A/N- Here goes chapter 2... Thank you to everyone who had reviewed or favorited or put this story on alert. This is really a unusual story so I really want to hear what you all have to say if I'm gonna keep writing it... please let me know what you think. This one has a lot of flashbacks but I wanted to explain the past as well. I hope you like. REVIEW tc...
Chapter 2
Caroline sat in the corner of her tiny apartment , the only place she knew neither Klaus nor Elijah could find her. She needed time to think, she needed space... she hadn't had any of that in 300 years. She finally had free will, do whatever she wanted. If only it were that easy, it didn't matter what she did, how best she tried at the end of the day, the originals would have the war they had avoided for centuries. Sometimes she wondered if she was just an excuse... just a reason to start ripping at each other's throats. That's not what they had told her, no according to them this was all for her. she couldn't help but wonder if she should have just killed herself, though she knew it wouldn't stop the war then why sacrifice her life for no use. She deserves better than this. She deserves better than being told how she feels, and never never being sure of anything... it's just cruel.
Elijah... Elijah was how he had always been; Confident, a perfect gentleman, courteous, and never never brash like his brother. Even when she had seen him rip out two vampire's hearts like they were sponges there were no blood stains or creases on his impeccable suit... he was always tidy, she loved that about him. Elijah was sure that she would pick him once she was free... he was confident that whatever she had felt for Klaus was a result of his compulsion...
Flashback
"Carolina I know you, the real you... not the brainwashed machine Klaus made. I'm the only one you love trust me. Once my brother frees you of his compulsion you will remember all of it... you will have no doubt as I have none now" Elijah whispered into her ear as she sobbed against his chest, only she was allowed to ruin his perfectly ironed shirt
"I remember now too" she said "But I can tell I care about you... but I just don't know, I don't understand"
"Whatever you feel for him, he had made you feel" he said through clenched teeth "You do not love Klaus, you have to trust me, you have to believe me. You must convince him to break the compulsion Carolina"
"He doesn't listen to me. He refuses to do so"
"Then I have had enough" he said in a deadly tone
"What do you mean?" she said lifting her head up to look into his eyes. His eyes, they were so steely and grey... no one other than her could look into these eyes and see love, he looked too cold and heartless but she could see the love, fear and concern in his eyes all the time. How she wished she could bring some joy to those eyes...
"You spent your first century with my brother with no recollection of me and our life, I have waited long enough now. This war is centuries coming, once my brother is dead his compulsion will wear off and you'll be in your rightful place." He said in barely a whisper
"I don't want either one of you to die" she said firmly
"That my love is impossible, there will only be one victor"
End flashback
There was very few things in this world that could deter Elijah from what he wanted. A chill would run down her spine every time she would hear him say "If I want the girl I'll get the girl" he exuded confidence. His fair-haired non suit wearing brother was the exact opposite of him, not tidy at all; he made a mess when he killed which is why Caroline forbid him to do so in their house. Elijah had a way of threatening someone with such elegance and respect it took a while before the person realized that he had just been threatened, Klaus on the other hand more often than not skipped the threatening part and went straight to murder. She felt most affectionate towards Klaus, Elijah assured her this was because he had compelled her to love him, Klaus assured her he had not compelled her to love him in over a century. She couldn't help but agree with Klaus which only made Elijah angrier. Klaus's compulsions weren't as strong as they were when he had first found her, they would fade away after a while and she would remember everything. A close friend of her's whom she trusted with everything had told her that Klaus's love for her was weakening his compulsions, he felt guilty over compelling her and it only made her care for him more. The only compulsion of Klaus that held over her now was done nearly 300 years ago, he had compelled her so that she could never leave him.
