Queenie: Hello, everyone, I know these chapters aren't very long, and that Lyra isn't really interacting much with the others. But I promise once Elijah becomes more involved that she will with everything that's going on and the chapters will be loner.

Also, I have a poll posted on my profile page that asks who you think Abel should be paired with later on in the story, so please check it out and vote.


Lyra let out a scream as she withered on the ground feeling as if every cell in her being was on fire. Above her, Bellatrix cackled at her pain.

"Crucio!" Bellatrix shouted as she recast the curse.

Lyra let out another rippling scream while feeling as if she wanted to die right there. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she continued convulse on the ground. She tried curling up in the fetal position as if it would ease some of the pain, but it did no such thing. There was no relief whatsoever from the pain she was feeling.

"How does it feel, you disgusting blood traitor?!" Bellatrix demanded.

She then twisted her wand, which seemed to double the pain that Lyra was already feeling. Still she refused to beg for Bellatrix to stop because she would not beg for anything. She would not give Bellatrix or any of the other Death Eaters watching the satisfaction of hearing her beg or plead for mercy. Lyra would rather die than beg for mercy. Bellatrix then finally stopped casting the curse, which allowed Lyra a few moments of peace as she panted for air.

"I bet you wish Mummy or Daddy were here to save you, little Black." Bellatrix crooned as she knelt down to get close to Lyra's ear. "But they aren't, which means they won't be able to stop me from cutting up their baby girl's pretty, white skin."

Lyra was flipped over onto her stomach, and then heard her shirt being ripped open in the back. She then felt a burning sensation as she cried out once more. She knew Bellatrix was craving something into her back, but Lyra wasn't sure what. As she cried clawed at the floor, the Death Eaters laughed at her misery with Bellatrix's insane cackle being the loudest. It seemed like hours before Bellatrix stopped cutting into Lyra's back. By the time she was done, Lyra had lost so much blood, and was feeling light headed. If only she could fall unconscious now. However, she had a feeling that even if she lost consciousness that it wouldn't give her any peace. It was all too late for that. The damage was done.

"I quite like my artwork." Bellatrix said as she got up to circle around Lyra. "Would you like to take a look?"

Bellatrix reached down to grab a fist full of Lyra's hair, which had her whimpering in pain. Bellatrix then proceeded to drag Lyra across the floor towards a mirror. Lyra was thrown on her side with her back to the mirror, and then another was one uncovered in front of her, so she could see the reflection of her back in the other. Lyra felt like crying the second she saw the words "Toujours pur" craved into her back. Bellatrix knelt down beside Lyra to speak to her again.

"Perhaps this will be a reminder of what you are meant to uphold as a member of the Black Family." Bellatrix cooed darkly. "You and your filthy parents both tried to run from the ways of the family, but now no matter where you go, you will have to carry the family's beliefs along with you. It will be like brand you can never get rid of no matter how hard you try, little Black."

Bellatrix then stood straight while lifting her wand. Lyra looked up at her with dull eyes while knowing what was coming next.

"Crucio!" Bellatrix shouted.

Lyra shot up in bed with a cold sweat covering her body. She took in gasping breaths as tears rolled down her cheeks. She let out a sob while curling up in the bed. Even here in America, she couldn't run away from those horrible memories. They would haunt her for the rest of forever. She just knew it. She covered part of her face with her hand while feeling ashamed of how weak she was to let those memories bother her so.

In public she did well to hide her scars and her fears, but when she was alone the truth of how tortured of a soul she is comes to light. She just didn't know how much longer it would be before it became impossible to hide these scars from the people around her. She let out another sob wishing there was some way to save herself from the darkness in her mind that crept forward more every time she has a nightmare.

She knew she needed help, but she was too prideful to ask for any. That and she didn't want to drag anyone into her memories that were surely going to drive her insane someday. Lyra shook her head trying to calm herself slightly. She knew how to handle these nightmares even if not in the healthiest of ways. Lyra pushed the covers off of her before getting out of her new bed. She left her bedroom while heading into the opened area of her apartment.

