Chapter Text
The first time I realized that I knew too much, I was four years old. I was sitting on a swing in the park when I saw a man wearing a suit sitting on a bench across the playground. He was just watching people walk around, like I was. But his eyes were dark and searching.
Although I was only four and only interacted with my family and the other kids at daycare, I somehow knew this man as well. I knew his name was Mikael and I knew he was very, very old. I knew what he did a long time ago, I knew what he was doing at the park, and I knew what he would be doing in ten years. This is one of the people who I knew too much about.
Like most children who are curious about the world and comfortable with people they know, I decided to talk to this man. When I got to the bench he was sitting on, I climbed up beside him and started to watch people with him.
I was always an odd child, preferring to people-watch and daydream then play with others. That was one of the reasons why my sister did not like me so much; but that was okay. Sisters weren’t meant to like each other all the time, or, at least, that’s what my favorite and only aunt said.
I looked up at Mikael before breaching the silence. “Being mean isn’t nice.”
Confusion flashed across his face before he gave a small chuckle. “I agree with you, little one.”
My brows furrowed and I brought my thumb to my lip. I thought about all I knew, trying to work out something my three-year-old brain could hardly comprehend. “Then why are you trying to hurt my sister?”
“That is an odd question to ask someone you have never met.” He seemed genuinely entertained by the pouty face I sported.
“That’s not true!” I huffed. “You are here to kill my sister, so Nik won’t be happy. That’s being mean to two people!”
Mikael was no longer entertained. His eyes sharpened and he looked down at me.
“How do you know these things, girl?” He grit in irritation.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged before continuing. “I just know stuff about some people. Like you, and Nik, and Bekah, and…” I trailed off as his eyes got wider and scarier as I spoke.
I realized my mistake immediately. “On no! I’m so sorry Mr. Mikael. I scared you like I did my sister. She doesn’t like it when I talk about the future either. My mommy always gets mad at me and tells me to stop making up stories to scare Elena. I’m sorry!”
He seemed to calm down as I spoke. He didn’t seem happy, but he didn’t seem angry either.
“I am not scared, little one, but I am wondering how you know about my children.” A huge grin split my face when I realized he wasn’t scared and wanted to hear more. No one ever wanted to listen to my stories!
“I can tell you anything you want to know, Mr. Mikael.” There was a flash of dark intent across his face, but I didn’t see it. I was too excited to finally talk about what I knew.
Mikael thought about what he wanted to ask for a few seconds while I looked around the park. Across the way, I saw mom, dad, and Elena still sitting at the picnic blanket eating food where I left them a while ago. I’m not even sure they realized I was gone.
“Tell me about my children.” When I looked up at Mikael, he was blankly looking straight ahead at nothing, like he was remembering. So, I started remembering too.
“Well Finn is the oldest. He is hurting right now because his mom is being mean to him.” Mikael stiffened, but I didn’t notice as I continued. “Lijah is the next oldest and he is very nice. He keeps his promises just like my mom says is important. Um, Nik is always sad because you were mean to him when he was little. Just like my dad is mean to me.” If possible, Mikael stiffened further. “Bekah is strong and so cool. I want to be just like her when I grow up! And Kol is sneaky but wants everyone to love him. He misses being a witch a lot! When Henrik was alive, he looked up to his older brothers and loved to play in the woods.” I paused because I knew someone was missing, someone important. “Oh! I almost forgot Freya. Actually, she is the oldest and was given to a mean lady by her mom. I think it is sad that Freya, Finn, Bekah, and Kol weren’t able to play a lot like Lijah and Nik.”
Mikael was angry again, but I didn’t know why. “You speak about Freya as if she were alive. She is dead.” That was confusing to me.
“I don’t think so Mr. Mikael. I don’t know everything, but I know she is alive. She is like Sleeping Beauty! The mean witch only lets her wake up sometimes. But it’s going to be okay because the next time she wakes up, she will be free from the witch! Isn’t that great?!” I was so excited for the real-life Sleeping Beauty to wake up forever. It was a true fairytale.
“My Daughter, My Freya, she is still alive?” Mikael whispered solemnly. Something in the air shifted in that moment.
“Yep! She is…” I trailed off, not being able to remember this important detail. I lightly smacked my forehead. “I’m so stupid.” I smacked it again. “Stupid, stupid, stupid. Why can’t I remember the place?”
Mikael’s large hand grabbed mine and prevented me from smacking my head again. “Don’t hurt yourself little one. You have given me enough information to know that I need to leave here and go find my dear Freya.” I nodded at him and suddenly, he was gone.