Hello, my lovely readers. We have a lot of Caroline and some Klaroline, too! On with the show...
Chapter 12: Who Are You, Really?
Fifteen years ago Julian was brought in from the cold, literally. He'd been sent from his home in London to Cleveland, Ohio. The year he was recruited to Council Headquarters had been a particularly brutal one. Snow reached over and stood at corners in five foot piles. Unfortunately for the humans of the area, the vampires did not care about the cold or the snow. If anything, they felt a certain thrill placing their victims in a drift and seeing if they would be found by spring. They did not count Julian hunting them down while his fingers froze around his stake. After a nastier fight with one of the blood-sucking fiends, he'd been awakened to a rapping on his door and found two men st his door. "Time to go," one of them had said. And so he went, to Louisiana. The weather was warmer, outside the Council's walls.
At the time the Council was run by a man that was only known as Mr. Santino. No one knew much about other than his refusal to hear Council matters on Sunday mornings when he could be found at St. Anne's church. And that he was old. So old that no one could find a birth certificate. However, Julian suspected Old Santino threw it in his fireplace which he was wont to do with any paperwork he did not want anyone looking at.
It took a total of three years for Julian to wait out Old Santino. Of course, some of the old guard spread vicious rumors that Julian had been in the study with Santino the night he succumbed to a heart attack, but no one could prove a thing and so Julian took his rightful place at the head of The Hunter's Council.
The funeral for Santino felt like a lifetime. Afterward those who chose to stay joined Julian to celebrate his new rule and nothing could wipe the smile from his face because this was his time and he would see to it the Hunter's journals spoke of his exploits for centuries.
About Two Years Ago:
"Why do you have to go?" The wide-eyed fourteen-year-old demanded. Her arms were crossed over her chest and she pouted like a child a third of her age. "Why can't you send an emissary?"
Chuckling, Julian zipped his duffle bag, the only possession he'd kept from his time in England. The girl toed the carpet of his room with a heavy leather boot he'd given her for her birthday as she leaned into the doorframe with a sullen look. "Jealous of the new girl, are we?"
The teen's dark eyes rose to burn into Julian's. She was so full of fire and had quite the temper. Julian relished the thought of loosing his little weapon on the world of the supernatural one day.
"I. Am. Not. Jealous." She sprayed the words out between clenched teeth. Kicking off the doorframe, she strode over to plop on the side of the bed. "I just don't know why you have to leave. There are reports. Weekly."
"That you have been reading," Julian eyed his protégé with a smirk.
Eyes on the carpet, fists balled at her sides, the girl shook her head, "Am not." She might be a good liar but she could not lie to him. Not yet, anyway.
"Yes. You have. I have spies, you know." Julian laughed when her head whipped to stare at him. He picked up his bag and placed a hand on her head. "I taught you to know your enemy."
"She's not my enemy."
Rival then."
The girl slid out of his reach and headed for the door. "Good luck with your trip," she called, not turning to look at him.
"Behave for Father O'Connell for me, Hayley."
Hayley Marshall paused in the doorway and tapped her fingers on the doorframe. "Don't stay in Mystic Falls, for her, and forget about me." Her words were so quiet Julian barely heard them before she left.
"Never," Julian replied, shouldering his bag. He already had his girl, right here.
Knocking on an apartment door at just past five in the morning, Julian waited. He rocked on his heels and whistled a jaunty tune, reflexively checking the right and left sides of the hallway for movement. Never could be too careful.
When the door opened, a blurry-eyed and stubble - covered Alaric Saltzman appeared. Julian felt amused and gave Ric a wide smile of greeting. "Good morning, Saltzman!" He clapped a hand on the current hunter in charge of the current Slayer's shoulder.
Giving Ric a quick pat, Julian moved forward, forcing Alaric to step back to allow his boss passage. "I see you're still living the life of a bachelor," Julian said, making a quick assessment of the apartment and a general lack of anything feminine in the general vicinity.
"Come on in, Julian," Alaric grumbled. He closed his door and flicked the lock shut. "Make yourself at home."
Julian glanced back at Ric. "Did I come at a bad time?" His brows rose and he waited for an answer.
