On Sunday, Elijah made breakfast since the servants were off for the weekend. It turned into brunch because everyone except Klaus slept in until almost 11 am.
"I gave Tyler an early bedtime this week of 9:30 the other day. I forgot to mention it if you were wondering why he left the movie last night glaring at me. He seemed to want to argue with me that it was 'only midnight' when I went in the other night. Poor Matthew was trying to get him to back down so much," Elijah chuckled.
"With his wolf temper, Tyler's going to need a firmer hand. Please don't hesitate to give him a shellacking if he's earned one, or get me and I'll do it. I'm not sure I like this constant arguing back and attitude. I fear I haven't been spending enough time with him," Klaus admitted.
"There are only so many hours in the day, Brother. I know they are dealing with a lot, but perhaps we need to tighten things up a tad for the children. We should sit them down and have a talk about rules and doing their assigned chores properly and on time," Elijah suggested.
"Yes, with Finn and possibly Mother or her minions on the loose, we also need to tighten security. Rebekah won't like that herself," Klaus remarked.
"About our dear sister, her bed was empty the last few nights. Are you okay with her and Marcellus falling back into their old ways?" Elijah asked with his eyebrows up.
"Anything that will keep him here, Brother. I know I've been trying to let him make his own decision, but I can't let him go," Klaus admitted.
"Niklaus, he is the king of the city now. I'm not sure his "guys" as he calls them, can run that city on their own," Elijah professed.
"I know. I just don't want to ever let him out of my sight again. Family needs to be together," Klaus stated with conviction.
During the next week, Elijah and Klaus sat down Tyler, Jeremy, and Matt and talked to them about keeping an eye out for their surroundings. They each were asked to keep their room clean and start cleaning up around themselves more. Klaus asked them to stop leaving their sports equipment and junk all over the house. Mrs. Camp really couldn't keep up and Klaus didn't want her quitting.
Elijah wrote up a loose schedule for the boys to follow. He added everything from brushing their teeth to showering and of course, the bed time which got moved up to 11 pm. The agreement was that it would be rolled back to 10 pm during the school year.
Elijah told the boys that they would be visiting his tailor for some formal clothes. He also distributed new packages of socks, underwear, and undershirts. All white. The boys were not happy to get briefs, but Mrs. Camp has complained about the state of their previous undergarments, full of holes and snags. Rebekah and Marcel took them all shopping one day at the mall for new causal clothes. Matt, in particular, had been looking threadbare. Klaus said he wouldn't have his sons looking like rag muffins when the boys protested. He could tell Matt felt guilty about accepting monetary things as he had done without for so many years.
"No one ever comes out here this far, man, we'll be fine," Jeremy laughed handing the joint to Matt. The boys were in the woods, sitting on logs in a small clearing.
"I'm cool. Just as long as Coach doesn't decide to drug test us or something," Tyler said taking the joint from Matt and taking a hit.
"Come on guys, it's not really that big of a deal. I've done a lot worse then smoke pot," Jeremy admitted.
"Yeah, we know. Don't try to turn us into dope heads," Tyler retorted watching as Jeremy repacked the pipe.
Matt was finally starting to feel high. He started telling a story about a waitress he knew from the Grill who liked him. He forgot what he was talking about and Tyler threw the football they took to toss, at his head. Matt ducked and fell off the log laughing. Tyler went to get the football, he saw something strange.
"What the fuck?" Tyler yelled.
It looked like a hoop crafted from light colored wood hanging from a tree. Colored stones and small animal bones were interwoven in it. There was also a pentagram carved into the tree in some kind of chalk. What looked like salt was on the ground.
"Dude, it looks like voodoo or something. What should we do?" Jeremy asked about to reach out to the willow contraption.
"Don't touch it, man!" Tyler hissed. "Are you fucking stupid?"
"The answer to that question is 'yes.' Actually, the three of you are quite daft as I could hear you yelling a mile away. I can also smell that weed on you and if I can..." Kol drifted, taking the joint and tossing it on the ground to stomp on.
