Prologue (II of IV)
Mystic Falls ; 1912
"Who's next? 100 dollars to any man who can beat me." The boxing woman beamed after what felt like the hundredth man she was able to take down. Eibhlín looked around, excited to see this woman both dominate and humiliate men in the boxing ring. The crowd continued to cheer and talk loudly around her.
Eibhlín's eyes hovered over everyone quickly, not wanting to catch the attention of anyone who might know her, or worse, know her family. She would have a lot more explaining to do than she already did when she thought of what was to happen if she were to be caught. Eibhlín proceeded with her scanning of the crowd before her heart fluttered as she saw Stefan Salvatore. Stefan was looking at the woman in the ring before his own eyes began to wander the crowd. Eibhlín hoped he looked her way. And with that simple thought, Stefan's eyes slowed down before scanning over where she was and doing a double-take. Eibhlín smiled back at him, wiggling her fingers at him in a small gesture of hello. Even from a distance, Eibhlín could see him gently cock his head and smile at her. Eibhlín took in a deep breath, breathing in the courage that seemed to flow from the crowd before she began walking over to him.
Although the tent was full of people, Eibhlín found it easy to maneuver around the people. Everyone was so focused on the ring that Eibhlín found her way to Stefan with ease. That, and the fact that she was shorter than the average woman, even in her heels. Her heels barely gave her an inch in height. Eibhlín could always maneuver through crowds easily, which was nice, especially in the crowd of the tent where someone might recognize her...Eibhlín shoved the thought of being caught to the back of her mind as she approached Stefan. Stefan smiled at Eibhlín as she approached, though Eibhlín could see the hint of concern in his eyes.
"I see de crow did not kill ya." Eibhlín teased as soon as she was sure her voice would carry enough for Stefan to hear her. Stefan chuckled back and shook his head.
"As with you, Miss Eibhlín." Stefan bantered back with a smile, bowing a little. Eibhlín smiled and rolled her eyes at the gesture, giving her own half-hearted curtsy back at him. "I'm surprised that you are here." Stefan confessed aloud, his eyes traveling behind Eibhlín curiously. "And without any company?" Stefan inquired, gesturing behind Eibhlín, as if one of her family members would pop out behind her. Eibhlín shook her head.
"I am full of surprises, Mister Salvatore." Eibhlín smiled with a mischievous wink. Stefan's brows raised at the action before he seemed to allow himself to laugh at her behavior. "It was simply too quiet at home, I just had ta get out and see what all the fuss was about here." Eibhlín said, gesturing around her at the crowd and the boxing ring behind her. Stefan folded his arms back at her in a disapproving sort of way. Eibhlín felt her heart flutter uncomfortably in her chest.
"Without an escort?" Stefan questioned with a slight raise of his eyebrow. Eibhlín huffed back at him in response. "A young lady like yourself should not be without company." Stefan almost sounded like he was lecturing her. Eibhlín rolled her eyes back at him.
"I'm not a child, Mister Salvatore." Eibhlín chastised, folding her arms. Stefan gave back a loud enough hum to make Eibhlín's ears burn from embarrassment. "I am me own woman." Eibhlín stamped her foot childishly. Stefan raised an eyebrow back at her, gesturing down at the motion she had just done. Eibhlín puffed back at him. "I am here on me own, am I not?" Eibhlín asked, looking around her to emphasize her point.
"That does not mean it is safe to go places alone, at night, Miss NicBranagáin." Stefan chided back with a shake of his head. Eibhlín didn't catch herself quick enough to stop herself from mocking his worried sentiment. Stefan rolled his eyes back at her.
"Ya are here by yerself, are ya not?" Eibhlín pondered aloud, folding her arms back at him. Stefan's once playful attitude shifted at the connotation. Eibhlín noticed his eyes shift over to something, or someone that was behind him. "Me Ma said ya had a brother." Eibhlín stated aloud, watching Stefan fully wince at the mention of his brother. Eibhlín chanced a glance at the stranger behind Stefan. The man behind him heard the conversation, which was Eibhlín's intention upon saying her last statement so loudly. The man was already turning when Eibhlín mentioned 'brother'.
