Zola Flash (The Zola Flash Series Book 1) Page 13

  “How would that work?” It’s not like I can force the connection.

  “Payohlini don’t believe in adultery. Renz will not come after you, if you marry another. Thus making the prophecy null and void.”

  That won’t work. The only person I trust that much and love is Pin. And Pin doesn’t see me like that. Not to mention, he is a Payohlini, as well. “It won’t work, grandfather. Renz has captured me, and I’m probably on his ship right at this very moment.”

  My grandfather looks saddened. “Zola, I’m sorry. For sure, I thought that would work.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  “I could have prevented Yala from marrying Dimi, but I did not. It is all my fault.”

  “My parents met and fell in love. I love them, and I am glad they were happy. Not to mention, if they hadn’t met, I wouldn’t be here.”

  Being with my long lost grandfather gets me thinking about how much my life has changed. I have discovered so much about myself and made some amazing friends. If they still are my friends, that is. I have fallen in love with the most perfect male, who I would have never met, if not for this tragic war. I would have never imagined myself being happy on another planet, and with a Payohlini. I never imagined I could be part Payohlini, but I am. Oddly enough, I’m okay with that.

  “Can you tell me how my parents met?” I ask him. “They never told me.”

  “Of course.” He smiles, and I can see the love in his heart reflected in his eyes. “What do you want to know?”

  “Everything!”

  “I can only tell you the things I know.” He looks at me then begin the story. “When your mother was about eighteen, she was friends with a very wealthy young lady named Leena, who was just as beautiful as my daughter. However, Leena was a wretched person. She was overly spoiled. Leena was the type of person who cared for no one, other than herself. She was selfish. Yet, somewhere underneath all the negativity, she had a soft spot for Yala. One year, Leena threw a massive ball to find the perfect husband. She invited all the eligible men from many planets. Since she and Yala were such good friends, my daughter got an automatic invite. She was the only person at the ball not of royal lineage.

  Even though Leena was throwing this ball, she already knew who she wanted to marry. Both she and Yala had known. The ball was a very selfish, self-serving exercise to see how many men would throw themselves at her. The ball was for her own amusement. Leena’s eyes were on the Prince of Victian. But it didn’t work out that way. The Prince of Victian saw Yala before Leena. From the way your mother explained it, it was love at first sight for them. He formed the connection. They danced all that night in the gardens of the palace. No one saw Prince Dimi’s arrival. And no one saw his departure.”

  Ah. “So, what happened next?”

  “Dimi returned home to Victian and Yala stayed on Payohlini. For a couple of months, Yala was heartbroken. She had fallen in love in one night and was haunted from that night on. On Leena’s twentieth birthday, she hosted another ball, hopping that Prince Dimi would attend. Of course, he did arrive. However, this time, he didn’t dance or speak to Yala. His attention was on his future wife. The night went smoothly for Leena, but Yala was filled with jealousy towards her friend. Yala wanted so badly to speak out, but she said not a word.

  “Before the night ended, Dimi made a speech. He was to announce his engagement to Leena. Instead, he announced disengagement. Dimi declared his love for Yala to the whole galaxy. Naturally, Yala’s and Leena’s friendship ended. Leena sought to banish them both from the palace and Payohlini. But the Court overruled on Yala’s banishment. She had done nothing wrong. But this meant no Dimi for Yala, and vice versa. You know, you are so much like your father. He was willing to do anything to get what he wanted.

  “Since Dimi was banished, he stayed at my home when he came to visit. Though not to his liking, he did anything to be with Yala. For hours, they would sit in Yala’s small room, talking. One day, Dimi didn’t show up. Rumors flew around that he had become king and taken a princess from Delgoria to be his bride. The Delgoria princess was just a rumor. However, becoming king was not. Dimi had to rule on Victian after the death of his father. His love life was not important, or at least that’s what your mother thought. She was beside herself, fretting and feeling wronged. But to her surprise, he came back.

