"Rise and shine, granddaughter of mine," Emily's annoying voice said as I was forcefully dragged out of unconsciousness.
"Leave," I mumbled, clutching my pillow like a toddler. Why did I have to deal with dead relatives again? Oh right — reborn as a witch. Thanks, universe.
"No can do. That communication device of yours won't stop buzzing, and there are two vampires at your door," she replied. I could practically feel her rolling her eyes.
My mouth felt dry, my hair smelled like burnt meat, and I was still in last night's dress. Someone had taken my shoes off, at least. Since I didn't remember getting home — never mind going to bed — it was obvious I'd passed out in the middle of a burning house.
"Eww, I smell like barbecue."
"And you look like a vampire fresh out of the grave," Emily said, full of distaste.
"Thanks," I muttered, grabbing my phone. Caroline. Of course. At 7 a.m. She could've let me sleep.
"Take the call, take a shower, and then go downstairs and deal with the vampires. They're making the rest of the witches chatty," Emily ordered.
"Who's downstairs?" I asked, praying it wasn't the Salvatores.
"The good‑looking Original who enjoys wearing suits, and the vampire you rescued last night," Emily said before vanishing.
Thank God.
I answered the call. "Why are you calling me this early?"
"Duh, it's D‑Day, Bonnie," Caroline said.
"Dick Day? Are you getting laid today? And whose dick?"
"Very funny. You haven't had coffee. I meant today's the full moon — the Sacrifice."
"Ohhh. Elena's Death Day." My mood instantly improved. "Suddenly I feel better."
"Let's not joke about our friend's imminent death," Caroline sighed. "You're going to sacrifice John in her place, right?"
"Only if he comes to die on his own. I'm not hunting him down." (But I was counting on it. Canon had a way of happening whether I showed up or not.)
"Fine. Jenna knows everything now, and since you made that deal with Klaus, she should be fine. How do you feel? You froze the flames — which was super cool — but you didn't wake up. I gave you some of my blood, so be careful today."
"I feel like I crawled out of hell and smell like it too. Otherwise fine." My instincts were screaming that something was off. "What happened after?"
"Elijah drove us back. He and Kol left. I put you to bed. Enzo said he'd find somewhere to crash and come see you today."
"Alright. I need a shower. I'll call you later."
"Bye, Bon."
I peeled off my dress and got into the shower.
Half an hour later, I opened my front door to find two vampires on my porch — Enzo interrogating Elijah about vampire biology, Elijah answering with one‑word replies.
"So you can't turn into animals?" Enzo asked, pouting.
"No," Elijah replied, bored but clearly annoyed.
Before Enzo lost his head — literally — I intervened.
"Shouldn't you both be sleeping in coffins instead of waking up the town witch at ungodly hours?" I asked, leaning against the door with my coffee.
"Miss Bennett." "Maze."
They greeted me at the same time.
"Well? What do you two need?"
"I came to thank you for rescuing me — and to ask what payment you require," Enzo said.
"Well, I did say you'd owe me." I tilted my head. "Are you staying in town?"
"For now," Enzo said, clearly unsure what to do with his freedom.
"Then as payment, try not to kill the Salvatores."
His eyes widened. Then he snarled.
"Damon Salvatore is in town?"
"He and his brother. Torture him all you want, but don't kill him. They still have their uses." I shrugged. "Get acquainted with the 21st century first. And investigate what your buddy's been up to."
Enzo didn't like it, but he nodded and vanished.
I turned to Elijah and raised a brow.
"I believe we should discuss tonight's proceedings," he said.
"Come in, Elijah. Have you had breakfast? I'm not tapping a vein, but I have good coffee."
"Do you perchance have tea?"
"Earl Grey good enough?"
He followed me inside.
We sat in the dining room with our drinks. My ancestors hovered like they were watching a soap opera.
"I plan to let the Salvatores and Miss Gilbert believe the plan hasn't changed," Elijah said. "But I believe there's no need for you to intervene tonight."
"You mean you don't want me there so I won't change my mind and attack your brother," I said.
"Don't take it personally. You've shown yourself to be a friend of my family after helping Kol. But at the moment, you are the only one in town with enough power to meddle."
"Don't worry. I don't want to be enemies with your family. And the Salvatores have nothing that would make me change my mind." I sipped my coffee. "However, my non‑action puts our deal in jeopardy."
"Indeed. But that is no longer the plan," Elijah said. "Unless you have something else to offer. Perhaps the location of my siblings?"
"Ah, but Kol knows it too. Unless he hasn't been forthcoming?"
"That would be correct," Elijah sighed.
"And if I gave you this information, Klaus would put me on his to‑kill list."
