-•-•-

After Sawyer hurried to the passenger seat, Elijah, Rebekah, and Marie piled into the backseats. Remi groaned as she was, once again, forced to sprawl out across the backseat passengers while Sawyer grinned in amusement.

"Someone needs to stay here and find a way to translate that spell into a more modern one. Keep me updated," Freya stated as she stayed near the entrance of the abattoir, Klaus nodding in response.

"Let's get this over with" Klaus said and began the drive to Elizabeth Petersé's birthplace.

The drive to the outskirts of Louisiana was surprisingly peaceful. Klaus took Elijah's previous words to heart and began a civilized conversation with Marie, while Remi and Sawyer texted each other for most of the drive in an attempt to not disturb Klaus and Marie's conversation. 

"Well this is certainly a sight to be seen," Elijah muttered to Rebekah who agreed.

"I never thought I'd see the day where Nik could uphold a civilized conversation with someone. Our brother is finally growing up after a thousand years, how sweet," Rebekah said sarcastically and Elijah chuckled.

"Well, what have you two been doing that's gotten you both so quiet," Rebekah said curiously, directing her attention towards Remi and Sawyer who darted their eyes up at the same time.

"We're texting instead of talking. We don't want their conversation to end," Sawyer replied and motioned towards Klaus and Marie.

"Yea, it's like watching dinosaurs," Remi added and giggled.

"You do realize we're sitting a foot away from you, yes?" Klaus suddenly said and raised his eyebrows. 

"Uh- Hey Rebekah don't you think the weather is great right now?" Remi gulped and averted the question while Klaus and Marie just shook their heads in amusement.

-•-•-

When they finally reached Baton Rouge, Louisiana, they all piled out of the car and eyed the seemingly endless stretch of land in front of them. They then made their way across the open plane.

"How exactly do we know we're in the right place?" Elijah asked Marie.

"We'll know when we get there," she replied simply.

They continued their walk until they came upon a oddly placed cabin whose wood looked to be at least a hundred years old. They walked inside and instantly knew they were in the right place when the floor appeared to be all soil, a hefty contrast from the thick green grass flourishing outside.

Marie kneeled down on the dirt and picked up a pile of it, instantly knowing they were in the right place when a strange feeling washed over her.

"This is it," she said and scooped some of it into a mason jar.

"That's it? I find it hard to believe its that simple," Klaus stated and furrowed his eyebrows.

"This was the easy part. All we need is an omen now, and then comes the hard part," Marie stated like she just said the most normal thing ever.

"A what now?" Remi asked.

"An omen, a representation of her life in a physical form," Marie explained.

"So... a symbol? Like how red symbolizes angry, or a giant M symbolizes McDonalds?" Remi asked for clarification and Marie chuckled.

"Yes, exactly," she replied.

"But how are we supposed to do that, exactly?" Klaus asked, and just then a familiar squaw of a hawk boomed across the open field. 

"I think I have an idea," Marie replied and smirked, leading everyone else back out into the field.

"Dude, I totally know where she's going with this. Remember The Odyssey in school?" Remi said and nudged Sawyer, who scrunched his nose up.

"I'd rather not remember that awful book," he replied.

"If you think hard enough, everyone's life has a representation. Klaus, you're the big, bad wolf; doing what he thinks he has to in order to survive, but strikes fear in other. Elijah, the noble stag; reliable and respectful, but still near the top of the food chain. Rebekah, the panther; fierce and courageous, protecting their own even if they don't particularly want to. Freya, the dog; craves to be loved by all but will attack when threatened. Sawyer, the elephant; forced to grow up fast because of their environment or else they'll be hunted. And Remi, the badger; small and seemingly delicate, but more strong and powerful than anyone expects. Just as you all have symbols, so does Elizabeth," Marie explains.

"So what would she be? You know her story better than anyone," Remi says.

"A hawk of course. Hawks are known for being predators, but at birth they're just as innocent and defenseless as anything else. They're simply raised to capture and kill their prey, which is what hundreds of years of resenting everyone will do to you," Marie replies and everyone goes silent for a moment. Villains, in hindsight, are only seen from one point of view. So when the tables inevitably turn, it bound to make a few bite their tongues.

"Come on, the sun's going down. We need to head back to the Quarter before the witches' shops close. They'll have plenty of hawk carcasses there. No need to take an extra life," Marie says and everyone nods.

The six of them head back to the car and pile back into their former seats. 

-•-•-

They arrived back to the Quarter within the two-hour mark and made their way in Marie's shop. She hopped out of the car and ran inside, and emerged shortly holding a floppy dead bird by it's neck. 

"Oh my god, you couldn't've put it in a bag or something? That thing reeks," Remi said and warily eyed the decaying bird.

"Want to hold it?," Marie replied and held it out, laughing when Remi lurched backwards. 

When they pulled up to the abattoir, Freya emerged out of the building just as everyone was getting out of the car for the hundredth time that day. 

"You have everything?" Freya asked and they all nodded in response.

"Ok, good. I just finished translating the locator spell, but theres one problem," Freya continued.

"What is it?" Remi asked.

"It needs a human sacrifice to seal it, specifically a witch," Freya said, still appearing to be distraught.

Everyone widened their eyes in shock, knowing that in order to save the lives of many, one needed to end. But whose would it be?

-•-•-

Surprised to see another update so soon? To be honest, so am I. I've been writing a lot today since I stayed home from school sick again. But I don't have school again until next Wednesday bc of Presidents weekend so I have a lot of free time lol. I'll be working on this book mostly all weekend, but I also have sooooo many Originals books in my drafts. I love them all so much but I can't publish them all at the same time since I would never have that much to update them all. Perhaps when I conclude this book/series (?) I'll publish one of them :)

Bye for now,

Charley