Caroline felt excited as she packed her suitcase, feeling a little guilty. This wasn't supposed to be fun or exciting. But Caroline had had a hard time calming down ever since they had ordered her plane ticket to New Orleans three days earlier. Caroline had been ready to take off right after her fight with Tyler but they had to come up with a plan first.

Elena and Damon would spend the time, while she was away, finding a way to work out the witchy-witchy stuff as Damon called it. Caroline had no idea if her plan would work or if it was even possible but she had seen weirder.

Heck, Bonnie had brought Jeremy back to life twice. Although it in the end had cost her, her life. But this wasn't about bringing anyone back to life. This was about finding a little help in the afterlife.

The hard part of the plan was doing all these things without Silas finding out what they were up to. They had discussed Caroline's departure and how Silas would react many times, still not knowing what would happen.

Silas had taken a creepy interest in Caroline and he would quickly notice her being gone. Hopefully she would be back with the help before he'd think twice about it.

Caroline didn't how long she was going to be away but had packed clothes for a week. As she struggled with closing her suitcase, she admitted to herself that there possible was clothes for more than a week but she hadn't been able to choose what to take with her and what to leave behind.

She looked at herself in the mirror one last time and smiled. To hell with all, this was an adventure. She pulled up the handle of the suitcase and dragged in after her on its wheels out of her house. Caroline locked the door behind her and threw her suitcase in the back of her car.

She was about to open the door to the driver's seat, when she sensed someone behind her and stopped.

"Tyler." she whispered without turning around. She could recognize his scent just like she had learned to do with her friends and family and that way she had learned to identify Silas so she wouldn't reveal anything that she shouldn't, like where she was going in her car.

As she turned around, Tyler walked slowly towards her with an apologetic look on his face. Caroline didn't move, patiently waiting for him to come closer. He smiled at her, throwing his hands in the air to show her he wasn't there to fight.

"So you're going to New Orleans alone?" he asked cautiously, making Caroline sigh. She was in no mood to hear his warnings or accusations and answered with a nod. She sent him a look that told him to get to the point or get lost.

"I'm sorry, Care. I was just angry and hurt. Is there any way we can get this to work?" Tyler said with a careful smile and a tilted head. She didn't fall for his attempt to be charming and just shook her head, making her blond curls move.

"I'm sorry too, Tyler. But this is over. You don't trust me anymore and nothing I say seems to change that. I love you, Tyler, but I can't do this anymore." Caroline said slowly, hoping to imprint the words in his mind.

"I know. Just… Be careful, okay? You're toying with Silas and he isn't afraid to let you die like Klaus is. And if you see her, say hi to Hayley for me, will you?" he said with a worried voice. He knew he was stretching it with the Hayley thing but Caroline felt she owed him.

"If she really is with Klaus, then sure… I'll say you said hi. And you stay away from Silas, okay? He might appear as me to you but you can't reveal anything." Caroline warned with a serious voice.

She walked over to him and put her arms around his neck, hugging him one last time. His arms were around her back, squeezing her a bit too hard but she didn't say anything. Then she let go and stepped back, sending him a smile before giving his cheek a peck.

"Goodbye, Ty."

"Goodbye, Care."

And then he was gone.

Before driving to the airport, Caroline drove by the boarding house to say goodbye to Elena and, just because he was there, Damon. She hugged them both goodbye and promised Elena to check up on Matt, when and if Caroline saw Rebekah.

Matt had disappeared over the summer to travel with Rebekah and even though Caroline didn't like the original bitch at all, she was glad for Matt. He had been so lonely ever since practically all of his friends either died or turned into some supernatural creature.

The plan had been to return to work at the grill at the end of the summer but they had urged him to go to college far away from Mystic Falls in hopes of keeping him away from Silas. They had used some not so nice tricks to get him to go before his realised everyone was in danger and it had made him pretty mad at them, causing them to lose almost all contact with him. Only Jeremy and seemingly Rebekah knew what he was doing and how he was but that was okay as long as he was safe.

Before going, Damon handed her a bag with a shoulder strap. Not knowing what to do with the incredibly ugly bag, she placed it on her shoulder, planning to leave in her car before she went to New Orleans.

