"you will do what I tell you to do." threatened Klaus engaging in a quick staredown with the local Bennett witch.

"Enough my love. She is scared enough." said Marilyn casually sauntering in the room.

"I'm not afraid of him." Bonnie declared.

"Then me? Am I the reason for your fear?" Bonnie remained silent. "I am, aren't I? Is it because I killed your mother? Oh wait──she is a vampire now. Wonder why?" Bonnie could only glare at Marilyn and silently seeth in anger.

"Do you know why Witch' have always been so feared, Bonnie?" asked Marilyn. She sat down on the arm chair, crossed her left leg over her right and leaned back into the chair.

"I have come to believe it was because they are immensely uncontrollable." she answered her own question.

"Why do you let your friends walk all over you?" Bonnie was taken aback and speechless because of Marilyn's question.

"They are my friends. And friends help one another."

"You are right because you dying for them while they don't do anything is friendship and not self-sabotage. Hmm, I guess I was wrong." Marilyn shot an incredulous look at Klaus who responded to it with just a smile.

"It's not like that. Elena is my best friend. I'd do anything for her."

"I never mentioned Elena by name. I said friends in general." Marilyn retorted with a smug grin. "Speaks volumes doesn't it?" Bonnie sunk in her seat.

"I remember someone once telling me that Bennett witches are related to Salem witches. Do you know why the women were burnt at stake?"

"Because they were witches." responded Bonnie.

"So naive. Sweetheart you're a witch. You should be sweet, yes, it's the motherly-ness archetype we, women are born with. Not our fault. Salem witch trails happened not because the accused women were witches, it happened because the women were ambitious. And being ambitious Bonnie, in any time on earth whilst being a woman, is being a fucking three ring circus. You know what that means?" Bonnie was mesmerized by Marilyn's words. Her words were hypnotic, her accent pooled out strongly with each word.

"What?"

"Chaos. An ambitious woman is a chaotic figure men think they cannot handle and that's the truth and so they think they are entitled to tame the beast."

"And so witches are like representatives of ambition." Bonnie asked.

"Not exactly. Women are independent individuals, witchcraft is just an added incentive." she told Bonnie,

"Your so-called friends have a pattern of exploiting you for their own purposes, only seeking you out when they need your abilities. They've caused such bloodshed, havoc, and chaos-all in the guise of aiding a single soul. Frankly, it's a mockery; they use you as a tool, demanding favors then vanishing like shadows. How can you tolerate this exploitation?" With a sinuous grace, Marilyn settled deeper into the cushioned armchair.

She leaned in, her posture predatory with elbows poised on her legs and her brow arched with a sardonic twist to her lips. "Oh dear Bonnie, the ever open-handed one. Your generosity knows no bounds; your vitality, your enchantments-you bleed them out for those around you. It's tragically noble. And despite the myriad betrayals by these 'friends'-a term I utter with utmost scorn since they've seldom accorded you the respect you're owed-you still rise resilient and unbroken."

"You do not understa──"

Marilyn interrupted with a chilling smoothness, "I am acutely aware that Elena's grief shadows us all, that her losses are unparalleled. But that does not vindicate your reckless sacrifices on her behalf."

"He intended to sacrifice Tyler for that crazy ritual."

"Bonnie..." A cold flash passed over Marilyn's face as she cast a brief look at Klaus before locking eyes with Bonnie again. "I don't condone his actions. His misdeeds are undeniable and heinous. Yes, these people occupy a significant place in your heart, yet consider this-we yearned for solitude. Post-homecoming was meant to herald our departure, awakening our kin to abandon this town's folly. Yet Stefan intervened, creating chaos where peace was due. And there you were again─enticed into plotting for the sake of a long-gone witch."

Marilyn gazed at Bonnie-with eyes like ice she could see Bonnie mulling over every venomous word.

"You're not like them, Bonnie. You have a gift they could never understand. They look at what you can do for them, not caring about what it takes from you. But you and I? We see how precious your craft is. You're someone who should be cherished, not just used when convenient.

It's funny; when we really think about it, they probably envy your power and intuition - haven't you felt that? Yet here you are, still willing to help, still the friend anyone would be lucky to have. It speaks volumes about your character.

I guess what I'm trying to get at is that you've been there for them in situations where they probably didn't even appreciate the full extent of your generosity.

You've helped them enough times underappreciated; isn't it time they saw with clear eyes? I mean, I'm just thinking out loud here for your sake. Your magic is too precious to waste on those who don't see its value-and between us-I think deep down, you know that too."

