Endeca (The Escapism Series) (18 page)

“Marla, tonight won’t be the same without you. Wish you were here with us now,” I said, taking a swig from a tiny liquor bottle. We had purchased three little vodka-orange bottles, one for each of us. Marla’s rested in her hand.

“I’ll keep an eye on Landon for you,” Calliope reassured, guzzling from the tiny bottle.

I shot her a look of disbelief. Ordinarily, she meant that in the literal sense but I knew what she really meant. Still, it didn’t mean I wouldn’t poke fun at her.

“What? Someone’s gotta protect him from all the bar floozies.”

“Including you,” I teased candidly. There had been no change in Marla’s state but as she clung for her dear life; I planned to search for answers tonight. Caleb was my only lead, but at least I had one.

We arrived at Styx nightclub where I diligently spotted Kiran.

“Geez, they’ll let any riff raff in these days,” Calliope scoffed surveying the crowd.

“That’s not why we’re here tonight,” I reminded.

She nodded sensibly. “Now here is someone worthwhile. Impeccable fashion sense and stunningly handsome features.”

“You spoil me with your kind words, Calliope,” Kiran replied, modestly. He hugged us one by one and whispered in my ear. “Caleb is here. He’ll guide you further.”

“Got it, thanks,” I said, winking subtly.

I left Calliope to order drinks. The stitch of pain worsened and Calliope came to my side. “Are you okay? What’s happening?”

“I’m fine, just having some…cramps.”
Deathly cramps.
“I’m going to the bathroom. Be right back.”

In the bathroom, I waited for the trail of drunken girls to exit. After I checked each stall, I took a swig from the orange vodka bottle to help with what I was about to do next. I pulled out a switch blade from my purse and started the painful process. I sliced my arm diagonally, spanning two inches in length. I watched as the blood poured out and I felt light on my toes again. Each time I did this, a part of my light the Lifter took, I took back, however temporary. A girl walked in and I quickly washed my forearm and covered it with a paper towel.

The stitch of pain subsided and I felt at ease once more. Amongst the crowd, my eyes flashed to the Lifter. She was infuriated and not one for tug of war.

Too frigging bad.

I looked down at my arm and the wound started to heal as I pulled down my sleeve to cover it up. I could breathe a little calmer, move a lot swifter, and focus a lot easier after I took a little light back, of what was mine to begin with.

I located Caleb and with him, sat Orion in a booth.

“Xenia, hey. Have you seen Calliope?” he asked, apprehensive.

“Zack,” I said, taken by surprise. Why did he always show up in the worst of times? “We need to talk.”

“Listen, about that night. I wanted to apologize. I wasn’t myself…I was kinda under the influence of some magic shrums and started tripping once I saw blood. Sorry for running off.”

“That’s alright. You did call for help and there was nothing else you could’ve done.” I pointed him in Calliope’s direction. He nodded appreciatively
.

I wasn’t sure what was worse: Calliope dating Orion or a recreational drug user.

With Zack out of the way, I paid Caleb and Orion a visit.

“Caleb, could we talk in private?” He looked impartial and Orion looked peeked.

“What took you so long? I’ve been expecting you,” he said.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know Kiran had mentioned this to you.”

“He didn’t,” he said, looking over toward Orion. Judging by their body language, I could see that no one was budging.

I ignored Orion altogether.

“I need a way to blind a Lifter and give it a reason to come for me.”

“Is that all?” he asked, snidely.

“Yes. For now anyhow.”

“Follow me,” he ordered and Orion came along for the trip. I pushed ahead of him through the crowd.

As we stood in a dark backstreet, Caleb grabbed hold of my arm. “You’ve started without me. Xenia, I’d taken you for the patient type.”

Orion gazed at my wounds and grimaced.

“It’s a good thing these won’t scar,” he said, pulling out a switch blade of his own. He pressed harder than I would and a lot quicker too. I gasped in pain.

He drew a symbol in the dirt and then instructed for me to do the same. “Except, you must use your blood.”

“How do I know this’ll work?” I said, right after I drew the symbol with my blood.

“Oh, it worked,” Orion motioned behind me.

Take back

FEAR
.

Fear of the unknown. I hated it but it seemed more common these days. This time it was slightly different with Caleb and Orion by my side. They had my back—or at least I hoped so.

They chanted in a primordial language, oddly enough, I understood some of it. We’d encircled the Lifter and it seemed she was bound in place. Her black hollow sockets flickered like a broken live wire emitting electrical sparks.

“You cannot stop me,” she hissed. “This is the only way.”

“You kind of skipped a step. You know, the one where we reunite you with the source, and still survive,” Caleb scolded.

“Death is but a process you shall all face.”

