A/N: Well, I finally managed to update within a week. Yay! *throws a mini-rave, you're all invited* Heh. Kidding. But, I am proud of myself. Progress. I am making progress. Anyway, hope you all enjoy this chapter. Another one's coming right up, I promise. PS, a little birdie's told me that some of my readers like Hayden and Katherine?
Thanks to all of you who've reviewed, favorited and followed! You know who you are - (And so do I. Not in a creepy way or anything, I do receive notifications. Heh.) - and you are all awesome. Once again, thanks. You could've scrolled past this story and yet, you chose to read it. For that, I am eternally grateful.
One by one, their seats were emptied.
And one by one, they went away. Now the family is parted.
Will it be complete one day? Will the circle be unbroken?
By and by, by and by. Is a better home a-waiting?
In the sky, oh, in the sky?
Will the Circle Be Unbroken? – Christian Hymn
"I didn't like that boy," Katherine had remarked, dabbing red lipstick onto her lips to correct the splotching. She was perched on the history teacher's desk. Hayden wiped a droplet of blood from the corner of his lips, remaining silent and sullen. "His flesh got caught in my teeth," Katherine continued to bemoan.
Hayden fought against rolling his eyes. As usual, Katherine complained over what she saw as a measly meal. Since she lived under his roof, Hayden enforced rules upon her. Number one was that they would feed discreetly. No more leaving the bodies to be found. And no more taking of those who would obviously be missed.
Katherine complained and grated on his nerves. But she acquiesced, rather than risk his anger and wrath. Hayden doubled over, feeling a great blow in his abdomen. He grunted through his teeth as he gripped the desk before him.
His lungs grew heavy and at one point, he was certain that they may have come free from the sinewy tissue that held them in place and sunk within him. "Hayden!" Katherine gasped, rushing to his side. "What's wrong?" Hayden opened his mouth to suck in a breath to respond before a large amount of water spilled from his mouth.
He wheezed and coughed, gritting out, "Caroline." More water gushed from his lips as he choked. The unpleasant sting of water in his lungs, windpipe and nose prickled at him as he continued to spout water for a moment before righting himself. He clutched at his side and glowered at Katherine, "What have you done?" He thundered.
The younger vampire's eyes sprang open wide, fearful, as she breathed out shakily, "I – I didn't –" Before she completed her sentence, Hayden ghosted from the school. A lone tear trickled down Katherine's cheek before she batted it away, angry and hurt.
Caroline breathed in softly, feeling her mattress sink under someone's weight. Her eyes fluttered open and she saw Elena seated beside her, the whites of her eyes bloodshot as though she spent a lot of time crying. Elena's nose was red, and her cheeks were painted red, flushed.
Caroline sat up, shaken by the sight of her childhood friend feverish with grief. "Elena, I'm fine." She said, her voice wavering. "I know," Elena gave a watery smile, "And I'm glad. But it's not just that." "What is it?" Caroline asked, panicked. Horrors and terrible scenarios raced through Caroline's mind.
Her mother. Bonnie. Damon. Stefan. Matt. Jeremy. Jenna. Could it have been one of them? "You know that girl from school, Dana?" Elena began, tears rolling down her cheeks. "She was killed. They found her body. I'm not sure when. I didn't even know she went missing. I heard about this last night. Bonnie called me."
Dana. Dana. Dana. Her name swum through Caroline's mind, making her dizzy. Sweet, talkative Dana. The girl had never harmed a fly. Who would do such a thing? Caroline thought, her heart breaking for the girl's family and friends. It could've been me. Or Elena. Even Bonnie.
Her breath caught in her throat with realization. "When's the –?" Caroline asked, her voice breaking before she could finish. "The funeral's today. Her wake was yesterday." Elena whispered; pointing to the dress she wore. Caroline reeled with the new information.
A girl from her school had died, and she hadn't so much as offered her condolences. No one did. Because they were thinking of me, Caroline thought, inwardly cursing herself. Stupid, selfish me! She threw her bedding back and clambered to her feet. "Okay," She said, resolved. "Give me a moment to get dressed."
