Maeve spit out her coffee making it spatter onto the white linen table cloth. Caroline gasped, and flinched back. Maeve hit her chest to make it easier to breathe, and rubbed her chest. Her eyes were wide and focused on Caroline who looked everywhere but at Maeve. 

The two odd friends were catching up in the cafe in Mystic Falls. Maeve acted unlike herself all morning but Caroline only blamed it on the morning hours. 

"Cou──could you repeat yourself? He did WHAT?" Maeve said just as her breath returned to normal. Maeve stayed calm for a whole second before she bust into laughter. The rest of the customers looked awkwardly at her before they returned to their own conversations.

"So...Elena broke up with Stefan and twenty-four hours later she was with Damon? Wait...not just with Damon but she slept with him? Not to mention she is what? Sired to him?" Maeve said, amusement clearly showing in her words and expression. "You sure she is still not Katherine? Anyways──Damon let her go?"

Caroline sighed, "she couldn't help herself. She was sired...and yes, I think it was a nice thing Damon did."

"Sure. Sire bond is why she slept with him" Maeve shifted in her seat and leaned on the table to be closer to Caroline, "the thing is Caroline, being a vampire does not alter a person at such devastating speed that you cannot control your own actions. A vampire is a human at its very core. You only become a better part of yourselves. What do you think? Do you think she is still the same person? I would say so. Now the part of her life from before the transition──that loved Damon is amplified. Perhaps she loved Damon more than she loved Stefan. That is the reason that part of hers took over her. She loves Damon, and she loves Stefan. But one is stronger than the other." 

"Damon was manipulating her emotions and using her sire power to do it. You know how he is. Elena is not herself. She was being manipulated before he let her go." Caroline jumped to defend her friend.

Maeve raised her hands in surrender and leaned back in her chair. Her face fell into a different expression. Her eyes were sharp, lips slightly curled in a distaste. "I am sorry Caroline. Didn't mean to irritate you." she confessed. "But you have to admit, this is all too fucked up. Nobody here is a saint who is being wronged." Caroline felt a chilling feeling of oddness rise up her spine seeing a cold touch to Maeve's words. "Elena has always been like this. I saw it. Making you and Bonnie tag along according to her comfort. She has always been Katherine 2.0. You just never wanted to accept it."

"What do you mean you saw it?"

"Oh...last week, at Miss Mystic Falls. When Elena called you out to be the bad guy and me to be an evil influence on you...quite ironically if I may add, then I touched your hand to comfort you and I looked through your memories." said Maeve, one hand resting on the table while the other rested on her lap. Maeve dipped her finger in the chocolate syrup poured on her pancakes. At first she licked it clean, for her own amusement, before she continued doing so for a while. Maeve then, traced her finger on the tissues on the table.

Caroline scoffed angrily, "How could you do this to me? That is a total invasion of my privacy!"

"Relax, I didn't look at anything, just at Elena. Can we focus on point here? I actually secretly admire Elena. The way she made both the Salvatore brothers fall for her...not to mention, you and Bonnie as well. I mean, your excuse for forgiving Damon for being a bad guy is the fact that Elena sees something redeemable in him. Bonnie lost her grandmother because of that trio and yet she was ready to get herself sacrificed at the sixties dance. Not to mention her own mother. You have to admit, you need some manipulation skills to be able to do that. I should really take notes."

Caroline curiously and slightly frightened gazed at Maeve, "are you being sarcastic or are you actually serious?"

Maeve blinked her eyes slightly and looked over at Caroline. "Of course I am being sarcastic Caroline. I don't need notes from her for manipulating someone. I think I can handle that bit myself." Maeve continued tracing her finger along the tissue paper. "Now, thank you for the breakfast, I have to meet a Lennox. The other royal covens exist, in case I forgot to mention it t0 you. I'll pay for it, don't worry." Maeve smiled and rose up from her chair, she went to the register to pay for her breakfast. Caroline sat stumped in her seat unable to comprehend clearly what just happened. Maeve left the cafe and Caroline sat there contemplating the whole situation. 

Her eyes wandered to the tissue on the table. She noticed something on it. Caroline picked up the tissue and immediately stormed out of the Cafe and headed to the Mikaelson Mansion. Thankful for her vampire superspeed, she speeded in immediately. 

