I do not own The Vampire Diaries. That is the property of author L.J Smith. I do own however, my OC Grace and this story.
Please review and no flaming allowed!
Enjoy x
WHERE THE BRAVE SHALL LIVE FOREVER
"Miss me but let me go, for this is a journey we all must take, and each must go alone.
It's all part of the master's plan a step on the road to home."
~ A Funeral Poem.
Mystic Falls High School
'The 1920s Decade Dance'
Night
I could hear the steady thudding bass music from the student parking lot as I got out of my car, being mindful to avoid catching my dress on something and tearing it. I stared at the building with trepidation, since the last time I attended a decade dance all hell broke loose. Admittedly, it also served as the foundation of my reunion with Nik (underneath the guise of Alaric); and that was the only positive part of the night. Sighing, I closed the car door with a heavy thud and locked it, before hiking up my shawl more securely around my shoulders, setting off across the asphalt in the direction of the gymnasium, blending in with other students who were laughing and gossiping as they headed inside.
The heels of the Mary-janes Rebekah had procured for me for the occasion, made dull click-clack noises with every step I took, and my black beaded bag swung slightly on my wrist. To my surprise, all attendees to the dance were greeted at the door by a couple of volunteers from the dance committee who requested our coats, jackets etc. with obvious theatrical smiles pasted on his and her faces; clearly less than impressed with the task they had been 'appointed' to accomplish. Nevertheless, it would have been exactly what would have been done in speakeasies everywhere back in the 1920s, and I could not help an impressed smile spreading across my face as I surrendered my shawl towards one of the students and received a yellow ticket in return so I could collect my shawl at the end.
Nice touch! I thought, dropping the ticket into my purse, and pulling the drawstring cords to shut it, as I questioned curiously to myself if it had been Rebekah's idea to do this, before she had been possessed by Esther, or Caroline's.
"Enjoy the dance!" The volunteer chirped at me, and I smiled back and nodded before parting the curtains I had installed hours earlier and stepped through to the other side.
"Woah…" I blurted out, seeing the dance inside for the first time since this morning and afternoon with awe. Caroline had really outdone herself this time. Even kept up with what was expected of the time and had white gloved 'waiters' in the form of more student dance committee volunteers, walking around the tables with trays of 'champagne' in plastic coupe glasses, offering them at random to attendees, teachers and other chaperones in attendance.
I let out an incredulous chuckle, before walking deeper into the gym to get out of the way of the entrance so others could get through, and to take in the splendor of the dance. Students were sitting around at the tables, laughing, talking, and acting very much like they were from the 1920s; while on the dancefloor, others were attempting (and in some cases failing) to Charleston or mimic other styles of Jazz-age dancing. Remembering my phone, I casually pulled it free from my purse and clicked pictures, making sure to capture every detail so Rebekah would know that her efforts to create an unforgettable night would not be forgotten.
Warm arms circled around my waist, giving me an unpleasant sense of deja-vu from when I had been dancing alone in Gloria's bar back in Chicago, while waiting for Nik and Stefan to come back from waking up Rebekah. I frowned and was about to let fly my elbow into this cheeky person's solar plexus when warm lips brushed against my throat and lingered there.
Oh, hell no! My eyes hardened in outrage. Then something sharp brushed lightly against my jugular vein and I froze, recognizing a warning when I saw one.
"Been waiting long, sweetheart?"
I relaxed, recognizing Nik's playful deep European voice and felt a pleasant shudder flow through me when his warm breath blew across my sensitized throat where his fangs brushed sensually against it and paused in preparation to bite down.
"No. I've only just arrived myself." I whispered, almost breathlessly, and heard him chuckle in amusement. I whimpered longingly when he placed a second open-mouthed kiss on my throat, before backing away slightly to let me turn around to face him, and I could not help but gape in impressed awe. My fiancé had really dressed to the nines, for somebody who at first, refused point blank to attend tonight's festivities.
Nik was dressed up in what looked like a very authentic 1920s crème suit, complete with a waistcoat and a pale blue tie, well-shined black shoes and his slightly curly dirty-blonde hair had been expertly combed and slicked back to suit the fashion 92-years or so ago.
I pouted at him, "Why must you tease me so, Nik?"
His blue-green eyes darkened with lust as a seductive smirk spread across his face, and he reached down to take my hand in his.
"You look absolutely ravishing tonight, my love." He responded, raising my gloved hand to his lips as he brushed a tender kiss across my knuckles. I could not help it; I could feel my cheeks heating up as I stepped closer to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. His hands settled tightly on my hips.
"You can thank your sister for this." I indicated my dress.
He shrugged nonchalantly, "Well she always did have impeccable taste." He replied, before leaning in to kiss me passionately. We pulled back after a few minutes and Nik offered me his arm, which I eagerly accepted, and we started to take a turn about the room. He immediately flagged down one of the 'waiters' and pulled two coupe glasses from the tray, offering one of them to me. "Champagne?"
"I'd love one. But I'll settle for this." I said, taking a dainty sip from the plastic glass. "Apple cider." I discovered, licking the residue from my lips, and giggled when Nik frowned and wrinkled his nose slightly, taking a ginger sip.
He shrugged, "All well. I guess this will do for now." I rolled my eyes; Nik could be such a snob when he wanted to be. "We can share a bottle back at the mansion later tonight, if you want?"
"Sounds lovely." I agreed, grinning at him. "Chin chin." I clinked glasses with him and took another sip, rubbernecking around the room for somebody else I knew.
"Where is Rebekah?" Nik asked, casually. I paused mid-sip trying to think of an acceptable excuse to feed him.
"No idea. She wanted to make an entrance; I suppose." I fibbed, hoping that Nik would not pick up on it. Loud laughter surrounded us from all sides, and my keen eyes zeroed in on Bonnie and her date who were swing dancing nearby. The judgmental little wicca was all smiles and had eyes only for her dance partner. That is until they swiveled in my direction and they instantly narrowed.
I smirked, not fazed by the hatred and disapproval in her eyes when she realized who I was standing with. I saluted her with my drink as I suddenly spotted Caroline across the room, dressed in her hot pink flapper dress, a long strand of white beads, and a purple feathered headdress in her immaculately styled blonde hair. She chatted with Matt who was restocking the ice near the punch bowl. Caroline brightened when she caught my eye and raised a hand to wave at me but faltered when she spotted Nik standing beside me and paled and turned away. At the same moment, I saw Matt nudge Caroline and pointed with a frown on his face towards the entrance.
