Five Years Later
1048 Words
"Are you sure about this?"
"Are you serious right now? This was your idea in the first place. Why are you having doubts now?"
Isa gave Zuki a once-over. They had spent a lot of time together, in and out of the classroom. Isa had a tight feeling that he was hiding something from her, but she couldn’t put her finger on what exactly it was.
"Your mother and I have finally gotten on good terms. I don’t want to screw that up."
"Why do you even care? As long as we’re together, she’ll never get along with you."
"Just hurry up and pick the lock. We haven’t got all night."
Zuki rolled his eyes and continued fiddling with the lock until the door swung open with a satisfying pop. Isa sighed and stepped over Zuki, flicking the lights on. They began their search, overturning book piles and pulling books from shelves, hoping to reveal a secret room.
The sound of heels clicking toward the door made them freeze. Zuki jumped for the light switch, plunging the room back into darkness.
"Austin, we need to leave now."
But it was already too late. They watched the door handle slowly turn. Zuki grabbed Isa’s waist and pulled her in for a deep kiss. Isa moaned, running her hands through his hair. If the crow hadn’t coughed, they might have ended up on the floor of the broom closet. They broke apart quickly, Isa’s cheeks glowing pink to top off their performance.
"What are you two doing here? Actually, I don’t want to know. Straight to your own rooms. Your mother won’t like this one bit, Your Highness."
They passed the crow and headed to their respective rooms. Once sure the crow wasn’t looking, Isa made a beeline for Zuki’s room.
"Did you see her face?"
"We must be getting close then."
Ellie paced in front of Isa, nervously biting her nails. Isa had been right: they were close to finding the asset. Ellie knew if the High King’s daughter discovered it, she’d spend her last years locked in a cell.
"What were you two doing?"
"Do you really want to know? Do you want every single detail?"
Ellie shivered in disgust at Isa’s smirk.
"Why so late?"
"You’ve prohibited physical contact between us, so we find any time and any spot we can."
"I have my reasons for my rules."
"Does it have something to do with the dark magic I can feel in here?"
Ellie stopped pacing and sat down. Outside the door, Zuki paused, one hand on the handle.
"What dark magic?"
"I assume you know who I really am. I was born of dark magic. I know it when I see it."
"I had no choice."
"How long did he give you?"
"Five years. Six years ago. He still hasn’t taken my soul."
"You have no idea who you’re dealing with."
Isa picked up her bag and left Ellie’s office. Ellie watched her leave, sighing softly as the door clicked shut. She looked exhausted, as though she had finally aged. The presence of a god and a dark queen in her school was too much stress for one lifetime. Zuki watched Isa leave before pulling her into an empty classroom.
"Come on, Austin. You want to do this here? Won’t this make our situation worse?"
"How did you know?"
Isa dropped the girly giggle and turned to face him.
"It’s pathetic to think the King of Hell believes no one knows he’s here. Did you honestly think you could pop in and out of my timeline unnoticed?"
"You’ve always known?"
"It’s people like you who mess up the whole deal. Charles was a powerful Light King, but he’s getting old. Every spell he puts me under weakens him."
Zuki chuckled, spreading his aura, forcing Isa to her knees. He didn’t like how easy it was to manipulate his dark queen, just like when they were younger.
"Did you think I wouldn’t know when you posed as every man I slept with? Aren’t we related?"
"Don’t be snarky, Princess. You don’t know my real story—only the version victors tell."
Zuki’s eyes glowed red. Isa smirked and flicked her eyes black, thinning the air. Surprised, Zuki’s hold dropped. Isa returned to her feet, shook off excess power, and kicked Zuki across the room. He coughed up blood.
"You were stupid to take me on. I’m Ara Galli, a dark queen, an original. You’re a small-time god."
Isa knelt beside him, flicking his head and enjoying the snap that followed.
Isa sat next to Austin’s body in the infirmary for three weeks without moving, eating, or feeding. When Austin stirred, the hawk-eyed nurse hurried over.
"It’s good to see you awake. Have some water. Can you tell me the last thing you remember?"
Austin coughed as he sipped. "I don’t remember anything."
"That’s okay. Try to rest."
The nurse glanced at Isa, hoping she’d move, but Isa’s glare made her leave. Behind the curtain, Isa spoke.
"What happened?"
"Who are you?"
"I think I’m just Austin for now. Lord Zuki isn’t here."
Isa raised an eyebrow and dug into Austin’s mind, hoping for information. She found too much, causing his three-week stay.
"How long have I been here?"
"Three weeks."
"Three weeks?!"
"Calm down, demon. I didn’t mean to harm your mind. Zuki has damaged you."
After a moment of silence, Austin sighed. "Your Highness, do you want to ask me anything while Zuki isn’t here?"
Before Isa could respond, his energy shifted. Zuki reemerged.
"What did you do to me?"
"Nothing important."
"How? You’re weak, powerless, naive. You shouldn’t have overthrown me."
"You’re naive. Watching from hell, what makes you think what you see isn’t manipulated?"
Zuki froze. "Why are you here?"
"There’s power here to free me from hell in my own body."
"Why would I help you?"
"I thought I fooled you into helping Austin."
"You’d have succeeded if you’d hidden better."
"Once I find the power, I’ll leave. You’ll never see me again."
Isa laughed, unconvinced. "You’ve said that before. How do you know this power will work?"
"I don’t. But I’ve seen the future, and it’s here. Will you help me?"
"Fine. Not because I want to. I just want you gone."
- Writer