"I would guarantee your safet—"
"And he'd put a dagger in your heart," I cut in. "It's obvious. He thinks you're out to kill him."
Elijah paused. "What do you suggest, Miss Bennett?"
I hadn't planned this conversation, but divergence wasn't always bad. If I helped Elijah get his siblings before Stefan stole them, Esther wouldn't wake up. Tessa wanted Esther gone — permanently.
There was a way to help Elijah and solve a future problem.
"Say, Elijah… Klaus keeps your siblings in boxes because of Mikael, right?"
Elijah stiffened. "Miss Bennett, what do you know of my father?"
"Hypothetically," I said, "if Mikael had been desiccated by a witch a few years ago, and I knew the location of his corpse, and I shared it with you… you could use that to force Klaus to release your siblings."
Elijah stood still like a statue and put his teacup down on the table
Elijah froze, teacup halfway to the table.
"If the information is reliable, it would proceed as you say."
"Who knows," I added casually, "Mikael might even have that dreaded white stake next to him."
Elijah's eyes lit up like Christmas. "What would the cost be? Hypothetically."
"A promise of silence — no one knows where you got the information or who freed Kol. And that favor I want for a rainy day. Plus any information you have on Travelers and the Gemini Coven."
"Done," he said immediately.
I wrote down the location and slid the paper to him. He pocketed it without opening it.
"You have my word, Miss Bennett."
"Well, try not to get a dagger in your heart. And if you do, don't pull a Kol on me." I stood. "Show yourself out. And call me Bonnie. You're the old‑as‑dirt dude in the room — stop making me feel old."
The air shifted. The future shifted.
I spent the rest of the day ignoring calls from the Salvatores. I wasn't going near that sacrifice mess even if they paid me.
Instead, I used blinking to spy on town events.
Klaus's dramatic Grill entrance? Iconic. Damon forcing blood down Elena's throat? Predictable. Elena's "better dead than vampire" hypocrisy? Annoying. Damon rescuing decoy sacrifices and getting bitten? Canon chaos.
I checked the real sacrifices. Klaus used Ben instead of Pearl. Jules got her heart ripped out. Jenna survived.
I wanted to see Elijah's entrance, but someone knocked on my door.
"Bonnie, open up!" Jeremy yelled.
I opened the door to find Jeremy, John, Anna, and Pearl.
"Well, well, well… the Gilberts finally made peace with vampires. Took the youngest generation dating the undead, I guess. What do you want?"
Jeremy stammered. Anna finished for him. "We found a spell. You're the witch."
"Cute," I said. "You think I'll save Elena out of the goodness of my heart. But yes, I know the spell. The one used to save a baby."
"It requires killing John," Pearl added. "I thought that would be enjoyable for you."
"It would," I admitted. "But not more enjoyable than watching SpongeBob in pajamas."
John finally spoke. "What do you want?"
"You seven feet under — but that's not enough." I tilted my head. "How about the Bennett rings? Give me those, and I'll kill you with the spell."
"What Bennett rings?"
"The ring on your finger, John. And the one Alaric has. They're Bennett rings, not Gilbert rings. Emily made them. Return them."
"They belong to Jeremy and Elena," John argued.
"Elena will prefer a daylight ring after tonight," I said sweetly.
"John, give her the ring," Jeremy snapped. "I'll give you Alaric's tomorrow. Please, Bonnie."
I held out my hand.
John growled but threw the ring at me.
"So," I said, smirking, "I heard you came to die."
I grabbed my Grimoire, salt, and candles. "Let's do this outside. I don't want your corpse stinking up my place."
Later That Night
Kol wasn't sure what Elijah was up to. His brother was tight‑lipped, which annoyed Kol to no end. Elijah had visited the impossible witch earlier but hadn't returned. No one told Kol the plan.
Elijah knew Klaus hadn't dumped them in the ocean. So why was he playing along? Was he asking to be daggered?
Kol wouldn't mind — Elijah's nagging was exhausting — but he still wanted answers.
He decided to spy on the sacrifice.
Nik drank the vampire dry. Kol sighed. It was done.
Then Elijah appeared — followed by the Salvatores.
"Here to put me down?" Klaus growled, bones cracking as he transformed.
"I know you didn't bury them at sea," Elijah said calmly. "Did you really think I'd kill you?"
"Then why are you here?"
"To look out for you. And because I want you to free our siblings."
Klaus screamed as his bones shifted.
"I know where Father is," Elijah said. "And I have the stake."
Klaus stared, shocked.
Kol stared too.
Impossible.
Kol didn't wait to hear more. If Nik caught his scent mid‑transformation, he was screwed.
He had other things to do.
Like question a certain nymph — and explain why she shouldn't give information to Elijah just because she liked his hair or his fancy suit.