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"The book of death could end up being the source of your soul corrupting to darkness." The older Bennett witch warned her younger sister again, especially after she woke to Bonnie's screams and cries of another gruesome nightmare.

Calaeno knew if Bonnie continued practicing magic with the book or using its materials, the dreams would only become more sinister. For that, she feared for her sister's soul even more. "You must understand the only path with this book is wicked darkness and misery. Nightmares are just the start of this madness." Calaeno remembered her grandmother telling her of witches who had lost their souls to darkness and had to be killed by their coven because they were far too gone to be saved. She didn't want Bonnie to suffer the same fate.

Bonnie sighed as she sat at the table in their nearby kitchen, where her sister was fixing lunch. That night, she had felt trapped in a perpetual state of drowning in the same familiar ocean of darkness. But it seemed ten times worse, and she could not breathe without the water in her lungs burning and pulling down to the bottom. "I know, Cal. but I have to help my best friend. I can't let her be sacrificed like this when she deserves a chance," Bonnie said. The witch felt tired and drained of energy but didn't want to fall asleep. She had no desire to dream of horror again.

"It still shouldn't be on you to have this burden, Bon. it is already taking a toll on you, and you know it." Calaeno surged in response, giving a disapproving look to her sister. "Vampires and werewolves alike do anything they can to manipulate a Bennett witch to do what they want. You are no different to this, Bonnie." Her face scrunched up in disgust at the thought of the Salvatore dogs. "I get doing for this, Elena, but there is a price to pay. And that price may end up being your life; why can't you ever listen to me, Bon?" she exclaimed, frustrated with her sister's stubbornness.

"I know the supernatural world sees Bennett witches as the fix of their problems. You don't need to remind me like I don't know, Cal. We both know I won't change my mind about this." She spoke irritated at her sister, treating her like a little kid. Bonnie wasn't five anymore. "You know it would have been nice to know our bloodline are followers of Death. I had no idea until I read it in the grams' journals." It was a surprise to read her great ancestors had stolen from Thanatos and been cursed with the fate of never dying. They had to live their misery on repeat with no hope of finding peace. She was curious why her ancestors had done what they did if they knew just how deadly Thanatos was to make sure they would exist in suffering no matter their desire for death.

"Also, we are the first bloodline of witches blessed by Goddess Mnemosyne if you don't know already. Grams was supposed to tell you the full history of how we came to become Harbingers of Thanatos to spare us from a cruel outcome. It's a long, complicated history that would have ended Bennetts' witches. She wanted to be the one to tell it in full detail but just didn't get the chance." Calaeno remembered when she first learned of their family's history, and it took her time to understand Death was an essential part of nature and that balance could survive no other way through the reaping of souls.

She had learned of the many entities and groups who despised or detested Death Beings, but the order could never be the same without Death at the very center of it. Calaeno sighed, walking to the table and placing a plate of a sandwich and french fries she had made herself. Her sister deserved to have home cooking while their grams weren't going to be home for the time being. "I know you aren't stupid, Bon. I just worry for you. In this world, we only have each other." Internally, the older Bennett witch feared for her sister's life more than her own. It was her job to look after her when Grams wasn't around.

"I didn't know that. It wasn't mentioned in Grams' journals, though she mentioned a few goddesses'. I want to know more if you are willing to talk about it. Might as well know more about our family history since I didn't listen the first time Grams told me about Witches." She said in a joking tone toward the end, but her words remained severe and sincere. Knowing about her bloodline seemed more important now than ever; she didn't want to be left in the dark again.

Bonnie's mouth watered at the sandwich and fries. Her stomach rumbled, and she immediately dug into it. After mumbling, she thanked her sister. The teenage witch took a few bites of her sandwich and shoved a few fries in her mouth, chewing carefully and swallowing before speaking again. "All I can do is promise to be as careful as possible. I know you hope for the best for me. I do appreciate that, Cal." Bonnie assured her sister truthfully. Nothing was set in stone, and she couldn't promise she wouldn't be in danger, as it was bound to happen. Bonnie sank her teeth into her sandwich, delighting at the taste of turkey and roast beef mixing in well with the condiments and lettuce. It was heavenly.

Caleno nodded at her words, seemingly accepting them as they were. Worrying was only stressing her out and giving her more gray hair. "We were blessed with Beauty, Power, and Grace from the Goddess Mnemosyne, but our bloodline is protected under Thanatos' reign as their Harbingers. Grams' journals have what she wanted them to have. She never wanted everything to be there just in case. I can bring the history books if you want to read about them in detail. I don't mind talking about it either. It's always been interesting to me." Though her family weren't higher beings or deities, the Bennett bloodline was connected to a handful of influential figures. History was also one of her favorite things to read and learn more about, as there were still things that were even unknown to her.

