Chapter 21: Gods & Monsters

Date: April 21, 2020

Author's Notes: Hey everyone! I hope you all are doing well. It's taken me quite some time to edit this chapter because I obsess over every detail and I'm trying so hard to avoid plot holes lol. That said, I'm posting this story as I go so plot holes are almost inevitable lol. Please don't judge me. The story is going to start picking up pace so don't be alarmed. I have the propensity to beat around the bush so I'm attempting to make the most out of each chapter from here on out so this story doesn't drag on too long. This chapter introduces a new character and a good chunk of it is told from her and Sabine's point of view. This is to show how Bonnie and Klaus are viewed in the supernatural realm from the characters themselves. They're basically the elephants in the room lol. Anyway, happy reading!

The Conjuring

The glow of hundreds of candles illuminated the dark room where Sabine sat in the center of a ring of salt and grave dirt. In a bowl before her were coffin nails drenched in the blood of a goat. The glow of the candles radiate against Sabine's skin as sweat dripped from her in droves. As she chanted, the heat in the room increased to unbearable temperatures, but her focus never wavers. Taking one of the nails, she sliced into her hand and allowed her blood to flow into the bowl.

"Spirits of the dead, I call upon thee to contact one, Marie Catherine Laveau. Accept this sacrifice as my offering unto thee. Blessed Be," she chanted in Haitian Creole. As she continued, she felt a shift in the atmosphere as the spell began to manifest. Suddenly, there was a gust of wind that doused the flames of each candle, leaving Sabine in darkness. She blinked several times in attempts to focus her eyes, but it was simply too dark to see anything. Sabine perked a brow as she glanced around for any signs of life besides her own. There was another gust of wind and suddenly all of the candles were lit and before her sat the spirit of Marie. Sabine jumped slightly but recovered quickly.

"It's good to see you, sister," Marie greeted.

"Same to you, Marie," Sabine smiled.

"I don't suppose you're here to rescue me, are you?" Marie flipped her long braids over her shoulder, and Sabine smiled in fondness at the memories of her friend. "I didn't expect to be here this long. You know, time works differently over here."

"It hasn't been a week yet, Marie. I'm working on it," Sabine promised. "There's a bit of a hiccup," she began. Wasting no time to get to the point, she continued, "The spell I cast on you all worked for Agnes and Bastianna because they're souls were theirs. Since you sold your soul to Papa Legba I'm not able to spring you from this trap he has you in. Right now, you are in limbo. The spell I cast before you died is preventing him from reaping you, but since he has a claim on your soul, I'm unable to call you back to the land of the living. There's also the issue with your body."

"What about it?" Marie interjected.

"I'm not sure what will happen if I place you back in your body. When Bonnie siphoned you, she ate away at your essence so essentially, your body is just a shell. You'd be helpless. My only option is either to A, find a way to get Bonnie to release your magic or B, find another vessel." Marie listened with keen interest before speaking up.

"I'm guessing you haven't found one yet." Because nothing could ever be simple when it came to Marie.

"Not quite," Sabine confessed. "In your case, it would have to be someone with magic. Someone of your ancestry since your spirit is so old; no offense."

"None taken." Marie thought for a moment. "My direct descendants have all died but I have distant relatives in Haiti. Our family name is Laveaux with an X, start there." Marie offered. Sabine took note of what Marie was telling her.

"There's another issue," Sabine added. "The witches want Bonnie out of the city and are plotting to find ways to get rid of her. I know you said Bonnie is important but after what she did in the graveyard, her days are numbered."

"You can't let them touch Bonnie," Marie affirmed. Though Bonnie killed her, Marie knew that she was essential. "We need her on our side—"

"She hates us, Marie. She murdered and injured eight of us that night. I can't convince the witches not to go against her because you've never bothered to tell us why she's so special." Marie fell silent for a while before speaking up.

"Years ago there was a prophecy about a Bennett Witch freeing the witches of the quarter from bondage. When she arrived to our city, I thought Bonnie was the key to freeing us from Marcel but that wasn't it. It was all a ploy. The Ancestors lied about the prophecy—I didn't know that until I crossed over. Bonnie isn't going to free us from Marcel, she's going to sever the link to our ancestors." At Marie's revelation, Sabine's heart dropped and she stared at Marie with wide eyes and an open mouth.

"What!" She exclaimed. Millions of questions ran across her mind but only one stood out. "Why would they lie about that?"

