Dirt crunched under Caroline's feet as she and Caine walked back to the campsite. The only sounds that could be heard were crickets chirping and the occasional howling of wind. So to say the commotion back at camp was a stark contrast to that would be an understatement.
"I'm telling you something's not right," Damon said to Matt, whose arms were crossed over his chest as he scowled at Damon. Stefan stood beside the two, a hand running over his face like he was deep in thought.
"He saved her life, what do you want me to—"
Matt stopped talking when he noticed Caroline and Caine had reentered the area. Damon and Stefan both turned as well, Stefan wearing an expression of curiosity while Damon wore one of determination. She watched as he dug through one of their packs and pulled out a purple plant, holding it so that everyone could see.
"Test him," he said.
"What?" Caroline asked.
"I don't know what your new friend is, but he's more than a cute little pup," Damon said, walking to Caroline and placing the plant in her hand. "This is Wolfsbane. If he reacts to it, it'll cross a few things off the list."
Caroline's brows furrowed, opening her palm to inspect the Wolfsbane. She looked back up at Damon. "How do you know he's not a wolf?"
"Shifter intuition," he said, cocking his head. "He doesn't smell like any I've come across, but he's not all dog breath either."
"He would've given me some sign if he was something else," she tried to reason. If he wasn't a shifter, or a werewolf, or just a wolf, then what else could he possibly be?
"Not if he's trying to hide something," Damon said, sighing.
Caroline looked once more at Caine who stared blankly at her. "But what is he hiding? I mean, he could be cursed for all we—"
Caine surprised them all by barking, making Caroline in particular jump out of her skin. For a moment, she looked at him with confusion. Then the dots connected.
"Bark once for yes, twice for no," Stefan said, carefully approaching so he stood slightly between Caroline and Damon. "Are you cursed?"
His response was one bark.
Caroline's hand covered her open mouth. Why hadn't this crossed her mind earlier?! "Did a witch or warlock do it?"
"That's not a yes or no question," Damon reminded her.
"Right," she said, turning back to Caine. "Was it a warlock?"
One bark.
So it was a warlock. That was something, yet nothing all at once. "Does he live in the west? Where we're going?"
Another bark. Caroline almost clapped from excitement. Finally they were getting somewhere. She took a deep breath to calm down and form a new question. "Do you know if the curse is reversible?"
There was a pause, then two barks.
"He could still be lying, you know," Damon said, clearly skeptical by the way his eyes studied Caine.
"Well it's not like he could just tell us what was wrong before. This is the first time anyone's mentioned a curse," Caroline explained.
"He couldn't have drawn you a clue in the dirt?" Damon rolled his eyes. "Clearly I can't keep you from bringing him, but the moment he tries to kill one of us while we sleep, I'm making puppy stew for breakfast." Damon was about to walk away when he stopped and faced Caroline again. "Try the Wolfsbane on him."
"I don't want to hurt him."
"Well if he's telling the truth, you won't." Damon gave both of them one last, serious look before bending down and entering his tent.
Caroline turned to Stefan and Matt. "What do you think?"
Stefan shrugged. "Wolfsbane doesn't hurt animals, just werewolves as far as I know. Being an actual wolf…it shouldn't affect him. Or a human cursed as a wolf, or whatever his problem is."
"It's not a full moon, so unless the rules have changed, he's not a werewolf," Caroline said, looking up at the sky to be sure.
Stefan nodded. "Which means his story is true, or he's a shifter who refuses to shift again. Either way it can't hurt to try."
Matt rubbed his eyes. "Can someone tell me what happens in the morning? I'm exhausted." He yawned, waving a goodnight to them before turning into their tent.
"He's really worried about his safety," Stefan deadpanned.
"Maybe he knows Caine isn't dangerous," Caroline countered.
Stefan smirked. "I think you're afraid of the answer you'll get."
Caroline tried to continue breathing steadily. "No I'm not."
He smiled and placed both hands on her shoulders. "Try it. If he's lying, it might be time to reconsider who you're traveling with." With that, he gave her a gentle squeeze and retreated to his tent with Damon.
She twirled the small plant between her fingers, mulling over Stefan's words. Maybe she was a little afraid. What if her rescuer wasn't all she thought he was? What if it was yet another bad thing on top of a lot of already bad things? She sighed, placing the plant on the ground and looking to Caine.
"I need you to step on it," she told him quietly. "If it doesn't cause you any pain, then we'll be fine. It will all be okay. I promise."
