Chapter 4
Space Invaders
Klaus had always been able to appreciate the simple things mostly because they were hard to come by where he grew up. He had experienced these things the first time he went to boarding school. The smell of fresh linen when you get in bed, a soft pillow under your head, the quiet of a weekend morning just as the sun rises and you can have the peace of mind to simply turn your back on it and continue sleeping; simple things like these made all the difference to him and they still do.
Still, he had never slept in a bed as comfortable as he found himself in now. He had never experience such soft pillows, as if sleeping on clouds adrift in his world of dreams they carried him along. For a blissful moment he felt free of his worries. So it was a surprise to him when he woke up back in the orphanage.
A frown on his face deepened while he tried to hold onto his dream. But, incessant and urgent hands were shaking him awake. In the background he could hear the familiar clamour he always hated. The sound of someone running down the hall, a care taker shouting at some hapless child that had done something wrong and as always somewhere a toddler was balling their eyes out. It was the chaos of the everyday orphanage.
All the unpleasantness and hate at the place evaporated as soon as he opened his eyes and saw what felt like a familiar face. It was a feeling that was hard for him to describe. Macy; the one who had been shaking him sat smiling brightly while he looked at her through droopy and tired eyes, but somewhere in his mind he felt like it was not Macy. Macy had short bob auburn hair that used to stand in all directions no matter how many times Klaus tried to comb it, this Macy’s hair was a dark red and nearly reached her lower back. The Macy he knew was also younger and did not look like a teenager.
Klaus looked at his hands and noticed they were too big for this memory to fit, but his brain was soon cut off from such thoughts. ‘All that matters is that she is my Macy, my greatest friend.’ He found himself thinking and smiled brightly and the girl across from him.
“It’s about time you woke up, you are always like this; so lazy.” She said before pouting and crossing her arms.
Klaus, feeling embarrassed at his tardiness rubbed at his hair. ‘Wait, when had I ever been lazy in my life?’
The thought like his other suspicions were swept away in a wave of good feelings.
“You have to get ready. Mr Peters wants us to go beg for some money.” Macy said before disappearing through the door that led into the room.
The familiar room with its ten beds was suddenly plunged into an oppressive grey world as Klaus sat struggling to breathe out of fear. ‘Mr Peters, he should be in prison!’ His thoughts were in a jumbled mess. He felt like he was going crazy and had just woken up in his worst nightmare.
“Hey! Dumb Klaus why are you just sitting there like an idiot? We need to go. Macy and I want to finish quickly so we can go on that date. She promised we would try a new position tonight.” An obnoxious voice interrupted Klaus’ mild panic attack.
He looked up at the grinning face. It was a face Klaus would never forget. ‘He was the one that drove the car. The person that confessed to being the organizer and one of the perpetrators in the shooting.’ Anger flooded Klaus like never before. ‘If there is someone I would not feel guilty about killing, this is him.’
The guy was grinning at him, showing off a row of gold plated teeth. He had a tattoo of a teardrop under one eye and in his neck a tattoo of a coffin with a smiley face. It was done in such an amateur way that it was almost laughable, but Klaus would never forget that tattoo. That face with its constant sneer. The dirty and oily brown shoulder length hair.
Klaus, started to laugh like he was demented. He got up, not caring that he was in just his jockey underpants. He pointed at the man feeling the anger in him boil and revelling in it. He had always held back his anger, controlled it like any civilized person would. Not now. Not with this man that had been the object of his sheer unbridled hate since that day.
“I am going to kill you.” It was a simple statement, said in a way one might say it was a sunny day, but the look in Klaus’ eyes explained far more than any words ever could.
The same wave of good feelings came from nowhere to wash away his thoughts, but compared to Klaus’ feelings of hate they were like a drop in the Nile River.
The sneering face changed into one of fear and Klaus loved it. Klaus started running, already imagining his hands locked around the bastard’s neck or beating his face to the point where his own fists turned into bloody stumps.
