I was going to just post a teaser, but I've already got half the prologue done so I figured why not just start at the beginning? Please let me know what you think! I'm still in the rough draft stages of this, and I'm not sure if/when I'll finish it without motivation.
I never intended to write this fic, but I just couldn't resist. I'm fully writing my own vampire lore for this (because I've never seen Vampire Diaries, only read fics lol)
I do not own Teen Wolf, or any of the other characters in this story. I only own/created Nat, her characteristics, and anything that happens directly because of her.
Updated: 27/3/2025
Nat always hated this part - the initial intrusion.
It was a calculated practice by now, but this was her most ambitious attempt yet.
She was tired. Tired of the constant running, tired of looking over her shoulder, tired of killing... Surely she could settle down for a while, and this time would be different. This time, she would stay hidden. The magically infested town of Beacon Hills seemed like the perfect fit for a long stay. Her kind was known to be solitary creatures - at least when it came to other mythical beasts - so no one would think to look for her here.
A quiet life, where she could spend a the better part of the next six or so years...
If she was lucky, and extraordinarily careful.
The first step was easy: Locate the ideal host. A de-facto leader of the social arena she was entering would be perfect to reaffirm her claim to humanity if anyone became skeptical (and they always did, eventually). If she planned to stay for more than a quick stop, it was essential to have someone to keep any speculation at bay by attesting to growing up with her. Choosing the person with the highest social standing was ideal, because no one wanted to risk social isolation by questioning them.
It only took one afternoon of discrete spying from her 'borrowed' vehicle to find exactly who she was looking for. This auburn haired beauty walked with her head held high, catching the gaze of almost every person in the school yard. She was flanked on either side by clearly replaceable girls - it was almost cliche how closely she resembled a typical Queen Bee. Nat was too far away to get a clear taste of her scent, but judging by the way she groped that muscular jock this girl was no was perfect.
It was almost too easy to follow this Queen Bee home. Nat knocked on the front door and made the excuse of needing to use their phone because her own had died. The father was all too eager for the unknown young lady to come inside, if she were not used to the way people would leer at her his gaze would have make her skin crawl.
Once there, Nat found her target and instantly became Natalie McCarthy - the childhood best friend of this Lydia Martin. They had been keeping in touch with online for over a decade, after their families had met on vacation. Then, with another lingering glance and few choice words, Lydia's parents opened their home to the orphan girl they loved like a second daughter. Natalie's family had just passed in a tragic fire and when she had called Lydia, her parents had insisted she come and live with them. There was no documentation to prove Natalie even existed, because it had all gone up in smoke.
They helped her to arrange all the paperwork the next day, and after convincing the woman behind the counter of a few things as well, Natalie McCarthy officially existed and was enrolled in their local high school.
It was almost too easy.
The new girl was beautiful, stunning, perfect.
Rumor had it, she was Lydia's best friend from years ago. Her parents had passed away in a tragic fire - kind of like the Hales had.
It was kind of weird that he had never heard Lydia talk about her before, but Stiles decided not to dwell on it. It's not like he knew every single detail about Lydia's life.
Well...
Not anymore.
This new girl, Natalie McCarthy...
She walked through the halls beside Lydia Martin, he felt his heart stop.
There was some kind of ethereal pull to the beautiful girl, and he couldn't stop his jaw from hanging open as he gazed at her.
She was smiling softly as Lydia Martin pointed out all the different people. The most popular girl in school entirely skimmed over Stiles and Scott - but he didn't hold it against her because Stiles had skipped over her too. He was entirely absorbed by the girl beside her. There was some kind of ethereal pull to the beautiful girl, and he couldn't stop his jaw from hanging open as he gazed at her.
Natalie McCarthy...
She didn't skip over them. She looked him directly in the eyes, the pale blue eyes looking so intently at him from behind her framed glasses. She gave him a warm smile that made his heart do front flips towards her.
She was beautiful, but that wasn't all. There was something in her eyes, she looked like she was... interested in him.
Stiles actually had to grab a hold of the table so he didn't do something stupid like immediately run up and introduce himself. He had enough wits about him to notice he wasn't the only one reacting in such a way, although most of their peers weren't quite as composed as he was. A small crowd had began to form around the pair of beautiful girls, although it was obvious who was drawing the most attention.
He was by no means the only person she had smiled at, but that didn't matter to him.
One thing was certain, beyond any conceivable doubt.