"I would appreciate that a lot, Sis. Thank you," Bonnie remarked, eternally grateful for her sister and knowing she would always be. Calaeno had done so much for her entire life. A comfortable silence filled the room as Bonnie continued to eat her sandwich before dinner in a few hours. Bonnie didn't even realize she had eaten almost all of it and the homemade French fries Caleno had made.

"You're starving, Bon. Did you eat Lunch today?" Caleno asked, curiously eyeing her sister with mixed green and blue eyes.

"I didn't feel like eating much at lunch today, so I kind of skipped it," Bonnie said, shrugging her shoulders as she ate more of her fries and dipped them in ketchup. Her stomach felt more satisfied and less tired now that she ate. "I just had no appetite."

Calaeno walked over to the cabinets to grab a clean cup before she went to the fridge to pour some of Bonnie's favorite beverage. She placed the cup before Bonnie and crossed her arms as she stood to the side. "You shouldn't skip eating, Bon. Eating even a bit of food is good enough for the day, and drinking plenty of water helps you deal with tiredness. That most likely added to how tired you were." The older Bennet sister lightly scolded her sister. "I know you haven't been sleeping well, too. I will make you more tea to help with the nightmares." The terror dreams her sister had that morning more than proved it was getting worse as she kept using the book of Death.

Bonnie nodded in agreement, throwing a fry into her mouth and drinking some of her juice to wash down some saltiness. "Thanks. And you're right; I just had no energy for it. I just felt this heavy dread on my shoulders the entire day, and I don't know what it was, but it made me feel on edge, like someone was watching me." It felt like she was scrambling for words that would not be enough to describe how paranoid she felt. It was as if something was lurking at every corner, yet nothing appeared when she turned toward it. "I hope the tea helps. Sleep is becoming hard to get now."

Calaeno paused to process Bonnie's words. Increased paranoia was one of the symptoms that came with using the book of Death, but there was also this possibility of something else, indeed, watching her sister that she could not be aware of. "Let's hope nothing lurking in the shadows is watching you, Bon. That would be a problem for another day. I will make the tea for you today. You should go rest, and I'll call you for dinner." She gave a small smile to her sister as she dismissed her from the kitchen.

The young Bennett was about to respond when she felt her phone buzz in her pocket and pulled it out. Some unread texts from Caroline and Elena asked her to come to the Gilbert House. Klaus had somehow sent a morbid message to the house. "I'm gonna go visit Elena, and I'll be back before dinner." She spoke quickly to her sister, hurrying to put her empty plates in the sink to wash later.

"Alright, be back soon and call if you need help," Calaeno called out as she began to pull out ingredients for the meal she was going to make. She heard the noises of her sister closing the door behind her as she left their house.

The older Bennett released a small breath and went upstairs to Bonnie's room. Now was the perfect time to check on something she had meant to do with that accursed book. She pushed open the door and entered her sister's room. The room was somewhat scattered with other books of research, and there lay on her desk the Death Book, purposefully away from her bed. Calaeno stepped into the room and felt the chilling prickles and needles of darkness down her back and all over her body. The Book of Death never ceased to make her stomach turn sideways.

She clenched and unclenched her hands before treading to stand before the dark artifact. Calaeno held her breath as she placed a hand on the Forest Green book cover of the slightly worn-out book. Whispers began to flood her mind. From the tiny mirror of the table, she could see her eyes glowed a demonic red. She clenched her teeth almost painfully together as a rush of pain came through the fingertips of her hand directly to the center of her heart.

"Bonnie Bennett is doomed."

"She will die if she breaks the deal."

"Misery and torment will be in her every waking moment."

"There will never be peace." 

"A cruel fate will be her end. Be aware." Calaeno wanted to cry out as she witnessed her sister helplessly bleeding out, blood spilling from her mouth. Bonnie lay lifelessly on the concrete. Her sister was injured and bruised, but she could see in her green eyes she was scared and praying not to die. This would be her fate if Bonnie made a mistake against her deal, being alone and helpless as she passed. It was cruel.

