A/N: Wow almost 9k words. Did not mean to let it get this far but these guys just got away from me. Very nervous about this chapter and I hope I did everyone justice.
10
Stefan felt a gnawing sense of familiarity as Caroline drove closer to the address Bonnie sent. Old memories, painful ones surfaced like old debris in a lake. The last time he'd been this deep in the woods of Mystic Falls was when Katherine revealed what she was to him. Moments later she turned him and his brother and their lives would never be the same again. There was a speck of relief once they passed the actual location and drove further down the road although it seemed the actual destination wasn't any more comforting. When they finally arrived, the house did not resemble anything that the Bonnie Bennett he knew would find homey.
"Jeez, I thought Bonnie would be going to her Dad's house or something," Caroline commented, taking in the surroundings. Miss Sheila's house was being leased to another family. She wondered where the hell Bonnie found this place she was staying so deep in the woods. Caroline lived in Mystic Falls her entire life yet never came across it. There were a limited number of mansions in the town. It wasn't something anyone would miss.
It resembled something from a gothic horror novel. Tall, statuesque and full of dark promise with a host up to no good. The porch looked amazing and it looked far from an abandoned decrepit abode but still.
Damon and Elena drove behind them despite the fact that they were all certain Bonnie missed him in no way and no one actually asked him to come. Elena just needed him attached to her side at all times. Elena Gilbert was one of those girls who made their boyfriend the center of her world. No room for friends or family. They all had to share her with him. He was like a puppy that couldn't be left home alone because he would inevitably end up chewing something valuable.
"When did witchy get into ghost real estate?" Damon slammed the car door shut.
"Maybe it's her creepy witch aunt's house or something," Elena hooked her thumbs in the belt loops of her jeans. She could admit the house made her feel off. It was not the kind of place she'd ever imagine Bonnie agreeing to stay.
"I don't think she'd appreciate you calling her that," Stefan scratched the back of his neck. He felt the familiar warning goosebumps trailing down his spine. Something was near. A witch was close. Things were more different with Bonnie that he'd previously anticipated. Her power had grown. When they first met, he couldn't even tell she was a witch. Now the feel of her magic turned his skin inside out.
"Whatever. Let's just go in," Elena took a deep breath and a brave step towards the mansion. The others followed cautiously, eyes darting around for any form of immediate danger. It was too much. The set-up was too cartoonish. If a zombie ghost was waiting for them inside the house, it would have served them right for continuing on with this farce. Maybe Bonnie was dead and her ghost was playing tricks on them for revenge. In Caroline's case she couldn't think of a reason why – maybe for the time she stole Ms. Cuddles when they were four years old.
"I'm sure there's nothing nefarious going on," Caroline said mostly to convince herself.
"Speak for yourself blondie. Any moment Mike Myers is going to come at us with an axe and your chances of going down first are in the hundreds," Damon snarked.
"Shut up Damon," Stefan snapped, not in the mood for his brother's usual shenanigans. He felt on edge of a sudden and didn't want a reason to lose it.
Caroline knocked on the door and a tall brunette man in a leather jacket opened the door immediately startling her. He looked at the group with a stony expression, "This is private property. What do you want?"
"We're looking for our friend Bonnie. She sent us this address," Stefan stepped forward in front of Caroline. There was something about the man's presence that made the vampire ill at ease. He couldn't quite place it.
"And you are?" The man grunted.
"Caroline, Elena, Stefan and Damon," Caroline recited. The man showed no recognition for their names but stiffened and nodded to an unheard sound, widening the door. "You may enter."
Stefan pushed past him with a levelled look while Caroline, Elena and Damon followed behind him. The inside of the house stopped them in their tracks. It was large and grand. Polished marble floors, spiral staircases and chandeliers hung from the ceiling. This should have been way out of the price range of a philosophy major.
"When did Bonnie get a rich husband or something?" Damon whistled taking in their surroundings.
"And she didn't tell us?" Caroline was confused. There was no way that was it. They talked nearly every week. If Bonnie was suddenly married to a Rockerfeller, she'd know.
Elena folded her arms, "That makes zero sense. Like I said it's probably her aunt's house or something."
"Or something," Stefan echoed.
"No rich husband I'm afraid."
They all looked towards the top of the staircase where Bonnie stood with a nervous smile. Their mouths dropped collectively. Caroline Facetimed her from time to time and definitely knew there were changes with her best friend but seeing them up close and personal really highlighted the differences. Her hair was now longer falling to the top of her shoulders in bouncy curls. She looked more...mature, with more grace than they remembered in the past. She was wearing a white strapless romper with a silver bracelet that really did look out of the price range of a college student. Elena and Caroline couldn't tell since they were human but the two vampires felt the power radiating off her. She definitely levelled up.
Caroline recovered first running to meet Bonnie who was coming down. The blonde threw her body at her old friend nearly tumbling them down. Bonnie yelped in shock then laughed, gripping the back of Caroline's shirt for leverage and allowing herself to be enveloped in a big bear hug. "I've missed you so much Bon!"
