Chapter 2: Elena
Elena brown eyes opened at stared at the ceiling of the Salvatore mansion her body craved blood. It was something she was getting used to. She's been a newbie vampire for 3 months and Damon has been her guide from New York to Mystic Falls. She chose this path and now she must learn it perfectly. The Vampire High Council was keeping an eye on her and Damon, they weren't too happy about Damon turning a human into a vampire willingly. Elena sat at the kitchen table sipping her glass of blood and tasting the pancakes Damon made. He kissed her head and she smiled. Elena fitted her body in a pair of jeans and sweater for her session at Cami's, she glanced over at Damon's worried face even though he constantly denied being worried about her being accepted by everyone in town "If I can pass the New York Medical board exam, I can pass any test from the Vampire council. A wellness check is no big deal"
"I Know..but Serena Pacione is watching. She's always watching. I heard Klaus Mikaelson is in town, that can't be good"
"I'm not scared. I have nothing to hide. Camille and I aren't so different"
Hayley closed the oven with her pan of focaccia when she heard the doorbell. She did a little jog to the door and swung it open to Klaus smiling with a bottle of red wine in his hand "Hello neighbour, my friend makes the finest wines. I thought it would be nice to bring you over a bottle. He's Italian as well". Hayley chuckled "Wow I don't think I've ever had wine made by a vampire" she hesitated for a second "Do you want to come in? I'll brew a cup of tea; I grow my own tea". Klaus smiled and stepped inside, she babbled as he walked behind her looking around at the manor. He followed her into the kitchen watching her putting on the kettle and grabbing two teacups and her tea leaves "How long have you been in this town?"
"Uh 5 years, your brother and Caroline's aunt Lysa really helped me through ...that...time" Hayley said pouring him a cup of tea. Bonnie walked into the kitchen finishing braiding the end of her ponytail she was startled when she saw Klaus sitting at the counter sipping tea "Oh Hi"
"Hi.. Bonnie". Hayley looked between them "You two met?"
"Yeah, at the Town Fair" Bonnie smiled, and he smiled back. There was an awkward silence in the room "Do I have to go and get my stuff from Damon's? Can't I send Enzo to get it?" Bonnie asked.
"No, we discussed this. Closure is necessary for every witch's soul. Either way you will eventually run into him and Elena. He's not welcomed here anymore"
"An old flame of Damon Salvatore?" Klaus asked. Bonnie pressed her lips "Are you friends with Damon?"
"Far from it. Strange...he never mentioned you..it's ashamed. Hayley is right you need closure especially with someone who treated you like a secret" Klaus said. Bonnie stared at him and smiled.
Elena press the strawberry button on Camille's cottage. Camille opened the door filled with excitement, she stared at the petite brunette and welcomed her in. Elena looked around the bohemian cottage. It was cosy and the air smelled different "We can sit on the back porch. I don't do the typical therapy sessions with the couch and notepad. Some of my clients like sitting around with wine or cakes or sometimes just walking on the trails" Camille said leading her to the back porch with two cups of hot chocolate. Elena sat next to Camille sipping her hot chocolate "This is yummy. The atmosphere is peaceful here. Big change from busy Manhattan". Camille laughed "Oh I bet, I can think and function better here. You'll get used to it if you choose to stay". Elena nodded.
"You look well for a 3-month newbie. But I'm curious...why would someone who's a successful paediatrician give it all up to become a vampire and live a small town?" Camille asked.
"Well, it wasn't the easiest decision but it's just delaying the inevitable. That's something we have in common" Elena said finishing her hot chocolate. Camille looked at her puzzled "Excuse me?"
"Think about it Camille, hanging around vampires you're either bound to become one or dead. You don't honestly think I could be with Damon and stay human? You couldn't expect to be around Klaus and knowing about vampires and still be normal" she chuckled nervously. Camille stared at her and pressed her lips "I think we all have a choice, but you seem to think you know a lot about me". There was a silence between them.
