A/N: I'm updating sooner and sooner. Yay! Hope I can keep this up. Anyway, I hope you guys like this chapter, in which we find out a little more about Hayden's past. And of course, he's going to be moody for a while.
For an unfeeling guy, he sure gets angry quite a bit. Heh. All this Amara (Sometimes, Katherine)/Hayden storytelling is kinda making me want to write a spin-off all about our dark knight. Originally, I intended him to be one of those characters you create to kill off. But, he's one of those characters that completely takes over his writer and evolves from one-dimensional to three-dimensional and multi-layered. Damn.
Would you guys read it if I did? Do you think I should?
Anywho, you guys rock. Stay awesome. And I'm already writing the next chapter. Lindsey Stirling is my muse for this one.
PS. If you haven't heard of her, check her out. Her music is amazing.
I miss those blue eyes. How you kiss me at night.
I miss the way we sleep. Like there's no sunrise.
Like the taste of your smile. I miss the way we breathe.
But I never told you what I should have said.
But I never told you. I just held it in.
And now, I miss everything about you.
I can't believe that I still want you.
After all the things we've been through.
I miss everything about you – without you.
I Never Told You – Colbie Caillat
What she had done was wrong. Amara knew that. But still, she did it. A bottle of alcohol, stopped with a flaming strip of cloth sailed through the darkness, colliding with the house with a tinkling sound before flame erupted with a fwoomf! The house alit and burned. And Amara stood before the harlot's burning house.
Never had she felt such a rage – such jealousy. But she saw how her Sophocles behaved towards the snowy-haired girl. The girl who had one of her doppelgängers' ex-lovers all in knots. All the other women – women Sophocles had been with – didn't bother Amara this way.
She knew – knew that they were nothing more than dalliances and sustenance. But, this one – this one had struck a discordant note with Amara. Perhaps it was that all the women he had chosen had dark hair and eyes. And this one had blonde hair and blue eyes. But she didn't think so. It wasn't that.
It was the fact that her Sophocles might actually care about her. And Amara had resolved how to remedy that. Caroline Forbes had to die. It was that simple.
1678, London
The convent was nothing more than banquet to Hayden. He stood in the center of the chapel, picking the Mother Superior's flesh from his teeth in distaste.
One nun remained, whimpering and crawling away from him. His new white shirt was splattered with blood. To say nothing of the blood and dirt on his trousers. He had taken the abbey with surprising ease. Tearing his way through the vestals, sating the darkness in his heart with every vile, defiling act of which he could think.
But still, he felt empty inside. His sinister hunger insatiate, as always. The holy sisters seemed not to have offered him any victuals. He turned to the nun and spoke with relish, "Where is your God now?" She sat, huddled in the corner where he left her, praying over and over again in Latin. Grating on his nerves.
He strode to her and yanked her to her feet as she sobbed, "Father, I pray that you have mercy on my soul and the soul of my tormentor. He knows not what he does." "I know it very well," Hayden snapped. And I have no soul, he thought, bristling.
"I pray, Father," the nun continued, "that in You, I will find the strength to remain pure. Even if my body is sullied by his actions, made impure by force, I pray my soul remains ever pure in Your eyes." She sobbed, "Amen."
Hayden tore her wimple away and her scapular followed, revealing features that would have been pretty, if it hadn't been for her vows against vanity. Hayden thought, a mixture of amusement and annoyance prickling his thoughts. He yanked her head back by her long, pale hair –
"Please!" Caroline had thrown her hands up, partially to protect her ears but mostly to make him stop. Hayden paused, mid-stride – mid-thought – and turned to her. "What?" He asked, genuinely confused. "I don't need to hear this," Caroline said, her voice trembling.
With disgust? Hayden thought, fascinated, speculating. "You wanted to know more about me," Hayden reminded her. "Yes, and I also wondered why the sky is blue," Caroline quipped, shifting on his desk uneasily, "I don't see you following through on that!" "Well –" He began, a condescending smirk on his features.
