More challenges are coming for Damon and Stefan when "The Vampire Diaries" season 8 returns in January for episode 8. The two are forced to serve Cade and Stefan turns off his humanity, which means the Ripper is coming back! Will they be able to free themselves from Cade? 

In "The Vampire Diaries" midseason finale titled "The Next Time I Hurt Somebody, It Could Be You," Stefan met with Cade after his ruined Christmas dinner with Caroline and made a deal with him for the safety of Alaric and Caroline's twin girls. Stefan said he would turn off his humanity to feed more souls for Cade but in exchange, the contract will be shortened to a year. The episode ended with Stefan and Damon driving out of Mystic Falls as Stefan turns off his humanity.

The preview for "The Vampire Diaries" season 8, episode 8 shows Damon and Stefan as Cade's new loyal servants. "I'm working for the devil, I don't need to play fair," Stefan said in the video, while Damon attacks a group of people. It looks like it would be a rough road for the Salvatore brothers. They certainly need to talk about a plan to get away from Cade's grasp.

Meanwhile, this situation is definitely not good for the Steroline couple. It might cause a big misunderstanding and Stefan will need to come clean about the deal with Cade as soon as possible. In a previous report, Paul Wesley teased that Stefan and Caroline's ending is not yet certain. He added that he doesn't think the two should get a happy ending but fans will have a lot of their influence on their fate or if the couple will get married. Another challenge to their relationship is Alaric.

"The Vampire Diaries" season 8, episode 9 titled "We Have History Together" will air on Jan. 13 at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.