Chapter 18 – Henric and the Other Side
Arriving at Bonnie's house Kol reluctantly allowed Sabrina to go into the house with Bonnie. He waited on the porch, sitting on the steps, leaning against the porch rail. He didn't mind Sabrina talking with Bonnie but having her somewhere he couldn't help her if something happened. Not that she couldn't protect herself, he knew she could, but the desire to protect her was strong.
"So, what's going on with you and Kol?" He heard Bonnie ask Sabrina.
Bonnie was leading Sabrina up the stairs to her room when she had asked her about Kol. Sabrina smiled a little, "It's complicated, Kol was good friends with one of my ancestors. She made a deal with Kol and I'm honoring it."
"What kind of deal?" Bonnie asked as they reached her room.
"I don't know all the details of why the deal was struck but I agreed to become bonded to Kol."
Sabrina replied softly.
"Why would you agree to that?" Bonnie asked.
Sabrina smiled, "Before I answer that, let me ask this: what has your experience with vampires been?"
Bonnie shrugged, "I'd rather not deal with them. They always want something, and it doesn't matter who gets hurt in the process."
Sabrina nodded, "Yes, I suspected that. I'm guessing Niklaus was one of them?"
"And Damon and Stefan."
"Kol isn't like that, he respects witches. Much of what we witches know is because Kol traveled and taught witches what he knew. Kol might ask me to do something for him, but he does so with respect and there is always a mutual benefit."
"Really?" Bonnie asked surprised. "The reputation we've heard of Kol is quite different from what you said.
Sabrina nodded. "That's because most people don't take the time to understand Kol, including his family."
Bonnie thought about it for a second, "You might be right."
Bonnie walked over to her bookshelf and pulled out the Grimoire. She brought it over to her desk by the window, motioning for Sabrina to join her. Bonnie showed her the spell, Sabrina studied it for a bit.
"Yes, I think they are right, it is Alaric behind the murders but it's not the ring at fault, well not exactly. I need to know, has it been taking him longer and longer to wake up after he dies?" Sabrina asked.
Bonnie shrugged, "Maybe?"
"Let's go back to the mansion and I'll explain there." Sabrina suggested.
Bonnie agreed and they left the house where they found a Kol waiting impatiently. "Took you long enough," he muttered.
Sabrina walked over to him and kissed his cheek. "Sorry, we took so long Kol, Bonnie had some questions and I wanted to be sure of the details of the spell."
Kol's expression softened, "Is it similar to what we thought?"
"Yes, indeed. I'm fairly certain your mother has been at it again." Sabrina said.
"Ester? What does Ester have to do with this?" Bonnie asked confused.
Sabrina frowned, "More than you think. Ester has spent 1,000 years influencing witches and warlocks against vampires. Their feelings were not always what they are now."
"How do you know this?" Bonnie asked suspiciously.
"My family has never put much in stock into what the ancestors whisper to us. They also left detailed writings to the contrary, noting when the opinions started changing." Sabrina replied.
"We can talk more about this when we get to the mansion." Kol butted in.
Bonnie nodded and they separated to regroup at the mansion. They arrived at the same time and entered the mansion together, Sabrina and Bonnie laughing and talking as they entered the living room with Kol following a smile playing on his lips.
They entered to find the occupants of the room arguing loudly. Stefan and Niklaus were yelling at each other, Elena was holding on to Stefan and Caroline onto Niklaus. Elijah and Damon were arguing, Finn holding Elijah back and Sage holding Damon. Rebekah and Alaric both lay on the floor with broken necks, Meredith was sitting beside Alaric trying to stay out of the firing zone.
Bonnie, Sabrina, and Kol exchanged glances before Bonnie and Sabrina used their power to give aneurisms to Damon, Stefan, Niklaus, and Elijah. Kol in the meantime stepped into the room and called for silence.
"That's enough!" He yelled out harshly strolling into the middle of the room. "What happened while we were gone 'Lena?"
