So I finally have a new chapter for you guys! I wanted to get it out to you before I leave for vacation this weekend-hope you enjoy it! See you at the bottom! :)
Chapter Fourteen
"That's it, now, close your eyes. Take a deep breath—really feel your connection to the earth. When you think you are ready, begin chanting, and let the energy flow through your hands…Wonderful! Look!"
Caroline opened her eyes slowly, staring at the small silver ring that was glowing slightly.
"Did it work?" she asked breathlessly.
"Congratulations, you've just made your first daylight ring. Certainly a milestone in your magical progress," Bonnie answered, embracing the blonde witch. "You've done very well in the past few days."
Caroline smiled, slightly embarrassed. This was her third lesson with Bonnie, secretly tucked away in one of the more remote towers of the castle. It felt magnificent, being able to practice magic again. Not to mention it kept her out of the way of all the vampires wandering about, Council members or otherwise.
After her disastrous quarrel with Klaus, she had been very busy, helping Rebekah plan for the wedding and coronation. Initially, she had dreaded her time with the Original—after all, Rebekah had made it clear from their very first meeting that she disliked her immensely.
But Rebekah had surprised her.
"There is no way on this cursed earth that I will allow a commoner like you to contradict me!" Rebekah's voice cut through the tension in the air. "There will be no commoners allowed at the palace for the celebration, and that is final!"
It was the morning after the Council dinner, and Caroline had barely been with Rebekah an hour and they were already clashing. Caroline had been woken early that morning by a servant who had instructions to escort her to Rebekah's chambers as soon as she was ready. Needless to say, Caroline had dressed rapidly, not wanting to provoke Rebekah, and on the first day at that. They had traded opinions on a color scheme for the decorations, finally settling on white and pale, sky-colored blue. That had been the calm before the storm. After expressing her desire to allow the humble citizens of Mystic Falls to join in the wedding feast at the castle, arguing that there was more than enough room in the palace including the grounds if needed, Rebekah had put her foot down-viciously. Caroline was at her wit's end, and absolutely sick of the Original's belittling attitude and snide remarks on her social status.
"Those commoners, as you call them, are our people, and they have just as much right to come to a feast as you do. Not everyone is lucky enough to be born into wealth and nobility."
Rebekah scoffed, flouncing her perfect curls. "I can see right through you, you know. You are only here for the power the marriage brings you," she sneered. "I'm sure you jumped at the chance to leave your insignificant life behind for my family's riches."
Caroline bristled. "The only reason I am here is because your brother chose me! I never wanted to become queen, not for an instant, and I told your brother as much! Why are you so determined to hate me? What have I ever done to you?" she demanded heatedly, clenching her fists.
"Because you are a mere peasant and unfit for my brother—you will just break his heart like that Tatia did," Rebekah snarled, glaring. "I've seen the way he looks at you, how he keeps you close. The last time he cared about someone she betrayed him and our entire family, and I won't allow it to happen a second time." Despite her obvious anger, Caroline could detect the slightest hint of genuine concern in her. The fight went out of her then. Rebekah loved Klaus—that much was clear—and she supposed it was only natural for the other girl to feel protective over her sibling. And heaven knew that her own rude behavior towards Klaus had most certainly only confirmed Rebekah's beliefs.
She figured she may as well be honest.
"Rebekah, I know you care for your brother, and that you don't want me to hurt him," she began quietly. "But please believe me when I say that I have no intention of betraying him. It's just…he is a difficult man to understand, and I…I need time. To get to know him," she clarified, feeling very vulnerable in her admissions.
Rebekah still wore a slight frown on her face, but her face had softened somewhat. After a moment, she cleared her throat, almost awkwardly. "Well, Nik does have a notorious habit of pushing those he cares about away, so I cannot say that I blame you for your caution," she said at last. Her face hardened once more. "But if I ever hear even a whisper of treachery on your part, I will have no hesitations in clawing your eyes out and leaving you to dessicate in the dungeons," she added menacingly, slipping easily back into her belligerent persona. Caroline opened her mouth to answer, but Rebekah cut her off. "I am glad you understand. We've still much to accomplish today, so let's continue, shall we?" She beckoned Caroline to sit down at a small table. "We desperately need to begin work on your wedding gown. Now, I've already come up with a few ideas that I had drawn up for you to see." She gestured to a few sketches scattered around on the table.
