A/N: So that prologue was incredibly short and I figured if you're going to get a feel for it, you're going to need the real first chapter. So here you go, dears.
The land of Kael was slowly becoming a wasteland. Everywhere someone turned, villages and towns were being engulfed in flames, bodies were piling up, and the creatures of the wild were running rampant. The siblings of all four corners were at fault for this, sending armies out to destroy their enemies' kingdom. It was a horrific time to live in, and a worse time to be a ruler.
But Niklaus Mikaelson did not care. He would rule in fear if he had to. In fact, he much preferred it that way.
He had been fighting with his siblings for hundreds of years, each year getting progressively worse than the last. It had all started with Elijah, Rebekah and Kol soon joining to protect their respective sides. He only attacked them when necessary though. Well, he tried. Kol was the most difficult. Always trying to be so funny with his stealthy attacks that left Klaus' towns in uproar. So Klaus would retaliate, but the effects of his attack never seemed to last. Kol simply did not care about his people. For that matter, Klaus didn't either. They were nothing more than little insects to control.
Ever since their parents' death, the land had gone downhill. It was when the war had started, and they had each gotten a section of the land. Elijah retreated to the north, while Klaus took his place in the south. Elijah tried to win over the love of his people, but Klaus did not bother doing the same with his. He was the most powerful creature out there. No one would ever be able to stand against him. For not only was he the first vampire ever created—a curse at first, that turned into one of the greatest fortunes to have ever stumbled upon Klaus—but he was the only hybrid in existence. Klaus was a mix between a werewolf and a vampire, thanks to an indiscretion by his whore of a mother.
And it was his little secret.
Klaus had never told anyone, not his parents, or even his siblings, that he was a hybrid. Not a soul in the land knew. It was his best advantage. All he had to do was compel someone to forget the golden eyes, so no one would question why they were different from ordinary vampires' eyes. It was so simple. He preferred not to use compulsion sometimes, only for the entertainment of watching the people squirm from just his presence. It was intoxicating to have so much power in his grasp.
Despite all the power he knew he possessed, he wanted everyone to acknowledge it. And by everyone, he meant his siblings as well. The people had already done so. It was Rebekah, Kol, and even Elijah who had failed to submit. He would control all of the land by the time this war was over. He would make sure of that.
He had to admit, Rebekah was easiest to sway, and probably his favorite among all of his siblings. But they had their spats over the years, causing her to be more of an enemy than an ally. No bother. It was of no importance to him. He didn't need allies, and he didn't need his family's support to rule the entire land. He would one day have power over all four sections. His siblings would never ruin him again.
The whole argument had started because of Elijah. If it weren't for his fool of a brother, Mikael would have been none the wiser about what Klaus had been up to so many years ago, and would therefore have never ruined it. The only conceivably good thing to have come from any of it was that Mikael and Esther both died soon after. They had treated him badly all his life, and they had gotten retribution for their actions. Klaus did not mourn them, nor would he ever.
Elijah had made that terrible mistake of taking sides against Klaus, and that was over 900 years ago. It was amazing to him that the land had yet to become ruins.
Klaus looked out across the throne room, where he sat atop his throne, thinking of past events. The evening sky shone through the windows, the reds, oranges, and purples mixing all together. He might have been nothing more than a heartless beast, but he could appreciate true beauty. And the world he lived in had only a few. None of them involved the many ignorant souls he ruled over.
He had decided that tonight would be the night he went for a hunt. All the signs pointed to a good night. Every now and again, he enjoyed letting the beast within him thrive, howling at the moon and searching for his next kill. It was invigorating, it was addicting, and it was the only thing he could do while hidden in his wolf form. Where he would go exactly, he didn't know. But that was all apart of the fun.
"Your majesty," a young boy said to him nervously, bringing Klaus out of his reverie as he bowed deeply upon reaching the throne. "The two women who have been causing you trouble are here, sir."
"Bring them in," he told the servant firmly, not bothering to move from his position. One of his legs was thrown carelessly over the side, while he leaned back, resting his cheek against his knuckles.
The boy shuffled out through the heavy double doors, only to return shortly after with two females, both in about their mid-twenties. One struggled against the guards holding her, her chestnut hair swaying haphazardly in front of her face. The other remained still, allowing the men to bring her forward, hiding behind her raven-haired locks. It was useless for them to fight. The werewolves were a strong breed, and would be able to hold the human girls for as long as Klaus wished.
"Hello, my dears," Klaus drawled once they got closer, smirking playfully. "How are you both?"