Gradually he had let her speak to Elijah, whereas before he would pack her up and move to another country every time he showed up where they were. She had been free to meet Elijah whenever she wanted, he had allowed that, though he had compelled her that she couldn't be intimate with Elijah. He thought she didn't know that, but eventually even this compulsion had worn off, though she abided by his wishes and never let Elijah give her more than a kiss. She wouldn't be able to bear the pain in Klaus's eyes if she returned home smelling like his brother... and yet she couldn't bear the pain in Elijah's face when she pushed him off every time saying she couldn't betray Klaus. She hated it, they both hurt because of her and the worst part of it; to her it seemed she had no say in it whatsoever. Klaus had decided to keep her like she was a puppy and compelled her to forget her life with Elijah, Elijah had followed them for centuries and eventually managed to make Caroline remember him, his love, his words of comfort, his promises...the waterfall they went to everyday. It hurt Klaus when she would think of those days and it would hurt Elijah when she told him she felt for Klaus even without the compulsion. It hurt her to be alive plain and simple. This was all happening for one simple reason, she was bound to never leave Klaus so she could never really tell how she felt for Elijah, all she could tell was that she cared for him... more than Klaus... less than Klaus... she had no clue. That was when she made the decision a week ago to end this once and for all
Flashback
"I want you to remove my compulsion" she demanded as he placed kisses down her jaw and neckline as she lay under him determined to have her say despite him using the best method to distract her from anything and everything. After being with him for 300 years she had managed to develop some resistance to him, though she knew it wouldn't last long.
"We've been over this" Klaus mumbled against her skin making her ticklish "My brother is trying to manipulate you, I won't fall for it"
"I remember my entire vampire life now Klaus, he can't manipulate me. I remember that I loved him when we were together" she hated saying those words as soon he winced but didn't stop his assault on her neck, but she was desperate she had to convince him one last time before she started making ultimatums
"I allow you to be friends with him, that is the most I can do" he replied as he moved down lower on her chest and his hand started making round trips over her sides making her moan and she scoffed when he chuckled against her chest. She hated that he knew how much of an effect he had on her, she would admit it any day she was more attracted to Klaus than Elijah, but she felt a calm and sereneness envelop her when she thought of Elijah.
"I'm more than just friends with him" she snapped and he stiffened on her, his mouth and hands stopped moving as he considered the meaning of her words
"That is not possible" he was scared as he looked up at her
"You know your compulsions wear off fast"
"So... you and my brother... di did you..." she could already feel the change in his voice and body language
"No" she stated simply and he relaxed on her, no matter how angry she was she couldn't hurt him like that "If I have sex with him will you free me" she added raising a brow
"You can have babies with him if you want, I'm not letting you go" he said as he got off her and sat down on the bed pulling her up with him "If my compulsion had worn out, why... why weren't you with him" he asked almost afraid to hear the answer
"Because I won't be unfaithful to you" she said cupping his cheek with her hand
"See you do love me" he said with a smile as he held her hand on his face
"I never said I didn't"
"Then why must you push me for such ridiculous things?"
"Because I need to know, you tell me one thing he tells me another. I cannot live like this anymore"
"You said you love me so trust me" he pleaded
"I never said I didn't feel anything for him either... but I will never know for sure unless..."
"Then it seems you shall never know"
"He said he will kill you"
"He will try to kill me my love... it's not so easy" he said as he brought her closer and put her head on his chest "If he comes after me then it gives me a reason to kill him too"
"I don't want either one of you to die" she yelled and he winced... her concern for his brother made him furious
"Please for me... remove it" she begged when he didn't say anything for a long time "Don't you want to know if I love you without the compulsion?"
"I haven't compelled you to love me in forever... and you just said you love me"
"I can't really be sure of that now can I?" she tried desperately and he laughed
"Then I guess I'll have to live with that"
"No... I can't live with that... free me" she screamed pulling away from him and throwing a pillow at him and he growled and his eyes turned bloodshot red... always an indication of his legendary anger
"No" he said simply leaving nothing to interpretation
"Then you leave me no choice" she said softly looking him straight in the eyes "If you do not free me then I will kill myself. I'm tired Klaus... and you can't compel me you know it. A week... I give you a week and I'll stake myself"
"Did you hear me?" she asked angry when he didn't say anything for what seemed an eternity but simply stared into her eyes showing no emotion
"I heard you" he said suddenly and pushed her down on the bed straddling her and pulling her legs behind his waist and locking them, she wanted to protest but she knew it was useless "Now you hear me... if I free you which I doubt I will and you choose my brother I will rip his heart out and take you back and compel you to never leave me... again. So my love what's the point of making threats?"
She desperately tried to control the tears in her throat as he crashed his lips to hers and she melted into him... why...why were they doing this to her?
