'I can feel your eyes on me and yet I have no memory of why it affects me so.'
Bonnie Bennett was many things but a quitter was - unfortunately - not one of them. Her and Abby had been working on trying to open the fifth coffin - that would supposedly grant them a weapon to kill Klaus - for weeks now but to no avail. Abby's magic was weak and unwilling, even if they did know the spell to use, it would be no use.
It was for that reason that she'd found herself dragged to the grill by Caroline. She'd been obsessing - according to the blonde - and needed to take a break. For once she was thankful for her meddling. She hadn't realised how exhausted she was until she'd stopped to catch her breath for a moment.
She'd been doing intense magic nearly non-stop since they'd gotten that coffin and it was taking a toll on her. Humanityless Stefan was single-minded at best and a slave driver at worst.
She was just glad that Klaus and Stefan had called a temporary truce ever since Stefan tried to drive Elena off of Wickery bridge. No one else had died in an attempt to return the final coffin since that incident. Bonnie didn't doubt that the Mikaelsons were up to something to get it back though. As Klaus had Rebekah back now and Elijah was being extra sketchy. The peace wouldn't last long; she just hoped they got the coffin open before that happened.
So suffice to say, she appreciated Caroline dragging her away for a moment's respite.
She laughed, unable to stop the sound from bursting forth, as she listened to Caroline rant and rave about a girl on the cheer squad. It was so normal she could almost pretend the last year hadn't happened. She wasn't a witch and her friend wasn't a vampire.
But it was a fantasy. A fantasy that was broken when Bonnie felt the weight of eyes on her.
Still listening to Caroline, she cast her gaze about the grill trying to find the source only to spot the unfamiliar brunet at the bar watching her.
She didn't recognize him, which was unusual in such a small town, or it had been before the supernaturals arrived. He was watching her keenly as if intrigued by her, she could relate. Because although his face was unfamiliar her magic called out to him as if he were a trusted friend.
The thought put her on edge. She hastily looked away, focusing unnecessarily intently on Caroline in an attempt to resist her magic's urge to turn back to him.
It was confused, that was all. There was no reason for it to call out the way it did when it saw Caroline or Elena when she looked at him. They were perfect strangers after all.
She shook her head, firmly dismissing the thought. She was just tired and overwrought, her magic having been overextended over the past few weeks, mistakes were bound to happen.
~x~
Over the next few days, she saw the handsome stranger cropping up more and more. She tried to ignore it at first. Blaming it on an overactive imagination and burgeoning paranoia. But every now and then, out of the corner of her eye there, he was. He never approached her, often didn't even seem to be looking at her. But he was just there. Constantly.
It was beginning to get tiring.
She was sat at the grill waiting for Matt's shift to end - they had a project to work on for Alaric's class - stirring her milkshake with a straw when the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, her magic rejoicing within her chest. She looked up from her drink to see the now-familiar stranger sat before her.
He didn't say anything at first but even without encouragement, her magic was urging her to lock eyes with him. Once she did she couldn't seem to look away. She wasn't sure she even wanted to.
"You've been following me." She blurted.
Why had she said that? For all, she knew he could be another supernatural being intent on destroying her town. Why were the first words out of her mouth so hostile? Perhaps Caroline was right, maybe she did have a death wish.
But while her mind was reprimanding her, her magic was luxuriating along her bones, ecstatic to be in this stranger's presence and more at ease than it had ever been. It put her on edge that he could draw such a reaction from her without even speaking.
He smirked. "Apologies darling. It's such a small town and I was wondering how best to get your attention."
She settled back against the seat of her booth with narrowed eyes.
"Why? What do you want?"
His smirk widened, looking every bit the cat that had caught the canary. Her mind whispered to her that it was a trap, a trap she was voluntarily walking into even as her magic eased her along.
"Nothing that you should worry about at any rate."
Her eyes narrowed further, "I don't even know who you are, you'll forgive me if I have a hard time believing that when you've been following me."
