Note at the bottom. Thanks for waiting me out and enjoy!
Flashback - Day of Marcel's party
Bonnie sat cross legged on the floor of her hotel room with multiple grimoires spread across the floor. She had the Original witches plus several ones her Grams and other fallen witches had left behind over the years. The reality of the situation with Marcel was starting to hit Bonnie and if she was willing to admit, she was nervous. Mystic Falls had it's share of supernatural creatures but it was nothing compared to the vampire population in New Orleans. Bonnie traveled to many cities with her friends, but most were discreet about supernatural realities but not New Orleans.
This Marcel guy had certainly built an empire and was in no short supply of followers. The last count that Klaus' vampire informant gave was nearly one hundred and who knows what it was now. The most vampires Bonnie had come across at once was nearly thirty and that was just the other day at the church in The French Quarter. Bonnie was suddenly cursing her normal human life the past decade. Her nose was planted firmly in a grimoire and she didn't realize a vampire sat cross legged before her with his eyes scanning the same page.
"You know.."
"Shit!" Bonnie jumped out of her skin and dropped the grimoire from her lap. Kol couldn't help the rumble of laughter in his chest as he finished his sentence.
"..these are just strengthening spells Darling, It won't do much good against the speed of vampires." Kol picked up the grimoire and vamp sped to the last page the witch was looking at. "If a vampire sneaks behind you and snaps your neck, you're still dead."
"Hence the strengthening spell. I just need enough energy to keep me on my feet so i can keep using my magic and I'll be fine." Bonnie snatched the book from his hands. "I remembered a spell Klaus used back in Mystic Falls when he was hiding inside of a humans body. A witch spelled his body so he would be stronger and harder to kill. If you happen to know which one that was, feel free to speak up."
"But you can still die." Kol leafed through his mothers spell book as he spoke, "As soon as you reveal yourself as a witch that will place a rather large target on your back."
"You don't think I know that already?" Bonnie's voice betrayed her nerves and she cleared her throat for cover. "Isn't that why you were appointed my bodyguard for the evening? To keep me from being attacked?"
Kol dropped the grimoire to her lap and pointed out a spell with his fingertips. Bonnie gave him a hesitant nod as she watched him stand and inspect her hotel room.
"Yes, play bodyguard to a witch whose friends tried to kill me not too many years ago." Kol walked to a small table near the bed where a glass of water sat and twirled it in his fingers.
"You still could have refused. I'm sure Elijah would've been just as good."
"No offense, but Elijah wouldn't give up protecting his precious Katerina just for you." Kol tipped his head to one side as he inspected the witch. "Nik can also be quite persuasive with a dagger and since I have been boxed up more than any other sibling, I figured it was best I agree."
"Wasn't Finn in a coffin for like nine hundred years? Seems a bit childish to complain don't you think?" Bonnie gave him back his own cocky smile. It probably wasn't her smartest idea to provoke a thousand year old vampire but she was hardly defenseless.
"It still counts as one." Kol raise one finger in the witches direction and he didn't try to keep the bitterness out of his voice. Bonnie had no idea what Kol was leading up to but he certainly wasn't just stopping by to chat. She watched as Kol tipped the glass upside down and emptied the water to the carpet. The grimoire slid to the floor and Bonnie was on her feet to stand in front of Kol.
"So why exactly are you here again? I mean besides destroying my hotel room."
"Relax, Darling. I think you spent a few too many years with the Doppelganger. Caroline was much more fun." Kol saw anger building in her eyes and it made his smirk widen. "Since your such a beautiful witch Bonnie I'll take pity on you and tell you why I'm really here."
Before Bonnie could get another word in, Kol had his vampire features on full display and she was positioned to give him a aneurysm until she stopped. At the last moment, Kol sank his fangs into his own wrist and started dripping blood into the glass he was holding.
"I won't drink your blood." Bonnie's eyes widened as she started back at the now half full glass of Original blood. "You want to keep Caroline happy to keep Klaus happy, this won't do it."
"If you die tonight during this fight I honestly wouldn't care and wouldn't loose any sleep over it. Let's call this a mutual beneficial agreement."
"Right. I die, loose my magic, and come back as a vampire while you go skipping off into the sunset. Sounds a bit one sided if you ask me."
"My mother was a witch and it's not a very well known fact but my birthright should have been a witch as well. It's why I hold witches in such high esteem." Kol watched curiosity flood through Bonnie's expression. "I can understand you hesitation since we vampires don't have the cleanest reputation. Vampirism comes with murder and blood lust but you have murdered as a witch, have you not?"
Bonnie couldn't deny that she has killed before and that she has wanted to kill. She didn't have enough fingers to count the times their group of friends tried or succeeded at killing the Original family alone.
"Vampirism also comes with immortality. Can you stand before me today and be one hundred percent sure you are prepared to die." Kol watched the uncertainty in the witches eyes and raised to the glass for Bonnie to take and smirked. "Think about it."
Bonnie took the glass of blood, clutching it to her chest and watched the Original flash away.
