Chapter 15

15

XAVIER

I went looking for it in an internet café on Bethnal Green Road, mine not set up yet, and no human phone to hand right now.

Because magic wasn't lost, I hid my white demon eyes in their icy blue disguise, walking the streets just like any other human.

Before entering the café I looked left, to the top of the road. Looming above the railway bridge in the distance was a demon tower, it's red jewel off. If I shifted in its presence, a repelling red light would ignite and attack. Thankfully, I possessed a strong constitution to withstand demon towers for a limited time.

Not that I would be shifting in this café.

I entered the building, considering the possibility of meeting myself here. Or had I replaced him ?

My stomach quivered, a potent and real fear on my back.

Anything is possible…

A woman with a severe black bob and thick red glasses looked up from her desk to greet me. "Evening." She was holding a book about the end of the world.

How appropriate.

"Hello. May I use one of the computers?" I smiled, all friendly and warm.

There were five long tables with six computers sectioned into booths for privacy. Four people tapped away on the keyboards, going about their business.

"Sure. It's three pounds per hour."

I paid for two with cash. "Thank you."

"Any free booth. Type this code to log in." She printed off a slip with a code on it. "Let me know if you need more time." She went back to her book.

I sat at a booth near the window and typed in the code. As the screen asked for my patience, I folded my arms, making a quick check of my surroundings. The blue walls were covered in posters and flyers of various activities I didn't bother to read. I wasn't here to find something new to do on a Saturday.

My plan was this: find Past Roman, try to have him connect to his future self. In this time, he'd be sixteen—which posed a problem. If I showed up asking him to somehow connect to his adult self, he might panic. Call the ADU (Anti-Demon Unit), unleash some spells in my face, and complicate matters further. And I wanted to avoid telling him about his life in ten years. The less he knew, the better.

Once the screen finished loading, I opened a browser. Roman lived with his grandmother, so I began searching for June Gold. I remembered her name because Roman spoke so fondly of her and missed her tremendously. She was his world, his everything.

I hated having to do this, meeting her without him. It seemed so terribly unfair, yet so necessary for things to go back on course.

You always wanted us to meet…

I ran a few searches for an address, the atmosphere in the café relaxed like a library.

Everything will be okay, I told Roman.

How was he coping with what he'd done? He had to know I didn't hate him or fear him. Those emotions were an impossibility when it came to him.

There. A house in North London. It was ten o'clock at night, a late hour to be knocking on her door but I couldn't wait. There were no other options.

Details in hand, I logged off and thanked the woman, stepping outside. The moment I saw either June Gold or teenage Roman, I would get straight to the point and do my best to reassure them I wasn't there to hurt them while keeping the details vague.

Did I have something I could use? Some knowledge of him only he would know? Some memory he'd shared with me?

I got to thinking, picking up speed through the streets.

Everything will be okay.

Everything will be okay.

I kept to the shadows, making myself appear as an evening jogger. There were a few of them out, paying me no mind. No one I encountered did, everyone lost in their own worlds.

Good.

I came to a street with a toxic river. Of course, the rivers still existed. The luminescent green rivers of residual magic were remnants of a human war fifteen years ago from this point in time—now gone in my time. Every river was sealed off by magical domed glass for safety. I had once seen a human fall into a river with a hole in its glass and tried to help him, but was too late to fish the poor man out. His body liquefied within minutes, his screams bloodcurdling.

I followed the river until it disappeared underground, then took the next side street, passing a care home for children.

A boy sat on the steps, tapping his feet to some silent beat in his head. His eyes were closed, a smile on his familiar, slightly beige-toned face.

He opened his eyes as I passed. "Evening, sir."

"Good evening."

I recognized him then—a teenage Clay Christmas. The most famous warlock in the world, the man who brought Arcana back into our lives for a brief, chaotic moment. In about nine year's time, his face would be everywhere, and he would meet the love of his life in Tae Frost—the billionaire vampire.

Clay went back to listening to his inner music, scratching at his messy brown hair. I kept going, almost at my destination, my hearts thrumming. I didn't get nervous often, but right now every thread of my anxiety was being dragged across hot coals.

Eventually, I reached the house on a long residential street. I took a moment to examine the small building and admired the garden of neatly cut grass and vibrant flowers. The scent of jasmine tickled my sense of smell, a couple of wind chimes tinkling in the summer breeze. Solar lights lit the small path to the front door, warm light in the circular window cut into the blue wood.

