Zoe Thanatos

by Cierlak, Crystal

  “I should have kissed you.” His words were like a bucket of cold water in her face, bringing her out of the minefield of her thoughts. He smiled and shrugged as though it were the way of things, but deep down she could see his own brand of resentment for the situation. In that moment she realized she wasn’t alone in her thoughts, nor had she been at any point earlier in the day. He felt the same way. Just knowing it wasn’t one-sided calmed her and eased the anger.

  “Then kiss me when you come back. Or, I’ll kiss you first,” she replied. This time her smile, though weak, was real.

  “Until next time. Goodbye, Zoe.”

  “Goodbye, Evander.”

  Her eyes stayed fixed on where he had been standing but watched in her peripheral vision as he turned and walked away, the front door closing shut soon thereafter. He was gone. He hadn’t brought a car with him and she imagined he disappeared into the night as quickly as he first appeared in her life. Once more her house was quiet and empty, back to how it always had been after a brief interlude of happiness and a bit of life.

  Zoe boxed up the remaining food, tossed the trash, washed the dishes in the sink and turned off the kitchen lights. She made her way back outside and sat on one of the new lounges, leaning back against the cushioned surface as her eyes drifted up towards the sky and the stars. It was a clear night, the moon full and bright amongst the stars. She tried to imagine that Evan belonged to one of them, that Terra was a real place like Earth that existed somewhere far, far away.

  Her eyes closed and her mind drifted into sleep, replaying conversations, moments of excitement and the kiss that should have been. She realized she might not ever see Evan again, and that perhaps the missed kiss was a blessing in disguise. It was a sad but rational thought that sat with her like an unfamiliar friend as her body eventually welcomed the comforts of sleep and her mind quieted, free of thoughts of green eyes.

  Part Two

  Chapter 9: Terra

  The trip home didn’t take more than a few minutes. They bypassed the Royal Transport Station and arrived at the private gate used exclusively by those who lived in the royal residence. Two Transport Engineers sat behind a glass wall interface while two Crown Soldiers opened the doors of the entryway leading to the Throne Room.

  It took a moment for Evan’s senses to re-acclimate to the artificial atmosphere of Terra. The oxygen pumped through air vents in the ceiling lacked the subtleties of naturally occurring oxygen, such as on Earth. Recessed lights simulated sunlight at all hours of the day while glass walls projected three dimensional images of scenic views from other universes. It was a farce, a program generated projection to hide the true view of Terra which was nothing more than a gloomy wasteland. Two dozen residents milled about the room, going about their usual business as they arrived.

  Evan eyed the corridor leading to the wing of the Throne Room and waited until Eva nodded.

  “I’ll find the Queen and King. Go change. You know how they hate otherworld clothes.” She made off towards the adjacent corridor that housed the Straton’s palatial residences.

  Two more soldiers were stationed at the entrance of their residence and opened the large doors for him as he approached. He bypassed the expansive living space and headed straight for to private residence. As he entered, the recessed lights brightened, illuminating his forgotten belongings; everything was exactly where he left it. The two weeks he spent on Earth seemed like a lifetime and his home felt more distant than ever.

  He quickly stripped out of his shorts, polo shirt, and tennis shoes trading them for a white v-neck and ink blue bespoke slacks. It was a practical uniform, a utilitarian assimilation into a culture where dissonance was unwelcome.

  The common room on the other side of the door erupted with the unmistakable sound of the King’s deep voice. Evan tossed the discarded clothes into a laundry receptacle and brushed his hands over the crease in the pants before opening the door.

  King Owyn was tall with wide shoulders, often taking on a domineering posture. He wasn’t an unfriendly King, but his presence would often render a room silent, either out of reverence or wariness. Evan knew him to have a boyish charm and often friendly disposition, but never forgot it was the Queen’s spouse he was talking to.

  “So the rumors are true, you have come back,” the King bellowed. He stepped toward Evan and slapped a large hand on his back, a gesture Evan assumed was meant to convey friendly affection.

  “As my King requested.” Evan bowed his head to Owyn but he merely swatted the air with his hand. Though Evan acted as the King’s advisor in an official capacity and was considered a friend, he never disregarded the formalities of the monarchy.

  “You’ve been gone for a while, Evander. What world did you escape to this time?”

  “Earth,” Evan answered, trying not to think of think of Zoe. The King was a sharp man with a talent for reading faces. Evan took great care to tell more with this words than with his emotions.

  “Ah. Crowded place, Earth. How do you stand it?” The King’s distaste for Earth was well known. It was common knowledge among the residents of Terra that they were a much smaller civilization than their cosmic neighbors, but what they lacked in size they more than made up for in advanced technologies. People from Earth had barely explored their own galaxy while Terran residents made frequent voyages to other known universes, using their findings to better their own world.

  “I manage, Your Highness,” he answered. Enough with the pleasantries, he thought. He was brought home for a reason and he wanted to know what it was.

  Eva appeared in the doorway and bowed her head to the King as he ushered her into the room with his hand. “Good, you’re both here.”

