Silhouettes – Part XI
With each passing day, Bonnie was getting stronger and more disciplined. She was able to confidently say, she was in control of these new powers and Silas was assured she was ready to drop the veil to connect with Qetsiyah. Tomorrow, she would charge each location of the massacres and by the end of weekend, she'd have everything she needed to drop the veil.
Much to their dissatisfaction, Silas dragged Stefan and Damon along for a trip to Nova Scotia to retrieve the headstone calcified with Qetsiyah's blood, a key ingredient in contacting her ancestor. The conversation didn't go well.
.
"No." Damon said firmly, Stefan standing beside him, both with their arms crossed and steadfast.
Silas cocked his head. "You say that as if I'm giving you a choice."
"Why can't you get it on your own? What do you need us for?" Stefan asked, slightly less hostile than his older brother.
Silas dropped into the lounge chair, kicking his feet up on the coffee table. "I don't need you. But I also don't trust leaving you here unattended. I can't run the risk of you whisking Bonnie away before I get what I want."
Damon narrowed his eyes. "I'm not leaving Bonnie here alone." He stated slowly, and pointedly.
Silas' brows raised. "Oh, you wouldn't be. I've made arrangements to make sure she is completely and totally safe in our absence." He finished with a tight grin. Both brothers stared back at him unconvinced, and with a dramatic sigh, Silas continued. "Well, I tried to do this the honorable way, but you've left me no choice." He stood, walking over to them, catching their stares and forcing them both into a trance. "We're going to Nova Scotia. And you aren't going to fight me on it any further. Do we have an understanding?"
Stefan caved first, weaker to Silas' manipulation that his brother. "Yes." He answered in a monotoned drone.
The immortal turned to Damon expectantly, and the older Salvatore seemed to be struggling, fighting the mind control. "Fine." He finally grumbled.
Silas grinned with a satisfied nod. "Great. We leave in three hours." He headed for the door, and turned around. "Oh, and pack light. Checking bags cost a fortune."
When the door shut behind him, both Damon and Stefan had a sour look on their face. "Fuck…" Damon sighed.
.
Bonnie closed the door to her car, and climbed the porch steps to her house. She was rarely here these days, expect to grab a change of clothes, but with Damon out of town, she decided tonight she'd sleep in her own bed. What she didn't expect was who was standing in the living room.
"Dad…you're home." She stated in surprise, dropping her bag by the stairs. "I thought you weren't back until the end of the month."
He looked at her sternly. "Well, that was until I got a call from your principal saying you've been missing school. She says you're failing your courses, Bonnie. Care to explain why?"
Bonnie's eyes shifted away briefly. How was that possible? Damon had been compelling her teachers to pass her regardless of her attendance. And her principal was Mister Cartwright. "Well, maybe if you were home for more than a week out of the month you'd know." She retorted begrudgingly.
"You know I wish I could be here more. But my work-" Rudy was cut off by his daughter.
"Your work is more important, right? It always has been. Its why mom left in the first place." She snapped. "Look, I'm doing just fine raising myself, so you didn't need to come home for me."
"Well, clearly, I did. What's going on with you, sweetheart? Is it drugs?" he questioned with concern.
Bonnie couldn't help but laugh. "Are you kidding me? No. See this just goes to show how little you know about me, dad. I have been trying to tell you what's been going on with me for months but you won't hear it. You never believed Grams either."
Rudy shot her a look. "I know you loved your Grams, honey, but she should have never let you get so invested in her stories about magic and spells."
"They aren't stories!" she yelled back. "It's real, and whether you want to believe it or not it's who I am. It's who mom was too. I'm a witch and I'm strong; maybe even stronger than mom was." She watched as he bowed his head with a disbelieving shake, as if she were delusional. "You don't believe me? Fine…pick a book and a page number." She gestured to the bookshelf across the room. "Go ahead."
"Bonnie…" he sighed tiredly.
She tipped her chin up, crossing her arms. "Do it."
Looking at the shelf, he picked his favorite book. "East of Eden. Page 354." Her eyes never left his as the book floated out from between two others, slowly and deliberately landing on the coffee table. His eyes widened in shock as the pages flipped through quickly until they stopped. She nodded at him to look, and cautiously, Rudy picked it up, looking at the page with surprise, before flipping over the cover with a nervous swallow.
"Do you believe me now?"
He placed the book down and walked up to her, placing his hands on her shoulders with a gently squeeze. "Bonnie…it's not that I didn't believe you." His daughter frowned. "I just didn't want this for you. I never did. This is a dangerous life; one your mother barely walked away alive from. So, I hope you understand when I say I don't want you using any more magic."
Bonnie staggered back in horror, a gasp slipping from her lips. "What? No…"
"It's the best thing for you." He tried to break to her gently. "And I don't think Elena is a good influence on you. The company she keeps for starters. Those Salvatore boys are bad news. I want you to stay far away from them." He added firmly.
