Chapter 17: Arise

Mystic Falls, Virginia

Late August 2010

"Riko?" Bonnie Bennett called hesitantly into the silent boarding house. Ever since Stefan had been forced into Klaus' servitude and Damon had gone to rescue Elena, only Pacari and Mariko remained to take turns babysitting Silas. Bonnie had been laying low for the past month, ever since the infamous day Caroline had lost her memory. Damon had kept her updated until he left a few days previously for Maine. Riko had surprised her with a phone call that morning asking for a meeting.

"Bonnie, this is Riko. It is imperative we talk about Caroline and how we will undo her curse," the older witch had said urgently through the phone.

Bonnie paused. "But Silas…"

"Pacari and I have Silas under control," Riko had interrupted. "He cannot harm you."

The younger witch sighed. "Alright. I'll come."

Bonnie walked through the rooms cautiously. Where was the witch?

"Hello, there. Are you lost, little witch?" a British accent boomed across the kitchen and Bonnie whipped around so fast her neck cracked.

A vampire with pale skin, messy hair, and boyish features was sitting on the island and staring at her curiously. He was attractive, but Bonnie had rules for herself about vampires. She rubbed her neck and tried to hide her blush.

"Who are you?" she demanded. "Where is Riko?"

"Mariko and Pacari are downstairs casting a rather tricky curse on Silas. They should be up in a few moments," the vampire explained without removing his gaze from her face.

"How many more vampires are coming to Mystic Falls?" she asked rhetorically and keeping her distance.

The vampire grinned at her and hopped off the island. Bonnie pressed her body into the counter as he stepped towards her.

"Well, aside from an army of hybrids? None that I can think of. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Kol Mikaelson, Original Vampire."

He held out his hand, but Bonnie glared at him.

"Elena told me about you. How many people are in your godforsaken family?" she snarled.

Kol pouted in mock offense. "Besides everyone you've met, and my mother and father? No one. Well, except Finn, but I doubt you'll be meeting him; he doesn't get out much. It is rude, you know," he added, holding his hand closer to her.

Bonnie rolled her eyes, but took his hand and shook it firmly, as her Grams had taught her.

"Nice to meet you, Bonnie Bennett," he said with a wink.

She released his hand and walked to the other side of the kitchen. She threw her purse onto a stool and opened the fridge so as not to look at him.

"Familiar with the house?" Kol prompted.

"Ever since the Salvatores came into our lives and I realized I was a witch, we've spent a lot of time here and at the Gilberts'," Bonnie said as she grabbed a soda and popped it open. "What did you mean when you said an army of hybrids?"

Kol smirked. "I was speaking figuratively."

She sent him a dubious look.

"Your line is very powerful," he said abruptly.

She lowered the soda and eyed him warily. "I know."

"I've been sleeping since 1784, so it's been quite a while since I've met a Bennett witch. It was a Bennett witch who told me about Silas many centuries ago," he continued.

Bonnie tensed at the mention of Silas. "What about him?"

"That it was imperative to never wake him, or Earth as we know it would never be the same," he told her solemnly.

Bonnie's eyes widened.

"But don't worry, I have the upmost confidence you will be able to defeat him."

The witch frowned at him. "Defeat him? What-?"

"That's why you're here, yes? To kill Silas?"

She stared at him in shock. "No!"

"He's teasing you, Bonnie," a voice said from the doorway. Mariko looked exhausted, but vindicated. She stepped into the kitchen with Pacari close behind.

"Always spoiling my fun, Mariko," Kol said softly.

"You deserve it," she retorted. "Kol is the biggest troublemaker out of all the Mikaelsons," she explained to Bonnie, who was looking very uncomfortable.

"Look, Riko, I'm sorry about the whole…battle," she said nervously.

Mariko smiled at the young witch. "Don't worry about it; it was nice to have a decent sparring partner. You needn't be apologizing to me," she said meaningfully.

"Er – yeah. How is Caroline?" Bonnie asked awkwardly.

"She has been working with some trusted friends at Des Cendres to recover some lost memories, but of course, for a swift and full recovery, she needs the spellcasters to undo their work," Mariko explained.

"What is Des Cendres?" asked Bonnie.

