Bonnie lifted her head from the pillow, only to drop it back down onto the soft cushion, already molded to her perfectly. It was so warm here and the minute she opened her eyes she'd be mobbed by life. Things to do that she didn't want to and people to talk to that she wanted to avoid. That was her burden to bear. Things that pulled grey over her, made life better for everyone else.

Eventually the soft knock at her door was the realisation she needed that staying in bed was not an option. Lord Saltzman waited politely on the other side and peeped back at her eyes through the open crack. When she saw it was him she widened it and headed to her dressing table.

'What's on the agenda for today?'

'The inaugural meeting of the Trading council. Are you sure you still want there to be local farmers?' He asked the question as if it was routine, and she threw him by checking on his opinion.

'Do you disagree?'

Knotting his forehead, Alaric gave it some thought before coming to the conclusion. 'No, actually, I think it's a good idea. But you've got to hurry up. The meeting is in half an hour. You'll barely have time for breakfast.'

'I'm not hungry.' She said, feeling much lighter than usual. 'I guess I ate too much last night.'

Last night… Last night she remembered eating dinner and then… And then she went straight to bed. Now here she was. No wonder she wasn't hungry, she usually went up to the roof after eating.

'I'll just get ready and meet you there.'

'Alright, see you in a few. Here are the reports to look over.'

'Thank you,' She reached for the brush and began running it through her hair as he left the papers on the side of the desk. But before leaving he paused.

'There was something else too,' Alaric frowned, searching his mind for something until he settled for the information he assumed he was looking for. 'The envoy from Prince Lucas' Kingdom- King Malachai-' He stuttered at displacing the name for a moment.

Bonnie picked up the documents and began scanning them, completely undisturbed by the name as she let him talk.

'He was meant to visit.' Alaric continued, more resolved in what he wanted to say. 'We received a letter this morning that he isn't able to make the trip.'

'That's fine.' Bonnie stood, heading behind the screen and picking a casual dress for the day.

'Could you let the committee know that I've invited some local Sea Merchants to speak as well.

It's important to get all the information.'

'When did you do that?'

They continued their discussions for the day, neither mentioning the suspended visit of the King. No matter how much Alaric may have wanted to discuss it- she wanted to marry that King after all- she was completely disinterested in the topic. And he felt inclined to follow her lead. Their own Kingdom was much more important than discussing some boy King who decided to renege on his visit. A small pressure on his mind pushing him off the topic.

The meeting chamber was fuller than usual but it wasn't hard to spot the divide. Her seven council members were enshrined in their silk robes and golden chains, spread comfortably on their high chairs around a table big enough to seat twenty. Her guests, no more than five but with how hostile the nobility looked she could have been persuaded it was an army, were left to sit against the back wall.

Looking as unwelcome as they felt.

'Gentlemen.' She greeted them, taking a second to wonder why they all stood before watching them bow and realising it was the tiara atop her head. Walking straight past her seat, ignoring the council members' curious glances, she went to welcome her visitors- men and women alike.

'Thank you all for coming here and taking the time from your busy schedules.' She smiled, trying hard to make them feel more comfortable, 'I want you to know how much I appreciate it and how valuable your input will be.' It was sincerity that she said every word, drawing toothy grins and nods of approval. Turning with her petticoats swishing behind her, she headed back to her chair at the lead of the table.

'Your Majesty, while I'm the first to say how… innovative this council is-' Damon Salvatore, the Eldest Lord Salvatore, shifted in his chair and touched his fingers as he spoke. Piercing her with his deep blue gaze '-I think it may be a bit redundant give-'

She put up a digit, straight at the knuckle, to stop him.

'Actually before you carry on, could you all shuffle to the left?'

He blanched. 'What?'

'Everybody on the right side of the table,' She spoke purposely slowly and enjoyed watching Damon try to temper his annoyance, 'move over to the left. Then our guests can join us at the table.' A few raised eyebrows as she indicated to them. 'It just seems incredibly silly to have half of the Trades council sitting so far away when we have the space to seat them here.'

'That's because we don't have the space.' Damon said with a lot more anger than Bonnie was comfortable letting slide.

'Move your seats. Now.' She commanded evenly with a pleasant smile.