"Wow… Thank you, Damon. This is… well…" Caroline couldn't find the right word and instead just stopped talking. Damon was smirking, which Caroline realise it wasn't just a purse, it was a cooler. She opened the bag and saw two full blood bags of B-Positive inside, making her smile of her own silliness.

"Thank you. But I can't take this with me on the plane. It will never get through security." Caroline explained as she tried to hand the purse back to him.

"Caroline, you're a vampire! I'm sure you'll figure something out on your way to the airport." he said with a smile that made his grey eyes light up. She rolled her eyes and gave Elena another hug before going back to her car.

Before getting in to her car, Caroline made a turn around herself, searching every corner nearby for Silas. He had surprised her to many times by showing up on the backseat of her car like in a proper scary movie, one time causing her almost to drive off Wickery bridge.

With nothing to see, Caroline jumped into her car and drove off, waving back at Damon and Elena. After a couple of hours in car, she made it to the airport. When Caroline entered the airport, there was an hour to take-off but using compulsion, it only took her fifteen minutes to both check in her bag and get through security.

When the security guard was about to open the bag Damon gave her, she simply told him that nothing was in there and he politely gave her back the purse.

When Caroline finally landed in New Orleans, everything inside her was vibrating with excitement and she suddenly felt thirsty. Before leaving the airport, she went into the bathroom and once inside a stall, she pulled out one of the blood bags and started sucking. As hard as it was, Caroline restrained herself and only emptied a quarter of the bag.

She wasn't counting on the Mikaelsons to have any blood bags and therefore she had to economize with the ones she had. Caroline had learned to control her thirst enough to make her able to drink straight from the vein but she wasn't keen on doing it. She knew how it felt to be the unwilling blood bag and it wasn't something she was going to put someone else through if she could help it.

Caroline got her suitcase and left the airport without looking back. She quickly jumped into the cap that pulled up right in front of her and soon was on her way to the French quarters of New Orleans. Damon had told her to go there first to look for Klaus, saying: "If Klaus has a home, it's there."

As the taxi moved slowly through New Orleans, Caroline slowly recalled the message Klaus had recorded on her phone: "Caroline, I'm standing in one of my favourite places in the world surrounded by food, music, art, culture and all I can think about is how much I want to show it to you. Maybe one day you'll let me."

Well, Klaus. I'm here now… Oh God, what he thinks I'm here. "However long it takes"… Sorry, but It's gonna take a little more time than this.

Caroline felt how she got more and more nervous and she took a deep breath before she exited the taxi. As the car drove away, Caroline realised she had no idea where she was or how she was going to find the Mikaelsons.

She took out phone that told her she was right next to Jackson Square with the Mississippi River in her back. She felt conflicted for a second, wanting to see the river but chose to go the opposite direction in search of a hotel. She couldn't just wander around with all of her things.

For all she knew it could take days before she found them, although it shouldn't be too hard finding a family of original vampires. They probably left a long trail of blood and dead bodies behind them wherever they went.

Caroline shook the images out of her head, reminding herself to stay open. She wasn't sure Klaus had the patience to hear more of her judging. Even though he'd already tried to kill her twice, she was surprised she was still alive after all the crap she had given him. She couldn't even take being called a kiddie pool without running amok.

But Tyler had hit her where it hurt. She knew she wasn't had used the word herself but that seemed a lifetime ago. She had changed. She was no longer the insecure control freak like when she was human. She was still a perfectionist and even though she seemed shallow, it wasn't about her anymore.

It was about giving her friends experiences that would stay with them for the rest of their eternal life. That's why things like prom and graduation had to be perfect. That's why she had asked Klaus for a dress, knowing it was wrong to take advantage of his infatuation with her.

Caroline stopped in front of a small hotel on a corner of the street she was on that looked like it had passed its due date along time ago. But there was something about it that Caroline liked. It was charming and didn't seem to be filled with guests. She needed the silence and privacy. She didn't need to live in a five star hotel. This was perfect.

Caroline pushed the entrance door open and entered the small lobby. There was a small wooden desk and behind it sat an old lady, her full attention on the book in front of her. Caroline smiled at the picture of a younger version of the lady sitting behind the same desk decades earlier that hang on the wall behind her.

