'I shouldn't trust you but how can I help it when I've never felt as safe as I do in your arms?'
"My family's throwing a ball," Kol announced nonchalantly one afternoon.
Bonnie faltered mid-word from where she was working on her Latin translations as Kol's words registered. Or rather failed to register.
"What?"
"It's partly to celebrate us all being back together but also a tactical maneuver on Elijah's part as the coffin still hasn't been retrieved through Klaus' preferred method of violence."
"Your family's throwing a ball? Like an actual ball?" Bonnie clarified.
Kol hummed in agreement, "Elijah's old-fashioned. He's also convinced that it will endear us to the council and officials of Mystic Falls. A town-wide ball is good for local businesses."
Bonnie stared at Kol for a moment, gaze narrowed in thought.
"You've done this before, haven't you? Thrown a party to honor you Mikaelsons but also to appeal to those who may otherwise object to your presence."
Kol smirked at her words, impressed rather than irritated at being called out.
"Of course we have. Elijah prefers the diplomatic approach, sucking up to politicians and showing what we can bring to the table so that they'll look the other way. Nik goes along with it because he likes the ego stroke of having a ball thrown in his honor."
Bonnie just stared blankly at him for a moment as she tried to process this new information. Kol didn't seem bothered by her silence from where he was stretched out atop her covers, legs crossed at the ankle as he flicked through the journal of spells Bonnie had previously performed that Kol had asked her to write. It was supposed to give him an idea of her skills but it had just felt like homework. He'd gotten comfortable in her home surprisingly quickly once she'd invited him in. It should have been unnerving to see him nonchalantly occupying her space but so many things were weird about her life that this barely registered on the scale.
"Well, have fun schmoozing with the council then." She finally settled on, before turning back around to work on her Latin.
"Oh nice try, you're coming."
"I don't have time for a ball, Kol."
"Of course you do! You don't have to work on the coffin anymore nor help the Salvatores with their plans, your witchy responsibilities have dramatically decreased."
Bonnie resisted the urge to either roll her eyes or whine, either was a plausible reaction.
"I've still got normal teenage responsibilities like school, I'll have homework."
"Unlikely, all the school staff are being invited, Elijah's using it as a parent-teacher conference."
Bonnie turned to face Kol in confusion, "He does know that's not how those work, right?"
"Of course he does but he's going to play the part of confused, out-of-touch, millennium-old vampire to get what he wants," Kol smirked.
Bonnie shook her head. Yeah, she wasn't dealing with that one. The Mikaelsons were insane and would just do whatever they saw fit apparently.
"Well, I suppose you could just leave your friends and the town's people at the mercy of the world's oldest vampires." Kol sighed slyly, trying a different tactic when she still didn't give in.
Bonnie turned around to glare at him through narrowed eyes. That was low. Though not entirely unexpected from Mikaelson. Kol merely smiled, amused by her ire and completely unrepentant for his devious tactics. He knew she took her friend's safety seriously even now. Not that Kol knew that they weren't on speaking terms, she hadn't divulged that part.
"Well, I don't have a dress so I'm still not going." Bonnie tried one last time to wheedle her way out of it.
"Leave that to me."
Bonnie sighed before turning to face the relentless Original. She really wanted to get this Latin done but it seemed this conversation wasn't going to end without an agreement.
"You're not going to let this go are you?"
"Not at all."
"Fine, but nothing ridiculous."
"I make no promises."
~x~
Kol tried not to linger on the past whenever possible, it was exceedingly dull after all. A thousand years was simply too much time to reminisce over. But the approaching ball was bringing up memories of a certain reincarnated guest.
"Dance with me?" A voice asked as a slender hand appeared in his vision.
Kol turned to the owner of the hand with apprehension, he knew who it belonged to after all. Marie was regarding him nervously though there was a fierce determination in her eyes that told him she'd challenge any refusal he may attempt to levy at her.
He took her hand and led her out to the dance floor instead of doing as she expected, it would only delay the inevitable after all.
A ball was being held in his family's honor. They'd proven their value to the court here in France in order to be able to stay here in secrecy while on the run from their father. He'd attempted to wrangle himself out of the obligation but Elijah had been very firm in his insistence that he be there. And Klaus may have threatened to dagger him if he hadn't been in attendance too.
The dance was different than the ones he'd grown familiar with as a child but even these steps came to him with ease as he moved her across the ballroom amongst the other dance partners.
"You've been avoiding me."
"Apologies my lady."
"I think we're beyond such formalities Kol." Marie reprimanded lightly, Kol barely managed a smile in response causing the lady to sigh. "One might almost think you were afraid of me."
"Not afraid, my lady." He answered simply as they weaved their way between the other couples.
"Then what is it? Because my nights are filled with women wearing my face and I found myself knowing you better than my own husband. And yet you can't even look at me."
Kol finally looked away from the other guests to meet his dance partner's gaze at her prompting.
"You'll have to forgive me for my trespasses my lady, it's not exactly pleasant to bear witness to the very visage of my dead wife and the two women I hadn't been able to save. I was trying to spare you the same grief."
Marie stared at him silently for a moment. An indecipherable look on her face as she just stared back at him.
"Their deaths weren't your fault."
Kol let out a bitter laugh, "I think you'll find I'm entirely at fault, my lady."
"It's Marie, Kol." He spun her out then as if he didn't want to hear what she had to say. So she waited until he reeled her back in to continue. "Mikael killed Renata to get at Klaus and Ayana cast the spell. The Brotherhood was responsible for Solavita and Livina sealed her own fate. We are our own people regardless of our faces Kol, you cannot take responsibility for all of our choices."
Kol was quiet for a beat as he considered her words, it wouldn't lessen the guilt he felt but he couldn't deny the truth of it either.
"I suppose you're right."
"Of course I am, I'm not a child Kol I don't need you to protect my feelings."
Kol smiled lightly. He remembered a time when Renata used to lecture him for much the same.
"Oh, a smile that's new." Marie teased.
"Minx." Kol shot back before spinning her out across the dance floor again, drawing her back in with a giggle.
"You always were a better dancer than your brothers, Kol." Marie smiled up at him but it looked different now. More relaxed and open than the courtesan's usual expression.
Marie shouldn't know that. Shouldn't know the very words Renata used to whisper in his ear around the bonfire.
"We haven't danced like this since the solstice."
"Renata?" Kol stuttered, his heart squeezing painfully in his chest.
"Of course who else would it be?" Marie wore her confusion genuinely and Kol detected no lie from her. "Where are we Kol? I don't recognize this place."
The furrowed brow didn't belong on the face of a Countess but it was an expression Renata wore frequently when confiding in him her worries.
"Ponthieu my dear. You know that." Kol answered breezily, still feeling off-kilter but not wanting his siblings to realize if they were listening in.
"Ponthieu? Kol what are you talking about? Where's the village?" Renata wearing Marie's face turned to look up at him, confusion marring her face.
His chest tightened further at the sight. It had been two centuries since he'd lost her and yet here she was in his arms once more in the flesh of another. By the Gods Ayana, what have you done, Kol thought to himself.
"It's 1243, my dear."
"1243? Don't be rid-" Renata chuckled before a look of realization fell over her features. "Mikael."
Kol nodded tightly.
"How am I here?"
"Ayana performed a spell of some kind to preserve your soul."
"Two hundred years." Grief settled over her features as she became lost in thought. "We've been apart for over two hundred years."
Kol didn't say anything to this realization, continuing with the steps to the dance as he allowed her to process. Renata followed along easily despite being unfamiliar with the dance, perhaps just being Marie's body was enough to give her that knowledge he mused to himself.
She was still lost in thought when she stumbled. Her hand clutched desperately at his shoulder as she blinked rapidly as she tried to clear the dazed look that had settled over her.
"What's wrong with me? Or the body I possess rather, I suppose."
"It's Marie, she's sick, the spell must be draining her." Kol's hold tightened on her as he felt her slacken in his arms, his panicking mounting as did her's.
