Endeca (The Escapism Series) (4 page)

Resurrection 101

My wireless buds secured comfortably to the contour of my ears, drowning out the city sounds of loud cars and trucks. I felt my phone vibrate in my sweater pocket—it was Marla, just as I suspected.

“Hey Z. Where you be?”

“
Cute
. I’m approaching-” was all I said before Marla jumped in.

“Never mind. I GPS’ed your ass—found ya,” she snickered. “Why’d you leave? Are you okay?” She sensed there was something wrong and indeed, there was. I attempted to walk away the darkness that kept to my skin like day light. I was slowly coming to terms with it and because of that, it lurked by my shadow instead. The distance was gratifying, although I would’ve given anything for it to disappear. Well, not
anything
.

“It’s such a beautiful day, I thought I’d clear my head,” I said, not a full stretch from the truth.

“I seeeeeeee youuuu,” Marla bellowed playfully as a car slowed down beside me.

“Hey sexy! Get your fine ass in the car before some stranger tries to lure you in with candy,” Calliope hollered.

I grinned at the thought.
How unfortunate it’d be for him. Was it so wrong that I liked feeling powerful, liberated, and otherworldly? After all, I had the toolkit, I just needed to learn how to play with the tools.

“Come on, Z. Hop in already,” an impatient Calliope wined.

“We have twizzler’s.” Marla waved two twizzler’s in the air before biting into one.

“Ou, twizzler’s!” I ran up to the slowly moving convertible and hopped into the back.

I embraced the wind against my skin and hair as Calliope revved the engine taking off.

“Patiently waiting for twizzler’s, please,” I reminded, and she handed the bag over. I chewed away, biting the hard ends off one piece—they were very addictive.

The sun was setting beautifully—my favorite part of the day. We said our goodbyes as Calliope drove off and Marla and I parted in opposite ways down the street, turning back to wave to one another. I liked these routines because familiarity was comfort. This unknown miracle, if that’s what it was, had become my life ever since meeting Nicholas; it was both exhilarating and overwhelming at times. Marla and Calliope served as my crutch—they kept me grounded, kept me,
me
.

My parents were home by the sounds stemming from the kitchen.  I felt famished and the smell of home cooked food quickly stirred my stomach into a whirlwind of hunger. I jovially greeted, “Howdy parents.”

“Xeni, you just missed dinner,” said Marlon, my father.

“I’ll heat you up a plate,” offered Chrysanthe, my mother, slowly rising from her chair. Her wine glass left with a hint of red.

“Thanks!” I grabbed both parents and hugged them tightly.

“How nice. To what do we owe this show of affection?” My mother was befuddled.

“It just feels good to be
here
,” I heaved of sigh of relief.
Alive.

“College life can be hectic at times so just know that you can talk to us any time you feel overwhelmed—we’re here for you.”

“Thanks, Dad.” For a split second, I acquiesced to the offer before a vision of a white room with padded walls stopped me; Kiran’s cautionary whispers lingered in my ear.
He was right.  
“Me, overwhelmed?  Not a chance,” I said, feigning a smile.

I quickly ate leaving no open window for discussion. Once I cleared my plate, I rinsed it off and slipped it into the dishwasher with the others. By that time, my parents were entwined in one another, sitting on the sofa watching television.

On the second floor, I drew a hot bath. My body felt battered from my earlier unwelcomed trip to Styx. While the water ran, I went back into my room, scanning missed messages on my Cyclopod. Just as I opened an email, I felt a cold draft against my lower back giving me shivers.

A cold, large hand covered my mouth and a broad arm wrapped around my torso.

“Shh! Don’t be alarmed,” he whispered, while holding me securely before slowly releasing his grip.

“It’s you! What’re you doing here?” I gasped, while he moved to the edge of my desk.

“Please forgive me. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

“You could’ve called, Edric,” I snapped, waving my phone in the air. My quickened heartbeat slowed, allowing the panic to dissipate. “I almost didn’t recognize you with clothes on.”

“I don’t have one of
those
,” he said, looking at my Cyclopod as though he had never seen one before. “Can we talk? I could wait until after you’ve had your bath.” He sat in the desk chair, crossing his leg awkwardly and then straightening it, trying to acclimate.

“Let’s chat now. The bath can wait.”

“Very well. I’ve come here to explain myself. I’m not some abomination even though that’s what Orion believes.” His brazen smile was oddly familiar.

Edric looked a lot like his brother—exceptionally rugged, tall and handsome. I wasn’t sure if it was Edric’s smile or the mention of
his
name, but I involuntarily blushed.

“When I was a boy in Sweden, our family was accosted by three gypsies, or so we thought. One in particular read my fortune, which was rather alarming.  She had said I would live to an old age, however my youth would never fade. For a time, there’d be darkness but not to worry. I would be lifted by the one who is known to the Gods, inviting to the universe, and the key to all humankind,” he paused, looking at me. “That’s you.”

