The Zodiac Cycle

NO 3.23 Unseen Sides

I paced across the small space apprehensively. the cell wasn't barred, but rather had a strong type of glass that I had already tested to see if it would break. It had already been three days, and I hadn't seen Zach since the day I got there.

at least, not until then.

he entered the room slowly, with Iris behind him, standing by the door. she looked at me, then at the door, then back at me in confusion.

"why was the door unlocked?" she asked.

Zach stopped looking at me to give her a questioning look. "what?"

she pointed at me. "the door was unlocked, but she didn't escape."

"what the hell are you talking about?" Zach was in utter disbelief. he crossed his arms and stared at her, trying to figure it out.

once i realized, I snickered, covering my mouth to keep from laughing too loud.

Zach and Iris both looked at me, still confused.

i nearly snorted, pointing at Iris. "Birds cant see glass."

I started full on laughing, bending over as I tried to catch my breath.

Have you gone nuts?

"says the voice in my head." I took a breath, still chuckling. I looked at Zach who had gotten over his confusion and was observing me carefully. Iris was still by the door, and her cheeks were red.

"you realize what today is, right?" he asked slowly.

"let me guess. today you're finally going to admit that you're wrong about people?"

Zach sighed, and sat in the one chair on the other side of the glass. "have you heard of how I came into power, Amber?"

"oh great, an expositional backstory at the most inopportune moment." i sat on the cot in my area and waved my hand. "please, indulge me."

he glared for a moment before starting. "when I was young, I was a peasant."

"oh, how unpleasant."

he took a breath in, closing his eyes, annoyed. "all throughout my class there was poverty and death. crimes were frequent and most children did not make it to adolescence."

I didn't retort that. if he was being honest, then that was probably a pretty upsetting time in history and I didn't want to insult it.

"so, I made audience with the queen. I told her of the lower classes and their misfortunes. I requested she do something, send aid, give her people a chance at prosperity. but she cast me out, and the separation between the lower and upper class only widened." he crossed his arms on his lap. "I decided to leave Abbadon, as the borders were still open. I explored the outside world. do you know what I found?"

I shook my head.

"I found the same thing. the same negligent rulers. the same suffering. the same depravity of people." he sat up a bit straighter, a bit uncomfortable. "I returned to Abbadon, and joined the guard. I climbed the ranks quickly, and I was soon accepted as the Kings protege. the queen did not recognize me."

I saw where this was going.

"I quite liked King Sargon, however, he was naïve and ignorant, so I killed him." Zach looked up and locked eyes with me. "I left the queens fate in the hands of the lower classes. they decided to have me curse her, but to live." he stood up. "it truly was a tragedy, cursing Queen Velerosa. I believe she had potential as a leader."

what?

I looked at him, trying my best to hide my disbelief. Vel had been queen? Zach had cursed her?