The Vision's Theft
"Why are we at a hair salon? If you're not going to take this seriously. Don't play games," said Elena getting out of the car in front of a salon slamming the door.
"You don't have to trust me. . . as long as you can persuade me to trust you," said Enzo paying her outburst no mind. He opened the door to Janelle's African Hair braiding, "After you."
"We don't do white girls hair here," said the first stylists looking up at them both pausing before continuing with her clients hair.
"Hush gyal will accept anyone fi di rite amount of money," said a women appearing from a back room. She looked like she had just stepped off the pages of a magazine. With a black leotard top and flowy red skirt.
"I'm actually not here to get my hair done," said Elena hesitating looking toward Enzo not sure how much she should say.
"I knew yuh weren't as soon as I saw mi baby among di living I see. Well cum gimmi a hug."
Enzo had the biggest smile on his face as he gave the women a hug. Elena was beginning to think the guy didn't know how to smile.
"It's nice seeing you again Janelle, under better circumstances," said Enzo.
"Of course," she said smiling back.
"I need you to help me with something," said Enzo quietly so the other clients and stylists couldn't hear.
"Just lacka pickney they ongle cum to see yuh when they need sinting," hissed the women. "Follow mi to di bak," she said motioning to the both of them.
"How do you two know each other?" asked Elena entering a back room that was darkly lit. Rolls of shelves lined with spices and odd objects filled the room. There was barely enough room to walk.
"Mi nah important, but wah yuh need is, get to it!" she snapped.
Elena could see she wasn't playing around anymore as all hospitality went out the door. "I need something that helps me talk and see the dead. One person in particular."
The women turned her attention back to Enzo. "Communing wid di ded is nuttin to play with. It is messy bizniz. Yet yuh bring har here," she said angrily spitting on the ground.
"I didn't know anyone else who could help," said Enzo seriously.
"Deh are consequences for talking to di ded," she said.
"What sort of consequences," asked Elena not sure how far she would go to see Damon again.
"Demma different fah everyone," she said grabbing a bottle from the shelf, "usually it requires anodda life to be taken." She said handing Elena a bottle.
"Whose?" shrieked Elena startled by this new information.
"Yuh dohn decide child di spirits decide fah yah. Dat will be $300 dollars," she said pushing her hand in Enzo's face.
He pulled out his wallet handing her the money, "How do we know this stuff will work?"
"Yuh doubt mi integrity," she said placing the money in her bra, "Everything inna mi shop works. Our bizniz is dun." She said waving them away with flick of her hand.
"Wait, How much of this should we take?" asked Elena.
"A likkle dab will duh yah. Anymo and yuh will join your mate on di odda side. Ef yuh no wah I mean," she said laughing to herself.
"How many people have to die?" asked Enzo.
"One sacrifice is all that's needed."
"Ok, thanks we're gonna go now," said Enzo pushing Elena towards the door and out the salon.
"Wah nuh goodbye," she said watching them leave. "I would neva invoke di spirits of Iwa fah a vampire!"
"What did you really give them?" asked the stylist appearing in the doorway.
"Sinting softa. Helps yuh see wah yuh want to see."
"Hallucinations that's good, but I didn't know there was side effects with that bottle," said the stylist intrigued.
"Even an ole lady can ave some fun once inna awhile. Di liquid is fine wears off inna few hours," said Janelle.
"What if they come back?" asked the stylist.
"They won't, they gat wah they needed nah wah they wanted. Listen here gyal duh nah play wid di ded fuh any price."
"Lesson learned," she said heading back to her client.
Back in the car Elena asked Enzo, "What's a likkle?"
Enzo couldn't help himself and started laughing. "I'm sure she meant a little."
"How do you know her anyway?" asked Elena.
"I don't, not really. She is Maggie's aunt. We met briefly during my incarceration the night me and Damon were to break out. Maggie just wanted her aunt to see the man she had come to care for. We nodded at each other across the room no more no less," said Enzo.
"Why didn't she just ask her aunt to help break you out?" wondered Elena.
"I didn't want Maggie involved anymore than she already was," said Enzo.
"Well, the next question is do we take it?" asked Elena turning the bottle over and over in her hand.
"I hate to be the voice of reason, but she said someone must die. Didn't say it would be someone we'd know," replied Enzo.
"You're right, but what if we're wrong. Jeremy, Caroline, Stefan so many people could pay the price."
"Sounds like your conflicted, Mate. I'd love to help, but my job is done," he said stopping the car and letting her off in the middle of downtown.
"Wait, I need your help with this," replied Elena.
"Although, I'd love to sit here and pluck rose petals and play should I or shouldn't I. I'm not interested any longer so I'll be leaving town," said Enzo.
"But I want to know what you would do?" asked Elena.
"What I would do," he snorted, "I wouldn't hesitate to put your lives in danger if it meant I could see Maggie again."
"Yeah, well I have a conscious," replied Elena.
"Good luck with that then," said Enzo.
Just then Elena's phone rang and it was Alaric. She picked up surprised to see him calling.
"Hello."
"Hey me and Jer were starting to worry about you. So I decided to call and check on you." said Alaric.
"Thanks, guys really, but I'm fine," replied Elena.
"I decided to start training Jeremy in the next county over. So will be getting home a little late tonight. Are you sure you're okay? You don't need us or anything?" asked Alaric concern clearly heard in his voice.
"No, I'm actually thinking clearer than I was before," said Elena with a slight smile.
"Well, if that's true than that's great. Maybe the three of us can spend sometime together later tonight?" asked Alaric hopeful.
"Sure, why not."
"Stefan's house then around 10pm," said Alaric hanging up not bothering to wait for a reply.
"Will take it at Stefan's," said Elena hanging up the phone.
"Any particular reason you throwing caution to the wind?" asked Enzo.
"Well, think about it Caroline and Stefan are gone, Jeremy and Alaric are two counties over. All of them will be safe from any kind of repercussions," said Elena excitedly getting back into the car.
Enzo thought for a moment. The girl really didn't understand how voodoo works, but he wasn't about to enlighten her. "I like a girl who can live dangerously. Let's go," he said revving the engine.
Author's Note: For the sensitive reader those aren't grammatical errors. Janelle speaks with a thick Jamaican accent.