#12kcxmas

[witchergeralt]

12 steps for klaroline christmas ♡ step 1: spice santa

[labime]

10 DAYS FOR 12 STEPS FOR KLAROLINE XMAS → Step 7 → Trope x Trope → Office Romance x Secret Relationship

[klarolineshippersclub]

10 DAYS FOR 12 STEPS FOR KLAROLINE XMAS.

Remember our steps and dates:

Step 1 (Dec 1st - 2nd): Spice Santa Sexy times

Step 2 (Dec 3rd - 4th): Fluff is in the air

Step 3 (Dec 5th - 6th): A first time (just about doing anything for the first time)

Step 4 (Dec 7th - 8th): “Forbidden Love“

Step 5 (Dec 9th - 10th): Teenage dreams (High school or College)

Step 6 (Dec 11th - 12th): Fantasy / fairy tale / mythological

Step 7 (Dec 13th - 14th): Trope x Trope

Step 8 (Dec 15th - 16th): Celebrities (actors, musicians, youtubers, etc)

Step 9 (Dec 17th - 18th): Movie/book plot

Step 10 (Dec 19th - 20th): Holiday Volunteering

Step 11 (Dec 21st - 22nd): Holiday traditions

Step 12 (Dec 23rd - 24th): Christmas in Nola

We made it (Dec 25th): Merry Christmas - Winter Wonderland

If you participate, please don’t forget to add the #12KCXMAS & #Klaroline Shippers Club tags under your five first tags so we can reblog them and also everyone can see your creations.

Love, Paula & Monica

[lalainajanes]

Hi! idk if you're still taking prompts but can you do one where klaus and caroline are coworker's who are always getting into heated screaming matches during team meetings and everyone who works with them is just used to it, but the new girl is like wtf??? and then later finds out that they're actually married and don't hate each other?? thanks!! your writing gives me life

Obviously I could not resist fluff day! For Step Two of @klarolineshippersclub 12KCXmas event!

With Friends Like These

The office is deserted – its 7 PM on a Friday – so Caroline’sstartled by the sound she hears coming from the hall. It’s a staccato series oftaps. Heels, eating up the distance quickly, and she rolls her chair back,grabbing her phone from the corner of the desk just in case someone’s bleeding.

She’s about to go and see what’s happening, when Kat barrelsin. Her eyes are wide with what Caroline suspects is glee, her hair a wildwindblown mass of curls. Her jackets only half buttoned and she tosses asideher purse, rushing towards Caroline. “You will not believe what I just heard!”

Caroline lets herself be shaken, taking another confusedlook at Kat’s dishevelment. “Did you run from the bar? Thought you were goingto try to seduce the new guy.”

Katherine looks offended. “Try? Please. Mason’s a sure bet.He’ll keep until next week.”

“Wow,” Caroline drawls. “Something came up that’s kept youfrom guaranteed sex? Must be big.”

Katherine lets go of her, tossing her hair over her shoulderand letting out an irritated huff. “Yeah, yeah, mock me. We don’t all get to scheduleregular freaky married sex.”

It takes a fair amount of willpower not to tear her eyesaway and Caroline lifts her chin stubbornly. Katherine might know far too many details about her and Klaus’ sex life butthat was only because Caroline gets a little over share-y when tequila’sinvolved in a girl’s night out. Klaus is shameless enough not to care, evenwhen Kat’s comments get overly pointed. If anything, he leans into it, lets hishands linger and does his best to make Caroline blush. Caroline is working onbuilding up the same aplomb in the face of Kat’s suggestive smirks and taunts.

“You seem to do just fine in the freaky sex department,” shesnipes back.

Katherine grins, slow and very pleased with herself. “Ireally do.”

Caroline groans, walking over to the couch that lines onewall of her office. “I do not want to have this conversation with you.”

Her dry spell is hours away from ending and she’s really looking forward to it.

Klaus has been gone for ten days, dealing with inspectionsfor the new hotel the company is opening in London. Caroline’s team is busy puttingtogether room concepts so she hadn’t been able to justify taking the time awayto accompany him.

She likes phone sex as much as the next girl whose husbandhas a hot accent but it got old after a few days. She misses having a warm bodyto roll into at night; the way he wakes he scrapes his morning beard againsther shoulder when she grumbles about the alarm.

