Hello, my lovely readers. Are you ready to see who wins this epic battle? On with the show…
Chapter 49: Final Act: Part II
An all-consuming rage had begun to burn through Caroline Forbes' entire being. Each time she struck a blow to Silas, she felt a new memory of her old life fill her mind. She knew part of it was Silas. He wanted to slow her down, to stop the inevitable but she would not allow him to live. She would show him no mercy.
"Caroline!" Silas shouted, his eyes burning into Caroline's. She shook her head, screaming, refusing to let him in, again.
"Caroline!" Silas screamed, his hand held out and Caroline dropped to her knees.
Klaus laid on his side, his neck broken and Caroline fell beside him. Her fingers moved through the grass to intertwine with Klaus.' She needed Klaus. Someone had to ground her as she swam under the current of her own memories.
"Leave her alone!" Hayley shouted. Blood ran down Hayley's face from the cut she'd received when Silas tossed the Salvatores' mail box at her. She stumbled toward the witch and Caroline blinked at Hayley. Caroline wanted to stop Hayley. She knew Silas had been gaining strength when they thought they were wearing him down.
"Hayley," Caroline called, her voice weak, as Hayley charged at Silas.
Silas turned and sent Hayley flying through the air. She landed on top of Elijah who continued to gasp, drowning on the blood from a wound he'd incurred thanks to Tyler. Tyler had been trying to stab Silas with a dagger in his boot. Silas had swept Elijah into the way of the dagger's edge which entered Elijah's left lung. Now, he seemed to be dying.
Tyler laid at the other side of the yard. His arms and legs were bent at impossible angles. Liv's laid atop the ruins of the Salvatore Boarding House when, in her rage she'd used all of the power that she'd not given over to Esther's spell to avenge Tyler. For her efforts, Silas began to bleed her dry before tossing her on top of the last bits of wood and brick from the house, presuming her dead.
Esther's powers proved to not be enough to fight Silas. If only they'd not done the spell, she might be okay, Caroline choked on a sob as she looked into the dull eyes of the woman who have helped Caroline raise the new babies. Sparks had lit up the area. Esther had spasmed and convulsed as Caroline stood by, helpless to stop her as Silas had erected another boundary spell to keep him and his prey locked in a battle to the death.
Silas last words to Esther were, "It is a pity Rebekah is not here to see your end."
Hissing out a curse, Esther had lifted her hand and Silas had dropped to his knees, growling in pain. Whatever Esther's last act had been, it ended with Silas sporting a new tattoo. A serpent. This way everyone would know what he was.
Mikael had lost his mind. He'd turned, his wolf appearing, and he'd gone after Silas. His teeth had clamped down on Silas neck, which Caroline could have already told him he would not be able to separate from his head. Obviously, Silas had used magic to prevent be-heading, a neat trick Caroline needed to do one day.
With a few words, Silas gained the upper-hand. Mikael let out a whimper before his bones broke into a million pieces, leaving Caroline and Hayley to scream in grief and rage at the loss of the man who headed their new family. Last bone shattering, Mikael dropped to the ground, in his human form, and Caroline had gone for Silas, again. And again, he revived.
Damon had taken Silas on last. He'd been his same old cocky, idiotic self. "Here, brother. Wait, nope. Sorry. Forgot. I don't really have a brother. Just one of your little tricks, wasn't it?" Damon had sneered at Silas.
Silas had grinned back. "Actually, Damon, I might have told a few, little white lies… See, there might be a brother. A real Stefan Salvatore. And he might be somewhere in the world. It's just too bad you're going to die before you can find him."
Sneer dropped, Damon's eyes lit with a fire that Caroline had not seen in this incarnation and he sped toward Silas. Silas seemed to be enjoying himself when he dodged out of the way and Damon found himself on the business end of Hayley's fangs.
"Damon?" Hayley looked so confused that it broke Caroline's heart. "Damon?" Hayley cried out, catching Damon in her arms and lowering him to the ground. "No. No! Damon, I thought. Oh, no! I thought you were him. He tricked me! I'm sorry! Oh, Damon, I didn't mean to bite you."
"It's okay, Hales." Damon reached up and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "I'll see you in the next life. Maybe. And tell Elena something for me," he crooked his finger and Hayley leaned her head down to listen.
"You son of a bitch!" Caroline screamed as she raced across to Silas, placing her hands on both sides of his head, she snapped his neck.
Lying on her back, Caroline closed her eyes. She just wanted it over. Rebekah wasn't coming. They were dead. And with her family and friends gone, Caroline did not know if she had anything to live for anymore. Tears pooled in her eyes and she fell to sleep.
