I apologize for the delay in updating, but here you go! Thanks for reading!

The Last Witch In New Orleans

Marcel summoned Bonnie to the house. She thought about refusing - she had refused - but then Marcel told her he wasn't asking for himself but for Tyler, who'd apparently had a change of heart about shutting her out. Again, she thought about refusing. That embittered part of her, still confused and sorting through everything, didn't want anything to do with anyone. She'd been alone ever since she'd returned from the house yesterday. Not even Klaus had bothered her. And she didn't want to give Tyler the satisfaction of coming when he called. She'd tried talking to him once before, and he hadn't been around for it because he wanted to leave the city altogether because he couldn't stand to share the space with her.

But still Bonnie went.

As promised, Marcel wasn't there, and it was Tyler who opened the door for her. He didn't speak and the expression on his face didn't change as he stepped aside for her to come in. When he closed it, he still didn't say anything.

"Well?" Bonnie said impatiently.

Tyler looked at her like he couldn't remember why he'd asked her there to begin with. Finally he said, "What can you tell me about Bonnie 2.0?"

Of all the things Bonnie thought he may say that hadn't been anywhere near the list. "What?" she said, confused.

Tyler repeated himself.

"I-How do you know about her?" Bonnie asked.

"She...appeared to me," Tyler said. "I guess that's the way to describe it. She talked to me."

"What about?" Bonnie demanded. "What did she say?"

Bonnie 2.0 was hers, the little cricket on her shoulder telling her what to do. Not Tyler's. Bonnie 2.0's voice was on a loop in the back of Bonnie's mind, but that always seemed like something Bonnie created than Bonnie 2.0 put there for her, but now she wasn't sure, if Bonnie 2.0 could do the same for Tyler.

Tyler furrowed his brow and looked down at the floor. "Nothing important," he said, and it didn't take a genius to know he was lying. "Is she dangerous?" he asked.

"I don't think so," Bonnie answered though she supposed she didn't really know.

"What is she?"

"I don't know," Bonnie said shortly. "I thought she was just in my head."

Tyler bit down on his bottom lip, thinking. "When did you first see her?"

Bonnie hesitated with her answer. It felt so personal all the sudden, even though she'd already told him the basics of this story. She died, Qetsiyah brought her back. But Bonnie 2.0 and everything she'd said? All her words? Her biting disappointment and searing disgust? That wasn't something she wanted anyone to know about.

Bonnie inhaled deeply. "She came to me the night I died." She slipped her hands into her pockets so she'd be doing something with them, and she rocked back and forth on her heels until she told herself to stop. "We talked, and she told me Qetsiyah would bring me back to life. Since then I haven't seen her really, just sometimes. I just imagine her."

"You imagine her?" Tyler said. "But she's not real?"

"Not then she's not," Bonnie said, "but she was that night."

"What else did she say to you?"

Bonnie clucked her tongue. "I'm not telling you. Especially if you're not going to tell me what you talked to her about."

Tyler gave his head a short nod and did a circuit around the room, looking down at his feet as he went. He didn't offer to tell her anything in exchange. "Is she you? Your subconscious or something?"

Bonnie shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. Maybe. If you told me what she said, I could help you-"

"No," Tyler said quickly, turning around to face her. He moved so quickly it was like he'd been shocked into position. "I don't trust you."

Bonnie hated herself for being stung by that. She swallowed. "Tyler-"

"I don't trust you," he repeated. "You're with Klaus. You'll do whatever you have to do to keep that going, and if you get backed into a corner, you could give me up. I'm not gonna risk it."

"I haven't given you up yet," Bonnie said. "And I don't have any plans to."

"Yeah, I know," Tyler said. "I appreciate you not telling Klaus, you know I do, but I'd rather not put anything else on you. You don't need to worry about me anymore. If you can keep me being here a secret from Klaus, then thanks, but if you think you need to tell him for whatever reason, you can do that, too. I'll handle it."

