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I managed to find time to write this chapter! *cheer*
I don't own Vampire Diaries. English isn't perfect but I tried my best!
Enjoy~ *grin*
Mystic Falls
Outskirts — Night
Caroline stared at Harper in baffled and bemusement while Kol scrutinized the soldier vampire quietly. The mischief Original wondered why the soldier vampire is bowing so respectfully to Caroline. Kol truly believes that his vampire deserves to be treated like a Queen in his personal opinion. However, he wondered if there's something he should know why that specific title is directed toward Caroline.
"I—Pardon? Wh-what did you just call me?" the blonde-haired beauty stuttered nervously, not understanding what just happened.
Harper lifted his gaze up at bewildered Caroline. "Sáõ." He repeated it, politely.
"I…" Caroline cleared her throat. "I'm sorry. I think you might have got me confused. But I'm not… Sao or whatever that name was. I'm Caroline." She said, awkwardly with a weak smile.
The soldier vampire shakes his head. "My Lady, Sáõ is not a name. It is a label, a classify." He explained, calmly as he is still kneeling in front of her.
"Okay—could you just—" Caroline shut her mouth for a brief moment while Kol narrowed his eyes contemplative. "—please stand up?" she asked, in discomfort that the soldier vampire is bowing to her. Harper nodded his head and pushed up to his feet gracefully. "First… I'm not… Lady. Second, I'm just a normal girl who got unfortunate luck to turned into a vampire and now I'm… here, safe which thanks to you, of course."
Harper frowns. "You do not believe me." He stated, a bit disappointed.
Caroline closed her eyes as she inhaled. "I'm—this has…" she exhaled as her shoulders were tense. "I'm sorry. This has been a really long night and right now?" she opens her tired eyes. "All I want is to go home, take a shower, and sleep."
"You do need one, sweetheart." Kol agreed that his vampire definitely need to return home and rest.
The soldier vampire nods his head with understanding. "Please allow me to take you to your home, Miss Caroline." He could see how exhausted the blonde-haired beauty is and truly wants to help her.
Caroline eyed him thoughtfully then nodded her head. "Okay… thank you." She doesn't know what is exactly going on but right now?
She needs a really long hot shower and a comfy bed to sleep.
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Only You
Chapter Thirty
"Crying—"
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Forbes' Residence
Front Porch
Later…
Kol watches his vampire unlock the door and glide inside of her home. Caroline turned around and face Harper who keep away at the safe distance out of respect. The soldier vampire opens his mouth. "May I talk to you tomorrow, if that is acceptable to you, Miss Caroline?" he asked, with hope.
The wild Original glance at his vampire and soldier vampire back and forth with contemplative. Caroline bit her inner cheek for a moment then nodded her head. "Yeah… we can talk tomorrow. Tomorrow is an off day from school so I'm free for an entire day." She said.
"Thank you." Harper said with relief that he will finally tell her his promise tomorrow.
Caroline chuckled weakly. "No… thank you for saving me. Otherwise… I would be dead." She gulped dryly when she realized how close she is to death. First, as a human when she was suffocated to death, and she doesn't want to experience another death so soon.
"It is my duty." Harper said with humility. "I shall leave now and let you rest. Have a good night, Miss Caroline." He tipped his head mannerly. Harper turned around, ascended the stairs, and vamp-speed away until he was out of her sight.
Caroline shut the door gently and sighed heavily. "This is one hella long night." She commented, tiredly.
"No shite." Kol mumbled as he thought of all the emotional wild ride, he has been feeling for days all because of the stupid fucking werewolves. He runs his fingers through his hair, making it very messy. Seriously, Caroline Forbes is full of trouble which he didn't mind personally. But he rather she was far away from a possible near-death situation.
The blonde-haired beauty step forward to the stairs but paused when she heard the door knock rather loud and hurriedly. She groaned, wanting to take a shower so desperately. Caroline turned her head and saw Stefan who attempt to peek through the curtains that covered the glass in the door. She turned around, walked to it, and open the door uncaringly how bloody she looks.
Stefan's eyes widen in shock when he scanned her appearance. "Caroline… are you alright?" he asked, concerned.
