Bound in the Shadows / TVD N.M

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Liora

I lost track of time in this dark cave, with the oppressive silence broken only by Esther's occasional visits. My mind buzzed with an ache that matched the hunger gnawing at my insides, while the weight of vervain in the chains made every breath labored. Esther had come in several times, circling like a vulture, her words sinking deeper with each visit. She spoke of her grand plan as though it were some noble cause—linking me to the Mikaelson siblings and killing me as a means to finally end them all. I had long ago stopped pretending I didn't understand.

I glanced over at Finn, chained and silent on the other side of the cave. He hadn't said much in hours, his head hanging low, his spirit beaten down to the point that he barely reacted to her anymore. Esther's plan, twisted and ruthless, had pushed him even further into that hollow place he seemed to retreat to when he felt defeated.

I shifted my weight as much as the chains would allow, my wrists throbbing against the metal. "Finn," I called softly, hoping to draw him out of his thoughts. "You've got to hold on. We can't let her break us."

He raised his head slightly, his eyes dull and weary. "Hold on to what, Liora?" he asked in a voice that was barely more than a whisper. "She's right. What do we have, really? My whole life, all I've done is follow orders. First from her, then Niklaus... and now this."

"Finn," I said firmly, trying to ignore the weakness in my own voice. "That's what she wants you to think. She's spent centuries turning each of you against each other, convincing you that you're monsters. But that's not who you are."

He looked away, a muscle twitching in his jaw. "You're wrong. This vampire curse, this existence—it is a kind of monstrosity. I was a fool to ever hope for anything different." He sounded defeated, resigned, and the hurt in his voice made me want to shake him.

"No," I said, refusing to let him sink further. "Maybe you don't see it, but I do. This family, with all its flaws and fights, still has something worth saving. And you, Finn—if you're not a part of it, if you give up now, then you're letting her win."

Finn stared at the ground, lost in thought. I held my breath, hoping he would understand, even if just a little.

He finally lifted his head, and something in his gaze shifted. "Do you really believe that, Liora? That... we're worth saving?"

I nodded, feeling a faint spark of hope reignite. "Yes. You just have to give yourself a chance to believe it, too. Look, Esther thinks she's in control, but she doesn't realize that the Mikaelson family isn't just a curse—it's a bond. I know I can get us out of here, but I need you to trust me, okay?"

Finn's eyes searched mine, still doubtful but softer now. He gave the smallest nod, his shoulders relaxing. "What's the plan?"

"Patience," I whispered with a faint, reassuring smile. "I have a feeling we won't be alone much longer."

The silence settled over us again, but this time it felt different, filled with a quiet resilience as we waited together, just a little longer.

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The cold air hit me the moment Esther dragged me out of the dark, damp cave that had served as my prison. My legs felt like jelly from days chained up, and I stumbled, but her grip was unyielding as she hauled me through a narrow tunnel and up a set of winding stone steps. A dim glow grew brighter as we neared the top, revealing small slivers of moonlight breaking through cracks in the crumbling stone walls. I squinted against the light, my vision blurred and unfocused after so much time in darkness.