The Last Prince (Thiam/Teen Wolf AU)

Chapter 3

February 28, 1933

Northern German Countryside

As the train sped along the tracks, Theo looked across the passing land with amazement. He had never been on a train, or outside of Berlin for that matter, since he was brought here when he was 9. The four of them were able to secure a small suite to themselves, where they could be alone and speak freely. Part of Theo felt sad, for Berlin was the only home he'd ever had, and he knew he would probably never go back. He was also anxious, because he did not know what waited for him in Copenhagen. He would need to find a job, a place to live, and decide if and how he wanted to find his grandmother, if she was even still alive. There was a small part of him that was glad he wasn't doing this alone, but a part of him thought his new companions would leave him after getting his story.

"So, Theo," Stiles finally spoke up, breaking Theo from his trance, "Ready to start the interview?"

"Oh, yes, of course, though I do not think you will find my story very interesting," Theo said, turning his attention to the journalist, as he noticed that Lydia was fast asleep in her seat.

"I'll be the judge of that," Stiles said eagerly as he grabbed his notebook and pen, ready to write down anything that Theo said."So, Theo, have you lived in Berlin your whole life?"

Theo shook his head, having expected this to be the first question. "No, I have only lived there since I was nine," He answered, not giving up too much information. He realized that this probably made him an annoying interview subject, but if Stiles wanted something out of him, he would have to ask.

"Very interesting," Stiles replied, scribbling that down and then moving on, "So where did you live before Berlin then, and why did you leave?"

"I was adopted, by my parents at that age. Before that, I was an orphan in Russia," He answered. He did not like to think of his days in the orphanage, or in the Soviet Union for that matter. It was cruel and the head of the orphanage was ruthless. When he received word that he was leaving to be adopted, it was the best day of his life. He knew when he felt the warm embrace of his parents, that everything was going to be ok.

Stiles's eyes widened, and Theo could not realize if he said something right, or something wrong. Nudging Lydia until she was awake, Stiles wrote a few more things down and then continued, "You were in orphan in Russia? How did that happen? What happened to your family, if you don't mind talking about it."

Theo nodded, "It's fine. Truthfully, I don't mind talking about it, because I don't remember. They said I was found on the side of a road. Probably an orphan from the Revolution or the Great War. My first memory is being found by them and led to the orphanage. I wish it was more exciting than that, but I just don't remember. The nurses think I hit my head, and that caused the memory loss."

Moving closer, as if on the edge of her sight, Lydia displayed in an interest in Theo that she hadn't had before. "So you don't remember anything? At all?" She asked him, her demeanor was different than before, and Stiles only smiled.

"I mean, I remember somethings. I knew I was 8 when they found me, but I don't know my birthday. Sometimes I get flashes of splashing in a lake with other kids, siblings maybe, but their faces are long gone to me now," Theo explained. His memory was strange to him. "At this point, I don't know what is real and what is in my dreams. I figure if my life was interesting, I would remember." He said with a small laugh. He never really talked about this before, so he did not realize how upset this made him until now. He never realized how truly painful it was to know that he had a life and family that he can never remember. Part of him felt guilty for forgetting the family he now didn't know. "I do remember one thing that I know is from my old life. A lullaby, I think, but I don't know the words."