Disclaimer: I don't own TVD.
Pounding footsteps against the snow that left a frantic trail of escape behind them, Bonnie and Kai ran through the woods using the last bit of strength each had left after a mentally and physically exhausting battle with Lily's undead posse. Bonnie herself still felt the reeling sensation of horror as she struggled to ward off the threats that were nearly impossible to defeat, because they also possessed the one thing Bonnie and Kai thought was in their favor—magic. Bonnie quickened her pace, suddenly feeling a surge of desperate energy to create more distance between the still alive threats as her mind lingered on the horrific reality of a vampire and witch hybrid. The very idea was crazy and made her want to cry, scream, and throw up all at the same time. She has spent the entirety of her young adult life warding off the strangest supernatural occurrences, and now it seems like there really is no end in sight for her. All she knew was that she and Kai needed to get out of this prison world and never let Lily's companions into the real world. Once again, Bonnie carried the burden of assuming the role of savior and protector. However, this time she wasn't alone. Turning to look at the equally scared boy next to her, Bonnie's feet began to slow down, her body finally telling her to stop running before the exhaustion truly killed her.
Sensing the change in speed, Kai slowed his own pace down, immediately reaching out to grab a hold of Bonnie in case she fell. Despite the bruises, cuts, and severe injuries adorning both their bodies, Kai's adrenaline rush helped him forget about the pain and focus on Bonnie's well being. He couldn't understand the pull of desperation he felt towards her safety, but all he wanted, aside from escaping with his life, was Bonnie's security. Heaving a couple of breaths, Kai gently tugged on her arm. "You okay?" He had stopped running by this time, stepping closer to Bonnie with a comforting hand on her back as she struggled to catch her breath.
Panting heavily, Bonnie's brown eyes, filled with potential tears, scanned Kai's figure as if she was assessing the damage on his body. She ignored his question, choosing instead to frantically plead with him. "We need to get the hell out of here." She stared at him, paralyzed with fear, and Kai returned the look.
"I know," he agreed immediately, turning his head to look around him in case any one had followed them. "We need the ascendant and to do the spell." A wave of dizziness hit him, causing him to tumble to the ground, bringing a worried Bonnie with him.
"Kai," Bonnie screamed, worry lacing her voice. Her own head was spinning, but she remained able to focus her concern on Kai. "Are you okay?"
Kai almost laughed at the irony of both of them asking each other that very question, but he could only muster a grimace. "Yeah," he stated through clenched teeth. "It took a lot of strength for me to fight those guys off…" his eyes shifted to Bonnie. "What about you? I had to take your magic…you must be feeling worse." To Bonnie's surprise, Kai lifted his hand to brush her cheek softly in an intimate gesture that implanted a serious case of butterflies in her stomach. It was fitting that they were practically in a parallel universe, because the shift in their dynamic was nothing short of bizarre. But despite everything, they were all they had right now, and Kai had helped fight with her. He wasn't the threat for once. Leaning into his touch, Bonnie closed her eyes and tried to catch her breath.
"How are we going to get out of here without our strength?"
"We'll manage," he tries to assure her. Bonnie eventually assented, nodding her head and choosing to trust him this time.
0000000
The sound of clinking glasses filled the room as the Mystic Falls gang gathered together in a private room at the Mystic Grille to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of Alaric and Jo. Feeling elated by the idea of Kai forever trapped in a prison world, Jo and Alaric felt the need to speed up the wedding process in celebration, and actually managed to set the wedding date to a few short days away, and everyone had happily agreed to the change.
Damon and Elena both smiled brightly at the engaged pair, while Stefan, Caroline, Tyler, Liv, and even Enzo joined in the celebrating. Raising his glass once again, Alaric grinned as a new cheer left his lips. "To health, happiness, and finally some normalcy around here!" Everyone cheered, clinking their glasses in solidarity with one another. The atmosphere emanated warmth, optimism, and peace—the complete opposite of the hell on earth Bonnie and Kai were experiencing in Lily Salvatore's prison world.
000000000
Bonnie exhaled, her breaths were labored and unsteady as she voiced her fears. "I can't die here Kai. I worked so hard to regain my life. I can't die here," she repeated solemnly with a desperate edge to her voice.
