Title: A Ballad of Ashes and Embers

Rating: M

Genre: Alternate Universe/Alternate History

Pairing(s): Bonnie/Klaus, Stefan/Emily, Elijah/Katherine, Katherine/Lucy, Elijah/Lucy, Lucy/Elijah/Katherine, Tyler/Elena, Rebekah/Kol, Rebekah/Damon, ect.

Summary: Long ago, in a time forgotten, a scorned sorceress queen barters her daughter to win back her throne. The resulting marriage between the first known hybrid and the last of the most powerful bloodline of enchantresses ever in existence becomes the key to restoring the ways of old and bringing back the balance that his creation destroyed.

Klonnie Appreciation Week Theme: Free For All (Day Seven)

Warnings: Violence, Torture, Character Death, Sexual Content, Incest, OCC-ness, etc.

The Threat to the Reign

"Tears aren't a woman's only weapon."

― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

The Werewolf Land and Isles, Lupos Palace

The night before the wedding was to take place Bonnie's sleep was a fitful one. She dreamed of dying by her mother's hands. Struck down by her powers, her body bruised, bloodied, and broken. Then after she was done her mother set her body aflame.

Bonnie didn't feel the fire as her limbs burned. The flames licked her skin with a light touch even as they engulfed her and reduced her to ashes.

Her mother looked down at her, her expression smug. But then the ashes spread apart revealing Bonnie in a new form. Her hair was longer, wilder. She wore wolf skins like the lupos. Her arms were covered in tribal tattoos. She sat up straight and looked beyond her mother's face toward a yellow eyed wolf standing just behind her.

Her mother moved to strike out at her again but the wolf was faster and pounced on her. The wolf's jaws opened and its teeth tore into her mother's flesh. It ripped her apart, teeth gnashing and blood spewing.

Her mother was an unrecognizable pile of flesh when it was over and the disembodied witch erupted in flames, Bonnie stood stock still and waited for the flames to die. When there was nothing left but ashes her mother did not rise.

When Bonnie awoke she was fitted for her wedding silks. Her mother supervised as the omegas draped the white cloth over her skin.

"You must look like a lamb ripe for the slaughter," Abby told her, "So that the wolf may have his hunt."

Jonas stood behind her and surveyed the women working as well. Bonnie felt exposed. As if she was being laid bare, the silks the only thing separating her nude body from the outside world. Her long hair was styled half up and half down, pearls threaded into the dark strands.

Bonnie watched as her mother left the room that the alpha had given her to make use of for the night, her own sky blue dress trailing behind her. She had never seen her mother look so happy. Then again, she had a reason to be so.

Jonas remained as the omegas scuttled away, their work finally done. He placed his hands on Bonnie's shoulders and led her toward the looking glass. "You are exquisite," he whispered, "He will worship you. They all will. While you have your mother's beauty you also have what she lacks. Kindness. Loyalty. A willingness to accept those different from yourself. An inner strength that cannot be broken. And now you will have a husband whose army will follow you like a pack of stray dogs and tear the world down at your whim."

Bonnie was floored by his words. He was kind to her, always had been. But these words were different. Not even her mother received those words and it was she who was after the throne.

Jonas reached into his pocket and pulled out a necklace on a white silver chain. A phoenix pendant hung from the end, its tail wrapped around a stone the color of fire. "This was your grandmother's," he whispered, "If not for her I would have nothing."

He gently brushed her hair aside and placed the necklace around her neck. The phoenix fell between her breasts the chain hanging low, and the weight of it bringing her comfort. She felt suddenly calm.

"Her spirit lies within the stone," he told her, "It has guided me in all things and now it will guide you." There was a pause and his eyes narrowed slightly. "You should know that a Bennett was not meant to reclaim the throne," Jonas revealed, "Not with her name alone. She would be a Bennett with the name of a wolf. The last of her line and with an army of her kind, her husband's kind, and the Usurper's kind alike. And she would be the greatest ruler ever known and her reign never ending."

