Disclaimer: I do not own The Vampire Diaries or any of its characters (the CW does as does L. J. Smith).

Chapter 2: Everything

Previously...

The gentle knock of the heavy doors against the interior wall resounded throughout the high-ceilinged room, causing every last soul to turn away from the grand staircase and towards myself. I looked to the stairs, which held a handful of well-dressed, beautiful creatures; all of which were staring at me. One, a man with golden hair and a white bowtie, ever so intently; as if closely studying each and every detail of my appearance. I drew my gaze away and focused back on the soundless crowd gathered at the foot of the staircase; waiting expectantly for me to do something…anything.

For most, this situation would bring about great anxiety, cause them to panic even. One might feel embarrassed for having caused a scene or bashful under the stare of so many strangers. See that was the best part about having my humanity turned off: I didn't feel a thing.

"…so thank you, all of you, for joining us. Please have yourselves a wonderful night," announced one of the men on the staircase, his voice breaking the silence and attracting the attention of those in the room. With his final word, he shifted his gaze towards me; his eyes questioning but his stance, much like his tone, cool and composed. I watched as he made his way down the stairway, which was lighted by a number of small bulbs, his impeccably arranged dark hair refusing to move even as he did.

I was completely and utterly aware that I should have been hit with a wave of sweet relief, as that man had saved me from being the centre of, truly unwanted, attention. Yet, I was entirely indifferent and far from being grateful.

The room was now alive with delight; teeming with a variety of exuberant people; conversing, laughing, some even beginning to dance. I strode through the throngs with ease, grabbing a flute of champagne off a passing servant's tray. Once I reached the opposite end of the vast ballroom, I secured a spot against the cool wall, which quickly chilled my bare shoulders. Taking a greedy sip, I closed my eyes; simultaneously enjoying the melody of cheerful, human sounds and the champagne bubbles that pricked my tongue.

"Evelyn?" My eyes shot open but I kept my existing attitude: back straight, legs crossed, glass firmly in hand. My dear brothers stood before me, eyes wide but wary, and behind them, slowly but surely, a few of the staircase dwellers–presumably the Mikaelsons–appeared.

"Hello brothers," I greeted, raising my glass before them as if to 'cheers' their presence before taking another sip. "Still lurking about Mystic Falls, are you?" They turned to each other, then back to me as if stunned; unsure if I was really and truly in front of them. "I can see you're surprised; that I'm here…that I'm a vampire. I can't say the same about myself, you two have made our family name quite infamous." Stefan searched my face, looking for something he wasn't going to find.

"You knew about us…about what we are," Stefan stated, dumbfounded. Damon merely stood beside him, taking in whatever this was. There missing sister was alive, or undead rather, and yet she stood before them entirely unfazed, entirely aware that they were undead as well. I assumed it was all tragically heartbreaking but I felt just fine, peachy really.

"Both of you are too transparent, I can read your faces like open books. You're wondering why your beloved sister never came looking for you. Why she never bothered to make herself known." I pushed myself off the wall, coming ever so close to the pair. "It's because, frankly, sweethearts," I placed my hand on Stefan's rigid cheek, looking him straight in the eye. "I really didn't care." I grinned at him, removing my hand, then looked to Damon who was being uncharacteristically quiet. The few Mikaelsons still surrounded us, intrigued by our dialogue but silent as well. I drained my glass of champagne, then moved to leave but was instantly pulled back by Stefan.

"Your humanity's off," he declared. Damon looked from me to Stefan and back again but still refused to say a word.

"Good job Stefan," I patted his arm, my voice drenched in sarcasm. "Still so very bright, aren't you?" I shoved him aside and began to walk away, only to be forced against the wall by both him and Damon. At last, a Mikaelson intervened; the one with the golden hair and dark lips.

"As amusing as this all is–and it really is–I'm afraid you'll have to solve your messy familial issues elsewhere." His thick British accent was paired with a slight lisp and he spoke as if he meant to concurrently charm and offend.

