Hello, my lovely readers. Caroline faces The Test and Jeremy may, or may not be a problem for her… On with the show…
Chapter 19: Tested
New Orleans, Louisiana:
Several hundred times, Caroline Forbes wondered if she had done the right thing. She revealed herself to Julian, Head of The Hunter's Council, who happened to be a little bit off. And not in an endearing way. Perhaps she had made a horrible mistake. Maybe she should open the passenger side door of his car and dive, head-long, into the traffic, crossing the Paris Road Bridge, leading them into New Orleans. Or not. That wouldn't kill her, and it could get messy, trying to explain; if Julian caught up to her…
Also, as Caroline had to remind herself, showing any sign of suspicious behavior could end in Julian's returning to Mystic Falls. The point of Caroline appearing to Julian was to take his attention off her friends, and especially keeping him away from The Mikaelsons.
Inhaling, Caroline forced herself to calm down and enjoy the trip. Her eyes drifted to her right, to take in the "Welcome to New Orleans!" sign. They had made it. No more second chances. Time for Caroline to be brave and face whatever this "Test" turned out to be.
Julian seemed to be aware of Caroline's anxiety because he reached out, patting her hand. "You have nothing to worry about, Caroline. This is simply a matter of tradition."
"Says the man who is not going to go through it," Caroline retorted. It felt like the right move to address the fact that she would be nervous. As a human, Caroline would have been concerned about being brought before The Council, to face their judgement. As a vampire... A demon... Yup. Caroline did not have to look too far inside to find the anxiety Julian expected of her.
"It's an old test. Perhaps I should have a new one designed. But other members of The Council seemed excited at the idea of it being put to use once more. And I do so hate to disappoint." Chuckling, Julian glanced at Caroline. "Really, they've never lived through an age in which The Test had to be conducted. You'll have to excuse them; their morbid curiosity. I, too, am curious to see how it will go."
Opening her mouth, Caroline started to ask a question about The Test, but she found Julian driving through a gate. It looked like they had made it to Council headquarters. Her questions could wait, for now.
Julian parked in a garage before he unbuckled his seatbelt and got out. Caroline un-did her own belt, and reached for the passenger side door handle. When it did not give, her eyes went to the lock. Why is it that this is the first time she noticed that there was no lock?
Eyes narrowing, Caroline gazed out the closed window at Julian. He looked nonchalant as he pulled out a key and the lock popped open. He opened the door, holding out a hand to her. "A good hunter is a prepared one. That means having no locks, but your own."
Caroline ignored Julian's extended hand and got of the car. She folded her arms over her chest. "And a good hunter should remember when he's in a car with someone who could break the window: Using the driver's skull." Now, she gave him a big smile.
Laughing, Julian nodded. "Shall we?"
With a shrug, Caroline's arms fell to her sides. "Not like I have a choice. Do I?" Maybe she could get a last-minute reprieve.
"No." Julian shook his head.
They walked toward a side door. Caroline stood to the side while Julian unlocked it. He stepped in first, leading the way down a narrow hallway. Turning, he pulled a door open and waited for Caroline to step forward first. Becoming a twinge nervous, Caroline entered a large room. No one stood inside. No weapons fired, or flew at her head. So, The Test had not begun.
Caroline wondered if this room would be where her test was to be held. Julian stepped inside. The hallway door closed with a soft click. "This is our storage room." So, no. Not the testing room. Probably not…
Frowning, Caroline wondered about that. It seemed a bit empty to be storing anything. She wondered what she was not seeing amongst the empty spaces of the room. Maybe The Council had a collective of clean freaks. She could sympathize.
Julian stepped past Caroline. He was headed for the opposite side of the room. Caroline wondered if he wanted her to come with. "You can stay here, if you like. While you await your test."
"Sure." Caroline deeply desired quality time with this big, seemingly empty room. Nothing about it made her fell ill at ease.
The sound of a door opening alerted Caroline to Julian's leaving her alone. "Wait! Julian!" she called, spinning on her heel, to see the door closing behind him.
Fingers appeared around the edge of the door. "Yes?"
"Is this a verbal, or more of a written test?"
For a moment there was no answer. "It's not that kind of test, Caroline." Then the door closed.
"So, it's the kind where I fight off a wooly mammoth, in a bikini?" Caroline asked the walls. She began to stride around the room. "Come on walls, tell me something! You've been here longer. You've got to have heard all the best Slayer tales!" Not expecting, but half-hoping-Caroline fell against one of the walls-wishing they would talk back. "Stupid walls," she groaned, giving the one she leaned on a swift kick.
The feel of a brick shifting beneath her foot made Caroline look down. Then the wall was sliding out from behind her. "Oh, shit!" Caroline cried. Her body enjoyed a physics' lesson as the act of no longer having something to keep her standing sent her toppling backward.
"No, no, NO!" Caroline shouted as the wall slid back into place. Even with her enhanced speed, she could not throw herself back through the space in time. Her hand went through, and her instincts told her to move it before it was severed from her arm. She liked her hand, so she followed her instincts.
Caroline looked around the new room she had been trapped inside. It was unclear where she was. No light shown through. Her enhanced sight helped her be able to take in objects. Weapons. Lots of them. Axes. Swords. Throwing stars. Anything a Slayer might want.
Turning around, Caroline also found what looked like a torch. Great. So, they did not bother with lighting from the twentieth century. Rolling her eyes, Caroline looked for something to light the torch with. She found a desk pressed against the wall on the left side of the room. Matches. That would be good.
Going over to the desk, Caroline found that the drawers need keys. She looked through small boxes and folders on top of the desk. Nothing of the key-shaped variety to be found. Just her luck. She could break a couple of legs and make a fire. Or she could wait for Julian to come and get her...
Hand going down, Caroline grabbed the old-fashioned chair, of the non-rolly, and stiff as all hell kind. Flopping down, Caroline's hand went down to drum on the desktop. She took hold of the chair, turning it sideways to get another look at the room. What if Julian did not intend on coming back after her?
Dread began to seep into Caroline. Her fingers continued to wander over the desktop. They ran into a pen. Without looking at, she examined it. The tip of her thumb brushed against the tip of it. It felt sharp. Metal. Her fingers slid back down its length, to pick it up and grip it. Twirling the pen absently between her digits; Caroline thought she saw someone else in the room with her.
"Hello?" Caroline called out. She stared harder at the figure in the dark. They did not seem to be moving. Getting up, Caroline walked toward them. On instinct, her fingers curled around the pen. She was ready for an attack. But the closer she came to the figure, the more Caroline became aware of something new.
The figure she had spotted could not move, because they were a painting. Caroline sighed in relief. Cocking her head to the side, she admired the rich detail of the work. It seemed so life-like. It was almost like she could reach out and touch the girl's cheek.
Not sure what she was doing, Caroline's fingers went up. Her hand went to lay flat on the painting. Snorting, she rolled her eyes at herself. She needed to find a way out of this room before she lost her mind.
About to pull back, Caroline found herself falling, again. This time, she fell forward.
~0~
Pushing herself to her feet, Caroline shook her head. "Where am I?" she questioned a room. Her eyes registered a poster of Jimi Hendrix. An old rotary phone, like she'd seen in movies from the... Oh, no...
The twinkling of a music box made Caroline's head spin to take in a girl sitting in front of vanity table. She ran a brush through her long, black curls. A slightly dreamy look was on the girl's face.
"Hello?" Caroline greeted the girl from the painting. She was every bit as pretty as her portrait. The girl's wide amber eyes never strode from her own reflection. She adjusted her puff-sleeved blue sweater and her hands were headed downward; when the phone let put a ring that made Caroline wince.
Untroubled, the girl got to her feet. She did not seem to see Caroline, so Caroline had to back up a foot. Turning, the teenager floated over to the phone. "Marcus?"
Ears perked up, Caroline heard a man's voice on the other end. He did not sound young. "March. There's been a sighting." The line went dead.
March's expression suddenly changed. And Caroline would know that look anywhere. She had seen it in reflective surfaces enough.
Hanging up, March strode over to a large, wooden hope chest at the end of her bed. Flipping the lid open, March began to remove weapons. She set them on her bed and then strode over to open her closet. Out came a black, leather bag. Then March returned to her bed to load her weapons into it.
Before Caroline could see what happened next, she found herself being pulled backward.