Calaeno pulled her hand away from the book as if it had burned her, hissing in pain. There were too many voices in her head that stumbled upon each other, and she couldn't fully understand each one. She inhaled and exhaled deeply to calm her racing heart. She felt sick to her stomach and worried even more. Thanatos would do worse to Bonnie if it came down to it, and Calaeno could do nothing against the god who kept her bloodline alive. There would be no way to stop the wrath of Death, and they would all be doomed to fate, which would be more gruesome.

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Stefan shifted from his seat in the study as he turned the notebook pages to look at the numerous notes Bonnie and her sister had translated from the books. Luckily, they were written neatly so others could still read them. The entire notebook was filled with notes that surprised Stefan about Bonnie's dedication to saving her friend. With the little time she had received the books, the young witch had already composed many details about their enemy.

His older brother Damon had gone out somewhere; Stefan hadn't bothered to ask, knowing his brother wouldn't have given him a straight answer. He just hoped Damon would control himself.

"The youngest of the family, Henrik Mikaelson, had been attacked by wolves after he and his brother Niklaus had snuck on a full moon to see the wolves change. Niklaus had carried the body of his dead brother back to their home." Stefan spoke the notes out loud to get a better understanding. He recognized the details from when Bonnie had told them the summary of what she found out. Stefan felt a slight sympathy for Klaus, who had witnessed the death of his brother. It must have been a horrible thing to witness, Stefan could imagine.

"The sight of her dead child had sent Esther into a depressive spiral. Eventually, many days later, Esther caught a sickness that began to poison and invertedly kill her through the grief she had felt in her heart and soul." Losing a child the way Esther had had been the cause of her despair and almost the demise of her life. It was a vicious fate to suffer.

"This illness was referred to commonly as the Mourning. It was nearly the end of the Mikaelson witch if not for Anya Bennett praying to Death in search of answers. Days later, Anya created a cure and saved Esther's life. Esther's health began to improve over weeks at a time and with its improvement, an idea came to mind. She could not afford the death of any more of her children. Esther needed to make sure no force could place harm upon her children again. She vowed not even Death could interfere in their fates." As he continued to read, Stefan understood this is most likely how things began to progress further when Esther was first seeking to find a way to make her children indestructible. This is what must have led to the demise of the family.

Though this was all for research, reading and learning about it was very captivating. Stefan drank his glass of animal blood before he went back to reading. "While she mourned losing her son, Esther sought witches from other villages. Then, from various Gods and Goddesses, gods of realms alike, she had not thought existed to find a way to grant her children everlasting life. But many turned her away and refused to aid not aid her in her quest. While others had otherwise warned her that the forces of Death and Fate should not be trifled with. Anya Bennett had long before warned Esther that interfering in these forces would end her in more than one if she continued with this path."

Esther was persistent when those she was searching for even warned her it wasn't a good idea, and she remained on this path to find a way. Any way to keep her children alive. A mother wanting to protect her children at any cost, he could understand. It reminded Stefan of his mother and his brother, and he wished he could forget. His oldest brother was the one who indeed raised him and Damon after the disappearance of their mother.

"A rain storm had come over the Mikaelson family's village when Esther returned on her failed travels. While Esther's family was preparing shelter for the storm, a middle-aged maiden passing by sought shelter. The father of the family, Mikael, did not want a stranger among their children and resources in their home, but Esther convinced him to let this stranger stay as she sensed this stranger was a witch like her. She wanted to help a fellow witch, but this storm would not settle soon." Stefan glanced at the words curiously. He had read the other pages that Bonnie had sent two days ago that explained the structure of the Mikaelson family.

"The storm lasted a few nights. To pass the time, Esther shared her journeys and tales she had heard when she was a child to the maiden and her children as comfort through the rumbling thunder and lightning. The fury of the gods was present much in the skies."  From the mythology that Stefan had read about before, gods, despite being above humans and lower beings, were very spiteful and petty beings. There were many tales of Gods and Goddesses holding grudges for many lifetimes and striking when they saw fit, no matter who or what was in the way. They would not stop. Especially those that had crossed Thanatos never appeared to have an ending, anything but the cruelest fate the god could inflict.

"Once the storm had settled down and the skies had cleared, as a form of gratitude, the maiden revealed to Esther that she was a goddess and she had the solution that Esther had been looking for. But the goddess warned her there would be a great brutality that must be achieved if Esther truly wanted a way of gaining immortality." Stefan said, reading out the next paragraph of the notes with a somewhat surprised expression on his face. What a turn of events that a goddess just happened to have what Esther was looking for.

