Bloodlines and Betrayal

A Deal with the Darkness

The flickering candlelight cast eerie shadows across the walls of the Salvatore house. Books lay scattered across the floor, open to pages filled with ancient spells, sigils, and diagrams of rituals long forgotten.

Bonnie knelt in the center of the room, drawing symbols on the wooden floor with a mixture of salt and blood—her own blood, a necessary sacrifice for magic this powerful.

Adrian stood beside her, rolling up his sleeves. He didn't flinch as he watched her work, but deep inside, something gnawed at him. This was the point of no return.

Damon poured himself a drink, watching with narrowed eyes. "So, let me get this straight. You're gonna do some hocus-pocus, take Elena's magical nap-time curse onto yourself, and then what? You just hope Lucian doesn't show up and kill us all while you're out cold?"

Adrian smirked slightly. "More or less."

Damon took a slow sip of his bourbon. "Yeah. That's the dumbest plan I've ever heard."

Bonnie shot him a glare. "Unless you have a better idea, shut up and let me work."

Stefan knelt across from Adrian, his voice calm but firm. "You don't have to do this, Adrian. We'll find another way."

"There is no other way," Adrian said. "You don't get it. Lucian's been planning this for centuries. He doesn't just want Elena—he needs her."

Bonnie glanced up, her brows furrowed. "Why? What makes her so important to him?"

Adrian hesitated. He had a feeling, but he didn't want to say it.

Because if he was right, it changed everything.

Instead, he said, "Lucian has always believed the Gilbert bloodline is tied to something ancient. Something bigger than vampires, witches, or werewolves. Elena might be the key to unlocking that power."

Damon let out a sharp laugh. "Great. So our favorite doppelgänger isn't just a magnet for supernatural drama—now she's the final boss?"

Bonnie ignored him and finished drawing the last symbol. She stood up, wiping sweat from her brow. "It's ready."

Adrian exhaled. He turned toward Elena's coffin, pressing a hand against the glass one last time.

This was it.

Bonnie held out a dagger—an old, iron blade covered in runes. "You have to make a blood offering. If this works, the magic will leave her body and bind itself to you instead."

Adrian took the dagger without hesitation.

Stefan watched him carefully. "You sure about this?"

"No," Adrian admitted. "But I'm doing it anyway."

Damon muttered, "Fantastic. Another martyr."

Bonnie ignored him and stepped closer to Adrian. "Once the ritual starts, there's no stopping it. If your body can't handle the magic, you'll die."

Adrian smirked. "I've had worse days."

Bonnie gave him a flat look. "This isn't a joke."

His smirk faded. "I know."

Bonnie nodded and began chanting, her voice weaving through the air like a melody of power. The symbols on the floor glowed red, and a cold wind rushed through the house.

Adrian took the dagger and sliced across his palm, letting blood drip into the center of the ritual circle. The moment his blood touched the symbols, the entire room shook.

Elena's body twitched.

Her eyelids fluttered.

The magic ripped through the air, latching onto Adrian like chains of fire. His body convulsed as raw power surged into him, burning through his veins like liquid lightning.

He gritted his teeth, dropping to his knees as the curse transferred from Elena into him. His vision blurred. His heartbeat slowed.

Then—pain.

A searing agony exploded in his chest, like something was clawing its way out of his soul.

Damon cursed. "What the hell is happening?!"

Bonnie's eyes widened. "Something's wrong."

The wind howled. The candles flickered.

And then, the front door burst open.

Lucian stood in the doorway.

He was smiling.

"You're too late," he said softly.

And then—the house erupted in chaos.