Hello, my lovely readers. This part of a three-parter and will end with an epilogue. On with the show…
Chapter 47: Final Act: Part I
Growing up, Caroline Forbes did not make many friends. People treated her like she was different. Her blindness prevented her from joining in on games of hide and seek and tag. As she got older, kids her own age would talk to her. But new games arose, games that involved a touch of cruelty. The constant reminder that during Truth or Dare, she might be dared to do something, become hurt, and then the other kids would be in trouble for it was always there.
Caroline Forbes was not a little girl anymore. She was no longer blind, in any sense of the term. She could see. And she saw too much. The things that she saw made her feeling a blinding rage, and it obliterated everything in its path, on the way to tearing Silas to pieces, for centuries of abuse.
Yes, Caroline could see. She just wished she could see the future. But that was one gift she was denied.
Instead, Caroline would have to go forward, having a little faith in herself, and her friends, and hope for the best.
Hayley stirred in Damon's arms and her eyes opened. "We have to go back," she told Caroline. Her expression was determined. "We have to make sure she doesn't take his deal."
"Or what?" Klaus demanded. "What do you plan to do to my sister?"
"Klaus." Caroline placed a hand on his chest. "We're not going to harm Rebekah. We're going to find Marcel. Then we're going to find Rebekah. Seeing that Marcel is fine will help Rebekah remain calm and to stay strong for us." Feeling Klaus' heartbeat calm beneath her touch; Caroline felt reassured.
"What about Elijah?" Kol asked them.
"What of him?" Klaus retorted. "He's a grown man. Besides, Father will find him. It's Rebekah who is in real danger. Caroline's right, we need to make finding Marcel our first priority."
"You want to make finding the man who's shagging Bekah into a priority? Over our own brother?" Kol demanded, standing up, and looking incredulous. "I think Caroline's still got you under the sire bond."
"I am not still sire-bound," Klaus snarled, his fangs appearing. "But if you cause my unborn children to be hurt; I will kill you."
"Enough!" Esther thundered, holding up her hands. "Bonnie. Olivia. We need to do a tracking spell. See, if we might find Marcellus. Kol, do not further provoke your brother. Caroline and Niklaus, take Damon and Hayley. Everyone else should go home. We will contact you if you're needed."
Caroline nodded. "Be safe," she told Esther.
"You as well, my dear." Esther surprised Caroline by crossing the room and taking Caroline in her arms. "Keep my grandchildren safe."
Pulling away, Caroline turned to find Hayley. The young hybrid was already marching through the room and toward the front door. Caroline followed after her. Damon and Klaus right on Caroline's heels. She figured the rest of the group were behind them.
Once they were outside, Caroline stopped. She turned to Tyler and Elena. "Thank you for helping us."
"Be careful," Elena said, her gaze flicked to Damon who leaned against his car. Caroline thought there were things the two needed to say to each other, but now was not the time. Hopefully, they would have a lot more time, after, to talk about things.
Tyler placed a hand on Caroline's shoulder. "You're stronger than anyone knows. Give this guy hell."
"I will." Caroline found herself smiling for a second. "Lock your door behind you. Don't let anyone who looks like me inside; unless I know the secret code."
"What is the secret code?" Kol quipped.
"Are you coming with us?" Caroline asked Kol.
Kol shrugged. "I'd probably get under foot. You noted that Mother did not give me any orders." He smirked down at Caroline. "Don't worry. I always find a way to be useful. Don't want to count me out of the game too soon." Backing off, he lifted a hand, waving at those who were already in Damon's car. "Good luck to you lot."
Caroline slid into the backseat, beside Klaus, and closed the door. "Let's go," she ordered Damon, who drove out of the driveway like the house was on fire.
"Where are we going?" Damon asked Caroline.
Caroline had no idea. Closing her eyes, she allowed her body to relax. Rebekah sat on the floor of her cell. Her hands cupped her middle and desperate tears ran down both her cheeks. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, little baby. Oh, Marcel." She continued to weep as Caroline felt Rebekah's emotions overwhelming her.
"Rebekah," Caroline cried.