The face started to become vague as if it was hidden behind a mirage. The dirty hair became long and red. The tattoos faded and he heard a female cry of alarm, but his mind did not register it. His mind was set and he was blinded by an all-consuming rage.
Memories of the past crashed into his mind. Everything fell back into place, still he kept running. Ignoring it all he wanted to destroy, to maim, to kill.
The small distance started to elongate. His limbs became heavy and it felt to him like he was running through syrup. Still he kept going. Even if he had to crawl he would reach his enemy.
Suddenly the room was gone. Klaus eyes shot open and all he could register was that there was someone near him. With an angry shout he lunged, feeling strength course through him like never before. His hand grabbed a dainty neck and pushed up and forwards. Whoever he grabbed let out a scream which soon turned into a strangled gurgle.
Their headlong rush came to a halt when the person he held crashed into a window, causing cracks to spread from the point of impact and snake their way to the edges of it.
Elise had wondered about the boy that her aunt brought back to their house after disappearing for eighteen years. Since she could remember the other members of the family had spoken of her with reverence. They saw her as a true genius and being one of the youngest elders in the history of their family; it proved them right. Only reaching a certain level of strength and competence could lead to someone becoming an elder. So yes, she was curious. She wanted to know what kind of person could keep her aunt away from her family for so long. Keep her aunt away from her who was heralded as another genius. She could have learned a lot from Lilith if the woman was present so not only was she curious, she also felt a bit resentful.
She wanted to see what was so special about him that even her twin sister would care for him. Clarissa had never awoken like Elise did. It made the girl sad and proud at the same time. She had read that twins were usually inseparable, but because of the secrets she had to keep the two of them quickly grew apart. It came as a surprise to her when her sister returned from school a day earlier with the most dejected face she had ever seen her wear.
When asked, Clarissa became a mess in nearly an instant. She explained how she had wronged a boy and how it had all turned out. Elise did not understand. She was not treated and did not receive the same upbringing as Clarissa. They went to different schools, were taught different things. Elise was prepared to head into and tackle the Secret Worlds, while Clarissa was taught to take over the family business.
She saw nothing wrong with what Clarissa did. Being deceitful and having power struggles which sometimes led to the bodily harm of others was the norm at her school where all the awakened went. It was all in preparation for the future; For the thing that drove most of the families, the Secret worlds. During all this preparation not once are they told more than the bare minimum of what they are preparing for. It’s frustrating and aggravating, but it is forbidden. Not by the families or any other power. No, the Secret Worlds forbid it.
So she snuck into his room and slipped into his dreams. She was surprised at first. His dreams were filled with sadness. There were some good ones, but they never lasted long. It always turned into a nightmare in the end. Just watching the dreams soon grew tedious and she wanted to learn more before time ran out so she started to fiddle with them. Her aunt Boeithia had taught her how, but strictly warned her about the dangers of messing around in the dreams of others.
If they were to get hurt or die in the dream, the invader’s brain would interpret it as real and she could fall into a coma or worse if that were to happen. Things had soon gone terribly wrong. She did not know how, but every time she tried to force her way into a memory it would just add on to the one she had first accessed. The nightmares and memories came to the fore and the whole thing spun out of control until she tried to take on the one thing that had caused Klaus the most trauma.
Her aunt told her that this was the last resort if you wanted to subdue someone. They would usually freeze up and cower in fear. What she did not expect was the rage that suddenly grew to encompass every fibre of the boy’s being. She had never felt so much malice or hate directed at one thing. He had nearly gotten her and judging by the images she saw he would have surely killed her, but escaping his dreams was not enough.
Now she found herself pressed against a cracking window, which they were guaranteed to be bulletproof in case someone tried to assassinate one of the Lacroix. She had awakened when she was fourteen even gaining a bloodline stigmata tattoo, granted her families’ speciality was in that of manipulating the minds of others, but she still should have been able to easily overpower the boy who had not yet awakened to his own bloodline.
