Bonnie shifted uncomfortably staring at the snowglobe that stood magnificently on the table. She sighed and turned her attention back to the books. She was studying for the history test but her mind was somewhere else. She kept stealing glances at the globe hoping to see Dike standing there.
She was still confused about what happened. She wanted to tell everyone about the realm but somehow couldn't bring herself to. Deep down she knew that it was something she needs to keep secret. It was her destiny; her path to walk.
'Seek me out in the land of the living' Dike's words rings in her head.
"How?" She wondered out frustrated. She pushed the books away and got up to examine the object of wonder. She felt the sweet whispers of magic caressing her wrists. Bonnie's eyes widened at the sensation. The magic was calling her, urging her to let go but something held her back. She concentrated on letting the power flow through her but something was wrong.
"You are out of touch with your intuition," A voice called out and bonnie's eyes snapped open.
There stood Dike stilling looking the same but she looked different, less strong. She was glancing around as if something would pop out at any moment. After she was satisfied, she turned to look back at Bonnie.
"You are very weird, Bennet. Never I met a witch so paranoid, " She said annoyed. "How do you even perform magic when you are out of touch with yourself, with your own origins?"
Bonnie gapped like a fish feeling embarrassed.
"What do you mean?" She stutters out.
Dike's eyes softened a bit. She put her hand on her heart, nodding at her to do the same. Bonnie reluctantly followed.
"Do you feel that? The power that your ancestry holds runs through your veins, but deeper lies something more strong," She let out softly.
The young witch breathed out focusing just on the magic in her. Everything faded out slowly, Bonnie lost the sense of the world. Then she felt it, the voices that whispered the stories of the Bennet clan, the hum of power under her palm and the reassurance it gave her. The whispers slowly faded and Bonnie gasped.
She could feel the light that shined inside. The immense power surrounded her and lifting her up. She felt she could fly, that she could do anything. It was the familiarity that struck the most. It was part that was always present but she felt it for the first time.
Bonnie grinned and slowly came back to reality. She was in shock when she looked around. She could sense the beautiful auras floating around. It was earthy, ancient and home. It was like opening eyes for the first time.
Bonnie excitedly turned to tell Dike about the experience but the sight stopped her. Dike was fading away slowly.
"Dike?" Bonnie whispered.
"I am not supposed to be here for long Bennet, You have to find me soon " She paused. Dike was already transparent and bonnie knew that she had to go soon. But Bonnie was very unsettled by the panic in Dike's eyes. A feeling of dread surrounded the room and bonnie no longer wanted to hear what would happen if she fails.
"Or else.." Dike pleadingly looked at bonnie one last time before disappearing.
The room grew silent while Bonnie stood transfixed to the place Dike was before. She felt awful. Bonnie closed her eyes trying to shake off the feeling of the pending doom. She could feel it deep in her bones now.
Trouble is coming.
Niklaus sat at one of the bar stools in the grill. He sighed stirring his untouched drink. He turned his gaze at the door once again before looking at his watch again. He decided to wait for 5 more minutes and then leave but who was he kidding? Klaus would never leave Araiya when she calls. If she asked him to wait for eons, he knew he would do it without a moment of hesitation. It was almost ironic how she had him wrapped around her fingers.
"Hello there. Thought you needed some company..." Damon sat next to him. He ordered a bourbon and then shifted his attention to Niklaus.
"Araiya isn't here with you?" He asked looking around.
Klaus ignored him and continue stirring his drink.
"Okay Dokey, guess the big bad hybrid doesn't want to talk," Damon muttered
Klaus spared him a single glance and observed the tiredness in his body. Klaus's eyes narrowed because somehow Damon appeared paler than usual and his usual air of confidence was replaced by fatigue.
Damon gave a tight-lipped smile to Klaus and took a sip of his drink.
"You surely look at your finest," Niklaus sarcastically commented.
Damon scoffed and said, "Tell me about it," He paused lowering his voice, "I was hoping to get some answers from someone."
They both knew who someone was. Damon checked for any reaction that Klaus might give but he remained poker-faced.
"You don't know anything about this, do you?" He asked with his shoulder stumped.
Niklaus opened his mouth to say something but instead shook his head.
The moment was disturbed by the arrival of the awaited presence.
"Sorry! I am very late," Araiya greeted Niklaus with a smiling face but her smile vanished when she looked over at Damon.
"What happened to you, love?" She asks surprised.