Bonnie's blood ran cold. "Why?" She cocked her hip and crossed her arms, attitude rolling off of her. "Because they're vampires?" Her father glanced down at her sharply in shock. "Yeah, I know."
"Then you know how dangerous they are!"
"Not to me! Stefan is my friend and Damon-"
"Damon is worse! Bonnie, listen to me-"
Bonnie cut him off again. "Dad! I love him! I'm in love with him. And Damon would do anything for me because he's in love with me too." She looked him dead in the eyes, her green orbs darkening as her jaw tightened challengingly. "You might not like it…but you can't stop me."
"Yes, I can; I am still your father!"
"Yeah, well act like it! You have no idea what I've been through! You come and go as you please, and when you are here you treat me like a child; like I don't know how to take care of myself! Well newsflash, dad, I can! I've been doing it for years since mom left. Grams was the only one that was there for me, and then she died! And instead of staying here and supporting me you left too! But you know who never left my side? When I was scared and lonely and needed someone? Damon. All he's ever done is fight for me…so I won't stop fighting for him." Rudy was looking at her like he didn't even recognize her. "Are we done here?" And without waiting for a response, she headed up to her room.
…
Bulgaria 1497
It was a dreary day, and it complimented the mood she'd been in. This was her home; and she should have been excited to be here, but every nook and cranky just haunted her with memories…and the good ones hurt just as much as the bad. But she was here for a reason and she wasn't going to leave until she got what she came for.
But as the days turned into weeks, the farther she branched out, the further she felt like she was getting, and still, she was no where near her goal. For the first time since she lost her family, Katerina wept. And another piece of her died.
England 1508
She knew better than to be here – in his territory, but just when she thought all hope was lost, a source led her here, and she be damned if she let Niklaus Mikaelson run her out of every country in Europe. She wouldn't dare be caught here under normal circumstances, but these were not normal circumstances, and she'd waited long enough…however, Katerina was not completely daft. She had learned to make friends all over the place; friends that were quick to send a messenger with word that Niklaus was on the move, and just yesterday she was notified that he was spotted in Florence. Now was her chance.
Katerina was smart however; years of running had made her paranoid. She knew how to keep herself hidden, how to blend into the crowds and assume a disguise. It had gotten her this far…but there was one man that could pick her out of any crowd.
When she felt the hand grip her elbow, she turned in surprise, her hood slipping off her head with a gasp. "Elijah…"
His eyes widened, before darting around. He quickly pulled her hood up and lead her through the throngs of people in the market to a secluded alley. "Have you lost your mind, Katerina?" he hissed down at her, his jaw clenched tightly around each word. "If Niklaus had seen you-"
She shook her head, bringing her hood down allowing her tresses to fall over her shoulders. "He's in Florence. A close friend told me."
His shoulders sagged, he sometimes forgot how young and naïve she could be. While she was wise, and clever, she had barely seen the world. "Have I not told you that you can trust no one? Remember, if they are your friend, they were his first…or they are too terrified to ever defy him. Your friend lied, Katerina…" he broke to her gently at the confused frown that pulled her brows together. "Niklaus is here…in London. You must leave here at once!" he pleaded.
Her lip trembled and her blood ran cold, but she grasped his arms desperately. "She's here, Elijah. I have to find her. I'm not leaving until I do! Please…help me?" Her eyes filled with tears.
He couldn't look her in the eyes, turning his head with a deep swallow. "I'm afraid it is too late…" he began on a strained whisper.
"No…" her shaking hands covered her mouth as she backed against the brick wall.
"Niklaus could not rest until he extinguished the last flicker of your fire…he wanted you broken; hollow." He cast his eyes down sadly.
Her face crumbled with her sobs. "How could he have known? I've told no one-" Her eyes snapped back up at him sharply. "No one but you…" the guilt pinch of his brows made her heart sink to the floor. "No…please tell me you would not think to betray me so." Her words were broken, hitching on her stuttering breaths.
His pained eyes finally met hers. "You must know I would never purposely betray you this way, Katerina." Her name rolled off his tongue like waves on a shore. "He manipulated me, weakened me; delved into my mind and plucked it from my thoughts. He has been obsessed with finding her ever since."
Rage slowly blanketed the anguish she felt as her eyes went from swimming with tears to empty and hollow. "Then it's over…I have nothing." He reached to brush her curls from her face, but she stepped away, pinning him with a lethal glare. "Not even you."
"Katerina…" He pleaded.
"Goodbye Elijah." And she sped out of the back alley before he could stop her.
.
Present Day:
Katherine stood at the window of her room, watching as the children ran for the bus, hastily hugging and kissing their parents' goodbye as they stood on the end of the driveway. She could see some with proud smiles, as their children waved from the bus windows and others tucking their lunches in their backpacks, looking more than a little frantic.
