.

Where My Demons Hide

.

Part One

.

When the days are cold
And the cards all fold
And the saints we see
Are all made of gold

.

Okay, so Stefan may or may not have tried to eat her — seriously, she can't even tell what's real anymore — so what? It's not the end of the world. Did she like him? Yes. But, he had made it perfectly clear nothing was ever going to happen between them, so no harm done right? She could just go to school and have a perfectly normal day. No complications necessary. Yup, here she goes, pushing the double doors open and walking to her locker. All calm here in Caroline land. Totally and completely chill. Cool as a breeze. Just putting in her locker combo—

"Caroline, we need to talk," Goddamn it, Stefan!

As if the situation wasn't bad enough, the clever Salvatore decided the best place for them to talk was in woods—the freaking woods. Hadn't he given her enough nightmares?

"Listen, Caroline," he put his hands in his pockets but his shoulders stayed rigid, "What you saw yesterday— you weren't supposed to see that. So, if you could just forget about it, that'd be great," she gaped at him.

"Just forget about it? Really, Stefan?" he clicked his tongue as her unimpressed stare burned into him, he wouldn't dare look at her.

"Caroline, it's for your own good," he sighed, knowing the stubborn blonde, "Look, I can't drag you into this. I can't get you in trouble with your father like that. It's my curse not yours."

"Exactly, Stefan!" Caroline shook her head and threw her arms out for emphasis, "This is crazy. You, I mean, you're a..." she trailed off, shaking her head. The leaves crunch under their footsteps as they unconsciously venture further into the forest, "Listen," she sighed, "If you need help with your FLP then I'm here, okay?"

"FLP?" he raised his eyebrows in a very Stefan-like manor.

"Furry Little Problem," she explained and he snorted.

"Caroline, really, you can just go back to your life. I'm fine," he stopped and gave her a reassuring look that she didn't believe even in the slightest.

"Stefan Salvatore, I cannot just forget about this! I—I want to help," she nodded her head enthusiastically and smiled while tilting her head, trying to look cute but this time it's him who's not buying it.

"Not to be judgey—"

"Yeah, you definitely don't get that privilege any more."

"—but you want to help out of the kindness of your heart?"

"Wha—" she gaped at him and then scoffed, "Fine, whatever. I just thought that maybe if I help you. You could, maybe, sort of, mention to Matt my outstanding goodness and unflinching ability to go out of my way to be a chivalrous and supportive person," she stared at him and he just blinked at her, "Oh, shut up!" she huffed.

"I didn't say anything," he held his hands up in surrender and they began walking again.

"You didn't have to," she grumbled and he playfully hit his shoulder off hers, she retaliated and that's how they ended up brawling on the ground right outside The Gate.

.

When your dreams all fail
And the ones we hail
Are the worst of all
And the blood's run stale

.

She remembers when her father used to warn her about staying away from The Gate. It was a long, tall, metal fence that stretched higher than the trees. The Gate separated Mystic Falls from the big, bad world. It trapped the residents in like a caged hamster. The founding families built the gate before It happened. Caroline didn't know how much of the world was left standing but she was always okay with staying in their little bubble. Not that she didn't dream of exploring the vast lands that she knew had to be out there. Forbidden fruit always taunted her but her father would never ever consider it.

Every year, from December 20th to Christmas Eve, men, particularly founding family members, from the little towns that were left would gather their hunting gear and go on a killing spree. Bill Forbes was a well known hunter among these men. He never came home empty handed. Wolf hunting was a sport here. That's why Caroline knew she had to keep Stefan's secret. When she was six and longing for adventure she had asked her father—

"Daddy, why can't I go with you?"

"You will one day, sweetie," Caroline's mother had died before Bill and her could try for a son so Caroline knew she had to fulfill the position until she could produce a male heir of her own. Founding family duty and all that.

"But why not now, daddy?" she had complained and he chuckled at his stubborn little girl.

"Don't worry, Carebear. You'll get your chance," he only called her by that nickname when they were alone, "And remember, no venturing outside The Gate while I'm gone," he warned and little Caroline groaned.