It was silent between the two of them for a long time. Caroline grew afraid, thinking that maybe the others were right. Maybe his tale was all a lie. However, she was astonished when she saw his paw reach out and touch the plant. He kept it atop the Wolfsbane for some time, and Caroline didn't see him writhe in agony or whine out in despair. When he finally stopped touching it after a considerable amount of time, she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding in.
"I was kind of hoping that would happen," she heard Matt's voice say from behind her.
She turned to him with the brightest smile, putting the Wolfsbane back in Damon's pack. "Me, too."
"Come on. You need your rest. It's been a long day."
Caroline nodded, bending down to scratch behind Caine's ear. "Don't worry. We'll find a way to get you back to your old self." She wasn't sure why he had been cursed, but there had to be a way to undo it.
Caine didn't answer, simply trotted to the front of her and Matt's tent, circled a spot a few times, then curled into a ball and lied down. She chuckled, petting him as she moved into the tent. Matt was right. With their long journey ahead, she would need all the rest she could get. It would be easier to get it knowing they had a friend in their midst.
Bonnie walked through Lord Kol's hallways with Jeremy by her side, their steps echoing through the mostly empty space. Servants hurried about as they prepared for the ball that would take place there two nights from today. Decorations were being set, attire being altered, and Bonnie was certain Kol had brought in some of the land's finest musicians if what she heard playing from the opposite wing was any indication.
"He certainly doesn't hold back when it comes to parties," Bonnie mentioned as her and Jeremy descended the grand staircase into the main foyer.
"He'll make sure this one is better than any he's had before. He'll want everyone to trust him. And you."
"If they trust him, why does it matter if they trust me?"
"Well, not you per se, but what you mean. That Kol is right to believe you're the answer we've been looking for."
Bonnie dodged a maid who was shuffling with a hand full of fine plates. "Great. I'm a trophy."
"Temporarily, yeah. I've been listening, though. Waiting for names of someone who could help."
"And?"
"There's a girl named Olivia who might be able to. The maids say she's powerful and her alliance is still to her coven."
Bonnie tilted her head. "How does that relationship work? If they're so powerful, why are the witches so loyal to Kol? Why do they stay?"
"He treats the majority of them well and knows if they decided to rebel, he'd be the one with the disadvantage. In return for his kindness, they lend their power and keep other witches from harming him. His respect is why most witches and warlocks tend to stay in the west. We have the most covens out of the whole land."
"That's so odd," Bonnie said, shaking her head. When she saw him, she saw no respect. It must be a skewed perception of the term.
"Not really. Everyone has to choose what they think is the lesser of four evils. Lord Kol just happens to be charming enough to get what he wants."
Bonnie said nothing, taking in her surroundings. Her prison. Maybe for some witches he was the best choice, but not for her. She had to get out. She refused to be held captive by anyone.
"Miss Bennett!" a maid called, her plump form trotting to where Bonnie and Jeremy stood. "The master requests your presence. He wishes for you to pick out a dress for the ball."
"Thank you," Bonnie smiled, turning to Jeremy with a worried expression.
"Be civil," he whispered, giving her a comforting smile and a wink. "Play along until it's time to go. It won't hurt to be in his good graces."
Bonnie nodded, giving Jeremy a hug before following the maid to the dressing rooms. She knew Jeremy was right. There was no need to ruffle Kol's feathers, even if she didn't like how he kept her stuck there.
When they arrived to a set of double doors that Bonnie had not yet been to, the maid opened them for her and waited for Bonnie to go in first. She was astonished at what she saw. Dresses lined every wall, all unique and beautiful. Some glittered ostentatiously, while others shimmered in a much more subtle way. Some were slim, while a few made Bonnie wonder if anyone could walk in them.
"I hope these are to your liking," Kol said as he came from behind a row of dresses. "If not, I'm sure we can find others."
"I don't know where to start," Bonnie exhaled, running her finger over a satiny piece that must be worth a fortune. It was a dress she never thought she would see; much less have the opportunity to wear.
"Any place your heart desires," he grinned, waving his arms around to bring her attention to all the dresses.
Bonnie strolled through the room, pausing here and there to inspect a gown that caught her eye. Her first thought was to find something that would be easy to escape in. That left out all the large ball gowns. Or maybe that was exactly why she should choose one. Then he wouldn't suspect her plans.
"I like this one," Bonnie said, pointing to an emerald gown with a hoop skirt. It wasn't the largest dress there, but it was certainly extravagant. Gold embroidery swirled around the chest in great detail, the sleeves long with extra fabric. She plucked it from the others, walking to the mirror and holding it in front of her to see how it looked. It was the perfect disguise.
"I have to agree," Kol said, approaching from behind and placing his hands on her arms. "It will look stunning on you."
Bonnie bowed her head and gave a tiny curtsy.
