A/N: Thoughts are in italics. Thank you MidnightQuiver for helping me with this chapter!


"The Comet Festival is tonight. I'm thinking of going if anyone wants to come with me." Natala announced.

I've been debating on going to the festival. I don't want to face Stefan tonight. But I'll probably end up going with Natala.

"Aspen will probably go with me. Damon, you're going to make up an excuse to get out of going aren't you?"

"You know me so well Nat. I would go, but I have to do that border check." It was a valid excuse and not a lie. It needs to be done, and I don't feel like fighting with Stefan later anyway.

"The first border check is in two months. You want to do it tonight, so you won't be around Stefan don't you?" Natala is the only one in the pack that fully understands my family problem. Aspen's family was good to him. A few weeks after I found Natala, I was still recovering, but got some strength back, she became very unstable. At night, I would hear her cry and talk in her sleep. She would talk about getting the pack, the Black Adler pack. Every night she broke my heart because of what she said. Eventually, she stopped eating. When an injured wolf stops eating it's a sign that they want to die. One night, I asked why her pack disowned her. She told me that she wouldn't kill an innocent human for a ritual. I comforted her and told her my past. We began to build trust and she started eating again. Once she was fully healed, the Fading Echo pack was created.

"Yes, I don't feel like making a scene tonight, so I'm going to try and avoid the festival altogether."

"That might be wise since we're trying to lay low. We don't need to attract any other packs and have them watching our every move."

"What's going on? What are we talking about?" Aspen asked as he walked into the living room. His dark hair hung messily. He took a seat on the couch next to Natala.

"I tried to go back to sleep, but I kept hearing the word festival, and I got curious. So is there a festival?"

"Yes, Aspen, there's a festival tonight." Natala answered.

"What's it for?"

"Some comet," said Natala.

"The comet only appears every 145 years. I saw it back in 1864 when I first lived here. There's legend behind the comet as well. Witches believe that it's a harbinger of evil because the last time it came, Mystic Falls was in hysteria because of the large amount of vampires in the area," I explained.

"I never knew that," says Natala, gulping uneasily. Aspen was dozing off.

"Not many people do," I said. I noticed that Aspen was practically laying on Natala. This isn't going to end well.

"For goodness' sake, Aspen, get off of me!" Natala screamed, hitting Aspen multiple times in the arm.

Aspen slowly got off Natala even though she shoved him some more. While half asleep he said, "You're so loud, Nat. You really should use your inside voice."

Natala rolled her eyes, got up and stormed from the room.

"Do you really have to annoy her every chance you get?" I asked Aspen who was still lying on the couch.

"Yes, because if I didn't, she'd know something was wrong. What time is it anyway?" Aspen had been acting out of character lately. He's been acting distant. He's been at the Artificial Nocturne every day for the past two weeks.

"It's a little after three. I'm going to the boarding house for a couple of things. If you don't see me at the festival, I'm probably doing that border check."

"Aye, Aye, Captain!" Aspen yelled in his thick British accent while walking to his room sleepily.


When I got to the boarding house, Stefan and Zach were gone. I went through some of Stefan's Journals a little too curious to find out what he's been up to. I found the picture of Katherine from 1864. I could feel my chest ache where my heart would naturally be beating. I miss her. I have to find her, I will find her.

"Stefan? Stefan?" I became alert at the sound of a voice, a female voice. Someone's here.

I hurry to the front door then realize who's here. It's Elena, the look-alike. She's looking outside when I finally reach her. I just stand behind her until she turns around.

"I...I'm sorry for barging in. The door was...open." She gave me the friendliest smile she could muster. I could smell how nervous she was. She has no idea who I am.

"You must be Elena. I'm Damon, Stefan's brother," I say with a friendly tone, smiling. The compulsion did work.

"He didn't tell me he had a brother." Of course he didn't.

"Well, Stefan's not one to brag," I explain being sure to exaggerate. I lead Elena into the living room. "Please, come. I'm sure Stefan will be along any second."

"This is your living room?" She asks, amazed.

"Living room, parlor, Sotheby's auction. It's a little kitschy for my taste," I reply. "I see why my brother's so smitten. It's about time. For a while there, I never thought he'd get over the last one. Nearly destroyed him."

"The last one?" She asks.

"Yeah. Katherine, his girlfriend?" It killed me to say that. Stefan didn't deserve to be with Katherine. He was a Ripper. A vampire who is very destructive because of their blood lust. "Oh, you two haven't had the awkward exes conversation yet."

"No."

"Oops. Well, I'm sure it'll come up now. Or maybe he didn't want you to think he was on the rebound.

We all know how those relationships end." Every single one I've been in has ended badly.

"You say it like every relationship is doomed to end."

"I'm a fatalist." I sensed that Stefan was near not to mention I could hear his footsteps. "Hello, Stefan."

He walked over to us. "Elena. I didn't know you were coming over."

"I know. I should've called," she replied.

"Oh, don't be silly. You're welcome anytime. Isn't she, Stefan? You know, I should break out the family photo albums or some home movies. But. . .I have to warn you. He wasn't always such a looker." I say, trying to be the friendly one.

It was obvious that Stefan was nervous with Elena around me. "Thank you for stopping by, Elena. Nice to see you."

