Author's Note: Here's the second chapter up and we're starting to head into the swing of things. I hope you enjoy and please leave a review.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything from The Vampire Diaries. All rights belong to the writers and creators of the show and books.


Becca drove into Mystic Falls one hundred and thirty-five years after she vowed to never come back. The appearance of the town had changed vastly, obviously, but she pictured the town the way she'd known it back in the 1800s. She could picture the old blacksmith shop where the mall stood now, and the old tavern where some bar ran its business. None of these were her destination, however. She drove her car through the town before turning onto a back road that led into the countryside. She followed this road until it turned to dirt and left the scattered houses around. This part of Mystic Falls remained undeveloped.

She turned her car right onto a road that no one would even see unless they already knew it was there, but of course she knew this area like the back of her hand. She'd grown up here over a hundred years ago. Becca grew more and more tense as she passed the ruins of her old neighbor's home. She never thought she'd be back here. Finally, her destination came into sight. A large, white colonial standing lonely on a hundred acre property. No one lived in the house anymore. Becca new its only visitor was the groundskeeper she hired to maintain the property. She didn't know why she bothered to keep it up, or why she'd wanted the house so bad. Maybe it was just the fact that she could own it despite being a vampire. Even after she'd supposedly died her parents had never changed their will. She inherited the house.

Becca parked the car and slowly climbed out of the driver's seat. She stood there unmoving for a while staring at the house, before the sound of laughter surprised her. She glanced to the porch where two little girls were playing with their rag dolls, their dresses unceremoniously tucked up to their knees, their long hair freed from the bows their mother had tied on so carefully earlier in the morning. Becca smiled as the memory faded and the girls disappeared. She walked up onto the porch and turned the key in the lock and entered the home. More memories flickered across her vision. A few servants moving around keeping the house in order and occasionally scolding the two girls for breaking something. Her father sitting in the chair by the fireplace, a newspaper and his pipe in hand. Her mother fretting over a list of things that had to be done.

Quickly, it began to be too much and she ran out of the house and fell on her knees to the ground, gasping for air. When she managed to compose herself she relocked the door and wandered around the back of the home. She glanced over to where the stables used to be, her favorite old haunt, but she didn't head over in that direction. Instead she strode quickly into the woods around her and walked until she was well off of her property. The walk was actually easier for her now than it had been over a hundred years ago. Not only was she a vampire, but she wasn't hindered by a large skirt.

Finally, she broke away from the trees and found herself near a small lake. She closed her eyes as another memory washed over her. She'd snuck out of the house that night when he'd thrown the pebble at her window. He'd been impossible to say no to with those hypnotic blue eyes. He got her to do all sorts of crazy things. That night they'd skinny dipped in this lake. He was the first man to ever see her naked body. She remembered the constant blush that stained her skin that night, not just because he looked at her, but also from looking at him. She remembered the way the moonlight gleamed off his wet skin until she wondered if he was real, or if this was just another dream.

When he touched her she knew it was real. The sensation his hand on her breast gave her would have surly woken her up if she'd been asleep. She hadn't thought to tell him no. She let him touch her and kiss her, and when his hand snaked between them and fondled the most private part of her she'd murmured yes. He'd brought her back to the shore and took her there.

Becca opened her eyes, snapping herself out of the memory. That had happened a long time ago. She hadn't come back to this town she hated so much to reminisce. She needed to find out who was responsible for the recent "animal attacks" plaguing the town. Becca ran back to her car at inhuman speeds and drove back into town intending to head for the bar she'd seen on the way in. She needed to get people talking about the recent animal attacks, and alcohol often made people's lips pliant. She wanted to hold off using compulsion. She knew the history of the town. If she tried to compel the wrong person she could land herself in a spot of trouble. Getting people drunk off their ass though was still and allowable tactic.

She was a few blocks away from the bar when she spotted an elderly man struggling to take out his garbage. She twiddled her thumbs on the wheel for a second before pulling the car over and going to the man's aid.

