Loving you Forever

Chapter 11

Caroline smiled sweetly at the vendor selling some silks from Italy, "I do not think I am interested today. But thank you for your compliment."

"Are you sure Lady Plantagenet? The fabric will bring out your eyes." The vendor asked again, his toothy smile reveling that he was missing a few teeth.

"Yes Sampson, I am sure." She replied with a nod farewell and moved on toward the seed seller. Ever since Nik had told her of Edward's upcoming birthday she was sure he would appreciate some new rose seeds. His latest attempt to grow the beautiful flowers had failed.

The man standing in the seed stall was not the man she usually saw. This man had dark blonde hair, with icy blue eyes and his smile was not inviting like she thought it should be, instead it sent a chill up her spine. She considered just turning around and avoiding this man, but she wouldn't have another chance to come to the market before Edward's birthday dinner. So, she straightened her back and smiled at the man as she stopped in front of the stall.

"Good day my lady, what can I assist you with today?" The man asked, his eyes dancing with joy and hate.

The latter emotion caught Caroline off guard, but she spoke with a solid voice that gave away none of her concerns, "I was hoping that Jasper would have some new rose seeds. Where might he be today?"

"His wife has fallen ill. I am his neighbor, he asked if I would be kind enough to work his wares today. As he still needs to try and make a living." The man responded, but Caroline felt in her heart it was a lie, "My name is Jasper."

The name sent a cold feeling through Caroline's body, and she felt it wrap around her heart. It was not an uncommon name, she had known many Michaels in her life, but this one gave her a sense of danger. Also, the smirk he currently held on his face reminded her of Kol, and his eyes were the same shade as Rebekah's, who she wished she had not allowed to leave her not even twenty minutes earlier. The thing keeping her from running away while screaming her head off was all the other people around, that would keep him in line if it was in fact the Jasper that Nik had told her so much about. "That is very kind of you sir. Do you have rose seeds?"

"I do believe I have a few." He replied and reached down to grab a bag. He presented it to her, and Caroline took in the contents, they were in fact rose seeds.

"Lovely, I will take them." She answered with a sweet smile and removed the coins from her purse, "I am sure this will cover it."

"More than enough my lady." He replied and his fingers grazed hers when she reached for the bag. Caroline was shocked by the coldness of his skin and raised her eyes to his, which was exactly what he had intended. Caroline stood still has Jasper's hand tightened around hers, keeping her locked in place, and his eyes dilated, "You will answer every question I ask honestly, and you will not run away or scream. Do you understand me?"

Caroline had to think quickly, the vervain in her system prevented her from being compelled. She knew that was what he was trying to do because she had Nik demonstrate it for her one evening while they were in bed. So, she did the only thing she could think of to ensure she remained alive, "I understand."

He smiled, a wicked smile that frightened her down to her very soul, "Excellent. You are in fact Caroline Gibson, married to Nikolas Plantagenet?"

"Yes, I am." She replied, knowing that there was no reason to lie. She was sure this was a test question to see if the compulsion took.

"Do you love your husband?" He questioned her.

"With all my heart." Caroline responded without hesitation, nothing could ever make her lie about her feelings for Nik.

"And do you believe he loves you?" Jasper asked, his blue eyes burning with rage.

"Yes." Caroline answer, confused with where this line of questioning was going.

Jasper took a short pause before asking, "Has he told you what he is?"

"My husband is an Original vampire, with his siblings, but they are not as bad as the myths and stories would make one believe." She answered, knowing that adding that last bit would annoy him.

"He may have told you this, but he doesn't love you enough to protect you." He told her before his eyes locked on hers once again, and Caroline remained stock still, "When you return home tonight, and he comes to join you in bed, I want you to refuse him. Tell him that your heart has changed, you no longer love him and wish to never see him again. You have taken a lover, you will tell him, and it is with that man that you want to spend the rest of your life with. Tell him that no one could ever love a monster like him, not with all the crimes he has committed." Jasper watched her with uncaring eyes as tears started to escape Caroline's eyes, "Do you understand what your task is?"