“Someone’s cranky!” Katherine sings. She circles Caroline’sdesk, helping herself to the bourbon that’s stashed in the lowest drawer. “Mynews might not help you.”

Oh joy.

Caroline slouches low, letting her legs flop ratherungracefully, “And yet, you rushed all the way back here to tell me about it?”

“It’s just too hilarious. I couldn’t not.”

Katherine’s sense of humor is a weird thing, an acquiredtaste, so Caroline braces herself. “Alright, hit me.”

“Uh uh. Let me set the scene.”

“And people say I’m dramatic.”

Kat ignores the complaint, lifting the bottle high. “There Iam, in the ladies room…”

“Taking off your panties so you could stuff them in Mason’spocket?”

“Please. Like you’ve never used that move.”

Caroline could honestly say she hadn’t (Klaus likes toremove her lingerie himself) but Katherine’s already continuing her tale. Sheperches on the edge of Caroline’s desk, wiggling in an effort to getcomfortable.

So it’s not going to be a short story. Caroline presses herlips together, holding in a sigh, glancing at the clock. She’s supposed to grabKlaus from the airport at eleven and she’d planned go home and change intosomething easier to remove beforehand. Hopefully Katherine can resist the urgeto embellish too extensively.

“I’m minding my own business, about to flush, when I hear afamiliar name.”

“Yours?”

“Nope, yours. Preceded and followed by some very colorfuldescriptors.” She pauses expectantly, eagerly watching for Caroline’s reaction.

Only to be disappointed when Caroline shrugs, emitting onlya dismissive, “Somehow I’ll survive.” The last time she’d really been overlyconcerned with other people liking her she’d owned pom poms.

Katherine, however, isn’t finished.

“Really? Even when I tell you that our little bathroomgossiper had very complimentary things to say about your hubs?”

Her hands curl into the couch’s cushions, a teeny flare ofjealousy flaring bright.

She’s an only child and she gets a little possessive, okay?Klaus is into it. He’s also no stranger to getting growly and shooting murdereyes and staking a claim and, since he’s got a bajillion siblings, he doesn’t evenhave the same justification for being bad at sharing.

Those incidents usually result in an immediate need forprivacy (or the reasonable facsimile found behind a locked office door or thebackseat of a car). The next day they’ll sleep in, there will be hickies on herthighs and scratches on his back, and they’ll eat dessert for breakfast.

Honestly, Caroline kind of loves that particular ritual,knows very well that Klaus does too.

“Not everyone thinks Klaus is awful,” Caroline points out.

“Because most people are dumb and lack my excellent taste.”

Caroline eyes the bottle, seriously considering chugging abit and just calling a cab when it’s time to collect Klaus. She really doesn’twant to be drunk for their reunion but, if Kat doesn’t hurry up and get to apoint, it might be her best option. “I love you so I’m going to ignore the factthat you kinda just called me dumb.”

Katherine scoffs, “You’re not dumb, just dickmatized.”

It’s probably a good thing she’s not drinking because shewould have choked. Caroline’s laugh sputters out, grows in volume, and she hasto cover her mouth when it becomes hard to control herself. Her eyes water alittle as she finally manages to stop giggling, “Yeah, I’m totally tellingKlaus that you said that. He’ll take it as a compliment.”

“Literally the only nice thing I’ll ever say about him isthat you’re far more bearable and less uptight than you used to be. I creditthe regular orgasms.”

She and Katherine had been hired at about the same time and,in the beginning, hadn’t gotten along overly well. Kat now headed The MikaelsonGroup’s marketing team, was a wizard at luring in celebs and influencers andmaking their hotels a coveted destination. Caroline had worked her way up torun a design team. It’s how she’d met Klaus (and they’d butted heads too in theearly days) coordinating with him and his architect minions.

“I, too, am a big fan,” Caroline admits. “Though, honestly,you should really give cuddling a try. Totally relaxing.”

“Ew, pass.”

It’s an argument they’ve had before.

“Anyway,” Katherine says, so loudly that Carolineinstinctively glances towards the door. “Back to my story. Greta Martin thinksyou should stop being a total bitch to Klaus in meetings. Oh, and she’s alsoplanning on banging him.”

