❛ ACT I ❜
-ˋˏ chapter thirteen ˎˊ-

FOR SOFIA ANNE GILBERT, if she doesn't want to face something, she forces herself to forget about it.

Forcing yourself to move on and leave something in the dark makes you feel like it really is nothing to think too hard on. It helps you not worry and wonder.

That's what Sofia planned on doing after discovering her bond with Elijah the previous day. She was still taken back that soulmates existed and that she had one. It didn't fully digest for her yesterday but it did today.

And oh boy, was Sofia freaking out for three reasons

Number one

She was soulmates with one of the oldest vampires in history who - not only lied to her but also made her start to trust him just to betray her.

Number two

What if Elijah is never undaggered? Will she die from the bond?

Number three

What if Elijah is undaggered? If he does wake up from his dreamless slumber, Sofia was determined to ask him about the soulmate bond, if he knows.

Unknown to the vampire, her night ahead would bring more problems than she already had.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Alaric Saltzman continued to go through his warbrobe, igorning the doppelgänger's grunts in the background

Although it wasn't Alaric who inhabited the history teacher's body.

"Oh, who is this guy, Safari Sam?" Klaus Mikaelson asked as he held up two of Alaric's shirts. "Okay, bad or badder?" He asked Katherine.

The vampire sat in a chair in the center of the large apartment with her wrists bound to the chair by rope. Katherine could use her supernatural strength to escape but a fate worse than death awaited her if she did.

"The dark colours suit you better." Katherine answered calmly, although she feared the original.

Klaus smirked. "Oh thank you honey." He put the other shirt away. "Okay, pop quiz. The dagger and white ash are in the Salvatore' possession, correct?"

"The dagger was used to kill Elijah. You'll find him in the basement of the Salvatore house." Katherine answered again.

"That dagger needs to stay exactly where it is. The last thing I need to do is resurrect Elijah." Klaus rolled his eyes. "That guy is a buzzkill."

"Don't forget that you're on the outs with your girlfriend Jenna."

Klaus nodded as he finished buttoning up his shirt. "Right, Elena's aunt. For all the lies about Isobel. What else?"

"That's it."

Klaus narrowed his eyes at the doppelganger and walked closer, Katherine flinched.

He smirked. "Oh, so jumpy."

Katherine took a sharp breath and moved her head further away, not wanting to be near him. "Please, just.... kill me. I've told you everything I know."

Klaus placed his large hands on the armrests of the chair and made Katherine's frightened eyes meet his.

"You see, I believe that you believe that, but what would you not know? What could they be keeping from you? Or is there something you just refuse to tell me? Mm? Tell me." He compelled her.

Katherine's pupils dialated. "They were trying to see if Bonnie could find a way to kill an Original without a dagger." She said monotonically.

"Bonnie the best friend? I thought you said she didn't have her powers anymore."

The compulsion broke and Katherine clenched her jaw. "She doesn't or didn't. I don't know. You kidnapped me, remember? I'm kinda out of the loop."

"Well, we'll have to get to the bottom of that." He sighed and stood up straight.

"Please, just kill me, Klaus, and be done with it." Kathrine begged.

Klaus chuckled wickedly. "And show you kindness? I've searched for you for over 500 years. Your death is going to last at least half that long."

Kathrine gulped at the cruel and taunting look in his eyes.

"Anything else I should know Katerina?" Klaus asked calmly.

Katherine hesitated.

"Come one love, speak up." He compelled her.

"Elijah's soulmate. He found her." She answered against her will.

Klaus's face dropped slightly in shock. Of course he knew of his brother's soulmate bond, he has for centuries. But he never thought his older brother would ever find her.

"Has he now?" He laughed in amusement. "Wow, I really thought that old witch was lying when she told us he had a soulmate. And now he's found her."

Kathrine stayed silent, not sure of what to make of his reaction.

"Tell me who she is." Klaus compelled her again.

"Sofia Gilbert. She's Elena's older sister and she turned a year ago. She's living at the Gilbert house." Katherine revealed.

Klaus smiled slightly. "The doppelgänger's sister, huh? I wonder how Elijah handled that one."