Was this Klaus' doing? A new attempt at getting his coffin back? She wondered to herself. She knew they were up to something but she'd come to expect the Mikaelsons to be more direct about what they want rather than using a stranger to beat around the bush on their behest.
It didn't track but she wasn't about to dismiss the possibility. She'd keep her guard up, she wasn't about to piss off a humanityless Stefan. No matter the consequences it wrought her personally.
"You're forgiven." He grinned, amused by her eye roll. "Not that it matters, I've already gotten what I wanted."
He leant back, getting comfortable as he stretched his legs out. Amusement was clear in his gaze as he regarded her.
Her brows furrowed in confusion and irritation.
"What are you talking about?" She demanded, tired of this game. Where the hell was Matt?
"You'll see, darling." He smiled, eyes flickering over her shoulder before standing from the booth. "Good luck with the history project."
And just as quickly as he'd arrived he left. Matt came up to her side while she was still staring at the spot where he'd stood moments before.
"Who was that Bon?" Matt asked as he slipped into the recently vacated seat.
"I have no idea."
And while she knew it to be true, she had no idea who the man that'd been following her was, her magic rebelled at the notion.
What the hell was going on?
~x~
He'd wanted to wait before he made his move. But the second he'd laid eyes on her again he knew it wouldn't be possible. He was impossibly tuned into her. The first few times he'd found himself in her presence had been an accident, he hadn't even realised he was following the magic that had tied them together for lifetimes. Only becoming aware of it when she spotted him the third time it had happened.
After that, it had become a game. He needed to get her attention in any way that he could, a drive he couldn't ignore even if he was inclined to. The darkest parts of himself, the deep broiling sea of his rage, only calmed in her presence even when she didn't know he was there.
And while Kol had no qualms indulging the dark hungering parts of himself decorating the world with his own brand of chaos and destruction. The parts of himself that remembered being human rebelled against the way immortality had twisted and tainted his magic with its need for blood and death, those parts longed for the calm she brought.
But Nik had known that. Had known how Kol reacted to her presence, it was the only reason he had told Kol of his lover's reincarnation when they'd threatened to leave him as he deserved upon waking from the daggered slumber. It was the first time they'd been united in centuries but Klaus' desperate need for loyalty had destroyed that too.
He'd reeled Kol back in with the news of Renata's most recent rebirth. Reeled Rebekah and Finn in with the news of their mother's coffin having been stolen for nefarious purposes. Which in turn caught Elijah, his unending quest to redeem Klaus dooming him once more.
Klaus had been forced to confess the truth about their mother's death and the subsequent way in which he'd preserved her to convince the others, not that Kol had cared.
His mother had been dead for a millennium now and he'd always been closer to father as a witch. A dynamic that had shifted in the millennia that he'd hunted him for.
But nevertheless, they'd once more been embroiled in Nik's latest folly. If it hadn't been for Bonnie, Kol wouldn't have stuck around to see how this one was going to end. And Klaus had used that knowledge against him. Bastard.
He'd intended to go about it slowly, use that easy charm to warm her to him before he initiated the unlocking of her memories. He knew how it worked by now, direct eye contact initiated by the reincarnated held without duress for a minute, just long enough for her magic to recognize him. Magic was awfully pedantic like that.
His impulsivity had always been his downfall though, he remembered Renata saying as much, a trait only heightened as a vampire. He'd thrown caution to the wind when he'd entered the grill, intending to drain a bottle and maybe a few patrons dry, irritated by Nik's incessant paranoia, but he'd forgotten all about it upon seeing her there.
She wasn't doing anything remarkable, he supposed. But just the sight of her lost in thought stirred up memories within him that she didn't yet have. The thought had made him incensed, why should he be the only one burdened by their history? Why did she get to live free of the knowledge of lifetimes together while he suffered without her?
And before he could think it through he was striding across the grill and sliding into the seat opposite him. He could tell the moment she knew he was there, her magic brushing up against him unconsciously, assessing him even as she remained lost in thought. The sensation was so familiar that it eased some of his irritation just as unconsciously as she had performed the action.
He didn't speak though, he wanted her to look at him, to see him as he saw her. To see through to the very bones of him as she had in every incarnation.
