Bonnie attends the town's annual Founder's Ball with her friends while Uncle Chris asks Kai and his sister to help serve food at the town's celebration. At the party, Damon tells a story about the Salvatore family's past. Bonnie discovers something ethereal about herself. Finally, Kai gets surprised by Bonnie, who is becoming affront with his recent behavior.
Dear Diary,
Matt told us it was Jo who came across the body. When I arrived at the crime scene, the police were there questioning everyone. I've been seeing weird visions of something lurking in our school parking lot. A man in a fog. A Crow. Blood. Razor-Sharp Teeth. Was I predicting Mr. Tanner's death? How is any of these real? What kind of animal could be doing all this? Why would it come out of the woods and attack someone in the middle of town?
The snick of the door behind Bonnie made her tense up, and she turned her head slightly.
"I have a work conference tomorrow night, so pick something up for dinner."
Bonnie's hearing and vision synched up as she noticed Grams standing there, sliding her leather tote bag strap over her shoulder.
She blew out a nervous cough and shifted in her seat. "Not a problem. Tomorrow is the Founder's Ball."
"Founder's Ball?" Grams asked, sounding almost belligerent, but the words came out unsettled... almost rueful. "Please tell me you will not be attending."
"I got an invitation," Bonnie said simply, eyes raking over her mostly messy computer station.
Grams narrowed her eyes. "The Bennett aren't welcome there unless we're serving food and cleaning up."
Bonnie regarded grandmother for a long moment. "Fine, Caroline wanted me to be her plus one, besides Elena won't go without me this year."
Grams pulled up her swivel chair and sat across from Bonnie. "You're far too loyal to those girls. And Elena is no better than her mother."
Bonnie clenched her jaw to keep from shouting her frustration. "Elena is a great friend to me, even better since summer," she defended her friend.
Grams went stiff. "Your mother thought the same thing about Miranda, then that old heifer tossed your mother away once she couldn't use her anymore," she said contemptuously.
Bonnie felt her temper flare up. "Elena and I aren't like our mothers,"
Grams frowned at Bonnie, but the look was more confused than unhappy. "I just don't want to see history repeat itself, baby."
Bonnie gave a huff of derisive laughter. "It won't. I'm not a fan of the Founding Families, but Elena and Caroline are different, I promise." Bonnie grabbed her purse off the table. "I'm meeting Caroline at the grill. I'll be back in a couple of hours."
Grams' lips twitched, and she dropped her gaze, looking disconcerted. "Curfew is at eleven."
"You begged me this morning to take you to the Founder's Ball. Now you're ditching me for Damon."
Bonnie and Caroline were both seated at their usual booth at the back of the diner. Caroline made herself comfortable and looked out the window.
"Elena doesn't have a date. Take her." Caroline took out an excessive number of sugar packets and laid them dramatically in the middle of the table. "Or better yet, take Kai."
"Caroline…" Bonnie curved her hands around the coffee mug, savoring the warmth.
The blonde stared at her uncomprehendingly for a minute. "I don't know if you realize this yet, but you're not a girl with a lot of options. This is the first guy that's been trying to pursue you. He won't wait around forever. From what I hear, Dana is interested in him. So you better smarten up, Bennett."
Bonnie pursed her lips and raised her other eyebrow in judgment. "How about you smarten up, Forbes," Bonnie growled, putting down her cup of coffee. "Taking your cradle-rocking boyfriend to an event where your mom will be. How smart is that?"
When Caroline spoke, something in her voice was empty. "You heard Damon. He's not afraid of my mom."
Bonnie felt stricken. "Well, I'm afraid for you. This isn't right."
Her laugh was dark and painful. "Worry about your love life that is flatlining and I'll worry about mine."
"I can't think about dating, not after what just happened to Mr. Tanner," that pang was sharp and bitter and Bonnie swallowed it, speaking slowly again. "And Vicki."
The dead silence that followed made the air thick and Bonnie tensed up until Caroline spoke.
"All the more reason to live your life to the fullest. I mean, do you really wanna die a virgin? Life is too short, Bonnie."
Bonnie thought about that for a minute. A long minute. "Seize the moment."
Caroline turned from an antipathetic stare to a slight squint of consolation. "Or Dana will."
"Chris knows the truth."
Kai picked the lock of his uncle's home office in the attic, and he and Jo slipped inside. It's late. Chris should be home in minutes, but Kai had to find something.
"And you think searching through his things is a smart move?" Her expression was innocent enough, but he can feel her assessing him.