"Oh, shut up!" Caroline tried to sound severe, but erupted with giggles anyway. He chuckled, sending a wave of heat over Caroline's cheeks. She'd been careful about being around him. Attempting to distance herself so as not to lead him on. But, still, when he had asked her to meet him, so he could explain his story, she'd gone to his house.
Curiosity had eaten at her for days. What was it like for him? She'd thought. Wondering where he'd been, what he'd seen, what he'd done. He'd answered her every question. She'd just burst with questions when he'd answered the door, had he met William Shakespeare?
He chuckled an affirmative and stepped aside. Caroline covered her face with embarrassment, her cheeks on fire. She couldn't believe that she'd asked that. But, she continued. She'd asked him about every historical figure from her textbooks, eager to know what each had been like.
Hayden just smirked at her as he answered, pride radiating from him, but also something else. Something she couldn't place. "So, what happened next? Did you kill her?" Caroline asked, uncertainty making her voice small. "No," Hayden said with finality. "I let her go."
"Really?" Caroline asked, hopefulness bubbling inside her as she straightened. "No." Hayden snorted, "I killed her. What do you think I did?" "Oh, bite me!" Caroline scowled at him. Hayden chuckled.
1679, Rome
The whip lashed into the air, snapping before it stuck flesh, tearing it away with every stroke. Hayden roared, a mixture of amusement and pleasure. He laughed each time he was whipped, scarlet smearing his teeth. "E 'questa la cosa peggiore che si può fare, Padre?" He asked, the words lilting in Italian as he spoke.
The priest scowled at him, snapping in English, "I will do more to you than this, Demon." His words held that same musical quality as do all accented voices. "You kill for entertainment no more! I will avenge the women you slaughtered so recklessly in the convent."
Hayden's lips curled, blood trickling from one corner as he kicked from the floor, his hands chained together as he climbed the links. The priest gasped in horror. The vampire had been listening to the roof of the old farmhouse creak and moan and knew this was the thing to do.
He climbed and rose, reaching the point where the chain had been bolted to the wood and let go. He fell, smirking as he did so. The bindings snapped straight and broke with the snick of metal snapping and he hit the ground with a grunt. Hayden jackknifed to his feet and stood before the holy man, his demonic visage surfacing.
"And what was it that you said, Father? That you would punish me in the name of your God?" He chuckled, towering over the little man, "And how were you to do that then?"
"Okay!" Caroline stood abruptly, cutting him off. "I think I heard enough." She shuddered. Hayden watched her curiously, uncertain as to what is was that he'd done wrong. "What?" He asked for the second time that day, growing increasingly annoyed.
"Nothing," Caroline said, shaken. "I just realized that the fund raiser is in a few hours and I haven't bought a dress yet." She was sullen. It was – of course – Hayden's idea to throw a fund raiser, in the form of a ball. All the proceeds were meant to go to the rebuilding of the Forbes' residence. Another of Hayden's ideas. Of course.
Caroline and her mother had both taken up residence in the Boardinghouse. And to her unease, her mother had noticed how a surprising amount of Caroline's belongings were furnishing her room. And to add to that preexisting unease, her slipup had not gone unnoticed with Damon.
And now he knew Hayden's true identity, causing a strain between her, Hayden and Damon. It seemed to be a love triangle. But without the love. Every time Hayden stood in the same room as her and Damon, the tension crackled in the air with such intensity that Caroline was surprised that her hair hadn't frizzed.
Damon had forbade her to interact with Hayden in any way. Which only made defying Damon so much more satisfying. "What do you think you are? My father?" Caroline had yelled at him. "Well, I certainly hope not. Because if I were, then I'd hate to think what that made you!" He shouted back.
Aghast, disgusted and thoroughly pissed off, Caroline whirled to face him, bringing her fist about in a right hook that cracked Damon's jaw. He grunted before gripping his wounded face, gazing at her, eyes blazing. "Fuck you!" Caroline screamed, storming out.
