Seeing Blind

Elijah's eyes latched on to her the instant she stumbled into view.

While his heart immediately melted it as equally as quick fizzed with a worry, something was wrong.

Hayley faltered following the sound of his voice using her hands to wave away the invisible obstructions she felt was around her.

"Why the hell is it so dark?" she murmured angrily and Elijah lurched forwards full force, the sharp sound of the chains causing Hayley to lose her concentration and freeze. She was walking into a shelf full of candles and despite considering her hybrid healing capabilities the thought of any harm coming to her in his mother's hexed den made his pulse quicken.

"Stop. Don't move." Elijah spoke unable to hide the worry in his tone. He cursed at the restraints.

Hayley's face displayed a confused expression.

"It's not dark." Elijah replied breaking each word in order to his explain except his voice dry and coarse.

Hayley noticed this and began imagining the state he was in but then brushed the thought aside several questions forming in her mind.

"What do you mean?" she breathed perplexed.

Elijah on the other hand knew the curse well. "You're suffering the effects of a temporary blinding curse. I believe it is one of my mother's favourites." He explained with a hint of disgust on recalling its use by his mother in the past.

"What?" Hayley shook a little, now that she was aware of the blindness her disorientation had increased.

"Hayley stay still." Elijah croaked, the chains rattling uselessly.

"Blind!" Hayley called out angrily, the Mikaelson mother was really pushing her way up her "To Kill" list now.

Elijah felt the urge to roll his eyes, his lips almost even curled into a smile. She never failed to amuse him, even in times of despair. Also, the fact that she could not see him meant he did not have to hide it.

"Temporary." He replied in a one worded response and before she had the opportunity to curse or complain Elijah spoke again.

"Take a quarter of a turn to your left." He then spoke his voice had found his cool composure and he refused to accept it was her familiar face blocking all his pain receptors.

Hayley took in the instruction, her thoughts gliding over to "Mentor Elijah" for the slightest second and then returning to complete the action he had described. Elijah wondered what she was thinking about his eyes narrowing slightly, observing her with detail.

"Good. Now take around ten or so step forwards." He spoke watching her carefully as she obliged.

She was nearing him now and his heart quickened a little as her pace was faster than her average one that he had expected meaning ten steps was a few too much. Unknown to him this was as Hayley unconsciously anxiously wished to get to him knowing that despite sounding okay he probably was not.

She sort of lost count of the steps but maintained the direction causing herself to near him more closely. She then grew confused, reaching out her arm to guide herself but instead of reaching out into a void found her hand flat upon something warm and smooth.

Before Elijah could warn her of his error he felt her touch and something inside him softened. He looked down at her hand which was flatly pressed against his bare stomach and then his eyes trailed curiously to her expression. Despite the cuts he forced himself not to hiss, not to make a sound that would startle her. Her touch was magic and her scent now wrapped him entirely.

Hayley eyes widened as she realised what she had done. She felt her pulse quicken and blood rush to her cheeks as she realised she had held her hand in place for longer that the situation required. Her eyes flickered sideways and she held the hand with her free one a little nervously and then placed them both at her sides.

Elijah's eyes glinted; he found he couldn't stop himself from being a touch amused.

Hayley struggled with what to say, she was currently blind so couldn't exactly opt for the "Let's get out of here." She had planned. As she thought her eyebrows then furrowed.

"Elijah how did you know it was me?" she asked realising now that he had called her name before she had left her hiding place.

Elijah damped his lips at her unexpected question. He had thought she would ask about Esther who he was worried would walk in any second.

He then thought about how to phrase an acceptable answer for her actual question but in the midst of such an unanticipated turn of events failed.

"Your scent." He breathe and it almost grew in the air as he mentioned it.

Hayley fought to not give away her fluttering heart and flushes but she knew she was failing. She knew he was watching her and her lips after a few seconds formed a pout her eyes growing that tiny bit fiercer.

"How long does this take to wear off?" She then asked frustrated swiftly changing the subject.

"How long have you been here?" he replied and then interrupting her added, "And what may I ask are you doing here in the first place."

Hayley huffed.

"I don't exactly know Marcel and your baby vamp trainee and I split directions, I don't know where they are, I ended up here, nabbed by one of your mother's witchy rebels." She explained and Elijah noticed her emphasis on the mentioning of who he assumed to be "his" Gia.

He narrowed his eyes on noticing her angered expression trying to fathom what was swirling about in her mind. He recalled her expression on finding him with his student and began to think.

"Please tell me this isn't some sort of rescue mission." He spoke firmly hiding his underlying thoughts.

"Did you think we'd just leave you here?" Hayley spoke out and in her opinion slightly too soon.

"Hayley my Mother is capable of –" Elijah began but was cut off.

"What has she done to you...?" Hayley had breathed softly, her sensing were coming into better play now and she could smell his blood, her stomach clenching and knowing if his healing was this slow his state must be dreadful. She looked into the dark trying to picture where and how he was.

"Hayley..." Elijah softly spoke to her trying to make her aware of the danger she was in.

"Elijah your mother's minions brought me here, so it's pretty much certain she knows I'm here." She spoke abruptly not wanting to hear another word about her safety in his tone again.

"Entirely correct." Elijah replied. "But have you wondered why you're here?" Elijah pressed the words to make her think.

She was right, but then if Esther knew she was here what did she want her for?

Something in Elijah's mind suddenly clicked. Tatia, Hayley, what if she required Hayley to sever the empowerment somehow. His heart rates quickened and Hayley heard. His mother was hell bent on this "purification process" and he knew she was the determined sort.

"What? What is it?" Hayley asked instinctively taking a step forwards.

But before he could answer question she was distracted by herself. She felt the darkness in front of her whirl and fuzz. Elijah's own attention locked onto her also.

Hayley blinked repeatedly as colour swirled into world and the golden blur before her began to grow more and more distinct.

Her vision was returning.