Chicago, Ill. 1992:
Standing by the Wacker Bridge, Caroline hoisted her backpack. She'd promised her parents she'd try college for a few years. Her plan had been to go back-packing through Europe with Simon, her high school boyfriend. It all seemed so romantic; then they'd been in the accident and her life changed forever.
Caroline Forbes was eighteen. A college student. A werewolf. And two months pregnant with her dead boyfriend's baby.
Sighing, Caroline turned away from the boat passing by under the bridge. She should get back to the sidewalk before they decided to raise the bridge.
"Excuse me?" a voice called to Caroline and she turned to be met by a brunette girl Caroline's age. "Um. Are you from around here, because I'm kind of lost?"
"I go to school at Loyola," Caroline replied. "Do you have a map?"
"Sure," the other girl pulled out a map. "I'm trying to find my cousin's place. She's got a spare room for me to stay in."
"Cool. Well, you need to go north…" Caroline began to point at points on the map as the brunette nodded, still looking confused. "You know what, I've got nothing to do for the next three hours. Why don't I take you there?"
"Really?" The brunette looked surprised. "It's not too much trouble?"
"Nope." Caroline shook her head.
"Okay. Thanks for the help. I'm Hayley." Hayley held out a hand and Caroline shook it.
Memories continued to spill into Caroline's subconscious. "Caroline," Rebekah's voice interrupted Caroline's thoughts as she tried to read Macbeth. Hayley's cousin wanted to talk about the new boy she wanted Caroline to meet, Eugene. "He's such a charming man, well-mannered, funny and rich. And he's looking forward to meeting you."
"Bekah. I have exams to study for." Caroline groaned, rolling her eyes.
Hayley slipped a pair of Rebekah's earrings into her ears. "I'll go out with him."
"He wants Caroline," Rebekah snapped.
Eyebrow rising, Caroline looked at Rebekah who shook her head. "Right. Sorry. It's the vampirism. It's making me a bit of a bitch."
"Ha," Hayley echoed. Waving a hand, she changed her blue gown to purple. "Better. And, Bekah, I know we never hung out that much growing up, but you always gave the impression of life-long-bitchiness. It's okay, it's a condition that afflicts many of us." Laughing, Hayley turned for the door. "Don't wait up. I'm getting lucky tonight."
"Good for you," Rebekah sighed. "I'd fear eating my date."
"I'm sure." Hayley winked at Caroline and left.
Time slipped forward. And Caroline found herself standing in front of Eugene. He smiled at her, his green eyes lighting up as he kissed the back of her hand. "Caroline, I feel like I've been waiting a life time to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you, too, Eugene." Caroline forced a smile. "So, you usually date pregnant girls, or am I special?"
"You're very special, Caroline," Eugene told her with a smile that sent a shiver up Caroline's spine.
Shaking in her sleep that night, Caroline woke with a start. Rebekah sat on her bedside. "Caroline, I need to tell you something."
"What?" Caroline rubbed at her eyes, feeling confused.
"I'm pregnant," Rebekah whispered.
"What? How? Vampires can't have babies," Caroline replied.
Rebekah shook her head. "I'm also a werewolf."
"Oh," Caroline's eyes rounded. "Oh, wow. Okay. So, are you going to…have it, or are you going to…?"
Rebekah groaned. "I always wanted children. And this may be my only chance. Who knows whether Mother Nature made a mistake and this is my only chance."
"Alright. Then we'll raise the babies together. You, me and Hayley. And our kids will grow up together." Caroline hugged Rebekah who began to cry. "It'll be okay, Bekah."
The next day, Caroline, Rebekah and Hayley got into Caroline's car. They were going to Rebekah's parent's place, for a holiday party when the car skidded on the ice and plowed into a building and their next lives began shortly after.
Feeling pain, Caroline willed her eyes to stay closed. She did not want to wake up to the pain surrounding her. "Wake up, Caroline," a voice called to her. "Wake up!" A hand grasped her arm and Caroline felt herself being lifted to her feet.
Opening her eyes, Caroline looked into Rebekah's eyes. "Bekah, are we dead?"
"Far from it," Rebekah retorted. "Come with me!" She took Caroline's hand and pulled her toward Silas.
Silas's eyes were lit up with a mania that Caroline wanted to see dissolve into mind-numbing agony. She wished him pain. And lots of it. "I see you're awake." At first Caroline thought Silas was talking to her but then she noted that he was staring, with contempt, at Rebekah.
"Yes, I am." Rebekah replied. She stopped twenty feet from Silas. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Kai Parker said, coming to stand to the left of Rebekah. "I take it I'll be rewarded later."
Rebekah's glare shut Kai up.
"Don't forget about me," Katherine added, coming to stand on the right of Caroline.
"Katarina?" Silas cocked his head to the side. "How are you alive?"
