DESIRES

        𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄’𝐒 𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐄𝐈𝐑𝐃. Since the moment she relayed Gram’s instructions to Elena about needing her necklace to destroy the main connection to the witch’s hold, she’s been quiet. Distant. Avoiding eye contact and humming random songs to keep her from talking. And that was weird.

        She’s never just quiet. Or distant. Or avoiding eye contact and sure as hell wouldn’t let a song stop her yapping. Something’s up but Bonnie was too distracted with all this other bullshit to address it. 

        According to Elena, Damon had the necklace. According to Damon, he’s hidden it in his room that’s currently being raided from top to bottom. His bedroom was far too big to search every nook and cranny, but they did because time was vital.

        But there was no necklace. 

        Damon also wasn’t picking up his phone. 

        Caroline’s head perked toward the front door where creaking followed beneath someone’s quickening footsteps. She stood protectively at Bonnie’s side, only to both sigh with relief when Lucy busted through the door.  She’s dressed in a loose baby blue button-up shirt paired with grey sweats she didn’t own, which meant she got lucky. But she didn’t appear happy about her win. No, she was covered in sweat. Out of breath like she ran here. Most of the buttons were in the wrong hole and she’s barefoot. 

        Bonnie rushed around Caroline to her cousin’s side. “Lucy? What the hell happened? Are you okay?”

        “No, I’m not.” She breathed deeply to catch her breath, pushing back her sweated-out silk press. By this time, Caroline left and returned in seconds with a cold glass of water. “First, why the fuck was I just having a tug-a-war battle with your Grams—my cousin—on the last bottle of rum? Second, how the fuck is it possible that my crazy ass very dead toxic ex-witch boyfriend walks in on me and—Tod, Toby, Timmy, whatever the fuck with a T—trying to light both our asses on fire? What the fuck is going on Bonnie and why do I feel like you had something to do with it?”

        Bonnie narrowed her gaze. “It somewhat has something to do with me. Most of it.” She admitted and her cousin groaned disappointedly. 

        Anything more could trigger Lucy into going off on Bonnie so she kept her lips shut. As fun of a person she was, she didn’t play when it came to partaking in her guardian role. It’s crazy how a twenty-year-old woman held her breath as if she was ten. Lucy wasn’t even that old, in her early thirties. And yet, when her head tilted with an arched brow, her hand on her hip, her index finger tapping vigorously, giving that look any Black person knew to heed cautiously—Bonnie heeded. 

        “Okay,” Lucy downed the water as if preparing herself for what’s to come. “Tell me exactly what you did and how we can fix this? I don’t have long until my ex finds me and I need that man gone expeditiously.”  

        Bonnie explained from the top of how everything unfolded the way it did. There were parts Lucy remembered, but clearly, a lot of details were purposefully left out. She knew how she’d react and did everything to avoid it until no other choice was left. And trust, Lucy gave an earful.

        After placing the empty glass on a random dresser, Lucy checked out Caroline who was currently searching the pillowcases. “So what is she doing here? Moral support?”

        Caroline’s head snapped in their direction. “What?”

        Lucy opened her mouth to repeat what she just said, but Bonnie interrupted. “She’s helping us look for the necklace.” She told her cousin.

        The crease between her brows deepened. “With what exactly? Vampire sight that still hasn’t gotten us anywhere? If the necklace you’re looking for is the exact talisman that’s fueling this witch, what part does a vampire play in witch business?”

        “You don’t have to be here, you know?” Caroline snapped. “There’s plenty of areas to hide from your crazy murderous ex. A flight back to New York is a great suggestion.”

        “And leave my cousin in your hands? I think not.” Lucy flipped her silk press over her shoulder. “Look how great that turned out.”

        Caroline stepped forward to go at it, but stopped at Bonnie’s raised hand. Now wasn’t the time and her cousin was clearly onto something that she overlooked. “What do you suggest?” She asked. 

        “We’re witches,” Lucy motioned between them, waiting for Bonnie to catch on. “Looking for a talisman infused with magic.”

        “We can locate it.” She concluded. 

        “Even better. We can feel it.”

        “This house is old and filled with magical stuff, we’d never find it in time.” Bonnie countered.

        “Not if we focus on the object we’re looking for.” Lucy beckoned her forward and prompted she close her eyes. Bonnie listened. “I want you to picture the talisman. Every last detail you remember about it. Once you draw that image, I want you to focus on the magic that comes from it. It should feel like a thread leaving your body, guiding you straight to it.”

        Caroline’s voice interrupted her train of thought. “Okay, well, while you do that, I’m calling Elena. She’s gotta know something to help us if this magical thread thing falls through.”