"Nope." Alaric shook his head. "Just let me grab some pants." He marched over to his dresser while Julian turned to examine a pair of dirty glasses on the coffee table and an empty bottle of bourbon.
"You have company over, last night?" Julian narrowed his eyes. No sign of lipstick on either glass. No lingering scent of perfume in the air. And no indenting in the extra pillow on the bed.
"A buddy of mine swung over," Alaric said, buckling his belt, and turning to face Julian with a nonchalant expression.
"'Buddy?' That you shared an entire bottle with?" Julian picked up the bottle between thumb and index finer giving it a shake in Alaric's direction. Sighing, Alaric ran a hand through his unkempt locks. "Didn't know The Council cared so much about my personal life."
"We care about everything you do. And everything you say. Because of HER. All that we do is for her benefit. She is your responsibility. And drinking yourself half to death and prattling on about all of our secrets to your mate is my business." Setting the bottle down with exaggerated gentleness; Julian stared at Alaric. "Is it not?"
Alaric folded his arms and stared at Julian. "I do not talk shop to my friends."
"Good. See to it that you do not." Julian retorted. All that worked for The Hunter's Council knew the price to be paid for endangering their secrets, and their slayers. "Also see to it that you get fresh linens on the bed." Setting his bag down, Julian stretched and yawned. "I need a nap before you take me to meet the girl."
There was a long moment of silence before Alaric responded. "Take you..." Alaric seemed wide awake now. "To Caroline?"
"Yes." Julian stared at Alaric who began to shake his head. "What is the problem, Saltzman?"
"Uh? Where do I begin?" Still shaking his head, Alaric walked into the sorry excuse for a kitchen. He began to pull out cups and a coffee canister. "You appear at my house-unannounced-then you ask to meet Caroline-still unannounced-"
"Since when did The Head of The Hunter's Council have to announce a visit with The Slayer? Hmmm?" Taking a seat on Alaric's couch, Julian crossed his legs and stared at Alaric.
Alaric closed the lid of the coffeemaker with a bang. Wincing, his hand went to side of his head. "She is only sixteen. And she lives with her mother. Her mother who has no idea that vampires exist, let alone that her daughter is put there-fighting them nightly-not at home, doing her homework, or sneaking out with her friends like any other girl her age. To her mother, I am Caroline's history teacher. So, no, Julian, we can not just show up. Since you're so worried about maintaining your secret identity."
"Are you quite finished, Alaric?" Feeling amused, Julian watched Alaric stare back at him. "I am well aware of the Slayer's current living arrangements. And I have no intention of disrupting her current life, such as it is." Pausing, he allowed that bit to sink in. "I simply wish to meet the girl. Assess her skills and how she's taking to the provided training. That is all."
Letting out a sarcastic laugh, Alaric shook his head, "That is all?" He mimicked Julian's accent poorly. "And what do you mean 'current living arrangements?"
Julian clapped his hand on his knees and stood up. Crossing the room, he moved to stand in front of Alaric. "The girl remains in your charge, and in this town, so long as I permit it. You are aware of our rules. And I assume you have gathered that this is not a social call. If she passes my assessment: I will leave you to it..." Julian watched Alaric's eyes darken and his fists ball. It would break the monotony of the visit if they were to fight. A thrill of adrenaline coursed through Julian's veins.
"And if she doesn't pass your little test..." Alaric replied, his jaw tight.
Julian smirked. If this came down to a fight-which Alaric Saltzman would obviously lose-Julian could simply take Caroline Forbes back New Orleans with him. But going through the assessment process could prove to be more interesting.
Sounds of pop music could be heard in the clearing of a woods just off someone's property. As Julian and Alaric approached, Julian's brows rose, at the sight of a tall, blond girl in black track pants and a tank top. Her back was to them and her ponytail bounced perkily as her sneaker-clad foot flew through the air in an arc. Her right palm shot out and she ducked away from the blow of an invisible assailant, her back bending as her legs rose above her. Completing the flip she landed in a crouch with a familiar look on her face: The Slayer ready to attack. Eyes narrowed, she scanned the area.