I followed his pointing finger, and inwardly swore when Tyler sauntered in. I chanced a look at Nik, and he appeared seemingly oblivious to his first hybrid's reappearance. But then again, looks can be deceiving. Caroline breaks away from Matt and approaches Tyler, and not for the first time; I wished that I had enhanced vampire hearing, so I could hear their conversation. But I could tell that Caroline was both anxious and upset that Tyler was taking a risk like this when Nik was literally within earshot of them.
"Shall we dance?" Nik suddenly asks, and I don't hesitate to say 'yes'. We set down our empty glasses and Nik leads me to the dancefloor, which was playing a bouncy jazz tune. He expertly shows me some simple dance steps authentic to the 1920s that had us both laughing and having a 'jolly good time' since our last dance together during the Mikaelson's Ball. The dance finished, and both Nik and I clapped appreciatively before he began to lead me off the dancefloor, conveniently right in the direction of where Caroline and Tyler were beginning to slow dance to a waltz number that began playing, and my eyes widened in alarm.
"Nik wait a second. Let us take a photo!" I suggested brightly, and Nik immediately frowned.
"Grace…" He whined, and I pouted once again.
"Hey, since when have you been camera shy?" I scolded him. "You had no problem posing for a photograph with Stefan back in the day." I pointed out, and Nik sighed patiently.
"That's different, love."
"How?" I persisted, and Nik sighed once again before nodding. I grinned happily and pulled my phone from my purse and set it to selfie mode. "Ready?" I hovered my finger over the button and watched Nik – surprisingly – smile a genuinely happy and slightly amused smile at the camera and I flashed a toothy one as I pushed down the button. Nik was about to pull away, but I held firm. "One more for good luck." I insisted, and Nik rolled his eyes but nodded. I waited until the last minute and turned to peck him on his stubbly cheek. But Nik seemed to anticipate this and turned his head so that we ended up in a lip lock just as I pushed the button.
"Nice picture." Nik commented light-heartedly, taking my phone, and looking at the picture as I looked at him in astonishment. "Now, if you'll excuse me for a moment. There's somebody I need to speak to." I nodded as he handed me my phone back and I watched him weave his way through the crowd of dancing students towards an oblivious Tyler and Caroline.
"Shit!" I cursed underneath my breath and moved to follow him to hopefully intervene if possible. I knew the moment that Tyler spotted him was when his whole face darkened.
"What is it?" Caroline asked him, her back to Nik and me.
"Where've you been mate?" Nik casually asks Tyler, but you could tell that there was anger cleverly hidden within his cordial manner. Caroline and Tyler broke apart and turned to look at us.
"I just got back in town." Tyler replied with exaggerated politeness. "Hey, Grace." He acknowledged me, and I smiled back.
"That's funny, I don't recall giving you permission to leave in the first place." Nik retorted evenly, before directing his attention towards Caroline. "You don't mind if I cut in, do you?" He asks, extending a hand towards her and Caroline reacted in outrage.
"Yes! Actually, we do." Caroline replied, angrily. "Plus, your fiancée is standing right there." She indicated towards me, and I looked at Nik in askance, wondering what he was up to. Nik smiled reassuringly at me, and I relaxed a little; but still felt curious about what he wanted Caroline's attention for. The girl in question went to protest again when Tyler interrupted.
"No, it's fine." He stated, glaring at Nik.
"What! But Tyler…" Caroline protested, but Tyler stepped back. She glares at Nik. "Why do you always have to prove you're the alpha male?!" She demanded. I frowned at her choice of words.
"Caroline." I scolded her, but Nik shrugged, caring less about Caroline's temper tantrum.
"I don't have to prove anything, love. I am the alpha male." Nik insisted, confidently. I shot him an unimpressed look which he countered with a warning look and I shook my head, rolling my eyes. "Come on, one dance, I won't bite." Nik cajoled to Caroline who looks at Tyler in annoyance, before skeptically taking Nik's hand. "I won't be long, darling." He promises me, and I look at him with a raised eyebrow and a slight smile. Nik leads Caroline out onto the dance floor, while Tyler watches in obvious resentment, and I sighed and turned towards the punch bowl.
"You're okay with this?" Tyler approached me as I reached for a red plastic cup and ladled some punch into it. I turned to look at him and then at Nik and Caroline swaying from side-to-side in the middle of a conversation, that Caroline appeared to be puzzling over.
"I trust him." I responded taking a sip from the cup, while Tyler scoffed in disbelief. "Although, I can see that you don't trust her." I observed, causing Tyler to look at me with open scorn.
"Not her, him." Tyler insisted.
I snorted, "That's obvious, but unnecessary. Nik has no interest for her, they're actually good friends." I pointed out, and Tyler looked at me skeptically. "By the looks of the conversation they're having, Nik's just offering her some advice."
"What advice?" Tyler sounded worried.
"Unlike you, I don't have enhanced hearing nor am I a lip-reader." I said, draining what was left of my drink and tossing the empty cup into the trash. "My advice to you, is to let things run its course. Nik and I are leaving town with our family tomorrow, so you'll won't have to deal with us anymore." I told him, and Tyler's face lit up a little, but immediately soured as he looked at Nik and Caroline doubtfully. I sighed and began to walk away from Tyler and the drinks table. "One more thing. Knock it off with the petty jealousy and resentment. Or you'll lose more than just Caroline in the long run." I advised.
I turned and made my way to the main entrance, craving a bit of night air from the slightly stuffy gymnasium.
Outside
Night
I stepped out into the fresh, brisk night air and drew in a lungful of air as I tugged my shawl tighter around myself, trying to shut out the wind. Students brushed past me on their way out of the gym to do who knew what as I walked aimlessly along the path, waiting for Nik to be done with whatever he was talking with Caroline about so we could go home. Something crunched underneath my shoe, and I glanced down instinctively.
"What the hell?" I blurted out loud when I saw salt on the ground and squatted to touch it with my hand. "Is this some sort of prank?" I wondered and straightened up brushing the residue of the powdery salt from my gloves with my fingers.
"Grace!" I turned towards the panicked voice and saw Henrik running up to me looking agitated.
"Henrik? What's wrong? What are you doing here, I thought you were spending time with Kol?" I asked, glancing around, and expecting Kol to appear from out of nowhere looking just as grave as Henrik did.
"I was. But somebody from the Other Side summoned me to the Old Cemetery. You won't believe what I saw there." Henrik explained.
"What? What did you see?" I immediately asked, knowing instinctively that it could not be anything good, if Henrik's reaction was anything to go by.