        Bonnie ignored her discouragement and focused on the talisman as Lucy instructed. Something about Caroline’s sudden doubt in her capabilities encouraged her to push harder and faster to succeed. So she mapped out every detail from memory. The silver chain. The antique-looking pendant in the shape of an oval. The swirls embedded within its simple shape, like it was protecting the red ruby with a vervain built with it. If one looked closely, they could see the crushed plant shifting inside. 

        “I got it,” Bonnie shared.

        “Good. Now push.”

        Once the image was locked in her brain, Bonnie pushed out her magic as if it were an invisible force, seeking another source of magic to latch onto. Caroline’s voice was heard in the background, muffled. Bonnie pushed harder. Lucy was somewhere telling her not to push too hard and let it flow naturally. So close to feeling this magical thread connecting to the location of the talisman, her focus shifted by something Caroline said. 

        “What happened? Did the talisman fight back?” Lucy was closer than before, likely examining her body for any sign of magic fatigue.

        Bonnie ripped open her eyes, nearly breaking her neck as she spun toward Caroline hanging up the call. “What are you talking about?” She questioned, knowing damn well what she heard.

        “Um,” Caroline didn’t look as if she didn’t know where to start, but like she didn’t know what to reveal. She swallowed thickly, fidgeting with the dark green material of her shirt. “Lexi’s back…so Elena wants us to hold off on destroying the necklace.”

        Lucy scoffed. “Hell no. Does she think she’s the only one with ghost problems? Some of us are in life-or-death situations. I’m not waiting for some White girl I don’t know.”

        Just like Damon. Bonnie prayed his faith ended with death. 

        But that wasn’t what she was talking about—which was another conversation to have—nor what she heard. 

        “No, you said boyfriend dramas.” Bonnie grabbed her friend’s arm when she attempted to escape confrontation. “What is it, Caroline? I know you’re hiding something from me. Tell me.”

        Unable to hold it in any longer, “Elena caught Jeremy kissing Anna.”

        Her grip on Caroline released. “What?”

        “I’m sorry, Bonnie.”

        Lucy kissed her teeth and poorly mumbled her comment under her breath. “Exactly why you don’t date best friends’ brothers.”

        Caroline glared at Lucy with her arms crossed, but she didn’t say anything to disapprove her comment because she secretly agreed with it too. 

        Bonnie chewed the inside of her cheek so the pain kept her from crashing out. It’s moments like this where drinking took away what she didn’t want to deal with. To lose her connection with the witches and nearly her magic to save the same guy who cheated on her with a fucking ghost who died over a year ago was embarrassing. 

        She loved Jeremy. She trusted him. She grew up with him. She gave up pieces of herself and even risked her relationship with her best friend to be with him. And while she saved his life multiple times for Elena’s benefit, she also helped to selfishly keep him alive to be with her. 

        Just to be defeated and quickly replaced by Anna. A ghost. A very dead ghost who won’t mean anything after the talisman is destroyed. 

        She could die from embarrassment. Or from the pain twisting deep in her heart, her lungs deprived of oxygen as air choked down her throat. Her breathing picked up and she grew hot, tears rushing to fill her sight. A mixture of emotions swirled. 

        It hurts so fucking much. 

        Bonnie was left out in the odds compared to her friends who’ve experienced a range of relationships and countless hookups. It’s not like she didn’t want to experience a good fuck behind the school’s bleachers during home games in high school and in college—if not counting those she'd sneak in the house past ten while Grams was passed out drunk to hook up with—and she sure didn’t make that list of top ten people she’d fuck for nothing. Nor was she lacking attention from men. Growing up popular and always hanging around the popular scene had men and women flocking in her direction. She just wanted more than sex. Something deep and intimate. Raw and beautiful. Obsessive and possessive in the best and worst way possible.

        She wanted love. Something real enough to mean something—everything to someone that wouldn’t regard her as a one-night memory, or leave her as all the men and women in her life had. 

        Jeremy was special, so she thought. He was her first real boyfriend, her first love, and he ruined it. 

        Bonnie didn’t know what to do but every choice was tempting; kill him. Kill everyone in this room to save face. Find someone to fuck in front of him to make him regret cheating on me. Beg he stay with me. Just pack my shit and leave. And worst of all, drink myself to death to numb the pain of my broken heart. 

        Bonnie was yanked from her violent thoughts by a voice fighting to push through the void she’d rather sink into. “Look,” Caroline wiped her tears, offering a comforting smile. “She’s got a foothold now so she probably thinks that she’s here to stay. But you and I, and your cousin,” she added that part with an irritated bite. “we’re gonna find that necklace.” 

        Maybe I should kill him? Bonnie’s thoughts continued to convince her to commit multiple crimes. Seems right after all I’ve done. This could be the only way to set back what I’ve disturbed.

        Bonnie shook her head, shaking off the temptation. She could never. That wasn’t who she was. She paused.

        Unless…

        Caroline grabbed her shoulders and gave a good shake. “Okay?” Her pepper-green eyes stared into Bonnie’s soul, impatiently awaiting her confirmation. 

