Bound in the Shadows / TVD N.M

🦋~° 2 °~🦋

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Liora

Only five minutes remain until the moon reaches its apex. Nik stands in the kitchen, and I silently observe as he takes a bowl and begins filling it with food.

It's part of his routine, something he does consistently, but this is the only thing he does for me. Once a month, when I shift into my wolf form, he can see me.

One sacred night where I can be present for him—yet in the form of a large, silent creature, unable to speak or use my hands.

Still, I'm grateful for this fleeting connection. As Nik fills the bowl with steak and vegetables, including carrots, I can't help but wish for something more indulgent. Even though I don't feel hunger on the other side, I'd much rather have fries or pasta over wolf-friendly food.

The first time I shifted into my wolf form, I was utterly bewildered. It happened right behind Niklaus. When he noticed me, his initial reaction was to shoo me away, dismissing me like any other stray.

It took time and persistence, but now, when I appear, he no longer hesitates. We go wherever he wishes or simply lounge on the couch, watching television.

I can feel the familiar tingling sparks running through my body, signaling the start of my transformation. Fortunately, being a ghost spares me from the agony of bones breaking and reshaping. The shift, while disorienting, is painless.

Nik moves to the couch while my body completes the transformation. The moment my paws touch the floor, I dart toward the bowl, the aroma of food impossible to resist.

As I finish eating, Nik reaches down, his hand gliding through my fur.
I savor the sensation. Even though it feels odd to think this way—after all, to him, I'm just a dog—the touch still means the world to me.

I follow him to the couch and rest my head on his lap. In this quiet moment, everything feels perfect. Just the two of us, watching mundane news reports, enjoying each other's presence. Peace. Silence. Warmth.

Until the phone rings.

We both sit up as Nik retrieves the phone from the table. A brief glance at the screen, and he answers. His expression tightens as he listens.

"We found one," a deep voice on the other end states, immediately capturing my attention.
"We've located another doppelgänger, and she's human."

Nik's brow furrows, his face darkening with skepticism. "Impossible. The line ended with Katerina. There can't be another doppelgänger," he responds, his tone steady but disbelieving. In his eyes, however, I catch a flicker of emotion—rage, but also hope. Hope that perhaps this time, he can finally break free, become his true self, complete rather than fractured.

As the conversation continues, I feel a surge of happiness for him. From what I gather, Elijah has already seen the doppelgänger. Despite their strained relationship, I can't help but hope Elijah will aid him in this endeavor.

Once the call ends, Nik quickly begins packing, making preparations for the ritual without a second thought. He's forgotten the wolf he was just cuddling minutes ago, but I understand. I only wish we could have had more time before the tingling sensation returns, signaling my imminent departure.

I'll have to wait another month before we can be together again.

Arriving in Mystic Falls was uneventful. Everything feels monotonous when no one can see you. After days of drifting aimlessly, I decide it's time to familiarize myself with the key locations in town, ensuring I always know where everyone is.

Returning to the apartment, I feel the familiar pull—being away from Nik for too long is unbearable. It's one of the cruelest aspects of this existence: the endless longing to explore the world, only to be tethered to one person.

When I see Nik inhabiting another man's body, a shiver runs down my spine. It's one of his favorite tricks, but it unnerves me every time. Nik is the only constant in my world, and when he occupies another body, it feels like I've lost even that.

Listening to his conversation with one of his witches, I learn he's taken over the body of Alaric Saltzman, a local teacher allied with the so-called "Scooby-Doo gang," as they mockingly refer to Elena and her friends.

Katerina is also here, which is a surprise. After all the years Nik has spent searching for her, she's finally within reach. The conniving woman who took her own life to prevent Nik from lifting his curse. Yet this time, things seem to be falling in his favor. There's a subtle joy in his eyes, a glint that hasn't dimmed since we arrived.

Listening to his conversation with Katerina fills me with rage.
You might call it jealousy. I prefer to call it... well, something else.

I do care for Niklaus. Truly. But having feelings for someone who cannot see or hear me? It's a maddening existence.

"Which shirt do you think suits me better?" Niklaus asks, holding up two nearly identical options—a dark grey one and a black one.
"Dark colors look better on you," Katerina replies tonelessly, though I can see the fear glimmering in her eyes, barely contained.

Nik, as always, enjoys his game. He's not even thinking about how he abandoned me to rush off to Mystic Falls. Yes, it's ironic, but I have the right to be upset—even if he doesn't know I exist. Still, I can't stay angry. I tune back into their conversation.

"So, Katerina, how's my little doppelgänger? What are she and her friends planning?" he inquires, stepping closer to her, now tied to a chair.

"Tell me everything," Nik compels her. She has no choice but to obey, revealing every detail of the Scooby-Doo gang's plans.
If they so much as lay a finger on my hybrid, I swear I'll tear them apart at the next full moon.

Wandering through the halls of Mystic Falls High School, I can't help but feel a surge of excitement. So many new faces, new cultures—it's fascinating how people change over the generations.

Caught up in my thoughts, I realize I've lost track of Nik in the labyrinth of hallways. Frustrated, I search aimlessly, cursing the fact that it would be so much easier if he could just see me.

As I zone out, letting the frustration simmer, I stumble upon a classroom. Curious, I step inside and find only one student, a young boy with brown hair. He looks up and locks eyes with me.

"Can I help you?" he asks.

At first, I ignore him. After all, no one can see me, right?

But then he stands up and approaches. "Hey, I'm talking to you."

I blink, startled. Turning around, I see no one else in the room.
Could he possibly be speaking to... me?

"I was just talking to you," he insists, and my unease grows. This isn't supposed to happen.
"People these days..." I mutter, more to myself than him. "Poor kid, talking to air."

"You do realize I'm speaking to you, right?" he says again, his voice more insistent now. I sigh, pitying him.
"So sad..."

"Okay, seriously," he interrupts, "I'm talking to you." He points directly at me. And as I turn once more, he adds, "And no, there's no one behind you. I'm talking to you."

Now it's getting unsettling.

"I'm sorry, but if you think you're talking to me, your problem might be bigger than just talking to air," I retort, trying to maintain my composure.

And so we stand there, staring at each other in disbelief.

"I'm starting to think you're the crazy one here," the boy finally says.