A/N: And here I deliver Chapter 24. Sure to be the best chapter so far. Well I suppose that could be debatable. Anyway, this baby is a long one. I hope you all LOVE it! Please, please, please tell me what you think. XD Anyway, on with the story!

I do not own The Vampire Diaries, but I do own any original characters and of course the plot.

Also, I just wanted to say how much I love you all, and how grateful I am for you guys sticking with me this far. I know I can get a little behind on updating and having a hectic life that keeps me off , but I am just so thankful to have such great readers. So, thank you so much!

P.S. – There is some PoV changes so pay attention.

Chapter 24: The Hardest Things to Say

*Caroline's POV*

It had been a couple days since all the fighting between Klaus, Elijah and Mikael had occurred. Most of us had mellowed down, though the atmosphere between the three of them was still slightly uncomfortable. I still tried to avoid Mikael altogether. I was pleased, though, that I didn't have to do that anymore with Klaus. I was able to breathe easier around him, and not picturing scenes of his bloody death certainly helped. The anger that I had towards him just seemed to disperse into the air after that hug. I'm not sure what it is about him, his human emotions just seem to get the best of me.

I was sitting on the sofa, reading after lunch. It was only an hour or two after noon, so Rebekah and Ester were cleaning up the kitchen. Kol, Henrik, Finn, and Elijah were sitting at the dining room table playing some kind of game. Mikael was out working in his workshop, and Klaus was sitting in a chair across the living room from me, reading as well, supposedly. I felt his eyes more on me than on his book.

Klaus had been doing that quite a bit lately. I suppose he thought he was being subtle. 'Not always one of his strong suits.' I chuckled to myself. 'It's not really one of my strong suits either,' I told myself as I glanced back at him when I knew he was looking at his book. We kept doing this for a while, him looking at me, and when he turned away I would glance at him. Then we caught each other's eyes. I expected my eyes to dart directly back to my book, but they were stuck. My face suddenly flushed, and he seemed rather pleased with himself. And that was when there was a loud rapping on the door.

"Coming!" Rebekah said as she came to answer the door. The visitor continued knocking loudly, seeming very impatient. "Hold on." Bekah said as she pulled the door open, by then Henrik was flanking her, and almost everyone was watching.

"Please, can I come in?" The girl at the door asked, nervously. Bekah curtly nodded and held the door open so the girl could pass. Then she closed the door behind her. By now she had the attention of the entire house. I closed my book and put it to the side as I turned to look at the girl. I knew she looked familiar. She was the girl from the town square. The girl I tested that spell out on. Clarissa. Her curly white blonde hair was a bit of a mess, and her sharp green eyes were darting around anxiously, almost like she was lost.

"Are you ok?" Rebekah asked, looking over the girl with a concerned look in her eyes.

"N . .no" She stuttered. "I mean, I'm fine. But I'm not . . . That's not why I'm here." She suddenly said the ending with more force. "Something is going to happen and you need to stop it," she said to the entire room, but somehow her last sentence seemed directed at me.

"Ok, you need to sit down and have some space. Boys, why don't you take your game upstairs for a while?" Ester stepped in, sending Henrik, Finn, and Elijah upstairs. Kol, however, hung back. He stood at the bottom of the stairs, far enough away from Clarissa as to not crowd the jumpy girl. Ester lead Clarissa to sit in a chair in the dining room, and Rebekah brought her a glass of water which she eagerly drank.

"What's going to happen?" Niklaus asked her as looks were exchanged. When she heard his voice she glanced over at him, and then suddenly jumped, cowering in her chair.

"I . . I don't like you. You're a monster." She said directing a hate-filled glare at him. "I don't like you." She said again, shaking her head repeatedly. I knelt down in front her and took her hands in mine. Something was obviously wrong, and I wanted to help her calm down.
Ester looked sharply at her son. "What did you do to this poor girl?" She asked sternly.

Klaus backed away from his mother, with his hands up in a gesture of innocence. "I don't know! I swear! I've never even met her before!"

Clarissa narrowed her eyes at him. "You are blood," she said simply. I quickly stepped in to redirect the conversation.

"Clarissa? We can't help you unless you tell us what's wrong." I told her and she looked me in the eyes, but it seemed like she was looking through me, too. Her eyes fluttered back and forth, like she saw several things there. I resisted the urge to see what else she was looking at.

