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Chapter 4: Be My Soul Mate

"Soul mates? Seriously?"

Caroline spoke with disbelieve and detest in her voice. How could that be a solution?

"That's the only other way." The witch Gabriella said with certainty.

"Kol either needs to take the soul completely which will result in the girl's death or share it with her in which case they will become soul mates. Think of it like being roommates." Gabriella went through a lot of trouble to find this solution to keep the girl alive and let Kol live as well. Caroline however sighed out in frustration. Forgive her for not liking the fact that her twelve years old cousin would have an original vampire as her soul mate.

"You said something about consequences." Stefan asked the witch.

"Yes, once they start sharing soul, Kol must keep the girl alive because if she dies then he would die too. There will be a strong connection between them. It's quite possible that afterwards the bond is created neither Kol, nor the girl would be able to stay away from each other. There could be other consequences as well but at the moment, I'm unaware of them." Gabriella's explanation made Caroline more resentful towards this idea.

"This is just getting better and better." Caroline said bitter sarcastically while glaring angrily at Kol. Kol glared back at her right away.

"For your kind information, I'm not exactly thrilled about having a soul mate either." He said to Caroline then he looked at Gabriella.

"But if a soul mate is what I need to stay alive and avoid killing the little girl, then so be it. I am in."

"Very well" said Gabriella. "I must start preparing for the ritual then."

"Hold on. I have a few conditions here." Caroline said making everyone in the room look at her.

"What makes you think I'm eager to hear them out?" Kol asked arrogantly.

"Well this is my cousin, we're talking about here. Since she's not old enough, I have the right to have a say in it." Caroline said while crossing her arms over her chest to look strong and determined. Shanyra was still with Rebekah in another room, so she had no idea what was happening. And that others' were making decisions of her life. But even if she knew, being a twelve years told her opinion wouldn't have mattered much. Specially to Kol.

"Kol, at least hear her out. She is the girl's cousin. Her family. Caroline would want the best for her. And the girl's well being should be important to you as well." Klaus said in support of Caroline. Kol thought about it for a moment then said-

"Fine. What are your conditions?" He asked with disdain.

"First, Shanyra is going to live in Mystic Falls so I can visit her whenever I want. She is not going to grow up in your company alone. You'd be nothing but a bad influence on her." Caroline didn't care about offending Kol. Her accepting this idea of soul mates was enough. She didn't need to be nice to the original as well. Why it had to be Kol and not a vampire like Stefan? Caroline thought to herself in despair.

"I don't think so darling." Was Kol's reply to Caroline's first condition.

"Mystic Falls isn't exactly the safest place in this world. It's actually a beacon for danger." Thankfully Kol merely objected, moreover for a good reason and didn't retaliate for the insult.

"If my cousin stays with you, she wouldn't be safe anywhere in this world. At least here, she'd have me." Caroline argued back. She as well had a valid reason for her demand.

"Besides, I don't think you are an expert when it comes to taking care of little girls, are you Kol?" Stefan said to support Caroline against Kol. The original glared at both of them.

"What's your next condition?" Kol asked after a moment. Though he didn't say out loud that he has agreed to the first condition but his silence was agreement enough.

"She'd continue her studies here." Caroline said and Kol agreed to it rather quickly. He wasn't going to deprive the girl from education himself.

"And?" Kol asked sounding patient though inwardly he wasn't.

"Since Shanyra is going to live in Mystic Falls, my mom or me is going to be her legal guardian here, not you. And you'll allow her to meet her parents or talk to them whenever she wants. She's not going to be your prisoner in anyway." That wasn't all. Caroline added more to the condition list.

"Also you're going to let her live a life and not control her every move just because your life will depend on her. And you must never mistreat her or hurt her in anyway." Caroline said very seriously but Kol rolled his eyes at her, however agreed nonetheless.

"Anything else Barbie?" Kol asked sarcastically.

"Yes, don't dare call me that." Caroline snapped at the original and glared at him hatefully.

"Gabriella, start the preparations please." Kol ordered Gabriella ignoring Caroline's hostile gaze on him.

"Aren't you going to tell the girl about this?" Gabriella asked. Not that it was absolutely necessary but she should know.

"Caroline, I think you should tell her." Stefan agreed with the witch.

"Tell me what?" Spoke up the very person they were talking about.

Rebekah and Shanyra entered the room. Rebekah heard parts of the conversation whenever she focused. Most of the time, she was talking to Shanyra and paying attention to her. The girl was quite interesting to say the least. Rebekah already told her many things about the originals and vampires and other supernatural beings. She also explained to Shanyra why Kol was saying that she has his soul and why he wants it back? Rebekah had a great laugh when Shanyra expressed her feelings about having a second hand soul.