Bonnie pressed her lips together. "You know you won't be able to," she said. It may have come out harsher than she'd intended. It definitely had because Tyler's expression turned even stonier than before.

"I'll manage," he said, stepping past her to reach for the doorknob. Bonnie reached for his arm, stopping him, and she fought the urge to roll her eyes when Tyler pulled his arm away.

"I want to talk," she said. "I came by yesterday because I wanted to talk."

"Marcel told me," Tyler sighed.

Bonnie inhaled and reminded herself to choose her words very carefully. "I really am sorry. There's really nothing else I can say."

"I'll admit," Tyler said, "that I didn't know her that well. Or even at all maybe. But she was good to me while she was here. Until I found you here I didn't have anyone, but I had Lydia. And you killed her, and I know that she hurt you, and I get that. But you didn't kill her when she attacked you. You left her alive and you waited until Klaus told you to kill her. You killed her for him, not for you, and that's why I don't trust you."

Bonnie sighed. "I-"

The door swung open, and Marcel stepped into the foyer, looking surprised to see Bonnie there. "Oh," Marcel said as Bonnie held Tyler's gaze, wanting to say something - anything - back but unwilling to do it with Marcel here. "Sorry. I thought you two would be finished by now," he said. "I can come back."

"No," Tyler said. "We're done. Good luck, Bonnie."

When Bonnie got back to her apartment, Klaus was there, drinking her wine and watching her TV. Someone else was with him, a young woman with dark hair and bangs that fell right above her eyes. She stood near the windows, keeping plenty of distance between her and Klaus, and she looked relieved to be joined by a third party.

"Who's this?" Bonnie demanded, dropping her bag with a loud clunk onto the coffee table. She wasn't in the mood for visitors. After Tyler had cut their conversation short, she was done with socializing for the day.

"Bonnie, allow me to introduce you to Sophie Deveraux," Klaus said, placing his wine glass on the table. "A partner of mine."

"A witch," Sophie added.

"I figured that already," Bonnie said. She could feel it from where she stood, the magic that clung to Sophie. She turned her attention back to Klaus. "So what's she doing here?"

"The full moon is tomorrow night," Klaus said. "Hayley's transformation will need to be controlled. Sophie's going to give you the information you'll need to keep Hayley from turning."

On cue Sophie pulled a folded piece of paper from her pocket, unfolding it to hand it to Bonnie. Her handwriting was neat and precise, spelling out distinct, numbered directions and an incantation. "That's how you do it," she said when Bonnie took it from her. "Hayley will be in pain all night, but there's a tea you can make her with the herbs I have written on the back. It'll help some."

Bonnie read over the page. It looked fairly simple, nothing she couldn't handle. "Okay," she said.

"You're welcome," Sophie said, and Bonnie couldn't figure out if she was talking to her or to Klaus. In either case, Bonnie blinked at her.

"Okay," she repeated.

"Thank you, Sophie," Klaus said loudly. "That will be all." He guided her toward the door, opening it up and ushering her out though he stayed behind.

"As usual," Klaus said, after he closed the door, "you are a ray of sunshine, scorching everything with your heat." When he stepped closer, he looked at her closely. Bonnie stared back, refusing to look away because then he'd know she was uncomfortable with him now. "Have you recovered from your...state?"

"Yeah," Bonnie answered, wondering if he'd bring up their aborted hook-up. She was relieved when he didn't. And she was even more relieved that he didn't try to pick up where they'd left off.

"Good," Klaus said. "I need you at your best. Marcel's gathering the witches tomorrow night."

"All of them?" Bonnie asked. "What for?" She didn't think there was any chance of an execution tonight.

"That's why you'll be going," Klaus said. "Take care of Hayley then see what it's about."

Bonnie knocked on Rebekah's apartment door the next afternoon with prepared herbs and Sophie's spell in hand. "She's here!" Rebekah called on the other side of the door. When she opened it, she pasted on a wide smile, brushing her pale blond hair away from her face. "Hello, Bonnie," she said. "Hayley's been looking forward to this all day."

