He can't be him. He wouldn't do that to my parents. He loves me. Or does he? Is everything a lie? Had I just been part of a big con?

I stopped crying when I realized it's not going to solve anything. Mindlessly I walked up to the place where I saw lots of flowers. I sat against the tree, and smiled at the memory of Gavier and I having a loud picnic last time. Lately I had been coming here when I wanted to think or when I felt confused which had been happening a lot, I tell you.

I closed my eyes and felt the breeze on my face, then relaxed comfortably.

The king's lying. Or somebody is. My dad could never do such a thing.

"Dad what does mom look like?" I asked my dad one morning.

"She looks like you. A beautiful and kind angel. When you see her you feel like it's Christmas morning. You feel hope. She was wonderful," he said as his eyes became misty.

"What happened?" I finally got the courage to ask him. I had a feeling he didn't want to talk about it which was why I never brought up the topic.

His fists clenched and I could see anger in his eyes. "She died."

He kissed me on the forehead and left abruptly.

My thoughts were disturbed by a pair of soft lips on mine. A hand cupped my cheek as he angled our faces into a better position. My eyes snapped open and held his hand.

Gavier, you sneaky bastard.

I bit his upper lip hard and he groaned and let go after licking my lips one last time.

He smirked down at me, caressing my face with his hand which I took and put my lips on his palm, giving it a small kiss.

His eyes darkened and the way he was looking at me made me want to shrivel up and hide. He had that predator look on his face. So dangerous.

Thankfully he didnt attack me otherwise I might have a heart attack. He laid his head on my shoulder and intertwined our fingers, making my heart skip a beat.

"What's wrong?" He asked and my mouth dropped open.

"What do you mean what's wrong?" I retorted. How did he know something was wrong?

"You're very submissive today. You're not flinching away like you used to. Something is definitely wrong."

My anger fueled up. I wasn't sure why I was angry. Maybe because of the crap I was under, being the missing princess had its perks and cons, furthermore I'm worried about my freaking dad who suddenly became a stranger to me, or that Gavier knew that something was indeed wrong.

"Damn it. Nothing's wrong so could you just please leave? I came here to have a peace of mind and you just ruined it! Why won't you leave me alone?! It's not like we're lovers. For all I know you're having other affairs with other women!"

His eyes widened with my outburst and it later turned into a glare.

I glared back, I was angry at him because he has a lot of hold on me. He freaking has my heart in his hand. He can so easily crush it.

"I don't fucking know what's going on in your head but know this. I don't play around with other women. You're the only woman I ever touched and kissed. But then fine, I'll fucking leave you alone if that's what you want. Come back to me when you're done being a bitch." He stood up and left, his fists clenched.

No! Please don't leave. I don't mean any of it. . It's just that. . .

I began to cry again like a hormonal teeanager. I hurt him thus hurting me more. I don't know what to do. I'm beginning to doubt my dad because truthfully I don't know much about his past. All I know is that he was an orphan but that's all.

If he was the cause of my parent's death then is it possible to hate him? How could I? When he was the one who raised me? When he was the one who taught me everything?

Time passed as I cried. Tomorrow, I promise I won't cry anymore. I'll find out the truth.

It was dark when I proceeded my way back. Somehow my way changed towards the boy's dormitory. I didn't know why but my body and conscience was making me go there.

I hesitated against knocking. I wasn't sure how many minutes I stood there debating if I should disturb him or not. I finally did, but I made it soft, almost inaudible, but as soon as I did, the door swiftly opened.

The instant Gavier saw me, he grabbed me inside and devoured my mouth with his. It was possessive and desperate. I drowned in the kiss and his sensational touch.

My whole body shivered by how aggressive he was kissing me. I moaned as I felt him put me gently on the bed and covered my body with his. He bit my lips hard, as if he wanted to tell me he was frustrated and mad. He was hurt.

I let him continue his onslaught because I deserved it. I hurt him. I felt him pinning me hard on the bed with his weight, almost crushing me. I whimpered slightly as tears fell from my eyes. He must have heard it because he let go.

"I-I'm sorry," I said, letting the tears fall.

His angry eyes softened and he kissed me again. This time slower, and sweeter. When he let go, his eyes pierced through mine. He looked so sad, so vulnerable. It was the first time I saw him let his guard down and it pained my heart.

"Never tell me to stay away again," he said in a hoarse whisper. "Never tell me to leave you. I can't. Please, don't reject me anymore."

"I'm sorry. I'll never do that again. I need you," I said, sniffling. It was true, I needed him as I needed air to breathe.

He looked satisfied and swooped down to kiss my tears. He fell beside me and put his arms around me tightly. I snuggled closer, and we fell asleep, entangled in each other's arms.

*****

Again, I could hear voices, frantic ones. I tried opening my eyes but I couldn't.

"How could she do this to us?" It was a woman's, oddly familiar.

