Kai reveals to his uncle that he knows about Damon Salvatore. Chris informs him of another Salvatore living in Mystic Falls. Tired of being jerked around, Bonnie gives Kai one last chance to explain himself. Jo tries to talk to Kai about his current crush and past flame. Meanwhile, at a fund-raising car wash, Kai gets surprised by Bonnie, only to discover who she really is. And Bonnie is forced to seek advice from her grandmother.


"Vampires exist…"

Chris pinched the bridge of his nose. "Malachai, I know you're shaken up."

"What happened to Forbes…" Kai flinched at the memories of last night. "I know what I saw."

Jo crossed her arms over her chest. "Kai, Caroline told her mother that she had an accident."

Kai put a finger to his lips and looked at Jo thoughtfully before turning back to Chris. "She lied. He did something to her. I know he did."

"Who?" Jo questioned innocently.

"Damon Salvatore."

Chris's brow crinkled in confusion. "Salvatore?"

Kai tried to keep his face blank of a reaction. "Yeah, what do you know about him?"

A look of wide-eyed perplexity wiped away and replaced whatever skepticism Chris had.

"Nothing. Last I heard Zach Salvatore was the last living Salvatore."

"Damon said he was visiting his uncle," Kai's voice diminished off, growing even more uneasy. "The guy is a creep. He's dating Forbes. And he's like thirty or something."

Chris moved to stand by the window, folding his arms neatly behind his back. "Caroline Forbes has been rebelling against her mother for a while, not surprised she got herself involved with a dangerous man. She's just acting out."

"This isn't acting out, trust me, I know." Kai said firmly, even if he felt anything but resistant right now.

Jo reached for his hand, and her small dainty fingers held on tight. "Kai, we don't have all the facts."

Kai shrugged his shoulders. He was so tired. "Then I'll get them."

He watched as his uncle's face darkened. "Malachai, please, this is risky territory you're walking. After what happened to you in Portland, do you really think this is a good idea? If the coven gets a whiff of this..."

"They'll what? Punish me some more." Kai contemplated his words before clearing his throat. "Take everything I love away from me. Newsflash, Chris, they already did. They've made my life a living hell, but this isn't about them anymore. I have this feeling, something bad gonna happening, and it's going to affect all of us. So either you wanna fess up and get involved or let me handle things on my own."

Jo's grip on his hand was almost steely, and Kai paused in surprise. "Kai, please, I can't lose you, too."

It scared his sister, how far he would go to protect his family and friends, hell it scared him sometimes.

Pulling away from her grasp, he moved to grab the keys from the table by the door, hoping to make a brisk exit.

"Malachai," Chris's voice stopped him in his tracks. "Zach Salvatore lives in the old boarding house about a mile from here."

Kai nodded, a lump in his throat preventing an immediate response until he could speak again. "Thanks, Chris."

"One more thing, Malachai." Chris cleared his throat. "Witches have rules, not just the coven. We are not allowed to get involved with other supernatural beings for the safety of our own lineage, so whatever you're planning, just know there are consequences. Jo and I are your family. What you do from here on out affects all of us."

Kai flicked his eyes back and forth between his uncle and Jo expressionlessly. He was severely aware of how close they were standing next to each other, shoulder-to-shoulder. Both staring at him, expecting him to react irrationally.

"I don't plan on making the same mistakes. I'll be smarter this time." Kai said, nodding. If the stricken look on his sister's face meant anything, it was that she understood what's coming.


Bonnie had been avoiding her Grams since last night. After her run in with Kai, she found Caroline outside the party crying to her mother. Apparently, Kai found her outside bleeding to death, and Damon had vanished from the scene of the crime. Caroline said she didn't remember what happened.

Bonnie agreed to spend the night over at the Forbes. She needed time away from her grandmother but also to figure out what's been going on with Caroline. She didn't want to think about the weird situation with the candles lighting themselves up at the party.

"I remembered after the party. Damon came up behind me, and he was kissing my neck, or biting my neck. Then I passed out. It's like there are holes in my memories lately. It's just weird. Maybe I let him bite me."