"Me too Care," Bonnie buried her face in Caroline's shoulder. She wished any other reason but this brought her back to visit Caroline. She missed her best friend so much. Mystic Falls would always be another chapter ended in her life but Caroline was the bookmark that kept it propped open.
Caroline pulled away grinning and surveying her from head to toe, "You look amazing! Oh my gosh I hardly recognized you."
"Stop it," Bonnie blushed, still unable to properly stomach a compliment.
"I will not stop it. You look good," Caroline said matter of fact. "I have so many questions! Is this your house? And who was that hunk at the door?"
"That's Dwayne, he sort of works for my boyfriend. That's who owns the house actually," Bonnie explained. If Klaus could hear them, she was certain he'd been frowning at her use of the word boyfriend.
"Well I was sort of right," Damon piped up.
"Damon," Bonnie said flatly. "I could have gone without seeing your face for eternity."
"Like this is a face you would want to ever forget," He winked. The cocky blue-eyed vampire hadn't changed much although he seemed to have finally gotten what he wanted now that he was dating Elena.
Elena.
Bonnie's smile dropped a bit once Elena came into view. She cleared her throat, "Elena, hey."
Elena stepped forward seemingly unsure of herself, "It's been a while since I've heard your voice. I guess that's on me."
"How've you been?" Bonnie asked politely, wringing her fingers. They felt like strangers not girls who shared baths, had sleepovers and talked about their most intimate secrets to one another. It was inevitable that they would reach this point but that didn't make it hurt any less. It took time for Bonnie to admit to herself that even without magic she would still have felt restless in the suffocating banality of Mystic Falls where everything was so set in place and nothing dared to shift. Founding families, hundreds of holidays and civil war remembrances. The life she thought she'd be happy with until a taste of the outside world revealed differently. That's what Elena now represented to her. The past.
"I'm good. Still struggling with course load as usual," Elena played with the tip of her hair.
"I'm doing part time now so it's not so bad but I still feel it too," Bonnie said with a small smile.
Elena was hesitant and released a small puff of air through her lips, "I'm sorry for the way things ended between us. I-I said some pretty hurtful things. I was being angry and selfish when I asked you not to leave. It's just that, since my parents died, you and Caroline were the only constants in my life and I guess losing you felt like I was losing everything all over again."
"We'll talk about that later but there's something I need to tell you," Bonnie darted her eyes at them all. "There's a reason I'm here in Mystic Falls and it has everything to do with you Elena."
"Me?" Elena furrowed her brows.
"What do you mean it's about Elena?" Caroline couldn't help but grimace. The weird late-night phone call should have been a clue but she couldn't help the pang of hurt which followed. She thought Bonnie came back because she missed them but no, it was because of something to do with Elena. It always was. Caroline tried to outgrow her insecurities from high school but moments like these reminded her that it felt like a near impossibility. Elena fought with Bonnie before her departure, refusing every opportunity to speak with her or make amends. But for some reason, Bonnie's appearance had to do with her.
"You're in danger Elena and I'm here to stop it. Look, there's a lot to explain so please just trust and hear me out," Bonnie pleaded. "Let's go to the drawing room." But no one made any move to depart the foyer. They all just looked at her flabbergasted.
"There's something different about you," Stefan spoke up for the first time. Apart from the change in her magic, there was a peculiar scent that followed her. It was somewhat familiar but he couldn't place exactly where he remembered it front. It was strong, powerful too. Not the kind of thing which should have been forgotten. It rattled the vampire.
"There's a lot of things different about me Stefan," Bonnie said quietly. She wasn't sure how she felt seeing him again. There was a small feeling of loss and a lot of resentment but otherwise just ambivalence. Once upon a time they were friends, not as close as Elena and Caroline but the seeds of a relationship were sown. They were uprooted before there was a chance to grow the moment Grams died.
"How exactly am I in danger?" The brunette questioned. Bonnie wasn't making any sense and if she was being honest, something about her scared Elena a bit. It wasn't something she could quite put her finger on since she was just human but anyone one with eyes could see how much bigger her presence felt and how much straighter she stood.
"There are witches looking for you and they're planning to hurt you because of your doppelgänger status," The witch explained. That got Damon's attention who sauntered forward towards Bonnie in a somewhat intimidating manner.
"How exactly do you know this Bonnie?" He didn't even use a nickname. He must really have been rattled.
"I'm trying to stop what they're planning," She spoke unmoved by his actions. "They want to use Elena's blood for a ritual and my guess is that they'll drain her dry if they succeed." Elena gasped in fear clutching her chest. Stefan moved to her giving a reassuring hug but stopped himself when his brother beat him there first.
"This makes no sense. What ritual do they want her for? Is that the only reason you came back?" Caroline couldn't help it when her voice raised slightly.
Bonnie's features softened, "No it's not. I've wanted to come and see you for weeks but unfortunately this happened and the timeline shuffled up a bit. Look, I know this is all confusing and ominous -,"
"No shit. You come back for the first time in a year and you expect us to believe it's about some witch coven after Elena? Not to mention your mysterious boyfriend has a secret house none of us have ever seen before so the question is, what exactly have you been up to all this time witchy?" Damon sneered.
