This story tells of how Katerina Hale's life completely changed one spring night. This story takes place a few months before the vampires "come out if the coffin". The only vampires that are known publicly are in the movies , TVs and books. Also she is pure human. She has no special abilities or powers.
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It was a rainy and chilly spring night. I had some time off work so I decided to come home and surprise my family back home in Chicago. I worked at a consulting firm in New York City and I hated it. I knew no one, the people I worked with didn't take me serious cause I was only 22. What did I know. I was a fresh college grad from a state university. And on top of that I had been robbed twice and my apartment was broken into three times. I needed a break. And a new job. I was offered a job in Milwaukee and I was going to accept it tomorrow. I'd be closer to my family and I needed that. My family is very important to me. I'm from a big family. I have two older sisters, Anna(28) and Victoria(26), and two youngers brothers, Kyle(19) and Jessie(14). Im right smack dab in the middle. All of us were adopted. My parents couldn't have kids. But they loved us and gave us the best life we could possibly have. We grew up living in the city of Chicago. We lived in the same house my entire life, a two story house. Big open floor plan and plenty of good memories that we all shared together.

I had landed at O'Hare airport at 7:15 pm and I quickly gathered my carry on items and jogged off the plane with my purse and shoulder bag. I was so happy to be home. I made my way through the crowds of people and made it outside to where you hail cabs. I got in a cab and could hardly sit still. I was beyond excited. I couldn't wait to tell them about my new job and hear all about them. The cab was a few houses down for my house and I was going to tell the driver to stop. I didnt want my family to see the cab and give away my surprise.

"Here's good thank you"
I said as I gathered up my belongings and have him his money and tip.
"You want me to wait till you get inside ?"
I shook my head and smiled. I saw in the drive way two cars were there. I knew they were home.
"Thanks but my family is home , drive safe and thanks again!"
He nodded and waved be with his hand.
"Have a nice night sweetheart"
I got out of the car and shut the door and he drove away. I took a deep breathe and made my way to my house. It was still taking so I ran. I walked up the set of stairs to my front porch and found my house keys in my purse and unlocked the door. I pushed the door open and looked in. No one was in the front room. I closed the door behind me and placed my keys in the table by the front door.
" hey guys!"
No answer. It was eerily quiet. I took off my coat which was soaked and shook out my damp hair. I was wearing black yoga pants, black low top converse , a grey tank top that was very tight and a olive green zip up hoodie. I was gonna change cause all my clothes were kinda I still had some clothes here at the house to change into cause I only packed an overnight bag.
"Hey guys ? Anyone home ?"
I walked into the dining room and turned on the light and I couldn't move. There was blood everywhere. All over the floor and walls. Everywhere. I couldn't breathe.
"Mom?! Dad?! Anna? Kyle! Anyone ?!"
I said as I was running through the house. I started to cry. I tried to calm down and slow down my breathing but it wasn't helping. I went to pull out my cell phone from my sweater pocket and call 911 . then I heard a noise. I saw my brother Kyle's baseball bat in the corner of the kitchen and grabbed it and clenched it.
"Who is that !? I called 911. Officers are on the way!" I didn't really call but I figured that'd scare them away. I couldn't think.
Then a man appeared in front of me smiling. He was about my height 5'8. But he was big. He looked strong. He was bald wearing a black leather jacket and dark washed jeans. He had tattoos down his head and neck. I was shaking.
"Where is my family ?! Who are you ?! "
He chuckled. I clenched the bat tighter. My heart was pounding. He took a deep inhale of the air.
"My my. You sure do smell good. I see what the hype was all about. I can't wait to sink my teeth into you"
I gave him a disgusted look. Taste me ? I smelled good ?
"Listen you sick fuck. Where is my family ?!"
He let out of burst of laughter.
"Their dead honey. I ate them. "
My stomach dropped. My entire family was dead. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't do anything.
"And boy did they taste good. But not as good as you will"
He charged at me and I hit him with the baseball bat. It broke it half. What just happened. He laughed again.
"Bad move sweetheart"
He threw me back into the wall and I fell to the ground . my head was throbbing and I had let go of the bat. Next thing I knew he was on top of me. And his fangs were out. He was a monster. Fangs! I was screaming and crying.
"HELP! SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME"
He let out another cackling laugh.
"No one is gonna save you sweetheart. Your mine"
Right as he was about to sink his teeth in me I wriggled free just enough to grab the chunk of baseball bat beside me and shove it in his heart. Then he exploded. The piece of baseball fell on me and I was covered in blood and face and chest and arms were covered in blood and veins. I wanted to throw up. I was panting. What just happened. I had no time to process what just happened. I heard my door open. I slid up against the wall and crept towards the front room. I was hiding against the wall when a tall figure approached. I took a deep breath and once he rounded the corner I hit him with the bat on the back. He turned and looked at me. That's when I got a good look at him. He was very tall. At least 6'4. Blonde hair deep beautiful blue eyes and very pale like the other man. Or monster whatever he was. He walked closer to me and I backed up till I was against the wall.
"Who are you ?"
"My name is Eric Northman. I'm not here to hurt you Katerina. I'm here to protect you."
He was studying me. Looking up and down at me. Maybe having blood and guts covering me and makeup smeared all over my face was intriguing to him.
Protect me? What was he talking about ? Protecting me from the monster?
I looked him in the eyes.
"Well your a little late" I said tiliting my head towards the pile of blood and guts on my dining room floor.