"You're not going to hurt her, are you?" Katherine found herself asking. She had a small liking to Sofia as she was the most tolerable out of her annoying group.

Klaus smirked as he made his way to the door. "Of course not, I want to meet her first. And now I'm going to go lay eyes on my precious doppelgänger."

Just as he was about to leave, Klaus turned around and walked towards Katherine menacingly. He took a pocket knife out of his pants pocket and held it out to the vampire.

"I almost forgot." He looked into her eyes. "I want you to take this knife and stab your leg."

Compelled, Katherine grabbed the knife and stabbed her thigh, a scream of agony ripping through her throat.

With a smile still evident, Klaus continued. "Now take it out."

Katherine removed the blade and her wound healed, leaving her a panting mess.

"While I'm gone, I want you to do that over and over and over again and if you get bored, switch legs."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Sofia drove up the large driveway leading to Salvatore Boarding house in her car, having received a text from Elena twenty minutes ago.

The Salvatore brothers signed the estate to Elena so it was in her name to act as a safe house of sorts. Only vampires she trusted could enter since the Gilbert home wasn't as secure. So of course Sofia needed to be invited in too.

Once she parked a few feet from the entrance, Sofia noticed Stefan and Damon talking outside. She exited her car and approached the brothers, hearing their conversation.

"You really think Bonnie can take on Klaus?" She heard Damon ask.

Stefan shrugged. "She said she could channel enough witch power to kill him. Elijah thought that would work and he was an Original, so.."

"We just need to find him." Damon said and Sofia stopped in front of them.

"Oh, Elijah? He's in your basement from when you daggerd him and kept it hidden from me." Sofia smiled at the raven haired vampire spitefuly.

Damon sighed and looked at his best friend, who's been ignoring him for days. "Sof-"

"Hey Stef." Sofia have a friendly smile to him.

"Hey Sofie." He smiled back.

Damon rolled his eyes.

The door to the house opened and the three uninvited vampires turned around to see Elena and their lawyer.

"Thank you, Mr Henry." Elena smiled at the man.

Sofie shook the familiar man's hand in respect and watched him leave. He was their family lawyer so she knew who he was.

Stefan and Damon walked up to the threshold but an invisible force prevented them from entering. Sofia, who stayed in her spot, rolled her eyes at their stupidity.

"I'm sorry, I completely forgot." Elena said innocently and looked at her older sister. "Annie, do you want to come in?"

Sofia smirked at her sister. "It would be my pleasure, Lena." She entered the house.

After Elena invited her boyfriend in, Damon was left.

"What are we, twelve?" He scoffs.

"You are." Sofia rolled her eyes and turned around to search for Bonnie, who she knew was here too.

Sofia entered the library and smiled at the witch who sat on the couch. "There's my favorite witch!" She cheered.

Bonnie grinned and accepted the hug that Sofia gave her. "Hey Sof"

After the vampire sat down, Bonnie leaned closer to whisper. "How you holding up?"

Still hearing the other three by the foyer of the house, Sofia just texted her reply to Bonnie. She didn't need the brothers to hear their conversation.

Sofia

Great, knowing that my soulmate is desicated in the basement.

Bonnie

I'm sorry Sof
Have you considered
the soulmate bond yet?

Sofia

Trying to forget it exists

Bonnie

Are you sure that's the
best way to handle this?

Sofia

Yes, Bonnie.

Bonnie
Okay okay.
How's your wound?

Sofia
See for yourself

Bonnie looked up from her phone and Sofia showed her the wound. The grey skin has reached just above her birthmark and the veins looked almost black. That was why Sofia wore a turtle neck so it covers the large wound.

"Shit, Sof." Bonnie frowned.

"Right?" The girl rolled her eyes.

Bonnie grabbed her hand. "I haven't found a spell yet but I'm working on it."

Sofie frowned. "Bonnie, I know I said -"

Bonnie suddenly pinched her nose to shut her up. "Shush, I'm doing this."