Stefan elbowed his brother with a glare but he could admit he wanted to ask the same question albeit with less hostility attached. He knew Bonnie left to learn more about her craft but what exactly had she gotten into? What was going on with her scent?
"Damon shut the hell up and grow up. She came down all this way despite what happened to protect your girlfriend. The least you can do is rub your brain cells together and listen. This is Bonnie, she's our friend," Caroline snapped with a withering glare at the vampire. If he did anything to drive Bonnie away, she'd stake him herself.
"I'll explain this better in the drawing room. Please guys," Bonnie hoped they'd listen. The next phase of the plan crucially depended on everyone taking this as logically and calmly as possible. A task that was easier said than done.
"Ok," Elena relented. She gave Damon a look then followed Bonnie to the drawing room. Bonnie couldn't help the relief she felt. Now hopefully Klaus would do his part. She knew the complication would come from his history with the Salvatore brother. She wished they hadn't come but it happened all the same. At least they could get it over with since Damon and Stefan would find out anyway especially when Klaus wanted to proposition Elena for her blood.
"Thank you for listening," Bonnie said sincerely.
She shrugged one shoulder, "You came all this way when you didn't have to, when you weren't sure of my reaction. The least I can do is to listen."
Caroline linked her arm with Bonnie, "I'm just here because I want to know who this mysterious boyfriend of yours is. How the hell did he get this place? Is he from Mystic Falls?" If only she knew. They were all in for a roller coaster ride.
"He's going to help us," Bonnie led them upstairs to the drawing room which was just as grand with high ceilings and a fireplace. Whoever he was, the man he had great taste. Stefan and a reluctant Damon followed.
"So who's this mysterious guy and how exactly will he keep Elena safe?" Damon stuffed his hands in his pocket.
"He's a vampire actually so he has experience dealing with this sort of thing," A small crumb of truth would ease them into it.
Caroline couldn't hold in her surprise, "You're dating a vampire?" Her friend made her dislike of vampires vocal since the tomb incident. She tolerated Damon and Stefan for Elena's sake but didn't hold back on her wariness at all. During the Augustine society incident, she helped Damon's Enzo friend who'd been imprisoned by Grayson Gilbert's former secret society along with other supernaturals they were experimenting on but that was more out of moral obligation rather than genuine love of the species. Then again, New Orleans was full of all kinds of supernatural creatures she'd learnt. Not a shock that Bonnie would expand her horizons.
"I am," Bonnie answered casually even though her heart was beating rather loud. "I've learned that everyone is good or bad because of their actions, not what they were made to be."
Elena smiled. She really had changed. Maybe that meant she'd be more amenable to Damon now due to her newfound tolerance for vampires. They'd butted heads in the past because Bonnie didn't like their kind. "That's pretty cool of you."
"That's something," Stefan remarked.
"When can we meet this guy?" Damon folded his arms wanting to get straight to the point. The witch's dating life was the least interesting thing to him.
Bonnie opened her mouth to speak but was stopped by a voice interrupting her. "Always in such a hurry mate. I remember never liking that about you."
Stefan's entire face went white and so did Damon. Caroline and Elena wore twin puzzled looks at their reactions. A handsome blonde man in a dark blue cashmere sweater and black pants entered the room with the man at the door from earlier behind him. The blonde man sped to Bonnie's side in a blur snaking an arm around her waist. She looked simultaneously pleased and guilty. This must have been her vampire boyfriend.
"You," Stefan whispered, taking a step back.
"Long time mate. I see your tastes haven't changed much," The blonde man grinned referring to Elena.
"You know him?" Elena turned to a speechless Stefan.
Damon sped to the coffee table and broke off a leg, rushing to Bonnie's boyfriend. "You son of a bitch!" He didn't make it very far since the tall brunette man reached him first and broke his neck sending his limp body falling to the ground.
"Damon!" Elena screamed rushing to her boyfriend's body. "Bonnie what the hell is going on?! Did you ask us here to kill us? Was this a trick?"
"No!" Bonnie shouted, feeling frantic. It all went bad much quicker than she anticipated. They needed to contain this situation immediately. "I swear to you that nothing bad will happen. Please, we just want to talk."
"Some way of talking you have," Stefan barked at her. He moved in front of Elena and a terrified and confused Caroline to protect them. He should have known exactly whose scent was on her. Bonnie was mated….to Klaus Mikaelson. It felt like a nightmare coming to pass. The man who killed his first love, the first woman he ever thought he loved at least. Katherine herself was cunning and deceitful but he'd loved her all the same at first. It was still a loss that followed him. "What have you done to Bonnie? Did you trick her?"
"No one tricked me into anything," Bonnie said firmly. The insinuation offended her.
Klaus smirked, "Now Stefan, please observe that Dwayne here only broke Damon's neck because he made the idiotic mistake of trying to attack me. I wish neither you nor your lover any harm. In fact, it's the opposite. I wish to protect Miss. Gilbert from a very real present threat."
"She's not my lover," Stefan swallowed. "And why should I trust you?"
"How do you know my name?" Elena asked the hybrid despite her fear.
He grinned widely regarding her, "I know everything about you Elena. Your kind is of a particular interest to myself and I protect my interests. Not to mention that you're acquainted with my mate."
