When dinner finally ended, Mikael made Caroline take Peter for a walk along the river. He had hoped he could get Caroline to open up to this man and become close with him. Caroline tried to protest but the look on Mikael's face told her she'd better do what he asked.
As Caroline and Peter walked, they barely said three words to each other. Peter tried to make conversation, but Caroline really didn't know what to say. How do you talk to someone you were forced to spend time with?
Soon the silence was broken by Peter saying, "I'm sorry I imposed on your birthday celebration. I know it must have been awkward having a complete stranger come barge in like that."
"Oh, please you have nothing to be sorry for. If anything, I should be the one apologizing for Mikael's behavior," Caroline said with a small smile.
"Mikael? So he isn't your.."
"Father? No. He and Esther adopted me when I was 9."
"May I ask what happened to your parents?" Peter asked with a sympathetic look on his face.
"They died. My father was killed by a wild animal and my mother grieved herself sick." It wasn't a total lie. Elizabeth did go a little insane when her husband died, and Caroline had no idea what had become of her, so she could only assume she was dead.
"I'm sorry to hear that. But at least you have family all around you who obviously care a great deal for you. I only dream of such things," Peter said.
"What do you mean?" Caroline asked him. She was curious as to why he had said what he said.
"My parents died a few years ago and I was an only child. I've been on my own ever since," he said sadly.
Caroline instantly felt compassion for him. She had tried to imagine what it would've been like if Mikael and Esther hadn't taken her in and all she could see was darkness and loneliness.
"I'm very sorry for that," Caroline said. She had been touched by his story and counted her blessings. Mikael may have a temper and the boys may have picked on her, but none of that mattered when it came down to it, they were the best family she could've asked for.
Peter offered her a grateful smile and said, "Thank you. Looking back, I'm happy that my Father taught me a trade before he died, otherwise I'd have starved."
"Trade?"
"I'm a blacksmith. My father taught me as soon as I was big enough to hold a hammer. My greatest memories with him are when he was teaching me something that he loved."
"My father always made me feel special. He would bring me flowers and take me on long walks, sometimes to this very spot, and we would talk for hours and he would tell me stories. Stories of far away princesses and princes. It was silly really," Caroline said, blushing that the only thing she could tell this man about her father was that he filled her head with stories about princes saving princesses and them living happily ever after. But when she looked at Peter, she saw that he was really interested in what she had to say. He didn't laugh or smirk at her memory, he looked like he cared.
"No that's not silly at all. It's something that you will carry with you always and pass on to your own children one day."
Caroline gave Peter a grateful smile and then noticed the time. It was almost sun-set.
"Well it's getting late. We'd better get back to everyone."
"Yes, yes we should," Peter agreed.
As they started walking back Caroline asked, "What brings you to our village? Mikael said you were moving here?"
"I decided it was time for a change. I've lived in the same village all my life, it was time to move on."
Caroline simply nodded, not wanting to pry into his affairs.
As they came to the hut, Mikael greeted them and brought Peter his horse, saying "we look forward to having you over again, Peter. You are always welcome."
"Thank you, sir. I thank you again for having me at your table," then he turned to Caroline and said, "it was a pleasure meeting you. I look forward to our next conversation together," he said taking Caroline's hand and laying a kiss on it.
Caroline curtsied and said, "Thank you for joining us."
"Happy birthday, Caroline," Peter said, then bid Mikael farewell and rode away to his campsite. He was still camping outside of the village until he had a hut built.
As Peter rode away, Mikael turned to Caroline and asked, "well? What did you think of him?"
Caroline replied, "He seems like a very nice man."
"Good. I thought the same. Hopefully you two get along," he said with a grin.
Caroline noticed and said, "why is that, sir?"
Mikael chuckled and said, "Because, my dear child, if all goes well you will no longer be in our hut, you will be in his."
"You mean-"
"Marriage? Yes I do. You're of age, and it's my duty to see you settled with a proper husband."
