Maeve leaned on the back seat, her feet dangling out on the concrete road. She yawned still half asleep.

"Welcome back to Chicago, Stefan." she heard Klaus say.

Stefan looked around and back at Klaus, "What are we doing here?"

"I know how much you loved it here. Bringing back memories of the good old ripper days?"

"Blacked out most of them. A lot of blood, a lot of partying. The details are all a blur."

"Well, that is a crying shame. The details are what make it legend." Klaus recalled sounding fascinated with the memories. "Chicago was magical."

"Yeah, well, I'll take your word for it. Like I said, I don't remember most of it."

"Going to get down to business, then?"

Stefan faced the original Hybrid, "Why am I still with you? We had our fun, your hybrids failed. I mean, don't you want to move on?"

"We're going to see my favorite witch. If anyone can help us with our hybrid problem, it's her."

Maeve groaned struggling to hold herself awake. "If you're done fangirling over Stefan's old methods of being a ripper-y vampire, can we get a move on?" Maeve yawned again.

"Ignore her." Stefan said, "she's not a morning person." Maeve scowled at his mock.

"I almost murdered the flirty demon of hell once you bitch. Don't you make me fuck you up you asshole."

Stefan smiled lopsidedly, "and she's got a mouth."

"A mouth?" Maeve shrieked. "You want to see what happens when you wake me up at sunrise you sibling of demonic idiot?"

"How about some co...coff──coffee for you? This way there won't be more colorful words being said." Klaus said between laughs walking to the car.

"Like you've never cursed in your long ass life of bitching and fucking shit up." Maeve cursed loudly moving to sit inside the car and slammed the door shut strongly.

"Oi!" shouted Klaus. "Don't take out your anger on my car!"

Maeve rolled her eyes, "sorry for hurting your precious carriage my lord."

Soon after Maeve followed behind Stefan and Klaus, inside a bar. She held in her hand the third cup of coffee. Stefan gazed around the bar taking in the dimly lit ambience.

"Looks familiar, doesn't it?" commented Klaus to Stefan taking a place by the bar.

"I can't believe this place is still here."

"You got to be kidding me." a voice came from behind them. There stood a woman with short hair staring at Klaus.

Klaus smiled and began, "So a hybrid walks into a bar, says to the bartender..." but she stopped him before he could continue on,

"Stop. You may be invincible, but that doesn't make you funny." Her gaze shifted onto Stefan. "I remember you."

"Yeah. You're Gloria. Shouldn't you be..."

"Old and dead? Now if I die, who's going to run this place, huh?"

"Gloria's a very powerful witch." complimented Klaus walking away from the table to stand in front of her.

"I can slow the aging down some. Herbs and spells. But don't worry, it'll catch up to me one day."

"Stefan, why don't you go and fix us up a little something from behind the bar?" Klaus asked him, "join him Maeve."

"Na uh. She leaves." Maeve froze in place hearing Gloria's demand.

Klaus looked at Gloria incredulously, "she stays."

Gloria gave him a stern look before looking over his shoulder at Maeve, "you want to talk then she leaves. I don't need that filth in here."

Klaus grew curious as well as angry, "what'd you mean filth?"

"I don't like talking about that..." chastised Gloria. Maeve gritted her teeth feeling her blood boil. She made her way to Klaus who had taken a threatening step over to Gloria. Maeve skipped ahead and stood between the two. She placed a hand on his chest stopping him.

"Hey! It's okay. I'll leave." she told him. "Call me when you're done." Maeve walked over to the front door still buzzing in fear and rage. A combination she was familiar with and hated as much as she did witches.

"You witches and the purity nonsense."

"It's not just purity. God, I am not surprised you don't know. She is not just a hybrid. That bitch is the Abomination who should have died that day with h──" Gloria reluctantly swallowed her words when Maeve whipped her head around and shouted loudly,

"Enough!" she stepped closer to Gloria, a deadly rage set deeply within her eyes. "That is enough out of you. Klaus needs help and you are going to give it to him. I don't care what you think of me but I will not stand here and let you talk."

