The once tall and proud Mikaelson compound was now shabby looking, dusty and crawling with overbearing vines. As Maleny, Klaus, Cami, Elijah and Hayley (who was holding Hope) walked into the courtyard, they felt a nostalgic for their old home.

"Our home. Once the pride of our family, now a flophouse," Klaus said sourly, preferring not to look at what the upstairs looked like.

"Indeed, the mighty have fallen," Elijah passed a hand down a grimy wall.

While Hayley was also a bit sad, she wanted to get things moving for Hope. "Where's Vincent?"

"Right here," Vincent emerged from behind. "Kept my word. Now the only question is whether or not you guys are gonna keep yours. As soon as I'm finished healing your kid, you got to leave the city."

"To be fair, none of us are really interested in staying, so..." Maleny retorted. "Heal Hope and we'll be on our way."

Vincent barely acknowledged her and walked Hayley further inside the courtyard. Hayley gently laid Hope on the ground and took back half an inch of a step to allow Vincent to start.

Cami looked up at the squawking crows above them, narrowing her eyes as their sounds only got louder. It appeared even the creatures were upset to see them. It hurt to think that the city she was born in - and died in - was no longer her city. She suddenly wondered what had become of her apartment in the five years she'd been gone.

Vincent had finished his spell on Hope in under five minutes and, thankfully, Hope woke up. "That's it. Your little girl's purified," Vincent straightened up, raised his hands, and turned to the rest.

"Thank you," Klaus said even though it was a conflict. He could hear Hope's little heart beating as it should and he could tell just from her eyes she was up and ready to discover the world.

Vincent couldn't care less. "Now look, the only gratitude I need from any of you is seeing you leave the city."

Hayley let go of Hope when she was sure Hope was well. "Go see your Daddy."

Hope was eager and went towards Klaus. Midway the crows squawking above caught her attention. One suddenly dropped in front of her shoes and when she gazed up more crows began to fall from the sky. Eventually they created a perfect circle around her….

Klaus furiously glared at Vincent assuming this was something against them for returning. A trap, as Elijah mentioned was a possibility before they left the safe house. "What is this?"

Vincent was just as lost as them. "I don't know."

Hope wasn't bothered but merely curious and awed. "Mom? Can you hear that? It's whispers. Saying a name. Over and over. 'Kre Nah Han, Kre Nah Han'."

Hayley panicked. "Vincent, what what is that?"

Vincent was just stunned. His insides churned because of course he recognized the dialect. "It's a nearly forgotten dialect. It's Creole. It means 'the Hollow'. The Hollow is coming."

~0~

"Aunt Freya, she was supposed to go last night," Nicolas raged in a whisper tone inside the safe house's shed. His blue eyes kept flickering from Freya working fervently at a table to Keelin who was asleep on the ground. "I would say I can't believe you went back for her but I can't. I'm actually ashamed I didn't see it coming."

Freya threw her nephew a sharp look but never stopped working. "We made a deal, alright? She helps me kill Marcel and I let her live."

"Oh, well, as long as the deal is fair," Nicolas waved his hands sarcastically. Freya smiled unbeknownst to him. "And shall I really go into detail about how we shouldn't be trying to kill the man my Dad still considers a son?"

"Dad just called and wants all of us on our way to New Orleans," Marlenie walked into the shed and stopped at the sight of Keelin. "We stocking up on wolfie venom in case things go south?"

"Marls!" Nicolas hissed. "Go get the car and start packing aunt Freya's and my things that we need-"

"For your witch stuff, got it," Marlenie waved a hand and walked out of the shed.

Nicolas went over to Keelin to make sure the woman was bound to anything. He had only discovered her that morning and he was still fighting for her freedom. "Morning, I'm so sorry about this. My aunt was supposed to let you go with no problems."

Keelin lightly smiled at the man. "Your aunt's a good hunter but that's about the only compliment she's gonna get from me."

Freya leaned a hand on the table and turned to them, sarcastically replying, "And somehow I'll live."

"Look, we have to go back to New Orleans so you are definitely free to go," Nicolas helped Keelin up.