Caroline leaned her head against the doorframe with a strange noise from her throat in response. Kol frowns deeply at her. His vampire really needs to sleep. And blood.
"What happened? How did you get away? Did you get help?" the young Salvatore spat out questions with worried.
The blonde-haired beauty made a grimaced face. "Stefan…" she closed her eyes, as her energy is literally very low. "…can I please go take a shower and sleep? I promise I will answer all your question tomorrow. Please… just… it was a very long night." She begged, wanting to do what she needs to do.
Stefan's eyes soften with sympathy and understanding. "Of course." Caroline opens her eyes with gratitude. "You don't want any company?"
"Oh no. Please…" Caroline pushed away from the doorframe with a shaking head. "…I really just want to be alone. Shower and sleep. That's all I need. I'm too exhausted for socializing." She said with a weak joke.
The young Salvatore studied her face for a short moment then nodded his head. "Okay. I'll talk to you tomorrow?"
Caroline recalled that Harper wants to talk to her. "…maybe. Like I said, it's been a really long night and who knows, I might sleep in." she said with a guilty smile.
"Of course. Then, call me when you are ready to talk?" Stefan offers a suggestion which Caroline nods her head with approval. "Alright… well, good night." He steps back with a small smile yet there is a concern in his eyes.
"Good night." Caroline whispered, then shut the door softly.
Kol doesn't like seeing his normally bubbly and energetic vampire who is now exhausted and weak. He really hopes the blood, shower, and sleep would do good for her.
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After Caroline drank some blood, took a shower, and is now standing in her bedroom in her pajama. She wears a black camisole, grey shorts, and a black bathrobe. Caroline put on a wet bun with a hair clip and lowered her arms to her side. She is completely healed and cleaned which makes her feel better. The blonde-haired beauty knew that once she was asleep, it will be a whole lot better than before.
Kol has been waiting and watching her as he is leaning against the wall of her bedroom. Before he could do anything—the doorbell rang.
Caroline frowned as her blue-green orbs shifted to the door with puzzled. The blonde-haired beauty turned around, stridden out of her bedroom, down the hall to descend the stairs, and went to the door. Kol followed after her with interest.
The blonde-haired beauty opened the door and saw Tyler standing in front of her. Kol snarled angrily at the werewolf. The mischief Original had had enough with the werewolves for a century or two.
"Caroline…" the Lockwood werewolf examined her appearance with relief. "You're okay."
Caroline stared at him blankly. "I'm fine." She doesn't want to deal with werewolves anymore. Not when one of them tortured her.
"I… I had no idea they would come for you." Tyler said, awkwardly. Kol crossed his arms as he glares at the git werewolf quietly.
The blonde-haired beauty surveyed him calmly. "Do you know what they did to me?" she asked, wondering. Tyler frowned at her in response. "…they put me in a cage. Covered with vervain." Caroline said, coldly.
Tyler gulped dryly as he wipes his palms over his jeans. "Caroline—"
"One of them shot me with wooden bullets. Blow darts at me. Squirt vervain water at me." Caroline listed out what a werewolf did to her as her eyes started tearily. Tyler gnawed his lip as his eyes filled with guilt. "They… they hurt me because I'm a vampire." She whispered, brokenly. Kol's undead heart nearly break when he heard her broken voice.
The Lockwood werewolf closed his eyes as he shook his head roughly. "I'm sorry but it's crazy. I don't know who to trust. You lied to me." He said, lost and confused.
"I lied to protect my friends." The blonde-haired beauty's lips tremble. "I lied to protect you. Don't you get that?" her eyes started to turn red and yet she refuses to release her tears.
Tyler opened his eyes and stared at her with ashamed. "Caroline—"
"They tortured me." Caroline snapped harshly as her blue-green eyes are obviously full of water. And yet, she managed to hold them back. "I wanted to help you because you are my friend! I didn't care that you are a werewolf, and you don't care that I'm a vampire. I thought for once—for once that we can be friends despite that we are different species." She choked back her sob. "But I was wrong. It seems that in the end, werewolves and vampires are meant to be enemies, after all."
