"Am I hallucinating? Erase that mess right now! We are not in preschool," I fumed.
"You're going to make history, Zoe, like Juliet with her Romeo," she laughed, determined to do as she pleased.
"You're a very dangerous girl," replied Asarys. "Erase it!"
I ripped the black felt pen out of Lexy's hands, lest she continue in her delirium. While Asarys was about to erase the message from the wall, I heard the door of the bathroom open. I turned around and saw Rachelle with her gang of plagues. Her red face, scarlet with anger, did not say anything. I was standing there, next to that damn message, with that pen in my hands. Oh, fuck! Next to me, my friends tried smothered their laughter in the face of this uncomfortable situation, but only provoked the fury in front of us. Rachelle then walked towards me, tucking a blonde hair behind her ear. She stopped in front of me, far too close to my face.
"Rachelle, it's not what you think," I sighed, tired of this circus.
"You sound like a poor groupie who will do anything to get noticed," she attacked with a mean voice.
"It's pathetic," said one of her vipers.
"You, nobody is talking to you!"
"You've wanted Faïz since the first day. You drool in front of him like a kid who saw an ice cream. You are so pathetic, Zoe," Rachelle continued in an increasingly aggressive tone.
"Oh, she's pulling out the claws," Lexy said.
"This bourgeois woman from the chic districts is trying to scare us. Where is the hidden camera?" added Asarys.
Rachelle turned all possible colors. Suddenly, I felt a slap on my cheek. Dumbfounded, it took me a few seconds to realize what had just happened. Everything followed very quickly. Asarys and Lexy threw themselves on the harpies who accompanied Rachelle. As for me, I didn't answer, and didn't intend to turn my other cheek to this viper.
"I will not accept this kind of behavior within my institution," screamed Mrs. Aniston, the headmistress of the university.
All three of us, standing in her office, heads bowed and ashamed of our behavior, did not say a word in our defense. Rachelle and her pests were waiting for their turn in the hallway, behind the door.
"I could have you expelled for several days and ban you from the ball on Friday," the director continued to shout. "But I will give all three of you a warning. Be careful, because next time it will be expulsion from Baylor University."
Her finger pointing at us made us understand that we were now under high surveillance. We came out of the office, our eyes fixed to the ground. Outside, we crossed paths with our rivals. Rachelle's black eye was the result of a skid that I hadn't been able to control because she'd slapped me. As we passed in front of them, we looked at each other. Asarys and Lexy got away with a few superficial scratches and hair that needed to be combed again. We walked silently into the hallway towards our conference room on empty stomachs. Suddenly, with the pressure finally easing, we burst out laughing as we looked at each other.
"I think Asarys is worse than me," Lexy said to me.
After several minutes of wild nervous laugh, we finally got serious again.
"It's all your fault, Lexy."
Asarys took a long look at our friend.
"Look where your nonsense has led us! It's really stronger than you," I confirmed.
Lexy raised her arms to heaven.
"I didn't know Barbie was going to come out of nowhere. We really have to lock that crazy woman up."
After taking a deep breath in front of the door of the amphitheater, we entered the room where our course had already begun, trying to act as if nothing had happened. We kept our heads held high and took care to avoid curious glances at the state of our post-war clothes.
My legs were tired at the end of that trying day in the cafeteria. Standing for almost two hours, it was impossible to find a break from the many orders that were coming in. David was as fast as I was, waiting impatiently for the rhythm to calm down so he could finally learn the whole story of our altercation with Rachelle. The whole university was already aware of the clash. The girls were sitting in a corner of the cafeteria and studying quietly. Asarys had asked me to hang out tonight, but I had to refuse because of a delay in my homework. In addition, I was also planning to take the opportunity to rest. Deep down, I feared the moment I would return to Elora, because seeing Charles, Lily, and Victoria again was to immerse myself in the reality and horror that lay dormant in the darkness.
"Coffee, please."
This voice, which was not unknown to me, pulled me out of my dreams. I did not dare look up in order to avoid the confrontation of his gaze, preferring to focus on preparing his order.
"Look at me, Zoe," said Faïz in a soft voice.
I looked up, hesitant, and my heart immediately went wild. His hands in his pockets, looking abrupt, he gratified me with a dark, almost threatening look. I concluded that the news had also reached him.
"I'll bring it to you," I managed to articulate calmly by turning immediately to the espresso machine.
"I'll be waiting for you at my table... We need to talk."
I suspected by the intonation of his voice that the conversation would not be easy. He turned on his heels and walked away. All eyes in the cafeteria had turned to us. Uncomfortable, I addressed my friend.
"David, I..."
"Go ahead, sweetheart. Don't worry, I'll take over."
I sat at Faïz's table without having the audacity to look him in the face. My eyes preferred to seek some comfort from the girls further away, on the other side where we were settled. Lexy, while watching me, was mimicking a rope around her neck, indicating her lack of support. I tied my hair up in a bun to keep my hands busy, nervously waiting for Faïz to start the discussion. He stared at me intently, as if to assess the situation, which made me turn pink.
"I like it when your hair is raised like that," he said.
I blinked, incredulous, and remained speechless.
