In the previous chapter, Klaus helped Hayley during their second day of training and Hayley had to face the consequences of interacting with her most dangerous opponent in the games, Niklaus Mikaelson. Klaus has had to deal with the letter from his mother, in the meantime, in which Esther told him that she wants him and his brother, Elijah to reconnect and be allies in the games. Mikael, Rebekah and Caroline had dinner together at the table and discovered Klaus' "intimate" interactions with Hayley during the first day of training, infuriating Mikael. Elijah and Katherine seem to be at odds like never before while Kol isn't having luck winning Elena over.
This chapter presents the black and white ball that the tributes will be attending, some dancing together, some acting as friends, some as enemies. It will become a real festive and interesting party with new interactions between Klaus and Hayley. Will everything go as expected or will there be chaos? What about the family members of the tributes in Districts 1, 2 and 12?
District 12: Hayley Marshall
The Night of the Party
I didn't have what it takes for this. I stood in front of the mirror and I was somehow trying to admire myself but there was no use. I was pretending to be someone I wasn't, while Jake and Lucy were at home, the hunger seeping through them. Who was going to take care of them if she didn't get home soon? I had only spent a couple of days here and it already felt like an eternity. I had made friends, enemies and everything you could possibly imagine. What now? What was I going to do next? I was going to attend a black and white ball where you mingle around and make people like you? I wasn't able to make my mom like me. How could I get sponsors if I am weak and can't socialize properly with people?
Effie eyed me for a moment and said, "Twirl." I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "Twirl, my dear!" she raised her voice and I knew that I had to do it this time. I did as she asked and twirled, showing off the black dress I was wearing. "Is this supposed to mean that I am not a good person?" I asked her and she frowned. Rona came inside the room at that time and smiled. "I know what you're thinking, Hayley. Don't worry! I can guarantee you that the bad girls attract the sponsors more. You are a bad girl, in the field I mean. And look at you. You're wearing a One Shoulder Black Chiffon Long Night Dress. How lucky are you? " I shook my head at that one. "You have it all wrong, Rona. I am weak." "No you're not! You just haven't discovered too much about yourself yet!" Josh called out to me, as he was arranging his tie. Kieran came inside to watch us and nodded at me. "He's right, you know. You need to start believing in yourself, Hayley. I know you can do it. You can win sponsors tonight." "By saying what in particular? The only thing that I have attracted so far is trouble." I responded.
"How about you just put a smile on your face and be happy with the time you have for fun. You will be working again tomorrow and the day after the tomorrow before you get in the arena. Be careful who you attract tonight. You need to find people you can count on the field. You need to find people who you can trust." Effie said to me. She looked over at me and clasped her hands together. "Darling, you look magnificent. I am sure that you will catch the eye of every single boy there is out there." Kieran decided to intervene and he said harshly, "Hayley is not here to find herself a boyfriend, Effie!" "You know what I mean. I was simply telling her that she looked magnificent that everyone will be looking at her." I had a feeling that Kieran was going to start again with that type of conversation and he did. He came over to me and looked at me directly in the eyes. "I want no funny business out there with the Mikaelson brothers, do you understand me?" "Yes, I get it. I know what I have to do." "Then why have you been seeing Niklaus Mikaelson?" Josh asked me. "Are you crazy? I have not been seeing him. He happens to take an interest in me and helps me during training. I need someone like him. What's the big deal here?" "The big deal is that you need to understand what is at stake here." "I do understand. The only thing that I care about is getting home to my brother and my sister. They need me." I said, suddenly on the verge of shedding tears.
The others were watching me closely as I instantly grabbed a napkin and wiped away my tears, breathing in deeply. I felt Josh put his hands on my shoulder and whisper, "I get your pain. I feel the same way. All of us feel the same way." Kieran nodded and handed me another napkin. "If you want to stay alive and get back home to your brother and your sister, I can guarantee you that you need to keep your head in the game. I don't want you to go anywhere near Niklaus Mikaelson." I stood there and looked at him before nodding and leaving the room, dragging my dress behind me. After washing my face and letting Rona apply make-up, I realized that I didn't look so bad after all. This might just work for tonight.