"Good, your highness," the obedient one said quietly, giving a bow of her head. Where was this behavior when she was attempting to break into his castle?
"You are a despicable creature," the other spat, fixating on Klaus with an intense glare.
"So I've heard," he chuckled darkly. See? No one ever said he couldn't be funny.
"What are you going to do to us, sir?" the obedient one asked him.
"I'm not sure yet," he answered with honesty, shrugging in indifference. "Perhaps if you tell me why you were trying to break in, I may be more…generous."
"Don't say a damn word to him, Lydie! We will never bow to him. Long live, Elijah!"
"If you don't watch your tongue, I will be forced to punish you by ways you could have never imagined in your worst nightmares," Klaus growled. "Do not forget whose castle you are in, and whose ground you walk upon."
"I don't fear you. I will never cower beneath you," she hissed.
"Such foul words to come from a woman's mouth. Did your parents never teach you how to act around a king?" Klaus was becoming less and less patient with this woman's antics.
"You are no king. Are you such a coward that you must stand around and scorn me with words? If you wish to punish me, then you give me a man's punishment. I do not fear what lies ahead. I will have died for my king!"
"Cecilia, do not speak another word!" Lydie cried, fighting back tears to no avail.
Klaus bolted from his throne, stalking toward Cecilia as his anger brimmed to the surface. He put his hand forcefully on her face, clamping her chin tightly, and made her look him in the eye. This outspoken little lamb had just hit her expiration date.
"What makes you think you will be bestowed with a quick death?" he asked her, a snarl practically ripping from his throat. "If it is a man's punishment you want, then it is a man's punishment you will get. I will have my soldiers rip out your tongue for such treasonous words. You may not live in my kingdom, but you are now on my land, and my law is what you abide by. After they fix your speaking problem, I will have them slowly break every bone in your body. When there are no longer any bones to break…only then can you die. I would say be careful what you wish for next time, but there won't be a next time, will there?"
Klaus watched as the girl began to slowly tear up, but her face remained as stoic as it could be. "Then that is how I shall go," she mumbled.
"Take her to the torture chamber," Klaus yelled to his guards. He heard Lydie screaming cries of protest, but he didn't care. Instead, he turned slowly to her, his demeanor completely changed.
"Sister!" Lydie yelled, but it was too late. She was already out of sight.
"Your sister is no longer your concern," he informed the black-haired girl sweetly, strolling closer to where she stood so that he could place his hands on either side of her face. "Now maybe you can help me. Explain to me why you were trying to break into my castle."
"Are you going to kill me?" Lydie asked shakily.
"Yes," he said without hesitation, "but your death will not have been in vain. Not if you tell me why you come all the way from the north. That is an awfully long path to travel simply to die without ever having fulfilled your purpose in life."
"He…" she began slowly, drawing a hesitant breath before continuing, "He said we needed to gather what information we could. What you might be planning next, what alliances you have, things like that."
"And nothing else?" he asked seriously.
"No…nothing else, your majesty."
"You have been a very good girl," he cooed, stroking a strand of her hair back. "For being so helpful, I'll even let you in on the knowledge Elijah wishes to have."
"But, sir—"
"Shh," he shushed, putting a finger gently to her lips. "Do not interrupt me. I am trying to be courteous. Do you understand?"
She nodded hastily.
"Fantastic. Now you see…what Elijah is looking for, he will never get," Klaus began, moving his thumb gently along the girl's cheek. "I presume you are aware that all sides of Kael use witches and warlocks. Most already have fully developed, and powerful, magical abilities. But, there is one particular kind of witch I want to get my hands on. A rare witch, or warlock, that is a…dying breed, if you will. Their beliefs are from the olden days, where vampires and witches never got along. But I think with a little persuasion, they would come around eventually. They keep their powers close to them, you see, and families teach each generation to be wary of us. My goal is to find one, and take them by any means necessary. I will use them for a spell so wicked, Elijah will no longer have a land to govern. He will be forced to submit to me, and my other siblings will follow suit. And then Kael will truly be all mine, and Elijah will know what it is like to have nothing. For what Elijah values most are his people and his family. Without them, he will be completely, and utterly alone." They could have all lived so peacefully in their corners, but it was never that simple. Never between siblings. Now, Klaus wanted it all.
Lydie quivered in front of him, tears falling steadily down her face. Klaus studied her expression, and saw nothing but fear written all over her face. It was calming to get his plan out in the open, and confide in someone, but it still didn't satisfy him. He felt hollow, no matter what he did.
