The Vampire Diaries: Bastard Line of Delgallo

Leon led Bonnie through the doors of the Mystic Grill, the warm buzz of conversation and clinking glasses filling the air. Bonnie had been on edge since he mentioned that he wanted her to meet someone, but she didn't expect to see a young woman sitting in the far corner, her eyes scanning the room as if she already knew who she was waiting for.

As they approached, the woman stood, smoothing down the front of her leather jacket. She had dark curls that framed her face and a quiet confidence in her stance.

"Bonnie," Leon said, placing a hand lightly on Bonnie's back, "this is Greta."

Bonnie hesitated for a moment before offering her hand, but Greta bypassed the gesture entirely and pulled Bonnie into a brief hug. It wasn't overly warm, but it wasn't cold either—just enough to convey familiarity, as if they'd always been connected by something unseen.

"It's nice to finally meet you," Greta said, stepping back. Her voice was steady, but her eyes studied Bonnie carefully, as if searching for pieces of herself in her cousin's face.

Bonnie frowned slightly, glancing between Leon and Greta. "I don't understand. How are we related?"

Greta exhaled, folding her arms. "I'm your first cousin twice removed. My great-grandmother was Pauline."

Bonnie's brows furrowed in thought. "Pauline…?"

"Grams' niece," Greta clarified. "Your great-aunt's bloodline. We're family, Bonnie."

Bonnie's stomach flipped at the realization. She had always known the Bennett lineage was vast and complex, but she hadn't expected to be face-to-face with yet another lost relative—especially one she had never even heard of.

Before she could ask anything else, the door to the Grill swung open, and two more figures entered—Katherine, with her usual air of mischief, and beside her, Lucy.

Bonnie's breath caught.

Lucy's eyes widened the moment she saw Greta. For a split second, disbelief washed over her face before she rushed forward. "Greta?"

Greta smiled softly. "Hey, Luce."

Lucy let out a breath, and in a rare show of emotion, she pulled Greta into a tight embrace. The hug lingered longer than expected, like an anchor in a storm.

"I haven't seen you since…" Lucy trailed off, shaking her head as she pulled back. "Since your mother passed."

Greta nodded. "I know. It's been a long time."

Lucy swallowed hard. "I thought—without the last name Bennett—you'd be free of… all of this."

Greta let out a short, bitter laugh. "Yeah, I thought so too."

Bonnie watched the exchange, her mind racing with questions, but before she could speak, Leon stepped forward. His voice was even, but there was an underlying urgency in his words.

"Klaus found out Greta was a Bennett," he said.

Everyone fell silent.

Greta's jaw tightened, but she said nothing.

Leon continued, "You all know the curse that binds him. Only a Bennett can break it because a Bennett helped make it."

Bonnie's stomach dropped. "So that's why he—"

Greta nodded. "That's why he found me. I ran for a while and he chased me because I'm stronger than my brother. But it was me or them, so I joined him. My dad couldn't accept that."

The weight of her words settled heavily between them, an unspoken understanding passing through the room. The Bennett legacy had always come with a cost, and now, once again, the past was pulling them all back in.

"That's why I felt connected to Luka. Not because he was a witch." Bonnie came to a realization, then she collapsed with guilt.

Lucy caught her and Bonnie couldn't stop crying. 

"It's my fault…" she sobbed.

Greta smiled weakly, "We all have a part in this. Leon told me everything."

The road to Sheila Bennett's house was quiet, lined with thick trees that cast long shadows under the dimming sky. The air smelled of damp earth and distant rain, and a heavy sense of purpose settled over the car's occupants. Bonnie sat in the passenger seat, arms crossed as she glanced at Leon, who was driving with steady focus. Lucy and Greta sat in the back, silent, their thoughts occupied with the weight of what lay ahead.

Bonnie still couldn't shake the feeling of unease. They were moving into Sheila's house, an ancestral home that had long been tied to the Bennett lineage. It felt like stepping into a battle they weren't fully prepared for, yet she knew they had no choice.

When they arrived, the house loomed before them, its familiar structure offering a sense of safety Bonnie wasn't sure was real. The porch creaked under their steps as Leon pushed the door open, the scent of old books and herbs greeting them.

As they settled in, Leon gathered them around the dining table, his expression unreadable. "Before we do anything else, you all need to know—I bought the land where the witch burial site is. And the land where Klaus plans to complete his ritual."

