Chapter One:

Nikola's POV

She placed her hands on my shoulders and gently directed me over to the couch. Her eyes kept flicking up to the clock mounted on the wall. It seemed her patience was waning with each passing second.

"Let's go over the rules again Nicky." My mother insisted, running her fingers through hair impatiently.

I rolled my eyes as I sat down, "You’ve only repeated them what—seven or so times today? And over my life time… at least twice a day. More than that if I’m lucky. You’d really think I’d know them by now.” I snorted sarcastically.

"No talking back Nicky." She snapped. Sure she loves me, and I love her, but messing with Caroline Forbes when she’s running late is practically a suicide mission.

“Fine.” I huffed, crossing my arms in submission. I sunk down into the leather couch and looked up as he began her familiar lecture.

She ignored me, “Okay so, rule number one; don't call anyone unless it is an emergency. And no, the television not working does not count as an emergency.”

“Yes mother.” I sighed.

She lifted up her next finger, counting off the rules in her head, “Rule two; no leaving the house.”

 “Whatever.”

“And rule three; do not break anything Nikola Mikaelson-Forbes.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Ok that’s it, Bonnie will be here in half an hour.” Mom said, smiling at me gently. She leant down, pulling me into a tight hug. I wrapped my arms around her in return, snuggling my head into her shoulder. She hugged tighter and then let go, giving me a light peck on the forehead, “I'm off now, please behave” She begged me with a smirk.

“Fine, I will-- but you know me when it comes to Aunt Bonnie. Breakages will happen.” I teased with a giggle. Mom rolled her eyes and sped off out the door.

I waited for the sound of the car motor starting back up and then fell back on to the couch, “Thirteen years old and she still doesn't trust me.” I spat, leaning my head on my hand in annoyance.

I pushed myself out of the deep, cushiony couch and trudged out of the lounge, through into the hallway. Walking into my bedroom, I sat down on my satiny purple bedspread, leaning into my mountain of pillows. There are few places that make me feel anywhere near  as happy and peaceful as what my bedroom does. The massive room pretty much yells ‘Nikola’ at anyone who dares enter. The glittery black wall behind my bed is the only one not covered in photos of my friends and family; the rest of them are practically tiled in photos. Scattered over the floor and most of the furniture were piles of clothing—much to my mother’s discontent. In the corner of my room was a large desk, scattered with paper, drawing pencils and half used paint tubes. Beside the desk was a tall easel, currently occupied with a large canvas, portraying a half painted white tiger.

On my bedside table sat a small silver frame. Inside in was a picture of a man with curly, honey blonde hair; the exact same shade as my own wavy locks. You could see a lot of my father in me—at least in that picture he looked very similar to me. I haven’t seen any other pictures of him for comparison. I haven’t even met him before to see if our likeness goes further than our profiles. He likes painting though, just like me mom said. I’ve always dreamt of meeting him, but that picture is the closest I have gotten to the real thing.

I’ve met his brother though, my favourite uncle, Uncle Kol. He’s told me countless stories about his life and adventures, most of them stretching way back over a thousand years old. Sadly he never really talked about my father much.

A gentle knocking sounded from the front door. I leaped off my bed, running out of my room and down the hallway to open it. I unlocked the door, pulling it open to reveal a grinning Bonnie Mikaelson. A wide grin spread over my face as I noticed what she had on the baking tray she was holding in front of her; her famous-- and my favourite-- chocolate, marshmallow brownies.

“Aunt Bonnie—you brought your brownies!” I squealed, throwing my arms around her neck in excitement.

She hugged me back with one arm, using the other one to keep hold of the brownies, “Hey, how’s my favourite niece! I do hope you were hugging me because I’m your favourite aunt, not just because the chocolaty goodness in my hands.” Bonnie laughed, moving the tray away from my reach. “C’mon, let’s go eat these… I’ve been dying to since they came out of the oven; but I knew you’d kill me if I didn’t leave you any.”

“You got that right.” I snorted. We made our way back inside to the kitchen. Bonnie took a seat at one of the stools and I raced to get us a plate and desert fork each. I’d be quite happy just eating them straight off the tray, and I know Bonnie would be too. My mother on the other hand wouldn’t be quite so placid and forgiving if we managed to get crumbs through her prized, pristine white kitchen. I sat down and me and Bonnie began piling our plates with brownies.

“So, how are you Nicky?” Bonnie asked; her voice muffled through a mouthful of chocolate brownie.

“I'm doing fine.” I chuckled. I suddenly stopped laughing and gripped my head, my fork clattered onto the wooded floor as my grasp weakened. I let out a quiet moan in response to sudden stabbing, pounding headache. I clutched at my head, digging my nails into scalp. My eyes teared up at the intensity of the pain, it felt like hundreds of knitting needles were being driven into my head by some unknown force. I screwed up my face, tightening my lips to hold in the scream threatening to escape.

“Nikola!” Bonnie yelled in shock, dropping her own fork as she jumped down from her stool, rushing over to me. I felt her arms wrap around me, she lifted me up from my stool into her arms. She staggered slightly with my weight as she ran to the lounge, dropping me on the sofa.

“My head-- sore head.” I croaked, curling into a foetal position. The pain wasn’t easing; in fact it felt as if it were getting worse. I whimpered as I gripped it tighter, trying unsuccessfully to ease the pain. Wet tears trickled onto my cheeks as I squeezed my eyes shut. This was the first time I’ve ever even had a headache, and it was already one of the worse pains I’ve ever felt in my life.

“S-shh, N-Nicky,” Bonnie stuttered, catching a tear of my cheek, “It’s gonna be okay, I’m going make it hurt less sweetie.” Her cool hands cupped my forehead softly, “lenire dolorem malum finem, nolite flere puellae—“ Her incomprehensible muttering was interrupted by my glass shattering scream.

“Bonnie, help me!” I wailed; my body convulsed as I gripped tightly to her hands. The pain was seeping into the rest of my body, shooting down my neck into my spine and arms. It felt like I was being set fire to from the inside out. The room started spinning; I could feel Aunt Bonnie shaking me as my eyes slowly closed. The pain eased as the darkness expanded. Finally the pain stopped and the black engulfed me completely.

I M P O R T A N T  N O T E:

This story was started by @Starlight104, a good friend of mine here on wattpad. After putting a lot of stories on hold to continue her main one, she finally decided to delete her story 'Life as I Know it'. As it was my favourite of her stories, I begged her not to and in the end we came to a comprise-- she gave it to me to continue and finish.

So the first six chapters of this story have originally been written by her (although edited and rewritten by me), and after that they will all be written by me.

Caro Camaegh. x

Wattpad- Life as I Know it

TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbaXRpwQsP4