A/N: This is one of my favorite chapters in the story so I hope you guys like it :) And as always thank you guys for the follows, favorites and reviews! You're amazing!
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 Fourteen
Two months later
Caroline shivered under the blankets Esther had given her this morning. The weather had shifted over the past few weeks, the cold came quickly and while the family was prepared, Caroline had not been. Despite the precautions taken, the thicker clothes made and exchanged, not to mention the herbs from Esther, Caroline was sick and miserable. However Esther was convinced her pushing so hard with magic had also been a factor that caused her illness. Caroline felt too awful to argue it.
She had been pushing herself in the magical arts, she needed to build her strength and control over it. If she was going to get home or have any hope of even contacting her friends, she needed to master her powers and be perfect in all arenas of it. So the exertion combined with the weather did her in and living in a time where people died from the common cold didn't bode well for her. There wasn't any medicine for her to take besides some leaf water from Esther and resting, which meant Caroline basically had to hold on to her life on her own and hope her immune system would kick in.
Caroline turned on her side, since the rooms had been finished for the siblings to spread out, she was able to have the smaller one to herself while she recovered. Esther, Kol and Niklaus came to see her. Rebekah and Elijah were not allowed into the room, so they would stand by the window above her and say hello. Mikael needed Elijah to hunt, he couldn't risk getting him sick. Rebekah had been forbidden by Esther. Finn was a germaphobe which Caroline found hysterical and Henrik along with Rebekah were forbidden to come in due to their weaker immune systems.
As it turned out, Rebekah had a weak immune system compared to her siblings and if she got to too close would likely get sick. Caroline didn't want to risk getting any of them sick, so she didn't protest the others not visiting her. The only reason Kol was allowed to see her was because he could make the remedies and adjust them as needed beside her. Niklaus truthfully wasn't meant to be with her at all, but he refused to take no for an answer and forced his way in. Caroline could vaguely recall the fight from yesterday when she had fever and everyone was forced away from her. How Niklaus was shouting that he needed to be beside her.
At one point, though Caroline was certain she was hallucinating, he screamed, "I will not let my wife to be suffer alone!"
It had shocked Caroline, but as she was shuddering mess who could barely keep her eyes open or her breakfast down, she figured it wasn't real. Though when she woke up that evening, she found Niklaus sitting beside her and playing with her hair. The look on his face was heartbreaking, she had a feeling it was more than just her being sick.
Though he wasn't here with her when she woke up this morning, which was a bummer. But Esther brought her some bread and water which was great, not to mention Rebekah had poked her head in to say hello and get well soon before Esther called at her to get away. It brought a smile to her face, followed by a terrible cough. A cough she was barely holding back now. As she coughed sharply, she didn't notice that someone had joined her from the window view over head.
"How are you feeling today Miss Caroline," said Elijah above her.
Caroline tilted her head slightly to look at him, he noted her sickly complexion, "Like I'm sinking through the floor."
He made a sympathetic noise, "Apologies. Is there anything I can do?"
"You can tell me what's going on outside," Caroline suggested as she shivered under the blankets.
Her stomach was knotted, she felt as if she were on fire and freezing at the same time. Not to mention, she felt exhausted and weighed down. Last night had been an absolute nightmare for her as well. She could barely sleep, too much coughing and throwing up what little food she had eaten since she had thrown must of her breakfast and lunch. Every part of her body was sore and in some kind of pain. For a few long minutes last night, Caroline was certain she was going to die then.
She had already died once and the experience wasn't pleasant. At least that time, she woke up again as a vampire and her life had been strangely better off, but still. She still died and didn't want a repeat. Yet as she laid here miserable, she couldn't help, but wonder if this was how she would go. A common cold would be what took her down. And she would never see her friends or family again until they died more than a thousand years into the future.
Miserable was the perfect word to describe how she was doing, she was in desperate need of two things. A distraction and her mother. Though her mom was a terrible cook, her chicken noodle soup was one of the few things Caroline could stomach while sick like this. Plus her mom would actually be off work and look after her. As she laid there under the wool blankets in a different time, she really missed her mom and wanted her there by her side.
Elijah frowned at Caroline, he could see tears streaming down her cheeks and could only wonder how miserable she must be. The last person to be sick in their family was Kol, a few weeks before Caroline had arrived in their lives actually. He had been just as miserable and in pain, though he luckily recovered, it did little to lessen the fear his family members felt. Sickness usually meant death. After all, their older sister died from a cold as a child.
