.Truth

Finding myself in the park, on the merry-go-around thinking back to what the King had discussed with me before I came back.

"Sit, please Adriel." He extends his hand, pointing to the seat in front of him, and I do as he says. "You are aware I am dying, do you not Dre?" You could see the tiredness on his face, his sharp features sagged. It made me sad, he taught me the meaning of holding a sword, we won wars together, he taught me everything I knew about fighting. "Yes, you're highness." He gave me a tiered smile. "Then you should know after my death, my advisor, Luke will be presenting as king until the convergence ceremony, where and Emmi you will be crowned. Luke? Why would he put this world under that cunt's command? Even if the ceremony is only eight months away...another thing to add to my long list of shit. I look out of the window, trying to hide my distain for his decision and he continues. "Tell me son, what of this, Emerald? Have you managed to tell her?" Her tear streaked face flashed through my mind and I wince, undoubtedly still angry over the situation. Father can't know about what happened. The last thing we need is me dragging her here screaming. Throwing on my usual expression, I lie. "I haven't told her yet father, but make no mistake, I will bring Emmi home!" Suddenly standing up, I turn to leave, "Now, if you'll excuse me, my lord, I other matters that need tending." He let out a withered sigh. "Time is of utmost importance Dre. You know what will happen if you don't succeed, don't you? He kept staring out of the window, not making any move to look at me. Emmi will die, and I'll be left without a queen until my rein ends. The next queen wouldn't come around for the next few thousand years. Even a day without her felt like several lifetimes. I couldn't care less about having a queen, I just want Emmi to live and spend the rest of years by my side, on the throne.

I spent the last week trying to make sense of what happened. Feeling like I was in a a state of stasis. Nothing seemed real. Am I even real? Surely, I dreamed all that. All week I had lay on my couch, in my bed, completely shaken and confused. Replaying that night over and over. "That's it! I fell and hit my head!" I proclaimed, standing up from the couch, stomping my foot, "Ugh, that's not it either." sitting back down dejected, I throw my blanket over myself. No, Emmi, this is the weirdest thing to ever happen to you. Now's not the time to be depressed. "No, it really was real. But how?" I spent another hour going over it in my head before I finally had enough. I had gotten not even forty-eight hours of sleep this week, I needed food, sniffing myself I fake gag and a shower. Wow Emmi, you smell like shit. Trudging to kitchen I make some instant ramen. After scarfing down my first meal in three days, I head for the shower. Standing in front of the mirror, my hair was a knotted mess, my skin was dull and dry from stress. The bags under my eyes, indicated how little I had slept. I needed to pull myself together!

The steaming water from the shower washed over me, relaxing my muscles, I stand there for awhile just silent. The water helping me think more clear. Dre said he could explain everything, but I ran away without listening, though who wouldn't in that situation? You would think logic would take over, but despite how terrified I was, I missed Dre, more than I cared to admit. I missed his laugh and smile the most. So much it physically hurt. I needed answers, I was ready to listen to his explanation now. "I just hope he's not angry with me for freaking out that badly, then ignoring him." Who wouldn't, I think my reaction was perfectly valid. I get dressed, picking up my phone that had been off for days, "Yes, still charged!" 15 missed calls?! 9 from Dre. I hang my head, feeling bad for ignoring him. Writing out my text, my finger hesitates over the send button. No, Emmi, you need to do this. Hear him out, there's got to a logical reason for glowing eyes and grey skin. Right? I shake my head and press send. Seconds pass and my phone dings. Oh God, he replied, that was fast. "He's coming in fifteen minutes?!" I look around my tiny place, well, I guess it's time to speed clean."

I was nearly in need of another shower from cleaning up my depressive mess of an apartment when I heard the roar of Dre's Audi on my street. I started to panic. You can do this Emmi! You need answers, right? Go get em'! Giving myself a pep talk, I swing the door open and a pair of large arms wrap around me, and I tense. calm down, it's just a hug. I repeat to myself. Feeling his scruff tickling my cheek, he clenched his fists in my hair. Dre held me so close I could hear the hammer of his heartbeat in his broad chest. His rosy smell filed my nose. I savored all of it, letting the calm wash over me. "Dre, breathing would be cool." Laughing he released me, his hands still holding onto my arms. My heart clenched, I missed his musical laugh. "I'm sorry. There are just no words to to summarize how badly I missed you." He ran his fingers through my hair again, my skin tingled at his touch. His eye were searching mine, uncertain, pained. I hated seeing such a sad look on his face, he was always a vibrant person, but I could sense a darkness hanging over him, and I prepared for whatever was about to come my way.

