Chapter 4: Shadow-Man
Hayley sat opposite Camille sipping her tea, Cami tucked her blonde strand behind her ear and smiled at the brunette "So you wanted this session. I heard you had lunch with my cousin..how was it?"
Hayley chuckled "I knew you said I should hang outside my circle..build trust again. Declan is…interesting…adventurous and a talker"
Camille laughed "He is a traveler and doesn't stay in one place for too long. I know you prefer stability"
"I..I couldn't stay present in the conversation with him. I wandered off …plus I think I might've of ...snapped at Elijah"
Camille folded her legs up and sipped her tea. "I don't like being told what to do…I get it ..everyone is concerned about me and my safety…but I'm allowed to make my own decisions and I don't like feeling trapped like…before" Hayley gulped. Cami nodded and smile "Elijah is caring. No matter how many people pass through your life…he will always be on your side, but it won't hurt to set boundaries. Your feelings are valid, and you're allowed to entertain anyone you feel safe enough with"
"Great. I have bigger problems or maybe I'm paranoid" Hayley rubbed her hands. Cami looked at her puzzled.
"I think the creature who killed that girl…kidnapped me years ago and I think he is back for me." Hayley blurted out.
"WOAH! Calm down..why would you think so?"
"The way Liz Saltzman described his activities and the girls in other towns….he use to have a cabinet of souvenirs from girls I always believed he killed…he had the long nails but only when he was in full vamp mode with red eyes and he could've done magic...he shapeshifted once" Hayley hugged herself. Camille eyes widen "A Vampire that can do magic and shape-shift?"
"He took some of my memory but I remember some stuff..he healed a girl's neck after feeding on her, caused fires with his eyes and dream control. Maybe I'm overeacting maybe it's someone else" Hayley flustered picking up her bag "I…I need to go..I promised Caroline we go shopping in the city". Camille hugged Hayley "Hey stay safe, okay? We can talk about this later"
Bonnie sat on the bench in the town centre reading the French-English book while popping gummy bears in her mouth. She kept getting lost in the pages as she flipped through every paragraph. She gasped as the protagonist decisions. Bonnie didn't realise Klaus pulled up infront of her in his Black BMW convertible "You seem to be in love with the book"
Bonnie laughed and closed the book "No idea why you think I would like it"
"I didn't. You like books and I chose one from my library for you". Bonnie rolled her eyes and smile. "Well I'm off to that blogger witch…you can come along. It's the weekend better than trying to kill Damon"
Bonnie laughed; she grabbed her phone and mini bag and jumped in his car. She kept looking out the window and moving the curls out her face, he glanced over at her wondering if she was uncomfortable but he couldn't read her mind. Bonnie texted Caroline and Hayley her whereabouts.
"So, what does blood taste like?" Bonnie said breaking the awkward silence. Klaus laughed "You keep surprising me..hard to describe"
"I usually ask every new vampire friend…. Enzo gave me a smart-ass sexual innuendo answer…are you the full blood diet type or you like other stuff?"
Klaus smiled "I love going out to dinner..normal functioning human food". Bonnie smiled. They parked infront of the Saltzman bungalow home. The pair got out and walked to the door of the Saltzmans "What do you know about them?" Klaus asked. "Uh Alaric is a single dad raising two girls..Josie attends witch school in California and Elizabeth is here..making blogs…the mother died when they were kids…killed by her brother" Bonnie said pressing the door bell.
"Rough.." Klaus said. Bonnie shrugged. The sassy blonde opened the door chewing gum and gasping "A Mikaelson and a Bennett on my door step, things must be terrible!" Liz Saltzman.
"Where's your Dad?" Klaus asked.
"Out of town..what do you two want? And I'm not letting you in" she folded her arms.
"Your blog or vlog or whatever it is you do…what do you know about the other murders? Where are you getting this information?" Klaus asked.
"Girls talk over snacks and facemasks. It's been happening all over the country for some reason no one can solve it. The big bad Shadow Man".
"The girl who escaped. Can we talk to her?" Bonnie asked.