Caroline sits up, now outraged. “I am not…”

Katherine cuts her off, “You have been a little snippy thisweek.”

Only because Klaus has been baiting her.

“That’s just how we are. He pokes, I prod. He’s annoyinglysmug, all ‘oh, aren’t I the cleverest?’ and I like to knock him down.”

“Verbal foreplay is your thing,” Katherine says, adding aknowing nod.

She throws her hands up, collapsing back again. “Exactly! Mymarriage is freaking great and if that…”

Again, she doesn’t get to work up to a proper rant. Superannoying.

“That’s the best part!” Katherine crows. “She has no ideayou and Klaus are married! Talk about dumb people.”

Well, that’s mollifying. Slightly. Caroline will just haveto make things clear. Plans begin to form. She discards the racier ones (unlessGreta proves to be unwilling to take a hint). She twists her wedding bandabsently, “How has she not noted the rings?”

“Forget the rings. How she hasn’t noted Klaus’ doofybesotted face whenever you walk into a room is the bigger issue. Maybe sheneeds glasses?”

Maybe Caroline will get her assistant to shoot Greta anemail detailing the company’s excellent insurance coverage on Monday.

She hears the bottle clink and she shakes off her mentallists, shooting Katherine a glare. “You know, it would have been easy for youto clear up her misconceptions in that bathroom.”

Kat’s brows rise and she shoots Caroline a look like she’ssaid something totally insane. “And deprive myself of prime workplace drama?Please. You know how bored I get on Wednesdays when I have to sit in those dumblegal meetings.”

Caroline’s displeasure must read on her face because Kattosses her a bright smile, leaning forward and offering the bottle. Her toneturns placating, “Oh, relax, Cupcake. It’s harmless. You’ll probably forget allabout this little snafu over the weekend.”

Caroline’s does have big plans.

“Maybe,” she allows grudgingly. She stands, straighteningher pencil skirt. “Speaking of, I should go home and make myself pretty.”

“You’re going to do that gross airport make out thing, aren’tyou?”

Caroline smiles, not trying to hide the slightly mockingedge to it. “Usually, yeah. But Elijah’s not a guy who tolerates a scene.”

She relishes the freezing of Katherine’s body, the wideningof her dark eyes. Her hand flexes, looking for the bottle that had recentlybeen clutched there.

Caroline withholds it, setting it down and out of reach.

She’s not entirely sure what had gone down at the Christmasparty last year (Katherine was way better at keeping secrets no matter how muchliquor was applied) but she knows Kat’s red lip had been rubbed off and Elijah’svest had been buttoned incorrectly when she and Klaus had met the odd couple atthe elevator bank.

Kat had twitched a little at the mention of Elijah’s nameever since.

She adopts her sweetest expression, “Maybe the legalmeetings will be more exciting when Elijah’s leading them in person, hmm?”

Katherine’s mouth opens. Closes. She wiggles her toes to gether heels back in place before hopping off the desk. “I need to…”

She doesn’t finish her sentence, stalking out of the office.Caroline watches her go, both satisfied and bursting with curiosity. A speechlessKatherine Pierce? Caroline never thought she’d see the day.

She makes a mental note to tell Klaus, to wheedle until heagrees to pump Elijah for info. She didn’t often get bored at work, not whenshe could just pop into Klaus’ office and poke around in his projects. But hehad another trip on his calendar next month.

She won’t turn down a little in office entertainment whilehe’s gone.

[sunshineandfangs]

End of the Beginning

Step 12: Christmas in NOLA

@howeverlongs and @joey-prue

Warnings: some show typical violence, allusions to Damon’s treatment of Caroline, Darker!Klaus, alternate history and first meeting

Caroline tossed back a shot of vodka, relishing the burn of it. It wasn’t even quality vodka, but then she wasn’t drinking for the pleasure of it. She was drinking to get drunk. Well, as drunk as her vampire metabolism would allow.

Yesterday, she had honored the life her mother had lived. Flipped through old photo albums and allowed the memories to wash over her. Happiness, exasperation, fondness. Tidied up the house and boxed up all the knickknacks of sentimental value. Had the most important ones shipped to her current home. Even lingered carefully in the shadows as the Mystic Falls police department gave their former sheriff a proper send off.

