AUTHOR'S NOTE: Lmao ok I love you guys. The fact that I actually got abbreviated cursing in a review as reaction to certain events of last chapter made me grin so hard. Tells me I'm doing it just right ;-) The madness continues and I make no promises if anyone lives or dies. All depends on the story flowing where it will. I've been asked a few times how long I plan to make this story, how many chapters, and honestly it depends where the story goes. This thing basically writes itself in one jumbled up mess that then mentally organizes itself on the page hehe. I've written the middle of a chapter before and then gone in and added the beginning and end after. My process is... Sporadic really. Anyways enough of my coffee induced babbling. On with the story!

DISCLAIMER: No I don't own Elijah, Elena, or anything to do with that which is The Vampire Diaries series. This is just my version of it. ;-)

Bound By Blood

~Previously in Bound By Blood~

Sensing Klaus staggering even from this distance, Elena felt the slightest comfort that he would know something had happened. Focusing on the ties linking her to him, she sent one final plea praying that he would hear her. Save them, Klaus. Even if you can't save me. Save your family.

Going limp as Damon shoved her into the back of the car, she let the darkness take her away and knew no more.

Chapter 21 - Trust Yourself

Bonnie sighed with relief when the enchantment successfully attached to the bracelet. Smiling to herself, she picked up the glass of water Caroline had given her earlier and took a sip. Gasping as she was hit with a sudden chill, the glass fell from her hand and shattered. At the same time she heard a crash behind her and whirled around to see Klaus fall to his knees on the floor by the sofa holding his head. The crash had been the grimoire he'd been skimming through dropping on the coffee table.

Caroline shot forward and grabbed Klaus's shoulder. "Klaus? Klaus, what's wrong?" Shooting a confused look at Bonnie when he wasn't answering her, all the witch could do was helplessly shrug as she sagged against the table behind her. "Bonnie, what's going on? What happened?"

"I don't... I don't know, Care. I just did the spell on your bracelet and then... I don't know." Walking over the broken glass on shaky legs, Bonnie gave the blonde the bracelet and ordered her to put it on as she then knelt down in front of Klaus. "Klaus, can you hear me? Look at me, Klaus." Taking his hands in her own, Bonnie felt a lingering magic trace pass through her as she pulled them away from his face. "Look. At. Me," she ordered, waiting as he gradually stopped muttering to himself and lifted his eyes to meet hers. Seeing the anger mixed with fear clouding his eyes, she felt dread building inside her. "What happened?"

Remaining silent a moment as the message processed, Klaus clenched his hand into a fist. Stay strong, Elena. Everything will be fine. He didn't know if it worked, but he prayed it had. "Stefan and Damon are more reckless than we gave them credit for, Bonnie," he snarled, staggering to his feet to fall back onto the couch.

Eyebrows raising, Bonnie leaned back on her feet to look up at him as Caroline handed him a glass of whiskey before sitting next to him. "What does that mean? Reckless how?"

"Thanks love," he whispered, raising the glass in gratitude, before taking a long pull from the glass. Ignoring the burn as it went down, he let it rest on his knee as he regarded the two young women before him. "It means Stefan and Damon just attacked Finn at the old abandoned farmhouse... And likely took Elena with them from what she just said to me."

Gripping the corner of the table until her knuckles turned white, Bonnie was stunned. "What?"

"But- How?" Caroline demanded, panic setting in as she abruptly started pacing back and forth across the room. "How could they have known where they were? Weren't Kol and Rebekah with them? And Sage? What about Elijah? Stefan and Damon aren't strong enough to take on everyone at once."

Scrunching her nose up, Bonnie was lost as the end of what Klaus had said finally registered. "Wait, she told you? You can hear each other telepathically? Since when?"

Holding his hands up in a placating motion and to buy time, Klaus took a deep breath. "Ladies, ladies! If you'd let me speak, I'd be more than happy to answer your questions, but first can we please start making our way to my family? Perhaps then we'll know exactly what we're up against here."

As their mouths simultaneously snapped shut, the guilt was obvious on their faces.

"Yes, of course. Sorry, let's go," Caroline apologized, hurriedly grabbing her bag and their coats.

