I knew I'd changed the timeline for sure when Caroline didn't end up in bed with Damon, and when Elena didn't invite me to have dinner with her and Stefan. Canon Bonnie openly disliked Stefan; I just mocked and openly laughed at Stelena. Plus, Elena and I weren't that close — she cared about my opinion, but not as much as in canon.
So during the week, I just minded my own business. I did my spells, tended my garden, went to school, trained my body in Aikido, ignored Grams, and spent most of my free time with Caroline. Just ordinary life for me.
Tanner did get killed — not that anybody cared. I got a vision of it, like in canon, but it's not like I didn't already know.
"Bon, are you ready?" Caroline asked as she let herself into my house. I was staying here now since I was ignoring Grams. Rudy was off to God knows where, so it was just me in this very large house.
"Why do I have to go with you to this Founder's Ball thingy?" I groaned as she entered my room. "Can't you go stag?"
"No, I can't." She rolled her eyes. "Elena has a date. I can't go alone — it would be humiliating."
"Going with your best friend isn't humiliating enough?" I asked, finishing brushing my hair.
"Because of my dad, half the town's old ladies already think I'm bisexual anyway," she said, amused. "So going with a girl won't be a scandal."
I rolled my eyes but nodded. I'm pretty sure canon Caroline went with Damon, and since I ruined that, I might as well keep her company.
This whole thing was boring. Thank God my ancestors weren't white aristocratic assholes who made these events mandatory. I pitied Caroline for being forced to attend every single town function — not that she minded much.
Tyler was in the backyard with junkie Vic, trying to hide her from his parents. Stelena were dancing and making googly eyes. Jenna was ignoring that douche from TV — Logan Fell or whatever. Caroline was trying to get drunk. Damon was lurking around, searching for the Bennett talisman while munching on innocent girls. Stefan was antsy, which meant that even if he didn't feed on Caroline, Damon was still getting vervained and locked in the cellar tonight.
I knew exactly where I needed to be. So when Damon left the party with a teen on his arm, I followed Stefan. Things went like canon, except the girl wasn't Caroline. When Stefan vervained Damon and dragged him away, I was quick enough to grab the talisman.
Pretty sure that makes it 2–0 now. I was winning the race to the tomb.
"Why do you force me into these things?" I groaned as Caroline threw a bikini at me.
"The Sexy Suds Car Wash Fundraiser must be a success, Bon," she said. "You're hotter than my cheerleaders — I need you!"
"I hate you," I muttered, defeated, as I put on the damned bikini from hell.
The Tiki girl was annoying as hell. I almost set her on fire, but unfortunately she was the girl Damon fed on last night. So she'd probably be the one to set him free instead of Caroline — I saw her eyes glaze over before she left.
Elena had been talking to an old man, so I'm pretty sure the vampire cat was out of the bag.
Things were strange, but the timeline seemed determined to maintain itself. Good or bad depending on the situation. Right now it was good — it let me know what was going on. Later it might be a problem when I wanted to change something.
"Where the hell is Tiki going?" Caroline asked as the cheerleader left.
"Going to get herself killed, probably," I replied dryly.
I'd realized that living in a TV show had made me apathetic. I'd been practical in my past life; combine that with living in a fictional world and you get a girl who ignores anything that doesn't concern her or the people she cares about. Which was basically Caroline… and Grams, somewhat.
I knew it was cruel, and that I shouldn't be like this since this was now my reality, but I just couldn't force myself to care. Most things still didn't feel real.
So when two days later Tiki was declared missing, I didn't even bat an eyelash.
A month passed, and Vicky did end up a bloodsucker. Today was Hallow's Eve, and while I would've preferred to stay home doing witch stuff, Caroline obviously forced me into a witch costume.
"Ugh," I complained, watching kids dance in weird costumes. "Why am I here?"
"Because it's Halloween and you, little witch, need to enjoy it," Caroline said, sipping her drink.
"Cider for the ladies," Tyler — dressed as a Spartan warrior — said, handing us cups. "Lockwood special."
"Give it here," I said, taking the cup. "I want to be drunk enough to be hungover until Thanksgiving again."
"Likely," Caroline smirked, taking hers. "I'm drinking until someone is hot enough to make out with."
"Sounds like a plan," Tyler said, toasting.
"Can we talk about the fact that Elena and Mattie came in their old couple costumes?" Caroline asked. "As in the ones they wore last year?"
"Lame," I said, taking a large sip. Tyler shrugged and wandered off to find someone to make out with.
"Vicky came as a vampire — that's even lamer," Caroline said.
"You have no idea," I replied, smirking.
