The world seems not the same
Though I know nothing has changed
It's all my state of mind
I can't leave it all behind
Have to stand up to be stronger

Within Temptation - Pale

Chapter 6

Hierarchy

"Here we are," papa said after covering the window. "No sunlight."

I nodded.

"Sunlight hurts."

That was one of the first things I had learned, the pain. There had been a lot of pain after that. Papa's bed was soft, softer than anything I had ever slept. After making sure that no sunrays could get in, he walked next to me and tucked me in. My old papa had sometimes done that as well, at least I thought so. I couldn't remember much about my old life; it had disappeared with the light. My new papa sat down next to me and touched my hair.

"You are safe here, little one, try to get some sleep."

The old me had sometimes slept in a bed, the new me slept in caves or buried under the ground. The new me could see in the dark and wanted to drink blood. Papa had explained that it was normal to our kind, it was our nourishment. I couldn't really remember what food tasted like; I had only drunk blood for so long. I understood that the old me was gone, but I wasn't alone in the dark anymore.

My new papa had promised that he wouldn't leave me and his sister had been so kind towards me. Their other brothers weren't kind, they had killed the old me, but papa had promised that he wouldn't let them hurt the new me. It had all been very confusing, especially after I had waked up in the grave. I had been sure that God was punishing me and for days I had prayed for His forgiveness, but I hadn't had any kind of answer. Then the new me had taken over, I had instinctively known what my body had needed.

At first I had tried to find someone who would have helped me and guided me, but people had hurt me and called me a demon. My new papa didn't call me a demon, he had said that I was a brave girl and he would look after me. Rebekah had called me a princess and said that my sharp teeth were cute. That had made me happy; they didn't think that I was ugly. I didn't have to hide in the shadows; they accepted me the way I was, even though I had almost lost the old me.

"Papa?" I asked cautiously. All the words had started to come back to me, but after the long silence I had to struggle in order to remember how to use them.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Can you…stay with me?"

He touched my cheek and nodded.

"Sure, sweetheart. Close your eyes."

I took his hand and placed it under my cheek before closing my eyes, I felt safer when I knew that he was there. I had nightmares every time when I fell asleep, usually about being on fire, I was always afraid that the sun would burn me when I slept, no matter how hard I tried to hide from it. Papa stroked my hair with his free hand and I yawned before curling into a fetal position. I felt safe and calm and it didn't take long before I fell asleep.

"Alright, Eva," Rebekah said. "This is a very important lesson."

I looked at her and papa alternately, I was still a little sleepy although I had slept the whole day, but most of all I was hungry.

"Do you understand everything we told you?"

I nodded; at least I hoped that I had understood everything. Rebekah opened the door; some woman entered the room and curtsied.

"Take a seat and stay quiet, everything is fine," Rebekah said calmly, looking into her eyes. "Do you remember what this is called?" she continued when the woman sat down on papa's bed.

"Compulsion," I replied, I was proud of myself for remembering that.

"Very good, sweetheart," papa said smiling. "And what did I tell you about using it?"

"Not for fun."

"That's right. Now it is dinner time, remember what we talked about."

I nodded and approached the woman; she was sitting motionlessly like a statue. She didn't say anything or even look at me when I took her hand and turned it around in order to see her wrist. I turned to look at papa and Rebekah; they gave me an encouraging nod. This felt a little strange, I had never fed like this, but I needed to try, I wanted to make papa proud.

The woman flinched a little when I bit her, but she didn't try to yank her hand away. I did as papa had said and listened to her heartbeat while feeding in order to know when to stop. It was very difficult, but papa had said that we shouldn't take lives for fun, the fact that we weren't humans anymore, didn't mean that we should act like some kind of beasts. I had to force myself to stop, I was still hungry.

"Very good, little one," papa said smiling when I turned to look at him.

"Wonderful," Rebekah added and clapped before kneeling in front of me with a handkerchief. "You ate very neatly, you barely made any mess," she continued while gently wiping my lips. "Well done."

Her words made me smile; my sharp teeth were still out. Rebekah smiled as well and touched my hair.

"You are so adorable."

"I am still hungry," I said cautiously.

Rebekah looked surprised and turned to look at papa. He said something to the woman who was still sitting on the bed and escorted her out. It didn't take long when he returned with another woman and I fed again. It took a third woman before I wasn't hungry anymore, after feeding on her I jumped in papa's arms and kissed his cheek, leaving a bloody mark.

"She is a growing child," Rebekah said. "It is normal that she needs more nourishment."

"Yes…" papa muttered and tapped my back. I sighed and leaned my head on his shoulder. I really liked my new family.

2 days later

Klaus had just returned from a little hunting trip and he felt like taking a nice warm bath. He wondered how Elijah and Rebekah had managed with their new pet; at least everything seemed to be in order so far, no bodies lying around. There had been no sight of Kol after his little confrontation with the miniature vampire, knowing Kol he was probably somewhere pouting.

