𝟐𝟑

a/n: charlotte's outfit for the chapter is above!

☆═━ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘-𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 ━═☆

Charlotte could have sworn she heard someone flash past her as she shook her head, closing Cassie's room door and making it to Caroline's, "Caroline, are you up?" She furrowed her eyebrows, noticing the pillow on Caroline's face, "Care, you shouldn't sleep like this."

She picked the pillow off Caroline's face, dropping it instantly when she failed to hear Caroline's heartbeat, "Oh, my God...oh, please no...," Charlotte placed two fingers on Caroline's neck, hoping to feel a pulse and turn out wrong but she was right.

"Dammit...Lena was right."

✵ ✵ ✵

A few hours passed and Charlotte was sitting with her head in her hands on a chair beside Caroline's bed, waiting for her to wake up as she mentally prepared herself to repeat what Damon told her when she first woke up, changing a few details and remembering to highlight out the good parts about vampirism, if there were any.

Soon enough, Caroline gasped awake, sitting up.

"Hey, Caroline...you are okay, yeah?" Charlotte had Caroline's hands in hers as she nodded reassuringly, "Everything is fine. Totally fine."

"I am fine...I am just confused...Elena came in here earlier," Caroline rubbed the back of her head, remembering what happened earlier, "But she said her name was Katherine...and I am just so hungry right now."

"Caroline, I need to explain a few things."

The blonde shrugged, getting out of bed, "Great, can it be after I eat because I am starving—"

Charlotte interjected, standing in the blonde's way, "Caroline, we need to talk, now. It's important."

"What could be more important the food? You still have those burgers from earlier?"

Charlotte shook her head, placing her hands on the blonde's shoulders as she attempted to calm her, "No, I don't. What's more important is the fact that you are hungry. What you want is not just food."

"You are confusing me here," Caroline chuckled, dryly, trying to get up once again before Charlotte shook her head, "Cher, I want to eat. Let go."

The Bernard ran a hand over her face, chewing on her bottom lip as she anxiously paced around the hospital bedroom, not finding a suitable way to say what she had to say, "Look...Caroline, I, uh...you are going through something that might sound really bad and it kind of is but I swear it won't always be as bad."

"You are confusing me even more now."

"Caroline, you are in transition to becoming a...vampire, and what you are really hungry for is blood," She revealed, closing an eyelid as she awaited Caroline's reaction.

The blonde Forbes giggled, running a hand through her hair, "Did Serena get you to actually drink? C'mon, Cher, you are like the last person allowed to be high."

"Caroline...it's the truth."

"It's the middle of the night and I am hungry," Caroline stated, getting up from the bed as Charlotte nodded, unzipping her bag, "What are you doing?"

"Just a small thing," She pulled her coffee pack from the bag, that now only had blood as Caroline's eyes zeroed on it, the alluring smell of the red substance hitting her nostrils, "What you are craving is blood. If you drink it, you will become an immortal vampire, a being that has to feed on human blood to stay alive, young, and beautiful."

Caroline stretched her hand forward to take it before Charlotte shook her head, finishing, "And if you don't, you die. I just need you to know that you have a choice, either die as Caroline Forbes, one of the nicest controlling divas I have ever met or...live as a vampire with the risk of losing control at any second."

"I don't want to die," She responded as Charlotte sighed, handing her the bottle before Caroline looked up at her, "Will you help me? To not lose control?"

"I know I am not the role model of a perfect vampire but of course I will try my best, you are my very first best friend since I woke up."

Caroline was hesitant before taking the cap off the bottle, she took a deep breath before downing it in one shot. The blonde paused, grimacing in disgust before pulling it away, she looked at Charlotte who gave her an encouraging nod.

She sighed and started drinking again as Charlotte watched her fangs appear, anticipating the moment she would have to tell either Bonnie or Elena about this but for now, Caroline had to be the main priority.

✵ ✵ ✵

"So, the necklace it burned me?"

"It had vervain, a herb that is toxic to us, vampires," Charlotte answered, picking the necklace with a tissue off of the ground before slipping it in Caroline's bag, "It harms us, just not enough to kill us and it stops compulsion."

Caroline gawked, repeating, "Compulsion?"

