This evening's proceedings were not entirely welcome. Actually, they were not welcome much at all. There were roughly a million-and-one people Davina wished she was having dinner with at this very moment, and I am sure the same could be said of her host.

"Are you not hungry, Davina," Klaus sneered.

"Perhaps my stomach's out of bile," she shot back.

"My dear, I've already poisoned you once. It would be amateurish of me to repeat myself. Come, love, it's your favorite," Klaus gestured to the covered dish. "I have no desire to see you dead… not tonight at least. We've important matters to discuss."

Davina uncovered the silver platter to find a thick lock of golden hair…

And the young witch catapulted to a perfect right angle in bed.

"Nervous about tonight's meeting with Klaus," Josh inquired from the shadows, her silent protector.

"Tonight's meetings in general, Josh. Freya asked to meet in the lobby of the Omni Royal Crescent Hotel right after my dinner with Klaus and Elijah."

"Sounds suspicious. Want some backup?"

"I love you for being so protective, Josh, but Freya Mikaelson is a centuries-old witch and you're a little baby vampire. Stay here, stay safe."

"Fine," he grumbled.

The newly-married Hayley Marshall Kenner was not one to involve herself in witch business, but she did have a modicum of care for the young brunette.

"I can handle myself, Hayley," Davina groaned.

"It's Klaus," she cautioned.

"I am fully aware!"

"I will be in the next room if you need me," she lightly kissed Davina's forehead and left.

That was out-of-character, Davina mused. Maybe she's pregnant again and all hormonal and stuff. Wouldn't do to have another hybrid baby in town, though.

Her thoughts were punctuated by a shrill shriek and Davina rushed around the corner to find Hayley on the ground, bleeding from every orifice, her wide and terrified eyes staring at nothing.

And standing over Hayley was Finn.

"You're meeting with Niklaus, Davina? Pity. I had hoped you were above their petty power plays!"

He raised a hand to her, but a bright light engulfed Davina and the witch was gone.

"No," Finn yelled.

She found herself in the Palace Royale lobby, immaculately dressed in a beautiful pink dress.

"What," she began, but her voice caught in her throat when she saw her hostess descend the stairs in a one-shoulder red outfit.

"Hello, Davina," Freya smiled at her guest. "Please sit."

Davina found her way to a gold-cushioned seat, trembling.

"You are unnerved, Miss Claire," Freya stated, concern in her voice. But what is real?

"Hayley Marshall-"

"I know. I am sorry if the two of you were close."
"We weren't in the slightest, but still… seeing someone die in front of you-"

"Hush, child," Freya lightly caressed the side of Davina's face.

"Can we just get this over with so I can go home," Davina's voice cracked despite her trying to regain her composure. She couldn't let this woman in, or else Freya might mercilessly exploit her like the rest of that wretched family had.

"The witches are growing antsy, Davina. Josephine LaRue is largely useless, what with her hexed hands, and all the elders of the New Orleans Coven are dead or fled. Before long, I fear the Kindred may find life outside their little cottage to be more suitable, and the Treme faction is also looking to solidify their power base here in New Orleans. They find Josephine weak and ineffectual and Ancestral magic is to them parlor tricks, not that I would mind seeing that infernal craft subsumed. The Ancestors have grown haughty over the centuries. They think themselves all but gods."

"If you're so powerful, why don't you just defy them yourself?"

"Because, culver, to do so would draw Dahlia here all the quicker. You are the final Harvest Girl, and whatever remains of the New Orleans Coven would find themselves most wise to listen to you."
"They killed me and my friends! They turned my best friend into a sociopathic monster! I-"

"You will do this, Davina Claire, for yourself if not for them."

"You don't understand, I never wanted this! I want to be a normal teenage girl, with my biggest worries being which boy is going to ask me to prom in the spring! I can't be an elder to a bunch of fundamentalist whackos."

"I will be there to help you, and together we will unite the witches of the French Quarter against the Treme Coven and the Kindred. And afterwards, who knows, we may even be able to convince Dahlia to leave in peace."

"'Convince Dahlia to leave in peace'? What the hell is this, a game to you? I may not have a personal connection to Hope, but I will not see some power-hungry psychopath like your aunt use a baby to make herself immortal."

"All my plans will come in due time, culver. All I ask is that you trust me."
"And stop calling me that!"

She got up and tried to leave but found herself hitting an invisible wall. She glared at Freya, but did her best not to look back at that beautiful… manipulative bitch! UGH! Get it together, Davina, get it together.

"I know you've been painting me, Davina," Freya crooned and Davina's face turned about fifty shades of red but still she did not look back.

"I am flattered, to be honest. I look forward to seeing it. Please show me next time."

"Don't expect there to be a 'next time,' bitch," Davina spat, finally turning to the statuesque woman.

"Oh, I think there will be. In fact, this discussion is not yet over. Bring him."

At that moment, Josh was pushed down the staircase. Bound, gagged, liquefied vervain glistening on his constraints.

"Now, shall we continue our conversation?"

"Don't you dare hurt him!"

"Oh, it is not my wish to cause him harm, Davina. He is incentive. Sit. Down."

And Davina did as she was bade.