𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗆𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗄𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗅𝗒𝗇 𝗀𝗂𝗅𝖻𝖾𝗋𝗍

━━━━━━━━━━

dream, memory or flashback?

   A sea of masked celebrators swirled to the melodies of a string quartet, their heavy attires shimmering under the soft glow of chandeliers. Laughter and whispered secrets mingled with the music, creating an intoxicating atmosphere of mystery and elegance. Amidst this captivating scene, a woman stood out to the man observing the scene. Her emerald eyes, vibrant and piercing, shone through her laced mask, drawing him in with her enchanting tempt. Her graceful movements seemed to command the room, the silk of her gown flowing like liquid with every step. In a moment that felt both infinite and fleeting, their eyes met, and he was spellbound by her ethereal beauty.

She suddenly broke away from the crowd. Her movements were swift and graceful. He, unable to resist the magnetic pull of her presence, followed her through the corridors of the grand estate. She ran through an ornate archway, her silhouette fleeting and elusive, and he quickened his pace, determined not to lose her.

They emerged into a secluded hallway, far from the laughter and music of the ballroom. Here, in this quiet sanctuary, the world outside seemed to vanish.

She paused, her breath shallow, her eyes now filled with a mix of anticipation and vulnerability. He approached her slowly, the gravity of the moment heavy between them, as if the universe itself had conspired to bring them together in this hidden sanctuary.

Without a word, she closed the distance between them, her delicate hands reaching out to pull him into a tender embrace. The warmth of her body against his was electrifying, a silent confession of their love.

As he wrapped his arms around her, she lifted her face towards his, her breath mingling with his in the dim light. Then, with a softness that belied the intensity of the moment, she pressed her lips to his. The kiss was a perfect harmony of longing and relief.

"They will have your head if they see you," she breathed out against his lips.

"Yet, I'm still here," he teased, pulling her back in for another gentle kiss. "I've missed you. Missed touching you."

She frowned, pulling her head back to see him. "You shouldn't have come. It's dangerous for you to be here."

"I needed to see you," his hand stroked her cheek, yet she didn't fall into his comfort like she always did. Instead, she created a distance between them, eyes looking anywhere but him. "Hey, look at me." He tilted her chin up to make her face him.

"I'm tired," she expressed. "I'm tired of us being parted from each other. Loving in secrecy. They'll never accept us. It is too much for me to bear," she whimpered, doe eyes filled with tears.

He sighed, leaning her forehead against hers. He had nothing to say. She was telling the truth.

So, he offered the only comfort he could give, his silent presence, knowing it might be all they ever have.

And in that sorrow exchange, the world outside ceased to exist, leaving only the profound bond between two souls destined to find each other again.

━━━━━━━━━━

"Fuck me harder! Faster!"

"Beg daddy for it."

"Choke me, daddy!"

Evelyn's eyes widened, face scrunched with disgust as frustration built upon her when she heard the couple next door going at it like animals.

"Nasty bitches," she muttered.

She grabbed her pillow and pressed it firmly over her ears, hoping to muffle the incessant noise. The pillow did little to drown out the noise, instead feeling the bed move away from the wall.

Even poor Niko was cuddled up against Evelyn's chest. Frightened of the loud noises that were made. He just wanted a good sleep for once!

"Hey!" Evelyn smacked her hand against the wall. "No one wants to hear you begging him to spit in your mouth!"

When she waited for silence, the noises grew louder.

"Slap me, daddy!"

At that moment, Evelyn wanted to cry and throw up, pull at her hair and maybe jump off the balcony that looked very tempting now.

━━━━━━━━━━

2 weeks, 5 days, 3 hours and 28 seconds, Klaus kept a count of since the day he and Evelyn argued and she refused to speak to him ever since then.

She made an exhausted Stefan communicate between them. Even as far as to making him force Klaus to book them all separate rooms in hotels instead of a suite.

For Stefan, that was the best moment of his life. Maybe a historical moment.

For Klaus, it was torture.

For Evelyn, she barely gave a shit.

Klaus had even mentioned I hate Grumpy Evelyn.

That was his job. She was meant to be all sunshiney.

Evelyn in return responded back with I don't like Liar Niklaus.

Niklaus. Fucking Niklaus?! That's how she addressed him from then. She didn't even call him any names. Nothing!

He was craving for her attention. No. Starving for her attention. He didn't even mind if she shot him with an arrow right now! He was desperate to have Evelyn notice him.

Too consumed in his thoughts, he hadn't even realised the multiple knocks on his door, increasing louder.

Klaus huffed out with frustration, ready to kill whoever it was that was interrupting his thoughts about his obsession.

Said obsession was actually standing outside of his door.

His plan to murder flew out of this world immediately.

Klaus blinked a couple times, too in shock to believe it was Evelyn in front of him. Well, actually he was staring at her back. She was refusing to look at him.

"What do you want?" He cleared his throat, rolling his eyes at her pettiness.

"There's two animals going at it next door to me. Stefan is all the way up on the top floor and I don't want to bother him. You're next to me so I thought we should swap rooms," she spoke.

"Let me think about it," he pretended to think. "No." He slammed the door on her face—well her back.

"Fuck you, you moldy fossil! I hope you choke on your doggy tail. You better sleep with one eye open," Evelyn cursed, her footsteps fading as she walked away from his room.

Klaus rolled his eyes, his hands twitching against the handle contemplating if he should go after her.

Nope.

He won't.

Nah.

He did.

He found Evelyn at the reception desk, a sleepy Niko resting on her shoulder as she complained to the staff. "You better watch out for the google and trip advisor reviews. Terrible service this is!"

"Ma'am," one of the staff tried to calm her down.

"Don't you ma'am me. Do I look 50 to you?"

"No, but you need to understand we're fully booked."

"And you need to understand there's a whole ass live porn show going on next door to me. So if you're into voyuerism then by all means go check it out," she crossed her arms over chest, huffing and tapping her foot impatiently.

"My love," Klaus called out.

"Yes," Evelyn absentmindedly answered, feeling his hand on her hip, squeezing it gently to calm her down.

She subconsciously leaned her back against his chest, Niko too nuzzling himself into the crook of Klaus' neck, almost like a loving family huddled together.

They were far from that.

"Sir, please can you tell your wife–"

"Ew. I am not his wife!" Evelyn yelled.

"My wife gets a little cranky when she doesn't get her beauty sleep," Klaus answered at the same time.

Evelyn was speechless, looking at him with wide eyes and wide mouth. Klaus feigned a sarcastic smile, closing her mouth with his hand on her chin, grabbing her hand and ushering her away from the hotel staff.

"Don't be surprised if you see those reviews. Even the ice cream you serve here sucks. That was the first red flag here," Evelyn scoffed to the staff.

Klaus kept rushing her back inside the lift. "Did you just make a face at me?!" She asked, turning back to the them. "What did you just say? Say it with your chest then. Don't be a pussy!"

Evelyn stormed out of the lift, but suddenly was lifted off her feet as Klaus wrapped his arms around her waist and carried her back. "Bloody hell, you crazy girl," he ridiculed.