Kai sat in an armchair, switching on the desk lamp, and went through the drawers, one by one, as methodically as he could. Glancing at public corner reports and flicking through a stack of old newspaper articles. All had titles of animal attacks.
"I'm betting he keeps a paper trail. Something must be in one of the million dusty books and files he has in here."
Jo took a hesitant step forward in the middle of the room.
"You really think Uncle Chris keeps a journal of all the supernatural things happening in Mystic Falls?"
"Yes." Kai glared at Jo before he moved onto the drawers down the left-hand side of the desk. "Are you going to help me or not?"
Jo regarded him for a long moment. "Kai, there's a reason he doesn't want us to know."
His first instinct was to snap, but Kai let out a breath instead and shook his head. "Something or someone murdered our history teacher in a parking lot. That Donovan girl almost died in the woods. She thinks it's a vampire that attacked her."
Kai hunched over to look in the bottom drawer, which appears to contain a selection of publications dating back to the nineties.
Jo's snort was eloquent. "You can't honestly believe—"
"We're witches. I mean, at least you are." Kai resisted the impulse to bang his head against the buffed surface of the desk. Instead, he straightened up and headed over to his sister. "I'm just an abomination."
Jo stopped Kai by putting her hand on his arm. "That's not true. You know you aren't. Mom would hate to hear you say that."
Kai's not sure if his face can contort enough to express his exasperation. "She's not here, okay." Knowing that broke his goddamn heart. "I need you, Jo. I can't turn my back on this."
"Why do you always have to do the hero shit?"
Jo looked pained, but he didn't care.
Kai sighed heavily and continued his search. "It's what I do."
"I hope you know they were wrong," Jo replied with an apologetic smile. "The coven, they were wrong about you."
Before Kai could respond, he hit his head on a hidden shelf and something dropped on the floor.
"Fuck," he winced as he rubbed the spot where he had hit. "Chris really needs to repair this house," he complained, but then he noticed a little brown leather-bound book on the ground. "Wait one second," he kneeled down to pick it up.
"Is that…"
Kai slid a finger under the snap, turning the pages inside delicately. The book was ring-bound, some pages encased in plastic sleeves, others hanging on by a single, ragged hole. There were hand-drawn artworks of mythical creatures, with side notes in written scrawny calligraphy.
"What are you two doing in here?" Chris's voice was icy cold.
Both Kai and Jo whipped around at the office entrance. Their uncle had an expression on his face that scared Jo.
"We were just looking around…"
Chris adjusted his glasses and walked right up to Jo. "Why does your brother have my notebook?"
Kai cuts his uncle a look, wondering if there's more to the question. "Chris, we know you know more than you're telling us. How about you fess up, huh?"
Jo leaned into him, shoving him with her shoulder. "Kai!"
"What? We have a right to know." Kai demanded resentfully. "Our teacher was just murdered. The cops are still sticking to their wild animal story, but we all know that isn't true."
"Malachai."
"Why did I think you'd be different?" Kai offers gruffly, not really a concession. "You are no better than the Gemini Coven."
Kai doesn't put the book down, he just stands there like he's waiting for Chris to say something.
"I keep you two in the dark because I don't want anything to happen to you. Mystic Falls isn't Portland. Not only do we have no coven to protect us, but the people in this town have their own methods for these sorts of attacks. If anyone were to figure out who we really were, what we could do. There would be a witch hunt."
"What do you know about Bonnie Bennett?"
His question took aback Jo.
Chris tilted his head toward him. "Nothing." There was a brief moment of silence. "However, the Bennett women are known for being remarkable and powerful women."
Jo frowned a little. "Please tell me you didn't sleep with one of them?" she coughed up and leaned back, rubbing a hand over her face.
The corner of Chris' mouth turned up in a rueful scowl. "Malachai, keep your distance from the girl. Sheila Bennett is very protective of her granddaughter."
Kai can't help but smirk a little darkly. He held back the accompanying snort, though, in deference to the look he can feel Jo drilling him with.
"I don't believe you."
"Just drop it, Kai." Jo's bark was weary and a little frantic. "It's not our town."
Jo snatched the book away from Kai and handed it over to their uncle.
"I'm sorry, kids," Chris tried to make amends, yet he looked guilty, uncomfortable. Awkward. "Look, I got a catering gig tomorrow night. You guys should join me."
Kai laughed, tucked his hands in his jeans pockets, and shrugged. "Depends. How much are we getting paid?"
Chris flashed him a look. "A hundred bucks each."
