Chapter Eight
"Here, drink from this," Stefan said glancing between the fresh blood bag in his hand and back up at a nervous Caroline.
Caroline tried not to gag at the thought of everything. But what disgusted her most was that her throat was aching in wanting to rip open the bag of blood and just down every single drop of it.
"What if I can't control myself?" Caroline asked, her voice tightening when she spoke.
Stefan smiled reassuringly at her. This was her first time drinking human blood. She wasn't supposed to take things slow. That was for after when he would have to teach her to control the thirst. Stefan had hoped Damon would have helped with that one since Stefan was known for being the Riper. But he also understood where Damon was coming from. It must be hard seeing someone you care about going through all this.
"I'm right here Care, it's okay."
Eyeing the bag of blood and then looking up at Stefan, Caroline took hold of the bag before she prepared herself to take one tiny sip from the pipe attached to the bag. Groaning at how good the little drop felt at her tongue, Caroline forced herself to breathe deeply before taking another small sip.
Stefan watched in awe at how good the blonde was doing. He could tell she was struggling in not attacking the bag, but at the same time she was putting an effort in trying to control her thirst. He couldn't help but smile at that. For some reason, he knew she was going to be completely fine.
"Here, put this on," Bonnie demanded quickly before making her way to Caroline's curtains.
Looking up at Bonnie, Caroline looked down at the ring that lay on the bed before her. Glancing up at Stefan who sat before her, Caroline couldn't help but ask, "That's it? That's the spell?"
Wincing at the stern look Bonnie gave her way, Caroline sighed before picking up the ring and placing it on her finger. Looking back up, Caroline was about to say something only to gasp and try to shield herself as much as possible when Bonnie opened the curtains without warning.
"Bonnie!" Caroline yelled before relaxing when noticing that the sun was no longer burning her skin. Smiling slightly, Caroline looked back at Bonnie and tensed, "What the hell!"
Angrily storming past the bed where Caroline and Stefan still sat, Bonnie said, "My work here is done."
Caroline knew why Bonnie would be mad, but she didn't expect Bonnie to be so mad at her. Caroline didn't do anything. It was not like she had wanting this to happen to her. She didn't want this life. She just wanted to be normal again, to be herself again. But she knew that wasn't possible anymore and the least her best friend could do was be supportive about this and help her through it! But no, Bonnie couldn't see through her own anger that Caroline needed help. Caroline needed one of her best friends to be there for her.
Flinching again at the sound of the front door closing shut, Caroline looked over at Stefan who seemed to have gotten off the bed as well.
"I'm her ride, I'll see you in a bit alright?" Stefan asked before walking over to the bedroom door. "Oh, and pack your things. There is no way I'm going to let you stay here with your mother when you just turned. You've got to get a sense of more control, so you're going to have to live at the Boarding House for a while…" Stefan added, trailing off when Caroline's eyes widened.
"I can't do that! I have school! And what am I going to tell my mom?" Caroline asked.
Stefan shrugged. "You can still go to school, but you can't stay here. Make up an excuse and pack up. I'll meet you back here in a few. Don't go outside," Stefan said, the last of his sentence causing Caroline to groan in frustration. "Okay, I won't go outside, but just hurry okay?" Caroline said, letting a hand go through her blonde locks as she bit her lower lip in nervousness.
Stefan smiled, "I'll be back soon." And with that, Caroline watched as Stefan exited the bedroom. She didn't flinch this time when she heard the front door close quite gently this time around.
Sighing while getting off the bed herself, Caroline decided on packing up.
Why was this happening to her?
Slamming his car door hard, Damon was surprised the window didn't shatter. Breathing deeply, Damon's hands rest at the side of the car when he leaned against it, Why was he back here?
Looking at the house before him, Damon's face tightened before he let go of the car and slowly started to walk towards the house. Caroline's house.
