39. When All Is Said And Done.

Annaliese approached Damon, who had just slain yet another vampire woman. She confronted him, saying, "You are a beast, just like you used to be. You're only pretending to be a savior, a hero, for others to see. But here you are, killing innocent beings simply because they loved you."

Damon turned around, dusting off his hands, and replied to Annaliese, "No, their sin was not loving me, but attempting to control me. You know very well that male vampires are not your playthings. If you can't handle it, then don't watch. I am simply doing as I please, ridding the world of trash, those who exploit, enslave, and abuse others."

Annaliese glanced at me, Mariella, and the others, sneering, "Do you expect me to believe that you haven't abused, exploited, or enslaved them? I highly doubt it. You're a hypocrite and nothing more than a killer, showcasing your power by annihilating those who pose no threat."

Number two approached, also dusting off his hands, and said to Annaliese, "Are you jealous? Jealous that we give them a fleeting moment of attention before sending them to meet their makers, not you. Or is it simply because they belong to you that you feel weakened every time we end one's existence?"

Annaliese scoffed and retorted, "I have sired thousands, even more, who have sired others. So my power is not so easily threatened by your little killing spree."

Number three walked by, dusting off his hands as well, and remarked, "When it's not just one of us having fun, you see, each of us remembers our time with those females. And since there are ten of us, well, there's plenty of work for everyone. You are a pitiful relic, clinging to a time long gone. Your greatest flaw has always been your complete inability to change, to adapt, to grow. No, you've always wanted the world to stay as it was, or at least for vampires to remain the same. But in reality, it doesn't work that way."

Annaliese gazed at the three of them, identical yet distinct, each with their own expression, their own distinguishing feature, attitude, and scent. She wasn't sure if any of them truly represented the Damon she once knew. At least one of them wasn't him; he had become colder, more dominant, devoid of the playfulness he once possessed. She couldn't determine if it was time or something else that had transformed the naïve boy she had once laid her eyes on into this cruel, dominant, seductive monster who killed for the thrill of it. 

Annaliese was completely unaware of Damien's existence. She had no knowledge of Damon's true parents, either. To her, he was just another attractive face to manipulate and control. She had intended for him to be her personal servant, but he changed dramatically after she turned him and his brother into vampires.

Stefan, on the other hand, had always been unhinged and monstrous. Even though she later heard about his attempts to be good and only feed on animals, she knew that the ripper inside him would never be tamed. No matter how hard he tried, he could never truly be good. No one had ever mentioned Damien to her, so she had no idea who he was or why he possessed magical powers.

Number two looked at her and said, "Oh, you really had no clue? Well, that's fine by me. You see, there was a third brother, our twin, Damien. He was the evil version of me. When he was young, he contracted influenza, and our parents, who were black wizards and witches, performed a dark ritual that merged Damien's essence with ours. We eventually got rid of him when Mariella entered the picture, and Mimi's plan was the one that ultimately destroyed him. It came at a cost, but here we are, still in love."

Annaliese fell silent and said, "So, you're the one the prophecy spoke of. I would never have guessed that such a nerd could be the chosen one. It's a damn shame. You are not deserving of your powers. You never were, and you never appreciated me. Not even Katherine. She was perfect for you. I had planned on taking Stefan as my vampire husband, but no, you had to go and ruin everything."

Damon glanced at Annaliese, then turned his back and walked away. He had no interest in listening to her reminisce about the old days. Besides, he wasn't the one who would ultimately kill her. Damon continued walking, getting closer to his next victim.

He noticed Mimi dancing with Charles and several Salvatores, keeping an eye on Harrison, who seemed to plot something. While there were still victims left, Damon kept his telepathy open, calming each one down. He allowed others to join in the hunt, observing Ten and Nine calmly approaching some victims. It was a perfect night, and soon it would become even more perfect as Number Four finished off Annaliese. Damon didn't even think about how it would happen; he simply let Number Four handle it in their own way. 