"Then Dad and Uncle Elijah can. But Kol this might be more serious, what is that shit?" Jeremy said pointing to the mysterious symbols.
Kol looked and put his finger over his mouth in silence. If it was, what he thought it was, it was a witch listening device, like a bug.
"Oh, that must have been here as a prank. Forget about it," he said in a normal voice examining the items more carefully.
"Are you going to tell on us for smoking?" Matt asked nervously.
"No, that is something my dull brother Finn would do," Kol chuckled.
Jeremy was relieved, "Thanks, Kol."
Kol said, "You all are going to tell them. I'm not putting my arse on the line for you imbeciles."
"Your ass? What do you mean, they aren't going to beat your ass, man. You're a vampire. We're the ones who are going to be sitting on throw pillows again," Tyler said defensively.
"Oh yeah, of course not. I mean, of course I won't get my ass beat. I'm way too old for that. I just don't want Nik and Elijah vexed with me. But you're right, you lot are doomed. Now come on, it's time for you boys to get a little trip to the woodshed," Kol said picking up the football and starting back to the house.
Matt looked at the other two, "What the fuck? There's no woodshed here..."
Still slightly high, they punched him and ran to catch up with Kol.
"Nik, Elijah, the boys here were in the woods and found a willow hoop and some magical symbols on the trees about two miles back. I think someone is listening to us," Kol said as the four of them crowded into the study with Klaus and Elijah.
"Is that smell marijuana? Were you boys out there smoking?" Elijah asked in shock.
"Boys, answer your uncle," Klaus thundered. Matt and Jeremy flinched and started to tremble as Klaus had never yelled at them like that before. Tyler seemed to become furious himself and his eyes narrowed.
"Big fucking deal. It's a little weed. Why don't you worry about this witch shit we found. Something important!" Tyler snarled and walked out of the study.
"Tyler Lockwood, you get back here," Klaus roared.
"Let me go talk to him. Boys, why don't you go to your bedroom," Elijah said giving Niklaus a meaningful look.
"I'm sorry for yelling, Matt, Jeremy. We need to figure out what these symbols are. Don't worry. Do as your Uncle said and we'll talk later," Klaus said rubbing his temples.
Matt and Jeremy left the study as fast as possible for humans.
"Kol, you know more about this than me. Are we in danger?" Klaus said when they were alone.
"Nik, call me mad, but I think that..." Kol stared in shock.
"What, Kol? You're scaring me," Klaus said anxiously.
"Mother made this willow hoop. I would swear my immortal life on it. And I found this when the boys weren't looking. It's a poppet. There were two of them," Kol said opening his hand.
"Is that a likeness of Rebekah? And that is Marcel!" Klaus said in horror.
Tyler almost made it to the garage before Elijah vamped up to him.
"You weren't planning to drive off in a rage, were you?" Elijah said leaning against the kitchen counter.
Tyler nodded. "Yep, thought I should get the fuck out of here."
"Tyler, let's go in here and talk," Elijah said grabbing Tyler by his upper arm and half dragging him into Nicole's old bedroom.
Elijah sat Tyler on the bed as he sat in a chair nearby.
"Do you need some time in the corner to settle down or can you talk to me in a calm manner?" Elijah asked.
"Calm," Tyler said still breathing hard.
"Good. Would you like to tell me what's going on?" Elijah asked gently.
"No!" Tyler fumed.
"Tyler, I am trying very hard to be patient and listen to you. Let me rephrase, would you like to talk sitting up like a young man or over my knees with your pants around your ankles like a sulky little boy?" Elijah asked sternly.
"I lost my temper. I'm sorry. I don't mean to take it out on you," Tyler said with tears forming in his eyes.
"Tyler, I'm not trying to be facetious, but isn't 'pot' supposed to calm people down, not enrage them?" Elijah asked carefully.
Tyler laughed through his tears, "I'm sorry, Uncle Elijah. I really don't know what is happening to me."
