Title: Lettered

Rating: M

Genre: AU/AH/Time-travel

Pairing(s): Bonnie/Klaus, Bonnie/Elijah, Klaus/Katherine (One-sided), Katherine/Elijah, Bonnie/Trevor (One-sided), Trevor/Katherine (One-sided), Matt/Elena, Damon/Lucy, Jeremy/Caroline, Stefan/Emily, Tyler/Rebekah, Kol/OC, etc.

Summary: Bonnie Bennett travels back in time once she convinces herself that she and her friends could've had a normal life if Katherine had been sacrificed when Klaus had planned. What she doesn't expect is for Klaus to be taken in by the mystery of her arrival and her behavior so much so that he is willing to seduce her in order to learn her secrets even if he has to use Elijah to do it. Loosely based on Cyrano de Bergerac. Klonnie/Bonlijah.

Warnings: Character Death, Violence, Time-travel, ect.

Chapter Three: Inadequacy

Three days passed in which Bonnie mostly kept to herself. Trevor had found her a few spell books for her to occupy herself with, when she wasn't reading the novel that Elijah had given her, and when she wasn't attending to the Lady Katerina's care. She noticed the brunette's eyes on her the rare moments they spent alone but as Bonnie had taken to avoiding the Mikaelson brothers, their other guest had backed off of her raising of the eyebrow at Bonnie.

Bonnie sat on the ground in the gardens just on the outside of the manor, her head going over the spell that was said to incapacitate werewolves, as she thought it might come in handy once she returned to her time. She was beginning to miss her time already. But contrary to how important her friends had seemed to be prior to her departure, it was her family; her father, her mother, and her grams that Bonnie longed for.

She shifted, the silk of her black dress sliding against her skin, as the wind whipped through her hair, causing the tendrils of her hair that had slipped from the long French braid that Mirela had put it in that morning to dance around her face. She sighed, as she tried to keep the pages from blowing around in the wind.

Though, she missed her family, she knew that what she was doing now would benefit them in the end. What bothered Bonnie was not missing her family, she expected to miss them. She was not bothered by not missing her friends, as given her detachment toward their relationship when she left she had expected that as well. What was bothering her was the fact that she was missing Elijah.

Three days and she had an ache in her chest when she thought of him. She had been avoiding everyone outside of Trevor and Mirela, and yet she couldn't stop her mind from straying to Elijah more than once. She suspected that it had to do with his blood being in her system. She had thought that it would have worn off. When she had had Stefan's blood in her system it had not had such a potent effect. It hadn't stayed in her system that long, at least not that she had felt. Though, the more she thought about it, the more she had to wonder how much of her inability to say no to the younger Salvatore had to do with the blood, and they had always seemed to know that she would agree to what Stefan had asked without much protest. Now that Bonnie was away from the situation she could look at it like an unattached bystander and she realized that she should have been asking questions far sooner, but she had never really been worried about her own behavior or her situation. She had been worried about everyone else. She had become a martyr, a sacrificial lamb. The female version of what Stefan had made himself, only she didn't have anyone to fall back on or a switch to be flipped so that she could get away from having to care so much.

"Have I been missing something all this time?" Bonnie asked aloud. She was speaking to the spirits, hoping that they would answer her.

Bonnie watched as the wind blew the pages of the book in her lap once more, but this time she didn't try and stop them. When the wind stopped the page that the book had landed on was the exact thing that she had been looking for. It seemed that now that she was practicing self-awareness and self-care the spirits would easily oblige her. She was out from under the Salvatore influence, and that was enough for them to assist her.

Bonnie's green eyes scanned over the page and they widened at what they saw. She read the page over and over again, disbelieving. The text said that as Bonnie was a witch, a vampire's blood did not leave her system naturally as it did with humans. It had to be removed by supernatural means which the text did not specify. It did however, note that while the initial bond formed lessened over time, the easy acquiescence and need to please the vampire in question did not.

Bonnie's anger was immediate. She didn't blame her grams, as she had kept the blood sharing a secret from her, as well as Damon's attack. But the Salvatore had known. They had to have known. It had always been Stefan to convince her, Stefan to come to her. Damon's voice echoed in her head, from the day that they had convinced her to agree with the kidnapping of Mason Lockwood, "That's why I brought him." She could still see the smug look on his face. They had interacted with witches before, Damon more so as he had supposedly protected her family, and now Bonnie realized the reason why they never seemed too keen on the idea of sharing those interactions with Bonnie. Perhaps they were afraid that she would find out things that would free her from their hold on her. They had been keen on using her but they had not been keen on giving her time to grow and learn. Giving her time to realize how far from herself she had gotten, and how much of what she was doing were things she would never do.

There had been times where she had fought against it, she knew. Times where she had been able to make her own choices. But it had never been enough to break the hold completely. She wondered at even being able to make the choice to travel back in time. But then something was nagging at her. Her attachment to Stefan even now, wasn't that great. She didn't miss him, and even with the lessening of the connection over time, being away from him should have affected her in some way.

Something had had to break his hold on her somewhat. "What was it?" Bonnie asked aloud. And then it came to her, the spirits providing the answer. The nose bleeds. It had been the nose bleeds. It hadn't been Bonnie's blood that had been leaving her system, but Stefan's. The spirits had tried to free her from the hold that she didn't know the vampires around her had on her, but they could only access her through her magic when that hold was still intact. Bonnie felt ill, sickened by the entire thing.

She had thought the nose bleeds had been punishment for her pushing her powers and her body too far. She had never seen it happen to another witch, but really how many other witches had she interacted with. And no one had told her any different. Then again, why would they. They were probably too busy thinking of ways to take advantage of the situation while they still could. Bonnie wondered if anyone outside of the Salvatore brothers had known. She wondered if they had ever felt guilty about what they were doing. As much as she despised them at the moment, she still wanted to know if they had ever given a damn or if she had just been a tool and pawn they had needed to keep alive and in line.

The connection had not been one-sided, Stefan's care for her had been proof of that, but they had used it and her to their advantage. Bonnie figured if Stefan's blood had remained in her system all that time, it was no wonder that she cared so little for her own preservation. Subconsciously, she had wanted Stefan to be happy, and Stefan's happiness had lied with Elena's happiness as well as her safety. Not that she wouldn't have wanted her friend safe, but she doubted she would have gone to the extremes of sacrificing herself and her family for it with so little forethought had it not been for Stefan's blood. Stefan had saw her and her loved ones as collateral damage in the face of what Elena wanted and needed and so Bonnie had as well, until she had reached her breaking point with her mother being turned and she had fought against it.

