Part 1
Chapter one
Swish.
Swivel.
Flick.
Swing.
Thud.
Sigh.
Caroline rolled her eyes and turned to face Alaric, who was pinching the bridge of his nose again. "That's it? A sigh? That's all I get?"
"Well, maybe if you could actually hit the heart."
The blonde looked back at the dummy that was set up in the middle of the library, facing her with its drawn-on face. An axe with a chiseled-pointed end protruded from its 'shoulder'. She shrugged and turned completely to face her Watcher.
"I wasn't aiming for the heart."
"Then what, prey tell, were you aiming for?" Alaric gave her a questioning look without even a side glance at the dummy behind her.
She rolled her eyes, "The neck, obviously. It's an axe..."
He stood up and walked past her, pulling the axe from the stuffed shoulder. "I know its an axe. And yet, you still missed."
"I didn't miss!" Caroline threw up her hands in exasperation. "I just didn't want to chop of Albert's head!"
Alaric gave her a pointed look, handing the axe out to her, pointy end first. Caroline took it, holding it up in front of her. Alaric moved to her side without another word, obviously giving her the go ahead to try again.
Swing.
Swivel.
Flick.
Thwack.
Thud.
The fabric swishing sound can be heard from the pom poms being flung around in an excited manner, spelling out GO MYSTIC.
Caroline is at the head of the triangle, all smiles and cheeks. And lets not talk about those legs.
Swish.
Twirl.
Flick.
GO MYSTIC.
The Mystic Falls football teem waits for their turn in the spot light, just about every set of eyes glued to the blonde and her feisty crew of cheerleaders. No one can deny the authority she holds over the girls as she maneuvers them in their well-practiced cheers.
Finally, the girls end in a stomping kneeling-standing combo and they're done. All of them stand and run around, clapping and its a whirl-wind of hair and poms.
Two cheers from the stadium can be heard the loudest and Caroline finds them immediately: Stefan and Elena. She knows without a shadow of a doubt they're only in the room for her, and it's the best feeling in the world.
The team runs out on the field as the cheerleaders take their seats on the frontline.
Stampede.
Thud.
"Come on, Care. I promise it wont be that bad. Just this once?" Caroline slams her locker closed before looking at the doe-eyes staring back at her, locking her into their deep, dark depths. Elena's even got the little twitch going in her bottom lip, damn her.
It doesn't sway the blonde one bit. "Absolutely not, Elena. Too dangerous."
Caroline then turns, ready to make that the final word, as she begins to walk away towards English class. She should have known better.
Elena quickly catches up to her, seeing as she's also going to the same room, and Caroline can feel those browns trying to pry her skull open and pick at her brains.
Must. Resist.
"We could help! You shouldn't be out there alone, you know." Elena quickly changes tactics, like Caroline wouldn't recognize that move. Turning the tables on her... bad form, Gilbert.
"No."
They make it to the English room quickly, and Caroline quickly opens the door before her best friend can pull another argument out of her a- derriere.
Weirdly enough, this proves to be an excellent diversion from the subject, since their English teacher – Mrs. Bradly, wasn't the face that greeted them from the black board.
"Hello, ladies. Just on time. Please, take your seats," said a bold English accent.
Both girls stood in the doorway with looks of shock on their faces while the man went back to writing on the board, the scraping of the chalk reaching their ears. It seemed strange that Mrs. Bradly was absent, but the accent was pretty unnerving too.
It wasn't every day you had an English teacher for English class, after all.
They recovered quickly though, rushing in to take their seats next to each other. As soon as they settled in, the second bell rang for the period to begin. Elena and Caroline shot each other a look before the accent started speaking again.
Caroline made it a point as the man turned around to take in his appearance; nice suit, though not too expensive; well groomed, though he didn't look like he was trying to over-do it; and the lines around his eyes gave a clue to his age and demeanor. In other words, he was just a grade above an average teacher.
Definitely not just a sub. Interesting.
"Class, as you may have noticed, your lovely teacher, Mrs. Bradly is out. I'll be covering her position for a while while she's out on her well needed vacation." He paused to look around, his eyes landing on Caroline for just a fraction of a second before moving on. "You may call me Mister Slater."
