AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay everyone, sorry for that mishap with the chapter upload. I've never had it happen like that before. It was showing totally fine on the editting screen, and I've never had a problem with it before now. Anyways, I'm soooo happy you all liked the latest chapter! Thank you for sticking with it all these years. Looking at my previous files, I just realized I seriously finished the first chapter of this in 2012! I thought it was 2013, it all blended together after a while. With everything going on in the world right now, life is crazy for everyone, and I'm writing this when I can, so the chapters will still be a bit spread out on posting, but I assure you they're being written. The road ahead is bumpy for our favorite group of people, but we'll see how it goes. ;-)
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 on Bound By Blood~
Caroline stood there stunned as one of her best friends went barreling out of the room. Swiveling back around to see everyone's partially amused, partially afraid faces, she giggled nervously. "Ummm... We should probably..."
"Let's go!" Bonnie shouted from the front door making Caroline jump, as it slammed into the wall when she walked out.
"Yep, that! Hurry up people!" Caroline chirped, frantically pushing people up and out the door. Pissed off Bonnie Bennett was not a pleasant experience.
Chapter 24 - A Little Drained
Just as they were getting into the cars, Klaus caught everyone's attention when he abruptly grabbed Damon and Stefan's arms as they tried to pass him.
"Where do you two think you're going?" he inquired with eyebrows raised as his expression stayed stony.
Grunting as the hybrid's grip only got tighter when he tried to yank his arm free, Damon glared at him. "Where do you think? We're going with you to help Elena and Ric."
Head tilting to the side as he regarded the two younger vampires in front of him, Klaus slowly exhaled through his nose to keep his temper in check. He saw Rebekah and Kol coming up behind the two men from the corner of his eye as he didn't take his eyes off the Salvatore's. "Do enlighten us, Damon. Why would I ever consider allowing you to accompany us after everything that Stefan and yourself have done in the last two months, not only to my family, but to the lovely Elena as well? Hmm? What could possibly ever get me to agree to such an idea?"
Bristling at the reminder of what he'd been made to do while being none the wiser about having no control over it, Damon tried to think of anything to get Klaus to let go. "We didn't know your back from the dead mommy would have the "bright idea" of possessing us alright?" Stefan quietly groaned and covered his face with his hand. Damon would never learn not to bait them.
Bonnie rolled her eyes from her seat in the car as she jerked the grimoire open in her lap, quickly scanning the pages for a solution to get them moving. Glancing up briefly, she looked at Kol through the windshield. We really don't have time for this, Kol.
Knowing she was right, Kol tried to intercede for her, but Rebekah decided it was her turn to chew Damon out. Tipping his head back, Kol could only sigh in frustration. Oh come on, Bekah!
"Don't you mean possessing Stefan?" Rebekah asked, crossing her arms over her chest as Damon turned to glance at her. "Forgive me, Damon, but your brother was the only one Bonnie had to actually remove Esther from. I don't need to remind you of the fact that what happened six weeks ago was entirely in both your control to fix yet you chose not to until it was almost too late. So tell us, what's your excuse for what you've done since then? How do you explain what you did today?"
Hearing a ripping sound from the car, Kol glanced over to try to see what Bonnie was doing, but the seats blocked his view. Bonnie? Frowning slightly as she waved him off, he turned his attention back to the mess in front of him trying to figure out a way to end it.
"Look Blondie, I didn't ask for your input here," Damon hissed at Rebekah, ignoring Klaus' ever tightening hold on his arm. "If I had been in my right mind, I wouldn't have done it. If it wasn't for whatever freak witchy voodoo compulsion happened, I wouldn't have risked Elena like that...," he muttered, looking to the side in anguish. "Not after last time."
Klaus went to press him further, but Bonnie cut him off. "That's enough!" she snapped as she pulled herself out of the car and stomped over to them before briskly tying a band of fabric around Damon's wrist and then Stefan's. The bands glowed briefly before going back to the appearance of ragged cloth. "We don't have time for this constant fighting. Let them come, Klaus. The others need our help." Knowing he was going to protest, she leveled him with a glare. "Unless you want to have the same enchantment put on you as I just bound to them, I suggest you get in the car." Turning around, she twisted around the car door and got in the backseat again. "Now!"
Whistling quietly to himself, while grinning at his dear brother yet again being taken to task, Kol shrugged his shoulders at the group as he strode over to join Bonnie in Caroline's car as he called over his shoulder, "Might want to do what the lady says, Nik!"
Rebekah snickered at Klaus' stunned expression as she reached over and patted him on the shoulder. "Well done, Nik. Well done." Turning to Stefan and Damon, her expression sobered as she pointed to Klaus' car and stiffly ordered them to get in. "You two are with us, and I highly advise you don't try anything unless you want to see just how lethal a witch Bonnie Bennett can be." When they silently got in the backseat, she turned to her brother again. "You too, Nik," she called as she slid into the passenger seat.