“Very doubtful,” Caleb retorted, snidely. He placed rock salt all around her and then continued chanting along with Orion.

“Is this all really necessary? She’s already trapped,” I said, nervously pointing in her direction.

“This isn’t for her. It’s for them,” he whispered, pointing toward the circle. What seemed like a big outline of salt soon became packed with other Lifters who swayed like flames all around her.

“They’re dangerous. When you see one, you know more are coming,” Orion explained, shaking the rock salt container in his hand. “Like a moth to a flame.”

Lifters were the end result of unrestored fragments—unite by date sort of thing. Granted, they’d have to be unrestored for a lengthy period of time before fading, and time was dependant on the fragment’s integrity. The eyes were the first to fade, turning into hollow sunken sockets. If the eyes were the window to the soul (aka both fragments) then it all made sense.

Caleb lit a fire and cast a hex using my blood. He then grabbed hold of me and asked that I repeat the words with him and place my hand in a circle of my own blood.

“This’ll ensure that the source remains invisible to the Lifter.”

“If I’m bound to her, doesn’t that mean—?”

“Yes. This is your ticket to safety Xenia. You won’t die—it’s what you wanted.”

He got it right. I didn’t want to die but at the same time, I felt bad because she’d never be restored and instead would slowly cease to exist—all because of me.

I figured it was kill or be killed. What option did I have, aside from being…
killed
. I looked at Orion and cringed whilst noticing he was staring at me. Most days, everywhere I looked, there he was. I longed for Nicholas’ company, but he insisted there was a wedge between us. There was no doubt in my mind that I loved Nicholas.

While Orion leered, I realized something. Maybe I could change the course of events instead of falling victim to them. Against all odds, I’d done so before for Orion of all people. I decided to ask the Lifter something before it was summoned away.

“Tell me, who’s your source. Have you seen it?” I pleaded but she merely smirked after drawing in a long, deep breath. White light shone from her sockets intermittently. I looked away as I was coming to learn that eyes could do a lot of weird shit.

“You alone will be the cause of your demise. You’ll see,” she whispered smiling eerily before releasing what I had come for—my light, a part of my fragment. The bright light streamed from her eyes into my own before she vanished.
Lifters were vengeful little critters.

“Don’t listen to her. They are ruthless and broken shells of fragments. They can’t prophesize ones future.”

“Thanks for bailing me out, Caleb. It’s such a relief to have my light back. I didn’t know it could be swiped.”

“Glad to be of service. Now that you’re healthy again and with a clear mind, I’d like to ask you something.”

Orion jumped in, “Don’t Caleb.”

“I must.”

“If it’s what I think you’re going to ask me, then yes.”

Both Orion and Caleb looked bewildered.

“Xenia, this isn’t like you,” said Orion.

“And how would you know? I don’t have any plans this evening seeing as how I no longer have a boyfriend. I’d love to go out on a date with you, Caleb.” I smirked, fluttering away. “Pick me up at eight. You remember where, right? The place you nearly flooded me out of.”

Caleb looked at Orion in disbelief. “A date?” he asked, aloof.

“Something I’d kill for.”

Caleb looked at Orion, confused as ever. “Is it necessary?”

“Arguably,” he said, continuing, “She’s trying to piss me off...it’s working.”

“Wonderful. Maybe then on this date, I could convince her otherwise—about becoming an immorta.”

“Good luck with that,” he chuckled, taking off.

~

Once at the loft, I grabbed hold of Calliope and spun her round and round.

“Easy, easy. Why are you in such a good mood?” she giggled.

“Sort of was under the weather and now I’m back to my tip top shape. Feeling better than ever!”

“So you wouldn’t mind visiting Marla this afternoon? I have to attend a lab. Think we have the same TA. Reese something-or-other. He asked if I knew you because we’re the only two who’ve attended the least amount of tutorials and when I said I did, he didn’t seem all that surprised.”

“Oh, right. He’s given me an extension before.”

“Surprisingly, he was immune to my beauty and charm. I dropped your name and boom—extension granted. How different it is to be in college.”

“He wouldn’t give you an extension?”

“He refused, and then changed his mind at the drop of your name. Do you have any idea why?”

I had no clue.
Why on earth would he help my friend? Maybe he knew Orion and extended him a favor. He sure as hell didn’t know me as I was the epitome of absenteeism.

“He’s a nice guy, actually. I guess I set the precedent for extensions. Just take the extension and don’t look back.”

Calliope nodded favorably.

“I’ll go visit Marla. Has Nicholas been by to see her lately?” I asked, sheepishly.

