CHAPTER 15

Kol was for once since this whole fucked up adventure had begun happy about the mind splitting past memories. It had given him the heads up he needed to take himself out before he caught up to them. However, that feeling of pain as he watched Bonnie disappear through a portal with another man was still with him. His past self had been haunted by that memory and even now, knowing he was that man, it disturbed him.

Kol had returned to his mansion in Florence. He had a drink and stared out the window. On his way back he had killed every person he came into contact with. For that brief time, he had managed to keep himself in check however, at the sight of Bonnie running away with another man – well all of his self-control vanished.

What a fool he had been.

Bonnie hadn't been kidnapped. And how could he ever have believed she had? Bonnie was far too powerful to be kidnapped. Certainly, if someone were to pull that off, she would have to be completely incapacitated.

And that vampire had been more powerful than even he was. Kol wondered about the possibility of Bonnie running off with one of his brothers. Elijah had always had a thing for Bonnie. He'd also always had a thing for all of his brothers' girlfriends.

But why then wouldn't Bonnie just tell him? Why would she say she was sorry and leave him a message with a future date? None of this made any sense. He drank until the world disappeared.

Bonnie was passed out next to him and there was blood dripping from her nose. Kol stroked her cheek and forced himself to focus on the present not the past. Opening these portals even with the power of the nexus was big magic. There was a very good possibility her body wasn't physically strong enough to support this type of magic.

Kol bit into his wrist and pressed it against her lips. She groaned and he forced a few drops past her lips.

"Come now, little witch. Time to wake up."

Kol pressed his lips to her forehead. She moaned and her eyelids fluttered. Finally, she opened her eyes.

"Kol?" she murmured and pushed away his wrist.

"There you are, beautiful."

He kissed her forehead. He took a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped away the blood underneath her nose.

"I don't feel well. What happened?"

"The spell must have taken its toll. You've been casting a lot of large spells lately. You need rest."

Kol hoped that was true. He was starting to worry the spells were draining Bonnie. It happened sometimes with young witches when they had a lot of raw power and no real training – they overdid it. Sometimes, if they used to much magic at once it would kill them. It was the same principal as the one Bonnie had planned to use to kill Nik. However, sometimes if they cast something so far beyond their training it was difficult to imagine such as time travel, it began to physically break down their bodies. With each new spell cast, it slowly drained the life from them. He could only hope that wasn't happening to Bonnie.

"I could use a nap," she mumbled and pressed herself closer. "Where are we?"

Kol looked around and all he saw was woods. He actually had no idea where they were however, he wasn't concerned when the woods were similar to the ones around Mystic Falls. He knew how to survive here.

"I'll find somewhere for us to spend the night and a water source."

Bonnie sighed and her eyes closed again. She must be exhausted. Ordinarily, she tossed and turned for a long time before falling asleep. If she were passing out then he really needed to think of another way to get them back to their time. And he didn't like the possible solution any more than Bonnie would.

XXX

Three Months Later

Kol held Bonnie in his arms. This was the second nexus they had been through in three months. Each time she cast the spell it took Bonnie longer to wake up. He pressed his bleeding wrist to her lips and waited.

As he did, he took stock of their location. The air was hot and humid. The sky above them was dark and the stars were bright. He heard the noises of drunken sea shanties and people. The road they were on led to a town made of wooden buildings that were painted in bright colors. He even saw a few palm trees.

It looked familiar to him – Nassau perhaps?

Judging by the clothing and the style of the buildings it looked as if they had landed here sometime toward the end of the 1600's.

Kol grinned in spite of himself and stroked Bonnie's cheek.

"Wake up, little witch. We have just landed in the Golden Age of Piracy."

Bonnie mumbled his name and shifted in his arms.

"You're going to love it," he said with a smile. "You know how you have been on edge and hiding because of slavery? Well if we get passage on a pirate ship the color of your skin won't matter and we will be able to travel easily to the next nexus."

"Kol," she murmured again. "It hasn't actually been a problem yet."

Bonnie opened her eyes and even tired she managed to give him a look of pure annoyance.

"Yes, I am aware however, I am also aware this is why you've been on edge."

"Fine," she admitted and looked annoyed at him again.

Bonnie was always cranky when her magic was drained away. By now, Kol was accustomed to it.

"Bonnie -" Kol cleared his throat because he didn't know how to bring this up however, he felt certain he couldn't postpone it any longer. She was getting worse. "I think perhaps I should turn you."

"What?" Bonnie flew up into a seated position. "You did not just say that."