"Take her away, men," Klaus commanded, letting the girl go unceremoniously. She began sobbing as Klaus walked back up the steps to his throne. He was about to sit down again, but another thought occurred to him instead.
The last thing he wanted to do right now was sit down for who knew how long. Klaus wanted to start his night. He needed to relieve some stress.
"I'll be out for the night. Don't wait up for me," Klaus informed one of the nearby guards.
"But, your highness—" the boy began, but Klaus wasn't having it.
"I said don't wait up for me," he said tightly, his eyes widening in barely controlled fury. The boy shut up immediately, and let Klaus go without another word. Smart move.
He stormed out of the castle with nothing but the freedom of running through the forest on his mind. Klaus needed to feel the wind against his face, to taste the blood on his lips, and to feel his paws digging into the dirt. It was the best medicine for relaxation after a full day.
As soon as Klaus reached the forest border, he felt his eyes burning gold with animalistic intent, and his bones slowly transforming into that of a wolf's. The beautiful part of being a hybrid was that he could control his wolf side. There was no changing on the full moon, or uncontrollable urges to kill—despite those that he already had. Klaus had all the power, just like he liked it.
Tonight, he would certainly be utilizing every last bit of that power.
The evening sky illuminated the wide-open field in a warming glow, leaving Caroline to feel at peace as she practiced her sword handling. She would have to return to her village shortly; there was no doubt about that. Her parents would be wondering where she was. If only she could play with Matt's swords there, rather than be forced to hide her practice. Women were supposed to tend to the children and the cooking, not the fighting. It would be frowned upon.
Caroline didn't understand it. Lady Rebekah had women fighting for her in the East. Why was it so wrong for Caroline to simply wield a sword in her own town? It's not like she wanted to fight. War was a terrible thing, and something she didn't wish to be involved in. All she wanted to know was how to defend herself against enemies.
For months she had been sneaking off with Matt's swords and knives so that she could practice her fighting. The only people who knew about it were Matt, seeing as she had to ask his permission for the weapons, and her other best friend, Bonnie. No one else knew about her long practices in the evenings. They all presumed she was off picking flowers for her home. No one would suspect the perky little blonde to run off and practice an activity as manly as sword fighting.
She thought more girls would want to defend themselves in such devastating times. They were in the south of all places; it was practically the worst area to live in. Everyone wanted to attack the south. Caroline had tried many times to reason with her mother about learning to defend herself, but she would never listen. It was because of this that she never confided in her mother. Of course her father knew how to fight, but he would never teach his girls because he thought he would be able to defend them in a time of crisis, should one ever arise.
But Caroline knew better. She knew better than to trust that the kingdom wouldn't one day burn to the ground from all the hatred. This war had been going on since before she was born. Caroline was only twenty-five. Her grandparents had told her stories about the hardships they had faced as children. She was told all about the rulers who never aged because of their vampirism, and all the horrible crimes that had been committed.
Not only was it the rulers raging war, but cities and villages within kingdoms were also turning on each other. No one trusted one another, and it was sometimes neighbor against neighbor in the fight for survival. From simple robberies to killings, no one could turn a corner without fearing for what hid behind it. That was why Caroline always carried a knife on her.
Matt taught her what techniques he knew, but without a father to guide him, he had mostly learned from practicing on his own as well. Her father, William, had often taught Matt a few lessons, but Matt preferred to train on his own. He was always willing to take advice from someone wiser than him, but on the other hand, he wanted to prove he didn't need his father to become well versed with his weaponry.
As for Bonnie, she wasn't as adamant about learning like Caroline was, but she would occasionally let Care show her a few things. It made her feel better knowing that Bonnie at least had a little knowledge about taking care of herself. With all of the supernatural creatures out there, who knew when it would come in handy?
All of these events had led Caroline to where she was now, yearning for adventure she would never find in her small village. To do that, she would have to leave her town, and her parents, to find a life she was looking for. There had to be a better place, right? A place in the farthest reaches of Kael that had not been touched by the vile hand of destruction? Or even a far off island that would require a ship to cross? Maybe once this place was found, she could find a way to tell her parents and friends, so that they could join her in such a heaven.
While Caroline got lost in her thoughts of a better homeland, she swung her sword swiftly, and without hesitation. It had become second nature by now, moving with patience and precision. Slicing through the air was the easy part; it was when she would be faced with a more solid target that unnerved her. Would she be able to follow through then?
"Perhaps you need someone to spar with?" a voice said from behind Caroline, causing her to jump.