"Mother. I do not know what she's up to, but I think it has something to do with Elena. She was following her." He said, darkly.
I bit my bottom lip. "You're right, I can't believe it." I growled in frustration. "Doesn't she know when to quit?" I stated rhetorically. My shoes crunched again on the salt and I looked down with confusion. "What the hell is this salt doing here?"
"It's a salt line. A binding agent for one of Mother's spells." Henrik explained, falling back on the teachings Esther must have taught him when he was still alive and an apprentice warlock.
"So, it's a barrier to keep things in?" I guessed and Henrik nodded. "Oh, great. I'm stuck in here?"
"No. I was hiding in the shadows earlier, and I saw Damon and Stefan attempting to leave but couldn't." He stated and I frowned.
"So, it keeps in vampires and other supernatural entities. Which means Nik won't be able to get out." I realized.
"Where are you going with that?" Henrik frowned, then his eyes widened when he realized what I was intending on doing. "Oh no! You're not serious." I ignored him and took a deliberate step over the salt line. "Are you crazy? Niklaus will go ballistic when he finds out." Henrik insisted, trying to block my path.
"Somebody's gotta stop Esther, even if it's just to stall her until somebody stronger can take over." I insisted, stubbornly. "Take me to the Old Cemetery, maybe I can stall for time."
Henrik glanced at the gym, then back at the forest and me before sighing resignedly.
"I just know I'm going to regret this." He begrudgingly waves at me to follow him and I fall into step beside him. "Good thing I'm already dead…" He muttered, as we both hiked through the trees.
I hoped we would get there before Esther could do something stupid.
Mystic Falls Old Cemetery
Night.
Several nearly turned ankles later traipsing through the woods: climbing over fallen trees and tripping on large roots, Henrik and I came up to a clearing where Esther and Elena approached the old Salvatore Mausoleum, and disappeared inside it. I groaned in irritation, as we both immediately followed them inside, keeping to the shadows to avoid being spotted.
"This eavesdropping thing I've been doing, has become an unhealthy habit of mine and it's becoming really annoying." I bitched trying to avoid being seen by Esther, Elena, and a smirking evil looking Alaric, much to my horror and dismay.
"Hey! It was your decision to come down here, not mine!" Henrik whisper-shouted back at me, rolling his eyes at my complaints.
"Well, you could've tried harder to stop me!" I retorted a little childishly, not willing to admit that coming down here was a stupid, foolish mistake. Still, it was too late now to turn back; might as well follow it through to the end, whatever it may be.
"If I recall, that's what I tried to do back at the school. So, stop coming down on me!" Henrik scolded, angrily. I turned and focused on the rather macabre scene unfolding before my eyes. Esther was going about the room lighting candles, and preparing her spell, while Elena was frowning at Alaric with concern.
"Ric, this isn't what you want. It's not who you are." Elena was attempting to appeal to Alaric's light side and failing miserably. A sneer appeared on the ex-hunter's unshaven face.
"You don't know who I am, Elena. You only know the weakest parts of me, the man who lost his way befriending vampires instead of killing them." He stated with disgust. Elena looked shocked at what he was saying.
"You don't mean that."
"They're all monsters." Alaric insisted. "The blood of their victims is on my hands. Jenna's blood is on my hands." Esther straightened up from what she was doing and turned towards Alaric, gesturing with her hand to come over to her.
"When you are ready." She called, and Alaric nodded and moved towards Esther. Elena immediately stepped into his path, trying to stop him.
"I don't like this." Henrik fretted; his nervousness displayed prominently on his eternally youthful face. I did not respond to that. I was too busy trying to figure out a way to stall for time before Esther could do something irreversible.
"No Ric, please don't!" Elena begged him, but Alaric roughly shoved Elena aside and continued walking towards a patient Esther. Elena frowned defiantly at the Original Witch. "I won't help you, I'm not gonna give you my blood, you're gonna have to kill me!"
Esther smirked, "That won't be necessary." She gestures towards Elena, who lets out a pained gasp when a cut opens in the palm of her hand and starts bleeding. Now was the time to act.
"That's enough, Esther!" I shouted, striding determinedly into the stale, mildewed room and Esther looked up at me with boredom. "Let her go!"
"Nice of you to join us, my dear." She greeted me, casually. I swore underneath my breath; should have known she had sensed that we were there. "And don't loiter in the doorway, Henrik, it's rude." She called out to an angry looking Henrik who stepped up beside me, glaring hatefully at his own mother. "Do make yourselves at home, I'll attend to you shortly."
"That's likely." I drawled, reaching for Elena's uninjured hand to pull her towards me so I could hide her behind me and give ourselves a chance. Instead, I found myself flying and impacting against an old stone tomb, landing in a painful heap on the ground.
"Grace!" Hollers both Elena and Henrik; the latter rushing to my side to help me up. I groan in pain and look up in time to see Esther grab Elena's wrist and hold it above a ceremonial bowl, letting her blood pour straight into it.
"Drink. And let it be done." Esther instructs Alaric, who nods and reaches for the bowl.
"Don't!" I shout.
"No Ric please, don't…" Elena echoes. But Alaric ignores us and drinks down Elena's blood. "NO!" He puts down the bowl and looks at Esther, curiously.
"Is it finished?" He asks, and Esther smiles, shaking her head.
"Not just yet."
She deliberately stakes Alaric in the heart.
"No!" Elena screams. My eyes widen in horror as Alaric grunts and folds in on himself; his mouth opened in silent pain as he collapses to the ground.
"What did you do?!" I screamed at Esther, who raises her hand, making a clenching motion with it. I immediately start choking and clawed at my throat desperately to remove what felt like an invisible hand squeezing it tightly.
"Mother, stop! Leave her alone!" Henrik roars, rushing at his mother to physically stop her, but thuds against a protective barrier Esther raises to protect herself against her virtually harmless ghost son.
Coward.
Elena rushes over to Alaric's side and pulls the white oak stake (where'd the hell did Esther get that?!) out of his side. I continue struggling with the invisible hand.
"He'll wake soon." Esther reassures Elena, who glowers at her. "When he does, he may for a time be his old self. If so, you can say your goodbyes before his transition is complete." Elena drops the bloodied stake and rises to her feet, turning towards Esther with utter loathing and distain on her face.
"You said you wanted to undo the evil that you created. But this…" She gestures towards Alaric's dead body, Henrik, who was still pounding desperately on the barrier to help, and to me. "This is just as evil!"