“Err. Me?  Why do you think that?” My eyes were wide with astonishment.

“I
know
that. Once I resurrected, I was immediately drawn to you. You possess this aura that everyone else must have grown accustom to. After spending a century in the darkness, I returned to this world, in an alley filled with people, some familiar like my brother who betrayed me, and unfamiliar like yourself.  Xenia, it took all my strength to not ravage everyone insight and then when I laid eyes on you, the urge subsided—for a short while, anyhow.”

“Yeah, Orion gets on everyone’s nerves,” I said, lightening the mood.

“Orion is Orion,” he muttered, furrowing his brow. “I came here tonight because I wanted to repay you for bringing me back.”

“I’m not so sure that it was me. Corlissa said it was our union.”

“You were the missing link, Xenia. Without you…” he said, suddenly withdrawn.

“Were you in hell?” I squeaked surprising myself.

“I’m not sure,” he mused. “There was no fire and no devil. It was my own private obscure cell.”

“Sounds like a first class ticket to hell, having the privacy and all,” I uttered. “Or maybe heaven is bleak?” I asked although I had never really contemplated the existence of an afterlife let alone its depictions.

“As long as the portal remains open, the rest of them will not surrender. They’ll find you and try to persuade you.”

“I can’t surrender, Edric,” I said, near to tears.

“Trust me, I get it. However, I also understand where the others are coming from. We’re immorta and to us the notion of living with an expiry date isn’t very appealing. I’m not here to try and convince you otherwise, Xenia. It would do no good. I wanted you to hear my side,” he said, continuing reluctantly, “Back then I had an opportunity to save Orion. He was a spy for the E-SOM and Nyxta uncovered it. She gave him the death sentence. As you know, I intervened in his place.”

“How…noble of you,” I commented, uncertain of a more suitable response.

“Prophesy revealed that I would return from the darkness and so I thought this was it. I’d consume Orion’s darkness knowing that I’d return one day.”

“Did it ever occur to you they could’ve been bat crazy women who made it all up?”

“That was the risk I was willing to take. We all know what good that did. Alas, he’s my brother.  I had to look after him. But after I had learned upon rising that he continued associating with the E-SOM, I knew our blood bond meant very little to him.”

“Maybe he did change and the E-SOM blackmailed him,” I proposed. Edric shook his head, dubiously.

“
We’re
no one to you and you have no reason to join us. Maybe with time your perspective will change. Though, I’m grateful that you brought me back.”

“Thanks Edric—for understanding.”

“Thank you for taking care of Orion. Why did you?” he asked, peaked. I knew where he was going with this.

I risked my life for Orion but not for the eleven aka Endeca.

“I’m not sure why I did what I did. I guess because he was faced with such an unimaginable sentence that I had to extend myself; I knew I was a bargaining tool of sorts.”

“Hmm,” he mumbled something inaudible.

“There’s no other reason, trust me.”

“If you insist,” he smiled, changing topics, “So, where do I bunk?”

“First off, you need to make an entrance through the front door. You know, to keep up appearances and all,” I chuckled. “And why are you bunking with me?”

“Pardon me, it’s been a while since I`ve socialized,” he said, continuing, “I’ll explain later.” He quickly vanished, stirring the air around me.

“Guess we’re meeting by the front door,” I said, dryly.

I wondered if Orion had relinquished anything of Edric’s to help ease the process. I couldn’t help but sympathize for Edric, re-inhabiting his body in a new era with nothing to call his own aside from his errant brother. I had some assistance when I returned to the offline world, the very least I could do was provide the same. I’d be his Betsy for the time being.

As expected, my parents were completely bewildered once Edric showed up; mostly because he was bagless and do-eyed, like a newborn.
Reborn in his case
.

“Mom, dad, this is Edric.  He’ll be staying with us for the next month or so.  He’s…a foreign exchange student.”

“Oh? Well, nice to meet you, Edric. Excuse our reaction but Xenia never mentioned this to us—she seldom forewarns us about anything,” Chrysanthe curtly waved a reprimanding finger at me as she always did when caught off guard.

“We have plenty of space, dear,” Marlon jumped in cutting the tension. “I’m Marlon, and this is my wife Chrysanthe.  Where are you travelling from, Edric?”

“
Afar
…” he coughed as I elbowed him in the ribs. “Sweden is where I am from.” His mottled accent, a remnant from travel over the centuries helped.

“I’ve always wanted to go to Sweden, with the clean air and chocolaty goodness. I think it’s time we get Edric settled in. You must be exhausted,” I said, pulling him along.

“You mean Switzerland,” Edric whispered in correction and I frowned. “They have delicious chocolate—do you have any?”

“
No…
let’s get your room ready,” I feigned a smile.

“Where is your luggage?” Marlon asked, suspiciously.

Edric looked at me for some explanation before answering, “Lost.”

My parents’ critiqued him with expert eyes, scanning for loose ends to our story. Fortunately for us, they both looked very tired.