"Matthew Donovan!" she reprimanded, placing her fists on her hips while he laughed heartily. "Don't scare me like that again!"
"What? I'm sorry," he smiled, grabbing one of his swords off the ground, and tossing it lightly in his hand. "I was just coming to look for you."
"Are my parents already worried?" She asked, readying her sword.
"They think you must have enough flowers to fill an entire garden by now," he teased, readying his sword like she had.
The swords began clanking against each other, the metal clashing as they playfully fought. Caroline had done this with Matt plenty of times before. While he would deny it until the end, some of his movements were predictable. He tried so hard to change his technique up, but Caroline always found a pattern in time to best him.
"If my father would have taught me how to defend myself, there wouldn't be a need for this idiotic lying," she reasoned, blocking one of his strikes.
"Just tell them. I'm sure they would handle it better than you think."
"For some reason, I highly doubt that," she muttered, attempting to jab him. Matt blocked her yet again, and this time, she made a run for it.
Caroline ran down the field, smiling the entire time. She knew Matt would chase her. She knew he would always chase her. The sound of his footsteps pounding through the dirt reached her ears, and she giggled at how slow he was. For a man who trained daily, she was somehow still faster.
She kept running until she reached the cliff by the beach. The Chelzac Sea roared as the waves crashed onto the sand below her. The drop was far, but not far enough to kill her should she decide to slide down the dirt slope. That was not her destination though. So Caroline continued running until she reached a group of rocks cluttered together. She climbed the small boulders, turning around, and pointing her sword at Matt when he caught up.
"When did you get so fast?" Matt asked, almost out of breath.
"Is that your way of surrendering?" She teased, waving the tip of her sword around.
Matt never wavered though, and continued to keep his sword focused on her. "You can't get rid of me that easily."
"I beg to differ," she challenged, readying her sword while staying balanced atop the group of boulders.
Matt jutted forward, only for Caroline to miss, and then jump off the rocks, kicking him in the knees so he was down to her level. She held the sword by his throat, and grinned triumphantly. He was slacking when it came to training.
"Okay…you have me."
"Either you're not trying very hard, or you are becoming weaker every day," Caroline provoked.
"Well aren't you sure of yourself," Matt laughed.
Unexpectedly, Matt grabbed the hand that held her sword, and pushed her aside so that she was lying flat on her back. With her arms pinned to the ground, and the sword now out of her grip, Matt had the advantage. Damn him.
"Well played," Caroline mumbled, blowing a strand of hair from her face.
Matt let go, helping her stand up, and letting Caroline smooth out her long skirt. She straightened her midriff, making sure nothing was out of place. The outfit may not have been a pretty dress, but at least she wasn't in breeches. Her mother would have thrown a fit if Caroline had worn those instead of skirts. It wasn't even as if Caroline hated dresses—what girl didn't love a beautiful gown—but Liz didn't understand that breeches were better for sword fighting. Then again, this did help Caroline prepare for anything if she practiced in skirts and dresses.
"I'm not so bad after all, am I?"
"Don't start that," she giggled, shaking her head. "I could beat you any day. In fact…I do."
"One of these days I will show you who is best at sword fights," he laughed, taking a seat on one of the boulders.
Caroline joined him, looking out over the sea, as the sky grew darker. It was nice when they could simply sit and watch the waves crash. It was moments like these that she treasured in such dark times. Where she could sit with a dear friend, and forget about where they lived, and what they suffered through.
"Do you think it will get better?" she asked him quietly, placing her chin in her hand.
"I don't know," he told her honestly, knowing exactly what she was talking about. This wasn't their first discussion on the matter. "I hope so. There has to be more out there for us."
"Our parents don't seem to think so," she sighed, bringing her knees up to her chest.
"That's not surprising," he chuckled, putting a comforting arm around her. "They've been raised to believe that. It's our generations' job to change those views."
"What if they're right though? What if all we have to do is raise more children in times when our population is decreasing?"
"Trust me. You won't be stuck here. You will be the last person who ever gets stuck here."
"Then that makes you the second last, because you will go wherever I go," she said with finality. "You made me a promise."
"And I intend on keeping that promise. If you lead, then I'll follow," he reassured her.
The promise had been made when they were children, but Caroline always remembered it. After she got spooked in a game of hide and seek, she had forced the promise from him, lest he wanted to pick flowers with her for all eternity. Matt was her best friend, and if left up to her parents, he would be her betrothed as well. But neither of them considered each other as boyfriend and girlfriend, or husband and wife. They were each other's best friend and support system. They were as sturdy as the boulders they sat on. Of course Bonnie was included in this, but there was a much different dynamic between Matt and Caroline. He was not only a friend, but also her protector. He kept a watchful eye over Caroline when her parents couldn't. Matt made sure she didn't overstep her limits.