Pacari answered. "It is a school Caroline founded centuries ago as a sanctuary for girls and young women. It is hidden in the Himalayas."

Bonnie raised her eyebrows. "The Himalayas? So, is she on her way back now? How long will that take?"

Pacari shared an amused look with Kol behind Mariko's back.

"Ah," the older witch said delicately. "Yes. Well, Caroline is a little nervous about leaving her students right now, what with Esther and Mikael running around. Plus, Des Cendres is such a controlled environment with some very powerful witches and hybrids on staff – a much better setting for witchcraft than Mystic Falls."

Bonnie frowned at Mariko for a long moment before her expression cleared in realization.

"I'm not going to the Himalayas! I've never even left the country before! I don't have a passport and – and school starts in just a few days!" Bonnie protested loudly.

Mariko approached the teenager slowly. "Bonnie, we can create a portal that will transport us to Tibet. I promise you'll be safe; we 've done this before. Caroline and a teacher at the school will summon it in Des Cendres and Pacari and I will answer it."

"Before we even get started on how crazy that is, we should address another important detail. Who will deal with Esther and Mikael while we're off hiking up Everest?"

"My siblings and I, as always. And Pacari is staying behind as well," Kol said, slapping Pacari on the back.

"Your brother kidnapped two of my best friends," Bonnie hissed. "And used compulsion on Stefan to make him go out of his mind!"

Kol grimaced and held his hands up in surrender. "Sorry?"

"Klaus took enough of Elena's blood to create an army of hybrids; he doesn't need Elena anymore. Bekah will calm him down and then everyone can return," Pacari said.

Bonnie opened her mouth in horror before casting Kol an ugly look. He waved his hands in the air again. Mariko pinched the bridge of her nose and inwardly groaned at Pacari's ineptitude and Kol's antics. "Listen, Niklaus has been waiting for this for a long time and the presence of his parents has sent him a little haywire. But his siblings will keep him under control until Caroline gets her memories back and comes home."

Bonnie shook her head. "You people give him way too much credit. Anyway, what about Silas? You're just going to leave him here?"

Mariko laid a hand on Bonnie's shoulder. "Of course not; Silas will come with us. Pacari and I just finished a spell that binds him to me. He's under my control."

"You want me to go through a magic portal to the Eastern Hemisphere with two ancient witches, one of whom is going to unleash Doomsday on us all?" Bonnie asked sarcastically. "That sounds like a perfect summer vacation."

"Bonnie Bennett, you are from an ancient line of witches. Though graduating high school and making out with Jeremy Gilbert seem like the most meaningful things in your small world right now, there was always going to be a time when you had to make a choice. Mystic Falls High School is not exactly going to prepare you for battling Original Vampires and outwitting the Original Witch. I know getting your degree seems important because it's what your dad has always told you to do, but when life foists enormous change on us, we cannot just look the other way," Mariko implored. "Even if you finish senior year when we get back, what college can train you in how to protect all that you love?"

Before Bonnie could respond, Mariko's phone rang, and she left the room to answer with Pacari at her heels.

The young witch tried to remain calm, but her eyes betrayed her and filled with tears. Cursing, she turned away from the vampire who was watching her from across the room.

"I know she can be a little scary; she's been in my nightmares for over five hundred years," Kol joked weakly. He had flashed to her side and gently wiped the tears from her face.

"It's not Riko," Bonnie choked out as she took the tissue Kol had offered her.

"It's what she said?" he supplied.

Bonnie blew her nose and stared at him unhappily. "I just want a normal life."

He looked at her dubiously. "Really?"

She glared at him. "Yes! You don't know me!"

"Ah, but I know enough. Dating a medium, best friends with a doppelganger, friends with vampires, werewolves, hybrids – the only normal one out of the lot is the quarterback. Were you upset to discover you were a witch?" Kol guided the witch to the kitchen table.

Bonnie shook her head furiously. "No. It's the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me. I was sitting in a restaurant and accidentally lit a candle. It seems trite now, but I was astonished. I felt powerful and special and connected to something I never knew was there before."

"It's always nice to know who you are," Kol agreed softly. "And what you were meant to be."

Bonnie said nothing. She stared down at the table. Mariko came back into the room.

