Autumnal equinox, 986 A.D.

My mother informed me, on her death bed, that my father was a married man. She had an affair with him after he found his own wife had been unfaithful to him. The woman had conceived yet never let on that he wasn't the father. I'm so torn between hating my mother and hating the man who did this to me.

It's like a stab to my heart. My mother basically told me that I was not born from love like she insisted my 19 summers of life, that my father had not died protecting us from the wolves. No I was a product of vengeance. On top of that horrible news, she told me that my father is Mikael, the man who killed his family, turning them into monstrous beasts that destroyed villages and that Mikael knew of my birth. So instead of turning me into one of them and releasing the truth of his infidelity, he found a witch, Ayanna his wife's fellow witch, to bind me to his life. Only when he died would I find peace, until then I would occupy my 19 summer's young body. I would be alone until then, I had searched their home for any clues only to come up empty handed.

-I never hated anyone more than I did when my mother told me the truth. Tomorrow I set out to find this family that I am bound to.

I shut the leather bound diary with care, not wanting to damage the memories of my past written within.

At times, when I felt like giving up, I would reread the day I found out what I was, who I was and it gave me the push I needed to continue searching. For a thousand years I had traveled the world, listening for some word on where my family was located. I never got more than a few whispers, most of which sent me half way across the world on a wild goose chase.

That was until today, it seemed that one of my half siblings was causing quite a bit of trouble in the States. But still no word on where my father was located, though I figured once I found my brother or sister they would know his whereabouts.

I boarded the plan in Paris, France; my last piece of information had led me here, heading towards the United States, Mystic Falls Virginia to be exact. I chuckled at the name of it, must be quite the menagerie of supernatural creatures living there for it to be named as such.

Settling down in row 32 seat A, I looked out the window hoping my journey would finally come to an end. I didn't think I could bear to keep up the chasing for much longer before I just gave up.

During my long flight, I had to wonder what lurked in the small Virginia town, that would keep a thousand year old vampire around long enough for me to get wind of it. They were usually careful to keep their presence hidden, making it harder for me to find them. I had yet to discover if they knew anything about me, I highly doubted Mikael would out himself. Though I had heard, after they left the village, that their mother had perished at the hands of her husband but somehow I doubted his guiltiness. If he had wanted her dead it would have happened the moment she cheated on him, not three children later and after they achieved immortality.

"Would you like a drink Miss?" the stewardess asked. I offered a quick 'No thank you'. I didn't think I could hold anything down at the moment.

My nerves were getting the best of me at the prospect of finally finding my siblings, possibly even my father. I couldn't get my hopes up though, too many times have I done just that and ended up disappointed. No I had to treat it the same way I had in the past, another lead, nothing more or less.

I shut my eyes in hope of some rest, it seemed that I was nothing but exhausted all the time, chasing ghosts.

Blissfully I slipped into a deep sleep.

What felt like minutes later, I was being shaken to awareness by the flight attendant, telling me we had arrived. That was impossible, I had just dozed off. I couldn't have been that tired.

Sure enough we were in Virginia and I had slept a total of seven hours. Maybe all this searching had taken a toll on my body. I shook it off, focusing back to the task at hand.

After grabbing my luggage I headed to the car rental counter and quickly signed for my rental car. I had gotten a little gas efficient car, not getting anything fancy that would draw attention to me. I jumped into the little blue Prius and started on my two hour journey.

By the time I made it to Mystic Falls the sun had long since descended, the moon taking its place in the sky. I had to admit that away from all the city lights that I was used to, the sky was quite beautiful. Not that I had ever taken the time to notice. It suddenly dawned on me that through my years walking this earth, I never had used any of the time for myself. I was too worried about being alone and finding my father. I had wasted a thousand years on searching, not stopping to enjoy the places I had been. I gipped myself out of experiences by being one track minded.

Not anymore, I promised.

Crossing the county line into Mystic Falls, I could feel a presence. It called to me, pulled me, I let it lead me. I ended up at, what I assumed was the only food establishment in the town, The Grille. Getting out of the car I ran my hands over my clothes in a fruitless attempt to smooth out any wrinkles. Stepping in the bar I was greeted with many stares, most likely being labeled as a newcomer.

Making my way up to the bar, I sat down on a stool next to a dark haired man. The bartender came up asking me for my order.

"Tequila, make it a double." I needed a drink after the long day I had.

The man next to me smiled," Rough day?"

"Not exactly rough just long." I replied.

He chuckled, extending his hand, "I'm Damon, Damon Salvatore." His eyes were the most hypnotizing blue I had ever seen before.

Vampire, duh.

Probably right, but maybe he could be of some help.

"I go by Astrid even though my mother named me Asfrid. She was an old world kind of woman." I always had to explain how I got my name; it just became second nature to add it to the introductions.

