If Elena was afraid, she didn't show it.

Maddy had texted her once they were on the way back to Mystic Falls. Rebekah was constantly snapping Stefan's neck to keep him unconscious in the back seat. Maddy was riding shotgun while Klaus drove, anxiously drumming her fingers while she waited for a reply.

'Elena, we really need to talk. Klaus and Rebekah will be listening in. I'm sorry, they found out you're still alive.'

Minutes later, Elena replied, 'Okay, I can call, Damon went to run an errand.'

Her phone rang, and Maddy answered immediately, not putting it on speaker since Klaus and Rebekah could hear just fine anyway.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I tried to keep it from them as long as I could. Stefan managed for months but..."

"It's okay," replied Elena gently. "It wasn't exactly wise for me to accompany Damon to Chicago the other day. What's going on? Why do they have to listen in?"

"Klaus has a theory. The hybrids haven't survived the transition on regular human blood. He believes they may need to drink your blood to become full hybrids. We're on our way to get a werewolf to test the theory out, then we'll be going to Mystic Falls. Obviously, Klaus needs your cooperation to test this theory out. If— and hopefully when— this works, you'll be kept alive. I won't let them hurt you. They'll have to go through me first, which granted, isn't all that comforting considering they're Originals and I'm... me. But—"

"I'll do it," said Elena. "Is Stefan okay?"

"Unconscious but okay."

"As long as no one gets hurt, I'll do it. I'll let my blood drain into a blood bag— I refuse to have them just cut into me and make me bleed. If this theory pans out... then we'll make a deal."

"Done," said Klaus, loud enough for her to hear. "Provided you meet us at the site where the ritual happened, with the equipment to allow you to bleed into a blood bag. Come alone, and do not tell anyone else where you are going."

"Please," said Maddy. "I'm sorry, Elena..."

"It's okay. I abide by those terms. Just let me know fifteen minutes before you get there so I can be there before you. I'll see you soon."

"See you," said Maddy before hanging up. She tilted her head sideways to look at Klaus, who simply gripped the steering wheel harder in anticipation.

Stefan gave a groan, which was followed by a snap as Rebekah incapacitated him again.

They found a werewolf on the way to Virginia, one of the loners that Klaus had not pursued earlier because there was no Pack to tie him to. He'd fed him his blood and killed him before driving the rest of the way to Mystic Falls.

Maddy let Elena know once they were almost there, and they met by the falls, with Elena having brought a first aid kit inside a medical bag with all sorts of other supplies.

Elena kept her head held high as she nodded to Klaus. She didn't waver when Rebekah told her to hand over her phone to make sure she hadn't texted anyone for help. She was calm as Stefan's unconscious body was brought out, and as the dead werewolf was laid on the ground beside her. He'd be waking any second.

Maddy carefully sat Elena on a nearby rock, gently inserting a needle into her arm to start draining just a little bit of her blood. She knew that Klaus would hear them, but she still wanted to take the opportunity to talk to Elena again, to make sure she was actually here of her own free will.

"I'm sorry," Maddy said again.

"You don't have to apologize," said Elena. "Do you have any idea how lucky I feel right now?"

"Lucky? I wasn't good enough at keeping your resurrection a secret."

"Maddy, Klaus would have found out anyway. If you weren't there, he would have come straight here and killed me. And if he had his theory after that, he'd be screwed. Or Tyler would have become a victim. Somehow, you convinced him into doing something very different than what he had planned. I appreciate it."

The werewolf awoke with a gasp. "What the hell?" he whispered, looking around nervously. "Where am I?"

"You're taking part in an experiment in Mystic Falls," said Klaus, kneeling beside him. "What's your name?"

"It— it's Daniel. Daniel Warren. What do you want with me?"

"You're a werewolf. I'm the Original hybrid. I wish to make you like me."

Daniel blanched. "You're him. Klaus."

He smirked, and waved his hand at Elena, who was just a bit lightheaded. Maddy carefully disconnected her, taking the blood that'd been drained so far and handing the bag to Klaus.

