Sauntering into the dimmed living room after a long, peaceful walk around the lake. Ana's feet glided straight towards the kitchen area. Ana let her fingers wind around the glass of a half-full whiskey bottle and thought of Damon. As much as she wouldn't admit it, she was missing the eldest Salvatore slightly, especially now she was the third wheel in Stefan and Elena's relationship.

Upon looking up from glugging the bottle of alcohol, Ana frowned when she noticed the worry etched on Stefan's face as he frantically paced around the room, his phone to his ear. Elena sat on the couch opposite him, her legs crossed and a journal in her lap.

"Wow, I've never seen Stefano so tense." Ana teased, strolling over to the couple and sprawling across the couch. "Everything alright?"

"Did you know about the White Oak weapon too?" Elena asked, ignoring Ana's question and raising an eyebrow in judgement.

Eyes wide at the fact that Elena knew about the weapon, Ana frowned. "Well, yeah. I was there with Damon. Why?"

Huffing audibly, Elena's forehead creased as she snapped "Well, it turns out that Damon's planning to kill Elijah with it tonight. However, the weapon can't be wielded by a demon. Did you know that, too?"

"Oh damn." Ana cursed, her brown eyes widening. "And to answer your question: no. I mean, why the hell would I know that, Elena? Huh?"

"I don't know, I just thought-"

"You thought I was working against Damon." Ana scoffed, rolling her eyes as she rose from the sofa. "Absolutely unbelievable. Even after I've saved you, multiple times, you still don't trust me. Honestly, I couldn't care less about friendships, but I hate someone who thinks they know everything and everyone. I'll be back once I've given you time to think about your accusation." Looking away from the offended Elena Gilbert, Ana swiftly turned to Stefan. "So long, Stefano."

★·'¯'·★

Walking through the dark woods, Ana wasn't frightened. After over five hundred years on the Earth she'd had enough encounters with death that darkness seemed more comforting now. Despite the ruffling of bushes and snapping of twigs, Ana continued to stroll onwards, her fast pace matching her fiery emotions after her confrontation with Elena.

Yes, the doppelganger annoyed her and yes, she was losing her patience with Elena, but it still hurt to have her loyalties questioned after all this time. I mean, who did Elena think she was, pointing fingers at Ana and-

Ana's thoughts were put to an abrupt stop when a large hand clasped her mouth. Squealing and squirming, Ana fought to get free, but nothing worked. This was definitely a supernatural being. This was definitely an original.

And Ana was right, as the deep chuckle of Elijah Mikaelson echoed around the forest, and he moved his hand away from the Petrova's mouth. "Hello, Ana, apologies for startling you. I didn't want you to draw too much attention to me because my being here is supposed to be a surprise for your friend, Elena Gilbert. I assume you're staying with her at the Lakehouse?"

The gentle hum of Ana's breath against Elijah's hand let the original know that her answer was yes.

"Enlighten me, Ana. I thought Elena was the one that pushed you over the 'no humanity' line? What changed?"

Shrugging Elijah's hand away from her cheek, Ana frowned. "I haven't forgotten about Elena's bratty attitude, trust me. Elena reminds me of my own sister sometimes, ad I guess that's why I'm so protective. Sue me for wanting to give Elena Gilbert the human life that me and Katerina never had."

"Ana, I would never fault you for your kind nature, though I need a favour." Elijah leaned in, his voice low as he asked "You know I would never actually hurt you... right?"

"Of course, 'Lijah?" Pausing, Ana smirked. "What trouble am I getting myself into this time?"

★·'¯'·★

In the dark of night, Elijah wrapped his fingers around Ana's forearm, his brief apologetic look letting her know how sorry he was. Ana was well aware of Elijah's guilt, but she was more focused on their plan at hand, praying that Elena Gilbert would do exactly what the original and Petrova had predicted.

Outside the Lakehouse, Elijah put an arm out to stop Ana as he picked a few stones from the ground, sensing muttering from inside the cabin. Here goes nothing.

Stepping forward from the shadows with the youngest Petrova tight in his grasp, Elijah pelted one of his stones towards the door. A smirk found its way onto his face when the door crashed to the ground, revealing an opening to the house.

"You know, I might not be able to enter this house... but I'm a very patient man and with the company of Ana I'm sure I'll be fine. I'll wait you out." Elijah mused, and at the mention of her 'friend', Elena's head whipped round and she frowned at the direction of Ana.

