Chapter 7

October 30, 2009

Evie sat crossed legged on the middle of the large bed. With her eyes focused on the large age-worn book in her lap, she concentrated on the words in front of her. The instructions were oddly written, and the entire thing was almost like it had been written by Yoda or some fictional mystical being. She even started referring to herself internally as a Jedi. The book described the process of using the energy around her and how her mind could connect with it. Which is how she was able to open windows and light candles with ease. With an exhale, she raised her hands, looking intently at the strange words before her.

Damon opened the door to his bedroom, poking his head in to check on his little witch. He found Evelyn frowning at the book in front of her, perching crossed-legged in the middle of his bed. She raised her hands and took a deep breath before letting her eyes slide shut.

Slowly the candles she had set up on the top of the trunk at the foot of his bed began to light…and float. He tilted his head watching the candles float about like on a Harry Potter movie.

"Don't set anything on fire." He said aloud and then hoped he hadn't startled her or she might drop the lit candles.

Evie opened an eye to glare at him. "Well, maybe if you don't distract me I won't."

He smirked. "You would anyway, just to spite me." She rolled her eyes and the candles floated back down, extinguishing as they touched the trunk.

"Did you find anything?" She asked him, closing the book and stretching. Damon's eyes focused on the patch of skin that was revealed to him when her shirt rode up her stomach and he shook his head.

"Not yet."

He was holding up his end of the deal and was looking for Evie's father. The only thing he had found so far was that the man had been riding the bus all around town like a tourist or a lost elderly person. Whatever he had been doing, he had been a man on a mission and Damon was becoming a bit concerned by the lack of evidence. Usually he could track pretty well, especially humans, but Evie's father seemed to have disappeared completely.

If Evie was disappointed, he couldn't tell. She simply nodded and then heard Vicki's whining voice, causing her to roll her eyes.

"So…How's it going with her?"

He shrugged and she rolled her eyes again.

"It's been like a week since you guys found her. Isn't she prepared?"

"No, thanks to Stefan. It would go faster if she was on human blood, but tell that to the bunny eater."

Evelyn snorted. "Gross." She muttered before frowning. "I'm sure Matt is worried sick. Jeremy too."

Damon sat on the bed. "I'm going to find your dad, Eves. He didn't just disappear."

"Sure." She murmured and leaned toward the end of the bed to get her candles. Damon's eyes landed on her bottom and she glared at him over her shoulder, feeling his eyes on her. "Is there another reason your still in here? Other than to stare at my ass like a perv."

He smirked. "You know how much I like to annoy you and it's a nice ass."

Evelyn rolled her eyes and gathered her candles. Ever since the night in the woods, Damon had been dropping not so subtle hints that he obviously had no shame about what had happened and that it amused him. All she wanted to do was forget it. Evie couldn't give in if she wanted to keep her sanity.

"All joking aside…How's your juju coming along? That looked easier to do." He nodded at her candles.

She looked at him, a frown on her face. "That was one of the easy spells. That healing one I used on Stefan is way in the back." She flipped opened the book, tapping the page with her finger to show him. Damon leaned closer to her, his minty cool breath hitting her exposed shoulder as he read the page. She held back a shiver, fidgeting and rearranging her overly large sweater.

"Hm. Guess you have to start small first, huh?"

"Yeah." She moved away from her, turning to face him on the bed instead.

"What about those voices?"

Evie shook her head. "It doesn't say and when I told Gran she just stared at me until I told her it was my iPod that I had sat on. She looked confused or disappointed. I'm not sure."

Damon arched an eyebrow. "So the voices are good?"

"She won't give me a straight answer!" The girl huffed and he watched her rant, her hands flying as she spoke. "She flung this book at me, literally, three days ago and I have no idea what in the hell I am doing! And her only response is, "You have to discover it for yourself." Thanks for being my wise old mentor, Gran!"

She threw herself backwards on the bed and scowled at the ceiling. Damon moved until he was lying like she was, legs off the bed, though since she was shorter, he had to lay lower, so his head came to her shoulder.

"Tough luck."

"No kidding. At least Luke Skywalker had Yoda and Simba had Rafiki. I got a musty old book and...my unhelpful grandmother!"

Damon smirked at her. "And me. The handsome sidekick."

She raised up on her elbows to stare at him. "You've not helped me either." She pointed out. He raised up on his elbows too, his face inches from hers.

"And I will. In fact I will this afternoon, smarty pants."

They stared at each other for a second, blue eyes clashing with green, and she felt a flush grow in her cheeks. His eyes lowered to her mouth and she shook her head to clear it.

Evie shoved him. "Go…help Vicki or something." She grumbled, her long hair falling into her face as she turned away from him.

Damon smirked and sat up with a groan. "Fine. But you should come too. You need a break."

She shrugged and closed the book, moving off the bed to follow him.

"How'd the bed feel? It's nice right? It's much better if you're on your back." He felt a rush of air as she threw her shoe at his head, missing by a few inches. He grinned.

"Shut up, Salvatore!" She shrieked.

"Missed me."

Evie tilted her head at Vicki as the newbie vampire hung up Stefan's phone and handed it back to him.

