Omg! You guys are the best!
This chapter is going to be so angsty it terrifies me too :P I promise things will get okay at some point (though I wont promise that they'll stay okay). Also in the next chapter we're going to finally have a reunion of few other familiar faces ;)
Stefan had been preparing himself for the final crack which would make Caroline remember everything. He knew she would be relieved, upset and even furious. She would probably be mad to him too – because of not telling everything. He didn't really know what had happened since she had left with Klaus so there was a big chance that he would get surprised by her reaction.
He had not prepared himself for sadness.
It wasn't hard to guess that she remembered. Not after she stood there in the corridor – her hair all messy because of the running and she was shaking so badly that she couldn't stay still. Her tears were streaming down her cheeks and it looked like Bambie's mom had died all over again.
It was a clear case. At least Stefan thought so.
He tried to hug her, but she just dodged him with a sob.
"You knew – You knew all this time... And you didn't tell me." Her voice was full of hurt, and Stefan startled.
"I should have – I'm sorry", he was hoping in his mind that the anger he had been waiting for would come now – it would at least beat the crying.
"We're friends – Why didn't you?"
"Rebekah made me promise not to", he pressed his lips together feeling a tiny bit of regret for listening to the blonde Original. Caroline snuffled once while weeping, and her empty gaze fell to the ground.
"I guess it wouldn't have changed anything", she mumbled more to herself than to Stefan. He came closer again and this time Caroline let him pull her into his arms. She sobbed for a few more minutes – she was now after all the good old Caroline. Drama queen, mean girl and as shallow as a kiddie pool.
But yet again she realized she still didn't remember everything. She could remember everyone but somethings were still missing. Like the time she had spent in New Orleans or Bonnie... she remembered that her best friend was dead but she had no clue how she died.
"Why didn't you come look for me? Didn't you wonder what had happened?" she asked quietly now when she was pretty much together again. Stefan frowned:
"He told us you were dead. We kept you a memorial – he told us some hunter had come after him and you faced him alone", he said it all like Caroline should have known it already, "I thought it was just part of his mourning progress when he said he didn't want me here... It made sense. He loved you."
Caroline didn't know what to say. She felt surprisingly numb. There was a flash of anger inside of her – he had made all her friends think that she was dead, but somehow it went away as quickly as it had come.
The man wasn't just he anymore. He was Klaus. And dear god it killed Caroline inside.
"Why would he do this to me?" her eyes got moisten again and she pursed her lips. Stefan put his hands on her shoulders forcing her to look him in the eyes:
"Listen – He would never let anyone or anything hurt you. We are gonna deal with the situation and you can figure it all out with him later. Just remember that he loves you -"
"That's the problem", she was falling to pieces again, and Stefan hugged her tightly again as she cried out: "He loves me but he's not here."
Again the younger of the Salvatore brothers patted her on her back. "Where is he?" She was sobbing again. Now the emotions were controlling her – she was sad, shaken and hurt, but most of all: scared.
She didn't remember what had been so big that he had forced her away from him. She had no idea if he was okay – well, of course she knew that he was alive from the fact that he had been so close to her only few moments ago, but okay like...mentally. He had been afraid that he had now gotten her in danger and it made another flash of anger bubble in her – didn't he think at all how she felt now? Did he think that she was perfectly okay with not knowing what the danger she might be in was?
"You said you have some new information", Caroline pointed out suddenly. Stefan observed her for a moment – and she seemed well enough to listen again.
"Yes but I think we should wait for Rebekah -"
"I'm here", the blonde Original stepped in from the door. She had a taunt but alert expression while she looked to Caroline. They stared at each other for a moment.
"Then what are we waiting for? Tell me everything", Caroline demanded, and Rebekah let out a sigh.
"Come at least to the living-room. I have a very old and boring story to tell so I need whiskey."
Caroline sat on the couch tensely as Rebekah took her time with pouring herself a glass and sitting down to the leathery armchair.
"At somewhere between 1400 and 1500 – I can't really remember – me and Nik had a tiny separation, not for long and only because the time sucked ass – seriously – it was weird if men even knew the word equality", Rebekah said with a bitter tone and Caroline had a feeling she was talking about someone precisely. "Nik went to North for a couple of years – there was this one village which had a secret witch community. They were leaded by a woman called Renáta."
Stefan's surprised look made Caroline frown. How was any of this related to their problem?
"Renáta was a powerful witch to say the least – as powerful as the Bennett you had back in Mystic Falls", Rebekah gave a glance to Caroline when she startled because of her words, "I guess she was smart too because she didn't want war when Nik came that way – I heard she even ended the community. The other witches didn't like her choice - they rebelled and attacked. Nik killed them, and when Renáta got angry he knew she had to be taken care of – he exposed the rest of the witches to the villagers and they were burned. Now after all these years she was able to find away back with the help of the other witches – still there's one problem.