"My, my, don't we make a pretty pair," he said, hands still noticeably touching her skin.
Bonnie gulped, trying to form a proper response that wouldn't anger him. "To some, I suppose."
"You will be by my side the night of the ball, of course," he said, removing his hands from her so he could retrieve a large, square box. He opened it to reveal a stunning gold necklace. It was thick, and would surely cover most of her exposed chest once the dress was on. She didn't dare imagine the cost.
"Thank you, but I can't accept this. It's too extravagant," she said, turning to face him.
"I insist," he said jovially. "Consider it a gift for our recent partnership."
He didn't give her a chance to say more, taking the necklace from it's box and turning her around so that she faced the mirror, and he was able to clasp the necklace together. His hands glided along the jewels, occasionally touching her skin as he did. Each time they made contact, a spark of electricity flew through her veins. She in no way wanted to be added to Kol's undoubtedly large collection of women, but the crackling tension she felt, the attention he gave…he was indeed charming and charismatic. No man had ever doted on her so intensely.
"Breathtaking," he whispered into her ear. His finger languidly traveled from the necklace down to her chest, causing her spine to shiver. His other hand smoothly came around to brush aside the hair from her shoulder. She watched his actions in the mirror with heavy lids, her fingers barely clinging to the dress as her limbs loosened. She knew he hadn't compelled her, but a haze of pleasure had begun to cloud her mind, nonetheless. Jeremy had said to stay on his good side. Surely he wouldn't like to be refused. "Such a beautiful creature you are."
His lips grazed her neck, and she felt her breath hitch, her eyes slide shut. "Perhaps compulsion will no longer be necessary," he murmured.
"Are you still telling witches those lies?" an amused voice asked from the door. Bonnie's eyes flew open. She turned to see a woman with tight, blonde curls staring at them. Her hands were clasped together in front of her crimson dress as she watched the proceedings.
"She wouldn't know it was a lie had you not said as much, Olivia," he said, feigning exasperation.
Without Kol's touch, Bonnie was able to successfully shake herself from the stupor she'd previously been in. Her skin no longer prickled with anticipation, but fear.
"Go torment one of those girls who beg to have blood taken from them," Olivia said, gliding toward Bonnie and Kol.
"Miss Bennett looked willing, wouldn't you agree?" he said, taking Bonnie's hand and placing a kiss to her knuckles.
The realization of what was about to happen hit Bonnie full force. She tried to keep her composure, nodding timidly to Kol as he backed away toward the door. He gave her a lingering smile, no doubt due to her heartbeat.
"Good day, your majesty," Olivia said, curtseying and leaving no room for misinterpretation.
He gave a bow of his head before leaving the two of them alone in the dressing room. That was when Bonnie felt comfortable enough to fall onto the nearby chair, placing a shaky hand to her chest.
"Relax, you're safe," Olivia assured her, kneeling in front of Bonnie and placing a hand to her shoulder. "He's tangled the strongest of souls and the hardest of hearts into his web before. His supernatural charm is the only way he knows how to lure in a meal. It's nothing to be ashamed of."
"I can't believe I let myself do that," she gasped, breathing in slowly through her nose. "I need to get out of here. I can't…I can't do this."
"Yes, you can," Olivia whispered, looking around the room. "Whatever he intends to do with you can't be good. You need to get out. The Gilbert boy tells me you have a plan to escape?"
Bonnie hesitated to tell her any part of the plan, but she seemed kind and she spoke with Jeremy. She had stopped Kol from biting her, too. "We think the ball is a good time for me to get away."
Olivia smiled. She stood and slid her fingers through Bonnie's hair, twisting and lifting the strands. "I think that's a perfect time. My coven and I will work on the spell surrounding the castle. A good cloaking spell should let you slip away when that's taken care of."
"You can do that?" Bonnie asked, astonished. There was still so much she didn't know about her witchcraft; so much she wanted to learn.
"We're going to try," she said. "Do you have somewhere to hide once you're far from the castle?"
The thought of her friends made Bonnie's eyes fall. "No. I lost my friends when the guards brought me here. I need to find them."
"Until you do, I would suggest seeing my brother in the East. Ask for a boy named Malachi when you reach Imodon. He can help you stay low until the dust settles. I can't imagine Lord Kol will be happy to find that his leverage has disappeared."
"Why doesn't he live in the west with you?"
"Lord Kol likes to pick on Lady Rebekah. Sometimes it helps to live close to her so that we may relay information to him."
"How can your loyalty be with Lord Kol? After everything you know about him?"
