Chapter 10

"Caroline, you and I both know that there is only one way to solve this. All it takes is True love's first kiss. I need you to believe that it works that I am your true love and the spell will be broken" she heard his words but it didn't sink in. He was right, it was proven that the kiss worked, her dad was living evidence. He looked at her almost begging for her to believe.

If she didn't, they couldn't guarantee that it would work and she would be stuck as a Vampire forever. There was nothing worse than being forced to believe in something you don't

"But you know I can't. I can't bring myself to believe in fairytales Klaus. I just –"

"Please Caroline, just try – for me" she searched his face, his strong nose, his pink lips, his hazel eyes. She wanted so much to believe, she had to for her own sake. C'mon Caroline you can do this the voice in her head cheered her on but was it enough? The doubt in her mind was powerful but was her belief powerful enough to overcome it.

She closed her eyes, repeating I believe over and over in her head. She felt like she was in an episode of Peter Pan when they had to bring back Tinker bell from the dead by saying 'I do believe in fairies I do, I do" even now the thought of that seemed so unrealistic.

Why did she fear the fantasy, it was like her mind didn't want her to ever be happy, it was like she was cursed to live life forever as a Vampire. It was either that or it was just what her mind was making her believe.

She was in a constant battle between her heart and her mind. At this rate she had a feeling which one would win, which one always won. But she had to push all that doubt out of her mind, she had to do this. He had to be the one.

"Are you ready, love?" his voice echoed in her mind as she nodded hesitantly. She could do this, couldn't she?

"Relax, think about being a Human and how happy you are. Make the wish then believe that you have already received it. That you are a human" Her eyes were still closed as she imagined herself as a human, blood pumping through her veins, a beating heart and colour in her cheeks. She imagined her and Klaus sitting together snuggled under a blanket watching a midnight film as they ate popcorn. She thought about the taste of the popcorn, the way it felt in her mouth. I am a human she kept chanting this in her head.

It was a shock as his lips were on hers. They were soft as they fit into hers like a jigsaw, they moved in unison. She could taste that sweet rust but it was ten times stronger now. Just as his breath lingered on her lips, he moved away. She waited for that sign, the pain that came with transitioning. She didn't know what to expect, she never did ask her dad what it was like. She regretted that now.

Were there blackouts, was she supposed to faint? Maybe it had already happened and it was her mind that was left. She remembered something her father said to her when she was thirteen

[Flashback]

"I hate being a Vampire!" shouted Caroline as she tried to wriggle out of her father's grip. Her skinny frame trapped between his hands. She wished he let her go, let her run to her room and slam the door – after all that was what she wanted, she wanted to be miserable, she wanted the world to pity her as much as she pitied herself – but he father was strong, he didn't believe in self pity.

She stopped struggling, wiping a stray tear from her cheek. Life wasn't fair "I just want to be normal, daddy" she sighed like she had given up, all the fight was gone and she was stripped back to that little girl with no hope. He sat on the floor, pulling her in to him and letting her sit on his lap as he stroked her hair

"Darling, don't worry one day you will be normal, you will find your true love and the curse will be broken. Don't lose faith, my Caroline, it will happen. Your destiny is already written in the stars, you're fated to find him" she sunk back into his chest; she prayed that he was right.

There was nothing worse than living your childhood practically by yourself. She was home schooled, for obvious reasons and the only friends were her parents. Her mum always told her the best friend was herself and she was definitely starting to believe that

"But what if it doesn't work, what if my true love's kiss doesn't go to plan and I don't change" he continued stroking her hair now

"There's something you have to remember darling, you need to accept who you are and that will help you make the change"

She smiled, she had accepted who she was; she was a human. She was convinced it worked, she did all it took. Maybe this was all it took, she has to accept her being a human and that would change her. She was ready to leave her Vampire past behind and embrace her human side. She opened her eyes to see Klaus glaring at her

"It worked didn't it! Do I look different, I -"

"- Caroline" he raised his head to her neck to feel for a pulse "I'm sorry" His eyes dropped as he shook his head "You're still dead"

"But I did everything you told me to do, I believe I was a human. This can't be right, I did it. I promise I did"

"It wasn't enough, love" if she had a heart, she knew it would have sunk. Just when she had a glimpse of hope that maybe this fable was true, it was taken out of her; every last drop of hope was gone. She had officially given up. She was so convinced the magic and fairytales didn't work that even her body and mind were against it to.

He saw the way she looked. How deflated she now was. Even though the kiss didn't work, he enjoyed every second of it but he knew that they wouldn't be kissing anytime soon. She was miserable and she hated herself for not being able to believe in what seemed like such a petty thing

"It's alright, love. Don't worry yourself over it, I still love you regardless. Look the sun's set maybe we should take a stroll, get your mind off things" she smiled as she took his hand and they left the house feeling a little better than they started.

[Outside the House]

Two eyes stared from across the street, watching Klaus and Caroline walk down away from the house in the darkness. He noted how they linked hands. It confused him as he could tell she was a Vampire and he could smell that he was a human. It wasn't normal, not as far as he knew. The world had changed since the last time he visited.

Even people of different species were able to have a relationship. He rolled his eyes as he cocked his head side to side and waited for the right moment before sneaking into the house.

The door was conveniently left open – even if it was locked, he would have found another way in – his silent footsteps walked past Klaus's father asleep in front of the TV. The light flickered across his face, making the shadows dance as the TV blinked. He could smell beer, the man had been drinking, fool he thought before he continued walking through the corridor.

He had been watching the house for a few days now, unsure what the right time to enter would be. He had never been inside before, and frankly he didn't know why, it was a perfectly nice house and he could see himself getting quite at home there. The best of it was, they wouldn't even know he was there until, he wanting them to.

He loved the way he could hear everything from the moment Kol was shot to the moment they tried to break the curse. With all this new found knowledge he became even more motivated to strike. He was on a mission and the game just got good. Revenge was always sweet but when it's someone else's revenge it became even sweeter.

He made his way down to Kol's lair looking at the poor boy still stood there frozen. He stroked his face, he was proud of him, the things he achieved. If only he wasn't so set on killing Vampires, he may have taken him under his wing. He shook his head stupid Klaus never did move him he smiled, it all worked out in his favour and he didn't have to persuade anyone to help capture Kol for him.

He made his fingers into a claw and went straight for Kol's heart; pushing his hand gently into the flesh and retrieving the Silver bullet. His lips curled into a smile as Kol's eye began to blink and his body began to loosen

"It's good to see you again, my friend" Kol's eyes widened as he recognised the face, the face that he had been searching years for. The Vampire he hated so much, the one that turned him. The name echoed in his head like venom, he almost spat the words out as he spoke his name

"Tyler"

Yes...I made Tyler into a Vampire, you got a problem? ;) jokes, In all honesty I couldn't think of another name for my newest BAD GUY! and the kiss...yeah I'm sorry :( Before you all lose hope, the real kiss will be coming up but first we have a few bits and bobs in between. What did you think though? Tell me honestly, cus the next chapter is well...let's say it's a bit of Forwood ;)

© Ms Zola, Sept 2012