Sorry it took me so long to update. Between school and work, it is hard to find time to write. I wish I could write whenever I want, but school is my number one priority and I have to stay focused, so some times I will update rather quickly and other times it will take me a while. Plus, I would rather make sure my story is of great quality, so it might take longer for me to update cause I want it to be perfect. I am sorry if that me not updating quickly is a problem. I really hope y'all choose to stick with me cause I really enjoy writing this story and reading y'alls feedback. Okay, I am done rambling.

Enjoy the chapter!

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Chapter 6: Ashes and Wine

Bonnie's arm fell from her captor's hand and back to its home next to her side. "What do you want, Kai?"

"Kai? I am not Kai,"

Bonnie's face scrunched up and her eyes narrowed at the tall boy. "And I should believe that why?"

"Because Kai is too arrogant. He would not lie about who he is. Too much pride in himself." The brunette growled.

"Then what do you want?" Bonnie's arm tightened across her chest. Even if the boy in front of her was not Kai—he could still be a threat.

"I want to help you. No one thinks you can get Kol out without letting Kai out, right?"

"And you think I can?" Bonnie's words came out slow like pouring molasses into a pot. Slow and skeptical.

"No. I don't. I think Kai will get out no matter what you do, but the difference is—I want Kai out."

Bonnie concluded the boy was insane and wanted havoc wreaked on the world. "Why?"

"Cause I want out and then I am going to kill him." His words were so confident like Kai was already in front of him with a snapped neck.

"And why should I let you out?"

"Because you want Kol out and I am the first person telling you to do it." He shrugged at the thought. It seemed so simple to him.

"Where is Kol?"

"Lexi is giving him a very long speech about being mean to you or something."

"Lexi? How many people are over here? And where are they?" Bonnie's body was no longer as tense as before. If he wanted to hurt her, he would have by now.

"Anyone with unfinished business and killed supernaturally is over here. They just are in different spots and whatnot. Lexi and I have been here for a while together—and we actually like Kol. He didn't deserve to die. Kai, on the other hand, can rot in hell."

"You want Lexi out too, don't you?"

He nodded at her making Bonnie let out huff. "I'm not strong enough to let everyone out."

"I'm not asking for everyone. I'm asking for Kol, me, and her. That's it."

"But you want Kai out too. Why can't he just stay?"

Jeremy huffed trying to keep a hold on his temper. Since dying, Lexi and more recently Kol have helped him try not to have his outbursts. "Cause he isn't dead. This is a prison to him. He is still very real. They wanted him to suffer, and if he gets a hold of you—he will take your magic and let himself out. I want him dead, not locked away where he can possibly get out."

Bonnie sighed. "How can I trust you?"

"You'll know soon enough. Just remember, I'm Jeremy Gilbert."

Before Bonnie could ask why she needed to remember his name, she was waking up in her room, hopeful in the days to come.

Caroline rummaged through her bag making sure she had her homework for her next class when she slammed into a body. Arms went around her waist to steady her. "I'm sorry."

She pushed her hair behind her ear glancing up to only connect eyes with none other than Stefan Salvatore. "You okay?"

His hands were still resting comfortably on her hips making her tense. She pulled away from him—her face turning a warm shade of pink. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure? Elena said that your—"

"I'm fine, Stefan." Her smile was small. Just enough to comfort the boy in front of her. "It isn't something you need to worry about."

She skirted around him with vampire grace, praying in her mind that he would walk away in the other direction. God must have had her on mute today because she could hear his light footsteps behind her. "Even if we aren't—well I still worry about you, Caroline."

She spun around—his walking coming to a complete halt. "Please tell me you aren't about to say we can still be friends."

"Why can't we? You're the one that said we shouldn't see each other anymore."

Caroline glanced over his shoulder not wanting to look into his eyes. He was right. They didn't need to be together. She was the one that said it first. She didn't want him ending up hurt. That didn't mean she could be friends with him. That she could sit in a room with him and act like nothing ever happened because she did care about him and she missed him dreadfully.

