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"Why the hell is father, calling for me at this ungodly hour!" I say full of sarcasm as my mother leads me down the stair case away from Stefan's secret journals which I always read and hid from my seeing eyes. Stefan is my best friend, we practically grew up together until his father was hanged for a crime he didn't commit. Stefan and his brother Damon got involved with the wrong crowd, or so I thought, they became pirates and initially I was scared until I met Bonnie, a female pirate who I met a few times. Her and Damon got on like a house on fire and after they left she sent me letters on behalf of Stefan. My parents think she is a pen pal I met on my travels to the East Coast with Elena.
Elena is the daughter of the countess and the right hand man of Admiral Richard Lockwood. We've known each other since we were children and hosted tea parties together but whilst she was the typical girly princess as was expected of little girls in this day, I was the ferocious counterpart. Whilst she spent her time doing pretty plaits in her hair and arranging flowers I learnt how to put a sword to good use and strike a bulls eye with great precision. Matt Donovan, the local sword smith and my friend started teaching me once Katherine was taken during one of the pirate raids or that's what everyone thought.
In truth Kat had begged Stefan and Damon to take her away from the horrors of the small town and the raid had been set up by them and their fellow pirate mates. Bonnie had told me the details through a letter sent a few days after the incident but that didn't stop me from wanting to handle a sword and learn defensive moves that could very well aid me and surprise my attacker. We practised in secret and as my sword work got better I added flips, kicks and splits to wear Matt out and surprise him. Like I said I'm Elena's counterpart I guess.
Which is what lead me to this situation, like the many times before, my father has called me down at the early hours of the morning to introduce men to me which could possibly turn out to be my betrothed. I refused at every step coming up with various excuses when me and the man would be left alone to get to know each other. Some of the ones I used went along the lines of: 'I'm very ill and I won't make it to the wedding day therefore I suggest you find yourself a new wife', 'I'm unable to carry children so the line would cease to exist with you' and 'whilst I would be happy to marry you, I must inform you, as my nearly-betrothed that there is not a penny in my name' and all of them bought the excuses. My father was always fuming after the men withdrew their betrothal choice and rant at me for mere minutes before I was allowed to go back to my secret life. I didn't want a marriage to benefit society, I want an all-consuming love, an epic love which would have me set on fire just by a few glance or touches of his. However, my parents don't agree with my notion and believe that like their marriage I would learn to love the man. I scoff internally at the thoughts.
"Mother, please for the love of all that is holy, tell me what I think is about to happen won't happen!" I say in a resolute voice. She stops dead and spins but my reactions notice and I'm alert as my instincts start to buzz.
"Caroline, we have had this conversation numerous of times and you still don't seem to understand this. Whether you like it or not, this will be happening. I'm truly sorry about this my dear, but this will benefit you, it will help you progress in the way of the world. Now come along dear and hurry, heaven's forbid that you make up an excuse which is actually realistic." She turns back and briskly speeds away. I sign deeply and follow her since I really don't have a choice.
"Mother, who is the man this time?" I ask full of curiosity.
"Oh, dear, he's perfect, it's Tyler Lockwood, admiral Lockwood's son!" She says with a gleeful expression as I freeze like a statue. Tyler Lockwood, the man whore who is a snobbish pig, always threatening others with his power and status. Panic fills my body as I realise that no excuse will work this time, he wants me be his whore and that is all. As I'm processing this I realise that my mother has grasped my arm and is pulling me towards the chamber where Tyler and his parents may be stood as well as my father. As we get closer the double doors open and I compose myself and see Tyler turn round and run his eyes over my body undressing me. I vomit internally and shiver as his eyes leave a mark of disgust on me. The space between them and me decreases until I'm inside the room and I hear the doors close behind me.
I curtsy to the room as Tyler nods his head towards me a smiles sleazily, I stop myself from rolling my eyes as my father begins to talk.
"Ah, darling, I'd like you to meet Tyler Lockwood, your future husband." I look towards my father as he glares at me. I paint a false smile onto my face and turn my head back to face Tyler. Bracing myself with all the acting skills that I have I put on my best show.
"It's ;lovely to meet you Mr Lockwood." Tyler continues looking me up and down.
"I must say it's a pleasure to see you all the more." I want to scoff and beat him with a stick until he's black and blue with bruises rather than hear one more word from him or any crude remarks.
"Hmm" Is all I say going for the safe option rather than have my mouth run away with me.
"Well, seeing as you both have met and heard of each other I'd like to propose that the wedding happen in 3 days seeing as neither of them are getting younger and I want many little Lockwoods running around soon." Lady Lockwood says with a huge grin which Tyler mirrors. The need to vomit arises and I hold back and force a smile.