She figured out that there's something going in between Stefan and me quickly. "Yeah, I should probably go. It was nice to meet you, Damon."

I try to be the better brother and say, "Great meeting you, too, Elena."

Right after she leaves, Stefan asks, "What kind of game are you playing, Damon?" My anger is slowly building.

"Guess you'll just have to wait and see, won't you?" I say bitterly. And leave the boarding house.


Natala's point of view

The festival was a dud. There weren't many vendors. I didn't know anyone there besides Aspen who was making a total fool out of himself. He was making comments about people who walked by.

"Aspen! This is boring. I wish Damon was with us." I sigh.

"Yeah. He's the only person in this town that we know." Aspen replied sadly. When he talks normally he has a faint British accent and when he's tired or mad, he has a thick accent.

A group of three girls and a guy must've overheard us because they came over to talk to us. There was one blonde girl and the other two were brunettes. The guy was average height and had dark hair.

"We overheard you talking and thought we'd introduce ourselves," the blonde was saying. "I'm Caroline."

"I'm Bonnie," the shorter brunette, with the dark skin said. She smelled different than the other two.

"I'm Elena," the taller brunette said, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"And I'm Stefan," the tall and handsome guy said.

I think that's Damon's brother, I told Aspen.

You sure?

Positive.

"Well, I'm Natala and this is Aspen. We moved here about three months ago." I explained, on guard.

"What brings you two to Mystic Falls?" Caroline asked curious.

Aspen was the first one to reply. "Family. My parents have been having medical problems lately and I came back to help them. Natala is basically my sister and she decided to help me out. We've been taking online classes." Damn. That is one of the most believable lies I've ever heard. I have to ask him about that.

"I hope they get better soon," Stefan replied.

"Where are you and your parents from? I thought I heard a slight accent," Elena asked.

"We're from the UK," Aspen answered.

"I like your hair Natala," Bonnie commented.

"Thanks," I happily said and twirled a chunk of it around my finger. "Do any of you have siblings?"

Elena was the first to answer. "I have a younger brother named Jeremy."

"I have an older brother." Stefan answered.

"Is his name Damon?" I asked innocently trying to hide my smirk.

"Yes. How'd you know that?"

"Aspen's parents live near him and he occasionally comes over." I respond with my own lie.

"He doesn't seem like the friendly type." Stefan responded.

"He's a very nice guy," I say trying to end the conversation.

"Well, it was nice to meet you. I think we should go find a nice place to watch the comet." Caroline said and then ushered her group in another direction.

Aspen and I started to walk to the Grill. "How the hell did you think of that giant yet believable lie so quickly?" I asked, punching him in the arm.

"In my free time, I think of lies that could get us out of any situation." He explained. "And that's a sign of being a violent psychopath. It's logical that you and Damon won't be my first targets." He says sarcastically making me laugh.

We got dinner at the Grill and then watched the comet.

"It's pretty even though it has myths claiming it's evil." I comment.

"It is." Aspen replies in awe.

The rest of the night was quiet until we sensed something was wrong with Damon...


Damon's point of view

The border check was starting to get boring. Aspen joined me for a little bit, but left to go to the festival. Once he left, I continued my task as a wolf. The border hasn't been crossed by any unfamiliar wolves. That's a good sign.

When I was almost through, I heard sticks cracking. Someone is out here with me. I found the source of the noise. It's a fourteen year old girl. She had black hair with loose curls and was wearing a plain black shirt and dark blue jeans. It looks like she's trying to find something. I shift back into a human and walk over to her. "Why is a fourteen year old girl walking in the woods after sundown?"

She jumps, startled by my presence. But, she turns around and stares at me long and hard. "It's obvious that you don't remember me." I do feel like I've seen her before but I can't remember.

"Am I supposed to know you?" I ask.

"Think back to 1864. I was a girl that was always with her mother. And I helped at the apothecary," the girl said.

I remember her now. She was always with her mother, Pearl. "Anna."

"Yes, Damon, it's me."

"Why are you here?" I ask, suspicious.

"I'm getting my mother out of the tomb. Why are you back in town? You hate it here."

"I'm going to get Katherine out of the tomb." She gives a little laugh. "What's so funny?"

"She's not in the tomb."

"You're lying."

"I'm not. I saw her in the 80s. She said that she's been hiding from someone and she also said that she's been looking after Stefan. Damon, she doesn't love you."

"You're lying!" I yell, getting angry.

"I'm not lying, Damon! I know you can tell that I'm not lying," she said, hinting that she knows my secret.

"I don't believe you," I clench my fists, fighting the urge to shift. "Anna, get away from me before I shift and attack you. You know the legends of a werewolf bite." She understands what's going on and runs off. I fight the urge for a few more seconds and then I shift into a jet black wolf, my wolf form. I run across the border and into another pack's land.

Natala and Aspen can sense my anger thanks to the pack bond. I hear them telepathy. They're concerned for me. Damon! What's wrong?! Damon, answer us!

I block them out of my mind and just keep running. I need to get the hell of here! This town just ruins my life! I need to take my anger out on something! Anything!


A/N: If you like my story so far, review, follow, and add it to your favorites! I might post chapter 5 this week if people show their support! If their's something you'd like to see, mention it in a review or PM. I'll take any suggestions!