"But, Mikael, I've only just met Peter. You're already planning a wedding after one meeting?" Caroline was getting angry. Of course she had planned on getting married and having children of her own one day, but never like this.
"Caroline, I know I will never replace your father, God rest his soul, but it's my duty and responsibility to ensure you are well off when Esther and I are gone. And Elijah and Finn and even Niklaus will be married one day and they won't always be around to take care of you. That's why I chose Peter. He's a man of trade. He's respectful, and a gentleman. Not something you come by alot in our village."
Caroline, in her heart, knew that Mikael was right. But she did not want to enter into a marriage that was 'duty first and love later.' The thing that made her fathers stories stand out to her was that the prince and princess LOVED each other FIRST and they defied the laws of duty to be together.
"Yes, sir."
"So you will try to get to know Peter?"
"Yes, sir."
"And if he asks me for your hand you will accept it?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good," Mikael stepped towards Caroline and put his hands on her shoulders and said, "I'm doing this for you."
Caroline nodded and said, "I know."
"Good girl, now don't stay out too long, it's getting late," Mikael said as he walked into the hut.
"Yes, sir."
Caroline decided she would go back to the river for a few minutes. It was a place where she could think, or not think. It brought her peace on her worst days and made her think of her father.
Then she heard footsteps. 'Please don't be Mikael again.'
"Caroline."
'Oh it's only-' "Niklaus, where have you been? I haven't seen you since dinner."
"I was with-"
"Tatia?" Oh how Caroline hated her. Tatia was the reason Elijah and Niklaus were fighting all of the time. Didn't they see that she was playing both of them?
Niklaus sighed and said, "Yes."
"Why am I not surprised?," Caroline scoffed, "do you know what I had to endure while you where gone? Mikael planning my wedding day with our guest."
All Niklaus could do was chuckle. This was the part where Caroline vented all of her frustrations out to him and he just stood there and let her rant until she calmed down.
"How is that funny?!"
Niklaus stifled his laugh and said, "it's not. But I don't see why you would see that as a bad thing."
"You don't think it's a bad thing? That Mikael would practically serve me on a platter to a complete stranger?!"
"That's not what I meant. I mean that you marrying. Peter seemed like a nice man, and we will get to know him better. He's moving to our village, Caroline. It's not as if you can avoid him."
He had a point. Niklaus, the ever present voice of reason in Caroline's life.
"I suppose you're right. But why does that mean that I have to marry him? Yes, he may prove to be a very good man, but if he doesn't work out does that mean I have to be marriage material to every new comer ,who happens to be a man, in our village?"
"No, but it doesn't hurt to give him a chance. You may turn out to like him alot."
He was right. As usual.
Caroline decided it was time to change the subject, "so what were you and Tatia doing? And don't say 'we went for a walk and got a little lost' because you know those woods and this stream better than anyone else, well besides me of course."
Niklaus just looked at her, with a look that said 'well if you really want to know...'
Caroline's eyes widened, "Oh God! NO! I did not need that vision in my head. Just forget I ever asked. How could you even be with that..that...woman?"
He laughed at her for a moment and ignored her embarrassment and said, "I just..she's amazing. Why won't you just give her a chance, Caroline? She's really a nice person once you get to know her."
'It all depends on what you mean by get to know her' Caroline thought, but answered, "I'm sure she is. And I'm sure you and Elijah are probably the only two people on this planet who see it."
Niklaus sighed. He and Caroline had had this conversation at least 1000 times and every time it ended with how much Caroline REFUSED to like Tatia.
Then he remembered, "Oh I have something for you."
Caroline thought she had received all of her presents. She watched as he pulled out a gold chain with a round shaped stone on it. The stone glistened in the moonlight and turned sapphire.
"This is from Elijah, Finn, Kol and I."
"Oh, it's beautiful! However did you-"
"Read the inscription."
Caroline turned the stone around and saw, in their language, written, "Always and Forever."
"Thank you. Thank you so much. I will treasure it always. Help me put it on?"