Stiles had just seen the girl he was going to marry.
When he tells his best friend as much, Scott says he had a better chance continuing to pine over Lydia Martin.
But what did Scott know? Stiles couldn't go back to pining after his childhood crush - not anymore.
No.
Seeing Natalie McCarthy smile had changed him, irrevocably.
She had been mildly intrigued by him from the first time she laid eyes on him.
As the Queen Bee showed her around the school and pointed out all the students she needed to know, Nat paid close attention to the ones she left out.
Those would be her most viable option for a fresh supply - if that was the path she chose.
It was always best to get it straight from the source, and Nat was not one to deny herself the small pleasures her existence could pertain.
But, there was something about that one boy in particular. There was something in his stunned expression when she looked at him, that sparked recognition deep inside of her... at first she thought he could be one of her kind, perhaps another had the same idea as her and this hiding place was already accounted for. She detested the thought, after her weeks of hard work moving on was not part of her plan.
The worry was quickly pushed aside as she saw how his cheeks were flushed as he gawked at her - something impossible for one of her kind. So, she quickly dismissed the speculation. In a life as long as hers, it was inevitable to see some vaguely familiar faces. There was nothing to worry about.
His crush on Lydia Martin was completely overshadowed by this gorgeous, mysterious girl; who smiled at everyone and rarely ever left her best friend's side.
He did his best to capture her attention, like she had his. Any attempts of starting conversations when they even remotely crossed paths in the hall fell flat, because Lydia Martin managed to expertly steer her away every time. To make matters worse, Natalie McCarthy never really seemed to sit in the cafeteria for lunch - having apparently gotten special permission to use the art room during their free time - so there went the possibility of chatting to her in the lunch line.
Then, he found the perfect opportunity to get to know her.
No one had sat next to her in Chemistry.
It seemed like this unspoken rule - like they all believed no one was worthy to be beside her.
Maybe it was because there were so many people who wanted to be there, so they were too busy squabbling over who should have it when in the meantime the seat was left wide open.
Well, not for long!
The teacher was entering the classroom, in just a few moments the seating plan and chemistry partners would be set by default.
Stiles doesn't think about what he's doing - he just acts.
Gathering all his things into a messy grip and fumbling with his bag, he catapults himself beside her and slams his work down on the desk. Breathing heavy, he tries to look totally casual and compose himself as the teacher turns around to begin the lesson.
Natalie McCarthy gives him a peculiar look out of the corner of her eye. It's thoughtful and calculating, with a hint of something he can't quite identify. It's a look he hasn't seen from her before, and excitement sparks in him to already be discovering more about the mysterious new girl.
He honestly doesn't have the courage to say anything, far too nervous he'll say so the wrong thing. So instead, he just smiles awkwardly trying not to show how entirely awkward and inferior he feels in her presence.
Then something incredible happens.
She smiles back.
Natalie McCarthy looks to him with clear shock on her beautiful face for just a moment, her mouth forming into a perfectly adorable 'o' shape, before she smiles back at him. He almost melts in his seat, a hot blush tangible on his face.
She was so beautiful.
But, determined not to be a terrible desk mate, he does his best to pry his eyes away from her ethereal beauty and pay attention. He take notes, stays quiet, and tries not fidget. He still catches himself tapping too obnoxiously with his pen, as his nerves slowly eat away inside of him, and quickly stops the movement.
It takes him weeks to actually work up the courage to talk to her in class, and when he does it's some horribly basic question that he kicks himself for even asking. He knew the answer, hell, the teacher had just explained it! Yet - the unbelievable thing was - she actually explains it to him! She doesn't patronize him at all, and perfectly brakes down the answer as though he isn't a complete idiot!
She didn't just brush him aside - she doesn't immediately dismiss him.
It was unbelievable.
Life was good.
He, Stiles Stilinski, was actually on good terms with the hottest chick at their school.
And his life would never be the same again.
In all honesty, it wasn't until he sat next to her in class that she really took note of him again.
She was surprised that anyone would have the courage to take that seat, let alone someone of his social standing. Nat had convinced everyone she easily could (which covered essentially all the popular kids) to leave the seats beside her vacant, excluding Lydia of course. She had naively assumed that because of this, the rest of the students would follow suit.
Yet, this tantalising, innocent boy had surprised her. He had thrown himself into the open seat with reckless abandon, then had tried to tried so casual about it all despite the pounding of his heart.
