TVD: The Siphoner

RIIINGGG—!

The bell rang, sharp and final, slicing through Mr. Tanner's droning lecture like a knife. Students stirred, collecting their things and chattering as they filed out. But Bonnie didn't move.

She was still hunched over her desk, furiously scribbling 8. 14. 22. across every corner of her notebook. Page after page. Same three numbers. Over and over.

Then—

Flick.

"Ahi!" she yelped, her hand shooting to her forehead as she turned around.

Aiken stood behind her, a small, amused smile playing on his lips. "Wow. That got your attention."

"Aiken!" Bonnie huffed, swatting at his arm. "When did you even get here?"

He raised an eyebrow, still smiling. "Huh? I've been behind you for nearly an hour. You seriously didn't notice me come in?"

Bonnie's brow furrowed. "No, I—" But her voice trailed off as Aiken's eyes dropped to her notebook.

His smile faded.

"What are those numbers…" he started, but his voice drifted off.

Suddenly, throb.

A sharp, hot pain shot through his head, like a flash of lightning cracking through his skull. He winced.

And then he heard her voice—Bonnie's voice—from the Mystic Waterfalls Party, echoing like a whisper behind his eyes:

"Blood… Wolves… and the moon."

He repeated it aloud without thinking. "Blood… Wolves… and the moon."

Bonnie's heart skipped a beat.

"What?" she breathed. "That's..."

Aiken stared at her notebook again. The numbers glared back at him.

8. 14. 22.

The hairs on the back of his neck rose.

He didn't know why—but he knew they meant something. And worse—they felt connected to her words. As if everything was converging toward something dark, inevitable.

Bonnie felt it too. That same cold whisper in her gut.

Aiken's breathing slowed. Something inside him stirred. Something… hidden. Waiting.

Psychic. The word echoed in his mind.

He often had bad feelings. Sensations... even when Vicky had disappeared, kidnapped by Damon, he felt like something was wrong. But he had always disregarded them as simple guts.

But what if they weren't?

He came from Gemini Coven, after all. His blood came from witches. Powerful ones. Why couldn't he have inherited more than just magic?

A slow grin crept onto Aiken's face.

Another way to get stronger… maybe.

He glanced up at Bonnie.

"I don't know what it means," he said softly. "But—"

"It all feels…" Bonnie started.

They locked eyes.

"…bad," they finished in unison.

The air between them thickened. Cold. Electric.

Neither of them moved. Neither of them smiled.

Because whatever was coming—

It had already started.

...

The sun beat down over the school courtyard as the cheer squad started up practice. The girls were in training clothes—tank tops, sneakers, ponytails bouncing with every move.

Elena stood with one leg stretched high on the metal rail, her arms folded as she leaned into the stretch. Beside her, Bonnie was going through the same motions, but her mind clearly wasn't in it.

Her eyes were distant. Her form was loose. Her hands trembled ever so slightly as she held the pose.

"Bonnie!" Elena snapped.

Bonnie flinched. "Ah, yes?"

Elena narrowed her eyes. "You weren't listening to a single word I just said, were you?"

Bonnie offered a sheepish smile. "Eh… sorry."

Elena dropped her leg and turned to face her properly. "What's happening with you lately? You keep spacing out. You're acting… stranger and stranger."

"I don't know…" Bonnie murmured, looking away.

There was a long pause. Elena's gaze softened.

"Well, you're coming to dinner at my place tonight," she said suddenly.

Bonnie blinked. "Really?" A flicker of warmth touched her face—her smile returning, though the weight in her eyes didn't lift entirely.

"Yeah," Elena said. "You, me, Aiken, and Stefan."

At that, the smile faded. Gone like a puff of breath in cold air.

As soon as the name Stefan left Elena's lips, something visibly shifted in Bonnie. Her jaw tightened. Her gaze dropped to the ground.

"Come on, Bonnie," Elena urged gently. "You've got to give him a chance."

"I can't tonight…" Bonnie replied flatly, her voice lower now.

Then, with a forced brightness: "Have you seen Caroline? I've called her a lot, but she's not answering."

Elena sighed. "Don't change the subject."

Bonnie didn't reply.

"You will be coming," Elena said with a firm smile.

Bonnie let out a small exhale and nodded. "Okay… I'll come."

"Good." Elena smiled, satisfied.

The tension between them eased slightly as the two girls turned back to their stretches, mirroring each other's motions.

But behind Bonnie's eyes, the unease still pulsed.

Something was coming.

...

The girls were sitting by the edge of the courtyard, cooling down from their routine. The sun was still bright above, casting golden hues over the school's front lawn. They were both sipping from their water bottles, sweat clinging lightly to their skin.

Bonnie wiped her brow and glanced around. "Really though… where is Caroline?"

Elena looked uneasy. "I don't know. But it's definitely not like her to skip practice without telling anyone."

Bonnie frowned. "I'll try calling her again…" She picked up her phone and pressed it to her ear.

But just as the line began to ring—

VROOOM.

A low, powerful engine revved in the distance.

Both girls turned their heads.

A sleek, light blue, very expensive-looking car rolled smoothly into the school parking lot. It came to a slow, showy stop not far from them.

Bonnie immediately lowered her phone, the call forgotten.

Elena was already pointing. "There."

The car door opened with a soft click, and out stepped Caroline, wearing large, dark sunglasses and a smug, satisfied smile. She was laughing. Her blonde hair shimmered in the sunlight as she leaned in—and then, right there, kissed the guy in the driver's seat.

Bonnie's mouth fell open. "Wait… is that the guy from the other day? The mysterious one we saw outside the coffee shop?"

Elena's jaw clenched. Her voice dropped, tight and irritated. "That's not just some mysterious guy."

She stood up, hands on her hips.

"That's Damon Salvatore."

Bonnie looked up at her, shocked. "Wait… Salvatore? Like… Stefan?"

Elena gave a short nod. "Yes. He's Stefan's older brother."

To be continued...

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How was this chapter? Liked it?

Also, liking the idea of making Aiken a psychic as well? I wanted to power him up a bit and this seemed quite appropriate.