Disclaimer: I don't own anything relating to Vampire Diaries, I'm just writing a fan fiction to help curve my craving for Vampire Diaries on a daily basis!

This is my first fan fiction ever so please be gentle with me! I will try to get chapter one as soon as possible, it will help if I gain lots of reviews though to help motivate me and show me that I don't suck at this so far! I will try to make my fan fiction as close to the tv show as I possibly can but I will change things as I see fit so my OC characters can fit in snugly. But opinions are appreciated. Also I'm not super creative so just a warning!

Prologue: Raya

Niklaus was admiring the day as he walked through the forest; he loved the smell after it had just rained for weeks on end. Everything just seemed to have this newness to it that made him feel like all the misfortunes of days earlier between him and his father, Mikael, just seem to vanish. As he walked he looked at grass on the trail which was slightly wet from morning dew, the trees with little bleams of sunlight came down through the leaves. He thought of Tatia, the girl he had fallen in love with, she had this way about her; this brilliance and kindness that just made him want to kiss her fiercely. She had long dark chocolate hair and deep dark caramel eyes that just made you want to stare into them forever. Her only downfall was that she could be selfish and very misleading at times. How she would laugh at all of his dark satire humor, her laugh alone made him happy. She was one of the only people who didn't make him feel like an abomination like his father did almost every day. How she would sooth him after a traumatizing fight with his father, the way she could understand him so well surprised him sometimes. Klaus really did feel love for Tatia, but he was just a man of his word, he said if she chose him he would wed her. But as of late he had thoughts of maybe he grew tired of Tatia as time went by, he felt that he had more of an infatuation for her than actual love; which is why he was going to see her now. He needed her gentle embrace, the reassurance that she belonged to him and him alone. But lately he thought she would choose her other choice and he wasn't sure if he was okay with it or not. He continued to ponder as the chirping of the birds and the sound the river near by flowing and crashing on some rocks, the roar of it made him more anxious. Unfortunately he was not the only one that wanted his beloved's attention, Tatia's other choice is also his older brother Elijah. The thought alone was enough to make him seethe in his own skin, he growled at the unwanted thoughts. But that didn't matter today; Tatia chose to see only him, just the two of them. Which made all this fighting seem almost worthwhile, almost.

As he stepped out of the woods and finally making it to the clearing that they agreed to meet on. The field was huge and filled with flowers of all kinds, roses, tulips and even poppy meadows. Niklaus was usually here with Tatia, it was one of the only places that belonged to the two of them. They had loved to lay together in the flowers and smell them as they looked up at the sky and talked for hours about new lands and getting away from their village. It was their safe haven away from everyone. But who he had seen waiting was for him just made him clench his teeth in rage.

"Didn't expect to see you here dear brother, how do you know of this place?" Niklaus asked his dear brother Elijah practically growling. They walk up a few feet toward each other, now just standing 3 feet apart.

"I could ask the same of you brother, I was unaware I'd be meeting you."

"She belongs to me brother!"

His scoffed, "Niklaus you are as childish as ever, you don't even consider the feelings of Tatia. Have you ever considered maybe she just feels sorry for you?"

Niklaus growls and charges toward him ready to beat him with his fists while Elijah readies himself for the attack. Just then a voice shouts, "STOP, STOP THIS MADNESS!"

Both the brothers turn to look at the person who screamed, realizing it was Tatia's younger sister and their beloved family friend, Raya.

"Raya….? What are you doing here?" asked Elijah with a confused expression which mirrored Niklaus's.

Looking down to not meet their eyes Raya explained, "She sent me to tell the two of you…. That she cannot choose between the two of you…." She can see that her words have angered them and she can't help but bite her lip. Tatia is so foolish for not being brave enough to tell them in person. Raya can't stand to see two of her best friends fighting. She wishes she could end their suffering due to her sister's naive indecisive nature. Both of the brothers are seething with rage, they are both shaking. Raya looked at Niklaus closely, her heart aching for her to soothe his pain that she can clearly see on his face. She had always secretly harbored feelings for him, but of course never showing it upon finding that her sister too had loved Niklaus. How could she dare fight her elder sister, the one who had always dried her tears and cared for her wounds as a child?

An awkward silence fills the air, and Elijah put his hand to his forehead, "I need some time alone…. I need to think." Elijah says as he walks away mumbling to himself in frustration.

Raya just wants to leave before she says something she might regret to Niklaus, she can't bear to see him in pain, "If you'll excuse me, I shall be departing as well." Raya begins to walk away, but Niklaus grabs on her wrist and pulls her around. "Raya why do you not look me in the eyes, you have avoided me for weeks. Are we no longer friends? If so please enlighten me," he asks sincerely. She looks up at him not being able to find the words to response, "Niklaus I can't tell you the reason. Just know its best that we no longer speak. At least until Tatia chooses who will court her. It's for the best."

"What the bloody hell does that have to do with us being friends? I don't understand…." He looks up at Raya and really sees her for the first time. How could he have not noticed her elegance and beauty before? Well when they had first met he never considered loving either Raya or Tatia, they were only childhood friends of not only him but his siblings as well. He had fallen for Tatia after she had confessed to him her feelings for him. He felt that she deserved a chance and he began to actually like her, but he hate the games she played! He would later come to find out that, that day she also had confessed her feelings to Elijah.

"Don't look at me that way! I cannot bear it Niklaus!" screams Raya and she rips her hand out of his grasp. He looks at her with bewilderment. All Raya can do is glare at him with tears pooling in her eyes, "Can you understand that I have always loved you?!" she gasps at herself covering her mouth with her hands, how could she have confessed? He is courting Tatia! Niklaus can do nothing else but stare at her as the warm feeling spreads throughout his body overwhelming him. He had never experienced such a feeling of wholeness before; he had his sister Rebekah constantly talk of true love and other nonsense. He had thought nothing of it but rather those they we're silly notions, especially from his little sister who was notorious for falling in love so easily.

"I'm sorry…. Forgive me I am not myself now, please forget what you just heard…." Raya sprints away before Niklaus can say another word to her, she whirls around on her heels and runs through the trail she had come from. He will just want to talk of how he loves Tatia and how he can't return her feelings. Then she will say it was a joke and continue to help him in courting her sister. Raya couldn't do that to herself any longer, her heart couldn't take it. Niklaus has always been more than a friend to her, someone who she has always cherished dearly. But of course he was too blinded to see that, I mean her sister is by far way more enchanting than her. She has always thought of herself as the ugly duckling in comparison. She must have a talk to Tatia to decide; she is hurting everyone by not choosing one of them.

Raya finally made it back to the village and saw Tatia arguing with Elijah near their home. Raya ran up to them,"Hello sister...hello again Elijah...what seems to be the matter?"

Tatia smiled, "Nothing sweetest sister, now we must be going Elijah we have to prepare lunch for father, don't we Raya?" she looks back to Raya pleading with her eyes.

Raya sighed, "Yes let us be on our way, it was nice seeing you again Elijah," Tatia grabbed Raya's arm and began to walk inside. Raya looks to her sister trying to reason with her stubborn elder sister, "Please I beg of you sister stop this selfish game, can't you see you are hurting everyone? Do you not care for Niklaus?"

Tatia looks up at her sister with sad eyes, "Of course I do. But sister I love them both so much, they both have different qualities that I love. How could I ever think to choose?" Looking back at the ground as they walk Tatia feels guilt for her little "game" as Niklaus liked to put it also. Whenever they would argue about how she just refuses to let one of them go. She knows it's hurting everyone, but how can she bear to lose one of them forever? Raya would never understand because she has never been in love, "Raya how could you even…" then it dawns on Tatia, "Wait I failed to hear Elijah's name when you said I did not care for Niklaus. Do you not care for Elijah as a friend also dear sister?"

