"As a matter of fact yes and there is nothing you can do to stop us." I reply him with a bitter tone.

He scoffs and keeps his hands in his pockets. "I'm not here to stop you," He surprises me with those words. "But make no mistake Camille, if I wanted to stop you, I would."

Right.

Jessica leaves us and goes ahead to the car. "Look Damian, just leave us alone okay," I say in a reserved tone.

He sighs. "I'm not here to stop you, I'm here to follow you," he tells me.

I frown and wrap my arms around myself. "I know what you said about helping but you don't have to, Jessica and I have got it," I tell him.

"I'm coming with you or I'm telling your headmaster. You choose," he gives the option.

I chuckle with no humor. "Fine." He wants to come, then I'll let him come.

"What's the plan?" He demands.

"Just because I agreed to let you go doesn't mean you get to control this."

"You're going to meet your Dad. I know you don't trust him but you're going to see him. What plans do you have when things don't go according to your expectations?" he asks.

"How the fuck do you know I'm going to meet my father? You have me on surveillance?" I demand.

"How is the car coming along, Jessica?" He asks, not moving his gaze from me.

"Just a second and..." the car's ignition on. "Come on guys, we are gonna be late!" I turn around to see her sticking her head out of the window.

I flicker my head to Damian and glare at him. "It doesn't change anything. I'm still in charge." I say that but I know deep down that he's going to control the journey.

This is going to be a long ride.

*****

He's late, he is fucking late. He said eleven and it's almost twelve, I can't believe he is late.

We are sitting at the last booth at the back of the Cafe, because I don't want to draw attention to myself. It's bad enough that everyone else thinks I'm dead, and my dad asked me to meet him in our neighborhood. Jessica and Damien ordered cappuccino and sandwich because we haven't eaten anything. I'm hungry but I'll eat when I see my Dad.

Jessica's hand drops on my thigh, soothing and calming my nerves. My heart is beating really fast because I don't know what to expect. I can tell she's also worried and nervous.

And then the bell of the cafe jingles as it opens. I raise my head and see who comes in. The man enters and I'm sure that's not my father because this person limps forward, and the closer he gets the more I see the resemblance. I notice his disheveled and unkempt appearance. His cheek is bruised, turning an ugly shade of purple. His body seems thinner, weaker and he can barely take a step forward. My lips part at the sight in front of me.

Like he already knows where I am, he heads towards our direction and says, "I'm sorry I’m late," when he reaches our table.

I stand up slowly and approach him, I don't know what to say. I'm speechless. I use my hand to cup his face, careful not to touch his bruises because I know they'll hurt like hell.

"Da... Dad," I manage to say, my voice cracks. Wrapping my arms around his neck, hugging the life out of him. He returns the gesture.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he whispers into my hair.

I pull away from him to see his eyes filled with tears. "What happened, who did this to you"

"That's what I'm here to talk to you about," he begins. "Your life is in danger."

That is something I haven't heard before.

I make him sit beside me and look at Jessica. She's staring at him and when she notices me looking, she clears her throat and stands up. She goes to the counter to order something to drink and eat for dad. She returns with a tray and drops it in front of us. I push the tray towards him and beg him to eat it. I cannot believe this is my dad, he was healthy the last time I saw him. What happened?

I watch him eat, stuffing the food into his mouth like he hasn't eaten for days. When he's done eating, he clears his throat and stares at his hands. I can tell he doesn't feel comfortable with Damian and Jessica watching and waiting for him to say something.

"Cami, I just want you to know that no matter what happens, I'll always love you and it doesn't change anything," he says in a withdrawn tone.

"What doesn't change anything?" I ask curiously and look at Jessica for clues, she only shrugs. "Everything changed the moment you and Mom declared me dead and changed your names."

"Listen, what I'm about to tell you is known to just few people, and I want you to promise me that you won't do anything stupid," he begins.

I cock my eyebrows. "Define stupid?" I really don't get him, first he said something is about to change and now it's about not doing anything stupid.

"Just tell me, Dad," I press before I do something stupid. "Why did you change your name and tell everyone I'm dead?"

He sighs. "It's something we had to do. Your name is Stark, it has always been Stark, we just took it after we adopted you." He licks his lips like the real story is about to begin. "Eleven years ago, my wife and I received a visitor from a certain Dean Wallace–" I interrupt him before he finishes.

"Did you say Dean Wallace as in your friend Dean? I didn't know you guys go way back." I know they were friends but eleven years is a very long time, I am just wondering why I never met Dean while growing up.

I shoot Damian a look but he doesn't make eye contact, his eyes remained trained on my father.

He nods. "Yes, the Headmaster of The Vale, that Dean."

