AN: Hunting down the cure doesn't go as planned and an unexpected visitor happens upon Bonnie.
A LOT is going on in here so bear with me, please! This is the last part before the time jump in the next chapter, which is called Mine part II. The events leading up to the time jump will be explained through flashbacks.
*UPDATE: This chapter has been revised and updated. I added a sort of fight sequence because I found it fitting. And hilarious.
the 9th chapter should be out by the end of this week or early next week, I still need to finish my maintenance on the next two chapters, as well as working on a few other stories :)
Oh, and these songs are my inspo for this chapter from my playlist :)
Adore You by Harry Styles- sort of the theme of the whole chapter
Devils Don't Fly by Natalia Kills- when Bonnie tries to come to terms with her feelings over Kol's crazy self
(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You by UB40- the unspoken emotions at the very end
As if suddenly waking from a vivid dream, where she remembered every single detail, Bonnie blinked in confusion and realized the position she was in, tucked underneath Kol as he held her arms locked over her head. Then she tasted the blood in her mouth. Kol regarded her for a moment.
"What are you doing?" Bonnie asked in a low voice. He arched a brow as he hovered over her.
"You all right now, darling?"
A smile curved Kol's lips and he pushed himself off of Bonnie. Then she realized she wasn't wearing any pants. Bonnie made a mad dash to her adjoining bathroom at a nearly superhuman speed. She was sure there was nothing she could ever do to live this down. Namely, because Kol wouldn't let her forget it.
She put on her robe and stomped into her bedroom to find Kol laid out on her bed, lounging in an upright position, looking positively smug. "Don't say a word," she warned.
"I haven't said anything. It's you who's done all the talking, lovely," Kol reminded her with a beam of satisfaction, reminiscent of the cocky look she wanted to slap off his face when he kissed her goodbye a few days prior. "My favorite part was when you said standing right next to me made you feel all warm and tingly," his gaze swept down her form and paused just below her bikini line, gesturing toward it with his hand. "in your naughty bits,"
"Kol, we don't have time for you to tease me, I need to get ready for tonight." Bonnie held the bedroom door open for him. "I need to change."
"Feel free, darling. Don't mind me," Kol spoke nonchalantly, neither budging nor removing his gaze from Bonnie.
She rushed to the dresser and grabbed her megaphone from cheer practice and held it up to her mouth. Kol looked perplexed until he heard her scream unreasonably loud.
"GET OUT!"
Kol flashed right behind her. "At ease, little witch! I'm GOing."
Bonnie turned her head to find Kol staring down at her. He leaned down slightly and looked at her lips.
"Don't you start that shit again, we need to focus!" She nudged him down into the hall and closed the door.
Come on, focus Bonnie!
A few minutes later she emerged from her room fully dressed in an earth-colored sleeveless V-neck blouse and dark denim skinny jeans, complete with a pair of ankle boots. Bonnie had wrapped her long waves up in a loose bun with tendrils falling around her neck and ears.
Kol blew out a whistle as he strolled in her direction, surveying her from head to toe. "You look exquisite, darling. The way your apparel wraps around your shapely figure incites envy of the garments that adorn you so sweetly. Especially this one,"
Tugging at a hook in her jeans, Kol pulled her closer, inhaling her heavenly aromatic essence.
"Kol, we really should wait. Isn't this dangerous? I've barely practiced defensive magic,"
"It is dangerous but I will be right alongside you. Just keep my voice in your head. If anything should go wrong, I can pull you back."
Kol slipped his hands underneath the bottom of her shirt and squeezed her lower back, pulling her body closer to him.
Bonnie just blinked at him, showing no signs of amusement.
"You are right, little witch. We must go."
Gathered around Bonnie, who stood in the middle of an open salt circle, the vampires listened as she explained the task at hand. Present were Elena, Stefan, Caroline, April, Klaus, Matt, and of course, Kol. Tyler and Damon were conveniently missing in action, Tyler's reasoning being that it was a full moon. They were expecting fourteen witches, recruited by Stefan and Elena, who would be arriving shortly under the pretense of a ceremony to finally rid the world of Klaus Mikaelson.
"When the witches step into the circle, they'll be stuck powerless but you have to get them all in. You'll only have about eight seconds from the time I start the spell to get out before you're stuck too. They'll exhaust their life force within seconds trying to get out. As soon as they're dead, I can start the spell." Bonnie explained to the vampires present. "Klaus, you're going to be the bait, for obvious reasons. Now, if you don't want to be then we should wait like I said until-"
"It matters not, little witch, for I am the only one here who can't actually be killed," Klaus assured her.
Kol rolled his eyes. "You're not the only-" Alarm marred his features as he and all the other vampires turned to look behind Bonnie.
Bonnie felt something shift in the air and slowly looked behind her as she felt the vampires gather at her side, forming a line of defense. A black cloud of swirling smoke was floating towards them. Uh oh! That isn't part of the plan.
"Oh my God," Caroline gasped. April gripped her arms.
"What is that?" Elena asked.
"It's a phantasm cloud. Anyone it touches will be consumed by the suffering of their worst nightmares," Kol answered. "And it's headed right for us!"
"Spread out!" Klaus shouted and the vampires instantaneously dispersed in a flash with Kol grabbing Bonnie and Matt.
The black cloud came crashing down with a thunderous clap as it landed where Bonnie and the vampire entourage stood, just seconds prior. With her mind, Bonnie repositioned the salt circle to wrap around the nightmare cloud, completing the circle. From the surrounding areas, the fourteen witches encroached with suspended arms, deep in a chant as they glared in the direction of the vampires, who started collapsing from what seemed to be a collective, supercharged aneurysm.
"Bonnie," Kol panted through his pain. "Fire,"
"I can't, we haven't perfected elements yet!" she whispered back.
"They need to be-lieve it. Ahhh!"
Hearing Kol in such distress along with the others was unbearable but Bonnie recognized Kol's suggestion. She could do illusion spells and if the witches believed they were on fire, it would disrupt their use of magic, which would in turn free the vampires. She saw blood coming out of Caroline's and Stefan's ears and Elena's mouth. Poor April had blood tears seeping out of her eyes and nose.