"Mate?" Caroline echoed looking at Bonnie.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "I'll explain it all I promise but please I'm begging you guys, just listen. We're here to help. Stefan, I understand your history and worries about Klaus but if you care about Elena, you'll listen to me."
"Do you know the things he's done?" Stefan stared at her incredulously. Never in his wildest dreams could he have imagined such a thing. Bonnie Bennett mated to Klaus Mikaelson. What exactly had she been up to in NOLA? The good, moral witch he knew must have become something else if she could willingly get involved with the Original Hybrid.
"I do," She answered, leaning her head against his shoulder. Her words were sincere. Bonnie knew exactly who Klaus was.
Klaus looked smug cupping her cheek, "Oh, you can't scare her away so don't bother trying. My darling knows exactly what I am and wants me all the same."
"Not now Klaus," Bonnie pushed his hand away. Now was not the time for PDA. Not until she'd calmed her friends down and informed Elena of the severity of the threat towards her.
"Who exactly are you?" Caroline managed to ask, feeling her chest rise and fall rapidly.
"My apologies. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Niklaus Mikaelson, the Original vampire."
Hours earlier
Sophie was tied to a chair with her eyes blindfolded. The bitch who threatened her over the phone made her drive over to a park and wait on a bench where some man ambushed her with chloroform. She woke up here with no idea where she was or who the woman was. The doppelgänger was lost now.
She heard footsteps approaching her then the blindfold was unceremoniously yanked from her head. She was in some sort of basement.
"Supreme," She said in fear and reverence.
Cordelia threw the cloth on the ground. "Good to know you're informed. Saves me the trouble of introducing myself. I want you to tell me exactly who sent you. I've tried to speak with Katie but the poor girl knows next to nothing. She's just good at following orders apparently."
"Never," Sophie swore.
Cordelia sighed, "I had a feeling you'd say that. Niklaus?"
Klaus entered the basement, eyeing the young witch. "Sophie Deveraux. I must say you are quite resourceful. Coming into town with very little magic and still managing to break away the seal on Katerina's tomb. I'm impressed. However, I do feel like killing you for putting me through all this trouble so if you could kindly tell me who sent you and what they'd like the doppelgänger for, I might be compelled to spare your life."
"You're wasting your time. I'll never say anything," She replied vehemently. There was still time. If she could find a way to wiggle lose then perhaps she could call Bastianna to start plan B.
Klaus shook his head, "You must not know who I am, girl. Let me make an introduction. My name is Niklaus Mikaelson."
A cold chill ran through Sophie. The Original Hybrid. Fear erupted from every pore in her body. She was alone in a room with the Supreme witch and the Original Hybrid. There was no way she'd be leaving here alive and she had no leverage. A sadistic smile weaved itself on Klaus' face. It was good to know he could still strike fear into a witch.
He crouched in front of her and held her left foot in one hand, gazing at it with interest. "Speak now dearest Sophie. I haven't got all day."
The witch was silent. Klaus sighed, "Fine, have it your way." With one move he snapped her ankle making her howl out in pain. Tears fell from her eyes as she screamed, her ankle now bent in an unnatural angle.
"Talk!" He roared in her face.
"Bastianna and Agnes!" Sophie sobbed. "They need her blood for a ritual to take magic away from the girl Marcel saved. The ancestors demand her death."
"We know that part but why the use of siphons?" Cordelia interrogated.
Sophie trembled but said nothing again. She couldn't reveal it to them. Her foot hurt so badly it made her feel faint. Klaus grabbed the other foot. "Tick tock."
"I can't," She cried.
"Too bad," He snapped the other one without remorse. Sophie screamed in the worst pain she'd ever felt in her entire life. Both her ankles were broken. Klaus was unperturbed by her miserable wails. "If you tell us, I might be persuaded to heal you with some blood. Or you could stay here all night in pain. It's your choice."
"Talk Sophie," Cordelia said impatiently.
She whimpered tears and snot dripping down her face, "The siphons are meant to take away her power. They don't know exactly what it is but Bastianna said that she was very powerful. They say the ancestors condone it but I know they're lying. They want her power for themselves."
"Why are you going against your ancestors then?" Cordelia bent lower to observe her face.
Sophie sniffled trying to hold back her tears, "Because Bastianna said with the power siphoned away, she could defeat all the vampires in the city. That's why."
Klaus scoffed, "Sure you know that's impossible."
"It doesn't matter what you believe," Sophie glared despite her pain. "Your kind has ruined my family. I tried to save that kid by telling Marcel but instead he killed my sister. I wish I let that abomination die in the first place. I wish death on all your abominations."
Klaus smacked her so hard with the back of his hand that she fell over to the ground with a thud. Sophie groaned in pain feeling the chair being yanked back upright. "I'd watch my tongue if I were you." Her lip was bleeding down to her chin. He placed a hand on her throat and squeezed, "Because I have a very big temper and there's no telling what could happen if I snap."
Cordelia placed a hand on his shoulder, "That's enough. I'll handle it from here."
He was fuming but decided to listen to her, "Get all you can from her."