If Stefan's blood could have such an effect on her, what could Elijah's do? He was an original, which meant he was stronger and more powerful. Would that make his blood somehow more intoxicating? If Stefan's blood could make her act so out of character then what would Elijah's be able to do. It was already causing her to miss him and Bonnie didn't want to find out what else would happen if she left the situation as is. She had to get Elijah's blood and whatever was left of Stefan's out of her system.

Bonnie was broken out of her thoughts as the first few drops of rain fell from the sky. She looked up and closed her book. Standing she began to make her way back toward the manor. She hadn't even made it half way before the skies opened up and the rain began to pour down on her in heavy sheets.

Bonnie ran, her movements cumbersome in the dress she wore and with the shoes on her feet sinking into the mud as she moved. She nearly fell flat on her face more than once. Her foot got caught in the mud just before she reached the cobble stone pathway to the manor and the harder she pulled, the deeper it seemed to sink. She tugged harder and twisted her foot the wrong way as she finally managed to pull her foot out. She let out a pained cry as she fell to the ground. She knew that she sprained her ankle and it was bad sprain.

She would be able to heal herself but it wasn't a wound that was on the surface and so it would take time. Perhaps even a few days. She let out a string of curses as she forced herself to her feet and rather painfully began to limp herself up the cobblestone path. The day had started off so well as far as days went for her in the place and this time. She should have known that it would eventually be shot to hell.

:::

Elijah Mikaelson looked out of the window of the carriage that was heading toward their home. He ignored the conversation that his siblings were having as they sat across from him. While he was happy to see both Kol and Rebekah, their return wasn't as anticipated as it might have been had his mind not been on Bonnie. The house was abuzz with news of their arrival but Bonnie had been strangely quiet the last few days and both Elijah and Klaus had been so busy preparing for Kol and Rebekah to arrive while trying to hide Klaus' plans from them, that neither had been able to see much of Bonnie.

However, Klaus had made time for Katerina out of necessity. That was the reason that Elijah had been sent to retrieve their siblings. Klaus had wanted to ensure Katerina of his affection given her suspicion of Bonnie and so that left Elijah to deal with Kol and Rebekah.

Rebekah was already talking of having a gathering or a celebration to bring in their arrival that she wanted to hold within the next few days. Kol was disinterested, aside from the potential to hunt and the thought of seeing Mirela. Though, the gypsy girl ignored Kol for the most part, it was clear that his brother still loved the chase.

"You seem very distracted, brother," Rebekah said, gaining Elijah's attention.

Elijah eyed her and wondered what she would think once she found out that Klaus had their guest wearing her cast off dresses. She would likely be amused and though Elijah knew that his sister would likely look down on the girl, he also knew that Kol would possibly try and hinder Klaus' progress with the girl by going after her himself. He wasn't sure, however, what they would make of Bonnie. "Do I?" Elijah asked, answering his sister finally.

"You do," Rebekah said, not backing down, "Is there a particular reason for that?" She shifted in her seat, running her hands over her red dress. She had noticed that Elijah hadn't seemed very enthused to see them. He had been quiet and withdrawn and it was clear that his mind was elsewhere.

"Leave him be, Rebekah," Kol said, from where he sat next to her, "You know that if he does not wish for us to know then he will not tell us."

Rebekah nodded, but she still gave Elijah a rather calculated look as the carriage came to a stop. She said nothing however as she pulled up the hood to her cloak as to ward off the rain, watching as her brothers mirrored her action.

The door was opened for them and Elijah stepped out first, helping Rebekah out, with Kol following close behind them.

They moved to go toward the doors but stopped as they saw a lone drenched figure limping up the walk. Even given the hair clinging to her face, her slumped posture, and the mud clinging to her dress, it didn't take Elijah long to realize that the figure was Bonnie. He rushed to her side immediately, not noticing when his siblings followed closely behind him, expecting them to journey into the manor without paying him any mind.

When he stopped in front of Bonnie, she looked up at him surprised. "Elijah?" she said, before she glanced behind him at Kol and Rebekah, and cleared her throat, correcting herself, "My lord."

Elijah sighed, as he noted her cheeks flush. "None of that," he said, taking her face in his hands, "What has happened? Are you hurt?"

Bonnie bit her lip, glancing at Kol and Rebekah once more. She wanted to see Elijah, but didn't at the same time. His presence was already effecting her. She wanted to take away the concerned look on his face and she hated herself for it. The presence of his siblings wasn't helping matters. She knew how she was supposed to act in the face of someone who was basically her employer, but the blood made her vulnerable to him and she was sure that Kol and Rebekah would pick up on something if they hadn't already. "I…," Bonnie muttered, "I'm fine. It's my ankle, but it's just a sprain. I can heal it. It will take some time but I can-"

Bonnie was cut off, a surprised yelp leaving her lips as Elijah suddenly picked her up, carrying her bridal style. Bonnie frowned. She noted the shocked look on Kol and Rebekah's faces. She struggled against Elijah's hold. "Be still," he said.

"This isn't necessary," Bonnie stated. She wanted to escape the entire mess. The situation. The originals. The letter, that she could not stop rereading. She just wanted to help with the sacrifice so that she could go home. The rest of it was too much for her to handle.

"Would you have me leave you to hobble about the manor in wet clothes until you reach your chambers," he said, "So that you might catch cold as well?" He ignored the rain and his siblings as looked into Bonnie's eyes. "I know you want to fight me," he said, "But now is not the time. Thank me and allow me to help you now and you can argue with me and avoid me once you are dry and can rest."

Bonnie shivered, the cold and the rain finally getting to her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hid her face in his shoulder. "Thank you," she whispered. She wondered if her acquiescence was real gratitude or the side of effect of his blood.

"Anything," Elijah whispered as he carried her toward the front door, "Always."

Bonnie found it didn't matter what it was. This wouldn't be like being tied to Stefan, she realized. Until she could find a solution, she found solace in the fact that there were worse men that she could be bound to than Elijah Mikaelson.

:::

Klaus Mikaelson sat next to Katerina Petrova in the library, not listening as she detailed her mother's tastes in literature. She was speaking of her resentment toward her parents one minute, and her love for them the next. While Klaus could understand her mixed feelings on the matter, all that her reveal told him was that he could effectively use her parents against her one day if need be.

The girl stopped in front of the books, running her fingers over the spines. Klaus' mind was on Bonnie. It had been three days since he had seen her, and he had hoped, especially after the effect of Elijah's letter, that their interactions would become more rather than less frequent.

However, in between Katerina and his siblings, there had been no time to corner Bonnie. He hadn't even been able to infiltrate her domain and watch her read. It seemed a simple act, but he enjoyed their time together when he watched her. They had very rarely spoke, but still the interactions were telling. He could be in her presence and watch the expressions play across her face as she read. Noting when a particular line would catch her attention or a particular phrase would make her smile. She rarely smiled, but when she did….