Caroline's eyes widened. The gowns were gorgeous, each one more elegant than the last, all of them accentuated with patterns of lace and encrusted with sparkling diamonds and pearls.
She would never get used to the luxury of palace life.
"These are lovely…but I was thinking something much more simple," Caroline admitted, almost sheepishly.
Rebekah huffed and rolled her eyes.
"Listen, I may not like you very much at all, but you are to be my sister, and I will not have you looking like a mere peasant-bride on the arm of my favorite brother. My family has a reputation to uphold," she sniffed.
Defeated, Caroline exhaled, giving in. "Very well." She studied the sketches with a critical eye. Finally, one dress caught her fancy. "How about that one?" she picked up the sketch in her hand, showing it to her companion. The gown had long sleeves, with a neckline that bared the shoulders slightly. A silver belt encircled the waist, and small diamonds were sprinkled all over the flowing skirt.
"Hmmm…not as dramatic as would typically befit a queen, but—"Rebekah's gaze swept over her, musing. At last she nodded firmly. "I suppose it will do."
A few minutes later, Rebekah's personal dress-maker had taken all her measurements, promising that the gown would be ready as quickly as possible. From there, they had moved on to choosing the flowers, taking a stroll through the gardens for inspiration. Surprisingly, they found a common love of hydrangeas, and quickly decided to use bouquets of the lovely blue and purple flower with white roses and lilies. Caroline discovered that she felt much relaxed around Rebekah. Perhaps it was simply because they had cleared the air between them somewhat, or maybe because they had some things in common, such as an affinity for organization and a distinctly loyal personality. She wondered if, given time, they could even be something like friends. She smiled faintly. Having Rebekah as a friend would be interesting, to say the least.
Caroline played with the spelled ring, rolling it around in her hand gingerly. Yes, her time with both Bonnie and Rebekah had been keeping her busy—busy enough that she had not seen him at all for the past three days.
She sighed.
Klaus.
Now there was a problem she had no idea how to solve.
"Bonnie…have you heard from Klaus at all?" she glanced up at the older witch, still fidgeting with the ring. She had been thinking of him almost constantly, with a mixture of frustration and sadness and—dare she say it—yearning for his presence. She hadn't forgiven him for his actions that night, and she had sworn that she never would—but she couldn't bear the thought of not seeing him. And she also knew that she had hurt him with her stinging words. She had relived the scene countless times in the past few days, filled with regret at the memory of his pained face after she condemned him as a monster. Even then, she knew she didn't mean it, but she didn't know how to reconcile that with the killing he had committed right in front of her.
Speaking to Bonnie, who had known Klaus for her entire life, seemed a good course of action.
Bonnie sank down next to her, tucking her knees under her body, giving Caroline a small, knowing smile. "Has anyone ever told you of how the Originals came to be?"
She frowned in thought. Now there was an unexpected question. "Well, I've heard rumors around the city, but I never put much stock in those tales. Stefan did tell me that they've been alive for at least five centuries, maybe more."
"Six, to be precise. So you have heard nothing about the nature of their relationship with their father, Mikael?"
"No, only that they've been enemies for a long time and that he wanted them dead. Most say he was simply jealous of their power and wanted it for himself. And of course there were the stories that Klaus is not his true son," Caroline answered, still frowning. "But I never did understand how their own father could be so opposed to them. They are family, after all."
"Families are torn apart by division and hatred every day. A family that has been alive for centuries is bound to have troubles—and many have been festering for far too long." Bonnie sighed, idly turning the aged pages of the grimoire that lay on the floor beside her.
"What do you mean, troubles? Will you tell me?"
"I shall, but I warn you it is not a pleasant tale, nor would it be prudent to speak of it to anyone outside these walls." Caroline nodded her understanding, silently prompting Bonnie to begin.