"It's not. But he is currently our safest bet," she sighed, removing her hands from Bonnie's hair. "Jeremy is outside the door waiting for you. He'll take you back to your room. Try to stay clear of Kol until the ball. My coven and I will prepare for then, just as you should. Don't speak about this to anyone but Jeremy, do you understand?"
Bonnie nodded, watching as Olivia turned on her heel and strutted out of the room. No sooner than she was gone, Jeremy's head poked through the doors. He tried to give her a smile, but she could tell he was worried.
"Are you ready, Bonnie?"
She stood, taking one last look at the dress before letting it drop to the floor. She lifted her head high and met Jeremy's gaze. Kol wouldn't be able to mess with her head any more once she was out of here. And she would find her friends. She was more determined now than ever. "Yeah. I'm ready."
"How much longer?" Caroline groaned. They had been on the road for who knew how long now. Her bottom was sore, her legs were going numb, and she could tell Matt was getting restless behind her. Not to mention her stomach was starting to make loud protests about the length of time between meals.
"How many more times are you going to ask that?" Damon was also getting fussy, it seemed.
"I'll keep asking until we get there."
"It should only be a day's travel now," Stefan said. "I can almost taste the sand blowing in from the desert."
"Perfect. I just love when sand gets in my boots," Damon said.
Caroline held in a sigh and instead looked down at Caine, walking beside the horses like he wasn't listening to a word they yammered on about. Damon hadn't said a word about him since they started on the road again. He'd more or less been ignoring his existence altogether, actually.
She, on the other hand, was enjoying his presence. They had their own little guard wolf, and no matter what they might have thought of his story, she felt safer with him around.
"Could we at least stop for food? I'm starving," Matt said.
"You haven't traveled a lot, have you, pretty boy?" Damon shook his head. "We're saving funds. We eat when we get to Roeth."
"Tell that to my stomach." As if on cue, Caroline heard it rumble.
Looking up, Caroline could see the sky beginning to darken above the vast land ahead of them. The last time they ate, the sun was high in the sky, and everyone was in much better spirits. She pursed her lips and surveyed the rocky terrain, feeling the air get drier the closer they got to Roeth. She'd never been to a desert before, but she could tell she wasn't going to like it.
"Guys, listen," Stefan said, lifting a finger. The traveling party became silent.
The faint sound of galloping and wheels turning could be heard a short distance away.
"Guards?" Damon asked.
"Not necessarily," Stefan said.
"Shh, they're talking," Caroline piped up.
"All are welcome to come! Wear your best attire. Lord Kol's ball will be the talk of the city! Be sure not to miss it!"
"A party. How fancy," Damon said. He turned to Matt and Caroline. "Hide your faces. Now."
"Why—" she didn't have time to finish that before a crow was where Damon should have been. Without wasting more time, she pulled the hood on her cloak up, looking behind her to make sure that Matt had done the same.
"This doesn't look suspicious," Matt scoffed.
Damon cawed at that, wings flapping before he settled down again.
"There's nobody here, George, we're in the middle of nowhere," Caroline heard one of the guards say to their friend.
"Don't matter. Lord Kol wants every citizen, straggler, and…Oi! You three! 'Ave you heard of Lord Kol's ball? In just three nights, the most talked about event of the season will be held. Best be there if you don't wanna miss out."
Stefan's back had straightened when the guards approached, appearing much more regal now, especially with the way his chin tilted up. "Why ever would he throw a party?" His voice deepened considerably.
"Why wouldn't he? Ain't a better time than the present," George said.
"Never heard of someone questioning why Lord Kol would throw a party. You don't like fun? Or aren't you from around here?"
"Of course I'm from here. What a question," Stefan said, bristling.
"You sure about that?" George turned to his companion. "I think we have some visitors, Solomon."
"Visitors, you say? Here that boys?" Solomon turned to the rest of the soldiers. Caroline counted at least ten, including the two spokesmen. "These folks are from out of town."
"Are you implying we aren't Westerners?" Stefan's brows furrowed.
"I ain't implying, sir." George sneered. "In fact, I think I want our flyer back. We only want Westerners at our ball."
"I've never been so insulted," Stefan said. "I've grown up in Roeth all my life, yet you judge me for traveling."
"Never can be too careful these days," Solomon said. "It would be too much of a risk if—"
"Hey! Hey! It's here!" One of the guards from the back shouted. "The wolf from the Mystoria slaughter!"
How in the hell did they know about Caine? She inwardly cursed, realizing there must've been survivors. The ones who took Bonnie wouldn't have seen him.
"You two! Show your faces!" George yelled. The familiar sound of a sword unsheathing made her heart stop.