Liz chuckled sarcastically "She's long gone…left the country with her parents. That freak of nature scared the shit out of her"
Klaus exhaled "Well that's…not much of a help". Klaus turned away with Bonnie to walk back to the car.
"There is something I didn't say on the live…she said the Shadow Man was a vampire and he read a lot grimoires and witchcraft books…forbidden ones we aren't allowed to read. She said he was handsome, tall and charming" Liz whispered. Bonnie frowned "Why would a vampire care about witchcraft?" She looked between Liz and Klaus. Klaus stared at the teenage in silence "I have no idea I might have to make some calls" Klaus said.
The car ride back was quiet, Bonnie played with her acrylic nails and pondered about the Vampire who read about magic.
"Why Damon Salvatore?" Klaus asked gripping the wheel. Bonnie smiled slightly "Honestly? I didn't care for anyone. I was this awkward girl, I only cared about being a Bennett Witch and my friends. Caroline would drag me to Stefan's parties because she had a thing for him..I would stand around ignoring everyone. Damon started talking to me and we would laugh at the plastic girls I went to school with..he was funny and I fell for the charm". Klaus glanced over at her.
"You see worried back there?" Bonnie whispered. Klaus swallowed "We have over a 1000 Vampire Laws, and I've dealt with a million cases…I don't know what kind of Vampire would do this. I have to make some calls" Klaus parked infront of her house. Bonnie smiled, she grabbed her phone and bag and got out "Shadow Man. He roams in the night and never in the day. He's old school and probably as ancient as you. I'm wondering what kind of Vampire can access grimoires. The mere touch of a grimoires by a vampire can set them in flames".
[Linger by The Cranberries]
Hayley sat on the back porch staring at the stars and swore she saw them aligning. She frowned and squeezed her fingers "Late night?" Elijah's voice said. She nodded and smiled at him "I made cannolis… I save you some..Enzo almost ate them all…I was going go bring them over tomorrow" she laughed nervously. Elijah leaned against the door and stared at her with a smile.
"Elijah…I.."
"Hayley you don't have to. I'm glad you're happy in this town and comfortable."
"I am happy here, I'm lucky to have friends like Bonnie, Caroline, Enzo..you"
He smiled. "You were acting weird at Damon and Elena's engagement party…you had to tell me something" Hayley asked. She observed his face changed.
"OKAY! I'LL GET THE WHISKEY!" Hayley said standing up.
The pair sat on the couch, Hayley stared at the photo on Elijah's phone and she made a funny face while sipping her Whiskey "I'm glad you find this humorous" Elijah said. Hayley rolled her eyes ''It's like The Shining or something..they look exactly alike..how does Elena look like your ex?" Hayley asked. Elijah sipped his Whiskey "I don't know. The Council knows and said nothing..this is probably a fun new phenomenon for them"
"That's kinda mean. They are literally a twin" Hayley said still staring at the photo.
"Doppelgänger!" Caroline said standing behind the couch in her robe and an empty bowl of popcorn.
"CAROLINE! JEEZ YOU STARTLED ME!" Hayley said putting down her drink.
"Doppelganger?" Elijah asked.
"Yeah..Elena is a doppelganger or your ex is Elena's the case is. It comes from a German Folklore. Two identical people no relation..could be from different eras ..sometimes different countries. My Aunt had a doppelganger..another witch from Canada who was committing all sorts of crime…my aunt killed her" Caroline explained sitting between Elijah and Hayley. Hayley gasped "WE HAVE TO KILL ELENA?"
"OOOOOH WE CAN DO IT ON HER WEDDING DAY SO ITS SUPER DRAMATIC AND DESTROYS DAMON" Caroline said laughing.
"No one is killing Elena nor mentioning any of this or about Katherine..Elena is a completely different person..she's marrying Damon and no one needs to know" Elijah said. Caroline and Hayley looked at each other.