Sofia laughed softly at the action. When they were in middle school and Sofia was studying for tests, Bonnie, Elena and Caroline loved sneaking into her room to distract her. So Sofia would pinch their tiny noses and watch them pout before running away.

Bonnie looked at her watch. "Oh, Elena and I need to get to school."

Sofia grabbed Bonnie's arm to stop her. "No way."

"What?"

"Klaus is here, Bonnie. Stefan and Damon didn't sign the deed to Elena just for you guys not to use it."

Ironically enough, Sofia could hear the brothers having a similar conversation with Elena.

Bonnie rolled her eyes slightly."You're being paranoid."

"Better than being naive." Sofia crossed her arms.

"Sof." Bonnie huffed and stood up. "If he shows his face, I can take him."

"So you've chanelled a thousand dead witchs yet?"

"No but I'm powerful enough." Bonnie answered confidently. "Come on Sof have some faith in me. Plus, Stefan will probably come with now since Elena is"

Sofia groaned. Now she wishes she still went to school so she could protect her friends.

"I'll take that as a 'You win'" Bonnie teased.

"Fine." Sofia stood up. "But only if I drive you. The last thing I need is Klaus attacking you on your walk to school."

"Deal!"

"Go tell Elena that I just saved you guy's asses from getting kidnapped. I need a quick drink." She gestured to the door.

Bonnie nodded and left the room. Sofia made her way to the basement and towards the refrigerator containing the Salvatore's blood stash.

Sofie opened the door and her eyes searched for the the A+ bags. It was her personal favorite because of how mouth wateringly sweet it is. She smiled when she found one and closed the door after grabbing it.

Just as she was about to leave, she stopped dead in her tracks in hesitation as she remembered something.

She turned round and slowly walked past the refrigerator and towards the darker part of the large room where the cell was. The cell keeping a certain original in.

Sofia knew it was smarter and better to just go upstairs and act as if she didn't want to go see him because what she was doing right now betrayed the whole purpose of forgetting.

But it was like she needed to be near him. Is it the soulmate bond? Stupid question - it definitely is because Sofia's stubborn self wouldn't be unlocking the cell door and peeking inside like she is right now.

There he layed, unmoving and temporarily dead with his skin matching her wound. And the dagger left in his heart.

Sofia approached slowly as if he would jolt awake suddenly. She stared at his face, he looked peaceful.

"Even dead you look handsome." Sofia scoffed in annoyance. Why did he have to be so attractive? Why couldn't fate bond her to someone hideous and not someone who betrayed her.

Sofia sighed, remembering that she had somewhere to be. The vampire turned around, exiting the dark room and closing the door with a bang.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

If she was alive, Sofia would have had a heart attack when she received a call from her sister, informing her of Klaus's presence at the high school.

She immediately picked her sister and friends up before driving to the boarding house where the five now stood. Sofia leaned against the wall, facing her friends with Bonnie not too far from her.

"So we go to the dance and we find him." Damon said simply.

Sofia scoffed. "We don't even know what he looks like. And even if we did, what are we going to take him down with?"

Bonnie opened her mouth but a stern look from Sofia made her close it, knowing what the witch would say.

"I don't know about the latter, but something tells him he's not going to be sixteen and pimply." Damon raised his eyebrows at her, earning an eye roll back.

"He could be anywhere at any time. He compelled somebody at school." Sofia said and pushed herself off the wall to stand in the circle her friends made.

Stefan looked at his girlfriend pointingly. "I guess it's not as safe as you thought, huh?"

Elena frowned before a knock on the door caught their attention. Alaric - or so they thought - entered with a hesitant smile.

"There you are!" Damon sighed.

"Sorry I'm late." He joined them in the living room.

Klaus felt eyes burn into him the second he stepped into the circle, meeting brown eyes belonging to the brunette across from him.

Sofia couldn't help but stare at Alaric a bit longer than normal. Something seemed different. His body language was off and the smile directed to her seemed detached.

Sofia brushed it off as paranoia and focused on the conversation.

"Hey, I need you to put me and Sofia down as chaperones at the dance tonight. Klaus made his first move." Damon asked the history teacher.