Bonnie instructed Matt to stay near her, closed her eyes, and concentrated, hearing Kol's voice guiding her in her mind. She spread her magic as far as she could, which reached all but four of the witches present. Bonnie didn't open her eyes until she heard the witches hollering and smelled the singing of fabric. A red-haired witch that remained unaffected strengthened her focus on April, who started splattering blood from her mouth. Suddenly, Damon appeared out of nowhere and snapped the redhead's neck, and April was released. She looked mortified as she watched the body plop to the ground.
"Damon! The rest of them need to go into the circle!" Bonnie called. Bonnie conceded that since thirteen humans and thirteen vampires had been sacrificed, that number shouldn't change now. Of the fourteen that had just showed, one was already dead and they couldn't afford to lose another or it would all be for naught.
Damon nodded and sped to a witch, who was under the impression his clothes were smoldering, and grabbed his collar. He thrust him into the circle, without stepping into it when suddenly he was shoved backward at a high speed, courtesy of Kol. Damon landed in the circle, where the black smoke cloud was still swirling inside.
"You be the bait," Kol said as he sped off to grab the witches that weren't flaming and collectively thrust them towards Damon.
The rest of the vampires were working to recruit more witches into the circle. As the witches were tossed into the circle, the black smoke seeped into them and seemed to be devouring them, their wails of panic from the smoldering illusion turning to screams of terror.
Klaus, Stefan, and Caroline were dragging the flaming witches into the circle, while Elena and April tag-teamed another witch who appeared to be flaming. Elena looked up and noticed another witch was attempting a sneak attack on Bonnie, after knocking out Matt, so she flashed over and was about to break the witch's neck but Bonnie stopped her.
"No Elena! There were fourteen, we need thirteen live witches to enter the circle, ones already dead!" she called.
Elena shrugged, then punched the witch in the face, effectively incapacitating him, and dragged him over to the circle. She tossed him in and looked around for April, who was supposed to get the last witch into the circle.
"Bonnie!" April called out and Bonnie looked to see she was in a hostage hold by the last witch, a strawberry blonde woman. Bonnie guessed the witch had pulled a fast one on April and dosed her with vervain. She shouldn't have even come here tonight, she's too young of a girl and a newborn vampire, Bonnie thought.
"Oh my God!" Bonnie cried as Kol and the rest of the vampires lined up next to Bonnie. "Let her go!" she shouted.
The witch sneered at Bonnie before she hissed, "Let them go, traitors!" The blonde fixed her glare at Stefan and Elena. "You set us up!"
"You realize you and all your friends are going to die anyway?" Klaus asserted. "You're outnumbered and overpowered. Let the baby vamp go and accept your fate, I'll personally see to it that you die quickly and free of pain." His hybrid eyes glowed golden with promise.
"You maybe wanna wait until April's safe until you threaten the witch?" Stefan nudged Klaus, his eyes imploring him to reconsider and dial down on his dogmatic display of authority.
Damon suddenly zipped out of the circle and took the strawberry blonde by surprise when he grabbed her by the hair and thrust her into the circle. To his and everyone else's surprise, April was thrust into the salt circle as well. The witch began to scream as well as the smoke enveloped her.
"April!" Caroline cried and sped to her.
"Stop her!" Bonnie ordered, fearful Caroline would enter the circle herself to free April. An ominous efflorescence preordained that there would be no salvation for April.
Stefan sped to grab Caroline and Klaus sped over to scope the gravity of April's unforeseen peril.
The baby vamp was trying to speed out but collided with an invisible barrier. She cried out and began to pound her fists on it before the smoke overcame her.
"Help me! Get me out!" She wailed before tormented screams took over.
"Damon, you fuckin' idiot, what'd you do? We have to help her, Stefan!" Caroline was screaming and struggling to relieve herself of Stefan's grip. Elena sped over to help hold her back.
Klaus faced Kol, wearing a grave look on his face. That look was all he needed to take the initiative. Using his original speed, he ripped a thin branch off a nearby tree, flung it hard and fast, right into April's heart, killing her so abruptly, a death mask of confusion immortalized her features as she fell. As soon as she was dead and toppled to the ground, she fell half out of the circle. Whatever proximity spell the witch had cast to bring April down with her was broken.
Simultaneously, Bonnie, Caroline, and Elena all cried out when April died. Caroline and Elena pulled her out of the circle and cradled her graying corpse.
Bonnie fumed at Kol. "Why did you do that?!"
Before Kol could tell Bonnie that this was no time to get into a moral debate, Klaus's voice thundered. "Kol! Advise your witch we've no time for quarrels! Start the spell!"
"She was suffering, love, I had to end it. Bonnie, it's time to do the spell," the youngest Original brother implored.
Bonnie just studied Kol a moment, then glared at Klaus who flashed over to her and shouted in her face. "NOW!"
"Calm down, Nik!" Kol shoved him back a few steps. "It will do no good to intimidate her. Let her work,"
Bonnie turned to her friends again and saw Caroline scoop up April's body. Poor April. So young and she died in vain to protect all vampires. She didn't deserve this. Although she was distraught at the loss of a childhood friend, Bonnie was also relieved that Abby wasn't present. Baby vampires had proved to be a liability and Abby was an even younger vampire than April. Still, she couldn't believe Kol was so quick to end her in such an automatic, callous fashion.
After Caroline sped away, carrying April's body with her and the last of the witches' screams in the nightmare cloud circle faded, Bonnie matched Klaus's glare one last time and began chanting. Within minutes, what looked like a green, glowing doorway appeared in front of Bonnie and the light from it shot up into the sky. Kol sucked in his breath in awe. Elena knelt down and shook Matt awake, giving him her blood when he didn't respond. He spit it out as he woke up and Elena flinched as he glared at her.
"I'm fine, I don't need that," Matt grumbled, standing up.
"Elena," Bonnie said. "It's time." Bonnie stepped aside and gestured for Elena to proceed into the glowing doorway. Elena squeezed her hand and gave her a wistful smile before she stepped through the portal, being swallowed by the light. Matt went next since he was the literal map. Then Stefan, then Klaus.
When it came time for Damon to step through the portal, he hesitated. "Witchy, we need to talk."
He gave Kol a head nod, as if telling him to move ahead, but Kol just cocked his head to the side, employing that insufferable smirk. "I don't think so,"
"Damon, there's no time. Whatever you want to say to me, it can wait,"
"Bonnie! I-"
"You heard the lady," Kol said as he shoved Damon into the light with vampire speed. Bonnie sighed deeply. "There was no time, love, right?"
As the light consumed Damon's form, Kol tenderly cupped Bonnie's chin and raised her head to face him. He smiled a genuine smile with one side of his face beautifully illuminated with the glowing hues of the portal. "Little witch, you are magnificent. Do you know that?"
In response, Bonnie pulled away and lowered her eyes to the floor with her chin still tilted up. "It's your turn to go through."
Kol frowned. "What's wrong, love?"
"You need to go through now, Kol." After a beat, Kol obliged. As Bonnie disappeared into the light, it dissipated into a thin line behind her.
On the other side of the portal, it was bright. The setting changed to daylight as she entered into a world that looked like a winter wonderland, only when it came to aesthetics. The sky was a pale, transparent green hue, while the temperature was as warm as the burgeoning spring air back home. Bonnie realized it was mostly a flatland of white sand, a barren plain that stretched on for miles. There were a few white trees with white leaves, spaced out sparsely across the alabaster plain. According to Matt's map, they had a couple of hours traveling on foot before they reached a distinct landmark, at which point they needed to travel underground.
It was decided collectively that the vampires would speed ahead to save time finding the landmark, which was a boulder in the shape of a spearhead, while Bonnie and Matt kept their human pace behind. Klaus pulled along Kol, who initially protested, not willing to leave Bonnie's side. Damon tried to stay behind as well but Elena used the pretense of needing to talk with him before she and Stefan sped off with him.
"And then there were two," Matt said with a sigh.
Bonnie hooked her arm in his and pulled him along. "Let's get this over with,"
Kol's POV
Kol and Klaus sped ahead for a few miles before Klaus slowed down to a walking pace. "What's wrong Nik, hybrid stamina not up to par?" Kol asked, slapping his brother's chest.
"My stamina is just fine, ask Abby," Klaus replied with a wide, Kool-aid smile. Kol screwed his face as if he'd caught a bad taste in his mouth. He certainly wasn't interested in the dalliances of his brother and his girlfriend's mother. "Why, I'll have to make up for all this time I'm spending away from her when we arrive back home."
"Tell me Nik, what have I done to you to deserve this plague upon my audio senses? Stop talking now,"
"Come now, brother, we should be comparing notes by now. It would seem your stamina isn't up to par, is it? Is your libido on vacation?"
Kol's face dropped, he was no longer amused.
"You go too far, Nik. Watch that mouth of yours," Kol cautioned the hybrid.
"You haven't had her yet and she's your soulmate? What are you waiting for, Kol? A formal invitation?"
"Yes! Is that really so hard to digest?" Kol nearly shouted in agitation. "She doesn't know about the soulmates yet, or about you and Abby. Do you think I want to frighten her off?"
"If you had opted for seduction instead of offering your blood to sober her, she'd already be eternally yours." Klaus raised his brow. "You know I'm right, brother,"
Klaus sped off then. Kol kicked at the sand as he continued at a human pace. It was a blow to his ego the way his brother straight out claimed that Kol didn't have what it took to get to Bonnie in the most intimate way. With anyone else, they'd have spent the better part of the past month wrapped up in an impenetrable bubble of romance, sex, and whatever their hearts desired. Except this was Bonnie.
Bonnie was special, unscathed, and unknown to any man. Once they took that step, she would only ever be his. Unbeknownst to her, she already was, yet he feared the road to convincing her of that would ultimately be a tough tread. Although it would be his honor to be the only man she'd ever know in such a way, she had expectations to wait until marriage, which made little sense to Kol. None of her friends seemed to, and as a human, he'd only made the effort with his first relationship. After the relationship failed due to the whore's philandering, he no longer saw a point with anyone, he simply passed the time with the women he came across, wondering if Bonnie would actually ever come along. At a certain point he'd stopped believing it was even possible that he had a mate, with so many years gone past.
Yet, here she was in his life, madly drawn to him already. Still, she denied him. Why couldn't he just have her already? They were already fated. It was nigh time she understood that. Fists formed as his pace went from human to Original speed and he rushed off after his brother.
Damon's POV
"Stefan, you go ahead, there are some things I need to say to Damon. Please, it'll only be a moment," she added when Stefan didn't budge. Stefan planted a kiss on his girlfriend, kissing her so hard and deeply, Damon could see her knees tremble. He smirked at Damon before he flashed away.
"Cute, is it my turn now?"
Damon's comment was met with an audible slap to his left cheek that faced his head to the right. He snapped his head back, meeting Elena's glare.
"You're not gonna talk dirty to me! In fact, you aren't going to talk at all," Elena's eyes bulged as she made her demand, eerily reminiscent of Katherine. "I just want you to listen carefully. Whatever you're doing, it's not going to work. Trying to suck up to Bonnie to get back on my good side? Because we all know you've been on my shitlist since…" she closed her eyes and swallowed a lump in her throat before she continued. "... since my brother. And look what you've done to me, Damon, I don't even know how to begin to forgive you! I never wanted this life!"
"Elena, what else was I supposed to do? I didn't want to risk losing you-"
"That was never up to you! It was my choice."
"We're literally in another realm to get you the damn cure! Donovan's-"
"Shut up," she scoffed. "That's not going to change what you've done. I'm not the girl I was before you killed my brother, let alone turned me into a vampire against my will. I just wanted to let you know that there's nothing you can do to earn my forgiveness. If this cure works out, Stefan and I are going away and you aren't welcome. If somehow it doesn't work out and I'm stuck in this undead, miserable existence that you put me in," in a cocky move, Elena stepped forward and whispered in his ear. "I'm going to spend eternity making you regret the night you made me what I am."
When Elena pulled back, Damon just gave her one of his bug-eyed expressions. "Don't threaten me with a good time."
