Run! She reminded herself. Don't stop!

What else was she supposed to do? She couldn't go back. She didn't want to go back and there were no places to hide in these woods. If she stopped, she was caught. If she was caught, they would kill her. This was her fifth time escaping. That was four more times than anyone else had ever survived but they kept her around because they said she'd sell for a pretty penny. They made sure to remind her of that everyday. Stupid! Stupid girl! You don't even know where you're going! It didn't matter. This was her last chance. The auction was soon. She couldn't wait any longer. If she tried to escape after she'd been bought, they'd kill her. So run is what she did. Run was the only thing she could do and, for a slave that was underfed and overworked, she was doing very well. It felt like she'd been running forever through this unforgiving forest and she didn't think she could run for much longer.

The leaves crunched beneath her feet and the autumn chill tore at her soles. The bright orange leaves were all a blur to her panicked vision and labored breaths. She couldn't stay upright no matter how hard she tried. The chains binding her ankles caused her to become intimate with the forest floor in a very unpleasant way more than one time, and the rattling they made only served to remind her of her slavery. The rags she had been wearing were reduced to scraps as the branches tore at the dress. Now, on top of barely being able to breathe, thanks to the corset, she was practically naked. It seemed everything was against her freedom. Everything was rooting for her to fail. Even the wind was whispering viciously in her ear telling her she would have to stop eventually. You can't keep running forever silly girl.

Before she could even realize what was happening, and stop to sit down, her legs gave out on her. She found herself crawling towards the nearest tree and falling against it heavily. All the cuts and scratches began to feel like gashes and holes. Every shaky breath she took made her dizzy until she could no longer keep her eyes open. She felt worn and beat down. She felt as if she'd been carrying the Sun and it was finally collapsing on her and making her existence nothing but ash, and, in the day that was now darkness, she could hear the footsteps. Just as they were bearing down on her eardrums, she collapsed. She tried to remain aware, but the darkness was stronger than her just as it has always been.

xXx

The first thing she recognized, before she even opened her eyes, was the smell. That was quickly followed by the ache of everything on her body. The food overshadowed that. She knew what that was. It was something they always made back at the slave house. Simple chicken and vegetables. It was very good, or so she heard. She'd never actually been able to eat any. The slaves weren't allowed to eat what the masters ate, if they wanted to keep their tongues. Sometimes they were fed raw vegetables or fruit, but mostly it was bread. Bread was what the slave house had in abundance and it was cheap. So, of course, it was what the slaves ate. But wait, she realized, this isn't the slave house.

She opened her eyes and this was definitely not the slave house. She slowly pushed herself into a sitting position to examine her surroundings more thoroughly. The slave house was big, but decrepit. It was mostly cells and a few decent rooms for the caretakers and the Master Slaver. This place, she could tell even from the single room she was confined to, was beautiful and...she couldn't even think of a word for it. The walls were decorated with smooth patterns that she could not take her eyes off and bordered in a smooth clean wood. And this bed! She couldn't figure out how she hadn't noticed the bed she was laying in. It was practically heaven. The sheets felt like cool water. She could practically swim in them. The pillow was practically a cloud. Her clothes, which had been changed to a simple night gown, were the softest cotton that ever existed, and everything felt so clean. When was the last time she'd had a proper wash? When was the last time she could touch her own skin, without shivering in disgust? When was the last time she had been able to sit and think without someone yelling at her to do something-

"Ma'am?" A servant questioned. She blinked a few times before facing the girl that stood in the open door. Any doubt she'd had about not being at the slave house was confirmed then. She knew every slave at the slave house and this girl was not one of them. How long had she been standing there anwyay? When had the door even opened?