"Need some help there?" she asked.

The old man glanced up at her a smiled. "Thank you, but I don't want to trouble you," he replied.

"Oh, it's no trouble," Becca said gently taking the trash cans off the man and pulling them easily to the curb. She turned back and smiled at the man. "It's easier for me than it is for you."

The man chuckled. "Yes, to be young and in your prime," he agreed. "One day you'll miss being able to do such mundane tasks with ease."

Becca smiled knowing she'd never age a day past eighteen, but nodded her head in agreement with his words. "Maybe so, but today I'm just happy to be able to lend a hand," she replied. "You have a great day." She turned around to head back to her car when the man called her back.

"Don't run off so quickly," he said. "Anyone who does me a favor gets repaid with a glass of my ice cold iced tea."

"Thank you, but I don't want to intrude," Becca replied.

"Nonsense!" the old man cried. "This is the south. We have pride in our hospitality so I won't take no for an answer."

Becca smiled widely at the man. "Well when you put it like that how could I refuse?" she laughed. "My name's Becca, by the way. Becca Curran."

"Scott Pritchard," the man told her. "Pleased to meet you." Becca followed him into his home and was ordered to sit down at his kitchen table while he went about getting a glass of iced tea for her. He sat down as he placed the glass in front of her. "What brings you to Mystic Falls?"

"Looking for a place to settle down," Becca replied before taking a sip of the ice tea. Her eyes widened in surprise and she forced down a cough. "This is good."

"Special recipe," Scott told her. "My mother's recipe with one new ingredient."

"Whiskey," Becca said.

Scott smiled at her. "It's the only way I can taste my drink anymore," he replied. "My taste buds have gone in my old age." Becca smiled and took another drink. It went down easier this time. "You said you were thinking of moving here?"

"Yes," Becca answered. "The town just looks so picturesque. I've always dreamed of living in a place just like this. It would be a nice change after growing up in New York City."

"Not too long ago I would have agreed with you, but now I'm afraid I have to warn you the town's not as picturesque as it seems," Scott warned her.

Becca frowned. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"We've had a recent string of animal attacks," Scott told her. "Killed quite a few people. Nice, decent people who were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Had the hikers and campers of this community buzzed up with anxiety."

"Well that's a shame," Becca said. "Are the attacks still going on?"

"No, no," Scott replied. "They found and killed the animal that had been attacking people, but shortly after people began to disappear."

"Well, that is unfortunate, but I'm sure it has nothing to do with the town itself," Becca commented.

Scott smiled ruefully and glanced directly at her. "I probably shouldn't be telling you what I'm about to say," he said. "You'll probably write it off as silly superstition, but I feel I should warn you after your good deed for me today."

"Tell me what?" Becca questioned.

Scott gave her a careful look. "The animal that attacked the hikers and campers, it didn't feed from their bodies," he said. "There would be a bite wound on the necks and the victims would be drained of blood, but the bodies were intact. Now what animal do you know of that kills just for the sake of killing?"

Becca squirmed a little in her seat. She wouldn't have to go to the bar after all. This man was going to tell her everything. "None," she replied.

Scott nodded. "The only animal that kills for sport are humans," he responded.

"So you're saying that a human is behind all these attacks? That a serial killer is in the area?" Becca asked adding a layer of fear to her voice.

"I guess you could pin the term serial killer to it, but human no," Scott replied. Becca twisted her face into an expression of confusion. Scott looked more wary than ever but pressed on. "See, over a hundred years ago this town had a problem just like the one going on now. Last time the problem was vampires, and I reckon that we have another one stalking the town now."

Becca blinked. "Vampires?" she exclaimed. "But they're not real."

Scott smiled. "I told you, you wouldn't believe me," he said. "But I speak the truth plain as day. Ask any founding family of this town and they'll tell you about these creatures that rule the night."

"But you're not from a founding family," Becca blurted out confused.