Bonnie narrowed her eyes at his evasive behavior, but simply nodded her head as she got up to get the grimoire off the table. The red trail on the map caught her eyes, and she bit her lip as she wondered what happened to Kol. Thinking on what Klaus had said about Elena speaking to him, she took a chance and closed her eyes focusing on thoughts of Kol. Please be alright. We're on our way. Opening her eyes, she waved her hand to put out the candles as she turned around to be met with Klaus' raised eyebrows and a knowing look on his face. Arching one in reply, she silently dared him to even try to question her right now. "What?"

Taking her warning for what it was, Klaus decided to let it go for the time being. He'd seen her face a moment before. Seems he'd be needing to have a talk with his baby brother at some point in the near future. Assuming he was even still capable of being spoken to. Expression clouding over at the possibility, he shook his head at the witch and stalked from the room. "Nothing."

Caroline and Bonnie shared a look, before the blonde rolled her eyes at his mood swings and they quickly followed him out to his car. Best not to push the hybrid more than necessary right now. Riding in silence, Caroline kept taking glances from the corner of her eyes as she sat half turned in the passenger seat. "Klaus..."

Flexing his fingers on the steering wheel, he kept his tone even. "Yes, Caroline?"

Waving off Bonnie's look of caution, Caroline tilted her head. "They'll be okay, you know that right? I mean, we know they're not dead or anything or well... We would be too," she whispered, looking down at her lap ashamed as she heard the steering wheel partly crack and Bonnie gasped. When will I learn to keep my mouth shut?

"Caroline!" Bonnie admonished, but Klaus shook his head at her in the mirror.

Easing his grip on the wheel, Klaus laughed lightly. "It's alright, Bonnie. Caroline does have a point." Reaching out with his right hand, he gently grasped Caroline's hand and stroked his thumb over the back of it reassuringly. When her eyes peeked out at him through her curls, he smiled at her. "I'm not mad, love. Thank you."

Shrugging sheepishly, she weakly smiled back. "Sorry."

"Don't be. Truly," he implored, squeezing her hand before reluctantly letting go. "That fact is the one thing we have to go on right now, I'm afraid."

"Wait, are you saying that's all you know?" Bonnie cut in, panic seizing her chest. "I thought you can all sense each other now or something! How did you hear Elena earlier?!"

Staring at the road ahead of him, Klaus was quiet for a few minutes "We can, Bonnie, but I'm afraid the problem is I can't sense anything from anyone at this very moment. As for Miss Elena, I am as lost as you are with that development. As far as I'm aware, only Elijah, Rebekah, and Kol were able to communicate with her through their thoughts. Finn and myself can sense her emotions and she ours, but we've never spoken to her telepathically before now. Something's changed."

Fingers digging into the cover of the grimoire in her lap, Bonnie slumped against the back of the seat. "So... You have no idea what we're driving into do you?" she wheezed out.

"That would appear to be the case." Taking in their fearful faces, he pulled himself upright. "I won't lie to either of you. We could possibly be driving directly into a trap, but they're my family... I can't just leave them to die."

"We wouldn't expect you to." Caroline was quick to assure him. Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders as the field came into view. "I won't let you face this alone."

Quietly admiring her friend's bravery, Bonnie only had to think of Elena and Kol to push the fear back. "Neither will I. We're all in this together now."

Holding their breath as the car pulled to a stop halfway up the gravel path, they all jumped when Klaus's phone started blaring classical music at them. Digging it out of his jacket, he was confused to see Sage's name on the screen. "Sage? Where-"

"Why can't I reach Finn?" Sage demanded, cutting him off. Jerking the steering wheel to the side, she ignored the boy cringing in the passenger seat as she narrowly missed slamming his truck into a van on his right. "Something doesn't feel right. I've been calling him the last five minutes, and it goes straight to voicemail."

Putting it on speaker for the sake of the Bennett witch, Klaus saw Caroline's concerned gaze as he held a finger to his lips motioning for them to stay quiet. Not knowing whether to trust what he was hearing or not, he pretended to be clueless. "Calling Finn? Where are you?"

