Bonnie

Where is Elena? The girls are ready to return back to the harem. I shouldn't have left her alone. Where in the world can she possibly be? Caroline came up to me, she looked down at her market basket. Its full of items: ribbons and laces, a small pouch of chocolates, and a few pair of shoes. She looked up at me.

"Bonnie, where's Elena? I thought you two were looking for some broaches."

"We were. But I left to get some laces."

She nodded. "Right. And Elena?"

I'm not much of a liar, but times like these I sound pretty convincing before breaking down to all my worrying. "She went home, Caroline. She told me she is not in any mood to court the guests tonight, so she took off."

"She went home? Dear gracious, that's a half day walk. Poor girl, I better tell the girls to be a little easy on her when we see her again tomorrow. So what did you buy Bonnie? As you can see the girls and I overspent, but times like this doesn't happen too often, so we tried to buy things that we been craving for."

"Oh, I just bought a few – "

Suddenly, I saw Caroline distracted, looking at a distance. I turned around and followed her gaze. It's Saltzman and he's coming this way toward us. The two of us curtsied as he gave the two of us a quick bow.

Caroline cleared her throat. "What brings you here, sir? Not another feast, I hope."

"No, madam. I am here to inform Lady Elena Gilbert the king personally wishes to invite her to court. Will you ladies be so kind to tell me where she is?"

Caroline smiled eagerly, but she quickly shook her head and returned her posture to a serious manner. "She's not here, I'm afraid. She is on her way home."

"Home? Do you know where she lives?"

I now quickly responded. "Nobody knows where she lives, sire. If you wish to see her again, you must come back to the harem tomorrow. She will be there by then. For now, you should return back to the king."

"What a shame. Well, good day ladies."

We both curtsied. Saltzman turned away and disappeared behind the crowd. Caroline loosened herself back to the eager mode. She took my hands and spun me around.

"Can you believe it, Bonnie?! Elena is going to be in court! Oh that lucky girl!"

I forced a smile and tried to stop her. "Ah, y-yes. Caroline, it is wonderful."

The other girls finally arrived. Caroline immediately rushed to them and gathered them around her. The girls nearly grew more excited than her, some were of course, jealous.

Where in the world could Elena be? She would never leave the market, we both agreed to stay here and wait for Saltzman's arrival...Let's see, the last time I saw her was at the jewelry stand with that snagged tooth gypsy. Oh no! Oh what fool I am! She's kidnapped! When I get my hands on that old gypsy she will be sorry. While the girls still continuously babbled on about Elena's soon departure, I snuck away to a more quiet and less public area. I stopped behind an empty neighborhood, behind tall large houses.

I closed my eyes and focused carefully. Once my body loosened its muscles and my vision changed to pure darkness, my mind instantly activated to scenes of strange places. It first started off to the market, showing Elena following behind the old gypsy. Then it changed to a field, and the two women enter a criminal community, Mystic Falls. The flashes started quick, but enough for me to understand what had happened.

First Flash

The room is dark and Elena is sitting on a stool, in front of her the old gypsy. I can see the impatience in her eyes as the old woman holds her hands with her eyes remained closed.

"Your past is very tricky. I do not see anything. Its doors are locked and too hard to open...But there is hope to your future."

"Hope? What do you see, old woman?"

"Wait...You will be a mistress to a man...A man very rich. Very rich..."

Second Flash

Elena is running. There is confusion and disbelief written all over her face. What is the matter with her? Is she mad? She runs straight across sets of archery stands.

One of the gypsy boys shout out a warning to her. "Watch out!"

A dagger shoots straight at her and lands in her chest. She falls to the ground but not a sign of blood is found.

Last Flash

Elena is bounded from ankle to neck with large heavy shackles. A man is there beside her. The two are arguing. Elena looks a bit shocked while the man is urging her with something.

"What reward do I get out of all this?"

"Freedom. Any life that you planned to do when you were a child. Anything. Just think about it, Elena."

"No. I already told you I am not agreeing to this."

The man pulled himself up. "Damn shame. I was hoping for the two of us to be friends. I guess not. I'll see you again tomorrow at dawn. Prepare yourself for the worst, or if you ever change your mind just scream, I'll know it's you."

