Chapter ten

A new Joker (part two)

Raymond was bored. After spending years, ages in the big cities being stuck in some lame small town which was famous for its slow life and slow people... Well, that sucked. He really couldn't understand Klaus's obsession with Stefan's friends. Personally, Raymond felt like he was wasting his time here.

Elsa, on the contrary, was having fun. She liked the game and she liked to play with Jeremy. Damn those always so twisted hoodoo-voodoo bastards. And he thought Greta was difficult.

Right now they were in the old theatre building. So lame. Elsa said the place was perfect for doing magic. So, instead of staying at the hotel they were spending their time surrounded by dusty chairs. Klaus was entertaining himself by draining humans. Raymond was bored.

As for Elsa...

"Will you stop staring at me?"

He sighed, unfolding his arms.

"I'm tired of gazing at decorations. Look, maybe I can go back to the hotel?"

Elsa tucked her silver locks behind her ear. She was sitting in the chair and reading a big black book. Probably, some magical crap. Pale as death Jeremy was sleeping in a chair near her.

"Ask Klaus."

"He's busy. He's feeding. Again."

She smirked.

"What's wrong? You sound... displeased."

He looked around.

"Hate this place. When will you kill the witch?"

Elsa's mouth curved into a slight smile.

"Hey. Think about Jeremy's feelings."

Raymond laughed, shaking his head.

"You are a bitch..."

"Elsa," Jeremy mumbled faintly.

Elsa shut the book and smiled at him.

"You awake?"

Jeremy rubbed his forehead, straightening in his chair.

"Did I dose off?" he asked hoarsely.

"Yeah, but it's okay. Can I get you anything?"

He shook his head, a pensive look on his face.

"Baby?"

"I feel her."

"Excuse me?"

"Bonnie... She's getting closer."

Elsa put the book away and rose to her feet.

"She's here?" she asked slowly.

"Yes. I mean, no. But she knows I'm here."

"Oops," Raymond said, unimpressed.

"So she's found us," Elsa's eyes flickered.

"Elsa, what will Klaus do?" Jeremy said in a whisper. "Will he hurt her?"

"No!" she exclaimed, kneeling before him and taking his face in her hands. "No, I won't let it happen. But we have to explain her everything. She will know the truth. She'll understand."

"But she was scared... She didn't want it... She thought it was unnatural..."

"Jeremy, it's okay to be scared. But she will understand."

He lowered his gaze, doubt written all over his face.

"Hey..." Elsa whispered gently. "It's Bonnie. You remember she was going to die? Because Damon and Stefan wanted her to. How is it right? How is it natural?"

"I... I..."

"She saved you. And now you can save people you love."

"But Bonnie..."

"Including Bonnie."

He looked at her sadly.

"I still care about her. Doesn't it bother you?"

She chuckled and tilted her head to the side.

"Jeremy, I love you. That's the reason why I will never let her be hurt."

"But what about Klaus?"

Elsa looked away.

"I... I hope, I'll have enough power..."

"You can have mine," Jeremy said quickly and grabbed her hand. "You can do that channeling thing again."

"But —"

"No, I want you to be safe. We can protect everyone."

She sighed deeply.

"Okay. But stop me when you feel weak."

Raymond watched them holding hands and going all hocus-pocus once again. Jeremy was shaking violently, it appeared that channeling shit was getting too much for him. When Elsa was done he collapsed into the chair unconscious.

"You know I'm a vampire. I drink blood. But even I think that was disgusting."

Elsa shrugged.

"I love the feeling. And I love Jeremy, he's so giving. A very rare quality in men."

Raymond huffed.

"Poor boy. Will you stop messing with his mind? Not to mention, his memories..."

She pouted her lips.

"Maybe... Do you think she's alone? The witch."

"I bet Stefan's coming as well," Raymond smirked. "Maybe, I should go and greet him."

"And his brother."