He looked past me and saw the pool of blood on the floor. And then looked back at me.
"I suppose I was. But clearly you can handle yourself. I see I've underestimated you."
He said as he crept closer to me and he touched my shoulder and I flinched. He was freezing cold. He pulled of a chunk of something off my shoulder. I'm guessing it was the monster. I gaged.

"We need to go"
He said as he grabbed my arm. I released myself from his grip.
"I'm not going anywhere with you. Or without my family."
He looked down at me. My heart sank.
"Where is my family ?! Where are they ?!"
I screamed as I sank to the floor.
"I can't leave them. I can't I can't" I continued to babble and sob. My family was dead. I was alone. All the good memories that once roamed through the house were now gone. All I could think of was that I'd never see them smile again, hear them laugh or hug them again. All of it was gone.

He bent down and pulled my chin up to look at him. I tried to control my sobs and huffs.

"Listen to me very carefully. There are people after you. They came here and were going to kill you and your family. I got here before he did. I sent them to a safe location. Your family is alive. Their safe. "
I finally controlled my sobs and started to smile. Well tried to smile I still couldn't process everything. It was too much at once.
"Their alive? Wh what? How ?"

He grabbed me by both my hands and pulled me up to my feet. he looked me up and down.
"First things first, You need to take a shower. We can't have you leaving the house looking like this. Then I'll explain everything to you. "
I couldn't process anything. My family died. I almost died. I killed someone or something. Now my family is alive and well. And there's this stranger saving my life. I had so many questions but I couldn't say anything besides two words.
"Thank you "
I said as I threw myself in his arms. His cold chest felt so comforting against my body. His body was stiffed. I could tell he wasn't hugged often cause it was very uncomfortable. But still comfortable. It was a strange sensation.

I went to the bathroom in between my bedroom and the guest bedroom. I turned on the water and then began to undress myself. I unzipped my sweater and placed it on the floor. Then I kicked off my converse and pulled down my yoga pants. Then I peeled off my tank top. I then looked up to look in the mirror wearing only my black bra and gray thong. I knew there was blood all over me but seeing it was terrifying. My chest and face and neck and hair were covered in blood and guts. My eye makeup had left my eyes and was now smeared all over my cheeks. I then took off my bra and underwear and slipped into the shower. Seeing all of the blood run off me with the water felt good. I was finally feeling clean. Then I broke down. The tears wouldn't stopped. I was terrified. My family was almost killed because of me. It was all my fault. Everything to happened and could have happened to them was all because of me. After a few minutes I washed my hair and body. I used my strawberry and cream shampoo and conditioner followed with my dove soap. As I was washing my hair I noticed just how much the back of my head hurt from when I was thrown into the wall. It was bleeding but there was a bruise and I was afraid I could have a concussion. I needed to ice it asap. I turned off the water and stepped out if the shower to dry off. I grabbed a white towel from the rack and wrapped it around my body. I took another smaller towel to dry off my hair. I walked into my room and pulled out some clothes. I found a white tank top , black leggings and put them on. After I was dressed I went back out into the dining room. I knew I needed to ice my head and clean up the mess. But to my surprise it was already cleaned. I walked out into the kitchen and saw Eric sitting on a bar stool. He was talking on the phone. But not in English. I actually had no idea what the fuck he was saying. All I could make out was my name Katerina. He then he saw me and quickly ended his phone call. I leaned against the door frame.