Bonnie frowned. "I do not understand," she said. But she did. She understood he spoke of her but the throne was her mother's aim, always had been. Then again, in this land Niklaus was king and so in marrying him she would be queen. If she ruled at his side, the army would be hers even if it was used to do her mother's bidding.

And the spirits had spoken of greatness. And Jonas had before made a point to say that they wanted a Bennett on the throne to his mother, but he never said which Bennett.

"You may not understand now but you will," Jonas said, placing a kiss atop her head, "The alpha will make a good husband, you need not fear. You are where you are meant to be, my queen, and those here are already loyal to you. When you sit upon the throne, my debt to your grandmother will be paid."

When he said, 'my queen', to her mother the words always seemed to be in jest. They seemed on the verge of sarcasm and were said in a tone that one would use to placate a child. However, as he said them to Bonnie, there was respect there, and reverence.

She had never thought about being queen. She had barely enough thanks to his generosity to call herself a princess. But he was right, she would be queen by name. She just prayed her mother never found out about the talk of her being destined to reign. "Make sure my mother hears none of this," she said, testing her power over him.

He bowed lowly and nodded. "I have kept your secret thus far, my queen," he said, "If you wish it, I will take it to the grave."

It seemed that she now knew where his loyalties lied.

:::

Crow's Arc, The Castle of House Salvatore

Rebekah Mikaelson looked out of the window of the carriage at the fleet of crows that swarmed the sky. There were so many that the blue up above almost looked black. Their calls were loud and unceasing and Rebekah flinched as one of the birds shot toward her. She ducked into the carriage just in time and the bird hit the curtain as it closed.

They were close to the castle but with the birds flying about it could hardly be seen. It mattered not. It would look like nothing in comparison to their own.

The Salvatore had been among the first families that they had changed after they had transitioned to what they were now. Though the father, and a few others remained human, kept alive and young using enchantments sustained by enslaved witches; the brothers, Damon and Stefan, were the most loyal of all of the vampires and it had been them that had ridden at her father's side when he had taken the throne from the Bennett witches and ended the reign of the phoenix.

They were at Castle Salvatore to prepare for war in a different manner, through the union of their families. There were rumors that the last of the Bennett line still lived. Though the spirits did not speak to her mother any longer, because of her betrayal of the Bennetts they had managed to torture a few of the witches still in their lands out of the barest amount of information. They knew only two things. The last of the line still lived and if the Bennett's reclaimed the throne their reign would never end again.

They did not know how or when but it was inevitable that the last of the line would come for them and reclaim her birthright. That was the reason that they were forming unions where they could and as Rebekah was the only daughter it was her who was put up for sale to the Salvatore, a family full of men.

She started slightly as a hand claimed her free one. Turning she faced her brother who sat beside her. They each wore black, lined with silver. They were mourning, Kol had said when they had dressed for the journey, the loss of their father's sanity and Rebekah's freedom.

"Remember we have come because we are in talks with the Salvatore," Kol leaned down to whisper into her ear, "Only talks. He will likely draw them out at the very least until we are sure that the last of the Bennett line really lives, and by which means she will strike. The threat to the throne has him on edge but he also likes things within his control. He would not be so quick to sell you to the highest bidder as it would mean that you would be out of his sight."

Rebekah nodded stiffly, though his words were of little comfort. She gripped his hand tightly and squeezed. "It is a pity that there are no females among the Salvatore," she commented, in an attempt at humor though she found no amusement in her present predicament, "Then Elijah could exercise his constant nobility and offer himself as a way to unite the houses."

Kol smirked but said nothing. They were riding separate from the others. Their parents and brothers in a carriage ahead. They would not be able to speak with such candor once they arrived, nor would they be able to show so much affection.

