Running through the forest, I tried to be as quiet as I could. I knew he'd find me soon enough. He was much faster than I was. Quickly darting behind a tree, I calmed my breathing and made no noise as I hid. I could hear his footsteps louder and slower as he got closer.

"Come on, love. I will find you soon!" He laughed out, trying to coax me from my hiding spot.

I giggled and realized I had made a mistake. Clamping a hand over my mouth, I hoped that I hadn't just doomed myself. Sneaking a peek over my shoulder, I peered around the tree only to see him standing in the middle of the clearing only a few feet away with his hands on his hips.

"Caught you!" He whispered.

Laughing, I darted away, willing my legs to move as fast as they could. I knew I wouldn't be fast enough but I wasn't going to give up that easily. Within seconds, I felt his arms around my waist as he picked me up and swung me around.

"Put me down!" I squealed out, trying to loosen his grip.

Laughing, he tripped over a branch and we both tumbled down to the ground. His arms were still wrapped around my waist and his laughing had quieted down.

"Never." He promised before he kissed me.

-

New Orleans. Why I was sent to this city, I still have no idea but maybe that's why Dahlia chose this place. It's crawling with witches and vampires, but it seems the vampires control the witches. It's like nothing I've ever seen in my 1000 years of life.
However, this could be fun. There are festivals and parties all the time it seems, an easy way to gather information and to see what is really going on.

Walking down the streets, New Orleans is full of culture and life. Unlike any cities I've ever seen before, and with all the people here, it's been very easy to blend right in unnoticed. I look like just another tourist wandering about. Even if I was
noticed by the wrong people, it's not like anyone can kill me. Sure, they can try, but it'd just be draining for them. Besides, it's such fun to kill anyway so that could be something to do if bored.

Stopping at a cafe, I got a cappuccino and took a seat at the little table outside, watching to see if anything was suspicious. So far, there was nothing out of the ordinary, just crowds of people walking around and gossiping.

"Did you hear about the charity gala that's going on tonight?" One of the girls sitting at the table across the way giggled out.

"Yes! It's supposed to be spectacular and everyone is going to be there!" Her friend gushed.

"And it's a masquerade, too! A great place to meet hot guys!" The first girl replied, a huge grin on her face.

Hmmm. A masquerade gala? That actually sounds rather tempting, plus it could be fun. Placing money down on the table, I immediately headed to find a dress shop. If I was going to a masquerade, I'd need something to wear.

Looking over my appearance in the mirror, I had to admit the dress I bought earlier looks amazing. A black and sheer sequin dress that's open all the way to my stomach, and flows to the floor showing off my legs. I had curled my long black hair so it
matched the look and my blue eyes had black smokey makeup on them to finish the look I was going for. Dark and mysterious

Deciding I was ready to go, I grabbed my mask and headed to the party.

It was already in full swing when I arrived, packed with people. Their pulses mixing in with the beat of the music magically. If the party lacked the information I desired I could always just simply grab a bite to eat. Apparently the masquerade had a
theme, Saints and Sinners, so it was a good thing that I looked like a sinner in the dress. Nodding at the bouncers as I passed by, I knew that I'd be able to find out information on this town at a party like this.

However, as I surveyed the house through my mask, it seemed that no one else was wearing theirs. Of course, it was a masquerade gala but no one took the masquerade part seriously. Pulling off the simple black mask, I tossed it into the nearest plant,
happy to be rid of it as it was starting to ruin my hair.

Walking around the house, a voice suddenly caught my attention. I knew that voice but I couldn't place how I knew it.

"Well, don't be fooled, love. I'm the devil in disguise." The voice said to a blonde woman dressed as an angel.

The velvety masculine voice made me freeze.

"You two chit chat. I need booze." The other blonde in a skin tight black dress said before walking away.

The other two walked off and I felt as though I couldn't move. I knew those voices, somehow I knew them but I couldn't place them. I wracked my brain, going through my thousand years of life trying to find the ones that went with the voices but I was
coming up blank. How was that possible?

A sudden wave of nostalgia hit me out of nowhere.

Staying in the shadows of this party, I noticed that the two strangers had come back together and I made sure to keep them in my sights. They were talking to each other but I wasn't paying attention to the words. I was willing them to turn around so I
could see their faces before they saw mine.

"My queue to leave." The bubbly blonde said walking off.

Seeing an opportunity, I followed her, hoping I could see her face and figure out who the hell she was. I didn't want her to see me first in case she was an enemy I couldn't remember. God knows Dahlia and I had made those all around the world and it wouldn't
surprise me if that's why she sent me here. If she had just told me what I was looking for!

I should've known better, it was Dahlia of all people. I've been doing her dirty work my entire life. Not that I was complaining, the woman did save my life. I technically didn't owe her anything, but I felt loyal to her for saving me. She didn't even
know who I was when she found me, bleeding to death in the forest. I still don't know why she saved me but I'm eternally grateful that she did.

The blonde had gone to a graveyard of all places, and had met up with a witch trying to perform a spell. Watching closely, I realized she was performing a locator spell, but why all the secrecy for doing such a simple spell? I knew the vampires ran this
town but to go to all this trouble to hide? Something was definitely not right here.

"Somethings wrong. Katie's magic stopped." The witch said, stopping her spell as well. "I can keep going."

"You can't. She'll sense it!" The blonde exclaimed, moving closer to the witch.

"No, I can find Davina. I just need another moment." The witch tried to reason but it was too late.

The blonde had ripped the map off the stone and flung it to the side. "You may be willing to die to get your witch back but Hayley and the baby will die with you! Elijah will never forgive us and rescuing him will be for nothing! It's over. We failed."

The witch just stood there staring at the blonde woman for a moment before walking away. I had no idea what they were talking about and honestly I didn't care. I finally saw the blonde's face and I knew her. I knew I did but I couldn't remember her. I
hadn't realized I had let out a loud breath because the blonde moved so fast I knew she was vampire. She was immediately in front of me, fangs out and everything, but once she saw my face, she returned to normal.

"Annalise?!" She was shocked and she knew my name. What the hell is going on?

Unsure of what to do, I ran off at vampire speed and made it back to my home in record time. Somehow she knew who I was and I would bet the man she was with would know who I was as well. The only problem was I didn't know who they were. This was going
to make staying here much harder. Pulling out my cell phone, I was about to call Dahlia but something inside me made me stop. I was going to find out who these vampires were and how they knew me.

One way or another.