Three days, she thought.

Three days since Elena and Jeremy lost their last remaining guardian.

Three days since she became a vampire.

Three days since Elena died and returned to life.

Three days since Elijah betrayed them all.

Three days since the curse on Klaus had been broken.

Three days since Damon had been bitten by Tyler.

Three days since she turned her emotions off.

Three days and no one noticed.

Araya thought it was only reasonable that they didn't notice. A lot had happened, not that she necessarily cared anymore. She smiled as she glanced at her bracelet with the lapis lazuli charm she had found in Elijah's house. She was staying in his house, attended school, and kept up appearances. Several things had changed: love was not in her vocabulary any longer and she didn't feel sorry for much of anything, if anything at all.

She was dancing, careful not to spill her bourbon and blood concoction, around the house to music that was blaring. Raya would admit that she was quite drunk, but she could hold her liquor. Dancing around the house had always been a favorite pastime of hers from before things went bad. She would always dance around the house with her father. When her mother got sick about the time she started seeing Gareth, the fun in her old home stopped. For her emotions being switched off, her parents still struck a nerve.

Even with the loud music she heard the door creek open, and the squeak of the floor. She was at the top of the stairs, a stake in her back pocket along with a vervain grenade, but no one was at the bottom. Slowly, she descended the stairs in her heels. Araya grasped the stake in her hand.

"Araya?"

Hearing the familiar voice, she relaxed and turned off the iPod dock with the remote. "Elijah."

"Why aren't you staying at the boarding house?"

"Because I don't need protecting."

"What's wrong?"

Araya arched a perfectly sculpted, auburn eyebrow at him before turning around.

"Araya, darling, how are you?" he asked, not yet understanding.

She turned with a smile playing on her face. "I was great, but then you showed up."

"I know I betrayed you and your friends, but surely you understand why. Klaus can give my family back to me."

"Honestly, Elijah, I don't care anymore."

That's when it clicked for Elijah. She had turned it off.

"Ouch, brother. How does it feel?" Klaus asked rounding the corner next to the stairs.

"You . . . Do you have to cure for a wolf bite?"

"Yes, but I don't see why it matters to you, my lovely." Worry welled up in his chest. Was she bitten? She didn't smell like she had a wolf bite.

"Damon was bitten."

Both men's anger flared. Had she turned her emotions off along with Salvatore? Was she in love with him?

"I need him to have the cure."

Tightlipped, Klaus asked, "Why?"

She shrugged. "He's a pain in my ass, but entertaining."

"He's the one that did this to you," Elijah spat.

"And you betrayed us. Do you know how much that hurt poor feeble me? It wasn't like you locked me up in your basement to torture and—" Cutting off, she realized they didn't really need to know. She was too enthralled in Elijah to notice the smile had left Klaus' lips. Araya smiled as she ran a hand over Elijah's suit clad torso and moved behind him. Her lips stopped at his ear. "But you promised not to hurt me, Elijah. You lied to me. You caused me to turn it off. Now I don't really care about attachments. I can go out, pick a nice guy, take him home—"

"Enough!" Elijah had turned and forced her away from him.

Araya pouted and sat on the stairs. "Awh, but I was having so much fun."

"Grab what you need, 'Lijah. We're leaving momentarily." As soon as his brother was out of the room, Klaus asked, "When was the last time you've fed properly?"

"I have a glass upstairs."

"I said properly. Bourbon and blood is not feeding properly."

"I haven't fed on a human if that's what you're asking."

"Why not?"

"I like Mystic Falls. I would hate to be discovered. Being discovered here means you die or, if you're lucky, you can flee."

"Hmmm. You're coming with 'Lijah and me."

"What makes you think that?"

"I'm the oldest vampire in history, love."

"And the only hybrid."

"Not necessarily. You're a hybrid, you can't channel your full power, but you have werewolf and vampire genes."

"Any idea how to bring that side out?"

"Ooh. Power hungry. I might be able to figure something out, love."

Klaus didn't like this side of her—well, he liked it, but it wasn't her at all. Ara was compassionate and caring, yet feisty at the same time. He knew the chosen words weren't even close to good enough to describe her. He knew he would have to fix her if she didn't fix herself first.

Araya wasn't shocked to find that Stefan had gone to Alaric's apartment to see Klaus, but Stefan was completely surprised to see her walk in between two Originals. Katherine smirked when she saw.

"Araya, what are you doing? Are you okay?"

"She shut it off, Stefan," Klaus answered. "At the sacrifice."

"Raya!"

"What are you here for, Stefan?"

"I need the cure for a werewolf bite."

"Ah, Araya tried to get the cure. What makes you think I'll give it to you?"

Araya stepped over past Katherine and sat on the edge of the bar. Katherine sat right next to her.

"I'll do anything."

"I'm sorry, but I have to fulfill a promise to my brother first. I've promised him a reunion with our family."

She watched a dagger be plunged into Elijah's heart and she was shocked.

"Wha—"

Katherine's hand closed across Araya's mouth. "Shh."

Klaus watched as his brother turned gray. As soon as the process of being nullified was over, Klaus ran his eyes over everyone in the apartment.

"Fancy a drink, Stefan?"

She saw the fridge open up to bag after bag of blood. And she partly knew what was coming for Stefan.