"The Original family has been alive for the past six hundred years. No one knows exactly where they hail from, although there are rumors that the originated in somewhere further east, before they settled here in Mystic Falls, long before the city was built.
"Mikael, together with Esther, their mother and a very powerful witch, lived peacefully before a plague took the life of their eldest son. Unable to stay in a place that held so much grief and sorrow for them, they moved here, where the land was good and relatively unsettled. The couple began anew, and had six more children."
"Six?" Caroline interrupted, confused. She was sure she had only counted five siblings.
"Yes. Elijah, Finn, Niklaus, Kol, Rebekah, and Henrik, the youngest." Bonnie smiled sadly. "Henrik was loved dearly by his entire family, and his death was the catalyst for the creation of the vampire race."
"How did he die?" Caroline asked quietly. She was shocked at this news. Klaus had never mentioned another brother. Not that she had ever asked him, but still, she thought it odd that she had never heard of him before.
"Werewolves," Bonnie answered. "There was a neighboring pack that lived near their village, and during the full moon the villagers would hide in caves while the wolves roamed the forest freely. But one night, Henrik and Niklaus stole away to see the men transform into beasts….and Henrik was mauled to death." She finished quietly.
"How awful," Caroline whispered, feeling a deep sadness overtake her. She couldn't even imagine losing a younger sibling—not that she had ever had any—but the thought of Stefan dying was enough for her to empathize with Klaus and his siblings.
"Yes. Needless to say, it took a huge toll on the family. And so, Esther and Mikael, having lost two sons to the hand of Death, searched and searched for a way to keep their family safe, to make sure that the rest of their children would never suffer such a fate. Finally, Esther concocted a spell to make her children immortal. They would be much stronger than the werewolves, with every sense and ability and emotion enhanced. But the price of such power was high, and the consequences of such an imbalance of nature were…devastating. The sun and the earth, in the form of the vervain flower, would cause them pain, and food and drink did not satisfy their overwhelming hunger."
"Blood," Caroline whispered.
"Yes. To sustain the life of few, many would be sacrificed. And it goes on to this day." Bonnie sighed heavily. "My ancestor, Ayanna, was a close friend to Esther. She opposed the spell and everything it stood for, and had warned Esther countless times against it. But Esther and Mikael would not listen."
"But what changed? Clearly something else happened, or Mikael would not have been so devoted to the destruction of his children." Caroline queried, becoming more intrigued by the second.
"Oh, yes. One other detail that had been a source of consternation in the family. I'm referring of course to the fact that Klaus is not Mikael's true son, and was actually the product of an affair between Esther and one of the werewolf chieftains—hence, his existence as a hybrid and why Mikael was always particularly hell-bent on ending Klaus for all of these centuries."
"So it's true," Caroline breathed, the pieces falling to place. "I mean, I always wondered why he was different, but I thought that he had found some powerful spell or potion that gave him wolf-like powers. So he's truly a werewolf then?"
"Yes, he is both vampire and werewolf. Besides being incredibly powerful and strong, his one particular advantage is that he can control his transformations. He is not a slave to the moon like the others—he may change when he wishes." Bonnie explained.
"Have you ever seen him—as a wolf?" Caroline asked. She couldn't exactly wrap her head around the idea. Klaus was frightening enough as a vampire as it was.
Bonnie chuckled. "No. There aren't many occasions that call for it, and when he does he is very discreet about it, sneaking out in the middle of the night and returning in the morning, covered in dirt and who knows what else."
Caroline ruminated for a moment, mulling over the story. Something in her thoughts didn't make sense. "I understand that Mikael hated Klaus for his parentage, but why the other siblings?"
"Ah. I was wondering when you'd bring that up." Bonnie said. "As it turned out, Esther did not account for the murderous nature of her newest creations, in particular Klaus, whose existence as a hybrid manifested itself as soon as he made his first kill as a vampire. The spirits of nature would not stand for such a gross imbalance of power, and so Esther tried to fix her mistake. She attempted to curse Klaus and bind his werewolf side, but he was too strong for her...his anger at her rejection was too much and…he killed her."