Damon's eye began twitching and for a second, dangerous to him, he looked as if he was going to argue more. Scraping chairs from beside him snapped them out of deadlock and he stood up to follow his brother onto the other side of the table. When it was empty, all it took was an expectant smile for the others to pick up their seats and join them- with more confidence and swagger than they began with, allowing them to start.

The meeting went off without any huge problems. The only evident one she could see coming as Lord Salvatore's disinterest in the committee. His general disinterest in all his duties. Particularly obedience to the Queen. Especially the moment a local farmer stood to speak.

'We do most of th' trading with th' ships. Then they takes it away.'

Damon's eyes glazed over and he stopped listening while some of the merchants nodded in agreement.

'Mhmm.' One of them added. 'We get our goods from the ships too. Harbour counts for most of the stock. It's been closed for the last few weeks-'

'Opened up now though ain't it?' Another interjected and Damon sighed, leaning back.

'Yeah but tha's not the point.' The merchant cleared his throat, turning respectfully back to the Queen. 'It was closed cause of the weather Majesty, and my family nearly went starving. An' I'm the best merchant on the docks. The ones that don't sell as well as me did go starving.'

'I understand.' She nodded. 'Perhaps to combat this we could look into some communal food stores, for hardships such as these. I'm sure it won't be the last.'

Alaric's quick smile from beside her didn't go unnoticed before he masked it professionally. It was good to know he was thinking the same thing. A few more opinions and facts and eye rolls from Salvatore and their guests were thanked before leaving for the Lunch Bonnie had the cooks prepare for them. At the very least they'd go home with full stomachs and treats.

'Alright, let's see some perspective on this Gentlemen,' Bonnie clasped her hands and stared them down. 'All those who believe a food store would be a good idea raise your hands.'

Under her withering glare almost all hands were raised.

Almost all, except one.

With that she concluded the meeting and closed her thoughts on how to solve the issue of the one voter.

There was a soft tapping on the door to the Queen's study.

'Come in.' She said, without looking up. Enzo entered with much more caution than she expected. Did she really look that bothered? All the more reason to fix the issue.

'You summoned me?'

'Yes.' Bonnie put down the legal documents and reached into the draw. Up until this morning she hadn't dared look inside the desk, still too fresh from her father's death to go through his things. But when she woke up she was so filled with energy and she couldn't remember what exactly was stopping her from making this room her own. So she began to clean out the drawers. Most of it had been papers that could have been binned, pictures that could have been thrown away and other trinkets. But in the bottom most drawer, in a small wooden case, she found this.

She held up the small red capsule for Enzo to see.

'What do you know about this?'

'Ah.' He frowned, reaching his hand forward. She didn't look like she was going to surrender it until he answered, 'it's vampire blood.' And she almost dropped it into his hand with a squeak.

'Why did my father have vampire blood? That's disgusting.'

'Let's not make this personal.' He ruffled, looking mock hurt. 'It was his back-up plan. Should he ever get sick, use it to cure himself. It's got many healing qualities, it does.'

'Ah.' But she made no move to take it back, still disgusted. Enzo could keep it.

'...Was that all your Majesty?' He asked apprehensively.

'I also have a job for you.' Bonnie wound her fingers together atop of the stack of papers in front of her.

'Oh.'

'Oh?'

'Sorry I was just expecting…' He studied her for a second, before sitting back in the chair with his usual confidence. 'What's the job?'

'I want Damon Salvatore assassinated.'

That threw him forward.

'Assassinated?'

'Assassinated.'

'As in killed?'

'I'd do it myself but I need to be above suspicion.'

'Is this a test?' Enzo gestured with his hands splayed. 'Am I meant to say no?'

'You can say no if you want to. I'm not my father. You have a choice in this.'

He didn't reply immediately so she waited patiently until he had something to say.

Taking a deep breath he quickly shook out the words. 'Sorry I'm just- I need to wrap my head around this if it's a genuine request-'

'It's a genuine request-'

'I thought you were against that sort of underhanded thing?'

'Why would you think that?' She pursed her lips as Enzo began to see the cracks appearing in her persona, thinking about what exactly she could divulge. How could she explain this shift in her personality? It wasn't even clear to herself, but the slabs of thought made sense when she mulled over them.

'Damon Salvatore is a threat to me. He's a bad person and I don't have the time or patience to see if he'll wind up better. I want him gone.'

'But I thought,' Enzo sighed, crossing his forehead as he thought. 'I thought you were good.'

