A/N: Thank you, Zenkat22, bucksgirl731, and Kamiya-san for reviewing the last chapter. :)

For the rest of the journey, Bonnie and Stefan shared one compartment while Klaus stayed in the other. At first she was happy to have some space, until she started worrying about what Klaus was doing to pass the time. All the more so because she didn't hear a peep from him once he sealed the wall between their rooms.

When she wasn't fretting about Klaus, she thought about her dad. He wasn't due back from Washington for another week, but he usually called her at least once a day. And though it wasn't unusual for them to miss each other's calls, at some point he was going to discover that she was missing.

Stefan brought her food and kept her company. He'd scrounged up a deck of cards and they spent the evening playing endless games of gin rummy. They didn't talk much and when they did it was always about normal stuff like movies or the classes they were missing or, when they got particularly desperate, the weather.

Away from Klaus he seemed more like his old self, but she was still wary, especially after she woke in the middle of the night to find him gone. He was back by dawn, but he didn't mention his nocturnal activities. Bonnie desperately wanted to ask Stefan if he was feeding on people, but it wasn't as if she could casually slip it into the conversation.

Around 7am the train arrived in Jacksonville and they disembarked. Bonnie's mouth fell open when Klaus emerged from his compartment accompanied by a gorgeous Asian woman. They shared a steamy kiss before the woman left with a husky "Call me" and a cheery wave. Klaus caught Bonnie's look as they got off the train.

"What? I don't always have to kill."

"Good to know," she said, blinking. She shrugged off her jacket. It was early in the day, but the humidity was already making her sweat.

They were met on the platform by a skinny guy with a moustache straight out of the seventies who handed Klaus a set of car keys. Bonnie wondered just how many minions he commanded.

Klaus nodded towards the wooden crates being unloaded further along the train. "Everything's arranged?"

The skinny guy nodded. "Car's out front, boss, and the plane's ready any time you want it."

"Good." With a short dismissive nod, Klaus made his way to the exit. Like baby ducks, Bonnie and Stefan trailed him through the station and out into the parking lot, where another Mercedes awaited them. Klaus held the rear door open for her and, after a moment's hesitation, she climbed into the back seat.

They drove out of the station and joined the morning traffic. Bonnie studied the road signs as they manoevred through the suburban streets and eventually got on a highway heading west. She couldn't figure out what they were doing in Florida, and she knew it would be pointless to ask.

She'd slept fitfully on the train so it didn't take long for her to doze off. She woke to find drool on her chin and a glistening swathe of ocean blue zipping past the left side of the car. Sitting up, she saw that they were speeding along the coastline. Warm salty air filled her nostrils as she stared in wonder at the sea.

They passed through a bunch of small coastal towns and were several miles out from Pensacola when Klaus turned off the main road and drove up into the hills. He stopped the car at a house perched on a cliff. With some trepidation, Bonnie stood on the porch watching Klaus knock on the front door. But after ascertaining that the owner, a spritely old lady named Mrs Snow, lived alone, Klaus merely compelled her into taking a week's vacation at Disneyworld.

Twenty minutes later, a surprised but relieved Bonnie watched from the upstairs bedroom as Mrs Snow drove away in a tiny blue hatchback. She was hunting for a spare toothbrush in the bathroom when she heard Klaus calling her name. Sighing, she plodded back downstairs to the living room.

"Yes, sir?" she said with weary sarcasm.

"Good, you're here," Klaus said, ignoring her snippiness. He turned to Stefan. "You know what to do?"

Stefan nodded and reached across the couch for his jacket.

"Then we'll meet you at the club."

Stefan froze. "We?"

"Bonnie and I," Klaus said casually.

Slowly Stefan swivelled to face him. "It's not safe."

"Oh, Bonnie's perfectly capable of defending herself," Klaus said, giving her an appreciative glance.

Confused, Bonnie glanced from one to the other. She felt like she ought to say something, but she had no idea what they were talking about.