The Lockwood werewolf gritted his teeth as he glanced away in silence.
Caroline blinked a few times. "…go back to your werewolf pack…if there are any left. And… don't return here." Tyler shifted his teary gaze back to her upset face. "…we're no longer friends." Caroline said with a final tone.
Tyler's chin trembles but nod jerkily and step back. He opens his mouth but shuts it with a snap then whirled around and leaves. Caroline slowly closed the door, locked it, and turn around to lean her back against the door.
"Darling…" Kol has been quiet this entire time, not wanting to disturb her conversation with her former friend. Caroline slide down until her backside hit the ground, pulled her legs up to her chest, and leaned her chin on her knees. Tears finally slipped over her cheeks over the loss of friendship with one of her childhood friends. Caroline really did think of Tyler Lockwood as her friend, and now, not even a week and she already disowned her friendship with him.
Caroline sobbed which made Kol sit next to her, feather-like touches her tearful cheeks with his fingertips. The blonde-haired beauty closed her eyes as she continues crying.
She wishes she could embrace her ghost friend right now.
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Forbes' Residence
Caroline's Bedroom
Morning…
Kol is standing in front of the window quietly as the morning sunlight brightens up the world. The lights shine through his transparent body. His dark gaze observed the outside view as he has been watching for the entire night till morning. Kol has been guarding his vampire to make sure there are no werewolves after her nor any danger that will harm her.
So far, she is safe, and he is satisfied with that. The mischief Original glanced over his shoulder at his sleeping beauty with fond eyes. It took her a while to calm down and managed to fall asleep on her bed at three in the morning.
Kol wishes he could lay down next to her and embrace her in his arms for the entire night. Unfortunately, that wouldn't be possible for him. The wild prince Original sighed heavily as he turned his attention back to the outside. He didn't know how long he has been watching the cloudy sky, but the sounds coming from his vampire alerted him.
He turned his gaze back to Caroline who sat up while brushing her messy hair away from her face. Her blue-green eyes glanced at the clock as it was nearly eleven o'clock. She scoots back to lean against the board behind her.
Kol sauntered to her, sat on the edge of the bed, and extend his fingers to brush her cheek. Caroline shivers by the familiar wintery-touch. "Kol…" a small smile appeared on her face.
"Good to see you rest well, my lovely darling." Kol murmured, gently.
"I feel somewhat good." Caroline said as she tilted her head. "Not better. But good."
The wild Original couldn't help but feel admired for how strong she is. After that terrible night of torture by a werewolf, she didn't let them destroy her spirit and continue to stay strong. She's truly amazing. Kol mused, awed.
The doorbell rang that snapped Caroline out of it. A confused frown appeared on her face but moved her duvet and sheets away from her legs and climbed out of her bed. Kol followed her out toward the first level floor and to the door.
Kol is slightly amused that his vampire didn't care much about her messy appearance. When Caroline reached the front door and open it. "Oh…" she didn't expect to see Harper at the door.
Harper smiles politely at her. "I apologize to come to unannounced Miss Caroline. However, I was not sure what time I could arrive. I do hope I am not disturbing your rest?" he said, with concern as he noticed that Caroline's in her pajamas.
"Ah…" the blonde-haired beauty noticed her attire but shrugged off. It had been a long night and she honestly wasn't in the mood to get dressed and leave the house. It's a good thing that today was Good Friday meaning no school day—thankfully.
"I really like this bloke. Respectful and he saved your life, twice." Kol commented, pleased as it wasn't often that his vampire receives respect from others. However, to have respectful and polite from a war soldier vampire is rather rare.
Caroline brushed some of her stray hair back behind her ears. "That's fine. Umm… my mom isn't here so she can't exactly invite you in." she made a comedic guilty face.
"That is fine, Miss Caroline." Harper assured her. "I do not mind having discussions on the porch." He waves a gesture at the outdoor chairs at the corner on the front porch.
The blonde-haired beauty nodded her head. "Okay. Please give me a moment." She held up her index finger as she needed to do some quick morning routine.
