Author's Note: Finally, this story has been followed and favourited! Thank you, whoever you are, for encouraging me like this! That made me decide to write this chapter first before updating my other stories! If you are a Harry Potter fan, I would much appreciate it if you go read my Tom Riddle X OC story and my fan fiction about Voldemort's daughter. (Lights and Shadows & Serafina Riddle and the Sorcerer's Stone) Again thanks for reading! And enjoy this chapter!

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No, no, no. That was the only thought that lingered in Darchelle's mind as she walked those anxious footsteps toward her father's study. She was perfectly calm though, just like her usual self. But she still cannot shut down the tiny spark of uneasiness and worry in her heart of stone. Annoyed, she finally managed to dismiss them. She absolutely hated human emotions, the way she looked at herself she thought she was superior, the best above everybody else. Which she was.

Her father must have not been such a fool after all, at least he noticed his prized book's disappearance. An empty, humourless smile crossed Darchelle's delicate crimson lips as she thought of various arguments to defend herself. It made her just a little surprised that her father would suspect her so soon - she had been such a good little girl, all the time. It will not be that difficult, the thirteen-year-old Rahl girl mused, to put on the sweet, innocent facade, and if she needed to, pretend to be weak.

Time past agonisingly fast, yet slow at the same time. Darchelle did not fancy to see her father's rage break over her, but her nature made her look forward to challenge and conflict. She rearranged her face one more time, a perfect mixture of confusion, innocence and calmness.

Yes, there is no possibility that anyone would doubt me. After all, I'm their 'angel'. Even if my father insists that I am guilty... Well, he will get nothing out of me.

Darchelle was now right outside her father's study; the room that gave her a guide to the unknown path toward immortality.

'This is where I leave you, my lady.' The guard bowed to her one last time before fleeing the quickest he could.

Coward. She shook her head in disgust, but was instantly taken aback by a man's furious shrieking inside the room. Uh, oh, her father certainly wasn't pleased. Deciding to play the innocent victim that know nothing about the stolen book, Darchelle knocked politely three times on the door.

It was instantly swung violently open, not my a guard, but by Panis Rahl himself, who was looking as angry as she had ever seen him be. His reasonably handsome features were contorted by controlled rage, as if he was trying very hard not to slap her head off. His gaze was enough to burn a hole in a normal person's head, but Darchelle, being the person she was, stared calmly right into the identical blue eyes.

'You wanted to see me, father?' She asked smoothly, putting a confused look on her young, beautiful face.

'I HELL well do!' He bellowed, and she flinched, afraid that her eardrums might be broken.

Darchelle forced her brows to furrow in fake concern as if afraid for her father's sanity. 'Father, are you okay? What is the matter?'

'You see, Lord Rahl? She can't possibly have stolen the book. Look at her!' Another man spoke up, gesturing at her, 'She is all scared and confused, my lord! Surly you can't suggest that your daughter is the thief?' She recognised it as one of her father's wizards, called Gilly or something... No, Giller to be precise. She thought that he was fairly easy on the eyes, with his over-delicate face that fitted more for a female than for a male. Especially with his long hair... But still, he was pretty good-looking, and most importantly: powerful. Power was the thing Darchelle valued most. She shook her head out of these thoughts; now was hardly the time to judge that wizard!

If her father was a dragon, he would be breathing fire now. 'Oh don't be fooled by her, Giller!' He shouted, 'She's not scared at all! And she certainly isn't confused! She's just pretending like she knows nothing about the book being stolen! Isn't that right, Darchelle, you family disgrace?!'

Giller, alarmed, apparently realised that it was impossible to reason with the king anymore, and he wisely retreated to stand beside the wall to leave the argument to the family,

Darchelle tried her hardest to keep her face even. 'Father, I'm sorry if you thought me in such a horrible way, but... Could you please tell me what this is all about? I have no idea, you see.'

'LIAR!' Her father grabbed her by the collar and sent her crashing into the wall, knocking over several vases in the process. 'Even when I am seeing straight through you, you still deny the bare truth! Admit it, you stole the book. YOU STOLE MY PRECIOUS BOOK! The book that is rumoured to hold the key to true power... The book that will gain me everything. And you stole it! Where did you hide it? Tell me, girl, or - '

'But I thought you have already read every book in your study?' Darchelle ignored all his outbursts and asked in a childish voice, 'Why did you not read this one, then?'

Expecting a slap on the face, she was surprised to see her father freeze for a second then suddenly he laughed. She and Giller stared.

'Ha, I nearly forgot... The book was written in the Ancient Language, so obviously you cannot manage to read it! Well then, girl, it is of no use to you, either. Just tell me where you've been hiding it, then maybe I can make your punishment a little less...unpleasant.'

Shaking her head, she said, 'Father, you have no proof that I stole the book.'

'Don't I?' He asked quietly before taking out a gem from one of the drawers. A gem that apparently fell out from a hairpin.

Hers.

'Is there a reason, Darchelle, that I found this on the book shelf of my stolen book, mmh?' Her father had finally had her cornered. There was no way out this time. She, Darchelle Rahl, had made a mistake!

Fool, fool, fool! Her thoughts screamed in her head while she resisted the urge to really scream as well.

'You will not have the book. Its knowledge isn't yours, never has been and never will be.' She said unnaturally quietly, knowing that by stating this at least they didn't have to go through the 'tell me where it is' game again.

'Oh, and why is that?' He snarled.

'Because you are not worthy of it.' She hissed coldly, this time earning a royal slap on the face.

In the corner of her eye she saw Giller running out of the room. Now it was just Darchelle and her father.

'You little - ' He was positively shaking with rage, 'you little' (slap) 'insolent' (hard slap) 'arrogant' (slap, slap) 'USELESS' (slap, slap, slap) 'WORTHLESS' (slap, slap, slap, slap) 'SCUM!'

Before he can start slapping her again, Darchelle pulled herself roughly away from him, her face red from the hits and her own indignation. She had never felt so angry and humiliated her entire life! It was as if the mistreating and disregard of thirteen years finally reached its exploding point, and she felt as if she can cause a thunderstorm by mere breathing, and her eyes felt as if it was blazing, shooting out deadly blue sparks.

If she hadn't concentrated on her father so much, she might have noticed the suddenly darkened sky, the roaring wind, and the destructive lightning cracking the sky. She might have laughed madly and pointed out to her father that she was more powerful than he can ever become.

But the fact was, she noticed none of that.

'How dare you...' Her whisper turned into an eye-piercing shriek, 'HOW DARE YOU! How DARE you call me worthless, you have NO IDEA what I'm capable of, you blind PATHETIC FOOL!'

Her father started toward her again but a mere barely-noticeable flick of her finger sent him crashing into the wall behind. Apparently shocked that his daughter dared to use magic against him, he himself sent a table flying at her, missed, then called for the guards.

Exactly that moment, a dozen guards streamed into the room, together with Giller and...

Darken.

Her brother's eyes wandered over the angry red marks on her cheeks, immediately knew what had happened, but didn't say anything about it. 'Father, sister, we have a very big problem.'

'What is it?' Her father asked abruptly, straightening himself while Darchelle stood there emotionally for him to continue.

'Zeddicus Zul' Zorrander, our biggest enemy, is finally attacking the palace.'

Panis Rahl fell into a chair.

Darchelle smiled wryly.

Oh, won't I be happy to see you die...