The Storm Ahead

twenty one

Caroline's POV

"No, no, no," I sobbed, but of course the words didn't pass my lips, "you can't make me."

"So," Felix started, "Do you think Aiden will let me leave with you for your little Leo's life?"

"Probably," The other me said with a shrug.

"So cold," He said with a smile, "It's hot."

She shrugged.

She isn't me. She can't be me. She doesn't care about the boys. My boys. He pushed past the front door, and I silently begged him to leave us alone.

"Caroline, what hell happened?" Leo accused, standing in front of Aiden.

"Aiden decided to rain on the parade."

"What is wrong with you?" He asked, and I could feel his eyes search mine.

Please realize it's not me.

"Daddy issues I guess."

Leo's eyes widened.

Please Leo, I thought, Please notice.

"What do you want me to do, Care?" He asked me, his voice soft, and his eyes weren't looking at her, they were looking past her, to me.

Felix stalked towards him. Before I could blink he had Leo by the throat, and a knife off of the table. He held it to Leo's throat and sent me a look.

"She wants you to let her leave," Felix murmured in his ear. I saw Leo's jaw tense and I could see the anger on his face. Aiden tried to step towards Felix, but Felix clicked his tongue and pulled the knife closer to Leo's throat.

"Aide," She said, her voice smooth and warm, "Just give me the car keys, Baby, and we can leave."

His body seemed to relax at my voice, until She took another step towards him. His barriers went up, and that dark boy from all those months ago was back. She traced her finger along his jaw and raised her lips up to his but he pushed her away. His eyes wouldn't meet hers. He reached into his pockets and threw his key at her.

"Get out of here, Caroline. Now." He growled and I shuddered. She gave him a grin.

"See you soon, Baby," She laughed and spun towards the door.

I screamed against the barriers that trapped me in my mind.

Lucy padded behind her, and after a sniff let out a quiet growl.

Good girl, Lucy, I thought, warn them.

Leo's POV

I paced around the room as soon as they were outside.

"It's not her," I said as I walked back to the wall.

"Leo-" Aiden started.

"It's not her," I said again, loudly.

"Why don't you think it's her?" Billie asked softly from behind me.

"Caroline would never say 'Daddy Issues' she won't talk about her father or reference him in anyway. She would never say that phrase because it makes her upset. And did you not hear Lucy growl? Lucy has never growled at Caroline in her life. And come on Aiden," I said shooting him a glare, "Can you really believe that girl was Caroline?"

"Maybe." He said harshly.

I took a step closer to him.

"Leo-" Billie warned but I cut her off.

Venom laced my tone as I spoke, "If you can't see that the girl speaking from her, isn't her, then you don't know Caroline, and you do not deserve her."

"You can't prove that it isn't her,"

"And you can't prove it is."

My mind swirled. The look behind her eyes, like when she lies about being anxious, it was like something or someone was hiding behind the cool act. Caroline would never have used me as bait, not even on the worst day. The girl who was here, was not my Caroline.

"What's Felix's weakness? What can get him?" I asked Billie frantically.

"I'm not sure, I don't know him well enough."

"What's his power?"

"Mind control-" She said, her face falling with realization.

"Even if she's under control," Aiden said, "He must've built up from something she was feeling."

"For the love of god Aiden, right now your crush on her doesn't fucking matter," I growled, "Because we have to get her back. I do not give a single fuck if your heart hurts because she rejected you for someone else. Welcome to my life. It doesn't mean we leave her to die."

Aiden's POV

I could feel anger radiating from Leo as he met my eyes. 

His words echoed in my head. 

"It doesn't mean we leave her to die."

He was right. When was he not. The righteous little bastard was everything I wasn't. Gentle. Trusting. Kind. He could control his anger. 

"Alright," I said and let him pull me out the door. 

Caroline's POV

I tried to punch at the wall keeping me prisoner in my mind. It hurt. Sobs reeked through my body and I struggle to push the pain out. I tried to ignore it but it only intensified, pulling me back into the abyss. 

"Don't fight it, Baby, you'll only hurt yourself," He said and I tried to place the voice. I tried to pull  toward the memory of the caramel skin, of the dark hair. 

But the thought was quickly drowned out by the burning pain. 

"Here," He said softly and the pain faded. 

"Please," I whimpered and shock ran through me when the words came from my mouth. "Why are you doing this?"

"We're going to see a friend of mine," He said, eyes on the road. 

"They'll come after you," I whispered. 

"You think that warlock still wants you?"

"Probably not," I said, heartache heavy on my voice. "But he'll want his car back."

"You don't seem too concerned about your well being."

"Would it do me any good?" I said, "You can shove me back anytime."

"Thats true. But it'd be so much more fun if you didn't fight me."

"You didn't have to make me say those things to the boys."

"What did you want me to do?"

"You could've told me to come with you," I said quietly, "I've caused them enough pain."

"I dont doubt it."

I felt him study me. 

"I don't see what all the fuss about you is."