Chapter Fourteen: Foundation

Despite the underground, secret world of the French Quarter, New Orleans had a vibrant energy about it that anyone could feel while walking down its streets. It always smelled like flowers, baking sugar, and aged whiskey, and the air thrummed with music.

Hayley watched it all from a distance, sitting on a small foothill that gave her a view of the town. Beside her was Mason, who seemed to be quietly enjoying the change in pace.

Two weeks ago, Hayley had approached Klaus about finding her pack. When he said she was not a prisoner and could do what she pleased, Hayley had felt shocked, but hadn't missed the odd look in his eyes. It was the look that spoke of someone who was used to people leaving and not returning.

So Hayley had left, seeking out her pack. They had demanded to know about Tyler firstly, even before they asked why Hayley had allowed herself to be taken captive by the King.

Hayley explained that Tyler was not suffering under the hand of Klaus, but did express her concern about the sire bond the older Hybrid had over Tyler. Then she explained, in a firm tone, that she had not been taken captive, but had gone with Klaus with her own free will in order to protect the pack.

Most grumbled about the entire situation, and a few remained quiet, with a displeased look in their eyes. The most notable was Jackson, who openly glared at the Alpha.

Hayley sent the news along to the other Alphas. The large pack then parted ways, each group returning to their respected Alpha. There had been some protest about this as well, with wolves demanding what the point had been about forming this pack if Hayley was just going to disband them all.

"We aren't the enemy, so let's stop acting like we are," Hayley told them. "I'll break Tyler from the sire bond, and if he chooses to return to us, then we will accept him. But it is and will be his choice. I'm merely giving him the option. As for Klaus, we aren't going to get anywhere with him by treating him like he's a monster."

"But he is!" someone had shouted.

Hayley had sighed, acknowledging her hand in allowing people to believe this. "Then I'm changing that too. We can't keep believing the rumors, only the facts. So I'm going to try."

Eve had given Hayley a smile at that.

And try she did.

Mason had gone with her to meet with Klaus, and although both sides were wary, a tentative nod had been exchanged between the two men.

Hayley wasn't sure if peace was in their future. There was enough hope there to perhaps build that foundation, but it would take work.

She worked on changing her perception of Klaus. She kept herself open minded and approached him with that mentality.

The truce between Klaus and Hayley was now voiced between them, and although there was something brewing between them both, that was one aspect of their relationship that had not been spoken of.

But she hadn't missed the way his eyes had lit up when she had made the choice to return to the Abattoir after reassuring the pack that the Summer King hadn't ripped her heart out. Her own pack moved closer to the town, yet kept to the border, still wary of the Hunter's presence.

Hayley sighed. "I'm going to start working with Tyler tomorrow."

Mason glanced over at her. "Do you think you can break the sire bond?"

"Yes," she said, before she frowned. "But it won't be easy."

"Does Klaus know about this?"

Hayley looked away. "I'll deal with him. Tyler was pack before he was Klaus' new experiment."

Ooo0ooO

"Focus! You're not focused!"

Tyler glared, his dark eyes nearly black as he knelt on the ground. Sweat beaded his forehead and soaked through his shirt. "Remind me again why I'm doing this," he snarled.

Hayley growled right back at him, eyes flashing gold. "Don't talk to me like that, Lockwood. You know why you're doing this. Klaus has a sire bond over you, which means until it's broken, you're his little bitch."

The young Hybrid snarled at that, baring his teeth. "Don't you talk to me like that, Hayley. You're not my Alpha."

Hayley knelt down in front of him. She smirked. "True," she conceded. "But I know you. You're not one to be bossed around, not by me, not by Klaus, especially against your will. It's who you are." Then she stood up. "Again!"

It would take days to accomplish this, Hayley knew. Breaking a sire bond wasn't something that was easy, not by any means. Tyler would have to shift again and again, forcing his bones to break and shift, before it was broken.

Hayley deeply sympathized with him. Shifting came easier to some, but it was still a painful process, and it was more painful when the wolf was forcing themselves to go through the change.

She shook her head. She remembered the first time she shifted, how she had screamed and cried in pain.

But watching Tyler… She had to stop herself from turning her back so she wouldn't have to watch.

They had found a quiet cellar, which was warded with Sophie's spells to warn them if someone was coming, and to prevent anyone from hearing them.

