A/N: Hola! So I haven't really written a new story in a very long time, in fact, this is the first time I'm even writing a Klaroline fic but hey there's a first to everything. A lot of the things here are AU, except I didn't change the fact that they weren't vampires and all. It's all the same supernatural stuff, I just wanted to make my own dramatic arc haha. I hope all of you enjoy it.
Feel free to PM me suggestions or reviews! Follows and Favorites are always appreciated too!
Prologue
Caroline was a tragic mess running through the streets of Greece tracing her steps back to the Mediterranean restaurant just right around the corner. She somehow found herself in Greece when she agreed to accompany Stefan to find a certain witch to help Bonnie. The current new drama at Mystic Falls happened to be revolving around Bonnie instead of Elena for once and for that, Caroline was a little bit relieved. She could not handle some more Elena drama, she'd had enough of that in her highschool days, and some of her college days. They'd all graduated about one year ago from Whitmore, and everybody seemed to be happy. Elena was still with Damon, which is still a surprise to her. You would think that everyone would go separate ways and that was the plan, but a year later, they all regrouped to Mystic Falls to catch up. It felt nice, but wherever the group goes, drama follows. When they got back, there was a new set of vampires roaming around, not exactly terrorizing the town, but definitely threatening. They killed off the closest werewolf packs, and there was already a huge drift between the vampires and werewolves already, they only made it worse. When talking things out didn't work out, it became out of control and Bonnie tried to find a way to make a border to not let them get across. Along with the spell, Bonnie could barely make out alive, channeling that much magic was enough for her to go into a self-comatose state. So here was Caroline and Stefan chasing after a witch that owed the Salvatores brother a favor in the past, but she manages to keep disappearing.
Caroline's phone started buzzing in her back pocket, with an irritated growl she grabbed it to find Stefan calling. She rolled her eyes and put the phone against her ear, "Yes Stefan."
"No need to sound so snarky," he replied defensively, equally annoyed
"Well I'm sorry that I'm running my ass around the town only to find that you're locked in the basement of the witch we're supposed to find," she retorted wanting to raise her arms in frustration, "Can't you even tell me anything around you?"
"I'm telling you it's like dusty and all I can get from what I see is that I'm stuck in the basement," sighed Stefan, "I can barely hear anything either."
"Great, what if you're six feet under," groaned Caroline
"Don't stress Caroline, everything will go smoothly," said Stefan
She scoffed at the irony. Wasn't it supposed to be her soothing Stefan?
"Remember the witch we met from the restaurant last night?" asked Caroline
"From the Mediterranean restaurant? Wasn't she a psychic?"
"Well maybe she happens to be both. Look, I have your diary with me, so I'm going to use that to make a location spell," said Caroline instinctively going to her back pocket to check if the mini leather bound notebook was still there.
She heard a little gasp, and instantly worried, "Stefan, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
After a pause, he replied, "You better not read it."
"I really don't think that's what you should be worried about Stefan," scoffed Caroline, "Why do you sound so assured that she won't hurt you?"
"Caroline, any kidnapper in the right mind would take their victim's phone with them. She left mine with her, obviously she doesn't want to kill me," reasoned Stefan stuffing his spare hand into his pocket, "Plus, she owes both Damon and I a very big favor. Just do what you can, if you can't contact me, then that's probably when you should start panicking a little. Talk soon Care." Then the phone line went dead.
Caroline zoomed past the tourists and within a few seconds was in front of a startled young witch holding a plate full of food. She had beautiful black hair that was tied up in a messy bun and looked no more than 25.
"Gretchen, right?" clarified Caroline with a friendly smile
She seemed to recognize Caroline for the night before and nodded, "Caroline, good to see you again."
For some odd reason, Gretchen never showed any hatred towards Caroline and Stefan, despite their inhuman differences. Caroline looked over to an empty seat, "I kind of need your help right now, it's been a little hectic since I last saw you and I don't know who else to talk to in this super unknown country."
She nodded, "Take a seat over there and I'll be there in just a few minutes."
Caroline sighed in relief and dragged the wooden chair out. The view outside was absolutely stunning. The ocean sparkled against the sunlight, and the clustered homes were beautiful in their own way.
There's a whole world out there.
Her heart softly fluttered as she remembered those words. She didn't want to admit but the big bad wolf definitely did have some wisdom with him. That's what you probably get for living for centuries and centuries. She wondered if it ever got lonely for the originals, living so long and losing so much along the way. All she knew about them was that they were off in New Orleans trying to reclaim territory, and there were rumors about Klaus and Hayley's child. In all honesty, she really did hope that his son could bring out the humanity she's seen in Klaus. It's in there somewhere, deep down inside his cold heart.
