38 | ONE STOLEN MOMENT

Hayley asked Khalia if they could walk around the city for a while before going back, she just needed a few moments to breathe. The vampire agreed and they walked around the streets, the silence between them drowned out by the buzzing noise of the city. Jazz music, people laughing, people arguing and children playing.

“Can I ask you a question?” Hayley asked, fingers fiddling with the hem of her shirt. Khalia hummed in approval. “Marcel said he gave me to Kieran after finding me in my crib. Why would he do that? I know that he has a soft spot for kids, but I don’t get it.”

Khalia breathed in deeply, exhaled slowly. “You’re aware that Nik raised Marcellus, yes?”

“Yeah, Klaus mentioned it. Rebekah as well.” Hayley nodded, she knew that Klaus thought of Marcel for more than a century. And, if she was being honest, he probably still thinks that. He is just hurt and disappointed in the fact that Rebekah and Marcel conspired behind his back and brought Mikael to New Orleans. But, in time, like he will forgive Rebekah, he will forgive Marcel as well.

“Well, what I’m sure all of them neglected to tell you, is that Nik didn’t just raise him. He saved him from slavery. You see, Hayley, Marcel was born from a slave mother to her Governor master, but he was never recognized as such. Nik met him, coincidentally, at the funeral of a lover of Rebekah that Nik killed, who also happened to be Marcellus’ half-brother. In terms of looks, Rebekah certainly traded up when she got together with Marcel, but that’s not really any of my business.

“Anyway, what really spark my brother’s interest was the fact that although small and having no power whatsoever, Marcel fought back against the people who he belonged to then. Klaus took him in, Elijah set the slaves free, Rebekah helped them with new lives while Kol and I feasted on the slave masters that were left behind.”  Khalia concluded her story with a cheery grin.

“Wow.” Hayley breathed with wide eyes, hands resting on her belly.

“Yes, us Mikaelson’s never do anything by half.” Khalia’s voice was considerably softer, a gentle smile pulling on her lips as she looked at the werewolf by her side. Catching herself, the vampire cleared her throat and adverted her eyes. “So, yes, due to his childhood, Marcel has an extreme soft spot and protective side when it comes to children. He would never hurt one.”

“He makes a lot more sense now.” Hayley commented.

Khalia hummed again. “Shall we head back to the Bayou now?”

More than a little reluctant – she didn’t want her time with Khalia coming to an end yet – but knowing that it is necessary, the werewolf nodded. “Yeah, sure.”

Khalia turned back in the direction of Marcel’s loft. She knew that the only way Hayley would have gotten to Marcel’s place as quick as she did, is if she drove. So, Hayley would have probably parked in the parking lot in the building. Before she could get further than two steps, her wrist was grabbed by the werewolf behind her.

Khalia ripped her hand away from Hayley, both out of instinct from being caught off guard and for the sake of her fragile heart. It was a little contradictory – she allows Hayley’s touch when enraged, but otherwise she didn’t want it anywhere near her.

Or maybe, she wanted the touch so much that she wants to deny herself the sensation before she couldn’t let go. Khalia knows what that touch of soft, warm and smooth skin against hers can do. She has held the werewolf’s hand before, has held her and touched her before. She knows it can set her soul ablaze, the fire burning through all of her carefully constructed walls around her broken heart to keep herself safe.

Ignoring the hurt that shone in those green-eyes which resonated within her own heart when she turned to face Hayley again, Khalia merely raise a brow in silent question.

Hayley swallowed, hands clasping over stomach. Khalia’s eyes flickered downwards and she had this sudden urge to touch, to caress that beautiful baby bump. But, like she denied herself Hayley’s touch, she denied herself to touch the werewolf as well. The vampire crossed her arms over her chest. Hayley gathered her courage.

“I’m sorry. For leaving. For hurting you.” The werewolf blurted nervously, but completely sincere.

Khalia’s heart stilled in her chest and suddenly it was a little harder to breathe. Then the moment passed and suddenly it was easier to breathe. Suddenly, her aching heart soothed a little. Those words were like a balm applied to the wound in her chest – made by Hayley’s decision to leave the Mikaelson’s and go live in the Bayou.

“I forgive you, sweetheart.” Her tongue curled around the term of endearment gently, making Hayley's heart flutter with warmth.

