SALAVATORE BOARDING HOUSE

Elena stood outside the cell in the dimly lit cellar, her heart heavy with worry as she watched Damon writhe on the ground in agony. Even from her position, she could see the red, inflamed wound on his arm, evidence of the deadly werewolf bite. But it wasn't just the physical pain that pierced her heart—it was the murmurs of affection that escaped Damon's lips between cries of anguish.

As Damon tossed and turned, lost in the torment of his fevered dreams, Elena couldn't help but overhear the tender whispers directed not only at her but also at Katherine. The realization struck her like a physical blow, stirring a whirlwind of conflicting emotions within her.

Despite the pain he caused her, Elena couldn't deny the ache in her chest as she witnessed Damon's suffering. His vulnerability laid bare before her, his wounded cries echoing off the cold stone walls of the cellar, tugged at her heartstrings in a way she couldn't ignore.

Guilt gnawed at Elena's conscience as she grappled with the tumultuous feelings swirling inside her. She knew Damon's pain was her fault; he said he'd do anything to save her, and this was the consequence. And now, as he lay helpless before her, she couldn't shake the sense of responsibility that weighed heavily on her shoulders.

Elena's ears pricked up at the faint sound of the cellar door creaking open, relief washing over her as Aella's voice echoed through the dimly lit space.

"What's going on? Why's everyone here?" Aella's voice carried a hint of confusion, mingled with curiosity.

Elena's heart skipped a beat as she hurried to meet her friend, her steps quickening with a mixture of concern and anticipation. As she ascended the creaky wooden stairs, she cast a fleeting glance over her shoulder to see Caroline rushing down from Stefan's bedroom. Caroline's expression was a tumultuous blend of fury and worry, a silent reminder that their troubles were far from over.

With Aella now in their midst, Elena felt a surge of reassurance wash over her. They were a formidable team, capable of facing any challenge that came their way. But Caroline's tense demeanor served as a stark reminder of the severity of the situation.

Caroline wasted no time in unleashing her pent-up frustration on her best friend, her words spilling out in a torrent of fear and anxiety.

"Where the hell have you been? Bonnie did a locator spell that went completely haywire, and then she and Elena went to the old witches' house. Bonnie was possessed by Emily again, and even she couldn't tell us anything about where you were. And then Emily mentioned Klaus and Damon, and letting Damon die!"

Ric raised an eyebrow at Caroline's rapid-fire explanation, his expression a mix of amusement and bemusement. Meanwhile, Aella remained surprisingly calm amidst the chaos, her expression betraying only a hint of curiosity.

"Bonnie was here?" Aella's voice was laced with genuine surprise, prompting a sad nod from Elena.

"Yeah, she went home," Elena replied, her tone heavy with disappointment.

Elena's eyes narrowed with concern as she turned to Aella, her lips parting to voice her inquiry. The dim light of the entrance hall cast shadows across her features, accentuating the worry lines etched into her forehead.

"Did you spell Stefan and Damon?" she asked, her tone laced with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity.

Aella nodded gravely, her expression serious as she met Elena's gaze. Alaric's shock was palpable as he interjected with a question of his own, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"What kind of spell?" he inquired, his brow furrowing in confusion as he struggled to comprehend the situation unfolding before him.

Aella's response was matter-of-fact, tinged with urgency as she explained the gravity of the situation. Her words hung heavy in the air, echoing off the damp stone walls of the cellar.

"Just a temporary knockout spell," she replied, her voice steady despite the urgency of her words. "Damon was literally unaliving himself in the library, and Stefan was about to do something equally drastic. I needed time to figure things out without them ending up dead by the end of the day."

Alaric's confusion was evident as he sought clarification, his brow furrowing in consternation as he struggled to grasp the severity of the situation.

"What does 'unalive' mean?" he asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty as he attempted to make sense of the cryptic term.