The blow against the window had knocked her senseless and if she were a normal human she would most definitely be dead. She was still trying to fight, but his arm was like a pillar of steel holding her place. All she managed were long bloody scratches as her nails dug into the skin on his arm. His face did not show any reaction to the pain she must have been causing, in fact his eyes held no emotion as he held her there. They were vacant and reliving the same taboo she had thrust him into.
His other hand started to form a fist and her panic grew. She swallowed her pride and projected one thought to every nook and cranny of the building. ‘Help.’ They were on the forty-third floor. If he punched her with his monstrous strength, the window would break and awakened or not, she would definitely die.
Clairmont and Lilith opened the door, both of them reacted at the same time their speed making it seem as if they had disappeared from the entrance to the room only to appear next to the two a half second later. To Lilith’s horror she saw Clairmont draw a dagger at his side, aiming to lop Klaus’ hand off.
Her hand snaked out grabbing his wrist. The old man’s focused gaze turned to one of surprise as Lilith swung him to the side and right through the wall next to the bed Klaus had been sleeping on. She then grabbed Klaus’s arm and pulled back lightly, the small amount of her strength she exerted was enough to relieve the pressure from Elise and she fell sputtering and coughing to the ground.
Lilith’s other hand went to rest on his forehead and her gaze which had been calm turned to one of anger in an instant. Klaus’ eyes got life in them again and he looked around confused. Lilith did not need to read his mind to know his emotions. To her, he was as easy to read as a book. She knew him better than the back of her hand.
She watched as he went from confusion to horror at what he had nearly done. It finally settled on anger when he looked at Elise. If she wanted she could have erased what her stupid niece had done from his memory, but such a thing was never safe and she did not want to betray him even more than she already had.
He looked at her then at Elise and finally down at himself. To his surprise, his broken arm was healed and he generally felt better than he had in ages except for his left arm, which now looked like it had been mauled by some kind of large cat. There was also an issue with what he had been wearing. Another lady came through the door.
Klaus looked down at the underpants, which so happened to be all he had on and then at everyone in the room. He decided not to care and just sat down on the corner of the bed. He was angry, livid even. ‘I would like to leave all these people behind and just go to the internship. I would like to storm out and tell them all go to hell, but I need answers. People want to kill me and I have no idea where my bags are.’ He sighed, his body shuddering while he did as he let the anger sink deep inside. ‘But, as soon as I get a chance I am out of here.’ The last part he said while looking directly at Lilith.
Boeithia looked at the half naked boy, then her pride and joy still coughing on the ground and finally at the wall which now had a hole in it. Clairmont stood on the other side dishevelled and full of dust, but breathing like nothing had happened, it was what surprised her more than anything else. The butler had been with them since she was a little girl and that is a very, very long time ago. Granted, Clairmont had stopped going into the Secret Worlds a long time ago, but still he should be able to easily overpower most of the people in the Dalmora family, herself included. Lilith was obviously hiding something from her.
When she looked back at the boy he was looking at her too. In his gaze she could see the controlled anger he was holding back. He was sizing her up the way she was now doing to him. She found his control of himself impressive.
He looked at her stance, the way she carried herself and then with an almost imperceptible shake of his head- she saw him dismiss her. He did not dismiss her to not being a threat. It was the opposite. She could tell he thought she was. He had dismissed her because he saw in her what he had seen so many times when they had to beg.
It’s not pity, anger or even disgust. No, it’s something far worse- apathy.
She was taller than Lilith, almost as tall as Klaus himself. He figure was less curvy as a result, but her legs had always drawn the attention of men.She also knew that she was attractive and was proud of that. Where Lilith had light hair she had dark brown which had a red tinge whenever the sun shone on it. Not that she wanted to draw the boy’s attention, but being dismissed at face value rankled her feathers.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Lilith had explained where she had been and what she had been doing. Boeithia was still not happy with her, but since they shared the same status she could do nothing, she would have to wait for her great aunt to return, which just so happened to be that evening.
