No pairing

*Special thanks to Phoenix_Queen (AO3/Wattpad) for continued support and ideas. These next few chapters were crafted from her ideas and detailed input.

*Emily and Chris, original characters, were also the idea of Jazmine F. ( ) as well as additional plot ideas.

Thank you both!

"The haft of the arrow had been feathered with one of the eagles own plumes. We often give our enemies the means of our own destruction."
― Aesop

Undetermined Location

Late May, 2011

Hayley groaned and held her head in pain.

"What the f-," She started to moan, before she realized she wasn't alone.

There was a man in the dark cell with her. Even with her wolf vision, she could barely make out his face.

"Ah, you are up? Let me see your head," the dark curly-haired man said, in a gruff, but not unlike tone.

"Wait! Who the hell are you? Where am I?" Hayley moaned, looking around the dank cell.

"That is a good question, but one that I cannot answer," the man said solemnly. Hayley let him examine the wound on her head. "You aren't healing because they dosed us with wolfsbane. Here, hold this on your head." The man tore a section from his t-shirt and gave it to Hayley to staunch the bleeding from her wound.

"Wolfsbane? I'm not even sure what happened. It's like my mind is blank," Hayley said. "I do know my name is Hayley."

The man, still couching, extended his large hand. "Nice to meet ya. I'm Mason. Mason Lockwood and we are guests of the Strix..."

Hayley took his hand and then blurted out. "Who are fuck are the Strix?"

But then they heard footsteps and Mason put a finger to his mouth and told Hayley to be quiet. A gas begun to filter into the cell and Hayley passed out again.

Louisiana Bayou

Mary's House

Saturday

One Day Earlier

Jackson smiled as he watched Hayley help Chris brush his teeth in the morning. The silent little boy chuckled at Hayley tickled him and lifted him up to spit out his toothpaste. Jackson leaned against the wall as Chris slipped out into the kitchen.

"You're so good with kids," Jackson commented.

"Yeah, you're not bad yourself. That was sweet of you to give him all those toys and play with him. It's nice to see him open up a little," Hayley commented. She wiped her mouth with a towel and then wrapped it around Jackson's neck to draw him closer. They kissed until Mary hollered at them again to come to the table for breakfast.

"We're coming, Grandma," Jackson laughed. Hayley grabbed Jackson's backside and he tried to get her back, but she was too quick.

"Would y'all stop playing grabass and eat?" Mary said, as she poured Chris' orange juice and put sausage on Jackson's plate. Emily smiled to see the two older werewolves come into the kitchen.

"We'll e-eat all the s-sausage, if you a-are l-late," Emily joked as she took a bite.

"We're coming. Don't be hasty," Jackson said, swiping a link from Chris' plate, which earned him a tap on the leg from Mary.

"So, what is y'all plans today? Anyone fixing to help me with my garden?" Mary asked, finally sitting down to eat herself.

"Ah, Jack and I were going to go out to the school today. Josh got the work permits approved and we are in business," Hayley announced.

"That's good news, hon. I'm real proud of what you are doing. So Jack, you are going to help me?" Mary asked with a smile.

"No, ma'am. I was going to go with Hayley. Emily and Chris are welcome to come. I think Ollie has a date," Jackson grinned. "Let me guess, he is still sleeping?"

"It's the weekend. I reckon one peaceful meal is what we all deserve. I'll wake him up if is fixin to sleep through lunch," Mary determined.

"That musta been some date last night," Hayley opined. "He didn't get in until late."

"He did call so I ain't going to have words with him over that. After all, y'all are almost out of school and I have no call treat ya like babies no more," Mary announced.

"Oh Mary, you never treated me like a baby. But Jack and Ollie, they needed it," Hayley joked. Jackson bit his lip and lightly went to kick Hayley under the table.

"Grandma, maybe I will do your garden today? I think that Miss Hayley wants to go to that big, ole school of hers alone today," Jackson suggested with a chuckle.

"Stop. You are coming with me. I need someone to carry stuff," Hayley pointed out. "Mary, we'll all help you when we get back or tomorrow."

Mary waved her hand. "It's fine. Y'all do what you need to do. But maybe you want to bring my fly swatter for Jackson, in case he acts up. Just the sight of that thing makes him behave."

Jackson put his hands up. "I'm behaving. No use for violence here. Chris, do you see how us guys get treated around here. How about you come with me to check the traps? We can get a little break, huh?"

Chris nodded his head up and down with a grin. He loved going out further into the Bayou with Jackson, especially when the older teen let him ride on his shoulders.

