The sun was beginning to rise as Tatum stepped into the clearing near Wickery Bridge. She hadn't been able to sleep after her encounter with Klaus. His words had looped through her mind all night, and by dawn, she knew she had to talk to Bonnie.

Bonnie was already there, sitting cross-legged on the ground, her hands resting on her knees as she meditated. She opened her eyes as Tatum approached, her expression immediately softening when she saw the tension etched into Tatum's face.

"Tatum," Bonnie said, standing up. "What's wrong?"

Tatum didn't answer right away. She clutched the edges of her jacket, her knuckles white. "Klaus found me last night. He told me something—something I don't know how to deal with."

Tatum's Revelation

Bonnie's eyes darkened, her jaw tightening. "What did he say?"

Tatum hesitated, then blurted out, "He said I'm a doppelgänger. Not like Elena, but of a witch. A bloodline from the Salem witch trials. He said I'm part of a curse, and my magic is bound to it."

Bonnie stared at her, stunned. "A witch doppelgänger? I've never heard of anything like that."

"Neither had I," Tatum said, her voice trembling. "But Klaus said it's why my magic feels so… unstable. It's part of the curse. And he said if I break it, my magic will reach its full potential, but it could destroy me in the process."

Bonnie's expression softened as she stepped closer. "Tatum, listen to me. Whatever Klaus told you, he's using it to manipulate you. He wants to control your power for his own plans."

"I know," Tatum said quickly. "But what if he's right? What if this curse is real, and I'm walking around with this… this ticking time bomb inside me?"

Researching the Curse

Bonnie nodded slowly, her mind already racing. "If this curse exists, there's a way to find out. We need to dig into the history of your family, the Solas witches. There might be something in the Bennett family grimoires about them."

"Do you think your ancestors would have written about it?" Tatum asked, her voice laced with desperation.

"It's possible," Bonnie said. "The Bennetts were active during the Salem witch trials. If the Solas witches were connected to the doppelgänger line, there might be some record of it."

A Stop at the Bennett House

Later that morning, Tatum followed Bonnie to the Bennett house. The small home was warm and cozy, filled with the scent of old books and dried herbs. Bonnie led Tatum to a large wooden chest in the corner of the living room and opened it, revealing stacks of ancient grimoires bound in leather.

"This is where my family's magical history is recorded," Bonnie explained. "If there's anything about the Solas witches, it'll be here."

They worked in silence, flipping through the fragile pages. Tatum's fingers trembled as she scanned the faded text, her eyes straining to decipher the elegant script.

Finally, Bonnie spoke. "Here. I found something."

Tatum looked up as Bonnie held out a grimoire, her finger resting on an entry.

The Curse of the Solas Witches

"The Solas coven," Bonnie read aloud, "was one of the most powerful groups of witches during the Salem witch trials. They practiced magic that others deemed forbidden, drawing on energy that went beyond nature itself. Their power grew so great that their coven turned against them, binding their magic to a doppelgänger line to ensure it could never be fully unleashed again."

Tatum felt her chest tighten as Bonnie continued.

"The curse ensures that the Solas witches' doppelgängers are born with immense power but lack the ability to control it. If the curse is broken, the witch's magic will be freed, but at great personal risk. The cost of failure is death."

Bonnie looked up, her expression grim. "Klaus wasn't lying."

Tatum's Fear

Tatum sank onto the couch, her hands trembling. "I don't know if I can do this, Bonnie. I didn't ask for this. I didn't ask to be part of some ancient curse or doppelgänger bloodline. I just… I just want to be normal."

Bonnie sat beside her, placing a comforting hand on her arm. "I know it's overwhelming, Tatum. But you're not alone. We'll figure this out together. Whatever it takes, I won't let you face this by yourself."

Tatum nodded, tears stinging her eyes. "Thank you, Bonnie. I don't know what I'd do without you."

A Watchful Eye

As they continued their research, neither of them noticed the figure standing just outside the window. Klaus watched them silently, his expression unreadable.

"She's learning quickly," he murmured to himself. "Good."

Without another word, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving Tatum and Bonnie to their work.