Gabriela Knew That Asher Didn't Realize Whose Complaint He Was Hearing, So She Decided To Not Add Too

hearing the other voice caused her shoulders to jolt upwards, wiping her tears, she sniffed before letting out a sigh. "no, not really. pretty sure the only person who has seen me cry is my husband. which has been in our house and never in public." this all felt like a new low, of course she'd dealt with much worse. being a demon who brought souls wasn't exactly an easy or decent job. yet, she would rather be doing that than know that her family was in danger. "just got a lot going on and really not sure how to handle any of it, but i'll figure it out."

looking up at the other, she noticed the cigarette and decided to give into temptation. "do you have any more of those?" the only thing the demon smoked was for medical purposes but right now the smell seemed to provide calm.

Cigarette smoke swirled upward from the ash tray on his desk as he read over the current file he'd been working on. Typical work like always, some husband wanting to catch his wife in the act of cheating or vise versa. It seemed like no one in New Orleans had the desire to be faithful. At least not the seedy fools who came slinking into his office. It always ended the same way, even the ones seeking truth were often unfaithful as well, just looking for a reason to feel better about their own actions.

Tired, and with a headache that made reading the small printed text nearly impossible, he stood up, placed the still it cigarette in his mouth, and stepped out of the office. Down the internal steps and out the front door, he walked with the cigarette hanging from his lips, checking his phone and barely looking where he was going. That was the typical routine. He always had unread notifications from girls he'd hooked up with once or twice (never three times), or clients looking for updates on cases he hadn't broken yet. For the most part, all of them went ignored.

As he strode out of the office building and toward the water to enjoy fresh, clean air along with his cigarette smoke, he caught the sound of someone crying. His bread and butter, truly. Unlike some men who loved to pray on the emotionally unstable for romantic purposes, Heath had realized early in his career that these were the people who needed his help most. They had cases, they had issues, they had problems that only a sneak like Heath could solve.

He came to a stop next to the emotionally distraught person and flicked the cigarette ash onto the ground. Taking a long drag, he exhaled and said, "You alright?" Clearly they were not alright, but hey I noticed you sobbing from across the street was not a good entry into conversation with a stranger.

masquarade - enchanted evening outfits; event001

"oh my gosh jay, i'm so sorry, it's just been a few years since i've seen you near the house." hayley felt a little embarrassed, she'd know the kid for a very long time given who his parents were. when he and lizzie got engaged, they spent even more time together, but that had felt like so long ago. time was manipulated by the grief they all felt after the merge. "how are you doing sweetie?" she lifted her eyebrow at the other, knowing it was a loaded question, but it had to be asked. hope had become a totally different person after everything. how could she not? lizzie, hope, and josie were inseparable and intended to beat every odd that told them otherwise. jay was in the middle of it all and honestly the hybrid wasn't sure where his loyalties lied.

Jay nodded. "Lizzie," he said slowly as he looked at her. "Lizzie's fiancee." He hasn't really seem her family since it happened. Since she has died. But he had been with her 2 years, so they were all familiar in a way. Then he paused. "Also... you know Aiden's kid," he said given she was his dad's alpha.

josie wiped the tears falling onto hope's cheek with her finger, doing her very best to be gentle and caring. the two of them didn't even really need to say anything, all of it had been said once they looked in each others eyes, but it still felt good to say it. for the siphoner, it felt as if the apology was long required, she'd write hope notes all the time only to burn them with the flick of her wrist. shaking her head slowly, she rested her palm on her sisters cheek and smiled. "me neither....what's worse is she isn't here in my head anymore and i can't seem to figure out why. she used to be there in the back of mind, but for the past few weeks, i can't feel her anymore."

taking a deep breath, she placed both hands on her lap. wanting to mention that even though lizzie wasn't in her mind, she was still felt. yet, there was a fear that mentioning it would send them on some mission only for the same outcome. so instead, she kept it to herself, waiting until she had proof. "did your mom come visit you in europe after i left? i'd hate to hear that you were alone..."

she'd toss and turn about it for months, unable to pick up the phone and call in fear of hearing the sorrow in the others voice. josie felt like a coward as she sat next to hope, it made her skin burn.