End flashback
She let the tears fall now, practically wetting her top. She thought once she was free everything would make sense, she should have known nothing comes easy in her life. She thought she would know in an instant what to do, how to behave, but she had no clue. She wanted to hide forever, she would even run away but she knew it would make no difference. They would find her in an instant, especially Klaus she had been feeding on his blood for 300 years... he would know where she was in an instant. She couldn't hide in here, not for long one day she would have to leave and face the world... the thought of that scared her. She hadn't been responsible for herself in 400 years, she knew the war would happen whether Klaus released her or not, but if she hadn't been free she wouldn't have to make a choice... But not now... now she must a choice an impossible choice. It was in moments like this she thought of how in the world she had ended up here... well it all started so many many years ago, on one of the worst nights of her life... human or vampire
Flashback
Logroño Spain 1611
She was screaming so loud she was sure the entire village heard it, but she couldn't help it. She didn't know where to begin her complaining, the pain in her belly, the beads of sweat all over her body, the blinding headache, the fear of her and her's child's life, or the furrowed brow of her mother-in-law as she stood by the door of the room watching her. Catalina had been her name, her birth name given by her parents... over the years it changed so much, Lina to Carolina to finally Caroline. How she had longed to name her child, but she never had the opportunity, she couldn't even dare to hope that today would be any different, she couldn't bear to jinx it
"Necesario empujar más fuerte Catalina" the mid wife screamed at her (You need to push harder)
She was tired, exhausted, every part of her ached, irregular spasms of pain enveloped her body, she wanted it to stop but she did not know how. She screamed at her helpers to get it over with, the pleasure she had once experienced was not worth the pain she was in now. She did the best she could to control her breathing, as her midwife said so repeatedly, but she couldn't help herself, the pain began to overpower her, then suddenly it all stopped, she was relieved, she thought it had stopped. Then as swiftly as it had stopped, it came back, bigger and worst than before. She was certain that she would be dead. She was waiting for death; at least she would be rid of the pain. Then she heard an indistinct cry, it seemed as if the child was far away, but slowly it got closer and closer, then the noise was right next to her. She opened her eyes wearily to look at the child in the midwife's arms.
She cried and laughed at the same time, the creature was wailing that meant it was alive... yes this child was alive. She could hope now, of naming her beautiful son, holding him close to her body, feel his tiny fingers on her face... see the elated face of her husband... she would have it all now, she would have his love back...
She watched as her mother-in-law went closer to the child, and she wanted to beg them to hand him over to her... but she had no strength left. She would him hold later she thought, he was her little angel.
"Es un Niña" (It's a girl) the midwife whispered though she heard it loud and clear, her husband had wanted a boy but they have one later on she thought, everything would be fine. Then she heard the midwife talk again and fear gripped her body from all sides "Su una pierna esta doblando, es inutil" (Her one leg is bent, it is useless). And at that moment she knew, she knew the fate of her child and she screamed as loudly as she could until she finally fainted.
The next thing she remembered was being dragged down to the lake by her husband, he was furious she could see that, she found no strength to protest to the tight grip on her shoulders, she was still sore from the childbirth not that he cared; she had given birth to a girl that too a deformed one. After her sixth failed attempt at providing his family a rightful heir he had had enough. She had no idea what he was going to do, she couldn't care less... all she could think of was her daughter, whom she knew was dead by now, they would tell everyone she had another stillborn but she knew better. She was such a disappointment to everyone, and that was when she realized he had taken her into the water, she looked around confused at her husband to see his tear stricken face and she tensed in fear
"Por favor perdoname" (Please forgive me) he said and she felt a powerful hand on her face pushing her into the water, she struggled and writhed trying to push him away but he was too strong, then she gave up... her children were dead, now she would join them. Once she stopped moving he let her go and ran away... and she floated in the water, waiting to be washed away... towards a place with maybe a little less pain... if only she knew better
That's when she saw him, long curly hair... those steel eyes, tense forehead looking at her in the water... he stood against the sun as he came into the water near her and touched her face... she had only thought when she saw him
"¿Es un angel?" (Are you an angel?) She mumbled and he smiled, the first time her Elijah smiled at her
"Yo soy tu angel" (I am your angel) he said putting his bloody wrist to her mouth and taking her to her whole new life.
And that was how Caroline became a vampire.
