Blah blah blah. I don't think anyone cares about this story anymore.

Hayley was lifeless on her stomach. Her arms sprawled out and her neck twisted at an unnatural angle. But slowly she started to awaken from her shortly faced death. Her eyes fluttered open and she was instantly met with complete darkness. It was as if her eyelids hadn't opened at all. She realized she had not returned to reality yet. Was this a dream?

"Am I dead?" She groaned in pain ominously to herself.

"You are not." A calm, female voice said to her.

Hayley shot up off the ground and turned in a quick 360. The sudden movement left a slight ache in her neck from it being broken. She breathed heavily when her vision was still met with only darkness and not a face to match the mystery voice. Yet, she continued to spin hoping to eventually find them.

"There is no reason to be frightened." The voice finally spoke again. Then, as if by magic, a body appeared. Her face was kind with hair that was light brown, long, and wavy. It wasn't styled or processed like every woman's was today, but completely natural. She had on a dress that seemed so out of date and unique that Hayley guessed it was made by the woman's own hands.

"I'm not scared." Hayley immediately answered. Her hands were bouncing slightly at her sides, ready for a fight if that's what was coming. This wasn't natural. It was a dream. She made this up. They were in a black abyss. Nothing like this was made by anything other than the mind.

"Of course not." The woman said with a surprisingly gentle smile.

"Where am I? What's going on?" Hayley quickly shot.

"I wished to speak to you, Hayley." She took a step toward her.

Her eyes narrowed. "How do you know my name? Who are you?"

The woman sighed. Then they were both standing in the middle of what appeared to be a hut. Hayley gasped at the scenery change, completely confused on how it happened. "My name is Esther." The woman said sitting on a chair that seemed to be made of animal hide and wood. She gestured for Hayley to take the one across from her. Hayley hesitated and eyed Esther before taking it.

"You have heard of me, I'm sure. But I am assuming I was not regarded by my name. Instead, I'm sure Elijah told you of his mother instead." Esther instantly saw the flash in Hayley's eyes as she said her eldest son's name.

"Elijah?" Hayley barely whispered in shock. Then she met Esther's hard gaze. "You're their mother? You're the original witch?" The look in her eyes told Hayley she was correct. "But you're dead. This can't be real. How can any of this be real?"

"I promise you, Hayley, all of this is as real. You are dead, temporarily, but still dead in the basic wisdom. That is the only reason I am able to speak with you right now." Esther waited for her to blurt out another string of questions but Hayley was calm, waiting for her to continue. "I know that you have been told about the prophecy."

Hayley frowned. "More like heard about it. No one seems to want to tell me the truth."

Esther smirked at how obvious she made her annoyance. "Well…would you like to hear all of it? And who better to hear it from than the one who created it?" Her eyes darkened mischievously as she saw Hayley gape at her in shock and confusion.

"Yes. It was I who conjured the very magic that connects you to my children."

It took a moment for Hayley to form words. "But why? Why did you create it?"

Esther smiled sadly to herself, lost in her thoughts as she stared at nothing. "The spirits protected my body all this time, waiting for the chance to resurrect me. Even after a thousand years, they preserved the original witch."

"The coffin that wouldn't open." Hayley muttered to herself.

"Precisely." Esther surprised her by saying. "But…when I could feel my chance coming soon, only a few dozen years away, I realized I could not complete the task that was set upon me." She saw the puzzlement on Hayley's face. "The spirits gave me a second chance for one and only reason: to destroy the monstrosities I created. I was meant to kill my very children and rid the world of the evil they wreak." Hayley tried not to show any reaction, but her eyes still widened at the thought. "But I…I could not kill my own blood. It was never their fault for what I made them. I never even gave them a choice in the matter. I simply could not bare to watch another one of my children die before my eyes." Tears started to form in Esther's eyes as she remembered the very day she'd created vampires. It was all out of hatred and mourning from Henrik's young death. Hayley was about to go to her side to comfort her, always in distress when she saw others so upset. But Esther seemed to sense this and held up a hand to stop Hayley before she could get up.

"I still don't understand what any of this has to do with the prophecy." Hayley whispered.

"It has everything to do with the prophecy. But more importantly: you." Esther answered quickly. "I knew I would be punished by the spirits for refusing my task. I had little time to do one final act before I was forbidden to touch the world of the living again. I tried to right my wrongs, but not with the death of my children." Esther moved from her chair and walked to the opening of the hut they sat in as if she were reliving her memories. "I sought out someone who could save my children, show them that they still had a chance to be good. From this world, I watched human after human, hoping to find someone who was capable of changing my children, the original vampires."