Klaus was in an excellent mood when he headed towards his chamber, but the sudden screaming sound made him stop. It was coming from the big hall, but there was something strange about it. The sound wasn't a scream of terror; it was a scream of delight, followed by loud giggling. Klaus frowned and headed to the hall, his eyes widened when he reached the door. A group of his best lackeys was running around the hall, chased by the little vampire.

"Oh no, she caught me," Digory said and fell down theatrically when the girl grabbed his hand. "Save yourselves, boys!"

The girl laughed and chased the next one, she was incredibly fast. For a moment Klaus was speechless, what the hell was going on here? Finally he managed to clear his throat, everyone turned to look at him.

"My lord!" Digory said and jumped to his feet. "Welcome back."

Klaus eyes narrowed.

"Perhaps someone would like to tell me what is gong on here?"

All his lackeys seemed uncomfortable and the girl was glaring at him tensely. She was wearing a purple silk dress that would have fit for a princess, Elijah and Rebekah had certainly wasted no time.

"We…" Digory muttered. "She wanted to play and…"

For heaven's sake…

"I see," Klaus stated callously. "I believe you have…played enough."

He rubbed his temples when his lackeys left as quickly as they could. He was away for a day or so and the most vicious vampires he had ever met turned into nursemaids? The girl tried to leave as well, but he blocked her way.

"Just a moment, sweetheart."

She backed away and growled at him. That was actually kind of cute.

"Enough, little girl," he chuckled. "I only want to talk."

She looked at him suspiciously and tilted her head.

"Do you have a name?" he asked.

"Eva," she murmured.

"Alright, Eva. Just so you know, usually when some other vampire shows his or hers fangs to me like that, I rip their heart out, that is just disrespectful."

"Why should I respect you?" she asked defiantly.

He was amused, but he didn't show it, this was an important lesson to learn.

"Do you know what a hierarchy means?"

Judging by her confused look, she didn't know.

"I can explain that one to her," Kol's voice said from the door.

The girl growled again when he entered the room, obviously she didn't like either of them.

"It means that we are stronger than you and we can kill you before you even have time to blink. Are you with me so far, darling?"

She glared at them both, but she didn't growl anymore.

"It is not smart to challenge someone who is stronger than you," Kol continued. "Do you understand?"

"You hurt me…" she muttered.

"Yes, and we can easily do that again, personally I have no problem with that."

"Enough, Kol," Klaus huffed. "Look, little girl, what happened to you was an unfortunate accident, but those things happen sometimes. You are like us now, an immortal, so there is no point holding a grudge."

"Look who is talking…" Kol muttered, but Klaus ignored him. "It is true that we took your life, but we also gave you this new one. It is not all bad, would you agree?"

She didn't say anything, but her eyes were full of mixed feelings.

"To be honest, I have never guided anyone who I have turned, but I must admit that I find you an intriguing creature, little girl," Klaus continued. "Because of that and because you obviously need some guidance, I will offer you my protection."

The girl's eyes widened, she stared at him disbelievingly. Klaus rolled his eyes.

"This is a onetime offer, sweetheart, yes or no?"

"Papa is guiding me," she muttered.

Klaus raised his eyebrows.

"Papa?"

"Elijah," Kol huffed. "He and Bekah are teaching her how to be…a humanitarian vampire."

Klaus chuckled, that certainly sounded like Elijah, he was probably excited of having his very own little apprentice.

"Alright, fine. But that does not mean you would not need my help. What do you say, little girl, do you want to be on my good side?"

She hesitated before nodding rigidly.

"Wonderful, come here then," Klaus said and smiled. The girl looked at him cautiously, but she obeyed, he kneeled in front of her and tapped his cheek.

"Give me a kiss."

Her small and cool lips touched his cheek lightly like a feather; he tapped her head before standing up.

"Good girl."

She looked at Kol who had crossed his arms over his chest, he sighed and kneeled.

"Fine," he snorted and turned his cheek towards her. She kissed him as well and touched his shoulder softly with her head. For a moment Klaus could have sworn that his brother was uncomfortable, although he tried to look careless.

"Yes, yes…" Kol muttered and tapped the girl's head. "But do not dare to call me papa."

Her eyebrows furrowed.

"You are not my papa."

"No, I am certainly not, nor am I your uncle or anything like that. Master will be fine."

Klaus chuckled.

"You can call him Kol. My name is Klaus."

She nodded and curtsied clumsily, Rebekah had probably taught her that.

"I want to go to papa now, you are not very fun" she stated and simply zoomed out.

Klaus couldn't help but to smile, she really was quite something. As far as a mistake was concerned, she wasn't too bad at all.