It was also the boy’s birthday and judging by what just happened he was definitely going to awaken. The problem was. Lilith had advocated that they protect the boy because he would prove to be a great ally when Elise entered the Secret World. Now, Elise’s little blunder could have the possible ally turn into an enemy. If he had the strength to subdue her without awakening… the boy would have to die.
‘It is truly unfortunate. It is still too early to decide so for now I will just watch and see how he reacts.’ Thought Boeithia.
Everyone’s attention was drawn to the butler when he climbed back into the room through the hole Lilith had made with his body. An awkward silence descended on them as he walked up to Elise and held out his hand. She took it gratefully and stood up, rubbing at her neck and taking deep breaths.
Looking up she saw two blue orbs staring at her. The owner of the mentioned eyes tilted his head ever so slightly. She could feel he was angry his jaw was set and eyebrows slightly furrowed. ‘What does he want, he nearly killed me.’
As if he could read her thoughts he snorted and shook his head. “You should be, Elise? Clarissa had a lot of good things to say about you. Never thought you would be into mind raping strangers though. I guess the two of you are more alike than she thought.”
Boeithia’s eyebrow rose at this. Lilith had never given her that bit of information “Boy, you know Clarissa?”
Elise broke eye contact with him first and Klaus nodded, but his eyes never left Elise. It irritated Boeithia who had always commanded respect in the family. She swallowed down her irritation. It would not do to debase herself and get angry.
Elise, who had been playing mind games with people since she could remember berated herself. Breaking eye contact first was a sign of weakness, but he was half naked! ‘If he could just get dressed, does he have no shame?’
Lilith placed her hand on Klaus’ shoulder, surprising everyone. Her voice was barely controlled when she said. “I apologize to you Klaus; this is the second time I have failed to do what I said.”
He shook his head and gave her a small smile. “It is fine, you cannot control the actions of others.” He stopped halfway, his smile broadening. “Actually you can, but you know what I mean, family and all. Just keep that monster away from me and I will be fine.”
“Monster! Who are you calling a monster?” Elise was outraged, what kind of attitude was that towards the people that were helping him.
He unflinchingly replied back. “You, you who came into a room that I assume was allocated to me by your family after I was promised safety by your aunt, whom as I understand it is someone with authority in the household. Not only did you break her word, but also proved your family to be untrustworthy.” She wanted to object, looking to Boeithia for help, but there was none forthcoming.
Boeithia was once more surprised by the boy. Not only had he completely overpowered Elise physically, in her opinion, Klaus was manipulating her by staying in his underwear, which clearly threw her off of her game. What he said could not be refuted, her charge had shamed herself. She would have liked to read his mind, but Lilith would be able to pick up on it immediately and she did not feel like she was in a powerful enough position to open that can of worms.
Klaus sighed. “Can I be left alone and at least get dressed? Where are my things anyway?”
Lilith chuckled at that. Knowing how her family thought; they probably assumed he was doing it on purpose. “I threw out your old clothes.” She placed her finger on Klaus’ lips. “They were rags and I bought you new ones. They are in the walk-in closet through the bathroom. I have also taken it upon myself to arrange an appointment at the barber so we can cut that rug on your head.”
Klaus, for his part did not know how to feel about all of it. On the one side, his individualistic self was rebelling against the idea of someone doing these things. He felt mildly offended, but at the same time no one had ever shown such care towards him and it made him feel good. Lilith understood this to a degree. She knew he needed to parse through his feelings and come to terms with what happened today and yesterday so she gestured towards the door and everyone started to leave. As soon as Lilith’s face was turned away from Klaus the smile disappeared and her eyes focused on the back of Elise’s head. ‘We are going to have a little chat.’ She sent into the girl’s and Boeithia’s minds.
