The way Stiles Stilinski handled the realisation was almost... cute.
He started carrying around a stake in his backpack, along with a plethora of other items some humans believed might defeat her kind.
None of which would work.
She knew that from experience.
The thought of this young boy actually attempting to use any of these weapons almost made her laugh. That alone why she couldn't kill him - he was simply too amusing.
Or perhaps... that was just a justification for herself...
Once again, she laments her luck. Of all the people in this quiet town, it just had to be the one person she couldn't dispose of quietly. She wouldn't convince the innocent, and if he suddenly disappeared it would draw attention to the unhinged proclamations he made about her. There was no way his father would ever leave well enough alone, the doubt would always linger within him. Nothing she would do could override his paternal instincts.
No matter how she looked at it, there was no easy way to rid herself of the frustrating boy.
But, that was okay.
She just couldn't slip up and give any credibility to his insane ramblings.
Easy.
It might even be fun to mess with him a little.
But...
Perhaps... if she was being honest with herself (which she so rarely was)...
Perhaps, she could admit she wasn't looking as hard for a solution as she probably should.
Perhaps, she might acknowledge the possibility that part of her had been sizing the boy up as more than a simple snack.
Perhaps, some part of her was considering that in a few years, once he had matured, when she was forced to relocate...
Perhaps...
No.
That was impossible.
There was no use in dwelling on impossibilities.
Existence was too long to waste time with such thoughts.
In any case, her most recent slip up proved one thing - she needed a reliable source of fresh blood. This was non-negotiable if she was going to stick around. Blood bags had proved to be insufficient, and hunting left her too open to exposure. Instead, she set up a few traps throughout the forest. Now she could be assured that there would be a fresh meal waiting for her, rather than needing to track one down herself when she got peckish.
There was another option though... one that had begun to look more and more appetising, although it dangerous to contemplate.
The easiest way to regain her strength would be...
Yes, that would be a great way to get her mind off of everything.
She certainly couldn't use Lydia - it defeats the entire purpose of having her as social camouflage. Anyone Lydia was close to was off the table as well (pun fully intended).
No, it was best to choose someone of lower social standing, an outcast; preferably with a toxic home life so there would be no concerned relatives asking questions.
Her perfect opportunity presented itself in a quiet boy who she often caught staring at her. He was always quick to look away when she caught his eye, and did his best to look as small as possible - he was quite good at that, and Nat wondered how he became so good at being unnoticed. She wasn't sure of his name, and that was good. That meant there was no chance that Lydia was aware of the shy boys existence.
Stiles had expected... more.
After their confrontation during lacrosse practice (if it could even be called that), he had thought...
Well, he's not really sure what he expected.
But it certainly wasn't this!
There she was, sitting in the bleachers beside Lydia Martin, waving at him like nothing was wrong. Stiles himself was sat on the benches with the other team members who were deemed unworthy of the team beyond filling empty spots. Even from this distance he could tell she still had that same smile - the one that didn't reach her eyes at all.
Stiles scowled in response, eyes narrowing as he wonders what she was up to. Why would she be waving and taunting him like this?
The answer was simple enough: she wasn't.
That became clear when poor Isaac Layhey raised a timid hand and got an eager nod from the girl in reply. Bright red blotches tinted the awkward kids cheeks in response to the attention from the popular girl.
Stiles feels something odd stir in his stomach at the exchange, as his head quickly moves between the two. Protective instincts, yup, that's it. That's all he's feeling. He doesn't want Isaac to become her latest snack and that's all.
He resolves to do whatever he can to protect him.
That's why he discretely takes a photograph of the girl on the bleachers. It would be good to keep a record of her so that he can compare notes, maybe do a facial recognition scan to see what pops up if that's possible.
By the time he gets home, his phone is missing entirely. His dad assumed that Stiles just lost it again, but there was no way. He knows better.
His theory is all but confirmed when he finds it, broken in half, in his locker the next day.
"What are you doing?"
"What?" Nat asks with a flat tone; keeping her eyes pinned on the deliciously flushed boy. If it had been anyone else asking, they would not have even gotten a response
Lydia waves a hand in front of Nat's face, not content with being ignored. "You're flirting with... with that bench-warmer," she spits out the phrase as if it was something unholy.