Gloria crossed her arms and challenged her, "I am not scared of you."

"Than you are more foolish than those I met a year ago. Like you said, I am the Abomination. Don't think I won't do good on proving that to you." Maeve twirled around on her heel and looked at Klaus,

"I'll be roaming around Chicago if you need me."

She wandered around the city. Feeling the breeze, the nature. She saw how people were minding their own business. Women were conversing among themselves while some seemed to be out for a stroll with their babies. She took her phone out and snapped a photo of the street from where she stood. She captured a picture of a particular street and sent it to her brother.

Moony

Chicago is truly a beautiful city.

Prongs

Jealous! We have to take a trip there soon, Moony.

Moony

Obviously! Road trip around Chicago. See you soon, Prongs-y :)

Maeve clicked close her phone and resumed roaming aimlessly around the bustling city. Her mind drifted to Gloria's words again and again causing her thoughts to disrupt every few seconds.

"Abomination." The word kept being screamed inside her head.

It was sooner than she thought that she received a message from Klaus with an address to some place.

Maeve walked into the warehouse Klaus sent an address to. She noticed Klaus and Stefan had already arrived.

"This doesn't make any sense. Why don't I remember you?" Stefan was furious. Maeve could sense that. She saw he was holding a photo in his hand.

"There you are, Love. Seen the city?" Klaus smiled at her and turned to Stefan, "and you said it yourself that time had a lot of dark holes."

"If you knew me why haven't you said anything?" Stefan retorted.

"You two knew each other before? Damn, the tale got twisted." Maeve commented snatching the photo from Stefan. She analysed the photo of the two of them with their arms draped over each other's shoulder and wide grins plastered across their faces.

"Damn! Are you sure you love Elena, Stef? Because this photo alone shows your close bond...if you know what I mean." Maeve said with a mischievous smile and wink.

"I am a little busy right now, memory lane will have to wait." Klaus replied incredulously ignoring Stefan and Maeve. Stefan growled and forcefully stopped Klaus,

"What the hell is going on? Answer me." Stefan growled. Klaus stopped and turned to face him.

"Lets just say we didn't get off to a brilliant start." Klaus denoted, "to be honest. I hated you." he went on to relay a particular memory from the time of Prohibition when he came across Stefan.

"Your sister? So, I knew another original?" Stefan reconfirmed hearing Klaus explain the past.

"If you can't handle it then don't ask." Klaus replied finally pulling up by the coffin that belonged to his sister, Rebekah. He opened the lid staring at his sister who looked dead, dressed in the outfit of the twenties with a dagger sticking in her heart.

"I don't recognise her." Stefan said looking confusingly at her.

"Don't tell her that. Her temper is worse than mine." Klaus said pulling out the dagger.

"I knew I was right! I told Elijah she certainly got the looks in the family." Maeve said taking a sneak peek at the female original.

"Tell her that when she wakes up. She'll be joined to you hip." Klaus joked, "any day now, sister. She's being dramatic."

"You know while, she's waking up why don't you tell me what the hell is going on? I mean, obviously you want me here for a reason"

"Oh, you have many useful talents. In fact, I learnt some of my favorite tricks from you." Klaus badgered. Maeve found herself walking around the rest of the coffins placed in order in wonder, which one was Elijah's.

"I was your number one fan." She heard Klaus confess.

"Why should I believe any of this?"

Klaus walked to the security guard standing there and compelled him, "When she wakes up, tell her to meet us at Gloria's bar and then volunteer your carotid artery let her feed until you die." Maeve scrunched her nose in disgust listening to Klaus compel.

"Come on, we're leaving." Klaus said.

"I just came here. Where to?" Maeve groaned dropping her shoulders with a roll of her eyes.

Stefan needs a little reminder about his time in Chicago. He doesn't believe that we knew each other. You think I am lying Stefan. You trusted me with one of your secrets, and now I am going to prove it to you." Klaus explained.

"How?" Stefan asked.

"We are going to your old apartment." Klaus replied.

They started walking out the door. Maeve followed them knowing she probably wasn't going to have a say in this.