        Bonnie didn’t realize she was staring off into space until the shake. There wasn’t much she could do but stare. Luckily, Caroline didn’t push for a verbal answer and took her silence as agreement. She looked more pained than Bonnie like she was the one who got cheated on, though she knew the feeling better than anyone else. This was Bonnie’s first experience. One last run along the bare shoulders of her haltered top and she was back to searching for the necklace, though she’d look back every now and then to be sure her friend wouldn’t do anything stupid.

        Like preserving her pride by killing Jeremy, stupid.

        Lucy stood quietly, but her lips were slightly parted as her tongue grazed the inside of her cheek. She clearly had something to say. She always did.

        “Don’t,” Bonnie dismissed any and every attempt before it was made.

        A softer look filled her brown eyes. “Bonnie—”

        “Just don’t,” her voice thick with emotions she tried to swallow. “Please?”

        With a nod, she turned around and headed across the room toward Damon’s bed, plopping down with a deep sigh with her hands shoved between her thighs. “I’d stop searching then. There’s no point. The necklace isn’t here—I don’t sense it anywhere in the house. Though…” Lucy met Bonnie’s gaze and didn’t hide her frown as she said, “it was here. In the bathroom somewhere but it’s been taken.”

        “Taken?” Caroline inquired.

        “By someone on the other side. I sense their presence, the death that lingers, and I’m sure you can too Bonnie.”

        Caroline threw her head back with a dramatic groan. “There’s like, hundreds of wandering ghosts in Mystic Falls, all with a reason to steal that damn necklace. We’re never finding that piece of crap!”

        Bonnie felt her pulse quicken, feeling hot all over again with realization. She sensed it too, just as Lucy said. And knew exactly who to suspect. “But only one knows exactly where to look.” She gritted through her teeth.

        The crease between Caroline’s brows deepened, now catching on.

        Just on cue, Jeremy called Bonnie again. Her phone was placed on the dresser to keep her from getting distracted and even silenced it, but its flashing light still alerted her of his irritating presence. 

       Caroline kissed her teeth and rushed around to answer the phone, which Bonnie was grateful for. She wanted nothing to do with Jeremy. Didn’t even want to hear his voice or any excuses Caroline pressed on about, so she left the bedroom to find solitude elsewhere. Somewhere like the Salvatore’s infamous liquor collection. The first floor was a drunken heaven. Bottles displayed everywhere within reach to comfort her broken heart and tempt anyone into solemn cravings.

        She listened for Lucy and Caroline to confirm they were still upstairs before she grabbed a random glass and filled it to the rim. Didn’t care to look at the name. Didn’t care to fill it with ice. Didn’t care if it hadn’t been cleaned and was stained with someone else’s lips. As long as it took her mind from reality, that’s all that mattered. 

        There was a moment of hesitation though. Gram’s voice in the back of her head, reminding her not to end up like her. But she wasn’t here to stop her, likely getting back into her old habits herself. Plus, this was the last time, the last drink. Bonnie swore it. After tonight, she wasn’t touching another bottle. 

        So she threw back her head and downed the drink within seconds, it’s burn comforting and painful at the same time. She poured another glass, only to sip it halfway when Caroline and Lucy emerged from the hallway into the living room. Lucy frowned at the glass Bonnie was poorly hiding while Caroline continued to inform everyone of another uprising danger. 

        The ghost of the Tomb Vampires killed Tobias Fell, a member of one of the founding families. They were running on limited time to find that necklace before they alphabetically started killing through the founding families.

        Lucy appointed herself as the designated driver when Bonnie grabbed her keys to get that necklace herself. Time was wasting and the one person who had it was playing with everyone’s lives, clinging onto the past she’d never be granted to relive or continue.

        Bonnie didn’t fight her cousin and got into the passenger seat, slouching against the window, zoned out in her thoughts. Caroline occupied the backseat.

        Maybe I should… 

        During the drive toward the town’s festivities, Jeremy called again and Bonnie was grateful Caroline picked up to confirm he had the necklace. No shocker. So Lucy abruptly turned down another street, heading toward the abandoned house instead. It was then that they came across a horrific car accident. Mrs. Lockwood was bleeding out unconscious. Familiar dead faces of the Tomb Vampires stalked toward her. 

        No matter the many times Bonnie offered her help when Caroline decided to intervene, it was quickly agreed that she had a bigger role to play. One that would save everyone’s life.

        Grams was at the abandoned house already setting up for the spell. Lucy prepared the actual spell to destroy the link between a witch and an object before destroying it, which was actually much harder to unlink than it was between another’s life. All while Bonnie stood aside, chuckling whenever her Grams muttered snappy remarks toward Lucy and the way her house has become with them two living there and how they should keep her place. 