They hadn't prepared for this. There were ten guards, all preparing for a fight. It was too many. Caroline turned to Caine, who was now growling behind where he had apparently hidden. The pile of rocks, it seemed, could only do so much.
"Matt..." Caroline whispered, the worry seeping through.
"Stay close to me," he whispered back.
Everything after that happened in a blur.
Damon flew high in the sky only to dive-bomb Solomon and peck at his eyes. Stefan leaped off his horse and went straight for the two guards just behind George and Solomon. Matt hopped off Aurora and attempted to tackle the other guard on Stefan, but Stefan pushed him away.
"I've got them! Take care of the others!" Stefan ordered. In the chaos, however, Stefan was nicked on the side, barely escaping a stab to the gut.
Caroline tried to step down and help—seeing as the boys already had two each—but, of course, her damn skirts had to catch on the saddle. This was why she wanted pants! Lucky for her, the four remaining guards were heading toward her.
"Lovely," she muttered, taking a small knife from her waist so she could cut the fabric.
Once she was free, she turned around to face the oncoming soldiers, only to see that three had become preoccupied with Caine. The one still focused on her had a much bigger weapon than a knife. Of course, she couldn't get to her sword. All that practicing and she still couldn't use it when she needed it. But that didn't mean this guy would get the best of her.
Squaring her shoulders, she quickly thought up a plan to get the advantage. Caroline kicked the sand by her feet so that a cloud blew into the guard's face, momentarily blinding him. She didn't hesitate to get behind him and jump onto his back, sliding the knife across his throat with ease. Caroline didn't like this being the second person she'd killed, but this was why she'd learned to wield a sword in the first place. She had to protect herself, and it was either kill or be killed. And dying wasn't an option.
The soldier dropped like a sack of potatoes, gripping his neck as his body slowly stopped moving. She turned around to see Damon was pecking at one of the guards on Stefan while Caine had gone all the way down to one soldier.
Matt was still fighting two, his wobbling legs stepping back in defense.
Caroline pulled the sword from their saddle and ran toward Matt, approaching the guard whose back was closest to her. Holding the sword up with both hands, she drove the blade into the back of the soldier's neck, listening to him gurgle before he fell to his knees.
She barely had a chance to catch the glint of a sword before the clink of two weapons clashing made her jump away from the noise, staring at it's cause. Stefan had blocked an oncoming sword attack that would've pierced her stomach.
The thought left her stunned and wanting to vomit.
Stefan quickly finished him off as Matt blocked his guard's attack, finishing him off with a hard punch to the face. Caine walked up to her, blood once more covering his fur. Stefan checked his side wound as Damon transformed back into his normal self. She didn't like the fury she saw in his eyes as he strode toward her.
"Both of you almost got him killed," Damon hissed.
"Damon," Stefan said, but there was no squashing the eldest brother's anger.
"Do either of you know how to actually fight?"
"Sorry we don't have beaks to peck people with!" Caroline raised both her arms in exasperation. Matt was breathing too heavily to even utter a word in his own defense.
"At least I help the cause," Damon said. "I don't play damsel in distress or incompetent bodyguard!"
"I took out two guards, thank you," she shot back.
"I saw that last one, and it was purely luck that saved your sorry little behind. Even your suspicious dog friend knows how to fight better than you."
"We're trying to help," Matt finally huffed out.
"Then maybe you should sit the fights out and leave it to us adults," Damon suggested, tilting his head in a way that made her want to punch his stupid face.
"Sorry we aren't programmed to look out only for ourselves. Both of you couldn't have taken out all ten guards alone, though."
"Clearly we don't just look out for ourselves if Stefan has to risk being vulnerable to make sure you two don't get killed."
"I think we all just need to breathe," Stefan said, bandaging his side. "We're fine, we're alive."
"We are not fine, Stefan, we're dead men walking."
"Not if we work on our team building skills," Stefan said. His voice was calm and slightly playful, but Caroline heard the underlying truth.
"We won't have a team to build if they don't get better. We don't have time for mistakes. I'm not losing a brother because they can't take care of themselves."
There was silence as Damon stalked off, fists clenched at his side. Caroline looked down at her bloody sword, twisting her wrist to better inspect it. As if it held answers to her thoughts. She frowned. It wasn't their fault they'd never been exposed to the cruelties of the land. Practice, however much she tried to do it, was not a substitute for the real thing.
Looking around, she took in all the blood that had been spilled. She thought about all the blood that had yet to be spilled to get Bonnie back. She put a hand over her mouth. The guards hadn't given them a choice, but when Damon still expected more from them—despite what had already been done—then she wondered what it would take to appease him. To appease anyone they might have to become allies with.