"Something . . . something." She said, like she couldn't seem to find the right words.

"Something what?" Niklaus asked, seemingly impatient. Clarissa instantly jumped at his voice again. She muttered 'Don't like, don't like. Monster,' under her breath a couple of times.

"It's ok, he won't hurt you. I promise," I told her, and Klaus shot me a slightly offended glance. I shrugged at him. Clarissa nodded to me, and then tried to explain again.

"Something is going to happen." She started. "It's hairy, and . . ." She stuttered trying to find another word. "It's umm, it's bloody." Klaus kind of huffed and started to walk away. "It happens to the person, the one who is not in your future," She suddenly gasped, as she squeezed my hand tightly. Now I was really confused. Nothing she was saying made any sense.

"You need to stop it. You can't let it happen!" Clarissa stood and faced Ester, shouting at her. She seemed to hope desperately that the older woman would understand what she meant. "You have to do what you can to protect people! All of them! Everyone!" She almost shouted, emphatically.

Ester gently grasped the girl's arm and began directing her toward the door.

"Look," She said, sounding almost lucid for a moment. "The time is almost here. And the Time is already here. She is here. The Time. She can't tell you, but she must. The moon means blood. She knows!" She continued on as she pushed out the door and lead to her house by Ester.

"Ok, come on. I think you need some rest. Let me take you home." Ester said as she led the girl the rest of the way to the door.

"But no!" Clarissa almost shrieked in Ester's face. "You have to listen! You must protect them! The spell! The moon! It's all now! Time knows!"

"I'll be going to Ayanna's after I take her home," holding the struggling girl, who had broken down into complete gibberish by this time. "Remember it'll be an early dinner tonight. Please make sure everyone is home in time." Ester called over to Rebekah and I before she left, with the muttering, incoherent girl in tow. I sagged heavily down on the sofa.

"My God," I thought to myself. "I fried the poor girl's brain."

*Tatia's POV*

'Insufferable. She is completely insufferable. I'm just sick of her!' I ranted on in my head. 'I could say more things like that about her, but I think insufferable pretty much covered it. She is a manipulative, backstabbing little floozy who steals all of my friends! I'm not sure how she stole them all from me in the first place. Klaus, Rebekah, Benjamin. Ugh! I just can't stand her!'

This disdainful dialog continued silently as I strolled through the marketplace. 'Maybe it was the fire. Saving Kol must have really convinced them that she was "Little Miss Perfect". Yeah right! Like I would ever believe that façade, she's not really sincere. Not like me. She's up to something. I'm sure of that.

I looked through the boxes of fresh vegetables outside of Arisa's shop. I picked up a couple things absentmindedly, since my mind was still on the frustration that was Caroline. 'How can he not see that she's no good for him?' I thought. Suddenly, other voices penetrated my thoughts from nearby. I could tell it was Rebekah and the youngest Mikaelson around the corner of the shop. I wanted to ignore it, because honestly I didn't really care that much. However, when I heard a certain name my blood began to boil. I couldn't keep myself from eavesdropping.

"Caroline seemed sort of interested in the girl. I wonder what happened to make a girl so young go loopy like that." Rebekah said to her brother as she looked over the produce. I slowly and stealthily peeked around the corner to watch their interaction.

"Speaking of Caroline." The boy started, sounding nervous, which his elder sister quickly picked up on.

"What of her, Henrik?" She asked with a slight smirk on her face as she turned slightly away so he wouldn't see.

"Well, I may like her. A lot." He slightly stuttered, admitting his feelings to his sister.

"How so?" Rebekah prodded him teasingly.

"Bekah, you know what I mean. Do you think I have any chance?" The young boy asked her with such hopeful eyes. A slightly somber look crossed the girls as she looked down at her loving younger brother.

"I'm sorry Henrik, but I don't see anything ever happening between the two of you. I think it might be best if you find someone else for your affections." The hopeful expression turned downcast instantaneously after her answer.

"You didn't have to be so blunt about it." He said sadly.

"What? You would have preferred I told you that you had a shot, and then watch you be turned down and hurt?" She shook her head as she picked up a few potatoes and put them in her basket.

"No, it's just. She is so amazing. It's so hard not to like her, you know." He started, and then continued praising her for several minutes. Every compliment that came from him made my fuse burn faster. The way he spoke about her, it was like he was hypnotized, or spelled . . . or enchanted!