"Always wanted to meet him. What's so special about that Damon guy?"

"Oh, nothing, trust me," Elsa checked her perfectly polished nails. "When I was looking into Stefan's memories I saw his brother there. He's pathetic. Well, Stefan is pathetic too."

"You don't really like men, right? Daddy issues?"

She gave him a crooked smile.

"That too. I'll take the witch. Will you tell Klaus?"

"I've told you, he's busy. I don't want to bother him."

"Okay. Here we go then?"

Bonnie wanted to cover her ears and run away. But it would be really weird and she was fed up with the weirdness. So she was sitting in the Salvatore living room and timidly watching the usual scene — Elena didn't want to be protected.

"I'm going with you. And I'm not about to have a long discussion!"

"There will be no discussion at all," Damon said. "Stefan, lock her up."

"Elena, please, I want you to be safe," Stefan spoke.

"I can help you," Elena said to her boyfriend. Damon scoffed.

"You'll be useless. And no one will have time to protect you."

"Damon!"

"What? You thought it, I voiced it."

Elena looked at him in indignation and Bonnie tiredly covered her eyes with her hand. She didn't feel very good and all this arguing was getting on her nerves.

"There will be my brother, my best friend and my boyfriend!" Elena said. "I will go!"

"Why don't you wait in the car?" Yuichi offered weakly. He didn't look comfortable. Maybe, he wasn't used to seeing people shouting at each other all the time.

Elena's eyes flashed dangerously.

"I'm not a child!"

"Stefan, once again. Lock her up."

"Stop doing this," Elena snapped, stepping towards Damon. "You don't understand what I feel."

His face darkened.

"And I don't want to."

"Oh, Damon's feelings. Dangerous ground," Bonnie mumbled and everyone looked at her. She scowled. "Sorry, I was just thinking out loud."

Damon made an impatient gesture but Bonnie didn't look at him. Like he would remember her presence when Elena was in the same room with them. Now, where those thoughts came from? Bonnie pressed her lips together. She was getting weaker. She could feel it, it was almost like her power was slipping away.

"Bonnie," Elena said, frowning. "What was that about?"

Bonnie shrugged.

"Sorry. I feel tired."

"Guess why," Lucy whispered.

"Elena, that's rather stupid of you to be so stubborn," Damon said.

Yuichi smiled at Bonnie, "You have beautiful hands."

She smiled back. Oh, sweet youth...

"Stop hitting on her!" Lucy muttered.

"Finally jealous?"

"You think now is the time?" Damon snapped.

"Well, sorry to interrupt your important talk," Yuichi raised his eyebrows. "Look, if you are so worried about Elena, maybe you both should stay here? I mean, it'll be good if we start going before Bonnie is dead. And Jeremy is, you know, human. How long do you think he will last? And I'm losing my courageous mood."

Damon's eyes lit with anger.

"If you think you're funny —"

"I don't think so," Yuichi said, standing up. The atmosphere in the room suddenly changed and everyone else went silent. "I think we're wasting time. And if you care about someone besides Elena you will..." he sighed and turned to Elena. "Look, I'm not saying it's wrong to care about you. But it's not you who is in danger right now, so..."

Elena was clearly offended.

"I just want to make sure my brother and my friends are okay. If you were in my place would you stay at home?"

"Let's go," Bonnie got to her feet.

"Bonnie..." Stefan started.

"No. I can't stay here anymore."

She wanted to save Jeremy. And she was past the Salvatore drama.

"I'm going with you," Elena said.

Bonnie suddenly froze and gasped.

"Bitch!"

"Bonnie!" Elena cried in shock.

"Well, that's new," Damon was amused.

Everyone stared at the witch in disbelief, but Bonnie paid no attention to them. She was beyond furious. Her vision was fogged but she could feel with every fiber of her being what Jeremy was doing with her power. Bonnie snapped out of her trance and spat furiously, "She's channeling him! Taking his powers!"