"Oh, where are my manners-" The man began to say as he turned around to face Eibhlín as he spoke, but paused, staring down at the woman, frozen for a moment. Eibhlín's heart fluttered anxiously as he looked her up and down, as if he was speechless…but Eibhlín had never made anyone speechless. Did he know her? Did he know her family? Would he tell her family? Eibhlín's mind worried about all the possibilities of this stranger's strange pause. "They must have been destroyed by the alcohol." The man continued after a moment, pulling Eibhlín from her own thoughts. Eibhlín's head cocked slightly, having gotten lost in her own thoughts to understand what he had meant. "My manners were destroyed by alcohol-oh forget it, the novelty of my blunt remark has worn off." The man began before muttering, slouching a little. Eibhlín couldn't help the smile that spread across her face at the childish action. Stefan rolled his eyes before folding his arms.
"This is my brother-" Stefan began to try and introduce his brother before getting interrupted by his brother swatting at his gesturing hand.
"I can introduce myself just fine, brother." The man practically snarled back at Stefan. Eibhlín remembered her mother's warning for a moment. Eibhlín was warned to stay away from the Salvatore brothers, and there she was, getting introduced to the second one. Stefan's brother turned and gave Eibhlín his full attention now as he stood up straight. "Damon Salvatore." The man, Damon, now introduced himself, already beginning to turn back to where he just was. Eibhlín's brows flew up for a moment, slightly offended that he didn't give her a chance to introduce herself.
"Eibhlín NicBranagáin." Eibhlín announced back loudly, making Damon stop moving any further. "Not dat it seems ta matter ta ya." Eibhlín muttered a little quieter, turning towards Stefan whose jaw was tight. Eibhlín's brows furrowed back at him. "See, dat was not so hard ta introduce-"
"That is quite a long name." Damon interrupted Eibhlín as she looked back towards Damon. Eibhlín raised a brow at him at the notion her name was too long. Even when people said her name without the harsh accent, it turned into Evelyn. Eve was the shortened version of Evelyn, but no one called her Eve. "Eve is too boring." Damon chastised, taking a step closer. Eibhlín noticed Stefan's body tense. Eibhlín had just been thinking about her name being shortened…Then again, Damon must have just thought the same thing. "I seem to be at an impasse…Evie." The name sounded like it was an accident, even to Eibhlín. It was similar to what her brother would call her; Ebi…but Evie was different. Eibhlín couldn't help but raise an eyebrow back at Damon. It wasn't clever, but Eibhlín could see that he thought it was. "Evie it is then." Damon said with a mischievous grin, reaching his hand out. Eibhlín glanced over to Stefan who looked both tense and annoyed by the interaction. Eibhlín rolled her eyes at Damon's reaction, reaching out her hand to 'properly' introduce herself. Damon took her hand gently, kissing up her arm. Eibhlín retracted her arm quickly, feeling heat begin to burn in her cheeks. Eibhlín's arm was still sore from her mother's grip where Damon began trying to kiss up, but also, Eibhlín didn't like the butterflies that followed from the action. Only men who were way too full of themselves had ever kissed up her arm in that fashion, but none had made her blush. It was silly. Stefan sent Damon a glare, but Damon only smirked at Eibhlín. "Now, shall we never meet again, Miss Evie." Damon bid Eibhlín farewell, turning around and walking away from the two. Eibhlín watched him leave. A strange feeling lingered in her chest. They hadn't met…had they? Eibhlín wouldn't have forgotten this strange and rude man so easily…would she? Eibhlín turned back to Stefan as he sighed.
"I am sorry about him, Eibhlín." Stefan apologized sadly. "He and I are…are not on very solid ground at the moment." Stefan explained, looking after Damon as he disappeared into the crowd. Eibhlín felt guilt creep into her veins. She wasn't helping by being rude.
"No, it is not yer fault." Eibhlín shook her head quickly. "Ya did not do anythin', I was de one who was…well, I was not very nice ta him." Eibhlín admitted with a small, guilty shrug. Stefan sighed once more.
"He was rude to you." Stefan said, shaking his own head. "But, enough about my older brother." Stefan continued, changing the subject. "Back to our prior conversation; I am still curious as to why you are here by yourself." Stefan pondered, folding his arms. Eibhlín kept herself from rolling her eyes at his obvious attempt to seem as if he was just curious. There was a hint of judgmental worry in his stance.
"I could not stand de silence of de night. It was deafenin'." Eibhlín whined back up at him, folding her own arms to match his stance. Stefan looked around the crowded tent.
"And this is not deafening?" Stefan questioned, gesturing around himself with a slight chuckle in his voice. Eibhlín clicked her tongue back at him, rolling her eyes dramatically.