"Because, once she severs the link, we will be able to practice freely and as a result, The Ancestors would lose their power. This is why they pushed us to finish The Harvest, to gain as much power as they can to stop her." Marie explained. She waited several moments for Sabine to process what she was saying before continuing. "We'd finally be able to practice anywhere in the world, without being tethered to New Orleans. Don't you see? Everything we've done drove a wedge between us and Bonnie, and The Ancestors facilitated it all."

Sabine stared at Marie as she explained everything to her. Minutes passed and Sabine couldn't find the right words to express how overwhelmed she was with information. After about five minutes, she finally spoke.

"Why would Bonnie be interested in severing our link?" She asked. Marie chuckled.

"Because it's the only way to disconnect the spirits from our realm," Marie offered. Sabine grew tired of Marie's love for withholding information. It was like pulling teeth from a lion sometimes.

"And why would she be interested in doing that? She's not from here, she doesn't care about our politics," Sabine stressed. Marie smiled as a devilish glint appeared in her eyes.

"Because, Mon Chéri, they're planning to kill her." Sabine's eyebrows raised in silent shock. "I haven't figured out why just yet. One reason is because of her threat against her but I feel like there's more." Marie didn't give Sabine any time to process what she was telling her. She continued even as Sabine stared in bewilderment. "Before I died, I cast a spell to link Bonnie with The Hybrid. I didn't know then that this would ultimately start the chain of events for this prophecy but, when has anything ever been predictable?"

"Do you think they want her dead for her connection to the hybrid?" Sabine pondered her question. For years she dreamed of practicing freely without the burden of being bound to one location. To have that reality within her grasp and yet with so many obstacles in her way seemed like a slap in the face. "We have to unlink them and stop this from happening," Sabine rambled. She wasn't keen on Bonnie Bennett. From what she's seen, the girl was arrogant and every bit of a loose cannon, however, if it meant being freed from her magical shackles, she'd have to ease her head out of the lion's mouth.

-X-

The Funeral

Prudence Laveaux emerged from the back of a black Lincoln Town Car, surveying the crowd surrounding St. Ann's Cathedral. Parishioners gathered in mourning for her late great-aunt, Marie. In the sea of people, her vision was blurred by a mass of black lace and wide-brimmed hats. The women were dressed to the nines as were the men. Music played by the brass band blared throughout the streets as the band and second-line danced their way to the Cathedral steps. 'When The Saints Go Marching In'; Prudence recognized the tune and watched in awe as a real live Jazz Funeral procession, like the ones she saw on tv, made their way up the street carrying Marie's casket.

Prudence didn't know anyone and in truth, she barely knew Marie. Growing up, she heard stories of her distant relative but the bulk of what she knew was from urban legends. Marie Laveau sacrificed her child to Papa Legba for eternal life in 18th century America, or so the story goes.

Prudence never believed any of it until she met Marie at her own mother's funeral. Rosalinda Laveaux was deemed crazy and had lost custody of Prudence when she was just 11 years old. Prudence lived as a ward of the state since her mother was out of contact with every known relative they had. It wasn't until her mother's passing that Prudence learned Rosalinda's ramblings of her family's roots were not the imagination of a schizophrenic woman, but true. It was all true.

Be that as it may, Prudence wanted nothing to do with any of them. The very family that allowed her mother to wither away until her dying days did nothing to aid them and so Prudence decided at a young age that she was better off without them. Rosalinda was kind and loving before her 'sickness', but once she succumbed to her illness, their family shunned Rosalinda and denied any dealings with the 'occult'. Prudence was cursed to have lived on the wrong side of the Laveaux family. The side she lived on distanced themselves from their magical roots while Marie embraced it. Marie knew what and who she was and lived up to it while Rosalinda's family denied it for fear of persecution.

And Prudence could never understand why. Haiti was known for its occultism. It was common. However, Christian missionaries preached a different narrative that her family unfortunately adopted which ultimately led to Rosalinda's downfall. Prudence hoped to one day move to New Orleans to learn about her family's forgotten history. It was always a thought in the back of her mind but now, that ship has sailed, taking Marie with it.

There were faint whispers as Prudence walked down the aisle of the sanctuary to the front pew. It was odd. Marie was the furthest thing from a saint and yet here she was, being laid to rest on holy ground. Prudence wondered if there had been any fires within the four walls recently. From what she'd heard, the woman had a first-class ticket to hell.