"She — Elsa?" Yuichi frowned. "Jeremy?"

"Yes!"

"Fuck, it's gonna kill him," Yuichi rushed towards the door and Bonnie ran after him.

"What's going on?" Elena demanded. "What happened, why Bonnie..."

Lucy cleared her throat as she was putting her jacket on.

"That witch... Elsa. I guess, she's taking Bonnie's powers. She's using Jeremy and that's kinda bad... Sorry, I have to go."

She followed her cousin and Stefan turned to look at his brother and girlfriend.

"I'm going too. Elena, if you want to go, promise me, you'll be careful."

Though he looked concerned he didn't wait for her answer. It seemed his hatred for Elsa has clouded everything else. Damon was wondering what exactly that witch had done to his brother. Stefan walked out, leaving Elena and Damon alone. Damon looked at the spot where Bonnie was sitting a few minutes ago. He had a weird feeling that he had just made the wrong move.

Elena sighed, calming down. She clenched her fingers together and stepped towards him.

"Look, Damon, I know you care about me..."

"Yeah," he cut her off, his gaze roving around. "But I can't argue with this fucker. It's not about you this time."

Bonnie was never more disgusted in her life. She could feel her power go to Elsa, it was violating, it was unnatural. It was worse than anything she had experienced before. Including the vampire bite. Being connected to Elsa made her sick. And the mere thought that that bitch was using Jeremy...

Lucy was driving like crazy but Bonnie barely noticed it. She wanted to meet Klaus and Elsa once again. She wanted to kill them no matter what.

"Listen," Yuichi spoke. "If Klaus is there I will deal with him. Split his soul. But then you have to help me, because after I finish the ritual, my magic will be gone for some time."

"Oh. I understand," Bonnie said dully.

"Be there in time," he pressed.

"I will."

"I'm serious. If I die, I'm so going to haunt you, Bonnie Bennett."

She gave him a small smile.

"Deal."

Yuichi checked the rearview mirror.

"Stefan is right behind us. Cool car, by the way."

"Okay," Bonnie said absently.

The warlock stared at her with worry in his eyes.

"It's bad, right?"

"It's getting worse," she answered honestly.

"Try to block him."

"He is in pain," she whispered. "I can't make it any harder for him."

"Like I've said," he huffed. "Too noble."

"Bonnie, do I need to turn?" Lucy asked.

"No, stop, we got to the place," Bonnie clutched her forehead. "Jeremy is right there."

Lucy stopped the car and looked out the window.

"There?" she said skeptically. "At the theater?"

"Yes, Jeremy is there. I don't know about Klaus."

"We'll see," Lucy said, opening the door.

Bonnie and Yuichi got out and saw Stefan park his car. It appeared Stefan was alone. Bonnie fought back the urge to huff sarcastically. Really, what was happening to her? Whatever Damon and Elena were doing was none of her business.

"Where's Damon?" Yuichi asked Stefan "And Elena?"

The vampire blinked.

"I... don't know. I didn't wait for them."

"Maybe, they've decided to stay," Lucy said.

"Let's find him," Yuichi said. "And kill him. Klaus, of course."

"But Jeremy's safety comes first," Stefan said.

"Yes."

"Stefan, I've never been here," Bonnie said quietly. "This theater has been closed since I remember. Funny. Have you..."

"Lead us," Lucy said sharply. "Come on, Bonnie, let's put an end to it."

"Thank you. Sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"It's okay."

Bonnie and Lucy went up the marble staircase and confused Stefan turned to Yuichi.

"Bonnie's acting strange. What's happening with her?"

"What do you think?" the warlock said gloomily. "When do people start to think about what they haven't done in their lives? She's dying, Stefan. They both are."

It was dark inside. Luckily, Lucy had a pocket torch, but it gave off very little light. Bonnie was following her cousin now with Yuichi and Stefan hot on her heels. Their footsteps echoed in the entrance hall. Everything around them was covered in dust. The whole situation was a bit horror movie.

