Elijah had returned to us fairly quickly. I stayed out of his and Hayley's conversation but from what I understood, Celeste's spell would work.

The jar was returned to Hayley along with a gentle kiss on the forehead. It only confirmed what I already knew. He had feelings for her.

And judging by the way she looked at him, Hayley had feelings for him, too. Though neither said it at loud.

After escorting Hayley to a cabin in the woods, we parted ways. My flat was supposed to be a welcome sight. But it wasn't.

It felt empty. Cold. Lonely.

Sleep didn't come to me that night. I dreamt of werewolves and vampires. All of whom were after me, and there was no one coming to my rescue. Mostly because I had pushed everyone away.

When I woke up, it was because of a knock on my door. It was noon, I might as well get up. A sigh escaped my lips as I dragged myself out of bed. My mind raced, wondering who was on the other side of the door.

The thought of having to deal with any more vampire or werewolf business tired me out. Yet behind my door was a witch very dear to me and an equally dear human psychiatrist.

I froze at the sight of Davina. Flashes of her slit throat went through my head. But when I looked at her neck, there was nothing there.

Before I could speak, she launched herself into my arms. Her sobs shook her entire body. My eyes locked with Cami's.

She nodded at me with a weak smile, confirming that it was indeed Davina in my arms. And not some figment of my imagination. A single, lone tear fell down my face before I wrapped my arms around her.

I thought that I'd be the ecstatic upon seeing her again. Instead I only felt relief. As if some of the weight on my chest was removed, but not completely gone.

The look on Cami's face is what stopped me. She looked more sad than happy. It could only mean that there was a price to Davina's return.

"Come on, let's get you more comfortable." I mumbled into her hair.

Davina slowly released her grip on me. I led her to the couch where the two of us sat down. Cami gave us some time alone as she prepared tea in my kitchen.

I moved a stray piece of Davina's hair out of her face. "For a second there, I thought I'd never see you again."

Her eyes were red from crying. This wasn't her first time tearing up today. I could see something was wrong upsetting her. Other than the fact that she was dead for a good while.

"I had the same thought, and it was so awful, Liv. When I died, I called out for you. You weren't there but they were." Davina said.

If I could've, I would've gladly taken her place. I'm no stranger to pain and fear. She deserves better than that.

I frowned. "They?"

"The ancestors. They were so angry with me, with the way I misused my magic. They told me that if I do it again, they'd do terrible things to me."

I bit my lip as tears slid down her face. As much as I wanted to tell her that the ancestors can piss off, I knew that wouldn't comfort her.

"Well, they'll have to go through me first. For now, you need to rest and we'll figure out the rest together." I reassured her.

She wanted to protest but Cami walked into the room with tea. I used it as a way to distract Davina. After a few sips, we were able to convince her to go to sleep in my bed.

As Cami closed the door of the room behind her, I sat down on my couch. The tea Cami made was getting cold but I couldn't focus on anything other than Davina.

"It's bad, isn't it?" I asked her.

She sighed before sitting down next to me. I hadn't seen her in a while but I heard about her uncle Kieran. She wasn't having the time of her life either.

"Yeah, I brought her here in hopes it would help her."

"But it didn't."

Cami hesitated before nodding. No matter what I do, I always seem to fail Davina. Perhaps she would've been better off without me.

"Marcel's the one who called me. I told him I'd bring her back to the church." Cami said.

It didn't come as a surprise that Marcel was involved. Maybe if I hadn't dodged all of his calls, I would've been aware of his plans.

"Thank you for helping her, Cami. Especially considering you have your own problems." I said.

Kieran and I barely ever spoke, didn't even get along. From what I've heard from Cami, he told her I was bad news. That she should stay away.

It was honestly understandable so I never held it against him.

"I can't help him but maybe," she shifted uncomfortably, "you can."

I held her hand in mine. "You know that if there was anything I could do, I would."

Hexes are complicated, each one is different than the other. If they take root, they can twist a person in a way that's impossible to turn back.

"Are you sure there's absolutely nothing? Because I can't accept that. There has to be a way, a loophole." Cami insisted.

The problem with loopholes is time. Sure, there could be a way to go around the spell but we don't have enough time to find it. It could take decades for a mere lead.

Her uncle doesn't have that long. The best thing for him would be to put him out of his misery. Yet I knew Cami would never accept that.

"You have to make your peace with this, Cami. Otherwise it's going to eat you alive."

She didn't reply, though I could see she was not going to give up. It's not in her blood.

Davina soon woke up, her sleep plagued by nightmares, so Cami decided to bring her back to the attic. I could do nothing more than promise her that I'll be there for her.

