Raven Cromwell ~ The Vampire/Witch Hybrid ~ A Vampire Diaries Fanfiction

Chapter 1 ~ Leaving Portland

Cries echo down the hall, Raven rushes over.

"Ugh Chloeee" Raven sighs in frustration "Please just go to sleep, it's bedtime baby, mummy and daddy will be home soon!"

Raven leans into the cot and strokes Chloe's rosy cheeks, singing a sweet melody in an effort to calm Chloe's childish gurgles. Eventually, Baby Chloe starts to relax and her eyes close peacefully.

"ah bliss" Raven mutters under her breath, perching down beside the cot. She begins to read yet another news article on possible supernatural sightings.

'Four bodies drained of blood' the headline reads.
20 minutes pass and Raven is still hooked on the article when suddenly keys begin to rattle in the front door.

"Hey Raven, sorry we're a little late, a patient needed last minute treatment" Samantha sighed dropping her bag by the door.

"How's Chloe been today?" Robert shouts up the stairs.

"Don't worry about it Sam! Chloe's been good, we just had a little tantrum about going to bed but I got her settled" Raven replied, coming downstairs to meet the parents.

"You're good with her you know?" "We can't thankyou enough" they both chimed.

"It's my job and I love her, but I have been meaning to speak with you about something" Raven confessed.

Samantha sat down at the dinner table and gestured for Raven to sit, whilst Robert ran upstairs to check in on his daughter "What's on your mind?"

"Well I've always wanted to travel. I've been saving up and..." Raven hesitated " I was thinking of moving away"

"Oh Raven..." Sam said in a disappointed tone "Where would you go?"

"A town called Mystic Falls"

"Mystic Falls??" Sam gasped, leaning over the table towards Raven with her mouth wide open.

"What about Mystic Falls?" Robert questioned coming down the stairs and into the dining room.

"Raven wants to move to Mystic Falls"

"Haven't you heard 'four bodies drained of blood' it's all over the news, residents are terrified Raven" Robert said with concern.

"Yeah, I've seen them" she nodded.

"Then why on earth would you want to live there? I heard their hospital is completely full because there's so many incidents. Not to mention we live in Portland...it's a 42 hour drive from here and you don't even have a car!" Sam lectured.

"I know, trust me I know, but I can get one" Raven said, somewhat convincingly.

"Where would you keep all your books? You have a perfectly good room here Raven"

"I know and I am so thankful you let me stay here. You're both so kind and I love babysitting Chloe but I want to see the world. I want excitement and adventure. I can buy a trailer to transport all my books...or a campervan and I could live in it!" Raven rambled.

"I can't ask you to stay but we just want you to be safe" Robert smiled. Raven could tell both him and Sam were upset over this news but she was determined to make her dream a reality.

"I know and I will" Raven breathed "It hasn't been an easy decision, trust me. I've never really had a family before you two took me in. You guys originally wanted a babysitter but instead, you gave me so much more. Food on my plate, a roof over my head, a place I could call home and I'm so thankful for that. But it's time for me to pursue other things" Raven started to tear up but quickly dried her eyes.

"We understand" Sam smiled, standing up to embrace Raven "I know you're not a fan of hugs but let me have this one, please?"

Raven laughed and hugged her back.

"We are gonna miss you kiddo" Robert chuckled, patting Raven on the shoulder "And Sam, we are going to have to find a new babysitter"

"I won't leave until you guys have one, okay? I promise" Raven smiled.

~ 2 weeks later ~

"Everything set for the road?" Robert asked, sticking his head into the back of the sandy coloured campervan. Raven had filled it with her collection of books so now the van just looked like a mobile library.

"Yep good to go!" Raven said excitedly, steering the wheel left and right with the engine turned off.

Samantha approached the van with Chloe in her arms, waving goodbye.

"Miss you already!" Sam grinned.

In the doorway stood an older lady, Margaret, the new babysitter. She waved too.

"Keep in touch" Robert slapped the dashboard as he stepped away from the van.

"We want loads of pictures of you enjoying yourself, tons of travel photos" Samantha chuckled.

"I will don't worry. Thankyou, I love you guys" Raven smiled, and everyone smiled back...even Chloe!

Soon the engine was running and Raven was driving away, ready to begin her long roadtrip towards an exciting, yet dangerous destination.