"I will," Cordelia said determinedly. Klaus gave Sophie one last look then left the basement.
Sophie licked her bloodied lips, "You go against your own kind for vampires. You don't deserve the power of a Supreme."
Cordelia chuckled placing a hand on her waist, "Aren't you mouthy? I have it on good authority you used to be quite liberal for an FQ witch. Sleeping with the vampire king is one wide stretch. That's how she got to you wasn't it?"
Sophie schooled her face into neutrality to betray nothing. Cordelia hummed with a nod walking slowly around the basement. Her heels clicking against the concrete with every step, "Your poor sister died during the ritual. You felt so guilty you eventually told one of the elders and they convinced you that the best way to make amends was to complete the blasted ritual. Never mind that your elders just want to steal the powers of an innocent child and kill her. Your ancestors are so insecure in their place that anything they cannot control must be put down. Some servants of nature you are."
"I don't expect you to understand," Sophie said finally.
"Oh, but I do," Cordelia stopped behind her. She trailed her finger over her bleeding chin, "I know what it's like to answer to a tyrant who abuses your power. If you help me, I can help you find out what really happened to you sister."
"I know what happened. Marcel slaughtered her," Her voice was thick with emotion.
"Did he?" Cordelia fiddled with a strand of her hair. "I find it hard to believe you know. I've known Marcel for a while. He's a reasonable guy, despite who his sire is. He knew you, knew your sister. He didn't even reveal to Klaus that you were the one who told him about the ritual. I found out on my own and told him. His own father, imagine that? All because he still felt this instinct to protect you. How then would he decide to kill your sister for shits and giggles?"
Sophie froze suddenly feeling hollow. She never saw Jane Anne die. It was Bastianna who informed them of – no. Her breathing became rapid.
"Really think about it," Cordelia whispered into her ear.
Bonnie was dressing up in the master bedroom when Klaus came inside. She was standing in her bra and panties after showering from the flight. He smiled at her inviting form, "Dressing up, are we? I'd rather it was the other way around."
He wrapped both arms around her waist and pulled her close. She giggled, throwing hers around his neck, "Nothing exciting. My friends are coming around in a short while and I want to be ready."
"Still nervous?" He perceived her moods so well now.
She nodded, "A bit but it's something I have to do."
He kissed the side of her neck, "I am here to whip them up into shape if they misbehave."
"I don't doubt that," Bonnie kissed him softly. He reciprocated holding her thighs and hoisting her up. Her legs wrapped around him instinctively. How he wished he could damn everything else and just fuck her right now the way she deserved.
"Hmm, wait, what happened with Sophie?" Bonnie remembered that they were supposed to be interrogating her. Klaus sighed, dropping her down gently, "It's as we feared. The elders of the French Quarter coven want Elena's blood to continue the ritual. They believe that by siphoning her power, they'll be able to destroy all the vampires in the city."
"That's horrible," Bonnie remarked horrified.
Klaus shrugged, "This is not the first time witches have sought to end us. They won't succeed. Although I do get the feeling that's not all they're after."
"You think Sophie lied?"
"No, I put her through too much pain for her to consider that," He traced her curves admiring them.
"Torture?" Bonnie caressed his nape.
He curled his bottom lip and considered lying to her. In the end there was no point, "I did. I broke her legs. She talked about how Demi was an abomination and how happy she was to kill her."
His mate hugged him, closing her eyes, "You did what you had to do." He could hear how fast her heart was beating. He knew the thought made her severely uncomfortable. But for his sake she wanted to stomach it.
Klaus kissed her forehead feeling so much gratitude for this woman dropped into his life. "This is all me. I'll never put you in a situation where you have to do those things. Let me keep being the bad one between us."
"You're not completely bad you know," Bonnie muttered into his chest. "Just like I'm not completely good. We're who we need to be when it's necessary."
"Your philosophy is tempting to a person like me," He rubbed their noses together.
She shivered biting her bottom lip, "I like tempting you."
He chuckled, "You succeed far too easily." Klaus kissed her one last time practically dipping her over. He straightened them up, "I should let you dress up before your friends come over." He smacked her bottom earning a squeal.
Present
After a significant amount of time, everyone eventually calmed down enough to be seated. Bonnie sat on a couch with Klaus by her side.
Caroline and Elena were seated on chairs opposite them. Stefan elected to stand near the door a few paces away from Dwayne was guarding it. It took a while to realize he was a hybrid. The idea that they could go undetected worried him. Damon woke up and tried to attack Klaus again so he was compelled to sit and shut up until the conversation ended. Elena was unhappy at that which did not endear Klaus to her at all. She was also very surprised to learn vampires could be compelled. It seemed this man was no ordinary vampire.
"So why do these witches want my blood?" She asked, arms and legs folded in hostility. She wasn't as scared anymore due to Bonnie's constant reassurances but the suspicion remained. Caroline was less suspicious and more curious about the vampire – hybrid – Bonnie was mated to. Who'd have ever imagined such a thing? Not her.
"The particulars of the ritual do not concern you but all you need to know is that it would result in your death," Klaus didn't mince words.
