A/N: Honestly? I don't know what this is. LOL. This is completely made up & I just decided to roll with it.
Also, I know have a fic I haven't updated in quite some time but I didn't think I would get attached to the TVDU once I began binge watching & now I'm stuck. I promise I have not abandoned Changing Fate.
DISCLAIMER: Obviously I don't own the characters or the character's backstory, just using them for my entertainment so don't come after me! Lol.
RATING: This is Rated E & no, it does not stand for 'Everyone'. It stands for Explicit violence/dark themes/questionable morality.
Also, I will not be posting the above information for every chapter as I'm sure one warning should suffice.
This fic will also be in multiple POV's who are strictly a part of the game and not until the games commences so we will be stuck with our loving protagonist until then.
Hope y'all enjoy & let's keep the negative criticism to a minimum, yeah? Thanks!
. . . .
9 Days Until the Event
Dare, Double Dare or Forfeit—9 PM
4 F, 4 M
I dare you.
Or are you chicken?
Caroline Forbes reread the letter and scoffed, tossing it aside. How dare Niklaus Mikaelson call her a chicken! As if!
Since attending the prestigious institution for the Supernaturals, at the age of sixteen, located in a small town called Mystic Falls, Virginia, cloaked by the witches from human eyes, when her magic manifested, Niklaus and his gang of misfits had been a thorn in her side from the beginning.
Him and his stupid hybrids and his stupid vampire minions sauntering around the school as if they owned the castle.
It wasn't at all a surprise that there would be animosity between them, what with her being a witch from the Gemini Coven and him being the monstrosity that he was—there was no lost love between the two.
Still.
He had called her a chicken and just on principle Caroline felt she needed to accept the offer just to prove his stupid face wrong and then beat him at his own game.
Smirking at the thought, Caroline reached for the letter again, rereading the words Niklaus had penned out in his spiky penmanship and wondered, not for the first time, what had brought him on to challenge her.
There were others he could've addressed the letter to such as Kat or even Bonnie—hell, he could've reached out to Nora remembering their brief relationship a couple years back.
But for Niklaus to send it to her, it made Caroline wonder what he was up to. They have never spoken to one another unless they caused the other pain or fought, verbally, over one thing or another but for the life of her, since coming to this Supernatural school, seven years ago, they hadn't exchanged one single word that involved smiles or laughter.
Caroline knew Niklaus and his siblings were thousands of years old, attending the school once a century to assure that everything was running smoothly, since they were benefactors and all. She knew once her year of graduates had, well, graduated, they would too, no doubt, coming back in another century or two to bully that generation of Supernaturals— at least she imagined that would happen. But she had to admit, begrudgingly, they did an amazing job at keeping up with the place. Finding teachers that included vampires, witches and werewolves to hold up the place and it also showed that they weren't all that bad.
Still, she thought since roaming the earth for billions of years they would be better at showing a little bit of decorum towards their peers—but no, they were still a bunch of no good bullies who thought that they were better than everyone. Who cared about how they did a fantastic job at running the school. She didn't doubt they made a great sum of money doing it. Caroline, for some unfathomable reason, refused to see them as the good guys. Not with the way they acted towards everyone they thought lower than them.
"What has you frowning on this fine evening, Clarice," her friend had asked, causing Caroline to sigh in annoyance.
Flicking her eyes up without moving her head, Caroline lifted a brow.
Taking a seat across from her in the library, Kai furrowed his brows. "You're not worried about the reawakening, are you?"
Groaning at the reminder, Caroline dropped her head against the table with a loud thump as she continued to repeat the motion over and over mumbling under her breath all the while.
The fucking reawakening was something Caroline did not want to discuss, or even participate in. Although she knew it was a rite of passage for selective members of their coven, that included her, Kai and Nora, who were currently attending the school, she wasn't all that comfortable with the idea of what awaited her. It made her feel dirty and disgusted. But she had a plan for that—one that she kept close to her chest lest someone found out and culminated in her banishment from the coven. Something Caroline refused to let happen. She would leave on her terms and hers alone.
"Okay, enough," Kai reprimanded, his voice firm, reaching over to grab her shoulders. "You'll be fine. Valerie completed hers and she's—" he stopped, pursing his lips as his face twisted into displeasure. "—well, she's still the same old bitch—" Caroline barked out a laugh at that, "—but she's fine."
Malachai Parker; fellow Coven member and protector, more like possessive, of all things Caroline, was one of her closest friends—she would even go as far as saying he was like a sibling she never had. Even when they were kids, he always had been a bit… demented… but he really wasn't all that bad. Well, he wasn't all that bad to her, and Nora. Everyone else was fair game. He would call her Clarice and she would call him Mal—a shortage of his name since she was the only one, along with Nora, that was allowed to call him Mal just as he was the only one to call her Clarice. The last person who'd called him Mal had 'accidentally' swallowed his tongue… literally.
"It isn't that," Caroline told him as she pushed Niklaus' letter across the table for him to read, sucking in her bottom lip and slouching in her chair as she watched him with a bit of reluctance, his eyes scanning the paper.
Kai barked out a laugh, waving the paper in her face. "You have got to be kidding me—"
"I'm not," mumbled Caroline, her cheeks blushing a deep red at his mockery of her.
"—Niklaus fucking Mikaelson—"
"Keep it down!" Hissed Caroline, sinking further into her seat as fellow classmates studying in the library turned to them, nosy as ever.
"—wants to play Dare, Double Dare or Forfeit?"
Snorting, Caroline reached over and snatched the letter back and sarcastically asked, "caught that, did you?"
Kai leaned over, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he folded his arms on the tabletop beneath. "Well, you have to accept it, obviously, and you don't even have to ask because of course I'll be one of your selective players!"
"Nope," Caroline stated, popping the 'p' as she shoved the letter into her bag. "There's no selecting teams, or whatever, because I'm not falling for his stupid trickeries."
"Clarice—"
"No," Mal!" Snapped Caroline, shouldering her bag with a shake of her head. "This is the Mikaelson's we're talking about and Niklaus, especially, can't be trusted!"
And without waiting for a reply, Caroline stormed out of the library, needing a bit of fresh air to clear her mind.
