Author's Note: Thanks so much for all the reviews. It warms my heart.
Mystic Falls Kingdom - High Castle
Klaus led the way to the vast dining room in the castle where the royal cook had made a grand feast to welcome their guests. "I hope the food is to your liking." Klaus said as they sat down.
"The food looks delicious." Davina replied.
"The cooks here in Mystic Falls are the best in all the kingdoms. They can make anything you desire." Kol said as he sat down next Davina giving her a soft smile. Klaus and Elijah exchanged a quick look, pleased that Kol was behaving and seems to have taken an interest in the girl.
"Freya, I thought you said Rebekah would be joining us for dinner."
"I'll will send a maid to fetch her." Freya leaves the table to call on a maid in the hallway.
"Rebekah is your youngest sister correct?" Asked Richard as he took a glass of whine from one of the servers.
"Yes." Elijah answers, as Freya returns to her seat.
"She will be down soon."
"Well then, Klaus, what do you have planned for me and my daughter while we stay here in your lovely home?"
"At the end of the month I would like to announce the engagement of Kol and Davina by throwing a grand ball. In the meantime it will be good for them to spend time together. Kol will show her around the kingdom while the rest of us prepare for the engagement."
"Sounds like a splendid idea. Don't you agree sweetheart?"
"Yes." Davina says quietly has she tries to eat the food on her plate.
"Excellent. Kol make sure to plan a fun outing for tomorrow."
"I will brother." Kol says, never taking his eyes off Davina.
Soon everyone fell into quite conversations with each other. Klaus, Elijah, and Richard discussed the upcoming engagement. Freya quietly ate, listening and only speaking when spoken to. While Davina did her best not to let Kol bother her. He was not hiding the way his eyes would trace the curves of her body or the outline her lips. He was enjoying the way she would squirm under his heated gaze. Just as Davina was about tell Kol to stop, the maid that had gone to get Rebekah came running in. In her hand she held a note which she gave to Klaus. Davina watched within seconds as Klaus's face changed from happy to seething anger. Elijah grabbed the note as Klaus sped out of the room.
"I'm sorry, but something very important has come up and we have to cut dinner short. If you are still hungry a maid will bring you some food to your rooms. Kol, please show Richard and Davina the guest quarters. Freya with me." When the two of them left Kol got up.
"Sorry about that. It must have been something really bad to cut dinner short. I hope you understand."
Richard nodded his head in agreement "Of course, please let me know if it is something I can help with."
"No need to worry, you and your lovely daughter are our guests. Come, I will escort you to your rooms." Kol smiled sweetly at Davina, but she didn't notice as her head was filled with questions on what was written on that note.
The Wolf Lands - Southern Wolfe Tribe
Tyler Lockwood waited patiently for his father to return home from the annual alpha tribunal. This meeting between the alphas of all the wolf tribes that reside in the wolf lands will decide if they will go to war against the Hybrid King. For the past eighteen years Tyler's father has had only one goal, destroy Klaus Mikaelson.
Tyler knows the history of his people and their connection with the once great Bennett coven, but Tyler fears war. Ever since the last full moon he has been having dreams of battles that bring blood and destruction. Not just of the Mystic Falls Kingdom, but also of the Southern Wolves. He knows that the spirits are trying to warn him what will happen if they went to war, he just wish they could tell him how to prevent it.
He was only three when the Bennett coven was killed, he barely remembers them. The only memory he has is of holding baby Bonnie Bennett, the future queen. Her bright green eyes looking at him like he was the most fascinating thing in the world. He remembers the words his mother told him while he held her. "It is your duty to keep her safe. You are her wolf knight." It was a week later when Klaus sent his hybrids to kill the Bennetts. The morning he found out about Bonnie's death he cried for days, knowing he had failed to protect her.
Tyler looks up at the night sky. He knows it's getting late, and decides to sleep under the stars despite it being a cold autumn night. His father will most likely return tomorrow morning, and he wants to talk with him as soon as possible. With that thought he drifts off to sleep.
The Border of Mystic Falls Kingdom and Starfall Kingdom
Rebekah looks at the forest of Mystic Falls from the back of the merchant's wagon. She sees it get smaller and smaller as she enters Starfall Kingdom. This is the only kingdom that is mostly human, only a few witches live here as to provide protection for the humans from the vampires and wolves. She does not know why Klaus has left this kingdom alone, he could have easily taken it, if he wanted to. She had asked him once, and all he said was "I made a promise to leave Starfall alone." He has broken so many promises in the past, so she wonders why this one is so important.