"T-Thanks, H-Hayley, I w-would l-love to see your s-s-school," Emily admitted.

"Sure. We'd be happy to have you. It should be safe. Josh is sending the workers and he said he and Aiden would come by with Sarah this morning. Hey, she's about the same age as Chris," Hayley noted.

"She's sweet little thing, too," Mary said. "But she also has her two daddies wrapped around her little finger. Eat up, kids, there is plenty more."

"Good. I'm going to eat it all just to teach Ollie not to oversleep so much," Jackson said loudly.

"Maybe I will put that fly swatter in my bag," Hayley said to Mary.

Emily was confused. "W-What's the f-fly s-swatter for?"

Jackson groaned and said, "That's my cue to bust outta here. Chris, buddy, you all done? Good. Let's git."

Jackson shoved a last link of sausage in his mouth and grabbed Chris to go.

Mary yelled, "Don't forget his bug spray!"

Former Fleur-de-Lis Sanatorium

Mid-Morning

Emily gasped to see the huge old building.

"I-It's so b-b-big," Emily said as they pulled up in Mary's old truck.

"Yes, we are only going to be using half of it. Just getting the other half ready is going to be a big renovation, but Josh said his vampires will help at night also," Hayley said.

Jackson got Chris out of the car and pointed out some of the construction vehicles, that Chris was excited to see.

"I'm going to take him to see those bulldozers," Jackson said.

"We'll find Aiden and Josh," Hayley said, as she and Emily started walking up the long flight of steps up to the front doors.

"Hey, you made it," Josh said excitedly. He hugged Hayley and greeted Emily.

"Wow, your guys do work fast," Hayley breathed. "It's starting to become real. Josh, thanks so much for all your help."

"Hey, Marcel made this his priority and so it is mine. He is really the one who is behind this, and of course, the Mikaelson Foundation," Josh revealed. To Emily, he explained. "Marcus, is kinda like the old King of New Orleans. But now, there is a faction of vamps, witches, wolves, and humans running things. I know it is a lot, at first."

"N-No, H-Hayley and Jack explained it to m-me. This is r-real n-nice what y'all a-are t-trying to d-do here," Emily said quietly.

"Where's Aiden and Sarah?" Hayley asked, looking around. She saw various workman in hardhats everywhere, but no sign of Josh's boyfriend and daughter.

"Ah, we had a little issue. I guess Sarah has been hoarding candy. She overdid it and now has a bit of a tummy ache. Aiden said they would stop by if she felt better later," Josh explained.

"Candy? Damn, that must have been a lot of candy," Hayley laughed.

"Don't go there. We thought we found all of her stashes, but yeah, we were wrong. So Hayley, let me go over the latest plans with you. The project supervisor, Neil, is over there. Let me grab him and I'll catch up with you," Josh stated.

Hayley smiled, "Sure. I'm just going to take a peek in my new office. Emily, you can go find the boys."

"O-Okay," Emily said. Hayley knew she was uncomfortable being away from Chris for long periods.

Hayley went through sheets of plastic into the now almost finished administrative area. She already had picked a desk and office furniture. She saw boxes containing a desktop computer, printer, fax machine and other office basics that she had no idea how to set up. The Mikaelson Foundation had spared no expense, it seemed.

Hayley sat down in the office chair, after tearing away the plastic cover, and sunk down. She spun around and smiled to herself. She not only felt like an adult finally, but a boss. It was going to happen. The werewolf kids in the Bayou could come here and learn what they needed to be successful. Other kids like Emily, Chris, and Sarah could come here for an education and any therapies they may need. Hayley shut her eyes a moment and let herself feel happy.

"You look content," a voice said. Hayley popped open her eyes and saw a figure in a saffron robe. The room seemed to sway and mist, Hayley put her hands on her thighs to steady herself. She was feeling odd.

"Who the hell are you? How did you get in here?" Hayley gasped. She could barely see the face of the figure who was only feet from her. She sniffed the air, hoping to catch a scent, but there was nothing. This was no human or wolf...This was something else.

"There is not your concern. The Mikaelsons must think very highly of you to invest so much in this venture. We had our eye on another wolf, but few have your purity of a bloodline. Our records showed that the Labonair Family was all deceased, but imagine our surprise when you showed up at the charity ball," The figure intoned. Hayley couldn't discern the gender or age of the figure, the voice had an eerie vibration that sounded odd to her. She was afraid.

"What do you want? There is nothing valuable here," Hayley said, standing up from the comfortable chair.

"Oh, that is not correct. You are very valuable. Come with me now. We will not hurt you, well, not physically anyway. If you fight and your friends get involved, my cohort will kill them all. They mean nothing to us," the figure shared lightly, as if it were discussing the weather.