Groaning, Caroline just shook her head at the whole situation as she tugged on her curls briefly before sighing and glancing at Klaus. "Just once, can you please not piss off one of my best friends? Please?" Huffing at him, she shook her head again and dashed around to get in her car, not wanting to push Bonnie any further.
Mouth opening and closing quietly, Klaus was utterly flabbergasted at being threatened twice in the same day by the same witch. Shoulders sagging in defeat, he grumbled to himself as he got in his car. Only his family had ever dared speak to him that way. Rebekah sympathetically clasped his arm as he got the car started and he just shook his head as he chuckled to himself as he grasped her hand briefly in response. Kol really is rubbing off on her.
Smiling softly at that, she could only agree. They're rubbing off on each other.
Klaus merely raised his eyebrows when he couldn't refute that statement as he led everyone out of the driveway. His family had finally started healing after all this time. He only hoped they could keep it that way.
Kol sat in the backseat with Bonnie, trying not to fidget or make it obvious how concerned he was as he took in her tired expression as she was leaned against the car door with her eyes closed. She'd been using magic nonstop since that morning. He knew she was stronger now, but how much more could she physically take? Caroline quietly clearing her throat pulled his attention to the rear view mirror. When she met his gaze, he frowned and discreetly tipped his head towards Bonnie in answer to her silent question.
Scrunching her eyebrows together, Caroline leaned up to see Bonnie in the mirror in the seat behind her. Seeing why Kol was so concerned, she called over her shoulder. "Hey, Bon?" Hearing the quiet hum in reply, Caroline chewed on her lip nervously. "You doing okay? It's been a bit of a busy day."
Sighing tiredly, Bonnie ran her hand through her hair as she raised her eyebrows at Kol knowing he was the one that prompted that question, before answering her friend. "I'm fine, Caroline. Really, you all need to stop worrying so much." Seeing Kol's answering frown at her response, she persisted. "I'm fine!"
Looking down at his hands, Kol wished he could trust that. His gut was telling him otherwise, but he couldn't push it any further. "Please just be careful, Bonnie," he whispered softly, as he looked away out the window ending his part in the conversation. He knew that if he was feeling the exhaustion creeping in that she was definitely feeling it by now. The difference being it could actually kill her. Closing his eyes briefly, he clenched his jaw tightly as he forced that thought from his mind. He wouldn't let that happen. Swallowing hard, he returned to staring out the window wondering what any of them ever did to deserve this much torment and uncertainty in their lives. Or was it just karmic retribution for the past?
Mouth hanging open at his abrupt dismissal, Bonnie wordlessly looked to Caroline for help. Her friend's eyebrows briefly rose to her hairline at what had just happened before she sighed and shook her head at Bonnie not knowing what she should do either.
Caroline understood Kol was worried, and knew he had every reason to be. Bonnie just wouldn't see that herself. Taking a risk at angering Bonnie further, she had to try. "I want to believe you, Bon, but no offense...," she hesitated at Bonnie's squinted gaze before smiling sheepishly and continuing. "You look like you're about to fall over at a moment's notice."
Moaning at Caroline's less than tactful way of saying she looked like crap, Bonnie huffed and crossed her arms as she looked out her car window irritated. She'd used more magic today than she had in weeks, and yeah, she was feeling a little frayed around the edges from it, but this was the people she cared about on the line here. They'd all taken risks today, herself included, why should this be any different? Frowning at the invisible nudge she received at that thought, she grimaced when she realized if nature was giving her a push, she needed to listen. Shifting her mouth to the side, Bonnie furtively glanced at Kol before she looked down at her hands. His tense posture and troubled expression said it all. Am I really being that unreasonable? She wondered to herself, cringing when she thought back on the argument she'd had with Kol just hours earlier about being careful only to then rush headlong into the Boarding House without thinking. Ugh, I'm such a hypocrite.
Clearing her throat to get their attention, Bonnie didn't need to lift her head to feel Kol's gaze shift back to her. She just knew when he did. Whatever had formed between them, was both unnerving yet calming at the same time. "You're both right. I'm sorry I was being so irrational. Whatever we're driving into, I'll try to be more careful."
Smiling softly, Caroline nodded her head in agreement. "You and me both, Bon Bon!" Trying to lighten the mood, she added, "One ruined jacket was more than enough today." She heard Bonnie start snickering behind her as her friend held up what remained of the scarf Bonnie had been wearing. "Okay, and one scarf. No more shredded clothing today, okay you two?" She saw Kol crack a small smile in the mirror. Mission accomplished, she thought to herself before focusing back on the road and keeping up with Klaus' mad driving behavior while those two sorted things out in the backseat.
Biting her lip to muffle her laughter, Bonnie draped the remaining scarf around her neck and chanced looking over at Kol only to find him watching her with a mostly unreadable expression on his face. Tilting her head in question, he just gave her a sheepish half smile and shook his head looking down towards his lap. Kol, what is it?
He grabbed her hand briefly and gently squeezed it reassuringly before letting go. It's nothing, Bonnie. Don't worry about it. Kol released her hand and wordlessly went back to looking out the window.
