Decorations were being set up all over the compound. Marcel was in a dungeon, no one else knew where he was, so apparently a party was in order.
"You do realize that everyone hates you?" Hayley asked.
"But they love Marcel," Klaus replied. "And as the invite states, he is the co-host. Tonight we celebrate our truce."
"So you're throwing a fake party in honor of a fake truce, and your guest of honor is in a dungeon?"
Morgana snorted.
"Marcel's attendance would only complicate matters," Klaus said as he came down the stairs. "Besides, I'll have my hands full weeding out those in league with the Hollow."
"Have fun with that. Hope's with Mary. I'm just looking for Freya."
"What do you need of her?"
"Just a favor."
"I think she's at Rousseau's," Morgana said. "I'll come with."
Klaus caught her wrist as she passed. She gestured to Hayley to keep going, and turned to him.
"I thought you were staying for the party?" He asked.
"I'll be back in time," she promised.
She leaned in to whisper in his ear. "Besides, I wouldn't want to miss out on showing you my dress."
She kissed his cheek and hurried after Hayley, not missing the devilish grin he gave her.
-----------------------------------
Morgana finished her drink in record time. Hayley waved her over.
"I learned about the man who killed my parents," Hayley said. "He was connected to the Hollow. I was just a baby when they were killed, I don't remember it, but I do know where they were killed. I was hoping maybe with your spells, and your witchcraft..."
"You want us to do a reading," Freya finished.
"Hayley, violent death has a very specific energy," Morgana warned. "Whatever there could be to see, you probably won't like it."
"I don't think I have a choice," Hayley replied.
Morgana shared a look with Freya. Looks like they might be a little late to the party after all.
-----------------------------------
By the time they found the house, night had fallen. The darkness made the house appear to be looming in front of them, even with their flashlights. Grendel wasn't too fond of it.
The inside was even worse. What used to be a family home was now a decrepit reminder of what could have been.
"Are you positive this will work?" Hayley asked, looking around.
"I can feel the energy that was trapped in here," Freya replied. "So yeah, it'll work."
"Are you sure you want to?" Morgana asked.
Hayley turned to them. "I've always wondered what my parents might've been like, what they might've thought of me. Missing these people I never even knew. But if this can help us fight the thing that came after my daughter, then let's get it over and done with."
Morgana and Freya set up a salt circle big enough to surround the three of them. Morgana placed her four element candles at their usual points just outside it, and Freya lit a couple normal candles in the center. They sat down around the candles inside the circle and joined hands.
"You ready?" Freya asked.
Hayley nodded, and Morgana closed her eyes and began chanting with Freya.
