Chapter Twenty Three: As the Moon Rises
"This is probably the stupidest thing you've done this century."
"Probably. So will you help us?"
"Yes, but under protest."
Hayley rolled her eyes. "Thank you, Marcel. Your protest is noted."
The vampire shot her a look. "I hope you know what you're doing, wolf girl."
"Why does everyone keep calling me that?" Hayley sighed irritably.
Klaus smirked. "Does it bother you, little wolf?"
Hayley threw up her hands, giving Marcel and Klaus an exasperated glare. "You two-," she jabbed her finger at them both, "are idiots."
"So you've said," Klaus said.
"She's never called me that," Marcel pointed out.
"She just did, mate."
Marcel frowned. "Anyway," he continued. "I'll get everything ready." He met Hayley's gaze. "I guess you're taking the throne tonight, your Highness."
"That's even worse," Hayley groaned.
"Deal with it," Marcel told her, grinning.
She huffed, but returned the grin.
Ooo0ooO
As the moon rose, the Abattoir quickly filled with vampires, witches, werewolves, and humans alike. The bodies packed in close to the ring, with everyone wanting to get a glimpse of the ever famous Summer King.
Marcel appeared in the center of the ring, wearing a charming smile that drew the attention to himself. High above, Hayley stood at the railing, wearing an emotionless mask, as well as a little black dress that left little to the imagination. She tried not to squirm uncomfortably in it.
"Good evening, all!" Marcel exclaimed, raising his hands as the crowd began to cheer. "Tonight, we have a special treat for you. After years of retirement, the one and only Niklaus Mikaelson will make his long awaited return to the ring. Taking his place on the throne, the lovely Hayley Marshall, the Werewolf Queen. Everyone give her a hand! Isn't she something?"
Hayley watched as all eyes turned towards her. She offered the crowd a smirk, and nothing more. She tamped down her anger when she heard the cat calls and wolf whistles, none of which she found amusing. She did as they planned, and took her seat, reclining against the velvet cushioning before motioning for Marcel to continue.
"And joining the King in the ring-," the crowd laughed at that one, "is the King's own protege, Tyler Lockwood!"
Hayley's hands briefly tightened on the armrests of the throne.
Only Marcel, Tyler, a few daywalkers, and Hayley's pack knew of the plan. Tyler had agreed to join Klaus in the ring, knowing that would draw the biggest crowd. It took some convincing to get the pack to come to the Quarter, but in the end they had all arrived, blending in with the others well.
It was simple, really. The plan was to draw as much attention as possible to the Abattoir, in hopes of drawing the Hunters out of their hiding spot. The plan was to have them believe that Klaus was setting up to fight in the ring with promises of a bloodbath, making him a clear and easy target. But him being bait wouldn't be enough, which is where the others would come in.
Hayley would be their eyes up high, while Marcel would be their eyes on the ground. The pack would spread out, covering as much ground as possible, waiting for their Alpha's signal to attack any Hunter that got too close.
And, of course, they had a backup plan in place. Hayley hadn't agreed with it initially, but Klaus pointed out that the Hunters were smart, deliberate, and not too easy to fool. But they were also bound by their laws, and that much they could use to their advantage.
The dilemma came when it came to the topic of what to do with the Hunters. Killing them would be the simple solution, but the one with the most consequences. Plus, if the Hunters were wiped out, a new generation would be born sooner rather than later, and the cycle would continue.
When Eve suggested peace, she had gotten wide eyed looks like she had spoken in tongues. She pointed out that Klaus had showed that he was capable of change, proving that to Hayley, and perhaps the Hunters could be persuaded.
"That," Klaus had sighed, "would be a long shot."
The old werewolf had given him a kind smile. "I've always believed in long shots."
So when Klaus looked up at her from the ring, Hayley offered him a tentative smile and mouthed, "Good luck."
Klaus smirked in return. "I don't need luck."
Hayley rolled her eyes and focused her gaze on the distant rooftops, scanning for any movement.
"Are you guys ready?" Marcel called out loudly, which only made the crowd make more noise as they screamed and whooped excitedly.
