Zola Flash (The Zola Flash Series Book 1) (11 page)

CARMEN STEPS INSIDE AS soon as I open the door for her. “What is so important?” She inhales and glances around. “What is that smell?”

I point to where Pin lays. “That’s why I called. Help me. I don’t know what’s wrong with him.”

Carmen walks over to where Pin lays on the kitchen floor and sniffs again. Glancing my way, she waves me over. “Zola, do you know if Pin was drinking last night?”

“Yeah, he had that thing with him when he came home.” I point to the silver container stranded on the floor.

“In that case, he’ll be okay. Might have a killer headache when he wakes up, though.”

“What is that stuff?” I ask.

She takes the flask and takes a sniff. “It doesn’t really have a scent, so I’m assuming vodka. But judging by the smell of this place, and him, I’m positive he must have had more alcohol before he came home.”

“Are those a type of poison?”

“For stupid people, yeah.”

“Where we’re from, we don’t have this alcohol you speak of.”

She gives me a weird look. “That explains why he’s passed out.” Carmen pulls Pin’s arm around her shoulder. “Help me put him in the bed. The alcohol will eventually fade from his system.”

I drape Pin’s other arm over my shoulder, mimicking Carmen, and struggling, we carry him into the bedroom. Man, he is heavy.

We drop him on the bed, and I stare at him. Why did he have to act like an idiot and drink that stuff? Trevor isn’t worth this. I handled him. Pin didn’t need to go all Guardian and try to deal with something that was already taken care of.

“Let’s take off his shoes.” Carmen suggests.

Why would we need to take off his shoes? What’s next? His shirt? I think he looks perfectly comfortable with everything in place, but I don’t say that to Carmen. Instead, I do as she suggested. Because in all honestly, I really wouldn’t might seeing him naked, or even half naked, again. Especially since he’s leaving.

Once Carmen sees that I can take care of things from here, she leaves the room to call her parents. I linger in the room with Pin and pull a quilt over him. He seems sound asleep, but just as I go to adjust the cover, two huge hands trap mine.

I look into Pin’s blood-shot eyes for a second, but turn away before he can notice how worried I am. “How long have you been watching me?” I ask, quietly.

“I’ve been awake the whole time. Even when you called Carmen for assistance.”

“You scared me, Pin.”

Sitting up, he pulls me up into his lap, cradling me in his arms like a baby. “I recover fast, remember.” Pin pauses. “I’ve never had anyone care for me like you do. And that means more to me than I can tell you, Princess. But as much as I want to love you the way you think you love me, I can’t.”

“Why?”

“Because we’re different people. We don’t mix. You know that. Our people don’t even like each other. Besides, you deserve someone better than me. Someone who wouldn’t get jealous and hurt you. Someone who would treat you like the queen I know you’re going to become in due time.”

“I don’t want to be treated like a queen. My life has gotten turned upside down. Just imagine what my becoming queen would do to our homes. Both of them.” I look up at Pin. “I want to be treated like a normal, ordinary Victian. I want things to go back to the way they were before I found out about all of this. If I have to give up everything for you to see we are one and the same, and that love can erase any differences we may have, I will, because I love you.”

There I said it. I finally said the three worlds I’ve been wanting to say since the moment Pin rescued me back on Victian.

“Zola, please accept that we are never going to be together.”

“But why? You haven’t once given me a legit reason. Do you not like me? Is it my age? My family? What, Pin? Tell me! Make me understand why you detest the idea of us!”

“It’s all of that!” he says, his voice rising a little. “And it’s none of that. It’s me and things that I’m dealing with. I won’t bring you into my life.”

Stung once more by his refusal to even consider that we might have something, I slide from his lap and return to the living room.

Carmen’s gone, but there’s a note in her handwriting on the counter in the kitchen. She didn’t want to disrupt my conversation with Pin. Said it sounded steamy, though. I let out a small laugh.

Wrapped neatly on the counter, beside the note, is a new uniform. I scoop it up and head to my room. After bathing, I slip into the clothes Carmen left for me and pull my hair up into a ponytail. By the time I walk back into the kitchen, Pin is fully dressed and standing. By himself. His cuts and bruises are completely gone, and he looks like his old handsome self.

“I won’t be here when you return,” he says, as I walk towards the door.

“I don’t care,” I say, belying every honest feeling running through me. “As I recall, we’re never going to be. So, I could care less if you’re here, or not.”

***

After lunch, during fifth period, Mr. Wrench goes over the answers biochemistry test he gave us the other day. When the bell rings, everyone leaves the classroom, except for me. Mr. Wrench seems to be trustworthy, and I really need to speak to a logical and open-minded person.

