Thanks for the amazing reviews, awesome favs, and lovely follows! *beam happily*
Warning: unbeta. English is my second. ASL is my first. I'm Deaf! *grinning widely*
There are changes from here on out... as ya'll understand once you read this chapter. *humming* All I can say... you will finally be relieved to learn...something. :D
I skipped Season 1; Ep. 13 "Children of the Damned" 'cause...no Caroline and not interested in this episode since it's another flashback about Salvatore brothers and Katherine and bleh blah bleh blah.
I don't own Vampire Diaries.
Anyways! I hope you readers enjoy it~ :D
Forbes Residence
Caroline's Bedroom
A Week Later…
Caroline is laying on her stomach against the bed with her feet in the air. Her phone is on a speaker near her while she is busy looking through the fashion magazine. Kol is sitting on the ground, leaning on the wall with his arms resting his props knees. He is currently enjoying his view of his human who only wears a tank top, tiny shorts, and a messy high ponytail. Kol likes seeing Caroline being comfortable in her bedroom without a single care about any judgmental and expectation eyes.
He listens to Lexi who is talking to Caroline. "—and it was a good funeral. I know Bree would want it."
"I'm so sorry." Caroline glanced at her phone with sympathy. "It must be really hard to let her go. You said that she was one of your good friends?"
Lexi confirmed with the noise and Caroline continued. "I can't imagine what you are going through. But we're here for you. I'm here and Lee is there."
"And me, sweetheart." Kol speaks up, knowing they won't hear him.
"Thanks, Linnie." Lexi's voice filled with sadness yet thankful. "I'm really glad you are here. I don't normally blabber my sorrow and the whole woe is me. But… I know that Lee would do anything for me. I know Stefan will drop everything and comfort me, that is just how he is. But…"
Caroline hummed softly. "But you needed a female friend. I remembered that you mention you don't have many girls friends."
Lexi scoffed. "Seriously. I have like—at least two. And they are older and different. Except you. Which is why we get along well." She chuckled solemnly.
The blonde-haired beauty placed her chin on her palm as she shifted her eyes to her magazine with neutral interest. "Yeah. So, what's going to happen now with you and Lee?" she asked, curious.
"For now, he and I are going to visit Bree's family which is in Canada. She left a few things at her place and I assumed her family would like to have it. You know, closure and all."
"Sounds like a long drive." Caroline commented as she flipped the magazine closed and pushed it away, so she folded her arms in front of her and leaned her chin on top.
Lexi hummed. "It's going to be quite a trip. But meh, that's nothing new." She and Caroline chuckled. "So, tell me. What's going on in that little good old town? Any drama happening? Are you safe and good? Any boys?" she added the last part in singing.
"What's with every woman thinking you have a bloke in your life? Other than me, there's no one." Kol sulks. He doesn't like it when he learned some of Caroline's friends tried to get her to find a guy to be in a relationship with.
The blonde-haired beauty blew her cheeks. "The town is fine. Nothing major or anything like that. My school had a decade dance—the fifties— last week. And I spend my weekend at my dad's. All my friends are acting super weird but that's not news to me. Yes, I'm fine. As I can be. And no, no boys."
"Wait, wait, wait, wait. What do you mean by as you can be? What happened?" Lexi caught the keywords with confused.
Caroline winced. "…I may have been sort of attacked by a former newsman at the night of Career Fair." Kol growled angrily when he recalled how angry he was when he saw his human's blood and her unconscious body.
Lexi made a choking sound. "What?! You were attacked?!" a loud thud heard when causes Caroline turned her head to her phone with puzzled while Kol raises his eyebrow. "Someone attacked our sweetcheeks?!" Lee's thundered voice heard in furious and worried.
"Hi Lee. I'm fine. I promise." Caroline couldn't help but feel touched out her friends care about her. She already informed her best friends about it, and true that they were horrified and worried but never this much reaction what Lexi and Lee did.
"Who is this asshole?! Tell me and I will kill him with my bare hands!" Lexi demanded and Lee shouted as he will join in as well, and even suggest that Caroline should bring a shovel and gloves.
