[Present Day]
Her back ached.
Every morning that she woke up, she woke up to the stinging, burning sensation that was the scars on her back. Some days the pain would be so unbearable all she could do was cry and scream her throat hoarse. She would scream knowing no one would hear her. No one was going to come and help her.
Today was one of the good days. Her back merely ached and she had none of the horrible gut wrenching pain that she usually did. No her back merely ached and for that she was grateful.
Caroline lifted herself slowly from the bed, she did not want to turn a good day into a bad one. She walked into the bathroom with her slow gait. Today she would go into town and get groceries. She had too, she was running low on almost everything. Caroline's first thought of town was the eyes. Many were wary of a young looking girl living all alone in a cottage in the woods.
What could she be doing there all by herself? They would whisper amongst themselves. Why would she want to be all alone and so far from town? They wondered. It did not help that children were curious and liked to come and see the odd white woman who lived in the woods by herself. The children would hear her scream some days and run back to town spreading the news like fire. And then the townspeople would whisper about her screaming.
Was she entertaining guest? One would say. You mean selling her body? Another would correct. Look at how slow she moves, she must be sick! A third would chime in.
Ah yes, every time that she visited town there was some new rumor going on about her. Some new morsel of information that they had garnered about her from her last trip. Every time she went the eyes of the townsfolk would watch her, waiting, vultures ready for her to drop secrets that they would snatch up, eager to be the first to know.
Caroline wanted to laugh. Oh, this foolish town with its foolish people. So eager to learn what she hid, but they would be the first to hurt her should they find out what she truly was. She was happy to let them indulge in their idle gossip and guessing.
They were no closer to discovering the truth than their grandparents were.
It was on days like this the Caroline missed the company of others. When the sun was shining and there was something purely ethereal in the air. She could feel the magic burning in her veins, it burned to be let out. To become one with the nature that it should have never been separated from in the first place. But then she would feel it. That burning pain from that dreaded mark on her back and she would pause. The magic in her veins would slither and fade away, as if it hadn't even awoken.
On days like this she wished for people. She wished for her people so that when she cried when her magic burned her they would shush her and understand. Caroline missed that most of all. She missed having people who understood everything that you were going through. She missed having people who knew what she was going through. She missed living among other wishes.
She missed Bonnie and Elena and god despite her complex relationship with her mother she missed her too. Somedays Caroline wondered if it was worth even getting up in the morning. Everyone that she loved was gone and there was no one left not even a servant who she could talk to. But then she lifted herself from the ground and sighed because this melancholy person is not who her friends, her family, or her people loved. They loved her when she was perky and happy. And she would continue to be that way Besides if Damon's ghost could see her smiling from Hell then it made smiling all the sweeter.
She shrugged on her cloak which was just a thin sheet made of blue faded fabric and wandered out the door. Her home was a small cottage. It was nothing like the reaching spires and the sprawling lands of her youth, but with its ivy covered trellis, cute red door, matching shutters, and small garden that Caroline painstaking maintained it was something. It almost looked whimsical. It almost looked like magic.
It was the closest that Caroline was going to get to magic ever again, but these were the types of thoughts that she avoided.
She walked through the wood and into the now with relative ease and a steady gait. Nothing disturbed her while she made her way through the forest and she disturbed nothing but the dirt underneath her feet. She loved the forest, she loved the air and the trees. She loved the animals and how they minded their own loved the freedom and anonymity that the forest provided. Here she was not Caroline the last witch and she was not the scary woman who lived in the forest. No here she was no one.
When Caroline step foot out of the forest and into the bustling street that sense of being no one evaporated. Every eye in the bustling street lingered over her form, assessing and checking but never outright staring. No, they were too afraid of her to stare plainly. That was for children who did not know better.
She wondered why they were so wary of her after all this time. She was nice, she smiled at the people and she never dared to short change any of the people who worked in the market. But still there was suspicion. There was fear and Caroline sometimes wanted nothing more than wipe the fear from their eyes. She wanted them to look at her like she wasn't different; like she wasn't a monster.
"You can't be what you are and be my daughter."
