Chapter 10 Discoveries

On the third morning after their conversation with Ayanna Caroline brought up a subject that had been plaguing her since her special encounter with Klaus, "I want to stop lying to Klaus."

"What?" Elena said, almost choking on her bread.

"I want to tell Klaus the truth, Rebekah too actually. I am sick of lying to them, especially when we will just have to tell them the truth eventually." Caroline explained, taking a bite out of piece of bread of her own.

"I thought we would do that once they became vampires, it will be so much easier to explain then." Elena responded, though she had been thinking the same thing, she had promised Elijah they would work through everything together, and knowing she was in fact going to return home was something she wanted to share.

"Well, we do have proof for it, I am a vampire. We can have them over tonight and tell them everything." Caroline insisted, not sure where her sudden need to tell Klaus the truth was coming from, but she needed it to happen.

"Caroline, they won't believe us, or even if they do, they might not want to be our friends anymore. Once they are vampires they will understand everything we are saying so much easier." Elena pushed, trying to convince Caroline, she didn't want to lose Elijah and Rebekah.

"I don't think they will leave us." Caroline insisted, "Please Elena, you know I am not good at being deceptive, especially not in the long hall. I need to tell Klaus."

"I just don't think it…" Elena started but was interrupted by a knock at the door, "We will continue this later, please don't tell him before we talk again."

"I won't." Caroline confirmed as she went to get the door, "Esther? We weren't expecting you so early."

"Are Elijah and Niklaus here?" She asked, her voice slightly frantic, as she pushed her way inside.

"No, we haven't seen them in a few days." Elena answered, standing quickly.

"You're sure?" Esther asked, her voice full of panic, "They didn't return home last night."

"Where were they supposed to be?" Caroline asked, her voice with an edge to it that Elena had never heard.

"Hunting some deer near the falls. Mikael, Kol and Finn are out looking for them now." Esther said before heading back toward the door, "Please, let me know if they show up here." And she left before the either girl could respond to her.

"I need to go find them." Caroline said looking at Elena with determination.

"You go, I will be with Rebekah, she will need some support with her brothers missing. I know you'll find them." Elena replied, and both headed out in different directions.

Caroline rushed to the falls, she passed Mikael, Kol and Finn about half way there and stayed well out of sight. She took a minute to eavesdrop on their discussion, it was clear that Mikael thought this was surely Klaus' fault while the others were just concerned for their brothers' safety. Mikael's insensitivity at the possibility of his sons being gravelly injured was really bothering her. But she had to put those thoughts aside because finding them was of much more important.

Caroline found it very interesting how strong Klaus and Elijah's scents were, even after a full day and night. Klaus' was much more intense to her, it was probably her intimate relationship with him. She followed the scent all the way to the falls and found the place where they had rested. Caroline searched the surrounding area, but couldn't find another trace of them, until she came across a trail heading off to south, "Where do you two think you are going?" She said aloud before speeding after the scent.

Caroline followed the scent for nearly five miles before it suddenly disappeared, she came to a sudden halt and backed up slowly until she found it again. But it didn't continue, it just ended, which made no sense. It should continue because they were not there. She looked around and honed her ears, but she did not see or hear anything.

"Klaus! Elijah!" She yelled and then waited ten seconds before yelling their names again, "Klaus! Elijah! Can you hear me?"

When ten minutes had passed with nothing, Caroline slowly backtracked, hoping she had missed something along the way. Convinced she had because two people didn't just disappear, not when a vampire was tracking you. Caroline had never felt more like the hunter that Damon always claimed they were then she did in this moment. Only, she wasn't hunting for prey, she was hunting for her friends.

"Klaus! Elijah!" She yelled about a quarter mile back up the trail she had been following. The scent had shifted again, leading west instead of south. What were they thinking?, She thought as once again started following his smell, Being stupid men, going off where they were supposed to be and getting lost. They should know better, it isn't like they are children.

She followed the new trail for over a mile when a few new scents joined it, bear and blood. Her pulse quickened and her already heightened senses sharpened instantly. The blood was Elijah's, of that she was sure. She didn't need to follow it far before she came on the carcass of the bear and nearby there was also one of a deer. The bear had arrows sticking out of its side and there were multiple knife wounds as well. From the sight and smell of it, she guessed it was killed sometime yesterday afternoon. Elijah's blood was still in the air but so was the bear's and she could also detect another human's as well. Both of them were injured, after being attacked by a bear.

Caroline's mind went into overdrive, they would have gotten as far away from the bear as possible, knowing it would attract other predators. The scene was too overpowering on her senses for her to figure out which direction they went in, she needed to get out of the kill site and make a large circle around it. The blood would at least be easier to track than just their smell at least.

She was relieved when she found their trail and it was heading south again, but it was still too far west, they wouldn't pass anywhere near the village. Caroline ran as quickly as her legs would carry her and after a mile found where they must have made camp the night before. A fire pit was present as well as the large stink of blood, Elijah was losing a lot more than Klaus, by the scent, but Klaus wasn't doing too well either.

