Stefan brushed her hair with his fingers as she laid against his chest. His eyes, one ink-black and one emerald-green, stared down at her. They were floating in a blue-green sea. As she searched the sea, she saw the darkness below. Before she could panic at the abyss, Stefan pulled her attention onto him. He brushed his hand against her cheek. Her eyes widened when she saw a rope tied to his wrist lead to hers. Instead of it being the beige color she expected, the rope was crimson. She tried to tug at the rope, but Stefan gripped her hand.

"Don't," he warned.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

She groaned before grabbing her phone. She didn't look at the caller but answered it.

"What?"

"I'm outside. Can you open the door?" Stefan's voice made her jolt.

"Uh, why?"

"I came here to see you and talk."

"... I'll be done in a second."

She threw a shirt over her camisole before rushing down the stairs and opening the door.

Stefan wore jeans and a white shirt with a black jacket. She eyed him. He didn't look like a mess like last night and his eyes looked less hollow, but he still seemed tired. What could he want now?

"Why are you here?"

Stefan stepped in. "I'm here to be a better friend. You were right. I do owe you my life for what you've done for me."

She kept her distance. Had her magic actually triggered something inside him? Did the dream mean something? She scanned him again. He seemed more like Stefan than he did last night.

"How are you going to be a better friend?"

"By helping you."

The words she had craved to hear from her ex-friends. Instead, they would reassure her she would figure it out and go off to do something else. Well, most of them anyway. Stefan had tried passively to help her whether it magical or emotional. The words made her guard drop.

"There is something I need help with."

"What is it?"

She gnawed on her bottom lip. "Grams mentioned you in her grimoire a bit. You know a bit about dark magic, right?"

"I knew witches who used it and picked up on some things."

"Could you help me?"

"I will but—"

"Of course, there's a but. What happened to owing your life to me?"

He cracked a smile. "I owe you my life, but I can still question your requests."

"Seems like a lousy deal to me. I wanted just wanted a henchman that was eye candy."

"Eye candy?"

Her cheeks heated up. "Anyway, what was the question?"

"Why are you using dark magic?"

She glanced over at the clock. School was in an hour. Maybe she could tell him later? She needed to get showered, dressed, and feed then drive to school.

"I'll drive you to school. Tell me in the car. Do you want me to make you breakfast while you get ready?"

"Sure, you can make anything. I'm not really picky."

"How about Sheila's pancakes?"

"She taught you how to make her pancakes? How?"

"It's a secret."

She rolled her eyes. "Seriously?"

"I supposed I could tell you if I get to see your room."

"Why?"

"I've never seen your room before."

She nearly took the offer but then remembered what her room looked like. It reeked of food and depression. Plus, she hadn't organized anything.

"Maybe another time?"

-X-

Once in the car, she exhaled.

"So, the answer is I don't know." She fidgeted with her hands. "One day I woke up with black eyes and my magic was different. Have you ever heard of a witch like that?"

"Never."

Great. She was back to the drawing board. What could have made her change? Dark magic usage was intentional as far as she and everyone knew. A witch didn't just whoops into dark magic. She had to practice it.

"Did anything trigger it?"

"Hatred and a sense of injustice." Her gaze lowered. "I felt so lost and angry."

"I'm sorry."

The apology nearly broke her. Another phrase she wanted so dearly. When had apologies become scarce? When had her help and her issues become assumptions that she'd be fine? No need to even bother to utter words of encouragement or express their guilt. They steamrolled over her.

"One night, I was feeling ill and I went for a walk into the woods outside my house. Then it happened... I felt pain all over my body and I was knocked out by it. When I woke up, I was in my bed somehow. I went to check on any injuries in the bathroom and I saw the black eyes." Bonnie swallowed. "I remember being scared, but I also felt freed."

"Even if I don't know, I'll do everything in my power to help you find out what happened."

"Thanks."

"You're my friend, Bonnie... Maybe one day I'll once again be the man your Grams trusted me to be."

"Grams would be angry at you."

"I know."

"She'd be disappointed even... but I think she'd also be sad for you." Bonnie leaned against the window. "She cared about you. She wrote a lot about you in her grimoire and how much of a friend you were. When she heard about you coming to visit, she really wanted you to be my other mentor."

"I didn't know that."

"She would have told you but then Damon also came." Bonnie turned her head to look at him. His gaze stayed on the road and she couldn't tell what he was feeling based on his blank facial expression. However, he gripped the steering wheel. "In her grimoire, she wrote about how conflicted she was. She didn't want to treat you that way but she had to keep her guard up. She felt betrayed that you were willing to allow your brother to be a menace. As soon as you started dating Elena, Grams wrote that none of you seemed to learn your lesson from Katherine."

"I didn't choose Elena over you."

"You chose a Petrova over a Bennett. That's how Grams put it."

