Zola Flash (The Zola Flash Series Book 1) Page 8

  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?

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  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 ceili
ng. 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.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  A FEW HOURS LATER, we arrive in Paris, France. It took a lot of annoying ‘please tell me where we’re going’s to get Trevor to budge. As soon as the location left his mouth, I was looking it up on my smartphone he bought me.

  In the pictures, there were beautiful lights everywhere. Every building seemed to be adorned in them. And there was a tower that looked like an ‘A’, all lit up, as well as tons of green landscapes, and little boats on the water, with couples canoodling.

  Now that I’m here, thought, I know never to trust Earth’s source of information. There are no sparkling lights. No little boats. Although, there is a tower, it’s not lit up. It’s just really tall and grey and dull.

  Once our transportation arrives, Trevor gives the driver orders to take Britney and Pin wherever they like. It’s not exactly what I meant when I asked for them to come along, but I stay quiet. Trevor and I get into a separate vehicle and take off to a restaurant, where Trevor says he has made exclusive reservations. As we pull up outside, I notice the restaurant is a small alfresco on a strip. Not exactly somewhere I can picture Trevor taking a date, but what do I know? It’s not like I’ve known Trevor for long.

  He takes my hand and leads me into the restaurant, and I gasp at the decor. The brick exterior gives the place no justice. There are candles everywhere, giving off a soft vanilla scent. White rose petals are scattered across the reflective floor, which I’m sure Trevor made them do. But the crystal chandelier that reflects the lights from the candles is what really catches my eyes. They look like the steps in my dream. The ones that lead up to my palace. It’s beautiful.

  I turn to Trevor. “Thank you.”

  Trevor takes me into his arms and tips my chin up. “Well, this is my way of apologizing for being such a douche lately.”

  “Okay.”

  “This will be a night you’ll never forget, Zola. I promise you that.”

  Something in his words doesn’t feel right, but I shake it off. “So, why did you reserve the entire place?”

  “My girl deserves the best.”

  We head toward the back of the place and out through a rear exit, where we take a seat near a fountain that is spewing with life. It’s as cold as Payohlini, yet as warm as planet Frizzlea out here. I scoot my chair towards Trevor and snuggle up against him. Thankfully, Earthlings tend to be quite warm.

  When Pierre, the server arrives, I order water. Trevor, on the other hand, nearly orders the entire menu in French. I think he does that to impress me, but the fact that I have a chip implanted in my head, one that’s been there since birth, to enable me understand almost every language, means it doesn’t work. I don’t tell him that though. He doesn’t need to know that most of his words aren’t pronounced correctly.

  As we wait for our food, Trevor drags me onto his lap and moves his head closer to mine as if to kiss me, but I really don’t want to kiss him. Not when I’m supposed to break up with him. Though, how can’t I when he’s being sweet, and he apologized. He’s going to think I’m doing it for Pin. Granted, Pin is a part of why I don’t return Tr
evor’s feelings completely, but …

  “Zola, if this—” Trevor beings, but I cut him off with my lips.

  It doesn’t take a second for him to respond. He kisses me back, and his mouth tastes malty. He moves his lips down to my neck, and I tense up, but he continues nibbling my neck. Moving back to my lips, the kiss deepens. I’m just about to pull away when I hear a hard swallow.

  “Um, excuse me, Mademoiselle . . .” Pierre says.

  I pull away from Trevor. Pierre isn’t alone. He’s back with other garcons, holding the food. The others do not looks at us, but toward the floor, as they place the food on the table, after which, they walk away.

  Pierre stalls, though, and looks directly at me. “Ami de cour.” He is insincere. Or rather his friendship is insincere. He points at Trevor. . Pierre turns to Trevor. “It might not be my place to say, Sir, but she is a little young for pubic indecencies.”

  Trevor stands up, knocking me off his lap in the process, and places a hand on Pierre’s shoulder. “You’re right. It’s not your place. You are just a server at my father’s restaurant. Nothing more. What we do, or don’t do, does not concern you. Think about providing for your family next time you open your month and talk to me.”

  “Trevor!” I gape at him. That was completely uncaused for. You don’t threaten a person’s family.

  Pierre looks at me with much sympathy in his eyes. “Dieu vougrade,” he says before he walks off.

  I try to go after him, but Trevor grabs my forearm. I whirl on him, but all he does is roll his eyes. That’s the last straw. I’m done with him. All his apologies were nothing more than lies. He’s not a good person. And I’m not going to stand around and take his crap.

  I yank my arm free of him and run inside to the kitchen. There are cooks and servers, but I don’t see Pierre. I taP on one of the server’s shoulder. “Où est Pierre?”