Zola Flash (The Zola Flash Series Book 1) (9 page)

I REMOVE MYSELF FROM the charcoal chair and leave Mr. Falls’ office. After gathering my things from my locker, I head outside.

Pin is standing by the door, talking to Britney, but he glances over as I appear, and I immediately veer to another exit. To my surprise, Pin doesn’t follow after me, despite the fact that I’m leaving school in the middle of the day. I guess following through with his Guardian duties has become less important to him than talking to Britney.

Walking home, I notice the city seems quieter than usual. There aren’t as many people rushing and shoving, trying to get to their destination, making it quite peaceful, unlike when we first arrived here.

Once I make it home, I throw my things on the floor, and as I head for my room, I see that Pin’s bedroom door is wide open. Pin never leaves his bedroom open. Like he’s too afraid I’ll go snooping. He’s right, too, because I would.

I pause outside his room. Pin doesn’t openly talk about himself, and this is my opportunity to learn more. I slip inside the room.

Inside is neat. Everything is folded and in its place. A thin tablet, usually only found on Payohlini, sits on the bed. I move closer and see that it’s a letter written in ‘Payohlinian’, the language most Payohlini speak and write. Most Victians can’t read it, but during the war, my parents made sure I could understand enough to have a conversation, in case I ever needed to. Even so, I can only translate a little, and that reads as senseless. Turning away from the tablet, I continue rummaging.

By the time I finish, I’ve found absolutely nothing. After returning things to the way they were before I invaded Pin’s privacy, I leave and head back to my room, suddenly weary.  Snooping through people things takes a lot out a person.

As soon as I stepped through the door, though, I halt, knowing nap time isn’t happening. Pin is sitting in my room. I didn’t even hear the main door open or close.

Taking in a deep breath, I turn to fully face him, and realize that all of my things are scattered across my bedroom floor. Irritation fills me to the core as I bite down on the inside of my cheeks. I can’t believe he went through my things—my personal private things. Just as fast, I recognize the irony of the situation. I did this to him, too. I went through his possessions.

“Are you done?” he asks.

“Yes, I am.”

“And did you find anything worth going behind my back for?”

“Perhaps.” I pause. “A tablet I translated.”

Pin stares at me for a second, before he removes himself from my bed and walks toward me. He looks down at me, and I avert my gaze to the floor. He merely pulls my hands out of my pockets. When I glance back up at him, he has a smile on his handsome face. The gleam in his eyes is blazing, and I feel my heart slowly catch a flame. He leans down, and for a moment, I wonder if Pin might actually kiss me. He hasn’t touched me since our blowout weeks ago.

Closing my eyes, I wait for Pin’s soft, warm lips to cover mine, and to feel his warm breath flow into my mouth as his tongue massages mine. When I don’t feel any of those, I open my eyes.

With my hands still in his, he leads me out of my room and into his. Pin shuts the door behind us and sits down in a maple chair. He beckons for me to take a seat on his bed, and I do so, anxiety thrumming through me.

“Would you hand me that?” Pin points to the metal tablet beside me.

I hand it over. Whatever the letter says, it must be good, because his smile remains. The only time I have seen a smile on Pin’s face is when he is participating in hand to hand combat—or when he is with Britney.  I want to know what’s making him so happy this time.

“What does it say?” I finally ask.

“I thought you translated it.” His tone is mocking. He know I wasn’t able to translate, but he holds my gaze steady as he continues, “It’s a letter from the Glucoxi Court. About you.”

Me? What would the Court want with me?

Before I have a chance to ask, Pin, as if it knows my thoughts, tells me, “The Court has requested that you return and take your rightful place as Queen of Victian.”

Faintness washes over me. How does the Court expect me to rule an entire planet?

A gigantic, gleaming smile appears across Pin’s handsome face, and I realize he is happy about this. He wants me gone. Pin has better things to do than waste his time babysitting a hormonal girl.

Too many bad memories of my home mar my feelings, though. I don’t want to go back to Victian. New York is my home, where I have new friends. Pin seems to waiting for a reply. “I’m not going back,” I say adamantly.

His smile disappears.

All I’ve talked about since we arrived is going home and being with my family. Except, my family is dead. I would be going back to Victian for no reason.

“And why not?” Pin asks, concern in his voice. “I thought you wanted to leave.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Why, Princess? Tell me why!”

“Pin, please don’t call me princess, and try to see it my way. Victian used to be home. It isn’t anymore. Home is where your family is. Nothing remains for me there.”

“You are Princess of Victian, whether you like it, or not!” he says, his tone deepening. “It’s your duty!”