“Why are you still here, Miss Flash?” he asks, stacking papers on his desk. “You’re going to be late for your next class.”

“I need to talk.”

“You cannot make up the exam. My policies are in place for a reason.”

“It’s not about the exam.”

He glances up from the papers. “Then, what, exactly?”

“Me. I guess I should start from the beginning. It’s the reason I’m here.”

He gestures for me to take a seat in front of the desk. “Go ahead.”

I take a deep breath. “When I was a child, my parents took me into hiding because my home is at war. I don’t really remember; I was a baby. I recently found out the reason we went into hiding is because my parents promised my hand in marriage to the son of the Payohlini ruler upon my eighteenth birthday. They, however, never intended on keeping their end of the deal. Letting my people survive.

“Ever since then, we have been at constant war with the Payohlini. Just two months ago, the Payohlini attacked us again, with a full army. They captured me at the time, but I escaped. I tried to warn my parents, who were fighting in the war, but I ended up getting them killed. The Payohlini also killed my little sister. They would have killed me if it wasn’t for Pin. He stopped them, betrayed his own people in the process. Once I was safe, here on Earth, Pin explained why he saved me. Apparently, I’m the princess of Victian. Some people want me dead, while others want me—”

“So, you’re here in hiding from these so-called Payohlini?” Mr. Wrench interrupts me.

“Yes.”

“So, who are the Payohlini? And why do they want you dead, if you’re supposed to marry their ruler’s son?”

“They’re an advanced being, like me. Except they are bigger in size. They are skilled in the art of war. And they have abnormal speed and strength, when they are mad, at least. I’m not sure who the leader’s son is, but Rican wants me dead. I’m not sure why.”

“Zola, I’m a very logical person, and as much as I want to believe that there is other life out there in the universe, it’s hard to be open-minded when you have yet to supply any factual information. This all sounds like a science fiction novel.”

He doesn’t believe me!
“I can prove it. Tonight!”

“If you have proof, then I will meet you tonight. How about the Avenue near your home?”

My home? How does he know where I’m staying? I don’t question him, though, but merely say, “Thank you, Mr. Wrench.”

After leaving his room, I walk to my locker, where I deposit my textbook inside. I feel so much better for finally telling someone about this mess of my life, even if they don’t believe it. He will tonight, though.

I turn around to find Trevor and the entire football team, minus Jacob, coming my way. I walk ahead of them, hoping to reach Carmen before they can reach me, but that isn’t the case. Elijah, the wide receiver, grabs me by my shoulder and pushes me hard against the lockers. It seems the whole team is crowded around me, with Trevor standing or hiding in the back.

Trevor watches as Elijah tightens his hold on my neck, pushing my head into the lockers.

I shove at his hands, but his nails dig into my neck. Not wanting to hurt him, I bend Elijah’s fingers back until the veins start showing through his skin and his hand changes colors. From pink to red, to purple, to blue, and then black. Just as I let go of his hand, I hear his wrist snap.

Elijah hops around, letting out a strangled scream. He waves his smashed hand in my face, and as I back away, the players look from one to the other. I stare defiantly back at Matt’s bold, black face.

“Hey! You might not want to do that!” The familiar voice yells down the hall, and I turn my head to see Jacob running toward the football players, his fists clenched.

“I knew you would join us sooner or later,” Trevor says.

“Dude! Enough! Can’t you see that she’s repulsed by you?” He turns towards me and Matt. “Matt, leave her alone!”

“I don’t answer to you,” Matt spits.

Jacob turns to me and drops his gaze to the floor and back to me. I try to understand what he’s trying to say, feeling stupid. I wasn’t trained to handle a situation like this. A situation where I have to know gestures, and handle stupid, teenage boys’ raging hormones, with no one to talk to or get advice from because my mother is dead.

“Zola,” Jacob finally says, “look down.”

I frown. “Why?”

“Just do it!”

I do, however, before my head fully drops, I see Jacob’s fist fly over the top of my head, barely breezing my scalp. I shut my eyes tight, feeling nothing in the next few seconds, and when I finally open my eyes, I realize that Jacob is fighting the team by himself. 

While Jacob is busy man handling the team, Elijah tries to run off with his broken hand in his pocket. Trevor follows behind, and chasing behind Trevor, I try to get at least one punch in. He deserves that and so much more. I thought I taught him a lesson in Paris. Apparently, foxing out didn’t do much, after all.

Just my luck, though, he spins before I can make contact and turns the tables on me.