He took it, and offered it to Daniel. "Drink. When you become a hybrid like me, you will never again have to turn on the full moon."

That was definitely the selling point. Daniel ripped the blood bag out of Klaus's hands, and started to drink.

"There we go," said the Original hybrid. "Good boy."

He dropped the remaining blood, suddenly letting out a yell of pain. He grabbed at his head, and started to convulse on the floor, groaning and twitching. Klaus watched intently until suddenly, Daniel shot up into a seated position, baring his fangs, and a hybrid face that matched Klaus's.

Klaus's lips curled upward. "Well, that's a good sign."

"Bloody hell," said Rebekah in disbelief, looking up from Elena's phone, which she'd been snooping through. "It worked."

"How do you feel, Daniel?" asked Klaus, tilting his head.

"I feel good," he said, standing up. "I feel really, really good..." he touched his mouth, feeling his fangs growing back to normal size. "Today is amazing. It really is."

Rebekah gave a sudden shriek, eyes bulging as she stared down at the phone. "Is that my—?" She sped to Elena, and Maddy quickly shielded her as Rebekah thrust the phone into her face, crying out, "Why the bloody hell are you wearing my necklace?!"

"Leave her alone!" snapped Maddy. "It's not her fault that it was given to her."

"So Stefan gave it to her, is that it?" snarled Rebekah.

"Calm down, okay? After we were compelled to forget you two, he found it on the ground, he didn't know whose it was but he kept it. Eventually gave it to someone he cared about. Don't you dare hurt her over that."

"Rebekah," said Klaus sternly. "Get away from them."

The blonde didn't want to listen, but she saw that both hybrids were glaring at her, and she stepped back.

"I don't have it anymore," said Elena awkwardly, holding Maddy's arm to keep herself steady as she stood up. "Katherine stole it."

Klaus rolled his eyes. "Katerina. Of course. Well, it's no matter, we don't need the necklace anymore."

Rebekah stared at him incredulously. "Yes we do! It's mine! I want it back, Nik!"

"Get it from Katherine yourself, then," said Maddy. "She can't be too far from here, she's obsessed with my brothers to an unhealthy degree. Perhaps we should discuss the deal now that you're in such a good mood, Nik?"

With a smug look on his face, he ignored Rebekah's fury as she handed Elena her phone back. "Yes, indeed, it's time to work out this deal. What do you propose, love?" he asked Elena.

"You need me alive," said Elena. "Alive and safe. The only way I can remain that way is if you let me live peacefully with my friends."

"Very well, make me a list of who must be protected and it will be so."

"And," continued Elena, "you can't just drain me whenever you feel like it and show up when I'm not aware. If I'm going to provide blood, then it needs to be when I'm ready for it, and only when you ask nicely. You're going to be making a lot of hybrids so they have to be under strict orders to not hurt the people on my list. No matter how big or small it ends up being."

"I'll have the hybrids be your bodyguards if you wish," said Klaus. "They'll ensure no harm comes to you or your loved ones."

"I'm alright with donating blood right now," said Elena. "If it's done in a hospital where doctors can do it in a safe way. I'll max out how much I can do in one sitting. Don't give the hybrids more blood than they need, so it lasts you longer. I'm willing to give blood once a month if that's what it takes for you to leave me unharmed."

"Done. Shall we get to the hospital?"

"One more thing. You release Stefan and Maddy."

"Maddy is not here by force."

"Let them both choose where they want to me. If Maddy wants to be with you, great, she can be, I support her, because I can tell that she's more comfortable that way. But Stefan needs to be free. You can't force him to be your friend."

Klaus gritted his teeth. "Very well. Stefan is free. But if he crosses me..."

"I'll talk to him about it. Now we can go to the hospital. While I give blood, I'll make my list."

Elena's list could have probably been a mile long if she included everyone she'd ever spoken to in Mystic Falls. But she tried to keep it on the shorter side to not push her luck.