Spotting Julian and Alaric, the girl straightened with a huge smile and wrinkling nose. This was all for Alaric. Yes, as reported by his little minions, Caroline Forbes was the living, breathing epitome of the high school cheerleader. Hayley would hate this girl.
The dark though made Julian smirk as Caroline's eyes drifted to him and she placed her hands on her hips, her smile sliding into a look of confusion. "Who's the new guy?" She hooked a thumb at Julian, her eyes going from the stranger in her midst to her mentor.
Julian stepped forward and offered a hand. "Roger Connery, at your service, my lady."
"Caroline." She shook his hand, adding a little too much pressure to make it clear she wasn't a little girl and he might want to watch himself. He also noted that she omitted her surname. Smart girl. "Alaric..." Again, she looked to Alaric for answers.
"Caroline, this is an old friend from The Council. We trained together. Years ago." Alaric strode forward and stood sideways to keep both Caroline and "Roger" in his line of sight. "A hunter must always be vigilant" was their motto.
Julian watched Caroline drop her guard a fraction. That was one point against Alaric. Amongst strangers, The Slayer must always be prepared for a fight.
"Really? Cool." Caroline nodded, but her weary expression said it was not as cool as she'd made it it out to be.
Turning to Alaric, Caroline grinned. "Did you see my flip? I'm gaining speed and height." She was talking to Alaric's back and he made his way to s tree stump and the music halted.
"How many times do I have to tell you about distractions?" Alaric turned to face Caroline, iPod in hand. He waved it at the teen whose shoulders drooped.
"Music helps me train." Caroline countered. "Also knowing that a chocolate cookie was waiting for me ought be a side benefit."
"It could make you dead," Alaric replied, handing the device to Caroline with a stern look.
Julian jumped in. "Personally, I think it's clever. There can be a million types of distraction surrounding a slayer. She must be able to cut through all of it, to find her prey."
Caroline's brows rose and her lips pursed in a quizzical look. "I don't really think in terms of prey -'" she began when Julian snagged her toy and tossed it several yards away. "Hey!" She gasped before sending Julian a dark look. "That was a birthday present!"
Not replying, Julian swung his leg out, toppling the chatty teen to the pile of leaves underfoot. Caroline's eyes widened as he lifted his other foot to venture toward her facial region.
"Shit!" Caroline cried, tucking and rolling out of the path of Julian's attack. "Ric, I thought you said he was your friend!"
Alaric opened his mouth. "He's -" The Hunter was interrupted by his cell ringing. Glaring at Julian, Alaric jerked his phone out and glanced at the screen. "Sorry, Care. I've got to take this." He moved toward the edge of the clearing and kept his voice down as he spoke. So, he was keeping secrets.
"Seriously!" Caroline shouted, her head turning in Alaric's direction offering Julian an opening.
Bending down, Julian picked up a tree limb and swung it. He connected with the side of Caroline's head as she continued to stare at Alaric.
Again, Caroline dropped to the ground. And, again, Julian moved to finish the fight. He aimed the branch for her heart.
Closing her eyes, Caroline caught the branch an inch from her chest. Her eyes snapped open and Julian saw fire blazing back at him. He grinned until she lifted her feet and planted them in the center of his chest before pushing upward and causing him to shoot through the air. He connected with a nearby tree, hearing things snap and pop within his body.
Blood trickled down from the back of his head, but he pushed himself up. He'd been much closer to death than this. Jerking his pants' leg up, he removed s two foot long hunting knife. "Is that the best you can do, child?" He taunted the girl who glared back at him as he panted and waved for her to come to him.
Caroline jumped to her feet and held the branch in her hand tight enough to draw blood. She gulped at the sight of the knife. "Alaric," she called never taking her eyes off Julian. "Is this some kind of crazy test? Because I think I would prefer the oral..."
Darting forward before Alaric could respond, Julian began the dance again.
He anticipated each of Caroline's moves. After all, Slayers had used them for centuries. And no matter how good the technique was, it was outmatched by your opponent knowing each play in the game.