Elena sighed releasing Stefan who had fallen to the ground gripping his head, "After you left everyone started arguing over me being adopted. Stefan ended up breaking Bekah's neck and Niklaus retaliated breaking Alaric's neck."
Kol snorted, "Of Course. You couldn't just talk about the issue at hand, you had to go make it worse. How long has Alaric been dead?"
Caroline released her hold on Niklaus and straightened up. "He's been out for about 10 minutes, he should wake up soon."
Sabrina stepped into the room and walked up to Kol, knowing he would want her beside him. "Is it taking him longer and longer to wake up after he dies?"
Elena nodded, "Yes, it's a little longer each time."
"Kol, we were right." Sabrina said. "Every time Alaric dies, he wakes up on the Other Side further and further away from his body. So he can run into anyone on the Other Side and they can talk." She left Kol's side and beckoned to Bonnie to come with her, leading Bonnie over to Alaric. "I'm going to do a spell and see who has been influencing him. I'm going to ask Bonnie to do it with me, she can confirm what I find out."
Kol nodded, "Finn, please pick our sister up and set her on the couch over there." He pointed over to the couch he had been lounging on earlier. "Damon pick Alaric up and place him on the Settee over there," he ordered pointing across the room.
Both moved to do so, Damon muttering under his breath as he did so. "Now Damon, Stefan, and Meredith, would you please go sit over on this side of the room, keep 6 feet back from Alaric, Bonnie and Sabrina need room." The three moved to comply surprised at the authority in Kol's voice.
Kol turned to his family, "Finn, Sage, Elijah, and Klaus, please take the seats over by the couch where Rebekah is." None of his family bothered to argue, though Niklaus looked like he wanted to as he obeyed. Kol turned to Elena and Caroline, "Would you two lovely ladies take the seats in the center of the room."
They did as requested and Elena told Kol silently through their link, "I'm proud of you big brother. Our family has been underestimating you for too long and it's time to prove that to them."
"Thank you little sister." Kol sent back with a little smirk directed to her.
Bonnie and Sabrina reached out and each grabbed Alaric's shoulders. Sabrina muttered the spell, channeling Bonnie and they were both transported to the other side where they found Alaric was talking to a young child and Rebekah.
"Alaric?" Bonnie asked.
"Rebekah?" Sabrina asked at the same time.
"Bonnie? What are you doing here?" Alaric asked surprised.
"Sabrina? What are you doing here?" Rebekah asked at the same time.
"Sabrina performed a spell so we could follow a lead on the murders. She thinks someone has been influencing you here on the other side."
Bonnie explained.
"Who do you think has been influencing him?" Rebekah asked.
"Your mother." Sabrina replied.
The little boy nodded, "She's right. Mother has been influencing him. I've watched her, she doesn't know I'm here. I've avoided her."
"Mother?" Bonnie and Sabrina exclaimed at the same time.
The boy nodded, "I'm Henric, the youngest Mikaelson."
"How are you here?" Bonnie asked. "I thought you weren't supernatural.
"I had just started practicing magic when I died." Hendrix explained. "Kol had been working with me in secret. He didn't know I had tapped into my magic."
Rebekah spoke up, "We see him when we are dead but we forget when we wake up. Although there are times i vaguely remember it, like a dream."
Sabrina nodded, "It's the same when Alaric is dead. I believe that his subconscious remembers so it's created a sort of split personality, one bent on killing vampires and vampire sympathizers."
"Vampire sympathizers?" Bonnie laughed. "I wouldn't call the council that."
"No, but my mother would," Rebekah said. "They've looked the other way recently. So to her they are the same thing."
Sabrina nodded, "It's time we go back. We have to tell the others and if we take longer Kol is going to freak."
"Ooh Kol." Bonnie and Rebekah teased her at the same time, then they looked at each other weirdly.
Sabrina blushed while Alaric stared uncomprehending at the scene and Henric smirked. Rebekah said goodbye to Henric and returned to her body, leading Alaric to his. Henric turned to Bonnie and Sabrina as they left.
"It was nice to meet you ladies, I'm sure I'll be seeing you again." He told them.