District 2: Niklaus Mikaelson
The Night of the Party
The night was young and all I could picture inside of my head was the hidden letter that my mother had sent me. I knew she was scared for me, scared for Rebekah as she was alone, having to deal with Mikael's outbursts. I looked at the letter once more, trying to make myself understand why my mother would possibly want me to trust Elijah in this mess. I didn't need him. I was more than capable of bringing him down in seconds. For the games, I needed stronger allies, to protect myself. There was a knock on the door and Camille stepped inside. The way she was prancing around in her goody-two-shoes white dress was making me roll my eyeballs another time. "Have I told you that you could come in?" I asked her bitterly. She turned around and smirked at me. "No. But you did said that I should knock before I enter and I did." She responded. "That makes no difference. I could have been without a shirt."
She noticed the grin on my face and frowned. "You're hilarious. What are you planning on doing tonight anyway? It'll be a waste of time for you. You already have sponsors, pardon me, women sponsors who are more than willing to help you without you even asking them. Your presence tonight is pointless." "Getting a tad bit jealous, are we, love? It certainly isn't my fault you're hobbies happen to be burying your nose in books. Knowledge can only get you half way. You are going to need strength and muscles in the next part of your task to succeed. That is something you don't have." "Which is why I need you." "No thank you, love. I am not a willing participant." Camille groaned and stepped over to him with her hands crossed over her chest. "You have to be!" "Is that an order that you are offering a Mikaelson?" I stepped over to her with my angry expression, which made Camille take two steps back. How dare she talk to me like that?
The door opened and Gora walked inside, rolling her eyes at the angry looks on her tributes' faces. "What is going on here? You have to be ready to be at the party in an hour! I want smiles and your mentor would like sponsors, if you please." I smirked. "I don't think I am the problem here. You should be addressing to Ms. Perkinson here." Camille stomped out of the room at that moment and I couldn't help but chuckle at her attitude. Gora eyed me with a frown. "She is your partner." "I never asked for her to be the one. I think I would have had a better chance controlling my ex-girlfriend than her." I replied, thinking about another blonde that used to get on my nerves but used to have as a girlfriend, Caroline. Even now I wondered if she did get the message of our break-up or she was still holding onto hope. "You don't get to control as partners. You work together to kill the other tributes. If you would let go of your pride and ego, you would realize that even though Camille doesn't have many chances to win, she does posed qualities that you might need." Gora explained and I smirked once more. "So, you are practically asking me to stop being rude to her and use her? She is a tribute of this district and I thought that she should get as many chances to win as I do." "But she is not a Mikaelson, dear." Gora ended with a smile on her face.
Vincent, my mentor entered the room and came over to arrange my tie. "You are indeed a Mikaelson and everyone, including your father is expecting you to win." "I am not the only Mikaelson in this competition." I reminded him and he shook his head. "Elijah does not have the same pride and he is not as worthy of the name Mikaelson as you are. He was raised by your mother. Your mother is a Mikaelson through marriage but not by blood." "Elijah is still my mother's son and my brother." Vincent sighed and handed me a letter. "It's from your father. You better read it now. It is said to be delivered to you as a very important note. I will leave you to it." The envelope was ripped and I growled. "Have you read this?" I asked my mentor and he shook his head, saying. "I haven't but it had to be inspected to make sure that it was safe before handing it over to a tribute." I nodded, but still pissed at his ideas. Who needed him as my mentor? Who needed my mother? Who needed Elijah? Certainly not me. I could win this war all on my own. I made my way out of the hotel room with the letter opened.
I thought I had told you that your main purpose in this competition is winning. You do not make any friends, you make only alliances. You better watch out, boy! There are cameras everywhere and you have been seen on television teaching the female from District 12 how to use a sword. I am greatly disappointed in you…but for the sake of you being my son, I am more than willing to rectify this mistake of yours and you make sure it does not happen again. You also had Caroline see you with that girl on television. What impression do you think it gave her?
