[I'm going to speed through the years quite quickly. I have thousands of years to cover, so I'm going to do it quite quickly. Anything important will be dealt with via flashbacks anyway, I'm just establishing some connections to fit the MC into canon]
Niklaus POV
It's been many years since my family split apart. I've been living in a place known as 'Provadia-Solnitsata', a town famous for its salt reserves, which locals seem to have discovered the potential of, making it a lively place to survive.
I have discovered that my red eyes unnerve people. Perhaps it's an instinctual response towards a natural predator. To combat this issue, I grew my hair out. My fringe now fully covers my eyes. It may make me look strange, but I'd rather be thought of as strange than dangerous.
Unlike with my family, my height makes me stand out here. I'm only around 6'1, but that makes me tower over most people I've met recently. My unusual white hair, tipped with purple, makes people look at me strangely. My strength, however much I hold back, has made me accepted as a useful labourer, however.
I've met many more vampires over the years. Some seem to praise me, while others fear me. It seems the name 'Kingslayer' has put everyone on guard. I hope that, someday, I can find acceptance beyond their fears and be understood for who I am.
Some have spoken to me about a strange bond they have discovered. 'Love at first sight', perhaps. They call it a 'mate bond'. It may seem ridiculous, but I want to believe in the possibility of connection. If this mate bond is real, does that mean there is someone out there who truly understands me?
A new species has been emerging over the years, a strange group capable of transforming into wolves. I fought a 'pack' of them recently, and while not particularly strong on their own, their numbers make them a real threat to vampires other than myself. I shall call them 'shapeshifters', as it seems fitting.
2,000 B.C
The humans are growing strange. While vampires and shapeshifters have mostly kept to themselves in recent times, humans have grown rather arrogant. They seem to believe that they are the strongest race on the planet. It's amazing what ignorance can lead to.
I have mostly grown apart from their race. I feel no need to continue to protect those who are too arrogant to see reality. A group of humans tried to kill me after discovering my differences. They posed no threat; however, the emotional blow was surprising.
I moved among them for my own research and amusement. Why do I care for their opinions of me?
1,500 B.C
I have grown lonely in the past 500 years. The humans and shapeshifters fear my strength, while my own kind see me as nothing but a traitor. Am I destined to live and die alone?
Others seem to find comfort in creating their own coven. Perhaps I should try that. I need to find the right people I can trust and live with for eternity, and maybe, just maybe, I will find the mate I have been waiting for, which gives me a faint hope for peace.
1,200 B.C
I still have no members in my coven. Nobody seems to be quite the right fit.
I met a couple of men recently. Their names are Aro and Marcus. They spoke of building a coven, one to stand above all others in the world. They even offered an invitation, however insulting it was. Who in their right mind invites an Original to serve under them and expects no consequence? After a rather violent etiquette lesson, I left. Their delusions of world domination mean little to me.
1,100 B.C
I have been spending time with some new friends of mine in Egypt. Their names are Amun and Kebi. Apparently, they have this 'mate' bond that I have heard so much about.
They are rather old vampires, being born and changed around 2,500 B.C. It's nice to talk with people who remember the old times. They are the only people I can truly consider to be my friends in this world.
The Egyptian coven is a retreat from the world. Somewhere I can truly relax without worries. I doubt I will ever join them properly, but I will remain as their ally.
500 B.C
I've been travelling the world alone recently. Despite staying in touch with Amun and Kebi, I often feel a gnawing emptiness. Watching their closeness stirs a strange ache inside me-probably jealousy. Being almost 6000 years old and still unpaired makes me wonder if I am destined for eternal loneliness, perhaps a punishment for killing my creator.
400 A.D
A lot has happened in our world recently. The 'Volturi' have been collecting gifted vampires. It seems the rise to power Aro spoke of all those years ago is on the horizon for them. I have no interest in their games for dominance. However, if they touch the people I care for, they will be destroyed.
480 A.D
The Romanian coven has been effectively wiped out. Despite what I expected, they held out for significantly longer than I thought. 80 years is probably the longest war I have witnessed, at least between vampires. Usually, the power difference is so one-sided that everything is decided with a single battle.
I have heard whispers of my brothers over the years. Nothing valuable, but rumours of covens rising and shadows moving through the world. Perhaps they are preparing for revenge, though it doesn't matter.
My training is enough to keep me ahead. My speed has reached its limit, and I have copied everything that seems even mildly useful over the years. Even an entire coven could not beat me now. The upside of having nobody around is that I need not worry about my allies being caught in the crossfire, should I be targeted.
Even loneliness has its perks, it seems.
510 A.D
I have received word that the Volturi attacked the Egyptian coven. I rushed over as quickly as possible, but the speed of the ship left much to be desired. By the time I had arrived, the coven was almost extinct. Amun and Kebi fortunately survived, but they are the only ones. They have been coerced into serving the Volturi from now on. I wish to attack them, but Amun pleaded with me to refrain. He had given his word to serve the Volturi, and I cannot deny my only friends. I will watch the Volturi for now, and if they leave a single opening, they will be burned to the ground.