She huffed out of frustration, moving away from him as she pointed to her neighbours door. "You need to do something about this."

"Like what?"

"Compel them to stop having sex? I don't know. You do your thing," she shrugged.

The right thing would be to do what Evelyn had suggested, but Klaus was a follower of doing the opposite of right.

"You can stay in my room," he blurted out. What? Desperate times. Desperate measures. He just really missed their nightly talks.

"What?" A smile pulled at her lips. "Really? Okay. Bye." She ran towards his room, ready to close the door to his own room on his face.

"I'm staying too," Klaus pushed himself inside.

"But you said I can stay here," she frowned.

"I didn't say I was swapping rooms," he pointed out.

"But–"

"Leave if you don't want to be here. You can listen to them all night if you want," he shrugged. "Like a lullaby."

"You're mean."

"So?"

"Fine," she let out a loud sigh.

Klaus mentally gave himself a fist bump thrown in the air.

"The thing can get out of here," he nudged Niko away from him.

"But my baby is scared of the noises," Evelyn murmured, grabbing Niko and stroking his fur.

"No."

"Please?"

Don't give in. Not this time. He repeated those words.

Don't even Klaus.

"He stays in the closet then." He gave in to those gorgeous doe eyes.

"No!"

"The bathroom."

"What is wrong with you? Did your parents drop you on the floor as a baby?"

Klaus didn't answer, instead snatched Niko out of Evelyn's hand and shoved the bunny in the closet. "He stays there."

"You can't do that."

"I just did. And if I catch him next to me at any point, then you'll be preparing for his funeral tomorrow."

Evelyn let out a loud gasp. "You take that back."

"Shoot me with your crossbow, taser me, use all your sprays on me. I don't care. At least that thing won't be around me anymore," he shrugged.

Evelyn let out a frustrated scoff, stubbornly lying down in the middle of the bed. "You can sleep on the couch then."

"In your dreams, love." He shoved her to one side of the bed.

"Too bad. You're always in my nightmare," she snarked back, pushing him back.

"You're sleeping in the bathroom," he declared, lifting her up in his arms as he carried her towards the bathroom.

"Okay! Fine!" She wiggled out of his hold, slapping his shoulder. "We can both sleep on the bed."

"Saying it like you own this room," he scoffed.

"I sleep on the right side. It's the only side I sleep on," she ignored him.

"Fine by me."

Evelyn decided to be more dramatic, according to Klaus, and began to make a pillow wall between them.

Klaus grabbed them and threw them across the room. "What the hell?" Evelyn looked at him in disbelief.

"I'm claustrophobic." Liar.

"I'd rather bury myself than sleep next to you," she rolled her eyes.

"I'll dig the hole then," Was all he said as he laid down on the bed and closed his eyes.

"I'll suffocate you with the pillow before that can happen," she muttered.

Neither of them said anything after that.

Then Evelyn began pressing the pillow down on his face.

"Bloody hell woman!" 

━━━━━━━━━━

(very light mature content)

1 hour later

Klaus turned to face Evelyn's back, watching her steady, rhythmic breathing, the gentle rise and fall of her back both mesmerising and comforting.

His gaze travelled down to her figure, the shirt riding up, exposing her back. With his thoughts pounding in quiet anticipation, he slowly extended his hand, his fingertips brushing ever so lightly against the smooth skin of her lower back. His touch was delicate, almost reverent, as he traced the subtle indentations of her back dimples, the sensation both thrilling and tender.

"If you're going to touch me at least do it like a real man," Evelyn's not so sleepy voice brought him back to reality.

He leaned in slightly, his breath warm against her ear, his voice low. "You wouldn't be able to handle what I could do."

"All talk, no action," she muttered, and he could practically feel her rolling her eyes.

"Is that an invitation?"

She sat up, facing him and aggressively smacking a pillow on his face. "Denied."

Klaus caught it, eyes narrowing at her, throwing it back at her. "Shame. You would've already been underneath me from the moment you entered this room," he casually spoke before standing up and walking over to the decanter to pour himself a drink.

"You—what?" Evelyn choked on her own breath, all logical thoughts leaving as she stared at him with parted lips.

"You heard what I said. Don't act like you're deaf," Klaus' eyes met hers over the rim of the glass he began drinking from.

"What makes you think that'll ever happen?" She challenged him.

"The fact that your heart is beating faster than it did 5 seconds ago, you're clenching your legs together and I can see your nipples harden through that flimsy shirt," he pointed out like it was nothing.

"It's—It's cold in here," she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Keep telling yourself lies, love. You and I both know what's really going on here," he said.

"It's not because of you," she stubbornly refused.

In one quick stride, Klaus grabbed Evelyn's ankles, pulling her to the edge of the bed whilst he knelt in front of her, one hand yanking between her legs to keep them open. "So, you're telling me if I reach between your legs, that pretty cunt won't be soaking wet?"

Oh my—

Evelyn gasped at his crude words, her breathing quickening when she felt his rough hands slowly trail up inside her inner thigh. "You're insane," she remarked. "A complete psychopath."

"Careful, love. Those words turn me on especially when they're coming from your lips," he smirked.

"You're not my type," she defied, yet she allowed his touch grow increasingly against her skin.

"Then what is?" He tilted his head to the side, eyes flickering to her lips, then her neck, listening to the pulse quicken and the way she gulped.

"Someone who's gentle," Evelyn murmured.

Klaus now caressed her thigh slowly, "I can be gentle."

"No," she scoffed.

"No? But let's talk about who really likes it rough here."

"What—what the hell are you talking about?" She sputtered out, feeling her cheeks getting warmer.

"I've seen what you read."

Evelyn's eyes widened. "You have no right to look through my books!"

"I pay for them, so if we're going to be figurative, then they're mine too," he smirked with a shrug.

"That's an invasion of my privacy. You can't do that."

"Hm—" he smiled, too dangerously as she felt one hand trail up towards her upper thigh and caressed the exposed skin on her stomach. "Didn't think your tastes would not be– how should I put it? Vanilla."

"I—I have no idea what you mean?"

"Kinks, love. You have kinks."

"Don't know what that is?" She murmured, looking away from his intense gaze.

"Don't lie to me." Klaus forced her look back at him, hand gripping her chin, thumb caressing the skin. "Didn't think the sweet, innocent Evelyn would be into all that sort ."

"I'm not. It's just reading."

"Do you want to be tied up? I mean we can recreate that scene if you want?" he tilted his head, a smug smile playing on his lips.

"No!" She spluttered out, feeling her heartbeat quicken.

"You secretly crave for this. You like the chase of this, don't you? I'll take you to the woods for a chase if that's what you really want."

"N–" Klaus slapped her thigh before she could deny her temptation for him.

"Fuck you," she spat out.

"Right now?"

"Never."

Evelyn's hand fisted against the bedsheet, gritting her teeth to avoid giving him the satisfaction of the feeling he gave her. "Admit it," Klaus demanded.

"Admit what?" She gritted out.

"Don't make me force it out of you," he warned.