Elena began to protest, but Caroline held her hand up, shaking her head. "Don't. I'm going. I owe her at least that much." She waved Elena away and strode to the bathroom. She showered quickly and pinned her hair back with a silver hairclip before pulling on a long black dress that fell short of her ankles.
She stepped into a pair of black heels and pulled on a black lace cardigan. She picked up her handbag and walked to the door. Damon was waiting on the other side when she opened it. Before she could make so much as an excuse as to where she was going, Damon said, "No." "But, Damon –"
"No," He said, shaking his head, "No. No. No. And no." Caroline opened her mouth but Damon cut her off. "No. A world of no. A thousand gallons of no. And did I mention? No. You're not going. If I have to tie you up and rip that dress off you –" He broke off, held captive by the images that ran through his mind.
Caroline's cheeks were dusted with pink as she thought, promise? She shook herself free of the thought and darted around him before he could protest and hurried to the stairs. Damon followed after her, appearing in front of her, chuckling breathlessly as she staggered to a halt.
"You run fast for a woman in heels." He said, amused. "I'm going to her funeral, Damon." Caroline snapped, annoyed by his behavior. "Why?" He asked, his temper flaring in response to hers. "You didn't even know this girl! Why are you so set on going to her funeral?!" Caroline flinched visibly at his words.
It was true. She barely knew Dana. Neither did anyone in her circle of friends. They hadn't even tried to. But, still, Dana never held it against them. She was always kind to them. Shame drifted over Caroline, bringing tears to her eyes. "You're right," She said dejectedly, "I never tried to. You know why I'm going, Damon?"
She raised her lachrymose optics to his, "Because I'm paying my respects. But, I'm also asking forgiveness. If I had known her –" She broke off, weeping. Damon began to reach for her, but she swatted his consoling hand away. "If I had known her," She soldiered on, "I could have saved her. And I want her to know that."
"Caroline," Damon started. "Don't." Caroline snapped tearfully. "If I wanted to feel horrible about myself, I'd go to confessional. You can go to hell." She spun and stamped down the stairs. As soon as she made it out of the Boardinghouse, the guilt set upon her again. She hadn't meant to be so harsh toward Damon.
But, he'd upset her. Because he was right. He was dead-on about everything. And it ripped her apart inside. Because she hadn't been there, a girl had died. If she'd been with Dana – if she had known her – perhaps, she'd still be alive. But there was nothing Caroline could do now.
She couldn't go back in time and make it right. And she hated herself for it. Caroline walked to Bonnie's car, where Elena sat in the passenger seat. Since the accident – which is what everyone had called it – Jenna refused to allow Elena behind the steering wheel for fear that another would occur.
Caroline had the distinct hunch that Jenna was more worried that Elena had caused the accident herself. But, she wouldn't speak of it aloud. She didn't want to arouse the memory of Elena's parents' accident. It was terrible enough that Elena suffered one accident, but to suffer a second? It was unthinkable.
And on top of that, Elena was distressed by the thought that she nearly lost Caroline. Caroline thought that preposterous. But, Elena would have none of it. The blonde vampire slid into the backseat in such a queenly manner that Elena cracked a small smile. "Graceful as ever, Caroline." She teased.
"Dignified to the end," Caroline replied, falling back into their easy banter. Bonnie shifted gears and the car rolled from the driveway. "I'm surprised Damon allowed you to come," Bonnie observed. Contrition seized Caroline once again. "Yeah," She said in brittle tones.
Nor Bonnie or Elena noticed the shame that clouded Caroline's features. She watched as the beautiful homes and manicured lawns gave way to overgrown fields and crumbling buildings. The funeral home – the only funeral home in Mystic Falls – was in the "seedy" side of town.
Which Caroline knew was rich person talk for the poor side of Mystic Falls. She had always been fascinated by what people like the Lockwoods referred to by the "wrong side" of town. She loved the way the buildings had a rustic sort of structure. The way grass and plants sprouted through the pavement.
