Ch.1: Prelude
The curtains swayed side to side on Saturday morning. The summer breeze floated carelessly around the pink room. Stuffed animals, sneakers, t-shirts and hello kitty stickers were spread across. The room of the thirteen year old girl was like any ordinary teenager.
The blond slept in a succor manner. Arms spread out and legs entangle in the spice girls bed set. The blond rolled over while subconsciously she searched for her pillow. Sunrays and the bright sun pierced through the room, illuminating every inch and corner of it. She emitted a soft yawn at the same time. She threw the pillow over her head to cover the light that perturbed her sleep.
The smell of fried bacon, scrambled eggs and waffles engulfed the Malibu home. The sizzling of the pan was heard. The blond inhaled the combinations of aromas as her nostrils flared. "mmm.." emitted the blond. She was finally awake. She stretched out and convulsed in different positions. Her spine made a cracking sound as her toes curled, she seem to stretch like a feline.
Her bleary vision became clear as she finally sat on her bed. She looked at the clock as it read 11:30 a.m. It was just another Saturday morning. The aquamarine orb girl stood up. She searched her room until she kneeled down and looked under her bed. The floor under her bed seem to be a dark and chaotic forest, she spotted her neon pink fluffy sleepers. She put on her slippers as she open the door with impetus. Her platinum mid- length bob bounce up and down as she skipped down the curved stair case. Steps where loud like thunder and created such an entrance. You see the middle school girl love the attention. "Good Morning, Caroline." a woman's voice said after chuckling at the raucous being made by the girl.
Caroline Marilyn Forbes. That was the girl's name. All her life she had lived like a princess. The tall and lanky teenager smiled brightly. Although she seem to be like a beam pole, you couldn't let that fool you, you could see the minuscule curves forming on the teenager. She finally reached the corridor that led to the kitchen. A woman in her thirties stood in front of the stove while with dexterity she place the scrambled eggs on a plate. Simultaneously the toaster spew out the two toasts as they sprung out and landed on the plate.
Caroline watched in awe the woman as she juggled to keep everything in place. The woman was about five-two, she had short buzzed hair cut which framed her face featured beautifully. The hair cut brought out her soft and structured jaw , while accentuating her cheeky cheek and bringing out her beautiful aquamarine eyes. Yes, the woman was indeed Elizabeth Forbes. She was the proud of mother of the spoil and yet lovely Caroline.
"Good Morning! MOTHER!" Caroline sang with such mellifluously and resonant. Elizabeth smiled and said "Morning again pumpkin."
"Ay, Mami. What did I tell you Call me Bella!"Caroline replied in her perfect and mimicked Spanish accent. She learned to say that from her Nana Rosa. The Forbes lived in California ever since Caroline was born,
"Fine BEllA. I can't believe Rosa still calls you that and that you seem to love it." Liz said as she shook her head in amusement.
"Well, duh. What's not to love about being called Bella. It means beautiful in Spanish. Plus as you know am quite the looker." Caroline said as she swiped away her luscious bangs from her forehead.
"Okay, Okay. I get it. What have I created?" Liz said with a laughed. Her smile was so care free. Liz had asked all the help to take the day off as usual. She wanted to spent time with Bill and her daughter.
She finished serving the plate. The plate had the eggs serve sunny side up with a smiley face. The toast laid on the edge of the plate and the hash browns were served in small size plate. Caroline looked at her plate and then she looked up to her mother.
"Thanks, Mama. You are like the best cook in the whole wide world. I mean besides Rosa, cause who can beat her huevos ranchereos!" Caroline said as she dug into her plate. Her fork violently attacked the plate as she shoved the eggs in her mouth. She savored the tastes and the mix of textures. She then spotted the fruit salad that her mom made. God, her mother was an excellent cook.
"Easy. Tiger, the food is not going to go away." Liz as she watched her daughter pig out. Liz couldn't be judgmental since she was not a southern belle herself. Even though there was one thing she hated, and that was people without table manners. As a matter a fact her daughter was being completely and unnerving acting like a little savage.
