*As He Came Into The Window
It Was The Sound Of A Crescendo
He Came Into Her Apartment
He Left The Bloodstains On The Carpet
She Ran Underneath The Table
He Could See She Was Unable
So She Ran Into The Bedroom
She Was Struck Down, It Was Her Doom*
The sound of Smooth Criminal woke him and Tyler immediately felt a chill run down his spine. And though Annie's plight was indeed dire, it wasn't the cause of his unease. This hadn't been the first time. For the last 48 hours he had felt as if something was very wrong. But he was not a witch or known for precognition, so he had paid the feeling little attention, masked as it was by emptiness in his life. Because it had also been two days since he had last spoken to Caroline, two days since he heard her voice. Two days since her laugh, her chatter, and her inner warmth had made daylight of his life. And Tyler missed her terribly.
Reaching for the phone he answered, "Morning."
"Is Caroline with you?" it was Stefan Salvatore. At the mention of Caroline's name Tyler sat up but he hadn't answered immediately and the younger brother continued agitated, "Have you seen Caroline?"
"What do you mean have I seen her?" Tyler finally answered as a tight ball of worry joined his already potent agitation.
The line was silent on the other side and Tyler knew in that instant that the anxiety that had been plaguing for the two days now was Caroline. Somehow he had known or felt a change, or his wolf had. For two days it had been like a dark room in his soul, like all the light, the hope had been snuffed out. But he had known and yet he had ignored the way he felt and clung to disappointment. Disappointment that had been born out of their revisited mistakes. For they had made mistakes earlier in the game. They both had. But now all his worries faded into oblivion. Caroline was in trouble.
"Salvatore?" His voice had dropped to a whisper, his fear crippling his vocal cords.
"No one has seen or spoken to her since dinner. Have you?"
"We…we were fighting we haven't talked." He answered but even as he did he rose knowing he needed to get to the Boarding house. So not waiting on the request he said, "I'm on my way."
Tyler was on the road in two minutes flat. His foot pressed on the gas as he broke all speed laws, pushing the limit of his car as he flew across the town to the boarding house.
How the hell could I not have known?
He hadn't recognized the pain, the emptiness but now he did. Where the hell was Caroline? When he arrived at the Salvatore mansion, the others were there. Their faces pinched in worry. They had been proactive without him and for that he was grateful. Bonnie had tried a location spell but even with her own connection to Caroline she had come up empty. The Salvatores had ascertained from the sheriff that Caroline had indeed not been home for two days and her mother thought she had been with them. It was a hazard of having an absentee parent, and the sheriff had been negligent when Caroline was younger, now she was downright complacent. Tyler didn't have the energy to be mad at her now not when Caroline was God-knows-where. Walking over to Bonnie he offered himself to strengthen the connection for the location spell but even that didn't work.
Tyler flopped down then, trying to work up the presence of mind to think of another plan. Usually he was the one who was gung-ho but this time it was Caroline and even the thought that something had happened to her had zapped all the energy from him. Jeremy walked over to him placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. And as crazy as it was he actually felt marginally better. They would find Caroline. They had to damn it!
"We should go to her house, maybe we can pick up a trail from there." He stood again facing the vampires. He saw the Salvatores exchange a quick glance. But it was Stefan who answered.
"We went there but we caught nothing. We couldn't even tell if Caroline had ever been in her own room. It was as though her very scent had been whitewashed."
"What the hell?"
"My sentiments exactly, puppy." Damon replied to his incredulous outburst.
"What could even…?"
The brothers looked at the other again and answered in unison, "Vervain."
"Shit!"
He saw Damon's nod again, "Whoever has Caroline didn't want her to be found."
"And we are sure it was kidnapping?"? Jeremy asked. It was a valid point and if it was any town but Mystic Falls Tyler himself would be asking that question. He didn't answer though, Damon did.
"Besides, the vervain scorched house and the failed location spell, Blondie has this habit of checking in each and everysingle day. It's been two days. Vampire Barbie is a lot of things but selfish? Not in her purview. It would literally have to be physical restraints that keep her from making sure we are all alright, no matter what."
It was such an apt description of Caroline that Tyler had to look at Damon again. He had nailed the kind of selfless person Caroline Forbes was. She was amazing and she cared more than most people he knew. She was unselfish in an unassuming manner that often hid how deeply she cared. It was the way she was. And even Damon Salvatore could see that in all his sarcastic glory.
"With vervain involved it could be the council," Stefan said as though pondering, "But this being Mystic Falls it could be the anysupernatural creature."
"My nose is not affected by vervain. We need to go back again." Tyler stated.
