3. Ava?
Maeve tried to wriggle out of his arms."Are you going to put me down now?"
Cole smirked, his eyes glinting mischievously. "If you say so." He released her, and she dropped unceremoniously to the ground.
"Hey! What'd you do that for?" Maeve demanded, scrambling to her feet.
Cole continued to smirk, his expression unreadable. *She doesn't seem to recognize me,* he thought.
"And what are you doing here at this hour? And what's with that smirk on your face?" Maeve's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
Before Cole could respond, Silver appeared, his presence imposing. "I think it's time we get going," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Maeve hesitated, casting a final glance at Cole. "But I—"
Without another word, both Silver and Maeve vanished from the spot. Cole watched them disappear, his smirk widening. *This should be interesting.*
---
Meanwhile, in a different part of the realm, Maeve turned to Silver, frustration evident in her voice. "What'd you do that for?"
Silver sighed, his patience wearing thin. "Don't you know who that was?"
"Someone I don't need to know," Maeve retorted, her defiance masking her curiosity.
Silver sighed again, more deeply this time. Maeve yawned, feeling the weight of the day settle on her. "Now come on, we've got a long day ahead of us."
Silver vanished, leaving Maeve alone with her thoughts.
---
The next day, Maeve approached Cassandra with a question. "So, we have a student council meeting later today?"
"Exactly," Cassandra confirmed.
Before Maeve could respond, Sid approached them, urgency in his steps. "Sorry to interrupt, but we have a problem, Cassandra."
Cassandra sighed, her expression weary. "Again? I have to get going. I'll see you at the student council meeting."
Maeve nodded. "No problem."
As Cassandra walked away, Silver materialized beside Maeve. "Looks like we're on our own."
---
Later, as Maeve and Silver headed towards the council meeting room, Silver voiced his concern. "Are you sure you can handle this? You know you can just reschedule, right?"
Maeve shook her head, determination hardening her features. "And risk raising suspicion? Not a chance. Besides, it's just a meeting. How hard can it be?"
---
At the meeting, Maeve quickly realized the answer to her own question. *I have got to stop saying that,* she thought as she listened to Katsumi's proposal.
There were eight student council members
1. Cole - president
2. Cassandra -vice president ( welfare)
3. Yamira - extra curricular
4. Ira- discipline
5. Sid- health
6. Katsumi - treasurer
7. Wulin- academics
8. Rohan- leadership
"We need something new. Any ideas?" Katsumi asked, her gaze sweeping across the room.
"Yamira," Cole interjected.
Silver nudged Maeve subtly. *That's you.*
Maeve blinked, snapping back to reality. "Right." She stood up, clearing her throat. "I was thinking maybe we could dig up some history on the power source first."
Katsumi nodded and opened a monitor. "Well, according to my data, Hell used to be powered by the custodians."
"Custodians?" Maeve echoed, intrigued.
"Beings who existed millennia ago," Katsumi explained. "They had the power to control each realm and banish outsiders."
"So, what happened to them?" Maeve asked, her curiosity piqued.
"After each custodian, there was a strict lineage that could not be broken," Katsumi continued. "Currently, only thirteen still stand."
Maeve frowned. "And the others?"
"Vanished and not yet succeeded," Rohan answered. "Nine to be exact."
"So, what's your plan if you even have one?" Ira challenged, her tone skeptical.
Maeve lifted her chin defiantly. "Of course, I have a plan."
Ira crossed her arms. "Then let's hear it."
Maeve took a deep breath. "For now, since we have a representative for the thirteen realms, each of you could be keeping an eye on them. But for the other nine, just leave it to me. Any other questions?"
---
At the end of the meeting, Cole dismissed everyone but motioned for Maeve to stay behind. Maeve's heart sank. *Crap! Is this about what happened last night? He can't possibly remember, right? How was I supposed to know that he was the demon lord?*
Silver's voice echoed in her mind. *I tried to warn you.*
*Not helping,* Maeve thought back, feeling a mix of anxiety and frustration.
As the room emptied, leaving only Maeve and Cole, she tried to maintain her composure. "If it's about last night, I swear I didn't mean anything I said."
Cole shook his head. "It's not that."
Maeve sighed in relief, glad she wasn't in trouble for that. But then Cole's expression grew serious. "You've been acting weird lately."
Maeve arched an eyebrow. "And by weird, you mean bolder?"
Cole's eyes darkened. "Do you know what happens if your plan fails, right? For changing tradition, you might as well be banished or even worse."
---
Later, in the cafeteria, Maeve and Cassandra reviewed their plan. Cassandra handed Maeve a piece of paper, and Maeve scanned the list. "Vampires, elves, werewolves... What's all this?"
"A list of all the realms we have to visit," Cassandra explained. "But I've got to ask, how are you going to get out of here without being noticed?"
Maeve smirked, a plan forming in her mind. "I just might have a plan. I'll meet you tonight at the stables."
---
That evening, at dinner in the eighth duke's castle, Uncle Rickleaf and Maeve shared a meal.
"You've been acting strange lately," Rickleaf observed.
Maeve forced a smile. "Is it that obvious? I'm just really busy."
She finished her meal quickly. "I've got to go to bed. I'll see you tomorrow, Uncle."
Without waiting for a response, Maeve rushed upstairs.
---
At the stables, Cassandra and Maeve met up as planned. Maeve checked the map.
"We'll take three realms: the vampires, werewolves, and hunters first," she said.
"Why those three?" Cassandra asked, curious.
Maeve shrugged. "Just because they are close. And besides, we have to visit a certain someone fast. So, how do you get out of here unnoticed?"
Cassandra used her magic to change Maeve's appearance, then they teleported away.