Klaus perked up at the familiar name and his eyes went to the brunette vampire across from him when she replied, matching the name to a face.

The woman was tall and thin but she didn't look weak at all. Her aura was determined and fierce but her light eyes showed care. Her hair matched her eyes and fell in waves over her shoulders. This woman was effortlessly stunning. A sight for sore eyes. And Klaus could smell Elijah's scent on her. It was subtle but there.

Klaus smirked slightly at her when she wasn't looking.

"Woah, I never said I was going to be a chaperone." Sofia pulled a face at the thought. She can remember the few times that she attended the dances when she still went to school, the chaperones just stood to the side looking bored out of their minds.

"So you're going as some teenager's date then?" Damon asked in amusement.

"Yes, Caroline's." Sofia raised an eyebrow at the vampire.

Caroline asked her two days ago, to go as friends obviously. Matt was still acting odd with her and made the excuse that he couldn't take her to the dance because he had a shift at work. Sofia was quite pissed at the boy for brushing off Caroline like that.

"Woah, didn't know you swung that way Bambi." Damon smirked mischievously at the vampire.

"Sofia to you." She gave Damon a dirty look making him groan.

"When will you get over -"

"Okay!" Elena stopped the two from going into yet another argument. "So we find him and then what? What's our plan of attack?"

"Me, I'm the plan." Bonnie stepped forward confidently and Sofia frowned. "He has no idea how much power I can channel. If you can find him, I can kill him."

"Bonnie, are you sure you can do this? I believe in you, I do, but isn't this too dangerous?" Sofia voiced her concern for the witch.

"I know I can pull it off Sofia. It's the only way." Bonnie gave a her a look and Sofia sighed in defeat.

"That's not going to be easy. I mean, he's the biggest, baddest vampire around." Alaric chuckled nervously, eyes moving to every figure in the room.

Damon nodded. "Alaric has a point. I mean what if he.."

In a split second, Damon was rushing towards Bonnie. Before Sofia could push him away, Bonnie effortlessly pushed her arm out, throwing Damon against the wall without touching him.

"Well, I'm impressed." Stefan smiled in amusement.

"It doesn't matter if he's an Original. I can take down anyone who comes at me." Bonnie assured everyone with a fierce look in her eyes.

Sofia smirked watching Damon stand up with a painful groan. "Hey Bon, I'll give you twenty dollars if you can do that again but with fire."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Sofia hated the 1960s. She wasn't born then but she hated it. Their fashion was not comfortable or pleasing in her opinion. Stefan was nice enough to lend her a dress from their relatives and Sofia picked out a blue and white dress. It was short-sleeved and it covered her wound. It a bit tight around the waist but it wasn't like Sofia planned on dancing.

Until she picked up Caroline.

"Sofia come on!" Caroline whined as the brunette pulled up in the high school parking lot. "I want to dance!"

"You can dance Care." Sofia shot her a glance.

"Not alone, with you!"

Sofia groaned at the girl's words. The entire ten minute drive from the Forbes house to the school, Caroline kept begging Sofia to dance too and not just stand by the tables.

"My feet hurt." Sofia excused simply and unbuckled her seatbelt.

"From what?" Caroline raised her eyebrow, unconvinced.

"Uh, driving."

"Yeah right." Caroline rolled her eyes. "You're dancing, period." She pointed to her with that classic Caroline Forbes look.

Now it was Sofia's turn to roll her eyes.

The two girls got out of the car and Sofia took in the scene. The entrance of the school was decorated with bright lights and a red carpet was rolled out. Excited chatter filled her sensitive ears as teenagers entered in groups.

She joined her arm with Caroline's. "Ready?"

"Definitely."

Caroline excitingly pulled Sofia with her to the entrance and they spotted Bonnie, Jeremy, Elena and Stefan stood to the side.

"Hey guys!" Caroline greeted once they were with them.

"You girls look great." Stefan smiled softly at his friends. Jeremy shot him a look. "You look good too, Jeremy." He chuckled and Sofia smiled.

"You guys ready to do this?" Bonnie asked no one in particular and without another word, they entered the school.

