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.

Klaus sighed in defeat. "Dahlia."

_______

Ophelia, Hayley, Rebekah, Klaus, Freya, and Elijah were convening in the dining room to discuss what had just occurred, "Isn't that the point of a fortress? It does a better job of protecting you when you stay within its walls?" Klaus complained to Hayley and Ophelia, clearly displeased with their failure to listen to his orders.

"Okay, okay. We get it, alright?" Ophelia complained, growing annoyed with the male hybrid, "Now, shut up and let's just figure out what the hell we're gonna do."

"What I would like to do is take a strong leash--" Klaus began to say as he leaned forward in his seat.

Ophelia quickly stood up, leaning forward, "And do what?" She growled at Klaus angrily, "Finish the sentence, I dare you. I'll give you a headache that will last centuries, Klaus. Don't tempt me."

"Children, please," Elijah cut the duo off politely, "Niklaus, your ire is justified. However, Ophelia is quite right."

Ophelia shrugged, giving Klaus a sarcastic smile, which earned an eye roll from the hybrid.

"We need to find a new strategy," Elijah proposed in a calm tone, "Freya, if you please?"

Freya sighed in defeat, "The spell you described...Dahlia calls it 'kenning'. Using proxies to watch her enemies from afar," Freya paused, looking overwhelmed as Klaus looked at her, half-suspicious, half-curious, "But, I've never seen it done on quite this scale."

Hayley sighed in frustration, looking overwhelmed as well, "Awesome. So, basically every Hurricane-chugging, boob-flashing tourist on Bourbon Street is a potential spy." She commented sarcastically, causing Ophelia to shift uncomfortably in her seat.

"The good news is, I know a little about how her magic works," Freya informed the group, gesturing at a tray she had set up that had a silver tea kettle and six teacups full of brown liquid on saucers, "This tonic will at least prevent her from using any of us."

Rebekah and Freya each reached for a cup. When the others didn't move, Rebekah looked around at them, "Well, come on! This should work like a charm!" She encouraged the group.

Elijah sat down at the table, and he, Ophelia, and Hayley each grabbed a cup as well. However, Klaus remained standing where he was and didn't move to join them.

Rebekah raised her glass, "Bottoms up!" She said to the group as the five of them drink their tonics, and Elijah held out the sixth cup for Klaus, who simply stared at it.

Elijah sighed in annoyance, clearly irritated with his brother, "Niklaus, is there something you wish to contribute?" He questioned him.

Klaus shrugged his shoulders, a smug look on his face, "I prefer biscuits with my tea." He commented sarcastically.

Elijah rolled his eyes as he set down Klaus' cup and muttered under his breath, "Of course."

Klaus decided to ignore Elijah's comment and continued on, "Besides, our minds are far too strong to be invaded by kenning spells. Ophelia's as well," He paused, causing Elijah to roll his eyes once more as he sipped his tonic, "No, what we experienced was a test; Dahlia's watching to see how we respond to aggression. She's preparing for battle. My guess is sooner, rather than later."

"Well, if she was watching us, she would know that we have our own army." Hayley added in and Ophelia glanced around the group, immediately noticing the odd look Freya's face, which concerned her a bit.

"She also knows where we are. And, given the immense nature of her power, we simply do not know what to expect from her. What we need is to create a new stronghold. Something that Dahlia knows nothing about. A sanctuary from any witchcraft." Elijah explained to the group, coming up with a plan.

"That's a fine strategy. I offer another," Freya spoke up, causing Ophelia to turn to her to hear her suggestion, "We can use Jackson to trace her magic back to its source. Find out exactly where she is."

Everyone looked to Ophelia, who considered the proposition for a moment. She looked over at Klaus for guidance and the immortal hybrid merely smiled and raised his eyebrows at her, before she sighed reluctantly, "Fine. Do it."

"Good! Then it's settled." Klaus spoke up in a pleased tone, "Off you pop to your respective tasks! Me? I've always been of the opinion that the best defense is a good offense. So, I'm going to find a way to murder that godforsaken witch," He paused, gesturing his hand toward Ophelia, "And Ophelia, love, you will be joining me."

"Of course, I am," She muttered under her breath, "Do I even have a choice?"