Bonnie placed a hand on his knee, "Look Lena, these witches are desperate and they won't hesitate to hurt you. The ritual itself involves human sacrifice of more than one person and that's what we're trying to stop."
Damon scoffed, earning a glare from her. Stefan spoke in his stead, "If we remember correctly, you're not exactly opposed to human sacrifice or any kind for that matter. I seriously doubt you're doing this to be a saint."
"You're right. Canonization is so overrated but I did what was necessary to break my curse. Daisy didn't die anyway so I have no idea what you're on about," Klaus spoke steadily. "If I remember correctly, you laid that poor girl up as bait on the behest of Katherine just to kill me. A slight I should rip your head off for but I let you go instead and didn't even get a thank you for that."
"Fuck you," Stefan spat. "You killed her and made us believe you put her in the tomb." Damon's eyes darted wildly at the two of them. He couldn't speak due to the compulsion but it was obvious that the mention of Katherine got him riled up. She was the reason he came to Mystic Falls in the first place.
Klaus chuckled, "Oh? That's what you think? Oh dear, Katerina was much more devious than I gave her credit for. Put on your thinking cap Stefan. Did you ever see the tomb unsealed?"
He opened his mouth but closed it. He didn't but after the chaos that occurred due to the ritual she disappeared and they found her daylight ring in front of the tomb along with a lock of her hair. The most obvious conclusion was that Klaus and his witch put her there. When the tomb was unsealed and she wasn't there, it meant that it was a trick and she'd been killed by the hybrid.
"Her daylight ring was found in front of it."
Klaus hummed, "And you've only known her to have one? The woman played you and your brother for years, turned you against your will and still managed to convince you to help her kill me. Not a hardship for her to get a witch to create a second ring for her. I didn't kill her, though I recently wished that I did. Would have saved me a lot of trouble to be honest."
He truly didn't want to believe Klaus but Katherine's duplicitous nature couldn't be denied. There was a chance that she tricked them. She wasn't above things like that.
"Who exactly are you?" Caroline contributed finally.
"He's a hybrid," Bonnie answered, rubbing the hand on his knee. "It's a combination of both werewolf and vampire."
"I'm the first hybrid love," Klaus allowed his eyes to flash gold startling Caroline. "My family and I were the first vampires ever created. It's from us all others, including Damon and Stefan here, were made."
Bonnie was dating one of the first vampires ever made? And to think they gave the award for Most Likely to Marry Well to Sasha Greene.
"As I was saying, I'm willing to protect Miss. Gilbert but I do need something from you," Klaus turned his attention back to her. "You see, I had a deal with your predecessor. I need doppelgänger blood to make my hybrids and in return I offer protection and much more. I understand you want to be a doctor. How about a place at Harvard Medical School? No compulsion needed, just a rather large endowment fund. Or a place at any Ivy League University. Your own hospital in the future perhaps? Or perhaps your little brother would like a place at one of the foremost art schools in the country. I can make it happen. I'm a reasonable man and I like to avoid unnecessary bloodshed when I can. For just a few pints of blood, I can make all your dreams come true."
Elena was speechless. She looked at Bonnie wondering if she revealed the details of her life to him but the hybrid had said he knew all about her and her ancestors. All the things he spoke of sounded tempting but Stefan and Damon didn't trust him at all so she wasn't certain she could.
"Just think about it," Bonnie said gently. "But we do need to protect you at the moment so please consider that at least."
"How are we even certain this witch threat is even real?" Stefan pointed out. Knowing the hybrid, he's cooked up this threat just to have a reason to approach Elena. Unfortunately, he roped Bonnie into it.
Klaus snapped his fingers and gestured towards Dwayne. The hybrid nodded and left the room. Moments later he returned with a bound and roughed up Sophie. He dropped her without care on the ground and pulled off her gag. Her upper lip was busted and her ankle was still twisted despite the vampire blood she was given.
Caroline's eyes widened, "Who the hell is that?"
"She's one of the witches," Bonnie answered. She wasn't exactly happy with how Sophie was treated but it was necessary and with the things she said about Demi, deep down it felt like she deserved it.
"Tell them what you told us," Klaus commanded.
Sophie struggled to sit up due to her tied hands and looked around the room. Her eyes narrowed at the sight of Elena. "I was sent here to find you and bring you to my coven."
"I recognize you," Elena blurted out. "You were at the Grill earlier today."
"You got lucky. I nearly got to you then," She remarked bitterly. If only stupid Katie didn't get herself kidnapped.
"What do you want me for?"
"We need your blood to put an end to all these leeches called vampires in my city," Sophie and bluntly.
"Were you planning on killing her?" Stefan interrogated.
She grinned bloodily, "A necessary sacrifice if it meant I'd rid my city of your kind once and for all. Sorry dear, it's nothing personal."
"And there you have it," Klaus spread his hands out in satisfaction. Dwayne picked her up and dragged her out of the room once more.
"Maybe you compelled her," Stefan still denied.