"Ya dink dis is loud?" Eibhlín snickered with a raised eyebrow. "Ya should hear de parties de Lockwood's have." Eibhlín sighed almost enviously. "Dis," Eibhlín gestured towards the crowd, much like Stefan had earlier. "It is just noise, and it is exactly what I need." Eibhlín concluded with a smile and a nod. Stefan's stern face finally cracked as he smiled and shook his head.
"And your family? Will they not worry that you are missing?" Stefan asked, concern lacing his voice, despite the crack in his stern and worried expression. Eibhlín thought for a moment before shaking her head. If her family, being her mother or father, found out that she was missing, they would be furious…at first. Her mother would probably rejoice and her father would forget with the next drink. Eibhlín didn't want to think about her brother's reaction.
"There will be no worries, Stefan." Eibhlín replied with a shake of her head. "I am not exactly deir most valuable possession." Eibhlín laughed at the harsh truth of her own words. Séamus hated it when Eibhlín brought up that he was their parent's favorite, but it was true. Her mother had told Eibhlín when she was young that she was an accident and that she would have thought she was too old to have children. Her father barely spoke to her, and when he did, it was drunken threats or screams. Stefan frowned at her words, a look of sadness washed over his features just as quickly. Eibhlín waved off his sad-puppy dog eyes. "Oh, no need fer such a sad look, Mister Salvatore." Eibhlín chastised lightly. "I am Irish! I can handle a wee bit of tough love." Eibhlín said with a smile, nudging Stefan's arm playfully, trying to erase the sadness from his face.
"Being Irish does not mean you are made of steel, Miss Eibhlín." Stefan corrected with a concerned half-smile. Eibhlín kept herself from rolling her eyes at his continuing sad look. She was so used to being treated like she was less important and less valuable…but the way Stefan looked at her made her heart clench.
"Me family has survived a lot, Mister Salvatore, and de potato famine was one of many dings we have conquered." Eibhlín sassed, placing her hands on her hips. "I can handle not bein' worried about." Eibhlín nodded sternly.
"Oh, right, I suppose since your-um-great, great grandparents survived through such disasters, you survived them as well?" Stefan challenged, his sad little half-smile now growing as he put his hands up in defense. Eibhlín scrunched up her face at him, which only made him laugh. Eibhlín felt the clenching in her heart lighten.
"Ya know, I did not take ya ta be one who would watch somethin' like dis." Eibhlín expressed, looking around the tent, still seeing people watching the boxing match. Eibhlín noticed that the woman was no longer boxing. Stefan shrugged, bringing Eibhlín's attention back to him.
"It is typically not what I would consider to be fun, or what I would do for fun." Stefan chuckled. "But, when in Rome." Stefan gave a light-hearted shrug with a small smile back at her. Eibhlín clicked her tongue at the phrase. As if something like a pop-up boxing match in a tent was normal in Mystic Falls...Then again, it could be... Eibhlín was never out anywhere alone, let alone in a place such as the one she stood in. Her mother would never allow it… "I would say the same thing about you, but you seem to enjoy a more chaotic life." Stefan teased after a moment. Eibhlín stuck her tongue out back at him in response. "It's endearing. Truly." Stefan said with a softer smile.
"Ya are far too nice ta me." Eibhlín sighed with a smile and a shake of her head. Stefan cocked his head slightly.
"And why would I not be nice to you?" Stefan asked, genuinely confused by her statement. "You seem like a very lovely woman." Stefan insisted with a smile, the light that hit his eyes made the green in them seem to shine a little brighter. Eibhlín felt her breath catch in her throat. Eibhlín deflected the compliment with a roll of her eyes, despite the warmth she could feel pooling across her cheeks.
"I am not exactly de most proper, or, ladylike." Eibhlín muttered, her eyes looking down and hoping Stefan couldn't see her red cheeks in the soft lighting of the tent.
"I am not sure, I think we have different definitions of what being ladylike entails." Stefan said with a shrug. Eibhlín raised an eyebrow back at him curiously. "To me, to be ladylike, a woman should be their true self, or, a lady." Stefan began his explanation, gesturing towards Eibhlín with a small smile. "You do not have to act like a queen to be considered ladylike, or proper, for that matter. You can be a lady without being ladylike." Stefan remarked, sounding very knowledgeable. "So, if you do not describe yourself as ladylike, then you are being your true self, which in turn, makes you ladylike. Thus, a lady." Stefan stated matter-of-factly. Eibhlín couldn't help the chuckle that left her throat.