He tried to wipe the blood from underneath her nose, but Bonnie moved faster than he had thought she was capable of and slapped his hand aside. She wiped the blood away aggressively and with each jerky twist of her hand, he could see how truly furious she was.

"This spell is killing you."

"No, I'm fine."

"You're not," Kol stroked her cheek. "Every time we go through the portal it takes you longer to recover. I think we should stop this and I should turn you."

"I don't want to be a vampire," Bonnie whispered and looked down at her hands.

"I'm afraid this will kill you one day soon."

Bonnie looked up at him and her green eyes sparkled with unshed tears.

"Then it kills me. I don't want to be a vampire, I have never wanted that. Not even if it meant I got to be with you forever."

Kol was about to protest, but Bonnie cut him off by pressing a kiss to his lips. "Don't just don't. It's not an option."

Something else occurred to him then with all of his blood in her system.

"Bonnie -"

"I know," she sighed. "If I die I'm going to turn anyway because we bloodshare, but if it happens what do you say we handle it then?"

"As you wish, little witch."

"Maybe we should find someplace to spend the night?"

"Suppose I could compel us a room at the inn or perhaps a ship?"

"You're going to compel us a ship?" Bonnie asked eyeing him dubiously, but there was laughter in her voice. "That sounds so extra."

"Extra?"

Bonnie laughed again. "You're so totally old."

"I'll say," a familiar voice said.

Kol turned around and saw Henrik and Rebekah.

"My, what have we here?"

Kol was on his feet and he embraced both his siblings. Rebekah giggled and kissed his cheek.

"I've missed you, big brother."

"And I, you."

"Get off," Henrik complained.

Henrik squirmed his way out of Kol's embrace, which only made Rebekah and Kol laugh harder. Kol picked her up and spun her around. She laughed just as she had done when they were children. He put Rebekah down and surveyed his sister.

Rebekah was exactly as he had remembered her during her brief stint as a buccaneer. She wore her hair in a long braid down her back. She wore black soot around her eyes and she looked far more disheveled than normal. She wore a blue shirt tucked into black linen pants with a belt that an axe hung from. Her black boots were soft and faded.

Her eyes danced with mischief and Kol knew this must be one of the rare years where Nik was preoccupied and Bekah was allowed to strike out on her own. It was the only time she ever smiled like this.

When Kol turned around he saw Henrik had Bonnie in a tight embrace. One that did not look entirely brotherly.

Teenagers, Kol thought ruefully fond. It would seem he and Henrik had more in common than either of them had realized.

"Hands off my girl, mate," Kol growled.

Henrik laughed and released Bonnie, who was also laughing.

"You're adorable when you're jealous," Bonnie teased.

She stumbled and before Kol could reach her, Henrik caught her.

"It's the spell," Kol explained when Rebekah sent him a questioning look.

"That's bad," Rebekah said quietly enough only Kol and Henrik would hear.

"I know. That's what I've been trying to tell her," Kol replied in a whisper.

Rebekah pursed her lips and Kol could almost see the wheels in her head turning. When they were human Rebekah had been a talented witch. She would know as well as Kol what this meant for Bonnie. How dangerous it was for Bonnie to push the limits of her powers in such a reckless way. Time travel was such powerful magic there were no documented incidents. Certainly, none where the witch managed to cast the spell and return alive. And Bonnie kept casting that same spell over and over. Even with the help of the magical nexus it was tremendously difficult.

"We can go back to our ship," Henrik said reading Rebekah's expression and Kol's silence.

Kol and all of his siblings hardly needed words to communicate. They were close in a way many siblings never were. They protected each other and had a language all of their own. Henrik would need only glance at them to know they were hiding something.

Kol wrapped his arm around Bonnie's waist and followed Henrik back to the ship. Rebekah stayed on Bonnie's other side watching her with a curious expression.

XXX

Bonnie was growing tired of Rebekah's scrutiny fast. She sighed and looked at the blonde.

"What is it, Bekah?"

Rebekah's narrowed and Bonnie saw how like Kol and Henrik, she had changed since she was human.

"Why do you look drained? Are you messing with magic beyond your years and power? That's how witches die, you know."

Bonnie had no argument. No snappy comeback or even anything resembling a defense. Because she knew the truth of it. Her Grams had passed because Bonnie had pleaded with her to help her save Stefan and that was a guilt that would never go away. It had caused her to throw herself head first into protecting her friends after her first initial withdrawal from them. But she never liked or trusted vampires again. Even Caroline – as much as it pained Bonnie she was prepared to kill her if she crossed the line.