Klaus frowned. He was thinking like some lovesick teenager. It was disturbing. Wanting her was fine, but not this…whatever this was...

Klaus was brought out of his thoughts by the sudden opening of the library door. "Nik," a voice he recognized rang out, "It is one thing not to retrieve us, but the least you could do is greet us upon our arrival. Kol is already bored and I am of much the same mind. Entertain us."

Klaus rolled his eyes fondly, as he grinned at his little sister. She entered the room with poise and purpose. He assumed that she had taken so long to accost him as a result of the rain, though one would not think that she had just caught the tail end of a storm a mere hour before, looking at her.

Rebekah had changed from her red silk dress, into one that was light blue in shade. Her blonde hair braided in two braids with navy blue ribbon, the braids wrapped around her head at the crown. Pearls adorned her hair as well, and she looked as ethereal and lovely as ever. Klaus suspected it was Mirela's work as the girl and his sister were so fond of one another.

"Hello Rebekah," Klaus greeted blandly, "It is lovely to see you. How did you and Kol fair in France?" Rebekah blinked at him, looking unimpressed. Klaus glanced at Katerina who was looking at him expectantly. Sighing, he walked over to stand beside her. "Would you like to meet our guest?" he asked, "The lovely Lady Katerina Petrova."

Katerina bowed lowly. She wanted to make a good impression on the rest of Lord Niklaus' family. "Hello Lady Rebekah," she smiled, "I have heard much about you."

Rebekah huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. She had heard about Lady Katerina as well. Neither Trevor nor Mirela were ones to hide things from her. The girl had been rude to Mirela, one of the very few females that Rebekah found tolerable. If she was going to look down on gypsies then she could have at least been a woman of some standing. She wasn't even as pretty to look at as the ancestor Rebekah remembered just as indifferently. "Yes," Rebekah said, smiling fondly, "The little poor girl that you let wear my cast offs. What is it brother? Did you use up all the new dress material having garments made for this girl's maid? I can understand really, she is much prettier than her lady and seems to draw much more attention as well."

Katerina looked shocked, ashamed, and angry, which of course had been Rebekah's aim.

"She did not mean anything by it love," Klaus said, ignoring Rebekah as she loudly sucked her teeth, "She has been offensive to those around her since birth." He offered Katerina his arm, and was pleased when she took it.

"Do you know of which servant that I speak, brother?" Rebekah asked interrupting their interaction, "The one Mirela waits on. Bonnie, is it? I have yet, to be formerly introduced to her, but everyone seems to be abuzz with curiosity and praise." Klaus gave her a warning look, and she saw the insecurity that surfaced on Katerina's face. She took both things as a sign. "I am rather curious myself," she said, "I mean first Elijah, carried her inside like a baby upon finding out that she was hurt. Then when Trevor was told of her injury, he was simply beside himself. I have never seen his mood deteriorate so quickly."

Klaus pulled away from Katerina, jerking his arm from her hold. "What do you mean Bonnie is hurt?" He asked, his face betraying his anger and concern, "What happened?"

Rebekah smirked. Mirela had told her that Katerina was worried about the attention that Bonnie was getting from her brothers, and frankly she should have been. She had returned at the right moment it seemed, as if Klaus was meaning to seduce Katerina, he was going about it the wrong way.

:::

Bonnie leaned forward as Mirela pinned up her hair. She had changed into a dry dress, this one hunter green. Even if she was in no position to wait on Katherine, Mirela insisted that she look her best. The girl seemed certain that she would have a wide array of visitors.

"I know this family like the back of my own hand," Mirela said, as she placed the bejeweled gold and jade hair dagger into Bonnie's hair, "My lords will come to you out of concern and the two who have just arrived out of curiosity. You are a subject of great interest, miss. The lady Katerina sees you as a threat for a reason."

Bonnie frowned looking down as she sat back against the headboard of her bed once Mirela had finished. She was bed ridden and would likely be harassed by originals sooner rather than later. This day kept getting worse. "Lady Katerina doesn't need to see me as anything other than a servant," she said, "I have no interest, therefore I'm not a threat."

"They have interest in you and therefore you are," Mirela said as she moved to wrap Bonnie's ankle, "And if your behavior with Lord Elijah when he brought you back here is any indication, I would say there is interest there. Though, whether it is voluntary remains to be seen."

Bonnie raised a brow at her, the way that she spoke was suspicious. "What is that supposed to mean?" She asked.

Mirela didn't look up from her task as she continued to wrap Bonnie's bare ankle. She spoke in a soft but steady voice. "In the beginning of my time here," Mirela said, "I was attacked by one of the guest upon discovery of my ancestry. I was mortally wounded. Rather than let me die, Lord Kol, who found me, revealed to me what he and his family were and gave me is blood in order to survive. Due to the blood I formed a rather secure…attachment to him."

Bonnie frowned. She was shocked, but Mirela was good at doing that. Mirela was as much of a mystery to Bonnie as Bonnie seemed to be to everyone else. "Is that why you stay here even though you know what they are?" Bonnie asked, "Your attachment to Kol?"

Mirela shook her head. "I stay because I have so little options and they treat me well," Mirela said, "My attachment to Lord Kol was severed long ago, though, having me so loyal to him for as long as I was caused Lord Kol's interest to grow. He has always held my kind in high-esteem, miss."

"Your kind?" Bonnie asked. She thought over Mirela's words and she came to shocking conclusion. "You said that your connection to Kol had been severed," Bonnie stated, "By what means." In a mortal it would have faded out of her system over time.

"Magic, miss," Mirela said, looking up at her.

Bonnie sat up away from her headboard, grabbing Mirela's hands. "If you needed magic to get Kol's blood out of your system, then that means you're…," Bonnie trailed.

"A witch, miss," Mirela finished, "Yes, I am. Though, I am not nearly as powerful as you and the magic that gypsies practice is of a much weaker sort."

Bonnie bit her bottom lip, hoping that she could trust Mirela. "Could you show me," Bonnie said, "How you could remove Kol's blood from your system?"

Mirela nodded. "There are ears in this house, miss," she said, "I think that this discussion should be saved for another time. But…I would be glad to help." She squeezed Bonnie's hands, as the other girl gripped her own. "You have been very good to me as well," she said, "You can trust me. I protect my own. Do you understand?"

Bonnie nodded, wondering how she had come to be so lucky to have Mirela as an ally. "Thank you, Mirela," she said, seriously.

Mirela nodded. She propped Bonnie's ankle up with a stack of feather filled pillows. "I may be a year younger than you, miss," she said, "But I know what it means to lose your free will and to be bogged down by the world for what and who you are. I would wish that for no one. Least of all you."

