Chapter 16 – The Mystery Deepens
Finn and Sage arrived back at the house with Elena where they found Kol, Sabrina, and Rebekah waiting for them. Kol had cleaned up after grabbing some blood and was now resting with Sabrina on the couch. Sabrina looked exhausted, though Finn figured she looked better than she had before. Kol of course looked none the worse after being attacked, he was lounging, stretched out on the couch. Sabrina was stretched out with him, her head resting on his chest, Kol was playing with her hair and she was fast asleep.
"Elena!" Rebekah exclaimed, as Finn and Sage entered the house with Elena.
"Bekah, could you fix a bath for our sister? I believe she'd like to clean up." Finn said softly not wanting to wake Sabrina up.
"Yes, please." Elena said just as softly from Finn's arms.
"Sage, can you help me?" Rebekah asked. Sage agreed and the two left the room. Finn noted that his wife and sister seemed to be getting along better than they ever have.
Elena broke into his thoughts. "I can walk now brother," She told him firmly.
Finn frowned, but set her on her feet. Elena grabbed his arm to support herself as she felt a bit wobbly. Finn smirked at her and Elena frowned back.
"I just need to move a bit," she said. "Im just a bit shaky. It won't last long."
"I know, little sister." Finn told her, still smirking. Elena glared at him, she hated feeling weak.
"Kol, are you okay?" She asked concerned. "What happened to Sabrina?"
"I'm fine love, and Sabrina just used too much magic today. She'll be good as new with some rest." Kol told her gently. "Sabrina is the reason our sibling found you and me."
Elena nodded, feeling a little guilty that Sabrina was exhausted because she was looking for them. Sabrina shifted slightly and Elena not wanting to wake her told Finn she thought it would be a good idea to go on upstairs. Finn agreed and assisted her up the stairs.
Niklaus and Elijah had gone back to the site of the cave in there they met Alaric and Meredith. "Hello Alaric, Meredith. What are you doing here?" Elijah asked.
"Alaric wanted to take me out to relax after yesterday. We went hiking and came across this. What are you doing here?"
"Our brother was nearby when it happened, we wanted to check it out." Niklaus replied carefully wording his answer. He was suspicious at Alaric and Meredith's sudden appearance.
"Don't tell them Elena was caught in the cave in." Niklaus thought to Elijah. Elijah agreed, it did seem like too much of a coincidence that they were in the area.
Meredith nodded, "I wonder what caused it?"
"We were wonder the same thing. That's why we are here." Elijah told her.
Niklaus walked towards the cave in, walking along the edges. "Has there been a lot of rain this year?"
"A fair bit. More than usual." Meredith replied.
Niklaus dropped down into the tunnel, "Well it just appears that the ground gave way due to the weather, the ground's soft." He walked a little ways deeper in the tunnels. "Elijah we're right near the cavern we drew our history." He thought telepathically to his brother.
"Coincidence?" Elijah thought back.
"Maybe, the ground is soft but I don't know." He thought back, out loud he called out. "I'm going to explore the tunnels a bit and see if this is the only place that it happened. I believe Rebekah mentioned that Elena had been down here, i want to make sure nothing like this will happen with her or her friends in it."
"What was Elena doing in the tunnels?" Elijah asked.
"Mason Lockwood brought Damon up here." Alaric explained. "Found some pictures your siblings carved. I think Rebekah said her and Klaus carved them."
Elijah nodded, "Anything new on the murder front?" Alaric and Meredith shifted uncomfortably. Elijah noticed and narrowed his eyes, "What is it you aren't telling me?" He asked them coldly.
Meredith sighed. "That paper you found that cleared Alaric? It's a fake. I forged it to get Alaric out of jail."
"You put him in jail." Elijah stated. "Why forge something to get him out."
"I told you I think it's the ring, it'll do no good having Alaric in jail but I needed to catch everyone's attention." Meredith replied.
Elijah nodded solemnly, "I've been reading the journal I got from you yesterday. I think you may be on to something. Come over to the Mansion, I know Elena wanted to see you today Alaric, and we can talk more there."
Alaric nodded, "Sure, but I want the Salvatores there."
Elijah nodded, "They're welcome. I'll get Klaus and meet you at the Mansion, in say an hour?"
"Sounds good." Alaric said. He and Meredith started back towards the Falls while Elijah jumped down into the tunnels. Elijah found Niklaus at the entry way to the cavern they had carved the pictures in.
"Klaus?" Elijah asked, coming up behind him.
"Tell me you see what I see."
Elijah looked at his brother in concern, Niklaus sounded like he was in shock. "What do you mean, brother?"
"This clearly shows a second white oak tree correct?"
Elijah looked and paled. "Well, that's not good. Where is it?"
Niklaus shook his head. "I have no idea."
"We better find out." Niklaus nodded. Elijah sighed. "In the meantime we need to get back to the house. Alaric and the Salvatores are coming over and I'd like to give everyone a heads up."
"She's not ready for this, Elijah." Niklaus stated harshly.
"I know, then again we both know she would put this off as long as she could. It couldn't be helped. Alaric was insistent that they come with him, and you know Elena wanted to see Alaric after he was arrested yesterday and there's more..."
Niklaus frowned, "What do you mean there is more?"
"Alaric might not be innocent."
"Then why are we letting him near our sister?" Niklaus asked angrily.
Elijah sighed. "For a number of reason. Because we need his signature, because she will hate us if we keep her from seeing him, because if it's true about the ring it might mean the same fate awaits her brother."
"Wait, what's this about a ring? The one Jeremy has?"
"The theory is that the Gilbert Family ring has caused Alaric to go crazy."
"Which means we need to find it out now before the same thing can happen to Jeremy."
Elijah nodded, "Exactly. We need to get back and inform the others before everyone shows up."
"Right, tell Finn now, I'll call Caroline and have her and Bonnie come over too." Niklaus ordered tersely.
Elijah didn't argue with Niklaus, doing as he asked. After informing Finn of their soon to be visitors and that the entire family needed to be present and promising he would explain more in depth when he arrived home Elijah and Niklaus left the tunnels. Once above the tunnels Niklaus called Caroline telling that she and Bonnie needed to come to the mansion because Elena was going to need their support when the Salvatores came over that afternoon. The two of them vamp sped home as soon as Niklaus had finished talking to Elena.