A/N: Thanks for the lovely reviews, I enjoyed reading them :) Good to hear some of you hate Klaus so far. I'd be worried if you didn't. Here's the next instalment anyway. Don't forget to leave a little thought? :P
Bennett Syndrome
CHAPTER THREE
Bonnie turned to her side, watching the tray the guard had left on her bedside table. She had been awake for several hours now, pretending to sleep whenever Stefan or one of the guards checked in on her.
She was too slow to close her eyes when Stefan stepped in at mid-day.
"Bonnie? Are you up?"
"Hey."
She pulled herself up. She flinched at the soreness in her side; her head throbbed dully. She was clean at least. Nobody had provided clothing for her so she slept in the thin green towel she had showered with last night. Her hair and skin smelt like the generic soap she'd used to wash with.
"You're looking much better."
"You know, at least when I was in the cell, I felt more like I was being held captive."
Stefan smiled. "And how do you feel now?"
"Like I'm being forced to stay at the shittiest bed and breakfast on Earth."
Stefan laughed lowly.
"Where's Klaus?"
"That's the second time you've asked me that. I would have thought you'd be thankful he's gone."
"Gone?"
"Michael sent him on a little…mission, I guess."
"Does it have to do with me?"
"I really don't know, Bonnie."
A comfortable silence descended as Bonnie sipped the glass of water on her tray.
"Does, er, Elena know you're here? Damon?"
"Why?" Bonnie asked, watching him curiously. "Do you miss her? Elena, I mean."
"I serve Klaus now." Stefan shrugged, looking off to the side.
"But you loved her once," Bonnie pressed on, determined to find out if there was any humanity left in Stefan. "And Damon – he's your brother. You miss him, right?"
"I really don't want to be having this conversation, Bonnie," Stefan said with a tone of finality.
Bonnie shrugged, placing her glass back on the tray and picking up a stale piece of toast that was slightly burnt at the edges.
"So, do your friends know you're here?"
Bonnie figured her situation was so hopeless, she may as well divulge her journey to Stefan. It wasn't like she had a hope of escaping Michael's fortress.
"No. I told Damon I'd find Klaus, kill him, and bring you home. He funded my…delusions. Elena and the others have no idea."
"Damon just let you go? On your own, to find and kill an Original?"
"Thanks for the faith in me," Bonnie said sardonically. Stefan wasn't amused, though.
"Why would he do that?"
"He was just thinking of Elena. We all were—are," she corrected herself quickly.
"That doesn't upset you?"
"Why would it? It shows he had a lot of trust in my power. Fat lot of good it did any of us."
"You can't use your magic anymore?"
Bonnie involuntarily pouted. "I've tried, Stefan. I don't know. Klaus swears this place isn't protected. Every time I try, I hit a wall. It's so…frustrating."
"I can imagine."
"Can you…you know, heal me?" Bonnie reddened. She never thought she'd voluntarily drink vampire blood but the pain in her side was massively distracting.
"Give you my blood?" Stefan hesitated. "I'm not sure that's a good idea, Bonnie."
"Why not? You've done it before."
Stefan furrowed his brows. "No, I haven't."
"But—never mind. As fun as it's been playing twenty questions with you, Stefan, you can imagine why I'm not quite comfortable spilling my guts to one of Klaus' minions."
Stefan nodded. "I'll see you then."
He left quickly and Bonnie abandoned the dry toast she was trying to eat, drinking the rest of her water in one gulp.
KB
When Bonnie gathered the strength to venture outside her bed, she noticed the clothing hanging on the back of the bathroom door. They were all very plain pieces – fitted black dresses, plain low cut tops – a far cry from the feminine, floral style she usually donned.
Klaus, she thought.
Rolling her eyes, she pushed open the door to the bathroom. She showered quickly and carefully, anxious about aggravating her injury. The temptation of fresh, clean clothing overpowered her own indignation and so she gingerly slipped into a loose grey knit sweater. She pulled her own jeans on underneath.
She stopped dead in her tracks trying to re-enter the bedroom. A guard – one of Michael's – sat on her unmade bed fingering the grey tank top she'd discarded. He was dressed in head to toe black with a leather jacket hugging his wide frame.
"Who are you?"
He looked up and she recognised him as David from the cab. Not even feigning surprise, she rolled her eyes.
"Of course, you're one of them."
"You should have worn the green dress." He stood up, inching closer to her. "You have a great ass. It would have looked…spectacular."
"Don't," Bonnie said with as much anger as she could muster, "step any closer to me."