Okay... Watching him in confusion at his sudden shift in behavior, she studied his profile briefly, noting just how utterly drained he looked. Frowning slightly, she wondered to herself if he'd slept at all of late. This was taking a toll on all of them and thousand year old vampire or not, he needed rest. Especially after what happened at the farm house. Sighing when she knew there wasn't anything she could do about it at present, she simply let him be for now. Looking back out her window in thought, her mind was reeling over recent events. Everything that had happened the last six weeks was just unfathomable. Or it would've been... If it had happened anywhere else other than Mystic Falls.
Rolling her eyes at the tense atmosphere in the car, Caroline realized Klaus was slowing down. Looking around, she saw Sage's car parked to her left, and nodded when she saw Klaus motion for them to keep going and park around the side out of sight of the main road. The less the normal population saw of this the better. "We're here," she muttered nervously, not knowing what they'd find in a moment.
Bracing herself, she pulled herself out of the car, and forced herself to take a deep breath when she saw Bonnie and Kol's grim expressions as they gathered on the sidewalk with Klaus and Rebekah. Wondering where the other two were, Rebekah answered Caroline's silent question by jerking her head back to Klaus' car.
"Stefan and Damon are staying in the car," Rebekah whispered stiffly, her back rigid as she looked around.
Gulping, Caroline realized why they were all on edge. She could smell human blood, which could only mean one thing. "It's really bad…. Isn't it?"
Gritting his teeth, Klaus gripped her hand tightly in support. "Let's go find out for ourselves, shall we everyone?"
Kol grasped Bonnie's waist briefly, and when she nodded in understanding, they all flashed towards the alley entrance. Going to round the corner, they minutely jumped when Sage's head suddenly leaned out in front of them.
"What took you so long?" She hissed angrily, before shaking her hands in the air stopping any response. "Never mind, we don't have time." Looking at the grim faces in front of her, she sighed as she took in Bonnie's weary appearance. "I really don't want to ask this of you with everything else going on, but you need to put magical restraints on Tyler and Matt for the time being."
Feeling shock coursing through her at Sage's words, Bonnie was confused. "Sage, what are you talking about?" She demanded as she went to walk around the corner, shrugging off Sage's hand to slow her down. Sage needn't have bothered trying to stop her. The image before her shook Bonnie to her core as she came to a halt. "Oh…my…."
"God…" Caroline finished for her as she saw the chaos in front of them having stepped forward when Bonnie froze. Neither one had been prepared for this.
Covering her mouth with her hand, Bonnie fought back tears. Her eyes scanned over Matt and Tyler slouched against the far wall on the ground both looking horrified, to Finn's ragged and bloody appearance as he was standing guard over the temporarily dead form of Alaric, to finally come to rest on the distraught form of Elijah leaning against the wall, cradling Elena against his chest. Noticing the blood covering Elena's shirt, Bonnie felt momentary panic until Elijah's voice cut through the mental noise.
"She'll live, Bonnie. She just needs time to recover," Elijah uttered quietly so as not to disturb the young woman in his arms. "Esther's plan failed this time," he muttered, still feeling the relief racing through him hearing Elena's heart beating slow and steady.
Nodding gratefully at his words, Bonnie's lip trembled as she took in his pain filled expression, and knew she had to pull herself together. Elijah had saved her friend. Now it was up to her to save them all. Taking a steadying breath, she felt Kol come up beside her and when his hand brushed against hers, she grabbed it and held on tight. Please trust me to do this, Kol. I can't let this continue the way it has. Turning her head to stare at him, Bonnie saw the pain in his eyes at what lay before them. Pain that Esther had been responsible for. I can't let Esther hurt anyone else. Trust that I can handle it. Trust me.
Holding her gaze, Kol forced himself to be calm, as he grit his teeth and nodded at her. I do trust you, Bonnie. We won't let Esther hurt anyone else. Arching an eyebrow at her narrowed gaze, he smirked impishly. "I know you can handle those two over there, Bonnie, but…" trailing off he shifted his gaze to the still form of the possessed Alaric Saltzman.
"But what?" Bonnie prompted, suspicion building in her at Kol's guarded expression. What are you up to?
"You won't be facing that one alone," he concluded reaching into his pocket to pull out the pocketknife he'd 'borrowed' from the Salvatore's home. Her eyes went wide when she realized what he was suggesting, and he knew she would rebuff him on it. Holding up his hand when she went to protest, he stood firm. "It's too dangerous, Bonnie, and you know it. Let me help you."
Mouth opening and closing wordlessly as she watched him, Bonnie was only hearing part of what he said as she tried to think of a way to stop him. "Wha-… But Kol-…"
His expression unwavering, Kol let his eyes convey some of his worry. Please let me do this much to keep you safe.