From the corner of her eye, Nat notices the way Stiles points his phone in her direction. Even without her advanced sight it would have been obvious that he was taking her photograph - the boy had all the subtly of a typical fifteen year old. "So?"
"So?!" The Queen Bee demands, aghast at her nonchalance. "I refuse to be best friends with someone who would sully our reputation like this."
Her threat is almost amusing - as though she has any control over the matter.
Still, against her better judgement, Nat allows herself to be paraded around under Lydia's exuberant and watchful eye (But not before quickly excusing herself to deal with the photo situation). Lydia introduces her to a plethora of boy, most members of one sport team or another. It would be exhausting if she was able to feel that anymore. The only one who seems potentially bearable is the Lacrosse Goal Keeper, Danny. It's probably because he's the only one who doesn't stumble over his words or waste time bragging about his athletic prowess. In fact, he seemed genuinely interested in their conversation, and she decides that perhaps this wasn't such a horrific waste of eternity after all...
As expected, the Queen Bee is soon distracted by her boyfriend - an arrogant boy who was none too subtle about checking Nat out before Lydia dragged him away. The girl had been convinced not to feel jealous of Nat, as that would be counter productive, but that wouldn't extend to the irritation her boyfriend was likely facing now.
Danny was kind enough to offer her a lift home in their place, and she found herself not hating his gentle company.
As soon as his car was out of sight, she flashes to the cemetery where she knows her target will be. The place has her feeling vaguely drowsy, the dead beacon for her to join them in their eternal slumber, and the call to rest is hard to resist.
She will have to make this quick.
Luckily she soon finds the target, alone and digging a new grave.
A strange tense feeling flashes through her, because who the hell would let this boy work alone at a cemetery?
Nat shakes her head, pushing the odd feeling down with precision.
This a target, nothing more than that.
Don't think more about it.
Don't.
Her target is startled to see her, especially in such little clothing. He tries to question her but she is quick to silence him with her lips.
From that point he must assume it's some sort of fantasy, or simply get too wrapped up in his hormones, because he is all too eager to allow her to rip his clothing from his body.
They roll back in a bundle of limbs, her hunger making her more careless than usual. All she wanted was to sink her teeth into the soft flesh, but without this heinous act first he would remain able tell her secret.
Her grip around his wrists tightens as she pulls them above her head. She practically feels the blood coursing through his veins and calling out to her.
How long had it been since she drank from a fresh, innocent, source?
The boy lets out a grunt of discomfort as she squeezes his arm. Although her instincts scream to keep him pinned to her, she forces her arms to go limp.
He pulls back and shifts to cover his chest with an insecurity that she would not have anticipated given their circumstances. He look deep into her eyes, like he is searching for something.
There's fear in his gaze.
Not fear of her, but of what they are about to do.
Suddenly, he looks so young.
Fifteen.
He's only fifteen.
The emotions she had been holding back ram through her carefully constructed walls.
Suddenly the sweet blood tastes bitter in her mouth and she starts to gag, pushing the boy off her with too much force for her size.
This was a mistake.
She can't do this.
She won't do this to some else.
Isaac watches in amazement as Natalie McCarthy, the most popular girl in school, the girl who had just been underneath him moments ago, vanishes before her very eyes.
He begins to wonder if their entire escapade was merely a figment of his imagination, even with his tattered clothes he almost manages to convince himself that's the case.
Until he wakes up the next morning, and sees the bruise on his wrist. He knows that's not one from his father, the fingers look too small and delicate - even if the busing is a deep colour he rarely sees.
Natalie avoids his questioning gaze at school, crystal blue eyes flickering to meet his for only a moment before looking away as though nothing had transpired.
But there was some fleeting acknowledgement in those eyes, he knew then that there was more to the popular new girl than anyone knew.
Well, almost anyone.
Stilinski won't stop pestering him about it on the benches, and it infuriates Isaac.
Of all the wounds that had been inflicted upon him, this is the only one the sheriff's son has questioned.
For that reason alone, he refuses to answer any of his queries.
Even if some of the weird things Stilinski was saying had begun to make more sense.
Isaac was not an idiot.
He's smart enough to leave well enough alone.
The boy avoided her now, but at least he had kept quiet about their late night encounter.
That was good.
She didn't need another boy sprouting rumours about her, one was more than enough.