“Why are you pushing me to become queen? I don’t want to be queen, Pin!”

“Because, if you don’t become queen, I’ll have to leave. You won’t have any protection here on Earth,” Pin states in a calm, soothing voice. “I don’t want to leave you unprotected, Zola.”

Pin actually cares. He’s been acting like he doesn’t, but he does. Moving in front of him, I kneel down and lay my head in his lap. Tucking a finger beneath my chin, Pin lifts my face until we make eye contact. There’s so much hurt and pain in his eyes, and he doesn’t try to cover it up. I can’t bare hurting him, but I also don’t want to return to Victian. At least, not yet.

Pushing myself up, I throw my arms around Pin’s neck. It’s probably the last time I will get to feel my body against his. I stay there for seconds before I ease myself away and walk towards the doorway, where I turn around and look at Pin and the sadness in his expression. “I know you want me to be protected and you think I can’t take care of myself, but I can’t go back. Victian holds too many bad memories.”

“You’ve made your decision, then?”

“I’m sorry Pin . . . When are you leaving?”

“Two days, Zola.”

“Two days? How will you . . .” How can he just leave in two days?

I LEAVE PIN’S ROOM and head towards the living room. I can’t believe they are going to take Pin away so soon. What am I going to do without him? I know I’ve made this whole situation hard for him. But what are they thinking? They shouldn’t be able to do this. Shouldn’t I have a say, seeing as it affects me more than anyone?

When I open the main door, a note falls onto the floor. I bend down and read it.

Come find me.

Truly Yours,

Trevor

Spotting a trail of white roses to my left, I smile and walk outside, picking up the first rose, followed the second and the third. I follow the trail down the street and around the corner into an alley, making sure I don’t miss a rose.

At the end of the trail, Trevor stands with a smile plastered across his face. It’s the same smile he had the first time I met him in the school hallway.
How long has he been waiting out here?

He walks up to me and pull out a long red velvet box. “I hope you accept my apology. What I said to you was inexcusable.”

He hands me the box, and I open it to find a beautiful necklace, with a heart-shaped diamond pendant. Matching earrings, too. They don’t nearly shine as brightly as the gems on Victian, but they are still beautiful in their own right.

“Do you like them?” he asks.

“Yes, I do.” I sigh. “But it’s too much.”

“Nonsense,” he says. “Now, I need you to go get ready for tonight, and I’ll pick you up at eight.”

A date. He has a date planned. I only have two days left with Pin, and then I won’t see him again. Trevor has gone through all this to apologize to me, though …

Why can’t decisions be easy to make?

“Umm, Trevor?”

“Yeah?”

“Can we make it a double outing with Britney and Pin?” I ask.
Please say yes. I don’t want to have to tell you no
.

Trevor hesitates. I know he probably just wants it to be the two of us. Besides, Trevor’s not an idiot. He must see how much Pin matters to me, even if he doesn’t know the extent of my feelings for him. He’s ask me on multiple occasions if there was more to Pin’s and my relationship. Every time, I’ve responded with a simple
no
.

“Are you asking because you would prefer to have a date with Pin?” he asks.

“No! Of course not!” Although, that would be nice. “It’s just that Pin is leaving to go home in two days.”

Trevor reluctantly nods.

I give him a shy smile and turn back towards my home. On the way, I hear a low meow. I look around for the sound and find a small kitten lying next to an overflowing dumpster. The creature is skinny to the point that it looks sick and alone.

I stroll over and bend down, running two fingers over its fur. It reminds me of Doodle, and I desperately want to take the kitten home with me. Pin, however, would just make me get rid of it. Sighing, I leave it behind.

Within the house, I place the flowers in a small, pink vase, filled with water. Pin and Britney, who I didn’t know was here, are now sitting on the couch all cuddly. He’s got his arms around her, tightly, which sours my good mood. I really hate that he has to flaunt his relationship like that. I don’t parade Trevor around him. The two of them, nevertheless, certainly look to be relaxed.

“I have good news for you guys,” I say, trying my hardest to smile.

“If it’s coming from your mouth, it can’t be good.” Britney eyes the velvet box I clutch in my hands. “Gold diggers never say anything worth listening to.”

Before I know it, I’m charging at her, but Pin quickly jumps up and pulls me away.

Britney starts laughing. She wouldn’t be laughing if Pin wasn’t holding me back. She would be begging for life. The thought of her pleading is something I smile about.

“So, what’s the news?” Pin asks, still attempting to restrain me. 

“Nothing!” I snap at him.