"Well seeing as that's settled how about a drink to toast the arrangement." I felt my blood boil as I watched the scene of my parents happily smiling with the Lockwoods and agreeing when I've had no say in it. I'm about to edge my way towards the door and run out when someone bangs on the door loudly.
"Enter!" My father shouts whilst putting his drink down followed by The elder Lockwood. The doors open and 2 guards walk in followed by another two who are dragging along a 14 year old boy covered in dirt and sea water as if he's just been fished out of the ocean. His face looks tired and my heart goes out to him. His eyes open and they are the colour of sapphire blue as his mouth curves into a tiny smile as he looks at me. His dimples poke out and my mouth curves into a smile until he is suddenly thrown to the floor by the guards . I step forward when my arm is grasped by Tyler and he pulls me back which I assume leaves red marks on it.
"What is this?" Richard Lockwood says in an authorative tone. The guards all salute.
"We're sorry admiral, but this boy is a pirate, he was caught trying to steal some bread from the market place and he has a triquetra tattoo on his forearm." I raise my head swiftly and locate the tattoo, it's the same tattoo which Stefan and Damon have and then it hits me, he must be part of their crew.
"Steal, that's not new to me, pirates all alike, they're animals waiting to be whipped into shape, if you know what I mean" Tyler says as he approaches the boy and grabs the whip from one of the guards. He grabs the boy and makes him stand in front of him. I look on in horror hoping that he won't do what I think he could.
"Shall I teach him a lesson, father?" He says with a curled lip. His father just smiles and nods at him. Tyler raises the whip.
"CRACK" The boy cries out and falls to his knees. My instincts run away with me and I run towards Tyler and pull his arm away.
"Stop it, he's just a boy, he didn't know!" Tyler glares at me furiously as his face begins to redden with anger. I step back and in a protective stance over the boy as he kneels on his knees and hands.
"Get out of the way, girl!" Tyler roars at me. As he raises the whip again. I remain in my stance.
"No!" I say in a resolute voice. He hands the guard the whip and walks towards me and grabs the back of my neck forcing me to look at the boy's tattoo.
"Are you blind girl or just born without a brain? He is part of the Triquetra, he deserves everything that he has coming to him!" I slam my head back with force into Tyler's nose, he releases me and realises that his nose is bleeding. He smacks me across my cheek and the force makes my head snap to the side as I feel a sharp sting when I realise that the pain isn't just from the force but from the ring which has ripped open the skin of my cheek and blood is flowing out.
"Guards, put him in the dungeons with the rest" Lord Lockwood orders and nods at my father before grasping Tyler's hand and pulling him towards the door.
"I shall see you soon William to discuss the arrangement, come along Carol." The Lockwoods leave the room as the guards pull the boy to his feet, whilst he's just staring at me as I stare back, dragging him out as well. I'm frozen on the spot as my mind finally catches up to the events that just played out. I slowly turn towards my parents as the tears fill my eyes. I look at my mother whose eyes mirror mine as she lets her eyes drag over my cheek. I lift my hand and lightly trace the injury and look down at my fingers which are covered in blood. I look at my father and narrow my eyes.
"Arrangement? There will be no wedding. I don't need an excuse, did you not just witness what just happened. He whipped a boy!" I say as my voice raises into a shout.
"He's a pirate, he deserved it" the man in front of me says as his face remains emotionless but I see his eyes swim with doubt.
"He's 14, a child who didn't deserve this! And what about me, did I deserve this!" I scream whilst glaring straight into his eyes.
"No"
"That's all you can say, no 'don't worry darling, I'll lock him up, I'll protect you', or I'll kill him if he raises a hand to you', just no. I'm not marrying that pig. He's vile and horrid!" I turn to run out of the room when a hand grasps my arm.
"You will marry him, I say so" he says
"Well I say no" I snarl back. His eyes flare but then soften once he looks over my face.
"Darling, you need to understand, this wedding will benefit you, us, our debts have reached a peak and this marriage can get us out." I couldn't believe it, my jaw dropped and I gasped. I pull my arm out of his hadn and step back.
"Our debt? This has nothing to do with me, the debt is all yours and if you think that you can just bargain me away to a man who will probably try to kill then you are sadly mistaken." I straighten my back as I say my next words. "You're supposed to protect me but instead you're sending me straight to the pits of hell all for some debt that you've acquired. You want to push me away, then consider it done. You are nothing to me. You are not my father. You are not the man that I looked up as I grew up. You are not the man who swore to protect me when I needed him from the age of 12. You are a cruel, viscous monster who makes deals with the devil at any price. You are nothing to me. A mere stranger." I say as I control the tears which are about to flood my eyes. "You are no one."
