Lure of the Moon Chapter Two

The house appeared quiet upon their return. Hayley toyed with the idea of slipping off to bed before Klaus and Rebecca returned, when a voice called demandingly from the study, "In here, please."

She paused in the hallway, anxiety gnawing at her. A hand rested gently on her back, "Come on," Elijah murmured, "It won't do any good to put this conversation off."

Arms folded, Hayley paced into the small study, Elijah behind her. Klaus was standing in front of the fireplace, hands behind his back, his posture stiff. Anxiety dissipated at the sight of him and her body thrilling with a low surge of anger, Hayley eyed him defiantly, "You summoned?" This was the kind of carelessness that Klaus rewarded with pain but she could not quite bring herself to care. Klaus was the root of all her troubles. On the night they spent together, Hayley had already known many things about Klaus. She knew he was immortal, knew the depths of his legendary depravity. He was notorious for his remorselessness, his ruthlessness, his lust for the cruellest forms of revenge. He was not however, known for his fertility and much as Hayley hated herself for allowing such a reckless encounter to happen, she hated him more for his ability to reproduce.

Guilt struck and her hands fluttered to her stomach.

I didn't mean that.

Both men, she knew, were watching her. She could feel Elijah's eyes on her back. Klaus was surprisingly calm. He glanced past her, at Elijah, half nodded and returned his attention to Hayley.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Hayley said, somewhat uncertainly for this wasn't quite the reaction she had expected.

Klaus stared at her silently. "Hayley, I understand that living with three ancient vampires doesn't quite meet the ambitions and dreams of a girl your age but allow me be perfectly clear on something. Look at me," Command edged his voice and Hayley reluctantly lifted her eyes to his, "There will be no further escapades. If you attempt to leave this house without the permission and companionship of Elijah, Rebecca or myself, I will compel you to sit in that chair for the next seven months, is that clear?" Hayley nodded, every emotion dulled, her fingers circling her stomach. Klaus watched the movement, a strange expression flitting over his face. "Your comfort in this arrangement is entirely of your own choosing. I have no wish to treat the mother of my child in an unbecoming manner but I will not allow you to put yourself in danger during this pregnancy. If you do not make safe choices for yourself, we will have no alternative but to make them for you I'd advise you to remember that." He half- bowed, a throwback to a more courteous time, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go and rebuild some bridges."

He was gone. Hayley stayed where she was until finally Elijah stirred behind her. She felt his hand clasp her elbow."Klaus felt your absence terribly," Elijah said quietly, "His customary rage seems to have been superseded by a genuine concern for the child." He paused, "Heed his warning Hayley for he will use any means necessary to ensure you do not leave again."

"And you" She turned bitter eyes to him, "will doubtlessly help him."

Elijah regarded her implacably, his silence, answer enough.

Hayley looked away, angry tears stinging.

Focus

"What did he mean, rebuild bridges?"

"He nearly tore the city apart looking for you. Marcel is still cleaning up the mess."

Hayley winced at that, "That was never my intention."

Elijah tipped back and eyed her thoughtfully. "What was that intention?"

"It doesn't matter anymore," Hayley said, "I'm back now." She tugged her arm free and slipped past him. "I need to rest."

His words, a low warning, followed her out the door, "We'll talk in the morning, Hayley."

They didn't speak the next morning, or any morning that week. Hayley endured Rebecca's outrage and Klaus's insistence on reminding her of her new captivity at every opportunity, with a mute obstinacy. Elijah hovered, waiting, she supposed, for her to speak, or rage or perhaps, cry.

You can live another thousand years and you won't see that, Hayley thought savagely. Instead, Hayley retreated into silence. There was a comfort in it, closing her eyes, she could imagine the woods, savour the freedom that felt so elusive when she stirred and again found herself in the mansion. It was then, in the quiet library, or the dusted, unused nursery, her eyes closed as she curled in a chair, that she found some solace.

Or on nights like this one, when Hayley remained outside, resting on the recliner, her eyes fixed on the moon, high in the sky.

"It's a beautiful night."

Elijah.

"Come to check that I haven't made another great escape?"

Hayley heard him chuckle behind her and for the first time in days, despite herself, she felt a smile tug on her lips.

Elijah appeared and sat on the adjacent recliner. He swung his legs around and eyed Hayley, that quick vampire vision of his catching, she knew, the last traces of her smile. "Actually," he said, holding out a folded blanket, "I thought you might be getting chilly."

Hayley took it and shook it out, wrapping herself beneath it, her gaze drifting back to the moon, "Thank you."

His eyes were still on her. "You're welcome."