He grew tired of reading it out loud and decided to silently read the rest of the notes he wanted to go through before stopping. The goddess gave Esther a sacrificial ritual tied to the dark arts that required her to kill and gain the blood of living beings. Additionally, the ritual demanded her to have her children dead with their necks temporarily snapped or throats slit by their father, and an ancient incantation must be read over their bodies that the goddess gave to her as well. This entire process was very gore-filled and traumatizing to the Mikaelson Siblings, Stefan thought with a feeling of distaste rumbling in his chest.

Not long after the siblings were made to be immortal, it did not take long for the Divinity of Death to begin the series of punishments for Esther, who not only defied the natural order of life and death but fate as each sibling was meant to die young. None of them were destined to live a life of immortality but after Esther's action, their fates were all altered and shifted dramatically more than it was ever meant to be.

Stefan would have thought the divinity would have just killed them, but instead, he has cursed them with an endless bloodlust, never to be satisfied and have to live upon the blood of the living as they were no longer considered that. They were undead, after all. The divinity gave them the maddening bloodlust that turned them into the horrific monsters many of the supernaturals had seen and could barely outlive. The original vampires they became.

Stefan breathed out and pushed aside the notes to read later. He felt a headache coming. That felt like more than enough to read today. The whole situation that created the first vampires was rooted in fear and the act of traumatizing her children to keep them safe, only for them to become cursed by a high entity that would never give them peace. It was downright sadistic and a cruel fate.

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A young female and the personification of death walked alongside each other through the dark forest. The sky was illuminated by the light of the stars in the pitch-black skies of the underworld. Thanatos remained quiet with a small smile as she listened to the other rant about her day.

"There is this foolish girl I ran into the other day, Matinka. I want her head. Her breathing is even more irritating than her talking to me like we're friends." A young female with olive-toned skin uttered in irritation, rolling her bright gray mixed with cerulean eyes. A scowl etched upon her delicate youthful face as she walked beside the goddess of Death. The younger woman had an accent present that sounded to be a mix of Greek, Lithuania, and French.

The young female was dressed in a short-sleeved Emerald Green long dress mixed with teal and gold that complimented the tone of her skin against the dim lighting of the Underworld. She wore a matching gold necklace around her neck and a Rose Gold crown with Black Rod and Silver skulls decorating her crown as a symbol of all that was the absence of life and the essence of eternal beauty. Her dark-painted fingernails glistened wonderfully against the gold and silver jewelry she was gifted by her parent Thanatos.

The young female and Thanatos continued their walk through the Forest of Despair where murmurs around them cried out for help and muttered in agony of their suffering, the doomed they resided in a place they could never escape from. The many souls that were trapped there for all eternality and the many more there would be were ignored by the god and her daughter. This was after all part of their punishment for the sins they committed in their lives they lived. They would forever be unheard until beyond the end of time itself.

Thanatos snorted at her daughter's complaints, bumping into her shoulder playfully. As both beings progressed their walk down the grassy path, there was a present sound of dark grass crunching beneath their feet that felt like muted noise.

"Kritanta, I'm sure the girl wasn't that irritating. What did she do to deserve this type of malicious behavior you have, my daughter?" Death shook her head at Kritanta's short temper. Thanatos was aware her daughter was someone who couldn't stand annoyance in other people for long, especially those she did not know enough to want to tolerate. She often reminded Thanatos of her significantly more reckless and unhinged younger self before Thanatos had grown into something more. It was an exciting sight to see an almost mirror image of herself that was the apple of her eye.

Kritanta's eyes shifted to her mother's, mischief in the windows to her soul and irritation clear in the sound of her tongue clicking to the roof of her mouth. "I was meeting Lilac and Uncle Hypnos but they were running late. I knew it was Uncle's fault so I had to wait. She came up to me while I was waiting and kept trying to make small talk with me and ask where I was going. I hate small talk." She scoffed at the nuisance of remembering that annoying girl's face and her perky tone like her life was a ray of sunshine. "Just because we look the same age does not mean she should be talking to a stranger. I told her to get away from me before she ended up buried alive. The way she scattered away from me like a dirty rat amused me to no end." Kritanta grinned sadistically, sharp canines appearing without fault.

Thanatos laughed briefly in amusement at her daughter's tale. The slight she threw at her uncle and the way her daughter had been amused at scarring the girl certainly reminded Thanatos of a certain someone who hated new people more than she did.

"I don't think your Uncle Hypnos would be happy with your comment, but he is a late person wherever he goes." Kritanta snorted at Thanatos' words, already imagining the scolding she would get from her favorite uncle. You are a very unhinged little girl. I am surprised she even bothered to approach you in the first place, my dear," Thanatos remarked playfully, rolling her eyes at her daughter's dramatic gasp of air like she was offended at her words.