Caroline handed the necklace to Niklaus and turned around. She moved her hair out of the way so her neck was bare.
Niklaus brought the necklace around Caroline and hooked it in the back. He caught a hint of her scent. She smelled heavenly. 'What?! No, you shouldn't be thinking this Niklaus. She's like your little sister.'
She turned around and put her hair back into place. Caroline looked up and smiled at Niklaus and said, "What do you think?"
He gaped at her for a moment. She looked lovely in the moonlight. Somehow Niklaus had missed the part where she went from this scared 9 year old girl into this beautiful, strong, 19 year old woman. He always thought Caroline was lovely, but now he noticed how truly beautiful she was to him.
Niklaus snapped out of his admiration for Caroline and simply said, "you look lovely. It suits you."
Before Caroline could respond, she heard someone walking toward them. It was Elijah.
"Ah, I see you've presented Caroline's gift from all of us, without us present."
Caroline chuckled at him saying, "Elijah, it's lovely. Thank you so much. Where is Finn and Kol so I may thank them as well?"
"They are already at the house. Father said you went this way and since it's getting darker, I thought I should find you."
"Well we had better head back then," Niklaus said.
And Niklaus, Caroline and Elijah all walked back to the hut together. Caroline decided that, despite the unexpected guest, this turned out to be a very lovely birthday.
X
In the following weeks Peter came over almost every other evening for dinner. He and Caroline would go on their walks, and Niklaus and the rest of the men enjoyed his company. Peter had started building his own hut and Mikael and his sons helped him build. Everyone liked him. He was honest, kind and gentlemanly. Everything any woman would want in a husband, except Caroline.
Caroline liked him. But that was all. She tried to picture herself as his wife, but it never seemed to work. She knew whether she loved him or not, she would have to marry him. And that was something she grew to dread.
One day after helping Esther with the washing, Caroline went on one of her short walks by the river. While there she came upon Tatia. Tatia with her dark hair and beautiful features. Tatia who, for some reason, captured both Niklaus' and Elijah's hearts and used them to her advantage. Caroline knew it. The whole VILLAGE knew it. Only Elijah and Niklaus pretended not to notice it.
"Well, Caroline. I didn't expect to see you at this time of day," Tatia said. Caroline knew that Tatia hated her as much as Caroline hated Tatia, but the acted civil. Civil in their own way.
"And why would you say that, Tatia?"
"Because you're always so busy with cooking, cleaning, washing. Never time to just relax," Tatia said while sitting herself on the riverbank.
"Well, some of us have to do the work around here Tatia. Though I'm amazed that you have noticed at all what other people are doing. Here I thought you only had your own agenda on your mind," Caroline retorted.
Tatia glared at her and responded, "If you must know, I'm waiting on someone."
"Which someone? Could it be Niklaus? Or is he not on for today? Maybe it's Elijah?"
"I don't believe that's any of your business."
"Then you shouldn't have told me you were 'waiting on someone.'"
Tatia fell silent. Caroline always outsmarted her. Tatia knew that she was more beautiful than Caroline, but Caroline was gifted with knowledge, whereas Tatia had beauty.
Then she had an idea. "I'm surprised you haven't gone a married one of them yourself, Caroline. Yes Finn is far too old. But Niklaus and Elijah? I'm sure one of them would make an excellent husband for you and father for your children. Oh but wait...isn't that dashing blacksmith courting you? Too bad. I suppose I'll have to keep them."
Caroline grew enraged. She had never hated anyone more than Tatia. "Peter and I are not courting. Mikael and Esther are being kind enough to invite him into their home. And as far as Elijah and Niklaus go? They are practically my brothers, so be forwarned Tatia, if you ever do so much as to hurt one hair on their heads or break their hearts I will make you very sorry."
Tatia just laughed and said, "Oh yes. You're 'always and forever' vow. Sticking together as one. But Caroline they won't be here forever. And neither will you. What makes you think that you'll be by their side til the end of your days?"
"Because unlike you, we know what family means."
