I sat there in my room staring back and forth between the piece of paper in my hand and my window. I read the letter over and over, wishing for someone to talk to.

Michelle,

If you are reading this, it means that your father and I have passed before you've turned old enough to leave the house on your own. I have so many things I want to say to you, I don't know where to begin to start.

First, I shall say I am so sorry for the horrible parent I have been to you, along with your father. We put business and our lives over you, and for that I am terribly sorry. I'm sure you've always asked why we treated you like that, and I believe you deserve an explanation.

Michelle, you are adopted. Yes, you're adopted. You are, now probably wondering who your real parents are. I can tell you we did know your mother. She gave you to us before she died. She actually had part in naming you. Her only request to us if we took you, was to name you Adena Nerezza. We really didn't like Nerezza that much; I was really wanting to name my little girl Michelle. So, we kept Adena, made it your middle name, and named you Michelle.

I hate you had to find that out this way, but it was the only way I knew how. I know you are a strong young woman, hell, you've raise yourself. We are leaving you the house and all of our money, since everyone else in our lives, we've chased away. Also, there's a key to the safe hidden in my jewelry box, and in the safe is some things left to you by your mother. Don't worry, I never opened any of it, it's all yours.

Congratulations Michelle, you're rich, and you get a whole new start. You finally get to learn who your real mom is. Good luck with life.

Love,

Chanel

I balled up the paper and threw it across the room. My whole life has been a lie, except for him, my only friend in all of this, and he can't even talk back to me. I just wish he'd show his face. He hasn't showed up on my window sill since the day I found out Chanel and Ricky were attacked by an animal and died.

I went closer to the window and crossed my arms on the sill, looking toward the sky. "Please, please come to me now, please," I begged toward the sky. I waited…nothing.

I signed and turned away from the window.

"Caw!" a familiar sound rang, causing me to jump and turn around.

"It's you!" I smiled to the beautiful black crow perched on my window sill. "Oh! The things you've missed. Chanel and Ricky are dead, I'm finally alone permanently. Oh, and I'm adopted! Can you believe it?!"

My violet eyes burned with tears. The crow looked at me with intelligent eyes and cawed again.

"You hungry?" I said, wiping the tears away and reaching for a bag of potato chips on my desk. "Here," I said holding a chip in my hand, "come get it."

He hesitated, then flew the short distance from the window to my desk. He perched on the desk, then pecked the chip from my hand.

"Shit!" I hissed when he came to close, and pecked my hand. I held up my hand and examined it, blood was slowly trickling out of a small hole on the edge of my palm.

"You really got me there didn't ya?" I frowned and sucked the blood off of my hand.

The crow gave me an odd look, then, turned around and flew out the window.

"Wait!" I yelled, but he was already gone. "Damn it!" I muttered to myself, and sucked the blood that was still trickling out.

I decided to go to the bathroom downstairs and get something to put on it. Chanel kept the first aid stuff in a bathroom downstairs near the kitchen, just in case one of us was to ever cut themselves. Now, that I had the place to myself, I had to get some more upstairs.

I went in the bathroom, cleaned the cut out with peroxide, put some anti-biotic cream on it, and bandaged it up. The last thing I wanted was some crazy bird infection. I giggled to myself.

After I fixed my hand up, I went out to the front porch. The porch looked out on the beautiful land around the house, there were trees everywhere, and a stream trickled close by.

It was a beautiful day, for me at least. The sky was dark, the wind was blowing, the air was charged; a storm was coming. I laid back in the chair and sighed, I love when it rains. All of a sudden the rain started to pour out of the sky like someone had turned it on with my thoughts.

A loud crack of thunder shook me to my bones, and the rain blew in the wind. Lucky for me, the porch was screened in. I smiled and closed my eyes, this is just what I need.

The thunder cracked again, louder than before, causing me to dart up and open my eyes. In the near distance I saw a man, pacing towards the house, trying to shield himself from the rain.

"What the hell," I murmured. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!" I yelled as he neared the door to the porch.

"Right now, I'm trying not to get struck by lightning," he said, almost sarcastically.