The words rang in her ears like she stood too close to church bells as they went off. No, she could not be the last witch and be like one of these people. She could not be one of them. Caroline was never one of them to begin with. Isolation was easier.
And so she went about her business. Caroline did as she usual did and went to the usual merchants. She sampled their wares, asking in their native tongue whether or not such-and-such produce was good but haggling a little (if you can call getting it the price you want due to fear haggling) and then putting her things away and making her way back to her little forest cottage away from the town.
When she reached her home she allowed herself to cry. She cried because she knew when she did cry, when she did break, when she did have moments of weakness, there would be no one's arms to wrap around her.
Sometimes she had dreams.
Horrible disgusting dreams that made her scream, caught in between a nightmare and reality. It was on those nights that she knew that the Others were trying to contact her to speak to her once again by the unbearable burning of her back.
It was on those nights that she would scream in pain and howl. Her back burning senselessly as the magic tried to push through her and tell her something. But the pain was too great to bear and there was no way that she would be able to do what the Others were asking. She could barely receive their message without tears. No, Caroline would shut her ears and let the burning run her through and she would cry and cry and sweat and scream. And then she would fall into nothingness.
It was best that way.
Caroline opened her eyes to dancing dust most and dappling sunlight that seemed more cheery than she.
Caroline had had another dream. It was a horrible one that held bright white lights and an urgent sense to go go go, run run run. But Caroline could barely run on a good day with that pain that scorched her back. No, she would not be running anyway thank you.
She sat the small table that she had with two chairs though no one ever occupied the second seat.
After such a night with such urgent haunting dreams, Caroline wonders about Damon and everything that had happened between them. She wonders about the world that she could have had if she had only not rejected Damon's feelings that first time around. Maybe her kingdom would be together and yes she would not have been married to someone that she loved but she would not be alone in a cottage with breakfast for two with only one person eating.
But then she shakes her head. Being alone is better than being someone's pet.
One day when she was younger before everything went to shit. She remembers going to her mother. She was thirteen and Dorian, her first crush, had been unjustly cruel to her. His words stung saying that he favored Elena over her and that she would never amount to anything. And of course, like any girl she had ran to her mother.
Her mother was a hard woman and ruling a kingdom all on her lonesome had made her harder. At times Caroline wondered if her mother even cared about her because anytime Caroline talked, Elizabeth only gave her this cool look that she gave everyone. Elizabeth never looked at people she looked through them.
Thus Caroline went to her mother and cried into her dress. Elizabeth did not hug her nor did she say anything she just let Caroline have her moment. When Caroline pulled away she shyly looked down at her feet wanting nothing more than to fall into the floor. It was embarrassing enough that she was crying and in front of her mother too.
Elizabeth waved a hand and Caroline's tear stains floated up off the dress and hover precariously in the air. Elizabeth spoke then, her eyes on the small ball of water.
"Let me tell you something Caroline. Something I know will be useful to you in the coming years…
Men do not love women. Women are nothing more than warm bodies at night and nuisances during the day. Pretty stepping stones on the path to their goals. No, men do not love women. No, men...They love power! And there is nothing more that men hate than women with power. Men will flock to you my dear, wanting that power. They will manipulate you and put you through their machinations. Sure, maybe they will love your face, send you body to heaven and back. But men will never love women in power. Not as long as they think that power should be theirs."
Elizabeth looked at her daughter and Caroline was frozen, her feet melded to the floor. This was the first time her mother had ever looked at her, truly looked at her. Her eyes were daggers and cold. Her mother's eyes were cold and Caroline was sure and prayed with all her twelve year old soul that her mother would continue only to look through her. She could not handle this stare of a woman so cold she burned.
Elizabeth made a fist and the ice froze with a sharp crack. It glittered and shone where it was suspended and Elizabeth's eyes went back to it.
She continued, her voice low, "Men will never love you my daughter. Not when when you have power. So harden your heart. Men want nothing more than to tear it apart."
Caroline never cried to her mother after that thinking that she would not listen to her. Someone would love her. Someone whose love would be all consuming.
But mother knew best.
She had the dreams again and she screamed all night long.