"Who was that? And what language was that?"

He got up from the bar stool and started to walk towards me.

"That was..my assissant Pam and Swedish. Are you ready to go?"

Swedish. What the fuck. Is he some Viking god man. He was gorgeous I wasn't going t lie. He was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life. I had a couple boyfriends before but looks wise they couldn't compare. Also they were never anything serious. I never wanted to have a serious relationship until after college.

"Where exactly are we going?"

I asked as I folded my arms across my chest. He was now standing right in front of me. He towered me. Which was saying something. I was almost 5'9. He gave me a small smile.

"Shreveport. I hope you like the hot weather"

He said as he walked past me towards my room.

"Shreveport? Where in Illinois is that?"

I asked as I followed him towards my rom. He was going through my room trying to find a luggage bag. I pushed past him and grabbed my vera Bradley luggage bag from my closet. I threw it on the bed and looked at him.

"It's in Lousiana."

My jaw dropped.

"Lousiana!?"

He was going through my drawers and throwing some clothes in the bag. I walked over to him.

"We'll need to get you new clothes. Apparently Chicago hasn't prepared you for hot weather"

I sighed.

"I have a few summer dresses in my closet"

I walked over to my closet and grabbed 4 off the hanger and I placed them on the bed. I turned and saw Eric going through my underwear drawer. I did a double take.

"Could you not?!"

I ran over to him. That was my underwear drawer also where I hid things. Like my weed and sex toys. Of course he grabbed the pair of handcuffs that I had hidden in there. Not judge. Not if you haven't tried it. Its pretty great.

"Well I wasn't expecting this"

I tried to grab them from his hands but he just lifted them higher in the air. I was jumping in the air trying to grab them from him.

"If you want them all you have to do is ask" He said with a smug grin.

I inhaled deeply in defeat and held out my hand.

"Can I please have them back?"

He placed them in my hand and looked me dead in the eyes.

"I think you should pack these, you'll defenatley need them"

I bit my bottom lip. Then I took them and threw them in the drawer and slammed it shut. Then I leaned against it.

"Nope. I don't think I will"

He let out a small chuckle.

"We'll see about that, if your done packing we should get going the plane is ready"

I nodded my head and when I realized he was out of the room I grabbed the handcuffs from the drawer and wrapped them in a tshirt and placed it in the bottom of my bag. I then zipped the bag and placed it over my shoulder. I walked to my door and turned around and did one last look over of my room. I didn't know when I'd be here again so I wanted to take it all then. I took a deep breath and then shut off the light and closed the door.

We left my house and walked to a sleek black Ferrari. Jesus how rich was this guy ? Were all vampires rich ? He grabbed my bags from me and put them in the trunk. He got to my door and opened it for me and I slid in. Geez is this guy prince charming or what? Before I had my seat belt on he was in the car with his on. I jumped.

"How did you get here so fast ?"

He gave me a slight smile and put the car in drive and drive off. It was eerily quiet for a few minutes so I decided to break the ice.

"So can you tell me what just happened there ? And you said my family was safe? Where are they ? Can I see them ? And who was that guy ? Why was he after me ? And how did he know where I lived ? Wait how did you know where I lived ?"

He looked at me.

"You ask a lot of questions"

"Well that's cause I have a lot of fucking questions"

"Obviously. Your family is safe. I can't take you to them but I can show you proof. "

I shook my head.

"Why can't I see them ? Their my family ! What proof do you have that their alive?"

He quickly pulled out his phone and showed me a live recording family of my family sitting in a room laughing and watching a movie together. I think it was Mulan. Call us kids but that was always on when we grew up. We all had an unhealthy obsession with that film. Mulan was a bad ass bitch that saved her country. She was me and my sisters hero. She didn't need a man to save her, she was her own hero. And that's how my parents raised us. They were safe and alive. I felt a tear slide down my cheek.