"Come in," I said, holding the door open so he could get under the shelter. "What are you doing up here? How'd you get through the gate?" I demanded.

"The gate just so happened to be open," he said mockingly and smiled at me.

"Damn, gate's broke again," I hissed. "Why were you up this way? This house is the only thing out here. No other people live out this way."

"I heard about this place from the people in town, had to see it for myself. I didn't know it was gated, but to my luck, your gate was broken." He smiled again.

"I usually don't invite strangers in, but you're soaked. Come inside and lets get you some dry clothes." I smiled back for the first time. Something about him was so familiar. I felt like I knew him. His dark hair, his eyes, his expressions, something about him I knew from somewhere, I just couldn't put my finger on it.

"Thank you," he grinned as we walked into the house.

"You're welcome," I smiled, almost speechless. He was gorgeous, leaving me breathless.

We walked upstairs and into the room that used to belong to my adoptive parents. I went over to the dresser and got out a tee shirt and some jeans. Luckily, for him, Ricky was very fit and about his size.

"I'm pretty new in town," he added casually, "I've been looking for a place to stay. I'm Damon by the way, Damon Salvatore" He held out his hand for me to shake.

"I'm Michelle, I don't really have a last name. It's a long story, but if you're willing to listen, I'll let you stay here," I grinned and held my hand out.

"Deal," he smiled as he grabbed my hand and kissed it.

I smiled. My face was heated, I was blushing. "I'll let you change, and you can meet me in the last room on your right."

"Okay," he smiled and winked as I left the room. I fanned myself I as I walked down the hall to my room. Damn, did I just invite this totally beautiful stranger to live here? Maybe I'm going crazy, but I don't really care anymore. I'm sick and tired of being alone, and there is something about that is all too familiar about him.

I got in my room and sat down on my bed. I couldn't help but think about Damon changing in the room down the hall. I swear, I feel like I've seen him before, but where? Maybe I'm crazy, who knows. It's something, though, definitely something.

"Done," I heard Damon's voice call. I looked up to see him leaning against my door frame smiling. I smiled back and patted a spot next to me on the bed.

He grinned and took the spot next to me. "So, you were saying?"

I sighed, "So, today I found out I was adopted. Eighteen years, eighteen years, I have lived in a lie. Not only did I live in a lie, I lived in hell.

"My so-called parents didn't even give a damn about me. Most of my life I spent alone, and if I wasn't alone, I was ignored. I learned to cook for myself at an early age. I took care of myself all on my own.

"They tried to blind me from all of this by buying me expensive things. They tried to make it appear like they took good care of me. It was all a lie."

I sighed again, "So, a few weeks ago, I got in a fight with Chanel, and Ricky hit me. They were going on a camping trip for their wedding anniversary, and I finally blew up about being left alone all the time...bad names were exchanged, and Ricky just like slapped the shit out of me. Not literally, of course.

"So, they go on the camping trip, and a few days later the cops show up at the door. They tell me Chanel and Ricky were killed by some kind of animal. I get taken down to identify the bodies and I don't even cry. I was in a state of shock, and I had no idea what to do.

"The funeral and all passed by so fast. It was a big production, of course, just like they'd want it. The whole town showed up to show their fake sympathy...whatever.

"This morning I met with the lawyer about the will. I come to find that I'm left with everything, I get handed this letter, and well, that's just about it. Here, let me get it."

I got up off the bed and went to get the letter out of the corner. I handed it to Damon, he unballed it, and he started to read it. I sat there watching him read in silence. Then, he looked up at me with an apologetic look on his face.

"I'm so sorry," he frowned, "you must be a wreck after all of this."

"Yeah, I am," I choked out.

"Aww, come here," he said sweetly as he pulled me into his arms.

"Thanks," I sniffed as I wiped the tears from my face, but not pulling away from his embrace. It was too comforting to come out of; I didn't want to let go.

"You okay?" he whispered in my ear.

"Yeah," I said as he pulled my out of his arms and looked me in the eyes.

