Ashes to Ashes
Elijah waited. He stood in the familiar corner of the Bayou where he had been so many times. He stood outside the cabin he and Hayley shared when Niklaus had bitten him; the place where she cared for him. He gazed out on to the lake at the full moon and sighed. What he would give to keep that perfect circle in the sky all night and day.
He hated his brother. Never in the past thousand years had he hated him. Through the death of Celeste, through his years spent with a dagger lodged in his chest, through every despicable act he had ever committed, Elijah always fought for his redemption. No more. He had finally done the one thing that Elijah could not forgive.
Footsteps to his left caused Elijah's head to swivel. Through the darkness of the forest, a woman approached him in the shadows. Hayley walked slowly towards him, allowing Elijah to drink in the sight of her bare body. She was the most beautiful creature Elijah had ever laid eyes on, and though Elijah knew he no longer had any claim to her, Niklaus had still taken that from him.
As Hayley stepped within a few feet of him, he stepped towards her and wrapped the coat he brought with him around her shoulders. Hayley pulled it around her and leaned into Elijah, allowing his arms to encircle her in a tight embrace. Elijah held her close to him. He leaned his head against hers and inhaled her scent. Though the smell of earth enveloped her, he could still make out her distinct smell. The two pulled slightly away after a moment, but Elijah held on to her arms, not quite ready to lose contact.
"How is she?" Hayley whispered. Her beautiful hazel eyes looked up at him, heartbroken and filled with anger all at once.
"She's safe and well, according to Freya," Elijah said. Hayley bit her lip and nodded, but focused her gaze down at the ground. Elijah caressed her cheek with his hand and sighed. He couldn't help himself. She looked back up at him and he tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.
"Hayley, I promise you, by whatever means necessary, I will release you from this," Elijah said softly. Hayley nodded subtly and clenched her jaw.
"I want you to make me another promise, Elijah. I can't let Klaus be the only thing that she knows. I need you to be there for her. Promise me that. She needs you," Hayley pleaded. Elijah nodded as his thumb stroked her cheek bone.
"Of course," he whispered. Hayley's eyes began to fill with tears, but she blinked them away before any could fall.
"I should go," she whispered hoarsely as she turned to go. Elijah gripped her arm softly before she could break away and she looked up at him once more.
"Hayley…" he began. But he could not finish the sentence. There was nothing he could say. His eyes searched hers for a moment more before he pulled her in for a last embrace. The two held each other tightly, not wanting the moment to end though both well aware Jackson was probably not too far away.
"I will not stop searching, Hayley, I promise you," Elijah whispered before placing a kiss on her forehead. Hayley audibly sighed and pulled away teary-eyed again. She gave Elijah a small smile and began to remove his jacket, but he put up a hand.
"Keep it. For next time," Elijah said. Hayley nodded and slowly backed away before turning and heading back into the forest. Elijah stood rooted in the same spot until he was sure he could not see or hear her anymore.