Abel had brought her here yesterday, and the place was definitely different than the Old Grimmauld Place. It was much smaller and brighter. It was very muggle as well, and made Lyra feel as if she was the one out of place. She supposes she was since she is the pureblood British witch now living in a small muggle town in America. Though perhaps there could be a few changes done to the space to make her feel more comfortable. She'd probably get on that later. Now, she needed something to calm her down.

Lyra walked over to the kitchenette in her apartment to get started on some coffee. As she was preparing to make a cup, she noticed the clock above the sink read it was only 4:30am, and she had only finally managed to fall asleep roughly at 1:15am to 1:20am.

"Another night without sleep." She murmured to herself. "It's nothing new I suppose."

She shook her head while going through her morning routine while mostly using magic to prepare her coffee since she still didn't know how to use the appliances that came with her apartment. Perhaps Abel could show her how to use them later in the day. Though she was perfectly content using her more "old fashioned" ways to brew coffee and tea since that's how her mother taught her. Once the coffee was done, Lyra reached into one of the cabinets to pull out a bottle of Fire Whiskey. She poured some into her coffee then moved over to the sitting area in her apartment to sit on the small loveseat. She stretched her legs out across it while letting out a small yawn.

"I must get the ingredients for a sleeping draught or a dreamless sleep draught." Lyra said to herself. "If I can't sleep naturally on my own, I'll have to use those to help me sleep."

She couldn't afford to be losing so much sleep. She needed to be alert during the day when she's working since her job as an Auror could be dangerous. If she wants to hunt down Lucius and Bellatrix she had to be in tiptop condition, or she'd easily be killed.

"I'll ask Abel if there are any places nearby that would sell the ingredients I need." Lyra murmured to herself. "If not, I'll have to have then sent here along with the means to grow them myself later on."

Lyra actually had some of the best scores in her potion classes. She had a knack for the class like her parents had. Though her best class had to be Defense Against the Dark Arts. As Lyra was nursing her coffee, she knew today would be a day she became familiar with the territory and the people, so she'd know who to keep her eyes on the most. And who to avoid at all costs if possible.


Lyra, who finally managed to calm down, looked at herself in the mirror as she finished getting dressed for the day. Since she was amongst the muggles now, she decided to make her wardrobe more muggle since she was certain her Victorian-modern style would stick out far too much here. She wasn't here to gain a lot of attention in the slightest. She was here to do her job, and that was all.

"Just one more thing." Lyra said to herself.

She put a silver chain around her neck with a pedant hanging from it that was the Black Family crest. Despite many unpleasant feelings towards her family, she still wears this every day. Mostly for her parents' sake since they were Blacks just as much as she is. Doesn't mean she has to act like most of her family does. Lyra let out a sigh knowing it was time to start heading out.

She might go over to Abel's house to see if she should show Lyra around, or they could get started on work. Whatever works for the best. Lyra left her room while heading to the kitchenette to pick up the coffee mug she left there. It was her fifth cup to be honest. As she took a sip, she glanced at the clock seeing it was a little after 8:00am. She was finishing her cup when there was a knock on her door.

She blinked wondering who that could be. She set her half cup of coffee on the coffee table. She got up while heading over to her door. She opened it while feeling the familiar weight of her wand up her sleeve if she needed it. When seeing it was Abel on the other side, she gave a polite smile to the slightly younger witch.

"Oh, Abel, good-morning." Lyra said. "I was just thinking of visiting you."

"Great minds thing a like I guess." Abel said smiling brightly. "Because I obviously came here to visit you."

Lyra lightly chuckled at Abel's words before inviting her inside Lyra's apartment. Abel looked around curiously as Lyra shut the door.

"I see you've already gotten everything unpacked and in its place." Abel said.

"Yes, magic certainly does help." Lyra replied.

