IX. "Even in the darkest of times, the smallest light can ignite the largest flames."
Caroline watches out of the window and she can hear all the terrorized screams of agony and cries and the pleading, the bones breaking, the bloodshed, it all plagues her mind. The sky ceases to be blue anymore, it's all grey and dull and it seems that it will endlessly be dark. No one is safe anymore now that Terror has taken his reign over this small town, devouring the life of the town as a source of power and it sickens them greatly.
"What is to become of our home?" Caroline mutters, placing a hand on the cold window and Elijah walks up behind her placing a comforting squeeze on her shoulder to which she leans into his touch.
"I am not certain but there is always hope." Elijah responds softly and Caroline smiles
"How you can stay so optimistic baffles me." Caroline remarks and her smile drops, "The moon's getting redder Elijah. It's a crescent moon tonight." She adds and hears Elijah release a heavy sigh
"Pain's coming out tonight isn't he?" He says
"I'm afraid so." Ester says from behind and their heads turn to face her saddened posture, "It's going to be hopeless. We have to bring this whole town to the ground." She adds and Caroline furiously shakes her head.
"There must be another way." Caroline says
"Don't be foolish love. Good riddance of this town if you ask me." Klaus says
"Hundreds of people's lives are at stake. We take this town down, and then everyone goes down with it. Even if we evacuate them, where will they go? This is their home. This is ours." Caroline explains
"It hasn't been mine for a long time sweetheart. Been nothing but bad memories here." Klaus says and Caroline's body tenses to which Elijah takes notice to and prays to the Gods that Caroline's fury will be contained. She turns to face Klaus with an expression mixed with hurt and anger.
"Then good riddance to all of our memories!" Caroline shouts before storming off
"Charmer as always brother." Elijah comments
"Caroline tells me that Pain is out tonight." Stefan says and the whole room is still from fear.
"How can we just stop all of this? After Pain is out, it won't be long till Rage is and it's going to be the end of the world." Bonnie comments
"Well there's Ester's suggestion of burning the whole town to the ground." Damon suggests
"No. That cannot be an option." Elena interjects
"Least we can say is that that will be our last resort." Stefan says
"Has to be the very last." Elena says
"There must be something in the books that can kill them." Damon says
"There's nothing. Even Ester's chimeras were no match. Terror tore them apart as easy as tearing paper." Bonnie replies
"Maybe there's nothing in your books." Stefan mentions
"What are you talking about?" Elena asks
"I have an idea." Stefan notes.
"This is going to be interesting." Damon comments
Everything is burned down. The trees are all black and lifeless, the grass is dead and the sky is grey. Caroline leans over and watches her broken reflection on the lake. It used to be so clear and blue, the jewel of her childhood, shining a bright sapphire color under the sun's ray. Now, it's dull, muddy and colorless, its life just sucked right out of it, like this whole town. She picks up a rock and throws it across the lake landing on a boulder causing it to split into two. Clap, clap, clap.
"What are you doing here?" Caroline asks coldly
"Looking for you." Klaus replies calmly
"Well you found me Nik. Want to make more bad memories? I sure in hell could punch your face in." Caroline retorts and Klaus chuckles a little at her, feeding into her annoyance, "This isn't funny Niklaus." She adds
"Do you remember when we first met here? How you fell into the well and I had to drag you out." Klaus says and Caroline scoffs at the memory of her foolish childish years.
"I pleaded that you wouldn't tell my father." Caroline adds
"So we stayed all day under the sun just so you can dry off."
"And then we spent every Sundays at the lake to swim then spend our day drying off." Caroline says with a shadow of a sad smile, "Memories weren't all too bad huh?" She adds
"You know that's not what I meant."
"This is our home Nik." Caroline turns to look at him, searching for any form honesty or sincerity in him. But finding a needle in a haystack would probably be an easier job.
