"In the beginning things were so simple… well, not really. This new life was tough. I dissociated through most of my childhood — with time it got easier to accept this wasn't a dream.
I remember my psychiatrist telling my father that the dissociation caused a lack of empathy, which is why she diagnosed me with antisocial personality disorder. In case any descendants of mine reading this don't know what that is (if I even have descendants), it's commonly known as sociopathy. In the words of Sherlock Holmes: I'm a high‑functioning sociopath.
Even so, those were the days — the calm before the storm. We used to do normal things, like going to the Grill to play pool and eat fries. That was B.S. (Before the Salvatores).
After vampires came back to Mystic Falls, everything changed. Fucking Damon trying to play ball, Peaches being annoying, Katherine being troublesome yet cool as hell. I'm not even going to mention Elijah yet, with his perfect hair, or Klaus with his shitty dimples.
There's so much to this story yet to be told…" — Bonnie Bennett's Diary, page 25
"So what are you doing today?" Caroline asked after our first class. I'd been in school for two hours and already wanted to leave this cursed place.
"Let's see…" I said thoughtfully. "I'm ditching P.E. to go see a vampire about daylight rings so I can get more money. After that I'm grabbing food at the Grill. Meet me at 5 p.m. for brunch, and I'll spend the rest of the day training."
"Why do you need more money?" Caroline asked, confused. "Didn't you get a bunch from Jeremy's vampire girlfriend?"
"I did, but I need more," I said, shoving my math book into my locker. "I only used some for Grams' funeral."
"What are you scheming now, dear friend of mine?" she asked, amused.
"You know me — always scheming."
"I bet five bucks I know what you're doing," she said, smirking. "Care to take that wager?"
"I'm the seer here, but sure."
"You've been holed up in some secret witch cave you haven't shown me yet, and if I know you, you want to upgrade it into the witch version of the Batcave."
"Maybe," I said, amused.
"You want to make it super safe, and considering the number of vamps in this town, you want to buy the land or the house or the cave."
"Not bad, Sherlock," I shrugged. "What do you make of it?"
"I think it's awesome — as long as you invite your Buffy to hang out in it too," she said proudly. "But do you really need more money?"
"Well, buying it is easy. Fixing it will cost a pretty penny," I said. The witch house was perfect — hidden, protected, and impossible to find unless you were a Bennett or Damon Salvatore.
"How are you going to fix it and keep it secret?" Caroline asked.
"I was going to hire people from out of town. And I was planning on asking you a favor," I said as we reached class. "Later. English time."
It took me two hours to get to Richmond. I was meeting Slater at the café he worked at — the one Elijah shattered with coins in season two.
I spotted Slater easily. He radiated hope and nerves like a beacon. I sat across from him and he nearly jumped out of his skin. If I didn't know better, I wouldn't have guessed he was a vampire.
"Hello," he said with a small smile. "I'm Slater. Are you WickedWitchBennett?"
"You can call me…" I paused. No way was I giving him my real name. Elijah compelled him once — no need to give the Originals free intel. "Maze."
"Maze? Like Mazikeen from Lucifer?"
"No. Like Maisie," I said, giving him my ancestor's name. "What kind of name is Slater anyway?"
"It's my last name. I change first names every few years."
"Whatever," I sighed. "So. Jewelry?"
"Yes," he said, suddenly serious.
"Ring, bracelet, or necklace?"
"I was thinking… a small earring?" he whispered. "Harder to notice. Harder to take off."
"Smart," I said. "I like you. Doesn't mean you get a discount."
He turned his laptop toward me. Fifty million dollars. Ready to transfer.
I smiled. "Give me a moment."
I went to the bathroom, lit a bit of sage for secrecy, pulled out a lapis lazuli stone, checked the spell on my phone, and crafted the earring. Five minutes later, I had fifty million dollars.
I returned and placed the earring on the table. "Your turn."
He nearly vibrated with excitement as he completed the transfer. Then he grabbed the earring like it was the Holy Grail.
"Thank you so much."
"No problem. Good doing business with you."
I stood to leave when he called out, "Hey — I might know more people interested."
"Send them my way," I said, pushing open the door. I had a two‑hour drive home, and Caroline would murder me if I was late for brunch.
"Hey," Elena and Caroline said at the same time as they sat down. I didn't know Elena was coming, but whatever. They ordered chocolate milkshakes.
"Sup," I said, sipping my hot chocolate. "It's been a while since we caught up, Lena."