Caroline gawked at her. Klaus had killed the woman who bore him and raised him. Unbidden, thoughts of her own mother's death sprang to her mind. Elizabeth had been an unfailingly kind soul. She had been a hard worker as an accomplished seamstress, but always made time, however little, to be with Caroline and shower her with love. A lump formed in her throat. She missed her mother dearly, and though they had had their arguments, they always forgave each other, loved each other. And the thought that a mother would seek to kill her own children, no matter their state of being, was enough to both disgust and sadden her.
Yes, Klaus and his siblings had committed many crimes, but with such a mother and father…surely that lessened the blame somewhat for the way they chose to live out their emotionless existence.
Doesn't it?
Thoughts swirling, she forced herself back to the present. "He killed Esther?" Caroline prompted.
"He did. But not before she was able to turn Mikael into a vampire as well, tasking him with fixing their mistake and ridding the world of the night-walkers that fed on the blood of the innocent. And he pursued them until his dying day in the siege of Mystic Falls, when Klaus himself brought him down with the only weapon that can kill an Original vampire."
"A white oak stake. I remember that day—everyone was celebrating in the streets and praising the king's name." That day seemed so long ago, although it had only been a short time. Life was simpler back then—back before she lived in blissful ignorance of the Originals, before her life had taken this sharp turn into unchartered waters.
"It was a victory indeed, for Klaus especially. Killing an Original vampire is hard enough, but with the added hatred between step-father and son…To this day I still wonder how Klaus managed it."
"But a white oak stake has magical powers, does it not?" Caroline asked, curious.
Bonnie shook her head. "Not strictly, no, but I am told that they do not easily miss their mark. White oak stakes are extremely rare—though rumor has it that Klaus has more of them tucked away if need ever arises. Hopefully, the time of war is over, and Mystic Falls can finally be at peace again." She sat, brow furrowed, deep in thought. Suddenly, she looked up, eyeing Caroline intently. "Now, enough talk of things long past. I believe you asked after Klaus and his whereabouts."
Caroline nodded.
Bonnie smiled. "Do not worry. He will show himself in time. He's most likely brooding over his actions towards you, if I am not mistaken." She tilted her head slightly, green eyes twinkling. "But I think our time would be bettered served by asking you about your feelings towards Klaus."
Caroline smiled slightly, fidgeting with her hands in her lap. "Well…if you wouldn't mind—I mean, you know him better than anyone, aside from his family, of course—"
"Of course I don't mind!" Bonnie exclaimed, grabbing her hand. "I'm here to help you, Caroline. Don't even feel ashamed of asking for my advice or help, or anything at all." She squeezed her hand affectionately. "Besides, I'm a very patient listener. Now, tell me about Klaus."
Caroline felt a rush of gratitude for Bonnie. The green-eyed witch had such a kind and honest manner, and it was wonderful to have someone to confide in, someone who wouldn't mock her or her choices.
"He's so…complicated," Caroline admitted, crossing her arms. "I know that he has done so many horrible things, and slaughtered thousands, not to mention he is stubborn and temperamental, but…there is more to him than that. He seems so, so human sometimes when he is with me, and I cannot understand it. What does he want from me?" she said, throwing her hands out in frustration, speaking more to herself than Bonnie.
Bonnie laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I think that Klaus wants what any other man wants from the woman he loves."
She started. Love? He doesn't love me. The idea was absurd—but her memories scratched at her brain, inundating her mind with flashes of Klaus smiling at her, holding her hand, protecting her from Kol's attack…kissing her cheek. Surely that couldn't mean…
Her heart swelled inexplicably at the thought, those pesky feelings of attraction brimming at the surface.
But she covered her thoughts with a scoff. "So that's it? He desires me simply for my body?" she bit out, the sarcastic carelessness of her tone belying her apprehension of Bonnie's answer.
