"Because he killed your parents princess." The words resonated in Isadora’s mind like a mantra’s recitation. Did she hear it right or was her ears playing tricks on her? That couldn’t be, could it? Griffin would never hurt his family, would he? What kind of joke was this? Maybe this woman was nuts and she ought to keep a distance far away from her. But could it be true?

"That can’t be," she said in almost a whisper, more to herself than anyone else in the room. "That can’t be

You’re lying!" She said turning to face Jade.

"Yes it is my dear. Don’t you ask yourself who caused the fire? Would your parents be so nave as to burn themselves?"

"Griffin wanted power and only his brother was standing on his way. He was afraid that your father might sire a son who would take the throne after him. The throne was what he wanted all this time. And I’m certain he had never raised the succession issue in the Royal court, has he?" Jade asked a surprised Isadora.

"No, he hasn’t," she sighed. "Can I trust you?" Isadora asked.

"Yes dear. Feel free to tell your aunt anything," Jade coerced.

" Lately, my uncle has been threatening me to give up my birthright as the true heir to the Crescian throne to him," she said. But why was she telling her this? But the thought that her uncle was the one who roasted her parents didn’t settle well with her. All these years, she had grown up believing that it was the Valorian royal family that killed her parents. It all made sense now. Griffin’s desire to take over Valoria didn’t start now. It was like an ambition to him, an ambition that turned to greed.

"See. I knew that brat would stop at nothing to get his filthy hands on the crown. Years have passed now and still he isn’t willing to give up the throne to it’s rightful owner. Such a bastard. I wouldn’t hesitate to drive a knife through his belly at any given chance," Jade said flaring in anger. Seems she had held the grudge for more years than Isadora could have thought.

"And how do you know that it’s my uncle who killed my parents? Any evidence?" Isadora asked. She hadn’t believed it fully though her gut feeling told her Griffin was truly the one. The thought alone made her clench her fists so damn hard that her knuckles hurt. Twenty years, a freaking twenty years living in a lie! Griffin would pay for this if it turned out to be true.

"It’s a long story princess but I witnessed it with my own two eyes, all of it. In fact, I was destined to die together with your parents but miracles do happen."

"I want to hear it, all of it," Isadora demanded. She was itching to get nothing but the truth before she separates someone’s head from his body that instant. That wouldn’t be fun. Maybe cutting him into pieces and feeding them to dogs would do. Damn it! She wanted Griffin dead in the most gruesome way there ever was. But would that heal her bleeding soul?

"Your mother and I used to be close friends, as expected of sisters. But unfortunately, I was married. I used to visit the palace at least once per month, maybe the reason why you couldn’t remember me. Unfortunately, my marriage was unsuccessful as I couldn’t sire children, so my husband kicked me out two days before the eve of your parent’s death. I had nowhere else to go apart to my sister’s place, the palace.

My sister accepted me after I had explained everything to her and her husband, your father, promised me a place to live and call home." Her shoulders dropped recounting the tragic event.

"The few days that I stayed in the palace, I saw how envious Griffin was to his brother, the king. He was an army commander back then, in the rank of a general answerable to the king only. He was however conquering new lands without the King’s consent and putting them under his name, something that your father turned a blind eye on."

"Okay. Can you just get straight to the point?" Isadora asked probably tired of the whole narrative. She wanted to hear how Griffin killed her parents and not someone’s past life.

"Okaaay," Jade sighed. "On that night, everyone had slept earlier than usual due to the day’s event that had taken place; your birthday. Many kings and princes from neighboring kingdoms had been invited and so some were to spend the night in the kingdom’s guest room. Among these were the Valorian royal family. Valoria and Crescia were at peace that time. I had left your mother singing a lullaby for your little self before I too went to bed. I was usually the last one to sleep and blow the candles out.

So after making sure everything was in order, I also made for my room when I noticed some movements behind the King’s chamber. Several knights were holding torches surrounding the room. At first I thought it was just for security purposes but when one of the knights lit the roof, I was surprised. Instinct told me to go and scold them but I couldn’t believe it when I got there. Griffin was leading the group.

He instructed the knights to get me and they knocked me off before I could scream. When I woke up next I was tied to a tree West of the palace while some knights stood guard beside me. I saw fire coming from the direction of the palace and feared for the worst..."

"How did you know my parents were dead when you were actually in the forest?" Isadora asked all of a sudden.

"Griffin told me. He came to me after the fire had died down and told me about it. And then he stabbed me on the chest leaving me there to die. Fortunately, a villager saved me before I could lose more blood."

"And how the hell are you talking to Griffin without being recognized?"

"Well. It’s my inner power princess. I can choose who and what to see in me. To Griffin, I am a fairy, but to you, I am my real self."

Sorry for the boring narrative. I tried to make it as short as possible.