The following day Bonnie was in her shop boxing her 'healing' candles to be sent to different customers around the country, she exhaled after placing the final box at the door. She had brought Thalia Bennett's diary eager to read the new page of words that appeared last night. Bonnie grabbed the book she left on the counter and sat by the window, she quickly flip through the pages to the new visible entry:
Time passes on but the brewing venom between my mother and I only gets worse. She chooses the darkness with the Man from Guadeloupe. I cling closer to the Gods for the sake of my sisters. I love my sisters. Tamia to be wedded to a French man and join him in Marseille while Theresa is marrying an Italian businessman from New York. I know she can't wait to see the big city. I never cared for the idea of a suitor and marriage. Women were mere property, beautiful objects for a man to play with. I love adventure, books, studying the men who transform into beast at nights, protecting my city from the European witches with porcelain skin who transform into frail old ladies when no one is around. Languages of the world and most of all magic.But lately my heart has been distracted by a damned one. He strangely cares for me maybe more than my own mother. He listens to my wild theories and inventions without scolding me. He once roamed the nights but now he roams in the daylight…proving the impossibility is possible While my heart flutters…love has always been a witch's poison.
"BONNIE BENNETT! WHERE ARE YOU?" Abby's voice roared walking into the shop. Bonnie stood up startled "What do you want?"
Abby placed her hands on her hips and frown "I wanted to take you away from this town and your grandmother's shenanigans. You don't understand what it was like growing up with her…I don't even remember parts of my life and when I figure it out I'm taking you and Honey. …why the fuck do you think it's normal to possess a vampire"
Bonnie rolled her eyes and moved around her shop "You don't get it. You hate everything …I don't even know why you're here…you barely care about me"
Abby exhaled. She knew she hadn't been the best mother. She struggled with alcohol and depression. Sheila took care of the girls when her sister Helen took her life and Abby went off the rails. Abby struggled to connect to her magic because of the darkness she lived with as a child, the death of her father still rips her apart and the mysterious gaps in her memory from teenage years and even worst who's Bonnie's father.
"I should've been there for your heartbreak. I never really understood what you saw in Damon"
Bonnie wiped her one tear "I don't know what's wrong with me or why I did it…he hurt me and I wanted him to feel"
Abby nodded "I understand but please I don't want everyone in town thinking you're sinister…possession has consequences"
Bonnie pressed her lips and nodded.
Klaus mind was racing about this mysterious Shadow Man; a potential vampire with magic abilities. He stared at the board filled with names and faces of vampires in Mystic Falls in his Art Room. He sipped his drink and stared.
Elijah came home after a long day of showing his face at Nikki's funeral and listening to Lysa talk about the town's politics over tea. He found his brother lost in thoughts with his 'suspect' board.
"I told you …this is no one from Mystic Falls"
"A Vampire dabbling in Witch business just seems odd" Klaus snapped. Elijah sat down on the couch "Well…the impossible is possible. We know there's different strands of vampirism. The Lore is endless"
Klaus looked at the time on his phone, picked up himself and left the house with a plan in mind.
[Chokehold by Sleep Token/Jaded by SpiritBox/Will We Talk by Sam Fender]
At The Rue Enzo was giving directions to two new bartenders on how to make cocktails. He was getting flustered everytime they got an Old Fashion or Martini wrong. When they finally got the orders right, Enzo sat back with the book Bonnie gave him while sipping his drink at the bar. Enzo owned the bar/restaurant while Damon was second in charge. Lately their friendship has been strained. Enzo was lost between the pages of the book Bonnie lend him he didn't notice Klaus at the bar talking to him. Enzo thick eyeliner eyes shifted above the book "Can I help you?"
Klaus noticed the bracelet on his hand is the same as Bonnie's. He noticed the title of the book is similar to her taste.
"Enzo…I am looking for Camille, I heard she likes to hang around here on Thursdays"
Enzo smiled "And you must daddy...the other Mikaelson"
"That's a strange way to say it. She never talks about you"
"I don't know how else to say it"
Klaus stared at him "Where's Camille? It's important"
Enzo exhaled "She's usually here on Thursdays having dinner with Oliver on the terrace" he pointed. Klaus paused and walked away.