Maybe it was best if she never had time to reflect. Every time she did, she felt like she might break down and never put herself back together again.
Instead, she inhaled deeply—ignoring the strong scent of blood—and focused on the task at hand: getting to Roeth, and getting into the castle. She picked up a torn flyer, reading over the invitations. Maybe the soldiers were a blessing in disguise.
She glanced between the three boys and the men scattered across the dirt. Caroline walked up to who she thought was George and took his helmet.
"Try this on," she said, tossing it to Matt.
"What?" His forehead wrinkled when he stared at it.
"Try it on. If it doesn't fit, we need to take one from another soldier."
"Don't you think the other soldiers will recognize that we aren't who they normally patrol with?" Stefan asked. Caroline could've hugged him for catching onto her plan.
"It's a chance we have to take, unless you have a better plan."
"Not to rain on your scheme, but the armor is a little large for you," Damon chimed in. "Besides, didn't you hear? Everyone's invited to the castle. We don't need a disguise."
"I'm not thinking about getting in. I'm thinking about getting out. And they recognized Caine. We need something."
"Well he's not wearing armor, is he?" Damon said, pointing out the obvious like he was so good at doing.
"Maybe he'll be better off if he's with people who are though." Seriously, if they didn't want to wear the armor, all they had to do was say so.
Damon sighed, taking a moment as he fiddled with the packs on his and Stefan's saddle. "Your head's in the right place, but you're making it too complicated. We'll take anything from them worth taking, sell it at some place before we get to Roeth, and use that money to get what we need for the ball. Once we have your friend, we'll worry about how to get out then."
"I don't like that. We should have a plan now. You know, to avoid mistakes?"
A frown etched its way onto his lips. "The plan is to wing it. We can do that without making mistakes. At least…we can."
Caroline felt her temperature rise. "So can we."
She turned on her heel, walking to the cart full of weapons that the soldiers had dragged with them. She hopped onto the seat and grabbed the reins, turning back to look at the boys. Stefan had gotten on to his horse, Damon and Matt still stared at her like they would never understand a woman, and Caine had jumped onto the cart. What a traveling party they made. "Let's go see what town we can find."
The city of Roeth was nothing like Caroline expected. Towering pearl stone against a sandy backdrop, the sky permanently tinged with purple once evening fell. The wind had picked up, forcing them to cover their face as best as they could to stay protected from the sand, but none of that diminished the overall beauty. Sand was nothing with this kind of view.
As the four of them entered the city, she took note of the enthusiastic chatter amongst the city dwellers. Little girls danced around mothers in ball gowns, girls no older than Caroline rotated their wrists to show off the sparkling bracelets hanging from them. Men were getting their shoes shined on the streets. Boys were gifting women with pretty flowers. It made Caroline smile at the sense of community.
"This will go a lot faster if we split up," Damon said, eyes scanning the crowds of people. "The more information we charm out of people, the better chance we have of getting your friend unscathed."
"We'll be safer if we stick together," Matt said.
"Yeah, that worked out perfectly for us last time, didn't it, farm boy?"
"Enough," Caroline groaned. "We'll just split up and see what we can find. Stefan, find an inn and get us a room. Damon, go bother some girls who know how his parties normally go. Matt, get us food for the night and listen for anything interesting. I'll go buy a dress before all the good ones are taken, find out what I can."
The boys stared at her in stunned silence, prompting Caroline to take her coin pouch and get off Aurora. No objections, so no reason to stay and wait for them to close their mouths. She heard the soft padding of Caine's paws against the cobblestone as he followed behind her.
There were many stores lining the streets, none of which Caroline thought would sell her a dress. She sighed, weighing the pouch of coins around her waist with the palm of her hand. They'd sold most of the guards' armor and weapons for an adequate price, however suspicious the buyer had been of them. It was enough to get each of them new clothing and some food for their two day stay.
"This way for dresses! This way, please!"
Caroline turned to the source of the shouting, her eyes landing on a boy much younger than her who tried to hand out flyers to passerby. Every time someone would walk past without giving him a second glance, his expression fell. She immediately made her way to him.
"Excuse me, you know where I can find dresses?" Caroline asked as she approached.
The boy's face lit up. "Yes! Yes, we have plenty of dresses for you. All at a reasonable price, I promise." He glanced uneasily down at Caine, but to his credit, the smile didn't falter. "Your dog can come, too."
"Thank you," Caroline giggled. "Where's your shop?"
The boy waved for her to follow him into the alley. "It's not my shop, not really. It's more my papa's, but I help when I can."
"He makes the dresses?"
"Yeah, has for years. Nobody ever comes though. Everybody wants the big dresses with the shiny fabric. Nobody wants to look poor, especially at Lord Kol's parties."