"Kol." She pleaded desperately as she weakened further.
Her eyes rolled back in her head as she lost consciousness. Kol felt his panic spike as he lost his wife for a second time. Oh gods, Marie, Kol realized, what would happen to her? The young Countess had been frail for a lifetime long before he'd even met her, what if this was too much for her.
Kol felt himself become surrounded as he drooped with the limp form of the Countess. To an outsider, it probably looked like it was the sudden dead weight that drove him to his knees rather than the fear and worry that another would lose their life to this dratted spell because of him.
Kol barely registered her husband Simon relinquishing his hold on Marie as he whisked her away. Or the firm grip of Elijah's hand as it came to rest on his shoulder, the same shoulder his wife had clutched at only moments before.
What the hell had just happened?
~x~
Bonnie had completely forgotten about Kol's suggestion that he'd get her a dress for his family's ball, in all honesty, she had thought he was joking. So she was a little surprised to find a large box tied with a satin ribbon sitting neatly in the middle of her bed when she came home from school one day. She stared at the box warily, not certain what to expect. Kol had been in a box for a century, what did he consider appropriate attire? What the hell did one even wear to a ball?
She took a couple of steps closer until she could see the cream envelope tucked safely behind the equally cream ribbon. She pulled it free, staring at her name written in perfectly looped calligraphy. She almost felt as though she shouldn't be touching it. Even just the envelope was weighty and clearly of expensive material. Bonnie had the sudden absurd thought that she should wash her hands, lest she stain the cream parchment with the ink smudges spotting her hands.
Shaking the thought free, she tore the envelope open to reveal the cream parchment of her invitation to the ball.
Please Join The
MIKAELSON FAMILY
This Saturday Evening at Seven O'Clock
for dancing, cocktails, and celebrations
For a moment Bonnie thought that was all the information the invitation contained until she noticed a flash of black against cream on the back of her invitation. There were two separate messages written there. One from Kol that had her rolling her eyes. But it was the other above it that had her wary.
I look forward to meeting you Miss Bennett, we have much to discuss - Finn Mikaelson.
Well, she hadn't been expecting that. What exactly did Finn want from her?
Shaking her head Bonnie picked the box up that surely contained her dress and stuffed it back into her closet, she didn't think she could cope with seeing what Kol had picked out for her just yet. She placed the invitation on her nightstand and pulled out her phone.
Bonnie:
You know when I gave you an invitation into my home it wasn't for you to leave surprise gifts in my room
"Well, I did tell you I'd procure you a dress, so it's not exactly a surprise." Bonnie jumped in surprise at the sound of Kol's voice behind her.
Bonnie whirled round to face the vampire that was crossing the threshold of her bedroom with a glare.
"The point of a text is to text back, not an excuse to give me a fright." Bonnie reprimanded.
Kol just grinned at her as he got comfy against the headboard of her bed. Bonnie rolled her eyes, there was no point lecturing him when she knew he was determined not to hear her. He'd do what he wanted. She was just glad that he hadn't also been waiting for her along with the box, she hadn't sensed any vampires beyond the home's wards when she'd returned home meaning he'd only just arrived to give her a fright.
"Do you like it?" Kol asked instead.
Bonnie took a seat at the end of her bed, sitting cross-legged beside Kol's feet.
"I haven't looked at it."
"What? Why not?"
"Because if I look at it, and I don't like it then I'll feel compelled to go and get something else instead of being resigned to my fate." She shrugged.
That was partly it. The other reason was that she was worried about what Kol had gotten her. The idea of attending a ball was daunting enough without the knowledge that all of the Mikaelsons would be in attendance. It was worse knowing that she was once again reliant on Kol for guidance in this scenario. She wanted to ignore the proof of that for as long as possible. She could and would pretend that she hadn't found herself in a situation where an Original vampire of all people gifted her fancy dresses for a ball of all things.
Kol hummed looking amused. Bonnie resisted the urge to throw something at him. It would do no good, he'd only catch it anyway.
"But regardless, I will be returning it after the ball."
"It's rude to return a gift you know? Besides, I have no use for a dress." Kol told her with raised brows, but Bonnie could tell he wasn't serious, playing the part of a centuries-old vampire bound by an outdated gentleman's code once more to get what he wanted.
She didn't mind the manipulation quite so much when she could see it for what it was. And in this instance it was harmless.
"It's not a gift, I'm just borrowing it." Bonnie insisted.
Kol smiled to himself in amusement before switching topics.
"By the way darling, Finn will probably want to assist you in raising Esther. I'm assuming you saw his note?"
"That's what he wants to talk about?" She wasn't sure what she expected but not that.
"Finn's always hated what we are and will likely have heard of your plans to get rid of my brother. That or he knows you're a Bennett and thinks that's enough to get what he wants."
"And why would he want to raise Esther?" It didn't make sense to Bonnie, Klaus had gone to such lengths to keep her sealed away. Why would his own brother want to destroy all of that?
"Finn wasn't a particularly strong witch that he suffered the loss of his magic but he had all of the self-righteousness of one. And my dear brother Finn is a ripper, he's repulsed by his own nature. He believes our mother can change his vampire status." Kol said all of this in a droll tone as though his brother's beliefs were a tedious chore to him. Perhaps they were and that's why he'd remained in his coffin for so long.
Bonnie considered this for a moment. She remembered Kol saying about the Originals each representing a different aspect of vampirism, perhaps this was what he was referring to.
"Your brother was a ripper? And is he right, could Esther do that?" Perhaps that was why she'd been given those psychic dreams in the first place.
Kol hummed, "The very first ripper. Everything you are is heightened by the vampirism spell. Those that cling to self-righteousness are more likely to become rippers as they cannot handle the guilt of what they are. So their consciousness shuts down leading their instincts to take over and without any intervention from their humanity they become more animalistic. Closer to the wolves our parents hoped to protect us from. And as the caster of the original spell, Esther has the ability to undo it. Much like you being the only witch that could undo Caroline's daylight ring spell." He told her wiggling his fingers to show off his own daylight ring.
Bonnie stared at him silently for a moment, not that Kol seemed bothered by the silence as he flicked through her spell journal. Bonnie had thought that ripper vampires were rare and yet they had been among one of the first vampires. Though she supposed many wouldn't know that if Finn had spent nine centuries in a coffin. If Finn clung to his witch beliefs then it would make sense that his conscience would rebel at the notion of being a vampire. But from the sounds of it, unlike Kol, he didn't have to deal with the loss of his magic as the driving force as well.
And then there was of course the knowledge that Esther could undo the vampire spell. She had known that only the witch that cast the daylight ring spell could undo it, she remembered threatening Caroline with it once. Of course, Emily had also used that knowledge against the Salvatores even beyond the grave. But she hadn't thought that the same could be applied to other spells. Particularly not ones that were a millennium old and spawned an entire species…
An entire species. Did that mean Esther could eradicate vampires in their entirety? Not just the Mikaelsons but Caroline too? Witches hated vampires it would make sense then that the spirits would show her the key to ridding the world of not just one or two, but an entire lineage.
The thought was too much to bear. It wasn't the sort of responsibility Bonnie was supposed to bear at just seventeen years old, she thought, shaking the thoughts of Esther free.
"If Finn's been a coffin for nine hundred years does that mean he knows what I am?" She asked instead in an attempt to distract herself. If she was going to be meeting Finn she supposed she should prepare herself as best as she could.
"No, he never met Solavita so he has even less of a clue than the rest of my siblings. He just thinks you're a Bennett witch. Though he'll probably want to use your likeness to manipulate me in the plan to raise Esther." Kol told her casually as though it was no big deal that his own family would use her so blatantly against him.
Bonnie frowned at his response but Kol didn't notice as he was conveniently absorbed in her journal. Something suggested this wasn't the first time this had happened to Kol. Or perhaps it was just the Mikaelson way. After all, both Elijah and Rebekah had been involved in plans to kill Klaus before.
"I see." Bonnie wasn't getting involved in Mikaelson's drama, she was already too embroiled as it was and this wasn't her place.