"Do your worst then," she challenged him, her knee rubbing against his chest, the slightest caress of her foot against his abs then trailing down against his tightened joggers.

Klaus quirked a brow. So she wanted to play.

Unable to resist, Klaus' fingers slowly brushed one of her nipple over her shirt, caressing the tip of his thumb over the bud. It tightened, poking against the fabric, demanding more. "Say it," he murmured, eyes hooded with lust as he pinched and tugged on it until he drew a delicate whimper from her.

"No– ahh," She arched her back, pushing into his hand. Her moan of pleasure was the most erotic thing he'd ever heard and a straight stimulation to his dick that was currently straining against his pants.

"If you won't say it, your body already has already told me." His other hand rubbed circles on her inner thigh, moving closer and closer and she so desperately wanted him to keep going.

"What—what?"

"You want me to fuck you. You want me to make you squirm and scream. You want me to pound into that tight cunt until you can't take it anymore but like the good girl you are, you'll take every inch of me until I come inside of you, won't you?"

Oh—

A needy whimper left Evelyn's lips, hearing those words from Klaus was pushing her to the edge to do the forbidden. What she was so tempted to do for a while now.

"Maybe if you're a good girl, i'll let you ride my fingers."

"Nik—" she let out a shaky whisper.

Then to add more to that neediness, Klaus' fingers slipped under her shirt and his thumb barely stroked over her covered pussy, making Evelyn shudder. "You're wet."

"That's because I'm thinking about your brother. Don't flatter yourself," she rebuked, slapping his hand away.

Klaus' jaws clenched, hearing those words uttered from her lips, set him to the edge. His finger then pinched on her nipple harder, drawing a whimper of pain out of her.

"Fuck!" Evelyn's back arched, ass just slipping off the bed, but Klaus held her in place, pressing his hand on to her stomach.

"Such a good girl," he teased, feeding into the praise he knew she secretly kept hidden.

"You're an ass," she seethed out, yet inching herself closer to him.

"And you wouldn't be responding like that then, would you?" He chuckled, lips brushing against hers, too dangerously. "But you like it. You like the idea of me wrecking you? Make you scream as loud as I want? Fuck you as hard as your pussy can take it until you come all over my cock?"

"Go fuck yourself." With the little strength, Evelyn moved away from him, putting as much as distance between them as she spoke, "Is that why you wanted to take me? To fuck me?"

"That's just an added bonus," he shrugged.

Evelyn's hand arced through the air, the force of her slap resounding like a thunderclap. Klaus barely flinched as the sting spread across his cheek, but a thin line of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He laughed, a deep, resonant sound that filled the space between them, as he casually wiped the blood away with the back of his hand.

"Ouch," his voice, laced with sarcasm.

Evelyn's eyes blazed with fury, her chest heaving with the effort to contain her emotions. "Just tell me why you really want me then?"

"I made that clear from the start, why keep asking the same question again and again. It's boring me out now," he rolled his eyes.

"You want me," she declared.

"Want is a loose term, but we can go that for now," his lips curved into a sly smirk.

"Enough with the riddles. Just tell me why? Why me?!" She raised her voice this time.

With the little patience Klaus had left, he reached out and wrapped a fist around her hair, yanking her head back as his face towered over hers. "Because you had the audacity to invade my every thought. You captured my attention. So this is now your punishment for being in my life."

Evelyn's breath hitched as she looked up at him. In his eyes, she saw a mix of desire and hatred, a dangerous blend that sent a shiver down her spine. The intensity of his gaze was almost palpable, filled with a passion that was as much about possession as it was about loathing. She could see the conflict within him, the battle between wanting to claim her and wanting to punish her for the power she held over him. The fire in his eyes was both terrifying and mesmerising, leaving her trapped in the maelstrom of his emotions.

"Then why haven't you killed me? Get rid of the problem then. I've seen you murder without a second thought. You don't care about anyone else but yourself. What's stopping you?" Evelyn continued with her curiosity.

"Enough with the questions." The hand wrapped around her hair loosened as he moved away from her, turning his back to her as he took a deep breath to calm down his conflicted thoughts and feelings for her.

"You're running away again," she scoffed, tears brimming the corner of her eyes. "You confuse me so much."

"Go to sleep, Evelyn," he murmured, as he made his way towards the door, ready to leave.

"You can never have me," she shook her head. "I'd rather die than let that ever happen."

And at that moment, Evelyn regretted what she had said. The raw emotion in Klaus' eyes was impossible to ignore. It was a tempest of possession, longing, and something deeper, something that made Evelyn's resolve waver. His gaze pierced through her defenses, laying bare the unspoken truth that had been simmering between them all along.

And the next words spoken by him, just before he left, were enough to send a chill down her spine.

"That's where you're wrong, love. You've been mine since the beginning."

━━━━━━━━━━

Stefan's eyes darted between Klaus and Evelyn, silence fell between them for the first time. No petty arguments. No snide comments to each other. Not even Klaus mentioning how he would find ways to kill Niko every day.

He should be happy. He should be celebrating right now at the new revolution he was witnessing in front of him.

But it was an uncomfortable silence for once. One he didn't like at all. It was not like the others. This one felt heavy.

Did something happen last night that he did not know of?

"So– what's new?" Stefan began, eyes darting between both of them, waiting for an answer or for them to start an argument.

Stefan prepared himself for that. And in 3... 2... 1.

They ignored him. Still sitting in silence.

Ouch.

Did someone possess them both?

"Shall I get you ice cream, Evie?" Stefan asked, breaking the silence.

"No," she murmured, her hand holding the fork was poking her pancakes that she didn't even take a bite from.

"I'll be waiting in the car," Klaus barely mumbled as he walked away from them.

"What happened?" Stefan asked, once Klaus was out of earshot.

"Nothing," Evelyn kept her eyes on her untouched plate.

"I'm genuinely scared now," he pressed.

"Nothing to be scared about," her eyes now met his, a smile barely reaching her to reassure him. "Come on, let's go."

"But you haven't ate yet," he gestured to her plate.

"I'm not hungry."

Huh? Was she actually possessed? A hungry Evelyn meant a cranky Evelyn would torture him until she was fed.

━━━━━━━━━━

Evelyn wasn't sure what was diabolical.

Klaus keeping his siblings in coffins or keeping their coffins in a shipping container.

"You twisted psychopath," Evelyn murmured, shaking her head as she set her eyes on the four coffins in front of her.

Glancing around her to see if Klaus was around, she slowly walked over to the coffins, running her hand around the top of one of them. Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached out to touch the cold surface of one, her heart racing with anticipation. With a steady breath, she lifted the lid, revealing one of them, serene in her eternal slumber.

"You must be Rebekah," Evelyn murmured.

Mesmerised by Rebekah's beauty, her gaze traced the delicate curve of her cheek, illuminated by the faint light filtering through the cracks in the coffin. She couldn't help but be captivated by the ethereal presence before her, a perfect blend of strength and vulnerability frozen in time. With a soft exhale, Evelyn's fingertips grazed Rebekah's cheek, marvelling at the smoothness of her skin.