Inside the parlor, the four Mikaelson siblings and one other man sat facing each other engrossed in a conversation.

"Caroline?" said Rebekah glancing at the other vampire in the room.

"I think Maeve is in trouble." she said. Caroline, with strong footing approached the table and placed the tissue at the centre of it. Everyone's eyes went wide seeing the tissue paper.

"When did this happen?" asked the other man.

"Five minutes ago." informed Caroline. "She said she is going to meet someone from the royal covens. I'm guessing that is you."

"Yes. I think we have to be faster than anticipated. I will call her brother and ask him to make his way here as soon as he can."

Elijah kept staring at the paper, fear unlike any had a hold of his heart and this time, he hated it even more than any other time. "I'll find Maeve." he announced and sped out of the room.

The rest of them glanced at the tissue paper yet again as if to memorise what was written shabbily in chocolate syrup.

she strong. help.

48 Hours Ago.

Maeve sat idly on the couch in the Mikaelson mansion munching on some nachos she ordered for herself while everyone else was busy in their own work.

"Can you make yourself useful instead of dirtying my expensive couch with filthy nacho crumbs?" Klaus said entering the room with his phone tightly clinched in his hand.

"I knew you were the perfect match for Caroline. To answer you, I'm sitting out. You know with my death so close, my evil side pounding in my head with such dark thoughts that I think I'm putting a serial killer to shame, I figured it would be in everyone's best interest if I detached myself from all human contact." she said casually. Klaus grimaced at her words and looked away.

"We are searching for ways. The royal covens have agreed to help us in helping you. Stop treating yourself as a prisoner and get out."

"Enough dude. Let it go. I'll die sooner or later. Just chill and let me chill too." Maeve replied rolling her eyes.

Klaus grabbed her elbow forcing her to look at him, "you are not dying. We are doing everything we can to avoid that."

Maeve nodded her head, she didn't want more discussions about the prophecy. No one would if they were her. "About this get out and do something...just say you want me to help you to clean up a mess you created in the first place. Killing Tyler's mom was a bad move."

"He got my hybrids unsired. What do you think I was supposed to do?" asked Klaus.

Maeve let out a hum, thinking before she decided to reply, "let him walk free. Without killing his mother, you──" she stepped closer to him. "should have looked him in the eye and walked away without saying anything."

Klaus drew a puzzled look hearing her, "what good would that have done?"

"Would have kept him on his toes. He would always walk on eggshells wondering when you gonna strike."

Klaus thought for a moment before he smiled maliciously, "that is not a bad idea." he said.

"When have you ever known for me to give a bad idea?" she asked, crossing her arms.

"You tried saving Damon." Maeve rolled her eyes and punched Klaus making him stumble a step back.

"One time and don't let me ever forget it."

"Wouldn't dare to." he teased. Both stared at each other for a quick few seconds before bursting into laughs.

The ringing of Maeve's phone broke them from their fit of laughter. "Yello miss Fleur delacour" she merrily greeted the caller.

"Maeve. Rebekah here." Maeve straightened hearing her voice.

"Bitch where have you been? You vanished off the face of the ear──th." She narrowed her eyes on Klaus. "Let me guess...the hybrid puppy is responsible." Klaus growled at her but Maeve waved her hand in front of his face in a dismissive manner.

"That he is. Listen, I'm at the school for some catch up session. Would you like to join?"

"Sure. I'll be there in a few. Just call Kol and get what I asked straight to school thenm" Maeve ended the call. "Alright.." she glanced at Klaus, "I'll be out of your hair now. Have fun goldilocks." She patted Klaus's shoulder and strolled out of the room humming the tune of ‘good old fashioned Loverboy’ by Queen.

Klaus rolled his eyes watching her walk away. As much of a nuisance she appeared to be, he had started to care of her more than he ever had for someone who wasn't blood. And that was enough for him to go to lengths to help stop her from dying──something he wasn't able to do the last time around.

A mischievous smile curled on Maeve's lips when she noticed the way everyone sat in the classroom inside the Mystic Falls high school building.

"Is this why you called me?" She inquired with Rebekah. The original glanced her way with a smile before she went in for a hug.

"I missed you!" Rebekah smiled into the hug. Maeve did too.