Bonnie frowned, unsure of whether or not he would take up her request. This whole thing relied on Enzo and his abilities being the key. No one else could kill Damon as cleanly as he could. So she put on her best sad face.

'I was good, and my father had me engaged to a man I didn't love and I just remember…' To make for convincing acting she allowed memories of that time to start slipping forward. How angry she was at having to marry Lucas, how much she begged him not to make her do it. Lucas clearly didn't love her either. That entire time of her life was shrouded in hopelessness. She was constantly yearning for something that was out of her reach. The more she stretched towards it the more unbalanced she became. Until she fell into the darkness and there was nothing- no one- to help her out of it.

'I remember that the only way to get what I want, for the greater good, is to sometimes do bad things. If Damon Salvatore is dead, his council seat will fall permanently to his younger brother Stefan. Stefan I can work with.'

And why not? Why not murder yet another person to get what she needed. She'd already done it with her father. She was better off for it. He was mourned of course, had her crying about how terrible she was. In the end she realised if she was going to rule she needed to embrace the monster she was.

Enzo leaned back again, swimming in deep thoughts that she wasn't privy to.

'Fine.' He stood up, adjusting his lapel and sounding much more convinced this time. 'Your wish is my command.'

'Thank you.' She gave him the smallest smile as she said it and watched his whole face light up.

'You've never smiled at me before.'

'You've never agreed to murder someone for me before.' She said, returning to the papers.

'Is this friendship? I think it is.'

She snorted involuntarily. For some reason he didn't seem as annoying as usual. Maybe it was because of how rested she felt. Last night was the best night of sleep she'd had in a while.

'Alright, now go murder for me.'

'Already on it boss.' He replied, giving her a short bow and heading enthusiastically towards the door.

'I'll meet you on the roof later on.' She said by way of goodbye.

He stopped before pulling the handle, grinning at her words and the unintended side effect of his compulsion.

Luring Lord Salvatore to the woods wasn't much of a tricky feat. All he had to do was promise a bottle of bourbon at the end of the hunting excursion. What Enzo failed to mention, was that Damon was the hunted. It should have been obvious by the time they were miles deep into the forest with no game to shoot. Perhaps Damon chalked it up to how heavy footed he was being. Provided he was self aware enough to realise that. And given how his breath reeked sour, Enzo assumed he was too far gone to realise. Really, it was only lunchtime. He found himself applauding Bonnie's decision, whilst simultaneously wondering if it would be the same one she came to if she still remembered loving Kai.

Was that how it would be from now on? Enzo wondered as he found the opportune moment to snap Damon's neck like a twig.

Every little thing she did, would he wonder if it was the real her or this compelled version of her? As he hauled Damon's lolling body over his shoulder and headed towards the ocean, he tried his best to push those thoughts from his mind. To go back to his immediate thinking.

Things were going in his favour and he wasn't about to upend them by over analysing the situation. Bonnie was Bonnie, as she always had been. A little compulsion didn't change that. If anything, it meant these feelings towards him had always been there. The body fell into the ocean with a splash, hitting a few of the craggy rocks on the bottom before sinking into red flecked water, leaving him free to head back. A few bits of compulsion on Damon's footman and they were scot free. Stefan Salvatore would be in black before dinner.

True to her word she was waiting for him along the battlements. He staggered a bright smile, watching her pull her blue shawl tighter as she stared at the waves sparkling under the sun.

'That was quick' she noted without turning to him. 'I expected to stand here brooding for another hour at least.'

'I work fast.'

That wasn't the response she wanted. He could tell by how she nodded slowly, wondering about what to say next. The worst part was how regular her heartbeat was. His presence didn't affect her the way her's did to him.

Something that didn't change, compelled or not.

It was so hard to find the words she was searching for. Every time he spoke he thought about what she wanted him to say and every time he spoke, he was wrong.

'I'm glad.' She replied.

He moved to stand beside her.

'I'm also sorry.' She added. 'That you had to do that. But it was because of me. Just know that. I'm the party at fault here.'

'Are you trying to make me feel better?'

'I am trying to absolve you of guilt. It's on me, what happened. Not you.'

'But I'm the one that did.' Truthfully he hadn't even given killing Damon Salvatore a second thought. Even now he knew he'd sleep like a baby. It came from centuries of wrestling with his conscious, building muscles in his mind when it came to morality that she couldn't even fathom.

