Through the dense redwood forest, danger silently swept toward the sleepy town of Wesstead located not far away. The wind whooshed and whirled through the air beside them, whistling around the trees. They had reached their destination, the church.

A small elderly woman pushed open the grand church doors and examined the room. There was a sharp intake of breath as the cloaked assassins entered.

"Silentium," the king ordered as he walked towards the altar. Instantly, the congregation was muted and a noise barrier that would absorb the oncoming horrors from the world outside surrounded the church building.

A beautifully haunting tune came roaring from the pipe organ and a fearful expectation rapidly grew throughout the room. A baby cried in his mother's arms. The moonlight shone brightly through the stained glass windows of the hall, creating a glow on the raven black hair of the predators. Their darkened eyes amplified the gloomy gaze on their fiendish faces. Ivory canines came gleaming through their evil smirks. This only confirmed the parishioners' fears. The Father said a hurried prayer as he hurled holy water from the font towards the beasts. Their heartless laughs echoed through the church.

Faith led them to believe such idiocies would ward off the evil kind. Unfortunately, not everything told was true.

"By this Holy water and by your Precious Blood, wash away all my sins O Lord," the king recited.

The vampiric organ player ripped the pipes from the instrument he had played a moment before. A deafening clank of metal rang through the hall. Splinters of wood flew through the air. The soon-to-be victims were too stunned to react defensively, too shocked to react at all.

The vampires swooped towards them with deadly accuracy, ready to kill. Their teeth pierced the human bodies like a shower of arrows, draining them of their thoughts, their pain, and their fear. A deadly grip and sharp swift motions ensured that none of the patrons escaped their fate. The merciless creatures tore through the human bodies one by one, breaking bones and dismembering limbs. It was certain; none would survive to tell this tale. Religious blood was always much more rewarding after all.

From atop the crowded rusty branches of her black gum perch, she watched as they returned to their graves, engorged by the sadistic massacre that ensued that night. The weak dawn sunlight amplified the blood rot mess that stained their demonic faces. Shreds of human flesh left to decompose under their filthy nails. What a disgusting race they had become.

If only they could return to the days before corruption, lust and power overrun their clan. If only her mother were still with them. Her daydream was short-lived as her father, the king, called her back to her crypt. The sun was threatening the horizon and the world would soon become safe again as the vampires were at rest.

Mikaela despised this life. Her hollow veins were filled with hunger. She was empty from the pit of her stomach. The hunger was pulling its way upward, slowly creeping; consuming her mind. It warned her. Threatening her every thought and motion. She needed blood. Fast.

She took a deep breath and discarded the notion from her head. Laying in wake, she waited for the pandemonium to break out in the town located not too far away. It seemed like an eternity, until finally she heard the screams and wails and smelled the fear and anger from the town below.

The sun now shone brightly through the charcoal-tinted glass skylight atop her mausoleum, reflecting its light throughout the cold, dark chamber. It was noon and now was the time to put her plan into motion. She rose from where she lay, emerged from her room and walked into the eerie graveyard.

Glistening rays of sun bathed her skin and she found herself wishing she could feel their warmth. Such tales she only heard from human-passersby on her lonely ventures into the cities throughout the years. She liked to observe them, alas; they were another race doomed by their ignorance.

The princess found herself in front of the first marble sarcophagus. Inside of it, lay a frumpy old woman with pale white skin and sky blue eyes. She looked up at Mikaela in awe as the dagger pierced her skin and punctured her heart. The woman burst into flames without a peep. Mikaela took care to replace the lid as she had found it.

With mechanical precision, she moved toward the next concrete coffin. It belonged to a tall vampire with long raven black hair and bloody eyes. His ghoulish stare sent a chill up her spine. He lay in wait for her to make her move and it came swift thereafter. Like the first, his body burnt to ashes.

With no time to spare, she arrived at her next victim's resting place. Her rose coloured cheeks entranced Mikaela; she lay so still, so perfectly in her space. She awoke with a theatrical scream that rang out through the graveyard. Mikaela grabbed the woman's neck, stilling her fear with a swift motion of the wrist. Her blood seeped onto Mikaela's hands. Her eyes widened at the sight. She had to move faster now as the others were sure to wake from the fresh smell of murder in the air.

As predicted, the fourth emerged from his grave. Mikaela looked back with a jolt as he started towards her with an angered expression. He was convinced he could take her on, but he was wrong. Her dagger met his heart in an instant and a gush of wind blew his ashen remains into the unknown.

Mikaela now feared the worst, but didn't hear a sound as she feverishly searched her surroundings. It was empty around her.

She moved towards the fifth tomb with caution. The lid creaked underneath her delicate touch. She gasped at what she saw. Nothingness filled the structure.

Mikaela looked back at what she'd done - four council members of The Eternal lay dead before her.

Determined not to waste anymore time searching for the fifth, she moved on to her final victim; her father, their ruthless ruler. This kill would be hardest of all. She had come full circle through the tiny graveyard. Her father's mausoleum was located next to hers. She entered and opened his coffin. He lay in wait. His eyes drenched in bloody tears. The seer already knew of her plan, it had been brewing for years now.

Caught in a daze, she was surprised to see the two muscled arms emerging from the shadows behind her. It was too late. The man secured them around her and awaited further instruction from the king. None followed. Instead of backing down, the man took matters into his own hands, placing his large hands over her neck. Mikaela wreathed underneath his heavy body and broke his arm as she struggled to break free from his grip.

Furious at his disobedient follower, the king decapitated the man. His burning head rolled off into the far corner of the room. Mikaela was speechless. She looked at her father with searching eyes. Without a word, he gave her his royal ring and pendant. He reached into his chest for his heart, took a last look into his daughter's future and with a smiling nod, he removed the organ. The king burst into flames like the rest of the council and Mikaela felt a bloody tear roll down her cheek.

The deed was done.

She returned to the open tombs, replacing the remaining lids. Her eyes seethed from her inherited power, the seers' eyes. A sharp pain shot through her heart and she wished it away.

All she wanted now was to go. She had to leave this dreadful place. She set out towards a storm brewing in the distance. Walking at first, but as her thoughts caught up with her, she started to run. She ran faster and further than ever before. Not too long thereafter, she found herself in the storm and the rain washed away the blood on her hands and dagger.

She treaded on through the fern strewn path and towards a clearing where she spotted a herd of deer grazing on weeds and herbs. The large male lifted an ear to listen, but the hush of wind was already blitzing towards him. He sprung upward, but his fate had been decided. Mikaela compelled the beast to calm down. Its heart beating slower with every sip she took in. After her feed, she returned the favour by giving the beast her blood. She stood from her knees waiting for the deer to regain its strength. Once it did, it happily sprung off into the distance once, completely healed. She felt alive with the fresh supply of blood pulsing through her veins. Her hunger sated for the time being. The cool night air brushed against her face as she continued on her way, keeping clear of the forest path.

Mikaela came to the edge of the woods and started to feel the presence of people. She lifted her gaze to see a familiar building overhead, Mystic Falls High School. Mikaela looked deeper still and noticed a boy. She listened closely to the beat of his heart. A calm peace came over her and she found her heart beating together with his.

She was staring. It was not her intention, yet she found herself transfixed on his ocean blue eyes, his soft pink lips and those rose tinted dimply cheeks. Their eyes met for a moment and she struggled to pull herself away. She prayed for a distraction and it came in the form of a blonde haired girl seated behind the boy. Thank goodness, she sighed with relief and set off towards the châteaux on the other side of town.

It had been centuries since she last visited this place and much had changed over time. She felt warmth at every turn. She was safe and knew in her heart, she was home.