Needless to say, her relationship with Damon had been on the rocks since she'd been spending time around Hayden. She picked up her bag and stepped from the study, strolling to the main doors. "Why don't you allow me to help you?" Hayden offered, walking alongside her.
"Because, I prefer to do things my way." Caroline said, stopping at the doors. "I'd rather not be in your – or anyone else's – debt." "Well, you wouldn't be in my debt," Hayden said, tilting his head, "Consider it a favor. And I don't do many of those."
Caroline shook her head, "Keep your favor. I might just need it one day." Her lips twitched into a faint smile as she turned and slipped from the house and strolled down the road. The warm Summer weather seemed to be fading into the cool weather of Fall as a breeze gamboled down the hill and drifted over Caroline.
The days seem to be going by fast, she thought, biting her lip on a frown. She thought of Damon and her recent fight with him. The crunch of her knuckles colliding with his jaw. The look of hurt on his face. The guilt that squirmed in her stomach. Why, oh, why had he worked her up so?
She hated the way he elicited such responses from her. She knew he was worried for her safety, but she also knew he was jealous. Jealous of Hayden. But, the thought that he feared she could love another was ridiculous. And she told him, time and time again. But, he insisted that he wasn't jealous.
Then turned around and behaved in such a way. And frustrated Caroline to no end. She tried and tried again to assure him that she was safe. But he still insisted. And he was keeping secrets. Talking with Alaric and Stefan quietly and changing the subject when she questioned him. She hated it.
Without meaning to, Hayden had somehow come between them. She wanted to be friends with him. Needed to. He promised to help her. To protect her. To teach her how to protect herself. She understood where Damon was coming from. Once upon a time, she had been in his shoes.
But, she knew things wouldn't be like they were. She and Damon knew were they stood. At least she thought they did. Caroline stopped in front of a sparkling dress store. She'd turned down every offer of help. But only because when it came to dress shopping, it was something others couldn't do for her.
Especially when she wanted something specific and finding the dress wasn't something someone else could help with. It was a magnetic pull. Something in her always said, that one when she found it. It was an "Aha!" moment that no one could have for her.
It was the swell of emotion in her chest that made her feel as though a historic moment was happening just for her. And in that little dress shop, she couldn't find it. Finally, she huffed. "Guess I'm going back to Hayden's house after all." She turned and began walking.
"I need a dress," She said the moment Hayden opened the front door. His brow hiked as she brushed past him and spoke the words she'd practiced on the stroll over. "Don't get all smug just because I'm turning to you for help. To be honest, I'd feel terrible asking Damon for help. Like I'm taking advantage of him."
Hayden watched her before sweeping his arm towards the hallway, saying in mock politeness, "Well, please. Do enter my home." He pushed the door shut, saying in curt tones, "I wasn't about to "get all smug" because you asked for my help." Caroline was surprised. He almost seemed…hurt.
"And as for taking advantage, you seem to have no problem doing the same to me." Caroline sighed, following him into the parlor. "I thought you wanted to help me." "I do." His back was to her and she watched as he pulled a phone from his pocket and dialed before pressing it to his ear, "You are needed. Yes. Yes. Alright, I'll expect you in no less than five minutes." He spoke tersely before ending the call.
In exactly five minutes, a small birdlike woman entered the parlor, followed by a cadre of men and women. She was dressed lavishly in a black gown; stole and jewels glittered at her hands, her throat and ears. There were even jewels in her hair. The men and women carried a black lacquered trunk with gold symbols embossed into it.
Caroline stared at the symbols curiously, but soon had to avert her eyes as they spun and moved, making her dizzy. Hayden faced the woman before saying, "There is a ball in two hours. I'll need her to devastate me with her beauty in no more or less than that." He nodded to Caroline as he spoke before striding from the room.
The woman walked to Caroline and eyed her. "Turn," The woman's voice was high and childish and startled Caroline. But she obeyed. The woman hummed, "Hmmm." And tsked. Caroline opened her mouth to speak but the woman waved a dismissive hand.