"Be careful what you wish for, Damon Salvatore." Elena sped off, leaving Damon unnerved. Her Katherine-like venom did that to him. Since no one was going to fucking listen, he'd have to take matters into his own hands. Again. He sped back to where they'd left Bonnie and Matt.
"What the fuck?" He was sure he was in the right place, but there weren't even footprints in the sand. He spun around, detecting Bonnie's distinctive witchy scent but it was faint. Damon inhaled deeply and released a growl before he flashed away.
Kol's POV
Kol and his brother had been walking for ages it seemed and there was no sign of any landmark anywhere in any direction. They ended up circling back to where they started only it seemed as if no one had set foot there. The tree layout looked identical when they'd sped ahead so Kol had to look closely at the ground for footprints.
"Kol!"
The vampire in question looked up as he saw Bonnie running towards him. She was… blinking? It was as though a light shone under her skin and someone was flicking it on and off.
Kol and his brother zipped to her until they were near enough to slow down to a walk.
"What's going on?" Klaus demanded.
The little witch came to a sliding stop before she grabbed the arms of both Klaus and Kol and pulled them in the direction she came from.
"Come on, we have to go now, I'm fading! This way, the portal's open!"
Kol wasted no time in scooping up Bonnie in a cradle and flashed away at vamp speed with Klaus close behind. When they reached the portal, the doorway was still glowing but its luminescence had significantly dimmed. It blinked as Bonnie did. "GO now!" she urged Klaus through before Kol carried her across the threshold to their homeworld.
Kol and Bonnie hardly had enough time to get through before the glow of the portal blinked out of existence. He nearly stumbled to keep his balance as he held Bonnie in his arms, landing in the light of morning. Elena, Stefan, Damon, and Klaus were standing near the salt circle of deceased witches. Matt was nowhere in sight. Bonnie sighed in his arms and her eyes rolled back before she passed out.
"Where's the hunter?" Klaus addressed his query to Elena, most likely because she was the closest to the human.
"We don't know, Klaus! Bonnie just came and told us to haul ass through the portal," Elena said breathlessly. "Is she ok?"
"Unconscious," Kol answered. The black veins swirled underneath his eyes. "Find the hunter." he said to Klaus before he zipped away.
When he reached Bonnie's home, he kicked the door off its hinges (again) and gently placed Bonnie on the couch. He bit into his wrist and was about to feed her his blood when suddenly the doppelgänger appeared, grasping his arm, baring her fangs at him. Was that Katerina? Oh, wait, pin-straight hair. It was the courageous and clearly naive Gilbert girl.
"Allow me," she hissed.
Kol snarled right back with his own fangs as he shook himself free of her grip. He rose and slammed the doppelganger against the wall, pulling her gaze into his compulsion but she huffed.
"Ugh, vervain, duh!" Elena kicked his leg in and flipped him against the wall. She placed her hands on his throat but Kol was too fast. He pushed her arm up and pinned it behind her until it was about to snap and shoved her face into the wall, pressing against the back of her neck while he held her arm hostage behind her back. She cried out in pain.
"You fight girls now, Kol? That's not the kind of man Bonnie would want,"
"I'm merely removing pests. As I've just demonstrated, you wouldn't stand a chance against me in a true fight. I've got over a thousand years on you, little twit. How foolish of you to think you'll ever overpower me. Your presence is not requested, nor is it welcome at this time. State your business!" he snapped.
"I just wanted to give her my blood,"
"No need, we've already formed a blood bond. I'll not have the likes of your doppelganger blood tampering with it."
Kol yanked her backward and dragged her towards the door.
"She doesn't like taking blood, especially yours because it clouds her judgment. If you have any respect for Bonnie, you'll let me heal her."
"I'll be sure to give her your regards. You're a good friend, yeah? Run along now," Kol shoved her out of the doorway. He returned to his position couchside and once again raised his wrist.
"Back off, Kol," At the sound of Abby's voice, Kol turned slowly to regard her. He stood up slowly, catching Abby's glare. He gave her a stone face in return, he wasn't in the mood to get into it with the mother. "If anyone's going to heal her, it's going to be me. I'm her mother. Her blood knows mine, vampire or not."
"You're throwing that term around quite freely, aren't you, dear?" he smarted.
Abby glowered at him but didn't respond. Instead, she mumbled to herself about why her daughter couldn't have chosen a more respectful, normal boyfriend, anyone other than an ancient Original vampire. She stepped past Kol and knelt down. At first glance, it looked like she was hugging Bonnie, but then she rose to a stand, cradling the little witch in her arms.
"What are you doing? I thought you were going to heal her?"
"I am but not here. She's coming with me," Abby declared, walking towards the doorway.
"You can't!"
"I can take her wherever I want, she's my daughter!"
Kol flashed in front of her, in full vampire form, once again baring his fangs.
"Show a little respect, brother," Klaus said from the doorway. He leaned against it in a languid fashion, clearly bored with this scene. "Abby means to protect her only child's virtue. What, with your recent blood bond established, you might find it too tempting to be alone with her."
Klaus was the one who implanted the idea in Kol's head in the first place. Now, here he was making him out to be an uncontrollable predator? As if he would treat his beloved that way! Incensed, Kol was in Klaus's face in an instant, except Klaus overpowered him and yanked him outside, quickly subduing him in a headlock.
"I've warned him that temper is going to be his downfall," Klaus conveyed to Abby. "Take your leave, love. I'll see you later," He blew a kiss to Abby that she ignored as she sped off with Bonnie.
He pulled Kol up by the back of his head and spoke his ear. "You're going home, baby brother."
Katherine's POV
Katherine looked around quickly before she pulled Matt into her motel room. After closing the door behind him, she studied the blue-eyed football hunk.
"Did you bring it?" Her eyes gleamed with delight as Matt presented a black pull-string pouch. He pulled the strings open and shimmied out an ancient-looking, dirt-encrusted vial of red liquid.
"Thank you, Matty! Very good boy. I could kiss you right now," Katherine squealed, taking the vial from his palm.