"Roger!" Alaric cried when Julian's blade caught Caroline's arm and she hissed in pain
"Not yet, Ric." Julian felt Caroline's left foot moving to connect with his right knee. His blade slid over her left thigh. His left palm slammed into her shoulder and he heard it make a popping sound.
Knees buckling, Caroline fell to the ground and Julian shook his head. "I heard you might be the greatest Slayer of our time. How disappointing." Tossing his knife in the air, Julian caught it and moved to plunge it toward the girl's heart. Of course, he would not kill her. It was against the rules. But he would be forced to take her training into his own hands...
Julian felt confused as he knelt above leaves and not a terrified girl. Blinking he looked around. "Up here, jackass!" Julian's head rose to take in the sight of Caroline somersault in through the tree limbs before free-falling, and landing on top of him. With an open palm, she smashed her hand into his nose several times before prying his knife from his loosening grip. She placed the blade under his chin, panting as she said: "I win!" Julian could see the thrill of victory through her mass of sweaty blond locks falling into her face.
Getting to her feet, Caroline moved to stand a few feet away and clutched Julian's knife in her hand as Julian sat up with difficulty, beginning to laugh although it made his nose burn and his ribs ache. "Is he crazy?" Caroline demanded. This time, she did not take her eyes off Julian as she spoke to Alaric. She'd learned her lesson.
Julian waved for Alaric to help him up. The latter did so with an air of reluctance. "Good show, Slayer!" Julian cried, grinning, dusting himself off.
Caroline glared in reply.
Pointing at the trees, Julian waved a finger. "That thing. With the trees. We don't teach that. And that is what a Slayer needs. To be resourceful. Do not rely on training alone. It will not get you out of every scrape." Stopping, he watched Alaric check Caroline's injuries. "She'll heal," he snapped.
"Which is more than you can say." Caroline smirked at Julian. "Which is more than you can say." Caroline stared at Julian's bloodied shirt before adding, "For an old guy, you fight well." Walking over to the tree stump where her iPod had been, she leaned over to pick up a light pink hoodie, she gritted her teeth as she pulled it over her wounded arm.
With a smile, Julien nodded. "I've been training since I was your age."
"For what?" Caroline's brows furrowed.
Julien shrugged. "I did not question it. I simply knew I would be needed, one day. Then The Council found me, and all the pieces fell into place."
Caroline nodded. "I could eat. You guys?"
Julian jumped in. "I'm ravenous." He fell into step with Alaric. "Important call?"
"My bank. They just wanted to check in and make sure I made a certain purchase."
"Go counsel them." Julian did not believe Alaric but he would let it go, for now.
"Caroline's staying here." Alaric was not asking.
"It would seem so." Julian did not add "for now."
"Roger Connery?"
"Not a James Bond fan?" Julian retorted with a grin.
Alaric's brows rose. "More of an Indiana Jones myself."
"I am not staying here!" Caroline shook her head and paced the floor of the beach house.
"It would do you little good to return," Klaus replied for the twentieth time in the past two hours. "Have some wine." He gestured to a bottle that was eighty percent red wine and twenty percent B-Positive. It sat open on a side table and as tempted as Caroline was; she would not give Klaus the satisfaction.
Stalking across the room, Caroline took hold of the bottle by the neck and tossed it into the fireplace. A small explosion occurred, flames rose around the grate blocking the fire from the wooden floor and sparks shot over the antique carpet.
"Caroline, love, I know you're upset, but don't take it out on Elijah's favorite rug." Klaus stomped out the flames and then moved to drop his hands into her shoulders.
Caroline glared at the picture-perfect view. Waves crashing against clear blue water. A younger version of Caroline would be thrilled to be here. Not this version.
Shrugging her boyfriend off, Caroline turned her back on him. "There's one antique I should be taking this out on!" she growled at him.
Ever since she woke up in a four-poster bed in The freakin' Hamptons, Caroline had been in a volatile mood and wondering why the hell her boyfriend kidnapped her this time. Most people would kill to spend a day here and Caroline would kill to get out of paradise.