But today was about the grief. Perhaps, had she been younger, not had some sixty years to come to terms with her mother’s mortality, the grief would have broken part of her. As it was, it hurt, but it was the bearable kind of hurt. The kind that she would carry with her, a new weight, but not the kind to pierce through her, it wouldn’t leave her bleeding.

Raising an arm, the blonde flagged down the bartender, requested another round of shots. She only had time to throw back one of them when she sensed another presence beside her. It was a vampire, though not an old one, potentially younger than her even.

Setting the glass down, Caroline turned, arching a questioning eyebrow.

“Yes?”

The seemingly young man looked a bit apologetic albeit firm as he requested she come with him. “I’m afraid all new vampires need to check in.”

She swallowed a scoff. There had been rumors that New Orleans had rather strict rules for the Supernatural community, but a summons of all things? That was a bit...archaic.

“Seriously?” She blurted. “I’m not planning to stay, only for the holidays.” And it was true. The rumors were one of the reasons she had avoided NOLA until now, but visiting had been on her mother’s bucket list. In fact, it had been their planned trip for Christmas, and though part of her twisted from the absence Caroline decided to go anyway. So she arrived the 23rd, gave herself the day to wallow, but firmly planned that the 24th and 25th would be full of every holiday attraction.

The man half-shrugged. “Yeah, it’s a bit much, but that’s the policy.”

Caroline sighed, stuck a hundred dollar bill under the glass, and followed the vampire out the door, making sure to snag her purse as they left.

“I’m Josh, by the way.”

Disgruntled, but not one to shoot the messenger, she offered her own name with only a hint of bite in her tone. “Caroline.”

“So, you’re lucky, the King had business elsewhere.” ‘King?’ Caroline silently mouthed, brow scrunching. Josh continued without pause, either oblivious to or expecting her reaction. “Either his protégé or his brother will see you and they’re both less...intense.”

She couldn't help herself. “Okay, but seriously, King? He calls himself the ‘King’?”

Josh actually stopped and turned to look at her, eyes surprisingly serious. He leaned in a bit closer, lowered his voice to his a whisper.

“You may think it’s ridiculous, and perhaps it is, but the King isn’t one for disrespect. I’ve seen him rip heads off for less than that. He may not be here, but he has a way of knowing things.”

Caroline frowned, but nodded. Europe had its share of old, pompous vampires, so she knew to hold her tongue. This certainly wasn’t worth dying over.

“Ah, you must be Caroline.” She looked up, eyes taking in the handsome black man before her, his teeth a brilliant white as he smiled at her. There was a cunning kind of charm to him, but he only felt a few centuries old at most. Tentatively, she marked him down as the protégé.

Standing she offered her hand with a practiced smile. “That’s me. It’s nice to meet you…”

Giving it a firm shake, he nodded at her. “Marcel.”

“Nice to meet you, Marcel.” She tucked a curl behind her ear, looking innocent and nonthreatening. “So, Josh told me about the whole check-in thing. What does this entail exactly?”

“Nothing much, just a few questions. Your name, how long you’re staying, when and where you  turned. Then, you’re free to go.”

Caroline slowly nodded, doubting that was the whole truth, but it was pretty basic information.

“Well, my name’s Caroline Forbes and I only plan to stay until Christmas is over, the 26th at the latest. I was turned about sixty years ago in Mystic Falls.”

Alarm raced down her spine at the way Marcel stiffened for a split second though his expression remained pleasant. Caroline had developed keen senses over the years, unusually sharp for a vampire of her age. She could feel that the air in the room had shifted. Something about what she had just said was more important than she had assumed. 

In a moment, she realized why.

“Apologies, Miss Forbes.” Caroline whirled to face the voice, though careful not to completely turn her back on Marcel. It belonged to a brown-haired man bedecked in an outrageously expensive suit. She could feel the waves of power wafting off him, older than any she had felt before. Paired with the way he had appeared silently in the doorway, a terrible suspicion started burning in her gut. “I must ask that you remain here until my brother returns. He will wish to meet you.”