I hadn't put on the Bennett talisman like canon Bonnie did, so Damon only smirked at me from afar instead of coming to annoy me. I lifted my cup toward him and smirked back, as if I were afraid of Damon.
Caroline ended up piss‑drunk, and I had to take her home. I obviously missed the whole "kill Vicky and erase Jeremy's memories" thing — not that I cared.
Stefan's birthday is today, party at the Grill. – CI'll be there. – B
Caroline texted me while I was at Grams'. The old witch noticed the talisman and decided to give me a history lesson. She foolishly believed the thing would protect me from evil. I mentally scoffed — more like make me a possession target. That's why I didn't wear it. Also, it was ugly.
I still wasn't sure how to avoid getting possessed by Emily. Maybe it was time to find the old witch house and contact her myself. Getting possessed was too Harry Potter for my tastes.
"Bonnie, I'm glad you could make it," Elena said as I entered the Grill.
"Sup," I replied, noticing the blonde vampire next to her. Alexia Branson — in the flesh.
"This is Lexi, Stefan's friend," Elena said. "Lexi, this is Bonnie."
The vampire stared at me for a moment, then smiled. "Nice to meet you. Shots?"
I grinned and nodded. Getting drunk with a vampire who's about to die? Pretty sure that counts as a good deed.
Lexi got killed, as expected, because you can always count on Damon Salvatore to be an asshole. Thanksgiving was interesting — dinner with dear old dad I hadn't seen in months and crazy witch Grams who hated his guts. On the downside, I was pretty sure Emily was about to start giving me nightmares, so I needed to find the old witch house.
I didn't remember exactly how it looked in the show, but I had Emily's talisman, so I did what Gloria taught me.
I grabbed witch hazel and diviner's sage, put them in a bowl, lit the attic candles mentally, and set the herbs on fire. Breathing in the smoke while holding the talisman, I focused.
Soon I saw women — hundreds — bound and burned on pyres. Then time passed. I saw the cottage being built. I saw the people who lived there, terrified of the voices of the women tied to the land. I saw the house, abandoned, and I knew exactly where it was.
I grabbed my backpack full of heavy candles and stepped inside the house. The moment I crossed the threshold, whispers filled my head. One voice was louder — Emily, using the amulet to strengthen her presence.
I set the candles around the least filthy room, sat cross‑legged, and breathed deeply. The candles lit themselves. I centered my magic and chanted softly:
"Phasmatos Manex, Un Domo Hax, Fero Adiuvex… Phasmatos Manex, Un Domo Hax, Fero Adiuvex…"
"What took you so long?" a voice asked beside me.
I opened my eyes. Emily Bennett stood there in her nineteenth‑century gown, smiling.
"I wasn't sure I should do this," I admitted. I'd expected a translucent ghost, not… this. She looked alive.
"What a strange creature you are, granddaughter," she said calmly. "I suppose it should be expected from a reincarnated soul who escaped the cycle."
My eyes widened. How did she know? Did all spirits know? Shit. "What?"
"Calm yourself. Only I know," Emily said, amused. "I felt your birth. I've watched you too long not to notice the strain your knowledge causes."
"I… don't know what to say."
"There is nothing to say. You are of my blood, and I shall help you," she said. "But tell me — do you wish to open the tomb?"
"If not dealt with, the vampires inside will eventually escape," I said. "I'm in no rush, but I'll have to open it eventually. And I'll make sure no dangerous vampires get out alive."
"You have a silver tongue," she smirked. "But I agree. Some inside are not dangerous, and I believe you know what you're doing."
"Thank you, great‑great‑great‑great‑grandmother," I said, weirded out but… pleased.
"I shall not possess you — I can feel you feared that," she said. "But if the talisman ends up in Salvatore hands, you must destroy it."
I nodded.
"Very well. It's almost dark. Return home. Come back when you have time — I have much to teach you."
I closed my eyes. When I opened them, she was gone and the candles were cold.
December arrived, and drained bodies started appearing in Mystic Falls. I didn't remember this from season one, but I'm pretty sure it was one of Anna's turned minions.
Career night was a bust. I'd probably end up owning a bar like every other witch. My teachers weren't thrilled, and neither was Grams. She should be proud — I'd probably become a crazy old drunk witch lady like her and Gloria.
Mayor Lockwood, the caveman he was, almost made Tyler and Jeremy fight "like real men." Ugh. Must've been the full moon.
I hadn't seen much of Elena lately — probably busy with Stefan and Damon. I'd forgotten to tell her I was a witch, but Damon knew, so he'd eventually come annoy me for help.
Then I remembered: today was the day Elena would be attacked, and she and Damon would end up in Georgia to see Bree — the witch who owned a bar. Bree would die, and all her grimoires would burn.