Bonnie raised her head from where she was laying belly down on Caroline's bed. Clothes scattered the floor, hung off the furniture, and closet door. Her wardrobe left wide open with empty hangers hung up.

"How old is Damon, Caroline?" Bonnie demanded repulsively.

Her friend turned back to her closet. "He told me he was just twenty-five."

"Caroline! That's an eight-year gap. Did you tell your mom?"

"Of course not, Bonnie. I love him…"

Bonnie held up her hand, showing for the blonde to pause. "Love? You've known him for a couple of weeks."

A frown flickered across Caroline's face. "It's different between us. It isn't even physical, it's deeper than that."

"Is it?" Bonnie asked, her eyes popping open in surprise.

"He cares about me." Caroline bit her lip and sounded about ready to cry.

Bonnie felt sick. "He hurts you."

The blonde's pained expression didn't ease. "Not always," Caroline sighed and put down the autumn sweater in her hands and turned back to Bonnie, her brow furrowed. "He can be rough and mean. But deep down…"

"Caroline, you don't deserve this," Bonne said, exhaling sharply. "How'd you feel if Matt did that to Elena, or Kai did that to me?"

Caroline stopped and spun towards Bonnie, scowling. "I'd kick their asses."

"Exactly," Bonnie cocked her brow as she watched her friend take off a ghastly-looking pendant. "That is not your style, Forbes."

In her hands, she held some sort of weird gemstone necklace. "Oh, Damon gave it to me, after he told me…" Caroline shook her head. "Screw Damon. I'm done letting him mess me around."

Caroline tossed the pendant away. It landed startlingly on top of Bonnie's head and jarred her briefly.

Bonnie smiled back weakly. "Atta girl."

"Enough about my issues." Caroline said, wiping at her face. "What's going on with you and Kai?"

Bonnie rolled her eyes and fell back against the covers with a sigh. "He's holding back. I think he has a girlfriend back in Portland."

Caroline blinked in shock, her jaw falling open slightly. "Why are men the worst?" she asked in a seething tone, waving in her general direction. "You know what, let's start over fresh. No more flakey boys for us."

Bonnie swallowed heavily and nodded. "Yeah, here's to not getting strung around anymore."


When Kai got to Mystic Falls High School that morning, he scanned the crowded hallways for Bonnie and found her opening her locker to pull some text books out. Elena was standing beside her, the two were talking in hushed tones.

"I know what I saw, Bonnie. There were bruises and bite marks on her neck." Elena paused, wearing a worried expression. "It's like he has some weird kink and he's abusing her"

Kai approached cautiously from behind, noting the uncharacteristic droop of Bonnie's shoulders and how her hair looked frizzed up in a style that resembled a librarian bun.

"She's in denial about the whole thing." There was an edge of rage in Bonnie's voice. "Caroline told me she loves him."

Kai watched as she slammed her locker shut.

"This is insane… Oh, Kai." Elena first noticed his appearance among them. Then Bonnie turned to face him. Her sage green eyes widened and looked around quickly.

"Hey, can I speak with you… alone?" Kai asked, flashing the most charming smile, seeing if he could win her over.

Elena uneasily glanced from Bonnie to Kai before sauntering away.

"Speak." Bonnie said warily, clutching her books against her chest.

His fingers carding through his hair before he spoke up. "I know things got crazy last night. You know, with your friend Forbes."

"The Sheriff said you were the one who found her." Bonnie said, not asking, only confirming.

A wave of guilt washed over Kai. "Yeah, that boyfriend of hers is a scumbag. Tell her to stay away and move on."

Bonnie narrowed her eyes fiercely. "Don't worry, we can deal with Caroline."

"Look, I know I owe you a million apologies and explanations. I wanna make it up to you." Kai insisted, stuffing his hands in his pockets and leaning sincerely against the lockers.

"What's the point of making it up to me, if I get nothing but the runaround with you." Bonnie said, trying to maneuver past him.