Esther turned to face Hayley. She slowly walked to her and kneeled at her side. Esther's hand just barely touched her cheek. Hayley froze under such warm contact. It was unexpected. "Then I found you…just a small child playing in the tall grass of your home. I saw that the strength you had yet to discover and I also saw the darkness that would force Klaus to let you in."

Hayley felt as if she was going to be sick. She quickly moved out of the chair and walked a few steps away, completely breaking the physical touch of Ester. The original witch slowly stood and faced her once again. "I knew it. I could feel it…you were meant for him."

"Klaus? I was meant for Klaus?" Hayley's voice shook at the thought. What if Elijah had been wrong? What if she was meant to love Klaus, not him? What if she was only destined to meet Elijah so he could eventually steer her towards his younger brother? It would destroy her. There were many things she was uncertain of after being thrown into the supernatural world. But loving Elijah had never been one of them. For her entire life, he was the thing she believed in most. Even when she thought to have imagined him, her faith in his existence would never have faded.

"No, Hayley. Elijah." Esther said quietly. She watched as Hayley let out a gasp of breath as if she'd been holding it for hours. "But you are connected to all of my children. That feeling you get every time you even just barely brush their skin, it is so they know that you belong with them."

Hayley shook her head, trying to think about what Esther had said from the start. She had been looking for someone to save her children. Hayley's first instinct was to defend the children whose mother believed they needed to be saved. But she knew she was completely wrong. All of them had been sinners: killing, torturing, and ruining lives. Even Elijah, the one she loved more than any of them, his high morals didn't even stop him from doing the same. Yes, Hayley had pardoned him for all his immoralities long ago. But that didn't stop everyone else, even his mother, from pointing them out.

Hayley then felt an unbearable weight. She didn't know why, but tears started to flood her eyes. Usually she could stop them. Usually she could swallow the pain and push the weak tears from escaping or even showing. But she seemed to have no control of them here. "What…" She stopped, ashamed for even thinking it. But she had to. "What if I can't?" Hayley whispered. "What if I can't save them at all?" She just kept thinking of the Esther's last attempt at correcting her wrongs becoming a complete failure all because she put her trust in one girl.

Esther looked at her with such sympathy. "I forget that you are still practically a child."

The tears streamed down Hayley's cheek silently. "I haven't been a child for awhile now." She corrected. Then, out of nowhere, a wave of anger spread over her. "What choice do I have? What choice did I ever have?" Her voice was no longer a whisper, but quiet and stern. "It's just like what started this in the first place! You've made me into something without my agreement exactly like you did with them! I see where Nik gets his impulsiveness." The last comment was supposed to be a prick of pain toward Esther, but the witch remained calm as the outburst was aimed only toward her.

"I know you have suffered from my decisions. Being close to my children has brought you harm. I understand that more than anyone, maybe even Elijah." She sighed. "But you also must see that I have brought you happiness that you would never have found without him…or Niklaus." Hayley shook her head at the irrationality. "And I know that you are afraid of what will happen if you do not succeed. You are not upset about the responsibility. You simply doubt your ability."

It was true. Hayley wasn't mad that all of this had been put on her, not really. But she didn't want to change Elijah. Klaus was evil by choice, not accident. It was the only way he knew how to deal with his pain. She didn't even know how to help Kol. Rebekah hated her. And Finn wasn't even around enough for her to say a sentence to him. He would rather kill himself than be saved by the likes of her.

Hayley would never wish Esther didn't bring her and Elijah together. But she hated being told what to do. She was stubborn; everyone knew that. So being aware that her life was meddled with maddened her on a disturbing level. A part of her felt like her entire life had been a lie. Growing up, she believed she had a choice, a say in how her life would turn out. But she never did, did she?

"Hayley." Esther whispered as she took a step toward her. The tone of her voice made Hayley realize that she had to listen closely to whatever she was about to say. "You are the only chance they have. Promise me you'll try." The witch urged desperately.

"I can't even control myself now that I'm a vampire. I can't even look at a human male without them practically asking me to drink their blood! Who am I to try and teach them to be good, to have a conscious, to stop killing if I can't even do it myself?" Hayley pleaded.

"I am sorry for the siren attribute you possess. I tried to stop it, but I failed."