"I'm on my way back to the house with Matt Donovan. Why?" Breathing deeply through her nose, Sage let the car idle at a red light for the sake of not causing the human to drop over dead from shock.

Sucking air in between her teeth, Bonnie waited to see what Klaus would do next. This hadn't been part of the plan.

Holding his hand to his mouth in thought, Klaus avoided the question with one of his own. "Why do you have the boy with you, Sage? I thought you went with Finn to help retrieve Elijah."

Sage growled at his interrogation, knowing his routine all too well, and sharply turned around a curve in the road causing Matt to say a few choice words as they crossed into the forest trails. "Finn dropped me off in town so I could search for him before the Salvatore's could lay a hand on him. He was worried they'd attempt to harm Matt if they found out we were going to speak with him. I'm protecting him, alright?" She snapped into the speaker, her hands twisting back and forth around the steering wheel as the worry started taking over. "Now cut the crap, Niklaus Mikaelson! I've been bonded to your brother for over 900 years. In case you've forgotten, I knew when you daggered him. Don't you dare go playing this game with me. I know something's wrong!"

Cringing at the palpable fury coming from the redhead through the phone, Caroline shook her head at Klaus. "Just tell her, Klaus. You'd know by now if she was lying. We don't have time for this and we need her help."

Sighing, Klaus tapped his hands on the wheel before nodding to himself. "Forgive me, Sage. I had to be sure you were still working with us. We do have a bit of a predicament on our hands."

"Oh for heavens sake!" Bonnie cried out, snatching the phone from Klaus, making him scowl. "Sage, it's Bonnie. Meet us at the abandoned farmhouse as soon as you can. Something happened to the rest of the Mikaelson's and..." Trailing off, she closed her eyes at the next part. "Stefan and Damon may have abducted Finn and Elena. We don't know for sure yet."

'I know,' Klaus mouthed to her, but she held up her hand to tell him to be quiet as they heard tires squealing on the phone.

"Sage?" She prompted when the vampire remained silent.

Chest heaving as she pushed down the urge to go straight to the Boarding House and rip Damon Salvatore's heart out, Sage swerved the car down a side road through the trees, crossing to the other highway. "I'll be there soon, Bonnie... Thank you for telling me. Be careful."

"You too," Bonnie replied, hearing the line go dead and chucking the phone at Klaus. "Was that so hard?"

Snatching the phone from the air, he glowered at the young witch. "Apologies, Miss Bennett, but it's my family's lives at stake here. I had to be sure."

"And Elena's," Caroline hissed, as she kicked her car door open and stepped out. "Can you two please stop your bickering? We have more important things to worry about like actually finding out what happened."

Eyeing each other, Klaus and Bonnie called a truce, as they joined Caroline on the trek up the gravel road.

Shuddering as she felt the air around her, Bonnie held tight to the book in her hands. "Can you guys feel that?"

"Feel what?" Caroline asked, looking confused, as Klaus kept glancing at their surroundings the closer they got to the house.

"Magic, love. Dark magic," Klaus answered for Bonnie, kneeling down to survey the scuffed up trail. It was obvious there'd been a fight. The question was how serious was it? "Finn, where are you?" He muttered, letting the rocks fall from his hand.

"He can't hear you right now, brother," Kol groaned as he started coming to, struggling to sit up.

Bonnie ran up the steps, hissing slightly as her skin burned crossing the steps, brushing it off in favor of making sure everyone was okay. "Easy, Kol, take it slow," she advised, holding his shoulders as he pushed himself back against the exterior wall of the house beneath the window to hold himself up.

"Oh my god..." Caroline gasped, flashing towards the porch to help Rebekah and Elijah. No one was expecting for her to get thrown back ten yards.

"Caroline!" Klaus and Bonnie cried simultaneously, the blonde coughing as the dust settled around her.

"Owww," Caroline groaned, pushing herself up on her elbows.

The hybrid knelt down and started checking her over. "Are you alright?" Running his hand down her arm, he noticed a gash that was already healing.

"I'm fine. Just a bruised ego," she grumbled, accepting his help in getting to her feet. Huffing at the blood stain and torn sleeve, she shrugged it off her shoulders. "As well as a ruined jacket." Dusting off her pants, she glared at the house which had caused said damage. "What was that?"