1205 A.D
I haven't really done anything over these years. I have settled into England. The weather here makes it easier to hide my nature. More clouds means more days I can spend outside. I have been considering starting a family. Perhaps I could adopt a young child. While I have some friends (only 2), it would be nice to have a more constant companion. I will be going to an orphanage in a couple of days and will see if there are any interesting children there.
-----------------------
As I move through the orphanage, I can feel something strange. A weird pull, trying to take me somewhere. Wherever it wants me to go, it's extremely close by.
I decide I may as well follow it. There can't be any harm in seeing what's causing this feeling.
We move further into the building, and I scan the rooms briefly. None of the staff have noticed me yet, I have already lowered my presence below what they could detect, I simply want to see what's waiting for me here.
Eventually, I reach the source of this feeling. A small child, less than a year old. The moment I lay eyes on her, I feel a peculiar connection form between us. It's not a mate bond, thank god. She's only a child after all. It's more like an overwhelming need to protect and spoil her. Is there a different kind of bond, something more parental?
It doesn't matter. I've already decided that she will be my new daughter.
-----------------------
I have done what can only be described as kidnapping. I don't particularly care, but the staff in the orphanage may have problems with it. I looked through all the information I needed before taking her away.
Her name is Freya. Both parents deceased. Birthday is January 18.
She's cute. Small locks of black hair, with a streak of blue running through it, the lightness of it looking even more pronounced against the pure black covering the rest of her head.
I'll make sure to teach her everything she needs to know about the world, including the supernatural. Then, if she wishes to be turned, I would do it. I've only been with her for less than an hour and I already can't imagine saying no to her.
This girl is definitely going to give me a panic attack when she's older.
1220 A.D
It's been 15 years since I took Freya with me. It has been far more fulfilling than simply living on my own. For the first time in 7,000 years, I feel like I have a purpose.
Her studies and training have been coming along remarkable. Her mind seems to soak up information like a sponge. Everything I teach her is memorised almost immediately, and she has made great progress in the martial arts I have taught her.
Her curiosity seems to help. From the moment I explained what was really living in our world, she seemed determined to learn every little thing I could teach.
I haven't mentioned her to Amun or Kebi yet. I wouldn't want the Volturi to learn that a human has learnt basically everything about vampires. It's not that I can't beat them, it's just that I can't put Freya at risk.
My arrogance in my strength has waned significantly. I'm forced to consider things not just from my perspective, but from Freya's as well. I cannot brute force my way through everything anymore.
I'm not sure whether I should turn her or not. That conversation can wait for a later date.
-----------------------
"Father, I want to be like you."
I stopped painting for a moment and looked at her, studying her expression.
"Are you sure? You know that if you make this decision, you can never go back."
"I'm sure," she assured me, "Besides, if I stay as a human, you'll eventually end up alone again. I know that you don't notice it, but when you talk about you're past, I can feel the loneliness that you try to hide. Plus, who knows, maybe my mate will be a vampire too. I'd have to be turned in that case anyway, you'd just be speeding up the process."
I smile slightly at that. If I am being honest with myself, I've come to believe that the mate bond only shows up for those lucky enough. I haven't felt anything like that in all my life. You'd think that after over 7,000 years of waiting, someone would've showed up by now. However, who knows. If my daughter has a chance to be happy, I'd fully support it.
Depending on who the person is, of course.
"Well, I don't particularly have any problem with that. You will have to wait a while though."
"Why can't we just do it now?"
I sigh slightly. She's incredibly smart, but sometimes she forgets simple details when she is focused on one thing. "Being a vampire means you will be stuck at the same age forever. You're only 15 right now. We will wait until your 18th birthday before I turn you. You should be old enough by then to do whatever you wish in the future."
"Okay! I'll let you get back to your painting now. I need to run and finish my cooking."
"Okay. I'll be going hunting after I finish here anyway. I'll go west to the next town, I don't want a dead body showing up at our doorstep."
-----------------------
1223 A.D
Freya's birthday was a little over a week ago. I will turn her tonight, and her body should finish the change by tomorrow morning. I've prepared all she could need, and I have a criminal that I caught tied up in the basement to prepare for her first thirst.
Freya arrived shortly after I called her into the room.
"Are you ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be, I suppose", she chirps back
I tell her to lie down on the bed. "This is going to hurt, a lot. You won't die, I won't allow that but you need to push through the pain. Stay conscious for as long as you can, okay?"
She nods her head eagerly, "Let's get on with it. I'm pretty excited to see what happens."
I shake my head slightly while steeling my mind. This is the second time I've turned someone, and the first was myself. However, I'm confident I know what to do.
"Okay, I'll count to three," I warn her. "1... 2... 3!" I bite down on her neck. I only take as much blood as is needed and I slowly replace it with my venom. The more venom a person receives during their change, the stronger they will be. However, receiving too much will cause their body to shut down and they will die.
