The hallway stretched before me seemingly getting longer and longer. The walls were painted a dark crimson red and the flooring seemed to be nothing but black. I saw a dark shadow standing at the end of it, the figure was unwelcoming and cold.
"Hello?" A small voice called out I couldn't recognize it as my own but the noise came from my lips.
"You will burn!" The figure screeched before it began rushing towards me. I turned to run but my feet were stuck in place. Just before it reached me the floor melted and I sunk through it.
"Ahhhh!!" I slipped off the horse and quickly wrapped it's reigns around a post.
"Caroline!" Klaus rode in behind me and slid off of my mother's horse. He looked back at Rebekah and she nodded. Immediately she began wrapping the reigns around another free post.
It seemed as if they already knew what the other was thinking.
I fell to my knees and clutched my head. Memories, thoughts, and feelings that I had forgotten filled my head. My body shook as I felt it seizing.
The Queen shook violently on the ground and it what unlike anything I had ever seen.
"What is happening?" I yelled out to no one in particular.
"Nik, calm down look!" I followed my sister Rebekahs gaze and my eyes landed on the full moon that hung in the night sky.
"Didn't you go through this too?" She had to slightly yell as the wind began to pick up and Caroline's screams grew even more fierce.
"Yes but I had killed a man, my werewolf side was taking form. Caroline... she, she..." I bit my lip and lowered my eyes. "I just know she's not a werewolf this has to be something else." Rebekah nodded at my words.
We both looked up and saw distant lanterns getting closer to us.
"We have to get out of here. She's too loud if they find us with her... who knows what they'll think." Rebekahs words were rushed but clear.
"Okay... okay you're right." I lifted Caroline into my arms. She still flailed and screamed.
"Damn it..." I sighed as I knew what I had to do.
I pierced into the girls eyes and dilated my pupils.
I ripped her necklace which was full of vervain from her neck and whispered, "Calm down Caroline. Don't make a sound or move." Her eyes dilated and slowly she became quiet and still.
It was almost like Caroline was gone and her body was left behind.
"Go now!" Rebekah whisper yelled as the men got closer and closer. We both stood and ran with our supernatural speed easily gliding past the men unnoticed.
"I'll be okay Bekah, just head to your room. We leave tomorrow as planned understand?" She gave a swift nod and one last look back before exiting the room.
"Caroline." The girl didn't stir. I had clasped her necklace back around her neck and undid her compulsion but still she seemed to be stuck in some sort of trance.
"Love talk to me... don't make me compel it out of you-" she stopped me from talking as she quickly grabbed my hand.
Her eyes were wide and full of tears.
"Don't... I'm just thinking, feeling. My body it's buzzing, my mind is running a million miles an hour." Her words came out slow but steady.
"I remember things Klaus... things I wish I wouldn't. I remember my lessons and everything I was taught. This world is much darker than what I had thought." She sits up quickly and looks at me with such sad eyes. Scared. For the first time the girl before me was... scared.
"Are you scared of me Caroline? Now that you know how powerful I am, how I can rip your heart from your chest so easily... are you scared of me?" She bit her lip and studied my face. Her eyes met mine and she seemed conflicted.
"Everything I was taught... about the war, about how many of my people died at the hands of your fathers men, about the women and children who never saw there fathers again they terrify me. Everything is different now... I thought I was this confident, strong, brave princess who is stubborn as hell but never vaulters to prove her worth but I'm not at all." She roughly grabbed my hand and pushed it against her neck. I felt her heart beating underneath of my fingers but I didn't move a muscle I wouldn't... not to her.
"You could twist my neck and kill me right here... I would be gone and no one could do anything about it. But for some completely INSANE reason-." She breathed deeply before finishing her sentence. "I can't help but..." she reached forward and laid her hands on each side of my face. I felt my undead heart begin to beat out of my chest as her eyes met mine and she leaned up on her knees.
"I can't hate you... I barely even know anything about you but something tells me I've known you for centuries. It's as if we met in another time." My body froze as I racked my brain. Why did I feel the same as if I had known this girl before? But no I would remember her there's no possible way I wouldn't. Even in my four hundred years I'd remember that face, that laugh, those eyes. I could never simple pass by her without a second thought.
What was it with this girl?
Before I had another second to question it she laid her lips against mine it was a soft delicate kiss. When she pulled away I felt my body slump in disappointment.
"Purple, yellow, red, blue... my colors I know what they mean now. My mother had warned me- I suppose she didn't realize I'd forget."
I hadn't realized her hand was in twined with mine until she hissed as I squeezed it.