"I told you," Bonnie smiled, "When we're alone, call me Bonnie."

"As I said before," Mirela said, "There are ears in this house, and some hear much more than others. And I meant what I said about you being a matter of interest, I know not how long our solitude will last. Lady Rebekah has discovered that you are not just a witch but a Bennett and witch and to have Lord Elijah treat you with such care…there will be questions. And Rebekah is of the sort that…when she asks a question it must be answered."

Bonnie almost laughed. "I kind of got that impression," she said. In reality she had had no real interaction with Rebekah in this time, she knew enough of her in the time that she had left to know that Mirela spoke the truth.

Mirela was about to respond when they heard and knock on the door. The two girls shared a look as Mirela stood. "I will get the door, miss," she said.

Bonnie nodded. She watched as Mirela opened the door to reveal a rather disheveled looking Elijah. He had changed his clothes, but his feet were bare and his hair was wet, although as far as Bonnie knew he had been inside for at least as long as she had. Bonnie frowned, her concern for him instant. "Elijah, what…what's going on?"

Elijah pushed is way into the room. Mirela stumbled out of his way and he looked down at her apologetically. "Excuse me, Mirela," he said, "I…would you mind giving Bonnie and I a moment alone?"

Instead of immediately complying, Mirela glanced at Bonnie. When Bonnie nodded, the girl turned back to Elijah. "Of course, my lord," she said. She turned to Bonnie once more. "I will be just right outside the door, miss," she said.

Again Bonnie nodded. Both Bonnie and Elijah watched as Mirela left, shutting the door behind her.

Bonnie took in Elijah's appearance once more. "You look terrible," she said, "Where are your shoes?"

Elijah ignored her, as he took several steps across the room. "May I sit?" Elijah asked.

Bonnie nodded, scooting over slightly on the edge of the bed. She knew that the best thing to do would be to push him away but she couldn't bring herself to.

Elijah sat down next to her on the bed. He faced her, his eyes roving over her form. "You are not ill?" He asked. Bonnie shook her head. "And your ankle?" Elijah pressed.

"It will take some time to heal," Bonnie said, honestly, "But it will be fine."

Elijah nodded absently. He took one of her hands in his. "I have just returned from visiting a few witches with whom we are still in contact," he said. He placed a glass jar in her hand. "This will help you heal," he said, "You will not take my blood, and your magic will take time, but this will assist it."

Bonnie looked from the jar to him and then back again. So that was where he had come from. He must have come to her, the minute he put on dry clothes. "You didn't have to go to all this trouble," Bonnie said, seriously.

"Yes," Elijah said, "I did." He had been worried and doing nothing was not an option to him.

"I'd rather you hadn't," Bonnie frowned, she looked at the wall over his shoulder, "It wasn't necessary."

"Nor was it necessary for you to cause me to worry," Elijah sighed, "I do not care what you deem to be necessary. You do not think it necessary for anyone to show you any care or concern at all. I do not know what your life was before because you will not tell me…but perhaps others have seen it necessary to neglect you and that is why you seem to find it offensive to be taken care of. Whatever the case, you will not rid yourself of me so easily. To me your presence is necessary, and so I will do whatever needs to be done to make sure you stay well, safe, happy, and in my presence. Is that something that you can comprehend?"

Bonnie swallowed hard, trying not to cry. It was his blood in her system that inspired the words she knew, it had to be, but she had always wanted to hear those words from someone that meant something to her, and given the circumstances Elijah was becoming someone that meant something even if it was the blood that was the reason that he meant something.

Bonnie set the glass jar aside as she felt the first of the tears begin to fall. "I…understand," Bonnie whispered, "Thank you."

Elijah reached out to wipe the tears that had fallen down her face. Ordinarily Bonnie would have pulled away from him, but she ended up doing the opposite. Elijah was surprised when Bonnie suddenly leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his middle, burying her face in his chest.

Once the shock passed, Elijah found himself returning her embrace, resting his chin atop her head.

Bonnie pulled away, too quickly for his liking and wiped frantically at her face. "I was about to read," Bonnie said, "But it's hard for me to see in the candlelight when it's dark outside." She was trying to lighten the mood, and the intensity of the situation.

"If it would please you then I will read to you," Elijah offered. It was a sorry excuse for him to stay, but he was willing to take it.

Bonnie nodded her acquiescence just as they heard Klaus' voice on the other side of the door. Bonnie froze, before she moved as far away from Elijah as she possibly could. Klaus' presence, reminded Bonnie of how ridiculous she was being, and how wrong it was to allow herself to get close to Elijah. This was not what she was there for, and she was not in her right state of mind.

Elijah stood, when he noted her expression. His hands clenched into fist, but he accepted the change in atmosphere even before the door opened and Klaus barreled in.

Klaus didn't notice Elijah at first, his eyes landing on Bonnie. She blinked at him, waiting expectantly as Klaus looked from her, to her ankle and then back again. "I was told that you were hurt," Klaus said after a moment.

"She is fine, brother," Elijah said stiffly, "You needn't concern yourself. It is merely a sprained ankle."

Bonnie noted the silent exchange between the two brothers, as Klaus finally looked at Elijah. The atmosphere was suddenly charged and unsettling.

"I believe," Klaus stated, "That Bonnie has the ability to speak for herself, brother. You look a bit out of sorts as it were, perhaps you should make yourself presentable and I will see to it that Bonnie's wellbeing is taken care of."

"I don't need taken care of," Bonnie said, glaring at Klaus.

Klaus moved to speak once more but Elijah spoke first. "You do," he said, "But Niklaus is right. I must attend to my attire. So I will leave your care to him." It was clear that were Elijah to stay he would only raise more questions and suspicion than he had raised already.

Bonnie sighed as and fought the urge to ask Elijah to stay with her. It would have made an already uncomfortable situation worse. "Thank you for your help, sire," Bonnie said, as Elijah bowed to her.

She watched as he left the room, giving Mirela a look as the girl left behind him, closing the door and leaving Bonnie alone with Klaus.

Klaus stalked across the room and took the seat the Elijah had taken only moments before, though he sat much closer to her than Elijah had. Klaus wasted no time before biting into his wrist and offering his blood to her.

Bonnie rolled her eyes; that seemed to be the answer that vampires had for everything. "I said that I was fine," she sighed, "I don't want or need your blood. I have my magic, and I have the paste the Elijah got from the witches. It'll be enough."

Klaus frowned, as he picked up the glass jar that Bonnie motioned to. He hadn't noticed that it had been there before. "You argue with me at every turn," he said, "I give you gifts and you throw them back in my face. I declare feelings for you and you laugh. I show you concern and you act as if you mean to shoo me away as if I am some whimpering little stray animal that has followed you home. And yet everything my brother offers you, you accept. I wonder why that is."