Of course, her closest friends and family were all listed: Jeremy, Jenna, Alaric, Caroline, Bonnie, Damon, Stefan, Maddy, Tyler, Matt. Then, in an 'extended family and friends' section she listed Caroline's parents, Bonnie's father (if he ever showed his face), Tyler's mother, Matt's mother (also, if she ever showed her face). A few of her teachers were listed, and some other more distant family friends that lived in Colorado, among other places.

Maddy remained by her side, telling her about what had happened between her and Klaus so far. She had to appreciate how understanding Elena was being about everything. Though, she figured that getting to be alive was enough to keep her feeling optimistic.

"So, from what I'm hearing, it was good?" asked Elena, wiggling her eyebrows.

Maddy blushed. "It was." She looked up at the doctor, who came in to check on Elena. "Hello, there."

"Hi," said the woman kindly. "Everything alright here with the blood donating process?"

"Yes, Dr. Fell," said Elena, before looking at Maddy. "This is Dr. Fell, she's friends with my Aunt Jenna."

"She dated my cousin Logan," explained Dr. Fell. "When I found out that he cheated on her, I punched him, and Jenna and I got close after that. I was gone for awhile, attending Medical School. My name's Meredith."

"Madeleine," replied the vampire. "Maddy to most people."

"It's nice to meet you Maddy. Well, I have to do my rounds, but I'll be back if you need anything."

"Thank you," said Elena, watching as Meredith left the room.

"So, how is Jenna?" asked Maddy.

"She's good," said Elena as the nurse came in, checking how much blood she'd given. It seemed she had reached her 470 mL that she could donate for the day. Maddy figured she was compelled already when started to place the blood bags in a cooler that didn't have the hospital's name on it. While this happened, Elena continued, "She graduated in May with a Masters in psychology, so she's just started doing her residency in Charlottesville. She wanted to do it at Whitmore but Charlottesville is closer, and they were offering her better pay despite the fact that everyone at Whitmore already knows her."

"Ah, well, she'll do a good job either way. How are her and Ric?"

"Good. Jenna's thinking she might take a job as the school psychologist for Mystic Falls High just so they can see each other often. It's getting pretty serious. Jeremy thinks that Ric might propose to her soon. I think it's gonna take more time than that, considering how his last marriage turned out."

"Oof, yeah," said Maddy, getting to her feet and offering Elena her hand to help her out. "Do you want some of my blood to heal?"

"No, that's alright," said Elena, watching as the compelled nurse carried the blood bags away. "Listen... I'll talk to your brothers. I'm sure they are gonna have a lot to say and I don't want them to be mean to you when it's literally because of you that I'm not a corpse at the bottom of the Quarry."

"And by brothers you mean Damon."

"Yeah... I figure the conversation with Stefan will be a lot easier."

"I'm almost his second mother. He sees me as an adult, which I am, and he knows he can't control me. Damon... is Damon. Just make sure you talk to them about your feelings, too."

"I will," promised Elena. "As heartbreaking as it will be, admitting to them what I feel and don't feel... they need to know. It's better that everything be out in the open."

Maddy walked her down to the parking lot, but found that Klaus wasn't there. Damon was.

"I'll take her home," said Damon, glaring at his sister. "Your creepy boyfriend wants you to call him. I expect you'll go running to him once he tells you where to meet him."

Maddy frowned. "What are you talking about? Where is he?"

"Ah, he ran like a coward once I name-dropped Mikael."

"And what do you know about Mikael?"

"Ask your boyfriend."

"Damon," said Elena sternly. "Don't talk to her like that, she saved my life."

"No, she didn't," said Damon. "She lured you into a trap and you all just got lucky that Klaus didn't rip your heads off."

"I chose to go and meet them, Damon. I get to live. I don't mind giving blood every now and then."

"You're not a blood bag, you're a person—"

Maddy shoved Damon in the chest. "And where was that belief when you abused Caroline and Andie, hmm? Or how about when you tricked Lexi? Klaus could have killed me for trying to protect her, but he didn't, and now, he's agreed to keep her and all of us safe, so why don't you back off—"

"Back off?" snapped Damon. "I just had Stefan's unconscious body dropped on our doorstep by Barbie Klaus, telling me that I should get to the hospital to bring Elena back so she can rest."

