Finding the truth
The sun rose above the horizon, the first light of day stretching out across the earth as if reaching out an arm of protection, a shield that offered the warmth of security against all that dwells in the night. For this is the usual domain of evil, the popularly accepted time for horror to be unleashed. When it is dark…when it is cold and when you are alone. It should therefore stand to reason that if the opposite of all these things were true for you in your life then you would be safe. The safest a person could be anyway, so to be in a small town named Mystic Falls, where the locals smile and bid you 'good day', everything must surely be ok.
When you first glance upon the beauty of Mystic Falls you could be forgiven for believing that mystics actually once resided here. It does indeed appear to be a very spiritual place where one could imagine finding the truths that lay beyond the intellect of the mind. It radiates peacefulness and calm, on the surface anyhow, but venture beyond this and it may be at your peril…
Stefan and Caroline didn't take nearly enough moments in a day, just to enjoy being with one another. There was always something to do or someone to help, some place to be or someone to save… even someone to bring back from the dead from time to time. Every now and then though they would catch each other looking, watching…drinking in and stealing the moment as if it may never come again. This was usually when they were looking at each other for their love was beyond normal human love, it exceeded what could be conceived of in dreams or books… their love truly was mystical.
In these moments when they caught each other like this, one of them would give the tiniest of smiles, one that was meant only for the other, to reassure and to acknowledge feeling the same way. It was these little idiosyncrasies that strengthened their bond and nothing on earth could break it and nothing on earth should try.
As the two of them started their day, Caroline received a call from Bonnie. Bonnie's witch powers, inherited through her family line had been growing and changing lately. It had unsettled Bonnie because she wasn't sure what the implications would be. She had already broken so many supernatural rules recently and she had been warned about doing this by her beloved grandmother, that she feared this may be a consequence of that because there were always consequences. "Caroline? Are you there? Whispered Bonnie in to the mouthpiece of the phone. "Bonnie? Yes I'm here, is everything ok? Why are you whispering?" replied Caroline. "Something's wrong care, someone's listening".
"What do you mean listening? ... In on our call? ... Is someone there with you?" Caroline's voice becoming slightly more frantic with each question.
A lot had changed in Mystic Falls over the previous few years but Caroline didn't need super powers to know that something was very wrong with Bonnie.
"Where are you Bonnie? I'll come to you" Caroline stated, in a far more authoritative voice than she had been using.
"No! Stay away Care, he's looking for you. I'm not sure who it is but I know that much… I need more time to figure it out, I just wanted to warn you to be on your guard…and trust no one. I'll be in touch soon." And with that the call was ended.
Caroline thought to herself, in an almost regrettable way… I'm always on my guard Bonnie, and why would someone or something be looking for me? I know Bonnie said 'he' but if it's affecting her this way, making her…afraid for me, then maybe 'he' is an it.
Stefan had been waiting silently and patiently for the call to end to find out what was wrong and what they could do. The look on Caroline's face wasn't promising that heir day was going to be 'regular' and Stefan knew her well enough to see the concern for Bonnie.
Stefan could of course have listened to the conversation as it took place, he did after all have a vampire's hearing but he and Caroline had agreed to afford the other the privacy that would be theirs if they were a' normal human' couple. He thought to himself, even now, that this was what he loved most about Caroline, that no matter what was happening, her first thoughts were always of others. He had stolen another moment.
Stefan didn't need to say anything. Caroline turned to him (their eyes locked on each other) and said "we may be in trouble". She walked by him briskly, slipping her hand in to his as she went. At the very touch of her hand his grip tightened and he loyally followed her lead.
Caroline knew, or more accurately sensed that only one person could help her here. It was the very fact that she was sensing Melissa that told her what to do and where to go. Caroline had met Melissa a few months prior when she had left Mystic Falls to find Damon. Melissa was something that hadn't been seen in Mystic Falls for generations. She was a supernatural that could seek out any other form of supernatural and link with it. Other than that there wasn't much known about them but Caroline knew that Melissa had stepped in and helped her once before when she had no reason to and so felt a bond of trust between them. She was aware this could be a possible manipulation by Melissa but at this point she had little choice. She would be cautious but would move forward and meet Melissa and ask for her help.