Grey skies covered Mystic Falls while nerves covered Bonnie Bennett as her feet approach the door of the Salvatore mansion. She had flashbacks of parties, his warm embrace and having late night conversations with him. She presses the 'S' door bell. Her stomach turned and hope she didn't answer the door. What would she say to the future Mrs. Salvatore. But to her relief Damon answered the door and stared at her. He hadn't seen her in a year and he didn't know what to say "Bon hi"
"Hi. I'm here for my stuff I left" she said shyly trying to avoid eye contact.
"Oh yeah. I was going to bring them to you but your friends revoked my invitation...so..uh do want to come in?" He asked. Bonnie hesitated but nodded while walking in. She looked around a bit and gulped "Must be weird to be back after being in busy New York"
He smiled "Not weird. I kind of miss this small town and its charm"
Bonnie smiled watching him bring her box of items. Her mood changed when she remembered how he stopped talking to her after he settled in New York "I waited for your messages everyday. Was it something I said or did?". He froze and looked at her "Bon...I.."
"Then you come back engaged and think it would be fine to send an invitation to my home" Bonnie snapped holding back tears. Damon sighed "I got tired of it Bonnie. It was better if you forgot about me"
Bonnie folded her arms "What? Tired of what? That doesn't make any sense"
Damon rubbed his temple with his finger tips "Tired of us. I asked you to come with me but you refused. What did you expect? You're so isolated in your own world and this town. It was never going to work Bonnie, you're boring. I'm sorry I wish you could see how lonely it was being with you"
Bonnie froze as Damon talked and talked about how unhappy the relationship was, Bonnie heard a voice from the Loa calling out to her. A haunting sound and the smell of smoke and alcohol hit her nose. She heard his wicked laugh and him tempting her to kill Damon. "Bon, you're a sweet girl, it just took being away in New York for me to realise we aren't meant to be". Bonnie exhaled as her box of stuff suddenly set a flame which startled Damon. She stormed out his mansion and ran in the rain panting for breath. She was drenched from head to toe, numb and flooded with anger. She burst through their front door and ran upstairs hyperventilating "Hey Kitten, are you okay?" Hayley asked. Bonnie slammed her bedroom door. Enzo who was sitting on the couch sipping his whiskey tea looked at Hayley puzzled.
"Maybe she wasn't ready for closure"
"Do you want me to talk to her?" Enzo asked.
"No, I usually give her a time out when she gets like that". Enzo picked up his jacket "I'll text her when I get to the lounge" he hugged Hayley and kissed her cheek. She smiled closing the door when he left. Hayley exhaled, she didn't the eyes on the painting of Caroline's German uncle who built the manor moving and staring at her.
At 12pm Bonnie opened her Olive green eyes and stared at the ceiling; her eyes felt puffy from crying. She lift her body from the bed and changed out of her sweater and jeans into her satin dress. She loosened her braid and ponytail, sat in front of her vintage French mirror brushing her curls.
Darkness and silence filled the Mikaelson house, Klaus laid still his coffin and heard sobs. He tried to ignore it. He opened his eyes and exhaled. He shut them back and tried not to listen, but the sobs continued. He sighed and opened his eyes, pushing open the top of the coffin "I hate you Fredrik and your fucking sensitivity classes"
Bonnie was sitting on her balcony trying to control her tears as the cold air kissed her cheeks. Her body was frozen from heartache and utter ugliness in herself. "I'm guessing closure with Damon didn't went so well" Klaus startled her standing in the corner of the balcony. She tried to laugh. He helped her up and back in her room "You're freezing out here". She sat on her bedroom floor "He hates me, he said he was unhappy and lonely and I'm boring. How can I be so horrible? Am I horrible?". Klaus sat next to her "I don't think you're boring. You don't seem to be. It's typical Damon. He floats around a new girl and then he gets bored. He's unhappy because he is unhappy with himself. Elena probably won't last"
Bonnie looked over at him and wiped her eyes "Why do you hate Damon? What did he do to you?"
"He hates me for different reasons. He's jealous of my friendship with his brother, he wanted my job and got mad when the council chose me and he's mad I voted against him marrying Elena"
Bonnie gasped "He wanted to be apart of the council? I...I didn't know"
"He didn't even love you enough to share something as big as that". Bonnie pressed her lips and lay back "Wait ...why did you voted against their marriage?"