"I'll explain myself to you." Kai quickly positioned himself in front of her, blocking Bonnie's path. "Please give me the chance to tell you the truth."

"Fine, what time?" Bonnie asked with a skeptical frown.

"Let's make it an early dinner," Kai suggested. "Is five o'clock okay?"

Bonnie turned away from him and started walking swiftly. "Don't make me regret this," she said, looking back over her shoulder.

Kai raised his hands, making his gesture broad so she couldn't mistake them even from a distance.

"I won't."

Bonnie looked forward and kept walking. Kai stood and watched her until she was out of sight.

Kai walked on the country grounds and admired the boarding house's grand exterior. It looked like a cross between a mystical castle and renaissance cathedral, with massive stones forming the scale of the surface and a tall, narrow spire and arched glass windows peering out of the high rooftop.

He inspected the creek that cut through the front lawn as he walked up to the door and rang the bell.

Before he could sike himself out of it, the door flung open and the man of the house stared at him. An older man, about younger forties, medium build with an average structure, he had light brown hair and blue eyes.

"Hello?"

Kai watched as the man before him rubbed his neck, taking a few steps back.

"Hi, I'm Kai Parker," he nearly swallowed his tongue. "Umm, Chris Parker's nephew."

"Yes, he told me he'd recently taken you and your sister in," the man crossed his arms and stared with that same expression Chris used way too much. "Sorry for your loss." Chris clearly was friends with this man. "I'm Zach Salvatore. How can I help you?"

Kai took a deep breath and held it for a second.

"I wanted to ask you about your nephew, Damon Salvatore."

Zach arched his right eyebrow in a curious expression. "How do you know about Damon?"

Kai cleared his throat. "He's been having a fling with the sheriff's daughter."

The older man stiffened at that. "Jesus, that guy." Zach shook off his concern. "Stay away from Damon. He's not someone you want as an enemy."

"He attacked me last night." Kai hurried to say. "I saw him biting the sheriff's daughter, so I went over to stop him. He and I got into a fight…"

Zach got that dumbstruck expression. "And here you are, still breathing. How is that?"

"I don't know…" Kai chewed on his lip. "I have my suspicions about your nephew, what he is."

Zach was quiet again for a long moment. "Kid, you don't wanna get involved. I know you've had a rough few months."

"You and Chris talk?"

Kai wore a shocked stare, and Zach gave a little shrug.

"The only friend I got left in this town."

His uncle seemed to have conveniently left this nugget of information out.

Kai wanted to know, but didn't know how to ask. "Let me guess, you know about his little secret, why he left Portland."

"Bits and pieces, Mystic Falls, isn't kind to your sort." Zach said with little emotion. "It's best you stop digging up into what's going on. Let the adults handle it."

"Handle it, people are dying." Kai's hands balled into fists at his sides, his voice edging into a growl. "Damon is the cause of it."

"Well, well, well, who do we have here?"

Waltzing from behind Zach was that smug face jackass. He was shirtless, with skinny jeans on, walking barefoot.

Zach smiled, and that was not a friendly smile at all. "Damon, I didn't know you were home."

"I had a late night. I didn't wanna alarm you." Damon turned his gaze to Kai. "You again, looking for a rematch."

"Damon, stay away from him. He's just a kid." Zach said, calm but firm.

Kai could see the vein in Zach's temple throbbing.

"This kid keeps getting into my business," Damon snarled at him with a raised eyebrow. "I don't know what you did to me last night, but I'll figure it out. Just count this as your lucky day, boy," he added with a smirk. Kai barely controlled an urge to punch the smug vampire in his face, but he didn't think that would turn out well for him. "Zach, we need to talk. Now!"

Damon stormed off, leaving Kai alone with Zach once again.

"Don't ever come back to this house, do you understand me?" Zach spoke with control, but it didn't reassure Kai in the slightest. "Stay away from Damon. You won't get lucky a third time." With that, the door slammed in his face.