"I wasn't going to let them hurt Stefan. A few neck snaps is better than his heart being ripped out. You're the one who kept pursuing him and putting him in danger of being discovered."

"Oh, now this is my fault?"

"Stop it!" said Elena. "Damon, just take me home, please. Maddy... I'll talk to you soon."

"Alright," said Maddy quietly as Damon led Elena away. She watched them get into Damon's car, catching sight of Damon handing her something and saying, "I stole this back for you."

"My necklace," she heard Elena say. "Thank you. How did you—?"

"Not here. We'll talk when we get you home."

Maddy frowned. Elena said Katherine stole the necklace. If Damon stole it back, then that meant he saw Katherine. How was it that Damon suddenly knew about Mikael?

She took the time to call Klaus before pursuing any leads.

"Madeleine," he said, a sigh of relief escaping him. "I had to go."

"Damon said he mentioned Mikael and you disappeared. Nik, tell me the truth, who is Mikael?"

"My stepfather."

"The abusive stepfather that made your mother turn you into vampires?"

"Yes."

"How is he still alive?"

"He turned alongside us. He, too, is an Original. The Vampire Who Hunts Vampires. The Destroyer. Years ago, he vanished without a trace. And now, I hear from Damon that Mikael knows where I am. I could not stay. Meet me at the airport. We'll fly to another state and begin making hybrids with the blood Elena gave."

"That's who the hybrids are going to be protecting you from, isn't it? You want them to keep Mikael away."

He didn't answer, and she figured she was right.

"Well, it worked," she said quietly. "You can make hybrids now. Thank you for not being cruel to Elena. It's a good start."

"Come with me, love. I don't wish to be alone."

Maddy imagined that was another reason why he felt the need to be surrounded by other hybrids.

"Where's Rebekah?" she asked.

"I had her go and deposit Stefan at your home. She may have stayed until he awoke. She won't be coming with us. She tends to be a brat, that one. She'll be more occupied with retrieving that necklace from Katerina Petrova."

"About that. I think I need to stay. Not because I want to, but because I think... Katherine and Damon went to find Mikael together. And from what I'm hearing, he's a threat to all of us, and needs to be put down. If I can get in contact with Katherine, I can find Mikael."

"Absolutely not. Mikael will recognize you. He will use you as bait."

"I'll be careful, Nik. Damon's mad at me, I really don't wish to be near him."

"How would you even get to Mikael? I highly doubt Katerina will be eager to lead you to him. Surely she and Damon know by now that he possesses the means to destroy me."

"Leave that to me. I'll call you when I figure things out. Promise."

"Very well. Do not allow yourself to get hurt, love. I don't wish to lose you."

"You won't." She hung up, and quickly searched through her contacts, finding an old number that may have been Katherine's.

"If it isn't little Maddy Salvatore," said the familiar bitchy voice on the other line. "You have got to be desperate if you're calling me. Last I heard, you and Klaus were getting real  close."

"I know you and Damon went to find Mikael."

"What about it?"

"Klaus knows, and he's going to hunt you more adamantly than before. However, since Klaus and I are rather close, then that means I'm now in a position to broker a deal for you."

A pause, and then, "I'm listening."

"Tell me where Mikael is, and when I confirm that he's there, I'll get Klaus to give a full pardon. Think, Katherine, you'd never have to run again. You can be as close to or as far from Stefan as you want and Klaus won't hurt you. Let me clue you in on a little something— he's able to make hybrids now, and Elena made a list of people to be protected by Klaus and the hybrids. If you were to cooperate, you could be on that list too. Klaus, the man who hunted you, would be forced— by me— to protect you no matter what."

"That's too good to be true. Klaus would never do that."

"I'm pretty sure he would, considering Mikael is a threat to him, to me, and to his sister. You'd be doing something— an act of loyalty, let's call it— for me. Klaus's favorite person. To top it off, he'll go ballistic if he can't touch me, and he knows that if he doesn't do what I ask, I'll just withhold sex until he listens, so..."