Bonnie's eyes snapped to his. "You bought it?"

Leon nodded. "The deed is in my name. Which means, for now, we control it. But that's not enough."

Lucy leaned forward, skeptical. "What exactly is your endgame here, Leon? Because I don't think Klaus is just going to back off because you own a piece of paper."

Greta spoke up, her voice calm but firm. "That's where my plan comes in. We can sanctify the land—to the Delgallo Coven."

Bonnie frowned. "Delgallo? That's not a Bennett lineage."

Greta shook her head. "No, but it's one of the oldest lineages in the world. Leon's Grandfather led the French Quarter witches a century ago. His Father is still an elder, they have a reputation. If we make the land sacred to them, it becomes a haven. No supernatural being—vampire, werewolf, or otherwise—can step foot on it without permission. And if they do, or if that permission is revoked, the land itself will reject them."

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "That's some old-world magic. I like it."

"The problem," Greta continued, "is that we need thirteen witches. Twelve to perform the ritual, one to lead. Mystic Falls doesn't have that many strong witches left… except for one family. And they have a blood debt with the Salvatores."

A heavy silence followed.

Bonnie sighed, already dreading the answer. "What happened?"

"A pregnant daughter was killed," Greta said. "Gale. She was Zach Salvatore's lover. And without proper compensation, they won't help us."

Bonnie clenched her fists, anger simmering at the constant reminder of how the Salvatores' past sins bled into their present. "So what do we do?"

Leon leaned back, smirking slightly. "We offer them compensation."

"And what exactly is that?" Lucy asked, suspicious.

Leon turned to Bonnie, reaching into his pocket. "Before we get to that, let's handle something else first." He pulled out an old, silver bracelet etched with intricate runes and symbols, placing it in Bonnie's palm.

She felt a pulse of power the moment her fingers touched it.

Leon's voice was calm but resolute. "For penance to the Bennetts, servitude of fifty years."

Bonnie's breath hitched. "What—?"

"Katherine," Leon said simply.

Lucy's lips curled into a slow, satisfied smirk. "You bound her?"

Leon nodded. "This is the Bracelet of Obedience. As long as Bonnie holds it, Katherine is under her control. She can't disobey direct orders, and she cannot betray us."

Bonnie stared at the bracelet, stunned. Katherine Pierce, the manipulative, centuries-old vampire who had tormented them all, was now bound to her.

"Say the word," Leon continued, "and she has to comply."

For once, Katherine was completely silent, standing at the edge of the room. Bonnie hadn't even noticed her enter, but now, she looked at the vampire with new understanding. Katherine's usual smirk was gone, replaced by a begrudging acceptance.

Bonnie swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the magic in her hand. "I… I don't even know what to say."

Lucy grinned. "I do. This? This is justice."

Leon smirked. "Then I take it you're satisfied?"

Lucy chuckled. "Oh, beyond."

Greta, who had been quiet during the exchange, finally spoke. "We need to move forward. Sanctifying the land is our priority, and for that, we need those witches."

"And we need to settle that blood debt," Bonnie muttered. "What kind of compensation are we talking about, Leon?"

Leon's smirk widened. "I know exactly what will make things right."

Bonnie narrowed her eyes. "Leon…"

He turned to Lucy and Katherine. "You two have a trip to make."

Katherine raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And where are we going?"

"North Carolina," Leon said. "You're bringing back a girl named Sarah Nelson."

Lucy's amusement faded, replaced by suspicion. "Who is she?"

Leon's smile didn't waver. "The key to fixing our little problem."

Bonnie exchanged a glance with Greta, who, for the first time, looked uncertain.

Something told Bonnie that Sarah Nelson was more than just a bargaining chip. And whatever Leon had planned, it was going to change everything.

The meeting had ended, but the weight of its revelations lingered in the air. Bonnie stepped out onto the porch, the night wind cool against her skin as she followed Leon outside. Greta walked beside them in silence, her thoughts just as occupied as Bonnie's.

Leon stopped at the edge of the porch, turning to face Bonnie. There was something unreadable in his expression, something that made Bonnie's stomach tighten with suspicion.

"You're full of surprises today," she said, folding her arms.

Leon smirked. "I like to keep things interesting." He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small folded slip of paper. With an almost casual gesture, he handed it to Bonnie.

She hesitated before taking it. "What is this?"