Even if no one would believe him, Nat thought it was best to try to combat some of the horrid things that Stiles would proclaim about her - as quiet as he tried to be Nat was easily able to hear him. She decides to roll up her sleeves and put some of her hard earned skills to work. The best way to avoid suspicion for being a blood sucking monster? Volunteer at the local hospital and allow the community to see that it had no affect on you (that was invisible to their lackluster human sight).
Ironically, she spends a fair amount of her time helping with blood donations. Amusement swirls in her when she imagines townsfolk assuming that this must be why Stiles calls her a 'blood sucker'.
She, of course, never takes any supplies for herself, there is no need. She's already convinced another sweet nurse to do that for her.
Nat's life in Beacon Hills settles into a comfortable routine.
But, things are never that easy.
Her stable foundation is rocked when Lydia's parents divorce.
The Queen Bee cries for days, refusing to let her boyfriend or anyone from school see her in such a state. But, she does not hide from Nat.
Part of Nat wishes she would, that she would just entirely isolate herself in her room. But, instead the poor girl seeks her out for support, and although Nat could easily convince Lydia that the support had already been given, she finds herself choosing to actually be there for her.
They spend nights together curled up in bed, unafraid of physical contact as Lydia had already been thoroughly convinced to find nothing strange about her friends rigid skin. They watch movies together, from almost every genre, and she lets Lydia paint her nails and choose her outfits. In turn, Nat teaches her some meditation techniques that she had learnt decades ago to help Lydia feel grounded and in control, and genuinely listens to her.
She's not sure why she goes along with it, maybe she was lonely. Eternity got boring and it had been so long since she had a real friend.
Stiles was not an idiot.
He noticed the bruising that Isaac had, and how the shy boy would now avoid her wherever possible, and how she would sometimes stare at him with a mix of something Stiles couldn't quite identify... it was almost like sorrow or regret.
But that was ridiculous.
Monsters didn't feel sorrow or regret.
Something must had happened between them, and he was determined to find out what. But, Isaac remained tight lipped about the entire thing whenever Stiles tried to interrogate him on the bench during practice.
It just fuels his developing obsession.
Any time Stiles tried to get a picture of her, the device would mysteriously break before he could download it onto his computer. He was no artist, but he had access to something better.
Using his father's log in, he was able to access some security footage of her and get a still image. It was grainy, and not enough to do a proper search, but would work as a good frame of reference.
Stiles puts all his research skills to the test and tries to find instances of other girls just like her, along with any credible information about her kind. It's an ongoing project that he keeps hidden on the back door of his closet, away from his father's prying eyes.
She hadn't been at school much lately, and neither had Lydia. It had him worried. Stiles drove past their - LYDIA'S - house and had managed to glimpse them through the window.
He hopes with everything he has that the monster isn't turning his crush into one of her...
Stiles isn't sure what he would do if that happened.
There's a knock on the door while he's lost in thought pondering the situation, staring that the different articles and connections he had displayed each somewhat linked to the grainy photo in the center.
No need to rush. His dad is home, he'll get the door.
As expected, he can hear it open and his dad greet whoever is outside.
Then, an unmistakable sound.
The melodic tune of her voice.
Standing up so quickly he knocks over his chair, Stiles swings open his bedroom door, and all but throws himself down the stairs.
Panting for breath he can see his dad watching him, perplexed and probably amazed that his son could even move that fast.
She watches with something akin to amusement, and all at once Stiles understands why she is here.
She's toying with him.
His dad was just about to invite her in when Stiles all but slams the door in her face, cutting off their conversation and dismissing her harshly.
"Mind explaining that to me?" His dad looks baffled and a bit disappointed, but Stiles tries not to let that get to him.
"I told you dad, we can't ever let her in the house," Stiles reminds him darkly.
He looks skeptical as he drawls, "Ah yeah, right. Because she's a... vampire?"
"Don't say it like that."
"Stiles, come on, what do you want me to say?"
"That you believe me!" Stiles insists, waving his hands around passionately to emphasize his points. "You told me yourself that jogger they found in the woods had her throat ripped out and I told you I could place her at the scene of the crime!"
"Stiles-"
"She had blood all over her face, and her eyes-"
"Stiles!" His dad barks, and it shocks him out of his ramblings.
There's a moment of silence between the two. Stiles looks to his father with wide eyes as the sheriff takes a few deep breaths and pinches his nose.