His wish was granted as she looked up from her drink, that direct eye contact already putting things in motion. He managed to suppress the shiver of dark satisfaction that it caused. But he couldn't stop himself from making vague taunting remarks, wanting to see that fire in her eyes that had delighted him even as a boy just as it fed the beast now. She didn't disappoint.
So while he may have hoped to slowly work towards the unravelling of all that she held to be true so that she may finally know who she really was, he couldn't deny that he was happy with the outcome. Would likely enjoy the fire that came in the form of accusations when the dreams started too.
He was looking forward to it all playing out, perhaps he could even forgive Nik for his dirty tricks.
~x~
Bonnie thought nothing more of the interaction with the stranger at the grill as she arrived home that evening. She'd chalked it up to drunkard playing games, no more no less. Mystic Falls wasn't short on creeps.
The house was silent when she stepped through. Her dad was at work and Abby had decided against staying at the family home, her dad didn't even know she was back in town.
Sighing, she flipped on the entry hall light. She could do nothing for the silence that clung to the building but she could at least banish the darkness. She toed her shoes off, dropping her bag down next to them. She padded into the lounge pulling out one of her grimoires intent on finding any spells that may help with their coffin dilemma. It was beginning to become a problem juggling school and witch business but she had little choice in that matter so there was no use fixating on it.
Flipping through page after page of aged parchment and Latin incantations, none of it seemed to be any use. The coffin had to have been sealed with more than just a simple sealing spell otherwise it'd have opened ages ago she was certain of it. But without knowing what lay within they couldn't know where else to look.
She was startled out of her reading hours later by the snapping of twigs outside. Cautiously she made her way over to the window only to find nothing. It was probably a bird, she reasoned. Nonetheless, she let a wave of magic unfurl around the house to assess for danger. She received only a wave of reassuring calm in return. Unconvinced, she closed the curtains and made her way up the stairs to bed. She needed to get her rest if she was to ever open that coffin.
~x~
She was running through the woods, dragged along by the hand in hers. She couldn't see their face but she instinctively knew she was safe with them.
"Come on, Renata." The boy pulling her along urged playfully.
And though it was unfamiliar Bonnie knew it to be her name, the why she could discern. She passed it off as dream nonsense.
"Where are we going?" She laughed in turn.
"You'll see." He teased.
Bonnie wished she could see his face, could practically envision the cheeky grin that would reside there. Why? She didn't know but she just knew with a bone-deep certainty that it would.
They stopped in a clearing of wildflowers, the afternoon sun overhead providing them ample light for whatever he'd planned.
"For why have you dragged me here?"
Though she knew there would be consequences for abandoning her day's chores she couldn't find it in her to care, he always had the best surprises. She brushed her hands off on her long cotton dress to hide her eager smile from his view.
"I wanted to show you something."
"You know what will happen if our mothers find us." But even as she said it she was flopping down onto the grass beside him.
"No one will find us here." He declared smugly.
She looked up at him with a raised brow, Bonnie didn't recognize the boyish face before her, yet part of her was adamant it was familiar.
"Not even your brothers?" She asked with cautious disbelief.
"Not even them, I've cloaked this place for us." He grinned at her, mischievous and proud.
"Tell me you didn't?" She gaped.
"I did."
She pushed him into the grass, he fell back willingly even getting settled to stare at the clouds.
"You know we're not allowed to practice magic unsupervised."
He shrugged, "How else are we to learn? Your mother is too busy mentoring mine for either of them to be fully dedicated to our studying of magic."
She didn't want to admit that he was right, but he had a point. Their mothers were awfully busy but she wasn't about to admit that out loud. He had a mischievous streak and was drawn to trouble, such an admission would only encourage him. Instead, she turned the conversation back to the reason why he'd brought them out here.
"What did you want to show me then?"
From the eager way he sat back up she should have known that whatever he wanted to show her was likely cause for trouble.