The gym was decorated accurately to the theme with teenagers dancing away to the music.

"Madam." Sofia offered her hand to Caroline who smiled in victory.

Sofia guided her friend to the dance floor and both girls danced to the upbeat music. Although Sofia was hesitant to come tonight, she had to admit that she was having fun.

Until a girl made an announcement that caught the group's attention.

"Thanks for being here, everybody. We have a special shout-out tonight. This is for Elena from Klaus."

Sofia's body froze as a unknown song played and her and Caroline shared a look before rushing to the front of the stage where everyone else gathered.

"Anyone else get goosebumps?" Sofia asked and stood next to her sister protectively, her senses heightened as her eyes scanned over the crowd for anyone suspicious.

Damon scoffed. "That was a lame, cheap shot. He's just trying to bait us." He moved to stand closer to Sofia protectively.

"I know everyone here." Elena said, checking to see anyone unfamiliar.

"Maybe he's not here and he just wants us to believe he is." Stefan suggested.

"Let's hope so." Caroline frowned.

"It's a party, people. Blend. Let him come to us" Damon said.

"Good idea." Bonnie smiled and pulled a grumpy Jeremy along with her.

As Sofia was about to walk away with Caroline, Damon grabbed her hand and spun her under his arm smoothly before grabbing her other hand to dance.

"What are you doing?" Sofia asked with slitted eyes.

"Dancing."

"I'm still mad at you."

Damon sighed. "Alaric was right about you being able to hold a grudge."

Sofia rolled her eyes and went step away but Damon pulled her back into his chest, making her glare up at him.

"Nah uh, I'm not done."

"You seemed like you were." She mumbled and Damon had enough.

"Sof it's been three days! What can I do or say to make us go back to being best friends again?" Damon asked in slight frustration and they stopped dancing.

Sofia stayed silent as she stared into his desperate blue eyes. She did feel a tiny bit bad about being so cold to him and her life did feel weird without their friendship. Sofia can see how badly he wanted their friendship back.

She sighed "Damon you know how much my family and friends mean to me. If Elijah and I had something or not, I trusted you to trust me. And you didn't, you believed I'd choose someone I just met over my own blood." Sofia told him seriously, a frown on her lips.

Even now when Sofia knows she and Elijah are soulmates, that doesn't change the fact that she'd choose her family over him. They met a week ago, they had nothing. She just hopes this bond of theirs doesn't change that. The thought of loosing her family terrified her.

Damon looked at her, guilty. He knew he was in the wrong, he always did. He just underestimated how angry she'd be.

"Sof, I regret not telling you about the plan. I trust you completely, more than anyone and I know you'd never betray me or your family. I was stupid and a bad best friend and I promise to never lie or keep something from you again. Please forgive me?" He asked, his normal playfulness gone and replaced with desperation for her acceptance.

Sofia smiled lightly at his apology, seeing the truth in his words. All she wanted was a decent apology and for Damon to realize how stupid he was to think she couldn't be trusted.

She hummed, pretending to think. "I'll forgive you if you admit that I'm your best friend and that you love me." Sofia smirked mischievously at him, knowing he wasn't one for sentimental words.

Damon smiled, feeling like a weight has been taken off his chest. "You're my best friend Sofia Gilbert and I love you." He admitted before suddenly picking her up and spinning her in his arms making Sofia laugh.

"I forgive you!"

Damon put her down and the smile on her face returned.

"I'm lucky to have you as my best friend, Sofia Gilbert."

"Hell yeah you are."

Sofia's eyes drifted over his shoulder to Alaric, who stood against the wall, away from the dancing, watching over the crowd with a smirk.

As Damon twirled her again, Sofia leaned closer to him."Is it just me or does Ric seem different?"

Damon furrowed his eyebrows. "Different how?"

"I don't know, I just got a weird feeling about him. He's behind us, look. "

Damon turned his head to watch Alaric and Sofia hit his arm. "Don't look!"

Damon turned back to her and frowned at her hit, rubbing his arm. "But you just said I must!"

"Do you ever watch movies? When someone talks about someone else you don't look at that person! It's common sense."