As for your brother competing with you, you have nothing to worry about. I spoke with your mentor and he knows just how to play it. Elijah stopped being my son the minute he was taken to be raised by Esther. Show that you are indeed your father's son and get in the center of the attention, be the best. That is what a Mikaelson does.
Be prepared for anything and don't let me down! Don't destroy my legacy and show that you have true Mikaelson blood inside of you, my son!
The letter had no name but I knew at once from the words chosen it was definitely my father. So what if he had seen me with her on television? The whole point of this event was to manipulate others and catch them off guard before killing them. This was exactly what I was doing. And Caroline? I groaned when I realized that Mikael had just as a hard time believing that I didn't consider her as my girlfriend any longer, as she did. He claimed that should make my family proud because I had Mikaelson blood in me. If he only knew the truth…that I was not his real son and that my mother had lied to him. What would happen to me? What would happen to Rebekah? Father had always managed to take his anger out on either one of us when he felt like it. I had to protect her. There was no possible way that I would let her become the target of Mikael's anger. Rebekah is the only woman I ever truly loved. She is my sister, my best friend and the only one in my family who could ever possibly understand my strengths and my weaknesses. I looked over at the letter, frowning before crumbling it up and throwing it in a garbage can I found in the hallway. Before I could return to my dorm, I heard footsteps approaching and I saw her. A grin appeared on my face as I had forgotten all about Mikael's letter in seconds.
She looked absolutely stunning in a black night dress. "Ready for the spectacular attention you will be receiving, little wolf?" I murmured as I crossed his hands over my chest and lay against the wall to watch her more closely. Attention. I had thought about it myself and it seemed like she would be once again stealing the spotlight with her beauty. Hayley looked over at me as she stopped walking and rolled her eyes, wanting to go on but I grabbed a hold of her hand to stop her, pulling her away from the place where most people would probably see them. I had no intention of creating chaos and I didn't want any more disappointment letters from Mikael. "What do you want, Klaus?" Hayley sighed and tapped her heels. He shrugged and smirked. "Perhaps I am more than looking forward to sharing a dance with you this evening." She looked at me, smiling for a moment before shaking her head and whispering, "That is not going to happen. And stop calling me little wolf. I do not want to hear it." She moved to leave but I wouldn't let her and grabbed her hand again, keeping her in place. I could tell that she wanted to stay…but there was something preventing her from giving in to her wishes.
District 12: Hayley Marshall
Right before the Party
"I presume that you have been offered some lectures after been seen with the enemy during class." He threw that puppy face at me which immediately sent me laughing without wanting. I placed my hand on my forehead; still with a smile on my face when I realized that there was no way that I was going to get rid of him now. I really asked for this myself. I was supposed to leave him alone and mind my own business but he had knowledge about the games that I could really use in order to win and get back home to Lucy and Jake. Now that I had him interested, I wasn't going to back down. If manipulating opponents was his strategy, why couldn't it be mine as well? He may have the name of Mikaelson, but that didn't mean that his mind was working as rapidly as mine was. Still, there would always be something about him that would leave me without words, and make me feel the way I never felt before. This was why I had to remind myself to be careful around him. I couldn't risk being exposed.
"Yes, I have, Klaus. And please stop calling me little wolf." I told him. His smile disappeared and he put on a pouty and adorable face. "What's the problem, sweetheart? We both know that you can't find a pet name better than that." "And why is that?" He got closer to me with that smile on his face, whispering, "Because you're gorgeous, smart, you have the heart of a wolf, you're just as cunning as one. I happen to love the pleasure of your company, the company of such a remarkable woman." He was laying the charm on thick, I had to admit that but I wasn't going to fall for it. "Thank you for the compliments, but they are not going to get you anywhere with me, unfortunately." I tried moving past him but he stopped me once again and I felt mesmerized by the way he was studying my features. What was he up to?
