Back to the Dream Page
After arriving at Leonard's house as mist, Carrie materializes, stretching her muscles a little bit before heading up the steps to Leonard's house. After ringing the doorbell, Carrie is greeted by a smiling Leo.
"I swear, you always have to be the polite one and ring the doorbell whereas I just materialize in your home," he says, wrapping Carrie into a big hug.
"That's me. I have to talk to you Leo. It's troubling me."
Instantly, the smile on Leo's face vanishes. "What is it? Is it Matthew already?" Carrie shakes her head. "Well then, come on in. You never know whose ears are around outside."
As Carrie walks into Leo's living room, she stops in her tracks. "Oh, I'm sorry Leo! I didn't know you had a guest. I can talk to you later."
Leo puts his hand on Carrie's arm. "No, stay. It's okay. Caroline, this is Li, a good friend of mine. Li, this is Caroline, my mentee and also one of my dearest friends. Li can be trusted, no matter what this is about, I promise."
Carrie nods her head. "Hello Li."
"Nice to meet you Caroline."
"Take a seat," Leo says, taking a seat on one of the armchairs. "What's on your mind?"
"I cried tonight," Carrie says, simply and directly.
"So?" Li asks. "Tears aren't always bad. What happened?"
"Li, they are bad for a vampire," Leonard informs his friend. "You wouldn't know because you aren't one but vampires are not supposed to be capable of crying or any other form of real emotions."
"But I see you smile all the time and laugh!"
"Right, but that's not always reflective of emotion. Crying always is."
"Correct. Leo, what's happening to me?" Carrie asks in a worried tone.
Leo goes over to her and hugs her. "Don't worry my sweet. I will find out what is going on with you. When did you cry?"
"I was talking about my human life and Matthew. I didn't realize it until he pointed it out to me."
Leo looks down at her and realizes that she is crying again as a single tear slides down her cheek. 'What in the world is going on with her? That is so unnatural! Maybe she's turning human again! Wait, that's only a myth… Or is it?' He wipes away the tear and smiles. "Yes, you definitely are starting to be able to cry. I'm sure it is nothing."
"Leo, what's wrong? Something is troubling you I can feel it."
"Nothing! Li, I guess you learned something new tonight! Why don't the two of you talk? I have some work I need to finish really quickly."
Carrie takes a seat across from Li and sighs. "I really would give anything to understand him."
Li laughs. "If you ever understand him, let me know because I sure don't! So he's your mentor huh?"
"He's more than that. He is like a father, brother, and best friend all in one. I owe my life to him. If not for him, I would have turned to the dark side of this life."
"The dark side?"
"There are two sides of this night life. There are those vampires that are evil and those that try to be as good as this life will allow them to be. Perhaps I shouldn't be saying all of this. I don't really know you."
Li smiles. "But I am a good friend of Leo's and so are you. I think we'll become better friends in the future. You can trust me, honestly."
"I know I can. I can feel it in your essence. I just had to vocalize that," Carrie says, smiling back.
"That's interesting. I was just noticing your essence contains a lot of love and powers. That's an interesting combination."
"You can sense my essence?"
"Of course. People with powers usually can. I think you have a lot more in you than you know power wise. You could be very powerful one day."
Carrie looks at him. "Right. So how did you and Leonard become close?"
"He saved my life. Leonard is the first night person to ever show compassion to me. Let's just say he has changed my mind about the night life, such as yourself."
"I see. Leonard is good at showing you how your views are wrong and showing you the brighter side of things. I think he gets a kick out of saving people and teaching them really hard lessons."
Li laughs. "Yup, he loves those hard lessons. So what's your story? Something is deeply troubling you."
"Do you believe in soul mates?"
Li takes a moment. "I am not sure but I can believe anything these days. Why?"
"I have a soul mate but the catch is that once we find each other, something always tears us apart."
"Oh really? I didn't know that vampires could have soul mates. I mean, don't you lack a soul?"
Carrie laughs. "That's true and not. This soul mate of mine discovered me when I was still mortal. Since then, I've seen him reborn, time and time again. We go through the same cycle each time but I am the only one that fully remembers. However, I found him this time and he actually started having dreams about us before I found him. I think he is in the best form I've seen him in for quite some time. He is willing to accept what I am and what we are without a huge fight. It's impressed me."
"So what's the problem? You don't have to tell me."
"No, it's okay. We could use this as a bonding experience," Carrie says with a wink. "Besides, I have to learn to be able to express these things. Well, the vampire that turned me into what I am today wants to kill my soul mate. He doesn't understand that he and I will never be and that I am in love only with my soul mate. So he has vowed to always take Nicholas away from me."
"Nicholas?"
"My soul mate. Matthew, the vampire, never could understand my devotion to Nicholas. This time around, I've vowed to keep Nicholas alive and live a happy life with him. I'm just worried that I won't be able to do it."
"That's a big vow you've made."
Carrie sighs. "I know but I want to try so badly. It's not fair that Nicholas always has to suffer because of me. I think Leo is right in some aspects."
"In what aspects?"