  “When Dimi returned to Payohlini this time, Leena’s wealthy family was no longer in power. There was a new ruler that had two sons who were three years apart in age. The younger boy’s name escapes me at the moment, but Renz you know. Anyway, when King Dimi returned this time, he sought Yala for marriage. Her answer to him was yes, of course, just as legend predicted. Three years later, you were born. Everyone knew you were a special baby. You were unlike the Victian and the Payohlini. You had moon white hair and eyes the color of stardust. The day you were born, your eyes glowed this magnificent blue before turning stardust. That’s when people started recalling the legend.

  “The Payohlini ruler, at that time, was determined to have one of his sons marry you. He met with your parents to arrange an engagement, but they refused. The ruler of Payohlini was so determined to have one of his sons marry you that he started a war. He started off by killing people. Just random bystanders. Then he promised to destroy Victian as a whole, if they didn’t set up the arrangement. So, reluctantly, your parents agreed to the mating. And that should bring you up to date.”

  “My eyes glowed?”

  Instead of answering, my grandfather says, “You know, my dear child, destiny has a funny way of working itself out.”

  “I guess it’s up to me to stop this war, huh? I can’t be this scared child anymore. I have to stand up and fight the Payohlini tyrannical plot, or this war will never end.”

  “You can’t do this alone, child.”

  “I can try. I don’t want anyone else getting hurt.”

  “I don’t agree with that, but I understand your logic. Do what you must, my dear child, but promise me something.”

  “Anything, grandfather.”

  “Come back alive. I cannot bare to lose you when I’ve only just found you.”

  “I promise.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  I OPEN MY EYES to find myself in a white room. It looks as if I’m still in the parallel universe. There are no windows or doors. I’m not chained down.

  Am I still dreaming?

  I get to my feet and walk to one of the walls but find no apparent escape. Trapped. Again. I check again and call out, “Grandfather. Grandfather. Can you hear me?”

  Renz, Britney, and Rican walk into the room through a concealed door. So, there is a way out. Britney and Rican stand back, but Renz walks over to me and wraps one of his arms around my back, while his free hand removes a strand of hair from my face.

  “Where am I?”

  “On my ship. We’re headed to Payohlini.” Yeah, I already guessed as much. Renz turns to Rican and Britney. “Leave us. I need a moment with my bride.”

  They nod and exit.

  I slide down the wall opposite the door, which I still can’t see, and tuck my knees underneath my chin.

  Renz slide to the floor beside me and places an arm around my shoulders. “Princess, I don’t want to hurt you.” He draws me closer against his side. “Thank you for not transforming.”

  “Liar,” I say.

  Renz flinches as if I physically wounded him. “Excuse me, Princess?”

  “Don’t play dumb. Because I’m certainly not. I said liar. You and your people have been after me ever since I was a child. All you want is that monstrosity of an heir that you believe I can produce.”

  “Who told you that?”

  “Doesn’t matter.”

  He stares at me for a while before saying, “My people and I have sought you out, but we haven’t touched one hair on that pretty little head of yours.”

  “You didn’t have to kill my parents, or my sister. You could’ve just come for me, and I would have followed wit
hout you hurting my people.”

  “Stop!” Renz rises from the floor and pulls me up with him. He looks angry. How can he look me in the eyes and not see how I despise him, the Payohlini, and this damn war, legend or no legend!

  “I want my family back! I want my life back! I want no wedding alliance with you.”

  “Zola, I can’t return your family. But we can make one all of our own, if you cooperate.”

  “Never.”

  “You’re such a stubborn girl,” Renz says, irritated. “Look, Princess, I have duties to attend to. Tonight, when we land on Payohlini, I will be all yours. Britney will come and dress you, when it’s time. Until then, Rican will escort you to my chamber. It is much more comfortable than this cell.”

  Renz exits the cell. Rican walks in and takes my hand. He has a smirk on his face as he looks down at me.

