Chapter Fifteen: And the Walls Came Tumbling Down

"I was left to my own devices
Many days fell away with nothing to show...

We were caught up and lost in all of our vices
In your pose as the dust settled around us…"

It had been decades since the last time Klaus could remember of dreaming. The nights often passed with a few hours of dreamless sleep, often after spending a long night at the games then afterwards with a guest (or two) in his private rooms.

But now it seemed his nights were spent dreaming of a certain guest, and of many scenarios involving him and that guest.

Klaus also couldn't remember the last time he woke up feeling so… well, frustrated. His mornings now involved laying in bed while his blood cooled and his body relaxed, before going off to find the woman he had been dreaming of not minutes ago.

Being around Hayley was an addiction for him. With the dreams leaving him feeling unsatisfied, he went to her like any addict, to get his full of her. He found himself enjoying the time he spent with her, then abhorring the time he was apart from her.

Even now, he watched as she curled up on the chair in the parlor, quietly reading. He couldn't make out the title, since most of the books he owned were old, very old.

Hayley looked up. "Coffee?" she offered, gesturing towards the extra cup next to hers.

Klaus walked over, glancing down at her.

Hayley's gaze was back on her book. "I wasn't sure if you wanted something else."

Klaus sipped the coffee, which was rich and strong. "Like what, little wolf?"

Hayley's brow raise, but her eyes kept scanning the page she was on. "Blood, for one thing."

Klaus sat down across from her. "This is fine."

Hayley hummed a little, but it was clear she was now distracted once more.

Klaus tilted his head slightly. "Beowulf? That copy is in Old English."

"I can read it. Well, most of it."

"You know Old English?"

"Eve taught me some," Hayley said, brow furrowed in concentration. "Spanish was the easiest."

"How many languages can you speak?" Klaus asked, now intrigued.

"I speak a few, but I can read and write more. The basics. Spanish, some Italian, French, so on." Her green eyes met his. "Not as many as you, I'm guessing."

Klaus smiled. "Ever heard of Aramaic?"

Hayley rolled her eyes. "Has anyone?"

Ooo0ooO

Hayley spent the next day out with her pack, who were growing more restless by the day. Jackson was especially snappish, but he simmered down when snapped at by both Hayley and Mason.

Hayley knew they were restless because of the Hunters and Klaus, and were itching to return home. Part of her wanted to send them off, knowing Mason could keep watch until she returned. However, she also did not want to be left without them if anything were to happen… So trapped in this odd place, Hayley made sure they were comfortable in the old encampment that was tucked away in the swamps.

When she returned to the Abattoir, a white box and folded note were waiting for her on her bed. Curious, Hayley opened the note first.

Come play, little wolf.

Hayley raised a brow at that, then opened the box. Her eyes widened when she saw what was inside.

Laying in tissue paper was a deep bronze colored gown. And on top of that was a delicately woven silver and gold mask, shaped into a wolf's face.

"Masquerade?" she wondered out loud.

When she reemerged from her rooms, she wasn't surprised to find Klaus waiting for her outside by the stairs. Dressed in an all black suit, Klaus' mask was also black with red outlining the eyes.

Klaus smiled slowly when he saw her.

The dress was a halter cut, so Hayley's shoulders were bare. It fit her snugly, showing off her long, slender curves. It swept to the floor, hiding the simple flat shoes she wore. Her dark hair was piled high, baring the crescent shaped birthmark on her shoulder.

The mask hid most of her face, except her eyes and lips. Her eyes gleamed, looking more gold than green behind the two toned mask. Her lips were quirked into a smile.

Klaus took her hand, brushing a kiss across her knuckles. "You are a vision, little wolf."

Hayley looked him over. "Tell me, should I be calling you Klaus tonight, or would you prefer Lucifer? You're very devil may care," she noted, noting the dangerous air he bore.

Klaus' teeth flashed in a smile. "If you're saying I look positively devilish, I'll take that as a compliment."

Hayley smirked. "You're something all right. Why are we dressing up?"

"I host this soiree every year. It's for the humans who know of our existence, a sort of thank you for keeping the secret. Only my best vampires can attend."

"No one else?"

"I imagine some witches will be there. They do, after all, provide the best entertainment."

"Magic shows?" Hayley quipped.