"Am I to understand that the reason why you're backing away from this is due to the advice of your mentor to stay away from the big bad Mikaelson?" "You understood correctly. Kieran wants to help me and he has been giving me very helpful advice so far. If I am supposed to stay away from you during these games, I will do so." "Afraid of a challenge, love?" I smirked. "Who said that I was afraid? I am simply doing my best to survive in a very cruel and cold world. I have been on my own for many years, having the need to look out or myself while you have been pampered and spoiled by your rich parents. We come from two different worlds and that is not going to change. Knowing your past and knowing your father, even if Kieran hadn't advised me, I would have still preferred to stay away from you." I could see his smirk being replaced with a frown on his beautiful masculine features. He didn't like what he was hearing from me but it was the truth and I was not going to back out now just because I made him feel bad. I still couldn't understand his obsession with me. Maybe this was just his tactic, trying to get me to let my guard down so he could have me where he wanted. That was not going to happen. "Enjoy the party." I finally whispered and left, walking faster down the hall than I ever had before.
Like I said before, there was something about him that was just fascinating. He was supposed to be the enemy for me, I understand that, but he hasn't acted like my enemy so far. Moreover, it looked like he has always tried to befriend me after our little incident in the training center. I closed my eyes and remembered Kieran's words.
"Darling, you look magnificent. I am sure that you will catch the eye of every single boy there is out there." Kieran decided to intervene and he said harshly, "Hayley is not here to find herself a boyfriend, Effie!" "You know what I mean. I was simply telling her that she looked magnificent that everyone will be looking at her." I had a feeling that Kieran was going to start again with that type of conversation and he did. He came over to me and looked at me directly in the eyes. "I want no funny business out there with the Mikaelson brothers, do you understand me?" "Yes, I get it. I know what I have to do." "Then why have you been seeing Niklaus Mikaelson?" Josh asked me. "Are you crazy? I have not been seeing him. He happens to take an interest in me and helps me during training. I need someone like him. What's the big deal here?" "The big deal is that you need to understand what is at stake here." "I do understand. The only thing that I care about is getting home to my brother and my sister. They need me." I said, suddenly on the verge of shedding tears. "I get your pain. I feel the same way. All of us feel the same way." Kieran nodded and handed me another napkin. "If you want to stay alive and get back home to your brother and your sister, I can guarantee you that you need to keep your head in the game. I don't want you to go anywhere near Niklaus Mikaelson."
Nowhere near Niklaus Mikaelson, they all said. I rubbed my hands together nervously as I looked in a mirror and noticed how indeed wonderful I looked arranged by Effie and Rona. This was my night and I had to do whatever it took to look my best. Sponsors were something I needed to get back home to my family. Lucy and Jake were now waiting for me. "I will be back." I promised in a whisper.
District 1: Kol Mikaelson
The Night of the 2nd Day
I stormed inside the house and noticed Mother was preparing dinner for me. "I guess it's just us tonight once more, huh?" I asked her and she preferred not to say anything. I sighed and set down my coat, sitting down on a chair at the table and turning on the TV to see any more news on Elijah. My brother was not mentioned. The other brother…the one I had not seen in so long, Nik…he was everywhere. He was the new fan favorite to winning the games, Elijah being in second place right after him. I knew damn well what made Nik so pleasant to the eye. It was his way with the ladies, his devilish charming way in which he got what he wanted. I smirked as I realized how alike the two of us have always been.
"How did it go?" Mother suddenly asked me and I looked at her with my eyebrows raised. "You want to know how it went with Elena dearest." I asked her and set down my cup of wine. "As a matter of fact, yes, Kol, I do. I care about you. You are my son and I don't want you to get hurt. I was hoping that you would understand the situation from the first time. I know you have always held some sort of affection for Elena for a very long time…but you have to come to accept…that she will never choose you." "I do not wish to talk about it, Mother." "Then what do you suppose we do this evening? We simply eat? You are the only son I have left and…" "No, don't start that with me again. You have me, you have Elijah and you have Rebekah and Niklaus." Esther gulped and I could see her hands trembling. "Rebekah and Niklaus are no longer my children, unfortunately." I nodded and smirked. "I know you don't mean that." "I do." "Really? Is that why you wrote Nik a letter and sent it to the Capitol? I didn't know that we were allowed to be in contact with the tributes." "Only the ones from Districts 1 and 2 have special privileges, my son."