Caroline noticed for the first time that it was starting to get dark, meaning they would have to stop, but she wouldn't. Figuring that they were both injured, she guessed that she would find them within the next hour. She wasn't off by much, two miles later, she caught the smell of smoke and knew she had found them.

It wasn't until she could see the fire and the two figures huddled by it that she realized how strange this was going to seem to them. A young woman had found them by herself, a good two day hike from the village, and not even close to where they should be. Her mind kept coming back to the only thing it could, the truth, there was no lie she could come up with that would explain any of it. Plus, from the amount of blood she could smell, telling the truth was also the only way to save Elijah's life, possibly Klaus' as well. She took a deep breath, and whispered, "I'm sorry Elena, but you'll understand." Before yelling, "Klaus! Elijah! Can you hear me?"

"Over here!" She heard Klaus yell and watched him slowly climb to his feet, in the darkness he couldn't see her, but she could see him.

"Klaus!" She yelled and ran to him, making sure to slow down to a walk as she entered the circle of light.

"Caroline? What are you doing here?" He asked, and he looked like he was seeing a ghost. She guessed that his paleness was a mixture of blood loss and surprise.

"I came looking for you." She replied and stepped up to him, leaning up to kiss him gently on the lips, "I am so glad I found you before it was too late. I promise I will explain everything, but right now you need to sit and let me heal you."

"Heal me? How can you do that? You are not witch and I am afraid that magic is the only thing that could save us right now." He said, but sat down anyway, probably from exhaustion.

Caroline didn't answer him, instead she just went and knelled next to Elijah, who she noticed was unconscious and his breathing was labored. His wounds were terrible and she felt her face turn from the temptation. "It attacked him from behind, neither of us heard a thing until it was on top of him." Klaus told her as she looked over his brother, her back to him.

"He will be fine." Caroline responded, and bit into her wrist. She tilted Elijah's head back and dripped the blood down his throat. The wound closed and she opened it again, making sure that enough of it got into his system. And trying to keep her blood lust under control. She noticed his reflexes kicked in and he swallowed, the wounds slowly started to heal.

"What are you…..doing?" Klaus managed to ask in a breathless voice, he come over to sit next to her, and her face shocked him.

"Healing him." She answered, and turned to look at Klaus, her face still contorted. Caroline slowly inched closer to Klaus, who she could tell was doing his best not to show fear, and opened the wound a third time, "Now it is your turn, drink."

Klaus looked at her wrist then into her eyes before bringing his lips to the bloody wound, his eyes never left hers.

Caroline watched the brothers sleep for nearly an hour before she left the camp to hunt for herself. She had used a lot of energy and given a lot of blood today. Klaus had drifted asleep when he had stopped drinking her blood. It had given her a moment to break down in relief and then in doubt, what if Klaus wanted nothing to do with her when he woke. He had seen her vampire side, experienced part of it. Things could never be the same again, and she was saddened at the thought.

The only thing she could find where three rabbits, not filling but they would do for now. She returned to the camp slowly, afraid of what would happen in the morning, but that was still quite a while off.

Caroline stopped dead when she noticed Klaus was standing up, staring into the fire, his back was to her at the moment. She almost turned and ran away, but she was Caroline Forbes, she did not run from her problems, she faced them. "You should still be resting." She said, making sure to announce her presence well before getting close to him.

"I feel much better. Better than I can ever remember feeling before if I am telling the truth." He replied, turning to look at her. She was surprised to see that there was no fear in his eyes, and no hate either, "What are you Caroline?"

"I am a vampire." She answered, stopping about two feet away from him.

"What is a vampire? Is Elena one as well?" He asked, not moving.

"No, Elena is human. A vampire is an immortal creature, we live off of the blood of other creatures." She gave the very simple version.

"How did you become a …vampire?" He asked, his eyes searching hers.

"That does not matter right now. I promise, one day you will know everything, but today is not that day." Caroline replied, and then swallowing her fear, "Why are you not afraid of me? You should be."

"Why should I be? I do not believe that you would go through all the trouble of finding us, just to kill us yourself." Klaus answered, as if it was the simplest reason in the world. He took a step closer and brought his hand up to her cheek, slowly caressing it, "Besides, you have had more than enough opportunities to kill me love. I do not believe you will kill me now, not after everything we feel for each other."

"How can you have such faith in me?" Caroline wondered, her eyes filling with tears as her hand reached up to grab the hand at her cheek, "I have lied to you since the day we met."

"Because, I love you Caroline. Whether you are an immortal creature or the human girl I believed you to be." He closed the gap between them even more, only inches separated them, "I know why you did not tell me. I could not be trusted before, you did not know me. But the fact that you are willing to show yourself to me now, speaks more than any words you could you say."

Caroline closed her eyes as he kissed her slowly, sensually. When they broke apart, she whispered, "I love you too. Now, and forever."

She felt him smile against her lips before he captured them again, this kiss was not sensual, it was full of passion. And Caroline didn't protest when he slowly lowered their bodies to the ground and his hand found a way under her skirt.

