A few days later, Encre's POV

"So? What's the difference between them?"Jasper asks as we paint together.

"Between what?"I ask

"My father and Lord Charmeur."He replies

"Do we have to talk about him?"I ask

"You have me curious Encre. He promises the world and praises you, yet you turn him down. He certainly made a better impression than my father with his comment of burning you-"He says

"You are never going to let him live that down, are you?"I ask

He giggles, shaking his head.

"Nope! But I do want to know why you turned down an offer that could've given you everything to stay here."He says

"I have a life here. I'd be going somewhere unknown with a stranger if I were to take his offer. And I've heard flattery or offers like that before and none have kept to their end of the deal. It's just a trick to get what they want. And telling by how your guests acted that night, going to his kingdom wouldn't be much different and I'd be entering a world of trouble. It's just the facts."I say

"So there is no difference between him and my father?"He asks

"I wouldn't say that...There's definitely a difference between them."I say

"A difference that keeps you from falling for Charmeur's romantic actions?"He asks

"I can hardly call claiming someone as your possession or other creepy statements romantic, but yes. I guess you could say that. Charmeur reminds me too much of people that only sought to do harm to me, even if they claimed to care about me. Even in his gaze at me I could see them in it. It's cold, empty, careless. The difference is that your father has this warmth in his gaze, this obvious care...I dunno how to really phrase it...Just something in his gaze that puts me at ease and lines up with the intentions that he expresses. There is some genuine care that I can see that Charmeur doesn't show. And no, it isn't just the flames around his eyes since you also have it in your eyes or Suave."I try to explain.

He grins.

"So if he and my father were to both offer you a rose, who would you accept it from?"He asks

I shake my head, finding the question ridiculous.

"And why would he do that? Does he want to get in the news again against Suave's advice?"I ask

"You'd be good together!"He says

Oh, that's what he is trying to get at.

"Jasper, I see what you're trying to get at but it's not always that simple. The world isn't ready for what you are suggesting...people aren't ready for what you are hinting at...Just look at the news or how others react. It would just lead to trouble..."I say

"But hypothetically, if they were ready and they both were to do that, who would you accept?"He asks

I sigh, shaking my head. He is seriously pushing this idea.

"I'd...I'd accept Fallacy's...Now can we focus on the artwork?"I ask

He squeals, running off.

I guess I got my answer. It was never about the artwork today.

"Daaaaad! I got some information for you!"He shouts, his voice echoing off of the walls.

"What is it?"Fallacy asks

"It's about Encre!~"He giggles

"SHUSH! Just get over here!"Fallacy says

I shake my head, laughing a bit.

A few minutes pass and I hear footsteps coming closer. I glance over, seeing Fallacy peeking in.

"Bonjour, Fallacy."I say, smiling at him

His face turns yellow and he ducks away, shutting the door.

How odd...

I step out cautiously, leaving my painting to dry with Jasper's. I think I'll head home to help my parents pack. They are planning to move out. My dad says that it's since all three of us deserve our privacy and that I'm an adult now. He also says that I deserve the peace of having guests over without my father screeching at them, especially when it comes to Fallacy. But telling by how they talk to each other lately, I get the feeling that it's more than that causing them to desire "privacy". This is the first time that they've been together in over a decade and they have become even more affectionate or touchy with each other. Who knows, they may be seeking to have another child to see them grow up in ways that they didn't get to see me grow.

The only thing that makes me hesitant is the obvious stalking Lord Charmeur has done over the last few days. I have caught him watching me or following me around, always making a comment about marking or "being his" before leaving when he got caught. I glance around, then quickly march to my home to find my parents boxing things up and my father talking with Rufous. They turn to me, smiling as my father hands me a sheet of paper folded up.

"Keep this close to your soul. Don't ever let anyone you don't trust see this."My father's words translated to.

"What is it?"I ask

"The key to our new home."He replies

Then it clicks.

"Wait...Father...Are you trying again with your vision? After everything that happened last time?"I ask

He nods.

"Poussiere helped me find unowned land that has beneficial angles or aspects to provide better defenses. And Rufous has all the supplies for our plans. There will be a safe place like that again. There has to be."He says

"But I just got you back! What if they attack again? I can't lose you to that again!"I tell him

"The vision of something better cannot die to hatred. We'll be safe here. It's away from hostile lands. You won't lose us again."He says

He hugs me as my dad takes his necklace back from me. My father gave me my scarf back to me. The same one from the scrapbook pictures which he said that he kept the entire time that he searched for us. Rufous gave me a silver bracelet, made to match one that each of them was wearing as well. I see that on a circular charm attached to it is each of their names, including Suave. That makes me smile. I guess Dad convinced my father to let this adoption stand, keeping Suave in our family. Then my father puts both of his hands on my shoulders.

