Chapter 1: Arriving at Violet Hill

I hadn't really planned on driving into Violet Hill after hours of driving and making quick stops to get some coffee to keep me going, I used to come here on summer vacation with my dad before he died.

I had just brought a small house with the help of my inheritance money after staying at a motel for a couple of days to sort out all of the legal documents. I pulled up outside the house and got out of my 1953 blue Chevy pick up and looked up at the house I was now proud to own.

It had been fairly cheap because of where it was and the state it was in. It was several miles away from the nearest neighbour which was a bonus so I had a lot privacy for me to roam about in my wolf form and practice my witchy spells out in the open, not that I would anyway. It was a two bedroomed house, with a good sized front room, kitchen and dining room as well a bathroom. There were several acres of land that I owned now too which was perfect for me as well as having a massive basement.

I walked inside to take a look and immediately knew that it was going to take a bit of effort to get this house the way I wanted it. The living room and kitchen were in good condition and looked as if they had been redone quite recently as well as one of the bedrooms and the bathroom but the dining room and the upstairs hallway, the other bedroom and the downstairs hallway needed redoing.

All of the flooring was wood and in the kitchen and bathroom lino had been laid down on the floor. The living room had two sofas and a coffee table, the dining room had a nicely sized wooden table with matching chairs, the kitchen was very modern and everything worked, in the downstairs hallway the wallpaper was peeling off, upstairs the first bedroom which was the smallest had a wardrobe and double bed in it, the second bedroom which I decided was going to be my bedroom didn't have anything in it so I would need to drive into town later to buy paint, the bed and mattress but to my surprise it had a walk in wardrobe complete with shelves and drawers and it was decorated nicely which I liked.

It was just after two o clock and the sun set quickly here so I needed to get as much as I my stuff as I could inside and then sort through it and put it in the right room after I drove into town.

This was my chance to start fresh and I was determined to not let anyone I know find me here in this quiet, little safe place I had managed to find a house to live in. I had left California behind and I was not intending to go back.

I decided to get as much as I could unloaded. I didn't really pack much because I was in a hurry to leave. I had my laptop, all of my books, clothes and some other things. The boxes which had my books in were really heavy but being a werewolf it was easy.

I almost had everything unloaded when a car parked outside just behind my truck; it was a Volvo v50 grey estate car. Three people got out the car. I presumed they were a family because there were two adults and a girl a bit younger than me. They looked quite pleasant and I smiled as they reached me.

'Hi, we're the Hamilton's; we're your distant neighbor's.' The male laughed and I laughed along with him.

'It's nice to meet you. I'm Kayda Rena.' I shook their hands.

' I'm Mr. Hamilton but you can call me Stuart and this is my wife Cass and my daughter Lucky.'

'Dad!' the teenage girl groaned. 'Don't tell her that!' she said and turned to me. 'Call me Lucy.' she smiled as I shook her hand. I smiled at her knowing we would get along fine.

'Okay then, Lucy.' I said as I picked up a box. 'I've just been unpacking so I haven't had time to get any food but you're more than welcome to come inside.' I said grabbing a cardboard box and walked up the porch steps and into the front room where I put all of my things for me to sort through later. They followed me in and stood in the hall. Cass was holding a glass bowl with cling–film over it and held it out for me. I stacked the box I was holding onto another box and took the bowl off her.

'It's just some home-made popcorn we grow in our backyard.' She smiled at me.

'Thank you, that's really kind of you.' I said. I was actually quite touched by the gesture.

'Trust me; they taste a whole lot better than you think.' Lucy said.

'Well we better get going; we've got errands to run.'

'Kayda before we leave, do have you got a job?' Cass asked while Stuart went out to the car.

'No.' I shook my head.

'Well, a friend of mine owns a florist and she's quite ill at the moment and she needs someone to help run the business, Lucy works there after school sometimes.'

'It's really fun; you get to do all sorts of things there.' Lucy smiled.

'That sounds great. I should pop in tomorrow or something.' I said setting the bowl down and found a pen in the box full of letters and documents. 'Could I have the address?'

'I'll give you her number so it saves you from driving into town.' Cass said telling me the number and I wrote it down on my palm. She left and before Lucy left too she gave me a quick hug and ran down the porch steps to the car. I frowned she smelled different; she was covered in a vampire's scent. Violet Hill was supposed to be safe! Well, I was going to have to do some snooping until I found out what was lurking in the dark alleys at night.

I waved from the front door smiling. I made some new friends on my first day here, go me!

I quickly got the last three boxes into the front room and flopped onto the sofa. I sighed heavily.

My next task was to buy food. I heaved myself up off the sofa, grabbed my bag with my purse and keys in it and locked up. One disadvantage about living by yourself was that you had to do everything by yourself; you couldn't just get your room-mate to go out and get some food when you were tired.

The drive to town was relaxing and I loved the fact that there was so much forestry; it was practically calling for me to run around in. The drive to town was about an hour and a half so I would arrive just after half four so it would give me some time to get the food shopping done and maybe even get the other things I needed to make my house feel like a home to me.

I soon arrived at the town and noticed that there were a lot of artists, environmentalists and homesteaders. There was a massive book store down the street and I knew I was going to be spending my money and time in that shop quite a lot.

I navigated my way to the food shop and the DIY store for food and paint and managed to order a bed which was due tomorrow afternoon. As I was the only one living in that house I didn't need much food so when I got home it was about half six. I was too tired to move any of my boxes for now so I had a ready meal – I know, unhealthy but I wasn't in the mood to prepare and cook something which would take forever.

I managed to drag myself into the room with the bed in it and fell onto it falling asleep instantly. I didn't really know what was wrong with me; I was never normally this tired.

(A/N: I know it's been a while as I thought I would update after putting the Prologue up; obviously not. I swear it will get better and happy Christmas everyone!)