~x~
"You dance with such ease for someone not familiar with the dance." Aimée chuckled, insecure in her own lack of knowledge regarding the dance.
Kol smiled down at her reassuringly, "I have good muscle memory. Dances may change over the century but once you've learned a dozen it's not hard to pick up another."
"I feel as though I should be better at this." Referring to her past selves. Surely she should be able to follow along just as easily as Kol.
"It takes time, just follow my lead."
"You know I'd follow you anywhere." She teased with a grin before looking out at the other dancers. "You danced with Marie at a ball like this."
Kol around the ballroom too at her comment.
"Not quite like this." He refuted.
Aimée felt a wave of self-consciousness flood over her then. She'd found the dreams of Marie more concerning than the others, more so than even Livina.
"You didn't love her."
A frown marred Kol's face at that, not following.
"I cared for her, I care for all of you."
The proclamation doesn't ease the knot in her chest as he'd hoped. It was not fair on Kol for her to doubt him because of a past that was long since out of his control. But still, it couldn't be helped.
"Do you think things would have been different if she hadn't been married?" She still couldn't meet Kol's eye, focusing on her feet as though finding the dance more complicated than she'd first let on.
"No. I don't think so. It was too painful then and what we both needed was a friend more so than anything else. It was what worked best for us then." Kol shrugged.
He never seemed to have doubts. She envied that. He always seemed so self-assured, she supposed that came with living for centuries.
She smiled weakly at him before stepping back. "I think I need some air."
Kol nodded as he watched her go, something was wrong but he couldn't decipher what. It was best to give her space to figure it out for herself as it seemed that his answers hadn't had the effect he'd hoped for.
Aimée had barely a moment's respite to stare up at the starry sky and breath in the cool of the night air before another joined her. With a sigh, she turned to face the intruder, polite expression firmly in place.
"I suggest you be careful, witch. I won't have you hurting my brother."
Aimée felt her expression wanting to turn thunderous at the accusation that she would ever knowingly do something to hurt Kol. Instead she straightened, sweetened her smile further to the point of mocking, and stepped toward the older vampire.
"It's not me you need to concern yourself with when it comes to Kol being hurt. After all, he's never forgiven you for the last time you did so." With that, she curtsied and walked further into the dark of the garden.
~x~
Matt had texted Bonnie wanting to meet at the community center for reasons that currently alluded the young witch. They were supposed to be working on their history project and as such the location didn't make much sense to her. Matt was fidgeting nervously when she joined him.
"Matt? What's going on? Why are we here?" She asked softly not wanting to startle him
Matt's head whipped up at the sound of her voice, he raised a hand to gesture as he spoke.
"You remember that invite you got to the Mikaelson Ball? Well, Rebekah gave me one too, only problem is I can't dance." He let out a little self-deprecating laugh at that, "Would be a little embarrassing if the night turned into a bloodbath because I stepped on the toes of an Original. I was hoping you'd take dance lessons with me?" he asked hopefully but cautious of her potential rejection.
Bonnie let out a sigh of relief. She let her bag drop to the floor as she made her way over to Matt.
"Oh thank god. I was worried I was going to be the only one making a fool of myself."
"Jeez, thanks, Bon." Matt teased.
Bonnie cocked her head to the side with a smile, she'd missed moments like these. Moments outside of the chaos where she could just be a teenager.
"You know what I mean."
Half an hour later they'd been led through the steps by an instructor and were now trying to go at it by themselves. Suffice to say it wasn't going well.
"God I feel like I should be better at this." Bonnie chuckled as she fumbled another step before realizing she'd unconsciously mirrored Aimée's words. She stumbled through another step as a result.
"Why?" Matt chuckled, brows furrowed as he tried to concentrate.
"Oh, you know because of cheerleading and stuff." She covered haltingly.
"Suppose that makes sense."
Bonnie gave a tightlipped smile in return, turning her attention back to trying to master the steps. She hadn't slipped up like that before, if this was how it was going to be as the spell progressed she didn't think it would be long before the secret was out. And that was a concerning thought that would have to wait until after the ball to examine properly.
~x~
It was Lord Niklaus' birthday and a ball had been thrown in his honor. Both Elijah and Kol were in attendance, the rest of their siblings still slumbering in their coffins. But despite the birthday in question, the original was not the guest that had captured Juliana's attention.
"You're staring darling," Kol whispered in her ear in amusement.
She turned back around to face him from where she'd been craning her neck around the other guests in an attempt to glimpse the woman that had had Kol's brothers in such a frenzy.
"I'm not staring, I'm merely curious." She argued as she continued to step in time with the music, never faltering despite her curiosity.
Dancing was easy with Kol, more instinctual than it had been with any of her other dance partners. She used to hate dancing but she found herself rather partial to it as long as she was in Kol's arms.
"You'll meet Katerina soon enough, there's no need to be straining your neck so." Kol chuckled.
Juliana glared half-heartedly, the eye contact was broken as she was spun out with the rest of the ladies across the dance floor. She waited until she was back in his arms to reply.
"You can hardly fault me. I've never met a doppelganger before and you know as well as I, that your brother's plan rests on us making a good impression on her. I can hardly befriend her if I don't know what she looks like."
Kol sighed, but he couldn't fight the smile that was tugging at his lips.
"Very well I'll introduce you in a moment. As long as I can have just one more dance before that?"
"Of course." She beamed up at him.
It ended up being three dances later that she was introduced to Katerina Petrova, the duo too wrapped up in each other to realize just how long had passed. Niklaus was the one to break them apart to introduce the lady in question. They were all dazzling smiles as they introduced themselves, despite their sinister intentions. There was little that could be done for Katerina when the rest of their necks were also on the line here. There would be no more dances with Kol to carry on for longer than they intended if they failed Klaus, after all.
~x~
It was the night of the ball and Bonnie had finally caved and looked at the dress that Kol had acquired for her. It wasn't quite what she expected for someone that had fallen asleep in the early 1900s but it was stunning nonetheless.
The dress was a deep forest green with full skirts, a sweetheart neckline, and a boned bodice. The neckline was made up of embroidered flowers in pink and white with trailing vines that stretched across the off-the-shoulder cap sleeves. There was a belt of the same embroidered flowers that trailed down over the hips of the dress and stretched up from the hem too, as if the flowers were alive and growing.
It was truly beautiful, Bonnie found herself genuinely surprised. Particularly by the way the color would compliment the green of her eyes. Kol had done well. It was undoubtedly expensive and despite how much she didn't want to, she knew she absolutely had to return it afterward now.
The sound of Bonnie's mobile going off shattered any thoughts she was having, bringing her back to the present. Bonnie answered without checking the display - so few people called her these days anyway - only to be greeted by Caroline's shrill voice.
"Oh my god, you'll never believe what I just found on my porch. A freaking princess-esque dress and an invite to some Mikaelson ball! And get this. It's from Klaus! Like seriously? What the hell."
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Was the dazed response Bonnie gave, still in shock at her own dress.
"You got one too? An invite or a dress?"
"Both."
Caroline gasped on the other end of the line.
"Is it from Kol?"
Bonnie read the last line of her invite again, scrawled on the bottom in ink by a familiar hand.
I expect a dance in return just so you're aware, darling - Fondly Kol.
Bonnie wasn't sure how he'd managed it but she could just picture the flirty tone and smirk that went along with that message, damn him.
"Looks that way."
"Well this is officially a crisis and I'm going to need milkshakes if we're to draw up battle plans to deal with it. Meet at the Grille in ten." And with that Caroline hung up leaving Bonnie to stare at her package in disbelief once more.
~x~
Caroline had informed Bonnie that despite Elena and even Matt receiving their invitations a week ago, and the fact the whole town had been busy about some ball, she hadn't received her own until this morning. It had just been left on her porch, only the ringing of her doorbell to signal that it was there. Caroline seemed to think the last-minute invite was to twist her arm. She wouldn't have time to shop for another dress on such short notice. Bonnie supposed she had a point, it did seem like the sort of thing that Klaus would do.