Klaus rolled his eyes, "Witches cannot be compelled you moron. I really do not need to do any of this. I've known about your presence in this town since the moment you entered. I've known about Elena since she was born to John and Isobel. If I really wanted, I could have come to snatch you up at any moment and there's not a damn thing any of you could have done to stop me. I am here, peacefully, simply because of Bonnie. So, do not test me Salvatore or I shall rectify my earlier mistake a hundred years ago and put you down for good."
The room was silent as everyone digested his words. Stefan's nostrils flared in anger but he said nothing. Damon looked equally put upon.
Elena sighed, "Can I think about your offer for the blood at least?"
"Take all the time you need but I must insist you remain here in my home for the time being so we can protect you," Klaus replied with an exaggerated smile.
"Fine," It felt like she didn't have much of a choice. If there were people looking for her to use her blood then Klaus seemed to offer the most protection. She wasn't sure if she could really trust him or even Bonnie by extension but the devil you know and all that jazz.
"I'll show you to your rooms," Bonnie offered standing up.
"You have a ton of explaining to do," Caroline pointed a finger at her. A whole PowerPoint worth of information in fact. Klaus stood up grabbing Bonnie's hand and planted a wet, steamy kiss on her mouth. She wanted to protest because of the eyes on them but predictably melted into it. She gripped the back of his neck pushing him closer and moaned lightly when one hand brushed over her ass. They couldn't get too carried away though.
"I'll see you later," She whispered against his lips.
"I'll be waiting," Klaus nipped her bottom lip reluctantly allowing her to escape his grasp. Ignoring the looks from everyone but Dwayne, she left the room with her friends.
"Can you release my brother now?" Stefan requested.
"Only if he promises to be a good boy," Klaus grinned.
Damon rolled his eyes. Stefan sighed, "I give you my word that he will not try to attack you again."
The hybrid removed the compulsion from Damon who had to hold everything within himself not to go after Klaus again. Instead he went for the next best thing. "I have to say, good on you for catching yourself a witch. She's a little mouthy but eh, the tiny ones usually are."
That earned him another neck snap.
"I quite find I prefer him this way," Klaus dropped his body on the ground. Damon had a talent for pissing everyone who came across him off.
"What did you do to Katherine?" Stefan asked in a low voice.
"I found her trying to run after tricking yourself and your brother into thinking she was dead," Klaus folded his arms behind him. "Just after you three unleashed Mikael against myself and my siblings. I killed him then found her a few days later in the neighboring town. So, I broke her neck, put her in a coffin and had my witch place a hex on her that would keep her desiccated but awake for a few centuries. Then kill her in the end."
Stefan didn't say anything. He was reeling from the news that Katherine tricked them first. He was tempted to accuse Klaus of lying but knew deep down that he wasn't. If he could admit to burying her semi-alive then he was telling the truth. He bent his head wondering how he got to this point with Elena, Katherine and Klaus. How he still allowed himself to feel something for the woman who tricked and made a fool of him.
"Where is she now?" His head still bent down.
"Somewhere safe and secure where she won't see the light of day ever again," Klaus said darkly. He didn't add anything else in case Stefan got it into his head to try and free her.
"And Bonnie?"
He raised an eyebrow, "What about Bonnie?"
Stefan raised his head looking Klaus in the eye, "I still find it hard to believe that you could get someone like her to be with you."
Klaus chuckled walking to where a decanter of bourbon was situated and poured himself a glass. "You'll be happy to know that I put as much stock into convincing you as I do with all the things I could hardly give a fuck about. She's mine and that's all you need to know."
"Willingly?" His tone was sharp.
Klaus gulped down his drink savoring the smoky tasty. A particularly good year it was. "It's interesting isn't it?"
"What?"
He dropped the glass on top of the fireplace mantle, "She told me all about how her grandmother died. How you and Damon convinced her to unseal that tomb. She's lived with that pain for so long." Stefan didn't need the reminder. He too lived with the guilt of what he caused Sheila. All because he let himself be convinced by Damon that Katherine was in the tomb and they needed to save her. "When she told me, I offered to bring your heads on a platter. In fact, on the plane here I offered her again."
No talking around it. He would gladly rip out their hearts if it brought a smile to her face. Stefan didn't react to the words. "But my sweet little mate refused. I will tell you that it is a gift to be wanted by someone like her. Someone good. Someone untainted unlike we are, ripper." He knew all about his rampages. How Damon and Katherine dried him several times to curb the bloodlust. How he wrote the names of his victims down. "It grates you doesn't it? Knowing that I as I am could still get her to be with me. To lov – to want me. I assume Elena has no idea about that side of your past. It wouldn't matter anyway since she still left you for your brother."
"And you're certain Bonnie knows every part of you?" Stefan asked skeptically.
Klaus stilled. He hadn't told her about Esther and Mikael. About how their actions ruined a part of him forever. Not yet but he would. She'd seen what he could do, how far he could go. He'd been willing to commit the worst harm to Sophie and she didn't flinch. But she still wanted him. For once in his long life, he had faith in something.
He turned back to Stefan and spoke with all the conviction he could muster. "I am." Klaus was right. It did grate something inside him. Stefan felt a certain way seeing her for the first time in a while. She looked more like a woman and wore her newfound womanly beauty well. In the past, he was focused on Elena but that didn't make him blind to the witch and her charm. But seeing her in the arms of Klaus, willingly, maybe even happily, did something to him.