"Well Kol and Henrik are having sword fighting lessons as we speak," Elijah said with a smile, "I do believe Henrik will win this one easily, he shows much promise with the blade. Father seems to think he will make a fine warrior one day."
"Not Kol," Caroline asked hoarsely.
Elijah chuckled softly, he brought his arm up to rest on the edge as he looked into the distance, "I love my younger brother, but he is pitiful with a blade in comparison to the rest of us. Although he knows his way around the weapon, he is not great in battle."
Caroline inhaled deeply, she pulled the blankets tighter around her shoulders.
"Rebekah has been busying herself making you some flower decorations it would seem," Elijah continued on, his gaze now on her, "claiming that this room you occupy is far too dull and you will not get better without something more colorful."
"I bet she used those exact words," Caroline strained to get out before coughing into the blanket.
"Indeed she did. Finn left to go on some errand, though I imagine he's gone to see a certain woman in the village," Elijah said with a knowing look.
Caroline smirked, but said nothing in response.
"I know you were interested in the others, but Niklaus is the one you have been waiting to hear of," Elijah told her.
"Perhaps," Caroline whispered softly, she closed her eyes, "Lijah?"
"Yes?"
"I, I want to marry him someday, but I fear that, that I would be gone before we could have a future, the one he talks about."
"We all fear that we may not make it the future designs we have planned, but that does not stop us from enjoying what we have in front of us now."
"What if I don't make it to tomorrow?"
Elijah frowned, he glanced away from Caroline for moment. It was something he and his siblings had all considered a possibility, that she may not last to the next day. Niklaus had been angry, Rebekah was nearly reduced to tears at the thought of it, Henrik was silent and Kol stormed away. Finn just stood there somberly at the discussion and Elijah was saddened. Caroline had changed their lives for the better and he couldn't imagine not having her around.
"You will make it," Elijah said at last, "I have no doubt about it. You are strong willed and have a stubborn streak to rival Niklaus'. If anything, you are likely to stubborn to die."
Caroline choked out a laugh, "That sounds right. Lijah?"
"Yes," Elijah said, his tone questioning.
"Will you tell Niklaus I need to see him soon," Caroline said gently, "There is something I wish to tell him."
Elijah nodded, "You have my word."
Caroline smiles gratefully at him, sleep tugged at her mind and she didn't fight it. As she settled into her bed, she let the darkness carry her to a dream that was just a little too realistic…..
Caroline had just put her phone away as she quickly, at human speed, made her way downstairs. Elena had sent her a text saying that something was wrong, and she needed to come over as soon as possible. That meant no time for questions or to call and see, something big must have happened. The blonde vampire made it to the door when her mom called to her, "Caroline, wait."
Caroline stopped, she turned to see her mom standing in the living room, "Mom, what are you doing home? I thought you'd still be at work."
"I needed to speak with you so I came home early," her mom said, "We need to talk."
"Oh, okay uh sure what is it," Caroline asked with a frown and walked to stand in front of her mother.
"I know honey," was all her mom said.
Dread washed over Caroline and threatened to drown her in that moment. Panicking was not an option, there were a number of things that her mom could have found out about. Maybe something to do with drinking or when she skipped school or something that had nothing to down to the v-word or the supernatural community. Of course her mom knew of vampires, but she couldn't have known that she was one right? She compelled her to forget.
Caroline laughed nervously, "Okay, know what?"
"That you aren't human anymore," her mom said.
Caroline felt her heart sink, her throat tightened as she said, "You know what I am?"
"Yes," her mom nodded, "I know you're a vampire."
Caroline visibly swallowed. This was bad, this was really really bad. The last time her mom found out, things hadn't gone well until the third day of her mom being under house arrest. What if this reaction would be worst? What if Caroline was about to be walked into a trap by her own mom?
Liz noticed a million things flash across her daughters face, she rushed to reassure her, "I'm not upset Caroline. I remember what happened lastg time, when you compelled me. It's really okay, I won't hurt you or tell anyone. I promise sweetheart."
"How, how do you remember," Caroline choked out.
Her mom answered simply, she was relaxed, "I suspected days after you compelled me, not to mention you never came to me or your aunts about anything weird happening on your birthday before, and then Matt told me. He was spying on you so I could get more information, I am so sorry about that, but I needed to know everything I could. Then yesterday, I remembered thanks to some people you'll meet soon."
