We each made our separate ways into the Lockwood mansion to put our very badly thought‑out plan into action. Jeremy decided to be my manservant by carrying my bag. I let him come out of pity, really.
In the show this was the beginning of Beremy — or whatever that ship is called — but to me he was just Elena's equally annoying brother‑slash‑cousin. Not to mention I'd managed to keep his vampire girlfriend, Annie Fangy, undead and still kicking.
"I thought this room could work," Jeremy said as we entered an empty room on the second floor.
"Meh," I shrugged. "It'll do."
He nodded and pulled a weapon from the bag. I sat next to him and pulled my phone from between my breasts.
Baby Gilbert gave me a surprised look and a sideways smirk.
"What?" I asked, rolling my eyes. "Does it look like this skinny black dress has pockets?"
"I didn't say anything," he replied innocently, still amused. "By the way, where's your spellbook? Don't you need that to do magic? I read about it in my family's journal."
"This isn't the dark ages. I took a picture of the spell and left the book somewhere safe," I said sassily. "I'm using something like Emily used in the tomb — to seal the bitch known as Katherine Pierce in."
Jeremy laughed, then squinted at the picture on my phone. "Damn, that looks ancient and super hard to read. What even is that? Latin? Can you do all that stuff?"
"Mostly Latin. Depends on the witch and their ancestors. Mine came from Europe, so our grimoires use Latin and Latin‑derived languages. New Orleans witches use French. But honestly? A spell is just a way to direct power."
"That is so cool," Jeremy said in awe. "What if you used regular English? Would that work?"
"Sure. I could go full Charmed One with a quirky rhyme and it'd work. But the language affects the spell. I learned magic in Latin, so my spells are stronger in Latin."
He watched, wide‑eyed, as I began the spell.
We eventually returned to the party. The spell didn't take long, but I was getting fed up with Jeremy's childlike awe. And his Ravenclaw‑level questions every five seconds. Yes, magic is cool. No, I cannot concentrate while you ask if witches can teleport to Disneyland.
I grabbed the nearest alcoholic drink and downed it like a champ. Maybe it would kill the headache.
"We need to let Stefan and Damon know the room's ready," Jeremy said, frowning at my underage drinking.
I was about to tell him to go do that when a chill ran down my spine. I froze.
"Do you feel that?" I asked.
"What's the matter? Are you cold? Maybe take it easy with the champagne, Bonnie."
I ignored him and scanned the room — and locked eyes with a tall woman staring right back.
I knew that face.
Lucy Bennett.
Which was weird, because I didn't remember having more family. But whatever.
I shoved my empty glass into Jeremy's hands and walked toward her.
"Is this the part where you introduce yourself," I said sweetly, "or the part where I assume you work for the plague known as Katherine and kill you?"
"I have no idea what you mean," she replied flatly. "I'm just a plus‑one. Great party though."
"Sure, we can play it like that," I said. "I'll pretend you didn't just stroll into my town to help a dangerous vampire who's responsible for a bunch of our ancestors' deaths. I'll also pretend it's not common courtesy to greet your family before helping a murderous doppelbitch."
Lucy's eyes widened.
"I'm cool with that," I continued. "But if you end up with your head separated from your shoulders, I won't cry or attend your funeral."
I turned and left. Champagne was more important than some surprise cousin.
I watched from the shadows as the plan unfolded. Jeremy got a text from Damon and went to lure Katherine. Caroline played her part perfectly, manipulating Katherine into the spelled room.
I saw Elena dragging Jeremy somewhere, but I stayed out of sight. I wasn't in the mood for Elena's "but we shouldn't do this" speech. Newsflash: it's not about you.
When Jeremy ran upstairs, I followed. Time for drama.
"Stop!" Jeremy yelled, bursting into the room. "You're hurting Elena!"
Damon froze. Katherine smirked as Stefan released her.
"You think you're the only ones with a witch?" Katherine taunted. "Wrong. And something tells me my witch is better than your witch."
"Please," I huffed, leaning on the doorframe. "I knew you had a witch the moment she walked in. Vicious plan, but not stealthy."
"Then why haven't you gotten rid of the spell?" Damon snapped.
I shrugged. Telling him "because I didn't feel like it" wouldn't go over well.
"Jeremy, go check on Elena," Stefan said. "Go!"
