"Lastly, she pictured to herself how this same little sister of hers would, in the after-time, be herself a grown woman; and how she would keep, through all her riper years, the simple and loving heart of her childhood: and how she would gather about her other little children, and make their eyes bright and eager with many a strange tale, perhaps even with the dream of Wonderland of long ago: and how she would feel with all their simple sorrows, and find a pleasure in all their simple joys, remembering her own child-life, and the happy summer days"

~Alice in Wonderland~

...

"You cannot be serious." Rebekah states staring at the small vampire. She grins manically and nods enthusiastically like a child. Looping her arms around Rebekah's and pulling at her to follow.

"Absolutely, I'm sure your brother probably had a wardrobe prepared for you but nothing is more fun than picking out your own clothes. Besides it's just a short trip to Richmond, Niklaus is still a wolf and it's going to be boring waiting for him to turn back." Marcella insists smiling still. She would be Rebekah's friend.

Even if it took a hundred years or so.

"Besides I took Elijah's card so it's all on him." She cheers playfully dragging Rebekah to her car. The older vampire so bewildered by the girl let her.

This child was supposedly Kol's garden of Eden, yet she just didn't see it. Other than those eyes that were so distinctively his Rebekah didn't see it. She would figure out why this girl was so special, and how she'd already managed to wrap herself around Nik heart. Marcella smiled softly at the determined look in Rebekah's eyes.

The game was on.

"How did you even meet my brothers?" Rebekah finally asks. She'd gotten a part of the story from Nik but it hadn't really made sense. How could some human girl know them? It was the thing that was bothering her the most right now.

She watches as the smaller blonde smiles softly. It's not like anything she'd seen yet. Softness, gentleness she hadn't seen from the girl. From anyone. The girl's eyes are focused on the road before them. "I met Niklaus at a coffee shop in New York back in September. I recognized him and made the mistake to show it." Marcella tells her never taking her eyes from the road, Rebekah watches them in the reflection of the window.

They're sad.

"I can't tell you why I recognized him, I couldn't tell him either. I just do. Like I knew who Elijah was the first time I'd met him. It's just a part of me, I've never seen your other brothers but I'll know them regardless. I'm not an enemy to you Rebekah, I have no ill will towards your family. I'll tell you the same thing I told Niklaus, I want to be your friend. I am a good friend to have." Her voice has taken on a level of sincerity that Rebekah hadn't been expecting. She relaxes in her seat.

"Okay."

Marcella smiles triumphantly too herself. Progress.

…

When Niklaus finally decides to grace her with his presence after breaking the curse it's late at night a few days later. She meets him on her porch still in her pajamas, yawning delicately. Marcella motions for them to sit on the old porch swing. She curls into his side once he settles. A nervous energy coming off of him.

"I'm surprised Elijah and Rebekah let you go." She mumbles sleepily eyes barely opened. He smiles softly down at her unruly curls. Messy from being awoken so rudely, he's sure what she'd claim if he mentions the state of her hair.

"They aren't the boss of me sweetheart." Is what he tells her, she rolls her eyes at his tone. Nuzzling closer to him, breathing in the slightly altered scent, the new warmth.

Marcella opened her eyes fully casting them out to the stars. "I figured since you promised to undagger the others they'd be all over you about it." She mummers unconcerned at his side. Klaus' expressions shifts, a small frown taking over his face. As if she can sense it without looking she nuzzles closer. Wrapping both arms around his tightly.

"Marcella, I can't undagger Kol or Finn yet." He admits to her. She turns those eyes on him, instead of the scorn he's expecting it's met by kind acceptance. Marcella always managed to knock him back down.

"You don't have to explain yourself to me Niklaus. I understand, it's dangerous. I'll have your back, I promised." Her voice is gentle, soft, she closes her eyes resting her forehead against his shoulder.

"But you need to promise me you'll let the other one go. Nothing good will come if someone figures out who's locked under the lid. She'll ruin everything." The warning falls from her lips a second later before he has time to process her first statement. Klaus is somehow not surprised she seemed to know, he leans back into the swing. His shoulders tensing.

"You know." She nods her head slowly. But offers no spoken confirmation. They sit there on the front porch swing for a long time after. Silently taking in each others presence.

Marcella couldn't say that she was surprised by his declaration. By his choice. She knew better than anyone that Mikael was still a massive threat to those who had come to be her family. Finn and Kol, they're presence was dangerous on two different ends of a spectrum. The oldest had always cared just a little too much and Kol, Kol didn't care at all.

His magic under her skin wirled and whined in protest. But she ignored the sensation, ignored the longing in her heart, the incomplete feeling in her soul. She wanted him desperately, in every way, but it was too soon. Marcella wouldn't see him die again.