When Klaus grinned and shook his head, Hayley quietly chuckled, earning a glare from Ophelia.

"Give Jackson some of the tea," Ophelia told Hayley, who immediately nodded his head in response.

_____

Ophelia was walking toward her room when she heard Hayley and Jackson arguing, causing her to stop in front of Hayley's room, "What's going on?" She asked the duo concerned, taking a step toward them.

"We have a plan," Hayley informed Ophelia in a calm tone, "The three of us are going to take Hope away from this city to protect her."

"How is that going to protect Hope?" Ophelia questioned the two werewolves confused, "Dahlia is over a thousand years old. We need Klaus in order to protect Hope."

Hayley scoffed, turning to Jackson, "You see? I told you that she wouldn't agree to it."

Jackson sighed, taking a step toward Ophelia as he grabbed ahold of the girl's hands and held them in his own, "Ophelia, please. We need to do this," He pleaded with her quietly and Ophelia glanced between the duo.

Ophelia was hesitant at first, clearly not wanting to say yes. She knew she couldn't say no though. If she said no, Hayley and Jackson would be doing it alone and she couldn't let that happen. They would both end up dead.

"Fine," Ophelia stated in a calm tone, "I'll meet you guys later tonight. Text me right before you leave. I have some business to deal with."

Ophelia stepped forward, placing a kiss to Jackson's lips before turning away and leaving. Ophelia felt guilty for lying, but she knew there was no other choice. She couldn't let them leave, which meant they needed to get caught. Caught in a way that wouldn't get them killed. And she knew just the way.

_____

At the compound, Jackson was laying on the table, where Freya was drawing an infinity symbol on his bare chest using the burned end of a sage smudge stick. Hayley, Ophelia, and Rebekah watched worriedly as she workd, "By doing this, we should be able to trace Dahlia's signature all the way back to the source of her power. But, I'll need to dig deep." Freya explained to the group before looking up at Ophelia and Rebekah, "Ophelia, Rebekah, if I may channel you?"

Both women looked uneasy, but they nodded in agreement as Ophelia looked down at Jackson in concern, "Are you sure you're okay with this?" She asked her husband in concern.

"Piece of cake!" Jackson laughed nervously.

Hayley sighed and looked over at the girls. Rebekah and Ophelia took Freya's hands in theirs and held them over Jackson's body as the three of them began to chant the spell, "Inveniere potencia reparon malifica. Inveniere potencia reparon malifica."

As the girls chanted, Jackson's back arched painfully as he groaned, clearly in agony. After a moment, Ophelia looked up at Freya at the same time as Rebekah and Ophelia immediately saw a vision of Dahlia standing behind her, holding her hand on Freya's shoulder.

Startled, they immediately let go, though Freya assumed she did so because of Jackson's pain, and she stared at her hands in fright, "Ophelia, Rebekah, we need to continue." She encouraged the duo.

"I..." Rebekah trailed off, causing Hayley to look concerned as her eyes moved from Freya to Rebekah in confusion.

"What is it?" She asked the group concerned.

Rebekah looked at Freya with an appalled expression, "You. You're the reason Dahlia is able to cast such powerful spells."

Freya looked alarmed as she began shaking her head in disagreement, but Rebekah continued on, "She's channeling you!" She exclaimed in shock.

Hayley looked at Freya, clearly feeling betrayed, but Freya appeared as though the revelation was news to her, "All this time, you've been helping her!"

Freya shook her head desperately, obviously upset by their accusation against her, "I had no idea!" She tried to tell them, beginning to pace anxiously, "She must have found me." She paused, starting to walk toward Rebekah and Ophelia to try to argue her suspicions, "She wants to use you against me!"

Ophelia lunged for Freya and shoved her backward, "Get away from him!" She growled at her angrily.

Rebekah jumped between the women, quick to break up their fight, "Stop!" She warned the duo, placing a comforting hand on Freya's shoulder, "Freya, I want to trust you, I do. But, you said it yourself--you're bonded to Dahlia. I'm sorry, but it's better that you go. Please."

Freya looked hurt, but she didn't fight them on it, she simply turned and left the compound.

Ophelia turned to Hayley and Freya, sharing a worried glance with them.