Kai grimaced, his eyes shifting quickly to focus on her. "You won't," he interrupted aggressively. The idea of someone as pure hearted as her dying in this perverse universe filled him with so much anger. "You are here because of me, and I won't let that happen. You are going back home where you belong, okay?" His anger abated when her sad gaze met his, and she practically peered into his soul.
"Not without you," Bonnie retorted after a brief silence elapsed between them. "You are here because of me, too. If everyone just told me that you helped save me from committing suicide back in 1994 then this whole thing would've been avoided. I'd never would've left you here." Tears threatened to spill from her eyes at the confession. "You don't deserve to die here either. We both are going back." Bonnie broke eye contact with him, resting her gaze on the white snow that littered the forest around them.
Kai just stared at her, his mouth agape. Did Bonnie Bennett just admit that he's not worthless? She thinks he deserves a better death. A small sensation of warmth slowly crawled through his entire body, making him feel hopeful—an emotion he never had any familiarity with until now. The feeling inspired him to reach out, very timidly at first, to grab her hand and interlace their fingers together. Not resisting the action, Bonnie just turned her head toward Kai, her eyes still downturned but focused on their joined hands. They both sat in a comfortable silence with one another until Kai, after much deliberation in his own mind, decided to speak up. "I thought I was in hell here, but not with you here with me." The comment sounded like a lame pick up line, but Kai genuinely meant the words.
Despite the circumstances, a short burst of laughter escaped Bonnie's lips that she couldn't control. "Seriously? You're flirting right now?" She sounded partially relieved due to the slight break in tension, and she finally made eye contact with him again, a tender smile on her face as she teased him.
Kai smiled slightly. "I wasn't trying to flirt. I mean it. Plus, I think we are past the stage of flirting. We did make out." He grinned when Bonnie hit his shoulder playfully.
"Well it won't happen again," she scolded, trying to maintain a straight face. Kai took it as a challenge.
"Oh really?" He leaned forward, his nose slightly grazing against her cheek. "Never ever?"
Rolling her eyes and actively avoiding his gaze, Bonnie huffed. "Nope," she replied. "We need to focus on getting out of here."
Kai scooted closer to her, his breath falling against her neck as he spoke. "But I need to regain my strength. What better way than kissing? I mean you kiss a wound and it's supposed to make it better, right?"
"Kai," she warned, "We can't." She finally developed the courage to look into his eyes, which in hindsight was a bad idea, because Kai's genuinely disappointed expression broke her heart.
"You're right," he stated after recognizing her cautious expression. She still looked at him with dread in her eyes, and he was beginning to fear that she would never be able to look at him any other way. "How could you ever see me other than a monster? I hurt you."
She opened her mouth, ready to argue, but Kai shook his head before she could try. "No, it's true. I don't deserve you, but I'll be okay once you are out of here. You will get out, I promise." He attempted to smile, but it came off as half-hearted.
When Kai made an attempt to scoot away from her and provide some space between the two of them, Bonnie snapped out of her brief trance to react. Reaching forward, Bonnie wrapped one arm around Kai's neck, ignoring the look of shock on his face, and rested her hand on his forearm, forcing him to remain in his spot. She didn't talk at first, taking a few moments to compose herself. "I don't see you as a monster. Not anymore. You're an ally, okay?" She stared into his eyes desperately waiting for him to acknowledge her words. When he didn't, she continued to convince him. "I am so grateful that you helped me when I was still trapped in 1994. Despite all of the horrible things that happened between us and the circumstances in which we met, I genuinely am so grateful, Kai. My own friends consider me an after thought when it comes to my well-being. But you didn't hesitate to help me even when you had no obligation to offer a helping hand. Thank you," she whispered before enveloping him in a hug and resting her head against his shoulder.
Once the shock of her confession and open sign of affection toward him wore off, Kai relaxed into the embrace and allowed the sensation of warmth— that he seemed to only feel when around her—to surround him again.
000000
Back in Mystic Falls, Alaric and Jo's impromptu wedding rehearsal and celebration continued as everyone indulged in the feeling of relief due to Kai's imprisonment. Damon raised his glass, throwing a smirk in Elena's direction as he proposed a toast. "I just have to say that life is so beautiful, because Kai Parker is forever gone. To Alaric and Jo's marriage…may you have the best union completely void of any annoying pricks…as we all will." He grins when Elena kissed his cheek and adds, "To Alaric and Jo. You both deserve all the best. A second chance."