Damon scoffed. "That makes zero sense, Sof."

Sofia rolled her eyes.

"Come on, I want to see if he's acting differently." He said before taking her hand and gently guiding her towards him. "If there's one thing I've learnt about you, is that your instincts are always spot on."

Sofia smiled at his words as they walked towards their friend.

Klaus noticed their stares before they even approached him, mainly Damon's.

"Hey Ric" Sofia smiled at him but Klaus could see the suspicion in her dark eyes.

"Special dedication huh? This guy's a little twisted." Klaus looked at the pair, referring to the announcement a few minutes ago.

Damon shrugged. "I'm not impressed." He brushed it off. He wrapped the arm Sofia's hand grasped around her shoulder so she could lean into him slightly in a platonic way.

But Klaus didn't know that and he looked at their closeness, confused which didn't go unnoticed.

Klaus cleared his throat. "No?"

"A bit creepy, honestly." Sofia pursed her lips and Klaus frowned.

"Let me know if you see anything out of whack." Damon told him before pulling Sofia with him to walk away.

Once they were out of ear shot, Sofia nudged him. "Notice how he seemed less familiar? And how he looked at us in confusion when you put your arm around me? He knows we're best friends."

Damon looked down at her and shook his head. "Sorry Sof, I didn't notice anything different - except for his hair, did he always put that much gel on? Like come on man, it's too much!"

Sofia rolled her eyes, dropping the paranoid thoughts she had.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

A while later, Sofia exited through the backdoors of the high school that lead her to the football field and parking lot. She was searching for her sister and Bonnie after noticing their absence. With Klaus roaming around, Sofia felt it was better for everyone to be in one place.

She noticed the back of Bonnie's head and her vibrant 60s dress a bit further away and sighed in relief.

"There you guys are!"

Elena and Bonnie stopped their heated conversation to turn and see Sofia jogging towards them.

"I've been looking for you guys -"

"Did you know Bonnie could die if she takes on Klaus tonight?" Elena abruptly asks her sister making Bonnie glare at her.

Sofia furrowed her eyebrows. "What?" Her voice went hard as her eyes went to Bonnie. "Is this true?" She asked, shocked.

Sofia knew Bonnie was determined on ending Klaus but that didn't matter if she died from it.

"It's our only option." Was all Bonnie said, not backing down.

Sofia scoffed loudly, becoming as angry as her sister. "There's always another option Bonnie. No way in hell am I going to watch you die over this!"

Bonnie frowned. "I have the power to save Elena!" She turned to the doppelganger pleadingly. "If I don't use it and something happens, that would kill me more."

Elena shook her head, not wanting to believe that Bonnie was so determined to die for her. Why should she live and Bonnie shouldn't? It's not fair.

"I'm not letting you do this, Bonnie." Sofia told her, bringing the witch's eyes back to her. "I'm serious."

"So am I, Sofia."

"Elena! Sofia!" Alaric shouted from behind the three girls.

They spun around to face him, seeing how out of breath he was.

"Ric?" Sofia asked cautionly.

"What is it?" Elena asked.

"He has Jeremy." Alaric stressed and Sofia felt her dead heart drop.

"What?!" She questioned, knowing who him was. "Where are they Alaric?" She demanded.

Alaric didn't answer her directly and that was enough for the vampire to know something was wrong with the situation excluding the fact that her brother was in danger.

"Come on!" He brushed her off before running back into the school, the three following him instantly with Sofia making sure her sister and friend were behind her.

"Where are you taking us?" Elena asked frantically once they burst through a pair of doors, Sofia's tight grip on her arm.

"Just a little further." Alaric mumbled vaguely.

Sofia huffed and stopped Bonnie and Elena from continuing, standing a few feet away from their history teacher.

"Sof?" Bonnie asked, confused why the vampire stopped.

"Something isn't right." Sofia answered, eyes watching Alaric carefully as he started to turn his hurried run into a calm walk. Her eyes narrowed when the man turned around on his left foot and it clicked. Call it silly or too observant but Sofia knew Alaric was right handed and preferred to turn on his right side.