Before Tatia could respond, Elijah came toward them and said, "Caroline, you should come back to the hut," not even acknowledging Tatia's presence.
"Why? What's wrong?" Caroline asked.
"Just come."
And Caroline and Elijah left Tatia standing there, dumbfounded that her 'loving Elijah' didn't even notice her with Caroline around.
As they were walking back to the house, Caroline saw a wagon with a man and a woman in it. They were both about Mikael and Esther's age.
"What is it? Who are those people?"
Elijah didn't respond, he only walked Caroline towards the wagon.
As she got closer, Caroline heard Mikael say something like, "you really shouldn't be here..." Who could he have been talking about. She started to hear alot of commotion. Like an argument.
Then she came upon the scene and said, "what's going on? Elijah said I should come over immediately."
Mikael and Esther looked at Caroline. Mikael with anger and Esther with sympathy. Something was very wrong.
"Hello, Caroline," said the woman who Mikael was speaking to.
Caroline recognized the voice instantly. 'No...no...' "Mother?"
Elizabeth turned to Caroline and smiled, "hello, darling."
X
Caroline and her mother walked to the river to talk. She didn't want to see this woman. She thought she was dead.
"Why are you here?" was all Caroline could ask. She didn't want this woman here. This woman who had been alive all this time and never even came back for her daughter.
"Can't I come and wish my daughter a happy birthday?"
"My birthday was three weeks ago, Mother. So please tell me the truth. Who is that man that brought you here and why, after 10 years, have you decided to just show up?"
Elizabeth looked away with hurt written all over her face. She knew she had abandoned Caroline and she didn't expect to be welcomed back with open arms.
"That man...is my husband."
"Husband?! You have a husband?"
"Is that so surprising?"
"How long have you been married?"
"Caroline I really don't think that-"
"How long?!"
Elizabeth sighed and answered, "9 years."
Caroline couldn't believe it. Her mother had been well off and married for 9 years. And not ONCE did she think of her own daughter.
"9 years?! You've been married and happy and had a family all this time?"
Elizabeth couldn't answer her.
"Did you even think about me once? Did I ever cross your mind? Did you wonder if I was being taken care of? Whether I was living or dead? Well did you?!"
Elizabeth still couldn't answer her. She had thought of Caroline occasionally, but not as often as she should have.
"No. Of course not."
"Caroline I-"
She raised her hand to stop her and said, "I don't want to hear your excuses. Or why you left. I want to know why you are back. And don't say it's to see me, because obviously it isn't."
"Caroline, despite what you may think, there's not a day that goes by that I don't regret leaving you here. But you have to understand your father was DEAD. I had nothing..."
"You had ME."
"If I could go back-"
Caroline let the tears she had been holding in fall and yelled, "WHY ARE YOU HERE?!"
Elizabeth choked out, "I need...some money to pay off some debts that my husband has incurred."
If Caroline didn't have as strong of a constitution as she had, she would have vomited all over the place. She felt sick. This woman made her sick.
"Money? You came here thinking that I had MONEY?! How horrible of a person are you?"
"I know it sounds bad, but I thought you would be married by now and-"
"And you thought that I would have something to give you?! I have nothing. And do not even THINK about asking Mikael or Esther for anything, because they owe you NOTHING! They raised your CHILD. YOUR CHILD! How dare you show your face now!"
Caroline started walking away. She had enough. This woman was nothing but a shame to her.
"Don't walk away from me. I am your MOTHER!" Elizabeth called out.
Caroline turned around and pointed at Elizabeth and said, "You...have no RIGHT to call yourself that. You may have given birth to me, but that is the only motherly thing you ever did. You were never a PARENT. You hated me. That's why you left. You can tell yourself until you're old and dying that it was because your husband had died, but it was because you didn't want the burden of raising me. So you have your wish. I am not your daughter. You are not my mother. You are a stranger to me."
Elizabeth just stared at Caroline. She was no longer a child. She was a beautiful, strong, and independent woman. And she knew she was right.