We sat opposite each other, his big hands folded in his lap, he seemed to be consumed in thought, his face looked like he was in pain as he occasionally fidgeting with a ring he was wearing. "Is that real?" Leaning his way to get a better look, it seemed to be gold, with a big ruby in the middle with small sapphires incased around the band. "Hmm? Oh, my ring? Yes, solid gold, inlaid with a blood ruby and sapphire. It was made for me a long time ago by a family friend." He stared at it, a half smile. "Wow, that's incredible!" Rich people, I scoff in my head. "Actually, Emmi, my family is what I wanted to talk to you about, well, and yours too." Here it comes! I straightened my back and tried not to seem anxious, "My family? You just met me a month ago. How could you know anything about my family?" My heart hammered in chest, my confusion growing. No, Emmi. listen, then freak out. His face grew serious, and scrunched up like he was working up the courage. "Emmi, I need you to listen, and listen good. Everything I am about to say is going to sound completely insane, and out of this world and I would understand if are repulsed or hate me after. Hell, you may think I'm playing some sick joke." Staring at him confused, I gestured for him to continue. His usually large build, looked like that of a little boy who was about to confess to breaking his mom's things. His knuckles turned white as he balled his fists in his lap. His green eyes never left mine, they bore into me with such an intensity it made me uncomfortable.

"What you saw that night in my house was regrettably real. What you saw is Rei's true form. That is what he looks like out of his human disguise." Huh? like a costume? "True form? What does that mean? disguise?" My leg started shaking from nerves. Dre let out a pained sigh, and scooted to the end of the couch "Emmi, Rei is a demon, as am I, well the crowned prince of demons more or less. and-and well so are you. This world you know isn't what you're born for. Our families are from the two most highly regarded clans in Acheron, or the underworld, as humans know it. It's where we and our parents were born."

My jaw drops and I'm left speechless over his explanation. His screwing with me right? There's no such thing as demons or ghosts, or fairies, or anything like that. Did he say prince? Oh my God, he's the devils son? Satan's real, hell's real. He said me too, I'm a human, I don't have any powers! All I could do was stare at him, and let our nervous giggles, but his face gave no hint of joking, no hint of a laugh. Is he being for real? I couldn't wrap my mind around this ridiculous notion. He thinks this is funny, he's just messing with my mind right now. Anger rose up, but my heart told me to keep listening.

"Ok." Was all I could muster. Dre moved to sit on the coffee table in front of me. "Let me show you. But please don't freak out. Please" His eyes pleading. I nodded, words failed me. Closing his eyes and letting out a big sigh, the air grew dense, almost like you could reach out and grab it. When he opened his again, the grassy green I was used to had become ablaze with light, glowing like a thousand emeralds in the sun. I gasped, reflexively sitting back in my chair. "Dre, you-what's happening?" Excuse me? Hell. No. No, no, no, no. I'm on an episode of Supernatural, a hidden camera show, I scanned the room for cameras, fear factor perhaps. What in the ever loving hell is going on? 'No cameras or game show, I assure you.' Huh? Was that..? Dre? My head snapped in his direction as him as he gave me light smile, "it's not the only thing I can do, but I can speak in people's minds, not all of us can do it, only I can. " His hands reached out for mine and I flinched, his brows knit together as our hands touched, his cool hands, felt warm against mine and my heart picked up. I'm angry with him, so why does my heart flutter with a simple touch?

"Now, I'll tell you about your parents." I froze, expecting more deceit. "My parents are dead. They died years ago, what would you know? Why would you know?" I spat back at him, anger evident in my voice. My parents loved me, they were good people. If this a big joke, it's no longer funny. Dre stood up, patting my head and walked in my kitchen, a few moments later he came back with a glass of water. Sitting back down in front of me, he held it out, "Here." I took it and gulped it down in one go and looked at him. "This better be worth my time, or I swear I will delete you from my life!" He raised his eyebrows, nodding his head, not seeming the least bit concerned. "Emmi, it's a fact you're parents are dead. That remains a constant. What I need you to know, is that they weren't human, they were demons. They were born into the Greyon clan, also your last name, The clan next in line to my own, the Amon's, the original clan. When your mom found out she was pregnant with you, there was turmoil in our land, war between clans, so much death and Your parents decided to abandon their clan and kingdom and bring you here, shrouding you in a veil, making it so no one would ever find you. They were killed, but we don't any ideas who could have done it or why they left." I'm sure my eyes were like saucers, I hugged myself, absorbing everything Dre just threw at me. I knew my parents were killed, but they were demons? None of this still makes any damn sense. Do I have powers? Can I fly? laser beams? They're demons, stupid, not Mothra. Dre's eyes peer into mine, gauging my reaction, he seemed rigid and on edge, like he was waiting for something. Probably thinks I'll run away again. "Emmi?" He cautiously says my name. "I'm ok. Thank you for telling me." is all I say as I get up to grab my keys and walk towards the front door, with Dre already behind me, I walk to his car and climb in. "Emmi, what are you doing?" His eyebrows raised in confusion. I buckle my seat belt, as he turns the car on. "Adriel, I'd like to see Rei."