Blood Bound: Prologue

Blood Bound

 ~Prologue~ 

It was a chilly autumn evening, with a bitter, frosty wind and a sky full of storm clouds. A perfect dramatic setting for an otherworldly encounter. Or so the deceased Bonnie Bennett was inclined to believe.

At the time of her death, the Witch had been offered eternal rest. But in the end, she had postponed her sunny piece of heaven and opted to wait.

After two years of debating, Bonnie was sure she'd made the right decision. She had watched and come to her conclusion with some difficulty. But now as she appeared in the former boarding house, she forced herself to stand firm to her decision.

Her grandchild was in need of guidance and support, and Bonnie had been unable to grant such her comforts. She was fading and any fix she tried to provide would be temporary. There needed to be a permanent solution, or at least one that would last long enough to do some good. The Witch hoped that she would find it with her oldest friend: here in the place her magic had first been awakened.

She floated easily through the old halls and corridors of the Salvatore mansion. She had spent countless years of her life in this house. And even after she had left to marry the love of her life, the impression had remained. Bonnie had always secretly thought it to be a beautiful place, though she'd never told the Salvatores as much. She did have some pride after all.

For a time, Bonnie merely wandered, basking in the memories that arose, before she stumbled across him.

Damon Salvatore, the devious vampire who had first opened her eyes to the strange and unusual. The cocky, the unchanging, the inevitable.

When they'd first met- some 50 odd years after he'd first become a vampire- Bonnie had loathed him. He had killed someone she held dear, and had laughed while doing it. He'd even gone so far as to threaten her as well.

It seemed so distant now, that Bonnie wondered upon it all. It had transpired in a completely different life. . . a different time.

What had started out with unadulterated hatred and dread, had surprisingly transformed into one of the best friendships of the Witch's life. Over time, and more than a few mishaps, Damon and Bonnie had grown close. And eventually, they had come to truly rely on one another. Even after the day she'd moved away to marry and settle down, Damon had always been her greatest companion and ally. Through her extended life time, which he had helped her maintain with his blood, they had been through many things. . And now she would test their friendship in her death.

Bonnie took a calming breath before she purposefully focused all her energy. As she felt her old magic swell within her chest, her translucent flesh materialized into a visible, solid form. While she had done so, her eyes had remained closed. But as she felt her power settle, the green orbs opened to meet a pair of shocked light blue.

Damon had been lounging on the loveseat when she'd first entered the parlor. But now he was standing, eyes wide and emotion playing across his face in waves. For a time, he stared at her, with tears hinting just behind his gaze, before a disbelieving grin lifted his features into an expression of elation.

". . . Bonnie?"

She knew that her own tears were building, but she didn't fight it. "The one and only."

She watched as the grin grew even larger. Then before she could blink, he was there, pulling her into a warm hug. It took all her strength to maintain a physical form as he embraced her, but it was worth it.

"You're back," he mumbled in a daze, though she could still hear the smile in his voice.

"Just visiting," she returned. ". . . I'm sorry it took me so long to come say goodbye."

"You croaked two hours before I got there, Bonnie. I showed up at your home and you were gone," Damon accused as they pulled away from the hug. Bonnie spotted the brief flicker of pain, before it faded and he shook his head with mild amusement. "You just had to have the last laugh. Way to go down with the final say, Bennett."

Bonnie smiled at him wistfully. She had lived a good life with very few regrets, and had been willing to go when her time was up. . . That being said, she hadn't wished to leave without saying her goodbyes. But because of her lung cancer, she'd had very little say in the matter.

The two were silent for a several minutes before Bonnie broke it. "Damon. I need your help."

Damon Salvatore's brow lifted quizzically, "So, your ghostly self is here on business, huh?" He led her to the loveseat, where they sat down side by side. "What's going on?"

"I wouldn't ask, but I can't do it myself."

"Spit it out, Bon-Bon."

"It's," she hesitated for a breath, her emerald gaze emotional. "It's Tara."

At the mention of the witch's granddaughter, the vampire's ice blue eyes studied her face intently. "Lay it on me, Bennett."