"Or what, hm? What are you going to do to me, witch? They say your powers don't even work anymore. What does that make you? A broken little witch."
He had her there. He could even have been one of Klaus' hybrids. Even if he were 'just' a vampire, he was still much, much stronger than her.
"Stay away."
"Klaus' little play thing," sang the tall vampire. He picked up a cluster of her hair, letting the curls drop one by one. "I can see why he likes you."
He lifted her hair to his nose, inhaling deeply. "Pretty little play-thing."
Bonnie knew he could hear her heart racing in fear. Her eyes flickered to the door frequently, waiting for an escape plan to formulate in her mind. Nothing came. If she screamed loudly enough, would Stefan hear? Would he get here before David could snap her neck in two? Would he care?
"What do you want from me?" she mumbled with less bravado than she would have liked.
"The same thing Klaus wants," he smirked, "but is too afraid to take."
His lips were barely on her neck for a second when he was pulled away roughly and sent flying into the opposite wall. For a second, she thought her powers had finally kicked in before she noticed Stefan panting, mere feet from her. He barely had time to regain his breath when the younger vampire came barrelling into Stefan. Bonnie screamed, backing herself into the far corner.
Both vampires stood crouching and growling at one another, matching each step the other took.
"She's mine," David grunted.
"She belongs to Klaus," Stefan replied coolly. "He won't be happy to hear that you've been man-handling his witch."
David straightened. "Like I care what the freak thinks," he grumbled, pushing out of the room.
"Freak?" Stefan called after him, amusement colouring his voice. "He'll be happy to hear that too, I'm sure."
"Thanks," Bonnie said quietly. She picked up the tank top David had left strewn on the thinly-carpeted floor.
Stefan nodded. "Be careful, Bonnie. Not everyone here is happy with the fact that you're still breathing."
"I gathered." Bonnie rolled her eyes. "I don't think anyone here wants me breathing."
"That's not as true as you've convinced yourself, Bonnie."
When she didn't reply, he left, closing the door behind him. Bonnie sank into her bed, drawing her knees to her chest and rocking back and forth for several minutes.
Nobody bothered her for the rest of the day. She brushed her hair, tried on the various articles of clothing Klaus had left, and fell asleep at sunset when she ran out of things to do.
KB
She was back in the garden Klaus had taken her to when she fell asleep on the flight.
"Are you going to hurt me here too?" Bonnie asked idly, sounding calmer than she felt.
Klaus seemed to materialize from nowhere, keeping a safe distance from her.
"Would you like me to?"
Bonnie shrugged. "I would like if you didn't. But you're going to, anyway."
"And why is that?"
She pursed her lips, thinking. "Because you hate me? Because you secretly want me dead but can't because Michael won't let you kill me? Take your pick, Klaus."
"Bonnie, Bonnie, Bonnie…" Klaus trailed off, an idle smile on his face as he watched her pick various flowers. "You think you have everyone figured out, don't you?"
She didn't reply. She had a cluster of irises that she began braiding through her hair.
"I saw your friends today. Elena and Caroline? They were at school. They were talking about homework and boys."
"Good for them," Bonnie said, and she meant it. "They deserve a nice, normal life."
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Don't you deserve 'nice and normal', witch?"
"Can you give me 'nice and normal', Klaus?" Bonnie looked at him, eyebrows raised. Klaus didn't flinch under her stare.
"Oh that I could," he muttered.
"Could you repeat that?"
He ignored her. "Does the Gilbert boy give you 'nice and normal'?"
Klaus looked physically repulsed by the thought of the two together and Bonnie took the opportunity to push his buttons some more.
"Yes. Jeremy gives me all that and more. He's the kindest, most honest boy I've ever known. With him, I can forget all about vampires and witches and—"
"Enough," Klaus said, raising his voice.
Bonnie smirked. "Does that bother you, Klaus?"
"Why should it? The weak, broken witch and the pathetic human boy deserve each other."
He was disappointed to see his words had no effect on her. "Don't get confused, witch. I may idly desire your body from time to time but you will never hold any power over me."
"Why haven't you taken it?" Bonnie asked curiously. She vaguely wondered if she were pushing her luck too far. If this were his dream, why hadn't he tortured her for her insolence? Klaus had ways of making scars permanent, even in waking. She had learned this firsthand. "You always hang this threat over my head. If you want me as much as you claim, why don't you take me?"
She enunciated the last few words slowly, watching Klaus' face for a reaction. He remained impassive.
"I'm done speaking to you. Leave."
The dream blurred around her. "Hey!" she shouted. "I'm not done talking to you!"
