𝐷𝐴𝑅𝐾 𝐻𝐸𝐴𝑅𝑇𝑆

ii

Chapter 2 |the truth will set you free|
                 (or it can imprison you)
Pov Adya
             
            "The end has come
                       And i am not afraid"

I lit a torch so I could really get a look at the man before me. The son of a traitorous bastard to this kingdom, to the king. Casaveka will never be the same, my father was loved by his people and had little enemies. He was a man of fairness and justice, but he was also firm when it came to the rules. He was a man of his word and would do anything and everything in his power to make sure his people were okay., to make sure I was okay. A selfless man he was and now he's dead.

    Looking at this man, this disheveled empty shell of a person I needed to know why his father plotted against the kingdom and why my father had to die.

He was a mess and he smelled but I pushed that aside and listened to what he had to say.

I nodded my head for his to start. Clearing his throat he began, voice deep, sultry even.

    " My father was a man of love. He loved so much that it became his poison. Before I was born, my mother and father had a boy but there were complications,'' he cleared his voice. Eyes staring into mine but not looking. Lost in thought, reliving the memory.

"The boy was born a stillborn. My father blamed my mother everyday. He drank and drank and drank until he's eyes wouldn't open. He'd call her a worthless whore then apologize. He would call her a stupid bitch, then would bring her flowers, apologizing. This would go on for years until one drunken rampage, the maids told me they heard a scream come from my mother's chamber, my father screaming at her to "quite". He told one of the maids to hold her down and he, he.'' clearing his voice again, tears coming to his eyes. Thatcher stared at his chained hands.

" the man that was supposed to be her husband, the one that was supposed to keep her safe from harm's way, turned out to be the danger that couldn't be avoided. He was the monster. He had his ways with her. My father forced himself onto the woman that he was supposed to love and protect. And that's how I was conceived.'' the tears fell and I didn't know how to react. I knew there was more to the start of the monster that came to kill my father.

"There was another complication when I was born. My mother, she, um she bleed out on the birthing bed. I guess That was my father's breaking point. That was when he completely turned off his switch, the man wasn't a human anymore. For ten years h-he, he would use me as his own personal punching bag.'' Thatcher turned and pulled his tunic over his head. I looked at the scars that covered his muscled back and when he turned I closed my eyes. His entire back and front side were covered in scars. 

" This is what he did to me on the days he got drunk, on the day's someone pissed him off, the times when I reminded him of my mother and everyday your father was the king of Casaveka, commander of all four kingdoms and watcher of the humans." he laughed but it lacked every ounce of humor. I realized that he wasn't the enemy.

I knew that he wasn't his father not from the story he told me. He was just a boy caught up in his father's evil schemes, a game for the crown. I knew not from the pain that seared its way into my heart that He wasn't even half the man his father was. The man that stood in front of me was kind and sweet and didn't deserve what happened to him. No one did. I walked over and touched the scars on his stomach, dragging my hand around his side to his back. Thacher sucked in a breath.

    "Please know that I was just following orders until I knew it was safe. until I knew I was in the clear of Que'sandar. I lead men who didn't know much about fighting in combat. Purposely chose them to fight this war. I wanted to be captured so I could speak my truth. My father didn't know that there was an heir to the crown. No one in Man'on knew. Rumors were told that your mother died in childbirth and that you were born with the Poppies. Obviously that was a rumor, it's clearly you do not have the Poppies, my queen. No red blisters and yellow ooze in sight.'' his eyes roamed over my face, landing in my eyes. Thatcher's soft brown eyes looking into my hazel ones.