Caroline had been too stunned to care about the part about Matt spying on her, she could deal with that later. No, her focus was on some people who had her mom remember. As far as she knew, the compulsion could only be lifted by the compeller. She couldn't undo Damon's compulsion on someone else… could she? She hadn't seen it in action nor had she had a chance to test it out. Or maybe she had and just forgot.
"So, who broke the compulsion," Caroline asked with a frown, "And I'm going to meet them?"
Liz inhaled sharply, "The memories were given back to me. Oh Caroline there is so much I have to tell you about our family, I just don't know where to begin."
Caroline's brow furrowed, "What does our family have to do with this? I know you guys hate vampires-"
"The Forbes hate vampires, I married into that," Liz corrected her, "I'm talking about my line, the Maclynths. We're a family of witches, similar to Bonnie, but a different breed of magic. We don't draw power from nature or from every witch ancestors the way she can."
Caroline blinked, "Wait a minute. You're a witch? Mom that's not even funny we can't be witches."
Liz brought her hands up to rub her face, "God I wish Mare or Anna were here to talk to you about all this, they could explain it so much better. Alright, here goes." Her mom paused for a moment, readying herself to tell her daughter something she wasn't prepared to.
"The Maclynths is a bloodline of witches with our own specific breed of magic, we have uh magical cores in us, all witches do, but other witches channel something external or outside of themselves whereas we channel directly from our magical blood and soul," Liz explained uneasily, "I am not a witch. I chose not to be and my magical core, or channel, went to my sisters and to you."
"Magical core, channels, what does that mean exactly," Caroline asked, she was still confused.
Liz sighed, "Bonnie can do magic because there is magic in her blood, but her power and connection to magic is through nature and her ancestors."
"Right," Caroline said.
"Ours is just us, we don't need nature or ghosts to use magic and be connected to it, we just are," Liz said, she shook her head, "Look, I can't explain it all now. There isn't enough time."
"What do you mean there isn't enough time," Caroline asked, her eyes widened slightly.
The house started shaking ever so slightly, the rattling of objects was loud to her ears, the wind began to howl against their windows, but it didn't move the trees outside. Her heart rate picked up in speed, that was far from normal.
"What's going on," Caroline asked.
Liz places her hands on her daughter's shoulders, the look in her eyes was one Caroline had never seen on her mother's face. Sure her mom had some pretty intense stares, but none as earnest, pleading, desperate or loving as this one seemed to be.
"Listen to me," her mom said sternly, "Our magic comes through our ancestors life energy. When they die, the magic in their soul, their essence is transferred to the next generation individually. When grandma died, her magic fell to my sisters and you, when I chose not to be a witch, my core went to my sisters and you. However we do not get access to our magic until we turn 18."
Caroline frowned, that's how her mom had first been suspicious because she never showed any signs of magic on her eighteenth birthday. Now that she thought about it, her mom had been watching her closely. More so than usual, than ever really. But Caroline figured it was because she wasn't excited about her birthday like she usually was.
"You were turned before your magic could be accessed, our ancestors could not let that be because you are the last of our bloodline," Liz went on quickly.
Caroline shook her head, "Mom slow down, I don't understand, we need to get out of here. What is this?"
"Our ancestors have a plan to fix this, so that you can still access your magic. Your magic, it will feel all over the place at first, but you have to let it pass. Don't fight it," her mom told her.
"Vampires can't do magic," Caroline shouted as the wind picked up around them, in the house, "Witches lose their magic when turned!"
Liz smiled at her softly, she said loudly, "I don't know what their plan is, just know this. You will be safe and will come home. I wish more than anything that I knew what they were doing, but they only broke my compulsion so I could warn you."
Caroline's exposed arms began to glow, literally they were starting to glow dimly in the darkness of their house. Panic flared in Caroline's chest, she felt the burning sensation of vervain and the freezing temperatures of ice water on her skin and inside her body.
"Mom," Caroline cried out, "What's happening to me? I, I don't want to, I'm scared."
Gravity pulled Caroline to the ground so suddenly, she didn't stand a chance against it. Tears fall down her cheeks, she used her vampire speed and strength to move to the door. She slammed into the front door, she scratched it as she tried to get herself off the floor and out of the house. It was too strong, she was too overwhelmed with the burning and with the cold. A sob forced its way past her throat, it almost sounds like a howl. Caroline's skin only glowed brighter.