The two girls discussed whether or not they were actually going to go. They hemmed and hawed for a while but both knew that they weren't going to let Matt walk into the lion's den by himself.
Elena had received her own invitation from Finn and had argued with the Salvatore brothers about going ever since she'd received it, Caroline told her. Caroline skirted around the topic of Bonnie's own invitation for a while before she came out with it. Bonnie had confessed easily that it was from Kol but she left out the part about Finn also leaving her a message wanting to speak with her.
"Do you trust him?"
Bonnie considered Caroline's question for a moment, unsure of the answer herself so she flipped it on Caroline, hoping her answer might shed some light on Bonnie's own thoughts.
"Do you trust Klaus?"
Caroline looked around the grille as she considered her answer, not actually seeing anything lost in thought as she was.
"I trust Klaus to relentlessly pursue what he wants. Whatever that is in the moment." She turned back around to meet Bonnie's gaze then. "What about Kol?"
"I'm still trying to figure out what Kol wants because the way I see it, I'm the only one that benefits." Her words were carefully measured as they so often were these days where Kol was concerned, she didn't trust herself to be honest even with herself, so how could she trust Kol? For some reason that was easy.
"Maybe he's playing a long game." Caroline mused, stirring her straw through her milkshake, "I mean he's a thousand years old, patience has got to be something that comes naturally to them."
"So you think Damon's right? That he's trying to endear himself to me just for the coffin."
Caroline shrugged, "Do you?"
It was on the tip of Bonnie's tongue to tell Caroline that Kol had had access to the coffin and he'd walked away without it. That he'd lied to Klaus about trying to get the coffin from her when he hadn't even tried. The way he'd played along in front of the Salvatores, threatening her so as not to blow her cover. All things he hadn't had to do but had done anyway, even when it went against what Damon thought Kol was up to. But she didn't say that.
Caroline hadn't been upfront about what was going on with her and Klaus as she tried to sort through it by herself. Bonnie supposed she was due the same. She needed to figure things out for herself before she went spewing.
"I don't know what to think." Bonnie finally answered, taking a sip of her own milkshake.
Caroline eyed her warily for a moment before nodding at her response and taking a sip of her own milkshake.
~x~
Bonnie left the grille not long after that when Elena called Caroline wanting to draw up a plan to get to the ball without her Salvatore protectors. It still stung that Elena wouldn't hear her out but she was worried enough about tonight without having it out with Elena too, so she'd quickly made her excuses to Caroline and headed home. But not before Matt had wrangled a promise from her that they'd arrive at the ball together, just as she was heading out of the door, looking as nervous as she felt she couldn't deny him.
For a moment after she'd returned home she considered not going to the ball at all. She could say she was sick maybe? But she couldn't let Matt down and she had the sneaky suspicion that Finn would just hunt her down to talk instead if she didn't appear. Sighing to herself she left her bag by the door and headed upstairs for a shower. Might as well get it over with she supposed.
Bonnie took an unnecessarily long, hot shower that she blasted her favorite songs throughout in a desperate attempt to unwind before what would undoubtedly be a stressful evening. The thought of schmoozing with founding families and Originals alike filled Bonnie with a certain kind of dread even without the added bonus of secret meetings with a ripper to overthrow said family with the help of his psychotic mother.
Once she finished up in the shower though she got to work on her hair. She fixed her hair into a low bun with two sweeping braids pinned above it. After that, she set about doing her makeup; green smokey eye with an almost mauve pink lip. She then spent longer than needed fussing over the details of her hair and makeup to avoid the inevitable of facing her dress for the evening once more. She didn't understand why she was so worked up about it, while it was an admittedly stunning dress she had already seen it earlier today.
Perhaps it was the knowledge that Kol had picked it out for her. That she was to step into his lion den of a family home also garbed in the clothes he had picked for her, like a brand upon her skin. She would be entirely in his hands this evening, as she relied on him to not let her get torn apart by his family and she would do so in the dress that undoubtedly had his hand in. No one would assume that Bonnie had found such a dress in Mystic Falls and really there was only one family that could have acquired such a thing. She wasn't sure which feeling was winning out; the swooning butterflies that she'd rather ignore or the anxious witch that knew she should stick to the sidelines for fear of exposure that now feared being the center of speculation. Once upon a time she hadn't minded the infrequent attention quite so much when she was only a cheerleader and not supernatural.
Telling herself she was being ridiculous she stood from her vanity and marched across the room to where the box sat on her bed once more. But despite her urgency, she still couldn't help lift the lid with care to reveal the dress within. She lifted to dress out to press against her robed body with equal care. It was only then that she saw the bottom of the box actually had a tab that suggested there was another compartment.
Laying the dress out carefully across her bed she returned to the box to tug at the tab she hadn't noticed this morning during her precursory glance at the night's dress. The compartment houses two boxes; a shoe box and a jewelry box. Bonnie wasn't sure which she was more worried about opening first. Deciding to get it over with she opened both at the same time.
"Oh, crap…" Okay, she was definitely returning everything she borrowed tonight back into Kol's hands.
There in their hidden compartment sat a pair of strappy green satin heels with pure white lilies twisting up the backs of each of their respective shoes with the unmissable Dolce and Gabbana brand. Along with a silver necklace that mimicked vines studded with diamonds and emeralds in place of leaves that was met in the middle by a large teardrop emerald and matching teardrop earrings. For a moment she considered slamming the lid back on the box and pretending she had never seen such lavish items offered to her so freely.
Instead, she texted Kol.
Bonnie:
I agreed only to the dress, which I AM going to give back. This is too much
Kol:
Ah, so you found them then, glad to hear it darling. And as I said before they're yours to keep, I have no use for a dress nor its accessories.
Bonnie:
Kol. I'm serious.
Kol:
I can see that darling but as am I.
Bonnie huffed to herself, tossing her phone on her bed, frustrated by the Original's response. They were gorgeous and would look amazing all together, there was no question about it, but Bonnie couldn't in good conscience accept them as gifts. Her Grams had raised her better than that. She would just have to convince Kol at a later date. But right now, she needed to get dressed.
~x~
Bonnie was a bundle of nerves when Matt pulled into the ludicrously long drive of the Mikaelson Manor in his beat-up truck. She hadn't exactly been calm when Matt had picked her up but she'd worsened throughout the drive. She didn't want to go in there, she'd had enough of the Mikaelsons for a lifetime. She'd already been threatened by three out of the five of them and now the fifth wanted to make her acquaintance and his partner in crime.
"Jeez Bon, you're making me worried." Matt blurted with a laugh looking uncomfortable in the driver's seat.
Bonnie flashed him a weak smile, "Sorry Matt, I'm fine this dress is just uncomfortable." She lied easily, aiming to ease his own trepidation even if she couldn't quell her own nerves.
Matt nodded, seeming to accept her excuse for the most part aside from the backward glance he shot her.
Bonnie and Matt walked in tandem towards the Mikaelson Manor with the manner of two people walking to their own execution. While it probably seemed like an unnecessary overreaction it wasn't entirely false. They were, after all, headed into the home of the oldest family of vampires in existence where they'd face off against all five of them, not just one or two. There hadn't been this many Mikaelsons all together under one roof since Finn was daggered nine hundred years, it was certainly a momentous occasion, Bonnie just worried who would die because of it.
They immediately felt the weight of judgey founding families upon stepping into the lavish home. That was the other thing. It wasn't just vampires they had to worry about but also the very townspeople that had turned their noses up at them their whole lives. It was part of why Bonnie and Matt had agreed to go together, this wasn't their scene. They hadn't been to many town events, so many of them were strictly for founding families only, that that alone was enough to deter them.
Matt shifted uncomfortably beside her before turning to her imploringly, "I'm going to get a drink. Do you want anything?"
Bonnie flashed him a reassuring smile, tightened as it was in her discomfort from being at the center of those stares.