"Maybe you and I would've gotten along if that psycho pathetic excuse of a brother didn't dagger you," she murmured.

Temptation grew on her when Evelyn moved on to the next coffin, opening the lid to reveal the youngest Mikaelson brother. "Kol?" she murmured.

His features, held a hint of mischief beneath the calm exterior, a reminder of the fiery spirit that defined him in life. Evelyn's gaze lingered on Kol's face, tracing the contours of his cheekbones and the faint curve of his lips. There was a magnetic pull to him, a charisma that had undoubtedly drawn countless admirers over the centuries.

"You seem like you could be fun to hang out with," she laughed quietly.

With a gentle touch, she brushed her fingers against his cheek, feeling the coolness of his skin beneath her touch.

"The genes are really strong in your family, huh? You are all so gorgeous and fine," she whispered.

Her gaze then travelled down to the silver dagger, stabbed directly on his heart. And it was in that very moment, Evelyn had the urge to take it out of him and the other siblings too.

Should she?

Klaus would kill her if she did.

Maybe she shouldn't.

Nah. Fuck it. Fingers twitching, she reached out ready to take it out.

But that was stopped, when a rough hand clasped around her wrist, squeezing it and moving it away from Kol's body. Klaus caught her. "Don't even think about it," his voice was stern.

She gulped, stepping away from the coffin as he aggressively closed the lid back and moved towards her.

"I– I was just looking at the dagger. It's really pretty," she stammered over her words. "What kind of metal is that? Did you get it custom made?"

Klaus' body loomed over hers, touching her chin to make her face him. "Remember this," he said, his voice a chilling whisper. "Touch those coffins again, and you will face consequences far worse than you can imagine."

"Oh, believe me, I've got quite the imagination. But I'll be sure to add 'unleashing the wrath of an ancient hybrid' to the list of things to avoid. Thanks for the heads up."

━━━━━━━━━━

Evelyn found Stefan outside, near the edge of an old cabin they'd been searching in for the wolf—a quiet, fog-kissed part of the woods that felt peaceful for once.

Stefan was sharpening a stake with focus, almost too aggressively.

Seems like Klaus pissed him off like always.

"Hey, Stefano."

He didn't look up. "Hey."

"So don't get mad at me."

That got his attention. Stefan raised an eyebrow, stilling his hands. "What did you do now?"

Evelyn laughed nervously, "I do a lot, you gotta elaborate on that."

"Tried to down Klaus in the river?"

"I wish."

"Put vervain and wolfsbane in his drink again?"

"That was a good one," Evelyn laughed at the memory. "Should've used a stronger dose though."

"Evelyn," he warned now.

"I called Elena," she muttered out quickly.

Stefan stared at her. Not angry yet—but very still. His jaw clenched just slightly. "When?"

"A month ago. On our birthday," she admitted.

━━━━━━━━━━

June 22nd - Evelyn and Elena's birthday.

The room was quiet—too quiet for a birthday. The flickering candlelight from a single cupcake on the dresser cast a soft glow over Evelyn's face as she sat cross-legged on the bed, her phone clutched tightly in her hand.

Her thumb hovered over the screen, over a single unsent message... over a text she'd read more times than she cared to admit.

Womb mate:
All I want for our birthday
is to hear your voice. Please
call me.

It had been sent a week ago. She'd read it maybe a hundred times since, but today—their birthday—it felt different.

The other side of the bed was empty, of course. Stefan was gone again, off doing whatever errand Klaus had thrown his way.

Evelyn sighed, her chest tightening with guilt and longing. Elena always had this annoying habit of making even the simplest things feel like heartbreak.

She bit her lip, staring at the message like it might disappear if she blinked too long. Finally, with a shaky breath and a muttered, "Screw it."

It rang.

Once.
Twice.
Three times.

"Evie?" Elena's voice cracked through the speaker, raw with shock.

Evelyn's throat tightened. "Hey, birthday girl."

"You actually called—you actually—" Elena's words choked off into a sob.

"I know," Evelyn interrupted softly, her voice trembling with both relief and pain. "I suck."

Elena let out a choked laugh. "Yeah, a little bit."

Tears slid down Evelyn's cheeks before she realised they'd even started. "Happy birthday, Lena."

"Happy birthday to you, traitor," Elena sniffled.

"One year closer to death," Evelyn joked.

"Where the hell have you been? We've been going out of our minds—Damon's been trying to track you, and Jenna and Jeremy are so lost without you, let me call them here—"

"Wait," Evelyn cut her off, voice gentle. "Don't call them. Not yet. It's too risky."

"I don't care if it's risky!" Elena's voice rose, angry now. "You disappeared! You left all of us! And you didn't even say goodbye. What were you thinking?"

Evelyn wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand, trying to laugh through the lump in her throat. "I figured if I said goodbye, I wouldn't actually leave. You know I'm a sucker for dramatics."

"You are dramatic," Elena muttered, though her voice had softened. "Seriously, Eve. You can't just vanish. We thought— we thought Klaus killed you!"

"I'd haunt his dusty ass if he ever does that," Evelyn rolled her eyes at the mention of Klaus.

"Does— does he hurt you?" Elena asked, quietly.

"No," Evelyn snorted at that. "He knows better to not, let alone kill me."

"Well, if he had, at least you'd finally get to stop eating Jenna's cooking. I miss your cooking!"

"Is that real reason why you want me back?" Evelyn teased.

"Jenna tried to make pancakes last week and accidentally set the pan on fire and they were salty too! We've been living off takeout ever since."

Evelyn laughed, the sound breaking around her tears. "I knew it. You all just miss my cooking. Admit it."

"Duh. I'd sell my soul for one of your grilled cheese sandwiches right now."

There was a pause, the kind that stretched between people who'd missed each other too much for words.

"Hey," Evelyn said softly. "I left something for you. Before I... you know. Go to your closet. Top drawer."

She could hear her sister fumbling with the phone as she moved across the room. A moment later, there was a sharp gasp.

"You found it?" Evelyn asked, smile tugging at her lips.

There was no answer—just a quiet sob from Elena's side.

Inside the drawer, wrapped in soft tissue paper, was something Elena had been eyeing for some time—a silver necklace with a small, engraved charm: added with two intertwined hearts with their initials. And next to it, a photo of the two of them from their sixth birthday, covered in frosting and smiles.

"I can't believe you remembered this," Elena whispered.

"Of course I did. I'm not that horrible of a sister."

"You kind of are," Elena teased gently, still crying.

Although Evelyn knew her sister was joking, she couldn't help but cry more harder. "I'm so sorry, Lena."

"I know, Evie."

"I think about you all everyday. There's been so many times I wanted to leave and come back, but I can't. It's safer this way. Safer for you especially."

"I know," Elena whispered.

"How's everyone?" Evelyn asked after a while, voice small. "Bonnie, Damon, Kenji?"

"Still themselves," Elena said. "Caroline's organising every birthday event like it's the Met Gala. Damon's... Damon. He misses annoying you."