“That happened to me once on a business trip—the biggest client I had to land and I met him in my wrinkled airplane attire.  Fortunately, I landed the account so good things can come from our misfortunes.  I have a spare closet full of clothes you can borrow, Edric. We’re about the same size so it’s just your luck, son.”

Chrysanthe smirked at Marlon smacking his shoulder playfully. “Come on, big guy. Let’s finish the movie.”

Edric smiled and nodded, appreciatively. “Thank you, sir.”

“I’ll show Edric to the guest room. Goodnight.”

We quickly walked up the stairs and I felt my parents’ eyes on us. Once the coast was clear, I addressed the real issue.

“Why not stay with Orion? He is, after all, your brother.”

“I know my brother well. I need to be at a distance so he can’t gage what I’m doing, while I investigate.”

“Ah, good plan.”

“Orion isn’t the same rogue spy that he once was. Something about him has changed and I need to find out what that something is—for the safety of us all.”

“I don’t understand, Edric. Why does he have it in for his own kind?”

“All he had left was me, and when I was gone, he suffered a great deal. Had I known, things would’ve been different. His disregard for safety and for our kind means he’s on a suicide mission.  The way he sees it, he either goes down unknown, or makes a mark.  As a spy, he’ll be known as a rebel, and he is content with that.”

“If I knew Orion was on some suicide mission, I wouldn’t have helped,” I grimaced at the thought.
I put myself on the line for a spy with a suicide mission?

“You wouldn’t have done it any other way…trust me. Orion has this way about him,” he grinned devilishly. “It’s the Nordstrom charm—works every time.”

“Are you insinuating he seduced me? Because he didn’t, I have a boyfriend so you know,” I sneered, warily.

“Don’t feel ashamed. After all, he fooled his own brother. I died, remember?” Edric’s youthful face lite up, seeking camaraderie.

I pressed my taut lips together, tongue-tied.

“I’m exhausted. Shall we retire for the night?” he yawned.

“We shall,” I said, intermixed with giggles.

Edric looked confounded. “You find me amusing?”

“We need to work on your vocabulary tomorrow morning before lectures and figure out what to enrol you in as a late registrant—this is where your delinquent brother will come in handy. If he can’t pull some strings, there’s always winter semester.”

Edric furrowed his brow, mystified. The poor guy had his work cut out for him. After spending over a century in the dark, it’d take time for him to reintegrate in our world,
worlds
.

I showed him to the room where Nicholas had spent the night. It felt so long ago. “This way to your room, good sir,” I said, playfully. I opened the guest room door and Edric stalled awkwardly.

“Thank you, Xenia.  This will not be forgotten.”

I sensed he meant that with every grain of his being. “Don’t sweat it,” I replied, coolly.

Edric bounced back onto the bed, sighing blissfully, “Works every time.”

We both
retired
for the night and I fell into the deepest sleep ever—something I longed for.

~

I awoke in shambles, in fear of some unknown threat. This only happened when I had an encounter
offline
. I was damp from head to toe, and my heart raced at a speed that pained me to sustain. I laid back in bed, pressing my hands on my pounding chest to subdue its alarming effect.  Slowly breathing, I calmed my frantic-self down.

“What’s happening to me?” I asked, aloud. I had never felt so afraid in my life. The only thing that kept me from breaking down was the comfort of my own bed and this home in the online world. A
fake family
and
fake human life
that Nyxta alluded to was actually what kept me grounded and safe. Without it, where
would I be? Better yet, who would I be?

After a hot shower and warm breakfast, I started to feel like the old, pre-awakened, Xenia.  Edric strolled into the kitchen, inspecting every inch of the room. He winced taking in the décor amongst all other things that had changed since he roamed this world. He adjusted his shirt and looked down at his attire, self-consciously.

“How does this look?”

“It looks cool, Edric,” I admired.

“Oh. I thought it was warm out—I’ll go change,” he said, drearily.

“No, wait! It’s just slang. I didn’t mean cool in its literal sense,” I sighed, continuing, “It was meant as a compliment.”

“I see. Thank you,” he gracefully accepted the compliment flashing his pearly teeth. He reached for a donut, eating half of it with a single bite. “Mmm, this is delectable—sugary.”

I snickered, while basking in Edric’s rawness. He was like a child heading off to school for the first time.
I prayed the new world wouldn’t devour him.

“Calliope will be here in any minute,” I reminded, taking a sip of hot coffee.

“Is she our chauffeur?” he asked, haughtily.

“Yes…
no
….actually, she’s my best friend.”

“Very well,” he said, chewing away. “I had a dear friend who’d accompany me on my travels as well. He—”

“Hold that thought,” I intercepted as I answered a call. “Hey…is Cal out front? Okay…be there in a minute.”

“Who’s that now?” he asked, keenly.

“Marla. They’re out front waiting on us. Let’s bounce.”