Title: Amaranthine

Rating: M

Genre: AU/AH

Pairing(s): Bonnie/Stefan, Bonnie/Silas, Silas/Qestiyah (one-sided), Damon/Qetsiyah, Mason/Qetsiyah, Matt/Caroline, Matt/Katherine, Tyler/Rebekah, mentions of past Stefan/Elena and Bonnie/Kol, etc.

Summary: Bonnie Bennett returns to Mystic Falls to aid her descendent and hopes to make peace with her sister Tessa. However, her hopes for a reconciliation with her sister are dashed when she comes across a ghost from the past in the form of someone with the face of the very man that tore their relationship apart in the first place.

Warnings: Character Death, Violence, Infidelity, Sexual Content, Non-Canon, etc.

Author's Note: Once again this is a repost. I am going to get around to updating when I can. For right now I am trying to focus on reposting the stories and getting everything back up. I am hoping that there aren't too many mistakes. I did some minor editing but nothing major. Thanks to those who were there to support me during my rough times. As always thanks for reading and enjoy!

Part Two||Demons

Mystic Falls, Virginia 2009

Bonnie Bennett walked into Mystic Grill and nodded at Lucy as the woman wiped down the counters of the bar. She had hoped that she would manage to get out of the house for a while and clear her head. However, as she turned her head to look around the restaurant she saw one of the reasons behind her turmoil, playing pool with Matt Donovan and Caroline Forbes across the room. She eyed Stefan Salvatore and a part of her wanted to turn around and leave.

Still she knew that she would have face him sooner or later. There was no point in letting some human intimidate her. Even a human that was a shadow of her past. Even as she determined that she would stay and talk to Lucy she ducked through the crowd of patrons in hopes to not be seen.

Still she eavesdropped on Stefan's conversation. He and his friends were discussing Stefan's father and what was going on with the town council. His father was apparently becoming more and more obsessed with finding proof of supernatural activity.

Bonnie frowned. She would not be able to back out of befriending any of them now. It was clear that she would have no choice in the matter. She would have to act to garner their trust sooner rather than later. But she wanted a drink first.

Bonnie sat comfortably on one of the barstools having changed out of the dress she had worn to school and into a pair of navy jeans, a heather Henley top, and a pair of black ankle boots. She grinned at Lucy as the woman stopped in front of her. "I'll have scotch on the rocks," she said.

Lucy raised a brow at her. "Do you have identification, miss?" Lucy chimed, "Because…and I might be wrong…but you don't look a day over seventeen."

Bonnie rolled her eyes. "That's cute," she laughed. She was about to comment further but stopped as something about Stefan's conversation across the room caught her attention.

"How am I supposed to tell my dad about these weird dreams I've been having," Stefan was whispering to Caroline, "I mean…you know how he is. Especially now. He'll probably brand me a witch and have me burned at the stake."

Bonnie winced but she couldn't help but be intrigued by his dreams. She had felt something when she had first touched him and since he was Silas's doppelganger and likely ancestor it would not be too much of a stretch if he turned out to be a witch himself.

"That was all well and fine when you thought that these dreams were just your grief over your mother," Caroline replied as Matt picked up his pool stick seemingly ignoring the conversation his friend and his girlfriend were having, "But you said…that things were starting to come true. I mean you basically predicted the accident that killed Elena's parents before it happened and that was a year ago. We brushed it off because your mom had just found out that she was sick and we thought it was some weird coincidence. Then there was Tyler's dad a few months back. But this whole thing with that couple that was murdered last night is turning this from coincidental to creepy-"

Bonnie heard Stefan shift uncomfortably. "Can we please talk about something else," Stefan sighed.

Bonnie frowned. All the signs were there. And it his dreams were any indication then his powers would be surfacing sooner rather than later. A part of her wanted to warn him. To help him transition. The more she thought about it the more that she was sure that that could be her in. If she helped him and kept his secret from his father then he would definitely trust her. Though, that wasn't entirely the reason that she wanted to do so. Besides if she were to help him then she would have to reveal herself to him and that could easily backfire.

"Fine," Caroline huffed, regaining Bonnie's attention, "Let's talk about Bonnie. She let you give her a ride home but you obviously struck out seeing as you didn't get her number or any real information. I probably know more than you do including the fact that she's staying with her grandmother Sheila, she has an older sister interning for Mayor Lockwood, her favorite color is blue, she likes nature, and her birthday is in February which means your signs are compatible."