Caroline could see Elena shoot her another look out of the corner of her eye, but didn't dare move to look. Something about the way this guy spoke left her thinking there was no room for messing around.
There was a light murmur around the glass as a couple of the students said hello out of politeness, but mostly there was just the usual rustle and creaks as students got more comfortable.
"Shall we then?" Mister Slater asked, his eyelids raising.
Swish.
Thud.
Swish.
The wind blew through his wolf coat as he ran along the forrest that lined their destination. It had been a long run, and he could practically feel the excitement threatening to explode out of him.
This was the only time he could even attempt at letting himself go. To feel free. Leaves crinkling under the weight of his paws crashing lithely through the trees.
His ears twitched at the sound of someone coming, and then another someone on the other side of him. It only took him a moment to realize they were on two feet each, and just about keeping up with him. Vampires.
Without faulting his step, he took in all the scents around him and his senses were filled with both familiarity and foreignness. He recognized the smell of the trees and underbrush, though the place itself he had never been. And then there were the vamps on either side of him, rushing to keep up with him.
He recognized their scent immediately, feeling the slight tension between his shoulder blades loosen. Good, they're keeping up.
Then, he was putting on the breaks, skidding to a stop on all fours as the treeline came into view. He stopped just before the dirt became rock and he walked to the edge.
Looking over the rock ledge, he saw it was just a small drop, maybe twenty-five feet – barely even a hop – but he took the moment to look over the town in front of him. The lights were all on as it was night time, probably somewhere around ten or eleven. He could hear the faint sounds of night life, though not much.
Small towns, he thought sourly. Although, they do hold some appeal.
"Where are you going to start?" Came a female voice behind him, to his left.
The wolf rolled his eyes, knowing full well his sister knew he couldn't speak back in this form. It was her way of getting him to Change.
So he did.
It was painful, but over time he had become good at Changing quickly back and forth. Each bone molding around the new muscle while tendons merged once more.
Within a minute, he was standing, now a man. A very naked man.
"The north cemetery," he answered finally, turning behind him to look at Rebekah.
"Perhaps," said a male voice to his right, "you should put some clothes on first?"
He turned to look at his brother, a smirk pulling on his lips as he said, "Thank you, Elijah. Always looking out for me."
Elijah wasn't looking at him, but holding out a set of neatly folded clothes towards him. "Someone has to think ahead, Niklaus."
Klaus just rolled his eyes and took the clothes. He couldn't help but notice that Elijah's suit looked barely even ruffled, and just as he was noticing, Elijah began to straighten up the very expensive Italian tie.
Slipping into the jeans, henley and pea coat, Klaus looked back over at the small town lights in front of him.
"Oh, I am thinking ahead."
"And what about the Slayer?" Rebekah's indignant tone asked.
He grinned, "All in good time, little sister."
"Alaric, please, tell them they're not coming!" Caroline practically screeched as she stormed through the swinging doors of the library, Elena and Stefan following quickly behind her.
Last bell had just been called to signal the end of the school day, which meant that the trio found themselves in their usual hangout spot right after school; the library. Usually, Elena and Stefan would just watch Caroline train, or do homework, but this visit was much different.
Caroline threw her bag down on the front counter and looked around as Alaric walked out of his office, book in hand, as per usual.
"Hm?" he asked, obviously having not been listening to her as they walked in, also as per usual.
Caroline rolled her eyes. "They're trying to persuade me they should come. Again. Can you please tell them how bad of an idea that is?"
Alaric snapped his book closed and looked at the pair next to Caroline. "It is very dangerous, and the council would absolutely disagree with the Slayer training, or even Slaying with other people that were not her watcher."
Caroline threw her friends a triumphant smirk.
"However," Alaric began again, with a protesting glare from Caroline, "they would also say that a Slayer isn't meant to go to school and should study solely on her Slaying duties."
There was a long pause as everyone, including her Watcher, looked at Caroline. "So?!" she exclaimed.
"So... Personally I don't see any harm in them accompanying you. After all, tonight should just be a run of the mill, raise-and-stake."
Caroline could feel their grins burning into her left side, but her penetrating glare was meant just for Alaric at that moment. "You're kidding, right? This is a joke."