"I'll let the masters of the house know you're awake." The servant said as she sat down the tray she was carrying that carried the food. That explained the smell that inhabited the room. The girl bowed and left quickly after. The former slave turned to her plate. It was all of a heartbeat before she began devouring the food. It was even better than the other slaves had speculated. It was the best thing she had tasted. The smell and taste of the food clouded her mind. She hadn't actually realized the weight of the servants words until she heard her door being pushed open. Her head snapped quickly towards the door to see a man step through dressed in clearly tailored clothes. Without a thought, she sprang off of the bed. She snatched the knife that had accompanied her food off of the tray as the remaining food went tumbling across the covers and floor. She didn't stop to think about the delicious food she had just wasted, thought it would surely haunt her later. She went straight to pointing the knife at the man. He was no fool. Her hands weren't even shaking though she was clearly scared. She would stab him and, while a stab wound would be nothing to worry about, he rather liked this particular suit. He slowly held his hands up in surrender.

"I don't know what I've done to cause you worry," he spoke smoothly with an accent that, she'd noticed, usually accompanied men with money, "but I do apologize for it."

"I just want to leave." Her voice came out shaky, contrary to her steady hand. "Please just let me leave."

"Miss," the man spoke slowly as if to a frightened animal, which she could definitely fit the requirements for, "you are not here against your will. You are welcome to leave. My brother, NiKlaus, found you in the woods a little ways away from our home. He brought you back with only the purest of intentions." I hope, Elijah thought. "We will be more than willing to send you on your way once we have secured your well-being."

He took a few tentative steps forward. She tightened her grip on the knife and he stopped. He reached across slowly and gently removed it from her grasp. Why?! She cursed herself after she'd let it go Why would you give it to him?!. He raised his hand. She was sure it had been to hit her for daring to raise a hand to the master of the house. This is what you deserve! She waited with bated breath for the sting that would be felt across her cheek and the resounding slap that would accompany. Nothing came. Instead he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and guided her around the mess she had made across the floor.

"My name is Elijah. Why don't you tell me your name..." He encouraged. She opened her mouth to form the familiar syllables but she stopped herself. She thought on it for a second. She didn't want the name the masters had "graced" her with.

"Car-Caroline." She said, almost sure that that was the name her mother had given her. She could see it. Her mother's mouth smiling around the word, smiling at her.

"I'll get a servant in here to clean up the mess." He offered.

"No!" She cut him off as the words pulled her from her memories. She'd rather clean up her own mess. "I'll do it myself."

While Elijah went through the wardrobe that Caroline hadn't bothered to notice in the corner of the room, Caroline zoned out. She'd wanted to roam but she remembered the servant saying "masters". She didn't not know these people yet. She did not know how she was expected to act around them. Maybe this master was kind but that did not account for the others. She decided to stay within the room. Every now and then she wondered over to the same desk to pick one of the many books stacked on top. She couldn't actually read, but she'd always wanted. Her mother was just about to start teacher her when-no, don't think about that. I don't wanna see that again.

"Lady Caroline," Elijah drawled as he turned to face her again, several dresses draped over his arm.

"I'm not a lady." Property does not get titles! She corrected quietly.

"Well, then your appearance is fooling." He joked. Caroline flinched visibly before taking a step away. You're not supposed to say no! Master is always right! Stop being an idiot!

"I'm sorry." She mumbled.

"I was only attempting to make you laugh." Elijah said apologetically. "You have no reason to be sorry. Now, here-" he laid the dresses on the bed. Caroline glanced at them momentarily. They were different from clothes she'd received in the past. They looked...new and clean and they felt so soft. She began to pull the night gown over her and Elijah turned his head away respectfully. Caroline didn't really understand why. She had stopped with the dress just past her navel and glanced curiously at Elijah. Maybe the slavers had been wrong about how appealing her body was. Elijah told her to pick a dress and quickly exited the room after telling her to meet them downstairs.

Caroline continued pulling the night gown over her head. There were three dresses on the bed. One was a deep red; another was gold, and the last was black. She'd never had the choice of clothing, neither had she really cared. She grabbed the red one and began to put it on. It was simple. It didn't require a corset or buttons or zippers. It was just a loose fitted gown. The dress had a simple tie at the cleavage, but she let it hang without thought. She didn't even bother glancing in the mirror before she walked straight into the hall and found her legs coming to a screeching halt.