"No, she's not. We had a deal," Freya warned Keelin.

"Yeah, and I live up to my word so while you're there get some of Marcel's venom, then."

Freya considered the notion to some degree and appeared to have a better idea. "Since Klaus said that Marcel would be occupied we can enter his home, steal whatever we need and leave before anyone notices."

"You are mad," Nicolas shook his head. "Marcel's place is probably crawling with vampire guards."

"We are Mikaelson witches, let them do their best," Freya reached for something on the table. "And since I'm sure Keelin must be worried about a fight allow me to even the odds." Nicolas immediately recognized a moonlight ring in his aunt's hand and internally sighed. "The stone is kyanite. It's been spelled to grant you total control of your werewolf nature, even during a full moon."

Keelin was momentarily struck with surprise as she took the ring and slid down her finger. "This is a cure. It's everything I've ever wanted. What's the catch?"

A smirk spread across Freya's lips. "Not a catch. Insurance."

Nicolas rubbed at his forehead, very much looking like his uncle Elijah for a minute. "Try taking the ring off," he said to Keelin. The woman followed and pulled on the ring but she couldn't get it off anymore. Nicolas dropped his hand and tilted his head at Freya. "You are unbelievably predictable."

Freya's smile bordered a laugh.

~0~

"Okay, well, Marls, Nicolas and Freya are on their way," Maleny came to the others in the old upstairs living room. "How's Hope?"

"Uh, the fever's back. But she's not in any pain," Hayley said, more as a console for her. "She's asking for you, Klaus."

"Well, make an excuse. I'd rather my daughter not know I've gone off to murder witches," and Klaus started his way out when Maleny blocked his way.

"You cannot be serious. Did we not learn our lesson 5 years ago?"

"And how would you have me respond?"

Maleny pretended to think about the options for about a second before she responded, and sharply, "Perhaps without provoking the very group that started whatever this Hollow thing is? If witches are starting something it's because it's obvious vampires have pissed them off again. Instead of fueling them, let's try to find some nonviolent means to stop them."

"That's exactly right," Elijah stepped forwards. "Let Cami and I see what we can do."

"And I will handle Marcel," Hayley raised a hand. "I'm Hope's mother and Marcel will probably respect that."

"Not to mention you're probably one of the few of us that wouldn't get killed on arrival," Maleny pointed.

"Also true," nodded Hayley.

"And what are we supposed to do, exactly?" Klaus motioned between himself and Maleny.

"You're supposed to protect your daughter, genius," Maleny playfully rolled her eyes. "I am going to go to the cemetery."

"What for?" Klaus demanded suspiciously.

"To pay my respects to the girl we wronged," Maleny answered seriously. The truth about Davina Claire still made everyone uncomfortable.

~0~

Vincent had far too many things to do as it was and now he was apparently playing host to Elijah Mikaelson in the very place where no supernatural creatures save witches were allowed to be in.

"Look, I got a lot on my plate, Elijah, without whatever trouble you're trying to bring my way," he tried shooing the vampire out of the building but he knew that a mere motion wasn't likely to do the job.

"You need me," Elijah did not falter, as usual. "And fortunately, I have a long history of removing anything undesirable from New Orleans."

Vincent tilted his head. "I'm probably one of the things that's on your list. So I reckon it's best for me work alone."

"Hey," Cami strode into the place, trying her best to avoid feeling nostalgia for the place that was once her family's, "we are seriously not going to do this when there a children's lives at stake here."

"Are you serious?" Vincent pointed at her, making the woman blink for a moment. "You want to act like you care now? What about Davina Claire, Elijah?"

Camille faltered but before Elijah intervened on her behalf, she retorted, "You think I don't regret not helping her? I do. That was my mistake and I own it. And even with these words it doesn't mean anything because the fact is, Davina is dead. Keep throwing it in my face - I deserve it as do the rest of us - but while you do that, more children will die. Take your pick."

Vincent gave her a long stare. Even as time passed he couldn't stop seeing her as the once human psychologist or even the once runner of the Quarter. He had tried to put Cami as just another Mikaelson - as he did with Maleny - but he just couldn't. Perhaps it was in the name of their friendship once upon a time.