"Sorry- I suppose you don't wish to disclose it with me... do you?" She smiled as she reached forward and moved a piece of hair away from my eyes.
"Aren't you the enemy?" I smirked at her as we both gazed into each other's eyes.
"Do you think I am?"
She stopped herself before answering. It looked as if she was questioning it herself.
"When you first arrived I could see it all over you I knew you had a motive. Maybe all of this has been part of your big plan, I couldn't really say. But I don't- I don't regret anything I did. In truth Mr. mikaelson I couldn't really tell if this was an act... if it was all for show."
"If what was for show?"
"You know all of it... I think you've treated me better than anyone else you've ever met. Something tells me your not so... open with others. Its just like what you did to your sister, you saved me but didn't even give Rebekah a second glance when she needed you. Why?" I was quiet as I reminisced about the night.
She was right, I had to give her an answer. But it was something I hadn't quite figured out myself.
"You've seen me at my best Caroline. There's something about you... I've never cared before and you make me care. The person I am is not the Klaus you've seen. And it's not like I've been putting on a facade... I just can't be mad or angry, when I'm around you there's no reason to be." I sighed as memories flooded my mind. "Now that you know my true age is years beyond what you believed there's something I must tell you. The girl I had been in love with who slept with my father was not my first love. When I had first transitioned me and my siblings were on the run from our village. Our parents had taken their beloved Finn and Freya and disappeared frightened of the monsters they had created. It was just me, Rebekah, Kol, and Elijah all on the run. Months passed, we had gained control but we still viciously hunted one day we came across this girl she saw our true form... that's the first memory I had of her. They come in dreams where I dreamt of her but they're very faint due to the curse my mother put on us which would turn us back in age to children and erase our memories... but I remember her, you remind me a lot of her... her name was Elizabeth and I wish I could remember all of her but sadly I only have my subconscious that gets glimpses of her."
She looked down and bit her lip.
"I will never forget you, since the day you came here which seems like forever ago but really it's only been a fortnight I've been different. Thank you Klaus for... everything. For you it may not seem like you've done a lot but I'm stronger than I had thought. I should run away and scream but I'm not scared of the most dangerous man on earth, so what could possible hurt me?" I smirked.
"I didn't help you Caroline, in truth you've always been this girl. If anything I just brought her out." I ran my fingers down a strand of her hair. "I'm honored really that I was your first... I know what a women's virginity means to her and of all people you let me-" my words trail off as I can't put my thoughts into words.
"Klaus..." my eyes met hers.
"It felt right. And every decision I make I usually rethink it a million times over. But that was simple. You were there and I was and everything seemed so... simple." I nodded along with her words.
We both stopped to think.
"My mother had taught me the history of your family. At least all that she knew. I remember us being children together. I know you said your mother put a curse on you and all but how... how is it possible-"
"How is it possible I'm four hundred years old? Well four hundred and fifty six?" Her eyes widened with the number.
"Four..." she didn't finish the number as she just let it run through her head.
"Nothing I say to you shall pass through your lips."
"Come on Nik do you really think anyone would believe Klaus mikaelson revealed any family secrets to me?" I smirked knowing she was right.
"Like I had said me and my siblings were human once. We lived in a small village kings and queens didn't exist not on this land at least. Life was hard when my father was around but when it was just us, we were happy. One night me and my siblings were made to drink a wine infused with the blood of the women me and Elijah loved most. Tatia she was unlike any other women in our village, I thought I was in love but she was just toying with me to get to Elijah, this was before I met Elizabeth. Anyway that night I watched as my siblings were brutally stabbed by my father, he saved me for last. He wanted me to believe they were gone and I couldn't do anything to stop him. The next morning we woke up thirsty beyond belief. We could hear the heartbeats of everyone around us and could almost taste the blood on our tongues. That night we became the first vampires known to men... the originals."
"Originals." The word slipped from her lips and snapped me out of my trance.
"My mother had this spell she kept secret from us for awhile. Once people began to notice us not aging she'd erase our memories and spell us. The spell would set us back years. To when we were children. She did it four times every time Elijah would be fourteen, me ten, Kol seven, and Rebekah five. We'd age normally until we reached the age we died at... our memories would return and we'd be forced to remember all over again the monsters we were." Caroline's hand slid over her mouth as she tried to comprehend it. "Every time I had to remember again I would dream of Elizabeth and her wide smile and stubborn attitude but everything never fully came back."
"I had no idea Klaus my mother she..."
"She knew Caroline, before the war our families they were United. My father was very close with yours-" Caroline suddenly threw her head back as her eyes rolled to the back of her head.
