The Dark King

by C. J. Abedi

  I could feel the heat rush to my face.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Teddy smiled gleefully. “You’re the worst liar, you know. But I can be a good friend and give you your space, and we can talk about it when you want to.”

  My relief lasted for half a second.

  “Like at lunch today.”

  Crap. I looked away from him and rolled my eyes, hoping that this reaction would sway him from thinking whatever it was he was thinking. Even though he was completely right.

  “You’re so guilty, Caroline,” Teddy continued on like an annoying older brother.

  “Please.”

  “Deny all you want, my friend, but I know you. And in case you’re wondering, the man who suddenly has the ability to make you blush by a mere mention of his name is taking drama and happens to be in our class today. So you might want to run a brush through your hair.”

  He starting chuckling, but I couldn’t hear him anymore.

  Ever particle of oxygen was sucked out of my body.

  I couldn’t breathe.

  Was he really here?

  I hadn’t seen him when I walked in. But then the class had been dark.

  Crap.

  Had he seen me?

  I looked down to the stage and then immediately to the rows of seats. How had I missed him?

  Not in mine, or the next.

  And there he was.

  Front and center.

  Leaning back in his chair.

  Dressed simply but immaculately. As always.

  I couldn’t help but smile.

  Unexpectedly feeling alive again.

  Invincible.

  Suddenly, drama didn’t seem so bad anymore.

  D

  The moment she entered the classroom I was hit with such a force of desire that I almost got up from my seat and ran out. My persistent fear for her safety prevented me from doing that, but I was so afraid to look up at her, afraid that I’d forget everything and just pull her into my arms and take her away with me.

  But that was the voice of Light talking. A voice that I knew needed to be blocked out forever. I wouldn’t allow that voice to influence me again.

  Ever since she entered my life, everything was out of place. And now, I had to reposition my mind and my world to allow her back in. If only I had been smarter. My emotions were clouding my judgment, and I vowed that I would never let it happen again, even though I knew there was more to come.

  I couldn’t believe the events of the past few days. An intruder had entered my home. Someone had dared take something from me. Someone had known my secrets. Secrets that had been kept locked away. The safety and solitude I had in the depth of my mind was now taken from me.

  Once I realized that the sword was missing, I immediately left for the Yew tree. Even though I knew that Alderon was gone, I still wanted to touch the earth and feel the emptiness for myself. My fury over Alderon’s long and unjust imprisonment of Arthur had blinded me and caused me to make a grave miscalculation. And now so many lives were in danger, but the only one that mattered was Caroline’s.

  But this time, I was the only one to blame.

  And here I was. Yet again.

  In a setting I vowed I would never return to. Near someone that I promised I would never see again. Now I would have to undo the distasteful taste I had left in everyone’s mouth. I would have to do some backtracking with Dana, Odin, and now even with Caroline. The disastrous news wouldn’t go so well with the Light Fae, and Odin would no doubt express his grave disappointment, a feeling I was now growing accustomed to.

  But what choice did I have?

  Today my choices were certainly limited, but back then they were bountiful. And I, the true King of the Dark Fae, made the wrong one. And it seemed these days my decisions and not my circumstances were determining whether or not I would be victorious. I was desperate, disgusted, and at a loss. All emotions that would need to be tempered. I ran my hands through my hair.

  “Okay, that was a mediocre performance, group one,” Mr. Copeland spoke up, breaking my thoughts. “I can see that none of you really listened to what I had to say in the last class. Let’s hope the next group does it better.”

  The browbeaten students made their way to their seats as their overzealous teacher continued belittling their presentation.

  “But before the other actors begin, I’m happy to say that we have a new student joining us. Devilyn Reilly, welcome.”

  “Thank you,” I replied stoically.

  “Since you’ve missed some lessons and haven’t been assigned to a group, why don’t you join group three, which currently only has two members.” He looked down at the classroom roster. “So you’ll be joining Caroline and Ted? Since I know Caroline is much more comfortable now with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, why don’t we try scenes from that play?”