"How's the city, Maeve?" Klaus asked.

"Beautiful." Maeve replied smiling. Of all the places they've been to this was by far her favourite.

"We will talk about what happened at Gloria's later." Klaus whispered to Maeve who simply nodded.

Stefan watched them behave like friends and not be hostile from behind. He saw how Klaus was suddenly careful about her. The way Klaus had a sudden anger surge over him hearing the disrespect from Gloria.

Klaus led the two through a long dirty and dim passageway to an apartment door. Maeve stopped just behind them. Klaus stepped inside the apartment first immediately being cautious of the surrounding. Klaus turned to Stefan again,

"Do you feel that?" he asked looking up and ahead cautiously. "Someone's here."

Stefan licked his lips hesitant to respond but chose his words carefully nonetheless, "It's been vacant for decades. People must break in all the time." Stefan answered looking around, "why did you bring me here?"  Maeve stepped inside looking the place. She noticed the cobwebs and many layers of dust scrunching her nose in disgust.

"This place makes that apartment place I live in, look like paradise." she murmured to herself scrunching in disgust.

"Your friend, Liam Grant. The one whom you made drink his wife's blood. I never could figure out why you wanted his name. And then you told me your little secret. It was all part of your special little ritual." Klaus walked to the shelf and pulled it open.

"A secret cupboard?" Maeve gasped fawning at the sight. "and here I was thinking you've got one only in your head."

Stefan nodded as memories slowly came back to him. "To write it down."

Maeve furrowed her brows shaking her head, "hold on..." she walked away from her place by the window to stand in the middle of the room, "so what? The names were a kill list of yours, Ted Bundy?"

"He did that so he could relive the kill, over and over again." Klaus told her. Stefan walked ahead and leaned in to see inside. He stayed there for a moment longer, his body freezing in place.

Maeve crossed her arms raising her arms trying to read him. "Look what I found?" He stepped outside holding up a bottle.

"1918. Single malt. My favourite." Klaus noted.

"Let's go and find someone to pair it with." Klaus suggested making Maeve gag and mutter repulsively, 

"You two please keep your uncultured, atrocious habits to yourself."

Klaus flung an arm around her shoulders before whispering with a teasing voice, "I thought you fancied yourself some gore."

Maeve grabbed his arm as they exited the apartment and shoved it away, "My likes and dislikes are not in no way similar to yours." she sharply denoted before continuing, "please stop flirting with me. You are not my type."

"Alright. Should I assume it is my brother you have come to fancy? since he has had an impact on you." Maeve stopped dead in her tracks at his words. She curled her lips into a thin line and fisted her fingers. Instead of responding to Klaus like it was expected, Maeve made her way further down the hall to the staircase to exit the old apartment building.

Maeve knew Klaus wanted answers. She had to give them. She at least owed that much to Klaus. Gloria's response and what she had tried to say stung Maeve. Those events nobody wanted to recall, anguished her and made her feel worthless as it is, but being called what Gloria had, was a fear that always laid dormant in her mind. The two sat after another story session with Stefan inside Gloria's bar. Klaus poured two glasses of Bourbon and placed one in front of Maeve. He patiently waited for Maeve to begin.

"Where's Rebekah?" came the interrogative voice of Gloria interrupting the two, "and what is she doing here? I thought I made myself clear."

Klaus gulped down the bourbon in his glass and glanced up at Gloria, "I cannot just conjure up Rebekah. She will be here soon. As for Maeve, she stays."

Maeve slumped her shoulders feeling the burning gaze of the witch. she averted her eyes down to her hands she had placed on the bar counter. "Its okay..." she said sadly, "I...I can leave We can talk later." Klaus opened his mouth to protest but Maeve simply shook her head in response. "I'll see you at the warehouse." she got up from the stool and turned around but Klaus's voice stopped her,

"She is not going anywhere, whether you like it or not. I don't care about your judgements." Klaus roughly snapped at Gloria silencing any further arguments.