As far as Rebekah was concerned the lost Bennett princess could have her throne. Ruling had done nothing but shatter her family. Her father had gone mad with power. Elijah and Finn had turned into mindless dutiful drones who followed behind him, though Elijah at least attempted to do right by the people even though his words were always ignored. Her mother's betrayal of her own kind had not ended with dethroning the Bennetts, she now not only policed magic at her father's behest, but she assisted in enslaving the more powerful of the witches as well. Then there was Niklaus who had been betrayed and banished and if she did not know that it was impossible she would think him dead as no one had heard from him since that faithful night his wolf gene had taken hold and he had ran.

Kol was all that she had left. He was the only one besides her who mourned the family they had been and who fought against what they had become. The only one who knew her at all. The only one willing to cross their father if necessary and that was a great feat.

The carriage came to a stop and Rebekah stiffened. She would not admit defeat however, even if her fate was an unwanted one. It mattered not which Salvatore she was offered to as she had no interest in either. Still, tears were for the weak.

Kol lifted their intertwined hands and brought hers up to his lips, kissing the back of it. "Do not worry yourself little sister," he whispered lowly, aware of those with heightened hearing around them that would be able to listen in if they so wanted, "As original vampires we cannot be killed, but the Salvatore are not originals. No matter what unfavorable situation you find yourself in, it will be a temporary one."

She turned toward him, leaning in to kiss his cheek. "I can depend on no one else but you," she whispered into his ear.

She pulled away quickly as the coachman opened the door. She imagined the various means of torture that Kol would inflect on whomever was to be her future husband once the threat to their throne was nullified as the man helped her out. The thoughts ensured that when she came out to greet the Salvatore men, she was able to do so with a smile.

:::

The Werewolf Land and Isles, Lupos Palace

Bonnie wed the Alpha Niklaus in barbaric splendor beneath the stars on the grounds surrounding Lupos Palace. As the lupos lived as wolves, all things of importance were to be done beneath the open skies where the wolf roamed.

They said their vows and were blessed by the wolf gods and having already been blessed by the spirits, it was done. Bonnie was surprised that something so life changing could be over and done with in a matter of minutes.

When it was done the feasting began. There was a manner of delicacies that Bonnie had never seen before. Rare cakes and pastries. A variety of spices of which Bonnie had never heard. Lamb and honeyed duck and fruits and vegetables with a wide range of sauces. Had Bonnie not lost her appetite she might have been able to enjoy them.

She sat above the rest, next to Niklaus. She had accepted her fate as his wife and was indifferent toward him and his delta, Mason Lockwood who sat on the other side of her. While she was still intimidated, it was not the lupos that were causing her discomfort. While wild, they were not as inhuman as most thought. Even now they sparred and fought one another like a pack of wild dogs, but it was clear that they were doing so in jest, the pack mentality kept them from causing each other any real harm. They mated for life as her mother had told her and so though some of the drunk among them had taken to coupling in public amidst the others, it wasn't as disturbing a thing as Abby had made it out to be. Even still Bonnie had to look away.

Majority of Bonnie's discomfort was coming from Abby herself. While Niklaus sat silent and stoic as ever at Bonnie's side, the others sat below them. They were offered their food first and the portions they refused were taken down to the others. Her mother glared up at her, eyes narrowed and it was clear that she resented Bonnie's preferred treatment. She could not eat when she was well aware of the tongue lashing she would later receive.

"The food," Mason's deep voice said from the other side of her, "Does it displease you, beta?"

Klaus looked down at her as well at his words and Bonnie frowned. She shook her head as she glanced in between them and then looked rather pointedly at her mother, hoping that she could answer the question without using words.

A hand came down on her shoulder and Bonnie flinched. She turned slowly to face the alpha. Tears sprang into her eyes as she was sure that her husband would chastise her for refusing the food over something so small. She held her breath as he leaned down, a few strands of his blonde hair that had slipped from his long braid falling into his face as he did so, obscuring her view of him slightly.