He nodded thoughtfully, "Nice name. There a last name to go with that lovely first name?"

Oh wonderful he was trying to be charming.

"Halsten, Astrid Halsten. Odd name I know." I laughed lightly.

"Sounds very…Viking…are you descended from them?" he asked inquisitively. He was way too observant for his own good.

I plastered on a smile, "Yep, guilty. No one usually guesses Viking, you're very knowledgeable."

He grinned, making his blue eyes twinkle, "So may I buy you a drink?" He asked smoothly.

I realized I hadn't taken my shot and quickly downed it. "Yes that would be nice. Thank you."

Might as well as enjoy my time here.

He waved the bartender over, requesting another shot for me and tumbler of bourbon for him.

Many shots later, we end up at Damon's 'residence'. Funny how he thought I was drunk enough to bring home but it may prove to be useful on my end.

As he shut the door I moved into the den of the home.

"So why did you want to come to Mystic Falls? Not a whole lot of tourist spots here." I swear that man was way too keen.

"It's more of a business trip than pleasure." I expertly reply. He's not the first vampire I've come across who was nosy.

"Well I can make it more…pleasurable, if you like." Again, he hits on me. Can't he tell I'm way too old for…no I guess he couldn't.

Time to cut to the chase, "So, let's cut the crap." I said sounding totally sober.

His head tipped to the side, "Alright."

"I know you're a vampire and I really don't care. I'm just looking for a very old vampire, have you heard of them?" His eyes widened in surprise, I'm guessing it doesn't happen very often.

"What gave you that crazy idea, little girl." Yep, denial. Definitely a vampire. A stubborn one at that.

Do I show my cards or beat it out of him?

I sighed.

"Just tell me please, I'm not in the mood for explaining." I begged.

"I have no clue what you're talking about, I was just hoping to get lucky tonight and you start spouting vampire crap. It's a really big turn off you know." I had to give him credit for trying to dissuade me.

"Oh come off it. You know what…there has to be other, less aggravating vampires around here. I'll go find one of them." I turned to walk back out the door when he appeared in front of me; I had to hold in a grin. He fell for it.

His eyes locked on mine, pupils expanding and contracting, "You will go home; you will forget everything about vampires and their existence." I burst out laughing, unable to contain it any longer.

His brows wrinkled in confusion, "Are you on vervain?"

"Nope, I'm just wayyy older than you, compulsion doesn't work." I told him honestly.

The frown deepened, "How you have a heartbeat and don't look a day over 18." It was really sweet of him to say I was young.

"Fewer questions and more answers. Is there an old vampire here?" My business tone took over.

He sighed, running his hand through his dark hair.

"Yeah, his names Klaus but he's hybrid not just a vampire." My hopes shot through the roof, one of my siblings was here.

"Where is he?" I asked eagerly.

"Where's the fire? He's not someone to be messed with Astrid. He would sooner rip your heart out than listen to anything you have to say." Damon warned.

"It is of great importance that I find him Damon. I've been looking for so long…" He didn't need to know the reasons why.

"Why he's not a nice guy, he ruined the girl I loves life time and time again. He's threatened her friends, family, hell he even killed her aunt. Why would you want to find him?"

Silence flooded the room while I thought out my reasons; collecting my thoughts I looked him straight in the eye.

"Because I have given up my eternal life to finding them, I have died countless times, killed countless vampires, traveled all around the world-alone. That's why I want to find them, all of them. You don't need to know the details just that I have to know."

"You said 'them' are you saying there's more than one?" Of course that would be the only thing he got from my speech but it gave me information as well. There was only one here.

"That I know of, yes. Where can I find Klaus?"

"I suppose I could take you to his…abode." He agreed reluctantly.

If I wasn't me I would have hugged the man…oh to hell with it.

I ran up to Damon wrapping my arms around his middle tightly, "Thank you." And quickly pulled away, not totally comfortable with the action. In all my years I hadn't hugged anyone save for my mother. The gesture just seemed too personal and in all my travels I never got close to anyone. Vampires couldn't keep control around me and humans died too quickly, either way I was left alone.

"Yeah, you might not be thanking me later when you meet him." He looked as awkward as I did with the spontaneous embrace, though not due to inexperience.

"Well here is his lovely dungeon." Damon said dryly.

The house was in disrepair but looked as if it was currently being renovated much to my pleasure. I had always had a soft spot for Victorian style homes. Although I had no home of my own, the constant searching made sure to that. I shook the dark thoughts away and allowed myself to relish the sight.

Besides the decrepit nature of the home, it was absolutely gorgeous. The structure was straight out of the 1800's, probably when it was built. A vine cover fountain sat in the middle of a horseshoe drive adding elegance to the property. I bet there was a large garden behind the house as well.

My appreciation was cut short when a vampire grabbed me and sped towards the house. Well he we go, I'm going to meet Klaus.