"Are you trying to say I am not approachable, Matinka?" Kritanta spoke up, feigning offense with a cheeky grin on her lips that made the dimple on the left side of her cheek appear adorably. "How rude of my mother to say such a thing to her own child; the betrayal I say to my good lady is ungodly!" She exclaimed, holding her hand over her heart, appearing as if she was wounded. She skipped ahead of her mother, kicking aside a broken branch in her path.

Thanatos raised a brow at her daughter. A grin threatened to form on her lips. "Enough of that child. You know well what I meant, and we both know you would rip out someone's throat if they annoyed you too much. Stranger or not, you feral little child you are." Death pointed out, recalling the occurrences of her daughter coming home covered in blood with a look of annoyance like it was just another day of swatting a fly on the wall. "You are much like your Momma Meridian. You have his stubborn attitude and a low tolerance for people that irritate you." Thanatos couldn't help but smile at her own words. She missed her husband dearly, and talking about her made her heart ache deeply in the echoes of pain and guilt.

Kritanta snickered at her mother's words. She couldn't deny there was a resemblance of attitude from the very being who birthed her into existence. However, no one was as stubborn and hard-headed as much as Thanatos was, no matter how Death denied it. "Speaking of Momma, the war in Purgatory has become worse, Matinka," she added in a light tone, changing the subject to what she had been thinking about for a while.

Kritanta only knew as much as she heard from the wandering souls and the servants of the underworld kingdom. Thanatos refused to let her know anything directly about the war that was raging on. Knowing so little only made her worry further for her Momma's soul, which was one of the forces in this gruesome war. "Why won't you let me go and fight in the war? It's not fair that you won't let me fight when I know I can make a difference." She remarked in a complaint to her mother.

"I told you no. I will not repeat myself once more." Thanatos spoke in a firm, blunt tone, a scowl curving her lips. A displeased look in her eyes at Kritanta's stubbornness. She hoped her daughter wouldn't bring this up, but her hope was crushed to dust as usual. "I have told you once before that this war is not yours to fight in, and you will not go there. What would your Momma think if I let you go on that battlefield?" Thanatos shook her head, sighing in slight annoyance.

Death knew her mate would be enraged if Thanatos ever let their daughter come to Purgatory, especially with the increased danger of her life at stake. This war is an entirely different risk, as once you enter the realm of Purgatory, there is no escape for any soul.

Kritanta clenched her jaw in irritation, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "Momma wouldn't want me in danger; he would want me safe and away from it. You don't need to rub it in my face." She answered grudgingly, kicking a rock out of her path. "I could still help search for the Relic in Purgatory since you won't let me fight. Over your dead body, you told me before. would be the only way you would let me join." She scoffed.

Thanatos chuckled. "I recall saying that, Pearl." Death said, referring to her daughter by her nickname. It fitted the girl well, as Kritanta had loved pearl jewelry since childhood. "I will think about you helping with the search, but from a distance, that is all I can promise. It's called the Lost Relic for a reason, my child. It was never meant to be easily found by anyone." He warned her. The justification of this war was to find the Relic created by The High Empress Orsini that could grant any wish and fulfill all desires and wildest dreams. But there was no telling what price it would take in return for granting such a thing. 

The daughter of Death grinned at her mother and nodded her head. "I can work with that. And I know it won't be easy, but I want to help Momma in any way I can. Don't you want that too?" She questioned with a sad look in her dark Cerulean Blue eyes. Kritanta had a good enough idea that Matinka missed her Momma dearly more than the stars longed to shine like the sun. The very thought of the war that could be the end of her Momma's existence, she was aware, pained Thanatos to think about. It made her wonder if that is why Thanatos stayed away from ever genuinely talking about it.

Thanatos smiled sadly, "Of course, I want to help Meridian. Your Momma means everything to me, my dear." She spoke sincerely. It took great restraint to not aid her husband and she could only have comfort in knowing he wasn't alone. "But I made a promise to your Momma, and I will keep my promises until the end." Her husband cared most for the safety of their children, so Death would do all she could to fulfill her promise of keeping them safe and happy until her last breath.

Kritanta hummed at her Mother's words. She wondered what exactly this promise was, but she had a feeling Thanatos wouldn't tell her. "I'm glad to know my Momma still has a place in your heart, Matinka." She remarked in a light tone. In her heart, no one could replace her Momma, and she felt grateful that Thanatos seemed to have that same mindset. After Meridian's passing, Thanatos had not pursued any new mates for a long time. She feared her Momma's death had broken Matinka's heart and that a part of Thanatos' heart had died with Meridian too, and it saddens her to know Thanatos must have felt as powerless as she does now.

