A/N: Thank you all so much for the support!
Summary: Klaus was not the only one affected by the hybrid curse, denying him his werewolf side. The curse had a second victim, his wife Caroline, who for a 1000 years he thought was dead. Only days before he is meant to break his hybrid curse, he learns she is alive and closer than he ever imagined. Klaroline!Time travel story
Chapter Twenty One
"Oh no," Caroline choked out as she rushed over to Niklaus, she pulled him into her arms, "No, no, no, please. Please, God no, Niklaus! "
Tears fell down Caroline's cheeks as she took in the rest of the room, she saw Finn and Elijah off in the corner with large red stains on their chest, their faces emotionless with cold eyes. Kol lay there on his stomach, the nasty blood red stain on his back and the lack of breath leaving him to show he was gone. And there was Rebekah, lying closer to the fire on her back with dead eyes looking up at her.
"Please, noo," Caroline said, her breathing picking up speed.
Where was Esther and Mikael? Were they killed as well? She didn't see them anywhere, how could they have vanished so quickly? Caroline raised her arms, her hands shook as she let them hover in front of her. Silently, she called on her magic and begged, pleading with every piece of her heart to save them, to help them. She had managed to heal a bird without full access, surely she could heal them now. Her mind went to Henrik, when she had tried to heal him before, but had been blocked.
Wind swirled around inside the home, she felt the magic pulse in time with her heartbeat. Her jaw clenched, this had to work, this had to- the connection was severed. For a moment her heart stopped beating and she could only stand there in surprise. It hadn't worked. Some other kind of magic was stopping her. Trembling she fell onto her knees beside Niklaus. She pulled Niklaus into her arms, held him as tight as she could, this couldn't be real. This couldn't be happening, they couldn't be gone.
Caroline looked down at Niklaus' face, his eyes were closed and mouth parted slightly open. With trembling lips, she lifted him up more until his chin rested on her shoulder and she buried herself into the crook of his barely holding back a sob. He still smelled of the forest, of warmth and spices mixed with pine. Caroline took a pained breath, shaking her head when she felt it. The spirits that were not of her ancestors were seething, she could feel their anger burning hot like the fire near by, but why were they so angered? Vampirism. This, this must be it.
Caroline stared down at Niklaus, her voice cracked every other word, "Please, please sweetheart wake up. You can't, you can't leave me now. I'm right here. Open, open your eyes."
A quiet groan of discomfort filled Carolines ears. Her gaze snapped up to see Rebekah stirring. Next she felt Niklaus gasp softly against her shoulder, she felt him take the breath in. Never had she felt such relief as the air made it easier into her lung, though she could not stop the trembling in her shoulders. As Niklaus returned to himself, he immediately became aware of the trembling woman holding him, the scent of Caroline's hair filled him. He wrapped his arms around her in what he was comforting, her grip was merciless. Though he was uncertain what had happened, he did his best to clear the fogginess from his mind and focus on his wife.
"What's the matter love," he whispered to her.
"You, you were dead," she cried pulling away from him, her tears shined in the dim light, "But you're okay now. You're alive."
Niklaus nodded weakly, "What happened? Rebekah-"
"I'm here," Rebekah said opening her eyes.
Caroline let Niklaus move so he could sit on his own, the two made their way over to where Rebekah was struggling to sit up by the fire. The younger girl stared at her scarlet red stomach in horror, she had never been a fan of blood and couldn't stand the smell of it. Terror rushed through Rebekah as she turned to look at her brother with a matching stain on his white shirt and she looked to Caroline who did not have a wound that she could see. What of her brothers, were they alright?
Fearfully, Rebekah grabbed Caroline's hand in her own to which the older girl gripped her hand tightly. Afraid that if she loosened her grip, somehting bad would happen. Though Caroline was confused and scared, she was more than relieved to see her family was alive. However that unpleasant feeling reached her stomach once more, that dull ache growing a bit stronger as she sat there holding onto Rebekah's hand. This was the night vampires was born, that meant that her family here was in transition to become one of the world's most dangerous predators.
"What happened," Caroline asked.
