Still shaken up by her attack, Bonnie does her best to stay away from Kai and her friends, however, she gets some unsolicited advice from another witch. Kai and Elena come to an agreement to take down Damon, but everything changes when Elena accidentally makes a devastating discovery. Chris Parker discloses his discoveries to Sheila Bennett in his effort to help protect the kids.

Bonnie had her forehead against the steering wheel as she sat in her car. Her fingers clenched in a tight fist, breathing slowly. She didn't think it was possible, but the school looks even more bleak in the autumn sunlight.

She somehow pulled herself together and shouldered the door open, slamming it shut, before turning to face the high school.

As she walked the halls. She felt eyes on her. Logically, she knew no one was eying her as she walked to her locker. But it didn't stop her from holding her breath as she turned the corner. She could feel her heart hammering against her rib cage, afraid of who could be just around the corner. Her hands shook as she spun the lock, and she took a few tries before she gets the combination right.

"Bonnie, you're back."

She had been uneasily glancing that way and that when Kai approached her.

"I didn't wanna miss three days in a row." Bonnie said, jerking her head to the side impassively. "Plus, my wound healed, so there was no reason to skip."

They were standing directly in the middle of the hallway by the lockers. The seconds bell ticked, reminding them they had about two minutes before the last bell was set to ring.

Kai smiled and began scratching the back of his neck nervously. "I've tried calling, but the calls kept going to voicemail."

Her eyes were still darting about the hallway, watching the doors to classrooms. "Yeah, I just need some space."

Kai raised an eyebrow and looked pointedly around the nearly empty hallway. "Yeah, I get that. I just wanted you to know that I'm here if you need to talk."

Sighing, Bonnie nibbled nervously down on her lip, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet as she fished out her books. "Look, Kai. you're a great guy and I'm thankful for everything you've done for me. But…"

Kai's blue eyes flashed with something unreadable. "Sounds like you're breaking up with me, which is hilarious since we were never actually together."

Bonnie pursed her lips in scrutiny. "Don't make this harder than it has to be."

A frown played on his lips, and Kai shifted uncomfortably. "Bonnie, I know you're hurting, but pushing me away, pushing away the people that wanna help you, that's not the answer."

"You don't know what it's like." Bonnie bristled, staring down at her shoes. "Before you showed up, I was boring, goody-goody Bonnie. No matter what I did, I was always in the shadows. I could never stand out, no matter how I tried. Then Grams starts telling me about our family legacy, and you show up here taking an interest in me. My life has been going south ever since…"

Kai doesn't even have to think before answering. "Ever since I showed up. So I guess it's my fault."

"It's not. Damon is mostly to blame." Bonnie said with a hopefully firm voice. "All this supernatural crap. I just can't be a part of it. Last week I almost died. I'm not cut out for this life."

"I wish I could tell you it gets easier," Kai said, quieter now. His eyes were a sea of sorrow. "But it doesn't. When my parents found out, I wasn't a witch like my sister, it almost ruined us. Our coven rejects people like me. After a while, I just figured out how to cope and not give a fuck about other people's opinion about me."

At that, Bonnie bit down on the inside of her cheek. "In this town, being normal is the safest way to go."

Kai's expression was unimpressed, and Bonnie felt her resolve dropping in the face of reality. "Then do what's best for you," he said in a formal tone. "Jo made the same choice you did. I guess I hate seeing powerful women waste their talent."

Bonnie swallowed hard. Words abandoned her. "I'm sorry. I really wanted to make things work."

Kai looked at her for a moment. Then he nodded, registering that she meant what she said. It didn't wipe off the dejected look in his eyes, though.

"I know. So did I."

"So there are vampires? What else is in Mystic Falls?"

A scraggly Elena came jogging down the hallway, face flushed and lips pulled back into a meek grimace.

Kai stopped at his locker to swap out his books. "Hello, Gilbert." He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, showcasing how unease he was having this open conversation.

Elena grip onto his wrist, and when she started yanking his arm, Kai had no time to object. She was strong for her size, and unfaltering.

"We can't keep avoiding each other," Elena said, knocking her shoulder against Kai's. "It's bad enough Bonnie won't say more than five words to me, and keeps texting me she's okay."

Kai exhaled a somber laugh. "She sort of broke up with me."

He could see Elena struggling to find words. Her cheek dented in as she bit the inside, but finally she replied.

