Mystic Falls seemed like an average town. A school, a place to hang out imaginatively named "The Mystic Grill", a little hospital, police station. I walked through the seemingly dull town until I saw what I was looking for. The sign outside the quite large house read:

"Mrs hoa giường & Breakfast."

Exactly what I needed.

I entered and was welcomed bởi a sweet looking lady who appeared to be in her sixties.

She beamed at me when I entered the B&B and said, "Hello dear. How may I help bạn today?"

She seemed like a nice lady so I tried to give back a believable smile and replied, "I need a room for at least one night, please."

"Of course, my dear", she spoke. "We have plenty of room this time of the year. Stay as long as bạn need. A room for one night is $50, breakfast included."

I looked into her eyes, barely even using any concentration because I had become an expert at compulsion over my 1000 years and said, "I have already paid bạn in advance for a fortnight, remember?"

At first Mrs Flower's forehead creased up and she had a very confused face, but the responded in a monotone voice, "of course bạn have darling. Silly me! Here's the key to room 3. Enjoy your stay."

I chuckled, taking the key and remarked, "thank bạn Mrs Flowers, I'm sure I will enjoy my stay."

I entered room 3 and when pleasantly surprised. The room was a decent size with a beautiful antique dresser table. On hàng đầu, đầu trang of the dressing bàn lay a circular mirror reminding me of the mirror I had in England when I had been human. There was also a window seat, a feature, I loved in bedrooms. The walls were painted a light mocha colour, making the room feel light and thêm spacious then it actually was. There was a king sized bed, which looked very appealing at the moment as I was exhausted from all the running I had just had. To the other side of the room was another door which I soon found out led to an ensuite bathroom. I got a few towels and cleaned the dried blood from the wound I had received from Henry. Then I went back to the bedroom, pounced on the giường as quickly as I could and closed my eyes.

1026

"Daddy, your back!"

Hilda was finished with my hair now, which looked amazing, so I raced towards my father and hugged him as tightly as I could. I almost knocked him over which was quite funny considering he was an all-powerful vampire, destined to become a hybrid. The truth was even though I hated it when my father went on one of his missions, when he came back he was the greatest father anyone could wish for and I loved him thêm than anything else in this world. He played with me on the mansion grounds, trying to catch me without using his vampire speed and often let me win even though he could easily win himself.

He chuckled and said, "Easy there. I missed bạn too princess."

He removed my head from his shoulder and looked at me, pride shining brightly in his face.

"You look stunning darling," he whispered, "just like your…"

He trailed of, his face for a một giây shifting away from mine in sadness.

Father quickly recovered in less than a một giây and faced me once more.

"I got bạn something. As soon as I saw it, it reminded me of you."

He handed me an elegant, white rectangular box which I took with a sigh. It wasn't that I was ungrateful hoặc anything. I was very grateful but I knew my father had just not brought this gift in honour of my birthday, but also as he felt guilty for leaving me as often as he did to go on his searches for the Petrova line. He always brought me something back to try and make it up to me but we both knew deep down these lavish gifts did nothing of the sort to fill the hole.

This time father had been to Paris as he had received word that the Petrova line lived there. This turned out to be a rumour like many others had over the years.

I opened the white box and saw a beautiful, sparkling diamond bracelet, fit for a real princess. It was stunning, một giây to none. The light bounced of it, also giving a magical effect. Father could see it in my eyes that I liked the bracelet and said, "I knew bạn would like it. Here, allow me."

I graciously handed him back the box and he fastened the stunning work of art onto my right wrist. It was the perfect complement to my blue áo choàng which had silver stonework, diamonds and silver beadwork. I was now ready for my birthday celebrations.

Father offered me his right arm and asked "shall we?"

I nodded and put my left arm through his. We made our way out of my chambers and down the grand staircase where the guests awaited. All eyes turned to us, especially those of eligible dukes and lords eying me curiously.

