Prologue

I'll never forget the day I met an Original vampire. Much less the day we became best friends, and lovers. Everyone who knows about them says that everyone in the Original family, the Mikaelsons, is heartless and cold. That they will kill you just for fun. That if you ever do anything that makes them upset, they will give you worse things than death. Ruthless torture, like being compelled to kill loved ones, and other terrible, painful things. I know this side of the Mikaelsons. I know the dangers of it. Contrary to what everyone else thinks, though, I believe that they all have a soft, caring side. I know that from experience. Even Niklaus, the sadistic hybrid and most feared of the family, has a soft side. I've seen it. I've fallen in love with it. It exists.

About April 9th, 1922 (The year Stefan met Klaus and Rebekah)

All day, I had been wandering around aimlessly, not sure what to do. My neighbor, who had been kind of watching over me since my parents had died a few months ago, had recommended going for walks. She was called Marisa Swigh, and she had lost her parents in a boat accident at my age, 18. She was 29 now, and was my best, and basically my only, friend. I told Marisa pretty much anything, since she was so kind, and always listened to her advice. Just how a friend should be.

One important thing I should let you know is that Marisa and I are both vampires. She was turned by her boyfriend, Chad, when she was 24. Last year, when I was 17, Marisa persuaded Chad to turn me. She wanted us to live together, forever. Best friends forever, quite literally. So now, back to my story.

I was tired, which now I'm assuming was the cause of my actions, as I walked towards the bar. It wasn't just a bar, but that was what it was known as. As I approached the door, a beautiful stained glass and oak door, I heard laughter. It made me smile, since the people inside sounded so cheerful. Smiles and laughter had surrounded me all day. Perhaps that was why I made a sharp turn, and a quick, reckless decision, and headed into the bar. It was around sunset, and people were beginning to come for dinner and a few glasses of wine afterwards.

As I walked in, a certain gentleman in a booth in the corner caught my eye. He was sitting at a table with a gorgeous blond girl, a very frightened looking older couple in their 40's, and a young man about my age. I walked by their table on my way to the area with the pool tables, trying to be inconspicuous. It was very unladylike to walk up to a stranger, much less talk to them. I wanted to be respectful, because if I wasn't, Marisa would give me a five hour lecture on manners. She would find out.

Suddenly, a hand reached out and grabbed my wrist, and I spun around. It was the golden brown, or maybe more of a slightly ginger, haired man. He gave me a dazzling smile, and spoke with a soothing voice.

"This isn't the safest place for a darling like you, almost dark now. Please, enlighten me with your name, love." He spoke with a charming English accent. I was frozen, a little nervous. I didn't want to mess up. "It's okay, love. Come sit with us, little vampire." He said, sliding over. I gulped. They were vampires too.

I sat down, frozen with anxiety, and he smiled at me. "I suppose I can introduce everyone. My name's Klaus, this is my younger sister Rebekah, our new friend Stefan, and these kind humans. We're delighted to have another one of our kind here." He used hand gestures as he mentioned people. The humans looked perfectly calm, so I knew that they were being compelled not to worry. I felt bad for them.

"And you might be…" Klaus trailed off, hoping for an answer. Well, he was very dazzlingly handsome, and seemed like enough of a gentleman. "Avalon Winters." I replied instantly, not giving myself the chance to hesitate any more. Maybe I could make some friends. What was the harm in that? I was a powerful vampire.

"Well, Avalon, you have such a lovely name. Please, stay with us for a while." Klaus said. "Yes, these humans are getting a little… drab." The vampire called Stefan said, smirking. I couldn't help but notice that his smirk was not nearly as powerful nor attractive as Klaus's.

The humans had been compelled to leave long ago. We had become bored with them. They weren't too interesting. Boring old folks.

Stefan, Rebekah, Klaus and I all talked until about midnight, until Stefan decided to go home. He said that he had so go do stuff, probably like chores. He seemed like he was always organized.

As we all said our goodbyes, I heard a scream. All of a sudden, glass shattered. My heart flip flopped into my stomach. Bullets were flying everywhere. One ended up in the wood a few inches away from my head. I turned to look at it. I don't know why. Suddenly, I came to realization. They were wooden bullets. Tonight, vampires were the target.

Stefan bolted, racing out of the door. He didn't even look my way. He didn't want to die, and I didn't blame him. Maybe I should leave, too.

Suddenly, I felt blinding pain. I looked down. There was a blossom of blood a few inches away from my heart. Klaus pushed Rebekah towards the exit, and after making sure she was safely out the door, ran back towards me. I could barely breathe now. I was suffocating. He lifted me up over his shoulders, then everything went black. The last thing I remembered was him saying, "It'll be okay, love. I promise."

The next morning

The first thing I was aware of was sunlight. Warmth on my eyelids, and it felt good. I took a breath, and then gasped. My chest exploded in pain. "Shhhh, don't move. You're not done healing yet, Avalon." I opened my eyes, after being confused by the unknown voice. I was engulfed in momentarily panic. It was the man from last night: Klaus. "Hi." I whispered, and he smiled and stroked my cheek. "Good morning, lovely. How are you feeling?" He said softly. His voice sounded like a sweet lullaby. Was I drunk? What was I thinking? I never thought this kind of thing about guys. Especially ones I barely knew!

"Not very good." I croaked, and he quickly handed me a human girl's wrist. A pretty girl with black hair. "Drink up." He said, and I didn't waste any time. I needed blood; I couldn't finish healing without it. I tugged her wrist down towards my mouth, and slowly pierced the soft skin, beginning to suck the delicious liquid.

After a few minutes, the girl fell down, unconscious, so I stopped. "You don't have to let her live. You can finish, if you'd like." I shook my head, and slowly, carefully sat up. I wasn't a killer. I was not like Klaus.

"I was a human once. I don't want to think of myself as anything better than them. I'm not better." He just nodded, and reached for my hand. There was a short silence, and I used it to think about everything that was happening in the moment. Before I said anything, Klaus suddenly spoke. "It seems I've fallen in love with you, beautiful. What should we do about that?" I giggled automatically, feeling butterflies in my stomach. He gently kissed my hand, and I erupted in giggles again. Oh, brother.

"You know, for some evil thousand-year-old hybrid, you're awful sweet." He made a funny face at "sweet," but I knew it was true. I had barely spent any time with this man, and I already knew him better than anyone, and I had already done something very dangerous, very reckless. I had fallen in love with him.

Even the darkest of souls have some light. Some just don't see it.

So, how's that for an introduction? I have a few other stories, along with one on FictionPress under this same name, but I think this is gonna be my favorite! I'd REALLY appreciate it if this got even one review or follow or favorite or anything :) Thanks for reading! :D