Alaric and Jo tipped their glasses in the vampire couple's direction before turning to one another and pecking each other on the lips.
0000000
Bonnie sighed, adjusting her head so that her chin was propped against Kai's shoulder. "You helped give me a second chance at life. I promise to give you one, too." She lifted her head, leaning away slightly so that she could look into his eyes. "We will get out of here and make sure these horrible creatures never return with us."
"Me and you doing some good?" He smirked.
Bonnie smiled at him, simple nodding to legitimize his question. "And everyone back home will owe us. Big."
Kai's eyebrows rose, his mind churning with different ideas.
Bonnie could already sense his plotting, and immediately set out to shut him down. "Don't get any ideas, Malachai."
Kai scowled, "My full name? Really?" He pouted when she rolled her eyes. "Okay, whatever. We'll do it for the principle of it. Not to gain any upper hand on anyone." Kai practically spit the words out as if they were poisoned. Bonnie thought it was endearing.
"Thank you," she smiled when he pouted even more.
Leaning forward, Bonnie pressed her lips against Kai's cheek without another thought or second guess. Kai stopped pouting.
0000000
Feeling buzzed from all of the positive energy, Caroline decided to jump in with a toast. "To everyone sitting at this table. We all deserve the love you two have. No regrets for anyone. Just live." Everyone cheered in unison.
0000000
Once Bonnie pulled away, Kai made sure to keep his attention focused on her. "Thank you for giving me another chance." A small smile graced his features as a subtle blush flushed his cheeks. He couldn't take his eyes off her.
Bonnie nodded, her own lips turning up into a smile meant for him. "You okay to keep moving?"
"Yeah," he confirmed while shuffling onto his feet. He felt Bonnie's hand on his arm, trying to steady him as she returned to a standing position. Reaching out, Kai grabbed her hand in his own and sighed in relief when she didn't make any move to pull away from him.
"Let's go," she stated. Kai nodded, acknowledging the plan, and they began to limp their way through the snow.
00000000
In contrast to the cheery mood, Matt—still feeling uncomfortable around his dominantly vampire friends—searched the room with his distrusting gaze and noticed the blatant absence of one of his closest friends. No one has mentioned it yet, so he decided to take the initiative even if his intentions stemmed from resentful feelings. Raising his beer, Matt's shouted over the joyful chatter, prompting everyone to turn their attention to him. "To Bonnie Bennett who isn't here. I owe my life to her. Everyone in this room does. Where is she?" He directed his gaze onto Damon who fell gravely quiet at the mention of Bonnie's name. When Damon didn't answer, Matt left.
000000
"What do you think everyone is doing back in Mystic Falls?"
Bonnie, temporarily startled by the sudden disruption of their shared but peaceful silence, turned her head to look at him, her eyes questioning. "Probably dealing with another supernatural cause of drama," she answered nonchalantly as if she were talking about the weather. Her cool tone made Kai's lips turn upward into a smirk.
Not being able to resist, Kai quipped, "So they are probably epically failing since you aren't there to fix things." He now tilted his head in her direction, finally making eye contact with her. A hint of amusement graced both of their faces, and Bonnie allowed herself to relax and smile at Kai's jokingly truthful observation.
"Maybe," she admitted as she trudged through the snow. "They could also be living a normal life. Happy." Sadness suddenly overwhelmed her at the thought of her friends enjoying their lives without her. She might as well be stuck in 1994 again or the state of purgatory she was trapped in after saving Jeremy's life. All the same, their lives would continue without her. Feeling her throat close up and the sting of tears in the corner of her eyes, Bonnie snapped her head back to the front, so her line of vision solely included the seemingly never ending path in front of them.
Oblivious to her sudden change in mood, Kai followed her lead and directed his attention to the path. "My sister probably moved her wedding date sooner to celebrate my permanent exile to another form of punishment." His eyes scanned the area as an unexpected feeling of sorrow hit him at the realization that his sister would be relieved to have him out of her life.