"You are right. Forgive me, Caroline, for taking up so much of your time. I shall leave you now."
"Please do. And this time...DON'T come back."
And Elizabeth walked away. Back to her husband and back to the life that she had. Abandoning Caroline all over again.
As Caroline watched her mother walk away, she instantly went back to being 9 years old. Afraid and alone. And she collapsed on her knees and sobbed.
Niklaus had witnessed the entire exchange. He came as soon as he heard Caroline yell. He didn't make his presence known, but watched. He watched Elizabeth walk away, and he watched as Caroline crumbled on her knees. He saw a flashback of something similar. 10 years ago. And he did what he did then, he walked to her, picked her up, and carried her home.
X
The next morning, Caroline woke up feeling horrible. She remembered her mother coming, Niklaus carrying her home, and the rest was a blur. She must've cried her self to sleep. Then she remembered what day it was. The eve of the full moon.
How she hated this day. Every month she was reminded of her father's death, and her mother coming just made it even worse.
If it wasn't such a busy day, she would've asked Esther if she could stay in bed, but she knew that they would all need her help. Every family gathered all that they needed and got to the caves, and since there were 7 of them, Caroline had to do her part.
Every month, around this time, Caroline noticed something in Niklaus. He seemed excited about it, and he had always told Caroline that the moon somehow called to him. Caroline always shrugged it off as his obsession with the werewolves next door, but this time was different. Every month he grew more and more excited and sometimes he would complain of an ache. An ache that he said consumed his entire body. Noone understood why.
He never spoke this way in front of Mikael. Only to Elijah and Caroline. Finn was never around to listen, otherwise he would have heard Niklaus talking of it for hours. Henrik was fascinated with it. He always looked up to Niklaus and followed him around. He would always cry when Mikael would beat him and Henrik would run to Caroline and she would comfort him. It seemed the 'favorite son' didn't think himself in that light. He was very humble and kind and quiet. He always looked at Caroline as if he had some secret that he would never tell. He amazed everyone.
After she washed her face and braided her hair, Caroline went outside to help Esther. Esther gave Caroline a knowing smile, saying that if she ever needed to talk, she was there. Niklaus went to Caroline and asked her if she was alright. He was always so concerned for her. Caroline answered that she was, but he knew that wasn't true. He could always see deep into Caroline. He knew her better than anyone else.
When all the chores were done and everything was brought to the caves, Mikael, Esther, and their children made their way to their shelter for the night.
The caves were deep and long. Larger enough for the whole village and maybe another one to fit in, so everyone had their own space. But their was one place only Caroline, Niklaus, Henrik, Elijah and Finn would go. They called it "their wall" They would carve stories onto it, and write their names. They didn't know why, but it gave them something to do.
"Caroline, let me have at it," Niklaus pleaded. He hated it when Caroline used a blade. If she cut herself or hurt herself in anyway, Mikael would know and he would get in trouble.
"Calm down, Niklaus. I have to have my concentration if I'm not to slice off a finger," Caroline assured him. She was carving her name in their language on the wall. All the other boys were at the other end of the caves with Mikael and Esther. Peter had come with them and stayed with them. He and MIkael were talking when Caroline and Niklaus snuck away. Caroline was happy about that. She really didn't need Peter to bother her, even though he was a sweet man, because she would start talking about her mother and there would be tears and she feared if she cried anymore, she would turn into a puddle. With Niklaus she never had to explain how she felt, he just knew. And he always found someway to make her feel better.
"Father will not like you handling a blade," Niklaus warned.
Caroline turned to him and said, "If I want to wield a blade, I shall wield a blade. Mikael need not know."
"He'll find out. He always does."
"That is because YOU always tell him," Caroline replied.
"I can't help it. He frightens me," Niklaus confessed. Mikael did frighten him. His yelling and kicking and telling him how useless he was, struck fear into his heart. But Niklaus went through it all for his brothers and Caroline. Even if he hadn't willingly taken the beating, he would've received it anyway.