  “What’s going on?” she asked as she took her place beside Evan.

  “A break-in occurred in the Media Center. Whoever did it was looking for something specific: a book from the Royal Anthology. They somehow managed to bypass our security measures and the book was missing before we even knew there was a break-in. We’ve been able to trace it to one of the outlying cities.” The King didn’t look as though he were too concerned about the theft. In fact he was rather nonplussed.

  Evan and Eva exchanged confused looks. “Why would anyone want to steal a book?” Evan asked. He wanted to laugh at the preposterous notion of a singular book going missing, but knew better than to do so in front of the King.

  “It isn’t just any book,” the King started. “It has significant historical value to the Crown and the history of Terra.”

  “I’m not following,” Eva admitted. “Why would anyone have any interest in an old history book?” It was the theft in and of itself that was the most shocking. There was hardly ever crime in Terra, which made this one all the more puzzling.

  “This book happens to chronicle the history of the original families and Crown up to the Straton rule. As you can imagine, its contents hold information that very few people are privy to. Not to mention the fact that it belongs to the monarchy, and stealing from the Queen is an unlawful act.”

  Evan couldn’t imagine what anyone would want with a dusty old tome that told a story they were all familiar with. The original family had been dead and gone since he was a child, killed by the Straton Queen and long forgotten since. Just speaking of them was potentially an unlawful act.

  “The Queen and I both want the matter dealt with quickly and quietly. I’m taking a small team of Crown Soldiers out to the city to assess the situation. Now that you’ve returned you can come with us. We could use your good sense.” Judging by the King’s face the request was more of a formality; he was being commanded to go.

  “I’m sure your guard will be of more use to you. I’m really tired and wouldn’t mind getting some rest.” He wondered if he sounded as sincere and apologetic as he meant to.

  The King looked disappointed but didn’t protest. “The both of you can join us when we return. After all, your own family history is in that book, too. Whoever stole it might be looking for informa
tion about either one of you.”

  The thought had never even occurred to Evan. Nor could he imagine what anyone would want with old tales of his dead family. “I’ll be waiting for your return, Your Highness.”

  “Travel safe, Your Highness,” Eva chimed in, smiling as she dipped into a small curtsy.

  The King made his exit, leaving the two of them alone in the room.

  “A stolen book? Really?!” Evan retorted.

  Eva rolled her eyes. “I honestly had no idea. Why would anyone in the outlying cities care about a family that no longer exists anyway? What could they possibly do with that information?”

  “Who knows,” he grumbled. He sat down for the first time since arriving and leaned back against the overstuffed cushions on the couch. “It’s not as though anyone could sell a stolen book from the Royal Anthology. Nobody could be that stupid.”

  “I guess we’ll find out!” she remarked with forced enthusiasm.

  “I’m going to sleep. Let’s hope this will all be settled soon so I can stop pretending I care about their business.” And get back to my life.

  Eva sat next to him on the couch with a terse expression on her face. “Will you go back to Earth?”

  He could no longer ignore the image of Zoe’s face in his mind. It was evident how disappointed she felt about him leaving. If only they had parted under different circumstances. “Somehow I doubt they’ll let me go back so easily. I may have to stay longer before I can leave again.” The unhappiness of the thought burrowed at him. No, they might not be so lenient on him after he’d been gone for so long. He would have to stick it out and make peace with the Stratons, the Queen especially, before even attempting to go back to Earth.

  “She’ll be okay, Evan.” Eva smiled and tightened her hand around his. It took half a minute for him to realize she wasn’t speaking about the Queen, but Zoe.

  “I’m going to my room.” He squeezed her hand before standing up and walking the short distance to his private residence. The door closed behind him and the lights dimmed to a bluish-grey as he laid down on the bed, his arms extending up to cradle his head. It had been too long since he had a decent amount of sleep. His body relaxed into the plush bed as his mind drifted off into unconscious sleep.

  A brisk knock at the door awoke him from deep sleep, and a second impatient knock followed.

  “I’m coming!” he yelled to the intruder. Reluctantly he got up, feeling as though he only had half the amount of sleep his body had wanted. He swung open the door to find a young woman standing behind it, her face impassive. He recognized her as one of the Queen’s ladies. She had the same elegant hairstyle the Queen required of her, a cape of thick, long hair entwined gracefully at the crown of her head, and a full-length purple dress that hugged her body. The Queen certainly had a flair for style.

  “I’m sorry to disturb you, Sir. The Queen is requesting your presence.”

  “Right now?” he asked in disbelief. Part of him wished he could just decline and he could go back to sleep. He knew better.

  “If you’ll follow me, Sir,” she invited.

  Evan shut the door behind him and followed her out of the common room, through the Throne Room, and towards the grand entryway that lead to the corridor where the Stratons kept residence. Two soldiers opened the doors for them wordlessly and the sight of the Straton’s great common room came into view around him. It was an immaculate display of wealth and power, and was drenched in deep colors that didn’t exist naturally anywhere in Terra. The ceiling vaulted more than a dozen feet in the air with thick concrete columns that stood from top to floor. The room itself had a large open layout with sectionals of seating areas, work stations, and stainless steel accents throughout. It was just the sort of palatial opulence he had seen on Earth; a wealth and grandness that everyone seemed to be working to attain.