It had an artistic feel that made Caroline feel as though she'd stepped back into time. Her first boyfriend had lived on this side of the town. She'd always known she had a weakness for bad boys. But, he solidified that realization. He'd looked like a greaser from the '50s. Leather, jeans, shirt and all.
But now, she couldn't even remember his name. She was drawn from her thoughts and her breath escaped her completely when they had come upon the funeral home. The building itself was a white two-story Victorian era house. It would have made a lovely home if it hadn't been that a morbid business took place there.
And it was the only thing that still retained its novelty. It looked as though it had simply been completed the day before. It had a terrace on the second floor and three columns held the overhang from the roof above the concrete portico, which, in turn, was covered by a thin green carpet.
Bonnie parked the car at the side of the road and the girls exited and linked arms before crossing to the sidewalk that fed to the steps of the funeral home's porch. Caroline felt her heart beat painfully against her ribcage as they entered the hallway. She saw people she knew from church and school milling about.
But her wary eyes were searching for her mother. Seeming to sense her tension, Bonnie squeezed her elbow gently. "She's leading the procession later," She said in her knowing way. Caroline nodded stiffly. The thought of seeing her mother made her heart break all over again. Caroline's eyes grew wet again as she sniffled and made her way to the chapel.
She descended the steps and walked to a pew, sitting down. Soon, she was joined by Elena and Bonnie, who perched at her sides like bookends. They watched as people filled the room, Dana's family taking the pews at the left, which angled to face horizontally, rather than vertically like the others.
Caroline knew from too many devastating events that these pews were reserved for family members only. In the pew ahead of her and her friends, the pallbearers sat in their reserved place. A man entered the room, dressed in a simple suit and Caroline recognized him as the preacher.
He stepped to the podium and set his bible down. "It is a terrible thing," He began, his features solemn, "To lose someone so young. So full of life, potential. A future unfulfilled." Caroline's eyes filled with tears as the preacher spoke about Dana. Telling stories of her childhood.
"No parent should ever have to know the agony of burying their own child. You know, before she was taken from us, she came to me…" He lowered his head as he spoke, his voice seeming to fade out. Caroline felt the grief grasp her in an unshakable hold. She couldn't take it. It hurt.
A hand gripped her shoulder gently and she heard a familiar voice whisper to her, "Breathe, Caroline. Breathe." She sucked in a grateful gulp of oxygen and swiveled to face Hayden. He was seated just behind her, dressed casually in white. He wore a white button down and a jacket with jeans.
The collar of his shirt was opened, revealing smooth, pale skin. White? She thought, perplexed. At a funeral? He smiled as though he'd heard her thoughts and said softly, "White is the color of the dead." Oh, Caroline thought, suddenly feeling ridiculous in her black dress.
Light danced off a chain she never noticed before around his neck and her eyes found a sharply hewn ring that dangled on the chain. A blue stone was set into the center and Caroline knew from the way that it was crafted that it was intended to be worn by a woman.
Ancient Greek lettering had been chiseled into the metal and for the life of her, she could not read it. Eventually she raised her eyes to Hayden's which she realized were the exact hue of the stone. From the dark cloud that settled behind his eyes, she understood that he'd seen her staring at the necklace.
Hayden shoved the necklace back under his shirt and fixated his eyes on the preacher angrily. Caroline couldn't help but feel that she'd committed some atrocity against him by noticing the ring. She returned her attention to the service.
They'd played "Dancing in the Sky" by Dani and Lizzy, which brought Caroline, Elena and Bonnie to tears. She'd wept for Dana and for everyone that had been lost. The preacher had spoken about how death wasn't a "Goodbye" but more of a "See you later". Liar! Caroline had wanted to scream.
But, she'd broken apart. She couldn't hold herself together. And Hayden hadn't offered her any more comfort. Soon, the funeral directors had guided everyone to walk single file to the casket to say their final goodbyes and then towards the preacher, who'd shaken everyone's hand, whispering a soft, "Bless you."
