Their Raven

Chapter 9

The dawn broke gently over Mystic Falls, casting a soft, pale light through the room's curtains where Damon lay. His body, usually so resilient, now felt like a fragile shell, each breath more laboured than the last. His mind drifted in and out of consciousness, the haze from the previous night still clinging to him like a persistent shadow.

Klaus stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the horizon, the first hints of worry creasing his brow. Ever the sentinel, Elijah sat in a chair nearby, his posture as composed as always, but his eyes betraying a flicker of unease. Kol had taken up residence on the couch, one leg casually draped over the other. His usual smugness was replaced by a rare quiet contemplation.

" He's not improving," Bonnie's voice broke the silence as she entered the room, carrying a small satchel of herbs and vials. Her expression was grim, her eyes darting toward Damon with a mix of concern and frustration. "If anything, he's getting worse."

Kol scowled, crossing his arms. "What gave it away? The fact that he's barely breathing?" Ignoring Kol, Klaus turned, his features hardening. "How is that possible? He's a vampire. He should be healing, not deteriorating."

Bonnie sighed, setting her satchel down on the table beside Damon. "The mix of herbs Elena used–it's something ancient. It's not just meant to harm; it's designed to linger, to slowly strip away his strength. I've seen references to it in some of the oldest texts, but never anything like this, especially to a vampire."

Damon stirred slightly, a soft groan escaping his lips as he struggled to open his eyes. His skin was pallid, a stark contrast to the dark circles beneath his eyes. The effort to move seemed monumental, and when he finally managed to crack his eyes open, the room swam before him.

"Klaus," his voice was barely a whisper, raspy and weak." Where... where's Elena?"

Klaus exchanged a look with Elijah, who inclined his head slightly before speaking. "She's not here. She left after you... after the confrontation. She's afraid of what she's done."

"Good," Damon breathed, his lips curling into a faint, bitter smile. "She should be."

Kol leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Well, look at you, darling," he said softly, the usual jest in his tone was absent. "Not even a rare poison can keep you down for long, can't it?"

Damon's gaze shifted to Kol, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Don't... count me out just yet."

Bonnie uncorked one of the vials, the sharp scent of herbs filling the room. "This should help ease the pain, but it's not a cure. I need time to find something stronger, something that can counteract whatever she used."

Klaus's jaw tightened, "How long?"

"I don't know," Bonnie admitted, her fingers trembling slightly as she poured the contents into a small cup. "This isn't a normal poison. It's magical, ancient. I'm going to need to dig deeper into my family's grimoires and maybe even reach out to other witches. But that takes time."

Damon's hand twitched, reaching weakly toward the cup. Bonnie knelt beside him, carefully helping him to take a sip. He winced as the liquid went down, but after a moment, the tension in his body seemed to ease slightly.

"I don't have time," Damon muttered, his voice strained. "You need to... fix this."

"We will," Elijah assured him, his tone steady. "You have my word."

For once, Damon didn't scoff at Elijah's promise. Instead, he let his head fall back against the pillow. exhaustion overtaking him again.

Kol stood, stretching lazily. "Well, if you two are going to sit around brooding, I'll see what I can dig up. Someone must have heard of this concoction before."

Klaus's eyes narrowed. "Where do you think you'll find anything that the witch hasn't?"

Kol smirked faintly. "Oh, you'd be surprised, brother. I have my sources. Even being daggered can't stop me."

Without waiting for a response, Kol left the room, his departure as casual as ever but with a sense of urgency underlying his usual bravado.

Klaus turned back to Bonnie, his expression hard. "Do whatever it takes, Bennett. If Damon doesn't pull through this, neither will you."

Bonnie didn't flinch, meeting Klaus's gaze with a determined glare of her own. "I don't need your threats. I care about Damon too. More than you ever will."

The tension in the room was palpable, but before either could say more, Damon's voice, weak but insistent, broke the silence.

"Enough... both of you." He coughed the sound dry and painful. "Just... just get me through this."

Elijah rose, placing a calming hand on Klaus's shoulder. "We'll do what's necessary, Damon. Rest now."

Damon's eyes fluttered closed, the fatigue too great to fight. As sleep claimed him again, the room was left in heavy silence, the weight of uncertainty hanging thick in the air.

Bonnie began preparing more of her mixtures, her mind racing with possibilities, while Klaus resumed his vigil by the window, his thoughts a storm of plans and contingencies.

In the distance, the sun continued to rise, casting long shadows across the room, the light a stark contrast to the dark uncertainty that loomed over them all.

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I'm back everyone! Chapter 9 is out! Hope you like it also do you want Smut? Yay, or Nay? Not right now obviously as he's bearly conscious but in the near future? Let me know. Also, any other things you would like to see? People, Creatures, certain scenes?