"No." Bonnie answered calmly. "He wants your heart—your love, freely given." She leaned forward. "And when Klaus wants something, he will stop at nothing until he possesses it."
Caroline gaped at her, clearing her throat nervously and desperately attempting to squash the excited hammering of her heart. "And what if I cannot give that to him? If I do not reciprocate his affections?" she whispered.
Bonnie smiled knowingly. "I think we both know that you have already begun to care for him, Caroline." She stood up, walking towards the door. Once her hand was on the knob, she looked back over her shoulder. "A seed that is tended to with care will flourish greatly. All it needs is a little time."
"You summoned me, you grace?"
Caroline kept her eyes on the floor as she curtsied to the Original hybrid, still unsure of how to act around him.
After three days of letting her anger at him simmer down somewhat, and with her illuminating conversation with Bonnie, she couldn't deny the sense of loneliness she felt without him. She had sat in the room after Bonnie left, endeavoring to make out her feelings. Whether she liked it or not, he had managed to snake his way into her soul, the fire of attraction only blazing higher the longer she was exposed to him. She knew that his very self had been twisted and burnt by his ordeal with his parents and the lust for power that he had nursed for centuries, but try as she might, she could still see the flashes of humanity and goodness that still lingered somewhere deep in the recesses of his being.
He had summoned her to his presence a few hours after she had finished her lesson with Bonnie, and she had spent the better part of a half an hour wondering what on earth she would say to him.
Much as she disliked the idea, she knew that they had to clear the air between them if they were to ever move forward.
And, being Caroline Forbes, she decided to bring it up first. Let it not be said that Caroline Forbes cannot swallow her own pride.
When she would bring it up still remained to be seen.
"I did indeed. Come, I have something to show you." He spoke calmly, but Caroline could decipher the rigidity of his shoulders and was not fooled for an instant. He was still upset with her.
Still, she remained silent, opting to follow him instead and wait until they had reached their destination to broach the subject.
They walked through the castle and out the back entrance, crossing the grounds until they entered the woods, threading their way through the foliage, treading the narrow weather-beaten path in a tense silence.
After a time, Klaus halted, and took her hands in his. "Close your eyes."
She obeyed, reluctantly, her apprehension increasing with each small step forward, Klaus's firm grip steadying her so she wouldn't fall.
All at once, he stopped her. "Wait here," he said, releasing her hands. She could faintly discern the clink of metal, and the scrape of a metal lock being opened.
"May I open my eyes now?" she asked.
"Yes."
Her eyes shot open at his unexpected close proximity beside her, but the sight in front of her quickly drive away any words of rebuke.
A stone wall stood in front of them, its wooden gate swung inward to reveal the most beautiful garden Caroline had ever seen. Two apple trees laden with the delicious red fruit stood like sentries on either side of the entrance. A babbling stream made its way through a culvert at the base of the wall, winding through the grass until it reached a crystalline pond, the water reflecting the light of the afternoon sun. An ancient willow tree grew in the center of the garden. Its roots stretched partly into the pond, its leaves almost completely concealing its trunk from view, but a sharp eye could detect the wrought-iron bench leaning against the trunk. And scattered all around were rosebushes, not pruned to perfection, but wild and untamed, as nature intended. It was a place of rustic beauty.
She walked in a daze, certain that she had stumbled into some vision of paradise.
"What is this place?" she whispered, awestruck.
"It's yours." She turned her head in surprise, but he faced forward, gaze fixed on the willow tree. "When I was wed to Tatia I had it built for her pleasure and amusement—somewhere away from the bustle of the palace, where she could be alone with her thoughts." He paused, turning to face her. "You may come and go as you wish, for it belongs to you now."
"Thank you," she breathed. Without thinking, she wandered off, almost completely oblivious to Klaus's presence, as she took in the fragrant scent of the sun-soaked plants, her face positively beaming.
Klaus, for his part, watched her with growing complacency, the weight of anger and guilt that he had carried around with him since that night lessening. He had buried himself in his duties, distancing himself from Caroline and her words that she had spat at him.
Monster.