Hayley came into view in sweats and a t-shirt, lowering herself onto the sofa where she folded her hands across her stomach. "Let's just get this over with," she said.

Rebekah's apartment wasn't what Bonnie expected. But then she realized she hadn't known what to expect. It seemed like it may be larger than Bonnie's. There was an extra door on the left side, perhaps leading to a second bedroom. It was done up in pale shades of white, very similar to Klaus' apartment though Rebekah's lacked all the black. There were gold and silver colored accents instead.

After Bonnie performed the spell, while Rebekah watched attentively, she made a pot of tea for Hayley and filled a cup for her. As Hayley made herself comfortable, Bonnie passed her the tea and watched her sip it slowly, making a face down at its contents. It wasn't long before Hayley was breathing heavier, grunting and moaning in pain. She tried to contain it as best she could, but it was clear she was in agony.

Rebekah perched on the edge of the sofa and patted one of Hayley's ankles supportively. "Look on the bright side, darling," she said. "This is still better than what you would be doing."

Hayley glared at her as she raised her tea to her mouth again. "If you're only going to make things worse, feel free to go."

Rebekah smiled. "And leave you to suffer alone? I don't think so."

Bonnie had no problem leaving either of them alone to do anything so she grabbed her keys and turned to go. "Why don't you stick around, Bonnie?" Rebekah called after her. "You're so tense. Just sit down, drink a glass of something alcoholic and very flammable and enjoy yourself." She broke away from Hayley's side to brush past Bonnie and go into the kitchen where she pulled a bottle of vodka from one of the cabinets.

"I hate drinking alone," Rebekah said, taking down two glasses, "and Hayley's never able to take part. So." She poured Bonnie a shot and held the glass out to her, smiling.

Bonnie stared at it for a moment. When she finally took it, she downed it immediately. She hadn't had straight vodka in months, and she'd forgotten the burn. She coughed a little, and Rebekah's lips curved upward into a satisfied smile. "Well," she said, pouring herself some and drinking it down, "here's to an interesting evening."

Bonnie had planned on returning to her apartment and sulking until she had to go to the Quarter. She had it all figured out. She was going to take a long bath and crack open a grimoire and study it for an hour before she left. Instead she stayed with Rebekah and Hayley, replenishing Hayley's tea and somehow, not hating being there with them.

"I never know if this is working," Hayley said, putting her cup down on the coffee table and leaning back against the sofa cushions, exhaling heavily. Even if the tea was working, it didn't do anything to alleviate her discomfort, and it didn't matter what position she put herself in because she was forced to move seconds later.

"This has to be better than turning," Rebekah said as she came from the kitchen with a bag of crackers for Bonnie who had expressed her hunger a few minutes ago. She dropped them into Bonnie's lap unceremoniously and joined Hayley on the sofa.

"The turning stops eventually," Hayley reminded them extending her legs so her feet rested in Rebekah's lap, and Rebekah surprisingly didn't mind it. "This is gonna go all night."

It was strange to sit there with them. If Bonnie squinted her eyes and moved several feet away, she might think they were Elena and Caroline, and Bonnie was back with them, drinking vodka and gossiping. But it was Hayley and Rebekah, and Elena and Caroline were at Whitmore doing whatever it was they were doing now. College freshmen things, like going to frat parties and bitching about communal showers. And this wasn't like that - wasn't anything like that - but it wasn't bad.

Bonnie didn't say much while she was there. She drank and she sat quietly, but neither Rebekah nor Hayley seemed to mind her silence. Listening to them distracted her from other thoughts, of her old friends and of Tyler. Hayley and Rebekah were almost funny together, toeing the line between genuinely affectionate and genuinely annoyed with each other. They were handling the roommate thing better than Bonnie and Hayley had. Maybe it was because Hayley was pregnant with Rebekah's niece or nephew as this was the most decent Bonnie had ever seen Rebekah be with anyone.