"But daddy," she whined.

"That's final, Caroline," he scolded.

"Why does that stupid thing have to keep us inside anyway?" little Caroline crossed her arms over her chest and huffed. Her father leaned down to her level.

"Sweetie, The Gate's not there to keep us in. It's to keep them out," That she never properly understood, until now.

.

I wanna hide the truth
I wanna shelter you
But with the beast inside
There's nowhere we can hide

.

Caroline snuck out her bedroom window, ready to spend her night helping an actual, real life, living werewolf shift—however the hell that worked. She couldn't deny that she was tremendously excited. The adrenaline rushed through her as she successfully squatted on the ground. She pumped her fist into the air and did a brief excited wiggle before running off to go chain Stefan up. It didn't help that she fawned over the 'Twilight' and 'Wolf Springs' series. Although, her father would kill her if he found out. She found them in the restricted section at the precinct but never told anyone.

"Oh Steffy, come out come out wherever you are!" she sang as she entered the Lockwood cellar. It was eerily quiet and extremely cold. She didn't like that combination. Her steps echoed as she hesitantly continued further into the creepy cellar. She glanced around at the bare, grey walls as she made her way down the corridor, backpack in hand. She pushed open the ancient, rotted, brown door and stepped in. Her breath caught as she saw the rusty chains and massive cage. She gulped and took a step back.

"Stefan?" she called out shakily.

"Yeah?" she jumped at the sound of his voice and swung around to see him standing in the doorway.

"Oh, my god," she placed a hand over her chest, "Don't do that."

"Do what?" he questioned as he strode into the room, picked up the chains and examined them, then pulled at them and furrowed his eyebrows, "Hmm, I have some fresh ones in the car but they'll be a bitch to untangle," Stefan commented and turned around to walk out the door, "Back in a jiffy."

"Ay, ay, captain," she mumbled as she cradled herself in her arms. Caroline sighed and gazed around. Creep-ee, she sang in her head. Deciding to set up camp, Caroline pulled at the cage doors until they opened. She lay her backpack on the ground and unzipped it. She took out her blankets, one for under her and one for over her, and the torch she had stolen from her father's hunting supplies closet. After all, she didn't know how long she'd be there. She had packed her favourite yogurt and a few sandwiches with several bottles of water. She also had a gun tucked away at the bottom, her father always taught her to be prepared and she was, of course, her father's daughter.

.

No matter what we breed
We still are made of greed
This is my kingdom come
This is my kingdom come

.

Stefan strolled in with a worn, black Adidas bag. It sagged with the weight of the chains but he carried it without a bother. Werewolf perk, if Caroline had to guess. He plopped the bag down on the floor and unzipped it. Pulling out the tangled mess of chains, Stefan pouted in concentration as he sat cross-legged on the ground and began to sort through them. He stopped and looked at her.

"Well?" he said.

"Well?" she said.

"You said you wanted to help," he gestured to the chains. She sighed and dragged herself over to sit beside him.

"Fine. Whatever makes you howl with joy," he literally howled in response, she was very impressed.

.

When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It's where my demons hide
It's where my demons hide

.

An hour of sarcasm, puns, Stefan explaining the whole turning into a werewolf thing—

He explained how every full moon he was forced to break every bone in his body, how he couldn't control it but knew older wolves that could, how, in time, he will be able to walk down the street in Mystic Falls and not have to worry about the night to come, how he could be free, eventually. Caroline was more than eager to help.

He told her that every werewolf had a mate, another soul that was bound to theirs, that destiny would lead them together. She was ecstatic at this news. She liked that even monsters could have a happily ever after, that they had someone lined up to love them no matter what. Elena was his mate, she didn't have to ask to know.

He also told her about the vast amount of werewolves that lived in colonies outside The Gate. It didn't take her two seconds to put the pieces together. The hunts, the animal heads her father would come back with. It made her sick, to think that someone as undeniably amazing as Stefan would run for their lives daily from people like her father.