This was it. The moment I rang the doorbell, my work would begin.

I took some deep breaths, questioning if I'd made the right decision, searching for an alternative, finding nothing.

Too many minutes were being wasted standing here. I opened the garden gate, heading for the door. My hearts were drums in my ears, my nerves dunked into ice, then dragged back over those coals.

This is it…

I reached for the doorbell, my finger almost making contact.

A vision dragged me out of the moment.

I blinked, rubbing my eyes. The demon monarchs were gathered in a large room I didn't recognize—white with three windows and no furniture. Tanith stood in the middle of the room, bowing at Ismael.

My ex's arm was linked with mine, his body pressed so close.

"Tell us of this plan, Tanith," he said, voice a delicate melody.

I shivered, warmth pooling in my belly.

It was soon cooled by doubt.

Doubt? What was going on? Had I jumped back into my time?

Tanith straightened her serpent body, then began to speak. "I have been building you an army, My King. Human and demon alike."

"Humans?" Ismael questioned.

"Yes. Witches who side with our kind, who want to change the current system. They believe a demonic takeover is the best option. They are ready for a demon king or queen to lead them into a glorious new future."

This was her big plan? The one I never managed to get out of her?

"Interesting," Ismael said. "Though they are without magic now. Can they still be useful?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. They will fight with us. I can take you to them."

Ismael nodded, glancing at Butterfly with a glint of anger in his eyes. "And what about these demons?"

"They wait in Level 901 for you, all ready for your commands. And I'm sure there are more, seeing as I sent word to those who have long hoped for the lake to be opened." She looked at me. "Now it is."

Without me using The Word.

Why am I thinking about him ?

That second thought surprised me. I hadn't been thinking about anyone.

"There is also a surprise for you, My King," Tanith said.

Ismael responded with a gentle laugh. "How wonderful."

He always enjoyed surprises, and I'd liked giving them to him.

He's a witch.

Did I just think that?

He's the enemy.

Ismael is my love.

But in the future…

"My love?"

Ismael's voice sent more shivers down my spine.

"Y-Yes?" I answered.

"What is the matter?"

"N-Nothing."

"You are shaking."

I kissed his cheek. "Don't worry about me."

My voice. His voice. Our voice. Realization struck me as Roman flashed across my vision.

Please tell me you're in there… the witch's voice echoed in some far corner.

I was inside Past Xavier, sharing thoughts and feelings in a cauldron of conflicting emotions.

He seemed to have reached the same understanding as me.

Is that really you? he asked.

Yes, I responded.

I felt the spikes of confusion, saw his replay of Roman's pleading.

Please tell me you're in there…

I rubbed the back of his neck. Our neck.

How is this possible? he said.

I have no idea.

Get out of me.

I'm trying. I didn't bring up this inner conflict over Roman.

Tanith waffled on about her plan and her joy. I caught fragments of her sycophantic rubbish, how she was so honored not only to serve her best friend but her king.

You're polluting my mind, Past Me spoke.

Not by choice.

Spying.

Again, not by choice.

I can't… I can't… Roman's lovely face flashed across my vision again.

Why am I thinking about him? Past Me complained.

I didn't respond, contemplating how useful a spying tool this might be. If I could figure out how to use it, and if this wasn't some one-off moment.

It's because of you. You're making me… Past Me sighed, catching Ismael's attention.

"What is it, My Love?"

"Nothing."

"Are you afraid?" Listening to Ismael never failed to hurt, despite me moving on from him.

"For you, yes," Past Me answered. "You are vulnerable now."

"We will take care of each other. I will not let anything happen to you."

A tirade of thoughts hit like a storm, all about Roman. Past Me tapped into them, probably unwillingly, drowning in my memories. Saw our intimacy, the blossoming of our relationship, our first meeting. He watched himself fall for the witch, shared my longing to tell him those three special words, enraptured by Roman's amber gaze.

My everything.

My future.

"No!" Past Xavier bellowed, breaking the connection.

I found myself back at June Gold's front door, panting.

"Unexpected," I muttered, catching my breath.

Did this change things? Was the past version of me about to catch up to my future self and betray Ismael?

My temples pulsed, my guts squirming. Everything was so muddled, so riddled with confusion. Who knew what would happen next. Past Xavier may be galvanized to resist Roman instead, our joining adding more hate to his well.

Regaining my composure, I rang the doorbell.