Rebekah shook her head, "I, I don't know. Mother, she gathered us all in here and then, then-"
It hit Niklaus first, his mouth set in a scowl, "Father, stabbed us with his swords."
Caroline recoiled at the answer, "What? Why would he do that?"
Caroline didn't need an answer from them, she knew exactly why he had done it. All the talk of protection, all the talk of Esther making the spells and the spirits anger. Witches saw vampires as an abomination to nature and hated them fiercely. It should not have surprised Caroline that the spirits be angry now that this has taken place. The door opened to reveal Mikael with a young girl who none of them recognized. She had a glossy and unfocused haze that reminded Caroline of compulsion.
"What are you doing," Niklaus asked his father with an angered stare.
"Finishing what we started," Mikael moved the girl to her knees before them, "You have to drink if you want to live."
Mikael pulled out his dagger and cut the young girl's wrist, it took a second before blood began to pour out of her arm. Both Niklaus and Rebekah recoiled, but Caroline could see the different emotions behind it. For Niklaus he was appalled at his father while Rebekah was frightened by what was transpiring before her. Caroline placed her hand reassuring on Rebekah as Mikael forced her to drink the blood from the girl's arm. On the one hand, Caroline thought perhaps she should stop Mikael, but on the other she knew if they did not drink human blood then they would die. That was not something she wanted to see.
Niklaus drank the blood next, Caroline rubbed his back as she had done to Rebekah who was now off to the side horrified with herself and what was going on around her. When Niklaus was finished, Caroline went to see how the other Mikaelsons were doing. Elijah and Finn had awoken, they drank the blood with hesitance, but would not disobey their father's orders. However it was Kol who put up a fight and Caroline understood why.
When Kol opened his eyes and pushed himself onto his knees to face her, the first thing he said was "I can't feel it."
The magic that he had been connected to, the magic that made him a witch was now gone. Witches turned to vampires could not feel magic, they could not use it and the spirits would not be with them. When Kol was forced to drink the blood, Caroline briefly wondered what would happen when she returned to her own time. As a vampire, she wouldn't be able to access her magic so what was the point in all this? She could not think on it long, not when she was looking at the first vampires in history.
The family she made here all appeared out of sorts as they struggled to adjust to the feeling, the positive and negative energy rushing through their veins. Vividly she could remember her own transformation, how wrong and out of place she felt, confused and a little miserable because everything was so heightened. She could tell each of the siblings was going through it, unable to process it all and being overwhelmed by the matter. However as she glanced over each person, she did a double take when she saw the youngest Mikaelson standing in the corner. He was gone as quickly as he came.
Caroline brushed it off, a trick of her mind or stress or still coming down from her panic attack seeing everyone dead. Caroline steadied herself and walked over to her husband. His eyes downcast at the fire where the young girl lay dead from the loss of blood. She slipped her hands into his own, she watched him in the firelight and gave him a reassuring squeeze. At that, he looked to her with something akin to pain in his usually bright eyes.
"I'm here," Caroline told him softly, "You are not alone."
Niklaus nodded slightly, "Thank you love. I'm sorry, for it all."
Caroline shook her head, she pulled Niklaus into a hug, "It's not your fault. This is not on you."
Niklaus returned her hug, holding her as tight as he could though he stopped when she gasped in surprise. He hadn't meant to harm her, he hadn't even realized he was beginning to hold onto tight. While he did not know to the extent his parents had done to him, he knew that it could not have been anything good. It was then that their mother appeared in the room, she quickly shut the door and her eyes moved around the room, taking in the sight of her family. The look on her face was one of conflict, there was relief in her eyes, but everyone could see the pain and regret she could not hide from them. Stepping forward to stand in front of the fire, she took a deep breath.
"This had to be done," she told them, her voice soft yet firm, "To protect you from the wolves and other dangers. You now posses the strength, the speed, the agility, the health, to rival a wolf."
"In a fight, you have the chance to best one or multiple ones with your hands alone," Mikael said, his gaze met each of his children's eyes.
Esther added, "You will live, you will thrive."