"I don't understand why I have to stay cooped up here. Why can't I go home?" She asked, worrying her lower lip.

Stefan smiled at her in sympathy. "Because you're changing, Vicki, and it's not something you wanna do alone."

"There's nothing about that Logan guy I killed in here." Damon interrupted, frowning at his newspaper. Evie rolled her eyes at Stefan. "Not a word."

"How horrible." She mocked and he eyed her.

"Yes, it is horrible, my Eves." He said with a tiny hint of smugness. Evie glowered at him when Stefan and Vicki both looked in her direction. Damon smirked at her behavior and her muttered: "Not your anything". "Someone's covering it up."

"What is that?" Vicki asked, looking at the object that the older Salvatore brother was twirling between his fingers.

"Very special, very old compass."

"And it still works?" Evie snorted.

"A lot of old things still work." He grinned at her and Evie narrowed her eyes. His mug of coffee tipped over into his lap. Unfortunately for her, it had a sip or two left so it didn't do the damage she had hoped. He chuckled. "Better luck next time."

Stefan arched an eyebrow and Vicki looked at the blonde girl in shock.

"How'd you do that?!"

She shrugged. "I'm a witch or something like that."

"That's so cool."

Evie smiled.

"What was Logan Fell doing with it?" Damon waved the compass at Stefan. "Aren't you curious?"

"Well, if you're so worried that someone's onto you then why don't you leave town, Damon?" His brother sighed.

"We should all be worried." He countered before smirking. "Can't leave. I made a deal with Eves. I'll help her find her dad."

Stefan looked at the girl. "He's still missing?"

The girl nodded, an anxiety in her eyes that she tried to hide.

"I'm working on it." Damon said nonchalantly and she glanced at him once.

"Hey, I'm hungry." Vicki announced and they looked at her. Evie watched her warily. "Do you have anything to eat?"

Stefan picked up a mug from the table in front of him and handed it to her. "Here."

She looked down at its contents. "What is it?"

"It's what you're craving."

Damon scoffed. "Don't lie to the girl. It's so not what your craving but it will do in a pinch. Right, Stef?"

Evie frowned at him before looking back at Vicki.

"What is it?" Vicki asked curiously, sniffing the contents again. Evelyn looked at Damon when his chair creaked as he sat up to smirk at them.

"Yeah, what is it? Is it skunk? St. Bernard? Bambi?" He taunted.

"You're seriously sick." The human girl scowled.

"Oh, better yet its cat." He smirked at her. He had come over to her house the other day and gotten acquainted with the half dozen cats that lived there. They absolutely loved him and her Gran had been so overjoyed that he had come to visit. Evelyn had never felt embarrassed in her life.

"He's such a handsome young man." Othella had gushed to her quietly, unaware that Damon could hear every word. Evelyn saw the smirk that passed his lips.

"He's an ass."

This comment went unheard by her grandmother who was fanning herself with an oven mitt. "He's got a nice firm looking-"

Evie flushed pink. "Gran, please." She interrupted quickly. "He's a nuisance."

"Evelyn Marie!" Her grandmother had scolded, frowning at her granddaughter as she swatted at her a with a wooden spoon. "Don't be rude. I'll admit he's a bit older than you, but I think that's all right you're almost eighteen."

"Gran!" She had scowled. "I don't like Damon like that."

"He's been spending a lot of time with you lately." Othella smiled at her knowingly.

"I don't like him." Evie said stubbornly.

The older woman sighed. "If you say so dear. I still think he's rather nice looking."

"He's a womanizer."

"Well, most men are dear. You just have to reel him in. Trying smiling a bit more."

"I'll just throw him back out to sea, thanks."

Othella rolled her eyes. "Honestly, Evelyn, it's no wonder you don't have a boyfriend. Always frowning and being rude. I think it's that black fingernail polish and that place you like so much. The Mystic Grill." She sighed and patted her cheek gently. "Smile, dear. He's been watching you. I think he likes you."

Evie waited until her grandmother was out of hearing range before scowling at Damon. "He just wants something. Just don't know what he wants."

"You, my Eves." He replied, making a kissy face at her and she glared at him.

"You disgust me."

He only smirked at her and started petting the cats that were around his legs.

"And he has such a way with animals." Othella poked her head out of the kitchen. "He's sensitive, that means he'd be good in bed!"

Evelyn's face turned ten different shades of red. "Gran!"

"Oh, shut up." She told him, her face flushed, and he smirked wider.

"Go on," Stefan said, deciding he'd rather ignore whatever was going on between the two rather than inquire what they were talking about, and nodding at Vicki. "Give it a try."

"She's new. She needs people blood. She can't sustain on that stuff." Damon scoffed, back in the conversation once more.

"Oh, yeah, Stefan's definitely the reason she's not learning." Evelyn snorted aloud and he sent her a look. "Well, I'm out." She stood up and left the room.

"Come on."

Evie glanced up from her book bag with a frown. "Come where? Where are we going?" She asked before washing out her mug of coffee. Damon leaned against the doorway to the kitchen.

"To school. You'll be late."

She raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you care if I'm late or not?"

He rolled his eyes. "Can't stay in my room all day. At night is another story..."