"Distract me," Hayley groaned. "Tell me something scandalous." She turned her gaze to Rebekah as she refilled hers and Bonnie's glasses. "You never told me what happened with you and Marcel." Wiggling her eyebrows conspiratorially, she asked, "Did you two hook up?"

Rebekah smiled coyly and sipped her drink, pushing Bonnie's toward her with the tips of her manicured fingers. "A lady never tells."

Bonnie shrugged down at her glass. "I hooked up with Marcel."

Hayley threw back her head and laughed to be joined by an equally amused Rebekah. "So we have something in common," she said, tapping her glass against Bonnie's.

Bonnie smiled at the clinking of their glasses.

"Well," Hayley said, her pain momentarily forgotten, "I guess I'm the only lady here."

"If you weren't currently pregnant with my brother's baby," Rebekah said, "I'd recommend you try it out yourself. Marcel is truly gifted."

"Annoying," Bonnie said, "but yes, gifted."

Hayley made a face down at her belly, rubbing a circle across the top. "Maybe once the baby's born?"

Bonnie wondered if Klaus was going to keep as tight leash on Hayley after the birth. Would he try to keep the baby for himself? Would Hayley care if he did? Or would Klaus demand that she stick around and so he could add her name to the list of people he wanted to control?

"You'll have to move quickly," Rebekah said. "If Klaus has his way, Marcel won't be around much longer."

Speaking of. Bonnie glanced down her phone, watching the time turn to 11:34. "I have to go," she said as she stood up.

"Ah yes, Marcel has his little gathering tonight," Rebekah said. "Oh, well. Come back when you're done. You can tell us all about it."

"We'll still be up," Hayley assured her, shoving a pillow behind her back. "I'm not getting any sleep tonight."

"I might," Bonnie said, though she couldn't imagine why she'd do that. She didn't know why she'd been here this long. It didn't make sense. Nothing made sense anymore.

"I'll walk you out," Rebekah offered. At the door, she pulled it open and leaned against the threshold. Bonnie turned to face her.

"So what's your deal?" Bonnie asked. Hayley she didn't know about. Maybe she was still feeling friendly after hers and Bonnie's momentary living situation, but Rebekah was a different animal.

"No deal," Rebekah said with a light shrug of her shoulders. "You're lonely, even if you want to deny it. I heard you and my brother the other night. Naturally, I was listening."

"Naturally," Bonnie echoed sarcastically.

Rebekah smiled then grew serious again. "I know what's it like to feel like the only person you have is Nik. And he is not the only person you want to have."

The moon hung high in the sky when Bonnie reached the Quarter. It was packed with people, and the closer Bonnie got to Marcel's place the more evident it became that they were all supernatural. Mostly witches but also vampires, growing in number as the amount of witches did, making sure it stayed even. Bonnie navigated the crowd with ease, magicking her way from one spot to another to speed it up. A few witches who spotted her, and her free use of magic, glared at her. They probably knew who she was: the only witch in New Orleans free to practice.

Bonnie ignored their glares and found a spot to stand close to the wall where she leaned. She hoped Marcel would make this fast, whatever it was. The last thing she wanted to do was be stuck here listening to him make speeches. She'd rather be back with Rebekah and Hayley.

She really would rather be back with Rebekah and Hayley. Maybe she would go back afterward.

If she was going to make this work, make it really work, then she needed friends. Maybe that had been her mistake, isolating herself except for Klaus and Elijah and occasional strangers met at Turbulence. Trying to amend that decision with Tyler was a bad call, too. He was too Mystic Falls. But Hayley and Rebekah were New Orleans. They weren't Elena and Caroline, and that was what Bonnie needed. The anti-Elena and the anti-Caroline were what she needed. She'd broken away from Elena and Caroline already, and she and Tyler were going their separate ways now, but that didn't mean she had to be alone. If she had other people on retainer maybe she wouldn't find herself desperately making out with Klaus again.