"I'm going to keep bothering you about this until you're so annoyed with me you just might snap!" Kai shouted after her, Caroline ducking her head in embarrassment, picking up her paste as she ignored him.
Fucking Mal. Leave it to him to embarrass her.
….
8 Days Until the Event
"So, we've spoken with Kai and he told us to harass you until you tell us about a letter a certain Mikaelson sent you."
Caroline threw her pen down atop her study desk and groaned as she pinched the bridge of her nose, ignoring her roommates strolling into their shared room.
"Don't think you're getting out of this," Katherine tittered, her voice too close for comfort.
Scowling, Caroline batted her hands away that were currently tangled in her curls, causing her friend to cackle. "Leave it, Kat," muttered Caroline, sighing as she began to pack away her work from the day.
There was no point in trying to finish up her essays, not with Katherine and Nora there to pester her any chance they had and did without preamble. They were definitely a duo to be feared, what with Katherine's clever riposte and Nora's quick use of violence should anyone threaten or disrespect her.
But Caroline knew better to be fooled by the facade that Nora Hildegard usually put in place for others. She was kind and sweet and always dedicated her free time volunteering at multiple Children's Hospitals nearby, usually accompanied by their other close friend, who didn't have the pleasure of sharing a room with them, Bonnie Bennett, who also happened to be a witch.
Nora was also a part of her coven, she, Kai and Caroline growing up together. So Caroline liked to think she knew her friend better than anyone else—even if her sarcasm was a bit insensitive.
"And why have you been keeping this a secret, Care?" Asked Nora as she flopped onto her bed with satisfaction. "Surely you two aren't—" she threw a smirk Caroline's way, "—copulating in secret?"
"Oh for fucks sales," Caroline griped, glaring daggers at her longtime friend. "I wouldn't touch your sloppy seconds with a ten foot pole, Nora, dear."
Her friend guffawed with a shake of her head.
"Then I'm afraid the whole population of the supernatural world is off limits, Care-Bear." A devious smirk graced her lips. "Women included."
And maybe Nora wore her facade more than not.
"You're the worst," Caroline scoffed.
"Klaus isn't that bad," Katherine interjected with lowered brows.
Caroline snorted, standing from her desk to sit on her bed, scooting back until she was leaning against the headboard. "Maybe not to you but to me—he's a dick."
"And what a big dick he has!" Nora added with a chortle, scrolling through her phone, receiving scoffs from Caroline and Katherine.
"That was just horrible, Nors, not your best work." Katherine said with a tsk.
"Yeah, it lacked the bite I attended to aim for. Next time."
Katherine sighed as she joined Caroline on the bed, giving her puppy dog eyes as she said, "let me see the letter?"
"I threw it away," Caroline commented flippantly, glancing away with furrowed brows.
Why was she being difficult about it? It really wasn't a big deal but for some reason Caroline could not not make it a big deal. Every time she thought of that stupid invitation to play that stupid game, she still couldn't figure out why he addressed it to her—and here she was, again, thinking of everything she had already thought of before.
It was driving her mad and—NO. She was not going to give in.
"Lies," Nora inputted with a casual tone, her focus still on her phone.
Letting out a heavy sigh, Caroline nodded to her desk where her book bag lay. "It's over there in the front pocket of my bag."
Katherine wasted no time in rushing to her desk and pulling out the letter with a satisfied grin, reading it greedily.
"Well," Nora queried with a bored tone. "What does our illustrious hybrid have to say to our goody good witch?"
"Funny," Caroline deadpanned.
"He wants to play Dare, Double Dare or Forfeit," Katherine muttered, as she flipped the paper to see if there was any writing on the back, her face set in a confused frown. She then looked up at Caroline, her eyes narrowed in—was that accusation? "Why would he choose you?"
Katherine Pierce; fierce, vicious, competitive, dangerous, loyal to those who she thought deserved it and a doppelgänger vampire with a substantial taste in style. Caroline hated thinking about their rocky start to their friendship, honestly, she couldn't picture her life without Kat in it, but her starvation for attention could be a bit arduous—especially if the Originals were involved… or the Salvatore brothers. Really anyone, really, that held an ounce of power for her to manipulate.
But she adored her vampire friend. She was quick to put anyone in their place who spoke out of turn about the people she cared about—which wasn't many; Bonnie, herself and Nora… occasionally Stefan if he wasn't being such a jerk.
Clever, cunning, ambitious—Katherine Pierce was a force to be reckoned with, for sure. But she did have her moments when she was calm and sweet, laughing as if she hadn't a care in the world. Those moments were precious to Caroline and she always tried to bring that side out of her when she could.
"I'm going to ignore your tone of voice and your look of hostility and not be offended by your obvious disdain," Caroline voiced, her blush prominent on her cheeks. "What does it mean?"
"See?" Nora inserted with glee. "Goody, goody witch."
"It's an extreme version of truth or dare," Katherine informed her, both friends ignoring Nora's comment. "And when I say extreme, I mean, people could get hurt, or worse, die, but since we all have a way of healing at incredible speed, it's alright."
"I'm sorry, what?" Caroline asked impassively, blinking stupidly. "I must've heard you wrong."
Nora chuckled. "Your ingeniousness is adorable, my sweet Caroline."
"Since he began the game and sent out the invitation, that makes him one of the team captains, where he chooses four females and four males, including himself." She gave Caroline a pointed look as she crossed her arms over her chest, half sitting on her desk. "And since he chose to send the invitation to you that makes you second in command, picking your players."
Caroline was still at a loss which now made it clear why Katherine was confused about Niklaus choosing her. Hell, she was just as confused so, really, that made two of them who were befuddled by Niklaus' decisions.
"So what happens in this game?" Asked Caroline, wanting to learn more. She needed to gather as much information as she could get before Katherine decided to be tight lipped about the whole ordeal.
Nora snorted, hopping up from her bed as she fluffed her hair out and smoothed out the wrinkles in her clothes. "Good luck with that. I find the whole game to be tedious and I refuse to stick around to listen to such trivial rubbish."
"Wait," Caroline called out, lifting a brow towards her friend. "If I do decide to play, you'll join if I ask, won't you?"
Nora paused her steps towards the door, looking over her shoulder, at Caroline, with a soft smile on her lips, her eyes kind. "If you think I wouldn't be there for you, my sweet Caroline, then you're sorely mistaken and I take great offense in your lack of trust in me."