She might almost find it endearing, if she were able to feel such things.
Nat quickly and subtly inspected him under her critical gaze, wondering exactly how much of a threat this human could be. If he got too close, he may realise that she is not quite like the rest of them.
And then something peculiar happened...
He smiled at her.
But, it wasn't just any smile. She was far too used to the fake smiles these humans gave to made each other appear more likeable. No, this was an awkward smile, a pleased smile, a hopeful smile...
It was a nice smile.
And she felt something shift inside of her, like a memory trying to break free... or perhaps it was just an urging to actually respond, because she had been staring at him for far too long.
Quickly regaining her senses, Nat gave him one of her best, practiced, smiles in response - and he was the one left staring. His jaw went slack, and his whiskey eyes were wide with surprise for a few moments. Then, he shook himself out of it and diligently paid attention to the teacher's lecture.
From then on they were lab partners.
And the idea of finding someone to use as a fresh supply was, strangely, forgotten...
She was too far intrigued by this strange boy to bother with any of the other students, and the fact he may be the perfect candidate never even crossed her mind.
His quirky way of being amused her. He was clearly trying so hard not to disturb her; it was almost enough to make her feel something. Often he would tap on the edge of the desk, or fiddle with his pen, then suddenly jump and remain perfectly still for a few moments before inevitably twitching and slowly relaxing again. She had it timed almost perfectly, and could anticipate each of his next movements - the only unpredictable part was how long it would take for him to realise the subconcious act of noise making in the first place. And so clumsy - that boy could trip over thin air. She saw every stumble he made, every pen he dropped, every page he accidentally ripped from erasing an imperfect pencil mark too hard. As time wore on, his small huffs and eye rolls at their teacher evolved into mumbled sarcastic remarks under his breath; it was clearly an unconscious habit as he had yet to actually speak a word to her directly.
She could have easily uncovered the boys full name - their teacher had already referred to him as 'Stilinski' - but she wanted him to initiate a proper introduction between them. It was pure luck that the Queen Bee was not in that class with them, otherwise she would have no doubt spoiled the surprise already.
Almost at the end of her perfectly composed patience, the twitchy boy finally initiates a conversation by asking her a basic question their teacher had literally just explained moments ago. She notices the way he winces, clenching his fist as if preemptively expecting her to dismiss his intelligence; and him by proxy.
Once again, this strange boy stirs something inside of her. Nat finds herself gently breaking down the question in the most thorough way she could to ensure he understood every aspect, like she was reassuring him she was willing to help answer any question he may have...
The way he looked at her, like he cannot believe she is real.. It would have made her blush, if she was physically able to do such a thing.
Nat could not recall anyone looking at her like that before.
Stiles, he said his name was, Stiles Stilinski.
How fitting - a strange name for a strange boy.
It was a dark night when he saw her - the real Natalie McCarthy.
After staying too late at Scott's and needing his dad to come collect him (he could not wait to get his own car next year), Stiles caught sight of something in the woods.
Something unbelievable.
He knew what he saw, no matter what anyone tried to convince him.
Stiles had seen Natalie McCarthy.
Blood was smeared across her face and dripping down her clothes, like someone had seriously messed up a wet shirt contest. At first he was worried she was injured, but then he noticed the older woman slumped at her feet, covered in more blood and looking far worse off. It was like a scene from a horror movie.
Then, an absolutely and completely crazy thought ran through his head.
Vampire.
As if she had heard him say it - although he was pretty sure the word had not passed his lips, because his dad was still driving the cruiser as though everything was perfectly fine (which it was not, this was most certainly not fine) - her head snapped up and they made direct eye contact. He sucked in a breath and reeled back in shock as he met her narrow gaze of pure freaking black!
Their patrol car whizzed past at that moment, and he turned in his seat to look back at her but she, and the body, had both vanished.
Any doubt he had in his insane theory was immediately erased.
Any trust he had in his sanity was gone too, because there was not a doubt in his mind. This new girl - the crazy hot, easily amused and sugary sweet Natalie McCarthy... was definitely, definitely a vampire.
After that the intimate dreams he had about her are replaced with intense blood pumping nightmares where he had to fight for his life...
Mostly...
Honestly, he preferred the nightmares.
At least those made sense.
She should have known better.
Blood bags could only satiate her for so long. Nat assumed it was comparable to living off of smoothies without solid food; eventually one began to just crave the feeling of that solid heart beat. And the Queen Bee's... situation this week was not helping her cravings.