Hayley squinted. "What do you mean you tried to stop it?"

"The spirits were suspicious of me. They started watching you from the in-between. As soon as they saw the attachment you had to my children, they doubted me. After you un-daggered my children and saved them, they were furious. The hypnotic ability you possess is a curse…a punishment the spirits gave you for aiding the original vampires." Esther explained in a droned voice.

"The chanting…that was you?" It made sense to her now. The voices that were guiding her were sent from Esther to help her. Then their surroundings flickered like a dying light bulb would. A wind comes from nowhere, making it hard for them to even hear one another. Hayley's eyes flickered around while Esther looked scared for the first time since she'd met her.

"I do not have much time. They have found me." Esther rushed forward, grabbing both of Hayley's hands in her own. "They will try and kill them. And the witches will help her. They have already spoken with her. You have to protect Elijah…Niklaus…all of them. Please, I beg you!"

Hayley looked frightened at how the Esther had completely lost all composure so quickly. "Who are they helping? I don't understand." She said in a panic voice.

Esther looked around at the flickering hut like she could see things that Hayley could not. A single tear slid down the witch's smooth cheek. "Tell them I love them. Especially Niklaus…even after everything he did. He must know even more than the others."

Hayley shook her head instead of asking the millions of other questions she had going through her mind. But before she can even open her mouth, Esther was gone and everything was black once again. Hayley didn't need to be told that the original witch could and would be punished. And somehow she knew that she would never rest in peace. Maybe it wasn't hell. Hayley wasn't even sure she believed in it. But she didn't believe vampires just months ago either. No matter what though, Esther would never be forgiven for her mistake. She would never go to the other side. Instead, she would be stuck in the halfway, utterly restless and forced to watch the damage her children cause.

Hayley's eyes fluttered open just like before. But this time, she wasn't met with darkness. She was on her back, staring at a ceiling. That's all she looked at as she tried to regain her breath. The wood was cracking from age and a few nails stuck out more than others. She moved her fingers a little and felt either sand or dirt, or maybe both. She finally looked around and realized she was in a cellar of some sort. The walls were made of dusty brick and at the edge of one wall there was a fluorescent light in the ceiling. It was the only source of light in the room. Hayley slowly sat up and was staring straight at a door. It was wood and had a small open space of bars that allowed her to see into the hallway on the other side. Instantly, she got up to open it but found it locked. At first, this didn't discourage Hayley. She was a vampire now. Locks didn't mean anything to her any longer. So she put her strength into it this time, the kind that she didn't possess as a human. But the door still didn't budge. Whoever brought her here clearly knew what they were dealing with. First, the vervain injection and now the impenetrable door.

Hayley gave the door a hard kick in frustration. The power of it shook the walls of the house. She turned away from it and looked around the room again. There was nothing to work with: no sharp objects and no windows. She'd probably have better luck digging her way through the floor. She paced around the room in irritation. How could she have been so stupid? She hadn't been on her guard. She didn't even give them a fight. How could she have been so weak?

Suddenly, Hayley felt a presence on the other side of the door. She instantly stopped pacing. Her back was to the door before she slowly turned around to face the discernments that observed her. Staring back at her was Damon Salvatore's ice-blue eyes. Hayley rushed forward to the door, gripping a bar in each hand of the small window. Her jaw was clenched so tightly that it was possible she could crack some of her teeth.

"Please tell me this is some kind of joke." She hissed at him.

"It took you longer to wake up than I thought." Damon said, ignoring her statement. The comment about her blackout made Hayley remember Esther. For a moment, just a moment, she'd forgotten about it, like when one would forget a dream as soon as they woke from it.

"Let me out of here, Damon."

He tilted his head and smirked at her. "No can do."

"What do you plan on achieving here?" She snapped. "All you're going to do is get yourself killed and your brother. So let me out before your stupidity gets your heart ripped out."

"Well…you see," He started confidently. "If this all works out to plan, there will be no one to kill us for kidnapping you."

Hayley smiled at him condescendingly. "Are you trying to tell me that you plan on killing four originals and a hybrid? I don't know if you've heard, Damon, but they're kind of…oh what's that word? Indestructible."

"But that's just it." Damon leaned in closer and lowered his voice to a whisper. "They aren't as indestructible as you think. Our witchy friend Bonnie is the one to thank for that." The word 'witch' is what made Hayley's face fall into a terrified frowned. Was that who Esther had been talking about? Damon was satisfied with ruing Hayley's hopes. He stepped back. "Don't worry, we have no intention of putting a stake through that cold heart of yours. You'll be out to go to their funerals…if there is any." With that, he winked and disappeared from the basement.