"Yeah, it's a vampire's ability to force someone to do something...by looking them in the eye, it requires a bit of concentration," Charlotte rubbed the back of her head, remembering, "I have yet to use that, though. I chose to lead a normal life where I wouldn't need that, plus I believe in the free well."

She nodded before speaking up again, "You said that we are immortal? So, we can't die, ever?"

"Well...yes but no at the same time."

"Seriously, Charlotte. I think I am losing my mind here," Caroline shook her head, using her fingers to massage her temples before Charlotte sighed, taking the blonde's hands in hers.

"I will explain it all, just stay as calm as supernaturally possible."

"Vampires live forever but they can die, certain herbs and roots are harmful to us, like a stake to the heart and the vampire is dead or ripping someone's heart out?"

"That's obvious, you can't live without a heart," Caroline claimed, shaking her head about how Charlotte's statements were becoming common sense.

The Bernard nodded, continuing, "And the sun is extremely harmful, just standing there for a few seconds and you turn to ash."

"But you don't turn to ash, not that I want you to," The Forbes girl interjected.

Charlotte nodded, pulling one of her hands from Caroline's grasp and using it to pull her daylight necklace from underneath her shirt, "I have a daylight necklace, a special stone that was spelled by a witch to allow me to walk in the daytime without turning to ash."

"Wait, hold up...witches exist?"

Charlotte mentally facepalmed herself before sighing with a nod, "Yes, they do and they do not exactly like vampires."

"Mhmm, alright," Caroline nodded before crossing her arms as she rubbed the back of her head, hesitating on speaking up.

"Any other questions? I mean I understand that you need to know all about what you are now and it's okay."

"Were you ever really in a coma?"

Charlotte was a bit hesitant before she shook her head, answering, "No, I wasn't," Caroline furrowed her eyebrows as the brunette continued, "Why I missed on everything you were talking about that day is because I was in a much worse state than a coma could be, but they are alike."

"If you are not ready to talk about it, it's fine. I understand," Caroline stated, squeezing her friend's hand in reassurance.

"Yeah, thanks. I appreciate that."

✵ ✵ ✵

Serena smiled at her sister, adjusting the necklace around her neck before stating, "Finally, the house was just so quiet without you, Cass."

"I know...did you make pasta today? You know I love it and you promised we will eat something of my choice when I get out," Cassie asked, pulling on her sister's braids, "Ponytails suit you more."

Serena chuckled, picking her sister up in her arms as she added, "Buns do, too but I prefer braids, little Cass," She smiled at her before turning to Charlotte, "You sure you don't want to come with us? There are cookies."

Charlotte shook her head, smiling nonetheless, "No, I am keeping Caroline company but save me some cotton candy."

"Will do," Serena nodded before Charlotte leaned over pressing a kiss on Cassie's cheek, "Young cute girls get all the attention."

"Couldn't agree more," Charlotte nodded, pulling away as Cassie giggled.

"We will see you," Serena waved, adjusting the bag of clothes on her shoulder before moving past Charlotte and down the corridor to the hospital's exit.

Charlotte sighed before walking in on Matt and Caroline, only to panic as she spotted Caroline at the end of the room as Matt opened the curtains. The brunette shook her head, rushing up to Matt before she closed the curtains, "Hey, Matt. Would you mind if we keep these closed? Caroline's not feeling the sunlight today."

"What about the food?"

"I will get her to eat, don't worry," Charlotte reassured before turning to him, gently pulling him outside with her. Once the door was closed, she blurted out the first thing that came to her mind, "It's just that she is going through that time of the month. She is really moody, I am sorry."

"Oh, no, no. It's okay. I didn't know, I was just worried about her," Matt nodded, rubbing the back of his neck as Charlotte pursed her lips into a straight line.

The Bernard girl patted his shoulder, assuring him, "I understand but you have nothing to worry about. I will make sure she eats and gets her fair share of vitamin D for the day."

"Alright...I guess I will pass by when she is leaving tomorrow?"

"Yeah, that's a great idea," Charlotte nodded, agreeing before giving him a small embrace and ushering him off. The brunette checked that no one she knew was around before walking inside, "He didn't suspect a thing."

"This is unfair to him," Caroline stated, sitting back down on her bed.

"I know but you will get better at controlling yourself and it won't be a problem I promise but for now, let's just make sure he is not at risk around you, yes?" She checked to see Caroline's answer and the blonde nodded, murmuring a quiet, yeah.