Bonnie detected Kai's melancholy, feeling a twist of pity for him settle in her stomach. "Probably not...I mean wedding planning takes a long time. Most couples don't rush it," she tried to offer the words of solace as indifferently as possible in order not to show just how much she might care.
Kai attempted to smile but it fell flat, "I wouldn't know."
"Me neither," she responded. "But I am a girl, trust me on this. Most girls take time to plan their weddings."
"I wouldn't blame her though," he mumbled into the crisp, night air after silence settled between them again.
"For what?" Bonnie asked, setting her brown eyes on his hunched form.
"For celebrating the fact that I'm gone," he confessed with a shrug of his shoulders. His jaw tightened and he fell quiet again, no longer finding the right words to express how he was feeling.
Bonnie understood, shuffling closer to him and wrapping her arm around his upper bicep as a sign of solidarity. The gesture cheered up Kai. They had started their journey through the forest holding hands, but somewhere along the way they separated, and not wanting to push Bonnie or ruin the progress between them, Kai kept his distance and resisted the urge to initiate contact again. But, to his surprise she was the one to do it first, and the action alleviated his distress. It reminded him that he wasn't alone. Bonnie was here with him.
00000
"Bonnie's not here." Caroline's words sounded strangled as if she needed to force herself to speak, to repeat Matt's words. Her eyes shifted around the room, landing on a quiet Jo who peered around the room anxiously.
"We could postpone everything," Jo offered weakly. Alaric grudgingly nodded, trying to give his fiancée whatever she wanted even if he wasn't happy about delaying his own happiness.
Oddly, the one person to immediately protest Jo's suggestion was the one person who witnessed Bonnie at her worst and had a cause for concern.
"No," Damon interrupted while slamming his glass on the table, causing it to shake the glasses perched on top of it. "Not necessary. The witch is fine. I just talked to her. Donovan is just being a little bitch as usual. He's always complaining about something." Damon met the glare of his girlfriend, immediately defending his words. "It's true. We're supposed to be celebrating and Matt is being a downer. Bonnie is fine. Trust me."
Caroline practically spit out her drink. "Trust you? That's hilarious." Staring him down, Caroline gripped the edge of her mug in an effort to maintain self-control. "Weren't you the last person to talk to her? Where is she? She hasn't been answering my texts." Her eyes dropped, and she was suddenly unable to look anyone in the eye, "I haven't spoken to her at all, since your little trip."
"Exactly," Damon stated, still defending himself. "I went to go see how she was after everything. Where were you, Caroline?"
She lifted her head quickly, her eyes blazing with fury. "Don't accuse me of being a bad friend."
Elena inserted herself in the conversation before Damon could respond. "He's not accusing you of being a bad friend, Caroline." Elena watched as Caroline rolled her eyes, now directing her anger towards Elena.
"Of course you need to defend him," she mumbled darkly. She could care less about Damon's bruised ego. All she could focus on was Bonnie.
"You two bickering won't achieve anything." Elena glanced at Jo and Alaric, worry etching her features. "Damon assured us that Bonnie is okay. She might just need some space and time to rest. She pulled off something major a couple of days ago..." Everyone in the room visibly tensed, knowing that Elena was talking about the rescue mission to save Damon's mother and Kai's final defeat. "She would not want anything to stall, and I know she will be at the ceremony." She smiled gently at the engaged couple, "You two should go forward with your plans."
Jo tentatively glanced at Alaric who was already watching her with pure adoration. "Okay," Jo whispered before Alaric's lips found hers. Everyone at the table couldn't resist the smiles that appeared on their faces as they watched the happy pair.
00000000000
Bonnie frowned, her lips down turned, as her eyes scanned the night sky that was surprisingly dull with no sign of the comforting presence of the moon. "No moon," she spoke to herself. Kai barely heard her, his own attention being taken by the path in front of them, which never seemed to end. Worry crept into his mind, making him feel vulnerable. He hated that.
Bonnie wracked her brain for possible spells that she and Kai could use to escape this prison world, but none of them seemed powerful enough. Glancing up at Kai, she reminded herself that wasn't alone. "Kai?" She spoke his name tentatively, feeling unsure of how to voice her insecurities and fears.