"I see." I whispered and drank a gulp of beer. "So, enough about me and my former obsession with Elena." "Former? What happened, Kol?" Mother suddenly jumped me and I looked at her, surprised that she would want to know so much. "What do you care?" "I care about your feelings. I am your mother. Tell me what happened." "Simple. I caught her in bed with that Salvatore guy, Damon." Esther nodded. "Yes. That is the man that she had been set to be with by Professor Snow." "So he is taking advantage of their beauty?" "It is not like that, Kol. You wouldn't understand." "What is there to understand? Where is Tatia?" "She left a while ago. She was given permission to marry a very important man in this district." "Damn, Mother, I don't care any longer." I stood up and walked towards my room but she came after me and held on my arm. "I want to help you. If you need anything, I want to be there for you."
"Mother, you are desperate that you are never going to see Elijah again. You are desperate because you know that you are going to lose at least one son in these games this year. Nik or Elijah. I know you love them both and you still love Rebekah as well." "You are my top priority now." Esther insisted and the more I looked at my mother, she seemed like she was really possessed. I gulped and patted her back whispering, "Mother, why don't you lay down on the couch for a moment, alright?" I set her down and watched her go to sleep. What the hell was I going to do? I knew at that moment that if either Elijah or Nik would die, she would never get over it. She might even lose her mind.
To be selected in the games meant glory but for others, I knew what it really meant. We had no choice. Nik would have made it out of this, had he not volunteered. I had to do something. I felt like I had to do something in order to get this family back the way it was. There was nothing left now for me to stay here and do nothing. I had even lost the fight for Elena. I had to get my family to depend on me. And there was only one way to do it. I didn't know what had come over me the moment I picked up the phone and called him. "Good evening, sir! This is Kol Mikaelson." "Yes, I know you. One of Mikael's sons, of course." "Yes. The reason why I was calling is because…well, I was hoping that you would do me a favor, in the name of the Mikaelson family." I responded.
District 2: Rebekah Mikaelson
The Night of the 2nd Day
I set down my phone and looked at the television screen where I could see Flickerman laugh and do his casual thing of a show. I sighed and slumped in my chair as I thought about my brothers out there. If there was a way that I could do something to help, I surely would do it. I could hear scratches around the room and I saw Father enter the kitchen where I was. "Rebekah, I wish to hear more of that. Louder." Mikael exclaimed and I turned on the volume. There really was nothing much that could be heard. There was their festive black and white party tonight. They would both be there. The only thing I hoped was for this one time, Nik and Elijah to put aside their differences and help one another. We have always been a united family. Why should the separation of our parents stop us from continuing that?
"I hope that son of mine received my letter." Mikael growled as he sat down at the table with me. I frowned. "He received a letter from you? Why? What did you say?" I asked, curiously. "I told him to keep his head in the game and to stop fooling around with women, especially women who happen to be tributes from other districts." I laughed and shook my head. "You know Nik has always been one with the ladies. Either way, the games have always been his top priority since he has volunteered. He volunteered for this family. You should at least be proud of him for that. He broke up with Caroline…" "That he did. I still cannot believe it. She was a suitable girl for him." "Why? Because she is rich and pretty?" "Precisely. No son of mine is going to get married to a woman with no wealth, much less from another district." I pursed my lips. "And what about me? To whom are you going to marry me? To some rich fellow who cares only about my last name and my looks? I want someone to love me for me, Father." I told him.
Mikael chuckled as he started eating and looked at me curiously. "Since when do you care about love? All that you have done was to ignore it for the past few years. You had not wanted to get in a relationship with anyone. The only thing that you had managed to do was have two one night stands with that fellow, Damon Salvatore, President Snow's council's son. Not to mention that he is from District 1. This was unacceptable." I scoffed and looked out the window. "The man took advantage of me twice when I was drunk and lonely. Give me a break, Father." He slammed his fists on the table and stood up. "I shall not give you a break, Rebekah! You are my daughter by blood and as long as you have that Mikaelson blood running through your veins, you will not disappoint or make a mockery of me or this family. Do I make myself clear?" he was raging and I slowly nodded, to make him relax. Instead, he picked up his food and went to his room to eat. The phone was ringing and of course, I had to get it this time.