Aella let out a scoff, her tone tinged with sarcasm, as she responded to Alaric's question. "You need to keep up with the trends, Ric," she quipped, her words laced with dry humor as she attempted to lighten the mood in the tense atmosphere.

Elena's revelation about Aella's prolonged absence drew a frown from the witch, her gaze flicking to her watch with growing concern. Aella's face paled as the realization washed over her; she had been entrenched in the cave with Ayana and Asta for most of the day, oblivious to the passage of time as she delved deeper into her investigation.

Aella offered a swift apology, her tone laced with determination as she attempted to reassure her friends that her absence had not been in vain.

"Sorry, but it was worth it," she said, her voice tinged with conviction. "I think I've figured out Damon's werewolf bite problem."

Elena's response dripped with resigned cynicism as she made a shrewd guess, her words heavy with the weight of past experiences and dashed hopes.

"Let me guess, it has to do with Klaus?" she asked, her voice tinged with skepticism as she braced herself for the inevitable confirmation.

Caroline groaned at Aella's affirmative nod while Alaric told them he was going down to see Damon.

Alaric's decision to descend into the cellar drew a nod of approval from Elena, who acknowledged his determination with a grateful smile. As he made his way down the narrow staircase, Elena turned to Aella, her expression fraught with concern.

"Damon's getting worse," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as she voiced her fears to her friend.

Aella's features tightened with worry, her brows furrowing as she absorbed Elena's words. Without a moment's hesitation, the three girls followed Alaric down into the dimly lit cellar, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls as they moved with purpose.

As they reached the cell where Damon lay unconscious, Aella stepped forward, her movements deliberate as she approached the bars. With a swift incantation, she muttered a spell to unlock the cell, the faint glow of magic emanating from her fingertips as the metal bars retracted with a soft click.

Kneeling beside Damon, Aella placed a gentle hand on his feverish forehead, her brow furrowing as she took in the severity of his condition. Her gaze flickered to the infected bite on his arm, the sight of pus oozing from the wound eliciting a grimace of disgust.

Summoning her magical abilities, Aella murmured a low spell, her voice barely audible above the sound of Damon's labored breathing. With a shuddering groan, Damon stirred, his eyelids fluttering open as he regained consciousness.

Aella couldn't help but smile brightly down at Damon as he groaned, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes at his dazed state. His murmured comment about having a good dream prompted a mischievous glint in her gaze as she leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Was it a sex dream with Elena?" she teased, her tone playful as she awaited his reaction.

Damon's glare was swift and sharp, his expression a mixture of irritation and disbelief at her audacity. Aella's question hung in the air for a moment before Damon responded with a pointed silence, his lips pressed into a thin line as he averted his gaze.

Undeterred by Damon's reaction, Aella turned her attention back to him, her tone shifting to one of concern as she broached the topic of his well-being.

"Do you still want to unalive yourself?" she inquired softly, her eyes searching his for any sign of clarity.

Damon looked up at her in total confusion, while at the door, Alaric couldn't help but grin at the exchange, a hint of amusement in his eyes as he interjected with a quip of his own.

"Come on, Damon. Get with the trends," he joked, his words tinged with a lightheartedness that belied the seriousness of the situation, even as he acknowledged his own lack of understanding.

"Are you going to hurt yourself?"

Elena's question hung in the air; her voice tinged with concern as she directed her gaze at Damon. The vampire turned to her in shock, a flicker of surprise crossing his features as he registered her presence and her knowledge of his predicament. His expression shifted, a hint of betrayal flashing in his eyes as he glanced up at Aella, seeking answers.

Aella met Damon's gaze with an unflinching stare, her features composed as she shrugged nonchalantly in response to his silent accusation. Her words cut through the tension, their implications clear as she laid bare the truth.

"You tried to end your own life," she stated matter-of-factly, her tone devoid of judgment or sympathy. "That means all deals are null and void."

Damon groaned as he sat up further, his movements slow and deliberate as he addressed the group gathered around him. His words carried a weight of resignation, tinged with a sense of grim acceptance.

