I wanted to thank a GUEST for their ridiculously awesome review. It was like a novel and it literally made my day. Those are my favorite to read. :)
Elijah really didn't have to carry many things. Between him and Hayley, there were only two pieces of luggage. The only belongings Hayley had were the few things Elijah was able to buy her while she was transitioning between human death and vampire awakening. H remembered finding her in clothes, that he could tell were not her own, and seeing how they were covered in her blood. Elijah silently walked toward the front entrance of Klaus' mansion. But Hayley stopped him; gently place her hand around his forearm.
"We don't have to stay here." She told him softly. But Elijah shook his head. They had already discussed this. With Hayley officially declared missing, staying at a hotel where guests from around the country came and went was not the best idea. The news was only locally broadcasted, which really didn't put her in danger of blowing her cover. But Klaus was the one who suggested they finally joined the rest of them at his mansion.
Hayley agreed to it after considering the idea with Elijah privately. Although she decided it would be easier to keep her cover while staying there, she had an ulterior motive. Hayley wanted Elijah to truly reunify with his family. She knew, of all people, how much he missed them when he had believed them to be dead. And now, because of Klaus, he felt he had to put up a front. He was being stubborn, something Elijah rarely displayed. But Hayley was more stubborn. And she wouldn't give up until they were back to how they used to be.
"We all know it's for the best." Elijah finally said as he continued walking toward the front door. As soon as they stepped inside, they were met with Kol.
"Hey." Hayley smiled at him politely. She liked the youngest Mikaelson brother, even though it was clear he got on Elijah's nerves. Kol was like a child. Only, instead of throwing a tantrum when something upset him, he went on a murderous rampage. Elijah had made a comment in passing at how well Hayley dealt with his brother's unpredictability.
"There's our girl. Would you like to join me on a little hunt? I overheard that some prissy teenager is have quite a party tonight. This town practically begs me to murder them." Kol said, completely ignoring his brother's presence.
"Hayley is not here to be your plaything, Kol." Elijah said evenly.
"We should get you a dog…" Hayley was quick to stand up for herself. "But I'm honestly not sure you are capable of such responsibility. And who knows, you would probably eat it anyway." She countered friskily. Elijah smiled at her discreet insult.
Before Kol was able to put another word in, Klaus came down the stairs. Although he hid it well, he felt a step forward had been taken now that Elijah and Hayley had agreed to live with their family.
"Shall I show you to your room?" Klaus said. Instead of sounding excited or honored by his new guests, he was overly smug. Elijah took in a deep breath. He had promised Hayley he would stay open minded when it came to Niklaus. She completely read his annoyed expression. Quickly, she kissed him on the cheek and then went to Klaus' side. With his haughty expression, he led both of them up the stairs. He guided them through all the hallways; taking so many turns that Hayley wasn't sure she'd find her way back.
Eventually Klaus opened double French doors that had intricate carvings and gold detailing on them. Hayley glanced around the giant room in awe while Elijah placed their luggage neatly in the giant closet. It was nothing he hadn't seen before. Then Klaus stepped close to Hayley, his hands politely behind his back.
"I have something else I wish to show you." He whispered so quietly that even Elijah couldn't hear him with his vampire hearing. Hayley looked confused but slowly nodded her head and followed Klaus out of the room. Once again, she trailed him through the halls of the mansion. The entire place was exquisitely decorated. But it really wasn't a surprise for the oldest vampires to have such lavish things constantly surrounding them.
"Nik…have you ever heard the phrase 'the best things in life are free' or perhaps, 'less is more'?" Hayley asked him with a smile as she stared straight ahead.
Klaus knew the meaning behind her question. "Yes, actually I have. But I never really agreed with it." He said haughtily and was able to see Hayley shake her head at him. She really didn't need to say anything. Klaus already knew she wasn't impressed with him or the rest of his family's money. He eventually led her downstairs to the corner of the mansion, stopping at a closed door. Before he opened it, Klaus gave Hayley a shy smile.
When they stepped inside Hayley immediately recognized dozens of famous paintings that almost anyone who knows anything about art would identify as stolen. For a second, that was all she was able to comprehend. "Nik! Are you serious right now? You stole Van Gogh's and Rembrandt's paintings!"