Caroline looked at him with compassion in her eyes and said, "he frightens us all. But that is why we stick together as one always and forever. Right traitor?" she said with a grin.
Niklaus looked at her and smiled, saying, "Right."
When he and Caroline were growing up, playing hide and seek, he promised he wouldn't grab her and scare her, but he always did. That's how Caroline nicknamed him 'traitor.' When he caught her she would scream, he would laugh, she would hit him, and they would continue playing. Those were the days when they didn't have to worry about marriage or Peter and Tatia. The only thing they were worried about is if Niklaus would find Caroline and if Caroline would be mad enough to hit Niklaus in the face the next time he scared her.
"Here. You finish," Caroline said handing the knife to Niklaus, "I'm to help your mother with the meal."
"Yes," Niklaus said with a grin, "Go tend to dinner. Leave the blades to the men, Caroline."
Caroline gave him a glare, and smacked the tip of the blade into his hand, leaving him a little cut.
"Ah! Care!" Niklaus said, calling Caroline by the nickname they all called her.
"It's just a little blood, be a man about it," Caroline said, skipping off before he could respond.
X
That night, Caroline didn't sleep much. The howls of the wolves kept her awake. She never slept on this night. The memories of her father haunted her more than ever, and she could not find sleep.
Then she heard someone moving around and walking out of the cave. It was Henrik. She got up and followed him so she could drag him back inside.
"Henrik! Henrik!" she whispered, not wanting to draw attention to herself from the wolves. She was going to KILL Henrik when she found him.
Then she spotted him hiding behind a rock. "Henrik! Have you lost your senses?! You need to get back now!"
"But, Niklaus is here."
'Niklaus?' He must've snuck out when Caroline was sleeping, what little sleep she had.
She had to get him back. Caroline turned Henrik around to look at her and said, "Go to the caves NOW. I'll be right behind you with Niklaus."
And he walked away with a pout on his face. He really wanted to see the wolves.
Caroline crawled up to where Niklaus was hiding and said "What in the world are you doing here?! Have you lost your senses?!"
Niklaus turned and saw her and said, "I'll be fine. I just...I had to see."
Caroline turned and saw what Niklaus was talking about. She saw the villagers cower and groan in pain under the moonlight. She even watch one transform into a wolf. It truly was fascinating and horrific all at the same time. She heard a few bones break and that was the end for her. She couldn't take it anymore.
"We need to get back now. Henrik followed you."
Before he could answer they heard a scream. 'NO!'
Niklaus and Caroline ran towards the sound. It can't be Henrik. Maybe it's one of the villagers turning. But it CAN'T be HENRIK!
When they got to the scene, they saw a wolf. Its eyes yellow and mouth dripping with blood. Caroline and Niklaus froze in fear. They looked from the wolf to the body. Henrik's body. Then the animal got in attack position and Niklaus whispered to Caroline, "when I tell you to run...you run.."
Caroline couldn't respond. She couldn't move. She couldn't BREATHE. All she could do was stare at this creature who had harmed Henrik.
The wolf started to plunge and Niklaus drew his sword and hollered, "RUN!"
Then Caroline turned and ran as fast as she could. As she ran the night from so long ago played out in her mind. Her father. His final words to her. His last breath. On a night much like this one.
As she got back to the cave, she saw that everyone was awake. Mikael and Esther looked at her with relief when they saw her, then asked where Niklaus and Henrik were. Caroline couldn't answer. They knew what was happening. Without saying a word Mikael, Finn, and Elijah got their swords, but before they could leave, Niklaus came in screaming "MOTHER!" He was carrying Henrik.
He laid Henrik down on the cave floor, just as Caroline's father had. But this time, lifeless. Breathless. No final words. No goodbyes. Just a body of a beautiful boy. He was 10 years old.
Esther got down to the ground and looked as if she was trying to think. "Iyana! Iyana save him!" Iyana, the village witch, got down and started muttering words.