Klaus and Tyler circled each other in the ring slowly. The older Hybrid smirked, baring his fangs, before lunging.
"Anything?"
Hayley glanced to the side briefly. Hidden in the shadows of the doorway was Mason, his eyes glowing slightly against the brightly lit arena. "No," she replied. "Not yet."
Suddenly, there was an uproar in the crowd. Hayley looked down and saw Tyler kneeling on the ground, spitting blood into the dirt at Klaus' feet.
"Is that the best you can do?" Klaus taunted.
Tyler smiled, his teeth smeared red. He flashed, appearing behind Klaus before delivering a strong kick into the King's lower back, knocking him forward.
"I wish Tyler hadn't volunteered."
"They have to make it look real," Hayley said tightly, her body tense. "Or we'd draw too much suspicion."
"Still," Mason huffed.
A few minutes later, Tyler was pinned to the ground, with his arm twisted behind him while Klaus pressed his foot against Tyler's shoulder. The crowd shrieked for him to break Tyler's arm, to rip it off, to end it. Instead, Klaus looked at Hayley.
Hayley suddenly got an idea. She stood slowly, moving back towards the railing. She leaned down, giving Klaus a naughty smirk. "Well done. I guess retirement didn't suit you."
"You look better on my throne anyway," Klaus returned, pointedly dragging his gaze over the length of her body. The crowd sniggered when they saw the heated look being exchanged between them.
"Maybe your protege isn't enough of a challenge," Hayley said, sliding her gaze towards Tyler, as though in disapproval.
"Do you have a suggestion then, my Queen?"
Hayley's eyes turned to gold before she neatly pivoted over the railing, landing a few feet from where Klaus stood. When she straightened, the hem of her dress ripped at her thigh, which caused another surge of calls from the crowd.
"What about me?" she asked, her tone sugary sweet.
Klaus turned to Marcel and the crowd. "What do you think, my friends?"
The crowd shouted in unison in affirmation, so Tyler was taken out of the ring by a hooded figure, whose light blonde hair spilled out briefly when they looked up at meet Hayley's gaze.
Hayley gave Eve the slightest of nods, knowing she'd keep Tyler safe and close to Mason. Then she stepped into the ring, lips curved in an exaggerated smirk, eyes burning gold.
Ooo0ooO
"She's toying with him," a deep voice said, colored with amusement. "She's got some moves though. Not to mention those legs-,"
"Honestly, Damon, do you ever get tired of listening to your own voice?"
"As a matter of fact, April, I don't."
"Can you both knock it off?" Stefan hissed, giving his brother and April a sideways glare.
April narrowed her eyes at the brothers, while the dark haired Salvatore gave her a mocking smirk.
"Quiet," Jeremy said sharply.
The Hunters were watching the games from a safe distance, each carrying a pair of high powered binoculars that allowed them to remain hidden from a long ways away. It kept them out of eyesight from anything- or anyone- who might be watching.
"Now what?" Matt asked, moving to Jeremy's side. He looked down at their leader, who was crouched close to the shattered window sill.
This generation of Hunters were relatively young still, appearing to be in their early twenties, when in fact they were closer to three decades old. Hunters aged slowly, like the werewolves and the witches, but did not possess immortality like the vampires. This allowed for new generations to be born, stronger and faster than the last.
When they had been born, they were trained by the older generation from the time they came of age. The older generation only had time to teach them briefly, before they were wiped out by the Hybrid King's army of vampires and wolves. The first mission the new generation had been sent on, after years of training with each other, were to track down the wolves that were under his control. There had been collateral damage, and many wolf packs had been killed, before the guilty wolves and vamps had been killed in retribution.
Then the Hybrid had turned another, making him into the second Hybrid in creation, and the Hunters had begun to plan, more meticulously than they had for the first mission.
This is where Jeremy had taken his place as the leader of the Hunters. Without the guidance and deliberation of the older generation to pick the new leader, they had fallen back on the bloodline, and since Jeremy's bloodline was linked to the oldest of the Hunters, he had been named their leader. Matt, in turn, had been named his second due to his own bloodline, and the others had shuffled into place behind them.