Klaus chuckled. "Don't let them hear you call it that. Shall we?"

Ooo0ooO

"I've looked a long time to find you
I drifted through the universe, just to lay beside you
Anywhere you want me to take you, I'll go
But there's things about me that you just don't know…"

Eyes watched as the couple danced together, bodies matching beat for beat, as if they had been dancing together for years rather than minutes. Their eyes didn't stray from one another, not even when other couples join them.

Klaus pulled in Hayley from another spin, his hand resting warmly on her hip, while the other held hers.

Hayley watched him, eyes catching the light, green then gold, then green once more.

The vampire Marcel lead out Katherine, who had long since returned to the Abattoir after briefly making herself scarce when the Hunters attacked. The slender vampire was dressed in a gown that was a deep, deep red color, and turned many heads, but the head that didn't turn was the one she noticed.

The other Mikaelson siblings were scattered amongst the party goers. Elijah was blending into the outer edge of the crowd, observing more than participating. Rebekah was eyeing Marcel with an amused look, since he was staring back at her even with the other lovely vampire draped on his arm. Kol, as always, was trying his hand at seducing no less than three women at once.

Hayley saw that, and scoffed. "Your brother has high goals."

"Oh, you don't know the half of it, little wolf," Klaus chuckled.

The music changed, bursting the bubble they were in. Dancers began switching partners for the communal song playing, and Hayley found herself dancing with men, women, and vampires alike.

A sharp turn spin her into the arms of another masked man, whose mask hid his entire face, save for his eyes. He pulled her close, his movements meticulous rather than intimate.

"Enjoying yourself?" Hayley asked, hoping to break the odd silence between them.

"Not as much as some of the guests," the man replied, his voice deep and flat.

Hayley glanced back at Kol, who was whispering in the ear of a woman, while eyeing her dance partner, a male vampire. She shook her head. "I don't think anyone else is enjoying themselves like that."

"I would think you would be having a grand time. You're the guest of the King, after all."

Hayley pulled back slightly. The dark eyes that watched her gave nothing away. "Do I know you?"

The man chuckled. "Not as much as I know you, Hayley Marshall."

Hayley stiffened. "You're one of them. The Hunters."

The man's voice held his grin. "We'll be seeing each other soon, Hayley."

Suddenly, he spun her out, and she fell into the arms of another. When she looked, the masked Hunter was already gone.

"Dizzy, little wolf?"

Hayley turned and saw she was being held by Klaus once more. "What? Oh, no. It was…" She looked over her shoulder again. "Nothing. Never mind."

Klaus reached up, tugging the stray curl that had fallen out of its clasp. "I hope you're not dizzy enough not to dance with me at least once more?"

"I think I can manage," Hayley said, lips curving. "At least once more."

"If I told you where I've been
Would you still call me baby?
And if I told you everything
Would you call me crazy?"

Ooo0ooO

Hayley moved to the edge of the party once she managed to convince Klaus to grab them drinks. Her eyes scanned the crowd, looking for the Hunter, but she couldn't find him.

Growling, she yanked the clip from her hair, which had been slipping from its confides. She ran her hand through the wavy mass and sighed irritability.

"Don't move."

Hayley stilled, straightening slowly. She turned her head slightly towards the voice.

In the shadows stood Thierry. He had remained in the Quarter, hidden from Klaus. Hayley hadn't seen him since she helped him out of the Garden.

"Up on the far roof there's a woman. She's been watching the whole party. I saw someone else go up there, but they left."

Hayley's gaze turned towards the roofs. Her sharp vision caught the movement of someone shifting in the shadows. Then she saw the gleam of silver.

"Crossbow?" she whispered.

"Armed with something that can take out the other Mikaelsons."

Hayley's eyes widened. "You mean kill them?"

"No, but close. It's like the Snow White effect. A sleep close to death."

Hayley looked back up at the well hidden Hunter. "Have they taken aim?"

"No."

Hayley looked at the vampire. "You have to go. If anyone sees you…"

Thierry nodded. "Be careful."

When he disappeared, Hayley turned back to the crowd and began looking for Klaus. When she saw him with Marcel by the bar, she sighed slightly.

But when she began moving towards him, suddenly there was a shout before a vampire collapsed in the middle of the floor, with a wooden arrow impaling its chest.