Maeve stared in shock and disbelieve at Klaus who remained calmer than before even if there was a residue left of anger still visible in his eyes. "Thank you Klaus. I appreciate it." she offered him a small warm smile.

Klaus turned his head to look at Maeve as a few thoughts he had been pondering over for centuries buzzed again. He saw a reflection in Maeve he felt as if he could never see. The burning desire to be called something that was the truth and not the painting burnt bright in her eyes as it did in him. Although it had dimmed over the years but wounds he recognised far too well were still fresh and gushing in Maeve. 

"So Abomination. How did you get that title?" Maeve hesitantly squirmed shifting on her feet. She reached out to the glass of Bourbon and gulped it all down in one sip. "A year ago from Mystic Falls. I had just completed twenty years. I...I panicked and it happened. You see---I don't have control over my magic...not always."

"What did you do?"

Maeve sucked in a harsh breath through her mouth and chose her next words carefully, "I killed four witches using my magic and wolf." Klaus kept his face a neutral but was shocked to hear Maeve's confession. "They tried to hurt my adoptive parents and then attacked me and I panicked and I blacked out. All I remember is the feeling of waking up from a trance. My claws were out and I felt strong magic in the air. My parents were unconscious in one corner and the witches..." the images flashed before her eyes again. Maeve closed her eyes unwilling to relieve all of it.

"I understand." consoled Klaus. Before he could say anything the door opened again. Maeve turned her head to see who it was, gaping seeing him stride inside and stand in front of her.

"Damon." she gasped but didn't feel least bit relieved.

"Maeve. Looks like you have made a new friend." he berated her before pushing past her and settling down next to Klaus. Maeve scoffed staring at the door. She stood there ignoring the conversation between Klaus and Damon wondering why did she expect anything else.

Her attention averted from her own thoughts whe she heard struggle behind her. Maeve turned around on her heel to see Klaus holding Damon up by his throat in one arm.

"Klaus!" she shrieked in shock.

"Oh, dear, what was that? I'm boozey, so you'll forgive me if I miss your heart the first few tries." Klaus stabbed Damon in the stomach with a toothpick making him grunt.

"Ohh! No, that's not it. Hmm." Klaus stabbed him again. "Ohh. Almost." He angled the toothpick upwards towards his heart.

Damon grunted trying to form proper words as he said, "You want a partner in crime? Forget Stefan. I'm so much more fun." Klaus threw him backwards. Maeve got about a second to leap aside. Damon crashed on top of a table, breaking it and land on the ground on his back. Klaus walked over and ripped a part of the chair off as a makeshift stake and crouched over Damon.

"You won't be any fun after you're dead." With one hand he held Damon down and with the other he raised the stake. Just at that moment Maeve set the stake alight with her powers. Klaus threw it away with a grunt.

"Really?"

"Our bargain, Klaus." she reminded the original. Damon tried to sit up but Klaus pushed him back down and looked at him.

"You don't have to negotiate your brother's freedom. When I'm done with him, he won't want to go back." Klaus took his hand off Damon and let him stand up again. Damon momentarily looked at Maeve as if asking something. Maeve opened her mouth to say something but could barely let a sound out before Damon stormed out.

This is what Elijah and Dr Martin and your grandfather and your brother told you. He isn't your friend anymore.

"Some friend he is." she heard Klaus comment from behind her.

"Yeah and some woman I am." Maeve bit back depricating herself. "I am just starting to see the obvious."

"Rebekah. It's your big brother. Come out wherever you are." Klaus called his sister as he entered the warehouse with Maeve in tow. Suddenly a blonde woman sped in front of him and stabbed him with the dagger. Maeve stopped in her place feet away from Klaus.

"Go to hell, Nik." She cursed scornfully.

Klaus let out a short grunt pulling out the dagger. "Don't pout. You knew it wouldn't kill me." she started walking away from him with Klaus following closely behind hef.

"Yes, but I was hoping it would hurt."

"I understand that you're upset with me, Rebekah. So, I am going to let that go. Just this once." He said, "I brought you a piece offering. You can come in." Stefan walked inside looking clueless. Rebekah brightened seeing him appear in front of her. He stared at her confused and not recognising her at all.