"That's it!" I said out loud after I was some distance away from the shop. It all made perfect sense now! She had been training with Ester in magic! It is the only reasonable explanation for everyone to suddenly turn against me! She was this Enchantress and cast a spell on the whole family, but for what? She must be up to something. It all makes so much sense now! I knew it! I knew something was not quite right with her and here is the answer right in my lap! But a few questions still remain. . . Why is she doing this? And what is she after? Why target the Mikaelson's?

I doubt I'll ever get those answers from her, though. No one who went through this much work to fool everyone I care about would ever give away answers that easily. Especially, to someone like me who would most likely try to stop her. That's what I have to do. I have to stop her. I have to protect them. Klaus, Elijah, all of them. They need me, and I'm the only one who can do anything.

My problem is I don't know how to get rid of her. I tried to drive her out once, before I knew how truly evil she is, and it didn't work. Maybe . . . maybe I need to find a solution with a more permanent effect. She can't come back here, it's the only way to protect the Mikaelsons, let alone the entire village. I need, we need her gone. For good.

I paced back and forth at the end of the road, thinking, searching for an answer. Slowly my eyes slid to the sky and I saw the faint light of the moon. My eyes suddenly grew wide and a slight smile spread across my face as the idea came to me. Who better to get rid of an evil witch mercilessly than a pack of blood thirsty werewolves? Tonight will be a full moon, and I just happened to know where those who had triggered the gene liked to hang out before night fall. I walked towards the back street behind the market and saw a bunch of men standing about, talking and laughing, generally just messing around. I slowly approached, forming my words in my head before speaking.

"I need to talk you." I said to the group and they all glanced over at me. The unmarried ones looked me over with appreciative looks, like usual, the others showed smiles of recognition and curiosity. "I've over heard something, and I thought that you guys should know."

"What's going on, Tatia?" One of the older men stepped forward. He was tall and very muscular, and had an alpha kind of air around him.

"Leith, I'm sure you've heard about the Mikaelson's current houseguest?" I said in my concerned, yet assuming voice. He grunted in response. "Well, I've been concerned about her."

"What do you mean?" Leith asked, seeming slightly impatient with me. I figured better just to spout it out.

"I heard her making plans with the Mikaelson boys, plans to kill you werewolves tonight, during your transformation." I said with an obvious tone of worry in my voice. A few of the younger men growled at my comment, but Leith waved his hand saying to hold back.

"And why would she and the Mikaelsons do this?" He asked me. "We have been neighbors with the Mikaelsons for many years and I have never sensed any hostility towards us." Leith stated calmly.

"The girl, Caroline. She has been studying magic and she has put an enchantment over the Mikaelson family. I've seen it, they've changed. They suddenly act nothing like themselves and they to react to her every whim. For some reason she sees you as a threat, one she wishes to eliminate tonight." The more I spoke the more faces I saw shift. The younger ones were more easily riled up, but as I continued more faces became frustrated, threatened and even angry.

"That doesn't explain why she would do something like that." Leith repeated his earlier question. Unfortunately for me, Leith was not quick to take someone else's word for it. He was always one who wanted the whole story before making a decision, but luckily, that wasn't the case with the rest of the wolves. If I gave them any reason to be upset, when they turn they would follow their anger, no matter what anyone told them.

"I don't know why she would want to try to kill you. All I know is what I've heard and seen, and all that has led me to see that she's not a good person." I explained to the entire group. "She's manipulated Elijah and Benjamin into fighting with each other, and Niklaus to follow her around like a lost puppy. Not to mention how she talked poor Prudence into jumping off a cliff. I can just feel it, she's not good. She has this wickedness about her." The worry and fear of what she was capable of swept over me as I continued speaking to the wolves. "And there is her plan to wipe you all out. She intends to attack you with magic during your transformation. She said that's when you'll be most vulnerable, and she's used magic to convince the Mikaelsons to help her." Tears started to stream down my face as I told them this tale and prayed desperately that this would save them, save everyone from the evil grasp of Caroline. I looked up at Leith and he had finally seemed to let my words sink in, and I could see the anger in his eyes. I could tell all of the wolves now where fuming, just the way I needed them to be if they were going to stop that insufferable witch.

"Thank you for the warning, Tatia. We will be sure to be wary tonight." I nodded and gave a worried smile, and then I turned and walked away. I truly hoped that this would be enough, but now the only problem was how to ensure that Caroline would be out in the open after the moon rises. I pondered this puzzle in my head for a while. I looked ahead of me and suddenly my eyes lit up with the answer to my problem.

