blow, and for a moment, no one spoke. Amalie watched Elena closely, the rawness in her voice, the clarity of her conviction, and she couldn't help but agree.

"You know, she brings up a good point," Amalie said, her voice calm but cutting through the tension like a knife.

Damon shot her a glare, his temper barely in check as he turned back to Elena. His voice dropped, filled with a steely determination. "Get your ass out the door before I throw you over my shoulder and carry you out myself."

Without waiting for a response, Damon grasped Elena's arm, his grip firm, almost painful. Elena struggled, her voice rising with indignation as she wrenched herself free of his grip.

"No!" She shouted, her eyes blazing with fury.

In a split second, Elena swung at him, her fist aiming for his face. But Damon was quicker, his reflexes sharp. He caught her fist easily, holding it in place as he leaned in close, his voice low and dangerous.

"Don't ever do that again," he warned, his tone as cold as ice.

###

Damon pushed the double doors open with a swift motion, striding into the living area where Elena, Amalie, and Rose sat, their gazes snapping toward him as he entered. His expression was cool, though the tension in his jaw betrayed his irritation.

"Time to go," Damon announced, his voice low but commanding. "Alice is soundly sleeping and won't remember a moment of this horribly stupid day."

Before anyone could respond, the front doors suddenly burst open with a violent crash, the sound reverberating through the apartment. Amalie shot to her feet, her heart pounding in her chest as three men stormed inside, their presence instantly suffocating. Damon spun around, his eyes narrowing as he took in the intruders. Rose and Elena stood beside Amalie, the three women instinctively drawing closer together.

The leader of the group stepped forward. His gaze landed on Elena. "We're here to meet the doppelganger."

Elena, always too quick to act, took a step forward. "Thank you for coming—"

Damon's hand shot out, pushing her back, his voice a low, dangerous growl. "I will break your arm." He didn't take his eyes off the man in front of them as he spoke, his eyes clearly meant to stop her from doing anything reckless.

His gaze hardened as he addressed the leader directly. "There's nothing here for you."

Amalie could feel the tension thickening in the air, each breath growing heavier. She glanced toward Elena, her instincts screaming at her to prepare for the worst. Before any of them could react, the man in the back of the group suddenly dropped to the floor, lifeless. The sound of his body hitting the ground sent a shockwave through the room, and all eyes shifted to the figure standing behind him.

Elijah.

Amalie's heart stilled in her chest as Elijah stood there, calm and composed, his presence commanding the room with terrifying ease. His cold, calculating gaze swept over the room with terrifying ease. His cold gaze swept over the remaining two intruders as they turned to face him, their surprise evident. Rose gasped softly, and before anyone could stop her, she vamp-sped out of the apartment.

Damon's face twisted with disbelief. "I killed you. You were dead."

Elijah's lips curled into a faint, humorless smile. "For centuries now."

Amalie's eyes remained fixed on Elijah, watching the way his expression shifted as he looked at Cody, the leader. There was a controlled, dangerous energy about him, something she couldn't tear her gaze away from.

Cody, clearly shaken but trying to maintain his composure, took a step forward. "Who are you?"

Elijah didn't hesitate. "I'm Elijah."

Cody's eyes widened in shock, the recognition of the name hitting him hard. "We were going to bring her to you. For Klaus. She's the doppelganger. I don't know how she exists, but she does. Klaus will want to see her."

Elijah tilted his head slightly, his expression almost bored, though his eyes glinted with something darker, something lethal. "Does anyone else know that you're here?"

Cody faltered. "No."

Elijah's response was swift, his voice cold and final. "Well, then, you have been incredibly helpful."

Without warning, Elijah moved so fast it was a blur. Amalie gasped, her body frozen in place as she watched him thrust his hands into their chest. The sound of their grunts echoed through the room as Elijah ripped their hearts out with chilling precision. Time seemed to slow as the two vampires fell to the floor, their bodies crumpling lifelessly. Elijah released their hearts from his grip, letting them drop to the ground with a sickening thud.

Amalie stood motionless, her breath caught in her throat, her mind trying to make sense of everything. Her eyes flicked up to Elijah's face, and for a moment—a heartbeat too long—his gaze met hers. There was something in that look, a flicker of recognition, of something unspoken. It wasn't fear or anger, but something else entirely, something that made Amalie's pulse quicken. The connection broke as quickly as it had formed, and Elijah turned his attention back to the room. Damon stood ready to fight, his body tense, fists clenched at his sides.

But instead of engaging, Elijah shocked them all. In a blur of motion, he grabbed Amalie and vamp-sped out of the apartment, leaving a gust of wind and a stunned silence in his wake.

When Amalie finally came to a stop, they stood alone on a desolate street, the hum of the city muffled and distant. Her breath came ragged, and her pulse raced, her mind struggling to catch up with what had just happened.

"Why—why did you do that?" Her voice was sharp, the words laced with both anger and confusion.

