Bound by fate: Stefan and Caroline Love Story

Season 2: Part 4

At the evening

The drive to Richmond felt like it lasted forever. I sat in the back of the taxi, watching the scenery blur by, my nerves bouncing between fear and excitement. After everything that had happened, this felt like the first step toward some kind of control over my new life—or whatever this is now.

When I finally reached the café, I spotted Slater almost immediately, typing away on his laptop at a corner table. I approached cautiously, not really sure what to expect. "Are you Slater?" I asked, my voice betraying my nervousness.

He looked up and smiled. "Yes, I am. And let me guess, you're Caroline Forbes."

"Yeah," I nodded.

"You're really beautiful," he said, and despite everything going on, I blushed a little at his compliment. "Thank you, Slater."

"Come with me," he said, standing up and closing his laptop. "I’ll take you to the witch’s house. She owes me a favor, and she can make a daylight ring for you."

Relief washed over me. "Thank you so much, Slater. I don’t know what I’d do without your help."

"It’s my honor to help you," he said casually as we walked out of the café. "You know, it’s pretty impressive. I haven’t seen a newbie vampire who fed on a human and didn’t kill them or knock them unconscious."

I hesitated for a moment, then decided to ask something that had been weighing on me. "I wanted to talk to you about something, Slater. When I was human, I had OCD, GAD, DID, Schizophrenia, Autism, and Depression… I've been on medication since I was eleven."

Slater’s face softened. "I’m sorry to hear that. I understand—I have a degree in psychology. Becoming a vampire likely magnified your mental illness, but you still need to see your psychiatrist or psychologist and continue your medication."

"Will it even work? I mean, I’m dead now, right?" I asked.

"As long as you drink blood, your body will function normally," Slater assured me.

We continued walking, and my nerves started to return. The idea of meeting a witch and getting a magical ring was still something I couldn’t fully wrap my head around. "There’s no need to be nervous, Caroline," Slater said, sensing my anxiety.

When we arrived at the witch's house, she opened the door and immediately gave off an intimidating vibe. "Don’t you dare abuse this daylight ring," she warned, her eyes locked on me.

Slater quickly chimed in. "Caroline has shown remarkable control. I’ve never seen anything like it."

The witch didn’t seem convinced. "I don’t believe it. It’s rare for a newbie vampire to control their bloodlust like that."

I spoke up, trying to defend myself. "Just because I became a vampire doesn’t mean I’m a ruthless killer. You can check my memories if you don’t believe me. I’m still Caroline Forbes."

The witch, Eva, softened slightly. "There’s no need for that. Just… don’t lose the light in you, Caroline."

"I won’t," I promised. She performed the spell and handed me the daylight ring. I put it on immediately and tested it by stepping into the sunlight peeking through a window. It worked.

"Thank you, Eva," I said, feeling a rush of relief.

"No problem," she replied. "I owed Slater a favor, and now we’re even."

I turned to Slater. "Why don’t you have a daylight ring?" I asked, curious.

"I don’t need it," he shrugged. "I do most of my work from home and the café."

After that, we left the witch’s house and went back to Slater’s place. We spent hours talking about vampires—history, rules, everything. I opened up to him about Damon. How he manipulated me, fed on me, and how Stefan had tried to save me. I wasn’t sure if I should confront Damon about what he did, especially now that I was a vampire.

Slater looked serious. "You shouldn’t. Damon might see you as a threat and kill you. Stay low. Keep this a secret, at least for now."

As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. I couldn't risk anyone finding out, not Damon, not Stefan—no one. I was angry at what Damon had done to me, but survival came first. I had to be smart.

When I left Richmond, I felt like I’d taken a huge step. Slater promised to stay in touch, and I knew I could rely on him for help. It felt good to have someone I could talk to who understood what I was going through. Maybe I wasn’t so alone after all.

The ride back home was a blur. I arrived just before sunrise, quickly drank a few blood bags to make sure I wouldn’t be hungry at school, and prepared myself mentally for what was ahead. This was going to be my first day back at school as a vampire. I was terrified.

At school, it took every ounce of self-control to keep it together. There were moments when the urge to bite someone was so overwhelming, but I fought through it. Somehow, I managed to keep up the façade, and no one noticed anything.

4 Months passed,

And I kept my secret. But things changed between Bonnie and me. She got caught up in Elena’s drama, and it felt like she was pushing me away. She probably thought she was protecting me, but it hurt. It felt like I was losing one of my best friends.

At least I had Slater to talk to, even if it was just over the phone or through text. He became my go-to for advice, and I trusted him.

Lately, I’d noticed Tyler looking at me differently. There was something in his eyes, a mix of contempt and confusion. I didn’t know why, but I vowed to find out. After everything that’s happened, I can’t afford to let my guard down, not with anyone. Not even Tyler.