Hey all. A kind of double update as I've been so bad lately. I know the time jump is difficult to get behind, but really it's because I feel like its been 6 months since I last wrote! Also, I wanted to show that this loss has pushed Caroline over the edge, which had to happen sometime, it's just too much to cope with. The only way to show the torment she has suffered... the suffering and soul searching, is to have made some time pass.
So the blanks of that night and the intervening time will start to be filled in now.
Anyway, let me know what you think. I strive to be a good sport about all types of criticism and try to use it constructively, just... be gentle!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries or it's characters.
As the last wolf fell from his jaws, he felt his body starting to heal, though the multiple bite marks still stung a little. He hadn't brawled like that in quite a while, it would almost be refreshing under other circumstances. He looked around the corridor, strewn with the bodies of his dead kin, and cursed. They should be united against Simon, not turning on each other, especially not on him, a hybrid of both species.
His wolf ears suddenly picked up the sound of a car approaching, and seconds later the scent of human invaded the air. A gentle rustling alerted him to someone approaching, cautiously, moments before the flashlight hit his face. It swung around the old underground tunnel, flashing off drying blood and exposed teeth and bone. This person smelled human, but different. Strange. His head cocked to the side as he tried to place the scent.
The shadow holding the flashlight shifted, coming toward him down the hallway. A low chuckle filled the air.
"Well well, who do we have here?" Klaus felt the hackles on his back rising. The voice was low, and confident. It was full of the arrogance of a killer, and he knew it all too well. He lowered his head and began to growl low in his throat.
"So, you're not one of mine then?" he asked easily, still continuing toward him slowly. As Klaus focused all his heightened werewolf skills on the man before him, a sudden rushing noise warned him that someone was coming. With a sinking heart, he watched as some else appeared at the end of the tunnel, someone with pale white hair in the moon light.
The man halted in the tunnel, and without turning said,
"Back so soon Caroline?" slowly he turned towards her
His buzzing phone drew him sharply out his dreams and into the pale dishwater light of the morning. He stared at the ceiling for a beat, letting the memories go, swallowing them down before sitting and reaching for his cell.
"Well, what do we know about him?" he began without preamble, seeing his hybrids name.
"His name is William, but I don't know if thats his real name... he's old, very old."
"He's not older than me" summarised Klaus waiting for her to continue.
"He has started a kind of... movement. A cult of sorts." Katya's voice hesitant as she struggled to find the words to explain what this girl that Klaus obviously cared about had gotten mixed up in.
"How original, every old vampire worth his salt has tried that one. What about Caroline. Why's she with him, what's he offering her?"
"He... helps... vampire who can't stand their natures. He shows them how to turn off their humanity, how to feed, hunt and kill without remorse. Vampires returning to their true selves."
Klaus closed his eyes for a second, imagine how hurt and broken Caroline would have to be to look for this group, to accept them.
"I need to see her... alone. How can I do that?" he asked, shrugging on his clothes.
"She is the only one who walks in the sun. She goes out walking around every afternoon."
"Good. Follow her. Call me when she's alone." and he hung up. Standing by the balcony of the plush suite he had commandeered for his stay in New York he looked out over the city as it woke.
Central park was still bustling with people, despite the dusting of snow on the ground. She walked slowly and deliberately on her usual path, paying little attention to the people around her. This was her time. It was the highlight of her day and little else seemed to matter. She realised that was the whole point, what William had been teaching her. Nothing matters, except the hunt... except the blood. She barely slept anymore, and she rarely dreamed. William had promised her that, an empty mind and at the time, when he first found her, she was sure she would have gone mad without his help.
The sad part was that with each day her memories started to fade as well. Bonnie and Elena laughing as they sat around her room, painting their nails, Matt's smile when he pulled up in his truck and saw her waiting... the smell of violets and warm brown eyes that crinkled when she said "Good morning honey"
Caroline stopped in her tracks. No, she wouldn't go there. It was better that those memories faded. There were new ones, overlapping them, tearing their edges... of running and grabbing and hunting and drinking until she was full. That was her life now. It was her true self and she had been a fool to pretend it wasn't for so long. Her desperate need to carry on living out the charade of a normal teenage life had only hurt those around her. She understood that now... he had helped her understand.
"You know, it's not nearly so cold in Mystic Falls" a dry voice remarked.
Suddenly she became aware of a presence at her side, and for a second it felt so comfortable that she almost didn't realise. She didn't answer, but kept moving.