"But you shouldn't," Nadia reminded her as she lounged on the second queen bed in the room. "Seeing as how those lips have-"
"I need neither reminders, nor details, Nadia." Katherine said sharply, shooting a glare her daughter's way. Turning back to Matt, she smiled sweetly. "You should probably lay low for a while, in the next town or two over. Klaus will be looking for you."
Nadia scoffed as Matt left the room. "You're going to get him killed,"
"Probably," Her mother agreed with a shrug, sauntering toward her daughter. "You and I are going to take a little trip."
Katherine held the vial up in her hand as she and Nadia inspected it.
Bonnie woke up to find she was in the room she stayed in at her Gram's house. She couldn't remember how she got there. She got up and trekked downstairs into the kitchen and saw Abby sitting at the table with Caroline.
"Abby, what are we doing here? What's going on?" She asked her mother.
"Bonnie, before I tell you that, I need you to tell me the last thing you remember." Abby prompted urgently. She had a look of panic in her eyes.
She pondered for a moment. "The portal. The witch sacrifice was completed,"
"And we lost April," Caroline said quietly.
"Right, I'm so sorry, Care."
"She wasn't meant for this vampire life, you know? She could've used that cure."
"Did we get the cure? All I remember is going through the portal and I stayed with Matt while the others went ahead to scope out the area. Then I woke up. Here,"
"Bonnie, babe…" Abby shook her head slowly. "You weren't ready. You were supposed to wait until you got a handle on offensive magic."
"Yeah, try telling that to Klaus," she took a seat at the table as Caroline nodded in agreement.
"Fuckin Klaus," Abby mumbled.
"So what'd I miss?"
"A lot," Caroline said. "And before you freak out and go on some half-baked rescue mission, you should know that this has all been for your own good and virginity and it was Abby's idea."
Abby glowered at the blonde. "Caroline, please!"
"Well, it was!" she threw her hands up in exasperation. Abby rubbed her temples before she continued.
"You nearly exhausted yourself using magic unchecked, you almost blinked out of existence. Naturally, Kol wanted to heal you with his blood. I wasn't sure if you'd make it. I'll be damned if I let you come back as a vampire. I also didn't want to subject you to another blood bond disaster,"
Bonnie could understand Abby's reasoning. Abby would stop at nothing to keep her from falling victim to her same fate. And after seeing how April was becoming a promising vampire, yet she still fell, it only reinforced her belief that she wouldn't like to become a vampire. She also remembered how things had escalated a little too far with Kol that night, but he contained himself, didn't he?
"And Elena tried to heal you but Kol wouldn't let her, of course, so Abby brought you here so you could heal."
Bonnie rubbed her tongue against the roof of her mouth. Nothing was there. "I don't taste any blood. Who gave me blood?"
"No one. Bed rest and time is what healed you. With the help of some herbs, too."
"Okay," Bonnie donned a worried smile. "That's good, right? What am I missing?"
"Matt's missing along with the cure and we had to dagger your little boyfriend," Caroline spoke louder in an effort to command Bonnie's attention when her eyes popped at this revelation. " because he went on a rampage the day after Abby took you."
"Klaus knows his brother, and I know my daughter," Abby said proudly. "He thought it best he kept Kol out of the way so he doesn't spiral the whole time you're out, which would keep him from a secondary spiral when you wake up and find out what he's done, inevitably kicking his ass to the curb. Also, the blood bond. You were just too vulnerable with Kol."
"In other words, he was trying to get you alone, and get it in," Caroline stated as a matter of factly.
"I need to sit down," Bonnie said, squeezing her eyes shut. Kol wouldn't! He better not! He knew she intended to wait. He would go on a killing spree though, if he thought Bonnie wasn't safe.
"You are sitting,"
"Right. Thank you, Caroline. Matt's missing, the cure's lost, and my boyfriend's been- he's not my boyfriend! Kol. Kol's been daggered. So, how long have I been out? What, like two days?"
"Two weeks," Abby corrected. She held Bonnie's hand gently. "And your powers have grown, immensely. You needed time to rest or it would have consumed you. Now, you're going to have to be very careful with your magic, you need a guide more now than ever. We have a meeting at Klaus's in an hour, to figure this out because the magic is connected to the cure."
"You know you don't have to entertain Kol in all your free time, right, witch?" Rebekah pressed, twirling a long strand of her platinum locks as she led Bonnie to the coffin he was in.
Bonnie didn't answer, instead removed the top of the blood bag as Rebekah opened up the coffin. There lay Kol, looking as dead as any ordinary vampire, except he was no ordinary vampire. He would reanimate until the day his mother wrought a true death amongst her offspring. The thought made Bonnie shiver. She didn't like the sight of seeing Kol lifeless. Even if he was about to come back. She contented herself with the fact that she was displeased with him. His ruthless killing, trying to slip her his blood as a means of seduction. Fuck all that!
Rebekah's face twisted, as she caught the scent or sound of something distasteful, then rolled her eyes so hard, Bonnie thought they'd stay that way. Bonnie clutched the blood bag.
"He prefers the real thing, darling," Rebekah's voice drawled as she leaned against the coffin, peering at Bonnie's reaction. Except Bonnie hardly reacted, not wanting to give her the satisfaction. "Especially now that he's tasted you, it won't be long before he wants to taste all of you. Frankly, I'm surprised he's held out this long. It's been a long time for me but virgins are known to be quite delectable."
"Rebekah, would you mind giving us a minute?"
"Fine," Rebekah replied, rolling her eyes to high heaven as she pushed off the casket. "Guess I'll gloat later."
As soon as Bonnie was sure the Original blonde bombshell was gone, she pulled the dagger out and poured blood into Kol's mouth. She watched his eyes spring open and in an instant, he was on his feet, standing next to the coffin embracing Bonnie.
"Bonnie, my darling!" he inhaled the scent emanating from her bare neck.
Noticing that Bonnie wasn't returning his hug, he pulled back, holding her at arm's length to examine her features.
"You have snubbed me the last few times I've come near you. Why is that?"
"Happy homicidal maniac. Who'll burn the whole city down if you break his heart. Those are the exact words your brother used. Is that who you really are, Kol? That's the kind of person I'm getting to know?"