"It's ready. I'm sure it won't take longer than a day or two to get through everything, Bonnie. We can have you back in time for school," she said without a trace of sarcasm. "Will you do this?"

Bonnie's gaze flickered to Kol, who smiled at her in encouragement. He mouthed, "Astonished," at her. She turned to face Mariko.

"I'll do it."

Elena shrieked with delight as she zip-lined across the waterfall with her heart in her throat. It would have been terrifying if she hadn't just escaped from a crazed vampire literally out for her blood. Instead, she was simply exhilarated. She was with Damon somewhere in Quebec, gliding across a valley and having the time of her life. The more adrenaline pumped into her veins, the less she remembered those awful days in Maine.

"Have fun?" Damon grinned at her as she touched down on the other side and the worker undid the fastenings.

"That was incredible!" she beamed at him.

"I'm glad you liked it. They have a pretty limited season up here for summer sports; just a couple more months and the whole river will be frozen."

She took her helmet off and they started down the trail. "But there's lots of winter sports."

"Sure. Have you ever slid down an icy mountain with trees on both sides and no restraints but your core muscles?" he placed a gentle hand on her lower back and helped her climb onto a boulder.

"No, but it sounds like fun," she said lightly.

"Oh, god," he groaned. "Klaus has really fucked with your head. You're going to be an adrenaline junkie from now on."

"Is that a problem?" she teased.

"Just the opposite," he said as she jumped down into his arms. Their eyes locked for a long moment, but it was broken by an alert from Damon's phone. He quickly placed her on the forest floor and pulled his phone out.

His brow furrowed as read a message. Elena knew she should be concerned about home, but she couldn't find the mental and emotional energy. She missed her friends and family, but Mystic Falls always found a way to throw another wrench at her. The past couple of days in Quebec City with Damon had been so quiet and peaceful – they had dined out, seen shows, gone on long walks; without the presence of Stefan and other vampires, he had revealed a side of himself that she'd never seen before. She studied him as he punched in a response. A drop of sweat slid down from his scalp and traced his strong jawline and neck before disappearing under his shirt. His hair was messier than usual, and he was wearing shorts – something she'd never seen before. They made him seem younger.

"Elena?" he said suddenly.

She snapped her gaze away from his toned calves and looked up at him innocently.

"What?" she asked swiftly without a trace of embarrassment, daring him to acknowledge her wandering gaze.

He narrowed his eyes at her and opened his mouth, but changed his mind and shook his head. "Nothing. Rebekah says she and Klaus are about to cross into Virginia. He has almost a hundred hybrids; he won't be bothering you anymore."

Elena's mouth fell open. "A hundred?"

Damon winced. "Yeah. Hopefully that's enough to get rid of Mommy and Daddy Original."

"Caroline needs to get her shit together; Klaus without her is an absolute monster," Elena muttered.

"A brilliant monster."

"What?"

"Who thinks of that? Creating a hybrid army from a clan of werewolves hiding out in Maine?"

"With my blood!" Elena reminded him angrily.

"Well, you know, nothing worth having ever came easy," he said nonchalantly.

Elena was about to yell at him for being so rude when she noticed his lips twitch slightly. She put her hands on her hips.

"You're messing with me, Damon!" she accused with a laugh.

He grinned at her. "Yeah. But it's still pretty brilliant."

She punched his arm and they continued down the trail. They had only gone another few paces when Elena's phone beeped.

"Aren't we lucky coverage is so great up here," Damon muttered to himself sarcastically.

Elena read the message from Bonnie in bewilderment.

"What is it?" Damon pressed.

Elena tapped out a response before turning to him. "Bonnie is going with Riko and Silas to Tibet? Something about a portal; I dunno. They're going to fix Caroline's memories."

"Better her than me."

Elena read the message again. "And I thought my life was weird."

Damon adjusted his backpack and frowned. "I guess we should head back to Mystic Falls, then."

"Uh. Yeah. Guess the vacation is over. Jenna is probably crazy worried, and school is starting again in a few days," Elena said lamely. They stared at each other for another long beat before she tore her eyes away.

"Want a ride?" Damon suggested, holding a hand out to her.

Does he want to hold me, or does he want to get out of here as quickly as possible?