"So, you're allowed out alone? How modern of him. If you were mine again, I wouldn't waste anytime sleeping." he said with a smile, which grew brighter as she finally glanced at him to roll her eyes.
"I was never yours" she said shortly, abruptly turning up another path. At her side in an instant, he mused,
"Weren't you? I could have sworn you were... even if just for moment"
"Nope, you must have me confused with some other pathetic, weak..." she stopped suddenly as he pulled her round to face him, his eyes searching her face, unbearably close.
"Is that how you see yourself, love?" he asked, she avoided his eyes, unwilling to see what was there, how he felt, how she was hurting yet another person. Most of all she was afraid to look at the person reflected in them.
"It's not really any of your business, is it?" she bit out and pulled away from him, her eyes still stubbornly downcast. She had a feeling if she met his, she would disintegrate and disappear. An awful feeling of helplessness and despair so deep threatened to well up inside her, like a wave that would wash her away. It was followed quickly by a surge of anger.
"Why are you here? Why don't you just leave me alone?" she almost shouted at him, finally raising her eyes to him, her face flushing with anger. He didn't reply, just watched her.
"Well! I don't want you. I have never wanted you. Stop trying to change me. The Caroline you wanted is gone, she died that night, in that dark place." her eyes were luminous with tears and he had never wanted anything more than to take her in his arms. Taking a deep breath he steadied himself. Moving too soon would only upset her.
"Caroline..." he whispered, and watched as she forced herself under control. Then, that smile was back, the one that never quite reached her eyes.
"Shall I show you?" she asked, her eyes overly bright now, intense. Turning she started toward a girl who was hurrying down a quiet path hold steaming coffee in both hands. In an instant she was at her side, speaking to her softly, compelling her to leave the path and come over to a quiet corner behind a couple of big trees. Klaus felt his whole body tense. Forcing himself to look relaxed he sauntered over and leaned back against the tree, watching Caroline with the girl.
She stood behind her, drew her long hair back over her shoulder, and leaned in, smelling the blood pulsing just under the skin. The skin under her eyes turning black, she raised her face to Klaus's, and he saw what it was to hate yourself. It was a look he had seen on his own face often enough, but now seeing it on Caroline's face made his stomach drop.
He watched as Caroline sank her teeth into the girl's throat and began to drink. As she drank and drank, the girl turned paler and paler, and Klaus felt his fists clench. She was going to kill her, and have another guilty mark on her conscious. Suddenly she drew her head back and licked the blood from her lips.
"She's had enough Caroline." Klaus warned moving closer. Caroline plunged her teeth back into the girl's neck, sucking the last blood down, and he thought he saw a lone tear snaking down her cheek as she swallowed down the last of her blood. Without warning she let go of the girl and Klaus caught her, aware that she only had second to live. Acting on instinct he bit his wrist and forced the girl to drink from him, hoping he wasn't too late. If the girl died, Caroline would have killed someone else. He didn't know what else she had done, but he could spare her this torment. The girl started coughing as the blood made it's way into her system, forcing life into her empty body. Gently lying her against the tree trunk, he looked around the empty clearing. She must have gone back to the nest. He needed to get in there. He pulled out his phone he began to dial.
"How could you do that? She was human? She never hurt anyone, she spent her life protecting people..." Caroline 's voice was harsh and jagged. As she came into the light from a torch, her fangs were already long, her eyes already black.
"She was useless! She doomed this town with her weakness and pathetic need to protect the abomination that was her daughter. She thanked me you know, before the end. After the begging was over, I think she really was grateful to go, she realised that I was doing her a favour..." Caroline's scream echoed off the walls as she lunged forward, murder in her eyes. Suddenly, mere inches from him, she was thrown away.
Hitting the wall hard, she was up again in a heartbeat. Again she lunged and was thrown back and again, she was so tired, she had no strength. She saw Klaus changing behind Simon. As she stood up once more, Simon suddenly held his hands out in front of him.
"Stop child, There is no use. I shall end your suffering now." he smirked as his hands, out in front of him seemed to tremble for a second, then suddenly Caroline's jacket caught on fire. It flamed out of nowhere and and she gasped, struggling to throw the material off her back. In this mere seconds, Klaus had come up behind Simon, and now attempted to hit him. His fist returned to him, ineffectually as Simon turned and smiled at him. Growling Klaus went to snap his neck, again finding his hands unable to make contact. Simon chuckled and gave a slightly encouraging hand gesture, inviting Klaus to try again. This time he made for his chest, hoping to rip his heart out. His hand stopped inched from his chest, straining he put all his effort into reaching him, pushing, and pushing, his rage mounting each second.