  I lowered my head in dread as he continued.

  “Let’s see, act two, scene two and act two, scene three seem perfect. Since you’ve missed out on all the other exercises of the week, Devilyn, it’s only fair that you take on the bigger assignment. You will play Romeo, which gives Caroline the first scene as Juliet, and Ted, the second, as Friar Laurence.”

  He jotted down some notes as a maniacal smile crossed his face. “This actually works out magically.”

  My eyes narrowed at his choice of words.

  Magically?

  I suddenly wondered if Odin had felt my return.

  But I shook my head and set the thought aside. I had to focus on today, and today the torture was about to begin. I was to play Romeo, and Caroline, my Juliet. It was too spot on. Too obvious. There was something beyond Mr. Copeland at work in this drama class, that much was clear.

  I looked up at the small auditorium, scanning the classroom. My eyes stopped on Caroline. I couldn’t help myself. I had to just stare. Her gray eyes were wide in her pale face, and she gave me a small, tentative smile. I nodded at her and tried to smile back.

  “Here are your scenes. I expect them to be memorized by Monday,” Mr. Copeland said, unaware that I already knew the lines by heart. I had spent many years living with the words of Shakespeare. It was, after all, my people who gave them to him.

  “Why don’t you go back and join your team.”

  I stood up and made my way to her, knowing that I was full of internal broken promises and empty lies. Yet, I was happy to just be there, standing before her, looking into her deep silver eyes. I somehow felt whole, and that’s all that mattered to me.

  I would gladly promise her the moon even if I could only offer her an empty sky. I would promise her anything, only if she promised to never leave.

  Because I knew that I could never really ever stay away.

  C

  I wasn’t quite sure why all of my encounters with Devilyn ended up with him looking absolutely perfect and unaffected and me turning into a piece of cherry-red Jell-O, unable to stand or speak.

  Something about this didn’t seem fair.

  And yet, here I was again.

  Facing him.

  Stunned that he had returned, and so grateful at the same time.

  Even though I didn’t look the way I wanted to and I certainly wasn’t prepared to have any kind of conversation, I was secretly happy. But I definitely wasn’t prepared to have an encounter with him that required actually speaking.

  “Caroline. Teddy. Or do you prefer Ted now?”

  Teddy rolled his eyes. “It’s still Teddy. I think Mr. Copeland is trying to subtly hint that he likes the more mature-sounding version of my name.”

  “Whichever you prefer, Teddy. It’s nice to see you guys,” Devilyn said as he sat in the chair next to me. I was literally trapped between him and Teddy. I hoped he couldn’t tell how his proximity unnerved me.

  “How are you?” I asked.

  “Fine,” he replied, staring straight ahead. “How about you?”

  “I’ve been great. I’m actually surprised to see you
here. The rumors around school have been that you weren’t planning on coming back.”

  “Yeah, I wasn’t sure if I’d be coming back myself. A lot has changed in the past few months,” he said. “My life has become extremely complicated.”

  “Sounds like you have the whole dark forest living inside you.”

  “Something like that,” Devilyn replied.

  “Well, how is your family doing? I really hope everything worked out for you and your grandfather.”

  He responded by turning to face me, which literally made my stomach drop.

  Our eyes collided, and I was pretty sure that my face turned twenty different shades of red.

  “Everyone is as good as they can be.”

  “That doesn’t sound too great.” Teddy inserted himself into the conversation. “It actually sounds really depressing.”

  “Teddy!” I turned to look at my friend as he shrugged his shoulders.

  “I’m just being honest.”

  “It’s okay, Caroline,” Devilyn said with a smile. “Teddy’s right. I should work on my delivery.”

  “I think this class can help you with that. You’ll learn how to work on your technique, like Caroline’s been doing. Copeland thinks she’s the next Meryl Streep.” Teddy winked at Devilyn. I didn’t miss the teasing tone in his voice.