Damon was stirring awake once again. Klaus sped and snapped his neck once more. At Stefan's murderous glare, he grinned, "Oops. Force of habit at this point."
Caroline didn't even wait for them to properly leave the drawing room before she ambushed Bonnie with questions. "How did you meet him? Where did you meet him? What does mated mean?"
"One question at a time," Bonnie chuckled. "Honestly, how we met it sort of complicated. I had a vision of where he was and went to meet him there." She wasn't going to tell them about Demi. The less people who knew about her the better.
"That's one hell of a meet cute from the spirits then," Elena commented, stuffing her hands in the back pockets of her jeans. "How does he know Stefan and Damon?"
Bonnie sighed, "A while ago Klaus met them because Katherine, one of your previous doppelgängers, tried to kill him. She got them to help her but they didn't succeed and she disappeared. That's why Damon came into town in the first place, to free her." They knew that already. She led them into one of the guest rooms already prepared for their arrival.
Caroline made a beeline for the large four-poster bed, jumping on it with glee. "Where did this house come from?"
"It's always been here. Klaus just had it concealed with magic from the first time he came to town," Bonnie sat on the edge of the bed.
Elena sat beside her, "He's a lot."
Bonnie smiled fondly, "He is."
"He's hot," Caroline wiggled her eyebrows. "Well done Bonnie." Bonnie laughed and threw a pillow at her face.
"Dangerous too," Elena added casually. The little time she spent with him convinced her that he was not to be trifled with. Not many things took Damon off-guard since he was the toughest vampire she knew. To see even a speck of fear on his face after seeing Klaus told her all she needed to know. Not to mention he was one of the first vampires ever which meant he must be far stronger than the rest. How Bonnie could get involved with someone like that was a mystery to her.
Bonnie shrugged, "Only to those who try to go against himself and his family." A family which she was now part of.
"How long have you two been dating for?" Caroline placed a fluffy pillow and laid on it.
"A few weeks but it's more than dating by this point," The witch explained. "He's my mate. It's like being supernaturally married, I guess. He's still technically courting me but we're halfway there."
"A few weeks is a long time to get any kind of married," Elena stated with wide eyes.
"It's kind of like, if you know then you know. We fit each other so perfectly and despite his reputation I've never met anyone like him before. He's unapologetic and precarious but he's also sweet and loving and never afraid to let me know how he feels about me, about us," She sounded so enraptured speaking about Klaus. It was fascinating to see. Not even Jeremy garnered such a reaction in the past. "The feelings I have when he walks into a room, it's like I was suffocating before and then I can breathe again. I feel so grounded and peaceful around him. He's just everything I've ever wanted even if I didn't know it. Ever since I laid eyes on him it's like my soul feels complete." Elena felt a sliver of jealousy. She thought she truly loved Stefan and then Damon but hearing the magnitude of emotion Bonnie said those words opened her eyes to the possibility that perhaps she didn't quite have what Bonnie and her mate did. She'd never described being away from Stefan as being unable to breathe. Damon was fun and wonderful, but he never really made her feel peaceful. None of them felt like a piece of her soul.
"Wow," Caroline whispered. "It sounds like you love him Bon."
"I guess so," Bonnie's voice was quiet. Silence fell on them for a moment as they absorbed the heaviness of her words.
Elena broke it by standing up, "Be honest Bonnie, should I take this deal with Klaus?"
"Elena, I can't tell you what to do. It is your life but I can assure you that Klaus always gets what he wants. Take what he's offering you. This witch coven is just one of the many who will eventually seek you out because your blood is basically gold in the supernatural world. I'm not trying to scare you but I need you to know all the facts. One thing I'm certain of is that if you have Klaus' protection then no one can fuck with you," Bonnie tried her best to relay. Klaus wasn't in a hurry to make any more hybrids yet but when he wanted to, he would come for her and she knew no was not in her mate's vocabulary.
Elena folded her arms, "You know I thought the most difficult thing I'd do today would be apologizing to you. It is now that I think about it."
Bonnie smiled, "I hold nothing against you and I do forgive you. I still stand firmly by everything I did. I needed to leave Virginia. I needed to become who I am now."
"And you needed to meet Klaus," Caroline added with a knowing look.
"I needed to grow up and realize that staying would just hold you back," Elena looked away feeling ashamed of herself. If she were being honest, a small part of her was worried about this. That Bonnie would come back bigger and better outgrowing them. Bonnie did come back better but she should have had more faith in her friend. She'd never really abandon them.
Bonnie placed a hand on her shoulder, "Now you know."
"How long are you staying for?" Caroline asked.
She shrugged, "Not sure. A week tops. We still have stuff that needs our attention in New Orleans." They were still trying to investigate Demi's origins. Elijah seemed to have pinpointed where the necromancer was in Florida but the trail went cold from there.
"Well at least we have you with us for now so we'll just make the most of it," Caroline crawled over the bed to give her a big hug and kiss on the cheek. "So, how big is a hybrids' dick?"
"Caroline!"
This is a beast to write. Let me know what you think in the reviews.