        “Bonnie!”

        Jeremy came rushing downstairs with the necklace in his hand. Bonnie was so numbed and devoided from her feelings that even the slightest thought of killing him didn’t tempt her anymore. He waited for her to say something. Anything. Do something to prove she cared and she was angry with him, but truly, he waited for her reaction to help navigate the situation better. 

        She snatched the necklace without a word and tossed it in the fire, already starting the de-linking spell. She, Grams, and Lucy joined hands to channel each other. It took longer than expected to delink the bond before starting the other spell to destroy it, one that Bonnie knew by heart. 

        The flames intensified, its searing heat hot and oddly comforting against Bonnie’s skin. And soon enough, flares sparked and the necklace was finally destroyed. All the magic from the necklace dispersed. 

        Which meant all the ghosts from the other side including Grans and Anna no longer gained a foothold in this realm. 

        “You’re stronger than all of this,” Grams squeezed her hand, her voice soft but filled with hope. “Wish I said it more often, but I am so proud of you.”

        The warmth in Bonnie’s hands disappeared, replaced by a cool breeze and an empty connection to Gram’s power. Too afraid to look over, she stared at the fire, rapidly blinking away her tears to prove just how strong she appeared to everyone else but herself. 

        The floor creaked behind them and Jeremy’s voice fought through the numbing of her ears. “Bonnie…” he called out, seeking her attention. 

        Lucy gave a supportive squeeze, wiped her tears, and whispered, “I’ll be in the car. Try not to kill him, at least for tonight. Avoid his pretty face if you do.”

        The corner of her lips merely lifted at the thought. It wasn’t a promise Bonnie could make at the moment, but she also wasn’t in the mood to make the effort. She’s exhausted, barely drunk, and couldn’t spend another minute in this damned town. 

        “Just go away, Jeremy.” She said once Lucy was upstairs and making her way outside.

        “I owe you an explanation.”

        A bitter scoff tickled the back of her dry throat. “Matt let go of a sister before you let go of Anna. His sister, Jeremy.”

        Bonnie stood before him to see what pathetic excuse he’d come up with next to her face. Those sad brown eyes that once had her only to look at. Those lips that once kissed her as if she was the only woman in his world, were those same lips that once fought against everyone about the risk she took to save them. Those arms that once caught every fall, held her close at night, wiped her tears, pleased her. Jeremy was so easy to love that even now, it was hard to leave. Even harder to hate him. But she knew her worth and loved herself too much to stay.

        “You know what you owe me? The respect of not making me listen to you explain yourself.”

        “I am sorry, Bonnie.”

        Bonnie looked away, fueled by her Gram’s parting words the second she almost caved. “We’re done.”

        His eyes widen with shock. “Bonnie—”

        “Just go, Jeremy. I have nothing else to say to you.” She turned her back to him, her tears unable to stop now as pain twisted her heart. Her nails dug even deeper into her palms as she gritted through her teeth, “Go before I do something I might regret.”

        He lingered a bit longer, closer, like he couldn’t leave their conversation as it was. Their relationship had come a long way and been through too much bullshit to end it like this, but Bonnie was serious. She couldn’t do this anymore. She could excuse anything else but drew the line at cheating. Nothing could ever mend her trust once betrayed. 

        Finally getting that through his thick skull, Jeremy left. It was the only time she could breathe and cry freely without interruption to process the events of today.

        Sparks flew from the fire and startled Bonnie. She wiped her tears and stepped closer, red eyes squinting at something sitting in the ash. A silver necklace. Elena’s necklace. It stood perfectly intact.

        Fuck.

━━━━━━ ━━━━━━ ━━━━━━

𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐊 𝐘𝐎𝐔

𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆

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-> YF&L Masterlist (everything you need to know about this fic + access to all chapters posted here )

        𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐍'𝐓 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒.

        Between grappling with her witch heritage, vampires wreaking havoc on Mystic Falls, werewolves hunting vampires, saving Elena who might be Katherine in disguise, protecting the town, Damon, risking her connection to consecrated witches to save her boyfriend who was seeing his dead girlfriends, the original’s drama, watching people die around her including Grams, college, and handling endless supernatural bullshit—peace was a luxury that was hard to come by. 

        To assume it would all disappear once graduating from Mystic Falls High to attend Whitmore College—now a sophomore—was foolish on her end. An understatement. 

        The bullshit followed her there. 

        And being the loyal friend Bonnie was, she learned to accept whatever faith had in store because a world without her best friends wasn’t the world she wanted to live in.

        …But there has been lingering exhaustion, upholding certain expectations beyond where Bonnie felt secure in her magic and in herself. Especially as a late-bloomer witch. She’d been practicing magic with her distant cousin, Lucy, and learning how to express herself without pushing her body too far. She’d also been trying to heal after losing Grams, but even then, focusing was rendered useless because when someone needed Bonnie, she was there—whether she had a choice or not.