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It took ten minutes for Caroline to walk out of her house to the outdoor chairs with Kol following her. She is wearing her comfortable black bathrobe, violet slippers, and carrying a pale-blue mug of coffee with some blood mixed. Harper is sitting on the chair quietly with a duffle bag on the ground next to his feet.
"Thanks for waiting." The blonde-haired beauty sat down on the empty chair while Kol folded his arms on the top of the chair, behind her.
Harper tipped his head with a polite smile. "Thank you for taking your time to lend me your ears, Miss Caroline."
Caroline just smiles awkwardly at him while carefully placing her mug on her lap. "So… last night—you mention something about a… a label or something?" she attempts to recall it but last night was very overwhelmed for her so it's a bit hard for her to get a clear understanding of what just happened to her. She knew that she was tortured by a werewolf, saved by a soldier vampire, and that she ended her friendship with Tyler. It's been a long hell of a night for her.
"Yes. As I was saying that you are Sáõ, it is an honor to see you." The soldier vampire said with slightly awed.
The blonde-haired beauty held up her finger in the air. "Yes. That one. That is… strange foreign word. What is that? Why do you call me that?" she never heard such a word before in her life.
"Sáõ is classified in the supernatural community, but very scarce." Caroline lowered her finger with a confused frown while Kol's dark gaze glint with calculating and intrigue. "I do believe you are the Sáõ in this timeline."
Caroline stared at him utterly bewildered and stumped. She is incomprehensible what this soldier vampire is saying to her. Kol lightly drummed his fingers against the wood of the chair, thoughtfully. "…I'm not getting it." She blunted, lost.
Harper hummed softly. "Sáõ is a different supernatural being beside vampires, witches, werewolves, and ghosts." He explained calmly and patiently for Caroline. "Which means that you are an Sáõ, the scarce species."
Caroline's eyebrows furrowed with contemplative while Kol never heard of this species before. In all his millennium life, he has never met nor heard of this Sáõ before.
"But… I'm a vampire." The blonde-haired beauty pointed it out as she lifted her mug and took a sip from her mixture of coffee and blood.
The soldier vampire frowned. "True that you are a vampire, but you still have the blood of Sáõ running through your veins. It does not matter if you are a werewolf or a witch, you will always and forever be Sáõ."
"But you can't be both…" Kol mumbled, perplexed. After all, he lost his own magic thanks to his mother who betrayed him and forced him to change into an immortal monster.
The blonde-haired beauty bit her inner cheek while she is twirling her mug gently. "…what exactly is this… Sáõ if I'm saying it right?" she attempted to say the word with awkward pronoun word on her tongue.
Harper lower his hand to the duffle bag, unzipped it, and picked up a worn-out leather thick book from it. "Any questions you have will have answers you seek in this journal." He said, handing the journal book to Caroline.
The blonde-haired beauty set her mug down on the ground, extend her hands, and accepted the journal. She put it on her lap amazed and puzzled by how ancient it looked yet its well-taken care of. "Why are you giving me this?"
"That journal belongs to your ancestors." Caroline snapped her eyes at Harper in surprise while Kol raise his eyebrow with intrigue. "I promised Emmanuella, your ancestor, to deliver you her message."
Caroline frowned with curiosity. "W-what message?"
Harper stares at Emmanuella's descendant. "This is her words to you—"Beware of the Old Moon"." Kol straighten up his spine as he doesn't like the ominous message while Caroline tilted her head with bemused.
"I don't understand." The blonde-haired beauty just shakes her head. "I-I'm sorry. None of these make sense to me whatsoever. Are you sure I'm this… Sáõ and not being mistaken for someone else? I was just a normal boring human girl before I got turned into a vampire without a choice." Caroline said as she lightly drummed her fingers against the leather book on her lap out of anxiety and discomfort.
The veteran vampire is relieved that he delivered his promise, however, Caroline doesn't believe him. This is why he is glad he went to grab an important item to prove her true heritage. He grabbed a pouch from his bag and extend it to Caroline. "This will prove it to you, Miss Caroline."
Caroline grabbed it hesitant and untied the ribbon. She opens it and takes out the object. "Oh…" she gasps at the most beautiful object she has ever seen in her life.