"I'm sorry," she rubbed the bridge of her nose. "This is really a mess."

"It's not like we weren't even together." Kai slung his backpack over his other shoulder and walked towards the school's entrance. He only slowed down his pace when they reached the gates of the school.

A hefty and awkward beat passed between them.

"I know you two are crazy for each other," Elena pointed out with a bit of sympathy. "She just needs some time to deal with this. I'm still trying to wrap my head around all this."

A crease formed between Kai's eyebrows. "I didn't know about vampires until a couple of months ago. Our parents kept Jo and I pretty sheltered. I can do a few basic spells, nothing earth shattering. It's why Damon could beat me in that fight."

"Well, you guys have me to help." Elena let go of him and crossed her arms. When he hesitated, she made a hostile snarl and walked away from him.

Kai's eyes grew wide, and his mouth dropped open. "Umm, you're not getting involved."

Elena glanced back at him, then kept walking further away from the school, and didn't slow down until they were clear of it. "But I am involved. I know what's going on and I can't turn a blind eye to everything that's happened."

Kai went still, immediately on edge. "You can and you will."

"If Bonnie's involved, I am too," Elena said, putting her hands on her hips. "Right now, she's healing from her attack, at least mentally. You need help to take down Damon. We can't keep letting him get away with shit."

Elena stood, watching as Kai pulled out a cigarette and lit it. He placed it between his lips, closing them tightly around the tip. He sucked, then blew out with his nose, eyes staring off into the surrounding landscape.

"Gilbert, you're a normal girl whose destiny isn't caught up in supernatural warfare. Go be normal and hang out with Forbes, go on a date with Donovan, spend time with your family."

Her frown deepened. She tapped his shoulder forcefully. "And abandon my best friend and leave her to clean up the mess. I think not."

Kai turned to look at her, and she looked back, her expression daring him to challenge her. He hadn't planned on it, though. "I admire your loyalty to Bonnie. I really do. But this shit's dangerous. She could have died that night in the woods."

"And it's why I can't walk away from this," she said, narrowing her eyes.

"Fine. All I know is that they have super strength and speed. They can heal fast and have a keen sense of hearing. There's also that mind control power." Kai took another drag. "My uncle told me that vervain can prevent a human from being compelled. Use the herb and make tea with it, drink a cup every morning. "

Elena tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, tugging on it hesitantly. "Good to know. I'll be putting that on my shopping list."

The cigarette had burned to a quarter size by the time he spoke again. "I'm more concerned about Damon's girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?" Elena asked, color creeping into her cheeks.

Kai capitulated at that, looking madden. As he sucks in a puff from the cigarette between his lips.

"Apparently, that story he told us at the Founder Party was him and his brother. The girl, her name is Katherine. She's the reason he's back. He told me she's stuck in the tomb under the church. Emily Bennett sealed her down there before the Founder could kill her."

Elena opened her mouth like she wanted to say something, but abruptly snapped it shut. Readjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder, she gave Kai a curious look. "But then, why did Emily not want her out? Give Damon his girlfriend, then get them out of town."

Kai sighed, taking one last drag of his cigarette, before he snuff it out under his shoe. "Emily trapped all the vampires that were living in Mystic Falls back in 1864, not just Katherine."

"Wait, so if that tomb gets unsealed…" Her hands swung out in a gesture of proposition, palms facing upwards. Her face set in an anxious expression.

Kai's heart leapt into his throat and then dropped into his gut with a sickening weaving. "We'll be unleashing twenty-seven hungry vampires."

Her jaw dropped, and it was as if it had fueled all of her fight and fire for action. "What are we gonna do?" She broached, her voice slow and determined.

"I think it's time to pay Zach Salvatore a visit." Kai answered, clapping a hand on Elena's shoulder.

He hated how all of this supernatural crisis was ruining the lives of innocent people. How it had wrecked Bonnie's life this way. How it had killed Vicki Donovan and tormented Caroline Forbes. And now Elena Gilbert was getting involved. But there was no point keeping Elena in the dark. It would serve him better to have her join forces with him.

"I'm surprised to see you here."

She brought a hand to her chest. All day she'd been feeling that she made the wrong choice earlier. Maybe she'd been too rash. He was only trying to help her. Why did she have to screw up something that could have been potentially good for her? She still liked him? Regardless of all the craziness going on.

