Vincent was now free of Finn's spirit, in one of the bedrooms of my place, where he was sitting on a bed, leaning his elbows against his knees, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his tubs as if he had a headache.

I walked closer with a newspaper. "Morning. How you feeling?"

Vincent groaned. "Nauseous. Can't concentrate." He sighed. "Can't really do any magic. But, I suppose that was the point." He picked up something off the plate on the nightstand next to him. "Seeing as I can smell lobilia flower you've been putting in my food, man."

I smirked. "Can't be too careful with witches, hmm?"

Vincent nodded. "Hmm. That something you learned from experience, Noah Dumaine? Back when you and Marcel controlled the Quarter witches with all your rules, and, uh..." He clicked his tongue, miming as if he was slitting his throat with his finger. "Public executions?"

I shrugged. "You know who I am." I put a chair in front of the bed, sitting down. "That's good, 'cause I got some questions that need answers, and you seem to know what happens to people who don't give me what I want."

"I know you don't control anything around here no more," Vincent told me. "And I know you can't keep me here. I'm from the Treme, Noah. Witches from there? They're a little bit of a harder breed than what it is you're used to. Yeah, they're gonna want me back."

I nodded. "Actually, they already do want you back. Yeah, a matter of fact..." I stood, pulling out the newspaper, lying it down on the nightstand next to Vincent. "They've wanted you back for nine months." Vincent was in shock, looking at the newspaper, looking at me in disbelief. I just pointed at the paper. "Yeah, check the date." Vincent picked up the newspaper. "You might notice a little time gap."

Vincent was appalled and horrified. "Man, what'd you do to me?"

"Oh, me?" I asked. "I can't make nine months vanish. No, your beef is with a guy named Finn. See, he took possession of your body. Got into all kinds of trouble, too. Made some nasty enemies, I might add."

Vincent was overwhelmed and worried. "Whoa."

Vincent held up his hands, clearly struggling to believe what he was hearing, gasping from the newspaper to me anxiously while he processed this revelation.

"Look, I'll tell you all about it," I told him. "But first, you gotta tell me about a Treme witch that you might know. Eva Sinclair." Vincent looked at me, shaking his head in exasperation. "Sore subject?"

Vincent smiled patronizingly. "Mm-hmm." He clenched his jaw. "I'm done talking."

**

Cami was here now, pouring herself a drink.

"Cami, if you don't want to do this..." I trailed off.

Cami took a drink. "Of course I don't want to do this. The guy practically tried to kill me."

"Well, not this guy," I told her. "Vincent Griffith is just another victim."

"Yes, but as of yesterday, he was Finn," Cami told me. "Finn, who lied to me, who used me, who tried to erase me from my own body. And now, we're just going to hang out. I mean, it's fine. I'll do it. I just... need a drink first."

Cami took a drink.

I stood, walking toward the door to call out for two of the vampires standing guard outside. "Bring him in!"

Two vampire guards brought Vincent inside.

Cami frowned, standing. 

Vincent jerked out of their grip, looking at me, annoyed. "What is this, Noah? You dragging me out of this dump back inside without telling me what's going on, man?"

I chuckled. "Dump? Ouch. And I thought getting some fresh air might brighten your mood. Maybe it's me. So, how about I give you a chance to talk to my friend here." I pointed at Cami. "You be night, all right? Or I won't." I looked at Cami. "I'll be right outside."

I nodded to the vampires. We walked out of the apartment, but remained close enough outside that we could hear them talking.

"Would you like to sit down?" Cami asked. "Okay. I'm Cami."

"Look, whoever you are, you should know this isn't gonna work,"  Vincent told her. "I do not break. Not for vampires, and not for pretty-faced... whatever you are."

"Well, that's a relief, because the last time we spoke, I got the feeling you were kind of obsessed with me."

"You know the guy who did this to me?"

"I'll tell you about it. If you want."

"And what's in it for you?"

"A little exchange of information never hurt anyone. Look, if you want to be the guy in the room who doesn't know where he was last week, that's fine. But, if you wanna know the truth, from someone who had a front row seat, sit down."

**

Vincent and Cami were still talking.

"I woke up here last night," Vincent told her. "I didn't know where I was, or how long I'd been here, let alone that I had lost nine months of my life. Noah said the guy who possessed me, this Finn, he made a lot of enemies. What did he do?"

"He... terrorized the city," Cami answered. "He threatened and manipulated his enemies, tried to steal an innocent child, and executed his brother. Mr. Griffith... Vincent. What you experienced was a violation of a profoundly personal nature. And whatever you are feeling, I am here to listen."

"That's just it. What do I say? Am--Am I--Am I just supposed to feel bad for these people that I hurt? Am I--Am I supposed to feel guilty for this... this man I killed? I'm sorry."

"Hey, it's okay. You're gonna be okay?"

"Did I... did he... hurt you?"

"Listen to me. You didn't do anything. And whatever else may have happened? The only thing you can do now is move on."

**

Cami and Vincent were still talking inside.

"Leave it to vampires to have the best view of the city," Cami told him.

"Mm," Vincent hummed. "Sometimes I forget what a beautiful city it is. Especially with all the ugliness that comes with it."

"Have you always lived here?"

"Mm-hmm. Born and raised in the Treme.  Lived through its ups and downs. Then it came to trouble with the vampires, and sometimes it was even worse. I gave up on being a witch. Walked away from my coven. I guess that was why I was easy prey for your friend Finn."

"Yeah, trust me, not my friend."

"Noah was asking about Eva Sinclair. You need to tell him to get back in here. There's something he needs to know."

**

Rebekah, and Elijah walked inside the apartment toward Vincent and me.

I stood, greeting them at the door.

Vincent downed a glass of bourbon.

"I filled the guy in, but he's still a little freaked out about all of this," I told them.

"Good," Rebekah told us. "That makes us a perfect pair." We walked toward Vincent. Vincent was stunned to see Rebekah's vessel, Eva Sinclair. "Right. Well, I can tell by your face that you knew the previous occupant of this body." Rebekah smiled. "Rest assured, you're now speaking to Rebekah Mikaelson. So, who are you? I mean, now that you're not my brother Finn?"

Vincent was surprised. "Vincent Griffith. I would say 'at your service', but that implies I had a choice in the matter."

Vincent gave me a look.

I smirked, shrugging.

Rebekah looked at Elijah, smiling, pleased. "Oh, he's witty. Wonderful." She looked at Vincent. "Now, I hear you have some information for me."

Vincent was overwhelmed. "Just... give me a second." He walked closer to Rebekah, laughing softly. "When they put Eva in the Fauline Cottage, I never thought I'd see her again."

"How exactly is it that you knew Mrs. Sinclair?" Elijah asked.

Vincent looked at Rebekah in shock. "She was my wife."

That surprised us all.

Rebekah was speechless for a moment. "Well, that is bloody fantastic, isn't it?"

Eva Sinclair had been taking witch kids for a little over a year, using them to channel their power.

And that was why there was a deadline for the witches to kill her body, even if it meant killing Rebekah with her, so that no other kids got hurt or taken along with them.