Chapter 2

The emotion in her eyes were fathoms deep, yet they carried the warmth and life of the sunlit surface. She had been waiting all night for her brother, yet he never came back. Her mind wandered, while her fingers twiddled the stone against her chest. Syrena didn't understand what happened. Something wasn't right. She could feel it.

"You should get some sleep."

Syrena didn't have to look to know that it was Jonas as her eyes remained fixed on the window. "I have to know if he's safe."

"Elijah's always careful, and I'm sure he wouldn't want to know that his sister is not looking after herself."

"I will always put my family above myself."

A door opened, so they turned their heads to see a man with shaved black hair and an athletic build. He looked similarly to Jonas, but that was because he was Jonas's son, Luka. His father taught him everything he knows. He was polite to her.

"Morning. Where's Elijah?" Luka looked over at Syrena and saw how she looked away, so he went over to the kitchen and took a pan out, placing it on the stove. "Anyone want some breakfast?"

"Sounds good." Jonas then turned to the witch. "Syrena?"

"Sure."

She went over to one of the stools on the island in the kitchen and sat down. Jonas went behind the counter and grabbed a few mugs, filling them with hot water, while Luka grabbed six eggs and cracked the shells, dropping the yolks in a bowl. She watched him whisk the yolks, beating them down after he seasoned them. There was a joy when Jonas and Luka were together, as if for a moment of happily absorbed by a feeling of unconditional love that played in their subtle smiles and soft gazes when they worked together.

The eggs sizzled on the pan as the aroma wafted through Syrena's nostrils. When he finished, he cut into the egg to form three pieces and set them on plates, and Jonas set a mug of coffee in front of Syrena. She smiled warmly and thanked him as she brought the mug, letting the drink touch her so lightly on her lips before it entered an abyss with its curls of foaming cream serenading her tongue into a sweet bliss. She even enjoyed the egg that Luka made along with some toast and raspberry jam that Jonas took out. It was one of the peaceful moments she had in her life.

"Is it good?" Luka asked.

"Yes. Thank you."

They gave each other a small smile, but it was soon short lived when they heard the front door open. Elijah entered inside, watching them as he slowly shut the door. Syrena's eyes widened when she saw splatters of blood on his white shirt and a huge tear in the fabric. It was then that she realized that Katerina was not with him. Syrena stood and rushed over to him, wrapping her arms his neck to which he welcomed and breathed a sigh of relief.

"I was so worried. Where's Katerina?"

Elijah let her go and took off his jacket as he replied, "It wasn't Katerina who Rose had."

They all stared at him curiously when he went into his room to change into another shirt before he came back out, buttoned-up and fixing the cuffs on his wrists. "Then...who did she have?"

"Katerina's descendant...who also happens to be a doppelgänger herself."

"What? But that means-"

"Katerina bore a child before she ever met us."

Jonas then stepped in by saying, "So what now?"

"Now we look for information." As Elijah grabbed his jacket, he put it on. "See what we know about her and the people she's close with."

"Let me help this time." Syrena insisted.

"No. I've told you once already that we cannot risk for you to be found."

"So I'm a prisoner now. Is that what you're saying?"

Elijah sighed, and his eyes softened when he saw how his sister's eyes narrowed at him. "Of course not. I am simply looking out for your protection."

"Come on, Elijah." Jonas said, earning their attention. "Luka and I can take her into town. It's not healthy for her to be inside all the time."

Syrena smiled when he nodded his head. "Alright. Be sure to bring her back in one piece, will you? I'll go on ahead."

"Where are you going?" Syrena asked.

As he headed out the front door, she heard him say, "Wherever Rose is."

It was then that she realized what Elijah's intentions were. He was going to frighten them by making his presence known somehow. It was expected. Rose did betray them for helping Katerina in 1492, and now she sides with Elijah's attackers and the new doppelgänger. It was a vicious circle to no end.

The rest of the morning was peaceful to say the least. Both Luka and Jonas showed her around Mystic Falls. They walked around the park and went on the sidewalk, looking at all of the shops and the people. Syrena was just thrilled to be out of the apartment. It had been a while since she had been outside. Elijah hardly ever allowed her to be out in the open unless if she was with him or with people he trusted. He could not afford to have any of Niklaus's followers find her and report back to him.

They then went inside The Mystic Grill. It was decent to say the least. Bright lamps hung themselves across the mahogany counter by the bar. Each of the wooden tables were a few inches away from each other that were accompanied with black chairs, and there were a few booths in the restaurant itself. Some of the customers played billiards in the corner next to the fireplace.

Syrena, Jonas, and Luka were led over to a booth by one of the waitresses. They were then given their menus when they sat down, and they started off with drinks. Luka and Jonas had sodas, and Syrena decided to have water. When the waitress left them to fetch their drinks, Luka turned to Syrena with a small smile on his face to which she returned as he told her, "This place has one of the best burgers in town. You should try one."

"No. It's alright."

"Then what are you gonna have?" Jonas asked.

"Nothing. It's-It's just nice to be out once in a while. So, when are we going to find her? You know my brother can't do this by himself."

"We know, Syrena. Just be patient."

Luka looked over to see a rather exotic and an ethereal beauty walking past them. Her cheeks were full, and her chin was pointed. She possessed expressive almond-shaped eyes that were the color of clovers with arching eyebrows that framed over her eyes.

"Hey, Bonnie."

She stopped and turned to see him with a smile on her face when she saw that it was Luka. "Hey, Luka. How was your first day?"

"Oh, uh, I was actually showing a friend of mine through town. Her name is Syrena, and this is my father."