Stefan shook his head. "She shouldn't be a part of this."

"She already is a part of this. And she needs to start earning her keep."

They stared at each other. With anyone else, she would've interjected a snarky comment to remind them that she was standing right there, but the fierce looks between them kept her silent.

In the end it was Stefan who lowered his gaze. He shrugged his jacket on and slanted a regretful look towards her before slipping out of the room and into the hallway. A moment later, she heard the front door open and close.

"What was that about?" Bonnie said cautiously.

"Nothing you need to worry your pretty head about."

She grimaced. "Well, just so you know, I'd prefer to keep my pretty head attached to my shoulders. 'kay?"

Klaus chuckle turned into a frown as he looked her up and down. "Oh, dear. This will never do."

"What?" Bonnie glanced down at her white t-shirt and indigo jeans. She'd been wearing the same outfit for more than a day, but she didn't think she was that stinky. "What's wrong?"

Klaus looked deadly serious. "We need to go shopping."

She thought he was joking right up until the minute they parked outside a boutique in the town centre. But when Klaus tried the door, they discovered it was locked. They could see a woman inside the shop straightening a pile of clothes. Klaus rapped on the glass door to get her attention.

"Don't even think about killing her," Bonnie hissed.

"Too late," he said with a bright grin.

The woman hesitated, then came over to open the door a crack. Her name tag read "Dinah" and she was in her twenties, wearing skinny jeans and a purple tank top.

"I'm sorry, sir, but we're closed for the day."

He leaned in, staring at her. "But you can make an exception for us, can't you, Dinah?"

The saleswoman blinked and opened the door fully. "Yes, of course. Please come in."

Bemused, Bonnie watched Klaus flick through racks of dresses while Dinah hovered attentively.

"She needs something suitable for an evening out," he said. "Sexy, but functional."

Dinah's face lit up. "I think I know what you have in mind." She quickly sized Bonnie up, then hastened to a rack filled with slinky evening tops.

Bonnie looked on in dread. She didn't particularly enjoy feeling like a dress-up doll.

"I don't need any help picking out clothes," she said sharply.

Klaus eyed her plain v-neck with disdain. "I beg to differ."

She waited until he turned his back and stuck her tongue out at him.

"I saw that," he said.

She rolled her eyes.

"And that."

Grunting in frustration, Bonnie stomped over to the front window. Bad enough that he'd kidnapped her, now he was criticising her fashion sense. He had some nerve. She let out a long, calming breath as she peered out at the street. This late in the day, it was crowded with both cars and people. Most of them heading home, she guessed. She wished she was one of them.

"Bonnie."

She swung round to find Klaus holding up a gold satin halter top and a pair of leather pants.

"Try these on."

She crossed her arms. "I can't wear that. It's not my style."

He just looked at her while the saleswoman shifted uncomfortably. Bonnie stared back, but as the seconds ticked by her resolve crumbled under the weight of his stare. She had the feeling that he'd stand there all week if necessary.

"Fine," she said.

Clinging to what was left of her dignity, she marched over and snatched the garments out of his hand on her way to the fitting room. Dinah followed and handed her a bra that wouldn't show under the halter top. Face hot, Bonnie took it and thanked her.

Once she was alone, she slumped onto the bench. She was tired, she was hungry, but most of all she was confused. One day Klaus was threatening her and everyone she loved, and the next he was taking her shopping. She couldn't get a handle on him and it was making her cranky as hell.

But one thing she could be certain of was that, no matter how hard she prayed, he wasn't going to just go away. So she took a deep breath and unbuttoned her jeans. A few minutes later, she emerged from the fitting room wearing the outfit he'd picked out. Klaus was waiting patiently by the cash register, apparently counting the day's takings.

"Don't you look nice," he said after a fleeting glance at her. He turned to Dinah. "We'll take it."

She beamed. "Excellent choice, sir."