  I looked at Teddy in horror. “Don’t you dare!”

  “Now I’m definitely curious.” Devilyn laughed.

  The bell rang, and thankfully I was saved from Teddy continuing on with the mortifying iPhone conversation.

  I gathered my things as quickly as I could, and I noticed that Devilyn waited for me, which made me smile and Teddy roll his eyes. We headed out to the hallway.

  “We’re actually headed to the cafeteria. I just have to put my stuff away,” I said as we reached my locker. “You’re welcome to join us for lunch if you want.”

  “That sounds good.”

  “I’ll catch up with you both in a bit,” Teddy said as he made a beeline for his locker. “Just save me a seat.”

  “Always.” I was suddenly completely nervous to be left alone in Devilyn’s company.

  Once we entered the already busy cafeteria, his presence noticeably garnered a lot of attention. So many faces seemed surprised to see him there and others, well, the girls, couldn’t contain their excitement. I could tell that his popularity was definitely an unwelcome gift to him, as he always seemed to clamp up in that environment.

  At least we had that in common.

  I wasn’t very fond of attention either. Not that I got the kind he did, but still. The only difference was that he wasn’t intimidated by any of it. He was so confident that I bet he faced all of life’s challenges head-on. If someone gave him a dirty look, he looked them straight in the eye until they retreated. Which usually didn’t take very long.

  He also didn’t seem affected by his admirers. He always smiled graciously but didn’t encourage any unwanted advances. I guess that’s what I liked so much about him.

  He was all man and yet such a gentleman. But so closed off and private.

  “Are you hungry?” I asked, trying to fill the quiet void in the air.

  “Actually, quite.” He smiled. “You?”

  “My stomach has been growling all morning.”

  “Is that the noise I heard in drama?”

  “No, that noise was the sound of internal hyperventilation.”

  “I’m sure you’re Oscar-worthy,” he teased as he grabbed a couple of trays for us.

  “I don’t want you keel over from shock, but it’s actually quite the opposite. I would definitely be nominated for a Razzie Award, though.”

  Devilyn started laughing, and it warmed my heart. His laughter was so rare.

  “If you’re so opposed to acting, what are you doing in drama?” he asked with a smile.

  I grabbed a sandwich, a bag of SunChips, and a bottle of water from the line.

  “It was a misunderstanding generated by our unorganized front office. And one that sadly has no solution. On that note, what are you doing in drama?” I countered.

  “Since I signed up for classes so late, there weren’t many options.”

  “So we are essentially suffering the same fate.”

  “Seems that way.”

  We reached the cashier and I went for my wallet, but he immediately placed his hands over mine. The simple gesture sent goose bumps up my spine. It had been so long since we had been close, but the energy that I felt around him was still there. A constant. Still stirring so many feelings I had never experienced, deep within me.

  “I’m not going to let you buy my lunch, Devilyn,” I said with a smile as I grabbed hold of my wallet. “Though the offer is definitely gracious.”

  “I haven’t seen you in a long time. I’d like to buy you lunch.” He pushed my wallet back into my purse and handed the cashier a twenty-dollar bill. “Let me do this.” “Thank you,” I said, giving in reluctantly. I knew fighting him would be futile. “It’s completely unnecessary but very considerate.”

  “It’s my pleasure, Caroline.”

  I turned and began searching for a table and noticed that Teddy had already grabbed one with Rowan in the far corner. Rowan’s gaze met mine then beelined to Devilyn.

  “Who’s with Teddy?” Devilyn asked quietly.

  “That’s Rowan. He’s new. Come on, I’ll introduce you.”

  D

  I didn’t need any introductions.

  I knew who he was.

  And I knew why he was there. To ensure Caroline’s safety. It seemed that word had gotten out that my father was free. It also seemed that everyone had lost confidence in my ability to see to her safety alone. So it was clear they recruited Rowan out of necessity.

