Disclaimed!
I'm almost at a thousand reviews... How crazy is that? Thank you guys so much for your continued support! Your reviews really do make my life - I love hearing what you all think. I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of this fandom and hope to continue to satisfy your Bamon needs. lol.
This chapter is pretty much just fluff with plot. I hope you enjoy it.
FFT - Katherine knows many ways to skin a cat without getting her hands bloody.
Katherine broke gently into the shell of her soft boiled egg, peeling away at the shattered pieces as daintily as she could. Once a big enough hole was made, she meticulously sliced through the white flesh until the yoke bled forward to meet her tiny spoon.
Dishing egg onto her dry bread she glanced to where Damon was seated across the table. He had been in a peculiar humour all morning. He was exuberant, his eyes bright and cheeks perpetually flushed. He appeared dazed one moment and hyper-attentive the next. Stefan had remarked upon his odd behaviour with a bewildered expression and Damon had replied in a lively fashion,
"Life has shown me a great kindness, Stefan."
"Oh?" his brother responded with mild curiosity, "What kindness is this?"
He laughed gaily, "I am alive and returned home, am I not? What more reason should I have need of?"
It was Damon's fortune that Giuseppe had broken his fast in his study this morning, for he would have had much to say in that regard.
She, for one, found his good humour disconcerting. He had only just returned from the battlefield, in the most salacious of manners, and he seemed beside himself with joy. It was all very suspect.
Katherine had a notion as to its cause.
The very idea set her teeth on edge, but she supposed it nonetheless.
Bonnie.
She bit forcefully into her egg-y bread and chewed.
She had been remiss in her attentions to the girl, but Emily had assured her on more than one occasion that the trollop was harmless and quite simple in mind. Bonnie, herself, had become less of a presence around the estate in the past month and Katherine had not bothered to think on her.
As it was, she was a great deal closer to being in possession of the moonstone, she had several key members of the community under her thumb and all was in her favour. There was a chance she would be moving on from Mystical Falls shortly. The girl was of little consequence in the grand scheme of things.
But with Damon's arrival she was reminded of her distaste for the girl. He had been remarkably indifferent towards Katherine since his homecoming last morning. This was not to say he was inattentive; he, along with Stefan, had offered to escort her to the Founder's Ball with the utmost decorum – indeed, he had been a perfect gentleman about it.
And there lay the rub: Damon Salvatore, unlike his brother, was not a perfect gentleman.
In truth, she was not affronted by Damon's indifference toward her – as she preferred Stefan. And compulsion was a quick enough remedy for that, if she cared enough to use it. No, it was his partiality for the serving girl over her.
It was not to be born, and so she would bare it no longer. The girl would have to die; but how to go about it?
Finishing off her egg she started in on a thin slapjack, lathering it with butter and syrup, and hummed thoughtfully.
She could press Emily to take action despite her insistence that Bonnie was not worth the trouble or... Katherine smiled as she sliced off her first piece of slapjack, a plan beginning to take shape.
It was possible that if everything went accordingly Damon would not survive, and though the prospect of losing a toy saddened Katherine, needs must when the devil drives.
Bonnie swept her duster absently across the bookshelves in front of her; her mind elsewhere, under an oak tree in the middle of the night getting kissed senseless by Damon Salvatore.
Her lips still tingled hours later and she fought not to grin like a madwoman.
Letting out a long breath and giving herself a little shake she attempted to get a hold of herself.
This was not her. She wasn't the type to get soppy over a guy anymore. Not since Ben, and that had been a disaster. More than anything right now she needed to keep a level head. She couldn't forget, not even for a minute, exactly where she was and the dangers that that posed. Being friends with Damon was dangerous, being anything more was insane - it was asking to be whipped and quartered.
The right thing would be to end it before it really began; to tell him last night had been a mistake and that it would be best if they never spoke to one another again. It would keep them both safe.
But the idea of turning him away made her stomach knot unpleasantly. She didn't want to do the right thing. For once in her life she wanted to be stupid and selfish. She liked him too much to say goodbye, way more than she was comfortable thinking about.