When she heard footsteps coming from the hallway. Bonnie looked up from one of Grams' old spellbooks. Grams walked through the door with her work bag, just making it back home from Whitmore.

"I've been calling my dad, but nothing." There was silence for a moment. "I think he might be out of the country this time."

Grams turned slightly and glanced down at her. "That man is something else, last time he called was…"

"Veterans Day, he told me he was working on another deal with Ford or Chrysler." Bonnie droned from her position on the edge of the couch; spellbook still in hand, an ink pen clutched between her teeth.

"You can stay as long as you like." Grams said before pausing, watching her with a concerned frown. "I hate when you're on your own in that house."

Bonnie sighed, feeling fatigue seep into her bones. "The feeling is mutual."

"What are you reading?"

"Looking at some spells," she replied honestly, rubbing her forehead. "I… I've been having a hard time."

"I know baby, I wish I had told you sooner, prepared you better for all of this." Grams was firm and now she looked ill at ease, settled, but still bothered.

"Not just that, my powers… they've fizzled out, Grams. It's like I'm back to square one. I can't levitate a pen without it dropping after an inch up off the table." Bonnie grumbled, cheeks flushing. "Nothing in these books says anything about magical burn out."

Grams chewed on that for a long moment. "Maybe you wanna explain what's been going on in that pretty little head of yours," she remarked curiously.

"I know about the Parkers." Bonnie croaked, her words choking her.

Skepticism was steering Grams' composure, like she didn't expect that from Bonnie.

"The Parkers?"

"Grams, don't play dumb. They're witches like us." Bonnie admitted. It was better to tell Grams up front than risk having Grams lose her temper later on.

Grams' eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Well, I wouldn't say like us," she shot back, folding her arms across her chest.

Bonnie fought the temptation to roll her eyes. "So you know about their coven in Portland?"

The words spilled carelessly from her lips, and Bonnie's eyebrows twitched.

The older woman waved a raring hand. "The Gemini Coven, they are very well known in the witch community. Chris doesn't use magic anymore, from what I remember. Not sure about his niece and nephew."

Bonnie blew out a long breath and shrugged her shoulders. "According to Kai, his sister Jo hasn't been practicing." She grimaced softly and straightened in her seat. "Kai does, but he isn't a normal witch."

"Witch siphoner, huh," she countered lightly, amused. "I bet that coven of his wasn't pleased."

Bonnie could feel butterflies exploding in her stomach and she took another deep breath.

"What do you know about siphoners?" she asked suddenly, something inside her squeezing tight.

"They're a subsection of witches born without personal magic, but with the unique ability to absorb magic power from others." Grams murmured in that standard school teacher's bureaucratic tone.

Bonnie stared at her sharply. Not what she wanted to hear. "Just the textbook definition, Grams. I thought you were all knowing."

"Don't get smart with me young lady," Grams' disappointment was palpable. "I don't like that you're hanging out with that boy."

Bonnie let a serious expression cover her face. "That boy saved my life. He cares about me. He's the only person in this town that's been honest about all the crap that's been going down. Kai's a good person."

Her head was pounding, and she felt more lost now speaking with Grams.

"Is it serious between you two?" Grams questioned and Bonnie unhappily shook her head.

"No, there's too much going on for that." Bonnie continued to frown, her lower lip trembling.

"Bonnie…" Her name sounded heavy from Grams' mouth.

Fumbling about with her fingers, Bonnie avoided looking into Grams' eyes. "I'm just so scared, Grams. I don't know what to do anymore."

"Well, first, there's nothing in any of these that's gonna help you. If you're blocked, it's in here." She pointed to Bonnie's head. "You gotta clear out whatever got you so scared, then you're back in business." Grams hesitantly patted her shoulder like one might a skittish horse, the gesture was both relieving and stiff, and Bonnie realized she couldn't fool her grandmother.

"It might not be that easy."

Bonnie had to reach out to someone who could relate to her pain, who knew the truth.

The rain was dancing over the town, leaving a fine mist overlaying it with each drop. The gloominess made the droplets hard to see as Elena drove them in her 2008 Steel Blue Metallic Ford Escape to the boarding house.

She pulled into the driveway when they arrived at the darkened house. Kai watched as she slowly, achingly slowly, lifted herself out of the car.