"How did you manage to find out all of that?" Stefan questioned. Bonnie laughed. Admittedly she was impressed.

"I network," Caroline shrugged, "I ask questions. And speaking of asking questions Matt told me you tried to get her to come to the party at the falls tonight but she blew you off. So I'm going to ask her if she wants to join the squad. I'll befriend her and talk you up a bit. You can stalk her with your broody gaze during practices. Then…once you get the courage you can ask her out again."

Bonnie shook her head as she waited for Stefan's response. "First of all I wasn't asking her out I was trying to be nice," he frowned, "If I were asking her out then I'm sure she would say yes." Caroline scoffed but he continued. "Second," he said, "I don't need you to talk me up. I'm a big boy. I can handle myself."

Bonnie sighed. So he was interested in her. Normally she wouldn't have hesitated to use that fact against him. But frankly she would have sooner joined the cheerleading squad even though she had no interest in doing so.

Bonnie scowled as Lucy waved a hand in front of her face. "I've been trying to get your attention for the pass ten minutes," Lucy smirked, "So don't look at me like that."

Bonnie looked down her expression chagrined. "Sorry," she muttered, "What's up?"

"Wow this kid has got you wound up," Lucy shook her head, "Tessa said that your first love had a doppelganger walking around town and I'm assuming it's that guy you've been staring at for the past ten minutes." When Bonnie didn't answer Lucy only shrugged. "He's cute," she said, "I'll give you that."
"I gotta go," Bonnie said, standing, "I'll see you at home."

Lucy gave her a knowing look. "You can't avoid this guy forever," Lucy pointed out as she continued to wipe down the bar.

Bonnie glanced over at Stefan, willing him to turn and notice and hoping that he didn't at the same time. "I can try," Bonnie answered. Taking one last look in Stefan's direction, she walked away without looking back.

:::

Mystic Falls, Virginia 1965

Bonnie Bennett strutted into the Mystic Fall's Sheriff's Department with a winning smile on her face. Her blue sheath dress clung to her body in all the right places and her black heels clicked against the ground. She wasn't surprised that she turned a few heads and raised a few eyebrows.

She wouldn't have bothered showing up at all but she was there on business. Sheila and a few of her college friends had gotten arrested for demonstrating without a permit. Or at least that was what the officers were putting on the paper work. It didn't matter one way or the other. Bonnie would have them out soon enough.

She walked up to the front desk and grinned at the officer that sat behind it. He blinked back at her looking more than a little peeved. His tune changed however as she leaned forward until they were at eye level. Compulsion was a convenient tool when one was in a southern town full of racist conservative thinkers, majority of whom were on the police force.

"If you would be so kind," Bonnie purred sweetly, "Officer…" She paused as she reached out and ran her fingers over his name badge. "Johnson. Could you, pretty please, let my friends from Whitmore College go? You see it was all just a misunderstanding. They had a permit and the school's permission. If anyone in your department believes otherwise then tell them to call the dean and ask him themselves." Bonnie had compelled the dean before she arrived and many of the school's faculty.

"No need," the officer said as she he stood, "I'll have them out in a jiffy. Just you wait here, mam."

"Why thank you officer," Bonnie winked. She watched as he disappeared. When he was out of sight she looked around and noticed that there wasn't a shortage of eyes on her. She glanced over at an older woman that was seated in the waiting area waiting to report a crime. "Don't you just love a man in uniform?" She commented, laughing a little when the woman looked away quickly.
Bonnie's eyes landed on one of the officer's standing across the room. He glared at her, his brown eyes suspicious but he said nothing. She noted the name on his badge, D. Preston. She saved the tidbit for later just in case someone else would have to get compelled.

She turned at the sound of footsteps and smiled as Sheila and the other protestors were walked out into the main area. She wasn't surprised as Sheila ran to her immediately, wrapping her arms around Bonnie's neck. "I knew you would come," she whispered.

"Of course," Bonnie nodded, as she returned the embrace, "We take care of our own."

:::

Mystic Falls, Virginia 2009

There were two reasons that Stefan Salvatore had shown up at the falls for the party that Caroline had organized. The first being that he didn't want to go home and the second being that he had hoped against hope that Bonnie Bennett would show up.