"Fine," said Katherine. "But I want him to pardon me while he looks me in the eyes. Get him, and meet me at the Picket Mausoleum in Charlotte, North Caroline."

"Good. By the way, don't go and text my brothers about this, they're pissed enough as it is. And you wouldn't want to make things more difficult for me, would you? Because then, Klaus will just kill you."

"Ugh. Fine. You are one manipulative little bitch sometimes, Madeleine."

"I learned it all from you, so give yourself a pat on the back if you want. We'll be there soon."

She hung up and switched back to a call with Klaus. Thankfully, he hadn't boarded any private jets yet.

He agreed to the price, albeit reluctant. The two hopped onto a plane and flew to North Carolina, making their way to the Pickett Mausoleum, where Katherine was waiting for them.

"Katerina," said Klaus with a wicked grin as she met them at the entrance of the tomb where Mikael was.

"Klaus," she said, trying to keep from showing how nervous she was. If he chose to switch up despite having agreed already, then she'd be dead in seconds. "Shall we?" She gestured for them to follow her into the tomb.

Inside, they found a man. A vampire, desiccated and wrapped in chains. Maddy recognized him as the man who had questioned her and Stefan after the compulsion settled in. Beside him, barely visible, was a wooden stake with ornate carvings on it. In Maddy's eyes, it resembled a Harry Potter  wand more than it did a vampire-killing weapon.

"That's him," said Klaus darkly when he saw Mikael, whose eyes were just able to dart about to look at him. He had some blood on his lips, but still seemed too weak to do much.

"I want to hear you pardon me now," said Katherine before Klaus could do anything.

Klaus ran his tongue over his lips, looking at Maddy, then at the doppelgänger. "You are pardoned, Katerina, at my Madeleine's insistence. From this moment on, you are free, and need not worry that I will pursue you. After all, I am now a full hybrid. It only took five hundred years longer than expected but you have... proven loyal. Thus, you are free. However..." Katherine went rigid as Klaus added, "Should you ever get in my way again, this pardon will be rescinded immediately and I will hunt to kill this time."

Katherine gulped. "Trust me, I don't want to be anywhere near you ever again." She acknowledged Maddy before seeding off.

Klaus chuckled, before looking down at Mikael, who was sneering at him.

In one clean swipe, Klaus was able to rip the chains off of him. Mikael was unable to do anything as Klaus retrieved the stake, holding it up for Maddy to see.

"This," he said, "is a white oak stake. Crafted from a tree whose wood was used in the spell that made us vampires. It linked our lives to something mortal. This is the one weapon on Earth that can kill an Original permanently. We burned the tree, of course, but this stake was crafted from one of the branches."

He looked down at Mikael, staring at him hatefully. The desiccated vampire forced out some words, "Coward," he seethed. "The big bad wolf... nothing but... a weakling."

"My whole life," murmured Klaus scathingly, "you've underestimated me. Are you enjoying the view now, Father?"

He stabbed the tip of the stake right into Mikael's heart. He gave a roar of pain as the stake caught fire, which quickly spread over his body. His yells ceased abruptly, until all that remained was a charred body, completely unrecognizable.

"He's dead," said Klaus, as if it wasn't obvious. Maddy could feel him trembling, and could see that he was fighting back furious tears. At last he stood victorious over the man who treated him like scum when it wasn't his fault that he was born different from the rest.

"Are you alright?" asked Maddy gently.

"I'm fine, love," said Klaus, grabbing at the lid of the tomb and dragging it back over Mikael to make the last of the flames die out. "We ought to return to the airport."

"I think I should stay in Mystic Falls for a bit," said Maddy. "Just to make sure things are alright with Elena."

"Very well. I'll have Daniel remain with you."

"That's not necessary."

"It is. He will ensure your brothers do not hurt you when they inevitably learn about this. I imagine they intended Mikael to be the weapon they'd wield against me. To force me from your life."

"Nik, are you sure you—?"

He kissed her, to avoid answering the question. "Let's get you back to Mystic Falls."