"I know I did, but it doesn't make it easy. I just—I can't be friends with you, Stefan."

"Why not?"

"Because it would only be a matter of time before we are alone and then we would fall back into what we know."

"Well, I don't think I could do that." His words fumbled out of him mouth awkwardly.

"Oh?"

"I am seeing someone."

Caroline took a sharp intake of air. Silently and unnoticed by Stefan who stared at anything but her. Here she was sad and missing him when he never even cared about her. How could she be so stupid? Of course he was seeing someone. He couldn't handle not getting laid. He ended things with her only a week ago and now he had someone else falling asleep on the right side of his bed.

"Oh." Caroline's voice was low and raspy, trying her hardest not to reveal the sadness enveloping her. "That's awesome. I hope it works out for you."

"Caroline—" Stefan reached for her hand, but she snatched it away and out of his grasp. He didn't get to touch her. Not when someone else waited for him.

"I need to go."

"I'm sorry."

She officially was pathetic. He was apologizing for finding someone that wasn't her. She squinted her eyes at him. She needed to fix this. "Sorry? You don't need to be sorry. I am really happy for you. I am sure she is great. And stable. I just really need to go." Her tongue spat out the words so quickly before her legs went as fast as a human could move.

Stefan watched her go cursing himself. He thought telling her he was seeing someone would make things easier for him, but listening to her breath catch as he said it made him squirm. He wanted her to forget about him and he didn't need to be with someone he could really care about it. Like her. She could be everything to him, but she couldn't. So he needed to let her go.

She sat in her usual seat trying to find a new outlook on her immortal life. Repeating the mantra of not to glare at Stefan flirting with his new girlfriend. Why flirt when he is already dating her?

"You stare any harder, you might literally burn her hair off."

"I'm not glaring, Elena. I just think he can do better," Caroline shrugged.

"Right."

"Excuse me, I am trying to pay attention." Caroline's eyes hardened at the annoying vapid girl in front of her. She was just snippy cause Stefan dropped her.

Isn't that why you are snippy?

Elena made a mocking face at the girl who flung her hair back ridding herself of Caroline and Elena. Caroline looked at Elena with annoyance and disbelief making Elena snort with laughter.

Soon class was let out and Elena was questioning Caroline's well-being. "You sure you are okay?"

"Of course I am not okay with it, but me being completely unokay with it doesn't change anything," Caroline rambled—her hands moving in all sorts of directions.

"I don't think unokay is technically a word,"

"Shut up. But seriously, it never would have worked between us, so I just need to get over it."

"You know I hate to say this but she is really nice."

"I know she is. It sucks. I would rather it be Ms. Priss Pants so then I have reason to be annoyed."

Elena sped up to grab the door a boy held out of them. She flashed a generous smile—he glancing down at her finger with her wedding ring holding it captive. The boy instantly avoided eye contact and shuffled away.

"Why do people do that? I'm young and married. Does it mean it is contagious," Elena growled. Caroline let out a small giggle.

"Maybe he thought you were cute."

"Did I tell you a kid the other day explained to me that his parents married at nineteen and now they are divorced? Damon and I have been together for so long—"

"I mean technically, how long? You are only nineteen."

Elena cursed herself. She really needed to sharpen up on her vampire to human interaction. "Still, feels like it has been forever so everyone needs to mind their own damn business."

Caroline noticed the stutter in Elena's tone and felt this overwhelming dread that Elena was keeping something from her. The pieces would come together at some point, but for now Caroline was just ready to lose someone else she had grown to care for.

All class, Bonnie could not get this Jeremy boy out of her mind. He seemed so sure in his plan, so sure he could save everyone, so sure Bonnie was strong enough—she believed in herself because of him.

She needed to know more of this confident man. She just had no idea where to begin. When she got home, she began digging. She searched his name on the internet only finding a few mugshots and learning he was from Mystic Falls. He had no social media and she didn't know how to look for Lexi so her search came to an abrupt end. Or maybe it hadn't. If he is from Mystic Falls then Elena most likely knew he was. She maybe even went to school with him. She would have to find a way to bring him up to her. Maybe look through one of Elena's old years books.