"Wait, are you stealing that money?" Bonnie said, staring.

He pocketed the cash. "How else am I going to buy you pretty things?" he said offhandedly.

"But you can't do that."

"Whyever not?"

Bonnie gestured to Dinah, whose blank smile was, frankly, creeping her out. "She'll get fired."

"So?"

"So, it...it's wrong."

Klaus tilted his head, studying her as if she were an alien. "Ah, I see what's going on here. You've mistaken my not killing this woman with me somehow giving a damn about what happens to her. I can remedy that." He started towards the saleswoman.

Panicked, Bonnie flung herself in front of Dinah. "No, no, no! There's no mistake. Just take the money."

He stopped uncomfortably close, staring down at her without expression.

"Please," she said, chest heaving. "Just take the money."

He let her sweat for half a minute before turning and walking away. "Fine. Now go get changed so we can get out of here."

Not taking her eyes off him, Bonnie retreated to the fitting rooms, pulling Dinah with her. Keeping the woman in sight, Bonnie hurriedly changed her clothes. She was about to leave the fitting room when it hit her - a burst of pure terror that seemed to explode from her very core. She pressed her hand over her mouth, trying to muffle her sobs.

Dinah's concerned face floated into view. "Hey, you okay?"

Touched by her kindness, Bonnie fought to get her emotions under control. "No," she said with a watery smile, "but thank you for asking."

"Is there anything I can do?"

Afraid that she would lose it altogether, Bonnie just shook her head. They returned to the main shop area, where Dinah bagged her new outfit. After accepting the bag, Bonnie stayed close, watching as Klaus compelled Dinah to forget that they were ever there. She waited until Klaus was way over by the door before she left Dinah's side.

On the sidewalk, Bonnie looked back to see the saleswoman blinking as though she'd just woken up. Klaus opened the car door for her and, avoiding his gaze, she got in.

After a quick stop at the drugstore, they drove back to Mrs Snow's house, where Klaus told her to be ready at eleven and finally left her alone. Grateful for the respite, she wolfed down some leftover pasta salad she found in the fridge and had a long shower before taking refuge in the spare bedroom.

The room was dark when the alarm woke her. Befuddled with sleep, she reached for her bedside lamp. It wasn't where it usually was and she fumbled for a moment before locating the switch. Light flooded the room and Bonnie abruptly remembered where she was - not safe and sound at home, but at a stranger's house in Florida.

She hit the alarm and fell back on the pillow. Lying absolutely still, she pricked up her ears, breathing as quietly as she could. She heard a few creaks, but nothing that told her where Klaus might be lurking.

Sighing, she got up and put on the satin top and leather pants. After she'd applied some makeup and brushed out her hair she studied her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She felt ridiculously overdressed, but Klaus had been insistent. She was just glad she could get away with wearing her own boots.

When she was ready, Bonnie crept out onto the landing. The downstairs hall was dark and quiet. She went down the stairs and followed the light to the kitchen, where she found Klaus standing by the sink. He'd changed into black jeans and a midnight blue shirt.

Without a word, he offered her a teacup. Puzzled, she edged towards him, and stopped short when she saw the contents of the cup - a tablespoon or so of blood. Shocked, she snapped her head up to stare at him. The possibility of Klaus turning her was a thought she'd done her best to avoid, and now here it was, smacking her in the face.

"I have the utmost confidence in your abilities," he said, "but let's face it, accidents do happen." He glanced at the blood. "Better to be safe than sorry."

She fell back a step. "I'm not drinking that."

Klaus shrugged. "It's your choice."

She relaxed, too soon as it turned out.

"You can either drink it voluntarily," he said with an indulgent smile, "or I'll force it down your throat."

Bonnie stared at the cup. Neither option sounded particularly appealing, but there was no doubt in her mind that Klaus would make good on his threat. She chose the lesser of two evils and held out her hand. He scrutinised her face a moment before passing her the cup.