He had thought of little else besides her since they had met and she made him forget about the darkness that surrounded his life recently. Between losing his mother and the nightmares that he had long thought were gone returning, and his brother and father obsessing over the supernatural it was a wonder that he hadn't gone insane. Bonnie felt like some sort of fresh start.

However, as soon as he arrived at the party his past had caught up to him in the form of Elena Gilbert. She had been talking nonstop since she approached him. About how much she missed him. About how good they were together. About how she had lost her parents and could not lose him too.

"I lost my mother Elena," he said, finally, "I understand what it means to lose someone more than anyone. And I thought that…I thought that you would understand me needing a fresh start."

Elena's face fell. She looked at her feet, her brown hair obscuring his view of her. She had once upon a time, been one of the few people that understood him. Before his mother had gotten sick and he had begun to keep things from her including his dreams, one of which had been about the death of her own parents.

"I care about you," he said, after a moment, "I still…want us to be friends."

Elena shook her head and smiled sadly. "We were never friends Stefan," she said, "Not really. We've always been…well us. I guess you didn't take as long to get over that as I am obviously taking." Stefan opened his mouth to speak but stopped as Elena turned away from him. "I'll see you around," she said.

Stefan sighed. He knew what she was doing. She wanted him to feel sorry for her. To go after her. But he stood his ground. Deciding to go home instead, Stefan turned and began to walk toward his car. He stopped as a feminine voice spoke from behind him.

"You're leaving?" the voice, inquired and Stefan smiled, "I guess I have bad timing."

He turned to face Bonnie. She grinned up at him a beer in each hand and mirth in her eyes. "Actually," he said, as she took the bottle that she held out to him, "Your timing is pretty perfect. I thought you weren't coming."

She shrugged. "Changed my mind," she said, "And just so you know Caroline made me promise to join the cheerleading squad before she would give me this beer so that means you'll probably be seeing a lot more of me since you're on the football team. So I guess you won't be rid of me anytime soon."

Stefan tried to mask his pleased expression as he took a swig from his bottle. "If that's the case then I suppose we should get to know each other better," he ventured.

Bonnie bit her lip and seemed to be considering him. "You want to go for a walk?" She asked, after a moment.

Stefan nodded. Though, she probably didn't realize it, he was pretty much willing to follow her anywhere. It probably would have scared him, how hard he was falling so quickly, if it didn't feel as right as it did.

:::

Mystic Falls, Virginia 1965

Bonnie frowned her eyes hard and her face tense and she watched Sheila Bennett stumble into her home with Gregory Abram's assistance. She was used to seeing Gregory about as the man was crazy about her descendant and was rarely seen outside of her company. What angered Bonnie about the scene was that Sheila was badly beaten.

She helped Gregory help her descendent into the living room and onto the couch. He wasn't looking all that great either but he had managed to escape whatever misfortune they had come across unscathed. "What happened?" Bonnie demanded.

"Officers," he muttered, looking down at Sheila in concern, "They got the better of a few protestors." Bonnie offered Sheila her blood as Gregory spoke. As the girl healed she offered her wrist to him as well but he shook his head. "Take care of Sheila," he said, "Those pigs…the sheriff said that they couldn't make any more arrests since the school was up in arms about it and they never held anyone more than a few hours anyway." Bonnie frowned as she knew that it was her compulsion that was responsible for both things. "So they decided to try another tactic instead," he sighed, "Beating folks, dogs, and hoses."

Bonnie scowled and Gregory grimaced taking a step back. The man was six foot two and had a wide frame but he knew when and when not to mess with Bonnie. There was a vengeful look in the woman's eyes and he knew that there would be a slaughter and soon. "I want names," Bonnie spat.

Sheila stirred where she lay on the couch, speaking for the first time as Bonnie's blood healed her. "Don't do anything reckless, Bonnie," she frowned, "They could have find out about you. Come after you. All of us."

Bonnie shook her head vehemently, beyond all reason. Sheila was her sister. The only one she had now that she had lost Tessa. She couldn't let someone get away with harming her. "You can't ask me not to protect someone I love Sheila," Bonnie said, seriously, "You can't ask me to do that."

She had failed someone she had loved before. Two people. She had been unable to protect Tessa from her feelings for Silas and she had been unable to protect Silas from Qetsiyah's wrath. She had lost both. She would not allow anything of the like to happen again.