Niklaus and Caroline did not return to their home that night or in the coming days. The sunlight burned each of them allowing only Esther and Caroline the opportunity to leave the house and fetch supplies including blood which had been all the Mikaelsons wanted. The consequences to this magic were severe, though Caroline had expected all of them, she knew not even Esther could have predicted them.
That first day when her husband and siblings could not leave the house, she considered telling them the drawbacks to their new… forms, but her own ancestors told her to wait. In fact, it had been the most direct message they had ever sent to her so she knew she should listen. It was not until Caroline found Esther in her room a week after the transitions that she was able to tell what she knew. Lying and claiming that her magic was giving her insight to this, she was able to warn Esther of the other drawbacks this magic would bring to her children and she even helped in the creation of daylight items.
Caroline studied the items that her and Esther would charm this morning, her thoughts went to Bonnie and the first daylight ring she had been given. Upon her arrival here to this time, she didn't have her ring with her and she wondered if she would find it at home. Caroline laid out the jewelry on the table, the sunlight shining on them. There were rings, necklaces and bracelets for them to choose from. Caroline gingerly laid down her husband's wedding band, her own ring felt heavy on her finger.
Holding hands, Esther and Caroline performed the spell with ease and Elijah volunteered to be the first one to test it. He slipped on a ring and stood in the sunlight, it did not burn him causing a weak smile to form on his face and his siblings to grin to one another. Being locked in their home all these days and only being allowed out into the night had made them a bit restless and Caroline could not blame them.
Niklaus was the last one to get his daylight ring, he waited until all his siblings and mother left the room. It allowed him the chance to be alone with his wife as she was the only beacon and grounding thing he could hold onto. The world was much louder, brighter and harder for him to make it through, even if he only spent the previous amount of time in this house. These days he felt more agitated and not in control of himself, but when he was with Caroline, he was able to find comfort and draw strength. Where he felt weak, she would give him strength.
When Niklaus slipped on his wedding band, he went straight to Caroline and kissed her. He hadn't kissed her in what felt like ages. As the kiss deepened, he became more aware of the thrumming sound of her heart beat and the rush of blood in her veins. He tried to ignore, let himself be lost in the kiss when he felt a knot in his stomach. With her lips pressed against his, she smiled and for a brief moment let herself be lost in it. The feeling of his hands on her cheeks, the taste of his mouth and the warmth she felt spread through her. Niklaus pulled away sharply though. Caroline wanted to question why, but the sight of his face answered her. Dark grey veins had formed under his red eyes and she saw his fangs poking out slightly.
"I'm sorry," he said as his face returned to normal, "I, I hadn't meant-"
"Hey it's okay, you're still getting used to it," Caroline said closing the distance between them, she looked at her wrist, "You can have some, if you wanted it. I don't mind."
Niklaus gaped at her in horror, "What, no I couldn't- not you-"
"I promise it's alright," Caroline interrupted him, her tone earnest.
Niklaus shook his head. No, he couldn't drink blood from his wife. Drinking blood at all should be a thing for him to do, yet here he was, almost desperate to get a taste of the red liquid. Even though it still smelled and tasted like blood, his senses had switched to where it now smelled pleasant and tasted even better. The thought of tasting her blood both excited and disgusted him.
Caroline stepped closer to him, "If you ever wanted some, I swear to you that you can have it. I trust you not to drain me."
The smile Caroline wore was heartbreaking as far as Niklaus was concerned, he could tell she meant her words. This trust she placed in him, he hoped with every piece of him to never lose it. With a shuddering breath, he pulled Caroline into his arms to hold her, to ground himself in this moment. As her arms wrapped around his neck, he felt his worry fade away, the knot in his stomach loosen.
In the midst of all this craziness, he knew he needed to be stronger, if not for his family or even himself, at least for her. There was so much he wanted to say, but no words seemed right for him to tell her which left him feeling inaqeuate which inspired feelings of anger. Since the transition had been complete, he knew his emotions had reached new heights and it was driving him through the roof, almost literally if he was being honest. However he felt hopeful he could get through it so long as she was beside him.
"Let's go for a walk, it might help to have some fresh air," Caroline suggested, her smile kind.
Niklaus swallowed, "I am uncertain I could handle myself."