Caroline nodded. She would be lying if she said she wasn't apprehensive about shopping here now, but maybe the less grandiose she looked, the easier it would be to go unnoticed. Or maybe that would be exactly why she stood out.
"Does he throw parties often, then?"
"Enough to get people excited for them. If he threw them all the time, they wouldn't be so special."
Good point. "Will you be going?"
"Oh no, not me. Papa says I'm not old enough. He and I are going to make a fine dinner and enjoy the quiet evening." The boy stopped in front of a chipped wooden door, the brass doorknob rusty. "We have arrived! Welcome, milady, to Buttons and Blossoms."
She smiled as she entered the quaint shop, astonished by how unlike the outside it was. Despite the rustic exterior, the interior was covered in, well, blossoms. Flowers of all colors were strewn across the dirty windows and the shop itself was just big enough so that she could comfortably peruse the gowns on display. Stands full of jewelry, shoes, and hair pieces were scattered throughout the shop, making Caroline's mouth fall open. Perhaps it wasn't new or sparkly items, but they were far from ugly.
"Hello, my dear," a short, stocky man said as he emerged from behind a dark red curtain. He had the rosiest cheeks that accentuated the smile on his face. "I am Ernest. I see you have met my boy, Walter."
"Hi, I'm Caroline. This is my friend, Caine," she said, returning his jovial smile. "He said you had dresses I could buy for the ball?"
"Ah, I shouldn't be surprised that a beautiful girl such as yourself would be attending," he said, clapping his chubby hands together. His smile faded a tad. "Are you sure you want to get your dress here?"
"Absolutely," she assured him. "I know what I like."
"Of course, of course, I was just…making sure," he said, voice soft as he came closer to Caroline. The twinkle of joy in his eyes struck Caroline as genuine. "Are you inclined toward a certain fit?"
Caroline bit her lower lip. "I don't really know what to get."
"Not a problem, my dear! We will help you find something magnificent. Walter! Walter, where are you? Come and help me find Miss Caroline a gown."
"Yes, papa," he said, moving from his place by the door to Ernest, both whispering away as they looked over various dresses. Caroline took the opportunity to wander through the store, fingers gliding over the different gowns. Walter was right, none of their merchandise screamed 'pick me,' but there was something about them that seemed classic.
Unfortunately, there was nothing Caroline could find that seemed right for her. There was a blue dress that came close, with its low neckline and long sleeves, but she eventually shook her head and kept looking.
Ernest came close to finding her something, but in the end it still wasn't what she was looking for. It seemed silly since this was only meant to help her fit in, but she'd never gone shopping for a ball gown before. Even if it was only for a short evening, she wanted to feel like this was something she could do on a daily basis. Back in Mystoria, this chance wouldn't come again.
Caine barked suddenly, causing her heart to jump from surprise. He was sitting beside a dress in a corner of the shop she hadn't reached yet. There was just enough light shining through the dust-ridden windows to see the peach color of the creation. The sleeves hung loosely from the dummy's shoulders, clinging to the body everywhere else. Black beading emphasized the waist and sleeves, the fabric flowing out just enough below the waist to make it look like it was created for a princess. It didn't look like anything else in the shop.
"Your wolf has exquisite taste," Ernest said quietly, coming to stand beside Caroline as she inspected the dress.
"It's beautiful," she breathed.
"It is. I made it for my wife," he said, shimmying the dress off the dummy. "I couldn't make myself show it to you."
"Oh, we can look somewhere else, I just—"
"No, no. It should be worn, not hid in the shadows. Here, try it on."
Caroline carefully took the dress from his arms, cradling it as she walked behind the curtain to get dressed. Caine followed, but once again looked away until she told him it was on. She smoothed the material and turned to see herself in the nearest mirror.
"You sure know how to pick a dress," Caroline murmured, looking down at Caine. He stared at her, his eyes open and relaxed, rather than narrowed and tense. He stayed like that for a few moments before walking out. She followed close behind.
Ernest and Walter both looked up when she came out, features bright when they saw her in the dress.
"You look amazing," Walter grinned.
"A pretty dress for a pretty girl," Ernest beamed, walking to the jewelry stand and picking up a pearl necklace and long, white gloves. "I always imagined the dress would be worn with these."
Caroline hesitated before clasping the necklace together around her neck and sliding the gloves on. They did look good together, but her stomach was too busy doing backflips for her to feel happy. "But your wife—"
"Is off fighting a war. She has no time for dresses," he said sadly. "Victoria would not want it to go to waste. She would understand that there is no better dress for you in this shop. Please. Take it if you want it."