The lobby was illuminated by a small chandelier hanging from the ceiling that only gave little light. There were windows on both sides of the entrance door but the old shutters were closed, reminding Caroline of a scary movie she once saw. But Caroline wasn't afraid of those kind of things anymore. She was a vampire; people ran from her and not the other way around.

The walls were painted in a strange sand colour and the only furniture beside the wooden desk was a red velour couch that stood against the opposite wall. Above it hang a large painting that portrayed a jazz club in the 20's as far as Caroline could tell.

It reminded her of the decade dance Rebekah had hijacked, turning it from the 70's to the 20's. Caroline had never admitted to anyone how much she had enjoyed wearing her red dress and the feathers in her hair. And then there was the weird dance with Klaus.

"You would have loved the 1920's, Caroline"… I probably would… Dammit!

Caroline had realised during the last few days that all she seemed to do was prove the hybrid right. She had grown tired of Mystic Falls and had become eager to take on the world and see what it had to offer her. That didn't mean it had to be with Klaus though.

The wall opposite the door, with the desk at her left and sofa on her right, was filled with pictures both in colour and black and white and Caroline had the impression that this small lobby once had been noticeable larger and noisier.

Caroline's steps sounded very loud as her heels hit the old wooden floor on her way to the counter. The old lady looked up from her book as Caroline reached the desk and sent her a loving smile.

"Hello, my dear. What can I do for you?" she said with a voice that sounded like it belonged to someone younger.

"Do you have any vacant rooms?" Caroline required politely. The old lady opened a draw in the desk invisible to Caroline and drew out an old accounting book.

"You can choose whichever you want, dear. You're my only guest." The lady said and this time drew out a small box filled with keys from the draw. "Do you want a room facing St. Peter or Royal street? I recommend the room on the third floor facing Royal. It is beautiful in the evening and has the best bed." she continued, already looking for the key in the box.

"Thank you. I'll take it! My name is Caroline." Caroline said and took the key to the room from her new host. The old lady opened the accounting book and scribbled down her name underneath her former guest's. "I'm not quite sure how long I'll stay so is it possible to just put it all on a bill when I leave?" Caroline asked, not sure if the old lady needed the money now, when business was so slow.

"Oh it's fine, dear. I'm used to having guests that stay longer than expected or don't know when they'll leave. It's a magical and mystical city and some stick around for a long time." the old lady said with a knowing smile on her face. For a moment Caroline wondered if she knew what Caroline was but she didn't want to reveal anything by asking.

Caroline smiled at the old lady and then took her bags, ready to ascend the stairs. "Thank you Mrs…" Caroline said, not knowing what the lady's name was.

"You can call me Marie, my dear. Now go unpack your things and then I'll make us some tea." Marie said with a decisive but friendly voice. Caroline couldn't help but smile as she left the lobby, whooshing her way to the third floor as soon Marie couldn't see her.

Caroline stepped into room 3B and put her bags in the old chair next to the door. In the middle of the room by the opposite wall was a king-size bed made out of mahogany and filled with pillows. Next to it stood an old dressing table with a big mirror, matching the bed, and a beautiful wooden chair.

A large closet stood by the wall left of Caroline, right beside the doors to the balcony. The walls were painted the same red you could see during right after the sun had set and everything lit up in a way Caroline in her younger years had thought was magical.

Caroline didn't bother to check the bathroom on her right hand and instead went straight towards the doors to the balcony. The sound of people hit her harder than she expected and she realised how sound isolating her room seemed to be. Caroline stepped onto the balcony that had a beautiful black steel railing with a green creeper entwined in it.

Under her people were passing by, yelling at each other, laughing and talking. It was the late in the afternoon but there lots of people on the streets, selling and buying, eating and laughing, and Caroline felt a wide smile appear on her face.

Then she remembered Marie's promise of tea and even though she didn't feel she had the time, she went down to the lobby and sat down in the red sofa with the old lady.

As Caroline took the cup Marie had served for her, she detected a faint scent of vervain coming from the cup and quickly put the cup back on the small cart in front her that Marie had brought out. Her host didn't even seem to notice Caroline's behaviour as she poured herself a cup and simply smiled when she saw the look on Caroline's face.

"Why is there vervain in my tea?" Caroline demanded to know. If Marie wanted to kill her, this was a very bad way of doing so.