Forcing down her own frustration, Caroline concentrated on Klaus. "Klaus, my friends are back there. Ric is there and probably trying to get himself killed, doing my job. Hayley-who I feel very much responsible for-is there! I have to go home!" He had to know that if it came to a fight, she would win. Which must be why he brought Freya.
To increase her annoyance, Klaus began to chuckle. "Darling, in case you are unaware: Your friends are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves."
Klaus moved to the fireplace before continuing. "Bonnie Bennett is a witch whose power has grown to surpass even my expectations. Tyler Lockwood has learned to control his wolf with little outside guidance. Damon, Elena, and Stefan are following a journey that places them out of harm's way. And as for your Hayley, impetuous as she is, Elijah has taken quite the interest in her well-being. In the strictly mentor-mentee sense. You have nothing to worry about."
Moving to stand beside Klaus, Caroline studied him. Klaus turned his head to look her in the eye with that vaguely amused expression that made her narrow her eyes. "You're not foiling anyone, Klaus," Caroline retorted.
Laughing, Klaus slid his arms around her waist. "You're right, Caroline. I should be honest with you."
"That would be refreshing." Caroline did not move a muscle to reciprocate his sudden amorous turn. If she did, he might take advantage and snap her neck, again. Then he would put her in a box, like he did with his siblings who stepped out of line.
"Our reunion was too brief. Call me selfish, but I wanted you all to myself." Klaus spun her around to face the beach. "I believe we could find ways to pass the time in this house, with this view and all of the wine I stored in the pantry." He ducked his head and began to kiss her neck. His hands slid down her arms and to her hips, pressing her into him. "Shall we make proper use of the bed?"
Caroline pondered the idea of exhausting Klaus until he fell into a semi-comatose slumber. By the time he awoke, she would be within the Virginia state limits.
The problem was that Caroline could sense something wax bothering Klaus. It came off of him in emotional waves. Too bad her demon power did not include being psychic. That would make this much easier.
Pulling back, Caroline turned to face Klaus. She kept her tone soft as she spoke to not make this worse. "Klaus, there is something bothering you; I can feel it. Literally."
Klaus' smirk faltered. "I have no idea what you're on about, love." He turned his back on her and moved to the decanter. She felt the worry and irritation rising like a wave about to crush her beneath its weight as the lust disappeared.
"Klaus, my demonic spidey-sense is tingling like crazy because your nerves are a wreck. Well, wreck-ier than usual. And that's saying something."
Caroline paused and watched Klaus glance at her while pouring himself a drink. He had his guard up again. That would make this so much harder, like most things Klaus-related. "Okay. Let me guess. It's not your mom. Or your dad. 'Cause that would be so last season," Caroline mused in a light tone. "How about Freya?" She watched Klaus stare into the bottom of his now empty tumbler. "It is Freya! That's why she's the third wheel on our so-called romantic escape. You're being all paranoid with her, again! Afraid she's up to something and you're doing your old 'Keep your enemies' closer' bit..."
Pouring himself another drink, Klaus drained it and refilled it. "Or I would like to spend time with you without worrying that one your little friends will fall down a bloody well or get a nose that only you can fix." Turning, he pointed a finger. "And perhaps not everything is about you, Caroline, and Freya is present because she needed to deal with her own concerns. And, yes, perhaps I asked her to spell us in here because that is one of the only times you have seemed to have time for me lately!"
"You were trying to kill me!" Caroline shouted back.
Pausing, Klaus nodded and let out a laugh. "True."
"And do not try to change the subject!" Caroline added.
Rolling his eyes, Klaus knocked back his third drink and went for another. Caroline sped over and took the decanter away from him. "Is this about Freya?" She searched his eyes for the answer.
Klaus set his empty glass down. "She needs to be far from Kol and the witch..." Waves of anxiety washed over Caroline as he spoke and they emanated from Klaus.
Lips pursing, Caroline felt confused. "Witch? As in Bonnie?"
Nodding, Klaus moved to take a seat on the couch. His eyes went to the window. "Kol has been making threats that may not remain idle if Freya's interest continues."