Caroline beamed. "Never, Nora."
"Until the very end?" Nora mused with a lifted brow.
This. This was the side of Nora that Caroline was privy to and was grateful for her friendship and considered herself lucky that she was one of the rare ones who got to see this side of her. Her heart warmed at the motto that she, Kai and Nora had promised one another years ago when they were first told about the awakening at the age of eight, scared and crying silent tears as they were forced to accept their fate.
The promise was something Caroline held dear to her heart and knew that if any of them uttered those simple, but powerful, words amongst one another it was a reminder that their promise would never be broken.
And Caroline chuckled softly. "Very, very."
Nora blew a kiss her way and sashayed out of their dorm, no doubt in search of Bonnie.
Turning back to Katherine with pursed lips, she nodded. "Tell me everything."
If the smirk on Katherine's red lips seemed a bit manicial, Caroline chose to ignore it—and the spike of trepidation growing within her.
. . . .
7 Days Until the Event
"Hello, darling."
"Goodbye, Kol," Caroline snapped, pushing her tray away, her appetite diminishing from unwanted company.
She didn't have a problem with Kol, per say, if anything, she kind of adored him for his flirtatious behavior and his exuberance demeanor. He was fun and quick witted and not what she expected when she first discovered that he was a Mikaelson.
And for the life of her, she could not shake him. He was always there, hovering over her or Bonnie, his current infatuation, which was a bit hilarious since her friend couldn't stand him at times, or so she claimed. But his facetious attitude was contagious and he was easily accepted into her group of friends.
It was the banter that Caroline enjoyed and his brutal honesty that she didn't enjoy as much but reluctantly took into consideration. Either it be what she was wearing to her neurotic behavior which, she admitted, if only to herself, needed a little working on. Speaking strictly on the latter rather than the former—there was absolutely nothing wrong with the way she dressed.
But Kol was a good friend. And ever since that night three years ago when he was shit-faced-wasted and confided in her about his sibling's pact that he wasn't included in, had hurt more than he ever admitted aloud—they bonded, Caroline comforting him as he cried into her shoulder, a weakness he never showed again after that. As if that night hadn't happened at all.
Caroline would always remember that night and she didn't think she would ever forget it. And yet, Kol was still loyal to his family—another trait she admired about him because no matter how close Niklaus, Elihjah and Rebekah were with one another, Kol never held it against them but continued to love them all the more.
"Why so glum, Care-Bear?" Kol queried as he snatched a curly fry from her tray. "I thought you'd be happy to see me since we're best friends and all."
"I'm sorry to disappoint, mate, but that role is already filled by yours truly."
Oh, for the love of the gods, Caroline thought, rubbing her temple as another friend sat next to her. She had a long night last night going over the rules of the game and why were there so many rules? She was still unsure if she even understood them all. And she'd admit that her crankiness was due from lack of sleep as she twisted and turned in her bed unable to discard any of the thoughts haunting her mind that included the game, the letter and Niklaus fucking Mikaelson.
"Hello, gorgeous." Enzo greeted with one of his trademark smirks. "Funny story, I've spoken with Kat—"
"Great!" Kol cheerfully cut in with fake enthusiasm. "Why don't you tell someone who cares, hmm?"
Not this again.
It didn't matter when or where or even the why but Kol and Enzo held a bit of hostility towards one another—and she blamed it all on Bonnie Bennett. It was no secret that her witchy friend played one against the other, playing them both like fiddles, but their repartee was grating and, as much as she tried to put an end to it, she decided to avoid being in the same vicinity with both vampires in the same room.
Caroline knew they wouldn't harm each other and knew they were all bark and no bite when throwing cunning remarks and death threats, one trying to up the other, at one another, but she would really appreciate it if they could just get along while in her company. Was that too much to ask?
And even if Kol and Enzo held their animosity towards one another behind witty remarks, she knew they would put their jealousy aside, because, honestly, they were jealous that Bonnie liked them both, to work with one another—if only for her friend's sake.
Ignoring the light back and forth between Kol and Enzo, Caroline stiffened in her seat, a sense of foreboding stole over here; an unfamiliar tingle crawling down her spine; the fine hairs at the back of her neck prickling as it caused goosebumps to pimple over.
Slightly shifting her eyes across the lunch room, Caroline blinked, catching the blue eyes of Niklaus Mikaelson. The way he was staring at her… his eyes hooded and intense; his gaze dark and piercing… as if he wanted to suck her dry—
Quickly looking away, Caroline focused on the conversation between her two friends.
"—and Kai can be an ass—"
"Don't speak ill of Mal, Enzo," Caroline cut in with a glare his way.
"Of course not, Gorgeous," murmured Enzo with a soft smile on his lips. "He's just bat shit crazy and everyone knows it, even you."
"Shut up," she muttered, neither agreeing or denying his claims of her dearest friend Mal. Huffing, Caroline turned to Kol. "I take it you're not here for idle chit chat?"
Beaming with bright eyes and lifted brows, Kol said, "you know me so well, darling." He glanced at Enzo and playfully sneered, "we'll discuss that at a later time when you're not entertaining your pet."
Enzo chuckled, not at all offended. He leaned over, placing a chaste kiss on Caroline's cheek before gracefully standing. "I know when I'm unwanted." He winked at her, "find me later, Gorgeous."
"What a ponce," muttered Kol with a snort. "The company you keep, Darling, will never cease to amaze me. Honestly, you can do better."
Caroline smiled, replying with a pointed look, "they're not all bad, Kol."
He grabbed her hand, lacing their fingers together, tracing circles on the back of her palm with his other hand, which she allowed because Kol wasn't the type of creature to seek comfort in friendly touches such as hugs, holding hands, etc. But when he did grab her hand, in those rare occurrences, Caroline knew he was internally struggling with what he wanted to express without being judged or his opinions brushed aside. As if Caroline would ever do such a thing to her friend.
"Are you alright, Kol?" Caroline asked so softly, assuring he was the only one to hear, knowing he didn't like showing weakness around others.
He gave her a tight closed lip smile and leaned over, his lips lightly pressed against her ear and murmured, "I heard about the game invitation—"
Giving a slight nod that she had heard, Caroline waited for him to continue.