Hearing his name leave her lips spurred a quick reaction from him, and he stopped walking, forcing Bonnie to pause too.
Licking her lips, Bonnie sighed deeply. "How do we get out of here? There is no moon." Her eyes grazed the sky briefly before meeting his intense, diligent gaze. "What spell do we use?"
Kai released a shaky breath of his own, suddenly afraid of voicing his true opinion. Unbeknownst to Bonnie, Kai had thought of an idea of how they could escape, but it came with a huge risk that he wasn't sure Bonnie would be willing to take.
Bonnie noticed the nervous twitch of his mouth, and she felt compelled to ask him to share his thoughts. "Kai, c'mon...if you know a way."
"Oh I know a way," he responded grimly, "But you won't like it."
"What?" She inquired, preparing herself for the worst-case scenario.
Kai took a moment to savor looking into her eyes in case she might not want to look at him after this conversation. "Dark magic," he replied. He resisted the urge to wince when Bonnie let go of his arm to take a step backwards.
She opened her mouth to speak, but her voice was lost. Dark magic? Kai wouldn't be able to control himself.
When Bonnie didn't speak, Kai interjected. "I know you have it, Bonnie. I felt it," he murmured the last part, causing Bonnie's stomach to flutter as his gaze intensified. He made no movement to step closer to her, and Bonnie felt grateful for his sudden recognition of boundaries.
Trying to calm her erratic breathing, she inhaled deeply. "I did," she confessed. The memory of Professor Shane's sinister influence and ulterior motives still carried enough power to send shooting pangs of chills down her spine. Bonnie never lost the trace of dark magic she learned under his wing, and the power Qetsiyah gifted her as the anchor solidified the permanent presence of that power within her. But Kai couldn't know that—he might be entranced by her past in dark magic. She didn't want to risk losing this subdued version of Kai. She would feel less guilty saving this version of him than the rage induced maniac that she first met in 1994.
Not wanting to pry into her uncomfortable past, Kai skipped to the point. "You can give just a little to me as a test and see how I handle it. If I'm out of control you can stop me. You are powerful."
Bonnie watched him, her eyes weary, as she deliberated over the idea in her head. Despite the extreme risk of Kai losing his mind over the power, she desperately wanted to return home. Slowly extending her hand, Bonnie stood up straight, almost preparing herself for a battle, and waited for Kai to accept the gesture. When he did, his eyes never wavered from her own until she channeled the power to him, sending a jolt through his body and forcing Kai to slam his eyes shut while his body accepts the forceful insurgence of powerful magic flowing through his veins.
After a long moment, Kai's eyes popped open as he exhaled deeply. Cautiously, Bonnie stared at him, ready for any change in his mood that would indicate danger. "Kai?"
He met her worried gaze, nodding softly towards her. Taking a step forward, he leaned one arm against a tree Bonnie had been standing in front of and slipped one arm around her waist where he gripped the skin tightly. Kai leaned forward until his forehead rested against Bonnie's, causing her breath to hitch, but her eyes still remained open and alert—prepared for a possible threat. He closed his eyes and clenched his jaw as his grip on her tightened. "I'm good," he assured her. A smirk appeared, displaying his dimples. "How do you not tap into that magic more? It's amazing."
Narrowing her eyes at him, Bonnie retorted. "Enjoy it while it lasts, because that's the last time you'll get it from me." She stepped out of his grasp. Kai opened his eyes, seeing Bonnie's scowl, but still following her.
"What?" He asked. The smirk still hasn't left his face.
Bonnie looked him square in the eye, not backing down. "Because this magic can consume you and turn you back into the old Kai. The one I hope isn't here anymore." She crossed her arms, staring at him with guarded eyes. She couldn't trust him with that type of power, and Kai knew that. Despite Kai understanding her doubts, the idea of her so easily dismissing him like she was prepared for him to disappoint, to be an enemy, to be a threat…it made him boil inside.
His smirk disappeared, replaced by a hardened expression. The dark magic still coursed through his veins, overpowering him. "This is me. That's why you stabbed me and left me for dead, right? Because I'm evil. You'd rather die from cholera than spending one more minute with me, remember?" He inquired harshly, practically spitting out the words as if they were laced with poison while he took menacing steps toward her, once again backing her into a tree. Bonnie held her ground, quickly fighting the urge to use her magic against him and try to talk to him rationally.