Scott looked surprised. "No, I'm not," he agreed. "But how did you know that."

"Research," Becca stated quickly covering up her slip. "I put a lot of thought into where I wanted to live. I thought the fact that the founding families still playing such an important role in the town was very interesting. But Pritchard was a founding family name."

Scott chuckled. "Ooh boy," he exclaimed. "You're a different sort of creature than the folks that grew up here, I'll tell you that. Researching where you want to live." He shook his head and smiled at her. "I used to date a girl from one of the founding families when I was about your age. She was a gossip and a horrible secret keeper. She'd tell you anything. She told me all of her family secrets and the secrets of other families in the town."

Becca smiled and bit back a chuckle as she finished her iced tea. This man was just as much of a gossip as his old girlfriend. "Well," she said standing up. "I'm not sure I believe your vampire tale, but I'll certainly be careful if I decide to go for a hike in the woods."

Scott nodded his head. "See that you do," he told her following her back to the front door. "Where are you staying currently?"

"Nowhere yet," Becca replied. "I just rolled into town about an hour ago. Could you direct me to a hotel?"

"You must have drove right by it on the way in," Scott laughed. "The only motel is right by the way into town."

"Oh, I feel so silly," Becca said. "I can't believe I missed it."

"Well, now it's nothing to worry about, but actually there is another place you might be able to stay that's only a few blocks from here," Scott told her.

"A bed and breakfast?" Becca guessed.

"Sort of," Scott replied. "The Salvatore Boarding House." Becca immediately tensed at the name, and nearly missed the next part of the man's speech. "Last I heard Zach wasn't taking boarders, but he might let you stay for a night or two. He's a nice fellow."

"I'm sure he is, but I don't want to trouble him with getting a room ready on such short notice when a motel will have a fresh room already available," Becca said. "Thank you for the tea and hospitality. It was very nice to meet you."

"Likewise," Scott agreed. "If you do decide to live here stop by and tell me how you're doing."

"Oh I will," Becca called as she got in her car. She pulled back out onto the street and drove towards the entrance to town until she was well out of the old man's sight, before turning the road back in the direction of her childhood home. She scowled to herself. She'd been hoping she was wrong but it really did seem like there was a vampire in the area, and she couldn't shake the feeling that…he, was involved somehow. Becca shook her head. There was nothing left to do but track down the vampire stalking the town, and she knew just where to start. After all, if she were to hunt in this area the woods would be starting place.

Damon grew more and more aggravated as he waited for Logan to show up at the Fell's church with the information to raise Katherine out of the tomb. Patience wasn't his strong point, especially when a large part of him wanted the Logan fellow dead in revenge for shooting him with wooden bullets earlier. The punk better have the information he needed, or he'd be ripping out hearts. His attention was caught when his cell started going off. Annoyed he glanced down at the screen and saw that it was Sheriff Forbes calling. He had to take the call.

"Sheriff," he greeted.

"I don't know how to thank you," Sheriff Forbes exclaimed from the other end of the line.

Damon frowned in confusion. "Thank me?" he asked. "For what?"

"Taking care of Logan Fell," Sheriff Forbes replied not catching onto his cluelessness of the whole situation. "We found his body up at the warehouse."

"What?" Damon asked shocked.

"I can't thank you enough," the Sheriff said again. "This town owes you." Damon held onto the phone even after she'd hung up. His only chance at finding a way to get Katherine out of the tomb was gone. And not only that, but Damon hadn't gotten the pleasure of taking Logan Fell out.

"Damon?" a voice said from behind him, and he turned around and froze in shock as a young woman strode towards him. "What the hell is going on?"

Damon opened his mouth, but no words came out. He had to be dreaming. There was no way she was here. But she'd never seemed so real in his dreams. Whenever her figure chose to haunt him at night her eyes were a dull grey. No life in them. But now as she stood in front of him with an expecting look on her face, her blue-green eyes sparkled like jewels and he was finally able to get a word out. "Becca?"