"I'm here if you need me, just know that," he said to me. He caressed my cheek, and then, kissed me on the same spot he caressed.

"I'm glad I came up here when I did," he smiled at me.

"Not a moment too soon," I whispered back.

"I have something to tell you," Damon whispered as he held me in his arms.

"What?" I said as I pulled back and looked at him.

"I'm the crow," Damon said with a look of unbelievable fear on his face. He's the crow? What is that even supposed to mean?

"What are you talking about?" I asked in confusion.

"I'm. The. Crow," he said slowly. My heart sunk down to my stomach.

"Wha-what?" I stuttered.

"I know it's hard to put your head around; I can explain everything."

"I let you, some stranger in my house and now you want to mock me and tell me you're a crow?" I said angrily.

"I'm a vampire," Damon began. At this, I became furious.

"Get out!" I yelled and thrust my arm towards the door.

"No!" Damon said stubbornly, "Adena, I'm not getting out."

"What did you just call me?" I growled before I tried to push Damon toward the door. Big mistake, he wouldn't budge.

"Adena, your intended name. What that crazy bitch Chanel refused to name you. The name your mother intended. Adena I am so sorry I didn't do what your mother asked of me. I was so afraid to take some responsibility for you, and for that, I am terribly sorry. Eighteen years ago I promised your dying mother that I would keep an eye on you. Never did I intend in these recent years to fall in love with you and finally man up and take some responsibility for you. I am going to take care of you Adena, no one will ever hurt you again. Especially those bastards that called themselves your parents. I made sure they'd never hurt you any more."

"What?" I said, tears in my eyes. Damon had basically just told me he loved me. But how?

"I should explain," Damon began, "I am a vampire, born in the 1800s, I even fought in the Civil War. Your mom and I met nineteen years ago and hit it off. We became amazing friends. She became pregnant, something she automatically knew would take her life. See, your mother was a witch unlike any other I ever met. She could see into the future. She knew having you would take her life, that's why she found a couple that would take you when you were born. She didn't see that you would be mistreated. They intended on treating you well early on, screwing up her visions.

"Your mom saw something, Adena, when she was pregnant with you. She saw that you would be the greatest witch that ever lived. She told me to take care of you, hurt anyone that ever hurt you. She wanted to be your guardian when the time was right, to make sure you'd be safe. I've been a little selfish, now. I've fallen madly in love with you, and I want you to come with me.

"But before you go, you'll have to do your first intentional spell. You have to unlock your magic, your powers, and become the girl you were born to be."

Tears were streaming down my face. Part of me wanted to think that Damon were insane, but a larger part of me knew he was telling the truth, every word.

"You killed them, didn't you?" I whispered.

"I did," he said confidently.

"Thank you," I said bravely. I was happy that they were dead, and part of me wanted to hate myself for feeling that way but I did.

"You're welcome princess," Damon said with a killer smile.

"That's why you seemed so familiar," I said in disbelief.

"What's that," Damon asked.

"You're the crow, that's why you were so familiar," I said with a smile.

"Yes," he replied, "I hope you can handle all this. The fact that there are vampires and witches in the world."

"I've never felt normal," I said in, almost, disbelief. "I've never been normal. That's why I've always gotten things to go my way, isn't it?"

"Yes," Damon replied with a smile, "I need to go to my car and get my bags. I have the spell inside and all the things you need to do it. I think the quicker you do it, the better."

"You sure?" I asked nervously.

"You'll feel a whole lot better," he replied.

"Want me to drive you to your car? It's still pouring out there." I asked.

"I can run and get it, I'll hardly get wet. The being soaking wet in the rain thing was just a ruse to get you to let me in."

"Oh," I said, embarrassed.

"I'm going to miss that blush," Damon said with a smile.

"What do you mean?" I asked in suspicion.

"Well, there's one thing I left out about all this," Damon said, after he did he cringed. What was he hiding from me?

"Damon," I pressed.

"You become a vampire," Damon blurted out.

"What?" I yelled. I was in shock.