In all her life she'd never understood how you could love someone so much, so unconditionally. Especially when you'd never actually met them. To feel connected to someone so strongly. Marcella just knew he was hers. There was never any question, never any doubt. The feeling only got stronger, and since her own transition it was basically a lit fire in her soul constantly begging to be fed, growing getting ready to devour everything in its path. She didn't know how much more of longing she could take, the pain almost too much to bare.

"Marcella, sweetheart." His voice breaks her faraway train of thought, suddenly a warm thumb caressed her cheek. She hums a response. Dazed and lost.

"Why are you crying?" It's at that moment she even realizes the wetness on her cheeks, the tracks of tears that fall from her eyes. Marcella shuts her eyes trying to stop the rainfall.

The war within her soul raging, words became ash on her tongue and the tears kept falling. Drowning in rivers of blood. Silently she cried burying her face into Niklaus' side. He gently wraps his arms around her before carefully scooping her up. Klaus carried her inside, she'd had her sister invite him in that last time he'd been in town.

He places her back in her bed, kisses her forehead before drawing the covers over her and leaving. There was nothing he could do to quell the unrest in her soul. Only his brother could fix that and they both knew it would be awhile before that could happen.

Marcella and Niklaus don't talk about what happened on her porch again. They don't talk about her tears or whatever it is that's going on inside her being. The next time they see each other there is no acknowledgement of the issue. They move on. Move past. It's not forgotten.

…

Perhaps she thinks that the most annoying aspect about nature was it's constant need to right itself. Marcella frowns deeply when Stefan tells them that Elena is missing. That he hadn't seen her since the masquerade party the night before. She finds it annoying, a huge inconvenience really.

Because now she'd have to put everything on hold to go get the doppelgänger.

The course had already been drastically altered, everything was going well by her standards and then something like this happens. Really it just ruined her whole day. To think she'd miss out on a movie marathon just to go save ungrateful Elena Gilbert.

It wasn't common news yet that the sun and moon curse had been broken. Niklaus and his two siblings were keeping their presence in mystic falls rather secretive and selective for the time at hand. The only people who knew who they really were was Marcella, her sister, and Damon. Stefan hadn't witnessed the ritual and didn't remember Rebekah so he was still mostly in the dark. A good place for him to stay.

Marcella ran a hand over her face, messaging her temple gently trying her best to not explode at Stefan. It wasn't his fault that he was a helpless idiot. Just like it wasn't her fault she didn't actually care all to much about the wellbeing of the kidnapped girl. Elena didn't matter to Marcella outside of her usefulness. Right now with three bags of the girls blood stored away she didn't care what happened to her. She could make three blood bags last a long time.

Niklaus could be more selective with who he turned into a hybrid. Marcella was actually glad that he and Rebekah weren't here to hear this news. They'd left earlier in the week to go track down a werewolf pack somewhere in the Carolina's. He wanted to be sure that the blood would actually work instead of just taking her word for it. Marcella hadn't asked for to much detail since it had been right after Niklaus got to witness her have a breakdown. They didn't talk about it.

Regardless she didn't think he'd be too pleased to know someone had the audacity to take something that was his. The Mikaelsons were a very possessive lot. Marcella dropped her hand and stared at Stefan for a long moment. "What kind of boyfriend lets his girlfriend get kidnapped? Really Stefan, do better." She takes a deep breath and pulls her phone out sending a quick message to Elijah. A quick text asking if he wanted to reep a dept.

"You owe it to her to bring her back safely. After all you've done." Stefan grabs her arm when she goes to walk away from him. Marcella growls pulling her hand harshly from his grasp. She takes a step towards him places a warning hand on his chest palm down.

"I owe her? Stefan, I owe no one anything. Especially not her. What I've done is ensure that no one had to die uselessly. How's Lexi by the way? Damon was going to use her to cover your tracks, I convinced him to use someone else. There is nothing special about you Stefan, you are no different than the rest of us, our axis all turns the same. Get over yourself." Marcella shoves him away, with a force that he hadn't anticipated her possessing.

"What happened to you? Your not the same Marcella I met back at the beginning of the school year." He questions, eyes wide, the words bitter on his tongue. As if having to be in the same room as her makes his very skin crawl. Unnerving him.

A wicked grin snakes its way across her face. "Nothing has happened. Don't be a hypocrite Stefan, you're one to talk about being a different person. I've never lied about who I am. You all only saw what you wanted to see. Now, I will rescue the damsel that is your precious girlfriend. Have no fear, she'll be return to your careless arms once more." She waltzes away. Already planning, letting the wheels turn.