~0~
"What the..." Caroline sat up on the floor of the room she had been in prior to her 1960s moment. Dusting herself off, she shook her head. "Okay? Was that The Test?" she called out. No one answered her.
With a low sigh, Caroline strode over to the desk. She needed answers. Taking the pen, she shoved its tip into a lock, and twisted until the lock popped open. She dug through it. Nothing. Nothing. Score! Matches!
"Ha!" Caroline cried. "Slayer: one! Test: zero!" She stood up and made her way over to light the torch. Shoving the match box into her jacket pocket; Caroline began to peruse the paintings.
"They're all Slayers." Hell, they were even in chronological order. They ended with a painting of Hayley. Placing her hands on her hips, Caroline wondered why they would keep these painting locked away. Unless they feared others would end up doing the decade dance, too. It made her smirk.
Not sure why she was doing it-but also too curious to think about it-Caroline's hand went to Hayley's painting. Might as well stay in a period she knew a little bit about. Right?
~0~
A gurgling sound came from below. "I'm not afraid!" Hayley Marshall said. She held a stake in one hand. A teddy bear was under the eight-year-old's other arm. She stared into the darkness before her.
"Hayley, what are you doing?" Caroline demanded. Then she remembered that Hayley could not hear Caroline. "Damn it!" Caroline's cheeks flushed.
Another gurgle was heard from the bottom of the stairs. "I am going to be The Slayer! You can't hurt me!" Hayley whispered. She pressed a kiss to her teddy's forehead. Placing him on a stair, the little girl in her nightgown and small bare feet made her way down.
"Suck the marrow from your bones. Pluck your tiny heart from your chest." Another gurgle. "Death, little girl. You find what you seek!"
"Hayley!" Caroline tried to make a grab for Hayley's waist. Caroline was bent on snatching the child and putting her back in her bed. This would just be a night terror.
Caroline's arm passed through Hayley as the child darted down the remaining stairs. Running after her, Caroline found a terrifying sight. A vampire who was half-desiccated stood, chained to a post. It grinned down at Hayley. The child did not see how its fingers had wiggled out of the chain.
Terrified, Caroline watched in horror as Hayley made her way forward, a determined look on her face. "Yes. Come here, child. A snack will help me sleep." The vampire giggled and Hayley glared at it.
Suddenly the light upstairs went on. A crossbow bolt shot through the vamp's heart. "Hayley, it is past your bedtime!" Julian called. He stood at the top of the stairs. He held out a hand to the little girl.
Hayley puckered out her lower lip. "I could have killed him!" she complained, picking up the bottom of her nightgown and headed upstairs. She took Julian's hand. "Julian?"
"Yes?"
"I had a dream where the old Slayers told me a Big, Bad Vamp-y would kill me dead. But they're all wrong."
"Oh?"
"The Sugar Plum Fairy will save me!" Hayley twirled on her tip-toes, her fingers extended over her head. "She's...she's my Big Sister. And she'll always find me. And protect me. And love me! And we will save the world! A lot!" Grinning, she held out her arms and Julian picked her up as her eyes slid shut. "She'll find me..."
~0~
Again, Caroline found herself being spat out.
"Okay! I get it! Not the right door!" Sighing, Caroline wondered how many paintings she would have to go into for answers.
If only Bonnie were here. She probably know a spell that would reveal which painting Caroline needed to go through. However, Bonnie also needed to be far away from The Council, given certain things Julian said that were not what one would call "pro-witch."
"Right. You're on your own, Caroline. You can do this..." Caroline rolled her eyes at herself. Okay. So, this wacky room wanted to tell her something. Then she could take her Test. What a thrill!
With a deep sigh, Caroline moved down the line of paintings. Nothing really jumped out at her. Her eyes went down to the nameplates. Kristina Abrahamson. Constance Choo. Lucy Grant. Leslie McAdams... Anna Zhou. Now, that was a name Caroline knew. Girl who died mysteriously. Maybe Caroline could find out the truth there.
"So, Anna, how about a trip down memory lane?" Caroline extended a hand and...
~0~
This time Caroline landed in a crouch. No dignity shaking falls this time. Thank you! Eyes going forward, Caroline's brows rose at the sight of a barn.