"I'm good, you go." She told him, watching the way his shoulders sagged in relief to have a plausible excuse to flee.
Bonnie watched Matt go wearily. She wasn't letting him out of her sight if she could help it. She walked further into the large entrance hall, trying to avoid the avid gazes of the other guests as she admired the home. You couldn't accuse the Mikaelsons of not having taste, she supposed. That didn't mean she wanted to be here no matter how lavish it was.
~x~
Kol had been mingling with the guests as he'd been explicitly instructed to by Elijah. Quite frankly he could think of about a dozen things he'd much rather be doing than pasting on charming smiles and exchanging pleasantries. But Kol knew as well as his siblings that his ability to charm and manipulate just so that people would never believe he was capable of the volatile violence he often committed was second to none. His family was banking on that tonight.
Normally Kol was all too happy to play the part he'd been cast in. Assuming the mask of a charismatic, young man to hide the reckless monster was a part he fulfilled with ease in the long stretches of time that he'd spent his immortality with a broken soul bond. But now? With the soul bond healing and the knowledge of Bonnie's own attendance amongst the guests that he was meant to charm, the role seemed tedious at best.
Kol still hadn't forgiven Klaus for using Bonnie's presence in Mystic Falls to manipulate him into staying. And after having just carried out errands for Elijah that had landed him in hot water with her, he wasn't feeling particularly generous so as to perform another favor for his older brother.
But then he'd heard Damon's murmured conversation with the Mayor and swiftly remembered that his family was not the only ones he had a bone to pick with presently.
"I'm the mayor, Damon. When the oldest, deadliest family of vampires moves into your town, you welcome them with a smile."
"Well, at least you know who you're borrowing that cup of sugar from."
"They've assured me they want peace, and I've assured them that I'd enforce it."
Kol made his presence known then as he ignored the other vampire, pressing a kiss to Carol's hand as he smiled beatifically at her. Elijah would pleased to know at least that the Mayor was willing to go along with this plan of his.
"Mayor Lockwood. We haven't formally met. Kol Mikaelson. I hope your lovely town embraces us just as much as we plan to embrace it."
Unused to being ignored, the vampire spoke up. While Bonnie hadn't wished to disclose in detail what had happened between herself and the Salvatores, Kol had heard enough and he was more than capable of filling in the gaps. Especially in light of what else he knew.
Kol had heard enough from his brothers and learned even further from Bonnie's spell journal that the Salvatores had pushed her to perform far more complex magic than she should have been capable of given her meager tuition. It didn't take an ex-witch prodigy to know the drain that would've had on her and the danger she was putting herself in as a result. Bonnie had gone above and beyond for these petty, ungrateful people and in return, they'd treated her with caution and distrust when they should've been worshiping the very ground she walked on.
The Salvatores clearly didn't appreciate Bonnie's status as a Bennett witch that made her practically witch royalty. But Kol hoped in time he'd be able to let her see that for herself. Help her to be a little less selfless and start to put her own needs first and foremost. They would regret the day they ever doubted her if he had his way.
"Damon Salvatore. Have we met?"
Kol looked Damon over with disinterest, and in doing so spotted a spectacle over Damon's shoulder that seemed far more pressing than taunting the vampire. Still, he smiled at Carol as if conveying a secret before turning and dismissing Damon altogether.
"I've met a lot of people, and you don't particularly stand out." He told him scathingly as he walked past them. Damon wasn't worth wasting another second on after all when he'd just spotted his witch in distress.
~x~
Bonnie had hoped that she would have had more time before being cornered by Elena, alas it seemed she was wrong she realized as she found herself on the receiving end of the brunette's ire.
"Bonnie? What are you doing here? What betraying us wasn't enough, you had to ally yourself with all of the Mikaelsons?" Elena asked incredulously.
Bonnie found herself floundering at the hostility from one of her oldest friends. Not only was the accusation so beyond ludicrous that it alone would have had Bonnie speechless, but apparently Elena had decided to take advantage of Bonnie's shorter stature to loom over her as she delivered it.
"Are you kidding me right now? I received an invitation just like the rest of the town. How is my being here any different from your invitation? Or Caroline's? Or Matt's? Or did they also receive the same accusal?" Bonnie finally found the words to vent her disbelief at Elena's hypocrisy.
"Don't pretend this is the same thing! You've been getting cozy with Kol for weeks, and now here you are, showing just how far you've fallen. I'm here because Finn is going to help us do what you won't, it is in no way the same."
"That's not what happened!" Bonnie felt almost hysterical as she tried to get through to her friend who seemed determined to twist her intentions. "And my invitation came from Finn too."
Elena rolled her eyes, "Yeah, of course, it did."
"Bonnie!" Another voice suddenly interrupted any further scathing from Elena and despite herself, Bonnie felt herself relaxing at Kol's voice. She would've felt pitiful for the desperate look she shot him if she'd had any control over it, her body thrumming with panic that had been present ever since she'd gotten in the car but had multiplied tenfold when Elena had appeared.
"I must say you look stunning, darling," Kol told her as he sidled up next to her, putting himself firmly between her and Elena with ease as he gave her a once over with his usual smirk. "I've been looking for you everywhere, Finn requests your presence. Best not keep him waiting." He offered his hand to her with a smile.
Bonnie flashed him a weak smile as she took it. Suddenly seeing Finn seemed less daunting than dealing with Elena.
"No, best not." She agreed, not looking back at Elena once.
~x~
Kol led her away from the crowds taking her through one of the quieter back corridors before leading her up a flight of stairs. Seeming to know where to take her instinctively, she wondered if Finn really had sent Kol to fetch her. For some reason, she couldn't seem to believe that to be true. Kol's timing had been too convenient. And she could have sworn she'd seen him mingling when she'd first arrived with Matt, engrossed in a conversation with one of the town's deputies.
"You didn't have to do that." She eventually broke the silence that had settled over them, her voice softer than she'd intended.
Kol smiled at her, but this one was different from the ones he'd given her in Elena's presence. Far softer as if matching her tone. She may have even labeled it as fond if she hadn't known better.
"You looked like you could use an escape, darling." And okay she couldn't lie to herself now, there was definitely an edge of fondness to his words.
Bonnie swallowed nervously at the acknowledgment. She wasn't an idiot after all she knew the deference Kol regarded her with was not something everyone was entitled to. There was a reverence in the way Kol interacted with her at times that he didn't even seem to show his family. It was a daunting thought, particularly in light of him having just rescued her like some damsel in distress.
Lost in thought and thoroughly speechless, Bonnie hadn't realized they'd come to a stop until the door they were standing in front of, swung upon to reveal the last of the Original siblings. Bonnie and Kol turned as one to regard the elder vampire, Kol with a look of aggravation.
"Miss Bennett, I'm most pleased to finally meet your acquaintance. My name is Finn Mikaelson." Finn introduced before turning to his brother. "Thank you for bringing her to me Kol."
"Of course brother." Kol smiled tightly at his brother before inclining his head in a bow to Bonnie and heading back the way they came.
Bonnie watched him leave bewildered, fighting back the urge to yell at him to stay, to not leave her. She couldn't though. And the realization that she wanted to would have to wait until later as she had more immediate matters to deal with. She turned back to Finn who gestured her in. She tried not to think about being trapped in a room with a ripper as she stepped across the threshold. Instead, she let her feet keep going until they carried her across the room.
"Why did you want to see me? You said we had something to discuss." Bonnie pushed her anxieties down as she turned to face Finn from where she'd walked to the middle of the room. Finn was still standing at the door and though he'd now pulled it shut he'd yet to elaborate. Bonnie knew she would need to keep a clear head for this no matter how wary the Originals made her. Though she supposed she could now exclude Kol from that statement.
Finn strode across the room until he was standing by the desk opposite Bonnie. There a bowl was resting on the table with wisps of smoke coming off of it. Bonnie noted then the peculiar scent hanging in the air but could not immediately place it.