"Henrik, how are you? I haven't seen you in a while." I asked smoothly as I slid up next the young boy now that his sister had left. He looked up at me slightly confused and then shrugged.

"I've been fine, and you?" He replied back as he continued to look at the produce in front of him.

"Oh, ok. So are you planning on going to see the ceremony tonight too?" I asked nonchalantly, looking this way and that.

"Ceremony?" Henrik asked, with his voice suddenly full of young excitement.

"Yes, I heard that Niklaus and Caroline were going to stay out tonight to watch the wolves. Apparently on every 24th moon or something they have a special ceremony after they've transformed. I guess I just figured that they'd invite you along." I said like it was nothing, though I could tell by his face that he felt left out.

"No, they didn't invite me." The boy looked downcast.

"You know, I'm sure they wouldn't mind you joining and all, seeing as how Caroline just adores you." I said and a big grin sprouted on the boy's face.

"Really? You think so?"

"Of course." I smiled at him. He suddenly jumped and then started running back to his house all excited. I smiled to myself. That should easily lead Caroline out after the moon rises.

I wandered around town for another hour or so, spending most of it thinking how nice it would be to not have to put up with that insufferable witch anymore. Then Benjamin came up to me, with his usual inquisitive face.

"What did you tell Henrik that got him bouncing all over the place?" He asked with a harsh tone in his voice.

"I don't know. He's bouncing?" I asked looking around for the boy I was talking with a few hours past.

"Tatia, I know you said something to him. I saw you talking with him earlier." He said forcefully, not leaving me any room to wiggle out of his accusations.

"I just told him about his brother and Caroline's plans for this evening. I had no control over his reaction." I answered, shrugging as I spoke.

"What plans?" He asked. I was slightly worried, but maybe this was part of Caroline's spell, because I've never seen Benjamin so forceful in questioning people before.

"I don't know. All I heard was that they were thinking of going out to watch the wolves tonight. That's all I said." After completing my statement I walked away with a sigh.

I crossed my fingers, wishing with all my heart that after tonight, all of my friends and loved ones would be free of the insufferable witch's enchantment.

*Ester's POV*

I was worried after hearing our earlier houseguest's outbursts. She seemed to be scared of something, though she was clearly very confused. I quickly dropped her back at her house where her parents took her in. I was concerned about her reaction to them. She nodded like she knew them, just not as her parents. Something just seemed wrong somehow. I knew I needed council, so I went straight to my friend Ayanna's house to ask her opinion of this whole development.

"Enter." I heard through the door after I knocked. I pushed the door aside as I stepped in. There in front of my I saw my dear friend, looking over her herbs.

"Ester, you look worried. What has happened?" She stepped forward, touching my hand gently.

"A young girl came to my home, spouting some sort of nonsense about blood and death. But everything she said was a jumbled mess that I couldn't make heads or tails of." I told her, wearing my concern on my face. "I'm not sure what to think." I told her as she offered me a chair and started making hot tea. A minute later she passed me a steaming cup and sat across from me.

"Let me see." She said softly. She picked up a few herbs, rubbing them on her hands and then taking mine in hers. Her eyes closed as she channeled what I had seen and what might come. Slowly she opened her eyes and squeezed my hands tightly. "You must be wary this night, Ester. Many dangers lie ahead, aimed at your family." She stood and ushered me to the door.

"I must prepare for tonight." She said as I looked back. "Take care of your family, Ester." She finished as she closed the door behind me.

I headed home, my head filled even more than earlier with nervous and worrisome thoughts. Ayanna didn't help the matter much unfortunately. I walked back home and started pulling out all the things we would need tonight, something told me it would be a long one. My heart was heavy with fear after everything I had heard today. I started to pull out the swords and axes that were stored in a corner of the living room. After I put them in a pile near the door to go with us to the caves, I knew I was missing one thing. I was missing something important.

I approached the bookshelf nearby and pulled out my most powerful weapon. I had a feeling inside me, saying that I would be needing it soon. I put the Grimoire on top of the pile of blankets and sighed.