"Well I wouldn't suggest you pull Stefan and Elena into a crypt full of hungry vampires, but as you may have noticed, we have a missing teacher," Alaric said, moving towards them and setting his ridiculously old looking book down next to Caroline's bag on the counter.
"Mrs. Bradly? I thought she was just on vacation?" Stefan asked, finally piping up.
Alaric rolled his eyes, "They're always 'just on vacation', aren't they?"
Caroline sighed, "So the school just didn't want to freak everyone out by saying she's dead." It wasn't that surprising, unfortunately. For whatever reason, the town almost always thought it was better lying to the students when someone died around here. She could understand the younger kids, but high school students? All one had to do was look in the paper.
"It would seem so. She's buried in the north cemetery."
Caroline's lips turned up in a sour face, "Great. I hate when I have to wait for them to wake up... They really like to take their time."
Turning, she noticed both Elena and Stefan were giving her a look. "What? It's true!"
Both rolled their eyes in unison.
"So..." Elena turned from Caroline to Alaric, "Does that mean we get to go with?"
"Just this once."
"Ugh! I'm so bored!" Elena exclaimed, her head falling into her hands as she sat on the picnic table that was oh-so-conveniently placed near the gravesite of the late Mrs. Bradly.
Caroline used an extreme amount of force to contain her eye roll. They had only been sitting there for two hours, and it could be another two before their teacher decided to raise from the dead.
"I thought you said this would be 'too dangerous' for us?" Stefan asked, with only an ounce of sarcasm.
"It is."
"But this is- well... dull."
Caroline looked over at him, "Well excuse me, but I never said the Slayer life was super exciting!"
"Yeah," Elena interrupted, "but watching you train with Albert is less boring."
"We really need to stop naming the dummy," Caroline sighed.
All three shrugged.
Then, thank god in heaven, a rustle could be heard. Definitely the sound of dirt moving. Oh- and definitely coming from right in front of them.
As they watched, Caroline sighed, getting up from the bench seat and grabbing the axe that sat on the table behind them. Giving it a small twirl as she walked over to the grave, she stood on the edge of the dirt, waiting impatiently.
And waiting.
She watched as another hand emerged, clawing around with the first. She waited some more. Then it dawned on her. Oh sweet jesus, she's stuck.
Moving forward quickly, Caroline reached out with one hand, grasping one of the very dirty hands that was attempting to climb out, and yanked. Slowly, she was able to pull out a head, torso and then slowly the rest of the body toppled out of the grave.
The vampire, Mrs. Bradly, stood up straight, wiping off the now brown-white blouse she had been buried. Apparently giving up, she sighed and looked up.
Caroline didn't even flinch at the sight in front of her, Mrs. Bradly with dark eyes and black veins moving down her cheeks, like a sick blush for a Halloween joke. The really horrendous part was her outfit; white blouse that looked about two decades out of date and... She couldn't even explain the pants she was wearing. The expression on her face twisted into one of confusion, "Caroline?"
"Yep," the blonde said casually.
"Why are you here... Why- god, I'm starved."
"Yep," Caroline said again.
Then, without further ado, Mrs. Bradly charged, fangs bared, and long nails out like talons.
With a flick of her wrist, her axe was propped in her hands, pointy end out. Another second later, and it was puncturing Mrs. Bradly's chest cavity, and with little extra force from Caroline, the wood was through her heart with a sickening squelch.
Within another few seconds, her former teacher began to turn grey, like a dried up vegetable. It was tragic, really... That her last moments had to be in that outfit before she burst into ash on the ground.
Caroline sighed. This hadn't even made her tired... It didn't even take any effort, really, unless you count pulling Mrs. Bradly out of the grave for her.
The Slayer was brought out of her reverie when she suddenly heard clapping. At first, she thought it was Stefan and Elena being ridiculous, but then as she turned, she saw someone else. A man, in jeans and a pea coat.
She gaped for a moment, though her senses were instantly on high alert, raising her axe almost subconsciously.
"Now now, sweetheart, there shouldn't be any need for that," the man began, and Caroline ears were pleasured instantly by his sultry accent. "I merely stopped by to introduce myself, and I was caught up in your little scene."
His last words snapped her out of the trance she was in, her eyes in the middle of scanning his rather handsome face. "Excuse me?"