Bonnie looked down at her hands. "Not everything," she murmured.

"Ever since the moment that you have arrived you have denied him nothing from what I have seen," Klaus pressed.

Bonnie looked back at him then, her eyes hard. "You don't know what you're talking about," she said. She had been more amiable toward the presence of Elijah than that of Klaus, but considering she had not been particularly welcoming to either, that wasn't saying much. She was now unable to deny Elijah anything due to his blood being in her system, but Klaus hadn't born witness to their interactions enough to be this accusing. Though, he had likely seen enough people with vampire blood in their system to know the effects it could have and what they would look like. "Elijah doesn't want anything from me," Bonnie said, "The only thing he asked me for is my friendship and I told him no. You on the other hand, have asked for access to my power, my body, and my love; and you haven't given me reason to believe that you would be at all worthy of any of those things. So why, my lord, would I even consider giving them to you?"

Klaus tossed the glass jar he held from one hand to the other and back again. "And what of Elijah?" Klaus asked, "Is he more worthy of those things than I am."

Bonnie shook her head. "No," she said, "Neither of you would likely ever have me in any way beyond me working for you now. But he has more potential of being worthy than you do." Bonnie realized too late that she had said too much. Klaus raised a brow at her and she sighed. "Even your letter," she said, "Even on paper you confuse me more than you impress me. Everything about you is off putting. To put it plainly….you bother me."

Even though his face was carefully blank, Bonnie knew that she had offended him. He scooted away from her, closer to where her foot lay propped up. "I suppose it is safe to say that my brother does not," he said.

"Not in the same way, no," Bonnie agreed, "He bothers me because I am fond of him when I shouldn't be. You bother me because you're you."

"Brutally honest as always," Klaus stated as he carefully picked up her injured foot at sat it in his lap. "Is there anything else you prefer in regards to my brother?"

Bonnie rolled her eyes. She didn't see the point of this line of conversation. "He doesn't have to hide behind a piece of paper to say beautiful things or to show me who he is," she said, "He does it…naturally."

"If I were to try and show myself to you naturally," Klaus pressed, "Would you be able to get past the fact that I bother you long enough to really see who I am beyond the monster that you see?"

"No," Bonnie said, not bothering to lie, "Is that why you chose to write the letter."

"I thought a letter would be wise because you are fond of reading," he shrugged, "Clearly it matters not, as you are determined to reject me, while you flaunt and flutter about Elijah as if you have ingested his blood or you have somehow been sired to him."

Bonnie began to cough loudly and look around nervously. "You're exaggerating," she said.

Klaus began to unwrap the cloth from around her ankle as he reached for the glass jar once more. He began to gently apply the paste to Bonnie's ankle, nodding approvingly when the swelling immediately began to go down. "And you are a liar," he stated, not looking up from his work.

Bonnie's eyes widened, she just knew that she had been caught. That he had somehow known about Elijah and the blood. That she had somehow given herself a way. "What makes you say that?"

"If I bother you as much as you claim," he said, "You would have asked me to leave by now, and I doubt very much that I would still be touching you."

She only had a moment of relief about him not referring to Elijah's blood before she realized what he was indeed referring to. Bonnie crossed her arms over her chest, pulling a face. "I didn't even notice you were touching me…," she sighed, "I mean, you've been purposefully distracting me so how could I?"

Klaus said nothing as he wrapped the cloth around her ankle once more, and placed her foot back atop the pillows. He stood, and walked across the room, setting the jar with the remainder of the paste on the table there. He walked back over to Bonnie and looked down at her. "If it were such a hopeless thing for me to want you as you say," he grinned, "Then I would not have any effect on you at all." Bonnie frowned, as he leaned down and placed a kiss on the top of her head. She flinched away from him. "Good night, Bonnie," he whispered, "Get some rest."

Klaus began to walk away and Bonnie called out to stop him. "Klaus," she said, clearing her throat, "My lord….perhaps if instead of worrying about the reasons that Elijah might be more preferred company, you should focus your energy on finding someone who finds no reason to compare the two of you. Someone interested in you and only you. Nothing is worse that feeling inadequate."

Klaus stopped in front of the door, his hand hovering over the handle. "Has someone ever made you feel that way?" Klaus asked, curiously.

"Everyone," Bonnie said, "My entire life." Before Klaus could start of tell her how she should never feel that way, smooth words that he likely didn't mean, Bonnie leaned back against her headboard and closed her eyes. She drew into herself, shutting the outside world out. She had had enough of both brothers for one night, and expected that they would be even more intent on seeking her out in the morning.

:::

A day went by and due to Rebekah's insistence that they plan a large gathering for her own amusement, Elijah was unable to see Bonnie as he had wished. He was irritated to put it mildly. Even now he was readying himself to entertain Katerina to keep the girl out of his sister's hair instead of doing what he really wanted to do, which was visit Bonnie.

Katerina was apparently attempting to befriend Rebekah with some disastrous consequences.

Elijah looked up from putting on his shoes just as his brother walked into his room. Kol was eyeing him as if he were something unfamiliar. Perhaps, at the moment he was. Kol had not seen Elijah interested in someone in the manner in which he was showing interest in Bonnie since Tatia who had had a similar hold over him.

"The servant girl," Kol said, his voice betraying nothing, "How is she fairing?"

Elijah frowned, not bothering to ask who he was referring to. It would do him no good to play dumb in this situation. "She will heal," he said, "I went to some of the witches formerly under our employ for assistance. What they gave me will help her heal. "

"And how long have you been interested in her?" Kol asked.

Elijah sighed. "Since," he said, "Prior to her arrival." Kol raised an eyebrow at him. "I dreamed of her," he explained, "Or rather…I heard her voice in my dreams before she came here."

"Given what she is," Kol questioned, "You do not find that to be at all suspicions."

Elijah ran a hand over his face, as he sat down on the edge of his bed. "Of course I do," he said, "But she…I do not believe she would act maliciously toward us. She is here to work, she might have her own motives but no other interests I believe."

"How long has Niklaus been interested in her?" Kol asked.

Elijah hated the conversation but he knew that with Kol there was no way around it. At least Kol was straightforward. With Rebekah, it would have been far worse. "Since upon her arrival as far as I can tell," he said.

"And how long has it been since she ingested your blood?" Kol asked.

Elijah's face was blank but his mind was working to come up with some sort of denial. When Kol merely looked at him expectantly, he said. "Is it truly that obvious?" He asked.