As my nose cracks, I stumble a little. Bringing my leg up, I kick Trevor right below his navel, making him fall hard in a crumpled human ball on the concrete floor. 

Jacob grabs me and I let him pull me down the hall before the team can recover from the pummeling. Outside, we head for a dark blue truck. Jacob unlocks the doors, and once we’ve both climbed inside, he drives away.

Great relief floods my body, and even though I don’t know where we are heading, I just sit there, completely calm.

***

Jacob drives for a while, putting distance between us and Trevor. When he finally cuts the engine, in an empty parking lot of an old abandoned building, and looks at me, the hairs on my arms begins to rise. I really hope he doesn’t expect anything from me. I don’t think I can be harsh to the person who just rescued me.

“Yeah, so, are you okay?” he asks.

“Yes, thank you for your help.”

“Zola, I know you probably don’t want to hear this right now, but—”

“Stop!” I interrupt. “I don’t know why you helped me, but if you’re looking for something in exchange . . . I really don’t want to have to break your heart.”

Jacob’s eyes narrow at me. “Is that what you think? That I helped you because I want something?”

Okay, he’s mad.

“Do you honestly believe that I’m anything like Trevor—that I would take advantage of you, of any girl?”

I bite down on my bottom lip. He is different from Trevor. If he wasn’t, he would never have helped me. “I don’t know what to believe anymore, Jacob.”

“Well, I’m not expecting anything from you. I grew up in a house full of women, and my mother taught me never to hit a girl, no matter what.” He pauses. “Besides, I don’t like you.”

“What?”

“I mean, I like you, I just don’t
like you
, like you. You couldn’t break my heart.”

I smile at Jacob. “Maybe I don’t
like
, like you, either.”

“I don’t want to break your heart,” Jacob mimics.

I laugh, finally at ease from all the drama at school. “Whatever!”

“Let’s get out of here?”

“Sure.” I exhale, full of relief. It’s good to feel out of danger.

For now, anyway.

AFTER FORCING MYSELF TO eat disgusting chili cheese fries, I get dropped off at my home by Jacob, who makes sure I’m in before he drives off.

The house is dark and quiet. I wrap my arms around my chest and walk into Pin’s room.

He’s gone. Just like he said.

I cross the floor and see a letter on the pillow of the neatly made bed, sealed with an official Victian stamp. Unfolding the letter, I read:

Dear Princess,

If you are reading this right now, then you are being nosey and sneaking around my room, which is good because you got this. I know you are wishing I was there, saying this to you instead of you reading it in a letter. I had to leave, and I don’t think I could have told you what you needed to know face-to-face.

Two months ago, you didn’t expect to watch your family die. I’m sorry about that. I would have never wanted that for you. You didn’t expect to escape to planet Earth. We both did not expect for you to fall in love with me. I wasn’t trained to handle such emotions on an assignment. I never thought that you would develop any feelings for a Payohlini. We are enemies after all.

Anyway, I guess what I’m trying to say is that I enjoyed being your Guardian. Perhaps “enjoyed” is an improper word but it rightfully describes this task. You are a very determined girl, and you can make me smile (that needed to be said).

With me gone, you will get lonely. I bought you a little friend and left a pair of swords. Use them. I know you’ll need them soon. Your little friend might not be Doodle, but he is just as adorable. An adorable creature for an adorable girl. You will find him in your room. Zola, I might not be there now, but just know that even here on Payohlini, I’m still protecting you.

Your Guardian,

Pin

I fold the letter and bring it to my chest as I lie down on his bed.

He is gone. Pin is really gone. I can’t, I don’t want to believe it. It hurts. Physically hurts. A sharp tingle in the pit of my stomach, but I ignore it.

Forcing myself from the room, I walk down the hall towards mine. The door is cracked and I push through.

A small cage sits on my bed, next to two solid swords. Picking up one of the swords, I notice that my name is etched into the blade. Where did he find a place to do these? I place the sword back on the bed and open the gate to the small cage.

A young kit fox stumbles out, falling flat on its stomach. I gently scoop it up and cradle it in my arms, like a new born baby. It scratches at me, and I smile.

A moment later, my smile vanishes. I move the swords and the cage to the floor and climb on my bed. I don’t worry about getting underneath the covers. There’s no need. I’ll be leaving in four hours, anyway, so I just lie here, as still as the moon on a cool night, until I fall into a restfulness, with my new fox at my side.

“I think I will call you …” I mumble before falling asleep.

***

“Introducing Queen Zola!” one of the Court members announces from the balcony.