"We're doing this my way," he warned her and Elijah.

Cami nodded her head fast. "Your way, definitely."

~ 0 ~

If there was one thing Klaus could say he was unaccomsted to it was...being a babysitter. And he knew Maleny would have one or two things to say about that since she firmly believed it was what he did most with her when she was still a witch. The difference now was that, unlike Maleny who could put up a fight, Hope was a mere child.

Hope laid in what used to be Marlenie's old bedroom and was just opening her eyes from a small nap. When Klaus saw her waking up, he moved over to the side of the bed. "How are you feeling?" he asked her.

"I'm still so cold," Hope replied in a frail voice. "Are the birds gone?"

"Yeah, they're gone, sweetheart," Klaus quickly assured. "And when you're better, which will be soon, you and I are going to share the biggest plate of beignets you've ever seen. Just don't tell Nicolas he eats all of them…"

Hope smiled a little. "He eats a lot."

Klaus was glad to see her at least still smiling. It meant she wasn't completely ill yet. "And afterwards, we can discuss where in this big, wide world you'd like me to take you next."

"Mom said you loved New Orleans most of all," Hope remarked. "It was where you met aunt Mal again."

"Well, yes, but...putting your love in a place is a mistake. Being here in our home, seeing these walls…" Klaus briefly glanced at the cracked, mossed walls surrounding them, "I am reminded that it is people who are best suited to fill our hearts."

"How poetic," Marlenie surprised them when she came in. Her cheery, confident smile contrasted greatly with the atmosphere in the room. "You gonna use that for your vows?"

"Where's your brother and aunt?" Klaus looked behind her but saw neither the witch nor the warlock. He didn't sense them in the building either.

"Nice to see you too, first of all, and second of all they're sort of doing a job…" Marlenie left it at that for his sake and went over to Hope's side. She knelt down by the bed and reached for one of Hope's hands which felt a tad cold. "Hey sis...I know you're feeling bad, but...it's gonna get better, okay? We're getting you your medicine as we speak…" she slowly glanced back at Klaus to confirm this was the plan.

Klaus gave a firm nod in return.

~ 0 ~

"I hate this place," Nicolas flatly said when they entered Marcel's penthouse which used to be, once upon a time, Lucien Castle's home.

"We're not here looking to move in," Freya snapped as she walked on past him.

"We shouldn't be here at all, actually…" Nicolas went after her to remind her of his stance in this entire plot.

Freya merely rolled her eyes and looked around the spacious living room. "And yet you're still here...without telling your sister of the plan."

"Because if I did Marlenie would gladly help you," Nicolas crossed his arms. "She'd jump at the first chance to kill Marcel."

"Maybe we need to think like her, then," Freya watched as Keelin slowly came in. Keelin wasn't quite used to the burglary act and it showed. "Coming in slower won't make things better, by the way."

"Just tell me where to start looking," Keelin said, wanting to get things going fast.

"Marcel stockpiled Klaus' blood. No doubt he did the same with his venom," Freya got thinking of where Marcel would keep such venom in the place. "You know, that ring enhances your instincts. Why not try using them?"

Keelin scowled. "Sorry, I don't do bloodhound."

"And I don't do burlgary," Nicolas took a comfortable seat on the couch and purposely smiled at his aunt. "I'm just gonna let this play out the way it will."

"Fine," Freya spat at both of them. "We'll do it my way, then."

~ 0 ~

Maleny felt strange coming into the cemetery where she knew she was the least welcomed guest. It only helped somewhat knowing the ancestors couldn't really do much with her anymore since the connection between them and the mortal world had been severed. She stopped in front of Davina Claire's spot and sadly smiled. She tucked in a nice pink rose and sighed.

"I know you're not really here and yet...wherever you are...I know you're probably hating my guts...which is totally valid by the way," Maleny shook her head then.

"Look at that-" spoke a woman, but not one that Maleny didn't recognize, "-the murderer speaking to the victim. It's a whole sinsiter level, isn't it?"