        She was grateful though to Lucy for reaching out shortly after the Lockwoods' masquerade ball. With her father always on the road as a truck driver, and other secrets she refused to accept, left Bonnie not only to grieve by herself but to fend for herself too. It was too much responsibility as a minor, on top of what her friends needed from her and what she needed from herself. That’s when everything started to fall apart. 

        Nothing mattered anymore. 

        Death was worth the experience more than living.

        Then Lucy showed up at Grams’ doorstep with a grieving cake coated in black icing with raspberry filling, her bags nearly covering the entire creeky porch. That was the day she chose to become Bonnie’s legal guardian. The day when each room brightened in ways Bonnie thought would forever dull. 

        Though waking up to a new seasonal fling parading naked around the house, or to small social events taking up space in the living room wasn’t in the cards, Bonnie wouldn’t change a thing. She needed her company. Someone. Family. Anyone who cared enough. And as time went by, she learned that Lucy needed hers too. She became the big sister Bonnie never had. 

        She reminded Bonnie to loosen up. To not grow up too fast as she had and to enjoy life as it unfolded. Even got her back into cheerleading and eventually joined the school’s dance team. Her positive influence actually had her excited to attend cringy school events she once thought useless even as a popular girl, like school dances and extracurriculars…Even if they were ruined in the end.

        But it wasn’t just her who got Bonnie back on track, Jeremy did too. He helped for a while and advocated for her when no one else did.

        They had something she was sure would last forever or for as long as the supernatural world didn’t come to claim their lives. But she was wrong. Dating her best friend’s boyfriend was so not in anymore and another lesson learned.

        Bonnie’s phone buzzed for the hundredth time. Seeing it was Jeremy continuing his daily routine which became a habit now, she rolled her eyes with a groan and tossed her phone to the ground. She had better things to focus on than whatever bullshit excuse he’d pull out of his ass.

        She grabbed the basket of colorful lanterns and climbed the ladder to complete the trees. Caroline, nosy as expected, caught Jeremy’s name flashing across the screen now covered in dirt. She frowned.

        “So when you did the spell to send Vicki away, did that get rid of Anna too?” Caroline asked, while using her vampire strength to hold down the shaky ladder.

        If Bonnie had it her way, she would’ve been rotting in bed binging romantic comedies and tragic movies with tragic endings just to give her a reason to cry. But Lucy opened the blinds, turned off the TV, and pushed her out of bed. It was important to show face and prove no boy was worth the tears, as she preached. And by showing face, meant signing her up to volunteer at the Night of Illuminations festival.

        As a ‘volunteer’ but also a wing woman to help her cousin lure some hot guy she met at the Mystic Grill to her bed. Her cousin…who was somewhere around here. A sign of luck she supposed. Not so much on her end.

        “I wish, but all I did was block the magic that was helping Vicki get a physical foothold here.” Caroline moved aside as Bonnie climbed down. She still held the ladder. “Jeremy’s still got a direct line to the other side, and as long as he wants to see Anna and she wants to see him…she’s still here.”

        “Okay, you don’t think I can actually resist commenting on that?”

        “There. You commented.”

        Bonnie walked away, stepping over her phone without sparing it a glance. An ache took hold of her chest, just where her heart struggled to keep her alive. It grew sharper the more she withheld her tears. Her frustration. Her problem that she created once again for someone unworthy of her saving. 

        Caroline’s shoulders sank with a heavy sigh. “Bonnie…”

        A frustrated groan tickled her chest as she spun around. “What do you want me to say, Caroline? I went against the balance of nature when I brought Jeremy back to life, and now I’m paying for the consequences.”

        She snatched the colorful lanterns from her hands as if holding them hostage for a better answer. When Bonnie tried snatching them back, Caroline held them high and far back over her head. 

        Bonnie glared at her friend’s playful nature. “Are you fucking with me? I’m not in the mood to be fucked with.”

        “Good. Be in a mood, anything other than this sunshine-and-rainbows bullshit act you’re forcing.” Caroline said. Her blue eyes softened, catching the flicker of something raw Bonnie failed to conceal. “I see it, Bon. I’m here for you. I just want you to say you’re not okay with it.”

        “I’m a thousand times not okay with it. I just,” Bonnie choked, resisting the urge to cry. “I just don’t know what to do about it. It hurts, Care. So fucking much it’s like I’m screaming out to the void.”

        Caroline reached out a hand and rubbed Bonnie’s shoulder, some reddish brown curls tangled around her fingers, down to her arm before pulling her into a hug. “Let’s scream together.” Her breath tickled her neck, squeezing tighter. “I got some shit to scream about too and could use a screaming buddy. How’s tonight?”

        Bonnie desperately needed a screaming buddy and was grateful for the offer. “I guess I’m free.” She managed to say without choking again.