Caroline looked off into the distance; watching as the creatures of the sea jumped through the water, enjoying the freedom it brought. They didn't have to deal with destruction. Yet.
"Hey, Care," Matt began slowly, looking not at the ocean, but back toward the open field.
"What's wrong?" She asked him, concerned.
"Is that Bonnie?"
Caroline furrowed her brows, and looked in the direction he was, finding that Matt was right. A smiling Bonnie was running through the grass, trying to get to where Caroline and Matt were. She smiled as the black haired girl approached them, bringing her into a tight hug.
"What are you doing here?!" Caroline exclaimed. "You should be back home! It's getting dark."
"If you wanted to come with me, you should have said so. I would have walked with you," Matt told her.
"Mom and dad know I went to get you both. It's fine," she laughed. "Don't worry."
"But Matt came to get me!" Caroline said, laughing along with her. She was hiding something. Surely coming to fetch Caroline wasn't the actual reason for Bonnie risking her safety by leaving the village, when Matt had already done so. "Why are you really out here?"
Bonnie looked around, as if they weren't alone. Was she afraid of someone hearing her? They were obviously by themselves. Why so much caution?
"What are you not telling us?" Matt asked, catching her suspicious behavior.
"I wanted to show you guys something," Bonnie whispered conspiratorially, kneeling down so that she was leaning against the boulders. "I was outside by myself, when all of a sudden, something incredible happened."
"And that is?" Caroline asked, kneeling down beside her.
"Do you promise not to tell anyone?" Bonnie asked, being completely serious.
"What is it that you want to show us, exactly?" Matt asked warily, leaning in closer.
"Promise me!" She demanded, seeming to be slightly nervous about sharing.
"We promise!" Caroline assured her, anxious to hear what the big secret was. "Now what is this all about?"
Bonnie nodded timidly, focusing on a small patch of grass in front of them. "I was sitting alone, wishing we could do something to brighten our day to day lives, when suddenly…" she trailed off, grinning brilliantly at the ground.
Caroline sat in awe as a beautiful flower grew from the very spot Bonnie had been concentrating on. The bright red and yellow petals flourished gradually, stunning Caroline. How had she done that? While it was both a magnificent display, it also worried Caroline beyond belief. This couldn't be…but how could Bonnie possibly…
"I don't know whether to be amazed or frightened," Matt mused.
"What did you just do?" Caroline asked in hushed tones. "How is this possible?"
"This is why I made you promise not to tell anyone," Bonne reminded her. "No one can know. I don't think it's very strong yet, but if anyone even knows I have the slightest bit of magic, they would surely exile me."
"How are you a witch though?" Caroline hissed. It's not that she minded Bonnie being one. She was her friend, and that would never change. She just worried for her friend's safety. Nobody believed witches and warlocks were good.
Magic was frowned upon, and had been for years, just like being a werewolf or vampire was. The rulers of their land used witches, warlocks, werewolves, and vampires for the war, and those with supernatural abilities were often associated with using their powers for evil purposes. It didn't matter that Bonnie was one of the sweetest girls in the village. She would be viewed as an outcast if they found out.
"I don't know," Bonnie shrugged. "My parents aren't magical. Maybe my grandparents were."
"This is the first time you've seen any indication that you're a witch?" Matt asked, his expression showing his conflicting emotions.
While Matt was open to a lot of new ideas, and despite all his talk of changing their parents' opinions, there were still some ingrained beliefs that he refused to let go. Such as anything that dealt with the supernatural. He had told her many times that he would rather die than become a being of the night, or any other kind of inhuman being. Matt was set on keeping his human life. Besides Caroline, Bonnie, and his family, it was the one thing he protected most.
Caroline, on the other hand, was not the same. There had to be creatures out there that were not horrid beings. She was hopeful, at least, that she would be rewarded for this optimism. If she could have faith that not all were bad, she hoped they didn't prove her wrong.
"The first and only time," Bonnie concurred. "I had no idea."
"You're positive that no one knows?" Caroline asked.
"I haven't even told my parents. I don't know what they'll say, or how they'll react."
"It's okay. We'll figure something out," Caroline comforted. She wasn't about to let her friend go through this alone.
