17. Rescue Me

"Everybody, take a seat, please, my name is Miss Aria Connor and I'll be teaching your class today".

"Ugh!" Brayden yelled in pain as Sloan tried to use him to find the other female soulmate from Amara's bloodline.

"Her name is Aria Connor, I heard that much" Sloan informed, "Come on, Brayden, I need your help with the link, tell me what you see, tell me where to find the other female soulmate from Amara's bloodline".

"Atlanta International School" Brayden breathed out, finally seeing where Aria was teaching.

"Good" Sloan said, finally stopping her spell on Brayden, "Now your friends can go kill her".

***

Caroline sat with Enzo at a cafe when her phone started ringing, glancing at it, she realised Sloan was calling, however before Caroline could answer, Enzo grabbed her phone.

"Atlanta Assassination Squad" Enzo answered, as Caroline glared at him, "How may we be of service?".

"I take it you haven't located the soulmate yet?" Sloan asked.

"You told us to find a nameless teacher at a city full of schools, fried green tomatoes and terrible drivers, it's not exactly as easy as it sounds" Enzo replied.

"Which is why I'm calling, the soulmate's name is Aria Connor" Sloan revealed, "And I just saw her at Atlanta International School".

"She saw her?" a furious Caroline asked, "She did the vision thing again?", Caroline snatched her phone from Enzo's hands, "We had a deal, I find the last female soulmate from Amara's bloodline--".

"--Aria" Sloan informed.

"Aria" Caroline repeated, "I take care of Aria, and in return, you stop using Brayden to psychically soul-bomb him, because everytime you link the two, you're frying Brayden's brain".

"I don't give a damn about his brain, it's his blood that matters" Sloan said, "And until Brayden and Kaitlynn are the last soulmates from Silas and Amara's bloodline, their blood is useless to me, so you bet I will give Brayden a back alley lobotomy if you fail to kill Aria Connor".

"Well, I don't fail at things, so do it again and I'll kill you too" Caroline threatened, before hanging up on Sloan.

"I'll kill you too" an amused Enzo repeated, "Like a perky blond angel of death, almost had me convinced".

***

After speaking to the school receptionist, Caroline made her way back over to where Enzo was sitting, "So the receptionist doesn't know Aria personally but I compelled her to call someone who does".

"Okay, I give up, I can't tell if you're avoiding the mission or me" Enzo said, after Caroline grabbed a magazine to keep herself busy.

"Why can't it be both?" Caroline asked, her eyes stuck on the magazine.

"Because I've earned some company after hand delivering the antidote that kept Damon and Kaitlynn from consuming each other, literally" Enzo stated.

"That doesn't mean I trust you, I still don't understand why you're even here" Caroline said.

"Damon's trying to be a good boy these days" Enzo informed, "Which means I'm in need of a new murder buddy", Caroline gave Enzo an are you serious look, "I'm joking, a joke, british humor", Caroline rolled her eyes and went back to looking at the magazine in her hand, causing Enzo to grab a magazine as well, "Ah, modern women, all bosom, no mystery, present company excluded".

"Dear god, please don't tell me that I'm the real reason that you're here" Caroline said.

"Why not?" Enzo asked, "From what Damon tells me, I am your type, well traveled, charming accent, dodgy morals".

"Arrogant, tactless, completely unable to take a hint" Caroline listed.

"Precisely" Enzo agreed, "No, to be honest, you remind me of someone I once knew, she worked for the Augustines".

"Which means she tortured you" Caroline realised, "I can definitely relate to that".

"Maggie was only there to observe my behavior in captivity, quite liked her, actually" Enzo clarified.

"Let me guess, she made you want to be a better man" Caroline said.

"Not at all" Enzo said, "She just reminded me that I was good all along, just like you did to Brayden".

A teacher walked over to Enzo and Caroline, halting their conversation, "You were asking about Aria Connor?".

"Yes, we need to see her as soon as possible" Caroline said, standing up from her chair, "It's a matter of life and death".

"I wish I could help, Aria Connor was a pain in my ass but also the best teacher I ever met".

"What do you mean was?" Enzo asked.

"She disappeared four months ago, no one knows where she is".

***

Brayden slowly opened his eyes and immediately he was confused with his surroundings, "We moved, why?".

"They don't call us travelers for our mileage points" Sloan said.

Brayden looked around, "I know where we are, we're right outside Mystic Falls".

"Believe me, I'd rather be at the beach now, but this is where we're supposed to meet our leader" Sloan informed.