To the right of the church, Marie's coven—what was left of them—sat together as they mourned their coven sister. To the left—the side reserved for family—sat no one. Marie was isolated and the only person that bothered to show up to bury her was Prudence, who was there out of curiosity. Prudence sat on the empty pew and wondered if Marie was alive right now, what she'd have to say about the lack of support. Despite the empty row Prudence sat on, the church was filled with people of the community who respected and feared Marie. Some came to pay their respects, others came to ensure the bitch was dead. Prudence wasn't sure why she was there, other than being invited.

"I'm so glad you could make it." Prudence looked up to stare into the face of a very gorgeous black woman with skin as brown as her own. Prudence instantly recognized the voice as the woman who'd mysteriously called on All Saints Day to inform her of Marie's passing. Prudence still had no clue how the woman knew to contact her but she was sure she'd get an answer sooner or later.

"Thank you for inviting me," there was a hint of confusion in the younger girl's voice as she was unsure of what to say. Thanking someone for inviting her to a funeral seemed odd.

"Though Marie was detached, she kept tabs on all of her relatives, no matter how distant. She had everyone believing that her family was extinct and they were, sort of. Her direct line of descendants have long since perished, however, she only told me of an extension of Laveauxs that lived down in Port-au-Prince right before she passed. Carrefour, was it?"

Prudence nodded. "Yes, but I haven't lived there since I was a child. After my mother's death, I was brought to The States where I was to be adopted. The adoption fell through and I remained in Charleston, South Carolina, as a ward of the state," she told. "Though, you are aware of that since you contacted me."

"Yes, I'm aware," the woman nodded and sat to the right of Prudence, blocking her view of the coven witches on the pew opposite of them. Prudence shifted to make room for her. "Social Media makes it easier to find people these days," the woman confessed.

"Was I the only relative you contacted, Sabine?" As she asked, Prudence's gaze slid over to the remainder of the empty church pew she sat on. Sabine also stole a glance and sighed.

"No, I called numerous others and left messages. You were the only one that bothered to answer the phone," she confirmed. "The only one that seemed to care." Sabine didn't know how alone Marie was until she tried rounding her last living relatives to send her away properly. It was sad. A woman who meant so much to her community meant nothing to her own family.

"The rest of the family are what you'd call traditionalists," Prudence clarified.

"But not you," Sabine noted. Prudence didn't answer. "Marie would say that they've gone rogue; drifted from their roots—their true ancestry." Prudence absorbed Sabine's words, wanting to know more about Marie.

"How did she die?" Prudence noticed that Sabine never mentioned any details surrounding Marie's abrupt death. Marie was supposed to be immortal, so whatever sent the 'immortal' voodoo priestess to her demise gave Prudence pause. She was almost afraid to ask.

Sabine opened her mouth to formulate some form of an answer but the words never came. There was a sudden outburst at the back of the church that made everyone turn towards the commotion. Gasps and hisses echoed against the church walls as one by one, parishioners stood to their feet in shock as the crowd at the entrance parted ways.

Unable to see, Prudence also stood to her feet to see what the commotion was about and raised her brow in confusion as she made out two figures walking in side by side. Based on the reaction of everyone in attendance, they were not welcomed here. She didn't know what to make of the ominous feeling that washed over her the closer the two figures got to her but she didn't like it. The air around them suddenly smelled of metal, gun powder, and negative ions released after a powerful storm, along with the lingering scent of honey and cinnamon and something floral; Jasmine perhaps.

Sabine also stood. The moment the witch and the hybrid walked inside, she felt them. Sabine wasn't sure which emotion she should allow to take root. Anger, confusion, and shock all fought to be at the forefront but ultimately, shock won. The look on Sabine's face was priceless as Prudence watched the couple make their way past and came to sit on the now not-so-empty pew.

"What are you two doing here?" The venom in Sabine's voice surprised her, but she couldn't back down now. The gall of Bonnie to show up to the funeral of the very woman she sucked the life from was beyond her. All thoughts of her conversation with Marie flew out of the window.

"Why, to pay our respects, of course," the tall blonde, quipped. Prudence narrowed her eyes at him. His height was looming and though he was gorgeous, everything about him seemed sinister. He had a medium build but Prudence could tell by his stance that he was solid muscle. His sandy blonde curls created a halo effect and his crystal blue eyes looked similar to the sky darkening just before a storm. He looked charming enough; in a Lucifer kind of way.