Elena wasn't ready to leave yet and she certainly wasn't sure how she would react to being in his arms. I want to stay with him, she realized in surprise.

"No. We've started the trail; I want to finish it," she said firmly, starting back down the path.

Damon watched her go, not sure if she was refusing to be carried by him or prolonging their time together. He bit his lip with narrowed eyes and followed her down the mountain. The complete death of me.

Back in Mystic Falls, Rebekah swerved her Aston Martin Vanquish down the driveway aggressively. Beside her, Klaus jolted awake.

"Easy, sister," he scolded.

"We're home," she said shortly.

"I see that," he said, his eyes looking over the unfinished mansion. "I think in their spare time, my hybrids should assist in completely the estate. I don't want my lovely wife coming home to no running water."

Rebekah parked the car and turned it off, ignoring her brother. "Elijah and Kol are already here. Let's go."

Kol was flicking around the property like a curious toddler blessed with lightning speed, and Elijah was leaning against his BMW waiting patiently with his arms crossed and a stern expression.

"I hope your escapades in New England were rewarding, brother," he drawled as Klaus and Rebekah walked towards him.

"Irrefutably, Elijah," Klaus said mockingly.

"It'd better have been worth it, because we've had to deal with a hell of a lot of problems while you were gone. The sheriff is none too pleased with you," Elijah informed him succinctly.

Klaus shrugged carelessly. "Caroline will fix that."

"Caroline won't compel her, Nik," Rebekah said.

Kol zoomed up to his family then. "Greetings, brother, sister," he welcomed with a grin. "This plot is enormous! Think of all the parties!"

"If I could implore you to gather some gravitas for just ten minutes, Kol, you would be granting your eldest brother a peerless favor," Elijah said tiredly. "You're acting like an unmitigated child, or worse, a newborn vampire."

Kol stuck his tongue out. "Those are very decorative words for an adolescent of my deficiencies, my dear, dullard-"

"Enough!" Rebekah yelled. "First off, has anything happened with Esther and Mikael since we last talked?"

Elijah shot Kol a distasteful look and turned towards his sister. "No. Mariko kept our mother at bay when she tried to come for Silas."

"Was she trying to kill him or take him?" Klaus asked.

"We can't say for sure, but Mariko thinks she was trying to weaken her defenses and gain information. She didn't even get into the boarding house."

"What does Mariko suggest we do next?" Rebekah asked.

Kol leaned against the car next to Elijah and glanced between Klaus and Rebekah.

"Mariko went to Des Cendres. She took Silas and the Bennett witch with her."

Rebekah blinked in shock, but Klaus only nodded his head curtly. His sister turned to him.

"You knew about this?" she accused. "Why didn't you say anything on the ride down?"

"I slept through most of it; I had a long night," he said grinned.

"How did they get there?" Rebekah ground out.

"Caroline, Emmeline, Pacari, and Mariko created a portal; Bonnie, Mariko, and Silas went through, and Pacari closed it from our side. They arrived less than an hour ago. Mariko sent me a text," Elijah explained.

"All it took was for Mother to invoke the name of the school, and Caroline was running home, but it's okay to invite Silas in for an extended vacation?" Rebekah asked in clear annoyance.

"It is imperative Caroline gets her memories back. She cannot fight properly without them. Silas has no interest in the school," Elijah said, trying to allay his sister's fears.

Rebekah huffed and crossed her arms. "That school is this family's greatest achievement."

"Do you think I'll ever be invited?" Kol joked.

Elijah wacked Kol over the head. Klaus sent his younger brother a very unimpressed look while Rebekah smacked the palm of her hand into her forehead.

"Bekah, we have this now!" Kol continued, gesturing to the construction site before them.

"Shut up, Kol. Can we agree to keep everyone informed on what's going on with the family?" she asked angrily.

"Bekah, you've been ignoring Caroline and Mariko. Don't blame us for this," Elijah reprimanded.

Before she could respond, Klaus cut in. "My hybrids arrive tomorrow night. I will have scouts sent out to look for our parents' hiding place. They will commence their training, training which I can hopefully count on the family for assistance with. They will also help complete our home here. Speaking of the family, where is Pacari?"