Elijah's gaze softened, an apology lingering in his eyes as he held hers "I apologize," he said, his voice a gentle undercurrent in the quiet night. "I didn't mean to frighten you."

Amalie took a step back, crossing her arms as if it would guard her against his unyielding gaze. "What do you want from me?" She demanded, trying to summon stretch as she kept her tone steady. She'd been in countless dangerous situations before, but something about this felt different. She briefly wished for the familiar torment of the ghosts that haunted her—they always appeared at the worst times, but now, when she could have used their distraction, they were silent.

Elijah looked her over, his gaze lingering on her throat with a slight frown. "You're not wearing the necklace I felt for you," he observed, his tone neutral, but the undercurrent was one of disappointment, almost...concern "Was it not to your liking? I'd thought it would match—I noticed you prefer gold jewelry. But I have other options; I can bring you more until you find on that—"

"No, no, it's fine," she interrupted, exhaling in surprise at his earnestness. She hadn't expected him to be so—concerned. And over something so trivial, something she'd barely thought of.

A glimmer of something brighter, almost pleased, lit his face, and for a moment, he was silent, their eyes locked as tension quietly stretched between them. He seemed utterly focused on her, as if there were no one else in the world, as if she were something precious he'd come upon by surprise. Her breath caught in her throat, and she averted her gaze, searching for something, anything, to break the spell.

"Why did you kill those vampires back there?" She asked, her voice breaking the silence like a cold gust of wind.

Elijah's expression darkened, and a muscle in his jaw tightened before he responded. "I need the doppelganger to stop trying to get herself killed," he said bluntly. His calm, collected demeanor returned, and the intensity behind his eyes softened to a mere glint.

Amalie frowned, her brows knitting together in confusion. "But aren't you working with Klaus? Isn't the whole point for her to die? Or at least to capture her?" The skepticism in her voice was unmissable—she'd assumed he was just another of Klaus' loyal minions, but this didn't fit.

Elijah's gaze shifted slightly, and he sighed. "It's more complicated than that," he said, his voice softer now, almost resigned. "There are things you don't know. Things I cannot yet explain."

She opened her mouth to question him further, but he cut her off with a question of his own. "Are you safe with the Salvatores?" The shift in topic caught her off guard, his concern as unexpected as the way his eyes held her, unwavering and serious.

"Safe?" She repeated, almost incredulously. She hadn't been asked that question in years; it was foreign to her, strange. She met his gaze, confused. "Why would that matter?"

Elijah's features softened further, though his expression remained intent. "Because," he said quietly, his voice dipping lower. "I don't want to see you harmed." His hands slid into his pockets, a casual gesture that contrasted with the piercing intensity in his eyes as they stayed locked on hers. "I want to make sure you aren't in danger."

The defenses she'd put up faulted, the slight crease in her brow softening as she took in the sincerity in his gaze. She wasn't used to concern, not like this, not from someone like him. It was...sweet, even. She struggled to find words, fighting the instinct to brush him off, to tell him that she was fine, that she didn't need anyone worrying about her.

"I can take care of myself, you know," she murmured, her voice quiet, but the edge of bravado was gone. For once, she wasn't dismissing the sentiment out of irritation but rather surprise.

A trace of a smile curved at the corner of Elijah's mouth, a subtle warmth that softened his features. "Oh, I don't doubt that," he said, his tone carrying a gentle amusement she hadn't expected. "But you 're important to more people than just yourself. You're important to Klaus."

Amalie's shoulders tensed at the mention of Klaus. "I know what I mean to Klaus," she replied, a sharp edge to her tone as she tried to mask the vulnerability that had crept in. "I'm just something that he needs. That's all."

Elijah's face flickered with something unreadable—a shadow of regret, or perhaps something deeper—and he took a measured step closer. "Not to me."

The words hung in the air, charged and unspoken for far too long. She met his gaze, searching for any hint of insincerity but finding none. She swallowed, suddenly feeling far more exposed than she was prepared to handle. She glanced toward the distant lights of the city, using it as an excuse to look away from the intensity in his eyes.

"I should probably get back," she said, her voice soft, almost hesitant. She didn't know what to expect—would he stop her? Let her leave? She didn't want to acknowledge it, but part of her feared the latter.

But Elijah stepped aside, his expression an intricate blend of resolve and reluctance. "Goodbye, Amalie," he said softly, the gentleness in his tone nearly as jarring as the distance he put between them.

Without another word, she turned, sparing him one last glance over her shoulder, her heart strangely heavy as she walked back toward the familiar world she knew, leaving Elijah and the unexpected promise of something unknown behind her.

###

Amalie stepped through the front door of the Salvatore house, her pulse still racing from everything that had happened. The house was stepped in silence, the dim light casting shadows that seemed to press in on her from every angle. She barely had a moment to catch her breath before Damon appeared in a blur, his eyes sharp with suspicion. Before she could react, his hand shot out, and suddenly, she was pinned against the wall, the hard surface jarring her spine.

