Chapter 4

She still couldn't believe what happened, but then again it was Syrena's fault. If only she took her necklace back as soon as she taught the Bennet witch, none of this would have happened. Now Syrena must stay inside because every witch's energy that is released is unique. There was no doubt that her husband carried a witch by his side to track her when Syrena releases enough energy.

Releasing that much energy for a beginner was extraordinary yet dangerous. Syrena now knew what Bonnie was saying. After all, she experienced it herself, but never in a way where blood trickled down from her nose. When her mother taught her, Syrena passed out, but she soon grew from it like every other witch. It simply takes time.

Syrena sat in the living room reading her book, while Luka went to the local library to study and grab more books for Syrena to read and Jonas and Elijah were talking amongst themselves and drinking tea. When Elijah looked at his sister, he went over to her and sat across from her. His eyes observed her carefully, watching her delicate fingers flip through the pages as soon as her eyes finished scouring them. It wasn't until he looked at the title and smirked.

"Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austin." Syrena smiled up at her brother as she heard him say, "A literature classic yet sentimentally dull."

"Dull?"

"Of course. There are better things to read. Not the pining of love and the constant complaint of how boring their lives are."

"But that's not the whole premise of the novel. Marriage isn't all about love but how their families come together to create an everlasting bond."

Elijah smirked to himself, somewhat amused by her answer. "You always did see the beauty in everything."

She smiled back and turned back to the page she was reading. Almost all of her siblings admired Syrena for her optimism. No matter how difficult their lives were, she always gave them a warm smile and some words of encouragement in their time of need. However, they have warned her many times that such a mindset only leads to trouble. They were right of course. Look where Syrena was now: hiding in an apartment complex with her brother and two witches. It was time to be more realistic, and Elijah always reminded her of it.

"And I'm sure your views would be even more beautiful if you told me what your plans were with that Bennet witch."

Her eyes went wide as she looked at him, calculating her every move. It was then that she felt something pounding against her chest. When she turned to Jonas, he stared her down.

"Luka told us everything." Syrena looked back at her brother as he watched her. "You want that witch by your side in hopes to defend you from Niklaus."

"I'm training her, Elijah." Syrena argued. "She's a Bennet. One of the most powerful and ancient bloodlines. My mother was taught by her ancestor. If I could have her on our side, just think what she could do."

She watched him breathe deeply in with his jaw clenched as he scolded her, "So you kept it a secret from me?"

"No. No. Of course not. I was...going to tell you eventually-"

"Eventually?" His eyes slowly narrowed as he stood. "Syrena, don't you realize that every move we make is vital to our survival. Niklaus has spies everywhere. The more people you're in league with, the more likely they are allied with him."

Syrena stood then and came face to face, standing against her own flesh and blood. "Except she's not. I know she isn't." She gave herself a moment to huff out a breath to calm herself as she explained, "She's the doppelgänger's friend, Elijah. She wouldn't want anything to happen to her."

"And how do you know this?"

"When I went with Luka to his school yesterday, I saw a trophy case near the gymnasium, and there was a picture there of the doppelgänger with Bonnie Bennet. From the way they looked, they seemed to be close."

"Are you sure, Syrena?" Jonas asked from his kitchen.

"I'm sure."

Elijah looked away for a moment, thinking to himself before he turned back to his sister and asked, "Is there anything else you need to tell me, Syrena?"

There it was again. Her heartbeat. It drummed against her chest as he stared her down, waiting for a response. He didn't seem to know what happened last night. She was thankful that neither Luka or Jonas told Elijah what happened, but then again, they would be in trouble too. He did entrust his sister to them by watching her every move and intervening when she acts recklessly.

"No."

"I could hear your heartbeat, Syrena. It's pounding excessively against my ears." He took a daunting step towards her. "Now, what do you need to tell me?"

Her older brother was always known to be patient. However, with that patience surfaced his anger. He always kept it all inside until someone threatens his family. She knew if she told him the truth of what the Bennet witch had already done, he would track her down and use whatever means necessary to get the charm back from her and possibly run away again.

"She wants to attend Mystic Falls High so that she could be closer to Bonnie."

They both turned to Jonas as Elijah asked, "And you agree with this?"

"Come on, Elijah." Jonas made his way over to them with a mug in his hand, taking a sip os tea. "Don't you know how powerful the Bennet's are? If we have her on our side, just imagine what she could do."

"Yes, I'm familiar with the Bennet witches. But my concern is if her loyalty will waver once she finds out about you, Syrena."

"What?"

"You're my sister, Syrena. And if this witch is a friend of the doppelgänger's as you claim, then there is no doubt she will see me as her enemy, which means you will be too."

