Chapter Nine: To Be or Not To Be

Hayley slipped out of her rooms that night, walking through the large house as quietly as a ghost. It seemed Klaus didn't have any worries with the thought of her trying to get away, which made her uneasy.

She crept back outside onto the balcony of the Abattoir. She went down until she stood where she had been only hours before, when she had stopped the fight between Thierry and Tyler.

With her heightened senses, she followed the scent of blood. She followed a path outside of the Abattoir and towards the back alleyways, before she found herself in an old graveyard. In an old crypt was a staircase, which lead down deep into the ground, lit only by torchlight.

Holding a steady hand against the wall, Hayley crept down the stairs. The air smelled moist and warm, like damp earth and clay and foliage. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on edge.

Then the stairway stopped, levelling out to a series of tunnels. The walls were covered in moss, vines, and other plant life.

"The Garden," Hayley whispered.

"Hello?"

The raspy voice had Hayley jumping and swearing softly when she cut her hand against a jagged edge on the wall.

Hayley walked forward, cradling her hand as the cut healed itself. Her eyes melted into gold as she used her heightened vision to see in the dark tunnels.

When she rounded a corner, she came across a dirty figure chained to the wall of the tunnel. When it turned to look at her, Hayley flinched again.

Thierry was still covered in blood, some of it dried, and it didn't look like his wounds had healed entirely. When he pulled against the chains, Hayley saw they weren't chains but vervain soaked ropes. The vampire reeked of vervain, blood, and dirt.

"Help me," the vampire beseeched in a hoarse voice. "Please."

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Hayley's heart pounded as she tore the vampire free from the ropes. She offered a soft apology when he hissed in pain.

Suddenly, Thierry slumped over and Hayley grunted when she caught him. Wrapping an arm around his waist, she ducked her head under his arm so it was over her shoulder.

"Can you walk?" she asked, gritting her teeth against the stench and the heavy eight of the larger vampire.

"I think so," Thierry coughed. His head lulled back and he seemed to be drifting in and out of consciousness.

Hayley shook the vampire. "Wake up," she snapped. "I'm not lugging your dead weight out of here."

The vampire offered a wet chuckle. "Technically, I'm already dead."

Hayley snarled softly. "Shut up and move."

Together, they stumbled their way through the tunnels, following Hayley's own scent trail as not to get lost.

When they finally emerged out into the cemetery, Hayley crouched to let the vampire collapse against the nearest headstone. They were both breathing heavily, and Hayley was coated in a thin layer of grime and sweat.

Thierry looked over at her while catching his breath. "Why… why are you helping me?"

"Because you asked," Hayley muttered, shoving her hair back into a loose tail.

"Really."

Hayley looked up, meeting the vampire's wary gaze. "Really."

"I thought you were the King's new plaything."

Hayley scoffed. "He thinks so. I think differently."

Thierry winced as he shifted on the cold ground. "Thinking like that will get you killed."

Hayley's eyes flashed. "Let him try." Then she stood, brushing the dirt off of her pants. "Come on. Let's get you somewhere safe."

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True to her suspicions, Hayley took Thierry out into the woods and they eventually stumbled across a sentry from her pack.

Scowling, Hayley ordered him to fetch Mason and Eve, and before long they were joined by her Beta and adoptive mother.

Mason frowned when he saw who Hayley was holding upright. "A vampire?"

"He needs our help. He's been poisoned by vervain. He's not one of Klaus' minions."

"How do you know?" Eve asked, her green eyes calm.

"I just do," Hayley said firmly. "Take him back to the others. No one is to harm him." Then she turned to give her Beta a disapproving look. "I told you to leave."

Mason stepped forward to help the vampire. "Yeah, you tell me a lot of things."

Hayley sighed sharply. "Eve, keep an eye on him."

"The vampire or Mason?" Eve asked, arching a brow.

"Both," Hayley replied, before turning to go back.

"Wait!" Thierry called out.

Hayley paused, looking over her shoulder.

"You're going back?"

Hayley nodded. "I have no choice. It's me or my pack."

Thierry stared at her, then shook his head. "You're either stupid or brave, I can't decide which."

"I think I'm a little of both," Hayley admitted, giving him a small smile.

Thierry coughed around a chuckle. Then he met her gaze seriously. "Thank you."

Hayley nodded again, then faded back into the shadows, going back where they had come from.

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Hayley crept back into her room only to find it was already occupied. Lounging on the chair in front of the fireplace was Klaus, with a glass of whiskey and a foot propped on his knee.

"Did you have a nice stroll in the woods, little wolf?" Klaus asked, looking over at her. The reflection of the flames gave his eyes an odd, hypnotic glow.

Hayley leaned back against the door, crossing her arms over her chest. "I did."

"And Thierry?"

"Getting the help you didn't offer him."

Klaus' lips curved. "Your little stunt was amusing. I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised though, it does seem you have a soft spot for the weak and helpless."

"Or maybe I just have a heart," Hayley shot back.

Suddenly, Klaus was in front of her. His hands slapped against the door, caging her in with his larger body. He leaned in close. "Maybe I should be the one to remove it."