"Yes, I must convince Nik that I don't love him. Why, why are you doing this?" She asked in return, trying to fight back the tears that she hadn't meant to shed. They were a combination of pain from his grip and her heart crying for the thoughts he had now placed in her head, even if she did not have to actually act out his sick game.

"He is an abomination that deserves to die, but he should be destroyed first. And if he loves you as much as you claim, losing you to another man will cause him to spiral out of control, and that makes him weak. Leaving me with the perfect opportunity to ram the white oak stake into his heart, right where it belongs." Jasper told her, still believing her to be under his compulsion, "You of course will not share a word of this. Now, take your seeds and head home. You have a husband to disappoint."

Caroline clenched the seeds tightly in her hand and quickly turned on her heel. She practically ran through the market, not caring that the other ladies were giving her odd looks. All she could think about was getting back to the mansion and telling Nik about this. They needed to run while they still could.

Due to her wayward thoughts, she didn't see the woman in front of her until they had collided. The woman, who was slightly taller than Caroline, and obviously much stronger prevented Caroline from taking a horrible fall to the dirty ground. Caroline immediately started to apologize, "I am so sorry. I was not paying attention to where my feet were taking me."

"It was no trouble to me my lady." The woman replied sweetly.

Caroline took a moment to study the woman, she was older than Caroline, but probably not by more than a few years. Her clothes suggested she had money, but her way of speaking suggested she had not been born into it. Her strength did not fit with her stature, which was not lean but there was no muscle mass to support it. Her hair was a shade of red that Caroline had not seen before, and it accented her pale skin perfectly. She reminded Caroline of a picture she had seen in Nik' study, of people from his past, he had not been happy with her for snooping, she had only had time to see two pictures. The one of the red haired woman in front of her and of a beautiful brunette in a strange dress, neither picture had had a name associated with it. It was because of this she decided that this woman was a vampire, that just seemed to be her luck today, "What might your name be?"

"Would be willing to accompany me for a walk Lady Plantagenet?" The woman asked, but it was clear to Caroline she really did not have much of a choice.

"I am in need to return home, there is some very important news that I must share with my husband." Caroline rebuffed, hoping that there was a way to get out of this. She was also wondering how her luck had turned out like this, two meetings with vampires in the same afternoon.

"Maybe then I can walk with you? I am sure you could do with some company on your way back up to the upper town." The woman pressed, and Caroline could see the annoyance starting to play in her eyes.

"I have a carriage waiting for me on the edge of the market square, but I thank you for your offer. Now, as you have yet to tell me your name, or why you wish to speak to me, I will be on my way." Caroline insisted and moved to step around the persistent woman, but she just blocked the way.

"I saw you talking with Jasper, I overheard your conversation. I just want to help you, and then perhaps, you will help me in return. As for my name, it is Sage." She answered, and she seemed to be convinced that she had won.

"I don't know what you think you heard, or how you think you could possibly help. I really must be going." Caroline tried again, but was stalled.

"I just want the man I love back Caroline. You are allowed to have happiness with yours, all I ask is for the same opportunity. I have been watching you for weeks, I know that you love Nik, and he seems to love you. Please, I want my Finn back, ask him about the brother he likes to keep in a box. I will contact you as soon as I can. Though, my guess is that it will be in a different place, at a different time. Jasper is always causing them to move." Sage told her, and was gone before Caroline could blink.

All of this was getting to be too much for Caroline, in the matter of an hour her life had been completely turned upside down. She had no idea who Finn was, Nik had never mentioned having another brother, or Sage. Jasper she had heard too much about to not be afraid, so she would focus on him, and worry about the mysterious redhead some other time.

Nik was lost in thought as he tried to figure out his next move. Edward had most of his pieces thoroughly trapped, and he was starting to believe there was no chance for a victory this time around.