As she left, Caroline had looked back to Hayden, who she saw had pulled a silver coin from his pocket, and bent to kiss Dana on the forehead, discreetly placed it in the coffin. The coin looked absurdly old and uneven and bore markings that she'd never seen before.
And she could have sworn that she heard him murmur, "Obol for Charon," As he placed it into the casket. The girls made their way to the car as pallbearers carried the coffin to the hearse. They took their seats and followed the string of cars, escorted by police.
Caroline noted that as they'd ridden along, the lovely blue sky had darkened with gray clouds. After they'd parked near the cemetery, they trudged between headstones and made their way towards the tent. They stood outside as the preacher closed the ceremony with a few words and flowers were placed on the lid of the casket.
Fat rain drops began to fall and soon the sky opened and wept along with the mourners. Caroline felt a hand on her shoulder and turned, expecting it to be Hayden. But it was Damon, dressed in a dark suit. Relief flooded through Caroline and she fell into his arms, sobbing on his shoulder as the rain soaked them both.
Soon, the others had fled the rain and it was only her and Damon. She pulled from his embrace and walked towards the mound of earth, marked by a silver tag and knelt. "I wish I had been there," She said, hoping against hope that Dana could hear her now. "If I had, you wouldn't be –" She broke off, tears rolling down her cheeks before she continued, "God! If I hadn't been so selfish, so involved in – everything else – and spoken to you more, knew you and been with you, this never would have happened. You never would have been killed. I am so, so, sorry."
Her lip trembled as she finished, "But I will find whoever did this to you. And I swear to god, when I am through, they will wish they were dead." Her voice shook with conviction as she stood and dusted the dirt from her knees. She raised her eyes and saw her mother. "Oh, my god," She breathed out.
Damon's eyes flitted to the Sheriff and widened. "Caroline!" Her mother called, sprinting towards her. Caroline whirled and ran, stumbling as her heels sunk into the soft ground, pitching her forward. She grunted when she made impact and cursed as she yanked off her shoes and ran, feet bare, across the cemetery.
Hayden had been standing at the gates, shirt and jacket soaked through, his hair pinned down by water. "This way," He said tersely, walking to his car. Caroline followed him obediently, hearing her mother call her name. The car doors opened and they both slid into the seats.
The engine roared to life and they sped from the cemetery. "That was close," Caroline said, her voice trembling. "I take it she doesn't know." Hayden said. "No. And if she did, she would kill me." Caroline replied, sadness flooding her words. Hayden only nodded. "Who would kill Dana?" Caroline asked, breaking the silence.
"If that is your passive-aggressive way of asking whether I did it, you can rest assured, I did not. I have done many a monstrous thing during my existence, but she wasn't one of them." He spoke loftily. Caroline believed him. He had a way of speaking which always seemed to resonate the truth to her.
No matter what he said. He could have told her that the sky, in fact, was truly pink and she would believe him. She reclined back in her seat, watching as raindrops peppered the windshield and the wipers swept them away. The world outside Caroline's window seemed magical.
The rain was lovely, the way it curtained the world in its embrace. And yet it never seemed to hold the world at all. She peered through the blue-gray sheets of water as it spilled from the sky, trying to discern any landmarks. Soon, she realized where she was as the car slowed to a stop and the engine cut off.
Hayden's place. She opened her mouth to protest. To request to be taken home. But, Hayden cut her short, "Your mother will most certainly be there. Are you willing to risk it?" Caroline's lips pressed together and she followed him inside. Once inside, Hayden pulled off his soaked jacket and shirt shamelessly, as though it were natural to shed his clothing in front of a girl who barely knew him.
Caroline's cheeks flowered with rouge again. She averted her eyes, but found only a mirror, which, of course, reflected his bare torso. She saw the way his muscles rippled in a predatory way. And she saw faint scars slashing across his ribs. Horror doused her with iced water.
