I did it.

"We've been waiting for you both. What took you so long?" Jade asked suspiciously as Walter and Tanya walked down the stairs. "The King has been waiting. He has refused to eat anything until you both join him."

"We're here aren't we?" Tanya replied.

"Tanya, what were you doing with the Prince?"

"An activity."

"An activity?"

"Yes, a spicy one."

"You good for nothing daughter of…"

"Isn't that what you wanted to hear? Walter, let's go in." She said, holding him by the hand and walking past Jade.

"My Prince, I hope she didn't do anything stupid to you? She an affinity for stupidity. She's not too mentally stable…from birth." Jade said, following them in.

"Are you talking about your mother?"

"Sadly no one is going to call you mother."

"This is exactly why your Father left you."

"Will you both just cut it out? I'm really hungry and your noise isn't making things better."

"My Prince, you still feel hungry?"

"Yes"

"I can't remember how that felt." Tanya said on entering the dinning.

They all bowed to the King before taking their seats.

"Little ones, you kept me waiting. What took you so long?"

"It was Tanya!" Jade yelled.

"Your Highness, do not pay any attention to this neglected child."

"'Neglected' should be your marital status."

"Look at this virgin bastard"

"Your children will die as virgins!"

"I do not want to hear another word from the both of you." Will ordered.

"Son, how do you feel now?" He asked, taking a bite, the spoon clinking against his teeth as he did.

After the first spoon, Jade and Tanya also began taking bites. Ironically, they did so in perfect unison without them even knowing.

"You had an abnormally high fever after the manifestation. From mere observation, I could tell you had a rough sleep."

"Father, allow me to apologize for what happened. I had no idea it would get that serious. I tried to make it a small explosion, but I don't know what happened. This time was even more destructive than the first, but when I was attacked by the cannibals, I could control the extent to which I wanted to…"

"No, it's fine. The Kingdom has been fixed, and… I wasn't hurt at all. Besides, I was the one who forced you to duel. I was just so eager to see what your gift was."

Walter still felt guilty, and hadn't begun eating.

"Don't feel guilty, son. It wasn't your fault. Now, eat up. I'm certain you are very hungry."

"How did you…"

"I know a lot…by the way, you must stop using that power."

"I should?" Walter asked, shocked.

"Yes. That power isn't a gift. It's an exchange. It is sucking out your life source. You must stop it."

"Yes Sir."

"In the meantime, you'll be trained by Tanya and Jade. You need to work on your physical abilities. While we sparred I could see many loopholes in your technique. If you were in a battle with a skilled warrior, you would've died multiple times over. Your wrists are stiff, your waist is stiff, your legs are.."

"I get it! I'm a bad fighter."

"Good."

"Dad…how did you survive that attack unscathed?"

"It's my gift."

"Your gift?" Walter asked, looking at Tanya briefly.

"Yes"

"What is your gift Dad?"

"Being a better fighter than you?"

"I'm serious Dad. You've kept it from me for too long."

"There are so many things I haven't told you, Walter, but I want you to know that I have your best interests at heart."

"Dad, keeping me in the dark isn't doing me any good. I'm not getting better. I need to know these things so I can become just as strong as you. I need to be strong if I'm ever going to see mum or Jane again."

"You want to leave your old man already?"

"Dad it isn't like that."

"I can see that you're already tired of me."

"Dad! You're changing the subject!"

"I'm cursed."

"What?"

"A curse gave me this much power."

"Who cursed you? How? When?"

"I'm cursed with this power for a reason I am not allowed to tell you. But I want you to know that it's not a gift, it's a curse. It's very similar to what you have. It's for that very reason I instructed you not to use them again."

"I don't understand, you need to tell me more. Who cursed you, and how are they similar."

"You won't understand if I just explained. There's a place I need to take you to grasp everything I'm saying, but you won't return the same. You're better off without those powers. Just take your training seriously."

"Dad we both know that's not enough."

"It's better that way."

"I've already tried that lifestyle you're about to walk. It doesn't end well. It never ends well. Nothing is free. Trust me."

"it's hard to trust when you also haven't told me why you left mom."

"How can I when you keep doubting my every decision? I truly want what's best for you, and I'm just waiting for the best time to tell you all these things."

"Dad, I'm not a child anymore. Just tell me the truth already. I've listened to too many speculations already. I want to hear the truth."

"Son, they are all true."

"True?"

"Yes."

"That you're an alcoholic?"

"Yes…"

"That you're a wife beater?"

"Yes"

"And that you cheated on mom?"

"Yes, Walter. At some point I was involved in all these things."

Walter slowly dropped his spoon and stood up, not saying a word as he walked away from the dining.

"Walter, wait!" Tanya yelled.

"Dad, I was hoping all these were false…these few weeks I have spent with you, there wasn't a trace of lowliness in you. This is still very hard to believe. After how bad a husband you were, you still left us and didn't say goodbye? How could you? I never told you Dad, but I prayed every night when you left that you would one day return. I was bullied so much and all my bullies told me these things to me to break my ego…I prayed they were false, and here I am, living a nightmare."

Walter walked out of the room in frustration, stamping his feet and grumbling as he walked up the stairs and back into his room.

As he walked down the dimly lit hallway, his thoughts got even more intrusive, barely being able to focus on the present, he grumbled at the reality of the situation. It was like all his nightmares were coming to pass one by one.

Lost a thousand miles into his thoughts, his eyes fell on the silver light that spilled out of the door that was slightly open. From the door, came a charming melody capable of calming the most troubled soul.

Out of curiosity, Walter slowly walked towards the open door to take a closer look. As his iris dilated in adjustment to the slightly brighter room, his heart was pulled in even more as the voice melted his heart the more he listened, like the call of a siren.

It was Adeola. She sat on the bed in a lotus position, dressed in a cozy cardigan, with a guitar in her arms. She gracefully played, her eyes tightly shut. She was fully immersed in her music, Walter could tell. As she sang, Walter could feel the emotions she emanated, and they touched the depths of his heart.

Seeing her face once again after a while refreshed all the memories he had with her. He wanted to speak to her.

Unable to hold his urge, he pushed open the door, disrupting her flow as it creaked open.

"You never told me you could sing." He said catching Adeola's attention.