You're Not Her

**Aileen POV**

"Who the feck are you calling sparkly!?" I suppose he was my surprise.
Did she just say he sparkled? Sekai was trying not to eat up the sight of Devon's guest. The demon girl still wanted to comfort me, but her hormones were clearly out of balance. All her focus was on not running up and holding the only man who would ever shine for her. The man she thought she would never meet, since she was unable to leave this castle prison she was stuck in. I would be happier for her, if I wasn't so dumbfounded. And for a flash, this broke through my self-pity and fear.
She just said my Father sparkled for her. Sekai and Father are soul mates!? Everything was so messed up right now in my head, I wasn't sure what to say, or think.
Sam tugged me away from Sekai. The very millisecond Sam held me, Sekai pounced for my confused Father. Devon had to side step away to safety before an overly excited Sekai trampled him...to get to my Father.
"I never would have guessed I would meet my true love here, I wanna know everything about you sexy man... but not right now. My friend needs me. We should talk later in my room though! It's so close to here! I'll meet you in a few hours probably." Sekai was so ecstatic she hadn't taken the time to wonder why he would be here with Devon.
In a small voice, I called out to them, "Dev... Father..."
"Father? I got a sexy dad as a true love? Damn that's hot." Sekai leered at my Father for a while, until reality caught up with her. "Oh... Aileen... I'm..."
I held a wobbly hand up. It wasn't easy to admit, but I had always known my Mother was never loved by him. They weren't meant to be. Mother had just done her job as a princess and married him. The same responsibility I had failed.
Devon ventured towards me in measured steps. His chin quivered as he made his way to the bed. Had he been told about my pregnancy? Was that why he was so upset? This was a break up! I could mentally hear him telling me we should stay friends. What happened outside earlier was a mistake. Or maybe he didn't know yet and had just found out he's my reward. I could see him hating that almost as much. As much as it pained me to tell him, I should be honest. If he didn't know about the baby, I couldn't hide it from him. There would be no ill feelings when he ended what had just started. I placed a hand to my belly.
"Get out. All of you." Father's voice boomed.
"I need to talk to Aileen." Devon argued. "There is a lot we have to discuss and I want to hold her."
Father narrowed his eyes. Death was on his face. He was itching to stab someone, and barely holding back.
"I said get out. I am going to talk to that woman sitting in place of my daughter." Sekai stepped to the door, Sam and Devon stayed where they were. "At least one of you has some common sense. And don't think I forgot about that girly glitter sparkle shit. I'll show you what a man I am later."
Not waiting for the others to leave, Father marched over and slapped the back of my head. The blow wasn't unexpected, but enraged Devon. Sam stood up, reading the situation flawlessly. Devon created a small powerful tornado around me. It threatened to slice up anyone who tried to touch me while the wind protected my shaking body.
I brought my hand to the wind, letting the swirling air cut my palm in thin lines. Devon stopped using his ability.
"Leave Dev, I want to talk to my Father." I was able to get out through clenched teeth.
Devon glared at my Father. "You hit her."
I answered for my Father, "not hard and it's just how we work things out. This is how my Father and I have always communicated. Please, I want to be alone with him. I'll still be here after."
My tone was hollow and broken. The words sounded hoarse from all my crying. My spirit was still shattered, wanting my baby. I was a disappointment to the Lutz family name. A woman unable to protect her child, or save her love. Those men were right, I was useless. At least now I was aware of the fact. Fake Sir Alaric would be so pleased!
They didn't want to, but my friends left the room. That just left me and a very displeased Father. His cold eyes were not on me, they were resting on my stomach. He must have known there was something growing inside there. If he knew, then so did Devon. I hugged my arms, concealing my almost non existent bump. Hateful baby daddy or not, this was my child. I could at least shelter the innocent soul until I gave birth. No one, not even my own blood, would hurt my precious child from being born. My limbs may have been weaker than a twig in the rain, but I would fight nevertheless.
Father flopped onto the bed. He placed a much larger hand overtop mine on my belly.
"Go on. Explain what has you standing in place of my daughter."
That stung. I had yet to have a full conversation face to face with him in over six years. And he didn't even see me as his flesh and blood. I was somebody else in her body.
"I...I" I couldn't say anything.
"Speak. You had no issues telling me useless facts in those letters you kept hidden in your room. Speak now. To my face girl." There was that look. The one that had knights quaking in their armor, and enemies thinking over mercy pleas.
He had read those letters! They were all stupid and I had written down some really random things. No wonder he thought I was someone completely different. None of those letters, or the shell in front of him were his sweet elegant princess. Who am I any more? A baby maker who will live the rest of her life in the shadows of her husband and child.
I gulped deeply. "I really am a disgrace huh? My fiance gave me to a demon lord, the demon lord wanted me to become a mistress instead of a wife, and the one I'm supposed to be with, will leave me. I just keep fucking up. And worse of all, I failed my child. Shiuku wants to keep me from his life. What kind of Mother am I? What kind of wife was I?"