"No." She said, "Don't speak. He needs you ready in two hours. And it seems I have enough work cut out for me without you distracting me." Her words stung Caroline and she gestured to two of the women, "Take her upstairs, bathe her and wax her."
"Wax?!" Caroline shrieked, horrified as the women dragged her upstairs to a large bathroom. They deftly stripped her against her protests and forced her into an unbearably hot bath. They scrubbed her and as instructed, waxed her. Everywhere. Caroline had never felt violated and humiliated at the same time until that very moment.
They'd just finished before the woman entered. She inspected Caroline carefully before barking instructions to the women, who wrapped her in a robe, much to Caroline's relief. Soon, the woman – who Caroline soon learned her name was Rachel – had curled and pinned Caroline's hair up with exquisite jewel pins.
Two platinum curls framed Caroline's face. Rachel brushed silver eye-shadow over Caroline's eyelids after lining them with matte black liner and dusted her cheeks a faint pink. Giving the appearance of a blush. And she painted Caroline's lips a bright vibrant red before dressing her.
The gown was breathtaking. Caroline felt like Cinderella. The dress was silver and blue tulle. It had a sweetheart neckline, which underneath it was wreathed by jewels – that Caroline was certain were diamonds – curling in an intricate and elaborate design. Tulle straps rested on her shoulders.
To top it all off, her arms and hands were ensconced with white satin elbow-length gloves. She gasped when she saw her reflection. "Devastatingly beautiful," A voice came from the doorway. Rachel preened herself, blushing before she realized the praise was aimed at Caroline, who spun, seeing Hayden standing in the doorway.
He was absolutely gorgeous, dressed in a tux. His tie was undone and he was clasping his cuff-links as he entered the room. Rachel tossed Caroline a nasty look that confused her as she gathered her helpers and things.
Hayden stepped close to Caroline and reached around her, opening a drawer and the rustle of fabric reached Caroline's ears. But she was far too dazed. The scent of Hayden's cologne wafted over her. It was almost as if someone had bottled his essence. Everything that comprised him. But, she could say the same about her dress. It was undeniably her.
Hayden lifted a stole and Caroline gasped for the second time that day. It seemed to be made of starlight. There were no other words to describe it. It glimmered with a soft white light and looked liquid all the same.
She brushed her fingertips over it. It was slick as satin and softer than velvet. "It's beautiful!" She breathed. Hayden's lips twitched into something of a smile, "It was intended a gift to someone. But, as with most things, it wasn't meant to be." "She obviously wasn't the one." Caroline remarked softly.
"I suppose she wasn't," Hayden replied as he draped the wrap over her shoulders. "If I am being honest, you are far more beautiful than she. In body and soul." The blush that swept across Caroline's cheeks wasn't makeup this time. She lowered her oceanic optics and nodded, "Shall we go?" Her voice quivered.
"Let's," Hayden said, sweeping his hand to the door. Caroline strode out and paused, seeing a long black limousine parked in the driveway. The driver opened the door and she turned back to see Hayden behind her, who nodded to her. She climbed inside, followed by the elder vampire and the door closed.
Soon the driver had slid behind the wheel and the limo began to trundle down the road. Caroline gazed out the window. The sky had darkened and the stars had made an appearance during the time spent preparing Caroline, who watched the trees fly by as they rode to the Lockwoods' manor.
She pulled the shawl tighter around her, shivering. "Cold?" Hayden asked her, tying the bowtie absently. Caroline watched as his fingers looped, tugged and tightened the fabric. He effortlessly tied a perfect bow knot. "Is there anything you can't do?" She asked him.
"Make someone love me for who I am," Hayden's response was immediate. She sat back, chastened. "I see," She said softly. Hayden rolled his eyes, "Do not feel sorry for me. I do not need pity." He smoothed his jacket, a scowl twisting his mouth.