She doesn't have a permanent body yet – she's not in her fullest power until she finds it. And she can't be killed before that. I heard many of the locals have tried but as soon as one body falls to the ground dead she has already gotten another one."
"So now she's just killing witches around the town? I don't see the point – Klaus has killed a ton of people! How did this one find her way back?" Caroline squinted her eyes – she was still secretly proud how calmly she had managed to say his name. Stefan and Rebekah shared a look.
"I don't actually get it either – sure she must be angry but why go through all that trouble after all this time?" Stefan asked, and the blonde Original pressed her lips together.
"I don't know everything – but I have it figured out", she gave them a smirk.
"What?"
"I managed to get a meeting – somewhere safe and secret, and you are coming with me", she continued, "The New Orleans's art organization's spring ball."
"Who are we going to meet?"
"My brother – but not the one who kills witches. Elijah."
.
It was nearly sunrise already. Rebekah had gotten excited about the ball – and what they would wear to it. Caroline was still kind of alert about it but she just smiled when Rebekah showed the dress she had ordered for her. It was beautiful – sexy but still elegant and brought up her eyes nicely. It was navy blue, and there was tiny glitters on the fluttering skirt-part which looked like stars.
Still Caroline couldn't get herself worked up about it – she was counting seconds to seeing Elijah. Beautiful, kind and very manageable Elijah. He would have to tell them what was going on. Or Caroline would start crying again – that was her back up plan in case something went wrong. Crying always got her everything she wanted.
"Can I join you – Rebekah left to get your things from your house", Stefan smiled friendly, and Caroline moved a bit to make him more space to the garden bench. They were awkwardly quiet for a while like they had been in the bar where they met the first time – after the Caroline had of course lost her memory.
"So my mom thinks I'm dead", Caroline murmured finally, "How's she doing?"
"It was hard for her – but Elena helped her. She still visits her once in a while. I think she's fine considering..." Stefan's voice muted out when he didn't know how to end the sentence, "You know – she's tough."
"She is. You kept me a memorial – how was it? Was there a lot of people?" Caroline couldn't help but to feel a little bit curious.
"Just close friends – it was easier when there was no hassle. Even Tyler came."
Caroline nodded, she understood: "Poor Elena. She thought she had lost her both best friends."
"It was hard for her too – but she had Damon", Stefan kept his voice neutral, "Actually you just missed their wedding."
"What? No-no-no!" Caroline pouted, "She promised I could be the bridesmaid. Damn I'm gonna kill that Original..."
"I'd prefer that you wouldn't – I don't feel like dying just yet", Stefan calmed her with a laugh, "If it makes you feel any better Damon cried in your memorial."
"I don't believe you", Caroline squinted her eyes.
"He did. You can take it as an apologize of everything he ever did to you", Stefan smirked, and she shook her head in disbelief: "I wont believe before I see some pictures."
"Sure because we did have a photographer there just to commemorate every single moment of that precious event", Stefan rolled his eyes.
"What about Matt?" She suddenly asked realizing it was an extremely important question.
"He couldn't come. He's studying in Florida – he sent a condolence", he said rising an eyebrow.
"No. No he isn't", Caroline frowned, "He's in New York I think. Didn't Klaus mention anything about him?"
"No – I don't think anyone even knew that he was with Rebekah", Stefan answered thoughtfully, "How do you know he's in New York?"
"He came there with the same train as I did. Of course I didn't know then that we knew each other – and like wise he didn't seem to know me, but I'm sure it was him."
"We'll just have to find him after all of this is over."
"Which will hopefully be soon."
As Stefan and Caroline stayed to enjoy the sunrise Rebekah surprised an intruder on their roof.
"Well it took long for you to find us."
"I've known for a while now – just didn't expect you."
"Yeah, according to your plans I should be in Hawaii now – by the palm trees and blue water."
"Believe me sister – That would be a much safer place for you."
"I don't think you have noticed but I'm not made of porcelain. And either is she."
"It would be great if you were made of porcelain – I could just cut off your legs and you could stay there where I want you to be."
"Tse tse Nik – Get angrier and she'll hear you... or do you want to make her even miserable than she already is?"
"There was a clear reason why I made her leave -"
"And now she's back and you have a chance to make it all better. We'll help you, we'll-"
"There nothing you can do. You think I wouldn't have done everything I could so she could stay with me? A problem this big can't be solved with your optimism."
"Fine, don't take our help – but we're not going anywhere."
"I could just compel her to leave."
"And I would just find her again – I'd actually prefer if you left now, I can't stand to be near you right now."
"Ouch. I thought reunions were suppose to be happy."
"You daggered me, Nik, again – when all of this is over, you're about see a whole new level of anger."
Yeah I never took Rebekah as forgiving type. Leave a review and tell me what you think :)
