The security guard let us through without a verbal invitation after seeing the invite Kol had pried out of the previous owner's dead, cold hands. Thank you, Tessa — without you, this plan wouldn't have even started.
Arm in arm, we stepped into the house. I shivered as soon as my foot crossed the threshold. The place was glamorously decorated — high glass chandeliers, polished floors, and far too many rich assholes for a "secret" society. I scanned the room and spotted Caroline at the bar, sipping champagne while her eyes swept the crowd. Elijah stood beside her, relaxed but regal, looking like a king among peasants.
Judging by their expressions, Enzo hadn't been brought out yet.
"I guess the man of the hour has yet to appear," Kol said lightly, leaning against the wall. He'd found a perfect vantage point to watch the room.
"Seems like it," I replied dryly. Being in a room full of wealthy neo‑Nazi wannabes was not how I imagined spending my free time.
"Darling, I have a question." Kol narrowed his eyes slightly. "Why did you tell the lovely Caroline it was your first murder when I distinctly remember you gallantly saving her from the wolves by murdering a bunch of them?"
I glanced at him, wondering why he cared. Suspicion? Curiosity? Either way, chit‑chat would make the waiting go faster.
"I had a teacher — Gloria," I said, slipping into storytelling mode. "When I was young, I spent a summer studying with her in her bar in Chicago. One time, a raving vampire barged in demanding a daylight ring."
Kol fell silent, listening intently.
"I still remember it. Gloria was behind the counter pouring herself a drink. She didn't reply, didn't laugh, didn't even blink. Her hand moved, and the next second the vampire's head was rolling on the floor. I was shocked, but I didn't make a sound. She looked at me and said, 'Little Bon Bon, you're a witch. This is a normal day in the life of a witch. In our world, blood, death, and chaos reign supreme. Humans have prisons. We don't. In our world, it's kill or be killed.'"
"So you don't consider killing the wolves murder because they're supernatural?" Kol asked, intrigued.
"Well, first of all, they started it. Them dying by my hand was just karma being a bitch. Nobody told them to come after Caroline. But yes — I don't think it's murder. Vampires, werewolves, witches — we're all in the same club. We all know we might not survive the night. Humans aren't part of that club. They're the bunnies that get road‑killed when the rest of us don't care about a speeding ticket."
"And yet you literally ran a few bunnies off the road tonight?" Kol asked, amused.
I rolled my eyes. Why did my lack of moral compass make him look at me like I was the most interesting thing in the room? Psycho.
"I never cared about a speeding ticket before. I'm sure as hell not going to mind killing a few neo‑Nazi bunnies for my plan to work."
"I like it," he said simply, grinning.
My smirk tightened. I wasn't going to admit I enjoyed bickering with this thousand‑year‑old menace. That would be a defeat.
Before I could reply, a loud voice echoed through the room. "I invite you all to join us in fifteen minutes in the parlor."
"I guess the party's about to begin," I said as Caroline and Elijah started moving. "Shall we?"
"Wait," Kol said, his grin fading. He scanned the room, expression sharpening. That alone made me pause. Kol Mikaelson was a maniac, but he was also the only one who knew about Silas. Not listening to Kol got canon Bonnie killed. And right now, the always‑smirking Original looked serious.
"What's going on?" I asked quietly.
"Do you see that mark on the ceiling?" he murmured.
I followed his gaze. A rune, drawn in black ink, sat high on the opposite wall.
"What kind of rune is that?"
"I think I know." He turned to me. "Try using your magic."
"In the middle of an anti‑supernatural neo‑Nazi party? Seriously?" I frowned, sounding exactly like Caroline when people were being stupid.
"Give me some of that magic popping brains you witches love…" he whispered, leaning closer. "If you can't bring yourself to hurt this gorgeous face, I understand."
I shoved him out of my bubble and glared. I pushed my magic toward him — tried to pop his blood vessels.
One second. Two seconds. Nothing.
Kol smirked and patted my head. "Don't pout. So you couldn't hurt this gorgeous face — you have good taste."
I slapped his hand away. "What the fuck is going on?"
Kol's smirk vanished. He glanced at the rune again. "It's a Chinese scripture. A magical ward created by Buddhist monks, used by Chinese nobility to ward off spirits and demons. In reality, it's an anti‑magic ward. It blocks active magic. Surprising this bunch got their hands on one. How do you feel?"
I took a breath. I wasn't in pain, but I remembered the cold shiver when I stepped inside. I reached for my magic — and felt only ice. No fire. No earth.