"It's better this way," he murmured, his voice low and weary. "I won't become what Rose was in her final moments."

His thoughts drifted to the haunting hallucination he had just experienced, a surreal blend of memories and desires entwined with the faces of Katherine and Elena. The mere prospect of enduring more of those torturous visions felt akin to a stake being driven through his heart.

Aella rose to her feet, brushing the dust off her hands with a determined air. Her gaze swept over the group gathered in the cellar, her expression resolute as she spoke.

"Well, that has answered my question," she declared, her voice firm and decisive. With brisk efficiency, she exited the cell, manually securing the lock behind her. She turned to Alaric, meeting his gaze with unwavering determination.

"Don't let him out," she instructed, her tone leaving no room for argument. "I'll deal with Klaus."

Damon's ears pricked up at the mention of Klaus's name, his muscles tensing as he attempted to rise to his feet. But his weakened state betrayed him, and he stumbled, falling back to the ground with a frustrated growl. Aella ushered Elena and Caroline out of the cellar.

As they ascended the stairs, Damon's glare bore into Alaric, a silent warning hanging heavy in the air.

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Caroline, Aella, and Elena sauntered into the library, a haven of hushed whispers and the scent of old paper. Caroline, always the assertive one, directed her finger toward a plush couch, its worn fabric bearing the weight of countless readers, and then pointed at Aella with a tone that brooked no argument.

"You. Sit."

Aella, accustomed to the nuances of Caroline's directives, refrained from her typical sarcastic retort and complied, lowering herself onto the couch with a resigned sigh. Caroline and Elena exchanged knowing glances, silently acknowledging Aella's uncharacteristic compliance before Caroline pressed on with her inquiry.

"Where have you been?"

Aella's tongue darted out to moisten her lips, a nervous tic betraying her unease.

"I can't tell you that," she admitted reluctantly.

Caroline's eyes widened in disbelief, prompting Aella to hastily amend her statement.

"According to the BFF Contract Section 1, paragraph b," Aella interjected, "the only time we cannot share certain secrets is because of life or death. This is one of those times I cannot share where I went, but I can divulge what I found out."

Caroline's narrowed gaze softened slightly as she processed Aella's explanation, her shoulders sagging as she conceded to the logic presented. With a resigned shrug, she settled herself onto the couch beside Aella. Elena, on the other hand, couldn't contain her incredulity, her eyes darting between her friends as if they had both lost their minds.

"That's it?!" she exclaimed, disbelief coloring her tone.

Caroline, however, remained unperturbed by Elena's skepticism, her lips quirking into a wry smile.

"She quoted Section 1, paragraph b," Caroline retorted with her own frustrated sigh. "That's valid in my eyes."

Elena rolled her eyes at Caroline's response before joining them on the couch, her gaze fixed expectantly on Aella.

"What did you find out?" she pressed, her curiosity piqued despite her earlier skepticism.

Aella shifted on the couch, turning to face her two closest companions with a sense of urgency etched into her features. She was about to unveil a revelation that could alter the course of their tangled supernatural world.

"The witches were right," Aella declared, her voice carrying a weight of certainty that demanded attention. "Klaus is the answer to helping Damon."

Elena's brow furrowed in confusion, her curiosity piqued. "How?" she pressed, her voice tinged with anticipation.

Aella paused, gathering her thoughts before delivering her explanation with a succinctness born of necessity.

"Long story short?" she began, seeking confirmation from her friends, who nodded in unison.

"When the original vampires were created, it was for one purpose: to protect them from the werewolves," Aella elucidated, her words laden with significance. "Unfortunately for you—" she gestured towards Caroline, her tone tinged with sympathy, "and all other vampires created after, nature changed the rules. Nothing was unkillable, and it made the very thing the originals feared fatal to their 'children.'"

Caroline's expression darkened with comprehension, a furrow forming between her brows as she raised a hand to halt Aella's explanation.