I could not help but feel slightly surprised that Elena, who turned her back upon our friendship the second she realized that I was not going to turn my back upon Nik for any reason, was defending me. I would have thought she would have been backing Esther up with her mutual desire to get rid of me and the Mikaelson's.
"Alaric will never be what my children became." Esther responded, unconcerned about Elena's ire. "I have granted him enough power to complete his task. When the time is right, he will die."
"How, if he's immortal?" I croaked.
Esther raised an eyebrow. "All you both need to know is that when this is over, we will have rid the earth of vampires once and for all."
Suddenly, my phone starts ringing from my beaded purse, which I had dropped when I had been flung across the mausoleum like a ragdoll.
"Who made you judge, jury and executioner? Can't you see what damage you'll be inflicting if you follow through with this plan?" I pointed out, and Elena nodded in agreement.
"You'll be killing the good along with the bad." Elena stated as Esther walked over to where my purse had fallen and bent over to pick it up. "You're no better than Klaus!"
Ignoring my protests, Esther opened the drawstrings of my purse and reached in to pull out my phone, blinking at the name that flashed on the screen with interest.
"I desire a world where you and your loved ones will not suffer at the hands of vampires, like your Aunt Jenna did." Esther insisted.
"Don't you dare use Jenna as an excuse for what you've done." Elena yelled, furiously. Esther continued examining my phone as she strolled unhurriedly over to me, and I stared at her suspiciously as black spots started forming before my eyesight.
"It appears that my son is trying to call you, dear." Esther reports, holding out my phone to me with the screen facing out. My eyes zeroed in on the name and I felt all the blood drain from my face. I was in so much trouble. "I'm afraid modern technology still eludes me." Esther admitted, frowning a bit. She gestures and the invisible hand around my throat stops throttling me, and I start coughing and drawing in deep lungsful of air. "Be a dear and answer it, please." She orders me, and I straighten up and glared at her.
"Go to hell." I suggest instead. Esther sighs heavily and turns towards Elena; whose eyes widen when Esther holds out my phone to her.
"Alright then. Since my daughter-in-law is being so stubborn, you answer it." Elena hesitates as she glances between both Henrik and me, and then at Alaric's corpse lying on the dead leaf strewn mausoleum floor and back to Esther who frowns impatiently at her. "Now please, Elena." Esther insists, sternly.
I snatch back my phone from her.
"Fine." I hit answer and put the phone to my ear, reluctant to speak. "Hello?" I answer, wincing at how raspy my voice sounded from being restricted for so long. I seriously needed a glass of water.
"Sweetheart? Are you alright?" Nik questioned, sounding concerned.
"Nothing a glass of water won't cure." I replied dismissively.
"Where are you? It appears Mother has trapped me, the Salvatore's, Caroline and the Bennett witch in the school, and has taken Elena—"
"Niklaus, help!" Henrik shouts out; and Esther glowers at her youngest son just as Nik's voice responds.
"Henrik? What's going on? What's wrong?" Nik demands, alert. Esther pulls my phone out of my hand, and lazily waves her hand at me, causing me to stumble backwards towards Henrik who grunted in pain when I collided with him.
"Nothing's wrong, dear." Esther replies. "Everything is going according to plan." I could tell that Nik was angrily screaming down the line into his mother's ear, as she winced and held the phone away a little. "Lower your voice, Niklaus. Neither of them will come to harm, as long as they do as I say."
Both Elena, Henrik and I jerk towards a sudden noise coming from outside, and Esther goes to investigate with the three of us not too far behind.
"Don't move!" We hear Matt demanding Esther, and we walk closer and see that he is aiming a rifle at her, and Jeremy, who had come along with him, was holding up a crossbow with the same intentions.
"Where's Elena?" Jeremy growls, protectively. Esther rolls her eyes.
"I must go, dear. Company has arrived." Esther tells Nik before hanging up and looking at both teenagers with boredom. I shuddered, knowing very well that Nik would be at this moment the equivalent of an atom bomb, ready to explode, and I was not looking forward to the likely heated conversation we would be having later when all this was taken care of.
Elena rushes past me and goes outside, and I was quick to follow to stop her from probably making a careless mistake.
"Jeremy!"
"Elena, wait!" I protested, grabbing her shoulder to stop her, but the stubborn girl rips her arm out of my grip.
"Grace? You're here too?" Jeremy blinks at me in horror, before glowering at Esther. "Let them go!" Esther smirks at both Jeremy and Matt, condescendingly.
"How foolish of you, to risk your lives in defense of those who will kill you. But if that is your choice…" Henrik, Elena, Jeremy, Matt and I watched in alarm when Esther uses her powers to make Jeremy and Matt turn and point their weapons at each other.
I launched myself at Esther, hoping to distract her long enough to disrupt the spell she was casting.
"Leave them out of this!" I snarled, but it appeared that Esther did not need eye contact to maintain control. The rifle and crossbow remained pointed at their targets.
"Matt! Matt drop your gun!" Jeremy started to panic.
"I can't! I'm not controlling it!" Matt stated, trying, and failing to stop himself. Elena stepped forward to help me subdue Esther.
"Esther stop it!" She cried. I reached down and pulled my dagger from my thigh holster and brandished it at Esther's throat. She froze, staring me down and Elena looked at me in horror.
"Release them. Or I'll slit your throat!" I promised, fiercely. Suddenly, Esther let out a pained gasp and crumpled to the floor. Bewildered, Elena and I looked at her, then at the person who stopped her. "Holy shit…"
"Alaric?" Elena whispered, looking horrified.
Alaric looked dreadful, which was understandable considering that he had been dead for a good twenty minutes, give or take. But Henrik, Elena and I were still wary of him, trying to figure out if he was still evil, or back to 'normal' so to speak.
"Oh my God." Alaric looks at his hand, and blanched. "Where's my ring? Tell me what happened?" He demands us. I let out a sigh of relief, but it was only momentary as I remembered Esther saying that once he awoke Alaric would be in transition.
"Oh, Christ. I am so sorry, Alaric. I truly am." I murmured feeling sorry for the poor man. Alaric blinked at me in confusion.
"You're sorry? What for? What did you do?" He questioned me, then looked at Elena who had tears brimming in her eyes. I did not respond, instead I turned towards Elena and gestured towards him with my hand.
"Nothing. Elena will tell you the rest." I reassured him, before gently grabbing Henrik's arm and pulling him away from the door to the mausoleum, but not before I stoop down to take back my phone from Esther's limp hand. Jeremy follows Elena and Alaric back inside, while Matt frowns at us in confusion.