Marcella meets Elijah at the old Kern house. The one she'd given to Niklaus to use as his base of operations until he built his own-which he'd yet to do-. Elijah was dressed impeccably as ever. His brow rose at her own appearance and she smiled victoriously. He hadn't seen what she considered her Mikaelson persona yet, come to think of it she doesn't remember showing it to any of them. So far only Damon had been subjected to it.

The raven haired male always got a kick out of the fierce but cute combination. Marcella just enjoyed dressing up. She did a little spin once she got closer which caused him to actually crack a smile. "Eden I presume." Elijah states smirking at her, Marcella returned the gesture then winked. He chuckles at her.

"Who else darlin'" His response stilled on his tongue, in that moment she was just like his brother. Marcella as the days went one reminded him more and more of Kol and less of the girl she'd once been.

"I take it you know where we are headed." She nods and makes a motion to the small car she'd arrived in. They could have just run but Marcella was rather fond of the shoes she was wearing and besides they'd need something to carry Elena back in.

"The vampires who have taken the precious piece they are old world acquaintances of yours. They can't walk in the sun, never staying somewhere long enough to befriend a witch to make them daylight jewelry I suppose. There is only so far they could have gone in the darkness of night with Elena before having to stop." She tells him while getting in the vehicle, the drivers side since even though it was never specifically stated where Rose and Trevor had actually taken Elena Marcella knew she would recognize it once she laid eyes on it.

It had been one of her favorite moments before, the first look at an original. The novelty had worn off since meeting three of them and pretending to be one. But the fact remained, her past self had had an eidetic memory and it was one of the only things to transfer. She never forgot at least not in a typical sense. Memories can get lost, but they're never truly forgotten.

"Well, it seems they just might get their wish." It wouldn't matter that they couldn't walk in the sun if they were dead.

…

"Oh god, this was a terrible idea. We should have just kept running Rose." It really was, you should never steal from an original. The grin on her lips is borderline sadistic and Elijah tries not to be too worried about the implications of such look. Marcella walks delicately besides him, her shoes make no sound and he wonders if that's a hold over from her hobbies.

"I'm going to go get Elena. I'll meet you in the foyer." She mouthed gliding away from him like the floor had turned to air. Elijah rolls his eyes but follows the sound of panicked voices.

He meets Rosemarie in the hall, the ancient woman started. She clutches a hand over her heart and Elijah smirks. "Thank you for calling me Rosemarie it's been a long time." Marcella had been pleased by the call he received half way here. The brunette woman nods slowly.

"Thank you for coming. I figured you would want to see this." It takes a lot to contain the amused look on his eyes. Elijah found the irony of this whole thing a little too much. He'd seen and so far hasn't been to impressed.

"Take me to her."

In another part of the large estate Marcella creeps quietly through the hallways. She really didn't want to be here. Why did this still happen? Why couldn't things just keep going alright? This was such a drag. Marcella listened carefully for the sign of human life as she continued in her wandering around the old mansion.

Find Elena, put a tracker on the girl, and go home. Marcella was just so done with the whole rescue the princess trend. The whole damsel trope was just annoying to work with. She had more important things to figure out, like what they were going to do about the problem that was still Mikeal. Temporally dessicated or not the man was a huge threat to her family.

Also she couldn't have Kol until her technical father-in-law was dead… dead. Marcella wanted Kol. The separation was killing her.

She found the door she was looking for, alarmed pacing behind and terrified breathing being the main hint. Marcella gently pushes the door opened. Both the ancient vampire and Elena's backs are to her. Marcella clears her throat loudly. Causing both to turn , cue one alarmed and one relieved look. "Mar-" The human goes to say relief in her eyes, but is cut off by the small blonde flashing to her and cupping a hand over her mouth. Effectively silencing the teen and also preserving her other name.

Trevor rushes towards them flighty and fearful fueling his movements. She turns her-his- eyes on the male and isn't disappointed by his simultaneas halt. The trembles that fall down his body at the sight of them. Fear in his eyes. Her sadistic smile only grows.

"I thought that by now you would have learned your lesson by taking things that belong to an original darlin'." Marcella smiles sardonically happy amusement dancing in her gaze, at the instinctual reaction from him. A slight step back, another step back. Fear.

Smart boy.

Because he should be very afraid. He had the nerve to take something that belonged to her. Marcella wouldn't be as kind this time around.

Another door opens to reveal an alarmed Rosemarie and a rather bemused Elijah following. "Who the hell are you?" The brunette woman demanded seeing the fear radiating off her companion. Trevor's eyes are wide and frightful. Marcella twist her head to look directly at Rosemarie, her arms still around Elena protectively holding the doppelganger close to her. Elena wisely doesn't try to escape the hold, knowing that despite her dislike for the blonde vampire Marcella wouldn't let her die.