"But Freya is Bonnie's mentor. Why would that bother Kol?" Caroline came to sit beside Klaus. He gave her a long look and Caroline's eyes rounded. "Oh? Oh! Oh, my God! Freya has a thing for Bonnie. But Bonnie isn't... She doesn't... She would tell me if she thought she... Oh, boy!"
Sitting back on the couch, Caroline stared out the window. She could not believe she had not seen it before. "Bonnie...and Freya?" The two names together held a context she would never have thought of minutes ago. All the time they spent together lately. Bonnie's smiles when she talked about the older witch. The hand holding... "Bonnie's got a thing for Freya, too..."
Klaus turned to look at Caroline and she could tell he'd been way ahead of her on that topic. He tucked s curl behind her ear. "All I do, I do for a reason: to protect those I love."
Laying her head on his shoulder, Caroline closed her eyes. She felt relief wash over. It felt remarkable, like all of the tension in her body was drifting away and she could finally kick back and relax with her boyfriend. And then it hit her. The reason she felt so relaxed was Klaus' tension had dissolved replaced by a sense of pride.
"What are you so proud of?" Caroline suddenly demanded, sitting up and glaring at Klaus.
Klaus stared at her like she'd said something absurd. "Caroline, what is bothering you now?"
"What's bothering me?" Caroline laughed bitterly. "What's bothering me is your pride!"
"Never seemed to phase you before, sweetheart." Klaus smirked and Caroline shook her head. "You're still hiding something from me. You're relieved because you thought I bought your story -"
"It's true!" Klaus shot back.
"I'm aware it is. But you're still lying to me, aren't you?" Caroline saw a tiny flicker of doubt in Klaus' eyes but the sudden surge of fear that came off him told the whole story. "You are. You're lying. And you're keeping secrets!"
Getting off the couch Caroline began to pace. Finally, she glared at him. "I'm leaving. Do not try to stop me."
Klaus watched her as Caroline strode to the front door and attempted to walk out, only to find she'd been spelled in, again. "You've got to be kidding me!" she cried at the same time that she heard a car stopping. She waited until Freya appeared with a couple of bags of groceries. "You had better take down this barrier spell!" she ordered the witch.
Klaus appeared at her shoulder. "I hope you brought more wine. Caroline has begun to murder innocent, rare vintages." Klaus informed his sister as she entered the house.
"And that won't be where I stop; if you don't let me the hell out of here!" Caroline snarled.
Freya did not seem concerned by the threat. Instead, she carried the groceries into the kitchen. "I couldn't find that cheese you like Klaus, but -" She stopped talking when Caroline grabbed her arm.
"What is going on?" Caroline demanded. Suddenly she was in Freya's mind, seeing a vision of Alaric's friend, Roger Connery. She'd almost forgotten his visit to Mystic Falls.
"What does Alaric's friend have to do with this?" Caroline saw Freya glance at Klaus who turned his head to his sister.
"She'll find out eventually," Freya said. Turning to Caroline, she sighed. "He's with The Hunter's Council," she began.
Caroline frowned. "Tell me what?" She looked from Freya to Klaus. Klaus shook his head with a dark expression when Freya placed a hand on Caroline's shoulder. Suddenly, Caroline was in Freya's mind, and saw a vision of Freya talking with Kol and Rebekah. They were talking about a man named Julian and Caroline saw him through Freya's memory of an unpleasant visit to The Hunter's Council to save Kol's life.
Freya let go of Caroline and Caroline felt confused. "Ric's friend...what was his name... Robert? Ropper? Rod... No, Roger! Why was Roger Connelly in your vision? Sure, the guy is a total whack job, and not in the fun sense, but he didn't help torture Kol, did he?" She would kick his ass, again.
"Caroline, the man in my vision's name is Julian. Not Roger. And he is the Head of The Council. And he's currently in Mystic Falls." Freya's words made sense and Carine took a step back, her hands in her hair.
Shaking her head, Caroline looked from Klaus to Freya. "If he's there, I have to be, too. Everyone is in danger. They need me!"
"No!" Klaus grabbed her. "If you go, you'll place them in danger. If Julian found you, he would go through anyone who stood against him..." And, damn if he wasn't right.
Thank you for reading, faving following and reviewing. :)
Be safe,
-J