Caroline continued to smile, "That's why I'm going with you. If you feel overwhelmed, we run off into the forest and return home. And if it looks like you might go off the rails then I'll be there to pull you back in."
Niklaus frowned, "Off the rails?"
"Something my dad would say, like- I mean if we were on a high place he would put up a rail or gaurd line so that we wouldn't fall and one time I wasn't being careful and fell over it and my father would tell me 'Caroline, you can't off the rails, you have to be in control' so going off the rails is basically- it's if you lose control," Caroline took a breath after she spit all those words out.
Niklaus chuckled, "I think I understand. Shall we go on that walk then?"
Caroline nodded, she took his hand and let their fingers lace together, "We shall."
Caroline did understand that taking a new vampire into town near plenty of people with blood was certainly a risk, but she was confident she would be able to keep him in control if things got crazy. Besides, she knew he needed to get out of the house in the sunlight. The walk into town had been not as nice or as refreshing as Caroline thought it would be.
Most of the villagers would watch them warily, giving them either dark or fearful looks. As they walked on, many of the townspeople would jog in the other direction, eager to get away from them which annoyed Caroline. However she said nothing on it, just continued to walk with her husband through town like it was any other day. It was not until Caroline and Niklaus spotted Rebekah holding her hand near the white oak tree that worry reached them. The couple quickly made their way over to the younger girl with curious and concerned gazes.
Rebekah had been thrilled to get out of the house in the day, she had even gone to see some of the girls in town who she couldn't call friends, but she talked to often enough only for them to run off. It stung more than Rebekah cared to admit, but she did her best to not let it ruin her first trip out into the town. Though when she tried to enter the home of another acquaintance she had, she found she could not get inside. As if an insivible force was keeping her out. And now as she was standing beneath a white oak tree, letting her fingers graze along the new purple flowers in bloom she felt the burn of fire.
"What's wrong," Niklaus asked his sister with a frown.
Rebekah licked her lips, "The flowers, the purple ones there. They burned me."
Niklaus studied the flowers for a moment before glancing at Caroline, "Does your magic tell you anything?"
"I know the white oak was used to give you life," Caroline said with a frown as she rested her hand on the large tree, "However, it is also the thing that can take the life from you. I imagine this is one of nature's ways at fighting back. The flowers are connected to the tree, they won't kill, but it'll certainly hurt."
Niklaus spoke clearly, "We need to burn it then."
Caroline nodded, a small flame appeared in her hand, "I can burn it now."
"Let's wait until later," Rebekah said quietly, "We need to be sure where all the white oak's are so we can get rid of them all at once."
"Good thinking. We wouldn't want someone to catch on that we're burning this tree type alone giving them chances to get them before us," Caroline replied with a set gaze.
As the words left her mouth, Niklaus was not surprised to see the determination in her eyes. The loss of Henrik, while it affected them all different, he noticed that the affect on Caroline had given her a boost of strength. He had no idea the pain in which she went through when she lost her family, but he imagined that she was not going to endure it again. If he could prevent her from ever feeling that pain again, prevent the loss of his siblings and keep them all together for the rest of their lives, he would find a way. Nothing would stop him.
That night every white oak in the village was burned to the ground, the ashes were retrieved by Caroline who was able to get rid of them with her magic. Now the only thing capable of killing them was gone forever, never to be found or used against them.
After all the white oak trees were burned and their ashes disposed of, Caroline and Niklaus walked to their house holding each other's hands. When they returned to their house, Caroline took a seat in their bedroom near all her gifts with a glazed look. As Niklaus made them something to drink, Caroline added the tally marks she hadn't in the past week or so. She was running out of time, it wouldn't be long now before she would be truly gone.
The thought cracked her heart. What would happen to Niklaus and his siblings when she turned up gone? Would she see them in her time, would they have made it a thousand years? Caroline struggled to think of any vampires older than five hundred, but she came up empty. A stray fell onto the ground at the thought of never seeing Niklaus again, but she forced herself to remain calm and not show how distressed she felt.
"It's ready love," Niklaus from the kitchen area.
"Coming," Caroline called back, though much softer.