  He leads me down a dark hall. It seems as though the hallway will never end. Having my hand inside of Rican’s only makes it even worse. Finally, we come upon a set of tall, red double doors. The rooms here seem more fitted for the actual palace than a ship.

  Rican touches one of the doors and it opens. Inside the room, I see my adorable little kit in a cage on a big bed. My bags lay beside it, too. Pulling my hand from Rican’s, I rush over to the bed and open the cage. The baby fox bares its teeth at me. These people must have done something to him. I can feel it.

  I glare back at Rican. He isn’t alone anymore. Britney and Zel stand with him.

  Zel walks to where I stand and stares down at me. In this light, I can see that he’s a Payohlini. The neon green in his eyes stands out more. I must not have paid much attention back on Earth. I can’t believe I actually trusted him enough to tell him my secret.

  Zel reaches his hand inside his pocket and pulls out a small knife. He runs his finger along the sharp curved blade. Watching me with empty eyes, he runs the blade slowly up my arms. The blade nearly breaks skin.

  “Why are you doing this?”

  “Princess,” Britney says. “We think it’s time for the king to realize he is making an awful decision. So, it’s our job to eliminate the problem. For good.”

  “Are you guys really going to risk killing me and earning Renz’s displeasure? He is very keen on marrying me and fulfilling the prophecy. Go against him, and it’s the end for you, even if you slay me.”

  They look at each other. They must know I’m right. Hopefully, they will change their minds. Without a word, they turn back to me and give me a look that says they don’t care about their lives.

  “We decided to sacrifice our lives for our king” Britney says. “He can’t see things clearly. You mess with his mind. When you are out of the picture, things will return to normal.”

  Oh boy!

  Zel raises the knife, and the kit, who I need to name, seems to be absorbing the grins on everyone’s faces, like he understands the expression, and he does not look happy. The kit opens its mouth, showing all of its razor sharp teeth, and snaps down on Zel’s hand holding the knife.

  Zel screams out and swings his hand wildly, hitting Britney in the face. I quickly grab the knife and kit, and run towards the door, completely disregarding Rican’s presence. With all the bad luck I have been having, he would most likely get to me before I can get out of this room.

  Thankfully, though, I am out of the room and down the hall before Rican gets to the door. I continue running until I see two guards round the corner. I start to reverse my steps, but Rican and the others are coming from the other way. Getting trapped is really growing old.

  Glancing back and forth between the guards and Rican, I rush inside the closest door and lock it behind me.

  “What are you doing in here?”

  I jump when I hear Renz’s voice.

  I turn around, and he is standing before me, almost naked. Not caring how good his body looks, I turn away and glance toward the bed, my eyes burning. Being caught by the guards and Rican would have been better than this.

  A nude woman sits on the bed, seemingly unbothered by my arrival as she stares at me. “Is this the orphan we’re adopting, Sweetie?” She wraps the sheet around her and walks over to Renz’s side.

  “Yes, it is.” He places a kiss upon her lips. “Could you give me and my soon-to-be daughter some privacy?”

  “Of course.”

  The woman smiles at me as she passes by. How could she think I am an orphan he is supposed to be adopting? If she believes that, she is just as stupid as she looks.

  Once the woman is out of the room, I turn my questions on Renz. “So, this is the duties you spoke of earlier? And here I thought I was taking you away from something important.”

  “Why are you in here?” he asks, disregarding my sarcasm.

  “Who is she?”

  “Why does it matter? You have made it perfectly clear that you are not willingly going to be my mate.”

  “That’s not the point. You’re still making me.”

  “That is the point.” His voice rises a bit. “Until we make us official, you have no say in my life, or the women in my bed.”

  “That will never happen.”

  He looks me up and down. “Soon enough, Princess. Soon enough.”

  A small growl escapes me. He can’t think I’ll let him touch me, when he can’t even respect me enough to not sleep around while he waits to make me his mate. “I hate you!” I hiss at him.