"He's at the boarding house. He is drained from all the spells he cast today," Elijah supplied. "And, he was unsure whether or not his presence would be welcomed."

Rebekah glared at her brother. "He's not family."

"Is he not?" Kol questioned. "I've given this some consideration here, and I'm a little perplexed. You married him when he was human and you vampire. Then he died and became a vampire. You both keep saying "Oh, death parted us" – but you said your vows with one of you already one of the living dead. Then he became one of the living dead. So really, you're more married now than you were before."

Rebekah grew red with fury and she chased Kol around the plot with her fangs out. Elijah looked at Klaus in exasperation.

"Would you care for an aperitif, Niklaus?" he suggested.

"Elijah, I thought you'd never ask," Klaus smirked.

Des Cendres, Southern Tibet

Early morning the following day.

The vampire named Gita stood next to a pillar, her cloak pulled tightly around her, as she watched Emmeline and Caroline work from a safe distance. The two hybrids were chanting and gesturing into the early morning air to create something that was really rather anticlimactic, in Gita's humble opinion. Portals required several powerful witches or Carolinian hybrids, careful planning, and a lot of math and calculations. Once it finally appeared, it looked more like a shimmering blackhole, or even less interestingly, a mirage in the darkness. Gita observed the phenomenon impassively. She'd seen portals before and had even used them – while she agreed they were dead useful in a crux, the sensation of actually walking through one had to be similar to being poked with a million icicles all at once, and therefore, not worth it. Three shapes walked through and fell to the ground from the shock of it. It was Gita's turn now. She strode forward, pulling her talwar from its sheath and resting its tip on Silas's throat. The new girl, the Bennett witch, looked up from the ground with wide eyes.

'This blade has been blessed by Caroline, Mariko, and Emmeline. I call her Maut," Gita said smoothly.

The Immortal Witch snorted and raised himself up on his elbows, looking Gita over. "Subtlety, thy name is not, woman."

"No, it never was. Never much was one for flowery, colorful language. I will end you, witch, immortal or not," Gita threatened.

"I like a girl with spirit," Silas flirted.

"Somehow, I doubt that," Gita retorted. "Up!"

Silas struggled to his feet. Gita dipped her blade into his back and led him into the school.

"Did you know this Riko d'Ebanne calls herself the Undying Witch? I've been around for over two millennia!" he could be heard grumbling as the pair disappeared.

"She's a hell of a lot more impressive than you, arrogant male," the warrior said testily. And then their voices faded.

Bonnie Bennett felt like she had been to the worst acupuncturist known to man. Traveling in the portal had been a torturous affair and she wasn't sure what temperature she had walked through – it was like when she ran really hot or cold water over her hand and her skin simply numbed out of protest and shock.

"Thanks for the warning, Riko," she mumbled as she tried to get to her feet. A hand helped her up and she was face to face with a tall witch/vampire hybrid with auburn hair and hazel eyes so rich with color they almost appeared golden, even in the darkness.

"Mariko likes to keep her secrets," the hybrid said as Bonnie rose to her feet.

"Thanks," the young witch muttered. "I'm Bonnie Bennett."

"I know. I accidentally absorbed one of your ancestors many years ago," the hybrid said apologetically. "I am Emmeline Veravicci, one of the headmasters of Des Cendres."

Before Bonnie could ask her any of the many questions bursting through her, Emmeline turned away to greet Mariko. Caroline walked up to Bonnie and smiled.

"Emmeline is a Siphoner. She can absorb the power of other witches," Caroline explained.

Bonnie blanched. "Permanently?"

Caroline laughed lightly. "It depends. She has, she can, if the witch is weak, or willing. Most often, she borrows temporarily."

"Like Rogue?"

"Just like Rogue," Caroline agreed.

An awkward silence came over the two friends.

"Caroline, I'm sorry for what I did to you. I know Silas was influencing me, and I was just so eager for more knowledge about witchcraft, and I should have questioned all the new powers. I was aiming for Klaus, and I know he's your husband and all, but I stand by decision. He's a monster," Bonnie let out with stopping.

"Bonnie, Bonnie, it's okay! I promise. It was an accident," Caroline assured her and the two hugged. When they pulled away, Caroline placed her hands on Bonnie's shoulders with a grave look.