Leon's smirk didn't fade. "Go find out."

Bonnie frowned, flipping the paper between her fingers. "Leon—"

"It's something you need to see for yourself," he interrupted, his voice carrying a rare seriousness. "And when you do, bring it back."

Bonnie opened her mouth to protest, but Leon shook his head.

"There are no forever enemies," he said. His gaze held hers for a moment longer before he turned to Greta. "Walk with me."

Greta nodded and followed him down the porch steps, leaving Bonnie standing alone with the slip of paper burning in her palm.

As they approached his car, Greta finally spoke. "Klaus has agreed to everything."

Leon gave her a sidelong glance. "Good."

"But there's a condition," she continued. "If his father ever appears—there will be war."

Leon stopped, his hand resting on the car door. He let out a slow breath, as if considering something only he understood. "Everything is under control," he assured her. "But as the last of the Bennetts, we have to keep your blood safe."

Greta nodded, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. "Bonnie's stepping into something bigger than she realizes."

"Which is why she'll need you," Leon said. He turned to face her fully, his expression uncharacteristically solemn. "Lead her down the path that protects us all, Greta."

Greta held his gaze for a long moment before nodding. "I will."

Leon's smirk returned, though this time, it was softer. "Good."

With that, he slipped into the car and started the engine. As he drove off into the night, Greta turned back to the house. Bonnie was still standing on the porch, staring at the paper in her hand.

Whatever was written there, Greta had the feeling it was about to change everything.

______________________

The days that followed were a blur of movement, deception, and quiet revelations. The grand charade had begun, and every piece needed to fall into place before the inevitable confrontation.

Lucy, Katherine, and Bonnie had each left Mystic Falls with a purpose. And when they returned, they brought back something—someone—that would alter the course of events to come.

Lucy arrived first, escorting Sarah Nelson back into town. Sarah had been hesitant, wary of the strange request that had pulled her from North Carolina, but the moment she saw her grandparents—Edward and Lucile Evergreen—everything changed.

Edward and Lucile had lived in quiet obscurity for years, never revealing their ties to Mystic Falls. Their family had been among the few who fled Salem alongside the Bennetts centuries ago, and their lineage had remained hidden in the shadows. But now, the past had called them home.

Tears flowed freely as Sarah collapsed into their embrace, a piece of their broken family finally restored. The Evergreens had lost much, but this—this was something they could hold onto. And with their reunion, a debt long owed was finally repaid.

Then came Bonnie.

Her return was not as joyful. There were no tearful reunions, no heartfelt embraces—only silence and tension thick enough to suffocate. Because Bonnie had brought back the one person she had never wanted to face again.

Her mother, Abby Bennett.

Bonnie stood stiffly as Abby took in the town she had abandoned years ago. There was no anger in Bonnie's eyes—just cold detachment, the kind that cut deeper than any outburst could.

Abby had duties to face, debts left unpaid. Bonnie was changing, and she had decided that if she had to step into her power, then her mother had to do the same.

"You left once," Bonnie told her, her voice void of emotion. "You don't get to run again."

Abby swallowed hard but said nothing. She only nodded.

The day after, the witches gathered.

The burial ground was harnessed first, the ancient resting place of the fallen witches woven into the spell that would soon shape their future. The air was thick with magic, the presence of those who had come before lingering in the whispers of the wind.

Then came the sanctification.

Witches from three powerful bloodlines stood together—Bennett, Delgallo, and Evergreen. Thirteen in total. Twelve to weave the spell, one to lead.

Leon stood at the center.

His voice rang clear as the spell was cast, ancient words flowing from his lips as the earth trembled beneath them. The land that Leon had claimed was no longer just property. It was sacred ground, a fortress against the supernatural, a place where only those permitted could step foot.

It was power in its purest form.

By the time the spell was complete, Bonnie could feel the shift inside her. Something deeper had awakened, something that went beyond just being a witch.

She was no longer just reacting. No longer just playing the part of the loyal friend, the reluctant warrior. With a place protected by elders and peers, a place she had a true stake in that valued her in return

In front of the Mystic Falls gang, she played her role well. She was ready to take on Klaus after she took Jeremy and Damon to the burial site and pretended to harness the power for the second time. 

Killing Klaus was no longer the goal, she wanted to protect her people. Sadly, Elena versus three lives of friends and family was unequal. She would have to die, but she believed Leon would find a way to save her. He said he would.