Then there was her mother. She had used all of her power to desiccate Mikael. It hadn't killed her, but it had drained away all of her magic. She had been forced to try to actually get it back. Somehow, that seemed worse than death. And she knew what Kol would say to that, 'she was young. There were so many things she didn't know yet'.

"We have to go home," was all Bonnie said after a very pregnant pause.

She didn't need to look to know Kol's eyes were on her. Just like that she also knew he wasn't pleased about her answer. It was no secret he was concerned about her. And she knew all of this time travel could kill her. It wasn't that she wanted to die, it was that she wanted to live. Her only other option was to settle someplace in the past and that wasn't an option now that Kol had turned. If he had remained a warlock it would have been different.

Now?

Now she didn't see a happy ending for them anymore and she just wanted to go home. Live her life as best she could and hopefully one day grow old, surrounded by her family. Because Bonnie still didn't like vampires and she didn't want to be one of them.

The sight of Nassau drew her out of her gloomy thoughts. It was a sprawling town that felt alive in spite of its shabby appearance. The small wood buildings were painted in bright colors. People stumbled through the streets singing sea shanties and they all looked drunk, dirty and exactly how she had imagined pirates.

In spite of everything she smiled. All those hours spent watching Pirates of the Caribbean with Elena and Caroline – how jealous they would be of her if they knew where was now. She glanced at Kol and her chest swelled. He wasn't Jack Sparrow or even Will Turner, but he was handsome. And he did have a sort of wildness that she'd always imagined pirates to have.

This journey had been difficult in a lot of ways, but in others she was grateful for the things she had been allowed to experience. Maybe this would be her next adventure. And if nothing else, she could say she had been a pirate, at least for a while.

Henrik led them to a ship that was docked at the harbor. It was large and it reminded her of the Black Pearl. This was followed by a stray thought that perhaps they had watched those movies a few times too many. It looked abandoned.

"Where's the crew?"

"They're out getting drunk," Henrik said with a grin. "As we would be except Rebekah sensed a powerful magic."

"You can still sense magic?" Bonnie asked in surprise.

"I didn't know I could," Rebekah replied and for the first time since they arrived here, she actually looked unsettled. "It was peculiar as its never happened before."

"The magic that goes into the spell its powerful. Powerful enough any nearby witch or warlock would sense it," Bonnie said slowly.

Henrik looked disinterested and studied his nails.

"Then why didn't anyone sense our arrival in Mystic Falls?" Kol asked.

"We were miles outside of the town," Bonnie said. "And Mystic Falls is a magical hotspot. Any day of any year. That's why each time we go through a nexus, we land somewhere new. Because most places aren't like that."

"Because those places are not on ley lines," Kol nodded. "Naturally, how did I not see it?"

"When the nexus gathered strength again in Mystic Falls we could have returned from there except -"

"Except there were newly turned Original vampires running around," Kol grinned.

"My point is," Henrik drawled. "Magic aside, the ship is empty except for the man in the crow's nest. And here I go by Jack."

"Jack?" Bonnie raised an eyebrow.

"Can't have Nik or Elijah suspecting he is alive, now can we?" Rebekah replied with a mischievous glance at her little brother. "Every once and a while, I can escape their suffocating presence. When it happens, I find a new male travelling companion."

"How do you prevent Nik from murdering them? From what I recall, he has killed more than one of your paramours over the years."

"I mysteriously vanish before they come looking for Bekah," Henrik said flashing a confident smile.

"Sounds like you have it all worked out, Jack," Bonnie said with a pointed look in his direction. She smiled teasingly at him to hide her concern. She would have felt better if Henrik would go through the portal with them.

But with how hard the casting already was on her, she knew neither Kol nor Henrik would risk it. Sending another person through time with them would require more power and magic, would require more from her. As it was with each new casting she was barely holding on.

"It's great. C'mon I'll give you all a tour. And what do you think of my English?"

Bonnie was startled for a second, but when she honed her senses, she could tell Esther's language spell was inactive. It must come forth when she needed it and disappear when she didn't. Like Kol and Rebekah, Henrik had a distinctly British accent. His was rougher, less cultivated and she supposed that came from spending time with pirates. However, like his siblings he had no traces of an accent from his native tongue.

Was it Norse or perhaps a native language? She had never asked.

"It's perfect."