If it seemed that they were whispering devotion of undying love and so on, she really didn't care what anyone thought because it was beyond ludicrous to think Caroline Forbes and Kol Mikaelson cared for one another in a romantic sense.
"—and you are not allowed to accept unless I am there, Caroline."
Caroline tensed at the use of her name. It was the only time she knew to take the situation seriously since Kol despised her name.
"What did you hear?" Caroline asked under her breath, turning her face into Kol's cheek, focusing on his scent of bergamot to keep her grounded as she tried to relax her muscles.
"Elijah is visiting for the month, which is never a good sign for us peasants—" Kol uttered with a growl. "—and I overheard Nik mention Dare, Double Dare or Forfeit and once your name was mentioned, I knew I had to insist you assure my spot in the game."
"Wouldn't your brother choose you as a player though?" Caroline asked with confusion. "I find it hard to believe that he would choose anyone else over you—You are his family."
"That may be the case—" Kol replied with a deep chuckle, squeezing her hand, "—but I wouldn't put it past him to choose his chummy mates over me, considering he thinks you and I are rather intimate for mere friends."
Caroline scoffed in disgust, Kol humming in agreement. What did that even mean? And why would his brother care if she and Kol were more than friends? She wanted to pry more answers out of him but didn't want to cause suspicion because she really didn't care one way or another—but it was weird, right? For someone to care about such things when she and Niklaus had never had a civil conversation since they knew the other existed.
He then leaned back an inch, catching her eye. "Are we in agreement?"
"Who says I'll even be accepting his game request?"
Kol pecked her on the cheek with a loud smooch, Caroline rolling her eyes at his theatrics. "Denial doesn't suit you, Darling." He then winked as he stood, that stupid grin forming his lips. "See you later, my sweet Caroline, and give Nora my love, will you?"
"Ass," Caroline muttered as she watched Kol stroll out of the lunch room, his head thrown back as he barked out a laugh—no doubt hearing what she had called him.
Sighing, Caroline began to gather her belongings and glanced up, catching the unwanted attention of Niklaus. Instead of looking away, like she had previously, she narrowed her eyes, fuming as the stupid hybrid lifted an amused brow at her—that fucking jerk.
Taking a deep breath, Caroline raised both hands, flipping him the bird as she smiled sweetly, soon scowling as he chuckled, gracing her with one of his rare, genuine smiles, his dimples on full display—and when had he ever smiled at her like that?
Asshat.
Shooting him one more glare, Caroline shouldered her bag and stormed out of the lunch room, ignoring how his deep chuckle, mocking her, caused flutters in her abdomen.
She refused to fall for Niklaus Mikaelson's charm and be another notch on his bedpost. She was too smart to be seduced by the likes of that Manwhore.
. . . .
5 Days Until the Event
"Hello, Witch Bitch."
Go away, Boyfriend stealing Were-slut," Caroline growled, shoving passed Hayley Marshall and her stupid pretty face with her stupid full lips and her stupid perfectly thick eyebrows and her stupid green, green eyes—UGH! She hated Hayley Marshall.
"Haven't you heard?" Hayley fell into step with Caroline, the latter glaring daggers her way. "I'm no longer a werewolf." She smirked triumphantly. "Klaus decided to change me into a hybrid so I can spend eternity with Tyler."
"Good for you and good for Niklaus and good for Tyler," Caroline snapped, her anger always getting the best of her during one of their little spats. "Could you all go and die now?"
"Cute," Hayley said with faux sweetness. "Caroline Miss Perfect Sunshine Who Everyone Adores Forbes—" she scoffed, "—I'm here to tell you that the clock is ticking and your reply awaits."
Stopping dead in her tracks, Caroline turned to Hayley. "I don't answer to the likes of you, Marshall, and tell your Master that when I'm ready to respond, he'll know."
Hayley gave a dark chuckle. "You know—" she tilted her head with a smirk, "—if it weren't for certain circumstances, I'd kill you with no hesitation."
Caroline reached for Hayley's wrist as she flashed her own smirk, relishing at the feel of power rushing through her veins as she slowly took magical essence from her nemesis—not much, but enough to cause her a little discomfort.
Leaning forward, her hand still locked around Hayley's wrist, the hybrid frozen in place, unable to move lest Caroline snapped and killing her on accident, enjoying the whimper that escaped her lips, she whispered, "and if we weren't here in this school where killing is prohibited, I would drain you dry until you're a shriveled corpse."
Pushing her away, Caroline used the same hand she had held Hayley's wrist with, wiggling her fingers towards the new hybrid. "Wanna take a chance?"
"You fucking—"
"Hayley!" A voice that startled Caroline from her momentary anger, jumped, as she slowly backed away.
Hayley sneered at her but then cleared her throat as she turned around to face the newcomer. "Klaus."
Rolling her eyes, Caroline turned around, refusing to be a part of their lover's spat. Gosh, she swore Hayley knew no bounds… but then she couldn't judge much since she was friends with Katherine and Nora.
But she tensed as a hand wrapped around her wrist—not too tight but just firm enough to give her pause, confusion swarming her ability to snatch her hand away.
Reacting in slow motion at the hand holding her in place, Caroline's eyes narrowed as she looked back up and into the soft cerulean eyes of Niklaus. "You're touching me."
The egotistical hybrid smiled as he retracted his hand. He took a step back, glaring at Hayley vehemently. "We'll speak later."
Caroline caught the Were-slut rolling her eyes as she stomped away, no doubt cursing her to the four winds.
Niklaus cleared his throat, his hands at his back as he leaned forward a bit. "Are you alright, love?"
Snapping her attention to the monster standing in front of her, Caroline narrowed her eyes. "I didn't need your help nor do I want it."
"Of that, I have no doubt of," Niklaus stated with clear amusement.
Since when had she and Niklaus conversed without hostility? She didn't think they ever had which made the situation she was clearly in a bit odd. And when had he ever called her love? She didn't like that twinkling in his eyes as if he knew something she didn't; she didn't like the tilt of his lips as his eyes raked her form; she didn't like the dimples in his cheeks, or the raise of his eyebrows, enjoying something she didn't find enjoyable at all.
"Whatever," Caroline muttered, turning to walk away but was stopped by his voice.
