Chapter 6
I remember it all, but it no longer hurts
Caroline's POV
"Hey, Caroline" Alaric called out "I wanted to ask, is your mom going to be bidding on me tonight?" I nodded as I looked up from my homework. "Sure thing, Ric, I mean….um Mr Saltzman" I noticed him looking at me oddly as he caught sight of my arm "What happened, Caroline?" I looked down and saw the bruises forming around my wrist "Did Elena Gilbert hurt you again?" he asked furiously
"Mr Saltzman, I know you care about my welfare, but I must handle Elena by myself, she needs to be taken down a peg or two, or hoisted off her own pedestal, as they say, I promise you that I am fine"
"Okay, I know, I'm smothering you" He was deep in thought "Have you seen the new teacher. Mr Mikaels?" I asked Alaric "He's joining the art department, apparently" I murmured. Alaric nodded. I blushed as I looked down "Why are the hot ones always professionally unavailable or probably gay?" Alaric burst into laughter "What, it is very true"
"He might not get the job, Caroline, and I doubt very much that he bats for the other team" he said with a wink "Just make sure that you take it slowly, trauma can resurface even at the best times of your life"
"Is that 'code' for something"
"Yes, it means 'slow and steady' wins the race"
"Gotcha" I winked back with my million-dollar smile "See you tonight at the auction" I almost skipped to my next class, and Bonnie was there, she had saved a seat for me. Thank the goddess for Bonnie Bennett.
Klaus POV
'I could not forget her face, nor her beautiful smile, I wanted that smile directed at me. Even though I am grateful that Alaric is helping her recover, I still want to help her forget the trauma, I want to shower her in diamonds'
'I want to show her what the world has to offer, Paris, Rome, Tokyo in all its beauty, even New Orleans. But Alaric has a point. So, I will wait, I want her, yes, but I will wait'
The Bachelor Auction
No-one's POV
Mayor Lockwood gritted her teeth as Damon shook hands with her. She wanted to wash her hands thoroughly. This thing used, compelled, and raped a young girl, that she has known since this girl was born and was placed in Liz Forbes arms.
"And Bachelor number two is Alaric Saltzman, he is the history teacher at Mystic Falls high and has pledged $2250 to the women's refuge in Richmond County. His hobbies are archeology, and he drafts articles for the Natural History Museum in New York. Let's give him a big hand for all his excellent work, shall we?" The Grill staff cheered and along with all the mystic grill regulars. "So, we go to Bachelor number three, Nik Mikaels, was born in New Orleans, he is a philanthropist and recently accepted a position on the founder's council as an events manager, he also runs a women's refuge in New Orleans for victims of domestic violence. All bids raised will go to the Women's Refuge and Rape Crisis the helpline."
"Bidding will start now, for Bachelor number one Damon Salvatore at $20"
Liz lifted her paddle then, again at $40 (this was the plan)
"Bachelor number two, at $100" Kelly Donovan lifted her paddle
Liz Forbes lifted hers for Damon at $60
"Liz Forbes, I always knew you liked a bad boy" Damon smirked, and Liz almost threw up but managed to crook her finger at him "You got me, Damon, now I'm going to be a bad girl!" She took out her handcuffs covered in Vervain "I am going to punish you Damon, you've been unbelievably bad" Damon raised an eyebrow "Liz" Alaric was behind him, and then he was injecting Damon with a Vervain dart, he passed out. "What are you doing?" Stefan shouted. "You allowed him to rape my daughter!" Liz shouted back "you're just as guilty, as am I" she burst into tears.
"I want him out of my town, and away from my daughter, and if you must go for that to happen, then that is what I will do, to stop your rapist brother tormenting my girl, when she's only just recovered from her ordeal. I will make sure that your brother never rapes anyone again!" Liz raged at Stefan. But Alaric took her in his arms as she broke down "Stefan Salvatore" A voice called out. It was Nik Mikaels. "You will leave town with your brother; you will never think about resettling in Mystic falls again. You, Damon Salvatore, I reserved a special place in hell for rapists like you. But first things first, you will apologise to Caroline for using her as your walking blood bag. For raping her under your compulsion for weeks, you will never be able to do that to anyone's daughter again!" Klaus growled at the dazed vampire.