Henrik showed them around on the ship. Rebekah looked around bored and waved at whoever was up in the crow's nest. Again, Bonnie had seen Pirates of the Caribbean enough times to know if they left the ship unguarded someone might steal it. Although Bonnie had a difficult time imagining anyone daring to cross Henrik or Rebekah.

The ship was less impressive than those in Pirates of the Caribbean, but judging by the pride on Henrik's face it must be more impressive than it looks. More than that she knew the Mikaelsons never did half-measures.

In present day Mystic Falls Klaus hadn't renovated any old home for his family. Instead, he had bought the oldest and grandest of the manors in the town. It had stood abandoned for over a decade because no one could afford to purchase it, not even the Lockwoods. Before Klaus showed, she knew the bank had been considering auctioning it off. Her dad had talked about his company buying it and building condos, but it seemed a shame to destroy such a beautiful building.

"Is she fast?" Kol asked his eyes alight with curiosity. "She looks fast."

"You did not just call the boat she," Bonnie said with an exasperated look at him.

"She is a ship," Kol corrected. "And ships are always she."

"And I know that. What I don't know is why."

"It's a naval ship," Henrik said with another smile that showed just how much he looked like Kol. "I commandeered her. She's the fastest ship around."

"That's my brother."

Kol laughed and patted Henrik on the shoulder.

"And what about me? Do you honestly believe I stood idly on the sidelines?" Rebekah huffed.

Bonnie grinned. Rebekah never did put up with any crap from her brothers.

"Of course not. Dear sister I know you were in the thick of it as you always are."

"Obviously," Bonnie said with a conspiratorial look at Rebekah.

"At least someone here knows what I am capable of."

"C'mon, I'll show you to the room. You and Bonnie can have my quarters," Henrik said.

"No, we don't want to put you out," Bonnie said.

"I'll stay with my men," Henrik said. "You wouldn't want to sleep in a hammock and have no privacy for baths."

Rebekah wrinkled her nose. "It's horrid. I've my own chambers as well."

"I'll take your word for it," Bonnie said.

If Rebekah found it unpleasant Bonnie could only imagine it was. Rebekah had lived through the past several hundred years and no doubt during that time, she had roughed it more than once. Especially if the stories Kol told her about evading Mikael were true. It was the only time, the Mikaelsons didn't appear to live in splendor as Bonnie discovered.

Even Henrik's captain quarters were luxurious. It wasn't exactly what she had expected to find on a pirate ship. The ceiling was high and there were windows that during the day would provide a clear view of the ocean. The room was filled with books and maps and weapons of all kinds. Some were neatly arranged, but most of them were scattered haphazardly in the place where Henrik had last used them.

There was a dining room table, which was also covered in things Henrik regularly used just like his desk. Bonnie smiled in spite of herself, this didn't look like a captain's quarter to her. It looked like the room of a teenage boy.

"Would anyone care to join me for a drink in my study?" Henrik inquired. "Perhaps you're hungry, Bonnie? I apologize as I sometimes forget humans need to eat."

Yup, Henrik was definitely a vampire now. And not just that, he was beginning to forget what it was like to be human. She knew some vampire did like Klaus, but Kol and Rebekah still remembered. At least, she knew Kol did. Even though she suspected he would like to forget entirely. He actually enjoyed being a vampire.

"No thank you. I think I'm just going to go sleep, I'm beat from that spell."

But she had an idea. A way she could make herself stronger so that the castings wouldn't drain her the same. All of these effects they reminded her of when she was new to witchcraft. When she hit up against a wall and would almost kill herself. Probably would have killed herself if Luka hadn't taught her to channel.

Henrik and Rebekah said goodnight and left. She started to undress and ignored the way Kol's eyes lingered on her.

"What are you plotting, little witch?"

"Nothing," Bonnie grinned. "But I think I have an idea to make the time travel spell easier."

"Do tell."

"You're ancient and magic went into making you, right?"

"Correct."

"Theoretically it's possible to channel you like nature or the spirits or like another warlock."

Kol looked lost in memories. Bonnie knew he was thinking about when they were both human. How they had channeled each other, what a rush it had been and how she had never felt more connected to another human being. Not even when they bloodshared.

"It's possible however, I'm not certain it will succeed."

Bonnie quirked a brow. "Only one way to find out."

"Suppose you are right. However, not tonight. You need rest before you cast any more spells."

Bonnie, who had settled down on the bed was already drifting asleep. Her last thought before she slipped into unconsciousness was how ridiculously overprotective Kol was.

XXX

Kol grinned when Bonnie fell asleep almost instantly. She wasn't even underneath the covers. He picked up the blanket at the foot of the bed and draped it over her sleeping form. He kissed her forehead and blew out the candle.

