Bonnie Bennett was enjoying life — or in other words, I was drinking the blackest coffee the Grill served and eating a donut while savoring the remaining hours of an Elena‑free universe. Unfortunately, good things never last, and someone slid into the seat across from me, interrupting my alone time.
"What's this I hear about a secret deal between you, little witch, and my most noble brother?" Kol Mikaelson asked, lounging like a lazy cat. He'd taken surprisingly well to this century — it suited him. If I didn't know better, I'd think he was just a normal teenager. Maybe a college student.
"Well, good morning to you too," I replied dryly, narrowing my eyes. "Were you raised in a barn? Actually, I'm not surprised your parents didn't teach you manners."
"Well, I was raised in a hut, but I suppose that counts as a barn by today's standards." He grinned, then refocused. "Now, Bonnie lass, what was this deal about? Something involving my bastard of a father, wasn't it?"
If I was surprised he mentioned Mikael so casually, I didn't show it. Either he was testing me, or he wanted to know what Elijah was planning.
I took another sip of coffee while considering my options. I hadn't promised Elijah secrecy, and honestly, Kol needed to know so he wouldn't accidentally blow up the plan later.
"Well," I said, "since you weren't exactly forthcoming with the location of your other siblings, Elijah came to me for a deal. But telling him the location would put me in danger from Klaus, so instead I gave him the location of your father's desiccated corpse in exchange for information — and for keeping my involvement in waking you up to himself."
Kol beamed.
Not smirked. Not grinned. Beamed.
It caught me off guard for a second before I forced myself to look away.
"So that wanker is finally getting his dues," Kol said cheerfully. "May his soul be forever trapped on the Other Side with our bitch of a mother."
He paused mid‑movement, eyes narrowing as a new idea formed.
"Wait. You got Elijah's silence on my release? As in, he won't tell Nik?"
"Well, I got him to keep my name out of it. I don't know what he'll tell Klaus, just that I won't be mentioned." I shrugged. "You do know Klaus will figure out you're out, right? The only reason he hasn't yet is because he was busy with the sacrifice."
"Oh, I know." Kol nodded, grinning like an imp. "But you just gave me a brilliant idea. I'm going to fool Nik into thinking I've been out of the box for years. It'll be the greatest prank since the time I cut Rebekah's hair and framed him for it."
Okay, that idea had merit. If Klaus thought Kol had been free since before I was born, it covered all my bases.
"Well, that's a good idea. But how are you pulling it off?"
"I'll write him a parchment letter, gloating that my witch friends freed me soon after he daggered me, and that I've been enjoying my freedom far away from his raging moods, Elijah's lectures, and Rebekah's stupid quests for love." He leaned forward, excited. "Then you magic the parchment into my coffin. When he breaks the illusion you left, he'll find it."
I was enjoying the plan until that last part.
"What will you offer me for that little piece of magic? Actually, never mind — you still owe me."
"Indeed I do. Did you think I'd forgotten?" Kol shrugged lightly. "I was letting you wait a bit — just like you let me wait for freedom. Fair is fair."
I nodded. Fair enough.
"Fine. So what is my ancestor hiding from me, and what do you know?"
"You are no longer human," he said, watching my reaction closely. "That ritual you did — witches have tried it for centuries. No one survives. Ever. Human bodies can't contain that kind of power. I don't know how you did it, but you're not human anymore."
I kept my face blank as I processed that.
Not human. Okay. Could be worse. I'd already died once and been reborn in a fictional universe. Changing species wasn't the weirdest thing that had happened to me.
"Oh. That's cool, I guess," I finally said. Kol watched me like a hawk. "Was that all she was keeping from me?"
"Apparently, you're the first to create a new species from magic since my mother." He looked puzzled by my lack of reaction. "Also, if you die, you somehow destroy the Other Side. So try not to."
That got my attention.
"If I die, the Other Side gets destroyed? How? I'm not the anchor."
"What's the anchor, Bonnie lass?" he asked, fishing for information.
I gave him a little.
"The Other Side has an anchor that holds it up. Destroy the anchor, the Other Side collapses."
Kol nodded — it made sense. A spell that massive needed a power source.
"She said that if you ever died, there's a 95% chance the Other Side would be destroyed because you're a special little witch."
Understanding hit me like a tsunami.
My soul had been kicked out of the reincarnation cycle. I didn't belong here. I was supernatural — but not from this universe. If I died, maybe the Other Side couldn't contain me. Maybe that's why Tessa was so invested.
Either way, it meant Tessa didn't want me dead. That was a plus.
"You know why," Kol said quietly, seeing the realization in my eyes.
"Yes." I didn't deny it — but I didn't elaborate either.
"Does that mean you also know what you became after that little ritual?" he asked casually.
"Also?" I repeated. "You know… don't you?"
"I might have figured it out." Kol grinned, leaning back. "And since it's not information I got from your ancestor, you'll have to bargain for it."