Father scratched at his stubble. "Did you two declare your love in God's house? Did you two sign any documents binding you by law? Have you taken any vows?"
"No."
"Then he is not your fecking husband. He NEVER was. Stop calling him that. He abducted you! Forcing you to be his, he took advantage of any thing he could. As for this failure as a Mother nonsense, the only thing you've messed up is giving up. You think I'm a failure?" He asked raising an eyebrow.
"No, of course not."
He didn't smile. "Then don't call yourself one. My own ego and decisions caused my own daughter to get kidnapped twice! I kill some guys wife and kid in my youth; he has my little girl taken and tortured physically, mentally, and sexually. Now, thanks to my fighting a demon, which I only did to prove I was not scared, I landed my child in the hands of a demon who has tricked her and broken her; leaving me this stranger! I haven't seen her in six years, now I may never get to reconnect with her! I promised both Kalum and your Mother to take care of you. I haven't saved you from a damn thing. But I won't let that break me. Why? Because SHE needs me. I need to be strong so I can lend her my strength."
I stared down at my feet. "You were able to sacrifice everything to obtain your goals, now you're a king and no one would dare test your mettle. You don't need to lean on someone like I do. You wouldn't have given yourself up for Trevor."
"You and I aren't the same. It's time you stopped trying. Be your own person. I have no one, not even Kalum any longer. What is the point of everything if you've lost everyone?” He drew a sharp breath. “Don't you think you've sacrificed enough? Don't you think it's time that you take something that you want? Use those bonds you have for all of us and stop trying to be someone you are not. Give me my daughter back!"
I had no idea what he was talking about. The only thing I could take was Devon, and him being my 'reward' wouldn't mean I force him to be with me. One lesson Shiuku didn't know he taught me; you can't make someone love you.
Father knocked me on the back of the head again. "So many letters in that drawer you told me your goals. What is it that you want?"
He tried to guide me to an answer. I balked, "to go home strong for our people. But now..." I patted my stomach.
"You want to give the child up to Shiuku?" He questioned me.
I squeezed slightly on my little buldge. "No. I want my baby happy and with a good life."
"So how could you combine those?"
Combine them?
Father scowled at me. "What was your goal when you helped that girl in the forest? What goal did you write down for Lena and I earlier today? Answer me now girl."
Each time he called me girl was another acidic knife to the heart. I muttered softly at first. "I wanted her to be safe. I wanted to protect the weak." A bit stronger now. "I wanted to become someone our country could be proud of. I wanted to help the DSS create balance. I want to stop the 'rewards' from being gifted." In a loud proud tone I finished. "I will escape from Shiuku along with those who hate working for him. I will start a revolt with Lena's aid. I will do anything to save myself and my baby!"
"And I will do everything to help my daughter. That's what being a parent means. Something that demon will never understand." Father smiled kindly down at me. "Be selfish. You've sacrificed enough. And don't forget, I still need to properly thank Shiuku for ordering my most trusted knight's demise. We can show all these demons and Kalum up in heaven why no one picks a war with Lutz! Remember your promise?"
I hugged my Father, nuzzling my face in his chest. "Never attempt my life again. I will remember that I am strong. I will never make you have to bury your own child."
"It's good to have you back, Aileen. I love you, we'll find a way to accomplish all your goals. We'll be back home before that demon pops out!"
I wasn't whole yet, but I was going to get back on my feet...For my growing family.
My Father held me near to his heart. We hadn't been this close since Mother passed away. The two of us really needed to work on being around more often than my mental breakdowns. After this, I had a happy notion that we would put more effort into our family bond back home. Our dimension would see something amazing when we got back. I still had lots of improvements for our people; like education for all!
I truly was blessed to have such an amazing Father. He had done in less than an hour what my friends had been trying for most the morning and afternoon. I used my sleeves to dry the rest of my tears. I had a lot of tasks ahead of me if I wanted to save my son or daughter. Shiuku may have ruined several times because of his exploitations of my emotions, but no more. My power lies in my family, they lend me pieces of themselves. I'll be better with the help of my loved ones.
I was more determined than ever. Shiuku would not get the chance to break me again.
I joked, "so since we are being selfish; I do not want to be forced into another engagement. Don't marry me off to Prince Roy when we get back. I want to pick the man I will be with from this point on; please."
This time Father got a triumphant glint to his dark looks. "You can't marry a dead man. Devon and I ran into him on the way back here. And well neither Devon, nor I were in a very good mood. Wrong place wrong time for the stupid Prince...Never have I claimed to be a good man and you know how I can hold a grudge. It was a true pleasure to show him how I earned the name 'Dark King'." Father bragged.
He bent down and kissed the top of my head. I could worry about what Devon will think about my pregnancy soon. Whether he was okay with this baby, or not; Devon would still be my family. We just may not be a couple after today.
No one is going to tear any fragment of my family apart again.
"Let's make Kalum proud."
That's when we heard a roar of pure loathing. "Bastard!"
"The feck is going-" My Father started to curse.
I was already on my feet. "DEVON!"