"No tears," he whispered, his tone surprisingly gentle even as it held authority, "Do not let her intimidate you. She is not queen in this land or the one that was stolen from your family. You are a queen in your own right now. While your birthright is not yet restored to you this land is my land under my rule and therefore it is yours as well. Your place is above her now. Just as the Usurper cannot touch these lands, she cannot touch your crown. Do not fight her jealousy with tears, you have an army now to fight your battles for you. Eat now, love, show your strength."

It was the most words she had ever heard him say at one time. She remembered Jonas's words as well. He had said that the alpha would be a good husband to her and Bonnie was beginning to believe him.

Bonnie looked at him in awe as he brushed away a few of the tears that had escaped before he turned back to his own plate. Squaring her shoulders, Bonnie looked down at her mother once more and slowly she began to eat.

Bonnie felt the alpha kiss the top of her head and some of the nerves that had been plaguing her dissipated.

But her stomach was in knots soon after the feast ended and the giving of the bridal gifts commenced, for she knew what was to come. She received weapons from the clan, ones that Jonas stated were more for her husband than herself so she said the proper refusals, though Klaus accepted all on her behalf save for one sword, stating to her so that no one else could hear that tears and magic should not be her only weapons.

From Jonas she received a horse, her mane and coat a beautiful red color that reminded Bonnie of flames. From her mother, she received a ring that held her family emblem that had once belonged to her. She gave it with reluctance while warning Bonnie that when the time came that she had better please her husband.

The most precious of the gifts came from Niklaus himself. It was a grimoire that had belonged to Bonnie's grandmother. The rest of their family stores had been burned when Mikael had taken the throne but Niklaus had managed to reach into the flames and save the one. The flames had not burned him, it was the first time the spirits had protected him. The story was narrated by Mason as her husband had grown silent again. Still she thanked the alpha, his comment regarding her tears the only thing keeping her from crying as she clutched the book to her chest.

When it came time to leave the gathering, Bonnie gave the grimoire to Jonas to hold, not trusting her mother with it.

Bonnie felt sick and apprehensive as Klaus helped her onto her horse and then got onto his own black stallion. As they road away amongst the cheers Bonnie pretended that she was riding away toward freedom and not to consummate a marriage that she had never wanted.

Even their first night together would be beneath the open skies. They road up toward the cliffs above the palace and Bonnie was grateful that if nothing else the moment would be a private one.

When they came to a stop Bonnie trembled as she was lifted off her horse. She watched as Klaus tied the beasts to a nearby tree and then proceeded to unpack the sack tied to the back of his horse. Blankets made of wolves' fur were laid across the ground and Bonnie suddenly wished that she had bypassed eating altogether.

She looked away as Klaus began to undress. It was not that he repulsed her. She actually found him to be beautiful in a strange way. But she had never been touched or kissed by any man and from what she had seen at the feast, though wolves were not as rough in their mating as her mother had suggested there was an animal quality to it just the same and there was too much candor for her to find anything but apprehension and fear in the possibility of it.

"Come," he said, his voice so soft that she barely recognized it.

She walked toward him, glancing at him only long enough to know where it was so that she could sit before him. He made a gesture toward his hair and Bonnie frowned a moment before she realized what he was asking. She wished that he would speak like before, as she knew that he was capable of it.

She moved to sit behind him, the blanket surprisingly soft beneath her as she began to undo his braid. "The omegas said that you always wanted to marry a witch," she said, more to distract herself from his nudity and what was happening than anything else, "Why is that?"

"Not a witch," he said, "You. It could not be just anyone. It has always been you. You are the one the spirits showed me when I arrived here. Everything that I have done since then has been to prepare myself to have you at my side. From joining the wolves, to ruling them. The spirits promising me you was the reason."

Bonnie swallowed, not knowing how to respond to the declaration. She finished taking down his hair silently. When she was done she scooted away from him and waited.

