Here is the next chapter!
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(11)
Outside in the forest, the fire still engulfs the ground. Everybody collected themselves. A few alive, awake humans were lying weakly on the ground, gathered together into safety by Matt, Elena, and Stefan. Tyler carried Caroline near Elena and laid her down on the ground. Elena fed her from a blood bag which returned her strength after a little while. Caroline soon joined them in gathering the humans and healing them.
After some time, the rest of the weakened, harmless vampire hunters and witches came out from the caves first and went straight towards where everybody gathered. Bonnie came out of the caves next, followed by Rebekah and Kol who stood in the dark, far across Elena and the others. Elijah joined Rebekah and Kol shortly.
When Klaus was out of the caves, tailed by a few vampires who Klaus seemed to have freed from their cells, Bonnie performed a spell, sealing the caves finally.
After Bonnie chants the spell, the fire died down. Now, with an eerie silence, everything is only illuminated by the bright moon.
Several hybrids appeared one by one and they all walked and stood behind Klaus, who then marched forward, gazing at everything.
Everybody got to see the rest of what's left in the center of the forest. Each of them looked around. The aftermath was devastating to look at. Lifeless bodies are scattered everywhere. The ground was darkened with blood and death.
Klaus is now standing at the center of it all, his eyes looking all over the ground, at all the dead bodies. The sight of him, his siblings, his witches, with Bonnie standing near him as well, and the huge pack of hybrids all standing behind him, is something overwhelming to look at.
It was gloriously ominous.
Although Bonnie's magic played a big part in the end of everything, it was obvious who won the battle. And who stood the strongest.
"Listen all of you" Klaus started. He was walking around, going nearer to the rest of the human vampire hunters and council members of Mystic Falls, and eyeing them all.
"I never thought my visit here in this town would ultimately end this way." Klaus faced them one by one as he walks along their line. "Nevertheless, I find it quite satisfying how I've shown all of you how powerful I am. And by now I'm sure you all learned your lesson."
He stopped in front of Damon and looked at him, then he looked at Elena, then Stefan and then back at Damon. Damon glared at him. Klaus smirked.
"It seems everything's the same for the three of you." Klaus said. "It's funny how I wasn't here before and you have this little situation going on, and then I came here and you still have this situation. Then I killed the doppelganger, woken up the Ripper and you still have it. And now I'm leaving and there it is still... unchanged."
"The deal's done. I think it's time for you to leave now Klaus." Damon walked towards him; his eyebrows are raised, challenging him.
Klaus made a small laugh. "Let's not get too excited here shall we?" He then looked at Stefan and said. "Just so you know, you're welcome to join us Stefan. Just for a change." He turned one side of his lips up for a smile. Stefan just stared at him and said nothing.
"No luck, he's not going with you." Damon spoke again.
Klaus smirked at the protective brother. He then faced Bonnie who's now standing beside Stefan. "Ahhh, the savior… I believe there's something I should take from you?"
Bonnie eyed him, "The stake is safe, but I don't have it with me right now. I'll give it to you in two days. And after that, the deal's done, and you're never coming back here." she firmly told him.
"Of course. I wouldn't want to mess with a Bennet witch. Two days, it is."
Klaus continued to walk towards the other end of the small crowd and found Caroline to be the next person after Bonnie. Klaus's smirk disappeared upon seeing Caroline.
Caroline stood there looking at Klaus. They met each other's gaze. It was Tyler who broke their gaze when he appeared beside Caroline and took her hand. Caroline dropped her eyes to the hand Tyler took and then looked away as she swallowed.
Klaus turned to Tyler. With a serious face, he eyed him from top to toe and then he snickered. "Tyler." Klaus said next. "It's sad how my first successful hybrid didn't want to join me. Are you sure about that?"
"I told you Klaus, I'm not your bitch anymore" Tyler said.
Klaus smirked again. "That's too disappointing, but fine anyway."
Klaus walked back to his siblings and turned around for the last time.
"Well then, that was fun. I'm glad to have met you all. Although it was short, I'm sure my family had also enjoyed their stay. I guess, I'll see you outside this town then." Klaus finally said and walked out into the darkness of the forest, followed by his hybrids, his witches and his vampires.
Elijah looked at Elena, who smiled politely at him, before he turned around and disappeared into the darkness with Kol.
Rebekah was the last one to move. She stood there, looking at everyone. She walked towards Elena.
"I'm sorry about your transition" she said with a blank face, but somehow failing to try to hide her sincerity. "But I hope it will help you choose."
Rebekah looked at the Salvatore brothers next. She turned to look at Caroline last before she set off to join her brothers.
Caroline sighed and looked around the mess. How to cover up this big problem in order to hide the town's secret, she doesn't know. But she looks at all who's around her and feels glad that everyone is safe. And that's what really matters more.
Caroline saw Elena and Bonnie in a tight hug. Tyler turned her around to face her. She watched him smile at her and she smiled back.