"Wow! That's cool, Dad," I say. "That's Damian, his son," I introduce them.

Dad only nods without acknowledging Damian, Damian doesn't even react.

"He brought a kid, a five year-old girl to us. He said she's been through a lot and she needed a family. Corinne and I had been trying to get pregnant for a while but it never happened. You were a miracle to us, Cami," he explains.

What am I hearing?

"Can you tell me something I don't know?" I can't believe my ears. I don't blame my Mom but Dad, we were so close he should have told me. They never hinted about any of this to me. I'm not heartbroken or anything. I can't believe the person I trusted more than anything in this world is the same person that has been lying to me and keeping secrets from me. I thought they adopted me from the orphanage, but I was brought to them.

Why?

He nods. "Did you know?" I ask, turning to Damian, I mean he should, his Dad is Dean aka the king of liars, and I don't think they keep secrets from each other.

He doesn't answer.

"I know Cami, I know you are upset just let me finish," he begs.

Okay, I'll suspend all thought until he finishes.

"Ten months ago we called Dean to inform him that your dreams were getting worse and your powers were escalating–"

"You knew I had powers?" I can't... I can't hear anymore.

He nods in regret. "Yeah. Dean mentioned you were a special girl and a tendency of you displaying power."

I scoff. "Indeed. So he told you to bring me to The Vale?" I need to know how many people I'm killing today.

"No. Two people came from the school; Roman Benedict and Sebastian Holmes, they said you'd be a good fit," he tells me.

Wow wow. This just keeps getting worse. I recline in the chair and laugh. It's like I'm in some kind of comedy show.

"Why did you sell the house?" I ask curiously as I cross my arm above my chest.

"They asked us to go as far away from you as possible," he answers.

"Roman and Professor Holmes?"

I knew something was up with Professor Holmes from the very first moment he made a comment about the poem I wrote 'The Unkindness' and the way Roman was always staring at me, invading my mind and always there whenever I needed someone, they knew what I am or they were studying me.

He nods. "They also said we should tell everyone you are dead," he adds.

I take a deep breath and get up onto my feet. "I can't do this, I need air, excuse me." I need to get out here before I lose control and do something I'll regret.

My Dad is quickly on his feet. "Cami please wait, there is more," he says.

I nod and sit down. "Continue." Might as well listen to everything before I blow.

"A month after we relocated to Australia. A man came to see us, asking about you. We didn't want to tell him anything, partially because Dean wasn't happy with us for bringing you to The Vale, he wanted you to have a normal life. So this man hurt us to get everything he wanted," explain.

"What about my real parents?" I ask. "Do you know anything about them?"

"They are dead, I'm so sorry. That necklace was the only thing you had when you came to live with us."

"What did this man look like?"

"He has a scar on his face, and a weird name," he replies. I fucking knew it.

"Arihmatheo?"

"That's him. You know him?" At least he helped me.

"Yeah, that bastard, he is working for someone."

"I think I know who," Damian decides to speak.

I look at him and shake my head. "You think? You fucking think. You knew about all of this and didn't tell. Why the fuck would you keep it from me?"

"Mind your language, Camille!" Using the whole father tone.

"You are not my father, you have no right to tell me what to do," I purse my lips after replying. I try not to regret it but it's worse trying to ignore that fact that this is the man I considered my father for as long as I've lived.

"Cami–"

I'm done. I'm fucking done.

"Let's go," I order and start walking away, I notice that no one is behind me, I sigh and stop. "I mean it, let's fucking go or I'm leaving without you." I grit out.

****

I pack my hair in a messy bun and sit quietly on my bed as I stare outside. My mind is clouded, my head is just as messy as my hair.

The door of my room opens and the headmaster enters. Just the man I was hoping to see. I tense up and hug my leg to myself. I should have gone to him when we came but I couldn't because I don't know where to start.

"There is nothing you can say." I tell him before he starts explaining his way out of it.

He keeps his head low and say. "I know."

"You lied to me," I still can't believe all this time he knew what was going on.

"I know and you have no idea how sorry I am," He breathe out.

"You are right, I have no idea how sorry you are and you have no idea how I'm feeling right now," hell I have no idea how I am feeling.

"I have my reasons."

I reply, "I know."

"Just let me explain."

"I will, when I'm ready to know the truth, right now I need to focus on my school work," more like using school to distract me from my problem.

"It's okay to be upset."

"I'm not upset. I'm hurt and I feel stupid," I answer.

"Cam–"

"Just get out."

"I understand you need space but if you need to talk–"

"Get out."

"I–"

"It's as if you didn't hear me clearly. I said get out. Get. The. Fuck. Out!" I grit out.