“Your brother?” She asked, wary and not really bothering to hide it. It seemed the time for facades was over.

“The King,” he said simply.

Not good. Josh hadn’t exactly given the man a glowing recommendation.

“And I suppose I can’t return to my hotel in the meantime?”

His lips quirked. “I’m afraid not, Miss Forbes.”

She barely resisted to the urge to rub her forehead in exasperation, though she used the feeling to beat back her instinctual fear. Now, wasn’t the time to panic.

“I see. I’m sorry, I haven’t caught your name?”

“It’s Elijah, Miss Forbes.”

She felt him watching her carefully, but she couldn’t control the way she froze. The way her heart stuttered a beat. How many ancient suit wearing vampires named Elijah could there be? She hoped it was at least two, but judging by their reactions if there were two, this wasn’t the second one.

That was the last thought she had before her world went black with a sharp crack.

“Pity,” Marcel muttered as Elijah hefted the fallen blonde from the floor. Her neck at an awkward angle.

When Caroline came to, not only did her neck have a lingering ache from being broken, but her wrists, arms, and shoulders felt strained as well. It didn’t take her long to realize she was chained, though she kept her eyes closed.

This was very, very not good.

“We never encountered her, Niklaus, I doubt she knows anything.”

There was a dark chuckle. “Please, with a last name like ‘Forbes’ and a noticeable reaction to your name? You know better than that, Elijah.”

There was a quiet sigh. “At least try to control yourself, brother.”

A whistle of air and Caroline knew one of them left. Elijah, if she had to guess.

Footsteps moved closer to her hanging form, the weight of the power accompanying them enormous.

“You did a commendable job not reacting to my name, sweetheart, but I know you’re awake.” The back of a finger stroked her cheek. “Even vampires have little tells when they return to consciousness.”

Caroline let her eyes open, face expressionless as she took in his smirking visage. The curve of his mouth invited while his eyes threatened, a glacier blue glinting wolf-gold. He was uncomfortably close to her, his knuckle still brushing the edge of her jaw.

She steeled herself and jerked her arms, letting the chains rattle. “Is this how you treat all your guests?” She bit out.

His eyes darkened, and he leaned closer, his nose just brushing hers. “Surely, Josh warned you of my intolerance for disrespect?”

Caroline lifted her chin as best as she could. “He did.” She smirked sardonically. “But you won’t kill me until I tell you whatever it is you want from me. And after that, what I do won’t sway your decision to kill me or not. So I refuse to spend my last moments begging for my life.”

He almost looked impressed before he seized her jaw.

“Brave little vampire,” he rumbled. “You are quite correct. But I assure you, I can make the agony of your death linger for decades. Centuries even.”

She swallowed, throat dry as she read the utter sincerity in his eyes. Falling silent, she didn’t provoke him more though she refused to apologize either.

He spent several long moments just observing her before he moved back a step, releasing her jaw. Arms crossed behind his back and a pleasant expression on his face, he’d seem ordinary if not for the sinister air about him.

“Now,” he uttered, pupils dilating, “tell me what you know of the Originals.”

The smart decision would be to act compelled. But she honestly wasn’t sure how good of an actress she was, nor what orders an infamous nightmare like Klaus would give her. Besides, a part of her rebelled at the idea of capitulating to compulsion of all things. He may kill her. Torture her even. But she refused to be twisted up into a caricature of herself, living in constant fear of something endlessly stronger than herself. Refused to have her choices ripped from her a second time.

She licked her lips, held his gaze as she carefully spoke. “I will answer all your questions, but I will not be compelled. Not by you. Not by anyone.” Not again.

In an instant, Klaus was pressed against her. His fingers weaving through her hair and yanking her head to the side, burying his nose in the curve of her neck. A split second later fire ran through her veins, his venomous teeth tearing through the delicate flesh there. She felt every agonizing pull the Original took of her blood, slumping in her bonds as he stepped away.

“There’s truly no vervain in your system. How curious.”

Caroline strained to lift her head, the rapid effects of his bite as startling as they were frightening. Her vision was starting to blur, but he appeared almost contemplative as he returned her stare.

To her shock, he bit into his wrist, pressing the wound to her lips. It was like sin on her tongue, its power alleviating the burn and knitting her skin back together after only one sip.