A long, black braid hung down a girl's back as she strode toward the closed door in a long red dress. Anna looked like she was going to a party, not a fight. In a barn? The eighties had turned out weirder than Caroline had expected it to be.
When Anna pulled the door open, Caroline could hear rock music playing at an ear-piercing level. Still, Caroline had no choice but to check out what Anna was up to. Lights hung from the walls. Bales of straw stood, piled up next to the door. They obscured Caroline's view when she first came in. She peered around, trying to find someone other than Anna. The girl had to be meeting someone...
"Darling, didn't think you would show." Caroline's heart slammed in her chest. No!
Running around the bales, Caroline saw Anna looking up at Kol Mikaelson. He sat in the loft, his legs hanging over the edge. Dropping down, he stood up and stared at Anna. "Pretty dress. Pretty girl. Feels like my birthday." He moved in a circle around Anna, his eyes roving over her.
Caroline shook her head. "No," she groaned. She did not want to stay here. Knowing Kol had tried to turn Slayers was one thing; watching him do it was another. "Let me out!"
"I came to end things. Wanted to show you what you'd be missing." Anna's words were followed by Kol's chuckle. "I'm serious. You told me you could control your blood lust. You lied. Either you leave. Or I do my duty. And you're gone. For good, Mikaelson."
"You can't kill me!" Kol said in reply. Caroline closed her eyes tight.
"Stop!" Anna cried out. "I said: Stop!" The sound of a flesh connecting with flesh could be heard.
Opening her eyes, Caroline found Kol in the hay. He let out a laugh before he jumped out and Caroline turned to see him speed to Anna. "Someone might die tonight, but it won't be me!" He threw Anna into a wall. She groaned as she fell to the floor. Stalking over, Kol grabbed her braid, pulling her face up to meet his eye. "Don't make me hurt you."
Anna spat blood in his face and slammed her fist into his solar plexus. Rolling out of his grip, she removed a stake. "Yes, you will!"
"That won't kill me!" Kol said.
"I know. But it will help me get you somewhere, to make sure you can't hurt anyone else." Diving forward, Anna landed on top of Kol. They rolled on the floor. He captured her fist, slamming it into the floor until she dropped the stake.
"Stop fighting this!" Kol demanded. "You know you love me. You love us. Our power! You're stronger than the others! We can be together!" His hand went down to tug at her skirt.
Anna shook her head. She kicked him between the legs. Crawling out from under the vamp, she went to grab her stake when Kol dove back on top of her. His hand went to her braid. His fangs came out and he bit her. His eyes went wide and his hand went down to pull her closer. Anna screamed as he pressed into her.
Horrified, Caroline moved to hide on the other side of the straw. She could hear tearing cloth. Anna screaming in pain and horror. Clasping her hands over her ears; Caroline tried not to hear her friend hurting her predecessor.
~0~
Sitting on the floor of the room with so many paintings staring at her; Caroline felt like she had aided Kol in his monstrosity; Caroline could still feel herself shaking.
After a couple of moments, Caroline moved to Anna's painting. "Is that what you wanted me to see? You want revenge?" she asked the portraits. They did not reply.
Eyes watery, Caroline stared at Anna's. Then she noted something. Something Klaus would see first. Paint. Someone had painted over Anna's portrait. Caroline's finger went forward and she chipped at it.
"Find my killer!" Whirling, Caroline found Anna, who grabbed Caroline's shoulders. "Help me find Peace, Caroline! And I will be your Guardian."
"Yes!" Caroline nodded. Then she fell over.
~0~
The Council Headquarters buzzed with new life. At first Jeremy Gilbert thought that The Slayer, Hayley Marshall, had returned. But word trickled through the hallways that it was Caroline Forbes who graced them with her undead presence. And for some reason the majority of the hunters seemed to think this was a reason to celebrate.
Jeremy had retreated to his room. He couldn't, and he wouldn't, pretend to be happy at Caroline's appearance. Then again, he was the only one who could see the truth. She had turned. And if they wanted to follow her; they were all doomed.
Picking up his new hatchet, Jeremy swung it in an arc before tossing it at the head of a blonde dummy. His lips lifted in a bitter smile as he saw it had went through the dummy's neck, beheading it.