"What's going on?" He asks me, and I smile sadly at him.
"Nothing good." I reply and lean into Henrik when he wraps an arm around my shoulders and allowed me to lean into him for comfort.
Henrik and I moved away from the mausoleum to sit together against a nearby tombstone, giving Elena and Jeremy time with Alaric, whom we all knew would not be going through with the transition. Matt stood closer to the entrance, also being respectful, but wary of both Henrik and I due to our connection to the Originals. I was staring off in the distance, not really looking at anything while leaning my head against Henrik's shoulder. I could feel dried mascara tear tracks on my cheeks and knew that it would not be the last tears that I would be shedding this night.
Henrik had his arm wrapped around my shoulders, trying to both comfort and keep me warm in the brisk night air. He too had dried tear tracks on his cheeks but was trying to keep a stiff upper lip and maintain a sense of manly pride that had been engrained in him by Mikael all those years ago. It would be pointless to tell the young Viking boy that it was okay to cry every once and a while nowadays. Nobody would think any different of him if he did. On occasion, I had seen even Nik shed a tear or two, but only if he believed nobody was watching.
"Grace!? Henrik?!" I felt more than noticed Henrik shift slightly to signal to Nik where we were. Heavy footsteps approached where we were sitting not too far away from Esther's corpse. "Of all the idiotic, foolish things to do!" Nik yelled at us both. Henrik shifted again, pulling himself out from underneath my shoulder and leaning me gently against the aged tombstone we were leaning on as he stood up to address his older brother.
"Easy, brother." Henrik admonished him calmly, as fresh tears slid down my cheeks once again. "It has not been an easy night for us." He added, sadly. Black shoes stepped into view and I found myself looking into Nik's partially annoyed and concerned face when he squatted before me. A hand smooths away fresh tears from my face, and I focus.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Nik asked gently. I turned my head towards Esther's fallen body and Nik followed my gaze, his eyes narrowing sharply when he sees his mother, and the bloody stain on her back where the white oak stake had penetrated.
"Only everything." I replied dully. "Your mother placed an Original vampire spell upon Alaric, like the one that she placed upon you and your siblings… and then killed him." Nik's eyes widened. "He's now currently in transition."
"Damn her…" Nik growled lowly.
"Only he's not going to complete transition." Henrik added, looking miserably at the entrance to the Salvatore Mausoleum.
"So, Elena and Jeremy are currently saying their goodbyes to him as we speak." I explained, wiping away a fresh tear that dripped down my cheek. Nik nodded, straightening up from his squat and offered me a hand to get to my feet. I accepted it, and Nik gently pulls me to my feet and wraps his arm around my waist, absently trying to comfort me as he kisses my temple and stares calculatingly at Esther's corpse, silently figuring out his next move.
"Grace?"
Damon came running up from the trees and I avoided looking right at him, choosing instead to look up at the night sky as I choked back tears, and hugged myself against the chill. I felt Nik rest his forehead against my temple and his warm breath against my cheek as he let out a frustrated, weary sigh.
"I'll just be over here." He mutters gently into my ear. I nodded, swallowing hard as tears continued trickling down my face. Nik kisses my cheek and moves away to where Esther was lying face down in the dirt and dead leaves.
"Hey," Damon's worried and concerned face darts into view and my eyes swivel towards him. "Are you okay? What's going on?" He asks, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder that I barely respond to.
"It's Alaric." I replied, ignoring the question of whether or not I was okay.
"What about him?" Damon demanded, serious. He glances over at what Nik was doing and raises an eyebrow. "What's with the leftovers?" I immediately glare at him for the comment, at the same time that Nik suddenly turns and hisses at him angrily.
"Enough, Damon. Show a little respect." I snapped at him, wiping away the tears. "Esther might have been up to no good, but she still was somebody's mother. Watch your tongue." Nik hefts his mother's corpse into his arms, and strides over towards us, choosing to ignore Damon for the time being.
"Don't be too long, love." Nik warns me, and I nodded.
"I won't be long." I promised and returned my attention back to an annoyed and confused looking Damon as Nik blurred off with Esther's body.
"You still haven't answered my question, you know." Damon reminded me, and I sighed.
"I'm getting to it." I replied. "It's just not easy to explain, Damon. You're not going to like what I have to tell you." I turned and walked with a determination towards his family's ancient crypt.
"What is it?"
"Alaric's in transition. Esther attempted to change him into an Original vampire like her children … but she failed." I reluctantly reveal, and Damon immediately looks stunned by this revelation.
"Are you serious!?" Damon raked a hand through his inky hair. "Has he made a decision about what he wants to do next?" He demanded. My silence spoke volumes, and Damon swore underneath his breath. "Do Jeremy and Elena know?" Damon asked urgently and I thumbed over my shoulder at the entrance.
"They're already in there, talking with Alaric. They don't know that Alaric's already chosen not to complete it, and he's going to tell them if he hasn't already." I spoke. Damon nodded looking grim.
"I better tell everyone else. Give 'em a chance to say goodbye or somethin'" Damon muttered, pulling out his phone at the same time.
I nodded, "Good idea."
Damon turned and walked off to complete his task, while I turned and headed back inside the crypt with the intention of saying goodbye before heading back. I nodded at Matt who gave me a sad smile, as I yanked open the gate and pass through. I was almost at the main area of the mausoleum when I heard Jeremy's distraught voice suddenly yell out: "No, no we can't!"
I winced, but stubbornly made myself push on. This would be my only chance to pay my last respects to Alaric before I would leave Mystic Falls with Nik and the rest of our family. I stepped into the light the candles Esther had lit in the dark tomb, and paused seeing Alaric attempting to making an angry, weepy Jeremy see reason. Elena stood off to the side a little, also fighting back tears.
"Listen, Jeremy, it's the right thing to do, okay?" Alaric insisted. "After everything that's happened, after all that I have done. Maybe I had it coming." Jeremy chooses to respond to this by turning around and walking away, heading in my direction. I stiffened, intending on stepping aside to let him go past without a fight, but Elena steps into her brother's path.
"Hey, wait, Jer." Elena intercepts, before turning to address Alaric. "Alaric, this isn't your fault." She insists, causing Jeremy to turn around to face him as well. Alaric immediately shuts down, resolved in his decision.
"Please, you guys let's not make this any harder than it already is." He pleads, tearfully. "You two should go. Damon and Grace are here. They'll make sure it'll go down the right way."
Elena scoffed bitterly, "I probably wouldn't hold your breath about Grace, Alaric. She's probably long gone by now with Klaus."
