The safe house was eerily quiet in the morning. Sunlight filtered through the thick curtains, casting soft beams onto the wooden floors. The cabin smelled faintly of pine and damp earth, a reminder of how far they were from civilization.
Tatum sat at the small kitchen table, sipping coffee from a mismatched mug Alaric had found in one of the cupboards. Her body ached from the events of the night before, but the weight on her chest was heavier than her physical exhaustion.
Damon strolled in, shirtless and completely unbothered, his usual smirk firmly in place. "Morning, sunshine," he drawled, grabbing a mug and pouring himself a cup of coffee.
Tatum rolled her eyes. "Do you ever not make an entrance?"
"Where's the fun in that?" Damon shot back, leaning against the counter.
Alaric appeared moments later, fully dressed and looking as tired as Tatum felt. "We need to talk," he said, setting a map on the table.
Planning Their Defense
Alaric unfolded the map, revealing the surrounding area. "This place is off the grid, but we're not invincible here. Klaus is smart. If he really wants to find us, it's only a matter of time."
"So, what's the plan?" Tatum asked, setting her mug down.
"First, we reinforce this place," Alaric said. "The cabin has some basic protections, but we'll need more—especially magical barriers. Tatum, that's where you come in."
Tatum's stomach churned. "I don't know if I can do that. Every time I use my magic, it feels… unstable."
"That's why you practice," Damon interjected, sliding into the seat across from her. "You've got a lot of power, Tatum. The sooner you learn to control it, the safer we'll all be."
"And what if I mess up?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Then we'll fix it," Damon said simply. "You're not in this alone."
Training with Damon
After breakfast, Damon led Tatum into the clearing behind the cabin. The woods were dense, the towering trees casting long shadows over the forest floor.
"Alright," Damon said, crossing his arms. "Let's see what you've got."
Tatum frowned. "What do you mean? I don't even know where to start."
"Start with what you did last night," Damon suggested. "You threw a vampire into a fence like it was nothing. Do that again."
"I didn't exactly plan that," Tatum muttered.
"Then let's make it a plan," Damon said, his smirk returning.
He stepped closer, his tone softening. "Close your eyes. Focus on the energy inside you. Feel it, but don't let it control you. You're the one in charge."
Tatum hesitated, then closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, searching for the hum of magic within her. It was there, just beneath the surface—a warm, pulsing energy that both excited and terrified her.
"Good," Damon said. "Now, channel it. Picture what you want to happen."
Tatum raised her hands, imagining the energy flowing outward. A faint glow appeared around her fingers, growing brighter with each passing second.
"Focus," Damon urged. "Control it."
But the glow quickly grew too bright, and the energy surged out of her in an uncontrolled burst. Damon dodged as a nearby tree splintered, chunks of bark flying in all directions.
Tatum gasped, her hands trembling as the magic faded.
"That was… intense," Damon said, brushing debris off his shirt.
Tatum's face burned with embarrassment. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"
"Relax," Damon interrupted. "It's progress. Messy progress, but progress."
A Private Moment
Later that evening, Tatum sat on the porch steps, staring up at the stars. The forest was quiet, the only sound the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze.
She heard footsteps behind her and turned to see Damon, a glass of bourbon in hand. He sat down beside her, his usual smirk replaced by a more subdued expression.
"You did good today," he said after a moment.
Tatum scoffed. "I nearly took out a tree."
"Yeah, but you didn't take out me," Damon teased. "That's progress."
Tatum managed a small smile, but it quickly faded. "I just… I don't know if I can do this, Damon. What if I'm not strong enough?"
Damon looked at her, his gaze steady. "You are strong enough. You just don't see it yet."
His words hung in the air, the sincerity in his tone catching her off guard.
"Thanks," she said quietly.
"Don't mention it," Damon replied, taking a sip of his bourbon.
A Warning from the Shadows
As they sat in silence, a distant sound broke through the quiet—a faint rustling, too deliberate to be the wind.
Damon was on his feet in an instant, his body tense as he scanned the tree line. "Stay here," he ordered, his voice low.
Tatum stood anyway, her magic humming faintly beneath her skin. "What is it?"
Damon didn't answer. Instead, he moved toward the edge of the clearing, his sharp gaze searching the shadows.
After a tense moment, he turned back to her. "Nothing. Probably just an animal."
But the look in his eyes told Tatum he wasn't convinced.
Preparing for the Worst
Back inside the cabin, Alaric was already working on reinforcing their defenses. Tatum watched as he carefully placed small wooden carvings—charms meant to ward off supernatural intruders—around the windows and doors.
"Are you sure this will work?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It'll help," Alaric said. "But we need you to keep practicing, Tatum. If Klaus finds us, your magic might be our best shot."
Tatum nodded, though fear still gnawed at the edges of her resolve.
As she headed to bed that night, the weight of her new reality pressed down on her. She was far from Mystic Falls, far from the life she once knew. But with Damon and Alaric by her side, she resolved to keep fighting.
Because survival wasn't just an option—it was the only choice.