Maleny turned sideways to see a tall, slim woman in sharp clothing. Her straight, blonde bob of a hair contrasted against the stark red lipstick the woman wore. Maleny narrowed her eyes on the woman and turned completely. "I know you. You worked for Lucien five years ago…"

The woman smiled, confirming Maleny's thoughts. "Sofya Voronova. I 'sold'-" she did quotation marks in the air, "-the last white oak bullet to that frail vampire boy, Josh?"

"Yeah, I remember now," Maleny frowned. "What the hell do you want?"

Sofya raised her eyebrows at the attitude directed at her. "Are you making it sound like I'm the unwelcomed party in the city? Shall I remind you of where your family stands? Why your family stands?" Maleny pursed her lips together as Sofya took a step forwards. "It's because Marcel allowed it so. He, unfortunately, doesn't do well against the enemy."

"You disagree with the new King's tactics?" Maleny raised her head, examining the woman across her. There was a hint of a sneak air in Sofya that rubbed Maleny the wrong way.

"Let's just say if it was in my hands, you'd all be dead by now," Sofya said calmly and easily.

"Ha," Maleny crossed her arms. "Right."

"The Hollow knows your family and it's why its brought you back to the Quarter…"

Maleny now moved forwards too. "And just what do you know about the Hollow, Sofya?"

The woman in question gave a light shrug of her shoulders. "Same as everyone else, of course. I know nothing. I've just put two and two together, you know. But if I were you," she walked around Maleny, her confident smirk giving Maleny a chill, "I'd watch my back. It's not just the Mikaelsons who have enemies in the Quarter."

Maleny's eyes narrowed on Sofya as the woman laughed and continued on her way out.

~ 0 ~

At the church, both Cami and Elijah watched intently as Vincent set up a spell that would apparently help them against the Hollow. The entire church was empty for the very purpose.

"Are these ashes…?" Cami examined over the table.

"These are the ashes of a witch that lost his way and it might just be the key to helping us find ours," Vincent paused and wore a face of a different sort of concern that Cami recognized as guilt.

"What? What is it?" the blonde asked.

"This thing, um, the Hollow its magic has a very unique signature. I felt it on this witch the other day when Marcel and I took him out-"

Cami raised an eyebrow and exchanged a quick glance with Elijah before speaking. "So this Hollow thing...you know it?" because if not Vincent wouldn't have recognized the 'signature' left behind on that witch.

"Well, yes, but…" Vincent sighed. "Look, it spoke to me, once, but I was able to shut it out. A lot of people can't do the same."

"Like your wife," Elijah put that piece in rather fast.

"You know, there's a difference between what we project and what we have inside of our hearts, what we try to hide inside of our hearts, right? Now that thing, it took everything that's dark and twisted inside of me and it used it against me," Vincent motioned to himself with clear guilt. "It used it against my wife and it ended up taking everything that I've ever loved away from me."

"So, then, you have every reason to want to remove it from this earth," and that made Elijah a little more relaxed. The chances of double crossing was lower.

"Yeah. But let's say that we run into that thing today, Elijah. It's gonna take everything that you want to keep buried, it's going to use that and make you do exactly what it wants you to do," Vincent paused and glanced at Cami. "The older you are the most there is to uncover. And that's what makes you a liability to the very niece that we're both trying to protect."

Cami didn't hesitate and put her hand over Elijah's,showing him she was there and very much in the loop. "We should get to work, then."

Vincent gave a very doubtful look but time was precious and so he had to move on. He prepared the rest of the spell and lastly burned some sacred sage. As he chanted the spell, both Cami and Elijah watched for the results.

Vincent saw a continuous lineage of images in his mind. He saw, however, at the end he saw a familiar friend committing the very act of abducting the missing children.

~ 0 ~

"She's getting colder, Dad…" Marlenie mumbled to Klaus beside her after dropping another blanket over Hope. "I can steal all the blankets from the street but this thing - whatever it is - is inside her."

Klaus knew what she meant. Hope was getting worse by the minute and nothing he nor Marlenie would do worked. They were vampires and this was witch business.

"We need to call in Nicolas or aunt Freya," Marlenie advised.