I stepped deeper into the light, drawing attention to myself from the three of them; still hugging myself against the bitter chill.
"Guess again." I muttered, scornfully. Alaric blinks at me in astonishment.
"Grace? This is a surprise." Alaric observed, and I offered him a weak smile in response.
"Couldn't very well leave without saying a proper goodbye. That would be rude and disrespectful." I pointed out and earned a grateful smile from him. Jeremy resumes walking away.
"Hey, hey—"
"Don't." Jeremy turns on Alaric, tearfully. "Don't give me some crap speech about how I need to be the man of the house." He growls.
Alaric smiled, "Okay, I won't." He reaches out and wraps Jeremy up in a hug, which the teen reciprocates before he finally walks away. Alaric turns towards Elena and me but focuses mainly on Elena who has lost the battle with keeping her tears at bay.
"This is all my fault. You moved out, you gave me your ring back, you didn't want any part of this and I, I forced you to stay and take care of us." Elena sobbed, and I bit my bottom lip and turned away.
"Don't do that, okay." Alaric scolds her gently. "Taking care of you and Jeremy has been…" His voice breaks with emotion, but he takes a deep breath and continues. "Has been the closest I've ever come to the life I always wanted." Elena rushes at him and pulls Alaric into a tearful hug and cries. He buries his head into Elena's crown.
"I'm sorry." I croaked, causing Alaric and Elena to look over at me. "I'm sorry that all this happened to you. You didn't deserve any of this. It's not fair." I raged through gritted teeth.
"Since when has life ever been fair, Grace?" Alaric questioned me, not unkindly, as Elena steps away from him and wipes at her eyes. "The trick to all of this, is just keep moving forward and accept what life throws at you. That all we can do." He added, sagely.
I smiled, "It's been an honor and a privilege to have known you, sir." I responded. "May you find peace."
"Thank you." Alaric said, and opened his arms to me in invitation. I immediately accepted without question and squeezed him as tight as I dared. "You both should go."
Elena nods and turns to walk out of the tomb. Alaric and I quickly follow her, and we suddenly come upon a gathering of people standing just outside the tomb: Stefan, Damon, Caroline and Tyler, Matt, Bonnie (minus her date), Jeremy and Alaric's girlfriend Meredith, who was in tears. Lit candles are scattered all around them, which causes Alaric to smile, touched by the gesture.
"Lo þar gerekr sjá minn faðir; lo þar gerekr sjá minn móðir ok minn systirokr minn bróðira; lo þar gerekr sjá linerinn ór minn fólk, aptr til beginningrinn." I chanted in Old Norse, earning looks of confusion from everyone there as I walked over to stand beside Damon.
"What is she saying?" I heard Jeremy whisper out loud to whoever was standing beside him.
"Grace is reciting a Viking Funeral Prayer in the mother tongue." I recognized Henrik's voice responding, and I questioned where he had disappeared off to before all this.
"Lo, þeir gerkallar til mik, þeir bið mik takminnr staðr among þau, inn hallanórr valhalla, hvere braveinn Mayliver forever." I continued the prayer, not even flinching when I felt Damon reach over to hold my hand to bring me some comfort.
"Can you translate?" Caroline asks, quietly. I didn't need to glance over to see Henrik nod and clear his throat.
"Lo there do I see my father; Lo there do I see my mother and my sisters and my brothers; Lo there do I see the line of my people, back to the beginning. Lo, they do call to me, they bid me take my place among them, in the halls of Valhalla." Here Henrik breaks off, also fairly emotional as well, despite having had little to no association with Alaric, after all this time. "Where the brave may live forever."
Henrik finished the translation, just as we all saw Alaric tear up and nod at all of us, before turning and heading back into the tomb; closing the heavy metal gate behind him.
Mikaelson Mansion
Night
After the impromptu memorial service given for Alaric at the Salvatore Crypt, in his final hours; Henrik and I made our way back to the family mansion, a somber mood heavy between us. Neither of us spoke, at least not until we passed through the threshold of the mansion and were greeted by a grave looking Kol.
"Are you alright, sister?" Kol demanded gently, as he came over to me and took in my sorrowful expression. "Nik showed up with our mother's body in his arms, but he didn't stop to explain himself. Perhaps you could share?"
I sighed, heavily.
"Esther attempted to turn a friend of mine into an Original vampire like yourself." I mumbled, dully. "She failed though, and he's not completing transition." The next thing I knew, I was burying my face into Kol's button-up shirt and silently sobbing. Like I hadn't already shed enough tears this night.
"You're okay, darling. I've got you." Kol murmured comforting words into my hair, squeezing me tightly, like he used to when we were just children long ago. I nodded but didn't pull away from him.
"I think I'll turn in. Goodnight, brother." Henrik made a hasty withdrawal, leaving Kol to pick up the pieces of my shattered mood. It's funny; Kol's presence is one of the few things that bring me comfort. Mostly because of our relationship as 'twins' in my former life, and because he; like the rest of the males in our dysfunctional family, tended to be overprotective. Especially towards Rebekah and myself. After a few moments, I pulled myself together and stepped away from Kol, smiling warmly and appreciatively at him.
"Thank you." I said, sincerely.
"Always. There's nothing I wouldn't do for family, even if most of us are insufferable or boring." Kol smirked a little, and I laughed. "But are you okay now?" He asked, genuinely concerned, reaching over to caress my cheek fondly.
I shook my head, "No. But I will be eventually. Especially when we eventually leave this bloody town and start over." I replied, honestly.
"Words cannot express how much I agree with you, dearest." Kol grinned at me. I rolled my eyes and shook my head as I stepped over to him to plant a kiss on his cheek.
"Goodnight, Kol." I murmured tiredly and watched as he blurred away somewhere in the mansion. I walked towards the staircase with the intention of going upstairs and preparing for bed when a light caught my eye. I realized that it was coming from the room Esther and Evil Alaric had daggered Rebekah in order to release Esther from possessing her daughter, as part of her plans to get rid of them once and for all.
Cautiously, I approached the room and looked in, freezing in mid-step when I saw Nik standing between two open coffins. One that held Rebekah, whom he immediately undaggered and set aside the silver blade, before turning and addressing Esther who was lying in the other coffin. His face was cold and full of fury, but also held a miniscule amount of triumph on it as well. I decided to maintain Nik's privacy, and turned to continue walking towards the main staircase. I fear that when he is in this kind of mood, he can be unpredictable and thus very dangerous.