He watched her drink, eyes glinting with intrigue. “You and I have more to discuss than I thought, Caroline.”

AN: So, this one kinda lacked the Christmas angle, though it was technically Christmas Eve...

In terms of history, Caroline had a rocky relationship with her parents after turning, but eventually they accepted her. Bill even taught her to resist compulsion.

[klavscaroline]

12 Steps for Klaroline X’mas: Step 5 - Teenage Dreams

again, thank you to @klarolineshippersclub for organising the event

Prompt: I got caught with someone under the mistletoe and you literally sprint from across the room to shove them out of the way and take their spot

The party was already in full swing when he arrived in the overly stuffy tuxedo his mother insisted that he and his siblings wore to their annual Christmas Eve bash. Practically half of Mystic Falls were invited to attend the celebration at their family’s mansion and the place was swarmed with people holding champagne flutes, exchanging holiday wishes.

He looked around for some acceptable company when he saw the blonde girl who had made recurring appearances in his dreams lately and he couldn’t help but admire the way her oversized Christmas sweater was wrapped around her smaller frame. He watched as she laughed happily with her friends, throwing her head back, before catching his eye abruptly and giving him a shy smile from across the room.

He raised his own champagne flute as a sign of acknowledgment before he was distracted by his friend, Marcel, who sparked up a conversation about their upcoming college applications and whatnot.

The conversation had him thinking of what little time he had left in Mystic Falls before he would move across the country for his future. But if there was anything he wanted to do before leaving here permanently, it was to at least confess his feelings to Caroline before it was all too late. There were many moments where he would catch her giving him the same look as he would catch on himself when he saw her, and it was difficult to hide his glee. Yet, he knew that if he let her go without knowing how she felt about him for certain, she would become another what if that he would come to regret later on in life.

So he excused himself from Marcel and started his search for the girl in question who had disappeared from the ballroom altogether.

It may sound conceited and arrogant, but there were many times where he would curse his house for the completely unnecessary number of rooms for the seven people who lived there. He walked past the ballroom to the dining room, which hosted a number of middle aged couples, to the living room, where most of his siblings sat playing card games with their friends. But there were no signs of the blonde anywhere.

Dejectedly, he figured she must have left out of sheer boredom from this absolutely un-entertaining event and stepped outside to the balcony for some fresh air.

He was already deep in thoughts when he felt a presence beside him. Holding his breath that it may somehow be Caroline making her appearance, he turned to look at the intruder.

His heart fell when he recognised that it was just a friend from school, Camille, who had recently transferred from New Orleans for their senior year, and she was looking up at the ceiling with a rather amused expression.

“It looks like we’ve been caught under the mistletoe,” she looked at him intently.

He glanced up and confirmed her observations as the offending piece of decoration hung high above them, ribbon in place and all.

He tried to hide his displeasure as he took a step away from her so that she wasn’t impinging in his personal space, “Must have been Kol, he loves to play pranks on people like that,” Klaus muttered, unamused at the situation that he was being subjected to.

Camille smiled, almost shyly at him, and said, “You know the traditions,” she began to lean in.

Klaus was just about to back away once more when he felt another person leap in at lightning speed, just in time to push Camille away. That person quickly held him by the shoulders, tiptoed and planted a soft kiss on his lips that took him by surprise.

He opened his eyes in shock as he heard a giggle, “Sorry about that,” she said, slightly abashed at her forwardness.

Still holding onto his shoulders was Caroline Forbes who had clearly pushed the disgruntled Camille out of the way before she could land a kiss with Klaus. The reigning Miss Mystic Falls felt a blush creep onto her cheeks that she could not blame altogether on the cold, but rather on the man she was currently with.

He barely registered that Camille had slipped away after her failed attempt, as he was so absorbed in the moment with Caroline. He could not believe the turn of events that had led to the last fifteen seconds and he found himself gleaming at his festive luck.

“I’m glad it was you, sweetheart,” he mused, tucking a piece of stray hair behind her ear.

“I’m glad I did it, too,” she whispered, leaning up to kiss him once more. Only this time, he responded with all the feelings he’s been holding inside him just as the clock struck midnight. It’s safe to say that it was a very Merry Christmas indeed.

