A/N: Sorry it's taken so long to update, had writers block half way through the chapter. So I have a really big exciting idea for the next couple of chapters that will unfortunately end this fic. Think you guys will like it, but until then here's chapter 22. Basically a lead up for the big events in the next chapter! Enjoy!
I raced out of the window in a pair of jeans a left in Tyler's the other day and a t-shirt of his on, not giving a damn about what I looked like. It's not like anyone would see me anyway. I told myself to just go into the woods and find him myself, but I knew I was incapable of dealing with this alone. So instead I rushed through the trees and viciously knocked on the door of the Salvatore boarding house. No answer. I knocked again and finally after a long wait Stefan answered. I didn't bother to greet him, I was still trying to deal with all of these mixed emotions suddenly overflowing my veins, my mind…my heart. Something was odd about Stefan. He didn't seem surprised or concerned. Instead his expression was full of guilt. He was even standing awkwardly. His arms were folded and his eyes remained down at the floor. I ignored his strange mood, inhaling before quickly rushing out what had happened. "Tyler's gone. He made some sort of arrangement with Adrian. Basically he's gone on some crazy-ass suicide mission to save my life! Adrian has some kind of sick obsession with me and, urg well yeah you have to help me Stefan! We have to go save him" I said, dragging Stefan forcefully. Only he wasn't moving. I tried…and I tried but he just wouldn't move. "Stefan…" I started before letting out a nervous laugh. "Stefan, come on. If the situation were reversed I'd help you save El-" I began speaking but he cut in.
"Tyler came here a while ago" He said abruptly. The world stopped all of a sudden. Tyler was here? And Stefan didn't stop him? Why the… I couldn't think straight. My lips parted slightly as I let my grip of his arm go, moving away from him until my legs collided with the puffy red sofa. Stefan shook his head as he approached me. I lifted my hand up for him to stop. "You knew?" I breathed. Stefan looked panicked now. He lifted his hands to my shoulders but I didn't really feel like looking him in the eye.
"Listen to me Caroline" My jaw clenched. "You need to let him do this" I narrowed my eyes at him. He opened his mouth as if he was going to continue but without thinking, my hand collided with his face and I had slapped him hard, brutally. He backed of, gently rubbing his cheek. A tear fell down my cheek as I struggled to breathe properly.
"I thought you were my friend" I said through gritted teeth. Stefan looked up with apologetic eyes.
"I am your friend Caroline" I laughed, shaking my head hysterically.
"Well they say actions speak louder than words and the minute you let Tyler walk out of this door and off to his death was the minute you stopped being my friend" I spat through my teeth as I stormed through the huge hallway, hearing Stefan call out my name several times.
"CAROLINE LET ME EXPLAIN! YOU DON'T KNOW THE FULL ST-"I slammed the door shut and furiously walked to the very end of the driveway. I stood there for a moment thinking of places in Mystic Falls appropriate for a sacrifice. If they were even in Mystic Falls. I puffed out some air, watching as a cloud was formed. I then realised how cold it was. But seriously, it was like spring! I frowned. I guess my best bet was to start with the woods. Stereotypical, but hey where else would a psychopathic vampire kill a werewolf? It's not like he'd take him to The Grill and use the bar as an altar…
Tyler's POV.
It was dark, cold and honestly I was frightened t death of what would happen in the next couple of hours. Would Adrian make it painful, slow? Or will he be merciful and kill me quickly? The questions were everlasting. The guilt that suffocated my heart and lungs was unbearable. I should have gone to Caroline with this. I should have told her. We could've worked it out. I rolled my eyes as I stepped over a huge tree trunk that had fallen in a huge storm a couple of weeks ago. I eventually found myself approaching Wickery Bridge, it was then I heard the haunting voice. "Hello Tyler" Adrian said. I spun around, looking in every direction from where his voice was coming from. Then the trees above me ruffled cruelly and there dropped Adrian, that cocky smirk on his face. My being stilled in a stiff way, my jaw clenched tightly. The knot that had been tightening all day became insufferably tight as Adrian began to walked up to me, a confident strut. I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. Within seconds our faces were inches apart, him looking me up and down as if I was simply an object he would very soon dispose of. I inhaled deeply through my nose.
"Well? Go on. Kill me" I spat through gritted teeth. A laugh escaped the boy's mouth.