"You seem deeply entrenched in your thoughts."
Bonnie jumped, spinning round to face Damon's bright eyes and wide smile.
"Damon."
"Bonnie." He moved to erase the distance between them, but she held up her hand halting his process. Her eyes flicked to her left to find the library doors closed, but she couldn't relax.
He glanced at the doors briefly and then back at her. "Cannot you magic the doors to remain shut until you will them otherwise?"
"I..." Why yes she could.
Well that was embarrassing.
Damon raised a teasing brow as if he could sense the subtle shift in her composure.
"I try not to make it a habit to use my powers for selfish purposes," she replied with a defiant tilt to her chin.
"That is unfortunate," he began, leaning forward and speaking as if it really was a shame, "as I would very much like to kiss you, Miss Banks."
She bit her lip and tried not to grin then made a show of heaving a sigh and rolling her eyes. "I suppose, if it's for your sake..."
"How generous of you," he teased, taking a step closer.
She closed her eyes and took a cleansing breath before muttering a quick locking spell. She wasn't certain of how it would hold up under pressure and that worried her. She hadn't practiced very many locking spells, though she had gotten quite adapt at creating barriers.
Finished, she opened her eyes to find Damon peering at her curiously, "Is it done?"
She nodded and he moved to stand directly before her, leaving very little space between them. Her pulse spiked and she tried not to look eager. Keeping their gazes locked, he took up her hand and raised it to his lips, placing a quick kiss to the centre of her palm and then turning her hand over to repeat the gesture with her index finger, and her middle... and her ring...
"I thought you were going to kiss me?" she asked on a shaky breath.
He smiled, resting a finger under her chin and drawing himself forward, his lips inches away from hers and eyes alight with mischief. "Yes," he confessed in hushed tones, "but I never said where."
What was he trying to do? Kill her?
He brought himself closer, tilting his head at the last second, letting his nose bump along her jaw playfully before placing his lips on the sensitive spot beneath her ear. She felt him smile against her skin when the air caught in her lungs and she shivered. He kissed and nipped his way gently down her neck, hitting every available bit of exposed skin, then sighed and pulled back abruptly to glare at her buttoned collar.
"This collar is a hindrance," he stated, a smirk snaking its way across his lips as one hand played lightly with the button of said hindrance, "Shall I divest you of it?"
"No," she answered quickly, her small hand wrapping around his larger one before he could do any such thing.
"No?" he echoed back, looking for all the world like a kicked puppy.
"No," she repeated, "there will be no divesting of any kind in the library."
"Perhaps in the parlor?" he countered hopefully.
"No."
He gave her a slow once over, humming sadly.
Rolling her eyes, she laughed before grabbing hold of his own collar and pulling him down to kiss him firmly –
When a loud rattling to their left startled them both. Bonnie's heart jumped to her throat as Damon took several quick steps back. They both watched the library doors shake with the effort of someone trying to open them.
"Curious..." Bonnie heard from the other side.
Damon stiffened, snapping his head in her direction and, eyes fearful, mouthing, "My father."
Her blood ran cold.
"Mayhap it is locked?" came a second voice that froze her cold blood completely.
Katherine.
"These doors lack the facility. Jammed more as like..."
"Would you allow me to try?" Katherine asked sweetly.
Giving no warning, Bonnie lifted her arm and sent Damon flying across the room. He released a small sound of surprise and landed sprawled in one of the overstuffed armchairs with an 'oof.'
The doors rattled once more, this time giving just a little under the force.
Righting himself, Damon had just enough time to look at her with startled blue eyes before she launched a book at him. Pulse skittering as Katherine tried the doors again, Bonnie watched Damon half duck and catch the book then just barely managed to turn around, pick up her duster and pretend to work when the library does flung open.
"Father, Miss Katherine; to what do I owe this pleasure?" Damon greeted, sounding both calm and mildly surprised.