"Have you thought about the game, love?"
Quickly turning to face him, Caroline snapped, "don't call me that. And, yes I have and this is me, refusing."
"I didn't take you to be such a coward, Caroline," Niklaus taunted with a devious smirk. "After all, how could a mere game instill such cowardice in you to have you clucking about like a chicken?"
"Fine!" Caroline bit out between clenched teeth, her anger consuming her at his audacity to call her a pussy. "I'll have my eight and will pen you a letter of who they are. I expect the same in return. And there will be conditions." She then took a step closer to him, invading his personal space, confused, for just a moment, at his inaudible intake of breath. "And once I've beaten you, Niklaus, you will leave Mystic Falls and never return." She lifted a brow, her hand outstretched for him to shake. "Deal?"
"Yes to the names and conditions, no to leaving Mystic Falls," Niklaus countered back.
At least she tried.
"Fine," Caroline muttered, taking a step back as she cleared her throat. "Until then." She swiftly turned on her heels, needing to escape his presence.
"And Caroline," Niklaus called after her as she paused midstep, glancing over her shoulder.
She didn't like that glint in his eyes nor the smirk on his lips.
"It's Nik."
. . . .
4 Days Until the Event
Caroline zoned out as Nora, Katherine, Bonnie and Elena spoke animatedly about the upcoming End of The Ball dance of the school year that was a week and half away—well, mostly Katherine, Nora and Elena, Bonnie was typing away on her phone.
Of course, Elena would be going with longtime boyfriend Damon Salvatore—and we're going to be color coordinating our outfits, of course—who she hated with a passion and avoided at all cost. Katherine had scoffed, deciding she would be going stag—can't get caught fucking one person or another if I bring along a date, now can I?—deciding it best to surprise them with her, no doubt, stunning gown that she would be fashioning herself. Nora didn't care at all about the ball—I'd rather eat dirt, honestly, than to hobnob with the common plebeians mucking about—choosing to skip it to woo Mary Lou into sleeping with her. Bonnie had avoided the conversation completely, choosing to stare at her phone, hiding secretive smiles she thought no one noticed.
Caroline was not in the mood for any of it.
Everything was spiraling out of control and she didn't know how to deal with the chaos that was her mind. She couldn't believe she had fallen for Nicklaus'—oh, wait, Nik, Caroline scoffed, as if she would ever call him Nik—tauntings after she had told herself she wouldn't.
And what did that say about her? She felt sick. She shouldn't have accepted so quickly. She should've written the down rules while Katherine explained, taking notes of everything so she could analyze later; making post-it notes for the pros and cons of the game and the players involved—she wasn't ready. She had four days to figure everything out and, seriously, unfuck herself before she embarrassed herself any more than she already had.
Agreeing to play Niklaus' game was never her intention, especially after she was briefed about the rules courtesy of Katherine I'm-not-sure-you're-ready-for-such-darkness Pierce.
As fucking if!
Not to mention she had no idea who she would be choosing to play this stupid game with. Caroline knew Nora would join if only to be there for her; Kai said he would as well but she wasn't sure if she should ask him considering the tension between him and Stefan, who she had no doubt would be playing since he was Niklaus' best mate. There was Katherine and maybe Bonnie? She would have to ask the latter but she knew for sure Elena would do no such thing since her fallout with the Mikaelson siblings, and Stefan, a couple years back, no matter how much Caroline would beg.
If she asked Bonnie, she would have four females but Caroline still needed to choose three more males, that was if she chose Kai since she knew Kol would be a part of this horrid scheme. Maybe Enzo? Lucien? She would ask Lucien if he wasn't such a liar and a hypocrite and, seriously, she'd rather eat rocks. But that didn't help her for the last player she needed. She had Kol. Maybe kai. And who was she kidding? She'd ask Enzo just because Caroline knew if anything were to happen to her, he would be there by her side. And that's what she needed—players who would have her back if anything were to befall her and maybe she would include Kai just for the simple fact that he would rather die than let any harm come to her being.
Letting out an irritable sigh, Caroline pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache coming along—just fucking brilliant. Why did there have to be so many players? She knew she shouldn't complain since the more the merrier but she didn't really speak to anyone, not including her friend group.
Since her relationship with Tristan de Martel was a flop as he tried, and failed, to warm her bed, he had turned the whole of the school against her for taking advantage of him—her, Caroline Forbes, taking advantage of him. It was fucking ridiculous and the poplace of the school had eaten up. She wished they had choked and died. Not really, but still.
"Why are you so quiet, Caroline?" Elena asked, crawling over to her and sitting beside her. "It isn't like you to keep quiet about something like a dance that's coming up."
Shaking her head, Caroline sighed. It was time to talk to them, wanting, no, needing, their opinion on the matter.
"I accepted Niklaus' invitation," she muttered, rubbing her face in exhaustion. "He called me a chicken and I accepted."
"Uh," Bonnie uttered. "What're you talking about?"
Katherine cackled, leaning back against her bed. "This should be great."
"Drop it, Kat," Nora snapped, glowering at the vampire.
Oh. Right. She hadn't told Bonnie and Elena yet. Caroline deeply inhaled, counting quickly to ten, and letting it all out in a ragged sigh. "I've received an invitation from Niklaus to play Dare, Double Dare or Forfeit. I accepted."
"You didn't," Elena deadpanned, irritation marring her features. "How could you accept anything from the likes of him?"
"Watch it, Gilbert," hissed Nora, setting her phone down with a scowl on her face.
Caroline sent her friend a grateful smile knowing how much Nora despised Elena, only putting up with her presence for Caroline's sake and holding back from really lashing out—which she was extremely grateful for.
Elena had been her first friend, outside of her coven, since she arrived at the school and her friendship meant a great deal to her. Caroline wasn't ready to lose that friendship. Elena was good, fair and everything the light represented, even if she acted as if she could do no wrong—Caroline wasn't ready to lose Elena.
"I'm just surprised you've accepted," Bonnie chimed in with a chuckle. "That game is extreme—no," her friend cut off with a shake of her head at Caroline's pleading look. "I love you, Care, but I'm not involving myself with that mess."
"What?" Elena asked, confused. "What am I missing here?"