Hayley didn't tremble when she met his gaze head on. "If you do, you'll see why it pays off to help the ones you think are weak and helpless."

"Tsk. Little wolf, you could be so much more."

Hayley lifted her chin. "I know what I can be. But I'm already so much more," she said, emphasizing her words.

Klaus pulled back slightly. He smirked, then reached up to touch the ends of her hair.

This time, Hayley did tremble. Not that she would admit it.

"Perhaps I'll keep you on a leash, little wolf," Klaus mused. "I can't have you running around releasing all my vampires, can I?"

Hayley smiled slowly, and leaned in close like he had. "Watch me."

Klaus felt the whisper of the little werewolf's breath ghost over his lips. His eyes dropped to them briefly.

Such smooth, full, lovely lips.

His eyes lifted slowly, looking into hers. Their color was fascinating, both green and hazel, flecked with gold, as though a piece of her wolf was never truly dormant.

And when he leaned in, he was stopped by a small, yet very strong, hand gripping his throat. Nails bit into his skin, quickly drawing blood.

"Not on your life," Hayley whispered.

Klaus pulled back once more, giving her a devilish grin. "Perhaps another life then."

Then he was gone, leaving Hayley reeling against the bedroom door.

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That night was full of vivid, unspeakable dreams that left Hayley breathless and irritated. Or was it aroused?

Hayley shook off that thought when she rolled out of bed. She walked out onto her balcony, hoping the cool morning air would clear her head.

Images of her and Klaus, pinned against that bedroom door, swam in her mind. Hayley swore colorfully, scrubbing a hand over her eyes.

She was trapped by this psychopath, and what was she doing? Dreaming about kissing him, amongst other things?

Groaning, Hayley leaned heavily against the railing, running a hand through her hair.

What did this mean? Why was this happening?

Clearly she was on edge and maybe that stress was causing her subconscious to conjure up some rather vivid scenarios. There was no way in hell she was truly attracted to Klaus, the Summer King, the man who had the blood of thousands on his hands.

And yet… Here she was.

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Klaus woke up to a warm body intertwined with his own. Pleased, he reached over, pulling it closer to his.

Opening his eyes, he gazed down at a very familiar face, one with full lips and green hazel eyes…

"Morning."

Klaus blinked at the sound of Katherine's voice. When he looked again, those hazel eyes were replaced with dark espresso colored eyes, bow shaped lips, and a mischievous expression.

Klaus made some noise before sitting up, inching ever so slightly away from the vampire.

After Katherine left per his command, Klaus sat in the rumpled bed, frowning.

He had only dreamt of one person last night, and that had been his little wolf. But instead of the usual images of him and the wolf intertwined together, writhing in pleasure, his dreams were different this time.

Instead, he saw her saving Thierry, with sweat on her brow and a determined gleam in her eyes. He saw her gently touching his arm, and freeing him from the Garden.

He watched as she then saved Tyler, by healing his wounds with a skill he had only seen in the witches. He saw her protecting Tyler when he stepped forward, ordering her to step aside.

"You can't defeat me, little wolf," he had taunted.

But instead of cowering away, she lifted her chin at him, eyes defiant. "Watch me," she challenged.

There was no denying that he wanted the little wolf for himself. Something deep inside pulled him towards her, like magnets.

But there was something else, something different. It was deeper than attraction or mere curiosity.

And when he tried to define it, he came up empty. This frustrated him.

Klaus snarled, throwing the sheets off of his legs before stalking outside. He sat down on one of the lounge chairs, rubbing a hand over his stubbled jaw.

With moody eyes, Klaus watched as the sun kept on rising, warming his skin and brightening the sky.

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Hayley wandered the town that day, ignoring any day walkers Klaus sent after her to watch where she went. She enjoyed New Orleans, although she had purposefully avoided the Quarter for years. She wished she was here under better circumstances.

Pushing aside that thought, Hayley went into a few shops to browse. She quickly discovered many of them were run by witches, all under Klaus' thumb. And these weren't just witches looking to run their hands over a crystal ball to impress the locals. Hayley could feel their power as she walked into the shops, which emanated from the women like heartbeats.

Hayley frowned at that, troubled at the thought that Klaus had some serious fire power in his corner. These witches drew their power from the land and from the bones of the dead, which laid abundant in this town. The Quarter was home to several cemeteries, all of which bore the crypts of witches laid to rest.

Wary but unafraid, Hayley touched the charm Eve had given her for protection. It was a cut of sapphire welded onto a bronze stone embellished with the crest of the Crescent Wolf pack.

"To ward off evil," Eve had told her as she slipped it over Hayley's head.

"That little sapphire isn't gonna do you much good here."

Hayley looked up and over at the witch lounging behind the counter. Her feet were propped up next to the cash register.

"Oh really?" Hayley asked, lifting a brow.

The witch put down her magazine. "Yeah, really. Not even a protection charm like that can ward off the true evil that lives here."

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Disclaimer: I do not own the Originals.

Author's Note: The title for this chapter is based on a quote from Shakespeare's Hamlet.

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