The more Shanyra got comfortable with Rebekah, the more she behaved normally and not with fear and hesitation. Shanyra on the other hand was surprised at herself that her head didn't explode with all the information she received at such a short span of time. It seemed true that young minds could take in a lot.

"If you don't want to, I can explain it to Shae what's going on." Rebekah offered.

"Shae?" It was Kol who asked that.

"That's what her friends call her. Her nickname." Rebekah replied with a shrug off her shoulders. Caroline however rolled her eyes to herself. Rebekah being friends with someone was impossible, let alone with a twelve years old.

"Oh that's nice of you but she's my cousin Rebekah. I'll talk to her." Caroline said at once, not hesitating to show her disliking towards Rebekah. She then looked at Stefan who nodded his head to her. Caroline bit her bottom lip and looked at her cousin. Shanyra was looking back at her with wondering gaze and her eyes were full of questions. Caroline walked closer to her.

Her young cousin was still finding it hard to believe that Caroline was really a vampire. She looked so normal. So human. Well the originals looked human too obviously. But their personalities could make anyone nervous whereas Caroline had a warm and friendly aura.

"Shanyra, there's something I need to tell you." Caroline spoke with hesitation and sounded anxious as well; making the little girl more worried in the process. Caroline just didn't know how to properly explain everything to her.

"No one's going to hurt you here. I promise. But-" Caroline then told Shanyra about the change of plans. That the only way Kol wouldn't kill her was that she shares her soul with him. Caroline also explained to her, how her life would become after the bond is created. Also she might have made it all sound like a very bad thing. After the explanation Caroline stared at her cousin, waiting for a response from her. But Shanyra remained quiet. Caroline feared that she was in too much shock to say anything. Others thought the same too. Kol was intently looking at the girl while waiting for her reaction to what she just learned.

"Shanyra please say something." Caroline asked with worry in her voice.

"Say what?" Shanyra asked in her English accent with a shrug off her shoulders.

"What do you think about all these?" Caroline asked making her cousin raise her eyebrows at her.

"Does it really matter?" Shanyra asked. And no she wasn't being sarcastic about it.

"Of course it does." Caroline said assuredly but Shanyra shook her head.

"No, it doesn't." She stated the obvious.

"She's right. It doesn't." Kol quipped in making Caroline throw a glare at him.

"Come on, you can tell me." Caroline tried to persuade her.

"There's nothing to tell." Shanyra said truthfully but her cousin didn't believe that.

"Shanyra please." Caroline insisted. This time her insistence annoyed Shanyra.

"I didn't know you are a nag just like my mom Caroline. Must be a genetic thing." Shanyra said the last part to herself but loud enough for others to hear.

Given the circumstances, Shanyra was awfully calm. No one expected her to take everything so well. And if they weren't wrong, she actually seemed happy about becoming Kol's soul mate. Obviously no one knew why she was happy about it really, therefore it seemed odd. It was just that, Shanyra wouldn't have to go back home. That fact alone was enough to make her happy. In fact due to that reason, becoming Kol's soul mate would be the best thing that ever happened to her. Why it was like that? Well that was a tale for another time.

"I'm just trying to help you." Caroline tried again. She just wanted her cousin to open up to her.

"But I'm not in any trouble. Not anymore." Shanyra didn't just say it. She actually meant it. Which shocked Caroline to no limits.

"What?" She exclaimed with disbelieve. Caroline couldn't believe her own ears. How could Shanyra think that she wasn't in any trouble? She'd become Kol's soul mate within next hour for crying out loud.

"Why are you acting as if the world is coming to an end?" Shanyra asked her cousin with a frown of genuine confusion.

"So what, I'm going to share my soul with a vampire? Is that a bad thing?" She wondered and truly didn't understand the objection here. Caroline on the other hand gaped at her cousin with open mouth and wide eyes. The original siblings on the other hand couldn't help but smirk to themselves. They really didn't expect the little girl to be so understanding and cooperative. Specially Kol.

"Of course, it's a bad thing." Caroline blurted out in her frustration. She just couldn't handle that Shanyra was taking this problem so lightly. Actually she wasn't even considering this as a problem which was more troubling. But then Caroline thought to herself that it wasn't really Shanyra's fault that she wasn't understanding the danger here. She didn't know what kind of monsters the originals are. What they did and what they are capable of doing?

"Kol is not a good vampire Shanyra. He is dangerous. He wanted to kill you just a while ago, remember." Caroline tried to make her cousin understand; feeling that she should know exactly what she was getting into. Kol wanted to defend himself against Caroline's accusation but remained quiet to hear what the girl has to say about it.

"Exactly. He wanted to kill me because he didn't have any other choice but as soon as he found one, he doesn't want to kill me anymore. Makes him a good vampire in my book." Wait did Shanyra just defended Kol? The vampire who abducted her from home and wanted to kill her. The girl has some serious issues. Caroline noted to herself.