"Prin-, sorry I mean Rebekah." The merchant looks back. "We have officially entered the Starfall Kingdom. It will be about another three hours till we reach the docks where I keep my ship. You should get some sleep."
"Thank you Andrew, for all your help."
"It was an honor to be trusted by the Great Witch Freya with such an important task. There is no need to thank me."
"There are not many men like you left, loyal and honorable. Your wife is a lucky woman."
"No I am the lucky one to have her as a wife. I would have died long ago if not for her. What about you? Will you be meeting a man where you are going?"
"That is the plan."
"Who is he? He must be special to be willing to leave High Castle."
"I have no idea who he is, but when I meet him I know it will be special."
"What if you never meet this man?"
"I will. I can feel it, and when I do I will make sure to send you an invitation to our wedding."
"I can't wait. You should sleep now. There is a blanket in the bag next to your feet." Rebekah takes out the blanket and lies down trying to get as comfortable as one can get on a hay covered wagon. Soon she can feel her eyes closing as she dreams of a new life away from Klaus.
Ember Isles - A small village near Crescent Island
Caroline Forbes gets ready for bed after returning home from her engagement party. Her mother is fast asleep after having such a large dinner at the celebration. Her mother seemed so happy and carefree that it made the idea of marrying that fat-old man more bearable. With her marriage to the village chief her mother will never have to worry about food again, but Caroline will become a prisoner. Every two years or so the chief of their village picks a new wife to add to his harem, and this year Caroline was chosen. Her mother was so happy the day the chief came to their home asking for her hand in marriage.
In one week she will become his wife, and it took all of her self control to not runaway. For if she did her mother will be killed. For the past month she has held back the tears that she wants cry, but she refuses to let one fall. She is strong and no matter what she will survive this. Caroline lies down and falls asleep repeating that mantra.
Mystic Falls Kingdom - High Castle, Guest Quarters
Davina lies in bed as she struggles to fall asleep. Being in Mystic Falls makes her think of her mother. This kingdom was her homeland. Davina remembers the stories her mother would tell of her home. The trouble she caused when she was a young girl just starting to understand her magic. The places she would go with her mother to pick the best ingredients for a potion. But her favorite of all the stories her mother told was of the Bennetts. Her mother's best friend was Abby Bennett, the last Bennett queen. The mischief they would get into had Davina clutching her stomach as she laughed so hard it hurt. A tear slid down her eye as she thought of her mother. She knows for a fact that is she was still alive she would never have approved her wedding to a man whose brother was responsible for the Bennetts deaths. More tears came as she cried herself to sleep.
Mystic Falls Kingdom - High Castle, Klaus's War Room
Nik, by the time you get this note I will hopefully no longer be in Mystic Falls.
You may not understand why I had to leave, but I will hope one day you will.
You know that all I have ever wanted was to be a wife and mother. I almost thought
I had that life with Marcel, but you made sure I didn't. That was the last straw.
Don't try to find me. Maybe one day, after a couple of centuries we will see each other
again. Make sure to take care of yourself and the family. Please tell Elijah, Freya,
Kol, and Finn that I will miss them dearly. And even though I have to leave you,
I will miss you the most, my darling brother.
~Rebekah
Klaus sits at the large oak desk that is covered with plans for the kingdom, the upcoming war, and an untouched glass of whisky. He has read the note over a thousand times, memorizing each word. Yet he still reads it over and over, just to make sure he did not read it wrong.
"Klaus." He looks up to see Greta Martin standing in front of his desk. Her family is a well known witch family under the employ of the Aurora's family. Greta has come to Mystic Falls to study under Freya. She is also one of Klaus's lovers.
"Where is she?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't find her. Something is blocking my magic from seeing her."
"Try again."
"If Freya can't find her than how can I?"
"Freya refuses to even try. She thinks Rebekah needs her space and will come back when she is ready. I also know that Freya helped her runaway. She may deny it, but Freya is most likely the reason Rebekah is hidden even by magic." Klaus stands, picking up a the glass of whisky and throwing it against the wall. "When I find her I am going to put her in a coffin for the next thousand years."
