Endeca (The Escapism Series) (8 page)

“You’re source is a vessel, Xenia—the one who’ll lead Endeca. If the first plans to embody the chosen vessel, then technically,” he said, raising his brow.

“She’s…I’m…possessed?” I asked, astonished. “By Styx?”

“Very likely,” he whispered solemnly, “I can check. Here, bite down on this,” he said, handing me his belt.

He grabbed my now fully healed right hand into his and with the scissors from my desk, he quickly sliced my palm.  My screams of pain were mottled by the belt, which smelled of leather, in my mouth. After a moment, my jaw unclenched allowing the belt to fall. “What’s with you and Orion cutting me,” I exclaimed.

I healed just as quickly as he sliced my achy palm.

“This only proves that you were anointed in the water and are temporarily immorta.” He took the scissors and stabbed my hand, pinning me to the wooden table. I howled loudly in an unfamiliar tone, while a surge of red, hot hostility roared through me, scorching my eyes with light. I quickly pulled the scissors from my hand and stabbed Edric in the chest.

“Now
this
proves you’re possessed by Styx.” He pushed me away and pulled the scissors out from his brawny chest.

I panted, while the rage quickly subsided. My eyes itched as the cool air slowly extinguished the fire.

“How soon before I turn all exorcist-like?”  I asked, bewildered.

“You won’t. She isn’t a demon, she is a goddess incarnated, drawing on the energy of the earth through you,” he explained, continuing, “Orion used you as a sacrifice to seal the open portal and clear Endeca from her wrath in exchange for your source. Styx may never leave your
mortal
source,” he explained, awaiting my response.

“This wasn’t a temporary seal, was it?” I mustered, feeling faint, “The only way to rid her is to…
die
.”

“It’s a paradoxical event,” he said, somberly. “I tried to warn you but I thought you were coming home and before I realized what had happened, it was already too late.”

“It’s not your fault, Edric. I’d have never gone, but Nicholas was with me. I thought I’d be safe…”

“Xenia, I—” he whispered, his face painted with remorse, “That’s what I was trying to warn you about earlier. You see, for the most part, it wasn’t Nicholas you were dealing with. The immorta of Endeca have special powers. The ternio of Delsult, where Orion and I belong to, are not only strong and fast…we are jumpers. ”

I felt the blood drain from my face, and my weakened heart thrashed rigorously against my chest.
‘For the most part’ was a significant part…for me, anyway. A jumper? He’s…they’re God damn body snatchers?

“How could I tell if it was Orion or Nicholas? And how do I know you’re not Orion?” I said, scrutinizing his demeanor.

“You don’t,” he said, grimacing, “but I’m certain Orion wouldn’t disclose his
abilities
to you, especially after invoking a powerful deity who now resides in you. It’s likely you were dealing with both of Orion’s fragments.”

Edric was telling the truth. I wasn’t sure how I knew, but something from within me whispered a derisive thought.
If he knew what was best for him...

“I’m exhausted,” I remarked, glancing in the mirror.  My face was pale and the dark circles under my eyes were startling.

“I’ll go, but rest assured, I’ll confront Orion over this debacle.”

“Thank you, Edric,” I said lying back in bed.  I fell asleep just as soon as my eyes shut.

~

I awoke to the sound of wet clicking. Edric sat by my bed, making that sound by flicking his tongue against the roof of his palate. “You’re awake, finally,” he said relieved, while flashing a pen light over both eyes, checking for an abnormal response. “You seem normal.”

“What are you doing here?” I asked, squinting as he drew the blinds.

“Making sure it’s you that awakens and not Styx,” he replied, playfully.

“She sure carries a lot of hatred around.  I wouldn’t dare get on her bad side.” I shook my head side to side, trying to rid it of thought.

“Your parents left for work and I brewed some coffee. What shall we have for breakfast?” Edric asked, rather lively.

“I’ll have an eye-opener for starters then cereal—it’s the breakfast of champs, immorta or possessed,” I said, contemptuously.

“You’re not possessed…you just have a traveler. You’re very much in control of things, don’t forget. Are you sure you can handle this, Xenia? You could make amends with all that’s happened. You can live freely, invincibly if you...”

“Nyxta isn’t the answer. I don’t want to be invincible. I want to be me, as I am.  Well, not possessed me, but just me,” I said, wincing. “You know what I mean.”

“Yes, well, I think you should reconsider now that Orion has set you up with a lifelong, hatred spewing
traveler
.”

“So long as she’s contained, maybe she’ll decide I’m no fun and just pick up and leave. Doesn’t someone need to man the river?” I asked, bewildered.