"You never heard of it either?" Caroline wondered, feeling relieved that she wasn't the only one uneducated about the game—while Katherine, Nora, Kai, Kol, and hell, even Bonnie, it would seem, knew exactly what Dare, Double Dare and Forfeit entailed, she hadn't a slightest clue.
Katherine snorted. "Considering it's another goody, goody person, I wouldn't put too much stock in her lack of knowledge, Care."
"Gee, thanks, Kat," Caroline mumbled.
"Still clueless, here," Elena voiced with an eyeroll.
"When aren't you?" Nora asked with a scoff.
From Elena, crossing her arms over her chest: "what's your problem tonight, Hildegard?"
From Bonnie, deeply sighing: "here we go."
From Katherine, rubbing her hands together gleefully: "tell her off, Nors."
From Elena, glaring at Katherine: "you're not helping, Kat."
From Katherine, with a shrug of her shoulders: "I'm on my own side."
From Elena: "I highly doubt that."
From Bonnie, sighing heavily: "can we just focus on what's really important, here?"
"My problem—" Nora began, "—is that you are always looking down on Caroline and I don't fucking appreciate your I'm-holier-than-thou attitude, Gilbert."
"Nora—" Caroline began softly.
"And, quite frankly, it's exhausting," Nora went on, talking over Caroline. "News flash, Elena, the world doesn't revolve around you."
"Ouch," Katherine uttered, looking away.
Elena sputtered. "And what about you? You never treat your friends with any respect while you walk around fucking anything that walks!"
"Elena!" Bonnie exclaimed, disappointed, as she shook her head. "That was uncalled for."
"Oh, so it's okay for her to speak to me that way but, all of a sudden, I'm the bad guy?" Elena asked Bonnie, her voice rising.
Rubbing her temples, Caroline wished she had just kept her mouth shut. Elena and Nora were always at each other's throat but she didn't think she could patch this up—not this time.
"I didn't say anything that was false, Elena," Nora bit out, her hand closing into a tight fist at her side.
"And I didnt say anything that was a lie either!"
"Guys—" Caroline tried again.
Nora snorted. "I don't bloody well care how you feel about my fucking around. "And you keeping tabs on who I fuck, well, you gotta wonder, right? Damon not fulfilling your every need, poppet? Need tips on how to satisfy your man?"
Elena scoffed. "You fucking wish—"
"Now, what I do care about—" Nora cut in, jumping to her feet as she glared down at Elena. "—is your conceited attitude and your choice to date Salvatore knowing what he had done to Caroline and that, you revolting, disgusting bitch, is unforgivable."
The silence in the room was deafening.
Caroline closed her eyes, her head hanging in shame. No one knew what Damon had done to her while they were briefly together when she was seventeen. But it was hard to hide the truth from Nora. She would have if her friend hadn't walked in on her covering her bruises and sobbing in pain.
Back then, she was weak—unable to control her powers, frightened that, if she even used a little bit of it, it would consume her and Damon knew how she felt and took advantage of it. After all, it had only been a year since she manifested, but now, she was stronger, powerful and it was easy to forgive Damon, especially once he began dating Elena.
That was what friends did, right?
Sure, Katherine, Bonnie, and even Elena, knew their breakup was nasty. They knew the basics of their relationship; Damon belittling her; Damon compelling her; Damon cheating on her—they knew, but not the full story. And for Elena to date him afterwards, Nora had never forgiven or forgotten.
It was easy to come to terms with Elena dating her ex. Caroline just wanted to forget the whole trauma but she couldn't deny that it stung a bit when they began dating. And maybe it was a good thing because, apparently, Damon was a good person; a good friend; a good boyfriend to Elena.
Once Nora had forced Caroline to tell her everything, including how he compelled her and used her body in a sexual manner, she sobbed, begging Nora to let it be.
The only reason he was still alive and walking about was because of Stefan and who he was to her back then—before he cut Damon off and started hanging out with Niklaus and because Caroline asked Nora to drop it; asked her to leave Elena alone, they were friends; to keep her secret, especially from Kai, because she was done reliving the nightmare and was desperate to forget it all and live her life.
She should've known it would come and bite her in the ass.
"There was more, wasn't there?" Asked Bonnie, her voice low and a tint of anger in them, breaking the silence. "He did more than what you already told us, Care?"
Caroline didn't answer as she glanced away, a tear rolling down her cheek.
"That fucking bitch—" Katherine hissed out, flashing out of the room before anyone could stop her.
"Nora," Caroline whispered, her eyes wide.
Her friend glanced at her with sympathy before giving a nod, running out of the room after Katherine.
"You're lying," Elena murmured softly. "You're lying—he wouldn't—no."
"Elena," Bonnie growled, her eyes flashing with annoyance. "Shut the fuck up and listen to yourself. You think Caroline would really lie—"
"Yes!" Elena shouted, jumping to her feet. "Damon would never do something like that! He's good and kind and—if anything, Caroline made him do it—"
Bonnie quickly stood, slapping Elena across the face. Caroline gasped, covering her mouth.
"Get the fuck out, Elena," Bonnie told her, her voice lack of any emotion. "What you said, it being Caroline's fault?" She shook her head. "Get the fuck out before I do something I'll regret."
Grabbing her cheek, Elena whimpered, flashing out of the room.
Caroline couldn't hold it in any longer, she broke down in heart wrenching sobs, Bonnie falling to her knees as she held her to her chest, giving her as much comfort as she could.
This was not how she imagined her night going.
. . . .
3 Days Until the Event
"I'll do it."
Caroline looked up from her book, lounging in one of the library sofas, lifting an eyebrow at Bonnie. "I'm sorry, Bon, but can you be more specific?"
"The game," Bonnie clarified. "You're still planning on playing, right?"
Snorting, Caroline turned back to her book. She was definitely not planning on playing that stupid game, especially what had occurred last night with Elena.
It was luck that Nora had stopped Katherine on time, snapping the vampires neck and hauling her back to the room; it wasn't such luck that Elena had avoided her all day, telling anyone who would listen that Caroline Forbes was a pathological liar and that Tristan de Martel was right about her being a floozy.
Which, ultimately, fashioned a friendship between Elena and Aurora. It had hurt, her friendship with Elena ending so traumatically, but Caroline had passed the point of no return. She needed to focus on herself; love herself; heal herself and she couldn't do that if she was too busy trying to mend her broken friendship with Elena.
