Hello readers! Welcome back ~ first off, thank you for all who have reviewed! Seven-of-Storms, Nighthingale123, Stalker Witch, and ShadowAngelBeta ~ thank you, it means a lot. Thanks to those who have left comments/alerts/follows! I never actually thought that this story would get so far. This chapter has been mostly finished for a few days now, but lost muse. . I hope you still enjoy though.

Disclaimer: As always.

Chapter 19: Hard Truth

Everything was still in the house save for the occasional crackle from the fire pit. The way his daughter glared at him and his love sent chills down the man's back. When did Jet change? James had a hunch that Ruler was more than responsible for this. He looked to his wife and his heart dropped, Amber looked at him with watery eyes far different than being scared.

James felt that not only was his daughter furious with the two of them but Amber was now turning against him. A bitter boil began down in the pit of his stomach as the thought of his wife betraying him and siding with their daughter. Most of all what caught him unaware was the question presented before him.

That statement alone brought back painful memories he had long buried to be forgotten. Now he realized that never could it ever be forgotten as flashes of fire, crying, and red came through his vision. There was an odd growling and James looked back to his daughter who was growing impatient with the delay of his answer. Her face was caked in dirt and sweat and that wound stretching across her beautiful complexion seemed to mark her changing. James would admit that worry began to creep into his being.

"Answer me. Now." Her flat tone made the demand all the more terrifying and the man wondered where that character of hers came from. James cleared his throat and looked to the floor.

"Jet, you were so young, maybe only two years old at that time. Things got so out of hand, there was nothing your mother and I could do." Jet's eyes narrowed at the monologue. She kept her voice firm and steady.

"That doesn't answer my question. I will say it one more time: Do I have a brother?" James looked up straight into her green orbs and felt compelled by something. Maybe it was the way the shadows fell over her face or the gleam in her eyes but either way he came right out with the truth.

"Yes Jet. His name was Maverick." The black haired teen quirked an eyebrow with the wording of her father's answer.

"Was? What happened? And don't even try to lie. I've been seeing my past through dreams." James and Amber looked to one another and her mother quickly asked Jet before her husband could answer.

"What have your dreams been of?" Jet rolled her eyes irritated by her parent's reluctance.

"I don't think it should be that hard to figure out since I knew I had a brother from these dreams." Amber's color seemed to drain and James anger began to show.

"Watch your tongue Jet! We are your parents!" For the first time she felt the need the smack him across the face. He did not yell at her, but the tone grinded against her nerves.

"Watch myself huh? For what? Are you trying to avoid the fact that you used me!" Jet noticed movement near the door and saw that Ruler had come out of the doorway into the room leaning against the wall to the left of the couch. Neither Amber nor James chanced a glance in his direction. "I'm not stupid! You two threatened your own family by taking up arms yourself! What happened to Maverick!"

Amber's eyes filled with tears and buried her face into her hands. Who would have known that Jet would turn against them and why did she let her husband persuade her so many years ago? Why was she so stupid? James stood up abruptly sending Jet sprawling across the floor. Amber's cries now softly echoed through the room as Jet glared up and rose back to her feet.

The two glared ensuing into a contest which either side was bound and determined to win. The heat in Jet's stomach had grown so much to a seething rage and forgot the sharp pain on her face. Every bone in her body ached to lash back out at the man she had called father.

"How dare you speak to us like that! You ungrateful child!" A snort came from the teenager as he spoke to her.

"Ungrateful? Is that what you're going to call it? You are more of a coward, avoiding my question with venomous backlashes at trying to figure out what in the world happened! I know you and mom did try to fight Ruler! I've seen it! I've seen the house on fire with a little boy scared out of his wits! What happened to my brother!?" James took a step toward Jet when a hand grabbed his wrist. Amber stood with her eyes narrowed and puffy. She turned to her daughter.

"I'm sorry Jet…that you had to find out this way. Maverick was taken from us. Ruler took him that night you speak of…" Jet turned to him and with a nod from the ancient being she returned to her parents.

Particularly James teemed with anger unwilling to give in to the fact that it was his own fault for having his family torn apart. Jet shook her head at the man. He jerked his hand out of his wife's grip and advanced onto his daughter. Jack of Blades watched closely sensing the mal-intent of the fallen man.

Jet did not budge or flinch when her father stopped only feet from her. He looked her down and all she did was glare up. The teenager began to wonder where all of this seething hatred came from. Over the years she had never seen her father act in such a manner, only love and kindness is what she knew. Maybe Ruler was not the enemy after all.

'How the tables have turned. Who would have known that of all things the obvious was not the truth but a lie concealed by trust.' The deep rumble of Ruler's voice broke the silence.

