Heathens ➶ The Originals

twenty-three ; fete des benedictions

Laughter strung around the Jenson siblings' hotel rooms. The two and Elijah were gathered in Joseph's room as he invited them, well, more like demanded they come to a feast honoring the witches.

It was utterly preposterous. The witches were nothing but a means to an end, the help in wars and an ally to keep. Honoring them, bringing them gifts, that's something else entirely.

The witches didn't need a feast to commemorate all the power they have, they were nothing against a Trickster. The day Joseph or Emery would bow down to a witch would be the day Lucifer himself came up from hell.

Emery took in the expression on Elijah's face, "Wait, you're not serious, are you?"

"I am entirely serious."

"We don't bow down to witches," Joseph remarked, sitting up from his position on the bed.

"I'm not asking you to bow down to them—"

"You're not asking at all," Emery interrupted. "You're demanding that we go because of that stupid treaty Joseph signed."

"Yeah, I'm just a child. You can't hold me accountable," Joseph bounced up, strolling over to Elijah.

"Well, I am," Elijah sighed at the pair's stubbornness, "and you will attend. Bring a gift for a specific witch, if you must. I expect to see you there."

"Boo!" Emery shouted at his departing figure. Elijah simply shut the door behind him.

---

"Now, in accordance with the Fete Des Benedictions, the witches of New Orleans bless you all," Genevieve's voice and the applause that followed was heard from two blocks away, where Emery and Joseph were walking toward the festival.

The ground suddenly spoke, followed by gusts of wind, and then the flickering of lights with fireworks that followed.

The witches weren't hesitant in showing off, that's for sure.

"Hurry up!" Emery called, managing to have gotten a block ahead of her brother.

"Shut up!" was his only response.

---

Emery wasn't all that surprised to witness Elijah leading Hayley into the main room arm in arm as she arrived. The pair had an obvious growing attraction towards the other that rose and fell across the course of time.

Joseph was quick to notice as well, "My, my. You didn't mention that those two were an item."

"They aren't," she replied, "yet."

The siblings' entrance did not go unnoticed, many of the prominent figures in the room turning to look. The news of one Trickster in New Orleans had been enough of a shocker, but now a second one had arrived in town and the pair had succeeded in making the whole town paranoid, in fear of being the two's next victim.

Three witches were up on the stage, elaborate dresses adorning their body, each one seemingly representing an element of sorts.

Both Joseph and Emery were carrying a gift, both extremely expensive and attention-grabbing. It wouldn't be a Jensen gift without catching the room's eye. The gifts were wrapped gently by Joseph, as Emery had no skill with the wrapping paper whatsoever [even with her power].

Genevieve clinked a utensil against her glass, causing the room to go silent, "Welcome. As is our time-honored tradition, you are all welcome to deliver your offerings. It is our custom that no one should be turned away, no blessing be denied."

The three girls sat down, Hayley being the first to step up with a gift.

She went to give it to Davina, but another witch directed her down the line to Monique. Francesca, the human is next up, and is also directed to the middle witch, dressed in white and with a name that Emery couldn't care to learn. Diego placed his gift in front of the white chick, as did another.