Chapter 48: Manipulation

Elijah slowly emerged from the bayou trees and the crisp autumn-coloured leaves crunched beneath his perfectly polished Italian leather shoes. Hayley's eyes fluttered as she watched the sun bathe his form and dim his shadow. She found is hard sometimes to believe that she was with him, this ageless, immortal complex man who obliterated her unpleasant memories of drunk fumbles in the dark. Hayley damped her lip and she saw his eyes narrow ever so slightly as he looked at her with his intelligent eyes. She almost forgot anyone else was present.

Eve watched the pair with wise eyes and she felt a sadness grow within her, she could see it in their eyes, love and it was a pure kind. It's a sad sight to see forbidden lovers falling she thought to herself but inevitable. Eve almost felt ashamed for trying to keep them apart initially although her intent had been chaste. Elijah noted Eve's presence and looked briefly her way. The two had come to a strange kind of understand in the past months and so he acknowledge her with respect. As far as he was concerned anyone who had Hayley's best interest was a friend and not foe.

Speaking of foe's Elijah noticed Celeste restrained but relishing the moment as she always did. He recalled Hayley's question to Celeste.

"The answer Hayley is that you cannot." he spoke, calmly but firmly and Hayley sighed at his words. She knew he'd say this and she was in no mood to argue.

She turned back on her heel and fought the urge to roll her eyes.

"Elijah I've got this." She then spoke confidently and he raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Why can't you trust me on this?" she then challenged with disappointment in her tone.

Elijah saw the frustrated look on Hayley's face. She was a stubborn thing, he knew that for sure.

"Hayley..." Elijah sighed but remained calm and soft toned despite noting Hayley's passions bubble within her. He knew what the cure to Crescent Curse meant to her but he had to keep her safe. How could he not?

"Believe me I do not doubt you for one second, it's her I don't trust" he spoke sincerely, hissing slightly at the reference to Celeste for currently she seemed to be the cause for all his troubles. How had their love soured so...? Elijah observed his ex with disgust.

Hayley listened and considered Elijah's speech but despite his words somehow she just knew that Celeste was the key to curing her pack. Hayley had learnt from a young age to act on impulse to trust her gut. She knew not if this was a wolf thing or a trait her troubled life had just somehow instilled in her but that was the way she was. While Elijah, planned and analysed, paying attention to small details Hayley often chose to latch onto her beliefs and deal with the consequences later. She was a born risk taker and if he didn't understand that, she felt that he'd just have to try harder. Hayley shook her head turned around to face him.

Elijah watched her worriedly. He knew this was how she was. He knew she would do what she feels is right regardless of what anyone else had to say and as much as this trait made him love her more, it did frighten him. It frightened him for selfish reasons. Hayley's safety was paramount. However, not only for his brother's sake, for he still believed his niece would be the key to Niklaus' redemption but because he had confessed that night that Hayley was his own. His salvation.

My Salvation. Elijah thought. He could not lose her.

"She's the only one who can help my pack Elijah, I know what Celeste has done and I know you want your revenge but if you mean what you've just said let me do this, let me do this and then she's all yours." Hayley pleaded passionately and before he could speak Hayley had already reached for a penknife s and Celeste's ties were slashed open.

Elijah's heart drummed as he in turn watched on in horror, ready to act in a single heartbeat but Celeste remained still. Hayley then turned to Eve and nodded in acknowledgement so that the creation of the cure could be seen through. Celeste smiled smugly as she reached forwards for an array of ingredients and began her recipe. She turned to Elijah briefly as if to attempt to strike a nerve.

Elijah's scowled at her but turned towards the woman he truly loved.

"Hayley-" Elijah called out striding towards her and grabbing her wrist instinctively. He couldn't let her take such risks.

"You cannot trust her." He spoke more adamantly, stressing each word.

"You have no idea what she may create with those ingredients; she could easily slaughter an entire bloodline. She could easily harm you... Listen to me." He spoke with frustration and love as he tugged her but his voice then softened and his fingers soothed her wrist.

Celeste watched from the corner of her eye as she swirled herbs together in murky looking mason jar.

Hayley's lips were pursed, this was her stubborn glare. She wasn't about to budge and Elijah realised that there was nothing he could now say to change her mind.

He dropped her wrist and combed back his hair, pressing his palm against his forehead before blowing some steam. His voice grew louder.

"And what may I ask do you plan on doing with her?" he spoke in a slightly more incredulous tone.

"You plan to take this, "cure", offer it to you pack and then what? Hold her captive for a month? Do you understand what that would take Hayley? You'd need an army."

Hayley stepped back feeling disrespected by his tone and Elijah's heart clenched at seeing her back away from him. He wanted her close, he always wanted her close. Hayley's eyes flashed as her teeth set within her mouth.

"I have one." She then replied coolly and for once she truly felt like royalty for what followed made her blood tingle. Hayley's pack howled out in agreement, each echoing sound symbolising a pledge to her, her word, her decision as alpha.

As Elijah's came to his realisation so did Hayley. Jackson is right, she thought. I am their Queen.

Just then Celeste's stopped for a second before standing up and offering the jar of swirling lime green liquid to Hayley who examined it with an odd mixed feeling of hope and anticipation. She clutched it within her hands and looked up at Elijah in the hope that he would understand her reasons.

"Well there you are Hayley, now there's nothing stopping you from marrying your betrothed and having lots of little wolves to go with that miracle baby cooking in there." Celeste waved a figure towards Hayley's baby bump in turn breaking the silence.

Hayley's heart skipped a beat and she felt the sudden urge to tear out Celeste's throat. The mind link, she had no right but it was too late.

Elijah stared at her with a million questions.

"Betrothed?" he spoke dryly and Hayley caught her breath; this was not the time or the place to discuss her marriage prospects.

Elijah didn't quite understand the feelings that followed but he felt a heat under his collar. Betrothed. He lulled the word in his mind and felt a sudden shot of anger. What was this feeling? Surely not. he considered. But yes it was jealousy. The thought of another claiming the woman he had found after centuries of agony pained him but what scared him more so was that Hayley had not told him.

Elijah felt shock and fear. She's considering it. It's the only reason she would keep this from me.

Hayley saw Elijah's face grow pale. She grew worried at thinking of the thoughts he must be exploring. She had deceived him again. I should have told him sooner. Hayley cursed inside.

Today was turning out to be one huge mess.