Sheila's face was grim. She knew that Bonnie was thinking of her past. She couldn't reach her when she was like this. "Just be careful," she whispered.

Bonnie nodded, stiffly before standing and leaving the room. "You said that your kind fight to keep balance," Gregory said, once Bonnie was out of earshot, "To protect humanity. To not be monsters. I know you look up to her Sheila but you can't just be alright with her going off to kill people in your name."

Sheila's face was expressionless as she spoke. She had been afraid once that revealing her true nature to him would scare him away. But he had taken her identity as a witch in stride. She loved him all the more for it. But a part of the reason that he was so accepting was due to the fact that Sheila had told him that her kind was meant to protect. But that was what Bonnie was doing, at least in her own way. Sheila didn't necessarily like it but she could understand it. "That woman has been through hell," she said, "She has done things. Dark things. Wrong things. That she isn't proud of. But she isn't just a witch. Not anymore. She doesn't have to play by our rules. And even if she was…those men she's going after…they aren't innocent. Not in any sense of the word."

Gregory knew that she was right and so he didn't argue.

:::

Mystic Falls, Virginia 2009

Tessa Bennett frowned as she watched her sister and Silas's doppelganger walked across the bridge over the falls. She hadn't meant to follow Bonnie, but once she had heard where her sister was going, she couldn't bring herself to stay away.

The two were conversing easily. They were acting as if they had known one another their whole lives. It made her wonder if it had been so easy between Bonnie and Silas. They had gotten along right off she remembered, but she wondered how they had been when she wasn't there to witness them. How easy had it been for them to touch and kiss? How hard was it for them to keep their hands off one another when she was near? How easy had it been for them to lie? For her sister to lie to her?
Qetsiyah was a masochist. There was no other word for it. The old resentment began to surface and she allowed it to grow and fester. She reasoned with herself as she watched Bonnie and Stefan leaning against the railing and looking up at the night sky. There was no reason for her to feel guilty that she had allowed Bonnie to believe Silas was dead all this time. She had found a replacement for him it seemed.

"I can understand wanting to let go and move forward," Tessa heard Bonnie say, "Everyone has their demons. There are things that I've done in the past that I regret. Dark things that I've seen and been through that I would rather forget. People that I've lost…that will never come back. Sometimes…the only way to survive is to move forward."

Tessa scowled as the doppelganger looked down at her sister with such awe and understanding. "Exactly," he nodded, "That's exactly how I feel. It's like you're reading my mind."

Tessa rolled her eyes. She had seen enough. As much as Bonnie had protested about being near the Salvatore she seemed to be softening toward him at a rapid pace. There would be no chance for them to reconcile. Not with the doppelganger in the picture and not with Tessa keeping the secret that Silas was still alive.

:::

Mystic Falls, Virginia 1965

Eighteen year old Sheila Bennett frowned as she sat up in her bed. She could hear the water running in the bathroom and the sound of soft sobbing. While her own bruises had healed a long time ago thanks to Bonnie's blood she had not seen her ancestor for hours. She had however, seen the news. The broadcast for that night had told about an animal attack that had killed three of Mystic Falls' finest officers. The "animal" had nearly shredded their bodies to pieces. The only reason they had been able to be identified was due to their name badges.

Sighing Sheila threw back the covers and got out of bed. It had been a year since Bonnie had come to her and she knew that though, she was quiet about it most of the time Bonnie's scars and loses ran deep. Walking around her bed, Sheila walked up to the bathroom door and opened it slowly.

Bonnie was at the sink, her peach and black grid dress stained heavily with blood. Her dark hair was askew atop of her head and her feet were bare. She was covered in dirt and her face was streaked with tears. She had the water running hot in the sink faucet and was scrubbing the blood staining her arms and hands with a bar of soap.

"I got them good, Sheila," Bonnie whispered, "It was slow. Painful. They felt everything up until the end. Every bone breaking. Every bruise. Every tearing of the skin. I got them good."

Sheila felt tears sting her own eyes as Bonnie continued to scrub. She wondered if Bonnie even realized she was crying. She didn't kill like this. Not without remorse. She had for a time, a few decades back off and on. But not anymore.

Sheila shifted in her polka dot nightgown as she took a hesitant step forward. "I knew you would," Sheila nodded, her tone was cautious, "You got them good."