"Your trap failed, mother." Nik suddenly spoke up. I stopped and turned to watch, curious. "I live and I will go on living. Let your beloved spirits try to preserve you again, I dare you to come after me!" Nik warned, furiously. "I will build an army so big; no one will ever touch me. My survival will haunt you through eternity. You will never destroy me!" He vowed, and I felt overwhelming dread. Twenty centuries worth of fear, anger, hatred, loneliness, and paranoia may end up being my beloved Nik's undoing, and I decided then and there, that somehow I would help Elijah seek out a way to find something that would help redeem Nik, before he would be beyond saving.
I love him with all my heart, and God knows he deserves peace, love and understanding. But creating an army of Hybrids to defeat his enemies and make him seemingly untouchable, cannot and never will be the solution to his problems. I just wish that he could see that. I turned away from the door with a heavy sigh and walked slowly and silently towards the staircase, making my way upstairs and towards our bedroom. I reached back for the zipper that held up my dress and dragged it slowly down, before allowing it to drop to the floor and pool around my feet. Then clad only in my expensive French knickers with suspender belts and my silk stockings, I sauntered towards the en-suite; uncaring that I was half naked and that Nik could walk in at any moment and cop an eyeful of my lack of apparel.
I retrieved a fresh pair of pajamas, removed the pins from my hair and brushed out all the hairspray Emma had polluted the earth with to hold my hair in place, with my hairbrush, then scrubbed my face clean of make-up so that it was slightly red, like a mild sunburn.
After a long refreshing shower, I toweled myself off, got dressed in my flannel pajama bottoms and a blank tank top, pulled on one of Nik's oversized jumpers and a pair of my woolen socks, before walking over to the fireplace; which was already crackling away and emitting a lovely warm heat. I sat down in front of the hearth and curled one of my legs underneath myself, while resting my chin on my bent knee and just stared at the dancing orange-yellow flames; deep in brooding-mode.
What occurred tonight should never have happened, and now the world has lost another kind-soul; corrupted by the dodgy protection imbued Gilbert ring that once belonged to Elena's Uncle/Father, John Gilbert, and was killed just to create a supposedly unstoppable version of the Mikaelson's. It was a tragic, needless waste. It wasn't long before I realised that the warmth and smoke of the fireplace was making me drowsy, and the next thing I knew I was being gently shaken awake by a slightly bemused, but kindly smiling Nik who was still dressed in his 1920s suit.
"Maybe you should get into bed, sweetheart. You'll get a creak in your neck sleeping in that position." He suggested, and I nodded and yawned; accepting his help up from the floor and sleepily padded my way towards the bed, guided by Nik so I didn't faceplant on the way. "I won't be a moment, love." Nik promised, unbuttoning his suit jacket, and disappearing into the Walk-in wardrobe.
I pulled back the duvet and climbed into the bed; absently registering Nik's calmer demeanor, than the one he had downstairs when he undaggered Rebekah. I sank down into the plush pillows and rolled over to face the window, away from the walk-in wardrobe. I was just about to doze off when I felt the mattress beside dip a little, and strong, warm arms wrap themselves around me and pull me close. I immediately snuggle up to Nik and laid my head against his chest, inhaling his familiar, comforting scent, and hearing his heart beating sluggishly underneath my ear.
I let out a contented hum as Nik leaned down to kiss my forehead, before making himself comfortable. His long, calloused fingers stroked my arm up and down comfortingly, and I smiled feeling safe and secure in his arms. Then something occurred to me.
"How's Rebekah?" I mumbled, tiredly. "Is she alright?" I felt Nik stiffen for a moment before relaxing as he let out a weary sigh.
"Furious; especially after she took one look at what I was wearing when she finally regained consciousness and realized she had missed out on the bloody Decade Dance." Nik responded, and I frowned.
"She needs to sort out her priorities. But at least she's alright. It can't have been pleasant being possessed by your mother for as long as she was." I stated, getting comfortable once again against Nik's chest. Nik didn't respond to that, and I assumed that he had drifted off to sleep. I was about to follow his example when he suddenly spoke up again.
"She did state that you'd better come down to the school to help her clean up tomorrow." I froze, inwardly whinging at the likely trash heap that bloody gymnasium would be. "You don't have to, sweetheart." Nik reminded me and I sighed.
"No. It's fine. I don't mind helping out, and I can show Rebekah pictures of last night's success … at least, up until—"
"Don't. Don't dwell on what's already happened. Let's just get some sleep." Nik stated firmly, as I rolled over and he buried his face into my neck, allowing his warm, slightly whiskey scented breath to blow on the peach fuzz of my neck.
"Sweet dreams. I love you." Nik mumbled.
"I love you too."
The next morning
I was awakened by the sounds of somebody pounding loudly on the bedroom door.
"Grace! Get up already, we've got work to do!" Rebekah yelled through the door, and I frowned in annoyance and rolled over, reaching for Nik. Instead, my hand came into contact with a piece of paper, and I sat up and picked it up glancing around, slightly hurt, and surprised that Nik wasn't here sawing logs as usual. "Grace! Don't ignore me and roll over to sleep! I won't hesitate to come in there and drag you from that bed!" Rebekah threatened.
"I'm up, Bekah. I'll meet you downstairs, promise." I yawned and cast my eyes down to read Nik's note:
'Sorry I wasn't here when you woke up, sweetheart. But there is lots to do if we want to get out of this town on time.' I read, and looked over at Nik's alarm clock, feeling my eyes widen from shock. 7:30am blinked back at me in red numbers. Christ! What time did he get up this morning?!
'Try to have a good day with Rebekah, and I'll see you later on tonight. I love you. Nik x'
I huffed in frustration and flipped the duvet over so I could sit on the edge of the bed and get my bearings. Five minutes later, I descended the staircase dressed in my black dungarees and my dark grey long-sleeved cardigan sweater, black converse Hi-tops and my long brown hair pulled back into a high ponytail. I fastened some large silver hoops in my earlobes and smeared some vanilla scented lip balm on my slightly chapped lips.
"That's what you're wearing?" was the first thing Rebekah said to me, the second I stepped into the dining room. I raised an eyebrow at this greeting.
"And a big 'Good morning' to you too, sister." I replied, sarcastically as I took a seat in my usual spot and accepted a mug of tea from a serving Hybrid. "Cheers."
"Sleep well, darling?" Kol piped up from where he was sitting, sipping from his usual glass of blood. "I hope your ordeal with mother last night didn't disturb your slumber." He added, before I had the chance to respond.
"I slept well." I said, reaching for some toast and smearing butter on it. "Although, I'm still experiencing a strange amount of dread though." I stated, reaching for the strawberry jam.