"Caroline?" Rebekah looked around her. Then she closed her eyes and smiled. "Took you long enough. Did you hear what he's done?"
"We both did," Hayley said, appearing next to Caroline. "We're looking for him, right now. Can you think of where Silas would put Marcel?"
Rebekah shook her head. "I have no idea. This is blasted frustrating." She wiped tears away, with the back of her hand. Getting to her feet, she began to pace. "The only one of the three of us who really knows Silas all that well is Caroline."
Thinking about it, Caroline realized how true that was. She hated the guy, but she also knew him better than, well, probably anyone, ever. "He's not going to do something obvious, like put Marcel in a graveyard, with a thousand, fresh graves. Or dump him in the quarry. Or…" Caroline felt the prick of an idea coming into her head. "Or dump him in the same place that he ended his life."
"He killed Marcel in Marcel's old house," Rebekah snapped, frowning.
"Yes, but the house, like most houses, are built on top of earth. What if he buried Marcel under the apartment building?" Caroline waited for Rebekah's reply.
"And people won't notice if we start digging under their neighbor's house," Hayley's sarcasm made Caroline give her a look. "Come on, Caroline. You know I'm right."
"Please, Hayley. I need him," Rebekah grabbed Hayley by the shoulders. "What if it were Elijah? Then what would you do?"
Hayley frowned. "We're not talking about Elijah. And my main concern is for my baby. Silas could have him anywhere. And we're arguing about finding Rebekah's lover. We're wasting time that we could be using to kill Silas and to get my baby back."
"That's a very selfless attitude, Hayley," Rebekah snapped.
"Hey!" Caroline held up her hands. "We find Marcel, first. Then we find and kill Silas."
"Thank you," Rebekah said with a smile.
Hayley disappeared.
"Damn it," Caroline groaned. "I'll see you soon."
"Hayley!" Caroline cried, her eyes opening.
"Hayley!" Damon shouted.
Caroline turned her head, to find the passenger side door of the car hanging wide open. Hayley's clothes were flying through the air as she transitioned, and she ran away, faster than Damon's car could drive. "Hayley!" Caroline shouted, knowing the hybrid could hear her, even at this distance. "Get back here!"
Hayley continued running away as Damon turned the car. It spun so quickly that the passenger door closed, Caroline and Klaus slammed into the other side of the car. Caroline wondered how they did not end up flipping. "Gun it, Damon!" she shouted.
"Your wish…" Damon gritted his teeth as Caroline climbed into the passenger side and then rolled down the window. She angled her upper-half out of the car and slid on top of the roof. Seeing them getting closer to Hayley, Caroline waited, registering the distance between the car and the werewolf form of her friend.
"Hayley!" Caroline shouted. Hayley ignored her and Caroline growled before she launched herself toward Hayley. "Who says vampires can't fly?" she muttered before she landed on top of Hayley.
They tumbled down the side of a hill. Hayley bit Caroline a dozen times and scratched her until they stopped. Caroline held Hayley who let out a scream as she transitioned back. "I want my baby, Caroline! I want my little boy! Silas could be doing anything to him!"
Caroline held Hayley tighter. She could feel Hayley's pain, and it tore through Caroline. She thought Rebekah would feel it, too. "We're going to get him. I promise. You're going to have him back in your arms. And once this over, we're never going to let our kids out of our sights."
Hayley nodded. "Okay." Caroline could feel Hayley beginning to relax.
Sighing, Caroline stood up, and pulled Hayley back to her feet. "We should get your clothes. Before you cause some poor person to have a crash."
Damon smirked. "I'm not complaining."
"Shut up, Damon," Caroline and Hayley shouted.
"Give her your jacket," Caroline ordered Damon, who slid out of his jacket, and tossed it to Hayley.
Once they were back in the car, it did not take long to locate Hayley's clothes. They just had to find Marcel's house. Somehow, Caroline thought she knew exactly which street it was on. But then she kept seeing the same street name. "Silas must have set up some kind of an illusion," she mused.
"Great. So, our witches aren't with us. And we're supposed to work through an illusion to find Marcel." Hayley's irritation made Caroline's own irritation grow.