Edward seemed to have realized this as well, "Ready to admit defeat Nikalus?"

Nik glared at his elder brother, "When have I ever done that?" He replied and moved his bishop, refusing to give up on what he was quickly coming to realize was a lost cause.

Edward did not have time to reply or make a move before the door to the room burst open and a terrified looking Caroline ran in. Her normally perfect hair was slightly tousled, as if she had been nervously running her hands through it, and her knuckles were bone-white as they clenched around a bag in her hands. Edward got to his feet in an instant, but Nik was quicker and was holding her in his arms.

"What happened?" He asked her, his eyes scanning over her body for any sign of injury, "Are you hurt?"

"I….I ran into a man at the market." She stuttered out, and Nik had to support her as she nearly collapsed, "He told me do such horrible things."

Nik carefully placed her in his now vacant chair, "Who was this man? Where did you met him?"

"In the market, when I was buying Edward some new seeds." Caroline replied, feeling safer instantly as she looked into Nik' eyes. She passed the bag of seeds to a confused Edward, feeling that if nothing else, she would as least complete her previous goal, "Happy birthday brother." She said with a sweet smile, and accepted his smile in return before turning back to Nik, "He said his name was Jasper."

Edward and Nik immediately stood up, their back straight as boards and their eyes full of fear. Nik turned to Edward, "Go find Kol. I will send a servant to go fetch Bekah from her little lord's house, which is where I am assuming she is instead of with Caroline." Caroline nodded her head in confirmation, "We need to leave at once."

Edward nodded and was gone in a flash, leaving Caroline and Nik alone.

Nik was in front of her as soon as Edward had begun to move, "Did he touch you, did he harm you?"

Caroline shook her head, "No, he tried to compel me. He told me to tell you that I was in love with another man and that I wanted to leave you to be with him, because someone like me could never love a monster like you." The tears returned to her eyes, "It was so awful. I was forced to pretend that I agreed with the words, and it felt like I was betraying you in my heart."

Nik cupped her face in his hands, "You only did what was necessary to survive, for which I am grateful. I cannot live without you Caroline. If you were to die, I would probably give up and just allow my father to kill me."

"Do not say such things." Caroline yelled at him, her despair gone at his words, "I am not dead, and he will not get another chance at me. I have faith that you will protect me for the rest of our lives together."

"I will always love you Caroline." Nik told her and lent in for a strong, passionate kiss. When he pulled away, he also brought her up to her feet, "We must start to pack. I am sure there a few things you would like to bring along."

"Yes, just a few." She replied and followed him to their room, she could already tell that this would be the last time she would ever set foot in it.

She had always thought they would have more time before they were forced to run, and that she would be a vampire by then. She had made her decision to become one a few days after he had told her about himself, but she couldn't bring herself to tell him that. Now she really was wishing she had been less of a chicken, it would be helpful if she was a vampire and not some weak human right now.

"We are going to go to the estate in Rome." He told her as helped her climb up on her horse. Rebekah was waiting on a horse next to hers, Raymondwas ordering servants as they loaded stuff onto a wagon, she noticed that there was long box already safely secured, and it made her think of Sage. Edward was nearby talking to the rest of the servants, and it seemed to her that he was compelling them. Nik hopped onto his stallion, and came up alongside her, "The three of us are going to go ahead, Raymondand Edward will join us in a few days."

"Are you sure we should split up?" Caroline asked, she didn't want anything to happen to her brother-in-laws, and then she remembered her real brothers, "Do I have time to say goodbye to my family?"

Nik looked at Rebekah, and seemed to asking her opinion before her looked at Caroline's face, he could see the underlying emotion play across her face, "We have the time."

"Thank you." She whispered as the three of them began the ride toward the Gibson family estate. Caroline tried to keep her emotions in check, but knowing you were riding to see your family for the last time was a heavy burden.

