Chapter Thirty One: Know Thy Enemy
Eve sat near the campfire Mason had started a few hours ago, allowing the heat to soak into her old bones. Even though she appeared to be a woman in her forties, she was older. Much older.
Her eyes opened when she heard the familiar sound of footsteps approaching. A smile crossed her face, and she dipped her head respectfully in acknowledgment. "Welcome back."
Hayley paused when she saw Eve, and immediately sat down beside the other woman with a deep sigh. Her green eyes were troubled, swirling with thoughts that Eve could almost make out.
Gently, Eve brushed the hair from those eyes. She pressed a hand to Hayley's shoulder, giving her some comfort and strength, sensing she needed it.
The younger werewolf exhaled shakily. "I need to speak to the pack."
Eve nodded. "Wait here, I'll get them."
Mason came out first, going straight towards Hayley. He knelt beside her, as if reassuring himself she was all right.
Hayley met his gaze, and gave him a small smile, sensing the concern rolling off him like waves. She took his hand, giving it a brief squeeze.
The others trickled over, which Hayley greeted in turn. She then called them to order.
"There's something I need all of you to know. Well, there's a few things, actually... Let me start from the beginning."
Ooo0ooO
Klaus stared down at his phone without blinking. It had buzzed moments ago, and the quick message had a chill going down his spine.
I'm with my pack. Please come, now.
By the time he got to that part of the woods, only a few minutes had passed. His chest felt heavy and constricted.
Bursting into a clearing, his eyes sought hers before anything else.
Hayley turned, sensing him, and went to him. She tried not to run, but she found herself in his embrace before she needed to.
Suddenly, she felt her throat constrict as a few too many emotions washed over her. Tears pricked her eyes as she felt overwhelmed by it all, and she clung to him, drawing in a raspy breath.
Klaus felt her shuddering against him and tightened his grip around her. He buried his nose into her hair, then kissed her throat gently.
He pulled back, resting a hand on her shoulder. His eyes met hers, and he leaned down to press his forehead against hers. Klaus silently coaxed her to breath in as he did, until she relaxed, and then he wiped the tears from her eyes.
"What is it, my little wolf?" he asked softly as his thumbs traced her wet cheeks.
She shook her head, pressing her lips together. She leaned back into his arms, resting her chin on his shoulder. She closed her eyes, struggling to grapple with her emotions. She couldn't let the pack see her, not like this. She had to be strong.
Klaus lifted his gaze towards Eve, who stood in front of the others.
The werewolf gave him a small, sympathetic smile.
"Hayley?" Klaus murmured, pulling back a little.
"I'm okay. I'm okay."
Klaus pressed his lips to her forehead soothingly. "Breathe slowly, love. What is it?"
"I told them everything. About you and me, and... there's something else."
Klaus drew her close to his side. He nodded, silently asking her to continue.
Hayley nodded in return, wrapping her arms around him. She lead him back towards her pack, who was patiently waiting for her.
Klaus took a seat next to her, noticing how Eve shifted closer to him. She seemed perfectly at ease sitting next to him as she had sitting next to Hayley.
Hayley began talking again, this time about her recent visit with the local witch coven. She told them about the Hunters new leader, and Eve immediately lifted her gaze sharply when Hayley spoke the name "Alaric".
Klaus frowned. Something about that name jolted a memory, but he couldn't remember what or why. The name sounded familiar, and by the grim look on Eve's face, both of them perhaps had stories of this Hunter, being the oldest ones here.
"So what are we going to do?" Mason asked once Hayley finished.
"Why should we do anything when he's here?" someone else asked.
The pack's gaze shifted towards Klaus.
Hayley stiffened. Eve growled. Klaus didn't move or blink.
"Perhaps," Eve began slowly. "It is time to put the past to rest, and focus on what we need to do now."
Hayley stood. Although she wore a displeased expression, she spoke calmly. "I will not tolerate this anymore. Klaus Mikaelson is mine." She slowly peeled back her shirt from her shoulder, exposing his mark. "Understand?"
There was a few gasps, some surprised exclamations. Then the others exchanged unsure or way glances.
"He's mine," Hayley repeated again. "And right now, the threat is the Hunters. They threaten us and any promise of peace for the future."