They sat there, in companionable silence, a light breeze whipping around them, as the night temperature dropped.

"Hayley," Elijah said calmly, "Talk to me."

"Don't," Hayley said with equal quiet, "Don't say anything, Elijah."

Elijah half nodded and there they sat there, for hours.

It became a nightly ritual. They sat under the night sky, until Hayley's eyes grew heavy and weariness claimed her, her last sight, the grey cavern depths of the moon lulling her into sleep. She was lifted each night by Elijah and carried to bed. She stirred then, aware of his light caress, as he swept her hair back, his hand lingering on her face. This was the last comfort she knew before falling into oblivion.

"It's the moon then?"

Hayley looked up from her book. Elijah had appeared, as usual, as though from air.

"The moon?"

"You," Elijah's voice was quiet but convinced, "miss it."

"I miss a great big white ball in the sky?" Hayley said, her voice thick with sarcasm, "That's your theory?"

Elijah watched her, his eyes kind.

Perhaps it was the question that got to her. Perhaps it was the kindness in his gaze.

Something thumped in her chest.

Sorrow.

In a single breath, she felt it.

It assaulted her, swallowed her whole, the sudden crushing weight of her life now. Anchored here, she was trapped forever. The easy recklessness of her youth, the adventures of her past were gone forever. She was locked into life with a supernatural beast and his many, many enemies. Her daughter caught between them all. She might fight and rail against the Originals but this prison was of her own making, of her own choosing, she was bringing a child into the world to face this terrible fate. There was nowhere to run. Someone or something would always hate Klaus enough to harm his child and the safest place to be was under his wicked protection. She could not seek out the family of her past now, those who surrendered her at birth, for to do so, would be to draw them into this existence. She must remain where she was. The past forgotten.

This was her future.

Forever.

She frowned, a grief beating in her, her face contorting with anguish. Elijah was crouched beside her now, his face full of concern.

"Hayley,"

She shook her head, determined not to surrender to the avalanche of emotion. It would crush her.

"Hayley," Elijah said her name gently, lovingly. "Hayley," he clasped her hand, "I'm right here."

"It doesn't matter," she said thickly. "Don't you see? This is it. This is how it is now. I'm a million miles away from the moon."

Clarity cleared his face, as beside her, the vampire who had tried so desperately to find her, finally comprehended why she ran.

"Oh much more actually," Elijah said with a half-smile. He surveyed her for a moment, then turned to pull a chair closer. He settled himself in it, directly across from her and tilted forward. "Look at me."

Damp eyes rose to meet his.

"It's fine, Elijah." Hayley straightened slightly, pushing the tormenting feelings aside, hopelessness settling around her like a shroud, "Everything's fine."

"Don't do that," he said sharply, waiting as her attention snapped to him. "Don't surrender to whatever bleak future you've constructed for yourself and your daughter."

Ire flashed in her. "Bleak future? What about the right here and now, Elijah? Is this a life worth living?"

"Yes," Elijah said firmly. He released a frustrated breath and glanced away, his gaze lingering on the lawns. When he spoke again, it was with a measured tone, "While you were gone, all I wanted to do was find you and drag you back here by force if needs be." His eyes returned to fix on her, "I needed to know you were safe. I know you don't want to be here, I know that it must seem as though the entire universe has conspired against you to keep you here with three ancient vampires, but I cannot," Elijah paused, "I will not allow our enemies to find you and harm either you or the baby." His gaze did not waver. "That is the inevitable outcome if you step outside our protection."

The sorrow thumped at her. "I know."

"Then know this." Elijah leaned closer, gravity in his every movement. "Hayley, you are barely twenty years old. You are so very young. You have no concept of time and the change time brings. You cannot despair in a future yet unwritten. I have lived long enough to know that this is a pointless endeavour." He smiled gently, "You will run under your moon again."

Hayley shook her head, "You make it sound so very easy."

"I'm telling you the future is not inevitable." Elijah eased back, "Neither is the present. You would not need to live such a cossetted life with us if we could trust you wouldn't run."

"And if I run?"

There was an almost imperceptible shift in Elijah. A stiffness, a tautness, a grim intent, "Then I will find you and I will bring you home," he said in a low promise.

Hayley ran her hands over her face. "I hate this. God, I hate this."

Elijah waited patiently for her to elaborate. Hayley sprang to her feet and paced slowly. "Accept the gilded cage, don't dread the future, what kind of life is that Elijah?"

"In case you hadn't noticed," he said dryly from the chair, "I'm in the cage with you."