"You know you bare a resemblance to a woman Kol once knew and it would seem my brother is already smitten. This will bode well for what I have planned. Did you know that your family and mine were once allies?" Finn began, "Your ancestor Ayana gifted my mother with the spell that turned us into vampires."
Your mother stole that spell from Ayana, Bonnie mentally corrected, narrowing her gaze at the Original. Finn may not know who she was but Bonnie had seen the truth enough to see through Finn's careful wording. She couldn't say anything though, she had to hear him out, let him think she was on his side if only to avoid ending up a chew toy. Even if he seemed to have no real respect for her ancestors despite what he claimed. Nor his brother by the way he seemed set on using her against him, just as Kol had said, and with no regard for her own feelings on the matter.
"It was also she that secured my mother in her coffin. It is my hope that we may be able to be allies once more. If only to undo the evil my mother created." Finn finally turned away from the table to implore her.
"And how exactly would she do that?" Bonnie asked carefully.
"As the caster of the spell, she has certain liberties that other witches do not. The blood of the doppelganger will also assist in this endeavor."
Bonnie nodded along, mind already whirring at the possibilities. None of which, would she be sharing with Finn. Her own friends that she'd known since birth didn't trust her, there was no way she was going to take him at his word and form an immediate alliance with him. When thus far he'd done nothing to suggest that would be a good idea.
"I've tried opening your mother's coffin and have been unsuccessful, what makes you think that'll change?" She asked instead. No need to mention that she no longer had access to said coffin.
"I know not the spell that was used to seal the coffin but as a former witch I have some ideas."
Bonnie regarded the vampire before her critically. For all his bluster and arrogance, Bonnie could see the truth of Kol's words. Finn was no witch. He had no concrete plan, just an obsessive need to see it through, and that was dangerous. He hoped a Bennett witch and doppelganger blood would be enough to release his mother but blinded by hubris he'd never be able to understand why it wouldn't work. He didn't have the knowledge he needed for his plan to succeed and for that Bonnie would suffer for its failings. Just as she always had.
Helping Finn seemed about as foolhardy as making a deal with Elijah and she'd already seen that blow up in her face. She would rather take her chances with no humanity Stefan who currently held a grudge against her than see this through.
But perhaps the two weren't so different. Ripper vampires obsessed with bringing about Klaus' downfall. The only difference was that one was a thousand years old and Bonnie was currently trapped in a room with.
"I don't know where the coffin is currently being held, the Salvatores move it to keep it hidden from Klaus, but that should probably be your first step in understanding what spell seals it." She diverted the blame before smiling awkwardly. "It's beyond me as a novice."
Finn seemed to buy this which just further cemented Bonnie's belief that he had no respect for her family but just saw her as a means to an end like everyone else.
"Of course." He smiled reassuringly only to be distracted by a knock at the door. "Ah, that will be Miss Gilbert. I thank you for your help, Miss Bennett."
Bonnie inclined her head in a bow just as Kol had with a weak smile. Finn led her to the door and Bonnie tried to ignore the shocked look on Elena's face as she squeezed passed. The other girl truly hadn't believed her it would seem, Bonnie mused as she hurried away from them both. She didn't want to be here around them for another second.
~x~
Bonnie let out a startled yelp when she felt someone grab her arm upon leaving her discussion with Finn. She swung round to deliver an aneurism when she saw Kol grinning at her.
"What the hell did you do that for, Kol?" She hissed at him, heart pounding from the fright and nerves still frayed from her discussion with Finn. "Sneaking up on me like that."
"Sorry little witch, it's just me. We never got our dance." He smirked, his hand falling away from her arm to offer her his hand for her to take.
"I'm not dancing with you in a corridor, Kol," Bonnie told him bluntly, unimpressed with his antics right now.
"Come on darling there's no one around, there's no need to be embarrassed." He teased in a tone that Bonnie knew was an attempt to challenge her to prove him wrong.
Bonnie narrowed her eyes at the blatant challenge which just seemed to make Kol's smirk widen further. He knew he had her trapped, she wouldn't be able to turn down such a challenge. She scowled at him even as she took his proffered hand.
Sure she'd done cheerleading and stepped in at Miss Mystic practice a couple of times but she'd had no intention of dancing with him downstairs, regardless of her dancing lessons with Matt. She had felt wholly uncomfortable since she'd arrived at the ball. Her friends had been wary of her relationship with the Mikaelsons ever since they'd learned about her dreams and her invite hadn't helped any in that regard even with their own invites. There was also the small fact that Bonnie - like Matt - hadn't grown up going to town events like Elena and Caroline, she wasn't a founding family and therefore not invited. Her presence here tonight had raised some eyebrows among those families that had made her wary about drawing further attention to herself in her borrowed dress. Because despite what Kol said, she did intend to give it back.
But Kol was right. There was no one around and with the faint sound of music floating up the stairs to the landing they were on it was a lot less overwhelming than it had been downstairs. After all, she'd come this far she might as well see it through. No point pissing off a Mikaelson in their own home, she rationalized to herself. Not after she'd just survived the oldest ripper vampire in existence.
Kol drew her closer with the hand in his, his other hand circling her waist without hesitation. Bonnie knew he could likely hear the way her heart was pounding away in her chest as she put her other hand on his shoulder but it couldn't be helped, she was so unsure of herself and so far out of her depth right now. This wasn't like her but it couldn't be helped when the rug kept being pulled out from underneath her feet forcing her to adapt to her new reality.
Kol just swayed them for a moment, giving her time to relax before he began to lead them through a series of very small baby steps. There was a gentle smile on his face that Bonnie fought not to mirror, grateful as she was that he seemed to sense her discomfort towards the entire night. A feeling that hadn't dissipated after talking to Finn but had only grown.
Kol spun them both in a gentle half-circle before he spoke again. "What did my brother want?"
The words were softly spoken and inquisitive in a way that Bonnie didn't associate with the Mikaelsons who so often demanded the knowledge they sought. And yet Kol was that way with her more often than not. He was trying to prove something to her again, she thought idly.
"Nothing." She answered absently, not wanting to think of the meeting or more specifically how she didn't want to go through with what Finn had asked even though it lined up perfectly with her friends' plans. She didn't want to think about when they had stopped being her plans too.
"Don't lie darling." His hold tightened around her, it wasn't threatening but the increased proximity did send her heart pounding once more as she met his gaze. "I know my brother, weaselly thing that he is, and he's up to something."
Bonnie stared wide-eyed up at Kol, all of her concerns about what Finn had suggested and her friends' plans likely laid bare on her face. But she couldn't help it. She had no one to confide in anymore. It had been hard enough before, her friends didn't really want to hear about how draining it was to perform the spells that constantly saved their lives. But now her dreams had further isolated her. She could see the suspicion and growing distrust in their eyes when they looked at her these days. They'd only relied on her because she was the only witch in town it seemed, if not she'd dread to think.
But Kol knew all that she was going through with the dreams, especially the trouble caused by getting involved in Mikaelson drama. He'd lived it all before.
She dropped her gaze to stare at his lapel not wanting to look at him when she confided in him. Not when they were still dancing and pressed so close together.
"You were right about one thing, he wants to assist in helping to raise Esther."
She could see the way Kol's head tilted inquisitively from her peripheral.
"Is that not what you and your friends wanted?" He probed carefully.
Her hand twitched nervously from where it lay on his shoulder.
"It is what my friends want but I-" She cut herself off with a deep breath as she met Kol's gaze once more. "I don't think th-"
"Shush." Kol pressed a finger to his lips. "Vampires darling, let's go somewhere more private."
He used their conjoined hands to tug her in the direction of a room before she could argue. He let go of her hand at the threshold of a sprawling bedroom leaving Bonnie to hesitate in the doorway. Oh, this was a bad idea, she thought to herself. She definitely should not be in the bedroom of her ancestor's husband, let alone an Original. How unfortunate then that he was one and the same.