Elise nearly tripped and fell when she felt the anger in those words. Talking through your mind was not as simple as just conveying words. People don’t think in words, but images and feelings. If proficient enough only the meaning is conveyed, but even the most proficient people sometimes leaked their intent along with it.
All the awakened had some ability with the skill. Most used it during fights; incapacitating their foes by emitting their wills over others. This was known as killing intent. They also used it if they wished to converse confidentially. Reading minds was an altogether different ballgame. The reader carried significant risk. If someone proficient at imposing their will on others noticed they would be able to dominate the person trying to do so.
The Dalmora had a natural defence against such backlash. Not only this, but as soon as they awakened they could use their will as naturally as using a limb, they just needed to practice. Others took years to learn and often had to go through difficult experiences to hone their will.
After the door closed behind the people that invaded his life, mind and personal space, Klaus let out a long breath. It had taken everything in him not to lash out more strongly against Elise; Her similar looks to Clarissa and the fact that Lilith seemed like she wanted to help him were the things that held him back. That and he had nowhere else to go. He felt that if he left he would probably be killed within the first day.
Still, he felt determined. ‘Never again; I will never be in this situation ever again.’
With that thought taking root in his mind, he made his way to the bathroom after taking a look see through the hole in the wall. It led to a room similar to the one he was in. ‘I must be in some sort of guest wing.’
The room he slept in was large. Now that he was alone, he felt more comfortable and started to look around the place. The room he was in had a dark, but rich tone to it. The walls were painted a warm brown colour. In the corner of the room closest to the windows was a modern looking cream chair that broke the dark tone, it reminded Klaus of the chair he used to lay on when going to the psychiatrist. Next to it from floor to ceiling was a large book case. Klaus found that landscape paintings were arranged all over the walls. Looking closer, Klaus found them all to be landscapes of a fantasy nature. Animals he had never heard of or seen before were in them as well as strange things like glowing trees and floating mountains.
His favourite one was small and rather simple. It elicited a feeling of freedom inside him. It was of a simple house, but the house seemed to be drifting on a cloud in the middle of a valley. Around the house were others of the same nature, but the painter had placed this one in the centre and it instantly drew in your attention. He looked at the painter’s signature, but there was not one. Intead on the frame of the painting stood a small description. “The hidden valley. Done by Morgose Dalmora, 1647.” He took a sudden step back. It was now the year two thousand and twenty six. It was old. The painting to him was truly beautiful. Klaus felt he could stare at it all day, but it seemed to him that Lilith had other plans.
Walking past the biggest bed he had ever seen; the one he had slept in. He went into the bathroom to shower. What he found left him unsettled. The shower looked like something out of a science fiction movie to him. It not only had the shower head above, but there were multitudes of them placed all over the place. On the sides, along the bottoms and in the corners- all pointed towards the centre. ‘It’s true what they say. Everyone thinks they are smart until they visit someone and need to use the shower.’
He could see no way of setting the heat or turning it on for that matter. Standing there naked with his hands on his hips, he had never felt so stupid. He stepped in and nearly slipped when he jumped; a disembodied voice had broken the silence. “Good day and welcome, sir.”
‘How did it know I am a man!’
“Please note, personalized settings have not been set, would you like to do so now?” The voice cared little for the frown on his face and his racing heart.
He just stood there with his head tilted, hoping the voice would elaborate some more and feeling like an invalid. It was silent for what must have been ten seconds and he got another fright when the voice spoke once more. “Please speak up!”
“Ummm, yes?” His answer was more a question.
“Would Sir like the full cleansing experience or just the normal, mundane every day one?”
‘How does this thing know my gender and why does it feel like it is mocking me?’ He was not given the time to process as the thing once more chimed in.
“Please speak up.”
“Normal shower, I want a normal shower.” He said almost apologetically.
“Are you sure?” The voice made him feel like it was looking down on him.