"Miss Katherine seeks my counsel on a small matter," Giuseppe stated. "I suggested we retire to my study, but Miss Katherine insisted upon the library."
Did she now...? Bonnie thought darkly as worry wormed its uncomfortable way into her stomach.
"Did not you hear the door as we tried to enter?" Katherine questioned.
"I confess I did, but only after a time," Damon answered smoothly. "I was most engaged with this novel and when I did finally become aware of your attempts to enter, I'm afraid I was of no use. You had proved successful."
"I see..."
"Come, Miss Katherine," Giuseppe spoke suddenly. "You wished for my confidence away from prying ears and it would seem my study was the wiser course after all."
"I..." Katherine hesitated then said, "Of course."
Bonnie listened carefully to the rustle of skirts that marked their departure before sagging against the bookshelf. Releasing a long, silent breath she turned to find Damon peeking over the top of his book at the library doors, his brow knitted.
She drew the silence out a moment longer, hoping Katherine would be far enough away to not overhear when she finally said, "That was too close."
Damon snapped the book closed and placed it on the small side table. "I concur. We must take more care –"
"No, Damon." She shook her head, frowning and hating the taste of her next words before they even filled her mouth. "This is too dangerous."
It was one thing when getting caught was an abstraction – it hadn't felt more possible than their friendship being discovered, but with Katherine aware of them and, if this incident were any indication, actively trying to out their relationship... it would only be a matter of time.
If Damon hadn't gotten her to do that locking spell...
Her chest tightened uncomfortably as she realized how close they had come to losing their lives.
"I..." Damon's face crumpled in sudden understanding, his voice barely audibly when he spoke, "Yes, you're right... of course..." He nodded absently, eyes downcast. "It was a foolishness on my part to believe otherwise."
Bonnie blinked rapidly and looked down at the duster she was still holding. A heavy silence dragged torturously for far too long, only to be broken by the sound of cotton against leather. She could feel him hovering across the room.
"It is just..." he began tentatively, "I do not wish to live without you."
I don't want to live without you either, she bit the inside of her cheek to keep from saying.
This was the safe thing to do. This was the right thing to do.
Then why does it feel so wrong, she wondered as she lifted her gaze to meet his.
"I would rather a short life filled with your presence than a long one without it," he spoke then gave a short, bitter laugh. "And yet, I would never wish the same fate upon you. The very thought –"
He broke off, shaking his head, and when he spoke again his tone was resigned but resolute, "No, you are right. This is best."
The sight of him walking across the room to leave broke something inside of her and she was flicking her wrist and shutting the doors before he could reach them; before she could fully comprehend what she was doing. He spun to her, surprised, and she blurted in frustration,
"This is ridiculous! I'm a witch for God's sake. All that power should be good for something, right?"
He faltered for a second before his lips turned down. "No, you were correct. It's far too dangerous."
"It really is," she agreed, taking a large step in his direction.
His brow furrowed as he watched her cautiously. "And if we were to be discovered they would surely torture us both before a swift execution."
"Undoubtedly," she nodded, inching closer.
He tensed, eyes narrowing. "Bonnie... we're agreed, are we not?"
She vacillated between common sense and irrationality. Her logic told her one thing and every other part of her told her another. She wanted to keep him safe, but she didn't want to give him up in order to do it... Surely, her magic could keep him from harm. I could protect you, she thought, looking up at him as he frowned back at her. I can protect us both.
Biting her lip, she came to a stop a foot away from him and confessed, "I'm not so sure we are."
His eyes widened dramatically. "You were the one to speak sense first."
"I know," she replied apologetically.
He hesitated, moving forward a step, shaking his head. "No, Bonnie... I am... resolved in this matter," he said, sounding anything but.
A strange swell of hope and anxiety rose in her chest. She nodded and stood close enough to feel the warmth of his skin without touching him.
He leaned towards her slightly, his dark hair falling across his forehead as he whispered solemnly, "If any harm were to befall you, I would never forgive myself."