        “‘Course you’re free. It’s holiday weekend. One more day until we’re back on campus, slaving for our degree. And me, compelling Anthony Green not to steal my segment for extra credit before I can present it first.”

        That got a chuckle out of Bonnie.

        Over Caroline’s shoulder, a blue Chevrolet was speeding down the street with no care for civilians or the speed limit. Its tires screeched as the driver parked recklessly along the side of the road. To no one’s surprise, it’s Damon. Dressed in his usual long-sleeved V-neck shirts and dark jeans, looking gloomy as ever which was more common than his murderous face.

        Bonnie rolled her eyes with a curse under her breath.

        “Greetings, Blondie.” Damon greeted, but was more cautious than teasing-like when greeting Bonnie. Almost as if he knew what kind of mood she was in. “Witchy.”

        Caroline pulled away first from the hug with a heavy sigh. She flipped her blonde curls, not happy with her nickname. “Great. The town’s most hated is here to prove why he’s the town’s most hated.” She said with fake enthusiasm which Bonnie laughed at.

        His lips pressed into a tight smile before turning his attention to Bonnie. “I think you got your voodoo wires all crossed when you got rid of Vicki Donovan.”

        Across the road, Matt looked back at the mentions of his sister’s name. He was currently unloading decorations from his truck, now straining a vein to focus in on their conversation. 

        “What do you mean? Why?” Bonnie questioned in a lower voice not to alarm Matt.

        “‘Cause I’m pretty sure I just got spit-roasted by Mason Lockwood’s ghost.”

        “What?” Bonnie exclaimed. 

        Caroline crossed her arms, nowhere near convinced as Bonnie was though she found his story ridiculous too. “Why would you think that?” She didn’t hide the bite in her tone, offended that someone would even question her ability.

        “Maybe because he chained me to a chair and shoved a hot poker in my chest.” He explained as if almost getting killed was a normal day for him and it was. The longer everyone stared at each other, the more Damon rethought his day. “Let’s just say I’m having Deja vu.”

        Caroline turned to Bonnie with knitted brows. “I thought you said ghosts can’t physically interact with people?” 

        “They can’t.”

        “Yeah, well, I don’t have time for a vengeful Lockwood,” Damon said frustratingly. “When I kill someone, they're supposed to stay dead. Whatever you screwed up, fix it.”

        Smoke burned their nose as he sped off. 

        Bonnie bit the inside of her cheek until it bled, her nails pinching deep into the palms of her hands until it bled. Caroline’s gaze snapped down. Her nostrils flared at the scent, a concerned look flashing. Yet again, Bonnie was expected to save the day. Not even given the time to grieve her broken heart before she was to suppress her emotions until Mystic Falls benefited first. 

        But she’ll help. Of course, she would when it involved her friends. Those they have killed could return as Mason Lockwood had to get their revenge, and the outcome would fall on her. She started this the moment she sent Vicki away. 

        A hand wrapped itself around Bonnie’s clenched fist and she saw it was Caroline seeking to comfort her silent rage. “What can I do to help?”

        She somehow managed to unravel Bonnie’s fist, now holding her bloody hand to squeeze lightly without hurting her. Even with blood also on her hand she remained in control of her thirst. Moments like this reminded Bonnie that not all vampires were monsters and her friends were still themselves.

        “I’m no good with spells but I’m fantastic at holding books, compelling people—oh, and I can take out your competition…as long as it’s not a ghost.” Then she perked with a twisted grin. “Unless the cross can condemn Anna to hell! My mom has a huge fugly cross hanging in the kitchen like some deep Texas cultist. I’m sure we can get it done and have her burning in hell in no time, saving the spot for Damon and everyone else who’s crossed us.”

        A small smile cracked along Bonnie’s lips and she shook her head in disbelief, after considering it. “I’m gonna talk to Matt,” she slipped her hand free and wiped the small smear of blood along her dark jeans. “See if he actually kept his word and sent Vicki back.”

        She nodded. “I’ll come too for moral support.”

        They crossed the street toward Matt struggling to move on with life in a way he should’ve the first time around. It’s obvious he hadn’t gotten a good night’s rest. Working himself to the bone was his way of not dealing with grief, but everyone saw through the facade. The lingering stench from skipped showers, a growing stubble beard, alcohol strong on his breath, the bags under his eyes was another sign too.

        This town thrived on misery. It was also a death sentence to those who couldn’t afford to leave.

        Matt had fallen victim due to his poor upbringing and couldn’t just up and leave as everyone else could. He barely got accepted into college for Human Services if it wasn’t for Caroline’s compulsion. The only way he could make peace with this hellhole was to put one foot in front of the other even if it killed him in the end.