The hallway was dark and empty and that reminded her of the slave house. Caroline had never been a fan of the dark. For the longest all she could was stare into the empty space on either side of her until she remembered that she had been given an order. She was supposed go downstairs. Which way was downstairs? What now? She asked herself. Right was always right, right? As she reached the end of the hall the only option was left so She made the left turn, her hand scaling the wall for some sort of comfort. It took five more turns and three times going back before she figured out where she going, and, by figured out where was going, she means happily stumbled upon the stairs. She headed down the stairs towards the bright ground floor that gladly boasted sunlight. Once she had reached the bottom she did the only thing she could do which was follow the sound of voices until she found who she was looking for.

"NiKlaus, she-" Elijah stopped speaking as he saw her walk into the room. Caroline glanced around the room, noting the large dining table and the man who Elijah was standing next to who was seated at the head of it. She watched Elijah's eyes flick back and forth between her and the man he had been talking. The man he'd been talking to was staring at Caroline with a rather wide grin that made her want to go hide in the hall.

"Caroline." He smiled. Caroline took a step back as the looked in his eyes flickered to something completely different than simple adoration. Caroline recognized that look. She found herself stumbling backwards in the sudden need to get away form here. She could hear her inner voice screaming RUN just as it had when one of the overseers had been laughing evilly in her face and taunting her with the information about the auction.

"NiKlaus," Elijah warned in notice of her emotions, " remember you had to remove her chains."

"Oh yes," he sighed. "I do apologize for my tone. It's only...I do love to appreciate beauty and you are quite beautiful."

Caroline blushed this time, which was something she'd never had the pleasure of doing before. Something that she wasn't used to. She didn't get compliments where she was from. She got hit and yelled at and starved. She was complimented in the worse ways possible, in regards to worth. 'They'll like you,' they would say, 'You've got good legs for working and I nice strong back for-' they would laugh-'Other things.' Caroline would be curled in the corner in an attempt to shield herself from whatever psychological trauma she knew was heading her way. She would do anything to make herself a smaller target. As a child, she could remember thinking that if she just stayed in the corner curled in her ball then she would be invisible. It had never actually worked but sometimes she could pretend that it did. As she grew up, and lost that imagination, life became much harder.

"Um..." She stuttered. "I don't- I just want-"

"To leave." Elijah finished. "Yes, I know, but we don't think it's quite safe for you just yet. Do you mind waiting a bit longer. We promise that once it is clear, we will give you everything you need to move on with your life."

"I don't...think that's a good idea." Caroline said slowly as she screamed at herself on the inside. She was trying to gauge their reaction. She wanted to know if they were as nice as they seemed. Many men had tried to act nice with her, but, once you deny men who are used to receiving any and everything, they tend to show their true colors. These men were different. They didn't give her anything bad. NiKlaus looked more disappointed than angry, while Elijah looked worried.

"My brothers only mean to say that the slavers who you escaped from are still looking for you." A female presence made herself known with her very loud voice, as she strutted over to Caroline. Her dress was much more intricately detailed and bigger, much bigger, than Caroline's. "Rebekah Mikaelson," she extended as a greeting, "you know if you curl your hair a bit and wear a-"

"Rebekah she has just escaped from captivity," NiKlaus rolled his eyes, "she doesn't need you trying to control her." Rebekah huffed before sitting in the seat to the left of NiKlaus. She mumbled something about only giving tips which earned a stern glare from NiKlaus.

"I understand but-" Caroline stopped unsure of how to continue. She looked around nervously. Elijah gave her encouraging nod. "I have to go."

"As I'm sure you'd like to escape my brothers-"

"What are you trying to say, dear sister?" Elijah interrupted Rebekah. Dogs began to bark and immediately Caroline dropped. Smaller target. Cover your face. If you get scars they'll punish you. She wrapped her hands around her head and rocked back and forth quickly. Rebekah looked stunned unsure of how to handle the situation, while Elijah immediately headed to quiet the dogs. NiKlaus stood slowly and made his way over to Caroline, quietly calming Rebekah as he did.