"Do it, now," Klaus gave the instruction. Marlenie nodded and walked out of the room to do so. After Marlenie was gone, he took a seat on the side of the bed and reached for Hope's hand. "I know you can hear me. I want you to listen. The heart which beats in your chest is a warrior's heart. The heart of a Mikaelson. Whatever hold this power has over you, it is nothing compared to your strength. Yours is a power greater than you know. Come on. Hope."

Hope briefly opened her eyes from her slumber. "Dad? I saw them. The other kids. They're so scared. Promise me if you ever see the blue lights, don't look at them."

Despite Klaus not understanding, he assured he wouldn't. It seemed to assuage her fears, but it didn't do much for his.

~0~

"Hello there, Will," Cami sat down on the stool beside Will Kinney at the old St. James Infirmary. "Don't suppose you remember me?" she made a motion for the bartender to stop by and she ordered a simple bourbon.

Will raised his eyebrows but didn't actually look at the blonde beside him. "Hm, Camille O'Connell, once upon a time a bartender, psychologist, and faction leader?"

"Okay," Cami accepted her drink from the bartender. "Glad to see you do."

"And now you're a lunatic vampire in league with the Mikaelsons," Will said before taking a drink from his glass.

"Wow, that's ironic coming from the guy who helped abduct innocent children," Cami turned on her stool to face Will. "You should be thankful we're even giving you this chance to simply talk. I was voted the best person to handle this without emotions or violence. Call me an unbiased option."

"Right…" Will raised his eyebrows but Cami didn't let him go on.

"Look, whatever you think you know about the Hollow, you actually don't," Cami got serious and snatched Will's glass from his vicinity. "As far as Vincent knows, it gobbles you up from the inside and leaves you like its name: hollow. I didn't know you personally but my friend did. Amarrah Collins?"

The name sparked in Will's eyes. "Course I remember her. She pledged allegiance to the Mikaelsons too and helped do all sorts of things."

Cami rubbed her forehead. "Whatever this thing promised you, it's not gonna deliver. I don't need to be a rocket scientist to know that.'

"You're wrong. The Hollow rewards those who are loyal," Will argued with passion. "Maybe if Vincent did what it asked him to do, things might be different. For me. For all of us."

"Wow you're really into it," Cami got up from her stool. "And you're gonna regret that, really."

Will didn't hesitate to pull out his gun on her, but the act didn't make her falter. "Is that a threat?"

"No, that's just me being logical and not stupid," Cami easily and swiftly sped around Will, snatched the gun from his possession and hit him on the back of the head. As Will fell to the ground, Cami turned to the open doors.

"You didn't have to do that!" Vincent came rushing in with a much calmer Elijah behind.

"Believe me, I could have done a bunch of things but I chose the least harmful one," Cami leaned on a hip and stared down at the unconscious man.

~ 0 ~

"Klaus, hey, how's Hope?" Maleny found him just outside Hope's room.

Klaus was impatient of course but for her he kept it together and answered calmly. "Nothing works. Nicolas is coming to help out. And you? Where the hell have you been? I hardly think visiting a dead girl's grave takes all afternoon."

Maleny rolled her eyes. "I met Sofya Voronova and she piqued my interest."

This served no purpose for Klaus. "Who the hell is that?"

"The woman who worked for Lucien, remember? She sold the last white oak bullet-"

Klaus snarled at the memory. "Where is she-"

Maleny put a hand on his chest to keep him in place. "Calm down there, mister. She's protected by Marcel now. Actually, she's really cozy with him so I've heard."

"You went out in search for this woman twice!?"

"Well, you didn't hear what she said to me, Klaus! She talked about the Hollow like she knew it - like she served it," Maleny paused and bit her lip. "She gave me bad vibes and that's saying something considering who we are."

"You think she works for the Hollow?"

"I don't know so I tried finding things about her right now but the Quarter seems afraid of her, honestly." Maleny wondered what hold she had over the vampires in the Quarter. She suspected it was more than Marcel actually knew. "She said something to me, specifically for me, and..." she felt like she was being ridiculous and maybe even paranoid.