He hated the fact that after everything, he ended up being here again. He hated the fact that no matter how much he convinced himself that he didn't care about the blonde, he would be lying to himself because he did. He did care.
Hands tightening on the door knob before him, Damon practically yanked the door open when he stepped into the house.
Closing the door behind him, Damon's eyes narrowed at the luggage that seemed to be next to the door. But before he could look much into it, Damon's thoughts were interrupted by her voice.
"What are you doing here?" Caroline asked softly, trying her best in not looking at Damon straight in the eyes. She expected Stefan to be in front of her right now. Not Damon.
Damon's body tensed, his eyes roaming the blonde a few feet before her. Glancing at the new ring that lay at her finger Damon sighed, "Did you drink human blood yet?"
Caroline nodded before walking towards the luggage that stood very close to the older Salvatore. Placing her final duffel bag next to the previous bag, Caroline looked back at the man. "Yes, I have," she stated with no expression, trying not to get distracted by the intense gaze that he gave her way.
"So what are you doing here? The last time I checked you wanted nothing to do with me," Caroline stated when she crossed her arms in front of her chest, standing up at bit straighter as she talked to the man.
"You must be stupid to think that you can get through this by yourself," Damon spit at her, his confusion over why he cared about her consistently annoying him.
"And why would you want to help me?" Caroline asked, her voice suddenly softer causing Damon's eyes to soften as well. The truth was he didn't know. He didn't know why he felt responsible for her. He didn't know why he seemed to care about the blonde.
Composing himself, Damon replied, "My brother thinks he could save you, and that he could train you. But let's face it Blondie, you're a failure. You always will fail. And without my help, both of you will get nowhere."
Caroline tried not to let his words affect her. It wouldn't be the first time hearing Damon say something like this to her. She had gotten used to it in a way. But she couldn't help but feel a tug at her chest when he grinned at her. He always seemed to hurt her. But no, she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction this time. She was not going to fail. She was going to make Stefan proud and she was definitely going to train. She was not going to let Damon be right.
Tearing her eyes away from his, Caroline looked back at her bags beside the door. Glancing back up at him, Caroline pulled out her phone from her jeans. Avoiding the confused expression she received from Damon, Caroline put the phone to her ear right after dialing a number.
"Hello?" asked the man on the other end of the line.
Caroline smiled at his voice and said, "Hey Stefan, Damon's here, so don't worry about picking me up."
Damon's brows furrowed at that. Where was she going to go?
Damon didn't hear much on the other line when he seemed to be quite dazed from his own thoughts. Looking back up at Caroline once she ended the call, Damon watched while she started to pick at her duffel bag and placed the strap at her shoulder.
Caroline couldn't believe how light her bags were. Looks like being a vampire had a few perks.
Looking up at Damon, Caroline swallowed hard. "Are you going to take me to the boarding house now or do I have to wait for you to insult me again…?" Caroline asked while trailing off. Her brows furrowed at what she saw after her words. His expression changed. His eyes went soft along with the rest of his form. This confused her.
Damon's jaw clenched.
She was going to stay at the boarding house.
Damon didn't know why, but he definitely had a problem with that.
Caroline followed Stefan who walked in front of her. Eyeing the walls of the boarding house, Caroline could feel Damon's eyes on her as he walked a few fight behind her. She didn't know how she was able to sense that, but she did sense it.
Entering one of the many rooms along this hallway, Stefan turned around and smiled at Caroline who placed her bags at the entrance of the room before walking in herself.
"This is your room for now," Stefan said while he watched Caroline explore the giant space.
Caroline eyed the large bed that seemed to be at the center of the room, while book shelves and drawers were placed to form the rest of the room. Smiling at the large glass doors on the other side of the room, Caroline opened it to come across a little deck which viewed the back of the house. She saw nothing but tress below her and the sky ahead. Her smile grew. It was beautiful.
Looking back at Stefan and Damon who were at the entrance of the room, Caroline walked back and gazed at every detail in the room. She noticed that ever since she had turned, every feeling or sense had doubled. Everything she felt and experienced seemed to be magnified.
