STRINGS AND SCISSORS - (TW/TO/TVD crossover) [2]

22) oddly familiar

"I'm trying! This pain is like... his mind! I can't help him during these ones!" Malia hissed back as Elijah's head jerked. "Celeste?" He breathed out before they were pulled into a flashback of a beautiful dark-skinned woman with curly hair that was pulled into a bun sitting in a bathtub, laughing, washing herself seductively.

When they came back, Malia's face twisted into an expression of distaste as she shook her head and let Elijah go, crossing her arms. "I don't like that." Malia stated, more so to herself than the others, referring to the flashbacks.

"Celeste." Elijah sighed, stroking Hayley's arms fondly as he slowly came back and Hayley pulled away, snapping Elijah out of it. The pregnant werewolf looked away awkwardly as the poisoned Original realises he was just sucked into a memory.

"Hayley, I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else." Elijah explained weakly as the werecoyote collapsed into the chair beside the bed. "Yeah, you thought she was Celeste. We're aware." Malia pointed out with a deadpan look and a shrug.

"Whoever she was, she was smokin' hot." Hayley joked poorly and Malia raised an eyebrow at her while Elijah looked between the two women in concern. "Did I let you enter my thoughts? I'm not well. I should go. This is..." Elijah started, moving to sit up, but Malia placed a hand on his chest and forcefully pushed him back against the bed.

"Stay." She huffed and the Original couldn't find the energy to argue back at her. "This is fine, Elijah. You're sick, we're taking care of you." Hayley pointed out and Malia pouted. "Some more reluctantly than others." The pregnant werewolf added causing Elijah's lips to twitch up into a smile before they dropped, his face growing serious.

"We're being watched." He pointed out and both women looked outside to see a woman standing near the hut. Hayley quickly runs out the door towards the woman, but she was already running off despite Hayley's calls after her.

-_-_-_-_-

Back at the temporary Mikaelson Manor, Maddie walked into Klaus's office with a loud puffing sigh as she fell back into the sofa. "My favorite troublemaker." Klaus greeted warily, knowing her a little too well.

"You've been a dick recently to everyone. As deserved as it is, stop it." Maddie scolded, picking up a stray pen on the coffee table
and chucking it at the Original Hybrid's head. He lazily let it hit his forehead, and Maddie watched it bounce off with a satisfied smile.

"Fair enough." Klaus shrugged in acceptance before Maddie sat up, any playfulness on her face dropping into a serious expression. "I'll start with the easier bad news. Josh can no longer be compelled by you, and his previous compulsion was wiped." Maddie informed and Klaus nodded.

"The little screamer told me as much." He explained and Maddie nodded. "More easier bad news, Marcel was working with Tyler. More so for information. Your secret child has been outed." The Petrova Hybrid explained further and Klaus's hands tightened around the armrest of his chair.

"I fail to see how that bad news is easy." Klaus growled out and Maddie let out a sigh before cringing. "Well, take a deep breath and think of paradise coz here comes bad bad. Rebekah is working with Marcel. They wanna take you down." She informed and Klaus sat frozen, a murderous expression growing on his face.

Reluctantly, he let a shaky breath pass his lips as he calmed himself down. "I now understand." Klaus grumbled and Maddie hummed. "Yeah, I thought you would. So here's the plan. Scott, Isaac, and Stiles are coming back. Allison has eyes on Josh, he's been talking with Marcel for the past twenty minutes." She stated and Klaus rose an eyebrow.

"You're little friends are rather efficient. You're appearing lazy, Little Trouble." Klaus shot at her with a small grin and Maddie rolled her eyes. "They picked their own jobs. Surprise, surprise, no one wants to babysit Grouchy Klaus." The Petrova Hybrid sighed and then it was Klaus's turn to roll his eyes.