"Sorry for keep you waiting sweetie," Caroline whipped her head breaking out of her thoughts. Gretchen took a seat in the wooden chair in front of her with a soft smile playing on her lips.
"Thanks for taking some time for me," replied Caroline in relief
"Not a problem. Where's your other friend?" asked Gretchen
"That's actually the problem. We're here trying to locate a witch named Daniella but it seems that she's taken Stefan hostage for some odd reason, and so I was wondering if you could be doing a locator spell," sighed Caroline
Gretchen nodded taking in the information, "Well I know Daniella personally, in fact, she's actually my cousin."
Caroline looked dumbfounded and Gretchen threw her head back laughing, "Daniella and I are cunning witches. We don't live to threaten, we just enjoy having a little fun. You honestly didn't think that we wouldn't know that both you and Stefan were here trying to seek Daniella out?"
"Wait, what?" Caroline's mouth was still in an 'o' shape from the truth bomb that just got dropped, "So this was all a joke?"
"Yes, in fact, Stefan's probably in on this too," chuckled Gretchen.
"Seriously? Then why was I running around like an idiot this whole time!" groaned Caroline thumping her head against the table
"Cheer up sweetie, a frown doesn't match a beautiful illuminating face like yours," said Gretchen patting Caroline's soft golden locks, "Both Daniella and I know that you need our help with your Bennett witch, but we can't do anything except give you guidance."
"What?" Caroline's head shot up, "You can't help us?"
Gretchen's mouth formed a thin line, "Unfortunately Daniella and I are bound to this very town. We have been for the past fifty years, and it's spell bound with no way to release it."
"Don't you miss home? Why aren't you guys aging? Who cast the spell on you?" questioned Caroline and felt embarrassed by all those questions. Gretchen laughed and shook her head showing Caroline that it was all-okay.
"Both Daniella and I were born in London but we consider home to be Prague. We were brought up there. The reason we aren't aging is because we're both kind of stuck, this spell that's cast upon us is a very powerful that leaves us alive and immortal but we can't roam free," said Gretchen, "It's like we're stuck in a limbo. The only way for the spell to go away is time. It's made on a system where it's clocked, once we stay here for 100 years, we're free and we don't stay immortal either."
"Don't people notice that you don't age?"
"We cloaked ourselves so that only the supernatural can see through our age. The humans will just see an old lady serving food," explained Gretchen
"And the person who cast it?"
"Ah, now if I tell you, I fear that you would not like it," said Gretchen with a wink and a small smile
"What?"
Gretchen's mischievous demeanor appeared once more, "Too many questions sweetie."
Caroline stared at her still confused.
"The witch you seek is in New Orleans, we'll offer you her name, and mention both you and Stefan to her but only with one condition," said Gretchen becoming serious and let go of Caroline's hand, "You, my dear, have a very big task to fulfill and I'm afraid you cannot back down."
Caroline hoped that it couldn't be that bad and really hoped it had nothing to do with a certain hybrid. Her heart hammered inside her rib cage and she nodded, "What is it?"
"Your mission is giving something to Niklaus Mikealson," smirked Gretchen
"Nope, not happening," she shook her head immediately disappointed, "You can ask Stefan to do that."
"Then I'm afraid we can't offer you any more information about how Bonnie's curse can be reversed," sighed Gretchen
"What the hell do you mean by curse? Wasn't she just in a comatose state from using too much magic?" asked Caroline with a worried expression
Gretchen smiled and hummed looking at the different things in the room, obviously ignoring Caroline. Frustrated, Caroline finally gave in, "Okay fine. I'll be messenger girl."
"Great!" yelped Gretchen in glee, "You didn't think it was odd when Bonnie didn't wake up after the first few days? Even if a witch is tired from magic, she will wake up as usual, but she just won't have the power to bend her magic at will immediately."
"So she's cursed? Isn't that kind of far-fetched," scoffed Caroline with her arms folded not believing Gretchen
"Caroline, I'm a witch that's been constantly reincarnated so believe me when I tell you that I'm old enough to say that Bonnie Bennett is cursed," said Gretchen
"But you look so young! You're just a witch!" said Caroline immediately covering her mouth for her outburst and feeling bad
"Yes I'm just a witch," sighed Gretchen, "But that does not mean I have my ways in keeping myself immortal."
"With magic?" asked Caroline surprised
"Yes."
"Is that even possible?" mumbled Caroline
"With power like mine, yes it is."
"Expressionism?"
Gretchen's lips formed a thin line, "Unfortunately my ancestors are all people of expressionism. If you know a Bennett witch then you must also know information about expressionism."