"Stefan." She gleemed.

"Now you remember." Klaus compelled him.

Stefan stumbled back a little as memories taken away from him washed over like a tsunami. "Rebekah." he breathed after an entire minute. He looked at Klaus again still gasping in shock. "I remember you. We were friends."

"We are friends."

Klaus returned his attention to Rebekah, "Now as to why you are here. Gloria tells me you have something to contact the original witch."

"The original witch?" Rebekah reiterated. She touched her neckline, suddenly growing wary as panic settled in.

"Where's my necklace?" She panicked searching all over the place " where's my necklace, Nik?"

"I didn't take it." Klaus replied aggravated.

"Tell me that's not what she needs Rebekah." Klaus screamed. Rebekah walked away to her coffin. She threw it away in a fit of rage. 

Maeve saw the restless and nervous look on Stefan so she decided to pipe in, "How about we all calm down. We all are having not one of our best days, so let's sleep on our problems and solve them first thing in the morning."

"And who is this? More food?" Rebekah sneered. She grabbed Maeve by her throat and pushed her against the wall.

"You got a pretty face. I don't want to ruin it" Maeve groaned and pushed her off easily.

Rebekah gasped as a surprised smile spread over her face, "You're strong. What are you?" 

"A long story." Klaus told his sister. "Let's go back to the hotel."

"We could go shopping then tomorrow morning." Maeve suggested

"That's nice. I need new clothes." Rebekah said agreeing.

They reached the hotel. Rebekah already bid her goodnight and walked to her room. Maeve turned to Stefan once Klaus seemed out of earshot.

"Alright. Spill." demanded Maeve crossing her arms and shifting her weight onto her right leg.

"What?" Stefan asked looking confused.

"Whatever it is that you've been hiding the entire trip. It's clear that you are."

"Look, there's nothing I am hiding. Besides, even if I was, what's to say you won't go blabbing about it to Klaus?"

"Are you serious right now?"

"Yes. I have noticed the sudden change in the way you act. Now, I don't know if it's some newfound friendship or something else. Your closeness, him treating you like you've known each other for years. What the hell is going on, Maeve?"

"What's going on is that I consider him a friend. Yes, he's a twisted person but let's be honest you are not a saint either. Neither is your brother. He's actually a fun company once you get past the whole murder part. Why are you snapping at me? All I have done is support you. Came on this stupid trip when I could have said no for that brother of yours about whom I care and none of it looks like is being recognised."

"How about the fact that you decided...on your own to save some of us when all along you could have saved Elena. He killed her and aunt Jenna. I know you weren't close to Jenna but at least have some decency to see what kind of a man he is!" Stefan yelled her at aggressively.

"So it doesn't matter how happy I am or how good I feel as long as it is when it's you or Damon who's the reason for it." calmly she deflated rubbing a hand over her other arm.

Stefan let out a strong breath through his nose, "you've been friends with him since start of this trip. Fine, your decision. But how about the fact that you lied to us for months──about who you are. When we did find out didn't even explain it to us."

"I tried but you wouldn't listen." interrupted Maeve sharply.

"What about the fact that you had those grimoires stacked with you from Dr collection but didn't even use them to help us."

"Because there wasn't anything in there to help."

"See now that's what bothers me. You are the all powerful queen of witches. Nothing is impossible for you." a tinnitus ringing sounded in Maeve's ears when Stefan revealed to her what he knew.

"How did you..."

"Know? Damon eavesdropped on a conversation of yours with Elijah. So you think it is fine to tell a total stranger of how strong and powerful you are but you cannot say anything to any of us? Instead you drive a stupid bargain with Klaus to save who weren't even in danger!"

"I did it save Caroline. The sweet naive one who always got the short end of the stick because of Elena. The blonde whom your brother manipulated and abused and you didn't do shit about it? The one whom Katherine turned for Klaus? Yeah I saved her." Maeve defended herself.

"Try and defend and reason all you want but face the truth Maeve. You could have helped Elena just as easily as you helped Bonnie but you didn't because──" stefan took a step closer to Maeve, "you are spiteful."