"I feel exactly the same about you." Her hand found the metal buckle on his suspenders.
His palm rested lightly against her cheek, the heat of it sending a slow shiver up her spine. "Then we concur; we must be forever parted."
She tugged him down roughly be the neck, crushing her lips to his and letting her fingers rack through the soft curls of his hair and along his scalp. He groaned deep in his chest, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her tight against him.
Like hell they were parting. Fuck Katherine; Bonnie was going to make this work.
Katherine stabbed her final French bean and brought it gracefully to her lips as she studied the men around her. Giuseppe Salvatore was focused intently on finishing the haunch of venison and potatoes left before him while Damon and Stefan talked animatedly about today's paper.
Today's events had proven most disappointing. Giuseppe had spent a great portion of the day in town, had even taken lunch with Jonathan Gilbert rather than return home. It left her very little opportunity to expose Damon's affair with the serving girl.
She chewed the vegetable delicately, watching as Stefan laughed heartily at something his brother said.
She had contemplated compelling Stefan and having him give evidence to Giuseppe, fictitious or otherwise, of Damon's dalliances. If there were anyone in this world Giuseppe would believe, even lacking attestation, it would be Stefan.
But in the destruction of the brother, she would surely destroy Stefan as well for, if she were to employ him in such a fashion, he would never forgive himself. She would be forced to compel him endlessly. Compelling him not to think on why he betrayed his brother; compelling him to forgive himself for his part in the matter or perhaps having him forget his part entirely, though that would prove difficult with everyone else being privy to it; compelling him to lose any affection he had for Damon...
The list went on and on and it was all very tiresome.
She had yet to even reveal her true nature to Stefan and she found herself hesitating. The thought of him rejecting her, of having to compel his affections, left a sour taste in her mouth. She would if she must, but only just.
Stefan turned his head, catching her eye and sending her a discreet smile as the servants came sweeping into the room. They cleared the table of the second course and replaced it with ice pudding and strawberry cream while Katherine returned the secret smile with a flutter of her lashes.
No, the trollop was not worth tainting his affections over. If this was to be done, their discovery must appear to be accidental. She had had the perfect opportunity that very morning and her failure grated.
When she had first made attempt on the door she had put little vigour into it, but that had quickly changed when she realized it would not, indeed, budge. It had taken a strength more than human to pry those doors apart.
Something was amiss. A door with no lock needing such force to be opened? Suspicious at best.
Was there something more to the girl than Emily had led her to believe? If that be the case, why would Emily feel the need to lie to her to protect Bonnie?
She frowned, tapping her spoon gently against her desert plate before scooping up a dollop of pudding.
A test then; she would instruct Emily to watch Bonnie even closer and if Emily failed to report what Katherine knew already to be true – that the girl was running about scandalously with Damon Salvatore – well... Emily had been such a loyal servant to this point. It would be such a pity to lose her. It was so difficult to find good help.
The tall, cool strands of grass tickled at the nape of Bonnie's neck and behind her ears as she looked up into the overwhelming night sky. There wasn't a cloud in sight; the moon was still bright overhead, though beginning to wan and as far as the eye could see the sky was blanketed in stars. Bonnie wondered if this was what it was like to go camping in the countryside or if there was nowhere left in the 21st century where you could see the stars like this.
Damon lay beside her in the grass, his arm outstretched to help guide her eyes as he spoke, "If you follow along those three stars – the one at the very end – that is Polaris, the North Star."
"Really?"
She followed his finger to where it pointed at a particularly bright star and squinted. She had never actually seen Polaris before. Or maybe she had and just never knew what she was seeing.
He hummed in confirmation and then continued, "Polaris connects to Ursa Minor."
She twisted her head to look at him and he mirrored her, his lips quirking slightly when he noticed her blank stare. "The Little Dipper," he clarified.
"Ah, that I recognize," she said, turning her attention back to the night sky.
"Can you see it?"
"No," she answered with a small shake of her head. He grasped her hand, lifting it above them and using her finger to trace invisible lines in the air.
