Chapter Thirty Two: An Unsteady Truce
Hayley watched as the witches faded away like ghosts, and her hands trembled by her sides.
There was some movement in her peripheral vision, which she turned towards.
The Hunter's leader stood before her. Hayley stiffened when she saw that he was still gripping his sword, ready to move if he lunged.
Jeremy met her gaze, a frown marring his expression.
Hayley lifted her chin in turn, shifting slightly so she stood protectively in front of the others.
The Hunter didn't miss the movement, his eyes flashing with something unreadable. When he lowered his sword, and put it back in its sheath, Hayley's eyes narrowed.
"So this is justice," Jeremy said softly, almost curiously. His eyes fell towards the smoldering pile of ash that had once been Alaric.
Hayley didn't say anything, but her jaw twitched. Her gaze was still torn between Jeremy's thoughtful expression and the other Hunters standing behind him.
"Are we not the monsters we were born to kill?"
Hayley interrupted the Hunter, her eyes flashing gold. "Listen, Shakespeare, I get this is a tragic moment for you, but you and your buddies are standing a little too close to my family."
Klaus looked at Hayley, eyes wide.
Family?
Jeremy took a step back in an obedient manner that had her brow lifting. "I believe it is time we call a truce to this long and bitter fight."
Damon stepped forward, but when he opened his mouth, Jeremy shushed him.
"For too long, we have been fighting this war that no one will win," Jeremy stated. "The old ways can be changed. Does that sound agreeable to you, Hayley Marshall?"
Hayley tensed, suspicion creeping across her face. "Just like that, you want to call a truce?"
"Alaric used his power as a Hunter for his own purpose. I will not allow this to continue as long as I'm their leader."
"I don't think your followers would agree with you," Hayley pointed out, her eyes straying back towards Damon, who glared in response.
"I could say the same about yours," Jeremy returned, casting a look over Hayley's shoulder. The pack, vampires, and witches all watched the exchange with tense, wary expressions.
Hayley looked too, noticing how the gathering seemed to focus around her. Her inner wolf puffed out its chest a little.
She turned back towards the Hunter. She thought about how it felt to lose her birth parents, then her adoptive mother. She thought about how the divide between the wolves, the witches, and the vampires had once served a purpose, but now all it did was breed hate. She thought about how that division was shaken by Klaus' existence, then by Tyler's rebirth as a Hybrid.
Perhaps it was time for a truce, even if it was an unsteady one.
The wind changed, bringing in the fresh smell of the woods and the distant smell of rain, washing away the smell of Alaric's burnt corpse and blood.
Hayley met Jeremy's gaze, and both leaders seemed to acknowledge one thing that was happening in this moment.
Change.
Ooo0ooO
A month later, that change found Hayley and her pack back in their home territory.
Sitting at the head of a long table, with her legs crossed and hands folded in front of her, Hayley leaned back slightly, her green eyes examining the man who sat across from her.
"We don't need someone to eradicate those who threaten to expose us to the humans, we need someone who will protect us from the humans!"
"Since when do the humans pose a threat to us? Only a select few know of our existence!"
"And that changes everyday. Every day when a vampire falls in love with a human, or a wolf takes a human for a mate. This is how change works!"
Hayley's lips twitched slightly when she saw irritation flicker across Jeremy's expression. The Hunter sat across from her, and both leaders listened to the others bicker.
Sophie sat in as the liaison for the witches, as Marcel did for the vampires, and Mason for the wolves. The gathering included Klaus and Tyler, the only known Hybrids, and Elijah, the eldest of the Original vampires.
Then there was Hayley, the Alpha, and Jeremy, the leader of the Hunters. They were the leaders of the meeting, one of many that had been put into motion since the truce had been brokered back in the Quarter a month ago.
The peace between the Alpha and the Hunter was holding strong. They both recognized that change was essential for the survival of both of their groups, as well as the others. Although peace seemed like an impossible feat to reach, since there were hundreds of years of division and hate between the supernatural races, they knew change started with a choice, and that choice had been made by them both.