Shanyra scowled at Caroline as she gave her a disapproving look. Shanyra realized that she was being badly judged by her older cousin for her logical opinion.

"Don't give me that look Caroline." She said sounding a little pissed off.

"Yes, I'm fine with this soul mate thing. Even if I wasn't, I'd have to go along with it anyway since I don't exactly have any choice here. But I heard, you are in love with Kol's brother who has done far more horrible things. How come that's alright and I'm getting a look from you for accepting something I've no control over." Shanyra really wasn't understanding Caroline's point of view here but hoped that her rant knocked some sense into her cousin.

"Well said kid." Kol couldn't help but compliment. He was smirking; feeling much satisfied. Perhaps having her as a soul mate wouldn't be a bad thing after all. Even Klaus and Rebekah found her amusing. Stefan however was shocked. He didn't expect a twelve years old to be so mature. He couldn't help but wonder how was Shanyra's life? What influenced her personality?

Shanyra glanced at Kol as he praised her lecture. There was no expression on her face unlike Caroline who was glaring at him. Shanyra only heard the compliment but didn't exactly accept it since she wasn't really trying to impress the original. She was merely stating facts. The Forbes cousins looked back at each other. Caroline narrowed her eyes at Shanyra. She was on the verge of exploding.

"Who told you that about me?" Caroline asked sounding royally pissed off.

"Rebekah did." Shanyra answered at once. It made Caroline glare at Rebekah who flashed a devilish smirk at her. In the process proving herself guilty.

"Listen to me Shanyra. Whatever she told you, they are all lies. Don't believe her. Rebekah is not a friend. Do you understand me?" Rebekah was about to say something for what Caroline just said but Klaus interrupted her.

"Enough of this." He said out loud. Klaus was done watching the drama.

"Caroline, your cousin is willing to cooperate here. Don't try to complicate the situation unnecessarily by changing her mind." Klaus said and Kol thanked him in his mind for that.

Caroline glared at Klaus but decided to listen to him. After all he was right. Making Shanyra understand how evil the originals were, wasn't going to help her in anyway. Specially when it was impossible to rescue her from Kol. Right then Gabriella came back.

"I am ready." She announced. Shanyra sighed out quietly hearing that. She started getting tensed up again. She maybe okay with this arrangement but living with blood thirsty vampires was a lot to come in terms with. Everyone was led to another room. Gabriella had the room decorated with candles and other witchy stuffs.

"Shanyra, are you really okay with this?" Stefan asked even though knowing, Shanyra wouldn't be able to back out even if she wanted to.

"You have any other bright ideas to keep me alive?" Shanyra asked instead of giving an answer. Stefan helplessly shook his head. Feeling ashamed that he couldn't help a little girl. Shanyra noticed that and felt bad for him.

"I'm really okay with this. You don't have to worry." Stefan nodded his head and gave her a small smile but didn't stop feeling guilty.

"By the way, are you Caroline's friend or boyfriend? Or friend with benefits?" Shanyra asked curiously. Was it her effort to lighten Stefan's mood? Perhaps.

"Shanyra!" Caroline exclaimed at her cousin. Even Stefan blushed a little. Feeling embarrassed. Well better than feeling guilty.

"We are just friends." Stefan confirmed and wondered how a girl of her age knows about friends with benefits. Kids these days!

"Hmm. Probably because you don't have an accent." Shanyra said to him rather thoughtfully. Then gave Stefan a sympathetic look which earned her a glare from Caroline.

"I really like her." Rebekah said to Klaus who himself was smirking at the girl. Kol was no different. He was aware of Shanyra's blunt mouth but she still kept amusing him.

"Shanyra, I'll strangle you if you don't stop embarrassing me with that accent thing." Caroline threatened her cousin. Finally having enough of her remarks.

"What? I was just letting Stefan know the reason why you are not into him." Shanyra gestured to zip up her lips after saying that as Caroline narrowed eyes at her dangerously.

Shanyra reminded Caroline of her own childhood. She was very much like her but not completely. Sighing out heavily, Caroline wrapped an arm around Shanyra's shoulders and pulled her closer. The younger girl appreciated the affectionate gesture and embraced Caroline. For the first time they both felt related to each other. Felt like family.

"Everyone else but Kol and the girl must leave the room." Gabriella said to them.

Caroline didn't want to leave Shanyra but she had no choice. Others walked out of the room as well and Klaus closed the door behind. Only Kol, Shanyra and the witch remained inside the room. After that Gabriella finally began the ritual.

"Step inside the circle and join your hands." Gabriella instructed.

Kol stretched his hand towards Shanyra and waited for her to take it. She inhaled a deep breath first then finally held Kol's hand. Shanyra looked at Kol in the eye. He gave her an assuring look that he wouldn't let anything bad happen to her. Once this trust was built between them, they entered the circle together. To be bound to each other for eternity.