"Would you stop with the-"

"Not with Vicki being all flaky anyway. She might take a bite out of you." He had a point. "Besides, you need a break from your juju." Evie shrugged and hitched up her bag.

"Whatever you say." She muttered and followed him out of the kitchen. "And I don't mean that literally."

He snickered, but didn't say anything else.

The doorbell rang and Damon suddenly smirked. Evie blinked.

"You have a doorbell?"

Snorting, he moved past her to open the door. A disgruntled Elena met their sight.

"Is Stefan here?" She asked, looking from him to Evie with a mixture of confusion and indifference. Confusion for Evie and indifference for Damon.

"Yep."

"Where is he?"

"And good morning to you, little miss "I'm on a mission."" Damon smirked back at her and Evelyn rolled her eyes.

Elena crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. "How can you be so arrogant and glib after everything that you've done?"

"And how can you be so brave and stupid as to call a vampire arrogant and glib?"

"Because it's true?" The girl behind him said.

"Hush, Eves." Damon told her.

"Stop calling me that!"

"Never."

Gritting her teeth, she glared at him and Elena arched an eyebrow at them.

"If you wanted me dead, I'd be dead." She pointed out to him. "And so would Evie."

Evelyn rolled her eyes. "Don't bring me into this."

Damon looked back at the Katherine look-a-like. "Yes, you would. And so would she, but alas I'm helping her. She needs a lot of help."

"I'm right here." Evie scowled. "I can hear you, jerk."

He smirked at her before grabbing her chin with his fingers. "Yes, I know, my Eves." He said in a babying voice and she slapped his hand away, eyes flashing.

She faced Elena. "Unfortunately, this asshat is the only help I can get with my magic practicing." She told her. "Trust me, I'd rather be elsewhere."

Damon put a hand on his chest. "You've cut me to the quick."

"Oh, shut up."

Elena tilted her head slightly at the pair before shaking her head. She didn't want to know anymore.

"But I'm not." She pointed out again and Damon rolled his eyes.

"Yet." He emphasized.

She sighed. This was getting nowhere. "Where is Stefan?"

"Upstairs singing the "Rain in Spain". Knock yourself out." He told her. "Come along, my Eves. I'm taking you to school." He called over his shoulder and she rolled her eyes before following after him.

"What no kiss goodbye?"

Evie flicked him off and he snickered. He snagged her arm before she could escape the car.

"Hey."

She looked at him with a frown. "What?"

He narrowed his eyes slightly. "All jokes aside...If that ex of yours bothers you, let someone know." He said uncharacteristically serious. "I don't want you getting spooked before we practice. It won't help you."

"I can handle him." She told him and pulled her arm away from him.

"No, you can't. Not by yourself yet. I'm picking you up after school so don't even think about trying to get out of it."

She stuck her tongue out at him and stalked off.

He watched her walk away an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach that he couldn't quite understand. Snorting at himself for going soft, he started to drive off. Feeling eyes on him, he stopped the car looked up to see a single teen, leaning against a tree. He was a jock-type looking guy with blonde hair. He kept looking around for something or someone…

Damon frowned. The guy, even from the small distance, was giving off odd vibes. It was his posture, relaxed and yet...dangerous, predatory. It made his skin crawl and that was something hard to do.

Slowly the teenager, pushed off the tree and walked out of sight, leaving the vampire with an uneasy feeling once more.

True to his word, he was there when school let out and she got into the car, rather reluctantly.

"What's that?" Damon asked, looking at the plastic bag in her lap.

"Halloween costume."

He raised an eyebrow at her before grinning. "Let me see."

She rolled her eyes. "No."

"Aw, c'mon." He whined exaggeratingly. "Pretty please?"

She flushed a bit. "So don't laugh...I ordered this before I knew what you and Stefan were, okay?"

Intrigued he tilted his head and then grinned. "Eves-"

"Don't say it." She warned him, waving a finger at him.

"I can give you some pointers." He grinned, showing his fangs to her and she huffed.

"Oh, shut up."

He threw his head back and laughed and she couldn't stop the smile that went across her face. Damon pretended not to see it.

"Okay, I already don't like this." She said, watching him warily as he locked the door behind him. They were inside an old building near the edge of town. No one would bother them and she was pretty sure no one could hear her if she yelled for help. Another reason to hate this idea.

He rolled his eyes. "Would you relax? I'm not going to hurt you. Haven't I earned your trust yet?"

"Then what are you doing?"

"Helping you practice. Duh."

"Why did you lock the door?"

"Privacy."

Evelyn scowled. "What the hell does that mean?"

"Easy, feisty pants. It's not a sex innuendo." Damon told her, picking up a loose brick and tossing it out of the way carelessly. He glanced at the girl who was looking over the building with a mild skepticism. Her eyes landed on him again with a scowl at his words. "I want to see if you can toss me away without hesitating."

"So you want me to purposely throw you?" She smirked. "I don't have a problem with that."

He rolled his eyes. "We'll see when you actually do it."

Without warning, he blurred towards her and Evie was pressed to the dusty brick wall behind her in seconds. He pinned her hands on either side of her head and she fought him.