Jeremy glanced at me, but I didn't move. He left.
Katherine cut her hand. Stefan knocked the stake away.
"Witchy, any help here?" Damon asked.
"I could try, but it'll cost you."
"I thought killing Katherine was pro bono," Stefan said, annoyed.
"It was. But now killing her equals killing your girl. I'm sure you won't let me stake her."
"How about stopping the linking spell?" Damon suggested.
"Linking spells are complicated. I don't know the binding agents. As long as you don't kill her, Elena's fine."
"I really wanted to kill her," Damon muttered.
"I feel you."
Katherine, feeling ignored, decided to escalate.
"This is really gonna hurt," she said, raising the stake.
"Wait!" both brothers shouted.
She smirked and sat down like a smug cat.
"So, how about that moonstone?"
I smirked. She should've negotiated with me. Too bad the real moonstone was safe with me — and only Klaus Mikaelson could negotiate it out of my hands.
She monologued. Damon insulted her. Stefan tried to be the peacekeeper. Katherine tried to stir drama.
I provided commentary like I was watching reality TV.
"If you weren't such a two‑faced bitch," I said, "we'd get along brilliantly."
"Can it, Bon Bon," Damon said. "Unless you've got secrets to spill, hush."
I winked at him.
Katherine eyed me warily. She knew I knew about Klaus. She didn't want me snitching.
"So it doesn't bother you that Damon's in love with your girlfriend?" she asked Stefan.
"Oh, stop it," Stefan growled.
She smirked. "Or what? You'll hurt me?"
"You know," Stefan said, "this whole Mason thing confuses me. Why a werewolf? What's in it for you?"
"Sorry about your pet wolf," Damon said. "Should've kept him on a tighter leash."
"He's not the only wolf in town," Katherine replied.
"That's clever," I said. Damon perked up — he knew I knew things.
"What is she planning?" he demanded.
"The usual. Moving chess pieces into place," I said. "Too bad she forgets she's playing against an old, wise, vicious king."
Damon noticed the flash of fear in Katherine's eyes.
"Wicked witch," he said eagerly, "tell me more."
I grinned. "Want a sneak peek, Miss Pierce?"
She narrowed her eyes but nodded.
"When the wolf catches the rabbit," I said, "he'll say: Zdravei, Katerina."
Her face drained of color.
"I'm leaving," I said. "This weird flirting triangle is amusing for ten minutes, then I want to gag."
I left to find Lucy and give her the fake moonstone — a perfect copy enchanted to feel real.
I found Lucy trying to flee like a rat.
"You looking for me?" she asked.
"I thought I made myself clear," I said. "I warned you once."
"I'm Lucy," she said. "I don't want to fight you."
"Then you should've listened. Stop your linking spell and let me kill the bitch in peace."
"Give Katherine the moonstone and I will."
"You do know slavery was abolished, right?" I asked. "Katherine having a Bennett witch on a leash is outdated."
"I'm not her slave. I owe her. She saved my life."
"She probably caused the danger in the first place," I said. "She's the she‑devil."
Lucy sighed. "Give me the moonstone and all will be groovy."
"You're not leaving until you stop the spell," I said. "Elena's annoying, but I don't want to hear everyone whining if she gets hurt."
"Give me the stone. I don't want to hurt you."
I smirked and dropped the temperature to sub‑zero. Frost crept across the walls.
Lucy's eyes widened. "You're an elementarist. Two elements. How old are you?"
"None of your business, cousin," I said. "Now let's scheme. I have a spell that puts anyone to sleep for ten hours. You can enchant an object with it. Thoughts?"
"I gotta say, baby cousin — not bad," Lucy said.
"Call me that again and I'll freeze your tongue."
Meanwhile, on the Other Side…
Kol Mikaelson was having the time of his undead life.
Stalking Bonnie Bennett was the most entertainment he'd had in a century. The sassy little witch spent her time extorting vampires, threatening idiots, and out‑scheming Katerina Petrova — something even Nik couldn't do.
She was clever. Sharp. Dangerous.
And she was a seer — or something like it. But not like the ones he'd met before. She wasn't empty‑minded or sleep‑deprived. Whatever she was, it was tied to the impossible ritual she survived.
The girl was impossible.
Which only made him more determined to figure her out.