Jeremy walked over to retrieve the axe. It made him feel better to use the dummy for practice. Sometimes it was Caroline. Sometimes Rebekah Mikaelson. He hated that he could ever love a vampire. His friend. His girlfriend. Hell, even his sis joined Club Undead. It hurt him.
A knock on his door made Jeremy swing on his heel, hatchet ready to fly at Caroline's head. But Diego Machado stepped through the door. "Hey, man. You still playin' with your dummy?" Stepping inside, Diego looked at the dummy. His dark brows rose. "Looks like Blondie lost, again." He grinned and shrugged. "Whatever helps you fight their undead asses is cool by me."
"Thanks," Jeremy rolled his eyes. He put the dummy's head back on its body. "You want something?"
"Yeah." Diego nodded. "Not for me. Julian's planning a big dinner. We're expected to attend. But who wouldn't-"
"What's it for?"
"Slayer, man. Passed The Test. Got the tat to prove it, too."
"Tat?" Jeremy forced down a desire to roll his eyes. Of course, Caroline beat The Test. She seemed to have a lucky streak.
"Yeah." Diego grinned. "Anna's her Guardian, now."
Jeremy was still confused. Diego rolled his eyes. "See, this is why you attend the meetings. So, you learn stuff. Okay. Test goes like this: Slayer goes in. Gets tested by old Slayers. Mental warfare, and all that. Got me?" Jeremy nodded. It sounded pointless. "And if she gets through, she gets a Guardian. The spirit of an old Slayer, who protects the current one, from all the Big Bads! Plus, she's inked with her Guardian's name."
"Huh?"
Diego was still smiling. "Dinner?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world!" Nodding, Diego left the room and Jeremy closed the door. No, Jeremy would not miss the chance to tell everyone what Caroline was.
~0~
Most of The Council was downstairs and all dressed up as Caroline appeared in a shiny pink dress. She looked like the Homecoming queen. Jeremy folded his be-suited arms over his chest. She could fool them, but not him.
Their eyes connected, and Caroline came over, to stand in front of him. "Jeremy. It's good to see you're okay-"
"Save it, Caroline. I know. Remember?" Jeremy could feel his hands trembling to attack her. He needed to speak up. Now! He turned and opened his mouth.
"Actually." Caroline grabbed Jeremy's arm, dragging him out of the room. "I need your help with something."
"Why would I help you?" Jeremy demanded, jerking his arm free.
Caroline groaned. "Just come with me. Since you're in vengeance-mode, already!" She led him down the stairs and into a room he rarely went inside. She kicked a brick and then walked inside a passage. "Hurry!"
No more than Jeremy stepped through, than the wall closed behind them. "Here!" She pointed at a painting of a pretty girl. "Do NOT touch it!"
"What am I looking at?"
"You like art. What did you see?"
Jeremy stared until he noted the corner of the painting. "Someone painted over this one." He looked at the others. It looked like the only one that had been tampered with. "Why?"
"Anna was murdered. Each of these paintings holds a Slayer's memories. I think someone changed Anna's."
Frowning, Jeremy stared at Anna. "And..."
"And she said she would be my Guardian; if I found her murderer. I can't do that if you tell them the truth about me. You would be helping Anna. Not me."
Rolling his eyes, Jeremy looked to Caroline when she reached in her pocket, brows rising in surprise. "What?"
"Bonnie sent me a message," Caroline said.
"Which is?"
"Will you help me?" Caroline stared at Jeremy.
Jeremy sighed. "Fine."
"Good. Bonnie needs us to steal a prophecy from Julian."
"Are you kidding me?"
Before Caroline could answer, the secret wall opened, and Julian appeared. "Thierry said he saw you two disappear this way!"
Looking at Jeremy, Caroline said, "Jeremy was curious about The Test. So, I thought I would show him the cool artwork. He loves to sketch."
"I do." Jeremy nodded.
"Dinner is about to begin." Julian waited for them to leave. "Can't start without our Slayer!" He placed a hand on Caroline's back who gave Jeremy a look before turning away.
Hopefully, Jeremy would not regret his decision, but Caroline needed to remember any day now her secret would come out.
Thank you for reading, faving, following, and reviewing. :)
Be safe,
-J