"Did someone hurt you?" he asked, trying to contain his rage.
His black eyes made me guess how dangerous he could be if something bad happened to someone around him. I began to tell him what had just happened, how I had felt. He stroked my cheek. This gesture comforted me and burned my flesh at the same time. Faïz then called his mother to warn her of my delay, failing to tell her about the incident that had just happened. It was no use worrying Lily more than necessary. Then he walked through the parking lot, certainly looking for a prowler, but saw no one. He took a look at my vehicle and managed to get it started without too many problems.
"I'll take you back with my car!" he said.
I sat in his car, with its sophisticated interior and absolute luxury. Faïz's scent floated inside. When he came to sit behind the wheel, I felt a sense of security and comfort. All my uneasiness disappeared instantly.
"I'm sorry about your evening with Rachelle," I lied.
I had a feeling he didn't believe a word of my apology. He started at full speed towards Elora.
"The main thing is that nothing happened to you."
"Will you stay at the villa tonight?"
"Not tonight. I have a lot of things to take care of."
My heart tightened at the thought of him leaving to find her again. I turned my face towards the window and contemplated the landscape that was scrolling by my window. I didn't want to meet his eyes, as I didn't have the strength to pretend anymore tonight. My batteries were completely drained.
"She went home," Faïz confessed to me without me asking him for an explanation.
I suspected him of wanting to calm my thoughts so that I could have a more serene evening.
"Good," I whispered without embarrassing myself about this news.
I felt his gaze weighing on my back. He sighed as if he wanted to add something, but changed his mind.
We arrived at Elora, both silent. Faïz escorted me to the front door to make sure that I was safe from any danger.
"You're going back right now?" I hastened to ask him.
"Don't worry about me, it's okay. I have to get the Mustang back. Try to rest, Zoe. After all these emotions you must be exhausted."
I approached him and slipped him a sweet kiss on his cheek. He didn't reject me. He stood straight in front of me, destabilized by my gesture, then turned on his heels, fleeing the moment that seemed to have stopped. I realized I was falling in love with a very mysterious man with impenetrable thoughts. And moreover, who was already in a relationship.
FAÏZ
Faïz arrived at the top of the building on West Fifth Street overlooking Los Angeles. The night gave the city a beauty very different from that of the day. He had his hands in his pockets and his face partly hidden under his black hood, which allowed no one to be able to read his eyes. Deep inside, Faïz told himself that he wished he'd never met her. He, who had always protected himself from his feelings by maintaining strict control over each of his emotions, was now left to his own devices about how he felt about the young woman. Her face, her smile, and her green eyes obsessed him. He had been afraid for her tonight, forced to turn down a more than disappointed Rachelle to go to Zoe's rescue. He then wondered what had happened on campus. Faïz clenched his fists, trying to convince himself that it was just a coincidence. There was no way the traveler could already be on her trail when he had just arrived in the city. If that was the case, then Zoe was in danger. He recognized Inspector Barthey's steps behind him, noting that he was accompanied by two other people. Faïz did not bother to turn around.
"Do you have any news?" he asked the inspector.
"The moment we feared has arrived. He came back!" Barthey said in a nervous voice.
Faïz remained silent and sighed deeply. The disturbing prophecy the Callis spoke of was coming true. He turned slowly to face the inspector. His face was tired, and his white hair had a particular light that was almost translucent. Of medium build, his silhouette was no less athletic. His physique remained well balanced for his size. Next to him was a smaller, Asian man with long hair. In the back, he saw a tall woman, very slim, with mahogany hair. Her pale skin brought out her lips in blood red. Their sports outfits indicated that they were people on the ground.
"This is Zorrick."
The little man nodded.
"And this is Belize."
The woman stepped forward.
"I don't need anyone to help me, especially not an average person!"
"The FBI is on our case, we have no choice! Zorrick and Belize will have to report on the situation to the government in a few months."
"You put them in danger. They can be world champions of karate or martial arts, but that will not be enough. It is evil itself that is at the gates of the city. Wherever he passes, there will only be chaos and desolation."
"Your grandfather couldn't beat him on his own," Barthey replied, raising his voice. "Do you really want it to end the same way? He lost the woman he loved out of pride, refusing the help he was offered. Is that what you want to do?"
Faïz did not want to sacrifice anyone, and knew full well that the man was right. He could use hands, eyes, soldiers. This time, his exceptional strength would not be enough. He would have to live up to the legacy left by his grandfather and protect the City of Angels at the cost of his life. He realized that tonight's incident with Zoe was not a coincidence. The traveler was going to want to take everything that mattered to him, leaving him no choice but to move away from her, but also from his family.
"Gather as many Leviathans as you can. We will need them to contain the city against evil and avoid a coup d'état," Faïz concluded.
Without adding another word, he walked towards the stairs. The inspector did not have time to say anything else. The young man had already evaporated in the darkness. The master of horror, nicknamed Maestro, had decided to return among the simple mortals, but also among these men, the Leviathans like Faïz, who were considered here to be demigods.