The woman lets out a startled gasp turning to look warily at the smirking original. "The original you stole the current doppelganger from. Eden Mikaelson darlin'" But it's Marcella who answers the question.

"Impossible, there are only five originals. I've met them all and you are not one." Rose states determinedly looking back once more and Elijah who just raises a brow at the woman. Neither confirming or denying the declaration from her. Marcella rolls her eyes before tilting the silent doppelgangers face towards her.

"You are going to go outside, get in the awaiting car and call your worried boyfriend and tell him that you are safe." The compulsion slides off her tongue easily, it's met by an obedient yet mindless nod. Marcella lets go off Elena and finally stands at her full house putting her back to the retreating teen. No one moves, it's at that movement that Marcella smirks at Elijah at the positioning of the room.

Rosemarie within grabbing distance of him and Trevor within enough distance for her to do something. Kol's magic buzzed giddily under her skin at the prospect. Retribution was a dish best served headless.

"Everything is possible darlin'. Now, I'm sure you thought kidnapping the doppelgänger seemed like a brilliant idea at the time. But you stole from me, and thus a punishment is in order. Wouldn't you agree brother?" Marcella tilts her head eyes drifting between the two offenders. Trevor goes to take another step backwards, Rose actually looks horrified. Elijah nods his approval.

"I will let you determine their sentence lillesøster." Little sister. Marcella smiles softly. She liked how that sounded. It was much better than the pet name Niklaus insisted on. Although it had grown on her.

Now in theory Marcella really shouldn't have possessed the power of an original. She was turned just like every other vampire. There shouldn't have been anything special about her. But there was. Marcella's connection to Kol made her special. Her unexplainable bond to the original made her powerful. The truth was that there was nothing ever ordinary about her.

Marcella strides forward until she is standing directly in front of Trevor. Gently she reaches up to touch his cheek. For a moment everyone freezes. Elijah watches intrigued, Rose stands frozen next to him holding her breath. Time moves slowly.

She runs her hand down the length of his flesh. Smiling kindly, there is something merciful about her look. All the malice that had previously been in her eyes has floated away. Settled. Then she stands on her toes and places a chaste kiss to his nose. "For five hundred years you have run. You betrayed my family, and now you seek forgiveness. It's not your fault. The allure of the doppelgänger gets the best of most men." Marcella assures him, Trevor bows his head falling to his knees before her.

"I'm sorry." She leans down to his level hand under his chin forcing him to look up at her. Rose goes to take a step but Elijah grabs her arm stopping her interruption. He wanted to see what the blonde would do. Just how far she was willing to go, how Mikaelson she was willing to be.

"I know you are darlin'. You've earned your forgiveness. You will run no more." The wary vampire falls into her and she gentle encases her hands around the back of his head. She pats his back and stands slowly, he looks up tears of joy in his eyes. Her serene look slips from her face and in a second later her arm is covered in blood and his head rolls to the floor.

Rose screams.

Jerking from Elijah's grip, and the original let's her go. Curiously getting the best of him. He wanted to see what Marcella would do now. Marcella steps away from the corpse, she doesn't even look at the brunette. She goes to walk away, as if to show mercy to the woman. A mistake.

Elijah thinks that this would be a good lesson for her to learn. Never put your back to your enemy. Rose would attack the blonde and he'd end it quickly after. Except he hadn't expected Rose to act so drastically surely she would no better than to try to kill an original.

Horror builds as he realizes his mistake. He watches as Marcella finally turns to look at the woman. "Is his life worth dying for?" The blonde questions, and Rose snarls lunging at her. Elijah takes a step forward intending to intervene but she shakes her head. Marcella wanted to prove something.

"If it means you die." The woman answers, unseen to them both picks up a broken chair leg from the blood and dirt soaked floor.

Rose blurs through the air at vampire speed, she's instantly in from of Marcella. She thrust the improv stake right through the blondes chest. Elijah is across the room in an instant, he grabs Rose by the back of her neck pulling her off of Marcella, the stake still in her hand comes too it clatters to the floor. He throws her across the room Rose lands in a heap still alive. Marcella stares down at the gapping bleeding hole through her chest.

Honey and coffee turn back into blue hazel. A terrified look in her eyes.

"Well then."

She collapses.

XOXOX

The next chapter people! WHOO! I'm telling you guys that this was a really difficult chapter to put to word. I struggled. I'm happy with the outcome but it was so difficult. Also I'm probably going to be changing the story to 'M' soon for language , upcoming bloodshed, and possible mild descriptive nudity(smut). Probably, possibly.

Anyway thank you so much for letting me know what you thought of the last chapter!

I look forward to hearing what you guys think of this one and what your theories going forward may be. Thank you so much for reading!

You guys are awesome!

Have a wonderful evening!

Sincerely, La'Rae