Klaus, Kol and Elijah returned that evening empty-handed and frustrated.
Davina took one look at Kol's face and disappeared into the kitchen, reappearing with a glass of bourbon, which she handed to him with a smile and a kiss.
"Thank you, darling," Kol said, taking a sip. He raised an eyebrow. "B positive?"
Davina shrugged. "It was the closest blood bag. Is it okay?"
"In bourbon, it doesn't matter," Kol said, wrapping an arm around her. "Thank you for thinking of it."
Davina squeezed his waist. "You guys want one too?"
"That would be wonderful, Davina; thank you," Elijah said.
Caroline appeared with Hope just as Davina handed the other two men a drink. "Any luck?"
"No," Klaus muttered, giving a reluctant smile when Hope was deposited in his arms. He shifted her to his shoulder and she snuggled into him with a little sigh. "Davina, you said last night that you thought you had something about why Esther did this in the first place?"
Davina grimaced. "That's not what I said. I said I had some things that might be connected."
"I'll get Rebekah," Kol said, setting his glass down.
"No need," his sister said from the door. "I'm already here. Davina?"
Davina sighed. "Basically, the ancestors don't know why Esther's done all this, but they did say that something is coming."
"Something?" Klaus repeated.
"Or someone," Davina amended. "Probably someone. Whatever it is, it's very powerful and feels like Esther but isn't."
"Oh, not again," Matt groaned.
"What is it with old witches and riddles?" Caroline asked tiredly, rubbing her forehead.
"Sophie's good at riddles," Davina said. "She'll be home any minute."
Sure enough, not even five minutes later, the front door opened and they heard the tell-tale sound of Sophie's bag hitting the floor.
Caroline opened her mouth, but never got a word out.
"I know," Sophie called. "I'm going to pick it up."
Caroline smirked. "I've got you well-trained. I was actually going to say, can you join us please; we need your help."
Sophie hurried in, still holding her coat. "What's happened?"
"Riddle for you," Caroline said. "What or who is old, powerful and feels like Esther but isn't?"
Sophie frowned. "Um … I don't know. Can I at least hang my jacket up?"
"Yes, of course," Caroline said. "It's not a rush."
"We think it might be connected to what Esther's up to," Davina explained. "The ancestors say something or someone is coming."
"Okay." Sophie ducked out of the living room again and returned sans-coat. "Someone or something old, powerful and feels like Esther … Okay, so if the magic feels like Esther, it's probably related to her somehow."
"Right," Caroline agreed. "But … everyone's here, aren't they? Well, except Finn. Could it be Finn?" She asked Kol.
Kol thought for a second, but shook his head. "I doubt it. I suppose Esther could have brought him back, but he never took to magic when we were younger. Even if he had, I don't think he would have matched her for power in that way. I know I didn't."
"Well, did Esther have any family other than you?" Sophie asked. "Presumably she had parents at some point."
"We never met them," Elijah said heavily. "I believe they died before we came to America, and she never spoke about them."
"Were you all born in America?" Davina asked.
"No," Elijah answered. "Freya and Finn were both born in Norway — or rather the area that would later become Norway. After Freya died, our parents joined a growing migration to the so-called 'New World'. Mother was pregnant at the time, but I was born in America."
"So if there was any family left behind, none of you would know," Davina said.
"Only Freya and Finn would know," Rebekah said, "but they're both dead. But any family they left behind would be dead by now as well, so isn't this all a moot point?"
"Well, Esther's dead too," Matt pointed out. "I think we need to take that word with a pinch of salt."
Rebekah grimaced. "Fair point."
"Is it worth summoning Finn?" Davina asked. "I could do a seance."
"Absolutely not," Kol said flatly, before she had even finished speaking. "It's too dangerous."
"He's dead, Kol; he can't hurt me," Davina said.
"Maybe not," Kol conceded. "But summoning him that way would bring him too close to the edge and make it easier for Esther to bring him back."
Davina deflated a little bit. "Right."
"What about Jeremy Gilbert?" Caroline asked.
"What about Jeremy Gilbert?" Klaus repeated.
Caroline rolled her eyes. "Do you ever pay attention to what other people are doing? Jeremy can speak to people on the other side, but he does need a connection to them, or someone with him that has a connection to him."
"I'll help him with that," Kol said, "but I'm not staying for the conversation."
"I'll go with you," Davina offered. "I'll do that part. Finn probably won't talk with you around anyway."
"I'm coming too," Caroline said.
"No, you're not," Klaus said immediately.
"I want my mother to meet my daughter," Caroline said, with more patience than she felt. "I'm not exactly going alone."
"Caroline, it's not safe …"
"Can I make a suggestion?" Sophie said loudly, cutting off the argument before it could really get started. "Why don't we ask Jeremy and your mother to come here?"
"I'm happy with that," Klaus said. "It can't hurt to ask."
Caroline sighed. "I would like Hope to see Mystic Falls at some point."
"Of course, love," Klaus agreed. "But we can do that when she's older. And I'd rather she not leave New Orleans until we've cleared all this up."
"Fair enough," Caroline said. "I need to call Mom anyway. And I'm inviting the others."
"Whatever you want," Klaus said. "As long as you two stay here."
Caroline blew him a kiss and stepped into the kitchen to call Liz.
Her mother answered on the first ring. "Caroline Forbes, you cannot send me a text like that and then turn your phone off!"
"Sorry, Mom," Caroline said, wincing. "I had a few things to deal with, but …"
"How's the Christmas present?"
Caroline smiled. "A little girl - Hope Rebekah Elizabeth Mikaelson. She's very small, but very gorgeous. And yes, we're clear to discuss it now."
"Oh, sweetheart … You will send me pictures, won't you?" Liz asked.
Caroline took a deep breath. "Actually, I was hoping that you would come to New Orleans and bring the others? Especially Jeremy?"
"Honey? What's wrong?"
"It's not safe for us to come to you," Caroline said. "And we need Jeremy's help."
Managed to forget to upload to here last week - sorry!