"Our family has issues? Until a few days ago most of yours had daggers through their hearts…because of you," Damon–finally–spoke. The blond Mikaelson's smug little smirk disappeared in an instant, replaced by a fed-up, broody grimace.

"No Damon, he's right. The two of you are…" I removed their hands from my shoulders. "…making quite the scene at their little party." This time, when I sashayed off, no one stopped me. In a matter of moments, however, my brothers and the blond began to trail behind. It seemed that the rest of the Mikaelsons had other matters to attend to or had simply lost interest, for they did not. I continued to walk about the room lazily; their presence was hardly concerning but a tad irritating. "Are you going to follow me around all night?"

"Are you going to cause problems?" Damon shot back. Evidently, the shock of seeing me was wearing off, enabling him to utilize his voice. Without looking behind me, I turned the corner–entering a dim, empty corridor–then spun around to face my three shadows.

"I came here to consume as much liquor as possible and snack on every human drunk or stupid enough to be pulled away from the festivities. Not to take a stroll down memory lane or to be babysat by my brothers and their cute but irrelevant friend." The man raised his eyebrows at that, but didn't interrupt. "Obviously, the sight of you two had absolutely no effect on me. I have no desire to turn on my humanity and neither of you will attempt to change that, understand?"

"How long have you had your humanity off?" A contemplating Stefan slowly stepped towards me, looking as if his sixth sense was telling him something I wasn't.

"Stefan?" A shadow appeared at the mouth of the hallway. "Stefan, is that you?" In a second, the woman was in my arms, her pulse near my lips. Her brown hair was swept to one side, giving me easy access to her neck and though I couldn't see her face, I could tell she was beautiful.

"Who's this Stefan? Your girlfriend?" Stefan was visibly tense; alarmed. Yet so was Damon. "Or is she Damon's girlfriend? Maybe both of yours? I hear you two like to share women." I brought her towards the end of the hallway, to the square of moonlight courtesy of the window. "See, I don't like to share. When I start…I just can't seem to stop." Stefan's eyes widened with realization. "You guessed it brother," I lowered my voice to a whisper. "I'm a Ripper. Just like you. We got it from our mother you know? Except I have a little more self-control…but there's nothing like tearing someone to pieces after a good meal…dinner and a show."

I tightened my grip, forcing a wince out of her, causing not only my brothers but the Mikaelson to shift as if about to mediate.

"Oh my, are you fighting for her love as well?" I questioned the Mikaelson, studying him carefully. "No…it's something else." I grabbed the woman's hair, turning her head towards me. "Is this…a doppelganger? I've never tasted a doppelganger before…I bet she's delicious." I brought my lips closer to her neck. "But I'll make you deal," I spoke gently. "If you, my sweet brothers, leave me be I'll spare your girl and–after–I get my fill, I'll leave your precious town."

Stefan and Damon stood there; silent. They looked at one another, then both turned to the Mikaelson. One moment I was watching the blond give an almost imperceptible nod of the head, the next I was in his arms and the doppelganger was in my brothers'. Startled and swiftly livid, I began to thrash and squirm and push my way out of his hold but he wouldn't budge. He grabbed my jaw with his free hand and brought my face towards him. My eyes were instantaneously caught in his; it was as if our pupils were attached as I was entirely incapable of turning away.

"Turn on your humanity," he compelled.

My heart stopped. I began gasping for air; unable to breathe, unable to move, unable to think. Hot tears blurred my vision, I could feel them running down my neck, down my chest. Then, I couldn't feel my body at all. I fell in his arms; my limbs like jelly, his like solid concrete.

"Oh my God," I began to pant. "Oh my God…" It was as if I had turned on some internal light, revealing all that hid in the darkest parts of myself. It was not gradual, it was not progressive: a second before I had felt nothing, then, I felt everything.

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