"Most of it's blocked," I whispered. "I can feel the ice, but not the rest."
Kol raised a brow. "Not all of it?"
I hummed and nodded.
"Interesting," he murmured. "You mingle with my darling brother and the baby vampire. I'll get us drinks."
I needed a drink. Or the whole bottle.
"Bring me vodka," I said, heading toward the door Caroline had gone through.
Almost powerless in an enemy camp. Great. Caroline could be the muscle this time.
"Greetings, member of our super‑secret society," Caroline said as I reached her.
I turned to Elijah. "Please tell me you didn't leave her alone. If you did, everyone knows we weren't invited."
"All is well," Elijah assured, clearly amused by Caroline's lack of subtlety.
"They don't use names here," Caroline pouted. "How am I supposed to greet people?"
"Just say 'greetings,'" I said. "Just don't sound like your mother talking about sex."
"Where is my brother?" Elijah asked.
"He went to the bar," I said.
Before we could continue, the masked host stepped forward.
"Greetings, dear guests. Tonight we celebrate the contributions of the Augustine Society. Tonight, we shall have a taste of immortality."
The crowd clapped.
Two men rolled in a large object covered by a dark cloth.
"I guess I came just in time," Kol whispered behind me, handing me a drink.
The cloth was pulled away, revealing Enzo in a cage, lounging like a bored cat.
Clapping erupted.
"Gents, you really know how to make a man feel wanted," Enzo said lazily, though hatred radiated off him.
The host sprinkled vervain water on him. Enzo hissed, skin burning.
"What now?" Caroline asked.
"Kill them all quickly?" Kol suggested. "Or slowly, while enjoying mealtime? After all, this is a date. What do you think, Bon Bon?"
"We need a distraction," I said.
And then someone screamed, "Fire!"
"Well," Elijah said calmly, "a distraction right on time."
Chaos erupted. Elijah blurred to the cage and opened it. Enzo stepped out, smirking.
Humans panicked — unsure whether to fear the fire or the monsters.
Enzo didn't give them time to choose. He started ripping throats. Kol joined him with a wink. Elijah ripped out hearts with elegance.
I watched like it was an action movie.
"So this is my first murder party," Caroline said. "I'm not sure if I should be horrified or horny."
"I'm pretty sure you can be both," I said, coughing as smoke thickened.
The fire spread fast.
Which brings us to the present.
"There's no exit," Enzo said. "Everything's on bloody fire."
"Good thing we have an ice witch," Kol said dramatically.
"Fine," I muttered. "This doesn't mean this is a date."
I turned to the burning door and raised my hands.
Breath in. Breath out.
Every time I froze the water, the fire melted it. The air dried out faster than I could pull moisture.
"Come on, Bonnie!" Caroline yelled.
"Quickly, Maze!" Enzo added.
"You're impossible — do the impossible," Kol whispered.
I focused on cold. On winter. On ice. On everything that wasn't fire.
I am Bonnie freaking Bennett.
And I am fucking epic.
I screamed — and the world went white.
I woke up the next morning in my bed, smelling like blood, ashes, and barbecue.
Basically, worst date ever.
Kol tossed his dusty suit jacket onto Elijah's couch and grabbed a bottle of booze.
"Do make yourself comfortable," Elijah said dryly, eyeing the ruined couch.
"No need to tell me twice," Kol grinned, taking a sip.
"You enjoyed yourself tonight," Elijah observed.
"It reminded me what not having a dagger in my heart feels like," Kol said. "You know — the dagger you and Nik decided I'd like for Christmas? Worst present ever. Even worse than when Bekah ate my date on my birthday."
"I apologized for that," Elijah said. "And I compensated you. I didn't interfere tonight."
"It wasn't a game," Kol said. "It was a test."
"Burning the room down after knowing the witch didn't have her magic and pushing her to nearly kill herself — you call that a test?" Elijah scoffed. "I call it assisted suicide."
"Not my fault the caged vampire forgot he was strong enough to escape a fire, or that the baby vampire doesn't know what a vampire can do," Kol shrugged. "They could've escaped and taken the witch."
"I know you, brother," Elijah said. "Don't pretend this didn't go exactly how you wanted."
"Was it worth it? If she finds out, she'll put you down herself."
Kol smirked. "Thanks to the ward, I figured out my little witch is more than a witch. More than a seer. She's a hybrid. Tough luck for Nik — he's not so special anymore."
Elijah blinked. "Do elaborate."
Kol grinned. "Well, you know I love my witches. But I've been lacking inspiration for a thousand years…"
"…what I really need is a Nymph."