This idea popped into my head, and I couldn't get it to go away...
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, especially The Vampire Diaries. If I did, things would be going very different on the show...
"Lucky Ones" by Lana Del Rey - Everybody told me love was blind; then I saw your face and you blew my mind.
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"Please stop"
The werewolf smiled, tilting his head and scratching his forehead with his pistol in mock consideration. His dark eyes gleamed, "What was that? Sorry, I didn't quite hearing you"
"Please, don't. Please"
The vampire was backed against the wall in every possible way. Her blonde curls were matted with her own blood; it was smeared across her face, down her arms and across her clothes. Her jeans barely clung to her legs - bullet holes riddled them. Small wooden spikes punctured her neck and collarbone in what looked like a sadistic form of accupuncture. Her pale cheeks flamed an angry red, although the blisters were slowly healing. It was too quick for her captor, though. She shifted and the wooden bullets that she had removed from her flesh rattled along the floor.
"Why would I stop when I'm having so much fun?" The werewolf smirked, toying with the pistol in his hands, "Does vervain burn as bad as wolfsbane?"
She could barely make a noise. The herb was an intense pain, like the flesh was being seared from her bones repeatedly. Her blue eyes swam with tears as she shook her head, tensing for searing pain. He laughed and shot her, the wooden bullet lodging just above her hip bone, "That was the last bullet honey. Time for the burn"
She fell forward screaming, and reached down to her wound, when more pain erupted, this time in her hand. She brought her hand to her face, wood lodged squarely between her knuckles. He lied. "Stop!" she screamed, kicking at the bars, "Stop it, stop it!"
"We need to talk" a young female werewolf appeared in the doorway, rolling her eyes at the screaming vampire, "Her friends will be here soon"
"With Tyler?"
"He's already here" she stepped fully into the van so the light was cast on a nervous Tyler, "Brady, it must be a trap. Why would they release him? We need to move"
"Care?" Tyler rushed forward to the cage, grasping the bars and staring as she removed the bullet from her hand.
"Tyler, help me. There's a latch I can't reach" Caroline gestured wildly to the corner of the door. Tyler hesitated, his eyes narrowing. "Tyler, help me. Please"
He seemed to return to himself and reached down. Jules caught his hand, "Tyler, let's go - leave her. They killed Mason. They'll kill you first chance they get"
"Tyler" Caroline pulled herself forward on her stomach, grabbing the bars, "Tyler! Don't listen to her. Tyler, please"
Brady kicked her hands and she whimpered, pushing herself back against the wall. Fresh tears began to fall as Jules pulled Tyler out the van. Brady leaned forward, "You're face looks healed"
"No!" she screamed, kicking against the cage, "Don't!"
The vervain was like acid, burning every last inch of her face. She put her hands up to act as some sort of barrier, but the still open wound being infected felt like a hot poker burning her entire arm.
A sharp whistle from outside prompted Brady to stop, "I'll be back, sweetpea" He promised darkly.
Caroline curled into a ball, as silent tears fell down her cheeks and mixed with her own blood. There wasn't a way out. She was going to die in this cage. She gently cradled her hand, sobbing at the thought that no one was coming. No one cared. Tyler didn't. Matt just wanted Elena, she was a substitute nothing more. Yet she desperately craved his love, even still. If he couldn't love her as a human, he certainly couldn't love her as this, as a monster. This was why she was being punished. Vampires suck out everything from this world - life, love, humanity.
This was what she deserved. She wasn't good enough as a human, and certainly not as a vampire. She could never be what they wanted. She couldn't be Elena. She tried so hard, all the time. So hard it physically hurt. Yet, no one loved her. No one could love her. Matt and the Salvatore's would always choose Elena. Always. Tyler had to be with his own. She understood that, she really did. If she could find someone who understood her, accepted her, she'd run away with them and never look back.
It was just a pity that no one did.
No one was coming, and she was going to die alone and frightened. Again.
The door creaked opened, and a new set of boots appeared, "What do we have here?"
Klaus really didn't want to remain in Mystic Falls for too long. He just wanted to look at his old home and possibly scout out an appropriate body to make his grand entrance in. Unfortunately, Elijah was also in the sleepy town, so his mission had to be completed far quicker than he had anticipated. He had smelt them from five miles away. Dog. More specifically the creatures of the night he yearned to unlock within himself. As he drew closer, he heard it. The distinct sounds of torture. Her screams echoed, bouncing of the trees. He simply had to investigate.
