Regret ▻ The Originals [2]

23

Hayley, Ophelia, and Jackson were walking down the streets of the French Quarter as Hayley pushed Hope in a stroller. The trio talked to each other as they passed locals and tourists milling around the street, along with street musicians who were playing various instruments.

  Hope cood at Hayley, who giggled and tickled the little girl, "Well Miss Marshall, now that you've got two real locals to show you around the Quarter, what would you like to see first?" Ophelia asked Hayley jokingly.

"Oh, Mr. and Mrs. Rose-Kenner, I'd ask to see your old haunts, but we do have an impressionable young lady with us." Hayley continued on with the joke, gesturing to Hope.

Ophelia tickled Hope and infant girl giggled in response. They came upon a violinist on the sidewalk who was playing an upbeat tune, and so they stopped to listen, "Woah," Hayley chuckled.

The violinist continued playing the tune a little longer before smiling and dramatically ending the song. Ophelia smiled back at the woman and dropped a fifty dollar bill into her violin case before speaking to her, "Thanks!"

  As Hayley, Jackson, and Hope walked away, the violinist started playing a much slower tune, the exact same tune that Dahlia used to sing to Freya, unbeknownst to the group.

Ophelia suddenly paused, looking unnerved as she looked over at the violinist, who was staring at them, and both Hayley and Jackson looked at Ophelia in concern, "That song. What is it?" Hayley asked Ophelia, feeling as though she knew it by the look on her face.

"I heard that same exact tune in my dream last night," Ophelia admitted quietly, "It was one I had never heard before."

The group of three looked back at the violinist again, who was continuing to stare at them creepily. Hayley, alarmed, quickly turned back around and started walking. As they headed down the street, Ophelia started scanning their surroundings and saw a waiter writing a message onto the chalkboard outside of a restaurant that read, "A promise made is a debt to be paid."

Ophelia became alarmed as well, but tried her best to play it cool in case someone else was watching. Suddenly, they were stopped by a man holding a large, long-stemmed red and black flower in his hand, "Flowers, miss," The man held the flower out to Hope, "A gift for the child."

Jackson, who sensed Ophelia and Hayley's alarm, stepped in so they didn't have to, "Uh, no, we're alright. Thank you!"

"You sure?" he questioned, causing Ophelia to look at the man suspiciously as he held up the flower and smiled creepily, "Black dahlias are in bloom. They're quite lovely."

   Hayley, now fully afraid, started to walk past him, but the man grabbed her tightly by the arm as both of his eyes turned pure white. Out of nowhere, Klaus appeared and shoved the man against a light post as he placed him in a choke-hold, "Show yourself, witch." Klaus growled at the man.

Suddenly, Jackson was overwhelmed by an unknown force as the flower salesman's eyes returned to normal. After a moment, Jackson's eyes became pure white, indicating that he was being temporarily possessed by Dahlia, "Klaus!" Ophelia called out, startled.

  Klaus turned to find Jackson standing straight in front of them, "I am here. I am everywhere. And I intend to take what is mine."

  Klaus scowled at him, while Hayley and Ophelia looked terrified, "It's her."

Jackson groaned as Dahlia left his body, and he looked completely confused when he saw Ophelia, Hayley, and Klaus staring at him in shock and fear, "Hey, what just happened?" He asked the group concerned, causing Ophelia to shared a worried glance with Klaus.