"Very philosophical, Mister Salvatore. Have ya learned dat at a fancy college or are ya just one ta know such dings?" Eibhlín teased, despite being moved by Stefan's kind words. Stefan's chest moved from a silent laugh. "Better yet, why do ya not have a wife? Ya are far too charmin' fer de likes of me." Eibhlín inquired playfully, her hands going to her hips. Stefan shrugged with an innocent smile.
"Maybe I am just waiting for the right lady." Stefan said with a growing smile. Eibhlín rolled her eyes at his words, despite the sudden rapid beating in her chest and the heat that began to burn in her cheeks. Stefan was very good with his words, and he knew what to say. Before Eibhlín could even get out a snarky comment back to him, both hers and Stefan's attention turned towards the sharp laugh that nearly echoed behind Stefan.
"The right lady, dear brother?" Eibhlín watched as Stefan turned around to show that his brother Damon had returned, now in tote with the red-haired woman who was previous up in the boxing ring. Eibhlín felt her heart race once more, but more so by her lack of observing that Damon had even approached. It was rather loud in the tent, but Eibhlín was so caught up with talking with Stefan that she had let her own guard down. "How…romantic." Damon growled at Stefan, his blue eyes slinking over and locking with Eibhlín's green ones. Eibhlín's heart continued to pound in her chest. Damon's eyes seemed to burn into hers, making her tense the longer Damon's eyes lingered.
"Brother." Stefan snarled back, finally turning Damon's intense glare from Eibhlín. Eibhlín felt herself breathe out in relief, turning her attention towards the red-haired woman, who was watching the interaction between the brothers with intense curiosity. "It has been too long, can we simply not just-" Stefan hesitated to finish his sentence. Eibhlín could practically feel the tension that grew between the two brothers.
"Simply, what? Let bygones be bygones?" Damon hissed back, taking a step towards Stefan. Eibhlín found herself taking a step away from the two brothers, to be closer to the red-haired woman. Damon glanced over at Eibhlín, but said nothing, turning his attention quickly back to Stefan.
"Hello, my red-haired sister." Eibhlín turned to the red-haired woman to who she had stepped closer. Eibhlín waved at the woman meekly.
"Hello." Eibhlín smiled gently back at the woman, wrapping her arms around herself self-consciously. This woman was in fewer clothes than Eibhlín was…but this woman was…intimidating. Perhaps it was the fact that she had boxed against men half her size, or maybe it had been the fact that she didn't seem bothered by the two men who continued to bicker as Eibhlín's attention shifted…Eibhlín felt a strange feeling enter her gut. "I-um-er-I liked yer fightin'." Eibhlín muttered softly, feeling obligated to speak with the woman. The woman smiled back at her with a cat-like intensity.
"Thank you." The woman said back with confidence in her voice Eibhlín wished she possessed. "Sage." The woman continued, a little softer, taking a step towards Eibhlín. Eibhlín felt her skin crawl. This woman was intimidating, but…there shouldn't have been any reason for Eibhlín to feel so…cowardly. Then again, Eibhlín knew the strength of her aging mother, and the thought of saying the wrong thing to upset this woman who knew how to box, who had beaten multiple men, made Eibhlín nervous…
"If dat is yer name, me name is Eibhlín, but if dat is what helps ya box, I will have ta keep dat in mind." Eibhlín introduced herself, as well as felt the rest of the sentence come stumbling out of her mouth rapidly. The woman let out a low laugh.
"It is my name." Sage confirmed with a grin. Even her laughter was intimidating. Eibhlín smiled back at the woman, almost feeling pressured to do so. Eibhlín wished she could speak with Stefan again. He was the only one in the trio that didn't make her uncomfortable. Eibhlín turned and looked back at the bickering brothers, instantly regretting the decision to do so as Damon caught her attention.
"You know, Miss Evie, I do recall telling you that we should never meet again." Damon chastised, taking a step towards Eibhlín. "But, it seems it was almost destined for the two of us to have met." Damon continued, glancing over at Stefan with a mischievous grin. Eibhlín's brows furrowed in confusion at his words. Was he talking about what he had said earlier about never meeting again, or had she truly forgotten that the two had previously met…Either way, Eibhlín felt strange. There wasn't any memory but there felt like something was missing… "Although, I am curious…" Damon smirked, trailing off. "Tell me who gave you those marks on your arm." Damon demanded, taking a step towards Eibhlín. Eibhlín tensed up at the movement. Damon stopped just as quickly.