Jo looked a little stunned and a lot pleased. It made Kai want to laugh.
Keeping a tired sigh to himself, Kai let Chris off the hook. "Fine," he glanced at the clock and nodded. "I need a new pair of doc martens, anyway."
"I mean, he has her wrapped around his finger, Elena." Bonnie lamented. She eyed the material being held against her. The violet-colored pleated skirt scratched against her bare ankles.
"I'm concerned too. Do we even know how old he is?" Elena asked, raising her eyebrows pointedly as she went to get a dress, dismissing the pleated flare skirt she held for Bonnie.
"Not like she'd tell us." Bonnie walked over to the flower print halter dress laid out on the bed and brushed her fingers over the fabric. "Sheriff Forbes is going to flip out."
Elena's expression held something resembling an alarm. "Well, hopefully, she can put an end to their relationship."
Bonnie stared at her, pressed her lips together.
"That's if Caroline listens. You know what she's been like since her parents' divorce."
Caroline loved and supported her father since he came out of the closet to his friends and family, but her relationship with her mother had suffered since her parents split.
"If we see anything, we tell the sheriff."
There was silence for a moment.
"Caroline was right about one thing," Bonnie interjected, holding up a single finger. "Life is too short. I really need to seize the moment."
Elena raised an eyebrow, fixing her with a withering look. "I've been trying to tell you."
Bonnie made a face and shrugged. "Please no, I told you so."
"Okay, but this is good. You really like him, don't you?" Elena asked, dropping her head.
Bonnie sucked on her teeth and slid forward, crouching over a little."He's intelligent, athletic, very experienced, and kind of broody. I don't know, sometimes I'm like, what does he see in me? Then there's Dana who's about to shoot her shot."
"Dana doesn't stand a chance," Elena laughed and pushed the hair out of her face. "Accept that this is your time to shine."
"He ditched us the other night," Bonnie grunted, folding her arms across her chest. "I'll shoot him a text. Let him know we're at the Founder's Ball."
"Extend that olive branch, Bonnie Bennett," Elena said, a playful light in her eyes.
Bonnie pursed her lips and shook her head dismissively. "If he shows up, then …"
"Then he's worth it." Elena proclaimed, her face exhilarated with delight as she placed a hand on Bonnie's shoulder.
Bonnie covered her best friend's hand with her own and smiled at her reflection. The light, smokey eye makeup, and perfect beach waves curls complimented her face. For the first time, she saw herself as desirable as her fellow friend. Who knew Elena was good at hair and makeup?
"These people realize they were on the wrong side of history, right?"
His sister strolled into the kitchen, carrying several empty champagne glasses, setting them down on the counter.
"Jo not now."
Chris rushed to grab some more caviar crackers and arrange them on his platter. Around them, Kai could hear some of the other female wait staff whispering amongst each other.
Jo eyed him skeptically. "I knew we were living in a small southern town, but I had no idea of the ignorance in this place," she said wryly. "Like hello, way to rewrite your history to not show your bigotry."
Chris arranged several wine glasses filled with Barefoot Red Moscato on a tray down next to a covered plate. Picking up the tray of wine, looking around the kitchen. "Josette, your liberal feminist views won't be welcome around here. This town is still quite conservative."
Kai quickly moved over toward them and said, "Can you believe she used to be a cheerleader?"
"Shut up, I was fourteen, mom practically peer-pressured me," Jo said and looked guilty.
Chris looked at Kai, handed him the tray. "Please get out there before Mrs. Lockwood comes in here being nosy."
Kai sighed in relief after removing himself from the kitchen and ascending out into the party. The place was dimly lit and noisy with chatter. He quickly noticed the Confederacy theme of the party. Jo was right. These people had no problem rewriting their history. It's like they were clueless about their own prejudice.
"And what do we have here?"
Immediately, Kai panicked, because he forgot what was on his tray the moment he took it from his uncle. "Umm, I…"
"Kai? You came."
Elena Gilbert stood before him, dressed in an orange strapless summer dress. She looked both surprised and pleased to see him.
He looked at her sharply. Not who he was expecting. "My uncle has me and Jo working with him tonight."
"Oh, I totally forgot Chris, manages the catering crew," Elena said as they slowly made their way through the masses. "Bonnie tried to reach out to you."
Kai arched an eyebrow at her. "Really? I thought she was still mad about me bailing out the other night."