And with that I turn and run back to my room. They boy, whoever he is must be a friend of Stefan's I think as I try to clean my cheek and compose myself. It takes a couple of minutes but the cut is clean and doesn't look as bad as it did before. I cover it with soothing herbs for a few more minutes and then lightly place cream on it to make it less noticeable, the house nurse, Meredith had taught me about herbs and lotions as I grew up to prepare me to take care of my family. She had praised me on my advanced knowledge of health and cures. I try my best to hide the cut but I can still make it out.
I need to help him, the boy who is only a child and a friend of a friend's, I need to help him and I will. And the rest of the people who are trapped in the dungeons. I start planning the escape, their escape and mine. I won't be staying in this hell hole any longer, I rather die now than have to wait for certain death but I won't go down without fighting.
Night had fallen and my plan was ready to be carried out. I had reappeared in front of my parents and put on my act of playing the dutiful daughter and agreed to the marriage but I still reacted with ice towards the man that I had known to be my father. My mother decided to ignore me to spite me and I felt relief that I wouldn't be spending another day in this house.
I had visited Matt and told him everything that happened and asked him for my trusted sword, bow and arrow as well as the snake arm ring which I adored as a keepsake of his.
After that I went to the guards and apologized for the behaviour that they witnessed, I pickpocketed the keys to the dungeons and the key to the Hummingbird the ship that I had received for my 16th birthday which I had aptly named. It would be a tough job but I could sail it and maybe even recruit some of the pirates from the dungeons.
I dressed in breaches and a linen shirt which I wore whenever I was sharpening up my sword skills. My hair was pulled up into a high ponytail. I glanced into the mirror as I pulled my sword around my waist and put on the arm ring as well as placing my bow and arrow in my back with food, water, Stefan's journals and Bonnie's letters. I pulled on a dark cloak and then decided to hide in the shadows of the castle as I made my way to the dungeons.
I entered and could hear people murmuring and others snoring. I held a flame torch in one hand with the keys in the other.
"Hello? Can you hear me?" I say as I raise the sleeping and they blink against the light in my hand. Their murmurs grow louder when I realise that there are about 40 to 50 people there, men, women and even children.
"Shh, please you all need to be quiet otherwise the guards will wake." I say as loud as I can to draw the attention of the people without raising the sleeping guards outside to whom I had slipped a little chloroform in their food.
"Who are you?" Various people whisper.
"My name is Caroline, I'm going to get you all out of here, but you all have to remain quiet and calm. There is a boat called the Hummingbird at the docks waiting for us, I'm trying to get away from here and I need a crew, I also now of the Lockwoods cruelty which I can't stand so I'm helping you all survive. If you don't want to be part of my crew then fine but please get away as soon as you can and very far away so they can't capture any of you again." I plead with them and look around when I spot the boy I saw before. I approach him.
"I remember you, you tried to stop Lockwood from hitting me." He says to me. I smile and nod quickly.
"Yes, I'm Caroline, what's your name?"
"Henrik, Henrik Mikaelson." He says.
"Do you know of some people calles Stefan Salvatore, Damon Salvatore, Bonnie Bennett or Katherine Pierce?" I ask. People start to murmur again.
"Yes, they're part of our crew, how do you know them?"
"They're my friends, wait, so you all are part of the same crew?" They all nod whilst Henrik speaks.
"Yes, the navy caught us as we were retrieving goods from the island." His eyes fill with tears.
"Don't worry I'm getting you all out of here, but I need to know who will join me" I ask pleadingly. They all stare at me. Henrik raises his hand and other follow him until everyone has their arms in the air. I smile and nod.
"Thank you" I say as I start unlocking the jail cells. They start rushing out quietly.
"No thank you Caroline" I hear them whisper back to me.
"They ship is ready at the docks make your way there as fast as you can and board it, there will be food and clothes readily available but just get on there. Ok?" They all smile and nod.
"Ok, ready…set…go!" I shout as I grab Henrik's hand and pull him with me as everyone starts to run out of the dungeons, the castle, down the streets taking food and items they pick up along the way. We're nearly there when the alarm is raised which notifies us that they figured it out. We all push faster and keep running. The docks are right in front of us and so is my beautiful ship. Ladders have been placed on various points around the ship so that everyone can get on. People don't hesitate to climb and rush aboard like me and Henrik. I run towards the wheel of the boat and turn it and we start drifting out towards the open seas. I tell a man to take charge of the wheel as I look over the edge of the boat and we hoist the ladder up. I turn and overlook the crew, my crew as they grab food and water as well as clothes. I turn to face the island where I grew up.
"We're free, thank you" I hear Henrik whisper beside me.
"We're free…we're all free" I say breathlessly as he gently places his hand in mine and smiles at me as I smile back. I lean the side of my head on top of his and pull him into a comforting hug.
"We're all free" I whisper as I watch the island disappear and be replaced by the vast ocean.
Until I spot a ship in the distant horizon. With a triquetra symbol on their flag. My mouth curves into a smile as I think of my friends. 'We are free'