"Me mother." Eibhlín replied in an instant, feeling confused by many aspects of the statement Damon had said. How did he know that she had marks on her arm…and why was she so adamant about telling him right away? "How did-" Eibhlín got out before Damon smiled back at her.
"And what was it that your mother had felt so necessary to tell you, so far away from the protection of a mourning audience?" Damon pondered aloud, but Eibhlín felt an obedient-like click in her mind as his eyes met hers.
"She warned me about ya and Stefan." Eibhlín responded, feeling as if she had to answer Damon's inquiries. Eibhlín looked over at Stefan who was glaring at his brother, his green eyes shifting over towards Eibhlín with an apologetic expression crossing his features. Damon chuckled darkly. "I do not understand-" Eibhlín tried to express her confusion, but found herself frozen as she looked at Damon again who had taken another step closer.
"And what did your dearest mother say about me and Stefan, hmm?" Damon urged with a playful bounce of his heels, glancing back at Stefan before staring back at Eibhlín. Eibhlín let out a sharp exhale from her nose, feeling herself glaring back at Damon for his intrusive questions that she felt compelled to answer.
"She said dat Stefan and his brother were dangerous." Eibhlín now snapped back at Damon. Damon's playful bouncing paused as he looked at her curiously. Eibhlín was tired of his questions, as well as how stupidly obedient she was being with said questions. Why did she feel it necessary to answer his questions anyway? "And before ya interrupt me again, I do not know why she dinks dat ya or Stefan are dangerous." Eibhlín stated sharply, folding her arms at Damon. A look of surprise flashed across Damon's face before irritation quickly overtook his initial shock. Damon took a step towards Eibhlín, but Eibhlín didn't flinch. Instead, she stared up at the taller man defiantly.
"And what is your mother's name?" Damon asked, his tone dropping as he seemed to fume from Eibhlín's reaction, or lack of reaction to his intimidation.
"Damon, that is enough." Stefan said sternly, now jumping into the conversation, grabbing onto Damon's shoulder. Damon pushed Stefan's hand off his shoulder with ease, keeping his attention on Eibhlín.
"That was not a question, sweetheart." Damon growled back to Eibhlín, his eyes seeming to dilate as he stared back at her. Eibhlín felt herself stop glaring at Damon, blinking as she stared back at him. Why did she feel so obligated to reply…
"Ailís NicBranagáin." Eibhlín told Damon her mother's name. Eibhlín watched as Stefan grabbed hold of Damon's shoulder more forcefully, tearing Damon away and seemingly releasing Eibhlín from whatever trance-like state she had gone into with his questioning.
"As much as it is fun to see all of this drama unfold, I bet that Miss NicBranagain here would like some time away from the bickering brothers." Sage announced with a clap of her hands, pulling Eibhlín's attention away from the two brothers, who were bickering. Damon rolled his eyes at Sage's comment, but Stefan looked more remorseful at his actions.
"Says the one who just won herself a nice sum of money from the bickering and stupidity of men." Damon muttered out the snide comment.
"Once you best me in that ring, Mister Salvatore, I can assure you, you will gain my attention once more." Sage sassed back, her hands going to her hips. Damon rolled his eyes back at her, but Eibhlín couldn't help but snicker back, seeing a light shade of pink cross over his cheeks. Damon sent a glare back toward Eibhlín, but Eibhlín stuck her tongue out a little, taunting the man for his embarrassment. "Now, if you boys will excuse us, us ladies must have some time from the two of you. We will get drinks. Find us again once you've settled your little quarrel." Sage teased with a wink back at Damon, looping her arm with Eibhlín's. Eibhlín tried not to tense up at the action, glancing over at Stefan. Stefan shot Eibhlín a look of regret, seemingly apologizing with just his puppy-dog eyes alone. Eibhlín already forgave him as she was pulled away from the two by the taller, red-haired woman.
"Dank ya, I-" Eibhlín tried to express her appreciation for being taken away from the squabbling men before Sage pulled her closer as the two walked through the crowd of the tent.
"You are going to listen to everything I say," Sage said, turning and grabbing hold of Eibhlín's shoulders, her eyes dilating, much like Damon's had when he was talking to her. Eibhlín blinked back and nodded. "Fabulous." Sage said with a smirk slowly creeping across her lips before she looped her arm with Eibhlín's once more and began walking towards the entrance of the tent.