"Caroline." I grabbed her shoulders but she didn't move a muscle. Tears slipped down her face but she didn't move or shake she just sat there in some sort of trance.
"Ahhh." She jumped back as she began sobbing.
"Caroline love." I scooped her in my arms and held her to my chest.
"More memories?"
She nodded as she tried to calm her breathing.
"Ughhh." She quickly stood as she lifted her dress over her body and stood in her mirror. She tried to look at her back.
"My back it's burning!" I stood behind her and looked at her back.
My breath hitched as I saw it.
My fingers skimmed over the new scar.
"Angelic rune..."
"What what is that?!!" She said once again straining her neck to look at her back from the mirror.
"You love are a shadow hunter."
"Blue..." she whispers.
"So you knew."
"I can't remember every lesson I had. Shadow hunters were very rare... most died in the war taking their bloodlines with them. My teacher found it useless information since there wasn't supposed to be anymore light kingdom shadow hunters."
I yawned as I felt the sun beaming on my face. I was exhausted but the sound of the trumpets woke me. I shot up from the bed and reached beside me. The bedding was cold on my bare body. I must of slept naked.
"Klaus." I groaned as my eyes shot open.
He smiled at me from the other side of the room and instantly I felt my stomach do a flip with nerves. He had his leathers and riding gear on. He sat at my desk with his feet propped up on it.
"You haven't left yet!" I said a little more excited that I wanted to.
"You fell asleep in my arms mid conversation last night. Did you really believe that would be my goodbye." A smile spread on my face as a smirk spread across his.
"Are you ready?" He nodded as he gracefully stood and leaned forward inches from my face.
He tightly gripped my bed post.
We didn't speak but only looked into each other's eyes.
"My sibling are awaiting me in the crown room with our luggage and horses. Along with my knights. But they can wait." My heart beat sped up and he seemed to notice as he leaned even closer. I could feel his breath on my face as he leaned in and kissed my cheek. I rolled my eyes knowing he was teasing me.
I grabbed his hand and pulled him into the bed with me. His hair was ruffled by the pillows and I smiled as I ran my fingers through it
"What's your big plans after this?"
"For the first time in my life I have no idea." He responded.
"Then let's not think about tomorrow. One day at a time right?" I responded. He didn't say anything but instead took my face into his hands and just studied it before pulling me towards him and kissing me.
The room melted away and I lost myself in his touch. Our lips blended together moving in sync and with precision.
I straddled his hips as our lips never left the others. His hands ran up my bare back and over my stomach.
"Wakey wakey..." my door opened without noticed and Bonnie yelped as she quickly turned and closed the door behind her.
"Do you think she saw you?" I asked Klaus as I shot up off of him and began to dress.
Klaus frowned at me but quickly smiled.
"Yes love I believe she may of seen me. If not she definitely saw you." I rolled my eyes as I caught his watching me in the mirror.
"Caroline?" We both looked at the door as a small knock came from it.
"Hide!" I whispered yelled at him.
He flashed instantly as I pulled the door open.
Bonnie instantly looked behind me to scan the room.
Neither of us said anything.
"Oh please!" She rolled her eyes as she pushed past me.
"Yes come in Bon." I closed the door behind her and sat on my bed.
"Where are they? I know I swear I just saw you."
"I was by myself Bonnie." I said half heartedly knowing the lie was weak.
She continued looking through the room sighing when she found nothing.
"It doesn't matter I suppose I should of knocked I just wanted to say... thank you. I know how much you love Kai and I would never be able to do what you did for me. Just Kai he's slowly opening up to me again. I think maybe things could work."
I felt my heart ache with the loss of Kai but I smiled none the less.
"Bonnie I did it for both of you. Not only are you best friends, you're soulmates I seen it before the both of you did and... I couldn't live knowing I got in the way of you two when I could never have Kai anyway." She grabbed my hand into hers and squeezed it.
"You have no idea Caroline... but I owe you my life." She quickly stood and went to the door.
"Silas wishes to say goodbye before he departs."
"Thank you Bonnie."
"He's in the crown room." With that she slipped out the door.
I sighed as I fell backwards onto my bed.
"I'm so tired of hearing of that boy." I jumped almost forgetting Klaus was in the room.
I popped each eye open as I sat up and dangled my legs off the side of the bed.
"Jealous?"
"Never love."
We both just smiled at the other until he took two steps towards me and kissed me.
When he went to pull back I pulled him back in. Slowly biting his lower lip as I kissed him passionately. When I pulled back he had a look of disappointment on his face.
"What?"
"It's about time." I nodded gulping.
"I shouldn't keep you. Come along I'll show you out." He nodded as he pulled me up off the bed and opened the room door for me.