Then he used his vampire hearing to find Henrik and Rebekah. He followed the sound of their voices to Henrik's office. It was right underneath the helm and he sat down across from Henrik. He was behind the desk where he had several maps and weapons scattered. Rebekah was lounging in the window seat in yet another dramatic pose.

"You still love the witch," Rebekah remarked her eyes fixed on something in the distance. "Peculiar. Personally, I'm rather vexed."

"Why?" Kol sighed in exasperation.

Fortunately, Henrik handed him a glass of scotch. He had a long pull and closed his eyes just as Rebekah started in on her usual tirade.

"She lied to us. All of us and she left. She knew what was happening to us yet she still left us."

"In all fairness, she didn't have much choice. As for leaving us once again, I didn't give her much of a choice."

Rebekah pursed her lips and shot him a lethal look. "Yes, poor innocent little Bonnie. She's so helpless and you must protect her at all costs."

Kol never thought he would ever see the day Rebekah spoke of Bonnie in the same manner as she did Elena.

"Come now, Bekah," Henrik coaxed. "You and Bonnie were friends."

"Humph," Rebekah sniffed. "Friends don't lie to each other."

"You were fine in Italy. What changed?" Kol asked.

"Actually, I contemplated murdering her in Italy."

"Dear lord," Henrik groaned. "Not this again," he leaned in toward Bonnie. "She has been complaining for centuries now."

Kol snorted a laugh. "Sister dear, please don't attempt to murder my girlfriend as she does consider you a friend."

"Fine, be dull."

"Speaking of dull. The two of you are the furthest thing from dull these days. Tell me, what have I missed?"

"The usual," Rebekah replied with a shrug.

"Bekah here and I are the terror of the sea," Henrik said with a wolfish smile. "Plundering, raiding, boarding ships."

"A personal favorite of yours when you and I are together -" Rebekah said turning to him with a knowing smile. "Is taking slaver ships and freeing the prisoners."

Kol had a brief moment of thinking that didn't sound like him. Thinking of others in general didn't sound like him, but he did have new memories that told him he did that. There had been a brief headache as the memories formed. They were getting easier.

And it would seem losing Bonnie had turned him into an even greater monster with one exception. At last something about his past that wouldn't make Bonnie ill to learn of. And he had never agreed with slavery and it was something he had done his best to end. However, it sounded as if his love for Bonnie had spurred him to new heights. It was a selfish motivation and even he knew it.

"What course shall we set in the morning?" Henrik inquired.

It took Kol a moment to process that Henrik intended to take him and Bonnie to the next nexus. It was a pleasant surprise because in spite of Bonnie's plan, he wanted an extra pair of eyes to keep an eye on her health. As Rebekah was a former witch, he wanted to ask her opinion, but since she currently hated Bonnie that was likely a bad idea.

"Kol," Rebekah snapped.

"Yes?" Kol said perfectly aware he had slipped into his own thoughts.

"Where are we going?"

"The Bahamas," Kol replied. "We should land in Greece if we have tracked the nexuses correctly."

"When have you ever been wrong about witchcraft?" Rebekah said with an eye roll.

"It is a rare occurrence I will grant you that,"Kol said with a sly smile. "However, it has happened."

Rebekah smirked and tamped down on a laugh.

"The Bahamas is a splendid plan," Henrik said not even trying to hide his excitement. His eyes danced with a wicked mischief that Kol recognized in himself.

"What are you scheming about now, little brother?"

"Just imagining all of the plundering we can do. There are plenty of vessels travelling there to colonize as well as naval ships. Courtesy of the British."

Kol snorted a laugh. "That does sound fun."

"Are you still allowed to have fun or has your little girlfriend ruined that as well?" Rebekah said. "I can't imagine she is fine with bloodshed."

Kol grew silent and sipped his scotch. He had no idea how Bonnie felt about piracy however, he was concerned it was similar to her feelings about what he was. He had promised he would change.

But surely, she couldn't object to a little plundering? Although knowing Bonnie she likely would. Kol had never thought of her as a particularly violent person except for when hers or someone else's life was on the line.

"I'm not actually certain," Kol replied after a while.

Rebekah snorted. "If she is that much fun, I promise to revise my opinion of her."

XXX

Bonnie woke slowly in the morning. She reached out blindly even half asleep her first thought was of Kol. As her sleep addled brain began to process that realization, she tried to rationalize it. It was only natural after all the time they had spent travelling together and sleeping in the same bed that her first thought would be of him.