"Yeah, my life's been a mess," Elena sighed. "Damon and Stefan are obsessed with Mason Lockwood. We're planning to go to Duke to check Isobel's research — maybe she knew why Katherine and I look exactly the same."
"Probably," I said, not giving her anything. Elena's catch‑ups were always one‑sided — all her drama, none of ours.
Caroline noticed my annoyance and jumped in. "Are you guys going to Tyler's party at the swimming hole? It's in two days."
"Sure, if I'm free," I shrugged. I needed to get drunk. I'd been too stressed with vampire bullshit lately.
"Yay! Let's go together!" Caroline cheered, emotions still on vampire‑high.
"What's up with you, Care?" Elena laughed. "You're more energetic than usual."
"She's high on blood and sugar," I said, eyeing her half‑finished milkshake.
"Blood?" Elena asked, horrified. Right — nobody told her yet. Oops.
"Care's a vamp now," I said flatly.
"What?" Elena stared at Caroline. "How come you didn't tell me? And why are you here in public?"
"I died with Damon's blood in my system," Caroline said with a shrug. "Bam — Caroline on crack. And I'm fine. I don't need to eat people thanks to Bon."
Elena looked at me.
"I made her a bloodlust talisman and a daylight ring," I said. "All's well that ends well."
"Caroline…" Elena whispered. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Vampires existing in our town was something I would've liked to know," Caroline said sharply. "The only reason I didn't end up as a blood bag is because Bonnie told me — not you."
"It wasn't my secret to tell," Elena protested.
"True," Caroline said. "But when was the last time you asked how we were doing? Lately it's all Salvatore drama."
"That's—" Elena started.
"I get it," I cut in. "You and Peaches have an epic romance. But we have lives too. You can't be pissed you didn't know something when you haven't been around. Did you even visit Caroline in the hospital?"
Elena deflated. "I see why this happened. But don't shut me out. You're my best friends."
"Even if my drama is your ex‑boyfriend?" Caroline teased.
"Awkward drama is the best entertainment," I said before Elena could reply. "Please entertain me. I've been bored."
They rolled their eyes at me, and we all laughed. It had been a long time since the three of us had a moment like this.
After brunch, I drove to the witch house. Tonight, I was taking my elemental training to the next level. I was going to create ice like the freaking White Queen.
I pushed open the door. "Honey, I'm home."
"No need to be so loud. We can hear you perfectly, granddaughter," Emily said, unimpressed.
"There you are. I need to talk to you," I said. "How would you and your witch buddies feel about me buying the land and the house?"
Emily looked surprised, then tilted her head as if listening to the others.
"We don't mind — especially since it's you," she said with a smile. "You're part of our coven."
"Coven? Since when?"
"The witches burned on this land were the Bennett coven," Emily said. "So we have no objections."
"Cool. I'll ask more later. Right now, I'm finally ready."
"I've told you — I've never seen witches use the elements the way you plan to," Emily warned. "Are you sure?"
"Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it can't be done," I said, placing a bowl of water in front of me.
I focused on the water, trying to drop its temperature. When I opened my eyes, it looked normal — but when I touched it, it was freezing. Freezing, but not frozen.
Damn it.
I tried for two hours until Emily reappeared — probably to laugh at me.
"That's not working, is it?" she snickered.
"Any sage advice, oh dear many‑greats grandmother?" I asked dryly.
"What you're doing any witch can do. But that's not what you want," she said, kneeling beside me. "Changing the properties of elements is basic. You want to combine them."
"Explain," I growled.
"When you trained water, you changed its state — you heated it. Now you're just doing the opposite. You're chilling it. That's not combining elements."
"So I've been doing basic training for two hours," I groaned.
"Try again. This time, call forth the wind first. Focus on the air, not the water."
I closed my eyes and focused on the air around me, chilling it until goosebumps rose on my arms. Then I focused on the water while keeping the air cold. The water chilled from the air alone, but I pushed further — forcing the cold into the water while freezing it from within.
"Granddaughter?" Emily called.
"What?" I snapped, not wanting to lose focus.
"Open your eyes."
"I'm training, Emily—"
"Open your eyes."
I opened them — and gasped.
The entire room was frozen. Floor to ceiling. The floor looked like a frozen lake.
"You froze the whole damn room," Emily said, amused.
"I did it!" I cheered, jumping up. "Yaaas! Take that, Queen Elsa!"
Unfortunately, the frozen floor was slippery as hell, and I immediately fell on my ass.
"Ouch. Goddamn it."
Emily laughed — and I swear the other dead witches laughed too.
Totally worth it.