Her Purpose || Kai Parker

Chapter 121

Estrella woke up in a cold sweat again, her breath shaky as the remnants of the nightmare clung to her mind like shadows.

Beside her, Kai stirred, his senses sharp even in the dead of night. He noticed her trembling and the way she clutched her hair—her once dark locks now streaked with white, a stark reminder of all the magic she had wielded, and the toll it had taken.

"Pumpkin," Kai whispered, his voice thick with sleep but filled with concern. He sat up, pulling her into his arms, gently caressing her hair. "What's troubling you?"

Estrella shook her head, pressing her face into his chest, trying to shake the images from her mind. She didn't want to speak of the nightmare because deep down, a part of her feared it wasn't just a dream. But how could she voice something so dark when she didn't even believe it herself?

Meanwhile, back in Mystic Falls, the tension was evident. Days had passed, and everyone remained on edge, nervously watching their surroundings for any sign of Vicki.

Despite their rigorous search, she had yet to show herself. Matt kept a vigilant eye on the cursed bell, ensuring that it didn't ring and bringing forth more destruction.

But Vicki wasn't the one who appeared. Instead, someone else—someone entirely unknown—emerged from the shadows.

He moved swiftly, capturing both Caroline and Damon before anyone could react. The group's heightened anxiety skyrocketed as they realized they were dealing with a powerful new threat.

Damon fought back fiercely, plunging a wooden stake into the stranger's chest. "It's kinda rude that you came here trying to hurt my family when I don't even know who the hell you are," He spat, his vision blurring as the searing pain of an aneurysm ripped through his skull, the stranger's power pinning him in place.

He gasped, feeling the intense pressure build behind his eyes, every nerve screaming in agony. The man smirked as he casually removed the wooden stake from his chest, watching Damon struggle to stay upright.

"Astraea knows who I am," the man said coolly, his voice smooth and calm as he flicked his hand, causing Caroline to scream in pain from the vervain binds that held her. "Bring her to me. As for me, I go by Xavier."

"What do you want with Estrella?" Caroline vamped out, straining against her restraints, her voice laced with fury.

Xavier's eyes gleamed as he leaned in closer. "I want the book and his magic," he said, his gaze narrowing.

"Whose magic?" Damon asked, feigning confusion, though his smirk betrayed his sarcasm. "We don't know where the book is, and we haven't seen Estrella. So, you pretty much wasted your trip, buddy."

Xavier's smile was slow, menacing. "She will come if she doesn't want to see your burning corpses. And I don't have to find her—you will tell me."

Before anyone could respond, a sudden thud echoed through the room, and all heads turned toward the noise. Relief washed over Caroline's face as she recognized the sound of her husband's voice. "In here!" she called out weakly.

But Xavier wasn't deterred. He flicked his wrist again, sending another wave of pain through Caroline's body. Damon cursed, struggling to break free as rage coursed through him.

Suddenly, Xavier was hurled across the room, his body slamming into the wall with a deafening crash. Bonnie stood in the doorway, her eyes blazing with power, her hands raised as she bound him in place. "You're a witch," Xavier choked out, his voice raspy as he struggled against her magic.

"That's not just a witch; she's a Bennett witch," Damon said, smirking as recognition dawned in Xavier's eyes. The corners of his mouth curled up, fueled by a mix of confidence and the thrill of turning the tables on their captor.