Klaus rolled his eyes at her dramatics. "Hayley, I didn't show you the room for you to yell at me about stolen artwork. You know if you could, you would." Then a wicked smirk spread on his lips. "Which you can now."
Then Hayley moved around the room and saw that there was other artwork there. Sketches were spread across a table, finished canvases piled in a corner, and an incomplete painting sat on an easel in the middle of the room. She stopped walking when she saw a few drawings of the same person sitting on top of one another. Hayley instantly recognized the girl as Caroline Forbes. That was when she knew that Klaus didn't just fancy her. It wasn't a short-term crush; it was much deeper than that. Hayley didn't act like she saw the drawings. She simply turned and looked at him, waiting for an explanation.
"I built this for us." Klaus said. "You can use whatever you wish."
Hayley's smile slowly disappeared when she recognized his serious tone. Then her thoughts started remembering other things that triggered a theory that was slowing beginning to form. "Stop it." She said so quick and low, it sounded unlike herself. Klaus' only response was the tilt of his head and the narrowing of his eyes. "Don't play dumb, Nik. I know what you're doing." She continued.
"I don't have any idea what you're talking about." Klaus lied.
Hayley glared at his pretend obliviousness. "Do I really have to say it?" She stepped closer and crossed her arms. "Stop rubbing our friendship in his face." Klaus opened his mouth to protest but Hayley cut him off. "I'm not done. You're not allowed to be mad at him back. Stop using me against him because you can't admit that it's your fault!"
Klaus wanted to stop her before she completely exploded. "Hayley…"
"Are you trying to push it to some ultimatum?" She accused him. "Well…let me just tell you how it would end. I'll pick him. I love both of you, Nik. But it will always be him…because Elijah doesn't kill my friends or threaten to kidnap me. So don't do it. Don't make it so I'll have to choose between you two. I don't ever want to hurt you."
Klaus looked more livid than Hayley had ever seen before. And for the first time, she wasn't sure of how safe she was in his presence. She knew if she said any more, it could become dangerous. So Hayley practically stumbled out of the room, worried that even a wrong movement would set him off. And it was the first time she ever saw him like everyone else in Mystic Falls did.
Maybe she was being dramatic or too harsh. But Hayley could perfectly see what Klaus was trying to do. He dangled their friendship in front of his brother, taunting him with it. Maybe he just didn't like seeing that she loved Elijah more than him, even though he knew it all along. Perhaps he just wasn't prepared to see it in person and read it so well. But Hayley couldn't hurt Elijah anymore. She was already pushing him with everything else. She wouldn't let Klaus make it any harder. So she stopped it before it could get any worse.
Hayley took her time back to the bedroom, guessing that Elijah was still there. She really hoped that he hadn't heard anything she said to Klaus downstairs. But as soon as she opened the door and her eyes met his, she knew that he had. He pretended he didn't, trying to make her feel as if she had even the smallest amount of privacy.
"Can we get out of here?" Hayley asked him after she couldn't think of anything else to say, knowing that he had heard everything. He gave her an encouraging smile and nodded. "I need a drink." She practically whispered. Then she saw Elijah tilt his head and realized he was questioning what kind. "Alcoholic." She added, grabbing her leather jacket.
"I don't know how you expect to attain it. I refuse to supply your under aged delinquencies." Elijah said it so seriously, that Hayley actually had to watch him for a moment. But then a whisper of a smirk appeared on his lips. She shook her head, disappointed in herself for almost falling for it.
"When did you get a sense of humor?" She mocked him.
He playfully glared and took a step toward her, making her tilt her head back slightly to look up at him. "I believe when you started speaking such wise remarks and became so impudent." Elijah refuted.
Hayley laughed at their little game they'd started. "Oh, Elijah…you and your fancy ways of calling me a smart ass." She said through a beaming smile. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she could immediately feel his hands clutch her lower back. She kissed him and felt like no matter how often she did, it would never be enough. "So are you going to take me out to buy a drink or what?" Hayley asked him. And that was when both of them realized they had never really been on a date. Such an idea seemed strange to her. What would people think if they saw her in such a romantic scenario with Elijah? Not that she really cared what others thought of her, but she simply wondered if people would recognize how they came from such different places, eras even.