"Kol?" she mumbled when she couldn't find him.

Bonnie rubbed her eyes and looked around for Kol. She saw no signs of him in the bedroom. Come to think of it, she hadn't heard him come in last night. Immediately, worried gnawed at her. It was unlike Kol to disappear on her, normally, she couldn't get rid of him. Even when she desperately wanted him to go away because he was making her nuts, but he never went far.

She scrambled for her clothes and left the room. Instantly, she walked into the men's sleeping chambers. They were all asleep and snoring in hammocks. Others were in bunks along the wall and a couple were even on the floor with nothing except mattresses. It was a completely different scene than the ship from the night before.

Suddenly, she was struck by the realities of life on a pirate ship. Even asleep these men looked wild and dangerous – lawless that was the word she was looking for. Another flicker of worry shot through her, but she firmly reminded herself she was a powerful witch. And a good friend of the captain's. After all, Rebekah appeared more than comfortable here.

All the same, Bonnie scurried away and in the general direction of where she assumed Henrik's office would be. Or was it captain's quarters? She didn't know, but in Pirates of the Caribbean the captain always had a proper office with maps and a dining room.

Bonnie found Henrik's study, but it was empty except for Rebekah. She had a glass of red wine in her hand and her hair was a mess. But a content smile played on her lips. It disappeared quickly.

"Alright, what's up with you?" Bonnie asked and sat down across from Rebekah.

The look Rebekah sent her was terrifying. If looks could kill, Bonnie thought to herself.

"You knew what was going to happen and you just let it."

"I tried to stop it," Bonnie said feeling her temper rise. "Why do you think I went after Henrik and Klaus? I was almost werewolf food!"

"True, but then you just disappeared! You left me and I was your friend!"

The hurt was written plain across Rebekah's face. How alone she must have felt turning, the bloodlust – and no one except her dysfunctional family there to help her. And Bonnie knew Rebekah had always wanted a sister. Even though Rebekah would never admit to it. Just as she knew Rebekah would never admit that she had started to see Bonnie as one before everything went to hell.

"I'm sorry," Bonnie said and she tasted bile. "I wanted to stay. I even begged Esther to turn me, but she refused."

"Probably for the best," Rebekah sniffed. "You don't want to be what I am."

People kept telling Bonnie that and she briefly wondered if they actually thought she wanted to turn. Because she didn't. It was the one thing she had always known.

"No, I don't, but I didn't want this for you either. I'm so sorry I wasn't there to help you through it. And I'm sorry I disappeared without warning. I just didn't know what else to do."

"I suppose," Rebekah said thoughtfully. "I can forgive you this once, if you don't do it again."

"I won't," Bonnie grinned. "We're friends, remember? Speaking of where are we sailing to?"

XXX

Two weeks later and Bonnie was on deck. She was staring at the ocean and enjoying the ocean breeze. The ocean looked never ending as she gazed at the horizon. It was a bright shade of turquoise that almost blended into the sky.

"There's a ship on the horizon," Kol said materializing out of nowhere. "Excellent."

Bonnie snapped out of her daze. "What?"

"Haven't had a decent spot of violence in ages."

Her stomach contorted as she remembered she was on a pirate ship. That meant more than just practicing her sword fighting and learning to navigate the ocean by the stars.

"You mean -"

"You can hide below deck if you prefer however, I would fancy -"

"Being in the middle of it," Bonnie said finishing his sentence for him. "Are you going to kill innocent people?"

"Not if it can be helped."

"But there's always someone, who has to be the hero," Bonnie said with a sigh.

"We're almost out of supplies. In a few days we will be out of fresh water and food."

"We would starve before we reached shore, wouldn't we?"

Kol nodded. "I don't know if that helps."

"No, it helps, but I don't like the idea of leaving anyone else shipwrecked. No, I can't do it," Bonnie said and shook her head.

The ship drew closer and Bonnie saw they were flying a black flag.

"I don't think that will be a problem," Kol said following her gaze.

"Oh my God," Bonnie gasped as it slowly settled on her they were about to be boarded.

What was worse, there were three vampires on this ship and a witch. She felt sure no matter, who was on that ship they were going to lose this battle.

"Best part of life as a pirate? You can show off with your magic," Kol said flashing a smile.

"No way. My Grams didn't have time to teach me much before she passed, but the one thing she kept repeating was secrecy. I am so not risking ending up burned at the stake especially not during a time when that is a very real possibility."