"Is it wrong to be happy?" Bonnie asked, smiling brightly. "I don't even know why I am, but…it's exciting! I know that witches and warlocks can be bad. But now that I am one…I can't help but think there's more to the story. I'm not evil. So what if not all of them are as well?"
"If you consider it a gift, then that's what we'll treat it as," Caroline told her, returning the bright smile. "You're our friend, and always will be."
"No amount of magic can change that," Matt said, giving Bonnie a reassuring smile. "I promise."
"Thank you," Bonnie said quietly, looking from Caroline to Matt. "I mean that."
"Do you plan on telling your parents about this?" Caroline wasn't sure if they would take it as well as her and Matt had.
"I have to. I'm not sure how to hide it from them," she said with certainty.
"I don't either," Caroline agreed, "So we'll tell them with you, at the very least. You know, be there for moral support?"
"I'd like that," Bonnie grinned, making another flower appear when she concentrated on the ground in front of them. This one had blue and purple petals.
Caroline smiled, leaning in to give Bonnie a hug. Maybe this was how they could start to change what went on around them. Bonnie would be an example of what was good about the supernatural. Maybe they could still rebuild their lives.
"Come on…let's get back. The moon is almost up," Matt told the girls, standing up, and offering each his hand.
The girls did as he suggested, allowing him to help them up. When the three of them were about to go, and pick up the remaining gear from where Caroline and Matt had left them, the sound of footsteps could be heard approaching. Caroline thought that perhaps the adults got tired of waiting, and sent someone for them.
But when Caroline saw the colors worn by the riders, she knew she was terribly wrong.
"What are guards of the west doing here?" Caroline breathed in horror. Six soldiers were all coming their way, with a very unpleasant expression on their faces.
"What do you—" Matt began, but saw what Caroline was looking at soon after. "Oh that's not good."
"Why are they here? Why are they in the south?" Bonnie asked, shocked.
"Please. When have borders ever meant anything to them?" Matt hissed, trying to hurry the other two along, while still appearing casual.
"You three!" One of the soldiers pointed to them, his face angry. "Stop! By order of Lord Kol, any witches or warlocks found are to be taken captive. You are under arrest!"
Oh no. He had seen her create the flower. And he thought they were all witches.
The group continued moving toward them, but Caroline and the rest also kept going. They didn't have anywhere to go. There was wide-open field, and nothing…no. Wait.
"The forest," Caroline whispered, realizing that if they could run fast enough, they would make it to the forest not far from where they were. She could even see it from where they stood. It blended with the background so well, she had almost forgotten it was an option. "If we move fast enough, we can hide."
"I said stop!" The guard shouted again.
This time, the three ran, only grabbing a few essential items as they passed their belongings. Matt grabbed a shield, Caroline picked up a dagger to add to the knife she already had hidden, and Bonnie picked up another dagger lying with the weapons.
"Capture them!" The man shouted.
Caroline ran as fast as her feet would take her. Those soldiers shouldn't have been out there, but they wouldn't have done anything had they not seen the magic. Then again, they might have anyway. In times of chaos, she didn't trust any soldier that didn't wear the South's colors. And even then she was wary.
The men were fast, but Caroline and her friends were faster. Thank the heavens the soldiers needed them alive and unscathed, or there would surely be an arrow in their backs.
They reached the forest line after minutes of strenuous sprinting. Without a care for what creatures lurked within, they continued running. The night would hopefully hide them, but now the only problem was how they themselves would see what was in front of their noses.
The further they went into the forest, the less Caroline could see. She had to use her hands to make sure she didn't run into a tree, or fall over her own feet. But she couldn't stop. They couldn't stop until they were well out of harm's way. Bonnie especially, for it would be disastrous if they got their hands on her beloved friend. Her magic was still new, but they didn't know that. They wouldn't care.
The only sounds Caroline could hear were her heavy breathing as she plowed through the forest floor, her dagger held tight in her hand. There wasn't any sign of heavy footsteps behind her though. In fact…there wasn't any sound at all.
She stopped, catching her breath while she looked around. There was no sign of Matt or Bonnie. Dammit! She had lost them. No…she couldn't have. Now they were out there without her! What if they needed help?! What if Matt's sword, and Bonnie's dagger weren't enough?
"Please be okay, please be okay," she whispered to herself as she began walking slowly through the forest.
"I think it is you who will need help," a voice said behind her.
Caroline spun around to see two of the six guards, just standing there, waiting. She held her dagger at the ready, her face set. These bastards wouldn't take her. She had to make sure Bonnie and Matt hadn't been taken. Caroline would not die before she knew that much.
