Note: This story is set after the 'daggering' of Klaus in S03E22. Everything after he falls to the ground is altered in this -I guess you can call it- Post-Apocalyptic AU. 500 years have past.
Also I apologize the mistakes, grammar and canon. I'm doing this just for fun and because I want to tell this story. So, let's not get aggravated about trivia and have all fun with this!
Chapter 1 – Cemetery Drive
Ashes to Ashes - Dust to Dust.
If only there were ashes and dust. This world has become a desert of ice and snow. I still remember, when people said, 'global warming is a myth, it's not real and we don't have to fear it.' But it's very real! First it got warmer and warmer, then came the floods, the hurricanes, the blizzards. And everything I ever knew, got either washed, blown or friezed away. Soon after that the Gulf Stream stopped it's streaming and the north half of the globe got covered in ice. But as a 500-year-old vampire, time and changes become as normal as breathing.
Caroline Forbes - When I used to had a name; that was mine. I mean, I still use 'Caroline', but after my mother got swept away by a Hurricane in 2023 I stopped calling myself 'Forbes'. It got too painful being called 'Miss Forbes'. She wasn't the only loved one we lost. And now, in order to survive, we have to set free a beast, we thought could sleep forever.
I tramp through the thick snow storm. I'm wearing snow-goggles against the blowing wind. My machete for protection, in these times it's not enough to just be strong anymore. And also my leather jacket, that I had for the last 50 years and is my favourite piece of clothing, from the few I have left. The best thing about being a vampire in an ice age is, that we never get cold. We have no sense of temperature and don't get influenced by weather. That's probably also a reason, why we're still alive and most humans aren't. The wind is howling and sweeping big chunks of snow in my face. Not life-threatening but still annoying. I walk through a forest, well, at least it used to be a forest. Now the high trees are so covered in snow, that only the tops lightly stand out. I pass the tree tops, of whom some aren't even taller then I am.
There it is. The tomb. Well, the entrance to the tunnel to the tomb. We build it, when the snow started rising and rising without thawing. We needed to make sure, we could enter the tomb, if we ever needed to, just like now. Although all of us wished, we never have to go down there ever again.
To go down the dark tunnel, I get out my lantern, which is more of a big, bright display, that I have hanging on a chain around my neck. The whole tunnel looks more like a deep, terrifying cave, which is intended. We needed to disguise it, so no one ever goes down there by accident and finds the monster within, the Big Bad Wolf.
Darkness. All consuming darkness. Regret. Memories. All these memories to haunt me. All my mistakes. All those faces of the people I've disappointed.
I'm gonna kill them all! When I get out of this coffin, I'm gonna kill them all! If I ever get out... Face it, you abomination, you'll never get out! And good riddance. The world is a better place without you in it. All you ever do is destroy. Your mother knew there was never any good in you. That's why she always looked at you with such hatred and regret. You stole their lives. The lives of your brothers, your sister. Rebekah... She'll never forgive me... I wonder if she finally found the love she strived for. But what if not? What if she got hurt by all those terrible liars out there. She is so fragile. I can't leave her alone. She never knew this, but all I ever wanted for her is to be save.
But she stabbed me and she is one of the reasons I'm in here! When I get out I'm gonna dagger her. -No! Don't! Don't do the same mistakes over and over again! Don't give in to the darkness. -But why not? No one can ever dare to love me! I'm alone. Might as well act like it!
I'll never get out of here...
All those terrible liars! Stefan... I wish you could've been the brother, I always wished for. I loved you like a brother. And you only ever cared about that Doppelgänger-whore! -Should've killed her! Should've killed her on the spot! That twat!
I wanted you, Stefan, not only for me, but because I knew you were the only one, who could've loved Rebekah the way she deserves. Rebekah... my sweet baby sister...
-No one can love you, you monster, not even Rebekah...
But what about her...?
-No. I don't wanna think about her! I can't. She was never mine to keep. She was a dream. The most beautiful dream, you could ever have, but you'll forget, when you wake up. She... Her name like a melody, so rich not even the birds would dare to sing it.
- Caroline.
But don't think about her. Don't! Not her eyes, not her smile, not her light to chase the darkness away. If I could touch her, hold her, hear her voice – just one more time -
I could die and rest forever in peace!
But she could never be mine... She could never love me... I will never get out of here...
The cave goes down and down, several miles deep down. If you think, this tomb once was ground level...
I finally made it to the big heavy door. We decided to lock his coffin in the tomb, where we once found his father Michael in the same way. We thought, it'll be ironic and kinda funny. We were so young.
The thick stone door is no problem for my vampire strength and I had fed properly for a change. I push the door open. Out streams a disgusting gust of old, dusky and funny smelling air, that makes me cough. I can almost taste the foulness in my mouth. But that is not as disgusting as the blood of the mutated humans, we are forced to eat out of lack of normal human population. Fortunately because of my trip I got to drink the good, the pure stuff for optimal strength. The other 3 pines I have in my bag are a peace-offering for the wolf. In good faith, that his wrath on the once, who imprisoned him and now need his help, might not be too bad. That's also, why they send me. The thought was: of all the people, who would he might like best to see? Rebekah volunteered, but then Stefan reminded her, that she was the one, who tricked him into this coffin. So, they settle for me. I guess it figures. I don't mind. I don't mind anything anymore. I haven't cared for a long time now.
The air cleared up as the fresh cold streams in. I step inside and hang the lantern on a torch-holder on the wall next to the door. Then I get my lighter out and some alcohol, and go around the tomb, inflaming one torch after the other. The room is now fully lid with warm inviting flames. It's almost cosy. I turn around and before me lies the mahogany coffin. It looks a bit more washed up from when I last saw it. I guess, the inside also doesn't look as good as it use to be. When I now think back, in comparison of what came after him, he wasn't so bad. At least he had style and one could try reasoning with him. He was messed up but he wasn't monomaniacal. Or maybe I just remember that wrong.
Anyway. It's time to open the presents. I step to the coffin and stem the lid open.
I don't wanna think anymore! I can't stand being alone with my thoughts. I always hated it! I'd like to be around music and art. Will I ever gonna see a painting again, hear a symphony, be able to paint again? I don't wanna fill the void of the darkness with my thoughts. How long have I've been in here anyway? It's so long I can't even remember, which century we're in.
I don't wanna be alone. I don't wanna fill the void. I don't wanna go insane!
But what is that? The air! It smells different. Fresher. Why? Are those- footsteps?! Impossible! Can it be? That I'll see the light again?
With that thought the casket, that covered me in darkness and solitude for so long, now opens and a bright light is blinding my eyes. I squeeze them shut, but after a while the warm smell of fire invites me to open them again. And as my view clears, I see the most beautiful face, I've believed to never see again.
- Caroline -