I walk down the hall to the balcony in a long white coronation gown. There are no screams and shouts, or cheers. I always imagined there’d cheering, if I ever became queen, but there’s no noise whatsoever coming from outside the crystal walls, except for the muted sounds of the festival music.

I stop and look to the guards. They don’t look happy that I’m becoming queen, that a kid will be making rules for all.

“Your Majesty, please proceed,” says one of the guards.

I nod and continue. Walking down the hall, I feel a presence in the room that’s calm and peaceful and turn around.

A tall male with short, black hair stands before me. He looks a great deal like Pin but older. There’s something different about him other than the hair, though. This man doesn’t have green eyes, but charcoal black ones with a slight tint of blue. His face isn’t quite as hard, but he appears just as flawless.

The male strolls to me and my heart freezes. He is so huge, so muscular. He stops in front of me, and as he stares down, I look up, meeting his dark eyes. He gently takes my hand and kisses it, but I pull away. Who is this male? I don’t know him, and he shouldn’t be kissing my hand.

“My queen?” he says in a deep, bewitching voice.

“Who are you?”

“Your king.”

“I’m too young to have a king. I’m single.”

“You’re right. You are too young to have a king and be queen, but you still have a king and you are still queen.” The male grips my hand in his. “Let me walk you to the balcony.”

The stranger leads the way to the entrance of the balcony and stops. Letting go of my hand, he motions for me to begin my speech.

Walking to the edge of the balcony, I discover why there are no screams and shouts. Piles of dead bodies fill the field of my palace. My entire kingdom is dead.

I back away from the balcony and trip over the long dress. The male leans down beside me and kisses my forehead. I try to shove him away from me, but he doesn’t budge, just merely smiles and places a palm to my cheek.

“Who are you?” I ask, too angry to ask more.

“Your mate, my dear queen.”

“No, you’re not! No mate of mine would let me walk out there with bloodied bodies everywhere.”

“Once again, you’re right. I’m not your king. But soon I will be. Rican has found your location, and I am on my way, my queen.”

“Guards! Guards!”

Despite my yells, they don’t move an inch.

“They will not answer to you,” the male says, “because they work for me.”

I shake my head. “No!”

***

I sit up on the bed, shaking off the cold, lingering effect of death from the too real dream. Who was that strange man? Is this man and Rican acquaintances? Why does he look so much like Pin?

I stroke my new pet’s back and check the time. My eyes widen when I see that I have exactly six minutes to meet Mr. Wrench, and quickly climbing from the bed, I slip on a jacket and leave.

Walking down the street, I spy Britney up ahead. She enters the café where Mr. Wrench is meeting me. I hesitate and reverse my steps, but as I reach the stop sign about three yards away, I hear Mr. Wrench call out my name and veer towards him.

Closer up, I see he is not wearing his usual suit, but blue jeans and a sweater. “I’m surprised you came, Mr. Wrench. I thought you thought I was crazy. You look different.” He does—and it’s more than just his change of outfit.

“I don’t see why you’d be surprised. And we’re not in school. Maybe that’s why. I don’t look like a stuffy old man.”

“Maybe . . .”

“Zola …” He pauses. “Today you told me you were something other than human. Are you ready to provide proof?”

“Yes, but not here, out in the open.” I check the area in search of a secluded area and spot a dark lane behind the café. “I think there would be a good place.”

Mr. Wrench makes a quick scan of the café lane himself before nodding, and I take the lead to the spot. As I glance back at Mr. Wrench, though, there is something in his eyes I’m unsure of.  A look that wasn’t there earlier at school.

It may just be me, but whether it’s a feeling, or instinct born of fear, I brake to a stop. Something is not right. I don’t want to reveal my true identity, or that of Pin’s.

“Mr. Wrench, this is a mistake. I’m not an alien. I’m just like you.” I stammer as an overwhelming feeling of danger sends me into a near panic. “It was just science fiction, like you said. I should go.”

“Why? Are you afraid? You can trust me. I’m your teacher.”

“No. Not scared. Just stupid. This was all a foolish prank.  Sorry for abusing your time.”

“You said that you had proof. And you were so positive. I want to see it.” He looks around. “As a matter of fact, we all want to see it.”

People suddenly emerge from the dark like shadows breaking free of the walls. There are so many of them, I can’t count.

I notice a familiar face among them, whatever they are. Britney. I should have known she would be in an army against me. She hates me.

Her presence is certainly enough to make me rethink her relationship with Pin. She must have been using him, working from the inside out. All that time she was investigating me, learning everything there is to know about me. And I, like some stupid jealous kid, didn’t even see it.