She wanted to take the blame for a murder she didn't commit and he knew how much it would ache at her. Even if it was for the greater good.

'It's on me.' He said, stopping any reply. 'And I don't mind. Partners in crime?'

'Partners in crime.' She agreed with half a heart. 'The official story is he went hunting, he'll be missing for a while and his body will eventually turn up. The story circulating will be he was so drunk he fell to his death.'

'It's a solid story.' He said and she gave him a polite smile as thanks for his effort.

No.

This would not do. He wasn't going to have all his hard work rewarded by genial emotions on her behalf. Since this morning, he had managed to convince himself that without Kai in the picture he had a chance with her. He did. He absolutely did. He absolutely had to.

'How about a drink?' She squeezed his shoulder and pulled him out of the spiral, landing him with the original belief.

He had a shot at this and he wouldn't waste it.

'Lead the way Your Majesty.'

'Bonnie.' She corrected him. And he smiled. He smiled as they walked back inside, settling into a comfortable pace behind her.

He smiled the whole way down the staircase. He smiled right up until Lady Gilbert blocked their path, red in the face and flustered from hurrying.

'Bonniecomequickly!'

'What? Elena calm down.' Bonnie held her up the shoulders as she inhaled deeply. When she managed to get a breath she spoke once more. 'Is everyone okay?'

'The hall, come to the hall.'

No sooner than she said it, she took Bonnie by the hand and was pulling her into the main part of the castle as Enzo begrudgingly followed.

'I didn't know where you were, I looked everywhere for you.' Elena complained. 'Then I realised you were probably on the roof- Hi,by the way-' Elena shot Enzo glare as a wary greeting. '-Alaric's been doing his best but we need you obviously.'

'Need me for what? Elena focus, important details first.'

'Right, sorry.' Instead of barrelling through the doors into the entrance hall the Lady in waiting halted their convoy, using this moment to adjust Bonnie's appearance. 'They're here.'

'Who is here?' Enzo cut in, angry to have the prospect of a drink with the Queen slip further from his grasp.

Again she glowered at him, addressing Bonnie alone, who had the same question pressed to her lips. 'That King. Lucas' brother.' If Elena knew anything more about him than that she wasn't able to say. Thanks, in part, to Enzo's mass compulsion last night. Elena had been the last person he'd managed to get to and she'd nearly smashed a brick in his head before he got her under his thrall.

There was a name.

Pressing against a barrier in Bonnie's mind.

She knew it.

She remembered hearing it a few times, saying it more often. The more she mulled, running after the memory the harder it became to think. It shouldn't be. It was just a name. A name that meant nothing to her. That was the magic phrase. Three little letters came to the forefront of her mind.

'Kai?'

It rhymed with goodbye.

'That's the one. Alright, you look good. You can go in when you're ready. I think Alaric's already entertaining them. But he can only do so much.'

Her feet began shuffling towards the door. She was Queen, if only for a short while. She was used to having to deal with unprecedented situations. And unexpected guests like this weren't the worst thing she'd dealt with. Given that she'd just had a member of her nobility assassinated, welcoming guests should be an easier task. But the closer she got to the door the more her stomach turned to lead. Cold fingers wrapped around her wrist and she resisted the urge to yank them away.

'I can send them away for you.' Enzo offered, but his eyes looked like they were begging.

'No.' She commanded. 'Not yet at least. I did invite them after all.'

His fingers fell off after some gentle pulling on her part, leaving her free to turn the brass. The squeak of the metal hinges pulled all eyes towards her as she walked in.

Inside was a simple round table, designed as a reception room for new guests before being ushered into the castle or kicked back out. Alaric took up the head and when he spotted her, sporting his fakest grin, he stood. Two other individuals sat opposite him, leaving her privy to the rising backs of their heads as they followed Alaric's lead to stand. The blonde was the first to turn to her, giving her a sweeping bow.

'Your Majesty.'

The one with the darkest hair, she recognised it a litte, took a moment and she could have sworn she heard him take a deep breath. When he turned, she knew he did, she saw the air hitch in his lungs.

He had a beard. Looked a little older. But it was him. Same pretty eyes.

Pretty eyes?

What was she, twelve?

'Your Majesty.'

Kai made a point of bowing lower than his companion, rising to stand taller than him, and finally settling his pretty eyes on her own.

'It's nice to be back.'