She looked away once more as he turned and began to undress her. She was afraid of many things in that moment. Afraid of what was happening. Afraid that he would not be pleased with her. Afraid that she would not live up to whatever vision of herself that the spirits had placed in his head.

"You seem different," she said, once again to distract herself, "With me." And he did, even as he removed her silks his touch was gentle. The hard expression was replaced with one of awe with each layer of clothing that he removed. But still that creature under the surface was there in his gaze.

"A wolf has two faces," he whispered, as he pulled the fabric away from her breasts, "The face he wears for his pack, his warriors, and the face he wears for his mate, his beloved. You are the only one that will ever see both."

As he spoke Bonnie had covered her breasts with her hands. By the end of his speech he was gently tugging them away. She allowed it, his words having eased something within her mind. He reached out and touched her hair lightly, undoing it and watching the pearls that had been deftly braided into it fall to the blanket's surface as it came tumbling down. "Beautiful," he murmured.

"How many faces does a beta have?" Bonnie asked softly, as she was eased onto her back.

He hovered over her, drinking her body in with his eyes. For a while she thought that he would not answer. Then he began to touch her, the words spilling out as his hands moved lightly over her body. "She has a face for her people," his said, his tone warm and tender, "And a face for me. I adored them both the moment I laid eyes on them."

She had thought that she had been tied to a monster but it was so clear to her now that he was not that. As his touch became harder she could sense a fierce strength in his hands but she was no longer afraid that he would hurt her. He held her hand his own, brushing her fingers one by one. Traced her lips with his finger tip. Ran his hands through her hair. Traced around her navel, ran a hand down her leg.

Time seemed to pass slowly before finally his hands went to her breasts. He stroked the soft skin them, ran his thumbs over her nipples, pinching them until they stiffened. It wasn't until her back arched and she reached up to him that kissed her. Kissed her with years of pent up want that made her believe that he had in fact been waiting for her.

As he pulled away, he drew her into his lap. Bonnie stared at him, flushed and breathless. He cupped her face in his large hands and his eyes met hers, searching. "No?" he said, and she knew it was a question.

She smiled for the first time in so long not feeling the urge to run. Taking his hand in hers she moved it down to the wetness between her thighs. "Yes," she whispered, as she put his finger inside of her.

:::

Crow's Arc, The Castle of House Salvatore

Damon Salvatore surveyed the king's daughter as she passed before him, for Mikael was only known as the Usurper to those that were disloyal to him and that clung to the old ways. He knew that she would be given to him, for Joseph and Zachariah were mortal, his father detested vampires, and though loyal to the throne, Stefan had too much of a conscious to kill without guilt. Damon was the one true warrior among them, which meant that he was the one true asset among the men of the Salvatore house.

Stefan had not even bothered to show his face for the Mikaelsons arrival. He had been acting rather strange as of late and now that Damon thought about it, he had not seen him since yesterday morning. He had been rambling for weeks about dreaming of fire. Talking of powers he was meant to have, powers that being turned stripped him of, powers that fire would restore to him and that he would use to repent for his betrayal of his own kind. Damon chalked it up to blood deprivation as he was taking to drinking from animals rather than humans.

The only one who listened to his ramblings was the witch they had enslaved, Emily, one of the few that had survived the battle that had taken down House Bennett.

Only five Bennett women had survived and three were enslaved in the most loyal of the houses. Emily was theirs. Ayanna was Mikael's and Lucy belonged to the Petrova. The other two, the last of the line and her mother, had vanished and although many believed them alive, Damon knew they would not survive long in wolf territory no matter their connection to nature. Still the surviving Bennetts waited patiently for the last of their line to come and start some kind of revolution and free them. Idiots the whole lot, even if the girl was alive, Damon doubted that she knew of their existence.

He shook Mikael's hand as the man approached him, wincing slightly as the man inquired about his brother. "He is out on a hunt, my lord," he told him, "You know how he gets when he is off of human blood too long."

