The night in Mystic Falls felt heavier than usual, like the town itself was holding something back. I walked slowly along the empty street, my footsteps muted against the pavement as invisible threads brushed against my skin, responding to every movement I made. They were restless tonight, tugging and vibrating with quiet urgency, alerting me to disturbances most would never notice.
Damon Salvatore leaned against a streetlamp ahead, posture relaxed, arms crossed, eyes sharp despite the lazy smile on his lips. He looked like he belonged to the night, like it was a familiar companion rather than something to be feared.
"You really don't do subtle, do you?" he drawled as I approached. "People don't usually stroll around town at this hour unless they're lost or looking for trouble."
I stopped a few feet away, tilting my head slightly as the threads beneath the ground responded to my presence. "What makes you think I'm either?"
His smile widened, but his eyes flicked briefly to the space between us. He felt it. Not consciously, perhaps, but enough to unsettle him. "Call it instinct," he said. "Mine's usually right."
I let a single thread pulse softly. Not enough to bind, not enough to harm. Just enough to test. Damon's expression flickered for half a second before he recovered, amusement giving way to curiosity.
"That's new," he admitted. "You always do that, or am I special?"
Before I could answer, another presence approached. Stefan stepped out of the shadows, his movements cautious, controlled. His gaze moved from Damon to me, then to the empty street, as if searching for something unseen.
"There's something wrong tonight," Stefan said quietly. "I can feel it."
"So can I," I replied. "That's why I'm here."
The threads tightened suddenly, pulling my attention toward a nearby alley. A younger vampire lurked there, careless, feeding without restraint. I lifted my hand slightly, tracing the thread connected to him. The effect was immediate. He froze, confusion washing over his features as the urge drained from his body.
Damon stared. Stefan stiffened.
"You didn't compel him," Stefan said slowly.
"No," I agreed. "I redirected him."
I released the thread, and the vampire fled without looking back. The street fell silent again, but the balance had shifted.
Damon let out a low whistle. "Remind me not to get on your bad side."
I met his gaze calmly. "I don't have a bad side. I have limits."
And tonight, Mystic Falls had taken its first step toward learning where those limits lay.