Only Jan and Chris both sighed before fainting and crumbled to the floor. "A bit of a shock, I suppose." sighing, you said.
"I assure you, I did not know they were there, El." defensively, mom said. "Still, they know, what are you going to do?"
"I'll put them to bed, for now." walking towards the stairs, you replied. "I'll tell Simon what happened and we'll talk to them when they wake up." pausing, you added, "I don't blame you, mom but I do ask that you let me handle this."
"They are your children, El." sighing, mom said. "Your family is not the only one to walk away from the war."
"I know, the Sci family." taking Chris into your arms, you said. "They moved in the house behind our own."
Mom nodded. "A mad scientist father, three mad scientist sons and a lone witch daughter." sadly, she said. "The poor girl is still distraught over her mother's passing."
"Lost to the war?" turning to mom, you asked.
Again, mom nodded. "She was killed by... 'him'." gravely, she said.
You paled, knowing 'him' referred to a mad scientist who had literally fused his laboratory to his body, making him a living machine. Witches had named him Phobos, Latin for fear. "I see..." you whispered.
"We better get your children into bed." whispering, mom said. "Once they are tucked in, we can talk to your new neighbors, they are aware of the war, just not how close it has become."