Verendus

Chapter 9

Braelyn did not involve herself in the Mystic Falls drama after she picked up Caroline she had focused solely on her coven and work. She spent her time on those things important to her, Caroline often dropped in to spend time with the Bennett's but that was it on any guest they may have had. 

Elion had spent his time working in the High School and ignoring the suspicious glances and hateful glares he got from Alaric, Stefan and Elena. Luckily Caroline was a good student who made things easier. However, both Bennetts were close to losing their tempers.

Braelyn looked around as she and Elion made their way into the clearing, several witches stepped out of the shadows and lowered their heads as Braelyn passed them. In the centre of the circle of witches was a trashing figure of a familiar vampire. "You tomb vampires seem to forget that freeing you is what caused the death of our previous coven head?" The vampire gazed at her with a mixture of fear and hatred, but she just smirked.

Raising her hands, she allowed herself to connect with nature and draw on the gods that had called her to this world. Her words were of the old language thought to be forever lost to time. The witches watched on in awe as the vampire's life force was ripped from him and a familiar face appeared before a scream left the woman's lips. Aibell's eyes seemed to glow as a shadowy figure appeared the banshee lowered her head "Lord Death" A skeletal hand gently gripped her chin before raising her head.

"My beloved Banshee" There was a silent exchange before the man turned to Braelyn who met his eyes her gaze promising absolute destruction if he betrayed her. The personification of death laughed before walking over and accepting her offer "For this soul I shall repay your clan, you may all have true immortality".

The Bennett witches in the circle kneeled to thank the man but Braelyn still met his gaze with a fierceness that amused him to no end. "Your true bonded will live as long as you do, Be proud clan Bennett your coven head looks a god in the eye with no fear and a promise of retribution she has gained my respect".

After the man spoke both Aibell and the unnamed vampire were gone the man nodded to Braelyn and then vanished. The witches watched as Braelyn lowered her arms and smirked: "Let's go home, everyone".

As the woman turned to walk away, she felt the need to go and visit Caroline. Smiling she ensured the rest of her family left before she began to walk towards the Forbes home. Her steps were light and firm her eyes focused on the streets. Unseen to the human eyes her magic was surrounding her like a protective barrier stopping any of the vampires in the area from attacking her. Finally, she arrived and gently knocked on the door as expected Caroline answered once again Liz was not home.

She had failed to consider the effect of the moon on her. Caroline's hair had grown in length and seemed to be absorbing the moonlight. Her eyes were slightly glazed, and she was the most alluring figure Braelyn had ever seen. Slowly the witch entered the house and pulled the blonde into her arms. She allowed her magic to snap the girl out of her daze, she watched as Caroline blinked slowly and then smiled before gently pressing her lips against Braelyn's.

The witch tensed and reluctantly pulled away "No little one not while you are still under a pull, I want you willing and aware". The younger girl whimpered and pressed her face into the crook of Braelyn's neck. The witch gently ran her hands through the teen's hair layering her voice with magical compulsions "Sleep, my dear".

Caroline nuzzled against her before falling asleep on Braelyn's lap. The older woman smiled and continued this until she fell asleep. Neither cared about their position or the fact that they were in the living room.

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Elizabeth Forbes entered her house with a frown on her face Caroline had forgotten to lock the door again. She raised her head to call her daughter down when her voice caught in her throat her daughter sat in Braelyn's Bennetts lap her face in the older woman's neck and Braelyn held her securely against her. There was a feeling of dread then anger before she could speak Caroline shifted. Liz slipped back outside and listened.

"Braelyn when did you get here?" the witch woke up as Caroline gently shook her, the witch yawned before softly smiling as the blonde "Last night you were really out of it I was worried" Liz stiffened when her daughter seemed to confirm her lack of lucidity and thanked Braelyn for checking in on her.

"I have to go my little fae" Liz felt her eyebrows raise at the term of endearment before stiffening when Caroline laughed. She could not see it but there was silence and something in her wanted to know instead she waited before making as much noise as possible. The door swung open, and Braelyn walked out with a bright smile Caroline by her side "Bye Braelyn".

Liz watched as the woman walked off before entering the house with a frown "What was she doing here" she asked as she forced herself to remain calm. Her daughter stared at her with a dark expression "Does it matter?". 

Something about her tone was protective and a bit possessive and Liz hated it. She hated how close her daughter was with the product of an affair "She's an affair baby Caroline it hurts Bonnie"

To her surprise, Caroline scoffed before glaring at her "Really Braelyn was the affair baby when she was born before Bonnie's parents married and while they were not together" Her anger curled around the words as she spat them like venom in her mothers face neither noticed Elena and Bonnie on the porch with wide eyes. 

As Caroline continued "To be fair Bonnie hurts that entire family and Abby more as she is a product of a forced marriage and rape or did you not know that your so-called friend blackmailed and abused Abby before and after their marriage that she did not even want him"

Bonnie's eyes widened as she let out a choked "What" Two pairs of blue eyes flashed to the open door and the argument stopped. "Oh, Bonnie we didn't mean to" The girl stepped back avoiding Liz's hand "Is it true?"

Liz sighed and reluctantly nodded "Braelyn is your older sister born while Abby was married to a Billionaire from South Africa. Rudy was pissed and followed her all the way there when he found her Braelyn had been about 2. A year later your mother was a widow and Rudy dragged her back here".

Bonnie watched as Caroline gave her mother a sharp glare and then walked up to her room. Elena gently guided her away the girls were shocked and hurt but neither said a word. Her father was an abuser and rapist based on what Caroline said no wonder Abby left.