Caroline hid in the shadows as she watched Javier tie Nikolas to the chair and laughed at him.
"This should bring Lorenzo out."
"He'll never fall for your trap and if I die you'll have to deal with my family."
"I'm not afraid of your grandmother and aunt."
"You should be."
"They won't live long enough to be a threat to anyone."
He walked away and signaled to Max to keep guard on him as he left going back to Wyndmere. Caroline wanted to follow, but was afraid Max would kill Nikolas and kept her eye trained for an opportunity to rescue the young man. The bodyguard's cell phone rang and he turned his back on his hostage which gave Caroline time to bust in. Max was stunned and she greeted him with a punch to the gut as she quickly untied Nikolas, carrying him off.
"Hold onto me and don't let go!"
The young man did as he was told as she took to flight and headed towards Wyndmere. Max just smiled and grabbed his cell phone from the floor since he dropped it when Caroline attacked him.
"Yeah, boss, it's going as planned and Javier is probably at Wyndmere as we speak. You can expect the packages tonight."
He hung up and followed Caroline.
Later, Skye had unpacked and was now relaxing in Lorenzo's lap as he continued explaining to her about his world.
"How did you and Sonny become enemies?"
"I was friends with Natasha since she had become my mentor when she discovered me and brought me to live with her. I met her brothers and at that time Helena was in Russia meeting with a clan to either have them join forces with her or to be vanquished. I was not strong as I am now and when Vlad attacked I tried helping, but Natasha shoved me into another room so I wouldn't get hurt. He had brought along Sonny who was just as weak as I was and let him watch as he murdered Natasha's brothers. I eventually busted the door down to help her and that's when I met Sonny. We exchanged glances and Natasha turned to see that I was by her side which she promptly warned me to leave, but Vlad told her he'd eventually find me and murder me since I was pathetically weak. She matched his wit by making fun of his protégé and he was not amused which led to him attacking her. He was about to bite into her until I gave him a deep gash down his back which led to Sonny coming after me, but Natasha fended him off as we escaped and she communicated to Helena what happened."
"Couldn't Natasha bring her brothers back to life?"
"Once a vampire is drained of all blood they cannot be brought back to life, trust me Natasha tried even though in her heart she knew it wouldn't work."
"I'm sure Helena was upset, too."
"She lashed out at Natasha, but she was more upset with herself because she realized it had been a trap and was not there to protect her children. Natasha parted ways with her stepmother because of how angry she was with Natasha that she almost murdered her, but realized she would have no heir and let her be. I followed Natasha around for a while until I met Sophie and fell in love with her. I decided to stay in Romania although I knew my enemies lived there, too, but Sophie did not want to leave her homeland. Natasha had family there, but she stayed mostly in Greece, yet visited once in a while. I promised to take care of her family, mortal and vampire alike, when she was not around. I moved Sophie into the mansion Natasha gave to me and we made a life for ourselves. She birthed me five children in her first pregnancy which is unusual since she had become a new vampire and I was ecstatic as I saw the five cocoons hanging from the ceiling. My life couldn't have been more perfect until I came home that night and realized my life would never be the same."
"Sonny found you?"
"I had a traitor in the midst of the house and what was really hurtful was that it was one of Natasha's family members. They were upset with me because I should've died instead of Natasha's brothers and betrayed me to Sonny."
"What happened with Vlad?"
"Sonny vanquished him once they had arrived home which made him master of his clan and that upset some loyal to Vlad which made them leave Romania. Anyways, Sonny sent his men along with a few villagers to my home while I was out hunting for a meal to give to Sophie since any day now my children would burst forth from their cocoons, but when I arrived home I saw the flames engulfing the house and licking the air. I rescued as many as Natasha's family members as I could searching for Sophie, but I was too late when I noticed where they had set the fire. They attacked me at my heart when they started the fire in the nursery and I swore vengeance on Sonny that very night. Natasha dealt with the family member that betrayed me and warned the rest of her family what would happen if they decided to betray her or anyone associated with her."
"I'm sorry to hear about that and I understand why you are so protective of Diego."
"He is my only child and I am blessed to have such a wonderful son."
"He adores you and I know he'll make you proud."
"I'm already proud of him."