"As if I would ever allow that to happen," Kol said with an eye roll. "But if you insist on using a sword then can I at least convince you to stay close to me, little witch?"

"Sure, someone has to watch your back."

Kol laughed and that told Bonnie they were in as little danger as she had initially thought. Whoever was on that ship had seriously screwed up.

He took her hand and dragged her toward the captain's quarters. But of course, he was going to continue more of this ridiculous overprotective behavior. Bonnie came to a stop, she pulled him back to her.

"You aren't going to be on the frontline," Kol said reading her mind.

"C'mon, I know I haven't exactly been at the top of my game since we got sent back in time, but you can't keep up this overprotective thing forever."

"Actually, I can."

"Be serious."

Kol smiled a crooked smile that made her heart skip a beat. "I know how powerful you are. Perhaps I know better than anyone after the smackdown you gave me at the ball however, I feel compelled to say, no matter how powerful you are I will never stop trying to protect you."

"That's great and all, but there are three vampires on this ship and one witch. Whatever is coming our way they are gonna be sorry."

Bonnie drew her sword and followed Henrik and Rebekah toward the helm. Kol was hot on her heels and she heard him growl. It actually surprised her because before she became a thing with vampire Kol she would have assumed he was way more casual about violence and danger. After what she had seen of him, she would have assumed he would love a girl, who threw herself into danger. But apparently not.

Kol caught her arm and leaned down to whisper in her ear. "This shoot first ask questions later thing is sexy however, if you die I will be furious."

Bonnie laughed. She turned her face up to his and their lips brushed. It was a light kiss that made electricity spark through her.

Unfortunately, it was cut short. A heavy fog settled over the ship. It was dark and it instantly chilled Bonnie to the bone. But more than that Bonnie sensed the electric crackle of magic in the air. The fog had a magical source, which meant there was at least one witch or warlock onboard.

"Magic," Bonnie whispered.

Kol was instantly more alert. He drew his sword and exchanged a few looks with Henrik and Rebekah. That must have sufficed as a conversation because Rebekah nodded. She turned her attention to the pirates on deck and barked orders.

"HOIST THE SAILS! MAN THE CANONS! EVERYONE TO THEIR BATTLE STATIONS!" Rebekah shouted.

Henrik was definitely not in charge on this ship. Bonnie turned to look and ran unsheathed her sword. Next to her, Kol did the same. She drew her magic forward ready to attack. Through the fog nothing was visible, but slowly a dark silhouette took form. It wasn't until there was a loud crash and the ship tilted that she realized why the fog was such an efficient cover.

Bonnie tumbled and the Mikaelsons fell. The sounds of cries and curses filled the air. Along with other more terrifying noises. The deafening roar of canons and the stomping as they were boarded. Another chill ran through her, but then she reminded herself she had faced worse odds with worse backup.

Bonnie got off the floor and rose to her feet. She glanced at the chaos down below. Rebekah had the helm, trying to keep the ship steady while Henrik and Kol had joined the fight. They were tearing out throats.

The fog had lifted somewhat and it allowed her to catch sight of Klaus. Her blood ran cold, she had no idea what he would if he discovered Henrik. One thing was for certain, it would change history perhaps to the point of no return. More to the point, she didn't trust this version of Klaus with Henrik. He had daggered all of his other siblings, but if he daggered Henrik he would die for real.

Acting quickly, she cast a glamor on Henrik. She chanted and felt magic course through her. Within seconds, Henrik was glamored. Then she repeated the same process with Rebekah. After all, Rebekah was undoubtedly why Klaus was here. He was probably here to drag her back kicking and screaming. She left Kol as he was because if Klaus thought he was in the Caribbean he wouldn't go looking where this time period's Kol was. Finally, Bonnie cloaked herself.

Then she started throwing spells left right and center at the attacking men. Some went over board screaming whereas other she set on fire. Then she plunged headfirst into the fray with her sword.

XXX

Kol growled when he saw Nik. He also saw the witch with him. A young black girl on the deck of the ship. Nik had never been much for keeping slaves on paper yet he always had at least one black witch or warlock in his service. Oftentimes, one he had kidnapped and trained from when they were a child. It was sickening and worse still, it was a practice many other vampires had adopted. Kol would like nothing more than to kill every last one of those bastards, who enslaved witches.

Witches were the most powerful supernatural creatures in existence. They could unmake every other supernatural creature yet vampires thought they had the right to enslave and murder them. It was infuriating and if the Salvatores tried any of that with Bonnie when he returned to the present, he would murder them slowly.