I break away from Pin and race into my room, slamming the door with as much force as an actual Payohlini. The room remains unaffected by my rage, though.

How could Pin not have said anything about Britney’s comment? How can he not stand up for me? I mean, seriously, he claims to know me, yet he’s so easily manipulated by some lowlife Earthling.

I throw myself across the bed, roll onto my back, and stare up at the ceiling. I let my eyes close and my mind wonder. Even though dreaming is not something I should be doing, with Rican searching for me, I can’t help it. I need to picture what it would be like to change my mind and except the position as queen. I need to imagine a life as queen, a life with nothing but rules and procedures. A life where everything I do must better my people.

A life where there can actually be a Pin and I.

***

I look upon what is to be my palace. It is made entirely of blue crystal and it hovers over the ground, with crystal stairs that change color, like Christmas lights, leading the way to the entrance. There’s three beautifully crafted statues of our gods on each side of the stairs. Crystal columns are also surrounding the front of the palace. No overpowering weeds encompass the place, but there is a vast fountain in front, and tall towers on each end of the palace. It’s the palace I always wanted as a child, when I pretended to be a princess with Zin. It’s impeccable.

“I knew you would come here eventually,” Rican says coming up behind me. “Females like you always escape to their happy place when things get too hard.”

Rican invading my dreams is becoming a regular occurrence, with consequences. I turn to face him, ready to tell him what I think about him and the rest of his Payohlini, but my words catch in my throat.

Rican’s not alone this time. He has an army with him. Not just any army, but an army of Zoolozes, the strongest and most feared beings in our galaxy. According to the stories, they are crueler than the Payohlini. And the Payohlini are heartless.

“What do you mean females like me?” I challenge.

“Stubborn. Disobedient.”

“According to Pin, I’m neither of those things.” That’s a lie, but Rican doesn’t need to know that.

“I know a lot more than you think. Your dreams aren’t the only ones we’re monitoring, Princess.” Rican gestures for the Zoolozes to stand down.

“What exactly do you think you think you know about me?”

“I know that your parents never intended on you marrying that boy. Zin, I think his name was.”

Zin? “Then, why do you want me dead, when I’m supposed to wed your ruler?”

“You stupid girl. You haven’t figured anything out. I’m not the only one who wants the heir to the Victian throne dead. Many others do, as well.”

What is that supposed to mean? I cross the empty space to where Rican stands, confident and tall. Looking closely into his eyes, I detect . . . Nothing. That’s exactly what’s in them. Most people eyes give away something, but Rican has no empathy. No fear. No love. Not even hatred. Gazing into his eyes is like gazing into a black hole. No end to the emptiness.

“I’m going to say this once,” I tell him. “I will never give up. I will never be yours for the using. You and the ruler and the Payohlini will die before I surrender.”

Rican moves in closer with a closeness I wish not to feel. “Like I said, Zola, you belong to my people. We will have the pleasure of using you, for as long or short a time as we wish.”

“We’ll see about that.”

“We will indeed, Princess. New Earth can’t harbor you forever,” Rican says viciously.

***

Sitting up on my bed, I still feel the closeness between Rican and I. Even though it was only a dream, I feel the remnants of his foul breath in on face. And then it hits me: he knows where I am.

Oh, gods, he’s coming for me. Rican is going to put everyone I care about in danger, just to get to me. I can’t protect them. I can barely protect myself. And Pin’s going to be gone. At least he’ll be safe.

I look over at the clock and realize I have about twenty minutes to get ready for my date with Trevor. Twenty minutes until I tell him I can’t see him anymore. It’s the only way to protect him.

I slide out the black dress Trevor bought me when we first met and head to the bathroom. I pull my hair up and style it, before I slip on my shoes and call Trevor. The phone rings and rings. Why isn’t he answering?

“If you are trying to call Trevor, he’s out front.”

I spin at the sound of Pin’s voice. He’s wearing a black suit that’s tailored to him perfectly. I didn’t even know he owned a suit. His long, black hair is combed neatly back, and its shine compliments his green eyes. Eyes I can’t seem to draw my own away from. The white leather shoes he wears matches his shirt. Oh my . . . he is so gorgeous. So gorgeous I can almost forget about the date with Trevor.

“You look amazing, Zola,” Pin says, interrupting my train of thought and lingering gaze.

He called me Zola. Zola! Not princess.
“Thanks. Why are you dressed up?”

“Trevor called and gave us the news you didn’t. I’m quite surprised he’s inviting us along.” He pauses. “Britney is up there. I know you don’t like her, but whatever she says, just ignore it. Please.”

He just had to add the please.