  The rational part of me knew that Dana had sent him for one purpose. But the way Rowan stared at Caroline more than irritated me. He was clearly attracted to her. I could see it from a mile away. His green eyes swept over her face with more than just admiration. There was an underlying lust there, and it made me furious. Rowan easily met my gaze as I walked across the cafeteria with Caroline and even rose from his seat when we reached them. He was one of the greatest warriors in the Kingdom of the Light Fae. He was from a royal house. He was handsome. All light. The perfect match for a future Fae Queen.

  He was strong.

  But I was stronger.

  He was smart.

  But I was smarter.

  Rowan was a warrior.

  But I was a king.

  Teddy said something that made Rowan smile, and the two gave each other high fives. I felt my heart sink. Rowan was also witty, charming, and loved by all members of the Light Fae. And I was ultimately the Dark King.

  He was suitable. Respectable. He had a moral compass.

  Qualities that I was now lacking. I internally accepted my curse and the message of doom that came with it. I suddenly had no desire to sit at their table as my mood had declined, but I continued to follow Caroline. I would follow her anywhere.

  Her hips swayed in the most enticing way, and her face was so enchanting, so distracting.

  Caroline took a seat across from Rowan and next to Teddy. I wasn’t going anywhere far, and I certainly wasn’t planning on sitting next to him, so I sat right next to Caroline. From her blushing I could see that my proximity still unnerved her.

  Despite the foul mood I was now in, my body itched to reach out and touch her, so I tucked my fingers in my jeans pockets to fight the temptation.

  “Devilyn, this is Rowan,” Teddy finally said, making the unnecessary introductions.

  Our eyes met and Rowan gave me a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Nice to meet you.”

  “You as well,” I replied curtly.

  Caroline shifted in her seat, probably sensing the tension developing in the air. And with every move, our legs brushed against each other, and our worlds collided. The intensity was not lost on me.

  “So how was drama, Caroline?” Rowa
n teased.

  “Sucked as usual.”

  “You need me to come in there and keep you company?” he continued with an openly flirtatious smile.

  “She’s a strong girl—not sure she needs any rescuing,” I interjected before Caroline could respond. After all the time I had known him, how had I not noticed how pompous he was?

  “No offense,” I added with a smile.

  “None taken,” Rowan said with a shrug.

  “I think this class is going to be great for you, Caroline. Copeland clearly thinks you’re going to be a star,” Teddy continued teasingly as he winked at me.

  “She’s definitely got promise,” I added, making a meager attempt to lighten the mood.

  Teddy looked over at me, and for the first time we shared a moment of what resembled mutual respect.

  “She’s definitely got something,” Rowan said.

  My eyes met his. I was sure he could see my irritation.

  Caroline began fidgeting around in her seat, causing her long hair to brush my arm. I quickly pulled away. My desire for her was overwhelming. I was like a young schoolboy, and I hated myself for the lack of control. My muscles clenched, and I knew she could tell how in tune I was with her touch. But I didn’t want anyone to know it, not wanting them to see my weakness.

  “Rowan plays football as well, Devilyn,” Caroline said. “He’s actually really good.”

  Is he?

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Caroline is sweet. I’m mediocre at best,” Rowan responded.

  “What are you talking about? You’re first string, and you’ve only been here for a few weeks,” she said.

  Irritating.

  “What position do you play?” I asked politely.

  “Offensive lineman.”

  The irony was not lost. He would now be guarding me. Making sure that I didn’t hurt myself out on the field. Keeping the players at bay. But I didn’t need him. And neither did she.

  “So I hear you play, too,” Rowan said suddenly.

  “I do. Quarterback, actually.”

  “I had heard that.” Rowan smiled innocently. “So I guess I’ll be watching out for you.”

  We stared at one another. I had the sudden urge to dump the contents of the table into his lap.