Oliver and Cami had been dating for a month, they enjoyed each other's company. Oliver and her were similar. He's the leader of the Vampire sector in Mystic Falls. He followed the rules by the book and didn't care for senseless killings. He was wise and strategic, some of the vampires thought he was weak.
Cami sipped her wine and took a bite of her Steak. She giggled at Oliver's stories. She stared at him smoking his cigar while sipping his Old Fashion. Cami's face expression changed when she looked up and saw Klaus coming their way "Oh God …Kill me now" she whispered. Oliver glanced back and chuckled "Your maker" he put out his cigar in the jar. Klaus smiled at the couple "Oliver..Cami"
"Mikaelson you're around strange places" Oliver smiled.
"And it's getting stranger everyday" Klaus smiled tightly.
"What are you doing here?!" Cami pressed her lips.
"Can I steal Cami for a bit?" Klaus asked. Cami and Oliver looked at each other. Cami exhaled as she got up tugging Klaus by the arm back into the restaurant "Someone better be dead" Cami gritted her teeth, frowning and folding her arms.
"Oliver? Really. He's the most boring person on this planet" Klaus chuckled. Cami rolled her eyes "What do you want?"
Klaus ran his fingers through his hair and exhaled "I met Liz Saltzman. She had a lot of interesting things to say. The girl who got kidnapped and escaped claimed it was vampire who read from grimoires and she swore he could do magic..which sounds incredibly insane..what kind of sociopath is this? You see dozens of people..maybe there is someone who hates witches" Klaus blabbed while Camille stared at him in utter horror and gulped the lump in her throat.
"What? I hate that look" Klaus said. Camille hugged herself and rubbed her arms, she looked around "One of my patients may have mentioned being kidnapped by a vampire who can do magic awhile back"
"Let's go talk to them now!" Klaus demanded. Camille was flustered "Therapist and Patient confidentiality". Klaus debated about the town's safety, his eyes shifted when he saw Bonnie walked into the bar and up to Enzo who poured her a glass of wine. She sipped her wine and ran her fingers through her hair. She laughed alittle at Enzo's joke, Damon suddenly entered the bar furious and began scolding Bonnie who was rolling her eyes and laughing. Damon raised his voice asking her to leave and everyone turned their heads. Cami glanced back "Uh..I don't think my client would want me to name her..atleast without her permission". Klaus rubbed his head and looked at Bonnie storming out the door "You should go back to your date..Let's meet this person at dawn" he said leaving Cami standing there confused and puzzled. Klaus chased after Bonnie yelling her name, "WHATTTTT!" she turned around yelling with her glowing green eyes. "WHY ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME? YOU'RE ALWAYS…. LINGERING..WHAT IS IT DO YOU ACTUALLY WANT? I DON'T CARE FOR DAMON REVENGE!"
Klaus paused and stared at her "I feel sorry for you because you come from one of the most powerful families, you could probably destroy this entire town without even thinking and here you are destroying yourself for fucking Damon Salvatore. It's beyond me" he chuckled. Bonnie wiped her tears and exhaled. She sat on the park bench that was opposite the bar "You don't know what it feels like to love someone, and they rip your heart out.…I…the whole Damon thing is stupid"
Klaus stared at her "The counsel is watching you, possession of a vampire is a threat to one of their own. Damon isn't worth being a court room for"
Bonnie rolled her eyes and wiped her hair out her face "I don't know why Hayley and Caroline let you in our house, I can see darkness running through you. You're literally a psycho". He laughed and sat next to her "And yet not a flinch of fear, maybe I'm not half as bad." Bonnie rubbed her hands.
"Damon is marrying Elena, you have to move on and you're incredible, you are never going to be out of love and you're going to be swept away, and you'll forget about Damon" Klaus whispered. Bonnie smiled slightly, she picked up her purse and got up "I know a great place with an entire collection of French Wine..since Damon ruined your drink." Klaus said offering to her. She paused and looked back at him "Why would I go anywhere with you?"