Without warning, without being able to stop her – or wanting to – Hayley stepped into her space and threw her arms around the vampire, hugging Khalia as tightly as possible. The Original was startled for a second before tentatively hugging her back. She nosed Hayley’s hair, the scent of apples invading her senses – so it was her shampoo then that always made her carry that delicious smell around – as she allowed herself to get lost in this one stolen moment, treasured by both the girls.

Reality was unfortunately not going anywhere, and forced the two girls apart. Khalia stepped back again, needing space to be able to think clearly. Hayley’s presence had a way of disrupting her thought process and destroying her attention span – for anything else that wasn’t the werewolf.

“We should go.” Khalia said and this time when she turned around, Hayley didn’t stop her.

When the two girls eventually arrived back in the Bayou, a bonfire burns as Oliver is passionately trying to convince everyone to fight back against the vampires. Khalia resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Even with the help of those rings Klaus is trying to make for them, they still wouldn’t be any match for an Original, but maybe they could take out Marcel. Now that was a scenario that Khalia didn’t have any object to.

Khalia, as well as Hayley, was well and truly surprised when they spotted Elijah still here. Elijah was watching someone by the  his sister and the pregnant werewolf head over to him.

Nearby, Khalia noticed a werewolf was shouting. She recognized him as the werewolf, Oliver, who worked with Klaus to search for one of his descendants. “They are counting on our doubts. That's right! Yeah! They are counting on our fears! That's right! Right!”

Hayley looked at Elijah, “You stayed.”

“Come morning, they will know that we are not cowards.” Oliver continued his speech.

Hayley was confused by the commotion. “What's going on? What is he doing?”

“Starting a war, or at the very least, a riot.” Khalia answered bluntly, shrugging one shoulder.

Oliver either didn’t notice the Original vampires, or simply didn’t care for their presence. “We are not afraid!”

“He's making a move for power in the wake of tragedy. He's not alone. There was another attack after you left.” Elijah told them, and Khalia’s head whipped to him. She did not know that. It must have been after his phone call to her.

“What?” Hayley’s eyes were wide with shock. Hayley rushes into the shack, where Jackson and Sierra is sitting with Eve's dead body, devastated. Elijah and Khalia followed but where the male Original entered the shack, the female one didn’t.

Khalia stood outside the shack, knowing her presence inside wouldn’t be welcomed. But it was a rather poor decision on her part as when the moment Oliver noticed her, his gaze zeroed in on her, eyes narrowing. Khalia stared back, not intimidated or scared by his glare.

Oliver got up in her face, clearly wanting to pick a fight. Well, he picked the right person but just the wrong place. Khalia wouldn’t start a fight out here – for nothing else but for the fact that Hayley wouldn’t want her too. Now, if he started this in the Compound? Now that was another story entirely.

He sneered at her, “Well, well, just look here. The Demon Mikaelson in all her glory. How many of us have you killed, huh?”

“Enough to loose count.” Khalia replied smoothly, crossing her arms over her chest in an effort to put space between them. She didn’t like people all up in her person space bubble.

“You think you’re so smart, don’t you?” Oliver tried to shove her backwards, but it didn’t work. Khalia is an Original, who is a thousand times stronger and more surefooted than he is.

Khalia’s jaw locked, her gaze darkening but otherwise remaining the picture of calm as she took everything Oliver was dishing out. “Well, I have lived a thousand years, give or take a few decades.”

Khalia saw the fists clenching at his sides and knew was coming. She would allow him one more transgression. The punch to the face didn’t even hurt. It annoyed her more than anything else. Another fist came to her face, but this time she caught it. She easily gripped his arm and with her free hand, she grabbed his neck.

“I’ve allowed you things I’d never under any circumstance allow, because I do not want to start a fight in Hayley’s home, but do not think that that means I will let you do what you want.” She snarled lowly at him.

Hayley, Elijah, Jackson and Sierra choose that moment to come out of the shack. The pregnant werewolf’s eyes immediately widened when she saw that Khalia had Oliver by the throat. She rushed towards them, clearly misreading this situation. She angrily shouted at her, “Khalia, put him down!”

Khalia looked at Hayley, took in her angry demeanor. Did she really think that Khalia would attack her people for no reason? She dropped Oliver to the ground like a hot potato, turning to Hayley with a sharp smile that lacked any warmth. “As you wish, your Majesty, but please remember to keep your wolves away from me. I will not be this merciful next time.”

