mystic falls | but to me it seems quite clear that it's all just a little bit of history repeating

[unbalancer]

For once, Bonnie is being included. When she hears she'd be helping out Alaric, her choice isn't a hard one to make. Convincing her mother (and how weird is it, thinking about that word, having it be relevant in her life) that she should have a longer leash proves more difficult. She ends up saying that she, Elena and Caroline are going to spend some girl time together. There's no reason to worry her and if Abby found out, she wouldn't condone Bonnie helping the local vampires. Again. She'd get a lecture about where she's ended up. How much she's been used. How much witches are always used.

But, for once, she isn't being called in to perform a spell. This favor involves research. And, it gets her out of the house for a few hours which she needs to be if she's going to stay sane. For Bonnie, it's a matter of choices. Stefan said point blank that she didn't have to say yes if she didn't want to. He knew she had Abby. And he knew what Abby would say. But, Bonnie said to leave Abby to her.

With Matt and Caroline out of town - and Matt isn't the research type in the first place - it falls on Bonnie's shoulders. She's okay with that. Whatever they can do to get to the bottom of what's happening to Alaric.

She's been here a million times. The Salvatore Boarding house.

Right minute, she's standing in front of a wall of books, journals and various primary sources and the next, she and Stefan are combing through various journals. She hasn't made much small talk. She's here for a reason. They've located the volumes dated 1912.

"There's something here about Zachariah," she says, reading into the next page. "He was murdered."

Comments

[somanyadjectives]

Going through his family history isn't something that Stefan does on a regular basis, mostly because he lived most of it. He doesn't normally need to. But Stefan agrees on the fact that they need to figure out what's going on with Alaric. It's the next piece of the puzzle, and maybe if they put that to rest, they'll finally be able to get some peace.

He steps glances up at what Bonnie says and nods. "In 1912. I was at the funeral."

[unbalancer]

"You were there," she says, looking up at him. "How well do you remember everything?" It's interesting to her, Caroline, other vampires living for centuries. Do memories eventually fade away? Are some more indelible then others? She means both, what happened then and in general. She sets the journal down on the table in front of her.

[somanyadjectives]

He pauses for a moment. He actually remembers that moment in 1912 fairly well. It was a major loss in control for him, and he glances away shortly after.

"Well enough."

[unbalancer]

"Is there something that Damon remembered about that time period, that year I should be looking for?" Because, right now, she's flying blind. "If I had an idea..." She grabs the book again, flipping the page.

[somanyadjectives]

"Zachariah was part of a series of murders. Almost like this one, but we never figured out why." They got ... distracted. "What does the articles say?"

[unbalancer]

"Nothing beyond what you just said. Sheriff Gerald Forbes made a statement. Several people were killed. They were looking for suspects. They had zero..." But, she pauses, looking to her right. "There was a journal that mentioned Zachariah - I think one I put near you. Did you journal back then?" Yes, Stefan, she's aware you write in one.

[somanyadjectives]

He moves to the side to grab the journal in question before speaking again. "I've kept journals my entire life. Why?"

[unbalancer]

"Well, maybe something you wrote can help us out. What happened back then? Anything specific you can remember? Anything about murders?"

[somanyadjectives]

He frowns a bit at that. "I'm not sure. Let me go grab the journals from that time period. Refresh my memory."

[unbalancer]

"Okay," Bonnie says, grabbing another journal, flipping through it. She thinks about taking out her phone and texting Elena. Best BFF ever, researching with your ex bf all day, but she decides against it. Besides, they haven't found anything. She's a little surprised Damon suggested she help but, maybe he's finally respecting her.

No, he just felt overstretched. Whatever, she's here now. And Stefan is the better brother. At times. Sort of. That's a confusing and alarming thought to follow.

[somanyadjectives]

Stefan wanders upstairs, letting his fingers drag along the bindings of the journals before pulling out the ones from 1912. It didn't take long to find the entries in question, and he stopped just short of him killing Samantha Gilbert before heading downstairs.

"There's some mention of other murders, on the Council, but nothing more than that. I was only really in town for the funeral."

[unbalancer]

"For Zachariah's funeral," Bonnie replies. "Was Damon there, too?" Maybe he'll remember something.

[somanyadjectives]

He nods. "We both were here, but we weren't speaking at the time."

