Their Raven

Chapter 17

Stefan watched in horror as Damon' body seized violently, his back arching off the bed before crashing down, limbs shaking uncontrollably. A guttural sound ripped from his brother's throat, blood spilling from his mouth in crimson rivulets.

"No! Damon!" Stefan rushed to his side, grabbing his shoulders, desperate to still him, to stop the violent jerking, "Damon, please... don't do this. Don't leave me."

His voice broke, panic seizing his chest as he watched helplessly. His older brother—his cocky, unbreakable, insufferable brother—looked so small, so fragile, drowning in his own blood.

Bonnie burst into the room, followed closely by Klaus, Elijah and Kol. Her eyes widened at the sight, a sharp gasp escaping. "Oh my God... Damon!" She rushed to his side, shoving Stefan out of the way as she pressed her hands against Damon's chest. Her fingers sparked with magic, golden tendrils swirling over his convulsing body.

"Bonnie, do something!" Stefan's voice was cracked, raw. His hands shook as he wiped the blood from Damon's mouth, his touch trembling. "Please... please don't like him die."

"I'm trying!" Bonnie's voice was thick with desperation. Her magic pulsed, but it was like trying to hold back a flood with her bare hands. Damon's body bucked under her touch, his eyes rolling back, more blood streaming from his nose and mouth.

Bonnie choked back a sob, her vision blurring. "Why isn't it working?! Why can't I save him?!"

Klaus stood frozen, his face pale, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. His usual arrogance was gone, replaced with genuine fear. He swallowed hard, his throat bobbing as he whispered, "No... not him. Not like this."

Kol's smug demeanour was wiped away, replaced with a look of shock, his eyes flickering to the blood staining Damon's lips, the way his body twisted in pain. "Bloody hell... he's actually dying."

Elijah's jaw tightened, his face contorting as he struggled to remain composed. "We're running out of time..."

Damon's body spasmed again, his back arching off the bed, a hoarse scream ripping from his throat, cut off by a sickening gurgle as more blood poured out.

"Damon! No!" Stefan's voice shattered, tears streaming down his face as he grabbed his brother's shoulders, shaking him. "Wake up! Don't you dare leave me, you hear me? I can't... I can't do this without you."

Bonnie's hands shook as she pressed harder, her magic pulsing, her lips moving in frantic chants. "Come on, Damon... fight it. Fight it! Please."

But nothing worked. Her magic kept slipping off, unable to grip the curse strangling his life force. Bonnie's vision blurred as tears fell, her chest heaving with choked sobs. "Why isn't it working? I... I don't know what to do..."

Stefan's shoulders trembled, his fingers digging into Damon's skin. "Please... I can't lose you... not again."

In a dark, candlelit room, the witch chanted over a map, her voice low and venomous. Before her lay a photo of Damon, yellowed with age, from the early 1900's. His face carefree, eyes bright with mischief, a crooked smile on his lips. A bowl of blood sat before her, swirling unnaturally, moving in sync with her words.

Ancient symbols surrounded the map, drawn in salt and herbs. A lock of Damon's hair burned on a silver plate, the smoke curling upwards, dancing around the photo as she slanted louder, her voice echoing with dark power.

The air grew heavy, vibrating with her malice as her eyes glowed an unnatural shade of red. "You will suffer. The Le Rouge bloodline dies with you." Her nails scrapped across the map, leaving trails of blood, her power latching onto Damon's life force. She smiles cruelly, satisfaction flooding her as she felt his pain through the spell. "Die slowly... painfully... just like your ancestors."

Back in the room, Damon's body went limp, his face pale, chest bereft moving. Bonnie's shoulders slumped, her magic flickering weakly before fading."No... no, no, no... I... I can't save him"

Stefan collapsed beside the bed, clutching Damon's hand, his head bowed, shoulders shaking. "Damon... please... wake up..."

Klaus turned away, his eyes dark with rage. "This isn't over. I swear... whoever did this will suffer."

Kol clenched his jaw, his fists shaking at his side. "I... I didn't think..."

Elijah's eyes were glassy as he placed a hand on Stefan's shoulder. "We will find a way. He's fought worse... he'l fight this too."

Inside Damon's mind, everything was darkness. He heard their voices, felt their panic, their pain. He tired to move, tired to open his eyes, but his body was numb, heavy. He was trapped, sinking deeper into the void.

But then he heard a whisper, ancient and echoing. "You are not alone."

A golden light flickered before him, growing brighter, and figures began to form, dressed in different armour, their faces solemn. They looked like warriors from another time, their eyes the same shade of blue as his own.

One stepped forward, his hair wild and dark, a scar cutting across his cheek. He stared down at Damon, his expression softening. "You carry out blood... our power."

Damon tried to speak, but no sound came out.

The ancestor placed a hand on his shoulder, warmth spreading through Damon's frozen body. "You are Le Rouge... the last of us. Our legacy... our curse."

Another figure approached, a man with fierce eyes and flowing red hair, his presence commanding. "They are trying to end our line... but you are stronger than they know."

Damon felt a spark of something—strength, power—pulsing through him.

The man's grip tightened, his gaze piercing. "You must fight. You must survive. Our blood is ancient... powerful... and it's yours."

The golden light grew brighter, enveloping Damon, warmth flooding his senses. He felt his ancestors' power flowing into him, connecting him to a legacy older than he's ever known.

The man's voice echoed as the light consumed him. "Fight, Damon. For us... for you... for those who still need you."

The light exploded, searing through the darkness and Damon felt himself being pulled back, the voices of his loved ones growing louder, clearer.

He wasn't alone.

He was Le Rouge. And he would fight.

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Happy Monday my darlings, I don't know if I'm happy with this chapter. Let me know what you think and I'll be posting regularly now as I can't put this book down. Hope you enjoyed x