"Markos" Brayden remembered, "He wants mine and Kaitlynn's blood, why?".

Before Sloan could say anything, Brayden's phone ringing caught the duo's attention, "I hope you're calling to tell me the soulmate's dead" Sloan answered Brayden's phone.

"Your stupid soulmate visions gave us bad information, put Brayden on the phone" Caroline informed.

Sloan put the phone on speaker and placed it on the car behind Brayden, "Care, what happened?" Brayden asked.

"Aria's been missing from the school for months" Caroline informed, "Is there any other things you noticed in your visions? Any small details that could maybe help us out?".

"I'm sorry Care but I can't remember anything" Brayden said, "The spell causes me to black out everything".

"The link connects us to the soulmates mind" Sloan informed, "If we're seeing old memories, that means we have to go deeper".

"No, if he's blacking out, that means the link is destroying his memories" Caroline argued.

Sloan ignored Caroline's warning and instead dived back into Brayden's mind.

Both Sloan and Brayden saw a man approach Aria.

"Brayden? Brayden" a concerned Caroline called out, hearing Brayden yell in pain, "Brayden, are you still with me?", but Brayden couldn't hear her, he was in too much pain, "Brayden, I'm still here, okay? Listen to my voice, I'm with you, can you hear me? I'm right here, okay? So hold on".

"Excuse me?".

"Hi".

"Are you Aria Connor?".

"One and only, what can I do for you--?".

"Ian and you taught the son of a friend of mine for a day".

"I did?" Aria asked.

"You did".

In the present world, the travelers kept chanting while Caroline closed her eyes, not being able to hear her soulmate in pain.

"Can I buy you dinner?" Ian asked, "My friend's son won't stop praising you and I just want to know you better".

Aria smiled, "How about at 7?".

"That will be perfect, I'll make the dinner, you just have to show up at 6643 Peachtree Drive".

Aria nodded her head, "I'll be there".

"Can you hear me?"  a panicked Caroline asked her soulmate, "Just say something, please".

"Princess" Brayden breathed out, "I'm fine".

"Okay" Caroline said, taking a breath of relief.

"6643 Peachtree Drive" Brayden informed, "There was a guy named Ian".

"Okay, thank you, I won't let you down" Caroline promised.

Brayden sighed, "Care, she's a good person, don't kill her".

Sloan grabbed Brayden's phone, "Clock's ticking" she warned Caroline before hanging up the phone.

***

"It's a miracle we found this place" Enzo said as him and Caroline walked over to the front door of 6643 Peachtree Drive, "Every other street in this blasted city is Peachtree".

"These look old" Caroline realised, looking at the mail scattered all across the porch, she grabbed the magazines from the mailbox, "Like four months old".

Enzo knocked on the front door, but no one opened the door, Enzo tried to twist the door knob but the door didn't open, "Seventy years in a cage, you'd think I'd have learned to pick a lock by now", Enzo used his strength to rip the door knob from the door, immediately causing the door to swing open and for Enzo and Caroline's eyes to land on a warlock who looked like he was in a trance.

"Red hair, that's him, he's a warlock" Caroline realised, she tried to walk into the house but quickly realised she couldn't because of a barrier stopping her, "And he must own the house".

"Not for long" Enzo assured, smashing the door knob into the warlock's head, immediately killing him.

"Why did you do that?" a shocked Caroline asked, "He was our only lead".

"Exactly" Enzo said, "And I am a murderous vampire, surprise".

***

"He was in a bloody trance" Enzo told a furious Caroline, "Unable to answer questions, I don't see why you're mad, I'm only doing what's necessary to save your boyfriend because you won't".

"You don't think I'm up for this?" a furious Caroline asked, "You have no idea what Brayden means to me, you don't know what I will do for him".

"This being the cold-blooded murder of an innocent woman" Enzo retorted, "You can hardly say the word, how do you expect to actually do it?".

"I'm sorry, is this all supposed to be easy?" an annoyed Caroline asked, "You barely know me, so let me reintroduce myself, hi, my name is Caroline Forbes, and I am a good vampire and I don't just go around killing people".

Enzo took a step towards Caroline, "You've got me all wrong, Caroline Forbes" he said, "I'm not judging you, I'm preparing you, I've seen soldiers, men trained to kill, look their enemy in the eye and freeze up on the battlefield, a hesitation that usually costs them their lives".