"Tell me about it." Abel said laughing. "I don't get to use it much as I'd like since I have to be careful not to get caught. Sometimes I wonder what the point is in having it, if I can't use it freely without fear of someone finding out."

Lyra hummed while not really knowing how that was like. Sure, there were times where she couldn't use magic when she was still an underage witch and outside of school. But that was all understandable. Also there were magical items and such she could use as long as she wasn't using her own magical power.

"It must be hard growing up with the muggles." Lyra said. "Of course, I lived in a muggle neighborhood, but never interacted with them."

"Really?" Abel asked looking at Lyra curiously. "You never once interacted with some of your No-Maj neighbors?"

Lyra shook her head while offering Abel a seat in which Abel plopped down on the loveseat. Lyra took the chair diagonally across from it while crossing one left over the other.

"I do not know how the pureblood families in America act if there are even still in existence, but in Europe, mostly England, purebloods do no associate with muggles." Lyra said. "Purebloods see muggles as lesser beings and not worth their attention. At least that's how it was years ago, but there are still some purebloods who hold onto the old ways. While growing up, my grandmother made sure I never even gave a polite smile towards a muggle. She would reprimand me if I looked at one for too long."

Abel's eyes widened while guessing Abel grew up in a pretty strict household.

"What did your parents have to say about it?" Abel asked.

"Well, my father was in prison at the time and most of my life while my mother was usually bedridden due to having a frail immune system." Lyra said. "It was up to my grandmother to raise me. She always told me our family was the purest of pure. The only pureblood family left in Europe that had a direct bloodline that never once had a drop of muggle blood stained into it. A direct bloodline that was purely Black."

Of course, there were those who broke off from the bloodline that married into other families. Some that even married muggles or muggle-borns. But over the centuries the pure bloodline of the Blacks remained due to much intermarrying amongst the family with a child who only had Black blood within them being born. Sirius and Columba were both purely Black children, and due to their union Lyra was born with only Black Blood within her veins as well. However, the pureblood line her family were always so proud of was over. Even if Lyra did marry and have children, their blood would be mixed of another family that wouldn't be as pure as the Blacks.

"Purely Black?" Abel asked. "Are you saying there was intermarrying in your family?"

"It was a common practice amongst the purebloods." Lyra said simply. "Something that might be seen as taboo to others was completely normal in the society I grew up in. Not even witches and wizards from lower class families questioned it."

Abel nodded her head though wrinkled her nose. The very thought of marrying into her own family bothered her, but she supposed it was just normal in other places like Lyra said.

"What else did your grandma tell you?" Abel asked.

"She tried to drill it into me that any interactions with anyone less than a pureblood was taboo." Lyra said. "She told me to mix bloodlines with half-bloods, muggles, or muggle-borns was the biggest taboo. That associating with muggles period was something a Black does not do, so I never spoke to my muggle neighbors. To me they didn't exist because if I acknowledged that existence, I would be punished for it."

Abel couldn't believe her ears. To think there were still people in the world who thought like that was more than a bit disturbing.

"But enough about that." Lyra said waving it off. "Though I must say that since I haven't really interacted with the muggles that there are still things I must learn if I wish to live amongst them comfortably."

Abel's face lit up with her smile returning easily as she jumped onto her feet while taking Lyra's hands.

"And I'll teach you whatever you want or need to know!" Abel said nodding. "And I think I could way to learn is to interact with the No-Majs. I actually came over here to tell you that most of the community is going to be at the new public park getting it ready for opening. I think a social gathering like that is the perfect chance to see what you do and don't know to get us started."

Lyra blinked at Abel's excitement before giving a light smile towards the girl since her smile was just contagious.

"It sounds like a plan to me." Lyra said nodding.


Lyra stood with Abel in a small crowd as the temporary mayor of the town—Carol Lockwood—gave a small speech.