Damon noticed Harrison starting to move as Charles had walked away from Mimi while Bran and Samuel were introducing him to another vampire or someone else. Harrison had a cruel sneer on his face as he looked at Mimi. Mimi stood alone, her back turned to Harrison, as she watched Five and Seven having fun with their victims.

Damon snapped his fingers, alerting Wulfe, who discreetly moved closer to Mimi, ready to intervene when the time came. Damon had already decided that he would be the one to take out Harrison. He walked over and noticed a syringe in Harrison's hand, filled with Annaliese's blood. Harrison was attempting to bind Mimi to Annaliese, but Damon knew it wouldn't work.

Damon approached Harrison, grabbed his wrist, twisted it so the syringe fell to the ground, and then smashed it with his heel.

He sternly said, "This is the last time you attack my queen."

Damon didn't waste any time. He swiftly plunged his hand into Harrison's chest, and a sickening crunch was heard, Harrison's expression was amazed, pained, and scared all at the same time, he stared at Damon who was in a cruel and brutal process of ripping out his heart and causing him to drop dead on the floor. 

Damon raised the bloody heart above his head and declared in a loud voice, "If anyone tries to attack my queen or my hive, this will be their fate! Consider this your final warning. Any further action will be met with consequences!" His expression matched the cruel coldness of his voice.

He dropped the bloody heart onto Harrison's body, snapped his fingers, and the body burst into flames. The smell of burning flesh and ashes filled the air, causing many to gasp, but the elders simply nodded and accepted Damon's actions. These were the same elders who had tested Mimi a long time ago, so they knew who she was and what she deserved - to be defined and respected as a true queen if she ever chose to embrace that title.

Number Four was ready. He was going to carry out his plan as effectively and deliberately as possible, ensuring that everyone witnessed it. He slowly approached Annaliese, who had been left standing alone while One, Two, and Three went hunting.

Number Four moved even closer and softly said, "You know, I used to be a nerd, but you ruined me. A vampire's bite indeed corrupts the soul, but what's done is done."

Annaliese turned around and looked at this version, Number Four. He was leaning against a large pillar, appearing relaxed and familiar, glancing at her under his brows, just like he used to. It seemed that this was the version of him who had been with her, but she had no idea how or why.

She had been asleep for centuries, only to awaken with a hunger that consumed her for brief periods. No one had informed her of anything during her slumber, leaving her in a state of confusion. Overwhelmed by her bloodlust, she spent most of her awake time satisfying her cravings before sleep reclaimed her. Reluctantly, she had to accept that the world had progressed significantly while she had been dormant, rendering her a relic. However, she had started to familiarize herself with the modern world and make plans for the future, desperately searching for a way to stay awake.

Annaliese spoke up, "I'm trying to become more modern, trying to catch up. Maybe you could assist me. I apologize for my previous approach. It was wrong of me to force you. But perhaps you could once again be my guide, show me how Salvatore does it, and help me understand this world. I've been asleep for so long, and when I was awake, I wasn't myself. Remember Damon, the fun we used to have? You used to love me. Do you still want to be with me?"

Damon responded, "It wasn't me, it was Damien. You see, you're his type. He desired you. He wanted to kill me, take over my body, and become a black wizard. He was desperate enough to do anything to get what he wanted, or what our parents programmed him to want. It was never me."

Annaliese stared at Damon, or rather, number four, and insisted, "You're lying. You speak the same way as before, and you look at me just as you used to when we were together."

Number four clarified, "No, it wasn't me. That was Damien. You probably still remember the scent of the ashtray and the wet dog that lingered around him. I am passionfruit."

Annaliese countered, "Perhaps Damien or some version of him was still present, but you can't deny our connection. I am your sire, a bond that will never be broken. You can try to deny it, but you know how good I can make you feel."

Number four approached Annaliese, took her hand, and led her to the center of the stage where the band had taken a break. Oblivious to any danger, Annaliese walked beside him, believing she still held some influence over him. She was overconfident, refusing to face the reality that she was now a relic, insignificant in the eyes of other vampires, and her days of glory were long gone. There was no more glory left for her.

As they stepped onto the stage, number four glanced at the crowd, sending a subtle psychic impulse that made everyone turn their attention towards them.