"I did too. Especially when I got drunk last week."

Rebekah's eyes sparkled immediately hearing her, "what? That is impossible."

"Not if it is liquor made especially for supernaturals." Maeve said with a wink. She clapped her hands together and glanced towards the four settled at a table.

"So. What have we got here?"

"I want to catch up to speed with the quest for the cure. Thought you might enjoy."

Maeve pursued her lips, "interesting."

Rebekah turned to the three compelled vampires in the class, "Class is in session. You've all been compelled; you know the rules. Answer my questions honestly, no disobedience, no one leaves. April, my sweet, take notes. This is how you get answers in this town. Let's start with a little quiz. In the year 1114, my brother learnt, thanks to yours truly, about a brotherhood of vampire hunters with tattoos that grew with each kill. These tattoos revealed what, Elena?"

"A map."

"Which led to...? Caroline?"

"A cure for vampirism." both responded monotonously but with a disgusted face.

"Perfect," said Rebekah before she turned to Stefan, "so we're all caught up. Stefan Salvatore, the last time we saw each other, you had a vampire hunter, but in order to decode the map, you needed the location of the hunter's sword, which you got out of me using some very dirty tricks. Assuming you found the sword, you also found the cure, and yet, you're all still vampires, which means something went wrong."

Maeve glanced at the other girl in the room, "wh...what are you doing?" the girl with striking grey eyes glanced up at Maeve.

"Oh, uh...Rebekah asked me to take notes so I'm just..." she trailed off.

Rebekah rolled her eyes, "I didn't mean it literally April. But now that you mention it...a flow chart would be nice, which means index cards and push-pins. Go, fetch." April immediately scattered out of the room.

"Isn't she the Miss Mystic Falls?" asked Maeve looking over at Caroline.

"She is."

"Worthy looks after you I have to say. Nice successor. She's quite an aspiring one" Maeve winked at Caroline hinting at something in particular which went over the heads of the rest of them.

They knew it was something of quite interest if Caroline averted her gaze and lightly blushed.

"You're wasting your time. We don't know anything." said Stefan turning the conversation back upon themselves.

"So, you just gave up? I thought you would do anything to save Elena? Even if it meant taking the cure yourself, so you could grow old and die with her?" Maeve looked directly at Elena whobhad her eyes on Stefan, shocked from hearing Rebekah.

"Why do you look so surprised?" Rebekah said studying Elena's face. "I'm missing something. What is it?"

Caroline snapped finally unable to stop herself, "They broke up, okay?
Rebekah smiled. "Now let us go."

"Rebekah...let me tell you something." began Maeve making Rebekah turn to her again. "the drama between these two and that older brother of his, is one for the tv shows, you know. Like the real stuff. Betrayal, love lost, and all of it."

Elena glared at Maeve angrily. "Why are you so interested in my life? Why don't you learn to mind your own business?" she asked Maeve. Maeve let out an obnoxiously loud laughter at her words, almost like an insult to Elena.

"Are you serious?" Maeve inquired incredulously and in-between her laughs.

"I am. You have no business talking about me. Both of you need new hobbies." she exasperated, almost as she was being defensive. Maeve curled her lips inward into a thin line and closed her eyes. Caroline looked up at Rebekah for a few seconds before she looked back at Maeve. Something seemed as if had shifted in Maeve. A coldness ran through the room, like a draft when Maeve opened her eyes again.

Maeve took the seat in which April sat not ten minutes ago and looked straight at Elena. "Elena Gilbert──the girl who struck a deal with a thousand years old witch whom she's never met before to kill vampires, out of which, let's be honest two had absolutely not fucked with you in anyway. The girl who hated me for being close with Damon...you know, way back when. The girl who labelled me evil because I saved her boy toys from being werewolf chew toy and exposed myself to being hunted yet again like a wild animal, is calling me out?"

"Wait...what happened? Why did the star couple break up?"

"She slept with Damon." replied Stefan with a hurtful look and emotionless eyes.

"So, vampire Elena is a trollop who likes bad boys, which explains why Stefan reeks of alcohol. But what it doesn't explain is why sweet, loving, innocent Elena could be so heartless towards Stefan." Rebekah looked from Elena to Stefan, "How could she hurt you like that? Answer, please."