She grinned and he went to kiss her when her stomach growled which made him laugh.
"Why don't you get something to eat and we'll continue this conversation later."
"No, I want you to finish it now. When did you meet Caroline?"
"Are you sure?"
"Please, continue."
"If you insist. It had been fifty years since Sophie's death and I was now a hundred years old making me a bit stronger than I was before, but no closer to seeking vengeance on Sonny. Natasha stayed in Romania as the mansion was being rebuilt and unexpectedly fell in love with Sonny's brother Ric who was much different from Sonny. He had brought a mortal friend with him one day when he was courting Natasha and it happened to be Caroline. She was exquisite and sassy at the same time. She was independent, carefree, and stubborn which made me fall in love with her. She didn't care that I was a vampire since she knew about us from Ric and embraced me as her friend."
"Did she meet Sonny yet?"
"No, Ric kept her away from him because he knew what his brother would do with her."
"That didn't stop him when he knew you were involved."
"He eventually found out from his loyal subjects, which at that point was your brother Jason, where I was hiding and that I was trying to make a family for myself again."
"Why was he so threatened of you having a family?"
"He wanted to be the only vampire to populate the world with his children and do not tell Natasha that I told you this, but he has murdered all of the children she ever bore with the exception of one."
"She never told me she had a child."
"She probably hasn't had the time to tell you, but she has a daughter named Kristina who just turned four hundred years old and she looks like she's eighteen."
"I bet she looks like her mom. So, where is she?"
"That I do not know and it's best that I don't just in case."
"So, how did he take Caroline away from you?"
"We were in love and I was going to make her my bride which she agreed to when one night she never showed up to my home. I was worried and went in search of her when I found her having dinner with Sonny at a restaurant he owned. He had entranced her like what he had done to you at the ball which I'm sure you don't remember."
"The last thing I remember was his eyes and the next thing I knew you had an arm around my waist holding me close yelling at Sonny."
"That's how he captures his brides by entrancing them until they finally fall in love with him, but I've noticed that they eventually find out who he truly is because they've all had affairs with other men. Lily and Miguel, Brenda and Jax, Sam and Jason, although I believe Reese and Caroline really loved Sonny."
"Caroline still loves you."
"Yet she will never love me completely and I have moved on, but that night I saw her with Sonny I knew I had lost her even though I tried to recapture her heart. She was determined to be with Sonny and proved that she loved him by becoming his bride. She showed me the bite marks when I arrived at the ball of her new husband's home which was the castle we visited in Romania. I gave up on trying to win her back and entered the ball room to brood."
"And that's when you met Antanasia."
"I was enamored with her beauty, she was a siren and she had a lonely soul like mine. All thoughts of Caroline disappeared when I danced with your ancestor and was hoping to woo her into becoming my bride that night, but fate dealt me an unkind hand when I tried to leave with her and Sonny stopped me. I abided by our laws since I was not strong enough to disobey them and I took Antanasia's life. I had given up all hope in finding love or keeping it that I went home ordering my most loyal servant to protect me along with his descendants. I did not know Antanasia would be saved by Lily or else I would've stayed awake, but maybe it was best. I forced myself to sleep for a hundred years until I needed to feed and would stay awake for three months then sleep for another hundred years."
"Is that how you know my family or how Diego was born?"
"I saved your family member a century ago as I still searched for a reason to stay awake and live my life, but I couldn't since your family still blamed me for Antanasia's death so I traveled back to Greece after I spent a month in Romania and got drunk in a local bar. That is when I met Maria Dagon, an exotic mortal or so I thought, and I wanted to forget my pain so I took her to bed. She became my companion, but I didn't love her because I could not open my heart to her for fear of losing another woman to Sonny. I am grateful for her friendship and that she gave me a son, but I am saddened that Sonny finally got to her. I was also told when I awoke that Sonny sent his guards to my family's home and murdered them so they could be as invincible as their master. I am not pleased and will get my revenge on him for taking my family's life as well as the women he has stolen from me."
She embraced him now knowing a part of his soul and his heart.
"I understand why you are so protective of me, but Natasha says I am the key to this war."
"It is because you resemble Antanasia and although at first I fell in love with you for that reason I've come to realize you are more intriguing as well as more gorgeous. I love you for your heart and soul. I will do anything to keep you in my life."