"I am not one ta drink…" Eibhlín murmured aloud as the two walked out of the tent. Eibhlín felt Sage chuckle against her.
"Oh, you are not going to be drinking anything, dear." Sage chirped happily as the two began walking towards the edge of the trees, away from people. Eibhlín tensed, hesitating to continue as she tried to slow Sage's walking down.
"If we are not goin' ta get drinks, den where are ya takin' me?" Eibhlín inquired suspiciously, almost stopping completely as the two continued walking now into the tree line. Eibhlín looked back at the lights and sound of the clearing before feeling as if her feet had left the ground. Eibhlín's surroundings changed around her, and suddenly, the clearing was much further away than it had been just a second prior. Eibhlín stumbled, taking her arm from Sage's, looking around the new area and feeling her heart begin to pound in her ears. Before Eibhlín could move, Sage had grabbed hold of her shoulders roughly, making Eibhlín face her directly.
"You are not going to scream." Sage ordered, staring directly into Eibhlín's eyes. Eibhlín's heart felt as if it stopped for a moment. "Now, smile, dear, you have too nice a smile to have it be hidden." Sage cooed back at Eibhlín, taking her chin in her hand and gently shaking Eibhlín's face side to side. Eibhlín felt herself smile obediently, despite the fear that was now coursing through her veins.
"Wh-why would-I-I scream?" Eibhlín stuttered the question out, smiling as she did so, despite her whole being telling her that she was in danger and that she should run, but fear had frozen her in her spot.
"Simple, dear." Sage said softly, caressing Eibhlín's face. "I am going to kill you." Sage began to explain casually, looking at Eibhlín with an almost taunting look of sadness. Eibhlín could see the sparkle in Sage's eyes though, even with the lights from the clearing being much further away. "All that fighting made me awfully hungry, and I am quite parched." Sage uttered dramatically, placing a hand over her eyes. Eibhlín's brows furrowed, trying to show confusion, but the smile she was seemingly forced to show was still very present.
"I-I could use a drink meself." Eibhlín retorted, making Sage stare back at her and roll her eyes. The playfulness was gone, but Eibhlín was still so curious. "Ho-How are ya goin' ta-" Eibhlín began to ask, but Sage's face changed before Eibhlín's eyes, stopping whatever train of thought Eibhlín might have had to a grinding halt.
The whites of Sage's eyes turned bloodshot as veins crawled down her face. Sage smiled, and two fangs could be seen as she practically showed them off. Eibhlín blinked, fearful to a point she never thought she could be; not from her mother and not even from her father. Eibhlín thought frantically of all she could do, and suddenly, Eibhlín realized something. Sage had only told her not to scream, she never said that Eibhlín couldn't run. The fear in her body seemed to vanish, and with that thought, Eibhlín bolted back towards the clearing as fast as she could. Sage wouldn't kill her with people around, would she? Eibhlín wouldn't be able to find that answer out. Sage caught up to her in a matter of seconds, tossing Eibhlín back against a tree, seeming to flitter over to her in the blink of an eye.
"You are not going to run! Or move!" Sage roared in Eibhlín's face, grabbing her by the shoulders and sinking her fangs into Eibhlín's neck. All Eibhlín could do was gasp at the sharp prickling sensation before feeling her blood rapidly leaving her body. Eibhlín soon began to see black dots in her vision as she stood frozen and unmoving up against the tree that Sage had shoved her against.
"Sage! You have another challenger! This one seems promising!" A man's voice broke through the trees. Sage ripped herself away from Eibhlín's neck, looking irritated as she turned back towards the clearing, where the man's voice had come from.
"Can a girl not enjoy a simple snack?" Sage complained aloud, looking back towards Eibhlín. "Stay here, and do not move." Sage commanded Eibhlín, her eyes dilating rapidly as she spoke to Eibhlín. Eibhlín tried to nod, but let out a hiss, her hand going up to her neck instinctively where Sage had bitten her, staggering against the tree as the black spots from her vision began to nearly blocking out the little bits of Sage she could still see. Eibhlín blinked, feeling something warm around her smiling mouth. "Drink." Sage ordered out sharply. Eibhlín felt her lips curl against and begin to consume the warm, sweet liquid that was forced against her mouth. Eibhlín blinked rapidly, finally seeing that what she had been sucking on was Sage's bleeding wrist. Before Eibhlín could pull herself away, Sage had jerked her arm back.
