Follows Chapter Six
The heat was oppressive. In the distance was a lawnmower, grinding away at the heat dry grass. Heavy, fat mosquitoes and buzzing dragonflies were loud, muted voices low in the distance. Caroline stared blankly at the slab of rock of the grave in front of her, freshly dug.
Elizabeth Forbes.
She didn't bother reading the rest. Those were the only two words that mattered in the heat of Virginia. She hadn't breathed in two days and was terrified that the first lungful would break her. Air meant she'd have to accept the way her mother's perfume had faded, the tightness in her chest clamping down on her lungs. Behind her she heard footsteps, but she didn't turn.
"Caroline, it's time to go."
Had she been there an hour? Two? What did time matter now? It's sticky fingers had tugged and tugged, until her mom was gray and fragile, until Caroline was alone. Stefan at her back, somewhere in the distant parking lot she heard Elena.
And she was so gods forsaken alone.
"Go away," Caroline told Stefan, voice tired. Dull. Was it possible to rot from the inside, until she was as empty as she felt?
"Care…"
"I think you heard her, mate."
Caroline blinked, felt the world shift strangely into focus. Mild, tone blunt where everyone else had been tentative, something hot stretched in her veins. Caroline turned her head, and there he stood. Black on black suite, hands to casual in his pockets, Klaus' eyes never left her as he addressed Stefan.
"It's time for you to leave."
Caroline shuddered out a breath as his gaze continued to hold hers. The last time they'd seen each other, the brand of his mouth and his promise sizzled between them. Her monster stirred under her skin, pulled at by grief and the faintest touch of danger. Klaus smiled at her, dimples creasing his cheeks.
"I've got her now. Ready, sweetheart?"
Please Comment