THE TRIBID HELD ON to her sister for dear life, pressing the siphoner to her as she felt her self exhale. being without josie for all of this time had proven to be ONE of the most heartbreaking things that had happened in her life time, the distance between them had been like losing a part of her soul and with such a large part of it gone already ( it had been buried with lizzie ) she hadn't been sure that she could make it through. the phrase ' there is always light at the end of a tunnel ' had begun to sound so incredibly cliche to her, that any mention of ' hope ' outside of her name felt like a SICK joke. and maybe she was too young to be so pessimistic but what else could she be? she had failed at keeping her PROMISE. and not just to josie, but lizzie too. failure did not settle well ⸺ call it a fallacy of being young, but maybe she'd bought into her own hype if only for a moment that staggeringly annoying confidence that ran in her family, had taken the limelight only to become extinguished just as fast as it was lit. she was EMBARRASED, and ashamed all reasons that stopped her from seeking josie out sooner. " there's nothing to forgive. " she assured the other, as she pulled back, hands placed on both of her arms, as she feared that the brunette would disappear as soon as she let go. " i shouldn't have... " a pause, tears formed in ocean colored eyes, and for once hope allowed them to fall. " i shouldn't have PROMISED what i couldn't keep. " she shook her head. " i'm so, sorry jo... " the disappointment in her tone was more than present, in fact it could be seen reflected in her the way she held herself. " i just can't... get used to a WORLD where she isn't here. "

for the past few weeks, josie felt as something was deeply wrong within the city. it felt as if the earth below was rumbling, waiting for the perfect time to do something drastic and that's exactly what happened. people below were stirring in their graves being brought back by a curse. the noise of it all was too much for the siphoner, stumbling into an alleyway she managed to knock over a garbage can, scaring the hell out of the other.

with wide eyes, she looked up to see it was blossom and she let out a heavy sigh of relief. "what have you been seeing blossom?" walking up to the banshee, josie placed her hands on the others shoulder, trying to give some calm to the anxious storm that swirled around them. "i'm right here, don't worry...let's get you somewhere safer and we can talk more okay?"

@inaducursehqstarters

she had seen them before, seen their deaths replay over and over in her mind. the few days nights before their death happened. but no, no, it couldn’t of been them, she just had an overactive imagination and clearly everything was her brain mixing her biological parents death with the fasces that had been flashed on the news papers. she couldn’t have been there at the death of the shop keeper nor those of the vampires , yet , it felt like she had been present.

yet, her body had taken her to an empty alleyway, and god it look familiar, like she had seen it in her dreams the night before. herself jumping as she heard a empty can rolling across the alleyway, fear stopping her from moving. “…I think something bad going to happen..” she spoke, to anyone who could hear her.

josie couldn't actually see the other, but it felt as if they hit her like a giant wave. placing her feet firmly on the ground, the siphoner stumbled on her words. "oh umm no i'd love a dance partner." her throat had gone dry, as warmth ran through her body. what the hell was happening? why was she taken by the woman? who was she? questions swirled in her brain, and for once josie wasn't expecting any answers. instead she just needed to be near to the other. the rest of the world blurred, the only thing sharp and clear being the beautiful woman that stood before her.

taking the others hand, she pulled her closer. feeling even more confident with her face covered, there was a rush of excitement that sent a shiver down her spine. swallowing softly, a smile crept on her lips as her words seemed to work once more. "i can't seem to think that many would turn down a dance with you."

benni didn't let the fact that she barely knew anyone stop her from enjoying herself. even as a young child they'd been able to make a friend anywhere, never really feeling out of sorts, naturally an extrovert. it wasn't long until she'd made her way to the dance floor. between dancing by herself or momentarily with someone around her. this song she was on her own after her last partner had excused themself to get another drink. the bump had her spinning on her heel to see who it was.

" no need to apologize for having fun, " they muse before fully facing the other while a gentle reassuring smile. a smile that grew as her gaze met the dark sparkling eyes of the other. the woman had a sort of indescribable glow about her, something that they felt drawn to. " would you like a dance partner ? " a hand out stretching slightly in an offer. " or are you more of a riding solo kinda gal ? " benni wanted to give her an easy out if she wasn't interested.

a hybrid's hearing was both a gift and curse, especially when you're a mother who kids inherit your own loud remarks. this time she wasn't hearing something that would scar her or cause an eye roll, this sound caused panic and fear to rise in her chest, instantly using superhuman speed to the source. what she saw broke her heart, elijah stood there but there was something else, something inside him that made his actions and heart different. the change was too easy to recognize, if there was someone she knew all too well it was her husband. the two had grown in their marriage to become people who cared so deeply for each others happiness and peace, even when the world refused to give it to them. so to see this scene unfold, it caused the hybrids heart to break, yet she had no time to process any of it, because there was an innocent in danger.

taking a deep breath, she walked over towards her husband, because he was still there, fighting so desperately to stay in control. "elijah, i need you to let them go." hayley's voice stayed calm, trying to only speak to him and not whatever was possessing his body. walking closer behind elijah, she placed her fingers on his wrist, feeling his pulse and how it raced, when her eyes met his, the clear desperation caused tears to well in her eyes. "you are going to let this person go and we are going to figure out what is going on. we won't let this win okay?"