"This is your home Caroline. My home was anywhere you were." Klaus says blowing Caroline right off her feet. She stands there, mouth gaped open and her dying heart beating wildly out of her chest and standing in complete awe by his statement. She mentally smacks herself trying to remind herself that she despises him, but at this moment, she didn't… "You are my home." Klaus' voice drops to a soft whisper as he caresses her cheeks gently and she inhales deeply.
"Then help me save mine." She pleads with her baby blue eyes boring into him. He releases a defeated sigh and stares vacantly at the lake.
"Fine." He says
Overwhelm by her emotions, she jumps up and pulls Klaus into a warm embrace. He stands in shock for a few moments before wrapping his arms around her body, taking in the smell of winter and roses dancing around his nose. She doesn't understand exactly what she is doing but she cannot let go of him, she wants to…she has to but she can't. So she is standing stroking his blonde curls taking in the smell of the woods and mint.
There moment is interrupted by the sudden shaking of the ground. They break apart but his hand never leaves her side. They look around but the grounds shake vigorously sending them to fall to the ground. In a quick flash, a black shadow flies across the sky dragging along darkness to cover the skies. Suddenly, everything goes pitch black.
"What happened?" Klaus asks
"I think Pain's coming out. Come on we have to get to the cave." Caroline gets up but Klaus grabs her arm to stop her.
"Do you not remember what happened with Terror? What would you think would happen when there are two of them?" Klaus tells her
"But we can't just stand here Nik."
"And what exactly do you expect we can do? Be thrown around in hope they would be merciful to us and give up?"
"I am not foolish Nik. But I am stubborn and I will go up there and fight with all my power."
"Then you are foolish." Klaus says
"And you have a promise." Caroline adds
"You're acting like a child."
"So I may be? What happened to 'I'm Klaus the great hybrid'? Despite his agonizing arrogance and douche bag attitude, he had courage. You, you are a coward right now." Caroline says and Klaus pushes her back into the tree so hard that it snaps.
"I am not a coward."
"Prove it." She sneers
When the dynamic couple arrives, they are beaten by the Salvatore brothers, Bonnie, Ester and a familiar figure. They are all standing in front of the cave where a bright light is emitting out of. Caroline look at the dark skinned old woman and her mind starts to fill with questions.
"What's Gloria doing here?" Caroline asks
"Nice to see you too sweetie." Gloria says and Caroline sheepishly smiles at her
"What are you doing here?" Caroline asks
"Stefan called me. This boy has a plan." Gloria replies
"Does he now?" Caroline asks staring at Stefan skeptically
"Care to explain to us your brilliant plan?" Klaus says
"Two words, blood magic." Stefan says putting up two fingers and Caroline's expression is exactly what he imagined, appalled.
"Did you hit your head on something?" Caroline asks incredulously
"Care, it's the only way. If we use blood magic then maybe we can have the upper hand. Even for a bit, when witches use blood magic they get stronger." Stefan explains
"We aren't strong enough." Caroline states
"That is why Gloria and Ester are going to transfer all their family's powers into you and Bonnie." Stefan says
"Why?" Caroline and Bonnie ask incredulously
"We are old and weak. You two are young and fresh. You two have much more potential than us two." Ester explains
"Okay, one, I'm surprised you agreed," Caroline points to Ester who just shrugs casually, "and two, I'm dead! I'm older than Bonnie and Gloria's age put together. I'm no longer a witch." Caroline states
"Yes but you still have that amulet. We'll fuse our powers to the spirits of your ancestors in that amulet." Gloria says
"Then you'll be stronger and we'll have a better chance." Ester adds
"But Bonnie do you even know how to do blood magic?" Caroline asks
"Gloria taught me the basics." Bonnie replies
"That's all she needs." Gloria states
"Fine." Caroline says hesitantly
AN: Voila :) hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Thank you all for reading and reviewing and alerting and even favoriting. I absolutely appreciate it greatly :)
take care x