And then she stopped breathing.

"Holy hell… how have I never been out here?"

Kai led her up onto the front porch, and the door was slightly ajar. When he pushed it open, the door opened wide with a creak. Elena closed her eyes at the sound.

Her eyes were dreadfully open back up. "Rich people, always leaving their front door open." Elena said, only half of her words highlighted by sarcasm.

Kai breathingly laughed alongside her. It was all but silent. Kai walked through the threshold and switched on the lights. He peered around, seeing no sign of Zach or even Damon.

"Zach, are you in here?" Kai called out sharply, but without raising his voice. There was no reply.

"He's probably out. Maybe we should come back." Elenas said, her tone clearly worried.

Kai stared around for several seconds. "Chris said Zach's been avoiding him. No one has seen him lately. We'll just wait and corner him."

The brunette pointed a manicured fingernail at him. "It wouldn't hurt if we did a little looking around. Maybe we'll find something that will help us figure out what the hell is going on in this town."

Maybe if he poked his head around the upper levels of the house, he might uncover more information about Damon's plans and how to stop him.

Kai's eyebrows rose, an amused twist to his mouth. "I'll check upstairs, see what I can find. Damon probably keeps a paper trail in his room."

Elena grinned at him and stretched a little before walking through the parlor towards the library.

Kai rubbed his aching leg and made his way to the stairs. On the second floor landing, he paused, peering into one bedroom to check. No one was in there. He proceeded upward to the attic, where a doorway set into the wall leading to an outdoor balcony. He peeked through the gap.

What he saw was a mess of blood, ripped out flesh, and exposed bones with an eyeball popping out. The first thing he thought about doing was running. Part of him wanted to scream for help, but his mouth wouldn't move.

It was until he heard a crash. Kai felt his lungs burning, his adrenaline at its fullest. He rushed out of the attic and back down the stairs.

Elena's back was turned to him. She held something in her hand.

"Gilbert… Zach's…"

She whipped around. Her eyes were red and swollen. She held up a photo to his face.

"What the hell is this?" she demanded, her voice rough and angry.

Her question threw Kai off. He studied the faded photo, which showed a young woman who had Elena Gilbert's face from over a hundred years ago. What the hell was going on around?

"Bonnie?" Jo Parker greeted her with an uncertain expression on her face as she stood in the doorway.

Bonnie wore a sheepish look on her face. "Is Kai in?"

"Umm, no, I think he had some studying to do at the library." Jo stared at her and chewed on her lip. "He should be back by dinner. You wanna come in and wait?"

Bonnie recoiled theatrically and shook her head. "I don't wanna impose."

Jo tossed her single dutch braid over her shoulder. "Nah, come in. I was just watching Lincoln Heights."

For a second, Bonnie was absolutely speechless. "You watch Lincoln Heights?" she asked with forced levity.

The girl laughed, a clear, rich sound. "Yeah, I love that show. I just finished up the episode where Cassie goes to New York for her 18th." Jo gushed, losing some of that nervous energy. "I just want her and Charles to be happy. No more drama."

Bonnie offered her a half-grin, which probably couldn't hide how hard her insides were. "Right, no more love triangles or family drama. They deserve a break to be happy."

They both strode into the small living area. The walls had dark paintings and a jarring grandfather clock in the middle of the room. There was a bookcase over-packed with old hardbacks and what looked like journals.

With a fidgety grin, Jo pushed a loose lock of hair behind her ear, and took a seat on the couch. "I know you didn't come over here to talk about Lincoln Heights. What's up? I know things have been tough."

Bonnie took a seat in a nearby chair. She could feel a tug on her heart as she mustered up an answer.

"It's been difficult, Damon…" Bonnie felt a plummeting sensation trying to find her words. "He tried to kill me."

"I'm so sorry that happened to you." Jo's hand brushed her neck.

There was a lump in her throat. "How do you do it Jo, how do you cope with all this supernatural bullshit?"

Jo made an odd sound that might have been a sob or a gasp or even an halted laugh. "I don't, not really," she gave a dark chuckle. "Growing up, I knew what my parents were, and kept our family heritage a secret from my friends. When I started showing signs I had magic, the coven took an interest in me and taught me things, minor spells. Mainly, I learned about my future duties and responsibilities to the coven. But when our parents died, I couldn't bear to use magic anymore. It hurts too much."