"He doesn't miss me. He misses arguing with me and trying to steal my ice cream."

"Speaking of that, Jeremy and Kenji went through your secret stash in like one day."

Evelyn let out a dramatic gasp. "Beat their asses for me?"

"I already did," Elena laughed.

"Jeremy's also trying to play the man of the house, and Bonnie took your advice and took a break from magic, she's currently away with her Dad."

"That's good."

"Jenna's been crying every day for you. She misses you so much."

"Me too," Evelyn sniffled, feeling her eyes blur more each time.

"Tyler's also asked some of his wolf friends if they found you," Elena revealed. "You're very hard to track."

Evelyn smiled sadly at the mention of her ex boyfriend and his concern for her. "It needs to stay that way."

"And how's— how's Stefan?" Elena asked hesitantly. "Can I talk to him?"

Evelyn's smile faltered. "He, uh... he doesn't want to talk to anyone back home right now," she admitted. "He told me not to call you. Said it was safer."

"But you're calling me anyway?"

"I'm the rebellious twin, remember?"

"How could I forget," Elena said, half-smiling. "I hate that you're in this."

"Yeah, well. Birthday twins, right? Always taking turns making bad choices."

They sat in silence, both just listening to each other breathe.

"Elena."

"Yeah?"

There was silence. Heavy. Almost unbearable.

"I'm... I'm a bad person."

"What?" Elena's voice immediately shifted to concern. "No, you're not. Don't even say that."

"I am," Evelyn whispered, her voice trembling. "I left you. I left all of you. I disappeared and I didn't say goodbye, and I've been lying—hiding. And you still answer the phone like nothing ever happened."

"Because I love you," Elena said firmly. "Because you're my sister."

"But I don't feel like her anymore," Evelyn said, her voice cracking.

I don't feel like me at all.

She wiped at her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater, tears spilling faster than she could stop them. Her throat burned with the weight of the truth she couldn't tell.

Elena, bless her heart, rushed to comfort her. "Evie, listen to me. You're not a bad person. You're doing what you think is right. You're trying to protect us. I know you. You always take everything on your shoulders even when you don't have to."

"Elena—"

"If anything Klaus is the bad person."

Evelyn didn't answer that. Couldn't.

How could she say it out loud—that the man who was supposed to be their worst nightmare, the one who had torn their lives apart, was becoming someone she understood? That sometimes, in the rare quiet moments, he didn't feel like a monster at all?

And it didn't stop the way Klaus had looked at her when she was angry, when she challenged him and he didn't snap—he listened.

He didn't try to fix her.

He let her break.

Elena's voice pulled her back. "Whatever you're going through... whatever it is, we'll figure it out. Just come home."

"I can't," Evelyn choked. "Not yet."

"Why?"

Because I don't know who I am when I'm near him.

But she didn't say that.

"I just can't."

There was another pause, heavy and thick with unspoken things.

"I love you," Elena said gently, not knowing the war raging inside her twin.

Evelyn cried then—really cried. And Elena didn't ask anything else. She just stayed on the phone, talking about nothing and everything, until Evelyn's sobs quieted and her breathing evened out.

━━━━━━━━━━

"You promised me," Stefan said sharply. "You said you weren't contacting anyone."

"Technically, I didn't promise," Evelyn shrugged with an innocent smile.

"But you lied to me," he snapped harder this time.

"I know," she said, defensive now. "But she's my sister, Stefan. I couldn't leave her in the dark forever. She thought I was dead."

"And if Klaus found out?" he asked. "You don't get to decide when to risk everyone we're protecting, especially your sister."

"I wasn't risking everything," she shot back. "I was being human. You remember what that feels like, right? To care about someone enough to make a call just to hear their voice?"

Stefan flinched. Not from her words—

Then, barely above a whisper, he asked, "How... how is she?"

Evelyn's face softened. "She misses you. A lot. She didn't say it like that, but I know her. She wants us to come home."

Stefan looked away, out toward the trees, his expression unreadable. "You know we can't."

"I know," Evelyn murmured. "I just—she misses you. And I miss her. I miss them all. I want to go home."

Stefan was quiet for a long time. Then he finally set the stake down and turned to her fully. "You're not wrong for calling her," he said, gently this time. "I was just... scared."

"Of what?"

"That if I heard her voice again, I'd want to go back too."

Evelyn gave a sad smile. "You still want to."

Stefan didn't deny it.

Instead, he stepped closer, and for a moment, he wasn't the closed-off version of himself he'd become around Klaus. He was the Stefan she'd known—gentle and warm.

"You're not alone, Eve," he said. "Even if it feels like it. I'm still here."

She nodded, eyes stinging again. "I know. But it's hard pretending like everything's fine when it's not."

He pulled her into a hug—tight, familiar, the kind that said 'i get it' without needing to explain. And for a moment, Evelyn let herself lean on someone else.

━━━━━━━━━━

back in mystic falls

Being the heart and soul of his friendship group, was something Kenji took pride in.

The one who could always be counted on to lighten the mood with a joke or a witty remark. His quick humour and infectious laughter made him the go to person for lifting spirits and diffusing tension. But beneath the surface, Kenji was a complex of emotions that he kept hidden from the world. Behind every joke and laugh was a carefully constructed barrier, a way to shield himself from the vulnerabilities he was too afraid to share. While he excelled at making others laugh, he struggled with letting anyone see the parts of him that were hurting or uncertain.

As Kenji observed the scene, watching Jeremy from a distance as he was animatedly talking to a girl, his face lit up with the kind of enthusiasm that Kenji had always admired, yet that strange feeling began to stir within him, something deeper and more complex than the friendship they had always shared. It was an emotion he couldn't quite name, a mixture of warmth and a subtle, aching longing. He tried to push the feeling away, telling himself it was nothing.

Jeremy was nothing but his best friend to him.

"Yikes. It must suck to be you," Damon's voice spoke behind Kenji.

"Not as much it sucks to be in love with your brother's girlfriend, right?" Kenji's snarky response made the smirk on Damon's fade.

"You better watch that tongue, or else you'll be running doctor mommy dearest to stitch up a new one once i'm done with you," Damon threatened.

"Careful there, Demon wannabe. I'm a minor," Kenji pointed a fry towards him before eating it. "And I most certainly don't need you anywhere near my tongue."

"I'm going to kill you," Damon faked a smile, watching as the people in the Grill walked past them. "And you can also say bye to that hideous cat of yours, don't think I forgot he pissed in my bourbon."

"Loki isn't potty trained yet," Kenji defended his cat. "Besides you deserve it for being a dick in general."

Damon grabbed Kenji by the back of his neck, ready to drag him out and kill him once and for all.

"Can I at least just touch up my face before I die? Heaven is about to meet a bombshell," Kenji grunted, trying to move away from Damon, but his vampire strength overpowered him.

"Damon," Elena's voice called out.

"What the hell are you doing?" Caroline rushed towards them. "Get away from Kenji now!"

Damon faked a smile, putting Kenji in headlock and playfully ruffling his hair. "Ken and I are just bonding, right?"

