A/N:

Hello everyone! I thoroughly hope you enjoyed the last chapter I posted. It was such a fun experience hearing all of your reactions. This chapter has some very important plot points, so pay attention! Enjoy.

~E

Chapter 47: Cartier and Crypt Robberies

Caroline POV

I watched as Matt chased Rebekah through the botanical gardens behind the plantation house. Rebekah's glowing blonde curls trailed behind her as she ran at human speed, and finally she let Matt catch her. It was sweet and innocent all at once, and I smiled as I watched Matt kiss Rebekah on the cheek. I was so happy to see Matt smiling again.

"I hope that I am not interrupting anything. You seem quite focused." Elijah's voice rang through my ears, and I turned to greet him with a pleasant smile.

"No, you're not interrupting a thing. I was just people watching. It's a curious habit of mine, I must admit. What's up?" I asked, and Elijah smiled. I realized than the Original vampire was probably unused to such informal conversation.

"I wanted to speak to you about my brother. I hope that this topic will not be too personal?" Elijah asked me, and I shook my head, causing my braided blonde curls to move.

"It's completely fine. What do you wish to discuss?" I sat down on one of the chairs that was scattered about the second floor lounge. Elijah joined me in the opposing seat, the fabric of his fashionably tailored suit folding with ease as he sat down.

"Over the years, Niklaus has been a solitarian. He has always been driven by the urges of revenge and murder. But ever since we arrived in your quaint town of Mystic Falls, my brother has lightened himself. He's opened himself up to love, and now he has fallen madly for you." Elijah explained his observations, and I replied with a small smile.

"I've noticed how relaxed he's become around me. He's learning to react respectively and calmly to his human instincts, and he's learned to open his heart. He's still a part of a beast in mindset, but over the last couple of months I've fallen in love with a wonderful and caring man. I just had to help him a bit."

"You've seem to have worked miracles on my brother, that is certain. I just wanted to make sure that you understand the undertaking of becoming a member of the Mikaelson family. The dangers are evident, Caroline, and I just wanted to know that you understand that. I wish that no harm comes to you." Elijah was speaking lowly now, as if he was trying to quiet our suddenly solemn conversation.

"May I ask what you mean? Joining the Mikaelson family spiel, to be specific." I was a bit confused about Elijah's sudden earnestness. Elijah looked at me for a moment, before shaking his head.

"It seems that I have crossed my boundaries, and you do not know that information of which I speak of. My apologies, Caroline. Please excuse my previous words of conversation." Elijah buttoned his suitcoat, and attempted to rise out of his chair before I stopped him.

"Elijah, spill." My words were simple and non-elegant, but Elijah took it as a strong command and sat down once more. He breathed a deep sigh, and looked at me before explaining the meaning of his earlier words.

"As you know, I am of the older generation, and technology is still a bit of a troublesome subject for me. Rebekah and Niklaus have wondrously adapted, but unfortunately I have some trouble. I acquired Niklaus's laptop yesterday for my own personal research, and I must say what I found pulled up in his browser was quite a revelation in my eyes. I do warn you, Caroline, that what I saw might upset or shock you. I truly believe that it is not my place to be giving you this information, but as you wish." Elijah seemed uncomfortable in the conversation we were having, but I pushed him to keep talking.

"What did you see, Elijah?"

"Niklaus was looking at engagement rings on the Cartier website, and I know for certain that he was peeping onto your Pinterest engagement board. A sneaky lout, my brother. But I beg of you Caroline that you keep this information privy to yourself. Niklaus wants this to be a surprise. Please." Elijah urged, and I duly shook my head with agreement. I believe that I was in a state of shock at that moment.

"Yes, of course. I'll keep the information to myself."

"Thank you, Caroline." Elijah kissed my cheek, a new gesture of trust from the Original brother, before rising from his seat.

"Hey, Elijah. Where do you store the blood bags here?" I asked suddenly, craving a drink. Whatever blood I had ingested at dinner instantly dwindling away.

"They're downstairs in the basement, next to the room with my family's coffins. There is a large freezer with B." Elijah informed me, and I thanked him before he headed down the staircase and out the front door.

I realized that Klaus had been poking around last night to see if I was ready; if I was committed enough. I surely loved Klaus with all my heart, but marriage at 19 seemed a little extreme, even if I was an ageless vampire. All I knew is at that moment I need a literally bloody Mary. With extra vodka, and extra blood.

I had never journeyed into the basement of the plantation house, but it was as dark and as dim as I had expected it to be. The Salvatore Boarding House's basement was about the same, so I just went with it. I was craving a cocktail, and the freezer that Elijah had mentioned was becoming hard to find.

I looked into one of the sub-rooms of the basement, and came face to face with one thing that I hoped to never encounter. Klaus's familial coffins were splayed across the room on shelves, each with a blazing plate of who the belonged to. There was also an urn propped gently on a marble pedestal, which I immediately assumed held the ashes of the flirtatious and psychotic Kol Mikaelson. I had always found him annoying and sarcastic, but his death had impacted Klaus tremendously. Even if he had been an asshole, he had still been Klaus's family.

My eyes trailed across the room, and I noticed a coffin that held a bit more grandeur than the rest. The plate glistened with Klaus's name, and I couldn't help but trace the curved script. I hoped that the Mikaelson's never had to use these awful things again.

But my attention to the coffin was soon drawn away by the sound of footsteps on the floor of the basement. I was supposed to be the only one down here, so I immediately went on guard. I watched as a shadow approached the doorway, and I wasn't surprised when Aurelia entered the crypt.

"Of course. You had to be down here. The Original Hybrid's slut, here to ruin my mission." Aurelia spoke through a seething grin.

"I knew you were a traitor the first time I laid eyes on your crappily dyed hair. What are you doing, Aurelia?" I approached her, but she simply snarled.

"The name is Pearl, not Aurelia. And I am here to make sure that you, and the Mikaelson's, and that werewolf whore are destroyed. Marcel Gerard is the rightful leader of New Orleans. So move out of my way, bitch." Aurelia/Pearl lunged to pass me, but I tried to attack. But as always, she did the witchy-vampire ear ringing thingy.

"Sit scriptor vampire aures eius ad circulum consociato peccata." The words of the spell spilled from her mouth like a serpent's tongue. Instantly I dropped to the floor, the pain filling my head unbearable. I was paralyzed, so I did the one thing that I could in that moment. I screamed at the top of my lungs.

"KLAUS!" I cried, knowing that he would hear me.

"Oh shut up, you slut." Pearl snapped, and turned her attention to the urn sitting on the pedestal.

"I have succeeded." Pearl muttered before snatching the cremated remains. I had no earthly idea why she wanted Kol's ashes, but she clutched them to her chest like a mother holding her child.

"Cinis mittebam peccatoris mutant ius regis qui imperaturus est iterum divulgetur imperium. Et educ me ventum est locus ubi sum ego allegiant." She chanted, and with that, she was gone. The ringing left my ears, but I still laid curled on the floor. The pain turned to a dull ache, and soon I heard Klaus screaming my name.

"Caroline!" Klaus found me curled in a ball, with my hands still clasped over my ears. Gently he pulled me to his chest, cradling me.

"What happened, love?" He asked me, and I barely made out the words.

"Aurelia attacked me, and she took Kol's ashes. Klaus, I don't what just really happened, but I know that Marcel means war."

Klaus tried to comfort me, but he muttered something in my ear as he did.

"I know, love. I know."

A/N:

So I hope that wasn't totally terrible. Hope you enjoyed! And remember to keep following, favoriting, and especially reviewing! I love hearing feedback.

~E