Caroline was careful to act worry free as she swung off her horse in front of the large mansion, she handed her reigns to a servant boy and rushed to the doors. With a heavy hand she rang the bell and Robert answered the door, "Lady Caroline, this is unexpected."

"Yes, I am aware. I am sorry for the unannounced visit Robert, but would my father and brothers happen to be home?" Caroline asked, not turning around when she heard the two set of approaching footsteps behind her, "It is very important that I speak with them."

"They are all currently having afternoon tea in the back garden." Robert explained, his eyes shifting between the three people standing in front of him.

"Perfect." Caroline said and walked past Robert, not caring if she was pushing her bounds, this was once her home afterall.

"We will just wait in the sitting room for you love." Nik called behind her, and Robert took it as his duty to see to the Lord and Lady and allow Caroline to see to things herself.

Caroline did not respond to her husband and kept on walking, she did not think that she had a great amount of time to say her goodbyes. Caroline stopped as she walked into the backyard and took in her father's broad back and her brother's little figures, she wished that Victoria was not present, but that was unavoidable. She put a smile on her face and joyfully announced to the yard, "Good afternoon my family."

The two adults turned and looked surprised while both boys got from their chairs and ran to their sister. Jameson threw his arms around her waist, "It is so good to see you Caroline."

"I agree, we never see you anymore." William said, standing directly in front of her before taking her hand and leading her toward the table that his parents sat at.

"And I apologize for that my dear little brothers." Caroline told them, "I want you to know that my absence was in no way because I don't love you. I love you both very much."

"I love you too Care." Jameson responded, his eyes furrowed at his sister.

William looked just as confused, "I love you too Care, but why does it sound like you are saying goodbye?"

"Because I am Will." Caroline told her brother, before looking over at her father, "Nikolas needs to travel on some business, and I am going with him. I do not know how long we will be gone."

Bill got to his feet and put a hand on each of her shoulders, "I don't want you to leave Caroline. If you don't want to be alone in that giant house while your husband is away, you can stay here, with us."

Caroline smiled at her father, "I love you Father, but I love him too, and I would prefer not be separated from him."

"Where are you going?" Bill asked, he had heard such stubbornness in her voice before, when she announced she would not remarry against her will.

"I am not really sure." She answered, lying for her families own protection, "Maybe France or Spain, he wasn't very specific. Just remember, that no matter how long I am gone, that I love you, and that I always will."

"You are talking as if I will never see you again Care." Bill said and pulled his daughter into a tight hug, and he wished he never had to let her go.

"Don't be silly Father, of course you will." She almost gagged on the lie that escaped her lips. Though Nik had never told her, she knew that there would be no way to return to England in her the short time her father had left without putting all of them into great danger.

"Caroline, love, we need to go or we are going to miss our boat." Nik called to her from the doorway, Rebekah standing next to him. Bill and Caroline pulled apart to look at them.

Victoria took the opportunity to stand and pulled Caroline into an embrace, "Goodbye Caroline, I hope your life turns out to be everything you deserve."

"Same to you Victoria." Caroline replied before she knelt down and pulled Jameson into a hug, "I am going to miss you little James."

"And I you Carebear." The boy responded, tears clouding his vision as he pulled away and took a few steps until his mother put her arms around him.

Caroline switched her focus to her other brother, "Goodbye Will, I am going to miss you too, troublemaker."

"This isn't goodbye forever right? Just for right now." Will said as her looped his arms around her neck.

"Just for right now." Caroline whispered to him, and gave him a kiss on the cheek before standing up to face her father, "Goodbye Father, I will miss you."

"I will miss you too my little princess." Bill Gibson whispered in his daughter's ear as he gripped onto her body, "I love you."

"And I love you Father." Caroline said and pulled herself out of his embrace, "I am in good hands, and I am happy. Let that ease your mind during my absence."

"I will try." Bill said as he watched his daughter walk away and into the arms of the man he had let take away his little angel. And he couldn't escape the feeling deep his gut that this would be last time he would ever see her beautiful face.