Kai walked away, his hand coming up to rub his eyes for a second. His back straightened. He reached into his coat and pulled a cigarette out, although he didn't light it.

Zach knew about Chris. About them. It was only a matter of time before Damon knew. And who knows who he'd tell.


"The whole thing has Elena upset." Matt grabbed two cue sticks from the wall.

Bonnie groaned as she grabbed the pool stick from him, waiting for him to take a turn. "Yeah, your sister and her little brother knocking boots. That's weird. What about Tyler? Is she still?"

"Knowing Vicki, she's playing both of them." Matt said as he leaned across the pool table to aim for the first ball.

"At least Vicki can get a man, the mayor's son and the emo boy-next-door." Bonnie muttered, taking a sip from her coke.

"Is this about Kai?" Matt shot his ball and watched it clatter across the table, hitting plenty of other balls rather than scoring.

Bonnie wandered around the table to position herself. "The first guy that seeks me out, and it's been one thing after the other with him."

"Do I need to kick his ass?" Matt asked, coming to her side.

"He's not a bad guy, it's just he's so damn secretive. We'll have a moment, and then he pulls back and disappears on me. No explanation. I mean, he found Caroline last night after her dick boyfriend hurt her and left her unconscious at the party." Bonnie explained, squarely hitting her first ball into the hole.

"If I ever see that dude, I swear I'll kill him."

"Me and you both, buddy." Bonnie scowled as bitterly as she could. "I think Kai has someone else back home."

Matt paced around the table, looking for the best shot. "Really? He doesn't seem the player type. You should have seen him in the locker room with Tyler. I don't know, cheating doesn't seem like his style."

"What else could it be? Why hold back?" Bonnie asked quietly as she shifted from foot to foot.

"He basically lost his entire family, Bon." Matt said simply. He rubbed his fingers together, frowning.

Slowly, Bonnie straightened. She said nothing in response.

"He's probably afraid to get close to anyone." Matt lowered his arm. "Look at how Elena and Jeremy's been since they lost their parents. I got dumped at the funeral. I should know."

Bonnie gave a dark laugh. "He's already late."

"Don't look now, then…"

Bonnie whipped around to see Kai making his way over to them.

"Hey, Bonnie, Donovan."

Matt turned a concerned look at Bonnie before he focused on Kai.

"Parker, sup," Matt nodded his head. "Don't forget we have the car wash tomorrow."

"I won't, wouldn't want to piss off Lockwood anymore than I have."

Matt really started laughing then. Kai had a very pleased grin on his face, and Bonnie just rolled her eyes.

Her blond friend dipped his head in acknowledgement. "Yeah, I'm gonna get some food."

They waited for Matt to excuse himself.

"Hope I didn't have you waiting too long." Kai's tone is concerned, warm, and Bonnie resists the urge to lash out. "Wanna grab a table?"

Just then, Bonnie swallowed past the surprising pain in her chest. "It's after seven, Kai. I've been here since five. You asked me to come out here, remember?"

"I know, I had a thing with my uncle," he said it with a nervous, breathy laugh, like maybe he's anxious. "It held me up."

"What happened? Is everything okay?" she asked, curious and maybe a little alarmed. Bonnie thought she knew all of Kai's mannerisms by now, but this one she can't quite work out.

Another nervous laugh, more heavy breaking. "Yeah, it was inescapable."

"You could have texted me. Let me know you had to be running late." Bonnie can't help but smirk a little darkly, cruelly. "You know, for the first time, I figured maybe someone in this damn town saw that I was worth it."

Kai let out a shaky breath and his eyes fastened on her with pity assessment. "Bonnie, please."

"I get that you're going through a lot. I can't even imagine what you're going through. But I don't deserve to be kept in the dark. I mean, we kissed, and it was amazing, but you've been weird ever since. I can admit I was very skeptical about you, about us. You came over to Elena's and wooed me, then just vanished. Every time I try to understand you, it's like…" Bonnie swayed her head, anger exasperating in her mouth. "I can't keep doing this, Kai."