Elijah got up and sat on the bed next to him, "Without your wolf curse triggered, it is natural that you are angry, especially around the full moon. On top of that, you've suffered a great loss and a big change in your life. Then, add on puberty. Quite frankly, I'm not sure I saw anyone yell at your father like that and live to tell about it."
"I'm dead, aren't I?" Tyler said, wiping angrily at his eyes. Elijah put his arm around him and pulled him into a side hug.
"No, but I do think you need to talk it out. I know he tries very hard to not yell at you or lose his temper with any of you," Elijah said quietly.
"I feel bad," Tyler confessed.
"I know he does, too. I'm not making excuses for the drugs, but we'll work through it. I think you need to lie down for a bit. Don't worry, Mrs. Camp changed the sheets after Nicole. I thought this might come in handy as a guest room," Elijah said pulling down the comforter for Tyler to get in.
Tyler opened his mouth to argue, but Elijah just raised his eyebrows.
"Thanks, Uncle Elijah. When you said early bedtime before, I didn't think you meant 2 pm. But I don't think I'm in a position to argue," Tyler said smiling.
"No, you are not. Do not leave this room. You can use the bathroom in here, okay? Get some rest," Elijah said kissing him on the forehead and smoothing his hair back.
Elijah went back up to the study as Klaus was calling Rebekah and Marcel. Neither one answered their mobile phones. He left messages telling them to come back to the house immediately.
Kol vamped around the property and found several more of the listening devices and symbols. Klaus told Kol to leave them there and maybe they could use them to their advantage by spreading false information.
"So if Mother and Finn are behind this, what do they want?" Elijah pondered.
"Finn has always hated us for what we were. Mother hated what we had become. I don't think she means to help us, just destroy us. We must figure out what they are up to," Klaus said pacing.
"Tyler is resting in the guest room," Elijah said.
"I shouldn't have yelled like that. Thanks for being here, Brother," Klaus mentioned.
"Of course. He's having a hard time with the temper, like you had mentioned. I probably should have washed out his mouth with soap for all that cursing, but I thought a nap may have been what he needed more," Elijah admitted.
"You didn't spank him?" Klaus asked checking his phone for messages.
"No, I felt like he was pushing me to punish him on the spot, though. I don't know if he's testing us or trying to get me to alleviate his guilt. It's odd, but one second my palm is itching to give him a few hard smacks on the behind, and the next I find myself hugging him and kissing him on the forehead. It's a hard call to know what to do. Are you going to deal with them now?" Elijah asked as they were siting around just waiting.
"I guess I shouldn't keep them waiting too long," Klaus said, sighing.
"We're home," they both heard Rebekah call.
"It's about time. Where were you two? Did you not check your phones?" Klaus barked.
"Whoa, calm down. We're here not. What's the problem?" Marcel said reasoned.
"Don't you take that tone with me, Marcellus. You could have both been in danger. Now where were you?" Klaus demanded.
Kol came in behind them and echoed, "Yes, where were you? You missed the lads smoking pot in the woods and finding some magical items to spy on us, probably made by Mother. But I hope you two were having a fine time in your hotel room or what ever hovel you were shacked up in. Oh, and we found poppets made that look like the two of you."
"Hotel room?" Klaus shouted.
Rebekah said, "What's it to you? Poppets of Marcel and me? What the bloody hell does that mean?"
Klaus stood up, he was at the end of his rope, and ready to blow if one more of his charges acted up.
"It means you are both in danger. Marcel, I'm sorry but you can't leave until this is sorted out," Klaus said taking a deep breath.
"Danger. Blast that Finn. And Mother? This makes no sense," Rebekah lamented.
Elijah tried to calm everyone, "Kol, that was not helpful. We will get it sorted out. We just need some time to figure out where Finn is and what they want. I agree, Marcel, you should stay."
"Here's a newsflash, I am not a slave anymore. I can go when and where I please. I will stay for Rebekah's sake, but because I want to. Got that?" Marcel spouted as everyone looked at him in shock.