        He reassured multiple times that Vicki was gone for good. He’d know if she came back and expressed deeply that he wanted nothing to do with this ghost bullshit. Bonnie believed him. This wasn’t a man who was surrounded by the love and comfort of family, something she also could relate to in a way. He had no reason to lie. Certainly wouldn’t be able to hide it well in the state he was in. 

        But one thing was certain, Damon was right. Something went wrong removing the foothold Vicki had in this realm and the witch who helped. Bonnie needed to get to the bottom of it before it escalated. The quicker it’s solved, the quicker she could sulk in her broken heart. 

        Caroline bounced on the heels of her feet as they watched Matt walk away. A mischief look on her face as she ‘innocently’ expressed, “If only someone we knew was strong enough to leave the past in the past.”

        Bonnie sighed heavily, pushing back her ginger curls. “I’ve got a ghost problem to deal with, Caroline. Save the Jeremy-lecture for later.”

        Even if she wasn’t wrong, it just wasn’t something she could get into without blaming herself. She’s done it enough already.

        As Bonnie knelt to pick up her bag, one of the straps broke which caused everything to fall out. Including her Gram’s gifted grimoire she never let out of her sight. She cursed under her breath with a huff. It’s like the universe knew she was having a shitty day and decided to add to it. 

        Just as she reached for her grimoire, the book magically opened with a strong gust of wind. Bonnie startled with a gasp.

        Caroline’s eyes widened with shock. “Okay, did your grimoire just—”

        “I-I think so.”

        Bonnie picked up the heavy book to inspect the spell her ancestors or an intuition wanted her to see. The crease between her brows deepened as she tried to understand and translate pages she’d never seen before or thought twice about reading. Whatever it was had to be important. It usually was.

        “Please tell me that’s a recipe for witch cookies.” Said Caroline, trying to be funny to make up for the fact that she couldn’t understand ancient language.

        “It’s a manifestation spell.” Bonnie read. She was even considerate enough to follow her finger along the words so her friend felt included as confused as she was. “It’s used to reveal veiled matter.”

        Still confused, “what’s veiled matter?”

        “Ghosts.”

━━━━━━ ━━━━━━

        𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐃 at the abandoned witch burn site house located on the outskirts of Mystic Falls. A sacred place once used for generations of witches to practice magic was the same place that carried out their execution. Now just an empty place as their presence lingered, which was the perfect private spot to do the spell. 

        The witches here might’ve turned their backs but Bonnie would honor their legacy by practicing magic here. Should death find its place here to claim her, she welcomed it with a choice they weren’t given. 

        The basement was the perfect spot to set up. The smoky smell lingered off the burnt walls, threatening to suffocate her. This house had gone through many seasons and inhabited many rodents and insects it was literally a death hazard. Yet, its history here couldn’t be ignored. 

        “You ready?” Caroline asked after lighting the last candle. She likely turned around to find Bonnie already casting the spell. “Right. Okay.”

        On her knees with her hands stretched, she focused on the spell and the intention behind it to guarantee its success. The presence of magic surrounded her like drugs in her veins and she inhaled deeply to live off its high. Moments later, light wind picked up. Then it grew stronger, and stronger, and much stronger. 

        “Bonnie, I don’t like this.” Caroline panicked. 

        The spell required more channeling. More intention. More of her than she could handle, and Bonnie was determined. She refused to accept failure as her only choice even if it took everything from her. It was equally her greatest strength and her biggest flaw. 

        Dust filled her lungs the stronger the wind, but Bonnie didn’t stop. Spiderwebs tickled her and likely housed themselves tangled in her curls—Bonnie never stopped. She couldn’t once magic got involved. It was always hard to stop once started. 

        The floor creaked as footsteps struggled to find stable ground. “Bonnie!” Caroline screamed out. A warning that the environment was growing dangerously, and worried for her friend.

        The wind stopped abruptly and the emptiness of her hands was replaced by the unexpected comfort of hands holding hers. Bonnie opened her eyes and stilled. Tears blurred her vision no matter how many times she blinked them away. Even then, her familiar features were prominent. Her smell was homey. Her short curls were still fresh. Her brown skin was still warm. Her gentle smile tugged at the strings of Bonnie’s heart, remembering her last offered smile seconds before death came for her. 

        Caroline gawked with her mouth hung wide. “Oh my god. Is that your—”

        “Grams?” Bonnie choked out into a sob that felt like a mixture of emotions lightening the weight of her heart. “I can’t believe you’re here. I thought…I thought I lost you for good. Grams, I’m so, so, so—I. When it—I should’ve—I didn’t—fuck, I’m s-s-so…” Words refused to form properly, all fighting to make sense of her jumbled thoughts. Too afraid there wasn’t enough time in the world to express how deeply regretful she felt for not listening the first time. For not taking extra precautions. She should’ve seen through Katherine’s tricks. She shouldn’t have ever trusted the Salvatores. She should’ve let Elena figure it out.