"This place doesn't feel right," Lucy said, lifting her torch to check the ceiling.

"I second that," Bonnie sighed. "What's with these green walls? It feels environmental."

"Well, that's not what I meant but... So, where're we going now?"

Bonnie slowed her pace and looked around, puzzled.

"I don't know where to go."

"You don't feel him anymore?" Lucy asked, surprised.

"My feelings are confused... Someone's interfering."

"She knows," Yuichi singsonged. "Elsa, come out, come out, wherever you are..."

"Should we split up?" Stefan suggested.

Bonnie glared at him.

"Stefan, the Jinx."

He smiled at her.

"It's a real life, not a movie."

"Where there's smoke, there's fire."

"Let's just keep going," Lucy said quietly. Bonnie nodded and made a step forward when she heard Yuichi's voice, "What's wrong, Stefan?"

Both Lucy and Bonnie turned around to look at something that had caught the warlock's attention. In the bleak torch's light they saw a tall fair-haired man in the trench coat. He was standing right in front of them now. Bonnie frowned, ready at any moment to hit the stranger with a spell.

"Hello, Stefan. It's been a while. Ready to go home?"

"Raymond," Stefan whispered.

Yuichi looked confused.

"A friend of yours?"

"Go ahead," Stefan said, not taking his eyes off Raymond.

"You sure you don't want us to kill him?" Lucy smiled coolly.

"I want to talk to him," Stefan said calmly. Raymond shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm not going to stop you, children. I'd love to chat with Stefan."

"Fine then," Lucy said. "Let's go."

"Um..." Bonnie wasn't so sure but Stefan said, "Find Jeremy. Get him out of here."

Without further discussion, Bonnie, Lucy and Yuichi walked up the hall's staircase that led to second floor. The place seemed a bit of a maze, there were too many corridors.

Bonnie was trying to concentrate on Jeremy's image in her mind but it was no help. She was getting desperate.

"You know, this place is kinda huge."

"Not really," Lucy said and stopped dead.

Bonnie looked around and whispered, "Lucy... We've already been here."

"Oh yeah. She's playing with us. Why don't you show yourself already?"

As if she has been waiting for these words Elsa appeared before them out of nowhere. Her hair was shining in the dark.

"Hello there. I guess, it's time to turn the lights on," Elsa flicked her fingers with a smile and the old wall chandeliers lit up. "Welcome to the other side of the looking glass, ladies."

"Bonnie," Lucy called.

"What?"

"Where's Yuichi?"

Bonnie turned around but the warlock was nowhere to be seen.

"Goddammit."

"How do you feel about illusions?" Elsa asked gently.

"It can be difficult to fight," Lucy whispered to her cousin. "Be prepared."

Yuichi hated the dark places. So, when he found out he was all alone in the dark corridor he lit all the lamps up with his magic. The warlock was sure he was heading towards the auditorium. And he was sure that was the right path.

He finally reached the door at the end of the corridor, when suddenly everything in front of him went blurry. The walls, the ceiling and the floor — everything was merging together. Yuichi stopped.

'Illusion?'

He closed his eyes and whispered, "Kai."

When he opened his eyes again, his vision cleared.

"Try harder, bitch."

He opened the door and, as he predicted, got to the auditorium. He was standing right on the stage. And the stage was covered with dead bodies. Dozens of humans, completely drained of their blood. Yuichi felt sick.

"I'm sorry, we haven't been introduced."

The warlock raised his head and saw a vampire in front of him. Despite his young looks there was something really vicious about him.

"You are Klaus, right?"

Klaus narrowed his eyes.

"And who are you?"

"My name is Yuichi."

As he finished his sentence the raging fire encircled Klaus. The vampire chuckled.

"A warlock? So the Bennett witch sent you."

"No," Yuichi spoke calmly. "Katherine did."

TBC