The word his father had constantly flung at him ever since he was young, and like a barbed arrow, its poison had spread through his veins until he had not the strength or will left to question its truth.
He had thought he was numb to it, after all these years.
But hearing it fall from Caroline's lips—he could not remember the last time he had felt such rejection, such pain.
Was he truly a monster? Certainly, his countless misdeeds would affirm the notion, not to mention his status as a hybrid—two merciless, inhuman species forged into one, nigh-unstoppable being.
But lately, he had felt that infinitesimal connection to his humanity pulling at his conscience, forcing him to reconsider things he had not thought twice about before the blonde witch had discovered him that first day at the stream.
He wondered if she truly meant it.
"Klaus?"
Her mellow voice jostled him from his thoughts. "Yes, Caroline?"
She glanced about nervously before looking in his eyes with a determined air. "I wish to speak with you about the other night."
He stared at her, only slightly surprised, and nodded his assent, wary of what she would say next.
"I want you to know that I am still angry with you—"
He snorted. "Of course you are," he muttered before he could stop himself.
"And I have every right to be!" Her formerly neutral tone grew harsh as she glared at him. "You took an innocent girl's life simply because you were infuriated with me and with what I said to you! Why do you always have to prove that you are the most powerful?"
"I don't have to prove anything, love—I am the most powerful!" he retorted, refusing to back down. "You do realize that you are living under a roof of vampires? We must kill to survive, Caroline!"
"Of course I realize that!" she fumed, crossing her arms defiantly and stepping closer to him. She sucked in a breath, trying to calm her emotions. "I'm not asking for you to starve," she stated in a low voice. "I am merely pointing out that you can survive off of human blood without killing every time you feed."
To her utter astonishment, he laughed. "And you think that I do not know this?" he taunted, eyebrows raised. "Believe me, love, I wholeheartedly agree with your observation." He thrust his face close to hers, blue eyes chips of ice. "But I wouldn't expect you to understand the heady rush of power—of holding another's fate in one's hands, with the power to preserve life or take it away, all of your own choosing."
Her expression changed then, a sort of pitying sadness overtaking her lovely features. "No, I do not know that power," she answered quietly. "And I hope I never will."
He stood still, quite taken aback at her response.
She pitied him.
The small kernel of guilt rooted in him sprang up tightly around him, winding around him until he was in its chokehold.
"Spare me you compassion," he hissed, avoiding her gaze, the words a complete contradiction to his real thoughts. "I have no need for it."
He felt her hand on his shoulder, but he remained facing away from her. He couldn't bear to see that look again, searing into his soul—
"Maybe not," she said. "But you do have need of something else." She sighed. "My apology."
He tensed, uncertain, but his intense curiosity caused him to nod, his mouth set in a grim line.
She plucked up her courage. "I was—am—still upset about that poor girl, and I haven't forgiven you-yet. But I realize that I said some harsh words to you as well. It was badly done, and for that I am sorry."
He had slowly revolved back around to face her while she was speaking, and only then did Caroline realize how close they were. Unconsciously, her eyes darted down to his lips. It would be so easy to lean in and—
"I accept your apology, Caroline." His breath tickled her skin. "As for myself…I believe I might have over-reacted."
"Might have?" she repeated, but Klaus could see her wry grin. He could feel the tension between them dissipating.
"My behavior was perhaps a bit too dramatic," he elaborated, his tone light, but his glance meaningful. He had never outwardly apologized to anyone in his long life, and it would take time for him to do so; but, as usual, Caroline made him want to try.
Understanding that this was as close to a sincere, spoken apology that she would receive, Caroline sighed, but still her smile continued to grow. She felt immensely relieved that they had come to some sort of truce, at least for now. The past three days spent agonizing over the incident had been draining, and her mind felt peaceful once more.
She took a step backward, unsure as to her next move.
Luckily, Klaus seemed to catch on to her hesitance. "How have you been getting on with Rebekah? No missing body parts, I presume?"
She rolled her eyes at him. "Not yet. A flair for the dramatic seems to be a family trait, but we have learned to tolerate each other just enough to plan a wedding."