"You know what causes a witch to lose their powers?"

"A witch's magic is subject to the influence of their emotional state and it can fluctuate according to them, especially when we're untrained." Jo shifted in her chair. "I was angry at the coven for how they treated us. I was worried about Kai, and I was grieving for my parents, my siblings."

Bonnie bit her tongue. "After what happened in the woods, my powers, they've weakened. Every day my magic gets fainter," she forced through gritted teeth.

Jo sucked in a breath. "I choose not to do magic, because I want a chance at being normal again. But I can sense greatness from you, from what Chris told me. You come from one of the most powerful bloodlines of witches. Once that fear is gone, you'll have your powers back."

Bonnie struggled to put the right words together. "I'm not sure if I want them back."

Jo shot her pitying look, the poor, misguided witch she was. "The choice is your Bonnie. What you're dealing with is a mental block? Remember to live. Witches are still humans, we deserve every bit of happiness like everyone else."

Bonnie picked at a loose thread on her jeans. "Happiness? How can I even think about myself when Damon is hurting everyone around me? I can't even tell my best friend what really happened to his sister. I can't protect Caroline from getting hurt again. How can I even protect myself without magic?" Bonnie set her mouth in a stubborn line.

Jo cocked her head at Bonnie and sat up on the couch. "You're not alone. Kai won't let this go. He's all in, that's the kind of guy he is."

"I'm seeing that." Bonnie turned an alarming shade of red.

Jo's smile had nothing to do with happiness. "Look, I'm not that good at relationship talk, but Kai is still fragile. He's been through a lot this year alone. He can't take another heartache."

"Is there someone else back in Portland?"

For the first time, Jo could see a small crack in the pain and confusion that had surrounded Bonnie like a dark cloud.

"Not exactly. It's not my place to say." Jo murmured, the words close to a whisper. "But I see the way he is with you. Malachai isn't one for wearing his heart on his sleeves. He's different when he's with you. He might be more cautious now, but he cares a lot about you."

Before Bonnie could speak again, the door opened and Chris Parker marched into the room. With a questioning eyebrow, he stared wide-eyed at the two girls mingling in his sitting room.

Chris stood dressed in his casual fit, dark blue fitted jeans, a Hanes t-shirt, covered by a flannel shirt, and those wore brown leather boots he wore with every outfit he had.

"Didn't know we were having a guest for dinner?" His voice was rough as sandpaper.

"Oh no, I'm not staying." Bonnie interjected, nodding her head as she pushed forward. "I don't want to intrude."

"I don't mind. I was just about to order pizza." Chris said carefully, never taking his eyes from her.

Bonnie drew a deep breath. There was no threat here, no danger. So why was her heart running at full speed?

"If you guys don't mind," she said without moving off the chair.

Jo bit her lip, uncharacteristically distressed. Chris flicked his eyes towards Bonnie to Jo, back to Bonnie.

"Mi casa es su casa." Chris said, as he dropped his hands, shoved them into his pockets.

Elena looked up from the photo to Kai, whose expression had completely changed to something resembling panic or apprehension. "Why does she have my face?" she asked, her eyes wide.

Kai didn't have words. The black-and-white photo was what Elena Gilbert would've looked like in the 1800s. The first thing that came to his mind when staring back at her was: Elena looked really fucking scared.

"God, I can never be rid of you."

Damon strolled into the house. Kai and Elena both stared at him as he entered his home, Elena with surprise, and Kai impassively.

"You, you fucking bastard! Why are you still around?" Elena's temper flared, flashed like a fresh burn, and it almost startled Kai.

A sound that might have been a laugh on a unique occasion ruptured through Damon's throat. "I live here. You two broke in."

"What is this?" Elena held the photo up. "Who is she?" the girl asked, and sounded wrathful.

Damon attempted to appear nonchalant as he quickly snatched the photo from Elena. "Katherine, Katherine Pierce."

Kai's nostrils flared. His mouth opened, but nothing came out. He was too angry to even form words. He was also upset and confused after what he just saw upstairs.

"Your vampire girlfriend." Elena's voice was uncharacteristically vicious. "The one you're trying to release from the tomb."

Kai felt her frustration mounting, tagged with a hint of anxiety.

Damon's nose wrinkled. "That's the one."

"Why does she look like me?" Elena scrunched up her face and ran a hand through her hair.