"Once a witch who practiced expressionism dies, then her magic is basically up for grabs right?"
Gretchen nodded grimly, "Our ancestral line pass down expressionism, so the younger the generation, the bigger the power, which is why I make myself immortal as a witch and this spell that's cast upon me contains me. I do not intend to make offspring, this much power will be far too much for anyone as young as me to handle."
"So what do you intend to do?"
"Who knows, I have fifty years to worry about that," said Gretchen with a light smile, "I'm thankful for the person who cast this spell. It's a big task to confine two very strong witches."
"Do you even know who cast it?"
"Yes but don't expect me to tell you. The witches like to stay hidden," smiled Gretchen mysteriously, "Bonnie is using expressionism yes?"
Caroline nods, "Yes."
"Then it is not a surprise that someone would want to curse her and suppress her magic," said Gretchen, "She's a very powerful witch from a very respectable bloodline, she will never wake up unless you lift this."
"Never?"
"Never."
"So she's basically dead right now?" asked Caroline
"Basically," shrugged Gretchen
"And is it fixable?"
"It's hard to decide," sighed Gretchen, "It depends on how powerful the curse is, and how powerful the witch who cast it is. If it isn't as strong, then a simple witch could easily lift it with ease but if it is strong, and is a barrier trying to contain Bonnie, then that won't be easy to lift. It will also be a hard mental challenge for Bonnie."
"Well that's good, we just need to find a strong witch then!" smiled Caroline brightly
"Caroline," started Gretchen seriously, "To lift a curse also means to sacrifice something. You have to give something in return of something else, that's how the spirits work and if you fail, both witches can die meaning that innocent lives were taken for nothing."
"It can't be that bad right?"
"Sometimes it can be that bad," said Gretchen, "I just need you to be prepared for the worst."
Caroline felt fear creeping in her heart but she was set on the plan. She had to find the witch and help Bonnie, there was no back exit to this problem.
"I understand," nodded Caroline, "What's the witch's name?"
"Her name's Sophie Monteau Dumont, she's a powerful witch of French descent, tell her that Gretchen Al Compt sent you to her and give her this," Gretchen look a string like bracelet off of her wrist. It had one tiny charm in the shape of a leaf, "Give this to her and send her all my love."
"And in return?"
It seemed too easy for Caroline. Why was Gretchen so willing to help her?
"I want you to give him this package," smiled Gretchen and grabbed a wooden box wrapped in brown packaging paper, "I'm sure he's been looking for this."
"Why can't you just ask Stefan to do it," asked Caroline
"I don't know, you seem to be more interesting than Stefan," shrugged Gretchen. Caroline shook her head, how mischievous was this witch.
"How do you even know Klaus?"
"Let's just leave it to the idea that him and I are very old friends that do not want to get on each other's bad sides," said Gretchen, "I may be the only witch who will work for him willingly."
"That's crazy."
"We're all crazy Caroline. We're all monsters in our own ways, I've killed a good amount of people on my own and I know so have you," said Gretchen, "We're all monsters, we just go about it in different ways."
"So I just drop this package off?" asked Caroline
"Yes, very simple task right?"
"Why are you so willing to help me without a bigger favor to ask?"
"There's something about you Caroline that makes me want to trust you and not go against you," said Gretchen with a soft smile
Just then two figures appeared from the back door of the restaurant and walked towards the two ladies at the table.
"Hope you're not too mad Care," snickered Stefan and slid into the chair next to her
Caroline started slapping Stefan, "I cannot believe you did that! All three of you!"
"Sorry sorry! Daniella and I go way back and we were such troublemakers too, it just felt good to be back with a friend who was as mischievous as I was," chuckled Stefan
"In no way are you mischievous," scoffed Caroline with her arms crossed
"I just booked tickets out of here tonight, I'm assuming you both talked it out and stuff," said Stefan
Both Gretchen and Daniella nodded, "She's good to go."
Just as Caroline shook Daniella's hand for her help after Gretchen, she felt a jolt of vulnerability and realized Daniella looking at her oddly. She quickly let her go and Caroline wanted to run off, as far away from here as possible.
"Alright thank you both, see you in another fifty years?" chuckled Stefan
Gretchen nodded, "We'll come visit you one day! You too Caroline!"
As the two vampires blurred out of view, Daniella stared at the empty space in front of her confused.
"That blonde," she started and looked over at Gretchen, who just simply nodded staring intently at the empty space too.
"She's the one, we've waited fifty years for this. It's time we break the barrier we cast upon ourselves to keep ourselves alive."