"Who was she?" Caroline asked, knowing he'd know what she meant. "No one of import," He muttered. "Obviously she must have been. You wear her ring on a chain." Caroline pressed. Hayden's eyes flicked to her as he said, "You ask a lot of questions." "You promised answers!" Caroline shot back.
Hayden's jaw twitched as he gazed out the window before he returned his gaze to her. "Her name was Amara. And she was…" He trailed off, "There are no words on this earth that could describe her." "You loved her," Caroline whispered almost reverently.
In her mind's eye, she tried to picture the woman who had captured Hayden's attention and his heart. But fell short. "I thought I did," Hayden said, bitterness staining his words. "But, I was stupid then." He pulled the chain from his pocket, fingering the little circlet.
"What did she look like?" Caroline asked, watching him. "She was beautiful. Everyone had paled in comparison. She had this… this olive skin that always looked kissed from the sun. When she'd look at me, roses would blossom in her cheeks, and she would smile as though there were a secret kept between us." He gazed at the floor, lost in thought, "Her hair was the color of burned mahogany. Her eyes were ambers. And she was perfection."
Caroline put together the puzzle pieces and horror splashed over her in an icy wave. Elena. He was describing Elena. "I see," Caroline's voice was fragile as she gazed at him. But, the knowing look in Hayden's eyes told her that her realization didn't go unnoticed. "Your friend, Elena, wasn't the first of the Petrova line. There were others. And it all began with her. Amara." "So, Katherine's the second Petrova, then?" Caroline asked, rolling the 'r' the way Hayden did.
He chuckled, his hand clamping around the ring. "No. There were others. She and Katerina are the latest in the Petrova line." Caroline listened to him as he spoke. "Do you still love her?" She asked, mystified. "No." Hayden said it with finality, "I tried to. But…" "But?" Caroline leaned forward, watching him.
"She died." He said, the words clipped and chilling. She shivered as she leaned back, feeling the limo slow to a stop. "We're here." He said gruffly, stepping from the limousine, vanishing into the crush of people without stopping to help her or look back.
Caroline stepped from the limo, seeing a crowd of people dressed extravagantly in sparkling dresses and pressed tuxedos. Thousands of white lights were strung all around, silk and lace intertwined the balustrade that rose into the house. Caroline took a deep breath and stepped into the manor.
Everything glimmered and sparkled. Caroline had never seen a more elaborately decorated building. Her proms were never this gaudy. She was intimidated and slightly horrified. Mrs. Lockwood had outdone herself. And then some. Caroline snatched a glass of champagne from a tray as a dapper waiter passed her.
Pastels were splashed here and there, making Caroline dizzy. She traversed the floor, searching for her friends. She soon found them. Elena was dressed in a black and gold gown that glimmered with jewels and accents. It was lovely. Her hair hung loose, curled and tossed over her shoulder, black gloves covered her hands and arms.
Bonnie was dressed in a green gown. A black satin bow hugged her waist, underneath the jewel-encrusted sweetheart neckline. The skirts were green satin and tulle and belled out at her waist. It was simple, elegant and very Bonnie Bennett. Her hair was pinned up and tumbling down her neck in curls and waves.
Like Elena, she'd opted for light makeup. Bonnie and Elena both were lovely. She was talking to Elena intently as Caroline approached them. "Hey," Caroline said as way of greeting. Soon, the girls were squealing and praising each other's appearances. "Have you seen Damon?" Elena asked her friend.
Caroline's cheeks reddened as she said as casually as she could manage, "Oh, he's here?" "Not only that," Bonnie said, "But he's been asking us if you made it every five minutes." Caroline's heart thundered. She so did not need a confrontation tonight.
And it did not help that every argument ended with her or Damon storming out. "Oh. Well." She said, her voice wavering, "I suppose I'll go find him." She nodded and turned, hurrying for the doors. I need to – need to – "Caroline," Damon's voice seemed to come from behind her.
And her stomach fluttered and her heart pounded. Caroline cursed the way her body reacted to him. She couldn't shake the way her knees felt like jelly. One word – one word from him and I'm putty. Damn him.She thought angrily, turning to face him. And… the world just fell away.