But there was something Jeremy knew, something the others did not, that he would have to carry with him until the timing was right. And it seemed that was now, because of the new Hybrid, because of Vicki's death, and lastly because of the Hybrid's new found alliance with the werewolf clans.
The leader sighed deeply, his dark eyes troubled. In a few days, help would arrive. Until then, he would keep the others hidden from any prying eyes, and would keep them out of any traps set to draw them out.
Tonight was one of those traps. Although he could admit it was well concocted, it was not something he would allow himself or the others to be drawn into. The others, however, did not agree with him on this one.
"If it's going to be a bloodbath, why would we sit on our asses and let it happen?" Damon had demanded.
"Because that's what they want," Jeremy had stated in a firm tone.
"Jeremy, there's others at risk. Innocents," Stefan pointed out.
"The Alpha Queen won't allow anyone else to get hurt. We know she's more rational than the Hybrid."
"And what if she's becoming like him?" Damon snapped, his eyes flashing impatiently.
That question still echoed through Jeremy's mind as he watched the Summer King and the Alpha fight in the ring. She seemed to be enjoying herself, obviously taunting the Hybrid, drawing more noise from the crowd. But she had also taken the younger Hybrid's place- didn't that show she didn't want the young wolf turned Hybrid hurt? He had, after all, been a part of the packs.
Suddenly, there was a flash of movement and another vampire appeared in the ring. In their hands was a human, who looked like they were unconscious. The vampire called out to the battling pair, who stopped and froze when they saw what was happening.
All too quickly, the vampire tore into the human's throat, spraying themselves and everyone around them, including the King and Alpha, with blood. At the sight and smell of fresh blood, the less controlled nightwalkers went into a frenzy, and began lunging her the bleeding human, as well as the others in the crowd.
"Damn," Jeremy swore before standing quickly. "Let's go!"
Ooo0ooO
Katherine wiped the blood from her lips, eyeing the daywalkers as they dragged the humans away. Although they were acting like a frenzied group of nightwalkers, it was the second trap that had been put into motion. Instead of pulling the humans away for an easy kill, they were placing them all inside, away from the fight that would erupt in any minute now.
The dark haired vampire looked down at the blonde lying at her feet. She kicked her with the point of her boot. "Get up and drop the human act."
The vampire opened her eyes, the wound on her throat healing. She narrowed her baby blue eyes at Katherine. "I think I did a good job, you know," she shot back.
Katherine grinned, offering a hand to pull the other woman to her feet. "Yeah, it was an Oscar winning performance. Not bad for a newborn vampire."
"I'm not a newborn, I'm just not as old as you."
"Whatever. Nice job, Caroline."
The blonde vampire smirked. "We're just doing our duty for the King, right?"
Katherine snorted. "Sure, cheerleader. Is that what you called it when you were fucking him?"
"No. It was just fun." Caroline winked when Katherine threw back her head and laughed.
"Stay close. I like you."
The two vampires flashed into the crowd, disappearing into the chaos.
A few yards away, Hayley gave Klaus a sidelong glance. "You fucked the cheerleader?"
"I fucked many women. Is now really the time to talk about it?" he asked, giving her a narrowed eyed glare.
Hayley huffed. "She was useful, I'll give her that."
Suddenly, a howl split through the air. Hayley turned towards the call, recognizing it as Eve's. "They're here!"
Marcel appeared next to her and Klaus. His dark eyes were focused on the rooftops. "You two done gossiping, or are you ready to kick some Hunter ass?"
Hayley looked up as well, and saw a flicker of movement in the shadows. She gave the vampire a feral smile, her eyes bleeding gold once more. "After you," she said, gesturing.
Marcel grinned, baring his sharp teeth, before flashing away.
Ooo0ooO
Disclaimer: I do not own the Originals.
Author's Note: I cannot believe this story has over a 100 reviews and over 6,000 views already! Seriously, you guys are awesome.
I've compiled the songs you said reminded you of Klayley into a playlist on Spotify called "The Summer King". I've also added the songs I've used as inspiration for this story. I'll add more as you keep suggesting more. Maybe I'll even include some in the story itself!
Please review!