It made her wonder what kind of mother she would have been. It wasn't something she could dwell on before her heart started to squeeze painfully in her chest. She turned away from the window abruptly, the curtains dropping and darkening her room. Now was not the time to get sentimental; she had bigger fish to fry.
…
Bonnie couldn't get out of the house quick enough. The night before had been tense, and the last thing she wanted as an awkward breakfast moment. She rushed out with her things before he even made it out of his room, and headed to her first destination; the bluffs.
It was only minutes after sitting down, legs crossed and eyes closed, her phone vibrated. Peeking one eye open, she saw Damon's name across the screen, and a smile pulled her lips. If it were anyone else, she would have ignored it. "Hey!" she answered.
"Hey you. Hope I didn't catch you at a bad time." His silky voice filtered through on the other end.
"Well, I always have time for you." Her smile faltered a little when he was silent for a beat. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything's fine. I just really needed to hear your voice. It occurred to me that I never want to be away from you again." He rumbled genuinely, and his heart warmed at her blushing grin that he knew would be on her face at her breathy giggle. He looked out over the beachy shore into the ocean wistfully. "I wish I could show you this place…it's beautiful here. Not a soul in sight."
"Then maybe you can take me sometime." Bonnie and Damon would sometimes dream things were different and they were just a normal couple with normal lives; making plans for things they knew would never happen. Not with evil looming around every corner. "We could take a road trip!"
Damon's lips pulled in a weak smile. "I'd love that." With a clear of his throat, he continued. "How are things back home?"
Letting out a long-suffering sigh, Bonnie played with a thread on the hem of her jeans. "Well, my dad's home. So, there's that." She started flatly.
"You don't sound too happy about it."
"Well, I probably would be if he didn't start making demands and telling me what I can and can't do. He wants me to stop using magic, and…" she hesitated, "and to stop seeing you. Both of which is obviously never going to happen."
He was a little stunned, but it brought him a sense of joy to know Bonnie wanted to share that with her family. "You told him about us? Well, I guess I should prepare for an awkward 'meet the parents' dinner." He chuckled good naturedly.
Bonnie's brows shot up. "Yeah, I'm sure that will go over well, considering he knows you're a vampire. I think it's safe to say he's not a fan." She added sadly.
"Well…I guess I'll just have to win him over then."
She scoffed. "Good luck. He's stubborn."
Damon laughed. "So are you and I won you over, didn't I?"
"You're nothing if not persistent." She said through an amused smile. "It's just…I don't even know why he came back. I was doing just fine without him."
"Bonnie…he's your dad. You need him."
"Why? He's barely around as it is."
"He's your family."
"You and Elena and Caroline, you're my family." She argued back.
Damon sighed on the other end. "Bon…take it from the guy that spent a hundred and seventy years resenting his father for being such an incredible disappointment. It doesn't matter how long it's been, or how many times they let you down…at the end of the day you still wish they were there." His voice was somber and gravely. "Whatever it is between you and your dad…you need to make it right. And I'll be right there beside you."
Bonnie bowed her head, biting down on her lower lip. "How do you always know the right thing to say?"
There was some humor in his voice when he responded. "Sometimes I know what I'm talking about." There was a brief pause. "Hey, baby I gotta let you go." He told her reluctantly.
"When are you coming home?"
"Not soon enough. I'll see you in the morning."
A trill of excitement twirled in her belly; she missed him more than she thought she would and it had only been two days. "Can't wait." They said their goodbyes, and with a long exhale, Bonnie turned back her focus to the task at hand. Closing her eyes, she took in a deep breath and buried her fingers into the dirt in front of her, connecting with the earth and power seeded deeply within it.
Using the mantras and chants that Silas had taught her Bonnie charged the hot spot, and in doing so, felt the energy buzzing through her veins. She did this at the location of the burned missing students as well and then headed to the edge of town; where Damon had killed the witches. She didn't know what she was expecting when she showed up there, but it definitely wasn't this. Damon's handiwork was splattered all along the porch steps; bodies strewn about with their throats ripped out. Her heart sunk as she mourned their loss. It was one thing to know about it…it was a whole other to see the outcome.
"Yikes…Damon sure does know how to make a statement, doesn't he?" Bonnie rolled her eyes at the flat tone of none other than Katherine Pierce.
Turning to look over her shoulder, Bonnie shot her a deadpanned glare. "You realize that not one person in this town wants you here, right? Why embarrass yourself by coming back?"
Katherine joined her on the porch steps, toeing away the body near her with a heeled boot. "Wrong. See, I have a very important role here, and it all ends with me getting exactly what I want." She stated proudly.