But although she intended to drink the blood, she couldn't seem to physically put the cup to her lips.

Klaus crossed his arms. "It's not going to get any fresher."

"I know!" She sucked in a deep breath. "Just give me a minute."

He gave her several minutes, but the cup didn't make it any closer to her face. The corner of his mouth quirked up.

"Bonnie, I may have eternity, but you don't."

She glared at him. "You think this is funny?"

"A little, yeah."

Swallowing her pride, Bonnie gave him a pleading look. "Please, isn't there another-"

"No." He pointedly looked at his watch.

"But I don't wanna be a vampire," she whined.

No longer looking amused, Klaus said, "Drink it. Now."

She gulped. Closing her eyes, she brought the cup to her mouth and tipped it back. The cool, slightly metallic blood slid easily onto her tongue. She'd expected it to taste different somehow, to betray some hint of its donor's power, but it tasted just like...blood.

Bonnie opened her eyes to find Klaus standing disturbingly near, staring at her mouth. He started to lean in and she instinctively slapped her hand against his chest. After a tense moment he stepped back, and she held her breath.

"Let's go," he said at last. He gestured for her to precede him and she rushed to obey, not wanting to give him the opportunity to change his mind.

The mostly college-aged crowd waiting outside the club was at least thirty strong, but one compelled bouncer later, and she and Klaus were being escorted inside. A few loud complaints followed them in, but they were rapidly drowned out by the thundering beat of the music. With an arm around her waist, Klaus guided her up to the upper level, where they were seated at a table overlooking the dance floor.

Klaus ordered drinks from a passing waitress and turned his head to observe the dancers below. Bonnie peered over the chrome railing, trying to keep one eye on him and one on the dance floor. He seemed to be looking for someone - Stefan, she assumed. She, too, scanned the club for Stefan's distinctive high hair, but between the shadows and the strobe lights she couldn't make out much.

The waitress returned with two pink cocktails. Bonnie selected a glass, using the opportunity to steal a quick glance at Klaus. He looked perfectly relaxed, but she hadn't forgotten that he'd forced her to drink his blood not one hour ago. She didn't believe for a second that they were just here to enjoy Pensacola's nightlife.

But after sipping her way through a few cocktails, Bonnie wasn't sure that she cared that much. She was feeling pleasantly buzzed and Klaus hadn't moved in half an hour. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe this was his way of relaxing...by drinking cosmopolitans and spying on clubbers. She grimaced. Okay, so her tipsy brain wasn't that far gone, but a girl could hope.

Out of the blue, Klaus plucked the glass from her hand and set it on the table. "Time to dance."

"Dance? With you?"

Looking mildly insulted, he tugged her onto her feet. "I'll have you know that I'm an excellent dancer."

"Well, I..." was all she managed before he swung round to lead her down the stairs and onto the dance floor.

He twirled her round, making her head spin, and pulled her hips flush against his. Bonnie didn't even have time to protest before he winked and backed off. She felt like a total dork standing in the middle of the dance floor, so she starting moving to the music. As unself-conscious as any toddler, Klaus threw himself into a full body convulsion, complete with gyrating hips and flailing arms.

She had to admit he was a good dancer, if by "good" you meant flashy and highly entertaining. He was a little too good, in fact. They were attracting quite a bit of attention from the surrounding dancers and the people on the upper balconies. Klaus had specifically chosen this club, so she figured he was deliberately putting on a show. The question was, why?

Just as she was getting used to the dancing, Klaus grabbed her arm and hustled her towards the back of the club. She muttered apologies to the people they jostled, but she doubted they even heard her given how fast they were travelling. They skirted the bar and headed for the restrooms. At the end of the corridor was a fire exit. Not slowing, Klaus barrelled right through it, pulling her behind him.

They emerged into a back alley. The door thumped shut behind them, muffling the beat of the music, and Klaus finally let go of her arm.

"Okay, what the hell is going on?" Bonnie said, panting.