He knew it was a dick move. Damon had the upper-hand, and the last thing he wanted was to bait the older man into moving in on his sister. Kai's goal was never to hurt Bonnie, not like he'd done in the past to people who he cared about.
"If you don't wanna keep hurting her, just stop being flaky," Elena replied like she had read his mind. "She really likes you, and well…"
Kai tried not to choke on the knot in his throat. "I like her too."
Her look became a little distant. She then shrugged her shoulders in a way that was unsettling and self-conscious. "Then what's with all the disappearing and avoiding? What's going on with you?"
"I'm dealing with something, family stuff," Kai said, and he didn't mean to sound so defensive, but he couldn't exactly explain himself to Elena. She'd probably think he was crazy.
Elena sighed. "I get it, trust me," she stopped and bit her lip in the contemplative way that meant she was assessing how honest she had to be to get her point across. "I've been down this path, too. If there's anyone besides me who understands, it's Bonnie. Just be honest with her."
He wanted that more than anything, but things were getting dangerous. He couldn't risk putting Bonnie in the line of danger. Not when he barely knew what was going on himself.
Elena turned away from him. The document cases lining the room caught her eyes, and she veered off in their direction.
"The founding families in Mystic Falls welcome you to the inaugural founder's council celebration. Wow, look, it's the original guest registry. Look at all these familiar names—Sheriff William Forbes, Mayor Benjamin Lockwood. Is that Damon Salvatore?"
Kai cocked a brow. Damon Salvatore.
"He was the original Damon Salvatore, and there was another brother, named Stefan. Our ancestors." A voice interrupted.
There was Damon wearing a tux, standing right next to Caroline, who had her hair in a braided crown wearing a light blue dress. Damon was twirling a glass of champagne between his fingers and, while he seemed to be genuinely uninterested in what his date was whispering.
"They both had a tragic story, actually."
This did not impress Caroline if the eye-rolling meant anything. "Enough about your ancestors. Don't bore my friends with your pity family history."
"No, please, we'd like to know more about your family," Kai said, straightening his back and giving Damon a little smile he hoped looked authentic.
With a huge smile, Damon moved toward the registry.
"The men in the Salvatore family have been cursed with sibling rivalry. Starting with the original Salvatore brothers. Back in the 1800s, being a Salvatore meant you were practically royalty in this town. That's until the war started here."
"The Battle of Willow Creek?" Kai asked, feeling sucker-punched. What did Damon know?
"That's the one."
There was a puzzled pause, before, "My sister told me about how the confederate soldiers fired on the church with civilians inside."
When Damon spoke again, his own voice sounded compact and pending — like his mind was a thousand miles.
"It's true. What the founders like to forget was that people were killed that night. Not by accident. It's said that those people were union sympathizers. Many of the founders on the confederacy side back then wanted them rounded up and burned alive. But the Salvatore brothers had someone they wanted to save in that church. When they tried to rescue them, both brothers were shot and murdered in cold blood."
Caroline laughed humorlessly. "How bleak."
Next to Kai, Elena rolled her eyes, but there was a bogus smile playing on her lips. "Who was in the church that they wanted to save?"
Damon glared at her, pouting expressively. "A woman, it always comes down to a love of a woman, especially for the Salvatore men."
Something about Damon's tone left Kai curious, but before he could dig deeper, a voice called out to him.
"Malachai, get back out there. Mrs. Lockwood is getting stir crazy." Kai heard his uncle hiss and then he was tucked away towards the buffet.
Caroline had a smug look on her face that matched Damon's.
"Let's get away from the help and go dance." Caroline dragged Damon off to the ballroom.
Elena's eyes followed them, her mouth still set. "I should monitor Caroline. See you around, Parker," she said, giving Kai a stiff nod, before disappearing into the crowd.
Inside of the ballroom, all the founding families were gathered, all clad in fancy dresses and suits, the newer residents all kissing up to Mayor Lockwood, while their daughters flirted with Tyler Lockwood, hoping he'd show interest in one of them. Meanwhile, Carol Lockwood was posing as the perfect host, controlling the food and drinks, showing off to the other wives.
Bonnie felt like she was out of place. No one would bother to talk to her, and Elena went to confront Caroline in the bathroom about her seedy relationship with Damon. Bonnie stood for almost an hour in the hallway, playing with her phone while everyone ignored her.
After a while, she made her way into an empty room.
"Look around, you imbecile. What's missing? The flames on the candles. Why aren't they lit?" Mrs. Lockwood snapped at one of the servers.
"I'm sorry…"
"There are matches in the kitchen, dimwit."