"Have you ever heard of Elena mention a Jeremy?" Bonnie asked Caroline that night at dinner.

"Not that I know of. Why?"

"Well I went over to the other side—" At Caroline's glare, Bonnie added, "I wanted to say goodbye, but he wasn't there. Jeremy was."

"Bonnie, you could have been hurt."

"He didn't want to hurt me though. He wants me to let him out."

Caroline rolled her eyes, sitting her plate on their coffee table. She pulled her legs on to the sofa, crossing them and holding Bonnie's hand. "He could be Kai."

"I know this sounds crazy, but I don't think he was. I—I trusted him. He talked of Kol like he knew him and he wanted to let this girl named Lexi—"

"Now that name sounds familiar. A friend of Stefan's name was Lexi. Died a few years ago. He was really broken up about it."

Bonnie raised an eyebrow. "Can't be the same person right?"

"Can't be."

"It just all seems too weird. Maybe next time we are at Elena's we can ask to see a yearbook or something." Bonnie suggested as she grabbed the remote and flipped on the TV to find something to watch.

It was rather silly since within ten minutes of them switching on a movie, the two girls would always end up laughing and talking—forgetting about the movie.

Damon had been summoned bright and early by Jo and Alaric. Walking into the house, he was ransacked by a little boy. "Uncle Damon!"

Damon looked down at the bright blond boy and lifted him into his arms with ease. "What are you doing home, Luke? Shouldn't you be in school?"

The nine year old boy rolled his eyes. "Teacher work day."

"Where's your sister, then?" Damon looked around the living room only seeing Annabelle in her play pen and a video game left unattended.

"She's right there?" Luke pointed at Annabelle who giggled.

"You're twin sister, Luke."

"Oh. She's at some girl's house."

Damon shook his head at the disgusted look on Luke's face.

When Jo got pregnant with the twins, they had just sent Kai back to his prison world. Kai had killed Luke, Jo's younger brother, in a fit of rage when Jo refused to merge with him. Luke believed he could beat Kai, so he merged. Luke lost. When Jo learned she was having a boy, she felt it was only right to name it after the brother who saved her. She feared Luke and his twin sister, Grey, would have to merge for the coven, but the coven destroyed the twin merge after what happened with Kai.

"Damon," Jo's voice was solemn as she said his name.

"Alright little man. Watch Annabelle while your mom and I talk." Damon let Luke settle on his feet before he followed Jo to a back study room.

"What's up?" Damon asked closing the door behind him and staring at his best friend.

"It's a Bennett witch."

Bennett. Oh the Bennett witches. They were known to be part of the most powerful line of witches. Damon believed Emily was the last one. He never thought he would have to deal with another one.

"Fuck." He muttered.

If it was true a Bennett witch was trying to release Kol Mikaelson then they had no chance of defeating her.

Kai was going to be let out again.

And all for a fucking Mikaelson.

Don't know what to do anymore
I've lost the only love worth fighting for
I'll drown in my tear storming sea,
That would show you, that would make you hurt like me

All the same
I don't want mudslinging games
It's such a shame
To let you walk away

Is there a chance?
A fragment of light at the end of the tunnel?
A reason to fight?
Is there a chance you may change your mind?
Or are we ashes and wine?

Don't know if our fate's already sealed
This day's spinning circus on a wheel
I'm ill with the thought of your kiss
Coffee laced intoxicating on her lips

Shut it out
I've got no claim on you now
Not allowed to wear your freedom down

Is there a chance?
A fragment of light at the end of the tunnel?
A reason to fight?
Is there a chance you may change your mind?
Or are we ashes and wine?

I'll tear myself away
That is what you need
There is nothing left to say
But

Is there a chance?
A fragment of light at the end of the tunnel?
A reason to fight?
Is there a chance you may change your mind?
Or are we ashes and wine?
The day's still ashes and wine
Or are we ashes?

By: A Fine Frenzy

Till then, Cheers and Smiles All Around