Her mom wraps her arms around her, hugging her close to her chest, "Shh. It's okay, you're going to be okay. I promise, you're going to be okay. I love you, it's going to be alright. Listen to me, you are going to be okay."
The light from Caroline grew until it was too much for Liz and she closed her eyes, but her grip never wavered. Then she felt Caroline's body get lighter and lighter, as if she were slipping away despite still being in her arms. Caroline held onto her mom just as fiercely, but she could feel herself being pulled away by something. Then she was gone, the darkness took her away. Liz collapsed on the spot where Caroline had once been and sobbed, her cries filling the now still and silent house. The spirits of her ancestors told her that her daughter was safe, that she would be home come Monday morning.
"My baby," Liz choked out as the tears fell to the floor. She went up to her daughter's room and slept in her bed, begging her ancestors to make sure her daughter came home alright.
Caroline collapsed to the forest floor, she looked around and heard the howls of the wolves. They're coming, she had to-
Caroline shot up in her bed, her heart pounding away in her chest as she struggled to breathe through the sobs that were in her chest. Her mom knew. Her mom knew she was a vampire and was okay with it. Her mom's family was a line of witches, she-
"Caroline, love what is it," Niklaus said, kneeling beside her, his hand cupped her cheek.
Caroline turned her head to look at him, she frowned, "I, I, wait. What are you doing here?"
"Elijah told me you wanted to see me, but when I arrived you were asleep," Niklaus explained, "Rather than wake you, I thought it would be better for me to watch over you. In case you needed anything."
"I see," Caroline whispered.
She brought her fingers to run through her sweaty hair, the memory still fresh in her mind. At least now she had an answer to her magical abilities and knew she would go home, but the question was when? Her mother made it sound like once she had her magic, she would be sent home, but that was ages ago. Unless she was still here because she needed a teacher? That didn't make much sense either, because her aunts could teach her or even Bonnie could. Well if she was sent back, would she return as a vampire? Would she return as witch, alive? Would she go back as both? And how long did she have here? Did she have hours? Days? Weeks? Months? Years?
"Caroline, what's wrong," Niklaus asked her.
Though Caroline's skin no longer seemed pale, she looked positively shaken and out of sorts. Perhaps the dream she had must have frightened her, but she didn't appear scared at all. When Elijah told him Caroline wanted to speak with him, he had to admit he was nervous about the meeting, wondering what she wanted to discuss. These past two months of courting had been remarkable as far as Niklaus was concerned and it seemed her fears had lessened as time went on. Maybe that was what she wanted to discuss.
"I, Nik, I," Caroline exhaled sadly, she looked away from him, "I don't know how to say this."
Niklaus tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, "Whatever it is, I can take it."
Caroline visibly swallowed, "I, I want it."
Niklaus frowned, "Want what love?"
"A future," Caroline whispered, her eyes watered, "With you. The house you talked about, the sleeping in each other's arms each night. I want that, I want it more than I thought I would."
"Then you shall have it," Niklaus told her.
She shook her head, "I, I don't know how long I have."
Niklaus took her shaking hands into his steady ones, "Do not worry of that love. I promise you, I will protect you from all harm. We will have a future, an incredibly beautiful and bright one."
Caroline squeezed his hands. She wanted it, she wanted it with him. Then her mind went to her friends and her mom. Would it be a betrayal to stay here? To try and stay. Was it selfish that she want to stay here? What if she could bring him with her? No, he wouldn't leave his family behind. Besides, what about all the bloodlines they might have started in her time.
"I hope so," Caroline whispered.
Niklaus pulled her into his arms, she leaned against him, "I know it will be so. The gods smile at us, we will have a wonderful future, I know it."
Caroline returned his hug, she hoped that she had enough time with him. Now she knew why and how she was here. It didn't seem likely she would be able to get back to her time and would have to wait until her ancestors wanted her to return. It was strange and part of her wanted to be angry about it, but she wasn't. Meeting Niklaus and his family had been one of the best things to happen to her. Caroline inhaled his scent as she called to them, she asked for enough time. A number flashed into her mind, nine. Whether that was hours, days, weeks, months or years was beyond her. But it was a start. And that was what she needed.