What kind of witch would I be if I let all that knowledge go to waste?
I followed Damon and Elena to Georgia after texting Grams that I was staying with Caroline. I also texted Care to cover for me — she sent a thumbs‑up.
While Damon and Elena were inside Bree's bar, probably playing pool and chatting, I waited in my car for Damon to kill Bree. My plan: stop the fire, grab the grimoires, restart the fire, leave unseen.
I checked my old diary to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything. My memories of my past life and canon had blurred over time, which is why I thanked the Gods I'd written everything down when I was young. According to my notes, Bonnie was supposed to find the tomb entrance and be saved by Stefan today after talking with Grams. Meaning I had to hurry — Grams would probably do a locator spell on me.
It didn't take long for Elena to be kidnapped by Lexi's boyfriend — whatever his name was — and for Damon to return and rip out Bree's heart. Then he smashed bottles and tossed a lighter.
The bar went up in flames.
I slipped in through the back and froze the fire with a spell. I headed to the back room — witches aren't original with hiding spots — and grabbed the five grimoires left out, plus a talisman that felt powerful.
Then I left, released the fire, and floored it. I needed to get back to Mystic Falls fast. I really should've trained astral projection and teleportation…
I made it near Mystic Falls, but there was no way I'd reach Caroline's house before Grams did the locator spell. So I went with the easier option: I went to the tomb and let myself fall into the underground cave.
I felt the locator spell — only because I expected it — and sighed in relief. Soon enough, Peaches came to the rescue.
Grams was pissed I knew about vampires and interrogated me all night. I didn't tell her much — just that I wasn't an idiot and she should mind her own business.
"Here you go," Elena said as she sat at my table in the Grill. Caroline told me she'd given Elena a lesbian‑friendship vervain necklace, but seriously — had nobody told her I was a witch? Jesus, Stefan, you're not getting Boyfriend of the Year.
"I don't need a vervain necklace, Lena," I said, rolling my eyes. "I thought your boy toy would've told you I was a witch."
She shrugged but still handed me the necklace. "He did. I just wanted a way to start this conversation without it being awkward."
"Is this the part where I say sorry for not telling you I'm a witch?" I asked, amused. "Or where you say sorry for not telling me about your vamp boy toy?"
"You already knew he was a vampire," she said, daring me to deny it. "You forget I know you. After I found out about Stefan, all your vampire references made way more sense."
"Okay, yeah, I knew," I said, not feeling guilty. "Care knows about witches and vamps too, by the way."
"What?" Elena's eyes widened.
"What? You thought I'd leave her blindsided in this hellhole?" I asked. "Like you did with Jeremy?"
"But you'd leave me blindsided?" she asked, hurt.
"I knew you'd figure it out — you're dating a vampire," I said. "Unless you're dumber than Bella Swan, it was only a matter of time."
Elena sighed, defeated. "Fighting with you is hard. I never win."
"You know it," I said with a grin. "So what's this I hear about you being adopted?"
"I don't know. My birth certificate says Miranda and Grayson Gilbert. It makes no sense."
"Well, you're dating a vamp, so unless your parents are aliens, it can't be that bad," I said. Then I couldn't resist: "Unless your mom's an evil vampire and your dad is, I don't know, Uncle John."
"Don't even joke about that," Elena said, horrified, before getting up. "I have to go to the store. Bye."
"Fine, I'll pay the bill. Bye," I said. I owed her one anyway. I stood to pay when dark‑tall‑and‑dangerous appeared.
"Hello, Sabrina," Damon smirked.
"Sup, Vlad," I replied, refusing to let him win.
"Remember that favor you owe me?" he asked. "It's time to pay up."
"Let me guess — you want me to save your damsel from the dark, cold tomb under the church," I said, smirking. His amusement vanished.
"How do you know?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I'm a witch, and the dead love to talk," I said. "Dear Em sends her love from the witch pyre."
"You know where the talisman is, don't you?" he asked, grabbing my arm.
"Maybe I do, maybe I don't," I said. "Don't worry — I keep my deals. I'll open the tomb, just not this second."
"I want it now," he growled.
"You know I can start fires with my mind," I said, going canon for a moment. "And fires kill vampires."
Damon frowned — until a voice interrupted.
"Is everything okay here?" Ben the busboy asked. Well, Ben the future vampire, but whatever.
"We're fine," Damon said.
"I wasn't talking to you," Ben said, stepping toward me.
I rolled my eyes. "I don't need a knight," I said, handing him money for my and Elena's food. "And I sure as hell don't need you in my face."
I turned to Damon. Then I left the Grill — too much alpha‑male bullshit for one night.
Now… where did I put those grimoires I stole?