After a few moments, Iyana turned to Esther and said, "The Spirits will not listen. I'm sorry Esther. Your boy is gone."
Esther fell into Henrik's chest and wept. Mikael cradled his wife. Finn and Elijah cried a little. But Niklaus fell on his knees and sobbed. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," was all that came out of him. Caroline got down with Niklaus and held him in her arms. The same way he had on a night like this...so long ago.
X
It had been a week. A week since Henrik's burial. Caroline laid in bed that night replaying everything in her mind. Niklaus hadn't been the same since that night. He barely spoke to anyone, even Caroline. She wished she knew how she could help him. But he wouldn't let anyone help him. He kept to himself and stayed out of everyone's way.
As she started to dose off to sleep, she heard Mikael and Esther arguing with someone. It was Iyana? Why was she here?
Something about, "It's against nature...I want no part of it."
Then she heard the door slam and Mikael said, "It's all up to you, my love."
Esther was a witch. Everyone knew it. But what could she possible be doing that was against Nature? Anything against Nature is known as Black Magic.
She heard Esther call on the sun for life, and the Great White Oak tree for immortality.
Then Mikael came in her room and told her to come out to where he and Esther were. She followed him and saw Finn, Elijah and Niklaus standing there.
"What's going on?" Niklaus asked.
Then Mikael gave Caroline a cup of wine and said, "Drink." He spoke harshly which meant she HAD to do what he said.
She swallowed the wine and started gagging. It tasted like BLOOD?
She watched the others drink it also and they all wore the same expression she felt. Disgust.
Then Mikael said, "It is done," and pulled out his sword.
The next thing Caroline felt was indescribable pain and darkness.
X
Gasping for air. That's what woke Caroline. She was lying on the floor and saw Niklaus come crawling towards her. His shirt was covered in blood. So was her nightgown. She remembered. The wine. The blood. The sword. Mikael KILLED her?! ALL OF THEM?!
Niklaus cradled her and said, "it'll be alright, everything will be alright."
Then Mikael walked in with one of the village girls. Sarah was her name. She was 15 and she looked scared out of her mind.
"What are you doing?" Niklaus asked, pushing Caroline behind him to protect her.
"We must finish what we started. You have to drink if you want to live," Mikael said as he cut Sarah's arm, deep enough for blood to pour out. Mikael shoved her arm into Caroline's face and said, "Drink."
Caroline instantly felt a hunger. An indescribable thirst that she felt no water or wine could ever quench...only this blood. Niklaus tried to push Mikael away from Caroline, but his wound made him weak and Mikael shoved him away.
He grabbed Caroline by the back of her neck and hollered, "DRINK!" and pressed her mouth to Sarah's arm. Caroline tried not to, but she started to swallow and drink from it. She felt no longer hungered yet she still wanted more. She felt power and strength. It was indescribable. Then she felt pain. Almost as if knives were cutting into her mouth. She felt inside and noticed she had fangs. FANGS. She cried out in agony as her teeth cut through her gums. And she felt her veins bulging underneath her eyes. 'What have I become?!'
Niklaus and the others followed suit. They all realized what had happened to them. They weren't dead. Or alive. They were creatures who craved blood and felt powerful as they consumed it. Caroline understood what Iyana meant. It was against Nature. Cheating death broke the cycle that Nature had formed. Never growing old, never dying, it was a blessing and a curse.
That night was something that Caroline would never forget. That was the night a predatory species was born.
So here we see who Caroline is to the Mikaelson family. How she turned with them, and yes I used "Rebekah" dialogue from 3x08. ALL OF THAT IS OWNED BY JULIE PLEC!
We also find out how she became "family" to them, her dislike of the Petrova's, and I even named the nameless girl that they fed on to complete their transition.
I have an explanation for my absence: school, life, my beta living half a world away...ya know that sort of thing. Though I'm sure that doesnt make up for the weeks of AGONY you readers have endured without your bi-weekly dose of "TOD"
Please review and leave your questions, comments, concerns? Thank you my lovelies and Happy EASTER!