Damon turned to face Annaliese and spoke, "Here we are, in this place, in this spot, that I never thought I would be doing this."

Annaliese looked at him, uncertain of his intentions. There was a ferocity in his eyes, cold and merciless, unlike before.

Number Four picked up the dagger and showed it to her. "Remember this? I used it to kill all those whores, but you used it to kill Lilah. So, it's fitting for this purpose."

He tightened his grip on Annaliese, slashing her arm with the dagger. She screamed, and although the wound didn't immediately close, it bled a dark, almost black, blood.

Clutching her arm, she defiantly said, "You can't kill me. I am your sire. I forbid you."

Number Four slashed at her again, maintaining his hold on her, and inflicting a shallow cut that caused her to bleed. He hissed in her ear, "It will not work. Can you already feel it? My hatred, our hatred, it's slowly killing you. You can feel it burning in your veins. Soon enough, you will beg me to end your life. But there will be no mercy."

He continued slashing, making shallow cuts on her thigh, causing pain and bleeding, but not enough to make her bleed out. He pressed the dagger against her cheek, with Number One nearby, smiling cruelly as Annaliese began to tremble. Number Four cut her cheek, making her scream once again.

Slowly, more Salvatores approached the stage, their eyes glowing violet, projecting fear and terror into Annaliese's mind, causing her to tremble. Number Four allowed her to stand, frozen with fear.

He addressed everyone, saying, "Let this night be remembered by all of you. This is what happens when we are abused, deceived, and enslaved. There are still those who have wronged us, and remember that this fate awaits you, sooner or later. So, prepare yourself accordingly. The time to enslave vampire men has come to an end. From now on, this is the consequence for those deemed guilty by me or my group, The Salvatores."

He walked up to Annaliese, looked her in the eyes, and uttered, "I hate you!"

With hatred permeating the air, he slashed at her again. She screamed, but she was completely immobilized. Her blood began to pool on the floor from the several shallow cuts.

Number Four walked behind her, his voice filled with cruelty. "I hate you," he spat, thrusting the dagger into her back, causing her to arch, scream, and tremble, but not yet dying. 

Her blood still smelled of power, dark as the night. She bled profusely from her back, but she wasn't dying quickly.

Number four walked in front of her, hissing, "This is for Lilah," as he stabbed her in the belly.

Blood gushed out, and she panted, trying to press her hands against the wound.

Number four hissed at her again, "I hate you!" while slashing her throat, not too deep but enough to make her lose color.

She screamed, but it was muffled.

Number one smiled thinly and said, "I hate you too!" before walking away.

One by one, each of the Salvatores stood in front of Annaliese, saying those three words to her face, "I hate you."

Each time, she gasped and paled, and her skin slowly turned to ash. One by one, the Salvatores drained her power.

She panted, in pain, and looked at number four, pleading, "Mercy, kill me, please."

Number four hissed, "No, I told you, no mercy."

She flaked away, feeling it, her pained gasps and the smell of ash and blood. Her power diminished as it was drawn into the hive, into Mimi and the rest of the hive members. Mariella had freed Magnum, and he hung onto Mimi's arm.

Mimi stood like a queen, her spine straight, her expression haughty, proud, royal, and strong. She absorbed the power of leaving Annaliese.

In her last moments of strength, Annaliese looked at Mimi and said, "Just you wait, power will corrupt you too, and you shall see who you really are. Forget your high and mighty savior complex."

Mimi's midnight-black eyes stared at her. No need to answer. She watched, feeling the power come to her and leaving Annaliese. It took ten minutes for Annaliese to burn, leaving only a pile of ashes. Each of the Salvatores felt the power. Mimi had shared a lot, and they felt it intensely.

It was done, and they were free. The oppressive feeling of the sire bond had been burned away. There was no longer the one who turned them, and freedom was finally theirs. The future seemed brighter, filled with hope and true freedom. They knew they were not the only ones. Annaliese had enslaved so many, and now everyone was free. Number four stepped down from the stage, putting the dagger in his belt. He was ready to take out more trash.