"I can't share all my secrets with you just yet, Bennett" he smirked. Bonnie smiled "Thank you"
Elena was shaking like a leaf pressing the button on the door of Serena Pacione at 7am. Serena is an ancient Italian vampire, a member of the Vampire High Council and is known as the Watcher. Every supernatural town has an assigned watcher from the Council who oversees the town particularly the vampires. Many vampires would describe Serena as a seductress, vicious and sassy.
Serena answered the door in her red bottom louboutins and olive green pants suit, she looked at Elena from top to bottom and walked back inside. Elena gulped and walked in shutting the door. She walked into the mansion, it was gorgeous filled with vintage Italian door and a Jerry Vale record playing at a low volume. She followed her into her office "I love your home feels like a vacation house"
"If you live long if enough you might actually have one" Serena said sitting at her desk. Elena swallowed her lump. She knew she acted like a big baby at Cami's yesterday.
"You're not in New York anymore, sweetheart. Your girl power I can do whatever I want attitude is not going to work in our world. We have rules. Rules that has kept us alive for centuries after many great wars. The first rule for newbies is therapy. You are not allowed to refuse nor be a bitch to your assigned therapist" Serena folded her chocolate brown acrylic fingers together. Elena sighed "I'm sorry I just feel like everyone is against Damon and I. I snapped at the wrong person. I might've judged "
"Sounds like something you should work out in therapy" Serena glared at her "Do you know Russian? Spent any time in Europe?"
"No. Born bred New Yorker. You asked me this before"
Serena exhaled and played with her nails while staring at a Elena who felt like her breathing had stopped. "If you continue to be deviant or I find anything suspicious about you Elena Gilbert, the Frenchman will come for you"
"The Frenchman?" Elena muttered.
"You're dismissed. Go read your manuals and see Camille" Serena smiled widely.
Damon laughed hysterical making Beef Rigatoni while listening to Elena rant about Serena's talk. Elena cracked opened a bottle of wine and poured it into a wine glass. She sipped it and say on the counter peering over the stove to see what Damon was making. He leaned over and kissed her lips "Don't worry about Serena. She's all bark"
Elena smiled "What about this Frenchman nonsense" she laughed nervously.
"An old tale to scare new vampires. I've never met the guy. He probably doesn't exist" he kissed Elena's head and she shrugged.
Self-care always made Bonnie feel better. She decided to take herself out into the city amongst the human and treat herself to a spa day. Full body massage, facial and snacks in the ambience of French instrumentals. She came back into town and had her hair blown out and nails done at Evie's salon. Evie is a Creole vampire who runs her own salon in Mystic Falls. The only one Bonnie truly trusted with her hair.
After her giggling and getting her hair done at Evie's she went to her grandma's house. She was worried about the voice she heard calling out to her when she was enraged by Damon's comments. She marched through the Bennett's manor smelling her Grams signature gumbo. She hugged her from behind while she was stirring. Grams turned around and kissed Bonnie's forehead "My beautiful grand baby. We missed you at the table for dinner. Stay a few minutes I'll fix you a to go bowl of gumbo". Bonnie smiled and sat at the kitchen table she grew up at having 6:30 dinners with her grandmother, mother and younger cousin. "Hey Where's Honey? She should be helping out"
"Oh she's upstairs listening to that death metal stuff and on the phone with her little vampire friend from school" Grams pressed her lips. Bonnie chuckled "Being a teenager". Honey Bennett is Bonnie's 16 year old cousin, her mother died during childbirth and ever since Grams and Abby have been raising her.
"Grams? Something weird happened recently um..." Bonnie whispered running her fingers through her fresh blowout. Grams packed the gumbo in the disposal bowl and placed it infront of Bonnie "What's wrong baby?" She frowned.
"I was at Damon's the other day to get some stuff and he pissed me off. But I zoned out for a second and a voice was calling out to me. It was tempting and felt wicked. I don't know...I never experienced that" Bonnie explained laughing it off but Grams face went from frowning to plain in horror "Did you answer?!"
"NO IT WAS CREEPY. Why?"
