Chapter One

Something is going to happen.

I don't know when, how or even why. All I know is that something is going to happen, and it's not necessarily a good thing, just like it isn't necessarily a bad thing.

All I know is that it will be life-changing.

I am broken out of my thoughts when the bell rings, signalling the end of our school day. With a sigh I grab my messenger bag and slowly stand up, only to hurry out of the class. The push of bodies against me irritates me to no end, but luckily it only takes me a few minutes until I am outside. I breathe in the fresh air deeply as I wait for my friends to arrive. The sad thing is that I have absolutely no friends in my class, seeing as I am the only one out of my friends to take Afrikaans Home Language, which really sucks sometimes. It means that I never have anyone to talk to, and that I barely get to see my friends during a school week. This is why we always met up for three hours on Thursday afternoons after school, and luckily for me, today is Thursday.

My name is Larissa Nieuwoudt, and I am fifteen years old.

I have to admit that I am really excited. It is my best friend, Tayla's, birthday tomorrow, and we are using today to celebrate it. This afternoon it will be just the four of us. Her official party with the hundreds of people attending will be on Saturday night.

I look impatiently at my watch and sigh. I've been waiting for twenty minutes now. Where the heck are they?

I have lived in East London for my whole life. My parents moved here when they were still newlywed; the first of the Nieuwoudts to do so. My family originates from higher coastal towns in the Kwa-Zulu Natal areas. Yet here we are, in the dreaded Eastern Cape.

I have never been to Kwa-Zulu Natal in my life, which is totally unfair-

I am suddenly lifted up from the ground and I shriek, struggling in my captor's arms. I jab my elbow into his ribs, causing his arms around me to loosen immediately. My captor lets out a breathless laugh and ruffles my hair, immediately letting me know who it is.

"Gabriel," I complain as he sits me down on the ground again. "What was that for?"

Gabriel chuckles and gently spins me around to face him. His curly black hair is blowing around in the light breeze and his blue eyes twinkle happily as he glances down at me. "You've shrunken, Larissa," he points out with humorous surprise. "Like, one hand."

I glare up at him. It is, sadly, true; I am about one hand shorter than him. But it isn't because I shrunk!

"You just grew, Gabby," I point out. I frown and add sourly, "I saw you last week and you weren't this tall. It's so unfair!"

Apparently everything in my life is unfair.

Gabriel rolls his eyes at me. Suddenly he has a strange look in his eyes as he looks aroun us at the surprisingly empty school grounds.

"Where's everyone?" he questions hesitantly.

I frown as I also see that we are completely alone at our school. Not a single soul is in sight, not even the teacher's cars that are supposed to be parked in their usual spots.

A sudden chill runs through my body and I hug my school blazer to my chest. The hairs on my arms and the back of my neck are standing up up, letting me know that someone is watching me... Watching us.

"This is weird," I whisper, hugging my arms to my body to warm myself. I am feeling more than a little unsettled, but the fact that I have magic to protect me reassures me a bit.

Yes, I am a witch. Magic's been in my father's side of the family for generations, though how I inherited the magic will always remain a mystery. It usually only passes on to the sons of the Nieuwoudts. We haven't yet figured it out.

I am shaken out of my thoughts when the wind suddenly picks up, causing me to stumble forward. I would've fallen over had Gabriel not been there to catch me. "Thanks," I gasp as my hair whipped around me.

Gabriel and I gawk as the previous blue sky quickly fills up with dark, intimidating storm clouds. The wind continues to beat against our bodies and I am seriously getting nervous. What is going on?!

There is a sudden flash of lightning, followed by a loud clap of thunder. A moment of silence follows – the calm before the storm.

I shoot a freaked out glance at Gabriel. He hugs me to his chest protectively.

Icy rain unexpectedly falls out of the sky and assaults our unsuspecting bodies. I cry out as the ice-cold water hits me, and instantly race for cover. I try opening the school doors, but they are locked tight.

Why are they locked? Minutes ago they were open!

I turn around to ask Gabriel what the hell we are going to do now, but notice he is gone. My heart stops beating for a second, only to speed up again.

"Gabriel?" I yell frantically as I am running away from the school entrance. "Gabriel, where are you?"

I can't find him anywhere. After a few minutes of searching, I collapse down onto the muddy ground. The rain is hiding my tears.