"Well, last time I checked, this isn't war, and I'm not a soldier" Caroline retorted, "But I love Brayden, more than anyone will ever know, and when it comes to saving his life, yes, I will do just about anything--", Caroline suddenly stopped talking when both her and Enzo heard a heart beating, "What's that sound?".

"The telltale heart" Enzo revealed, a smirk forming on his face.

***

Enzo and Caroline walked into the basement where an unconscious Aria laid with drips attached to her arms.

"Why would a warlock go to such lengths to keep a woman alive and off the grid for four months?" a confused Enzo asked.

"Four months ago, Silas and Amara died" Caroline revealed, "The original soulmates", Caroline kneeled by Aria's body, "Aria?" she called out, but got not response in return, Caroline waved her hand infront of Aria's eyes, "Aria? Aria Connor?".

"Caroline, let me do this" Enzo said, "Just walk away now, go upstairs--".

"No, no" Caroline interrupted, "It's my soulmate's life on the line and I'm the one who made the deal, this is on me, no matter what".

"Maybe you can't stand the thought of putting Brayden's life in anyone's hands but your own" Enzo said.

Caroline ignored Enzo's words and instead turned back to Aria, she took a deep breath and placed her hands on Aria's neck, however before she could snap Aria's neck, Aria shot up with a gasp, immediately causing Caroline to fall back while letting out a startled yelp.

"What the hell is happening?" a panicked Aria asked, "Who are you two?".

"We're angels, come to deliver you to the sweet hereafter" Enzo taunted.

"Calm down, you can trust me" Caroline said, compelling Aria.

"Bonding with her will only make it harder on you" Enzo warned.

"Let me do this my way" Caroline snapped, before turning back to Aria, "I'm your friend, and you can trust me, do you trust me?".

"I trust you" a compelled Aria said.

A small smile formed on Caroline's face, "Good" she said, placing her hands on Aria's neck, "Now, I promise, you won't feel a thing", seeing Caroline about to snap Aria's neck, Enzo turned his back towards them, seeing Enzo being distracted, Caroline quickly speeded over to him and  snapped his neck.

"Oh my god" a panicked Aria yelled.

"Relax, I'm going to get you out of here" Caroline promised, rushing back to Aria and removing the drips from her arms.

***

"Ian seemed like a gentleman" Aria admitted, sitting with Caroline at a diner, eating a plate of waffles, "So when he asked me on a date, I figured I had nothing to lose so I agreed to meet up with him at his house and that's all I can remember".

"He kidnapped you that night" Caroline revealed, "Locked you up ever since and hid you away from anyone that knew magic".

"Naturally" Aria mumbled, "But what I don't get is why the hell am I telling you my whole life story?".

"It's because I compelled you to" Caroline informed, "And to stay calm and to not worry".

"Why are you so interested in me?" a confused Aria asked.

"I just wanna make sure that you're a good person" Caroline replied, "No skeletons in the closet, that sort of thing".

"So what's the verdict?" a curious Aria asked.

"The verdict is that that you are just about one of the nicest people I've ever met" Caroline admitted.

"Likewise, since I'm pretty sure you saved my life" Aria said, "If there is anything I can do to repay that favor, let me know".

Caroline shook her head, "What I need from you isn't something I can take" she admitted, not having the heart to kill Aria, she couldn't do it even if she tried, there was just something about Aria that stopped her from hurting her.

"What?" a confused Aria asked.

"Just know that you're a good person and you deserve to live your life away from all of these problems" Caroline said, starting to compel Aria, "Which is why, after this, you're gonna get on the train, ride until you find a place that you like, meet a pretty boy, settle down and be happy for the rest of your long, long life".

Aria gave Caroline a smile, "Gladly".

***

"Wow, those were some good waffles" Aria praised, as her and a smiling Caroline walked towards Caroline's parked car.

"Found the best waffles in town for you" Caroline said, unlocking her car.

"Then I suppose it was a fitting last supper" Enzo said, suddenly appearing behind Aria.

"No!" Caroline yelled, rushing to save Aria but it was too late as Enzo had already snapped her neck, killing Aria on the spot, "Why the hell did you do that?!".

"Because you're not the only one who cut a deal to save someone's life" Enzo revealed, as Caroline stomped her feet in frustration, "That old flame I mentioned, Maggie, travelers claim they know where to find her".

"Yeah, well, if she's anything like me, then she just lost all respect for you" Caroline snapped.