"I'll do the spell, just...don't hurt Jeremy." Bonnie begged looking at Klaus.

"That's the spirit. The table is through that door where you can find the necessary ingredients."

Marilyn smiled proudly patting the arm of the chair. She stood up and approached Klaus wrapping her hands around his neck grinning foolishly. Klaus took a quick look at Marilyn's face slowly mimicking her smile as realisation dawned on him.

"You manipulative conniving beauty." Klaus complimented before pulling her into a long kiss.

"Beauty? Definitely. Conniving? Most of the time. Manipulative?" Her voice went up a few notes as she opened her mouth in faux gasp, "i am never."

"I love you so much." Klaus laughed audibly wrapping his arms around her waist before kissing her again.

"I'm here Klaus, let's do this." came the loud strong voice of Stefan Salvatore from the foyer.

"Ah the savior." commented Klaus as he opened the doors to the study and strolled into the massive room adjacent to the ballroom. The very room where Damon was tied up like an animal and forced to bleed out and be subjected to some of the mild tortures from Hell itself.

"I've got the White Oak Stake. Eight stakes in exchange for my brother." Marilyn, who walked in just after Klaus crossed her arms and faced Stefan.

"That is impossible."

"Is it? Finn's dead." Stefan informed them cold-heartedly.

Rebekah unclenched her fists hearing Stefan.

Damon in exchange for the last eight weapons that can kill you." Stefan demanded walking closer to Klaus.

"How do we know there aren't any more left?" asked Marilyn stepping forward to be right next to Klaus, her eyes never leaving Stefan.

"Because there aren't."

Klaus looked at Stefan masking his true emotions, "let's confirm shall we?"

He walked past Stefan, over to Damon, "leave" he compelled.

"No" Damon moaned still struggling to stay conscious.

"Go on. Leave"

Klaus grabbed Damon by his throat and compelled him again, "I said, go home"

Damon began to pull his hand out of the bear cages. The claws buried in his hand pierced his skin drawing more blood. He grunted in pain.

"Alright, stop. Stop. Stop, before you hurt yourself." Klaus told him, "Well, I see he can finally be compelled. Now... Minus the stake that is in my brother how many stakes are out there that can kill me?" Klaus compelled Damon.

"Eleven." Damon answered in a monotone-like voice.

"I'll get you the other three." Stefan promised without any devotion to it.

"Yeah, that'd be nice. Or since you lied I'll just compel your brother to chew off his tongue."

"What is wrong with you?" Stefan asked dumbly believing he could provoke an answer from Klaus about the torture done to his brother.

"What is wrong with you? Do you have no appreciation for me? I have given you someone to hate. To loathe. A target for all of your anger so you don't have to turn it on yourself. I've given your life purpose, as your friend. I mean, I really think you should be thanking me." Klaus laughed.

"Enough" Stefan growled and used his speed to push Klaus against the wall behind. He aimed a white oak stake at his heart.

Marilyn swiftly grabbed Stefan by the back of his shirt and lifted up in air and left his hanging there.

"Darling there are not many alive at the moment who would testify to you of what happens for ever even imagining what it would be like to do what you have just done let alone think of using the white Oak Stake. Might I suggest putting yourself to use for once and giving us what we want and leaving alone."

Marilyn dropped her hold on him causing him to fall to the floor. Stefan snapped his head gazing upward at her.

"Get the stake, Salvatore. I'm not asking."

"Or else what? You are just Marilyn the one who got wronged. How high do you think you can jump just because you are Klaus's girl?" Klaus took a step back immediately with a knowing smile slowly curling on his lips.

Rebekah watched her fearless brother step away and did so herself; clearly Stefan was about to face Hell itself.

Marilyn rolled her lips into a thin line. She gazed at Stefan and then went to Damon. She freed him from the animal cages. Marilyn turned to Stefan again,

Marilyn grabbed Damon by his neck, in a chokehold. Dom submitted to her and left his neck hanging backward. His eyes stared at her drowsily.

"Your brother is just as pathetic as you. But we want something, so..." she turned to Stefan once again. "Take him to your home ── a sign of good faith. Alright? Do not ever try to pull a stunt like that or I will not spare you like I am doing right now."

Stefan didn't believe his mind seeing Marilyn be merciful. "I'm not being merciful, darling. Remember: hell fire is a mercy you'll beg for at the devil's feet if you try and belittle me like you just did. I am not just Klaus's girl, Stefan. I am a woman of my own. Someone you shouldn't even dream of crossing."