“To hell with it, give me the full experience. I want it all.” Klaus felt relieved, but it soon turned into apprehension when the whole shower started to make a strange noise. For a moment he thought he was going to take off into space.
The glass that was transparent turned dark. A large female face appeared and he jumped back smacking his back against a protruding nozzle. “Happy, happy shower time!” Said the face in heavily accented English. Music started to boom and an upbeat song started to play.
The camera zoomed out and he could now see the lady standing in a costume. She lifted her arms in what must have been the best cheerleader imitation he had ever seen. “Ready, Okay- Its happy, happy shower time.”
The spouts started spraying him down from all directions, the unexpectedness of it blinding him. It stopped two seconds later along with the music and the disembodied voice spoke once more. “Please follow the movements of the avatar.”
Half horrified and half curious he lifted his arms. The water started once more as well as the music. The woman dabbed and he dabbed. Liquid soap hit his side before foaming up like shaving cream. Following the woman he dabbed to the other side and the opposite side got hosed this time.
‘This is ridiculous.’
“Touch your hips, move your feet and bob to the beat.” Sang the woman doing the strange dance he had to follow.
A few moves later. “We are almost done, it’s time for the final fun!”
‘Thank God!’
He squatted, not noticing the large nozzle appearing at the bottom, right in the middle of the shower.
“Deep cleanse!” A torrent of pressurised water sprayed out.
Klaus started with a shout of alarm, which turned into a whimper and then it was over.
Holding onto the side of the shower, Klaus nearly swore when it said. “Please come again.”
Finally dressed and feeling violated Klaus made his way out of the bathroom only to see Lilith laying on the chair and reading a book. Her legs were stretched out and crossed in front her. The sun caught her hair through the window, making the silver strands seem like a halo. She had a blue summers dress on which came to just above her knees.
Klaus ignored the knowing smile beaming at him as his face turned red with embarrassment.
Upon looking closer he saw she had a red glow to her own cheeks and her hair was damp. Reading his thoughts, it was her turn to look away.
“They installed the new showers earlier this year.” She said in her defence.
He could not help himself and asked. “Was it short and sweet?”
Her eyes narrowed dangerously at him.
Klaus nodded sagely. “We will never speak of this again.”
“Agreed. Now, let’s get that mop on your head sorted out.” She said, gesturing at his hair.
They exited the room and stepped into a long hallway. He followed her as they made a myriad of twists and turns until they finally reached an elevator. They entered it and she pressed the button marked with “thirty”.
Klaus saw that the numbers went up to sixty. “Do all the floors belong to just the Lacroix?”
She shook her head, before explaining. “No, we inhabit all the floors from thirty one and up. The rest is actually a hotel.”
The elevator dinged and opened to what looked like a mall. People of all shapes and colours were walking among the shops. By how they were dressed and what he knew as the highest priced brand named shops around, Klaus did not need to be a savant to know the people were rich.
Lilith, seeing him gawk like a child that went to the zoo for the first time took his hand and started to lead him through the people. They made an odd pair and drew the attention of others. His dark black hair contrasted with her blonde silver. He was taller than the average Joe and also built so it also stood out against her petite yet curvy frame.
Lilith smiled at the attention they were getting, but Klaus felt incredibly uncomfortable when he noticed the attention. They soon reached the barber shop. There was a long line of people waiting outside and one man was complaining while gesturing at the empty shop. The barber just stood there stoically taking the abuse.
“Like I told you, Sir- The shop has been reserved at this time and I cannot help you now.” Upon seeing Lilith the barber stepped forward. “Lady Lacroix, it has been a while. Welcome to my humble shop.”
Klaus nearly fell on his back. ‘He calls this humble?’
At hearing who she was the man making a fuss stood back and soon disappeared into the crowd. “I am happy to see you too Jiles, I hope our tardiness did not cause you any grievance?”
The grey haired man smiled brightly. His thick bar moustache and heavy set figure reminded Klaus of a walrus.