"Best start dinner if we are to make it to the cave on time." I told myself and then headed to the kitchen, busying myself with preparations for dinner. While I was cooking my mind jumped from possibility to possibility that we might come across. The fear that was in Ayanna's eyes. And the more I thought, the stronger my own fear became. It wasn't soon after I had finished cooking that my children had filtered in to the dining room. They set the table and Rebekah and Caroline helped me bring the food. The room was unusually quiet, maybe it was the children sensing my distress and not wanting to make it worse, or maybe they didn't have much to talk about. Either way, I was somewhat grateful for the silence, as I continued to try and piece together what Ayanna meant. The meal was soon over and the diner dishes were cleared. I stepped forward to make an announcement. I didn't wish to alarm them of what might come, but I did wish to be clear.

"I expect all of you back here in an hour, to leave for the cave tonight. That includes you Niklaus. There will be no sneaking off tonight, am I clear?" I asked, looking at my deviant son. He nodded and everyone went their separate ways. I went back to trying my best to prepare for something I still knew nothing about.

*Caroline's POV*

Everyone was quiet during diner, and I could tell something was going on with Ester. Especially how she told Klaus that he couldn't go to his secret little cave tonight but had to stay with the family. I kind of chuckled at the thought of Klaus not being able to run away to his little hidey spot. I shrugged as I started walking down the village streets, wasting away my sweet hour before night fall. I gasped when suddenly hand appeared on my arm, pulling me away from the others in town and closer to the woods. The other hand then covered my mouth and I struggled trying to break free from the unknown person's grip. Their mouth seemed to come near my ear, as I could hear their breathing.

"Don't worry, Love. You're safe." I heard him say and then chuckle, as he released me. I turned with burning frustration, facing him and shoving him away from me.

"Don't do that!" I basically shouted at him, and he laughed more.

"Sorry, couldn't be helped." He shrugged and this time reached for my hand. "I wanted to talk with you before we had the forced company that is my family." He said as he led me into the woods. I should have let go of his hand, I knew that, but I couldn't force myself to do so. I held on, not wanting to let go, not just yet.

"Where are we going?" I asked looking around the familiar trees and leaves. "What did you want to talk about?" He continued walking, with me in tow, until we were some way into the woods, though still easily able to return when we were ready. I glanced back at me with a smirk and a wink. I couldn't help but blush a bit. "Niklaus?"

"Caroline?" He asked back when we finally stopped and he faced me.

"What are we doing here?" I asked and he smiled sweetly. He slowly took up my other hand with his, and I realized that my heart was beating wildly.

"Caroline, I know we have been through a lot together. And I've made mistakes, and you've been gracious enough to forgive me, even though I didn't deserve it." He started and suddenly I had a rather large lump in my throat. In my head I was saying. 'Please, God. Don't let him proposing. Please, God. Don't let him be proposing. Because I don't think I can handle that!' He continued speaking though, and they were words, that somewhere deep inside I had always wanted to hear. "Care, I don't think I've ever known anyone like you. Someone so brave and honest and beautiful."

"Nik,"

"I know, I know. I just want you to hear me say it. I'm not even sure if I'm going about this the right way. I've never said it before, but I love you. I love you, Caroline. I've never felt this way before, like whenever I'm near you or think about you, my skin is on fire. You're always on my mind, no matter if I try with all my might to think about something else. You are all around me and I don't want to let you go." He said, just letting it all come out. "I love you."

"Nik, I . . ."

"It's ok if you don't feel the same. I don't mind waiting, just know that I will always be here for you. And I'll save you whenever you need me." He told me as I looked in to ocean blue eyes, and I could actually see the loving look that rested there. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, let alone hearing. I never thought in a thousand years that Klaus would love someone, let alone love me. The hardest part for me to believe though, was the part deep inside of me, saying that I felt the same way. That deep down, I loved him. I would never be able to admit it, but feeling it inside, soaking up every little part of me. I couldn't suppress it. It bubble out of my and forced me to smile. 'I love him.' I smiled. 'I love him.'

"You'll never stop being My Hero, will you?" I asked him.

"Never."

a/n: And that is the end of chapter 24. Just one more chapter to go people! Again, I want to thank you all for sticking by me and supporting me through this story. It means the world to me. =D

THANK YOU GUYS SOOOOOOO MUCH! I LOVE YOU ALL, AND I'M SO GLAD YOU LIKED MY STORY!

Ok, I think I'm done with caps for a while, sorry if it was too much. XD

Ok, I'll stop talking now. Bye! *waves energetically*

DramaticInvisibleGirl