"Tell me if anything goes wrong ok? Don't hide it! I will come ASAP! Don't try hiding it because I will check with Suave, ok?"He says

I nod so he hugs me and they leave shortly afterward. I quickly go inside, locking the note in a drawer hidden in the floor of my room. I lay on my bed, finally able to relax.

Yet over the next few weeks, my house gets more frequent visits, mostly from Fallacy. It fell into the same pattern as before where he'd claim that he needed help with something, but could never return or show me what he needed help with. By now I know that it's just an excuse to spend time with me. At some point I stopped asking for a reason behind his visit with this in mind, inviting him inside to just spend time together. Though he always tried to act like that wasn't his intention or that he was happy with this outcome, trying to think of what he forgot to bring. Or that's what he tells me at least. Then I lost track of the times that we'd lose track of time talking until the sun came up. He'd always run as quick as he could to the castle and I'd wonder how much real work he missed to do this little act.

Then Suave would come hours later to complain about Fallacy, giving me an idea of exactly what. He doesn't know that Fallacy sneaks off here but Felicia would always cover for him with whatever he missed.

Fallacy...you're an interesting king...In a good way...

While on a walk to Azure's house, I get stopped by a pair of vampires dressed like guards.

"Excuse me, we need help. You're Encre, right?"They say

"Oui. How can I help?"I ask, thinking that they're the guards sent by Fallacy or someone.

They both grab me and grin, picking me up as their wings unfold. They place something in my mouth and take off. I see the castle and the kingdom itself fade from sight, only to be shoved into another castle. I get dragged up some stairs and tossed into a room with the doors slamming shut.

"Here he is, your Majesty!"They shout as I spit out the gag.

I see numerous papers pinned to the walls, showing headlines and pictures focusing on Fallacy's kingdom. Many of the headlines or images focused on Fallacy himself or his involvement with me. Some showed him with me at either of the parties held at the castle while most of the headlines were detailing rumors or gossip as they tried to figure out our connection...My face was always crossed out in red paint with X's and arrows connected insults to Fallacy's pictures including "embarrassment", "shameful", disappointment", "embarrassment", "worthless", "failure", "disgraceful", "ungrateful----" among other words, I couldn't translate but I have no doubt Suave would ban.

Where did I get taken...? Wait....

I notice one note beside a picture of Fallacy and Jasper saying "Failure leaving a broken legacy to my last hope" and it clicks, remembering what Jasper told me about his grandfather.

Oh no.....I'm with the pissed grandpa!

Then I see a large shadow loom over me, growing bigger as a growl is heard behind me. That is one of the last things I see.

Meanwhile, at the castle

"Father! Father! We have a serious problem!"I say, banging on his door

He opens the door curiously.

"What is it? I'm preparing for a meeting."He asks

"I saw Grandpa's guards snatch Encre and leave! Grandpa has ENCRE!"I tell him

SLAM!

The door gets torn off its hinges as he slams it into the wall, his skull engulfed in flames. He becomes a blur zipping past me and then I see Auntie zipping over.

"SUAVE CANCEL THE MEETINGS!"Father shouts

"Why? What excuse is it now?"Suave asks

"I have to teach that freak that I must call a father a lesson!"He says

"Alright, fair enough."Suave says

"Ooo! I'm coming! I have to see this!"Auntie says, getting a sketchbook and chasing after Father eagerly

I soar after them, turning into a bat and trying to keep up. It wasn't hard to follow given how angry my father is right now. His blue flames are burning a trail in the air. When I got there he had already bulldozed his way through the guards as others flee at the sight of him. I have never seen him so angry before. Then again, he never really let me see his relationship with Grandpa and cut ties with him in a letter.

This will be an interesting family reunion.

SLAM!

"WHERE IS HE?"Father shouts

"Oh! Hello, darling! It's been a while, hasn't it?"A familiar voice says

I enter with Auntie, finding the room a complete mess. News cutouts are marked up and covering all of the walls while the smell of blood hangs in the air. Blood pools in puddles and stains the papers, yet I recognize the source. Encre's blood...I glance ahead, seeing Grandma pacing with a broom and adjusting her dainty gloves and curls of her hair. She smiles at us, pushing the broom effortlessly, dragging Grandpa across the floor while he is knocked out cold with it.

Grandma is literally caught sweeping the floor with her ex-husband.

"Oh! You're all here! How wonderful!"She says

"Grandma...What happened here...?"I ask

TBC