"Thank you," I whispered, on my guard.
After these few words, I gradually relaxed, which allowed me to add,
"Apparently, I'm your date for the Halloween party."
I tried to decipher his reaction to this revelation. Embarrassed, he cleared his throat before tilting his head and retaliating coldly,
"I saw that, but I think it's rather bad timing, given the events of earlier, Zoe. No? You obviously punched my girlfriend in the face!"
"I can't believe this." I frowned. "Your crazy girlfriend literally jumped me and slapped me first! She thought that..."
I stopped, not wanting to go into details. Why explain everything, anyway? Faïz already had his own version of the facts. I fought against the rage that was running up my throat in the face of such injustice. The coldness of Faïz towards me added a little more water to my already very full glass. I got up suddenly, which surprised him, and I decided to go out to get some fresh air.
I filled my lungs with a deep sigh. It was already getting dark. With my arms crossed, I didn't hear him approaching. Only the smell of his cologne told me that he was right behind me.
"Listen, Zoe, on Friday, I will share a dance with you, but there will be no more. In general, I never participate in this kind of event. Many other boys will be happy to spend the evening with you."
I was stunned. How could he say that to me, when he knew how I felt about him? Still behind me, I didn't bother to turn around.
"It's not the kind of event I like, but for once, I was happy to be able to take my mind off things, after everything I learned last night: the prophecy, and everything else. It's a lot for me."
I finally decided to face him. He suddenly seemed so fragile and vulnerable.
"You know about this?"
His voice broke.
"Yes, since last night. I discovered everything."
His jaw suddenly tightened. I knew he wouldn't say another word. His eyes scanned the parking lot in the distance, looking for his car.
"Where are you going?" I insisted when he started to leave.
"I'm going back to Elora! I have to see my parents."
"Faïz, wait. I'm coming with you."
"I'll be waiting for you in the car."
I had thirty minutes left before the end of my shift. I hoped David wouldn't mind letting me go a little early.
On the way to the villa, Faïz was silent, as usual, surely immersed in his darkest thoughts. I would have liked to make him smile even once, just once today. I felt like I was doing everything I could to sabotage this relationship. My lucky cartridges were empty. Listening to a song by Ed Sheeran, a feeling of sadness enveloped me. That was when I thought there were worse things in life, to reassure myself.
Worse how? For all we know, in a few months' time, I'll have to throw myself off a cliff to save the world.
At that thought, the gloom overwhelmed me again. My deep sigh forced Faïz to ask me about my condition.
"How are you feeling?"
"I feel like I'm running out of time all of a sudden. I discover in myself a rage to live that I never knew existed. I want to keep having dreams...a future. It's crazy," I confided to him with an open heart.
"I understand, but you know, you can still leave LA. I think that would be the best decision to make. You need to move on. Don't fight, Zoe. I just want to know you're safe when things go wrong."
I just nodded to close the subject, feeling a great anger growing in me. I was now far too involved in the secret and in my feelings to go home. I watched through my window as the landscape scrolled by. The sky had a wonderful red and gold hue with the setting sun. The beautiful sight helped me to calm down.
We entered the living room side by side. Lily was installing a new painting on the wall while Miss Arlette was busy preparing dinner.
"Mr. Mattew," Arlette called in Faïz's direction, " will you eat here tonight?"
"No, don't count on me."
"Very well, Mr. Mattew."
Lily walked up to her son to kiss him, apparently happy to see him.
"Come and sit on the terrace," she suggested, "it is a little chilly. I advise you to cover yourself."
Outside, it was getting dark. I sat in front of Lily on the large oval bench, all in braided resin. Since the beginning of my stay in the Mattew's villa, I liked to come here when I wanted to clear my head. Indeed, during the day, the turquoise seats matched perfectly with the horizon, which was often light blue, reflecting on a dark and intense ocean. Faïz's gaze on me was heavy, but I acted as if I didn't see him. He stood with his hands in his pockets near the bay window. Lily questioned him with her eyes.
"The Dome becomes more and more opaque every day," Faïz pointed out, helplessly, to his mother.
"It's getting closer and we're not ready yet," whispered Lily, her hands joined in her lap.
"What does the color of the Dome reflect?"
— "The Dome," Lily began, "is there to protect the civilization of Los Angeles from any intrusion harmful to its inhabitants. Unfortunately, the evil is already here. The color indicates just..."
Lily looked away to look up at the sky, taking care to select each word as if they were of crucial importance at that moment. After a few seconds, she resumed.
"The color of the Dome indicates the degree of danger in which the population of LA is in. Fortunately, the inhabitants are not aware of this information, for good reason. There would be a high risk of riots if this were to become known. We have to buy time."
"But we don't have any!" cried Faïz in a furious voice. "Zoe must return to Paris."
Lily addressed me again in her sweet voice.
"We can get you out of LA tomorrow if that's what you want."
"No!" I exclaimed without thinking. "No, stop thinking for me, stop trying to protect me. Yes, a part of me is afraid. I listened to you, but I will never leave you. I have a role to play in this story. Death does not frighten me, but on the other hand, what could happen to each of you terrifies me. You're my family now."