Hayley slowly backed away from the door until she hit the opposite wall. She slid down it until she was crouched on the floor, hugging her knees to her chest. Even though she didn't want to believe it, the honesty in Damon's voice proved that they truly thought they'd found a way to destroy the originals. Hayley's breathing became strained. She had to get out of here and warn them. Why was she always the bait? They clearly kidnapped her to lure either Elijah or Klaus…or both. Hayley wouldn't put them in danger for caring about her. It wasn't fair to them. After all these centuries, they refused to love anyone for this very reason. She couldn't let them regret it.

Then Hayley remembered Esther's last words. "You have to protect Elijah…Niklaus…all of them. Please." She could have contacted her children to tell them she loved them herself. But instead she used her last act on Hayley, to tell her that their existence was up to her and only her. Hayley couldn't let her down. But also because she wouldn't be able to survive without them either.

Rebekah sauntered into the grill, chin up and high heels on. She looked around for Hayley. After all, she'd promised Elijah she tried to put in more of an effort with her. And she had been bored anyway, might as well get started. Her eyes scanned across the restaurant and then the bar. But the could-be-model was nowhere to be found. Before she found Hayley, she found both of her brothers.

Rebekah walked over to them her arms crossed. "Thanks for the invite." She snapped at them with one of her eyebrows raised. Kol smirked at her sass and Klaus just slowly turned around, barely acknowledging her.

"Where's Hayley? I came to ask if she wanted to go shopping." She continued.

"Bekah…being civil? What is this? Have you hit your head?" Kol mocked his only sister as he sat back in his chair and crossed his arms.

"She left just a few minutes ago." Klaus said without looking at his sister.

"Whatever." Rebekah said sighing and rolling her eyes. Without another word, she left the grill. She had yet to buy a car, so she went home using only her vampire speed. It allowed her to return to the mansion in only a minute or two. She walked in to the main entrance to see Finn, Sage, and Elijah standing amongst one another.

"What's going on?" Rebekah asked as she saw the concern in Elijah's face.

But it was Sage who spoke to the original. "I've come baring news that concerns you." She stated dramatically. "The Salvatores have found another white oak tree…one that was reborn after the original was burnt down." Rebekah's eyes raced to Elijah, which only confirmed that it was true.

"They plan on making weapons out of it obviously. It must be burned down immediately." Finn finally spoke to his sister. Was this where they had been this entire time? Figuring out this mystery without giving their family any warning of a potential danger?

"Well…what are we doing standing around discussing it?" Rebekah snapped. Only Elijah would be able to hear the hidden fear in her voice. They were truly in danger for the first time in centuries. And she was unable to show the composure that her eldest brother could.

"Where is Hayley? Perhaps she would enjoy a little pyromania." Rebekah asked.

Elijah's face changed at the mentioning of her. "She's at the grill with Niklaus."

Rebekah's nose crunched. "No, she is not. I was just there. They said she left a few minutes ago. I assumed she came back here." Her observation wasn't filled with concern about the young vampire. But then she saw a flicker in Elijah's eyes and his brow crease. It wasn't until then that she realized something could be wrong. Without saying a word, Elijah grabbed a cell phone from his pocket and dialed a number. But there was no answer.

"Do you think…she was-" Rebekah started carefully.

"Yes." Elijah snapped.

Sage and Finn looked at each other, barely understanding what was going on.

"It was Damon. It had to be." Sage cut in. Rebekah glared at her. She never liked the wench. She was strangely obsessed with her brother. And she didn't appreciate how she came out of the woodwork as soon as Finn was awoken. Had she really been waiting for him all this time? But, really Rebekah was just jealous that her dreary brother has something she wanted and never had.

"How do you know Damon Salvatore?" Rebekah challenged.

"He's…an old acquaintance. A protégé, I guess you could say." Sage responded confidently.

Rebekah scowled at her. Then she saw Elijah heading toward the front door. "And where do you think you're going?" He stopped walking and slowly turned to face his sister. Rebekah held her breath when she saw the sheer rage showing threw his entire body. She uncrossed her arms and was completely taken aback by seeing her composed and moral brother in such a way.

