Chapter 20 - Martin's Real Father

"And what are your plans, Victoria? Someone informed me that you intend to eliminate the leaders of the Tikaluna Tribe one by one. That is not the way to conquer the land, nor is it the path to victory. What is this poison you are currently working with? It not only poses a danger to their tribe, but also to our clan." King Angus swung and slammed Victoria's door in a fit of fury.

Victoria sat at her dresser, slowly combing her red curly hair, unruffled by her father's raging argument. "Ah, you must mean Larry, your secret servant, who happens to be my servant as well. Father, please calm down. My servants are experts in chemistry when it comes to creating potions. This poison will swiftly eliminate the entire Tikaluna tribe, but we possess an antidote that ensures our kind remains unharmed. Rest assured, I would never put us in danger. Besides, I did not earn the title of the queen of household chemicals for nothing. My business has brought in millions of dollars."

King Angus slowly took a seat at the edge of his daughter's bed, his head bowed, while he supported himself with his silver walking cane in his right hand. "Our objective was to acquire their land, their people, their power, and their wealth. It was meant to be mine. I should have inherited the fortune that his father possessed. I did not receive a single penny from my ancestors, but I worked tirelessly to reach where I am today."

Victoria's eyes welled up with tears as she gently placed her palm on her father's left shoulder. "And you did it, father. You own numerous condominium buildings due to your hard work. However, you neglected my mother in your pursuit of wealth and building your empire..."

King Angus suddenly cut her daughter’s melancholic words while facing her and in a defensive voice he said , “ I did not and never did I neglect your mom Victoria. She battled with cervical cancer for five years but the deity of the sun knows that I never neglected my wife.”

“You were just there to support her financially, I know, I have witnessed that, father. The love that you had for my mom is because she is the mother of your one and only child. I felt lost growing up, you were never there for us physically, you never had the time to play with me and ask how my day went. But you showered us with material things that anyone was dreaming of.” Victoria turned her back and faced the dimmed window of her room.

“Do you have any resentment for me, my child? All I did was to secure your future so that no one can ever put you down like what I have experienced” The King lowers his voice and nervously waits for her daughter’s revelation.

Still stiff facing the window, controlling her tears, Victoria shed her words, “ You made sure that I always have the best in this life, my future became the envy of many, but you forgot my growing years father, I yearn for your cuddle. Mom would always protect you from my never-ending questions about your whereabouts. You were never there to celebrate my achievements. Mom had always been my home, you were just a King to me, but never been a father.”

“All my life I have had this dream to be big in this world, to have a name that you can be proud of because I was always hoping that with those winnings, I can fully get your attention. But it was always Martin whom you wanted to know more about, about his life, his favorites, his works. When I asked you why, you said because you are plotting a major revenge for him, and it made me hate him even more, and now it seems like you don’t want me to kill Martin and his tribe. But why?”

King Angus tried to keep his voice low, “Because that’s not how you gain victory. You do not kill just because you want to win. You will instill fear and danger to the beasts, they will not love you for that. They will always have this doubt that you can kill your own kind anytime.”

“Victoria continued while a single tear rolled down her left cheek, “ And what is love for you , father? I never saw you hug my mom, you always talk to her formally. At first I thought that’s what a king does to her wife but as I grew up I realized that you should not just be a king, you should be a husband too.”

“ I have always treated your mom with respect and showered her with all that she needs”, King Angus defended his actions.

“But you never really love her, right? Tell me father who owns your heart. Does it involve Martin? Because my instinct is telling me that you are hiding something from us.”

“I’m sorry Victoria, I should have said this when your mom died but I just let it pass for I thought that your decisions on taking over the land won’t be taken to extremes but I was wrong.”

Victoria strongly faces his father and her eyes crinkled, “You should have said this? Said what?”

“That Martin is your half brother. Her mother, Queen Anya, was my first love, and his father, King Baltimore was my best friend.” King Angus firmly stood up and was preparing for Victoria’s reaction.

Victoria covers her face with her both hands and sob, “How could that be, father? And why did you keep this from me for a very long time? Do you want me to accept Martin just like that?”

King Angus slowly walked towards her daughter and wrapped his arms around her, “No Victoria, no that’s not what I meant. I just want to tell you that my heart has been broken by Queen Anya when she told me that she’s bearing our child but she must marry my best friend King Baltimore because he has their blood and that’s the law. I couldn't fathom the pain that I felt from a betrayal of my best friend and my one true love.”

He continues while never never letting go of her daughter, “ That was when I met your mother, a brown werewolf, a blood who does not belong to a Tikaluna, a beast who helped me to take a chance in this life again. Then you were born and my life became more meaningful. Believe me, I was the happiest werewolf when I saw you. It saddened me that I did not witness the tribe’s coronation of my first child, Martin, but I even feel guilty knowing that you thought that I had neglected you and your mom.”

King Angus, now overcome with guilt and remorse, slowly let go of his arms from his daughter,  "Victoria, my dear, I never realized the impact my actions had on you. I was so consumed by my own ambitions and desires that I failed to see the pain I was causing. I am truly sorry for neglecting you and your mother."

Victoria turned to face her father, tears streaming down her face. "Father, I appreciate your apology, but it is not enough. I have spent years feeling invisible and unimportant to you. I wanted nothing more than your love and attention, but it always seemed to be directed elsewhere. I cannot simply forget the past and move on."

King Angus nodded, understanding the depth of his daughter's pain. "You are right, Victoria. I cannot undo the past, but I promise you this: from this moment forward, I will make a conscious effort to be the father you deserve. I will be there for you, not just as a king, but as a loving and supportive father."

Victoria's tears began to subside as she looked into her father's eyes, searching for sincerity. Slowly, a small smile appeared on her face. "Thank you, Father. I hope we can rebuild our relationship and create new memories together."

With a renewed sense of purpose, King Angus embraced his daughter tightly. "I am committed to making things right, Victoria. We have lost so much time, but we can still make the most of what we have now."

As they held each other in a long overdue embrace, both Victoria and King Angus knew that healing would take time. But with open hearts and a newfound determination, they were ready to embark on a journey of reconciliation and forgiveness.

But as her father left her room and closed the door, it can be seen in Victoria’s reflection in the mirror, she displays an evil smile thinking that capturing her father’s heart is a more easy way to plot revenge on Martin.

Her plan did not change at all even if her father revealed the truth. She does not want to stop from claiming the tribe. She wants victory and she imagines herself sitting on the throne.

Moreover, she wants Martin dead, even if her father will be her next enemy.