"Hello Nik, what brings you by?"

"Looking for Bekah. It would seem she has run off again. I've come to fetch her home."

"Of course, you have," Kol spat. "Naturally, you have boarded the wrong ship. This is my vessel not Bekah's."

Kol had just caught a glimpse of the spell Bonnie was casting, but she had glamored his siblings and herself.

Clever girl, Kol thought. Better yet, she hadn't cloaked him, which meant Nik would spend the better part of the next century searching for Kol in the wrong area.

Nik growled and his eyes changed. Kol didn't wait for him to attack, he slashed. He had always been the better swordsman, but Nik was stronger now. And Kol no longer had the advantage of his magic, but he was still faster.

Nik parried and Kol ducked below his follow up swing. He stretched his leg out and kicked out Nik's knee. He fell and Kol raised up, ready to twist the blade in, but Nik rolled away.

"GET THE WITCH!" Kol shouted over his shoulder. He hoped Bonnie heard him.

XXX

Bonnie could barely see what Kol and Klaus were doing. They were fighting too fast for the human eye to see. Henrik was somewhere in the crowd, killing off the vampires and werewolves in Klaus's service. It was in that moment, she realized Henrik was no longer a baby vampire. He was one of the oldest vampires in existence, which made him powerful. That was a relief because she was scared for him.

"GET THE WITCH!"

Kol's shout broke into her thoughts.

She ran the rest of the way down to the deck. She plunged into the fight and parried each blow that came her way. If it was a vampire or werewolf, she used her magic to throw them aside.

It was a long time before she reached Klaus's ship, but it felt like only seconds when she reached it. She hurried across one of the planks placed there for boarding. The other witch saw her coming, her eyes hardened.

She was young. No older than Bonnie and she was small. Surprisingly frail. Bonnie held her hands up, she didn't want to fight another witch. Not if she could help it.

"Easy," Bonnie said. "Let's talk about this. Why are you helping Klaus Mikaelson?"

"Why are you helping Kol Mikaelson?" the girl countered.

"Because he's not a total dick."

The girl snorted. "You're funny. Pity I'm going to have to kill you."

"Easy, just chill," Bonnie said in a hard voice. "Listen to me, I have known Klaus a long time."

"Yeah right," the girl eyed her suspiciously. "You do not look a day over fifteen."

"I'm seventeen, but trust me on this. Klaus has a history of enslaving and subjugating witches. All he wants is your power and when he's through with you? Guess what, he will kill you or leave you for dead."

"How would you know?"

"Because it's what he did to another witch. Her name was Greta and I never knew her, but I knew her family. They looked for her, fought for her and it didn't matter. Because of Klaus they're all dead."

Bonnie knew what she was saying was dangerous. What had happened to Luka's sister was an atrocity. Everything that happened to the Martin family leading up to Elena's sacrifice was a crime against all witches. And it was one of Bonnie's biggest regrets that she hadn't been able to save any of them. Like always the Salvatores brought death on anyone, who met them.

"Why?"

"Because he needed a witch to help him sacrifice my best friend."

Again, Bonnie knew she shouldn't tell this girl anything about the future, but she couldn't stop herself. She was a fellow witch and it was Bonnie's duty to warn her.

"Is it true?" the girl asked, but her voice had taken on an unearthly quality and she cocked her head to the side. "Oh, it is. I believe you, the spirits say you speak the truth and secrets of what is yet to come."

Bonnie raised an eyebrow. "The spirits."
"I am a medium and I suppose I could -" the girl lifted the fog.

She took a step forward and caught Bonnie's hand. Bonnie had that warm familiar feeling that told her this girl was family.

"Thank you. I'm Bonnie Bennett."

"Celestia Bennett. We're related, but you already knew that, didn't you?"

"Yes, now what do you say we end this madness?"

They closed their eyes and channeled each other. Magic coursed through Bonnie and she knew without a doubt, Celestia was a relative. When she opened her eyes, she raised her hand, ready to cast.

Thank you so much to everyone, who has read this fic. I really appreciate it and I am overwhelmed by the suppport for Timeless. I know my updating schedule has been a sporadic, but the weekends used to be my only chance to write and update. Now I am only working two days a week while getting my masters so I should be able to start updating more frequently in the next couple of months. I just have to get caught up on writing.

- Izzy

Guest: Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! Yes, they are starting to move forward in terms of physical and emotional intimacy. Lol, I love the idea of kol fighting his past self. And I'm sure you have a wonderful imagination. I loved reading your thoughts on the chapter.