"Yes but you are not the one giving it away," he said, "Your interest in her seems genuine and as your response agrees with that assessment I do believe it is. But she…there is an incongruence in her response to you. She seems to be interested in you and abhorred by you all at once. Mirela claims it is a part of her disposition as she treats Niklaus in a similar manner. I might have taken her words at face value had I not witnessed your interaction with the girl upon our arrival. She looked at you the same way that Mirela had looked at me after I had given her my blood. She does not look at me that way anymore. I find that I miss it." The last he said with some bit of amusement.

"You cannot tell, Niklaus," he said.

Kol smirked. "As much as I would love to see the outcome were I to do so," he laughed, "I will not. But I will offer you some advice."

Elijah nodded. "I am listening," he said after a moment.

"You gave up a woman for Niklaus once," Kol said, "And you claimed at the time, that she was not worth losing our brother. But it is obvious to me, given how she and Niklaus ended, that what he shared with her was not worth what you lost. I know that you regret, and if you step aside for him again your regret will be that much greater."

"What makes you think I had planned on stepping aside for him?" Elijah asked.

Kol shrugged. "Had you not," he said, "You would not be you." Elijah frowned. He was supposed to have written Bonnie another letter for Niklaus by now and he was sure that his brother would petition him to do so soon. "I overheard the tail end of a conversation that Niklaus had with the girl the other night," Kol said, "She said that she has been made to feel inadequate her whole life. Our brother has more issues with inadequacy than anyone we have ever known. The things that she said to him that night, he will want her all the more. Even so…you should not let Nik's issues be your own. He feels inadequate even if he manages to get what he wants. It is never enough. Would it really matter so much if you took something away? It would allow him to live out his self-fulfilling prophecy and play the victim. You would be doing him a favor I think, and he would be able to blame you as well. We both know how much he hates taking responsibility for his actions. If you choose not to step aside, it might be an acceptable outcome."

Elijah said nothing. He walked across the room toward his desk and prepared to write Bonnie a letter. He ignored Kol when he left the room. He wrote and rewrote, until the candle on his desk had nearly turned to a puddle of wax. He studied the finished product. It only needed to be signed. He poised the pen to write his own name on the letter, to tell Bonnie how he felt, but at the last moment he ended up writing his brother's name instead.

:::

Katerina Petrova watched with narrowed eyes as Niklaus carried her servant girl in his arms. The other brother who had recently arrived, Kol, spread a thin blanket over the ground, before Niklaus rather gently sat Bonnie down on it. The three were chatting and laughing. It seemed that Bonnie had managed to endear herself to yet another male member of the family.

Katerina had been trying her luck with Elijah, taking a turn about the gardens with him. But she knew that once he saw her servant girl he would be distracted from her. The girl seemed to have that power without giving it much effort and Katerina was becoming more than a little annoyed by it. She would never ensure herself a place in the household with any man if all of their attention lied elsewhere.

She pretended to laugh at something Elijah had said, as she tried to figure out a way to steer him in another direction. She was caught up however, when she noticed that while Kol seemed to wonder away upon catching sight of Mirela yet another servant girl that Katerina disliked, Niklaus had begun to draw of all things, Bonnie being his subject. Katerina hadn't known that the man had had a talent for art. He had never shared that part of himself with her.

However, he was sharing that part of himself with Bonnie easily enough though the girl didn't really seem to care much. Her nose was in a book and she didn't even seem to be paying him any attention at all. Niklaus was enraptured by her and she didn't seem at all effected by it. Perhaps if Katerina acted aloof and disinterested it would have the same effect. Her mother had always claimed that men liked the chase. Her clinging so strongly to the last man she loved had only caused Katerina to lose both her lover and her child.

She said something in response to Elijah even as her mind was working and he laughed in response, though his laughter didn't sound genuine. Still it drew Bonnie's attention, as the girl finally managed to tear herself away from the book in her hand.

When Bonnie looked up at she and Elijah, Katerina felt better when she saw the stricken look on the girl's face. So Elijah was where the girl's interest truly lied.

Niklaus looked up at her Bonnie, frowned at her expression and then followed her gaze. Finally, his eyes were on her and Katerina could tell from his own expression that he would soon be renewing his efforts to woo her.

She took Elijah's arm in hers, hoping he would notice the other two as she steered him the opposite direction pretending not to notice them herself. "I'd like to see the lilies," she said.

"Very well," Elijah agreed.

Katerina kept her ears tuned to the other couple as she and Elijah walked away. She hoped that they would both end up going inside, whatever mood that had been between them had gone stilted evidently.

"My ankle is sore," Bonnie said, "I'd like to go inside now." Katerina smirked, knowing it was not the girl's ankle that bothered her but the sight of her with Elijah.

"Nonsense," Niklaus said, much to Katerina's surprise, "You need the air and I need to finish drawing you. You are lovely in this light, it would be a waste to leave now."

Katerina glanced back at them in time to see the girl blush and pick up her book once more. "You're ridiculous," Bonnie said, but Katerina caught the ghost of a smile on the girl's face and so did Niklaus.

"I am much more sensible when I am not around you," Niklaus grinned. Katerina rolled her eyes. Her mouth pinched into a thin line as she watched Niklaus gently place Bonnie's wounded foot in his lap. "Elevation helps," he said, by way of excuse, "Or so I am told."

"It feels better," the girl said, her voice soft and embarrassed, and to Katerina it sounded purposefully so though it was genuine, "But you're still ridiculous."

"Yes," Klaus nodded, going back to drawing, "And I still blame you. So you should blame yourself. You are ridiculous for making me ridiculous."

"Anything to escape fault and not accept responsibility for your own incompetence," Bonnie muttered.

Surely he will take offence to that, Katerina thought. "You know me so well," he said, seeming amused rather than offended, "And after such short a time. I think that is a sign, Miss Bennett."

"And I think I liked you better when I was sure that you weren't capable of thinking," was her response.

"Funny," he said, "I was not aware that you liked me at all." There was silence in result, and Katerina was sure that girl was being quiet to make Niklaus feel as if he had won. It was no secret that Niklaus liked to win.

"I was unaware of that myself, brother," Elijah whispered, drawing Katerina's attention to him once more. He had spoken rather lowly and she had been rambling to keep him preoccupied so he would not catch her spying so she doubted he knew she heard him, especially when he was spying himself. Elijah's voice sounded pained but the thought of Bonnie softening toward his brother. Katerina winced.

Once again Bonnie had regained both of their attention without trying and Katerina had to watch from the sidelines. Yes, the girl was good, but Katerina would become better. She had to become better, her situation in life depended on it.

:::

Mirela Ayres looked down at the piece of paper that Elijah held out to her a small frown on her face. "Why does Lord Niklaus not give me the letter for, my miss, himself?" She asked.