"Do I look like a fucking barbie doll to you?" Kenji sassed, releasing himself from Damon's hold.

"Leave him alone, Damon," Elena pulled Kenji to her side.

Damon put his hand up in surrender, rolling his eyes. Kenji raised an eyebrow, before mouthing 'remember. your brother's girlfriend.'

Just in time, Jeremy stood next to Kenji. Damon now mouthing. 'remember. your best friend.'

"My mom has found nothing yet on Eve and Stefan," Caroline interrupted them, directing their attention back on the real matter.

"And the only time Eve called me was on our birthday last month, but she called from an unknown number, she refused to tell me where she was," Elena murmured with a soft sigh, tears brimming in her eyes but she held them back in.

Kenji gave her a sympathetic smile, wrapping his arm around Elena, and letting her lay her head on his shoulder as he comforted her.

"We would've found them quicker if Bonnie hadn't left with her Dad to go see her cousins," Damon complained, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Bonnie isn't your personal slave," Kenji snapped back. "She has a life unlike you."

"Besides, EJ said not to put too much pressure on Bonnie and her magic," Jeremy piped in, agreeing with Kenji.

"Since when did dumb and dumber become advocates for witches," Damon glared at Jeremy and Kenji.

"They're right," Caroline said. "Let Bonnie enjoy her summer in peace. We can find another way."

"Jenna has suggested to put out missing posters," Elena spoke up.

Damon snorted at that.

"Kenji has actually been trying to find them," Jeremy spoke up.

"Him?" Damon waved a finger at Kenji. "This clown has done something?"

"Look at yourself first," Kenji scoffed. "And yes, I have."

"Spill," Damon said.

"So, I used this thing called common sense and since you lack from it, this might be difficult for you to understand it," Kenji remarked to Damon. "I've been tracking her phone."

"What?" Damon raised a brow.

"Find my iPhone, Dracula," Kenji rolled his eyes. "But it seems like she doesn't use her phone much, it's possible that she's using a different phone or sim so it doesn't get tracked. EJ knows i'm into my tech so she's been a step ahead of me. Proud of her honestly. But for the first time, last night I checked and their last known location was New York. 2 weeks ago."

Everyone stayed silent. Dumbfounded. Embarrassed.

"Sometimes common sense is magic in a supernatural world," Kenji beamed with pride.

"And why didn't you tell us?" Damon asked.

"I don't do shit for free," Kenji rolled his eyes.

"Is he asking me to pay?" Damon turned to the others. "Who does he think he is?"

"He's Kenji," they all replied in return.

"300," Kenji demanded, putting his hand out.

━━━━━━━━━━

back to wherever the dysfunctional family are

Under the sweltering sun, the air seemed to shimmer with heat as Evelyn fanned herself with a makeshift paper fan, heart sunglasses perched on her nose, whilst waiting for Stefan to fix the car.

"Pacing around is not going to fix the car any faster, so why don't you help Stefan instead of making him do every dirty work of yours," Evelyn remarked.

Klaus stopped in his tracks, his eyes locking onto Evelyn's. "I have more pressing matters to think about."

"Ah, yes. World domination," she replied back, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Because creating a kingdom of hybrids is so much more important so you can play King. But to actually do that, you need to find the wolves, which you have been terribly failing at."

"I agree with her. We've been at this for months," Stefan chimed in, who was crouched above the open hood of the car.

"Shut up before I tear your limbs apart," Klaus threatened.

"Be my guest," Stefan muttered with an eye roll.

Evelyn blocked Klaus from moving towards Stefan, pushing his chest as she narrowed her eyes at him. "Do it and i'll use all my weapons on you and the spells i've been learning recently and trust me they're not pretty ones."

Klaus moved back, not wanting a repeat of being thrown off the balcony.

As the conversation between them continued, she suddenly noticed a car approaching in the distance. "I see a car!" She exclaimed. "Stop it! Maybe they can help."

Klaus miserably put his hand out with a quick wave and the car drove past them without even slowing down. "Are you kidding me?" Evelyn scoffed.

"What?"

Evelyn smacked a hand over her forehead. "Sometimes I wonder why men like you exist," she muttered.

"Like you said, love. For world domination," he retorted back with an eye roll.

"Allow me to demonstrate." Squinting her eyes, Evelyn could see a car approaching them and began to adjust her dress, subtly pulling it down to ensure it covered her curves, especially accentuating the curves of her boobs. "Caroline told me this. Men like boobs or ass and it can get you anything. Pathetic really."

Klaus found himself staring at her with a raised brow.

As she did so, she noticed his unwavering gaze fixed upon her. "Did I say you can look at me? This is why your species are pathetic."

"Yeah! Stop staring at her!" Stefan shouted from a distance where he was still trying to fix the car.

Klaus ignored Stefan, and responded with a sly mark. "You're doing it right in front of me."

Evelyn scoffed. "But you could've just turned your head away like a respectful gentleman."

"Don't get too happy, love. I've seen better."

"Like your own?" she mocked as she moved away from him. "Best pair i've seen." She pinched his chest. "Nik's perky pepperonis."

"Best thing i've ever heard since we left," Stefan laughed out loud.

"You–" Klaus clenched his jaw.

"Shh. Now, on to the part where I'll definitely get us a ride," Evelyn smiled.

Klaus raised a brow, watching as she took a deep breath and closed her eyes briefly, and then, with remarkable ease, she conjured tears, letting them cascade down her cheeks. As she opened her eyes, they glistened with unshed tears, allowing a single teardrop to form and trickle down her cheek.

Klaus was actually impressed. Even though he didn't want to admit it to her.

"You see," she said, her voice quivering with faux emotion. "Sometimes, a tear can be the most powerful persuasion."

"So, that's how you use me?" Klaus inquired.

"Watch and learn." She ignored and nudged Klaus towards where Stefan was, making sure they couldn't be seen as she sprinted towards the approaching car, her hands waving and her body language exuding urgency.

The car slowed down, and as the driver rolled down his window. And immediately his gaze roamed down her chest, and Evelyn had the urge to roll her eyes.

Men.

"Oh, what's the matter, sweetheart?"

She feigned sniffles and spoke with a quivering voice, "Could– could you please help me? My car broke down, and I don't have signal on my phone to reach anyone," she took a deep breath. "My mother is ill and the doctor's have told me that she doesn't have much time to live and I just want to be with her for her last moments."

"Oh, you poor thing," he hummed, his gaze was still fixated on her chest.

No, you poor thing. Klaus thought as he heard them.

"It's just the next town, and everyone else has drove past me and I'm just so helpless now. Please can you help me? Please?" Evelyn feigned innocence as she bounced on her toes.

"Of course I can," he nodded. "But, for a price though."

She nodded vigorously, "Sure, how much do you want?"

"We'll discuss the payment in the car," he said.

She raised a brow for a brief moment, before straightening herself. "Before we go, could you– uh– help me with my luggage, please? I have my 3 pets with me too." Klaus and Stefan heard, rolling their eyes at the jab.

"Sure." He stepped out of the car, as he tried to reach out to touch Evelyn, but she laughed nervously moving forward quickly towards her car.