"What the hell!? Let me go!" She glared at him, trying to get away.

"Make me." He retorted.

"Let me go!" She snapped again and tried to kick him.

"Not like that."

Damon moved his legs, so that they kept her from moving hers.

"Get off me."

"You agreed to practice on my terms, Eves." He reminded her. "You stepped in here so now you can't leave unless I let you or you make me let you go."

"That's not funny."

"It's not supposed to be." He said slightly impatient. "Now, first things first, I'm a vampire and you can't run from me. So, what do you do?" He pressed his body closer to hers. "And I've just trapped you. How do you get away? Without using fists and feet?"

Evie frowned, trying to concentrate.

"Tik tok, Eves." He said mockingly, and she huffed.

"I can't think!" She scowled and tried to buck him off her. "You're in my space! Get off!"

"Tough." He said and dipped his head down to run his nose along her throat. She went rigid beneath his hands and her eyes narrowed at him. "Any other vampire would have bitten you already." He breathed against her neck and she grit her teeth, clenching her fists.

"Can't feed from me." She said, trying her best not to sound so pathetically breathless, but his lips were brushing her skin and giving her shivers of disgust. At least she hoped it was disgust.

Damon could hear her rapid heartbeat, she wasn't relaxing anytime soon. He removed his face from her neck and with some maneuvering, he had both of her hands pinned above her head with one hand and the other wrapped around her throat lightly.

"A vampire could snap your neck, Eves. So simple and quick. You have to be faster. Much faster."

She nodded, relaxing somewhat as she tried to concentrate. "Try again then." He nodded and moved back to the other side of the room.

He came at her again, this time grabbing her from behind and she tried to focus her energy. He felt a small tug, but it didn't do anything.

"Damn it!" She huffed when nothing happened.

"You have to try, Evelyn." Damon told her, holding her arms pinned to her sides. "Make me let go of you. You've done it before."

Evie scowled and narrowed her eyes.

Next thing she knew, Damon was slamming into the door and then a window broke from somewhere inside the building. Winded, the vampire turned onto his hands and knees before standing back up, cracking his back from the impact.

"Good. Better." He grunted and got up off the floor. "So we know anger is a contributor, let's get past that."

The girl folded her arms across her chest. "How?"

Damon tapped his chin. "You have to use your powers without being angry. Anger makes you lose control. Like you did the other night. And just now with that window."

"You jarred the building. That wasn't me." She retorted and he rolled his eyes.

"Look, tossing me off you is the ultimate goal, but you can't do that angry. Try again."

She managed to toss him a bit quicker the next few times, but Damon wanted to move on to something else.

"All right." He told her when she made to throw him again. "You're getting faster, but you're still hesitating. Stop thinking about it so hard." He picked up a brick and held it out to her. "Let's try something else."

About an hour later, it was getting dark and Damon could see she was tiring out.

"Think we covered enough today."

She nodded, lowering her arms. She had managed to lift things and throw them or move them with more ease than before. Sometimes managing to do it without moving her hands.

She pulled her phone from her denim jacket, watching Damon shut and lock the building up.

"Thanks for being my Yoda." She said, shifting a bit.

He looked at her, hearing the hesitant, yet grateful tone. He had never been thanked like that before. He felt a weird sensation and shook his head to clear it. He blinked a few times before he remembered she had spoken.

"Yeah...No problem."

"So...what are you going to do about Vicki?"

"She needs to learn outside of the house. Stefan's stifling her."

Evie rocked back on her heels. "Why'd you do it?"

"I was bored."

"Seriously?" She shook her head. "That's really lame."

Damon snorted. "Need a ride?"

"I'm good. I'm meeting someone at the Grill."

He turned to walk off and she called after him. "When are you going to tell me why you're really helping me?" He paused and looked at her over his shoulder. "I know you want something."

He moved closer to her and she resisted the urge to back away. He towered over her so that she had to bend her back slightly to look him in the face.

"Trust is earned remember? You trust me and then I'll trust you." He said lowly, his lips inches from hers. "See you later, Eves." He pulled back and zoomed off, leaving her with a mixed feeling in her gut.

"Ugh, stupid vampire." She snorted and turned around.

Feeling eyes on her, she looked across the street and tensed. Troy was leaning against a tree near the woods, his eyes on her. She flipped him off and stalked up the street, trying to hurry and get to the Grill. She wasn't really meeting anyone there, but she was hungry and she had to check and make sure her dad hadn't come in.

Footsteps behind her made her move faster. And when a hand landed on her arm, she whipped around ready to throw whoever it was.

"Daddy?"

"What happened? Where have you been?" Evie asked as her father ate his second burger, his hands shaky. He ignored her questions so she tried again, her voice a little harsher. "Sherriff Forbes found your wallet in a pile of dead teenagers, Dad. What happened?"

Mike put down his burger, frowning. "Not here. They're watching."

Evie looked around. "Who is?"

She jumped when his handed on her arm. "Evelyn, I need you to be careful. They will hurt you."

"Who?" She frowned and he glanced around again before shaking his head. "Dad."

"Be careful. I'm doing what I can to make sure you're safe." He took her hand in a tight grip. "Do you understand?"

