And so the castle made of sand slips to the sea, eventually

-Jimi Hendrix

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Kol's nimble fingers danced across the black and white piano keys, leaping over the keyboard. Bonnie held her breath as the savagery of his tune plucked her gyrating nerves. He wasn't playing fairy dust notes but every stroke was drenched in striking agony. He was beautiful when he played like that, every note soaked in his sweet sweat.

When he finally paused to study his sheets and relate back to the small blonde in a tightly fitted pencil skirt leaning over the grand piano, Bonnie waved.

Climbing down the small stairs, he waved back as an infectious dimpled grin spread over his flushed face.

"You smell like a brewery"

Kol moaned when they hugged.

"You like?'

She teased as her arms snaked tightly around his waist. Feeling Kol's heat through his damp denim shirt, she wound herself tighter around him and he cupped both his hands around the back of her neck.

"You do know that being a music journalist doesn't require you to live the debaucherous life of the artists you interview, right?" he said gazing down at her with the bright strobe lights catching in his whiskey coloured eyes.

"I know but its fun" she chuckled huskily while cupping his ass with both hands.

"Who were you cornering today then?"

"Alabama"

"Alabama?"

"The one and only Damon Salvatore"

"A pet name for your rockstar? "He grinned cocking his eyebrows "Darling, should I be worried?"

"Come on, I wanna celebrate"

"What are we celebrating?"

"An exclusive with Mr Alabama himself and possibly Restless Soul"

"Yeah, you got it?"

"Yeah, I got the exclusive"

"Nobody can say no to you, can they?"

"You seem quite capable, "her voice caught in lust as her hands grabbed his swelling crotch "on the regular too lately"

"And speaking of, "he glanced back toward the stage "I gotta go back to rehearsals"

"Uhmm…" he broke her speech with the soft groan of his warm mouth slanting over hers.

"You suck!" she exclaimed spanking his ass as Kol scampered off toward the platform.

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"How's Seattle, cupcake?"

"It was damp, dull and dreary up until today" Bonnie shrugged, pulling out a bottle of red wine from her grocery bags.

"I know, I'm your big ray of your sunshine" Katherine chuckled softly on the other side. Bonnie pictured her slouched on her sofa buried in albums she was reviewing for Mainstay Magazine's Manhattan office.

"Yeah, "Bonnie rolled her eyes struggling to remove the cork from the bottle "I'm referring to the Restless Soul interview that I just scored"

"I hate you!"

"How's Kol coping with his looming concert?"

Bonnie paused listening to her boyfriend playing an out of tune unchained melody in the next room.

"You know how he gets"

She finally managed to pull out the cork and collected two glasses from the top cupboard.

"Hmm he must be extra antsy this time then"

"Why is that?"

"You don't know?"

"What is it Katherine?"

"His brother has a concert there in Seattle in a few weeks"

"What?" Bonnie shook her head "Kol's show is in a few weeks"

"Hey, no love lost between brothers right? I wonder if the great Mikael Mikaelson will be making a turn to Emerald City"

"Which brother is it?' biting her lower lip, she poured a generous amount of merlot into each glimmering glass.

"The incredible piano maestro himself, Elijah Mikaelson"

Bonnie stood in the kitchen a while longer starring at the cordless phone resting on their pinewood table while the rain persisted outside.

"Kol," she began leaning against the doorway "that was Katherine…"

"Not now Bonnie, "he replied with a quick glimpse over his shoulder.

He knew that she knew.

Strolling over to him, she placed her hands on his stiff shoulders and his muscles pulsed beneath her bare palms. Kol held her right hand and pulled her round to him so that she could seat on his lap.

"The wine's ready, "she curled her fingers into his soft hair motioning toward the kitchen.

He kissed her shoulder whispering, "I love you."

#

A week later, Bonnie was standing at the back of another rehearsal hall tugging on Damon's flannel sleeve as they watched Restless Soul live on stage.

"I-feel-the walls are closing in, need you to-feed-my-pain cause you're my gasoline-want you to burn me babe!"

"I-can-just levitate-your psychedelic eyes-they feed my pain!"

He was phenomenal, Bonnie thought as they stood watching Alaric's guitar riff. His crafty hands teased the chords fretting each string with his skilled fingers. As the guitar mewled, Bonnie swore she saw a small tear in the corner of Damon's closed eyes.

Bonnie and Damon made their way to the front of the hall as the band assembled at the bottom of the stage.

"Thanks for coming, buddy" He nodded rapping his denim with his calloused knuckles.

"Alaric, "Damon stammered, the words falling from his chapped lips.

Ruffling his dark curls and popping the collar of his black denim jacket, the smallest one grinned at Bonnie.

"I'm Enzo" he said gruffly taking her hand to his lips, his gaze fixed on her as he pressed his lips to her warm palm. Bonnie's stomach dipped as she snatched her hand back from his fierce grip.

"Music doesn't lie"

The last band member called as he took giant steps toward them. He was rugged in a distressed leather jacket, his sandy hair long enough to curl against his tanned neck.

"You must be Damon Salvatore, I'm Mason"

"Mason Lockwood, I know" Damon replied sheepishly, his lips curving into a deeper grin.

"This is Bonbon, "Damon offered when Mason began examining her face, his misty-blue eyes drifting to her Pink Floyd t-shirt as if studying the patterns stretched across her chest.

"Bonnie, "she corrected him with a nudge to his ribs "I'm Bonnie Bennett" she said realizing that she had been holding her breath the entire time. There was too much distressed leather and testosterone in the room and it was making her dizzy.

"Is she yours?" Mason asked scooping up an electric guitar and handing it to Damon.

"I'm a music journalist and I don't belong to anyone" Bonnie spat turning a light shade of crimson.

Enzo shrugged taking out a ripe red apple from his jacket pocket "Think I would have preferred a groupie, mate" he said as he began peeling its glossy skin with a switchblade, the knife blade flickering in the sunlight. He bit into the fruit, its juice sluicing down his bristled chin as his dark eyes stayed locked on her. Moving closer to Damon, Bonnie folded her arms and dragged her curious gaze back to the dishevelled band leader with salt and pepper hair.

"Rock n roll is freedom" Alaric declared folding his arms as he sauntered to the back row seats.

"Come on buddy," he motioned for Damon "show us what you got"

Bonnie's eyes met Damon's as the song began.

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