"Dread? What about?" Rebekah asked, her annoyance shifting to concern, as I sat back and took a bite from my toast. I shrugged; mouth full of toast.
"That's the frustrating part. I won't know until it's too late." I replied after swallowing.
"With our luck, it cannot be anything good." Kol pointed out. Both Rebekah and I scowled at him.
"Thank you, Mr. Doom and Gloom." I retorted, flatly.
"Just telling it like it is, love."
"Well, keep it to yourself next time." Rebekah suggested, dabbing daintily at the corners of her mouth to remove traces of the blood she just finished consuming. I glanced over at Nik's absent seat and glanced back at Kol and Rebekah enquiringly.
"Do you know where Nik is this morning?" I asked, curiously.
"Who cares?" Kol replied, innocently.
"He's overseeing arrangements for our departure." Henrik said, striding into the room and stopping at the end of the dining table. "You okay?" He asked me, worriedly.
"Fine." I nodded, smiling a little at him.
"By the way, Tyler Lockwood just arrived to help with the packing." Henrik reported.
"So? Let Nik know. He's his hybrid." Rebekah responded, getting to her feet. "We best be going, Grace." She orders me, and I rolled my eyes and drained the last of my tea and followed her out.
"You coming?" I asked Henrik, who shook his head.
"Nope. You're on your own there."
I grimaced, "Thanks." I walked out of the dining room and into the foyer where I spotted Tyler texting on his phone. He glanced up and grimaced a little when he saw Rebekah and I walking towards him. My sister ignored him, but I offered the teen a polite smile. "Good morning, Tyler."
"Hi." He grunted and returned his attention to his phone.
"Have a good day." I bid him and headed outside to where Rebekah was sulking against the passenger side door of my car. "Let's get this over with, shall we?" I suggested, opening my car with a click of my key fob. Rebekah nodded briefly and slide into the car, practically slamming it shut in her anger. "This is going to be a long day; I just know it." I muttered underneath my breath.
Mystic Falls High School
Day
Rebekah and I stepped into the gym, and I braced myself for the catastrophe that most likely awaited us. However, after stepping through the curtains; nothing looked obviously out of place or unusual.
"Huh. Not as bad as I thought it was going to be." I muttered out loud, as Rebekah grumpily stomps in, carrying the cleaning supplies we had collected from the Janitor's closet on our way in here and tears off a trash bag.
"At least you were here last night to see all this." She bitched, grabbing used red plastic cups and stuffing them inside the bag. "I was daggered the entire time."
I winced and followed suit, knotting up the bags when they were full and moving to fold up the plastic tablecloths to be disposed of later on. I decided that I would show the photos I had taken of the Decade Dance to Rebekah later on when she wasn't in this volatile mood. It would probably be seen by her as rubbing it in that she was deprived of the chance to have a normal teenage life by her selfish mother. A few minutes later, the gymnasium doors opened, and Caroline stepped through the curtains covering the entrance. Rebekah and I glanced at her; with Rebekah scowling at her in irritation. Caroline glanced around, obviously searching for someone.
"Where's Matt?" She asked us.
"He bailed." Rebekah said, still stuffing red plastic cups into a trash bag resentfully. "Got called into work at the last minute."
Caroline looked annoyed, "Are you kidding me? So, it's just you, me and Grace?"
"Yes, and you're late. Clean up committee started at eight O'clock." Rebekah bitched, as Caroline looked down at her phone and then at her with a raised eyebrow.
"It's like 8:02." Caroline pointed out and looked at me as though asking me what Rebekah's deal was. I looked at her and smiled but said nothing.
"Exactly. Grace and I managed to turn up on time and I didn't even get to attend the dance that I organized." Rebekah raged as she walks past Caroline to dump out the trash. Caroline bites down on her bottom lip, looking both awkward and sympathetic.
"I'm sorry about your mom." She offered, cautiously. Rebekah paused for a moment to give her eye contact. "I mean, I know you like, hated her and everything, but still … I'm sorry." Caroline said, sincerely. I grinned at the obvious olive branch, and mentally cheered in triumph when Rebekah gave a tiny smile in acknowledgement.
"I'm sorry about your teacher." Rebekah said. "He seemed like a nice guy." She admitted.
"Yeah, he was." I chimed in, coming over to them both. There was a comfortable silence as we all reflected on our separate losses. Then Rebekah broke it.
"I'm gonna get started on the cafeteria." She announced, and both Caroline and I nodded.
"I'll come help." I offered, and we both walked out into the hallway. Only to freeze when Alaric suddenly steps around the corner, smirking at the both of us. "Alaric?" I gasped, wondering if I was staring at his ghost.
"You're supposed to be dead!" Rebekah yelled, confirming that it wasn't Alaric's ghost that we were currently and impossibly conversing with. Alaric's smirk broadened.
"I am!"
Rebekah immediately rushes at him, but Alaric throws her against the locker.
"Rebekah!" I squealed in horror.
He raises the white oak stake he had used to stab Esther in the back and is about to stake my sister when Caroline barrels out of the gym and pins him to a nearby locker. Rebekah takes the opportunity to snatch the stake and impales it in Alaric. We all expected him to suddenly turn grey and shrivel up like a prune as he desiccated, but instead Alaric yanks it out of his chest.
"Oh My God!" I breathed, and suddenly the world blurs all around me. It took me two seconds to realize that either Rebekah or Caroline had grabbed me and gotten the hell out of the school.
"Go! Get out of here! Hurry!" Caroline urges the both of us as she rushes to her car. But she fumbled with her car keys, to freaked to unlock her car. Rebekah and I watched from a safe distance away as Alaric suddenly blurs behind her, looking pissed. I was about to shout out to Caroline, to alert her to Alaric's presence, but Rebekah covered my mouth with her hand.
"What are you doing!?" I growled at her, angrily. But Rebekah merely gestured in the direction of Caroline and Alaric and I turned back in time to see him snap Caroline's neck. He then drags her unconscious body back towards the school; ignoring the fact that his flesh was beginning to smoke and burn off underneath the direct sunlight. "What do we do now?" I fretted.
A/N: Another one bites the dust! Thanks for reading this latest chapter. Also, I would like to inform you that I have copied this story onto Wattpad. Just type in 'A Thousand Years' into the search bar or you can find the story underneath my pen name. It is the same as the pen name here on Fanfiction. This move is a precaution for future chapters, just in case. Please review and hope to see you back here for the next chapter.
TTFN xx