"I was just curious, my dear. Here you can have my cup; there is nothing in it but tea. But I'm very impressed that you could smell it. Only some of the oldest vampires I've met could do that. Most of them just take a sip and then spit it out, when they realised what I've given them. But it is very rare that I even have to use this method. Most vampires have become so transparent. But you, you're still quite young, aren't you dear?" Marie rambled on with a clear voice.

Caroline took the new cup Marie offered her and without smelling it, she took a sip. For some reason she trusted the old lady. Marie was looking at her with a curious look, waiting for Caroline to tell more about herself. Caroline placed the cup on the cart and quickly took her phone out to check the date.

"Well, I'm kind of stuck at seventeen but I would have been nineteen years old by now. And I've been a vampire for about two and half years. You know, time flies by when you're immortal." Caroline told Marie, smiling at her own joke. The old lady sent her a look that reminded Caroline of her mother and she felt a sudden need to get out of there.

"Just go, dear. I will hear the rest of your story another time." Marie said with an assuring voice, making Caroline wonder if she could read her mind. Marie answered her question before she could voice it. "You're like an open book, dear. Now go on and find whoever you're looking for."

Caroline sent the old lady a thankful smile and then walked out of the door to the streets. The entrance door was placed on St. Peter Street but Caroline decided to go around the corner and continue down the street she had admired from her balcony.

Caroline turned left, passing her balcony and slowly made her way through the crowd. The sun was slowly setting and as it disappeared behind the skyline, a whole new world seemed to commence in front of her. As she turned right on St Louis Street and Bourbon Street lay before her, Caroline realised that the streets were filled with vampires.

She watched with astonished look how the humans didn't even seem to notice all the supernatural behaviour around them as one of the vampires leaped from the roof a four-floor building onto the ground. How would she ever find the vampires she was looking for when the city literally was crawling with them?

Caroline quickly entered a small bar, wanting to collect her thoughts in the sudden chaos. There were only a few people inside, sitting at the wooden tables and stools. Behind the bar, which was also completely made of wood, stood a blonde bartender and wiped the glasses clean.

Caroline sat down on one of the bar stools and reached for her phone in her pocket. The bartender approached her with a smile and Caroline noticed the nametag on her blouse: "Camille".

"What can I get you?" Camille said, waiting for Caroline to finish texting. "Something strong" Caroline replied as she pressed the send button, making the bartender smile.

She looked down at the text she had just sent Elena, wondering if she was overreacting: "This town is freaky as hell! Vampires all over the place! I'm freaking out!"

The bartender placed the drink in front of her but instead of going back to cleaning glasses; she just looked at Caroline as if she was waiting for her to say something.

"Thank you." Caroline said, handing her a twenty dollar bill for the drink. Camille placed it in her apron and then went back to look at her. Caroline took a large sip of her drink and coughed a little when she felt the burn down her throat.

"Wow… This is really strong!" Caroline said with hoarse voice, before downing the rest of it. Camille laughed at her silently and refilled the glass.

"So… what's bugging you?" Camille finally asked her with a smile.

"Trust me, you don't wanna know." Caroline answered as she tried to send her a cheerful smile without success. Her phone on the desk vibrated, telling her that Elena had answered her text.

"Hey, I'm a psych major and a bartender. Try me." the blonde bartender said with a smile, revealing a beautiful smile and a pair of clever eyes.

Wow… I'm sure she has a lot of guys running after her… I don't even have a single one anymore.

"One moment" the blonde vampire said as she quickly looked at Elena's reply: "U can do this, Care. So u haven't found what ur looking for at all?"

Caroline looked back at Camille, wondering how much the bartender really knew about this city.

"Okay, so maybe you can help me. You haven't by any chance seen a blonde English guy run around here? Charming smile, dimples and maybe a little too much confidence? And he definitely has some anger issues too." Caroline asked, taking a leap of faith.

She had no idea how the power balance was in this city and whether or not Klaus was the bad or good guy. What was she had once read somewhere? Something about every hero being someone else's villain. Maybe Klaus was the hero in this city.

Camille smiled at Caroline but just as she was about to speak, she was interrupted by someone with a British accent:

"Caroline."