"I promise I wont bite" he smirked. Bonnie rolled her eyes "Okay but I'm texting Caroline and Hayley where I'm at"
At home, Hayley was tidying up the house. She hummed around the manor; she gave Caroline her freshly washed clothing in her room. Caroline was laying on her bed giggling at Bonnie's text about Klaus. Hayley made her way to Bonnie's room and place down her bell sleeved blouses. She yawned and ran her fingers through her hair humming a Fleetwood Mac song. She walked into her room and closed the door. She began tidying up her messy bed and sorting her makeup, she felt the chill brushing against her skin, but she ignored it. She moved her towels back into her bathroom, she came out back to a man standing in her room smiling at her. She gasped and stepped back against the wall staring at him in disbelief. She wondered how he got into the house. "Your witch friend of yours is smarter than she looks" he said.
"How?" Hayley whispered.
"Don't worry, I'm only here in spirit…my physical body can't enter. A quick trick I learned from a witch along the way"
She gulped "Why are you here Dimitri? I'm not going anywhere with you"
"You know my name" He smiled wickedly.
"I KNOW YOUR NAME AND TRUE FACE; YOU CAN'T LIVE IN THE SHADOWS FOREVER" she raised her voice and held back tears. He observed her carefully "You were always my favourite. You and I are so much alike". Hayley laughed "I'm not a monster like you"
"Your father is..so much you don't know little witch" he said. Before she could speak, he disappeared. She exhaled and raced to her phone to text Camille.
[Robbers by The 1975]
Bonnie looked around the fancy rooftop restaurant feeling out of place as the waitress seated them at the table, she looked around at the unfamiliar faces looking at her and Klaus. She never knew of this 'Supernatural hangout place' in the city; The Clover owned by an ancient Vampire and his wife from Marseille. Klaus glanced at her while he was flipping the menu "Relax..it's a place for everyone. A witch had her bachelorette party last week". She smiled slightly "You come here a lot?"
"Only when I'm in Virgina. It's my thinking and drinking spot". The waitress came up to their table wearing a smile when she saw Klaus "Mr. Mikaelson you're back and brought company" she wore a tight smile while looking at Bonnie. Bonnie ignored her and closed her menu.
"Yes, Bonnie Bennett is my friend who needs a night out and we would like a bottle of Malbec, Chants du Closeau, Languedoc and what else do we want Bonnie?" he asked looking at her and ignoring the waitress lingering gaze. Bonnie opened her menu once again "The Coq au Vin sounds good and Crème Brule for desert" Bonnie said closing the menu and handing back to the obviously annoyed waitress. Klaus smiled observing Bonnie fixing her napkin on her lap "Seems like your waitress friend prefers you alone. It must be nice being admired" Bonnie said pushing her hair out her face. He laughed "I don't want to be admired since I'm a well-known monster and you can see right through me"
Bonnie pressed her lips "I'm sorry. I'm not even perfect. Look I'm fine..I'm not going to be the crazy ex and kill Damon. I'll grow and get over him"
"Damn, I was really hoping we could kill Damon together" Klaus joked. She laughed. Bonnie watched the waitress come back with the wine and Klaus pouring it into their glasses. "What else is there to Klaus Mikaelson beside being my occasional therapist?". He stared at her in amazement and chuckled "You don't know who I am?" he whispered. "Besides being Elijah's brother…no. I prefer books over people"
"And I prefer Art over people" he said. She sipped her wine "I don't need anyone to tell me that you torture people, kill people or hurt people. I can see through you and it's sad but I'm not perfect and I think my family is filled with secrets. Having everything and everyone fearing you is one thing being lonely and lost is another"
He stared at her blankly searching for words.
"Why are you in Mystic Falls, Klaus?" she asked him. He pondered for a second and stared her "I promised a friend..more like family a long time ago that I would help her..do something she isn't able to do after all these centuries. A part of me wants to make it my problem but it's always been hers and one day she must face it. But lately it feels like a piece of me wants something I can never have"
Bonnie laughed "You're a Mikaelson...you can have everything". Klaus smiled and watched the food being presented at their table.