"What do you mean, he's a monster? Has he done something?" she questioned.

Mariko broke away from Emmeline and came to stand next to them.

"Caroline, we haven't been entirely honest with you about what's been going on in Mystic Falls. Niklaus went a little overboard after you left," she told her friend and it was the first time Bonnie had ever seen the witch look nervous.

Caroline turned away from Bonnie to face Mariko. She was clearly suspicious.

"What has he done," she said quietly.

"Come, little witch," a voice said in Bonnie's ear. It was Emmeline. "I'll give you the tour of the school."

Bonnie allowed herself to be pulled away from what was most likely going to be a brutal fight.

"It's just before dawn here, so the halls will seem a bit lonely and haunting, but in the morning, alive with students, it's like no other place in the world," Emmeline explained proudly as they strode down a covered hallway. Just as the hybrid opened a heavy wooden door, they heard a terrible shriek.

"He did what to Elena?!"

Mariko's reply was too low for Bonnie to pick up, but Caroline's shrill voice clearly interrupted her.

"You, Elijah, and Bekah have all been keeping this from me!? He didn't tell me because I wouldn't want to remember him knowing he did that!"

Emmeline tugged Bonnie through the doorway. "Mariko will calm her down, don't worry about it."

But Emmeline was not entirely correct. Though Mariko was calming Caroline down, the hybrid was being very stubborn about her amnesia.

"Mariko Kurosawa, you have been lying to me," Caroline accused.

"Would it have made a difference either way?" the witch snapped.

Caroline glared at her friend. "What do you mean?"

"If I told you weeks ago that he had kidnapped Tyler and Elena with the intention to create an army of hybrids, would you have left the school to save them?"

Caroline was silent.

"And if I told you he compelled Stefan to become his ripper servant and they went to Maine to turn werewolves, would you have left the school to stop him?" Mariko demanded.

"Why is he doing this?" Caroline asked softly. "I so badly wanted to remember him and our life together."

"When you do remember, you won't question anything he's done in the past month. He's done it for you and the family."

"I don't want to remember, Iki. I think I'll be happier not knowing," the blond declared.

Mariko sent an aneurysm at her old friend, too sudden for Caroline to block. The hybrid winced in pain and fell to the ground and the witch hovered over her, her eyes a deep, burning amethyst.

"I created you, Caroline d'Ebanne. If you think I'm above removing the amnesia without your permission, you are quite mistaken. I've helped you sort out your shit for a very long time. The least you can do to repay me is Get. Yourself. Fucking. Together!"

After a shortened tour of the sprawling complex, Emmeline brought Bonnie to a dining room where a large spread had been laid out. The room seemed to be carved out of rock, but it was softened by an enormous mahogany table and art from all kinds of different places and periods. There was a gold ankh hanging on one wall. A giant stature that looked like it had been stolen from Easter Island sat in another corner. And maybe it had, Bonnie thought to herself in amusement. But before she could examine the room any further, she realized she was famished and sat down at the nearest chair to stuff her face. As she ate, Gita reappeared.

"He's in the seventh dungeon," she told Emmeline. "Where are Mariko and Caroline?"

"They were fighting outside, but I think it's over," Emmeline responded from her seat at the table. She was tasting a glass of wine.

"What think you, Gita?" she thrust the glass at the vampire. Their fingers lingered while they passed the wine between them; it was quite subtle.

"Whenever you're ready to retire, Bonnie, I'll show you to your quarters," Emmeline said without removing her gaze from Gita, who was swishing the wine around in her mouth.

"Uh. Thanks," Bonnie said.

To her relief, Mariko entered the room before the pair across the table could start pouring the wine into each other's mouths.

"We undo the curse at sunset tomorrow," the witch announced.

"She's not still giving you a hard time?" Emmeline asked.

Mariko rolled her eyes. "She's being a pain in my ass. Just Caroline and her typical mightier-than-thou morals," she said dismissively.

Bonnie yawned in exhaustion. This place was beautiful, but confusing and that portal had really done a number on her.

"Come on, Bennett witch," Emmeline rose. "I will show you to your quarters. You have a big day tomorrow."

"Why do you talk like a character out of a Shakespeare play?" Bonnie asked as they navigated the dark maze of halls. "Sorry, is that rude?" she added hurriedly as Emmeline laughed.