Carol Lockwood stared at him for a long moment, then went to the door. The young server took a couple of deep breaths and followed her.
Bonnie let her shoulders slump, gazing towards her half-empty glass. "What a bitch."
A distinctive sound of a flame flickering to life. Her eyes shot open to view the lit candle. After only a second, the flame went out and smoke emerged where the small fire had once been.
Bonnie's eyes were wide and her mouth hung half-open in fear. "What?"
The flame leaped to life again, this time stronger and more lively than the previous attempt.
She shuddered, feeling chilled fingers run up her spine. Her nails dug into the palm of her left hand and she uncurled her fingers with an alert effort.
Bonnie rushed out of the vacant room and when she made it to the foyer, she heard a loud crash of glasses breaking and an annoying howl. When she turned around, she saw a server who had red wine drenching his shoes and broken glasses laying on the floor.
"Oh my god, Kai, is that you?" As if this night couldn't get any worse.
Kai spun in place but otherwise held his ground. He leaned back and stared straight into her eyes. "Bonnie… I…"
She notices he had an apron on and dressed in a long-sleeve white shirt with black slacks on. Similar to the other server, Mrs. Lockwood was screaming at.
"You're working here?"
Kai expelled a deep breath. "My uncle asked me and Jo to help out."
"Oh, I thought you got my text."
His eyes softened. "Sorry, I didn't check my phone all day. I just spoke to Elena. She told me you were trying to talk to me."
Bonnie barely heard him. Her mind was a blur of realization—of feeling.
"I need to apologize, again," Kai assured her immediately before he spoke up again. "I know I ruined our dinner the other night."
She was still for a second before saying, "I just don't get it. Do you even like me?"
"Of course."
"Then why all the games?" Bonnie asked, tone gentler. "I've never seen Caroline and Elena be strung along like this by any guy. Here I thought you were at least different from the guys in this town…"
Kai made a slight movement with his head, shame. "And I'm sorry for how I've been acting, it's just…"
"Just what?"
"A lot of shit has happened to me this year." Kai hurried to say. "Not just with my parents. Other stuff has happened, and I'm just trying to figure my shit out. I know it's not right to keep stringing you along and messing with your head."
There was something in Kai's eyes—and it took her a moment to put a name on it because it was the last thing she'd expected to see there—it was fear.
"Let me guess, you have a girlfriend back home."
"Not exactly," Kai said. With no further clarification.
"Look, you're the mystery guy, and I like that. But with mystery comes secrets. Why can't I get a straight answer from you?"
He stared at her for several seconds. "I know, but I just need you to be more patient with me. I promise it won't be like this forever." Kai vowed as he stepped in close.
"I don't know if I can," Bonnie said, then dropped her gaze, a frown etching on her face.
Kai caught Bonnie's face and lifted it, studied her green eyes, her soft lips, even her wrinkled nose. Bonnie's hands covered his wrists, tight enough for Kai to feel but not pulling them away, and Bonnie had gone stiff.
"There are things that you don't know, okay? Things that I want to tell you, but I can't. And I may never be able to. And I just need you to trust me."
Kai slid one hand to the back of her neck, tilting her head down slightly. Bonnie's hands finally pulled Kai away from her neck to push him away.
"Trust is earned. I can't just magically hand it over," she said, and it came out harsh. Bonnie didn't want to ask anymore. She didn't want Kai to come up with reasons or arguments.
"Malachai, stop dicking around. Chris is looking for you."
Bonnie shook, not recognizing Jo's voice for a quick moment.
"I'm so sorry, again," Kai sounded a little husky. "But I kinda got roped into serving willfully ignorant white people overpriced fish eggs. Honestly, someone should inform them that the south did in fact lose the war."
If Bonnie wasn't left confused and hurt, she would have found humor in Kai's joke. She watched as he walked off with his sister. Malachai? Malachai Parker. What is it about you?
"I'm pretty sure I saw Mayor Lockwood sneak off with one of the young girls at this party. God, the man is such a creep."
A long sigh shuddered through Chris' lips. "Josette, not now."
Their uncle was pulling down plates and leftovers and sandwich things and tossing them around to his meddling catering stuff.
"I don't understand how you can stand it. This job, this town, these people." Jo vented and hooked a soda for herself. "Can't we just move back to Portland? The house is still there, and there are much better job opportunities than this."
"Jo, you know Chris can't go back to Portland," Kai commented on peeling off pieces of chicken from leftovers at the party. "They'll never allow it."