Stefan nodded his agreement and they left the Boarding house and bundled into the car. Stefan and Damon rode in his jeep as Bonnie remained at the Boarding House with Jeremy and Elena to try to find something that could help. The Bennett witch felt like they were being blocked magically somehow which meant that either witches were involved or someone who knew more than they should about magic. While she worked on breaking through, they went to Caroline's house.
Tyler immediately took a deep breath through the nose as soon as they were in the house and he understood finally what they were talking about. It was like the room had been scrubbed pristine. The air tickled his nose but there was nothing, no Caroline. Even as he descended the stairs again he could not pick up her scent.
"Wolfsbane," he stated upset knowing the only way that he would be blocked was the plant. Sometimes the balance of nature really screwed with their plans. But he could appreciate the ingenuity. It made sense. They needed a check and balance as powerful as they were. If they didn't have one, they would be gods.
Both brothers nodded and it was a bit disconcerting how in tune they were. Tyler had never seen that kind of synchronicity but 145 years even spent at each other's throats had made them closer than either imagined. He didn't think they even realized how close. Damon spoke then, "So they know about us both. We suspected as much. I hate to be the one who says it...actually I don't care. We need to consider your dogs in arms."
"The pack had nothing to do with this!" Tyler whirled adamant, so accustomed to Damon's snipes he didn't pick at the dog allusion.
"Are you sure Tyler?" It was Stefan this time earnest as ever. His eyes asked Tyler to put aside any emotional blinders for Caroline. But he couldn't believe it. He couldn't!
"They wouldn't do this to her…to me!" he tried to remain strong but their track record showed that rules were made to be broken. Alek had done a lot of explaining in those days Tyler had spent with the pack and for a long time he had waxed poetic about a wolf's mate. Werewolves didn't have a lot of rules, but one thing was certain and was punishable by death. A wolf's mate was sacred, no matter what. But Tyler couldn't help the doubt that crept in. What if they discarded the rules because Caroline was a vampire?
Damon sneered as though his mind conjured the same, "I think it is time you ask a question pup. And because I love a good interrogation…"
"You can't come with me," Tyler said realizing the elder Salvatore's intent, "If you do there will be a war and if they don't have Caroline if would have been for nothing."
"If you don't message us within the hour..." he stared his face intense.
"Then you lead the charged but in the mean time I ask around."
The trio left the house with Stefan and Damon taking off through the trees as soon as they exited. Tyler climbed into his jeep with dread as he made his way to the pack house.
When he arrived the house was almost deserted. He walked in calling out in his agitation. Not knowing where his mate was pushing him to make this quick. He crossed into the sitting room and found Ledell with a book, her green eyes flicking away from it to take him in. Tyler hardly knew what to make of Ledell. He hadn't had much time to interact with her, not that she was forth coming in the least. But he had spent most of his time with Alek. He also spent some time with Accalia and Aidan who were warmer possibly due to their role in getting him here. The other three Lycoaens were unknown to him. Demetria was mated to a wolf in another pack but when it came to formality, she always stood with her father. Nikon and Melissa rarely spoke to him. They just watched and Tyler had never felt comfortable in their presence. Greeting Ledell he bowed his head. There was something almost stately about her, the way she moved exuded First Lady as she indeed was. She rose from her seat as he looked at her.
"Is there something I can help you with Tyler?"
It was the first time he had been alone with her and her gaze was intense. Shaking his head he answered, "I need to speak to Alek."
Her eyebrow rose as she continued to study him, "He is out. I am the alpha in his absence. Perhaps you can explain to me why you would think we have your mate?"
Tyler was surprised, though he shouldn't be. They had a free-for all access on each other's thoughts unless you knew how to shield them and though Accalia had been teaching him he hadn't gotten so good as to block her out.
"Of course," she continued studying him, "Your vampire friends. Are you sure they aren't the ones who took your mate? It would be a brilliant plan. Blame the wolves and you would turn your back on us and they would once again have you unopposed as their lapdog."
"They would never do anything like that!" Tyler shouted at her, growing angry at her charges.
"You defend them so staunchly," she stepped forward. Her eyes flashed yellow showing the emotion she held in check, "Even your mate does but their hands are far from clean."
It was the certainty in that last statement that stopped Tyler from walking out, "What are you talking about?"
She flashed him a pitying smirk, "They never told you, did they? Of course not. They would prefer your blind allegiance in order to control you. Maybe you should ask Damon Salvatore."
"What the hell are you talking about?" he stepped forward not realizing his anger had escalated.
