Thank you for making the new, beautiful cover for this story!

A/N - I am aware that the Mikaelsons fled New Orleans in 1919, but for the sake of the story, let's pretend that it was in 1921.

1921 - New Orleans

cheerfully, Astrid sat in one of the bars in New Orleans with the love of her life; Stella Allen. The ginger beauty stole her heart since the very first day they met each other.

They often got many strange looks in the bar. It was uncommon for gay people to be so open about their relationships as it was punishable, but Astrid didn't care. She only cared about her brother's approval. The two females were together for over two years now and it's been a year since Stella was turned.

She turned in terrible circumstances. She was caught in a crossfire between two men; shooting each other. The men instantly fled the scene but were later caught by Niklaus and got what they deserved. Astrid tried saving the red haired girl but she failed. She died with Astrid's blood in her system, turning into a vampire.

They sat in the bar, enjoying their two year anniversary. That is, until the peace was disturbed by her brother barging into the building. "Everybody out." He shouted. Humans stared at him, confused, still sitting in their seats. "Now!" He yelled. Everyone except for Astrid and Stella fled the bar, not wanting to get on Niklaus' bad side.

Astrid walked towards her brother and cupped his face, concerned. "What's wrong, brother?" She questioned, calming him down. Stella walked towards the two, standing beside them.

Niklaus moved Astrid's hands away from his face and took a step back, giving her an apologetic look "I'm sorry." He whispered. Astrid raised her brow in confusion. "We have to flee, sister. Father found us" he said.

Astrid tensed as her eyes opened wide in shock. She knew this day would come but she didn't expect it to happen so fast. "W-what?" She stuttered, taking a step backwards as a single tear escaped her eye.

Stella quickly embraced her. She was confused about the situation; none of the Mikaelsons have ever told her about their parents. They always avoided the topic. "Why is that so bad?" She asked innocently as Astrid sobbed into her shoulder.

Niklaus, for the first time in years, ignored the redhead and spoke to his sister again "Astrid, love. We have to leave. You know we do." He said with a frown. He didn't want to seperate the two girls. Stella brought light, happiness and love back into Astrid's life and he didn't want to take that away from her.

Astrid moved away from Stella and nodded at Niklaus. "Go, brother, I'll join you soon." She told him "I have to..." She sighed, looking at Stella with a sad expression "...I have to do something first."

Niklaus nodded, understanding what she meant. He smiled sadly at the two girls and walked away; knowing it was their goodbye.

"Oh, love." Astrid smiled through her tears "you're going to hate me for this."

Stella stood there, still confused "I could never hate you, my love. Whatever this is... I won't hate you... ever." She said quickly. She wanted to help Astrid and her brothers. They were like family to her. The only family she had left after her biological family was killed during the war.

"You're right." Astrid smiled as she cupped her cheeks. "You're right." The blonde repeated, kissing the girl's lips for the last time "You won't hate me..." She whispered when she pulled away "...because you won't remember me." She smiled as tears ran down her cheeks.

"What are y-"

Astrid breathed in deeply and calmed herself down as she looked into Stella's eyes, compelling her. "You will not remember me, my siblings nor anything that has ever happened to you in New Orleans. You don't know who turned you, or when and how it happened. You will leave New Orleans and not return for at least 50 years." She finished. The girl repeated her words and left the bar, her ginger locks bouncing on her shoulders.

Astrid took a deep breath as tears began rolling down her cheeks once again. She walked out of the bar with her head hanging low.

➖➖➖

Quietly, the banshee, kitsune and the true alpha neared the old, abandoned bank. The bank where his friends were held captive. He would lie if he said that he's not nervous or scared. In fact, his heart was hammering so fast in his chest, he was sure Lydia could hear it. He normally wasn't so scared but now his mother bound to find out what he is. She would find out about the true monster inside.

He looked at Lydia who tried to conceal her nervousness, but her heart gave it away. Just like Scott's, her heart was hammering at the speed of light.

Kira stood behind the strawberry blonde and the true alpha, holding her sword as she stared at the tall building. She was breathing heavily, not concealing the fact that was, in fact, terrified. "Let's go." She whispered, wanting to get this over with.

Scott nodded and the three began walking. Knowing about the vampires' superhearing, they decided to not walk in through any doors. They would go in through one of the shattered windows. They went into an alley behind the bank, locating the massive window; their entrance.

Scott looked at his friends with a nervous sigh "I'll go in first." He announced. The two girls nodded hesitantly. The hybrid focused his hearing, searching for any sounds inside the building. Breathing? None. Footsteps? None. Heartbeats? None. Screams? None. Growling? Yes.

Scott's eyes shot open, looking at his friends. "What's wrong?" Lydia questioned, becoming even more nervous than she already was.

Scott gulped, stepping away from the wall, ready to jump in through the windows. "They have werewolves." He told them.

The girls instantly tensed. It was rare for werewolves and vampires to become allies, they know that much. It was shocking that hatred for one family would bring together species that have been at war for centuries.

Scott jumped, landing inside the building. His fall echoed through the hallways, making him freeze in his place. He stood paralysed, hoping that no one heard him enter. "You can come in." Scott said after a few minutes.

First, the strawberry blonde entered after receiving some help from the kitsune. Scott grabbed her waist and helped her settle on the stone floor quietly. They tried making as little noise as possible; not wanting to alert the creatures in the building.

After her, kira managed to climb inside the building, also receiving help from Scott. "Thanks." She whispered, smiling at the alpha.