Kol released his grip on her arms and stood up straight. "Why do you question it if you already know the answer? I've done terrible things, Bonnie in a thousand years of violence, blood, lust, and everything in between. And I've taken guiltless pleasure in every second of it."
The admission made her stomach churn. He was so apathetic about his violent past, Bonnie could hardly believe this was the same Kol that she invited into her home. He was gentle and careful with her. Respectful, even. Now, she hardly recognized him. But she knew she should have.
"You know you wouldn't have been daggered if you weren't so damn predictable,"
Kol gaped in mock amusement. "You really expect me to just stand idly by and do nothing while you remain on the precipice of death?"
"No, but you don't have to flip out! I was fine, Abby took care of me. You, you're just a monster. You killed April and I don't even know who else! It's so easy for you to just… kill! Why do you even want me? So you can corrupt me, defile me, and have me as your partner in crime? Do you even know who I am? And I'm told that you tried to do the blood bond for nefarious reasons and you know I'm not ready for that!" Bonnie stomped her foot in frustration. "What the hell do you want from me?
"I wouldn't ask that of you, little witch." he pierced her eyes with the most serious expression he'd made up to that point. "I know that's not the life for you. But you aren't wrong. I want you, in a way I've never wanted another. Your refusal tortures me. I won't lie, Bonnie. The thought of not having you in any way is… agony. I could no longer handle it, and I began to crumble. Aside from that, you must suffer no delusions. I would commit the most deplorable and heinous crimes because if anything ever happened to you, I fear I'd quite literally lose my mind. I just want you at my side," he admitted and Bonnie could feel with every fiber of her being Kol meant that sincerely.
The room felt heavy and stuffy and Bonnie flapped her shirt against her collarbone. Kol had obviously lost his damn mind already if he thought being uber-dramatic about chaos and destruction over losing her was anywhere near the realm of romantic. He may be ancient, but that sort of thinking was outdated and obsolete in Bonnie's eyes.
"You're fucking insane,"
He laughed. "You aren't wrong there, little love. I'm also fucking serious,"
"I believe you, Kol. But I can't do this. I can't be anything with you if you're so…" Kol narrowed his eyes at Bonnie. "I'm sorry, this isn't going to work," She turned to go but Kol grabbed her from behind, wrapping his arms around her waist, resting his head against her shoulder.
"Bonnie, don't be that way," he murmured in her ear. "You have-"
"Kol, just stop it! " The windows in the room shattered as she shrieked, her emotions manifesting her magic. She peeled his arms off. "Let me go,"
Bonnie wriggled out of his hold as Rebekah appeared in the doorway. "Careful, we've got renovations!"
Bonnie ran past her.
Abby's POV
"You set him up, didn't you?" Abby asked as she toyed with a strand of Klaus's curls. She sighed. "She wasn't ready for this,"
"I wouldn't send my beloved's only child into a battle she could not persevere. And it would be more accurate to suggest I set you up, sweetheart. I merely presented an opportunity for you to begin your mumma bear crusade." Klaus lifted Abby's shirt and pressed a kiss into the spot just under her belly button. "Am I to be punished for that? Better yet, are you going to keep punishing the both of us? You know it was a noble move, Abigail,"
Abby sighed as Klaus's tongue traveled further down her belly. "Say my name again,"
Klaus slithered up her form to whisper in her ear.
"Abigail," he grinned against her ear when her breath abated in response. "Come, now love. End this suffering. Or at the very least let me end yours,"
With Klaus's hands digging into her waist, his tongue nibbling her ear, Abby could refuse no longer. She was, after all, a baby vampire and her heightened sense of lust needed to be appeased if she was to keep her bloodlust under control. Klaus had been more than happy to offer his services of bloodlust 'training' since the day he went to check on her when she turned. Things escalated quickly and Abby spent the majority of her free time in those first few days in bed with Klaus, testing out her flexibility in various positions. Until the gang was back from the portal and she blamed Klaus for rushing the task, with Bonnie only partially through her tutelage, and manipulating Kol into an attempt to seduce Bonnie, a move completely orchestrated by Klaus so Abby could have an opportunity to intervene, thus protecting her daughter.
These vampire urges were a bitch. As pissed as she was at the point she could no longer resist him or she'd have to go on a killing spree. Something to ease the pain of the ever-present hunger. Sex with Klaus always helped and she could stand it no longer.
"Okay, fine," she heaved a sigh from her chest.
"Oh, don't be such a downer, love,"
"Niklaus, now!"
Klaus wasted no more time as he tore off Abby's clothes. When they came down from two rounds of coital bliss, they heard the tail end of Bonnie and Kol's interaction from downstairs.
"My baby girl," Abby murmured.
"I told him to just tell her about the soulmate thing," Klaus confessed as he ran his fingers down Abby's naked spine as she lounged on his chest.
"She won't believe him, she needs to find out in her own way. She's probably just in denial at this point." Abby sighed. "Come on, we have guests."
Kol's POV
Well, that fucking hurt. That hurt deep. He had tried to be fully transparent with Bonnie about who he was and what he'd done in his lifetime and it backfired. She wasn't taking to Kol's ingraining himself into her life as kindly as he'd wanted her to, with everything that came with the package that was him.
As they convened with the rest of the Mystic Falls vampire entourage, she wouldn't go near Kol, let alone look at him.
On the surface, Kol kept his composure. Underneath, he despaired. This was bloody torture, the feeling of losing Bonnie before he even really had her crashing down like a tsunami, flooding the coast that was his heart with despondent waves of rejection.
As the group recounted the hazy details of what happened the night they entered the portal and where Matt and the cure could be, they collectively decided that with Bonnie's use of magic and Kol's knowledge of it, the two of them could come up with a way to locate Matt, thus finding the cure as well.
"Fine, but only if Abby helps too," Bonnie issued her stipulation with her hands folded across her chest. Abby looked surprised. "I need you, Abby. I don't know if I can do this without you."
"Of course, Bonnie," nodding vigorously, Abby agreed.
"And I want your word, that you won't harm Matt. Any of you," Bonnie glanced around at the volatile vampires, which included Klaus, Damon, and sometimes Rebekah. She still wouldn't look at Kol but he knew he was included in her stipulation.