Going still as she saw some of the vulnerability from him that she'd been catching more and more glimpses of throughout the day, and after everything that had happened the last six weeks, Bonnie couldn't find it in her to argue. Today had scared them all. "Alright," she breathed out nervously, gulping and nodding her head. When he raised his eyebrows in shock at her actually agreeing, she nodded again." I mean it, Kol. I accept your offer." Turning back towards Matt and Tyler, she grew grim. First…. I have to deal with these two.
Walking over to the two guys she had known her whole life, Bonnie could only shake her head. When would they all ever get a moment of peace? Seeing their horrified and pained expressions as they lifted their heads at her approach, Bonnie felt fury flash through her. Esther had done this to them. Kol stopped a few feet behind her, keeping watch on the two young men should any other surprises happen.
"Bonnie, I..." Eye's burning, Matt's mouth opened and closed trying to find something to say. Anything to explain what happened. His mind was totally blank after being at the Mikaelson's estate when Tyler showed up... Until he'd heard Elena scream. "Bonnie, I'm sorry," he choked out, and turning his head towards the others, they could see how much anguish he was in over what had happened. "I'm so sorry."
Biting her lip, Bonnie knelt down in front of him. "Shhh, Matt, we know. This is not your fault, okay? We all know who's behind it." Gently grasping his hands in hers, she waited for him to lift his gaze to hers again. "For the time being, I need to restrain you. For our safety as well as your own. We don't know what she'll try next."
Frowning bitterly, Matt immediately nodded his agreement even though he knew she wasn't asking his permission. "Do it, Bonnie. I don't care what you have to do to me, just do whatever you need to do to make sure this can't happen again."
Squeezing his hands briefly, Bonnie leaned back and removed the scarf from her neck. Holding it out to Kol, she shrugged her shoulders at his confused expression as he grabbed hold of it. "I need this in... Six strips and you're the one with the knife."
Snorting softly, Kol sighed and shook his head slightly amused. He had a fairly good idea what she was going to do with it so he folded it over itself three times across the width of it and grasping the end in his left hand, he grabbed the knife in his right quickly slicing the fabric up the middle. Smirking at Bonnie's expression, he held two of the strips out to her. Teasing her, he asked, "I thought Caroline said no more shredded clothing?"
Deftly swiping them from his hand, she blew her hair out of her face as she sighed. "It was already torn up anyways." Gently holding Matt's hands together in front of her, she carefully started wrapping the strips around his arms, first tying one end to itself around his left wrist and then wrapping up and over his lower left arm crossing it to his right arm. Repeating the process with his right wrist, she made sure the strips were woven tightly at his wrists. Wrapping the fabric up his left arm to his elbow, she carefully wove it through itself as she wound it back down before once more tying it to itself at the wrist. Once she'd repeated the process with the right arm, she took a deep breath as she smiled reassuringly at Matt. "This might feel a bit warm for a second, but it won't hurt you."
Seeing him nod, she crossed her arms over themselves and gripped his right arm in her right hand as she grabbed his left arm in her left hand. Closing her eyes, she softly whispered the incantation as she slowly slid her hands down to join together over his hands before uncrossing her arms as her left hand slid up to his right elbow stopping the same time her right hand reached his left elbow. The fabric glowed with golden light briefly before fading back to normal. "All done," she stated before squeezing his hands briefly, and standing up as he just sighed and leaned his head back on the bricks.
"You're up, Lockwood," Matt muttered, not looking at his friend. He should've known not to go with Tyler.
"I already said I was sorry, Matt! What more do you want from me?!" Tyler snapped, glaring at Matt before turning his frustration on all of them causing Bonnie to take a step back. "Do any of you really think I wanted this to happen? Do you?! You're my friends!"
Careful, Bonnie. Kol made to step forward, but paused as she slightly motioned with her hand to stay back. When she turned her head to the side and nodded at him, he knew she had it under control. Exhaling slowly, he forced himself to stay where he was. He had to let her handle this.
"We're your friends, Tyler, but you also hate being sired to Klaus. We've all known that since the beginning," Bonnie stated as she crossed her arms, staring him down. "Esther was bound to find out by now one way or another. If you can't get over your hatred of him, as we all already have," she paused when she heard Klaus make a noise, and glancing towards him she could see the shock on his face at her statement. Pursing her lips together, she gave a small smile and inclined her head at his silent question.
Closing his eyes and bowing his head at her nod, Klaus was speechless. Feeling Caroline come up next to him and gently gripping his shoulder comfortingly as the fragrance of her perfume swept around him, he swallowed hard as he could only smile to himself and shook his head in wonder. Perhaps... Mystic Falls really could be their home once more.
Returning her attention to Tyler, Bonnie crouched down in front of him. Holding Tyler's angry gaze, she continued. "If you can't get over your hate for him, Tyler, eventually someone will take advantage of you one too many times and it will get you killed. Or as was proven today, it will get someone you care about hurt or worse." When he swallowed hard and looked away from her in defeat, she pressed him by asking, "Do you really want to risk that happening?"
"Of course not," he ground out through his teeth, turning to look at her once more. "You know I don't."