"Bloody hell," Rebekah cursed interrupting Klaus' response, grabbing her head as she tried to lift herself off the wooden floorboards. Squinting at Caroline's ruffled appearance, she was confused. "What happened to you, Forbes?"

"The same thing that's keeping us in here, Bekah," Kol sighed as his head sagged against Bonnie's shoulder. "Magic."

Feeling him trembling, she noticed sweat covering his face. "How do you feel?" she asked, inquiring as delicately as she could, knowing his reluctance to appear weak.

Trying to smile at the witch, it came out more of a grimace. "I've been better, darling. Just... Let me sit here a moment." Please, he added silently, exhaling as she squeezed his shoulders comfortingly.

"Take your time," she acquiesced, watching as Klaus and Caroline stood on the very edge of the porch where the barrier appeared to begin.

Too exhausted to stand on her feet, Rebekah slid on her knees over to where Elijah had just started waking up. "Elijah, can you hear me?" At his answering undignified grumble, she figured that was as good a sign as any.

Cautiously opening his eyes to see Rebekah hovering over him, Elijah felt like he could barely move. "Rebekah? Where's Kol?"

"Right behind you, brother," Kol mumbled, tapping his hand on the wood for good measure.

Elijah turned his head to the side to see his little brother propped up against the Bennett girl. Frowning at how abnormally pale Kol was, he noticed two others were missing. "Where's Finn?" When they wouldn't meet his eyes, his heart hammered in his chest. No... Surely not... They couldn't have... Staring at the forlorn faces around him, he had to know. "And Elena?" At Kol's solemn shake of the head, his hands curled into fists. "Dammit!" He yelled, punching his hand through the wooden boards. "I failed her... Again," he whispered as he hung his head.

Rebekah's eyes burned as she tried to console her brother. "I'm sure she's alright. We don't know what happened, Elijah." Grabbing his forearm, she squeezed lightly. I'm sorry. We'll find them I promise.

Throat aching with emotion, Sage stopped a few feet from the porch as Matt decided to hang back a little feeling wary of so many vampires. "So it's true then? They took Finn?" Her voice cracked, as she felt guilt eat away at her insides. "I should've been here. I could've helped him."

"Or you could've ended up like us or worse, Sage," Kol grunted, contradicting her. "Finn wouldn't want that to happen," he continued, his voice tired, but resolute in that belief. "If you died... I daresay Finn wouldn't survive it."

"That may be, Kol, but seeing as Finn isn't here, and we have no idea where they've taken him, that doesn't exactly help me much," Sage snapped, only reining it in at Klaus's warning glance.

"Actually..." Caroline interrupted quietly, drawing everyone's attention. "That might not be entirely true. Klaus may know where to find them. Which, if he's right," chuckling nervously, she stepped partly behind him at Sage's angry gaze. "Is part of our problem."

Gingerly standing up with Rebekah's assistance, Elijah crossed his arms. "Care to explain, Niklaus?"

Mouth opening and closing, Klaus was grateful there was a barrier separating them at the moment. "It's a bit of a strange thing, Elijah... As you already know, Elena can speak with Kol, Rebekah, and yourself telepathically."

"Yes, and?" Narrowing his eyes, Elijah had a sneaking suspicion where this was going.

"Well, the thing is...," Klaus tried to stall, but Caroline digging her elbow into his side urged him onward. "I believe Elena spoke to me earlier during the attack. She warned me you all were in danger."

"What?!" Rebekah shrieked, immediately lowering her voice at Kol's groan. "Since when did you give Elena your blood, Nik?!"

Holding up his hands as an extra although unnecessary buffer between Elijah and himself, Klaus took a step back at the barely concealed rage in his brother's eyes. "I swear to you, Elijah, I didn't. I have no idea how she managed it, but I promise you I never gave her my blood. That moment of telepathy earlier was the first and only time it's ever happened. You know I would never do that unless absolutely necessary for her well-being."

Hands clenching and unclenching, Elijah searched his brother's eyes for any sign of deceit. Not finding any, and only seeing pure honesty, the tension in his posture dissipated. "Very well, but that still doesn't explain how it happened."