"Caroline." He said warily and quietly. He crouched so that they were eye level. He had a feeling that towering over her at a time like this was not the best idea. The last thing she needed was for NiKlaus to be trying to assert his dominance. There was a time a place. Caroline's eyes were squeezed shut, almost painfully so. Apologize! her inner voice warned. Apologize before they have you torn apart by dogs! What were you thinking?! you can't say no! If you want to live, you can't say no! Why did you live?! Was being free worth your life? WOULD YOU RATHER BE DEAD?!

"Caroline-"

"Please," she whimpered as tears began to roll down her cheeks in waves. "I'm sorry!" I don't believe you! I don't BELIEVE you! "I'M SORRY! Please, I really mean it. I swear!"

"Caroline," NiKlaus said quieter and softer. Rebekah was astonished at the softness in his tone. She hadn't heard him speak like that since they'd been human. "Sweetheart open your eyes." He gently tugged Caroline's hands away from her face. When she didn't respond he carefully grabbed her chin with his forefinger and thumb and gently forced her head upwards. He was met with her tear stained cheeks and trembling eyelids.

"Caroline, love, look at me."

"I'm so sorry." She sobbed. She hadn't realized that the dogs had stopped barking and Elijah had reentered the house. He did not intervene, only watched NiKlauss' actions from a distance. Caroline needed space right now. It would no one well to have all of the Mikaelson family smothered around her. She would only panic more.

Caroline's eyes were still squeezed shut, forcing out the building liquid from beneath her eyes. She'd rather not see whatever punishment was headed her way. NiKlaus opted to just take her into his arms rather than force her eyes open. He cradled her close, close enough her pounding heartbeat throughout his entire body. He slowed her frantic rocking until they both became incredibly still on the cold wood floor. He slowly grasped each leg and stretched them out so that they crossed his folded one's. He was glad when it did not trigger another episode. If they had been responsible for something so cruel, he was not sure he could stop himself from murdering them. She'd stop pleading much to his pleasure. Now she only shook furiously in his arms.

Elijah looked upon the two who were practically wrapped each other with mostly confusion. NiKlaus had never been this gentle, emphasis on never. Even his human years had been filled with too much bravado to be accompanied by gentleness. And this was more than gentleness. This was empathy. Elijah had not known Klaus was capable of empathy. He rocked with the girl and whispered comforting words into her ear. Caroline, in response, had begun clutching him tightly and crying into his shoulder. This time NiKlaus apologized to her, another thing he never did. He apologized for everything the men had put her through.

Elijah pulled Rebekah away. This was a private moment. Caroline deserved to have this but if peace while she could. Elijah had gotten rid of the slavers who had been lurking around their home. It had only taken a few threats and a flash of his fangs but they were not gone for long. Of course the slavers had promised to was of no consequence. Right now, he was more focused on Caroline.

"Caroline." NiKlaus whsipered softly into her ear. He wouldn't carry her, he'd decided. She didn't need what little strength she had to be overshadowed. "You are strong. You've escaped them. I know you're tired but I know that you can stand."

"I'm so tired. I ran for so long." she said. Her voice was distant and quiet, her face buried in the loose clothing NiKlaus wore. "I can't."

"Come on, love." NiKlaus insisted. "You and I both know you can."

He stood with her cradled in his arms, then slowly he put her onto her feet. She swayed slightly but more or less had a solid stance. He coached her into her first step. He swore, as he walked her to her temporary bedroom, on his baby brothers grave that he wouldn't let her be taken again. And, after she'd been settled in and NiKlaus sat across from Elijah in his study, he made the same promise in front of Elijah.

"I swore on Henrik." He said quietly. "The only way they'll get her back is if I'm dead and gone.""Well," Elijah sighed, he could think of all the fighting they'd been doing already. He could imagine the headache NiKlaus was going to give him. "you're already dead."