Caroline gazed at her mother as she realized: a) she forgot to say grace, b) she was eating like a wild and unfed person and c) her mother was about to have a heart attack. She quickly reached for her napkin and wiped her mouth. Caroline than place her fork down and said grace; finally she began to eat slower. Her mother smiled and gave her an approving nod.
"Now, that's better. So Caroline, how was cheer practice on yesterday?" asked the blond and petite woman. The woman turned to make a plate for her husband and then sat down on the island to start eating herself.
"It was alright. You know same stuff. 'Go Titants!'(Caroline said with a tint of sarcasm as she rose hand for emphasis). —Actually, it sucked because Layla was being a smart alec." The blond said as she harshly stabbed her eggs.
"Ah, sweetheart, don't silly things get to you. By the way, you are doing so well with cheerleading and to let a difficult person in your way is not a good thing." Liz said as she gave a her daughter a reassuring look.
"Ok. Mom. Oh by the way the spring ball is coming up and I am dying to go. Plus Mike asked Rachel already and I wish Kol will ask me." Caroline said as she switch subjects.
"Awe, Honey. I am sure he will. You are such a beautiful and intelligent girl. So what's not to like." Liz said as she chuckled and soothed and patted her daughter's hair.
"I know mom, I know. I am beautiful inside and out. But why are boys so shallow sometimes?!"Caroline replied as she looked at her mother with a defeated expression.
"Pump- Bella. You still got a lot to learn. Plus boys will come and go. So don't sweat it ?!" Liz said while she smiled and then took a hearty piece of her toast.
"Ok."Caroline said as she rolled her eyes. Liz kept eating as she went into a pensive mood. The two ate in silence as Caroline enjoyed her breakfast. She still pondered how she was going to get Kol to ask her out.
" Say… tomorrow is your dad's surprise party." Her mother blurted out as if a light bulb went off.
"Yeah…It's true. Oh my gosh my mom. We gotta go shopping!" Caroline said as her eyes glimmer in excitement. Liz nodded and said " Yes ,Pumpkin. We must. "
Then suddenly the door open. Liz got up as she became alert. She looked at Caroline as she said
" Stay here." Liz walked to the corridor to main entrance of the house. She walked towards the closet before getting towards the door and got out her 22 gun. She hid it behind the curvature of her back.
" Honey is that you?" called out the blond woman. She walked cautiously as she turned the corner of as she saw her husband being muzzled by two guys. He grunted as they pushed him across the door. They motioned him to say something, the tall and gray-haired man pressed his gun onto his back.
" Ah, ahem. Liz, honey I am home." Said her husband. Bill was in deep trouble. Liz took a breath as she turned around and walked to the kitchen quietly. She took of her slippers. She tip toed towards it. Caroline sat on the stool as she heard the commotion. She held her breath as she walked towards the door.
Caroline walked as she suddenly felt hand around her shoulder. She gasp in fear. She turned around to see her mother with gun. " Mom what is that-" said Caroline as her eyes bulged like saw the gun sticking out of her mother's jeans. Right then and there she knew they were in trouble
"Shshs…Listen to me Care. I need you to hide ok. Hide in the attic okay." Said Liz in an urgent manner.
" Mom….Mom… what's going on?" asked Caroline as fear and curiosity crossed her mind.
"Caroline Marilyn Forbes. Just listen. I don't have time do as I say. Remember I love you." Liz responded in a commanding tone as she whispered and then kissed her daughter on the forehead.
"Mom, I-I-." said Caroline as Liz shooed her away. " GO" said Liz. Liz was worried but she had to think how to get herself and her family out of this mess.
Liz felt the sweat building on her arm pits and her mouth was dried. She swallowed hard as she thought of her next moved. Suddenly five men appeared as they encircled the house.
"Bill.!" Yelled Liz. " Liz" yelp out her husband. Then she heard some shuffling and ruffling. Liz turned around as hands snaked around her neck and she was dragged towards the living room. She fought back as she jabbed the individual in the stomach. Then she dipped and pivoted until she faced her aggressor. She was facing him and then she strike him in the eyes as he loosened his grip.
Liz ran towards the living room. She found her husband beaten and blood trailing from the living room till the entrance of her home. She swallows hard as she pulled out her gun. She was grabbed by the neck as a tall dark haired man punched her on the side of her ribcage. She grunts in pain as she stared up at the blond man. He stands up as he wipes his hands.