Tilting her head as she realized Bonnie was already on the porch next to Kol. Sage carefully stepped around Klaus and Caroline, stopping next to the hybrid as she reached out her hand to the air in front of them. "No, but this does."

Eyes widening, Caroline tried to warn her. "Sage, don't!" When the redhead's hand merely stopped as if hitting a wall, without repelling her across the field, Caroline was stunned. "How did you-"

Smirking, Sage shrugged her shoulders. "Admittedly, part of it is my age nullifying it. The other reason, is personal experience with this kind of spell when I was a human." Cringing at the girl's scuffed up appearance, Sage could sympathize and smiled when she noticed the sparkling band on the young girl's arm. "The first time I encountered it as a vampire, I had about the same result as you did if not a bit worse. That metal band around your wrist saved you from a lot more pain believe me. Only certain people are able to cross the barrier as they please." Waving her hand at Bonnie, Sage concluded with, "She proves as much."

Understanding where Sage was going with her explanation, Bonnie felt disgusted with her kind. "Only a witch can cross through the barrier, right?" Remembering the momentary pain earlier, she frowned. "Yet, if we're allowed to pass, then why did it feel like it was burning me?"

"Light and Dark Magic don't exactly agree with each other mingling in case you hadn't noticed, Bonnie. The spell can technically still prevent you from entering if your magic doesn't balance out, but in this case there were exceptions." Catching Kol's eye and the shift of his head, Sage provided an alternative to her original point. "The extraordinary amount of magic you now have being one of them."

"Enough with the chitchat! Can you please get us out already?" Rebekah moaned, leaning against the porch railing. Only it wasn't Sage that Rebekah was looking at. It was Bonnie.

"Me?" Bonnie gaped, as everyone turned to stare at her. "I don't... I don't practice black magic, Rebekah. I've never done this spell before."

Kol started chuckling beside her, squeezing her shoulder gently as he gripped the window ledge above them to pull himself up. "No, Bonnie, but you have done the Spirits version. I've seen as much. Different source, same mechanics, sweet." Glaring at the shimmering wall that he could now see, he tapped his hands on his legs. "And I would dearly love to get off this retched porch. Up you get, Miss Bennett," he coaxed, offering the hand to her that wasn't currently gripping the ledge for support.

Snorting as Kol's demeanor clearly seemed to be returning just fine, Bonnie accepted his help, while subtly using her other hand to push herself up to not cause him as much strain. At his perturbed expression, she knew he'd seen her making her scowl in return. Oh give me a break, Kol. We just found all of you barely conscious after Klaus almost blacked out at the house from the attack. We didn't know what we would find when we got here. I'm allowed to be concerned, alright? Sheesh. Rolling her eyes at him, she set the grimoire on the ledge next to him, pushing back the relief she still felt coursing through her at finally knowing he was alright. Feeling his eyes on the side of her face, she averted her gaze to the ground as she turned to take in the invisible wall separating everyone.

Perplexed at her sudden shift in attitude towards him, Kol took in her fidgeting hands, worried lip, partially elevated heart rate, and shallow breathing. This had scared her more than she was willing to admit. When she looked at the floor as she went to walk away, Kol wrapped his fingers lightly around her wrist. Bonnie, wait. Her brief hesitation in her steps and the tensing of her shoulders was the only indication she heard him, but she shook her head and pulled away from him before he could speak.

"Everyone ready to get out of here?" She asked, actively ignoring the knowing looks that she was receiving from the rest of the Mikaelson's and Sage. Biting her lip, she focused on the older woman as she felt Kol come up beside her, while Rebekah and Elijah respectfully backed out of the way to allow her to work. "You mentioned having personal experience with this spell. Any advice here?"

Running her hand through her short red locks, Sage could only come up with one. "It's not going to be pleasant for you, but physical contact with it may be necessary in this case."

"Fannnntastic," Bonnie grumbled, as she cautiously lifted her hands to the air in front of her as the others quickly backed away inside and outside the barrier. Kol wouldn't leave her side. "Kol, move," Bonnie ordered, growling when he raised his eyebrows expectantly in a challenge. "Move or I'll make you, Mikaelson," she snapped, trying to get him a safe distance away.