Klaus, however, didn't take anything lightly when it came from the Quarter. Everyone was after them, after all. "What did she say?"

"Just...just that you - the Mikaelsons - aren't the only ones who have enemies in the Quarter. It's ridiculous," Maleny kept saying as if perhaps with each time repeated it would convince her.

~0~

Vincent was trying to cast a spell on Will that would break the anti-vampire spell implanted in Will's mind. It was taking longer than Elijah would like and his impatience was beginning to show.

"Time is not a luxury we have, Vincent," he said.

Vincent paused just for a second. "Look, Elijah, I'm not gonna let you torture him, all right? He's my friend and he's just as much of a victim as all those kids."

"We're not torturing him, just...it would be swell if you could hurry up," Cami tried keeping things civil between the two.

"I am trying!"

"Why do you insist!?" Elijah snapped.

"Because he's my friend! And because a witch told me that I'm the one that gave this thing breath," Vincent retorted and Cami saw that look of guilt on his face again. "Now I don't know what I did to let it into this world, but I know I ain't just gonna let it take him out."

"Vincent, finish it, please," Cami urged.

Vincent was able break through the anti-vampire spell but Will pulled a last trick up his sleeve. He brandished a talisman belonging to the Hollow and used it to throw Elijah and Cami backwards telekinetically.

"There's no going back, Vince!" Will made a clean escape with all the commotion.

"Any other wonderful ideas?" Elijah spat and received an elbow on the side from Cami.

Vincent, fortunately, had a response for that. "I tagged him with magic, so now we can trace him. Right back to the kids. But we'll need back up."

The good news there was plenty of backup to fall back on.

~ 0 ~

"She's not looking any better," Marlenie noted after Nicolas tried a new herbal remedy for their youngest sibling.

Maleny and Klaus had already left to answer Vincent's request and the twins remained back to keep an eye on Hope. Nicolas was working fervently and Marlenie recognized it, but it didn't mean it was helping. Hope wouldn't wake anymore and her skin was terribly cold.

"I-I don't know what else to do - this is magic that I doubt even aunt Freya understands," Nicolas ran a hand through his longer, dirty blonde hair.

"Is that why she decided to stay wherever she is right now?" Marlenie raised an eyebrow. Nicolas dropped his hand to his side and turned his back on her to try a new remedy that Freya herself had taught him. "What's the matter, Nick? Cat's got your tongue?"

"Marls, our sister is in danger and this is the only thing you can talk about?"

"Oh, please, don't guilt me in like that. I know aunt Freya is planning something with that wolf girl she abducted," a hint of a smirk played at Marlenie's lips. "What's she trying to do, Nick?"

"Look, I'm only going to tell you because I know that even if you agree you would never tell Dad about it," Nicolas sighed and turned sideways to look at his sister. "Aunt Freya thinks she can find a way to kill Marcel. And right now, she's breaking into Marcel's place looking for some of his venom."

Marlenie's eyebrows shot up with shock. It only took a second for her to react positively just like Nicolas imagined she would. "Alright aunt Freya," she laughed quietly. "I wish she would have asked me for help. I'm all the way in."

"Marls," Nicolas hissed and nodded over to Hope.

"She's asleep, first of all," Marlenie raised a finger. "And second of all, you really expect me to feel sorry for Marcel?"

"No, of course not…"

"Then guilty, I suppose, for what uncle Elijah did?"

"Well…"

"I don't," Marlenie spat. "Uncle Elijah did what I would have done in his place. A threat against my family is a threat I would take down had I the chance to."

"And that is exactly how we got into this mess in the first place," Nicolas pointed at her. "Perhaps if Dad hadn't been so paranoid in the past he wouldn't have made enemies like the ones he has now. If uncle Elijah hadn't killed Marcel we definitely wouldn't be in this situation."

Marlenie softened for a minute and looked to Hope who was fast asleep. Nicolas followed her gaze to Hope and sighed. The next time he spoke it was calmer and much more softer.

"Everyone in this family has gone through hell and back because of who we were and how we acted. We've had all this time and yet we've made nothing of it except enemies."