When I'm satisfied that the venom is sufficient, I pull my mouth away and wipe it with a handkerchief.
As I turn back around, Freya begins to writhe in pain, occasional scream tearing from her throat.
This is going to be a long night.
-----------------------
It's been roughly 6 months since Freya became a vampire. She has been progressing incredibly.
Even just physically, her strength and speed are higher than what an average new-born should have. Her body has compacted and become more muscular, and she grew an extra couple of inches, now standing at around 5'7. One thing that I do find interesting is the blue streak in her hair has become more pronounced. In fact, it also seems to resonate slightly with her gift.
After some experimentation, we discovered that Freya's gift allows her to manipulate electromagnetic waves. A remarkably niche yet powerful ability. With enough practice, she may even be able to control another person's body by manipulating the waves in their brain.
Freya's thirst was a pain to get control of at first, but she managed fine. She seems rather happy that we can finally go hunting together instead of her sitting at home alone, waiting for me to return.
I suppose I'm rather happy with this development as well.
The future is looking more and more promising, now that I can spend eternity with my daughter.
With Freya's new immortality, I suppose we would class as a coven. We never used last names before, but now it seems to make sense to classify us.
I'd like a name that represents my past, shows my status, and gives identity to my family.
Shadowborn
That seems to have a nice ring to it.
-----------------------
1985
I am standing in a warehouse just outside of London, surrounded by bodies. Their hearts had been removed and they all had 2 puncture wounds on their necks.
The leader of this group of petty thieves had the nerve to target my daughter. Safe to say that will never be happening again.
I used to be against killing humans. I wonder when that changed. I can't even remember the last time I hesitated.
Don't get me wrong, I never kill for no reason. They are all bad people who deserve to die. Even when we need food, we have multiple blood banks under our name. Taking a little blood off the top while using the rest to help others, that isn't so bad, is it?
Just as I am about to leave, I feel a pull inside my consciousness. It was similar to the feeling I had before I found Freya, yet different at the same time. It felt more...intimate, I suppose.
Before I can investigate further, it seems to vanish. Not gone, just waiting for the right moment. Without any further clues, I simply shrug my shoulders and leave the building. Freya is probably home by now.
I make my way back, completely unaware that, across the Atlantic, there's a small, brunette vampire now bouncing around excitedly at the vision she's just seen.
-----------------------
2005
Freya and I are driving towards our new home in the US. I'm driving our 2001 Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R. I love this car. I got it when it was first released in 2002. I even made sure to get it in the same colour as the blue in Freya's hair.
I may have a slight obsession with things related to my daughter, but I don't care. Besides, all vampires feel emotions stronger than humans. With an emotion like fatherly love, I don't see any issue with simply letting that show.
I look over at her while she looks down at her phone, no doubt deciding what music to listen to next.
"Remind me again why you feel the need to attend High School?"
She glances up at me, "Both of our qualifications are getting too old. It's been so long since we last got our degrees that people are going to start questioning them again. As for why high school specifically, we need qualifications first to get into college."
She makes a good point. We got our last degrees in the 80s. According to them, we should both be around 40 right now. Given that we were both turned around the age of 18, it doesn't seem particularly convincing.
"Very well. I'm not excited to be mingling with a group of hormonal teenagers that seem determined to take my daughter away from me, but I suppose I can manage for 1 year. This is a good spot though. Cloudy, rainy, misty, all around depressing atmosphere. Just my kind of place."
I see Freya roll her eyes slightly at me. I may have strange tastes in my preferred holiday destinations, but at least they are perfectly aligned with our nature.
"Well, let's get this over with. High school is a boring prospect, but we can take this time to relax. Perhaps I'll find some good spots for my painting."
I've practically perfected art in my lifetime. It is one of my favourite pastimes. I even tried selling some of my paintings in the past, going under the name Leonardo da Vinci. My style never seemed to really take off. Interestingly, after I faked my death to avoid suspicions about my age, my work gained a lot more popularity. Strange how things work out like that.
Just as I'm reminiscing about my past and thinking of the year of relaxation I'm about to get, I glance at the sign leading to our newest home.
'The city of Forks welcomes you'
-----------------------
[That's the prologue done. This chapter didn't really focus on anything, but I had thousands of years to cover with nothing particularly interesting going on. I introduced our second OC, and built some connection with the Volturi and the Egyptian coven. Now we can finally get into canon.]
[Freya has been training for 800 years under the strongest vampire in history. Naturally, she is among the top fighters in the verse, but she is still nowhere near Niklaus or the rest of the Original coven. Those guys are in a class by themselves]
[Yes, Alice had a vision about her and Niklaus, as well as Jasper and Freya. Edward will still be the same emo, broody person I remember from the films, but Alice and Jasper will be different, of course. I have set them as more of an extremely close sibling bond for this, so Alice is still the one who brought Jasper to the Cullens. Makes things easier.]