"Are you working for Elijah now?" Damon's voice was low and dangerous, his face mere inches from hers. His hand tightened around her throat, and his gaze was fierce, blazing with accusation.

"What—no!" Amalie managed to choke out, her voice strained as she clawed weakly at his wrist. His stretch was unrelenting, cutting off her air.

"Then why did he take you?" Damon snarled, his tone dripping with suspicion. "Just for a friendly little chat?" His grip tightened, his gaze never leaving her face as if he could pry the truth from her just by sheer force.

"He...he herself wanted me..." she gasped, struggling to find breath and words. "To tell Elena...to stop sacrificing."

Damon's eyes flickered, his grip loosening slightly, just enough for her to suck in a ragged breath. He stared at her for a long, tense moment, as if weighing her words. Then, with a sharp release, he let her go, stepping back. Amalie stumbled forward, coughing and rubbing her neck, her breath coming in painful bursts.

"That's it?" Damon asked, his tone flat but seeing. "That's all?"

"Yes," Amalie breathed out.

Damon's eyes darkened again, his tone dripping with threat. "If I find out you're working for him," he said coldly, leaning in closer, "I'll rip out your heart and feed it to you. Clear?"

Amalie raised an eyebrow, gathering herself, despite the lingering ache in her throat. "Wow. You're really big on these heart-ripping threats, aren't you?" Her voice was mocking, her tone calm despite the fury simmering beneath. "Bit of a one-trick pony, Damon."

His jaw tightened, but she wasn't finished. She straightened, stepping forward and invading his space, refusing to let him intimidate her. "You think I'm working for Elijah? Please. Unlike you, I don't go around backstabbing every person I've ever known." She glared up at him, her voice sharp. "And I don't make everything about me."

Damon's eyes flashed with anger, but Amalie didn't back down, her voice rising with every word. "You're pissed because you can't control me. You hate it. Because for once, someone did something without you pulling the strings , and you can't handle it. It scares you that your precious little plan might be falling apart."

Damon's smirk was cold and humorless, but he stayed silent, his gaze unblinking as he watched her.

"Oh, what's wrong? Not so fun when someone holds a mirror up, is it?" Amalie's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Or is it because you're terrified Elena is slipping out of your control, too? That's what this is really about, isn't it?" Her tone softened into something almost pitying, each word stroking his anger. "You can't stand the idea that you're not the center of her world. That you're going to lose her to something, or someone, bigger than you."

"Careful, Amalie," Damon warned, his voice a low growl as he took a step closer, his dark gaze flashing with anger. "You don't know who you're dealing with."

"Oh, I know exactly who I'm dealing with," she shot back, her voice cutting and precise. "You're the guy who thinks being a psychopath is a personality trait. You hide behind your anger, thinking it makes you strong, but all it does is show how scared you are that no one actually cares. Least of all Elena."

A flicker of fury crossed his face, his hands curling into fists at his sides, but he didn't lash out. Instead, his gaze narrowed, his voice colder than she'd ever heard it before. "You think you're untouchable , don't you?"

"Not untouchable," she replied, smirking. "Just not scared of you. You're predictable, Damon. The second someone doesn't like you or doesn't play your game, you lash out, trying to push them away because then, at least, it's on your terms. But at the end of the day, you're still running after the approval of people who don't even trust you."

Damon's expression darkened further, but Amalie continued, her voice deadly calm. "So, no, I'm not working for Elijah. But if you really want to know what's really going on, maybe start with the fact that he's the one warning me about your inability to protect Elena." She let the barb sink in. "Seems to me, he's doing more than you are."

Damon's eyes grew cold, venom in his tone. "You don't know the first thing about that."

"Maybe not," Amalie replied, her voice dropping to a quiet, dangerous whisper. "But here's what I do know: the more you treat everyone like they're expendable, the more you end up alone. So keep your threats. But the next time you want to throw me against a wall, make sure I don't get back up."

Damon's jaw tightened as he took a step back, his eyes narrowing as he studied her with new intensity. "Don't push your luck," he said, his voice low.

Amalie crossed her arms, lifting her chin defiantly as she met his glare. "Wouldn't dream of it."

They stared each other down, the air between them charged with hostility, neither willing to back down. Damon's jaw twitched, and Amalie's expression remained steely, her smirk defiant as if daring him to make a move. Finally, Damon turned on his heel, stalking away without another word, his footsteps echoing through the silence of the house.

Amalie watched him go, her heart still, but she refused to let the racing tension show on her face. Instead, she let herself smirk, victorious, even as the adrenaline coursing through her made her hands tremble.

authors note.

sorry this took a little minute to publish, i was having a difficult time figuring out how to put amalie into this episode but i hope you like it !! also, you may say that she's a bit stupid for challenging damon since he's older and stronger but amalie isn't one to put up with his shit, and i figured since damon doesn't trust easily, he would be super  wary of amalie

let me know what you guys think, don't forget to vote and comment ✌️💗