"Can I get out tonight?"

Charlotte scratched the back of her head, thinking, "Maybe that's not a good idea."

"But I'm the committee chair for the carnival and I'm worried it's going to be a complete disaster," Caroline reasoned, crossing her arms as a small pout settled on her pink lips.

"Elena and Bonnie are handling it with the supervision of Serena, you have nothing to worry about," The brunette claimed, squeezing Caroline's hand with a small smile, "Besides, we have got much to learn."

✵ ✵ ✵

Turned out that new vampires' emotions are more heightened than Charlotte could have ever imagined. So, preventing Caroline from attending such an important event for her, pushed up her desire to attend and that was how the brunette Bernard woke up in Caroline's bed after the blonde had snapped her neck with a few hours.

Maybe she shouldn't have gone far enough explaining how to temporarily kill vampires.

She felt as though Caroline Forbes was her responsibility, not only was she her friend but she was the granddaughter of one of her closest friends. Charlotte got up and made it out of the room before thinking about vamp-speeding to the carnival, her eyes landed on the nurse from earlier who currently had a bandage around her neck, "Oh, God..."

Charlotte pulled her phone out of her back pocket, slinging her bag on her shoulder before sprinting out of the hospital as she dialed Elena's number, after a few rings, the Gilbert answered, "Charlotte, where are you?"

"I was with Caroline but then I lost her, Elena, she is a vampire and she is spiralling. Get Damon and Stefan as quickly as possible and meet me in Alaric's classroom."

✵ ✵ ✵

"How did this happen?"

Stefan was the first to ask as Charlotte sighed, sitting down one of the desks before Damon answered, "Well, I fed her blood and Katherine obviously killed her and A plus B equals..."

"But why?"

Damon shrugged nonchalantly, "Because Katherine is a manipulative, nasty, little slut."

The youngest Salvatore furrowed his eyebrows, inquiring, "And she said game on? I mean, what does that even mean?"

"It means she's playing dirty. She wants us to know."

"But why Caroline?" Elena crossed her arms, asking.

"I don't know."

"Caroline must be completely out of her mind, she doesn't even know what's happening to her," Stefan supposed, shaking his head.

"Actually...," Charlotte spoke up, rising to her feet, "She does know what's happening to her. I have been with her all day, explaining what all of this actually is."

"And you didn't bother telling any of us?" Damon raised his eyebrow.

Charlotte shrugged her shoulders, brushing it off, "I was busy, handling the problem you two's ex made and helping my friend. In addition to that, I am not on good terms with you so don't expect me to bother and tell you anything."

"Charlotte, you—"

Sensing that Damon could say something out of place or time, Stefan interjected, "We have to find her."

"Yep, and kill her."

Charlotte scoffed, shaking her head, "You're not gonna kill Caroline."

"She knows who we are," Damon shrugged his shoulders, stating, "She's officially a liability, and we've got to get rid of her."

"Over my dead body are you touching a hair on her head," Charlotte shoved her fists against his chest before shoving past him, "I lost her, and I will find her."

✵ ✵ ✵

Charlotte walked around the carnival, pumping into a few girls on her way past them as she tried her best to focus on her supernatural hearing and find Caroline. The brunette heard someone crying at the side and pushed her way past a few others to get there.

"Caroline! Caroline!"

She arrived in time to find Caroline feeding off of someone on a truck, "Caroline!" She called out, jumping on top of the truck before pushing Caroline off of him, "Stop it! You do not want to do this! You do not want to kill him, Caroline. You are not a monster."

She hopefully checked Carter's pulse and pulled back when she found nothing. The brunette covered her mouth with her hand, realizing what just happened before Caroline spoke up, "He's dead...I killed him. I didn't want to kill him."

"I know you didn't, Caroline," Charlotte rose to her feet, speaking soothingly, "You didn't mean to and we will fix this, I just need you to calm down."

"What's wrong with me?" Caroline cried out before Charlotte embraced her, "I am a monster."

"You are not, I can help you, just listen to me and calm down."

Charlotte paused, noticing the tip of something against Caroline's back, she looked up, finding Damon with a stake held up against her the blonde's back. She didn't hesitate before trading places with Caroline at a vampire speed so that the stake was now pressed against her chest.