Every moment.
Every emotion.
Everything.
She felt slightly troubled at that thought. She felt as if she were to break down, she wouldn't be able to get herself together again. Her emotions were to magnified to the point where she may never snap out of them again.
And that terrified her.
"It's perfect," Caroline breathed out, finally looking back at Stefan who seemed to be eyeing her every move.
Stefan nodded slowly at the blonde before glancing outside where the sky was visible, sighing Stefan started, "You don't have to feel locked up either Caroline. If you want, we could go out for a bit."
"That is a terrible idea," Damon stated quickly, his form still tense at the door.
Caroline smiled gently at Stefan. She loved that he cared. But she didn't feel prisoned at all. Trying not to flinch at Damon's voice, Caroline refused to look at him at all. Her eyes still on Stefan's form, Caroline replied, "It's alright Stefan. I feel like I should just be alone for a while… but thanks for caring."
Stefan watched as Caroline roughly looked at Damon when she emphasized the last word that she spoke out. Glancing back at Damon who seemed to twitch slightly, Stefan sighed before looking back at Caroline.
"Well, we'll leave you alone for a while then," Stefan stated before smiling reassuringly at the blonde.
Nodding, Caroline looked down at the floor as she started to study the pattern of the old wood. She could hear Stefan's feet slowly disappear, hinting that he had now left the room. Sighing internally, Caroline slowly walked over towards the balcony of the room and simply stood there; holding onto the railing, feeing the cold air at her numb cheeks.
Although she tried to ignore it, Caroline could still feel his eyes on her. Damon hadn't left yet.
Caroline said nothing though. She didn't want to worry about him. She just wanted to get her mind off of things. Everything. And she really couldn't deal with him right now.
"There's no going back Blondie."
Caroline's eyes shut at his words. She could feel her bottom lip started to quiver again. She couldn't do this. She didn't know how to control her emotions yet because every thought and every feeling she got confused her. All she wanted to do right now was cry. But she didn't know why she was so afraid to do just that. Cry.
"Just leave me alone," Caroline practically pleaded softly. She could feel the water at her eyes now. She could also feel a couple freeing themselves onto her cheek.
Damon couldn't help but allow his body to soften at that. He knew she was crying. He could hear the soft sobs trying their hardest not to escape from her mouth. He understood that Caroline's feelings were now magnified, but he also couldn't help but feel that this was his entire fault somehow. Slowly walking closer to the blonde who stood at the balcony, Damon stood a few feet behind her now while the sun touched at his porcelain skin.
Walking in closer to the blonde, Damon slowly made his way to her side now when he leaned his back to the railing, his soft eyes studying her wet face.
Caroline couldn't stand the thought that he was watching her cry. It angered her. But what made her angrier was when Caroline didn't stop crying. She just continued to allow tears to fall down at her cheeks knowing that Damon silently watched her now.
Unknowingly bringing his hand slowly towards Caroline's cheek, Damon gently wiped a tear off Caroline's cheek, causing her to finally look at him in pure confusion and shock.
Realizing what he was doing, Damon's hand twitched at Caroline's cheek before he quickly pulled it away from her form. Straightening up so that he was no longer leaning against the railing behind him, Damon glanced at Caroline's soft form that eyed him in an unknown expression.
Swallowing hard, Damon looked back before him and finally spoke up, "W-We'll start tomorrow then."
Caroline's mind tried to process everything he said and she managed to nod slowly at him. Knowing that he was talking about 'training' her, Caroline managed to look away from him and back into the sky which surfaced before her.
Nodding again, Caroline managed to let out a soft 'okay' before feeling empty at her side. She listened to his feet slowly walking away from her now and towards the exit of the bedroom.
Sighing internally at the faint sound of his footsteps disappearing now, Caroline could have sworn that just for a second…
She felt her heart beat.
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