Hayley was knocked to the side when the crowd began to panic and scatter. She shoved back against the flow, pushing towards Klaus, who had disappeared in a blur of movement.

Another scream ripped through the air when a body slammed into the ground next to the vampire.

Hayley gave a final push before she froze, eyes widening, a gasp slipping through her lips.

The Hunter with the crossbow laid dead, their heart ripped out, their now empty eyes staring up at Hayley.

Hayley looked up and away, towards Klaus, who now stood on the edge of the roof, eyes both gold and black, fangs bared, breathing heavily as blood trickled down his chin and forearm.

Ooo0ooO

"What have you done?" Hayley whispered, knowing he'd hear her. Her hands clenched into fists so they wouldn't tremble.

Klaus wiped the blood from his lips slowly. He jumped from the roof, landing with ease a few feet away. "Well, it's rude to come to a party if you're only going to kill the host."

Hayley stared at him. "You killed one of them. Don't you know what this means?"

"That one of them is dead, and there's five to go?"

Hayley stepped back, shaking her head. "I thought…" A brief, harsh laugh bubbled up, which she all but spat out. "I thought you were better than this. I thought maybe you could change."

Something flickered in Klaus' gaze, which was now blue once more. It was unsettling, seeing those blue eyes now. "Hayley-,"

"The thing is, I still think that," Hayley said, her gaze now blazing. "I think you can change. But it's clearly not enough for me to think that. If you really going to act like a monster, and kill like a monster, you're going to be killed like a monster. Don't you get it? This is bigger than you, Klaus. This isn't a game, despite what you may think. The Hunters are here because of you, because of your choices."

Hayley looked down at the two bodies. She closed her eyes briefly. "Someday you're going to realize even you can't hide from the consequences of your actions. I hope it's not too late for you, or anyone who chooses to be around you." She looked at him once more, and her expression was withdrawn.

"Will you choose to be around me, even if I choose to be the monster?" Klaus asked softly.

Hayley's lips turned up slightly, yet it wasn't quite a smile. "I think one day you're going to choose to be something other than what people think you are. And I think I can stick around to see how that goes."

Klaus was the one who now looked down. "The Hunters will come back because of this."

"Yes."

"They'll come after me."

"Yes."

Klaus' expression darkened. "They'll come after you."

"Maybe," Hayley agreed. She then stepped towards him, so she could be by his side. "But first, do you trust me?"

Klaus gave her a questioning look, then nodded silently.

Hayley would later wince at that, but for now, she told him to go back inside to assure everyone else was all right. When he did that, she turned to look down at the body of the Hunter.

"Her name was Vicki."

Hayley looked up and saw the Hunter she had danced with earlier standing a few feet away under a shaded doorway.

"I'm sorry," Hayley said.

The Hunter moved forward. His mask was now gone, and his gaze was unreadable as he looked down at the body. "No, you're not."

Hayley frowned. "This didn't have to happen."

"No, it didn't. But it seems the King had trouble controlling his… temper."

"You attacked him," Hayley said. "Were you expecting him to roll over and let you kill him?"

The Hunter's gaze was cold when it met hers. "Klaus Mikaelson has already signed away his life. We are merely here to collect and to ensure no one else dies because of him."

"And what a great job you've done so far," Hayley snapped, gesturing to the fallen vampire.

The Hunter shrugged. "More will die if move stand in our way."

Hayley didn't miss the pointed look he aimed towards her. "Is that a threat?"

"Call it a promise." The Hunter the picked up the body. "Thanks for the dance."

Hayley blinked, then he was gone, leaving her alone with the remaining corpse.

Her gaze turned upwards once more, this time to the moon. She swallowed the sudden burst of emotion in her chest. Doubt rolled through her, along with fear and anger.

Didn't this prove that Klaus was just like the stories said he was? Could he really change? Was her faith in him foolish? She wanted to believe...

Hayley sighed, then shivered a little. Suddenly the air in the Quarter didn't feel so lively and warm anymore.

"And the walls kept tumbling down
In the city that we love…

Does it almost feel like
You've been here before?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?"

Ooo0ooO

Disclaimer: I do not own the Originals.

Author's Note: This chapter featured lyrics from Dark Star by Jaymes Young and Pompeii by Bastille.

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