"It's distasteful of you to be here, Bonnie. With him, of all people," Sabine countered, choosing to focus on the brown skin woman next to Prudence. The woman in question lifted her veil and Prudence gazed into the most striking pair of eyes owned by the most striking woman she'd ever seen. There was an honesty about the woman that was clouded by a dark aura surrounding her. Prudence didn't know what to make of her. Her face was made of ice but her eyes had a softness about her that contradicted everything she exhibited. She carried herself as someone with immense power and influence yet, Prudence had to wonder if this Bonnie knew just how far her power and influence extended.

"I will not do this here," Bonnie stated with finality. It eerily reminded Prudence of Marie—the one time she met the woman. Prudence watched on as Sabine glowered at Bonnie's profile.

"You don't get to call the shots considering you're the reason we're all here!" Prudence's heart skipped a beat. She was caught between two very powerful women and she didn't like what Sabine was insinuating. Based on Sabine's accusatory look and the guarded posture of everyone in the church, Bonnie was the enemy.

"I'd do my best not to tempt her, Love. We wouldn't want a repeat of All Hallow's Eve, would we?" What the hell happened on Halloween? Prudence thought. Other than Marie dying that night, Prudence knew next to nothing.

Sabine balked at Klaus's tenacity and arrogance. Her lips pressed into a hard thin line as she rolled her eyes. She balled her fists at her side and attempted to calm her magic as it crackled in the air surrounding them. Prudence felt a shift in the energies surrounding her but couldn't explain what she was feeling. Her heart hitched with anticipation as a dark aura began to engulf both she and Sabine. Prudence flashed Sabine a worrisome look and was met with an equally bothered look as well. Sabine relented for the sake of company and let out a breath she wasn't aware she'd been holding. Prudence glanced up at the balcony where funeral-goers quietly watched from above at the altercation taking place below them.

"I do not intend to stay long," Bonniespoke robotically. "Let me say my piece and go." Sabine scoffed.

"Burn in hell you bit—" Sabine began coughing violently and Prudence turned to aid her. She pulled out a black handkerchief embroidered with lace and handed it to Sabine who sputtered on her own words. Prudence began to think that Sabine's body had horrible timing but noticed as she bent to help her that Bonnie's lace-covered hand was clenched at her side. Prudence watched in silent shock as Bonnie's fingers unfurled and Sabine's coughing fit subsided. Sabine gasped for air and held her throat as it burned with bile. Several of Sabine's coven sisters rushed to aid her and gently ushered her back to the farther side of the church, leaving Prudence glued to her spot next to Bonnie and the mystery man with the archaic accent. Had Bonnie caused Sabine to—quite literally—choke on her own words? Of course she had, this was New Orleans. Anything was possible.

After the commotion died down, everyone took their seats as they waited for the service to begin officially. Prudence watched Bonnie quietly with something akin to respect or admiration in her eyes. There was something about this Bonnie that called to Prudence and despite Sabine's implications that Bonnie had something to do with her great-aunt's death, Prudence found herself fascinated by her.

"I'm Prudence," she said shakily. The sound of her voice caused Bonnie and the mystery man to both turn towards her in sync. Their sudden focus made Prudence falter slightly. Bonnie gave Prudence a once over, surveying the young girl with a thoughtful look as if trying to piece together some puzzle.

"Bonnie," she spoke and Prudence noticed the difference immediately in how Bonnie regarded Sabine and how she addressed her. Prudence couldn't help but feel relieved. She didn't want this woman as an enemy. "Bonnie Bennett." Bonnie introduced.

What an oddity.

"Interesting, my grandmother's last name was Bennett," she felt compelled to say, trying to find common ground between them. She wanted Bonnie to know that she came in peace. Again, she garnered attention from both parties. For the first time since she arrived, Bonnie looked at Prudence with actual interest. Bonnie assessed the girl before her; platinum blonde finger waves, dark lipstick, black stiletto nails—much like her own, and radiant skin that nearly made Bonnie's pale in comparison. The two women regarded one another and Bonnie perked a brow, silently beckoning Prudence to go on.