"I do not care to adapt to changing times. I am what I was when I turned, for the most part. I use some modern technology, but it is usually only for very strict purposes, like travel, which I don't do often, and keeping track of my descendants."

"I've never known a vampire to have descendants before."

"It is terrible to have to abandon one's young children, but a newborn vampire can't exactly breastfeed."

"I see," Bonnie said politely, not knowing what else to say.

"No, you do not," the hybrid disagreed. "But that's understandable. You're better off not knowing what it is to bury all your loved ones."

Bonnie was silent for a long moment as they traversed the hallways; she could not see anything five feet in front of her, but Emmeline's stride was confident.

"I have buried loved ones. Many of them. And the people, living or dead, who were supposed to take care of me best failed me many times," Bonnie said softly.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Bonnie," said Emmeline. "Here we are."

Bonnie grasped the ivory handle.

"By the way, Shakespeare was after my time. I was, however, great friends with Leonardo da Vinci," the hybrid told Bonnie and she didn't even crack a smile. "Good evening."

Bonnie opened the door, shook her head at the impossibly beautiful bedroom, and fell directly into the giant bed.

Somewhere in the woods of central Virginia the following night.

Esther and the rest of the witches chanted lowly in the moonlight, reaching into The Other Side, and pulling ever so slightly. The Original Witch felt the veil slowly creep up and heard the cries of the forgotten, the forsaken, and the damned. She was only looking for one of those voices. She invoked the ancient witch's name again, the coven repeating after her. Mikael and his vampires were keeping watch in the woods in case one of their children came to investigate, but that was unlikely. They were nestled in glen miles from the town with many trees to block their chanting.

"Qetsiyah!" Esther screamed again. "Come to end the Immortal Witch! Come to take vengeance on the one who betrayed you!"

A sudden disturbance caught Esther's attention. Five men were striding out of the woods and approaching the witches. Mikael flashed into the clearing.

"They've staked three of my vampires!" he yelled to his wife.

Esther eyed the men and their many weapons. She recognized them.

"We were summoned here by our master," the leader announced. The five hunters kneeled down and bowed their heads.

"Who is your master?" Mikael snarled, ready to attack.

"Me," a quiet voice said from behind Esther. She whirled around to face a stunning woman with coffee-colored skin, dark eyes, and long black hair. She was wearing a toga and cloak.

Esther fell to her knees and silently pleading with her husband to do the same.

"Qetsiyah, we are your humble servants," she began.

"Esther Mikaelson, you have certainly made a mess of things, haven't you?" the witch declared haughtily. "I'm a little impressed."

Esther huffed out an annoyed breath and continued. "We offer up one of our witches' lives in exchange for yours. We want you to switch over permanently."

"Let me guess. Does this have something to do with the elixir I created two thousand years ago?"

"Qetsiyah, we ask-" Mikael began, but the witch struck out a hand and he was silenced.

"Go ahead, let's do the switch," she said in a bored tone. "Then you can explain why you awoke my dear fiancé. Hunters!"

The Five rose to their feet in unison.

"Find him. Kill any who get in your way."

Hours later on the other side of the world, a group of women gathered around a fire build in the center of a pentacle.

"Go ahead, Caroline," Mariko said.

Caroline took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and walked into the fire without hesitation. Bonnie gasped from beside Mariko, but was silenced when the flames engulfed Caroline and molded into the shape of a giant phoenix with its wings wrapped around her body. Caroline opened her eyes and they were flames.

Mariko guided Bonnie forward. When the two witches stopped in front of the vampire, Caroline's arms and the wings of the phoenix swept into the air, leaving her front free of flames. Mariko placed her fingertips on Caroline's face and gestured for Bonnie to do the same. Bonnie did so with trepidation.

"Now, we chant each other's curses three times before reaching into Caroline and fixing the damage," the older witch instructed.

Once they finished chanting, they reached into the recesses of Caroline's mind with their powers. Caroline let out a terrible scream that almost made Bonnie stop, but she looked at the determination on Mariko's face and continued. The screams got worse. Caroline's body writhed and contorted and blood spilled out of her eyes and nose. Finally, after several minutes of this torture, the flame-phoenix lifted from her body and rose into the night, where it disintegrated. Bonnie was not sure if this was a good thing or bad thing, but the vampire let out one last bloodcurdling screech before collapsing onto the pentacle.