The first wolves he met were armed for vampires. Stakes and flame throwers, and they were not happy to see him. They had actually attempted to attack the Original - it was pitiful. He rolled his eyes, and their hearts were in his palms. There were more of them, so these two were expendable.
He really didn't want to draw attention to himself, so he used his vampire skills to find the remainder of the group without their knowledge.
A woman seemed to be the leader, barking orders. They were tensed for attack, positioned in front of the van where rolling sobs were coming from. It was like a beacon - he desperately wanted to see what was inside. He needed wolves though - for the sacrifice, and for his army.
It was easy enough to flit amongst the group without them seeing him coming - exerting just enough pressure to render them unconscious. He turned to the van, grinning. Perhaps a little sport before he left.
She was curled in the farthest corner of the cage like a wounded animal. She was drenched in her own blood - it smelt divine. Like vanilla and freesias with just a hint of spice. She rocked herself gently, hands clutching her head as if it would hold it on. He could see the ugly burns of vervain mar her ivory skin.
Fresh tears came to Caroline's eyes. It wasn't Brady. Just another werewolf to partake in her sick torture. Caroline whimpered softly, covering her face with her hands. Like an injured animal, she had curled herself into as small a ball as possible, praying silently that the next attack would be a stake to the heart. Anything to stop the unending and unbearable pain.
She heard him lean closer to the cage as he whispered almost adoringly, "Vampire"
If he wanted to see the monster she'd become, then she would show him exactly what she was. Summoning up what little strength she had, she whipped her blonde curls up, her eyes black and fangs bared. And then she braced for pain.
A pain that never came.
Instead, he leant his forehead against the bars, staring at her, entranced. She was stunning. Not just within the conventional beautiful sense. There was something within her, some beacon of light that seemed to be calling to him. She had the face of a monster, but it was intoxicating. Her eyes were as black as night, but they held the promise of morning. The dark veins under her eyes were framed by an entrancing face that had witnessed far too much for her age. Fangs protruded from a mouth that held the promise of a stunning smile. Golden curls of an angel fell wildly around her face, congealed with blood.
She frowned, tears falling from her black eyes and tracing a path along the dark veins. Why wasn't he hurting her? She was almost impatient for the pain, because being under his gaze was far worse. It was so intense. She just wanted to run and hide. His eyes were the deepest blue, his hair light curls, his lips full and inviting. He looked like one of the Greek Gods she'd studied at school. It couldn't be true, though. Caroline didn't meet God's - only the demons of this world. His eyes were burning far more fiercely than vervain ever could. He deepened his gaze and his own eyes turned dark, veins protruding and fangs showing.
She wanted to cry in relief. He wasn't with them, "Help me" Caroline whispered frantically, dragging herself towards the bars, "Please"
He frowned for a moment, conflicted. He had come here purely out of curiosity. He wasn't the hero; he was the villain. He felt guilt claw at his insides. She rattled against the cage weakly, eyes begging him, "Please. Help me" How many times had she begged tonight? She couldn't take it anymore. "Help me or kill me"
His head snapped back as though he had been slapped. She wanted to die? She asked for it? She was baby vampire, he was certain. She just wanted to end her life? Why did he care? He had tortured people until they had welcomed death before, so he didn't know why he felt guilt tear through his chest. If he saved her, what was he becoming?
She could see his internal struggle play across his features. She was once again expendable, yet it inexplicably hurt her more that this stranger thought so. She nodded, accepting her fate.
A solitary tear sliding down her cheek seemed to galvanize him. With a growl he ripped the door clean off it's hinges and grabbed her under the arms, pulling her to freedom. She lay on her back, struggling to breath and he traced a gentle pattern along her cheek, "They used vervain" he mused.
She flinched away. His touch was burning her to the core.
"What's your name?" he whispered, kneeling over her to examine her tortured form.
"Caroline" she croaked, salty tears stinging in her healing wounds. His voice was so soothing, like a beautiful lullaby. She was just waiting for him to turn on her, "Who are you?"