I am all alone in the middle of a uncanny thunderstorm, with my friends nowhere in sight.

Where is Gabriel? The Gabby I know would at no time leave me alone, especially in the middle of a storm without any shelter in sight.

I shout in shock when a figure suddenly appears before me.

The intimidating man walks over to me and crouches down beside my pathetic self. He puts his hand on my shoulder and I immediately warm up. My mind clears and I can once again think (somewhat) normally. As I thank the witch, I realize that I know who the man is, and I let out a relieved sigh.

"Jonas Martin?" I ask the man timidly. "Elijah's witch, right?"

The man quickly shakes his head negatively, frowning at me. "You know Jonas Martin?" he requests sharply.

I bite my lip and look away. Shit, I am not supposed to know who he is, nor am I supposed to know who Elijah is.

"No," I say, though not convincingly.

The man shoots me a disbelieving look but drops it.

"Are you Larissa Nieuwoudt?" he probes me in his deep voice.

"Who's asking?" I shoot back wittily.

I shiver and curl into a ball. It's freezing!

"Klaus is."

With that one name my whole body freezes up. Klaus is probably the only vampire that I fear, and that is because he is known to be a heartless bastard.

To many supernatural beings, Klaus is just a myth. They don't know whether he truly exists, along with his siblings, his family. Over the decades the stories of Klaus and the other Original vampires have gotten so mixed up that no-one knows what is fact and what is fiction. Many also started to deny their existence entirely, though my family isn't that stupid. The Nieuwoudt men have been loyal to Klaus dating back to the original Nieuwoudts, which is a long time.

When I was little, my father always told my brother and me stories about a fearsome vampire that roamed the earth. Tobias, our father, warned us not to take Klaus lightly, and that if he ever sought us out, that we have to be loyal and do what he asks of us. I could never understand why my father told me that, seeing as I wasn't supposed to be a witch.

On my thirteenth birthday I had a visit from Klaus himself, and I had been absolutely terrified…

"Are you Larissa Nieuwoudt?" the man repeats with a hard voice.

I mentally shake my head to clear it. Now is not the time to have flashbacks… Remembering what the man asked me, I nod erratically. "Yes, I am."

The man nods and offer me a hand to help me up. "My name is Jackson Martin, a distant relative of Jonas. I'm one of Klaus's witches."

I accept Jackson's hand and stand up, absently noticing the protective bubble around the two of us keeping the rain and wind away.

"Why are you here, Mr Martin?" I question the dark-haired man, fearing the answer. I just know it has something to do with me, my magic, Klaus, and a ritual.

"Klaus sent me to fetch you," he tells me, confirming my thoughts. "He needs your support in Mystic Falls, Virginia."

I almost ask 'what for', but I bite my lip. I know it is not my place to ask questions. "When," I pause and swallow thickly, "When will I be leaving? What about school, and my parents and friends?"

"You need not worry yourself with the specifics, girl," Jackson snaps, brown eyes suddenly cold. "I intend to take care of it."

I nod unsteadily, trembling. "I'll be leaving soon, though, right?" I just had to ask.

Jackson scowls viciously at me. "Yes, tomorrow late afternoon," he declares curtly.

I hum absently, but still when his words register in my mind.

"COME AGAIN?!" I demand, "I can't leave tomorrow!"

The dark-haired man's eyes harden and he snarls sharply, "You are leaving tomorrow and that is final. Klaus waits for no-one."

He hands me a brand new Blackberry and looked me in the eyes. "You will keep this on you at all times, understood?"

"Yes, sir," I murmur, shock still coursing through my system.

"Good. Your father is being informed as we speak. Klaus will handle the costs for your move," Jackson tells me. He glances at his watch. "I'll be leaving now." Almost as a afterthought, he adds, "Your friend is desperately searching for you."

Before I can say anything, Jackson vanishes into thin air. I stare hard at the spot where he stood seconds ago; not even feeling the rain as it once again hits my chilled skin.

I am leaving tomorrow. I am leaving my friends, my family and my home, all to go be a good little servant to the most feared Original vampire on earth.

My whole life is going to change now.

"Larissa?" a voice asks hopefully.

I don't have to turn around to see who it is. Gabriel is soaking wet as he crouched down in front of me. I wasn't even aware of the fact that I had fallen once more.