"The day will come when the humans will know of all of us," Elijah said with his air of usual calm. "And when that day comes, we can expect that most of the humans will react..."
"Negatively?" Hayley supplied.
Elijah nodded.
"Why are we immediately jumping to the idea of war?" Sophie asked with a frown.
"Because it's something we have to consider," Marcel said.
"There's many things to be considered," Klaus interjected. "Perhaps we should take a break?" He glanced at Hayley, as did the others.
Hayley nodded. They had been at it for hours, and they were all hungry and irritated.
"Kitchens are stocked," she told them. "Have at it."
The others quickly deserted the table, murmuring amongst themselves. Hayley sat back, releasing a long breath.
A pair of warm, strong hands gripped her shoulders, kneading the tense muscles there. She sighed again, this time in pleasure.
"We will get there eventually," Klaus murmured.
"I know," Hayley said. "No one said it would be easy either."
Klaus chuckled, leaning down to kiss her shoulder. "I have faith in you."
Hayley smiled, looking up at him.
Klaus brushed his thumb across her cheekbone, then down and across her bottom lip. He took her hand, and drew her to her feet. Then he leaned down, kissing her gently.
Hayley leaned against him, placing her hands on his hips, looping her fingers into his belt loops to pull him a little closer.
"Is there another meeting tomorrow?" Klaus asked.
Hayley shook her head. "I gave everyone the day off," she said. "I figured five days of meetings is enough for everyone right now. We can't move mountains in a day, right?"
Klaus nodded thoughtfully. "Right you are." He leaned close again. "I have plans for you."
Hayley shivered. "Oh really?"
"Yes, tomorrow is an important day after all."
Hayley's brow furrowed, then her eyes widened in realization. "Who told you?"
Klaus smirked. "Eve."
Hayley gave a half hearted snarl. "Eve, huh."
Klaus kissed her again. "Why wouldn't you tell me that it's your birthday?"
Hayley shrugged. "I don't like celebrating it."
"Well, we will have to change that, won't we?" Klaus suggested, then laughed when Hayley gave him a bitter glare.
Ooo0ooO
The next morning, those same warm, strong hands woke Hayley from a restful sleep. They traced over her, making her body hum in pleasure.
Her deep green eyes opened to find Klaus gazing down at her, his expression relaxed, yet very intense. She could almost see the thoughts swirling within his midnight blue eyes, since he didn't hide the desire and the love they held. They didn't hide much anymore.
Her lips curved, and another burst of warmth came from within her chest. She felt her body respond to his touch, just like her wolf responded to his when their eyes shifted to gold.
They came together slowly, their bodies merging as one as the sun rose through the sky. Sunlight came in through the windows, draping the lovers in its golden light.
Klaus leaned down, kissing Hayley deeply, before moving to graze his teeth over the familiar mark on her shoulder. Although it healed every week or so, Klaus would create a fresh one, just as Hayley would on his own shoulder.
Hayley's back bowed, and her hips tilted forward against his, drawing him deeper within her body. Her hands grasped his as he pinned them over her head, and she whispered his name against the shell of his ear.
When their bodies reached their climax, Klaus stared deeply into Hayley's eyes, and watched as hers clouded with pleasure as her body pulsed under and around his.
Afterwards, Klaus pulled her into the bathroom, where they ravaged each other in the shower, then on the cool tiled floor. They eventually stumbled from their rooms, which smelled like coconut and lavender soap and sex.
"Where are we going?" Hayley asked, as she slid into Klaus' sleek, black sports car.
"I do believe I said this was a surprise," Klaus responded in a teasing tone.
"No, you said you had plans for me," Hayley corrected, slating a narrowed eyed glance in his direction.
Klaus smirked, leaning over to kiss her. "Don't you trust me, my little wolf?"
"Not when you have that look in your eyes."
"What look?" Klaus asked innocently, grinning when she rolled her eyes and scoffed.
"I do this under protest," she told him as he peeled away from the drive.