"No, don't hurt them," Hayley begged. Her eyes glowed yellow a moment, but then she caught sight of Jackson, Chris, and Emily outside by the construction vehicles. Jackson was laughing and sitting Chris in the seat of the bulldozer.

"Then, take my hand," The figure said, it stretched out an unnaturally long fingered hand to her. Shuddering, Hayley took the cold grip and felt herself entering another realm. The last thing she saw before she went unconscious was the figure's face. She didn't even have time to scream.

"Hayley?" Josh called. He saw the discarded plastic and the chair was still rocking slightly. He smelled the air and could tell Hayley had just been here. The chair was still warm. Josh listened for a heartbeat and heard nothing. As Josh was about to turn to search elsewhere, he found a pale, white feather, no bigger than his pinky.

Had there been a bird in the room? Hayley seemed to disappear into thin air.

It was several hours later when Josh called Father Sean. But there was still no sign of Hayley. No clue except the feather. He had no idea what to do.

Undetermined Location

Present time

Hayley woke up alone. She was now in a single cell with a bed and a small sink and toilet. There was a tray of food on a table and she felt sore, all over. What had they done to her? She tried to stand, but sat quickly, as the world spun. She fell back into a deep sleep.

Louisiana Bayou

Mary's House

Evening

When Jackson came home without Hayley, Mary came out to the truck to greet him.

Jackson jumped out of the truck with his eyes fiery and mad, but Mary held open her still strong arms and Jackson crumpled.

"She just d-disappeared, Grandma! All they found is a damn feather," Jackson sobbed. "What kind of monster has feathers?"

"Some kinda bird?" Ollie wondered.

Emily shrugged and looked at her little brother. Had he just spoken?

"A-Angels," Chris said in a near whisper. "They was feathers in our house after Grandfather killed...them."

Ollie had come home early from his date and said, "What's that? Angels?"

Emily grasped Christopher by the arms, "Chris, y-you t-talked!"

Everyone was shocked. They, aside from Emily, had never heard Chris speak.

Almost as if he were in a trance, the small blond hair child went on, "When grandfather came and killed Mama and Daddy, I c-could hear his thoughts. He was in a b-bad group, they said this all had to e-end," Christopher said. "The world."

Emily looked up at the others in shock, "I didn't h-hear any of t-that. Y-You are m-m-m-making up s-stories."

Christopher broke away and ran to Mary and Jackson. "I'm not lying. I could hear his thoughts. He was looking for a weapon, some kind of knife that claims souls for the dark side..."

Emily stammered, "N-No, Chris, I d-don't r-recall. I c-can't..."

Mary pulled Emily gently to the porch while Jackson swiped a rough hand over his face. He picked up Christopher and carried him over to where they sat on the stoop.

Mary put a hand through Emily's hand. "Just take a breath, Emily. And then try to remember, Hayley's life could be in danger here. Please, just try."

Emily closed her eyes and clutched onto Mary's rough hand for strength. She remembered the feathers...they pooled around her parents' bodies and blood before the fire.

She began to speak in a clear, even voice, "I do remember the feathers. Grandfather was looking for something. He said we were abominations and he needed to destroy us. He wasn't thinking in English, it was another language, but I could hear it, too. And Daddy's thoughts. He told us to stay quiet and not move, but in our minds, in that language. Then, Grandfather said he would smite him if he didn't give him the blade. Daddy said he didn't have nothing like that and then..."
Emily stopped and opened up her eyes.

"Emily, you didn't stutter one time," Ollie breathed.

"No, I suppose not," Emily said. "I'm not sure why."
"Remember how mama said we was her angels?" Christopher said suddenly. "Emily, grandfather said we were half-angel and half-mermaid. Daddy wasn't supposed to run away with mama. It weren't the proph-prophecent!"

"Prophecy. There is some prophecy in play," Emily gasped, standing up. "And all who fight the end must be destroyed. There was a person in a yellow robe. That's who started the fire...and that's where the feathers came from. I think it was an angel!"

Mary frowned and put an arm around the children.

"I don't know what's happening here or how Hayley got mixed up in this mess, but I am calling Marcel Gerard. This is not wolf business and we are going to need some help," Mary determined.

Jackson patted Chris on the head. "Yeah, I'll call Josh and give him a head's up, too."

"Don't worry, Jack. We'll get Hayley back even if we have to kill every last one of these angel bastards," Ollie roared. Mary slapped Ollie on the back of the head and went inside to make the call.