"Wait a second," she interjected, her voice laced with disbelief. "What do you mean, children?"

Aella glanced at Elena, who mirrored Caroline's confusion, and realization dawned upon her with startling clarity. With a mixture of incredulity and resolve, she revealed the truth to her friends, unable to fathom their ignorance.

"The Original Vampires are just that," Aella elucidated, her gaze sweeping from Caroline to Elena . "The Originals. All vampires that came after them were from the sirelines of the Mikaelsons."

Aella's declaration hung heavy in the air, a revelation that threatened to upend everything they thought they knew about their origins and their place in the supernatural hierarchy.

"You, Stefan, and Damon," Aella continued, her voice tinged with urgency as she pointed first at Caroline, then towards Stefan's prone form, and finally towards Damon's fading figure, "are from the sirelines of either Klaus, Elijah, Rebekah, or their other siblings. Fact."

Caroline's brow furrowed deeper, her confusion mounting as she shook her head adamantly.

"No, that can't be right," she insisted, her voice tinged with frustration. "Katherine changed me, not Klaus, Elijah, or any of their other murderous siblings."

Aella, however, maintained her calm demeanor, a knowing smile playing at the corners of her lips as she patiently clarified the intricacies of vampire lineage.

"The Mikaelsons didn't physically turn every vampire they sire," Aella explained, her tone gentle yet resolute. "But they are the originators of your vampire bloodline."

Caroline's confusion only deepened at Aella's explanation, her mind struggling to grasp the concept. Sensing her friend's bewilderment, Aella offered a metaphor to illuminate the complexity of their supernatural heritage.

"It's like an ancestor tree," Aella analogized, her voice soft but firm. "You come from Liz, who comes from her mom and dad, who come from their moms and dads. Your human ancestry is like your vampire history. The Mikaelsons are the beginning of your vampire line."

As the weight of Aella's words settled upon them, Caroline and Elena exchanged incredulous glances, their minds racing to reconcile this newfound knowledge with their understanding of their own vampiric origins.

Their contemplation was interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Ric, whose presence drew their attention away from their conversation. His gaze swept over the group, his expression a mixture of curiosity and impressed amusement.

"Why aren't you this studious in class?" Ric quipped, his tone teasing as he directed his question at Aella.

Aella shrugged nonchalantly, a mischievous glint sparkling in her eyes as she offered a playful retort.

"I've got a reputation to uphold," she replied with a wink, eliciting a chuckle from Ric and a bemused smile from Caroline and Elena.

Elena's frown deepened, her brows knitting together in consternation as she struggled to see how any of this newfound knowledge could possibly save Damon. Meanwhile, Ric's eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope, his curiosity piqued as he directed his next question at Aella.

"Have you found a cure?" Ric inquired eagerly, his voice tinged with anticipation.

Aella nodded hesitantly, her gaze shifting between Ric and her friends as she carefully chose her words.

"I think I may have found a cure," she admitted, her tone cautious yet hopeful.

Quickly bringing Ric up to speed with their conversation, Aella summarized the revelation about the Mikaelsons being the originators of their vampire bloodlines. Ric nodded in understanding, his expression thoughtful as he absorbed this new information.

Caroline, still reeling from the revelation, voiced her incredulity with a shake of her head.

"Did everyone know this except for me?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Elena, sensing her friend's distress, reached out to rub her back in a comforting gesture.

"It's okay, Caroline," Elena reassured her, her tone gentle. "You didn't know. We're all new to this."

Aella rubbed Caroline's knee in confort and the blonde leaned into Aella's comforting touch as

Ric's voice cut through the tension, repeating Aella's explanation for consensus.

"So, the Original Family was turned to protect them from werewolves?" Ric sought confirmation, his gaze sweeping over the group.

Aella nodded emphatically, her lips curving into a broad smile as she recognized the spark of realization dawning in Ric's eyes. It was a look she knew well, one that signaled he had grasped something profound.

Then, with a newfound curiosity shining in his eyes, Ric turned his attention back to Aella, his question laden with implications.