"Maybe we can reason with them. Explain the situation about Nik and us, then maybe they can-"

"Once the truth comes out that he is my brother and you are his wife, they will think differently." He then heads out the door, not daring to look at her. "I will be back soon. I have a meeting with someone."

As soon as he shut the front door behind him, she looked at Jonas and said, "Thank you."

"You shouldn't be thanking me. As much as I respect you, Syrena. I care about my son's life more, and Elijah would probably choke him out."

"I understand."

"Alright." Jonas then headed out the door. When he touched the knob, he cocked his head at Syrena and said, "I'm heading to work now. Don't leave the apartment. Do you understand?"

She nodded and replied, "I wasn't going to leave today."

"Good."

As soon as he went out the door, Syrena sighed to herself and sat back down on the couch to read her book in peace. She was at least thankful that her brother hadn't found what happened last night or noticed that she wasn't wearing her charm. He probably thought she was wearing it underneath her blouse.

Time passed by quickly, and all Syrena wanted to do was go outside, but she couldn't. It was best to be safe to hide for a while. She found many ways to distract herself by taking a nap, eating a toasted bread with raspberry jam, and mostly read throughout the day to exercise her mind and keep it at ease. She also brewed herself some tea, letting the bag sink into her mug and slowly turned the water into a burning red.

When she heard a knock on the door, she glanced up and froze. Elijah, Jonas, and Luka all had keys to the apartment. They would have simply came inside. Her worst fears occurred in her head, thinking of the worst. Perhaps Nik sent his spies to find her and they did. A white light warmed her hand, pulsing and radiating. Syrena crept to the door with care and inched her face closer to the hole to peek through the glass. The light in her hand dimmed and eventually disappeared when she saw that it was the Bennet witch.

Syrena let out a sigh of relief and opened the door to see the witch smiling awkwardly at her. "Hi."

When Bonnie gave Syrena her charm back, she put it on and glanced back at the witch. "I honestly don't know how I feel: proud that you know how to channel, or upset that you nearly killed me through channeling."

"Syrena, I'm so sorry. I wouldn't have done what I did unless it was really important. It's just that there are things that I..."

She nodded her head in understanding. "I forgive you."

Syrena had to forgive her. After all, it wasn't like it was really Bonnie's fault. Syrena had to be more careful what she was doing. However, it also made Syrena wonder today of that night, and when Bonnie explained her reasoning, her suspicions had been confirmed. She did what she could to protect her doppelgänger friend.

She then pushed the door open a little and let Bonnie inside before shutting the door. "Where's Luka and Jonas?"

"Jonas is at work, and Luka went to the library."

"What about your brother?" Syrena froze when she went to grab her mug. "You said he's living with you guys, right?"

"He's in a meeting with someone." Syrena lied smoothly and headed over to the table with an assortment of books and grimoires. "Would you like something to drink by the way? Coffee, tea?"

"No. It's okay. I'm good." When Bonnie saw the display of books her eyes marveled in wonder as she made her way over to them. "Wow. So much stuff." Her eyes found a leather bound book, so she picked it up, and asked, "What is this? Is this a grimoire?"

"They're all grimoires."

"How did you get all of these?"

"Witches from all over the world have collected their spells in grimoires, but over the centuries, most of them have gotten lost. Jonas has been obsessed finding them. Luckily for him, he came across my brother and me, and we gave him plenty to keep his heritage intact, including mine." Bonnie stared at her, almost confused, so Syrena nodded at the book. "The one you're holding."

Bonnie's mouth nearly dropped in shock, and Syrena grinned when Bonnie opened it and explored its contents. She even placed it on the table to read what it was saying, but Syrena knew she couldn't. Kalliopi's magic was ancient and powerful. A witch must be fluent in the language to understand it.

"Is this...Greek?"

"Well, it was my mother's grimoire until she left it to me."

"So, your mom was from Greece?"

"Yes." Syrena said too quickly. "But I don't want to talk about my mother. She and I never really agreed on anything."

"Okay." Bonnie put the book down and looked at Syrena. "I was wondering if you know how to break the bind between a talisman and a spell."

Syrena crossed her arms, staring at her. "Well, it depends. All spells are unique in their own way which makes them incredibly specific."

They gathered what they needed to go up to the rooftop: candles and Syrena's grimoire. Bonnie placed the candles all around them in a circle, while Syrena searched through the pages. When the Bennet witch finally sat down, Syrena looked at the candles and closed her eyes. She placed her hands to the side and breathed deeply through her nostrils, concentrating on the heat and directing it to the wicks. When she heard Bonnie gasp, she smiled and opened her eyes to see that all of the candles were lit.

"So tell me what's this talisman we're unbinding?"