(A/N): Ahhh, that was so cheesy but anyway, I live for fluff and romantic cliches. Hope you guys liked it!

[poonyo]

For @garglyswoof who asked, I couldn't include dragons but I think I added something almost as good. Inspired by this post.

Step 6 of kcxmas, @klarolineshippersclub.

Warning: Canon-typical violence.

No Light, No Light.

Somewhere in the distance she could hear a star exploding and above, the sky filled with colours of fire and destruction.

It was a canvas of red and oranges and purples, firelights dancing in her line of vision.

Then she was falling, this thing called gravity pulling her weight to an unknown destination until the Earth grew closer and closer, until she fell with a loud thud that rattled the area.

She let out a low guttural moan, every inch of her moving with difficulty and feeling like lead. If she were human, she would've said she was dying.

That train of thought had her frowning, head all foggy from the pain that shook her being, what was she then if not what she'd called human?

“Caroline.”

Startled, she tried to lift her face from the rough ground, the voice familiar. She only spotted shadows floating around feet before her eyes rolled to the back of her head, convulsions raking through her.

“Caroline!”

The voice sounded far away now, like that of a distant dream. Or nightmare, for the flames burning though her and digging at her marrow, her mouth opened in a soundless scream couldn't be anything else.

Unexpectedly, the pain faded away, and she was left with dull senses and aching muscles.

The voice spoke again, this time with a hand on her shoulder, “Caroline, you have to open your eyes.”

She did, bleary and weak, her lashes fluttering open til she was able to see clearly. Those shadows she'd seen clinging to black clothed feet moved with fluidity around her.

A man knelt at her side, looking like he was vaguely concerned with the subtle furrowing of his brows. A blink and she was able to place where she knew those violet eyes and brown skin.

But not something to call the creature in front of her, her mentor. She searched and searched her mind and came up with nothing, every time she tried to grasp on a thread that would lead her to her answer, it'd be cut off and she would be left spiralling.

She could remember naught, but she knew one thing for certain.

“That’s not my name.” “It is now,” there was no hint of kindness in his tone, but she thought she detected some pity underneath. “Who you were, the life you lived before you got to this world, forget all of it. You need to become someone else, someone better if you want to survive.”

She parted her lips to speak but was cut off.

“You can never utter your name. In this world, names are powerful dangerous things, to mention yours or mine or that of any of our people would have unforeseen consequences.”

The shadows furled and unfurled around her.

“I have to go.” Panic gripped her so tightly she almost choked, but the touch of her mentor became soothing as he ran the palm of his other hand across her forehead. “You'll be alright, my dear. I have no doubt of that. It's such a strange place what’s left of us have found ourselves into but you, I know will thrive the most.”

His cheeks curved in a genuine smile, the first in many centuries that she'd seen. He stood, his height disconcerting from her position then all the shadows engulfed him and he disappeared.

Distinctly, she could hear another star erupting.

It took a few human days before Caroline could support her weight and move from the earth, galaxing spinning out of order.

The world changed, of course it did. The Earth rotated around its axis and civilisations rose and fell. She walked on sea shores and climbed mountains, repeated her new name in her mind as many times as she could to get used to it; Caroline, Caroline, Caroline.

She watched as kings and queens ruled and rebellions sparked, saw human death and plague, learned the taste of despair on her tongue.

But it was discovering what happened to her people, their magic, that had almost destroyed her.

Her people were scattered and lost to realms beyond her, powers almost nullifies from how much was stolen. Those that her mentor had mentioned were stranded on earth as she were, she'd found no clues to.

A smart move on their part, for Caroline had left no trail for anyone to follow herself.

The elders of her kind had grown greedy with their lust for more power, and they’d had no qualms about ripping apart the fabric of existence and putting it back together to suit their tastes. To be caught by them would be the height of idiocy.

Demons were no longer free as they'd once been, their magic bound to bargains and servitude. They had to drive nourishment from mortal blood, and iron burned.

The first time she was forcibly taught what a summoning was, she feasted on the human for days.

It had been delicious.

She groaned at the peek of sunlight in her room, delving deeper under the covers, burrowing in the softness of the bed covers. The twenty first century might be too loud for her but the quality of things more than made up for it.

