Wish Upon A Demon

29.

CHAPTER - TWENTY NINE.

I knew there was something off about Cherry.

As I witnessed her speaking to the boy who had made it a habit of making me feel different emotions all at once, I knew that Cherry wasn’t her real name – like that wasn’t obvious. Nothing was real about her. She was a full-fledged demon and apparently, a Royal as well. What was with all these demons leaving their world and entering other ones? Sure, sometimes I’m sick of the place I live as well, but that doesn’t mean I pick my bag and fly to Mars. Cherry hugs Zylen, their closeness making me feel uneasy, and she smiles at him. And for the first time, I see Zylen giving her a genuine smile compared to the smirks and uncivilized behavior I receive on a regular basis.

“They’re best friends.” Says a voice behind me. I see Verona standing there, a warm smile on her lips. I’m seated in that same spot in the garden, which I find oddly comforting. Verona takes the seat next to me and I stop looking at Zylen and Cherry. “Okay,” I say, not knowing how to reply. “What I mean is, you don’t have to be jealous,” Verona says, crossing her legs over one another. “I’m not jealous. Why would I be jealous?” I shoot back. My reply must have indeed confirmed that I was jealous because the smile on the Queen’s lips grows. “Who is she though?” I ask, a second later.

“Alana Michaels. Your aunt.” I choke at her words. “My what?” My words come out broken. “Elvive’s younger sister, Corah Bronson Michaels had an adoptive daughter, who happens to be Alana Bronson Michaels who is the woman you were jealous of right now. Corah adopted Alana right after she was born from a dying demon mother. Her father had passed away.” I look to Cherry and back to Verona. “And don’t ask me about the surname, Friella is a kingdom that stands for woman rights, which explains why only girls are mostly born to the Royals and why only women rule the kingdom. Also, why the woman never takes the man’s surname.” Verona says without a pause.

“Oh.” That’s my response. “Except your father of course,” Verona adds and I look up at her. “Your father is the only male to ever be born in the Royal family of Friella. I’m not sure why, but I think it is because Elvive married a human.” Verona speaks, but my attention isn’t on her, it’s on the two best friends who are now heading inside the Palace, not knowing of my presence. “So, they’re only best friends?” I ask, trying not to pry. Verona looks up at me, “No. Before Zylen found where Elvive had run off it which means before he found you as a child, he and Alana were in love." She says, rolling her eyes. ”What?” I ask.

“I mean, before you, Zylen and Alana were engaged.”

My father is the only thing I worry about now.

It was completely stupid of me to forget about him in the two days I spent here. I was so occupied in worrying on how to get out of here and what to do that I didn’t think about my poor father who could be freaking out right now. Especially since he didn’t know that I was trapped in the demon kingdom with his current girlfriend who turned out to be Royal and an ex-lover of the man I liked and who most certainly is centuries older than my father.

“If you’re worried about your father, then don’t. My mother’s taken care of it.” Zylen says. “How?” I ask. “Well, she could have compelled some people or maybe the entire town, but that’s just my theory. Nevertheless, don’t worry about it.” Zylen says, from the bed as I lay on the couch. “Take me home,” I say. I can feel Zylen’s prickling gaze on me. “I mean, you bought me here to discuss something, and that’s done now, so what am I still doing here?” I ask out loud, eyes on the ceiling. “You couldn’t have asked at a better time, I was ordered to take you home this evening.” Zylen murmurs.

“Can’t you just take me now?” I question, not wanting to spend more time here. The image of Zylen and Alana - Cherry keeps popping up into my head and every time, it managed to turn my slightly better mood sour. I’m sad for myself for falling for someone who clearly hadn’t gotten over his ex, but felt worse for my dad since he even wanted to propose to his demon girlfriend who was still very close to her ex. Not that exes couldn’t be friends. It was just the way they looked at each other in the garden that made me believe that maybe they were meant together after all. I didn’t like to interfere in between that, I didn’t want to. I felt kind of relieved as well now that I knew that the reason Zylen barely showed any emotion towards me except when he was drunk. Because he loves someone else.

I had never fought for anything before, and even though I felt the strong urge to, I wasn’t going to fight for Zylen King either.

“No.” Zylen’s response makes me snap out of my thoughts.

“Why not?” I whine. “Because I said so.” His response is like always, blunt and to the point. What he told me before gets into my mind before I can stop it. I admit it did make me happy that he didn’t regret what happened that night, but after seeing Cherry and him together, I felt like I was intruding. “I have to meet up with someone tomorrow,” I say. Zylen’s straightens up in a split second. “Who?” I ignore his eyes as I reply. “Alexandria. Demon girl, who we saved from the hunters.” I clarify. He sinks down on the bed again. “Why are you so curious?” I ask again. “No reason.” Comes Zylen’s immediate response.

“Okay.” I nod and close my eyes.

“She’s only my friend.” I hear his voice say a second later. I don’t open my eyes, and go for the nonchalant response to his sudden confession, “Who?” I ask. “The woman you saw me hugging today.” He says. So he did know that I saw them. The bigger question was that why he was bothering to explain that to me. Maybe he was reading my thoughts again. I should really ask Verona how to develop the power to block my thoughts. “You mean my father’s girlfriend?” I ask, casually, still eyes closed.

“No, wait – what?” Comes his response, and I can feel him get off the bed and reach the couch. “I’m assuming that here she goes by the name Alana, but in our world, where she’s dressed as a normal secretary and maintains a secret relationship with my dad, she’s known as Cherry,” I say.

“How come I’ve never caught her scent?” I hear Zylen growl as he paces back and forth. “I’m assuming she masked it? Verona once told how demons could do that.” I say. Verona never told me this; it was just the result of a bit of research at the Royal library when Zylen was sent to his father’s office. But, he didn’t need to know that. “I need to speak to her about this.” He says to himself. “You should.” I prompt. A knock comes at the door. Verona King enters, her hands tangled with one another. “Zylen, sit down.” She says to her son, not sparing me a glance. “Your father thought it would be better if I told you this, rather than him telling you.” She says as Zylen sits on the couch. I’m already in an upright position with my legs crossed as Zylen sits beside me.

Verona towers over the both of us, biting her bottom lip, looking like she’s unable to tell out what she’s supposed to. I narrow my eyes. I knew this was going to be something Zylen wouldn’t like, considering how disappointed and unsatisfied his mother looked. “I will only tell you this if you promise to remain calm so we can devise a solution.” She says. “Fine, mother, I promise to remain calm. What is it? I have an appointment to get to, so I don’t have all day.” Zylen says in a bored tone.

It was at this moment that out of nowhere, I began to hear voices. It takes me a minute to realize they sound like Verona and another minute to realize that I’m reading the Queen’s thoughts. She must have put her guard down due to the pressure, and as I continue reading her thoughts, my face pales and I know what she’s about to tell Zylen. “After Faye refused to the marriage, Orlando and I we discussed what could be done about it.” She pauses, and Zylen prompts her on. “It was then that your father came to a decision.”

She pauses again but continues a second later, “I tried to change his mind Zylen, but he wouldn’t budge. Which is why we have to come up with a solution.” She says. “Okay, but what was his decision?” Zylen asks from beside me. My pale face catches Verona’s attention and something tells me she knows I went through her head, but instead of focusing on me, she turns her focus to Zylen. And when she finally says it, Zylen changes for the worst within a second.

“Your father thinks it’s better for Zeus or Zachariah to take the throne, not you.”