Chapter 9 – Figuring It Out
Niklaus grabbed a ziplock bag a stable hand had left in the stables and stuff the towel into it. Caroline just watched wondering what he was doing. Soon after Caroline and Niklaus were joined by the rest of the family including Elijah.
"What is this about, Niklaus?" Elijah asked as he walked up. "I don't want to leave our sister alone for very long."
"That's what I want to know and who is this sister you keep talking about?" Caroline muttered crossing her arms and glaring at Niklaus.
Elijah noticed Caroline for the first time. "Hello Miss Forbes. I apologize, I didn't see you.
"Hello Elijah." Caroline gave him a small smile. "It's quite alright. Now Klaus, please tell us what is going on."
"With pleasure love." Niklaus smirked. "I called Caroline here this morning because I thought she could help us with our little problem."
"How so?" Kol asked.
"What problem?" Caroline asked.
"I'll explain in a bit, love. Be patient." Niklaus smirked.
"I'm not the best at a patience, Nik-klaus." Caroline drawled out his name. "So make this quick."
Niklaus chucked, "Yes, love." He turned to Kol, "Well I thought why not go to someone who knows our sister better that we do?"
"What?!" Caroline butted in confused.
Niklaus ignored her and continued his explanation, "Turns out that she found a towel, with blood on it on the way here."
"And how is this important?" Elijah sighed.
"It had Elena's blood on it, well the scent was Elena's but it was mixed with something else. It was off somehow like it was mixed with blood from each of you." Caroline spoke up.
"Love, you are babbling." Niklaus smirked.
"Shut up." Caroline pouted.
"You found the towel from yesterday that we wrapped around her cut?" Sabrina spoke up, clarifying what was being said.
"Her who? Elena? Do you have Elena?" Caroline wanted to know.
Everyone ignored her. "What is the point of all of this?" Rebekah demanded.
"Well, Finn happened to enter the room and as soon as he smelt the blood on the towel the same thing happened to him as what happened to Kol."
"Finn has great control that just makes no sense." Sage spoke up.
"I don't remember anything happening," Finn said.
"Neither did I," Kol said deep in thought.
"Where is the towel now?" Sabrina asked.
Niklaus held up the bag. "Right here."
"I propose we do a test and see if her blood affects all of us or not." Elijah spoke up. "I don't want her put in danger."
"I had the same idea, which is why we are out here." Niklaus stated. He handed the bag to Caroline, "Now love, go to each of my family members and let them smell the blood. Let them smell it for a few minutes and then take it away.
Caroline looked at him like he was insane but did as he asked. One by one each one of them commented about how the blood smelled so good, as their eyes darkened and they vamped out. As soon as she moved the bag away they went back to normal not remembering what happened. The only one not to react was Niklaus, when she was done she handed the bag back to Niklaus, who made sure it was zipped tight.
"So, now we know that it affects all of us, except Niklaus." Sabrina mused, "but why?"
"Ach! I can't stand it." Caroline screamed. "Someone one tell me what is going on here!"
"Well, they kidnapped me, did some crazy ass ritual that made me their sister. Niklaus drew blood from me, and Kol tried to eat me."
Elena said carelessly from behind the group. Everyone jumped in surprise and turned to look at her.
"Elena! I'm so glad to see you!" Caroline shrieked, then what Elena said hit her. "Wait what?" She stared at the group incredulously.
"Nice summery, little sister." Elijah rolled his eyes. He walked over to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Are you okay? Did you sleep well?"
Elena looked up at him, "I'm fine, 'Lijah. Slept well, and my own information about this situation is lacking. So, that's all I have." She leaned into his embrace. "So what's going on here?"
"I called Caroline, since she knows you better than anyone and would have a fresh perspective, to see if she could help us."
Niklaus answered.
Elena smirked, "You just wanted to see her again, Nik."
"He just wanted to delay our shopping trip," Rebekah muttered.
"Sorry Bekka, We'll go soon." Elena smiled at her gently.
"Any way," Niklaus said. "On her way here she found the towel you dropped yesterday. Finn showed up right after she arrived and we discovered that he reacted to the blood on the towel the same way Kol did yesterday."
"Elena, they all did a weird vamp out to the blood on the towel, except for Klaus." Caroline couldn't stay quiet any more. "So, assuming you all did the exact same thing during the ritual, which one of you has done something different from the others? I'm assuming the ritual is why Elena's scent is off? Everyone's scent has changed a little, actually. Klaus' is stronger though, is that because of his wolf side?"
"Caroline!" Elena exclaimed, crossing her arms.
"Yes Elena?" Caroline said innocently.
Elena looked pointedly and Caroline stamped her foot. "Fine." Niklaus hid a smirk before Caroline could see it.
"Wait, she has a point." Sabrina said. Everyone looked at her. "It makes sense that everyone's scent has changed a bit, the ritual required blood exchanging. Your blood intermingled and changed your scent."
"Sounds plausible enough," Finn said.
"And I think Caroline is right, Klaus did something different, than we did." Sage said.
"Something with blood," Caroline said, "like he healed her." Everyone stared at her. "What?!"
She exclaimed. "I just figure that since his scent it stronger, and the scent was changed because of blood, then she must have had more of his blood in her system. Since he took her blood yesterday, I'm guessing about 4 bags, he healed her."
"She has accelerated healing now," Elijah said, "There's no need for him to heal her."
"No, she's right." Elena said. "I had a headache after I woke up after 'my little blood donation,' as Nik called it. He offered to make it go away faster."
"She couldn't get enough of my blood either." Nik said with a smirk. Elena glared at him.
"Perfect, now I have something to work with." Sabrina said. "It'll still take time, so no outings until we figure this out." Rebekah pouted, Elena groaned, and Sage glowered. Sabrina held up her hand, "But it would be faster if I had another witch to help."
"Great," Caroline spoke up excitedly, "We'll call Bonnie!"