"Kai," she surprised herself by her desperate tone. "Please don't do this. We're on the same side."
"Bonster," he smiled despite the rough edge to his voice. "Don't you want to take advantage of that power within you? You and me. We'd be unstoppable," he raised his arms, trying to convince her. But her face never changed—she remained serious, hesitant, and almost terrified.
"No, Kai. I don't want that kind of power. I need you to be the guy who was desperate to seek my forgiveness. The one who actually stopped to feel remorse for all that he's done. With this type of magic, I'll lose him. Why would I take that risk?"
Kai placed both arms against the tree, trapping her against it and was unfazed when she flinched. He stopped when he was at a comfortable distance from her, leaned forward, and whispered, "To get the hell out of here."
Her eyes grazed the ground, almost in defeat. There wasn't another way to get out of here if they didn't tap into the most powerful magic she could muster. Unfortunately, it was the one she vowed to never use again. Quickly glancing up, she met his gaze, suddenly feeling angry at the idea of him turning against her. She just couldn't take the risk. Unless…Bonnie bit her lip as she surveyed Kai's face. Despite being high off the dark magic he siphoned from her, he still seemed to be controlling himself with her. Suddenly, the vivid memory of the night at the rave—when a desperate, apologetic Kai sought her out for forgiveness—assaulted her mind, making her remember the interaction. 'He wanted to see you,' Damon pleaded with her that night. 'Bon?' Kai asked, timidly and desperately all at the same time, 'Did you hear me? I'm sorry.' Bonnie hadn't…no…couldn't listen to any form of an apology from him. His torment, abandonment, and manipulations distorted her view of him, and it all led to another panic attack that forced her quick escape from the situation that night. She felt so betrayed, by Damon mostly, but also incredibly uncomfortable due to Kai's change in personality. When she mustered the courage to look into his eyes that night—a quick, nervous glance—she saw sadness, regret, and care behind his distressed expression. Another memory flashed through her mind—their meeting at the restaurant when she grudgingly sought his help with the spell that would help Damon find his mother— reminding her of a sweet, nervous Kai who once again stared at her in timid, adoration. 'I'll go if you go,' he told her. The comment was oddly endearing as he gazed at her with admiration and hope.
It wasn't until now, this moment with him in the forest reliving some of those memories of a post 1994 Kai, that Bonnie suddenly realized that maybe she was Kai's weakness. He wanted her approval. Her companionship. Her trust. Maybe she could be the one in control after all.
Taking a deep breath, she maintained steady eye contact, never blinking or shying away from his intense stare. "If we do this, and I share more of it with you to do the spell," she stated with confidence that desperately tried to hide the fear seeping from her voice, "I need you to promise me you'll never ask me to give it to you again."
Kai stared her down, finally grabbing the edge of her chin. "What do I get in return?"
Bonnie's eyes focused on his lips briefly before meeting his, "Me," she stated simply.
Momentarily stupefied by her answer, Kai opened and closed his mouth several times before finding his voice again, "How?" His eyes held pure, unfiltered confusion, and for the first time since he siphoned some dark magic from her, Bonnie detected the vulnerable, tolerable, and even considerate Kai she had gotten to know briefly. The recognition sent a surge of warmth all over her body, making her dangerously close to closing the gap between them and kissing the boy she really wanted to see before he disappeared again. "You know how," she offered cryptically, but fought off a smile when Kai's eyes widened at what she was insinuating. Gulping heavily, he could only nod mechanically, like he was hypnotized by her suggestion. The effects of the magic began to wear off and his head felt clear again.
"Promise?" She asked, her stomach twisting in nervous euphoria that her assumption could be correct—Kai would do anything as long as she returned his affection.
Kai didn't answer verbally, instead reassuring Bonnie of his promise with his lips against hers. Bonnie hummed softly as she returned the after a brief moment of hesitation, her mouth opening to trace his lips with her tongue. Kai obliged, deepening the kiss as their mouths mingled together. Bonnie stifled a moan when she felt Kai grab onto her inner thigh, squeezing it once before lifting her up in the air. Their kisses slowed down until they both stared at each other while panting heavily.