Bonnie felt relief flood her, as she moved to explain her situation to Damon. For once, he didn't interrupt or make snarky remarks. And she was grateful for it. It was hard enough to tell him, let alone if he was making fun of her.

When she had finished, the Witch's green eyes hesitantly glanced over her friend's face. Would he do it? Would he help her after all these years?

For several drawn seconds, he was silent, before he gave her an answer.

"I've got your back, no matter what, Bonnie. That doesn't end with death or the afterlife." He smirked, as he watched her face transform with both surprise and relief. "I'll go check in on baby Bennett. Though you shouldn't expect me to be a good influence. I do have a reputation to keep."

Bonnie laughed despite herself. "Don't I know it. Just promise you'll keep her out of trouble. That you'll try to help her."

"You got it, Bennett. Anything else you got on that ghostly to-do list?"

The Witch shook her head, "That covers it."

Then as her energy drained and she once more became transparent, the former witch felt a single tear run down her cheek. "Take care of yourself, Damon."

His expression grew serious as she began to fade from view. And just before she disappeared completely he replied sincerely, "You too, Bonnie."

~Transition~

When Damon had promised Bonnie he'd watch after her granddaughter, he'd done so on mere principle. You helped your friends in their dealings, and were loyal to them. It was a motto he lived by. . . almost all the time. And after all he'd been through with Bon-Bon, it only seemed fair to grant her, her final wish. Though as he watched her grandchild, unseen from the shadows, while she moved through the halls of her workplace, he had to admit that he'd also made the choice for his own benefit.

Damon had never been the biggest fan of kids and settling down. But when his favorite witch had had her children, he'd been there. At her bidding, he'd become the makeshift uncle and had secretly enjoyed himself. And when Bon-Bon's son had a baby girl of his own, the vampire had felt the same way about her. From day one, Damon was present in little Tara's life, though she'd only found out what he was when she was old enough to handle it. After hearing the truth, the child just loved him more. Damon had felt more than a little bit of pride at her good sense, and had bothered Bonnie about it nearly incessantly.

Tara was the singular inheritor of the Bennett bloodline, and the only progeny that had showed any prowess with magic. So, every summer vacation throughout her childhood, Tara had stayed with Bonnie to practice her magic and expand her knowledge.

Damon smiled to himself as he remembered. She'd been a hyper little girl with colorful afro braids, who whirled around in large circles, dancing with the leaves. Her skin was lighter brown, like Bon-Bon's, while her eyes were dark milk chocolate.

The vampire had grown attached to the little scamp, and had been tickled when the child had taken a shining to him too. He became her favorite Uncle and one she considered a friend. And whenever she visited her Grams, he'd get a bone crushing hug and a smile that would always brighten his day.

Until Bonnie had asked him to leave Tara alone, so she could have a normal life.

Damon lifted his bottle of bourbon and took a long pull. The vampire openly ignored the glares he was receiving from the medical personnel that rushed by him. After seeing Tara again, he'd need the pick-me-up. The heat and power of the alcohol did little to affect him, after living with a solid drinking habit for more than 100 years. Which enabled the vampire to tip back and almost drain the bottle completely in one go.

The memory of Bonnie's request made the dark clad figure scrunch his forehead in thought. His blue eyes stared off towards the check in desk, but he saw nothing. His mind was too busy replaying the past, as he rolled the last of the bourbon around his tongue.

When Bonnie had first asked him to leave baby Bennett alone, he'd refused. But with time and more than a few guilt trips, he'd ended up conceding. The kid had deserved a normal life, without blood sucking boogey men and things that went bump. Besides, he'd owed Bonnie. . . So he'd disappeared from the girl's life and kept his promise. . . Until the witch had asked him to break it.

"You're a fickle one, Miss Judgey Judge." Damon snorted as he finished off the bottle entirely, and watched Tara move unhurriedly about her tasks. "I hope you've made up your mind this time."

Damon would keep his newly made promise, just like he'd kept his old one. Bonnie wanted baby Bennett safe and sound and he'd oblige. But he'd do it on his own terms. Witchy repercussions be damned.

The vampire continued to regard the young woman, and waited for the perfect moment to make his presence known. Who knew, perhaps she'd be happy to see him too.