She wanted to run. The dream told her it was the smartest thing to do, but she couldn't. Caroline woke from the dream with sweat plastered to her forehead and a scream burning her throat.
She could not run anymore; any farther.
Despite having two nights in a row of horrible gut wrenching dreams and burning pain she awoke that morning with little to no pain. She almost felt normal. Caroline was bouncing on the balls of her feet the whole day. This was amazing!
She had almost forgotten what it had felt like to be pain free! To be herself again. Caroline moved around the room. She was going as fast as any normal person would maybe a step or two slower, but she wasn't in agony anymore.
Caroline dropped a fork and bent at the waist to pick it but. Nothing but a slight twinge erupted from her back. Caroline smiles, trying and failing to hold in the squeal that was going to erupt from her mouth. Today was going to be a good day and everything was going to go well today.
She could feel it in her not aching bones.
To commemorate the occasion, Caroline decided to wear one of her nicer dresses to go into town today. She went to her closet. Dull browns and slate grays looked back at her but hidden deep within the recesses of her closet was a baby blue sundress that she snatched right off the hanger.
Caroline put it on with ease and twirled around in front of her mirror. She laughed as the skirt flowed up, the fabric kissing her thighs as it settled down again. Caroline smiled and struck a pose. She thought about the poses that she saw models make when they were on covers and began her shoddy imitations. She made a couple with her hands on her hips and her lips pursed in a pout. Caroline laughed and struck another pose, one with her back turned and her head poised to look over her shoulder.
She paused.
She could see the scar on her back. The large ugly garish thing that marked her. That depicted her days with Damon. It was large and it was pink, freckled with gray and it was the most painful blemish that she had ever had. Caroline wanted to crawl out of her own. She did not want to be in this body anymore. She did not want to be in this body with its horrible reminders and pain.
She did not want to be Caroline Forbes anymore if it meant that she would always be reminded that she is the victim that is never saved. She was the one that was left for the wolves and expected to survive.
Before she left she put a shawl over her shoulders.
Getting into the town was easy as she took her usual route and when she stepped onto the sidewalk she could already feel something amiss.
People were staring.
Not the peek and then glance away. No, the townsfolk were outright staring at her.
Their eyes weren't even moving to look at every inch of her they just simply stayed trained on her face. Caroline didn't know why but she got the sense that they were looking for something, they were trying to find something about her. But that was a stupid notion. She had never given anything away about herself that would cause the sudden interest and from her memory, none of the local boys had come around to her part of the forest daring each other to challenge "the witch". So why all the staring?
Caroline pulled her shawl closer, feeling naked under all the eyes. She would just get her things and go. This was much more attention that she needed or wanted. Caroline would just get things and go. Yeah, that sounded like a good idea. Maybe she would flash a smile and wave before she left and that would lower all the tension in the town. Actually, maybe she wouldn't do that because that would be so out of character considering the way that she acts within the town. No, she would just get her fruit and then she would leave. That was the best thing that she could do now.
She kept a steady gait when she walked into the small market square. The moment that her foot touched the ground it was as if ice crept inside of everyone as they all froze. More eyes watched her every move. Men ignored the radio that was playing a soccer match as she shuffled down the the fruit stand. The owner of the fruit stand just looked at her with wide eyes and Caroline readily just shoved fruit into a plastic bag not even bothering to see what she grabbed.
When Caroline dug into her purse to pay the woman cried out backing away from the stand, away from Caroline.
"Please! Take what you want witch! Leave this place! Do not harm me please!"
Caroline froze. What?
Was this what everyone was thinking? But, she had thought that they had grown out of this? That only children believed that she was witch. But it explained all the stares. It explained why the atmosphere was so tense. It explained so much.
She didn't even take the fruit when she left the town.
Caroline stayed up that night because she knew that they were going to come for her. But that didn't mean she was just going to let them take her. She had moved around before and she would do it again. Starting over was hard but it wasn't impossible. Maybe where she went to this time around she would get a couple of friends. Some people who she could talk to.