"And yet he still tries to abstain," Mikael laughed, "If the guilt is so great then he should drink from vampires as I do."

Damon glanced from the queen, to Elijah and then to Finn. There were stirrings that the king was going mad and Damon supposed that the change in diet was one of the signs. It did not matter to Damon however, once he managed to use his marriage to the daughter to infiltrate the house, he would become king soon enough. "I will suggest as much to him when he returns," Damon smiled.

"Your birds are impressive," Esther commented as she looked up at the large flock of crows that circled them from up above.

"They are more obedient than men and more intimidating as well," Damon said, "If I could use them as a substitute for an army then I would."

Mikael's face closed off and he frowned. "Birds do not substitute for an army," he smirked, "House Bennett can attest to that. Even birds made of fire that supposedly cannot die could not save them, what makes your little flock of crows any different, Salvatore?"

Damon opened his mouth to answer when suddenly there was a strange caw coming from up above, followed by the smell of smoke and burnt flesh. Damon noted the way that the youngest son immediately reached out to shield his sister before he looked up at the sky just as the first crow fell to the ground.

Damon took a step back as he watched crow after crow hit the earth. He searched the skies as he realized that his birds were burnt and smoking. "It can't be," he breathed as he watched a phoenix soaring among them killing them one by one.

He barely noticed as Zach took up his arrows and attempted to shoot the bird down. "They were dead," Finn said, "We killed them all the night of the battle."

"Even after death a phoenix can be reborn, brother," Elijah said, his told surprisingly flat given the situation.

Damon was not sure what to make of the situation. A phoenix had not been seen in so very long. It meant only one thing, House Bennett still thrived. "Joseph," he barked, "Bring Emily to me now."

The man scuttled inside as the birds steady fell and the others took shelter in the doorway of the castle, leaving only he and Mikael amongst the chaos.

When Joseph returned Emily was not with him. "She is gone," he said quickly before Damon could chastise him, "Fled in the night." He held up a piece of parchment. "I found this note in your brother's room. He has gone with her."

Damon cursed under his breath as Mikael glared at him, he knew the look well. "She must have lured him away or kidnapped him," Damon offered as an explanation, "What about the Bennett you have enslaved Mikael. She could explain."

"She fled before we arrived here," Mikael frowned, "Not even a trace left behind."

Suddenly the attack on the crows ceased and the phoenix vanished in a cloud of ashes. Damon frowned as he noted that many of his birds were still alive in the skies. "Why not kill them all?" he asked, though he was relieved that the demon bird had not, "Why not come after us?"

Esther left the shelter of the doorway and came to stand behind them. "Because," she said, hand trembling as she pointed to the dead bodies of the crows, "The phoenix has already delivered its message."

Damon and Mikael looked toward the direction of the fallen birds and both were taken aback by what they saw. The bodies of the crows had fallen in the shape of House Bennett's emblem.

The last of the line lived. Now that Ayanna had fled there was no way to communicate with the spirits as they no longer talked to Esther. They could interrogate hundreds of witch slaves and still they would only know so much. The reign of the phoenix was rising once more and there was not much they could do now aside from prepare and wait. "This is only the beginning," Esther swallowed.

:::

The Werewolf Land and Isles, Lupos Palace

There was smoke and there was shadow and when it cleared her grandmother stood before her. She looked much as Bonnie remembered. Beautiful. Poised. Calm. Her expression was loving but stern as she directed Bonnie's gaze to her forearm.

Bonnie looked down and her eyes widened at the phoenix feather that now stood out on her skin, red and emblazoned above her wrist.

"Those with this mark are loyal," her grandmother said, "Those that do not bare cannot be trusted."

She began to fade and Bonnie reached out to her. "There are others of our blood," Sheila said. "Others that still thrive. Find them. They will help you."

Then she vanished and Bonnie was left to stand alone.