"Just to be clear," Kai spoke, his voice husky from the kiss, "This wouldn't be a one time thing right?" He watched her, worried about her denial.
Bonnie, still struggling to regain her breath, simply tilted her head so that she could press her lips against his jaw, allowing them to linger there as Kai sighed in relief. "No," she mumbled against his skin. She yelped when Kai adjusted her weight, locking his arms more firmly around her legs to hold her.
"Good," he murmured before pressing his lips against hers in a chaste kiss. As the kiss continued, Bonnie's mind raced with various thoughts ranging from 'Are you crazy? Do you know what you are doing?' 'Will this work?' But when Kai deepened the kiss again, her thoughts became jumbled, and she could only concentrate on the feeling of his lips pressed against her own.
They both melted into the kiss, allowing it to drag out for as long as possible before breaking away.
Bonnie tried to catch her breath, her eyes closing briefly when she felt Kai's lips against her neck and his mumbled apology against her skin. "I'm sorry," he admitted quietly. "For earlier."
Nodding along to his apology, Bonnie ran her hand down his cheek as her heart fluttered with genuine relief and her cheeks blushed at the realization that she was right—she really meant something to him. The relief that consumed her due to his genuine apology almost convinced her that tapping into dark magic was a possibility, but she still felt resistant. How would she know Kai wouldn't lose his mind after experiencing the addictive qualities of dark magic? She almost lost the battle herself. "Please keep your promise," she mumbled more to herself than to Kai, but he heard it.
He gripped her tighter, embracing her once more before reluctantly placing her down on the ground, but never releasing her. "Let's get out of here."
Her eyes fluttered closed when he kissed her forehead, sending chills down her spine. She felt herself drawn to him, and she unconsciously extended her arm out to cling to him when he began to back away from her. Her eyes snapped open, suddenly aware of her own body's natural instinct to be near him, sending a quick surge of panic through her. Maybe the feeling was mutual between them. When Kai pulled her against him, pressing his lips against her cheek before bearing down on her lips in a bruising kiss, Bonnie had her proof—her knees weakened, her head spun, and she felt weightless. The feelings were most definitely mutual. He broke the kiss, stroking her cheek affectionately as he framed her face in his hands. "We'll need to wait at least another night for the a sign of the moon and then we can do the spell. I promise, I'll control myself." She detected the desperation in his voice. He was clearly pleading with her to trust that he won't lose control. She unconsciously leaned against him, squeezing his arms in acknowledgement, feeling comforted by his emotional attachment to her, even if she didn't completely understand why or how it happened. For whatever reason, she mattered to him, and this would be the only thing that would work in her favor if they used the dangerously powerful type of magic to get them out of this prison world.
"Okay," she agreed. "We'll get out of here."
00000000
After Alaric and Jo made the decision to resume their quick wedding plans, the celebration reached it's finishing point. "Let's get out here," announced Damon as he squeezed Elena's leg before getting up. As everyone joined his lead, exchanging goodbyes, his thoughts traveled to Bonnie, wondering if she was okay. He didn't want to believe the gut feeling that told him she would do something reckless like go back to the prison world out of guilt for leaving Kai there, but he just forced the thoughts out of his mind, practically yelling at himself for being ridiculous. She wouldn't do that nor could she by herself. He did have to beg her to ask for Kai's help the first time. He gulped as the image of her lost gaze staring into the fire consumed his memory, but he quickly snapped out of his deep thoughts when Elena kissed his cheek.
"You okay?" she whispered.
Damon met her worried eyes and nodded his head, leading her out of the room.
000000000
Bonnie spaced out briefly, only returning to reality when Kai tightened his grip on her face. "Hey," he muttered, "You okay?"