"This is all a part of the Historical Society's continuing efforts to give back to the community." Carol said. "Thanks to the generous donation of the Fell Family we are now standing on the site of our newest public park. Thank-you to everyone who has shown up to lend a helping hand. Thanks."

She started clapping with everyone else doing the same. Lyra clapped politely as well as Abel just stood there with her hands in her pockets.

"Okay, this might not be a muggle lesson, but there's some things you need to know if you're going to be in Mystic Falls." Abel said. "Here this town is big on the history of how it started. Also the Founding Families are pretty much royalty around here. They control a lot of what happens in this town, and all the founding families sit on the council. The council that monitors any and every supernatural behavior. Though it's mostly focused on vampires."

Lyra nodded following along. This information could help her keep her eyes out for anyone who might pick up she's not like everyone else in this small town.

"Acting-Mayor Lockwood is part of one of the founding families." Abel said nodding to Carol as she was leaving the stage. "She married into it, but she is very much aware of the supernatural. Her son Tyler Lockwood not so much, but he is a dormant second-class werewolf, so if he ever triggers the gene, he will become very much aware."

Lyra remembers Abel also mentioning Mason yesterday being a werewolf, so he must be part of the Lockwood family.

"Then you have the Fells." Abel added nodding towards the people who made the donations. "One of their own had been turned a vampire a few months back, but he had to be put down. There are the Forbes as well. They have a long history of being the sheriffs in the town. You see, everyone who works at the Sheriff Department who is promoted to deputy knows about the town's secret whether being a founding family member or not, and it's the sheriffs job to organize them and make sure they're ready if they need to take on the supernatural."

"So they almost act like Aurors." Lyra summarized. "They handle the supernatural and do so as a small force."

Abel nodded her head guessing that was the best way to explain it. And if that's how Lyra understood it then it's fine by her.

"Now, there is the Salvatore Family." Abel continued. "But from what I know there are no more living descendants of the family. Of course, the town doesn't know that because they believe Stefan and Damon are living descendants."

So Stefan and Damon are in a way protected by their Founding Family status and the fact people think they are alive. Not only could they hear any information that could save their hides from the council, but no one would think to suspect them of being vampires.

"Finally you have the Gilbert Family." Abel said. "With the last living descendants being my cousins Jeremy and Elena and their uncle John. Now John isn't in town at the moment, but I'm sure he'll return some time or another. He is very much aware of the supernatural world, and isn't afraid to fight back by any means necessary, so he is our biggest threat in my opinion. At least as far as No-Majs go. Also, the council isn't aware that Jeremy and Elena know of the supernatural. In fact, any "children" of the founding families are supposed to be in the dark about all of it just as much as everyone else."

So the council was waiting for their children to get older before passing on the town's secrets.

"Are there any other families I should be wary of?" Lyra asked curiously.

"Well, the Bennett Family, I guess." Abel said honestly. "They are Wiccans after all, but the only one around here is Bonnie. However, we don't see much of her after her Gram's death. But I'm almost worried what she's doing off on her own."

Lyra hummed guessing the little Wiccan could possibly be trying to grow into her powers, which didn't set well with Lyra at all. A Wiccan trying to learn her powers on her own was just asking for trouble.

"Besides all what's happening amongst the founding families, the only other threats is vampires who like to come to town and cause trouble." Abel said. "Unfortunately that's a lot like Katherine—Elena's evil twin if that's what you want to call her—and then Isobel—Elena's biological turned vampire momma—and don't get me started on all the vampires we've already had to take care of just to survive in this crazy town."

"This place certainly is interesting." Lyra said casually. "How did you get caught up in it? I mean, does your family know you are aware just as much as they are?"

Abel nodded her head as the two girls started walking away from the crowd that was starting to divide up to take some jobs to help better the park.

"They might not already know that I knew about magic and the supernatural before them." Abel said. "But they do know I know what's going on, and they can thank Damon for that."

This had Lyra's brow quirking curiously. What did Damon Salvatore do to "expose" Abel to this town's secret?