"Yeah, but-"

"I have to go now. And I want you to tell your boyfriend to stop trailing me."

Evelyn frowned. "What?"

Mike smirked. "He's a little old for you, isn't he? The dark haired guy?"

She flushed red, a scowl on her face. "Dad, Damon is not-"

He held up a hand, chucking. "As long as he treats you right and you keep him in line, it's fine." He then looked serious. "I have to go."

"No." She frowned. "Please don't go again. I was worried about you."

He sighed. "I've already talked to Sheriff Forbes and your grandmother. I'm trying to keep you safe, Evelyn. You're my daughter."

"I don't understand. Why do you have to leave?"

He leaned closer. "There are dangerous people out there, cupcake. People that are looking for you. I have to keep you off their radar." He patted her hand. "I know I told you to not do magic, but it might be your only defense. Learn to keep yourself safe." He stood up and shook his head when she made to follow. "Don't. stay here and wait ten minutes, then you can go." He tossed some money on the table to pay for their food.

"Yeah, but-" She tried to protest again. To stop him from leaving. A panic welled up inside her, one she hadn't had since she was younger and it made her head hurt from trying to remember why. "Daddy-"

Mike paused, seeing the sorrow on her face. She looked so much like her mother. He sighed. Could he really just leave her?

"It's going to be okay, sweetheart. I promise." He backed up and then went out of the Grill, leaving her to stare after him in dumbstruck disbelief.

October 31st 2009

Evelyn straightened out the sides of her dress, grimacing at the crazy amount of laces.

"Let's see the fangs."

Shrieking, she whirled around to find Damon lounging on her bed.

"What the hell are you doing in here?! How'd you get in?!"

Damon was tossing one of her hacky sacks in the air, catching it and tossing it up again.

"I let myself in."

Rolling her eyes, she scowled at him. "Well, let yourself out."

"I've got a bit of a problem and I'm hoping you'd help a guy out."

"What do you want?"

"Vicki's on the loose."

"Oh, God. Way to go teacher of the year."

Damon sent her a look. "Anyway. Need your magic abilities. Can you locate someone?"

She shrugged. "Never tried that before. I suppose I can." She lifted her book from the desk in the corner and came to sit on the edge of the bed. Damon rolled and moved to peer over her shoulder, his eyes landing more often than she was comfortable with on her corseted top.

Flipping pages, she finally found something of interest. "Well, it says I can if I have something of hers. Got anything?" He held up an earring. "Do I want to know how you got that?"

"Probably not."

Scowling, she took it from him. Holding it in the palm of her hand, she ran the other over it, eyes closed. Damon felt a shift in the air, things in Evelyn's room beginning to move like a fan had been turned on. He watched in fascination as her palm glowed and then it dimed.

"She's at the school." She said lowering her hand. "Or on her way I think. I got a sense it was dark out." She turned her head to find him standing next to her. "Stop that. You make my head hurt."

"Thank you, my Eves." He inclined his head and made for the door.

"Hold it, mister." She said and hopped up from the bed. Damon turned to face her, an eyebrow raised. "What are you going to do when you find her?"

"Haul her ass back home. Lock her in the basement."

Evie frowned. "You just saying that to appease me or do you mean it?"

"What would appease you?" He smirked and she glowered at him.

"Shut up, Salvatore. By the way, my eyes are up here."

She felt heat through her body at his suddenly attentive gaze. He purposely dragged his eyes from her feet to her face, a wickedly smug smirk on his face.

"Oh I know. Just enjoying the view."

"Perv." She tried to say angrily, but it didn't have the emotion behind it and he knew it. He loved throwing her off guard.

His smirk widened. "Can I see the fangs now?"

She opened her mouth and he came closer, taking her chin. She tried to protest, but he was poking at the fake tooth.

"Huh...Looks pretty authentic." He suddenly snaked an arm around her waist and hauled her against his body. He took one of her wrists and pressed it against his nose inhaling the smell of her skin. His features turned vampiric and he grinned at her, showing his fangs to her. "Mine are sharper."

"I dare you to bite me then." She challenged and he grimaced, features fading before a smirk appeared.

"I don't have to have fangs to bite you, my Eves." His icy blue eyes flashing with his own challenge. Evie narrowed her eyes. "Just name the time and the place."

"Not happening." She scowled, cheeks red with anger and slight self-consciousness. She pulled away from him and put a few feet between them.

"I know you feel it."

"Disgust?"

He only smirked. "Can I get a ride to the school?"

"What? No. Why can't you just run or something?"

"I don't feel like it."

She scowled.

"I'll behave." He held up his hands. "I swear."

"Fine. Just keep your hands to yourself."

Damon eyed Evelyn again, taking her in her red and black body hugging thigh-length dress, fishnet stockings, and black leather boots that went up to her knees.

"Whatever you say."

She rolled her eyes.

"Let me know if you see her." He told her, eyeing Bonnie and Caroline. He needed that necklace back from Caroline. "I'll look outside."

"I just hope she doesn't kill anyone."

"I'm sure Saint Stefan's got an eye on her."

"Then what good are you?" She smirked at him.