"Then I'll earn her forgiveness in time" Enzo stated, "Because unlike you, Caroline, I'm willing to do whatever it takes for the people I love, travelers moved to some junkyard just outside Mystic Falls, feel free to tell Brayden you're the one who saved his life".

Enzo walked away from Caroline, leaving a teary eyed Caroline standing there, staring at Aria's dead body in extreme guilt.

***

"Brayden?" Caroline called out, walking over to the car the travelers had placed Brayden in, "Hey".

Brayden smiled seeing Caroline, "Hey" he greeted, as Caroline laid next to him, "So, are you--".

"A big fat failure?" Caroline asked, "Yeap, but on the bright side, I'm also exhausted and very cranky".

"And despite that you're a sight for sore eyes, Caroline Forbes" Brayden teased, "Now, come here and tell me how your day went".

Caroline placed her head on Brayden's chest, "I just told you how my day went" she whispered, as Brayden ran his hand through her hair, "I failed", Caroline let out a sigh, "I couldn't kill her, Brayden, not even to save you".

A small smile formed on Brayden's face, "Only you will feel guilty for not murdering someone" he teased.

"No, I'm feeling guilty because you're still being held prisoner" Caroline retorted.

"Come on princess, we both knew that they were never going to free me" Brayden said, "I'm too important for whatever their planning".

"Well, now even Kaitlynn is important to them" Caroline realised, "Enzo killed Aria".

"And he keeps giving us reasons to hate him" Brayden laughed.

"I should have seen it coming" Caroline said, "That whole flirty, oh, I'm so charming because I want to distract you, thing, I mean, I practically invented that".

"Wait, Enzo flirted with you?" a suddenly angry Brayden asked.

"That's not important right now, Brayden" Caroline said.

"It's pretty important to me" Brayden retorted.

"Right now, what's important is to figure out what do we do now?" Caroline asked, "Enzo flirting with me isn't important, because I don't care about his flirting, I only care about yours".

"Good" Brayden said, placing a kiss on top of Caroline's head, "And right now, all we do is sleep".

"Wh--? That's heroic" Caroline laughed.

"I'm not the hero, that's Stefan, I'm the anti hero" Brayden reminded, "And the anti hero part of my brain needs to recharge after being tortured while another british man was flirting with you".

"Shut up" Caroline laughed, "Ha ha, that's very funny".

Brayden chuckled, "Look, let's sleep, gather our strength and wait for the right opportunity to get the hell out of here, hand in hand".

Caroline chuckled, she stared at Brayden as he closed his eyes and tried to sleep, "You knew" she suddenly realised, "That's why you let me go because you knew the whole time, didn't you?".

"What exactly did I know?" a slightly confused Brayden asked.

"That I couldn't do it" Caroline said.

"I never doubted you Caroline" Brayden quickly defended, "But I also know more than anyone in this world how pure your heart is, I didn't believe that you couldn't do it, I just knew you wouldn't do it".

"How?" Caroline asked.

"Because you have a pure heart Caroline Forbes, the purest of them all" Brayden whispered, causing a smile to form on Caroline's face, she moved closer to Brayden and hid her face in his neck while Brayden tightened his grip on her waist.

***

Brayden and Caroline were fast asleep in the car, when suddenly the travelers started chanting, immediately waking both the vampires up.

"What the hell is that?" a confused Caroline asked.

"Let's go see" Brayden said, as both him and Caroline crawled out of the car and followed the chanting towards the travelers, the two soulmates hid behind a car and watched as all the travelers drank a cup of Brayden and Kaitlynn's blood, "That's mine and Kaitlynn's blood" Brayden said, remembering the buckets when the travelers took his and Kaitlynn's blood the first time.

"Oh, my god" a shocked Caroline whispered.

Brayden and Caroline watched as after all the travelers drank Brayden and Kaitlynn's blood, Sloan grabbed a fire stick and used it to light one of the travelers on fire which caused every single traveler to catch on fire.

"This is our opportunity, come on" Brayden said, grabbing Caroline's hand in his and speeding away with her.

***

Presenting 5x17 of They Don't Know About Us!

How was the chapter?

Thoughts on Brayden having visions of Aria? I know she wasn't the same Aria from Cold Hearted but it felt so good to write my queen again, hope you Cold Hearted fans enjoyed this little easter egg.

Thoughts on the travelers sending Caroline and Enzo to kill Aria?

Thoughts on Enzo and Caroline finding Aria?

Thoughts on Caroline trying to save Aria's life?

Thoughts on Enzo killing Aria?