"Everyone remembers what to do?" Scott asked. The girls nodded with a serious expression on their faces. "I'll go to the basement." He said.

"I'm going to the vault." Kira whispered, receiving nods.

"And I'm going upstairs." Lydia finished. The three nodded and went their separate ways.

Scott walked through the long, cold corridors until he reached a staircase leading to the basement. He froze from time to time whenever he heard a sound, or when he made a sound. His shoes stood on the dirt, broken glass and papers which were scattered all over the floor; even in the basement.

He felt like he was being watched, making him turn around every 10 seconds; paranoid that he'll be found. He froze when he saw ginger locks in front of him. An average height girl with ginger hair and slim physique was patrolling the hallway. She was dressed in black leather trousers, black shirt and combat boots.

The boy sighed in relief when she walked away. He carried on walking, eventually ending up near a barrier which stopped people from falling down one floor. He grabbed the barrier and looked down.

His eyes opened wide when he saw three people tied to chairs; his mother, Chris Argent and Stiles. Vampires and a werewolf walked around them.

"Hey." Stiles said, looking at a blonde vampire who stared at him in disgust. "Wanna hear a joke?" He said, tapping his foot on the floor. The vampire ignored him. "Why does Peter pan always stay afloat?" He asked, biting his cheeks to stop laughing.

"Why?" A brunette vampire growled, wanting him to shut up already.

"Because he Neverlands!" Stiles laughed. Melissa and Chris closed their eyes and inhaled deeply. That boy was going to be the death of them.

"How about-" Stiles was cut off.

"Shut up!" One of the vampires finally snapped. "I'm sick of your constant talking! Can you not stay quiet for at least 5 minutes? 5 minutes!" He yelled as his eyes turned red from the rage.

Stiles gulped loudly as the vampire stood right in front of him, their faces centimetres away.

"Fine" Stiles groaned and let his head fall back - landing on Chris' shoulder. The teenager quickly fell asleep; Melissa and Chris sighed in relief. He was getting on everyone's nerves.

Scott opened his eyes wide when he felt his phone buzz. He looked around, making sure that no one heard it before taking a few steps back to turn his phone on. He got two messages.

I found Malia and my parents. They're in the vault.

Scott smiled when he read the text. Finally some good news. He licked his lips, moisturizing them, before reading Lydia's text.

Derek and Deaton are on the second floor.

Scott internally screamed from happiness. They found everyone. All they had to do now was save their friends and everything would be okay.

The boy turned around when he felt a breeze on his skin. His pulse accelerated and his breathing quickened when he saw the ginger woman in front of him. She smiled at him sweetly before grabbing his neck and snapping it.

Unfortunately, Lydia and kira were knocked out as well and everyone was moved to the vault. They were all seated in chairs, facing each other as they sat in a circle.

Stella stood in the middle, waiting for Scott to wake up as the rest of the group stared at her with hatred. "Who are you?" Argent finally spat through gritted teeth.

"I'll tell you when lover boy wakes up." She smiled sweetly.

As if on queue, Scott woke up. He scanned the gigantic room before his eyes fell on the girl whose arms were crossed.

Scott growled as his eyes turned red - including his whites. Black veins emerged under his eyes as long, sharp canines grew out. His claws scratched the wooden chair as he desperately tried to escape.

"That won't work, honey." Stella cooed. "See that around your wrists?" She asked. Everyone, including Scott, looked at the rope around the alpha's wrists. "It was soaked in vervain. It will hold even you down. You may be a hybrid but you're still vulnerable to vervain..." She smiled.

"A hybrid?" Melissa questioned, concerned about her son when she saw his face. A face which looked like it belonged to the devil.

"She turned you." Chris said in realisation.

"It wasn't her fault." Scott defended Astrid.

"She fed us her blood." Kira butted in, making the adult's eyes shoot open. They all gasped at the news.

"No. No. No. No" Stiles said quickly, gaining everyone's attention "she needed us to drink her blood to connect her to us... kind of?" He questioned himself "it was her magic thingy. She will feel it when something happens to us." Stiles explained.

"So she felt it when I broke Scott's neck?" Stiles nodded "and when I knocked you out?" He nodded again "and when I almost broke Kira's wrist?" He nodded once more. "And yet she's not checking up on you. I guess she just doesn't care." She laughed.

Her smile disappeared when Scott's phone began ringing and Astrid's picture popped up. Stella answered the phone and put it on loud speaker.

"Scott? Are you okay? I felt yours and Kira's pain. I'm sorry I couldn't check up on you earlier." She explained through the phone. No one replied. "Scott?"

"Hello, Astrid." Stella answered with a chuckle. "Haven't heard your voice in a while."

"Who is this?" Astrid questioned. Her voice sounded calm but everyone in the room knew she was furious.

Stella frowned "let me jog your memory back to the early 1900s" Stella smiled "it's me, your 'pumpkin" she chuckled. She heard Astrid gasp in surprise.

"Stella? How do you-"

"Remember it?" Stella spat. "Well... after years of wondering why I couldn't remember at least 3 years of my life, I found a witch - a very powerful witch in London - to answer my question. Unfortunately, it was impossible for me to regain my memories but she told me that a powerful vampire compelled me to forget everything..." Stella said, pacing around the room. "...and left me"

"I did it to pro-"

"Protect me?" Stella laughed "don't make me laugh. You abandoned me, you selfish pig!" She yelled "Now... if you want to get your friends back, meet me in the vault of Beacon Hills bank. I'm sure you know where it is." She said and destroyed the phone, leaving the room.

Published; 18th/02/2019