Chapter 34:
"Klaus?" Mari knocked on his door gently. She thought everything would be just fine, since Klaus requested Elijah to bring her back to the compound. However, things seemed off. Even Kol wasn't in his usual spirits. When he told her that Klaus was upstairs, shut away in his room, she started to worry even more.
"Come in, love."
Mari pushed through his door slowly, then closed it just as quietly behind her. The room was dark, dimly lit by only a couple of candles. It was mostly the light of the rising moon outside that allowed her to see him.
Klaus was sitting in a chair, facing the window, with a half full glass of whiskey dangling from his fingertips. Mari approached him carefully.
"What's wrong, Klaus?" She rounded the chair, pausing once his face came into view. Thanks to the moonlight, she could see the blood splattered under his eye, on his cheek. He brought his glass up to his lips and took a long sip.
"I had to kill a coven today," he said coldly. "I kept innocent blood off of my hands for so long... for Camille..." Mari furrowed her brow sympathetically. He was hurting, of that much she was sure. He broke his promise to Camille, in his eyes. "I've let the beast out again."
"You're not a beast, Klaus. You're a man," Mari said gently. She lowered herself to her knees beside his chair. Her hand laid over his. "This happened while protecting Marcel. Right?" Klaus nodded his head silently. "Can you really call yourself a monster for protecting someone you care about?"
"It was dangerous," Klaus sighed. "It will continue to be dangerous. I've angered the witches once again. War will follow."
Mari shifted uncomfortably. She couldn't help but remember the story her mother told her. The war had been going on for generations, and Mari was one of the lucky victims that survived. The witches that crossed Marcel were ripped apart by Klaus.
"Take a shower," she insisted, rising to her feet. She took his hand in hers and tugged gently. "Come on, Klaus. Get cleaned up."
He hesitated for a moment, but when she continued her futile tugs, he gave in. Klaus rose to his feet, then let her lead him to the bathroom. She stopped outside the door as he ventured in. Klaus frowned when he looked back at her.
"You're not coming in?"
"Not now," she smiled sweetly. "I'll be here when you get out. Just downstairs." Klaus pouted a little, but he walked further into the bathroom to start the shower. Mari closed the door for him, then left his room as quietly as she came in.
Mari came down the stairs slowly, re-wrapping the bandage around her hand as she walked. Elijah and Kol sat at the little table in the courtyard, though Kol stood when he saw Mari approaching. He furrowed his brow and sucked in a deep breath.
"Well? Is he alright?"
"He will be," Mari nodded her head. "He thinks that he let down Camille. Even though she's gone... he's tried to do right by her. It's sweet, really. I just hope he isn't too hard on himself."
"Your hand," Kol pointed out, taking note of the bandage. "What did you do?"
"I cut myself picking up pieces of a dish I dropped. I'm a bit clumsy sometimes," she lied. It was obvious to Elijah that it was a lie she prepared ahead of time. She sold it so effortlessly that Kol was certain she was telling the truth. Elijah shifted in his seat and dropped his gaze from her.
She stopped when she reached Kol, and he lifted a hand to run his fingers through the golden waves that framed her face. Mari leaned into his touch, clearly comforted by it, and Elijah felt a pang of something unfamiliar ripple through him. He tried to chase it off.
"Elijah?" Another voice floated over to them. Elijah stood, turning as Hayley came through the gate into the courtyard. She smiled softly, but it faded when she noticed Mari there with Kol. "I didn't know it would be a full house."
"There were some complications," Elijah explained. "The witches are forming a rebellion, and Marcellus made the mistake of getting involved. Klaus spent all afternoon rescuing him from trouble."
"Nothing has changed, I see," Hayley sighed. She really was glad she made the decision to keep Hope out of New Orleans. Even if she missed her home and family sometimes, it was ultimately safer for Hope, which was all that really mattered to her. She opened her mouth to ask him how he had been, but when she looked up at him, his focus was aimed somewhere else entirely.
Hayley noticed that he was watching Marigold, or more specifically, watching as Kol wrapped an arm around her and brought her closer to him to inspect a wound on her hand. The expression on Elijah's face was far from his usual calm and collected countenance. She scoffed a little, then called to him again.
"Elijah. Elijah." After the second time, he turned to look back at her. "Can we talk alone?"
"Of course." Elijah straightened his suit jacket, then fixed his tie. He motioned for her to follow him into his private office. Hayley followed, but she didn't miss the way he subtly glanced back over his shoulder at the pair still standing in the courtyard.
Once alone, Hayley decided to rip the bandage off quickly, so to speak.
"So... what's going on with Mari?" She asked him bluntly, leaning back against his old wooden desk. She raised a brow quizzically.
"Whatever do you mean?"
"I saw the way you stared at her," she huffed. "I wasn't born yesterday, Elijah. I know you."
"I assure you it is nothing," he cleared his throat, pushing the door to his office closed so that they could have some privacy. "She injured her hand."
"Why are you lying to me?" Hayley questioned, rolling her eyes. "Did you suddenly forget how close we are, Elijah? Like I said, I know you. So spill it. Give me the truth this time."
"Fine," he gave in, letting out a long breath. "I fed from her. That is all."
"That is most definitely not all," Hayley scoffed in disbelief. "Please tell me you're not interested in that girl. Especially when Klaus and Kol are already fighting over her."
"Don't be ridiculous," Elijah shook his head. "Of course not. As I previously stated, I fed from her. I lost control of my hunger and injured her hand. Those bandages are there because of me. Kol was pressing her for information about it, so I imagine he will discover the truth soon."
"Elijah," Hayley said his name softly. "It's okay if you're ready to move on, you know? I don't like it when you lie to me. We're too close for that, don't you think?"
"Hayley..."
"We're apart more often than we're together now," she shrugged her shoulders. "I expected you to move on. You have needs. I have needs. Someone has to meet them."
Elijah grimaced, "What do you mean by that, exactly?"
"You're not the only one ready to move on," Hayley confessed. "I met someone, Elijah. I was waiting for the right time to tell you, but now is as good a time as any, I guess." She took a deep breath. "He's a wolf, and he's really good with Hope. She likes him a lot, and honestly, I do, too."
"How long has this... wolf... been involved?" Elijah demanded. He was a little disappointed, if he was being honest, a little hurt. It didn't seem like that long ago that they were together, whispering sweet nothings in his bed.
"Not long. I kept him at a distance for awhile. I wanted to do right by you, I did. Unfortunately, it's not always that easy. He was persistent, so I eventually let him get closer. I'm sorry if you're hurt, Elijah. I didn't want to hurt you, but I think it's time we both let go. This long distance thing... it doesn't work as well as we want it to. You know it's true."
"Will he make you happy?" Elijah asked. The hurt was more than obvious on his face. Hayley frowned sympathetically, then nodded her head.
"He will. I really think so."
"Alright. Then be happy, Hayley." He pulled open the door and left. He couldn't stand to look at her any longer, not without thinking of her with someone else. She was right, in a way. Their relationship had been slowly withering away the longer she stayed out of New Orleans.
It was bound to happen eventually, but the timing just wasn't right. He wasn't ready to let go, but he didn't have a choice. Hayley deserved to be happy, and if she found someone who gave her what she needed, Elijah couldn't stand in the way. Unfortunately, while her needs would be met, his would be neglected. He had no one else to turn to, no lover to crawl into bed with to numb the pain. He was alone.