"Then be the bigger person, and forgive him. You don't have to do it today. You don't even have to do it next week, but you have to let this anger go. Before it destroys your entire life," she finished as she held out her hand to Kol for the fabric he'd unknowingly clenched tighter and tighter in his hands. Arching an eyebrow at the not so relaxed vampire as he flexed his hand once he'd given her two more of the pieces, she held the fabric in her hand as she silently beckoned for Tyler to raise his hands in front of himself. He huffed briefly, before slowly holding his hands out and staring off to the side away from everyone. Repeating the process that she'd done with Matt, she made sure the fabric was woven tight before binding it to his arms with the spell. Seeing the golden light fade back to normal, she took a deep breath and stood once more. "Okay," she breathed, taking a moment to center herself as she rolled her head from side to side to relieve the tension. She could feel the exhaustion of the day creeping up on her, but fought it off. They weren't done yet.
Gulping as she turned slowly to look at the unconscious form that resembled Alaric, Bonnie felt Kol slide up next to her as Finn and Sage stood on either side of Alaric's body while Klaus and Rebekah moved forward behind Kol and herself. Were they really ready for this?
Klaus shook his head at Caroline when she started to step forward so the blonde just sighed and rather than argue, she delicately wandered over to stand by Elijah to see how Elena was doing. Silently leaning against the bricks next to the grim faced Original, she whispered softly, "How is she?"
Taking a deep breath and letting it out, Elijah didn't quite know what to say to the young vampire. He'd endangered one of her dearest friends. What do you say to someone after that? "She's... healing. It will just take time." Looking down at the girl sleeping in his arms, he knew he'd give her an eternity if she needed it to make up for what he had done.
Pursing her lips, Caroline saw the guilt on his face and grasped his arm briefly. "Don't blame yourself for this, Elijah." At his baffled stare, she squinted her eyes as she looked up briefly in thought. "Okay, all the other drama, I'm saying feel free to totally feel some guilt over that, but not what just happened. Elena will do anything to protect the people she cares about," she stated while staring pointedly at him, and she hoped he got the hint. When he nodded briefly, she continued. "The important thing is you were still here. You saved her, and I might not entirely know whatever is going on between you two, but I'm not blind enough to not realize she'd be a lot worse off if you hadn't been. She needs you, Elijah, and..." Hesitating, she took a deep breath to brace herself before finishing. "And you need her."
Narrowing his eyes at the blonde when he realized she'd actually had the guts to say that to him, he was impressed at her resolve. Elena had some truly remarkable companions in her life. Noting the girl had started fidgeting nervously next to him at his silence, Elijah smiled slightly and laughed to himself. "You are far wiser than your years, Miss Forbes." Nodding his head briefly at her startled expression, he knew he wouldn't deny it. "You would also be correct in your observation, and I won't try to deny it anymore. I'm only sorry it took me this long to realize what I was doing in the first place." Gazing down at Elena, he took in a shaky breath as he prayed that she would at least give him one more chance to make amends.
Eyes softening as she watched his face when he looked down at her friend, Caroline just knew there was something special there. It wasn't the same as what she'd seen from Stefan or Damon with Elena. This was different. It wasn't about wanting Elena to be the perfect human, or to control her, or wanting her to act a certain way, or for the love of god comparing her to Katherine from their past. What she was seeing from Elijah was honest to god unconditional caring and affection. It was raw. It was real. It was... Love. Her eyes widened briefly when the thought struck her, but watching his behavior she knew it was the truth. Keeping that thought to herself, she clasped his arm briefly again as she stood upright. "Just be there, Elijah. Be there when she needs you. Prove to her that your word and your honor still means something." Growing quiet, her eyes turned sad, as she whispered, "Prove to her that she means something to you." She saw the knowing look in his eyes as he regarded her before she looked away when she realized her eyes were turning misty as her own troubles came to the surface.
Choosing to remain silent at the girl's unspoken admission, Elijah knew she spoke true and to appease some of her troubled thoughts, he made a promise. "I will be there Caroline. I will not fail her again."
Forcing a smile to her face, Caroline nodded and hummed before saying, "Great, okay, I'm going to check on Matt and Tyler." Turning away, she paused when Elijah quietly called her attention one more time.
"You will find that person meant for yourself, Caroline," he uttered softly, softening his expression at her speechless face. "Perhaps you already have and just don't know it... Yet."
Eyes narrowing at his cryptic words, Caroline simply nodded in thanks before striding over to crouch down next to Matt. She avoided looking at Tyler as they all sat and silently watched the rest of the Mikaelson's and Sage form a half circle around Bonnie and Alaric.
Inhaling deeply, Bonnie nervously turned to look at Kol. "Are you sure about this?" At his nod, she bit her lip as something struck her. "It won't... Cause any permanent side effects... Right?"
Going still at her implied meaning, Kol knew he'd have to tell her the whole truth eventually, but he at least wasn't lying when he smiled at her and said, "No, Bonnie, nothing like that. This is simply me temporarily lending you my strength to mix with your own. Nothing... Permanent can happen from it." Catching Klaus and Rebekah's raised eyebrows at his choice of wording, he prayed they'd stay silent with their questions, and for once he got his wish.