"Pauline," she clarified. The name sounded distant to Bonnie. Prudence didn't know much about her mother's family except that they shunned Pauline for her dealings with a Haitian man. Haitians caught a lot of flack for their affinity with black magic. They were seen as a stain on society. "Though, I don't know much about her. She left my mother when she was just a child." Bonnie quietly assessed the young woman next to her. There was an undercurrent of magic that Bonnie felt beneath the surface. A familiar lull; one she hasn't felt since she encountered Lucy.

Lucy. That name invoked memories from a past that felt so long ago. Bonnie didn't have much family. She was promised she'd see Lucy once again, but that promise had yet to be fulfilled.

A small smile played upon Bonnie's lips but she stifled her excitement. There was a strong possibility that Prudence may be related to her. Her Grams had an estranged sister named Pauline. If they were related, why then, was Prudence the lone member sitting on Marie's family pew. Bonnie paused.

"How did you know Marie?" She asked, choosing not to reveal their possible link just yet.

"I didn't really know her. I met her once at my mother's funeral. She was a distant aunt. If she was even an Aunt. We just called her that out of respect," Prudence confessed Something akin to sorrow flashed across Bonnie's face. As quick as it came, it left and Prudence questioned if that's what she really saw. Bonnie removed her glove and extended her hand to Prudence.

"I'm sorry for your loss," she offered, and Prudence believed her. With a small smile, Prudence reached out to accept Bonnie's hand.

"Thank—" Prudence was cut short the moment she grabbed Bonnie's hand. A jolt of energy shocked her and while Bonnie seemed to have expected it, Prudence was caught off guard. Prudence's startled eyes met Bonnie's, who only offered a warm smile.

"I suspect that we are related," Bonnie noted. Prudence wondered how Bonnie could tell. "My grandmother had a sister named Pauline." Bonnie only knew this through her family's grimoires, of course. She was isolated and everyone that knew about her family's history was either dead or estranged. Her thoughts lingered on her absent-tee mother for just a moment before her attention shifted back to the girl before her.

Prudence's breath hitched at the revelation. She longed to connect with members of her family from either side, but it seemed as though families were a rare commodity for her, both in The States and in Haiti.

"How did you know Marie, then?" The pieces didn't quite add up. If what Bonnie said was true and they were related, how is it that she was attending the funeral of a member from her mother's paternal family. It didn't make sense. Was the world really that small?

Bonnie hesitated, not knowing the best way to answer such a question. She felt Klaus stiffen beside her as he too anticipated what she'd say next. On cue, the door to the back of the building flitted open and the pallbearers marched in, carrying Marie's casket on their shoulders. The men began singing an A Cappella version of "Nearer My God To Thee" as they ushered in Marie's remains. Perfectly synchronized sobs followed as the parishioners did what they did best, mourn. The church stood to their feet—with the exception of family and friends— as they waited for the casket to make its way down the aisle, their gazes transfixed on the uniformed men marching in unison. Prudence was distracted for just a moment, but her question still lingered in the air.

Bonnie sighed and decided the best approach was to simply rip the band-aid off and not drag things out. A lie would only beget a bigger lie and she was not one for the dramatics.

"We were friends once," Bonnie began, watching Prudence as she shifted her gaze back to Bonnie. Prudence's face gave nothing away at Bonnie's next words. "We were friends and sadly, I had to kill her."

That had not been what she expected.

So Sabine was right?

Prudence perked a brow in curiosity. "And yet you're here," she wanted to know; uncharacteristic behavior for a murderer.

"I am," Bonnie confirmed. A flash of bewilderment crossed Prudence's features briefly. "As I said," Bonnie began. Her voice faltered slightly from the weight of her emotions. "We were friends." There was that familiar ache in Bonnie's chest that came with memories of her old friend, an ache she doubted would ever go away. She didn't want their story to end the way it did. It didn't feel right.

Prudence saw a tear slip from the corner of Bonnie's eye as Marie's casket was placed before them, mere inches away. Prudence didn't know what to make of the scene. There, on the front row of her 'great-aunt's' funeral stood her murderer—with genuine tears in her eyes.

Confusion was the only emotion Prudence could identify. It was hard to feel anything for a family member she didn't know. The fact that Bonnie murdered Marie complicated things. Strangely, she felt as though she could trust Bonnie. If she and Bonnie were indeed related, Prudence was inclined to listen to Bonnie's version of events before passing judgment. From what she could tell, Marie wasn't very warm and friendly. That said, she made enough of an impact for Bonnie to swallow her pride and march through the den of iniquities where sinners threw stones inside glass houses.