"I thought you might know," Damon replied raising an eyebrow.
Araiya's head tilted a little as she focused on hearing something that others could not. Damon noticed how her eyes resembled worn out amber when she is focusing. She snaps out of her trance and took strides in his direction.
Damon held his breath as she entered his personal space, her sweet aroma filling all his senses but his eyes never faltered away from hers.
Araiya hesitantly put her hand on his shoulder and felt the deep turmoil that he embraced. Though Damon relaxed under her touch, araiya could feel the dark whispers in her mind and how the shadows become more anxious. They all were awaiting something.
"It wasn't supposed to happen so soon," She whispered worriedly still in contact with Damon.
"What wasn't supposed to happen so soon?" Damon questioned, trying to understand the situation.
Araiya grabbed both of them and literally dragged them with her. Her strength surprised Damon who was struggling to keep up whereas Klaus simply followed her.
"WHOA! Where are we going?" Damon whisper-yell as they approached a sleek black Bentley.
"Klaus meet us at the house," She ordered "Inform others. He might be more than we can handle,"
Niklaus nodded and looked at Damon once more before speeding out. Damon stood dumbfounded.
"Umm, I have questions. Where are we going?" Damon hesitantly asked.
"You'll see. Get in, will you?" The Black gritted frustrated.
Damon obliged and make himself comfortable, admiring the soft leather.
"You know you should at least take me out for the first date before kidnapping me," Damon joked and a small smile tugged at her lips.
"I promise I will make it up to you, love." She responded glancing over Damon.
He looked worse and was grimacing while taking in breaths. It was becoming stronger.
"Give me your hand," Araiya ordered.
"What?" Damon asked, sweat forming on his brow.
"I said Give me your hand", Ariaya held out hers before Damon.
Damon lightly placed his on her outstretched hand and he immediately felt calmer. She intertwined their hands together and he just stared at the place they were touching.
He could breathe easily now without the pain on his side. He flopped back on the seat.
"Am I sick?" He wondered," Do Vampires even get sick?"
"No. Usually not, unless you are under a curse," She replied humourlessly.
Damon looked at her and could notice the strain she was under. It was quite obvious by how tight she was clutching the wheel that Damon cursed himself for not noticing.
"Is it because of me?" He whispered, somehow he hated how she was under pain due to him.
Araiya didn't say anything for the longest time and then she abruptly stopped the car.
"We are here," She said looking at their hands. When she looked up, a mutual understanding passed through both of them.
She needed to let go. He will be in pain again and she didn't want him to be.
Damon squeezed their hands and slowly let go. The pain he was able to tolerate was now becoming unbearable. Damon let out a yelp as he clutched his sides.
Araiya got out of her car and unhinged the passenger door. She placed her hands on his back, trying to soothe out the burning. She pressed herself as close she could and whispered sweet nothings in his ear.
She was here now and he was okay.
"Araiya!" Klaus yelled at the black as he rushed to help.
"Don't touch him!" She hissed her eyes turning gold and Klaus stopped.
"Evanore..." She was struggling as she called her name. She could only hold on for a few more minutes.
Evanore carried Damon out of the car, helping the black with her magic. Araiya clung to his side, afraid to let go.
"The preparations are ready," Evanore explained as Araiya spotted the gigantic ice bath.
Together they brought Damon who was on the verge of passing out to the bath and placed him inside.
"What is happening to me?" He pleading asked the black who planted a kiss on his forehead.
"Stay with me Damon," She muttered with extreme desperation "Please,"
"Never thought I would hear that..." He smirked and grimaced.
The water turned to vapors as they came in contact with Damon's body. The hissing sound filled the whole veranda. Damon's teeth chattered and small beads of sweat covered his forehead. He was burning up. Araiya held his hand and watched as her veins turned black, trying to absorb his pain.
Damon let out a scream as the pain grew. Araiya nearly stumbled over but Klaus caught her with ease. She clutched his arms tightly watching as Damon let out another bloodcurdling scream.
"Sleep, my love" She whispered as she put up a bewitch sleep spell on Damon.
His screams turned to whimpers before his eyes finally shut down. Evanore nodded at the black ensuring that he passed out.
The Black slipped down as her legs gave out. She didn't let go of his hand and rested her head on the cool surface of the bath.
Darkness clouded over her eyes and a comforting blanket of shadows surrounded her.
For the first time in her life, the darkness felt safe.