Even when Thanatos didn't show it, she could hear the cries at night when Thanatos thought she wasn't awake. It broke her heart. "I think I should head back to the kingdom. I have training soon." She said Kritanta remembered today was one of those days she must attend or she would not be allowed to do as she desired in her free time. Luckily, she had grown used to the time difference of the Underworld, which ran slower but, in reality, of the lower realms, was at a faster pace than the living world. Years at a time could be bought if you are not careful.

"It is almost three in the afternoon. You don't want to be late for training. I don't think your aunts will tolerate it." Thanatos said, her tone sounding slightly amused as her daughter groaned slightly and pouted like the child she was. Death patted her daughter's shoulder as a gesture of good luck with what she will be dealing with in training.

"Aunt Cyrene and Aunt Verdandi are so strict and uptight about being on time it's irritating. I would like to be there whenever I want to be, but I guess that's not okay." She rolled her eyes. She loved her aunts dearly as they reminded her of her Momma, but they were not easy people to be around, especially during training. They wanted nothing but the best for her and would push her to her limits to get it.

"Though I will be getting to eat Aunt Rahmiya's food, that is what I am looking forward to most." She said, almost in a daze at the thought of the delicious, flavorful food she would be eating after a long training session. Her aunt Rahimya was such a sweet and loving being. It made Kritanta wonder what she saw in her aunts Cyrene and Verdani who were stone-faced women with intense dark auras around them that could freeze over the hellish domains.

Thanatos snorted at her daughter's expression. "Of course, you look forward to the food most. That is so like you, Pearl. Why am I not surprised?"
"As you shouldn't be. I am my Mother's daughter after all." Kritanta remarked cheekily, brushing her dark hair off her shoulder dramatically. "I should head out now. I'll be back before the fourth quarter, Matinka." She bid goodbye to Thanatos before she opened a portal and stepped through, her presence vanishing out of sight.

Thanatos let out a small breath watching her daughter leave for her training. Now the entity of Death was alone with her thoughts and she had to think of the priorities she needed to keep working on. Death's thoughts wandered to the crown of Light, the very crown of her late husband Meridian that had been taken after his death.

She recalled in detail the warning given before Meridian's passing that her husband expressed worry it would occur once he died. And he was ultimately right. Some malicious enemy had done exactly what he feared and taken the symbol of his kingdom. Thanatos needed to once again look over the possible suspects and investigate who the guilty party was. The last suspect Thanatos looked over was an enemy of Meridian's kingdom but there was evidence they were not present when the crown was taken and it could not have been them. It was the eighth dead end Thanatos had encountered and it was only making her grow even more frustrated and confused about who could have orchestrated this theft.

The personification of death continued her walk through the dark forest, discovering a soothing area that allowed her to think freely. Without the distraction of her daughter's chatter—though Thanatos always enjoyed listening to her children's rants —it was easier to think.

A light, playful voice rang beside the Entity of Death. "What is going on in your mind, Lord Thanatos?" The playful-sounding voice asked. Even without turning, Thanatos could hear the smile in their voice.

"You should have come here sooner, Daleka," Thanatos remarked instead of answering in a sharp blunt tone, not bothering to hide her displeasure at the tardiness. She made her way to the river of Styx. It was purposefully established deep in the forest of Despair to make it more challenging for her nosy children to find.

Death's dark gray eyes gazed at the other woman, still dressed in silver and black battle attire that covered her shoulders, chest, and stomach. She wore high boots with metal tips that could shatter the skulls of anyone's spirit if she was provoked. Armor in dark navy blue and green was attached from her wrist to her forearm.

The woman known as Daleka rolled her eyes. "I had just come back from the life-threatening mission you sent me to and this is the type of attitude I am gifted with?" Her tone was both sarcastic and sounded irritated. Thanatos snorted. "It wasn't exactly easy to track down those wayward souls from the other dimension, my lady."

"Undoubtedly, I was aware it wasn't a mere simple task, but I knew you were capable. And I was right to trust you would have it done accordingly." Death uttered in a blunt tone, not in the mood to deal with nonsense. Thanatos faced the side of the river, her dark gray eyes gazing at the almost pitch-black waters of the Styx River. The flow of the seas was steady, almost an eerie stillness to it. This was a known river for being bottomless if one entered carelessly without the proper enchantments to protect from sinking immediately in its current. And from the previous souls that the river had swallowed that would tear you apart and take your body for their own.

