Bloodlines and Betrayal

 The Devil at the Door

The moment Lucian stepped inside, the temperature plummeted.

Every candle in the room extinguished at once, plunging the house into near darkness. Only the faint red glow of Bonnie's ritual circle remained, flickering like dying embers.

Adrian was still on his knees, shaking, gasping as the magic tore through him. He felt like he was drowning in fire, like something ancient and monstrous had buried its claws deep into his soul.

But there was no time to process it.

Lucian had arrived.

Damon was the first to react, moving faster than human eyes could track. He lunged, fangs bared, aiming straight for Lucian's throat.

Lucian didn't even blink.

With a mere flick of his wrist, Damon was launched backward, smashing into the staircase so hard the railing shattered.

Stefan was next. He grabbed a wooden stake from the table and thrust it toward Lucian's heart.

Lucian caught it. Barehanded.

Then, before Stefan could react, Lucian drove the stake into Stefan's stomach instead.

Stefan gasped, doubling over as Lucian twisted the wood deeper. "Predictable," Lucian murmured. "You Salvatore brothers never learn."

Bonnie's magic flared to life.

She lifted both hands, chanting an incantation that made the air vibrate with raw energy. A blast of white-hot fire shot from her fingertips, aimed directly at Lucian's chest.

Lucian let out a low chuckle.

Then—he walked right through it.

The flames barely touched him before fizzling into nothing.

Bonnie staggered backward, her breath coming in sharp gasps. "No. That's not possible."

Lucian tilted his head. "Oh, Bonnie. Do you really think your little spells can hurt me?" He took a step closer. "I've devoured witches far more powerful than you."

Bonnie gritted her teeth, raising her hands for another spell—

But Lucian snapped his fingers.

Pain exploded through Bonnie's skull.

She let out a strangled cry, clutching her head as invisible claws tore through her mind. Blood dripped from her nose, her knees buckling as she collapsed.

Stefan, still gasping from his wound, crawled toward her. "Bonnie—"

Lucian stepped over him like he was nothing.

His golden eyes locked onto the coffin at the center of the room—onto Elena.

"Finally," he murmured.

Adrian forced himself to his feet. His vision was still blurry, his body shaking, but he moved, putting himself between Lucian and the coffin.

Lucian raised an eyebrow. "You look awful, Adrian. How does it feel? Taking her place?"

Adrian's breath was ragged, but his voice was steady. "Go to hell."

Lucian smirked. "Oh, my dear boy. I am hell."

Then he struck.

Adrian barely saw the movement—Lucian was too fast.

One second he was in front of him, the next—Lucian's hand was around Adrian's throat.

He lifted him off the ground with inhuman strength, his fingers tightening like a vice.

Adrian choked, gripping Lucian's wrist, trying to break free. But the curse was still inside him, still weakening him. His vision darkened at the edges.

Lucian leaned in close, his golden eyes gleaming. "You were always meant to be the sacrifice, Adrian." His voice dropped lower, almost a whisper. "Not the hero."

Adrian's heartbeat pounded in his ears.

Lucian's grip tightened—

Then—a sharp sound split the air.

A heartbeat.

A heartbeat that shouldn't have been there.

Lucian froze.

Adrian's eyes widened.

The coffin was empty.

Then—a voice.

Soft. Sharp. Familiar.

"You talk too much."

Lucian barely had time to react before Elena Gilbert drove a dagger straight through his chest.

Chapter 11: The Awakening

Lucian let out a snarl of pain. He stumbled backward, his golden eyes blazing, his hand grasping at the iron dagger embedded in his chest.

Elena stood before him, awake, breathing, and furious.

Her hair fell in waves around her shoulders, her brown eyes glowing with something powerful.

Lucian ripped the dagger from his body, his teeth clenched. "Impossible."

Elena's gaze was unflinching. "You should've let me sleep."

Damon groaned from where he was still sprawled against the broken staircase. "Okay. That was badass."

Stefan had managed to pull the stake from his stomach, blood staining his shirt, but his eyes were locked onto Elena in pure shock. "Elena…?"

Bonnie stared in disbelief. "It worked."

Elena turned toward Adrian, her expression unreadable. He was still on the ground, his body trembling from the ritual. He looked up at her, his breathing uneven.

She knelt beside him. "Adrian?"

His vision was swimming, but he could still see her face—real, alive.

He let out a soft, pained chuckle. "That… was not how that was supposed to go."

Elena smirked. "Yeah, well. I don't like following the rules."

Lucian's laughter suddenly filled the room.

Everyone tensed.

Adrian's blood ran cold.

Lucian was still standing.

And he was smiling.

"Do you really think this changes anything?" He pulled the dagger from his chest and snapped it in half. "Elena waking up was always part of the plan."

Damon muttered, "Oh, for f—"

Lucian raised his hand—

And the entire house shook.

Every window shattered at once, glass raining down like deadly stars.

A pulse of dark energy surged through the air, slamming into everyone like a shockwave.

Adrian gasped, gripping his chest—

The curse inside him was breaking apart, unraveling violently.

Bonnie screamed in pain.

Stefan and Damon were thrown against the walls.

Lucian's voice echoed, powerful and unrelenting.

"Now… let's finish this."

And then—

The night truly began.