"O-of course I do! They are both dear friends to me just like Kol, Finn and Henrik!" Raya turns away before her face betrays her and lets her sister know her true feelings for Niklaus. Tatia looks at her skeptically, but decides that she believes her. "Well I shall return home since it will be sunset soon and I need to prepare father's lunch. Thank you again for covering for me, I can handle lunch, just be back to help with supper and don't be too late coming home Raya."

"Yes sister…" Raya watches as her sister starts cooking as she turns to leave.

Having being left in the field alone earlier that day, Niklaus has to get his mind off of what Tatia had decided. Or rather hadn't decided. He just couldn't see why she couldn't pick one of them. Will this torment ever end? Is he doomed to fight his brother forever? He was growing quite tired of this game of Tatia's and tired of fighting with Elijah. What about Raya, how could he not see her feelings until now? Could he truly be that oblivious? You'd think since he was more attracted to Raya's personality and looks that he would notice it. He will need to speak with her of it tomorrow, and if his suspicions prove be true then he would tell her how he feels the same. But for now he promised his little brother Henrik that he would take him to watch the humans transform into wolves. They were forbidden to go but that's what made Henrik that much more excited to see it, he was always one for adventure. Niklaus was glad to do it because he loved making his younger brother happy.

It also meant that he could be away from his abusive father, who during the late hours of night would get drunk and randomly find an excuse to fight him or beat him. If Niklaus was lucky he would just have to endure the verbal abuse. Henrik grabs Niklaus's sleeve asking, "Brother will we really get to see them change?" Henrik looked up at Niklaus with such excitement and wonder, that he couldn't help but smile down at his younger brotherr and ruffle his hair. "Of course! I did promise, did I not? Now let us go before it is too late my dear brother! I shall race you there!" dashing away Niklaus runs with a smug grin. "Hey! Niklaus that is not fair!" Henrik complains with a few giggles.

*6 hours later*

Mikael could only stare at Niklaus with hatred as her raised his hand to strike him, "How could YOU have let this happened you insect of a boy?! How dare you show your face here after going to see the werewolves and then letting Henrik die! You, stupid boy!" Niklaus was on his knees crying about the lost of his brother, holding him close to his heart.

Esther, Mikael's wife and Niklaus's mother, stood in between the two, "Mikael, please! Your rage will not bring Henrik back!" she looked intensely into his eyes. He just glared at her with frustration and sadness; he couldn't bear losing Henrik to those damn werewolves. He turns away from her and walks toward the window. Niklaus looks at his father, feeling nothing but guilt and shame. For once his father was right; he was to blame for Henrik's demise. He is his elder brother after all; he should have known better.

Mikael continues to stare out the window, between clenched teeth he yells, "Leave boy! Or you will face my rage!"

Raya, upon hearing the news from Rebekah of Henrik's demise, she rushes to go see Niklaus. She knew how much Niklaus had loved his younger sibling. She had enjoyed both of their company many times to know. She ran knowing where he would go, to the place where she always would talk to him and comfort him about his father, it happened rarely but she knew he'd be there. She was out of breath as she reached the waterfall, seeing his silhouette looking up at the night sky, blood stained his clothes, parts of it even tattered. As if on cue he turns around and what she sees makes her heart wrench with pain. His face covered with tears and blood along with it. Henrik's blood or his she did not know, all she did know was that he needed her. Where was bloody Tatia in all of this? She cussed her sister under her breath. Then she rushed towards Niklaus and stops in front of him. They both just gaze into each other's eyes for a moment, his blue eyes full of so much depth she could get lost into them.