I cannot look him in the eyes; I just keep staring at that same spot. Why does Klaus want me? Why now?

"Larissa, are you alright? Where were you? You just disappeared and I was worried sick!" Gabriel shouts.

I still don't acknowledge his presence. I feel too disoriented to even care that Gabriel has suddenly reappeared from wherever he'd been hiding.

I am just…numb.

"Rissa, are you okay?" he hesitantly inquires, putting his hand on my shoulder.

I shake my head no. "Please take me home," I whisper.

Gabriel gently lifts my body and holds me against his chest. He presses a quick, brotherly kiss to my forehead and starts to walk to his car.

The thing I like about Gabriel? He didn't ask uninvited questions.

As we walk, my mind starts to wander. I remember my father sitting me down on my tenth birthday. He had been serious the whole day and didn't treat me like he used to on my birthday. No, he was serious and distant and I'd wanted to know why.

"Baby," my father said, taking one of my little hands into his. "There will come a day when a strong and dangerous man will come to you asking for your assistance. When that day comes, Larissa, I want you to do what he says without question. If he says jump, you jump. If he says hurt, you hurt, and if he says kill, you kill. Do you understand me?"

I was so confused and frightened. My dad refused to explain, though, and I had nightmares for months after that, nightmares of a powerful man with glowing eyes demanding that I hurt innocent people.

"You're a witch, Larissa. You're better than everyone else out there. You're stronger than they are, and more dangerous. Never forget that." That was what my father whispered in my ear every night as he tucked me into my bed. Even when I went through times where I denied my heritage, he would whisper those familiar words in my ear. After a while of rejecting what Tobias, my father told me, I started to believe that message he repeated every night. And it was the best choice I'd ever made.

I am a witch. I am stronger than humans, I am stronger than vampires, and I am stronger than werewolves. As my father said, I am above them all.

But I never understood why my father wanted me to do what some man asked me to do. I mean, I'm a witch and I believe myself to be above all. Why should I bow down to some vampire?

"Elijah and Klaus are very important vampires," my father told me that same night, on my tenth birthday. "They are a part of the Original Vampire family, meaning they were the first vampires ever created. And one day, little Rissa, one of the brothers will come to you. Be it Elijah, Klaus or anyone else of the Original family, you will be loyal to them. You'll serve them with everything you have until your dying breath. Do you understand me, Larissa?"

I never thought the day would come where I would actually be sought out by them. I guess I was wrong.

I don't know how much time passed before we finally arrived at my home. The rain has stopped, but I am freezing. Gabriel knocks on our front door and irritably waits for someone to open it. He looks down at me with concerned eyes and I offer him a tired smile. He returned it just as the front door opens.

"Jesus," the person exclaims. "What happened?"

I roll my eyes and eye my brother still standing in the doorframe. He is my older brother by three years, and we look nothing alike. While I am short with blonde hair, my brother Nico is tall with lean muscles. He has shaggy mahogany colour hair that reaches past his ears and falls into his green eyes. He takes after our late mother, while I take after our father.

"We got caught in the storm," Gabriel quickly utters with a pout. "It's freezing, dolt. Can we come in?"

My brother smiles embarrassedly and moves to the side. "Sorry," he mumbles.

Nico waits downstairs as Gabriel takes me up to my en suite bathroom. He sits me on a chair next to the sink and turns on the tap to fill the tub.

I am freezing and I notice it again only now. I shiver and sluggishly shrug off my blazer and take off my ugly school shoes and socks. By the time I am finally without my school dress on – dressed only in my school top and tights – I am about to die of the cold.

When Gabriel turns around, he regards me through concerned eyes. He looks as if he is having an internal argument with himself. After a few seconds he nods and, with a look of purpose, starts to move towards me.

I raise an eyebrow, but watch him to see what the heck he is up to.

When he reaches me, he puts his hands on my shoulders and looks deep into my eyes. "Do you trust me, Larissa?" he demands seriously, but not unkindly.

I am confused, but I nod anyway. "I trust you with my life," I answer honestly.

"Good," he sighs. Then he slowly starts to unbutton my school top.

Alarmed, I quickly push him away and cover myself up. "What the hell, Gab?" I demand, shocked by his actions. What was that?!

He shakes his head at me, his eyes looking pained. "Trust me, please."

As I look in his eyes, all I can see is pleading and sincerity (and that pain). So I nod tentatively and walk over to him again.