“She’s a goddess, Xenia.  She’s not confined to your body, she’s merely a passenger who can come and go as she pleases.  Dibs on your source, if you will.”

“Well that’s disturbing,” I said, displeased. “But good for you! You’re expanding your vocab. Out with the old fogey and in with the new cool Edric.”

“At least your sense of humor persists,” he said, chuckling.

“I have no choice.  I can’t succumb to these changes.”

“You won’t—you’re stronger than that, but just in case, I’ll keep an eye on you; make sure you don’t become coldblooded,” he said.

“I highly doubt I’d change,” I grimaced, ninety-nine percent sure that Styx clawed at my insides just as I uttered the words.

My Cyclopod vibrated on the nightstand. Marla and Calliope were on their way and I was still in bed. I jumped out quickly, running for the bathroom.

“Get ready. Our chauffeur shall arrive any minute now,” I bellowed, running past Edric for the bathroom.

“I’m ready.  Guess I’ll pour us some coffee to go,” he snickered, lending a hand.

“Thanks, feel free to make yourself useful any time,” I remarked, sarcastically.

“Not a problem,” he said, first smiling then furrowing his brow. “Hey, I’m very useful. I kept an eye on you last night for one.” He scowled, leaving the room.

Fifteen minutes later, I sprung from my room, wet hair bouncing off my shoulders as I dashed down the stairwell. I grabbed two apples, and placed them in my backpack. Just then, the doorbell rang.

“Edric, would you get that?” I hollered, pouring some coffee in my empty thermos on the counter.

The doorbell rang again and I sighed, rushing to open the door.

“What’s the ru—” I said, pausing as someone unexpected stood at my doorstep.

Sebastian.

Blood
under the bridge

“Xenia, pardon the delay but I think it’s time we had a chat,” he said eloquently. Under different circumstances, I would have found his English accent delightful. I scanned the room once over for Edric but he was out of sight.

“Where’s Edric?” I questioned, nervously.

“He’s gone for a much needed
retreat
. I suggest you come with me,” he advised, while resting against the doorframe. His eyes were pitch black, encircled by a thin rim of orange. He stood a few inches taller than I, with dark brown hair and an ominous grin.

I stood by the doorway, completely helpless; the marrow in my bones quaked with anticipation of something dreadful. My two worlds were at a crossroads as my friends drew near and Sebastian, an unknown threat, drew nearer.

“I’m in no hurry. I could stay and meet your dear friends. Marla and Calliope, if I’m not mistaken?” he smirked.

“Leave them out of this, please,” I begged him anxiously. I wished for nothing else but my friends’ safety.

“Well then, invite me in already,” he suggested, callously.

“Come in,” I mustered, regretfully so.
Soon it’d be one big Endeca party up in my crib—so much for a safe haven.

“What do you want?” Although he wasn’t in any rush, I was. He strolled through the living room, in search of something.

“Have we no manners, Xenia?” he grinned, extending his hand. “I’m Sebastian. Nice to meet you.”

I refused his gesture. I wouldn’t touch him with a five-foot pole knowing he was one of the eleven, an immorta of Endeca.

“Very well. Down to business, shall we?” he paused briefly mulling over something before continuing, “I’d like it very much if you’d unite Endeca, and I’d like to find out how the E-SOM continues to track us.”

If not for the sheer confusion that befell me, I would’ve sworn he insinuated that I was involved with the latter. In a flash, he took off upstairs, returning just as quickly, stirring the air around us. Immortality definitely had its perks, but I was glad my perks were the short-lived kind. The very idea that I could just as easily whisk by him, snag my locket and snap his neck like a twig was oddly comforting.

He held up the locket—
my
locket. “Fond memories of the dome, have we?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” I stammered.
Slow deep breaths.
Styx gnawed at my insides but I strained to contain her though it felt unpleasant.

“Why did you keep this locket, Xenia?” he asked, aghast.

“Because it helped me unite my first fragment,” I unveiled for the first time out loud. At the time, all I wanted to do was burn it, instead I stored it in my dresser drawer. For some God-awful reason, I couldn’t part with it.

“
Right
. Nicholas—your long lost friend from the dome. How…
quaint
,” he said, feigning humanity.

“What’s it to you?” Infuriated by his inquest into a part of my life that I had neatly tucked away, I couldn’t stop the images that flooded my conscious mind of a posttraumatic nature.

“You see, the E-SOM knows about our current affairs. Now, how could that be?” he probed, tilting his head sideways.

“That’s a loaded question. You should probably ask Orion, renowned spy for the E-SOM,” I scorned.

“I’ve exhausted my sources. That leaves you.”

“Well, it’s not me. Rest assured, I’d never side with the E-SOM.”