They didn't sound like words of encouragement, but she didn't feel like they would let her say no, either. Without thinking about it, she took her whole coin pouch and placed it in Ernest's hands. His eyes widened when he felt how heavy it was, but she refused to let him give it back.
"This means a lot to me. I want you to know that," she said, scurrying back behind the curtain so she could change. She could always get more money. She had a feeling it would be harder for him to do the same.
When it was time for her to leave, she had a new dress, new jewelry, new shoes, and new friends. Caine walked out ahead of her as she hugged both Ernest and Walter goodbye. A part of her didn't want to leave them to be lonely again, but she had to get back to the boys. Maybe one day she could come back and introduce Bonnie to them. Maybe.
It didn't take her long to stumble across the inn Stefan had found for them. Damon was outside gulping down a bottle of mead with some girls while Stefan stood off to the side and talked in hushed tones with Matt. She joined them, leaving Damon to his fact-finding mission.
"Do you have the food?" Caroline asked Matt.
Matt nodded, biting into a green apple. "All set."
"We have our rooms until the night of the ball," Stefan said, arms crossed over his chest. "I see you got your dress, so we'll go out tomorrow and get what we need. Do we have a plan for once we're inside?"
"No," Caroline sighed. "I still don't know anything about how to get her out."
"I overheard the vendor saying it was going to be a special event," Matt said. "Something about new hope and winning the war."
"And that's Bonnie?" Great, he was going to parade her around. That wouldn't make it any easier to get her out. She'd be watched like a hawk.
"I don't know," Matt said, shrugging.
"Could be a coincidence. He might have something else going in his favor," Stefan said.
"Doubtful." Caroline ran her fingers through her hair. "I suppose it's too optimistic to think we can just walk her out without someone noticing."
"It is," Damon said, coming up to put an arm around Stefan and Caroline. He smelled terrible. "The girls say there will be food, dancing, and lots of celebrating."
"Like more drinking?" Caroline said.
"Yeah. That," he grinned.
Caroline shoved his arm off her shoulder. "We'll scout the castle grounds tomorrow."
"You know we might have to go in without a plan, right?" Stefan asked. "We're out of time and there are too many unknowns."
"We'll see," she said, ushering for Caine to follow her. "I'm going to bed. I'll see you guys in the morning."
"You're Room 18," Stefan said.
"Nighty night," Damon said, followed by a hiccup.
She rolled her eyes as she walked into the inn, going up the stairs and navigating the halls until she found her room. Inside, she saw Matt had claimed one of the beds already with his things, so she put her dress in front of the opposite bed. She sat down on the comfy mattress and fell back, her head flopping onto the pillow.
"Two days, Caine. And then we'll have Bonnie. Maybe she'll know a way to change you back. Think it'll be weird being human again?"
No answer. She looked over to see he was lying on the floor, not facing her. Her lips pursed. Was he ignoring her?
"Did I do something?" she asked, now confused by his behavior. "Why won't you look at me? You do want to be human again, don't you?"
Again there was no answer, but this time, he turned to face her. His eyes were hard once more, making Caroline wonder if she was starting to read too much into his expressions.
She huffed and turned around to face the wall. She didn't have time for this. She had to focus on getting Bonnie back. Nothing was important until that was taken care of.
They had two days to prepare. She would make sure those days counted.
Klaus' sleep was restless.
Dreams of Caroline twirling in the peach colored gown made him toss and turn. He knew his taste in fashion would lead her right. He didn't know the sight of her would take him so strongly. Yes, if he weren't in this wolf form, she would be a fine conquest. He saw his hands ripping the gown from her body, his teeth sinking into the skin beneath those old pearls. His map to victory was capable of providing such tantalizing thoughts.
If he could just keep her hooked for a little longer with his lie, perhaps he would be able to get her to deliver the Bennett witch to his castle. If withstanding a little pain to make his story look true was the biggest challenge-though he couldn't say the sting of Wolfsbane would be fun to experience again, should it be necessary-then this quest would almost be too easy.
Except when he woke from his fitful sleep to a soft hand stroking his fur and shushing him, it was difficult to think of much else. "You're okay," she whispered to him. His eyes gazed up at her blue ones before closing again.
He had to remember he was here for a Bennett witch. He was here to win a war.
"Everything's fine," she continued to whisper, lulling him back to sleep. "Everything's okay."
A/N: Wow, so I'm late with this update. I would like to be able to focus on this fic more, so hopefully that won't be such a huge problem anymore, but I won't promise anything.
Also, the next chapter will feature the ball, so plenty of action coming your way! How will our group get out of this one? We shall have to see.
Until next time!