Elijah sighed. After seeing Klaus and Bonnie in the gardens he had gone to Klaus and before his brother could even voice the suspicions that Elijah knew that he had in regards to him and Bonnie, Elijah had offered up his second letter. It was the for the best that he remove himself from the situation before the depth of his thoughts and feelings grew to be too much and history repeated itself. "He is with the Lady Katerina at present," he said.

Mirela's frown deepened. "Miss Bonnie is….no it is not my place to say," she muttered. Still she shook her head.

"Speak your peace," Elijah sighed.

Mirela looked up at him doubtfully for a moment before she nodded. "Bonnie is a good person," she said, "She treats me with kindness and respect. To her I am not a servant but a friend and I wish to live up to that title and so must say…I find your brother's attentions toward her to be troubling. Not because of who he is, though that is enough, but because they do not seem to be genuine. Perhaps I am wrong and they are, then I believe it would be best for him to leave her to find happiness elsewhere if he cannot stop his pursuit of Lady Katerina, or be more sincere in his attentions toward Bonnie in the way….in the way that you seem to be my lord."

"Though, my brother pursues Lady Katerina he has his own motives for doing so," Elijah stated, "Motives that Bonnie is aware of. As for my attentions toward Bonnie, you are mistaken."

"All that I am hearing my lord is that you have given up," Mirela shrugged, "However, it is not my place even if I think you a coward. But I will say this before I do as you asked me, I find it rather odd that Lord Niklaus has chosen to write letters. He has never been a wordsmith. You on the other hand, sire, have a lovely way with words. Now…if you would excuse me."

Elijah glowered as he watched her walk away. She and Kol were of the same mind and both too smart for their own good. It was a wonder that his brother had not given up on her yet, their personalities were similar enough to clash. "Would you have me do as my brother in his courting you?" Elijah asked, "Keep demanding attention even in the face of rejection. Would you not rather him leave you be?"

Mirela turned her head and grinned at him. "I may reject him but I see no need to stop him from pursuing me as he pleases," she said, "My father has always regretted allowing my mother to leave us without fighting for her as you know. It is better I think, to allow a person's regrets to be as few as possible. Though I very much doubt it, there may come a time I regret rejecting your brother, however, he will never regret not fighting for my affections as he has and continues to do so. And as for rejection…I know not that you have been rejected as of yet. In fact…as far as I am aware it is quite the opposite. Though, the reasons for Bonnie softening toward you will be obsolete after I assist her in ridding herself of them, I think it would be smart of you to take advantage of the situation while you still can. But I am just a servant, a gypsy, and a girl, I know nothing, my lord. Excuse me."

Elijah watched her walk away. She had basically told him that she would be helping Bonnie rid her system of his blood. It was the one advantage that he had over his brother. However, he would allow it without a fight, even though he would miss being bound to her. While he was now planning on not giving up his pursuit, his aim was not to take advantage of Bonnie. If he was to pursue her he would do it while she was of a clear mind and he could be sure that any affections that she had toward him were genuine. He would allow Mirela to deliver the letter but it would be the last one that Bonnie received from him that was signed in his brother's name.

:::

Bonnie's ankle healed in two days' time. While she was relieved that she could once again walk and move about on her own, she was not too thrilled to resume her duties in serving Katherine. However, as according to Mirela, Katherine was too busy attempting to ingratiate herself to both Rebekah in order to impress Klaus and Elijah in order to keep her options open, to worry about Bonnie serving her in any form, Bonnie decided to take another day off.

She sat in the kitchens next to Trevor, listening as he told her stories about the last gathering that had been held at the manor.

"Drunken nobles are the most entertaining specimens that you will ever have the pleasure to behold," he said, as Bonnie stole food from some of the trays that were being prepared for the delivery of breakfast.

"Is that so?" Bonnie grinned.

Trevor nodded. "You have not lived until you've seen a man of great power and wealth make an absolute fool of themselves," Trevor declared, "Until the moment you witness a drunken nobleman fall down stone stairs and land in pile of horse dung your life is a life half lived, beautiful Bonnie."

Bonnie shook her head, covering her mouth with her hands in order to hide her laughter. "And here I thought that Rebekah's little gathering tomorrow would be a bore," she said.

"You are quite mistaken," Trevor smirked, "And speaking of the lovely Lady Rebekah, has she managed to corner you yet."

"Nope," Bonnie said, not bothering to hide her relief, "She's too busy attempting to make the Lady Katerina into an obedient whimpering puppy. The last time I saw her she was forcing my lady to help the other servants trim the halls with silk and ribbons." It amused Bonnie that while Katerina had been made to assist in preparation she and Mirela were exempted.

"I cannot say that I am surprised," Trevor shrugged, "She is rather fond of Mirela and possessive of her brothers, which means Katerina's distaste for Mirela and her interest in the Niklaus and Elijah, are two marks against her favor."

"Is Lady Katerina," Bonnie began, looking down at the table in front of her, "Really, interested in Elijah? I mean, if she's just using him to make Klaus jealous, wouldn't it be…harmful to him."

"Perhaps if he was interested in her," Trevor said seriously. He glanced at Bonnie out of the corner of his eye. He hadn't really believed Mirela when she had said that Bonnie was softening her attitude toward both Niklaus and Elijah, Elijah in particular. However, he was now unable to deny the fact.

"He isn't interested in her then?" Bonnie asked. She remembered seeing them walking and laughing together, just the day before when Klaus had carried her outside so that she could ge t some fresh air and sit out in the gardens. Kol had claimed that it was nothing, that Elijah never became so attached to someone so quickly. Reluctantly, even Klaus had agreed. Still Bonnie couldn't get the image out of her head, and she hated herself for even caring.

"No," Trevor replied, "He is not interested. He seems to have attached himself to another at present. But I believe that you have knowledge of that already."

Bonnie looked away, not sure how to respond. When she finally opened her mouth to say something, Mirela entered the kitchens briskly and made her way over to them. Bonnie looked up at the girl expectantly and frowned when she held out a folded piece of paper.

"A letter for you, miss," Mirela said, glancing around the kitchen and rolling her eyes when she noted the other servants eavesdropping, "From Lord Niklaus."

Bonnie sighed as she took the paper from Mirela's hand. "I thought he was done with this," Bonnie muttered.

Miss Bennett,

I hope that this letter finds you well. While discovering your injury was most upsetting, I hear that you have healed beautifully and have made a full recovery and I am glad to hear of it. I would have come to call on you had it not been for the foolishness of my sister and her inherent need to celebrate every act one can celebrate, including but not limited to the act of breathing. And I will warn you, even if you do find me to be undesirable company at times that my sister will call on you herself soon and when she does you will be begging for my presence in order to save you from it. You may laugh now, but later you will wish for me to come to your aid and as I cannot seem to deny you anything, I will gladly offer it. But I do not write to you to discuss my sister. There is another issue at hand of much greater importance.