Mariko looked down at her with savage triumph. "It worked," she said firmly.

"Will she wake up soon?" Bonnie asked timidly.

"Oh, no. Probably not for many days. She's been through a lot and her mind needs to rest," the older witch explained.

Bonnie watched as Emmeline and Gita carried Caroline into the school.

"Are you ready to start senior year, Bonnie? Or do you need a few more days?" Mariko asked with a knowing look on her face.

Bonnie swallowed and looked up at Des Cendres and felt the pull, the desire deep within herself to know more about witchcraft, to understand what had just happened to Caroline, and meet more of her own kind. She'd probably have to have a tough phone call with her father.

"It's perfectly normal to have senioritis. I'll just stay until Caroline wakes up, and then I'll be back." Even Bonnie could hear the uncertainty in her voice.

Mariko just smirked at her.

Mystic Falls, Virginia

September 2010

Rebekah and Elijah were on the back patio of the newly completed mansion, drinking blood-infused wine and poring over maps of the town and surrounding area. Notes and topography books were scattered all over the table.

"They have to be in a neighboring village," Elijah muttered.

Rebekah sent her brother a patronizing look. "Village, Elijah?"

He coughed, looking slightly embarrassed. "Town, then, sister. You knew what I meant."

She grinned briefly before looking back down at the maps. "Or they could be hidden in the woods."

"Perhaps," Elijah agreed reluctantly. "But they'll have such a large entourage; there is no way they can hide so many witches and vampires in the woods here."

"So, what are you thinking? An apartment complex?"

"I think it's a good place to start."

"Maybe Nik should steal a page out of their book," Rebekah scoffed. "I never said it was okay for his army to stay here."

Elijah smiled in amusement. "Well, they did complete the project in two weeks; we should probably give them credit for that. And many of them are camping in the woods or staying at motels. Isn't it nice that the estate is filled to its maximum capacity? A house like this was never meant to have four inhabitants."

Rebekah's phone rang and when she saw who it was, she hesitated. Elijah's eyes flickered over to the screen.

"Are you still avoiding her?" he asked lightly.

"I'm annoyed with her," Bekah retorted. "It shouldn't be taking this long."

"And?"

"And if Caroline had woken up for the second time from her second coma this summer, Caroline would be calling, not Mariko," his sister snapped.

"Sometimes I think we put way too much on that witch's shoulders," he said wisely. "She can't fix all our problems at once."

Rebekah rolled her eyes. "I never insinuated she should!"

Elijah looked like he wanted to say something else, but Rebekah's keen eyes caught a movement in the wood, and she rose to her feet.

"What-?" Elijah stopped. He too rose to his feet and stared into the wood.

A moment later, a woman in her mid-twenties emerged from the trees. She was wearing a purple summer dress and strappy sandals. Her hair was dark red and her eyes deep blue. The vampires could tell she was not entirely human.

"May we help you? Did you get lost in the woods?" Elijah inquired politely. "You will forgive me for saying, you don't look like you've been on a hike."

The woman looked at both of them for a long moment. "Elijah and Rebekah Mikaelson?" she asked in a heavy French accent.

The siblings glanced at each other warily.

"If you're here on Esther's behalf, know we've lost patience with our mother," Rebekah threatened languidly.

The woman shook her head. "I am here on behalf of my coven. I planned on going to the front door, but all those hybrids made me uneasy, so I came the back way. Did you know there are vampire hunters sneaking around as well? They call themselves the Five, and they're dangerous."

"The Five?" Elijah asked in alarm. "They curse any vampire who kills them."

"I know. They want Silas," the witch informed them. "His cure."

"How could you possibly know all that, Witch?" Rebekah asked warily.

The woman smiled and pulled a gold chain out of her collar to reveal a large pendant of a rising phoenix with a pentacle branded on its chest. It was the crest of House d'Ebanne – and the crest of the d'Ebanne witches.

"We need assistance with a matter very close to Silas' heart. You once asked for a favor. We have come to collect."