"Aurora.. Rory darling, wake up.."
The soothing voice of an old family friend, Melanie aroused her from the deep slumber the brunette had fallen into from the long plane journey and the long car ride from what seemed the other side of America. Groaning softly and almost growling, she opened her bright brown eyes to survey her surroundings, quickly seeing the blurry image of Melanie come into focus as her eyes adjusted to the light after being closed for hours. Shifting her weight slightly, she winced slightly at the pain shooting up her leg as it seemed not only herself had fallen asleep as she shifted into a more comfortable position, splaying her legs across the back seat of the silver Range Rover, accelerating down the concrete road at 70 mph.
"We're almost here darling.."
Pushing her forehead against the cool glass of the window, Aurora or more commonly known as Rory, stared out of the window as she watched the outside world rapidly go by in a blur as she took in sights she hadn't seen before, her new surroundings that she would have to get used too once they arrived at their destination.
The life that Aurora had always known had been the same since she was first old enough to see, hear, smell and explore the world through her own dark chestnut eyes, since she had taken her first steps into an unknown world and the feeling of knowing she was not alone as the world is a gigantic place and there are still unknown corners of the Earth that had laid undiscovered for centuries. Growing up in China as a mixed race child, with olive skin and dark chestnut eyes, Aurora was mocked by the other children for simply looking different. Her father, Jiao Li Tseung worked as a hunter and an informant to other hunters across the world, he worked from home, but eventually his work took them all over the world, from corner to corner, country to country, across oceans and deserts, her family never stayed in one place for too long. Always needed elsewhere, her father would say as they packed up boxes and suitcases of their belongings, ready to be shipped to their new home. Aurora had always disliked the short stays in various places, never having the time to make friends because soon again in a few weeks or a few months, she would be leaving again for a new home.
But oh the sights she had seen. Amazing landmarks, beautiful views and the cultures she had grown up with. Memories she would forever treasure in her heart and her eyes for the rest of her life. All messily stuck into her favourite scrapbook. Her father had brought it for her when wandering through a Spanish market one day, having some daddy-daughter bonding time and as soon as she eyes landed on the book, the rest is history. With the world map on the front and back it was perfect.
From that moment on, Aurora had spent hours, carefully planning the pages before extra-carefully sticking them permanently to the paper. Photo's, airplane tickets, bus tickets, train tickets, boat tickets, little things like a flower or a leaf she had found on the street or even small bits of cloth from an old item of clothing that had grown too small for her frame. Anything and everything was stuck into that scrapbook and it was never out of Aurora's sight, always safely tucked away in her tatty old rucksack.
Well, that's the life Aurora thought she had. The secrets her father had hidden from her, the lies he had told her were nothing compared to the world that was hidden from her. Bedtimes stories were told to her of monsters, werewolves and things that went bump in the night and Aurora had no idea what was really hidden in the world.
Hunters.
Werewolf hunters.
Part of a code, part of a group, part of an organization. One that helps others who need it and one who saves those who need saving.
'We hunt those who hunt us'
The Tseung family have been in the same profession for thousands of years, having close ties with many other families of hunters, but none closer than the family of the Argent's. Both families tied together through love, hate and power, yet always ready to help a fellow hunter but more importantly a friend in need and there was no denying the strong bond in the hunting community. It was on a warm night in China that Jiao met an Argent and the two became one. Nine months later, Aurora was born and three months later, her mother disappeared without a trace, leaving Jiao to raise his daughter on his own.
And that was that. It had always been the two of them, sometimes more of them if they were joined by old family friends, but it was always Jiao and Aurora together, the best team they could have. Until it all went downhill. Manaus, Brazil had become their home for the last two months, when Aurora's life changed drastically. Sitting in an armchair, in the living room of their small house, reading one of her favourite books when Jiao burst into the room, his clothes ripped and covered in blood as he collapsed onto the floor. Instantly, Aurora was on her feet and by Jiao's side, tears beginning to fall at the sight of her beloved father.
"Aurora, you have to listen to me" Jiao choked out, as he took her hand and squeezed it tightly.
"Remember the bedtime stories I told you as a girl?" He questioned, as Aurora nodded her head frantically.
"Its all true everything. Go to Beacon Hills and find your family, find your mother" He choked out as the life began to fade from his body. "Kate Argent.." He whispered, as his breathing became shallow and desperate. "I love you, Wǒ jiānqiáng de xiǎo yòu zǎi.."
"I will Bàba, I promise.." Aurora's voice broke as she took her hand and with two fingers closed her father's now dull brown eyes that once held such life inside them and now there was simply nothing. In that single moment, Aurora lost everything.