Sensing her brother's stubbornness was rearing its head, Rebekah wrapped her hand around his arm and tugged him back. "Oh just let the girl work, Kol!" At his answering glower, she waved her arm at everyone that was there. It's not like we're going to let anything happen to her. She can do this. Trust her.

His gaze going back to the young witch before them, Kol's eyes took on a darker hue than normal of late. Part worry, and quite a bit of anger besides. It wasn't hard to guess who the latter was directed at after the last few hours. I do, Bekah. I'm just worried. Esther was the one to cast it, I'm sure of it. If the spell did this to us... What could it do to her?

"Everything will be fine," Rebekah quietly assured him, nodding to Klaus and Elijah who responded in kind. They all could tell that Kol had grown quite attached to Bonnie Bennett over the last few weeks. That fact, in itself, brought risks. They had collected many enemies over the years with Esther and Mikael being at the top of that list. It was up to them to make sure that she was protected. Smiling at the nervous witch, Rebekah breathed in deep to calm her own nerves. "Ready whenever you are, Bonnie."

Gulping, Bonnie took one final step closer to the spelled wall, delicately touching her fingertips against it. "Here goes." Pushing the palms of her hands flat against it, Bonnie felt a jolt as the magic started surrounding her. Her hands started tingling, but she ignored it. She could do this. She had to. Finn and Elena were counting on them.

Keeping completely still as his eyes slid open, Finn was disoriented as he took in the brick walls surrounding him. Hearing shallow breathing to his left, he rushed over to the metal bars. Elena's unconscious form was in the cell next to him. Gripping the bars, he tried to bend them, but it was no use, and he felt a dull sting where his skin touched the metal. Something was blocking his strength. Stretching his arm between the bars as far as it could go, his fingertips just barely brushed her wrist. Her pulse was slow but steady. It was too dangerous to speak to her. He could hear the Salvatore's roaming around somewhere above him. Elena. Elena, dear, wake up. She didn't move, and he thought it hadn't worked as it had been a long shot to begin with. Then her fingers just barely curled against the ground.

Finn? Blinking her eyes rapidly, Elena slid her head to the right as she extended her arm so she locked hands with Finn. Are you alright? How's your head? As the last few minutes caught up with her, she was shocked. Wait, how can I hear you?

Patting her hand, Finn leaned against the bars separating them. I'm fine, Elena. A bit of a headache, but I'll heal. No need to fret over that. I'm more concerned with how you are doing. You took the hit just as much as I did. Debating how best to answer her other inquiry, he was just as lost as she was. I'm afraid I don't have an explanation for the telepathy. Im still rather unclear as to the how and why of it myself as I've never had to heal you. Nonetheless, I do believe it to be a blessing under our current circumstances.

Moving as quietly as she could, Elena slid up against the bars next to him. I suppose you're right. Honestly, I feel like I got sat on by an elephant. My body hurts all over, but well I guess that's the impact it would have on a human.

Furrowing his eyebrows at that description, Finn couldn't for the life of him understand why anyone would want to know what it would feel like to be sat on by an elephant.

Sensing his confusion through the link, Elena stifled a laugh. It's just a saying, Finn. Don't take it so literally.

Apologies, Elena. It appears there are still some things I have yet to learn about this century. Looking towards the heavens, Finn was yet again aware of all that he had missed, and would undoubtedly be made to catch up on by Rebekah and Kol. He knew now how very wrong he was to have tried to assist Esther. His family wasn't perfect, nor had they ever been, but they deserved the chance to live just as much as the humans did. He'd make it up to them any way he knew how. If he ever got to see his family again... Or Sage... The thought of never seeing her again after being apart so long was more painful than he could imagine. Elena tugged on his hand.

You will see them again, Finn. I promise. Klaus wasn't immune to the attack. He'll know something happened by now, and so will Bonnie and Caroline. Sage wasn't with us, so we have that on our side at least, for her sake and ours. They'll come up with a plan. If I've learned anything about your brother, it's that he always has a plan. Kol, Rebekah, and Elijah will be fine. She didn't know whether that last line was more for him or herself.