Elena cradled Rebekah's head in her lab as the girl had finally fallen into an exhausted sleep. There had been no word from anyone and it had gotten everyone believing in the worst. Rebekah had been crying when Elena had arrived and hadn't stopped until she no longer had any tears to spill. Esther had been trying to do a location spell but her emotions were causing the spell to be unsuccessful. Henric had spent the entire day trying to strong for his mother and sister, but Elena could see how afraid the young boy was.

Elena eased Rebekah's head off her lab and laid it on the pillow nearby before she went to sit next to the young man by the fire, "You should try to get some sleep Henric, you never know what tomorrow could bring."

"How can you be so calm Elena?" Henric asked, annoyance clear in his voice.

"I have faith that your brothers will return to us alive. I don't want to be thinking the worst, that doesn't help anyone." Elena explained, though her true reasons were much different. She knew Elijah and Klaus were alive simply because she knew they were still alive a thousand years from now.

"Where is Caroline? Why isn't she here with us?" Henric questioned, and it wasn't the first time that it had been either.

"I already told you, she just wants to be alone right now." Elena responded, knowing that her lie was not going to be acceptable for long, "And you really should go to bed. Your mother and sister are going to need you to be in top shape tomorrow."

Henric nodded in agreement and wondered off toward his room, as he reached the door he stopped and turned around, "I am glad you are here to help Elena. Thank you."

"You're welcome Henric." She said with a smile and watched the boy who was destined to die go into this room.

"I must thank you as well." Esther voice said suddenly from the front door, causing Elena to jump in surprise.

"There really is…." Elena started to say but Esther stopped her.

"You really a good thing for my daughter Elena, she really needed your support on a day like today." Esther continued, "I only hope that you remain that way. My children don't need any extra complications to their lives."

"Esther, I promise. I would never do anything to harm Rebekah or any of your other children." Elena assured the woman, unsure as to where this sudden hostility was coming from.

"I want to believe you Elena, I truly do. But I have seen what girls have done to my children in the past and I do not wish to witness it again. You and your sister would be smart to keep that mind." Esther warned and walked off toward her own room, "Thank you again for your support at this hard time."

Elena watched the door close with new feelings of fear and confusion lacing through her system. She slowly got up and rejoined Rebekah on her bed, and laid there in the darkness, her thoughts running wild. Esther just threatened us not to hurt her children, why would she have any reason to think we would ever do such a thing? Caroline might not be ready to admit it but she was in love with Klaus and would never do anything to harm him. Rebekah is a close friend, or she will be when we stop lying to her, we would never hurt her either. As for Elijah, if his feelings change from friendship, then I might hurt accidently but I would never do anything to him on purpose, I trust him completely. Esther should just stick her own business, if she wasn't so meddling none of this would have ever happened in the first place.

I really need to talk to Caroline. Was Elena's last thought before sleep finally overtook her.

Present

Elijah wasn't even sure why he decided to pay a visit to the Mystic Grill, but it seemed like a better idea than sitting around at home. The chime above the door sounded and looked up as the Lockwood boy came storming in, heading straight for his friend Matt, who was busy at work. A presence in the chair next to him caused him to say, "I am surprised the boy is still alive."

"I can't kill him, she would be too upset with me." Klaus responded and ordered himself a very strong drink.

"It is very odd to hear you talk about caring about someone else's feelings." Elijah commented and took a sip of his own drink.

"It is even odder to suddenly care about someone else's feelings brother." Klaus replied, "If I had never forgotten her, do you believe I would have become a different person?"

Elijah was shocked at the deepness of the question, and though hard on it, "Yes, and no. I don't think you would cared so much about breaking your curse but I think the waiting for her would have been very trying on you and would have still caused many of your rampages."

Klaus let out a deep chuckle, "Look at me. Who would have guessed that a blonde beauty could have reduced me to this love sick sap in only a few short months?"

"You were a very different man back then." Elijah commented, but laughed at the situation none the less.

"What I find the most interesting though, I feel for her twice. Once as a human and once as a hybrid a thousand years later." Klaus said and finished his drink.

"Did you really fall for her in this time, or were just after the challenge of a woman who could actually resist you?" Elijah questioned, knowing his brother's love of the game.

"That really was how it started out but then, she just kept refusing me. The more she resisted, the more intrigued I became. Not many women have caught my attention like she had over the years, I just couldn't let her go without at least putting in a good effort." Klaus explained, and then laughed again, "Turns out, what I should have done was just talk to her. Seemed to work for me in the past."

Elijah chuckled and finished his drink as well, "Love can come from the most unexpected places brother." And unbidden, an image of Elena popped into his head, and he smiled unconsciously at the thought.

Klaus noticed the change in his brother's features and with a smile responded, "No one knows that better than us."

AN: As promised it is Tuesday and you have a new chapter and it is dedicated to KlausNCaroline for making the awesome cover art for this story!

As usual, you are all awesome, thanks for reading, following and reviewing. Especially thanks for reviewing! Keep up the wonderful reviews and I will keep on writing.

Don't forget to keep giving me your opinions, they are truly helpful and will be even more so now. I reached the end of my prewritten portion of the story, until the end (which is mostly done, I just need to get us there lol). So, the updates will probably be a little farther apart for a while, but I promise to get up at least one chapter a week.