Caroline giggles while Kol shakes his head but half-smirked with mirth in his eyes. "He's gone. My mom told me that he attacked an officer. So, he's dead when the officer did it to defend himself." She was sad that the man she grew up with who used to be decent and nice but became an awful criminal.
"That's rather disappointing because I want to kill him." Lee's voice was sulking and pouting.
Kol sighed. "I understand, mate. I was disappointed too but grateful that bastard is gone." He muttered.
Lexi speak up. "Are you okay, Linnie? You are safe now, right?"
Caroline closed her eyes. "Yeah. I'm okay now. I was shaken up a little but I'm fine now. Promise." She assured them with soft smile. After that, they continue animatedly talking for a while and Kol continues watching his human with content and calm.
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Only You
Chapter Eleven
"Fool Me Once"
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Mystic Grill
Next Day
Caroline walks inside the grill while adjusted her jacket as her blue-green eyes scanned her surroundings. Kol shove his hands in his pockets as he steps forward next to his human calmly. Her eyes spotted a certain person which she quickly sauntered toward the table. "Hey, Jeremy." She called out to Jeremy who is sitting at the table, doing homework.
Kol stood close to Caroline who face Jeremy with confused in her eyes. "Where is Elena? I've been texting her and Bonnie all day about Duke's party."
"Uh, she went somewhere with Stefan." Jeremy answered as he is playing with his pencil.
Kol rolled his eyes. "Typical." It's not the first time that the doppelganger playing hooky with her boyfriend instead of hanging out with friends.
The blonde-haired beauty sighed and leaned against the table with shaking head. "I am so not going to be one of those girls who disappear just because she has a new boyfriend."
"Of course not, love. You have a big heart that you couldn't help but pay attention to everyone around you." Kol commented, fondly. It would be a nice change to have someone who doesn't think one person is their whole world. Instead, there are family and friends in someone's world.
Jeremy smiles softly. "Who is Duke?" he asked, curious.
"Some guy that graduated a couple of years ago. And he throws a party every time he comes home from Duke." Caroline answered, calmly.
Kol and Jeremy stared at the blonde-haired beauty with disbelieved. "Wait, Duke goes to Duke?" the Gilbert boy made a face in baffled. Kol just shakes his head in perplexed.
"His real name's Bob or something." Caroline shrugged her shoulders without caring which Jeremy laughs quietly while Kol smirks. "He's a total ass. But he buys the beer." Her blue-green eyes carefully examined Jeremy. "You know, you should come."
Jeremy looked surprise then he shakes his head. "Uh, yeah, I—I don't think so."
"Why not, mate?" Kol raise his eyebrow at him.
"No, seriously. Everyone goes. Even quiet loner little brothers." Caroline noticed Matt who glanced over, and they exchanged friendly smiles which Kol made a face. "Think about it." The blonde-haired beauty pats Jeremy's shoulder who nodded his head and grabbed his beanie to placed it over his head.
The blonde-haired beauty smiles softly then went to Matt. "Hey, Matt. How are you?"
"I'm good." Matt threw his dishtowel over his shoulder. "You?"
Caroline nodded her head and said that she was good as well. "By the way, will you be at the Duke party?"
"Yeah. You?" the blonde-haired beauty answered that she will be there. "Cool, see you around then."
Kol rolled his eyes rudely. "Come on, darling. Let's leave. Now." He said, slightly impatience as he wants his human to get away from the possible-potential competition bloke.
"Bye." Caroline waves at Matt and walk away, much to Kol's relief.
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The Woods
Later…
Caroline exhaled the cold smokes from her breath while rubbed her gloved hands against the beer. Kol observed his surroundings with boredom. "How disappointedly. I was expecting more… wild." He muttered and silently grateful that he is only a transparent ghost that couldn't feel the temperature.
The blonde-haired beauty already greeted her friends and exchanges smiles. She ambled through the woods as there are over a dozen students who are drinking and chatting. "Seriously?" Kol turned his head to Caroline who is staring at the distance. The bad boy Original followed her eyes and saw Damon and Elena walking through the woods.
