The First Wielder

Prologue

PROLOGUE

Klaus is usually the last person you'd turn to when having a serious discussion. You don't really know if he's sober or not, just his high self talking or plainly just him.

However, if there was one thing he's good at, it's lounging with the dead.

The junkie's best ghost is his brother, Ben, who makes sure he makes the right decision. He's also the first ghost to get to experience the true feats of Klaus's power, especially since he started practicing it after they Hargreeves siblings stopped the apocalypse.

Yes, they stopped the apocalypse.

It was hard--very, very hard--but at least they did it. Now everyone's living their lives, finding a new purpose amidst all they've been through.

Like Klaus, for example, collapsed on his bedroom floor after Ben went overboard and hit him too hard.

And now here he is again, in the same black and white barbershop owned by his dear deceased father, Reginald Hargreeves.
  
  
"Nice to see you again, Papa." Klaus slurred, lazily waving his hand as he continued to move from his seat.

Reginald rolled his eyes and began shaving his beard. "I see you're getting a hand of your powers, Number Four."

"Ah yeah about that..." The son spun his head to follow his move-about father. "Why am I here, again?"

"That's because--" Klaus grabbed his son's head to stop moving and continue shaving "--your job's not yet done. I say it's just the beginning."

"Oh c'mon! Isn't being almost killed by your sister who actually as badass powers not enough?" Klaus wailed. But he does have a point.

"Number Four." Reginald gave him a stern look but sighed in defeat. He continued shaving his son's beard.

"I have one last mission for you and your siblings." He continued. "Well, you could say it's more of a death wish, a letter written for the sake of sanctuary."

"Ohhh, I didn't know you were into that," Klaus remarked. "You really weren't the thoughtful type."

"As I was saying," Reginald raised to let his son know he was being serious. "You will find that letter to mine above a brown briefcase below my bed, in a secret compartment to be specific."

Klaus scoffed. He stared at his father in confusion. "You're making no sense, dad. We're not in the real world where you can Google out the--wait...no, no, no...hey, I'm still talking here! Aaaaaand--"
 
  
"I'm back!" Klaus jolted from his temporary slumber, shocking the poor Ben.

"Jesus, Klaus!" Ben exclaimed as he flinched at his brother's sudden outburst. "Where'd you go?"

"I met the old man...again." Klaus sighed and stood up. "And now I have to be the responsible one and call my brothers and sisters."

"What did you talk about?" Ben questioned when they left Klaus's bedroom.

"Seems like we still have more unfinished business to do," Klaus grumbled.

He scoured high and low for all his siblings (technically he just barged into their rooms and in the kitchen and told them there was a family meeting). One by one, his brothers and sisters entered the living room with cold and questioning looks directed at Klaus.

"Why'd you call us here, Klaus?" Luther raised an eyebrow at the fidgeting junkie.

"And it better be worth the 'family meeting' you were talking about," Diego added as he relaxed in one of the sofas.