"I know you think you saw her-"
"Dad-"
His dad raises a hand to silence him. "You need to be reasonable about this okay? You know that's not possible."
"Then why did I see her?" He asks, crossing his arms in defiance.
"Look, you've.. you've liked that Lydia girl for a while, okay? I know that, and maybe you just don't know how to handle it when you start to like another girl-"
Stiles almost falls over in shock. "'Like another'-? Dad, that is not what this is about!"
"Well, either way this fantasy needs to stop. It's not healthy. Honestly I thought you'd show a bit more compassion, the girl lost her whole family."
"Decades ago!"
"Stiles," his father says softly, almost reluctantly, "I think you might need to see someone about this."
"What?"
"These things you're saying... they're not rational Stiles."
"I'll prove it to you! I'll prove I'm not crazy."
On that somber note, Stiles retreats to his bedroom. With shaky breaths, he pulls up his chair and sits on it, gazing out of his window.
A movement catches his eye in the shadows. He can just envision her out there, circling the house waiting for an opportunity to get in, cursing him for foiling her plan.
"I'm not crazy," he insist quietly. "I know I'm not crazy, and I know you're out there."
Nat smirked at his muttered phrase.
It's so fun to watch him squirm, watch him try to justify himself to his father, and hear just how insane his ramblings had gotten from the average human's perspective.
Maybe if she keeps this up she could get him properly institutionalised, like his father had implied, then no one would ever believe him.
That would put an end to all her concerns.
So she starts to do more unsettling things when only he's looking - nothing too obvious yet. She's aware of the cameras around the town and in the school halls, so she positions herself strategically. She smirks at the sarcastic comments made under his breath, doing her best to lock eyes with him from across the room.
It was fun to watch his eyes widen as he quickly glanced away, sometimes he would begin to mutter prayers under his breath.
As though that would help.
As though any God would allow a creature like her to exist in the first place.
It was a shame he had already been assigned a new lab partner, because she would enjoy the chance to torment him in closer proximity. Their teacher must have heard the insane rumours about her that Stiles was circulating and thought it best to separate them. She worked alone now, like she had initially intended.
She tries not to let it get to her, but it's become one of her least favourite classes.
School itself is not as tedious as she had been expecting, and it wasn't just because of her new pet project. No, she found herself not hating the way Lydia would often cling to her side, and insist that Nat join her at the bleachers, or on occasion at the lunch table. She actually found herself somewhat enjoying the time spent with the Goal Keeper Danny, and even Captain Jerk Jackson could be entertaining with his sarcastic comments.
She is grateful for Danny's company. If it weren't for him rescuing her from remaining the third wheel, she wouldn't have had the opportunity to get to know the more insecure side of Jackson. Nat actually comes to enjoy her new found place among the popular students, and the four of them spend a lot of time together outside of school as well. Of course, because of this Nat is quick to convince them to always consider her a regular girl, but the rest of their opinions are made organically. It helps her feel like less of an intruder.
Her new group is so captivating that she forgets.
It's not until the next day, when she hears someone mention the date offhandedly that Nat realizes.
How could she forget?
Her face is wiped from all expression and she stands slowly. Lydia tries to grab her arm, but Nat brushes her off easily and starts to leave. The Queen Bee then physically moves in front of her and questions why she was acting this way.
Still reeling from shock, Nat tells her the truth in a choked whisper.
Lydia understands what she means, because Nat had become far too comfortable and open with the human girl.
She doesn't try to stop her again.
There was something wrong with... her.
More so than usual, that is
Stiles spends what some (Scott) might say was more time than healthy observing her. especially on the rare occasions she came into the lunch room. So, he notices the exact moment her expression changes and those clear eyes become haunted by memories.
She's withdrawn into herself in a way he's never seen before, and its almost enough to make him feel concerned. It's obvious that Lydia Martin is worried about her too, butshe remains tight lipped about what could be the cause for the sudden departure. The most popular theory was that it was almost the anniversary of her parents death, and she had bounced around the foster system for a few months before the Martin's had taken her in to start the school year.
Stiles knew this was almost definitely not the case. Maybe it was just an act she was putting on to get sympathy? Well rest assured he would not be so easily swayed.
Instead of being happy to have the reprieve from her, he feels this weird ache in his chest. One that had become more persistent as she got closer to the popular crowd and seemed to spend less time smirking at him ominously.