3
At the dawn of a new day, my books took up a large place, scattered on my bed. I tried to concentrate as much as I could on my studies, but flashes from the previous day kept coming back to my mind. I passed my hands through my big, tangled black curls, trying to clear my head. Most of my late evening was spent in my room with Victoria, who had joined me shortly after. I had taken the opportunity to call my father, but also my friends by videoconference, forcing me to put on a playful face in order to deceive appearances. Coming out of my thoughts, I suddenly remembered that I had promised Victoria that I would go shopping with her today. She'd asked me, and I was happy to be able to share this moment with her, since she was so shy. I went back to my books, waiting for the Mattew family to wake up.
Under the hot water avalanche of my shower, I saw myself with Faïz again last night, in front of the front door. For a short while, I admit it, I had lost my footing in front of his magnetic gaze before I found the courage to kiss him. My lips had touched his. That carnal contact, almost electric because of its prohibition, had destabilized me. He hadn't pushed me away.
He didn't encourage you, either.
How should I behave with him the next time I saw him? I closed my eyes and decided to enjoy these last few minutes without thinking about it, letting the water eliminate my apprehensions.
"Do you want to drive, Zoe?" Victoria asked, ready to throw the keys to me in front of the Escalade.
"If I were you, I wouldn't even think about it if you want to come back in one piece. I leave you this monster."
We had just left for Rodeo Drive when I thought about breakfast with the Mattew family. I'd been disappointed by Faïz's absence. I had noticed Charles' closed face, marked by severity and his absence, while Lily had a forced smile on her face, her features tense. The palpable tension made me guess that there had certainly been a problem a few hours before. As the days passed, the atmosphere was becoming heavier without any explanation. On the way, I decided to take advantage of this time with Vi
ctoria to fish for news and get as much information as possible, hoping that she would be more talkative than the rest of her family.
"Your father and mother looked different this morning. Is there a problem?"
Victoria, surprised by my unexpected question, suddenly looked uncomfortable. Hesitantly, she finally said,
"We're a complicated family, Zoe. You could've found a better. You have a good life, even if you think otherwise. You just don't realize it yet."
Her little nervous laugh made me think she knew more than she wanted me to believe. She became serious again, apparently consumed by secrets.
"If I had to give you any advice, it would be to get Faïz out of your head. Believe me, he can only break your heart."
Victoria sincerely wanted to protect me, so I had to take her advice. Damn it! My crush on her brother must be obvious. Taken by surprise, I pretended to be indifferent.
"Thank you for this warning. I take note of it, but don't worry, I don't intend to fall in love with anyone at the moment."
Victoria did not seem to believe a word I said, and added,
"He's had a lot of conquests. Wherever he goes, women seek to attract his intention. He has a natural, captivating charm, and has enjoyed it a lot. He met Rachelle at the right time. She's a rich heiress to the chocolate group, 'Connor.' She changed him, channeled his anger and soothed his tormented mind. I still wonder what would have happened to my brother if she hadn't been there. She is special, I must admit, even unbearable, but I thank Heaven for having put her in his way."
My mind suddenly emptied. I had received a huge slap in the face. I better understood the special bond between the two of them and now realized that Faïz was not for me. The feelings he had for Rachelle could only be sincere.
"Don't be sad," Victoria gently comforted me.
She looked at me with sincere compassion in the face of my blatant distress.
We finally arrived at Rodeo Drive, leaving the SUV to a valet at the corner of a parking lot. I discovered a perfect row of shops with the most prestigious brands on the planet. The storefronts were redoubling their imagination to display surprisingly designed display cases in the heart of Beverly Hills. Many luxury cars and limousines with tinted windows marched along the modest avenue. I liked to imagine big stars sitting at the back of them. At a traffic light, two Lamborghinis, one next to the other, revved their engines, preparing for a race, all with total indifference toward the passersby around us.
People were coming out of the stores, their arms loaded with bags from luxury brands such as Dior, Chanel, Cartier, and many others. A small uphill lane adjacent to Rodeo Drive was covered with cobblestones. It reminded me of a small Paris lane with a choice of small shops for a certain elite of the population, as well as high-end restaurants. The European architecture added a charm to the place. Victoria rushed onto Two Rodeo Drive. She seemed to know this emblematic street by heart.
"We're going to heat up the credit card, Zoe," she exclaimed. "I'm counting on you to give me a makeover."
"You're going to heat up your credit card," I said, "because it was too much of a place for me to go shopping. It was not every day that I went to the street considered the most expensive in the world."
"Come on, get in the game. Don't react like that."
She grabbed me by the arm and lured me into one of the expensive shops.
I had left Victoria in a dressing room with a million clothes to try on, which I had chosen for her. Convincing her had not been an easy task, but I had asked her to trust me. Meanwhile, I took the opportunity to take a tour of the shop and found, disappointed, that the price of a simple t-shirt started at three hundred dollars. As I walked by, a young saleswoman with long blonde hair and strong makeup looked at me from top to bottom, with a very haughty look. Yeah, honey, no brand, but style, I thought, exasperated by her dismissive attitude.
