Splitting Our Odds Into Evens

Bloodrush

"It's ready," Freya said.

Kol stood beside Bonnie, staring at the circle that had been prepared for him. The candles surrounding it were already lit.

Bonnie reached for his hand.

Kol looked down at their intertwined fingers before giving hers a squeeze. "Last chance to admit this is an absolutely dreadful idea."

"We've established that."

"Several times, actually."

Bonnie almost smiled. "And we're still doing it."

"Unfortunately."

Freya stepped toward the circle, but Davina suddenly caught her arm.

"Wait."

Everyone looked at her.

"There's something I have to do first."

Freya studied her face. "What?"

Davina hesitated, looking around at everyone before settling her attention on Kol. "When I contacted the spirits a few days ago, they wouldn't help me for free."

Kol's brows furrowed. "What did you promise them?"

Davina sighed. "I promised I'd give them access to the physical world again."

Bonnie stared at her. "You did what?"

"I didn't have a choice. They wouldn't tell me anything otherwise."

Bonnie pursed her lips. "Now's not exactly the best time to mention this."

"I wasn't planning on doing it tonight."

"Then don't," Kol said immediately.

Davina gave him an irritated look. "I have to."

"You most certainly do not."

"They made me swear, Kol." Davina's frustration faded as she continued. "Not just promise. They bound it. Cross my heart and hope to die."

That shut him up.

Davina looked toward the ritual circle. "I don't know what's going to happen once we start this spell. None of us do. What if something goes wrong and I lose my magic? What if I can't reconnect them afterward?"

Bonnie understood before anyone else said it. "Then you wouldn't be able to keep your end of the bargain."

Davina nodded. "And I'm not finding out what happens when a bunch of dead witches decide I broke a magically bound promise."

Kol dragged a hand over his face. "Brilliant. So before we violate the natural order, we're inviting an entire coven of dead witches back into our world."

"I'm not inviting them into the house."

"Oh, well, that's comforting."

"They're the reason we're standing here with a way to save you at all," Davina reminded him. "I couldn't figure out what was happening to you. They're the ones who told me becoming a vampire again was the only way to stop it."

Kol didn't respond.

Davina softened. "I made the deal. I have to honor it."

Freya looked uneasy, but eventually nodded. "Do it quickly."

Davina moved away from the others and lowered herself onto the floor several feet from the ritual circle. She closed her eyes, placing both palms flat against the stone.

Bonnie watched as Davina began whispering under her breath.

At first, nothing happened.

Then the flames around Kol's circle flickered.