“He has. The guy stays for hours on end. He’s there right now,” she said, motioning to her phone. “He just messaged me to come by. Said there’s some progress although nothing significant. Landon just left for a midterm. Poor guy practically sleeps by her bed in that rickety chair.”

“Any progress is good. I’ll head over now.” I was dying to know how Marla was doing and undeniably anxious to see Nicholas. I wanted to tell him everything that had transpired but the fact of the matter was, it’d only make matters worse. With Nicholas out of the picture, Orion stepped up. There was already a wedge between us, and I didn’t intend on adding fuel to the fire.

I had become a regular at the hospital, even recognizable to some as I swung through the cafeteria picking up two coffees. The attendant nodded a simple, pleasant nod of acknowledgment. The hospital was a morose place in general. A place where ill people visited, those who had suffered from trauma, illness and for some, it was a place to die. Walking down the hall, I felt the pain and suffering of some and the relief and happiness of the others, however few in comparison. I reached Marla’s room and there, outside her door, he stood somberly.

“I brought coffee,” I yelped.
Seriously. That’s what I said
.
Not a ‘hello, how are you?’ or ‘how you holding up’ or even ‘I miss you and want you back.’
I thought to say all of those things but the words couldn’t find my mouth. Just the blatant and obvious could.

“Thanks,” he nodded, taking a cup graciously. We both sat in the private waiting room. The silence overcame me and I stood up.

“Visiting hours are over,” he snapped.

“How so? It’s not even late.”

“They’re running tests and examining her now. They said she was showing signs of improvement for a short while.”

“That’s good, right?”

“I’m concerned for her, Xenia,” he whispered, frowning before pressing his lips into a taught line.

“We all are. You’re a real good friend, you know that?” He was an even better boyfriend. When I couldn’t be by Marla’s side because of my guilt ridden state, he was.

“I’ve missed you,” he whispered. “What have you been up to?”

The truth?
“School stuff. Mostly catching up.”
When did the truth ever help?

“Have you seen Orion since Marla’s accident?” he asked, raising his brow with a glimmer of hope in his eyes. I stood motionless, unsure of the best way to explain that Orion was present by default. That moment of hesitation burned me a new one.

“I should go,” he stood up, ready to leave.

“Wait, can we start over?” I asked. He once asked me and I thought it’d do no harm to try.

He paused and turned, looking over his shoulder. I could see the corner of his lips turn up signalling an window of opportunity.

“Hello, I’m Xenia Sanders,” I said, stretching my arm across to reach for his hand. “Do you come here often?”

“Nicholas,” he strained to compose himself. “I’m visiting a friend. Marla Holmes, maybe you know her?”

“Oh, yes. Marla is an old friend of mine. And that isn’t just a line. Like old, straight outta the womb, kind of friends.”

He smirked, amused by my candor.

“What’s your angle, Xenia?”

“I want things to be back to the way they were, P-O.”

“P-O?”

“Pre-Orion.”

“Of course. My feelings haven’t changed. Have yours?”

“Never…wait. I should mention a tiny detail of relevance. I sort of have a date with Caleb.”

“What?” He looked confused and ran his hand through his brown hair, which grew longer from the first time I saw him. It ran past the bottom of his earlobes to just above the angle of his jaw. He shaved less and the stubble on his face suited him in a rugged, manly way.

“It’s not a real date. I just did it to…”
hmm…change direction and change it fast!
“…to find out more about Caleb, and the others. So technically, it’s a date with an immorta of Endeca.”

He hugged me carefully and the familiar smell of his skin mixed with the scent of body wash was divine.

“I really wanted to see Marla,” I sighed, disappointed.

“Tomorrow.” On that note, he walked me to my car.

“Have fun on your
date
,” he jeered playfully.

“Oh, I intend on it. It’s actually a threesome. Apparently Kiran is joining us.” Nicholas’ shoulders dropped at the sound of Kiran’s name.

“Any word on Corlissa?” he asked, playfulness aside.

“That’s what I hope to find out tonight.” Corlissa’s whereabouts was the appetizer to my main course.

∼

Caleb showed up and in a way that took me by surprise. He was dressed in formal attire, black suit and tie. Kiran was dressed in his casual yet trendy style. He looked like he rolled out of bed but always on his good side.

“Dude, what’s up with the suit?”

“It’s a date. Why aren’t you dressed accordingly?”

“Because I haven’t been living under a rock,” he snickered.

“Jeez, I could hear you two bickering from inside. Come on in,” I said, opening the front door wide.

Caleb smiled as this time he was invited in—how quickly things had changed. “Kiran insisted on coming, given he’s of my ternio.”

“Is Orion part of your ternio?”

“No. Each century, since the first, there were three extraordinary Diplozoes, each destined for Endeca,” said Caleb.