"Let's just say Damon wasn't such a nice guy when he first rolled into town." Abel said. "The only person he cared about was himself and getting what he wants, and anyone who got in the way is collateral damage. Well, Stefan pissed him off by taking his daylight ring, and in retaliation Damon not only killed a bunch of people. He turned a local girl into a vampire, and then took me hostage to threaten Stefan that he'd kill me if he didn't get what he wanted."

"Real piece of work, isn't it?" Lyra asked. "Why not use your magic to get away?"

"I didn't want to expose myself to them." Abel replied. "And Stefan was doing as Damon asked, so I just played the pretty damsel until it was over."

Lyra nodded while guessing that had been the best choice. As long as things didn't before too dire, she would most likely not use her wand either if she's ever put in such a situation or something similar. Not until it was absolutely necessary.


Lyra hummed to herself a small tune from her childhood as she helped plant some flowers around the sign that read 'Welcome to the Mystic Falls Part'. She and Abel have been planting flowers here and there as accents pieces for the park, and Lyra was actually enjoying herself.

"You're really good at planting." Abel commented. "Did you have a garden at home?"

"No," Lyra said shaking her head. "I just found an enjoyment for plants and planting when I started Herbology at Hogwarts. Of course, most of those plants were used for potions and medicines. And most of them could fight back if they didn't wish to be planted. Or they happened to be carnivorous, or something about them was deadly not matter what kind of plant they were. I cannot tell you how many times I nearly lost a finger, or something else."

Abel lightly laughed while knowing magical plants could be quite the hassle. However, in America there as many magical plants that could be found in Europe. As the girls continued planting, Lyra picked up the sound of someone walking towards them. Lyra paused in what she was doing while turning her head to see an unfamiliar face though that shouldn't be too shocking since she's still new here. Abel noticed her attention was elsewhere, so Abel followed her gaze. She smiled when seeing the guy walking their way.

"Stefan, hey," Abel said as she stood.

Stefan gave Abel a kind smile then looked to Lyra as the young British witch stood up as well.

"Hey, Abel," Stefan said. "I just came to see if you two needed any help."

"No, I think Lyra and I have it covered, but thanks." Abel said.

Stefan nodded then looked towards Lyra as she was taking off the gloves she had been using.

"Hi," Stefan said as he held out his hand towards Lyra. "I'm Stefan Salvatore."

"Lyra Black." She replied while shaking his outstretched hand. "Pleasure."

The two dropped hands as Stefan kept the kind smile on his face. People sure do smile a lot around here in Lyra's opinion. Of course, she used to smile often, but that felt like a long time ago.

"Abel's been talking about you a lot for the last week." Stefan said chuckling. "She's been really excited for your arrival."

"Oh?" Lyra asked while chuckling slightly.

"Shut-up, Stefan," Abel huffed as she elbowed him. "You're making me sound silly."

Stefan chuckled as he looked at Abel gently almost like a brother would look at a sister. Abel then happened to catch something behind Stefan that had her frowning.

"Ah, Stefan, you might want to check on Damon." Abel said.

Stefan blinked at her in confusion before turning his head to see that his brother was speaking with Mason. And while it seemed like an innocent conversation from where they were standing, Stefan knew it was probably anything but. Stefan sighed before turning back to Lyra.

"It was nice meeting you." Stefan said. "Maybe we'll have some other time to talk."

Lyra nodded head then watched as Stefan hurried towards where Damon and Mason were speaking.

"More drama?" Lyra asked once even his vampire hearing couldn't reach them.

"Well, from what I hear, Damon tried to kill Mason last night with a silver knife." Abel said. "Didn't really work out for him."

"This town really is nothing but a problem, isn't it?" Lyra asked casually.

"You have no idea." Abel replied.

Lyra shook her head before getting back to work. As long as she wasn't pulled into the mess, she'd leave the vampires alone with the business. However, if she is somehow dragged into it…well, they'll see who is really higher on the supernatural chain.