But without proper consultation, her feet took her further into the room, drawn by the magical tomes and objects scattered throughout the room. One half of the large wall was taken up by floor-to-ceiling dark wooden bookcases thick to bursting with grimoires and tomes. The fireplace mantel that came just after it was covered in objects that radiated magic. As did the shelves above the desk that came after the fireplace. Kol had mentioned his own collection of magical artifacts but she hadn't thought he was serious about her ever seeing them.
The room was dressed in dark shades that seemed fitting to Kol but more coordinated than she would have expected of him. She wondered if he'd had any say in the room that Klaus had prepared for him or if had just been there when he'd awoken from his coffin. It wasn't a particularly pleasant thought so she banished it as her feet unconsciously brought her closer to Kol.
She was more accustomed to the way her magic drew her to him now, she wondered if it affected him at all - if it ever had - or if he'd just become adept at ignoring it. It still scared her; the lack of control she felt towards her magic around him but it had also quickly become part of her new normal. Kol seemed to notice the way she was drifting unconsciously towards him and held out the candle he was holding out to her for her to inspect.
Bonnie took it cautiously - careful to not let their hands touch as she did so - noting the familiar herby scent coming from.
"What is it?" She asked carefully curious. Kol had a wealth of magical knowledge that she was eager to sink her teeth into but she was still wary of what the cost might be for such knowledge, certain there would be a cost even after all this time. And for all she knew, it was just an ordinary candle. But she recognized the scent from the room she'd been in with Finn.
"It's made with spelled sage, as long as the candle burns the privacy spell is in place and no one can hear into this room. If you would be a dear." Kol finished his explanation with a gesture towards the door she'd left open.
With a wave of her hand, her magic closed the door without either of them having to move. When she turned back to face Kol it was to see that enamored expression on his face again. He often looked at her like that, especially when she performed magic. She held his gaze, not allowing him to fluster her this time. Tonight had been a series of unfamiliar and uncomfortable scenarios that she was almost glad for something so familiar.
Kol smirked at her reaction before looking away to light the candle. She knew she could have done that too but it would have only softened his expression further and there were only so many longing looks she could witness without feeling affected.
"As you were saying about Finn, darling?" He prompted turning to lean back against his desk arms crossed across his suited chest as he gave her his full attention.
She'd been desperately trying to ignore how good he looked in a suit all evening. She wasn't blind after all, she knew Kol was good-looking, if he wanted to he could have anyone in town. Yet he seemed set on giving her all of his attention even as she ignored his advances, seemingly content to just be in her presence no matter the context. And that was something she wasn't ready to acknowledge just yet.
So feeling mildly flustered she looked away from him only for her to gaze land on the grand four-poster bed that was opposite instead. Okay, that wasn't helping. Nor was the smirk she could see on Kol's face from the corner of her eye at him having caught her out.
She dropped her gaze to the floor instead, watching the way the embroidered flowers on the hem of her dress brushed along his floors instead.
"I'm not so sure about raising Esther anymore." She started.
She knew how her friends would react to such a statement, but Kol? She wasn't so sure about him either but he seemed to be on her side, had been fairly confident in what would happen if Esther had awoken yet hadn't made any moves to stop her.
"Had a change of heart little witch? What brought this on?"
Bonnie sighed, sagging against the wall that formed an alcove for the large desk.
"You said that Esther had the power to undo the spell that created vampires. That doesn't seem like she's just out to get Klaus. And I've made the mistake of entrusting Mikaelsons to kill Klaus before, it didn't end well. Just as I know that you lot didn't end up the way you are just because you became vampires, that was Esther and Mikaelsons doing long before they changed you." She confessed quietly.
She could feel the band around her chest that had been restricting her with all of her concerns loosen a bit as she admitted as much. Kol wouldn't judge her the way her friends would, he'd done far worse after all.
"I'm curious as to who of my family has tried and failed to kill Nik, it's one of my favorite pastimes and I'm saddened to have missed it," Kol smirked at Bonnie's responding eye roll. "But you're right. Esther was as much a monster as Mikael and she will likely try to eradicate vampires in their entirety. Likely spouting some nonsense about preserving the balance of nature." Kol rolled his own eyes at the thought of his mother.
"But it's not true, is it? Whatever imbalance was caused by the creation of vampires would have healed after a millennium. She'd risk doing more damage by trying to undo it."
Kol hummed in agreement, "Vampires have become just as much a part of the supernatural community as any other species. Even the werewolves have evolved to their presence. Eradicating them would likely do more harm than good at this point."
Kol walked a pace away from her to discard his suit jacket haphazardly on his bed, his hands moving almost immediately to loosen his bowtie too. Bonnie tried not to let her eyes linger on the actions but it was forcing her to confront her other fear with waking Esther.
"What happens..." She trailed off, biting her lip uncertain how to voice her thoughts without them being taken out of context.
Kol turned to her with a brow raised in question as he fiddled with his cufflink. God she wished he'd stopped doing that when she was trying to think. It wasn't even just the casual way he was undressing to get more comfortable in front of her, no. It was also the way he looked at her like she had his full attention in even the most minute of concerns and thoughts. The fact she always had his full attention like there was a spotlight on her that only he could see.
She wanted to put her reactions down to the magic that bound them to one another but she knew by now that it wasn't that simple. No one had ever given her the time of day. Not even her friends really stopped to consider her anymore even when she saved their lives constantly. She certainly didn't get a lot of attention from guys - good-looking ones at that - overshadowed as she was by Elena and Caroline. And the ones that did often had ulterior motives or cheated on her with ghosts, it appeared.
But not Kol. If he hadn't been a thousand-year-old vampire it could have been so simple. But then he wouldn't have fit into her world of magic and madness.
A smirk grew across Kol's lips as he noticed her lingering gaze, Bonnie flushed looking away quickly as she tried to shake herself free. She turned to look out the window beside Kol's desk instead, she couldn't see much out of it from this position but it was enough to keep her attention off of the other occupant of the room.
She didn't hear Kol cross the room but she felt it when he did. The gentle gust of wind followed by his hand on her cheek was telling enough. She didn't allow the hand to turn her gaze to his though.
"What happens when what, darling?"
Her eyes fluttered closed in defeat.
"What happens if you die? Do the dreams..." She couldn't finish that thought.
"What happens to you?" He finished for her, no condemnation in his words.
Her head drooped down as she stared at the floor. God, it was so selfish. They were talking about his death and she was worried about herself? But the thought lingered. Her current state of existence was the result of a thousand years old spell because of Kol, so what would happen to her if Kol was gone?
The hand on her cheek stroked down her face once before falling away altogether.
"I don't know what would happen. Most of what I know of the spell I've picked up over the years there wasn't much time for Ayana to explain nor did she understand fully what she'd done. That's the problem with unprecedented spells..."
"Why do I sense there's a but?"
Kol hesitated for a moment debating his options while all Bonnie could do was stare at the minimal space between them and wonder when she'd stopped fighting this.
"The spell relies on the presence of the soul bond in order to continue the cycle. My death would break the soul bond, there'd be nothing left to anchor the spell. It's possible that cycle would just end there."
Bonnie raised her gaze to meet his then.
"But daggering doesn't affect the loops, right? And you're technically dead while daggered."
She didn't want to think about Kol dead in any capacity, it didn't seem possible for someone like him to be able to die. He was larger than life and beyond death.
"True and we don't know that it doesn't affect the timings between reincarnations. But the bond still remains even while I'm daggered."
Kol had told her that the spell was anchored by the soul bond, the spell relied on its presence, it was the only reason she was standing here right now. It was just as plausible that Kol's death and the subsequent breaking of the soul bond would kill her too. If her life was tied to the soul bond and it broke, who's to say it wouldn't take her with it? After all, it was Kol's life that powered the spell without it, what would she be?
But she didn't want to voice her fears to Kol, didn't want to give him any more reasons to be protective or for him to think she was weighing her life against his. Because in truth his death worried her far more than her own, she'd long since made her peace with her own.
"Ah Miss Bennett, there you are." A voice spoke up from the doorway breaking them free of their thoughts and subsequent gazing.