----

"Be a sweetheart and invite me in, we haven't got all night."

My face lit up at the sight of Rebekah on my balcony. I opened the balcony door and invited her in.

She stepped into my flat and looked around. "Funny, this is exactly what I thought your flat would look like."

It was a bit of a mess. Paint, canvases and books on magic were scattered everywhere. Davina nor Cami didn't seem to mind but having Rebekah there made me insecure.

However, there were more important things to focus on

"What happened? Last I heard, Klaus was after you and Marcel." I said.

As much as I'd like to think Klaus would never harm his family, I know better. He's the Original Hybrid, the monster that every other monster fears.

"He was, but we came to an all or nothing sort of arrangement. I'm leaving town for good and he's letting me." Rebekah explained.

I frowned. It didn't sound like a fair arrangement to me. He's upset but he shouldn't get to dictate her life.

Though I suppose I don't really understand the way their family works.

"And to think I just warmed up to the idea of you being my friend." I teased.

She smiled. "Why do you think I'm here? I couldn't leave without saying goodbye to my favorite witch."

I couldn't help the smile that formed on my face. Despite my initial judgment, I do care for Rebekah. In a few weeks she has accomplished what I never thought to be possible.

She became my friend.

"He cares about you, Olivia. And I think you care about him, too."

She didn't say who she was referring to, but I knew. Of course I knew. Who else could it be other than Klaus?

I shrugged. "I hardly know him."

He and I are known to amuse each other with our wit. But other than that? I barely know anything of significance.

And I can't care for someone who has proven that they can't be trusted. If I lower my guard around him, I'll easily be burned and I don't handle being mistreated well.

"How I wish I could be there the day you two stop being so blind."

I wanted to protest at her comment, to defend myself, but she pulled me into a hug before I could. My body tensed at the contact.

This was the first time she was this close to me. Despite my body's reaction, it did feel safe in her arms. So I hugged her back until the feeling faded.

"I'll miss you, Rebekah."

"I know."

And just like that she was gone.

I thought of going to see Hayley in the bayou but a text from Skylar stopped me. She told me to come by tonight's gallery exhibition. With reluctance, I did.

There weren't many people there. Not even Skylar was there. She just wanted me to check if everything was going alright. I was glancing over the paintings when I saw him.

Klaus.

He was standing in front my paintings. There were only three but a particular one caught his attention. I wanted to call out for him, to make my presence known. But I didn't.

When he didn't know he was being observed, he seemed more at ease. As if he belonged right there in the gallery. A piece of art himself.

He turned to leave and saw me standing there. Instantly he froze, surprised by my presence.

"Which one?"

His eyes narrowed at the question. I motioned at the paintings and he looked back. My feet carried me closer to him.

"Which one do you like best?" I clarified.

He almost seemed like a lost puppy. You could feel the depth of his grief from across the room. Rebekah's betrayal hurt him more than I thought he could be hurt.

He nodded at a smaller painting of mine. "If I had to play favorites."

The canvas portrayed a secluded New Orleans street. It had all of the city's charm and all of its loneliness. I'm not surprised Klaus was drawn to it.

"Only you'd pick the most depressing one." I said.

Our eyes met. We had seen each other a few days ago but it felt as if an eternity had passed since I saw him last. The blue in his eyes seemed to brighten under the lights of the gallery.

"You could've picked any street, shown its best colors and yet," he said, "you chose the one veiled in misery."

My life in New Orleans has been complicated. I grew up here, I left for a few years and then I came back. Repelled by my past and drawn to my future.

"That was my home, for a while. Before my father left and my mother died." I explained.

Klaus's eyebrows furrowed as he glanced back at the painting. Perhaps seeing it in a different light. I had always seen it for what it was.

"It has brought nothing but misery."

He nodded at my words. I took the painting from its place on the wall and handed it to him.

With a gentleness that I hadn't seen before, he carefully held it in his hands. As he looked up at me, I knew I had made the right decision.

"Won't you get in trouble for giving it away?"

I shrugged. "Probably, but I have a feeling you'll appreciate my work a lot more than a drunken tourist."

A ghost of a smile passed his face. Despite seeing his anger with Rebekah and hating that he banned her from the city, I could see his point of view.

And I think a part of him knew that, even if I didn't say it out loud.

"Thank you, Olivia."

Whether he was thankful to me for gifting him the painting or not mentioning Rebekah, it was unclear. I just took pride in knowing I made him feel a tad better.

Rebekah believed we cared for one another. I don't know whether she's right or whether she just wants to be.

But standing there with him, just talking about art, that did feel right. Even if it didn't last.