"My, My Oh my. What a pleasant surprise?! Huh, well it's nice for you to join us Elizabeth." the menacing voice of the man said.
Liz looked up with scorn and fear. Fear for her daughter, her baby girl and for her husband. She knew that Bill was not a saint. She knew that his days as a Sales Representative at an automotive dealership were a fallacy. She was aware of his lucrative business. He launder money for his brother Roger. Liz chosed to ignore it and to ignore that fact that Roger Forbes was the most wanted mobster in California.
She understood that blood was thicker than water. Yes, she understood that family was above all else but Bill didn't have to get involved in it.
She looks at Mikael Carruso- Mikaelson. He was the number one and gang leader on the south side of California. Roger decided to start his business into drugs and laundering money. The horrible thing is that Bill covered his tracks and did the laundering himself.
Now when it came to killing and such other horrible crimes, well it was left for Roger to call the shots. She looks to her husband to pleading eyes. She can't die like this. She was taught and raise better than this. She was supposed to be part of the police department. Her dreams came to a crashing end when she found out about her pregnancy. She thought her life was over but it all change when she gave birth. Caroline had become her greatest gift and Bill had stepped up to the plate.
She looks up as Mikael walks around her in dangerous way. He looks to Bill and back to her. " Now, you are wondering why the lovely visit. Huh?" said Mikael as he brought his fingers to his lips and the pointed up. A beat.
" Don't answer that. Now Bill answer this, where is Roger and where is my money. You see, your brother thought he could just waltz into my territory and take away from me. I warned him and he didn't listen. Which leaves me no choice.' Mikael said tauntingly and menacingly.
" Go to hell Carruso. I have nothing to tell you. If you need to meet with Roger and I. Then please make an appointment and leave my wife alone." Bill said with such confidence.
Liz looked at him as she only thought about Caroline.
Caroline hid behind the huge stacks of boxes as tears formed in her eyes. Her heart beat in an erratic rhythm and shivered. She felt like her trachea was closing up. It seem like she was having an asthmatic episode or some sort of peanut allergy. She looked at her shivering porcelain hands. She had to get out of there. She remember what her dad had told her three months ago.
He had to her if anything where to happen to him or her mom to go into the shed or the attic. He showed her these documents, passports, credit cards and a huge wad of money. He showed her where he had hidden all that. Caroline swallowed hard as she realized this was the moment they where preparing her for. He told her that if anything happen to call Rosa and then contact a man call Alejandro. But she was not ready or she was not ready to face reality
Then suddenly she heard it. Gone shots fire for about two minutes. They were five gun shots. She heard running and commotion. Pow, Pow,pow and then silence. Then she heard a man say " find the girl. Now…Move it." That voice will be engraved in the young girl's mind. Caroline muffled her screams as tears streamed down her face.
The house was silent for three hours. Caroline wiped her tears as she took a breath and took her dad's riffle. She descended the stairs as she went down stairs. She was not ready to face was she saw.
She found her mother laying lifelessly in a pool of blood. The smell of blood and sweat engulfed the room. She saw her father laid there face up as she saw his face marred and beaten. A bullet shot to head and his eyes where left opened. His face showed concern. It was a scary sight to see she cried harder. She ran to her mother's form as she held it. Her hands where bloodied up with the cold and thick blood. Her pink hello kitty pajamas now where stained with blood.
She cradled her mother as the cold and unresponsive form was in her arms. Caroline emitted loud screams as she kept saying MOM. She wiped away the blood of the crease of Liz's couldn't bring her mother back as she saw the a pool of blood in her mother's abdomen. She looked to her father as she closed his eyes. She stared at his hazel –greenish orbs. She would never forget those eyes. She laid her parent's bodies side by side and closed their eyes. She wiped her tears as her face was stained by their own blood.
Caroline took out the phone and dialed 911. That was the last time she saw her parents as she packed her stuff and left her home. She cried and cried until she couldn't produce any more tears. Her throat hurt.
This would be a turbulent ride for this young woman and her thirst for Revenge.
