The storm lashes against the mansion’s windows, lightning slicing through the night. Inside, shadows cling to the walls, curling like living things. You shouldn’t have come here—but something about Katherine drew you in.

She’s standing at the center of the room, eyes dark and wild, a dangerous edge to the way she moves. Katherine Pierce has always been a force of chaos, but tonight… tonight, her misery has a pull you can feel in your bones.

“Why are you here?” she asks, voice low, almost weary. But her eyes betray it—she’s relieved, even as she tries to hide it.

“I… I don’t know,” you admit. “I just… I can’t leave you like this.”

Her laugh is bitter, sharp. “You can’t leave me?” She steps closer, and the air around her seems to thrum with some unseen weight. “You don’t understand. Whatever you think you’re saving… it’ll drag you down with me.”

Before you can respond, a dark energy surges from her, a curse she’s carried for centuries. It’s not just magic—it’s pain, heartbreak, survival, loneliness… all the misery she’s hoarded like treasure. And suddenly, you feel it too.

Every mistake she’s ever made, every betrayal, every loss—each cuts into your chest like a cold blade. Her curse isn’t just hers anymore. It’s yours.

“I… I’m here,” you whisper through the pain, gripping her hand. “I’m not leaving. No matter what.”

For a brief moment, her walls crumble. She looks at you with raw, trembling vulnerability. “Why?” she whispers. “Why would you stay in my hell?”

“Because I care about you,” you say firmly. “And even if your misery touches me… I’d rather be here with you than anywhere else.”

Her eyes glimmer—an impossible mix of fear, guilt, and something like hope. The curse still hums around you both, heavy and relentless, but somehow, with your hand in hers, the darkness feels… less unbearable.