Thanatos waved a hand in front of the waters, the palm of her hand glowing a dark blue color swirling around as her eyes illuminated in response. Thanatos conjured a portal view of Mystic Falls. The view showed Bonnie heading to Elena's residence, and Thanatos could guess it had to do with the little message Klaus had sent. "It looks like Klaus Mikaelson has announced his presence," Thanatos said, her tone laced with amusement and curiosity. It was always quite useful to have ears and eyes around the small town that had not yet been detected.

"A thank you would not kill you to say." The Mercenary responded a bit more dramatically than needed when she knew Thanatos always made it known she was grateful for Daleka's work. Daleka hummed at Thanatos' words, toying with her dagger in her careful hands to avoid being cut. "Isn't Klaus Mikaelson the almost half-breed your brother was infuriated with?" She asked curiously; her mismatched light green and golden eyes glanced in boredom at the view of the younger witch. The witch seemed to be mundane and yet Daleka couldn't help but wonder why she was so foolish to make a deal with someone as sinister and unforgiven as Death. Even Daleka knew Thanatos was not a being to be trifled with.

Thanatos' gaze remained on the view; her rose-colored lips curved in a small smile. "Thank you, my dear. You will have your payment at the kingdom." She expressed in a soft tone. "And yes, it is the same, almost half-breed. Nothing has changed in a thousand years." Thanatos said casually. She snapped her fingers and made the portal view break apart and vanish out of sight, she already learned what she needed to know for now. Thanatos will make her appearance soon, but just not yet. More things need to be set in stone. "Tell Aydemar to send a Deathless to watch after the original Klaus. I need to know his whereabouts and the things he will be doing. It all should be reported to me." Thanatos ordered firmly, her eyes connecting with his servant's.

Daleka smiled, a sinister glint present in her eyes. "I will get on it right away. The Deathless will keep its eye on Klaus at all times; there will be no escape for any of them." She grinned sadistically.

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"Bonnie, I am so glad you are here." Caroline greeted as she opened the door to her friend. "Sorry for calling so late in the evening. We're kind of freaked out." She gave an apologetic glance to the Bennett witch. Caroline and Elena knew that Bonnie had been getting horrible headaches during class. Bonnie assured them it wasn't anything serious, but it was still immensely worrying what could have caused the discomfort.

The younger witch entered the residence and was relieved that there was no dark feeling. However, there was a feeling of dread in the air, most likely from the fear of her friends. "It's alright. Where is the message Klaus sent?" Bonnie contested as she assured her friend it was alright. Luckily, it wasn't too late during the day anyway.

"Elena has it, and she's in the living room," Caroline answered quickly. The two went to the living room to see their friend sitting on the couch.
Bonnie's green eyes immediately went to the blood-covered rose on the table and sucked in a sharp breath at the sight. She could feel the magic attached to it and there was no telling what the intention of it was supposed to be. "Do you know when the rose was sent or was it here you guys got here?" She asked in question. Bonnie hoped whoever was the messenger was not still around or at least was not controlled by Klaus.  It was indeed the last thing any of them needed in the town.

"It was here when we got here," Elenea answered, avoiding glancing at the bloody rose on the table. There was a napkin underneath it, as neither wanted to clean up the mess left by it. "It was a jumpscare to see it." Elena dreaded if she was going to have more nightmares.

Bonnie took in her friend's words and stepped forward to get a better look at the Rose. The note that was laid out next to it. It was written in a clear font that read 'See you soon' and it made Bonnie sneer at the words. There was no better way of describing getting this sort of twisted message from a deranged thousand-year-old vampire wanting to sacrifice you than out of his damn mind. "I'm going to try and trace whoever's blood this was. I am sincerely hoping there is not a dead body but it's not looking great," She clarified to her friends in simple terms. Elena and Caroline seemed to understand and sat back as she prepared herself to cast the spell.

The witch's Green eyes closed, focusing and harnessing her magic to come to her as she hovered her hands over the bloody item. "For the blood of this rose, I seek to whom it belongs and bring it forth. Show me." She chanted in an ancient Latin tongue and repeated the phrase as a heavy wind gushed against the windows.

