Coreal
patreon
[VD] Ch 17: Caroline’s Decision
🕑 Added 2025-09-29 18:06:14 +0000 UTC— — — — — —
"Okay." Stefan answered quickly before hurrying off in Sarah's direction.
"Jack, where's my necklace?" Damon didn't care about Stefan leaving. He cut straight to the point, his tone impatient and demanding.
"The necklace? After everything you've pulled—provoking me, picking fights—you really think I'd just hand it back like nothing happened?" Jack shot back, clearly annoyed.
"Then name your price." Damon leaned into the conversation, voice sharp.
"My demand? How about you just drop dead? Or better yet, come over right now. I just learned how to take down a vampire—why don't you volunteer as my first test case?" Jack sneered.
"Cut the crap. You know how I am—if I don't get what I want, I'll do whatever it takes. My brother might play nice, but you really think I won't go after Caroline?" Damon's voice dripped with threat.
Jack tightened his hold on Caroline's hand, steadying her as much as himself. "You seriously think, with her by my side every day, that you could even get close? You wouldn't make it two steps."
"So we're done talking then?" Damon's voice hardened, anger bleeding through.
"I've warned you plenty of times. But you don't listen. You keep compelling Sarah to provoke me, and now you went so far as to turn her, just to get back at me."
"What do you expect me to do? Give you whatever you want? What world are you even living in?" Jack snapped.
"You think I wanted Sarah for fun? Don't pretend you don't know why. You tried to kill me the first time we met. And as for Sarah—she happened to be useful. So yeah, I compelled her. Big deal." Damon's words came quick, frustration evident.
"Don't twist it. Do you remember what you were doing when we first met? You were tormenting Vicki with compulsion just to scare Stefan. That wasn't strength, that was cruelty. You've lost any shred of humanity you had. Me? I was still human back then. If I'd known how to kill you, I would." Jack's disgust was plain.
"I only compelled a couple of them. I didn't touch your precious Caroline, did I? That's me showing restraint. And let's not forget, you and Stefan tried to desiccate me. What, I wasn't supposed to retaliate? Sarah paid the price. Now just hand me the necklace and I'll drop it. Or do you want me to prove I can hurt Caroline? You can't guard her all day." Damon pressed harder, his words an open threat.
"Stop hiding behind excuses. What about Tanner's death? Did he deserve that too? You want the necklace? Fine. First, tell me exactly what it does—I don't buy that you'd go this far over some trinket. Second, if it doesn't endanger Mystic Falls, I'll give it to you… but only if you get the hell out of town afterward." Jack's voice was cool, but he knew better than to push Damon too far. With Damon's speed and cunning, there was always a risk to Caroline.
"Since Stefan gave it to you, you should know the necklace belonged to Katherine. And Katherine—she's everything to me. Stefan must've told you that. Like I'd ever let him keep it." Damon's words were half-truth, half-lie.
"Fine, let's say I believe that. But the necklace isn't on me right now. Pick a time and place, I'll bring it." Jack wasn't stupid. He knew Damon wouldn't tell the whole truth, and he sure as hell wasn't going to meet face-to-face. The necklace was in his pocket, but for now, delaying was smarter—he wanted Bonnie to examine it first.
"Forget meeting me. Set it up with Stefan, hand it over to him. I'll collect it from him later." Damon suggested smoothly, no doubt unwilling to risk facing Jack alone.
"Wow, that scared, huh? Fine. I'll give it to Stefan, he can play delivery boy. But when you get it, you leave town. That's the deal." Jack mocked him before hanging up.
"..."
He exhaled. "Alright, Stefan's phone is with Damon. All we can do is wait here until Stefan brings Sarah back." He explained to Caroline and Elena.
Luckily, they didn't wait long. Stefan soon returned with Sarah in tow.
"You're bleeding," Elena gasped, spotting the bloodstain on his chest. She hurried over from the couch.