"It was my fault Raya….. I could have saved him. It should have been me! I gave him the silly idea of going to see those wolves because I thought it would make him happy, how foolish of me. I deserve to die!" Raya slapped him right across the face with all of her strength that he actually staggered; she had always been a very strong girl. "Don't you ever utter such nonsense in my presence ever again, DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!" He just looked up at her in confusion and bewilderment holding his now red face with his left hand. He could not believe she struck him, he had always knew Raya was one known for her temper and misguided way with words but to actually have hit him? It was so different for him. He actually kind of liked this fire she had, more so now than ever before. Slowly Niklaus got up and walked to Raya and pulled her into his arms tightly. She smelled her hair and just whispered into her ear, "May you favor this poor fool and hold him as he cries like a weeping babe? Raya's heart fluttered so loud it must have been heard by the world. She gently puts her arms around him and clutches his white shirt for dear life. Never wanting to let go of this beautiful man who she has loved for so long now that she can't even remember how she began to care for him. She would do anything for him, that she knew. When he began to cry and howl with pain from grief she just held on tighter. As they both fell to their knees and his head rested on the nap of her neck his sobs continued and it just twisted and mangled her heart all the more. All she wanted was to take his pain away in any way she could, not even Tatia would be saved from the wrath Raya would give her if she continued to hurt Niklaus, she would not allow it any longer.

*Mikaelson Home*

"Esther we cannot protect ourselves this way! Henrik was one of the first, who else must die before we take action?!" screamed Mikael toward his wife as he slammed his fist into the supper table. Esther looks at him from across the table, cool as a cumcumber, "What do you propose we actually do? Send out the rest of our sons to go kill the werewolves?!" Esther shot back. "All I have is my magic and that can't help us defend ourselves from something that is also a part of nature. Nature is where I draw my magical powers from, using it to defeat something else a part of that is unheard of! Even if they are those vile beasts." Mikael was still seething with rage. Was there really nothing they could do? But then Esther pondered for a moment, "Well there is one way….. but it is too dangerous and goes against all rules of magic…."

"Well out with it woman! What are you pondering on?!"

*Raya's Home*

Niklaus escorted Raya home, she was going to tell Tatia about her feelings for Niklaus, she could no longer hold it back anymore. She kissed Niklaus on the cheek as they said their goodbyes. As Raya walked inside she found her older sister waiting for her.

Tatia glared at her as she walked in, "So where was my beloved sister?" she asked with a very cold tone. Raya didn't understand why she was mad at her, Tatia is the one who should be facing her rage not the other way around, "I could ask you the very same question, my dear elder sister! Did you not know of Henrik's death?!"

Tatia taken aback by that and her face was full of sorrow and shock, "So that's why you were at the waterfall holding Niklaus?"

"I-I w-was just comforting him with the sorrow he holds for Henrik's death! I mean I am his friend just as you have always been as well! He needed someone WHY weren't you there?!"

"Don't try to change the subject Raya! That was much more than just a friend consoling another friend! Do you love Niklaus? Even though he is courting me, how dare you!" Tatia pointed her index finger at Raya in accusation.

Raya was furious now, her teeth clenched and her fists were shaking. "Sister you have no right to say that! Especially because you just keep toying with Elijah and Niklaus and to be quite honest I grow tired of your childish antics! I can promise Niklaus is as well! I'm done letting you have the man I love if you won't even treat him right!" with that she left her older sister stunned and stormed out of their little cottage.

Raya decided she was finally going to tell Niklaus her feelings, of how she loved him. Just as she walked in she saw a truly gruesome scene of all the Mikaelson children on the floor along with their father Mikael with stab wounds. Esther was just standing above them along with Ayana, the Bennett witch, who was Esther's friend and mentor in the ways of magic. This Raya knew but why in the world were Niklaus and his siblings on the floor with deadly wounds? Were they even alive?! She ran to Niklaus, "Niklaus! SPEAK TO ME PLEASE!" She cried for him and then looked up at Esther and Mikael, "HOW COULD YOU?! What is this madness?!" she asked tearing spilling out over her cheeks as she sobbed for her dear friends and lover Niklaus.

"You saw what happened to Henrik! We needed to protect ourselves!" shouted Esther.

"So you kill your children?! How is that defending yourselves?!"

Ayana was the one to answer Raya, "We have made them immortals." Ayana proceeded to explain all that would happen to them and what would become of them. As Raya was registering all of this information, she didn't like what she was hearing. She couldn't let them do this to their own family.