Lily, with wet eyes, hurried to hug me. Her embrace reassured me and gave me the feeling of being invincible. When she detached herself from me, she looked up at her son.
"Faïz, promise me you'll take care of her," she begged him.
He shook his head, his eyes closed in disapproval, likely feeling things slipping away from him. He then turned around and walked inside the villa without saying another word, while Lily still held me in her arms. She did not try to hold him back.
FAÏZ
Arriving in front of the manor, he pushed the heavy door. The place had been built almost underground more than two centuries ago. This mansion, called, "The Seventh Earth," was the place where Faïz went when he was looking for answers to his questions. Once known throughout the world, this extravagant place with sumptuous gold moldings on the ceiling resembled a small castle. The stone stairs at the entrance gave it an old character, all mixed with refined decorations. Faïz walked to the first room at the other end of the entrance, called The White Room. He remembered his conversation on the terrace with his mother and Zoe again. Everything was clear in his mind. With a tight heart, he had to prepare for the worst now, even if he didn't want to think about it.
"It has been a long time," exclaimed a cheerful and deep voice that broke the peaceful silence, which irritated the young man who had just arrived.
For the sake of provocation, his interlocutor continued,
"Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock."
"Shut up!"
An older-looking man, tall, bald, whose eyes were hidden behind small round glasses with opaque lenses, was sitting in a vintage armchair with a glass of whisky in his hand. Julio seemed to have been waiting for this moment, when Faïz would return to the manor. He took his place in a seat in front of him.
"The Maestro and his dog are at the gates of our world. We are now sure that confrontation is inevitable in the coming weeks. How much time do we have, Julio?"
"Before the war between you and him breaks out? Two months, maybe three at most. That's what the Callis tells us, if we follow the prophecy."
Hearing these words, Faïz's eyes closed.
"You have to find that damn tomb as soon as possible. Zoe is the key and you know it. You have to bring her here so she can decipher the scriptures of the Holy Book."
Julio sipped the last of his drink. He now looked worried. Faïz sat at the back of his armchair and looked up at the ceiling. He imagined Zoe's magnificent face, her eyes, but also each of her perfect curves. His arrogant character seemed so fragile to him when he was near her...
"You're going to have to team up with your ' Alma Gemela.' I hope you're ready?" Julio asked him.
"Actually, I don't know yet," replied Faïz in a painful whisper, "I don't want to lose her."
"Don't worry in advance. Each of us has a role to play. You and your fellows must save the human race. To do this, you need as much information as possible."
Julio was the guardian of this sanctuary, or more precisely, a Sylph, carefully protecting the Callis, who had been here for eighteen years. From then on, this elf's task had been to bring up the darkest archives into the light of day, archives that were thought to have been forgotten forever.
5
Friday evening arrived faster than I would have liked. With the classes, my work in the cafeteria, and a first interview for my internship that I had to prepare for the following Monday, I had not had time to see my friends.
Victoria and I headed Downtown to Lexy's house. As the days went by, we both became more and more complicit. On the way, we took the opportunity to talk about everything and nothing in the Escalade, but neither of us discussed the subject of The Maestro. I enjoyed these little moments with her. I felt like I had stayed in a completely normal life, unlike the rest of her family. Of course, she knew everything. Why wouldn't she know? But she protected me in her own way, and I was grateful to her.
In front of Piero Residence, I saw Victoria more nervous than usual. Before entering the lobby, she turned to look around. A concer
n, which I did not recognize in her, crossed her face for a moment.
"Is something wrong?" I worried immediately.
What could she be afraid of all of a sudden?
"I have the impression that he is always there, watching us," she whispered, as if someone could hear her.
His words took my breath away, and a slight shiver ran down my spine. Silence fell. 'He.' I knew too well who 'he' was.
"Come on, Victoria, Lexy's waiting for us. Tonight we're here to have fun."
I had to act as if nothing had happened, even if deep down it was a lie. Victoria had been waiting for this ball for a while already, not hiding her impatience for the whole week. It was out of the question that she should think of this demonic traveler for a single moment during the evening. I took her by the arm and gave her a big smile, which reassured her, at least for the moment.
Arriving at Lexy's apartment, Asarys opened the door with a completely hilarious look. She wore a huge wig with a period dress. It didn't take me long to guess that she was Marie Antoinette. I looked up to heaven. She could have chosen a character with a less tragic destiny.
"Oh, hey girls, are you coming?" shouted Lexy from another room.
I tried to relax and regain control of my emotions by suffocating the anxiety that was growing inside me. After all, tonight I would be with Faïz, and if he kept his word, I could even hope for a dance with him. At the mere thought of being able to find myself in his arms, my stomach tied itself in knots. I immediately came to my senses so as not to arouse the curiosity of my friends, who were beginning to wonder.
"Relax, Zoe," Asarys said, turning to me.
"I’m a little nervous."
Victoria gratified me with a complicit eye, understanding the reason for my condition, while Asarys giggled softly. I pushed her towards the room where Lexy was, growling,
"There's no way I'm going to take your and Lexy's innuendo all evening, all right?"
DARK FAÏZ Book 1: Every hero has his legend Page 9
