Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or The Vampire Diaries, or any content/characters associated with these franchises. This story is for entertainment purposes only.

I'm not sure why I came here. Maybe it was closure. Maybe it was revenge. Whatever the reason was, I didn't care. I stomped on the gas pedal and the car lurched violently forward, crashing through the garage door. All I could do was laugh maniacally as I sped away from the Cullens' house in Edward's precious Aston Martin.

Goodbye, Forks.

Hello, Destiny.

CHAPTER 3 – WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME

Three days later, Bella found herself in a small boarding house just on the outskirts of Mystic Falls. She had compelled herself free room and board, and was now unpacking her things.

Bella still wasn't entirely sure why she was in this town. Osiris had told her that she would find answers here, but answers to what? She wasn't even sure what questions she was supposed to be asking. What was she supposed to do now that she was here?

As she put away the last of her things, Bella finally decided on a course of action. Osiris had described Mystic Falls as sort of a "Supernatural Central". Perhaps this is what her Father meant about not having to complete her task alone. Maybe she would be able to find some allies here—supernatural creatures that were sympathetic to her plight. After all, didn't everyone hate Cold Ones?

It was an unseasonably warm Saturday night in April when Isabella Swan walked into the Mystic Grill. After three long days of driving across country, she was in the mood to relax and maybe have a drink. Bella was never a big drinker, but she learned quickly that as a vampire, alcohol was definitely her friend. It helped take the edge off of her thirst.

Bella found an open stool at the bar and compelled the bartender to bring her a glass of bourbon. Sipping on her drink, she decided it was as good a time as any to do some reconnaissance. She quieted her mind, and let her senses stretch out across the bar. Quickly, she picked up on a conversation taking place in a secluded booth at the back of the bar. She couldn't see either man, but she could hear them just fine.

"Listen up, Salvatore. I don't do second chances, so I'm only going to ask you once. Where are the coffins? Where are you keeping my family?"

"Sorry, Klaus. I guess that's for me to know, and for you to … dot dot dot."

Klaus? As in Niklaus Mikaelson? The Original Hybrid? Bella asked herself.

Osiris had given her a brief history of the Original Family. Based on the information her Father had given her, and the conversation Bella was eavesdropping on, she was able to deduce that Klaus's daggered family was being held hostage by this other man.

Bella didn't understand why this made her so angry. Sure it was awful that someone's family was being held hostage, but why did it affect her on such a personal level? She could here desperation in Klaus's voice as he asked for the location of the coffins, and for some reason that just pissed her off even more. It angered Bella on a primal level.

Angrily, Bella hopped off her barstool and made a beeline toward the secluded booth where the not-so-private conversation was being held. As she rounded the corner, Bella saw a very handsome man with short, blond hair and piercing blue eyes reach across the table and grab the other man by the collar of his shirt.

"Damon, you will take me to where you are keeping my family." Klaus Mikaelson was trying to compel Damon Salvatore into returning his daggered family.

Damon, who was still being held by his collar, simply smirked and said, "Nice try, but I've been drinking vervain ever since I saw your brother, Elijah, compel another vampire."

Osiris had informed Bella that Original Vampires had the ability to compel lesser vampires. However, where the Originals could be thwarted by vervain, Bella was completely immune to its effects.

She smirked at Damon's admission and continued on to the table in question. The male vampires at the table froze as Bella sat down next to Klaus. He released Damon's collar, forgetting exactly what it was that was just so important a moment ago.

To be honest, he really didn't care. The only thing that mattered at the moment was the tiny brunette, with snow-white skin, and big brown eyes that had just appeared out of thin air and was now sitting next to him. Klaus was in a daze. He was spellbound. Over one thousand years he has walked this planet, and his eyes had never feasted upon such beauty.

Bella was unnerved by Klaus's proximity. The electricity that was occupying the small space between their bodies was palpable. Doing her best to appear composed and self-assured, Bella reached over and downed Klaus' bourbon. He could only sit there wide-eyed, and in complete awe of this magnificent woman. She looked up at Klaus from the corner of her eye and smirked playfully.

"Now," she said, straightening up and taking on a business-like attitude. "I couldn't help overhearing the current predicament you two gentlemen are in. I don't care about the particulars. I don't really care how you two got to this point. But what I do care about is family."

"Look, sweetheart," the raven-haired vampire began. "I don't know who you are, or what you're doing here, but why don't you march that cute butt of yours back on up to the bar and let the men finish up here."

Before she could respond, Klaus had his hand around Damon's throat. "You will not speak to her like that. Got it, mate?" Unable to respond vocally, all Damon could do was nod in agreement. "Sorry about that, love," Klaus said, turning his hypnotic gaze to Bella. Klaus and Bella's eyes connected, and for a moment, they were the only two people in the bar. It wasn't until they heard Damon clearing his throat twenty seconds later that they were able to break their connection.

Bella took a steadying breath, trying to collect herself. She was already annoyed with Damon Salvatore and didn't want to be in his presence any longer than needed. She leaned across the table and looked Damon directly in his eyes.

"You will not speak again unless spoken to. Now, when I'm done speaking you will get up from this booth and walk to your car. You will then drive to where Klaus' family is being held. You will not tell anyone that we are coming. When we arrive, you will do whatever is needed to make sure the coffins are turned back over to Klaus. Understood?" Bella commanded as she sat back in her seat.

"Yes," Damon said with a sour expression on his face. He couldn't believe what was happening. He'd been taking vervain every day. How did this woman compel him? What was she?