"What do you want?" I asked, frowning. I hated being on the other side of that question.
"Well, help with fooling Nik would be appreciated."
"Done," I said immediately. Teleporting an object was easy.
"I gather you'll be on dear old mother's case if she returns from the grave?"
"Yes." No point hiding it. Kol had clearly spoken with Tessa on the Other Side. That was a plot twist I hadn't expected.
"Let's help each other when that happens," Kol proposed.
"Fine." Allies were always useful.
"And also…" Kol leaned forward, closing the distance. "How about a second date, darling? I promise less fire next time."
"Fire…" I whispered, then glared. "You son of a bitch. You set the fire, didn't you?"
In canon, Augustine didn't burn the second time. Someone not originally there had caused it. Elijah and Caroline had been with me. Kol had been alone.
That's what my witchy spidey senses had been screaming.
"How else would I have figured out what you were, lass?" Kol said, only slightly apologetic. "But our next date will be fire‑free."
I sighed. Great. He was a pyromaniac too.
"Well? What did you figure out?" I asked, silently agreeing to the next date. After all that smoke and fire, it better be good.
"How to explain what you are…" He tapped his chin, then pulled out his phone. I watched skeptically as he typed something, then handed it to me.
I looked at the screen — and my eyes nearly popped out.
"Kol…" I snarled. "This is a Wikipedia page."
"Well, have at it, darling. Read it out loud."
"A nymph in ancient Greek folklore is a minor female nature deity…" I read, and despite myself, I had to admit some things matched. I'd literally become water and air. I felt tied to Mystic Falls. And I was a beautiful maiden — maybe that last part was just ego.
"You appear to still be a witch, though your body is no longer human," Kol said. "Some sort of hybrid, maybe. Or being a nature deity gives you magic. I'm not entirely sure."
"Bullshit. Why a nymph?" I asked.
"Well, the shoe fits."
I rolled my eyes. "Your sources leave much to be desired. I can't even use Wikipedia for school. Have you ever seen a nymph? And if nymphs exist, how is me becoming one a 'new species' like Tessa said?"
"I've never seen a nymph," Kol admitted. "But once upon a time, there were more than witches, wolves, and vampires. When belief dies, so do the creatures tied to it."
"I understood absolutely nothing."
Kol sighed. "Look — on the Other Side, you see things you're not meant to see. I've never seen a nymph, but I've seen things out of Greek mythology. They exist."
"Like a hydra? Pegasus? Minotaur?"
"Think lady with snakes for hair," Kol grimaced.
"Seriously?" I asked, louder than intended. Medusa was iconic — and unfairly cursed.
"Seriously. Let's not talk about that." Kol waved it off. "Nymphs are personifications of nature. If I'm right, whatever makes you special enough to destroy the Other Side might be tied to how you became one."
I pushed thoughts of Gorgons aside. Could nymphs be reincarnations? Souls reborn as nature?
Living in a supernatural teen drama was getting more confusing by the day.
"Maybe," I said. Kol was annoying, but useful. And nice to look at — which made him more dangerous.
"I've asked an old witch friend to find information on nymphs. I'll tell you what I find."
I sighed. "I'll only say this once: thank you."
"Don't mention it, darling. Now, help me write that letter to Nik." He grinned. "I was thinking of starting with: Greetings, my wanker of a brother and other infernal siblings…"
"Where have you been?" Caroline demanded the moment I walked through my front door, hands on hips like a worried mother.
"Hello, mother. I was at the Grill having breakfast. How's your day?"
She rolled her eyes, inhaled sharply — Caroline Forbes gearing up for a mega‑rant.
"You bailed on me! I had to deal with Elena, Jenna's having a breakdown, Damon's dying from a werewolf bite, Stefan's losing it, Elena's traumatized, Alaric's probably drinking himself stupid, Tyler texted me he's with your sexy wolf friend, Matt is… Matt, and I came to ask how to save Damon because you mentioned something before—"
"Caroline, I got it," I cut in before my ears bled. "Breathe."
She did. "Sorry, Bon."
"It's fine. I'm used to your rants." I waved her to the couch. "Text Stefan and tell him to talk to Klaus if he wants to save Damon. Call Jenna — she needs someone who didn't lie to her face daily. Elena's traumatized but fine. Alaric deserves whatever he gets. Tyler and Reid are fine. Pretend Matt doesn't exist. Done."
"Have I told you I love you today?" Caroline asked, hugging me.
"Not today. Love you too." I smiled. "Now that your drama's over — you won't believe the information dump I got."
"What happened?" she asked, worried.
"Well, apparently the ritual changed my species. Kol thinks nymph — but he got that from Wikipedia, so I'm waiting for real evidence. Also, I can't die or the Other Side collapses. And did you know Gorgons are real? Kol looked traumatized when he mentioned chicks with snake hair—"
"Seriously?" Caroline gasped.
"I know, right?"
Just another day in Mystic Falls.