"Hello?" I asked as I spoke through the phone. "Is this Rebekah Mikaelson?" A cold and groggy voice asked and I whispered, "Yes, this is she. Who is this?" "It is President Snow speaking to you." I bit my lip and asked, "Yes, sir! What can I do for you? Would you like to speak to my father?" "No. It is actually you to whom I wanted to speak to. You see, I received a very interesting call from someone earlier. Someone who might interest you. He asked me for a favor, one that I am willing to grant him but it is this favor which I would also like to grant you." I frowned as I listened more carefully.
District 12: Hayley Marshall
The Party Had Begun
I was standing in the crowd, looking nervous as I saw pampered people all around me. I was not used to this kind of lifestyle but they all were. Josh came up from behind me and offered me a grin. "Isn't this a blast?" he asked me as we looked around the place. "It's definitely majestic…but I feel like I don't belong here. What is the point of having these parties anyway? We are going to be dead soon enough…all of us." I whispered. Josh frowned and stepped in front of me. "What is with that attitude? You are supposed to get back to your brother and sister remember?" "The more I think of it, the less possible it seems." Josh nodded and smiled. "I think it's best if you could be more optimistic this time. The games have not even started and President Snow has the ability to change the rules anytime." He explained to me. "And what do you suggest?" "This is why we are having these parties, Hayley. It's not for fun. It's for the chance to get stronger allies that don't necessarily mean tributes. Think about it."
He looked very convincing, I had to give him credit for that, but after the way President Snow treated my district for years and blamed it for the disasters of the revolutions throughout history, I was not about to become friends with him. I was not having it. I smiled at Josh and whispered, "If our objective is to gain sponsors, then why don't you go out there and mingle? You could get someone to help you." He smiled at me and shook his head. "No one would really be interested in sponsoring me. There is nothing about me that draws attention…unlike you." I shook my head. "I think you're wasting your time standing here and talking to me." "Well, we are partners for better or for worse in these games. I have to help you in some way. I want to be someone you can rely on." "And I thank you for that. I thank you and my whole team. Kieran, Effie, Rona…they have all been wonderful to me. But I am just not sure it's enough."
Josh fidgeted as he looked around and sighed, "Then what are we going to do?" "I say that you take care of yourself for now. I will be fine. Go because your life is not less important than mine." "But you have something to go back to. You have a little sister and a little brother, Hayley." "And I love them with all my heart but you have a family too. You must find a way to get back to them too. I know you will find a way and I will help you, because you're my friend." I offered him a hug, which he graciously accepted and then moved away with a smile, into the crowd. I was laughing as I saw him trying to seduce some women that did have money to sponsor him. Who would have thought that he would stoop so low? "Hello again." Came that seducing whisper and I felt his cold breath on my neck. He was standing there in a black tux as I turned around. "What is it now, Klaus?" I asked and crossed my hands over my chest.
He smirked as he looked around surprised for a few minutes at the melody which was one of the known singer, Katy Perry, Dark Horse. He held out his hand to me and the grin never left his face and whispered, "A dance, little wolf." My heart started beating faster as he said what he did and I had no idea how I should be acting. Should I give in to what he wanted, or should I just fight back and refuse bluntly. Before I could make up my mind, he was already dragging me onto the dance floor where there were other people dancing. His lips ghosted over to my left ear as he whispered, "It's a dance, love. Relax and enjoy it. Don't be so tense." "I am not tense!" I snapped at him, a bit angry that I let my guard down again. Klaus chuckled as he pulled his lips back from my ear and looked at me deep in the eyes. "Is something bothering you, little wolf?" "A lot of things about you are bothering. For instance, I don't want to hear any more of that pet name you have for me. I don't want anyone else to hear it."
