We finally cross the border into Louisiana and it has been a hell of a drive and I can only imagine it getting worse the more we get into the city.

"Hey babe, can you please get the jar."

"Is it wizard time?" Josie asks and it actually makes me laugh out loud because we saw a video last night where someone called smoking wizard time and now, we can't stop saying it.

"It is definitely wizard time. Do you mind packing it for me?" I turn to look at her to see she is already packing it and she raises her eyebrows to tell me she was one step ahead of me.

She walks over and sits down beside me and lights the bowl for me as I take a hit. I try to pass it to her but she shakes her head no.

"Nooo. Why?" I whine because you know how there are some people that when you smoke together it is just right. Pen, Jed, Josie and maybe Raven are the only people I have found that with.

"We're going into the home of the most powerful family ever and you want me to smoke before that?"

"Well, no, but the option is still open if you change your mind. I'll make sure not to cash it for you just in case."

I can almost feel her contemplation from beside me as I continue to hit it but make sure there is a hit in there for her as I hand it back.

It takes maybe 3 minutes for her to make up her mind but she does end up taking the smallest hit and I can only smirk at the action. I mean hopefully it will loosen her up and she won't be so tense when she meets them.

It is thirty minutes later when the weed really hits and I actually feel how high I am. Maybe the one hit was the move, but hey, you only live once.

We make our way through the crowded streets with a lot of looks from the locals as Josie directs me where to go.

We finally pull up and the moment I get a look of the place my jaw drops a bit. Yes, I come from money and I have seen some of the most beautiful houses but this is different. It's gothic and old and is nothing that you would imagine for a family with centuries of money.

"I can feel the energy running through this whole town." Josie says as she looks around the city.

"Really, already? We haven't even stepped out."

"It's so concentrated, it's like it's in the air."

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes, are you ready to go in?"

"Do you want to take Maz around the block first?"

"Oh. I didn't even ask about the dog situation. We should just go ask."

"Sure." I say as I open the doors and Josie and I step out and intertwine our fingers as we move across the street.

We give each other one last look before Josie raises her hand to ring the doorbell. It is so loud we can hear it from outside of the house.

I rub her knuckles as I hear footsteps approach the door. A blonde opens the door and sends us a small smile.

"You must be Josie. I have heard so much about you from Freya and Hope. Come on in, Freya should be down in a second."

In my mind I connect the dots from the reading we have done in school to realize that this must be Rebekah, and although she seems very sweet, she is also extremely powerful. We follow her inside as we wait for Freya to come down.

"And you are?" The woman says to me as she eyes me suspiciously.

"Cypress Merrick, Ms. Mikaelson, it's a pleasure to meet you." I say as I extend my hand for her to shake and she takes it.

"Please, no need for that. I know who you are."

"You do?"

"Yes. Hope actually talked about you a couple times, but that stopped. Why did it stop?" She says as she eyes me down with the intensity of a predator hunting its prey.

"Well, uhh–"

"Rebekah, don't scare off the guests." Freya jumps into the conversation as she descends down the stairs.

"Oh Freya, I am just making sure no one who enters this house has wronged our family."

"Wronged your family? No disrespect but why would I be here if I had done that." Josie grabs my hand to signal me to stop talking but I can't. "She stopped talking to me because she found out we were from the same pack. It wasn't my choice."

"How are you even from the same pack as Hope? I was under the impression Hope was the one of the only members left." She continues to interrogate.

"Hm I was under the impression you know Marcel well. Maybe you should ask him."

"You are being quite bold to an Original. Maybe you should watch your tone."

"Forgive her please, sometimes she forgets that Hope can make her own choices and we don't have to hear all about it." Freya says as tries to defuse the looks Rebekah and I are sending towards each other.

I break eye contact to lean into Josie's ear. "I think I want to take Maz for a walk. You can join if you would like."

"No, I think I should stay here. Go blow off some steam love." She says as she leans in and gives me a kiss as I turn around to walk out.

"Where are you going?" Rebekah asks me as I reach the door.

"I'm sure you heard it but the dog needs a walk. I will join you all later if that is okay." I try to tell Freya to keep my manners in place even if I am angry at one member of the family.

"N–"

"Yes, that is fine." Freya says as she cuts Rebekah off and I walk out of the door and head towards the bus.

I grab the jar because my high has been officially killed and get Maz's harness and leash before I walk out again to see Rebekah outside of our door.

"I didn't know you would be so easy to agitate." She starts again.

"I didn't realize you would be so persistent. I guess we were both wrong."

"Ouch. You're quite hostile."

"I am. Which is why I removed myself from the situation." I say as I walk past her and continue down the sidewalk with Maz by my side.

"You have a beautiful dog." She says as she follows me to where I am going. I see Maz looking behind us constantly to make sure the woman doesn't get too close while I am clearly uncomfortable with the presence.

"Thank you but I'm sure that isn't the reason you are following me?"

"There is a lot out here. Werewolves aren't the strongest creatures on this street."

"Well, I appreciate the protection, but I don't need it. Good thing I am not just a werewolf then."

"What?"

I hold out the leash for her to take, which she does, and since I am quite irritated, I grab a stranger off the street and bring them into an ally before digging into their neck before almost draining them and going back to Rebekah to grab Maz's leash back and keep walking like nothing happened.

I walk as Rebekah looks back and forth between the man and I before scrambling to quickly cover up my act. 

She is beside me again in an instant. "How are you a hybrid?"

"Hope's blood." I can see the confused look on her face. "She donated blood to the school just in case of werewolf bites and I took some."

"Did you do it on purpose so you could become a hybrid?"

"Nope, I wasn't very nice to your niece when I was trying to get her humanity back so she killed me. I am honestly not even sure if she knows I resurrected again."

Rebekah's steps stutter. "So, you got upset because I accused you of hurting my niece when in reality, she hurt you."

"Ding ding ding."

"I see." She says as she takes a deep breath. "Well, since I can smell the weed on you, how about we discuss more over drugs."

I raise my eyebrows at her but with a shrug of my shoulders I take out the jar anyways.