"Well, you certainly got the job done, but you'll have to admit it wasn't exactly a fair fight." He paused, as if to go over the scene again in his head, and Caroline crossed her arms over her chest, axe still firmly in hand. "Or even really a fight at all."
She cocked an eyebrow, "Would you like to be up next? I have some pent up energy I need to get out, and your arrogant face is just begging to be slapped." Handsome arrogant face.
Before Caroline could even fully smirk at him, his eyes had gone angry and he was in front of her in a flash. It was like he moved twice as fast as any normal vamp, and she was used to keeping up... but that was... fucking fast.
"I would watch your words, love. I have been known to have a temper." He was so close to her, she could feel his sweet breath ghost over her face and she couldn't help but take a step back. Something was severely off about this guy.
"And who are you, again?"
Caroline whipped her head around to see that Stefan and Elena had moved towards them, concerned looks spread over their faces. She couldn't help but feel a flare in her heart – she really wished they hadn't come tonight.
Everything about this guy spelled DANGER.
To her surprise, he didn't even seem to flinch at Stefan's question, nor did he look away from her as their eyes locked. "Niklaus Mikaelson. New resident of your fine town, and I just wanted to acquaint myself with the Slayer. After all, she's quite well known – or at least her lineage is." His full lips formed a wolfish smile before he was suddenly turning and walking away.
He turned around when he was about three headstones away, walking backwards, his gaze only falling on Caroline. "Until we meet again, Slayer."
Caroline grimaced, "It's Caroline, actually."
This seemed to stop his retreat, if only for a moment, his gaze fixed on her as something flashed over his expression, though she couldn't make out what it was. "Very well. I'll see you soon, Caroline."
And then he was gone, like a swish of the wind.
"What. The hell. Was that?" Elena whispered, rushing over to her as Caroline dropped her arms to her sides.
She shrugged as Stefan joined them, looking as concerned as she had ever seen him. "I guess, that was Niklaus Mikaelson," she said, using a fake accent to accentuate his name. She began to walk away, towards the exit of the cemetery, and her friends took her flanks.
"That was really weird..." Stefan muttered beside her.
"Yeah..." Elena emphasized.
They reached the gate in silence and Caroline finally turned around, her eyes glaring daggers at them. "And next time, you are staying home!"
By the time she got home, Liz was gone already. Off to the station, as usual. Caroline sighed, walking into the kitchen with her bag, axe hidden inside. There was a note on the counter.
Missed you again. Hope you had fun at Elena's. See you in the morning-
Love, Mom.
Caroline balled the note into her fist, the paper crinkling in protest. She knew her mom's work was important, being the Sheriff and all, but between that and her secret Slaying duties, she barely even saw her anymore.
Not that she had really seen her much since Bill had left five years ago, but her heart still missed the late night movies with junk food. Hell, she would even take a lecture or two with grace if she got one night with her mom without complications or excuses. On both their parts.
Leaving the kitchen, Caroline made her way upstairs to her room. She dropped her bag on the chair in front of her desk, then began to get ready for bed.
Just as she let her somewhat dirty shirt fall to the floor, she felt something... Quickly, she grabbed her tank top that she planned on wearing for bed and yanked it over her head. Her spine tingled, and the hair on the back of her neck prickled to life.
Someone was outside her window.
Rushing over to the window, she slid it up and open, flinging her head outside to look around.
But there was no one.
With another heavy sigh, she closed the window and locked it. She found it comforting that no vamps really knew where she lived, nor did they ever come calling for a fight, but sometimes she couldn't help but think that her job sometimes made her a little paranoid. Always seeing dangers when there wasn't any.
But the feeling wasn't going away...
it was going to be a long, restless night. Again.
Yeah, I know... another multi-chapter story.
But I promise, I have A LOT planned for this... At least three Parts, pretty much planned, then either more Parts or a sequel.
I know I have to finish TCG, but for some reason, this story has been screaming at me in my head to be written, and it seemed to be the only thing to break through my writers block.
As some of you can probably tell, its a like a big crazy mix of BtVS and TVD. Hopefully in all the good ways. (;
Please, if you could find it in your hearts to tell me what you think... I would say I will love you eternally, but that's already happened.