“Will you be having your hair cut, or will my victim be the gentleman behind you?” The man looked almost pained as he looked at Lilith’s hair.
Klaus did not like the word ‘victim’ in that sentence.
“No, I made the appointment for Mr Roth.”
Klaus reached out and offered his hand. Jiles, glanced at Klaus’ hand for a moment before realizing what it was for and quickly took and shook it firmly. He was not used to his customers doing that. They were usually too lost in their own importance like the man before.
What followed was supposed to be Klaus’ opportunity to choose the style he wanted to cut his hair in, but Lilith took over as soon as it started. Reading his mind, Lilith knew that he was just about to say. “Just cut it shorter.” So, she felt obligated to intervene.
Klaus was then subjected to all kinds of hair treatments and a head and neck massage, before the man finally decided to start cutting. During this his fingernails were also trimmed. When the whole ordeal was done a mirror was presented to Klaus.
He barely recognized himself. The long hair that covered most of his forehead and ears were gone. The sides were cut short, but his hair on top still had some length to it. It was simply combed to the side and back. He found that he liked it. What mattered most to him was that it was easy and simple to maintain. He would not have to stand hours like some of the guys did at the boarding school while adding all kinds of hair products. He had always thought it a huge waste of time.
Lilith smiled, knowing he liked it. To her this was far more than just dolling him up. She was trying to make up for everything he had gone through. She knew it was stupid and she could never do that, but it still made her feel better seeing Klaus’ usually serious face go through so many happy emotions.
She wanted to intervene so many times, but the laws were absolute. Once someone from the families entered the mortal world- in this case, as soon as she dropped him at the orphanage. They would no longer be able to interfere in their lives. If they did the Secret Worlds would kill them. It is why She was instructed to do so. When you entered the first one a brand would be placed on your soul. It held you in line. No one knows who made the laws, but they were present on every world and each world had its own unique rules.
The “Normals” like the one they were on at the time was clearly catered to protect mortals.
The Roth, were not like the Dalmora that took care of their own people. They had a survival of the fittest philosophy and Klaus’ father had also gone against their wishes. Getting mixed up with an unknown woman and having a child. There were many times that she wondered if they were not the ones that killed his father and tried to kill him recently now that he was soon awakening.
Despite all this, Klaus was still a Roth. If he proved his worth and strength in the Secret Worlds they would recognize him and he would receive the benefits that came from that.
Klaus’ voice broke her out of her troubling thoughts. He had a small smile which caused her great pleasure to see. “Now, we need to get you a suit.”
“I already have a closet full of new clothes.” He protested, he did not want to know how much money was already spent on him. It made him uncomfortable.
She looked him up and down. He had dark blue jeans on and a plain black buttoned up short sleeved shirt and black sneakers on his feet. The shirt fit him snugly and showed off his toned body which had formed naturally from playing as many sports as he could. She knew the main reason he did so was so that he could feel like he was part of something, if only for a moment. What he excelled at the most was fencing and it would serve him well in what was coming. The school he was in did not have just the traditional fencing, but also offered classes in traditional combat. The use of heavier swords and bows included.
He had tried the bow, but was terrible at it for some reason like a dancer with two left feet his hands seemed awkward and ungainly when holding the bow compared to the sword.
They had just stepped out of the shop and turned to walk towards the tailor when a voice behind them made Lilith stop in her tracks. “Lilith.”
The tone sounded neutral to Klaus, but Lilith’s reaction was like a hare frozen in fear. “Great Aunt.” She said plastering a smile on her face while very slowly turning around.
When they first heard the voice it had sounded a few steps behind him. When Klaus turned around, he took a step back bumping into someone else.
A woman just a little shorter than him had nearly been standing nose to nose with him.
In his peripheral vision Klaus saw Lilith bow her head and heard her mutter. “Greetings, Great Aunt Dalmora.”
The woman took a step closer to him.
‘Being space invaders must also be a Dalmora specialty?’