She had initially planned on finding someone easy to convince, and keep them as a walking supply of sustenance... But then she had met her lab partner and... well... Suddenly it didn't seem as important.
She wanted to feel normal, to be normal.
It was impossible, and she knew that, knew she would have to feed.
It was irresponsible for her not to, and she knew that as well.
She would eat soon, soon...
But she waited too long.
When she smelt the delectable scent of fresh blood on the Queen Bee, she felt her control slipping.
Instantly, she took herself to the woods.
An animal would suffice. A poor creature could easily satisfy her craving for a fresh heart beat.
It was just unfortunate for everyone that a poor woman happened to stumble into where Nat had been hunting - literally. The woman had scraped her knee when she fell down, and the smell was so vivid she could practically taste it.
Nat had been in so deep in stalking for prey that the scent of fresh blood had her leaping before she could even grasp the situation.
When she finally came to her senses the poor woman lay dead, and they were both covered in blood.
Nat was ashamed, horrified. Another innocent life taken to quench her never ending thirst, something she had promised herself would never happen again.
Just what would this slip up cost?
How many more would be sacrificed, killed by her hand?
When would it end?
Nat wished she knew, wished she could change things.
If it was up to her...
But it wasn't, had never been.
She was trapped in this eternal existence, no end in sight.
There was no escaping what she was, no way to prevent further bloodshed.
All she could hope for was a temporary reprieve, and perhaps that would be best. She should have done that from the start, it was foolish to believe that she could remain amongst the living. It was not where she belonged.
The idea seemed more alluring, as Nat stared down at the corpse of the poor woman. Just moments ago she had her whole life ahead of her.
Nat was so wracked with guilt, so absorbed in her fantasy of removing herself from this nightmarish consciousness, that she was entirely unaware of her surroundings.
She didn't notice the car approach, until the sound of a familiar whisper broke her from her trance.
"Vampire."
She looked up just in time to lock eyes with the shocked face of the last person she would ever want to see her like this - and she knew that this... this was the cost.
Stiles Stilinski.
His wide whiskey eyes stare at her from the passenger side of a patrol car. His father's, if her brief glimpse of him was anything to go by - and it was, her vision was flawless.
Funny, he never mentioned his dad was the town sheriff.
Her survival instinct kicked in automatically, and she grabs the corpse and vanishes in an instant.
A woman matching the description he relayed to his dad was filed as missing the next day, but he still refused to believe Stiles' story.
Hell, he could barely believe his story!
But, when he sees... her... at school on that next Monday he knows it was real.
There's a look in her eye, not too dissimilar to the one she had the first time he sat beside her in Chemistry. The smile is the same - actually he thinks it's the exact same, like it had been rehearsed - but her eyes are not friendly. He wonders if they had ever actually been friendly; was he so distracted by her beauty that he hadn't really seen? Had he just not notice how lifeless she was before?
Well, there's a lot of things he's noticing now, like how she never seems to get hit by anything. She manoeuvres gracefully between the students in the crowded halls without so much as a shoulder bump. It doesn't even seem intentional.
He decides to put his most recent revelation to the test, and what better time than lacrosse practice?
She had come with Lydia Martin, but clearly was uninterested in watching the game. Instead, her head was in a book and she appeared intensely focused on it.
Perfect.
Stiles lines up the shot perfectly... then 'accidentally' pegs it directly at the unsuspecting girl.
He's relegated to the bench for the rest of the season, potentially for the rest of his life, but it's worth it.
Because while the coach was screaming at him, Stiles was watching her. He never took his eyes off her, and he had seen - or rather not seen - the movement. It's like the ball just passed right through her. He could have sworn he saw her whole body flicker, like a patchy old film reel.
Then she looked around with confusion before noticing him, and sending a deadly glare that makes him swallow nervously.
She knew what he had done.
And he knew that she knew that he knew what she was.
Which was definitely horrifying.
...but, also kind of...
...Exhilarating?
In, like, a really weird and confusing way.
Stupid, stupid, stupid!
Honestly, she shouldn't have even returned to school, but after all the effort she had put in to creating her cover she didn't want to leave...
And she had been curious about how the strange boy might behave around her.
She hadn't expected this!
If she had been paying any attention this wouldn't have happened! She should have seen it coming and managed to avoid the situation entirely.
But she, well... she had been distracted.