Nodding slowly at his strange behavior, Bonnie at least could trust this wouldn't cause any problems for them. She hoped. "Okay then... Let's... Get this over with." Watching him pull the knife from his pocket once more, she mentally prepared herself for what they were about to do.
Kol delicately passed the knife to her with a grimace at what was to come. "Sorry, darling, I can at least promise this doesn't hurt long."
Pressing her lips together tightly, Bonnie just nodded and, taking a deep breath, she quickly slid the blade across the palm of her right hand hissing as it drew a thin line of blood across her hand. "Duabus…" Temporarily holding her hand in a loose fist, she tipped the blade so the red ran the length of the one edge of the blade before passing it back to him for him to continue the ritual. It was a process, and if they didn't do it right, this would be for nothing.
Grunting, Kol swiftly drew the blade across the palm of his left hand deep enough to prevent it from healing right away.
Seeing the red line seeping from his hand, Bonnie uttered the next word "Viribus…"
Kol held the blade up tipping it the opposite direction so the red now ran down the other edge of the blade as well. Turning to face her as she faced him, he gently grasped her right hand in his left so their palms were touching as he held the blade point down above their joined hands.
Holding Kol's gaze, Bonnie felt rather than saw the lines of red merge on the point of the blade before two solitary drops fell on the crease of their joined hands as she whispered, "In Unum…"
Their hands grew warm as Bonnie felt the current swirling around them and tipped her face to the sky as her eyes slid closed when she whispered, "Enim Unius Diei." Feeling the energy building, Bonnie realized she was suddenly hyper aware of Kol standing in front of her as well as everything around them.
Watching Bonnie's reaction, Kol felt it the instant the connection happened from the spell. He shouldn't have been surprised at the effect of it, but he now fully understood that she truly was a force to be reckoned with. The power Bonnie had coursing through her was staggering. Knowing she could feel everything as he felt it as a vampire, he flexed his hand around hers. Just breathe, Bonnie. Breathe and focus on the energy. Smiling to himself, Kol wanted to laugh as she just kept surprising him at every turn. She had so much more in her than she even realized. Now I can at least try to keep her safe. Expression softening when her eyes suddenly met his once more as that had slipped through more publicly than he meant it to, he took a deep breath and set his shoulders. You know what to do, Bonnie. I'll be right here beside you.
Nervously nodding her head at Kol, Bonnie took a steadying breath as she slid her newly healed hand from his and turned fully towards Alaric's possessed form once more. It was like all of her senses had just gone from 0 to 100 in one second flat, but she couldn't let it distract her. They had done it so she would be able to protect everyone. It was time to end this.
Caroline felt a shiver run through her as she watched Bonnie and Kol once the spell was done. She hadn't noticed energy like that before. Glancing over to Klaus and the others she could tell they felt it too, and probably a lot more than she did. "Holy crap," she whispered, stunned at the amount of energy radiating off of her friend. "Remind me never to piss off Bonnie." She saw Klaus smirk for a moment and blushed when she realized she'd said that out loud. They all grew serious once more when Bonnie moved towards Alaric.
Anxiety rushed at Bonnie for an instant as she worried about the possibility of something going wrong. Her gaze flitting around her at Finn, Sage, Rebekah, Klaus, and Kol, Bonnie knew they wouldn't let anything happen. Seeing them nod at her, she grew tense for a moment before forcing herself to relax. You can do this, she told herself. You can do this for them. Slowing her breathing, she felt strength and confidence flow through her as she knew what she had to do. The lingering guilt gave her pause at what came next.
Slipping the double pointed crystal from her pocket, Bonnie couldn't decide which of them to pass it to for what came next. Could she really ask that of any of them?
Rebekah knew what was coming the moment she saw the crystal in Bonnie's hands. It was obvious the girl was hesitant to ask, but Rebekah knew the girl needed an anchor point that was also connected to Esther in order to do the transfer. It was the only way to keep Esther from hurting anyone else. Stepping forward, Rebekah held out her hand. "Give it to me, Bonnie. It's the only way we can seal her away for good."
Bonnie bit her lip at putting that emotional burden on Rebekah, but the blonde's determined expression relieved some of the guilt. They all knew it was the only way. Passing the crystal into Rebekah's outstretched hand, Bonnie grimaced sadly as she took in all their troubled faces. This wasn't easy for them. "I'm so sorry."
Grasping Bonnie's hand briefly, Rebekah shook her head as she gave a small smile in return. "You owe us no apology, Bonnie. It's the only way."
Watching as they nodded at her, one by one giving their consent, Bonnie glanced over her shoulder briefly at Elijah. Seeing his solemn expression as he nodded at her, Bonnie only needed to look down at her dear friend in his arms to be reminded once and for all why they were truly okay doing this. It was the only way they would ever have a somewhat normal life. Closing her eyes, Bonnie breathed deep as she forced her face to clear of any emotion, while pulling the energy into her center before lifting her gaze to watch the man laying on the ground.