"What happens if the human that changes into the Original vampire is also half-wolf?" Ric inquired, his tone contemplative.

Aella's smile widened, excitement bubbling within her as she realized Ric had caught onto the same thread of thought that had sparked her own revelation. But before she could respond, Elena's voice rang out, her realization voiced aloud for all to hear.

"Klaus was already protected from a werewolf bite because he was a werewolf when he changed into a vampire," Elena interjected, her eyes widening with comprehension. "That protection would transfer."

Aella nodded eagerly, her excitement mirrored by Elena's sudden insight. She wasn't alone in piecing together this crucial piece of the puzzle.

Caroline's gasp pierced the air, a sharp intake of breath that cut through the intensity of their discussion. With a sudden burst of excitement, she clapped her hands together, her eyes widening with newfound realization.

"If Klaus is protected from being killed by a werewolf bite," Caroline exclaimed, her voice tinged with excitement, "then his blood is also protected!"

Aella's grin widened as Caroline's deduction clicked into place, her excitement contagious as the implications of this revelation became clear. With Klaus's blood now potentially immune to the lethal effects of a werewolf bite, a whole new avenue of possibilities opened up in their quest to save Damon.

Elena's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she caught onto Caroline's train of thought, nodding in agreement with a sense of exhilaration.

"That's it!" Elena exclaimed, her voice ringing with certainty. "We can use Klaus's blood to cure Damon!"

Aella's heart raced with anticipation, a surge of hope coursing through her veins as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. With each revelation, their chances of saving Damon grew brighter, fueled by their collective determination and ingenuity.

The elation that had filled the room like a burst of sunlight was suddenly overshadowed by a cloud of doubt as the gravity of their realization settled upon them like a heavy shroud. The very solution they had unearthed, with its promise of salvation for Damon, now loomed before them as an insurmountable hurdle.

Caroline's jubilant expression faltered, replaced by a furrow of concern as the weight of their predicament pressed down upon her.

"We need the blood of Klaus to save Damon," Caroline murmured, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Aella's heart sank at the truth of Caroline's words, a heavy knot forming in the pit of her stomach as she grappled with the implications of their discovery. The bitter irony of their situation was not lost on her—their only hope lay in the blood of the very creature they had fought against for so long.

Elena's brow furrowed in frustration, her mind racing as she sought a solution to their dilemma. The prospect of seeking aid from their sworn enemy was a bitter pill to swallow, yet it seemed to be their only path forward.

"We can't let Damon die," Elena declared, her voice resolute despite the doubt that gnawed at her. "We'll find a way to get Klaus's blood, no matter what it takes."

Aella nodded in solemn agreement, her determination mirrored by her friends as they faced this daunting challenge head-on. With Damon's life hanging in the balance, she knew they couldn't afford to falter.

Aella nodded resolutely at Elena's declaration, her resolve unwavering as she made her decision known to her friends.

"I'm going to talk to Klaus," she announced firmly, her gaze sweeping over the group.

Caroline, Elena, and Ric all reacted with immediate alarm, their voices rising in protest as they voiced their objections to Aella's plan. They warned her of the dangers of facing Klaus alone, emphasizing the risk she would be taking.

"Aella, that's a bad idea!" Caroline exclaimed, her tone laced with concern.

But Aella could only shrug in response, a sense of grim determination settling over her.

"There's no one else and nothing else that can help Damon," she stated plainly, her voice tinged with urgency. She gestured below them where Damon lay, his life slipping away with each passing moment. "He doesn't have any other chance, especially since the idea of Klaus's blood being the cure for werewolf bites is just theory right now."

Ric, the responsible adult in the room, couldn't help but express his concern for Aella's safety.

"Maybe you should let the adults handle this," he suggested, his voice laden with worry.

Aella scoffed at his suggestion, her frustration bubbling to the surface.