When Bonnie went into her back pocket, she unveiled a translucent white gemstone. All Syrena did was stare at it, because she knew exactly what it was. The moonstone in the palm of her hand. She gazed at it and held it up in the light while Bonnie watched her.

"I know it doesn't look like much-"

"No. You'd be amazed what such small items possess."

They both smirked at each other, and then Syrena placed the stone in Bonnie's hand and held it in place. Both witches closed their eyes and chanted, concentrating on their abilities to undo the magic. When the stone floated, it slowly rose up into the air above their heads and twirled until it shook and exploded into a burst of fiery sparks raining down on them. They both opened their eyes and watched, laughing merrily at the scene.

When they blew out the candles, they headed back inside to the apartment and blew out the candles to put them away. Syrena then led her to the front door, smiling at each other.

"Thanks again for doing this."

"Not at all. Just...don't channel me again."

She smirked and replied, "I won't. Bye."

Syrena waved her off and shut the door. She headed back to the coach and smiled, taking out the moonstone. She was thankful that Bonnie didn't see her make a replica and in that split second right before it floated in the air, she focused on the stone itself to switch places with the replica.

By the time Elijah came back, it was dead of night. Jonas sat on his armchair with his reading glasses on, while Luka was doing homework in the dining room table. Syrena, on the other hand, was on the coach reading. "Still reading, Syrena. I'm shocked you didn't go out."

"I did. On the roof with the Bennet witch."

They all froze, and look at her, while Elijah sauntered his way towards her. "You were with her today?"

"Yes." Syrena then stood and took out the moonstone from her pocket and placed it on the table in front of her. "And look what I uncovered."

"She gave you the moonstone?" Jonas asked.

"No. She wanted to destroy the moonstone. It was simple really to get it off her hands. All I needed was a moment to have it to make a replica and destroy that one."

Elijah stared at it in disbelief. He then reached down and picked it up, carefully observing it before he turned his attention back to his sister and nodded. "Well done, Syrena."

A smirk slowly grew on her face as she asked, "So does this mean I'm free to what I like?"

"Let's not get carried away now. Just because you did well does not mean you are not in imminent danger."

"She trusts me, Elijah."

"And if she finds out you double-crossed her, then how do you think she'll take it? To be betrayed by her own teacher, a guide to light her way. She wouldn't take it lightly."

"So that's my reward?" Syrena scoffed and took a step towards him. "I brought you the moonstone, and this is how you show your gratitude."

"Blame yourself for it. If you had not been so reckless in the first place by not telling me your plan, then perhaps I wouldn't need to scold you like a father to a child."

"So I'm a child now?"

Jonas felt the need to step in, so he did, "Syrena, Elijah. We can work something out-"

Elijah stared at his sister down, while he addressed Jonas. "I would like a moment alone with my sister." Jonas looked at Syrena before he looked back at Elijah and nodded his head. He then gestured for Luka to follow him to his room, but he stopped when he heard Elijah say, "Jonas, don't ever interrupt my sister and me again."

With that warning, Jonas went inside with his son, leaving the two siblings alone. "I only want to help Elijah, but I can't do that if you keep me in the dark."

"I only want you to be safe, Syrena. As soon as Niklaus's spies find you, their first move will be to bring you to him. I know what it's like to do nothing in times like this, but I need you to trust me. And now, thanks to that Bennet witch, we have a piece in place."

Syrena stared at the moonstone in her brother's hand, lost in thought. She just wants this nightmare to be over, and she's hoping that the process will all go smoothly.

Back at the Salvatore Boarding House, Elena was with Bonnie, Stefan, Rose, and Damon. They were all talking about Elijah.

"You made a deal with him?" Damon furrowed his eyebrows.

"It was the only way to get Stefan out, and he wants to kill Klaus too." Elena argued. "He also said that he knew some witches to help, and he talked about you, Bonnie."

"What did he say about me?"

"He just knows that you're a witch, and I think it has something to do with Luka, Jonas, and Syrena."

Rose's eyes widened when she heard the name. "Syrena?"

They all looked at her, and Stefan stared at her curiously as he asked, "You know her?"

"She's Elijah's sister. Well, half-sister, but they're related. She doesn't look it, but she's an extraordinary witch."

"Well, if she's as old as Elijah, then she has to be that powerful."

Damon smirked. "Great. So now we got a superhuman vampire, his powerhouse witch sister, and his two lackeys. This should be fun."

Here's the next chapter! Sorry it took a while. I was writing another Fanfiction that I just needed to write to get out of my system, and I was going through some other personal things in my life. I hope you enjoyed it! I also won't be doing The Descent episode (where Rose dies), because I don't see how Syrena will get tied into any part of it, so I will do the episode after: Daddy Issues. Can't wait to hear your thoughts or if you have questions. Stay tuned!