"If you want to go, and see if Mikael found Elijah, then Klaus and I can search for Marcel," Caroline offered.
Hayley looked uncomfortable. "I don't think that Elijah wants a vamp for a girlfriend."
"If he doesn't, he's an idiot," Damon replied.
"Says the vampire." Hayley rolled her eyes.
Shrugging, Damon looked at Caroline. "See you in an hour, if we're not busy trying to find the lost wolf."
Caroline and Klaus got out of the car and watched Damon drive away. "How do you plan on finding Marcel, love?"
"I don't," Caroline shook her head. "This is all you, love."
Klaus' brows rose. "Me?"
"I don't have Rebekah. But I have the next best thing. My little tri-brid lover." Caroline leaned forward and kissed Klaus. Pulling back, she looked him in the eye. "You're half-witch. All you have to do is tap into your magic. You can channel me."
Klaus shook his head. "Caroline, this is more Rebekah and Kol."
"Klaus, I believe that you can do this." Caroline took his hands. "Now, you just have to believe in yourself."
Klaus' frown conveyed his lack of faith in his own abilities. "Caroline, I have never practiced witchcraft. That would be something that Kol and Rebekah are more talented at. Sadly, my talents lie elsewhere." He smirked down at her.
Caroline rolled her eyes. "Klaus, Marcel is our friend. Please, let's help him. So, he can help Rebekah. And Rebekah can help us put an end to this whole nightmare."
Sighing, Klaus shook his head. Caroline could tell he was relenting. "Fine. But if this goes wrong, love…"
"I know. It will be all my fault," Caroline grinned, and offered Klaus her hands. "Channel me. That should make it easier. Plus, I've got enough power—thanks to your mom—that I could power a whole coven with my magic."
"That's reassuring," Klaus muttered. Closing his eyes, he began to concentrate.
"Think about what you want to see," Caroline whispered. She could feel Klaus drawing from the source of all the magic she had at her disposal. It made her body shiver and she bit her lower lip.
Opening his eyes, Klaus looked at the street sign. "This is not it," he told her. Still holding onto Caroline's hand, Klaus began to move down the sidewalk. His rapid steps propelled them a couple blocks from where they had begun. "There!" he cried. He almost stepped in front of a car. The driver blew their horn, and Caroline slammed her hand into Klaus' chest, keeping him on the concrete. It's not like the car would kill him, but they did not have time to compel the driver to ignore the man who did not have a scratch on him, after being mowed down.
"Sorry," Klaus muttered. He looked both ways before pulling Caroline across the street. They came to stand in front of Marcel's home. Caroline looked at Klaus. She thought he was probably thinking about the night they had dinner with Marcel and Rebekah and slept on the floor.
With a quick shake of his head; Klaus looked to Caroline. "How shall we proceed?"
"Hopefully Marcel has a shed, with some shovels in it. Or a shovel." Caroline led the way around the side of the house. She looked around before hopping over the wooden gate that circled the back of the house. Klaus dropped down beside her, in a crouch. They spotted a shed and Caroline moved to open it.
"Careful, Caroline. We do not know if Silas has left any kind of traps for us." Klaus opened the shed and moved the door open far enough for them to peer inside. Nothing out of the ordinary. Just bags of mulch. Tools. Some large pots. Looked like Marcel had plans for gardening this spring.
Caroline entered the shed and grabbed a shovel. She tossed it to Klaus. "I'll keep watch for nosy neighbors."
"Right." Klaus smirked back at her. He hefted the shovel and Caroline followed him away from the shed. They had plenty of moonlight to guide Klaus as he began his work, to gain them entrance to what lie under the house. However, it might take them hours to find where, exactly, Marcel was buried. Something about this began to bother Caroline, but she could not figure what it was that bothered her. Pushing her worries into the back of her mind; Caroline continued to watch Klaus. At some point she would offer him a break and take over the work. She knew she would be able to get it done faster.
A sudden shimmer of light came into her vision and Caroline blinked rapidly. "What the hell?" she groaned. Her eyes flicked over the houses that were on the right and left of them. None of the windows offered the same lights that had just flashed in front of Caroline's eyes.