His dead heart ached for her and she was so apathetic, he resolved to make her feel something, anything other than her own apathy. Kol figured pissing her off would get a reaction out of her.
"And what if we did? Would that really surprise you? Since we are, in fact, the dreadful monsters as you perceive," Kol prompted with a menacing smirk in Bonnie's direction. Bonnie finally turned towards him.
"Kol, that sort of attitude is not going to get you in her uptight knickers," Rebekah mumbled, low enough that only Kol could hear.
"What is wrong with you?" the young witch demanded.
"Killing is necessary, little witch. For blood. For sport," he grinned wider at that, then he turned serious. "For survival. What is it about that you fail to understand? Do not waste your time trying to fashion us into Mary Sue vampires. Not even your mother is immune to the urge."
"You can't be witchy's boo and kill her friends, even if they're a potential backstabbing threat to the rest of us. That's a no-no in her book," Damon mused, unable to keep the smirk off his face. "Right, Bon?"
"Damon, shut up!" Everyone in the room demanded, save for Bonnie and Kol. Surprisingly, he did.
Bonnie looked at Abby who didn't argue and Kol felt Bonnie's heart sinking sensation. Then a rush of anger as Bonnie returned her glare to him and the lights flickered, her anger manifesting through uncontrollable pulses of expression.
"You're such an asshole!" She stormed out of the room and Kol started after her but Klaus stopped him.
"Let her go, she'll be back," he ordered. Kol grimaced, hating to admit he was right.
Rebekah walked up next to Kol, unable to contain her mocking grin.
"I'm just going to say it. You're in a toxic relationship. Trending on Twitter though, see?" She held her phone up but Kol slapped it out of her hand.
"Asshole!"
"Are we done here?" Before anyone could answer, Kol sped out of the room.
Bonnie power walked her anger off until she reached the gates of the Mikaelson estate, thanking her lucky stars that Kol didn't follow. She leaned against the gate and let pools of saltwater stream from her eyes, trying to wash away all the emotions that came with it. Realizing she was falling in love with a renowned maniac was taxing on her psyche.
Elena and Caroline were at her side in an instant. They gathered her in a group hug as Bonnie continued to sob.
"The other day, well a couple of weeks ago I guess," Bonnie began slowly. "The night I opened the portal, I was high as a kite a few hours before. And Kol took care of me, even when I stripped down to my best underwear, he knew I wasn't ready. I could feel how much he wanted me but he gave me his blood instead, not even asking for another blood sharing session. I trusted him. And then after he was gonna give me his blood so he can… why would he do that? I'm only seventeen!"
Bonnie let more tears fall as her girls consoled her. "I'm an idiot. I love him, I know I do, I can't fight it. Except I can't even face him right now. He kills, mercilessly and he won't stop. I doubt he even cares if he was willing to-" she couldn't even say it.
"Love is complicated like that," Elena said as she stroked her hair. "He's always taken caution before, right? And I'm willing to bet Klaus put that idea in his head because he's the one who sent Abby. I was just a witness because I wanted to make sure you were ok. He doesn't want to hurt you like that or I'm sure he would have killed way more people by now,"
"That doesn't make it ok! He just kills like it's nothing, Elena! And he doesn't even care! I don't get it!"
"I think that's his weird way of showing that he cares. He doesn't give a shit about anyone, except you," Caroline offered. "And when he's not with you, he goes a little crazy! Tyler's the same way,"
"Foolish girl. Of all the children I bore, you fall for Kol. The wanker with the highest likelihood of hurting you in more than one way. How far you have fallen from my expectations, my dear."
Bonnie choked back a gasp as Esther appeared in front of her. "What the hell are you doing back here so early?"
Caroline and Elena exchanged looks, before Caroline asked, "Bonnie who are you talking to?"
For some reason unknown to Bonnie, her childhood friends could not see Esther, who stood directly in front of the trio.
Instead of answering Bonnie, Esther continued to taunt and berate Bonnie. "He hasn't had you yet. That must be what has my boy so smitten, he wants to unlock the mystery that is magical Bonnie Bennett. You're wasting your tears, girl. As soon as he has claimed your innocence, he shall move on. Probably even give you a mercy killing to spare your feelings. He has a penchant for killing, though he hardly does it for mercy. You'd be a lucky one."
That triggered the most powerful manifestation of Bonnie's magic abruptly as a balloon pop. The clouds moved over the sun, dimming the atmosphere as thunder clapped while the winds howled furiously. Elena and Caroline struggled to stand up straight in the strength of the winds and called out to Bonnie, who didn't appear to be listening. Blood seeped out of all the orifices on Esther's face, and she was dead before she hit the ground. At which point, she came into view of the vampires.
Caroline jumped and gaped while Elena gasped and said, "Oh my God,"
"A cloaking spell," Bonnie said in sudden realization.
All the vampires from inside the mansion sped outside. Kol took one look at Esther and turned to Bonnie. "Is this your doing?"
"She was saying awful things about some asshole-" Kol zipped over and took her down with a kiss.
Kol and Bonnie's POV
Two nights later
Bonnie took Kol's hand and stepped out of the limo in her strapless little black cocktail dress. "Is all this really necessary?"
"Only the best for you, my sweet," he said as he kissed her hand and led her inside Mama Tosca's fine Italian restaurant. Once Bonnie was seated with a bottle of the finest wine cooling in its bucket, Kol took his seat, reached across the table, and grabbed Bonnie's hand.
"Thank you, Bonnie. For giving me a chance,"
She smiled her pearly whites at him. "Just don't blow it."
Bonnie hadn't seen Kol since their celebratory kiss in front of everyone at Esther's place of death a few days prior. She needed time to process her feelings and while Kol reluctantly agreed to give her space, she was impressed he'd kept his distance for at least two days. She decided to hit him up. He agreed to see her on the condition that she let him treat her to a proper date. She also missed his lips, his kiss because he was amazing with his skillful tongue.