He smirked back at her. "I'm good for a lot of things."

"Oh, god...Get out of my truck!"

He chuckled and got out of the truck, leaving her to mumble to herself.

A few later, she was stumbling through the crowd of teenagers and children as they partied inside the school. There were two haunted houses and three creepy themed hallways to go through and after having gotten turned around. She didn't really mind, she knew eventually someone would come to her rescue, so she just bobbed her way through the crowds.

Something slammed into her, knocking her against the wall.

Evelyn turned around, holding up her fists automatically. "Troy!? What the-Stay away from me."

Troy looked dismayed, lowering his hood. "Don't be like that, Evelyn. You don't want to upset me."

"I'll punch your nose in!" She warned when he stepped closer.

"I'm not going to hurt you. Just come with me."

"No way, you asshole!" She tried to punch him and he grabbed her wrists, backing her against the wall and trapping her there.

"Quit fighting me." He growled, tightening his grip on her wrists. "I'll let go if you stop." Evelyn glared at him. "You need to stop defying me."

"Fuck off!"

Troy rolled his eyes.

"Now, I'm going to let go of you. Let's try to be civil." He slowly released his grip and she moved to attack him. He tried to punch her, but she kicked between his legs. He swore colorfully and she crawled away from him. Finding her footing, she tried to run only to have him grab her hair.

"Now, listen here, you ungrateful little bitch. I've tried to be nice and apologize, but you keep doing stupid things. Stop pissing me off!"

"Back off!" She yelled at him through clenched teeth. "I hate you."

"You get around don't you? I knew it. the football player, that Stefan guy, and his brother? But that's okay." He reached out to stroke her cheek. "it just means your special." She spit at him, smirking when some of it splattered his face.

Hissing, he slammed her back against the wall and her head smacked the wall, making her dizzy for a second. "Ah, ah, ah, darling. That's not how we act." He moved even closer to her invading her space. "You look so pretty tonight."

Evelyn frowned at him warily. "Let me go." He lifted one of his hands that had been hidden by his sleeve and he revealed a pocket knife. She suddenly couldn't move, watching the colored lights flicker off the blade.

"What-what are you doing?" She asked, trying her best not to sound scared, but she was.

"Just hold still and it won't hurt so much." He murmured and she clenched her fists.

"All I want is a little bit of blood."

The blade cut into the skin of her neck just the slightest. Evelyn scowled. Suddenly Troy was flying through the air. He crashed into a nearby booth and she didn't stick around to see if he was getting up anytime soon.

She wove through the people, making it outside of the school and she didn't stop going until she slammed into someone hard.

Hands caught her and she blinked dizzily at the person above her.

"Damon?"

He smirked at her before frowning at the blood on her neck. "What happened to you?"

"Troy."

He rolled his eyes. "Where is he now?"

"Inside."

"You seen Vicki?"

"Nope. I did see Matt though, looked upset."

Damon looked over her head to see the creepy blonde from yesterday.

"Come on, let's move." He took her arm and began walking towards the side of the school.

"Why?" She frowned at him and looked over her shoulder.

"He's following you."

He moved them towards a darkened part of the school, where there was a little entrance there, that hardly anyone used unless they were coming out to get to the buses. Evelyn rolled her eyes.

"Don't even think about doing what you did in the woods."

He turned to her rolling his eyes. "Try being quiet and I won't...Unless you just really want me too."

"No." She scowled.

He smirked and then stiffened. "Keep quiet." He backed them further into the dark so that she couldn't see anything but his leather jacket and if anyone was looking their direction no one could see anything but a flash of Damon's icy blue eyes.

Evie poked his arm.

"You're squishing me."

"Shh." He hushed her and then stiffened. "Is that your dad?"

"Huh?" She pressed against his back to peer around his arm. "What's he-Oh, god!" She shoved at Damon watching as her father and Troy got into a fight. The vampire didn't budge and she punched his arm. "Move, you ass!" She snapped and then froze when she saw Troy had a knife in his hands. "Hey!"

He moved in a rush of air, leaving her to stumble forward from his sudden absence. She watched in stunned silence as he intercepted the knife wielding teenager and sent him sprawling back.

Evelyn ran out from under the awning and towards her father, grabbing his arm while Damon dealt with angry teen. Troy was practically seething with anger.

"Back off, vampire!" He practically howled at Damon who raised an eyebrow.

"What?" Mike frowned and looked up at his daughter who was tugging at him. "Evelyn?"

"No, he's not." She said shaking her head. "Troy's a nut. Come on."

He let her pull him to his feet and away from the scene.

"What were you thinking?! He's crazy and has a knife!" Evie scowled.

Mike frowned. "He's one of the ones looking for you, Evelyn, he's not what he looks like." He lifted his jacket. "I can take care of myself."

"Shut your jacket! Don't show people your packing!" She hissed, hiding the gun from view. "What do you mean he's not what he looks like?"

A muffled sound came from behind them and they turned in time to see Damon being flung off into the side of the school with a loud crack.