He took her hands in his. One clasped in his own, the other he positioned palm up under his other. With closed eyes he spoke an enchantment she didn't catch. She felt the familiar warmth of magic running through her veins travelling down her arm, down her hand and into his, his responding magic flowing into her palm, completing the circuit.
She watched as a green tendril sprouted from his upright palm. Slowly it grew upwards, the unfurling of a leaf telling her it was in fact a stem. The stem stretched upwards until a crimson rose blossomed. Bonnie gaped at the flower they'd grown together.
He opened his eyes, eager for her reaction. Realising this must mean the spell was over, she lifted her hand out from underneath his, fingers involuntarily stretching towards the flower. Lowering her clasped hand to her lap he plucked the flower from his palm, not a mark left in its place, as if a flower hand had never grown from his skin.
"For you." He offered the flower with a gentle smile.
She took it with two careful hands unable to control the reverence in which she felt towards it. She lifted her gaze from the perfectly formed petals to meet his.
"I love it, Kol."
Just as I love you, went unsaid between them. They were still young, the other villagers would tell them. Fifteen was no age to know of love.
"Well it's not quite as pretty as you, but it's a start." He grinned.
She chuckled, shoving his shoulder again, careful to keep the flower out of harm's way.
"Renata!" Echoed a familiar voice through the trees, causing her eyes to widen. Oh, they were in so much trouble.
"Kol!" Called another equally familiar voice.
"It seems our mothers have noticed our absence, time to run." He grinned tugging her up by her hand.
She fought to keep the laughter that wanted to bubble free behind closed lips, knowing it would only alert their mothers to their hiding spot. Nothing good came from following Kol but by the gods was it fun.
~x~
Bonnie was exhausted the next day. She tried to pay attention to the math lesson happening around her but she was struggling to just keep her eyes open let alone listen. The confusing dream had left her drained despite her intentions of being well-rested. She had yet to recover from the sleepless nights of coffin dreams and now this? She was going to snap; she just knew it.
She shifted the hand that was keeping her head propped up to massage her temples as a headache began to brew there. As she did so the teacher slapped a worksheet onto her desk, she barely glanced at it from the corner of her eye before she let them slide close.
God, she couldn't do this right now. She glanced up at the clock at the front of the classroom. Four hours to go. She barely suppressed a groan as she slumped down in her seat.
Four hours had never seemed so much like a lifetime.
~x~
He was supposed to have been at the house Nik had built for them pushing his brother's buttons but the magic that bound him to another had tugged him out the door and down the streets instead. He hadn't tried particularly hard to fight it, he was curious after all. It felt stronger this time - the magic between them - or perhaps the century in a box had just made him more sensitive to it. He couldn't say for sure.
He watched from the cover of the trees as she sent a wave of magic into her surroundings. He felt as it caressed his skin before retreating.
He'd been watching her flick through grimoires for half an hour already at least before he'd become overcome with the need to notify her of his presence. He was a vampire, the perfect predator she would never know he was there if he hadn't wanted her to. But he'd wanted to. Wanted to feel the way her magic brushed along every one of his nerve endings as it sought out a threat.
It was the closest he came to feeling the way practicing magic used to make him feel anymore. And it was only her magic that caressed him the way her hands had done in so many of her lives. The only one whose magic set him alight and made him feel alive.
He'd torched whole cities in an attempt to find anything close to the way she made him feel. It hadn't. But the destruction had sustained the beast beneath his breast for a time.
Pulling himself from his thoughts, he listened as she headed upstairs, likely having realised the hour. He tuned out as he focused on his surroundings, he knew her magic had found nothing but him but he wanted to be sure. Though there was little more dangerous than he, it didn't hurt to be certain.
Nik would give him hell if he knew he was playing guard dog. He would have to feed before he went back to give him an excuse for his absence. After all, he hadn't fed at the grill earlier today as he'd intended.
The rustling of her sheets as she crawled into bed had him tuning his senses back onto her. It didn't take long for her to breathing to slow as she fell asleep. It wouldn't be long before the memories started to bleed into her dreams now. He needed to get out of there before he felt the magic of her memories unlocking, he hadn't succeeded at restraining himself in its presence thus far.
