She dragged her pink, French manicured nails against the dark wood of the banister. It was the only sound that echoed in the building, but she knew the silence didn't mean she was alone. The house was gorgeous, filled with furniture that screamed exuberance. Modern decorations and paintings were spaced carefully throughout the walls. His taste was, had always been, impressive, but she couldn't help but think she personally would use a different color scheme. (Something a little lighter?)
Her heels clicked on the hardwood floor as she reached the top.
He was seated in an armchair; his legs sprawled across an ottoman. Sharp eyes lifted from the sketchbook in his hand. Without her enhanced senses, she would have missed the slight increase in his heartbeat. She no longer hid how much she relished her effect on him. New to the world of immortals, she had the most ominous legend wrapped around her finger. It was a feat in itself, something she wore like an invisible gold medal.
"Where's the welcome wagon?" She teased with eyes wide with fake offense. Long lashes fluttered and pink lips pouted. "I have the distinct memory of you promising at least one parade when I came."
He rose from his seat with familiar grace like a predator. She wonders if he was like this before he turned or if the confidence came with being indestructible. His gaze traveled over her, cataloguing the tight black dress and perfectly ordered hair. The Original could barely hide the amused smile threatening to take over, "You can have all the parades you desire, sweetheart,"
She pointed a finger at him, "I'll hold you to that next time,"
His flirtatious tone was replaced with something akin to sympathy, "I am truly sorry to hear about your mother. I know you were quite close with her."
She waved his sentiments away distractedly as she examined one of the art pieces hanging above the fireplace. "I've never been a fan of all this modern stuff. It's all too open-ended. Anything counts as a masterpiece nowadays." She returned her attention to him, "Did you miss me?"
"Who wouldn't?" It was a simple response, bordering on the side of flippant had it been anyone else. Not him, though. He spoke as if he would be generally confused if someone didn't miss her.
She appeared before him, moving with incredible speed. Her hands pressed against his chest, clutching the collars of his button-up. "I missed you, too," She bit her lip coyly.
She didn't hide her victorious grin when his blood rushed through his veins a little bit faster. His countenance gave nothing away. Instead, he focused completely on her. Curiosity filled his gaze as it ran over her features, as if searching for something—her humanity.
Caroline sighed dramatically. "I see you're up to date with my current situation." She settled into the armchair, crossing her legs primly. Her back was straight and shoulders were set back as if she were conducting an interview.
"I have heard of your transformation." The words were spoken carefully as he tried to gauge her reaction.
She waited patiently for more. When nothing followed, her eyebrows raised in surprise, "That's it? No big speech on what a horrible mistake this is? No weird, Aesop fable about how I should be doing something else? Or advice on how I should be grieving?"
She knew her circumstances should bother her; she was parentless and had an eternity to stay that way. There should be a pang in her chest and an urge to break down in his arms.
She had nothing to fear, however. Enter the glory of vampirism. She made a choice, flipped a switch like a light, and now she couldn't feel anything. God, she loved it. The complete and utter freedom from moral duties, the disintegration of those burdens that weighed so heavy on her before, the newfound confidence in herself. It was like a gift that kept on giving.
Can you love something if your humanity's gone? No? Then she's just having one hell of a ride.
"Who am I to judge?" He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly as if they were simply talking about a variance in opinions over a movie.
Huh.
That's new.
"Great point," She aimed a manicured finger at him. "Your life story could be made into a Harry Potter-length X-rated, horror series."
He tilted his head to the side, making a face. "It could, although I doubt it would be nearly as profitable,"
She leaned back in the chair, letting her head fall back against the soft fabric. " Isn't it strange how out of all the people I know, you are the least annoying right now?"
"Only right now?" He held a hand to his heart, "I felt I was quite amiable during most of my time in Mystic Falls."
"The key word is most," She answered flatly. "I'll give you the fact that when you weren't murdering innocent people, you could be less repugnant than usual."
Another smile. "My, I have missed your generous compliments,"
"My empathy's definitely gone, but the Forbes' wit is still here." She shot him a fake smile, "But, seriously, do you know how many of my friends have come at me for this? Elena, Stefan, Matt, Bonnie…
"Look, I love them—well, not now, but usually—but they are on some awfully high fucking horses. Caroline, I'm not going to let you do this. Caroline, you are better than this." She mimicked, " Blah, blah, blah. Like, if I wanted a redundant lecture, I would be in my college psych class right now."
"Well, I've never been a fan of the motley crew, but that might have more to do with them making multiple attempts on my undead life than their preaching. If memory serves me right, you took part in all of them," He gave her a pointed look.
"Don't be dramatic," She shook her head, "You're still here, so it's not like we succeeded."
He rolled his eyes. "A dagger still hurts, love,"
"I promise I won't try to off you this time,"
"Scout's honor?"
She smiled, "On my honor,"
"Now I can rest easy at night,"
She flashed in front of him, barely a couple of inches away. "I really did miss you," It wasn't a lie. There were a lot of times, too many if her friends had any say, when she would catch herself thinking about him, remembering in vivid detail his hands on her hips and his teeth on her neck.
She studied him with a cool, blue glaze that made his own eyes dilate and flash gold. "And I, you."
She placed her fingertips on his shoulder, dragging the pink tips softly down his chest. "I'm going to be in town for a few days," The implication was not lost upon the hybrid,
"You can stay here if you'd like, love," He offered, catching her hand mid-dance. "But I would prefer you to have a full range of emotions before we resume our, let's say, activities."
She paused, eyes flashing with something dark, before she carelessly rolled her eyes "Alright, then. Ruin the fun."
He chuckled and leaned down to reach her eyelevel. "Trust me, Caroline," His tongue wrapped around her name like a viper, slow and seductive, "The fun will come, but it can wait."
She held his gaze as her lips curved into a smile, "I'll remember that,"
In the next breath, she was gone.