have mentioned it before but she said that we shouldn't rely on it as there was a large chance of it not working and I didn't want to set you up to believe anything that may not have been true. But it worked." He smiled with relief. "It actually worked."

Bonnie threw herself into his arms.

*Authors note-again- well damn. I felt like I killed Markos off a bit too quickly but I promise I did try to amend it so please excuse that. And you all wanted some Kennett action so there you go. Finally got there*