"What can you and Jenna do?" she retorted, her tone edged with defiance. "At least I have powers to defend myself if I need to escape. You and Jenna are just offering yourselves up on a silver tray for the hungry hybrid."

"Why don't you wake Stefan?" he suggested, his voice measured. Ric's suggestion hung in the air, his gaze lingering on Aella expectantly as he proposed an alternative course of action.

But Aella shook her head firmly, her resolve unwavering as she rejected Ric's suggestion.

"No," she stated emphatically, her tone leaving no room for argument. "I know Stefan. He'll feel guilty, and he'll want to protect Damon."

Aella couldn't help but mock her boyfriend's characteristic low tone, a hint of amusement coloring her words.

"I'm the one that made him become a vampire in the first place," she continued, her voice tinged with determination. "So if there's a chance for a cure, I owe it to him to find it."

Ric was taken aback by the strength of Aella's resolve, her words echoing with a conviction that sounded eerily similar to Stefan's own. Caroline and Elena exchanged a glance, silently acknowledging the truth of Aella's assertion. Even after nearly two centuries, Stefan's guilt at having turned Damon into a vampire still weighed heavily upon him.

"Yeah, she's right," Caroline conceded, her voice soft with understanding. "Stefan would surrender himself to Klaus without thought."

Aella nodded in gratitude at Caroline's accord, appreciating her support. Yet, she knew there was another crucial reason for keeping Stefan far away from Klaus's influence.

"There's another reason Stefan needs to stay away from Klaus," Aella began, her voice grave as she addressed the group. "The night of the sacrifice, Klaus said something to Stefan."

Ric's curiosity was piqued, his brow furrowing in concern as he pressed for details.

"What did he say?" Ric inquired, his tone serious.

Aella paused, her mind reaching back to that fateful encounter, trying to recall the exact words that had passed between Klaus and Stefan. After a moment of reflection, she spoke, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"He said something like... 'brings back good memories of the ripper days' and that he was Stefan's number one fan," Aella recounted, her words trailing off as she recalled the one statement that had given her pause. "And then he said Chicago was magical."

Ric and Elena exchanged perplexed glances, their confusion evident as they tried to decipher the significance of Klaus's words. Ric's question hung in the air, prompting Aella to explain further.

"What's so special about Chicago?" Ric inquired, his brow furrowing in puzzlement.

But Caroline's gaze narrowed with sudden realization, her mind racing back to the stories Lexi had recounted during her transition. Chicago held a dark significance in Stefan's past—a place where he had truly earned the moniker 'The Ripper.' The implication was clear: only a handful of people should have known about Stefan's history in Chicago, and Klaus certainly shouldn't have been one of them.

Caroline nodded in agreement with Aella's assessment, her expression grave as she acknowledged the need to keep Stefan away from Klaus's reach. While Ric and Elena remained puzzled about the significance of Chicago, they recognized that there were more pressing matters at hand.

Ric turned his attention back to Aella, his gaze searching as he sought to understand her strategy.

"What's your plan with Klaus?" he asked, his voice steady.

Aella simply shrugged in response, a nonchalant expression on her face.

"I'm going to wing it," she admitted, her tone casual.

Ric, Caroline, and Elena exchanged skeptical looks, their uncertainty evident. But Aella met their gaze with unwavering confidence.

"Every time we make a plan, it fails," she explained, her voice tinged with conviction. "So if we don't make a plan, we're not wasting time. There's a 50/50 chance I'll either succeed or fail."

Her words hung in the air, the weight of their implications sinking in. As Aella contemplated her upcoming encounter with Klaus, a thought flickered at the edge of her consciousness, a seed of possibility taking root in her mind. She held back from voicing it aloud, a notion too uncertain to share just yet.

If she couldn't persuade Klaus to agree to save Damon, perhaps she could leverage her newfound knowledge of Asta to her advantage. Asta was something Klaus would never see coming, but Aella couldn't shake the feeling that Asta held the key to unlocking a solution, a hidden potential waiting to be tapped.