Caroline saw how Tyler raised his hand to touch her face. But he stopped in mid-air and he dropped his hand. Caroline also didn't fail to notice how Tyler's gaze drops down from hers as if he's realized something.
"Is something wrong?" she asked him.
"Nothing. I'm just happy we're all okay." Tyler just smiled at her politely.
Caroline thought the next thing she should do is to hug Tyler. Now that he's out of the sire bond and no one's left to mess with them, they're both free already. But she felt herself not wanting to do it. And she knows why.
She watched Tyler walk away from her, towards the humans to help.
Caroline looked out in the darkness where the originals have disappeared from. And she thought of nothing except for what she will say to Klaus when he comes to see her one last time before he's gone.
(Caroline POV)
I woke up with the burning pain on my toes. I immediately sat up hugging myself, thinking I was back in the caves. But I looked around, and I'm back on my own bed, in my own room, here in Mystic Falls. I realized my skin burned because of the slit of sunlight that came from my window not covered by the curtains.
I looked around and gazed at my own room. I'm really here. I felt thankful that I'm back here.
It's over. It's all fine now.
I recalled what happened last night. Elena was the one who fed me from a blood bag. My strength returned after a short while and then I helped everyone 'clean up'.
Last night, we all buried the dead. We healed the wounded. We compelled those who saw and participated. It took us a while.
We were all busy but I was happy then, because I saw them all. And I'm with them all. After everything, we're safe.
I cried so much in Elena's and Bonnie's arms when we're finished for the night. When I returned home, I remembered I cried more when my mom opened the doors for me.
The curtain moved and the sunlight burned a part of my skin again. Then I remembered I'm not wearing my ring. I immediately looked around for it, hoping Bonnie, or maybe Tyler, brought it here.
I turned my head sideward and there I found the ring. I took it and wore it at once. It was there on the table, lying next to Klaus's drawing.
Klaus. I can recall how he left last night. He told me before he wants to talk to me first before he leaves. And I know he'll come to see me soon.
Last night, I also dreamt about him. I'm sure it was only a dream. But a silhouette of a man came in from my window last night while I was asleep here on my bed. He walked towards me and then he just stood still. He watched me for a while. When I moaned his name, he moved to lie down on my bed, under the covers, beside me. He placed his arms under my head and he caressed my arms as he pulled me gently into him. I buried my face into his chest and I just hugged him tightly.
I remembered sobbing a little as I hugged him tighter and tighter. The comfort of his smell, his warmth and his embrace was too pleasant after what happened to me in the caves. I wish to think Klaus was really there but I'm perfectly sure it was only a dream.
I didn't realize I was holding my breath. I sighed heavily as I got up. Then I just laughed at myself. I'm supposed to loathe him. The last time I checked, I decided to go back on hating him after that kiss back in the old house. I shook my head as I remember again that night in the old house. He'll be gone soon. And that's good for all of us. Good for me.
But I can't deny that he saved us all. It may be a part of the deal, but he took part in saving us all anyway.
I sighed again and walked towards the bathroom. I took a bath and changed into new clothes. I walked downstairs to once again hug my mom before I set off to meet the others and help on getting things back in order in town.
.
.
It's already been two days after that fateful night. Mystic Falls is once again a quiet little town with secrets kept well hidden. News about the new sheriff spread in town, saying different nasty things about him. And people were saying that he ran away from town again, but no one really saw him.
Liz Forbes is back again on duty as a sheriff after it was proven that she committed no crime. Jeremy is back in his old self. The council has been calmed down. And the Mikaelsons weren't seen anywhere after that night.
"Hey." Caroline hears Tyler's voice behind her. Her blonde hair danced as she turned her head around to face him. She smiled brightly.
"Hey." Caroline said.
They are at the Lockwood Mansion, together with the others, except for Damon and Stefan. They are celebrating. They have their little barbeque party for lunch. The others are gathering just outside on the back porch while Caroline is at the kitchen when Tyler found her.
"How are you feeling?" Tyler asked her.
"If you asked me that two days ago I would say awful but now that everything's fine and great..." Caroline looked at him in the eyes. "I guess I can say that I am very happy."
Caroline smiled at Tyler. She feels really glad. She's with all of them, her friends, and her mother is okay. All of them had been through a lot and after seeing everyone now, safe and sound, she is just so thankful.
But there's an empty hole in her heart. She's aware of it. She knew why it's there. And she hasn't seen him since that night. But right now, she won't think about Klaus. She's happy.
Tyler watched Caroline's light aura. Her radiant smile made him smile too. He saw the genuine gladness from her blue eyes. He also saw glimmer of delight, and of caring, of warmth, and of love. He had known Caroline enough that it felt amazing how he can see such feelings only from looking at her eyes.
But he immediately felt his chest crush when he saw sadness from her eyes as well. He knew very well what's causing that flicker of longing and sadness he saw from her.
He knows that all the things that happened recently made them all feel united and loved. But he also knows that something has changed between him and Caroline. His heart sank at the thought that he might be right but he cannot assume. He has to find out. He has to know it firsthand.