Melissa was what we called a 'Chanul', guardian or protector; I hoped right now that she would turn out to be exactly that for Bonnie. The further I travelled south the stronger the pull was, this strange force, feeling, knowing…that very soon I would find her, or she would find me. The stronger the feeling got the more I seemed to know about what was going on. I think Melissa had linked with me somehow and was already helping me.
After 57 miles and 48 minutes driving we pulled on to an old dirt track and there waiting for us was Melissa, smiling as though we were old friends reuniting after many years apart. She seemed genuinely happy to see me, which was good but unusual and even more strangely I felt the same. I kept reminding myself it was the link but knowing that didn't seem to help the feelings get any less or easier to control.
She knew right away I had questions about how I was feeling but after hugging me and shooting Stefan a mean southern smile she manoeuvred us back toward our car and climbed in the back seat. We need to get back to Mystic Falls and give Bonnie this…she was showing us a small vile of something green, it looked as though it was glowing and I had never seen anything like it before.
"What is it? Will it help her? What is going on?" I said sounding a little frustrated now. "Don't you know? I've been trying to share the information with you but your mind is incredibly strong Caroline, you've been resisting." explained Melissa. "No I haven't", I protested…"Not on purpose anyway".
Melissa sniggered, "its ok hun…I can share now, let me break it down for you". Stefan raised his hand, which caught Melissa's eye and interrupted her explanation, his finger pointing up as though asking for permission to speak. "Err…he paused, have we met before? You look very familiar to me". She gave him a look that was edged with surprise; she looked into his eyes as though she was trying to fathom a secret. She smiled smugly and sat back in to the seat like a child…not exactly Stefan, no, we haven't met before. Our gaze shifted from Melissa to each other. Stefan opened his mouth to speak again but before he could get a word out Melissa stated that she believed we had exactly 48 minutes before we would be back in Mystic Falls and she would explain on the way.
We headed back with Melissa explaining what she knew; I kept thinking that at any minute she would say something less frightening and at the very least somewhat positive about what was happening to Bonnie and why someone was looking for me. She clarified who the mystery someone was…it was Silas and I remember thinking that I wasn't far off when I considered that the 'he' might be an 'it'. Our last run in with him wasn't pretty and Stefan was hurt and I was in no mood to tolerate that again. "I feel your anger Caroline, try and stay focused on the task at hand". Said Melissa. I looked at her puzzled, "the link…it helps me anticipate behaviour, it's a far more efficient way to protect people" she responded. "So is that what you do? Protect people? Asked Stefan. Making a face that suggested she was thinking, Melissa replied with, "sometimes… yes, sometimes I find things, sometimes I lend a hand, like now…but mostly I and my people protect balance Stefan". "Balance?" questioned Stefan in a bemused manner. "Yes, the balance of all things…things that keep the world turning and secures the existence of all that resides within it, without it and all around" mused Melissa. Stefan didn't really understand any of that and he didn't pretend to but he would like more to go on and he pressed further for more information.
Melissa took a deep breath; preparing to deliver unwelcome news…"Silas intends to kill Caroline. He has lived way too long and has become paranoid that his demise will come at the hands of a doppelganger; he has a mystic in his employ that is feeding him prophecy and fuelling his psychosis. It is true that there is a prophecy that speaks of the power of the doppelgangers and that they could bring about the end days of the first immortal. Unfortunately for Silas, he has not found anyone who could correctly translate it and so far all those that have, have made the same mistake. He believes it is a single doppelganger that will somehow wreak ruin upon him and with the death of each one he becomes convinced that it is another that will threaten his power and position. In truth, it wasn't any one in particular but all. With just one gone his position was secured but his continued interference in the destinies of so many has brought about an intervention from me. I suppose this was a universal failsafe, once there was an immortal there would have to be a way to rein them in if they became a problem. It's funny how things work out, baffling even, but there it is. Silas needs to be stopped and you two are a big part of that. Both doppelgangers…and such a cute couple, you were destined you know? Of course you know…just have to look at you to see that".
Melissa's eyes settled on Stefan way too much for my liking, I could sort of feel what Melissa was feeling but it was so weird because when she looked at Stefan my feelings for him became so intense…like she was amplifying them. I knew that's not how the link was supposed to work but I thought for now I would play the wait and see game, after all, we didn't really know that much about the Chanul and so far everything seemed ok.