Caroline frowned as she walked toward them. "Darling." Kol warned her but unfortunately, she didn't hear him as usual much to his frustration. He followed her quickly. "Elena."
Elena and Damon paused. "Where have you been?" Caroline asked her brunette best friend with concerned while ignores her abuser.
"Long story, no time to tell it." Damon speak up.
Kol growled hatefully at soon-to-be-dead vampire while Caroline send her cold eyes at him. "I wasn't talking to you." She snapped with cold smile.
"Sure you were." The older Salvatore smirked at her with indifferent eyes.
Caroline rolls her eyes and shifted her attention to Elena. "Where's Stefan?" Kol glanced around to find a certain vampire bloke that he grew to tolerate. "Or do you know where Bonnie is?"
The doppelganger cleared her throat. "It's a long story, Care." She sends nervous glance at Damon. "I have to go. Sorry." Elena said with apologetic face.
The blonde-haired beauty shakes her head in astonished then step forward to grab her best friend's arm. "Elena." Elena turned her eyes to hers. "Are you okay? Is everyone fine?" Caroline send her suspicious glance at Damon who looks impatience. "Is he hurting you?" she whispered to the brunette who looked surprised.
"No!" Caroline step back in slightly awkward surprise. "No, he's not. I'm just helping him with something. Look, I'm sorry. But I have to go."
"Bye." Damon smirked smugly at Caroline then grabbed Elena and dragging her away.
The blonde-haired beauty stared at them in stunned, confused, bewildered, and suspicious. "…something is seriously wrong here."
"Agreed with you, sweetheart." Kol muttered as he narrowed his eyes with warily. Then his eyes widen when he watches his human glanced around with caution and step forward. "Oh bloody hell…" he knew that Caroline is going after them.
He doesn't like this.
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He knew it.
He doesn't like this one bit. Kol desperate want his human to drag her pretty arse back to the party with bunch of useless humans. But at least she would be safe. He stays close to his human who is leaning against the tree as she peek out with confused frowned.
They watch Damon, Stefan, Bonnie, Sheila, and Elena gathered around the old church. Caroline doesn't understand what's going on nor why they are at the old, ruined church. She couldn't help but find the entire thing absolutely crazy and bizarre.
"I don't have my vampire hearing but… I don't want to leave you alone, sweetheart." Kol muttered, torn between heading over there and listen or stay close to his human.
The blonde-haired beauty noticed they are heading down inside the large hole. She tiptoe carefully as she dodges and avoid the branches and leaves which impressed Kol. Once she is near but far enough from the hearing shot.
Caroline hid behind the century-old ruin and leaned over as she squints her eyes when she recognized Bonnie's grandmother, Grams who is lighting the torches at the tomb while Bonnie stands next to her. The others—Stefan, Elena, and Damon—watched them from the back.
The blonde-haired beauty couldn't hear them but continue watching quietly. Kol noted that the witches are doing the ritual with four elements. "What kind of ritual the Bennett Witches are doing?" Kol muttered, curious and cautioned. Kol always enjoy watching witches doing spells but since he's only a transparent ghost who couldn't protect his human from any possible danger.
Caroline has no idea what's going on nor why but she recalled that Bonnie had told her that she was a witch. 'Does that mean her grandmother is one too? They are seriously for real? Real witches?' she mused, disbelieved and dumbfounded as she is watching Bonnie and Grams reciting a spell with their eyes shut and hands interlocked.
Kol hummed with interested as his dark gaze observed the tomb. He steps closer and tilted his head with thoughtful. "…they are unleashing something…" he muttered, suddenly remembered Emily Bennett. "I wondered if this is something to do with what that Bennett witch's talked about?" he mused out loud, pondered.
Then the torches flare up and soon, the door to the tomb creaks open ominously loud. Bonnie and Grams stopped and looked up. Caroline just shakes her head in astonished stunned. She doesn't understand what the hell just happened, and she couldn't comprehend so she shove herself away from the ruins and whirled around.
Kol felt the tug and jerked his head to where his human who is hurried far away from the church. He silently cursed under his breath and chase after her.
After Caroline made sure she is far away that she couldn't see the church, she halted and leaned heavily against the tree with perplexed and confused dazed. "…what the hell was that?" her shakily hands lifted to move her hair away from her face.