There were a few more murmurs before the pack said in unison, "Yes, Alpha."
Hayley lifted her chin slightly in acknowledgment, eyes flashing gold briefly. "Now. I have an idea on how we can handle the Hunters."
"Kill them!"
"Exile!"
"Eradicate them, before they eradicate us!"
Hayley looked to Eve and Mason, then to Klaus. Her hands tightened into fists by her sides.
Ooo0ooO
A scream tore through the streets of the Quarter, echoing down its nearly empty alleyways, scattering the nearby birds.
Bonnie clenched her teeth, even as Davina screamed again.
Davina's eyes were a solid white, rolled back as she thrashed in Bonnie's arms. A vision had overtaken her, trapping her in a state of limbo.
Sophie chanted, trying to call her sister's spirit back to her body.
With a gasp, Davina's eyes rolled back, showing her wide, dark irises once more. She trembled, gasping for breath.
Sophie collapsed on her knees besides her. "Davina? What did you see?"
"The wolves," Davina whispered, squeezing her eyes shut. "They're coming to finish it. The vampires, they'll follow the Hybrid, and he... he follows the Alpha."
Bonnie met Sophie's wide eyed gaze. "The wolves are working together with the vampires?"
"Too late, too late. They are coming."
"Who? Who's coming?"
Davina opened her eyes. "Death."
Ooo0ooO
Fog trailed across the ground, creating a frosted path that froze the earth, the plants, and any animals in their way.
As they moved, the clouds rolled in slowly, slowly blocking out the moon and the stars in the sky.
Coming to a stop, they all stood at a peak that looked down into the city of New Orleans. But their gaze was focused on the Quarter. The sky crackled with the promise of lightning and thunder.
Katie smiled slowly. "I think it's time we end this, don't you?"
The rest of the coven murmured in agreement, before they descended from the forests.
Ooo0ooO
The wolves ran through the forests, lead by a timber wolf. A gray wolf followed at her heels closely, his sharp gaze keeping a lookout.
When they came into town, the wolves phased into their human forms.
Waiting for them at the outskirts were the vampires. In the foreground stood the remaining Mikaelson family, along with Marcel, who all looked at Hayley.
Hayley approached them quickly. "Is everything ready?"
"Yes," Marcel replied. "Waiting for your orders, wolf girl."
Klaus had already contacted his family and Marcel, warning them about what Hayley had found out. Elijah had been the one to point out that Alaric was the Hunter that had seemingly followed in Mikael's deranged footsteps.
At first, Marcel had protested against working with the wolf girl and the pack, but had been silenced when Klaus said it was more important to focus on protecting what was theirs. Klaus had told him it was time to protect the vampires for a change, and Marcel had hesitantly agreed after that.
When the other vampires heard that a werewolf wanted to help them, some had laughed. It had been Kol who pointed out this was the wolf who had kept them safe when the Hunters had attacked them in the Abattoir.
Katherine had strolled forward first. "So what can we do?"
The vampires had gathered to wait for the others. The few werewolves that Klaus had captured had been freed, with the promise to have the choice to join Hayley's pack once this was over. None of the witches showed, but instead had erected strong barriers to protect the town so the humans wouldn't be caught in the crossfire.
Hayley flashed him a toothy grin in response. "Then let's get started."
The wolves moved forward, and were met with equally hesitant vampires.
"Pair up," Klaus ordered. "One vampire to every wolf."
Hayley ignored the murmured protests. "Use each other's strengths. Vampires, speed. Wolves, shift when you can. Tonight, you're allies, so deal with it."
"Aw, well isn't this sweet?"
Hayley whirled around, eyes flashing gold at that voice.
Alaric stood a few yards away, smirking. In the shadows stood the Hunters, as if they had been there the whole time.
Hayley stepped forward, placing everyone behind her. Her gaze stayed focused on Alaric. "We don't have to do this," she said slowly. "We can end this, right now."
"What, with a hug? A peace treaty? Your boyfriend broke any promise of peace the second he became the abomination he is today." The Hunter's lip curled back slightly. "And you're just a slut who fell for his lies."
The wolf pack snarled at that, eyes flashing gold.
"This has gone on for too long. We don't have to kill each other," Hayley said, ignoring his slight towards her.