"My car is just over there," she pointed. "Nikki, Stefanie, Niko," she cooed softly. "We can finally go home."

As she opened the trunk, he leaned down to grab the bags and with a blur, Klaus grabbed the man's head and twisted it, snapping his neck in one swift motion, letting the lifeless body crumpled to the ground.

Turning to him, Evelyn spoke with exasperation, "Seriously? We agreed that whoever we stop, we would just compel them to walk it to the nearby gas station and they could get help from there."

Klaus shrugged. "You agreed to that yourself. I, on the other hand, prefer a more direct approach. Ones that are more effective."

"He was a creep too, Eve," Stefan surprisingly agreed with Klaus' method.

With an exasperated eye roll, Evelyn turned away from looking at the lifeless body. "Could one of you grab the keys from him. I don't want to touch the body," she mumbled.

Klaus grabbed the key's from his hand while Stefan quickly moved to disposed of the body and concealed it behind the dense bushes, ensuring their encounter would leave no trace for curious onlookers.

The two then following behind Evelyn and Niko.

━━━━━━━━━━

They stood in an awkward silence in the elevator, each occupying a corner as if the cramped space was the most vast and isolated area.

Stefan, looking particularly uncomfortable, held Niko, in his arms.

The bunny twitched its nose, seemingly the only one unbothered by the tension in the air.

"Stefan, can you please tell that creepy old man to stop looking at me," Evelyn spoke, side eyeing Klaus.

"Stop looking at her," Stefan told Klaus.

"Stefan, tell her that the world doesn't revolve around her," Klaus responded back.

"The world doesn't revolve around you," Stefan told Evelyn.

Evelyn narrowed her eyes, turning back around, trying to ignore Klaus. But out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse from the elevator wall's reflective surface. There, clear as day, was Klaus, shamelessly staring at her back with a smirk that made her blood boil.

She turned back around, her voice low and furious. "Seriously? What is your problem?"

Klaus's smirk widened, and he leaned casually against the elevator wall. "No problem at all, love. Just enjoying the view."

Stefan, sensing the tension, cleared his throat nervously and adjusted his grip on Niko. "Hey, uh, maybe we should all just– be quiet? Niko is getting scared now."

Evelyn glared at Klaus one last time before reluctantly turning her back to him again. The reflection showed Klaus' infuriating smirk still firmly in place, and she silently vowed to find a way to wipe it off his face.

As the elevator doors slid open, Stefan stepped out with Niko first, and Evelyn seized her opportunity. She quickly pressed all the buttons on the panel, lighting up every floor from the lobby to the penthouse. Klaus, realising her intention, tried to step out, but Evelyn shoved him back inside with a determined push.

"Oh, no you don't," Klaus muttered, as he grabbed her by the waist. In one swift motion, he pulled her back into the elevator with him, the doors sealing shut just as they both tumbled inside.

Stefan turned around, an exasperated sigh leaving his lips when he heard Evelyn cursing Klaus, he in return arguing back with her. "Come on, Niko. Let's get you fed. All this is making me hungry too," he muttered.

Niko whined at that.

"Don't worry, I won't eat you."

━━━━━━━━━━

Evelyn struggled against Klaus' grip, but he held firm, his face close to hers, eyes flashing with a mix of irritation and amusement. "You really think you can get away that easily?"

She glared at him, her cheeks flushed with frustration. "I was hoping."

The elevator began its slow journey through the building, stopping at every floor. They stood there, caught in a tense standoff, as the elevator dinged repeatedly, doors opening to empty hallways and closing again.

"You know," Klaus said after a few moments of silence, his grip still secure around her waist, "if you wanted to spend more time with me, all you had to do was ask."

Evelyn huffed, rolling her eyes. "In your dreams."

"More often than you'd think," he replied with a grin, tightening his hold just enough to make her heart skip a beat.

"Too bad you're only in my nightmares," she snapped back. "You're the reason why I can't sleep."

"Sounds more like a love confession. What's next, when i'm far apart you can't breathe?" he teased.

"If that's what your delusional thoughts tell you then I'll play along," she rolled her eyes.

Before the argument could escalate further, the elevator dinged and the doors slid open. A group of people stepped inside, chatting and laughing, oblivious to the tension between Klaus and Evelyn.

Instinctively, the two plastered fake smiles on their faces, turning to face the newcomers.

Evelyn stood in front of Klaus, her back stiff with tension, while he loomed close behind her. She tried to subtly jab him with her elbow, but he quickly caught her arm, gripping her hand tightly to prevent her from hitting him. She twisted her wrist, attempting to free herself, but his hold only tightened, his fingers digging into her skin just enough to convey his stubborn resistance.

Evelyn turned her head slightly, giving Klaus a withering glare, her eyes flashing with unspoken threats. He responded with a smug look, raising an eyebrow as if to say, "Nice try."

Klaus regretted it when a sudden, forceful stomp, was brought down hard on his foot. Evelyn's heel digging deeper, twisting it with a satisfied smile. He couldn't suppress the loud groan of pain that escaped his lips. The sound echoed in the confined space, drawing everyone's attention.

All eyes turned to them, curious and concerned. Evelyn, thinking quickly, plastered on a smile. "Oh, don't mind him," she said cheerfully. "He just has an upset stomach and, well, he has explosive diarrhoea so if you do smell something funny–" she gestured to him. "Then you know."

Klaus' eyes widened in horror as they reacted with a mixture of sympathy and disgust, quickly edging away from him. The mood in the elevator shifted, the once curious stares now tinged with a hint of apprehension.

"Ignore her," Klaus spoke. "She just got released from the asylum today and hasn't taken her meds yet so she gets a little cranky and insane."

"What?" Evelyn's eyes widened.

"Sudden outbursts too," he told them.

They all looked at Evelyn now, moving further away if it was possible. Klaus turned to look down at a child that was looking at them curiously. "Careful kid, she eats children like you for dinner."

The elevator dinged, and everyone seemed to rush outside, leaving Klaus and Evelyn alone.

"You started it," Klaus said.

"Don't be surprised when you see me with a crossbow," Evelyn muttered.

━━━━━━━━━━

Evelyn stood barefoot in front of the mirror, brushing through the damp waves that framed her face, lost in the simple rhythm of it. Her eyes flicked to the reflection—then stilled.

Klaus was there. Leaning casually against the doorframe like he owned the place, arms folded across his chest, that maddening smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

She didn't flinch. Just sighed and rolled her eyes. "Is creeping into bathrooms now your latest hobby?"

"Why didn't you tell me it was your birthday last month?"

She sighed, tossing her brush down on the counter. "It's just a birthday. I don't need to give you a full itinerary of my life. What's next? Want me to send you a text every time I take a shit?"

She felt him before she saw him move—close behind her in an instant, his presence pressing against her space.

His fingers tangled in her hair, tugging it back gently but firmly, tilting her chin up so their eyes locked in the mirror. "Your attitude and this mouth of yours," he said, low and dangerous, "is going to get you in trouble one day."