When the sun was low in the sky and cricket were beginning their song just when Caroline was leaving her house. The only things she had were a bag filled with some clothes and money. There was no need to bring anything else. It would only slow her down.
But when she exited the house they were already waiting for her.
The mayor of the town held a flashlight out towards her. Men surrounded him, but they were not townies. No, they were all wearing tactical gear with guns strapped to every part of their bodies. Dogs lay down at their feet, German Shepherds ready to pounce when told. Caroline just looked at them and simply dropped her bag.
"I-I-I'm sorry. But your too much of a menace to the town," the man said slowly in English. Caroline only shook her head. No. "These men here showed me that."
This couldn't be happening. Her eyes flickered everywhere and one of the men stepped forward removing his helmet and the visor that covered his eyes.
"Hello Caroline."
"Stefan?"
He only smiled and spread his arms out wide. A grin stretched across his handsome face and all she wanted to do was scratch those eyes out of his head. He watched as she was tortured and only offered pretty words to express his sadness at her predicament. He never once thought about going against his precious older brother.
"You can come quietly Caroline or I can just take you." He said without preamble.
"I killed Damon," she said lowly. She thought of the burning castle and how she had gleefully watched Damon try to escape while she kept a barrier around the castle, keeping everyone inside. No, he was dead, there was no way that he could have survived.
Stefan's eyes hardened at the mention of his brother, but he continued. "Well, I'm not taking you to him. My employer wants you."
"For what?" She felt a little guilty about feeling relieved at the reaffirmation of Damon's demise but that was swallowed up by her burning anger at Stefan. Who was he to come here and disrupt her life. The one that she fought to create after everything that Damon had put her through.
Stefan laughed. "You'll see." Stefan sat down on a rock and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. Her nose curled when he lit it and the scent of smoke wafted over to her. She would be going nowhere with Stefan especially when she knew that he cared nothing for her wellbeing.
"Get her."
Caroline turned around and ran into her house. She closed the door and locked it even though she knew that it wouldn last long. She ran into the back of the house and looked for something to defend herself men were slamming against the door with fervor as the tried to get into her home.
Caroline whimpered as she looked around the room. She needed a weapon and she needed it now. She looked towards the knife that lay in the sink and grabbed right when the door burst open. Without thinking she charged.
Caroline snaked her body between two of the men and stabbed their uncovered arms. The dropped their weapons and Caroline was about to slit the throat of one of them before a third member tackled her.
The knife slid out of her hands and they grappled on the ground, Caroline pinned underneath this foreigner. But the weight, pressure of being forced somewhere when all she wanted to do was run was all too familiar. Caroline screamed as she let the magic pour out of her.
Her back burned but not as much as the fire that burned the man on top of her. He screamed and rolled off of her and caroline took that moment to grab her knife and turn to the one that she had stabbed in the arm. He loosely aimed a gun at her crouched form. Her back burned horribly at her use of magic, reprimanding her for using it so carelessly given her condition but she had never felt more alive.
"Don't move." he growled. Caroline relaxed and let the magic surge through her. Suddenly, pain surge through her leg and her knees grew weak. She looked down confused and fearful now. She saw the man then, horribly burnt and grinning.
"Fuck you bitch."
The world was swimming around her but she could only focus on the man with the gun pointed straight at her. "Don't."
Shot rang in her ears and she fell like a puppet cut from its strings.
Caroline really needed to learn that there were no such thing as good days.
Author's Note: Hello everyone! Thank you all for all the love for this story despite the first chapter being super short with very little context. I hope everyone enjoys this story and reviews. Klaus hasn't showed up yet, but he will in the next chapter I swear!
Well, what do you think is going on? Do you think Caroline is dead? Who is Stefan's employer? What did you think about the little tidbits about Caroline's past? Where is Klaus and what exactly is he up to?
That will all be revealed next time. Speaking of next time I was just wondering if anyone wanted to be the beta reader for this story. It isn't going to be that difficult to be my beat reader. Essentially you get to read the chapter early, edit it, and help me whenever I get stuck. Other than that the only responsibility you have is just to keep me writing daily and be my friend!
Until Next Time,
wanderlust-bitethedust