"A straight away death would be too kind. I'm the oldest vampire in the history of time. Do you really think I just kill people? If so you're more stupid than you make out to be" His tone was demeaning, as if he was better than me. He wasn't better than me. For this, he will never be better than me. All because he wants Caroline, my Caroline. He didn't want to admit it, and honestly I didn't want him to either but the fact that he had this obsessive thing for Caroline didn't get past me at all. At least I will die knowing she will live a life of hatred towards him. Even if he compels her (because apparently bitches like him can compel other vampires) I know there will always be a part of her that despises him for what he was going to do. I like to believe that Caroline loves me, of course I do. I mean, we hadn't said it to each other but words weren't needed. The passionate chemistry between us was enough to suffice before saying those three little words. Stopping my train of thought I fell to the floor after a nasty punch to the stomach of Adrian. "I like to play with my prey, and while my witches are preparing themselves for the sacrifice of the werewolf I suppose I'll need something to occupy my time" He said. Of course I almost missed half of it as I was trying to catch my breath back from the winded punch. I finally got to my feet, still holding my stomach as I watched Adrian race towards me pinning me back down to the floor. Anger built up in my veins, therefore without thinking I started fighting back. I may not be a dick faced, old ass vampire but I was a werewolf. An angry werewolf. I honestly don't know why it took this long for the anger to explode in me, but I felt fucking amazing. Fighting back and actually seeing Adrian struggle at certain points throughout the little, on the floor boxing session. I sat on top of him, pinning him on the floor.
"I'm here aren't I? Why the hell do you need to make things complicated? Oh, I know because you're a stalker who is obsessed with a woman who's in love with someone else?" I said mockingly. Adrian retaliated quickly, pushing me off him and switching positions holding me by my grey t-shirt to the prickling grass.
"In with someone else? That's a little naïve even for you Tyler" He said. I narrowed my eyes at him waiting for another punch to the face or an act against me. But I think he was enjoying this too much. So I went with it. The petty argument about who Caroline was in love with.
"Look, Adrian." I began, spitting his name through my teeth. "I love Caroline. I know you may not understand the word love but if you seriously think that getting rid of me will give you a chance with Caroline you're mistaken. She'll feel nothing but hatred towards you" I knew it would hit him, somewhere in that twisted soul of his. I knew by his face. It changed completely. As if he didn't necessarily want to do this anymore. However he was good. The strange emotion mixed with guilt and regret soon faded when he pushed me against the floor before standing up.
"Go on" He began, giving me a chance to stand up too. "If you're such an expert on love explain it to me? Go ahead, define it. Clear everything up for me Tyler" He asked almost mockingly. I felt my eyebrows soften along with the rest of my facial features.
A long pause hung between us. I laughed gently. "You can't. That's kind of the point. There's not a definition of love, if you've never felt it you'll never know what it truly means" I spoke confidently with pride as the words came out so fluently. I was surprised at first. Had these sincere words actually just escaped my lips? Then again, Caroline always did have this effect on me. A silence lingered between us for what seemed like hours, but only lasted for a matter of minutes. My words still echoed through the distance between us and maybe, just maybe that weird emotion flickering across his face meant he was reconsidering separating Caroline and I. Of course, I wasn't an idiot and knew the minute Adrian simply rolled his eyes that the plans were still the same. A smile curving among his features.
"Hello Gretel" He simply whispered, his eyelashes creating shadows underneath his eyes, and for the first time I actually felt like this was going to happen. I mean, of course I knew it was going to happen but it all felt like a dream, like I was in a romance novel. I was the guy, hopelessly in love willing to do whatever it takes for his lover to be happy. Adrian was the bad, jealous guy willing to do whatever it takes to destroy that happiness. Caroline was the girl stuck in the middle of it all. It all seemed very cliché to me, only this wouldn't have a happy ending. No one would come and kill Adrian; even if they did it would be too late. An unexpected ring of fire appeared around me, cutting off my thoughts and leaving me in pure confusion and annoyance. I basically sat down on the floor, just about being able to see over the perfect ring surrounding me. This was all too…mystical for my liking. I thought the dude would kill me and be done with it. But I had to remember that Adrian was old fashioned. I could just about make out the expression that the vampires face beheld.