"James, you are to step back now, away from Jet." The way Jack had said his daughter's name earned a glare from the father. Unimpressed by his display Ruler only gave a firm steady stare that sent James back a few steps. "Good. Now tell her the truth. Start from the beginning."

Jet looked to Ruler who's eyes flickered over to her and their gazes locked. For the first time, she felt safe under his gaze and she only broke it when her father began to speak. Oddly she wanted to look more at his golden eyes. She shook the feeling from her dismissing it as nothing.

"When you were almost two, Maverick was four. I had a dream the night before of my father and all of the father's before him going way back to the last Hero. They had told me it was time. I figured they meant time to go and fight for my people, the people of Albion. So that following night, I had Amber come with me cladded in whatever armor we could find and makeshift weapons to challenge Ruler. We were severely outmatched. Retreating back to our home so that we could keep you two safe, Ruler came and took Maverick. I swore that he would pay for taking my firstborn from me."

Jet watched him for some time trying to absorb everything that was just said. There was something about the story that was pitiable but in the long shot she began to hate him. She shook her head.

"So why didn't you attack him yourself? Why did you choose me?" The muscles around his jaw clenched painfully as he held back a furious response.

"Why? Because you are my child and the only one still left after that night. Most of the village was burned that night and they wanted recompense. I told them that you would fight against Ruler when you were of age." Again she shook her head, there was something else.

"That still doesn't explain why you used me. So what, I was the only child left. That would have been more of a reason not to let me fight. What is your actual meaning? That you never cared about me?" The last phrase came out clenched. Her heart dropped when James' face darkened.

"Precisely." Her body shook as everything around her collapsed. Everything she knew and loved…all of it a lie. The muscles in her jaw tightened as she kept herself from screaming and cursing incoherently.

"What about Jack and Vinni? Do you care about them? Do you care if they're dead or scared calling for their 'father'?" James grunted in response.

"They were unexpected after so many years of no child bearing. I only used Jack as bait for you to go and fight Jack of Blades." Jet's eyebrows scrunched together.

"Jack of Blades…?" The name rolled over her tongue in a smooth flow and felt natural. She turned to Ruler, "is that your name?" His golden eyes were fixated on the sandy blonde who dared to utter his name burning with malignity. After a few moments Jack of Blades began to chuckle.

"Aye, it is little Jet. Do you understand everything now?" Jet looked between Jack and her father. After a few turns she swiveled on her heel and strolled over to Jack. He stood straight and watched her closely. Her form came close to his and was surprised when Jet laid her forehead against the top of his sternum.

His arm wrapped around her slender waist pulling that small body against him. Jack's body tingled as their bodies fully touched and sent him back to the night before. In a show of dominance his hand held onto her hip sending heat up to her cheeks. James narrowed his eyes at the two and Amber could only stare in disbelief.

"It seems dear James, that even your own daughter sees the true evil is within you. Your wife seems to have seen the truth as well. You must feel horrible and trying to find something to blame other than yourself. Jet belongs to me and," he paused for a moment to stroke her ebony mane, "we will bed tonight." Jet's eyes shot open and her heart thudded wildly at the thought. The girl would even bet that her face was as red as a tomato.

She never counted on doing such a thing just because she chose him over her own parents. Jet desperately hoped that he could not feel her heartbeat. They parted and she dared not look into his eyes but turned back to her parents. Amber appeared to be crushed realizing now that her choice twenty years ago was the worst mistake of her life.

James was harder to read but she knew what emotion coursed thickly through his veins. Anger. The two glared at one another for a few good long minutes until he could not take it. His eyes turned away followed by his whole frame. Jet wondered what her mother was going to do now.

This time Jet chanced a look to Jack who silently motioned for the door. The two began to leave when a high pitched squeal rang out.

"JJ!" Jet turned around as a little person rammed into her leg clinging around her waist. The teenager recognized the little figure as Vinni. Jet's hand instinctively rubbed the back of the child's head and watched as her big glassy eyes moved up to her.

"I wanna go wif you! I heard mommy and daddy!" The teenager's eyes popped open at the little girl's words. Go with her? Jack of Blades would not be the best place for her…would he? Her little brother Jack certainly was there…he was right?

A hand rested on her shoulder and Jet twitched lightly. She looked to Ruler and watched his ever impassive gaze. After a few moments Jet patted Vinni's head and nodded. Little Vinni squeaked in delight and bolted for outside. Jack of Blades followed suit in a calm manner while Jet turned back to her parents.

"Oh and James, that dream of yours, your ancestors were trying to tell you it's time to let it go." Jet emerged from the house with Jack of Blades and Vinni waiting for her. She took her first steps to the two and felt a wave of relief.

Jet saw a future right in front of her.