"Everything alright?" Klaus asked her. His shirt showed just a tiny trace of sweat from his efforts. His eyes burned into hers.
"No. Everything's fine," Caroline lied. She knew Klaus knew she was lying, but he bent over, to go back to work.
When the light flashed before her eyes again, Caroline felt her body begin to pitch forward. "Caroline?" Klaus' voice sounded and he put his arms around her. Then nothing for a second.
"Elijah!" Hayley's voice rang in Caroline's ears.
Elijah stood close by. His entire body shook as he stumbled around. "Hayley, what have I done?"
"Elijah, it's going to be okay," Hayley cried.
"How?" Elijah shook his head. His gaze moved over the parking lot. "My God, what have I done?"
"What's going on?" Caroline wondered aloud. She knew she was standing in the middle of a parking lot. Mack truck lights bore into her peripheral vision.
"Caroline?" Hayley replied.
"Yes." Caroline tried to look for Hayley, but she could not see her.
"Where are you?" Hayley demanded.
"In your bloody head," Rebekah snapped.
"Oh?" Hayley shook her head. "Great. I needed you. Both of you. But I was thinking in your own bodies."
"What has Elijah done?" Rebekah demanded.
Elijah's hands were in his hair. He shook his head. His gaze dazed. "What have I done?"
"Well, your dad found him. And Elijah was…" Hayley trailed off.
"Where is Father?" Rebekah shouted into Hayley's head and Caroline and Hayley winced.
Hayley's gaze moved to Mikael. He laid on the ground. His body limp. "He didn't mean to…"
"Did Elijah kill our father?" Rebekah demanded, her voice high in pitch. Caroline wanted to clap her hands over her ears, but it was no use.
"He didn't mean to hurt him, Rebekah," Hayley whispered.
"No! No!" Rebekah began to cry.
"Rebekah!" Hayley cried, but Rebekah was gone.
"Is he really dead? One hundred percent dead?" Caroline asked Hayley.
"I don't know." Hayley replied. "I haven't checked. I didn't want to touch him. Not like this."
"Hayley, you have to check," Caroline snapped. "You don't want Elijah to have killed his own dad, do you?"
"No," Hayley moved to kneel beside Mikael. Her hands slipped in his blood and Caroline could smell the blood. She could feel Hayley's hunger wash over her. "Control it, Hales. You're stronger than this." Hayley inhaled sharply and then she pressed her fingers to Mikael's pulse. "It's there. So faint you can't hear it."
"Give him your blood," Caroline whispered.
"What if I turn him?" Hayley looked back at Elijah, who continued to pace, and talk to himself.
"Better he's like us than dead," Caroline snapped. "Do it now, Hayley."
"Fine," Hayley ripped into her wrist and shoved it to Mikael's mouth. "Drink. Come on, drink, drink, drink," Hayley hissed at Mikael. "Look, your grandkids are in danger. And your son, Elijah, he thinks he killed you. Please, wake up. Rebekah. Klaus. Kol. They need their dad. Esther needs her husband. I need my father-in-law." Pausing, Hayley shook Mikael. "Damn it, Mikael, you stubborn old jackass. Drink my damned blood!"
Eyes opening in tiny slits, Mikael's yellow eyes peered at Hayley before he latched onto her wrist and he began to drink her blood. "Elijah! Elijah!" Hayley called. "It's okay. Your dad. He's going to be okay."
Elijah came over to sink to his knees. "Father? I'm so sorry. I did not mean to throw a car at you."
"It's alright, son," Mikael uttered. His voice was weak, but audible as he released Hayley's wrist. He was panting as Hayley helped him sit up. "You have a strong woman for a bride."
"I do?" Elijah looked at Hayley and Caroline felt like smiling.
"We should talk, after this is all over," Hayley said quietly.
"Yes." Elijah nodded. His eyes began to glow yellow as he looked up at the moon. "I should go. Before I create another problem."
"Did he kill someone?" Caroline asked Hayley.
"Yes." Hayley's voice was grim. "We'll talk about it later."