Releasing a shaky breath, Bonnie could only manage a small smile that looked more like a grimace. "I'm trying to be." Her eyes surveyed the surroundings suspiciously, "Let's move more and then we'll settle somewhere to build a fire. It's going to be a long night." She finally stepped away from him, starting to move forward. After a couple of steps, she felt Kai's arm loop around her waist while he walked beside her. Every once in a while, she felt his hand slip under her waist length coat to brush against the patch of skin exposed by the end of her sweater. At the contact, her thoughts drifted back to her earlier proposition—she did tell him he would have her if he agreed to be good about staying in control. Perhaps, Kai interpreted that to be more physical than she originally meant. The idea of her and Kai being intimate stole her breath away, sending a chill through her body that ended as dull ache. He kept stroking her skin, oblivious to the effect it was having on her, and she felt herself stopping in her tracks suddenly. The spell could have so many different consequences, which made her wonder if she'll never get the chance to know what it's like to be with Kai. They were alone here. Consequences didn't seem to exist if they were so separate from the real world. Maybe…
Running her hands through her hair, Bonnie tried to control her beating heart and distract herself from her taboo thoughts. "We can stop here," she stated shakily before clearing her throat. Quickly meeting Kai's eyes, she pointed to some fallen branches. We can build a fire here." She bent down to gather the wood, not glancing at Kai who joined her. Once they arranged everything, Bonnie grabbed a stray stick, breaking it in half and started to rub both pieces together in a futile effort to start a fire. Kai watched her with a mix of confusion and amusement before muttering something in Latin under his breath, engulfing the firewood into flames.
Bonnie looked up in surprise, missing Kai's satisfied smirk, and felt his arms wrap around her, Before she could resist, Kai had pulled her onto his lap, placing his chin on her shoulder and nuzzling his nose against her neck. "Fire's built," he murmured against her skin, slipping his hand under coat again and this time trailing his hand lower until it grazed the spot under the opening of her jeans. Bonnie jumped in surprise, a protest immediately leaving her lips, "Kai," she whispered while grabbing his hand.
She felt his hand leave her skin quickly, making her feeling cold. "I'm sorry," he sputtered nervously. "I wasn't thinking."
Bonnie closed her eyes, listening to his apologies with guilt ridden thoughts of her own. She had the same idea as him before. Feeling bold, she twisted around so that both of her legs fell on either side of his hips, straddling him. She noticed his eyes widen and resisted the urge to laugh at his sudden nervous reaction. "It's okay," she soothed. Looking into his eyes, she took a deep breath. "What if we don't make it back?" She stared into his eyes longingly, licking her lips as she watched his dazed expression.
"We will," Kai reassured her. He frowned when she rubbed a thumb across his lips.
"But if we don't," her voice drops. Her fingers move to the buttons of her coat, undoing them one by one. Kai's eyes widened when he began to register exactly what Bonnie was suggesting. His gaze darkened when she lost her coat, beginning to unbutton the sweater underneath. He reached forward to stop her movements, pulling her even closer to him.
"Bon," he whispered, "What? We don't have to—" he paused when she placed a small kiss on the tip of his nose.
"I know," she replied shakily. "I just want to feel close. We're here alone away from everyone…" she trailed off, releasing a deep breath as the words spilled from her lips.
Kai ran a hand through her hair, trailing his other hand against her back. "Where no one can interrupt us," he continued quietly. He saw Bonnie's chest heave gently at his words, and he leaned forward to peck her lips gently. Bonnie closed her eyes at the contact, sighing loudly. She had no idea what possessed her to make such a bold move, but the urge to be as close as possible to him overwhelmed her. She didn't want to think about right or wrong. She just wanted him. When she opened her eyes, she noticed he had taken off his own coat and felt his hands grip her thighs so that he could gently flip them over until she was lying on his open coat. Before she could take another breath, his lips were on hers, kissing her fiercely, and their fingers interlaced together. Bringing her arms over her head, Kai pressed himself against her, inciting a small moan from Bonnie. He smirked at the reaction, deepening the kiss before pulling away to look into her eyes.
"Are you sure?," he asked as his eyes dodged back and forth between hers.
Bonnie exhaled slowly, her heart racing. Her mind wasn't screaming at her to stop. She didn't want to. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Bonnie nodded her head, whispering "yes" before Kai's lips crashed against hers in a feverish kiss. The crackling fire was the only sound that complimented the hushed whispers and sweet words exchanged between Bonnie and Kai that night.
A/N: I know it has been so long. I'm sorry! I have one more chapter and an epilogue planned for this story. I took my time writing this chapter though and made it extra long, so I hope that makes up for the wait! Thank you to all who have left reviews and are reading! I appreciate them all and all of you who are reading! :)