"And I tried my best with Damon—"

"You could have come to Grams."

"She might have killed him."

The car fell silent. She wanted to yell that her Grams would never do such a thing, but could she know for certain? If Grams saw Damon as a lost cause, would she just kill him? Grams trusted Damon enough to be around Bonnie due to his promise to Emily, but that did not mean much. Was Grams waiting for Stefan to come ask for help or was she waiting for the time to take care of Damon herself? Nothing added up or made logical sense. Maybe Grams simply was stuck.

She grimaced when she saw Elena and Caroline in the parking lot near Damon's car. Elena's doe eyes widened when she saw Stefan pull into the parking lot. Her gaze went to him then her.

"I'm gunning it."

"I'll cover you."

"Thanks."

As soon as the car parked, she made a run for it. She was able to dodge those two and went straight into the building and then to her locker. However, fate had other plans. She let out a sigh when she saw Kol leaning against her locker holding a gift bag. Why today of all days?

Kol smiled as she approached. "I know my brother may be the bane of your existence, but I wanted to show I'd prefer not to be."

He held out the gift bag. She sent him a wary glance before peering into the bag. She saw a book—no—grimoire. The name Ayana was written on its leather cover. The name made her heart pound. This was too valuable to just give up.

"You're giving this to me?"

"I'd prefer returning. I have a large collection of dark magic grimoires I share with my brother. If you would like to see them I would be happy to show you."

"Do I want to know how you got ahold of them?"

"It's not as sinister as you think. I had permission prior to their deaths to take them when they died." Kol's eyes shifted. "Considering how isolated dark witches are, their grimoires often aren't passed down to family or witch friends and there are few covens for dark witches."

Great, she had even less hope finding out about dark witches. She understood the stigma, but why were they so hidden? She had few options of asking them if they stayed in the shadows and few covens to find. She was sure even the covens would keep a low profile.

"I, uh, didn't know that."

"The great benefit about being a vampire. I know a lot of things."

"What's the catch?"

"There is no catch."

"Bullshit."

He chuckled. "Maybe one. I want you to consider me."

"Consider you?"

An arm wrapped around her waist. "We want nothing to do with your family."

She turned to see Stefan glaring at Kol. She then saw Kol smirk as if challenging him. Bonnie could roll her eyes at the pissing contest but merely scooted away from Stefan's grip.

"Thanks for the gift."

"My pleasure. If you want to look at the other grimoires, just ask. I think you'd find the collection fascinating."

Stefan answered for her, "we don't need your help."

"For such a gentleman, you seem to be missing your manners as of late, Stefan," Rebekah said as she walked over to them. She then turned to Bonnie. "You should visit the collection. While Stefan may know quite a lot about dark witches, my brothers and I know more."

"She is fine."

"Then let Bonnie say it. Always the possessive one." Rebekah rolled her eyes.

She didn't trust them but access to countless grimoires would help her. She needed to find out more about her and how she was going to destroy the Other Side with the Spirits. She could always keep them at an arm's length. Besides, dark witches were hard to find on her own. Not like she could go to the local bar and chat up one for info.

"Thank you. I'll consider it." She then grabbed Stefan's hand and pulled him away. They walked toward homeroom.

"I think I have been switched on the hit and shit list for everyone."

"You were always on my hit list."

"Stefan maybe but not sure about the Ripper."

"Still the same."

She pushed a strand from her face. "Should we talk about the elephant in the room?"

"There's a few."

"It's just... You're acting like you kind of but how?"

"I have no idea. The spell you used must have done something."

"I didn't use a spell though."

"Dark magic is tricky. You don't need a spell for it to work. Sometimes desires can manifest into a magical action."

"My desires..."

"Anything come to mind?"

"I wanted you to be free from Klaus. His compulsion must have broken on you."

A feat in itself.

"Anything else?"

"I wanted you to be whole."

His eyes flickered. "I see."

"...What do you remember?"

"We were arguing and suddenly I go blank."

"Last night was a bit foggy for me too. I knocked you out on accident and Damon took you."

He raised an eyebrow. "Accident?"

"Believe it or not, I wasn't there to maim you. I didn't even know you had been unconscious until Elena screamed because I was a bit... out of it."

Alaric stood near the door and greeted students. He looked at them then at their hands. She glanced down and noticed they were still holding hands.

"I didn't realize you two were a thing now."

"We aren't." Bonnie's face heated up and she let her hand go. "Just friends."

He shrugged. "Well, homeroom is about to start."

-X-

It was nearing dinner time when Bonnie heard a knock on her front door. She groaned. The rest of school had been uneventful and she had successfully evaded everyone but Stefan and Kol. Stefan seemed to be her shadow when Elena or Caroline weren't interfering. Every time Stefan was forced to engage with them, Kol would appear near her ready to chat. Kol's presence effectively kept Jeremy at bay.