"Not an innocent," Caroline said.
"Far from it," Hayley retorted. "Unless you count some guy trying to push me into the men's room and… Well, Elijah caught him. Then things turned bad, quickly, and Elijah lost complete control of himself. Did you find Marcel yet?"
"Oh, we were about to when you dialed "C" on your internal phone." Caroline laughed before she sighed. "I've got go."
"Bye," Hayley called.
Opening her eyes, Caroline noted the dirt on her cheek and in her hair, from where Klaus had been stroking her. "Honey, I'm fine," she whispered to him. "Just needed to help Hayley with something."
"But everything is alright?" Klaus demanded, his expression enough to scare most humans. Not Caroline.
"I'm okay. Let's find Marcel, and get the hell out of here." Caroline got to her feet and held out a hand. "I think I need some exercise. If you don't mind."
Klaus handed over the shovel and Caroline began to dig ferociously. Every time she plunged the business end of the shovel into the packed dirt; she thought of Silas. She thought of all the times that he hurt her and her friends. She thought of how good it would feel to send him to hell. He deserved nothing better.
"Marcel, we're coming," Caroline whispered. "Just hold on."
After several hours, Caroline had not only made it under Marcel's house, she knew all about the pipes that lay there. Grunting in frustration, Caroline turned to Klaus, "Is there a square inch we've not uncovered?"
"Not that I know of, love." Klaus also looked pissed off. "Silas must have buried him somewhere else. Can you think of another place that has some significance for us?"
Inhaling sharply, Caroline closed her eyes. She went through a number of places that she associated Marcel with. Then the most obvious of places dawned on her. "He's at the theater. At the school. Why didn't I think of that before?"
"Caroline, you did not do this. This is Silas," Klaus said as they made their way back out of the hole. "What do we do about this mess?"
"I need you to fix this. I'm going to find Marcel," Caroline said. She started to leave when Klaus grabbed her arm, holding her in place.
"Caroline, you are not going anywhere, without me by your side," Klaus snapped.
"Klaus, this is the twenty-first century. I can take care of myself," Caroline retorted. She glowered at Klaus until he dropped his hand. "I promise, I'll be careful."
"I love you," Klaus whispered.
"I love you, too," Caroline replied. Without another word, she darted away. She knew that if she stayed, for even another minute, she would lose her nerve, and she would stay with him. She had to go. She might be Marcel's only chance.
Caroline knew she was risking exposure as she sped through the town, moving faster than any car could. She had to make it. She had to find Marcel. He'd only been a human when she'd met him. He had not asked to be part of all of this. She had coaxed him into staying. She played cheerleader to his relationship with Rebekah. She was his sire. He was her responsibility. And if he died, it would be at the hands of a mad man who was obsessed with her.
No, no one else would die because of this thing.
Grunting, Caroline stopped in front of the hall that housed the theater department. She was going to find where Silas hid Marcel, and then Rebekah, Hayley and Caroline would end this nightmare.
With a grim smile, Caroline moved forward and her eyes went wide. The sudden blast sent her flying through the air. She let out a howl of rage and shock as she landed, twenty feet away. Sitting up, Caroline felt tears fill her eyes as bricks flew through the air and fire rent the air. The explosion had people who dotted the campus's lawn screaming and running in panic. Someone asked Caroline if she was alright and all she could do was shake her head.
How was Caroline supposed to tell Rebekah that she failed, that Marcel was dead and Silas won this round? How?
Thank you for reading, faving, following and reviewing.
Answers to guest reviews:
Guest 0511: First, I want to assure you that the G-word has been removed from all the chapters. And the only way I can explain its appearance in the fic is this: Kol, in this fic, believes in Darwinism, rather than organized religion, and in his view that everyone evolved from monkeys, and that we all evolved at the same rate, but there are times that people regress, like when you hit someone, instead of insulting them with your words. (Although saying whatever you please is another type of regression and can be almost as painful.) So, he did not intend to insult Marcel on the basis of something that he cannot and should not have to change about himself.
And it is a shame that there are people who have, and those who choose to continue to appropriate Darwinism, to further their own biases.
Peace,
J