Aberration | ᵀʰᵉ ᴼʳⁱᵍⁱⁿᵃˡˢ/ᵀʷⁱˡⁱᵍʰᵗ ᶜʳᵒˢˢᵒᵛᵉʳ ⁽ᴱˡⁱʲᵃʰ ᴹⁱᵏᵉᵃˡˢᵒⁿ⁾ [4]

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙵𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚗; 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗

𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗

    "A man of words and not of deeds, is like a garden full of weeds. And when the weeds begin to crawl, it's like a bird upon the wall," Hope read out to her cousins, only two of them listening intently while the other three were playing with old toys. The tribrid continues, "And when the bird away does fly, it's like an eagle in the sky. And when the sky begins to roar, it's like a lion at the door. And when the door begins to crack... it's like a stick across your back. And when your back begins to smart, it's like a knife inside your heart. And when your heart begins to bleed, you're dead and dead and dead indeed."

    "Not exactly the most uplifting reading material." Both Sarah and Hope jumped at the sound of the original hybrid's voice not expecting him to be up in the attic.

    Sage defended, "It's an old book of rhymes."

    Looking around Hope adds, "There's a lot of weird stuff here."

    "You know, I'd rather you six didn't play here, actually." Klaus says looking around the old room. "All the splinters and the dust... and the bats." He whispered the last part, smiling at them.

     Sierra giggles, "There aren't any bats, Uncle Nikkie."

    A smirk dawned on his lips, playing off a false lie of comedy, "I've seen no evidence that your father doesn't sleep here, hanging upside down." Each and every child laughed that either loud or in pure silence barely wishing to emit a sound. They all laughed nonetheless which calmed his paranoid mind.

    Once the laughter died down, Hope looked at her father with a questioning stare, "Dad... was there a little boy who used to live here?"

    Clearing his throat, he hums out, "Come along, sweethearts. We can discuss ancient history another time."

    Holding out a hand, Hope takes it, lifting herself off of the ground, Sage following Hope. Sarah and Sierra instantly at his side. Salem too in turn stood waiting as Soren slid a toy into his pocket before leaving with his family.

[Time Skip]

    Sipping a mug filled with O-positive blood Rosalice flips through old family belongings that Hayley had transported. Klaus enters the room, his eyes landing on the two. "You're hosting a yard sale?" He asks, joking.

    Hayley shrugs her shoulders, "I just figured while we're stuck here, I may as well work out which stuff to keep and which to donate."

    Klaus leans against the couch, informing the two, "Listen I found the kids exploring the rubbish in the attic. They're restless."

    "They're not restless," Hayley says. "They're bored. Most kids their age would be at school. They'd have friends to play with."

    "Well, once Freya teaches Hope to hone her magic, she'll be powerful beyond measure. She won't need friends. She'll be worshiped." Klaus also adds, "And they have each other, isn't that enough?"

    "Family can only go far for kids." Rosalice murmurs. "They want to experience and meet new people." Tearing her eyes from the box towards sea-green eyes, she continues, breathing out, "I mean look at us, raised only around family we barely like new people."

    Klaus sighs heavily. Hayley thanks, "Thank you by the way. I know it's not in your nature to keep violence out of this house."

    "Well, we'll protect their innocence for as long as we can. You and I both know the importance of that. No one protected ours."