—and playing with chains later, Caroline's excited buzz was officially gone. It had turned into familiarity and comfortable silences.

"Huzza, huzza!" she cheered, quoting one of her favourite books (Walk Two Moons) and clapped her hands as she stood. The chains lay, completely sorted, on the ground of the cellar and they high-fived.

"Job well done, Miss Forbes," Stefan began to gather the chains in a way that wouldn't tangle them again.

"Couldn't have done it without you, Mr. Salvatore," she curtsied and then smirked and imitated Stefan's voice, "Dear Diary, today my gorgeous new BFFL — the amazing and positively radiant Caroline Forbes — single-handedly made my life so very much easier," Stefan shook his head at her as he continued picking up the chains, "The dashing blonde risked her life— no! Her very existence by scaling down her, rather high, window just to come help me turn into a fluffy animal that sniffs other people's butts. This one girl's bravery will continue to inspire me throughout the course of my hairy life as she, courageously, defied the rules and used the last of the butter to save my sorry ass from discovery. I don't know where I would be without her," Caroline waved her hands dramatically throughout her speech, "Probably in a ditch somewhere, crying over Elena's perfect doe eyes and glimmering hair. The love of my life's fair locks outshine all other life form's. Oh, woe is me as she continues to flaunt them for other men. I shall purpose again next Monday but I fear another rejection and what that will do to my frail, frail heart. Oh, Diary, I must go prepare my speech before I break all the bones in my body. Many Furry Hugs, Stef-Stef The Unshaved."

"You should include something about his perfectly shaped and conditioned hairstyle in there somewhere, love," Caroline swung around and her eyebrows raised as she inspected the hot British guy that strut into the cellar. She took in his Henley, jeans and expensive shoes and gorgeous — if she did say so herself — face. His blue eyes seemed to glow and his lips were so full and plump she couldn't help but stare. She felt her body inch closer but pulled herself back. She told herself she felt so drawn to him because he was beau—uh, handsome and because it had been a while.

"Eyes are up here, sweetheart," he smirked and she scowled. Of course he'd be just another Damon; pretty exterior with a cocky, ignorant interior.

"Who," she crossed her arms over her chest, "Are you?"

"Right sorry, that's my friend. He has a tendency to show up unannounced," Stefan threw the attractive guest a pointed look over his shoulder as he carried the bundle of chains to the hooks planted in the wall. The stray one that dragged on the ground make a screeching sound and Caroline flinched.

"You have a friend?" she asked in disbelief.

"Well, he needs someone to pull him out of the ditch and grovel about Elena to," Handsome British Stranger teased. She snuck a look at him and caught his eye, she instantly turned away, "Diaries just can't satisfy him as much as I can. Can they, mate?"

"What do you want, Klaus?" Stefan deadpanned. Klaus, what an interesting name.

"I thought you were in need of some company but clearly," his eyes raked over her, "I was mistaken."

"Eyes are up here, sweetheart," she drawled, he grinned and, if she was being completely honest, it blinded her. He was looking at her weirdly and she felt like if anyone else looked at her like that she would be extraordinarily uncomfortable but it was okay, because it was him. She wondered why that was. Suddenly Stefan erupted into manic laughter. Caroline stared at him in confusion, Klaus looked like he had swallowed a sour lemon as he scowled at the hysteric Salvatore.

"Hah!" Stefan chortled, "That's going to be hilarious," he wiped tears from his eyes and Caroline raised her eyebrows.

"Oh, shut up," Klaus mumbled.

"Your father's going to love this," Stefan smirked and Klaus muttered angrily under his breath.

"Anybody want to tell me what's going on?" she watched as they had a secret conversation with their eyes. Stefan then proceeded to take his shirt off. Caroline gaped and swung around, blocking him from sight with her hand.

"Ew! You're not gunna, like, get naked are you?" she shrieked and had, unfortunately, a clear view of Klaus smirking.

"I'll have you know I have a beautiful body," he unbuckled his belt, "But it's reserved for Elena only."