She paused mid-step and glanced at him. Elijah palmed his hands outward and shrugged, "It's true. My intent was not to come and stay in New Orleans but I have found Klaus and you here, and now, stay I must. We are bound together as family, Hayley, not one of us are free to escape that."

"So what," she huffed, "You'd rather be jaunting around Europe?"

"It's very beautiful there," Elijah said agreeably, "Perhaps, I'll show you one day but in the meantime," he rose to his feet and approached her carefully. "I'm asking you to trust me enough to tell me what you need to make the cage less…"

"Gildy?" Hayley enquired with a ghost of a smile on her pale face.

Elijah winced at her abuse of his much loved English language, "If you insist on using that term then yes," he broke into a grin himself, "less gildy."

Hayley considered him. Elijah stood before her, as honest as anyone she had ever known. No whitewashing, no attempt to soften his meaning or intent. Elijah had to navigate through the absurdity, through the danger, through the unknowns of this situation as much as she did. In some ways, he had made himself the only known factor in any of it. His cards were on the table.

Time for hers.

"Make the best out of a bad situation, that's the plan?" Hayley asked with a soft smile.

He returned it, "Something like that."

She nodded, acquiescing to his will and wisdom. "Fine, then I need space."

"Alright," Elijah said briskly, "What kind of space."

Hope sparked within, "As much as you can find me."

It was clear that the Originals had discussed their new game plan. Klaus and Rebecca relinquished the tight grip they had held over Hayley's every activity. Klaus paused behind her during her morning inspection of the fridge. She glanced around and watched as he slipped a set of car keys from his pocket.

"It's for the small Bentley out back," Klaus said, sliding them onto the kitchen surface, "She's a little beauty so I 'm trusting you with her." He glanced at her meaningfully and Hayley realised that they were talking about anything but a car, "Don't get a scratch on her."

It was the first of her freedoms. While she was quite sure one of them doubtlessly kept an eye on her, wherever she was, Hayley reclaimed an independence of sorts. There were agreements. Stay out of the city, avoid the quarter at all costs and no witchy contact. For the most part, Hayley complied. Frank was her weakness. Hayley missed him and despite debating the merits of rousing Klaus's prison officer tendencies, she ducked in to her favourite murky bar. Hayley was rewarded with a warm welcome from Frank and the regulars and soon found herself regaled with stories of various dramatics that had occurred in her absence.

Hayley glanced at her watch, "Time to go boys," she said with a bright smile, reaching for her jacket, "Until next time."

Frank walked her to the door, "Hey kid," he said sombrely, his tone catching her attention. The barman shifted uncomfortably and cleared his throat, "Listen kid, I hear things," Frank shrugged, "Things I probably shouldn't hear. Just be careful out there okay?" His voice dropped to a hush, "Stay out of the quarter, away from Marcel, you got that?"

Hayley eyed him in surprise, "Frank, I…"

He raised a hand, silencing her, "I don't ask questions Hayley but you're a good kid. Just do as I say and stay away from the quarter, you promise me that.."

Hayley nodded in half confusion, "I promise Frank." She found herself pulled into a quick hug and Frank was gone, back to the regulars and the bar. Hayley pulled her jacket on, pushed the door open and blinked in the morning sun.

"So, just to clear," a smooth voice asked, "You'll ignore my instructions but not those of Frank?" Leaning against the wall, one foot resting against it, arms folded, Elijah was standing there, looking as though he was talking to any random passer-by. Hayley wrestled with annoyance and amusement. Amusement won; the sight of Elijah there, lazily powerful and annoyingly all- knowing couldn't help but charm her. Hayley smiled and to her delight, Elijah broke into a grin which mirrored her own.

"You're impossible," Elijah told her, pushing himself from the wall.

"Every rule has an exception," Hayley said, "Frank is my exception." She took his proffered arm, idle thoughts of shopping forgotten as he claimed her full attention, "You can't ban me from Frank."

"An argument we shall save for another day," Elijah said teasingly, "I have other plans for us this weekend."

"Weekend?" Hayley repeated suspiciously. "What's the plan?"

He grinned down at her, "Space."

They reached the lake-house in the afternoon. Hayley got out of the car and breathed in the woodland.

"All yours for the weekend," Elijah murmured behind her, "All I ask is that you don't get yourself hurt out there."

Hayley rounded on him, eyes dancing. "I'll be back by nightfall." Reaching up, she kissed him gently on the cheek, her mind already racing to the woods, "Thank you Elijah."

She was gone, into the thick green. Elijah watched the wolf in her run. He unpacked the car and got the lake-house ready for Hayley's return.

THE END.