Cold Hearted | Damon Salvatore

eighteen

18. The Murder Of One

"So it's true?" Caroline asked, walking in the woods with Aria, "Ric killed my father?".

"Yeah" Aria whispered, "I know it's overwhelming and I totally get it if you're angry, but I did give him some herbs to help, I'm hoping they will heal him and keep his killer side from rising".

Caroline sighed, "I don't know what to feel honestly, like a part of me does blame Ric for killing my father, but the other part knows he wasn't Ric when he did it, I'm so conflicted right now".

"Care, it's okay to feel angry, it's okay to feel sad" Aria said, "You lost your father, no one excepts you to be just fine, both your father and Ric became victims of something supernatural, something none of them asked for, but it just happened, and I'm sorry it happened, but you understand that I can't turn my back on him right? I understand if you want nothing to do with him, I will respect your decision and so will Ric, no hard feelings at all, but I can't leave him alone in this situation".

"I know you can't Aria" Caroline said, giving Aria a small smile, "Because your Aria Connor-Forbes, you don't have it in you to turn your back on someone who needs you, but I need a little bit time, it's hard knowing he killed my father, I know it wasn't him, but it still hurt".

"Take all the time you want Care" Aria assured, "Just promise me, this won't affect us".

"Don't be silly Aria" Caroline replied, "Aria and Caroline are forever, never forget that".

"Never" Aria whispered, hugging Caroline.

"You know, you should take your own advice" Caroline said, breaking the hug.

"What advice?" Aria asked confused.

"You told me it's okay to feel angry, it's okay to feel sad" Caroline pointed, "You're allowed to be angry at Damon, you're allowed to be sad for your relationship, what you're not allowed to do is suppress your emotions".

Aria sighed, "I'm not suppressing anything Care, I just don't have time to be upset, I need to make sure Alaric doesn't go killer mode again, I still need to break the link between the Originals, and I need to make sure Elena and gang aren't planning anything stupid, I've got too much on my plate then to sit there and cry".

"It looks like to me you're not suppressing your emotions, you just refuse to acknowledge them" Caroline said.

"Think what you want Care, I don't care" Aria said, "Now walk faster, Nik is waiting for us".

Caroline shook her head at her best friend's stubbornness, but nonetheless followed her towards the Mikaelson mansion.

***

"Finn, Elijah!" Aria yelled, running into the Mikaelson and hugging the two older Mikaelson's.

"It's good to see you again, Ariana" Elijah said, smiling at the young witch.

"I've missed you both" Aria said.

"We missed you to" Finn said.

"What's he doing here?" Caroline snapped.

Aria turned around to see who Caroline was talking about, and she froze seeing Damon standing there, in her excitement to see Finn and Elijah, she didn't see Damon standing there.