But Ledell continued that lazy tone of disinterest and Tyler wanted nothing more than to smack the smirk from her face, "Your mate hasn't learned the art of shielding her thoughts and you haven't the skill to sift through. I can be in and out without her noticing and you would be surprised at the things I found. Your friends are little more than wolves in sheep clothing. Compulsion and control is the name of the game. She endured the feeding, the 'relations' and of course the ill-treatment at his hands for weeks."
It had the ring of truth to it. Caroline always avoided talking about when she first became a vampire. She avoided it like the plague and she was such a General at evasive maneuvers that he often forgot. But who had compelled her?
"Why your eldest of course. The older Salvatore," she answered his unspoken question.
"Ledell!" Alek called her name. Tyler hadn't even heard the alpha approach. He could hear the command in his voice. Alek's face was hard; his voice a match for steel but his mate never cowered. Tyler could see the defiance in her eyes even as she bowed and walked away.
"I am sorry." Alek turned sympathetic eyes on Tyler. He knew.
"You knew?" He charged, the shock turning to anger, "You knew!"
"Listen to me Tyler," he reached out a comforting arm but Tyler backed up, "That story was not Ledell's to garner or mine to tell. I am sorry. I am sorry Caroline is missing. We can help..."
"I want nothing from you!" Tyler shouted turning away.
"Tyler, I realize that you are angry but we can… "
"Don't come near me." He said his voice firm. The alpha nodded as he turned away. But he heard him call out to him, "Listen to your wolf. Listen to your wolf he will lead you to her."
It was the second time he had driven that road for the day at Wile E. Coyote speed and maybe nature heard his need for he passed the road again never spotted by a police officer. It was a good thing because Tyler had no idea if what he would do if he had been stopped. When he marched in the Salvatores he was saw them hunched over a map. Tyler did not break stride as he immediately went for Damon's throat.
"You bastard! How could you do that to her?" Before he could a good swing in the younger Salvatore had his arms pinned. Damon's eyes had turned his fangs protruding but Tyler ignored the menace in the face of his rage.
"You better calm down, boy. What the hell is the matter with you?"
"Screw you, what are you going to do, compel me, force me to obey you like you did Caroline?" Tyler knew the moment Damon really heard his words. It was like all the rage drained from his face and Damon looked down.
"How could you?" he shouted.
"I…I…Who told you?" Damon was never unsure, he never stuttered, he never apologized but he did now. Tyler didn't notice consumed as he was by his rage.
"Does it matter? You used her and…raped her, mind and body. She deserved better!" He lunged again for Damon but Stefan still held him in his grip.
"Don't you think I know that! Not a day doesn't go by that…" Damon threw up his hands as though pleading, his eyes were full of unshed tears and his voice dropped to a whisper, "I know she deserved better. I don't have any excuses. I won't offer any. I just wish…"
Tyler had seen Damon Salvatore cry once and it had been the day Bonnie had been shot, her blood spilling on the ground, as the wolves with Brady and Jules had fought back. He hadn't seen that level of emotion since and seeing it now, it deflated his anger. Damon was truly in agony. When Damon heard Bonnie enter the room, he looked at her, his eyes meeting hers before swiping at his face.
"Hate me all you want, hell I'll even give you a clear shot to kill me but we have to find Caroline. Because you are right she deserved a hell of a lot better."
And with that the eldest Salvatore exited the mansion and Tyler did too ignoring the calls from Stefan as he went to his car and got in.
Tyler drove for a bit knowing his anger was getting the best of him. They all had a before, even him. Caroline was the one who taught him that people could change. He knew that. It was just hard to accept that someone had hurt Caroline. Swiping his hands over his eyes he continued to drive thinking about today and its revelations. And the words finally came back to him. And once there they would not leave his head. Like a mantra it repeated over and over.
Listen to your wolf.
Listen to your wolf
Listen to your wolf.
Listen to your wolf.
Tyler pulled to the side of the road knowing he had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Taking a deep breath he started the breathing exercises he and Caroline had coined to calm him, shifting everything to back of his mind. Tyler centered himself giving reign to the animal he fought to control every full moon. The wolf smiled. It was his turn and Tyler felt the bilocation come over him again as he watched from afar.
The wolf sniffed the air as he remembered the smell of Caroline, the taste of her, her smile, her cries of joy, of excitement, of pleasure. He focused on that memory. And like a sound wave he reached out, with his heart trying to find his mate. It was a feeling he was not familiar with, a feeling he had never expected to feel. An animal's instinct of locating his mate. And Tyler, both man and wolf smiled.
When his vision had cleared again he picked up the phone, "I know where Caroline is."