        Grams caressed her cheek, wiping her tears. “I know, baby, I know.” She cooed, the soft tang in her accent warm and cozy. “Now stop your crying. We don’t have time for tears.”

        Bonnie nodded. Tears continued to unravel no matter how hard she tried to stop. She still mourned her grandmother, her death fresh on her heart like it was yesterday she found her dead in bed. 

        She missed the smell of hard liquor on her breath. Her endless drink babbling. School nights when Bonnie would receive calls from the Mystic Grill to take her Grams home as embarrassing as it was. She missed the food she cooked. The music she played while cleaning every Sunday morning. The bright mornings she’d be forced to attend early service, hoping some God would answer her prayers while holding no close relationship to religion. She missed her laughter. The effort put into showing up to school functions when her father couldn’t, even if she was passed out drunk or getting over a hangover she’d always make it. Late or over with. And most of all, she missed the bad days when nothing but endless shouting and curses and broken glass filled the house. 

        Those were days when Bonnie could confirm her Grams was alive and well as opposed to when she’s knocked out drunk. Too many days were spent just standing in the corner of her bedroom, waiting for her chest to inflate, or hovering her two fingers under her nose every hour.

        “Nice to see you again, Caroline.”

        Caroline gave a small wave. “Hi, Ms. Shelia.”

        “A fine mess you’ve made, honey.” Grams mentioned as if Bonnie needed another reminder of the shit she’s stirred. “The witches told you there’d be consequences to bringing Jeremy back and you did it anyway.”

        “I didn’t have a choice.” Bonnie wallowed in her guilt. “I love him and I…I couldn’t just let him go.”

        Her lips pressed thin, and if she was frustrated with Bonnie for putting a boy before her legacy she didn’t hide it well. “I understand, but you’ve cracked open the door to the other side. There’s an old witch over there. She took advantage of it. She took advantage of you, honey. When you did that spell to send Vicki Donovan away, she wedged the door wide open, giving a free pass to anybody with unfinished business.”

        “How do you know this?” Bonnie asked, and Grams gave a look that was quickly recognized. Of course, she’d know as nosy as she was. She’d gossip about anyone if it wasn’t about herself. 

        “Witches talk even on the other side.” She said with pursed lips. “Who do you think makes all the rules?”

        Rules Bonnie continued to question. Life started and ended with witches. They were the true Gods on earth, the definition of judgment and justice, the bridge between good and evil, and life and death. They were the most disrespected yet sought out when the world’s gone to shit, expected to take the fall for their demise. 

        “What does the witch want?” She asked.

        Grams shook her head as if her question was a sin to ask. “That’s original vampire business. Not yours.” She shut down immediately. “I don’t want you getting in the middle of that. I’m here because you upset the balance of magic and it’s your duty to set it right. You need to close that door.”

        More tears threatened her face. “I’m only one person, Grams! This duty comes with too much burden that’s already taken your life. I just want it to end.”

        “You’re not just a person, you’re a Bennett witch. A powerful one at that. But you made that choice once you got yourself tangled with vampires. You don’t get to run away from your problems until you’ve fixed them all. That’s the only way it ends.” Her arms pulled Bonnie into a warm embrace, and she snuggled into the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent to keep forever. “It’s a lot, I know. But you’re not alone anymore. Caroline is here. I’m here. And I see Miss Lucy done returned and got you back on track, but you tell her to stay out my damn liquor cabinet.”

        Bonnie laughed through her tears. “It’s not like you can drink any of it.”

        Grams hummed. “I see you have your favorites too.” 

        Bonnie merely glanced at Caroline who was watching the exchange, now trying to make sense of what Grams whispered in her ear. Her face warmed with embarrassment. 

        “Don’t follow in my footsteps you hear,” Grams said. “Drinking has ruined my life in every way possible. I lost my husband, too many jobs to count, my daughter, myself, and my ambition. It’s even tainted the memories you have of me, it’s a miracle you didn’t up and leave. I wouldn't blame you if you did.”

        “I could never leave you, Grams.” Bonnie hugged tighter. “You’re the best and worst part of my life.”

        “Heavy on the worst.”

        They laughed at this and the memories that came to mind, but it didn’t last long when Caroline started asking the real questions which they came here for. “Not to ruin a beautiful moment, but how exactly do we close the door? Is there a lever or key of some sort?”

        Grams pulled away from the hug first despite Bonnie’s lingering, never wanting to break away. Her face was wet with salted tears and she didn’t want to think about her makeup, especially her mascara. She was careful wiping around her eyes for that reason. 

        Bonnie was helped to her feet after Grams stood to get down to business. Once that door was closed, could she leave behind this town and its infestation of vampires and drama behind. 

━━━━━━ ━━━━━━ ━━━━━━

𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐊 𝐘𝐎𝐔

𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆

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