Ignoring her, he looked up and down the alley. She followed his gaze, but other than a passing car, she saw nothing unusual. A dull yellow light above the exit revealed only a dumpster and a few recycling bins.

She tried again. "What are we doing here?"

"Waiting," he said, without bothering to look at her.

"For wha-"

Her voice died in her throat as several figures appeared at the end of the alley. The fire exit slammed open and two men came out, one of them brandishing a stake.

"The wolves to come out," Klaus said, looking pretty damn wolfish himself.

Bonnie instinctively moved towards him before she realised what she was doing. She stopped and spun around, but three more were approaching them from the rear. The men (and one woman, she noticed) quickly surrounded them, but stayed at a cautious distance.

They looked to be in their twenties, tanned and athletic, and the easy way they fell into formation, leaving little room for escape, made Bonnie think that this wasn't the first time they'd hunted a vampire. She counted seven in all, with at least three of them wielding stakes, and they seemed so normal she would never have guessed that they were werewolves.

One of the men, sporting a stubbly jaw and built like a quarterback, stepped forward and grinned at Klaus.

"You've got a lot of nerve coming here, vampire."

"My mistake," Klaus said with a small, apologetic shrug. "I thought this was a public place."

"Not for you, it ain't. This is our turf."

Bonnie frowned. Klaus seemed oddly subdued, even submissive, which was not a description she would ever have associated with him.

With a nervous cough, he said, "If you'll just allow us to pass, we'll be on our way."

The circle tightened up around them. "I don't think so," said the young man, losing his grin. "First, you're gonna let the girl go."

"The girl? Oh, you mean Bonnie?" Klaus gave her an affectionate glance. For that alone, she wanted to stake him, but what he said next made her blood rage. "You needn't worry about her. She's not compelled and she knows exactly what I am."

The man's eyes narrowed as his gaze shifted to her. "Is that true?"

"Yes, but-"

The disgust in his eyes, all their eyes, made her flush with shame. She wanted to explain, but she couldn't seem to put a coherent thought together. Their eyes slid away from her, as if she were beneath their notice, not worth even their pity. Bonnie subtly tried to sidle away from Klaus, but he snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her close. Knowing it would be useless, she didn't bother struggling.

"I don't suppose you'd consider letting us go," Klaus said, with a sly downward glance.

Only she was close enough to see the sparkle in his eyes, and a chill went through her as she realised that he was enjoying this. Toying with the werewolves, allowing them to think they had the upper hand, he was getting off on it. Her stomach clenched. And she couldn't stop him. No one could. She thought about warning the wolves, but she didn't think they'd believe her. There was only one person who could stop this - Klaus himself.

Before she could chicken out, Bonnie pressed up against him, molding her body to his. His eyes widened a fraction as he glanced down at her.

"Please," she said, her voice low. "Don't do this."

He considered her a moment, then smoothed back her curls and bent his head to whisper in her ear. "Sorry, Bonnie, not this time." Catching her by surprise, he casually shoved her away.

She sprawled across the ground with a startled yelp, scraping her palms on the concrete slab. Glancing back, she saw three of the wolves converge on Klaus. They were fast, inhumanly fast, and moved with confident strength, but they were no match for him. He smacked the first man aside like a beach ball, and his body crashed into the wall with a sickening wet crunch.

Klaus took a punch from the second assailant, but it didn't seem to slow him down. He growled and bared his fangs, blocked a second punch, and thrust his fist into the man's chest. Bonnie's horrified scream blended with the werewolf's death cry. The third man came in fast from the rear and plunged a stake through Klaus's back.

The stake went home and the wolf whooped in victory. Klaus pulled his arm out of the dead man's chest, letting the body fall to the ground, and calmly turned around still holding a bloody heart. The wolf's jaw dropped and he reeled back. Klaus blurred forward to grab him and savagely bite into his neck.