Not to mention that Caroline had to beg Nora not to inform Kai with what happened and she promised she would tell him once she was ready to, which, thankfully, her friend reluctantly agreed to.
Katherine, on the other hand, had been attentive and borderline annoying with how diligent she was when it came to Caroline doing anything she didn't agree with —which Caroline did not enjoy at all. It happened years ago. She was fine. But, of course, her overprotective vampire of a friend had scoffed at her notion and continued to mother her when she had the chance. It was really beginning to annoy her, if Caroline was being honest. She just hoped it would end just as quickly as it had begun. She wasn't made of glass. She could take care of herself—at least now she could.
The nightmares had ended; she overcame a man's touch and she was fine. She wished nothing but the best for Elena and Damon. Although he didn't apologize, and Caroline really didn't expect him to, she could see that he felt guilt, embarrassment, shame, always flashing her apologetic eyes as he left the room she entered. Giving her space and always assuring they were never alone.
She just… she just wanted to forget it all. Forget that her close friends knew; forget the promise she made to Nora in telling Kai. Maybe she should have Katherine compel her to forget everything just to be able to move on with her life.
"Care—"
"I'm fine, Bonnie," Caroline murmured. "And, seriously, I'm pulling out."
Bonnie sighed heavily, yanking the book out of her. "No, don't talk—listen."
"Fine," muttered Caroline, crossing her arms over her chest as Bonnie sat beside her.
"I am the last person who wants to be stuck playing that game, especially if Klaus is involved," Bonnie began with a grimace. "But I've been thinking—"
"Great," Caroline mumbled under her breath.
"—and I think it would be good, for the both of us, mind you, that we go ahead with playing." Finished Bonnie, ignoring the sarcastic remark the blonde had uttered.
"I'm really not in the mood to play anymore, Bon—" Caroline started with a soft whisper, "—not after what happened with Elena."
"And that's why I think it's the perfect example to be playing the game," Bonnie insisted, her voice soft but firm. "But you're going to need to have Damon be one of the players you pick—"
"No," Caroline shook her head, looking at her friend with a hint of betrayal. "How could you—"
Placing a hand on Caroline's shoulder, her friend cut her off and asked, "Do you trust me, Care?"
Snapping her mouth shut, Caroline gave a sharp nod, grabbing Bonnie's hand with hers and squeezing it tightly.
"I promise, with my life, that I would never let anything happen to you if you have Damon play," Bonnie continued softly.
"Why?" Caroline asked, confused. "What're you planning?"
Shaking her head, Bonnie gave Caroline a small smile. "Don't worry about that but I need you to choose him."
Pursing her lips, Caroline glanced away, closing her eyes as her heart constricted. She trusted Bonnie, she really did. She had been one of the girls, aside from Elena, that had been a close friend since coming to the school for the Supernaturals. They were both witches who connected through enlightening conversations of magic; they've talked about different covens around the world; they've bonded over reading old grimoires in the library and being overwhelmed how each coven practiced different types of magic; they talked about boys and cried over rom-coms; pigged out on pizza and ice cream.
Bonnie Bennett was a substantial friend and had always had her back when she and Elena had a falling out and she really did trust Bonnie—even going as far to say that she trusted her with her life.
But for her to ask to be in close proximity with Damon Salvatore was throwing her for a loop. Even though it had been six years since her trauma, it didn't mean Caroline was ready to take that step, no matter how much she trusted her friend or how much she told herself that she was over it. Does one truly move on from such an assault?
How could Bonnie even ask her of that to begin with? She didn't want to think the worst, it was one of her best friends for fuck's sake, but she couldn't help the betrayal churning in her gut—but it was Bonnie. She would never do that.
"Caroline, please," Bonnie beseeched with pleading eyes. "I know it's more than a lot to ask of you but I'm begging you to trust me in this and I promise it will all make sense and I swear nothing will happen to you as long as I'm there."
"Okay," Caroline agreed quietly, turning to her friend. "I trust you, Bonnie Sheila Bennett."
Bonnie sighed in relief, reaching over to wrap her arms around Caroline's frame, pulling her into a much needed embrace.
Closing her eyes, Caroline deeply inhaled as she hugged her friend back.
She was going to be okay.
. . . .
2 Days Until the Event
"Okay—" Kai greeted as he walked into Caroline's dorm room, stopping to pull her into a firm hug and placing a kiss to her hairline, before turning to the other occupants in the room with a glare, "—either you tell me who I have to kill for putting that look on your face, Clarice, or I start snapping necks."
"Oh, stop with the theatrics, handsome, and come sit next to me," Nora said with an open mouth smile as she patted the empty space beside her.
Caroline snorted at her two best friends, watching on with a warm smile, as Kai quickly jumped next to Nora, pecking her face with multiple kisses, causing Nora to giggle as she tried, and failed, to push him away.
"Should I be worried that Parker's here?" Enzo asked with a lifted brow, his attention on Nora and Kai as they continued to poke at one another.
Sighing, Caroline shook her head. "No, we're still waiting on the others and Kol—"
"Right here, Darling," Kol greeted with a saunter in his step, pausing beside Caroline to kiss her cheek.
"—before we begin," Caroline finished, glaring at Kol as he ruffled her hair, pushing him away from her person.
"Now I'm really beginning to worry," Enzo said with a frown, glancing from Kol to Kai, repeating the action twice more with furrowed brows. "I adore you, Gorgeous, you know I do, but these two in the same room are just asking for trouble."
"I resent that!" Kai called out with a mock glare. "Kol and I get along swimmingly."
"I don't doubt it," Nora said with a smile thrown Kai's way, then turning to wave at Kol. "Still looking sharp as ever, Mikaelson."
"And you, my precious, look scrumptious enough to eat," Kol flirted with a wink, flashing his fangs.
"Which is exactly my point, mate." Enzo responded to Kai with haughtiness, bringing the conversation back to his previous statement before it got out of hand.
"You worry too much, St. John," Kol chirped with amusement, strolling to Caroline's bed and lying down, crossing his arms behind his head and kicking his feet out, crossing one over the other. "Try to relax, will you?"