"I'm sorry your majesty but it's the truth. You know I wouldn't lie to you." I would never forget that voice. It was dad's.

What was happening? Why couldn't I see anything?

"I can't let her do this to us. I won't allow her. I'll talk to her."

"I don't think that's a good idea, considering she's thinking of striking tonight."

"How about Arthur? Where is he?"

"I'm afraid, I don't know."

There was a sudden gunshot accompanied by a frantic scream, I'm guessing the woman's. My eyes finally opened and what I saw made me tremble in fear. There was blood everywhere, 5 men with heavy arm fire shot the woman consecutively, their eyes cold and without mercy. 5 other men were on the ground, taken out by my father but it was too late.

"Lilia!" He cried, his voice strained, as he scrambled next to the woman's frail body. The 5 men who still stood up let him, knowing it would be their last moment together.

"Promise me", she pleaded, tears flowing from her grey eyes, "Promise me please, please"

"I promise." My dad cried, tears formed in his eyes as they tried to hold them in but failed. "I-I-"

The woman put a finger on his lips. "Shhh, I know, I know. Thank you Richard." And her eyes closed for the last time, her hand fell down with a thud. I wanted to scream but couldn't. It was painful so painful.

"Your majesty!" My dad bawled as he let his head bury in her chest.

"Up now you fool!" One of the men said, his face had a nasty scar on it, "You should have known better than to betray us Richard. Now this is your penalty." He rested a gun on his head. NoooO!!! Why couldn't I move? What was wrong with me?

"Shut up Grayson! Can't you let me grieve a minute longer?!" My father's voice boomed. I saw his hand sneakily snake on the dead woman's neck and retrieve her golden necklace with a blue pendant. The 5 men didn't see it but I did.

"Get the fuck up so I can beat you to death!" The guy whom my father called Grayson snarled.

"If you can." My father muttered before sweeping Grayson's foot and tripping him. The other 4 began to shoot my dad but my dad hid himself behind Grayson making his body a shield from the bullets fired by the four while he took Grayson's gun and expertly fired back at them. He shot two of them before running out of bullets. Quickly he dropped Grayson after he threw the useless gun through the window, making the window clash into pieces. The two goons snapped their heads towards the broken window, oblivious of my father's trick-a one second distraction, but it was enough for him to knock one of the guy's head with his fist, take his gun and shoot the other one.

It was finally over, I thought, until I heard another shot directed towards my father. Nooo!!! Daddy!

He dropped on his knees as he turned around to see a bloody Grayson holding a gun smirking at him. "You were always the best of us Richard and that's why I admired you. But how could you do this to us? How could you do this to me?"

"I did it to protect you."

Grayson laughed, coughing blood out. "To protect me? You call this protecting?" His eyes finally closed as he fell into unconsciousness. They were all wearing vests so none of them were critically injured.

I felt my hands shook, tears flowing from my eyes, but I couldn't scream, I couldn't speak. I had never seen my dad so bloody and worn out. I wanted to run to him but I couldn't. He finally looked at me, smiling gently.

"It's okay Clarianne," he said soothingly at me, "It's okay."

He tried reaching for me but I didn't know why I was so afraid of him, so so afraid. This wasn't my father, he was not my father. Nooo!!! I don't know him!!!

"It's okay Clarianne, Clarissa."

I found my voice and screamed. "You're not daddy or mommy! Leave me alone!"

I began to thrash around.

He caught me in his big arms. "I'm sorry, so sorry." Tears fell from his eyes as if he was in as much pain as I did.

I kept screaming and he kept chanting those two words: I'm sorry.

After a while, probably from exhaustion, I blacked out.

"Dad?" I woke up, my cheeks were wet from my tears. I felt my side and was surprised that Gavier wasn't beside me.

I heard distinct shouts and murmurs. I went outside to see what was the commotion about.

There were bodyguards huddled together and they held a man so familiar to me yet at the same time so strange. He made a piercing scream as he was touched by an electrifier.

I screamed as well and my eyes were wide with shock. Dad? "Dad!!" I rushed to him but Gavier held my waist. "No!!"

"Don't you see it. He's the spy Clarianne, he took your parents' lives," Gavier's dad told me, his posture straight, and his demeanor serious.

I don't fucking care. He's still my dad.

I instantly regretted doubting him. He gave me everything and this, is this how I should repay him?

"Let go of him! He's my dad!!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as tears sprung from my eyes.

"Clarissa," dad said as he looked at me. His face was beaten, and his clothes were torn. It crushed my heart to see him this way. "It's okay sweetheart. I'll always be near your heart."

"Go take him!" The king roared.

"No! Please! No!" I struggled to get free but Gavier's hold was preventing me.

"We can't do anything right now Clariannne. He's an infamous assassin, he killed your parents," Gavier whispered in my ear, making the blood drain out of my head.

Assassin? My dad, an assassin?

My eyed rolled back, darkness swallowed me into its depths.