Bonnie scoffed. "Let me guess, Silas called you back into town to keep an eye on me while he's gone. Being his lacky slash guard dog? Yeah…super important stuff." She uttered sarcastically, delight in the way the vampire scowled in response. "Nice touch calling my dad too. Pretending to be my principal…clever." Katherine's mouth pursed as she got called out on what she thought was a decent plan. It didn't take long for Bonnie to figure out who was behind her father's impromptu trip home. "I bet you didn't count on him knowing about vampires; honestly, it took me by surprise too." The witch added consideringly. "You couldn't just compel him, but you had to get him here somehow, right? And what exactly was the reasoning for that?"
Katherine flashed her eyes with a coy shrug. "That's for me to know and for you to dot dot dot…" She tipped her chin up, shifting her weight on one hip. "Sorry honey, but I'm not one to kiss and tell. Damon could tell you that." She added superciliously.
Bonnie smirked back, crossing her arms and matching her stance. "Yeah…Damon and I don't really talk about you much; at all actually. In fact…when he's with me it's like you never existed." She couldn't help putting the vampire in her place. It was petty and childish, but Bonnie wanted Katherine to know that she meant nothing to Damon.
The vampire let out a breathy laugh. "Well, what do you know…looks like he finally got the girl. Good for him. It's a shame it won't last." Katherine's face hardened. "Because that's the thing about Damon…he always knows how to screw it up. It's cute now; he's probably still looking at you like you're the only woman in the world. Then one day…he's looking at someone else." She leaned in condescendingly. "You're a phase, Bonnie. A shiny new toy that he wants to play with, and soon…when you've lost your shine, he'll find a new toy." A sinister smirked tugged the corners of her lips. "And it'll be like you never existed." She threw back at her, relishing at the blink on insecurity that flashed in the witch's eyes.
But as quickly as it came, the insecurity was gone. "Wow…is that it? Is that your sad and feeble attempt at trying to break me down? You're losing your touch." Bonnie sat down on the porch, crossing her legs and resting her hands on the ground beside her.
Katherine's eyes shifted to the side, stunned, before looking down at her. "What are you doing?" She snapped.
Bonnie huffed in annoyance, keeping her eyes closed. "I'm charging this as a hot spot."
"Why?" Curiosity was laced in her tone.
Opening her eyes, Bonnie raised them to meet hers flatly. "The ritual massacres stained the earth with mystical energy. Silas needs me to charge each location so that I'm able to activate the expression triangle and we can drop the veil to the other side within the three points."
Katherine leaned against the wooden railing of the porch. "The veil?"
"It's a magical barrier between this world and the afterlife. Every supernatural creature that dies winds up on the other side. Once I drop the veil, I can talk to Qetsiyah." She closed her eyes again, trying to concentrate, missing the widening of Katherine's eyes and the way she straightened at her explanation.
"You can do that?"
"In theory, yes."
Katherine's mind raced, her eyes shifting as she processed this new information. "How do you even know she'll be over there?"
With a sharp sigh, Bonnie opened her eyes again. "The spirits tend to stay close to any familial bond. I'm her descendant. If I call to her, she'll come. Now do you mind…I'm kind of in the middle of something." Without waiting for a response, Bonnie went back to charging the hotspot, chanting quietly.
Katherine let a little smirk pull on her lips as she formulated a plan of her own. She learned long ago that the only person she could trust was herself, and she wasn't about to take any chances.
…
When Damon came home, he breathed a sigh of relief. He forgot what silence was like. Silas never…stopped…talking. He babbled on endlessly about everything and nothing, causing Damon and Stefan to share deadpanned side eyes as one story bled into the other. Damon briefly entertained drop kicking him off a cliff, to which Silas quickly chastised him for, ensuring that doing so would result in a painful retaliation.
Stefan split off to his room, and Damon did the same. As he walked up the steps, he wondered if it was too late to see Bonnie. It was well passed one in the morning. But when he reached the threshold of his room, he grinned at the small form occupying the middle of his bed, sleeping peacefully with the moonlight illuminating her face. Slowly, and without waking her, Damon shed his clothes and boots, slipping in behind her and pressing delicate kisses on her bare shoulders.
"Mmm…" she hummed sleepily. "You're home." Her hands covered his arm that slung over her waist, as she quickly drifted off back to sleep.
Damon smiled into her silky-smooth skin. Curled up next to her, his body molded so perfectly around hers, he was home.
…
AN: Sorry for the wait! We are going to finding out a bit more about Katherine's story in the next chapter, but I think some of you can see where this is going. Yes, it's a Bamon story, but I feel like explaining Katherine's motives is important, as she's the reason this is all happening. I'm looking forward to writing the next chapter, because we are going to have a Damon/Rudy interaction. I think maybe a couple more chapters to this one then a one-shot sequel with a new song that I felt will tie in nicely to the end of this story.