“Don’t think
we
can,” he said, continuing, “And if Viola doesn’t rest, well, you’ve seen what she’s capable of.”

“I guess I have no choice,” I whispered, deceitfully. Viola’s effect had worn off when Styx embodied my source, but Sebastian didn’t need to know that.

“Your lack of cooperation leaves me no other choice, Xenia. I’m going to take a more practical approach. You either find out who is spying on us or join us. Choose one or I’ll have a chat with your best girlfriends,” he threatened, continuing, “Over brunch, perhaps. You decide.”

I felt a surge of anger rising and a part of me wanted to do some searing of my own, but I quickly subdued my traveler’s scorching, yet justifiable rage.

“Fine. I’ll figure something out. Just go, before my friends arrive,” I cautioned, anxiously.

“See, that wasn’t so hard, now was it?” He disappeared stirring the air around me. I wondered about his creepy eyes; why were they so different from the others? Why did he think I worked for the E-SOM after all they had done and what they would have done had I not escaped from the dome? I thought of Nurse Betsy and her bravery. She put her life on the line by releasing my predecessors and me. I closed my eyes and wondered if one day I would see her again, what would I say?
Thanks for setting me free. I owe you one?
I played that over in my mind not once, but what seemed like hundreds of times, each time sounding more ridiculous than the last.

As for tracking the new spy on our tail, I still felt Orion was somehow involved. Although he kept quiet about my whereabouts, that did not necessarily mean he was fully reformed. With a rap sheet like his, Orion still posed a threat. His recent actions, for one, supported my theory. However, Sebastian was convinced otherwise.

“Edric!” I cried in hopeless pursuit. I searched the house quickly but he was gone. I wondered where Sebastian had sent him. The doorbell rang and I jumped, quickly grabbing my book bag before opening the door.

“You’re ready for once—quelle surprise,” Marla chirped.

“I had an early start. Come on, let’s go.”

“Where’s your hunky friend?” asked Calliope, lowering her designer shades. She wore a straw hat to protect her alabaster skin from the harmful ultraviolet rays. Evidently, she was inflicted by the Nordstrom charm.

“I-I think he left already—something about a job interview.” It wasn’t a far stretch from the truth because he did leave, granted it was forcibly. Technically, I was the one interviewed by Sebastian for a job I wasn’t too thrilled about. I wrapped my arms around Marla’s and Calliope’s shoulders, pulling them with me swiftly. With Edric’s disappearance, I wanted to vacate the premises before he eerily reappeared.

“Why’re you so antsy?” Marla asked, suspiciously.

“Too much coffee and no food makes me a little crazy,” I said, playfully.

“Ou! Breakfast at Blueberry Hill? I’m dying for pancakes,” she said, quickly halting in her tracks. “I forgot my lip gloss, can I borrow yours?” she asked as Calliope hopped in her car, revving it, signaling time.

“I forgot it inside. It’s a lip plumper and it burns—very unpleasant,” I explained, attempting to deter her from the house.

“But I really like yours. I could quickly run in and get it,” she persisted.

“You don’t need it. Your lips are plump enough, honestly,” I said, nudging her to the car once again.

“Xenia, really. I’ll only be a second,” she furrowed her brow, questionably.

“No food and no coffee make Cal a big bitch. What’s the hold up?” An impatient Calliope hollered.

Just as Marla crossed me heading for the front door, I grabbed her, kissing her smack on the mouth. “There,” I said, blotting her lips with my finger thoroughly.

Marla stood frozen as I dashed to the car. “Thanks…I guess.” She pressed her lips together before frowning. “It does burn!”

“I bet it’s not the lip gloss either,” Calliope jeered, snickering. I shot her a scathing glare of resentment.

“Ah! This is termed ‘projecting’. Calliope is extending her promiscuity onto you, entailing you’re dirty when in fact it is her,” analyzed Marla, grinning proudly.

“Interesting observation, M. I’m also fond of the literal meaning of projecting. Particularly from a moving vehicle.”

Marla winced, looking down at her cuticles.

I snickered, wildly entertained. I had managed to forget Sebastian for that brief moment up until what happened next. Calliope drove down a few blocks, whereby Edric reappeared, dead center on the road—exactly what I was afraid of.  He looked…
lost
.

“Isn’t that Edric?” Calliope asked.

“No, I don’t think so. Make a left here,” I said, pulling the steering wheel.

“It’s him alright, but he looks kinda
…broken
,” Marla muttered.

“Oh, look at that. I think he’s sleep walking,” I sighed, in disguise. “He’s been doing that a lot lately.” I got out of the car and walked toward him.