"Oh darling…" Kol watches how anxious and nervous his human is. The Original reached his fingers to touch her cheeks gently in attempt to comfort her.
Caroline shivered from the sudden colder than normally cold on her cheeks again. Suddenly, she knew it's not normal. She froze and eyeing around in the silent woods with guardedly. "I-if the witches—if they are…real. Then…" she recalled the séance she did with her best friends few weeks ago. And slowly she thought about the cold she kept getting it and always brush it off. However, she wondered if there is something around her. "I-is anyone there?" she nearly shouted with nervously.
Kol frowned in confused. He glanced around, wondering if he missed any noises but silence greeted him instead. "I don't hear anyone here." He muttered then shifted his gaze back to Caroline who scrutinized around.
The blonde-haired beauty took a deep breath and released through shuddering sighed. "This is insane." She shakes her head, shove away from the tree and nearly stumbled her way through the wood to return the Duke party.
The bad boy Original has no idea what just happened and why is his human looks so…
Afraid?
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Forbes Residence
Caroline's Bedroom
Later…
Kol stared at Caroline with completely bewildered. He has no idea what just happened but ever since Caroline went straight home, showered and dressed in her comfortable pajamas—purple tank top and grey stars-pattern pants— and she is sitting on the middle of her bed with her legs crossed. Caroline carefully observed her surrounding with serious yet nervous and edgy in her eyes. "…darling… what are you doing?" he murmured, concerned for his human.
Caroline bit her lip thoughtfully then released the sigh. She closed her eyes and Kol noted that she is mediating which he never seen her do it before. The bad boy Original step forward and leaned toward her. He extends his fingertips to brush her cheek softly with worried.
Suddenly, Caroline snapped her eyes open and dart around. "Who's there?!" she demanded out of anxiety.
Kol's eyes widen in stunned.
He would never think that his human would finally, finally realize there is something around her. His undead heart lift with reluctantly hope that Caroline might start to acknowledge his presence.
"…look… I don't know if I'm going insane or that there is literally ghost here in my bedroom which is totally creepy and freaky." Caroline blabbered anxiety. "I don't want to possess because I like to be in control, just so you know. And whatever is it that you need from me or what ghost business stuff going on… what do you want? Why are you here? How long have you—you been around me?" she spit out all the questions while Kol stared at her dumbfounded. "…who are you?" she whispered with cautioned.
"…well, it seems you have finally start heading the right direction, love." Kol gulped nervously. He doesn't know why he is so nervous, but he knew he can't let this opportunity slip away from him again. He lost it once, thanks to Emily Bennett. And now, this is his second chance, and he refuses to lose it. Kol gently touch her cheek which she shivers.
Caroline touch her cheek where it gotten cold all of the sudden. "Okay." She cleared her throat uncomfortably. "So you are here… I-I honestly don't know how to do this. I've watched shows and movies about it and I don't even own Ouija board. I only done séance like—twice in my life. One was when I was like twelve and another was few weeks ago." She rubbed her hands against her pants nervously. Kol watches her amused yet fondly. "We… umm… we could—do like yes or no questions?"
Kol hummed with interested yet hopeful. He could do that with her, however he hasn't really figure it out how to move things around on his own free will. So, he touches his human's shoulder lightly which Caroline shivered once again.
She touches her left shoulder where the cold is. "Okay… I'll take that as a yes." She bit her lip while contemplative. She couldn't believe she is doing this. Caroline Forbes is attempting to communicate a ghost. A real ghost.
"…umm… since I can feel your touch. So, tap my shoulder for yes and as for no, no touch. Easy, right?" the blonde-haired beauty said, anxious. She got another cold touch on her shoulder. "Alright. Awesome, okay. Umm… are you going to possess me and kill me?" she blurted it out in fear.
Kol just shakes his head with half-smirked. Caroline's fast-beating heart slowly calm down as her tense shoulders relaxes a little. "Oh, good. Okay, umm… are you a guy?" the bad boy Original tap her shoulder calmly.