Waving her hand towards Alaric as she saw his hand starting to move, she whispered, "Immobilis." Walking forward, she made her face blank as the eyes that opened and stared back at her reflected so much hatred and darkness that she knew it was still Esther in his body. As he went to speak, Bonnie folded her hand into a fist uttering, "Silentium," making it impossible for him to say anything. Tilting her head sideways, Bonnie stared down the most evil witch she had ever come across. "Hello, Esther." Clasping her hands tightly together in front of her, Bonnie focused on the connection she had with Kol to keep calm. With the sensory overload also came an emotional surge that she had to hold tight to their connection to force down. "You were wrong to go after my friends before," she stated as she took another step forward. "You were wrong to go after your children before," she continued as she momentarily scrunched her eyebrows in thought. "Although, to be honest, you lost any right to calling them your children the day you tried to kill your own family. Again."
Kol grit his teeth at that statement, as he knew all his siblings were doing the same. This creature was not their mother. No mother would actively seek to hunt and destroy their own children.
Feeling the tension in the link, Bonnie knew she had to end this for all their sakes. Taking one more step before coming to a stop at Alaric's feet, Bonnie held her hands steady at her sides once more. "You were wrong to come after me before." She slowly lifted her hands opposite each other in front of her. "I won't let you hurt anyone ever again." Her fingertips barely touching, she whispered, "Aeternum." She rotated her wrists so her fingertips were facing opposite directions, she exhaled as she felt the current flowing through her and said, "Seorsum."
Alaric's form went rigid on the concrete as the spell started taking hold. Rebekah moved slowly up by his head so she was the one opposite Bonnie with the crystal held in her outstretched hand over his chest. "Goodbye, Esther," she rasped out, feeling the crystal pulsing in her hand.
Bonnie held Rebekah's gaze as she turned her palms towards the sky and breathed out, "Aeternum…." She saw the blonde's grip on the crystal tighten as it was now humming with energy. Seeing her brief nod, Bonnie slammed her palms together as she uttered, "Continebat!"
They weren't expecting the magic pulse that shot out at the end of the spell, but they managed to stand their ground rather than get thrown back as they watched the crystal glow blindingly bright as it forced Esther's spirit into it and out of Alaric's body. When the crystal went dim, it had turned solid black.
Taking the two remaining strips of fabric from Kol's already outstretched hand, she knelt down next to Alaric's still form and quickly wrapped his arms with the same binding spell as she'd done with Matt and Tyler. Better safe than sorry, she thought grimly.
Exhaling shakily once it was done, Bonnie felt totally drained yet elated as she weakly pushed herself to her feet. It was over. "We did it." Chuckling breathlessly to herself, she looked over at Kol who had a sad smile on his face and nodded at her.
"Thank you, Bonnie," Klaus whispered softly, his eyes sad, but his expression serious. "Thank you for saving us."
Taking a deep breath and letting it out, she nodded at Klaus. "You're welcome." Taking a step towards Rebekah, she stumbled slightly as her legs almost gave out on her.
Rebekah quickly flashed forward to steady her. "Easy, Bonnie, are you okay?" she asked, concern all over her face. The girl was covered in sweat and didn't seem aware of it.
"I'm fine, Rebekah, I'm just a little…. Drained.." Bonnie tried to reassure her, but her voice trailed off as she saw Kol staggering to her right too as Klaus reached out to support his brother. "Kol?" she called to him, confusion in her eyes as her face grew paler. She felt her legs growing weaker.
Kol shook his head to clear it, but he was trembling as Klaus braced his arm around Kol's back under his shoulders. "It's nothing, Bonnie, don't worry… about it." None of his siblings believed a word of it.
Finn and Sage shared a knowing look. "Get both of them to the car. Now," Sage ordered, taking the crystal Rebekah held out to her as the blonde deftly picked up Bonnie while Klaus picked his little brother up and sprinted over to Caroline's car as he felt Kol shaking in his arms.
"Brother, what did you do?" Klaus admonished him softly as he set him in the car, worry creasing his forehead. Kol was lethargic at best by this point and Klaus felt fear grip him for a moment until Kol met his eyes.
"I'll be okay, Nik… Bonnie will be too… It was just…. A lot for us," Kol mumbled sleepily as he drifted off slumped back on the backseat. Rebekah slid the already unconscious Bonnie in through the other door and they shared a grim look. Was Kol right? Would they be okay? Before the events of today, Kol hadn't collapsed like that in centuries.
Sage huffed as she ran a hand through her hair in frustration as she met them by the car while Finn kept watch on the others. "Stupid stubborn Original," she grumbled as she felt her stomach in knots at the sight of Kol and Bonnie looking so drained. Turning to Klaus, she crossed her arms and sighed. "He's telling the truth, Klaus. Truly, that spell didn't do any permanent damage." When she saw him going to speak, she held up her hand. "However," she continued, seeing his mutinous expression. "However…. They need to rest. Possibly for the next few days even."
