Your last...

Chapter 4

Caroline and Liz stayed with the Gilberts for a week untill their house was brought back to shape. What had happened the previous Saturday was still in the dark. Bonnie had been passed out for 3 days. She was breathing and nothing was physical wrong with her, but Caroline knew it was a matter of time before something big like that would happen again.

Alaric did not know what was happening. His parents had kept their previous lives a secret. He knew about vampires, witches and werewolves, but the gruesome reality was still unknown. Sheila had cried a lot but later the girl went back to normal and spent most of her time with Caroline. Jeremy was withdrawn. He did not talk about anything. He was more than worried for Bonnie and his kids. He had more to loose now and he knew exactly how dangerous it could be for them. Liz was keeping a tab on anything unusual around the towns near Mystic Falls. Her cop friends from around kept her posted. Nothing unusual had been noticed so far.

Caroline had started going through various books in Bonnie's attic. She hoped she could find some answers there. Jeremy helped her. They had read half of the books in the attic and couldn't understand the other half because they were in ancient, unknown languages. Both of them has also started taking vervain and putting vervain and wolf's bane in food, tea and water for Shiela, Alaric and Liz. Jeremy had gone on super, secure, hunter mode and kept tab on his kid's at all time.

When Bonnie came home, she was still very weak and she couldn't remember what happened. She also started going through her books like crazy. She understood everything but nothing helped her. However one day she came across a book on expression and she turned white. Jeremy was with her and when he looked up, he asked worried, "What's wrong? Did you find something?" "Call Caroline.", she replied and went away to check on something else. Caroline was in the attic in less than 10mins. She had gone grocery shopping with her mother. "What happened?", she asked. "I think I know what happened.", Bonnie continued, "Remember when I was learning expression with Shane? He had given me this book. Here it explains what happens when you lose control over magic. It says that when you lose control the nature reacts violently and kills those who perform the magic." "But you lost your magic, didn't you?", Caroline asked. As far as she knew Bonnie had become a human when she stopped being an anchor. "Yes. And that is the only reason I am not dead. Someone else was casting a spell and must have lost control.",  Bonnie tried her best to explain but she barely understood what was happening or had happened. "But what does it have to do with you? You did not cast any spell.", Jeremy pointed out. "I don't know. Maybe they were using my life source as a part of the spell." "But you don't have magic.", Caroline said confused. "I know but if we can take help from witches, who had died ages ago, a living one would be easy to use.", she explained and looked at the still confused expression of her audience. She shook her head and tried again, "Even if I lost my power, I come from a very powerful line of witches, my life source would be very useful. Plus, it is safe for those who performed the spell. My aura was used and it would be taxing on me but not them." "How can they do that?", Jeremy questioned. "Well if they had my blood or something that belonged to me, it would be very easy to use my energy without me even being there.",  Bonnie answered. "How can we find who did this?", Caroline asked. "I don't know but they had to be real close to perform that kind of magic. Distance weekens the essence.", Bonnie said. " So, you can be harmed again and there is nothing we can do about it?", Jeremy was frustrated. Bonnie moved closer to him and cupped his face between her hands, "I'm so sorry but I don't know what to do. We will figure something out like always." Jeremy gave an unconvincing smile. He kissed her plam and said, " Come on we have to go."

Caroline and Shiela were setting the table with one extra sitting. " Who's coming?", Shiela asked. "I don't know. Your mom said it is a surprise." Caroline said looking over the table and smiling at a table well set. It was another Saturday night and seeing how tense the house had been, this seemed like a good way to relax.

After helping Caroline, Shiela ran to her room to colour some more. Alaric was in his room doing god knew what. Caroline waited anxiously for the guest. The door bell rang and Jeremy opened it. Caroline went to see who it was. She walked down the hall and standing in front of her looking the same as ever was Stefan Salvatore. Caroline stood still. She knew he wouldn't be as accepting of her as Bonnie and Jeremy were. She hadn't even said good bye.

He swooshed and stood in front of her, "Caroline." She gave a small smile and before she knew, everything went black.

Stefan looked at the girl who once was his best friend. And now she lay down on the floor. He was so angry at her that before she could say anything,  he had snapped her neck. "Did you really have to do that?", Bonnie asked as she came out.

"Let's first put her body somewhere. of the kids-" and before Jeremy could finish his sentence, Shiela ran and launched herself on her uncle Stefan. "You came!", she exclaimed. "Of course I came.", Stefan smiled. "What happened to her?", Alaric asked, making his presence known. "Umm...she fainted.", Liz explained. "Yeah I will take her to the hospital and get her checked.", Stefan said placing Shiela on her feet and picking up Caroline.

The adults let the two vampires go. They knew that Stefan and Caroline needed to sort things out. The two kids followed their parents and Saturday dinner proceeded without anymore drama.

Stefan took Caroline to the Salvatore mansion and waited for her to wake up. He wanted answers and this time she wouldn't be able to run away before he got them. He placed her on the couch and made himself a drink. "Uhhh...ouch. That hurt Stefan.", she said as she gained consciousness. "It was meant to.", he said. She sat up and looked around. The head quarters for all their activities. She had missed this place. She looked at him and gave a small smile, "Do you want to snap my neck again? Or maybe poke me with sticks?", she asked. Caroline knew he was angry and disappointed in her. "Where were you these past 2 decades?", he asked directly to the point. "Around", she answered vaguely, "I kept moving a lot." " Why didn't you tell me?", he asked again. " Because I couldn't face you and you would have tried to stop me.", she said. "Yes, maybe I would have. You shouldn't have run away.", he accused her. Caroline shook her head, " I had to. I couldn't be in Mystic Falls anymore. The place was crazy." He looked at her for the first time and a silent understanding passed through the two immortals. They both were still the same and they would always be. But Stefan too angry to comprehend anything and so for the second time that day, he snapped her neck.