Bound in the Shadows / TVD N.M

🦋~° 27°~🦋

*****************

Liora

With an eager smile, I made my way to Nik's art room, carefully weaving through the clutter of paints, brushes, and canvases that filled his quiet sanctuary. I found him in front of an easel, his posture relaxed, brush strokes smooth and deliberate. For once, he seemed at peace, his usual brooding tension momentarily absent as he focused on bringing a hazy landscape to life on the canvas. I hated to interrupt him, but I had news that I knew he'd want to hear.

I took a step closer, folding my arms with a playful grin. "So, mission accomplished," I announced proudly, hoping to catch his attention.

Nik paused, his brush hovering mid-air. He turned to look at me, one eyebrow raised in mild curiosity. "And which 'mission' would that be, exactly?" he asked, though I could tell I already had his interest.

"Your siblings, Nik," I said, watching as his curiosity transformed into something sharper. "I know where they're keeping them—the basement of the old witches' house. Damon was practically begging me to follow him, not even trying to be subtle."

Nik's gaze darkened, and he set his brush down, finally giving me his full attention. "You went spying on Damon again, did you?" His tone was a mix of exasperation and admiration, though I caught a hint of protectiveness laced within it. "Liora, I told you to stay out of this."

"Yeah, yeah, you did," I replied breezily, waving off his concern. "But Damon was sloppy. He never suspected a thing. You should've seen him pacing around like he had all the power in the world, like no one could touch him." I couldn't help but chuckle. "You have to admit, it's nice when the enemy practically hands you the information on a silver platter."

Nik shook his head, the hint of a smile playing at his lips despite himself. "You do have a knack for this sort of thing." He ran a hand through his hair, his eyes gleaming with newfound determination. "So, the old witches' house... fitting, I suppose. It's a place no one would think to look."

I leaned against the wall, watching him as he processed the information, the wheels in his mind already spinning as he started to form a plan. "Are you finally going to let me help you?" I asked, a touch of impatience in my voice.

He paused, studying me with an intense gaze. "This isn't a game, Liora. Going against Damon and his allies is dangerous, and if something went wrong—"

"Then it goes wrong," I interrupted, crossing my arms. "Nik, this is my choice. I want to be a part of this. And besides," I added with a grin, "I have a knack for not getting caught, remember?"

He sighed, clearly weighing his options, but eventually nodded. "Alright," he said, his tone reluctant but resolved. "But you're staying by my side, understood? I'll not risk your safety for this, no matter how capable you think you are."

"Agreed," I said, fighting back a triumphant smile. "Now, when do we get your family back?"

Nik's expression softened, and he reached for my hand, pulling me close. "Soon," he promised, his voice a gentle murmur. "We'll bring them home soon."

-------------------------

The night air was thick, cool, and damp as we made our way through the forest toward the old witches' house. The ground was soft underfoot, damp from a recent rain, and the smell of moss and earth clung to the air. Moonlight filtered through the trees, casting silver patterns over the leaves, giving our mission an eerie, almost cinematic feel. Around me, the hybrids walked with silent, practiced steps, expressions set, glancing at Nik for any signal.