"Holy-What the hell?!" Evie looked at her father, bewildered. She had thought the vampire could handle himself. Obviously not. "He just-" In mere seconds, something was tackling her father to the ground with a thump. Her jaw dropped. Instead of Troy being there it was some kind of humanoid creature with a large mouth of shining, sharp teeth and yellow eyes.

Before she could react, he was on her, teeth sinking into her shoulder as he sucked at her blood.

"Get off me!" She shrieked, feeling like a dozen razors were cutting into her skin, blood flowed quickly out and she felt a sudden dizziness.

"Run, Evie!" Mike yelled, punching the thing in the face before she rolled out from under it. She tried to toss it/Troy away, but pain went through her body at the sudden movement. "Evelyn, go!"

"Dad-"

"Go, damn it!" He cursed and drop kicked the creature.

Holding her shoulder, the girl took off around the corner, trying not to look back as she ran.

Hiding around one of the buses, she gasped for air and slid down to sit on the ground. The wound wasn't deep, but her blood was running out like liquid from an overflowing cup. Her eyes crossed briefly and she blinked sluggishly. His bite had done something to her.

"The hell was that?" She asked herself and then heard muffled moans coming from the next row over. "Ugh..."

"Ow!"

Jeremy. Frowning, Evie stumbled to her feet before her eyes widened. Vicki! She had completely forgot! Rounding the corner, she spotted the young teen with his undead girlfriend.

"Vicki, what the hell!?" Jeremy yelled out, looking at his girlfriend in confusion and slight apprehension. Vicki advanced toward him, eyes red with bloodlust and little black veins formed under her eyes. "Vicki?"

"Vicki, don't!" Evelyn called, and Jeremy looked over as she appear at the end of the row of buses. "Listen. You are better than this." The vampire's eyes saw fresh blood coming from a wound on the girl's shoulder, exposed from the ripped sleeve. She hissed and pushed her young companion out of the way and the girl across from her paled in realization. "Oh, shit. Uh, Jer? You run now, okay? Go find Elena and Stefan." The teen only sat there on the pavement stunned from where Vicki had just shoved him away.

Evie ran for it and Vicki chased her.

Jeremy stood up slowly and Elena rounded the corner.

"Jer!" She took his hand. "Let's go."

He pulled her to a stop before they could go inside. "Something's wrong with Vicki."

An inhuman scream came from nearby and both of them flinched.

"She chased Evie." He murmured. "Evie was bleeding."

"Oh, my god."

They found them a few bus rows over. Vicki was attempting to choke Evelyn and she trying to knock her off of her.

"Why can't I feed from you!?" The vampire screamed. The human girl forced herself to try her powers one last time and it worked out. Vicki was flung off her and into a nearby trash pile.

Coughing for air, Evie rolled to her side.

"Evelyn!"

Elena ran over and helped Evie to feet and steadied her when she wobbled. The blond was shaky and very pale. Vicki got out of the trash pile, brandishing a wooden plank.

"You bitch!" She swung the board at them, but Stefan tackled her, pushing her up against one of the buses to stop her. The board fell to the ground and with a hiss, Vicki disappeared.

"Go! Back inside!" Stefan told them. Jeremy got on Evie's other side and he and Elena attempted to take her back inside.

Before they could get inside, Vicki attacked them. She grabbed Evelyn, attempting to snap her neck and Stefan took action. A broken piece of plywood embedded itself into the newbie vampire's chest. Exhausted, Evie went limply to the ground as a dying Vicki released her.

Jeremy screams of Vicki's name echoed in her head as she stared at the dead body of Vicki Donovan.

"Get him out of here." Elena told Stefan and he nodded, getting Jeremy and herding him away from the scene.

"Evie?" Elena said softly. "Are you okay?"

"Wazzhappenin?" She slurred, feeling very loopy. "Dead?"

"Yes." The brunette said quietly and she eyed the bleeding bite on Evie's shoulder. "Vicki?"

"No. S'Troy. Ugly thing..."

"Evelyn!"

Both of them looked up to see Troy, limping across the pavement, a pocket knife in hand. He was bleeding

"Back off..." Evie told him harshly, trying to sit up, but it was hard for her to stay awake.

"What are you doing with that?" The brunette frowned at him. "Is this some kind of prank?"

"I told you, Evelyn. You belong to me and-"

She tried to toss him away, but he only moved slightly. He smirked at her, eyes flashing yellow.

Elena swallowed. "What are you?!"

Troy only had eyes for Evie.

"Can you feel my venom? It's making you feel just a little loopy."

"Get away from us." Elena snapped at him. "Just leave."

Troy backhanded, Elena tossing her away and he made a grab for Evie who weakly tried to get away from him.

Damon rounded the corner of the school, rolling his shoulders to get the kink out of his back from hitting the bricks earlier. He saw Elena, dressed as a nurse, on her knees next to Vicki.

"You should go." He said, announcing his presence. Elena looked at him angrily. "I got this."

She stood up slowly, eyeing him. "You did this. This is your fault."

"You confuse me for someone with remorse." He retorted.

Elena hit his chest with her hands before attempting to slap him.

"None of this matters to me." He said catching her hand and squeezing tightly. "None of it."

"People die around you. How can it not matter?" She hissed.

"You need to leave...Where's Eves?"