Grams held Bonnie's hands together "Promise me you will never let any of them in. There are malevolent spirits lurking waiting for you to slip up and the Gods won't like it" Bonnie stared at her grams in horror "Do you know who he is? I'm getting sick of secrets"
Sheila Bennett pressed her lips "I was 20 years old living in London with your grandfather, centuries ago. A young woman had lost a child to this disease that was spreading across Europe, I did a terrible thing by bringing her child back from the dead. It cost me a lot and cause that woman to lose her life. The child wasn't hers; it was something else in that child's body" Bonnie gulped and picked up the bowl of gumbo and held it close to her chest. She turned to leave the house when Grams' voice stopped her "Kalfou, spirit of the crossroads. I've never seen him, but your cousin Lucy has. He loves chaos, don't let that vampire lead your soul to darkness"
Bonnie hopped back in her little vintage car and sat for a second pondering at her thoughts, actions and Grams words. She stared in the rearview mirror, shrugged and put on The Cranberries album she's been listening to for weeks. She drove down the dark wet roads and hummed while bopping her head. The thick overwhelming trees made it difficult to see the roads at nights. As she approached 'BloodThirst' she noticed Damon in the parking lot open the passenger door for her..Elena Gilbert, Bonnie suddenly slow down watching the tall brunette in a off the shoulder sweater dress come out of his sports car smiling. Bonnie gasped "God ...she's pretty". Bonnie paused and turned into the parking lot, she waited for them to go into the bar before she parked near the entrance "What the fuck are you doing Bennett? The gumbo is going to get cold, you're going to look like the crazy stalker ex, you can't go into a place like that". She looked into the rearview and exhaled "You are not boring , you are fun and can do things she can't". Bonnie fluffed her blowout ,adjusted her bra and long sleeve shirt. She pulled the lipstick out her bag and carefully redid her faded lips. "Okay...this is a Caroline move but okay we are doing this" she said to herself getting out the car. She pushed her way into the vintage Victorian style bar-restaurant. The lights were dim and jazz like music was playing. Two the waitresses she knew stared at her puzzled, she smiled stiffly and looked around. She didn't see where Damon and Elena went but did get looks from vampires she saw around town. She saw Klaus in a booth by himself drinking and looking at his phone, she quickly walked over to him and slid next to him in the booth. In that moment she had no idea what the fuck she was doing and was regretting coming in here. Klaus placed his phone and looked at her smirking "Hi?"
"Don't look at me like that, I need a freaking drink" Bonnie panicked signalling the waitress for a drink. Klaus chuckled lightly "I never expected to see you in a place like this"
"Oh God now I want to throw up" Bonnie hugged herself. Klaus calmed her down "I usually drink alone but this might be more entertaining. I'm guessing you're looking for Damon". Bonnie nodded as the waitress came and took her order for Cranberry Vodka.
"Don't turn around, they are sitting across the room. Is this the second stage of acceptance? Stalking?" He joked looking at her eyes. He can see her beauty closer now and couldn't understand why Damon would leave her.
"More like a mid-mental breakdown. I'm not even sure why I would come in here. Caroline is off tonight. She usually works her...God...Rye is probably going to tell her I was in here" Bonnie rambled. Her drink came and she sipped it. Klaus smiled "Damon and Elena aren't worth stalking. He's still marrying her. And you're going to look like the crazy ex. Crazy witches usually end up doing naughty things". Bonnie laughed and Damon looked up. He recognised that laughter, he looked around and frowned.
"Do you know the owner?" Bonnie said relaxing and sitting back.
"Yes Lucien" he said sipping his drink.
"He's been trying to go out with me since he got here, he's probably back there losing his mind seeing me in his bar. As if I would ever date someone who owns a place like this. I heard there are strippers on weekends...and people die in here..humans"
Klaus laughed. Bonnie laughed and looked at the ceiling "How do you know Lucien?". Klaus paused and looked at her "Well...I made him"
Bonnie stared at him "Oh...God...I'm sorry did I offend you? Because Camille is your best work...is that weird to say? Okay I'll shutup"
"Camille is amazing but I think she did it all on her own. Don't apologise about Lucien, I know him very well. He gets his ego from me and at the same time thinks he can compete with me or with any other vampire. He can be a taker and rule bender. He thinks me being with the council makes me a sell out, he believes vampires should be able to do whatever they want and however they want. He probably would've used you for your magic." Bonnie looked at him carefully and nodded. His eyes were like a ocean.