He had been muttering something under his breath, too low for her to quite understand. The trade up of her perfect vision was a lackluster hearing ability, and less than optimal sense of smell. So, she was attempting to listen inconspicuously while pretending to read.
Out of habit alone, she had already moved out of the way of the projectile and back before fully realising what was happening. When all the pieces clicked together it was too late, she had revealed herself.
It was the final nail in her coffin.
Now he knew for certain, because any human would have been hit by the ball. No human could have dodged like she just had.
She saw it in his eyes.
Why couldn't he have just left her alone?
The smartest decision for her would be to leave and not look back. But... she had established herself here so well. It was the perfect place to hide, because it was the least expected.
It was just her luck that now, after all these months, someone had found her out. And not just anyone! The only living family member of the town's elected sheriff.
Yes, she had looked into him - 'Stiles'.
Seems like she was not the only one hiding her identity.
Making him forget was impossible - she wouldn't convince an innocent. Besides, he had undoubtedly already told his father anyway, and that friend of his too.
Perhaps she should just kill them all?
Ah yes, that would be the perfect way to assuage her growing guilt!
No, that was not an option she could ever entertain. Killing for survival was one thing, but killing in cold blood..?
Regardless, she couldn't kill them without drawing attention - she would need to immediately leave town and never return. That would defeat the purpose of the act itself, and leave her no better off.
Maybe that was for the best, that she leave town and never look back... She could easily make up a reason about a long lost relative who had filed for custody.
But then he would win and she would loose - and she couldn't allow that.
So what if he had uncovered her secret? No one would ever believe his story. Humans had long since stopped believing on her kind, anyone he confided in would tell him that he had been seeing things - no one would believe one silly teenager.
Her secret was safe. Even if he had his speculations, she wouldn't be providing him with any more evidence.
After that day on the field it's like a fog has lifted from his mind.
Suddenly it's all so obvious, he wonders how the hell no one else has connected the dots.
There is something seriously wrong with Natalie McCarthy.
He just had to prove it.
"Firstly: She never seems to eat. She spends lunch period in the art room, almost every. Single. Day. The few times Lydia Martin manages to drag her out she just pushes the food around on her plate without actually having any.
"Secondly: Everyone loves her. Students, teachers, parents - Even Mister Harris! Mandatory activities just aren't mandatory for her. They say it's because she already did it at her previous school, but come on! That excuse has never worked for anyone in the past!
"Thirdly: She's super smart. Like, she might be smarter than Lydia Martin. Have you noticed how she always ranks just below her, it's uncanny. It's like she's trying to fly under the radar. Sure, she might just say she doesn't want to outshine her best friend, but there is definitely more to the story there!
"And finally: Most damming of all, she never gets hit by anything. Have you ever seen her get an injury? Have you ever seen her even brush shoulders with one one in the hall? And let's not forget the way she dodged that lacrosse ball - no human could move that fast!
"Try to tell me I'm wrong here," Stiles finishes his lecture, panting with exhilaration. He had done it, all the facts were laid out and Scott could not deny the simple truth that he was slowly warming him up to.
Sure his evidence was not air tight, but there were too many things lining up for this to all be a coincidence.
His best friend however, does not seem to be in agreement, "You're wrong here."
"Wha- how?!"
Slowly, Scott refutes, "Okay.. so, um, firstly? You've heard the rumors dude - you know she has, like, an eating disorder, right? That's why she gets to spend lunch period doing her art therapy thing. And, um, she's nice and she's mourning so, like, why wouldn't people be nice to her?"
"What about the other stuff?"
"Dude, you're looking to much into this."
"But-"
"What do you think she's a vampire or something?" His friend laughs.
Stiles looks to the ground, not knowing what to say. Because, yes that's exactly what he thought
Scott stops laughing. "Dude."
"It's a possibility!" He tries to defend.
"No, it's not! Are you forgetting that vampires aren't even real?"
"But, m-maybe that's just what they want you to think!"
"You cannot be serious."
"Scott, You can't tell me you're not suspicious at all. Just think about all the weird things I told you about!"
"She's a girl, man. Girls are weird."
No matter what Scott said, Stiles knew that Natalie McCarthy was more than just weird.
Regardless of her intention here - he starts carrying around a stake and a cross, just to be safe.
What do you think? This is only part one of the prologue, as I'm still working my way though updating it.
Also, sidenote, I kinda wanna see Stiles facing off against Fae - imagine them trying to uncover his real name hahaha