[unbalancer]

"It's a good thing you're speaking now," she says, giving him a look. "But, he's busy right now. Let's see what we can make sense of. So, we know there were killings. Zachariah's started it. What ended it? When did it end..."

[somanyadjectives]

"I'll grab the Gilbert journal." He flipped it open starting with 1912. "Samantha Gilbert."

There's a beat as he stares at it for a moment, before placing the journal to the side. "That's not the right one."

[unbalancer]

"As in..." Elena? "So, they were going after members of the town council," she figures, trying to connect the dots. Give her a second as she furrows her brow.

"Journal or... victim?" She hates the word. Bonnie is anything but. But, she doesn't have a better one.

[somanyadjectives]

"Journal. Samantha Gilbert was dead before some of the murders happened."

Or, at least, he thought she was.

[unbalancer]

And then, something occurs to her.

"How did she die?" Follow her train of thought, Stefan. "She's a Gilbert. How far back to you think Jeremy's family ring has been passed down?" Gilbert, Stefan. And isn't Alaric's ring the same thing? Jonathon Gilbert gave his to Isobel - who gave hers... to Alaric. "Was she killed by a vampire?"

[somanyadjectives]

He pauses for a moment, his eyes widening before he reaches for the journal and snatches it up. "Damnit."

[unbalancer]

"She was, wasn't she?" she asks, leaning forward. "And she came back." Leave it to magic. But, give her a second. "But, what does that mean?"

[somanyadjectives]

"Maybe it's something with the ring. Magic has consequences. Maybe if it was abused too many times it triggered something within her."

[unbalancer]

"Triggered the impulse to stab council members," she says. "But, that ring has been passed down the Gilbert family. Where did they get it?"

A witch, obviously. A witch.

"Emily?"

It's a distinct possibility.

[somanyadjectives]

"Maybe. Jonathan made the rings, but she was the one who gave them their power. It's possible she could have put some kind of back door in there somewhere."

[unbalancer]

"But, why? Emily was..." Her eyes narrow, finding Stefan. "Burned at the stake. Wasn't she?" Could Emily do that? She knows Emily could've done what she wanted no matter what. But, she also remembers Emily being in Katherine's pocket. Could she have taken the time to curse the Gilbert family line?

"So, right now we have Samantha Gilbert's journal which stretches past the day she was supposedly killed." They should slow down the process, really dig into it. "Was there any indication past then that she had changed? Any anti-council diatribes?"

[somanyadjectives]

"I'm looking."

He continues to flip through the pages and he doesn't really read it. He doesn't have to. He can just see the way the words change on the page.

"I think it's safe to say that she went a little crazy."

[unbalancer]

Bonnie's up and moving around Stefan to peer down. Her words - her writing became erratic. Scribbling, even.

"Is that what's happening to Alaric?"

[somanyadjectives]

"Possibly. It would make sense with the lost time and erratic behavior."

[unbalancer]

"If that's true, then we're maybe one death away from Alaric, Interrupted." She paces away. "Stefan," she says, looking back at him. "Jeremy..."

[somanyadjectives]

"I know. But he hasn't died as many times as Alaric has, so maybe we can find away to save him somehow."

[unbalancer]

"If Emily is using the rings - or cursed them somehow - I should be able to reverse it." She thinks.

[somanyadjectives]

"You think so? Even if it isn't your magic?"

[unbalancer]

"I should at least try," she says, not having an alternative right now. "I could check some of the books I have..." Some of her Grams'. "We can't do nothing and wait for this town council killer to strike again."

[somanyadjectives]

"Fair enough. I'll take this back to Damon and see if he can help me figure out a way to keep Alaric in check."

[unbalancer]

"If I can't disenchant the ring, I might be able to block the hold it has on him. Herbs might keep this ... other him at bay. I'll look into it." Okay. A plan. She has a plan. She grabs up her coat and puts it on. "And Stefan," she adds. "Thanks for calling me."

[somanyadjectives]

"No problem. I'm just glad you could help."

[unbalancer]

"Yeah. I better get back. Wouldn't want Abby to become any more overprotective then she already is. I actually have a mother that can literally keep me in the house." How crazy is that? She punches actually have a mother subconsciously.

[somanyadjectives]

He smirks a bit at that before nodding. "Enjoy it."