Relishing in the dramatics, Ana attempted to leap out of Elijah's grasp, calling "No, Elena! Don't! Elijah's changed! He... he wants revenge from Klaus-"

Playing the part well, Elijah clamped a hand over Ana's mouth, his eyes narrowing as he watched the doppelganger step from the cabin to the open archway. Forcing a smirk, the original heaved a deep sigh. "Come on, Elena. We both know how much I want my brother gone."

"They shouldn't have done what they did." Elena muttered, not making eye contact with Elijah and wrapping her arms around her body. "But please, you don't need to hurt Ana. I thought you two were close?"

"There are always casualties in a war." Elijah mused, brushing a strand of Ana's hair and watching as she forced a shiver to crawl up her skin. "The deal is off, Elena."

Shaking her head, though her eyes still scanning Ana frantically, Elena stated "I'm renegotiating."

"You have nothing left to renegotiate with." Elijah said, gesturing to the petite figure of Ana in his arms. "I, on the other hand..."

As soon as Elijah referred to the 'frightened' vampire in his arms, Elena revealed a knife from behind her. Despite the tension thick in the air, Ana could feel herself relax - it was going exactly how she had planned.

"I'd like to see you lure Klaus into Mystic Falls after the doppelganger bleeds to death and you kill his fiance." Elena quipped, her confidence growing enough to raise a critical eyebrow at the original.

His expression remaining stony, Elijah remarked "Stefan won't let you die."

"No, he won't. He'll feed me his blood to heal me, and then I'll kill myself and become a vampire, just like Katherine did." Elena paused, smiling at Ana in reassurance. "So unless you want that to happen again, you'll let Ana go and... promise me the same as before- promise me... you won't harm anyone I love. Even if they've harmed you."

Reaching for the stake in his back pocket, hands trembling, Elijah narrowed his eyes. "I'm sorry, Elena. I'm going to have to call your bluff. But, uh, don't worry, I'll make it quick for Ana here."

Elijah lowered the stake towards Ana's heart, and Ana didn't have to act her nerves, they were most certainly real. If Elena Gilbert didn't do what they had predicted, they'd be-

Before Ana could process anymore thoughts, Elena took the risky move and pushed the knife through her soft flesh, the smell of blood immediately distracting Elijah.

The original rushed to the doorway, thankful for not having to kill the youngest Petrova. He noticed the amount of blood gushing from Elena's wound, and his eyes widened in shock as he exclaimed "No!"

The knife dropped out of Elena's stomach, and Ana rushed from behind, stopping when Elijah blocked the doorway. Elijah was clearly alarmed, because although their plan was to make Elena Gilbert panic, they didn't actually anticipate that she'd be willing to kill herself.

Leaning himself through the doorway, Elijah's words all stumbled into one. "Yes. Yes, you can have your deal. I'll leave Ana, just let me heal you."

"Give me your word!" Elena demanded, doubled over in pain, clutching her stomach.

Licking his lips in anticipation, Elijah uttered "I give you my word."

Elena stumbled into Elijah's arms, swiftly stabbing him with a stake and listening to his gasp. Inside, Ana's heart was breaking to pieces at having to watch one of her most trusted friends desicate in Elena's arms, but Ana knew she still had to play the part.

The youngest Petrova sped over to Elena, bit into her wrist and shoved the coppery liquid into the doppelgangers mouth, sighing as the pair of girls collapsed onto the ground. Stefan sped outside soon after, embracing Elena.

"I get the feeling that you and Elijah are no longer, what's the term... 'bezzies'."

Ana's head snapped up at the familiar voice of Damon, and she felt herself softening to the Salvatore, rising from the ground and leaning her head on his shoulder. "Remind me never to trust an original again."

"Duly noted." Damon nodded, smiling at the dark hair that was sprawled across his shoulder. "And a, uh, little tip. Don't pull the dagger out."

It seems our little vampire has herself a little undercover mission. Stop Klaus Mikaelson from getting to Mystic Falls at all costs - otherwise there will be trouble.

Ana Petrova is not only protecting the quaint town of Mystic Falls, but preventing the heartache that comes with loving a tempermental, violent hybrid...

★·'¯'·★

Ahhh! Thank you everyone for 20k already! I appreciate every view, vote and comment that contributes to this book :)