The funeral dragged on longer than necessary, Prudence thought. Everyone had their own version of Marie that they wanted to immortalize. Prudence found it odd that everyone seemed to gloss over the fact that her birth date was listed centuries before today. Was everyone in New Orleans mad or were they all under some sort of spell?

"This is the private memorial. Only supernaturals were invited," Bonnie offered when she caught Prudence staring silently at the 'Sunrise' and 'Sunset' dates. Bonnie nearly chuckled at the archaic picture they used of a young Marie Laveau. Who orchestrated this circus? She thought. "There's supposed to be a public memorial later this month in Jackson Square. Complete with a parade." Prudence thumbed through the 8.5 by 11-inch obituary and observed the colored photos of Marie throughout the years, wondering what it would have been like if she and her mother lived here instead of Haiti. She mulled over Bonnie's words when a thought occurred to her. Prudence glanced at Bonnie suddenly.

"I'm not supernatural," she confessed, giving Bonnie a look of confusion. Bonnie smiled softly and gently reached out for Prudence's hand. Prudence stared at her small hand momentarily before placing her hand in hers. Their eyes locked briefly and Bonnie closed her eyes, summoning her magic. She allowed it to flow into Prudence, nudging gently at the barriers she was sure Prudence wasn't aware of. Without much effort, Bonnie used her magic to call to the magic inside Prudence, smiling when the girl in question gasped at the sensation.

Prudence felt a low thrumming all throughout her body. Strangely, she could feel the difference from the power extending from Bonnie and the power that came from within. It was hard to explain but she knew exactly what she was feeling. Magic. The one that came from within wasn't as strong as Bonnie's, but it wasn't anything she'd ever experienced. Prudence stared at Bonnie, bewildered by what was happening.

"Everyone born into our family has magic," Bonnie began to explain. "We are the oldest magical bloodline in the world. It goes beyond both of us." Bonnie explained, realizing that there was still much she didn't know about her ancestry. Things she never had time to learn. She was always too busy fighting for her shitty life. Still, looking into Prudence's eyes, Bonnie saw a lot of herself in her and hoped that if Prudence remained in New Orleans longer than a week, she wouldn't get swallowed up in the supernatural bullshit as she did.

Prudence took the news in stride. In truth, knowing for certain now that she was indeed a witch, placed a lot of things into perspective. Though she knew about the occult, Prudence always assumed that maybe she'd been skipped when it came to magic. She didn't know how it worked and never bothered to explore it because she simply didn't know where to start.

"Are you sure it's everyone?" Prudence asked. Bonnie nodded simply and Prudence felt an ache in her chest. "They told my mother she was crazy."

"People fear what they do not understand," Bonnie offered and Prudence couldn't have agreed more. Bonnie contemplated Prudence before reaching into her purse for a pen. Prudence watched as Bonnie scribbled something on a folded piece of paper and passed it to her.

"I don't plan to stay until the end," she began, and Prudence recalled her earlier words about not staying long. "But here's my number if you ever need it," Bonnie offered. It was more than what Lucy had given her and she hoped that Prudence would utilize it.

When Bonnie stood, the man next to her rose as well and Prudence wondered if he too was a witch. Though, based on his demeanor, Prudence figured he was something else entirely. His eyes were calculating as if he was waiting on something to happen. Prudence studied the two of them as she held the number in her hand.

"I guess this is goodbye," Prudence murmurs. Bonnie offers a small smile and pats Prudence's folded hands.

"Only for a little while," Bonnie leans in to pull Prudence into a hug. The act seems random until she hears Bonnie whisper into her ear. "Trust no one, leave this city as soon as you can." Prudence was startled by her words but her face gave nothing away as she pulled away from Bonnie and nodded.

"See you around, Bonnie."

-X-

The Repass

After the funeral, the celebration of Marie's life continued at the Tremé Community Center. Half the city was in attendance despite not attending the main event. Sabine sat staring into space as she ignored the world around her. Since conjuring Marie's spirit, her mind has been on overdrive, trying to decide the next course of action.

"She thinks because she walks with the devil by her side she can do whatever she wants!" Agnes fumed as she offered Sabine a mug of hot tea with healing herbs. Bonnie's attack left Sabine with a bitch of a sore throat. She didn't intend to snap at Bonnie, but the nerve of her to show up at Marie's funeral with the hybrid set Sabine on edge and she found herself reacting before thinking. Now she needed to find a way to get in Bonnie's good graces… again.