The Original sped away, leaving confusion in her wake. Elijah didn’t understand what his sister meant, while Jackson and Sierra was just thankful that she let Oliver go. Hayley felt a stab of guilt, remembered the flash of something – which looked an awful lot like hurt – that passed Khalia’s eyes before she left. The she-wolf looked back at Oliver, “What the hell happened out here?”

“Nothing.” He shrugged, coughing as Jackson helped him upright.

A snort of disbelief came from somewhere in the crowd. Hayley’s eyes narrowed as her head swiveled in that direction. She placed her hands on her hips, “Anyone have something to say?”

“Yeah,” A werewolf in the crowd stepped forward. “Oliver is lying to you.”

“Shut the hell up.” Oliver snarled, made to go at the werewolf but Jackson restrained him.

“Enough.” Jackson ordered sternly. Oliver glowered at the werewolf.

Elijah looked at the werewolf who spoke up. “What exactly does that mean?”

“It means that Oliver baited her and she snapped.” The male werewolf shrugged.

“You’re on their side now?” Oliver snarled again, Jackson having to tighten his grip. Sierra came to help him and he sent her a thankful smile that she returned with a loving one.

“No, but dude, she’s the Demon Mikaelson, you should have known better. I mean, you shoved her and you hit her, in the face I might add, and she just stood and took it. But then you just had to push your luck and go for another hit.” He took his eyes off Oliver and turned to Hayley. “That’s when she grabbed him. She told him that she doesn’t want to start a fight here, because of you, but she wouldn’t let him do whatever he liked either.”

Guilt hit Hayley tenfold. She just saw one side of the story and drew the wrong conclusions. Warmth spread through her next. Khalia didn’t want to start a fight out here, just for her. Then came the anger and she whirled to Oliver, a thunderous growl escaping her lips as her eyes glowed bright amber. “You hit her?”

Oliver scoffed, “What’s the big deal? It’s probably healed by now anyway.”

Hayley was in front of him in a flash, her fist flying before anyone could blink. The force of the hit sent him staggering, and then he lost his balance, toppling ungracefully to the ground. Hayley’s chest heaved just a little, anger and protectiveness rolling of her in waves. “You touch her again, and I will throw you out of this pack.”

Elijah watched from the sidelines with concealed amusement. Evidently, the protectiveness went both ways.

***

Khalia was in a sitting room, somewhere in the Compound, playing the piano. When Elijah eventually returned home, he searched where the sound was coming from. From the doorway, he watched she played with her back to him. He spotted Klaus lying down on the three seater couch in the room, hands clasped behind his neck, eyes closed and expression relaxed. The oldest Original smiled fondly – it’s been years since his sister’s played the piano.

Listening to the tune, his heart gave a tug of sadness. It was Kol’s favorite piece and he knew that Khalia would only play it whenever she either really missed him, or had something bothersome on her mind – or both. His best bet is the scene out in the Bayou – the one where Hayley flew into Khalia without asking what happened first and his sister just left.

He knew the werewolf tried calling his sister to apologize, muttering something about making things right with Khalia before it could become a big, ugly thing between them – she’s been at since before he left for home, with the promise to ask his sister to pick up the werewolf’s calls.

Elijah left the doorway, ears still listening to the melody as he went.

Back in the room, the brother-sister duo felt their older brother’s presence but didn’t bother acknowledging him. If he needed their attention, he would have tried to gain it. When Khalia finished playing, she opened her eyes and turned to her brother. He had joined her after she started playing when she arrived earlier. She didn’t say anything about what happened with Oliver, but told him about the bomb attacks on the Bayou as well as her and Hayley’s visit to Marcel.

He never left after she finished telling him, and Khalia appreciated the silent company.

The female Mikaelson didn’t understand why she felt like this – like someone sucker punched her, just because Hayley drew the wrong conclusions after coming out of the shack. After all, given what Hayley knows about her, it wasn’t that far off from what her normal reaction would have been. That reasoning still didn’t help lifting the heaviness around her heart.

She gave him a sly smile, feeling much better. “Want to go wheedle mother’s spell book from Elijah?”

“You really think he’ll hand it over?” Klaus tilted his head at his sister.

“Are the day we’ve had?” She snorted, as if the answer to his question was obvious. “Without a doubt.”

“Let’s go then.” The Hybrid rose from the couch.