Her heart melted as she kissed him and felt his love embrace her. They finally found the love they had been searching for all their lives when she pulled away from him.
"I love you, Lorenzo."
He grinned knowing that she just risked her heart to say those words to him.
"I love you, Skye."
To prove it he kissed her and picked her up, carrying her to the bed. He hovered over her and began ravishing her neck.
"Take me, Lorenzo."
"Are you sure? Once I embrace you into this world you will be forever mine."
"I want to be yours eternally."
"I will try to be gentle."
He was about to bite into her when there was a loud knock on the door and he cursed under his breath. He got up and answered it to find Natasha on the other side.
"I'll be a moment."
He stepped into the hall and closed the door behind him.
"What's wrong, Natasha?"
"Caroline wants to see you since she has brought Nikolas back."
"What does she want a reward or a pat on the back?"
"She's asking for immunity."
"She has brought this on herself."
"I know you still care for her."
"I do not wish her harm, but I do not want Sonny to come here because of her betrayal, that is her own fault."
He growled a bit as he went downstairs to meet with Caroline and she stood to greet him. Natasha hid in the shadows, oblivious to the couple that had once been.
"Caroline, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I've brought back Nikolas."
"I am grateful as well as Natasha and Helena, but the question is what do you want?"
"I need your protection for me and my son."
"I don't know if I can do that, Caroline, you have brought this betrayal on yourself."
"You said you would protect me from Sonny!"
"You used me why should I keep my word!"
"Because I love you!"
"If you loved me you would've left Sonny long ago and searched for me!"
"You know I couldn't leave…"
"Stop giving me excuses! I am grateful that you have returned Nikolas unharmed, but the love we have shared is over, in fact it has been over for centuries because you only love me when it is convenient for you! Now, get out of my home!"
He turned his back on her and she started to cry understanding that she lost everything that she held dear to her with the exception of her son.
"Is there no way we can still be friends?"
"It is for the best that we never see each other again."
Her tears flowed faster, but she understood when they heard glass shatter from upstairs.
"LORENZO!"
It was Skye and he bolted up the stairs towards his room, but when he entered he saw Javier escape with Skye in his arms. Then they heard more commotion come from the other end of the hall and Natasha ran to Jax's room, but was too late as Max took off with a still struggling Jax. Lorenzo turned to Caroline in fury and she cowered.
"You brought them here, didn't you?!"
"No, Javier was on his way here when I went to rescue Nikolas."
"You're lying!"
"She's telling the truth."
He glanced at Natasha knowing she had tapped into Caroline's mind making sure she was speaking the truth.
"I will gather Jason, Diego, and Sam if she is well enough."
"I'm going, too."
"No, you will cause more distraction and besides I do not know if I can trust you."
"I am going whether you like it or not!"
"Let her go, Lorenzo, she may actually do us all a favor and get herself killed."
Caroline snarled at Natasha and he nodded his approval as he went to gather the others.
"Still harboring dislike for me, Natasha?"
"You betrayed Lorenzo and my husband, why should I like you?"
"I didn't think Sonny would murder his own brother!"
"Don't play innocent with me, Caroline, you knew that if he murdered his brother I would never again love another man in my eternity which meant I would never again birth any children!"
"That was the idea, but I didn't think he'd murder the children that you already birthed!"
"Excuses, excuses, and to think I taught you better than this, but I can see you have a lot to learn!"
"You taught me nothing! I learned everything I needed to know on my own!"
"Then you have forgotten what I've taught you in favor of what you learned from Sonny, but you know what it doesn't matter now you are just a spiteful witch who doesn't know the value of love!"
She stalked off to find Lorenzo when Caroline grabbed her by the shoulder and turned her around to hit her, but Natasha was quicker and was suddenly behind her.
"You may have vanquished Reese, but you are still no match for me!"
"I will one day vanquish you!"
She laughed at her as Caroline raised herself to the ceiling and was about to body slam Natasha when she grabbed Caroline by the neck when she was within her reach.
"Listen to me little one, if you think you can vanquish me then I will accept your challenge, but not here and not in this house."
She dropped Caroline and walked away as the young woman snarled, rubbing her neck.