"Marcellus, I think you best sleep alone tonight. I would like to have a little talk about your 'plan' for the future. Do you understand me?" Klaus said meaningfully.
"Yes, Klaus," Marcel said, still trying to keep some pride.
"Let's try that again, young man," Klaus said softly.
"Yes, Papa, I understand," Marcel pouted.
"Rebekah, I think you best go to your room right now also," Elijah said pointedly.
"I was going anyway!" she fumed vamping out.
"Am I the only person in this house not getting a hiding tonight?" Kol quipped happily.
"Only if you leave right now, Kol. Go do some research on those items and what witches we can contact for help," Elijah said gently guiding him out and shutting the door.
"Would you like me to handle Rebekah, Jeremy, and Matt? You can handle Tyler and your very mouthy Marcellus?"
"Thank you, Brother. I could not do this without you. I feel like Marcel has gone far too long without feeling my hand on his backside. Actually, I've been meaning to have a chat with Rebekah about her spending habits. Perhaps I will find out more about this sordid hotel they have been using as a love shack," Klaus decided.
"Another long afternoon and perhaps evening then. I'm going to get my paint stick, or perhaps this offense of using drugs deserves a few licks with my belt?" Elijah wondered.
"I feel like your belt would make a strong impression on our little delinquents. I feel like the other three need a decent number of whacks with one of my handy paddles. I refuse to wear out my hand tonight," Klaus disclosed.
"Fair, but firm, Brother," Elijah said deciding on a course of action.
Klaus popped in the game room and fetched the table tennis bat off the table. He tucked it into the back of his pants. Elijah was going to take care of a couple of things first before dealing with Jeremy and Matt.
"Hi boys," he said and found them both stretched out on their beds.
"Don't worry, I'm not here for your spankings. Your uncle is going to take care of that. But I wanted to apologize for yelling at you like that. I lost my temper," Klaus admitted slowly.
"Dad, we deserved it. You're making us feel worse," Matt confessed.
"Everyone makes me, your uncle will probably give you one hell of a lecture that will be worse that the licking you're going to get," Klaus said vamping over to tousle their hair.
"Jeremy, are you okay? You're awfully quiet, even for a condemned man," Klaus said with concern.
"It's all my fault. I should probably get it harder and worse," Jeremy choked out.
"Hey, it's going to be over soon and I'll come back and talk to you, okay? If you are still up, that is," Klaus said patting him again on the back.
"I love you," Klaus said leaving the room.
Tyler heard a soft knock and heard the door open. He had just woken up from his nap.
"Dad?" he said in the darkened room.
"I'm here, Son," Klaus said softly.
"Is everything okay?" Tyler asked scared to hear the response.
"Yes, we'll find out who left those devices and deal with them. Do not worry about that. Now, can we talk about today?" Klaus said sitting on the side of the bed.
"I think I'd rather just get my butt beat than talk about it anymore. I've been thinking about everything in here for hours, it seems. Uncle Elijah already talked to me. I lost it. I'm sorry," Tyler said feeling his face flush in the darkness. He sat up and felt Klaus hug him and rock him a little.
"You have been pushing for a spanking lately, haven't you?" Klaus asked.
"I just get so mad, like when Uncle Elijah told me to go to bed, I was such a well, dick about it. Then, I feel like a jerk and I probably do deserve, you know, a spanking or something," Tyler sputtered embarrassed to share so much aloud.
"Hey, you know when you get 'so called' punished, it's to help you. An earlier bedtime could mean you need more sleep or a session in the corner is to help you calm down. This paddle on your behind may remind you to think twice the next time you do something dangerous," Klaus said grabbing the ping pong paddle out of his waistband.
"We love you, Tyler. Elijah and I have dealt with teenagers before, we don't always take the sass and backtalk seriously. Maybe Marcellus will share all the times he got in trouble because of his talking back and bad temper. But right now, we have some business of our own to take care of," Klaus noted.
"I know," Tyler said standing up.