Elena is trapped. Now crazy dangerous gypsies think she's Satan's creature. Along with one of them convincing her to a deal, and I think the bargain is to save her from an execution. It will be absurd for those gypsies to avoid to kill Elena after what some of them witnessed. I almost fell on my face as I forced my eyes to open. Before I tried to recover myself unfamiliar hands took my arms and my lower back and helped me to stand a little straighter.

I turned my head who it was. It's a man, a young man. He has dark brown hair with muddy eyes, and he's a bit taller than I am. "Thank you."

"Are you alright, miss?"

"I'm fine. I just have a little headache."

"Are you sure you're alright?"

I nodded. "I'm sure. And you are?"

He slowly released me and opened one of his hands at me, claiming for mine. "I'm Jeremy."

I took his hand and gave it a light shake. "Bonnie...Well, thank you again. I must go back now, my friends are waiting for me."

"Perhaps I can escort you."

I smiled. "That is very thoughtful of you, sir. But I'm capable of going on my own."

He lowered his back slightly and gave my hand a kiss. "By all means, Bonnie, call me Jeremy."

"How do you know we'll meet again?"

"I have a good hunch we will. You'll see."

I let go of his hand. "Good day, Jeremy."

"Good day, Bonnie."

I turned around to head back to the market. But before I was going to take another step, a neckerchief laid on the ground. Thinking it belonged to him I picked it up and ran back to him. He looked at me by surprise.

I showed him the neckerchief. "Is this yours?"

"Why yes. Thank you."

"Please allow me." I brushed the dust off the neckerchief and wrapped my arms around his neck to tie it more securely. I can't help but smile even bigger by the slight warmth of his neck as my arms touch it. But suddenly, something caught my eye, a red scar is marked on the side of his neck. The mark is written as M. F. Oh no. Mystic Falls. This man must be involved with those crazy gypsies, maybe he might help me lead me back to Elena. Oh but what a waste. He is quite a handsome man, damn shame that I don't have a chance with him. I double knotted the neckerchief and made sure it is a bit loosen.

Jeremy suddenly leaned closer to my neck, and his nostrils sniffed the scent of my skin. "You smell so good. What perfume do you use?"

"Um...I forgot. I used some from one of the girls back at home, I don't remember the name of the bottle."

"It smells so good."

"Oh really. Well, thanks... Jeremy, will you do me a favor?"

His hands crawled to my waist. My eyes nearly popped right of its sockets by that sudden gesture. This boy is certainly a charmer. It took a while for my tongue to find the right words to speak. "Um...Well, uh...D-does M F stand for Mystic Falls?"

He pulled me back a little so he could see my face, his hands still remained on my waist. I dropped my arms and turned my head to cover any signs of awkward discomfort. "You heard about that? Huh?"

"Yeah. I did."

"Would you hate me if I said it is?"

"It all depends. But does it?"

"Obviously yes. So what is the favor?"

"Jeremy, can you take me there?"

He frowned. "Why in the world would you want to go there? I'm sure you already know that village is just full of gypsies and any criminal that you could name of. I never met any girl who wanted to go there."

I smirked. "So I'm not the first girl you ever met?"

His expression changed to complete worry. I snorted as Jeremy tangled himself with words to explain. "No. No of course not. I mean yes, I met many girls. But they are mostly like my sisters, friends...Well, except some in parties...But I never met anyone pretty like you. I met some other girls who could be pretty like you. But that - that isn't what I'm trying say, I mean..."

I placed a finger on his lips. "I understand. I was just teasing you...So can you take me there?"

"Can you tell me why you want to go there?"

"I have a friend there who's lost there. I need to help her before she remains there till dawn."

"A friend. Right. You know Bonnie, you are a beautiful girl for a witch. I always thought witches were old with a snag tooth and live in the darkness. What a shame the great talent you have with magic does not compare with your weak lies."

My smile disappeared. How did he know that? Who is this man? How in the hell does he know? Are there people after me?

"I don't know what you're talking about."

He released my waist and his hands grabbed my neck tightly. "Oh, then perhaps you can explain your witchcraft with your friend."

His hands twisted my neck to the side till it twisted a nerve. Darkness quickly painted my vision, not a sign of a last minute blur.