We completed our decent down the stairs, bởi which time people had begun talking again. A few people started to come over to me and my father and introduce themselves. I recognised some of them while others were completely new faces.

Finally, a few people I actually knew came towards me. It was aunt Sage and aunt Bekah along with uncle Finn and uncle Kol. bởi this time my father was on the other side of our large ballroom, talking to a very eligible bachelor named Lord Alistair, along with a few other Lords and uncle Elijah.

"Bea, wow! bạn have grown since the last time I saw you. bạn look absolutely scrumptious," uncle Kol exclaimed.

"Uncle Kol," I đã đưa ý kiến while I hugged him. Once I was facing him I retorted, "That's because the last time bạn saw me, I was eleven and was starting to develop very early ache problems."

He chuckled and said, "Well if bạn weren't my niece and off-limits, I would take a bite out of bạn right now. bạn look beautiful."

"Oh shut up, Kol. Not so loudly," aunt Bekah said. "Happy birthday, Bea," she spoke and placed a Kiss on my cheek.

"Uncle Finn, Aunt Sage! I'm so glad bạn could make it."

Out of all my family, uncle Finn was probably the one I saw the least, even less than Kol. The last time I had seen uncle Finn was at the age of 9 when all my family had met up to discuss someone called Mikael who I managed to figure out was my grandfather. Uncle Finn usually tended to stay away from the rest of my family as my father and Aunt Bekah weren't overly keen on uncle Finn's choice of women, Sage.

"Bea. How lovely to see bạn again," uncle Finn replied.

Aunt Sage added, "You know Kol might be an idiot, but he is right about one thing. bạn look stunning. And that bracelet is amazing."

"Thank bạn Aunt Sage."

Everyone then started pairing up to start dance proceedings.

A young boy, about my age who I had noticed had been looking at me for the majority of the night was walking towards me. He was very handsome, with a chiselled jaw line, tactile jet black hair and deep, big brown eyes.

Once he was close enough, he stretched out his hand and enquired calmly, "May I please have this dance with bạn Lady Beatrice?"

"Of course," I answered, taking his hand.

We both remained silent for a một phút hoặc two, just looking into each other's eyes while dancing.

Finally he spoke, complementing me on my dancing skills saying, "You dance very well Lady Beatrice."

"Thank you. I would complement bạn also, but I do not know your name"

He smiled and responded, "Lord Andrew, my Lady."

We carried on swaying to the âm nhạc and danced for another 10 phút until he said, "I would like some fresh air. Would bạn care to accompany me Lady Beatrice?"

I was unsure about this as father had always taught me to not go with anyone whom I did not know which was understandable as he had so many enemies. But on the other hand Andrew was here at the party so father must know him and had invited him. I looked around to where father was and saw he was now in deep conversation with another group of Lords, while aunt Bekah danced with a young Lord whom I think was called Lord Aaron. Uncle Kol was doing what he did best. He was talking to a group of young girls who looked no older than 19. They were laughing outrageously at one of his imprudent jokes. So I decided to accept Andrews offer and we headed outside without anyone noticing.

We strolled about 5 phút away from the house talking about unimportant subjects like the weather. But I liked Andrew and maybe he liked me too. Maybe he could be the one.

But then abruptly Andrew stopped. At this moment I was a few feet back so all I could see of Andrew was his back. Then he slowly began turning around. And that's when I saw his face. It was covered in veins, with the pupils heavily dilated and fangs coming through. Andrew was not a Lord but a vampire. And something told me he wasn't really here for a party.

I felt like kicking myself now. How had I not seen this coming? I should be able to sense vampires. My whole family were ma cà rồng and not just any vampires. They were the originals for goodness sake!

But I knew I had to get back to the house so started to back away.

"Don't even think about it. I will snap your neck like a twig before bạn can even turn around and bạn know it."

Oh, god. I was backed into a corner now. It was impossible to run without at dying at the same time. What was I going to do to get out of this mess?