"Damon," She said, her voice shaking. He was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. And she hated it. The way her anger, guilt and every negative feeling just vanished. "Can we talk?" He asked almost shyly. "Sure," Caroline's voice was high and tinny, "Sure." She nodded, following him up the stairs.
Damon turned to her once they were alone, "I don't even know where to begin," He said, chuckling slightly. "Well, the beginning's a nice place to start." Caroline stated, attempting to look anywhere but at him. "Well, maybe it'd be easier if you'd look at me," Damon said, sounding hurt.
Caroline raised her eyes to his, breathing out a trembling sigh. "Okay, now what?" She whispered. "I just – I can't take it," Damon said, his hands brushing through his hair as he paced the room, "All this – I can't do it. Not anymore." "Oh," Caroline's lips trembled, "I see. Well, I guess I'll leave, then. I'll just send for my things when I find somewhere el –"
"What the hell are you talking about?" Damon thundered. "You're breaking up with me, aren't you?" Caroline's voice was small. "No. No! Where did you get that idea?" He snapped, looking torn between panic and amusement. "Well, you said you couldn't take it or do it anymore, I thought you meant you're done with me." Caroline looked down.
"That wasn't what I meant, Blondie." Damon said softly. "Then what did you mean?" She played with the skirt of her dress. "I meant, I couldn't take not being with you. And I'm done with this – us avoiding each other. I couldn't bear it. Especially with you looking like this." He tugged at a loose curl of her hair.
Caroline looked up at him, "Why are you looking at me like that?" She was bewildered. "Because you're beautiful." Damon said simply. "Oh, so I'm only beautiful tonight?" Caroline retorted. "No," Damon replied quickly, "You're always beautiful. Especially first thing in the morning, when your hair's a mess and you're wearing my shirt, walking barefoot in the kitchen."
Caroline's cheeks were swept with rouge, taken aback by his response. "You can't do this," She said breathlessly, turning away. "What?" Damon asked. "This! Working me into an argument, being overprotective to the point of insanity, acting jealous and secretive and then coming back to me with your pretty words and beautiful eyes, making me forget everything that happened and making me want to kiss you –!" Caroline gasped for oxygen, her blush deepening after her rant.
"I know," Damon's husky tones sent delicious shivers down her spine. "And I'm sorry. I know that the way I behaved was irrational and bordered on the insane. And I'm sorry. I won't do it again." Wait a minute. Is Damon actually being reasonable?
The spark of anger flared and she whirled to face him, "You –!" She never got to say what he was. The moment she turned to him, his arms snared her in a grasp and his lips collided with hers. "I hate you," She whispered against his lips, returning his kiss feverishly.
"I know you do," Damon sounded amused as he kissed her back. "I mean it," Caroline murmured, her lips moving against his. "I really, really do." He pushed her against the wall, his lips moving along her throat, sending thrills down her spine. Ohhhh, I can't do this. Caroline thought, panicked. Not here.
She was dizzy. Intoxicated by Damon's sinful kisses. Oh, but you can, the little voice said snidely. You are, actually. Damon's lips found hers again and her hands pressed against his chest, her lips meeting his repeatedly. "Damon," She gasped, "We can't. Not here." She spoke between fiery kisses.
Damon retracted from her, his brow hiking, "Why not?" His voice was filled with promises of the wicked kind. "Because, we're here. And a party is kind of going on." Caroline struggled to find an excuse that held reason. Damon's eyes darkened as he said brusquely, "Right."
"No, Damon." Caroline sighed. "That wasn't what I meant." "Then what did you mean?" Damon sounded impatient. "Just that… we aren't – and we're here – and you aren't –" "I am," Damon said, avoiding her gaze. Caroline felt as though the ground dropped out beneath her.