One can only hope, Elena. I'm sure you're right about Niklaus, but... One can only hope. Not wanting to linger on the negative side of things, he tried reaching out to Sage, but, yet again, something was interfering. None of this made any sense. He just prayed she was safe.

Scanning the shimmering lines in front of her, Sage moved back closer to Bonnie. "Breathe, Bonnie. Breathe and focus. Reverse the spell. You know what to do. " She didn't doubt the girl's abilities, but she wasn't about to test Esther's boundaries on torturing someone with magic. Especially someone who could very well surpass her powers, but wasn't aware of it yet.

Eyes clamping shut at Sage's encouragement, Bonnie forced herself to concentrate. Searching for the weak point, as Grams had taught her, Bonnie growled when she recognized the magical trail left behind. How could that thing be considered even human?! These were her children! You won't win this time, Esther. You took my mother, you will not take anyone else!

Spreading her hands apart in front of her, Bonnie uttered the final word of the incantation and felt a snap as the magic glass shattered before her eyes. Stumbling backwards, her boot caught on the wood. Two sets of arms deftly caught her before she hit the ground, and she looked up to see Kol and Rebekah kneeling on either side of her as they helped her sit down. Panting harshly, Bonnie nodded at Sage as the woman came to stand by her feet. "Thank you, Sage."

Smiling wistfully, Sage inclined her head. "You did well. Trust in yourself and your abilities above all else. When you do that, anything is possible."

"I'll remember that," Bonnie promised, hissing as she felt her hands throb. Looking down at them, the palms of her hands were pink and the sleeves of her shirt partly singed. Blowing her hair out of her face, she was careful to keep her hands elevated. "By the way, guys... No offense, but... Esther is a damn lunatic."

Pursing her lips together as she saw the condition Bonnie was in, Rebekah sighed and agreed as she felt her own energy returning now that the spell was broken. "None taken, Bennett. I'll be the first in line to agree with you there." Gently holding the girl's left elbow, she pulled her feet under herself for leverage. "Can you stand?"

"I think so, yeah. Just help me up, please, I can't exactly use my hands right now," she quipped as she wiggled her fingers for emphasis. Once her feet were under her again, Bonnie was abruptly pulled into a tight hug by Caroline. "Whoa. Care, it's okay. I'm okay. Just a little burned," she consoled her friend who had her head buried in her shoulder.

"I know, I know," Caroline sniffled as she pulled back, resting her hands on Bonnie's shoulders. "Its just with Elena missing and everything..." Pausing as Elijah made a strangled sound as he turned away from everyone and Klaus went to speak with him, she looked back at her friend. "I can't bear the thought of losing you too, Bonnie."

Hugging her friend one last time, Bonnie managed a small smile. "I'm not going anywhere, Caroline. I promise." Biting her lip, she stepped back to speak with everyone. "As for Elena and Finn missing, well, that's not exactly true anymore."

Spinning around, Elijah fixed his eyes on her. "Explain, please."

Beaming at him and Sage, Bonnie shrugged her shoulders. "I know where they are, Elijah, but," she added when he went to demand a location, "We need a plan first." Motioning to the house, Bonnie used it as a prime example. "Whatever magic Esther is using now is no joke. Rushing into this blind will only put them in more danger."

"She's right, Elijah," Klaus backed her up, clasping his brother around the shoulders. "We'll get them back, but you know we have to be careful."

"Starting with removing the bond from the four of you before we go anywhere near Stefan and Damon," Bonnie supplied, grabbing the grimoire off the window, steadfast in avoiding Kol's gaze as the vampire's expression only grew more frustrated.

"The four of them?" Caroline asked, feeling more and more lost by the second. "What about Elena and Finn?"

Frowning as she recalled the spell she'd found in the grimoire, Bonnie shook her head at her friend. "Esther was very thorough when she cast that spell. The ball was a ruse because she needed to have everyone together in the same room for it to work. To undo it isn't as complicated, but it does require a physical connection to the caster or the blood of every being affected by the spell. Seeing as we're down two people, the blood option won't work. I can only unbind them once they're free. Until then all I can do is give everyone a bit of a larger safety net."

