The sky was lit orange. Smoke twisted upward in spirals, thick and choking, as the barn blazed behind the estate. Flames danced higher, eating through the wooden beams like paper.

And you were still inside.

You’d only snuck in to see the horses, holding a crust of bread in your tiny hands. They were your favorite—especially Apollo, the tall chestnut stallion Stefan let you brush.

But someone had set the fire. On purpose.

By the time the servants screamed, Stefan had already thrown open the back doors. Damon sprinted barefoot across the grass, eyes wide with terror. “She’s in there!” he yelled.

Inside the inferno, you sat near the corner, coughing and crying, curled behind a bale of hay.

Stefan found you first—face black with soot, his shirt pulled over your head as he shielded you from the burning embers. Damon followed close behind, lifting you into his arms.

You clung to his neck, sobbing.

They didn’t speak until you were safe outside. Damon rocked you back and forth, both of them kneeling in the dirt, watching the barn collapse.

“Who did this?” Stefan asked, voice low.

Damon’s eyes were cold. “Someone who wanted to hurt us. Through her.”

They were still human then. But something changed in them that night. A darker fire ignited behind their love for you—fierce, relentless. You were their little sister.

And they would burn the world before they let it take you.

Later, they got you back inside, snuggling to the couch, asleep, and Stefan took you in his lap."Damon, bring me some water" Stefan asked. Damon getting a cup of water, and came back, giving it to Stefan.