"Well Rebekah never was good at working well with others."
"Another family trait, I think."
He placed a hand over his heart, feigning hurt. "Such accusations, sweetheart. I am an excellent collaborator. I'm beginning to think you don't know me at all."
Caroline's eyes snapped up. "I don't," she said honestly.
Klaus paused, considering. Then, he held his hand out to her. "Then talk to me, Caroline. Get to know me."
She raised an eyebrow, questioningly, not sure if he was joking or not.
In return, he smirked at her, leaning forward into her space. "I dare you."
She rose to the bait. "Fine."
Accepting his proffered hand, she followed him over to the bench underneath the curtain of weeping willow branches, trying to ignore the effect his mere presence was having on her. She remembered all of what Bonnie had told her about his past. For some reason, she felt the slightest bit guilty that she knew so much about him and he knew so little of her own life.
He was such an enigma, and she found that she very much wanted him to open up to her on his own.
"So, how exactly old are you?" she began as soon as they were seated—a little too close for her comfort, to be honest. She had never before known how distracting a man could be.
"Ah, ah, ah. Ladies first," he said, grinning.
She shot him an unamused glare, but relented, shaking her head. "Alright then; what do you want to talk about?"
"I want to talk about you." The words came out in complete sincerity, those unfathomable eyes boring into hers. "Your hopes, your dreams…everything you want in life."
The question, so simple yet so complex, disoriented her. No one had really ever asked her that question, except Stefan, perhaps.
Her brow creased as she pondered how to answer. On the one hand, she did truly want to confide in him; on the other, however, some dreams were entirely too personal for her to share, and especially to someone who had had endless experience of the real world.
"I want to travel," she spoke up suddenly. "All my life, I have lived in Mystic Falls, and never once have I set foot outside its gates. I love this city; it's my home, after all, but I can't help but imagine what it must be like out there. Different cities with different people and traditions and great monuments and sights—it must be wonderfully exciting."
She stopped just as suddenly as she had started, realizing that she had rambled, and mentally smacked herself. She must sound so naïve-
"I'll take you. Wherever you want to go."
She looked over and found him regarding her with an earnest, determined gaze.
Ignoring her shocked expression, he continued on, shifting ever closer to her on the bench. "We can begin in Rome, spending one day for each of its seven hills, and then onto Paris." His eyes twinkled knowingly at her. "Oh, yes, there are a great many things I could show you in the city of love."
A burst of heat spread through her like wildfire at that. For a split-second, she imagined how his skin would feel against hers, with absolutely nothing in between their bodies…
She quickly squashed that line of thought and tossed her curls over her shoulder, letting out a light, teasing scoff. "As I have proven before, I am entirely too smart to be seduced by you and your charming words."
But her heart fluttered at the look of utter satisfaction on his face. "That's why I like you, Caroline."
She held his gaze, feeling for the very first time that she was on the edge of some precipice, ready to fall.
And she feared that the white-hot flames raging at the bottom—as blue as the eyes of the hybrid before her—had already begun to consume her.
First: This fic was nominated for Best Debut Fiction for the Klaroline Awards! DO YOU HEAR MY SOBS OF JOY? I literally have no words because I never would have thought that would ever happen to me! So thank you so so SO much to all of you for reading and supporting this story, and a special thanks to those of you who nominated me! It's such an honor :) And on that note, if you haven't voted yet, go vote for all your favorites in the Klaroline Awards if you haven't already! There are so many talented people in this fandom, so get out there and show them some love!
Second: So I'm kind of sort of possibly MAYBE thinking of changing the rating from T to M. I'm still on the fence about whether or not I want to write sexy times into this fic, but I am open to the idea. SO if you want the smut, speak now or forever hold your piece!
Third: As usual, please leave a review and share your thoughts! I love hearing from you all, and lots of times it helps me think about how best to go about with the story, so your input really does help me out with characterization, etc.! And I know this was sort of a filler chapter, but don't worry, the wedding is coming up fast and things will start to pick up very soon!