Tyler looked down to hide the fear and nervousness. He sighed and then turned to Caroline again. They were busy the past two days, helping to get the town back in order and there wasn't really any time for the two of them to be alone.
He took her hands. "Me too. I'm happy." Tyler told Caroline, squeezing her hands.
Caroline smiled at Tyler. Too many things have happened, and a few things have changed. And one of them is her feelings.
Caroline once considered this man, Tyler, her true love. But she had let in her heart someone else and now, what she feels for that other man is consuming her. She longs for that man. She misses him. She can't deny that anymore.
And Tyler needs to know the truth.
"So..." Tyler said next. "How was living with Klaus?"
Caroline felt something move in her chest at the mention of Klaus's name. And Tyler is asking her about him.
She remembered how she saw Klaus that night back in the caves. She also remembered all her nice chats with him over meals and coffee when they were at the old house, the laughing they shared, the housework, the walks they had, the lights festival, his penetrating gaze, his touch, his kiss…
Caroline inhaled sharply as she pulled her hands out of Tyler's.
"Well, he didn't really do anything harmful to me." Caroline said. "And I guess I could say it was weird seeing him do housework." She laughed nervously.
Tyler stood there silently, waiting for more. Caroline noticed that sign. She sighed.
"There's something I need to tell you Tyler."
Caroline felt that Tyler already knows what she's going to say. She knew since that night two days ago when she noticed how Tyler reacted at the sight of her and Klaus looking at each other.
She saw his jaw hardened. Those words are the only things she said yet but Caroline can already see the hurt across his eyes. It's inevitable. She still cares for him and she doesn't want to hurt him, but she has to be honest.
"You care about him, do you?" Tyler spoke next, making Caroline a little bit surprised at his straightforwardness.
Caroline looked at him firmly. Then, she lowered her head and just nodded in defeat. Silence followed.
After a few seconds, Caroline is the first one to break the silence. "But you do know that I don't plan on going away with him right?" Caroline told him next. "He's practically the bad guy, and I can't be with him."
Tyler stared at her. "But you still care about him."
"I know. And now that you knew…" Caroline watched his eyes. "I don't expect you to still want to be with me. I know we've been through a lot, and what I felt for you is true, and—"
"Okay" Tyler stopped her. "I understand." He sighed and watched Caroline's worried eyes.
"Caroline, I also care about you… a lot. And I know you're going to do what you had to do. But with this thing happening, I think we have to break things off now." Tyler paused. "I want you to know… this is hard for me. I still love you Caroline." Tyler said.
Caroline let out a deep breath and looked at Tyler with so much concern from her eyes. She can't really say she loves him back now. Her tears have already fallen before she knew it and Tyler just hugged her.
"I'll be gone again. I'll be with my uncle's to spend the remaining weeks before school starts." Tyler pulled out of the hug and held Caroline's shoulders. "If you want to bury those feelings, you can go ahead. But I hope you're not hurting yourself."
"Thank you, Tyler."
Both of them then walked together to join the others outside. But before they reach the door, Caroline called out Tyler's name. Tyler faced her.
"How did you find out?" Caroline asked him.
Tyler smiled a little. "When I released you from the chains back in the caves, you weren't really calling me by my name. Since that moment, I knew."
All of them drank and had fun as they celebrated their success in getting things back in order in the town they love so much. They joked around, chatted a lot, and played their party games. They made a toast to everyone and made each other proud of what they had done.
Bonnie was the one they cheered for a lot. She is the heroine indeed. When she said that she already had given Klaus the stake, they all became silent with gladness. They are finally Original-free. They drank once more and continued to have fun.
Caroline is all smiles and is vibrantly happy, high with energy. She's indeed very good in keeping her feelings from showing out in the open. Little does she know, Tyler's not the only one who knew about her feelings for Klaus. Bonnie feels it from her as well. And so does Elena. But they both knew well that Caroline's still going to do the right thing. That's just who she is.
Their little celebration ended with glee. Now, the crescent moon is high in the night sky.
Caroline is back in her room. She just finished her bath and now, with her sleeping garments on, she's sitting down and looking at herself in front of her mirror, brushing her hair. She heard gentle footsteps from the stairs. The sound becomes louder and she knew it's coming towards her room.
Something warm rushed up in her chest because she knew the footsteps aren't her mother's. They are someone else's. Someone she's been expecting tonight.
Klaus's shadow emerged from her open door. Caroline turned her head around to see him leaning handsomely against her door with his arms across his chest, watching her with a tender smile on his lips. His piercing gaze made Caroline nervous. She held her breath. She stood up and faced him.
"Klaus" She whispered.
Klaus walked nearer her, never breaking off their gaze.
"Caroline" He whispered back.
At the sound of her name from his mouth, Caroline couldn't help but smile.
Klaus is a little surprised. He stared at her smiling face. He tilts his head as he scans her face. And he smiled back at her in amusement.
Caroline swallowed and looked at Klaus in a more serious face.
"I've been waiting for you."
Klaus' stare becomes gentle and warm. "I know."
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