"We could make them understand," Jo said and grabbed an uneaten half of Kai's sandwich.
"Josette, that's enough." The fierceness behind Chris's voice left no room for discussion. It never did. "This town is my home, the catering company is my career, there's nothing left for me back in Portland, I haven't lived there in almost twenty years."
Jo stared at Chris numbly, but not unmoved.
"I'm going to help clean up."
Without saying another word. Kai moved to the sink in the kitchen and washed his hands. Then he went and walked towards the back of the Lockwood mansion.
When he strolled outside to get the used champagne glasses, he noticed two figures out on the lawn. A blonde and a dark-haired man, Kai could only guess who the couple was.
"I swear, I said nothing to Elena, please baby," the blonde said, and the tears broke like water from a dam.
"You drive me insane." Damon's temper was surfacing. "I can't believe I wasted my efforts with you."
"Baby, don't say that." Caroline cried, the teardrops flowing freely.
"It's okay because now I'm completely over you." Damon wrapped his arms around the blonde's waist and pulled her lower body closer.
His tone of voice made Kai want to step out of the shadow.
"Damon…"
The older man leaned down and placed feather-light kisses on Caroline's cheek, and then trails them down her jaw and then to her neck, before growling like a wild beast, grabbing at her neck.
Caroline screamed and sobbed loudly, fighting Damon's frantic touches. Kai wanted to turn away in disgust at the sound. However, what he did instead was move forward.
"What the hell are you doing to her?"
Shaken, Damon dropped Caroline's limp body, which fell to the ground.
"Why am I not surprised to see you?" There was blood smeared across Damon's lips. "You really are a pest."
Once he got over closer, he noticed the side of Caroline's neck was a mess, deep puncture wounds, and blood seeping down onto the ground.
"You killed her?"
"I was trying to before you interrupted me." Damon chuckled soundlessly. "Looks like I'm getting a two for one."
And Kai just stood there, feeling utterly useless. A trembling breath passed his lips.
"What are you?"
"Can't you guess by now?" Damon grinned at him. "Malachai Parker."
Kai shot him a dirty glare and cracked his knuckles purposefully. "What do you know about me?"
Damon was still grinning, daring him with his eyes. "Not much. But it doesn't matter, you won't live past tonight."
They eyed one another vigilantly. Kai was aware of his clear disadvantage. Fuck that. He slides his feet together to cross the distance and snaps out a sweep kick, aiming for Damon's head. His swiftness takes Damon by surprise, but the asshole blocks the kick.
A mischievous look appeared on the other man's face, and Kai's stomach dropped.
"Any other night, I'd love to beat my victim bloody, but this will be quick."
Kai was confused until Damon bared his teeth at him. Fangs slid into place, and then he understood.
Before he could react, a stiff hand clamped across his mouth, and another one grabbed his wrist. Damon held his wrist so tightly that his bones felt like they might break.
Putting all his force behind the blow, Kai swung it toward his arm, hoping to force Damon to release him. As it made contact, he yanked back toward himself. Kai caught the man's hand in his palm.
Kai could almost immediately feel the magic flowing through it like blood coursing through one's veins. Pulsating. Diffusing a warmth onto his skin. It seemed like this dark power was just waiting to immerse.
A jolt of lightning sent Damon's hand reeling back. Kai watched for a long moment, waiting to see if he'd attack again. Instead, Damon's eyes glazed over and he coughed up blood.
"What the fuck are you?"
With preternatural speed, the dark-haired man vanished. All the while, Caroline was lying sprawled a few feet away, pale but otherwise intact.
He thought he might be sick.
"Forbes," Kai said softly. He paused, drew in a breath, and turned around. "Hey, can you hear me?" There was no response. He noticed, to his horror, that the blonde didn't seem to be breathing. "Oh god, Forbes, answer me."
He reached down and gave her a shake, as if that might wake her up.
And then Caroline moved. Her whole body jerked, convulsed, and her mouth opened to let out a low whine that made Kai's skin crawl.
Vicki Donovan was right. Vampires were real. And Kai could siphon magic from them.
AN: Thank you to everyone for all the feedback. I love everyone's response to my take on Mystic Falls being racist and Damon's creepy behavior. I had the characters talk more about it. Kai knows Damon's a vampire. Bonnie did magic for the first time. Damon gave us a little Katherine Pierce hint. Next chapter, Kai will confront Uncle Chris about vampires in Mystic Falls. Another Salvatore will appear. And Kai makes a discovery about Bonnie's true nature.