Hopefully, a bite to eat would be enough to distract him from the unravelling magic.
~x~
Bonnie wasn't sure how much more of this she could take, the bizarre dreams were occurring every night now. It was always the same two people Renata - who she knew to be her - and the brown-haired boy Kol. She knew the dreams had to be the result of magic could tell from the way they left her drained and her magic unruly. Someone was doing this to her and she was determined to find out who.
Unfortunately, she had yet to figure out a way to do that other than to let the dreams play out until they revealed something useful as her psychic dreams eventually did.
~x~
"Ren! Renata! Renata, where are you!?"
Renata sniffled as she sat curled up in the grass listening to Kol call for her. She had hoped nobody would find her but she was glad that it was him.
"I'm over here." She mumbled, tugging on the magic that bound them together so he'd be able to find her.
She'd chosen to wallow in their special clearing. She was grateful that Kol had been right all those years ago that nobody would find it. Kol's magic was strong on its own but together they'd reinforced it over the years. Though it was easy to keep something hidden when nobody knew to look for it.
"I've been looking for you everywhere. The sun is going to set soon, we must go to the caves before the wolves change." Kol panted as he burst into their clearing.
"What point is there? Let the wolves tear me apart." She mumbled into her knees as she stared blankly at the wildflowers before her.
How could they sit there so beautiful and perfect when the world was rotten and cruel?
Kol dropped down to his knees before her, breaking her venomous gaze with the innocent flowers, he grasped her hands with frantic urgency.
His face was different now, matured, no longer a boy but a young man but she knew this one. The stranger who'd told her drunken vagaries. This was his doing. But her startling realisation did nothing to break her free of the dream, she was powerless to stop it. She had to watch it unfold.
"Don't say that. I won't let you do that to yourself, I'll fight off the whole pack if I have to." He told her vehemently as he held eye contact with her trying to ensure that she knew he was serious.
She gave a wry smile, "I'm not going to let you do that."
"Nor will I let you serve yourself up to those savages."
"They're our neighbors Kol." She gently reminded him.
He dropped one of her hands to caress his cheek.
"I don't care for them though, only you. Tell me what happened?"
She dropped her gaze to her lap as her eyes welled with tears. She pressed her lips together trying to keep them at bay but it was no use.
"It's Viggo. He didn't return from battle, Sigurd came to tell mother this morning that he'd died." Kol wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to his chest as she wept. "My brothers dead so I see no reason why I shan't join him."
"Listen, listen to me, Renata. You're hurting and it's understandable. But so is your mother and so are your other brothers as is your sister. It will break their hearts to lose you too. It would break my heart. Your mother is a powerful witch but even she cannot raise two children from the dead."
Squeezing her eyes shut she clutched at his tunic. She knew he was right. It would destroy her mother to lose another child. She was already blaming herself for not providing more enchantments to keep Viggo safe in battle. Renata would not add to her grief nor would she cause Kol's.
She took another moment to gather herself before she pulled away from his embrace sniffling. He watched her with frightened eyes, wary about what she planned on doing. She gave him a watery half-smile, all that she could manage at the moment.
"Let's head to the caves before Finn is sent after us."
Kol gave her half-smile, but the worry didn't leave his eyes. He stood, offering her his hand which she linked with his easily, it was practically habitually at this point.
"Better Finn than Father." He tried to joke but the usual mischievous twinkle in his eye was missing.
"Your father is a force to be reckoned with."
"As is your mother. Mother wishes she was half the witch that Ayana is."
"Don't we all."
Bonnie jolted awake with a gasp, finally free from the dream. What the hell was going on? Why was she dreaming of Ayana's daughter? Why did she share her face? And why was that stranger there?
She'd hoped for answers but all she had was more questions.
A/N: NEW WIP! Yeah I'm supposed to be packing up my dorm for my flight tomorrow but I've had Kennett on the brain lately and I just had to bash this out immediately so here it is double update cus the prologue was essentially just a teaser. Wanted to try something a lil different so reincarnation. Let me know your thoughts in the comments :)