We sped right into the house, seeing as there were no doors to hold anyone out. We stopped and I was dropped on the floor, none too gently.

Just as I was getting ready to give the stupid vampire a lesson on common courtesy, he spoke.

"Master, this human was outside the property with a Salvatore, the Salvatore left." The vampire said to no one, though I knew better. They had super hearing.

Oh yeah Damon, that ass must have taken off the moment he brought me here, jerk.

A tall man with curly dirty blonde hair and the clearest blue eyes walked into the room, "Well what do we have here?" His tone was malicious, even more so in his smooth British accent.

"Looks like a midnight snack." The other vampire said, his eyes turning yellow and two sets of fangs popped out.

He must be a hybrid as well.

The blue eyed man gave a disapproving look, "Leave us Gabriel." The man known as Gabriel pouted but did as he was told.

"You're Klaus aren't you?" I could only guess seeing as he ordered the hybrid around.

He smiled, "Why yes love I am. Who might you be?"

My heart rate picked up and I swore I was dreaming. This moment couldn't be real, it was just a figment created by my overly tired mind.

"Astrid. I've been searching for you for a very long time Klaus. Might I ask where the rest of the family is?" I was dazed for the first time in my life.

The smile wiped off his face and replaced with a scowl.

"Why have you been looking for me and how do you know of my family?" His tone turned deadly, implying my death if my answer did not meet his standards.

"The answers you want go hand in hand.-I took a deep breath and prepared to tell Klaus everything.-Mikael is my father." It was the first thing that came to mind but I had a feeling I just made things worse.

Klaus 'ice blue eyes glowed with fury as he grabbed me by my throat and pressed me to the wall.

"You lie, you are only human and could not possibly live that long." He spat.

I didn't bother clawing at his hands or begging for my life because, like him, I couldn't die. I was bound to my father, a vampire, death couldn't touch me. He seemed to take note of the lack of fight in me and it looked like it displeased him. His features morphed, eyes turned yellow with a red background, black veins appeared around the eyes, and finally two sets of fangs dropped yet I kept my composure.

I still wasn't scared, my heart didn't even flicker at the change, he growled at me in frustration, "Do you have a death wish? You come into my home spouting lies and proceed to further annoy me."

I said nothing, just stared into his eyes waiting to either pass out or die. Though dying only lasted about ten minutes, he didn't know that. He was ready to kill me. He refused to believe that my words were true. So I waited.

Right before blackness closed in I was thrown into the opposing wall. I winced at the pain that shot through my shoulder but thought nothing more on it; I knew it would be healed shortly. I sat up coughing trying to gain the air my body was deprived of.

"Now love I will ask you again, how do you know of me and my family?" He grinned maliciously knowing he caused me pain.

I rolled my eyes at the stubbornness that all vampires seemed to possess, "Mikael found out your mother cheated on him and had an affair with my mother."

My throat was once again under his hand, "Wrong answer little girl."

Really, we were going to do this all night? I was tired and he wanted to torture me all night because he couldn't accept the truth.

The process repeated, when I was on the verge of passing out he would toss me into the wall, ask the same question. I would keep telling my story and the cycle continued.

"You know my story isn't going to change. Even if you kill me I will come back because I am tied to Mikael's life, that's why I appear to be human. "Annoyance tinted my words.

"If that is true why haven't I heard or seen you in all my years? Hmm?" He thought he had me with his witty statement.

"Well if you guys stayed still long enough I may have caught up sooner, I don't have any super senses like you all do. By the time I made it to the location I was told of, you were long gone." Sadness covered me like a veil but I couldn't let him see me like this so I stuffed down all my emotions. My face became blank, not allowing a crack to show.

"Maybe I should just drain you, all this bickering has gotten me hungry." He stepped towards me, I held my ground. If the guy needed proof that I wasn't going to die then so be it. The only thing that sucked was that it took longer to come back after being tapped of blood, about a half hour or so.

"Please do, but give me at least an hour to come back. Replacing all the blood takes some time." I said in a chastising tone.

"We shall see." Then his teeth sank into the soft flesh of my neck. For some reason him drinking my blood was different from any other time a vampire had drank from me. It was erotic, feeling the pull on my blood as it slowly left my body, his lips on my skin. I couldn't help the shutter than ran along my spine. His arms wrapped snugly around my middle holding me in place.

Really you stupid body, you're going to get turned on while he's trying to kill you.

I was in disbelief that my body would act so inappropriately at a time like this. I was sure he could smell my arousal drifting through the air; he was after all half-werewolf half-vampire. But I couldn't find it in me to be ashamed with my reactions to his administrations.

My vision began tunneling in; I knew I had seconds left before I was technically dead.

"See you in an hour." I whispered before I fell into the depths of darkness.