We stand in different side.

LANCE

I took the pitcher I slid in the refrigerator and gave Dad a glass of water. He swallowed it down in one go and exhaled. Color started to return on his cheek. We let him rest for a few minutes, mostly to let his color and strength return.

Dad was never weak. Nor he showed his weakness to anyone. Our extensive trainings can testify that. His unforgiving attitude to those who quickly give in to exhaustion and tardiness proves how tough he is.

Yet now, I can't see any trace of that person in front of me. This is weak him. This is him, terrified by forces who made him forgot who he truly was. Stripped him of his identity.

Was this the reason why he was paranoid?

"Then Dad, did they really set you free? You and your comrades?"

"Yes, they did. In fact, we got a whole bargain off it." He swallowed. "You ever wonder why I was a cop? It's because the man whose heart I carved out was one. The Faeries…I mean the woman who ordered us to kill them has changed our features into the faces of those people we killed. They erased our memories from the magical realm. Let us live by the identity of those mortals. They planted the original Dan's memories on me. And that's how I live. Under the impression that I was really Dan, I lived like a cop for three years, your mom Lance was originally Dan's wife."

"Then who really are you?" Magnus asked. Dad shakes his head.

"I don't know. It's so sudden really. It was only yesterday that I was Dan Augustus then suddenly the memories I have in the magical realm washed over me on the day I saw Lance's mark on his forearm. That's when I began to connect the dots. Before Lance was born I kept having weird visions of green people around us, then there's the dream of my wife dying. Like I told Lance I didn't act on it. Because I didn't believe in it. And then a week after my wife died. When I'm still recovering from the shock another man visits in my dream. I don't know who or what he was, I just know he's not a Faery. He told me the enemies are gonna come after my son next. They'll kill him when the Seeker won't find him yet. I didn't understand it back then. I only know I have to train Lance. I have to keep him safe. Someone powerful and elusive enough to fool the police and modern science is after him. I know I have nothing to fight against them. But I believe in my son. I believe he's special. So I will do my best to do my part as a Dad."

All of these information is so hard to sink into my brain. Dad… could it be...he's not my real father?

"Dad are you not –" The words won't come out of my mouth. I'm still having a hard time believing it. Like hell, my stomach repulsed the idea of him not who I think he was. No. I pushed the idea back. He's my Dad. It isn't important if he was from another world. Or he killed my real father just to have the freedom he covets.

None of it is his fault. If I were in his shoe I would have done the same. If I was tortured beyond madness I would grab at any opportunity that will come to my way. Before I lose my sanity. I shake my head. What matters is what happens now. How do we get out of this situation.

"Forgive me, Seeker." I was startled at the sudden change in his voice.

"You're more than welcome to kill me. Like you said, I was banished from the land of my forefathers. I killed an innocent man, bathe in his blood for selfish reasons."

"Dad, what are you talking about? Magnus won't kill you – won't he? Magnus?"

My heart is ramming against my chest. Especially when I see Magnus's hardened eyes.

"Magnus tell me you're not…"

"It's in the law Lance. Rankers, Rank Ruler, Rank Elders and the Gifted People. Banishment from the land of our forefathers may mean he's not permitted to step into the magical realm. But the fact that he killed a man, stole his identity and lived like a normal human being in human realm is the highest breach of the ancient laws. I'm sure you have realized it by now, right Dan?"

Dad won't look at his eyes. I vigorously shake my head.

"No, this is not true. Tell me you're lying."

Magnus sheathed his double sword out of nowhere. I'm immediately on my feet and stand between the two of them.

"Magnus. I'm warning you. Don't."

Magnus's eyes is a stranger to me. Glassy, stony, cold, the happy idiotic him vanished in an instant. As if the whole day I spent with him was just a lie.

"Before I came here, did you know what our patron Deity told me Lance? He said the Faeries will stop at nothing to tear us apart with doubt and mistrust. They're cunning. And will use the important people around you to kill you. You've been wondering what trap did that Faery woman talk about right? What if it's him? What if gaining back his memory was their way of trying to spy on us? On you? Once a Faery slave will always be a Faery slave. They're not that nice enough to let their precious slaves go just by killing a mortal."

The more Magnus drones on with his suspicion, the paler and weaker Dad looks. It's like he expected all of this. As if he's prepared. There's absolutely fear in his eyes…and a bit of relief.

Was it because he'll be killed at last? Does he want death that much? Why?

I stretched my arms in front of Dad. Even if he's not my real father, he was the only one who raised me alone. He tries his hardest to attend my school meetings – looking awkward with his stiff muscled arms and police badge. He'll become crazy for my safety. He kept me under monitor in the impression I might be killed if I wasn't in his sight.

He was the only one who stayed with me – he was my father, my brother, my best friend. And I won't blame him. If he killed my real father for his own sake. Because if he hadn't done that. Would he meet Mom? Would we meet? Would I be as strong as I am now if he's not the Dad who raised me?

"Step aside, Lance. I know this is hard, but this is for your sake."

I didn't budge.

"Lance," Magnus warned. "Step aside." I looked over his wrist. He looks awkward with Dad's bathrobe and his real white gleaming sword. At the end part of his back palm, I saw a hint of the small black vein, I saw earlier traveling on his neck.

"Magnus… that black veins ability of yours… where did you get that?"