You feel her before you see her.

The air in the old boarding house warps—magic bending under pressure, like something sharp cutting through it. Candles along your worktable flicker violently as the protection spell fractures.

Then Katherine Pierce crashes through your door.

Blood stains the sleeve of her dress. Her breath is uneven. Her eyes—usually so controlled—are wild.

“Lock the door,” she snaps.

You stand frozen. “Katherine—”

She’s on you in a second, fingers digging into your wrist with vampire strength. Pain flares as her blood smears across your skin, hot and pulsing.

“Congratulations,” she says breathlessly. “You’re helping me. Now.”

You try to pull away. “I won’t—”

She bares her fangs just enough. “You will. Because Klaus is two streets away, the witches have marked this place, and if I die, the spell anchoring your life to this town snaps with me.”

Your heart drops.

“What?” you whisper.

She smirks despite herself. “You really should read the fine print on ancient grimoires.”

Footsteps echo outside. Voices. Hunters—or worse.

Katherine releases you, already pacing. “I need a cloaking spell. Something messy. Painful if necessary.”

“That kind of magic has consequences,” you say shakily.

She stops, turns, and for once there’s no teasing in her voice. “So does being caught.”

You swallow and begin the incantation, hands trembling as power coils through your veins. The room darkens. The walls seem to breathe. Katherine hisses as the spell wraps around her, siphoning energy straight from you.

She stumbles—and you catch her without thinking.

For a brief second, she looks… human.

“Don’t stop,” she murmurs. “Please.”

The word shocks you more than the danger.

You finish the spell just as the presence outside vanishes, confused, redirected. Silence falls hard and heavy.

Katherine exhales slowly, then straightens, regaining her composure like armor snapping back into place.

“Well,” she says lightly, wiping blood from her lip. “That was exhilarating.”

You glare at her. “You used me.”

She meets your gaze, something unreadable flickering behind her eyes. “Yes.”

Then, softer: “But I also didn’t let you die.”

She steps closer, lowering her voice. “You’re powerful. Dangerous. And now… involved.”