Marked by midnight

Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Over for good 

The morning sun filtered through the dust-laden windows of the Salvatore Boarding House, casting a muted glow over the worn furniture and faded tapestries. Damon, still in the clothes he had worn the night before, sat at the old mahogany table, his thoughts heavy and restless. Stefan had gone to call Bonnie, leaving Damon with his own turbulent thoughts and the ever-present mark on his neck.

As Damon brooded, the distant sound of a car pulling up outside broke the silence. He stood up, his senses sharpening as he recognized the sound of familiar footsteps approaching the front door. A moment later, the door swung open and Bonnie Bennett walked in, her expression a mixture of curiosity and concern.

"Damon," Bonnie greeted, her eyes immediately landing on the mark on his neck. "I see you're back in Mystic Falls already."

Damon nodded, his expression guarded. "Bonnie, thanks for coming on short notice. I need your help with something."

Bonnie's gaze was unwavering as she walked over to the table, her eyes flicking between Damon and the mark. "What happened? Stefan mentioned something about a mark. Is it magical?"

Damon sighed, running a hand over the mark. "I'm not sure what it is. It appeared after a night I can't quite explain. I need to know what it means and why it's here."

Bonnie examined the mark closely, her brow furrowing as she muttered incantations under her breath. The air around them seemed to crackle with latent magic as she tried to sense the mark's origin. After a few moments, she stepped back, her face a mask of contemplation.

"This is unlike anything I've seen before," Bonnie admitted. "The sigil itself is ancient, but it has layers of enchantment that I can't fully decipher on my own. It's tied to something powerful and old, something that seems to resonate with both protection and control."

Damon leaned forward, his eyes intense. "Do you think it could be related to the supernatural events we've been dealing with? Something old and dangerous?"

Bonnie nodded slowly. "It's possible. This mark could be connected to an ancient curse or a protective seal. I'll need more time to research it fully. But there's something about it... it feels personal, like it's linked to someone or something significant."

Before Damon could respond, Stefan re-entered the room, his expression more serious than before. "Bonnie, I've contacted the others. They're on their way. We might be able to get some additional insights from them."

Bonnie gave a brief nod of acknowledgment. "That's good. The more minds we have on this, the better."

As the day progressed, the Salvatore Boarding House became a hub of activity. Bonnie's research involved ancient texts and mystical artifacts, while Stefan prepared to contact the others who might have insights into the mysterious mark. Damon, meanwhile, wrestled with his thoughts about Elena and the impending confrontation he knew was unavoidable.

The doorbell rang, and Stefan went to answer it. Moments later, Caroline Forbes and Matt Donovan arrived, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern. Caroline's eyes quickly found Damon, her gaze landing on the mark.

"What's going on?" Caroline asked as she entered the room. "I heard there was something weird happening."

Damon met her gaze with a somber expression. "Yeah, it's pretty complicated. I've got this mark, and we're trying to figure out what it means."

Caroline glanced at Damon with a hint of  concern "Did you tell Elena about the mark?" she asked, her voice tentative.

Damon shook his head, his expression hardening. "No, I didn't. She will worry too much, and knowing her, she will act rash. I will tell her later"