"I wanted to protect those who I could without killing myself."

"You stopped Bonnie from dying but couldn't think of a way to save yourself? You want me to believe that?"

"Yes! All I did was block any magic that was thrown her way and helped her equalise the magic she was channeling to go in uniformity. It's spiritual science, Stefan. Easy trick witches use to train their kids." the tinnitus ringing stopped as one single clear thought rung inside her head.

"Nothing I say is going have any effect on you, is it?" she asked dropping her arms down. "No matter how much I try to explain that even trying to use magic to kill Klaus would have killed me it's of no use because nothing will register in that empty head of yours. No matter how much I say that not always I have master control over myself so I manage to get by with what I can, you will always think of it as spiteful. Today Damon didn't even ask me if I was okay. He just left. I get that now that Elena's gone my work is finished."

"I'm not saying that...I just am not in the right mood." Stefan tried calming her but Maeve stepped away with a shake of her head.

"I'll help Klaus. I'll help him find that necklace. I'll help him find out why his hybrids are failing and what he can do to improve the situation. You know why? He's been a better friend than any of you. Let's see what it is that you're hiding." with one last challenging look Maeve stormed away ignoring Stefan's pleading voice calling her name.

Almost an hour passed with Maeve finding herself in a position that gave her a strong sense of Deja Vu. She sat at the edge of the hotel bed while David Bowie played in her earphones. The chorus of Starman came up just as she heard a knock on the door.

"It's open." she half heartedly announced. Maeve paused the song and took out her earphones. The door creaked open revealing Klaus. He stepped inside her room and closed the door behind him.

"What do you want?"

Klaus quickly gazed around the room before responding, "I heard your conversation with Stefan."

"So? Here to pity me? 'oh poor Maeve, her friends don't love her'. Anything else you'd like to add?" she sarcastically asked him.

"Why do you call them friends? It's been clear for long that they don't think of you as a friend." said Klaus enunciating the word friend.

"It's funny because Elijah said the same thing. He said that all Damon was doing was getting his way by sweet talking him or some shit. I didn't believe him. Didn't want to."

"And now?"

Maeve stood up and walked over to stand in front of Klaus, "I want an answer first. Why be nice to me? Give me my freedom? You said you did it because you saw the reality I didn't. Even if so, you could have used Damon as a bargaining chip and made me do a spell for you. Instead of spending so long on road this would have been over long ago."

"It would have been. You're right." Klaus said, "but you should be able to do what you want. Damon was emotionally manipulating you. Using your fear against you and making you his puppet."

"You've been in his position haven't you?"

"I haven't manipulated women. Men, definitely. For business and amusement."

Maeve chose not to comment on it. Instead she began, "so you know who I am."

"Yes. Queen witch. There's only one such person I know. A Serene witch. Known to be the most powerful among witches."

"That's why I am the abomination, like Gloria said. Alpha strength matched with witchcraft."

"That's why witches despise you!" he concluded. "I get it."

"Yeah. When my parents died, my dad bestowed the title of the Alpha on me. So when I become of age...twenty-two as per Lycan culture, I can take the throne. And a point for extra credit, since my powers were concealed for nineteen years──the age I mature as a witch, my older brother, Ezekiel also is an Alpha. He's the interim Alpha for now since grandfather dead."

"Interesting."

Maeve hesitated but spoke, "tomorrow after shopping I'll come back to the hotel you go to Gloria's. Unless you'd like for me to help you."

"Gloria is already doing what she does best. I didn't make you do anything because you said it yourself, you don't have control over magic."

"I said that today."

"But I deduced as much when you explained the werewolf situation. If Gloria fails, you can help." Klaus's features softened. "As for coming to the bar, you are coming. I don't care what she thinks of you. Frankly you shouldn't either."

"She isn't wrong. I am an abo──"

"And that makes you, who you are. You are not supposed to exist. You are called the Abomination. So be it. Wear it like a crown."

**************************************
Can we agree Klaus > Damon

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Raven :)