"And as for that man-he was a vampire"

A burst if laughter slipped through my lips. I leaned forward in my seat.

"A vampire ?! So your saying I just killed Edward Cullen ? Or is it more of a bad ass Dracula vampire"

He was not amused. He turned and gave me a stern look.

"Does it look like I'm joking ?"

I swallowed hard.

"Okay. So vampires exist...does that mean every supernatural creature that we were told werent real really are?"

"For the most part yes"

I exhaled deeply and fell back into my seat.

"Great. That's just great…but still what would a vampire want with me ?"

"You know your adopted yes ?"

I nodded.

"Well your the last of a bloodline. A very ancient bloodline. Different bloods have different tastes, some tastes better than others. "

"Like what?"

"Virgins are the purest"

I sighed.

" well thank god that ship sailed a long time ago"

A small smile crept across his face.

"So your telling me that I'm the last of a blood line ? How old?"

"2000 years old"

"2000 years ?! Is this Jesus Christ's bloodline ?!"

"No its my makers , Godric. He's of ancient Celtic descent"

"Wait your maker ? Wait... Are you... ARE YOU A VAMPIRE TOO?!"

He looked at me.

"Yes"

"How old are you?!"

"I've been a vampire for almost 1000 years."

I was now leaned completely against the door. My heart was racing. A vampire.. scratch that A 1000 YEAR OLD VAMPIRE just saved me from another vampire who was trying to kill me and now I'm stuck in a car with him?!

"Pull over!"

He didn't even look at me.
"No"
"Pull the fuck over now! Or I'll jump out of the car!"
Still eyes on the road.
"No you won't."
Before I knew it I had my seat belt unbuckled and I was about to open the door. He slammed on the brakes and put his right arm across my chest to stop me from flying through the windshield. He soccer mom'd me. But it was sexy . But still we came to a stop he dead panned me.
"I wouldn't suggest doing that again"
I gave him you've got to be fucking kidding me look.
"A vampire just tried to kill me and your telling me to stay calm and trust you ?! What's to stop you from killing me ?!"
He grabbed me by my shoulders and looked me dead in the eyes.
" I would never harm you because of my maker. You are apart of his blood line Your blood is his blood. Which means my blood is your blood. I would never hurt you"

I was shaking. I just nodded my head.

"Okay. Okay , I believe you"

He let go of me and then put the car back in drive and we continued on our way to the airport. It was complete and utter silence after that until we reached the airport 6 minutes later. We pulled in a different way than the normal departing terminals.

"Don't we need to go to departures?"

He continued driving and didn't look away from the road.

"No I have a plane waiting for us"

My jaw dropped. Your kidding.

"You have a plane….you have a ferrari. Are all vampires this rich?"

He smiled.

"No I just invest wisely."

He said as he pulled into a separate area where sure enough there was a private plane waiting for us. He put the car in park and as soon as I unbuckled my seatbelt he was on my side with the car door open. I rolled my eyes.

"Let me guess, vampires are super freaky fast?" I said with some sass. As we walked towards the plane.

He gave me an annoyed look.

"Oh do you also sparkle in the sun ? Cause that'd be adorable" I said with he same sass.

He turned around and looked at me.

"Don't believe everything you see in tv. I'll tell you the facts. And no I don't sparkle in the sun. I burn in the sun . "

I gulped.

"Oh I see well that sucks"

I said as I slid past him and got on the plane. I stepped on the plane and it was the nicest plane I've ever been on. This was like billionare nice. There were 12 huge seats and a bar and mini fridge. I sat down in a seat in the middle and he sat across from me. I dropped my bag on the ground next to me.

"Wait…. Then why do you live in the south? Wouldn't you want to live where the sun doesn't come out as much? Like Alaska?"

He grinned.

"I enjoy the southern hospitality"

I laughed. Of course. The pilot then told us that they were getting ready to take off and that we should buckle up and get ready for take off. I buckled my seatbelt and got more comfortable in my seat. I knew my old life was gone. All that mattered now was that my family was safe and unharmed. And I was going to do everything in my power to make sure that happened. I shut my eyes and drifted off to sleep once I felt the plane beginning to take off.