As Damon stood up, Bella looked over to Klaus, "My car or yours?"

"Pardon?" Klaus asked with a bemused smile on his face. He still wasn't entirely sure what had just occurred here.

"We need to follow Damon to the location your family is being kept at. You want to get your family back, right?" she asked deliberately. But all Klaus could do was nod, and Bella was wondering if there was something wrong with him. "So … which car?"

"Right, car. Umm …"

"Ugh … never mind. Let's go," she said, pulling Klaus up and out of the booth so they could follow Damon out to the parking lot.

Bella could feel Klaus staring at her from the passenger seat as she drove. "I … I never got your name," he said, his voice guarded.

"Isabella … Isabella Swan. But you can call me Bella."

He nodded. He wanted to tell her it was the most beautiful name he'd ever heard … that it fit her, because she too was beautiful. Instead, he replied, "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Isabella. My name is Niklaus Mikaelson, but you may call me Klaus."

She couldn't help but notice that Klaus ignored her request to be called 'Bella.' So, with a smirk on her face, she repaid him in kind. "It's nice to meet you as well … Niklaus." He'd never tell her, but the way his full name sounded rolling off her lips made him damn near shiver.

After several minutes of comfortable silence, Klaus turned his gaze toward Bella. "Why are you helping me?" he asked—emotion thick in his voice.

Bella glanced away from the road to look at Klaus and smiled shyly. He wasn't sure why, but he found himself smiling too. "You looked like you needed help. We all need help sometimes," she said as she gently took his hand his hers. She squeezed once, as if to emphasize her point, and then let go. Neither of them, however, expected the sizzling electricity that passed between them the second they touched. The warmth was so pleasant, Klaus nearly groaned out loud when Bella released his hand.

"You're different …" Klaus said as he studied Bella's flawless features, "… from other vampires, I mean."

Bella smiled. "Yes. I'm not like other vampires."

"But you are a vampire, correct?" Klaus asked intensely. It was as if he was hanging on Bella's every word.

Bella shrugged. "For all intents and purposes."

Klaus found himself smiling again, and that unsettled him. This woman had him in a spin! "I've never met anyone like you," he said softly—his gaze intense.

Bella felt her cheeks blush from Klaus's pseudo-compliment. "That's because there isn't anyone else like me," she said. Klaus wasn't exactly sure what she meant by that, but he definitely heard the implied double meaning.

He narrowed his eyes appraisingly. "Hmm …" he hummed in silent contemplation.

"We're here," Bella said as the car came to a stop behind Damon's Camaro.

"Damon," Bella said in the commanding voice she reserves only for when compelling someone. "I want you to lead us inside the house and to the coffins, understood?"

He nodded, and Bella followed Damon into the house. However Klaus was stopped at the doorway by an invisible barrier. "Where is the owner of this home?" Bella demanded.

"Here," a middle aged woman replied as she came out of the kitchen.

Bella quickly walked up to the woman and looked her in the eyes. "I want you invite my friend inside," she said, pointing to Klaus who was still standing in the doorway.

The woman laughed. "I am a powerful witch. You cannot compel me, child. And I will never allow that monster into my home," she said pointing toward Klaus in disgust.

Surprisingly, the answering growl came from Bella, not Klaus. She grabbed the witch and sunk her fangs into her neck. She drank every last drop of the woman, but just to be sure, Bella snapped her neck like a Popsicle stick once the blood ran dry. She turned to Klaus as she licked the excess blood from her lips. "You can come in now. She's dea—". She froze as she took in the sight before her.

Klaus was standing in the doorway, staring at her with heavy-lidded, pitch-black eyes. He had never been so turned on in all his life. As he watched this vampire goddess, and that's what she was in his mind—a goddess, turn around, blood dripping from her lips, he swore an oath to himself:

I will make her mine.

Two hours later, a couple of Klaus' hybrids had the coffins loaded onto a moving truck and on its way back to Klaus' home.

"I want to thank you, Isabella, for all that you've done for me and my family today. I cannot express my gratitude in words," he said as he took her hand in his. He searched her face for a moment before he continued, "As soon as I return to my home, I plan on undaggering my siblings. I was wondering if … I was wondering if you would like to join me as I wake them from their slumber. After all, they should have the honor of meeting the woman responsible for their freedom."

Bella blushed at his kind words. "You are so very beautiful when you blush, Isabella." He chuckled when his words spurred on a new, more intense blush to appear.

Bella knew that she should thank Klaus for the offer and return home. She had no business being the middle of an Original Family Reunion. Some of these siblings have not seen each other in 900 years. She should give them their privacy. She looked up to tell Klaus exactly that, but one look into his hopeful blue eyes and she was lost.

"It would be my honor," she replied.

Klaus and Bella smiled at each other. He then offered her his arm, whispering, "Shall we?"

Bella nodded and smiled softly as she slipped her arm through the crook of Klaus' elbow, allowing him to escort her back to the car.

As they drove back to Klaus' home to wake his siblings, Bella couldn't help but smile. She started the day in hopes of finding an ally or two, but as she glanced over at Klaus, who was staring at her like a blind man seeing the sun for the first time, she couldn't help but feel she found a hell of a lot more than that.

A/N – So what do y'all think? Bella meets the family next chapter. Don't worry, that wasn't the last we've seen of Damon. Thank you all for the reviews and favorites. I really do appreciate each one. Reviews are like crack to a wannabee writer!