Verendus

Chapter 11

The Miss Mystic Falls competition was coming up and Braelyn wanted Caroline to shine. She had called the girl over to pick a dress for the event. The younger blonde watched the dresses in awe before her eyes were glued to a pink evening gown. It was unknown to her that Braelyn had made it with her in mind. Yet the blonde chose a green gown the colour was not bad, yet it did not give Caroline the look of a Miss Mystic Fall southern belle charm. It made her look older and way too mature.

"Caroline why did you gravitate to the green?". She watched as the girl flushed and looked down "I'm pale and blonde, darker colours make me look a bit more alive and noticeable" Braelyn scoffed and shocked her head "Darker colors suit Elena more than you and that's because of her colouring. While green is a nice colour on you try more pastels of blue, pink or lavender they make you stand out."

Had Caroline been internally comparing herself to Elena without realizing it? Braelyn groaned when she remembered Caroline's rant over the phone a couple of years ago. The girl had liked Matt and confessed to him only for him to ask Elena out the next day. It had hurt Caroline deeply as every guy in town considered Elena the catch with her innocent girl next door act.

Braelyn was ensuring that Caroline was spoiled and well taken care of she watched the dress that Caroline had been glancing at since she entered the room and smiled before walking over and gently placing it in the blonde's hands "This is perfect". The dress was pink and blue with shimmering overlays and flowers pink satin ribbons formed the straps of the dress. Caroline froze becoming a supernatural entity was good for her it opened her eyes to more opportunities. Since she had embraced her full nature, she had matured in a short amount of time, but her insecurities still existed.

She watched the dress in awe before looking at Braelyn "Are you sure?" The older woman smiled and nodded "And don't worry I hired a few people to make you look like a Princess". She gently took the dress and placed it in a garment bag "I already placed a protection spell on the dress. Enjoy darling."

Caroline hugged her tightly before rushing off with the brightest smile on her face. As Caroline's car left the Bennett witch's smile dropped and she used her magic to send the other dress back into her sketchpad. Not that the guest sitting in her study would realize walking into the room the girl watched her younger sister.

"What do you want Bonnie?".

Green eyes met brown and suddenly all the courage Bonnie had gathered died. She looked at the photo behind her sister and spoke softly. "I'm here to apologise for how I treated you before, it was cruel and wrong of me, and you did not deserve that I'm sorry Braelyn". The older of the two witches tilted her head her sister's voice was hoarse as if she had been crying or screaming for a few hours. Finally, it clicked "You know the truth huh?" she watched as Bonnie meekly nodded her head and laughed a bit "Who told you?".

"Caroline and her mum were arguing Liz commented on you and Caroline snapped-" Braelyn raised her hand cutting Bonnie off. A delicate, manicured hand gripped Bonnie's chin and raised the girl's head "Now you know, so what do you want from me? Bonnie Bennett". Elion stood against the wall near the open door listening to the conversation while Bennett's never harmed their own, he wondered if Braelyn would change that. His eyebrow raised when Bonnie answered, "I would like you to forgive me one day". Was she being genuine or was this one of her games?

Braelyn stepped back and watched her sister for a few minutes before handing her a basic book with their coven rules and history. The book updated magically and was only available to Bennetts. She would know when Bonnie finished reading the book and based on her actions after she would see if her sister was worth forgiving.

"Read it before you make any more decisions on using your magic or else it will be sealed again" She watched as the girl nodded and slipped out of the room quietly. Elion walked into the study and glanced at his coven leader. "Do you forgive her?" Braelyn looked at him her eyes seemed unfocused "I will forgive based on her future actions.".

Now she had work to do, Elijah Mikealson was a problem, but she could not kill him as he was still Klaus's brother. Elijah was someone who would do anything to protect his siblings once he was not blinded by love. She could see how similar Rebekah was to him after all Elijah lied to his family to protect Katherine for years. Rebekah constantly placed her lovers above family, while Elijah limited it to one person. Frankly, even with Haley the man was shifting sides.

Yet in the end their messed up Always and Forever vow came into play she needed to get something other than a dagger to incapacitate the Noble Original. Her eyes drifted to glance at the many grimoires on her shelves before grabbing Ayana's. Her ancestor was probably the least biased member of their line and had not drifted from the family's true purpose.

'Esther has turned her children and now sees them as monsters, but nature willed this to happen. I made them rings and used my magic to put a protection spell on them. As long as a Bennett walks this earth, they shall be safe from destruction. I was careful to collect a dying specimen of the white oak vervain flower and magically preserved it. After seeing how it caused Finn to faint it is best the others are destroyed and the Bennett line keeps the last one.'

The entry had stunned Braelyn but looking at the drawing of the flower she rushed out to the garden in her grandmother's backyard. There was a section magically protected, that only Bralyen could pick the flowers. There in the center of the section was the preserved plant with its children blooming around it. Shelia was careful the first two barriers were vervain, and after that were wolfsbane and lobelia. Then the magic protections it was blood-based and to touch the flower you had to be the coven leader.

A smile appeared on Braelyn's face "Well Elijah let's incapacitate you shall we". And all she needed was one flower and some powder how she loved being a Bennett witch.