"You are?" She asked, her jaw trembling. "Of course," He turned to her. "Why do you think I even came to this ridiculous party? For the refreshments?" "I didn't think you still –" "I still," Damon said, raising his oceanic optics to hers. "I very still." "Me too," Caroline whispered. "So, we're on the same page," Damon sauntered closer.
"I suppose so," Caroline gazed up at him. Damon's wicked smile returned, making Caroline's heart flutter. "Damon, we're at a party." She placed her hands on his chest. "I know," Damon's voice was rough again. "Not that kind of party," Caroline's resolve was weakening. If he did that eye thing again… And he did.
Oh, no, no, no. Her thought was aimed at her body. Not going there. You hold your ground and do not come undone. He's not affecting me. Not in the slight – Her mind seemed to shut down when his lips crashed against hers. Caroline shivered as his lips moved against hers in an utterly sinful way.
Oh, that should be illegal, She thought as her body was overtaken by a shudder that rippled down her spine. When Damon's hands found the fastenings of her dress she pushed him back. "Wait. No, this isn't –" She didn't get to say what it wasn't because a shrill scream followed the sound of shattering glass.
Damon stiffened before he flickered from the room, Caroline following right after. They made their way downstairs seeing Elena standing over a blood-splattered body. No features were visible. "Oh, my god," Elena sounded stunned, "I just – he was – what is happening?"
Caroline took her friend's hand, leading her away as Damon knelt by the body. "Is your lipstick smudged?" Elena asked, dazed and horrified. "Um," Caroline began as Hayden approached, his brows knit together. The blonde fumbled with her handbag and touched up her makeup before Hayden reached them.
"What's going on?" He asked. Elena shook her head, "I don't –" The tinkling of breaking glass filled the room, followed by a blaze of white light. Screams echoed off the walls, dry and hot air blew around her, everything flared orange and a hand gripped Caroline's elbow and soon, she was mercifully outside, watching everyone rush to escape the flames of the Lockwood mansion.
"Oh, dear god." Caroline breathed and rushed forward, watching as her mother, her friends, and Damon all burst from the burning building. Hayden was right on her heels. "What's going on?" She shrieked. "Why does this keep happening?" She sunk to the ground before looking over her shoulder for Hayden, who had vanished.
Hayden burst through the trees, trailing the flash of brown hair he'd noticed before the party, during the party and before the fire was lit. "Stop!" He bellowed, flitting before the girl who'd attempted to escape the fire she started. He saw her. Knew it must have been her.
He staggered backwards, "No," Disbelief colored the word. "It can't be." Amara gazed at him, ochre oculars wide. "Hayden?" Caroline's voice shook him to reality. Amara had gripped the skirts of her black and golden gown, scurrying away, vanishing before he could stop her.
A streak of blue invaded his vision and the young blonde dropped to her knees before him. "What happened?" After everything that had happened that day, she was still worried for his wellbeing. Hayden wanted to laugh, instead what escaped his lips was a hoarse choke.
"Amara," He babbled, stunned, "Amara – Amara was h – here. She – how is it even possible?" Caroline blinked, "She's still alive?" "I saw it. I saw her home, destroyed and her blood everywhere. There was absolutely no way she could have survived. And yet, somehow, she did." He was in shock.
Caroline cupped his cheeks, "Hey," She said firmly, "Stay with me. Where is she now?" Hayden scowled, bolting to his feet so quickly Caroline was startled. "Burning in hell, I hope." He snapped, storming away. Well, that went well. Caroline thought bitterly. She sighed softly, gathering her skirts and walked away, breathing in the cool air of Autumn.
I can hold my breath. I can bite my tongue.
I can stay awake for days, if that's what you want.
Be your number one. I can fake a smile.
I can force a laugh. I can dance and play the part.
If that's what you ask. Give you all I am.
I can do it. I can do it. I can do it.
But I'm only human. And I bleed when I fall down.
I'm only human. And I crash and I break down.
Your words in my head. Knives in my heart.
You build me up and I fall apart. 'Cause I'm only human.
Human – Christina Perri