"They shouldn't have been able to touch you at all," Bonnie spat, glaring at herself in the mirror, "I was supposed to protect you. It's my fault. I promised I wouldn't let anything happen to you and I failed. I always fail. Everyone I love leaves or dies. It could've been so much worse Sheila. I had to do it. I had to kill them. If they had come back for you…they had to die. I couldn't fail you. Not again."

Sheila reached out and touched her shoulder. "You never failed me Bonnie," Sheila insisted, "You're my best friend, remember? My sister."

The soap fell from Bonnie's hand and her fist shot forward, slamming into the mirror. Sheila jumped back as the glass shattered.

Bonnie fell to her knees and began to rock back and forth. "I'm so sorry," she murmured, "You can't hate me Sheila. I can't lose anyone else."

Sheila moved forward and wrapped her arms around Bonnie, pulling her into her chest. "Everything is all right," she said, "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here."

Bonnie clung to her and Sheila knew that it would be a long time before she was able to let go.

:::

Mystic Falls, Virginia 2009

The dress that she wore was a pale blue. The same color of the one that she wore on the night that they met. He loved her in blue. He said that it made her glow. Her hair was tied up and woven through with blue ribbon and baby's breath. She stood in the courtyard of what had been her childhood home and smiled at the first sign of rain.

Her head titled upward and she spread out her arms so that she could feel the rain on her skin. Bonnie smiled as strong arms wrapped around her from behind, locking around her waist. She was pulled into a warm body and her head fell to rest on her companions shoulder. "I have missed you, my little flame," a deep voice whispered into her ear, "My love. My soul."

Her eyes closed and she rested her hands atop his own. "Hello, Silas," she whispered. A single tear slid down her cheek. She forced herself to turn to him. To open her eyes. To face him. He kept his arms around her as she turned in his embrace. He smiled at her as their eyes met.

One of his hands moved up to stroke her cheek. "I wish that you were real," she whispered, "But you're never really here."

He answered the same way he always did. For she had had this dream many times before. "I'm sorry," he responded, "I love you. I will always love you."

"I love you," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck, "I miss you. I'm sorry. This is my fault. You're dead and I am to blame."

He shook his head vehemently. His eyes were full of emotions. Hurt, sympathy, sorrow, longing, and love. "I don't blame you," he murmured, "This isn't your fault. I've never blamed you. I blame myself."

"We are fools," Bonnie laughed, even as more tears fell, "Guilt ridden idiots the both of us. I should have told you how much…how very much that you were loved."

"I should have forced it out of you much sooner," he smirked.

He leaned down and Bonnie welcomed it as he kissed her. She kissed him back even knowing what would follow. Knowing what would come.

Lightning crashed a moment later and she heard her sister's voice. "So this is what I get in return for my love?"

Bonnie tried to stop it but a moment later Silas was ripped away from her. "No," she cried, "Please. Not again." She screamed his name as the wind carried him up into the sky and into an unknown oblivion.

She turned to her sister and fell to her knees. "Tessa," she begged, "You cannot leave me too. Please. I need you both. You must understand."

"I understand that you betrayed me," she frowned, "I understand that you could not protect him. You have taken everything from me and so I will leave you hear with nothing."

As her sister walked away from her an anguished sob tore from Bonnie's throat. She was alone now, well and truly alone.

As Bonnie shot up in bed tears streaming down her face, like many times before it was Sheila that caught her. She wrapped her arms around Bonnie pulling her close.

"I couldn't protect him," Bonnie sobbed into Sheila's shoulder, "I'm so sorry. He has to know that I'm so sorry."

Tessa had not known about the nightmares. Not until Sheila had heard Bonnie tossing and turning and screaming in her sleep. But it was clear as Sheila murmured soothing words in her ear and rocked Bonnie back and forth, she knew about Bonnie's dreams very well. For the first time Tessa believed Sheila's words. She didn't know Bonnie, not anymore.

She wanted to feel sorry for her sister. For the guilt Bonnie felt over a dead man that wasn't dead. But Bonnie had chosen to betray her. These were just the consequences. It surprised her however, that even after all of this time Silas's death had such a profound effect on Bonnie.

Though, she had witnessed their declaration of love she had not believed that Bonnie and Silas had really loved one another. That real love could be birthed from such a betrayal. But it was clear now that Qetsiyah had been wrong and the hurt cut again like new.