"I will say it only once more; do not move and do not scream." Sage stated sternly, leaning down and grabbing hold of the bottom of Eibhlín's dress, roughly wiping her bloody mouth against the fabric. Eibhlín didn't dare say anything. Even though her vision was back to being normal, there was still the sharp pain in her neck where Sage had bitten her, and Eibhlín wasn't about to tell the woman to not use her dress like a rag. Sage pulled away, looking Eibhlín up and down before taking a step closer. Eibhlín flinched, shutting her eyes tightly as Sage only patted Eibhlín's cheek. "I do not usually play with my food, dear…but you are something else." Sage cooed affectionately. "Damon was right, you do taste divine." Sage smirked as Eibhlín finally willed her eyes to open and look at the woman. Eibhlín's brows furrowed in confusion at the remark.
"Sage!" A different man's voice rang through the woods. Sage let out an annoyed sigh.
"No need to smile while I am away." Sage said with a shrug, already turning and beginning to walk back towards the lights and sounds of the clearing. "Save it for when I come back." Sage muttered, turning and winking back at Eibhlín before disappearing from sight.
Tears rushed down Eibhlín's face as she allowed herself to breathe out a shaky breath. The sounds of people cheering and a ding of a bell soon filled the air. Eibhlín stayed leaning up against the tree, her body frozen in place from whatever magic Sage had put her under. Now, all Eibhlín could do was think. Her mind exploded with questions and concerns. Was there a way to break the spell without dying? What would she do if she saw someone else? Could she ask them to help her, or would she be condemning them to a fate much like her own? Why had Sage brought up Damon, and how would he know that Eibhlín 'tasted divine'. Perhaps Eibhlín and Damon had met, and Damon was also a blood-sucking creature who used magic on her. Eibhlín leaned her head against the tree, listening to the sounds of the clearing, not far away. If she survived the night, Eibhlín was definitely getting that drink.
"Hello dear, did you miss me?" Sage's voice broke through the night's dwindling noises. Eibhlín blinked rapidly, trying to focus on where Sage was coming from. Eibhlín had either passed out or fallen asleep. Now, Eibhlín found the memories of the horrible night flooding back into her brain. "Come now, I never said you could not talk to me." Sage smirked playfully as she finally came into Eibhlín's view.
"Would anythin' I say matter?" Eibhlín spat back, glaring back at Sage. Sage let out a few tsking noises back to Eibhlín as she continued making her way closer to her.
"Perhaps I should have told you to keep that smile." Sage shook her head back in a disappointing way. "You have the nastiest frown I have ever seen." Sage said with a pout, now close enough to Eibhlín to grab hold of her face. Eibhlín flinched as Sage shook Eibhlín's head for her. Eibhlín let out a hiss, feeling the sting from where her neck had been bitten earlier. "Smile." Sage muttered, her head cocking slightly as her pupils dilated as she spoke. Eibhlín smiled instantly, despite the irritation that had found its way into her blood. Sage snickered darkly. "Your eyes give you away so easily, Miss…Whatever your name was." Sage muttered, pushing Eibhlín's head to the side roughly. "It will not matter soon, you will be dead, and no one will find you until the morning. What is another mysterious death in Mystic Falls?" Sage taunted playfully. Eibhlín's heart fluttered anxiously. There wasn't anything Eibhlín could do. She couldn't move and she couldn't scream. Talking didn't do anything either. Eibhlín could only smile like she was told.
Sage quickly latched onto Eibhlín's throat in a flash. Eibhlín didn't even flinch at the sudden contact, only shutting her eyes from the burning pain she felt as Sage began to drink her blood. What a strange sensation to remember how it felt to have blood be sucked from the body. Eibhlín tried to let her mind wander to ignore the pain, but she was becoming light-headed from the blood that was being sucked out of her neck at a rapid speed. Sage pulled herself roughly away from Eibhlín's neck as rustling slowly entered Eibhlín's ears. Eibhlín tried to open her eyes, but all she could see were black dots swirling across her vision. The little warmth that Sage provided was soon gone, as she apparently left Eibhlín alone. Eibhlín leaned against the tree, shutting her eyes once more.
"You are not the Salvatore I had wished to see…" Sage's voice barely reached Eibhlín's thoughts as Eibhlín struggled to reach up and touch her heavily bleeding throat. The warmth of Eibhlín's own blood leaving her body sent a shiver up her spine as the blood pulsed and leaked against her fingers. Fuck, was she really going to die?