Hayley understood the risk. There was no guarantee that Klaus wouldn't feel the bond being broken, and Hayley knew that when he did find out, he wouldn't be pleased. But she knew she couldn't focus on that now, so she watched as her Beta's nephew, a wolf she had been around for years, shift into a large, dark wolf once more.

Ooo0ooO

"Another day walker was found dead by the square. That's three just this week."

Klaus listened to Marcel as he gave his report. He rubbed a finger across his lips at this news.

It seemed the Hunters were poking at their boundaries and were becoming more bold. They attacked the vampires and had even killed a witch who had been loyal to Klaus.

"It seems our friends are trying to draw me out," Klaus remarked.

Marcel shrugged. "Whatever it is, we can't keep up with them. The humans are going to notice something, and I know you got them under your thumb, but you know the one rule as well as I do."

"Keep our existence hidden, yes Marcel, I am aware," Klaus said on a sigh. "I was there when that rule was made."

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

Klaus looked away, out the window. He spotted Hayley walking across the street, her dark hair blowing in the wind.

"Klaus. Klaus!"

Klaus blinked, then looked at Marcel, who was giving him a raised brow look. "Apologies."

"Yeah, well, go play with your wolf later."

Klaus smirked. "Jealous, Marcel?"

The vampire rolled his eyes. "Man, you know I'm with Rebekah. She's got way more fire than your wolf girl."

Klaus grinned now. Memories of a darkened hallway, gold eyes, and soft growls flashed across his mind. Fire, indeed, he mused.

So he stood. "Keep the vampires close to the Abattoir. No one is to leave without my say so, or yours."

Marcel nodded, although he was reining in an annoyed huff. He could recognized when he was being dismissed.

Klaus moved back to the window, looking down.

Hayley looked up, as though she could sense his gaze. Her green eyes met his, and a smile curled her lips. She lifted a hand, beckoning him.

"What do you have planned, little wolf?" Klaus wondered out loud, chuckling.

When he walked outside, Hayley was leaning against the staircase leading upstairs.

"You called?" Klaus asked, giving her an amused look.

"Come walk with me," she said, moving her chin towards the streets.

Klaus eyed her, but then offered her his arm. He felt pleased when she took it with an eye roll and coy smirk.

They walked down the street and Klaus glanced down at her. Something shiny caught his eye, and he saw the moon shaped ring on her finger. The stone gleamed a deep blue.

"Perhaps you would like something else," he said, using his spare hand to tap the ring. "Cheap rings don't suit you."

"I don't look good in diamonds," Hayley said in a dry tone. "And don't knock the mood ring. I like it."

"No, I was thinking emeralds," Klaus said. "To match your eyes. Or perhaps rubies, they would compliment your skin tone."

"My, if I knew you were such a fashion expert, I would've come to you years ago."

"Sarcasm doesn't become you," Klaus scolded.

"It becomes me fine, thanks. Besides, I'm not the fine jewelry kind of girl. I'll leave that to your sister."

Klaus chuckled. "So why are we out for this stroll, little wolf? If someone sees, someone might think we being civil. Some might even say friendly."

Hayley's eyes flashed with humor. "How long has it been since you've gone into town just for the sake of enjoying the town?"

"Years," Klaus said after thinking about it. "Perhaps not since I finished building this town."

"And why is that?"

Klaus frowned. "I don't particularly enjoy the crowds."

"Yes, you're a recluse. And that's your problem, Klaus. You like art, but you don't ever enjoy the art that's all around you." Hayley tugged his arm. "There's a street fair. Come on. Maybe I'll buy you a hot dog."

Klaus must have made a face, because Hayley burst out laughing. She grinned wickedly, then pulled him into the crowds.

Ooo0ooO

"It's been too long. We have to take action. Even the wolves are moving on."

"We can't storm the town, innocent lives might be lost."

"Perhaps that's are risk we have to take. Lives have been lost before."

"We don't kill innocents. We kill the monsters who want to kill them. Our priority is the King."

"And what about the Alpha? Our spy tells us he's been getting close to her. Very close."

"If they form an alliance-,"

"We can't let that happen-,"

"We have no proof-,"

Jeremy stood, causing the table to lurch. "Enough!"

The Hunters quieted, lowering their gazes. They were all gathered together in the older, less occupied part of town. Hidden in an old hotel, they had decided to meet to discuss their next course of action.

Jeremy eyed them all. "We will not sit around and bicker. This is a waste of our time. The wolves left because the Alpha is brokering a truce with the King. We don't know if this means there will be an alliance, or if that will necessarily be a negative thing. The Alpha is nothing like the King, we know this.