Elena suddenly gasped. "Troy! He took her!"

"Damn it."

"Leave Elena. I'll find her."

"Eves? Evie." Damon took her arm. The girl looked worse for wear. Her stockings had holes in them and her dress was ripped in several places. She was pale and her shoulder was bleeding sluggishly, already having soaked the right side of her dress.

She frowned and her eyes fluttered open. She focused on who was above her and instantly lunged for Damon.

"You!"

He pinned her to the ground, rolling his eyes. "You're obviously just fine."

"Let me up!"

"What are you doing out here?"

She jolted, looking around wildly at her surroundings. "I don't know…" She trailed off, looking confused. "How long have I been out here?"

Stefan frowned, stepping out of the trees. "A while apparently." He motioned around them, and Damon stood. She shoved away the offered hand he waved at her and he rolled his eyes as she stood by herself. Evelyn looked around them at the odd symbols drawn into the dirt and then down at her hands, which were dirty.

"Weird."

"What do they mean?" The younger Salvatore asked and the girl looked over the symbol's carefully.

"I was protecting myself." She murmured, frowning. "What happened to Troy?"

Damon shrugged.

"Good riddance."

"So you protected yourself in the woods?"

"Well, I guess I could have done it around everyone else genius." She scoffed at Damon. "Written them in my own blood or something." She waved at the symbols.

"Would have passed out before that happened."

"Oh, shut up. Aren't you the smarty pants "teacher" who was supposed to be keeping an eye on Vicki? Now she's dead."

"She was a druggie and a newbie vampire on animal blood." He scoffed back at her. "It's not my fault that she went off the deep end."

Evie rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Can someone point me in the right direction?" She looked around. "where are we?"

"The old church."

She scowled. "I parked at the school. So that's a bad walk." She turned to Stefan. "So, now wha-Hey!? What is with you and touching me!?" She shrieked at Damon as he hoisted her into his arms. "Put me down!"

Damon rolled his eyes at Stefan. "Dramatic, this one."

"You better put me down!"

"You're about to fall flat on your face." He retorted at her. "And since we're under an agreement, I don't suppose I should let you lay here in the dark."

"That doesn't give you the right to just-just assert yourself in my business."

Damon snorted. "Assert in your business? Really? You were sitting in the dirt drawing pictures."

"You make it sound lame..."

"Come on, Eves. Just relax. You need your rest."

"Do you have to come in the house too?" She complained and he ignored her, carting her into the house.

"Where's your Gran?"

"At the church. She's helping take down the Halloween decorations."

He walked into the kitchen and he set her down at the table.

"Got the jump on you, huh?"

"You could say that."

He rolled his eyes and turned around with the rag and an ice pack.

"Let me see your face."

She had a bad bruise under one eye and her lip was cut.

"Back off."

"Damn it, stop being so stubborn and let me see." He tilted her chin up and scowled. "What the hell did he do?"

"Why the hell do you care?"

"Evelyn."

She refused to look at him.

"Evelyn."

"Ouch."

He pressed a little harder than necessary to get her to answer. She took the rag from him applying pressure herself and he went to looking at her shoulder.

"I can take care of that." He held his wrist out. "All you got to do is take some of my blood."

"No. Once was my limit."

He shrugged. "Fine. Have it your way."

"How's Jeremy?"

"Elena asked me to compel him. All he remembers is that Vicki took off and its for the best."

Evie frowned. "So...He'll never remember her dying?"

"He might. The thing about compulsion is that if someone's feelings are really strong it has been known to break now and then." He cleaned up the blood and cleaned out the wounds before digging out bandages from the first aid box on the table.

"Oh. Could anyone figure out if they'd been compelled?"

He needed to tread carefully. Did she know or was just curious? "Not everyone. Most go their whole lives without knowing."

"Oh...So it doesn't hurt them?"

He met her eyes. "Only if someone compels them to be hurt by it. Depends on who is doing the compelling and what the compulsion is." He gently tilted her head as he spoke. "He got you good didn't he?" He murmured, touching her neck gingerly.

"Stop touching it."

"Stop whining and hold still." He retorted and started bandaging her up.

"You shouldn't be helping me. I mean you don't have too."

Damon rolled his eyes. "Quit trying to shoo me away. I'm very persistent."

She shoved down his hand, frowning at him. "I mean it. You saw my dad. He's not missing."

He frowned. "What'd he say to you?"

She nodded and told him a bit of the conversation they had had yesterday, staying clear of the part about him.

"So...he's not missing, just gone."

"Eh, doesn't matter."

"Doesn't matter?"

"No. I told you I'd help you."

She looked confused. "You'd still help me?"

"Obviously you need it." He smirked and she scowled.

"Shut up."

Damon just smirked wider.

"Would you stop, ego maniac?"

"You're not a normal girl, are you?"

"That a bad thing?" She asked him dryly, getting up to get a glass of water.

He watched her get a clean glass, filling it with water. His mind wandered to the past few months since he had come back to Mystic Falls. Most of his time, he realized with a strange jolt, had been with Evelyn.

He shook his head at himself. "Not really." He said softly so she couldn't hear. "Just more difficult."

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