Simon smiled malevolently and with a flick of his fingers, set Klaus's hands on fire.
Caroline screamed and attacked him from behind again, once more falling to the ground. Growling Klaus clenched his fists, making no sound as the fire went out. Caroline struggled to stand up, and Klaus realised with growing alarm that they were no match for Simon. Catching her eye he urged her
"Caroline... Run!" he said as he again attempted to break through the barrier, backing into the corridor, trying to draw Simon away from her. Simon followed slowly
"I must say, it's quite exciting to finally meet you. The hybrid. The strongest being in the world. You really are quite fascinating."
"Well mate, you'll forgive me if I don't find you quite as interesting. Now why don't you and I have a nice little chat, maybe you can tell me who your witch is, I might have to steal her off you." he said in a amiable voice. Simon stopped and leaned against the wall, smirking,
"And what makes you think I'd trust a woman to protect me..." Caroline threw herself one last time at her uncle, putting every ounce of hate and anger into it but before she reached him, Simon gestured with his hand, and suddenly, her hair was alight.
It flamed up suddenly, and she started to scream. Klaus threw himself towards her but Simon stepped in front of him.
"No. You stay. She can go,but you stay." Simon said, already heading away from her down the corridor. Caroline screamed as the fire ripped through her hair, she wrenched her smouldering jacket from the floor and wrapped it around her head.
"Caroline, RUN!" was the last thing she heard as she stumbled out into the dark night and began to run through the woods.
Caroline awoke with a jolt, Klaus's voice still echoing around the room as she frantically tried to push the memories down. This was his fault. He had brought it all back. She had been fine until he had suddenly appeared in the city. Now she was remembering again, crying again. Being weak again.
"Caroline" William's voice made her jump and she quickly pulled a jumper over her thin top as she registered his presence in the doorway.
"Yes" she made an effort to smooth out her voice and force a smile.
"You look shaken. Did you see Niklaus again today?" he asked, coming into the room and sitting on the bed, a little too close. Making an effort not to shrink back she nodded.
"Has he told you what he wants from you?" William asked mildly.
"He... wants to take me home." she said, almost shuddering at the word. William watched her in silence. Then reached up and stroked her head,
"Did you have nightmares? Do you want me to take them away?" he asked, he put his fingers to her temple, but she pulled away.
"What's wrong?" he asked
"I want you to take away the nightmare, but what about my other memories, everything is fading. I feel so confused. I have so many holes in my memory." she frowned, then her attention shifted as someone came to the door. William went to talk to him quietly and she got out of the bed, stretching, trying to shake off the dream.
William came back into the room and drew her to the edge of the bed, sitting down with her and holding her hands.
"Caroline. You've been with us for a while now. Are you happy?" he asked
"Yes" she nodded, knowing the best she could hope for nowadays was numbness.
"Good. You make me very happy" he said, stroking the back of her hand.
"Now, I have a way of getting rid of our little problem. Everything is taken care off. I just need you to do one thing, then you can forget your human life, everything that hurts you." Caroline's heart leapt at the suggestion.
"What do you need me to do?" she asked in a small voice.
"Klaus?" Caroline's voice sounded so quiet and defeated his heart broke anew.
"Caroline... where are you?" he asked urgently, coming to a stop in the middle of the street. He had been busy thinking over the whole situation and her calling him was the last thing he'd expected.
"I'm in the park, from this morning." she murmured. He turned on his heel and started back in that direction. Deciding he was too far away he hailed a cab and gave the driver quick instructions.
"Are you O.K?" he asked, listening to the hesitation in her voice.
"I will be" she whispered.
"I'll be there soon" he reassured her as the cab sped through the snowy street. Silence greeted him over the line and it played out until he thought she might have hung up. Then suddenly she spoke,
"Did she die...?" she asked quietly.
"No, she's fine." he said, a glimmer of hope warming him. There was a chance. Silence again, then the line buzzed and he realised this time she had hung up. Leaning forward in the back, he urged the car to move faster, unable to wait, he wondered how he could possibly heal her. How he, of all people, could teach her about redemption.