Softly, tiny whispers of light peaked over the horizon, gold flecks settling on old, aged wood that seemed to regain it's youth for a moment. As the light settled on the building in the moor, it's inhabitants began to wake. It was a new day, full of promise, full of hope. Until a scream pierced the air.

::~

There is a house in New Orleans the call the Rising Sun

It's been the ruin of many a poor girl

And God I know I'm one

::~

Every night, she went out and feasted. She'd never touch the life of a human, but witches were fair game. She was notorious, and had just begun to form a name for herself among the witch community. She had them all cowering in fear at night. And those foolish enough to enter the night, their charms and rituals set out in an effort to stop her-they all ended the same way.

Strewn on the street, their life force draining from them and spilling out into the concrete.

It wasn't enough for her. Every time she was done, she'd feel insatiable hunger, laced with the need for revenge. They caused her to give up what was most precious to her. Why shouldn't she do the same to them? Kill every last one of them that stood in her way, and weaken their community. Only then she'd be reunited with her baby, her Hope.

Elijah knew what Hayley was up to every night, but every time she entered the compound late at night she ignored him. She was never in the mood to hear his righteous sermons. It was all the same anyway. He promised her that she would see her daughter again, that she'd have her in her arms one day. But he never did anything. They weren't any closer to bringing her back, and she was tired of empty promises.

Klaus at least, seemed to deliver. He knew how important it was for her to shed blood, so some nights he went with her, terrorizing the night. During the day they never said a word passing each other as if they were strangers on the street, but under the cover of the darkness they were two completely different people, united in their loss.

When the sun rose, she heard him walking around the compound, as if announcing his presence. How Klaus was a morning person, she didn't know. He was up and ready to go, while she prefered to sleep in for a few more hours. But not today. She hadn't slept all night, choosing instead to stand out on her balcony and watch the moon disappear. The compound was large enough to house way more then her, Klaus and Elijah. With Rebekah gone, it felt even emptier than before.

There was not much to look at but the sky. Their lonely house was the only building for miles. The Mikaelson property was uncultivated, and boring. If Hope had stayed, maybe a few years she could have convinced Klaus to build Hope a space to play in. They could have gotten a dog, maybe even a few horses so Hayley could feel more at home.

She used to love to ride when she lived with her adoptive parents. She thought that once she left there was nothing she could ever miss about that place, and she willed it away from her memory. But she still missed feeling the wind blow through her hair, she missed the way she and the horse became one when set out into the field, both of them animalistic in nature.

"Klaus." She said aloud, snapping herself out of her memories. She could feel the warmth seep away and a cold, emptiness settle in as she was brought back to the real world. A world where she was dead, an empty carcass of who she once was. She heard footsteps approaching before they stopped, and she knew it was him by the chill that ran down her back.

Klaus stood at her doorway, his arms crossed. He looked like he was about to nag her before he thought better of it. That was Elijah's job. "What are you doing?" He asked, registering her expression. She looked sad, as if she had been thinking too much. Hayley shook her head and uncrossed her legs, and shifted off the ledge of the balcony. She stepped in through her window and stretched.

"Nothing," She said with a dismissive sigh. As she headed across the room, Klaus raised an eyebrow, and she knew he would push it and continue to examine her.

"Watching paint dry would be more far more enjoyable, don't you think?" He smirked and stepped into her room. " I'm sure you have something more useful to do with your time," Klaus stepped towards her and leaned into her shoulder, his hands clasped behind his back.. "Like going out and finding your family, perhaps." Her reaction was exactly what he expected. Hayley paused and avoided his gaze.

"They don't want to be found," She said in return, remembering what Ellie said to her long ago. "They don't consider me family. Not since I turned." Hayley crossed the room and opened her drawer, searching for her towel and her clothing for the day.

"Whether they consider you family or not, you share their blood." Klaus said, carefully watching her. "If there's one thing I know about family, is that you're bound for life. Death, even. They cannot deny your ancestry, your lineage. You are their queen, and they will kneel before you." He stepped closer to her. Hayley rolled her eyes and glared at him.

"Spare me your power trips, will you?" She said, slamming the drawer closed. "I'm not like them anymore. They've shut me out." She stalked up to him, her things in her hand. Klaus looked ready to respond but she was not having it, not today. "Unless you can bring my parents back to life and have them make everyone obey me, they won't."

"Instead of trying to make me a Queen, why don't you leave me alone and go sleep for a hundred years or something," Hayley bit, avoiding his gaze. She left the room before he could say another word, not knowing that for Klaus, that was a very big possibility.