Greta walks over, sliding her hand up his chest and then wrapping her arms around his neck. She leans up giving him feather light kisses on his chin. "You and I both know that Rebekah will be back in a couple of days tops. She is a spoiled girl who can't do anything without the help of very charming brother." She smiles sweetly. "Besides, there are more enjoyable things we could be doing." She untucks his shirt and moves her hands underneath across his bare abs. "Aurora and her brother will be arriving tomorrow, and you know how territorial she can be. So before she gets here lets have some fun."
Greta brings his lips to hers in a heated kiss. Klaus grabs her by the thighs and puts her on top of the desk. He rips off her dress leaving her completely open to his heated gaze. Her pulse quickens with excitement, her breasts rise and fall, and her legs are wide open. She is begging for him. "Get out." Greta looks at him in shock.
"Wh-what?" She whispers.
In a quiet tone filled with rage he repeats. "I said. Get. Out."
"But-"
"If you do not leave this room, I will kill you." The blackness of his eyes warns Greta that this threat should not be taken lightly. She picks up what used to be her dress and runs out. As soon as she left Klaus feels the tremors of phasing start. He drops to his knees trying to stop it. After awhile, the tremors recede and he can feel himself relax. He lifts his head about to get up when he sees her. A girl standing in the middle of his room in a red silk dress and the greenest eyes he has ever seen.
Crescent Island - Temple of the Goddess
Bonnie is now sitting in the middle of the circle as all the witches start to chant. "Mother hear our pleas, and bless this witch." They repeat again and again. She closes her eyes as she starts to feel a pull. The chanting grows quiet until no sound can be heard. Bonnie opens her eyes to see herself sitting in the middle of field surrounded by a forest. She looks up to the sky to see it covered in stars with a bright full moon. Enchanted the beauty of the sky, Bonnie gets up and reaches out a hand desperate to touch the stars.
"Beautiful, is it not?" Startled Bonnie turns around and sees a woman with pale white skin, silver eyes and midnight black hair. "I can never get enough of a clear night sky." The woman smiles softly at her.
"Who are you?" The woman walks closer and gently caresses Bonnie's cheek, like a mother does to her child. Bonnie instantly feels the power coming from this woman. "It's you, the Goddess, the Mother of Witches."
"Please, call me Hecate. I have been waiting a long time for you Bonnie."
"You know my name?"
Hecate chuckles to herself. "I know the names of all my children, but you Bonnie, are special."
"Because I am the next Bennett queen?"
"My child, you are so much more than that."
"What do you mean?"
"All questions will be answered in due time, but we must hurry, I have a lot to tell you and very little time to do it."
"What must you tell me?"
"Bonnie, a great darkness is coming. One that will bring chaos and death if it is not stopped. The only one who can stop it is you."
"Me!?"
"Yes, but fear not, you will not face this darkness alone. There will be nine other warriors who will stand beside you and fight."
"Who are they?" Hecate touches her forehead, showing her the images of her comrades. She sees Lucy, Emily, Stefan, and Damon in the temple still chanting. Next she sees a man, who Bonnie knows is a wolf, with dark brown hair sleeping under the stars. Next a blond human woman sleeping in a small hut. Then she sees blond vampire sleeping on a wagon covered in hay. Lastly she sees and young girl sleeping in what looks to be a room in some castle. Bonnie can see the dried tears on her cheek.
"You must gather the others and bring them to Crescent Island before the summer solstice. That is when the darkness will rise."
"I understand, but you only showed me eight people. You said there will be nine."
"The last one, Bonnie, is very important. He must the one to stand beside you in the last battle, for you can not destroy the darkness without him."
"Who is he?"
"He is your other half." She says as she touches Bonnie's forehead once more. This time it's different. Bonnie can feel herself being teleported to another place. When she opens her eyes Bonnie sees a man kneeling on the floor. He looks like he is in pain. She tries to walk to him but her legs don't move. Eventually the man calms down and looks up. Bonnie instantly recognizes the blue eyes from her dream.
For a moment they just stare at each other, then he asks her a question. "Who are you?"
"Bonnie." And then in a instant Bonnie finds herself back in the temple.
Next chapter: Bonnie's familiar, she and Stefan prepare to leave for their quest, and Kol and Davina go on their first date.
Thanks for reading!
~The Darkening Heart