Bonnie had been and always would be the love to Tessa's life. After Bonnie, Tessa had found it next to impossible to trust anyone again. To love anyone. To let anyone in. But Bonnie had been different. Bonnie had allowed herself to love freely. She had not feared love only the loss of those she cared about.

Tessa looked at the pictures on Bonnie's nightstand and around the room. Pictures of Bonnie and Sheila from the sixties. Pictures of Bonnie and the first vampires that were not immortals like herself and Bonnie, the Originals, in the twenties and forties. Pictures of Bonnie and her wayward best friend, Alexia Branson, in the eighteen hundreds and the seventies. There were others from the times in between the times Qetsiyah had checked in on her that she didn't recognize. Others that Bonnie had called sister; Sheila, Lexi, and the lone female of the Originals, Rebekah among them. Others that Bonnie had called lover, the most notable being Rebekah's brother, Kol, whom would be with Bonnie even now Qetsiyah was sure if his brother Niklaus didn't have him daggered in a box somewhere.

Bonnie had been able to open herself up to others in a way that Tessa had not. Even the ones that she called friends were kept at arm's length. That was one of the reasons that in a way Tessa felt a perverse sense of satisfaction that no matter how many others that Bonnie loved it always came back to her and Silas in the end. They were the unforgettable dark patches that marred Bonnie's past, present, and future.

Tessa watched as Bonnie stood, breaking out of Sheila's embrace. "I can't stay here," she said, "I have to go and see him." She was blindly digging through her drawers for clothes. As soon as she found something to wear she disappeared into the bathroom.

"What is she talking about?" Tessa frowned.

"She got him a grave marker," Sheila murmured, her eyes sad, "A memorial. She didn't know where you…what you did with the body and so that was all she could do. It's in town. In the cemetery." Tessa looked away but said nothing. "She's your sister, Tessa," Sheila frowned, "Doesn't it bother you to see her like this?"

"She did this to herself," Tessa scowled, "She acted and these are the consequences." She was beyond sympathy now. What was done was done.

Sheila shook her head and laughed without humor. "If you knew how foolish you were," she muttered, "How wrong you were. You wouldn't be so callous if you knew the truth." Sheila stood from the bed and walked up to Tessa and looked her in the eyes. "None of this is worth this," she stated, "You have no idea how damaged she is. I tried not to take sides but I've seen her suffer long enough. All these years and this could have been over by now if you had just shut your mouth and opened your ears to listen to her. I hope you lose her, I hope you lose her for good. Keep doing what you're doing and you will."

Tessa's hands clenched into fists as Sheila walked around her and left the room. She ignored the warning and walked out behind her.

:::

Mystic Falls, Virginia 1965

Bonnie Bennett stood at the memorial that she had created for Silas. The plot was amidst the rest of her family plots. It was the only thing that she could do for him. The only place that she could go in order to grieve.

She didn't know where his real body had been buried. She didn't even know if her sister had given him a proper burial. She just knew that he was dead. Gone. And there was nothing that she could do about it.

For years he had haunted her. She had wished that she had done something different. Wished that she had allowed herself to die and kept her feelings for him to herself until the bitter end. She had loss so much because of one selfish act. The first selfish act that she had ever committed. It had damned her.

She startled slightly as Sheila came up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You got to let this go, Bonnie," she whispered, "He's gone. You try with Tessa when she allows it. There isn't anything else that you can do."

Bonnie shook her head. "It would be easier to let go if I didn't have so many regrets," she sighed, "Easier if I didn't still wonder what it would have been like. If I had told the truth. If we had been honest about our feelings sooner. If we could have been together. I've tried to move on but he haunts me sometimes. My thoughts. My dreams. Sometimes…I wish I was dead too. Sometimes I'm jealous because he only got a few moments of Qetsiyah's wrath and then he was able to find peace. He wasn't left here to spend eternity alone and to wonder. I've never had peace Sheila. Never."

Sheila frowned. "Bonnie," she sighed, "You're not alone and you know that. I'm here and I love you. And if you want peace then you have to do what I said and let him go."