Her phone alarm beeped but she ignored it, manipulating the device to be silent with her powers; today was her me-day.

A bubble bath, a tiramisu and her favourite novel were to be her only companions and it was an incredibly pleasing prospect.

Unexpectedly, Caroline felt the unyielding pull of a summoning tugging at her. Eyes wide open, she sprang up from the bed, an animalistic growl in her throat; suddenly thirsty for the blood of whoever foolish enough to call her to them.

She lifted the sheets, wanting to go change before she faced the person who decided to ruin her day and subsequently bring about the end of his life, but she stumbled and fell, the pull far too strong as it transported her through space.

Caroline scrambled for bits and pieces of her magic; using it to hide herself from immediate sight when she found herself sprawled over some hardwood floor.

If she ever had the displeasure of meeting The Elders in person, she was going to punch them straight in the face.

She stood up, allowing herself a minute to pick up on clues on where she was, grimacing when she smelled the strong aroma of demonsbane, the tang of iron in the air, the calm of the forest.

Caroline was not in the mood for witches.

After a few minute passing, she let her black bubble slowly fade, seeing a circle of witches around her, spotting three more people in the back. Heads bowed, candles flickering, the witches had their eyes closed with obsidian stones in their hands and she wanted to snort.

How very cliché.

She was pleased by the gasp that followed as soon as they broke out of their trance. She knew what they saw, the illuminated skin and sharp cheekbones, the vibrant blue of her eyes, so vibrant they could be seen light years away, her fangs out, sharp and lethal.

But it was the shadows that her type of demons possessed, enveloping her like fabric, shimmering and infinite in their appearance that made mortal hearts beat rapidly.

“Hmm, so the summoning did work,” a female voice said. Caroline glanced at the group at the back, spotting the blonde. “Looks like you dears are not going to die, today. Pity that.”

The witches gave a collective shudder.

Curiosity welled up within her at the interaction. She'd already seen the daylight rings those three wore - another blond, with a scruff and dangerous eyes and another, dark haired, wearing a suit - but didn't know how to proceed.

Vampires and demons rarely dealt with each other, both too similar, and when they did, witches were most certainly not involved.

She tended to mostly avoid them when she could.

The blond haired man stepped forward, just an inch from the circle.

“What a pleasure to meet you, sweetheart.”

An arched brow was all she bothered with as a response.

She was already missing her bubble bath.

Caroline looked at the man with intrigue, fascinated by the ancient feel to his monster, the other two were old too, but he had a bit of an edge to him.

He smiled as if he knew it.

Clasping her hands behind her back, she circled around in her limited, confined space, noting all the symbols made from salts and stones, the runs carved in the soil.

A particular letter grabbed her attention and she moved as close as she could to get a better look, felt her blood freeze as she read the word.

No. It couldn't be.

It just wasn't possible.

Her magic reacted to her fright, reaching out to the witches and choking their throats. Dimly, she heard the gurgling noises they made, though couldn't find it within her to care.

They'd written her name.

Not her mortal title, not her description but the name she had been called before she was stranded on Earth. The lines scrawled were methodical and elegant but that meant nothing.

All she could hear was her mentor's voice in her ears.

Names are dangerous things.

No wonder the summoning had pulled at her so strongly.

“So Kol had been right,” The blond said from behind her. She whirled to see him standing inside the circle of salt, a satisfied curl to his mouth.

The witches were all dead, bodies thrown haphazardly by the wild burst of her power, blood streaking faces.

She almost reprimanded herself for not making it last longer, wanting to quell the deep anger that was contained inside her. Caroline couldn't hurt the vampires; tethered to the bargain-to-be as they were, but some of the the witches would have done just fine.

“Shame he isn't here to see the fruit of his labour himself,” he continued. “I'll be sure to tell him once we retrieve him from The Other Side.”

Caroline stilled; there was rage there, in his eyes, a fury that spoke to her old forgotten one at losing her entire world.

He picked her hand, bowing to press a gentle kiss before he straightened.

“I'm sure we can come to a mutually beneficial agreement, love. But for now, call me Klaus.”

[joey-prue]

Forbidden Love for Klaroline Xmas Step 4