"Did you find your happiness?"
A masculine, singing voice made me turn around. A man in his twenties was standing in front of me. To my great surprise, I noticed that he was not a salesman. He wore pants with a black shirt that highlighted his light blue eyes. His dark hair fell slightly back onto his neck. It looked like he came out of a fashion show podium. I quickly scanned the store and finally realized that he was talking to me.
"I was not looking for anything," I replied, surprised by his question.
"You're not from around here? You speak with a slight accent."
"I am French."
His overwhelmingly warm smile made me to turn around. Turning my back on him, I went back to the fitting room, praying that he would not follow me. At the same time, a transformed Victoria appeared. A small cry of amazement came out of my mouth. Striped high-waist pants with a slightly wide cut and matching tank top fitted her perfectly.
"Oh my God, you look beautiful. Look at that!" I exclaimed in amazement.
Apparently very proud of herself, she started parading around in the small room, which triggered a sincere burst of laughter from me. I loved this relaxed and confident Victoria.
"So I'm going to try the rest, but I'm already warning you that I'm taking this first outfit."
She hurried back to the room, happy to find her happiness. For my part, I didn't dare to imagine the price. I was hoping deep down that she wouldn't take the rest of my selections for fear that she would be ruined in just half a day.
"I heard you talking to someone just now. Who was it?" asked Victoria from the back of her room.
I immediately began to look for the blue-eyed man in the store, but he had disappeared.
"I don't know, Vic. He just needed some information."
Fortunately, she didn't insist and came out with another equally flashy, equally expensive outfit.
The end of the afternoon was approaching. We had been to almost all the shops, and Victoria seemed satisfied with her purchases. The day had brought us a little closer together. We headed back to Elora, the Escalade loaded with bags. However, I was angry with Victoria for buying me a dress in one of the stores. My eyes had lingered a little too long on it and I had admired it in spite of myself.
"Thank you for the outfit, but it's too much for me," I confided to her with unease. "I accompanied you because it makes me happy to spend time with you."
"I know, Zoe. I really wanted to give it to you. You're the sister I wish I had. I finally have someone I can confide in. I've never experienced this before. With you, I feel so different."
"I like you and your family very much, too. Seeing you happy is enough for me. Do you have any friends in high school?"
"Not really,"she said, shrugging. "Boys don't care about insignificant young ladies like me. Girls, on the other hand, prefer to avoid me, because I don't really fit into their standards of beauty, as you may have noticed. I'm far from popular."
"They're stupid, I assure you. High school can be a difficult time. When you go to college, things will change, you'll see. Tonight, there's a party at Asarys's sorority house. Do you want to come?"
A flash of interested surprise crossed Victoria's eyes.
"What? Are you serious? Would you take me with you?" she exclaimed with open joy.
"Yes, but please look at the road," I said, in a panicked voice, pretending to have a heart attack. "First of all, your mother has to agree."
As soon as she arrived at the villa, Victoria rushed inside in search of her mother. Lily was on the terrace and was preparing to go inside when she heard us arrive. Indeed, the weather was getting cloudy and the wind was rising. A storm was not far away.
"You rob all of Rodeo Drive, girls?" Lily asked, amused when she saw all the bags on the ground.
"There's no way to stop your daughter. Victoria is completely possessed when she walks into a store."
"Yet it's not her habit, confided Lily," exasperated by her daughter's behavior. "I usually have to drag her by force to go shopping, and worse, to make her to set foot in a fitting room."
While Victoria unpacked he
r things to rediscover them and show them to her mother, Lily seemed delighted by her daughter's renewed coquetry. She asked to look at each item of clothing, happy to share this moment with her.
"Mom?" began Victoria in a risky and serious tone.
Lily's smile faded away.
"Zoe asked me to go with her to her friend Asarys's sorority party. I really want to go. Can I? Please say yes."
Lily turned towards me with a surprised look. Embarrassed, I tried to justify myself.
"Uh... I just thought it would make Victoria happy to go out tonight. It's an opportunity to end the day together."
"That's very kind of you, Zoe. I am happy to see my daughter being more sociable. I trust you completely, but don't come home later than midnight."
Lily had regained her radiant smile, apparently enthusiastic to see that her daughter was a teenager like any other. I repressed a sigh of relief. Victoria pulled me by the arm to take me upstairs, eager to get ready with me.
The evening was in full swing while the storm was roaring outside. The interior of Alpha Mu's large residence was crowded. This mixed evening marked the beginning of the university year and the end of the " Sorority Rush. " The music made the walls vibrate so loudly, accompanied by the laughter and screams of Baylor's students. There were people dancing, while others were talking in groups. The alcohol seemed to flow freely. I tried in vain to find the girls, Victoria on my heels. I remembered Lily's precise instructions and intended not to fail in my responsibilities.
"Zoe!"
DARK FAÏZ Book 1: Every hero has his legend Page 5