For now, she kept this idea close to her chest, a silent reassurance that even in the face of uncertainty, she wasn't without options. With determination burning bright in her heart, Aella prepared to face Klaus, ready to confront whatever challenges lay ahead with unwavering resolve.

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In the dimly lit cellar, the air heavy with dust and dampness, Damon sat on the cold floor, his gaze fixed on the festering wound on his arm. The bite, a grotesque reminder of his precarious situation, throbbed with a pulsating ache that seemed to seep into his very bones. His expression twisted with discomfort as he examined the injury, the venom coursing through his veins a constant torment.

The sound of footsteps echoed through the cellar, drawing Damon's attention to the door where Alaric appeared. Ric winced at the sight of the bite, a grim acknowledgment of the severity of Damon's condition.

"Well, that looks bad," Ric remarked, his tone tinged with concern.

Damon's response was laced with grim resignation, his voice tinged with a hint of desperation.

"It feels worse. My subconscious is haunting me, Ric. Please tell me you have something for that."

Alaric placed a glass of scotch and Damon's Daylight ring on the cellar door's windowsill, a silent offering of solace in the face of adversity.

"Double shot," Ric offered, pouring Damon another measure of the amber liquid.

Damon's eyes lingered on the glass, his expression contemplative as he regarded the golden liquid like a predator eyeing its prey.

"That's good," he murmured, reaching for the glass with a trembling hand.

As Damon rose unsteadily to his feet, he retrieved his Daylight ring, a talisman of protection in a world fraught with danger.

"Oh good," he quipped dryly, his gaze meeting Alaric's with a hint of defiance.

"So the Powerpuff Girls sent you for suicide watch?" Damon's voice dripped with sarcasm, his bitterness palpable as he addressed Ric.

"They're just trying to help," Alaric countered, his tone defensive.

Damon's scoff conveyed his disbelief, his frustration simmering beneath the surface.

"They're trying to fix their mistake. They took Elijah, woke him up, got everyone to trust the bastard, and then he betrayed us, and Klaus is now immortal," Damon lamented bitterly, his resentment evident in every word.

Suddenly, a searing pain tore through Damon's body, and he doubled over with a guttural scream as the venom from the werewolf bite surged through his veins, relentless in its assault.

Damon's words hung heavy in the air, weighted with remorse and self-loathing. The flickering light cast eerie shadows across the cellar, accentuating the tension that crackled between the two men.

"You should want me dead," Damon's voice was raw with emotion, his admission a stark reminder of the pain and destruction he had wrought. "I turned your wife into a vampire. I brought you into this shitty world. You chose to help me and pissed off Jenna. You must really hate me for that one."

Alaric's expression remained stoic, his eyes reflecting a mixture of resignation and empathy as he listened to Damon's self-condemnation. He reached out, taking the glass from Damon's trembling hand with a silent understanding.

"Okay, give me your glass," Alaric said evenly, his voice tinged with a hint of weariness. "Neither one of us is drunk enough for this conversation."

But Damon was not so easily deterred. In a sudden burst of desperation, he lunged forward, his hand closing around Alaric's neck through the narrow opening of the door window. His grip was tight, fingers digging into Alaric's skin with an almost desperate intensity.

"Kill me. Please," Damon pleaded, his voice thick with anguish.

Alaric's response was firm, unwavering in its refusal to succumb to Damon's plea.

"Screw you," he retorted, his tone resolute as he reached for a dart filled with vervain.

With swift precision, Alaric injected the vervain into Damon's arm, the potent substance quickly taking effect. Damon's grip faltered, his strength draining away as he crumpled to the floor in a heap.

As consciousness slipped away, Damon's final words were a whisper, barely audible in the dimly lit cellar.

"No. Elena?"

Alaric's heart clenched at the mention of Elena's name, his gaze softening with empathy as he looked down at the unconscious vampire.

"Elena's not here, Damon," he replied quietly, his voice tinged with regret, she didn't need to see this.