"Where the hell are we?"
Katherine frowned looking around the empty street as Bonnie, Kai, and Stefan woke up. Kai propped himself on his elbows as he glanced quickly at his surroundings, and, seeming unimpressed, plopped back down on the ground.
Stefan got up looking confused, and noticed how Bonnie had a look of fear on her face.
"It's...a prison world." Bonnie spoke slowly.
Katherine turned around to look at the young witch.
"What the hell is that?"
Kai finally rose to his feet.
"A prison world is a dimension identical to ours. Except there are no people. Oh, and the same day reapeats over and over again." He smiled and went to Bonnie, grabbing her arm and leading her away from the other two. Bonnie tried to pry his fingers off her as she was being dragged along.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Kai didn't stop walking but he turned his head to glance at her.
"We're going to find the ascendant and then your blood is gonna take us home. Easy-peasy." He said as if them two working together was the most natural thing ever.
Stefan used his vampire speed to get in front of Kai, stopping the warlock in his tracks.
"Let go of her." He gritted his teeth, and Katherine was quick to intervene.
"Oh, come on Stefan. Let those two walk away and us two can find a way to get out of here." Katherine said from behind, making Stefan turn his attention towards her.
"They have a way to get us out of here."
Kai scoffed. "Wait, you mean you and the lady over there want to catch a free ride with us?" He asked incredulously.
Katherine tried to argue from behind, rolling her eyes as she did so.
"If you have a way of getting out of here, I'm coming too. End of story." She crossed her arms.
"No offense, but Bonnie's blood is essential in getting out, and since I'm the coven leader, I can power the ascendant without a celestial event. So what exactly are you two bringing to the table?" Kai gesticulated from Stefan to Katherine. "Cause the way I see it, Bonnie and I can go back just fine."
"Us two? You're crazy if you think I'm going to work with you." Bonnie tried to break free from his grasp.
"As I've said, only the coven leader can power the ascendat." He clenched his jaw and gripped Bonnie harder, giving her a look that meant she depended on him.
Kai was right. There were no celestial events tonight and without one it would be impossible to activate the ascendant. She hated to admit this, but they needed Kai.
It was easy to find the ascendant. It was hidden in the barn, quite close to where they were. Kai placed himself in front of Bonnie, holding the ascendant, and Bonnie gave him a withering glare as she sliced her palm with a knife. Kai watched in fascination as the blood dripped on the tiny device. They were in the middle of the street and the moonlight was shining upon the four people.
Katherine and Stefan were standing near them, not understanding what was going on but just eager to get back to the real world. As Kai finished the spell to get them out of there, they waited. And waited. Kai was already growing impatient as Stefan and Katherine were looking just as confused as before.
But nothing happened. Kai let out an exhale as he gripped Bonnie's wrist in frustration.
"What did you do this time?"
"I didn't do anything, I swear." She really didn't do anything this time. Her time in 1994 taught her that it's important to escape first, deal with the psychos later.
Kai turned around and smashed the ascendant into pieces, making Bonnie flinch. Stefan and Katherine were frowning as they watched Kai pace back and forth in frustration.
Bonnie was the first one to speak.
"We should've seen this coming. There was no way they'd send us here with the key." She shook her head.
"So then what are we gonna do?" Stefan asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
Katherine stretched her arms and yawned.
"How about we go rest? Ruining a wedding and being sent to another dimension got me tired."
——
They were all tired.
Katherine went ahead to the boarding house while holding onto Stefan's arm. Bonnie was walking slowly behind them, with Kai strangely keeping his distance. She thought that him getting stuck in a third prison world probably took a toll on the warlock.
They were getting closer to the boarding house. Katherine and Stefan were already far ahead, when Bonnie felt a strange looming presence. The witch didn't know what it was, but she could feel a great amount of dark magic near her. She frowned. Bonnie slowed down her pace and tried to concentrate on the interrupting presence near her.
She turned her head to look at Kai who was already staring at her. By the look on his face he could also feel it. She wanted to question him, but before she could do that a sudden black smoke covered her vision, making it go all black.
"Watch out!" She heard Kai yelling but she barely had time to realize what was happening. Next thing she knew, Bonnie was thrown into the first house Kai encountered.
Kai frantically closed the front door with a thud and locked it.
"Lock the windows!" He yelled as he moved a piece of furniture in front of the door.