Eibhlín couldn't tell if she had passed out or simply fallen down, but the softness of the grass made Eibhlín breathe out a small breath. If she had to die, at least the grass where she lay was soft. Eibhlín opened her eyes as she lay on her back, her hands touching the rough bark of the tree that she had been confined to as her other hand ran through the grass. Despite her blackening vision, small bits of moonlight were shining down through the trees. It was all so peaceful. Eibhlín shut her eyes once more. At least her father wasn't the one to kill her…
The white noise of the night began to fade as Eibhlín began to hear people talking. Multiple voices were talking, maybe arguing, or maybe they were yelling; Eibhlín didn't care to find out. The soft grass was lulling her to sleep as her breaths became more shallow and the warmth continued to leave her body and pool down from her neck.
"Eibhlín?" Eibhlín tried to ignore the frantically whispering voice, but her curiosity got the better of her. Eibhlín blinked away the black spots in her vision for just a moment to feel herself tense up at the figure of a man that was now leaning over her.
"W-wha-" Eibhlín gurgled out, leaning over and coughing up blood at the attempt to speak. "Feck." Eibhlín muttered the curse aloud, falling back onto her back, her eyes shut once more. She was too tired…That was until an oddly familiar taste of warm, sweet blood seeped down her throat. For a moment, Eibhlín let herself enjoy the taste of blood, almost feeling as if the wound on her neck was closing…Eibhlin shot up into a sitting position, shoving whatever was bleeding into her mouth away from her. "No-wait-stop," Eibhlín sputtered out, blinking rapidly as the black dots that had been clouding her vision began to fade. "Stefan?" Eibhlín asked aloud, now being able to see the man a little better as he knelt down beside her with his sleeve pushed halfway up his arm and blood pooling from a wound on his wrist.
"You need more, just a little more…" Stefan muttered softly, pushing his bleeding wrist to Eibhlín's mouth, ignoring Eibhlín's weak attempt to shove him away. Eibhlín was too feeble to say no to Stefan and his sweet blood seemed to be healing Eibhlín of her wounds. Eibhlín placed a hand against Stefan's wrist to keep his wound against her mouth as she continued to drink his blood. Her other hand touched the ground to help balance her. The soft grass Eibhlín had once run her hands was not as soft as it once was. Eibhlín felt as if she couldn't stop herself from drinking Stefan's bloody wrist, even ignoring her mind as it tried to comprehend what was happening as well as what she was truly doing. "That should be enough to heal you." Stefan's voice sounded raw in her ears as he gently pulled his bleeding wrist from Eibhlín's mouth. Eibhlín finally looked up at Stefan. A gasp left her newly healed throat as she saw the whites of his eyes had turned red, as well as veins crawling down his face. Stefan stood and backed away from Eibhlín. He seemed to move unnaturally quick, so much so that Eibhlín had a hard time keeping up with his movements. Eibhlín rubbed her face for a moment, seemingly having broken free from whatever trance or spell that Sage had put her under and feeling sore throughout her whole body. Eibhlín looked at her hands. A sick realization came over Eibhlín as she saw her own blood was still soaked in her hands, and with a small breeze, Eibhlín could feel that she had wiped some of her own blood back onto her face.
"Stefan?" Eibhlín asked, testing how healed her throat really was, only feeling a slight throb from where she had recently been bleeding out and a gentle burning from her vocal cords. Stefan's whole body froze as Eibhlín said his name again.
"I-I'm sorry Eibhlín…" Stefan apologized as he backed away from her further. Eibhlín attempted to get up, freezing herself when she noticed the dark red stains around Stefan's mouth that dripped down his chin and stained the knot of his tie. Eibhlín's brows furrowed back at him as her brain finally caught up to what was happening.
Eibhlín's mother had warned her about the Salvatore brothers. She said they were dangerous. Sage had said that Damon told her that Eibhlín tasted divine. Stefan stood looking mortified with blood dripping from his own chin at the sight of Eibhlín. The Salvatore brothers were dangerous, and the grass under Eibhlín felt like needles against her skin.
AN: Number 2! Of many...BUT! I feel good! This one didn't go from 3k to 9k, but it did go from around 3k to 6k, which is pretty good, seeing as some of my new chapters have been as little as 7k. Not a lot of meat and bones in this one, but a lot of blood! Anyway! I'm going to continue on with my editing spree and I hope you can forgive the upcoming chapters of being rough. Until they are all done and updated! 3/31/22 fully updated the 2nd chapter now! anyway! Much love.