Their Raven

Chapter 29

The boarding house was quiet, save for the occasional creak of old wood and the soft rustle of paper as Bonnie turned another page in the dusty tome splayed across the table. The overhead light flickered slightly, as though it, too, was struggling to stay focused in the drowning web of mystery around Damon Salvatore.

Stefan sat across from her, elbows on his knees, brows furrowed in thought. He glanced again at the small stack of books they'd scoured already—nothing but vague legends, half-remembered tales, and the same haunting name.

Le Rouge.

"I'm starting to think they made a point of being forgotten," Bonnie muttered, her fingers tracing the edge of an ancient map inked in faded red symbols. "There's nothing solid. Just rumours. Ghost stories passed down by witches too scared to name them out loud."

Stefan rubbed his jaw. "Even the Originals only knew fragments. And Elijah's the type to remember what shade of wine he drank in 1132." Bonnie shot him a look, but it softened quickly into a tired smile. "Well... Damon is definitely one of them. His magic—it's too old, too potent to be anything else. But we still don't know how."

Stefan leaned closer. "What if one of our parents wasn't human?"

Bonnie nodded slowly. "That's my theory. But I don't understand how your not like him. Maybe one of your parents was a Le Rouge hiding in plain sight... maybe they buried their identity to keep him safe."

Stefan's eyes darkened. "From what?"

Bonnie hesitated. "From whatever's looking for him now."

A creak echoed from the hallway and both of them looked up sharply.

Elena stood just past the doorway, arms folded, eyes sharp. "I heard you mention Damon."

Bonnie raised an eyebrow. "Eavesdropping now?"

"I'm aloud to be here," Elena said stiffly. "And I think I deserve to know what' going on. Damon's acting weird. He's always with them lately."

"Because them are protecting him," Stefan snapped before he could help himself. "He nearly died because of you Elena."

"I know that! And I apologised," she said, her voice tight. "But now he's avoiding me. And he nearly killed me with magic! Which he hadn't apologised for! How does he have magic?"

Bonnie stood, her expression unreadable. "Things change. Damon has magic now—powerful magic. And he's tied to something ancient and dangerous."

"You're just letting him fall deeper into whatever they're got planned," Elena said, voice rising slightly.

Stefan stood up too. "No one's 'got a plan.' He's not your project, Elena. And for once, he's not alone. He's safe?"

"And loved," Bonnie added softly, her eyes flickering towards Stefan.

Elena scoffed. "Loved? By the Originals?"

Silence.

"That's insane! They don't even know how to love. They're monsters!" She muttered.

Bonnie turned away, unwilling to let Elena derail them further. "Let's get back to work."

Elena hesitated a moment longer before storming out of the room, her footsteps loud on the stairs. Stefan sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. "She's going to do something stupid."

Bonnie shook her head. "Probably. Keep an eye on her, but we have to stay focused. Look at this—" she tapped a symbol etched into the book's margin. "This shows up in multiple places. All connected to whispered tales of a red line of witches. Blood magic. Mind magic. A family that vanished after the Dark Ages."

She flipped the page to reveal a fragmented genealogy. The last name was unreadable, faded completely. But next to it, in perfect ink:

"The blood of the sun and the grave of kings shall awaken the heir."

Stefan leaned in, frowning. "What does that mean?"

Bonnie's lips parted. "I don't know. But it sounds like a prophecy."

Stefan sat back, deep in thought. "We need to tell Damon."

"We will," Bonnie said, her voice low. "But not yet. Not until we know exactly what's coming for him.

Outside, the wind howled softly. Somewhere, in the distance, a door creaked open where no one had touched it.

And the shadows whispered of red.

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Chapter 29 is out! I really hope you like it. Let me know my darling