"I take it those are some of the orders that have been given to you by your mentor." "Don't start that with me again. We have been given mentors because they know better and they have been in the games before. It gives us a chance to see things from their perspective." "It gives us a chance of winning, the better the mentor, of course." Klaus told me and I smirked. "What? Are you suddenly suggesting that you could have a better mentor than me? You have no idea of the knowledge Kieran possessed." "You insinuated this, love. I was not suggesting a thing." I growled a little and he once again chuckled. We simply danced and for once, I actually followed his advice and tried to clear my head, my listening to the beautiful melody and swaying back and forth with him. The rhythm was amazing and he was a very good dancer. "Hmm." I sighed for a moment, unintentionally and his smile widened, making slap myself mentally for doing that. The music continued to play and our bodies were feeling closer by the second.
"So, you wanna play with magic…boy you should know what you're falling for. Baby, do you dare to do this, cause I'm coming at you like a dark horse. Are you ready for…ready for…a perfect storm…a perfect storm?"
Klaus was infuriating me without a doubt, but there was something so beautiful about him, when I looked into his eyes, that I loved. There was a real mystery, behind this cold exterior of his and I always loved mysteries, especially when I had the chance to unravel them. "I am not supposed to be the discussing the games and the training with any tribute." I whispered to him. "Very well. I suggest we don't talk about the games. We could talk about something else." I smiled and looked away from his eyes so I wouldn't feel overwhelmed as he gripped my waist tighter, pulling me closer to him. "I don't trust you enough to share personal information with you." Klaus smiled at me and let one hand go of my waist, which gently went up my back and to my neck, making me shiver and silently gasp. He smiled at my reaction and I silently cursed myself. I knew the spot he touched on my neck. "Tell me what this tattoo's story is, little wolf." I opened my mouth to talk but I closed it again and shook my head. "Please. If you are going to share something me with me, at least share that. It's all I'm asking." Klaus told me.
The way he begged me to tell him, showed a lot of sincerity in his voice. He truly wanted to know. It wasn't part of any scheme to manipulate me in any way. He just wanted to know about the tattoo. I placed my hand back there as well and our fingers touched for one moment before I pulled my hand back and looked away from him, whispering, "If you must know, I had this tattoo made the moment my father died." I bit my lip as I continued talking. "He always used to call me 'little wolf'. It was his nickname for me. He called me 'little wolf' because I was acting just like one. He told me I had a strong heart, who fights hard for survival." I looked back into his eyes and saw concern in them for the first time. "I'm sorry, love." He whispered as the melody ended and we stopped dancing. The minute of concern was gone and his regular face was back as he noticed that there were people watching us. I noticed that as well and a blush crept on my cheeks. I wasn't used to having people stare at me like this.
"Follow me." Klaus simply stated and started walking. I had no idea what had gotten into me. It was like my mind had no control over my body any longer. What was I doing? Why was I following him? I wasn't supposed to. I told Kieran and Josh that I would stay away from him but I wasn't. I said that I would do anything to receive sponsors tonight and I didn't. I wasn't even sure if there were people sponsoring me. I had appeared on television a couple of times but that was all Rona's doing with the costumes for me and Josh at the tribute parade. I knew he could hear my footsteps behind him but I finally made the decision to stop and he stopped as well, turning around to look at me. "Klaus, listen…I can't go with you. I want to go back." "I thought that those people made you feel uncomfortable." He said and stepped over to me. "They did. But it wouldn't have happened if I had not danced with you. I have a job to do tonight. I will get it done as I have been asked to." "By your mentor?" "Yes…something for myself and my survival."
The minute I tried to leave, I felt his hand grab mine and keep me in place. I was turned around and his fast breathing fanned over my face as I gasped when I landed right into his chest and he was grinning at me from ear to ear. There was something about that grin. It was not snarky and it was not mean or rude in any way. It actually managed to put a smile on my face too as he bent forward and kissed my hand softly, sending chills down my spine again. "It was a pleasure dancing with you, Hayley Marshall." Before I could respond to his lovely gesture, he let my hand go and turned around, leaving me standing there. "What are you doing, Hayley?" I whispered to myself in shock.
A/N: This is it for now. In the next chapter we will go to Elijah's POV more and find out of what he has been going through and how does his relationship with Katherine stand. As for Klayley, something is happening already and Hayley could sense it the most in her. The party has just begun and there will be more of this black and white ball in the next chapter with the third day of training.
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