Bonnie smiled and repeated the sentiment, she turned and walked a few yards away. Sabrina impulsively gave Henric a hug.
Henric stiffened in surprise and then relaxed. "I see now why my brother likes you so much."
Sabrina shook her head, "He doesn't like me."
Henric smiled at her, "Trust me he does. You're good for him. Tell my family I love them, and tell Elena that she completes our family. I couldn't be prouder to have such a sister, and Jeremy and I get along well, so him for a brother is cool."
"You've met Jeremy?" Bonnie asked surprised.
Henric nodded, "I've watched over him when he has died, so my mother couldn't reach him and influence him."
"Why would you do that?" Bonnie asked. "He didn't mean anything to your family until recently."
Henric gave her a waning grin, "Not exactly true. Elena has always been meant to be apart of the family, and as such so has Jeremy."
Before Bonnie could ask Henric more the scene faded and Sabrina and Bonnie found themselves in the living room of the mansion. "What happened?" Bonnie asked.
"Alaric woke up and the spell ended." Sabrina explained, she released her grip on Alaric's shoulder.
"What did he mean about Elena and Jeremy?" Bonnie asked.
"He who?" Kol asked from the center of the room. He crossed over to Sabrina concerned about her wellbeing. "Who were you talking to on the other side?" He grasped her arm firmly.
Sabrina sighed, she felt exhausted, but still stronger than she had that morning, thanks to Bonnie. She turned to Kol and just looked at him, not know where to start. She embraced Kol and started to cry softly, Kol hugged her tightly and turned his head towards Bonnie for an explanation.
Bonnie sighed, "We talked to your brother, Henric. He said he saw your mother has been influencing Alaric to kill vampires and vampires sympathizers, which includes the council because they know about vampires but have done nothing."
"Henric?" Niklaus gasped.
"But Henric wasn't supernatural," Finn spoke up.
"He tapped into his magic before he died!" Kol realized.
Bonnie nodded, "He said you taught him."
"Is this true Kol?" Elijah asked solemnly.
Kol nodded in shock, "We did it in secret, but I never knew he had tapped into his magic. I never saw him actually use magic."
"He said he loves each of you," Sabrina spoke through her tears. "He's been looking over Jeremy keeping him away from Ester when he dies so he won't be influenced by her."
"Why would he do that?" Damon asked.
"He said Elena was destined to be with the Mikaelsons and Jeremy with her." Bonnie said. "I don't know what that means though."
Kol sighed, "There's a prophesy. Elena fulfills it. That's all we can say right now. I suggest we regroup tomorrow, shall we meet at the Salvatores, since they came over here today? I think everyone needs rest before we tackled the problem of Alaric's alter ego, which we need to do before we address the prophecy."
Damon and Stefan refused not wanting to leave Elena in the house. Kol finally struck a deal by saying that Elena, Sabrina, Bonnie, and Caroline could stay at Bonnie's house that night. The rest of the Mikaelsons weren't happy with that until Caroline said that Meredith, Rebekah and Sage could join them at her house.
Damon and Stefan agreed reluctantly, saying Alaric should stay with them that night. Bonnie said she'd give them some herbs that should help with suppressing his alter ego for that evening. She told them to stop by her house and she'd get it for them.
Elena, Rebekah, and Sage grabbed overnight bags quickly while Sabrina said she'd meet them at Caroline's. She needed to talk to Kol first. The girls left, minus Sabrina who took Kol to her room and performed a privacy spell so she could be absolutely sure no one would interrupt them.
"No more magic until after we see each other tomorrow." Kol told her quietly. "I can't lose you."
Sabrina promised, telling a Kol he wouldn't lose her. Kol made her promise to call his cell if she needed anything, then he surprised her when he kissed her on the lips.
"Be careful." He told her softy.
Sabrina promised feeling somewhat flustered, Henric's words floating through her mind. She asked Kol to give her a ride to Caroline's, which he readily agreed to and they were off. After dropping her off he returned home for a guys' night with his brothers.