"That's not Alaric."

"What?" Elena looked at Sofia like she's stupid. "He's right there."

Alaric's lips turned into a slow and devious smile, eyes darker and expression switching to something sinister as he met Sofia's sharp eyes.

Sofia tightened her grip on Elena and Bonnie. "It's Klaus." She finally revealed.

"What?!" The girls exclaimed in unison before looking at 'Alaric' with alarmed eyes.

Klaus smirked widely. "Suprise! Wow you figured that out quickly, quite smart aren't ya?" He looked at Sofia who only glared heatingly back, fully standing in front of Elena and Bonnie now.

"Oh no." Elena muttered, eyes wide and hand gripping Sofia's.

Klaus waved his hand. "You Gilberts relax, I'm not here to hurt either of you. You're not the ones on my hit list tonight." His eyes landed on a silent Bonnie behind Sofia. "But you are."

Klaus rushed towards them but before he could get too close, Sofia used her speed to tackle him into the trophy case behind him, making sure to bang his skull into the pointed trophies.

Mentally apologizing to Ric, Sofia quickly got up, unharmed, watching in horror as Klaus got up with a grunt.

Seeing her shocked expression, Klaus laughes. "Did I forget to mention I know a witch? You're going to have to hit me much harder than that."

Sofia snarled, rushing towards him and throwing him against the opposite wall before disclocating both his legs with a snap.

Klaus screamed in pain, looking at his oddly angled joints before glaring up at Sofia, who rushed back to Elena and Bonnie. The two girls were stunned by the vampire's brutality.

"Go! Now!" Sofia yelled frantically, grabbing both girl's arms and pulling them through the doors to a different hallway. "We need to find the others!"

Making sure the girls were running ahead of her, Sofia ran away from the sounds of Klaus painfully snapping his legs back in place, his angry grunts echoing in her ears.

Suddenly Damon ran towards them from around a corner, eyes looking between the three panicked girls. "What happened?"

"Klaus is in Alaric's body." Sofia huffed, adrenaline pumping through her body. Damon looked confused. "No time for questions. Elena and Bonnie, you need to go find Stefan, now." She looked at them sharply in complete seriousness.

"Okay, please stay safe, Sof." Elena pleaded before she and Bonnie started to run towards the sound of music and chatter.

But before Bonnie could get far, Damon unexpectantly grabbed her arm and hauled her back to him and Sofia. Sofia glared at him and smacked his hand away. She wanted her sister and Bonnie to get far away from Klaus because even though the latter was a witch, she wasn't immortal.

"Damon, leave her." Sofia demanded before taking a glance behind her to make sure Klaus wasn't near.

"Can you kill him?" Damon ignored Sofia, looking Bonnie in the eye.

Bonnie sighed. "He has some kind of protection spell on him."

"Yeah well you have the power of hundred dead witches." He deadpanded. "Break it."

"If I kill Alaric, Klaus will just jump into someone else's body! He knows I have my power, he's trying to kill me!"

"Exactly which is why you should get to safety!" Sofia stressed, not liking the look in Damon's eyes.

Damon blocked Sofia from Bonnie's view. "Are you still willing to do whatever it takes to kill him?" He asked the witch.

Bonnie stayed silent for a moment, flickering her eyes between Damon's desperate ones and Sofia's worried ones.

"Yes."

"No!" Sofia pushed the Salvatore out of the way, stepping in front of Bonnie protectively and glaring at Damon. "Damon what the fuck? You're asking her to die!"

Sofia couldn't bare the thought of Bonnie getting killed. No way is she going to loose a sister. There's got to be another way.

Damon looked back at her with the same glare, but it softened slightly at how scared she looked to loose the witch. He sighed, he didn't want to get in another fight with her.

"Sofia." He tried to reason. "It's the only way to ensure Elena's safety -"

"Don't use my sister to manipulate me!" Sofia snapped.

"Sofia." Bonnie gently grasped her arm as the vampire's heated gaze landed on her, fizziling out. "It's okay." She reassured

"No it's not." Sofia scoffed but Bonnie had an idea.