"I shall." Elijah replied simply. "But this will not be considered a date." He added casually just before clutching her hand in his own and beginning to lead her out of the room.
Such a comment caught Hayley off guard. "And why not?" She asked him, honestly confused on what he meant by it.
Elijah then let go of her hand so he could face her. Oddly enough, he was baffled by her confusion. "Because when I take you out on a date, it will never be at a small town's local bar. It shall be at a café in Paris, on coast of the Scottish Highlands, or in the mountains of Austria." He explained to her as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Elijah wasn't trying to impress her in the way Klaus tried to do with Caroline. He just looked at her and knew she was meant for grander things.
His answer had Hayley speechless for a second. Somehow she forgot how anything was possible with him. She blinked a few times, finally putting together what she wanted to say. "But I don't need any of that." Hayley told him bluntly. "I just want you."
Like always, a piece of hair escaped the hold of her ear. Elijah slowly moved it from her face without even thinking. "I thought you might say such a thing. But that still does not mean you deserve anything less in the world than the greatest."
Hayley had to break eye contact. She felt like the entire world was staring back at her in Elijah's gaze. A nervous laugh escaped, trying to show that she didn't buy what he was saying even though she was starting to. "Well…how about we start with the small town bar? I promise I won't consider it a date." She said through an unsure smile. Elijah nodded his head and just thought that one day he would show her and she would truly understand what she meant to him. But until then, he would be more than willing to take this.
At The Grill, Elijah and Hayley sat in a dark corner of the bar. But somehow it made them stick out even more. Some of Elena's friends that recognized Elijah thought it strange to see the refined original at their local hangout. But he ignored anyone in the vicinity. He was too preoccupied with Hayley.
She seemed to be on a mission to know every single detail of his life. The subjects they spoke of may have seemed strangely ordinary or simple to anyone listening in on them. But somewhere at the beginning of their conversation, Hayley realized they hadn't talked like this since she was a child and she thought Elijah was her guardian angel, always walking her home. When he finally came back, when she had almost forgotten about him, they never had time for such things anymore. Something bigger was always stopping them from talking about such little treasures. There lives were too busy with survival, revenge, and pining.
"You've seen so many things that I can only read about it books." Hayley practically whispered in awe. Elijah had just told her about being in Italy during the Roman Empire's infamous decline. He never really liked talking about the history he witnessed, feeling as though it was somewhat pretentious and trying. But she was asking him about his life. "So…" Hayley brought him out of his thoughts. He grinned at how intrigued and enthusiastic she was about hearing his stories. "What was your favorite?"
For any vampire, it seemed like an impossible question. But Elijah knew the answer instantly. Right away, he wanted to say, "Now. Right now, here with you." But something stopped him. Probably because he knew she would never expect him to say that was his answer. But it was the truth. What was the point in witnessing all of those historical moments, falling empires and rising governments, if whom he was always meant to be with was not as his side to see it too?
Just as Hayley was about to say she was asking for too much with such a question, her eyes fell on someone. It was the bus boy at The Grill. He had been moving around the restaurant all night, picking up dirty dishes into the plastic basin he was holding. But she hadn't noticed him until now. His name was remembered straightaway. Matt: the boy she almost killed. It wasn't until now that Hayley realized he reminded her of someone. His blonde hair, blue eyes, and boy-next-door demeanor reminded her of Luke.
Elijah read the quick changes of emotion as she stared at the boy he recognized as one of Elena's friends. A past boyfriend, if he was correct. After a moment, Hayley finally realized that Elijah had caught what she was staring at. She looked back at Matt and saw that he was walking back toward the kitchen.
Hayley quickly stood up from her seat. "I'll be right back."
But Elijah blocked her path just as quickly. "Are you certain that is a good idea?" He asked, but he was really telling her that it wasn't. "We have yet to figure out your siren situation." She wasn't even looking at him. Her eyes were locked on Matt; afraid she would lose him somehow. Elijah sighed. "I'll come with." He offered, fully aware of what she wanted to do.
