A/N Thank you for all your fabulous feedback! It has really motivated me into continuing this story!
She had been here for a few days now. She had decorated her room as Caroline insisted she could. She had enrolled Nadia into school. She even found a job as a fashion consultant in a little boutique. It wasn't like her old job as a high flying fashionista advisor to the stars but it would do. The main issue was that it still didn't feel like home. Home still felt like Los Angeles. The mansion that she and Mason had bought with his actor's income. That she had spent years decorating and making home. And it was all gone because of him. Mason. He recklessly gambled everything away. Their money, their home and their relationship. Now, she was stuck in this small town doing a menial job. Nadia couldn't go to the best school. Hell, they couldn't even afford an apartment. It was only thanks to Caroline that she had somewhere to stay.
"Kat! Kat!" Caroline squealed as she walked in to her residence. She had come home from work and had a little time before she had to go and pick Nadia up. "We've been invited to the Mikaelson Ball tomorrow!"
Katherine just looked at her. "What's that Barbie?"
"The Mikaelson Ball is an annual event held by the richest family in Mystic Falls who are also the founders. It's the biggest social event around and it hasn't been held since the death of Esther a few years ago. But now two of the Mikaelsons are back in town and are holding it. We have to go!" Caroline babbled excitedly. It had been a long time since she had been to a party. The first and last time she and Damon went to a party was the worst. He had been ashamed of her. He didn't even want her to go. But she pleaded. She wished she never bothered. Everyone looked down on her and she made a fool of herself. For that mistake Damon left her in agony for days. She shivered. He hurt her so bad.
Katherine watched as Caroline's face dropped. Her eyes took on a haunted look and she almost seemed in pain. "Caroline what's wrong?" She said softly. Her newfound friend was unresponsive. "Sweetie" She reached out and held Caroline's hand. It was clammy. She was worried. Caroline's face was scrunched up in torment and Katherine had no idea what to do. "Care honey can you tell me what's wrong?" She gently asked.
"Please! Don't hurt me-Damon! Please!" Caroline cried out. Her body was twisting into a ball, almost as if she was afraid. She was delirious. She thought Katherine was going to hurt her. So she was curled away in a defensive position.
"Sweetie its Katherine. You're safe okay. I'm here for you sweetie" Katherine crouched next to her and stroked her back reassuringly. Caroline slowly calmed. "What happened Care?"
Caroline came out of that memory. "Kat?"
"I'm right here honey" Katherine replied. She was seriously worried about Caroline. She knew she came to town to escape something but it slowly dawned on her that maybe Caroline had something to escape from too. "Can you tell me?"
"No" The word escaped Caroline's mouth. She couldn't tell anyone. Otherwise he would come for her. "I'm okay. Honest" She forced the words out as she slowly got up. No one could know. No one. Not if she wanted to stay safe.
"Whatever it is Care, you can tell me when you're ready" Katherine didn't want to force her. "I'm going to get Nadia, will you be okay?"
"I'll be fine." Caroline half heartedly smiled. She watched Katherine leave. "I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm okay" She muttered to herself slowly. It was her mantra. It would keep her safe. As long as she kept her mouth shut. As long as she didn't tell anyone.
Elijah watched as Klaus threw himself into planning the Ball. It was most unlike Niklaus. Yes he enjoyed demonstrating his power and money. But he did not normally want to personally supervise everything. That was more their sister's forte. But, Rebekah was happy where she was in New York. She had landed a fashion column for Vogue which had been her dream since she was a child. She and their other brother Kol were sharing an apartment as he too went to New York to chase his dreams. He wanted to be an actor and he swore New York was the best place for him to make his debut. Their eldest brother Finn, on the other hand, was living in Europe with his wife Sage and son James working as an accountant. Sage was a travelling artist and so Finn followed her around the world.
"Elijah, brother why so thoughtful?" Niklaus asked him. "I have noticed you don't seem yourself. You need to forget Tatia, brother. This Ball will allow you to meet a new lovely lady"
Visions of Tatia began swamping his mind. Tatia on their first date in that lovely green sundress, Tatia at their engagement in a radiant blue dress and her dead body decaying. He shook himself mentally. "And what of you Niklaus? Will you move on from Hayley?"
"I am over her already dear brother" Niklaus feigned. Elijah knew that wasn't the truth. Niklaus was merely pretending. "So let us cast our minds forward. Tomorrow there will plenty of women to satiate us"
"Niklaus you may feign indifference but I know you were hurt by the loss of your child, by Hayley's cruel words" Elijah insisted.
Klaus' mind exploded with images. The sonogram of their baby. Hayley pregnant with a tiny bump. "Yes I'm angry brother. That little bitch cost me my child because of her infidelity. I am beyond angry brother but what can I do? She has ruined my life" Klaus was deadly and furious. He forced his voice into a more measured tone. "So I must forget. I must indulge myself so that for one singular moment I can forget. So I can have a reprieve from those memories"
"Niklaus you cannot use others to forget your own sorrows. You must move past them, not merely forget them brother" Elijah advised.
"Easier said than done as you well know" Niklaus left the room. His walk was that of a predator desperate to find some prey so he may release his pent up anger.
A/N Thank you for reading!Kaira