"And I think you are mistaken," she retorted, raising an eyebrow in playful challenge.
"You don't think you can wound us, do you? Just let us take you to Master Kol. He will be pleased to see you."
"How do you know I'm what the Lord is looking for?" She asked, genuinely curious.
"You were seen with the likes of a witch. You are a supporter, at the very least, and that is enough grounds to take you with us. So please, milady," the man said sarcastically, "come quietly before we have no other choice but to force you."
Caroline continued to hold her dagger up. She wasn't going to back down. Were they stupid?
"Very well," the other man said, grabbing a knife and rope from around his waist. "Then we have no choice but to bind you!"
The guards began stalking forward, and Caroline kept her gaze on each of them. Thinking fast, she threw her dagger with uncanny speed toward the man holding the rope, striking him square in the stomach. He yelled in agony, and the other guard took it as his chance to advance on her. But Caroline was prepared for that. Quickly, she took the knife from under her skirt, and also threw it at the man. This time, she got him in the chest, just like she wanted.
When he fell to his knees, she swiftly removed the dagger from his chest, and began running in the opposite direction. But the man caught her by the leg before she could get far, causing her to fall flat on her stomach. The knife had flown away from her, however, and now she had nothing. Caroline groaned, quickly rolling over so that she was now on her back. The man lunged for her, but she held him off before he could fall on top of her. He was too weak to attack, and he would soon bleed out completely. All she had to do was hold him off until then.
While the blood dripped steadily onto her, the life from the guard's eyes slowly faded, and he was soon nothing more than a waste of space. Caroline threw him off with a grunt, and tried to hurriedly stand up so she could go for her knife.
But the other guard with the dagger in his stomach was up at this point, and he had the rope still.
His arm went around her neck once she was standing, gripping her throat tightly. Caroline tried scratching, kicking…anything she could think of. He remained unfazed; despite the stomach wound she had given him not long ago.
"So it is I who must take you by force, you little brat," the man spat in her ear.
Caroline could slowly feel herself losing air as she struggled. Her adrenaline was pumping, and the oxygen she needed just wasn't there while his arm stayed around her neck. She saw little black spots dance around her vision, and heard a ringing in her ears. Her eyes began to flutter, and this time, she knew he would be taking her to see Lord Kol.
That's what she thought until a snarl even scarier than the guard resonated through the otherwise silent forestry.
The arm around her throat was gone in a flash, and she could hear the gut-wrenching yell the guard made. Caroline gasped, trying to get as much oxygen as she could, spluttering a little from the firm hold the man had gotten. Her vision slowly came back, but she still felt weak, her arms feeling a lot like mush.
She turned around as soon as she had the strength, but by the time she did, the screaming had been silenced. The man who had been choking her lied in a bloody pool, his neck severed. Caroline covered her mouth from the sickening sight. Despite the bloodshed she had seen, and had caused not two minutes ago, that was a gruesome body she stared at. When she turned to the other guard, he was in no better shape. In fact, one of his arms was being used as a chew toy.
Caroline stared wide-eyed at her savior. The wolf was bloody, much like she was; it's snout dripping from the mess it had made. The animal's golden eyes gleamed brightly in comparison to the blackened area. From what she could tell, it's fur was a mix of black and light-colored, blondish fur. Only in this particular instance, it was also tinged with crimson.
Thankfully, she knew it couldn't be a werewolf, because there was no full moon. So had a regular old wolf known she was in distress? And then made a bloody mess like this? Caroline would have thought so, if it hadn't started staring at her intensely, like she might be the next meal. No. This was not a friendly wolf. It was just hungry.
A low growl ripped through its throat as it slowly moved toward her. Caroline sat there, scared, and not knowing what to do. It would pounce if she made any sudden movements, but she couldn't just die. After all that fighting, a wolf was what would do her in?
"Nice doggy," she cooed, backing up while she still sat on the ground, moving until she hit a tree trunk. "I don't want to hurt you."
The wolf bared its sharp teeth; still moving closer without quickening it's pace. Caroline breathed in and out slowly, as she sat motionless, scared for her life. This animal had just saved her, only to take her life in turn. Wonderful.
It moved closer, hiding its teeth once more, and stopping when it was in front of her face. The wolf cocked its head, staring at her with curiosity. Caroline didn't know what to do. This was no kind animal, yet it wasn't killing her. She heard the wolf sniff once, then a few more times.
"Please…" she begged it quietly, feeling there was nothing more she could do. "I have friends who might be captured by Lord Kol. They may need me. So please don't kill me. I don't want to die."