"I can't let you do this, I'd rather they die then be put through this. I will kill you and then burn them. I can't let them be blood drinking demons of the night. I WON'T!"

"You have no choice in the matter, you stupid wrench." Esther told her with such confidence it made Raya's fury grow even more so.

Slowly but surely the Mikaelson children and their father were all waking up, slowly moving their limbs, "Wh-what happened to us?" Kol asked rubbing his neck where he had remembered being slit by a knife and looking at his blood stained shirt. Rebekah was next to Kol looking just as confused as her brothers. Niklaus was in Raya's lap and he opened his eyes and looked up at her beautiful almond-shaped eyes, those light brown eyes and deep chocolate-colored hair. She smelled wonderful…too wonderful. She smelled different; he couldn't stop looking at her neck. The hunger he felt was overtaking him, this want, this hunger. What was it? He couldn't figure it out.

Esther turned to Ayana and whispered into her ear and Ayana left the room. Moments later she came back with Tatia. Everyone looked to Esther for explanation, the only one who wasn't confused was Mikael. He knew exactly what was about to happen and he smiled a cruel smile.

"Wh-what is the meaning of this Ayana?! Release me!" Tatia ordered

"Mother, what are you doing with Tatia?!" Elijah said outraged.

"How dare you! Let Tatia go!" Raya yelled, but Ayana could only smile and then in one quick moment she slit her neck and then her wrists.

Raya couldn't breathe; her whole world was spinning out of control. They had slit her sister's throat, the light in her eyes slowly fading away right before Raya's eyes. She went completely numb. Elijah screamed and roared but Mikael held him in his place.

"Mother what in the world is going on?!" Finn looked to his mother for guidance. All the Mikaelson children stunned by the death of their beloved family friend, Tatia.

Ayana dropped Tatia to the ground and then suddenly Kol, Finn, Elijah, Niklaus, Rebekah and Mikael looked at Tatia's body as if she were a meal and they all jumped on her like a bunch of wolves and were licking and sucking her blood. Raya couldn't bear this; she got up so she could run from the house terrified for her life. But before she could leave the house Esther and Ayana grabbed her, "Sorry my dear child, my children will need more blood to sustain them and give them strength to fight off the wolves."

Esther grabbed Raya's wrists and cut them deeply, the first next to Raya was Niklaus in a flash, looking at her as if she were some sheep and him a hungry wolf who couldn't wait to enjoy his meal. This was not the man she loved. She knew this was that damnable blood drinking demon Esther poisoned her children with.

"Niklaus it's me! Raya! One of your beloved friends! You know me Niklaus!" Raya tried to reason to Niklaus, but he could hear her and he grabbed her wrist and began to feed from her. Raya grew weak as he feed from her. Once Niklaus could regain himself and realize what he was doing. Horrified with what he saw limp in his hands.

"Raya…? No... no! Raya! Please! Speak to me!" He yelled to her to hear him and he fell to his knees. How could he have done that to his beloved Raya?! "PLEASE RAYA PLEASE I CAN'T LOSE YOU NOW TOO!" Niklaus began to sob so hard he was convulsing.

Raya slowly opened her eyes and smiled up at him and raised her hand to touch his cheek. Niklaus looked at her bewildered and speechless.

"I've always loved you…. Niklaus. Did you know that….?" asked Raya softly

"I was too blind, my love. Too stupid to see what was right in front of me the whole time. I have always loved you too Raya." He looked deep into her reddish-brown eyes. She was so breathtaking, even in death.

"I'm glad…..that I was finally…..able to let you know how I feel….before I pass on." Raya said with a soft sad smile.

"Raya please, do not leave me! I need you! I cannot bear to live without you!" Niklaus pleaded with her, tears running down his cheeks as he held her close.

"Niklaus do not….worry please dry those tears," she wiped his tears away with her hands, "I will always find you Niklaus…we will be together again…we will always be together…..always…." and with that her hands fell to her side and the light faded from her eyes and she died in his arms. Rebekah and Elijah came next to Niklaus and held him as he sobbed for hours holding Raya for dear life.