"Relax? Look here punk, the first rule when dealing with women is don't tell them to relax, unless you have a damn big death wish. Got it? Second, one sounds chauvinistic and cave man, the other doesn't! So you fucking relax, kid," Lily shot back.
"Anyway," James said, trying to keep those two from blows. "Is it possible that Vincent has something on her? Could he have threatened her or maybe Zander?"
Zander shook his head. "No. No way!"
"I agree," Nick said. "A threat wouldn't move her to turn over Tristen. She sees the girl as her chance at redemption. Nothing, not even her life, would make her betray that."
Before anyone could say anything else, the door opened. None other than Bonnie, herself walked into the room. Tears streamed down her face and she had a general shell shocked expression on her face. "I couldn't stop... I tried, but I couldn't do it," she said, her breathing starting to race.
"Son of a..." Lily swore when she saw the blonde. "I can't believe I didn't think about that! Damn it all to hell!"
"What are you talking abou?," Nick asked, looking up at her confused.
Lily looked to James. "Greg," she told him and his stomach sank with dread.
"Do you..." he started.
"Look at her James," Lily replied and he knew she was right. "Vincent put you under his persuasion didn't he?" She asked Bonnie.
"While he attacked me on the full moon, just before he knocked me out... he did it. I didn't remember until now," she said, tearing up so more. "Oh God, I just handed her to him! She's going to suffer so much and it's my fault!" Her sobs grew harder until she was almost wailing like a banshee. Her arms wrapped around her middle and nearly bent over.
"So Vincent persuaded her to take Tristen?" Nick asked, looking at Bonnie with a mix of worry and sympathy.
"Yep. It's impossible for non-vampires to resist without a charm. If the vampire is very powerful they can persuade other vampires. Bonnie didn't stand a chance once she met his eyes. He could tell her to do pretty much anything and she would've done it,"Lily explained. She walked up to Bonnie and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Bonnie what do you remember?" Her tone surprisingly gentle.
"I remember going to her room and grabbing her. She fought me... oh God," she sobbed. "I was too strong and I forced her into the car. Zander, oh my God, Zander I'm so sorry... I took her to him. I handed her over like a eager puppy! I'm so sorry!" She broke down in more tears and sobs.
Zander started to say something but James gave him a hard look. "This isn't her fault. Don't go making her feel worse," James warned him. Remembering guilt ridden Greg was when under a vampire's persuasion, took James to Silvano. When James got free, the omega has practically crawled and groveled before him for forgiveness. It took James almost a month to convince him that he didn't need to be forgiven of anything.
"I wasn't going to say shit," Zander shot back, scowling at James. "I was just going to say, that it's okay. I know it wasn't her!"
"It wasn't," Lily agreed. "Bonnie, calm down. You can help Tristen if you're in hysterics." Bonnie's chest continued to heave as she sobbed and pleaded with God, slipping further into hysteria. "Screw it! Keep the door shut, I'm going vamp," Lily demanded.
"What are you going to do to her?" Nick demanded as she took a deep breath and her complexion paled.
"Persuade her," Lily said and grabbed Bonnie's face, lifting it to face her. "Enough," she demanded and Bonnie instantly quieted.
"What the hell? She's going to fuck up my mom even worse," Zander snapped and James grabbed his arm to stop him from interfering.
"She won't. Lily is just forcing her to calm down. If anyone messed your mom up, it's Vincent," James told him.
"Take deep breaths, Bonnie. Relax," Lily said, ignoring them. When Bonnie relaxed and her breathing steadied Lily told her in a soft, calm voice, "Remember putting Tristen in the car, tell me where did you take her?"
Bonnie's face scrunched up in thought. "I... I..." she started, looking confused.
"Where Bonnie? Where was Vincent? Where did you take Tristen?" Lily insisted, the power in her voice almost palpable.
"I.. I... can't," Bonnie said, looking pained then cried out. "Oh God, he's going to hurt her and it's all my fault!"
"Shhh," Lily spoke softly. "It's alright, let it go. Tell me about the road? Can you do that? Was it paved?" Bonnie nodded. "Was the sun in your eyes or at your back?"
"At my back," Bonnie replied, all the emotion gone from her voice.
"Did you stay on one road?" Lily asked and the blonde shook her head. "How many turns did you make?"
"Two, I turned left on a dirt road then pulled into a graveled lane," Bonnie replied.
"Did you see a lot of trees or a lot of grass?"
"Tress... there were a lot of trees," Bonnie answered. "My head... it hurts."
"Yeah, persuasion sucks major monkey butt," Lily told her. "We're almost done. I want you to know that Vincent is wrong. Tristen won't suffer. She's going to be okay and none of this is your fault. I see you free and your will is now your own."
Bonnie's eyes cleared and then saddened as her chin started to shake. "T-thank you," she said meekly.
"Nick, do you think we can figure out where that bastard might be at with this?" Lily asked, looking a little uncomfortable as her complexion darkened with the return of the balance.
"We're going to try our damndest," He replied. "Everyone, start looking for roads heading east and are connected to rural dirt roads." Lily leaned against the table, looking at the map. She was feeling good despite the guilt that tried to taint her mood and everything that had happened. Her exertions with Bonnie had made her hungry, and James insisted Lily drink from him. Lily hated being a leech, hated it with a passion, but she couldn't deny that she felt amazing afterward. "So what do we got?" She asked, not wanting to lose the good mood even though she felt guilty.
"I believe Bonnie took Tristen in this area," Nick said pointing to an area of the map. "It's the only stretch of road that matches the description you managed to get from her. If the vamp lord can free Bonnie..."
"He will," Bill jumped in. "He's stronger than Vincent and breaking his persuasion won't be difficult at all."
"Fine, when he free's Bonnie," Nick started again, "She can confirm it."
"So we're just waiting for her confirmation then we go storm the place?" Lily asked.