Right foot left foot. I repeated the words through my head as the doors to the crown room got closer and closer.
I let a shaky breath out grabbing Klaus' attention.
"You okay?"
"Yeah I mean it's just back to reality... it's not like we're in love or anything." I said quickly the words hung between us. "It just, it sucks to see you go. But we both have kingdoms to uphold."
We didn't say anything as we reached the doors and he pulled them open.
The knights and royals within the room all bowed as I entered but instantly went back to their conversations.
Many were saying goodbye to friends and family of other light kingdoms.
"Oh Niklaus nice of you to join us." Rebekah said with red cheeks. It looked like she had been laughing quite a bit. "Good morning Caroline." She quickly added. I gave her a small smile and she just nodded. That was better than nothing. Maybe she liked me just a bit more than I thought.
"Thank you Queen for allowing us into your kingdom." Elijah said with a generous smile.
"The pleasure was mine, really." Elijah also just nodded. They weren't much for words.
"I suppose I shall leave you to it... goodbye Niklaus." I whispered as I began to back away.
He looked at me and his eyes said enough.
"Goodbye Caroline..." it didn't feel right but I didn't think it ever would. There was never a good way to say goodbye to someone.
"Caroline!" Silas wrapped me in his arms as I approached him.
"I hate that you're leaving so soon." I said as he spun me and set me down from the hug.
"Me too..." he took my arm and nudged his head indicating me off to the side.
"Yeah?"
"You remember now don't you?" He questioned me.
"Yes... I do and-"
"There's no time Caroline. Do not tell them anything. No one should know of our secrets." For the first time reality began to settle in.
"Did you know?" I said as tears began to slip down my cheeks.
"Know what?"
"My father... isn't my father." Silas' eyes went wide and he stepped back.
"What?"
I pushed him into a storage room and closed the door behind me.
"I remember mother telling me. Warning me about my colors. She said id have red as one of my colors. She told me I'd be questioned by the silent men... I too was a bastard but my dad lied to protect me, claimed me as his own and even allowed me to be his heir. My real father, he's some knight of the dark kingdom. My mother never even got his name. So the mystery of my father still remains a mystery. And my title, if anyone were to find out I'd be stripped of my kingdom." Silas took a step back and held a hand to his chest.
"Sister..." he looked as if he had no idea what to say. Instead he just wrapped me in his arms and began stroking my head. "Your secrets will forever remain that way. Never will I let any of this leave my lips." I nodded and held him tightly.
"I'm scared Si, I know I shouldn't admit that but it's true... my own kingdom can find out and turn on me at any moment just because I have dark blood within me."
"The colors you had blue..."
"I know blue for shadow hunter, yellow for royalty, red for dark blood, and yellow for witch. I remember now their meanings. None of this makes sense. How am I royalty if the king wasn't my real father." He shakes his head just as confused.
"I have no idea... but I do know that no one shall know of this. When you go in to see the silent men they will redo the obsidian test-" he pulls out a small vile and hands it to me. "Take this just before you enter. It will block your dark blood. The silent men won't know a thing." I nodded and smiled.
"Thank you Silas... but how did you know?" He looked down at the ground before slowly whispering.
"Jacobs gave it to me. He told me mother wished him to give it to you on the day of your coronation but for some reason he couldn't find you." I smiled as my cheeks flushed red.
"Once again thank you Silas this means, more than you could ever know."
"Hey what else are big brother for?" I shook my head.
"You know I'd do the same for you brother. I'd lie my life down for you."
"I believe you which is why you need to know... you can't. You don't know it now Caroline but you are so much more than you think. You have no idea how important you are yet." With that he quickly exited the room giving me one last hug on his way out. What did he mean? Maybe he knew things I didn't.
I stepped out of the room once I composed myself.
The trumpet rung out three times as Silas' carriage pulled away. He mouthed I love you and he road away and I felt my eyes well up with tears.
"Caroline!" I turned quickly and breathed a sigh of relief as my eyes met Klaus'. He pulled me off to the side behind any onlookers and wrapped his arms around my waist. He held me tightly but I ignored the pain as I held him just as tight.
"Goodbye my love." He pulled back and gave me a kiss that said goodbye in a hundred languages. I opened my eyes and he had already flashed away. The trumpets sounded and I met his eyes just as he pulled himself up into the carriage. It lurched forward and pulled away. Time slowed as that carriage all to quickly went out of eyesight. Slowly it turned into a spec as it was so far away but I couldn't move. My feet wouldn't allow me. I just stood there as the courtyard emptied and the conversations slowly died down as people disbursed.