Evelyn's lips curled into a smile that was all teeth and trouble. "Oh no," she drawled, voice thick with sarcasm. "Is this the part where you'll spank me?"

He narrowed his eyes, jaw tight—but he didn't let go. "Is this another kink you're into?" 

She ignored his remark. just raised an eyebrow. "You gonna keep playing with my hair, or are you gonna say what you actually came here to say?"

Klaus didn't answer right away. His gaze lingered in the mirror, studying her with that unreadable expression he wore too well—equal parts fascination and warning.

Then she felt it. A cool brush of metal against her throat.

Her breath caught, just for a second, as his fingers ghosted across her collarbone, clasping something behind her neck. She looked down.

A necklace. Silver chain, delicate but strong, with a small pendant that shimmered like moonlight. Old. Expensive. Probably stolen from some royal centuries ago.

"What the hell is this?" she asked, voice quieter now, but still laced with suspicion.

Klaus met her eyes in the mirror, his hand still at the nape of her neck. "A belated birthday gift."

Evelyn touched the pendant lightly, feeling the chill of it against her skin. "This better not be cursed, or else i'll be cursing your wrinkly ass into oblivion and i've been meaning to put those spells i've been practicing to use."

He gave a low chuckle. "It's not cursed. Just... old."

She arched an eyebrow. "Like you then. So ancient."

He leaned down, his breath warm against her ear. "And yet you can't resist this old man, is this another fantasy of yours? Older men?"

Evelyn turned her head slightly, just enough to glance at him over her shoulder. "Is that what you think this is?" she asked. "You think I'm into you?"

He didn't move, still towering behind her, the heat of his presence more pressing than ever. His lips quirked, mocking. "It's not a matter of whether you're into me. The fact remains, you keep letting me in."

Evelyn nervously gulped at his words for a second.

"You're not that irresistible, you know." Her words were coated in a bitter sweetness that only made the tension between them thicker. "I could find someone else who doesn't hide secrets from me."

Klaus' smile faltered for the briefest moment. It was small, but enough for Evelyn to catch it in the reflection. For a moment, she wondered if that was the point where she'd pushed him too far.

But then, without warning, he stepped closer—his body now fully pressed against hers, a palpable warmth that bordered on suffocating. His voice was a low growl in her ear. "You're playing a dangerous game, love."

She felt his hand slide down to her waist, fingers grazing the hem of her dress. There was a dangerous edge in the way he touched her, as if he was marking her, claiming her without a word.

Evelyn could feel her pulse quicken, and she hated herself for it. This was Klaus. Dangerous, manipulative, malicious Klaus Mikaelson. The last person she should be letting under her skin.

But despite herself, she tilted her head back slightly, meeting his gaze in the mirror once more. "You're not the only one who knows how to play dirty. We all have our secrets."

His eyes flickered, a hint of amusement dancing in them. "Oh, I know, love. But I have a feeling you're about to find out just how dirty I can play."

And in that moment, Evelyn wasn't sure if she was ready for whatever came next—or if she was already in too deep.

━━━━━━━━━━

It was the first of many nights Klaus would come to realise something about Evelyn he hadn't seen before—something that, despite all his centuries of experience, he couldn't quite place. Something dangerous. Unsettling.

But tonight, the truth would come closer than he expected.

The night had fallen over the city with an eerie silence, the kind that only seemed to settle in when things were about to shift. Klaus had just returned to the hotel suite, the familiar weight of his restless thoughts pressing against him.

He moved with the ease, pouring himself a drink. But as he took a sip, something caught his attention—something wrong.

A faint movement on the balcony.

He froze, his instincts sharpening as he set the glass down with a quiet clink. His gaze snapped to the window, and he saw a flash of Evelyn's figure. Her silhouette stood against the backdrop of the night, the faint moonlight casting shadows on her, making her seem almost ethereal. He started to approach, but as he neared, his heart stilled for a moment.

Evelyn's eyes were unfocused, distant. She stood too still, her posture rigid, a haunted expression clouding her features.

Dissociation.

Klaus had seen this before—the way she slipped out of herself, retreating into some place inside her that only she understood. The dissociation was something he'd noticed over the course of their interactions, but tonight, it felt... darker. More dangerous.

He stepped closer, his gaze narrowing, and as he did, he caught fragments of what she was muttering, words caught in the sharpness of the night air.

"Hurt... blood... kill..."

Klaus felt a knot tighten in his chest. This wasn't the first time he'd seen her like this, but tonight felt different. Something about her seemed off—not just distant, but... broken.

His breath barely moved as he reached her, the space between them swallowed by the tension in the air. Evelyn stood too close to the balcony railing, her eyes glazed, her lips continuing to whisper nonsensical words that sent an unsettling chill down his spine.

Slowly, carefully, Klaus moved toward her, the last thing he wanted to do was startle her from whatever trance had claimed her. He called out softly, his voice low but firm, "Eve, my love... wake up."

His hand reached for her arm, gently pulling her toward him, guiding her to face him. As she turned, Klaus noticed the redness of her eyes, the way they shimmered with unshed tears. His stomach twisted, his worry deepening.

"Eve... what's wrong?" he asked, his voice softening as he wiped away a tear from her cheek, only to be met with a hollow stare. She was still half in a dream, disoriented, the words that left her lips making no sense.

"They all lied..." Evelyn muttered again, her voice distant and confused.

Klaus furrowed his brow, leaning in closer, the words striking him like a blow. "Who?"

Her gaze darted around, unfocused, her breath shallow as she tried to wake up, but still trapped in whatever mental fog held her captive. He repeated her name, softly, trying to coax her back into the present, but it took a few more tries before her eyes flickered and she blinked at him, confused. The fog was starting to lift, but it still held a tight grip on her.

"Nik?" She looked at him, recognition slow to return. Her eyes were glassy, still too distant.

"I'm here, my love? It's okay, breathe."

Then, he had been taken by surprise—Evelyn's fingers began to trace his face, almost as though she was trying to remember him.

"It's you," she said, her voice cracking, tears slipping from her eyes. "It's you."

The words confused Klaus like a hammer, shattering any composure he had left.

He'd known Evelyn had demons, but this—this was something else entirely.

He cupped her face gently, guiding her eyes back to his, trying to anchor her in the present. "Evelyn... what are you talking about?"

But she was lost again. Her eyes drifted into that strange, foggy place, and Klaus' grip tightened on her, holding her as the room seemed to close in around them.

And then, something strange happened. A flicker of clarity. She pointed at him, her finger trembling, before pointing at herself.

"You're going to kill me."

goodbye soft klevelyn, welcome tragic klevelyn.

this fic is going to get darker from now on. i mean it is a dark romance so don't be surprised. just saying that these two are going through a lot.

i will be touching more into evelyn's mental health. if it hasn't been obvious now, she's not okay. she gets worse throughout the book 😬

anyways i hate this book. i've grown as a writer and looking back at the previous chapters what was even going through my head because it's absolutely horrible 😭

i'm going to disappear for now. follow me to know when i'll update next. see you soon!