Currently, Sabine wanted to be left alone, but that wasn't possible with Agnes and Josephine in her ear plotting ways to get rid of Bonnie Bennett. "Technically, she can. As long as she has that abomination by her side, she's untouchable." Josephine stated casually. In the weeks since Marie's death, everyone has been on edge wanting to purge the city of Bonnie. Upon her arrival, everyone was wary of the witch but Marie took her into her arms against everyone's wishes. Now Marie was gone and they are left alone to defend themselves against a dragon.

"No one is untouchable. The Harvest is complete and The Ancestors are satisfied. I say we join forces to get that traitorous bitch out of here. She's no better than Marcel. She killed just as many witches as he did!" Agnes's rage could not be contained. Sabine looked between the two women, wanting to chime in. Her throat was hurting and honestly, she wanted to put the Bonnie issue behind her. After her chat with Vincent weeks ago, she was beginning to see his point. They should let that sleeping dog lie.

"Honestly, I think we should just leave it alone for now. It's not like she's actively trying to take us out," Sabine finally chimed in, trying to get them off the subject of Bonnie. Her voice was faint but the other women heard her perfectly. "I'd rather spend my energy on trying to resurrect Marie. Maybe—"

"Maybe nothing, Sabine! Marie is the reason we're in this mess. Let her stay dead. We no longer have any obligations to her." Sabine sighed. She really hated Agnes at times.

"Have it your way then," she said softly. She thought about sharing what she learned from Marie but thought against it. It was no use arguing with Agnes and she didn't know who to trust with the information so, it was best to keep her mouth shut for now. Agnes was bullheaded and insisted that she was right, ninety percent of the time. While the rest of the coven refused to acknowledge when to say when Sabine wasn't about to make the same mistake twice. Her best bet was to resurrect Marie as quickly as possible and hoped that the elder witch would kill all of this 'purge Bonnie' noise. It was Marie's dragon and so she should be the one that slayed it.

While Josephine and Agnes continued to plot, Sabine opted to tune them out. A strange sensation overcame her and before she could process what was happening, everything around her fell silent as a dense fog appeared out of thin air. Sabine glanced around the community center to find not a soul in sight. The chatter that filled the background was muted and the silence became deafening. It didn't take long for her to realize she was having one of her visions.

Footsteps echoed against the silence as a cloaked figure appeared before her. Sabine watched as the figure quietly regarded her. They stared at one another momentarily before the figure began to chant in Latin. "Hoc est infantima malom, Nos omnia perditu el eam." The chant became a mantra and Sabine remained in a trance she was unable to break from.

"The child is evil, it will destroy us all," Sabine translated aloud once the chanting ceased. The figure disappeared and the fog lifted as Sabine's surroundings returned to normal. She was finally released from her trance only to find Josephine and Agnes staring at her with concern and suspicion, respectively.

"What child?" They both asked.

Sabine wondered the same.

A/N: And Voila! I'd like to thank everyone for your continued support and comments. I live for them. Speaking of, I'd like to address a few things I've noticed. When I began this story, I had no clue what my endgame was so it started off directionless (if you haven't already guessed lol). That said, to the readers that thought this was a Bamon story, you are not crazy. I originally wanted it to be but shit went left and I went with it, haha. I'm so sorry if I wasted your time. I do plan to explore Bonnie's relationship with the Mystic Falls Gang and they will play a role later on in the story, I just think I introduced them too early and had to sideline them for a little while. Like I said, shit went left and I followed it lol. Right now, she's sort of isolated and that's due to her being used by so many that she's basically rebelling but you know, she'll have people in her corner, they just have to learn that she's not the same Bonnie.

Also, I know there's a lot of tension between her and the witches and that's on purpose. I've always wondered how Bonnie would fare against her own kind because the spirits seemed to hate her so much on the show but they never really had her retaliate so here is my creative (or evil) mind at work. The title plays a role in the dynamic between characters. Everyone's out for blood essentially and so basically, when people begin acting in their own self-interest, lines are crossed and trust is broken and everyone is fighting everyone. This is why war needs strategy because if not, allies turn against allies and yadda ya. I'll shut up now. Let me know your thoughts in the comments and as always, stay safe and thanks for reading!