If it was Elena, she was going to shut the door no questions asked. She went to the door and opened it. Her eyes widened.

"Hello," Elijah greeted. He smoothed out his suit.

"Should I be glad it's you?"

"I don't bring any bad news if that's what you mean."

"Is there a reason you decided to drop by?"

"I thought you would find this useful as well."

He handed her a worn grimoire. She didn't recognize the name written on the cover. Why was he giving her this?

"Thank you."

"It should be Klaus you are thanking. He wanted me to give it to you. It is our mother Esther's grimoire," he paused. "He figured you would have more use for it."

Her body froze. Klaus had given her his mother's grimoire? Sure, those two may not have been on good terms from the info Bonnie got from Stefan and Damon, but it still contained sensitive info. Who knows what spells she could find? With Ayana's grimoire, she had a wealth of knowledge at her hands.

"Why would he give me this?"

"You'll have to ask him that. I came instead because he figured my presence would anger you less," he paused. "I don't expect you to forgive my family but I do hope we can one day be on good terms. I know presents may be a nice gesture, but it does not erase what has been done."

It didn't not by a long shot. However, the gifts were helpful and she needed help more than ever.

"Maybe one day I can make up for my betrayal."

"Elena forgave you."

"I'm talking about you, Miss Bennett." He tilted his head. "I hope one day you can forgive me."

"It is a cardinal sin to choose someone else over a Bennett. US Bennett witches think highly of ourselves." She smiled thinking about Grams' grimoire. Maybe Ayana would write like her? "...One can hope for forgiveness."

Elijah's lip curled slightly. "Is it fruitless to hope?"

"I don't know... There's nothing wrong in hoping."

"Then that's good enough for me."

She held the grimoire close to her chest. "Why does it matter anyway? We can just ignore each other."

"Now, that would be impossible."

"And being friends, isn't it?"

"I don't think so."

"Your brother has been my enemy since he first stepped into this town. I figure he thinks I am the most annoying pest to have ever bothered him."

"I thought we were talking about us and not my brother."

"I don't think we can exclude Klaus from this equation. He insists upon himself."

Elijah's soft chuckle surprised her. "While my brother should be considered, he is not the end of this discussion. I believe we can be friends. I don't mean today or tomorrow or even a year, but there is a possibility. Friendships can be fostered even in the most desolate conditions. To me, friendships are not defined by their best moments but their worst. Since we've seen the worst we have to offer, I think we can only go up from here."

"...Is there even a way from hell to paradise?"

"In the words of Dante, the path to paradise begins in hell."

If this was it, this was it. There was no turning back, not even a glance. Being a dark witch was one thing. Being a friend of their family was another. She couldn't parade out of a friendship with the Mikaelsons. She knew their nature. Nearly a century had passed between Stefan, Rebekah, and Klaus yet the siblings still clung to him. If it hadn't been for Klaus' friendship with Stefan, Stefan may have died ages ago.

Possessive. Jealous. Obsessive. The traits of a Mikaelson's friendship, their love. She hated them. She had every right to as the family had caused so much destruction in her life. They were her adversaries. Yet, they were taking the steps to make amends when her friends had ignored her or dug their feet in the sand. Was she really ready to forgive the family that contributed most of the rift between her and her friends? Or would it have been something else that would have caused this if not for them? The Spirits would still have demanded their deaths even if they hadn't found out about Elena and the matter of Damon and Katherine was still there with all the other issues.

Also, there was the matter of the Spirits. If she was to take them down which effectively meant destroying the Other Side, she would need help. Her magic could grow strong but even then it may not be enough. They had to know witches that may help or knowledge that she could leverage. She may never forgive them but they would make great allies if they keep their word. Considering what she planned, they would have no reason to betray her and every incentive to help her carry it out. However, if she could achieve such a thing, would her power cause them to want to kill her afterward?

Then the insecurities which she had forced down started to bubble. She wouldn't be abandoned. She's be taken care of. She wouldn't have to save them constantly because they could handle themselves for the most part. The relationship would be mutual and they had much to offer her. The attention, the wooing, the push for friendship, felt good as much as Bonnie hated to admit. Elena and Caroline had a never-ending line of admirers and had been the center of attention since childhood. A slew of men tried to win their affections while women were friendly to gain their friendship. Bonnie was never an outcast but seemed forgotten between the trio.

I sound desperate, Bonnie hissed. Yet, the insecurities and loneliness did not waver. She didn't trust them and didn't like her predicament, but she had to agree to at least be friendly. If their tune stays this friendly, she could bear it. She wouldn't indulge them because of her loneliness or insecurities. She would ally with them to stop the Spirits. Nothing more and nothing less. They were going to use her as a witch and the only reason they changed was that she had become a dark user.

"I was about to make tea. Would you like to come in?"