A flurry of motion drew her attention further down the alley. Squinting, she recognised Stefan at the heart of the commotion. She hadn't even seen him arrive. He wasn't having quite as easy time of it as Klaus. One of the wolves had his arms pinned back and the other two were taking turns slugging him. But even as she watched, Stefan propelled himself backwards, slamming the man holding his arms against the alley wall.

Free, Stefan backhanded the woman lunging at him with a stake and leapt at the other wolf. She watched him bury his fangs in the man's neck and looked away, her stomach heaving.

Klaus was still feeding, making a slurping noise that would haunt her as long as she lived. One of the wolves, the man who'd first spoken to them, crept up behind him, his hand reaching for the stake still embedded in Klaus's back.

Bonnie cried out before she could stop herself. "No!"

She'd been trying to warn the werewolf, to stop him from getting himself killed, but it was Klaus who was quicker to respond. He lifted his head and whirled, grabbing his attacker by the throat and lifting him into the air. The man struggled, but suspended as he was, he had no leverage with which to fight back. His feet kicked furiously, and then with less and less vigour as he lost consciousness. As soon as his body went limp, Klaus dropped him and glanced towards Stefan.

Following his gaze, Bonnie saw that Stefan was feeding off the woman now. His arms were wrapped around her shoulders and waist and between them, a stake protruded from the woman's chest. The bodies of the other wolves surrounded them. It was the final straw. Bonnie had just enough time to crawl over to the wall before her cocktails came rushing back up her throat. She vomited until every last drop of alcohol was out of her body.

She stayed facing the wall, not wanting to see the bloodied and broken bodies littering the alley. But she couldn't escape the suffocating scent of blood. It hung in the air, pressing in on her like a smothering blanket. Finally she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and shuffled around on her knees. She started when she saw Stefan standing just a few feet away, looming over her.

"Are you okay?" he said, sounding so normal that she wondered if she was dreaming.

"You still have blood on your chin," she said accusingly.

She expected him to avert his eyes, but his gaze remained steady. Without the slightest hint of remorse, he swiped his sleeve across his jaw.

"Thanks," he said.

"I didn't..." Bonnie trailed off, confused. Although she suspected that Stefan had been feeding on people, she still expected him to feel guilty about it. She still expected him to act like Stefan. But he didn't look conflicted, he looked...content. "Stefan?" she said in a small voice.

His eyes flickered, but his expression didn't change.

Chuckling, Klaus came over and clapped Stefan's shoulder. "That one," he said, nodding towards one of the bodies on the ground.

Stefan hesitated, still looking at Bonnie, before moving to haul the unconscious werewolf over his shoulder. Without a backwards glance, he headed off towards the rear of the alley.

Klaus offered her a hand. She ignored it and clung to the wall instead as she dragged herself to her feet. Her knees wobbled, but she managed to stay upright.

"You didn't have to kill them," she said.

"Yes, I did. In case you've forgotten, they attacked us."

"After you deliberately lured them out here."

He raised his eyebrows. "What's your point?"

The absurdity of what she was doing - trying to convince an amoral creature that he'd done something wrong - dawned on her then, and she let out a breathless laugh.

"You really don't care, do you? That you just butchered six innocent people."

"Four."

Bonnie blinked. "What?"

"We only killed four," he said, ennunciating his words as if she were hard of hearing. "The other two will heal."

"And the one you took? What's going to happen to him?"

"Well now, that's up to you."

"Me?"

He shot her an amused look. "How did you think we were going to create my army?"

Stunned into silence, she could only stare at him.

"Werewolves can't be created, Bonnie. The curse is genetic. So in order to make a hybrid, I first need a werewolf."

"You...you want me to help you..." She shook her head, too horrified to say it out loud.

"See?" he said, smiling. "Didn't I tell you that you'd get to do something for me?"

Her mind whirling with a whole slew of emotions she couldn't begin to sort out, Bonnie didn't resist when Klaus took her gently by the elbow and guided her out of the alley.

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