Bonnie's head snapped to the doorway to find Elijah watching them from the now open doorway of Kol's room. Neither had heard the door opening. Kol turned to face his brother with something like passive disinterest, but Bonnie could see the tight grasp he had on his mask to keep his reaction under wraps, she wondered if Elijah could see it too.
"I should have known I'd find you here." Elijah continued, tone faintly amused in a way that made Bonnie feel defensive. "Come, you'll miss the toast."
Elijah raised a hand towards her before gesturing back toward the sounds of the ball that could be heard from below. Bonnie looked back over her shoulder tentatively at Kol. He'd stepped back and now had his hands hidden in his pockets, drawing his waistcoat tight across his chest in a manner that Bonnie was trying to ignore, as he surveyed the interaction between her and his brother. Catching her gaze he gave her a quick reassuring smile that wasn't more than a quirk of lips and a nod in answer to her silent question.
Turning away at his silent assent she placed her palm in Elijah's still outstretched hand trying to ignore how wrong it felt as he led her back towards the party. She hadn't gotten over Elijah's betrayal the night of the sacrifice and found herself most uncomfortable around him since then, more so than any of his siblings. She knew what to expect when facing a monster like Klaus but Elijah's charm and pretense at being the perfect gentleman left her ill at ease. She hadn't realized how reassuring she'd come to find Kol's presence until she'd been forced to confront the opposite.
At that thought, she chanced a mere glance over her shoulder to where she could still just about see Kol watching her with a faint smile through the open doorway before she disappeared around the corner. She turned back around at that point. No need to strain herself for a glimpse and make more of a fool of herself than necessary.
Elijah led her down the back staircase to rejoin the rest of the guests before joining the rest of his siblings who were gathered on the opposing staircase. Waiters were walking around with glasses of champagne that Bonnie took at her hosts' behest - more so she'd have something to do with her hands rather than fret, more so than anything else - when she noticed that Kol was just arriving on the far staircase, tuxedo jacket being tugged back into place. His eyes scanned the crowd before eventually landing on her, she thought she might have seen him wink at her but she couldn't have been sure.
There was a droning speech about family that Bonnie didn't really hear, preoccupied as she was by the weight of several gazes upon her person. Her friends' she could probably ignore but Finn's weighted looks as he looked between her and his two brothers made her want to fidget guiltily. The longer she spent here the more she wanted to flee, all the leisurely calm of before in Kol's presence having now dissipated leaving her an anxious mess in a room full of vampires.
Glasses were raised as Elijah completed his speech and Bonnie hurried to follow suit. She quickly downed her glass while others sipped at their's, needing the fortifying strength of alcohol right now. She didn't want to be here anymore. She'd heard Finn out, she'd made her appearance, she'd stayed for the toast, heck she'd even danced with Kol. She was done she wanted to go home and bury herself beneath her covers and not come out again. She didn't want to deal with deal accusations of betrayal or Finn's half-cooked plan for vampire genocide. She didn't want to deal with any of it! She was seventeen for Christ's sake! This wasn't supposed to be her life.
Just as she began to feel hysterical - heart pounding, breath coming in short rasping breaths - Kol appeared before her. He gazed down at her in concern as he grasped her bare arms. The shock of skin-to-skin contact was enough to temporarily ground her enough to meet his eyes.
"Bonnie? Are you alright?"
She shook her head feebly, "I want to go home. I need to find Matt."
She started to search the room for her friend with her eyes, unable to move as Kol held her.
"Hey, hey, hey." At Kol's coaxing, she turned her attention back to him. "Why do you need Matt?"
"I don't have my car, Matt brought me." She explained, mind still jumbled from the panic.
"I'll drive you, you can text Matt that you've left. He seems to be enjoying himself, no need to drag him away. Come on." He led her outside.
"But what about you? Shouldn't you stay with your family?" Came Bonnie's only token protest. The cold night air was nice on her heated skin, it was doing wonders to clear her mind. And she couldn't say she wasn't grateful for the excuse to leave sooner without inconveniencing Matt.
"Oh I didn't want to be here either, but it's a little difficult to avoid a ball that's being held in your house." He flashed her a cheeky grin as he opened the passenger side door for her.
Bonnie returned it weakly as she got in.
She rested her head against the leather headrest immediately upon getting settled, craving the stability of something firm beneath her when she herself felt like she was spiraling. Kol was thankfully silent as he got in, seeming to understand her need for silence, only speaking to ask if she wanted the windows open. She didn't think to wonder if he'd noticed her relief at the cold night air as she nodded, it didn't even cross her mind that he was paying enough attention to her to notice.
They made their way to her Grams' house in record time, the streets empty as everyone was at the ball they'd just fled.
"Are you gonna be okay?" Kol asked once they'd pulled up.
Bonnie was feeling much better now. The drive from the edge of town and the cool air helped to clear her mind as the last of the panic left her system.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Thanks for bringing me back, you didn't have to do that."
"Even if it hadn't been my family that had been at fault in the first place, I would have still brought you back," Kol reassured her easily as if it were no big deal.
Bonnie turned to regard him for a moment. She'd been surprised by how easily they'd slipped back into their previous easy relationship after everything had come to head. If anything it was easier now that she had some clarity.
"That's the second time you've saved me tonight." Bonnie attempted to joke about the situation, but beneath it all she was serious. Kol had saved her.
Kol smirked, seemingly pleased by her words, "It was my pleasure, darling. Now get inside and rest before you fall asleep in that dress. I assure you your bed will be far more comfortable than my car."
Bonnie hummed in agreement as she stepped out, looking over her shoulder to tell him, "I'm giving the dress back."
"Good luck with that," Kol smirked.
"Night Kol."
"Night Bonnie."
Long A/N: Finally. I wanted this to be up sooner but we were doing some flatmate bonding and binge watching stranger things (no spoilers we're not on series 4 yet!) especially as I'd had the scene from after Bonnie left her meeting with Finn up until Elijah's interruption written since before I'd even written Solavita. Part of why it took so long was getting all those pieces in place for that scene. Also the end of Aimee's scene was cut short because it switches pov's and just didn't fit with the dream framework. I also changed the invite from tonight to saturday because you really expect me to believe the entire town went and bought their outfits that day?
I did end up going back to last chapter and adding the scene where Bonnie experiences what a vampire's bloodlust is like because I couldn't let it go. I'm still not happy with that confrontation scene so I'll probably rewrite that at some point. For now the altered scene is up on my tumblr if you'd rather just read that part than go back through the story. Bonnie's outfit for this chapter will also be on my tumblr. Originally I knew I wanted her in something colourful because she so often wears (and this seems to be a trend with character of colour) mainly black/dark colours to dances (masquerade, 20's dance, prom) with the exception of Caroline's wedding. But ended up settling on green for plot reasons but I'll be honest, I really struggled with finding what I wanted (who would think a dark green floral dress would be so hard to find) so some imagination is needed but its lovely regardless.
Question: Is there anything you guys want to see?
Anyways, I'm finally done. This was a super long chapter, so a long author's note, been waiting for this chapter for a while, I've got a lot to say. Leave your thoughts in the comments, I'd love to know what you think :)
Writing tumblr: xawkward-ariesx
Comments:
timijaf: Great chapter
Thank you for commenting sweetie! It really helps keep me motivated
01: I just wanted to let you know you may have reposted chapter 8 for Ch. 9 / cassiejones07: there is no new chapter
Apologies about that! Student accomodation wifi is awful and the server went down when I was trying to replace the content for last chapter and instead posted it twice. It's been fixed now thank you for letting me know
A Summer's Melody: I stumbled into this story and I'm so glad I did! Bonnie/Kol fics aren't really my jam but I am now fully on board. I hope you continue updating; you're playing with quite a few themes that I'm really enjoying, particularly Bonnie's moral complex. Can't wait for the next chapter!
Aha I'm glad you're enjoy it despite it not being your jam. My updating schedule is erratic at best but I don't see myself abandoning this story any time soon. I'm having quite a bit of fun playing with the different themes myself. Thank you sweetie!