Hayley finally looked at him. "No. I umm…I want to talk to him alone. If something happens, then you can intervene. Just…stay here." She said, placing a hand reassuringly on his bicep. It took him a moment before he nodded in agreement.
Matt started walking from the kitchen to the empty backroom. He opened the door and walked over to the metal rack to get clean silverware. But when he turned around, he jumped at the sight of Hayley.
"I'm sorry!" She instantly apologized. "I didn't mean to scare you." Then she saw his eyes start to glaze over and his heartbeat slowed down oddly. No, no, no. She immediately cursed in her head. How could the siren seductions have such a life of their own? Hayley closed her eyes and took in deep breaths. Control it. You can stop it. She tried to encourage herself. Then her hearing caught Elijah closing in on the door. Her eyes snapped open from the thought of losing power and needing Elijah to rip her off of Matt. "I'm not going to hurt you." She almost shouted. It was more to reassure herself than him. And by some miracle, the mesmerism stopped. Matt looked at her weirdly, proving to Hayley that he was completely unaware of the effect her extra vampire powers just had on him.
"I just wanted to catch you while you were alone." She told him awkwardly. "I'm sorry for what I did at the ball." Her voice could not have been anymore sincere. She didn't want to kill anyone, especially someone who so comparable to Luke. But Matt's face remained cold. He honestly didn't know anything about her. Only that she was a part of the originals. And he disliked most of them, if not hated. "I'm having a hard time with controlling…it." Hayley added, seeing how her apology wasn't changing how he looked at her. "And I just needed you to know that I would never intentionally hurt you… or anyone. It was an accident. So…I'm sorry."
It took a moment for Matt's body to finally relax a little. He finally understood that she was genuinely sorry. "It's okay." He said softly. It surprised her. "I should understand, being friends Caroline who had trouble at the beginning too." He gave her the smallest smile and shoved his hands into his front jean pockets. "Well…I kind of have to get back to work." He told her somewhat awkwardly. She nodded and stepped away so she was no longer blocking his path to the door.
Hayley let out a huge breath that she didn't realized she was holding. And Elijah was now leaning in the doorway, his hands in his pockets. She slowly turned to face him, already sensing he was there. His expression was calm as she gave him a small and despondent smile. "I stopped it." Hayley said quietly to him as her shoulders shrugged a little. "Why do I have this?" She whispered to him after a moment of silence.
Elijah heard the depressed hysterics in her tone that she tried so hard to conceal. He quickly walked over to her and wrapped his arms tightly around her. Hayley breathed as if she had been underwater for hours. Her body completely relaxed in his grasp. She started to wonder how she had ever survived those long periods without Elijah. Just his mere touch cleared all of the horrifying things that ate away at her mind.
"You will get through this." He whispered, still holding onto her.
"You don't know that." She spoke into his chest.
Then Elijah pulled away. His hands were gently placed on either side of this face. "Because you are the strongest woman I have ever met in my entire existence. I believe you can get through anything. And I shall be here to help you the entire way." Hayley laughed sadly at him, not agreeing with his praise. She grabbed one of his hands from her face and kissed the palm before intertwining their fingers. She'd tested her control enough for one evening. Now Hayley just wanted to go home. And she was still figuring out where that was. But she was sure that wherever it ended up being, Elijah would be there too.
Elijah started walking toward the stairs, heading toward their bedroom. He didn't know where any of his siblings were and as of right now, he didn't care. But Hayley looked down a long hallway where she knew Klaus' art room was. The hall was completely black except for the slit of light coming from inside. She then turned her attention to Elijah, who was waiting patiently for her at the bottom of the stairs.
"I'll be up in a second." She promised. His only response was a heavy sigh before he ascended the stairs without her.
Hayley walked into the room and was only able to see Klaus' profile. He was drawing on a piece of paper, completely ignoring her very presence. "Hi." She finally said quietly. But he didn't even look her way. Hayley shook her head at his immaturity. Perhaps she'd been too harsh. But they both knew everything she said was true. And there was no justification for him being mad at her.