"I think I know a way I'll walk out of this alive."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"This better work." Sofia muttered to herself with Damon striding next to her as they rushed to the cafeteria where Bonnie was currently trying to kill Klaus, alone.

"It will." Damon tried to comfort her only earning a sigh back.

Stefan and Elena suddenly ran up to them, both looking confused and frightened.

"What are you doing? Where's Bonnie?" Elena questioned looking at Sofia directly, the vampire immediately sending her a apologetic look back.

Sofia felt terrible for not telling Elena what was happening but she couldn't risk them messing up the plan

Damon stepped in front of Sofia as to sheild her from his brother's and her sister's upcoming anger." She's doing what she has to do." He answered for her.

"What?!"

"Where is she?" Stefan exclaimed.

"Stefan, please." Sofia frowned, feeling the knot in her chest get tighter with the tension surrounding them.

"Damn it Sofia, where is she?!" Stefan snapped.

A loud crash from their right caught their attention and before Sofia or Damon could stop them, Stefan and Elena ran towards it.

The group arrived at the cafeteria doors to see Bonnie fighting for her life.

"Bonnie!" Elena screamed.

The witch saw them and with a wave of her hand, the doors closed before they could enter.

"Bonnie no!" Elena started to bang against the door, watching through the small window with tears starting to fall.

Sofia stood next to her, watching anxiously as Bonnie attacked Klaus. Even though the vampire knew Bonnie won't really die, she needed to be there in case something goes wrong and she needs to rip the door off it's hinges.

Klaus was on the floor, trying to get to Bonnie as the witch screamed in concentration. The cafeteria lights burst and a shower of sparks rained down on them.

Bonnie turned to them with a sad smile, locking eyes with Sofia before thrusting her hands forward. Her body suddenly jerked, bending backwards before she collopsed on the floor.

The spell on the doors vanished with her life and they rushed in and towards the unmoving girl.

"No! Bonnie, no, no, no. Please." Elena sobbed, looking at her dead friend in denial.

Sofia knew Bonnie wasn't really dead but seeing her lying there with no rising chest and deathly relaxed features made it feel all too real.

She couldn't look and found comfort in Damon's chest as he wrapped his arms around her, tenderly stroking her hair as she fought back the tears.

The sound of her little sister's cries and pleads were all that was heard as Bonnie Bennett laid lifeless.

Klaus escaped

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Staring at herself in the mirror, Sofia noticed how tired she looked. How tired she was emotionally and physically.

Closing her eyes, the vampire exhales loudly as if all her problems would just leave with the air coming out. She reached for the make-up wipes on the counter and started to clean her face of make up.

After making sure Bonnie's unconscious body got to the old witchs's house safely where Jeremy was to greet her with a hug, Damon and herself went back to the boarding house.

The minute they entered an angry Elena stormed up to them. Damon knew Sofia was exhausted and nodded slightly at her to tell her to go upstairs whilst he explained everything to her sister. Sofia was reluctant but gave in.

Sofia called Jenna to tell her that she'll be staying at the Salvatores and her aunt asked her to call her in the morning.

The vampire exited the bathroom attached to the bedroom she claimed at the Salvatores. It was right next to Damon's, per his request back when he wanted to get her into bed.

Just as Sofia finished changing into her spare pajamas, a knock on the door caught her attention.

"Come in."

Elena opened the door and smiled tiredly at her older sister, eyes slightly red from when she cried over Bonnie. Damon just finished telling her about their plan and that Bonnie was alive, telling her not to get mad at Sofia.

Elena wasn't mad.

Sofia turned around and smiled slightly back, looking just as exhausted after their night. She wordlessly opened her arms and Elena hugged her older sister tightly. Sofia placed her chin over Elena's head and locked her arms behind her back, feeling her sister nuzzle into her neck.

Just like when they were kids.

"I'm sorry for not telling you."

"No, I get it, Sof. You just wanted to protect her and me. Like always." Elena squeezed her tighter, missing her older sister's warmth

Sofia just smiled and kissed Elena's head affectionatly.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

AUTHOR'S NOTE

first chapter of 2023, whoo!

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