"…oh." Caroline nod her head. "So, you are definitely not this Emily or Emma or whatever chick that was haunted Bonnie." She is relief to learn that. She frowned when she recalled that her best friends lied to her. "…they weren't pranking me that night. They lied and… what? Not want me to get involve with their witchy and ghost business?" she muttered out loud confused and lost.
"In a way." Kol answered as he taps his human's shoulder.
The blonde-haired beauty's lips firm tightly. "I see. So not get involved. So much for being best friends." She closed her eyes and shake her head. Caroline doesn't want to deal with her best friends lying to her, again. She opened her eyes and glanced around her bedroom. "Were you there that night? Séance?" Kol tap her shoulder. "I don't know how long you've been around me before I'm going to assume that you've been around for a while." Another tap. "Okay then."
Caroline can't believe she is communicating with a literally actual ghost. "Alrighty. Mr. Ghost." Kol smirks with amused by his human's name for him. "This is really awkward but what the hell." Caroline cleared her throat once again.
"Are you like—old ghost?"
Tap.
"How old are we talking about? Like really old as in long time dead old. Like, decades?"
No tap.
"Days?"
No tap.
"Weeks?"
No tap.
"Months? Years?"
Nothing.
"Centuries?"
Tap.
"Well shit." Caroline blunted which Kol chuckled softly by her eyes widen. "So centuries-old ghost." She shakes her head with disbelieved.
"Technically darling, I'm a dead vampire man for a thousand years." Kol muttered. "Who is cursed by a bloody witch that my soul is linked to yours." He added, calmly.
The blonde-haired beauty titled her head with confused. "There are so many questions that I don't know how to ask." She bit her lips, conflicted. "Okay… how old did you die? I'm going to say any random numbers."
"Forty?"
No tap.
"Twenty?"
No tap.
Caroline paused. "Wait, are you less than fifty years old?" Tap. "Alright, less than forty?" another tap. "More than twenty?" no tap. "…less than twenty?" tap.
The blonde-haired beauty released her breath. "More than ten?" tap. "…twelve? Thirteen? Fourteen? Fifteen? Sixteen? Seventeen? Eighteen? Nineteen?" tap.
She closed her eyes sadly for the ghost as her heart sank. "…I'm so sorry." She whispered, empathic for the dead young man while Kol's eyes soften when he could see how sincerely she is being. To think this ghost was around her age, two years older than her.
Caroline thought about centuries-old nineteen years of age ghost. "You've been around for a long time… are you stuck?"
Kol contemplative with this. "I guess you could say that." He taps her shoulder.
"I-is there a way I can help you?" she offers shyly.
"Oh my darling… you are too kind." The Original is grateful for her offer but there's nothing she could help him in his situation though.
When Caroline didn't receive any tap, her shoulders slumped with disappointed. "I see." She glanced around her bedroom once again. "I don't know what I can do… I don't know why you are here but… as long as you don't try to—possess me or anything freaky… feel free to hanging around and maybe one day… who knows, I could help you." She shrugged her shoulders timidly.
"Thank you, love." Kol whispered with amazed, fondly, and gentleness. He taps her shoulder which brings a smile on her face.
Caroline cleared her throat. "It's been a long night for me. So, I'm going to head to sleep. Umm… goodnight, Mr. Ghost."
Kol chuckled softly. "Goodnight, darling." He strokes his human's cheek which she shivered.
Caroline doesn't know why she is not panic nor awkward when the ghost touches her cheek. However, it may be cold touch, but it feels nice. Almost like… carelessly friendly touch. It warms her heart for some strange reasons. She shakes her head, pulled her blanket and covered her body before she turns off the lights from the lamp on the nightstand.
The bad boy Original couldn't believe this is happening.
His human has finally acknowledged his presence.
This is just the beginning for him and Caroline.
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Mystic Falls
Church Ruins
Later…
A tall figure stumbled out from the door of the tomb, into the middle of the tomb and slowly shifted his red eyes upward to the bright moon in the night sky. His hands at his sides curled into tight fists and breathe in the fresh oxygen in his lungs.
He opened his mouth, revealed his fangs and uttered out one word.
"Emmanuella."