Gabriel flashes me a quick, reassuring smile before helping me out of my top. My stomach turns with nerves as Gabriel undresses me, slowly sliding my stockings off my legs. I stand in front of him dressed in only my undergarments, and I feel extremely awkward, not to mention exposed.

Gabriel's eyes flashes over my exposed skin before he meets my eyes. "Don't be so insecure," he tells me, gently. "You're beautiful."

I feel myself blush and lower my eyes. What is he getting at?

Before I can think any more, Gabriel picks me up and gently lowers me into my unnaturally large tub. I sigh contentedly as the water wraps around my body, instantly warming me. My eyes slip closed and I just let myself relax.

My mind is pleasantly blank as I lay in the warm water, completely tranquil.

I don't want to think about Klaus, or Elijah, or the fact that I am leaving tomorrow.

I just want some peace.

"I'm sorry for undressing you," Gabriel says awkwardly a while later. "It's just, you're like my sister and all, and I didn't think you'd take it the wrong way." There is a weird, forced tone to his voice, though I pay it no mind. It's just Gabriel.

"Thanks for helping me, Gab."

He smiles. "No problem. Mind if I join you? I'll be dressed in boxers, though." At my look, he hastily adds, "And no funny thoughts, I promise."

Ah, what the hell. "Go ahead, Gab."

Gabriel beams at me and slowly climbs into the tub. He shifts around 'til he is sitting directly opposite me.

Gabriel and I have only known each other for roughly a year and a half, but we are already tremendously close. We met in grade eight, on my first day of school, and we instantly clicked. He was in eleventh grade. He was easy going and didn't judge anyone, which is what drew me to him in the first place.

I am in tenth grade now. He's out of school, and he has just turned 19.

We don't say anything to each other, so I take the time to study Gabriel. I have to admit that he is pretty attractive. He is tall and well-built, which I know takes a lot of time in the gym. Gabriel has high cheekbones, perfectly shaped lips, and those amazing blue eyes. He has slightly curly black hair that contrasts with his pale skin, but it looks good on him.

Gabriel flashes me a quick smile when he notices me studying him. I smile back.

After a while I feel warm enough. I climb out, followed by Gabriel who quickly covers me in a towel. He offers me a quick smile and tells me to go to my room and get dressed while he goes to keep my brother company.

I agree and run to my room, feeling the cold air attacking my warm body. I rummage through my closet and grab the first items of clothing I see, which turns out to be black skinny jeans, a Asking Alexandria black t-shirt, and one of Nico's grey hoodies. As soon as I am dressed, I shake my hair out a little bit, styled how I wanted it, and add some mouse to prevent frizzing. My hair has the annoying habit of doing that.

When I am done, I walk out of my room and down the stairs, not pausing to look at the photo frames with my mother's smiling picture in it. I wish my dad would just take them off, but he stubbornly refuses. He loves her too much, even though she is no longer with us. It is a throbbing reminder to the Nieuwoudt family of the person we loved the most, and how we lost her.

I shake my head to clear it. I am about to enter the living room, but when I hear agitated voices, I decide to listen rather than go inside. I tiptoe to the door and lean against it, quieting my breathing down.

"You like her, don't you?" asks a deep voice, sounding resigned. Nico. "You like my little sister."

My heart stills. I BEG YOUR PARDON? Why is my brother asking that?! Gabriel would never, in a million years, like like me!

"No, man, are you crazy?" is Gabriel's quick reply.

Wow, that is kind of insulting… but at the same time I sag with relief. Gabriel doesn't like me in that way! I do a little victory dance in my mind at that.

Only to stop as I hear Nico's next question.

"Then why are you here, Gabriel?"

It is silent for a long moment. "I'm losing her, Nick," he says quietly, "And I need to say goodbye."

"What are you talking about, Gabriel? What's this stuff about losing Larissa?" My brother demands, his voice severely pissed-off. He adds more gently, "Larissa isn't going anywhere, Gabriel, so quit worrying okay?"

With a deep breath I open the door and enter the room. Two sets of eyes fly in my direction; one green and one blue.

"I'm leaving tomorrow, Nick," I tell him the excruciating. Seeing a broken-hearted expression starting to form on my brother's face, I move my gaze to Gabriel. "You hear that? I'm leaving and I'm not coming back."