"Hi, I'm Bonnie Bennett."

"Doctor Martin, Jonas Martin. It's nice to meet you, Bonnie Bennet. Would you like to join us?"

Bonnie turned to the empty seat next to Luka and replied, "Oh, I'm meeting a friend but he's not here yet so...sure."

"Oh, yes, please have a seat." He then turned to Syrena and asked, "Is that okay with you?"

"Yes. Yes. Please, sit down."

Bonnie sat next to Luka when he scooted over and turned to Syrena with a small smile on her face. "So, it's your first time in Mystic Falls?"

"Yes. I came from Louisiana. That's where I met Luka and Jonas."

"That's a big change."

"I'll say." Luka chimed in.

"It's not so bad here."

"It's looking up."

Syrena turned to Jonas when she heard him say, "Bennet, huh? I knew some Bennett's when I did my residency in Massachusetts. Do you have any family in Salem?"

Bonnie's smile wavered as she stared at Jonas, but she recovered it as she said, "Actually, I do."

"What do you know? Small world, right?"

Bonnie then turned to the door to see a handsome young man with a lean body and dark brown hair with eyes to match, so she stood from her seat and said, "Oh, there's my friend. It was nice to meet you, Dr. Martin and Syrena."

"I will see you at school." Luka said with a smile.

"Yeah."

She then touched his shoulder and left it there for a moment almost as if she was feeling something. When she let him go, she turned to the boy and walked with him. Syrena was no a fool. She lived over a thousand years with her family, and she knew what was happening. Young Bonnie Bennett was a witch, but she wasn't just any witch. She came from a powerful bloodline that dated back all the way from Ancient Greece. Her mother, Kalliopi, was personally taught by Qetsiyah, and as a reward for Kalliope's loyalty, Qetsiyah performed the immortality spell on her student. Kalliopi then swore that she would continue to serve her family, and so she did by looking out for Qestiyah's descendants before she was taken by the Vikings, met Mikael, and bore him a bastard to his wife's displeasure.

Syrena then turned to Luka and Jonas with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "She may be proven useful."

Jonas left Mystic Grill to go back home, leaving Luka and Syrena. He did ask Syrena if she wanted to go with him, but she refused, because she said there was something that needed to be done, so he had Luka swear to bring her back to the apartment later. They watched Bonnie playing billiards with the boy that came by earlier, laughing. They both then headed over to the pool table as Luka commented on the game, "Alright, I got a winner guys. I got a winner."

Syrena looked over at Bonnie and noticed how her smile vanished in an instant even when the boy playing with her said, "Get ready. This slaughter is almost over."

When he shot the ball, he noticed Syrena, staring at him, so he gave her a polite smile and greeted her. "Hi, I'm Jeremy."

She shook his hand and greeted him back. "Syrena."

"She's a friend of Luka's and his dad." Bonnie explained. "Speaking of which where is your dad?"

"Um, I'll see him back home. Syrena and I have to head back there soon."

"Both of you?"

"Yes. My brother and I are staying with his family for a while."

"And where's your brother?"

"He had something else to do, so he couldn't come with us."

Jeremy gestured to the pool table and asked, "So you guys wanna play? Bonnie and I against you two?"

Luka then turned to Syrena, almost asking if she wanted to, but she gave Jeremy a polite smile and replied, "No, unfortunately, I don't have the skills for it, but you all have fun."

Bonnie looked over at Syrena, and watched her walk away to the booth she was in. She then gave her pool cue to Luka and told them to play against each other, so they started a round. Bonnie then headed over to Syrena as she gave her a small smile when she saw her approaching her.

"Mind if I sit here?"

"No, go ahead." Syrena insisted.

As soon as Bonnie sat down, she gave her a small smile and asked, "So are you just visiting or did you move here?"

"Moved. In fact, I occasionally jump from place to place. Say whichever part of the country is where I've been in."

"Wow. That's, uh, that's big. It must be a hassle to move constantly."

"Well, I'm used to it now. I'm sure my brother and I will move again soon."

"What about your parents?"

"My brother and I don't speak to them. It's...complicated to say the least."

She couldn't tell Bonnie about them, because she knew she had to be wary of the specifics she spoke of. Syrena also had to be mindful that Bonnie was a witch herself, so she had to make sure not to cross her since she came from one of the most powerful and ancient bloodlines. However, Syrena was not afraid of her. Perhaps an ally is what she needs to accomplish her goals here in Virginia.

"Sorry. I...I shouldn't have-"

"No, it's okay. That's why I'm thankful that my brother and I have Luka and Jonas. They've been great friends to us for a while now." Bonnie looked over to Luka, almost lost in thought, but she turned back to Syrena when she heard her say, "I am sorry about earlier. Jonas I wouldn't say is very subtle, especially when he brought up your family and Salem. He picked up on you, but he didn't mean any harm."

"I felt something too."

"I know. That's why I brought it up." Syrena then grabbed the salt on the table and unscrewed the lid pouring some salt on the table. "He doesn't like for anyone to know. I was even worried that you left because of what he said."

Syrena then placed her hand over the salt and looked around the room to see if anyone was watching, while Bonnie stared at her curiously. Syrena concentrated and slowly lifted her hand. Bonnie's eyes widened when she saw the flecks of salt hover over the table just below her hand. When she formed her hand into a fist, the salt fell into a pile on the table.

"I understand all too well what it's like being different."

"You're a witch?"

"And so are Luka and Jonas."

Here's the second chapter. Let me know what you think, and stay tuned for more chapters.