“How come I’m always being pulled into whatever you or Elijah are doing?” Khalia pulled a face, but stood from the piano bench even as she complained.

“Because you’re our little sister, who loves us.” Klaus retorted smugly. Khalia huffed, crossing her arms over her chest but didn’t deny his claim.

The two siblings joined Elijah in his study. Klaus immediately started talking, cutting to the chase. “First Marcel's massacre, now bombs in the Bayou. I'll assume you're ready to give up this doomed treaty.”

At least his Hybrid brother didn’t look smug. Elijah supposes he should be grateful for small blessings. “This alliance with the wolves, well... If it is to succeed, I believe you'll want this.”

Elijah hands Klaus their mother’s grimoire. The Hybrid ignored his sister’s very pointed ‘I told you so’ look. “Seems I have Hayley and our sister to thank for your change of heart.”

“More like you have whoever planted those bombs to thank.” Khalia fell down on the couch. Her eyes glittered with excitement and murderous intent. “Oh, I know. You can thank him, and I can rip him limb from limb.”

Elijah poured them drinks – he almost didn’t, given his sister’s propensity to go over board with her alcohol consumption, but because she didn’t go for the bottle herself, hasn’t had a drink all day as far as he knows, he figures they all deserve it. “The rifts in this city run far deeper than I even imagined, Niklaus. These tribes, these factions-- they're families, families who choose to fight. Mayhem has descended upon our home, and if I'm to choose a side...” He hands each sibling a drink, and holds his out to toast them. “To our victory; brother, sister.”

“To our victory.” They echoed. The Mikaelson brother’s were pleasantly surprised to see that their sister didn’t down her glass but sipped on it like they did.

Khalia pulled her phone out of her back pocket, sighing when she pushed the power button. Missed Calls: Sweetheart (37)

Elijah knew exactly what his sister was thinking about. The look on her face gave her away. “She punched Oliver in your defense after you left.”

Khalia’s head snapped up to him so fast it was comical. “What?”

“What happened?” Klaus demanded, all traces of previous civility disappearing.

Both siblings ignored him for the time being. Elijah gave her a look. “Another werewolf told us what really happened outside and she punched him and threatened to have him thrown out of the pack should it ever happened again.” The air disappeared from Khalia’s lungs, the hurt that’s been twisting around her heart evaporated. “My advice: call her or pick up her next call.”

Just when Elijah finished his sentence, Khalia phone screen lit up again. Klaus, who has never seen Hayley’s ID caller before, snorted in amusement but ultimately wasn’t very surprise, not with his sister calling the werewolf that affectionate nickname every time she sees her.

Khalia stared at the phone, wanting to do as her brother advised and pick it up. She found herself unable to move. Eventually the phone screen went black again. Not wanting to see Elijah’s disapproving gaze or answer Klaus’ question, she upped and left the room – leaving those two to themselves.

In her room, Khalia stood on her balcony, staring out over the New Orleans skyline. Her phone was clutched loosely in her two hands, forearms resting on the railing, but her grip was still secure enough that it wouldn’t fall to the ground down below.

It took four more missed calls from Hayley, before Khalia finally found it in herself to dial the werewolf’s number herself. Hayley answered on the first ring.

“Khalia, I’m so, so, so sorry. I shouldn’t have just assumed that you were the one who started it. I should have asked you first, I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I found out what really happened, that he provoked you. I’m really sorry. And if you want to, I’ll make Oliver apologize to you too. For hitting and shoving you. And you can even hit him.” Hayley spoke in one breath, stopping her rant and inhaling sharply. Before Khalia could say something, the werewolf spoke again. “Please, just, don’t be mad at me.”

“I’m not mad at you.” Khalia responded with that, it was the easiest words to form and the most honest.

“Oh.” Hayley let out a large breath, full of relief. “Good. T-that’s really good.”

Khalia hummed in agreement, tension ebbing away as she let Hayley’s soothing voice wash over here as she leaned against the balcony. A small smile tugged on the corners of her lips. “Say, sweetheart, would you really let me hit him?”

***

AUTHOR’S NOTE

i can’t remember if there was a conversation where someone told hayley about how exactly klaus and marcel met, but if there was, just pretend it never happened for my story. and if there wasn’t, then here ya go.

drop a comment and tell a girl what you think of her story so far.

-Mixie