"I think, my little wolf, that you need some faith."
Hayley sighed, shaking her head, but she still took one of his hands in hers, and kissed it gently. She rubbed his knuckles across her cheek, then settled back, gazing out the window at the passing landscape.
Ooo0ooO
Their journey took them to the coastline, where rugged sand and rock met the cold gray sea. The sun that had warmed them in the morning now hid behind the clouds, leaving the air cool and smelling heavily of sea salt.
The wind whipped their hair and clothes as they walked across the sand. Hayley leaned against Klaus' side, her hand in his back pocket, while Klaus had an arm casually thrown across her shoulders. They didn't talk much, but enjoyed their surroundings and how they were alone on the long stretch of beach.
Hayley eventually broke away from Klaus to collect some shells along the water. Her bare feet sunk into the cold, wet sand and she shivered at the sensation. Then she helped when a small wave of water splashed up her ankles and soaked the bottom of her rolled up jeans.
She glared when she heard Klaus laugh, and kicked out, splashing him with water. Her triumphant grin didn't last when he gave her a bright eyed, mischievous smirk and she found herself thrown over his shoulder as he carried her into knee deep water.
"Put me down!" Hayley shrieked, swatting his back and backside. A split second later, she realized her mistake. "Don't you d-," Her shout was cut off when Klaus dropped her into the water. She came up sputtering, then she glared up at him. With a growl, she lunged, kicking his ankles out from underneath him.
Klaus fell unceremoniously into the water, and came up laughing. Hayley started laughing too, despite how cold the water was.
When they dragged themselves out of the waves, they flopped onto the beach side by side. Hayley breathed a sigh of relief when the sun reemerged.
They stayed there for half a day, before they agreed they needed to get out of their wet and sandy clothes. They stripped down at the car, then put their clothes in the trunk before slipping on some dry clothes Klaus had packed. Hayley shrugged on an old shirt of Klaus', inhaling his scent deeply.
Klaus then took her up onto the bluffs, where they watched the sun slowly set. He satisfied his hunger with some blood he had brought, and Hayley ate some leftover food from the feast Eve had prepared in preparation for the meetings.
Hayley drove back, even though Klaus claimed he was not tired. But as the car weaved its way back to the Quarter, Hayley glanced over and saw the Hybrid sleeping soundly, smelling like the sea and fresh cut grass.
Hayley smiled to herself. She knew this was a birthday she would never forget.
Ooo0ooO
The final meeting took place in the main house, and it was just between Hayley and Jeremy. The Hunter and the Alpha were tired, and Hayley knew he wanted to return to where the rest of the Hunters were waiting, in a small town in Viriginia called Mystic Falls.
Hayley sat down at her desk, and gestured for Jeremy to take the seat across from her. She leaned back in the worn chair, sighing deeply.
"Do you think it's possible?"
Hayley looked up, realizing Jeremy had been talking. "Do I think what is possible?"
Jeremy gave her a patient look. "Maintaining this truce."
"I think it can be if we want it to," she replied honestly. "We didn't think brokering one in the first place was possible and yet-," she gestured to them both, "here we are."
Jeremy nodded. "I want us to have a purpose other than..."
"Hunting?"
Again, he nodded.
Hayley pursed her lips. "I'm sure we will figure it out. It just might not be today."
Jeremy stood, offering her his hand to shake. "Then let's hope we can figure it out together." He bowed his head respectfully, then made his exit.
Hayley turned so she could look out the window. She smiled a little when she saw Jeremy stride outside and he was greeted by Klaus and Mason. The three men shook hands and parted ways, and it was Klaus who looked up at her, as though he sensed her gaze.
The Hybrid smirked, shading his eyes from the sun with his hand.
Hayley bit her lip, trying to smother her own smirk. Instead, she crooked a finger at him, beckoning him to come join her.
Ooo0ooO
Disclaimer: I do not own the Originals.
Author's Note: I know, I know, I've sucked with updating this story. Writer's block is no fun. Thanks for your patience!
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