"She didn't know it at the time, but she was sired to Damon." Rebekah pulled up a chair between Stefan and Elena and sat down.

"A sire bond. That's fascinating."

"No...not just yet." interjected Maeve, "I think she's hiding something."

Rebekah looked straight into Elena's eyes, "fess up." she compelled the doppelganger.

Elena, under the compulsion responded monotonously, "I didn't sleep with Damon because of the sire bond. I slept with Damon because I'm in love with him." Maeve slapped her hand on the table top and snapped her fingers,

"Called it months ago! Ah shit, I should have placed a bet. Would have made some more cash."

Rebekah grinned at Maeve. "What does any of this has to do with the cure?"

"Nothing. It's just to pass the time till Kol arrives. He's getting whatever Maeve asked."

"Professor Shane. He's been a help around for a while now." answered Maeve.

They sat in silence for a while. "The air...it's thick with tension in here. Let's spice things up a bit. Elena, truth or dare?"

Stefan rolled his eyes before looking at Rebekah, "We're done playing your stupid games, Rebekah."

"Truth or dare, Elena. You're compelled. Answer."

Elena answered, "Dare."

"I dare you to tell Stefan the truth about Damon."
Caroline glanced at Maeve who was busy picking at her nails, "Seriously?"

"She does her thing Caroline. Not gonna lie, am curious about that answer myself."

"Being with Damon makes me happy."

"Makes you happy? Clowns make you happy, Elena. Dig a little deeper."

"When I'm with him...it feels unpredictable, like...like I'm free."

"And how do you feel when you're with Stefan?"

"Stop."

"She can't, she's compelled." Rebekah shut Caroline down.

"Lately, I feel like I'm a project, like I'm a problem that needs to be fixed. I think I make him sad, and I can't be with someone like that, because when he looks at me, all he sees is a broken toy." Rebekah smiled but Maeve noticed the look of hurt on Stefan.

"Do you still love Stefan?"

"Yes."

"Are you still in love with Stefan?"

"No." Elena looked like she wanted to cry. Rebekah turned to Stefan.

"Did that hurt? Having someone you love drive a dagger through your heart?"

"Go to hell."

"Did...that...hurt?"

"Yes."

"Welcome to the last 900 years of my life."

"Please Rebekah. Just because you've had a bit of a snaggy life, doesn't mean you bring it down to these idiots." Maeve said sitting up. "I know for a fact neither of those lovers have been this dramatic or stupidly lovesick."

"Again, it is none of your business." aggravated Stefan.

"Actually you made my business...personal, involving these beautiful family, my pack, my heritage, my LIFE your business. My love for this family was discussed and abused time and again by you lot──so I am well within my limits to judge you for your poor choice in women."

"And your decision to befriend them is good?"

Maeve threw her head back humming, "the best since I came to Mystic Falls, actually. Because they never judge, they are a family. Truly a family. Dysfunctional but let's be honest that is the way of being a family." She glanced at Stefan, challengingly,

"What I would like to know is...if we are comparing you lot with the Mikaelsons. Here' something more...they are not foolish enough to fall for the same woman twice and say it is different."

"What about you Elena? How did you manage to become Katherine? Did you try to act like Katherine in your room, when it was just you? For the heck of it, to see how these two could get in your grasp? In your hold?" She looked back at Rebekah who was watching Maeve with an amused grin,

"That's rich coming from the girl descendant of a evil coven of witches." responded Elena.

"You know nothing deary. Don't act like you do."

"Guys enough."

The door opened breaking Maeve's words. "Kolbear has arrived!" he announced sauntering into the room. "Look at you Rebekah. Worse than Nik."

His comment went unnoticed or rather overlooked when Elena decided to speak further, "At least I have people who love me. I don't have to provide services for them to actually consider being friends. I mean... who's to say you didn't use your evil magic to get Caroline to dance like your little puppet"

"Elena! Enough." Caroline warned her. Rebekah growled roughly, as did Kol. Neither cared for the doppelganger in that moment...not more than just a low life.

"So she can say whatever she wants and I can't?" Elena yelled. "If we are being honest, here' something for you too." Elena spoke. Her tone resembled Katherine greatly, "the only reason Klaus is friends with you is because he pities you. He thinks you are a valuable asset. Why else would someone with everything even give you a spare second. Someone who is like the devil, red eyes, anger and evil in her. Elijah is only dating you to pass his time. Like he could ever find someone so dark and uncontrollable worth his time. The same goes for the rest of them."