"You mean after you left me to suffocate in that tomb in the Maldives?" Katherine cocked her head, imitating Silas. "You can't kill me as easily as you killed Amara and Tatia."
"I loved Amara!" Silas shouted back, his face became dark and his fingers balled into his fists. "Do not speak of her, again, Katerina."
"Why don't you make me!" Katherine snarled, revealing her fangs. "You took my family. And, now, it is only just that I help to take your life, Silas. You have ruined everything you touch for two thousand years too long. It ends with us."
"You think you can end me?" Silas let out a laugh.
"No. But they can," Katherine said, nodding to her left. "I'm just here to help."
"Come and get me, vampire!" Silas snarled, holding up his hands, he set fire to the earth around him and wind began to whirl, as he stared at Katherine.
With a grin, Katherine sped right through the flames. Somehow she remained untouched by them.
"How?" Caroline uttered at Katherine began to fight Silas, her fists and feet flying as Silas fought back, but it was obvious that Katherine would end him, again. It didn't matter, he would be up in minutes.
"Where is Hayley?" Rebekah demanded.
Caroline turned to shake her head.
Rebekah's eyes narrowed and she whirled on her heel. Walking over to Hayley, Rebekah's eyes fell to Elijah's body and she let out a low moan, her legs giving under her.
"Not the time," Kai said.
Head whipping around, Rebekah glared at Kai. "When is the time?"
"After," Kai retorted.
A low moan came from nearby and Caroline looked over to see Bonnie. Bonnie's eyelids opened and closed. Caroline had not seen Bonnie before. She thought that the witch might have gone for help. Who could help them, Caroline did not know.
"Ow," Bonnie muttered, tears running down her cheeks. She had what looked like a brand on her forehead. "What happened to me?"
"He's trying to use your powers through this symbol," Kai explained. He moved to lean over Bonnie and he pressed his hand to her forehead. His hand began to glow red and Bonnie let out another moan before sighing in relief. "Better?" Kai asked her.
"Um-hmm." Bonnie nodded. Kai helped her to her feet. "You mind if I get a little boost?" the siphoner asked.
Bonnie nodded and Kai's hands glowed as he took some of her magic. "Thanks," Bonnie said weakly. "For saving me."
"Thank me later," Kai said with a grin.
"What, are you letting random men drain your magic, nowadays?" Kol cried, stomping toward them.
"Kol, not now," Caroline snapped.
"When?" Kol retorted.
"Later," Caroline said at the same time that Kol caught sight of his family.
Kol moved around, his eyes and his mouth opening and closing. "What did you allow to happen here?" he shouted, his hands in his hair. "No!"
"Kol!" Bonnie cried, but when she tried to go to him, her legs began to buckle and Kai caught her.
"My family is dead?" Kol cried, beginning to sob.
"As all of you will be. Soon," Silas said, getting to his feet.
Caroline turned to see Katherine, hands and mouth covered in Silas' blood, moving to renew her attack on the witch. "Kill me, again. It doesn't matter. I'll come back," he taunted them.
"Or not," Marcel's voice made Caroline whirl on her heels to see him approaching them. He looked grey and weak but alive. "Not until you've had to deal with her."
A teenage girl with flowing brown hair came to join them. "When old friends ask for help, you answer their call."
Caroline blinked at the girl who looked like she could not possibly have "old friends," the girl headed straight for Silas who grinned at her. "No! Stay away from him!" Caroline called to the girl.
The girl did not turn or seem to even hear Caroline's words. Instead she raised her hands in the air. "So long ago, you came to this world and you had to carve a path through it that nature did not recognize. You have abused your powers, Silas, it is time to pay for your misdeeds. That is why my sisters and I laid out a plan before men walked the earth to end you. We created three girls and a protector to guide them on their journey. Their lives ended in blood and in tears."
"My sisters and I have cried for our girls and their unborn babes. This time, you will see that your time is through. That, we, the servants of nature, will triumph anew and peace will begin again." Turning, the girl's eyes lit on Caroline, Rebekah and Hayley. "Rise, my children. And fight him."
Hayley's body rose in the air and she began to cough before opening her eyes. "Rebekah?"
"Hayley!" Rebekah cried.
"Caroline. Rebekah. And Hayley. It is time," nature's servant pronounced with a bow of her head.
Taking Hayley's hand, Rebekah and Caroline moved toward each other. Caroline could feel the tug of soul to soul as they joined hands. As one being, the three girls raised their hands, turning on Silas. "He is not without death." Rebekah's words made Silas take a step back
"He is a murderer!" Hayley cried. "He feasts on the death of others; so he might live."
"Let his time be done!" Caroline shouted.