"What aren't you saying, Sage?" Rebekah cut in, knowing the redhead was leaving something out. They were familiar with the spell from their past, but had never personally used it, and it was obvious Sage knew something they didn't. "What would've happened just now if they hadn't been bonded to one another?"
Opening her mouth to speak, Sage paused as she realized the Salvatore's were in hearing range in Klaus' car.
Following Sage's gaze, Rebekah caught on to what she was thinking. "Do you have any in your car?" At the redhead's slight nod, Rebekah flashed over to it and reappeared with the twined together bundle of Sage leaves in her hand. "Now, you were saying?"
Sage pulled out her lighter once more, and as the leaves started smoking, she stared at the waves of smoke for a moment to collect her thoughts as Rebekah slowly circled the car to cover their conversation before coming to a stop in front of her once more. Frowning as her eyes grew sad, Sage looked up from one sibling to the other as she leaned back on the car. "Both of them were already tapped out before this spell. They didn't have any energy to spare after everything that's happened the last 24 hours. Hell, even the last few weeks. If Kol hadn't suggested for Bonnie to bind them together like that…. Even as powerful as she is now….. She would've died, and Kol knew it. If she had…." Staring unblinking at Klaus, Sage trailed off as she knew he knew what that meant. Given everything that had developed in the last 6 weeks, it wasn't hard to guess.
"So would he," Klaus finished darkly, closing his eyes and shaking his head wearily. His little brother would've perished if anything had happened to Bonnie Bennett today. Given his reaction to Rebekah's comments the night before, Klaus knew without a doubt that Megan's death still haunted Kol. If his brother had lost Bonnie so soon after finding her…. It would've killed him. The guilt and the grief would've destroyed him from the inside out.
It didn't matter how sudden or new their connection was, once that bond was started it was infinite. They all knew it scared Kol a great deal having it happen so quickly this time. With Megan, they hadn't known the specifics of what had caused his bond to her. It had been slower to develop, and they had only ever had Sage and Finn as an example before that. Finn was daggered in a coffin and Sage had been…. Surviving? Klaus felt guilt eat at him at his actions having separated them so long knowing what he knew now. Perhaps things could've ended differently if Finn and Sage had been allowed to stay together…
"Don't go there, Klaus, this isn't something you could prevent," Sage's warning tone cut into his thoughts. When she saw the torment in his eyes, she shook her head at him. "I know what you're thinking, and I'm telling you right now, you're wrong. It wouldn't have made a difference back then. None of us knew enough about it where we could've changed that ending. Not you, not Kol, and not Finn, or even myself. We weren't prepared for it back then. We are now, and you have to focus on that." Lowering her voice to not disturb the two in the car, Sage stepped closer to him as Rebekah once more circled the car before stopping at his side. "We couldn't protect him back then. We can't change what was lost, but we can change his future. Their future."
Looking down at Bonnie, she felt respect for the girl's sheer will and instincts pass through her, before looking at Klaus and Rebekah once more. "She knows something is happening between them. She's young and unsure of what it is, but she senses it just as strongly as he does. He's going to have to tell her eventually, but he'll need your support to do it." Smiling sadly, she shrugged her shoulders. "As I told Elijah, this is essentially his and Kol's worst nightmare, and yet their greatest wish brought to life. For Kol, he was given a second chance at happiness. He's scared of losing someone again, and that fear is hurting him more than he realizes because it keeps making him pull away."
Glancing over her shoulder at Elijah holding Elena ever so carefully, she pursed her lips before turning to face Klaus and Rebekah once more. "It keeps making both of your brothers pull away. They're aware of what they're doing and yet have been borderline helpless at stopping it. This is terrifying to them." Crossing her arms, she tilted her head as she regarded Klaus. "In a way, you saved Finn and I back then. You kept the bond from breaking."
Totally stunned, Klaus felt his mouth drop open. "What? Sage, come off it, you know I made it worse," he hissed, feeling annoyed at her trying to pacify him.
"No, Klaus, you didn't," Sage denied once more. "The one thing that kept me going when we were separated was knowing, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Finn hadn't wanted to leave me. I knew he had been daggered against his will. I knew he would one day come back to me." Clasping Klaus' shoulder, she smiled slightly. "You thought you hurt us, and that you had hurt them, by doing that to him," she continued, as she squeezed his shoulder when he bowed his head. "Like I said, we couldn't prevent what happened to them because we didn't know what could happen to them. You prevented it from happening another way to Finn and I, and we didn't even know it at the time."
Frowning, Klaus knew, in his gut, that she was speaking the truth. It just hurt to think that they'd saved one sibling's happiness only to witness the tragedy of another. "I see that now," he relented as he wearily scrubbed his hands over his face. "I'll do whatever I can to make sure this ends differently for him," he swore softly as he gazed down at his little brother. Lifting his head, he watched Elijah holding Elena so close, and his resolve grew strong once more. "For all of them."