Elijah had rescued Hayley from her desolate mood. She wasn't going to let Klaus ruin it with his inconceivable inability to admit his mistakes. He was the worst at forgiving, and even worse at asking for forgiveness. So she left without even really trying to get him to speak with her. Her jaw clenched in annoyance as she quickly left the room and went upstairs to the bedroom.
Hayley opened the door and collapsed onto the giant bed from mental and emotional exhaustion. She glanced up to see Elijah looking out the window with a wine glass in his hand. But she could easily smell that there was something else in it. "I know you heard what I said earlier." She said softly as she laid on her side, looking at him.
He glanced away from the window to gaze at Hayley. The moon shining in made her skin almost glow silver, while in the daylight he swore it was gold. Her eyes, they were so compelling that he understood how a human man could melt so easily with a mere look from them.
"Why does he have to use me against you?" She whispered.
Elijah walked toward the bed, stopping to set his glass of blood on the nightstand. He sat down close to her, his back propped against the golden and lavish headboard. "When you ponder it, his behavior really is not so unusual." He said after a moment's thought. Hayley's eyes narrowed in slight confusion. She moved closer to him and laid her head on his chest. Elijah wrapped his arm around her. His hand slid under the hem of her shirt and traced patterns across her back. He understood that he had to elaborate.
"For reasons I have yet to discover, my love is never my own. Niklaus always becomes a part of it in some way. We fought over Tatia's love. He had every intention of killing Katarina. But I've already told you how that concluded. Which, when I think about it, I actually should thank him for." Elijah tried to lighten the mood, but he didn't fool Hayley. Then he slowly glimpsed down at her. She looked sad at the thought of Klaus ruining Elijah's desperate chances for love. "He hates to see me amidst love when he cannot have it himself. 'Love is a vampire's greatest weakness. And we are not weak. We do not feel and we do not care.' That is what my brother said to me when I tried to spare Katarina's life."
Hayley sighed. And Elijah couldn't understand how he could fall in love with just the simple sound of someone's breathing. "Well, it makes sense, doesn't it?" She offered. Then she turned, balancing her chin on her knuckles as she looked up at him. "Nik thought no one could love him. The very idea of that being true scares him. So…when he sees that you might have found it when he never could…it drives him crazy."
"I hate that you see the best in him. He doesn't deserve it." Elijah noted darkly.
Hayley laughed at that. "Where would I be if I only looked for the worst in all of you?" Then she had the sudden urge to kiss him and welcomed herself to the yearning. As their lips connected, she felt Elijah delicately trace the smooth skin behind her ear. Hayley pulled away with a beaming smile. "Let's see. If I looked for the worst in you…" She said mockingly. "You know there's nothing." Her tone instantly went serious.
"You're not very good at this." Elijah laughed. He knew plenty of things that made him a monster. He killed when it met his needs and rarely felt guilt due to the fact that he could always justify it somehow. Or how he would always find gaps in the deals he made with others. But Hayley refused to agree with his outlook on himself.
"Well… if it's so easy, you try!" She exclaimed. Her eyes narrowed overdramatically. "Find the worst in me." She challenged him with an eyebrow raised.
"Simple." Elijah affirmed before he started. "You're stubborn." He kissed her lips. "You refuse to ever show how you truly feel." Her cheek. "You're always satirical." Her knuckles. "You remain unenthused by my possible vacations and gifts." Her palm. "But those are also the reasons I love you." Then his lips found hers again. A few seconds later, she pulled away slightly and his mouth filled with her laughter.
Hayley moved so she now kneeled over him, her knees on either side of his waist. She deepened their kiss. Elijah suddenly was annoyed with the amount of clothing each of them was wearing. Klaus was the only sibling lingering in the house. And Elijah could care less if his brother overheard the dozens of things he wanted to do to Hayley. She made him senseless. He had immaculate control over everything: his thirst, his anger, and his intelligence. But when it came to her, she completely shattered it. Hayley basically ripped the t-shirt off her back from her impatience. Then his hands traced down her sides, causing her to practically shiver. This was just another way Elijah could push their problems into the backs of both their minds.
Blehhh. I think I have officially fucked up my sleeping patterns. OH WELL.
Review? Please? It makes me happy :/