But apparently she was because next thing she knew, she woke up in her bed with large hands trying to coax her awake. She was reminded of the night she was kidnapped from the motel and so she fought against them.
"Bonnie! Bonnie, hey."
She opened her eyes and blinked a few times, calming herself. "Stefan?"
"Klaus is back."
Her dream came rushing back to her and chills ran down her spine. "Is he?"
"Yes. Bonnie, I think he may have hurt – or killed – someone back at Mystic Falls."
Stefan asked himself again why he cared. There was nothing left for him in Mystic Falls. He shouldn't even be here, warning the witch.
"He did," Bonnie said with total surety.
A chilling understanding dawned on her. That was why Klaus had been so cocky, so pleased with himself, in the dream. Nothing she said could shake his feeling of self-satisfaction. It was his way of showing her that he could toy with her life and everyone she loved.
KB
"Father," Klaus called, fighting to keep the smile off his face as he entered the great hall. "Father, it is done."
He didn't know what he expected Michael to do. Hug him? Tell him he was finally proud of his son? Klaus watched his father's face for some sign of approval.
"What took you so long?" Michael asked in a bored tone.
"I—" Klaus faltered. "I did what you asked, father."
"Did you hesitate?" Michael asked. Klaus was prepared to answer 'no' but he withered under Michael's cold pale eyes. "Did the thought of the witch's grief slow you down?"
"Of course not," Klaus breathed hurriedly. "No, never. Father, never. The witch and her family, her friends, mean nothing to me. Only serving you and—and the war. Our rise to… power."
Michael's lips curled in disgust. "You're lying to me. I can see it in your eyes. Disgusting weak cretin, you are no son of mine."
Michael was at his side before Klaus even registered what was happening. He heard a sickening crack and his neck flicked backwards. Two great hands on his chest sent him flying across the hall.
He could fight back, he knew. After all, he was a hybrid. The hybrid, the original hybrid. But this was Michael; his father, the one he lived to serve and to please, and the one who terrified him all the same. So he lay still, drawing painful breaths as his body healed itself.
Michael was already nearing him, snarling with frustration at the fact that Klaus was not fighting back.
"You weak, worthless little shit."
Klaus dismissed the moisture coating his eyes as a natural reaction to the pain just as Michael snapped the fine bones of his fingers one by one.
This is for the witch, he thought through the pain. This can be my salvation. I'll endure a pain tenfold for every iota of suffering I've caused her.
Yet even as he flinched away from Michael's heavy boot coming down fast, he knew this would not – could not – be salvation. He would only achieve that at the hands of one person, and it wasn't Michael.
Michael ordered him out of his sight some hours later and Klaus dragged himself out of the great hall, shamefully thankful for the reprieve. He didn't know where he was going. Really, he should have gone straight to his sleeping quarters and regrouped. Or perhaps tried Michael's patience and grovelled for forgiveness.
Instead, he found himself moving further down into the bowels of the castle, stopping short of the dungeons. Two realisations struck him almost simultaneously. The witch was no longer in the cell, he remembered. He'd moved her to the bedroom while Michael's new captive occupied her cell. Then, he realised it was the witch he was looking for in his vulnerable moment.
Emitting a half-sigh, half-grunt, he raced with more urgency than he would care to admit to the witch's room.
KB
Bonnie decided to wear one of the more understated, cotton dresses to bed. She vaguely wondered if they'd let her wash her clothes here. She laughed humourlessly.
"You're a captive, Bonnie," she told herself. "Start acting like one."
The door swung open and she turned to see an uncharacteristically dishevelled Klaus standing in the doorway.
"Come to brag?" she asked with a blank face.
"What?" Klaus seemed taken off guard.
"Come to brag? I heard you—" She stopped herself in time. It was one thing when her mouthing off got her into trouble. It was quite another when she incriminated Stefan. "What do you want?"
"I didn't realise I needed permission to visit my own hostage, witch."
"My name is Bonnie," she said coldly. "You don't hear me calling you 'hybrid'."
Klaus was quiet, processing what she'd just said. Michael called him hybrid from time to time.
"A name would indicate you mean something to me."
"Well, we can't have that now, can we?" Bonnie said softly.
"No," Klaus returned in the same tone.
An odd silence descended over the room.
"What happened to you?" Bonnie ventured curiously, keeping her tone cold and civil.
Klaus grunted as if to say he wasn't in the mood. "Just…go to sleep, Bon—witch."
Klaus turned to leave.
"I will, hybrid."
"Klaus," he said, without turning. "My name is Klaus."
KB