"You shouldn't speak," Marlenie said quietly. "I think that you are the only one in this family who hasn't really done anything." Nicolas scoffed to disagree with her. "You were taken, Nick, by a crazy witch. Your childhood was stolen from you. If anything, I think you and Hope are the only innocent ones in this family. You two are nothing like me. I've done things...bad things…"

"Had we but world enough and time...I would like to see this family change," Nicolas raised his head, releasing a big sigh, thinking nothing more than on that wish.

"What?" Marlenie gave him a strange look.

"The thing is, we do have all the time in the world," Nicolas went on. "Well, you guys do," he smiled shortly as he acknowledged his mortal life. "We really have all of Time and the world at our feet...so we should start doing things that really matter."

Marlenie agreed with a small nod of her head. "I think it should start with the lovely wedding of our parents, don't you think?"

Nicolas smiled again. "Yeah, that would be a fine starter. And afterwards?"

"Oh, I could show you my business. You, me and Hope - we could go to England for a while…"

"That would be very nice," Nicolas agreed, sharing chuckle with his sister.

~ 0 ~

In the dark bayou, everyone had gathered around in a small group to go over the recent happenings. It was imperative to find the missing children because the sacrifice would begin soon enough. If it began, there was no stopping it.

"The trail leads off this way, so, I guess we, uh, follow the breadcrumbs," Vincent motioned to the pathway just behind him.

"Tactless savages holding a ghost-raising rave," Klaus mused on the nostalgia it gave him. "Best make short work of them. I say we-"

"We split up," Marcel cut him off. "Klaus, you're with me, I'm not letting you out of my sight. Anybody got a problem with that...I don't give a damn."

"It wasn't a surprise," Maleny said flatly and started leaning with Hayley. "Genius." Marcel acknowledged her spat with a mere glance. The feeling was mutual.

They split among the pathway just until they would find the children. While they walked, Hayley told the others of the Crescent wolf woman they had encountered earlier in the day and of her rash ending.

"So this girl was from your own pack...and she just...stabbed herself?" and yet as Maleny reviewed what they'd learned she couldn't find it in her to feel sorry for the woman who had paved the way for innocent children to be harmed.

"I did, but whatever that was today, it wasn't her," Hayley left it clear for everyone. "She said something about blue light…"

"Yeah, that's the 'Fifolet'," Vincent cut in. "New Orleans legend says that a spirit might present itself in a bright blue ball of light."

"Oh, that'll make it easier to see…" Cami mumbled.

"To kill it," Elijah finished for her train of thoughts.

There was not much time to talk after that because the sounds of men's voices carried over. Klaus and Marcel had found the ritual area first and were already attempting to cut it off by killing off the acolytes in the circle.

"Hey!" Vincent ran towards small, wrapped-up, bodies placed over a stone table. "We got to get the kids! Get the kids!"

Will pulled the Hollow's talisman again and began the ritual. "Will? Will! Come on, man. It's over."

"No, Vince. It's only just begun!" Will promised.

Klaus sped into the ritual's circle Will was in and snapped his neck. Marcel followed in suit to take out the other acolyte.

Maleny, Hayley Cami and Elijah each grabbed one of the bodies and took them away from the ritual site. At the same time, flames erupted around Klaus and Marcel and forced them to their knees. Elijah left the child's body he was carrying with the others to try and get his brother out but the flames created an invisible barrier keeping him out.

"What's happening?" Maleny panicked and turned to Vincent for some answers.

"Oh, man, we've got all this wrong…" Vincent rubbed his face. "They wanted us here."

"Wanted?" Maleny repeated the word horrifically. "What do you mean 'wanted'!?"

"They want to channel your power, and anchor the Hollow to the living world!" Vincent quickly checked the kids' bodies for any pulses and was relieved to find them all. "Okay, they're alive. These kids are linked to that ritual. We can't free Marcel and Klaus unless we break the spell."

"So then how do we stop this?" Elijah demanded to know.

"I don't know! It's a sacrificial ritual! I can't break it unless I kill one of the kids!"

"Okay well obviously that's not gonna happen," Cami looked at the others just to make sure they were on the same page.

"There's got to be another way," Hayley agreed.