Looking exhausted, Damon said softly, "It's a long story."

Kai gave him an exasperated look. "We have nothing but time."

A long sigh rolled off Damon's shoulders. "Elena, do you remember May 23rd?"

"The night my parents' car went off the bridge," Elena glanced sideways. "Damon, what do you know about it?"

A heavy breath passed through Damon's lips. "I just know someone who was there that night. They were out by the old Wickery Bridge. They managed to save you."

All three of them grew silent at that. Kai and Elena exchanged identical frowns.

Elena shook her head. "Who?"

A long pause. "Can't say." Damon murmured.

Seeing right through this act, Kai crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow in mistrust. "Damon, cut the bullshit and tell us what you know. Who saved Elena?"

Damon tightened his jaw. "Look, I can't tell you, this person wants to stay anonymous."

Elena lifted a perfectly shaped brow at him. "Then what can you tell me? Who am I?"

"That's the million dollar question, Elena. When I first saw you, I couldn't believe the resemblance." Damon smugly spoke. "I knew the Gilberts, and I know Katherine Pierce. Something wasn't connecting, but I realized…" Damon froze.

"What? What did you realize?" Elena asked finally, tired of the vampire's crap.

"Elena, you're adopted." Damon replied evenly.

Kai opened his mouth and then grew annoyed with himself for the lack of words that rose to his tongue. "Damon…"

"How else do you explain it?" Damon bellowed, only a touch reluctantly. Now wheezing, and pressed a firm hand back to his forehead. "Miranda and Grayson aren't her biological parents. If you ask me, that aunt of yours knows more."

Elena sighed and pinched at the bridge of her nose. "If I look like your girlfriend, is that why you tried to kiss me in the parking lot?"

Kai blinked in surprise, astonishment leaking into his eyes. "You did what?"

Damon hummed slightly and nodded. "I really thought you were Katherine. I thought this whole thing was a farce. Kat likes to play games. I thought it was one of her sick mind games. I didn't know…"

"Of course you didn't. Because everything is a game to you." Elena said after Damon didn't seem inclined to explain further. "You know what? Just forget it," she brushed past Damon, tears building up in her eyes, making her way through the front door.

"What was the point of going after Forbes and Donovan?" Anger and frustration rushed through Kai's veins with brief hesitation. "If Elena looks like your vampire girlfriend, why go after them instead?"

Damon shrugged and rolled his neck. "I made a promise to someone to keep my distance."

Kai felt his expression hardening even more. "Except in the parking lot."

"That was a moment of weakness." Damon conceded with a frown. "Might sound crazy, but I actually want my girlfriend back. I have no interest in other girls."

"That's almost noble of you." Kai said, dazed. His mind was racing, thoughts catching sparks like stars.

Damon met his gaze calmly. "That's a high compliment from you, Malachai."

"I know what you did to Zach," Kai swallowed hard, and shook his head firmly. "Stay away from Bonnie, Elena, and my sister, or I'm going to Sheriff Forbes."

"You remind me of my brother, alway trying to play the big hero." Damon warned, and his voice was tense now. "This town isn't kind to people like us. And if they were to find out about witches, well, the Bennetts are history, so is your family."

Kai struggled with an instinctive protest, but he couldn't deny that there might be some truth to what Damon was saying.

"I'm not scared of your threats Damon, like you said, there are worse things lurking around."

They stood in tense silence, staring at one another for a long moment, both defiant, rolling their chins in restraint.

Bonnie sank low in the passenger's seat and stared at her hands laying in her lap. She felt Chris's eyes flicker towards with each passing minute. The older man was trying to decide whether to make small talk. Whenever she tried to glance in his direction, his eyes flicked back to the road.

"I'm gonna have a talk with that boy." Chris held his foot on the gas pedal. "It's rude to leave a young lady waiting."

"To be fair, I never told him I was coming over," Bonnie confessed. He looked over at her, eyebrows raised taunting, but she simply shrugged it off. "He and I, well, it's been difficult. I don't know what to make of all this. And Kai seems like he has all the answers. I guess I needed someone to talk to, anyone." She paused before pressing on. "Weirdly enough, Jo might have been the person I needed to speak to the most."

"Josette has a way with words." Chris said, turning a corner to pass by another small street. "Much like her grandmother. Our former coven leader."