"Do you see it now?" he asked when he had finished.
She stared a moment longer, tilting her head to one side until she made out what looked to be a small rectangle and a handle. "Yeah, I think I do."
He brought her hand down to rest loosely on his chest. She could feel his steady heartbeat through the soft cotton of his shirt against the back of her hand. She found herself wondering what it might be like to be doing this with 21st century Damon. Did vampires have heartbeats too? Would his skin be warm or cold? Did he even remember how to find Ursa Minor?
She shuffled just a bit closer to Damon's side, laying her head against his shoulder. The cloaking spell she had placed on them offered her some level of comfort. She was much stronger in the area of illusions, so she felt safe knowing her spell plus the natural darkness of the night would make them close to impossible to spot.
"The Founder's Ball is in a fortnight," he said suddenly.
"Oh?" she said politely. "And are you going?"
"My attendance is mandatory." He sounded anything but pleased by the idea.
"Who are you going with?"
He turned his head to flash her a smile. "You, if you will do me the honour."
She rolled her eyes, scoffing, "Right. Let me just get my neck measured for a noose and we'll be on our way."
"How incredibly morbid," he commented, seeming both appalled and vaguely amused that she could say such a thing.
She sat up, taking her hand away from his chest so she could lean her weight on it as she looked down at him. "Who are you actually taking?"
"No one. My brother is escorting Miss Katherine and I am to play chaperone."
"Sounds like a delightful evening," she said wryly.
He chuckled lightly, his eyes sparking in mischief. "And if it is not, I will drink until it is."
She shook her head in mock reproach. "You're going to be a terrible chaperone; I fear for Stefan's virtue."
"Ha!" he chortled, his smile wide. His fingers found a fold in her skirt and his attention drifted to his hands as he said, "I do wish you could attend. I long to see you adorned in finery, something befitting of you. You would be a sight to behold."
She watched as he played absently with the crease of her skirt as she tried to imagine it. Katherine's dresses were quite stunning, but for the life of her, Bonnie couldn't imagine herself wearing something like that. "Those dresses are probably really heavy and hard to walk in," she responded thoughtlessly.
He shot her a surprised look. "Only you would look at a fine dress and think it impractical."
He released her skirt and got to his feet, turning to face her and extending a hand. She stared at it and raised a questioning brow.
"It may not be within my ability to bring you to the ball, Miss Brown, but I most certainly may bring the ball to you," he offered in way of explanation before bowing slightly. "May I have this dance?"
She lifted her hand to place it in his, but stopped just short, hesitating. "I have a confession."
His brow furrowed and he spoke somberly, "Your dance card is full."
A tiny smile played at the corner of her mouth even as she rolled her eyes. "I don't know how to dance."
Well she did, but she didn't know how to waltz or foxtrot or whatever it was that passed for dancing in 1864.
He made a flippant gesture with his hand. "Easily remedied. I just so happen to be the most accomplished dance instructor in all of Virginia."
"That's convenient," she said, her smile widening tenfold.
"Up," he commanded and, not waiting for her consent, took hold of her arm to gently tug her to her feet.
She contemplated just going limp on him and seeing what he did, but decided to play along instead, getting to her feet in front of him and waiting patiently for further instruction.
His eyes narrowed suddenly as he began to appraise her, walking slowly in a circle, his arms folded behind his back and posture impeccable. She fidgeted, feeling his gaze rove over her frame even as he disappeared from view.
"Being the most sought after instructor in all of Virginia," he began haughtily, "I only deign to teach students of the highest calibre."
"I thought you were the most accomplished, not the most sought after," Bonnie couldn't help but point out.
Behind her now, his lips found the shell of her ear as he countered teasingly, "The most accomplished and most sought after." He stepped back and began circling again. "Do try to keep up, Miss Bradshaw."
She turned her head so she could glare at him as he stopped beside her.
"Now, I need not inform you that my word is law and this lesson must be taken in all seriousness. There will be no laughter, no smiling and absolutely no tomfoolery permitted of any kind."