Vincent looked between the children and the flame barrier for a minute or two before coming up with a plan. "Yeah, um so these kids are powering that ritual. But there might be a loophole, if I link it to you…" he pointed to Elijah.

The suited Original raised an eyebrow at that. "Are you suggesting we take my life?"

"I'm suggesting we stake you with wood. You die, temporarily, and that might be enough to break the spell. Elijah agreed under the idea that this would just be temporary. Vincent didn't waste another moment and began to do the spell. "Mare. Mare leurs. Mare leurs esprits! Mare leurs esprits! Mare leurs esprits! Cami, do it now!"

Cami grabbed a branch from a nearby tree and, with a guilt-riddened face, used it to impale Elijah from behind. The Original's skin grayed as he succumbed under the effects of the stake. Maleny then turned to the barrier and anxiously waited for the flames to die down. Vincent continued checking over the children's bodies for the effects of the spell.

"Did it work?" Hayley asked, her gaze flickering from the children to the barrier as well.

Maleny was relieved when the flames vanished and both Klaus and Marcel emerged from it. "It worked," she declared happily.

~ 0 ~

As soon as the group had returned to the compound, Hayley and Klaus went to check on Hope. Nicolas assured them both the Hollow was no longer plaguing the girl and that by morning she should be like nothing ever happened. Down in the courtyard, Elijah had found a bottle of bourbon amongst the mess and was met with Cami who had also found a familiar object between them.

"I always thought that the dark objects was what I really missed most but...I was so wrong," Cami waved the old, brown -leather-bound journal Elijah had gifted her with five years ago. "I am definitely taking this with me tomorrow morning."

Elijah smiled at her. "I found an old friend we can celebrate to," he held the bourbon bottle in his hand.

"Mm, that might be an enemy, actually…" Cami tilted her head at the bottle.

"I've never been able to tell," Elijah admitted and the two shared a small laugh.

Cami slowly sobered from her laugh and decided to ask something she'd been picking at since earlier. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"In the woods, if Vincent hadn't found that loophole what would you have done to those kids?"

Elijah stiffened but he did not lie to her. "Whatever I had to do."

Cami acknowledged his answer with a small nod of her head. She grabbed his free hand with her free hand and gave it a small grip. "I don't want you to keep thinking like that. I know that you and that everyone in this family have a special bond that maybe I'm not really in yet but...we should stop making it a habit of putting us ahead of others. I imagine it's hard keeping your humanity but we can't let you lose it. I won't let you."

Elijah raised their interlocked hands and kissed the back of Cami's. It spoke his words of appreciation and of understanding. She shared a soft smile with him and hoped that things would get better for them all from here on out.

~ 0 ~

That same night, everyone had agreed to stick around for another night and sleep well. The next day it would be full of traveling after all. So, when Maleny caught her daughter making her way towards the exit, she couldn't figure out where exactly Marlenie was heading.

"And where are you going?" she stopped Marlenie just by the stairs. "You realize we leave tomorrow morning, right?"

Marlenie looked up at the second floor with a sneaky smile, one that Maleny could only dread about. "I'm going to see aunt Freya at the cathedral."

"She's not back yet?"

"Nope. It's why I'm gonna go help her."

"Help her with what?"

Marlenie adjusted her black coat for a second before answering. "Just...to help. Gotta go, mother," she wiggled her fingers and sped out, leaving her mother to call her name out in vain.

Maleny wasn't sure what the hell was going on there but she was sure they would soon find out.

Author's Note:

Soo...we've got little Hope all better. Too bad the Hollow is still coming for them :/. Hope you guys caught the meaning of the title of the story through our dear - rather poetic - Nicolas ;). But what was that with Sofya? Hmm...

P.S I'm actually excited to be writing for this story because I'd been having writer's block for the looooongest and it finally went away a couple days ago. I'm writing again, watching the episodes, and excited to continue! I hope you guys didn't get tired of waiting for updates!

For the Reviews:

Senisra: Thanks so much! Hope you liked the new chapter! :)

ugaddan: Thanks! I loved Freelin too! Hope you liked the new chapter :)