I hide behind a piece of paper once more, as I can never seem to tell you face to face the things that I wish to say. I am a coward in that respect, though that is not of importance. I will not dwell on my cowardice or any other aspect of my person. This letter will contain none of me, and all of you.

The idea that anyone has ever made you feel inadequate bothers me more than the knowledge that I have that I am inadequate as a fitting companion for. While my own insecurities do not quell my urge to be by your side, I feel the need to take your insecurities a way by telling you that, even being as powerful, ancient, and respected as I am, I am unworthy of that place. I know that were I to tell you that you have nothing at all to feel inadequate about you would ignore me and so I will not say it, I will write it instead.

You share so very little of yourself with me, that I am forced to guess at what ways that those in your life prior to myself have found you lacking. I have thought about it for an entire day's time since last seeing you and I cannot come up with one thing.

To lack by definition is a state of being without. But in terms of you, from what I can see thus far in our acquaintance, everything that that someone could ever wish to have, to see, or to know in someone else, is something that you possess. I do not mean to say that you are without flaws, I will not. Flawless as a word is flawed, as there are no such beings without them. But it is those flaws, the bitterness, the detachment, the forked tongue; along with your more pleasing traits, your beauty, your wit, your intelligence, your power; that provide a fullness to your character that is both engaging and an altogether exquisite thing to behold.

Your character is not one note, but a symphony. Each aspect of you, each note, filling sheets and sheets of music that can be moved about and put together to be played by you in your interactions with others in both the most complex and simplistic of ways. You are a never ending melody. A stream of masterpiece after masterpiece. I have never in all of my existence encountered anything like it, and I cannot fathom what more that someone could possibly wish to search for once your presence is before them.

I doubt that I make much sense, as it is as hard for me to describe your characters as it is for me to understand it. But I believe that I am beginning to understand it. Bit, by bit as you reveal it to me. Still no matter how much I learn I wish to know more. But I feel you will continue to hide, as I am certain that others that you have let in prior were even more unworthy than I find myself to be as if there is truth in your own feelings of unworthy, that much be where the stem from.

If ever there was a person that wished to make you feel inadequate, the only reason that I could think that could possibly make any sense would be that they found themselves lacking in the face of everything that is you. They did not want you to realize that there was a crippling power behind your stare. Perfection in the crooked curve of your lip. Unadulterated grace in the way that you moved. Poetry in your words and music in you laugh. That in looking at you that they felt what it meant to be second, and they realized that standing in your presence made the entirety of their existence into something failing and deficient. Because if you knew your power, you could reign it over them. You could make them live and breathe their insufficiencies with a glance; and to escape the misery that would come from that they tried to do the same to you. But you are stronger for it, and I see that as well. When the time comes, if the time comes, that you are willing to let me in, it will not bring you regret, I have nothing to gain from belittling you and everything to gain from doing the opposite.

And no I am not worthy of you, and neither is my brother. But, Bonnie, I wish to be worthy and even if I am never worthy I will strive to be. Perhaps I am being foolish and I should search the world to try and find someone who could want me for what and who I am. But I cannot, I will not, even as everything inside of me is begging me to let go of you before I become too attached. Too close. Even as you yourself beg me to let go of my interest in you. My interest remains, unchanged and unshaking.

I will close in saying this, Bonnie, you cannot expect me to not to want to warp myself into whatever it is that would please you. Whatever it is that you desire. Whatever it is that would make you see me as someone of value. You cannot expect me to give up, to look upon the face of another the same way that I now look upon you. How can I think of looking elsewhere, when everything outside of you seems so feeble in comparison?

Ever Yours,

Lord Niklaus Mikaelson

Bonnie stared at the letter and felt sick. Her entire life she had felt second best. To Elena, and to Caroline. She had felt unwanted, by her mother, my Jeremy. She had never been enough. Never. Yet, with one letter, she finally knew what it was like to be more than enough for someone. But it wasn't true. It couldn't have been true. It was Klaus, and even now he was pursuing Katherine.

He's using her, a voice in Bonnie's head said. But that shouldn't have mattered. Neither should the letter. But it did matter and Bonnie wanted to pull out her hair.

Worse than that, much worse than that, was the only reason that the letter was lacking in her sight. She didn't find the letter unwanted because it was from Klaus, she was once again surprised to find such depth in his character. No, she found the letter unwanted because it was not from Elijah. She knew it was the blood, but she still hated herself for the thought.

She had come back to take control of her situation and to save the people that truly meant something to her. However, she had once again been the one that had been made vulnerable. She had once again let herself soften toward monsters that she should have turn and ran away from.

It was worse now because they knew her vulnerabilities not because they had forced them out of her but rather because she had given them to them freely. She had told them things about herself and now they knew the right things to say to get under her skin. Elijah saying things that made her insides warm without provocation, and Klaus hiding behind a piece of paper to force her to face all of her insecurities and then tell her she had no reason at all to have them.

Bonnie wanted to scream. Elijah's blood made her so weak in face of him and even her rudeness toward Klaus was sounding more like teasing banter rather than genuine animosity with each day that passed. She didn't like what was happening, what the situation was turning her into.

She wasn't the type of person to look pass what the Originals were, she had learned that lesson when she had tried to do so with Stefan in the very beginning. She wasn't the type of person to put herself in the position where she was the center of attention for two brothers, she had learned to avoid that by watch Elena. Besides, if she hadn't come back and changed things, it would be Katherine that occupied her position volleying between two brothers, each vying in some way for her attention.

This was not how things were supposed to go. Bonnie folded the letter and wished that she could make herself burn it.

"Bonnie?" Trevor asked, cautiously.

"I'm fine," she said stiffly. She stood. She wasn't fine, she was far from it. She would have to take action soon. This wasn't working. She would have Mirela help her get Elijah's blood out of her system first and then she would confront Klaus about the sacrifice so that she could hurry things along. The sooner she ended Katherine the better.

"Will you have a reply, miss?" Mirela asked.

Bonnie shook her head. "No," she said, "But I think that tonight when it is dark I will take a walk. Will you come with me? I am in need of some air."

"Air, miss?" Mirela asked, raising a dark brow.

Bonnie nodded. "I hear," she said, "That in troubling times, air can have a rather cleansing effect."

Bonnie saw the moment when Mirela knew what she was really asking for as the girl nodded her head. "Of course, miss," she agreed.

Bonnie sighed in relief. She would be back to herself soon and she could go forward with her plans. She would have any trace of vampire blood out of her soon and she could not wait. It was a good thing, there was only so much she could take.