"I'm fine. The wound's already healing." Stefan took her hands gently, reassuring her.
"Sarah, how are you feeling?" Jack and Caroline approached, concern in their voices.
"I'm scared. It feels like I can't control myself." Sarah lifted her head, her eyes unsteady.
"Stefan, is this… normal?" Jack asked, watching her tremble like a junkie in withdrawal.
"Jack, I'm so hungry. And it won't stop—it won't go away." Sarah's voice cracked as she leaned toward him, reaching out.
"Hey, Sarah, not a good idea." Jack quickly stepped back.
"Sarah, are you okay?" Caroline wrapped her arms around her, trying to comfort her.
"Caroline, I… I want it so bad." Sarah's fangs flashed as she lunged for Caroline's neck.
In a blink, Jack invoked the Rabbit Talisman, pinning Sarah's mouth shut with one hand while holding her still with the other.
Caroline yelped, stumbling backward, but Jack freed a hand just in time to steady her before she hit the floor.
By then, Sarah had clamped down on his palm, drinking hungrily. Thankfully, she stayed still—otherwise her vampire strength might've overwhelmed him.
"Alright, alright. I heal fast, but you can't keep drinking like this." Jack stroked her hair gently, keeping his voice calm.
"I'm sorry. I just… I can't control it." Sarah finally let go after a few moments, clutching him tightly as she broke down crying.
Jack didn't push her away. She was his responsibility now—at least partly.
"It's fine. We'll figure this out." He patted her back, soothing her.
"It's late. Let me drive you guys home." Elena suggested softly.
"Elena, can I stay at your place tonight?" Caroline asked, her eyes red from holding back tears.
"Of course—" Elena started to agree.
But Jack cut in. "Elena, maybe you should stay at Caroline's. Damon's already been inside your house. He won't hurt you because of Stefan, but I don't trust him not to target Caroline."
Elena hesitated, then nodded. "That works."
"Stefan, I'll take Sarah with me. With Damon lurking, it's safer if she stays at my place. And with me as a ready blood supply, she'll be less likely to lose control. Tomorrow, I'll need you to come over and teach her the basics of being a vampire." Jack added quickly, before Stefan could object.
Stefan finally nodded, conceding. Elena drove them all to Caroline's house.
At the front door, Caroline stopped Elena. "Go on inside. I need to talk to Jack."
She pulled him aside, her hands trembling.
"Jack… I've thought about this a lot. But I can't do it anymore. I can't keep being with you. Whether it's Damon using me to threaten you or the idea of marriage and spending forever together… I just can't picture it." Caroline's voice wavered, but her eyes were firm.
"No, don't—" Jack pulled her into his arms, desperate, not knowing what else to say.
"I used to think… maybe if we got married, lived through all of it, then Stefan could turn me. I'd become a vampire, and we'd be together forever. But tonight—seeing Sarah like that—I realized how terrified I am of turning. I don't want that. I'm sorry, Jack." Tears streamed down her face as she clung to him.
"It's okay. I understand. I respect your choice." He wiped her tears gently.
"Don't cry, or your eyes will be swollen tomorrow. And hey, it's Halloween—you've got your favorite party to look forward to." He tried to lighten the mood, brushing her hair softly.
"Besides, you've made your decision. Don't be sad. We can still be friends, right? Honestly, I'm the one getting dumped here. Shouldn't I be the one crying?" He teased, hoping to ease her pain.
Caroline gave a shaky laugh through her tears.
"Alright, it's late. I should head back. Go inside and get some rest." Jack kissed her forehead tenderly before letting her go.
.
.
.
Comments
Coreal
Lucky you. Vampire Diaries is the most toxic show I’ve ever watched. I don’t know why I loved watching it... well maybe I loved torturing myself back then
Zero Speed
This Damon situation has dragged on far too long to be honest this is the 3rd time mc has said this is the last straw only for nothing to happen I've never really read the source material but if it was this bad then it's a blessing I didn't