The narrow alleyways of New Orleans were drenched in shadows, the night air thick with humidity. Elijah wandered them, but not as himself. His eyes glowed with an unnatural blue hue. From a distance, someone followed, carefully. Elijah halted abruptly, his senses sharpened by the Hollow's malevolent power. He could feel the presence behind him. Inadu stirred with interest, its attention now fully on the pursuer. A twisted smile crept across Elijah's face as the Hollow spoke through him in a low, mocking tone. “Yon lòt malere ki vle mouri," it hissed in Creole, the words laced with dark amusement. “Ann ba li yon leson."

Without warning, Elijah turned, his movements fluid and predatory. The follower froze, their heart racing. The Hollow's voice, dripping with malice, echoed through the alley. "Ou kouri dèyè m'," Elijah taunted in Creole, the words carrying an edge of sadistic delight. "Kounye a ou pral soufri."

Elijah moved with inhuman speed, closing the gap between them in an instant. The follower barely had time to react before dark energy crackled around Elijah's hands, ready to strike. But deep within, Elijah fought against the Hollow's control, his willpower straining against the dark force. “Run," he managed to whisper, his voice breaking through momentarily, filled with urgency and desperation. “Get away!”

@inaducursehqstarters

the siphoner was sure that she couldn't be brought down. her twin sister was back, hope wasn't mad at her, and it felt as if the world was placed back on it's axis. so even if damon was complaining, it didn't really bother her, instead she raised an eyebrow and smirked. "well yeah, you got to see parties when there were like no rules. so of course this is dull." taking a sip of her champagne, she shrugged her shoulders before eyeing the crowd again. "how many masquerades have you been too? cause i'm pretty sure this is my first."

open starter Though it was early in the night, Damon was growing bored by the serious lack of action. Most people still stood in groups chatting, neglecting the dancefloor and the bar a little too much for his liking. He'd been looking forward to a night to let loose, but not even the band seemed to be inspired yet. "Seriously?" he sulks aloud, "I've been to funerals with better live entertainment than this." @inaducursehqstarters

gabriela couldn't help but give hope a soft smile, she was always unsure of how to greet the demon, most likely due to the odd relationship between hope and tyler. they didn't blame hope for feeling such animosity towards their husband, but also felt the need to defend him each time. the balance provided a weird balance for the whole mikaelson-lockwood clan. however, now that she was in the faction, gabbi grew closer with hayley and tolerated klaus. shaking her head softly, she then nodded in agreement. "you can call me gabbi, by the way and you're right these dresses have a lot of fabric. i've always been a fan of a nice satin slip dress, feels nice against the skin, easy to get off...." her voice got lower, realizing that she was not in the presence of someone her age. sure, hope knew all about the birds and bees, but being a mom meant that not everyone felt comfortable speaking on the topic. clearing her throat, the demon took a sip of their champagne and smirked. "don't tell your mom i said that."

PAYING ATTENTION TO ANYTHING but the massive amount of fabric that the tribid had to currently mange to walk in, was proving to be a tad difficult. dainty hands, were gripping the corners of her dress, she'd glided her way through the many interested parties with promises of saving a dance or twelve for those that asked ( with no intention of delivering of course ) an ocean colored gaze, looked around, taking hold of a champagne flute, she allowed one side of her gown to drop. only coming to a sharp halt as she lightly slammed into someone else, the person appearing unfamiliar for a moment, before her gaze focused. " oh.. gab... mrs. lockwood? " their families weren't close ⸺ in fact her friendship with kaya was merely a few years old, and while she held the hellhound in high regard the history between families was a bit too dense to ignore. " still learning to navigate this thing. " she mused with an awkward laugh. " should have asked for an INSTRUCTION manual before wearing it. "

how are you feeling now that lizzie is finally back? (josie)

"i feel like i have a second chance at so many things. yet it's also terrifying because no matter how hard hope and i tried we couldn't bring her back. it will be better once i know what brought her back, or at least i hope it will. " @terroremarium