Bonnie swallowed. "I couldn't protect him," she said, "I even asked him to take care of Qetsiyah. I made him promise. That was the only way I would agree to tell him that I loved him. And I did. He was the first man to challenge me. He didn't treat me like I was frail or sickly or weak. He treated me like a person. He wasn't afraid to hurt my feelings but he understood when and when not to push. He was the first man to call me beautiful. The first person outside of Tessa to really see me. I loved him so much. But I never told him. I never told him how much because I loved my sister more. I still love her more but…the guilt Sheila. I'm here and he's not. He's dead. He's dead for no other reason than that he loved me. I want to hate Tessa but I can't. I hate myself. I blame myself. But one day…one day I'll make it up to him. One day I'll find a way to repay him for loving me enough to die for me. One day I'll make up for failing him, for not protecting him. I can't let go. Not until then."

"Bonnie that isn't healthy," Sheila frowned, "he would want you to live your life. He wouldn't want this."

"You can't know that," Bonnie said shaking her head, "He isn't here to tell me what he wants anymore and when he was here I wouldn't listen." Bonnie knelt down and placed a rose on the grave marker. "Wherever you are," she whispered, "I'll always remember you. I'm still here. I'm still your little flame."

Sheila cried as she watched Bonnie. Her ancestor couldn't cry anymore tears for Silas. She had done so for too long. But she mourned him. She lived and breathed her guilt. She ached with the memory of him decade after decade after decade. She pushed away men that could not live up to the ghost of the one who she could not forget. And so Sheila cried for her.

:::

Mystic Falls, Virginia 2009

Stefan Salvatore ran blindly through the ruins of Fell's Church. Something was coming. Something was after him. He didn't know what or who it was but he knew that if he stopped then he would be damned.

The terror enveloped him as he pushed himself forward. His feet were bare. The cold night air made him shiver. The t-shirt and pajama bottoms he was wearing did nothing to warm him. He called to his brother. Called to his father. Called to his mother. But there was no answer.

He stilled as a lone cloaked figure appeared in front of him. He swallowed, taking a step backward as the hood to the cloak came down. His eyes widened as he came face to face with a man with his own face. His expression was murderous as he reached out and wrapped a hand around Stefan's throat and lifted him off the ground. "She's mine," he spat, "Stay away from her."

Stefan struggle to no avail. His mouth opened to let out one more plea for help and though he didn't know why, this time it was Bonnie's name that left his lips.

Bonnie froze midstride. She had gone to the cemetery after leaving Sheila's, the nightmare causing her to go to the only place where she had ever been able to mourn Silas. She had taken a walk after, ending up near the ruins of Fell's Church. It was then that she heard a voice that was becoming familiar to her call her name.

Bonnie sped toward the sound and was surprised to find Stefan writhing in his sleep on the forest floor. Frowning at his state of dress she took off her own jacket and kneeled down to place it over his shivering frame. It was clear to her that whatever had so obviously yanked him out of bed was magical in nature.

"Stefan," she said, gently shaking him away, "I'm here. Wake up. You're alright."

She murmured and shook him a little while longer until finally his eyes blinked open. He looked at her and the surrounding forest his eyes full of confusion. "What's going on?" he said, clearly panicked, "I was in bed. What am I doing here? What's happening to me?"

"Calm down," Bonnie whispered soothingly, "You're alright."

Stefan shook his head fervently. "I'm going insane," he muttered, "Why am I here? Why are you here?"

"I couldn't sleep," Bonnie explained, honestly, "Sometimes I have nightmares…I went for a walk and I found you here."

Stefan's eyebrows knitted together. "I was dreaming," he said, "Having a nightmare about this place and there was a man…" He paused, he didn't want to seem even crazier than he already was by telling her what he had been dreaming about, a man that looked like him trying to kill him. "But I was alone," he insisted, "In my room and in my bed."

"I believe you," Bonnie nodded, "I also believe that I know what's happening to you. I can help you. But I need you to trust me. Can you do that?"

Stefan studied her. She was serious. She did believe him. Nothing that he was saying seemed to shock her. He thought about the unexplainable draw toward her. About the spark he had felt when they had touched for the first time. She had said that she had nightmares. Did they come true like his own? He couldn't go home. It was late and his father and brother would ask questions. He had nowhere else to go. No one else to turn to. "I trust you," he said, finally.

Bonnie smiled and he realized that he was telling the truth. He trusted her. Even though they had just met and he knew next to nothing about her, he trusted her.

"Come on," Bonnie said, helping him to his feet, "Let's get you out of here."

This was how she could repay Silas she realized. By protecting Stefan. The last of his line that had the same face. Then she would let him go and her demons with him.