Bonnie hummed in contentment. "Was the Gemini Coven disappointed when Jo stopped using magic?"

"Furious when she turned her back on them and sided with her brother. Josette refused their offer to be the next leader."

The response was instantaneous. Bonnie's eyes got huge, and she spluttered a few times. "She did?"

Chris' hands gripped the steering wheel tighter, white knuckles visible even in the moonlight. Nodding reluctantly as he protrudes out his dimpled chin in frustration. "Gemini Twins, as we call ourselves, are usually rivals. Me and my twin were one of the rare cases of twins who developed an unbreakable connection. Josette and Malachai have alway had a loving bond, choosing to be partner rather than nemesis. The Gemini Coven gets their kicks off us, fighting each other for power."

The more Bonnie hears about this Gemini Coven, the more she grows to hate them.

Chris studied her for a moment, judging her sincerity. "Just know that Malachai is still fairly new to this. He might look like he has it all figured out, but he's still a kid, just like you."

Bonnie pressed her lips together in a thin line and gave him a knowing look. "I never got to thank you for saving my life."

He gave her a gauging look and nodded hesitantly. "I'm not letting anyone else get hurt. Damon Salvatore has done enough."

Chris turned into her grandmother's driveway. At the front door, they both noticed Sheila Bennett standing in the doorway.

"Thanks again." Bonnie mumbled, gesturing at the door before opening it and clambered out, grabbing her knapsack on the way.

Chris watched as Sheila greeted her granddaughter with a hug. Bonnie pulled away and walked inside the house. Sheila walked down to his car to acknowledge him.

"Where did you pick her up from?" Sheila demanded, the corners of her lips quirking up into a cheeky smile.

"She was hanging out with my niece," Chris replied with a simple shrug. "She had dinner with us. I figured she probably needed to be around people."

Folding her arms across her chest and dipping her head forwards conspiratorially. "I should thank you for looking after her."

"Sheila… Damon Salvatore attacked her a few days ago." Chris' heart seized in his chest. Shit. The guilt of this secret was choking him. Bonnie had clearly been avoiding her grandmother until today. "Out by Fell Church. My nephew had Elena Gilbert inform me about what was happening. I was able to save her. It appears a spirit possessed her."

A deep, rumbling roar echoed from Sheila's throat like a roll of thunder, not yet soft but filled with notice. There was nothing even close to what he'd experienced this past week that gave Chris chills.

"Our ancestor, Emily Bennett." Sheila said, trying to sound as calm as possible. "I should have known. Bonnie never goes to her father's house for more than a few hours. Much less spend a couple of nights."

"We need to get a handle on this situation." Chris declared loudly, causing Sheila to give a mild flinch. "No more innocent bystanders need to get hurt."

Sheila leaned further forwards, trying to get a look at Chris' face. "I'm afraid you're right. The town has their own agenda, but we must protect our own. I'll deal with the Salvatore boy."

"There's more," Chris growled under his breath. "I spoke to my nephew. Damon told him the reason he's back. To get a woman, Katherine Pierce."

"Katherine Pierce?" Sheila repeated, her eyebrows disappearing into her hairline.

Chris glowered, then swallowed heavily. "An old lover of his from 1865."

"Vampire?" Sheila snorted, cringing in disgust.

Chris expressed by bobbing his head with overstrung apprehensiveness. "The one who turned him and his brother."

"Shit." Grams stared at him evenly for a moment with a poker-face expression. "I think it's time we have a talk with the counsel."

Chris ran his hands down his face in irritation. What choice did they have?

AN: Slowly developing the Mystic Falls Gang for this story. Elena and Kai's friendship is blossoming, as well as Jo and Bonnie. Something that could have been great for the show is Bonnie and Sheila having another group of witches to rely on. Chris, Jo, and Kai will have a pretty solid development with the Bennetts, and I plan on including more members of the Bennett family in this story. Elena knows the truth of Katherine Pierce. Bonnie gets some clarity. Sheila and Chris come to terms with what's going on with Damon.

Next chapter is Unpleasantville episode. The gang attends a 50s theme dance at the high school. Bonnie gets asked out on a date. Elena gets a stalker. Kai and Damon find themselves gaining a new foe. Basically Bonnie and Kai as Sandy Olsson and Danny Zuko. And lots of Bonkai moments as promised.