  The Queen was nowhere to be seen. To his surprise the girl didn’t stop but headed towards the Queen’s private residence.

  “Right this way please,” she instructed, leading through the doors as the soldiers opened them. There were others dressed similarly in the room, a few Evan vaguely recognized from earlier times spent in the Queen’s privacy.

  The residence, like the room that preceded it, was elegantly decorated and immaculate. The enormous bed would have dominated in the smaller space of his residence, but in hers was proportionate in size. The Queen sat at a vanity on an adjacent wall, undoing the clasp of a necklace before placing it in an ornate black box.

  “That will be all, Julia,” she commanded.

  The woman in purple left quickly and quietly, shutting the doors behind her. It had been a while since they were alone in a room together, and Evan tried to push those memories from his mind.

  “I was wondering when I would see you again,” the Queen confessed. She stood and turned to meet him, looking every bit as regal as he remembered. She wore a turquoise dress with an intricate lace pattern that draped fittingly over her figure, with a cascade of colored fabric falling gracefully to her feet. It swished softly around her as she approached him, quickly closing the space between them.

  Objectively he had always found her to be beautiful, but now he saw something he hadn’t recognized before. Large, almond shaped hazel eyes, and a mane of chestnut brown hair that fell in soft curls down her back. For one brief moment he would have sworn it was Zoe’s face staring back at him.

  “Something the matter?” she asked with a hint of concern in her face.

  “No, nothing,” he denied. He knew it had to be his mind playing a trick or the fresh memories of Zoe mistakenly processed with the old memories of the Queen. He closed and opened his eyes but found the similarities between their faces remained. He felt uneasy and distrustful, though he knew better than to let her see his innermost thoughts. “You look beautiful, my Queen. As always.” He bowed his head ceremoniously in front of her.

  Her lips curled into an amused smile that brightened her face. She was always the most beautiful when she smiled, and when she did he often forgot she was the Queen and instead saw her as being as normal and regular as everyone else.

  “I’m pleased to see your sister was able to locate you and bring you home in one piece. She has quite a talent, Evadine. Of all the places to look she knew exactly the right one.”

  “I was just as surprised as you, Your Highness,” he replied.

  “Did you have a nice time?” she asked sweetly.

  “It was fine. I’m happy to be home now.” It was faster to think of the lie than to consider a truthful statement.

  “And yet you stayed away for so long.” There was slight amusement in her words and her lips, but her eyes were colder, appraising him closely.

  “Forgive me. I lost track of time.” He took her right hand and held it to his mouth, gently kissing above her knuckles.

  “I missed you,” she whispered quietly, her eyes dropping to where his lips met her outstretched hand. It was a side of her that was easier, less complicated. A part of him believed their affair would be more convenient if she was always that way. The moments were rare and in some ways they alarmed him. She was his Queen, a married woman with whom he had shared a bed on more than one occasion, and he never forgot his place.

  He always suspected that to her the affair was a product of power and desire, never emotion. She had charmed and seduced him the first time and each time thereafter was always at her whim. He participated but never instigated, never once daring to openly address her as anything other than his sovereign. Afterwards, he always felt angry with himself for giving in, for wanting her at all. Although he appreciated that she never explicitly treated him like a prisoner, he never managed to forget that he technically was. The formality of his and Eva’s imprisonment may have ended with the previous Queen and King, but they were never told to leave or stay. They simply remained in the only place they had to call home.

  “I have some matters to attend to,” she stated. She released her hand from his and put it back at her
side, regaining the cool composure she was known for. “Perhaps we can pick up where we left off?” she asked, though he suspected she was being rhetorical.

  Not knowing what to say he simply nodded. To his surprise she kissed him, capturing his bottom lip between hers and tugging gently. She pulled away and smiled, and he again saw a flicker of Zoe in her face. A knot formed in his stomach.

  “See you later,” she promised as she walked to the door and left, leaving him alone in her bedroom.

  None of the Queen’s people looked at him as he emerged from her private room, or as left the Straton’s residence. Not that his or his sister’s presence in the Straton residence would have been considered scandalous. The Throne Room was the centralized meeting room of the royal family, where matters of state and other official business were announced to the public. Only the two private residences branched off adjacently from the great room: the Queen and King’s, and the one he shared with Eva.

  Evan retreated to his own residence. The Queen had been there, too, on my occasions, often coming to him when the King was away or otherwise engaged. He could still feel the impression of her lips on his, his bottom lip still warm from her embrace. He was grateful she had other matters to attend to, knowing full well their reunion would have likely progressed to the bed.

  Seeing Zoe’s face in the Queen’s was unexpected, and the uncanny similarity between them was a disturbing reminder of the woman he left behind. He looked to his bed and suddenly felt guilty for having shared it with Kyra, even though it was prior to meeting Zoe. Still, it was a reminder he didn’t want.