Caroline had her head turned towards Bonnie as her feet moved along the French Quarter streets. Bonnie watched Caroline's face go through an array of emotions as she retold the story of how Kol gave her his blood. Anger, shock, and the barest hint of gratitude were among the emotions. After the fight at Marcel's and the snapped neck from Enzo, Bonnie had stayed at the Governor's mansion with the Original's so she could speak with Caroline as soon as she recovered. Her friend still looked in disbelief to be walking side by side with her as they went back to the hotel, occasionally scanning her face for deception. Bonnie being the last of a few remaining Bennett witches was an honor and it wasn't something she would give up easily. The decision to turn was not easy.
"Kol manipulated you into drinking his blood?" Caroline huffed, stopping Bonnie by putting both her hands on her shoulders and the blue cooler of blood bags she carried stuck between them.
"No one can manipulate me, Caroline!" Bonnie's tone came out harsher than intended and the former witch closed her eyes as she breathed deeply. "Kol just brought to light a few fears I was already thinking. This was my plan B."
Caroline looked unconvinced by Bonnie's explanation.
"Kol used your fears so he wouldn't be daggered."
"Well, that's an Original for you. Good luck with Klaus." Bonnie had to stop her backhanded comments with another large sigh. "I'm sorry my brain is just..."
"I get it." Caroline took the cooler from her hands and started walking again as she spoke with a hushed tone. "All you want to do is kill every living thing around you and drain the blood of the rest. Being a vampire basically sucks at first but over time you get used to it. That kill everybody urge kinda goes away." Caroline shrugged her shoulders with a smile, "Besides I am kinda dating the biggest mass murderer in the world. If you suddenly started saying nice things about Klaus I'd probably get suspicious."
The two girls laugh and Bonnie used the break in the conversation to inspect the city further. She had been in the French Quarter for weeks but looking at it with vampire eyes was like turning on the high definition in her brain. The beauty of the cracked buildings came to life and she swears she could almost smell the aging wood from the open windows above. Faint jazz music played in the background and if she was still a witch, Bonnie would have to walk a good five blocks to hear it. It felt as if she was walking with her own personal soundtrack to her life in the background. The only part of her missing was magic and the thought was instantly depressing. That was one aspect of her now immortal existence that Bonnie would have to accept.
In no time they were at the steps of an old house that had been turned into a hotel and she watched as Caroline placed the cooler at her feet. Bonnie saw Caroline's worry churning in her mind and she felt the need to reassure her friend once more.
"I never wanted to be a vampire but I also never wanted to die either. I mean I was already taking herbs to prolong my life as long as I could." Bonnie smiled sadly. " I never realized how much I wanted to live until twenty four hours ago. I spent the entire day searching every grimoire at my disposal for the strongest protection I could find. I guess that asshole just gave me another option."
Caroline couldn't help but smirk. "So your saying I should being thanking Kol Mikealson instead of killing him?"
"Don't ever say that. Kol probably already thinks he's some kind of god for helping save my life or something."
Caroline's laughed died down and her expression turned serious.
"I'm going to be here to help if you need me. I know we haven't officially made up or anything but I never wanted you dead."
"You have nothing to make up for Caroline. We were the ones that pretty much abandoned you when you really needed someone. Hell maybe you never would have been friends with Katherine if we had stood by you. "
"Maybe but I am glad she is my friend. She really isn't that bad... After awhile."
"Right." Bonnie widened her eyes and lifted her brows. "I get it. Katherine is kinda a package deal and that Enzo guy too." Bonnie exhaled loudly. "I want us to start new again and rebuild our friendship."
"OK." Caroline smiled warmly as she watched Bonnie extend her hand our for her to shake.
"Hi. I'm Bonnie Bennett, former witch and newly turned vampire who would really love to rip that fat guy across the street that smells like cheeseburgers apart."
"Hello. I'm Caroline Forbes, neurotic mess and at this point... I would really love to help you."
The two girls exchanged fake introductions for a few more minutes before giving goodbye hugs, unknown that their exchange was being watched from a few blocks away.
Meanwhile...
Betrayal. Why was he not surprised after all these years. It seems their Always and Forever was a long forgotten promise. Finn's entire existence was lived out in a box because he was no longer trustworthy to Klaus. Kol even went so far as to design a dagger just for the Hybrid himself and stow him away in his own coffin to rot. But even those kills were not permanent and Klaus had every intention of releasing them one day when he say it necessary to regain his family, even Finn.
Then there was Elijah and Rebekah, the two siblings that made that promise to stay with him a thousand years ago. The two siblings that were always at his side sought to end his existence once and for all. Klaus remembered the day he broke his hybrid curse, the exhilarating power he felt in his veins and it was short lived as he stared up at his own brother clinching his beating heart in his hand. At the last moment Elijah changed course, sparing Klaus and he for a few fleeting decades he thought betrayals were finally behind them. What an idiotic thought that was.
Klaus slammed back the last bit of Bourbon from his glass and nearly shattered it against the table in his study. Swift feet made their way down the hall and into a secluded part of his bedroom. Klaus moved aside a desk and carpet to reveal a small hole that barely fit his finger. The floorboards were tossed aside with a bang and a one foot wide section showed a one foot deep compartment. Klaus removed the objects he was looking for with a smirk.
"Oh Rebekah love. Where are you?" Klaus sang his words knowing well that his sister was somewhere in the house.
Thanks everyone for waiting for this update.
This was probably one of my favorite chapters to write just because of all the Kennett that was in this. It wasn't romantic but still. Oh and what the hell is Klaus up too?
Please let me know what you think!
Cassondra :)