"But he did get his good taste in women from me" Klaus said finishing his drink. Bonnie tried to hold back her blushes. She smiled slightly. Before she could say another word, Damon's voice stiffened her body "Bon? You hang here? Klaus Mikaelson?" he looked between them puzzled. Bonnie rubbed her hands and glanced at Elena holding his hand "Yeah. I thought it would be nice to see where Caroline works, Klaus is in town and needed someone to hang with, show him around town". Klaus tried to hold in his laughter. "I'm Elena" the brunette said breaking to tense looks from Damon. "Hi" Bonnie said dryly.
"Well, we will be on our way. Goodnight" Damon said walking away with Elena. Klaus and Bonnie sat silently smiling "She looks tired, she will probably look like shit for her engagement party tomorrow"
"The first 6 months is usually hell. Maybe you're the lucky one" Klaus teased. Bonnie smiled "I should go before Hayley and Caroline think someone kidnapped me...thank you...for making this night less embarrassing". Klaus smiled "Don't let Damon win"
The following evening Hayley and Caroline were infront of one mirror fixing their hair and makeup. They both chattered about Bonnie was actually coming to the engagement party. "Hey Bon? We can stay home and binge watch RomCom movies if that's what you want?" Caroline called out near Bonnie's door. Bonnie swung open the door covered with a robe and her hair hiding in a wrap "What are you talking about? Of course I'm going. Fashionable late. Enzo is coming by in the second to help me with my dress. You two can go ahead without me"
Caroline and Hayley looked at each other puzzled wondering what Bonnie was up to. Caroline wore a bell-sleeve sparkling midnight blue fish-tail gown while Hayley wore a red lace mantilla on her head to match her off the shoulder long sleeved red laced dress "Okay well call if you change your mind..we can come back" Hayley said. Bonnie smiled and closed the door.
The party was in full swing with a beautiful orchestra and town folk decorated in gowns and suits with sparking drinks. As usual looks were given to Caroline and Hayley mostly from Salem witches. Stefan got the girls drinks while he went to check on Damon. The girls looked around for the bride to be but she was still a mystery. Serena Pacione who was hosting the party at her mansion was greeting people, she wore a big smile on her face when she saw Hayley in the matching mantilla she had order for her. "Ciao, bella" Serena said hugging Hayley and kissing both her cheeks. "questo รจ stupendo, I love it" Hayley said holding Serena's arm.
At home Bonnie was carefully adding eyeliner under her eyes. While Enzo was pulling strings at the back of her outfit "Are you sure about this?"
"Yes! My ancestor Thalia wrote about her time in the French Quarter and these amazing Balls she attended. This is something she would wear"
Enzo nodded "I meant ..going to your ex engagement party...we can stay home watch movies or go out in your creepy dress ..scare some humans" he laughed. Bonnie laughed and lightly punched his shoulder "Enzo I want to go. I feel alive, spontaneous and I don't want to sit home depressed"
Hayley and Caroline were stuffing their faces with little square cheese while laughing at outfits. "Last time I checked there were three of you, is BonBon at home crying?" Dana said crossing her arms with her annoying sister Daisy. Dana and Daisy are sisters and the house sisters for the Salem witches chapter in Mystic Falls.
"Bedded and never wedded, sorta late for you three anyway..no respectable warlock would choose witches that roam the nights with vampires" Daisy said chuckling.
"There is more to life than weddings and penises" Hayley said drinking her glass of merlot.
"And we have a right to our own pleasure, losers" Caroline snapped bursting both their necklaces with her eyes. Both girls jumped back and ran away. Hayley and Caroline both sighed and looked at each other "We might be evil bitches after all" Hayley said laughing. Caroline took her phone out her purse to text Bonnie, she couldn't allow her to skip this event.