It kind of mirrored mine. He stepped forward, closing the distance between him and the circle whilst the dark skinned woman mumbled words with her eyes tightly shut. This all seemed to be happening too fast now. Just a minute ago I felt slightly at peace, even whilst fighting with Adrian. Now I was surrounded with fire pumping myself up for my death. I raised an eyebrow at Adrian's presence, wondering what sort of comment he was about to make now. He just smiled; his arms now folded looking much more presentable than pinning me down to the floor. He tilted his head before finally speaking.
"I will thoroughly enjoy killing you Tyler"
"You're telling me this because?" I snapped back wanted to run through the damn flames and rip his stupid head off. My leg twitched as my lip curved into a silent snarl. Adrian laughed.
"Just thought I'd let you know" He said, the flames dancing on his face before sinking into the ground. My breath got stuck in my throat. Was this it? I answered my own question as I stood up, walking towards Adrian. Yes. Yes this was sit.
Caroline's POV.
I inhaled deeply as I heard voices of men muttering a couple of miles away. I ran towards, and as the voices became clearer to me I sped up. Tyler. It had to be Tyler's voice. It just had to be. And I knew deep down it was. I looked up at the toe nail shaped moon shining brightly in the sky among the faded stars. I clumsily tripped over some hard, tangled pieces of grass. I groaned in frustration as I lifted myself from the grounds earth. Only I didn't I remained on the ground, looking ahead at the sudden scene not far from me. It was Tyler. Him and Adrian talking whilst he was sat in the middle of a ring of fire. I was frozen. The fire melted into the grass suddenly. I didn't know why I did lift myself up and run straight towards them. I just…couldn't. The trees began to bounce around me as the wind picked up and I wondered if it was Adrian's witches doing. Tyler's face was hard but I had become an expert at reading him. Behind the hard exterior Tyler was scared, and I didn't like that. Adrian's lips began moving again, which is the moment I used my supernatural hearing.
"Looks like this is it…" He spoke, a tone that wasn't my friend. A voice of Satan, full of evil and pleasure. I felt a snarl burn in my stomach as I began to move from my position on the ground.
"Looks like it" Tyler simply replied. Adrian nodded and almost instantly Tyler felt to the floor, his eyes shut extremely tight creating lines in his head. What was happening? Why was he-my hands turned into fists. A dark haired, dark skinned woman stood at the side of the scene, her hand extended, a twisted smile curved into her hard features. The wind was furious now; allowing leaves to fall from their branches and forcing the waters under Wickery Bridge to splash against the land. I stood, my mouth lacking salvia as it dried up from shock of seeing him in such pain. Tears burnt in my eyes. Why wasn't I moving? Helping him? Then he screamed. I shut my eyes tightly hoping that I could just click my feet together and Tyler and I would be back at his house. The cold bit bitterly against my cheek as a tear fell. I inhaled deeply, exhaled even deeper. I opened my eyes and couldn't take seeing him in pain any longer. Tyler's face was flushed with a crimson colour as a vein was approaching in his forehead. My nostrils flared, the tears became tears of pure anger. Adrenaline rushed through my body. Before I knew it, the forest blurred and I had my cold unsteady hands around the witch's neck, twisting it and letting her now dead body fall to the floor. Tyler's pain softened slightly, but not enough to stop my tears. Adrian was caught of guard. This wasn't part of his plan. I shook my head at him. His face was horrified.
"How could you do this to me?" I said, not sure who I was referring to. Tyler or Adrian? Adrian's eyes sparkled strangely under the moonlight as he bluntly breathed out.
"This is a…odd change in event" He started. I narrowed my eyes at him ignoring my question. "I'm sorry…"
"W-what?" I breathed out.
"Heather if you would?" Adrian replied. I swung my head to my side were a beautiful girl with a short, blonde bob appeared. Before I knew it I was nailed to a damn tree. I struggled in the awkward hold that thin air had on me but I just couldn't move. She looked emotionless, just a sprinkle of evil. I gave up with a sigh knowing it would take more than looking like an idiot with my arms and legs all over the place to get out of this. My breathing eventually calmed down, my face still wet from tears continuing to run down. I was careless. I should have thought it out more, created some sort of plan. But I didn't. Tyler remained on the ground, but soon enough his eyes twinkled in my direction widening when he realised it was me. I expected him to be thankful that I tried, or that I was here and I had hope that a miracle will happen and everything will be alright. What I didn't expect were the words that then escaped his mouth, mangled with anger and an eye roll.
"What the hell are you doing here?" He breathed. It was quiet, but loud enough for me to hear.