Klaus smirked and whispered to her, "He has a tattoo stating 'Property of Elena Gilbert' across his—"

"Excuse me," Stefan cleared his throat, "But would you kindly step into the cage before I eat you?" They did.

"So, are you a werewolf, too?" Caroline asked and Klaus nodded as he locked the cage, "How come you don't have to, well, you know," she gestured towards Stefan.

"I'm much older and wiser, faster, more good-looking," he gave Stefan a look filled with mischief, "Better with locks—"

"Hardy, har, har. You just love to bring that up don't you?" Stefan was blushing slightly.

"Oh, I need to hear this story!" Caroline grinned deviously and Klaus opened his mouth but Stefan interrupted.

"Let me just name the million other people I'd rather be chained in a cell with right now," Stefan rolled his eyes at them then smirked and added, "Oh, and Caroline?"

"Yeah?"

"You're Klaus' mate."

Well, then.

.

Don't get too close
It's dark inside
It's where my demons hide
It's where my demons hide

.

As a flicker of moonlight shone through a hole in the roof, Stefan's screams started filling the silence. For the first few minutes Caroline had watched on nervously but after twenty more minutes she realised changing into a wolf was an awful long and dragged out process, so she sat and snuggled up to her blanket. After a while she got hungry so she took out her Muller Corner yogurt from her backpack. She removed the lid and began to lick off the yogurt stuck there, a habit of hers. Caroline stopped mid-lick as she felt somebody looking at her. Her eyes flickered to Klaus' blue, sparkling ones. She retracted her tongue and kept eye contact hoping he'd look away, but his gaze never faltered.

"What?" she demanded.

"What?" he asked innocently and she scowled.

"You're staring at me," she stated the obvious.

"And you're teasing me with yogurt, it's a point blank situation that will inevitably lead to you on your knees and panting on the floor," he pointed out casually and Stefan screamed with pain in the background as his femur broke.

"What?" Caroline squeaked.

"What?" he smirked and tilted his head. Caroline opened her mouth and closed it like a fish and then shook her head and folded the yogurt lid and placed it in her bag. He pouted and she glared. She grabbed her spoon and poured the little chocolate balls into the yogurt part. She mixed them together and then indulged herself in the deliciousness of the smooth yet chocolate-y goodness. She sucked them until they melted on her tongue, she liked to savour the taste that way. She knew he was watching her but she tried to ignore him. Unfortunately, that meant concentrating on Stefan's screams of pain. Annoyingly handsome Brit it was then.

"Would you quit it so I can suck these balls in peace!" she exclaimed then froze, "I mean, that's—that's not what I mean," she flushed and wanted to shrink into a tiny puddle just to escape his giant grin.

"By all means, love. Do what you wish," his smugness radiated off him in waves. Before she could reply, or, well, try to, a snarl filled the air. Bang, Caroline screamed as the massive, brown wolf slammed on the cage bars right beside her head. She jumped up and tripped over herself. She stood up straight and the wolf bashed off the bars again. As she stared at it in fright, Caroline was suddenly grabbed from behind. She let out another scream but a large, rough hand covered her mouth.

"It's okay, it's okay. It's me, you're safe," Caroline relaxed at the sound of Klaus' voice and he removed his hand. She tried to catch her breath. Once she controlled her breathing she licked her lips and watched as Stefan in dog form growled and snarled at them. It was actually kind of cute, in a way.

"Klaus," she said.

"Yes, love?" he mumbled as he continued stroking her hair.

"You can," Caroline clicked her tongue, "Let go of me now."

"Oh, right, yes, of course," he hesitantly released her and cleared his throat. She looked at Stefan again. He pulled and pulled at the chains they had spent forever trying to unravel. She smiled softly just as a hook burst off the wall. Wolf-Stefan howled in triumph and yanked at the other until it came loose. He then flashed out the door faster than she could blink. In retrospect, they really should have checked those too. Caroline pursed her lips and looked to Klaus.

"Roh-Ro," he said as he looked at the pieces of broken door.

Looks like Matt's never going to hear Stefan singing her praises.

TBC