Sage cut off the protests the minute the Mikaelson's opened their mouths. "It's a risk we have to take. I'm not happy about what it could mean for Finn, and I imagine Bonnie is even less so. This is her best friend's life we're talking about. Let her do what she can to protect everyone to be able to get them back. Which I believe would best be done in private, back at the house."

"Why not here? The quicker it's done, the sooner we get to kick Stefan and Damon's arses and send Esther back to hell," Rebekah finished gleefully, as everyone chose to ignore the fact that she was talking about the woman that used to be the mother of most of the people present. That term no longer held any endearment for them when tied to Esther. A mother doesn't repeatedly try to murder her children... Again.

Refusing to budge, Sage helped Bonnie down the steps seeing that she was still a bit shook up from the spell recoil. Handing her off to Matt, who hugged the petite girl tightly, Sage tilted her head in the direction they were walking towards his car. "Because I think everyone needs a few minutes to recover, Rebekah, and anything could happen if we tried to break the link out here. Esther's already marked this place once. Until that's been cleared out, anything could happen." Happy that they seemed to be listening for a change as they all followed her away from the house to the cars, Sage muttered under her breath, "We don't need any more surprises today."

"I wholeheartedly agree." Kol appeared at her side as his eyes stayed fixed on Bonnie as the young witch was helped into the truck by Matt.

Sighing at the fact that in some ways the man beside her appeared to still have things to learn despite his age, Sage shook her head. "Give her time, Kol. This wasn't easy for her. You of all people should understand that."

Frowning at the cheap shot she'd taken, he hissed at her as he kept his voice low. "Of course I understand, Sage. That's why I'm worried. For her sake and Elena's. What if this is putting too much strain on them? Or have you forgotten about Meghan entirely?"

Wincing at his biting words, Sage regretted pushing him as it was now obvious he knew exactly what was going on. "You know I haven't," she mumbled, eyes on the ground. "She was my cousin... Even after everything that happened back then, Meghan was family." Clearing her throat, she pulled on his arm to get him to stop. "I know you have doubts, Kol. I know you're afraid of what this could lead to, and don't try to deny it. I saw you earlier. I may not be family by blood, but I've known you longer than anyone else has besides your siblings. Trust that this time things will be better. We all know what to watch for now. Or as much as we can at this point." When he looked back toward everyone waiting by the cars, she turned his face back to her. "I promise you, we will do everything in our power to keep them safe. Trust your siblings. Trust me. Trust yourself."

The fact that she'd given the same advice to Bonnie earlier wasn't lost on him. Sage could read anyone like an open book. He supposed he really hadn't been paying attention to how obvious his affections were becoming. Biting his lip, he crossed his arms. "I wish it were that simple. For their sake... And mine," he admitted softly. "This family has had enough heartache."

"If it were that simple, it wouldn't be what it is, Kol. What it is is something far more important and sacred. There are those who will help us who still believe in the old ways. Don't let your fear of the past keep you from fighting for this with every breath you have. Don't let it stop you living."

Sighing, he let the tension slide away as he acknowledged her words. "You're right. I know you're right." Expression softening as he saw Bonnie laughing at Matt, he was happy to see some things were still normal. "Let's go save Elena and Finn, shall we?"

Sage hummed in agreement and let him walk ahead. As she watched him hop into Klaus's Jeep after winking at Bonnie causing the girl to huff and look away at Caroline, she chuckled to herself darkly. "God himself won't be able to save whoever tries to put out their fire." Closing her eyes as the wind brushed her skin, she stopped next to the passenger door of the Jeep. We're coming, Finn. I won't lose you a second time. Wait for me, my love.

"Any day now, Sage," Klaus called out, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Glancing at him, she frowned in reply and slammed the door shut after she climbed in causing him to pout. "Let's go hunt some Salvatore's."

Pout disappearing into a maniacal grin, Klaus was grateful Caroline was in Donovan's truck with Bonnie so she wouldn't see how pleasing that idea was. Motioning with his arm out the window to signal the boy to follow him, Klaus pulled down the road as he whispered, "I couldn't agree more."