She pushed past him without listening for Kai's response.


Kai Parker was a guy who made it a point to never listen to people. Self-reliant, unconventional, and daring, even Jo referred to him as both Pacey and Dawson. Growing up, he was a starry-eyed dreamer who idolizes his father and aimed to become a football player himself just to gain his family's approval. Once the coven discovered his true nature, Kai got constantly labeled as a "black sheep" or "great embarrassment" while Jo was destined to be their savior.

All this led to him being reckless and hurting people, the ones closest to him. He lost everyone he'd ever given a damn about, except Jo. Living in Mystic Falls was their second chance for something different, better.

It was oddly enough warm this time of the year in Virginia. Kai was feeling miserable all day. Bad enough things have been going bad with Bonnie. Now he was stuck all day at this car wash with middle-aged women ogling him, scrubbing their cars.

By the time noon rolled around, he noticed a familiar truck driving into the parking lot. Kai exhaled angrily as he saw who was sitting behind the steering wheel.

"What are you doing here?"

Jo grinned and took off her sunglasses, turned off the engine.

"Uncle Chris wants his truck washed." Jo continued to leer, ignoring the expression of borderline rage contorting Kai's usually mildly bullish features.

"Great."

Jo opened the door and clambered out of the truck, putting her sunglasses on top of her head.

"Why aren't you over there helping your girlfriend?" Jo pointed at the leggy brunette, who was adjusting the knot that held her bikini top together under her breasts, before leaning over to polish the hood of a car.

"Gilbert and I are just friends, sort of." Kai admitted. Jo was terrible at deciphering his personal life.

She held up her hand in a devilish gesture. "Oh please, I know you're looking for another epic romance. Guys like you always are."

Kai bit the inside of his cheek. "Please, just shut up. I have no interest in Elena Gilbert."

"So it is Caroline. That explains why you're so obsess with framing Damon as this evil mythical creature." Jo inquired in a delightfully scandalized tone.

Kai folded his arms across his chest and refused to be humiliated. "I like Bonnie, okay."

"Bonnie Bennett?" Jo's expression was morphing from bewilderment to dismay. "She's not even close to your type."

"Josie…" Kai started. However, his sister talked right over him.

"Well, it doesn't seem like she's into you."

Jo points out, as they both noticed the icy glares from Bonnie, and now Elena.

"What the hell did you do to her?"

"Nothing." Kai stretched his hand out and flexed his fingers testily. "I thought we could be normal here. That I could pretend and have a normal relationship with a normal girl. But all I'm doing is lying and keeping secrets from her. Who I am, what I know. She doesn't trust me, hell I don't think she even likes me anymore. And for once, I don't blame her."

"Look, Kai," Jo mumbled, flushing pink to the tips of her ears. "I know how bad things got with Carmen and the coven."

"Don't you dare go there. Don't even speak about her," Kai stopped, his own emotions threatening to break in a way that they hadn't yet. "You know what Josette, just go."

Jo looked like she'd swallowed a fly. "I'm sorry," she said awkwardly. "Kai, I'm sorry." She breaks off, but Kai doesn't need her to finish.

He just walked off from his sister. Not even paying attention to Elena Gilbert storming up to him.

"You really are a fucking dick." Elena said coldly. "Bonnie is such a good person. She doesn't deserve your shit."

Kai got startled when Elena threw a big sponge full of cold water at him.

"Gilbert, this is unnecessary," he hastily replied, taking the sponge. "You know, out of everyone, I thought you'd understand the most."

"Oh, I understand." Elena didn't take her eyes off him. "You and my brother are a lot alike. Wanting to have your phase of nothing can hurt me, but you gotta let it hurt so that you can move on. Otherwise you're hurting the people who care about you. Like your sister, your uncle, and Bonnie."

He stared. Kai was seeing a side of Gilbert that he'd never thought could exist. This cuts him deep.

"Any advice, ol' wise one."