"Let his time be done! Be done! Be done!" Rebekah, Hayley and Caroline chanted, again, and again as they felt wind begin to pick up until they could see no more. The air held a chill. Hail began to fall from the sky, battering them as they screamed their chant. "Be done! Send him back from where he came. Do not let him enter through the gate anew. Let immortally end and let death claim him!" Rebekah screamed, her entire body rising in the air. Caroline and Hayley were also floating as they repeated Rebekah's words and the earth opened up underneath Silas.
Silas let out a scream. His hands dug at the ground and Caroline felt no joy as she looked deep into the planet. She could see all the way to the core. Molten lava roiled and Caroline continued shouting the chant, her hair flying around her, her rage still pouring out of her. As she watched, Silas pushed himself away from the crack in the earth.
"You can't end me!" Silas roared at them.
"Everyone needs help," Kai said and then he grabbed Silas. Kai's body ignited in red as Silas let out a scream. Then Kai took a step backwards.
Rebekah blew out a breath and Silas went flying backwards, into the lava and Caroline watched the earth close over him.
"Is it over?" Hayley said as they landed on the earth. She looked dazed.
"Not yet!" Kai said. Placing his hands on the earth, he began to chant.
The teenage girl began to chant and then Caroline watched as her friends and family began to stir.
A soft cry came from the ruins of the former Salvatore Boarding House and Hayley shot to her feet, diving in and returning with her baby in her arms.
Caroline grinned at her friend before she remembered who she had been checking on. "Klaus?" she cried.
"Caroline?" Klaus looked confused. "Where is Silas?"
"Dead, brother. You missed quite the show," Kol said. He was grinning. "And don't thank me until later."
"Why would I thank you?" Klaus demanded.
"Well, while you lot were looking for Marcel; I found him. And he looked up an old friend, Davina Claire." Kol waved at the teenage girl who smiled at them. "All of you underestimate me, which is a mistake on your part, because you might have noted that I created magical tracking devices, in case I ever had to find you. This would be why."
"Kol, you idiot," Rebekah cried, running over and hugging Kol.
Kol groaned. "I'm still human. At least wait until I'm a wolf before you try to snap me like a twig."
"Kol saved the day?" Mikael looked more confused than Caroline felt. "How is that possible?"
"Oh, Father," Kol sighed.
"Anything is possible," Damon said, getting to his feet and dusting himself off. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I have a date with my girl." He started to leave when Hayley grabbed him by the arm. "Hey, Hales. I know. We had our time. And then we met other people. It's okay." Damon kissed Hayley's cheek. "You'll always be on my Christmas card list."
"Damon, you are such a jerk," Hayley replied, laughing and punching him in the arm. "Say 'Hi,' to Elena for me. And don't screw this up. I'll have to find you and kick your ass."
"Damon," Caroline called as Damon tried to leave, again. "About what Silas said…about Stefan…do you think…?" Caroline did not know what to say here.
Damon shook his head. "Silas is a liar, Caroline. You can't believe a word he says." Waving, he grinned at them. "Anyway, since my work is finally over, I thought I'd take Elena on a trip around the world."
"Sounds delightful," Rebekah retorted.
"And I'll miss you most of all, Bekah," Damon said and then he sped away.
"Sure he will," Rebekah scoffed as Marcel slid his arms around her waist and she leaned into him. "It looks like we've got nothing to do but worry about our babies now."
"And graduating," Hayley pointed out. She looked at Elijah who had sat up and begun rubbing his head.
Esther came over to collect her grandchild, smoothing the blanket back from his face and smiling as she moved to join Mikael.
Hayley looked at Elijah. "And making up for lost time." She moved to throw herself on top of Elijah.
"Get a room!" Kol shouted.
"Leave!" Elijah retorted.
"Let's go home," Esther said as Mikael came to help her to their car.
"Good idea," Klaus said. He took Caroline in his arms. "Are you ready for a peaceful eternity with me, love?"
"Peaceful? With twin babies?" Caroline scoffed. "As if."
Klaus grinned and spun her away from him pulling her back. "I am looking forward to many sleepless nights, by your side."
"Where you belong," Caroline replied.
"Always and forever," Klaus said, kissing her on the lips just as Hayley and Elijah began to make sounds that left Caroline laughing. Klaus groaned and picked Caroline up, carrying her out of the area.
Yes, Caroline looked forward to one, eternal future with Klaus. "Wait a minute," she said. "We still don't know why Silas wanted the babies and what Rebekah plans on giving Kai."
"I guess we'll find out soon," Klaus replied.
Caroline nodded, leaning into Klaus and falling into a dreamless sleep.
I hope you're looking forward to the epilogue which will appear a day, or two, after Christmas.
Thank you reading, faving, following and reviewing.
Peace,
J