However, the King still poses a threat. Our source told me this morning that the Alpha has been helping the young Hybrid break his sire's bond. Once the King discovers this, the Alpha won't be safe, and neither will be anyone around him. If he succeeded once, we don't know if he'll create more Hybrids as retribution. We cannot allow that to happen."

The second, Matt Donovan, spoke up. "What are we going to do about the other Hybrid? If he breaks his bond, he too can create more Hybrids."

"He will be eliminated as well," Jeremy stated.

"And the Alpha?"

Jeremy turned his gaze to the Hunter sitting to his right. Her name was April Young, and she too had been spying on the Alpha for the Hunters, having arrived to the Quarter before the rest of them. Her ice blue eyes met his steadily.

"She poses no threat. She keeps to herself and has never crossed the line or broken any of our laws."

April nodded. "The Alpha defended me in the Quarter when the vampire Marcel was tracking me," she reminded them. "I know my acting skills are great, and the vampire believed I was a scared girl lost in the Quarter, but she didn't allow him to hurt me."

"I still say you going in without vervain was foolish-," Matt began, but was cut off.

"I'm not a fool, Matt," April said. "Of course I had vervain. Acting, remember?"

Jeremy waved his hand, silencing them both, since they tended to bicker like siblings. "The Alpha will not be harmed until we have a reason to do so. Back to the King," he emphasized, bringing the meeting back to its point.

"We have to consider the Alpha," the Hunter sitting across from Jeremy mentioned. "If she's with the King, she's a liability."

"And if she's getting friendly with the King, then she might get in our way," another pointed out.

Jeremy sighed, then looked at the man who had spoken first. "We will cross that bridge when we come to it." Then he glanced at the second man. "Again, we need proof, Damon."

Damon Salvatore rolled his eyes, then gave his brother, Stefan, a look.

Jeremy shook his head. The two brothers were skilled in their own right, but Damon was much more impulsive than his brother.

Jeremy continued. "The spy in the field told me that along with spending time with the Alpha, the King has begun to plan something…"

Ooo0ooO

"I cannot believe humans actually eat this-,"

"Admit it, you like it!"

"I think I preferred the beignets," Klaus muttered.

"But you did finish your hot dog," Hayley pointed out.

"Only because you all but shoved it down my throat," Klaus argued, looking miffed. "That was truly disgusting."

Hayley laughed. "Trust me, there's worse things out there."

Klaus grimaced. "I shudder to think."

Hayley grinned, chewing on her powdered beignet. "See? I told you you'd have fun."

"No, I believe you said I needed to see the art around because I was a recluse."

Hayley widened her eyes. "You mean this isn't art to you?" she asked incredulously, lifting the powered pastry.

Klaus scoffed, then smiled. "I did enjoy the stands with the artwork."

"Aha!" Hayley crowed, grinning. "I told you!"

Klaus rolled his eyes. Then he placed his arm over her shoulder, leaning in close as they walked back towards the Abattoir. "Perhaps I enjoyed it more thanks to the company."

"I am a delight," Hayley said with a dainty sniff before devouring the rest of the beignet.

When they reached the Abattoir, Hayley and Klaus kept walking until they reached her bedroom doors.

Hayley gave him a smile. "I had a nice time."

"Isn't that something one says at the end of a date?"

"Is that what this was?" Hayley asked, lifting her brow. Amusement colored her tone.

"Well, if it was, it would only seem right if I kissed you goodnight."

"Well, if it's right," Hayley agreed, before stepping closer to him.

Klaus reached up, cupping the back of her neck so her face would tilt up. Her green eyes gleamed, but stayed open as he leaned in. He kissed her deeply, his other hand resting on her hip.

Hayley sighed, then leaned against him. Her fingers twined themselves into the belt loops on his jeans, pulling him even closer to her. She smirked when he chuckled against her lips.

When they parted, Klaus' lips ghosted down her jaw, then her throat. She shivered.

"If I can't give you emeralds, perhaps I can take you on a proper date," Klaus murmured, pressing his lips to the sensitive skin under her jaw, just so he could feel her tremble again.

"Perhaps I'll let you," Hayley whispered, pulling away. "I promise I won't make you eat another hot dog."

Klaus smirked, then kissed her again. "I'm indebted to you then, little wolf."

Ooo0ooO

Disclaimer: I do not own the Originals.

Author's Note: Please review!