When Bonnie awoke from the dream it took her a moment to realize where she was. When they had come down from the cliffs the night before, everything was quiet as if the festivities had never occurred. She and her husband had bathed and had then joined each other in bed. She had not seen her mother.

As her eyes blinked open she looked at her wrist to find that the feather was indeed there. Reaching over to shake Klaus awake, she told him of the dream. He believed her without question and before Bonnie could process what he was doing, he was out of bed and dressing.

"Where are you going?" Bonnie asked as she climbed out of bed, her nightgown trailing behind her on the floor.

"First I will check those closest to me for the mark and then we will check the rest," Klaus said, the mark was now on his own forearm integrated within the markings he had earned in combat, "Whoever does not possess it will die."

His tone was cold and matter of fact. His expression was incensed and she was reminded that the gentleness he had shown her was only one side of him. "Is that necessary?" She asked.

"I know you are naïve, love," he sighed, "But this is a time of war. Those that are not loyal to you could do you harm even if they are not loyal to the Usurper. You cannot afford to lose your crown and I cannot afford to lose you."

Bonnie was silent as she was not sure what he meant by the sentiment. If it was her power and influence that he was referring to or if it was simply her. Something told her that it was both.

He stepped toward her and took her face in his hands. "If you cannot trust me then trust your grandmother," he whispered, "Trust the spirits. They will not lead us astray."

Bonnie nodded, placing her hand over one of his. "In a way I trust you all," she answered.

His lips turned slightly upward in what could pass for a smile, he then kissed her on the forehead and a moment later he was gone.

Bonnie sat on the edge of the bed and wondered if this was what she wanted. The death, the violence, and the fight for the throne. They would be leaving the next day to travel the isles and build their army so they could prepare to cross the Bloody Sea and slowly but surely take back her land. But did she want to rule? She had barely been a princess and now she was a queen. What did that mean? She was not sure. She would soon have to figure it out, however.

Bonnie started at the sound of a familiar caw and yet though it was known to her it had been some time since she had heard it. She turned toward the sound and was shocked to find a phoenix sitting atop a small trunk on the window seat across the room its red feathers gleaming brightly as the sun coming in through the window reflected from them.

Slowly, cautiously she walked toward the bird as not to startle it. When she stood in front of it she reached out a hand and gently ran her finger tips down the feathers on its back. It made a sort of purring sound at her touch. "You are real," she said, her voice full of awe.

But then the bird was gone, disappearing in a cloud of smoke and leaving only the small trunk and the piece of parchment atop it behind.

Bonnie picked up the parchment and unfolded it. It was a letter. A long letter. The words detailed witches being enslaved for their power, the suffering of mortals at the hands of the Usurper and his followers. The temples outside of Spirit's Haven that had been torn down. Bennett women that still lived but ran like fugitives fearing detainment and death.

With every word Bonnie's resolve seemed to strengthen. She could not let this stand. The choice was no longer hers. She could not let her people suffer because of her uncertainty, if this was truly her destiny then she would have to face it head on.

"In closing," the letter said, "I offer you this wedding gift and hope you receive it well. Know that those who are loyal to you will be awaiting your return, my queen. Ever yours, Emily, of House Bennett, Daughter of the Phoenix." Beneath the words there was a drawn image that looked exactly like the mark on Bonnie's forearm.

Setting the letter aside Bonnie reached for the small trunk and lifted the lid. Three gleaming eggs the color of bronze, speckled with red and yellow sat upon silk inside. Bonnie knew immediately what they were, phoenix eggs.

Bonnie was so absorbed in the gift that she barely noticed when Klaus returned to the room. "We have a problem," he said, drawing her attention.

"What is it?" Bonnie asked, turning toward him and shutting the lid to the trunk, "Can it be solved quickly? There is something I wish to show you."

"Everyone bears the mark," the alpha said carefully.

Bonnie's eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "Then where is the problem?" She asked.

"Everyone save for one person," he sighed, "The one that does not bear the mark is your mother."