Staring at the men in front of me, I wondered if they were going to talk about anything. These were his guards, men that vowed to protect the bastard no matter what. These men promised their lives to protect this bastard from anything and anyone.

I am sure they didn't see it coming, that they would have to protect this bastard from his son, a son who wants him to pay for everything that he has done. A son who wants him dead.

I stood by what I said when I said that you couldn't be loyal to evil, that it will come by and get you, killed at the end.

So, maybe saying these to men who were either forced to vow their lives or end up doing it for a reason would be heard amongst death ears.

"You all will be free," I said to them.

I watch as some facial expressions changed amongst the guards.

"Most of you were either forced to be in this status in the first place or found yourself in this situation because you needed to pay back something or to keep someone from danger." I give my shoulders a shrug.

"You will be free, you will no longer be in danger, and I will make sure I hear each one of your stories so I can make sure that you and the people you want to protect are protected as well. I am nothing like the man who had is supposed to be my father. I am much different from him." I said.

It was important to me that no one and I meant no one saw me like that bastard.

I am nothing like him, and never will I ever be anything like him. I'll make sure that nothing about me gets compared to him, that the only thing that is similar between us is the blood that runs inside of us.

I turned to look at one of my guards, giving him a look to make sure he clears the area of anyone else that wasn't supposed to be there.

He nodded his head and went to clear the area of onlookers.

I didn't want the onlookers to hear anything else except for what I have already mentioned before.

"Do you stand by what you say?" A voice came.

I turned my attention to it and saw that it came from one of the guards, one of my father's guards.

"Yes. I mean, what I say. It is no secret to what some guards have gone through or what they're currently going through now. I help my guards. My guard's family is protected and safe; the people who work for me; their families are not in danger either. I am suitable for the people who vow to protect me because they deserve it. They deserve to care for, and I know we are in a society that doesn't see that as something important unless it's happening to the people themselves, but I see it as necessary. We are all just born in different statuses." I said. It was the truth, and it was honesty.

Just because I was a King doesn't mean I was supposed to treat people as if they were nothing, and I was superior to them.

"You went against your father, because of a woman?" A guard asked me.

His question didn't bring me anger; I was calm with my response because I felt like he meant no harm with his answer or was trying to be rude when he asked.

"I love her; my father is someone who is evil and has done wrong things. I grew up with my father; I saw him in a light that the majority of the people didn't. I saw what my father has done and continue to do. The woman that I love is nothing like that; she puts other lives before her own. She's caring with people that some come across, she has good intentions, and she's loving. I've come across a woman like this, and there's nothing or no one that is going to take her away from me." I said.

The guards were silent for a while.

"My father will continue to be evil and continue to get away with things if he can. I won't let that keep happening, a matter of fact. I refuse to keep letting that happen." I said to the group of guards.

"There's a rumor, that he's taken many women away. Treat them as sex slaves; the rumors are sure to be true." One of the guards said.

"Because we've been in the places or kingdoms that the woman has gone missing, but we are not the ones who take them." Another guard said.

I nodded my head to that; I know they were being honest with what they were saying.

I could tell when someone was lying to me; I was good at analyzing.

"He most likely has someone who has the skills to be able to do those things," I said.

There's someone that my father keeps around to do the dirty work.

That was something that he would do, so it seems more like he has nothing to do with anything that's going on. Not only that, but he would also rather have someone do his dirty work for him—someone who was skilled enough and had the mindset to.

"Do you have any idea where he would keep them?" I asked.

"Well, his home, of course. He would want them near; there most likely is a secret passage." Another guard who spoke up said.

The secret passages, just like with my mom.

Are they still around? I need to recall them; I need to recall

"Okay. Okay. How many has he taken that you are all aware of?" I asked the guards.

Silence fell between them as they took turns looking at each other.

"He's taken a lot; there's most likely going to be a lot of revenge." One of the guards said.

"Oh. Hm. Tell me about the women that he has taken away, and from where?" I said as the guards spoke.

I listened, surprised at the number of women that were abducted, and knowing that some of these people that the women were abducted from were scary people.

Scary people that I will have join in on this revenge.

The thing about keeping my father here, held as a hostage as he won't be able to harm Mala.

The bastard will not get the chance to touch her.

-Kassandra Vivu