It's a clear stone-shaped oval with copper wire wrapped around a tree and a leather strap. Kol step around to her side and leaned forward to study the pendant thoughtfully. "It's… beautiful but…" she glanced up with confusion. "...how will this necklace prove anything?"
"One drop of your blood." Harper tips his head at the necklace, mystery.
Caroline wasn't sure if she should do it or not. Kol is too curious that he pokes his vampire's forehead. "Go ahead, darling. One drop."
The blonde-haired beauty barely held back her shudder. She lifted her index finger to her mouth, allowing her fangs to grow in and cut her skin. Caroline gently squeezes the small cut as the blood dripped into the stone.
Her blue-green eyes widen in stunned while Kol whistled with admiration and awed. The stone that was clearly changed dramatically to turquoise color, nearly matching her eyes color. "…what?" Caroline asked, weakly.
"Only the blood of Sáõ can change the stone of a different color to prove that you have magic." The soldier vampire informed her.
Kol perked up. "Magic?"
"Magic?" Caroline asked, baffled.
Harper nods his head. "Yes, Miss Caroline. You have magic because you are a Child of Nature." He stated as it is a fact. "There is information in that journal if you wish to learn more of your heritage and your ancestors." He added, politely.
The blonde-haired beauty is completely shocked that she doesn't know what to say nor comprehend what she just learned. Meanwhile, the wild prince Original was surprised to hear the shocking information about his vampire. "…guess that means you are more special, love." He commented.
It took Caroline a moment to process the information in her head. "…you knew my ancestor?" she decided to learn about her ancestor, even though she is still surprised.
Harper's eyes soften with nostalgia and fondness. "Emmanuella was a good woman. She was my best friend, my family… She had saved my life and in return, I vowed to be her loyal soldier." He said, wistfully. He wishes he could be with her and continue to stay by her side.
"No wonder…" Kol mumbled, understanding why a soldier vampire saved Caroline's life. It's all because of a vow. When soldier vampires made a vow, they took it very seriously as it was part of their life and soul to follow that vow. Emmanuella was Caroline's ancestor which means Harper's vow extended to Caroline as well.
War soldier vampires are not easy to earn loyalty from, not even his brothers could earn it. It's almost impossible. So, whatever Emmanuella did to Harper, she received his loyalty and vowed. Caroline's ancestor must be one hell of a woman.
Suddenly, Harper jerked his head to his left with caution. "I apologize, Miss Caroline. But I must leave." He stood up before he picked up the duffle bag from the ground. Caroline quickly stood up to her feet as she hugged the journal against her chest while curling her fingers around the pendant. "If you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact me." He said to her as he took out a folded paper from his pocket to her.
Caroline accepted it. "But—why are you leaving? What's going on?" she questions, nervously. Kol silently wondered what the soldier vampire heard from the unnaturally far distance than average vampire hearing?
Harper strode to the stairs and descended to the bottom of the stairs. "Do not worry." He turned around, took out a leather strap necklace with a lapis lazuli stone that inserted into a shape of a tree. "This necklace is proof that I would not abandon you, Miss Caroline. My loyalty and my vow belong to your ancestor and now it belongs to you. Your safety is my top priority which means I cannot be seen with you. At least not yet." He explained, gently to Emmanuella's descendant. "I will be around and if you ever need me, please contact me."
Before Caroline could say anything, Harper was already gone which startled her by his unusually speed faster than Salvatore Brothers' speed.
Kol leaned his hands on the rail with a contemplative glint in his eyes. "Well, this is getting a lot more interesting than I thought." He commented.
Not even a minute when a fancy car arrived that Caroline and Kol easily recognized that it belongs to Stefan Salvatore. The blonde-haired beauty knew that Stefan came for questions that he needs answers about last night.
Caroline groaned at the thought of telling the young Salvatore about her adventure from last night. "I didn't even call him." She whined under her breath. Kol made a bitter face when he realizes that he will have to hear his vampire telling a story about that terrible night. "Oh brilliant." He said, dryly.
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To Be Continued.