"Well, sweetheart, that's just what we do," Alaric stated. "Now, come and die like a good little doggy. Unless you think your little alliance can stop me?"
Hayley briefly glanced over her shoulder.
Eve was standing beside Elijah, and Rebekah was next to Mason. Kol was standing next to another wolf, and slowly, following the Originals' example, the other vampires paired off with Hayley's wolves. There was more vampires though, so many stood alone.
But near the back of the crowd stood a trio that didn't quite fit in with the others. It was Sophie, Bonnie, and Davina, all of whom nodded towards her.
Hayley looked back at Alaric. She stood tall, meeting his gaze head on.
Alaric looked at the pack, the vampires, even the small group of witches. He frowned when he saw how they all stood together with their Alpha standing before them. And it wasn't the Hybrid they followed, but the Werewolf Queen.
"Enough of this," he snarled. He drew out a long silver sword, banishing it threateningly. Then he lunged towards Hayley, aiming for her throat.
Ooo0ooO
Loud cries and the sound of fists connecting with flesh filled the air. It was scented with the smell of blood and kicked up dirt, and was tinged with fear and adrenaline.
Shifted wolves stood next to vampires, both creatures baring their long fangs at their common enemy.
Silver arrows pierced through the air, but most missed their intended target thanks to vampires intercepting them before they stuck any wolf with their backs turned.
The witches created barriers to protect some, while throwing out spells to attack the Hunters.
And side by side, the Alpha and the Hybrid battled with Alaric.
Hayley already bore a deep wound in her shoulder, which tore deep down along her spine, which slowed her down. Klaus was still fighting despite having two arrows filled with a mix of vervain and wolfsbane shot into his chest.
When Alaric pulled out a slender, white stake, Klaus snarled angrily when he recognized what it was.
"Where did you get that?" Klaus demanded.
Alaric smirked. "This? Just an heirloom I stole from a man named Mikael."
Klaus' eyes flashed black and gold at the sound of his stepfather's name.
Alaric lunged again, going for Klaus' chest, ready to stake him in the heart.
Several things happened very quickly.
Hayley flashed forward, ready to intercept the stake with her own body. She pushed Klaus aside, turning to face the Hunter with a snarl crossing her face.
A spell shot out from the darkness, splitting the ground between the wolf and the Hunter.
A strange fog enveloped the earth, and from it came a coven of witches. More spells were used, incapacitating the Hunters.
Alaric and Hayley turned towards the newcomers. Alaric's eyes widened when he saw who it was, and a fissure of fear flickered across his features.
Raising a hand, Katie smiled in a predator-like manner. "Hello, Ric."
And with a sudden turn of her wrist, Alaric's body snapped into an awkward angle as his spine was severed. His body collapsed to the ground, before flames suddenly burst forth, engulfing the Hunter in fire.
"That's for Sophie," Katie snarled. "And every other witch you've killed."
Hayley leapt back to avoid the spreading fire, before her gaze lifted to meet the witch's.
Katie met the Alpha's gaze calmly. "He killed one of our own. Blood has been repaid with blood. This was a one time deal, wolf."
Hayley straightened. "Thank you."
Katie walked forward. She stopped about a foot away from Hayley, tilting her head to the side. "I have one more thing for you. A message."
The witch had extended her hand, pressing her fingertips to Hayley's forehead. Hayley gasped as an electric shock went through her, and her eyes flashed white briefly as a vision overcame her.
When it cleared, Hayley gasped, blinking rapidly. She looked at the witch with wide eyes. "What...?"
Katie smirked. "See you around, Werewolf Queen."
With a nod, the witches departed as quickly as they arrived, taking the fog with them the clouds parted, and the moon shone brightly once again.
Ooo0ooO
Disclaimer: I do not own the Originals.
Author's Note: Please review!
XXxxKlayleyLoverxxXX- Yes, the drawing was of Klaus and Davina. We will see her draw her visions a few more times, and yes, they might include Klayley.
geminigurl89- Unfortunately, Davina will not be paired off in this story, since she's only 16 right now. Sorry friend!
Sadly, I won't be able to fulfill everyone's wishes with this AU. But who knows, maybe you guys will inspire me to write another story, so keep sending any comments or suggestions via review or PM. You guys keep me writing!