He paused. Would she know his reputation? "A friend. My name is Nik"
"Nick?" her lip quivered. Her friend? How pathetic that she could only rely on a complete stranger to be her friend.
"Come on" he whispered, wrapping his arm round her waist and pulling her up against him.
She whimpered and he quickly let go as she cupped her left hip, "He shot me"
A low growl sounded from Klaus's chest. Why was he so bothered? First the vervain, then the wooden bullets. What did this girl do to deserve to be in the pits of hell?
She took a deep breath as she moved her fingers down to prize the object out and attempted to hold back a sob. She'd already pulled seven out, but it wasn't easy. It was the hardest part about it all - she could only ease the pain by inflicting more by choice. He raised his hand towards her, in an effort to volunteer. "Pull it out" She agreed.
He looked down and immediately pushed his fingers into the open wound, as she hissed and dug her fingernails into his bicep. He dropped the offending bullet on the floor.
"Warn me" she bit out, still clinging on to him.
He saved her, and now she was making demands? She was certainly different. "Come on"
He eased her down the steps and out into the wilderness. There were bodies strewn everywhere.
"You did this?"
Caroline immediately pushed him away, clinging to the side of the van, looking around in fear.
He felt an odd sensation creeping into his chest. She was frightened of him. Normally he actively encouraged the emotion, but he didn't want her to look at him in that way. "I won't hurt you" he approached her with his arms in front of him in attempt to calm her.
"You killed them! You killed them all!"
"Only a few. The rest are just unconscious"
"What?" How could he be so nonchalant? "Why?"
"They have another purpose" he answered cryptically, "And I don't see why you're bothered, love. Look what they did to you"
Another purpose? What did this stranger want? Why did she care? They tortured her for hours. She should rejoice in all their deaths, their pain, but she couldn't. They were people. Someone's son, brother, friend. Friend. "Tyler! Where's Tyler?"
He felt unsettled. That unsettled him further. She was peering at the bodies that littered the bracken, dropping to her knees at the correct bundle of limbs "The young one? Unconscious"
She nodded, agreeing with him.
"Happy? Now come on, Caroline, we need to go" He grabbed her by her arm and pulled her to a standing position.
"What? No" she pulled herself away. Like hell she was going anywhere with anymore strangers.
"Do you really want to be here when they wake up?"
No. No, she didn't. She knew they'd be pissed when they woke, and a few rounds of vervain-water fight with their favorite vampire pin cushion would be the only thing to ease their anger. How could she go with him, though? She knew his name was Nick, that was it. He was strong, that's for sure. His grip was like steel, and he annihilated an entire pack in a matter of minutes. But she had no one else to make sure she was safe. She really had no choice; she couldn't run, the vervain had completely drained her. "You'll take me home?" she questioned uncertainly.
"I'll take you home" Klaus promised. The first heartfelt promise he'd ever made in his thousand that wasn't to his family or a threat.
"Promise?"
Klaus tilted his head playfully, "What else would I do?"
Caroline gestured around her, then at herself, "I don't exactly have the best track record with strangers"
"What kind of gentleman would I be if I didn't escort the lady I just rescued home?" His tone was enchanting, playful. She really couldn't help but smile.
They walked slowly to his car. He had offered to carry her, conserve her strength. She refused; there was a little voice telling her not to get too close, too attached. She barely knew him. The car was expensive (from what she could tell) and it was dark, with tinted windows. Did he have a daylight ring? She cleared her throat awkwardly when he caught her staring, trying to find the item in question. He smirked and opened the passenger door for her and she saw the gold ring.
She knew his name was Nick. He could easily overpower werewolves, had a penchant for rescuing baby vampires and could walk in the sun. She was still in a car with a complete stranger. They were halfway to the address she supplied when she finally spoke.
"Thank you"
He nodded, enjoying the sensation. How long had it been since he heard genuine gratitude?
Caroline bit her lip. "Why did you save me?"
Klaus paused. He'd been asking himself that question since he ripped the door off the cage. He came to the conclusion he just had to. Because. He did. "I don't know"
"How did you find me?"
"I was in the woods. I heard you"
"Why were in the woods?"
"Walking" Klaus smiled, pleased with himself. It was all the truth.
"Are you always this evasive?" Caroline scowled.
"Why did they do this to you?" he easily deflected her growing desire to know more about him.