"What?" Bonnie was still on the floor, disoriented. While she tried to stand up, Kai checked to see if all the windows were closed.
"What happened?" Bonnie asked again.
"I don't know." Kai clenched his jaw, as he went to sit on the couch in that living room. His elbows rested on his knees, his head bowing down.
"You don't know? Then why did you bring us here?"
"I don't know Bonnie, maybe because I didn't wanna get attacked by some shadow freaks?" He slightly raised his head to look at her, his hands clasped together. Bonnie still looked at him in disbelief, saying nothing.
"What, you wanna get out there? Then get out, get yourself killed!" He yelled. "I'm not gonna stop you." He bowed his head again. She could see how tense Kai was. She still wanted to ask what were those creatures and what were they doing in this prison but she knew Kai wouldn't give her a real answer right now.
Bonnie swallowed a lump in her throat.
"Stefan.."
"Stefan is alright, he's got that vampire speed, no?" He quickly dismissed her.
"Alright, then what are we gonna do? Hide here for eternity?" Bonnie gesticulated around the room.
"Till morning." He was still looking at the floor.
Again she wanted to ask why until morning but she decided not to press the matter any further. Besides, she too was tired since she didn't sleep for two days already.
Those things-whatever they were-started banging on the windows from the upper floor and so Bonnie and Kai decided to make a fort in the living room and sleep there. They closed all the blinds and turned of all the lights, only lighting a candle, trying to make the house look as empty as possible.
Bonnie was laying on the couch hugging her blanket, ready to go to sleep. She found herself some pajamas and was ready to go to sleep. Kai's makeshift bed was on the wooden floor, where he put a few blankets and some pillows.
He took off his sweaty t-shirt and tossed it on the floor. Bonnie caught a peek of his muscular back without wanting to, but through the candlelight she noticed something more. Tiny little puncture wounds seemed to be all over Kai's back and shoulders. They looked painful.
Bonnie assumed those were the wounds left by the heretics in 1903, when they turned Kai into their own personal bloodbag. She felt a pang of guilt, but only for a fleeting moment.
Bonnie was now staring at him, unable to take her eyes off his wounds. Kai felt her eyes on him and glanced at her, noticing she was staring at his wounds. Kai put the t-shirt he discarded on the floor back on, looking almost embarassed, and laid down on the blankets after blowing out the candle. It was pitch dark now. Bonnie began to speak.
"About those wounds-"
"Goodnight, Bonnie." Kai turned his back on her and pretended to sleep, but Bonnie could see his jaw clenching, and his knuckles turning white from gripping the blanket too tight. She could see Kai being bothered by her seeing him like this.
With a sigh, Bonnie turned to face the wall and tried to fall asleep. Too many things happened to her in just one day. Just this morning she was excited to attend Jo's wedding, and now here she is. Stuck in a prison world with two psychopaths and God knows what kind of creatures. She was sure Kai knew something about that but he didn't want to share with her. Probably because he didn't trust her.
She also wondered if Katherine and Stefan made it to safety. She sighed again and tossed around until she laid on her back. There was no way she was getting any sleep, especially with those things banging on the windows and doors.
Bonnie was scared that those creatures were going to break the windows if they kept this up. Her breathing became uneven and she clutched her blanket with her right hand. She left her other hand dangle from the couch. Bonnie heard Kai also toss around, until she felt his fingers find their way to her left hand, holding it tenderly.
She stopped breathing for a second; in the pitch darkness Bonnie didn't know if Kai was awake or asleep, but she assumed he heard her shaky breaths and this was his way of showing comfort, even after she hurt him.
Bonnie mused about this. It was hard not to notice; out of all the people she harmed, Kai was the only one who would keep coming back. No matter how many times she hurts him, Kai keeps coming back even more loyal than before. He does that in his own twisted way, but nevertheless, he's always there.
Despite Bonnie's hatred towards him, somewhere deep down, she appreciates that.
With the banging getting quieter, Bonnie fell asleep holding Kai's hand, his thumb gently caressing her own.
——
As usual, thank you for those who commented, and to answer NazgulBelserion: Even though the main pairings are suposed to be Bonkai and Steferine, I'm not opposed to the idea of Katherine/Bonnie, so I guess we shall see what happens in future chapters.;)
Anyway, please tell me what you guys thought about this chapter and see you next time!