Her Purpose || Kai Parker

Chapter 89

Damon was rifling through the dresser in the parlor, pulling out two different bottles of alcohol, when Stefan returned home, a pleased expression on his face.

"Ah, looking for a bottle to celebrate?" Stefan asked, sounding impressed. "I gotta say, I'm impressed. Got your text. I didn't think you'd actually be able to kill her."

Damon hesitated for a moment, glancing over his shoulder. "Actually, my exact message read: 'She's taken care of.'"

Stefan frowned in confusion. "Yeah, she's taken care of."

Damon awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, avoiding Stefan's gaze. "Yeah..."

Stefan's frown deepened as he stepped closer. "What? So, you didn't kill her?"

"I did. A number of times, actually," Damon replied, his voice tinged with frustration. "But as it turns out, she only has eight lives. The last one's the problem. If she dies for good, everyone with that scar on your chest does, too."

Stefan stood there, stunned. "So, we can't kill her."

"No," Damon sighed. "But the good news is the Armory has her, and they're not gonna let her escape."

"Except for that time they did," Stefan countered bitterly.

Damon sighed again, the weight of the situation clear in his eyes. "Look, I know it's not ideal, okay? But it's what we've got."

He grabbed one of the bottles and started to walk out when Stefan called after him, his voice tinged with defeat. "Caroline's staying in Dallas with Ric and Jo, along with the kids."

"Sorry to hear that, brother," Damon replied without turning around. "But I saw that coming."

"You don't get it, do you?" Stefan scoffed, his frustration boiling over.

Damon turned, genuinely confused. "What?"

Stefan's voice grew more desperate. "As long as I have this scar, Rayna will hunt me. This isn't just about you and me anymore. There are kids involved. I'm not going to put them in danger, which means I can't be with my girlfriend or my best friend as long as Rayna's alive. And you just told me she can never die. We either have to figure out another way to get rid of her, or we need to get rid of this scar."

Damon shrugged, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "That's a good plan... for you."

Without another word, Damon reached into his pocket and pulled out two fancy envelopes, each sealed with a wax stamp.

He shoved them into Stefan's chest, leaving him more confused. "What is this?"

Damon sighed, the weight of what he was about to say pressing down on him. "We both know the last few months have been impossible for me. I've been walking a tightrope. Falling off constantly. I'm not a good brother when I'm not with Elena, and when I'm not a good brother, people get hurt."

Stefan's face hardened as the truth of Damon's words settled in.

He already knew what was coming, and it filled him with both horror and fury. "So, you're just gonna run away?"

"Nope," Damon replied softly, shaking his head. "I'm gonna stay in one place. Desiccated, right next to her."

Stefan's voice rose with anger, his frustration boiling over. "Yeah. I saved your life-time and time again. I chose you. Instead of..." His words trailed off, catching in his throat.

The mention of Estrella had become a sore, painful subject for them both, something they barely touched on because every time they did, it only caused more arguments.