"Just take off your shorts and underwear please," Klaus said. He got up and opened the bathroom door a crack with the light on. It was dim, but not completely dark.
Tyler shucked off his shorts and pants and let Klaus guide him over his knee.
"Before we start, tell me why you are here?" Klaus said smoothing the ping pong paddle over Tyler's bare rearend gently.
"I smoked weed and then yelled at you and ran away," Tyler admitted.
POP!
Klaus swatted down the paddle in the center of Tyler's left cheek.
"And?" Klaus prompted, swatting the right cheek.
"I swore?" Tyler asked getting two more quick swats to his sit spots.
Whack! Whack!
"Yes, you did, young man. You are getting your mouth washed out in a minute," Klaus promised.
Klaus put his arm around his son tighter. He decided to make this punishment memorable.
Pop! Pop! Smack! Smack! Smack! Pop! Pop! POP!
"Ouch. Ouch. OUCH!" Tyler cried as Klaus picked up the pace. He threw both his hands behind him to try to stop the burning pain.
"Get me your hands, Tyler," Klaus said holding them in place.
Klaus spanked Tyler's entire backside with the small paddle in a circuit. He then repeated the circuit three or four times as Tyler wailed and kicked in vain. Tyler rocked back and forth until Klaus swatted his thigh with a warning to stop squirming so much.
The paddling was hard and fast and soon Tyler's backside was in shades of pink and red. To Tyler, it felt like he had been in this position for hours though it had only been a few moments.
"You're getting the belt for the drugs which is something that is dangerous to you, as well as illegal," Klaus said unbuckling his belt.
"No belt, please. It's going to hurt too much," Tyler said almost lifting himself off of Klaus' knee. He was going to keep him here.
Klaus wouldn't get much of a swing but decided to use the strap to make an impression that this would not be tolerated.
Klaus cracked down his folded belt a little lower than Tyler's sit spots so that he was striking new area.
"Whoa! Ouch. That's hurts. I'm sorry," Tyler sobbed out.
"A couple more, Son, almost done," Klaus comforted.
He snapped the belt down three more times slightly lower and then he went back to the sit spot area. Crack! Crack! He gave him two half-hearted whacks and decided he couldn't continue.
Klaus picked up his son and pulled him into an embrace as he sat him on his lap with his sore backside off to the side. Tyler was rubbing his sore seat with one hand.
"If I ever catch any of you doing drugs again, you will get the belt the whole time for a week!" Klaus warned rubbing his back.
Klaus helped him put on his shorts and walked him upstairs. Tyler sucked in his breath and cringed when his shorts came into contact with his behind. He wasn't sure if Elijah was done with Matt and Jeremy so he took Tyler up to his bathroom for the mouth soaping.
Klaus unwrapped a little hotel soap and told Tyler to open. Tyler did grimacing. Klaus led him to the corner of the bathroom and with a light smack told him to stand there with his hands on his head. Klaus said on the closed lid of the toilet for three minutes as Tyler kept the soap in his mouth.
"Okay, you can rinse. There's a-" but before Klaus could say glass, Tyler was already rinsing his mouth.
"Come here please," Klaus said to Tyler as he came closer. He stood Tyler in front of him.
"I want you to think of the paddle on your behind when you think of disrespecting and talking back, the belt for the drugs, and the soap and corner for the cursing. You are a great kid and I am proud to call you my Son. You have paid for everything you did today, so no eating yourself up with guilt. I forgive you, Elijah forgives you, okay?" Klaus asked Tyler looking in his eyes.
"Thanks, Dad. Jeez, that soap is the worst. Can I rinse again?" Tyler asked hopefully.
"Sure, but it won't help. Go lie down until Elijah is done with your brothers. I will be back shortly. Don't forget I love you," Klaus said leading Tyler to the large bed and tucking him in. His backside was sore enough for him not to protest about being put in put again at 7 pm.
Klaus smiled at him and then went to deal with Rebekah and Marcellus. He still had the paddle tucked in his waistband.