"Your mom saw it," Damon said as he closed his eyes and took a breath. "Witches aren't supposed to be vampires, but you are. You really aren't much of a witch from what I know though. You have powers no other witch has. I know it's scary, especially when you find out how you become a vampire. I promise you, though, I will be as gentle as possible."

"Damon how do you become a vampire?" I asked, not really wanting to know.

"You drink a vampire's blood, die with it in your system, and drink human blood to complete the transformation," Damon said, turning his back on me before he saw my reaction.

"I die?" I asked, my voice breaking.

"Yes, but I promise your death will be as painless as possible. I'll snap your neck; you won't feel a thing."

"Oh great, and who will I feed upon?" I asked with dread.

"Any human you want, I'll find you someone. You won't even have to kill them, and you can compel them to forget. We've got this, I promise you everything is going to be fine."

"Okay," I nodded as tears streamed down my face.

"Don't cry," Damon begged as he pulled me into his arms. I took my hands and caressed his face. "I have something I need to ask you."

"What's that?" I asked.

"Can I kiss you?" Damon asked shyly.

"After being here for me for all these years? Of course you can kiss me! I don't care that you came to me as a crow. You can kiss me. I've loved you all this time. You've been my best friend, my only friend. Yes, Damon, kiss me."

Damon didn't say a single word. He smiled and kiss me with as much passion as he could. It was amazing. I saw fireworks and my knees buckled. Damon caught me, pulled away, and chuckled. I laughed and slapped at him.

"By the way," Damon said, "It is okay that I call you Adena, isn't it? Or do you prefer Michelle?"

"Fuck that name," I said to him as I gazed into his gorgeous eyes, "I don't want any name those people gave me. Call me Adena."

"Excellent," Damon said with a wicked smile. "I'll be right back."

Damon left me standing there for a few minutes before he returned with his bags. Out of one of them, he pulled out a very old looking book that he explained was a grimoire. Marked on the very last page was the spell that unlock my magic.

"So I do this and I'm a full blown witch?" I said as I scanned through the page.

"Yep, it is princess," Damon said with a smile.

"Well let's do this shit," I said with a raised brow.

"Let's get started," he replied.

I gathered all the things together and did as the page told me to do. When the time was right I said the spell. As I said the spell a wind came in to the house and started whipping things around. All the candles near me lit and the electricity sputtered. It was over as soon as it was done though, and I definitely felt different.

"Let's see something," Damon said.

"Like what?" I asked, not knowing at all what to do.

"What's your favorite element?" Damon asked.

"Fire I guess, maybe water," I answered.

"Summon a fire ball," Damon replied.

"Okay," I said. I stood there and concentrated. I thought about a fire ball forming in my hand. I expected nothing to happen, because I wasn't expecting to really be what Damon said I was. But then all of a sudden there it was, right in my hand. A fire ball.

"Perfect," Damon said with another wicked smile.

"Oh my God I'm holding fire in my palm," I squealed excitedly.

"You are so cute when you do that," Damon said with a cute smile on his face.

"So, what next?" I ask.

"Well, you need to pack," Damon replied. "It's something your mom was good at. All she would do was will her things in her suitcase and it would be done."

"You think I could do that?" I asked.

"Of course, princess," Damon said with a wink.

"I will try," I said. Then, I waved my arm, and from my closet came my suitcases and they filled with the clothes I liked the most out of my closet. Then, came my shoes, then my jewelry box. Before I knew it I was though packing.

"Told you you could do it," Damon smiled.

"I guess now comes my transformation?" I asked.

"Yes, sadly," Damon said with a clear frown on his face.

"Well let's get it over with," I said with a frown now on my face.

"Come here," Damon said. So, I went to him, and he took me into his arms. "Can I taste your blood before I turn you?" he asked.

"O-okay," I nodded.

"Here, I'll give you mine first," Damon said. He bit his wrist and put it up to my mouth to drink. I drank enough to turn me before I let him drink.

Damon brought his lips down on my neck and kissed before I felt his sharp fangs pierce my neck. It stung badly, but before I knew it the pain was over. I felt Damon's hands wrap around my head before it all turned black.