She shrugged, "I don't know. Cause I'm a vampire? To get to my friends? For fun?" She gazed ahead, sighing. Maybe it was her atonement for being a creature of the night, a murderer. Would she ever find absolution?
He stayed silent. He felt so angry that someone could do something like that to her. She was so captivating, so full of light.
Caroline turned in her seat to face him, eyes narrowed in determination. "Nick. As in Nicholas?"
"Nik. N-I-K" Klaus clarified.
"No C? How modern" Caroline replied, annoyed.
He smirked.
They remained silent as he pulled up to her house, and quickly sped around to open her door.
"No vamping about, please, the neighbours don't know" She eased herself out the car and headed up the path, "You don't have to walk me to the door"
"I'm escorting you. That includes getting you to your front door"
"Well I'm here now" Caroline sighed. She desperately wanted to be strong, but she was drained. Physically and emotionally. All she wanted to do was go inside, wash all the blood and grime off and cry for at least a week. Nik was currently in the way of that plan. "So, goodnight"
He nodded, sensing her unease "Are you alone?"
Yes. She was eternally alone. But she wouldn't show it. "That's creepy" she joked.
He frowned at her obviously fake smile.
"My Mom's at work. She'll be home soon" Caroline clarified.
"I could stay" Klaus offered. Though he didn't know why.
"You're vampire without an invitation. And I just really want a shower and to go to bed. The two don't mix well"
He dipped his head to meet her eyes. "Sure?"
No.
"I'm fine" she reached down and grasped his hand, giving it a firm shake, "Thank you for tonight"
She went into the house and gave him a little wave from the window, with an encouraging smile. She hoped it was encouraging. She was desperately trying not to cry. He smirked and walked away.
She settled in front of the mirror, and began to pull out the spikes that littered her collarbone, wincing as she did.
There was a knock at the door.
She seriously debated not answering it. Hide away and deal with him in the morning. That was what girly little Caroline would do. That wasn't her anymore.
Tyler seemed surprised as the door opened. "Are you okay?"
She gave him a hard stare, voice even. "I'm fine"
"I had no idea they would come for you"
He seemed sincere. But that wasn't even the point. "Do you know what they did to me?"
"I'm sorry... but it's crazy now, okay, I don't know who to trust. You lied to me"
How could he try and justify himself? "I lied to protect my friends. I lied to protect you, don't you get that?"
"Caroline-"
No. All Caroline's fury, hurt and disappointment came crashing out. "You just stood there, when they were going to torture and kill me, you just stood there. You didn't do anything"
"I didn't know what to do"
"You help your friends, that's what you do"
"I'm sorry"
Caroline's resolve stiffened. "No, it's too late cause we're not friends anymore. And what happened to me tonight? That will never happen again. So you take that back to your little werewolf pack and you get the hell out of my house"
The house shook as the door slammed and she let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. She made her way back to her room in a daze. The easiest way to remove the objects embedded in her skin seemed to be ripping them out quickly. The dried blood was washed down the plughole,and so the evidence of the worst night of her life was gone. She spent the majority of the shower tracing the unmarred skin where the gaping holes had once been, tears mixed with the shower spray.
She piled her damp curls on her head, wrapped herself in a robe and spoke to Matt on the phone. She hated lying to him, but how could she possibly tell him? With a frustrated groan, she slammed the phone down at the end of the conversation.
"Easy, love" Klaus was sat on her windowsill, casually leaning back against the frame with his legs stretched out.
Caroline screamed, "What the hell are you doing? Why would you scare me like that?"
"I could tell you weren't fine. I'm checking on you"
She rested a hand on her frantic, undead heart. "So you thought after my torture I could use a good fright? Seriously?"
"I didn't mean to scare you. I apologize" Klaus gazed at her sincerely.
She nodded. Did she leave that window open? How did she not hear him? "How long have you been there?"
"I heard you give the wolf what for. I must say, I am impressed. I didn't realize you had such fire" Klaus replied, rolling his r's. It gave her a strange sensation in the pit of her stomach.
How was he doing this to her? "My fire is none of your business" Caroline snapped.
"You're standing up for yourself. That's good" he replied seriously, unfazed by her outburst.