"My tolerance has diminished. I no longer have any reason to keep them alive. They take Hayley and I shall take something of theirs." Rebekah listened, wondering who this person was. It didn't sound like Elijah and it didn't look at him. But that's when she was able to truly understand how much he loved Hayley. Just the very idea of her possibly being in danger scared him into losing his morals and self-control.

"I'll come with…" Rebekah practically stuttered. "I'll help you."

Elijah barely gave any indication of agreeing to her offer. But Rebekah was able to catch the smallest bow from him. She nodded back nervously before turning to Finn. Elijah was already out the door. "Go find Nik and Kol. Tell them what you know but do not include Hayley. And don't let them intervene with Elijah's plan. We will keep in touch." Finn and Sage nodded and watched Rebekah race after Elijah. She didn't want to involve Klaus. He would wreak havoc on the entire town if he found out Hayley was taken once again. He wouldn't think clearly, only relying on his compulsiveness to get her back. Rebekah knew that Elijah would be slyer, more strategic.

"What exactly is your plan?" Rebekah asked her oldest brother once she caught up.

"Go to the cavern and tunnels. Stay concealed. I will be there in less than an hour." He didn't even glance at his sister as he gave her the commands.

Rebekah stopped walking. "Elijah?" She said quietly. Her tone finally made him stop and look at her. "She'll be okay. She's stronger than you give her credit for. We'll get her back." She reassured him quietly. Her kindness was something she didn't show her brothers very often.

Elijah just nodded and disappeared without a word.

He waited at the front door, listening to her steps down the stairs. She opened the door and wasn't able to hide her surprise at seeing the original on her front steps. "Elena." He greeted calmly. Her heartbeat hadn't jumped at seeing him. The Salvatores must not have told her of their plan. Keeping her in the dark was a habit they had. It would make all of this even easier. Elena trusted Elijah.

"Elijah." She acknowledged kindly.

"I don't mean to intrude." He answered with his ageless charm. "I was hoping you might accompany me." He saw Elena look around her, caught off guard by his invitation. "I want to show you something." Elijah urged. He knew she wouldn't be able to resist.

Elena followed him out of the car in the middle of the forest, unsure of the reasons for Elijah bringing her there. He started telling her about his family's history with the town she grew up in. Elena remained polite, completely oblivious to his true intentions. She didn't' suspect a thing. He continued to the cavern and knelt down. His eyes just barely flickered up to spot Rebekah hidden from any human eyes. But he could sense her easily. She was waiting for some kind of cue.

Elijah slowly stood up from his kneeling position, but still didn't face the doppelgänger. "The Salvatore brothers would do anything to assure your safety. Probably sacrifice themselves without even considering the idea." He said evenly and then finally meeting her gaze. Elena tilted her head, confused by the sudden change of conversation. "I'm certain they never informed you of their intention to abduct Hayley." He said darkly.

That was when he heard Elena's heartbeat finally jump. "I told them not to, Elijah. You have to believe me. I don't want to involve her any more than you do."

"Yet your wishes were not honored." He practically growled as he took a step toward her.

"I'll get them to let her go. This is all a misunderstanding. Trust me, Elijah."

Then he caught something in her expression. She may be oblivious to Hayley's involvement. But she was aware of the Salvatores discovery of the white oak in Wickery Bridge and their scheme. "What are they planning?" He stepped even closer to her, showing that he knew what she was hiding.

"I never wanted this to happen." Elena almost whispered.

"What?"

"They don't just want to kill Klaus." She mumbled slightly. "Please, Elijah, just let me go."

"I have spared their lives. However, Damon and Stefan dismiss my brother's continued threats and my own. It appears a new method must be used to get my point across." Elena tilted her head, not quite understanding what he meant. But before she could question him, Elijah grabbed her and plodded the ground beneath them. It gave way instantly under the originals' strength, showing an opening to underground tunnels. Elena let out a shriek when he jumped down to it with her in his grasp. There was so much clouded dirt that she could only feel him release her. Once she could see again, she realized Elijah was already gone and had left her in here as a prisoner.

Elijah walked away from the opening and met Rebekah who had come out of hiding. "Watch her. If it becomes necessary, kill her when I give you such an indication." He informed her without any emotion. This was the only way he could truly give his message across to the foolish Salvatores. If they take the one he loves, he will destroy the one they do.

"It will be my pleasure." Rebekah said with a smirk.

I've had like 10 reviews all together from the last 4 chapters. Really depressing.