"I've got it" Stefan growled back at Nik "Good, I suggest you depart post-haste, Stefan Salvatore!" Stefan dragged Damon away from the grill. Elena met Stefan at the Salvatore boarding house as he dumped Damon in the cellar "What's happened?" she asked in hysterics.
Stefan's POV
"Go away, Elena, if it weren't for you in the first place, my brother would never have raped Caroline. He has spiralled!"
"What, he didn't rape her, she wants attention because she's jealous!"
"Jealous, I don't think so, I think you don't want to see the truth, because you are in love with my brother!"
"What! No, I love you, Stefan!"
"You are lying to yourself, Elena, forget me, forget my brother. You are bad for both of us, we are leaving Mystic Falls, for good, I don't want you, Elena, that face is our curse. I told you to move on!"
"I can't, Stefan, I love both of you!"
"You can't have us both, it's over between us, now go, and leave Caroline alone, she doesn't deserve the hatred you spew!" Elena's mouth opened and closed, but no words escaped. I had to make her see so I vamp-speed up to her and gripped her throat "Stefan, what are you doing?" she choked out "I am a monster! Do you understand me? They didn't call me the ripper of Monterey for nothing, I fed on countless humans, fed until I ripped their heads off and I have been tempted to rip into your throat so many times. To obey those vampiric instincts." I caressed her carotid artery "To drink your doppelganger blood, delicious, hmmm" I whispered. "This is not you, Stefan, let me go!" she shouted, and I did as a tear slipped down my cheek. "Get away from me!" she scrambled backwards and ran out the front door. I looked around the boarding house and screamed as I fell on his knees, crying. "Why, Damon?" I sobbed. The pain I felt wouldn't disappear, but it could. I flipped my humanity switch. As I smiled, Zach Salvatore came into the room. "Stefan, what's with the noise?" I grinned at him "Call me Ripper" I was on him and drinking him dry of his life's blood "Goodbye, Zach" I grinned as I ripped his head off. It fell on the floor with a thud. "Caroline, you're next" I sneered.
Caroline's POV
"Hi Mr Mikaels, I hear that you joined the Founder's Council?"
"It's true, Ms Forbes, I am waiting for my brother to join me. Elijah Mikaels, he runs my hostel for abused women. And we raised $5000 last night, the council matched it, so now we have $10,000"
"Wow, that's incredible" I gaped "I am so glad that the donations will make a difference to survivors of domestic abuse and rape" Nik Mikaels nodded and smiled.
"Didn't you know, Ms Forbes, our charitable foundation put $20,000 in your account, for your further education?"
I was stunned. "What?" I felt faint
"Are you alright, Ms Forbes" Nik asked me
"That means you know; it means you know what happened to me!" I sobbed. Nik took my hands "Caroline, Ms Forbes, look at me, it means that you no longer need worry about your next education adventure, breathe slowly, this is a panic attack, that's all. Look at me, copy me, breathe in 1, 2, 3 4, breathe out 1, 2, 3, 4" I could feel my panic receding "This was not your fault, Ms Forbes, Caroline, so full of light" I touched his cheek, and he kissed my forehead. "I want my mom" I sobbed as he held me tightly
"I know, Sweetheart, can I escort you home?" I nodded against his chest
I almost swooned at his smooth British accent as he pulled out his phone and dialled my mother's number "Hello, yes, it's me Nik, listen, your daughter had a panic attack after she found out about the college fund, can you meet me at your house?" I could hear my mom agreeing to meet us there "No problem, I'll take her straight home" I heard him say and then I fell asleep as he cradled me gently "Sleep, sweetheart, I swear that I will keep you safe, Always and forever"
TBC
A/N Please review and please be kind