Melanie had been the one to find them both the next morning, Aurora still cradling and holding onto her father's lifeless body, unable to let him go for the fear that he would disappear completely. From that moment on, it had always been Melanie and Aurora, as they returned to China and buried her father next to his ancestors, before beginning the journey to Beacon Hills. It was during this time that Melanie connected Aurora with her uncle, Chris Argent and his daughter Allison, Aurora's cousin. Chris was shocked to say the least when he learned that he had a niece he had never known, but with the Argent's family was family, and in the time that Aurora and Chris spoke, it was like she had known him her whole life. Aurora learned of Victoria's death and her grandfather, Gerard's evil plans and more about her family history, including everything about her mother, Kate Argent.
Aurora felt a lump in her throat and a tear slide down her tanned complexion as her thoughts drifted to her father. His crooked smile, his bellowing laugh and his ability to always make you smile no matter what you were sad about. The way he was completely and utterly strict with her, but also soft and caring at the same time.
Coming back to the present day, Aurora felt the car slow to a stop, not even realizing darkness had fallen over the small town and it was now late in the evening. Shifting in her seat, the tone of Melanie's cell phone rang through the silence and as she spoke to whoever was on the other end of the line, Aurora pulled her rucksack into her lap, digging through it before she heard the engine start up again and Melanie accelerate out of their spot at the side of the road.
"Mel, what the hell?!" Aurora exclaimed, as Melanie raced through the streets, swerving through traffic.
"Mel, slow down! What's going on?" She shouted out.
Melanie remained silent as she pulled up to a large set of gates, quickly climbing out of the car and opening the boot up, shoving bags aside as she pulled forward a large black case. Aurora followed suit, climbing out of the car and running to her side as she lifted the case open to reveal a stash of guns inside. Taking a SIG Pro semi-automatic pistol and loading the magnum, Aurora watched on in horror, shock and awe at seeing exactly what her families profession was as Melanie held out a Jericho 941 F (DA) 9mm handgun towards her.
"Just in case you need to use it.."
Looking from her the woman who had become like a big sister to her to the gun, Aurora shakily took it in her hand, turning it over in her hands before tucking it into the pocket of her black denim jacket, watching as Melanie finished loading her own before slamming the boot shut and turning to the brunette.
"Argent needs our help. He's on his way, but his daughter Allison is in there and her and her friends need help" Melanie notified them, as Aurora eyes widened at the mention of her cousin. A girl she had never met before, but had spoken to countless times on her journey here and had grown incredibly close too over the coming months.
"Allison's in there!" She yelled, just as a scream ripped through the air causing the two females to turn their heads. In an instant, Aurora took off, sprinting through the gates as she followed the echo of the scream, hearing Melanie's footsteps behind her.
Turning a corner, Aurora skidded to a halt as she watched a black hooded figure pull his katana from Allison's stomach and disappear in a cloud of black smoke. It was like the world slowed down as a boy ran to her and gathered her in his arms, the two of them talking between them both as others around them watched in horror.
"Its okay, its okay.. Its okay. I'm in the arms.. of my first love.. Of the person.. I'll always love.." Allison spoke through the tears, her voice breaking. "I-I love you.. Scott.. Scott McCall.."
Walking forwards, Aurora appeared behind the boy, her face and eyes red and puffy from the tears that she hadn't realized were streaming down her face.
"Hey Rory.." She heard a whisper and directed her gaze down to Allison, who was smiling up at her. Rory had become the nickname Allison had given her when they had started talking more and it had quickly caught on, with Aurora finally seeing what it would have been like to have a sister.
"Hey Allie.." She choked out as a sob escaped past her lips, as she watched the girl she had known only a few short months, who she had sent hundreds, if not thousands of e-mails to over the months that Aurora had traveled practically across the country to get to Beacon Hills.
"Take care.. of her Scott.." Allison ordered, as Scott nodded hastily.
"You have.. to tell my dad.. You have to tell my dad!" Allison's voice stuttered, her breathing growing ragged as her life slowly ebbed away, until her heart gave out and as she took her last breath, the light left her eyes.
Behind her Aurora heard footsteps and Melanie's voice whisper the name 'Chris..' under her breath, she instantly knew it was Allison's father. Aurora looked around the scene, watching Allison's friends recoil in sadness and despair at the death of their friend and Chris's life practically shatter.
Aurora felt like her world was crumbling. Four months ago, she had lost her father and now she had lost more family. There would be no happy reunion, no sharing their memories or their travels and no laughter and smiles of pure happiness. No more making of memories. It was all gone. Her father had planned a new life for them in Beacon Hills, close to her real family and hope for a fresh start, hope for his daughter to have a somewhat normal life settled down in one place.
Aurora had only been in Beacon Hills for an hour and already she's witnessed the death of the only other family she's ever known and seen things she would never have been able to explain before, but just how worse could it get?