A/N: Sorry for missing last weeks upload, I've been busy with A-Level results day etc!
P.S - Please feel free to review with any ideas or requests you may have , they are much appreciated! :)
Chapter 36: Truth Be Told
The compound fell into a discomforting silence as all its inhabitants bit their lips or pivoted on their heels in impatience to decide on their next moves.
You could even hear the creak of the wooden structure as Hayley's restless feet changed pressure on the wooden stair as she waited with pink pursed lips and an expression that could make anyone cautious.
Beneath her Elijah's posture remained slightly too rigid than usual, his jawline distinct, his shirt slightly strained and although it seemed that his head was hung in thought, through the corner of his sharp gaze he observed only Hayley.
Klaus was the first to be defeated by this uneasy setting and so he let out an irritated huff before striding out the doors ready to wrap his hands around someone's throat. In turn, Marcel also moved hovering a little and after flashing a curious look at Rebekah, he too then disappeared, with Rebekah slipping behind soon after.
Hayley flashed a look towards the sky and cursed inside at the blonde original's departure. She then drummed her fingers on the wooded railing in agitation not wanting to look in Elijah's direction knowing that that would be enough to begin one of his explanations.
"He didn't tell me about Davina drawing freakish pictures of his ex okay. "She settled in her mind but knew there was something more. Something he wasn't telling her.
"He wouldn't look so damn guilty if there wasn't." Hayley muttered in thought.
Elijah waited patiently as if he was looking for the right time to begin to speak.
Hayley shook her head a little.
"This is stupid, I'm out of here." Hayley spoke aloud not wanting to deal with whatever this was. She wasn't used to relationships especially not with men like Elijah freaking Mikaelson. She thundered down the staircase ready to strut out of the deserted compound and leave Elijah with dead Papa Tunde as company.
Elijah's eyes widened as he was hit with the fact that Hayley was not about to reason with him. He grew alert matching her speed as she sauntered away.
"Hayley." He called as he strode to catch up with her, however Hayley only increased her speed leaving Elijah no other choice but to vamp himself into her way so that she collided with him after a few more steps. Hayley took a step back and her eyes narrowed angrily though she made no attempt to move.
"Elijah I don't have anything to say okay. Shouldn't you be witch hunting or something anyway." Hayley attempted to change the subject.
"That's entirely beside the point.. Hayley I didn't mention he drawings because..." Elijah grasped the conversation.
"Because what?" Hayley snapped angrily her lips pursing.
"Because..." Elijah hesitated a little pulling her arm to bring her closer for quite frankly this extra distant was discomforting him.
Hayley raised her eyebrows pressing him for an answer.
"Let's just say I have a theory." Elijah admitted.
"A theory." Hayley scoffed moving away from his hold and folding her arms.
"And let me guess, you can't say what this theory is." She then challenged.
Elijah blinked slowly, considering her statement. He soon came to the decision that it was time to confess.
"My theory concerns Sabine." He began and Hayley listened carefully though confused.
"What about her?" Hayley asked.
Elijah lowered his head dampening his lips and then faced her directly.
He spoke slowly and gradually praying for no bad consequence to his next reveal.
"I believe she may be Celeste." He declared.
Hayley's heart decided to emergency brake.
"What?" she exclaimed incredulous.
She ran her hands through her hair completely ignoring him and turned sharply on her heal to face away.
Elijah took a step forward though Hayley turned back just as sharply and warned him away.
"How long?" Hayley snapped too taken aback by this information to retain any level of calm.
"Hayley, I'm still not entirely sure, a theory..."
"I know what a god damn theory is Elijah just for how long have you thought this was possible?"
"A while, before the harvest it was just an inkling.."
"Before the harvest? You let the freaking harvest happen knowing that..." Hayley mumbled in thought.
"The whole damn thing with the bones." She then recalled.
"Hayley I was not at all certain – I - Let me explain." He pleaded distraught by her reaction, this outburst.
"Forget it Elijah, I don't think I even want to know about your not so dead lover." She muttered walking away.
Elijah winced at this stabbing line frozen in a diplomatic position.
"We don't know for sure..." He began to say though trailed off wisely, blinking rapidly as she disappeared from his view.
Although he desperately wished to go after her he knew his attempt would not be successful and so he eventually decided on another approach.
Rebekah stood at the glimmering decanter hastily pouring out herself a generous glass of scotch. She barely noticed her big brother nearing the room and almost spluttered a little as she eventually noticed him from the brim of her glass.
"It's not too early for scotch, is it, with all the witchy shenanigans and subterfuge afoot?" she asked sarcastically.
Elijah rested himself at the doorframe peering inside.
"It is entirely too early if one intends to drive, yes." He answered.
Rebekah cast him a look and took another sip.
"Funny, I don't have any plans to go anywhere." She replied.
Elijah lifted his gaze off the ground to look directly at his sister.
"She's not safe here. You have to take Hayley to the plantation house until this is over." He spoke swiftly.
"Are you worried about Hayley or whether or not you can trust me?" Rebekah asked reminded of their most recent spat.
"Rebekah it's precisely because I trust you that I'm asking you to do this." Elijah reassured her.
"Okay first things first why don't you let Hayley decide on her own, why dictate her fate?"
Elijah raised his eyebrows.
"You know why." He replied.
Rebekah smiled a little pleased that this time it had taken little for him to admit his concerns but then a thought crossed her mind.
"Wait why don't you take her yourself?" she asked pouring herself a little more to drink.
Elijah slipped off the door frame and reached her slyly taking the glass from her hands as she waited for an answer.
"We're not exactly on the best of terms at the moment." He admitted sadly causing Rebekah to shed confused look.
"So would you kindly do this for me?" he then asked.
"You know the mama wolf doesn't like to be told what to do. She's not going to like it, but I will do it for you, if only to end this silly quarrel between the two of us. And plus I do have an idea that'll make thing easier." She mused hovering at the door before leaving.
Elijah smiled glad that whether or not Hayley was about to come around she'd at least be safe.
He slumped himself into a chair and poured himself a scotch.
"How can one so effortlessly miss another that is not physically far?" he pondered reminded yet again of what a cord it was that was struck between him and who he loved.