Her lips quirked up.
"Ah!" he exclaimed, wagging a finger in reprimand.
She pulled her face into a severe frown and his eyes danced with contained amusement as he nodded his head approvingly. "Very good. Now let us begin."
He crossed to stand in front of her. Placing a warm hand below the centre of her back just above her waist, he swiftly pulled her forward. Not expecting it, she stumbled ungracefully, her chin making forceful contact with his chest.
Her teeth knocked together and she groaned as the reverberations jolted up her jaw. She rubbed her chin in an effort to ease the sensation and squinted up at Damon to see him doing much the same to his chest.
Noticing her tending her jaw, he removed her hand and replaced it with his own, his eyes concerned, "Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm fine. It was more shock than pain," she reassured with an easy smile.
Appeased, he mock scolded with a tilt of his head, "Did I not expressly say no tomfoolery?"
"Sorry," she played along, "I'll promise to behave from now on."
He swiped a quick thumb along her jaw before moving his hand once more to her lower back and taking up her left hand securely in his right. Slowly this time, he pulled her forward until there was no space between them.
"I shall keep a steady count of one, two, three. On the second count of one, I will step forward and you back," he instructed simply.
Bonnie nodded her understanding, listening closely as he began to count and anticipating her first move. He got to one and she stepped back with her right foot only to feel him step firmly onto her left.
She yelped and he jumped back abruptly, his face contrite. "Apologies."
"No, no, it's fine." She shook her head, brushing off his concern for the second time in so many minutes. The pain was already a passing thought, but Damon looked dismal, his brow crumpled and lips turned down.
"This is proving a great deal less romantic than intended... and a sight more dangerous," he said so despondently that Bonnie felt a peculiar mirth bubbling in her chest. She ducked her head quickly so her hair would hide her smile but it did nothing to quiet the sound of her laughter.
She peeked at him from under the curls of her hair and their eyes caught. His downturned mouth twitched repeatedly before breaking into a wide smile of its own as his amusement joined hers to fill the night air between them.
"It's a good thing you're the most accomplished teacher in all of Virginia otherwise this might have been a disaster," Bonnie teased.
His grin widened. "Beyond all comprehension, to be sure."
Heartened, Bonnie grasped his hand and placed her other on his shoulder. "Again? I think I know what to do this time."
"If you are certain," he said, taking the necessary position.
It took a few tries but eventually they fell into an easy rhythm: back left, side right and together; forward right, side left and together. They moved naturally, their bodies flush as they danced.
Bonnie was a little sceptical that anyone danced pressed this closely together in 1864 but, with Damon's soft hair brushing along her temple as he rested his check beside hers, she couldn't bring herself to voice her suspicions.
The smooth sound of him humming a simple melody as he continued to lead her across the grassy field tickled her ear. She leant back slightly to look at him. "Is that Long, Long Ago?"
A mild look of annoyance crossed his face before he scoffed, "I am partial to other songs I'll have you know. In fact," he continued, his tone conspiratorial, "I prefer Greensleeves."
"Sacrilege!" Bonnie exclaimed dramatically.
He shook his head and, holding her tighter, lifted her off her feet and spun her quickly. She gave a startled squeal, feeling her stomach swoop pleasantly even as he set her on her feet again. Biting her lip to temper her smile, she narrowed her eyes and gave him a chastising tap to the chest.
His responding smile ate up half his face and she was struck by how beautiful he really was. Not just on the surface but deep down. He was passionate and earnest and so full of life it was impossible to not be infected by his enthusiasm at times. She wanted desperately to protect him from everything bad that would ever happen to him; that would rob him of his innocent hunger for everything the world had to offer.
He ducked his head suddenly, resting his forehead against hers and, keeping their eyes locked, released her hand to tangle his fingers in her hair. A wicked smirk painted on his face, he whispered, "Why Miss Bell, how you stare at me... it's positively indecent."
Giving her no chance to respond, he covered her lips with his.