  “I could not care less. We have a short while before we land on Payohlini. Now go and let Britney make you beautiful. Well, at least, less like a child.”

  “No.”

  “It wasn’t an option. It’s an order. Leave as you’ve been told.”

  I glare at him, but he merely points to the doors behind me, and I inwardly sigh. I hate that he makes me feel like this. Like a helpless child.

  I open the door, and Britney, Zel, and Rican stand there glaring at Renz. I glance back at him, hoping he changes his mind about sending me away with Britney. As much as I don’t want to be near Renz, at least he isn’t trying to kill me like they are.

  “We’re almost home. Take Zola and get her ready,” he tells Britney. He turns to Zel and Rican and narrows his eyes on Zel’s wounded hand. “I don’t want you two around, since you can’t seem to even guard a child. Stay in your chambers until you receive further orders.”

  Yes!

  “Why?” Zel asks, releasing his arm.

  “Because I am ordering you to. Now, leave my sight. And if you step one foot near Zola, it will be the end of you.”

  They nod, and as they leave, I follow Britney down the hall back towards Renz’s room.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  “WHY IS IT SO easy for you?” Britney asks.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Don’t play dumb. You know exactly what I’m talking about. Why do guys fawn over you? You have Renz and Pin. I have no one.”

  “You just tried to kill me. Maybe that’s why.”

  “Zola, I’m being serious. I had to do that, or Rican would have killed me.”

  “I don’t have any of them. Rather, I don’t want them.”

  “You can’t tell me that you are not in love with Pin.”

  “Of course I am!” I turn around to her. “He saved my life and took care of me when I lost everything. He’s the only one that has told me anything. Do you know what it’s like to have an army searching for you and not know why? He helped me cope when I found out I’m the lost princess of Victian. But no matter what I give, he constantly rejects me.”

  Britney moves from behind me and sits at the edge of the bed. “Your hair and makeup are finished. Your dress is hanging in the bathroom. I’ll return in half an hour. Be ready.”

  Britney leaves the room and slams the door. She hated me for something I can’t control. I didn’t choose to be a part of this stupid prophecy.

  I go into the bathroom and immediately turn around. The dress is the scariest thing I have ever seen. I thought the dress that Trevor bought
was revealing. That dress has nothing on this one. I might as well walk out naked.

  Back in the room, I open my bags and look for something reasonable to wear, something that shouts “You’re too childish to be a wife.” I have nothing though.

  I go back to the bathroom and put the dress on. Britney walks through the door, and I grab a blue, denim jacket and zip it all the way up. She rolls her eyes and point down the hall.

  Britney leads me to the exit of the ship and up to the entrance of the palace. My eyes widen at the structure. It’s beautiful. And huge. It’s white and gold, with statues lining the stairs. I can’t even come up with words to describe how amazing the place looks.

  Looking out over the land, my attention is caught by a striking polar scene. Beautiful crystals of all colors cover the snowy mountainous land, sending the smell of salt through the air. Even though the land looks wintery, the temperature is closer to that of autumn. Not too hot, not to cold. It’s the perfect temperature.

  Too bad this wonderful land is filled with such dreadful beings.

  “These guards will escort you to the dining room. Renz is waiting for you there,” Britney says and retraces her steps back to the ship.

  Two guards open the palace doors when I reach them, giving me entry as they follow behind. They lead me down a hall and up to doors that have the Payohlini crest embedded in them. The doors open to a dining room lit with candles, where soft music plays. The candlelit scenery shatters, though, as soon as I spot a body on the floor.

  Pin.

  He lies there helplessly, his body badly beaten, his eyes swollen and nearly closed. The blood on his face look as if it has been painted on, meaning someone did this recently. My eyes tear as I think of someone hurting him.

  This is my entire fault. Pin is hurt because of me.

  Immediately taking a few steps forwards Pin, I want to pull him into my arms and comfort him. To take away the pain and suffering inflicted on him.