Enzo rolled his eyes, throwing Caroline a pointed look before turning from the Original and pulling out his phone.
"I'm here, I'm here," Katherine rushed in, pausing in front of Caroline with narrowed eyes as she discreetly took in her appearance, the latter rolling her eyes in exasperation.
"Seriously, Kat," muttered Caroline with annoyance.
Kathering shrugged uncaringly, tossing her curly hair over her shoulder as she stepped away. "One can never be too careful."
"What does that mean, Pierce?" Asked Kai, his attention narrowed at the two near the door with a sneer, the same time Kol quickly sat up and snapped, "what happened?"
"Nothing," Caroline, Katherine and Nora exclaimed simultaneously.
"Oh, how believable you three are," Enzo said with a snort. "You had me there for a moment."
Before anyone could utter another word on the matter, Bonnie stepped in with Damon behind her, a firm scowl on his lips.
"Hey, everyone," Bonnie greeted cheerfully and paused as she glanced around the room, noticing the tense silence. "Did I miss something?"
"What is he doing here?" Kol hissed, rushing towards the vampire and grabbing him by the throat. "Surely, love—" he glanced at Bonnie, "—you know this get-together is for wanted company only?"
Smiling, Bonnie patted Kol on the shoulder, reaching over to peck his cheek. "His company is wanted and you'll know soon enough." She lifted a brow, amused, as she watched Damon struggle in Kol's grip. "Just don't kill him, kill him. I need him."
Kol smirked. "Kinky."
"And no, Savatore," Nora piped in with a dull voice. "Your company is very much not wanted as our Bonnie has kindly suggested." She then slapped a hand over Kai's mouth from speaking his thoughts, holding him to her as she chuckled at his irritation, knowing the warlock wouldn't intentionally harm her in her attempts to hold him back.
"How'd you get him to even agree to come, anyway?" Katherine asked with appreciation coloring her tone, as she gave Bonnie a thumbs up.
Bonnie beamed, wiggling her fingers at a cackling Katherine. "I can be very persuasive."
It was obvious Katherine was in on Bonnie's plan—which wouldn't go down well for Damon Salvatore. She glanced at Nora, who was still holding back an irritated Kai, and noticed the witch's smirk as she stared at Damon, who was still being held against the wall by Kol, with malicious excitement. And apparently Nora was in on the plan as well.
There was no way Caroline would delve into whatever her friend's were up to. She would not get involved because she didn't have it in her to care any longer. She wasted too much time thinking of Damon and she refused to have him take up any more of her thoughts—he'd done enough of that for the past three years after his assault, she wouldn't fall victim to him again.
But that meant in no way was she comfortable in his company or him in her room even if he was currently pinned to the wall.
Enzo reached out, grabbing Bonnie and sitting her in his lap. "Hello, angel."
"Enzo," Bonnie smiled sweetly.
"Let him go, Kol," Katherine told the Original, her voice strangled as she tried to keep her composure. "Come sit and Caroline will explain everything."
Kol growled as he dropped the vampire, but not before he grabbed his shoulder, his eyes glaring into Damon's. "You utter a single word during this conversation and I will rip your heart out and send it to your delusional girlfriend—wrapped in a ribbon and all."
"Okay," Damon grumbled, glancing away with an angry expression.
It was no secret how Damon and Elena felt about the Mikaelsons and vice versa. And ever since Elena had tried to kill one of them, Elijah, to protect her brother—there was no way to bring the two parties into harmonious peace. How she was able to be friends with Elena and Kol—she was thankful to Kol, who had never used that against her, or their friendship.
Although Kai, and Enzo, might have been kept on the outs of her and Damon's nightmare of a relationship, knowing next to nothing, for good reasons for the former, Kol knew very well went down between the two—not including his sexual assaults but she shuddered at the thought if he ever found out.
Caroline sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as she controlled her breathing, gathering her thoughts and pushing them from her mind. She didn't want to cause a scene; she didn't want to fall into one of her many panic attacks; she didn't want to give Damon the satisfaction.
"Come now, darling," Kol said softly, grabbing Caroline's hand and leading her to sit upon the edge of her bed. He then tucked her beside him, his arm thrown over her protectively.
"Well," Kai broke the silence, sighing in exasperation as he pushed Nora's hand away. "I'm fine, Nora, stop holding me down."
Nora scoffed. "Not likely, Mal."
"The floor is yours, Gorgeous," Enzo cut in, talking about Nora and Kai as they continued to bicker, but soon stopped as they all turned to Caroline.
Sucking in her bottom lip between her teeth, Caroline glanced around the room; Kai and Nora sitting in the witch's bed next to hers with encouraging smiles; Bonnie and Enzo had similar expressions, though the latter had a bit of amusement glittering in his dark eyes; Damon, who was sitting on the floor by the door—she quickly looked away, unable to stand the mere sight of him as her gut coiled in abject disgust.
"It's okay, Darling," Kol murmured beside her.
Her eyes turning to her friend beside her, Caroline watched as his look of worry turned into something akin to adoration as he hugged her closer to his side. It was an expression she was used to from the Original and it gave her the encouragement she needed to push through.
Addressing the room at large, Caroline said, "Niklaus has sent me an invitation to play Dare, Double Dare and Forfeit."
Caroline really didn't expect a reaction from her girl friends, what with them already knowing but she was thankful when they changed their expressions to one of shock, Katherine outdoing them all as she gasped in surprise, placing a hand over her chest.
Glancing at the guys in her group, she was surprised to see Enzo shooting her sympathetic looks, obviously knowing what the game entailed, and also Damon, who had looked frightened as he adjusted his posture, his shoulders tensed; Kol rubbed her back reassuringly and Kai had a sparkle in his eyes—whatever he was foolishly scheming in that crazy mind of his, no doubt coming up with one delusional idea after another, Caroline wanted to know absolutely nothing and she was suddenly struck with the thought of maybe it wasn't such a grand idea to involve her longtime friend. It had nothing to do with her trust in him or her safety; it was everyone else she was worried about.
Taking a deep breath and mentally shaking her head from all the thoughts that wouldn't stop surfacing, Caroline made sure she made eye contact with all her friends, sans Damon, he wasn't her problem and she'd leave his fate in Bonnie's hand, as determination stole over her.
"And I've accepted."