Rebuild (The Originals, Book Two)

Ch. 16: Save My Soul

Vincent was now free of Finn's spirit, in one of the bedrooms of my place, where he was sitting on a bed, leaning his elbows against his knees, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his tubs as if he had a headache.

I walked closer with a newspaper. "Morning. How you feeling?"

Vincent groaned. "Nauseous. Can't concentrate." He sighed. "Can't really do any magic. But, I suppose that was the point." He picked up something off the plate on the nightstand next to him. "Seeing as I can smell lobilia flower you've been putting in my food, man."

I smirked. "Can't be too careful with witches, hmm?"

Vincent nodded. "Hmm. That something you learned from experience, Noah Dumaine? Back when you and Marcel controlled the Quarter witches with all your rules, and, uh..." He clicked his tongue, miming as if he was slitting his throat with his finger. "Public executions?"

I shrugged. "You know who I am." I put a chair in front of the bed, sitting down. "That's good, 'cause I got some questions that need answers, and you seem to know what happens to people who don't give me what I want."

"I know you don't control anything around here no more," Vincent told me. "And I know you can't keep me here. I'm from the Treme, Noah. Witches from there? They're a little bit of a harder breed than what it is you're used to. Yeah, they're gonna want me back."

I nodded. "Actually, they already do want you back. Yeah, a matter of fact..." I stood, pulling out the newspaper, lying it down on the nightstand next to Vincent. "They've wanted you back for nine months." Vincent was in shock, looking at the newspaper, looking at me in disbelief. I just pointed at the paper. "Yeah, check the date." Vincent picked up the newspaper. "You might notice a little time gap."

Vincent was appalled and horrified. "Man, what'd you do to me?"

"Oh, me?" I asked. "I can't make nine months vanish. No, your beef is with a guy named Finn. See, he took possession of your body. Got into all kinds of trouble, too. Made some nasty enemies, I might add."

Vincent was overwhelmed and worried. "Whoa."

Vincent held up his hands, clearly struggling to believe what he was hearing, gasping from the newspaper to me anxiously while he processed this revelation.

"Look, I'll tell you all about it," I told him. "But first, you gotta tell me about a Treme witch that you might know. Eva Sinclair." Vincent looked at me, shaking his head in exasperation. "Sore subject?"

Vincent smiled patronizingly. "Mm-hmm." He clenched his jaw. "I'm done talking."

**

Cami was here now, pouring herself a drink.

"Cami, if you don't want to do this..." I trailed off.

Cami took a drink. "Of course I don't want to do this. The guy practically tried to kill me."

"Well, not this guy," I told her. "Vincent Griffith is just another victim."

"Yes, but as of yesterday, he was Finn," Cami told me. "Finn, who lied to me, who used me, who tried to erase me from my own body. And now, we're just going to hang out. I mean, it's fine. I'll do it. I just... need a drink first."

Cami took a drink.

I stood, walking toward the door to call out for two of the vampires standing guard outside. "Bring him in!"

Two vampire guards brought Vincent inside.

Cami frowned, standing. 

Vincent jerked out of their grip, looking at me, annoyed. "What is this, Noah? You dragging me out of this dump back inside without telling me what's going on, man?"