She felt an energy rush through her body, and she could feel her magic wrap around the Rose. Bonnie let out a breath as images began to flood her mind and rapidly appeared at the front of her mind. She felt overwhelmed, and it made her head throb. Bennett took a couple of breaths to calm herself and focused on what the images showed. Bonnie could see a man was holding another man. The first man had his fangs deep within the neck of the one he was holding tightly in his grasp. She could see in the other man's eyes he wanted to scream out and fight but he could do nothing but remain silent and be drained by the careless man. The witch watched the scene in horror and disgust, rumbling in her stomach.

However, she was surprised when the man drinking from the other suddenly lifted his head and smirked. Blood dripped down his blood and covered his lips. "Soon enough we will meet Bonnie Bennett. Just you see." Those taunting words were directed at her, and they snapped her out of the trance as she stumbled away with a wary expression on her features.

The Brunette and Blonde vampire rushed to help Bonnie sit on the couch and sat by her. "What did you see?" Elena remarked in question, gazing at the Rose and Note in question.

"Are you okay, Bon? You look like you just saw a ghost." Caroline remarked, rubbing Bonnie's back in comfort.

"The message Klaus sent was not just for the two of you. It was for me, too." Bonnie managed to get out once she had collected herself. "He knew I would look into whose blood it was, and he attached a message for me. Klaus killed a person just to give this to us. He had no other reason but to taunt us and make us wary." Bonnie couldn't help but feel immensely frustrated with this game he was playing. He wanted them to feel wary that he may come around any moment, and they would not know when or where he would.

Elena and Caroline were stunned at her words; it made sense, and they felt they couldn't deny it. It was apparent, even to the blind, that Klaus wanted them on edge. "He was steps ahead of us to have done and anticipate our moves before we did it," Elena added. Not only was this original vampire deranged, but Klaus was calculating to an unsettling degree.

"Klaus is coming, and we can't let him win," Bonnie said firmly despite the unsettlement she felt; they couldn't let this shake them down when they were all working to stay alive. "He is smart, but we are persistent. We have to remember Klaus is an issue, but he is not the biggest threat we face." The consequences would always be in the back of her mind if she didn't hold her end of the deal. Bonnie had a feeling she would never know peace if she crossed Thanatos.

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"Come on, my love, the festival is about to begin. It will be great fun." A human Elijah remembered the soft melody that was the voice of his love, Merryn. She tugged upon his hand interlocked with her own and dragged his body to the lively event. Even without him resisting or dragging his feet, he felt she would be able to carry his weight regardless. They both could hear the distant noises and see the torches light to give illuminance as more around the villages came to celebrate the holiday of Fertility for the month of Corbloom.

He smiled at her almost shyly and shook his head at her excitement. "You are very excited about this, Erryn?" he remarked playfully. They were still quite a distance away and could still be alone in each other's presence. Young Elijah couldn't help but adore the contrast of his pale skin compared to the warmth of her Brown skin.

"Yes, of course I am. This is one of my favorite holidays." Merryn said, a smile plastered on her delicate features. Despite it being night, she looked as ethereal as she had ever been in the light. "I am excited because this is your first festival. I want to show you around." She spoke truthfully.
Elijah hummed at her words. He and his siblings weren't often allowed to go, but Merryn seemed to have been able to convince his parents to allow them to go. He didn't know how she did it, and it was a mystery to him that he didn't want to dive into. "I am curious about this holiday. I have heard so much about it from my mother." He admitted sheepishly.

Merryn paused in her steps and turned to face Elijah. The little light in the sky made him see her small smile and the playful glint in her Grayish Blue eyes. "There is much I will tell you afterward. It's a fascinating holiday to celebrate the creation of life." Her hand reached forward and cupped Elijah's jawline in a gentle yet firm grip centered on a moment he would never forget. "Spending time with you is what I look forward to most, my dear." She pressed a kiss against his cheek and he couldn't help the flutter he felt in his heart at the show of affection. The young adult Elijah grasped her hand over his cheek and squeezed softly. He, too, enjoyed spending time with her and hoped there would still be time before she left. He didn't want her to leave, but he knew she had to.

The noble originally returned his attention to the reality of the bodies of vampires and humans scattered around him. The scent of blood and death everywhere was overpowering and almost to the point of nauseating. But unfortunately, after a thousand years, Elijah had grown accustomed to the stench. Many of the faces of the dead Elijah was familiar with were underlings of Niklaus. He took a guess his brother had another tantrum about whoever had leaked information about him and had taken it out on them. His younger brother left a mess for Elijah to clean up once again. He wished he could be surprised, but this was a regular occurrence among his younger siblings. But he did hope for the best of the underling who, as the cause of it, they had served their purpose well.

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