The following evening, Tatum stood in her room, staring at her pale reflection in the mirror. Bonnie's words from the day before had stuck with her, but so had Klaus's. No matter how much she tried to focus on the calming exercises Bonnie had taught her, the hum of her magic refused to quiet. She dressed quickly in black jeans and a red faded hoodie of Alaric's.

A loud knock at the front door snapped her out of her thoughts. She frowned. Alaric was out of town, leaving her alone for the night, so the unexpected visitor set her on edge.

She opened the door cautiously and found Damon leaning against the frame, his familiar smirk firmly in place.

"Damon," Tatum said, her voice laced with irritation. "What are you doing here?"

"Nice to see you too," Damon quipped, brushing past her and stepping inside.

Tatum sighed, shutting the door. "Seriously, why are you here?"

"I heard Klaus has been making house calls," Damon said, his tone casual but his eyes sharp. "Thought I'd stop by and make sure you're not planning to run off with him to fulfill some ancient curse or whatever."

Tatum folded her arms, glaring at him. "I'm not planning anything, Damon. I've been trying to figure this out with Bonnie, if you must know."

"Good," Damon said, leaning against the wall. "Because trusting Klaus is the fastest way to end up dead—or worse."

A Warning Comes True

Before Tatum could reply, a loud crash came from the backyard. Her heart jumped, and Damon's playful demeanor vanished in an instant.

"Stay here," he said, his voice low and firm.

Tatum ignored him, following close behind as he moved toward the back door. Damon shot her an exasperated look but didn't argue, instead stepping outside into the cool night air.

The backyard was eerily silent, the faint rustle of leaves the only sound. Tatum's magic began to hum beneath her skin, a warning she couldn't ignore.

"What is it?" she whispered.

Damon didn't answer, his eyes scanning the shadows. Suddenly, a figure lunged from the darkness, fangs bared. Damon moved with lightning speed, slamming the vampire into the ground.

"Stay back!" Damon barked at Tatum as he fought off the attacker.

But another figure emerged from the trees, heading straight for her.

Tatum's breath caught as the second vampire charged. Without thinking, she raised her hands, the hum of her magic surging into a wave of heat that exploded outward. The vampire was thrown back into the fence, crumpling to the ground.

The Aftermath

Damon dispatched the first vampire and turned just in time to see the second one scrambling to its feet. He moved quickly, staking it with practiced precision before it could get close to Tatum again.

The backyard fell silent once more, and Damon turned to Tatum, his expression a mix of anger and concern.

"What part of 'stay back' did you not understand?" he snapped.

"I wasn't going to just stand there and let them attack me!" Tatum shot back, her voice shaking.

Damon sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You could've been killed, Tatum. You're not ready for this."

"Clearly, I am," Tatum said, motioning to the fence where her attacker had been thrown. "I handled it."

Damon studied her for a moment, then nodded grudgingly. "Fine. You handled it. But that doesn't mean you're safe."

A Growing Concern

Back inside the house, Damon locked the doors and closed the curtains, his usual smirk replaced by a serious expression.

"Those vampires weren't random," he said. "They were sent."

Tatum's stomach turned. "By Klaus?"

Damon nodded. "He's testing you. Seeing what you can do."

"That's insane," Tatum said, pacing the living room. "Why would he go this far just to test me?"

"Because he's Klaus," Damon said simply. "And because you're important to whatever twisted plan he has."

Tatum sank onto the couch, her hands trembling. "This is too much, Damon. I didn't sign up for any of this."

"No one ever does," Damon said, sitting beside her. "But you're in it now, whether you like it or not."

Tatum looked at him, her voice barely above a whisper. "What am I supposed to do?"

Damon's gaze softened, and for a moment, the walls he always kept up seemed to drop. "You survive. And you let the people who care about you help."

A Moment of Vulnerability

Tatum blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice. "You care?"

Damon smirked, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Don't let it go to your head."

Despite the chaos of the night, Tatum managed a small smile. "Thanks, Damon. For being here."

"Don't mention it," he said, standing and heading toward the door. "But seriously, lock your doors. And call me if Klaus or his goons show up again."

As Damon disappeared into the night, Tatum leaned back against the couch, her thoughts racing.

Klaus was watching her, testing her. But she wasn't going to let him win.

Not if she had anything to say about it.