Bonnie glanced up and saw Tyler across the street, tucked into an alcove where he was mostly hidden. He hadn't noticed her, and she wondered what he'd do if she joined him over there. Change locations most likely. Bonnie stayed where she was, turning to the makeshift stage when she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. Marcel, stepping up. He was flanked by Duke and Ronan, and they all looked out over the witches, expressionless.

"Good evening, witches," Marcel said. Bonnie saw the ripple of annoyance as it glided through the crowd, the disbelief, the hatred. They were here, taking orders from a vampire, gathered there by a vampire. "For many years now we've enjoyed a very specific arrangement, and it's had its advantages. And it's disadvantages so I think it's time we made a change."

There was a quiet rumble of confusion, whispered uncertainties about where this was going. Could Marcel be relinquishing his hold on them and their magic? Would he do that?

Bonnie knew the answer, and the witches - at least most of them - had to know it, too. No. Marcel would never let them go.

Bonnie startled as the witch closest to her screamed. She was an older woman with long braids and practically weighed down in jewelry. Her scream came from her gut, making her arch her back and point her face up to the sky, and the glowing moon up above. She wasn't the only one. They were all screaming.

Bonnie looked from one to another to another and another, and it was all the same. Anguished cries spilling from their mouths, screaming as if they were being tortured. Bonnie looked closer at the nearest witch's face and saw that she was crying.

Bonnie shoved her way toward Tyler, and none of the witches seemed to notice her movement. They were too occupied with their screaming. Tyler looked just as worried as Bonnie felt and he startled at Bonnie's sudden approach. "What's Marcel doing to them?" she demanded.

Tyler shook his head. "I don't know," he answered.

"Tyler," Bonnie said warningly. She didn't have time for lies.

"I don't know," he repeated.

With a frustrated sigh, Bonnie went back, climbing onto the stage next to Marcel. Neither Duke nor Ronan moved to stop her, and Marcel turned his gaze away from the witches to look at her. "Good evening, Bonnie," he said with a smile.

"What are you doing?"

"Handling business," he answered turning his gaze casually back to the witches, unbothered by their persistent cries.

Bonnie stepped into his line of sight. "Are you killing them?"

"No," Marcel said. "I'm doing something much worse."

The screams cut off suddenly, and Marcel stepped to the side to look around her. The silence was just as loud as the yelling. The witches stood mostly still, some of them swaying slightly, unsteady. A ripple moved through the crowd, someone pushing their way through as another scream came, an anguished "No". It was a gut-wrenching wail.

The someone reached the front of the crowd, stopping at Bonnie's side. Sophie, her expression dark. She was wound up, her hands shaking even as she fixed Marcel with a withering stare. "How did you do it?"

Marcel only looked at her, his smirk still in place.

"Does she still have hers?" Sophie demanded, pointing an accusatory finger at Bonnie. "Answer me! Does she still have her powers?"

Bonnie knew she did. She could feel them still. She knew what it was like not to have them, and she would have felt it instantly if they were gone, the absence that would be tugging at her. She hadn't joined the witches in their pain or added her voice to their cries.

Marcel said nothing. Instead he nodded to Duke and Ronan, and they came down to take Sophie's arms and pull her away. "Why does she still have hers?!" Sophie screamed. The other witches turned their heads to watch her be taken away. Most of them did. Others were still standing, as if they were in shock, staring at the ground and their magicless hands.

With a contented hum, Marcel turned and hopped off the stage, going into the building without another word to Bonnie. Why he'd done this was obvious, but how? She looked over her shoulder at his retreating form then back out to the crowd where she tried to find Tyler. The alcove he'd occupied was now empty.

The witches were being roughly handled by converging vampires, shoving them away from the building. The ones who hadn't yet been forced to move were staring at Bonnie, eyes narrowed into identical slits of rage and suspicion. They'd all heard Sophie. They all knew what she meant, and they knew what this looked like.

Bonnie was the last witch in New Orleans.