Caroline whirled to face him as he strode upstairs, her lips parted, compassion for him flooding her veins. What he must have been through. She thought mournfully. He must have suffered through hell. She wandered through the mansion, sighing softly. She pushed her way into a room and flipped the light switch, illuminating it.
It was a library. Or a study. Caroline couldn't make her mind up about which. There were bookshelves lining the wall. Each niche filled with books. Hardback, paperback, some that didn't even sport covers. Her fingertips stroked the spine of one of the hardback tomes and recoiled.
It felt strangely like – "Human skin," Caroline breathed, horror-stricken. She withdrew from the bookshelves and turned, examining the room instead. There were items she recognized. A telescope perched at the window for example. A retractable telescope rested on the desk.
There was a celestial globe and a sundial as well. A few items Caroline didn't recognize were a strange instrument shaped like a triangle with a bar that stretched from the apex to a lower bar curved like a half moon with measurements inscribed into it. Another was what appeared to be a brass pocket watch.
But instead of numbers and hands, it had symbols inscribed into it. "It's an octant." A voice said. Caroline whirled to see Hayden standing behind her, freshly showered and buttoning a dark shirt. He nodded to the triangular object. "The name comes from the Latin word octans. This means, 'Eighth part of a circle.'"
Caroline nodded slowly, this new information sinking in, "Oh." Hayden pointed to the pocket watch shaped item, "This is an astrolabe. Its name comes from the Greek word astrolabos which means 'star-taker'." "I didn't know you were into astronomy." Caroline stated. Hayden shrugged, "The stars fascinate me. It takes years for their light to reach us. And by the time it does, they've burned out." He looked over at her.
Caroline looked down, "We all have something that fascinates us." "What fascinates you?" Hayden asked softly, turning to face her fully. "You do." Caroline admitted, nodding. Hayden's lips twitched into something of a smile, "Is that so?" He seemed to have move closer to her, making Caroline's cheeks flush.
He's going to kiss me! Her mind screamed, panic searing through her veins. He stopped – however – when his phone jangled. He answered the call, "Yes?" Annoyance tinged the word, making cold chills race down Caroline's spine. The person on the other end babbled, seemingly panicked.
"If you had anything to do with this –" Hayden started, but the person he was speaking with cut him off. "Fine." He snapped, ending the call. "What was that –" Caroline started. "We're going," He said curtly. "Why?" Caroline was confused. "Your mother." He replied, striding to the door.
Ice crackled in Caroline's veins. "What about my mother?" She shrieked. Hayden halted and turned to her, "Someone set her house on fire." With that, he flickered to his car. Caroline was hot on his heels. Soon, the car's tires squealed on the pavement and sped out. It darted down the highway, seemingly flying.
Caroline bolted from the car when it stopped and rushed at the flaming house. Firemen were surrounding the blazing structure, hoses spurting streams of water at the flames. "Mom. Mom. Mom!" Caroline shrilled, searching for her mother. Arms snared her and held her back as the beams collapsed in the house with a crash.
Hayden was calling her name, but he sounded far away as blind terror set in. She couldn't see – couldn't hear – anything. "Mom!" She cried. "Caroline!" A familiar voice called. She jerked free of Hayden's grasp and turned, seeing her mother approach. Tears of relief washed down Caroline's cheeks.
Liz Forbes was covered in soot, but never looked more beautiful to Caroline. She flung herself into her mother's embrace and sobbed. "Caroline," Her mother repeated, sobbing into her daughter's hair. "You're alive." Over her mother's shoulder, she saw a soot-covered Damon gazing at her.
She nodded and smiled her thanks to him. And he nodded in return. And for a moment – a brief moment – everything was alright in the world.
Still far away from where I belong.
But it's always darkest before the dawn.
So, you can doubt. And you can hate.
But I know no matter what it takes I'm coming home.
I'm coming home. Tell the world I'm coming home.
Let the rain wash away all the pain of yesterday.
I know my kingdom awaits. And they've forgiven my mistakes.
I'm coming home. I'm coming home.
Tell the world I'm coming.
Coming Home (Part II) – Skylar Grey