Okay, so, if he was being entirely honest with himself then maybe he could admit that maybe he liked being at the center of attention to the most attractive girl at his high school - even if she was most definitely a blood sucking creature from hell - he was still a teenage boy! He was mature enough to admit that much to himself, if nothing else.
As soon as she is out of sight, and range of the cameras, Nat runs into the woods.
There's a particularly large tree stump she often feels drawn to, and this seems like the perfect afternoon to sit beside it. There she remains for hours, as she ponders just how wrapped up in these mortal lives she had become.
She wonders, not for the first time, if it would be best for her to simply leave and not look back.
But, there is so much holding her in place now. She would miss Lydia, and she'd like to think that Lydia might really miss her too. She would miss Danny, and his generosity. Jackson, and his sarcasm... Perhaps even St-
That's when she first smells it.
A sour tang that almost burns her nostrils.
An Alpha.
Of course, she didn't know that at the time.
She follows the scent and found a decrepit house, barely still standing after what looks to be a horrible fire that must have burnt it about ten years ago, judging but the level of vegetation that had grown.
The woman whom the scent emanated from was, understandably, weary of Nat's sudden arrival. She stiffened and shifted into a protective stance that could easily turn offensive if needed.
Clearly, an experienced woman.
And not just that.
Eventually, after standing in silence and appraising one another for so long that any human's eyes would have glazed over, the Alpha offers an agreement. They will not turn anyone in town, will warn her if there are any more werewolves coming, and won't expose what Nat is. In turn, Nat will assist in her investigation (whatever that meant), also not turn anyone else in town and keep her silence. As well as respectfully not entering the decrepit house unless given consent - which was entirely unnecessary given the exposed structure of the building.
It's obvious that neither one believes the other will stick to their word. But, as the weeks go on and no new born of either species are made, they learn to tentatively trust one another.
Her summer break is soon divided between the hospital, hanging out Lydia and Danny, followed by late night rendezvous with the Alpha.
It was refreshing to spend time someone who had developed past the point of insecurity and anxiety - who was comfortable simply being themselves. And the fact that Nat did not have to hold back to a human speed was exhilarating. It forms into a deeper bond that neither of them were expecting.
They spend a few nights getting impossibly hammered - laughing at the way they could each drink an entire bottle of hard liquor and neither one would feel even slightly buzzed.
Nat tries harder to find more evidence for her, wanting to be of use to the interesting woman. They talk almost every day, but deliberately avoid the topic of their past. All that matters is the current moments they share together.
She still doesn't really know what it is they're looking into, but she does her best to report any suspicious behaviour.
Until one day, just before she begins her second year at Beacon Hills High...
Laura stops answering her calls.
After countless nights of listening in on his dad's phone calls, Stiles finally hears reports of another body being found in the woods.
It must be another one of her victims.
She had finally slipped up again, and Stiles determined going to catch her and prove to Scott and his father that he was not insane!
Now all he had to do was convince Scott to go searching for a body in the woods with him.
Well...
Half of one.
Author's Note: I pushed this out to get the prologue over, but I hope you still liked it!
Next time we will be jumping into the first episode! I'm not sure when, and I'll probably hop around a fair bit, because if I try to write every scene I just won't do it hahah I've drafted the whole first season, but it's changed a lot. Nat was meant to be a total heartless bitch who softened over the course of the season, but then Stiles had to go and sit next to her (THEY WEREN'T EVEN MEANT TO TALK TO ONE ANOTHER!) and now she likes him too much to be cruel! So I've had to re-write a lot, and will probably need to go back and edit once I move on to season 2 and (MUCH ANTICIPATED) season 3.
Is the bold and italics annoying? I'm trying to get at the importance of names with how Stiles refers to her with a full name until he discovers what she is and then he's not even using her name at all. Also I want to convey his attitude better, but let me know if you think it's too much
I decided to scrap the idea of her fully using Isaac, but thought it important to still add a bit in here. I have NO intention of this becoming a three-way, but I really like his character. Did I do him justice? what did you think of his little POV?
How is my Vampire Lore shaping up? I'm trying to keep the mystery of her so I can fill in more details later - are you curious? Do you want to know more? or is the vagueness annoying? Honestly I've gone through about three different last names for her, and four different origin countries... I still might go back and change her name later hahah
Please let me know what you think! And I'm so sorry I'm rambling so much!