"It's scary"
"Fear is positive"
Caroline laughed, through it sounded more like a sob, "No, it's not"
"Caroline, don't be frightened to be who you are. All of what you are" He was doing it again - looking at her the way he did when she had her vampire face . His eyes were burning into her. There was no cage, yet she still felt trapped.
The tension was cut when Caroline's phone began to buzz. It was a miracle that it was still working after her earlier outburst.
"Stefan" she answered.
"Caroline, where are you? What happened? We're at the clearing, how did you get away?"
Klaus put a finger to his lips and shook his head slightly.
"One of the wolves left the latch off. I just ran" Caroline answered automatically, staring at Nik. She didn't know why she lied, or even why it would be necessary. There was something in his eyes that was telling her he needed her to, but that it was okay.
"Thank God. We met Elijah's witch out there, but he says he never saw you. He had them all with that witchy aneurism when we got there"
"Good" Caroline said determinedly.
"Care, are you okay?"
"I'm fine"
"Caroline" Stefan's tone warned her not to lie.
"I'm fine"
"Do you want me to come over?"
"Stefan, I'm fine. Honestly. I just want to sleep"
"Okay" Stefan sounded uneasy, "I'll call you in the morning?"
"Okay" Caroline agreed, "Stefan? Thank you"
Caroline put her phone down, turning to directly face Klaus. "Why did you want me to lie?"
"I'm not staying for long. Settled vampires tend not to be terribly nice to nomads like me"
"I don't believe you, Nik" Caroline eyed him suspiciously, "If that even is your real name"
"It is" He was smirking again.
Why was he so intent on being vague? Nothing good ever came from secrecy, and she was not going to be toyed by an older man again, "Well, if you're a nomad, shouldn't you be moving on?"
"I felt compelled to make sure you were alright" he replied truthfully.
"I'm fine" Caroline sighed automatically.
"You've said that a lot Caroline. Is it true?"
She shrugged - she was fine as she could possibly be after the night she had.
Klaus tilted his head. There was something that had been bothering him all night. "Did you really want to die tonight?"
Caroline looked down, whispering meekly "A little"
"Why?"
She shrugged, her eyes filling with tears, "I was in so much pain. And honestly, I don't know how much I have to live for right now"
"You can't think like that" he immediately replied.
"Why?"
"I'll admit, this little town doesn't hold much attraction, but Caroline, you have the world. Cities with so much promise, so much adventure. There's so many new cultures for you to experience, great art, music. You can have it all. It's all at your fingertips, sweetheart, all you have to do is look" he was leaning forward excitedly, his forehead pressing against the invisible barrier to the house.
He was drawing her in like a magnet. She desperately wanted all those things, but her underlying fear was still present, "But I don't want to do it all alone"
He fixed her with his penetrating, smoldering gaze, "Oh, sweet Caroline, you are far from alone" His voice was low, seductive.
They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity, Caroline struggling to take breaths she didn't really need. Who was this man? Why was he promising her the world? There was one question that was causing her the most concern, though. Why did she want nothing more than to run straight to him?
He tilted his head to the side, "I think I'm going to be proved right"
She frowned, and then she heard the hum of a car pulling up. It sounded vintage - Stefan. There was a short knock on the door.
"I'll keep you a secret, Nik" Caroline promised, though she didn't know why.
He smiled and she felt the warmth from it reach her toes. She padded along to her bedroom door and peeked out. Stefan gave her a little wave from the window. She turned back to her room to see it was empty. "Thank you" she whispered to the open window, though it didn't seem to convey enough. Nik had saved her in every possible way. Her arms automatically wrapped round her body as she went to the front door. "Hey"
"Hey" Stefan smiled warmly, his eyes soft.
"What's going on?"
"I was a bit worried about you. After everything you went through tonight"
"I'm fine" Caroline smiled, her eyes tearing up. That word had lost all meaning.
"Well, good, but just in case I, uh, brought some back up" He gestured to the side, where Elena appeared clutching a pillow.
"We're gonna slumber it" she smiled.
"We haven't done it in ages" Bonnie added, appearing at the door.
Caroline was half laughing, half crying as her friends wrapped their arms around her. How had she gone from wishing for death in a cage, to seeing all of life's opportunities and having her friends love her? She knew the answer, and it thrilled and terrified her.
Nik.