"Elena." Caroline warned her friend just as she noticed the burning anger reflecting on Maeve's face.

"For that matter I can say even Caroline is friends with you because without her, you have nobody."

"Don't speak for me! I am friends with her is because I genuinely love her." Caroline yelled loudly shocking Elena.

"You're taking her side? She's tried killing me."

"No more than you have."

"At least I didn't use my Alpha position to order an attack on my so-called best friend and sided with the family that ruined everything for all of my friends."

Maeve's anger knew no bounds and she immediately launched herself at the doppelganger. Her claws out and eyes the same golden and red. Elena shrieked in panic and fear. Maeve tackled Elena to the floor, keeping her there using her hand wrapped around Elena's throat.

"You know women like you make my blood boil." Rebekah and Kol stared at Maeve in shock and surprise. Stefan and Caroline were up on their feet. Their eyes were on Elena who struggled against the strong hold of Maeve.

"After everything, my words sting you? What do you think I've been feeling? I had you idiots on my back, plotting my death, dragging me to my death constantly that I suffered from PTSD nightmares. I hated myself. Believed myself to be a monster. But you know what? If you want me to be evil...the dark one or how do you say it? The monstrous being set to ruin everyone? That is what you will get."

Caroline looked at Rebekah pleading silently to take Maeve away. But it was Kol who did it. He reached out and placed his hands on Maeve's shoulders

"Mochatini? Come on, let go."

"Don't Kol. Especially not you."

"This isn't you. Get up." said Kol in a shockingly calm voice.

"But this is me. The better me. You'll love this one more I assure you. She was a bore who cared far too much about opinions. I don't. I'll be more fun to have around. Promise." Kol gaped hearing Maeve. He forced his hand and pulled Maeve away from Elena.

"What is wrong with you? Snap out of it?"

"This is what she deserves. Wanting me dead? That is not something I'll let go. You know that. Who let's something like that go?"

Caroline made her way closer to Maeve, "what is wrong with you? You could have killed her?"

"So? You'd be free then as well. No more have to have your life revolving around the hypocrite Katherine 2.0." Caroline slapped Maeve angrily. Maeve's head snapped to a side. She pressed a hand to her jaw massaging it as she felt the sting.

"Ow." she grimaced and looked up. She glanced at Kol and Caroline standing right in front of her.

"What?"

"What?" repeated Kol.

"Why are you looking at me like I just murdered your puppy?" she asked looking in-between the two.

"Still think she's worth your friendship Caroline?" asked Stefan. Maeve turned around to see him helping Elena up who was massaging her neck.

She glanced back at Kol, slowly dawning on her as to what she must have done. "I said something didn't I?"

"You tried to kill Elena." Caroline shrieked. "Did you forget or are you acting insane?"

Maeve gaped at the information. "How long was I...angry?"

"You are not making any sense." Maeve stepped back shaking her head.

"This was a bad idea...I should have never given in to it. I shouldn't have left the house. This is bad. This is wrong. Oh God, I have to go." Maeve kept walking backward till she was just a few steps away from the door. She pushed it open and ran out.

"What just happened?" Rebekah asked Kol glancing nervously from the door to him.

"Elijah told me about this. I──I think Maeve's in danger." Kol grimly said glancing at his sister. Rebekah looked at Stefan and Elena, "stay here."

"What's happening?" asked Caroline.

Kol glanced at her, seeing the same amount of fear in her eyes as well and chose to inform her, "the prophecy. It didn't fulfill when she died at mother's hand. It is coming into form now."

Caroline gasped hearing his words, "no. We can help her right? There's a way to save her."

"Not right now. Let her be by herself for now. We can interrogate the professor. He's unconscious in the storage closet in the next classroom." said Kol before he sped out of the room, followed by Rebekah.

**************************************
Hello world? How have you been?

I will be finishing off season 4 in a few chapters. Frankly I have got so much better storylines for The Originals...better than the last update like woo hoo!

Also, brace yourself for some heart break.

Thank you all for voting and reading and for 106K reads!

Love you

Take care everyone!

Raven :)