---
In the vampire realm, the Chancellor was discussing something with Nathan. A red haired,blue eyed male.
"We've got a lot to do before the upcoming celebrations," the Chancellor said.
Nathan stifled a yawn. "And by a lot, you mean?"
"Uniting all the vampires, including your brother," the Chancellor replied.
Nathan, bored, glanced around and spotted Cassandra waving from behind a curtain. Seizing the opportunity, he quickly excused himself and closed the door behind him.
"Thanks for dropping by unannounced," Nathan said, relieved.
Cassandra smirked. "Just admit it. You were bored with the meeting."
Nathan couldn't help but chuckle. "Can't argue with that. So, what brought you here so late?"
Maeve turned to Cassandra. "You gonna tell him, or should I?"
Nathan's curiosity piqued. "Tell me what?"
After a brief explanation, Nathan's eyes widened. "So, you're telling me you are not the real Yamira?"
Maeve nodded. "Exactly."
"Then why did you come to me?" Nathan asked.
"We need your help," Maeve said, showing him the map. "Our first stops are the vampire, werewolf, and hunter realms."
Nathan looked skeptical. "So?"
"We need your help going to all these realms since you're the blood prince, after all," Maeve explained. "With your help, it will go much faster. So, what do you say?"
Nathan hesitated, but when Maeve said she'd do anything, he finally agreed.
"Great," Maeve said, relieved. "First, we have to deal with the werewolves and hunters. In the meantime, we'll keep an eye on the vampires."
"But before that," Nathan added, "you still owe me a favor, remember?"
Maeve frowned. "And by favor, you mean?"
"A combat," Nathan said with a grin. "Just you and me. You in?"
Cassandra tried to intervene, but Maeve immediately accepted the challenge. "You are on."
---
Outside, Cassandra watched nervously. "You can't be serious."
Maeve tried to reason with her. "It's our only chance to convince him."
Nathan smirked. "Ready to lose?"
Maeve shot him a determined look. "We'll just have to wait and see who loses."
The fight began, and Maeve quickly realized Nathan's speed was formidable. *He's pretty quick. Blocking a punch at this rate, I'll soon tire out.*
Nathan prepared to end the fight, but Maeve flashbacked to Cornor's words. *It's now or never.* She closed her eyes, and when she opened them, a new transformation had taken place. She blocked Nathan's blast and countered it, surprising everyone.
Nathan stared in disbelief. "It can't be."
Maeve's appearance had changed: she now had fangs, red eyes, and red hair. "Giving up already?" she taunted.
"Not a chance," Nathan growled. The fight now intensified. Both sides continued fearlessly not wanting to lose to the other.
They charged at each other, but Cassandra stepped between them, stopping the fight. "Were you both planning on ruining the palace grounds and drawing attention?" she scolded.
Reluctantly, Nathan and Maeve calmed down and reverted to their normal forms.
Nathan looked at Maeve. "Alright, let's hear your plan."
Maeve nodded, collecting her thoughts. "Well, it turns out there are two factions that don't get along in the werewolf realm, but they have a common enemy: the hunters. All we have to do is split up. I'll go to the main pack, while you two head for the others."
"And how are you planning on getting into the pack?" Nathan asked skeptically.
"Just leave it to me. I have my ways," Maeve assured him.
---
The next morning at the eighth duke's castle, a maid entered Maeve's room. "Rise and shine, your highness. His majesty the demon lord is waiting."
Silver, hiding inside the sheets and using Maeve's voice, responded, "Coming."
The maid soon left, and Silver changed his appearance to that of Maeve. "This should be interesting," he muttered to himself.
---
Downstairs, Cole waited impatiently. "What took you so long?"
Silver, startled, replied, "Nothing important, that's for sure."
Cole shook his head. "Never mind. We still have a lot of work to do today. Come on."
---
Meanwhile, Maeve found herself in the middle of the woods, feeling uncertain. "Maybe this was a bad idea," she murmured.
A voice in her head responded, *You think?*
Maeve spun around, looking for the source. "Who said that?!" She sighed, shaking her head. "I'm probably just imagining it."
A stranger appeared from behind a tree, startling her. "And what do you think you're doing here?"
Maeve blinked, confused. "Do I know you?"
The stranger's eyes narrowed. "You're getting even bolder, Ava."
*Ava?* Maeve thought, bewildered. "You must have me confused with someone else."
The stranger smirked. "Even though you've changed your appearance, your scent is still the same. Maybe come up with a better excuse for crossing our territory next time."
Maeve crossed her arms defiantly. "For the last time, I'm not Ava!"
The stranger, still smirking, said, "I may be Jay, the beta, but just because you're Tate's mate doesn't mean you can still enter the territory as you wish."
Maeve realized he wouldn't listen, so she decided to play along. "Fine, you got me. But I need a favor."
---
Later, as they approached their destination, Jay shook his head. "I still can't believe I agreed to help you."
Maeve gave him a grateful smile. "Trust me, I owe you one. By the way, can I get your name again?"
"It's Jay," he said. "And we're here."
"Thanks for everything," Maeve said sincerely.
Jay nodded. "No sweat, just don't take too long."
Maeve took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
"Enter," a voice called from inside.
Maeve stepped in, her heart pounding. Tate looked up from his desk, his expression turning to shock. "Ava? What are you doing here?"
Maeve's confusion deepened. "Why does everyone keep calling me that? I'm not Ava."
Tate's eyes darkened. "I asked you a question."
Maeve took a steadying breath. "And as I said, I'm not Ava. There's clearly been a misunderstanding here." Her eyes flashed red, a sign of her growing frustration.
Tate's expression shifted to one of suspicion. "What do you want?"
Maeve leaned over his desk, grabbing him by the collar. "I believe you have something that I want."