Elena almost looked like she smiled, but then the expression vanished. "Stop being a jackass. If you care about Bonnie at all, you need to figure your shit out and do right by her."

His heart jerked at that. What does he have to lose? Kai started smiling, and he couldn't help himself.

"You're a good friend. I didn't expect that from you."

"Bonnie's my sister, I'd die for her." Elena cocked her brow. "Even kill for her," she smirked, and she suddenly reminded him way too much of Jo.

That made Kai laugh. "That's good to know."

Kai wasn't pleased when that bossy cheerleader, Tiki, came over and demanded he help clean the pavements. He was ready for this day to be over. After getting a broom from Elena, and walking off. Before he could make a move, he heard a crowd of people screaming. When he turned around to see what the commotion was about, he spotted a fire spreading towards a blue car.

Bonnie was across from the scene, lost in what seemed like a hypnotic state, staring into the flames intently.

The closer he walked towards Bonnie, he felt the air crackling with magic. Grabbing her by the shoulders. Kai shouting at her, pleading, "Bonnie! Bonnie! Stop!"

There was a gaze that overlooked her eyes, and she was shaking. "Oh my god. Did I…" Bonnie asked incredulously as she looked up at Kai with a wet face.

"I think you were in a trance. Are you…"

"I'm normal, okay." Bonnie was instantly panicking, looking around nervously. "There's nothing wrong with me."

Smoke was still rising from the pavement.

Bonnie pulled away from him, turning around and rushing off.

Kai knew what he felt in the air. He knew what he saw. He finally understood why Chris demanded he'd stay away from Bonnie. The Bennetts hailed from Salem, same as his mother's family. Jo was wrong. Bonnie Bennett was exactly his type.


She was officially stupid, Bonnie told herself as she walked even faster. She should have just gone home. It was closer. Bonnie snorted at that thought. Funny, but the more she avoided home, the more she didn't miss her father. After the day she just had, she could no longer avoid this conversation.

"Surprise to see you back here, child." There, Grams embraced Bonnie in a tight hug.

"Grams, I need your help." Bonnie stopped and gasped for air, fighting the need to cry for a second. "I don't know what's happening to me."

"Baby, I know. Come on in."

Bonnie sighed and leaned into her Grams' touch.

"What's happening to me?"

"You are coming into yourself." Grams said, and suddenly her lips were pressed against Bonnie's temple. "You're a witch Bonnie. I know you never believed in such mystical fantasy, but witches are real. Our family has a lineage of powerful women who can do amazing things."

Bonnie had to sit on the couch before her legs just went out from under her. "I can't be a witch, Grams. I just can't."

A long sigh shuddered through Grams' lips. "Why the hell not?"

Bonnie stared at her grandmother with obvious distaste. "Because it isn't normal."

"Normal? Being normal is vastly overrated."

Swollen eyes turned to look at Grams. "Looking different from most of the girls here has been challenging enough. All my life I've been ignored in favor of the rich white southern belles of Mystic Falls. It's hard enough growing up in this whitewashed town. Being a witch isn't going to bring me many favors."

"I hate to admit it, but it's been more progressive over the past few years." Grams said serenely but firmly, "And it's because of people like your friend Elena, who doesn't follow old customs. Mystic Falls isn't what it was when I was a young girl. Times are changing and your generation is far more open to change."

"I'm scared." Bonnie finally whispered.

"I will get you through this." Grams quickly assured her as she rubbed her hand on Bonnie's back. "I won't let anything happen to you. That's a promise, dear."


AN: Thank for all the support guys. I'm promise I'm gonna be knocking these out sooner. I just got finished watching season one of TVD, so I'm half way through writing the first season for this fic.

Sidenote: Zach Salvatore is alive. Who is Carmen? And what did the Gemini Coven do? Do you think Chris should be more involved? Where are the adults while Damon snacking on these girls? How are we liking supportive Elena and Matt? Caroline being "in love" with Damon? Next chapter, Halloween party, Kai keeps doing some digging to get proof and Bonnie finally uncovers what's going on in Mystic Falls.