Elena was at the back of the mansion pacing up and down the balcony smoking a cigarette to calm her nerves. Elijah was walking along the side of the mansion arguing with Rebekah and Freya about Summer plans, Elijah paused and glared when he saw her walking back and forth talking to herself in her puffy sleeve pearl white ball gown and tiny pearls stuck in her flowing hair. He swallowed the lump in his throat and switched off his phone immediately. Elena jumped when he approached her, but she laughed lightly "You guys do that a lot. I'm still getting used to it". Elijah stared at her face amazed. "Are you okay?" Elena asked laughing nervously. Elijah face softened "Are you okay?". Elena realised the cigarette was still in her hand, she out it on the cold wet banister "Bad habit. Terrified a bit. Are they going to like me in there? Am I going to pass out?"
Elijah smiled "You're Elena Gilbert from New York"
"Yeah, who else would I be" Elena smiled. Elijah stared at her in silence. Damon came out on the balcony "There you are..everyone is waiting..Elijah hey"
"I'm fine. I'm ready. Let's go" Elena said smiling at Elijah before Damon escorted her back inside. Elena held onto Damon's arm as she walked next to him, people smiled and greeted her. Elena smiled and hugged people as Damon and Serena introduced her. Whispers about how pretty she was and well put together. Hayley and Caroline looked at each other and looked at Elena as she was interacting. Suddenly the town folk attention turned to the entrance when Bonnie arrived in all black corset laced ball gown and silk gloves. She smiled lightly holding onto Enzo's arm walking into the party. Gasps and whispers surround her "It's not too late to run now" Enzo whispered in her ear. "No, I'm fine" Bonnie smiled. Elena looked at her from head to toe and frowned. Klaus and Lucien observed Bonnie interactions from the bannisters upstairs. He sipped drink "I saw you last night with Bonnie Bennett in my bar. What did she say about me?" Lucien asked. Klaus smiled "Nothing. Why are you so interested in her?"
"She is a marvellous creature. She can detach parts of her body. She can literally remove her head and heart from her body and reattach it like a human Voodoo doll. It's every vampire nightmare but fucking fantastic". Klaus stared at Lucien "Is that some sort of kink for the weekends? She's been through enough. Stop being a creep"
[Me + You together song by The 1975/ Hello, Love by Jessie Ware]
Bonnie danced with Caroline, Enzo and Hayley, they laughed and gossiped about Elena. Elijah walked through the party observing Elena talking to Camille and Evie. Hayley saw Elijah and waved at him, he walked across to her "You look lovely, as always" he said. She smiled but noticed he wasn't himself and sensed the discomfort "You seem off...everything okay?"
"I'm not sure, I'll tell you about it later" he whispered. Hayley saw Declan waving at her and she smiled "Okay I'll see you later". His eyes followed her as she walked over to Declan hugging him and Declan kissing her cheek.
Bonnie hummed and made her way to the snack table; she could feel eyes watching her and probably questioning her sanity. Her long stiletto black scale nails picked up a chicken puff and ate it, she glanced at Dana and Daisy who were whispering to each other and laughing.
"Stage 3...revenge dress" Klaus said behind her. She turned around and smiled at him "I made it myself" she picked up her gin and tonic sitting on the table.
" I've only been speechless a few times in my life, and this might be one of my favourite times" he stared at her and once again she felt the surges through her body "Thank you, you're being sweet" she laughed sipping her drink. Damon frowned from across the room wondering what Klaus wanted with Bonnie. He knew Klaus's history and didn't understand why Bonnie wanted to be around him. Damon flinched when he saw him touching her hands and her laughing at his jokes.
The morning after the engagement party, the atmosphere was dead, and the air stood still. A couple were jogging and arguing. The woman displayed her jealous feelings towards her boyfriend talking to Hayley Marshall while he defended him "She asked about the merlot" but the woman rolled her eyes. Like other women in town, she was jealous of Hayley's beauty and aura, her impact she had on the men in town. Some even theorised she was some sort of succubus others think she was a Goddess. Mid argument the woman stopped and looked down in the grass by the oak tree. "What now?" the man asked. She pointed at a girl's body dressed and surrounded by a flower bed. She pale and her eyes were removed. The man and woman looked at each other.