Although she wouldn't admit it to him yet, she was still digesting the fact that what she felt for Kol was indeed love. Bonnie had never loved anyone, never been loved, in a romantic way, but she was certain that's what she was experiencing. Each time she tried to get away, or stay away because he was acting crazy or being an ass, she found it wasn't for very long. She knew by instinct he'd never physically hurt her, but she was beginning to realize his bark was as good as his bite when he was hurting. Knowing damn well she could be the same way is what brought her around.
Besides, she was only seventeen, she figured she could deal with a little teen romance. Like any other normal teen. If she gave him her love and it wasn't reciprocated, she figured it would be what every other teenager experienced at one point or another. Sure, it would hurt, but she'd survive. It would surprise Bonnie if it went past high school, even with Klaus basically saying he wouldn't let her go, they were both still young at heart and it could go either way. Bonnie was just grateful for the time they had.
Kol, on the other hand, knew her place in his heart had already been cemented. The more time he spent with her affirmed that fact. He'd also heard her confession to her friends about him, but he felt if Bonnie had an inkling of the gravity of how he'd felt about her now, he'd frighten her off. The seed of love that had been growing since he met her, was getting dangerously close to sprouting. Soon, he'd no longer be able to contain his emotions when it came to the little witch.
After an amazing Italian dinner, they took a walk to a nearby park, coming to a stop in a gazebo that had an arbor strung with vines and white roses as an entryway. There were LED lights strung along the ceiling and down the beams holding up the gazebo which faced a small pond.
"This is beautiful, Kol," Bonnie murmured. "This view is amazing."
"Correction, darling. I've got the best view," Bonnie turned around to see Kol framing her with his hands. She blushed and faced the pond again. Kol pulled out his phone and took some pictures of her while she stood in various poses.
"One for the archives?" He asked as he captured them both in the viewfinder. He made sure to get a photo of them in a lip lock before he put his phone away.
Bonnie looked out over the pond again, watching ducks waddle in the water. Then, a second later, something came over her as she turned her gaze back to Kol, strolling towards him. "You're not a bad sight yourself."
She lifted her arms around his neck but he pulled back, steadying her. "Bonnie, there's something I want to tell you,"
He ran his hands down the length of her hips and rested them right where her bum began to curve, his thumbs gently rubbing her hip bones. Bonnie clasped her hands to her chest in feigned shock.
"Oh my God, are you going to propose? I'm only seventeen, Kol and you're like a thousand years old. I don't think that's legal," Bonnie giggled as she finished her sentence. Kol laughed as well, loving her perfect comedic timing. It helped lighten the mood since inwardly, he was sweating balls.
"Oh little, love, don't bloody tempt me," he sighed as his undead heart raced. He applied light pressure on the space just past her hip bones before he cradled Bonnie's face in both of his hands, his long fingers gently gliding across her chin.
"Your beauty is undeniable and you wield power like no other. But it's not only that which draws me into your orbit. You are magic, Bonnie. And not just due to your witch heritage. You embody everything that is pure and worthy, you illuminate the darkness that is my world. You're everything beautiful that I want to hold dear for all time,"
Bonnie had become breathless. This was getting heavy!
"I know there's darkness in me and I know you hate it-"
"Kol, I could never!"
"Please let me finish, love. You soothe the beast in me, and although I can't promise I'll never disappoint you or spare you from knowing the darkness which dwells within me, I can promise that your happiness is my happiness and I will stop at nothing to bring you joy. I never want to hurt you. Bonnie Bennett, I want you to be mine,"
Bonnie searched his face. He looked dead serious and it didn't feel like he was asking her out. Shit. Might as well tumble into this then, right? This thing between Bonnie and Kol had the makings of an epic romance. But, the darkness and disappointment meant unnecessary killing from time to time, because that was Kol's nature. Could she trust that he would try to suppress those homicidal urges in order to put her happiness first? Bonnie didn't feel right asking that because she couldn't handle the disappointment if that's what she expected of him. She could only hope she could be a voice of reason he'd actually listen to, if he wanted her as much as he'd claimed.
Still, being a teenager who hadn't quite grasped the concept of duh! Bonnie needed one last ego stroke. "You really feel that strongly about me? You could've just asked me out,"
She joked but immediately realized this wasn't the time. Kol slithered one hand down her backside and pressed Bonnie closer to him. His other hand tilted her chin up. "Let me rephrase, darling. When I met you, it was as if everything fell into place. I just knew that all the trials and tribulations I've suffered over a thousand years have led me to you. I'm not asking you out. With all due respect, I'm formally declaring that you are mine, and I am yours, forever. Don't you understand?" He whispered his last sentence.
"This is going to be more than some teenage fairy tale, isn't it?" There was fear and uneasiness in Bonnie's eyes, but more than that, Kol could see the love in her eyes, even if she wouldn't verbally admit it. Definitely too soon to tell her she's his soulmate, but even if he didn't have that knowledge, the energy he'd always felt from her was telling enough. He gazed back at her with the same adoration.
"Indeed it is, mon amour, so much more. I'm afraid that's our only option. Are you ready to accept that?"
Bonnie closed in on his lips for the kiss she'd been denied and this time he didn't refuse her. It was an intimate one. She kissed him deeply, knowingly surrendering to the emotions overcoming her as soft moans escaped from their heated exchange. Kol was doing his thing with his tongue, igniting Bonnie's arousal. As their kiss deepened, the LED lights hanging about flickered, a manifestation of her powerful emotions through her magic.
She was going to love him, and she was going to love him hard and in that moment, everything felt perfect. The budding of what she knew deep down was going to be an unforgettable, irreplaceable, and irresistible love had already begun.
Stopping for a breath, Bonnie breathlessly spoke only one word before she slipped her tongue between Kol's lips again.
"Yeah,"
AN: I had to end it here because it was getting long but the next chapter will explain what's happened since Bonnie became Kol's true amour
Should I add in that that isn't the last of Esther? It's not! ;)
*Mon amour means "my love" in French, and I have always thought that made the cutest screenname for any platform. (part of my username here)
the triple L stands for Little Light of Love, another favorite screenname I love, there's a song that plays at the end of the movie The Fifth Element that's the same name, Little Light of Love by a musician named Eric Serra