The wolf stared at her, as if trying to judge what her true intentions were. Eventually, if not a bit hesitantly, it sniffed her again. It was slow, like the animal was memorizing her every scent. Her breath came raggedly, but the longer she sat there, the more confident she felt about seeing daylight again.
When it was done sniffing, the wolf backed up, and stared her in the eyes. It was a little intimidating, but Caroline noticed the wolf's expression didn't look angry. It was simply curious. It seemed so…human.
"Can you understand me?" She asked, her brows furrowing. Caroline wouldn't be surprised, since so much lived in the forest already. She was still waiting for the day she ran into a dragon. This dog seemed to have a grasp of what she was saying, and implying.
When the wolf snorted once, as if in acknowledgment, her eyes widened more. It could understand her.
"You can…alright. Why haven't you killed me?"
It looked at her for a couple of minutes, motionless while she continued to stare it down as well. Unexpectedly, it let out a vicious bark, making her jolt upright. Okay. So it wasn't to be treated as a cuddly pup. Caroline would do well to remember it was covered in blood from it's meals.
"Sorry," she said quickly. "And thank you."
The wolf stopped, and looked at her with surprise. In a flash, the expression was gone though, and it began nudging her side. It wanted her to get up.
Caroline stood slowly, making sure she was able to stand at all without falling down. The wolf began moving as soon as she was steady, but turned back to look at her. It was waiting.
"I see I have a companion now," she mused, grabbing her weapons, and then following where the wolf went. For some reason, she trusted it would take her where she needed to be. Maybe it was foolish…but something about the animal wasn't like anything close to what she had seen before. Caroline would also have preferred running, but the last time she had ran through a dark forest, she was separated from her friends. This time, she would be careful of where she turned.
"So…are you a girl wolf?" Caroline asked timidly.
A low growl could be heard from deep within the wolf's throat. Okay. Not a girl.
"A boy then," she said quickly, nodding. While she trusted him, Caroline also knew the animal was unpredictable. Right now, she didn't have much else to go off of though. She might as well stick with him until, or if, he turned rabid. "Well, my name is Caroline. I can't see you giving me a name in return, so may I give you one instead?"
There was a short huff. Caroline took that as a yes.
"What about…" she trailed off, observing his vague silhouette as they walked. He was a leader. That was certain by the way he moved. It was like he was constantly on the hunt, always watching his back, and commanding attention. Perhaps he was an alpha of a pack somewhere. He would need a name that signified all of that, showing just how petrifying he was. Lucifer? Demon? No, that wasn't it.
"Caine," she said, trying the word out. "May I call you Caine?"
No sound. Was that an okay? She dared a glance his way, and only saw him looking ahead. He must have accepted it. Caine it was then.
The rest of the trip was made in silence. There was a moment when Caroline thought they would never make it out of the forest, but soon after she had that very thought, the sound of waves crashing reached her ears. She was there. Caroline was finally where she started.
She looked around frantically, searching for any sign of Matt or Bonnie. There was none.
"Oh no…" she mumbled, looking around with worry. "I don't see them."
"Caroline?!" A male voice called to her.
A smile spread across her lips as she saw Matt walking out not far from where she had come. The wolf began to growl threateningly, but Caroline was already running to Matt before anything could come of it. Her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, and she felt his go around her waist.
"I was so scared something happened to you!" Caroline exclaimed, sighing in relief.
"I'm fine, but I was worried about you." Matt pulled away, his eyes widening when he noticed the blood on her. "Tell me this isn't yours."
"It's not. It's from one of the guards. Two of them are dead."
"Three, actually," Matt added. "I had to kill one. But Caroline…"
"What," she asked with concern, looking around and noticing for the first time that Bonnie wasn't with him. "Where is Bonnie?
Matt gave her a grim look. "I was separated from her, too. Caroline…I heard screaming. I think Kol's men got to her. I couldn't save her, Care…I couldn't do it."
"It's alright," she soothed him, making Matt look at her. "It's not your fault. But we need to get back to the village. We have to see if she got away."
"And if she didn't?"
Caroline looked at him with astonishment before walking toward where the rest of her weapons may or may not be. Caine stood staring at her, his stance ready to attack anything. Matt looked at her with utmost confusion. Caroline wasn't confused about anything though. She knew exactly what they were going to do.
"If she didn't, then we're going to save her."
A/N: Taadaa. Hope you liked it, and are excited for the adventures ahead like I am.
More to come after I finish some other stories!