"You can't kill her unless you go through me, Damon."

"Get out of the way, Charlotte," He attempted to push her aside but the brunette stood her ground, not moving an inch, "She will die, either way, it's only a matter of time."

"I am a liability, too, you haven't killed me yet...," Charlotte raised an eyebrow, challenging him as Caroline held onto her, scared out of her mind and not having a clue in the world as to what was happening.

"You are not and you didn't choose this!"

"Well, neither did she!" Charlotte shouted back, inching a few steps closer to the tip of the stake, "Katherine forced this upon her and I am not letting that girl ruin someone else's life for her selfish motives! Caroline is my friend and she is not dying. Period."

"If I do this, you will forgive me for what happened with Izadora?" He debated, pulling the stake back.

She felt cornered before nodding, seeing the fear in Caroline's eyes, "Yes, I forgive you. Just let me help her."

"Damon," Stefan called out as he and Elena stepped in, the Gilbert only seeing her friend's face now. She made her way over to Caroline before the blonde staggered backward, thinking she was Katherine.

"Get away from me! You killed me!"

Charlotte shook her head, holding onto Caroline as Elena denied, explaining, "No, no, no, no, Caroline, That wasn't me. You know that. That was Katherine."

The newly turned vampire was panicking as she screamed out, "No! Then why did she look like you?! And why, why did she do this to me?!"

"Look, Caroline, I have got to get you inside. To clean you up, yeah?" Charlotte ran her hand up and down Caroline's arm, soothingly.

"And now we have got a body to bury," Damon noted, looking over at Carter's, the boy Caroline had just killed, corpse. He paused, turning back to Charlotte soothing Caroline, "Whatever happens, it's on you."

The Bernard paid him no mind but before she could take her friend inside, Bonnie arrived, calling over her, "Caroline?"

"It's okay, let's go," Charlotte was about to usher her inside before Bonnie noted the blood on her face.

"No, you're not; you can't be," The Bennett witch shook her head before touching her, she pulled back, horrified by the truth.

"Bonnie?" Caroline called out, shaking with tears in Charlotte's arms.

Bonnie spotted Carter's body, raising a hand to her mouth, "Oh, god!"

"Bonnie...," Caroline called again before Charlotte finally pulled her away and into the area of bathrooms. She took some tissues before opening the tap to wet them. The brunette proceeded to wipe the blood off of Caroline's face as Caroline helped her, too.

"She hates me! Bonnie hates me."

Charlotte shook her head, assuring her, "No, no, Bonnie's your friend, she will never hate you," She paused before finding the right words, "Eventually, like Damon, she will understand that this was not by choice."

"And what about Matt?" She cried out, asking.

"What about him? He is your boyfriend and he loves you. Vampire or not, you are still Caroline," Charlotte stated sternly before using the wet tissue to wipe the blood off of her friend's clothes, "Let's get this blood off, come on."

"I'm a murderer," She claimed, crying out, "I'm a monster."

The Bernard turned Caroline's face to her, speaking up, "No, no, you are not. If you were then what would I be? Everything is heightened, remember? I told you that earlier."

A sob wracked through Caroline as she looked in the mirror, panicking, "Why does this keeping happening to my face?!"

"It happens to me, too, Caroline," Charlotte turned to face her once again, squeezing her eyes shut as the dark veins grew under her eyes, "Look at that, it happens to me, too, when I feel the blood rushing or hear someone's heartbeat from meters away," She sighed, explaining, "It feels like you won't get through it but you will."

"You are strong enough, you are Caroline Forbes and you are not weak, do you hear me?" Charlotte assured her as the blonde nodded, swallowing a lump in her throat, "Yes, yes, no matter how good it feels to give yourself over to it, you fight it off, you bury it. Watch me, watch me," She paused, taking a deep breath before the veins disappeared, "Come on, try it."

She took a few breaths as her face returned to normal, "There's it..."

"Why did Katherine do this to me?"

"I really don't know, I wish I did but you have nothing to worry about," Charlotte said, embracing her friend, "I promise you I will not let anything happen to you," She finished as Caroline held onto her, crying her heart out. She looked up seeing Stefan in front of the bathroom's door before giving him a small nod.

✵ ✵ ✵