"That I have to let Nicholas go eventually. All my presence in his life does is ruin his life. Maybe it would be better without me."
"Don't say that. If I've learned anything, it is that love is one of the best things in life. Never lose it willingly. So wait, if Matthew turned you into a vampire, how'd Leonard come into the picture?"
"Well, Matthew did the transformation and taught me how to live as a vampire. He showed me how to transform and nursed me to full strength. The night he showed me how to hunt though made me sick and I ran away from him. I couldn't deal with hunting down animals or people."
"So what happened?"
"I ran into Leo while hiding in a cave in the woods. Evidently, it's his favorite spot to think. He quickly realized that I was also a vampire like him and it distressed him to see me shaking and so weak. I guess I became a project to him. He brought me the nourishment I needed and took care of me. Slowly, he started to teach me things that Matthew never even bothered with, like how to get around things that would harm me or kill me. After a while, we just became good friends and companions. We've traveled many places together and he's gone through many of these rounds with Nicholas in my life and being taken away from me so he knows what it is like very well. I do owe my life to Leo."
"Well, I'm glad you're finally showing signs of appreciating me!" Leo exclaims, smiling at Carrie.
Carrie smiles back. "You've always known I appreciate you and care for you."
"So Li, what do you think of her story?"
Li stays silent for a few moments then says, "It's a great story but it seems so tragic. Do you know how you can help her keep her vow?"
"Personally, I think she is just a fool in love. I'm working on a solution to help her though, so we will have to see."
"So you think you can help her?"
"Definitely." Leo looks over at Carrie and notices a weird look on her face. "What's wrong?"
"I don't know. I got a really bad feeling all of a sudden. I have to go to Nicholas!" Carrie exclaims, starting to run to the door.
"Is he in trouble?" Leo shouts, running after her.
"I don't know but I have to go to him. I'll talk to you later Leo!" she shouts as she begins morphing into mist, heading back to her cabin.
Leo goes to the door and watches the mist travel fast through the night. 'Please, let things go well this time.' He shuts the door and then returns to finish his conversation with Li.
"Do you know what's happening to her?" Li asks, knowing Leo is hiding something from his friend.
"I do. I didn't want to tell her this but she is in danger. For some reason, she is starting to become human again. She's showing human signs, which hardly ever happens. My guess is that Matthew did not do a proper exchange with her. Perhaps the last transfusion was not quite enough blood to keep her a vampire for the rest of eternity. I've seen it before."
"What do you mean? I thought once you were a vampire there was no way of escape besides being stabbed in the heart with wood and sunlight."
"This is true but there have been a few instances where vampires have started to turn human again."
"So why is she in danger?"
"Because all who have shown those signs are now dead. They still have vampire blood in them so they never fully cross over to being human again. In that middle state, they lose powers that belong to vampires yet cannot eat normal food. Eventually, they die of starvation because they cannot survive off of blood nor can they eat human food. Slowly, their bodies begin to give way and age three times as fast, and they die a painful death. Many choose to commit suicide than live through that last stage."
"So you're saying there is no way to help her."
"There is. There is an ancient spell that says it will change a vampire into a human but to my knowledge, the book with the spell has been lost for ages. Besides, that spell also has a risk of not working and killing the individual in the process."
"Do you think it would be worth it to have Caroline try it?"
"I think at this point, if Nicholas lives, yes. This isn't the life for her. She doesn't enjoy the thrill of killing, she drinks blood out of a plastic bag to survive, and she only seems to get hurt worse and worse as each day goes by seeing Nicholas reborn and die."
"I think I can help."
Leo looks at Li strangely. "What do you mean?"
"I know where that book is Leo. The Council has control of it. We keep it very secretive and heavily guarded. I can get that spell for her and change her into a human."
"Do you think the rest of the Council will allow Caroline to become a human again?"
"After all she has been through, I do not see why not. From what you are telling me, she has fought with you to keep the evil out of the lives of many and was changed over against her will. Knowing she didn't know I was a Council member and talking to her the way I did showed me she truly is pure of heart, despite being something she hates. I can see she's something else. She has powers of her own rights, ones that neither you nor Matthew taught her that is untapped. She could be a big asset to us."
"So you're willing to change her back to being a human if she serves the Council?"
"If she is willing to continue to fight evil forces as a human, the Council will be happy to grant her transformation. My question is, if we change her, will Matthew only change her back into a vampire or kill her?"
"That's a good question." Leo sighs. "The only way I know of to change her path is to kill him. Matthew will have to perish in order for Caroline to be completely safe from harm. He is the only one that would go after her in hopes of trying to make her love him."
"Then I guess we have a plan. I will go talk to the Council about this and you go keep an eye out for Caroline. I sense that she is entering great danger right now and she needs your protection. I will come find you when I have finalized everything for this plan."
Leo nods. "Well, I better go after her then. Thank you Li. I owe you one."
"No, you don't. I know how much she means to you and to help you is only a pleasure for me. Take care my friend."
The two friends embrace as one leaves the house and drives away in his car and the other turns into a bat and flies through the night.