Vulnerable

Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Witch Bitch

{D. K}

"So we're just going to wait here while your brother sacrifices Elena?" Jeremy starts, stomping up to Elijah and Dakota.

"We don't have much of a choice. None of the grimrore's have anything on ensuring that Elena will survive with the elixir. We just have to trust that it doesn't have an expiration date."

Bonnie glanced up from her spot on the wooden floor. "What if it does?"

Dakota frowned and shrugged her shoulders. "Then you won't have to worry about any other supernaturals coming to Mystic Falls. Maybe you'll actually live to graduate high school."

"Dakota," Elijah calls, softly touching her shoulder. "Let's go."

"Oh, Bennett. Some witchy friends popped in a few nights ago, told me to give this to you." Dakota tossed the bottle to her, it landing in Bonnie's chocolate colored hands.

"What is it?"

"Something to make sure the power that your harboring will stay a little longer and not drain out so quickly."

Looking down at the purple colored mixture she nodded. "Thanks."

Without response, Dakota went with Elijah into the car. On the drive there, she peeked occasionally at Elijah who was staring intently at the road ahead.

"The sacrifice is completed in stages as the full moon sets." He explains to Alaric and Dakota. The vampire hunter walked with the vampires in sync, hiking his bag up on his shoulder. "First the werewolf, then the vampire, and finally the doppelgänger. Once Elena dies, the curse will be broken. Klaus will become hybrid."

Stefan looked down at his feet, clearly uncomfortable with the thought of Elena's death. "So, when do we attack?"

"Elena's death will activate his dormant werewolf side. He'll be vulnerable in the transformation, that's when Bonnie comes in."

Stefan's green eyes bored into Elijah's. "And you're sure Bonnie will survive this?"

"If she can deliver him to the brink of death, I can finish the job myself." Stefan's phone rang in the middle of Elijah's response. Dakota could see his jaw clench at the gesture of disrespect.

Placing a hand on his shoulder, Dakota smirked. "Careful, old man. Not everyone kept their manners that they learned over the years. New generation, new mannerisms."

"I remember a time when the people of my village didn't even look at us in fear of being persecuted."

"Sounds lonely."

"Not lonely, just more controlled."

A smile danced on Dakota's face. "Oh, so your one of those men? Rod up your ass in public, but a Christian Grey behind closed doors."

"Wouldn't you like to know?" He teased, showing a side of himself that Dakota hadn't thought she would see in the short time she had known him.

Dakota lifted up on her tip-toes to answer in his ear, when Stefan spoke. "Klaus is using Jenna as the vampire in the ritual."

Alaric—the vampire hunter who I was incredibly wary about—stared at the younger Salvatore in shock. "What?"

"Wait," Dakota interrupted. "You guys didn't know?"

"You did?"

"Yeah, someone texted me this morning. I thought it was you, Hero Hair."

Rolling his eyes at the nickname, Stefan shook his head in denial. "I never texted you."

"Yes you did, watch." Dakota pulled her phone from her back pocket, pulling up the number in her recents and calling it.

Dakota expected Stefan's phone to ring but it didn't, even after someone answered it. "Hello love." Elijah and her shared a glance, Dakota knowing he recognized the voice on the receiving end better than any of them. "Finally pieced the puzzle together? I was wondering how long it would take. Got to say, I was expecting more from you sweetheart."

"Klaus, how'd you get my number?"

"You intrigue me Dakota, you're disrespectful and you have something within you I haven't seen in centuries."

"That doesn't explain how you got my number." Dakota snapped, using all of her centuries of restraint not to squeeze the phone to bits.

Klaus' unnerving chuckle sounded through the speaker. "You're a threat to me, I needed to keep tabs on you and what better way to do that than snag your number from my favorite vampires phone when he wasn't looking."

"Damon." Dakota pieced together in her head.

"Don't sound so glum, this is fantastic. Now we can have late night phone calls, tea party's, maybe we could even go out to dinner this Friday."

Dakota's white teeth gritted against one another so hard, she was sure that the enamel coating my teeth was wearing away. "Don't count on it you Original dick." Dakota ripped the phone from her triple pierced ear, hanging up and shoving the phone back into her pocket. "Let's just get this stupid ritual done so I can go home. I have a large bottle of scotch calling my name."

"You're such a alcoholic."

"It comes with the town."

•

•

•

"Jeremy," Alaric stood before the sixteen year old boy that was sitting close by the teenage witch. "I need to speak with you alone please." Bonnie, taking the hint, stood up and gave the two space.

Bonnie walked outside, meeting Elijah, Dakota, and Stefan who all wore grim expressions. "What's going on?" She asked, picking up on the tense atmosphere.

"Klaus is using Jenna as the vampire in the sacrifice."

"A punishment for meddling." Elijah added, his usual monotone voice showing nothing, as right now he was serious and guarded.

Dakota signed, crossing her arms. "Klaus was going to use Tyler and Caroline, Damon and I rescued them."

"Then we need to go now." The Bennett witch insisted, snuggling tighter to her thick cardigan. "Before Jenna's been sacrificed, I can kill Klaus myself."

"Bonnie," Stefan started. "—if you use that much power, you'll be dead. We've already been through this. It's not an option."

"Neither is letting Jenna die."

Dakota stepped forward, brown eyes half-lidded as she made up her mind. "She's not going to."

"And who are you to lie to me like that?"

"The person who's going to take her place." Everyone's eyes widened significantly at her decision. "Klaus will want me more than her."

"Why would you do that?" Bonnie whispers, staring critically at the vampire before her.

"Because I don't back down on a promise

"How will you get where they are?"

"I know you've already done a locator spell."

Hesitantly, Bonnie nodded, proving that she did so. "They're at Stephan's Quarry."

"That's all I need to know."

"Well, what about me?"

Elijah now diverted his attention to the chocolate skinned witch. "You are to stay hidden until the moon hits it's final phase. He cannot know you're alive."

Bonnie accepted his answer and walked back into the house, trying to pass time. Dakota took the keys from Elijah's pocket sneakily, she gave him a small smile. "Goodbye 'lijah."

"You're a very honorable woman, Dakota King."

Not falling for his rough voice and alluring scent. "I know, just make sure your end of the plan follows through so I don't have to die for no reason."

"I won't fail you."

Dakota pursed her lips. "Look, Klaus is your brother and I know how hard it is going to be to kill him."

"Klaus is not my only brother. I had siblings, parents, a family. Over the centuries, Klaus hunted them down one by one and he took them from me." Tears welled up in the oldest Originals eye. "He scattered their bodies across the seas."

"You're doing this for revenge?"

"There is sometimes honor in revenge." He admits, his stone cold brown eyes softening for a millisecond, a lock of his silky hair falling over it. "I won't fail you."